News on Proton-VW partnership hits the town

Malaysia’s Proton rallies on report of deal with Volkswagen

AFP – 2 hours 36 minutes ago

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – – Struggling Malaysian carmarker Proton rallied on the stock exchange Friday following a report it has struck a deal to form a partnership with Germany’s Volkswagen.

Proton shares rose 8 sen or 1.6 percent to 5.00 ringgit (1.52 dollars), defying a downward trend on the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index which slipped 3.36 points or 0.2 percent to 1,386.64.The Edge financial daily cited sources as saying protracted negotiations between the Malaysian government and Volkswagen have been concluded and that a memorandum of intent will be signed soon.

The agreement will set the stage for further due diligence and collaboration between the two parties, likely to be in the area of manufacturing, marketing and distribution, the report said.

The deal is intended to ensure that the foreign partner would be committed to making Proton an internationally competitive carmaker, the sources said.

Among the features of the deal being considered is that the Proton brand should be maintained under the strategic tie-up, the report said.

The Malaysian government’s investment arm, Khazanah, owns 43 percent of Proton.

Proton needs foreign technical expertise to halt a stream of losses and an eroding market share which has been pummelled thanks to a reputation for poor quality and unimaginative models.

The issue of management control is believed to have been a major sticking point in the negotiations with Volkswagen.

SPB YDP Agong denied support for illegal rally

HM SPB YDP Agong Tuanku Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud denied claims that he supported or condoned the “Nov 11 march”, which was deemed illegal assembly in the eyes of the law as it did not get a Police permit, as provided under the Police Act. The Grand Chamberlain of Istana Negara issued an official statement on the matter.

Bernama.com has the story:

November 16, 2007 14:12 PM

Tuanku Mizan Regrets Claims He Supports Illegal Rally     KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) — Yang di- Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has expressed regret over claims that he and the Palace approved and suppported Saturday’s illegal rally in the city. In a statement issued here today by the Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja of Istana Negara, Datuk Wan Mohd Safiain Wan Hasan, the King also regretted the gathering which was organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) and supported by the opposition parties. Tuanku Mizan stressed that he and Istana Negara had at no time approved or given any support, directly or indirectly, to any quarters that organised or was involved in the illegal assembly or any other activities that contravened the law. On Saturday, Bersih, which comprises several non-governmental organisations, as well as some opposition parties had gathered their supporters at various spots in the city, including around Masjid Jamek, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and the National Mosque, before marching to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum to Tuanku Mizan. The following Monday, PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar said Bersih had decided to submit the memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after the ruler himself approved of it, and that the presence of Bersih at Istana Negara was to hand over the memorandum to the King’s representative. In the statement, Tuanku Mizan said as the head of state, he was responsible in ensuring that the country’s administration based on the constitutional monarchy system as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, was respected and adhered to by all. He hoped that the people would act in accordance with the law and not be involved in any illegal action or activity. “Every Malaysian citizen is responsible for maintaining public order for continued peace and stability in the country,” Tuanku Mizan said. The King also hoped that the people would together work at preserving unity and harmony to ensure that the country would continue to develop, prosper and be respected. Meanwhile, Wan Mohd Safiain said that Istana Negara, for the first time, summoned the media to publicise the content of the statement as the King viewed the matter seriously. “Normally, Istana Negara would issue a statement via facsimile but this time, we had to call the media here to ensure that the King’s message reaches the people,” he added. — BERNAMA

This basically sealed the fate of the BERSIH initiative to complain and drag the Monarchs, into politics. The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia clearly stated that HM SPB YDP Agong and HRH Rulers have absolute power only on two issues; anything with regards to the Malay custom, culture and heritage and Islam. Everything else, HM SPB YDP Agong and HRH Rulers, will have to listen to the Executive, which is backed by the democratically elected Parliament and State Assemblies, inline with the Westminster style Constitutional Monarchy adopted and being practiced.

During the negotiations for independence in 1956, then Chief Minister and UMNO President, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, who is also the Chairman of Alliance Party, which won the 1955 first General Elections near absolute mandate, managed to convince the Malay Rulers, through their representative for the independence mission, Dato’ Paglima Bukit Gantang Hj Abdul Wahab bin Toh Muda Abdul Aziz and Dato’ Nik Ahmad Kamil, for the Rulers to absolve their right into politics and day-to-day management of the country and instead adopt the Westminster style Constitutional Monarchy.

This is the AP report on the same subject matter which Bernama reported:

Malaysian king disapproves rally for electoral reforms in major blow to opposition

By EILEEN NG,Associated Press Writer AP – Saturday, November 17

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia’s king expressed regret Friday over a recent opposition-backed rally for electoral reforms, dealing a blow to activists who had hoped that royal intervention would boost their cause.

In a rare media statement, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin also dismissed claims that he had approved and supported the Nov. 10 rally, the biggest political demonstration in the country in nearly a decade.

Organizers said 30,000 people took part in the demonstration, which was banned by the government. Police put the number at 4,000, and said nearly 250 people were briefly detained.

The king said he “truly regretted the illegal gathering.”

The constitutional monarch almost never comments on political developments in the country. The break in protocol appeared to be an attempt by the royal palace to send a signal to the government that he remains apolitical amid concerns he had tacitly encouraged opposition activists by allowing a palace official to accept their memorandum after the rally.

Mizan stressed that he and the National Palace “never at any time approved or gave any support, directly or indirectly, to any parties that organized or were involved in the illegal gathering or any other activities that violate the law.”

The demonstrators, prevented from gathering at a downtown park, had marched to the royal palace where they handed over the memorandum addressed to the king.

The king, who largely has a ceremonial role with no executive power, remains a highly revered figure in Malaysia, especially by the majority Malay Muslims. Many even feel _ possibly in misplaced faith _ that the monarch is influential enough to stop the state from following undemocratic practices.

Sivarasa Rasiah, one of the protest organizers, said the campaign for election reforms will go on, with general elections widely expected next year.

“We respect the king’s views but we continue to hope that the royalty will play a role to help advance the course of democracy and ensure elections are clean and fair,” he told The Associated Press.

