Screenshots

Dr Mahathir still commands a crowd if his book launch yesterday was taken as a yardstick of popularity.

The local press came in throng, one day later than the exclusive interview granted to the wire agencies (Reuters, AP and AFP). Corporate figures -- present and has-beens, and how many of them really read books -- also made the beeline with their lounge suits, standing in stark contrast to the open-neck bloggers.

I was particularly annoyed that some of his old friends from the corporate circle, whom I thought he should distance from like plague, were still there, tailing him and trying to make eye and body contacts. But I will let him assume his human rights and let him pick the company he deems fit.

There is a quote from the prologue Dr M writes in his book that I must share with you, his single-mindedness in life:

"Whether I was a good or a bad Prime Minister is, of course, not for me to say. When I am dead and gone, the judgment would be more accurate.

Since I will not be around then, it would be quite meaningless to me. My children and friends would be the ones to savour the truth or bear the pain of whatever I am condemned for."

Indeed, Dr M kept to the script during the book launch, but it was the press conference that most of us had looked forward to.

To be honest, you can't blame Dr M for speaking like an old broken record in his open criticism of Mr Somnambulism because the journalists themselves, including that Bloomberg guy who practically has his name invisibly imprinted on the first chair to Mahathir's right since his days in the local media, kept asking the same old broken record questions, if only to rehash cerita basi to entertain the sensation-hungry readers of the mainstream press.

Dr Mahathir entertainingly obliged and the journalists got what they wanted, and more.

'Umno cleansing by the people'

Perhaps, the only significance of Mahathir's latest salvos fired at the Abdullah Administration -- make no mistake, Dr M didn't even spit a word on Abdullah the person throughout the pressie -- was timing. The country is going into general election soon, and Abdullah's leadership quality as the Prime Minister, first as the annointed and later the formalised successor, is up for review.

It is on this context that Mahathir had used words of the severest vehemence, which I see as a form of amanat to people who bother to listen to him -- Cleansing Umno of corruption and corruptors.

And by 'cleansing Umno', he later affirmed that it also means, by extension, cleansing the Barisan Nasional of nepotism and corruption.

One Malay journalist asked him what role he would play in the polls. Dr Mahathir replied: "I’m trying to promote a cleansing of the party by the people because it seems not possible for the party to cleanse itself from within." Quote:

"Should people name some deadwood or some corrupt person as a candidate, BN supporters should not support them. That is the way we can clean the...BN and Umno.

"There is no hope that Umno can clean itself from within. Everything is controlled now. Any contrary view (that party members) make would be contained."

Dr Mahathir also singled out the issue of (the lack of) quality of leadership at the Abdullah Administration that the BN will face some set back in winning seats in the coming general election.

However, he was quick to clarify that he is not supporting the opposition and that he believes the BN will still win comfortably, albeit closer to the outcome of the 1999 polls.

"The issues are different (compared to 1999)," he said. "There is (now) the problem of inflation. More importantly the quality of leadership (within Umno) is not there."

2008 Polls: Use of ‘illegal means’

To another question, Mahathir said the coming general election "could be" the dirtiest to date and he feared that "illegal means" would be used to influence voters.

Asked to substantiate his claims of vote-buying, Mahathir replied that his fears stem from his experience in the 2006 Kubang Pasu divisional Umno elections as well as by-elections held last year.

"In my case, I have proof that people were bribed," he said. "I expect there will be an extension (of such practices) during the general election," he said.

'Abdullah only meant for one term'

During the press conference, Dr Mahathir emphatically said that he never intended his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to serve more than one term and suggested he should stand down. This was quoted by AFP yesterday.

Previously, Mahathir had admitted he made a mistake in picking Abdullah as his successor, instead of giving the post to the deputy prime minister, Najib Razak.

"That was my thinking, since (Abdullah) was older than Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Najib should be able to take over," he said at the press conference yesterday.

At this juncture, several journalists jumped at the opportunity, saying that Abdullah had just announced the Corridor development projects for Sabah that is supposed to take 18 years. "Do you think that Pak Lah should carry on with a second term to complete his development projects?" the journalist asked.

Dr Mahathir replied:

It depends on the records he has shown on things that doesn’t need too much time. If you show that you can implement the smaller projects. I think you’ll have time for bigger projects.

Instead, what we see are stoppages (and) reversals of previous projects, ostensibly because there is no funds. This does not show good judgment.

I know it takes times to implement plans and projects. I think if that is to be used as an excuse to hold on to power for 18 years, that would be very welcomed.

So far, only announcements (of development plans and projects) have been made and he is already asking for more time.

Now it's your say, if Abdullah should continue as your Prime Minister? You decide, and you get the government you deserve.

Walking out from the press conference, I gathered that Dr M has fully recovered (health and battle-wise). And you ain't seen nothin' yet.

P/S Rocky's Bru and some of Dr M's aides joked with me later that, judging from the words and context the Man had used, it would seem "Dr M has endorsed my candidacy in the next general election, even though I will be contesting as a DAP candidate against the might of the BN.

Certainly, a blessing from the bloggers and, overtly or covertly from The Man, even at the remotest probability, is a greatly appreciated for a Malaysian who has to slog it out as an underdog.

I believe every citizen has a stake to claim in building a better future for this country. Talk is cheap. Get off your computer, let's just do it!

From Malaysiakini...

Q&A: Change from within not possible
Andrew Ong | Jan 30, 08 7:00pm

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is convinced that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno are incapable of reforming themselves without pressure from the electorate.

If the voters back the BN government once again in the coming polls, Mahathir warned that it would be an endorsement for a coalition "centred on nepotism and corruption."

However, the 82-year-old former premier, who led the nation for more than two decades until 2003, stressed that he is not campaigning for the opposition.

