Screenshots

Recently, Chan Kong Choy's ministry has tried very hard to promote road safety, reminding motocyclists to wear and fasten their crash helmet whenever on the road.

This is one of the print ads spent in the local papers by the Government to send the road safety message across to the bikers:

Image courtesy PanduCermat.org.my

But there's at least one deputy minister who thinks he can take law into his own hands.

SOURCE: The Star July 31, 2006

We have a liberal government afterall, so the minister can show leadership by example in his chosen way.

Use this as a mitigating factor whenever you're caught for 'monkey see, monkley do'?

Thanks reader BC Ong for the alert.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

July 29, Bernama reported that Umno Youth will release a list of brands and international companies with operations in Malaysia that are known to be supporting the Israeli regime financially.

Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the movement Friday received an e-mail on an international coffee shop chain allegedly supporting Israel and sending funds to the zionist regime. He said if there was truth to the claim, the people must be told so they could make their own assessment whether they wanted to continue supporting the company which has a chain of shops in the country.

So, we'll have an Umno version of Schindler's List if its deputy youth chief had his way.

But after reading blogs by Aisehman and Rocky's Bru, I hope these Umnoputras are not shooting themselves on the head.

Let me tell you why.

1993's seven Oscar-Awards winner, Schindler's List, was initially banned for viewing in Malaysia because of its theme that portrays the true story of Czech-born Oskar Schindler, a glorious but greedy Austrian-German businessman who tried to make his fortune during the Second World War by exploiting cheap Jewish labour.

However, Schindler ended up penniless by becoming an unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric Nazi reign when he felt compelled to turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. Eventually, he created a list of over 1,100 Jews -- hence Schindler's List -- whom he saved from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp.

The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg, a Jew and a multiple award-winning film auteur.

In Malaysia of 1993, when it was initially banned, we had Anwar Ibrahim, dubbed Umno's Renaissance Man at that time, reversed the ban of the film by ordering a few cuts of several graphic segments. However, the movie was ultimately not distributed in Malaysia as Spielberg would only sanction its screening in its entirety.

And history also has it that Anwar has since fallen from mainstream politics and people rarely talk about Malaysia's renaissance man nowadays.

The Jewish Connection

Thirteen years later, Khairy has no doubt, with the help of Jalan Riong spin-doctors, risen as Umno's future who would reform the party and the larger Malaysia. The latest we have read from the mainstream media -- the information channel that the Prime Minister asked us to rely on -- is that the son-in-law has now declared total war on the Israeli Jews.

This 30-year-old shareholder of ECM-Libra, now enlarged to ECM-Libra Avenue Berhad, also asked Malaysians "whether they wanted to continue supporting the coffee company -- which allegedly supports Israel financially by sending funds to the zionist regime -- which has a chain of shops in the country".

If you follow the trail, this budak is actually asking Malaysians if they wanted to continue supporting ECM-Libra, which has since 'swallowed' the larger Avenue Capital Resources, the GLC that Pantai Holdings Berhad has significant stakes in.

Though the ECM-Libra/Avenue 'merger' was completed in June 2006, the Public Audit Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is instituting an investigation on the ECM-Libra/Avenue deal on August 10.

Now, the delicate issue to Umno Youth's Schindler's List is the allegation that Pantai Holdings also has dubious links to substantial Jewish interests.

The lightning rod takes the form of significant stakes Pantai Holdings currently has in ECM-Libra Avenue, while Pantai's controlling shareholder and parent company, Parkway Holdings of Singapore, has divested its shares significantly to a known Zionist financier in the United States.

Zionist financier Richard Blum (picture left) and Jewish lobbyist Dianne Feinstein, dubbed Di-Fi

From information culled from the public domain, Singapore's Parkway Holdings has sold a major part of its shareholdings, as at March 2006, to American Richard Blum, a known Zionist financier.

Go ask any Americans knowledgeable in partisan politics, and they will tell you Blum's wife is US Senator Dianne Feinstein, dubbed Di-Fi, who is widely known to be a fierce Jewish lobbyist.

There are more corporate trails to this, elsewhere in this blog entry.

In the equation, as a subsidiary to Singapore's Parkway, Malaysia's Pantai contributes significant revenues -- including profit-and-loss derived from its shareholding in ECM-Libra Avenue -- to parent company Parkway; and Parkway, in turn, shares profits and dividends with the significant Jewish investors from the US..

If Parkway is the gravy train to enrich Zionist coffers, our Pantai will be a luxury coach that runs along the same rail-track, sapping elixir coming from ECM-Libra Avenue as its strategic investor.

While legally the conscience may be clear, morally and ethically, we need a convincing explanation for all this.

The Khairy-ECM-Libra-Avenue Capital Resource-Pantai Nexus

Closer to to home, you need look no further than Bursa Malaysia for the finger prints.

In Point 22 of the condensed consolidated income statement, the quarterly report, for the financial period ended June 30, 2006 of Pantai Holdings Berhad released through Bursa Malaysia on July 26, 2006, it is stated that the Singapore-owned company is effectively a significant stakeholder in ECM-Libra Avenue Berhad.

However, Pantai Holdings Bhd's net profit fell 38% to RM27.06 million in the 12-month period ended June 30, 2006 from RM43.54 million previously, and it attributed it mainly due to "the reorganisation and merger exercise of Avenue Capital Resources Bhd (ACRB) that was completed in June 2006.

As a result, Pantai declared a fourth interim dividend of 2% less tax totalling about RM6.7 million. The Edge Financial Daily, on July 27, also reported based on the disclosure to Bursa Malaysia, that the merger between ECM Libra Bhd and Avenue Capital Resources, Pantai booked an impairment loss of RM23.4 million and a subsequent net loss of RM12.98 million in the fourth quarter ended June 30.

Look into this PDF (1.7Mb), you will see Pantai saying its investment in Avenue Capital Resources had been reclassified to other investments and no longer deemed to be an associated company.

In other words, until further notice of equity disposal, Pantai will continue to own significant shares in the merged entity of the ECM-Libra/Avenue Capital Resource, who is also partly-owned by the Umno Youth deputy chief.

The Pantai-Parkway Singapore Nexus

As at September 20, 2005, Pantai Holdings Berhad, which also holds strategic control of Fomema's medical database of immigrant workers in Malaysia, became a subsidiary of Parkway Holdings Singapore. The acquisition of the controlling stake in Pantai was announced on this date. See PDF evidence.

The Parkway acquisition of the Pantai stakes was conducted via the holdings company's subsidiary Parkway Heathcare Group Pte Ltd via a new subsidiary Swiss Zone Sdn Bhd. For the record, Swiss Zone was incorporated in Malaysia for a paid-up capital of RM2.00. See PDF evidence.

On September 13, 2005, Parkway announced that Swiss Zone has purchased 35 million shares of RM1.00 each for the capital of Pantai Holdings, representing approximately 8.80% of the issued and paid up capital of Pantai, in an off-market transaction.

On the other hand, Swiss Zone has also entered into a share sale agreement with Malaysian Lim Tong Yong @ Lim Tong Yaim, to purchase from the latter 89.7 million ordinary shares of RM1.00 each in the capital of Pantai, representing approximately 22.54% of the issued and paid up capital in Pantai, and 24.3 million warrants 2006/2007 issued by Pantai, representing roughly 36.27% of the outstanding warrants issued by Pantai.

In other words, as at September 20, 2005, Parkway has amassed an aggregate of 124.7 million shares in the capital of Pantai, representing rough 31.34% of the issued and paid-up capital of the Malaysian company. This is in addition to the 24.3 million warrants 2006/2007 issued by Pantai, representing roughly 36.27% of the outstanding warrants issued by Pantai.

The acquisition cost Swiss Zone RM311.58 million paid entirely in cash.

The Parkway-Blum Nexus

It is noted that as at March 2, 2006, shareholding interests in Parkway linked to Zionist financier Richard Blum totalled 624 million shares.

SOURCE: Parkway Holdings website

According to disclosure published on Parkway website, Blum Capital Partners, L.P. -- of which Richard Blum is the chairman -- controlled 208,107,988 deemed shareholdings in Parkway, while Blum G.A. III, LLC has an additional 208,107,988 deemed shareholdings and the third trunch of 208,107,988 deemed shareholdings in Parkway were held via Blum Investment Partners, Inc.

Famous last words

In the final analysis, looking at the intricate web sourrounding Parkway Holdings, that links it to Jewish interests as shareholders, and its controlling stake in Pantai Holdings and its indirect shareholdings in the enlarged ECM-Libra Avenue Berhad -- which Khairy Jamaluddin co-owns, not to mention Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan as its significant shareholder -- it might not be smart afterall for Umno Youth to go ahead with its proposed Malaysian version of the analogical Schindler's List.

Looking at the facts, Umno's supposed reincarnation of the Renaissance Man may be shooting himself on the head.

Why not, instead, we join the world community in ending the current killings of Labanonese and Jewish civilians -- caused by the warring Israel and Hezbollah militancy -- through the voices of genuine humanitarian compassion?

Why not we look at this globalised world in a different light. A lot of foreign investments in Malaysia have created job opportunities for our people, helping our domestic economy to grow. It may boomerang on ourselves if we start witch-hunting for the corporate links to their global umbilical cords.

In this age of global economy, what good does it serve by getting Malaysians on a ride of navel-gazing?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (44) | TrackBacks (0)

The media has been put on alert to await a response today from Proton management replying to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report that cited the national car manufacturer's poor corporate governance 1996 until late 2005.

The PWC report was commissioned by Proton chairman Mohamed Azlan Hashim and the present management on September 2 last year.

The NST-Business Times says the PWC Report indicates mainly a weak reporting structure between management and board of directors.

It sounds like witch-hunting as cases cited involve the October 16, 1996 deal to buy Lotus, the RM1.55 billion preliminary estimates to build the Tanjung malim plant, a RM162 million claim by Proton Automobile Deutschland, Proton's financing of 49% investment in Tracoma Holdings Bhd to assemble cars in Indonesia, alleged misrepresentation of MV Agusta's potentials in generating positive cash flow from 2004 onwards etc.

One thing is for sure, we are getting more and more over the past, while the jury for the present and future is still out.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

The Southern Johor Economic Region (SJER) -- The Star calls it the Hong Kong of Malaysia; Bernama calls it growth catalyst for Asean.

And drumroll from The NST, the satu lagi Projek Barisan Nasional is another "as-if-you-don't-know':

"Let me stress that this is my idea. It did not come from anyone else. It is my own vision and plan to create this super corridor in south Johor to make it the nation’s premier growth centre," he (the PM) said.

It includes:

• Nusajaya: The Johor Government’s new administrative capital, which is now under construction and is due for completion by August 2007. Pricetag: RM400 million.

• Danga Bay: An integrated waterfront city covering 809ha developed by the private sector in phases over 15 years. It is mainly developed by a subsidiary of Ekovest Berhad, linked to Rahmat Abu Bakar, Lim kang Hoo and Khoo Nam Seng.
• Cybercity: Johor’s version of the Multimedia Super Corridor with the creation of a Cyberport at the 30-storey Menara Sarawak in JB. A cybercity will be built in Kulai.
• Logistic hub: The ports of Tanjung Pelepas and Pasir Gudang, and Senai Airport will be synergised to provide air, sea and land/rail links to woo multinational corporations; and,
• Senai-Desaru Highway: This project will open up Johor’s southeast coast, where Korean investors will spend RM2 billion building a resort in Desaru.

Total investment for the SJER was RM15 billion, including foreign investments. Abdullah said Khazanah Nasional Berhad would be the catalyst for the development.

Meanwhile, the Northern Corridor, which comprises Seberang Prai, Perak and Perlis, would be developed by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and Sime Darby, while the Eastern Corridor covering Kelantan, northern Terengganu and western Pahang would involve Petronas.

Details on Sabah and Sarawak will have to wait. You always seem to be the last, even for your corridor.

But a thing foremost amidst the lure of big money is that, that keyword of transparency -- OPEN TENDER -- is again sorely missing.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBacks (0)

Via The Star:

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) wants to know why the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) refuses to entertain complaints the association forwards to the bureau.

“Of late, the PCB has been telling CAP that it would only take action on matters referred to them directly by members of the public,” said CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris.

CAP is a foreign-funded NGO for consumerism founded in 1970 whose website is soley in Chinese, while PCB, or Biro Pengaduan Awam, is an agency under the Prime Minister's Office. The public, it goes without saying, it's Joe Public like you and I.

Perhaps, it's time for both parties to redeem the meaning of good faith.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Bloggers Oon Yeoh and I, plus possibly a third blogger, will try to share our voice, live, on ntv7 around 8.30am tomorrow morning. Please call in when we go on air.

Malaysian bloggers, who gave a public face and accessible personal contact since Day One of blogging, shouldn't have been generalised and demonised as Netizens who spill untruths.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don't look at me.

It's Aisehman. He will be off the radar screen for a while after Starbucks.

And Rocky too. He's entered Pantai.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

So says Bernama. This is the context.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The Defence Ministry, which oversees the army, should look into this. Tell us the SOP.

Via Malaysiakini:

Seven militarymen were among 27 witnesses questioned by the police in connection with yesterday’s spray attack outside an airport in Kelatan which affected former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“The seven soldiers were hired by one of the organisers as his (Mahathir’s) personal bodyguards,” said Kelantan police chief SAC I Zulkifli Abdullah

Speaking at press conference in the Kelantan police headquarters in Kota Bharu today, Zulkifli revealed that a 57-year old ‘Datuk’ has been arrested to assist investigations at 10pm in Pasir Tumbuh last night, about 11 hours after the incident and is expected to be remanded soon. Zulkifli declined to name the individual.

The suspect is being investigated under Section 328 under the Penal Code for causing hurt through use of poison with the intention of committing an offence, which carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years and fine.

Also see Bernama.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Talk about finesse in diplomacy.

Yesterday, Khairy Jamaluddin, who is a former diplomat's son, stormed the convention centre that hosted the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), demanding United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to get out of Malaysia because "you have done nothing to stop the genocide and the murder of Palestinians and Lebanese".

Besides an open letter in the Saturday Column, the deputy Pemuda Umno chief was quoted in The NST:

"From the people of Malaysia, we do not welcome you here. You may be invited by the Government, but we do not welcome you here," he said, referring to Rice.

However, Rice, apparently appreciating the famous Father-in-Law's hospitality, decided to extend her stay a little longer on her first visit to the Malaysian capital.

SOURCE: The Star frontpage July 28, 2006

"She will spend a night in Kuala Lumpur today. She will be leaving tomorrow," said a US embassy spokesperson when contacted by Bernama.
.
Probably, somebody had slipped in "Budak belum kering hingus" into Rice's piano recital.

Elsewhere in Rome, the international community has called for an urgent, but not immediate, ceasefire in Lebanon.

* * *
Talk about photo-opp.

The photo-opp that Khairy wanted yesterday, with the Jalur Gemilang wrapped around his body and the label of PM's son-in-law leashed around his neck, was to hand over a memorandum to Rice.

He and his team were, however, prevented from doing so by members of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) until hours later when Khairy was allowed into the centre where he presented the memorandum to an unnamed US representative. From The Star:

He came out about 20 minutes later and told his supporters that the memorandum was with Rice. [...]

When pressed whether he had personally handed the memorandum to Rice, he said he could only confirm that the memorandum was in her hands

The power of Photo-opps, but it's Dr Mahathir who stole the headlines today.

* * *
And talk about the elit bankers' club.

If one continues to don the nametag of a daytime job, bandaged as an inhouse "investmest banker" in ECM-Libra, how would US-owned Goldman Sach and Merrill Lynch re-define "investment banking" for Malaysia?

I reckon Lim Kian Onn (standing left) is debating this with himself.

The Libra portion to the Kali-Baba deal is more than precious, don't you think so?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (75) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION: ZAM has qualified his press statement by saying more... about the "one or two mainstream papers" he identified as have been abusing press freedom by raising sensitive issues on religion and race. Excerpts:

"The government has identified one or two mainstream newspapers which have been abusing the freedom (of the press) to the extent that other newspaper editors have the impression that these newspapers are given special privileges," he told a press conference at his ministry Friday.

Zainuddin said the government had never given any newspapers special privilege and freedom and was always fair to all newspapers.

"If there are newspapers which claim they get special privileges from any quarters and want to challenge the government on this, then they should be prepared to face the consequences," he added.

theSun, an English paper, has decided to publish the Bahasa Malaysia version of a press statement by MOI Zainuddin Maidin (ZAM) at 18:12hr today. Excerpts:

Kerajaan telah pun mengumpul banyak bukti yang menunjukkan pernyiaran oleh akhbar-akhbar tempatan tertentu (bukan semua) dalam bentuk berita, rencana, wawancara dan juga penyiaran semua rencana yang telah disiarkan di luar negara, yang bertujuan untuk menidakkan kredibiliti kedudukan Agama Islam sebagai agama rasmi Malaysia, dan hak semua kaum di negara ini seperti terkandung dalam Perlembagaan Negara, yang tidak sewajarnya di persoalkan ataupun diperbincangkan.

Kerajaan juga mempunyai bukti bahawa penyiaran berita-berita, rencana dan wawancara ini telah menimbulkan kemarahan di kalangan rakyat Malaysia. Akhbar-akhbar seharusnya belajar daripada sejarah kewartawanan dan media di Malaysia yang membuktikan bahawa akhbar-akhbar juga terlibat dalam menimbulkan ketidakstabilan sehingga berlakunya tragedi 13 Mei dan kemudiannya kerajaan terpaksa mengambil tindakan terhadap media dengan melancarkan "Operasi Lalang".

Media tidak seharusnya menimbulkan "unnecessary contentious" dalam keadaan negara yang aman dan damai dan di mana dunia pasaran akhbar berada di dalam keadaan yang sihat dan tidak sentiasa diganggu gugat oleh 'Akta Hasutan 1948' dan juga 'Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984'.

Akhbar juga tidak seharusnya menjadi alat kepada "Pejuang Kebebasan Jalanan Akhbar" kerana orang dalam akhbar sendiri yang seharusnya lebih tahu bahawa dalam kerja seharian mereka tidak menghadapi gangguan daripada mana-mana pihak kecuali mereka bertindak di luar undang-undang. Individu dan juga masyarakat adalah terlindung dan dilindungi oleh undang-undang negara daripada penyalahgunaan akhbar.

Saya suka menegaskan sekali lagi, yang kerajaan tidak akan bertolak ansur terhadap media yang menaikkan api perkauman dan juga agama. Kerajaan 'mean business' dalam hal ini dan tetap akan berpandukan tindakan cara Malaysia dalam menangani masalah yang timbul untuk meneguhkan lagi peradaban akhbar beretika Malaysia, di negara ini yang mengutamakan amalan tanggungjawab sosial.

I hope you guys sit up and take note seriously. Is this a ZAM's personal manoeuvre? Is this a Cabinet directive? Which are the newspapers implicated that ZAM didn't identify openly? Is theSun's July 27 editorial, which came hot on the heel of the Mass Media Conference 2006, a precursor to more to come?

Is Malaysia under siege? What's looming on the horizon?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

Moments earlier, Dr Mahathir was reduced to a helpless old man, having been sprayed with Mace.

SOURCE: The Star, July 28, 2006

However, he recovered soon to deliver his speech at Perdana Hotel, right on schedule.

Proceedings of Dr Mahathir's speeches were transmitted via Kelantan.tv via live video streaming.

At 16:30hr, Screenshots received this brief update from a journalist on site:

Dr M attacks Brendan. Mentioned his names 5x!!!
Kali, kj, Scomi.

Earlier, at a press conference before the 3.30pm function started, Dr Mahathir described the attack as an attempt to stop him from speaking out. A transcript is available on Malaysiakini Chinese Edition and BM Edition, respectively.

UPDATE: Malaysiakini also has the English transcript up.

SOURCE: Malaysiakini Chinese Edition, July 28, 2006

SOURCE: Malaysiakini Bahasa Malaysia Edition, July 28, 2006

Abdullah feared rumours on Internet

Meanwhile, PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was angry over the incident and ordered the police to conduct an immediate investigation and to take stern action against those responsible for the act.

He said the matter should be immediately resolved to avoid negative implications and misconception among the public.

According to The Star, he also feared that certain quarters would take advantage of the incident by disseminating rumours, especially through the Internet.

On the other hand, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang wrote on his blog, condemning the bodily attack on Dr Mahathir. Quote:

The despicable teargas attack on former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baharu on his arrival this morning must be condemned by all Malaysians in the strongest possible terms as it represents a culture which is completely unacceptable and must not be allowed to take root in Malaysia.

However strongly or even viscerally one disagrees with another, and undoubtedly Mahathir is the object of powerful sentiments of both animosity and support, there can be no excuse for such a physical attack on another person.

Kit Siang also said the police should be able to instantly bring to book the culprit, or culprits, who perpetrated the attack, not so much because he was the former prime minister for 22 years but because like any other Malaysian, he should have freedom of movement, speech and expression without fear of loutish and gangsterism elements taking the law into their own hands.

UPDATES at 17:24hr: The session ended the with the traditional Kelantanese culture of cutting the pulut semangat.

On-site photos of Dr Mahathir's arrival at Kota Baru airport this morning can be viewed at Generasi-M.com.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION, 15:25hr: According to reporters covering the event in Kota Baru, the spin that is likely to be used for tomorrow's mainstream papers is that there are two factions of Mubarak members trying to organise the Mahathir's activities in Kelantan. However, the faction that lost got angry and resorted to spraying mace on Mahathir and Ibrahim Ali.

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini quoted sources as saying the incident was linked to the rivalry between two groups of Mahathir supporters, one led by Ibrahim Ali and the other by former Umno Kuala Krai leader Nik Safian Nik Yusof.

On the other hand, Deputy Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan told The Star that his officers have identified the man who sprayed the mace and expect to make an arrest soon.

Musa said the police were investigating the incident under Section 328 of the Penal Code.

n Putrajaya, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was angry over the incident and ordered the police to conduct an immediate investigation and to take stern action against those responsible for the act.

* * *

BREAKING NEWS Dr Mahathir's arrival at Kota Baru this morning was greeted with a teargas attack from anonymous assilants.

According to a reporter on site, who received the full brunt of the teargas and whom Screenshots talked to, the 'attack' came as Mahathir was about to start his speech onboard the sun-roofed Pajero.

Hit by teargas, Mahathir grimaced while holding on to the loudhailer... Picture courtesy MyKMU.net

"All of a sudden, Mahathir was coughing away, and I had to run for cover as my eyes became pedih because of something like teargas," said the reporter who wanted to remain anonymous.

As at 11:40am, a Little Bird in KB told Screenshots that Mahathir is in no danger after receiving immediate medical attention. He would proceed with all the activites as scheduled.

A police report has been lodged of the incident.

But reports from Malaysiakini at 11:53hr tells a picture of commotion (Malaysiakini has since updated its story):

All hell broke loose at the Kota Bahru airport when former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sprayed with mace this morning.

The former premier arrived at the airport at 10.50am for a two-day visit to the PAS-controlled state of Kelantan. He was greeted by more than 1,000 supporters.

He was then escorted by several men in jackets to a waiting Mitsubishi Pajero arranged by former Kelantan Umno strongman Ibrahim Ali.