The king urged the people to stay away from illegal gatherings, and to preserve unity and harmony. “Every Malaysian citizen is responsible for maintaining public order for continued peace and stability in the country,” he said in the statement.

The demonstrators were demanding the removal of phantom voters from electoral rolls, a crackdown on government workers using absentee ballots, access to state-controlled media by all political parties, and an end to vote-buying and other irregularities.

The government denies election irregularities, saying electoral rolls have been cleaned up and the polling system is transparent.

*********************

In the statement, HM SPB YDP Agong urged Malaysians to respect the law and abide by it, to maintain harmony and stability. It seems that the Oppositions and BERSIH now have ran out of this avenue (using the Palace as a “branding excuse”, for more support) to continue further to pressure for reforms, despite SPR has announced that changes have already been made.

At he November 10 march, the Opposition leaders took the primary position and ‘centre stage’ as the “assumed leaders”, ‘representing the rakyat’ during the rally, which many participants and active campaigners vehemently defended as a “march of civil society citizens”.

The outcome of this statement has suddenly quashed so much rumours circulating amongst the participants and supporters of BERSIH’s November 10 march that HM SPB YDP Agong instructed the Army “provide safe passage for the marchers”, especially when the Police moved onto the rowdy crowd in the Masjid Jame’s area. Irresponsible rumours like this, implicitly trying to ‘drag’ Monarchs into politics and pit the confidence and faith of the rakyat against the Police, coupled with an untrue millitary loyalty and objective, as per consented by the Palace.

This statement also is expected to have given the Police Force more confidence and ‘endorsement’ to take stern action against future illegal assemblies, marches and demonstration, which include Opposition staged ones but guised under NGO, as part of their responsibility to maintain public order and law.

*Updated as of Saturday, 17 November 2007

On another note, PAS made a statement refuting that they are the organiser of the November 10 March and the earlier report that the approval of HM SPB YDP Agong was never sought.

This is what has been reported by The Star:

Saturday November 17, 2007

PAS: Rally organisers did not seek King’s okay

KOTA BARU: PAS, which was involved in last Saturday’s illegal gathering in Kuala Lumpur, said the organisers of the rally had never sought the approval of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar said the party wanted to clear any misconception which may have emerged over the issue.

The MP for Tumpat also said the gathering was not organised by PAS but by Bersih.

“Bersih is responsible for the details of the gathering, the Opposition just supported it. The Opposition just handed over a memorandum,” he said when contacted.

Kamaruddin said he made a statement earlier this week following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s remarks that the Opposition was dragging the royalty into the entire issue.

“I responded through our Harakahdaily that we were asked by palace officials earlier to provide a list of names for those who would be handing over the memorandum.

“At no time was the King’s consent sought or given,” he said.

 

Lord Rees Mogg: Let the cat out of the bag

Lord William Rees Mogg

Lets The Cat Out of The Bag

by Matthias Chang

Exposé of FASB Accounting Fraud In 10^th Red Alert

Corroborated By Former Adviser to Margaret Thatcher

Lord Rees Mogg

For those who have not heard of Lord William Rees Mogg, please study his background. He was a former Adviser to the Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.  He is a leading financial consultant whose advice is sought by heads of states and governments. He was also the former Editor-in-Chief of the Times of London. He wrote the best seller, The Great Reckoning. He is the chairman of the Zurich Club.

 

So we should listen to him!

 

Recap – the 10^th Red Alert

Another Simple Truth

There are only two types of assets – genuine or fraudulent. Plain and simple!

 

We can say without fear of contradiction, that all the “Paper Assets” that have been traded off-balance sheet are fraudulent and worthless. Whatever “On the Books assets” owned by banks valued in the billions are insufficient to meet the liabilities of the aforesaid-mentioned banks and other financial institutions measured in the US$ Trillions.

 

AND THIS IS THE UGLY TRUTH.

 

That is why I am saying that the FASB (Federal Accounting Standards Board) new accounting rulings that “assets” be categorised into three levels, namely: Level 1 – assets that can be priced by the market, Level 2 – assets not priced by the market, but its value can somewhat be ascertained and Level 3 – Toilet Paper, assets marked to model or myth, is a scam.

 

Any honest first year accounting student can see through the scam, because these new “rules” allow the banks and financial institutions to subjectively allocate their toilet paper to whatever “Levels of Valuation”.

 

The distinction between Level 2 and Level 3 is so grey that it matters not, BUT TO THE COLLAPSING BANKS, IT AFFORDS THEM A TIME LAG TO HIDE A CHUNK OF THE TOILET PAPERS UNDER LEVEL 2 AND ONLY DECLARE THE VERY OBVIOUS FRAUDS TO LEVEL 3. It is now impossible to hide the plain and obvious fraudulent transactions. Therefore these papers will be allocated to Level 3 and written off. Big deal! WHEN THE BANKS HAVE DONE THIS, THEY CAN THEN DUMP OR UNLOAD LEVEL 2 “ASSETS” to other SUCKERS. Unlike Level 3 “assets” Level 2 “assets” are worth maybe 10 to 20 cents to the dollar. It is still fraudulent (as they have been rated AAA) but at least they have some residual value – chicken feed.

 

Back to Lord William Rees Mogg

In a recent article, published by the Times of London, “Why FAS 157 strikes dread into bankers” Lord Rees Mogg wrote:

 

1. The risk of a worldwide banking crisis – one that is particularly damaging to mortgages, private equity, hedge funds and the banks themselves – is higher than it was a month ago, and the storm is rising.

 

2. Yet this, as important as it could be, is not the biggest threat. Few non-bankers have heard of FAS 157 and 159, yet these are the regulations that will set the terms on which the banks will value their assets. The trouble with FAS 157 and 159 is that they are perfectly reasonable regulations in themselves which could have disastrous, though unintended, consequences.

 

3. The new rules divide bank assets into three “levels”, according to the freedom with with which they can be bought or sold. Level-one assets, which are easy to value or trade, have to have quoted prices in active markets such as US government bonds or gold bullion. Level two is an intermediate stage; these assets are not as fully marketable as level one, but still sufficiently tradeable to have a definite value.

