Mukhriz: Kelemahan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah selesai masalah sebab no.1 BN ditolak

Exco Pemuda UMNO Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir malam ini berkata “Akan berlaku satu lagi Tsunami politik Disember ini”, sambil memberikan alamat bahawa orang Melayu akan bertindak menentukan apa yang penting bagi mereka. “Sebab no. 1 kita kekalahan dalam PRU 12 ialah sebab Kepimpinan yang lemah dan tak mampu selesai masalah”.

Beliau juga merayu kepada golongan professional muda Melayu agar “Biar kita sendiri tentukan bila Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) dihentikan dan bukan orang lain yang minta!”.Apabila bercakap panjang lebar mengenai DEB, Mukhriz menolak gesaan ramai golongan professional muda Melayu bahwa DEB sudah tidak relevan lagi kerana hanya mereka sudah berjaya dan mampu mencari rezeki dan membina kehidupan, sedangkan ramai lagi masih lagi bergantung kepada program program pendidikan, pembangunan ekonomi dan infrastruktur. “Datanglah ke Jerlun dan lihat dan rasakan sendiri kehidupan kemiskinan tegar”, sambil mengundang generasi kedua dan ketiga urbanit yang kini rata rata berpelajaran dan berjaya mendapat kareer stabil dan lumayan.

Ahli Parlimen Jerlun ini juga menjelaskan bahawa modal insan yang cuba yang ujudkan oleh PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gagal kerana terdapat professional Melayu hari ini lebih berminat keluar negara untuk mencari rezeki dari menyumbang kepada negera sendiri.

Akramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi pula mengingatkan hadiri agar “Berbudi kepada apa yang diturunkan, yang memberikan menafaat kepada orang Melayu”, sambil membuat rujukan kepada DEB. Atas topik yang sama, hadirin digesa untuk menjaga bagaimana asas ‘persetujuan’ lahirnya negara ini dan sekiranya ada pihak meminta DEB untuk dihapuskan, maka beliau mempersoalkan bahwa adakah rakyat keturunan Bukan Melayu ini sanggup untuk melepaskan sama sekali sistem sekolah vernakular yang mereka begitu bersungguh sungguh pertahankan itu, sebagai timbal-balas.

Beliau mengingatkan bahawa semenjak empat tahun kebelakangan ini, PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah belanja terlalu banyak wang untuk program ‘Islam Hadhari’, yang sepatutnya patut dibelanja bagi orang Melayu generasi muda menghayati warisan bangsa dan sejarah.

*Perkembangan Khamis 1 Mei 2008 2.30pagi

Semasa sessi soal jawab, Mukhriz menjelaskan kenapa Timbalan Presiden UMNO Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak menjadi pilihan beliau sebagai Presiden UMNO selepas PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah. Beliau amat yakin dengan kebolehan dan kemampuan Dato’ Seri Najib memimpin negara kerana “Buat masa ini pun, Dato’ Seri Najib mempengerusikan 36 jawatankuasa Kabinet. Oleh itu, urusan mengurus (hal hal operasi) negara terletak pada beliau walaupun tidak diberikan tanggungjawab”.

Dalam banyak sessi penerangan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah yang dihadiri Mukhriz, beberapa kali pengerusi menutup majlis tanpa memberikan hadirin berinteraksi dengan Presiden UMNO dengan alasan “Kerana PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah telah jelaskan semuanya, maka kita berakhir disini sahaja” dan ini menimbulkan tidak puas hati pemimpin akar umbi kepada parti.

Sebagai menyambung mengenai soal DEB, Mukhriz menjelaskan bahawa semenjak dasar affirmative action ini dilaksanakan, pertumbuhan negara lebih pesat dan semua pihak, termasuk Bukan Melayu mendapat nikmat dan kebaikan, walaupun tidak secara langsung. Program program DEB seperti membasmi kemikinan melalui pelajaran, kesihatan dan infrastruktur nyata memberi peningkatan kualiti hidup kepada semua rakyat Malaysia, tanpa mengira kaum. Sejarah menunjukan bahawa setelah berlaku krisis matawangan dan ekonomi pada 1997-98, negara tidak mengalami keadaan buruk seperti apa yang berlaku di Indonesia dimana harta rakyat keturunan Cina dan Bukan Pribumi dirosakan teruk dalam siri rusuhan luar kawalan kerana kemarahan rakyat Pribumi apabila mereka dilanda kesempitan hidup.

Kemudian beliau menyingkap dalam sebuah makan malam anjuran KL Business Club pada 14 Jun 2007 dimana PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah mengiyakan soalan mengenai setelah cadangan mengecualikan DEB dalam Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar dibuat Pengerusi Panel Penasihat IDRA Tun Musa Hitam, bahawa DEB akan seluruhnya dihentikan perlaksanaan bagi peringkat negara pula.

Dalam soal Perjuangan pula, beliau bercakap panjang lebar mengenai semangat yang perlu disematkan dalam sanubari. Sambil itu, beliau memberi pandangan mengenai soal “Keris”. “Biarlah Keris itu terhunus dihati hati kita dan sentiasa terhunus, bagi Bangsa dan Ugama”. Beliau menyusuri pengalaman peribadi semasa diAmbon lapan tahun dulu apabila sendiri menyaksikan bagaimana penduduk majoriti (golongan Maluku Islam) merana kerana kepentingan strategik mereka dikuasai sepenuhnya oleh golongan minoriti (yang berugama Roman Katolik), terutama apabila terjadi pergaduhan berdarah antara kaum.