It was at this point when Mahathir and Ibrahim Ali were sprayed with mace.

The former premier was apparently about to give a speech.

Following the attack, Mahathir was whisked away in a waiting black Honda Accord bearing the registration plate ‘DS 666'.

See also Rocky's Bru, Associated Press via The Star, Bernama, MyKMU.net and Web Forum, Generasi-M.com , Cuit Sikit, and the first... Mahendran of the Bolehland.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (37) | TrackBacks (0)

This is the sort of lovely story I like to tell on Friday, after a week of tedious, stressful events.

If you think this photo has come easy, think again.

This photo has actually connected people from Malaysia, New Zealand and the UK over a milieu that spreads across 27 years. (Just look at the car and the numberplate will tell.)

CY Leow, Ben Singh and I decided to publish the photo set to spring a surprise for Sharon in UK, who celebrates her birthday today.

While both CY and I have not met Ben before, my photography sifu has actually photographed Ben's wife in Penang about 27 years ago, With a blast of the past, this blog has put us together.

Many happy returns of the day, Sharon!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

July 13, Screenshots wrote:

To win, Dr Mahathir knows, the fight is in the Malay geographical and psychological landscapes. It has always been in the past, it will always be in the present and the future. The adat that upholds the core value of the Malay community is obviously very much alive in this country.

And this time, the war of wits will be fought in the Malay heartland that Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan and Brendan Pereira can't reach with their brand of English editorials... provided the 83-year-old gets to turun padang this deep.

Today, July 28, Dr Mahathir goes trail-blazing in Kelantan, with a relatively easy schedule by his standard: a breakfast rally at the Pengkala Chepa airport, a tea dialogue at a hotel, and dinner at another hotel.

Kelantan qualifies in many ways as an important geography for the Malay heartland that I meant, though it's government by PAS. If Dr Mahathir can penetrate the superficial layers, he will ultimately reach, and dominate, their inner mindscape. As a vintage strategist, Mahathir knows his stakes, and rewards if he were to succeed.

And the initial attempts had been illustrative. Harakahdaily.net runs the story as the lead headline yesterday, titled: 'Rakyat Rakyat bersamamu Dr Mahathir', and the banners that sprang up around Kota Baru are a tell-tale sign. Mahathir, who saw defeat in the state election many times over, is now the new poster boy in Kelantan.

At Pengkalan Chepa airport:

'Tun Teruskan Perjuanganmu Yang Belum Selesai, Rakyat Kelantan Bersamamu'.

From 'ahli-ahli veteran Umno Kelantan':

'Selamat Datang Tun Dr Mahathir ke Kelantan';
'Jasa Yang Tidak Ternilai Ingatan Sepanjang Masa. Teruskan Perjuangan Tun'

From 'ahli-ahli Umno Kelantan'.

Selamatkan Maruah Agama, Bangsa dan Negara Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad'

Other banners bear affection for Mahathir as a national hero, and his wife, and exemplary mother:

'Selamat Datang Tun Wira Negara - Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ibu Mithali ke Kelantan.'

Even PAS, Mahathir's arch rival in politics, has come up with a welcome banner, urging the Kelantan folks to attend the Meet-Mahathir sessions in throngs.

I was informed that wire agencies and foreign correspondents have set up camp in Kota Baru as early as yesterday. The NST, which gags the media space it commands, can't really conceal this event.

All pictures courtesy Malaysiakini.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The same of the same.

Via The NST, July 28, 2006.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday, I sat down with a veteran, retired media observer who taught me the difference between a Strong Ego and a Big Ego.

He used a Rocky's Bru posting to illustrate how ego works.

Rocky said: "Experienced and responsible editors readily admit an error and have no qualms about apologising if the mistake is grave. An apology may save a newspaper from being sued."

The media observer said that's a Strong Ego at work.

Rocky said: "But, mostly, editors say sorry and admit mistakes to uphold their own and their newspapers' integrity and credibility, lest they are accused of spreading lies."

That's a Stronger Ego at work, said the veteran I most respect.

And, it goes without saying that when a former prime minister's demand for a public apology -- over factual errors in The NST that had been pointed out by the victim so demonised, and that the same had been re-confirmed by the incumbent prime minister -- was flatly and expressly denied, the Big Ego apparently has reared its ugly head in the public space.

And there's no remorse.

This is what Sufi Yusoff, Dr Mahathir's press secretary, sent to A. Kadir Jasin's blog at 13:17hr on July 27:

The following is my letter dated July 24 to the NSTP. To this date, it hasn't been published:

Ybhg Datuk Hishamuddin Aun
Group Editor-in-Chief
New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad
Balai Berita
31, Jalan Riong
59100 Kuala Lumpur

On July 20, 2006 the NST and Berita Harian, two publications under the NSTP published these two news items, of which the excerpts I have taken off the website and reproduced here;

No ill-feeling towards Dr M, says Abdullah
20 Jul 2006
By Hamidah Atan and Deborah Loh

- “When he was in Tokyo recently, Abdullah said, he was the one who made the effort to meet Dr Mahathir in the latter’s room after knowing that the former prime minister was also staying in the same hotel.

Abdullah said he contacted an officer of Dr Mahathir to enquire whether the former prime minister had time for them to meet.

"I did not ask him to come and see me. I went to meet him. As a gesture of friendship, just to exchange greetings," he said. ”

Saya tak ada masalah dengan Dr M: Abdullah
Oleh Shamshul Azree Samshir dan Azrina Ahzan

- “Perdana Menteri yang ditanya mengenai hubungannya dengan Dr Mahathir sekarang, juga berkata, ketika menghadiri satu forum di Tokyo baru-baru ini, beliau mengambil inisiatif menemui bekas perdana menteri itu.

Abdullah berkata, beliau menghubungi pegawai Dr Mahathir bertanyakan sama ada bekas perdana menteri itu ada masa berjumpanya.

“Bukan saya suruh dia datang jumpa saya. Saya (pergi) jumpa dia, sebagai silaturahim, bertanya khabar,” katanya.”

Based on these two news items, quoting none other than Prime Minister Abdullah himself, it is clear that the columnist’s version of the events of the meeting in Tokyo on May 26, 2006, was inaccurate.

Note: This letter is also sent to the columnist who is also Deputy Chairman of the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad seeking an apology from him.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

What I can make out of deputy minister Fu Ah Kiow's statement is that idiots in the mainstream media had wanted the electronic and Internet media to be placed under the ambit of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 because:

"...the print media had made numerous references to the anomaly that existed, which allowed the electronic media to get away with things that the print media could not.

“They feel there are double standards, and that it is not a level playing field.”

A media observer, who requested anonymity, was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying that the print media was barking up the wrong tree.:

He said they should be pushing for the repeal of the Act instead of widening its restrictive powers.

The observer, who declined to be named, also stressed that greater freedom must be accompanied by greater responsibility on the part of news organisations.

The PPPA 1984 makes it a compulsion for publications to apply for a licence from the Ministry of Internal Security before they can operate, and the license must be renewed annually at the absolute pleasure and discretion of the authority.

For years, numerous quarters have called on the government to repeal the PPPA, which they argue stifles freedom of expression and freedom of information.

And there are people and then some who said there "has never been a freer media in this country".

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Looming on the horizon, according to A. Kadir Jasin (AKJ):

1. The Prime Minister has indirectly given recognition to the bloggers by advising the mainstream media not to ape and compete with websites and bloggers to be the popular information channel;
2. The contract of the CEO of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Azlan Mohd Zainol, may not be renewed. If that happened, watch out for who his replacement. EPF, with an asset totalling RM240.3 billion (in 2004), is a "diamond mine" for many a financial intermediary;
3. Contract, or letter of approval, may have been issued to certain parties to build the glorious sports complex in the UK that's worth RM490 million. Or else, why was there a Minister so adamant in defending the project and was so certain of its cost? Who is the contractor?

AKJ wrote in Bahasa Malaysia. The translation is mine, and apologies before hand if there are flaws in my translation.

You sure Khairy no more there?

Elsewhere in the same blog, AKJ said Khalil Yaakob, the person touted as the mediator in the Mahathir-Abdullah tussle, has written a letter to the Prime Minister in which he relayed Mahathir's message after their meeting on July 1.

Even though Abdullah has clarified that Khairy Jamaluddin no longer works for him, AKJ's sources said Khalil, a former politician who is now a non-partisan, symbolic head of state, had relayed his letter to the PM through the famous son-in-law, in his capacity that bypasses that of the Umno Youth chief.

On July 25, Mahathir confirmed that Khalil was the 'mediator', and that they did meet up face-to-face and his message has been conveyed to the latter. Via AgendaDaily:

Menurut Dr Mahathir sewaktu pertemuan dirumahnya itu beliau menjelaskan kepada Khalil apa masalahnya dan apa yang perlu dilakukan.

“Mudah saja…jangan pergi dan kowtow dengan Singapura,jangan bagi banyak AP ,jangan menekan Proton…jangan jual Agusta…perkara-perkara itulah.Anda beli satu barang pada harga RM500 juta dan jualnya empat ringgit dan anda kata tidak rugi duit,” ujarnya.

Malaysiakini has the same story.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

This is how Malaysia looks at the challenges of the globalisation era.

Yesterday, at the closing of Mass Media Conference 2006 organised by the Internal Security Ministry, themed "Media and Globalisation Era Challenges", Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow said, via The Star:

The Government will study if the Printing Presses and Publications Act should be amended to include the electronic media and the Internet media.

(He) said since the Act was formulated more than 20 years ago, there had been a lot of new developments in the media world and yet only the print media came under the supervision of the ministry.

He said the print media had made numerous references to the anomaly that existed, which allowed the electronic media to get away with things that the print media could not.

“They feel there are double standards, and that it is not a level playing field.”

A day earlier at the opening of the annual event, Fu's boss, PM cum Internal Security Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said mainstream media in the country need not compete with websites and "bloggers" on the Internet to publish speculative and sensational materials and news.

Watershedding draconians

Under the provisions of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA), all mainstream media are required to apply for a printing and publication license to operate, and to renew it thereafter annually. The act was implemented in 1984, the year George Orwell warned 'Big Brother is Watching You'.

With the completion of the 2004 General Election, the custodian of the PPPA has shifted from the Home Affairs Ministry to the newly created Internal Security Ministry, of which the Prime Minister doubles up as its minister.

On theother hand, when the MSC was launched in 1996, a set of cyber laws, including the Digital Signature Act 1997, were introduced to reign supreme in the IP-network sphere.

Under the provisions of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, judicially, there is no censorship of Internet. The hallmark is towards a self-regulatory regime, which was -- and still is -- the prevalent trend in the progressive world.

Malaysia may have re-invented the reverse gear.

In the final analysis, may someone advise Fu Ah Kiow that Fu Manchu (no pun intended), the 1913 fictional character that "works for the overthrow of Western civilisation or the 'White Race'", is no longer relevant in the globalised age as Internet, websites and blogs are no longer regarded as weapons of the imperial race. It's, rather, a universal medium that levels the playing field in the power paradigm. Stop it only at your peril.

P/S: This blog is apocalypsic. With a .com domain name, it may one day be forced to host the server overseas where the arm of Malaysian law is short on cyberspace. And shall we stop dreaming of making MSC a regional communications and digital content hub.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The Star has an ironical layout on its frontpage yesterday (July 25, 2006).

There is a blurb indicating that Malaysia is moving on to its 49th anniversary as an independent country.

The headline lead implies we have lost faith in the Federal Constitution.

Somehow, there are Malaysians who dearly missed our forefathers Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Abdul Razak Hussein and Hussein Onn vis-a-vis their upholding of the Federal Constitution Article 121(1A) since the time the trio have been replaced by the fourth, and now fifth, prime minister.

I'm sure young Malaysians from the generation of Jacqueline Ann Surin, and peers of Richard Yeoh, will feel saddened that we are not only running on the spot, but sliding back after almost half-a-century of nation building.

On the larger picture, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang is questioning if it's a curtain down of sorts for the "greater openness, accountability and transparency pledged by the Prime Minister", barely after 31 months of his premiership?

I, for one, would like to read the Federal Constitution, with all its interlocutory 181 Articles, as a whole.

There's no nation without a constitution. There's no nation-building without complying to its constitutional sanctity.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (29) | TrackBacks (0)

To the honourable members of the Public Audit Committee (PAC) of the Parliament:

1. Chairman, Shahrir bin Abdul Samad


2. Deputy chairman Dr. Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong)


3. Mohd. Sarit bin Yusoh (Temerloh)


4. Dr. K.S Nijhar (Subang)


5. Dr. Tan Kee Kwong (Segambut)


6. Liow Tiong Lai (Bentong)


7. Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran)


8. Jimmy Donald (Sri Aman)


9. Lim Bee Kau (Padang Serai)


10. Ir. Hasni bin Haji Mohammad (Pontian)


11. Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Kemaman)


12. M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat)


13. Kamarudin bin Jaffar (Tumpat)


14. Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail (Permatang Pauh)

When you go into session August 10 to investigate the ECM-Libra's 'merger' with Avenue Capital, make sure you do your homework.

Mentally, you need to know where your love for your political party ends, and where your love for the country starts.

For a start, at least read Point No 54 of the affidavit filed by Matthias Chang in his RM100 million suit against Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan. It gives some background facts about ECM-Libra from FY ending March 31, 2004 through present time.

Rocky's Bru has a context to this, titled Container of Worms. Just sniff your way from there.

I'm quite sure there would be kind people too willing to help you guys if you are in need of more facts.

We expect nothing too much from the fourteen of you. Just do the honourable things that befit your honourable office, Yang Berhormat.

I, MATTHIAS CHANG WEN CHIEH (I/C No: 500222-10-5571) a Malaysian citizen...

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

Another blogger, a seasoned hand on media operatives, wrote on the same topic as Screenshots did about MOI Zainuddin Maidin's (ZAM) assertions that there is a "small group of journalists in certain media (organisations)" who are being made use of by "foreign elements" to negate the "media freedom and openness introduced by Abdullah" in this country.

The blogger's posting has invited a revealing response:

Has there been any updates after the weekly Cabinet meeting today?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Remember the 'Roti Benggali' story that Lim Kit Siang talked about? Via Utusan Malaysia, June 29:

Mengulas mengenai khabar angin yang menyatakan beliau tidak berpuas hati dengan pembatalan beberapa projek mega kerana mempunyai kepentingan ke atasnya, Dr. Mahathir sekali lagi dengan sinis berkata: ‘‘Saya kehilangan segala-galanya kerana saya melabur kesemuanya ke dalam projek-projek kepunyaan saya.

‘‘Mereka boleh menyiasat banyak mana saya telah melabur untuk kesemua projek ini,” katanya.

Dr. Mahathir menambah, beliau kini sedang beralih arah kepada perniagaan roti memandangkan kegagalan ‘projek meganya’. Sekarang saya nak jual roti benggali,” ujarnya.

Well, it's for real now.

Dr Mahathir's bakery and bistro -- The Loaf -- will be officially launched in Langkawi this weekend. Official launch is over a Saturday evening cocktail, and press launch and Breakfast with Dr M will be the next morning.

Dr Mahathir is the chairman and major shareholder of the company behind "The Loaf". It's also a brainchild of K.Suzuki, the president of The Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM).

Dr Mahathir, I was told, had wanted to leverage the presence of "The Loaf" to enhance the image of Langkawi, and to promote Langkawi among foreign tourists as a world class destination in Asia.

The Loaf's technique, recipe and supporting technology elements are adopted from Japan where quality and taste of bread ranks among the best in the world.

For those who are in Langkawi right now, check it out:

The Loaf
C9, Perdana Quay, Telaga Harbour Park
Pantai Kok, 07000 Langkawi
Tel 04/959-4866
Fax: 04/959-4803

If you have photos, please email me.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

The Court has ordered both Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan and Matthias Chang, who counter sued each other for RM50 million and RM100 million espectively over a June 11 article in The NST, to stop making statements against each other pending the disposal of a defamation suit between them.

Justice Kang Hwee Gee of the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted the orders in chambers yesterday.

Relevant stories are available in Malaysiakini, Utusan Malaysia, The Star, The NST, and Oriental Daily News.

The June 11 article in contention, written by Kalimullah, has also been disputed for "factual errors" by former prime minister Dr Mahathir via his press secretary, Sufi Yusoff.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his meet-the-press session on July 18, also gave a perspective in support of Mahathir/Sufi's rebuttal of factual errors in Kalimullah's article.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

MOI Zainuddin Maidin (ZAM) was quoted in Utusan Malaysia as saying:

Kebebasan dan keterbukaan akhbar yang diperkenalkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah disalah guna oleh segelintir wartawan media tertentu yang menjadi alat kepada anasir luar.

Menteri Penerangan, Datuk Zainuddin Maidin berkata, jika keadaan ini berterusan ia akan menyebabkan berlakunya penjajahan media yang sekaligus menghancurkan institusi itu sendiri.

‘‘Kita tidak sedar apa yang berlaku. Kita akan bangga apabila nama kita dikenali di luar tetapi sebenarnya ia adalah elemen media imperialisme.

Besides IHT's David Brooks (Can fever cure the jihadi?) that ZAM spotted, who else are this "small group of journalists in certain media (organisations)"? Who are these "foreign elements" making use of the said journalists? If such double-talk of connecting "media freedom and openness introduced by Abdullah" to "foreign elements" is to proliferate, the proposed Malaysian Press Council is doomed, and witch-hunting will begin.

If ZAM is a patriot he postures to be, then he should talk straight, and name names and nab them instead of instilling fear and arousing suspicion among journalists good and bad.

You can't have our editors saying 'Good night and good luck' to each other at offstone everyday.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (0)

DENIAL.

DENIAL.

DENIAL.

Coming from people who don't even use emails.

What a joke.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 09:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBacks (0)

July 19, Screenshots blogged about Anwar Ibrahim, who pleaded ignorance and claimed innocence over the foreign exchange (forex) speculations that resulted in losses of up to RM30 billion for Bank Negara between 1992 and 1994, when he was holding the positions of (former) DPM and Finance Minister .

However, that did not stop Anwar from naming four persons as the the key players in the forex debacle. As one of the four persons he named is dead, Anwar trained his gun on the three living, two of them are his known political nemeses.

Summararily, Anwar accused the trio of dabbling in the forex speculation behind the deceased's back.

Today, Rosli Yaakop, who until April 1994 was Bank Negara’s economics department deputy manager, has stepped forward with a rebuttal.

Contrary to assertions by Anwar, Rosli said the late Bank Negara (BN) governor Jaffar Hussein was “among the main architects of foreign exchange speculation” that caused losses of up to RM30 billion.

Rosli told Malaysiakini that Jaffar could not be freed from sharing the responsibility together with Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop for the losses that occurred between 1992 to 1994.

“I was at Bank Negara then and I knew the inside story. Among the main architects of the forex speculation was the governor himself and Nor Mohamed, who implemented the speculation (scheme),” Rosli told malaysiakini.

He said that Nor Mohamed was considered as Jaffar’s blue-eyed boy. [...]

While the losses were identified by lower-ranking officers, no action was taken to prevent additional losses but because the matter was concealed from the governor’s knowledge, said Rosli.

“Jaffar’s biggest mistake while leading Bank Negara was placing too much trust in Nor Mohamed and failing to discern breach of Bank Negara regulations and (currency) market norms,” he said.

In the final analysis, he said, the actions of Jaffar and Nor Mohamed had led the people’s money to “go down the drain” and had burdened the public.

Rosli is currently PAS Negri Sembilan commissioner.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

Brendan Pereira singled out five fugitive Malaysians in his column yesterday -- Balbir Kaur, Teh Soon Seng, Datuk Patric (sic) Lim, Jennifer Tay, Michael Soosai -- saying that 'it must be fun living on the run'.

Conspicuously and glaringly, The NST Group Editor has missed out one prominent white-collar criminal, Ooi Kee Seng, the US$4 million man who was once caught and imprisoned in Belgium and Canada before he returned to create havoc in Malaysia.

How could Brendan miss it as a newsman when Ooi Kee Seng @ Ooi Kee Siang aka Wee Kee Seng, now listed as an international fugitive, is currently playing on Discovery Channel (Astro Channel 50)?

The On The Run series on Ooi Kee Seng, titled: The Elusive Mr.Wee, premiered in the US on July 17, and was on air in Astro at 22:00hr last night and 04:00 this morning.

The blurb reads:

After stealing millions, a man posing as a successful Asian businessman leads lawmen on a manhunt across 5 countries and 3 continents – and through every karaoke bar in between.

For those who missed the Discovery 'On The Run' episode on Ooi, it will be repeated at 09:00hr and 14:00hr today, 20:00hr on July 29 and 13:00hr on July 30.

Stealing from the poor

Why did Brendan miss out on Ooi? Did he have a selective mind over who should be exposed? Or was it frail memory that led him to ignore the alleged RM11 million CBT case involving Ooi and the former Rural Development Ministry at the time Umno stalwart Annuar Musa was the minister?

Everybody knew the RM11 million was meant to help the hardcore poor.

As a flashback, the November 12, 2005 edition of The Star frontpaged this story:

"...Sessions Court judge Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab convicted Dr Abdul Aziz, 61, of abetting former Ketengah (Terengganu Tengah Development Authority) general manager Datuk Alwi Said in committing CBT involving RM2mil in Ketengah funds together with millionaire Ooi Kee Siang at Kompleks Kewangan in Jalan Raja Chulan here between April 27 and July 31, 1999.

“Alwi would not have committed CBT with Ketengah’s funds had Dr Abdul Aziz and Ooi not repeatedly instigated him to do so over several board meetings of Tasik Puteri Integrated Farm (M) Sdn Bhd.

But where's the Big Fish after the sacrificial lamb has been slaughtered?

It's noted that at least two Malaysians have testified on Ooi's trails in the Discovery programme, see screenshots below:

Journalists are supposed to uphold their profession by starting a topic and see it through till the end. Since Brendan has chosen to distract us by looking at those people he claimed to be "having fun while on the run", he should pursue the Ooi Kee Seng case till it's done.

If in doubt, Brendan should consult Bukit Aman and Eddie Chua (pictures above) for referencing. Chua, by the way, was once an investigative reporter with the old Malay Mail who is now with The Star.

The Discovery programme concluded by saying Ooi was let off the hook when he was repatriated to Malaysia after serving a 2-year sentence in Canada.

Reason: No witnesses to assist in prosecuting him in Malaysia -- though Ooi has been named in the CBT case implicating Annuar Musa's former ministry.

The Discovery programme also says Ooi is currently believed to be on the run in either Australia or Thailand.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Malaysiakini Chinese Edition celebrates its First Anniversary today.

In the short first 365 days, the four-man team led by Yong Kai Ping has created a new brand of journalism: Transparency in news reporting that's 'as clear as drinking water'. It has captured the heart of the Chinese community in such a short time.

Congratulations!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Talking about human rights mechanism, ss Asean valid after having failed to culture its rogue 10th member, Myanmar, to release Aung San Suu Kyi?

FA Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Asean has given up on Myanmar.

However, today, Malaysia will play host to the 39th Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, as well as the 13th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) meeting after that.

