Erti “Korban” melayari sepanjang 1428H

Hari ini, umat Islam diMalaysia akan menyambut Hari Raya Aidil Adha atau Hari Raya Qurban, 1428H. Walaupun wukuf diArafah ialah pada hari Selasa 18 Disember 2007, namun Majlis Raja Raja telah menetapkan bahawa Khamis 20 Disember 2007.

Sambutan “Korban” yang dirayakan umat Islam seluruh dunia ialah apabila memperingati sejarah Allah s.w.t. memfirmankan Nabi Ibrahim A.S. untuk menyembelihkan anakandanya sendiri, Nabi Ismail A.S. Sebagai seorang Rasul yang taat kepada Pencipta seluruh alam semesta yang tidak berbelah bagi itu, Ibrahim A.S. menurut perintah Allah s.w.t. tanpa ragu ragu walaupun syaitan cuba mempengaruhi agar hambaNya itu meragui perintah Tuhan.

Dalam masyarakat Melayu-Islam Malaysia moden, “Korban” musim Zulhijjah ini membawa maksud apabila orang orang berkemampuan bersedekah ternakan seperti lembu, kerbau, kambing dan kadang kala dewasa ini, unta, untuk sedikit ‘kemewahan’ dan nikmat kepada golongan kurang berada dan bernasib baik. “Korban” ialah ibadah tahunan yang meneruskan pengertian mengenang, membantu dan meringankan sedikit permasalahan orang lain, terutama masyarakat sekeliling kita dan rakan-taulan dan saudara-mara terdekat.

Walaubagaimanapun, “Korban” kali ini disenarai dari sudut majoriti yang ‘berkorban’ untuk kepentingan segelintir, termasuk dari perspektif peribadi. Blog ini ingin menyingkap erti “Korban” secara kasar dan sekali lalu, dari sudut politik tanahair dalam tempoh setahun ini.

Setahun ini, “Korban” membawa pengertian lain dan konnotasi negatif. Tahun 1428H ini memperlihatkan berpuluh ribu umat Islam dan rakyat Malaysia, berada dalam serba kekurangan dan kesusahan serta cabaran amat getir apabila Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia dilanda bencana banjir besar bermula lewat tahun 2006, sedangkan Perdana Menterinya berdendang bercuti dan bersantai disamping keluarga dan sahabat terdekat diPerth, Australia, termasuk dengan besar hati merasmikan sebuah restoran nasi kandar.

Dalam tahun ini juga, menyaksikan rakyat Malaysia ber”Korban”, melalui syarikat milik penuh Kerajaan, Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad membelanjakan RM 200 juta sebuah pesawat eksekutif serba mewah baru sedangkan TUDM beroperasi dengan tiga buah pesawat eksekutif mewah lain sediada.

Mantan Perdana Menteri dan Presiden UMNO Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mengesa ahli ahli UMNO agar sedia untuk ‘mengorbankan’ Kepimpinan, demi UMNO dan kepentingan taktikal dan strategik orang orang Melayu, semasa berada diJohor Bahru, bandaraya kelahiran UMNO, pada 10 Februari 2007.

Kepentingan strategik Melayu dalam Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (satu plan pembangunan mega-gergasi yang sangat bercita cita tinggi, dilancarkan November 2006 sempena nama DYMM Sultan Iskandar Al Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail, Sultan Johor), secara terbuka diperjelaskan akan di”korban”kan secara terancang dan berstruktur, dalam satu wawancara bersama Pengerusi panel penasihat IDRA mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tun Musa Hitam.

Kemudian, Tun Dr. Mahathir juga apabila secara terbuka “memberikan sokongan” kepada satu masa dulu seteru politik semasa dalam UMNO iaitu Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah, kini sedia ‘mengorbankan’ kepentingan peribadi dalam satu syarahan diUniversiti Malaya dan mengimbau kembali pemikiran Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

Rakyat Malaysia juga ter”korban” apabila orang kepercayaan Perdana Menteri Kalimullah Hassan dan menantu PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Khairy Jamaluddin ‘bermain silap mata dan sandiwara-panggung bangsawan semata mata’ apabila mengumumkan kembalinya mereka dalam ECM Libra setelah kunun kunun ‘menjualkan kepentingan mereka’ dalam syarikat bank pelaburan butik itu Ogos tahun lepas, selepas skandal ‘ECM Libra-Avenue Capital’ hebat diperkatakan.

Kronisma dalam pentadbiran PM Abdullah mula menjejaskan rakyat, termasuk DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong apabila sistem diLapangan Terbang Sultan Mahmud, Kuala Terengganu rosak dan semua penerbangan dibatalkan/tunda.

Proton, sebuah syarikat berteknologi tinggi dan pemangkin utama Negara kedalam industri pembuatan mekanikal dan status negara maju, yang telah perlahan lahan dibina dengan pelaburan besar, keringat dan pengorbanan banyak imbuhan rakyat Malaysia, di’korban’kan secara sistematik dalam pentadbiran PM Abdullah.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang kematian isteri, berkahwin semula dengan Jeanne Abdullah pada Jun tahun ini. Sempena perkahwinan ini, satu analisa kepimpinan sebagai Perdana Menteri yang telah disenaraikan oleh seorang mantan pegawai Jabatan Perdana Menteri, telah diterbitkan semula dalam blog ini, sebagai ‘hadiah perkahwinan’.

PM Abdullah juga cuba ‘mengorbankan ‘ memori, keyakinan dan kepercayaan rakyat Malaysia kepada Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein apabila menyamakan diri beliau kepada Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke II itu.

“Korban” juga membawa erti bahawa Mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sanggup “mengaku kesilapan memilih penganti” apabila mengulangi kenyataan konsisten mengenai kepincangan pentadbiran PM Abdullah sehingga sampai keperingkat “menjadi busuk”, termasuk mengulas kenyatan mantan Ketua Polis Negara Tun Mohd. Hanif Omar mengenai pasukan Polis dewasa ini.

‘Kiblat’ dasar luar negara juga telah menjadi “Korban” dizaman pentadbiran PM Abdullah walaupun beliau sendiri pernah menjadi Menteri Luar Negeri selama 8 tahun dalam pentadbiran Tun Dr. Mahathir.

Ada pihak pihak yang sengaja melupakan sejarah ‘pengorbanan’ dan peranan utama yang dimainkan orang orang Melayu untuk mencapai Kemerdekaan, termasuk kesediaan untuk ‘bertolak-ansur’ dan ‘berkongsi-kuasa’.

“Korban” ialah apabila Malaysia diperlihatkan bagaimana Menteri Kewangan membentangkan Bajet 2008 diDewan Rakyat yang tidak konsisten dan apabila ditanya pemberita, secara selamba meminta perkara itu dirujuk kepada Menteri Kewangan II.

“Melayu mudah lupa” merupakan pesan Presiden UMNO Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad yang terpapar sebagai realiti, ditafsirkan dengan perbuatan “mengorbankan” jasa dan kenangan keatas ‘orang tua’ di”korban”kan sama sekali.

Telekom Malaysia merupakan asset Negara yang paling terkini sekali di”korban”kan, terutama dari sudut pembangunan Negara dan masyarakat. Syarikat GLC yang menjadi salah satu tunggak KLCI kini mengorak langkah kearah memfokus kepada ‘keuntungan, pulangan pelaburan, penambahan nilai dan kedudukan menguasai pasaran’ melampau objektif utama dan asal syarikayt ini diujudkan, bina dan korporatkan.

22 Oktober lepas merupakan genap setahun pertemuan-empat-mata Perdana Menteri dan mantan Perdana Menteri dimana 19 point telah diutarakan sebagai bahan perbincangan. Sehingga hari ini, rakyat Malaysia masih belum lihat perkembangan permasalahan yang menjadi perhatian begitu banyak pihak dalam segala aduan yang dimajukan itu.

Masyarakat Malaysia telah diingatkan semula mengenai seluruh “Korban” yang Negara tempuhi selama empat tahun dibawah pentadbiran PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Setiausaha Politik Menteri Kewangan Ke II dan ahli MKT UMNO yang dilantik, Dato’ Mohd. Norza Zakaria pula cuba ‘mengorbankan’ pemikiran dan kuasa-minda orang orang Melayu apabila salah mendefinisikan cara pentadbiran dan kewibawaan kepimpinan PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Ada ahli UMNO yang sedia ‘berkorban’ dan membelakangkan kepentingan peribadi, apabila membuat laporan Polis mengenai Presiden UMNO Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengenai “Konspirasi diperingkat tertinggi mengagalkan mantan Presiden UMNO Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dipilih sebagai Perwakilan UMNO Kubang Pasu 9 September 2006”, sewaktu Perhimpunan Agung UMNO tahun 2007.