Apabila seorang graduan UUM mencadangkan bahawa Anwar Ibrahim merupakan kepimpinan alternatif kepada PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah, bangkit pula seorang wanita professional berusia tiga puluhan menolak dengan keras cadangan itu dengan hujah bahawa Anwar merupakan “Pengkhianat Negara!” dan ianya mendapat reaksi sokongan hebat hadirin.

Akramsyah pula mencabar golongan professional muda Melayu untuk berani masuk kedalam UMNO, berjinak jinak dengan Perjuangan dan beruasaha membuat perubahan, disebalik hanya membuat rungutan diluar, tanpa benar benar memahami isu sebenar akar umbi dan apa permasalahan rakyat yang cuba ditangani pemimpin, walaupun diperingkat Cawangan.

Wall Street Fed’s rate reduction: Do or die?

HOW I CAN BE WRONG

AND STILL BE RIGHT

by Matthias Chang

WHY WALL STREET IS SO SCARED NOW, MORE THAN EVER

AND WILL GO FOR BROKE IN THE

COMING MONTHS

28TH OCTOBER 2007

This was what I wrote on the 28th October 2007:

“Bernanke to the rescue again. Rates will drop by at least 25 basis points to stimulate another Dow Rally. Dow will rise beyond 14,000 for a week or so followed by a massive collapse.”

A critic jumped at the fact that Dow did not surpassed the 14,000 points and screamed “Matthias, you are wrong. You’re Bullshit!”

This particular critic (I have a feeling he is one of those bloggers that never cease to abuse me with profanities, always avoiding rationale arguments whenever my article appears in the internet) can never see the big picture. He is what I called a real asshole, a man in perpetual state of denial.

A Blessing In Disguise

Hence, my title to this article: “How I Can Be Wrong And Still Be Right.”

I was wrong on account of Dow shooting past the 14,000 points after the Fed reduced both the Discount Rate and the Fund Rate by 25 basis points. In fact the Dow rallied to 13,930.01. So there was a rally but it ran out of steam sooner than I thought. I surmised that Wall Street and the Plunge Protection Team would keep the momentum going for at least a week. They ran out of gas!

We should in fact be happy that people have not bought into the con game perpetrated by the Fed and Wall Street, tried as hard as they could.

The next day, 1.11.2007, the Dow plunged 362.14 points, bringing the Dow back to reality at 13,567.87.

This means that the “blood transfusion” (i.e. pumping money into the system by the financial doctors – the central banks) is not working. Up to 30th October 2007, the Fed and European central banks have pumped an estimated US$1 trillion into the system and yet the banks and other financial institutions are still bleeding.

There is but one conclusion to the recent rescue efforts to shore up the stock markets - a stock market rally grounded on a reduction of interest rates by the Fed cannot be and will not be an effective tool to address the underlying financial mess that has gripped the world’s financial markets. The reduction of interest rates will also not resolve the banking crisis triggered by the collapse of the CDOs and commercial paper markets.

More Con Games Exposed

As stated in my previous Alert, Merrill Lynch has written off US$8 billion for the third quarter of 2007. It is now expected to write off a further US$4 billion in the next quarter. Its CEO, Stan O’Neal has been sacked!

Citigroup, the global banking giant and the biggest bank in the US, has announced that its CEO, Mr. Prince would resign from the bank after an emergency meeting in the wake of a $5.9 billion write-down and sharp drop in profits. The fourth quarter for the bank will also be gloomy.

How big will the write offs in the 4th quarter for Citigroup? And who will be next to fall, Goldman Sachs? JP Morgan Chase?

The Economist observed the unfolding of the above events and commented:

“The most striking (and overlooked) aspect of this was that it involved mostly securities that only a few months ago had been considered platinum-plated: collateralised debt obligations (CDOs), or tranched pools of mortgage-backed securities, that were not only rated triple-A, the highest level, but had also received extra credit enhancement, making them “super senior”. Until recently it was assumed that such well-protected paper could not lose its value. No longer. Worryingly, hundreds of banks, insurers and hedge funds around the world hold such securities. Fooled by false alchemy, they face a trouble reckoning.”

The Economist also warned that those insurance companies that insured corporate bonds and structured products such as MBIA will be the next to fall. MBIA the largest of these has just reported its first ever quarterly loss after it had downgraded the value of its own mortgage holdings and setting aside money to pay clients who had wisely taken out cover on these toxic CDOs. If such insurers are to set aside massive amounts of monies to pay their clients, they will lose their triple A ratings, and these will in turn affect the ratings of the securities which they have guaranteed – as securities cannot have a rating higher that the company insuring them. When these insurers collapse, the guarantees would be worthless, and investors who purchased such “covers” will be stark naked, holding on the toilet papers.

Paulson’s Scam – “Master Liquidity Enhancement Conduit”

You will recall that I had mentioned that the crook Paulson in collusion of some leading US banks have set up a US$100 billion fund – called the “Super-SIV” to buy securities from failing Structured Investment Vehicles (SIVs) which are off-balance sheet entities (many of which are owned by banks) that are stuck with “marked to model” securities. Some of these securities have been estimated to be worth only between 20-50% of their par value i.e. 50 cents to a dollar. So if they are unloaded at their true market value, there will be a huge write off. So Paulson and his accomplices came up with their so called bright idea. If the “Super SIV” with a fund of US$100 billion “purchased” these securities, say at 90% of par value, then maybe the market will accept this “market price”. Pure magic – a worthless paper is now worth 90 cents to a dollar because Paulson has decided to buy such papers from his accomplices at the pre-determined rigged price!