United States' Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, having confirmed her attendance, will be flying into the Malaysian capital amid escalating tension in West Asia, uncertainty over North Korea's nuclear arms programme and Asean member Myanmar's feet-dragging on the introduction of democratic reforms.

According to Bernama, Rice, skipped the 38th AMM in Laos last year in a move widely speculated to be a deliberate snub due to dissatisfaction over Asean's failure to institute changes on one of its own.

Watch out for Umno-controlled papers tomorrow, because Pemuda Umno, whoever leads it, wanted to confront Rice for condoning Israel's military action on Lebanon, which seems helpless over Hezbollah's militancy within its own borders.

For a start, Pemuda Umno chief Hishmauddin Hussein, the well-groomed son of the Onn family, has called UN secretary-general Kofi Annan a 'bacul'.

But when Malaysia is making the clarion calls to damn the UN, why are the Arab nations silent towards the Israeli aggression which led to the killing of hundreds of civilians in Lebanon?

A former Malaysian diplomat to the oil-rich region has a theory. He says it's their concern over the spread of the Syiah influence in West Asia that made these Arabs maimed and neutered.

Food for thought.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

This has nothing to do with the PAC's latest antics to check on the ECM-Libra/Aveneue Capital deals.

Beginning this Wednesday, an English comedy theatre, entitled "Flagrante Delicto" in Latin, which means "the act of committing a crime" in a legal term, will be staged at the Actors Studio in Bangsar Shopping Complex for five days, reports Bernama.

The drama revolves around a story of a group of bankers who had the wildest thoughts of robbing a bank, and actually took RM9 million from the bank to gamble at the race course and later returned the money to the bank without anyone noticing.

It looks like a perfect crime as the bank incurred no loss, but as the maxim 'crime doesn't pay' holds true, the bankers somehow get caught in the end.

What gives away? It's when the foolish act of the bankers was detected by the bank's auditor who "initiated an investigation using interview techniques and even consulted a 'Thai bomoh' who after being exorcised by the spirit can suddenly speak English."

The play is written by scriptwriter cum actor and director K. Loghandran, or fondly known as Loggie from the popular comedy duo "Loggie and Monti." The producer is Ong Siew Chien.

The cast comprises 18 multi-racial actors and actresses made up of real bank and ex-bank staff from a theatre group called Spot-on Theatre Petaling Jaya.

BTW, Loghandran himself is a former bank employee.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Star has been named the English paper contributing the most articles on culture, arts and heritage at the media night organised by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister

The keyword: Promoting Malaysian culture.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

July 20, I asked whether Sufi Yusoff, Dr Mahathir's press secretary, has been vindicated over the factual error that Haji Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan committed in his Sunday column in June 11 edition of The NST.

Screenshots was informed that, today, Sufi has faxed a letter to Kalimullah, with a copy to the NST Group Editor-in-chief Hishamuddin Aun, pertaining to PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's confirmation that Kalimullah had erred factually, though the former GEIC and current deputy chairman of NST made no retraction of the error despite his being corrected.

Kalimullah has until Thursday to respond.

Here are the bullet points to put the record straight:

• In his June 11 column, Kalimullah declared that it was Mahathir who had asked to see PM Abdullah when both were staying in the same hotel in Japan on May 26. (See PDF here).
• Sufi wrote on behalf of Mahathir on the same day Kalimullah's column was published, pointing out that Kalimullah's allegation was a factual error, and that Mahathir didn't ask to see Abdullah.

  The NST published Mahathir's letter the next day, June 12. But Kalimullah didn't apologise nor offer any sign of remorse. (See screenshot here.)

• July 19, Abdullah broke his 'elegant silence' and voluntarily offered his side of the story. According to Bernama, Abdullah said he was actually the one who had made the effort to meet Dr Mahathir in the latter's room after knowing that Dr Mahathir also stayed at the same hotel.

  Abdullah said he contacted an officer of Dr Mahathir to enquire whether the former prime minister had the time for them to meet. (See Bernama report here.)

• Some papers reported that Abdullah had identified that officer as Mahathir's senior aide, Datuk Zakaria.

Incidentally, Kalimullah's June 11 column was titled: And who, really, is demonising whom.

We will have to wait and see if Haji Kalimullah would say in his paper ( 1 ) his boss is always right; ( 2 ) if the boss is wrong, go back to ( 1 ). And newspaper, as we all know, is the first draft of history.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 09:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Sharir Abdul Samad cannot pretend that he heard nothing at the July 18 briefing session for Umno FT held at the Nikko Hotel recently.

That was the session during which Umno grassroots brought up the issue of the 'merger' between ECM Libra, linked to Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan as the chairman and joint CEO, and Avenue Capital, a GLC owned by the rakyat through the Treasury.

So yesterday, Sharir has to pull out one the many hats he is wearing, this time as the chairman of the Parliamentary Public Audit Committee (PAC) , to put ECM-Libra on the spot. He wants to know how the deal, of a smaller entity swallowing a bigger one, went through.

SOURCE: Utusan Malaysia, July 24, 2006

Utusan Malaysia and Oriental Daily News have the story.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

July 22 at the Subang Airport, moments as stepped foot onto his motherland Malaysia, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad raised the ghosts of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, and their conflicting convictions, yet again.

Is the feudalistic conviction to loyalty, as encased by the nobility of 'mana titah, patek junjung', of any relavance these days?

Dr Mahathir was reported to have asked Saturday: "We have to understand, we have to follow the way of the government. But don’t just say kami sokong (we support). Don’t sokong everything - mana titah, patek junjung (your wish is my command)".

A night earlier, as Dr Mahathir was making his flight back from London on Friday, I rushed back to KL to attend the sneak preview of the leBrocquy Fraser production, Wangi Jadi Saksi.

The theatrical production is written and directed by U-Wei HajiSaari under the auspices of Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka and the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

The production has a definitive pull. It's a return to active artistry by the award-winning film director after a long sojourn in search of himself. It's the first major production by leBroquy Fraser, which produced the Golden Globe-winning "Osama" (which has no relevance to bin Laden).

But the story is arresting. It takes us on a bungee plunge into the deep valleys of ketuanan and kesetiaan in the Malay psyche passed down from the 500-year legacy through the now deplete Melaka Sultanate.

Wangi Jadi Saksi... the opening scene

Wangi Jadi Saksi is the story of Hang Jebat's betrayal, and ultimate murder, as told through the eyes of his young widow, Dang Wangi. In the story, she confronts those courtesan loyalists accountable for her husband's death.

With a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards, a clean characteristic of Malay melodrama, Jebat's confrontations with his comrades and nemesis, Hang Tuah included, are revealed through a provocative rendition of an old legendary event.

Dang Wangi and Pateh Kirma Wijaya at the threshold of a flashback

It's a politically-charged thriller, of sorts, set in the 15th-century Melaka during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah when the sultanate was at its prime. Here, you see a re-staging of the hierarchy of power paradigm, and the nobility that comes with it, as represented by the four Great Lords of the sultante, namely the Bendahara, Penghulu Bendahari, Temenggung and Seri Bija Diraja.

However, the paradigm cracks when the post of Laksamana (Hang Tuah) is instituted, and the position of Seri Bija Diraja begins to erode -- we now have the iconism, and the status that comes with it, of the new warrior to rise on par, and to overshadow it.

Think it through the present day political circumstances, you can draw vivid parallels.

And incidentally, U-Wei narrates his story along those lines without betraying much from the reference texts "Sejarah Melayu" and "Hikayat Hang Tuah", the texts that I studied briefly during my sixth-form, and elaborately during my varsity days.

It's a tragedy for one having to decide between loyalty to the feudal pinnacle and his comrade who fought fearlessly to glorify their master. Hang Tuah is remembered as an exemplary Malay warrior who pledged his absolute loyalty to the Sultan, and to Melaka, when didn't hesitate to kill his closest, childhood friend Hang Jebat at the command of the master.

Hence the inner conflict of 'mana titah, patek junjung', if the Malay psyche still has it today, is played back to the modern audience's mindscape, yet once again. Appreciate it.

Or else, just sit back as if it's yet another of those stage productions that's to foremost entertain, and to inflict catharsis of sorts sublimally, next. At least, the cast is impressive with a line-up of Khir Rahman (Hang Tuah), Vanidah Imran (Dang Wangi) and Sobri Anuar (Hang Jebat) taking the leads, and flanked by doyens in the league of Rahim Razali (Bendahara), Khalid Salleh (Pateh Karma Wijaya) and Sabri Yunus (as "Masa", or Time).

(L to R) Rahim Razali, Sobri Anuar, Vanidah Imran, Khalid Salleh, U-Wei HajiSaari, DBP's Dr Firdaus Hj Abdullah, Khir Rahman and Julia Fraser

There is a little ensemble of Nusantara soundscape that helps create the rustic moods as the audience is thrown back into a 5-century historical path.

Production notes

The production is supported by Desmond Crowe (creative direction), Sutex Haron (costume design), Azizul Zahid Jamal (lighting design), Y. Subowo (music) and Dwiono Hermantoro and Suhaimi Maggi (choreography).

Producer Julia Fraser says Wangi Jadi Saksi has all the elements that are distinct to U-Wei's style of story-telling. "It's a compelling combination of psychology, emotional depth, tortured performances, strong detail and a fine sense of craft," Julia says.

U-Wei HjSaari... LensaPix by Jeff Ooi

Like his past works "Perempuan, Isteri Dan...", Jogho" and "Kaki Bakar", U-Wei admits he relishes in conjuring the confrontation between leading characters of hos story. This time, it's the confrontation between Hang Jebat and Hang Tuah as depicted in Sejarah Melayu and Hikayat Hang Tuah.

"Wangi Jadi Saksi is one version of that event where, by trying to understand the meaning of Hang Jebat and the sensibility of Malay written and spoken texts, I'm allowing myself to conjure what may have taken place behind the closed doors of the palace during the confrontation between Jebat and Tuah," says the writer-director U-Wei. "And the confrontation between these characters are the most interesting aspects of these two books."

Doubtlessly, many writters have produced numerous versions of this Jebat-Tuah conflict, with various dramatic styles and renditions. They all allow for liberal interpretation, and perhaps speculation, of the value of ketuanan and kesetiaan shrouded in the intrigues of the courtesan mystique.

Let's wish U-Wei the very best as Wangi Jadi Saksi premieres this Thursday, July 27, which also marks the official opening of the RM50 million Auditorium Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

More importantly, we wish U-Wei has reclaimed his oasis for his remarkable work in performing arts. Wangi Jadi Saksi will be his first theatrical production since "Bakai" in 1997. I understand that lebrocquy Fraser, which professes to be "listening to the pulse of Asia", has long term plans to develop the independent film industry in the region, and U-Wei will be leBrocquy's base set-up in Malaysia. Two film projects have been lined up for his auteurship.

Wangi Jadi Saksi opens on July 27 and runs through August 6. Tickets are available at Axcess Hotline at 03-7711 5000 or get discounts online at www.axcess.com.my.

Visit: www.wangijadisaksi.com for further information.

All LensaPix by Jeff Ooi.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

Terence Fernandez, Deputy News Editor (Special Reporting and Investigations) at theSun, devoted the first 6 paragraphs of his July 20 column to to one mystery person. It has an arresting headline: Truth be told, it's a con job:

Heard the one about the so-called "Dr" who is supposed to revolutionise the human resource and intellectual development industry? You would have seen his mug adorning the billboards from KL to KLIA.

Isn't it a bit dodgy when someone sells himself more than his product or services?

What makes it more suspicious is when his security detail is even more impressive than that of the prime minister or even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong!

Bullet-proof vests are an indication that someone seriously wants to do you in. (But what happens when they shoot you in the head?)

Unfortunately, we Malaysians are gullible folk taken in by appearances while disregarding substance.

With several police reports lodged against him for financial breaches, the so-called "Dr" seems to have gone off the radar for the time being.

Who is this "so-called 'Dr' who is supposed to revolutionise the human resource and intellectual development industry...with his mug adorning the billboards from KL to KLIA"?

I travelled the KL-KLIA route a fair bit, and my vague memory of such a personality is probably pointing to a press interview in none other than theSun on May 18, 2006...

...which leads me to Newleaf, and an interview on Astro Prima, 7:30pm, March 23, 2006.

I also have a vague idea of another of Terence's featured personality: The "people's activist" who has been putting "Datuk Dr" to his name? Terence wrote:

Mind you, he is not a qualified medical or dental practitioner nor does he hold a Ph.D. - and he ain't no rocket scientist either. Trust me, I've dealt with him.

The Datukship was bought from Mindanao - much to the chagrin of our Sultans and King who made a royal fuss when the matter came to light six years ago.

But I just don't want to go on speculating. Let curiosity kill the cat, but can Terence be more specific?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBacks (0)

You have to praise The Star and Oriental Daily News for the guts to report, each complete with a picture, on the public's reception given Dr Mahathir's on his return from overseas yesterday.

Umno-controlled papers from The NSTP and Utusan Malaysia groups have blacked-out the news. National news agency Bernama, with Abdullah's confidant and speechwriter Annuar Zaini as the chairman, also ignored the news completely. (UPDATES: The NST website has uploaded the Dr Mahathir story -- 500 words with a picture -- when I revisited its website as at 13:06hr, while Berita Minggu has a 200-word story wrapedin 8 paragraphs.)

The first thing he exposed was that he was prevented from meeting up with Umno club members in London. Quote:

Saya pi London nak cakap dengan penuntut .. tak boleh... ditanya... disoal... ni nak jumpa dengan Tun ke ? [...] tak payahlah nak takut sangat kat saya… saya bukan nak makan orang…

Tak lama tiga tahun yang dulu puji saya sampai naik asap..lani ni tak boleh berjumpa dengan orang UMNO… saya hairan…

Dulu masa Tunku Abdul Rahman dia tulis dalam Star… dia tulis buku… kata macam-macam… dia sokong orang yang nak bagi jatuh saya… saya tak buat apapun kat Tunku Abdul Rahman…

Datuk Seri Anwar (masa reformasi) boleh ada perjumpaan 10,000 orang… pun kita tak halang… ni nak mai sambut saya balik pun tak boleh… saya sedihlah…

Apa yang nak sembunyi sangat… kalau benda yang buat tu betul..tak payah sembunyi… dedahlah… tunjuk perjanjian tawaran kepada Singapura tu… itu yang saya minta dedah…

All pictures courtesy Malaysiakini

Dr Mahathir was asked whether his criticism of the Abdullah administration all boils down to a difference of opinion.

He said no. He said it's a matter of issues. Quote:

It is not a matter of me going to see him (Abdullah) and shaking his hand and everything is over. It’s a matter of (differences on) issues. The issues must be tackled. Why did you (Abdullah’s government) offer one million cubic metres of sand (to Singapore)?

The following is an abstract of Dr Mahathir's 10-minute speech while standing through the sunroof of a four-wheel-drive yesterday morning, as reported Malaysiakini's Andrew Ong and Kuek Ser Kuang Keng

But a better rendition is in his Kedahan Malay, as reported in the AgendaDaily. Quote:

Soalan wartawan: Jadi Tun akan teruskan?

Dr Mahathir: Saya fikir ini negara bebas... katanyalah... negara bebas…tapi Kalimullah (Timbalan Pengerusi akhbar NST) control …

Jadi saya nak bercakap... bercakaplah…

No doubt, he knows where his target is. The video-clips of Dr Mahathir's july 22 speech can be downloaded from Generasi-M.com.

Malaysiakini, July 22, 2006

I didn’t think that one day I'll get such a reception [crowd claps and cheers wildly]. But when I was prime minister, there were more people (to receive me) [crowd laughs].

I am no longer allowed to meet people. What are they so afraid of? [crowd shouts: ‘not scared, not scared’]. Why are they scared of me? It’s not that I can do anything [crowd laughs].

When I stepped down (as PM), I no longer get any praises. Back then, it was not just praises, but also great admiration. Now, when I wanted to speak to some people in England - cannot. I want to speak to former elected representatives in Kelantan, even that is banned.

They tell me not to speak to opposition (political) parties or NGOs. But they don’t even give me a chance to speak to Umno people. If you have done is right, what's there to fear?

I don’t ask for much. Just provide answers. Answer the questions, that’s all. We ask them to reveal the proposal by Malaysia to sell sand and give airspace to Singapore. That, they did not reveal.

What was revealed were my letters (to Singaporean officials), which didn’t contain much.

I was in London when the letters were apparently declassified. They should declassify lah the letter which I was talking about. I said, ‘Declassify the offer (letter) by Malaysia to sell sand and airspace to Singapore.’ That was not revealed. Not revealed.

Instead, what was brought up were old letters, letters which Singapore had long published. What declassification? It has already been declassified (by Singapore).

I just want to speak up - give me the chance to say a little bit. You have a lot of spokespersons, here and there, everywhere! [crowd: 'Tak boleh pakai' (useless)]

They can ignore my speeches, just like that. What's there to be afraid of? Give me the chance to speak to people from Umno [crowd cheers].

I'm not allowed to speak to them, (they are questioned) ‘are you trying to meet the Tun?’ Mubarak (Barisan Nasional veterans club) can’t meet me either, tak mubarak (not blessed).

I can also keep bisu (quiet) and ask others to speak for me. But when others spoke against me on his (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) behalf, he was silent - didn’t say anything.

During the time of (first prime minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman, he wrote to The Star, he wrote books, he wrote all sort of things, he supported those who wanted to dethrone me, but I didn’t do anything to him. He held a gathering of 10,000 people, even that we didn’t stop him.

Can’t people come just to welcome me? I am sad lah.

What is there to hide? If what (you) do is correct, there's no need to hide. Dedahlah (expose it). Show the offer (of sand) to Singapore - that's what I asked for.

We have to understand, we have to follow the way of the government. But don’t just say kami sokong (we support). Don’t sokong everything - mana titah, patih junjung (your wish is my command).

The government is telus (transparent), open. Anyone can say anything. (But) today’s (event) won’t make it to the newspapers. I can talk, (however) I am talking to myself.

I think this is a free country. Tapi (but) (New Straits Times deputy chairperson) Kalimullah (Hassan) controls. Tingkat empat (PM’s advisers) control.

[The following are two questions posed by journalists]

Does everything boil down to a difference of opinion?

No. This is a matter of issues. It is not a matter of me going to see him (Abdullah) and shaking his hand and everything is over. It’s a matter of (differences on) issues. The issues must be tackled. Why did you (Abdullah’s government) offer one million cubic metres of sand (to Singapore)?

Is it true that you offered or not? Itu saya tanya (this was what I asked). I ask for the letter which shows that I approved the sale of sand. There was none. I looked at all the declassified letters [laughs], nothing in the letters said that I gave anything (to Singapore). But (Foreign Minister) Syed Hamid (Albar) apparently said that I ordered (the sale of sand) ... I’ve picked a foreign minister who does not know how to read letters.

What's your greatest fear if these issues are not tackled?

The country is already not doing well. We have lost respect from the developing world. Of course, America, Britain, Singapore and Australia laud us. If we have to ampu (kowtow) them so that they praise us, what for?

Let’s do things right, even if the country that praises us is just Burkina Faso. I’m not looking for people to pat my back.

AgendaDaily, July 22, 2006

Dr Mahathir sedia jumpa Pak Lah asalkan jawab persoalan

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad pulang dari percutian pagi Sabtu tanpa menunjukkan tanda-tanda akan kendur dari menyuarakan isu-isu yang menjadi bahan kritikannya terhadap Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Setibanya dengan jet ekskutif dari London jam 9.30 pagi bekas Perdana Menteri telah menyampaikan ucapan selama 10 minit dari sunroof sebuah jip Pajero diatas jalan di luar pagar balai ketibaan VIP Petronas di situ.

Kira-kira 500 orang menanti kepulangan beliau di situ.Ada antara mereka membawa bersama sepanduk dan memakai T-Shirt bertuliskan perkataan menyokong beliau.

“Tak sangkalah satu hari saya akan dapat sambutan macam ini...bila jadi PM orang sambut bukan main ramai…saya tak sangka sekarang ni saya tak dibenar bertemu dengan orang…apa nak takut sangat... yang mai ni pun bukanlah banyak,”katanya yang bercuti selama 22 hari di Turki,Greece dan London.

Menjawab satu soalan Agendadaily semasa sedang berjalan menuju ke keretanya selepas menyampaikan ucapannya,Dr Mahathir berkata beliau sedia bersemuka dengan Perdana Menteri.

“Nak jumpa boleh…tapi ini bukan soal saya dengan dia...ini soal menjawab persoalan,”katanya kepada soalan apakah beliau mahu berjumpa jika Abdullah sedia pergi menemuinya.

Sebelum itu menjawab satu soalan wartawan semasa sedang menyampaikan ucapan apakah pertikaian ini hanya satu perbezaan pendapat dengan Perdana Menteri beliau berkata,” Ini adalah soal isu…bukan soal saya pergi jumpa dia dan berjabat tangan dan semuanya selesai…ini soal isu…isu mesti diatasi.”

Ada beberapa pihak berpendapat isu Dr Mahathir-Abdullah boleh selesai segera jika mereka bersua secara empat mata untuk membincangkan isu-isu berkaitan dari hati ke hati.

Antaranya Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah baru-baru berkata Abdullah sepatutnya naik kereta pergi rumah Dr mahathir dan bercakap dengannya.

Abdullah sendiri yang ditanya para wartawan Rabu samada sedia menemui Dr Mahathir berkata beliau tidak fikir ia satu masalah.

Dalam pada itu ada yang menyuarakan keraguan samaada Dr Mahathir mahu atau tidak menerima kedatangan Abdullah.

Mengambil kira cakap Dr Mahathir itu beliau pada dasarnya seperti bersedia untuk bertemu Perdana Menteri.

Dalam ucapan ringkasnya Dr Mahathir menggangap kenyataan media mengenai jambatan bengkok serta surat-surat yang didedahkan kepada umum oleh kerajaan baru-baru ini untuk menjawab dakwaan beliau adalah ‘ cerita lama’ yang tak jawab soalannya sebenar.

Beliau juga mendakwa semasa berada di London para pelajar telah disekat dari menemuinya.

Kata Dr Mahathir kerajaan tidak perlu takut pada dirinya jika apa yang dibuat semuanya betul.

Katanya semasa jadi Perdana Menteri dulu beliau tidak menyekat bekas Perdana Menteri Tunku Abdul Rahman dari mengkritiknya dan begitu juga semasa kemuncak reformasi Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

BERIKUT IALAH TRANSKRIP PENUH UCAPAN DR MAHATHIR SERTA MENJAWAB BEBERAPA SOALAN WARTAWAN.

Tak sangkalah satu hari saya akan dapat sambutan macam ini..bila jadi PM orang sambut bukan main ramai…saya tak sangka sekarang ni saya tak dibenar bertemu dengan orang…apa nak takut sangat yang mai ni pun bukanlah banyak..

Orang tu takut pada saya…saya bukan boleh buat apa…saya boleh bercakap saja..

Bila saya letak jawatan …bukan main lagi puji dulu...sanjung tinggi.

La ni saya pi ke England nak cakap dengan penuntut tak boleh… nak pi ke Kelantan nak bercakap dengan bekas-bekas wakil rakyat dilarang.