4. Level-three assets – usually artificial financial instruments – are the problem. They do not have quoted prices in active markets. They have to be valued by reference to the bank’s own models. According to the analyst Martin Hutchinson, who had analysed some of the US banks, the holdings of level-three assets are substantial. Lehman has $22 billion; Bear Stearns $20 billion; JP Morgan Chase $60 billion. Even these figures may be understated, since the banks have themselves decided whether assets belong to level three or the more acceptable level two, and they have an interest in placing as little in level three and as much in level two as they reasonably can.

 

5. It is far too late to cancel FAS 157 and 159, even if that were desirable. The concept of different levels for bank assets has been introduced to the banking system and the defaults on sub-prime mortgages have lowered the acceptability of all level-three assets. No one knows what they are worth and hardly anyone wants them.

6. Commercial banking, with its large customer base, is in better shape than investment banking, but will also be affected. FAS 157 may prove an historic regulatory blunder.

 

The Corroboration

The underlined words in paragraph 4 above corroborates in material particular, my contention that assets declared in Level 3 will be understated, “since the banks have themselves decided whether assets belong to level three or the more acceptable level two, and they have an interest in placing as little in level three and as much in level two as they reasonably can.”

Although, Lord Rees Mogg appreciates the potential of mischief and abuse by the Banks in subjectively allocating what toxic waste should be assigned to which FAS “Levels of Assets”, thereby covering up the true extent of the mess, he would rather have the said regulations cancelled. 

This is evident from the following:

Let me start by drawing your attention to paragraph 6 above, specifically the underlined words. If the regulation is a “historic blunder” it implies that if the said regulation was not in existence, there would not be a need for the banks to make such disclosures.

In paragraph 5, Lord Rees Mogg says, “It is far too late to cancel FAS 157 and 159”.

The Implications

The problem is that the Fed and other Central Banks must come up with a solution to the marketing of the toilet papers which the investors has refused to accept since June 2007.

Using FAS 157 and 159 was considered a short term solution (to instil some level of confidence that the losses are not that bad, as it is only in the US$ billions and not in trillions) but as I had pointed out, it was not a solution but a clever attempt at covering up and to stop the fear and panic that has spread throughout the global markets.

But if we were to accept Lord Rees Mogg’s admission that in actual fact FAS 157 and 159 is a historic blunder, and to let the state of affairs to continue, then we are back at square one, as the banks will not be able to come up with even some semblance of valuation of the “assets” that are now being rejected by the market. No proper valuation or rating = no buyers or investors for these kind of securities.

Synthetic Currency

It is only a matter of time that this scam would be exposed for what it is and that Banks will have to conjure more confidence tricks to cover up their fraud.

Lo and behold, Barclays Capital has now proposed a new synthetic currency, the European Borrowing Unit – EBU (a basket of short and long positions in 10 currencies versus the Euro). The EBU carries 0% interest rate.

This scheme is introduced to provide liquidity to the present credit crisis as a result of the abovementioned toxic waste frauds.

These guys at Barclays Capital must be nuts to think that they can get away with it. Is this not another version of the Yen Carry Trade, which at this very moment is unravelling????

Andy Kauffmann, co-head of FX Structuring at Barclays Capital expects the first EBU denominated borrowings to hit the market in a matter of weeks.

If anyone still needs evidence that the Barclays Banking Group is in deep shit, this is it!!!!

 

More Lies from the Fed

I am indebted to Mr John Lee of www.goldmau.com for highlighting Bernanke’s stupid lie that the “total losses from subprime mortgages would be about US$150 billion…”

As I have stated in the 10^th Red Alert, these crooks are hell bent to cover up the losses within the range of US$ billions and confine the losses to strictly Level 3 assets. Once that exercise is completed, the Fed and all the other key Central Banks can then declare that the worse is over and usher a new Bull Market in the first quarter of 2008.

Day dreaming!!!!!!!!

Fortunately we have people like John Lee who can smell these rotten rats miles away. This is what he wrote and I quote him in extenso:

Given that the Fed and European Central Bank have already injected well over US $150 billion since August, Bernanke obviously lied about his ballpark figure. But just how big is this subprime mess?

To measure subprime losses, we have to first find out the size of the subprime market. Fed data pegs the total US residential value at US $20 trillion and the US residential mortgage market at US $10 trillion. This number is substantial, as it eclipses the US treasury market of US $9 trillion.

Of the US $10 trillion mortgage market, GSE (Government Sponsored Enterprises) hold about $1.5 trillion, leaving $8.5 trillion in private hands. Within this US $8.5 trillion, we have various grades and categories, with grades ranging from AAA, AA, Alt-A, BBB, and categories such as the traditional 30 year fixed, and non-traditional ARM, ARM with teaser rate, interest only, and negative-amortization.

We follow the ABX index published by Markit.com, which is the basket of derivatives linked to subprime securities. As financial tools go, this index is far from perfect, since it is barely two years old, and tends to be thinly traded.

But right now it has the unfortunate distinction of being the only tool easily available to measure sentiment in the opaque subprime securities world. And in the past couple of weeks, the message emerging from this measure has started to look utterly dire, as it shows subprime mortgages are changing hands at 25 cents on the dollar.

Please refer to Mark It ABX indeces

This 80% haircut applies to potentially $2 trillion worth of mortgages if investors of those mortgages were to exit today. The loss is not $150 billion, but more like $1.6 trillion.

John Lee also pointed out that since September 2007, the Value of AAA mortgages (the highest rated) has begun to crater, and now trades at a stunning 70m cents on the dollar. This means if all AAA and Alt-A mortgage portfolios were to be marked down to market, to reflect their correct values, the loss would amount to another US$ 2 trillion!!!! 

There is therefore a gigantic loss of at least UD$3.6 trillion.

What is the future scenario?