Paulson is really insulting the intelligence of the investors. How can he possibly get away with an artificial “market price” created between his gang of looters and the failing SIVs and then tell the investors that these securities are no longer “marked to model” but are now “marked to market” albeit a false market. What a scam.

To lend credence to this scam, the Fed has given its full support to this con. In a statement of 2nd November 2007, the Fed has even given a special exemption. I quote:

“The credit conversion factor that would apply to the notional amount of the MLEC (Master Liquidity Enhancement Conduit) would have a capital treatment that is ten times more favourable than if the assets were placed on the bank’s balance sheet.”

In simple language, what this means is that banks who are part of this scam (MLEC fund) and purchase risky mortgaged related assets from failing SIVs will need only one tenth of the capital they would need if they were to take their assets on to their own balance sheet.

This is but a scam to try to pass off toilet papers as having some residual value, such value being established by the purchase price (previously rigged by Paulson and his co-conspirators) as being reflective of their market value.

Just pause and think about the problem.

Hundred of banks and institutions around the world were conned by the scum bags to invest in CDOs, ABCPs etc. allegedly worth a global value of US$20 trillion (marked to model, and triple A rated and as explained by the Economist). When Bear Stearns’ two Hedge Funds collapsed after these “securities” were shown to be worthless in June/July 2007, those banks and financial institutions who were left holding papers (supposedly worth US$trillions) whose values are now debatable or zero value, had a massive heart attack! These banks are all in the financial ICUs and receiving massive amount of blood transfusions.

If these banks were to right off these “investments” they would be insolvent - there will be runs on these banks. This is the nightmare scenario and that is why the scum bags are trying to cover up this global fraud – the biggest fraud in history.

We are talking about banks such as JP Morgan Chase, Citi Group, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Bros, Wachovia etc. Then there are the big European Banks, such as Barclays, UBS, Deustche. HSBC etc.

Yet, back home in Malaysia, our Bank Negara Governor is still saying Malaysia will not be affected by this global financial meltdown and that inflation is under control and other nonsensical statements.

Crude is almost reaching US$100 and other commodities and metals have risen in tandem, while the dollar has plunged to all time lows. Our dollar reserves’ purchasing power must likewise be reduced by the equivalent in the depreciation of the dollar. But we are told, we need not worry and that we will be able to weather the coming storm.

To my critics, let me say this. Thank God that Dow did not shoot past 14,000 after the Fed rate reduction as that would have lull people further into believing that the worst in over. I hope that after having lived through the Fed’s September rate reduction and its failure to stimulate an artificial rally, and now in October, having experienced the Fed’s second attempt to get us back into the Ponzi scheme, you will be wiser and be able to take stock of the rapid unfolding of events and start to make preparations (if you have not already done so) to survive the inevitable wipe out.

I have been spot on since 2006, way ahead of the crowd and unlike others writing with hindsight (some wiser after the event), I have been giving you analysis always one step ahead of the unfolding events.

I have been exposing their lies and deceit.

If they can lie so readily about the economy and do not give two hoots about our economic survival, do you really think they will ever be truthful about their war agendas?

Paulson, Bernanke and the bankers are no different from Bush, Cheney and the neocons. They are the two sides if the same coin. The former are masterminds of the economic wars, while the latter are the masterminds of the hot wars. This is a global war and it engulfs every segment of our society. No one will be spared.

Sumbangan UMNO dalam kawasan majoriti Bukan Melayu

Banyak persoalan berkenaan peranan UMNO dalam kawasan majoriti Bukan Melayu. Kebersanan sumbangan UMNO dalam kawasan majoriti Bukan Melayu menjadi tanda-tanya ramai pihak kerana wakil wakil rakyat kawasan tersebut biasanya bukan dikalangan keturunan Melayu dan dengan mudah mereka mengandaikan pemimpin UMNO mengabaikan kepentingan orang orang Melayu dalam kawasan tersebut.

Kawan tinggal dalam kawasan parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara. Ahli Parlimenya ialah YB Dato’ Chew Mei Fun, Wanita MCA. Kedua dua ADUN dalam kawasan parlimen ini ialah MCA juga. 83% dari pengundi dalam kawasan ini terdiri dari Bukan Melayu. Ini bermakna, calon calon mewakili UMNO tidak akan mendapat peluang menjadi wakil rakyat, samada Ahli Parlimen maupun ADUN.

Namun begitu, peranan UMNO dalam kawasan ini sebenarnya besar dan effektif, untuk pembangunan orang orang Melayu.

Pagi tadi, Kawan pergi mengambil ayahanda Kawan pulang dari hospital. Dalam perjalanan pulang, beliau menerima panggilan telefon seorang Pegawai Khas Ketua Wanita UMNO Petaling Jaya Utara. Pegawai Khas itu bertanyakan apa bentuk sumbangan Ketua Wanita UMNO Bahagian kepada masjid kami. Ketua Wanita UMNO Petaling Jaya, Raja Dato’ Ropiaah Raja Abdullah, sentiasa mengambil berat kebajikan kariah masjid kami.

Ayahanda Kawan ialah mantan Presiden persatuan penduduk kawasan perumahan ini. Beliau juga mantan AJK masjid. Bonda Kawan ialah Bendahari Kumpulan Wanita masjid kami. Ketua Wanita UMNO Bahagian dan Ketua UMNO Bahagian memberikan tumpuan pada hal ehwal masjid dan kariah memandangkan peranan yang biasanya dilaksanakan oleh samada Ahli Parlimen atau ADUN merupakan mereka Bukan Islam.