Tapi kata jangan bercakap kepada parti lawan…kepada NGO…tapi UMNO sendiri tak bagi peluang langsung saya cakap dengan orang…kalau benda yang buat tu benar betul..apalah nak takut.

Saya tak minta banyak..jawab saja ..jawab sudahlah soalan…ini kita suruh apa nama buka tunjuk perjanjian cadangan yang Malaysia nak jual pasir…nak bagi kapal terbang perang Singapura terbang…itu tak dedah…yang dedah konon surat saya..surat saya pun tak ada apa

Saya sendiri edarkan di London surat kononnya sudah diclassify … diclassify surat yang saya suruh tu..

Saya kata diclassify ini…tawaran daripada Malaysia untuk jual pasir dengan nak bagi pesawat pejuang Singapura terbang ...itu tak didedah…sebaliknya bawa keluar surat lama...surat Singapura dah siar lama dah…

Apa nak diclassify yang tu…sudahpun diclassify …jadi tak payahlah…

Saya bukanlah nak suruh semua orang berhimpun macam ni…saya cuma nak bercakap saja…bagilah peluang saya cakap sikit.

Awak banyak jurucakap-jurucakap…bukan main ramai…pi mana sana sini boleh cerita…dia orang boleh tepis macam tu saja ucapan saya ni...jadi apa nak takut sangat…bagilah peluang saya cakap dengan orang UMNO…ni pun ada orang UMNO sini.

Saya pi London nak cakap dengan penuntut ..tak boleh...ditanya..disoal..ni nak jumpa dengan Tun ke ?...Mubarak (Persatuan Bekas Wakil Rakyat) nak jumpa pun tak bagi.. tak berbarak dah.

Tak apalah saya ucap terima kasihlah saya ni tak ada hajat nak buat ucapan panjang-panjang…cuma yang tulah..tak payahlah nak takut sangat kat saya…saya bukan nak makan orang…

Saya pun boleh bisu juga kalau ada orang tolong cakap kat saya…jadi suruh orang lain kata macam-macam kat saya..

Dia senyap kononnya...tak ada nak kata apa-apa…

Tak lama tiga tahun yang dulu puji saya sampai naik asap..lani ni tak boleh berjumpa dengan orang UMNO…saya hairan…

Dulu masa Tunku Abdul Rahman ( Perdana Menteri pertama kritik beliau ) dia tulis dalam Star…dia tulis buku…kata macam-macam …dia sokong orang yang nak bagi jatuh saya…saya tak buat apapun kat Tunku Abdul Rahman…

Datuk Seri Anwar (masa reformasi )boleh ada perjumpaan 10,000 orang…pun kita tak halang…ni nak mai sambut saya balik pun tak boleh…saya sedihlah…

Apa yang nak sembunyi sangat…kalau benda yang buat tu betul..tak payah sembunyi…dedahlah…tunjuk perjanjian tawaran kepada Singapura tu…itu yang saya minta dedah…

Oklah saya tak mau ganggu…saya tau la polis kena buat kerja mereka...kita jangan ganggu…kita taulah jadi pegawai kerajaan kita kena buat ikut kerajaanlah…tapi tak payah le kata kami sokong…apa pun kami sokong…

Soalan wartawan: Apakah Tun tak akan berhenti dari bersuara?

Dr Mahathir: Kerajaan ni telus…sapa pun boleh kata apa…tinggal lagi tak boleh masuk dalam suratkhabar..tak boleh keluar dalam berita…bercakap bolehlah…bercakap diri saya seorang…

Soalan wartawan: Jadi Tun akan teruskan?

Dr Mahathir: Saya fikir ini negara bebas...katanyalah...negara bebas…tapi Kalimullah (Timbalan Pengerusi akhbar NST) control …

Jadi saya nak bercakap... bercakaplah…

Soalan wartawan: Apakah krisis ini hanya satu perbezaan pendapat dengan Pak Lah?

Dr Mahathir: Ini adalah soal isu…bukan soal saya pergi jumpa dia dan berjabat tangan dan semuanya selesai…

Ini soal isu…isu mesti diatasi…kenapa anda tawarkan kepada Singapura 1 juta miter persegi pasir..adakah benar anda tawarkan atau tidak...tulah saya tanya..

Oh... tunjuk surat Dr Mahathir…konon lulus jual pasir…tak ada saya tengok semua surat yang diclassify …tak ada pun situ saya bagi apa.

Syed Hamid kata kononnya saya yang suruh…tak taulah saya pilih Menteri Luar tak tahu baca surat…

Soalan wartawan: Apakah kebimbangan utama Tun jika isu ini tidak diatasi?

Dr Mahathir: Negara kini berada dalam keadaan tidak begitu bagus...kita sudah hilang kehormatan..orang di negara sedang membangun tentulah ….Amerika puji..Britian puji..Singapura puji…Australia puji..tapi kalau kita nak puji..kita ampu orang buat apa…kita buat benda yang betullah…walaupun yang puji tu cuma negeri macam Burkina Paso..tak apalah.

Saya bukan cari orang untuk tepuk belakang saya …-22/7/2006

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (27) | TrackBacks (0)

Chew Shee Ghee, 23, has done Malaysia proud for winning two world-class awards simultaneously at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) prize presentation here on Wednesday.

She emerged top in the Audit and Assurance - Professional Stage December 2004 ICAEW examination, among the 1,824 candidates who passed the paper worldwide.

She had also come out first place in the Taxation - Professional Stage December 2005 examination where a total of 1,135 students worldwide had passed the paper.

ICAEW is the largest professional accountancy institute in Europe. The prize giving ceremony was held at the institute's hall in Moorgate Place here.

Recently, Chee was in London to receive the Watts Prize and Little Prize respectively from ICAEW President Ian Morris for her achievements, accompanied by ICAEW Malaysia President Faiz Azmi. Her alma mater, Sunway University College, is also rejoicing her exemplary achievements.

Chew, from Seapark, Petaling Jaya, now works as an auditor at the Kuala Lumpur office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), specialising in financial services (assurance).

According to Bernama, Chew had graduated with a master of Philosophy in Management Studies from the Cambridge University in 2003, after obtaining a diploma with distinction in Economics from the University of London.

This had earned her a Standard Chartered bank scholarship to pursue and attained a first class honours degree in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics and political Science, which qualified her for the University of Cambridge Trust bursary.

She scored 9As for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).

Syabas Malaysia!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (45) | TrackBacks (0)

The Prime Minister finally broke his 'elegant silence' over the quality of his jumbo-sized Cabinet.

He said said Cabinet ministers should not shirk their responsibilities but to make decisions based on their respective portfolios. Via Bernama:

Those who "washed their hands" and left all the decisions to the prime minister should not hold the ministerial position, he added.

"Similarly, if I leave all the decisions to other people, then I should not be the prime minister. Might as well do other work. If you are the prime minister and you don't do anything, people will only have a field day just talking about you everyday. Why create problems?" he said.

Abdullah, however, stressed that he was running the country to the best of his ability.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

'Khairy? He's no more here... Cuba ECM-Libra?'

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

This is yet another TGIF SMS I received today.

Both Datuk K and Datuk E are rich old men, who divorced their first wives and got sued for ownership of commonly owned properties worth millions..

But they have different tastes for cars.

One bought a brand new CITY, the other a second-hand TIARA.

Malaysia... macam-macam ada.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Malaysiakini website is currently down.

The team is currently attending to the issue, and the site for ALL THE NEWS THAT MATTER will come on live again by tomorrow afternoon.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

As at 08:00hr local time, Amnesty International is going global with a campaign to claim back the web. The campaign is a force for change in the face of an increasing willingness on the part of technology companies to aid censorship and repression.

Amnesty International is also launching a new report on the role of Yahoo!, Microsoft and Google in internet repression in China. More info here.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Would you be surprised to see Rose Ismail, who left The NST within months after Kalimullah promoted her to be the Group Editor, writing for The Star today?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. Has Sufi Yusoff been vindicated?

In his Sunday Column dated June 11, 2006, Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan, now a Haji, wrote about the circumstances leading to the rendezvous between Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Japan recently. (See PDF here.)

In the story, the NST deputy chairman cum editorial advisor had implied that it was Mahathir who asked to see Abdullah, and the latter, a hadhari person, was humble enough to go see the former PM himself, instead of the other way round. See screenshot below:

SOURCE: The NST, June 11, 2006

However, July 19, when Abdullah recounted on the same Japan rendezvous, as reported by national news agency Bernama, the PM said he was actually the one who had made the effort to meet Dr Mahathir in the latter's room after knowing that Dr Mahathir also stayed at the same hotel.

Abdullah said he contacted an officer of Dr Mahathir to enquire whether the former prime minister had the time for them to meet. See screenshot below:

SOURCE: Bernama, July 19, 2006

Which is which now, Tuan Haji? Did you spin or did you blink?

This blog entry was inspired by a posting by SK Thew in his blog.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (0)

Apologies from Screenshots and the facilitators for the 20th Sultan Azlan Law Lecture. There has been a mix-up.

Our apologies to those who rang up for the invitation cards and were given the runaround. It should not have happened. To ensure that you get a card, if you are from or in the Klang Valley, please do drop by the UM Law Faculty for the card.

Our apologies to those who have emailed. The correct email address should be kuliahlaw@um.edu.my.

Other information remains the same in the original blog entry, here.

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I thank the readers who alerted me to the controversy surrounding the seditious guidebook on ethnic relations used by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), videos of the scuffle in the UPM campus, and the attempted 'brain-washing' disguised as orientation for the new intakes in local universities.

I am currently on the road. I will blog about these when I come back.

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How nice if The NST could help push PM Abdullah's agenda by running a different headline with an accent for simple keywords like 'OPEN TENDER'?

Look, those nice little words are sorely missing in today's papers!

SOURCE: The NST, July 19, 2006 frontpage

Among the first to react to the RM15 billion carrots is Malay Contractors Association of Malaysia president Roslan Awang Chik, who was seen parking himself at the Parliament lobby today.

He, however, shared all the good thoughts one could possibly think of. For example, he urged the government not to simultaneously open tenders for all the 880 trinkets projects under the 9MP that cost RM15 billion in order to prevent prices of building materials from rising.

He also said the 880 projects should be tendered out gradually so as to prevent suppliers from raising prices to maximise profits.

Good news

The good news is that Works Minister S. Samy Vellu has offered himself to stay near the cookie jar and to personally monitor the implementation of all infrastructure projects to ensure their success. Via Bernama:

"I will personally monitor the implementation through the ministry-level Special Committee on Monitoring of 9MP Infrastructure Projects chaired by me," he said in a statement issued here.

The bad news is, all tender papers for the 880 projects will only be available in three months' time.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The interim crisis management model looks like this:

Taking into consideration the Minister’s concerns, MCMC will defer the evaluation of the submissions made by the applicants and the announcement of the result, which had been originally targeted for 31 October 2006.

Once the concerns are addressed, MCMC will proceed with the evaluation, in which clarifications from the applicants may be sought, if necessary.

Further announcement on this matter will be advised to the applicants in due course.

Download the PDF of press release here.

By the way, MCMC has a new Org Chart w.e.f. July 2006. Looks like Mohd Aris Bernawi is the one likely to bear the WiMax headache.

Only 3 potential winners

Those seen having submitted the tender papers yesterday were NasionComm Holdings, DiGi, RedTone International, Jaring, MiTV, Celcom Timur and AsiaSpace. It is believed that several other parties, including the Big Boys, have also put in their tender.

However, there could only be three potential winners in the tender process.

Under the terms and conditions contained in the AIP dated May 16, 100 Mhz of the 2.3Ghz to 2.4Ghz spectrum are allocated into twenty 5Mhz blocks. Each successful bidder is expected to be allocated a group of six blocks, taking up 90% of the assigned spectrum.

Contrary to media reports, no licences will be given out as all applicants (bidders) must fulfil the pre-requisite of
already owning the NFP and NSP licences under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

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In the second instalment of an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, former deputy prime minister and now Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Anwar Ibrahim named four persons as the the key players in the foreign exchange (forex) speculations that resulted in losses of up to RM30 billion for Bank Negara between 1992 and 1994.

As one of the four persons he named is dead, Anwar trained his gun on the three living, two of them are his known political nemeses.

Anwar also pleaded ignorance and claimed innocence, saying that he was newly initiated as the Finance Minister when the forex debacle took place. He said he only knew of the problem when he went overseas and friends confronted him over the fact that Bank Negara was among the top three players and was widely considered a rogue bank.

I won't blog beyond this. Get a Malaysiakini subscription if you need to know more.

The context is that the issue of Bank Negara’s forex losses re-emerged recently, after a lapse of 12 years, when Umno-linked tycoon Tajudin Ramli made a number of allegations in a counter law suit against the government related to Malaysia Airlines.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (0)

It was an about-turn decision that didn't make the Energy, Water and Comnmunications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik look good.

Yesterday, momentarily before the close of the tender process for the 2.3 GHz to 2.4 GHz spectrum band for use to implement Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) systems -- known in layman's term as 'WiMax, or or Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access -- the Minister dropped a bomb-shell by announcing that the tender process had been cancelled, putting the blame squarely on industry regulator, MCMC, for non-compliance to the Ministry's policies.

While known bidders -- they include DiGi, RedTone International and NasionComm Holdings -- were all literally caught with their pants down, the industry is abuzz with speculation that an interested party, which failed to meet the tender deadline, had lobbied for the tender process to be stalled.

The big boys -- TM and Maxis -- are expected to put in their bid to hedge their prospects, however, Little Birds in the industry had tipped off Screenshots by saying that the spoiler that derailed the tender process could have come from a small NFP/NSP licensee.

The Little Birds also said what made the Minister 'look stupid', and the MCMC ridiculously embarrassed, was that the tender process had been in motion for at least four months and nobody cried foul until minutes before noon, yesterday.

The simple question being tossed around was that: Why can't the Communication Ministry communicate properly among themselves in the last four months, and give us this last minute caper?

Tender process

According to public domain knowledge, MCMC had opened the tender process for the WiMax spectrum on May 16, 2006, under the document titled: Applicant Information Package (AIP) No. 1 of 2006.

The May 16 was to inform interested parties -- whose pre-requisites must be existing Network facilities Provider (NFP) and Network Services Provider (NSP) licensees accorded under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 -- that the AIP No 1 of 2006 on apparatus assignment in the 2300MHz to 2400MHz spectrum band for use to implement Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) systems will be open from May 16 through noon, July 18, 2006.

Prior to that, on March 10, 2006, the MCMC had published a Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) document, titled Requirements for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Operating in the Frequency Band from 2300 Mhz to 2400 Mhz (MCMC SRSP 532 BWA), to keep the industry posted on the pending tender process.

Subsequently, the MCMC followed through by publishing a Marketing Plan for the relevant apparatus assignment, a mandatory process under Regulation 21(2)(b) of the Communications and Multimedia (Spectrum) Regulations 2000.

The Marketing Plan was duly published on April 10 to gather public comments.The cut-off date was May 25, 2006.

After gathering the public comments, which came mainly from industry players who are NFP/NSPlicensees, the AIP dated May 16, or generally regarded as the WiFax tender paper, was issued, and the tender process set in motion.

In a nutshell, the MCMC has opened up 100 Mhz of the 2.3Ghz to 2.4Ghz spectrum into twenty 5Mhz blocks. Each successful bidder is expected to be allocated a group of six blocks.

With a total of 100Mhz being made available for WiMax, and with each bidder getting 6 x 5Mhz blocks, it would mean only three bidders would be successful in the tender process.

The three successful bidders are expected to offer the Broadband Wireless Service in each geographical area where coverage is provided. There are 13 georgraphical areas nationwide.

Apart from the filled forms and hard copy ofthe tender paper, every bidder was required to submit a soft copy in CD-ROM to the tender board.

MCMC to clarify

Screenshots understands that DiGi, RedTone and NasionComm had sumbitted their tender papers precisely before noon yesterday, and all were caught by total surprise on hearing of the cancellation of the tender process.

Screenshots has also been told that the MCMC would issue a statement pertaining to the issue later today.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Screenshots reader Vijayan spotted a strange story on Berita Harian's website early this morning.

SOURCE: Berita Harian, July 19, 2006

The headline is: Pemilik kilang kimia berlaku letupan akan didakwa

However, the story carries a list of some 880 trinket projects under the 9MP, with a total worth of RM15 billion, announced for tender by the PM's Office yesterday. See PDF evidence here.

What kind of a spin is this? Heran betoi.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

July 17, Screenshots alerted that a breaking news was brewing at the Proton Shah Alam plant.

Early this morning, Rocky's Bru confirmed that Kisai Rahmat, the former Proton No 2 when Tengku Mahaleel reigned, has resigned.

Rocky's Bru quoted close friends of Kisai as saying that he quit amid a witch-hunt within the company over the thousands of unsold Proton cars.

July 18, Screenshots quoted a FORTUNE July 7 story in which Proton CEO Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir readily admitted that its three assembly lines had about 40% spare capacity.

July 17, Screenshots also highlighted a July 6 tape recording in which Tengku Mahaleel expressed his concern over the serious glut in the second-hand car market attributed to discounts of new Proton cars launched in September last year.

Subsequently, Edaran Automobile Nasional Dealers Association of Malaysia (Edam) president Ismail Din went to the press to highlight the difficulty national car dealers are facing. He said it was a norm to have at least 550,000 cars for sale in the market but studies showed there were now 800,000 cars for sale in the market. The figure includes new and used cars of all makes.

A day later, July 17, car component makers also went to the Press to highlight their plights in the face of a glut of 250,000 cars in the market. An industry source told The Star that about three-quarters of the 300-odd companies could cease operations if the situation does not improve by year's end.

Operating know-how

Kisai was the executive director of the national car's engineering and manufacturing division, and advisor of Proton Vendor Association. Prior to this, he was Proton's director of operations.

When Tengku Mahaleel exited from Proton, Kisai sat alongside Proton Tanjung Malim CEO Kamarulzaman Darus in the 4-member exco comprising of two Proton board members and two senior management representatives, led by chairman Azlan Hashim, that was formed specifically to perform the functions of CEO on an interim basis.

With Kisai's exit, insiders said Proton will be facing greater brunt as it has been steadily losing valuable operating know-how in the national car project whose board is currently headed by an accountant who had no experience in the automotive indistry.

More breaking news at Proton. Watch this space.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (29) | TrackBacks (0)

After Zahid Hamidi and Syed Hamid Albar, it's Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin's turn to face the brunt of the the unforgiving Umno grassroots.

"Jika Menteri boleh kurang ajar dalam akhbar kepada bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir, apa salah saya tinggikan suara atau emosional sedikit terhadap beliau?"

That's the tone and manner of an UMNO member from the Lembah Pantai division articulated at the Majlis Penerangan Isu-Isu Semasa oleh Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO for the Federal Territory.

Other Umno's higher echelon present when Khaled was grilled were Minister Mustapha Mohamad, MP Shahrir Samad, and two Umno council members Azim Zabidi and Norza Zakaria.

The audience was apparently riled when the organiser tried to end the 'briefing' without a Q&A session.

Other issues raised by the floor included:
1 ) Flip-flop over the Crooked Bridge aka Scenic Bridge
2 ) The 'merger' of Avenue Capital Resources Berhad and ECM Libra
3 ) Khairy Jamaluddin's share equity in ECM-Libra
3 ) Fuel Price hikes
5 ) Development programmes and government expenditure
6 ) Approved Permits (AP)

Thanks AMLG of Cuit Sikit! for the heads-up.

It appears that Umno grassroots are leveraging the 'top-down' taklimat sessions to push for their 'bottom-up' feedback over issues that The NST under Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan doesn't print.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

You are cordially invited to attend the 20th Sultan Azlan Law Lecture which will be delivered by the Rt Hon Justice Anthony M Kennedy of the US Supreme Court.

Here are the details:

Topic: “Written Constitutions and the Common Law Tradition”
Date: Thursday 10th August 2006
Time: 5.15 pm
Venue: Shangri La Hotel, KL.

For security reasons, the audience are required to bring along their invitation cards issued by the Law Faculty, Universiti Malaya.

For this reason, if you are interested in attending the lecture and to ensure that you receive the invitation card on time, please call UM Faculty of Law for the invitation cards. Tel: 03-7967 6501/02/03/04/11/12/6575 or email kuliahlaw@um.edu.my.

Justice Kennedy's biography is available here.

Please feel free to forward this message to persons who might be interested in attending.

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That DiGi bid for a WiMax network that NST-Business Times talked about may be a stillborn for now.

According to a Reuters story at 15:06hr today, the government has cancelled the tender for its first wireless broadband (WiMax) license for the 2.3 GHz spectrum.

It is the industry regulator, MCMC, that screwed up the tender process, said Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik today.

The tender was called in May and was supposed to be closed today, July 18.

"The tender has to be recalled because the specifications are not in accordance to ministry policies," Minister Dr Lim told reporters at an industry conference, Reuters reported.

Lim said he was disappointed with industry regulator the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), adding that the conditions for the tender did not take into account the building of infrastructure and content.

But he did not say when the tender would be reissued.

On the policy level, the decision is considered as a setback in the country's ambitions to become a leader in mobile high-speed Internet access by the end of 2006.

On the business operation level, at least three companies are affected, namely DiGi, Redtone International and NasionCom Holdings -- which are in the running for the tender to win a WiMax license for the 2.3 GHz spectrum.

UPDATES: Bernama quoted Dr Lim as saying that there were things to consider in deciding to award the 2.3 GHz spectrum and the Ministry would try to get further feedback from the industry.

Among them is the provision of connectivity infrastructure as well as content building.

"Do you give to those who provide services only or to those who could provide infrastructure connectivity and content building?" he questioned.

Bernama gave the context that WiMAX, or Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access, enables the delivery
of last-mile wireless broadband as an alternative to cable and digital subscriber line (DSL). It serves as a very high bandwidth "back-haul" for Internet or cellular phone traffic from remote areas back to a backbone.

Thanks YW Loke of BeritaMalaysia for the heads-up.

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Just as fromer PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DPM Najib Abdul Razak happened to be in London at the moment, former DPM Anwar Ibrahim decided to give Malaysiakini an exclusive interview last week.

However remote it may seem, Anwar told Malaysiakini that the on-going attack against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could be a plot to bring Dr Mahathir back to the helm.

London rendezvous?

On the other hand, Malaysiakini today quoted sources as saying that Dr Mahathir left for London from Turkey last night. He is expected to spend four days there before returning to Malaysia.

In London, Mahathir is slated to meet members of Umno clubs as well as Malaysians residing there. The meetings were arranged by his son Mukhriz.

This gave rise to raised eye-brows about the timing of Mahathir’s visit to London which coincides with Najib’s official tour.

Earlier, Najib had denied rumours that said he met Mahathir in Langkawi after Abdullah left on a holiday to Australia last month.

Najib Factor

So, how about the Najib factor? Anwar said he does not expect Najib to mount a challenge against Abdullah because the DPM is too "guarded and calculative" to take advantage of the on-going crisis within the ruling party.

“He is never known to have strong views. We would probably have to consult (Najib's wife) Rosmah on her views too… but I don't foresee this sort of challenge,” he quipped.[...]