Mahathir was speaking to reporters today after launching his new book Dr Mahathir’s Selected Letters to World Leaders at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya.

Below is an excerpt of the 30-minute press conference.

What is your role in the upcoming general election?

I’m trying to promote a cleansing of the party by the people because it seems that the party is not possible to cleanse (on its own). Because if I say anything (within the party) there would be a chorus of people who would curse me.

Isn’t what you are suggesting rather risky?

There is a risk in all these things, I hope that we would love the country enough to vote for the best candidate.

How do you propose to cleanse the party?

I’m not sure. I’ll be talking to you (the press).

You said that you would be campaigning for the ‘right candidate’ during the upcoming general election. Does that mean you might campaign for the opposition?

I won’t campaign for the opposition. But I think that the people who support BN should be a little more selective. They should use wisdom in (making) their choice. Should people name some deadwood or some corrupt politician as a candidate, BN supporters should not support them. That way we can clean the party - BN and Umno - because there is no hope that Umno can be cleaned from within. Everything is controlled now. Any contrary view, they would make sure that it would be contained.

Are you saying that voters and BN supporters should be making a change during the general election in order to change the BN party leadership?

Yes. That’s what I’m saying. I believe that there will be innocent voters who will be influenced by ways that are not legal. But we have lost our ability to change the leadership at the party level, because party members are only allowed to say ‘Yes’ to the party president. There is no real opinion in the party anymore.

There is no way to change the party leadership or how the party operates from within. If the people of Malaysia wish to have a party which is centered on nepotism and corruption and all that, then they will support the same people and we will achieve no correction.

Are you saying that the present prime minister would be considered in your definition as a deadwood?

I don’t know about what my opinion is, but I know that I have differences with him.

Do you think racial issues would be exploited during the upcoming general election?

It’s unfortunate because we have never been able to achieve racial harmony, but we have been able to keep it within control. But now people are not only taking actions based on race, but also religion. Hinduism was never something that would have caused a split. But now Hindus seem to be dissatisfied with their lot and have made this demonstration (the Nov 25 Hindraf rally) ... they see a government that is retreating and of course they want to take advantage.

Do you think that Pak Lah should carry on with a second term to complete his development projects?

It depends on the records he has shown on things that doesn’t need too much time. If you show that you can implement the smaller projects. I think you’ll have time for bigger projects. Instead, what we see are stoppages (and) reversals of previous projects, ostensibly because there is no funds. This does not show good judgement.

Your government had fast-tracking development plans and projects that usually last five years. Now however, plans are normally beyond five years. The Sabah development plans for example are suppose to last 18 years. How was your approach different from the current approach?

I know it takes times to implement plans and projects. I think if that is to be used as an excuse to hold on to power for 18 years, that would be very welcomed. So far, only announcements (of development plans and projects) have been made and he is already asking for more time.

What would you think would happen if these plans and projects are not delivered?

I think it certainly would not be delivered in time for the election. This would be the reason (being used in campaigns) to say that the present government should be given more time.

The way things are being implemented are also questionable. (Contracts) are given to government linked companies which tend to be (a) less open (process). That is not the right way to do things.

You have been accused of nepotism and corruption as well during your helm. Do you have any regrets of any mistakes?

I was aware that I was not always right. But those people who were called my cronies, they were not. As a matter of fact, when I made public a list of people who had (government projects) it became clear that they were not people I know, except for the very well known people.

So I wasn’t practising cronyism but this was a label that was attached to me to undermine my credibility. I cannot get away from it. But today we see nepotism creeping in, we see companies getting projects to the extent that many Malaysian contractors and entrepreneurs are going abroad. They say there is no opportunities within the country.

What are your greatest concerns right now about the country?

I think the government does not seem to know how to progress, how to implement things. It’s been already quiet some time since I stepped down. It would have been easier perhaps to just continue with the projects on the ground.

However, they decided to postpone. It was decided that these projects be postponed, ostensibly due to lack of funds. What I do know is when I stepped down there was enough money to go on with those ‘mega projects’. Now, they have decided to go on with some of those mega projects. The cost is very high, as much as 50 percent more simply because the cost of living had gone up in the mean time. So the postponement was totally unjustified. Now they realise that these are needed infrastructure.

The BN leadership doesn’t seem as united as they were during your time...

When you have a group of people working together, you need to know how to handle them. They have grouses. But if you handle them properly, and tackle the grouses, they will stay together. But if you show weakness, such as giving in, people will take advantage of your weakness.

Mustapa Mohamad told the Kelantan state assembly that he had urged you not to develop the state when PAS formed the state government. Your reaction?

Not only Mustapa Mohamad, the rest of Umno felt that we should not develop Kelantan. Because if you do, then PAS will tell the people - even if you don’t vote the BN, you still get development. Why bother voting for BN? That has always been the problem with PAS. Even in my constituency... because of that we had to hold back.

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Today is the 60th anniversary of the death of India's freedom icon, Mahatma Gandhi.

The last urn of his ashes will be scattered across the Arabian Sea this morning by the Mahatma's great granddaughter, Nilamben Parikh.

Gandhi was assassinated by a fanatic Hindu on January 30, 1948.

WALK WITH US, that's how I had remembered the Mahatma in this blog.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Will PM Abdullah Badawi's approval ratings drop further below the post-Hindraf low of 61 percent-point? More so after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad renewed his criticism on Mr Somnambulism today?

Riding high on approval ratings of 91% in November 2004, Abdullah plunged to 78%, then to 63%, after Mahathir started criticisising him for gross incompetence since April 2006 (See 3-year approval ratings chart here).

In firing his salvos, Mahathir obviously chose his transmission agents rather well. Today, he talked to a select group of foreign correspondents as, I believe, he must be convinced that his opinions will be blacked out by the local mainstream media which even bloggers despise and boycott every Tuesday.