Ketua Wanita UMNO Bahagian ini bersedia untuk menyumbangkan sejumlah wang sebanyak RM 6 ribu untuk menukar permaidani masjid. Walaubagaimanapun, Ayahanda memohon agar wang itu disalurkan untuk mengadakan pintu dan dinding bagi tingkat atas masjid, agar kariah wanita boleh mengadakan kelas kelas tanpa gangguan bunyi dan dalam keadaan selesa (pendingin hawa lebih effisyen). Kos mengadakan pintu dna dinding kaca ini berjumlah RM 12 ribu dan dikatakan Raja Dato’ Ropiaah sanggup mengeluarkan peruntukan untuk projek naik taraf masjid ini.

Walaupun kawasan ini majoriti Bukan Melayu, namun kepentingan kebajikan kerohanian orang orang Melayu, melalui masjid masjid, diberikan tumpuan khusus oleh UMNO Bahagian Petaling Jaya Utara, walaupun pemimpin pemimpin UMNO dalam bahagian ini tidak akan diberikan peluang dalam menjadi calon wakil wakil rakyat. Ini menunjukan tanpa jawatan politi setempat pun, pemimpin pemimpin UMNO berusaha untuk berkhidmat kepada masyarakat.

Inilah yang menjadikan kebanggaan Kawan, sebagai ahli UMNO yang menetap dalam kawasan majoriti Bukan Melayu.

A tribute to 35 years of Malaysia Airlines

1 Oct 2007, marked the 35^th anniversary of Malaysia Airlines in service, after its separation from Malaysia-Singapore Airlines. Today, it has grown to a formidable Tier 1 premium airline, serving over 90 international destinations in six continents, 400 flights carrying 48, 000 passengers daily with 59 wide body and 39 narrow body aircraft.

Its started its humble beginning in 1937 as Malayan Air Lines (MAL). The airline flew classics such as Airspeed Consul, DC3 Dakota, DC4 Skymaster, Vickers Visocunts, Lockheed Super Constellation and DeHavilland Comet. BOAC and Qantas had stakes in MAL.

It eventually evolved started into Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) after Singapore was sacked from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965. It expanded to destinations such as Bombay, Tokyo, Perth, Rome and London. Later in early seventies, the Singaporean partners wanted to part ways and concentrate on the international sector, which is highly lucrative and do away with the subsidised domestic and rural services. As there was a nation building agenda as the priority, MSA split into SIA and Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) from 1972 and MAS continued the agenda to serve the nation.

So MAS is born. The aircraft with the large red Wau Kucing on the white circle is now flying the Malaysia flag, as the national carrier.

 

Business commenced at 4.30am on 1 October 1972 from Subang International Airport with only six B737-200 to service its regional operations and and six F27 for domestic services. MAS now painfully has to re-build its international destinations, especially all the lucrative routes landing rights’ went to SIA, such as London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney. Captain Hassan Ahmad, the first Malay commercial airline captain certified by DCA, commandeered flight MH 601 to Singapore Paya Lebar Airport at this historic moment. Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman solemnise the event, of behalf of the Malaysian Government.

 

 

 

Intercontinental B707s were added and Malaysia MAS, as it was known then, started to serve Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, West Asia and London. Then European destinations such as Frankfurt were added. All earlier B707s during MSA operations went with SIA.

The nation stood still and many wept, include HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang and Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Hussein Onn, when a special B707-206 MAS flight bore the remains of the dead Malaysian Prime Minister Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein at Subang International Airport from London arrived on 5.30pm, 15 January 1976.

In 1990, when he passed away in San Francisco, Tun Hussein Onn’s remains too were flown back to Kuala Lumpur, like his predecessor, onboard Malaysia Airlines. In mid 1976, MAS took delivery of its first DC 10-30 and marked its operation into ‘trans continental widebodies’.

Then MAS went another step ahead when in 1979, the first Airbus A300 B4 were delivered and this marked its regional operations to Seoul, Madras and Perth. Operations to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei were expanded for the addition of this second widebody type into the fleet.

MAS went into another bold step when in April 1982, took delivery of the first B747-200, powered with Rolls Royce RB211 engines. The European, Australian and East Asia operations were expanded.

After months of careful evaluation, MAS decided to offer 30% of its equity to the public. This was done in late September 1985 after an initial bonus issue of three for one was made. Subsequently, the RM1.00/share was offered RM1.80. It was then the largest share issue made in Malaysian corporate history and the first wholly-owned Government entity to do so. The public issue received overwhelming support and upon listing, shares shot up above RM5.00, despite that the PE ratio was only 5.9, way below the average 20 for companies then traded on the KLSE. That brought the shareholders’ fund to RM 572 million.

In 1986, the only B747-300 with GE engines was delivered and MAS operations expanded to Los Angeles. More European destinations such as Paris and Amsterdam were added.

By 1989, the first delivery of ultra-long-range 17 B747-400s were delivered and by now Malaysia Airlines is flying direct to its European sector, by-passing the traditional West Asian technical stopovers such as Dubaii and Kuwait. With introduction of this ultra-long-range type, in the nineties Malaysia Airlines started service to South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town), Central America (Mexico City) and South America (Buenos Aries).

Malaysia Airlines added A330-200/300 into its fleet in the mid eighties and saw its services being extended to Africa (Cairo), Canada (Vancouver) and expanded operations to West Asia (Beirut and Instanbul), South East and South Asia (Karachi), East Asia (Shenzhen, Fukuoka) and Australia (Adelaide).