Terbaru ini, dunia diperlihatkan Perdana Menteri ‘Flip-Flop’ mengarahkan Peguam Negara dengan kadar segera untuk menimbang semula semua pertuduhan ‘HINDRAF 31’, selepas 13 NGO Hindu dan Presiden MIC bertemu beliau. Menjelang Isnin, Mahkamah Sesyen Shah Alam membebaskan 31 orang yang dituduh cuba membunuh seorang anggota Polis semasa bertugas walaupun sebelum itu, Peguam Negara yang sama memohon mahkamah untuk menafikan jaminan kerana ‘kes yang berat’.

Ini sekaligus mengkhianati prinsip ‘Rule of Law‘ yang wajar dilaksanakan tanpa ‘memilih bulu’ dan tradisi semua Perdana Menteri Malaysia sebelum ini yang membuat keputusan demi kepentingan Negara dan rakyat dan bukan populariti politik dan peribadi.

“Korban” kini jelas membawa pengertian yang berbeza untuk rakyat Malaysia dan orang orang Melayu, yang rata rata berugama Islam sempena menyambut pesta “Qurban” setahun ini.

‘De-citizenise’ the HINDRAF leaders, is constitutional

The withdrawal of the charge ‘attempting murder of a policeman in duty’ against the “HINDRAF 31”, which lead to the acquittal of these 31 suspects on Monday, 17 December 2007 at the Shah Alam Sessions Court was really shameful and disgrace to the Attorney General’s Chambers. This decision was made almost immediately after 13 ethnic Indian NGOs and defacto Indian community leader and MIC President Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu met the ‘Flip-Flop’ Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi late last week.

Some people actually thought the charge of ‘attempting murder on a policeman’ was overkill, despite a life of a policeman on duty, to maintain order and public safety was grievously threatened by a mob of 31 people. Enough to allow some really opportunistically-bankrupt-dinosaur-relic politician to demand that the Attorney General to apologise to the ‘HINDRAF 31’, despite that they were initially denied bail for the severity of the charge then ‘conveniently’ let of the hook with lightning speed because the ‘Flip-Flop’ Prime Minister ‘compassionately’ intervened into the legal process. This arrogantly ungrateful call shoul be seen as ‘adding insult to injury’.

Taken from Malaysia-Today.net:

	Gani owes public apology to Batu Caves 31 for travesty of justice
Posted by Raja Petra
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Gani owes the Batu Caves 31 unjustly incarcerated for 13 days – a total of 403 days – and their families a public apology.The Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail owes the Batu Caves 31 who were unjustly incarcerated for 13 days and their families a public apology for the sufferings and hardships they should not have been made to go through.Gani’s explanations why he dropped the charges of attempted murder against the Batu Caves 31 in the Shah Alam Sessions Court underline the grave injustice which the Attorney-General had caused the 31 with the ridiculous charge of attempted murder and collective punishment of the 31 with the denial of bail for 13 days, resulting in a number of victims losing their jobs.Two reasons had been given by Gani.Gani said: “We can’t pinpoint who exactly did it or rather who was the one who threw the brick at the person who was badly injured”. If so, why did he charge the 31 with the capital offence of “attempted murder” with the maximum sentence of 20 years’ jail and fine, and what’s worse, denying bail to them for 13 days on a completely baseless contention of their being threats to national security!Secondly, Gani said the 31 men were initially charged not because they were alleged to be Hindraf members but because they had committed an offence by participating in an illegal assembly.Gani said all the 31 men had signed letters opposing Hindraf and claimed they were not Hindraf members. They also said they would never take part in any illegal assembly in the future.This is a very serious contradiction. If the 31 were not charged because they were Hindraf members, why should any subsequent claim that they were not Hindraf members have any bearing on their cases?The Batu Caves 31 had already been harshly and unfairly punished although they were innocent of the charge of attempted murder, as they were all incarcerated for 13 days each, which work out to 403 days for jail sentence for the 31.The least Gani should do is to tender a public apology to the Batu Caves 31 and their families for this travesty of justice and abuse of prosecutorial powers in his unfair and unjust handling of cases of the Batu Caves 31.Lim Kit Siang

On the other hand, some other people thought that the HINDRAF leaders and active supporters were likened as ‘extremist militants’, equivalent to Al Maunah, KMM and Communist Terrorists and should be dealt severely. Some UMNO leaders vehemently asked the Government and authorities to deal with these people stern and decisively. One even charged them with guilt of ‘high treason’.

Almost two weeks ago, 397 NGOs from all the major ethnic groups, interests and level of the Malaysian society converged and adopted a resolution for the Government to seriously consider.

Despite warnings and threats of arrest and after 18 days of allowing the HINDRAF leaders to go around making more incriminating statements and defying provisions of the law and societal norms on maintaining harmony and good inter-racial relations, last Thursday five HINDRAF leaders were arrested under ISA laws. This were received with relieved by many and dismay by some.

Having said all that, there are people who felt that not only the HINDRAF leaders and active supporters could be charged, tried and eventually found guilty of ‘extremist militanism’, seditions and high treason, but guilty of unbecoming the citizen of Malaysia and be stripped of the citizenship to this country. This is provided by the Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia, Article 25 (1) A which read:

Article 25

1. (1) The Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen by registration under Article 16A or 17 or a citizen by naturalisation if satisfied –
   • (a) that he has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards the Federation;

Clearly, HINDRAF leaders, especially the five-plus-one, committed enough grounds for the warrant to be stripped of their Malaysian citizenship. In his letter to the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on 15 November 2007, HINDRAF leader P. Uthayakumar urged that Malaysia’s membership in the Commonwealth be suspended, if not expelled for blatant lies and malicious fabricated information about Malaysian Indian ethnic being systematically and structurally put through the “ethnic cleansing” process the last fifty years. Of course, the HINDRAF primary objective was to stir up the anger of the Indian ethnic group, worldwide. Then it was the piece that was featured as the front page in a Singapore daily that violence is imminent, in the HINDRAF roll-out plan. That is not including statements made whilst abroad, including in the UK and India, where it almost caused a diplomatic row.

These attempts are nothing less that of as per stated as “…he (they has (have) shown himself (themselves) by act or speech, to be disloyal or disaffect towards the Federation”.

This opportunity would be the perfect ‘consolation’, if not ‘redemption’ for the overwhelmingly disgraceful and intolerable “cock-up” by the ‘Flip-Flop’ Prime Minister Abdullah via Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail. Failure to act against these persons who have committed “crimes of disloyal towards the Federation”, especially when one is provided with the law to do so, shall be deemed as collaborating with the said criminals too. Therefore, one should be subjected to be de-citizenise too, as provided by Article 25 (1) A of the Constitution of the Federation.

The death knell for fractional reserve banking

THE DEATH KNELL

FOR FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING

WHY A DEBT BASED ECONOMY

WILL INEVITABLY LEAD TO DEPRESSION

by Matthias Chang

Being away in China was a welcome change and did I enjoy my stay in Beijing. One cannot but feel a sense of optimism and confidence wherever one goes in China – a hard working people, collectively on a march to become a global economic power. The dynamism and vibrancy is palpable, the moment my plane landed in Beijing.

China’s economy is built on the sound principles of hard work and prudent financial management, the cornerstone being savings – on a massive scale. This is reflected on one level, in the massive foreign reserves amounting to US$1.5 trillion accumulated in the last ten years. Household savings are at an all time high. The people are just loosening their purse strings to enjoy the benefits of a vibrant economy without being indulgent.

China has recently launched a Sovereign Wealth Fund amounting to US$200 billion! Just pause and think –in just under 30 years, China has been transformed from a rural agriculture based economy to become the world’s factory. The West took over 200 years to become an industrial power, and in the process plundered the world’s resources through wars of conquest. The West’s economic and military power was built on the sweat, broken bones of the millions of slave labour from Asia and Africa.

China’s transformation is therefore unique, a change brought about without wars or colonial exploitation. No wonder, the United States and Britain fear China’s rise. The recent intense disinformation that the global imbalances is the result of China’s growing surplus is an attempt by the G7 countries to white wash their fail edpolicies and to cover up their fraudulent global banking Ponzi schemes.

Read the latest in Fortune – Why Jim Roger’s is so bullish on China and why he is getting out of USA!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a contrast to the state of the economy of the so called superpower, a nation buried in debt and with zero savings!