Najib has always been seen to follow this feudal tradition... he's not the new liberal Malay except for the facade.

Anwar, however, said Najib's statements of support for Abdullah has been "far from convincing".

RM8 billion kitty

In the two-hour interview last week with the malaysiakini, which serialises it beginning today, Anwar also alleged that Umno, which he was once part of, had amassed a cash horde of RM8 billion.

He said this was done through an opaque system of Umno-linked tycoons and companies holding the money on behalf of the party.

Anwar also noted that there was a tinge of racism in Mahathir's criticisms against the Singapore government, especially on the crooked bridge issue. Quote:

“This is Singapore, our neighbour - setting aside that it is a difficult neighbour - but still the subtle racist undertones to my mind is very irresponsible on his (Mahathir's) part,” said Anwar...

“Not only (he raised the issue of) nationalism but (he) also (spoke) against the Chinese and Singapore (whom he claimed are) trying to act tough against the Malay leadership and that they (the Chinese leadership in Singapore) should be taught a lesson.”

Anwar will touch on Bank Negara’s multi-billion forex speculation in the next instalment of the interview.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 02:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. Today, July 18, PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be announcing government projects under the RM220 billion 9MP available for tender.

According to media reports, the tender will mainly be for smaller projects such as schools and hospitals, while bigger projects under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) mechanism will be announced at a later stage.

So, what do you mean by PFI mechanism? Some examples:

• The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed railway project proposed by YTL Corp.

  Estimates: RM8 billion.

• The Second Penang Bridge and Penang Monorail projects pitched by UEM Group and the Meleway Group, respectively.

  Estimates: RM2.8 billion.

• The Pahang-Selangor Interstate Water Transfer Project, which the market is betting will see participation by Gamuda.

  Estimates: RM3.8 billion.

It must be noted that, by Malaysia's track records, infra and construction companies which benefit graciously are those which are successful in their bids, whether via closed, negotiated or open tenders, in that sequence.

Let's see what the trinket projects will be announced today, and hold our breath and join in the guessing game for the main course, the PFI League, later.

As the cookie jar is being opened, we wonder if the boys on the "Fourth Floor" have a vantage view of the games' play-out?

Catch the gravy train. It's leaving the station now.

UPDATES: Already, by 10:10:00hr today. XFN-ASIA had a newsflash quoting dealers as saying that construction stocks were sharply higher on speculative interest as investors await the unveil of projects under the 9MP.
- Tebrau was up RM0.055 or 9.48% at RM0.635 on volume of 25.9 million shares
- MTD Infraperdana was up RM0.06 or 5.41% at RM1.17 on volume of 7.76 million shares
- YTL gained RM0.06 or 1.24% at RM4.88 on volume of 5,100 shares
- UEM Builder was up RM0.06 or 5.04% at RM1.25 on volume of 3.76 million shares

There you go!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

In the July 7 issue of FORTUNE, Proton CEO Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir admits that the national car's three assembly lines have about 40% spare capacity.

"Some of the trucks load to just to 60%. Compared with 90% at Toyota. We're paying for air," he says.

Notably, FORTUNE writer Eric Ellis has this to say about Protonomics:

Proton's market share - 80% at its peak and 60% as recently as 2003, when its founder, Mahathir Mohamed, retired as Prime Minister - tumbled to 40% last year. Profits dropped to US$7.6 million, down from $113 million a year earlier, and revenue slipped from $2.3 billion to $2.1 billion.

How did it get so bad? In a word, politics.

So what is the Proton CEO gonna do?

"I'm a Malaysian first and a businessman second," says the 44-year-old CEO, six months into the job. "I'm not a civil servant, but part of my job is a social and national obligation I have to adhere to."

There were jobs for 12,000, and despite slumping sales and excess capacity, Zainal says there are no plans to shed workers.

Remember, I commented, in the 'One Morning with Tengku Mahaleel' series, on the life-support system that Proton has made a quarter-of-a-million people dependent on in the last two decades? How to play 'unplug'? Deep thoughts are required.

Nadzmi Salleh, who took over from the Japanese to helm Proton, for three short years, as a Mitsubishi car assembler rather than a pureplay manufacturer with its own designs, must now feel very lucky that he has been saved by the skin with Tengku Mahaleel taking over from him.

And for his three short years of serving Proton as CEO, Nadzmi was given a golden handshake of RM1 million, not to mention that NadiCorp (MARA Transnational and Parkmay etc) and YTL-ERL are also his oysters.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBacks (0)

Subsequent to the July 17 entry in this blog about Matthias Chang's posting in Promuda's YahooGroups, it seems that Dr Mahathir's former aide has expounded it into a lengthy email communique.

All three Malaysiakini editions have made it the top headline news yesterday, but news portals at The NST, The Star and theSun have all spiked the story.

Chang's 16-page communique is titled:

Both MS Words and PDF versions of the full text are available for download from Gen-M's new website.

Chang, a lawyer by profession, said he is not convinced with the government’s move to declassify documents pertaining to the contentious half-bridge issue. In fact, he called it a “fraud on the public”.

He called for complete disclosure of all documents relating to the case and not the partial release as had been done by the government. He also took the Umno-linked New Straits Times (NST) to task, in particular its group editor, Brendan Pereira (See The NST, July 15).

According to Chang, the classified documents released last week were already published by the Singapore government in the booklet Water talks? If Only It Could.

Backgrounder

Last Friday, The NST jumped the gun by publishing online the government's rebuttal hours before it was announced by the DPM's Office. The webpage was swiftly pulled down after the Government re-timed the release of the statement. However, Google search engine was equally swift in archiving The NST's digital trail, and it was exposed by Screenshots. Meanwhile, m4dia insiders pointed out that the Government's statement was crafted by editors from The NST, which hitherto had issued no denials.

When the government ultimately issued the five-page statement, which was found to contain only excerpts of negotiations with Singapore, it was announced that thegovernment had declassified documents to “put the record straight on a string of allegations raised by the former prime minister”.

The following day, the government released four letters between Mahathir and the two former Singaporean premiers written in 2002 which revealed details of the bilateral negotiations on issues such as the building of a new bridge to replace the causeway between the two countries.

However, the ‘declassification’ move has elicited criticism, especially from Mahathir’s vocal ex-aide Matthias Chang, who described it as a “fraud on the public”. He argued that the classified documents released had been published by Singapore previously in a booklet titled: Water talks? If Only It Could, which was released more than two years ago on January 5, 2004.

This is how Chang's email communique was reported by Malaysiakini yesterday:

Declassification a 'fraud': Dr M's ex-aide Jul 17, 06 3:55pm

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s vocal ex-aide Matthias Chang is not convinced with the government’s move to declassify documents pertaining to the contentious half-bridge issue. In fact, he called it a “fraud on the public”.

In an email communique today, Chang called for complete disclosure of all documents relating to the case and not the partial release as had been done by the government. He also took the Umno-linked New Straits Times (NST) to task, in particular its group editor, Brendan Pereira.

According to Chang, a lawyer by profession, the classified documents released last week were already published by the Singapore government in the booklet Water talks? If Only It Could.

“In the circumstances, in law and in fact, these documents are in the public domain and cannot be considered ‘classified’ anymore,” he said.

According to Chang, the NST on July 15 under the headline ‘Declassified - What the official records tell’ gave the impression that the documents referred to were something new.

“The spin was obvious,” claimed Chang. “The government is bending backwards to be truthful and transparent and that these declassified documents will address and answer Mahathir's questions. They have not. Instead, they have given rise to more questions,” he added.

“If only the government and the NST took a few minutes to examine the book Water talks? If Only It Could they would realise that the following letters - Lee Kuan Yew's letter (Aug 24, 2000), Mahathir's letter to Lee (March 4, 2002), Goh Chok Tong's letter (April 11, 2002), Mahathir's letter (Oct 7, 2002) and Goh's letter (Oct 14, 2002) - were in the public domain and therefore need not be declassified.

“It is old news and the public is well aware of their implications. The public was aware of these documents way back in April when I brought them to their notice. But it took the government and the NST almost three months to come to grips with these documents and yet they still cannot get it right,” he claimed.

Chang alleged that the “spin which the government is making is a reflection of their desperation”.

“Because the government controls the mass media, the spin doctors are banking that the public would accept their perverse version of the events,” he said.

Release full minutes

Meanwhile, Chang also cited Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar’s promise last month to declassify all documents relating to the bilateral negotiations between Malaysia and Singapore.

“The public is still waiting for the declassification of the relevant documents, in particular the entire minutes of the meeting between Pak Lah and Goh Chok Tong on March 1, 2005 and the minutes of the five rounds of negotiations between senior officials of Malaysia and Singapore. In the case of the latter minutes, it is clear that the offer to sell sand came from Malaysia.

“No extracts. We want the full minutes of the meetings,” said Chang, who is former political secretary to then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

After offering a lengthy ‘point by point rebuttal to the government’s answers’ in his email communique today, Chang urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to be honest with the rakyat

“He must declassify all the minutes of meetings relating to the bilateral negotiations between Malaysia and Singapore since he took over as prime minister,” he added.

In declassifying the documents last Friday, the Prime Minister’s Department said the government has “put the record straight on a string of allegations” raised by Mahathir.

The documents contained three key facts:

1. Discussions with Singapore on the airspace issue are not new and were not mooted by the current government under Abdullah.
2. The sale of sand to Singapore was raised by the republic during a meeting between Abdullah and Goh - who was then prime minister - on March 1, 2005.
3. Comprehensive advice by the Attorney-General’s Chambers showed that Malaysia should not proceed to build a bridge unilaterally without complying with the legal obligations.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The official website of Dr Mahathir's 'fan-club', Gen-M, is moving to a new domain at www.generasi-m.com. It will be fully functional from July 25. 2006.

The email contact at tdm_2020@hotmail.com has also been replaced from today, July 18. The new addy is: GenerasiM@gmail.com.

Dr Mahathir is scheduled to return home on July 22, ETA at 10.00pm (20:00hr) at the Petronas Hangar, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang.

For details, call Gen-M line at 016 -3679003.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. This is definitely a good business sense that should make customers happy.

Starting July 24, four major foreign banks will activate their shared Automated Teller Machines (ATM) service called HOUSe.

The banks are namely HSBC, OCBC, UOB and Standard-Chartered. Their joint effort will provide banks customers with access to more than 300 ATMs in Malaysia.

Thanks to the liberalisation in the domestic banking sector. But I am still earnestly waiting for Inter-bank fund transfers on the Internet so that, for example, I can sweep my salary account in Maybank (MEPS) to pay for my HSBC credit cards (HOUSe) online.

UPDATES: Reader JK Kiang alerted me that we can make interbank payment to HSBC credit card accounts via maybank2u.

Just login to maybank2u > Funds Transfer > Interbank > Select "Open Interbank (GIRO) Transfer". (See screenshot Kiang provided, below.)

HSBC has recently joined the IBG (Interbank Giro) MEPS network but not the ATM MEPS network, Kiang said.

Many thanks.

P/S: I wander if HSBC Internet banking allows online Interbank fund transfer to MEPS networks?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

July 12, in One Morning with Tengku Mahaleel... ( 4 ), the former Proton CEO said:

There were discounts being offered on Proton cars in September 2005. What happened was, it seriously hurt the second-hand car market because of the negative residual value for the second-hand car.

July 6 at Tengku Mahaleel's pressie... LensaPix by Jeff Ooi

Here's a downloadable MP3 (02:37", 155Kb) of an excerpt of Tengku Mahaleel's July 6 remarks on how the automobile value-chain had been hurt, upstream and down-stream.

The Star has since followed up on the issue:

• July 16: Car dealers hit by glut

  There is a glut of 250,000 cars in the Malaysian market with no buyers, said Edaran Automobile Nasional Dealers Association of Malaysia (Edam) president Datuk Ismail Din. This, he said, was making it difficult for national car dealers to remain in the business.

  He said it was a norm to have at least 550,000 cars for sale in the market but studies showed there were now 800,000 cars for sale in the market. The figure includes new and used cars of all makes.

• July 17: Sluggish car sales hit component makers

  Car component makers are bracing themselves for tough times ahead with reports of a glut of 250,000 cars in the market.

  An industry source revealed that about three-quarters of the 300-odd companies could cease operations if the situation does not improve by year's end.

Earlier, the July 11 edition of The Edge ran a cover story on the gloomy second-hand car industry:

• Slowing to a standstill

  A combination of factors has slammed the brakes on the car industry. Low trade-in values, uncompetitive prices and inflationary pressures are keeping buyers out of new car showrooms. The New Automotive Policy has not dispelled the uncertainty and confusion. What will put the industry back on track?

• Shakeout among used car dealers

  ...the collapse of the used vehicle market since March has called for closer scrutiny of the modus operandi of certain industry players.

  Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Car Dealers and Credit Companies Association (KLSCDCCA) president Khoo Kah Jin says used vehicle dealers are required by the law to settle payment on trade-in vehicles and to change the names of vehicle owners within seven days of a transaction.

  Khoo says this law is currently not adhered to by every dealer. Certain dealers would only pay car sellers after their vehicles are sold, in return for higher trade-in prices.

You ain't seen nothing yet. Little Birds pointed Screenshots to breaking news at Proton Shah Alam plant. Watch this space.

Meanwhile, Screenshots readers are invited to send in pictures of stockpiled Proton cars in private warehouses and public car parks. We will publish your pictures, just state the location of your shots and round up the number of cars you counted.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBacks (0)

How do Malaysia's young professionals look at the way Putrajaya handled the OSA-declassified statement to rebut Dr Mahathor on the crooked-bridge debacle?

In this YahooGroups posting, a member of Promuda, named Din, concluded that the "questions on who made the condition/request for sand and in which meeting are still unanswered. Also, no documentary evidence has been shown so far to refute the allegation by Tun."

For context, Promuda is a networking targeted at young Malaysian graduates or professionals who are below 35 years of age.

Thanks to Internet (Sorry, Pak Syed), glimpses of the thinking of Malaysia's young professionals on various issues of national interests can be viewed at

http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/promuda_circle

UPDATES: Also on Promuda's YahooGroups, there is a point-by-point rebuttal to the Putrajaya's July 14 statement, allegedly by Matthias Chang.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Corporate blogging is increasingly used by companies in UK to improve both internal and external communications, as well as for sheer promotional reasons.

Now, we have learnt that BT, the telecoms giant, is preparing to launch its own blog in a marketing move that is also a riposte to Carphone Warehouse, its smaller rival.

John Petter, BT’s chief operating officer, will start blogging in the next few weeks.

Via Financial Times.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

As the Prime Minister has come back, with Dr Mahathir set to return on July 22, DPM Najib Abdul Razak today left for UK for a 5-day official visit.

Just fascinating scheduling. Nothing serious.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Calling all HDV (High Definition Video) users!

It's not everyday that renowned flautist on native flute, composer, performer, musician and editor-cinematographer -- Douglas Spotted Eagle -- swings around this part of the world, and what more, in Malaysia!

But he will be in Kuala Lumpur mid-August to conduct an audio-video workshop, made possible by SONY Malaysia and Midstream Online Sdn Bhd.

The 2-day event, named Power Production Workshop, will be held on August 11-12 at Park Royal Hotel, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. It's priced RM960.00 for the two-day workshop, inclusive of lunches and tea-breaks.

However, Screenshots and LensaMalaysia readers are titled to a special RM260 discount per person, limited to the first 50 registrants only.

Interested, please contact Midstream Online (Attn: Ms Wynnie, Ms Pam, or Ms June) during office hours at 03-7875 1922, Mobile: +6012 2122 838, fax 03-7875 1822 or email: register@midstreamonline.com.

Payment can be made via cheque, cash & credit card (walk-in to Midstream Online's office only).

The workshop instructor

Douglas Spotted Eagle is a giant in the video and audio industries, having received Grammy, Emmy, DuPont, Peabody, and many other awards. (See his website here.)

He has recorded 14 solo albums and collaborated on more than 300 CD, film, and television projects. His music is heard in a wide range of films from "Last Samurai" to "Star Wars-Ewok" cartoons.

His biggest project of 2005 was his musical compositions for PBS monster "The War that Made America".

As a videographer, he's shot, edited, or produced media finding its way into 12 Emmy nominated productions.

He has also won many awards for his documentaries, including "Toubat: A Journey of the Native American Flute" and "The Way of the Powwow". His Azee' Choo'nii'gii' is the first film produced in the Dine' language.

Widely recognized as an authority in the video and audio production world, Douglas has authored several technical books which include subjects such as Apple's Soundtrack, Sony's Vegas, Adobe's Encore, and DV Basics, and co-author of "HDV: What You NEED to Know", and "Instant Vegas".

POWER PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
August 11-12,
Park Royal Hotel, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Who should attend

The workshop sessions, divided into two parts, are specially tailored to help audio-video enthusiasts and practitioners to boost your knowledge in AV production. It's an opportunity to earn how to create Great Video & Great Audio by employing some of the techniques used by professionals like Douglas Spotted Eagle (see his website here).

Video

You'll learn techniques and tricks to gain maximum impact with your camcorder. Discover endless possibilities to add that sparkle to your movie. Share your masterpiece with friends and family.

Audio

You may have wished you had access to everything you needed to know about creating and capturing killer audio. Now you've got one in KL!

Workshop Scope & Format

Led by Douglas Spotted Eagle, this workshop will reveal the most efficient, cost-effective and easy-to-use HDV products available. From Camera to Delivery, you'll get a better grip on it all at the Power Production Workshop.

With Douglas Spotted Eagle -- recipient of Grammy, Emmy, DuPont, and many other awards -- you will learn the tools, techniques, and unique workflows he's learned in a lifetime of audio for video experiences.

There will be a lead-in to essential production and post-production techniques that will improve the overall sound of your productions.

You will then be inducted to discover how to effectively leverage HDV to produce higher quality video productions -- the way your customers want it, your peers understand it. And your quest for excellence demands it.

Douglas Spotted Eagle will also be there to show camera, tripod, lighting, audio, and chromakey techniques used by the pro's.

Registration

Call or email to ask for a Registration Form to be sent to you!

Contact Midstream Online (Attn: Ms Wynnie, Ms Pam, or Ms June) during office hours at 03-7875 1922, mobile: +6012 2122 838, fax 03-7875 1822 or email: register@midstreamonline.com.

Workshop Schedule & Details

• Date: 11th August, 2006 (Friday) & 12th August, 2006 (Saturday)


• Registration Fee: RM700 for 2 days Package (Secreenshots & LensaMalaysia readers,limited to first 50 registrants only)


• Normal Price is RM960 (for 2 days)


• Per Day Workshop is RM480


• Optional Hotel Accomodation RM200 ++ per nite


• Venue: Park Royal Hotel Kuala Lumpur


• Time : 9am - 5.30pm (lunch inclusive, refreshment provided)


• Payment: Cheque, Cash & Credit Card (walk in only)

Workshop Agenda

Day 1: Friday Aug 11, 2006

Why HD? HD vs SD?
Why Sony HD?
- Shooting an interview
- Shooting a documentary
- Classic Camera Moves
- Shooting day for night
- Lenses - the long and short
- Developing a strategy for production

Lighting for video compositing
- On Camera lighting
- Shooting in the night
- Color temperature strategies
- Lighting terms
- Using diffusion


Day 2: Saturday, Augst 12, 2006

Recording Great Audio
- The right tools for the job
- Art of recording
- Surronding Sound

Editing
- Multicam Editing
- Using Still photo in video
- Editing montage
- HDV editing

HD World


Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Again, Singapore beats us in the way de-classified documents are displayed for public scrutiny.

As an illustration of how transparency is handled across the Causeway, here's a composite sample of Goh Chok Tong's correspondence to Dr Mahathir -- both are now former prime ministers -- way back in April 2002, in which initial consensus over the replacement of Causeway was achieved.

The original PDF, which is 3-page long, is available on Channel NewsAsia archive.

And this is Dr Mahathir's reply to Goh, dated May 11, 2002, that was published at liberty by the Singaporean government. Did the Singaporeans also believe that there are two sides to the coin?

SOURCE: Channel NewsAsia archive

Put in plain contrast, however much The NST tried to posture on behalf of transparency in Malaysia -- here and here -- we still pale to shame.

Thus far, after much hype about the OSA-declassified documents purportedly to put the record straight, we are merely given interpretation crafted by text draftmen's who, some say, include privileged people out-of-the-government.

In short, we don't get to see the real thing.

As it is, there are a lot more inter-governmental PDFs of such critical nature that, once de-classified, Singapore bares them all for public consumption -- no if, no but.

Just go to this Index page on Channel NewsAsia archive.

Too bad, there's no more revelation in Singapore after October 12, 2002 -- the date of the last published Malaysia-Singapore correspondence, where the water supply issue became a stalemate -- right through to October 31, 2003, the day Mahathir retired, and beyond.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi returned home last night to a rousing welcome at Subang airbase after a two-week holiday with his family in Perth, Australia.

According to Bernama, Abdullah said he was happy that the Cabinet functioned well under the able leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak during his absence.

Thank you for making a loud statement likethis, Mr Prime Minister. We will ponder over it.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBacks (0)

Nowadays, even Shareem Amry -- a gem find in The NST during the A Kadir Jasin and DKL eras -- is writing for The Star.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just two days ago, FA Minister Syed Hamid Albar asked people not to believe in Internet but to rely on the mainstream media forinformation. He was vidicated.

Apparently, Bernama has made a big mess of the PMO's latest rebuttal of Dr Mahathir on the crooked bridge issue, by publishing "Inaccurate, Incomplete and Duplicated" statement on its official website.

The evidence is in Screenshots regular commenter multidimid/mwt's blog: Present Point Power, complete with screenshots.

Should NST editors be seconded to Bernama so that the national news agency gets some of that 'infamous intimacy' with Putrajaya?

Luckily, Bernama has made the neccessary amends to the earlier boo-boo. Or else, Syed Hamid can claim later..."Mana mahu (per)caya itu Internet? Tengok, Bernama punya website pun tak boleh pakai!"

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A perspective from the Council on Foreign Relations.

Not forgetting the blasts that killed hundreds of innocents in Mumbai last week.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

More Malaysian ringgit flowing into Singapura, or what?

The cyber hunt is on for a certain 52-year-old Malaysian Minister who cut his cake at Arabelle in Singapore on a ravish birthday bash recently.

But then, Pak Syed says you can't trust Internet, can you?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

As several Umno Members of Parliament took AirAsia to task (See Hansard July 12, Pages 59-97), which strangely went unreported by the mainstream media, the share counter at the low-cost carrier took a beating the day after, on July 13.

The counter has been on a slippery slope in the last one week.

SOURCE: Star Online July 15, 2006

The fact that AirAsia flies it fleet to Singapore for MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) was also made an issue in the Parliament. There were rumblings that it's a form of capital flight, an outflow of Malaysian ringgit into Singapore's hands.

Why suddenly, 'Everybody Can Cry' (foul)?

Is politics at work? Are the MPs questioning the actual ownership behind AirAsia? Or are they pushing AirAsia's counter down so low that Temasek could buy it cheaper?