In 1997, Malaysia Airlines took delivery of its first B777-200 Super Ranger and its regional and European operations were substantiated with this ultra long range and economical jetliner. In the late nineties, Malaysia Airlines introduce a flight to New York (Newark), via Vienna (later Stockholm). This mark the service to the American Eastern Seaboard.

In 2004, Malaysia Airlines signed the agreement to purchase the largest ultra long range commercial airliner A380-800, with the powerful Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines.

MAS Engineering Division started training their own in-house Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs) with the first admission of Trainee Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (TAMEs) at Subang in 1972. Today, Malaysia Airliness 600 odd LAMEs are certified by OEM such as Airbus, Boeing, Rolls Royce, GE, Pratt & Whitney, CFM, Honeywell etc to service components from its 98 aircraft fleet, in two engineering centres, Subang and KLIA. Malaysia Airlines engineering and ground services divisions moved to KLIA when the new airport was completed and started operations in June 1998.

Through out the years, bit by bit, the Flight Operations Training School acquired flight simulators of all type of aircrafts it operates. Airlines made world record when its technical crew, led by Captain Nik Huzlan flew a 20 ½ hour journey on its B777-200 Super Ranger from Seattle to Subang.

Malaysian Airlines have perfected the art and service standards, especially on board. It is a tradition and dedication passed on from the MAS days. The heart melting smiles that is usually followed by warm but efficient service which had won Malaysia Airlines over 100 international awards.

Malaysia Airlines ventured into the lucrative trade of air cargo. Now it is a major and profitable revenue stream for the public listed national carrier. It is now a subsidiary called MASKargo.

Today, Malaysia Airlines have matured and served the Malaysian public well. Be it the needs of people in the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak and business and international relations need of the country, the national flag carrier had always been there, flying the Jalur Gemilang, Going Beyond Expectations.

 

Whenever we are abroad and we step onboard a Malaysia Airlines jet, the warmth of our lovely country is immediately felt. It feels a lot like home, it even smells a lot like home. The warm smiles of “Selamat Datang” is so soothing. One is so comfortable with the service standards and cuisine that one is so accustomed to.

Happy Birthday, Malaysia Airlines

*Photos are from airliners.net

 

A million thanks to blood donors

I was at Masjid Jame’ Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur by 7.50pm, after my usual iftar at home with my parents, my wife, my darling daughter, my only sister and her only daughter. I rushed straight right after the meal.

It was drizzling when I left home. By 8.00pm, it started to rain. Then it became heavier. Despite of the challenge of the wet tropical evening, 40 pints were collected by the National Blood Bank (NBB) staff, headed by hematologists Dr. Maisarah.

People from all walks of life were there to answer the call of donating their blood, for the preservation of lives. Young, old, professionals, medical practitioners, students, worshipers and non believers, first timers and veteran donors, politicians and bloggers, stood inline to offer their lifeline liquid to ease the suffering of others. 40% were turned down for not fulfilling the criterion set, which include minimum weight, haemoglobin level, blood pressure, glucose level in the blood etc. ANSARA President Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir, who already donated blood at an earlier ANSARA’s campaign in South Cheras Jaya Jusco on the 9 September wanted to donate again tonight but was turned down by the NBB doctor-in-charge because its far too soon for him.

Two of fellow bloggers were there. Must Stop This and What’s In My Head came straight from work. Bloggers actively campaigned for this emergency drive. Some blog readers also turned up to offer their blood.

Later, in the rain, some Petaling Jaya DAP members led by former national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu (also a blogger, Colour-Blind) showed up and went straight inline, eagerly participating for this emergency drive.

When we had a chat with Dr. Maisarah, she told us that the NBB required a minimum of 2,500 pints daily. The life expectancy of bloods collected is never longer than 35 days. The level is now very critical even though they have seven mobile teams within Klang Valley actively arranging for blood donation every single day somewhere in their area. This week is particularly critical because several major organ transplant were done, like in the case of Tee Hui Yee. They anticipate the upcoming long Hari Raya Aidfitri holidays will be taxing for the NBB as the level in their storage is very critical, at the moment.

A million thanks to the kind donors this evening. Equal appreciation is accorded to portal and blogs which actively promoted this emergency drive organized by ANSARA and Utusan Malaysia for their coverage. Congratulations, Dr. Mohamed Halim Abu Bakar of Damai Hospital and Dr. Shahrol Azmi Mohd. Yassin of Kampung Baru Medical Centre who led this ANSARA initiative tonight. Both vowed to continue help NBB in the future for such blood donation drive again. Also, not the least, thanks to the NBB staff and the donor for the hot drinks and kuihs.

Well done, people!

* The camera is low on battery. Therefore, not many photos can be shot and the focus is poor.

Tun Musa Hitam bertemu Perdana Menteri diLondon untuk membincangkan WPI

Pengerusi Majlis Penasihat IDRA, Tun Musa Hitam baru baru ini telah bertemu Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi diLondon. Pertemuan yang tidak dirancang ini berlaku semasa Dato’ Seri Abdullah singgah diLondon dalam rangka lawatan kerja, selepas menghadiri Perhimpunan Agung Bangsa Bangsa Bersatu diNew York

Pertemuan luar jangkaan ini adalah membincangkan masalah baru dalam plan perlaksanaan IDRA, walaupun baru baru ini Timbalan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak mengumumkan bahawa sebuah konsortium Asia Barat yang beribu pejabat diEmiriyah Arab Bersatu bersedia untuk melabur lebih RM 4.1 billion dalam Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI).