And for those financial analysts, bankers, especially investment bankers and arm-chair critics in Malaysia who still think that the current financial crisis is merely a storm in the tea-cup and will have no impact on Malaysia, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that they are stupid and morally bankrupt – stupid because they chose to ignore reality, and morally bankrupt because they have no ethical principles whatsoever.

Notwithstanding, my previous article, “Booming Market For Structured Investment Funds”, which exposed the fraudulent scheme of a Malaysian banker, who was touting SIVs when the same has been discredited in the United States and Europe, Malaysians continue to believe in such lies. I have to admit that this is a sad reflection of the mentality of Malaysians, generally unsophisticated in matters financial, and mostly ignorant of fundamental economic principles, even those in regulatory bodies such as Bank Negara and the Treasury. If this is not so, how else can we explain the stupid nonsense that are being reported in the mass media?

This was the question posed to me by a dear friend who then invited me to write another article on the present global financial crisis. His plea was – “Matthias, don’t assume that they know the basics i.e. DEBT 101. They can’t compute how debt is related to the global financial crisis. Maybe, you should write an article on DEBT 101.”

Having written over 30 articles in less than six months, each, way ahead of events that was unfolding, I told my dear friend that I have done more than my fair share of warning fellow Malaysians to prepare of the financial tsunami, and that there is no point in belabouring the issue, especially when Fortune and Forbes although belatedly have finally acknowledged the seriousness of the crisis.

My dear friend retorted, “You have written everything that can be written on the crisis, but you have not written anything on DEBT 101. If after writing on DEBT 101, and these a@#h*@les still don’t get it, then forget them for good!” It was a challenge, I could not refuse.

DEBT 101

Part 1 – First thing first!

Do you know that in law, when you deposit moneys in a bank, you are the CREDITOR and the bank is the DEBTOR? Yes, the bank in this transaction, in law is defined as the DEBTOR. In plain and simple language, the bank owes you money.

But the bank behaves like the Lord Almighty! This is the psychological con that has been perpetrated by banks since banking was first created.

The word “con” is short for “confidence.” And a confidence trickster is one who abuses your confidence in him. Bankers, especially investment bankers, are confidence tricksters par excellence.

LOCK THIS CRITICAL CONCEPT IN YOUR MIND AS IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE CONCEPT OF FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING.

Additionally, memorise this quotation.

“If the American people ever knew what we have done, we would be chased down the street and lynched”

President HW Bush (1992) to journalist Sarah McClendon.

Part 2 – Savings

It follows that when you deposit moneys in a bank, be it a savings account, current account or by way of a fixed deposit, you are saving your hard earned money.

The return on your savings (deposit) is the interest the banks pay you at the prevailing rate.

Another way of looking at this transaction (the correct way) is that the bank borrows money from you and in so borrowing pays you an “interest” for the use of that money.

Savings is therefore fundamental to banking. Literally, if there is no savings, there can be no “banking”. In plain and simple language, if you and all the bank customers stop depositing money with the banks, the banks have no moneys to lend – NO MONEYS TO CREATE DEBT.

LOCK THIS CRITICAL CONCEPT IN YOUR MIND AS IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE CONCEPT OF FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING.

Part 3 – Fractional Reserve Banking

Creating Money Out of Thin Air

By law, all banks must keep certain amount of the moneys deposited by customers as “Reserves” to meet the eventuality of withdrawals by customers. The amount of the reserve is A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL DEPOSITS made by the customers. The Central Bank of each country determines the amount of this reserve e.g. 10% of total deposits.

Thus, if the reserve is 10%, then a bank receiving a deposit of RM1,000.00 need only set aside RM100 as reserves. The bank can lend out to people seeking loans the remaining RM900.00. The banks can do this, because the banks know that at any one time, not all customers will withdraw the full amount of the money deposited.

This is Fractional Reserve Banking. The bank borrows your SAVINGS to lend to people who want to borrow moneys for their businesses, pay for their children’s education, buy a house etc.

Please read Part 1 again.

When you deposit RM1000 at “Trustworthy Bank”, the bank pays you interest, say 3%. When it lends to John Doe your RM900, it charges say 7% interest. The profit is the difference in the rates i.e. 4%

Now multiply that in billions and you can see how much moneys the banks are raking from your deposits.

Part 4 – Debt & Creating Money Out of Thin Air

This part is the fun part and that is why banks love DEBTS.

Recall that your RM900 has been lent to John Doe (RM900 debt) who uses the money to pay Jane Doe, who credits her banking account with the said RM900 at the same Trustworthy Bank or at “Solid Bank”.

Applying the fractional reserve principle, RM90 will be allocated to reserve. If Jane Doe account is with the Trustworthy Bank, then the said bank can lend a further sum of RM810 to Ali Doe. Alternatively, if Jane Doe has an account with “Solid Bank”, then Solid Bank can lend RM810 to its customers.

Please take a piece of paper, and slowly calculate each time, moneys are lent out to borrowers of the bank.

You will soon discover that your original RM900 has snowballed into thousands of ringgit of loans to various “borrowers” of different banks.

And that is just your RM900. Pause and think. Your RM 900 is an absolute figure. Yet, by the magic of Fractional Reserve Banking, that same RM900 is transformed into thousands upon thousands of debts.

Part 5 – More Debts, More Money Can Be Created

It follows from the example in Part 4, when there is an abundance of savings banks have more money to lend.

But the banks, especially banks in the United States and Europe were not content with this windfall. They wanted super profits.

So they created news ways to create money other than the above traditional method.

The most efficient and lethal was to CREATE DEBTS.

The Story of Joe Six-Packs

Joe is your average wage earner who into his tenth year of employment bought a house worth US100,000 and was working hard to pay off the housing loan over the loan period of 15 years.

Over the loan period, the value of is house appreciated and is now worth US160,000.

His friendly banker though slick advertising and “personal service” enticed Joe to take on a “consumer loan” of US50,000 to renovate his house and buy a second car for his wife. His reservations were laid to rest when the bank manager said that his house is worth US160,000 and therefore his equity in the house was more than enough to secure the loan. Interest on the loan was low, at teaser rates of 2% and only after the 3rd year would the rates be adjusted to a higher rate of 4%. Joe was assured that his salary would be sufficient to pay off the instalments.

[Recall Part 4 – now calculate how this US 50,000 loan can in turn be snow balled into thousands as loans]

Next the friendly banker, approached Joe and with slick marketing convinced him that his present financial status was such that he was entitled to a credit card, with a credit limit of US30,000 which he could spent on a well deserved holiday and the belated solitaire diamond ring for his beloved wife. Why not! There was still sufficient equity in the house to secure the borrowing.

Soon, Joe realised that his salary was insufficient to meet the loan instalments and credit card repayments. Adding fuel to the fire, since December 2006, house prices began to slide and his house once worth US160,000 was now valued at US120,000 and going down.

The bank has given notice of foreclosure if the loans were not serviced and defaults persisted.

Joe Six Packs nightmare has just begun.

Mulitply this scenario a few million times and you will get a picture of the housing mess in the United States and right across Europe.

Part 6 – No Savings, Debts Piling

For years, the United States have been having negative savings. Thus, no savings (i.e. deposits in banks) banks have less money to lend.

They resorted to debt creation as outlined above to generate their obscene profits.

These debts were secured by mortgages like that of Joe Six Packs. These loans and mortgages were then bundled together and marketed through SIVs as CDOs, CLOs, ABCP etc. to investors, hedge funds. They were then sliced and diced over and over again, so much so that everyone lost track of the original security or its value. It reached the stage that these “bonds” were just paper, improperly secured or not secured at all.

When Joe and millions of borrowers defaulted, and with housing prices falling, the banks found themselves with assets that was insufficient to cover their exposure and worst there were no buyers for these “assets”.

Part 7 – Problem is Not Lack of Liquidity

Therefore the problem facing global banks and Central Banks is not that there is a lack of liquidity in the financial markets.

The fundamental problem and why the crisis cannot be resolved is that:

THE BORROWERS ARE INSOLVENT.

THE “ASSETS” OR “SECURITY” ARE INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE BANKS’ EXPOSURE.

THERE ARE NO SAVINGS, SO MONEY CREATION FROM THIS ROUTE IS SCREWED!

NO FURTHER DEBTS CAN BE CREATED AS VALUE OF SECURITY IN SUPPORT OF DEBTS ARE FALLING RAPIDLY.

BAD LOANS HAVE TO BE WRITTEN OFF.

LIABILITIES HAVE EXCEEDED BANK ASSETS. THEREFORE BANKS ARE NOW ALSO INSOLVENT.