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy rebutted AirAsia, which detests the 'bad boy' label, clarifying that AirAsia could not be what it is today without government support.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) counter went up 2 sen higher to RM2.87 since the government announced that it can now fix its own fares for the 22 routes it will ply beginning Aug 1. It has gained a total of 7 sen since last Friday’s close.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

June 14, the Prime Minister's Office declared that it was Malaysia, during Mahathir's administration, that put the issue of selling sand and allowing the Republic of Singapore Airforce to use its air space on the negotiating table.

A day earlier, July 13, FA Minister Syed Hamid Albar declared he has no interest in a company that sold sand to Singapore.

And Syed Hamid vilified the Internet for "putting sand into his rice bowl".

SOURCE: The NST, July 14, 2006

I remember Syed Hamid's father, Syed Jaafar Albar, as an Umno stalwart who was touted as 'Singa Umno' (the Lion of Umno) for his vocal dissent against Harry Lee. If I'm not mistaken, the elder Albar earned the 'Singa' label after having debates with Lee over the issue of ketuanan Melayu (Malay sovereignty over Malaysia).

An entry in Wikipedia has it that, Syed Jaafar Albar accused Lee and some other Chinese Malaysians — referring to them as kaum pendatang or pendatang asing (immigrants) — of being lodgers (orang tumpangan), abusing the hospitality of the Malays who were the "masters of the house".

Harry Lee retaliated by saying that Syed Jaafar Albar, was but among the new immigrants who came to Malaya from Indonesia just before WWII at the age of more than thirty. "Therefore it is wrong and illogical for a particular racial group to think that they are more justified to be called Malaysians and that the others can become Malaysian only through their favour", Lee said something to that effect.

The Albar was later banned from entering Singapura. And the motion towards the expulsion of Singapura from Malaysia had then begun.

Syed Jaafar Albar had a spat with the Tunku for having allowed Singapore to secede in 1965, but when he found his stance was ignored, he quietly resigned as the then Secretary-General of Umno.

Forgive me for I know little of what had happened to the DNA of the lion's cub.

BTW, a check on old published records by Singapura, available on the Internet (sorry Pak Syed), there's no mention of sand in the Malaysia-Singapore disputes. Look here, the Channel NewsAsia archive.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Friday, July 7, I thought it was a record high when crude oil price hit $75.78 a barrel on Nymex West Texas Intermediate.

This Friday, July 14, it went higher to breach the US$78.00 mark. U.S. crude soared to as high as $78.40 a barrel in intraday trading. By 1022 GMT, the August contract was at $77.28, up 58 cents. Across the Atlantic, London Brent rose 55 cents at $77.24, after jumping to a record of $78.03 a barrel earlier in the session.

The culprit? They say it's all-round fears about the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas that could escalate and spread to more Middle East countries.

More fuel price subsidy for another 6 months in Malaysia. More budgetary deficit. And then 2007...

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

The NST Executive Editor (News), Saiful Azhar Abdullah, was removed from his position this morning.

The operative word is 'Job Transfer'.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. The long-awaited statements are not published under the PM's official website, but 'hidden' in DPM Najib's microsite, under "Kenyataan Akhbar": Here and here.

But if you are looking for screenshots of the so-called de-classified documents, sorry lah! No attachments!

ORIGINAL POSTING:

Journalists have been alerted again that the much-awaited statement about the cancelled "crooked bridge", together with excerpts -- just excerpts -- of some de-classified documents, will be released via the PMO's website at 12.00 noon today.

As usual, some newspapers will get it through the good old fax.

Time to compare the PMO's statement with the story that The NST scooped but pulled out within hours.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. The item has been cached by Google hours ago, but NST Online has since taken the content down.

SOURCE: 10-hour cache in Google News circa 19:30hr July 15, 2006

The PM's Office must have given The NST the scoop of the year while other journalists waited earnestly for the breaking news they were alerted for last night; and perhaps while the DPM Najib Abdul Razak was still editing the final draft.

It's noted that as at 11.15hr July 14, the PM's Office website has not posted any statement that our journalists have been alerted for.

There's a theory that says newspaper editors are involved in drafting the PMO's statement.

ORIGINAL POSTING:

This morning, The NST ran an early edition titled:

Spot Light/ Setting the record straight for Malaysians:
Why crooked bridge project was aborted

The URL:

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20060714082109/Article/local1_html

Other mainstream media must ask Putrajaya's media supremo Kamal Khalid (KK) why they lost out to The NST in getting the news; while the DPM may like to ask: Why was the news leaked out before he finalised the draft.

Now that the content is gone, for the sake of public interest, here's what Screenshots retrieved from the Internet early in the morning, via this URL:

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20060714082109/Article/local1_html

Spot Light/ Setting the record straight for Malaysians:
Why crooked bridge project was aborted
14 Jul 2006

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has declassified several confidential documents and extracts to allow Malaysians to understand why the bridge project to Singapore was aborted.

In so doing, it seeks to set the record straight on a string of allegations raised by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, namely that:

• The Singapore Government had accepted Malaysia's proposal to build a half-bridge.
• The bridge was not part of the package of outstanding bilateral issues.
• The Malaysian Government was "half-past-six" and "lacked guts" by not going ahead with the crooked bridge project.
• Malaysia had put the issue of selling sand and allowing the Republic of Singapore Air Force to use its airspace on the negotiating table.
• This was only the second time in recent history that information protected by the Official Secrets Act has been cleared for public consumption — a sign of the Government's seriousness in wanting the people who voted it into power to have the full facts so as to appreciate why the Government decided to abort the bridge project.
• In the package of documents released is correspondence between Dr Mahathir and two of Singapore's former prime ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong.

Also made public are extracts of the record of the meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Goh in Kuala Lumpur in March 2005.

Trawling through the documents, it is easy to establish several facts.

Fact Number One: Discussions with Singapore on the airspace issue were not new and were not mooted by the current Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dr Mahathir himself included this issue as a trade-off and as part of the package of issues to be resolved with Singapore during negotiations from 1998 to 2002. This was evident in Dr Mahathir's letter to Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew on March 4, 2002. The same issue was raised by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong during a meeting with Abdullah on March 1, 2005.

This nullifies the suggestion by Dr Mahathir that it was the present administration that offered RSAF jets use of Malaysian airspace.

Fact Number Two: The sale of sand to Singapore was raised by Singapore at a meeting between Abdullah and Goh on March 1, 2005. This nullifies the argument that the Malaysian Government had put the issue of sand on the negotiating table.

Fact Number Three: Comprehensive advice from the Attorney-General's Chambers showed that Malaysia could not proceed to build a bridge unilaterally because of various legal implications. In particular, Malaysia had obligations under the Johor-Singapore water agreements 1961 and 1962, the Wayleave Agreements, and the Separation Agreement 1965.

A main obstacle was the Public Utilities Board's ownership of the water pipeline on the Causeway. The A-G's Chambers said that under the 1961 and 1962 Johor-Singapore Water Agreements, "Malaysia is required to obtain the approval of the PUB in relation to the alteration of water pipelines necessitated by the construction of a bridge, whether it is a full straight bridge or a scenic bridge".

These agreements were guaranteed under the 1965 Separation Agreement, and take precedence over the Wayleave Agreements. These facts nullify the allegation that the water pipes could be relocated unilaterally on giving six months' notice to Singapore.

Taking into consideration these facts, the present Government had to make the firm decision to reject Singapore's quid-pro-quo proposal on sand and airspace, as it would have compromised Malaysia's national sovereignty. It had to make the political decision to abort the bridge project as this was consistent with the sentiments of Malaysians and the interests of Malaysia.

Concluding, the Foreign Ministry said the issue boiled down to one simple fact: Malaysia wanted the bridge and Singapore did not.

"The straight bridge proposed by Malaysia would have been a symbol of friendship and would have benefited both countries. Nevertheless, the responsibility for achieving this aim does not lie with Malaysia alone," said the ministry in a statement to Bernama.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has raised several allegations on the Government's decision to abort building a bridge to replace the Causeway. Below, the Government sets out the facts and sketches the historical backdrop to this decision.

• The allegation: That the Singapore Government accepted Malaysia's proposal to build a half-bridge.

  The facts: On March 4, 2002, Dr Mahathir wrote a letter to Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew in which, among other things, he proposed to build a half-bridge to replace Malaysia's side of the Causeway.

  On April 11, 2002, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong replied and agreed to that proposal. But there were two provisos: It was conditional upon Malaysia agreeing to Singapore's suggestions on a clutch of bilateral issues — water, the Points of Agreement, the Central Provident Fund, and the use of Malaysian air space.

  Also, it was subject to further discussions at ministerial and senior officials level.

  On Oct 7, 2002, Dr Mahathir proposed to Goh that both countries discontinue discussions on the package of outstanding bilateral issues, as there appeared to be no movement in resolving the issues as a package.

  On Oct 14, 2002, Goh replied, withdrawing Singapore's agreement on the half-bridge in the context of the package and stating that its earlier agreement to the bridge project was now invalid.

  Goh wrote: "I had been prepared to make concessions in varying the POA with extra pieces of land, allowing early withdrawal of CPF deposits and building our part of the bridge to replace the Causeway at our expense as trade-offs, so that you give us airspace, and future water at a fair price...

  "Since you now want to deal with the water issue separately and discontinue the package approach, these trade-offs are no longer possible."

  In effect, this letter signalled a return to the status quo. Goh's statement was not challenged by Dr Mahathir. In fact, there was no reply to Goh's letter by Dr Mahathir.

  Singapore reiterated its position in a diplomatic note on Nov 29, 2004, while the CIQ complex in Bukit Chagar was being built. This is what it said:

  "These negotiations on a package basis were unilaterally terminated by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Oct 7, 2002...With the termination of the package of negotiations, the underlying basis for the statements in the letter of April 11, 2002 no longer exists."

  Conclusion: It is incorrect to say that Singapore accepted Malaysia's proposal to build a half-bridge within its own territory.

• The allegation: That the letter from Goh on April 11, 2002 was the final commitment by the republic on the bridge proposal by Malaysia.

  The facts: During negotiations between the two countries, there was an understanding that no proposal would become final unless it was concluded in an agreement signed by leaders of Malaysia and Singapore. This was explained in a letter by Kuan Yew to Tun Daim Zainuddin on Aug 24, 2000.

The letter read: "To make it easier for us to write to each other, to test various options, all notes or letters I send to you or Mahathir, or vice-versa, will be treated as Without Prejudice: that there is no agreement until all points are agreed and signed by the two PMs."

Conclusion: It is incorrect to say that Goh had given a commitment on the bridge in his letter on April 11, 2002. There was no signed agreement between the PMs of Malaysia and Singapore on building the bridge.

• The allegation: That the bridge was not part of the package of bilateral issues.

  The facts: At first, the outstanding package of issues only covered four areas: water, Central Provident Fund, air space, and the relocation of KTM's CIQ complex in Singapore. This was agreed to by both countries in Hanoi on Dec 17, 1998.

  But later, the bridge project was inserted into the package of issues. Dr Mahathir did so in a letter to Kuan Yew on March 4, 2002, and the bridge issue became one of five issues in the package titled "The Package of Malaysia-Singapore Issues: The Malaysian Proposal".

Conclusion: Quite clearly, the bridge became part of the package of unresolved bilateral issues as a result of Dr Mahathir's letter.

• The allegation: That the Cabinet approved the plan to build the crooked bridge.

  The facts: The Cabinet was informed of the crooked bridge plan on Nov 21, 2001 and July 9, 2002. The discussion by the Cabinet under the previous administration was carried out without the tabling of a Cabinet paper, as is the procedure.

There was no input from ministries and government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finance Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the Works Ministry and the A-G's Chambers.

The only Cabinet paper was prepared in January 1997, but that was on the construction of a straight bridge, with the costs to be shared by Malaysia and Singapore.

Conclusion: Cabinet was twice informed of the plan to build a crooked bridge.

• The allegation: That the Government's decision to abort the bridge project would cause billions of ringgit in losses.

  The facts: The total cost of building the CIQ, the crooked bridge and the new KTM line across the Johor Strait was RM2.379 billion.

  At this time, the Government is still working out the compensation payment to Gerbang Perdana. But the fact is that the decision to abort the bridge was not an economic decision. Once it became clear that Malaysia could not build the bridge unilaterally or accede to Singapore's requests, calling off the plan to build the bridge was the most financially responsible decision.

  Conclusion: The cost of aborting the project will be much lower than the RM1.13 billion to build a bridge and rail link. Also, it would not have been advisable to spend RM1.13 billion on a structure and be stuck in limbo over its use.

• The allegation: That the Government of Malaysia was "half-past-six" and "lacked guts" in calling off the bridge project.

  The facts: Simply put, the Government had to make the right decision, taking into account the interests of Malaysians. It revisited the unilateral proposal by Dr Mahathir to build the crooked bridge but found that this was not an ideal solution. A crooked bridge is not a legacy to leave to future Malaysians.

  In coming to its decision to abort the bridge project, the Government studied not only the Wayleave Agreements but also the Johor-Singapore Water Agreements 1961 and 1962, and the Separation Agreement 1965, taking into consideration the advice of the Attorney-General's Chambers.

  This is what the A-G said: "The construction of the scenic half-bridge to replace the Causeway (on the Malaysian side) must be studied in a holistic manner. This is because the construction has international law implications, particularly its environmental impact on Singapore...

  "Also, the construction of the scenic half-bridge will involve the demolition of the Causeway on the Malaysian side. This will have an impact on water pipes straddling the Causeway. In this regard, legal implications from the point of view of the Johor-Singapore Water Agreements 1961 and 1962, Wayleave

  Agreements and Separation Agreement 1965 have to be looked into.

  "As a sovereign and independent country, Malaysia has the sole power and authority on its territory and other countries cannot interfere in its affairs. Nevertheless, Malaysia cannot take unilateral action without taking into account principles and requirements of international laws, which among other things, requires the rights of
  neighbours to be weighed."

  Conclusion: With so much uncertainty, it made sense for the Government to take a step back and do the right thing. Running the Government is not about scoring points or engaging in brinkmanship. It is about weighing the pros and cons and reaching a decision that is good for Malaysia.<./li>

• The allegation: That Malaysia offered its airspace and sand to Singapore.

  The facts: The issue of allowing use of Malaysian airspace had been on the negotiating table between 1998 and 2002. Dr Mahathir himself inserted this issue in a letter to Kuan Yew on March 4, 2002. He offered it as a trade-off during negotiations on the package of unresolved issues.

  Singapore used to enjoy five flight privileges until 1998. It sought all those rights to be re-instated, but the government of the day was only prepared to offer search-and-rescue and the Northern Transit Corridor rights.

  The right of search-and-rescue was offered on the basis of reciprocity and is consistent with international practice. As for Northern Transit Corridor, it only allows RSAF jets to transit over the South China Sea. The jets will not be allowed to roam Malaysian airspace.

  Conclusion: The use of Malaysian airspace was put on the table by the previous Government under Dr Mahathir.

The facts: The sale of sand was raised by Goh during a meeting with Abdullah on March 1, 2005 in Putrajaya. Singapore said this issue was important to them and that it would make selling the bridge idea to Singapore more palatable.

Remember, as far as the republic was concerned, it did not see the need for a bridge to replace the Causeway. It wanted something in return for agreeing to the bridge deal, sand and the airspace.

Knowing that Singapore only would be willing to agree to the bridge project on the basis of balance of interests, Malaysia agreed to consider the request for sand.

But once it became clear that the Malaysian public was dead set against selling any sand or allowing RSAF jets to use its airspace, the Government moved firmly and made the only acceptable decision — it aborted the plan to build the bridge.

Going ahead to satisfy the two conditions the republic put forward would have meant going against the wishes of many Malaysians.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBacks (0)

Project NST-Jaring is finally here.

Rocky's Bru got it figured out on America's Independence Day, and his readers understand the circumstances leading to the moNSTer's unveiling.

And there is this talk about an invitation card which is plastered all over Internet by Star Online.

Thanks reader Howsy for the heads-up.

Will there be aliens from The Star, and gremlins from theSun?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION: 10:38pm. As Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is wrapping up his family holidays in Perth, and to come home this Saturday, the nation's temparature is apparently rising a little, nothing to do with the northern hemisphere's summer heat, though.

Many people are awaiting in anticipation for a piece of breaking news from Putrajaya right now.

UPDATES. At 7.30pm, I received a tip-off to watch out for the PM's Office website. Important announcement is to come after 7:30pm, the Little Bird that chirps in Putrajaya says.

At 7.42pm, an SMS came in:

JPM nak keluarkan statement malam ini. kononnya tentang isu jambatan utk jawab tun mahathir. wartawan tgh tunggu.

It's now 10:38pm. No JPM statement. There might have been a second thought, as always.

There is a theory that says DPM Najib Abdul Razak is tasked to announce it, but he wants to buy time.

As late as 9.24pm, Najib was still editing the statement, Rocky's Bru says.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

I am relaying what Global Voices Online (GVO) co-founder Rebecca MacKinnon has just told us:

Hao is now resting at home in Beijing. While there are many unanswered questions about the cirumstances of his release, his family is asking the media and other well-wishers to keep their distance in these early days.

His sister Nina has just written a blog post thanking everybody for their support. Here is an excerpt:

"I have received a lot of requests to pass on well wishes to Haozi. Once again I’d like to thank everybody on his behalf for all the support for us over the past five months. Friends, I hope that in the future there will be a chance to thank all of you in person.

Finally, I’d like to thank some news media and organizations for their profesionalism and understanding. But as for the conduct of others I have nothing to say. We still have a lot of things we have to do. If you can please give us some space and some time, we would be very grateful."

GVO co-founder Ethan Zuckerman has more details in his blog.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Dr Mahathir has, in principle, accepted the invitation to speak at the Foreign Correspondents Association, Singapore.

The logistics are being worked out, the date is some time in October. However, attendance is by invitation and exclusive to FCA members only.

In 1961, the Tunku had lunch in FCA Singapore, and that was the place where he mooted the idea of a "union" of Malaya, Singapore and North Borneo British dependencies.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The reader's email is reproduced verbatim.

Mailbag
From: Johann Foo
Date: Jul 11, 2006 10:06 AM
Subject: One morning with Tengku Mahaleel - Part 2

Dear Mr. Ooi,

I may perhaps be right in suggesting you are quite out of depth regarding the Proton/MVA saga.

Towards the end of my previous email to you, I suggested you ask TM whether the RM367.6 million was paid as an ijection of fresh capital into MVA or whether the stake was acquired from an individual who would have been smiling from ear to ear on his way to the bank.

TM has answered this in part 2 and it shows TM and the Board wasn't so stupid as I thought they might have been. After all they were crazy enough to think MVA was a great fit. They may be right but let's hear the compelling reasons they had behind the decision to buy into MVA. Until then, the factare the purchase was made in December 2004, MVA did not have a good year in 2005 and Board after TM's departure decided to cut the losses and call it a bad dream.

The following exchange reflects how TM is spinning the facts and how little you understand the financial aspects surrounding the purchase:

Q: What do you mean by "equity injection" and "other costs related to the purchase"? Is there anything that has not been fully told to the public? A: What is not told is that Proton had borrowed from ABN AMRO a sum of €70 million for capital injection into MV Agusta for the shares.

So, when it sold MV Agusta for€1, ABN AMRO would execute the cash deposit that Proton had placed with thebank as loan collateral.

So, Proton will be poorer by €70 million -- that translates to about RM328 million.
In other words, cash will leave Proton.

Q: This is new. This has not been told?
A: Never been told.

Well, it is not quite true that the above saga had never been told. The following extract is produced verbatim from the quarterly report ended 31 March, 2006 released to the Malaysian Stock Exchange and available from the Proton Holdings' website:

Note 10. (page 9) of the Notes to the Financial Statements:

"CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP

On 24 December 2005, Proton Capital Sdn Bhd ("PCSB"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton Holdings Berhad entered into a Share Purchase & Investment Agreement ("SPIA") with GEVI S.p.A("the Purchaser"), a company organised and existing under the laws of Italy, in relation to a proposed disposal involving the disposal of 57,750,000 Class A shares representing 57.75% of the corporate capital of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A ("MVA") to the Purchaser for a cash consideration of Euro 1.00 ("The Disposal"). The Disposal did not have any significant effect on the earnings, net assets, share capital nor shareholdings of the PROTON Group.

With the Disposal completed on 1 March 2006, the acquisition loan of EUR70 million was repaid on 26 May 2006."

As you can see, the story has been told but TM's statement and the "never been told" byline taken by TM is misleading and mischievous.

Proton did not make use of its own money to buy the stake in MVA. It borrowed the 70 million Euros from a foreign bank to fund the purchase. And the bank was smart enough to demand that Proton make a deposit of an equivalent sum as collateral for the loan. The bank(s) wern't too excited about using the shares in MVA as collateral. Smart bank(s).

Of course Proton could have just used its own money in the first but they decided on using loans for reasons only Proton can shed light on. It is by no means unusual for a company to fund its overseas investments through loans from banks in that country concerned, for tax and other reasons. It could be the interest rates in that country are low compared to, say, the cost of capital from the home country. Or the investing company wants to continue to show a healthy "cash at bank" position. As it is so clearly demonstrated in these interviews, it is so convenient to see only one side of the balance sheet - assets, stocks, perceived goodwil but forget the loans to buy these assets.

Of course there was actual cash out but only to repay money that Proton could have used in the first place. There is no additional hole.

Q: Let's come back to the question we talked earlier, the sale of NV Agusta for €1. What's thereal damage? How do you relate the cold figures to Joe Public?

It is true that Proton has lost about RM504 million based on the facts as disclosed by Proton, namely, the initial cost of RM367.6 million (it's not RM329 million because the exchange rate was higher in 2004 - read Proton's June 16, 2006 statement) which was totally written off in FY2005 and the additional provisions for further liabilities of RM136.2 million made in the FY2006 financial statements.

This translates into 504 new millionaires if 504 outstanding Malaysians (who are not already millionaires) are each given RM1 million. To take this farcical idea one step further, why not make 1008 half-millionaires?

So what would I, a member of Joe Public, like to know? Here's my wish list:

1. What was the rationale behind the MVA acquisition? There must be very good reasons because Proton was willing to pay RM350 million for goodwill on a company that in the following year did not perform well. What could Proton have learned from MVA that others, even Lotus, could not deliver? Tell Joe Public, some of whom can tell the woods from the trees.



2. What was the net worth of MVA at the time of acquisition? In part 1, TM had mentioned goodwill of nearly RM350 million? Given this fact, is it true the net worth or net asset value of MVA as shown in its accounts would be only about RM30 million. Joe Public does not know, but TM does.



3. What was the profit record of MVA like , say, 3 years prior to the purchase by Proton. What were its key factors for success that had appealed to TM and the Board?



4. How did MVA perform financially in calendar years 2005 and 2006? Maybe Proton can supply this information so the answers to net worth can be truthfully ascertained.

Best regards,

JEFF OOI says:When we interview, especially as a blogger who is more a Joe Public than a trained journalist, we ask probing and sometimes leading questions to form the jigsaw puzzle that all of us wanted solved.
.
Then, we report them as we heard it, and based on information we managed to gather, provoke a little here and there, and we let the readers draw their own conclusion.