Backdropped against the imminent general election, the foreign correspondents asked if Abdullah should quit for his leadership failure, Mahathir replied:

"It is up to him to decide. It's also up to the people to decide. If the people want him to move on, if they think his administration is not benefiting them, they should make a decision."

Old cocks like Samy Vellu and Rafidah Aziz may have to take extra note as Mahathir also advised that voters must get rid of dead wood in the (Barisan Nasional) coalition. Quote:

"But there are certain people whose contribution is negative. These people should not be chosen as candidates."

Reading from the interview, Mahathir came to this conclusion, and I quote, by taking Abdullah to task for "wasting (public) money", and asserting that the domestic economy is in "bad shape" without a rally in commodity prices.

He also accused the Abdullah Administration of lacking "guts" and selling out Malaysian sovereignty."I still disagree on several of his policies, mainly allowing Malaysians to be subject to Singapore's wishes," he said.

Be that as it may, Mahathir stil believes that Barisan Nasional will still run the country after the coming general election.

"I still support the party and I still believe the party will win with a good majority but one must not confuse support for the party with support for the individual," he said.

Mahathir also shared what the Son-in-Law has been talking about Anwar Ibrahim. Mahathir said his former deputy would not be a major factor in the coming elections.

"There's no more political future for him. If he thinks he's going to be the prime minister, it's daydreaming of the worst kind," he said.

Dr M launching latest book

Tomorrow, Mahathir will launch a new book, titled “Dr. Mahathir’s Selected Letters to World Leaders”.

This will be the first time his personal correspondence with world leaders had been declassified and published.

The book is a compilation of 71 previously confidential letters that Mahathir wrote to such world leaders as George H Bush, George W Bush, William Jefferson ‘Bill’ Clinton, John Major and Jacques Chirac.

“These letters should be read in the context of the time in which they were written,” so says the preamble.

Previewing the book, James Wong wrote two weeks ago that,

“Poor Malaysia!” This is the prognosis for the country from ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the prologue of his newly-published book, in relation to the captaincy of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his hardcore supporters (whom Mahathir referred to in his book as 'the sycophants' besides a mention of the infamous spin-doctors).

Haris Ibrahim (People's Parliament and 'Boycott the Newspapers') should know that Mahathir's foreword in the book also touches on media freedom under the Abdullah Administration.

Mahathir writes that "news in the mainstream media is so censored and spun by spin doctors that the prime minister cannot possibly know the feelings and frustrations of the majority of the people … fortunately for the government, Malaysians abhor violence when expressing their anger”.

He also notes that, “So things must become much worse before they would show their (people’s) true feelings in any way. In the meantime, the sycophants will continue to enjoy their day. Poor Malaysia!”

Present government refuses to declassify more letters

This is an important context because the supposedly juicier part of Mahathir's letters had been embargoed as long as Abdullah Badawi is in power.

According to James Wong, the editor of Dr Mahathir's book Abdullah Ahmad -- aka Dollah Kok Lanas (DKL) -- had told him that Mahathir initially wanted to publish about 200 letters.

However, the present government only allowed 84 to be declassified and 13 were further dropped with the consent of the editor and publisher “because they are relatively unimportant”.

DKL’s introduction to the book states that those letters withheld by the current government are actually “more noteworthy and interesting”.

“The selection, to my mind, of the letters to be released was poor. It was imposed on him (Mahathir) by the government of his successor,” he said, adding that Mahathir is currently writing his memoirs.

Interestingly, book editor Dollah Kok Lanas is someone emplaced by Mahathir but Abdullah Badawi decided to sack as soon as he took over as the Prime Minister. Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan was soon placed in DKL's position as the NSTP's successive GEIC and the rest, as they say, is history.

I will rush back from Penang to witness Mahathir's book launch and, perhaps, ask him some questions like why those one hundred letters could not be declassified for us to know.

And thanks for the invitation, Tun.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Ho Kay Tat is now half a Group Editor-in-Chief and half a managing director for what he used to be, and the free(-of-charge) paper appears not free from editorial control.

According to The NST, the newspaper theSun displaced as the country's No. 2 largest circulation English daily, Berjaya Corporation Bhd executive director Chan Kien Sin has been appointed the managing director of theSun, while Editor Chong Cheng Hai was made acting editor-in-chief, taking over from Ho who held both posts previously.

Ho, however, remains the managing director and editor-in-chief of The Edge, at least for now.

Meanwhile, political editor Zainon Ahmad was appointed as the paper's consultant editor.

The announcements were made to theSun's senior executives and staff at two separate meetings yesterday by Ho, who also introduced Chan to the personnel.

Nexnews, which publishes the Edge and theSun, was made a subsidiary of Berjaya Corp following a takeover by tycoon Vincent Tan last Friday.

Tan's partner in Nexnews, Tong Kooi Ong, has called it quits after he sold all his shares for RM139.2 million, making Nexnews a 54.59% subsidiary of Berjaya.

Media circle said the staff at theSun were taken by surprise of the development.

According to The NST, quoting sources, said Ho had tried explaining to the worried staff why the paper had to be separated. However, a reporter at theSun was quoted as saying that there was no opportunity for staff to ask questions during the meetings as they were chasing deadlines.

The staff said: "Morale is still low, so what's the point of asking anyway? We will just wait and see."

Ho was quoted as having assured the staff that the separation had nothing to do with theSun's editorial content but it's about... ahmmm... "economic expediency on Tong's part".

The Star to buy into theSun. By the way, today has been declared the 'Buy No Newspapers, Buy No Lies" Tuesday by People's Parliament and the supporting community.