THEREFORE, THE AMOUNTS KEPT IN RESERVE IN MEET CUSTOMERS WITHDRAWALS ARE INSUFFICIENT TO MEET SUCH CLAIMS.

HENCE, THE CON THAT THERE IS NO BANKING CRISIS SO AS TO PREVENT A RUN ON BANKS, AS HAPPENED IN THE U.K.

THE FED and THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANKS PUMPING MONEY HAS NO EFFECT BECAUSE THE LIABILITY OF THE BANKS IS IN THE TRILLIONS, WHILE ASSETS ARE ONLY A FEW HUNDRED BILLIONS. LIABILITY EXCEEDS ASSETS.

NO MORE DEBTS CAN BE CREATED BECAUSE MILLIONS OF JOE SIX PACKS CANNOT BORROW ANYMORE (EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO) BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO EQUITY TO SECURE ANY FURTHER BORROWINGS AND NO SAVINGS TO REPAY PAST AND FUTURE BORROWINGS.

IN A WORD:

BANKRUPT.

THE USA IS BANKRUPT.

THE US BANKS ARE BANKRUPT

THE EUROPEAN BANKS ARE BANKRUPT

This is the main reason why on the 12th December 2007, the Fed, the ECB and other Key European Central Banks came together to inject US65 billion into the global banking system. The only time in which such a concerted effort was made, was in September 11, 2001.

Up to December 12^th, the Fed and ECM has already pumped US$500 billion (half a trillion) and it had no visible impact on the crisis. On the 12^th December 2007, the collective effort of the Fed, ECB and other key European Central Banks pumping a further US$65 billion coupled with a 25 basis points reduction in the Fed Fund rate and Fed Discount rate did not even spark a rally in the stock market. The opposite took place. The Dow lost ground. Wow!!!!!!!!

This is the surest sign that the day of reckoning is fast approaching. Tighten your seat belts. It will be a stormy ride into 2008.

Conclusion

Enjoy Christmas while you can. Come 2008, the full force of the Tsunami will be felt globally.

MATTHIAS CHANG

KUALA LUMPUR

16TH DECEMBER 2007

PM ‘Flip-Flop’: Membelakangkan tradisi mendaulatkan undang undang dan kredibiliti Polis & A-G dicalari

Semalam menyaksikan keputusan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi meminta Peguam Negara Tan Sri Gani Patail untuk menarik balik dan mengugurkan tuduhan “cubaan membunuh seorang anggota Polis pada malam 24 November 2007 di Batu Caves” keatas 31 penyokong Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF 31) dan Mahkamah Sesyen Shah Alam membebaskan kesemua tertuduh.

Minggu lepas 13 NGO Hindu bersama sama Presiden MIC Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu telah membuat pertemuan dengan PM Abdullah dan permintaan ini telah dimajukan.

Dari arkib Bernama.com:

14 Disember, 2007 16:01 PM

Perdana Menteri Temui 13 NGO Kaum India Perjelas Pendirian Kerajaan

 

PUTRAJAYA, 14 Dis (Bernama) — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini menemui pemimpin-pemimpin 13 badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) kaum India tempatan untuk menjelaskan serta membincangkan mengenai perkembangan semasa di negara ini.

Pada pertemuan selama dua jam itu, Perdana Menteri memberi penekanan kepada pentingnya keamanan dan kestabilan kepada sebuah negara membangun seperti Malaysia, kata jurucakap Pejabat Perdana Menteri.

“Perdana Menteri juga memberitahu mereka mengenai usaha kerajaan mengurangkan jurang ekonomi dan sosial antara kaum di negara ini,” katanya kepada Bernama.

Jurucakap itu berkata Perdana Menteri telah mendengar dengan teliti pelbagai perkara yang dibangkitkan oleh NGO sebelum menghuraikan dengan panjang lebar mengenai usaha kerajaan untuk meningkatkan taraf kehidupan kaum India daripada segi ekonomi dan sosial.

“Beliau juga menjelaskan pendirian kerajaan mengenai isu Hindraf, dan semua yang hadir berikrar untuk berusaha bersama kerajaan untuk kebaikan masyarakat India,” katanya.

Jurucakap itu berkata Abdullah tidak membuat sebarang janji tetapi telah mendengar pendapat kesemua 13 NGO itu.

“Yang pastinya ialah kesemua NGO itu tidak setuju dengan cara Hindraf menggunakan demonstrasi untuk membuat tuntutan dan menyatakan pendapat khususnya penghapusan kaum masyarakat India, yang menurut mereka, tidak masuk akal,” katanya.

Yang turut hadir pada pertemuan itu ialah Presiden MIC Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu dan Pesuruhjaya Suhakam Datuk N.Siva Subramaniam.

— BERNAMA

Ini melihatkan dengan jelas Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Abdullah Abdullah Badawi sebagai seorang ‘PM Flip-Flop’ yang tidak tetap pendirian dan boleh di’pengaruhi’ agar mana mana keputusan boleh diubah ubah.

Ini bukan pertama kali PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah membuat keputusan yang membelakangkan kepentingan awam. Bermula Disember 2005, Malaysia telah mula mengubah dasar luar negara melibatkan ASEAN apabila sebagai Tuan Rumah Persidangan Kemuncak Ketua Ketua Negara ASEAN dan juga salah satu pengasas kumpulan eksklusif ini, membelakangkan prinsip agar ‘tidak mencampuri hal ehwal dalaman negara ahli’. Malaysia telah membawa agenda untuk ‘mendisiplinkan’ Myanmar agar proses ‘pendemokrasian’ bermula, satu agenda yang berbaur tekanan Barat, terutama Amerika Syarikat dan Great Britain.

Kemudian pada Mac 2006 keputusan untuk membatalkan projek ‘Jambatan Mengantikan Tambak Johor’ yang sudah dimulakan, walaupun beberapa minggu sebelum itu beliau membuat kenyataan bahawa “tiada apa akan membantutkan projek itu”.

Bagaimana moral and motivasi Pejabat Peguam Negara dan pasukan Polis, sebagai agensi pelaksana agar undang undang dihormati dan turuti dan sekiranya ianya dilanggar dan khinanati, maka tindakan sewajar akan diambil, termasuk menghadapkan tertuduh kemuka keadilan? Apakah peranan, kenyataan dan keputusan agensi pelaksana dan penguatkuasa undang undang selepas ini akan diambil serious oleh masyarakat, apabila Peguam Negara semudah itu menarik balik sehingga tertuduh dibebaskan dari tuduhan berat seperti “percubaan membunuh anggota Polis yang bertugas”?

Sejarah telah membuktikan Perdana Menteri sebelum ini memang terpaksa membuat keputusan yang perlu dibuat, walaupun amat tidak popular. Sebagai contoh ialah Perdana Menteri Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra telah membuat keputusan ‘menghalau’ Singapura dari Persekutuan Malaysia, walaupun tindakan ini menerima tentangan keras pemimpin pemimpin UMNO. Kemudian, berlaku dimana Parlimen digantung dan kuasa kuasa pentadbiran Negara diserah mutlak kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tun Abdul Razak Hussein melalui Majlis Gerakan Negara (National Operation Council) selepas berlaku pergaduhan berdarah antara kaum 13 Mei 1969.

Allhayarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein pula membuat keputusan untuk berbaik baik dan mengadakan perhubungan diplomatik dengan Republik Rakyat China, tatkala berlaku konflik melibatkan pengaruh kommunis yang sengit dan mengancam dalam rantau ini, termasuk kejatuhan Kerajaan pro-Barat dan AS seperti Vietnam Selatan, Kemboja dan Laos kepada kommunis. Malaysia sendiri masih diancam Parti Kommunis Malaya (MCP) ketika itu dan MCP memang diketahui menerima bantuan dan sokongan kuat Parti Kommunis China.

Apabila Allahyarham Tun Razak pergi dengan mengejut dan diganti pula oleh Allahyarham Tun Hussein Onn, seawal beberapa bulan pertama menyaksikan Menteri Besar Selangor dan Ketua Pemuda UMNO Dato’ Harun Idris ditahan kerana menerima rasuah, bagi pihak UMNO Selangor. Ini mengundang begitu banyak reaksi negatif dari pelbagai pemimpin dan ahli ahli UMNO seluruh Negara. Namun begitu, Dato’ Harun Idris dikemukakan ke pengadilan, didapati bersalah selepas perbicaraan dan menerima hukuman penjara.