I only want to take the position that tax payers' interests ate taken care of. And I do want to see angels out there on the present Proton board.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (39) | TrackBacks (0)

From the Mahathir vs. Abdullah tussle, will the Najib vs. Khairy power struggle be next?

That's what Oon Yeoh asked today in TODAY, the MediaCorp paper.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Zinédine (Yazid) Zidane, banished minutes from the end of his last game as a professional soccer player, apologized for his red card but blamed Marco Metarazzi's repeated insults of his mother and sister that provoked him to head-butt the Italian player in the chest.

New York Times said Materazzi had called Zidane the son of Algerian immigrants, a terrorist, or a son of Harkis.

The Harkis reference, as we know, is a term for Algerians who fought on the French side in Algeria’s war for independence, and it is a severe insult for someone with Zidane’s heritage.

Palmdoc, our blogging doctor, has a medical explanation for this, supported with a video clip of the incident which, however, didn't show the precise moments Metarazzi was seen pulling Zidane's jersey and apparently tweaking the Frenchman's nipple from behind.

And here's Zidane's explanation yesterday:

"Do you think that two minutes from the end of a World Cup final, two minutes from the end of my career, I wanted to do that?" he asked. [...]

"It is very offensive, very personal. It affects my mother, my sister. These are very hard words. So you hear it once and then you try to walk away, and I do walk away. Then he repeats that for a second time. And the third time, well, I'm a human being.

"There are some words sometimes, which can be harder than ... Well, I'd rather have received a right-hand punch in the gob rather than hear that."

Earlier, Metarazzi has admitted that he did insult the French captain. We will probably never now why Zidane's ancestory that's traced to Algiers can be used as an insult target in the football field by his opponents.

It has been a World Cup tainted by bad referees and bad refereeing, and now this.

Zidane got the Golden Ball, and Italy got away with the Golden Cup. As Italian World Cup coach Marcello Lippi resigned to seek newer challenges in his career, he urged for leniency for the four Serie A clubs -- Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio -- that were implicated for match-fixing. And AC Milan is owned by the manipulative former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

What a Beautiful Game. It has held us up for one full moon.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

As the Ministers get to the ground to 'explain' the story of Abdullah-Mahathir standdoff to the grassroots, they get an earful.

The latest to face the music, kaw kaw, was FA Minister Syed Hamid Albar when he tried to blame the former prime minister for the 'half-bridge'debacle, according to Cuit-cuit Sikit. The place was the closed-door briefing organised by Umno Selangor, and the firework was ignited by the Petaling Jaya Selatan division chief.

Meanwhile, when Dr Mahathir returns, Gen M will bring the former prime minister to the parliamentary constituencies of Padang Rengas and Bagan Datuk in Perak to meet the grassroots and tell 'his side of the story' on July 22 and 23, respectively, said Malaysiakini Malay Edition. Pamphlets printed in Malay will be distributed to the citizenry in the kampungs, the report said.

As you know, Padang Rengas and Bagan Datuk are constituencies held by minister Mohd Nazri Aziz and deputy minister Zahid Hamidi, respectively.

All the three ministers, after securing their jobs from the previous administration to the present, have been among the fiercest in finger-pointing Dr Mahathir for all the ills in this country.

To win, Dr Mahathir knows, the fight is in the Malay geographical and psychological landscapes. It has always been in the past, it will always be in the present and the future. The adat that upholds the core value of the Malay community is obviously very much alive in this country.

And this time, the war of wits will be fought in the Malay heartland that Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan and Brendan Pereira can't reach with their brand of English editorials... provided the 83-year-old gets to turun padang this deep.

His steps were stopped in Kelantan.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

This open letter to HE Mr. Christopher J. LaFleur, from a Washington DC-based American, is as fresh as July 3, 2006!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrribe? No kidding!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 09:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Part 3: Satria Neo and Investor Judgment

It is noted that, despite having removed Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff as the group CEO from July 2005, Proton did sustain several key initiatives that were ragarded as the Mahaleel legacy in the company.

One of such initiatives was the launch of Satria Neo last month.

Q&A with Tengku Mahaleel

QUESTION: Tengku, we have your comments about Proton and the sale of MV Agusta. What's your comment about Satria Neo? We noted that the Lotus re-tuned Satria GTi (1998) is now a legend.

ANSWER: Firstly, Tun Dr Mahathir and I wish to send our congratulations to the Proton and Lotus engineers on the launch of Proton Satria Neo, and the Building Construction team that built, in record time, the new Proton Edar HQ, Centre of Excellence. Both were designed in 2003.

The Satria (Neo) should have been launched in October 2005 and delayed by 8 months. Still well done, especially to Encik Rosle Yaakub, the Overall Program Manager. He's an exceptional individual. Satria is the result of the best of Lotus-Proton team who worked hard three years ago.

Q: Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn once said he needs 60 models for him to compete worldwide. How's the case with Proton?

A: We are still along way. Remember, Japan took 50 years to develop the automobile industry; Korea took 40 years. Over here, Proton's own design was done in 7 years. After Satria Neo, after GEN2 and Savvy, we should have several more models coming out, including the MPV... if the original approved plan has not been aborted by the present management.

To succeed in the industry, you have to find a stronghold in the world market. Compared to Japan and Korea, we are still a long, long way.

Q: So, is there light for Proton? How's the general perception about Proton's market performance?

A: Proton has lost very quickly in significant market shares. Its registration of cars in February was less than 10,000, and in March slightly above 10,000. I was told, in June 2006, it registered just above 8,000 units only.

This is far, far below the 14,000 units per month the old management was doing profitably.

Its unsold stock in trade is now rumoured to be more than 40,000 units -- with many 2005 models. During the previous management, it used to be around eight to nine thousand units in the system.

Cash reserves... dropped from RM2.4 billion to RM600 million. This, probably has gone into unsold inventory.

I was made to understand in March this year, unsold inventory was around RM1.837 billion.

There were discounts being offered on Proton cars in September 2005. What happened was, it seriously hurt the second-hand car market because of the negative residual value for the second-hand car. Go ask the second-hand car dealers... ask if they had to sell below the price they brought the cars in.

NOTE:
Incidentally, the July 11 edition of The Edge ran a cover story on the gloomy second-hand car industry:
- Slowing to a standstill
- Shakeout among used car dealers
- How the main auto players measure up
- Driving into equilibrium

In UK, Proton is offering to customers to pay One British Pound deposit, and you can drive away a GEN2.

SOURCE: www.proton-wira.co.uk

Q: How will that impact investor judgment on the present Proton management?

A: For some time now, the investing public has judged Proton by selling off their shares.

Prior to management change and restructuring, shares averaged RM8, and its nett tangible assets (NTA) was RM10.69.

Now it is trading at RM5.20 plus minus, wiping out as much as RM1.5 billion worth of value.

SOURCE: The Star July 12, 2006

This has not been highlighted at all as part of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Also, with the new management, Proton has declared quarterly losses and a "bungee" drop in profit after tax of RM46.7 million, compared to RM810 million for FY2005 before (final) adjustment.

That's a drop of RM763 million, or (negative) 1,734% in profits.

Again, this was not highlighted by the new management.

As a comparison, the previous management has a record of achieving 137% in profit.

Q: So, taken into consideration of the June 16 statement by the present management, how do you relate to the real issue?

A: You have the headline: 'Proton saga REVEALED'... it appeared in a leading English daily in Malaysia... on Proton's answers to a series of 11 questions.

While it is an attempt (on their part) to clarify, we'd (Tun Dr Mahathir and I) like to respond. Proton's reply reveals nothing new. All were said in previous statements.

Certainly, what we raised has nothing to do with the Chairman (Mohammed Azlan Hashim) being unable to meet the Advisor (Dr Mahathir), or the assertion that the Board was not aware of the shareholders' terms of agreement, nor that Proton management has no control of MV Agusta -- both of which are significantly absent in the press release.

MV Agusta was owned by Proton, and run by Proton people who are Malaysians and report to the Board. How can the Board claim that it is not aware of what was going on in MV Agusta?

So, we can only assume, the facts do not support this assertion (of theirs).

Secondly, we cannot continue to argue with people who are ignorant of the industry and business when they say that a motorcycle company has no synergy with a car company.

We reiterate for educational purposes only, and to clear the mind haze, that the most successful auto companies today started as motorcycles companies -- and they still do, such as NWW, Honda and Suzuki.

The decision to acquire MV then was a collective Board decision who saw this synergy. And we put our people, Malaysians, to run the company. But before they could put the plans into action, the company was sold off very swiftly to somebody. For One Euro (€1)!

But why GEVI SpA? Who's GEVI SpA? Why One Euro?

Q: Will you continue to speak up on all these?

A: As a concerned citizen, I will.

To be continued.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

After P. Gunasegaram, now even an Australian weighs in to give his 22 sen's worth about Malaysia. From Michael Backman, The Age, July 12:

But back to Mahathir. Is all his noise a bad thing? Not at all.

Mahathir must keep up his criticisms. It doesn't matter whether he is right or wrong. What matters is that he keeps going. Monopolies are never a good thing, particularly when it comes to a monopoly of ideas. Mahathir has given Malaysians a lot of things. Giving them what might turn out to be the most effective opposition voice they've had is is latest contribution.

Flashy buildings make a country look modern. But real modernity comes from open public debate.

Mahathir is dragging Malaysia forward while Abdullah is disappointing.

Notably, The Age is the paper that most Sydney and Melbourne folks read as daily staple. And the Australian journalist apparently thinks, like his counterpart in Malaysia's The Edge, he is also entitled to an opinion about another person he reads from afar:

So what is Najib(Abdul Razak) like? He's certainly no Mahathir. He rarely takes a strong position on anything, and when he does, it's usually because he's worked out which way the numbers are. Accordingly, he has few strong enemies; nor many passionate supporters.

Ever the good deputy, Najib was quick to pledge loyalty to Abdullah last week but he also refrained from saying anything critical of Mahathir. A fence-sitter but a splendid one, he is rich, Malay, well-educated, and his father (Tun Abdul Razak) was prime minister.

But will Najib take the tough decisions that so far have eluded Abdullah? Nothing in his career suggests he will. It will probably be business as usual, and in Malaysia politics is always about business.

We have never had "a freer media in the country". Indeed.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night, I received news that former Global Voices East Asia editor, blogger and documentary filmmaker Hao Wu, was released yesterday after nearly five months in detention.

His release was reported by his sister, Na Wu.

Earlier, the European Parliament had followed up on a request by Reporters Without Borders and voted a resolution on Freedom of Expression on the Internet. The RSF had given them a list of 9 cases of imprisoned bloggers and cyberdissidents that the organisation wanted to push forward (Hao Wu is in it).The European Parliament included this list in the resolution.

The RSF also asked the President of the Parliament, currently visiting China, to discuss his case with the Chinese authorities.

RSF has since issued a statement after Hao Wu was confirmed a free man:

"Let us not forget, however, that Hao was kidnapped by the Chinese security services, which violated his most basic rights by claiming that his case was a matter of national security," the press freedom organisation said.

"At the same time, 50 other people are currently in prison in China for writing about 'subversive' subjects online," Reporters Without Borders continued.

"China is by far the world's biggest prison for bloggers and cyber-dissidents. We would also like to pay tribute to the courage of this blogger's sister, who battled relentlessly for his release."

This is the context that we need to hammer on.

Statement from Reporters Without Borders

July 11, 2006

BLOGGER HAO WU FREED AFTER BEING HELD FOR 140 DAYS

Reporters Without Borders voiced "immense relief" at the news of the release today of blogger and documentary filmmaker Hao Wu after nearly five months in detention. His release was reported by his sister, Na Wu.

"Let us not forget, however, that Hao was kidnapped by the Chinese security services, which violated his most basic rights by claiming that his case was a matter of national security," the press freedom organisation said.

"At the same time, 50 other people are currently in prison in China for writing about 'subversive' subjects online," Reporters Without Borders continued. "China is by far the world's biggest prison for bloggers and cyber-dissidents. We would also like to pay tribute to the courage of this blogger's sister, who battled relentlessly for his release."

Hao was arrested on 22 February while preparing a report about an underground Protestant church. He was held in isolation for 140 days, during which he was never allowed to receive the help of a lawyer. The Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) never revealed the reasons for his arrest. He was said to be "under house arrest" but he was never allowed to receive a visit from his relatives or to telephone them. The PSB said this was necessary because there had been a "breach of national security."

Reporters Without Borders wrote to Chinese President Hu Jintao in March asking him to intercede on Hao's behalf. The organisation also addressed requests for help to the European Union, including a 10 July letter to European Parliament president Josep Borrell asking him to raise the cases of Hao and two other imprisoned cyber-dissidents during his 8-14 July visit to China. This request was made just four days after the European Parliament adopted a resolution about online free expression that mentioned Hao.

Hao had a blog called Beijing or Bust in which he wrote under the pseudonym of Beijing Loafer. His sister, Na, kept a blog (http://wuhaofamily.spaces.msn.com/) all the time he was detained in which she reported on her fight to have him freed.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

A group of people calling themselves 'Gen M', or 'Generasi Tun Dr Mahathir', will congregate at the Subang Airport at 8pm, July 20, to greet former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is scheduled to return from overseas.

'Gen M' is a loose amalgamation of Umno supporters, university students, NGOs who want to express their support to the former Prime Minister, says Malaysiakini.

"There is nothing wrong for us, and anyone else, to give a warm home-coming to a figure who has done so much for the country," said a spokesperson who wished to remain anonymous at the moment.

The spokesperson said there is no sponsor for the welcoming ceremony, and attendees can present themselves out of their own awareness that Dr Mahathir has sacrificed much for the country.

As such, the public who are supportive of Dr Mahathir are invited to participate in the welcome-home gathering as a show of support to the former prime minister, added the spokesperson.

Subsequently, a series of meet-the-people gatherings will be held in selected parliamentary constituencies nationwide to explain the critical issues currently plaguing the country, the spokesperson said.

Go to www.tdm2020.homestead.com for further details. Or call 016 -3679003.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

I am asking, do they understand customers any more?

When you want to launch an Astro set-top-box that doubles-up as an 80GB HD video recorder priced at RM988 per unit -- and Pioneer, Panasonic and Sharp have a total of 14 DVR models to choose from, some with 160GB HD storage -- which would you consider?

Read it in my CNet blog, Lemak Lemang.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBacks (0)

PART 2: €1 sale, but what's the real damage?

Malaysians have been told that MV Agusta had about €60 million (RM300 million) worth of stocks for sale as at September 2005. In terms of assets, MV Agusta has two design centres and manufacturing plants worth €80 million (RM367.6 million).Added to the equation is the fact -- and the present Proton management acknowledged it on June 16, 2006 -- that Proton paid almost RM350 million as goodwill for the purchase of MV Agusta in December 2004.

To a layman, the then value of MV Agusta was almost RM1 billion.

Minus out MV Agusta's debts, some were frozen, of almost RM500 million, and nett value of MV Agusta then came to almost RM500 million.

This company was, however, sold without open bidding to upstart GEVI SpA for €1.

How much was the real damage? We asked former Proton Group CEO Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff when we sat down with him one recent morning.

LensaPix by Jeff Ooi

Q&A with Tengku Mahaleel

QUESTION: The present Proton management has repeatedly answered on the issue of the sale of MV Agusta to GEVI SpA for €1. Why are you still pressing on?

ANSWER: We, that's Dr Mahathir and I, raised questions on Proton's sale of MV Agusta for €1, and we asked questions on the process of decision-making for the sake of accountability, professional responsibility and transparency to the stakeholders, and by stakeholders, they include the Malaysian public.

What we said was that, by selling MV Agusta for €1, or RM4.75, Proton has lost up to RM500million from the loss of equity injection, Proton's share of 57% in MV Agusta, and other costs related to the purchase.

Q: What do you mean by "equity injection" and "other costs related to the purchase"? Is there anything that has not been fully told to the public?

A: What is not told is that Proton had borrowed from ABN AMRO a sum of €70 million for capital injection into MV Agusta for the shares.

So, when it sold MV Agusta for€1, ABN AMRO would execute the cash deposit that Proton had placed with thebank as loan collateral.

So, Proton will be poorer by €70 million -- that translates to about RM328 million.

In other words, cash will leave Proton.

Q: This is new. This has not been told?

A: Never been told.

Q: That's actual cash-out to ABN AMRO, and it looks certain to impact Proton's cash flow now if the bank exercised its rights. Tell us the cash reserves situation at Proton when you were there.

A: The cash reserves the previous management left behind was about RM2.4 billion. You heard it from Dr Mahathir also. But that RM2.4 billion is now depleted to about RM694 million only.

Proton Edar has about RM700 million at one time, but it now has only less than RM50 million in cash reserves.

Q: Such a low for cash reserves. What's the immediate risk to Proton?

A: Proton's future is at a hugh risk as it will not be able to fund new approved projects for new products which require RM4 billion. It has to borrow or sell out.

Q: Let's come back to the question we talked earlier, the sale of NV Agusta for €1. What's thereal damage? How do you relate the cold figures to Joe Public?

A: I said just now, by selling MV Agusta for €1, or RM4.75, Proton has lost up to RM500 million in terms of equity injection, the 57% controlling stake in MV Agusta,a ndother costs related to the purchase.

This purchase value was written off upon purchase, thus it is not reflected in the 2005 accounts.

But the principle remains that, when one seels a product at less than thepurchase price, you lose money.

So, by selling MV Agusta for €1 -- when you acquired it for €70 million -- you lose €69,999,999.00. That translates to about RM328,999,996.00.

Just imagine, in difficult times like this with rising fuel prices, if we donate RM1 million each to outstanding Malaysians, we have 328 new Malaysian millionaires.

Or if we were to give a RM30,000 home to the needy and the hardcore poor, we have 11,000 families with new homes.

You want answers for Joe Public, that's the answer for Joe Public.

And that's precisely what Tengku Mahaleel told me, after roti canai and teh tarik, that I could possibly have been one of Malaysia's 328 new millionaires, but someone just screwed it up for me. Real upset.

The RM328 milliion is but a direct loss calculated after purchasing MV Agusta for €70 million and re-selling it for €1.

How about the value behind 57.75% shares, the inventory, the two design centres and manufacuring plants that Proton picked up from a bankrupt company which, minus debts, still commanded a paper value of RM500 million as at September last year? And not forgetting the €70 million cash that ABN AMRO forfeited and drained out from Proton. You do the maths.

More upset?

But current Proton management had told Malaysians that MV Agusta had to be sold off fast. They fear in the event MV Agusta falls into bankruptcy, Proton would have been subjected to a contingent liability for an amount of up to RM923.1 million (€194.3 million)

Was that the main reason MV Agusta had to be disposed of rapidly, some ten months after the purchase, to GEVI SpA for €1 and without bidding?

The jury is still out as Google can't return much information about GEVI SpA. Perhaps, we should start probing investment banks that faciitated the sale of MV Agusta to GEVI SpA?

Proton Holdings Berhad's unaudited report for Q4 of the Financial Year ended March 31, 2006 can be download here.

NEXT: Does this help?

Issue #915 of Auto Express magazine (New Car Honours Special) carries a blurb on Page 20, stating that Proton Gen2 is available with £1 deposit and 12 months' free servicing. The £1 deposit package is also available for Impian and Savvy. Offers run until send of September.

SOURCE: Proton UK

Does it help?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (27) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen CY Leow, who has been residing in Kiwiland as a Permanent Resident in order to school his two daughters, never realised renewing his Malaysian passport at the Wellington Malaysian High Commission in the New Zealand capital can be so 'third world'.

He shares his bitter experience.

About time someone brought this up!

We sent in our passports to the Malaysian High-Comm in Wellington for "renewal" at the beginning of April. We were shocked that the woman in charge told us that it would take THREE to FOUR months to get our new passports renewed from KL!

After checking our filled forms, she told us that ours "might take longer" because "we missed the diplomatic bag". When asked, she said that they only send their "BAG" once a month! WHAT!!???

We planned to visit our daughter in Canada in August, so after waiting all this while, I called this morning to find out where we are at. The "woman in charge" said that the passports are "still being process in KL, MAY BE we will get them at the END OF JULY or early August!

When asked again why it takes so long, she said KL are SHORT-HANDED in processing passport renewal!

Is that progress Jeff? What the hell is going on? Oh... after getting our HIGH TECH passports with smart IC, we still have to fly to Auckland to apply for U.S. visa! Why? Because Malaysian passports are not recognised in the visa waver program! Even San Marino passports are recognised! So are Brunei, Singapore, NZ, UK, etc etc but NOT Malaysia! Why??

And after reveiving our passports, we will have to fill in stacks of Canadian visa application forms and send our passports to SYDNEY to apply for our Canadian visas! And that takes TWENTY days!

Thanks for screwing up our holiday plan, Malaysia BOLEH!!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 04:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (43) | TrackBacks (0)

Just don't tell me you sulk because you didn't get invited to the akad nikah attended by the "who's who in politics and the media".

The parents-in-law, the besan, their professions et. al. are plastered all over Page N17, The Star, and on its news portal that claims to generate 40 million pageviews per month.

To protect the newly-weds' privacy, I will not tell you where their actual love-nest is.

P/S: I just got my i-Pod playlist updated.

SOURCE: The Star July 10, 2006 Pg N17

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 01:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

PART I: The wisdom of €1

Take it as yet another round of "me say, they say" in the intriguing Proton-MV Agusta-GEVI SpA controversies, we persisted by asking former Proton Group CEO Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff for his response to the bold headlines in The NST and NST-Business Times on June 17: The Proton saga: Revealed.

Tengku Mahaleel with Associated Press Malaysia bureau chief - LensaPix by Jeff Ooi

On June 16, in what appeared to be a decentralised rebuttal of Dr Mahathir's tough questions on the Abdullah administration that the latter had tacitly avoided a direct reply, Proton Holdings Bhd again came out in defence of its sale of financially-troubled MV Agusta, reiterating that there were no synergies between the motorcycle maker and Proton as a car maker.

The company's June 16 statement, among other things, said:

"There were no operational, engineering, and technological synergies between Agusta and Proton. This has been independently confirmed by Proton's appointed advisers. Proton manufactures cars for the masses while Agusta manufactures motorcycle."

To this, Tengku Mahaleel told Screenshots that it's futile to talk to people running automobile industry who do not know automobile industry.

He pointed to the success model experienced by BMW, Honda and Suzuki, which are automobile giants who first started off as motorcycle manufacturers.

But more importantly, said Tengku Mahaleel, management at Proton had again dodged answering the key question he raised on April 14, and echoed recently by Dr Mahathir recently, about the loss that Proton, which bought MV Agusta for RM500 million, incurred when it was re-sold to GEVI SpA for €1.

Another prickly question that the present Proton management avoided answering in its June 16 statement is the background about GEVI SpA. Who are they? Why were they given the approval to take over MV Agusta at €1 without open bidding?

Q&A with Tengku Mahaleel

QUESTION: When Proton first bought 57.75% stake in MV Agustra in December 2004 for € 70 million (RM367.6 million), was it sound investment?

ANSWER: If MV Agusta is that bad as it is made out to be, no buyer will put their money to purchase it. That includes Proton when I was there.