Sebuah delegasi khas pemasaran pelaburan dijangkakan akan berlepas ke Dubaii pada Hari Raya ke4, untuk menentukan program pelaburan ini dilaksana segera. Buat masa ini, konsortium ini telah melantik perunding perancang bandar mereka.

Sila lihat laporan Bernama.com bertarikh 1 Oktober 2007 ini:

01 Oktober, 2007 22:06 PM

Syarikat Teluk Lantik Arkitek Dan Perancang Utama Laksana Pelaburan RM4 Bln Di WPI

JOHOR BAHARU, 1 Okt (Bernama) — Empat syarikat Timur Tengah yang mengumumkan hasrat untuk melabur sejumlah AS$1.2 bilion (RM4.1 bilion) di Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI) baru-baru ini melantik arkitek dan perancang induk bagi memulakan projek tersebut. Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata beliau dimaklum tentang pelantikan kakitangan penting bagi projek tersebut oleh ketua syarikat Mubadala Development Company, salah satu daripada empat syarikat Timur Tengah yang terlibat dalam pelaburan tersebut, dalam perbualan telefon dua hari lepas. “Dua hari lepas saya dimaklumkan oleh Ketua syarikat Mubadala bahawa mereka telah melantik arkitek dan “master planner” untuk melaksanakan projek bernilai RM4.1 bilion,” katanya ketika majlis Tadarus Al-Quran dan berbuka puasa di kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman di sini, hari ini. Pada 29 Ogos lepas, Mubadala dan syarikat Millenium International Company, anak syarikat Saraya Holdings dan Kuwait Finance House (KFH) menandatangani perjanjian dengan penyelaras pembangunan WPI, South Johor Investment Corporation (SJIC) bagi tujuan untuk melabur di kawasan ekonomi khas tersebut. Sebuah lagi syarikat Teluk, Aldar Properties PJSC, akan menguruskan pembangunan bandar raya antarabangsa bersepadu pertama WPI, yang dikenali sebagai Node I. Node 1 melibatkan kawasan seluas lebih 892 hektar di Nusajaya, antara pusat pentadbiran kerajaan Johor yang baru dan Jambatan Kedua ke Singapura. Mubadala, KFH dan Millennium Development, masing-masing mengetuai satu konsortium dan secara kolektif melabur lebih daripada AS$1.2 bilion untuk tanah dan infrastruktur untuk membangunkan tiga kelompok gaya hidup dan santai, kelompok budaya dan wilayah kewangan di Node I. Pelaburan bernilai RM4.1 bilion dari empat syarikat Teluk tersebut merupakan pelaburan tunggal terbesar yang diterima oleh WPI sejak kawasan pembangunan khas itu dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri pada November tahun lepas. Najib yang juga Timbalan Presiden Umno dan Menteri Pertahanan menyambut baik langkah empat syarikat Teluk tersebut untuk memulakan pelaburan mereka dan menyifatkannya sebagai amat baik dan positif. Beliau turut menyuarakan keyakinan bahawa WPI, sebuah kawasan khas ekonomi berkeluasan 2,217 kilometer dan dua kali ganda keluasan Singapura itu, akan berupaya menarik lebih banyak pelaburan dari negara-negara Timur Tengah. – BERNAMA

Wujud tentangan ramai pemilik pemilik hartanah dalam WPI yang enggan terlibat dalam plan pembangunan dan perlaksanaan WPI oleh IDRA, terutama yang melibatkan tanah tanah rezab Melayu dikawasan strategik, dalam WPI. Ramai dikalangan mereka ini mempertikaikan kewajaran WPI dibangunkan dengan agenda pelabur luar, terutama dari Singapura, walaupun WPI akan menjanjikan pelaburan strategik yang bernilai lebih RM 140 billion, dalam tempoh 15 tahun pertama perlaksanaanya. Ada antara mereka merasakan bahwa kepentingan Melayu terabai dalam WPI, terutamanya apabila Tun Musa mengesahkan bahawa sebahagian dari perlaksanaan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) tidak akan diteruskan dalam beberapa zon strategik dalam WPI.

Ini pula pandangan A Voice mengenai subjek yang sama.

Dalam pada itu, projek Jambatan Indah mengantikan Tambak Johor yang dimulakan oleh Gerbang Perdana Sdn. Bhd. itu yang telah diumumkan pembatalanya Mac 2006 oleh Dato’ Seri Abdullah, kini sedang dimajukan semula. Kepentingan infrastruktur Jambatan Indah ini kepada WPI adalah punca utama keputusan dibuat untuk meneruskan semula projek strategik itu, walaupun ianya dibatalkan secara tergesa gesa.

Sebuah lagi jambatan pula dicadangkan dibina dikawasan Timur WPI (berdekatan Pasir Gudang), untuk menampung pengunaan strategik keatas Jambatan Kedua diTanjung Kupang yang sediada dan Jambatan Indah yang kini akan diteruskan semula itu. Dikhabarkan bahawa jambatan diPasir Gudang ini mampu untuk menampung sesebuah kenderaan/peralatan yang berat melebihi 70 tan.

Semasa dalam lawatan kerja keLondon ini juga Dato’ Seri Abdullah mengumumkan cadangan Telekom Malaysia untuk dipecahkan kepada operasi luar negara mudah-alih dan operasi perniagaan selebihnya kepada dua buah syarikat berbeza dan Khazanah Holdings Bhd. merupakan pemegang saham terbesar kedua dua syarikat baru ini. Khazanah Holdings juga merupakan pemegang saham dan pemain utama dalam WPI.