Seorang Menteri Kabinet Dato’ Mokhtar Hashim juga ditahan kerana tuduhan membunuh seorang ahli politik Dato’ Taha. Kemudian, Dato’ Mokhtar didapati bersalah juga dan menerima hukuman penjara seumur hidup dalam satu kes perbicaraan yang menarik banyak perhatian.

Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad juga membuat keputusan yang pahit dan amat tidak popular. Yang paling ketara ialah apabila mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim dipecat dan kemudian diheret dalam mahkamah jenayah untuk tuduhan salah guna kuasa. Ini mengundang reaksi yang amat getir, bukan sahaja dikalangan ahli UMNO sendiri, malah seluruh masyarakat Malaysia sehingga timbul banyak tunjuk perasaan dan rusuhan.

Tun Dr. Mahathir sendiri pernah di’hina’ oleh Naib Presiden Amerika Syarikat Al Gore semasa majlis makan malam sempena Persidangan APEC diPWTC, Kuala Lumpur kerana tindakan keras keatas perusuh persusuh “Reformasi”.

Penentangan ini ditafsirkan pada Pilihanraya 21 November 1999 apabila UMNO hilang sehingga 27 kerusi Dewan Rakyat kepada PAS dan 5 kepada parti yang lahir dari ‘perjuangan’ Anwar Ibrahim, KeAdilan. Barisan Nasional juga menyaksikan Terengganu jatuh ketangan PAS untuk kali pertama.

Namun begitu, keputusan keputusan yang tidak popular ini masih lagi dilaksana oleh pemimpin terutama Negara, kerana ada kepentingan strategik dan prinsip yang wajar dan perlu dibela, membelakangkan populariti dan sokongan politik yang mereka sepatutnya pertahankan, sekiranya ingin terus kekal menjadi pemimpin.

Dimana kredbiliti, integriti dan maruah mereka yang menegakan dan melaksanakan undang undang selepas episod ‘Flip-Flop’ ini? Seorang kommentator blog ini mempunyai komen yang menyengat:

On December 17, 2007 at 11:51 pm dzulman Said: |Edit This

Pak Lah has clearly transgressed his authority as the PM. At the same time he has proved beyond all reasonable doubts that both the AG and IGP are totally acting at the behest of the PM, not able to use their own discretion in ensuring that the Rule of Law is adhered to and also the enforcement of laws and maintanining of security and public order should have been rightly conducted in acordance to the Police own evaluation.

This is indeed a dangerous precedence. The multi-racial contents and context of Malaysia has no comparison. The MIC realising that they are at the loosing end cashed in at the opportunity to play “Santa Claus”.

Hindraf is an illegal organizaion and the charge was for attempted murder of a Policeman who is a peace officer. The charge is indeed serious not only in respect of its criminal implications but most importantly in the context of ensuring that those entrusted to enforce the law must be respected and equally safeguaded by the laws that he is empowered to enforce. THIS FLIP FLOP DECISION MAY HAVE A VERY BAD DEMORALISING EFFECT ON MEMBERS OF PDRM WHO MAY BE REQUIRED TO FACE THE SAME CROWD AGAIN SOMEDAY FOR THIS DECISION IS NOT EXPECTED TO “CURRY FAVOUR” WITH THE GOONS WITHIN HINDRAF.

Elements within Hindraf may take this flip flopping as a victory of some sort as they had partially gained what they have been fighting for i.e. RECOGNITION DESPITE BEING ILLEGAL AND TREACHEROUS.

The fear is that dissatisfaction may gain momentum quietly at the beginning among other racial groups that find the activities and demands by Hindraf as unbearable and that the Government are somewhat biased. Either Pak Lah has not been fully forewarned of the adverse effect of his “flip flopping” stand by those responsible for the security of the nation or he is simply being given the wrong advises by the wrong people who happen to be on his right side.

The current situation is a cacophony, to say the least. Can we expect him to be strong, firm and adhering to the rule of the law should the security situation in the country worsen? I wonder!

And do we need him the next time around?

Apakah setelah maruah tercalar, kredibiliti tercabar dan integriti yang boleh dipersoalkan, apa apa amaran dan tindakan pasukan Polis dan Pejabat Peguam Negara selepas episod ini akan diterima dan hormati oleh masyarakat Malaysia dan antarabangsa?

Kini prinsip melaksanakan ‘The Rule of Law’, tanpa memihak kepada mana mana pihak atau sebarang isu/tekanan/keadaan dipersoalkan dan dikhuatiri oleh terlalu banyak pihak, termasuk pemimpin pemimpin UMNO sendiri, pengamal guaman dan mereka yang mewakili pelbagai NGO dikalangan masyarakat majmuk Malaysia. Sudahlah kebelakangan ini kredibiliti pasukan Polis dipersoalkan oleh mantan Ketua Polis Negara sendiri dan mantan Perdana Menteri yang pernah dihormati sehingga peringkat global kerana ketegasan menangani sesuatu isu.

Tidak boleh tidak PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah dilihat sebagai pemimpin yang LEMBIK, terlalu mudah dipengaruhi, tiada mempunyai ketegasan dan prinsip dan lebih mementingkan populariti, berbanding dengan apa yang wajar dan sepatutnya diambil keputusan dan tindakan. Mungkin keyakinan dan sokongan ahli ahli UMNO sendiri akan mula tiris tanpa membincangkan perasaan dan aspirasi keseluruhan rakyat Malaysia. Titah khusus DYTM Raja Muda Perak agar undang undang dan Poilis dihormati menjadi sia sia belaka selepas episod ini.

Dimanakah prinsip keadilan dan kesaksamaan dalam mengamalkan prinsip ‘The Rule of Law’? Apa bezanya demonstrasi yang membawa keganasan dan rusuhan diBatu Caves and Jalan Ampang ini berbanding dengan di Batu Burok, Terengganu tiga bulan dahulu?

Rusuhan: 37 lagi dicari

Oleh RAJMAH HASAN

KUALA TERENGGANU 17 Sept. – Polis hari ini mengedarkan gambar 37 lagi lelaki yang dipercayai dapat membantu siasatan berhubung kes rusuhan di Jalan Sultan Mahmud dan Batu Burok di sini malam 8 September lalu.

Kesemua lelaki yang berusia antara 20-an hingga 60-an itu dicari kerana dipercayai dapat membantu polis melengkapkan kertas siasatan berhubung rusuhan pada hari kejadian mengikut Seksyen 27(5) Akta Polis 1967.

Timbalan Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah I negeri, Supritendan Khairi Ahrasa berkata, kesemua mereka yang dipercayai rakyat tempatan telah dikenal pasti menerusi rakaman video serta gambar yang diambil pada malam kejadian.

‘‘Polis meminta individu terbabit tampil di Ibu Pejabat Polis (IPD) Kuala Terengganu untuk memberikan keterangan bagi membantu siasatan kes rusuhan itu di bawah Seksyen 27(5) Akta Polis 1967.

‘‘Kerjasama mereka diperlukan bagi melengkapkan kertas siasatan berhubung kes rusuhan itu yang kini sudah 70 peratus siap sebelum ia diserahkan kepada Timbalan Pendakwa Raya,’’ kata Khairi pada sidang akhbar di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen (IPK) Terengganu di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata, pengedaran gambar itu menjadikan keseluruhan 46 lelaki dikehendaki polis setakat ini termasuk sembilan individu yang dipercayai dapat membantu siasatan berhubung kejadian membakar Jalur Gemilang dan merosakkan harta benda awam pada hari rusuhan.

‘‘Sembilan keping gambar itu telah pun diedarkan kepada media pada Jumaat lalu tetapi hanya seorang daripada mereka iaitu pelajar sebuah sekolah menengah agama swasta di Kampung Binjai Bongkok, Marang menyerah diri ke IPD Kuala Terengganu kira-kira pukul 10.15 pagi semalam bagi membantu siasatan kes itu.

‘‘Bagaimanapun, pelajar berusia 16 tahun berasal dari Kampung Tok Dir dekat sini itu telah dilepaskan kira-kira pukul 10 pagi ini dengan jaminan polis selepas polis berpuas hati dengan keterangannya,’’ katanya.

Dengan episod ini yang makin bertambah tambah sikap dan sifat ketidak-tegasan membuat keputusan dan berubah fikiran PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah, maka jauh sekali beliau ingin menyamakan diri dengan Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia Allahyarham Tun Razak Hussein, yang begitu tegas dan konsisten dalam membuat keputusan dan melaksanakanya. 

Mungkin apa yang boleh dipelajari dari episod ini, kes kes berprofil tinggi dan menarik perhatian terlalu ramai pihak, termasuk kes kes yang amat kontroversi boleh dipinda sewenang wenangnya untuk di’sesuai’kan dengan pihak yang berkepentingan, termasuk keputusan yang berimbuhan pertimbangan politik yang tinggi. Dimana letaknya prinsip ketiga, keempat dan kelima Rukunegara?