The Financial Times on 1^st November 2007 wrote:

…the experience of living through the Enron scandals earlier this decade means that the audit industry is now terrified that it could face lawsuits if it is perceived to be too lax towards its clients. So some now appear to be demanding that their banking clients reprice their mortgage assets according to the only visible market tool – namely the ABX. It is thus little wonder that some banks have suddenly been forced to increase their writedowns in recent weeks. Indeed, I would wager that the pernicious combination of ABX and the “Enron factor” is a key reason for the recent shocks emanating from Merrill Lynch.

However, the rub is that while auditors at some Wall Street banks are becoming quasi-evangelical about the need to reprice subprime assets, there are still other, vast swathes of the financial system which have not been touched by the full blast of transparency yet. Moreover, many financiers outside the world of Wall Street banks remain very wary of rewriting their mortgage assets to current ABX price levels, due to a lingering hope that the recent ABX slump will remain temporary.

Conclusions

John Lee shares my optimism for Gold. He said, “To us gold’s run has just gotten started, the Emperor is now naked for all to see.”

 

Matthias Chang

Kuala Lumpur

15^th November 2007

 

Malaysians urged to be a more caring society

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urged employees to open up and allow more physically-challenged and disabled people within the society to be given more opportunity for making a living, including employment. He said this at the Prime Minister’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards presentation.

The Star has the story:

Thursday November 15, 2007

Employ the disabled, says PM

By LOONG MENG YEE

PM urges for a more caring society

KUALA LUMPUR: She is a capable woman and presentable enough to be a newscaster – but she could not get long-term employment because she is wheelchair-bound.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, stressing that he wants Malaysia to have a culture of caring where those who need help know they will receive help, said it reminded him of the woman.

“She looks good and capable. I told her she could be in front of the camera or become a compere.

“But she told me, she had yet to find a job,” Abdullah said, not naming the woman.

Best of the lot: Abdullah presenting the overall award to DiGi chief executive officer Morten Lundal at the Prime Minister’s CSR Awards presentation in Kuala Lumpur yesterday while Shahrizat looks on.

“No one wanted to employ her because she sat in a wheelchair,” he told corporate bigwigs at the Prime Minister’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards presentation here yesterday.

Representatives from Petronas, Maybank, BP Malaysia, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Procter and Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd were among those who attended the event.

“Companies must give attention and be ready to employ disabled people who are able to perform the tasks given and do something for the company,” he said.

Abdullah said jobs should be offered to suitable candidates even if they were handicapped, adding that this is what folks in a caring society would do.

The Prime Minister said a progressive Malaysia meant that the people would enjoy quality of life.

More important, he added, the disadvantaged – such as the sickly, the poor and the handicapped – are assured they also have a place in this country and would be well cared for.

He said the nation and its people had demonstrated its caring nature in many ways and it was a contribution he hoped would continue to flourish.

The awards are given in recognition of companies that carry out strong community and social responsibility projects.

There were 316 entries from 161 companies for the award. They competed in seven categories, including education, environment and workplace practices.

DiGi Telecommunications was named the overall winner.

It also grabbed first places in two other categories – best workplace practice and protecting culture and heritage.

Present at the event were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi.

Malaysians generally do not provide enough for the physically-challenged disabled members of the society, even them being paying customers. AirAsia, Malaysia’s extensive domestic airline operator, only until recently made provisions for the wheel-chair-bound-disabled segment of passengers, after so much complaints from the walking impaired members on the society and the mainstream media highlighted their plight.

The Star has a report on this, dated 17 July 2007:

Monday July 16, 2007

Protest held against AirAsia

SEPANG: More than 20 disabled and wheelchair-bound members of the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (BEAT) held a protest against AirAsia for its refusal to take passengers who were completely immobile.

The protesters, headed by the group’s co-ordinator Christine Lee, and assistant co-ordinators V. Murugeswaran and Peter Tan, demanded AirAsia reviews its policies and takes reasonable steps to ensure facilities and services provided at the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) are non-discriminatory.

Include us: The Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group holding the protest at LCCT yesterday. It wants AirAsia to review its policies and ensure it is disabled-friendly.

Lee said that unlike KLIA, the LCCT does not incorporate aerobridges, which allow easier access for passengers to board planes.

“Passengers are instead required to walk up a flight of boarding stairs – a daunting task when one is disabled from the waist down,” she said.

Lee said that when booking AirAsia tickets online, a separate icon would appear on the website asking if the ticket purchaser would require “special assistance”.

“If you clicked ‘yes’, then you won’t be able to proceed with your booking.

“That’s when I called AirAsia’s call centre, and was told that they were unable to accept passengers who are completely immobile.

“This is even stipulated in AirAsia’s terms and conditions!” she added.

Lee also said that AirAsia charged RM12 for renting out a wheelchair, which a passenger could use to go from the ticketing counter to the departure hall.

“One would then have to go from the check-in gate to the aircraft without the wheelchair, which is quite absurd.”

Murugeswaran pointed out that AirAsia also stipulated that the carriage of persons with limited mobility was subject to whether they were able to climb the boarding stairs unaided or aided.

“Passengers who are unable to board the stairs without any assistance would be requested to travel with a caregiver or companion.

“This is blatantly discriminating, unfair and unacceptable. We want to be independent and not have to rely on other people to chaperon us when travelling,” he said, adding that nothing has been done despite BEAT holding a dialogue with AirAsia on the matter more than two years ago.

During the protest, BEAT also urged Malaysia Airports Bhd to ensure all new and old airports in the country are equipped with facilities to improve accessibility to disabled passengers.

When contacted, an AirAsia spokesman said they were unable to comment on the matter at present.

This was BEAT’s statement on the same issue. Read also the wheel-bound blogger Kerp, for his personal feeling on the subject matter.

Generally, limited opportunities are made available for the physically challenged Malaysians to get seats in institute of higher learning, employment opportunities and equality at work places and grants, business loans and seed capital for them as a start up to go into entrepreneurial ventures. Even building owners and builders are not sensitive enough to their needs and limitations when a facility is erected. The wheel-bound-physically-challenged members of society are still not provided for in feeder buses and LRTs/commuter trains within the Klang Valley, the most apt demography amongst Malaysians.