At the press conference yesterday, lawyer Haris Ibrahim spoke about how Vincent Tan's purchase of the Nexnews group confirms the politics-media nexus responsible for the suppression of press freedom in Malaysia.

Today, Rocky's Bru exposed that The Star is expected to announce soon the purchase of 30% of Nexnews, for between RM1.80 and RM2 per share. The plan is to place theSun under the control of the Star.

The Star's editorial bosses have been briefed, Rocky said.
.
Are we moving down Jalan Singapura where the Englisgh press is duopoly-ed by two cartels?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

January 14, Screenshots reported that PM Abdullah Badawi's approval rating after the Hindraf Rally has plunged to the all-time low of 61%.

Screenshots, January 14, 2008

The Screenshots story has now been confirmed by Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research.

The approval rating of the Prime Minister has plunged 10 percent-point, from 71% to 61% quarter-on-quarter as at Q4 2007.

This is also the all-time low in the PM's approval rating since he took over the office from Dr Mahathir Mohamad. As at December 2007, Abdullah's rating among the Malays, Chinese and Indians has dropped by 8%, 5% and 41%, respectively.

Three key issues that worried the poll respondents, reflecting the general sentiments of the populace, are Price hikes and inflation (20%), Ethnic issues & Inequallity (17%), and Crime & Public Safety (12%).

On economic outlook for 2008, confidence in the Abdullah Administration in running the economy remains high among the Malays, but very, very low among Chinese.

The poll indicates that the Malays are the most positive with 53% expressing optimism. However, only 19% of Chinese are optimistic, while 43% of Indians show their optimism.

The poll was conducted from December 14 through 19 -- notably after the November 10 BERSIH Rally and the November 25 Hindraf Rally -- on a sampling size of 1,026, with the subjects being registered voters aged above 21 years old. They were selected based on random stratafied sampling method, along the lines of state of residence, ethnicity, gender and age.

You may download the executive summary of the poll results here.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Read HarakahDaily.net.

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The Royal Commission was told today that V.K. Lingam and former chief justice Mohamed Eusoff Chin went for their New Zealand holiday shortly after the lawyer's client Vincent Tan won RM10 million in damages in a libel case.

Quotable quote:

"Total damages against all defendants was RM10mil. Against (MGG) Pillai, if I recollect clearly, was only RM2mil."

On the other hand, Reuters also reported that Tan's Berjaya Corp will pay about RM139 million for a 36% stake in Nexnews -- all that's owned by Tong Kooi Ong.

With that, Nexnews -- which publishes theSun, The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily -- will become a 55%-owned subsidiary of Berjaya.

Does that mean Tong is persona non-grata in media business in Malysia? Will there ever be The Edge Hong Kong for now?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Reuters reported at 5:18pm today that payTV Astro's CEO, Robert Odendaal, would resign on April 15, citing personal and lifestyle reasons.

Last year, Screenshots had put on record that the South African and a British subject had reported for work in February 2007.

The position is still some distance away from Rohana Rozhan, as Ralph Marshall, who is currently executive deputy chairman, will take on the responsibilities of the chief executive until the position is filled.

So, is NDS still saying YES with some sexy technologies from Country-I? Will Abe Peled's platoon land here some day?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

JANUARY 19: It was reported by French wire agency AFP, quoting The Star, that Malaysian police have seized the body of Gan Eng Gor, an ethnic Chinese man, in the latest dispute between Islamic authorities and family members over a disputed conversion. Quote:

The dispute comes just days (Jan 18, 2008) after a court ordered a Christian woman's body be returned to her family after Islamic authorities admitted they were wrong in claiming she had converted.

The cases have fed accusations over the growing "Islamisation" of Malaysia, where the population is dominated by Muslim Malays living alongside ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

The eldest son of the deceased, who died on Sunday aged 74, said his father became a Muslim last July, but his other children reject the claim and insist their father was a Buddhist.

Police reportedly took Gan's body from a funeral parlour outside Kuala Lumpur after his eldest son, 47, who became a Islam several years ago and renamed Abdul Rahman Gan Abdullah, lodged a report claiming his father had converted and taken a Muslim name.

Even Eng Gor’s widow, Chua Chun, 65, who had been looking after her bedridden husband over the past two years and the couple’s seven other children, denied this.

A legal tussle, with the Syariah Court at the core, ensued.

JANUARY 20: The Syariah Court in Seremban deferred the hearing to determine the religious status Gan Eng Gor to allow his Buddhist family -- to appoint a Syariah counsel.

According to The Star, Registrar Abdul Razak Mat Nayan told the dead man’s children that they would also have to submit the names of those who would testify during the hearing as part of the syariah court process.

JANUARY 21: On behalf of the family, Gan Eng Gor’s sixth child, Gan Hock Lim, 40, a supervisor living in Klang, filed a case at the High Court in Seremban, challenging the deceased's conversion to Islam.

The family was represented by lawyers recommended by the MCA.

JANUARY 24: Seremban Syariah Court judge Mohd Nadzri Abdul Rahman in his ex-parte judgment said Gan Eng Gor, whose Muslim name was Amir Gan Abdullah, was a Muslim based on the testimony by officers from the council and his oldest child Abdul Rahman Gan Abdullah.

The remains of the 74-year-old man, whose widow and seven children had no knowledge of his conversion to Islam, was yesterday released to the state Islamic religious council for burial.

Eng Gor’s widow, Chua Chun, and the couple’s seven other children were not present in court yesterday.

Gan's next of kin -- two of whom are bloggers -- contacted me last night.

I was told that the deceased's family will be going ahead with civil suit against the eldest son for forgery charges as the father, who was paralysed and couldn't talk due to a stroke, was deemed to be invalid.

I was made to understand that evidence of discrepancy on all the documents will be tendered. There would be argument that Gan's supposed conversion was concealed from the rest of the family until his death last Sunday.