 

Court acquits 31 ‘extremist militants’ after PM being seen going ‘Flip-Flopping’, again

The Shah Alam court this morning acquitted the 31 Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) supporters initially charged for attempting murder to a Policeman at the demonstrations which turned violent on the night of 24 November 2007 in Batu Caves.

Bernama.com has the report:

December 17, 2007 13:50 PM

Court Acquits 31 People Charged With Murder

SHAH ALAM, Dec 17 (Bernama) — The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged 31 people charged with attempting to murder a police officer during an illegal assembly organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in front of the Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves, near here, on Nov 25.Judge Nursinah Adzmi made the decision after allowing the application by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to withdraw the charges against them.

Prior to this, all the 31 claimed trial to a number of charges, including attempted murder under Section 149/307 of the Penal Code.

However, out of the 31, only six including five college students were acquitted and discharged of all charges while the rest are still facing other charges.

The six are L. Thiyagarajan, 31, K. Thinagaranpillay, 23, A. Vasantarao, 19, S. Ramesh Kumar, 22, S. Mugilan Dever, 20, and G. Suman, 20.

Of the remaining 25, 16 changed their plea to guilty to the charge of causing damage to seven cars and two gates of the temple under Section 149/440 of the Penal Code.

Eight of the 25 also changed their plea to being in an illegal assembly under Section 27 (5) (a) of the Police Act 1967 while another accused, to an alternative charge of displaying criminal force to put fear into the police officers during the illegal assembly.

During the court proceeding which ended at 1pm, the judge fixed Dec 27 to hear the facts of the cases and for sentencing.

Nursinah also allowed them to be freed on bail of RM500 each in one surety.

The decision brought relief to their families who filled the courtroom since morning.

Lawyer, K. Ragunath on behalf of the defence, thanked the court and Attorney-General for dropping the attempted murder charges on all the accused and to acquit and free the five students of all charges.

— BERNAMA

This news shall be received adversely by many quarters as they see the ‘Flip-Flop’ Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi turned soft and ‘conveniently forgiving’, despite so many parties, including within UMNO leaders and NGOs representing a wide spectrum of the rakyat, vehemently made calls for stern and decisive actions be taken against people deemed ‘extremist militants’ and ‘guilty of high treason’.

The principle of the ‘Rule of Law’ must be observed and practiced, to give confidence to everyone that they are protected under the Constitution and no one shall have any veil or exception of this rule, even when their representatives go pleading to the Prime Minister.

*An update as of 10.05pm, Monday 17 December 2007

The party that represent the ethnic Indian communities in the 14 party coalition Barisan Nasional Government, the MIC today responded positively and with deep gratitude that the Attorney General withdrew the charges on the “HINDRAF 31” and they can be acquitted from ‘attempting to murder a Policeman on duty’, on the night of 24 Novemebr 2007 at the Sri Subramaniam temple in Batu Caves, Selangor.

‘Flip-Flop’ Prime Minister Abdullah has been described by MIC President Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu as “showing compassion” for the plight of the families of the “HINDRAF 31”.

Bernama.com has the story tonight:

December 17, 2007 20:05 PM

MIC Thanks Govt Over Acquittal Of 31 Of Attempted Murder

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 17 (Bernama) — MIC today thanked the government over the acquittal and discharge of 31 people charged with attempting to murder a police officer during an illegal assembly in front of the Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves, near here, on Nov 25. MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had shown compassion towards the families of those detained by asking Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to consider their appeals. “MIC appreciates efforts by the government to lighten the burden of the families by showing its concern and being accountable to all races,” he said in a statement here today. The MIC president said he was also happy because the court had acquitted and discharged many of them of all charges while the rest were released on bail. “The Barisan Nasional government has shown compassion towards the sufferings and anguish of the families and parents of those detained. Those involved should return to society and live as responsible and law-abiding citizens. “MIC will continue to safeguard the interests of the Indian community to ensure a better future for them,” said Samy Vellu who is also the Works Minister. — BERNAMA

The question now is how does the Malaysian public and the rest of the world take the Attorney General and his/her illustrious and esteemed office seriously after this episode? Would people continue to doubt what ever charges presented by them “on behalf of the people”, especially in high-powered criminal and murder cases?

God help us, all!

 

Majority of Malaysians are for the Right Wingers

Recently, a lot of Gallup Polls being commissioned by so many parties, to understand the run up of much talked about 12^th General Election lurking round the corner, although the full term of the Dewan Rakyat is not due till March 2009.

The NST recently published the results of the poll, which claimed to be reflective of the general sentiment of Malaysians:

DEMOCRACY IN ASIA: Malaysia scores big in Gallup International poll

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Survey shows Malaysians have full faith in free, fair elections
* 74% of Malaysians feel that elections in the country are free and fair
* 69% feel that the people are well-represented by the government
That’s the highest in the region, where an average 53% of the people believe that elections in their country are neither free nor fair, and nearly 61% do not feel that their government follows the will of the people.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are the most confident in Asia of their country’s free and fair elections, and outrank most of the region in their faith in democracy, according to an international poll.

A new global survey, Voice of the People, conducted by TNS and Gallup International, found three-quarters of Malaysians answered yes to whether “elections in your country are free and fair”, the highest among 10 nations in Asia, and exceeding by far the 47 per cent world average.

TNS is a global market insight and information group with offices in more than 70 countries. Gallup International is the renowned polling outfit based in Zurich.

The survey, which included a study on democracy in Asia, was done between June and August this year and involved more than 60,000 people in 57 countries excluding China. The results were released yesterday.
With a sample size of 1,250 Malaysians, 74 per cent felt that elections in this country were legitimate and 69 per cent believed that government was by the will of the people.

The sample was selected from urban areas in the peninsula and respondents were interviewed face-to-face.

“This belief in the transparency of elections is in contrast to the sentiment expressed by more than half of respondents across the region who do not consider their country’s election process to be so impartial,” TNS and Gallup said in a statement.

At the other end of the scale, only 16 per cent in Pakistan believed their elections were free and fair. The others were: India (55 per cent), Hong Kong (51 per cent), Indonesia (58 per cent), Japan (50 per cent), Korea (55 per cent), the Philippines (22 per cent) and Singapore (68 per cent).

The survey also showed that an average of 53 per cent in the region believed elections in their countries were neither free nor fair and 61 per cent did not feel their government followed the will of the people when it came to making decisions.

Around the region nearly eight out of 10 people surveyed (78 per cent) agreed with the idea that democracy might have problems but it is still the best system of government.

In Malaysia, 85 per cent believed democracy was best, more than any other country except Indonesia (89 per cent) and Vietnam (86 per cent). The rest all scored above 75 per cent.

Satisfaction in democracy overall was also prevalent in the region. An average of seven in 10 interviewees (73 per cent) declared themselves to be content.

About 88 per cent in Malaysia were satisfied with democracy, a higher proportion than the bedrock of Asian democracy, India, with 79 per cent. The others were: Hong Kong (71 per cent), Indonesia (69 per cent), Japan (79 per cent), Korea (75 per cent), Pakistan (66 per cent), the Philippines (63 per cent), Singapore (81 per cent) and Vietnam (89 per cent).

Globally, 79 per cent of the people surveyed believed democracy was the best system and 69 per cent were satisfied with democracy.

The Merdeka Centre, an independent professional polling body, which received their training by the Americans during the height of the ‘Reformasi’ days concurred with this result. Separately, they found that 70% of Malaysians approve of the decisions and management of the country by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. This is easily explained as the Malays, who are 65% of the populi, dwell and live as part of the 70% Malaysians in the rural areas. In general, these segment of voters are not ICT and internet savvy and oblivion to the issues raised and debated online.

Since June 2006, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad started to criticize his predecessor openly. The popularity of Prime Minister Abdullah sometime fell to slightly below 50% as compared to near negligible effect when former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked from office on 2 September 1998, made his attacks since being released from jail upon the over turning of his 9 years conviction back in 2004.

In short, the Anwar Ibrahim politics and fashion of trying to make a comeback in the mainstream politics wholesomely is not acceptable and the voters no longer find him ‘appealing’.

It is clearly shown that the issues former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir continuously and consistently raised and vehemently criticise, which are the nineteen points raised in the four eyed meeting on 22 October 2006, were very much relevant and tangible in the eyes of Malaysians.