 

A research on damaging double standard prevents Malaysia’s disabled from living normal lives has been found. One academician, Lynne Norazit, presented her paper on “Double standards for Malaysia’s disabled” at the University of Melbourne. in 2005.

However, one online employment portal is making provisions to facilitate the needs of the disabled seeking position in the Malaysian job market. The Johor State government has already made provisions of therapy for 1,800 disabled children in the state by 58 medical practitioners. Therapies to help the disabled such as horse back riding has also been introduced by an NGO.

Digi Bhd., the winner of this year’s CSR awards organised a conference to raise the awareness on the issues of the disabled recently.

	Open Mind, Open Hearts Conference Digi Telecommunication Sdn. Bhd. is organising a conference on “Open Mind, Open Hearts”, to raise the awareness on issues faced by the disabled in Malaysia. 01 November 2007

 

This is MDEC’s effort to create a directory for the disabled and elderly Malaysians to seek on what’s available which are listed online. The Chartered Association of Certified Acocuntants (ACCA) Malaysian Chapter listed some of the legislation governing the well being of the disabled persons, as outlined in its Guidebook on Personal Finance.

Having said all that, Malaysians, be it the authorities, corporate bodies, business entities, professional bodies, NGOs and communities, should do more for the disabled and physically challenged members amongst ourselves as a society, for a more caring Malaysia.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad back at work

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who had his second multiple by-pass exactly 10 weeks ago today, was back at work in Perdana Leadership Foundation, Putrajaya. It was reported first by Dato’ A Kadir Jasin and later, Ahirudin “Rocky” Attan.

He is still under therapy and cardiovascular exercise regime, to strengthen the heart, rebuild muscles and provide a lot of oxygen to the body. Daily, he will do his 2 km walk. He is also able to have anything he desires at the moment, to build his strength and improving the recovery process. After the second month, he will be subjected to a strict dietary regime and control.

He has been invited to attend a lot of functions of late, including the recently concluded 58th UMNO General Assembly but have to be turned down. So many people requested to come and visit, however he was still unable to fulfill these requests, for medical reasons.

We hope Tun Dr. Mahathir will able to sustain this exercise of coming back to work. He is expected to finish his much awaited memoirs.

10 November march was an Opposition’s staged circus?

BERSIH, an NGO comprises of 66 different organisations organised the “Yellow Shirt March” 3pm on Saturday 10 November 2007’s call for the grace of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong’s ‘intervention’ into the ‘system’ and provide a “free and fair elections”.

It was much talked about event where so many ‘underground’ work were carried out to ensure that enough people show for the “Yellow Shirt March”, originally planned from Dataran Merdeka to Istana Negara. In my conversation with a former PAS journalist, this march was originally planned as a PAS lead demonstration. Somewhere along the lines, it was ‘hijacked’ and PAS leaders ‘hand it over’ to Anwar Ibrahim and some PKR leaders, with the dismay of upcoming PAS leaders such as Mahfudz Omar, Salahuddin Ayub and Mat Sabu.

So the planning went into fifth gear. The VK Lingam scandal, which was staged into the public attention by Anwar Ibrahim and PKR, was conveniently and totally capitalised by Bar Council at the 26 September “Walk For Justice” in Putrajaya, to trump up the ‘precursor’ event preceeding the 10 November march.

However, in the haste of the timing and execution, the 26 September “walk” had major flaws:

1. Only less than 6% of Bar Council members participated in a Bar Council’s own organised protest, even though the call was for “Judiciary reforms” and senior and respectable legal practicioners and names in the legal profession such as Dato’ Muhammad Shafiee Abdullah, Hj. Sulaiman Abdullah, Zainur Zakaria, Christopher Fernando, Raja Aziz Adruce, Pawancheek Merican etc., were absent

2. The Malays’ participation in the “walk” was so low; not reflective of the membership composition and naturally, not reflective of the demography of the vox populi.

Thus, this time BERSIH was much ready and had better plans to execute. The role of political parties are so clear in this “Yellow Shirt March”. Suddenly, PAS geared their machineries all over the country, especially from Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah to ensure that there would be full force show of strength and awe, on Dataran Merdeka that Saturday afternoon. Buses were chartered. T shirts were printed. High end base ball caps with the Royal Emblem were worn. It was very clear that a lot of effort was put into bringing people into the heart of Kuala Lumpur, heritage, pride and sovereignty.

The handiwork of the Oppositions are so bloody clear. BERSIH 10 November “Yellow Shirt March” from Dataran Merdeka to Istana Negara is a political event masquarading as the ‘rakyats’ themselves wanted change. At the end of the day, when the marchers reached the Istana Negara gates, Hj Hadi Awang, YB Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail, YB Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng, ALL Oppositions leaders walked in to meet up with the Private Secretary of His Majesty, to hand over the memorandum prepared. No political-free community leaders instead were doing it.

November 11, 2007 14:48 PM

Opposition Trying To Drag Royal Institution Into Politics – PM     PENAMPANG, Nov 11 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi described the action by the opposition in handing over a memorandum on the country’s election process to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as an attempt to drag the royal institution into politics. “However, I believe the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is wise and will not be taken in by their tactics,” he told reporters after opening Parti Bersatu Sabah’s 22nd Congress here today. Abdullah said this in reaction to yesterday’s street demonstration organised by the Coalition for Clean and fair Elections (Bersih) in Kuala Lumpur during which 10 of its representatives, including Opposition chief Lim Kit Siang, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang handed the memorandum to an official at Istana Negara. On the illegal gathering, Abdullah said that he was leaving the matter to the police to handle. “The police handled the demonstration very well and I’m very happy. We don’t like things like this to happen. It is a burden to the police, in order to control the situation, they have set up road blocks which inconveniences to the public. “The police discharged their responsibilities. This illegal gathering is not helping the people … many are angry,” he added. In SHAH ALAM, Selangor Menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Khir Toyo described the demonstration as the work of “desperados”. “However, it will be counter-productive for them as they have only caused difficulties for the people, who only want to see peace in the country. “It (demonstration) has also smeared the image of Islam as the religion prohibits such an action,” he told reporters here today. He had earlier opened a treasure-hunt programme organised by the Selangor’s Permanent Committee for Women’s affairs. — BERNAMA

The recipe of ‘street-mob-politics’ is so apparent whenever someone by the name of Anwar Ibrahim is within the vicinity of any ‘political event’, trying very hard for it to be disguised as a “pseudo-peoples’-call”, ever since 1974, again seen on 3 September 1998 (after being sacked from the Government and UMNO) and now here. Over and over, testing the patience and professionalism of the authorities, especially the Police, making a mockery of any legal avenues and process and of course, challenge the stability amongst the poeple with his well orchestrated and presented rhetorics and convenient twisting of facts. Once, in his abuse of power trial, he actually claimed to the court that he was systematically being poisoned by arsenic, something the Director of HUKM Dato’ Dr. Khalid Kadir, undoubtedly the best mind in endocrinology in the country and seven other leading consultants were unable to find.