“Bangsa Malaysia” forum at Blog-house dedication

Lawyer cum blogger Haris Ibrahim, through his “People’s Parliament” organized a private forum on “Bangsa Malaysia” at newly furnished and operational Blog-house in Damansara Heights this evening. It was in commemoration of the upcoming 50^th Anniversary of Kemerdekaan and National Alliance of Bloggers (All-Blogs) also launched their clubhouse, “The Blog-house” at the corner of Lorong Setiabistari 2.

Almost fifty people pre-registered online but seventy six turned up. The speakers at the forum were ‘warga-emas’ citizen Bernard Khoo, a retired teacher-turned-trainer and now a socio-political blogger, YB Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim, a well known corporate lawyer and UMNO MP for Kota Bahru, Ahirudin “Rocky” Attan, bloggo-journo All-Blogs protem President and founder, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, another wellknown lawyer and also a blogger, Azmi Shahrom, a hippie UM law academician and Jayanath Appadurai. Haris Ibrahim chaired the session which started a little after five. Coincidentally or by design, majority of the panelists are lawyers.

During Rocky’s session, he asked six volunteers to read from national laureate Dato’ Usman Awang’s unpublished work about “Untuk Malaya Merdeka“, dated 1949. He ‘volunteered’ Girl-Girl and she read the fifth portion of the short story reading specially selected for this bloggosphere historical occasion.

At the end of the forum session few minutes before eight, Haris managed to outline and define the characteristics of “Bangsa Malaysia”, after a lengthy broad definition and some out-of-context comments on the subject matter by the floor.

 

When the forum ended, All Blogs launched the Blog-house. Rocky gave a short speech and several presentation followed there on, which included two songs by Amin Black, the singing blogger, I recited a poem by national laureate Dato’ Usman Awang on Kemerdekaan (flavour of the season) titled “Tanah Air (Menjelang Kemerdekaan)” and Azmi Sharom strung the guitar and sang some Dylan hippie era and his own numbers.

Haris came out to present a political awareness movement called “PELITAR” based on the First Prime Minister Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra’s transpired aspirations and values.

 

Of course there were zestful singing of the national anthem Negaraku (definitely not the Namewee version!) and everyone pledged the Rukunegara in full spirit. Everything ended at eleven.

It was a good evening indeed, to see and meet up with so many bloggers, notable usual suspects and new ones. Girl-Girl has her own view on this evening, something which she enjoyed.

*Bangsa Malaysia poster shot is courtesy of photo-bloggo-journo, TV Smith

 

 

 

Sambutan 50 tahun Kemerdekaan KEPUNDEK dicemari kronisma

Sambutan 50 tahun Kemerdekaan adalah satu musim perayaan yang seharusnya mesti dibanggakan untuk Malaysia dan seluruh rakyatnya. Ini kerana sambutan ini memperingati Malaysia dimerdekakan dari penjajahan British pada 31 Ogos 1957, atas usaha Ketua Menteri Malaya ketika itu, Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra dan para Pejuang Bangsa dan Kemerdekaan meraih kejayaan. Namun begitu, sambutan ini tidak mepunyai erti kepada Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Korperasi (KEPUNDEK) kerana dicemari budaya kronisma.

Baru baru ini, satu arahan telah dikeluarkan oleh Pejabat Menteri KEPUNDEK bertarikh 15 Mei 2007 diberikan keseluruhan kontrak penghiasan dan pengindahan semua bangunan bangunan utama bagi kesemua agensi dibawah KEPUNDEK kepada sebuah syarikat sahaja, iaitu Amar Sinar Sdn. Bhd.

Menurut carian di Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, syarikat Amar Sinar Sdn. Bhd. (No. pendaftaran SSM: 208891-V) ini beralamat di: 40M Kompleks Selayang, Baru 8 ½ Jalan Ipoh-Rawang, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor. Pengarah pengarahnya ialah Dato’ Seri Dr. Yuhyi Azizan, 46 dan Shazlina Hussain, 43. Syarikat ini didaftarkan sebagai pembekal barangan dan komponen elektrikal. Saham dibenarkan ialah 5 juta saham dan 4.8 juta diterbitkan dan dibayar penuh. Pemegang pemegang sahamnya ialah Dato’ Seri Yuhyi Azizan 3 840 000 saham dan Shazlina Hussain 960 000 saham.

Semua agensi agensi dibawah KEPUNDEK dekehendaki menyediakan bajet RM 120 000.00 untuk sesebuah bangunan dalam kontrak penghiasan dan pengindahan sempena Sambutan 50 tahun Kemerdekaan ini. Amat Sinar Sdn. Bhd. baru baru ini juga dapat kontrak membekalkan buku teks untuk Maktab Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) berjumlah RM 3 juta.

Awal Januari lepas, Dato’ Seri Dr. Yuhyi Azizan yang berkongsi dengan Pengarah Urusan Wella, Wong Ting Hock berjaya mendapatkan kontrak untuk melatih pelajar Pusat Giat MARA dalam dandanan rambut. Dr. Yuhyi juga baru baru ini memajukan satu cadangan agar semua pelajar tajaan/pinjaman MARA di insurankan dan syarikat beliau menjadi pengurus eksklusif skima insuran tersebut.