The eldest son had apparently lodged a police report, saying that the deceased was a Muslim, and wanted to claim the body, despite his mother having kowtow-ed appealing for compassion.

The family said they "lost" the case in Syariah court as their application for an injunction to stop the Syariah court from proceeding came in way too late.

Read these blogs for insights and feel the torment:
1 ) www.guilostories.com
2 ) http://hsiauchuen.wordpress.com

Meanwhile, Google News is starting the indexing of news and blog items related to Gan Rng Gor, here.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (23) | TrackBacks (0)

Screenshots reader Praveen Rajan and his friends recently set up TwoSen.com to keep track of letters written to the major English newspapers. The website automatically aggregates the letters on a daily basis.

He said he was surprised by the number of complaints published in the Press on a daily basis. However, the manner media organisations operate, exacerbated by space and time constraints, tend to fizzle out issues raised by the readers.

Praveen and gang have wanted to use TwoSen.com to help the reading public to keep track of current issues, feedback and complaints on public services in Malaysia -- and create a conversation around them.

One pertinent point is that Twosen.com does not alter the contents of the letters.

Topics covered include crime, education, environment, express buses, fees, hospitals, post office services, ministers and... public toilets.

I have alerted fellow bloggers and readers at CNet Asia as well.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. From The Star, a newspaper that's prone to downsizing crowd size:

Thousands of devotees made their way to Batu Caves yesterday although the number was considerably smaller this year.

Many who turned up were aware of the SMSes and calls to boycott Batu Caves this year following the fracas between a group of Indians and the police outside the temple on Nov 25.

This is despite the fact that the Batu Caves temple committee has said it's now optional for devotees to pay the RM10 for carrying milk pots (pal kudam) or kavadi at the annual Thaipusam processions.

The committee has also reduced the price of the pal kudam for children from RM10 to RM5 this year.

DIFFERENT TEMPLE. As stated earlier by my friend Surind two days before Thaipusam, the Sri Bala Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Port Klang became the new congregation point for the devotees. It saw the largest-ever crowd in its 160-year history.

In fact two days ago, Surind estimated a 100,000 crowd. The Star, the newspaper prone to minimising crowd size, just confirmed it.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Mohamad Kamil Nizam, The Senior Assistant Registrar (SAR) of the Kuala Lumpur High Court, has rejected -- with costs -- my application to have the defamation suit struck out. Malik Imtiaz represented me in court this morning.

I will appeal to the High Court Judge against the SAR's decision.

With this development, I am at equal footing with Rocky's Bru right now. November 5, he, too, had his application to strike out the suit rejected.

He had appealed to the High Court judge against the SAR's decision.

Rock & I at the Launch of The Loaf, January 22... picture courtesy Tara Sosrowardoyo

The next hearing date is April 23, 2008. The High Court Judge will hear my application to consolidate my case with the one faced by Rocky.

WALK WITH US.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

It's not an election slogan. TV Smith has the picture.

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Ouroboros.

[ It's not me. ] He looks like me. He sounds like me.

[ It's not Ahmad Fairuz. ] “I don’t know who I was speaking to but certainly I wasn’t speaking to Tun Ahmad Fairuz because I never had his telephone number and he never had my telephone number either.”

[ Don't take me seriously. ] "My friends tell me I talk rubbish when I drink wine."

[ It's irrelevant. ] Expunge all evidence tendered at the royal commission on the New Zealand holiday in 1994 I took together with former chief justice Eusoff Chin. It is not relevant to the scope of the inquiry.

The Chinese Press caught the tail-biting in prominent highlight, here and here.

Not to make an ass out of u and me, I ass-u-me the Royal Commission panel was equally alert.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The fax machine ran at the Group 3 standard of 9.6 kilobits per second during the early 1990's.

Fast-forward, and my 1.5 Megabits per second Streamyx broadband today -- about 156 times faster than the fax machine -- downloads files at the crawling speed transfer rate of 5.4 kilobytes per second.

How can? Subang Jaya some more! Even surfing local sites is at snail pace right now.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBacks (0)

Thaipusam will be a public holiday extended to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya from now on, PM Abdullah Badawi announced today.

Have community issues surfaced by Hindraf Rally been solved, and resolved, once and for all? Has the community been fighting only to have an extra day off, by the way?

Or is this another episode of 'Ee chiak lu, lu pun um chai' to hoodwink people? I hope my Indian-Malaysian brethren can enlighten us what this is all about.

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

How soon Mr Maidin wakes up?

M. Nasir may have to write a song to celebrate his Bersih song (Seloka Cak Kun Cak) that was first raised 47 days ago in this blog, on December 3, Earth Time.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

That's Dr Lim Keng Yaik's attempt at speaking Penang Hokkein which, loosely translated, means: You are eaten up without even you realising it (Dia makan lu, lu pun tak tahu!).

The quotable quote was carried in Sunday Star today. The context is that DAP sec-gen Lim Guan Eng is "too young to know" about Anwar Ibrahim and his tricks, thus vulnerable and can be hoodwinked by the Keadilan's de facto leader in the heat running up to the next general election.

I was on intelligence-gathering missions in Penang during the last two weeks, and I am going in again this Monday-week. The backdrop can't be any wrong. Current Penang-style punditry says Koh Tsu Koon will be slated for a parliament seat to become a federal minister while party sec-gen Chia Kwang Chye will be moving to a state seat. He is also the forerunner to be the next Chief Minister of Penang.

Umno-endorsed Chief Minister for Penang?

I have to find that out. So, one of the agenda was to check if Koh Tsu Koon will be a man of his own and defy Keng Yaik's charade that publicly "asked" him to remain in state politics as Penang's Chief Minister. If Tsu Koon stays, it will be his fifth term after the 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004 general elections.