I guess the organisers and participants of this march badly missed their “Reformasi” days, which had been defunct, after PKR lost terribly in the March 2004 General Elections and moreover, after Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted by the Federal Court for the sodomy conviction. So this specifically and carefully planned organised event was ‘reunion’ to many “Reformasi” addicts. What is sad is that, 40,000 or so people, in far away places such as Kelantan and Kedah, come and get played into the game of a convicted abuse-of-power criminal!

*Photos are courtesy of photo-journo-blogger Jinggo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KD Sri Perak will be launched tomorrow

Tomorrow, HRH Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah, the Paduka Seri Sultan of Perak will launch TLDM’s Kedah Class New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV) KD Sri Perak at TLDM Naval Base in Lumut Perak. HRH Tuanku Bainun Mohd. Ali, the Sultanah of Perak will grace the ship with the concotion of ‘air yassin’ and there will be ‘adat menepung tawar’.

The Kedah Class F 173 KD Sri Perak is a 1650 ton Meko 100 Class NGPV, third in its class after KD Sri Kedah and KD Sri Pahang. It is fitted with a rapid fire 76mm Oto Melara main gun and 30mm Oerlikon secondary gun. It is also provided-for-but-not-with an anti ship and aircraft missile system, for future operations. The vessel is manned by 78 crew and has the capacity to carry a helicopter. This is the first vessel in this class which was completely built by PSC Naval Dockyards Sdn. Bhd., now under LTAT. The first two were built by Blohm & Voss and HDW in Germany, and then completed at the PSC Naval Dockyards facility in Lumut, Perak. The first one was F 171 KD Sri Kedah, which was launched in Lumut 21 March 2003. F 172 KD Sri Pahang was launched 2 October 2003.

This the second ship in TLDM named as “KD Sri Perak“. The first one was a Vosper Class PC, which sank of the coast of Pulau Tambilan in the South China Sea on 8 January 1984 in rough weather. She was under the command of Lt. M. Chandran. Three crew are still missing till present day. The 26 remaining crew were drifting in rough seas for 72 hours before they were rescued. She was on a mission from Woodlands Naval Base to Labuan along with KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Terengganu.

One of the surviving crew of the original KD Sri Perak is Kept. Abd. Rahman Ayob, TLDM. He is now the Director or Submarine Nucleus Project Team in TLDM HQ, MINDEF and would be attending the launching tomorrow. The Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Defense Minister and Chief of Navy Laksmana Tan Sri Ramlan Mohamed Ali, TLDM, would also be present at the ceremony.

Perhimpunan BERSIH 10 Nov diulas dalam Ucapan Pengulungan Kepimpinan UMNO PAU 2007

Petang hari terakhir Perhimpuan Agung UMNO merupakan masa dimana Kepimpinan UMNO mengulung perbahasan persidangan. Inilah peluang beberapa Ahli MT UMNO yang menduduki Kementerian tertentu menjawab dan menjelaskan isu isu tertentu yang dibangkitkan pembahas dan pembentang usul disepanjang persidangan.

Kemudian semua Ketua Ketua Sayap, Naib Naib Presiden, Timbalan Presiden dan akhir sekali, Presiden UMNO pula menjawab, mengulas dan menjelaskan diatas isu isu penting yang berbangkit disepanjang persidangan.

Timbalan Presiden UMNO Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak mengulangi gesaan beliau, yang sebelum ini diluahkan semasa Seminar Agenda Melayu III 4 November 2007, iaitu pentingnya untuk menentukan Negara mencapai tahap negara maju dan Bangsa Melayu sebagai bangsa yang maju, menjelang tahun 2020, sejajarnya dengan agenda Wawasan 2020, yang dilancarkan PM Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad pada 1991 dan keutamaan menentukan ‘pendidikan peringkat awal’. Bahan ini dijelaskan terperinci lagi dalam Ucapandasar Timbalan Presiden UMNO pada Perasmian Serentak Mesyuarat Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri UMNO pada 5 November 2007 yang berjudul “Mengangkasakan Tamadun Melayu”.

Beliau mengupas konteks yang cuba disampaikan dari setiap komponen utama ucapan tersebut. Sebenarnya, ucapandasar ini lebih mudah diperjelaskan dalam Bahasa Inggeris, iaitu “Reaching for the stars“. 

Presiden UMNO PM Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi memuji kualiti perbahasan dan pembentangan usul yang makin meningkat dalam persidangkan kali ini. Beliau juga menekankan ‘ketagihan sistem Malaysia keatas pekerja asing’, yang sebenarnya akan memudaratkan sistem sosial dan ekonomi Negara. Penerangan dan penjelasan terperinci Timbalan Presiden UMNO mengenai subsidi RM 80 billion yang terpaksa Kerajaan keluarkan untuk mengekalkan harga bahan bakar petroleum rendah dan subsidi lain seperti bahan makanan asas, baja dan lain lain keperluan utama juga dibangkitkan oleh PM Abdullah petang ini. Beliau merumuskan bahawa subsidi akan diteruskan kepada golongan yang memerlukanya sahaja.