The former UMNO President also made consistent calls for UMNO members not to fear and worry pre-mature leadership roll-over, since February 2007 and wanted the necessary changes been done through UMNO, which is the mainstay of the 14 party coalition Government that currently control 90% of the 219 seat Dewan Rakyat. He once said the Chinese use their voting rights strategically as compared to the Malays.

Has the ‘Flip-Flop’ Prime Minister changed his mind and gone soft again?

Recently, 31 people have been arrested with the violence that erupted from the illegal assembly organised in BatuCaves on the evening of 24 November 2007. They were charged by the Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail for attempting murder of a policeman Dadi Abdul Rani and were denied bail by the Shah Alam court and denied bail, pending a hearing.

Despite the arrest, so many parties have expressed concerns about the HINDRAF issue, which also drew international attention. They called for the authorities to act sternly and decisively against the HINDRAF leaders and senior activists. Last Thursday 397 NGOs representing all facets and spectrum of society from all over the country converged in Kuala Lumpur and made the call, known as Damai Malaysia Declaration. Some, including trial defense lawyers even equated them as ‘extremist militants’ and charged them with the guilt of ‘high treason’.

This include UMNO leaders. NST has the story:

2007/12/16

Disappointed over ‘slow response’

By : Arman Ahmad and Sonia Ramachandran

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KUALA LUMPUR: A number of Umno members have expressed disappointment with the government for being “too slow” in using the Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain people suspected of having links with militants.

According to sources who attended a closed door briefing for some 1,000 Umno division leaders and members at a hotel here yesterday, party members had voiced their disappointment that the government didn’t arrest the demonstrators immediately after their illegal rallies last month.

“Some even used harsh words against the leadership for being too lenient with street demonstrators. They don’t want the government to tolerate troublemakers and militants,” said a source.

After the briefing, Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, one of the party leaders who briefed the party members, admitted that some members were angry with what they perceived as the government’s “slow response” to the problem.

“There were some members who asked why action was slow in coming. It took some time for the decision to be taken because the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) did not want to be hasty in making the decision.”
He said the decision to detain the troublemakers under the ISA was only invoked after the government received strong feedback from the public.

“It was the will of the people (to invoke the ISA), and not the will of the leaders,” he added.

Sources confirmed that the mood of those 1,000 participants here yesterday was in favour of the detention without trial for the troublemakers.

The briefing also discussed other issues such as fuel subsidies and the price of consumer goods but the topic that seemed to take centre stage was the Hindraf rallies and demands which accused the government of ethnic cleansing of Indians in Malaysia.

Muhammad said Umno reaffirmed its position that there should not be militants among Malaysians, regardless of race and religion.

“Not many, including the Indians, Chinese or Malays, support the move by the minority militant group. For us, what is important is what the majority thinks.

“We want to see our country continue to be safe and prosperous with the ability to address issues that sometimes crop up,” he said.

However, this new development came as a surprise. Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday that he would ask the Attorney General to reconsider for a lesser charge and MIC President and defacto Indian community leader Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu also made the same call, which include the release of the accused.

The Star has the story:

Sunday December 16, 2007

PM: Murder charge protesters regret actions

KUALA LUMPUR: The 31 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) protesters facing an attempted murder charge have voiced regret over their actions to Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

“They also told the A-G that they will not participate in such activities in the future.

“I pity them. I have told the A-G to please consider this representation of theirs and decide as soon as possible,” he told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting at the PWTC here yesterday.

Abdullah said this when asked whether the attempted murder charge against the 31 would be dropped following appeals from various groups, including MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, for their release.

Abdullah added that the 31 protesters had said that many people had been misled by Hindraf.

The 31 were slapped with the charge after they allegedly injured a policeman at the illegal Hindraf rally on Nov 25.

Samy Vellu had said on Friday that he had conveyed the appeal of the protesters’ parents to the Attorney-General and hoped that it would be considered favourably.

He added that the parents told him their children took part in the rally without realising the consequences and also claimed that they were hoodwinked into believing it was for a worthy cause.

The Attorney General’s Chamber and Police are the authorities and agencies responsible for law enforcement in the country. They should be given the room and space to carry out their duties professionally, to ensure that order, peace, harmony and stability is maintained.

On Thursday, the Police arrested five HINDRAF leaders under ISA laws which drew both ‘yays’ and ‘nays’ within the different groups in the country.

However, with this statement, have the Government gone soft again, against the ‘extremist militants’ who purposely tried to disrupt order, peace, harmony and stability, provoked anger and incite and instigate racial and religious hatred in the multi plural society of Malaysia?

The principle of the ‘Rule of Law’ must be observed and enforced indiscriminatively, without fear or favour to anyone. If these 31 people did something to endanger the life of a policeman in carrying out his duty to ensure order, safety and law is adhered to, then they should be continued to be charged with ‘attempting murder’.

That is how a “civil society” should be; civility is maintained and reprimand disobedience, violence and felony.

*Photo uploaded from Minaq-Jinggo & The Star

The adventurous sportsman Sultan

This is an addendum to an earlier posting about HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, the Sultan of Selangor who on Monday officially celebrated his 62^nd birthday. HRH Raja Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Shah, Raja Muda Perak launched his biography From Peking to Paris: An Account of the 2007 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge on early this year’s HRH Sultan Selangor’s feat participating in the novelty but highly adventurous race, with his good buddy Dato’ Richard Curtis.

HRH Raja Muda Perak jokingly referred these men who participated and completed this race in vintage cars as “men filled with testosterone”.

The Star has more story on HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor, the “Sportsman Sultan”:

Saturday December 15, 2007

Special praise for Sultan’s driving feat

By LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Selangor’s feat in driving across the world in a vintage car earlier this year came in for special praise from another famed member of the royalty.

Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah said when he first heard of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s adventurism, he was surprised.

Sultan Sharafuddin and his businessman friend Datuk Richard Curtis drove a vintage 1940 Chevrolet Master 85 Series coupe over a 35-day journey covering 12,642km from Beijing to Paris in May and June.

“When I first heard of it and realising the toughness of the endurance race, I wondered to myself why in God’s green earth would His Royal Highness do it again at his age,” said the crown prince, who referred to them as “men filled with testosterone.”

The Raja Muda was launching the book, From Peking to Paris: An Account of the 2007 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge at a hotel here last night.

The Sultan, Curtis and Syed Haizam Jamalullail, the Sultan’s nephew who drove the rest of the journey from Moscow to Paris with Curtis, wrote the book.

Also present were the Sultan, Raja Puan Besar of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo and Curtis.

“With this book, the Tuanku reminds us that exploration, whether intellectual or physical, is the basis of man’s greatness.

“He is evidence of man’s need to seek new and unknown regions and test the limits of his physical and mental strength,” Raja Nazrin said.

Referring to the Sultan as a “man of audacity”, the Raja Muda said Sultan Sharafuddin had, through his example, inspired the people to challenge themselves to achieve greater heights in life.

Syed Haizam, 24, said the toughest part of the journey that the Sultan and Curtis endured was in Mongolia where they faced sandstorms and could not pitch their tents, forcing them to sleep in their car.

“The rally was not just about the journey. The people we met throughout – competitors and locals, made up an amazing experience,” he said.

HRH Sultan Selangor’s spirit of accomplishment, perseverance and sportsmanship should serve as a good inspirations for Selangorians to achieve in sports and other ventures.

Daulat Tuanku

Inquiry Commission to decide on calling Lingam and Tun Fairuz

The recently appointed Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) for the allegations involving famous lawyer V K Lingam has been issued with the necessary term of reference and powers, within the provisions provided under the Federal Constitution. That include investigative and issuance of subpoena power, to fully complete the inquiry, within the three months stipulated time.

The panel will be headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd. Noor, former Chief Judge of Borneo Tan Sri Steven Shim Lip Kiong, former Court of Appeal Judge Dato’ Mahadev Shanker, eminent historian and SUHAKAM Commissioner Prof. Dato’ Dr. Khoo Kay Kim and former Solicitor General Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh while Dato’ Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid will act as the Inquiry Commission secretary.

The members of RCI will have their first meeting next Tuesday and will decide whether to call wintnesses, which include the lawyer V K Lingam and/or former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim to testify.

On the same note, PKR in a statement has agreed to surrender the rest of the tapes about the so-called “phone call” to the Inquiry Commission. All the ruckus about the alleged how a practicing lawyer was able to lobby the then Chief Justice for movements and decisions in the Judiciary started when PKR Adviser Anwar Ibrahim and Vice President R Sivarasah revealed an 8 minute tape on 19 September 2007. On 26 September 2007, the Bar Council staged a “Walk for Justice” from Palace of Justice to Prime Minister’s Office claiming the Judiciary has been tarnished.