I was also on a mission to determine if Gerakan sec-gen Chia Kwang Chye will get back-fired by the Penang electorate the way he has been positioned in BN circles as an Umno-endorsed Penang Chief Minister.

The "Umno-endorsed" positioning is said to have helped Chia gain an upper-hand over Dr Teng Hock Nan, Gerakan Vice President and current senior state exco, as the CM-designate.

Findings are interesting but only time will tell if my intelligence is accurate. By most accounts, there are strong signs which point to a big dilemma in two contrasting scenarios in an Umno-dominated political system:

1 ) Can Tsu Koon outfox Umno the way Keng Yaik did as a minister in the Putrajaya Administration?
2 ) Can Chia resist Umno demands as an Umno-endorsed Chief Minister for Penang?

Election rhetorics can be double-edged sword that cuts both ways. Will Keng Yaik's ee chiak lu, lu pun um chai prediction befall his own men under Umno's dominance in Barisan Nasional politics, more so under Tsu Koon's YAB (Yang Amat Berlakun) leadership style that Penang people have noted?

The jury is out. The way I feel it, Penang folks are fast warming up to the election issues involved. Already, there are Umno leaders in Penang who are ready to shake Chia's hand -- and some even literally kiss it -- as the issue of Penang's next Chief Minister has been "settled".

To keep a visible neutrality, I won't take political sides in this blog, except to present the relevant context in the influx of breaking news and information.

My political views are available at http://parliament.jeffooi.com.

Penang in next 10 years

Besides, I am more interested in knowing how Penang should progress in a changed world for the next 10 years. The assembly-line industries brought in during the Lim Chong Eu era (1969-1990), and the value-added aka semi hi-tech industries during this Koh Tsu Koon era (1990-2008) truly needs rejuvenation, expecially in the face of China and India being the preferred lower-cost production centres for global investors.

How would Abdullah's grandiose agro-based Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) help Penang regain its sparkles as the pale Pearl of Orient is an important question that needs urgent answers. Thus far, Tsu Koon is silent on this.

Ee chiak lu, lu pun um chai. What's the verdict?

SCENARIO 1. One emerging hypothesis I was given says that, should Tsu Koon go federal, Chia will be the CM-designate, and Dr Teng will move federal for a deputy minister's post as he apparently suffered the perception that, at 62, he could not provide Penang a rejuvenated leadership for the next ten years.

Should Tsu Koon and Dr Teng both get elected into Parliament, the former will be a full minister, taking over from Keng Yaik who will retire, and Dr Teng will be made a deputy minister. potentially occupying the quota currently filled by Chia.

However, Perak state exco Chang Ko Youn, another Gerakan VP, is slated to occupy the Bruas parliamentary seat currently held by Keng Yaik. Should he be elected into Parliament, he will also be a candidate for a deputy minister's post. Should that happen, he has to displace and replace either of the two incumbent deputy ministers, namely Mah Siew Keong and Ng Lip Yong, assuming the Gerakan quota in the administration does not get enlarged. In that case, analysts say Ng, in his mid 50's, is the likely dispensable guy as Mah is a rising star and the incumbent youth chief.

It is also speculated that, with Chia as the CM-designate, he would need three seniors to fill the Gerakan's quota for state excos.

Notably, Lee Kah Choon, current Jelutung MP and parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Health, will be slated for the Machang Bubuk state seat, currently occupied by Dr Toh Kin Woon, the "Conscience of Gerakan" who is retiring. It is being bandied about by the pundits that Kah Choon will be made a state exco after winning the safe seat and be made a state exco, and groomed to take over from Chia over time.

Tsu Koon, as the party's acting president, will likely cast his influence to keep exco Teng Chang Yeow in the state administration as his "eyes and ears" to remote-control and monitor Chia's potential extension of influence in Penang. However, the jury is still out for the third exco, though many say Chia will have his say and field in his staunch ally.

On the other hand, there are murmurings among Gerakan observers who said Tsu Koon may run out of a safe parliament seat. He may even have to consider running in Simpang Renggam, Johor, a BN fortress now occupied by Kerk Choo Thing, who vanquished in his fight for Gerakan presidency against Keng Yaik in 2005.

Batu Kawan, the new growth centre on Seberang Jaya where PM Abdullah Badawi's corporate ally Patrick Lim is having hayday, used to be spotted as a favourable seat for Tsu Koon. However, post-Hindraf rally, the 22.8% Indian voters' ward may turn out to be a poison lily for him, observers said.

SCENARIO 2. The opposing hypothesis says that, Tsu Koon will stay as the CM, while Chia remains to defend his Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, which is considered a "personal-to holder" constituency to him as a three-term MP.

Will Chia be made a full minister, and allow Gerakan to repeat the days of a lame minister in Paul Leong in the 1980's -- where the party president lost grip over national politics and became out-manoeuvred in Barisan Nasional's race-based politics? Besides, it is also an anxiety-filled guess as Perak's Chang, a loyal protege to Keng Yaik, is also seen as a dark horse for the sole minister's post in the Putrajaya administration, and Chia might not get the cake and eat it.

That said, the biggest dilemma for Tsu Koon's staying put as CM in Penang. After leading Penang for four terms since 1990, he is seen as image-fatigued. Joceline Tan described him as "not a huge liability but neither is he a glowing asset" for Gerakan in Penang.

Joceline added: "The former academic was only 41 when he catapulted into the top office in 1990 but after four terms, he is seen as a rather 'tired leader' and he is sitting on a depleting reservoir of goodwill."

On the other hand, Khoo Kay Peng, the director at Gerakan-sponsored Sedar Institute, has this to say of Tsu Koon:

“He does not have charisma or the political street-smartness that is so crucial in politics. But he has stayed clean and is respected for his scholarship and diligence. There's no denying he has the brains but he seems to lack a certain toughness to deal with internal politicking in the Barisan Nasional.”