Setelah mengulas semula cadangan pembangunan korridor ekonomi yang dicadangkan, maka beliau memberi respons kepada isu yang dibangkitkan Perwakilan iaitu sebuah korridor ekonomi dibangunkan dikawasan Tengah, untuk kepentingan strategik Negeri Sembilan dan Melaka. PM Abdullah menjelaskan bahawa kedua kedua negeri ini setakat ini sudah berjaya dibangunkan dan mendapat kebaikan limpahan pembangunan pesat Lembah Klang dan Selangor. Namun begitu, mesej beliau kepada MB Negeri Sembilan dan KM Melaka, “Mat Hassan and Ali Rustam, don’t worry, I will not forget you“.

PM Abdullah juga menekankan pentingnya keamanan dan keharmonian Negara dan masyarakat dikekalkan, untuk semua. Beliau mengesa bahawa semua pihak agar memahami sifat dan cara Melayu dan tidak mempersoalkan perkara yang telah dipersetujui dan mereka yang cuba mencabar semua ini, sekarang, dengan pelbagai agenda tersirat.

“Saya pantang dicabar!” amaran keras PM Abdullah yang mendapat sambutan hangat para Perwakilan UMNO. “Ini bukan cara kita, bukan cara Malaysia, bukan cara amalan kita membuat demonstrasi jalanan”, tambahnya lagi, selepas mengingatkan kesan peristiwa buruk perarakan haram tanpa permit yang pernah berlaku sebelum ini dalam Negara.

Beliau membuat amaran ini kerana timbul usaha pihak BERSIH, yang bercadang untuk menganjurkan perarakan aman dari Dataran Merdeka ke Istana Negara 10 November 2007, yang telah gagal mendapat permit Polis. Polis telah mengeluarkan amaran agar perarakan ini tidak diadakan:

08 November, 2007 19:38 PM

Jangan Sertai Perhimpunan Haram Sabtu Ini, Kata Ketua Polis Negara

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Nov (Bernama) — Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan mengingatkan orang ramai supaya tidak menyertai perhimpunan yang dirancang di Dataran Merdeka di sini Sabtu ini kerana ia mampu mencetuskan kekecohan yang boleh menjejaskan ketenteraman awam. Katanya memandangkan perhimpunan yang bakal diadakan tidak mendapat permit, polis tidak akan teragak-agak untuk bertindak tegas bagi menghalang perhimpunan itu daripada diadakan. Musa berkata walaupun ada yang mendakwa ia perhimpunan aman, namun polis meragui tujuan sebenar perhimpunan itu diadakan. “Ini kerana mereka (penganjur) didapati membuat hebahan yang begitu meluas mengenainya, sama ada melalui majlis-majlis ceramah, forum, penyebaran SMS, penggunaan laman-laman web, pengedaran “handbill” dan sebagainya sejak beberapa bulan kebelakangan ini,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini. Pada masa yang sama, kata beliau, mereka juga mengeluarkan panduan-panduan kepada orang ramai tentang cara-cara untuk menghadapi pihak polis melalui laman-laman web. Kumpulan yang menamakan diri mereka “Bersih” merancang mengadakan perhimpunan disertai 100,000 orang pada pukul 3 petang Sabtu ini sebelum berarak beramai-ramai ke Istana Negara. Musa juga berkata tindakan penganjur berkeras untuk meneruskan hasrat mengadakan perhimpunan dan perarakan yang besar boleh menimbulkan kesesakan lalu lintas yang teruk, bukan sahaja di kawasan Dataran Merdeka malah seluruh ibu kota. “Perhimpunan serta perarakan yang disertai oleh orang ramai secara besar-besaran juga tidak mustahil akan berlaku kekecohan sehingga menjejaskan ketenteraman awam. “Polis khuatir ada pihak-pihak dan anasir-anasir yang tidak diingini dan tidak bertanggungjawab akan mengambil kesempatan untuk mencetuskan provokasi bagi mewujudkan suasana tidak terkawal sehingga akhirnya bertukar menjadi demonstrasi jalanan dan rusuhan ganas,” katanya. Katanya keadaan tersebut akan menimbulkan ketakutan kepada orang ramai dan boleh menjejaskan aktiviti perniagaan serta membawa kepada kerosakan harta benda awam. “Kerjasama orang ramai dalam mematuhi peringatan ini amat-amatlah dihargai bagi memastikan keamanan dan ketenteraman awam terus terpelihara,” katanya. Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur Datuk Zul Hasnan Najib Baharuddin berkata perhimpunan tersebut diharamkan oleh Ketua Polis Daerah Dang Wangi ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman pada 6 Nov lepas. Katanya permohonan untuk mengadakan perhimpunan dibuat pada 3 Nov lalu, tetapi ditolak baru-baru ini. “Persatuan itu boleh membuat rayuan, namun sehingga semalam tidak ada rayuan dibuat. Ia adalah perhimpunan haram,” katanya pada persidangan akhbar di pejabatnya di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontijen Kuala Lumpur di sini hari ini. “Orang ramai yang didapati berada di situ dengan tujuan untuk menyertai perhimpunan tersebut adalah salah, dan tindakan undang-undang ke atas mereka akan diambil,” katanya. Beliau berkata sekatan jalan akan diadakan di beberapa tempat manakala orang ramai dan kenderaan dari luar ibukota akan diperiksa. Zul Hasnan berkata kira-kira 4,000 anggota akan dikerah di sekitar kawasan tersebut untuk “menyuraikan dan menahan mana-mana pihak yang melakukan kesalahan seperti rusuhan dan pergaduhan”. — BERNAMA

Beliau mengingatkan bahawa rakyat Malaysia perlu menghormati undang undang dan tidak menyalahikan pihak berkuasa dan Polis apabila tindakan diambil kerana membelakangkan undang undang yang sediada. “Kita ada pilihanraya, kalau ada apa nak buat, buatlah melalui pilihanraya”. Politik ala demonstrasi jalanan, yang berpotensi besar menjadi kekacuan awam bukanlah proses ‘kematangan politik’, malah ianya ‘kemusnahan politik’.