Sungguh tidak wajar semua peluang perniagaan bagi seluruh kementerian seperti KEPUNDEK sebegini dikurnia kepada satu syarikat sahaja. Ini kerana KEPUNDEK diujudkan untuk membangunkan usahawan, terutama Bumiputra dan membanyakan usahawan dengan menagih agihkan kontrak yang ujud untuk seberapa banyak pembekal berbeza sepatutnya sebahagian dari program ‘pembangunan usahawan’ dan membesarkan kommuniti usahawan dikalangan Bumiputra.

Sebelum ini, Menteri KEPUNDEK Dato’ Mohd. Khaled Nordin juga memberi arahan agar kesemua program penyelengaraan bangunan bangunan dibawah MARA dikurniakan secara pukal kepada anak syarikat Johor Corp., TMR Urusharta Sdn. Bhd., walaupun proses tender yang dijalankan belum pun selesai. Ini dipercayai kerana Khaled sedang kuat melobi agar diberikan peluang sebagai Menteri Besar Johor dipusingan akan datang dan sedang berusaha ‘memenangi hati’ orang orang Johor, sebagai langkah awal ‘memasang badan’.

Khaled pernah dikaitkan dengan syarikat pembinaan TRC Bhd. dalam “Shar 101’s scoop on TRC” dan “KING IN WAITING” kerana penglibatan dan hubungan rapat beliau dengan syarikat tersebut sebelum dilantik kedalam pentadbiran Kerajaan. Untuk rekod, TRC Bhd. mendapat kontrak membina MRSM dalam peruntukan RMK 9.

Amat malang apabila seorang Menteri UMNO yang dipertanggung jawabkan membangunan usahawan, terutama dari golongan Bumiputra mengunakan kuasa dan pengaruh dikementerian sendiri untuk menguatkan kedudukan peribadi dan bukan membangunkan orang orang Melayu yang beliau wakili.

Sesungguhnya amalan kronisma ini amat tidak bersesuaian dan bercanggah, malah sebenarnya mencemari semangat Sambutan 50 Kemerdekaan.

Ketua UMNO PJ Selatan gesa “hantu” dihalau dari Pemuda UMNO

Ketua UMNO Petaling Jaya Selatan, Kapten (B) Dato’ Zahar Hashim mengesa agar Ketua Pemuda UMNO Malaysia, YB Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein meneruskan memimpin Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO. Kapten Dato’ Zahar membuat gesaan demikian semasa ucapan beliau dimajlis Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan Pemuda UMNO Petaling Jaya Selatan yang berlangsung sebentar tadi di Sunway Resort Hotel, Petaling Jaya Selatan. Dato’ Hishamuddin adalah tetamu khas yang dijemput untuk merasmikan mesyuarat.

Beliau menyifatkan dalam ucapan bahawa Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO ini adalah umpama sebuah rumah “berhantu” sehingga ketua rumah ini ingin meninggalkan rumahnya. Beliau mengesa agar “hantu” dalam rumah ini dihalau sebaliknya. Jelas, Kapten Dato’ Zahar berkias “hantu” itu ialah orang no. 2 dalam pergerakan itu. Ini mendapat reaksi seronok dari para perwakilan yang hadir.

Dato’ Zahar terus menghuraikan bahawa nenda Dato’ Hishamuddin, Dato’ Onn Jaafar tidak sempat menyiapkan kerja kerjanya membangunkan Bangsa Melayu didalam UMNO. Juga ayahandanya, Dato’ Hussein Onn. Hujah kedua pula sumbangan melalui kedudukan Ketua Pemuda UMNO amatlah besar dan signifikan kepada pembangunan Bangsa Melayu. Hujah ketiga bahawa sekiranya ditakdirkan YAB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Najib Tun Razak mengantikan sebagai Presiden UMNO, tiada sebab kenapa Dato’ Hisham masih lagi sebagai Ketua Pemuda UMNO, yang juga Naib Presiden UMNO de facto tidak boleh dilantik sebagai Timbalan Presiden UMNO kepada Dato’ Seri Najib kerana ini adalah ibarat sejarah berulang semasa pemergian Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman; anak Tun Razak melantik anak Tun Hussein sebagai Timbalan Presiden UMNO.

Dato’ Zahar juga mengingatkan Pemuda UMNO bahawa Kepimpinan Pemuda UMNO perlu orang yang sebati pernah berjuang dengan dan untuk UMNO, sebaik baiknya mereka yang pernah menjadi ahli MKT UMNO. Beliau mengimbau sejarah dimana seorang di”parachut”kan kedudukan Ketua Pemuda UMNO; iaitu bagaimana Anwar Ibrahim pernah ditatang kedalam Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO dan kemudian akhirnya menghancurkan UMNO. Jelas bahawa peristiwa itu perlu diambil iktibar dan tidak dibiarkan sejarah berulang lagi.

Sememangnya gesaan dan peringatan Dato’ Zahar ini wajar diperhalusi dan timbangkan oleh Ketua dan seluruh warga Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO untuk kebaikan pergerakan itu dan UMNO secara amnya.

Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girl-Girl is now a wordpress woman!

My darling Girl-Girl is now a wordpress blogger. She started her wordpress blog yesterday, against my knowledge as she used my notebook as her platform (this notebook was programmed to handle ONLY this wordpress blog!).

Anyhow, I did teach her a thing or two about using wordpress, which include how to attach photos. I also helped her on the fonts, spacing etc. The item and story is all hers.

Anway, her blog is called “yeah, sure, whatever”, www.aishah776.wordpress.com . Good luck with your blog, Sayang!

 

 

This is her with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at his last Hari Raya openhouse at Seri Perdana in 2003