"All that talk about Dr Koh running the party and remaining as Chief Minister while someone else takes the Minister's job is so out-dated. It doesn't work in today's politics,” Khoo added.

With that, Joceline concluded: "His staying on will not adversely affect the Barisan's chances but it will also not provide the sort of oomph that the coalition needs in the face of an opposition wind."

That said, Joceline also quoted Chia as saying: “It will be a tough one for the Barisan. I don't see us repeating the 2004 performance. That was like reaching Mount Everest for us."

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

So, this is Day 5 for the Royal Commission hearing of the Lingam Tape?

It just dawned on me what a fabulous cast you can dream for in a Truly Malaysia farce -- An Indian lawyer, a Malay Chief Judge, all done in by a Chinese wielding videocam -- mad or drunk, not withstanding.

As simple as 'looks like me and sounds like me'?

Let's see how Haidar turns the pages of the script and crafts it into a blockbuster... or a mega-budget B-grader. For now, Altantuya is no longer pulling in at the box office, because the leading role was killed on the opening scene. Anti-climax, because you know the epilogue too much, too early.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I watched the live telecast over CNN last night. US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke backed calls for quick action and he endorsed "substantive" rate cuts and congressional efforts for rapid economic stimulus.

However, critics say it's too little, too late.

Flu, while US sneezes?

A day earlier, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) cautioned that if there is a recession in the US, Malaysia's economic growth could slow to 4 to 5% in 2008.

That forecast, according to Thomson Financial/Forbes, quoting MIER executive director Dr Mohamed Ariff Abdul Kareem, is based on the premise that the US recession will be mild and last for only a couple of quarters.

"Growth could be lower if the US recession turns worse and lasts longer," said Mohamed Ariff, who reckons that a recession in the US is now 'almost certain'.

That said, MIER is still forecasting 5.4% growth in 2008 if the US 'somehow manages to pull itself away from the brink of a recession.

Read the signs

I have been having a hard time trying to imagine how Malaysia will fare in a system that is corrupted with leakages in a weakening economic outlook risked against escalating fuel prices. When the pie gets smaller, with oil well running dry, will the keris be trained on the weaker siblings, what Nazri Aziz clustered as minority, in Malaysia?

Read: How kitchen sink approach fails Merrill Lynch, which registered a loss of US$10.3 billion, or US$12.57 a share, from continuing operations for the quarter ended Dec. 31. There was similar bloodletting at CitiGroup, which posted Tuesday a quarterly loss of US$9.83 billion, or US$1.99 a share

Hours ago, Wall Street went west and south.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

From 42.5% on Day 1 to 54.5% on Day 3, and now at 55.9% on Week 3, it's still a consistent big NO TO CORRUPTION!

If consistency is a yardstick for opinion, it's then reconfirmed that CORRUPTION is the dreaded cancer that is hurting the national economy, and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi must be held solely accountable for his pledge on fighting corruption big time.

As Week 3 closes for the borderless opinion poll running on Screenshots currently, the majority opinion seems to sustain the strongest thought that emerged among concerned Malaysians, in home country and abroad.

The demand to have Abdullah held solely accountable for his pledge on fighting corruption big time has increased from 42.5% to 55.9% out of 3,421 votes received so far.

The remaining of the Top 3 issues have also been sustained in the last 21 days -- despite a lack of new high profile corrupt case -- the Big Fish -- being exposed.

1 ) From 39.2% to 41.4% and now at 41.6% -- The judiciary must prevent Syariah Law from casting legal jurisdiction over non-Muslims.

2 ) From 37.2% to 36.9% and now locked at 36.9% -- The Internal Security Act (ISA), which mandates imprisonment without trial, should be abolished.

Let me highlight that that the poll trend is sustaining its consistency as the poll expires in 10 days' time, January 27.

Incidentally, the three key issues -- related to the ills of corruption in the context of national economy, judiciary/religion and ISA -- all come colossally under the multi-portfolios held by Abdullah Badawi in his capacities as the Finance Minister, chief of the Prime Minister's Department and the Internal Security Minister, respectively.

CAST YOU VOTES. Though all issues are of equal importance, readers are tasked to pick their Top 3 out of the 10 major topics blogged in Screenshots throughout 2007, covering critical governance issues in judiciary, police, human rights, economy and civilians' security.

We want them to sound out, along the principle of collective intelligence, what they think should be the priority areas that say Malaysia can do -- and must do -- a lot more better, a lot more urgently in 2008.

Read this earlier blog entry and find out how you, too, can help send a resounding voice to Putrajaya on your expectation of how this country can make 2008 tick.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

It's the lawyer who remembers our 1st Anniversary for being sued for defamation by an Umno-linked newspaper and its journalists (and Rocky would add its CEO).

One year on with the suit going nowhere near closure -- and I remain muzzled from discussing the behaviours of certain journalists in Malaysia due to an ex-parte injunction against me -- a 'Boycott Mainstream Media" (MSM) campaign is simmering. It gives thinking Malaysians a context to start thinking aloud about the notion of "Sponsors" (Panaung/Penaja).

Quote Malik Imtiaz:

Media is obliged to report matters truthfully and fairly, no matter the perspective adopted in the reporting. This responsibility arises not only by reason of laws requiring responsible, accurate and truthful reporting so as to prevent injury to reputation and misinformation but also, I suggest, by reason of the special relationship that media enjoys with the reading public.

Put another way, the truth cannot be jettisoned in favour of an agenda. The boycott MSM campaign suggests that the MSM has jettisoned truth in favour of an agenda and the argument advanced in support is persuasive.