Presiden UMNO itu juga membangkitkan kes dimana golongan ini sentiasa menyalahkan sistem pilihanraya yang kunun kunun tidak adil, setiap kali mereka kalah. Beliau memberikan contoh terdekat seperti Pilihanraya Kecil Batu Talam, dimana pihak Pembangkang kunun kunun ‘memboikot’ pilihanraya, walaupun sebenarnya mereka menyokong dari belakang kerana mereka amat sedar sudah tentu kalah, kerana sokongan rakyat yang kurang. Namun begitu, dalam Pilihanraya Kecil Ijok April lepas pula, Pembangkang begitu yakin akan menang dan sanggup bermati mati berkempen dengan segala tohmahan biasa Anwar Ibrahim, sebaliknya rakyat pula memberikan mandat bertambah kepada BN.

“Pembangkang bukan tidak biasa menang!”, jelas PM Abdullah lagi, dalam ulasan Pembangkang yang sengaja bertopengkan NGO seperti BERSIH yang kunun kunun mendakwa sistem pilihanraya Negara tidak adil, yang becadang untuk mengadakan perarakan aman dari Dataran Merdeka ke Istana Negara esok. “Kalau kita kawal SPR, masakan BN (Perikatan) boleh kalah diKelantan, Sabah dan Terengganu”, jelas Presiden UMNO lagi dan ditambah dengan “Hingga hari ini, kita masih lagi belum boleh ambil balik Kelantan. Namun begitu, kita menghormati keputusan rakyat”.

Sebagaimana yang dijangkakan, Presiden UMNO ini berpesan agar Perwakilan, mewakili jentera mereka agar bersedia untuk Pilihanraya Umum, yang ‘hangat’ dibayangkan kemungkinan besar dalam tempoh terdekat dan berhati hati dijalanraya apabila pulang ke kampung masing masing.

Lawatan Dato’ Mukhriz ke Media Centre sempenan PAU 2007

Pada petang selepas persidangan hari kedua Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 2007, Exco Pemuda UMNO Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir telah meluangkan masa melawat Pusat Media (Media Centre) di Aras 3, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra, Kuala Lumpur.

Beliau telah menghabiskan masa selama hampir 2 jam melawat, berbual, bermesra, diberikan taklimat ringkas berkenaan operasi dan ditemuramah oleh pemberita pemberita dan wartawan, setiap agensi yang membuat liputan PAU 2007. Antara isu isu yang dibangkitkan semasa temuramah pemberita ialah isu Bahasa Inggeris dalam pelajaran matematik dan sains disekolah sekolah. Dato’ Mukhriz menegaskan bahawa objektif utama ialah memperkukuhkan penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris dan bukan ‘membunuh’ pelajar pelajar, terutama anak anak Melayu.

 

Soalan lazim yang ditanya disetiap kubikel agensi media ialah berkenaan kesihatan mantan Presiden UMNO dan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Mereka begitu berminat berkenaan perkembangan Tun Dr. Mahathir selepas berjaya menjalani pembedahan pintasan koronari pada 4 September 2007. Pemberita akhbar online Malaysia Kini pula mebangkitkan isu Laporan Polis yang dibuat oleh Johari Ismail pada 6 November 2007 dan respons Dato’ Mukhriz ialah “Saya telah mendengar mengenai laporan yang dibuat itu, namun saya belum melihat laporan tersebut atau tahu mengenai butiranya. Maka, saya tidak ada komen mengenainya”.

 

Sesuatu yang menarik apabila berada dipusat berita NST-BH. Kedua dua akhbar perdana ini mengunakan gambarfoto yang disediakan oleh jurufoto bersama. Dalam kubikel mereka merupakan kubikel paling menarik kerana gambarfoto yang cantik dan unik yang berjaya diperolehi semasa PAU 2007 dicetak dan ditampal di dinding dan menghiasi pusat operasi mereka.

 

Sehari bersama Dato’ Mukhriz di PAU 2007

Hari ini, Kawan sempat bersama Exco Pemuda UMNO Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir disepanjang Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 2007 yang sedang berlangsung diPusat Dagangan Dunia Putra, Kuala Lumpur.

 

Dato’ Mukhriz, sebagai Perwakilan UMNO Kubang Pasu mula mula telah masuk kedalam Dewan Merdeka untuk mendengar perbahasan, hujah dan pembentangan usul pada sessi pagi persidangan. Kemudian, sejurus sebelum makan tengahari, Dato’ Mukhriz telah pergi ke Bilik Wilayah Persekutuan, Aras 5 untuk bertemu para Perwakilan Kelab Kelab UMNO Luar Negara.

 

 

Dato’ Mukhriz kemudian mengambil masa waktu rehat makan tengahari untuk bersama sama ahli ahli UMNO Bahagian Kubang Pasu, diRestoran Riverside Café di Aras 2.

 

Setelah menghabiskan masa sejam setengah dengan pelbagai peringkat penyokong penyokong akar umbi bahagian, termasuk penulis politik dan bloggers, beliau telah naik semula ke Dewan Merdeka untuk menyambung mendengar perbahasan, hujah dan pembentangan usul. Dalam perjalanan naik dari Restoran Riverside Café, beliau beberapa kali ditegur sapa dan diminta bergambar oleh ahli ahli akar umbi UMNO seluruh Negara.

 

Beliau juga sempat bertegur sapa dengan beberapa pemimpin UMNO sepanjang perjalanan dari Riverside Cafe’ ke studio sementara stesyen TV, termasuk dua orang Setiausaha Politik Presiden UMNO dan Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Beliau juga sempat meluangkan masa melawat studio sementara TV3, RTM dan NTV7 di Aras 3 dan berbual dengan beberapa pengarang dan personaliti TV yang bertugas, sambil diberikan penerangan mengenai operasi dan ditemuramah.

 

Selepas berkunjung ke pusat media, maka Dato’ Mukhriz telah pergi menghadiri Jamuan Makan Malam Timbalan Presiden UMNO. Jelas menunjukan bahawa sebagai seorang pemimpin UMNO yang sedang meningkat, Dato’ Mukhriz amat popular dan disenangi, samada peringkat pemimpin maupun akar umbi.