The fact that GEVI SpA bought it, could it mean they see some 'hidden' value that we cannot see?

Q: How did the previous Proton management arrive at the decision to buy MV Agusta?

A: When you buy or sell something, there is always a valuation. You ask tough business questions like: Was there a valuation made on MV Agusta? Who made the valuation and what is the value? Did the Audit and Risk Committee of the company review this valuation.

Now, let's get down to the figures.

( a ) Did the present Board know that MV Agusta had about €60 million (RM300 million) worth of stocks for sale as at September 2005?

( b ) Did the present Board know that it has two design centres and manufacturing plants worth €80 million (RM367.6 million)?

( c ) Don't forget, the Board has admitted it is aware that Proton paid almost RM350 million as goodwill for the purchase of MV Agusta.

So, if we assume ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) are alll correct, add them all up, and the then value of MV Agusta is almost RM1 billion.

MV Agusta had debts, some were frozen, of almost RM500 million. So nett value of MV Agusta then was almost RM500 million.

Perhaps, that's why GEVI SpA, which was offered to buy it at €1, has bought it as it stands to gain immediately at a profit if it decided to re-sell.

Of course, investment banks will make the commissions as part of the business.

Q: You said just now, that MV Agusta had about €60 million (RM300 million) worth of stocks for sale as at September 2005? That will benefit GEVI SpA if they liquidated the inventory immediately?

A: Need I say more? So, our questions remain, and I am asking them again:

( 1 ) Why sell MV Agusta at €1 when, perhaps, the value of MV Agusta is more than €1?

( 2 ) Why was there no advertisements or public announcements to call for bidders for MV Agusta when it was up for sale?

( 3 ) How was GEVI SpA identified as the ultimate buyer?

( 4 ) Who are GEVI SpA shareholders and what is its paid up capital?

( 5 ) Is GEVI SpA a motocycle company? If not, what it is?

( 6 ) Who are the other companies that bidded for MV Agusta? What were their bids? Did they ask for free, or else how can they bid lower than GEVI SpA who got it for €1?

Q: Did Claudio Castiglioni, the shareholder and chairman of MV Agusta, make a bid then?

A: You better ask the present Proton management on this. But I was told the Board and Chairman of Proton had refused to see Claudio before September 2005. You must ask them why?

Q: Was there a recommendation from the Board of MV Agusta, of which Claudio is the chairman and an interested party, to sell off Proton's stake?

A: Go ask them (present Proton management). But I want to ask the question: Why did Proton representative refuse to attend the MV Agusta Board meeting where the facts could be laid out and solutions found?

Is the Proton Board aware of the various proposals MV Agusta made and was preparing to help develop Proton in engineering, products and brands. If they knew, what were they?

Q: So, what can we conclude from all this?

A: First of all, there still remain serious, nagging questions on the sale of MV Agusta at €1. Why all the hurry? Why was there no indication to the Chairman and CEO of MV Agusta that all is not well and that Proton was considering selling out?

Let me ask you this: Assuming it is NOT the management and the Board of MV Agusta who recommended Proton to sell MV, and making such such a big loss, then who made that decision? And why?

So much for Part I. And I haven't given you the answer why Tengku Mahaleel had told me, after roti canai and teh tarik, that I could possibly have been one of Malaysia's 328 new millionaires, but someone just screwed it up for me.

We will do that tomorrow. Meanwhile, let's get a balanced view to Proton's side of story

Backgrounder

As a backgrounder, Proton bought a 57.75% stake in MV Agusta in December 2004 for € 70 million (RM367.6 million). However, after Tengku Mahaleel's exit from Proton in June last year, the current management sold the stake to Italy's GEVI SpA, an upstart with no track record, which also assumed the motorcycle maker's € 107 million debt.

The rationale given by the present Proton management on the disposal of MV Agusta is as follows:

• The entire purchase consideration of RM367.6 million was treated as goodwill and written off in the financial year ended March 31, 2005.
• The additional provisions relating to MV Agusta in the accounts of the Proton group for the financial year ended March 31, 2006, amounted to RM136.2 million.
• In the event MV Agusta falls into bankruptcy, Proton would have been subjected to a contingent liability for an amount of up to RM923.1 million.

The Proton managment also reiterated on June 16 that the decision to dispose the stake in MV Agusta was after careful consideration of the financial and operational implications to the Proton group, both in the immediate as well as the long term.

"The primary consideration was to minimise future potential losses for the group," Proton said.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (23) | TrackBacks (0)

It's a classic case of Media Corp having to kowtow to Harry Lee's media cops in the island-state.

June 30, free paper TODAY -- owned by Media Corp, a twin of Singapore's media duopoly -- published a column by prominent blogger Mr Brown a.k.a. Lee Kin Mun. It was satire lamenting the rising cost of living despite rapid progress in Singapore.

SOURCE: TODAY June 30, 2006

July 3, K Bhavani, Press Secretary to the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, wrote and published an opinion piece in TODAY, accusing Mr Brown of distorting the truth, and using his convenience as a columnist to becomes 'partisan player' in Singapore politics.

Quote the Government Woman:

Mr brown's views... are polemics dressed up as analysis, blaming the Government for all that he is unhappy with. He offers no alternatives or solutions. His piece is calculated to encourage cynicism and despondency, which can only make things worse, not better, for those he professes to sympathise with.
.
Mr brown is entitled to his views. But opinions which are widely circulated in a regular column in a serious newspaper should meet higher standards. Instead of a diatribe Mr brown should offer constructive criticism and alternatives. And he should come out from behind his pseudonym to defend his views openly.

It is not the role of journalists or newspapers in Singapore to champion issues, or campaign for or against the Government. If a columnist presents himself as a non-political observer, while exploiting his access to the mass media to undermine the Government's standing with the electorate, then he is no longer a constructive critic, but a partisan player in politics.

Three days later, July 6, Mr Brown wrote in his blog announcing that TODAY has decided to axe his Friday column. His blog entry was picked by Straits Times, the other twin of Singapore's media duopoly.

Rare protest

Incredibly, in the sterile opinion space Singapore is renowned for, the censure of Mr Brown's column in TODAY has sparked a rare protest.

Yesterday, July 9, some 30 Singaporeans symnpathetic of blogger Mr Brown gathered at the busy City Hall subway station at 2.00pm for a silent protest.

Their signature couldn't have been any less clear. They all came dressed in brown.

Reporters Without Borders has, on July 5, expressed its grave concern over the reaction from Singapore> Quote Julien Pain, head of the RSF Internet Desk:

"It reads like a warning to all journalists and bloggers in a country in which the media are already strictly controlled. The media have a right to criticise the government's actions and express political views. Furthermore, a newspaper's editorial policies depend solely on its editors. They should under no circumstances be subject to instructions issued by the government."

Meanwhile, the Singapore Government has defended its position that the mainstream media holds itself to a higher standard than articles posted on internet chart rooms.

The opposition Singapore Democratic Party has also issued a statement in condemning the censure, noting that the new administration of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has retained its top-down approach of old. "The wrapper may change but the package remains decidedly antiquated."

The law in Singapore states that a public assembly of five or more requires a police permit. Even so, a silent protest by four activists last year was dispersed by a squad of riot police.

Let's see who gets the brownies.

+ + +

Mr Brown, the de facto spokesperson for responsible blogging in Singapore, has a slogan to bloggers during the recent elections: "Prison got no broadband".

Jeff Ooi, James Seng and Mr Brown in KL, 2004 - Pix courtesy Joi Ito

Now that he has found himself tripping on a landmine beyond the boundaries of the invisible OB markers (out-of-bound markers) of political expression, we can only look out for each other from afar. As it is, we are just a Causeway away from each other.

I must say I am fortunate enough to have a helping of his 'Bak Chor Mee don't want Tur Kwa' on CCTV. That's the possibly the best anecdote for a repressive regime that's standing like a sore dick in the First World.

Rocky's Bru has an earlier take on this.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

According to Oriental Daily News (July 9, Pg A4), DPM Najib Abdul Razak refused to comment on this Utusan story about Singapore eating up Malaysia's strategic interests. He said he wanted to read up on the fact-sheets before making his remarks.

SOURCE: Utusan Malaysia July 8, 2006

Specifically, national entities said to have been sold out to foreigners include Pantai Holdings Bhd. that was taken over by Singapore-owned Parkway Holdings; shareholding of Proton Holdings Bhd by GSIC; equity holding of Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Malaysian Plantations Bhd by Temasek Holdings; and significant stakes in Westport acquired by PSA, the operator of Singapore port, via Hutchison Ports Holdings.

All these acquisitions of stakes in Malaysia's strategic industries by foreigners took place in the last two years, Utusan said.

Temasek targetting AirAsia

Utusan yesterday quoted sources as saying that Temasek Holdings, an entitiy owned by Government of Singapore Investment Corp. (GSIC) and run by Singapore premier Lee Hsien Loong's wife, has been buying heavily into the shares of AirAsia Bhd. (AirAsia), in the last one week. "I have been made to understand that AirAsia will start operation in Singapore soon," said Utusan's undisclosed source.

The sources also expressed their concern over the development related to AirAsia, which was recently given bulk of domestic routes at the expense of Malaysian Airlines System Bhd. (MAS), and he wanted the government to start an immediate investigation over the deals as the low-cost airline carries tremendous interests of the country.

"Even though AirAsia is a private entity but the government must intervene in sale and purchase deals that impact national interests.

Recently, Temasek was believed to be the attempting to increase its equity holding in AirAsia, which will take over the domestic routes formerly run by MAS, starting from August 1.

According to Utusan, Temasek has to date acquired some 6% interest in AirAsia, which has just taken over 99 of MAS' domestic routes in accordance to the government's directive.

Utusan's sources said Temasek's acquisition is being conducted inth eopen market by a foreign investment management company.

According to the he sources, although the owner of AirAsia shares that Temasek bought into could not be escertained, market speculation was saying that the vendor was paid for by Temasek. The rumours started spreading last week when AirAsia was said to have been "invited" by Singapore to commence its flights into the island-republic.

Up till now, AirAsia, which has been listed on Bursa Malaysia since November 2004, has been barred landing rights and operating low-cost flights into Singapore.

Strategic interests falling into foreign hands

Utusan said industry insiders are gravely concerned over Malaysia's equities in strategic sectors have been falling into foreign control, especially Singapore's, over the last two years. They wanted the government to monitor the situation closely to protect our national interests.

The strategic sectors at stake, according to Utusan, are those in transport, telecommunications, banking and engineering, which insiders said may jeapardise the country's effort in building up the Malaysian economy based on national agenda.

Apart from Proton, TM and Wesport, which have long been listed as strategic participants in the Malaysian economy, Utusan said Pantai Holdings is also regarded as a strategic sector as the company owns Fomema, which is the concessionnaire in the monopoly of conducting medical checkup and the importation of foreign workers into the country.

Last month, PSA made a mandatory acquisition of 20% shares in Hutchson, the Hong Hong-based company which has been holding 30% equity in Westport since 2000. Westport, alongside the Tanjung Pelepas Port and Northport in Klang, are regarded as Malaysia's most strategic interests in warding off competition against Singapore as a hub for global shipping industry.

Meanwhile, the GSIC has an indirect 5% equity in Proton, which was required in 2004. In March the same year, Temasek acquired a 5% direct interest in TM.

In March 2004, again, Temasek acquired a 15% interest in Malaysian Plantations, the parent company that owns Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd., a Malaysian anchor bank.

Responding to Utusan, Transparency International of Malaysia president, Ramon Navaratnam, said all acquisition of Malaysian companies in strategic sectors must be conducted in transparency.

He said there must be continuous monitoring of foreigners' acquisition of national assets even though they are in line with market liberalisation and the process of globalisation.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (27) | TrackBacks (0)

Despite claims that "there's never been a freer media in Malaysia", our countrymen working in and outside Malaysia are aware that The NST has blocked its employees from accessing these two bloggers' sites.

Screenshots & Rocky's Bru bloggers. Picture courtesy MENJ

Unspun's Ong Hock Chuan knows it from his vantage point in Indonesia.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

No f*@k to Webvision, that Singapore company. I have directed my webhost to move out of TM's Myloca (CBJ1) where Webvision squats. We are now hosted elsewhere within the MSC.

There might BE two hiccups.

BROWSER. Mozilla Firefox users may not have problems surfing Screenshots, I supposed. However, those using IE6.0 and older may have to delete their "Temporary Internet Files" and clear "History" if your browser can't present this website.

Tips: On IE, go to Tools >> Internet Options >> Delete Files (Temporary Internet Files) >> Clear History (History) >> OK.

ISP ACCESS. At the time I blogged this, almost all DNS, including those in Europe, US and Oceania, have populated Screenshots' new IP address. However, it's noted that those accessing Screenshots via TM Net or Streamyx may have problem as their networks are still not pointing to the new IP address some 12 hours after I have moved out from CBJ1. If you use TM's Internet access, you have to wait for the IP propagation to complete -- just like me!

If you have access problems, please email me.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

October 23, 2003, eight days before Dr Mahathir Mohamad retired as Malaysia's Prime Minister, and someone said, reflecting on the Financial Crisis Of 1997 - 1998, and Malaysia's rejection of IMF's financial rescue package that ultimately resulted in the currency control policy that lasted some eight years:

The measures of September 1, 1998 were undoubtedly a necessary condition, but it was not a sufficient condition to overcome the crisis. Malaysia was saved, not by exchange control measures per se, but by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. [...]

No other Prime Minister in the world, either in developed or developing countries, employs such a hands-on approach in managing the economy. We can see, therefore, that it was not the exchange control measures per se that saved the country but the man --- Dr. Mahathir Mohamad --- himself. [...]

Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Mahathir Mohamad not only saved Malaysia, but the other affected countries in the region as well - Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea.

My second point is regarding what would have happened if the exchange control measures were not implemented. [...]

We owe Dr. Mahathir much gratitude for what he has done for Malaysia over the last 22 years. Solving the financial crisis of 1997 - 1998 was just one, albeit perhaps the most important, of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's many contributions to the nation.

On a personal note, over the last 6 years, I have come to admire this great man for his abilities, his high moral values and, most of all, for his sincerity. Certainly, a man like Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is not born everyday.

He was later given an important post in the Abdullah administration. Guess who?

Reading history often gives me deja-vu. With Tajudin Ramli's expose, the man who said those words might, ironically, be grilled soon.

I am just following his trail during the glorious days of Abrar Corporation Berhad, dah dah dah, dah dah dah.

Follow the trail...

Yes, the article from which I excerpted, was published on October 23, 2003 by the then Special Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, Nor Mohamed Yakcop a.k.a. Top Cat.

http://www.treasury.gov.my/index.php?ch=36&pg=126&ac=408&tpl_id=93

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Screenshots server will be shut down at 15:00hr, Saturday June 8 for maintenance.

We should be back online again by 09:00hr, Sunday, June 9.

Sincere apologies for the disruption and inconvenience.

This post was originally uploaded at 04:58pm July 7.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 09:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Singapore government has confirmed what DPM Najib Abdul Razak said earlier in response to NST-YTL Corp's latest spin on the RM8 billion KL-Singapore bullet train project.

July 6, a day after the Rajan Moses interview with Francis Yeoh was published in NST-Business Times, Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) swiftly clarified that there have not been any discussions between Singapore and Malaysia on YTL Corp's proposal to build a high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Significantly, Francis Yeoh was earlier quoted by Nurul Darni and Angus Whitley of Bloomberg News, and picked up by the International Herald Tribune on July 3, as claiming that "our government is very serious about this and they're encouraging us to look at it".

However, on July 6 when YTL and NST went to town to repurpose their spin, Najib told reporters at the Parliament lobby that "we would like to see proper submission to the cabinet first before we make an official government stand".

'Singapore's 48-hour silence'

It's not known why Singapore, which is renowned for advocating market transparency and for often taking swift action against rumours involving the country, has kept mum for some 48 hours after the IHT story had been transmitted globally, and only decided to clarify officially after Najib has spoken up.

Singapore's July 6 clarification was released by a Transport Ministry spokesperson through an e-mail response to Channel NewsAsia.

The ministry has also made a similar response to Bernama which raised the same question posed by Channel NewsAsia, said Oriental Daily News on July 7.

Singapore's MOT has since uploaded a one-paragraph statement on its official website.

SOURCE: Singapore Ministry of Transport

Malaysia and Singapore governments' denials had also been picked up by Associated Press and reported in MSN Money

July 7, Oriental Daily News reported in Pg 5, quoting a report in Singapore Business Times, saying that in view of the present controversy over the cancelled "scenic bridge" that led to a standoff between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah Badawi, some Singapore government officials are concerned that YTL's proposal might be interpreted as an attempt to replace the abandoned 'half-bridge' project.

'Stop it at JB'

Over the last 48 hours, the news about the KL-Singapore bullet train project has raised a lot of anticipation among the Johoreans. According to Bernama, the Johoreans wanted the bullet train, if it materialised, to terminate at JB instead of Singapore.

Reasons? They are convinced there will be obstacles coming from Harry Lee's republic. Quote Bernama:

They say if the government agrees to bring up the plan for discussion with Singapore, there will be a repeat of the episode which had brought negotiations over the Johor Causeway replacement project to a deadlock.

This is because of the republic's attitude of always demanding quid pro quo, they say.

Those who spoke up include Gelang Patah Umno division chief Abdul Aziz Sapian, Johor Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy president Soh Poh Seng and Johor Baharu Member of Parliament Shahrir Samad, who is also the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.

However, none of them has touched on the jewel on the crown -- Tanjung Pagar KTM land.

You may be delighted that the notion of 'quid pro quo' was first raised in Screenshots on July 6.

From Bernama:

Gelang Patang Umno division chief Abdul Aziz Sapian said he was sure Singapore would impose various conditions before agreeing to the project to ensure it obtained multiple gains from it.

"That is why we suggest to the government for the company's proposal to only connect Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baharu.

"If it were to reach Singapore, we will face various difficulties. The price to get the republic's proposal will be very expensive. Therefore, it is better that we forget Singapore's involvement," he said.

Johor Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy president Datuk Soh Poh Seng supported the idea of having the high-speed train ending at Johor Baharu.

He said that based on historical factors and previous experiences, Singapore was not a partner ready to cooperate, especially in projects worth billions of ringgit.

"Why should someone in Malaysia struggle to provide a service which in the end will bring benefits and profits to Singapore?" he asked.

Johor Baharu Member of Parliament Datuk Shahrir Samad, who is chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, recently said if efforts to get Singapore to agree took a long time, it was better for the bullet train to only connect Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baharu.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

So, what's the final cost for the building, or the cancelling, of the half-bridge to replace the Johor Causeway on the Malaysian side, a project that was awarded to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd?

The last count was RM1.113 billion if you build it, and RM1.12 billion if you cancel it.

Or in the no-uncertain words of Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, it's cheaper to build than to cancel it.

SOURCE: Malaysiakini

Now, the government is in a further bind because, according to Bernama, Gerbang Perdana has submitted a claim of RM360 million for work done after the government decided to scrap the project last April. PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has gone on record earlier by saying that the company's preliminary claims was in the region of RM100 million.

July 3, Gerbang Perdana chairman Razali Ismail denied providing "outlandish claims" following the cancellation of the Johor bridge project replacing the Causeway. He said whatever the figure his company had given "would have been figures which they had seriously looked at".

For now, Works Minister S. Samy Vellu has come out with a new tap-dance by saying that Gerbang Perdana has been given an extension of two months from next Tuesday to submit claims for compensation relating to the cancellation of the project.

The Minister said the deadline for the company to submit the claims was supposed to be July 11 but it had applied for an extension.

1996 and 30 years

Do you know that, in 1996, a company related to tycoon Vincent Tan's Berjaya Group had submitted a 'pau ka liao' bid to replace an existing causeway link to Singapore with a RM1.1 billion road and rail link?

We do not know why the Mahathir administration had rejected Berjaya Group's proposal. However, we were told that the company needed 30 years to complete the project.

This is something which was not transparent in P. Gunasegaram's 22 questions to Dr Mahathir, especially in Question 13 (Cronyism and Patronage) and Question 14 (Privatisation).

I can see the 'Aha' in your face.

This is a new item culled from Factiva archive:

Malaysia's Berjaya group unit bids for causeway deal 271 words 18 September 1996 Agence France-Presse English (Copyright 1996)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (AFP) - Transwater Corp. Bhd. of Malaysia's Berjaya group said Wednesday it had submitted a bid to replace an existing causeway link to Singapore with a 1.1-billion ringgit (440-million-dollar) road and rail link.

Transwater said in a statement the proposal was submitted through its unit Detik Nagasari Sdn. Bhd. to the Economic Planning Unit in the prime minister's department.

The company said the proposal includes the development of a waterfront area and would involve the rebuilding of the customs, immigration and quarantine complex.

The project, to be undertaken under the build-operate-transfer system, will take 30 years to complete, the statement said.

Transwater said another unit, Sejati Avenue Sdn. Bhd., has submitted a proposal to develop a 23.9-acre (9.56-hectare) plot in Kuala Lumpur. It gave no further details of the project.

Berjaya, controlled by the politically well-connected entrepreneur Vincent Tan, has been among several companies eyeing the causeway deal after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad proposed in July replacing the existing 72-year-old link with a bridge.

Mahathir said the causeway should be demolished to open the narrow Tebrau strait separating Malaysia and Singapore to shipping.

Kuala Lumpur-based Ibex Corp Amalgamated Sdn. Bhd. was in July reported to have submitted an outline of its proposal, including four bridge designs, to the government.

The causeway was opened in June 1924. Some 17,000 cars, 21,000 motorcycles and 93,000 people cross it each day. Ferries were used before the causeway was built.

osl/djw AFP AFP

Additional information about Transwater

Transwater issues 51m new shares. 112 words 23 April 2003 Business Times 6 English (c) 2003

TRANSWATER Corp Bhd has issued a total of 51 million new shares of RM1 each at an issue price of RM1 to Bizurai Bijak Sdn Bhd, making it an 82.3 per cent-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Group Bhd. Bizurai Bijak is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Group.

On April 11, Transwater served a notice of takeover offer to Hyundai-Berjaya Sdn Bhd to acquire the remaining 49 per cent stake in the latter to be satisfied via the issuance of 49 million new Transwater shares. Assuming full acceptance of the offer, Transwater will become a 46.6 per cent associate company of Berjaya Group.

Document btmal00020030423dz4n00067

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today is the 1st anniversary of the London bombing, and crude oil price has hit a new high of US$75.40 a barrel as share price reached a 7-week high on FTSE 100 index, and a record high of $75.78 a barrel on Nymex West Texas Intermediate.

Product price is on the way up, and crude is clinching towards US$80, and even US$100 a barrel. Oil exporting countries are similarly feeling the crunch.

The news is telling you on the 7th day of 2nd Half, 2006. You think of Idris Jala and the air-tickets.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The Tajudin Ramli expose on his alleged 'national service' -- buy MAS to save Bank Negara -- is it good for the Abdullah administration to thwart Dr Mahathir?

Look at this Pg 3 headline in the spin-doctors' newspaper, it tells something about 'arms' length':

SOURCE: The NST,June 7, 2006

Related to this, RockyBru, who was a business reporter before becoming the (fromer) executive editor of (o