Significantly, in their claim against Rocky and Jeff Ooi, the NST and key management figures of the newspaper have claimed that by suggesting that the newspapers was involved in spin-doctoring, the two bloggers had defamed them. Defamation proceedings being what they are, it is highly likely that the issue of whether the NST does in fact spin doctor will become a central issue in the ongoing proceedings.

Whatever the case, in considering the MSM campaign, we will have to decide whether MSM does report fairly and accurately, no matter the slant. [...]

The practical reality is that there being minimal space for alternate viewpoints or perspectives, there is only one agenda being promoted; that of the owners of MSM, in this case the government through its links to MSM.

Has anything changed? I will use this as a case study when I speak to a group of journalists assembled by Deutsche Welle's DW-AKADEMIE, in March, at AIBD next to Angkasapuri.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A marvellous year-starter from a consistent first class winner in innovation and marketing.

Read Engadget on the up-side and down side of MacBook Air.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

One month after the surgery, I finally had the eyeball stitches removed this morning.

Healing process is on-going, vision is at 6/9 unaided, but astigmatism is still causing some strain until full recovery, which doctor said will take another 30 days or so.

You can see my right eye is still puffy. Last Friday, I accidentally gave the operated eye a rough rub while asleep. Tears flowed and the eye was sore until today. The doctor 'scolded' me for not seeing him immediately, but he was relieved -- and me too -- when he examined that my eyeball is all right.

Meanwhile, I have to wait for the right time (before or after the General Election expected in March, if not much later) to correct the early-stage cataract, and opportunistically the high-myopia, on the other eye. It may sound rather silly that an eye operation is so dependent on when the Prime Minister is having his inspiration to call for polls. Yes?

It's no fun wearing contact on just one eye, and I'm not sure if this is how I should appear on the poster if I am selected to contest in the coming general election as a Parliament candidate. But like it or not, what you see in the picture will be my 'new look' for the moment -- Jeff Sparrow Ver3.0 ;-)

Do say Hi if we happen to cross each other on the street.

NOT ALL CHINESE ARE RICH. At the hospital today, my wife was playing interpreter to an old Chinese lady, in her late 60's, who was having language problem with the registration counter. She was negotiating with the hospital staff that she could only come in the afternoon of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for follow-ups.

The lady apparently had come for post-cataract surgery check-up. She, too, had had one eye operated and was telling the registration staff, through my wife, that she has to wait a while to raise enough money for operation on the other eye, which will costs around RM2,000 all in. The doctor had advised her not to delay the operation any longer to avoid blindness from seeping in.

In her advanced age, she is still a productive retiree, working as a general cleaner.

She walks in a very slow pace, however, we saw nobody accompany her to the hospital. She paid a solid RM65 of her own money for the follow-up, with RM60 going as consultation fee, the same amount that my insurance company pays on my behalf.

She then paced herself to catch a bus home. We very much regretted that we didn't give her a lift as I was in the queue behind hers.

It dawned on me that not all Chinese Malaysians are rich the way the Umno politicians had generally claimed, in order to keep the National Economic Policy. And I do see my Malay and Indian brothers and sisters struggling as city dwellers in the Klang Valley. They need a social security protection, especially the one that takes care of their healthcare bills in old age.

Meanwhile, the AP-fed political cronies ferry from one golf course to another in helicopters, never mind that Mahathir himself hates golf, and Abdullah likes golf and yachting, on the contrary.

I hope to be able to champion this in the Parliament one day.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

Two years ago, we asked DPM Najib Razak to watch his back for what he said on record. Here's a blast of the past from the Screenshots archive, March 12, 2006:

SUNDAY STAR, March 12, 2006

Twenty-two months down the road, on January 14, 2008, the same Najib said: "A comprehensive and integrated plan will be drawn up by the Government to solve Kuala Lumpur’s traffic woes."

For that purpose, the “Empowering the Public Transportation System-Traffic System in Kuala Lumpur Hotspots” retreat was organised for certain people in Serdang yesterday, and that the Government would consider suggestions made during the retreat before drawing up the plan.

Najib, who also chairs the Cabinet committee on Public Transportation, said this included expanding LRT services, improving the quality of commuter trains and increasing the number of buses and their stops.

He said a holistic solution was needed to solve traffic problems in the city for the next two to three decades.

That's God-speed for you, KL folks.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

I just got back from Labuan mid last week. The architecture of Masjid Jamek An-Nur impressed me so much that I stopped by to take some shots for my travelogue. Local Muslims and musafirs alike pray there

Incidentally, The Star reported today that an MP is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) for allegedly using forged documents to obtain bank loans.

According to the paper, the implicated politician is also said to have used forged ICs to obtain hundreds of thousands of ringgit from the banks to start businesses and buy property.

The politician, who has been tracked on the ACA radar for several months, is reportedly also being investigated for using forged documents or ICs to open shell companies to get government projects.

The Star quoted sources as saying that the ACA from Putrajaya had questioned the MP and seized documents from his office in Kota Kinabalu, which is about 30 minutes by air from Labuan.

R.I.P. Apart from the majestic mosque, suffice to say, Labuan also hosts one of the best-kept WWII memorials in the world where war heroes, not corrupted politicians, rest in peace.

Labuan oh Labuan...

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Screenshots was told that PM Abdullah Badawi's approval ratings after the Hindraf Rally have plunged to the all-time low of 61%.

The results have emerged in the latest Merdeka Centre poll survey, conducted nationwide with a skew towards Klang Valley sampling. The poll analysis is expected to be released soon.

It is noted that Abdullah's approval ratings have been hovering in the mid 70's, except for the two occasions when he came under Dr Mahathir's severe criticism in the last two years, dropping to around 64% at the trough.

Let's see how the mainstream media spin this.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

This could be to the chagrin of Umn