ISA arrest: DAP in support of ‘extremist militants’ while majority Malaysians detest

Yesterday, was a moment of mixed feelings for Malaysians. Five Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leaders (one is still ‘loose’) were arrested under the provisions of the Internal Security Act. The HINDRAF people have caused so many Malaysians to strongly express their deep dissatisfaction, some even asked more stern and decisive action taken against what has been classified as ‘threatening stability and harmony and national security’.

Of course, this invited strong criticisms when a provision of the ISA law, which was enacted by Parliament in 1960 by democratically elected representatives of the rakyat is being deployed against the group of people who were seen to destabilize and derail what was painfully achieved throughout a long period of time and an attempt to defame Malaysia abroad.

Some Opposition leaders even announced that their party will be fighting in court, to get the release of their members who are also HINDRAF leaders, deemed ‘extremist militants’ by some other senior and respected legal practitioners in town.

The Star has the story:

Friday December 14, 2007

Opposition plans to file application for two lawyers under ISA detention

KUALA LUMPUR: A writ of habeas corpus seeking the release of lawyers M. Manoharan and V. Ganabatirau members from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be filed soon.

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the two lawyers for Hindraf were party members.

“We will file the papers because the detention involves our members,” Karpal Singh told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

(The writ of habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action. It is a summons with the force of a court order addressed to the custodian, such as a prison official, demanding that an unlawfully detained person be brought before the court for release.)

Also detained under the ISA yesterday were lawyers P. Uthayakumar and R. Kenghadharan, and Hindraf coordinator T. Vasanthakumar.

Karpal Singh said the use of ISA under such circumstances could not be justified.

“They should be given an opportunity to face trial in open court if there is evidence,” he added.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang concurred, “If they have committed an offence, bring them to court to stand trial. If it is sedition, charge them in court.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the five were detained as public sentiments continued to be affected.

“I believe the police have all the information to use the ISA for fear that the internal security of the country is compromised,” he said, adding that there were also SMSes spreading allegations against the Government.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the Government had taken the right action to put the five Hindraf leaders under ISA detention.

“Peace needs to be maintained in the country. If you keep creating discord, then the Government has no choice but to invoke the ISA,” he told newsmen in Johor Baru.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president R. Sivarasa said unrealistic demands or loose or exaggerated language by Hindraf leaders could not be equated to “threats to national security.”

“The practice of locking up a citizen for two years using vague and unproven allegations of being a threat to national security has no place in any civilised society,” he said.

What actions against “vague and unproven allegations of being threat to national security” civilize society the PKR leader talking about, in support of the DAP leader’s call to fight for these people who are deemed committing ‘high treason’? What about the blatant lies with deep malice intent these people explicitly presented to a foreign Government a month ago?

Is the DAP now is in favour of supporting ‘militant extremism’ and people who specifically and explicitly want to cause racial and religious clashes in this country?

This is what DAP Deputy National Chairman and leading defense lawyer YB Karpal Singh said a week ago, about HINDRAF’s allegations:

 

Thursday December 6, 2007

Hindraf’s allegations untrue, says Karpal

KUALA LUMPUR: Allegations by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) that the Government was carrying out ethnic cleansing and had committed atrocities against Indians in Malaysia are baseless and untrue, said lawyer Karpal Singh.

He said he felt surprised that Hindraf leaders would make such charges and hoped that they would be more responsible when uttering such statements.

He said the manner in which Hindraf’s rally on Nov 25 was carried out was not right.

Karpal Singh said the problems of the Indians had not properly been addressed but that the protest gathering had not been properly organised and that “there should not have been any violence involved.”

The DAP national chairman and Bukit Glugor MP, however, said that the DAP was supportive of peaceful demonstrations and questioned the need for permits.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur) said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday that the Cabinet should set up a special task force headed by the Prime Minister to resolve the problems faced by the Indians.

“The Cabinet should come out with a new policy for a new deal to end this,” he said.

“The number of Indians in the civil service has also plunged in the past 34 years, from 17.4% in 1971 to 5.12% in 2005,” he added.

Apparently, the inconsistencies are very clear. The Oppositions have been staging one ‘circus’ stunt after another, beginning from the 10 November 2007 till present, which is typically of them; trying to narrowly capitalize for a miserable inch of grounds where ever they can. Now they tried to organise themselves with some of these NGOs and meet the Prime Minister. It is a desperate attempt trying to ‘reinvent’ themselves and portray themselves as “still relevant”, even short-selling the country whilst abroad.

On the other hand, there are some people who represent the bigger majority who are consistent in the call of vehemently detesting illegal assemblies and street demonstrations, which highly probable turning ugly and violent (and so many did).

NST has the story:

2007/12/14

‘Silent majority’ speaks out against protests

By : Ranjeetha Pakiam

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PETALING JAYA: The silent majority of Malaysians has spoken up for peace.

Fed up with the unrest that followed street demonstrations and illegal rallies, a coalition of non-governmental organisations, calling itself Damai Malaysia, made its stand in a memorandum to the prime minister yesterday.

Twenty representatives met Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to hand over the document that rejected street demonstrations and the use of racial and religious issues to incite hatred among Malaysians.

Abdullah appreciated the fact that the silent majority had spoken up, saying this showed that Malaysians were a peace-loving people.

“I appreciate the message of support. The rakyat is angry that some parties have gone overseas to drum up support against our country by making false accusations and stories.

“It is as if they don’t love their country. They are greedy for power, so they do not care about what happens to the country.

“They are so obsessed with their beliefs that they do not think of the damage they are doing to the country and its people,” he said after receiving the memorandum from Damai Malaysia co-ordinating chairman Mohd Saiful Adil Daud at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base.

Abdullah hoped more Malaysians would see the need to protect public safety and not abuse the freedom to speak.

He also spoke on the negative impact of street demonstrations on retail businesses and the tourism industry, which had suffered losses after cancellation of hotel rooms and tour bookings.

He reminded the people that street demonstrations were not part of Malaysian culture.

“We have been successful so far not because we have such demonstrations, but because we uphold the sanctity of the law and the sovereignty of the Constitution.

“This is why Malaysians have enjoyed peace and political stability for so long, while still being able to voice their opinions and beliefs freely.”

Damai Malaysia is a coalition of 395 NGOs representing 1.5 million Malaysians who have declared their stand against street demonstrations.

It is made up of 75 Chinese-based NGOs and 20 associations which are Indian-based with the rest being Malay.

Saiful said the coalition was formed recently to oppose all forms of street demonstrations which disrupted peace in the country.

He said the memorandum had been drafted during a forum held on Dec 6 at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman.

“As peace-loving citizens, we are responsible for supporting the government in its efforts to put a stop to all this nonsense.

“If there are issues affecting some people, they should go through the proper channels instead of resorting to such measures,” Saiful said.

The coalition plans to invite former appellate court judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah to speak on clauses in the Federal Constitution which touched on racial integration as well as Bumiputera privileges and the rights of others.

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration (who is also the Minister of Internal Security) for the last four years has been in favour of using the provisions under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and so many quarters felt that his approach and methods of resolving issues, even pertaining to ‘internal security’ has been too soft and slow. The only famous personality been arrested under the ISA laws is BSA Tahir in early 2004, in connection of the scandal to the supply of centrifuge for the purpose of a nuclear device by Scomi Precision Engineering Sdn. Bhd. (SCOPE).

It is thought that Anwar Ibrahim was the personality and ‘puppet master’ behind and strategically gave input for the HINDRAF leaders and movement. The reaction of PKR Vice President Gopalakrishnan on the ISA be used against HINDRAF leaders shows the direct association the “Anwar” party to the ‘extremist militants’.The use of ISA against HINDRAF leaders was thought to be a ‘warning’ for Anwar Ibrahim, who is known to have ‘connections’ with foreign agencies.

Blogger Sesumpah has angle that Anwar Ibrahim is making a wrong political move for his support of HINDRAF and later trying his best to deny it, as a ‘damage control’ effort.

Will we see Anwar Ibrahim be arrested under ISA, for the related charges against HINDRAF? The magic question will be, how the Oppositions capitalise and make Anwar Ibrahim a ‘martyr’ when they go for general elections, which is lurking around the corner.

*An update as of 7.15pm, Friday 14 December 2007

The HINDRAF leader who is the United Kingdom during the crackdown against the others under ISA law yesterday, P. Waythamoorthy vowed to continue the struggle and their demands.

The Star has the story:

 

Friday December 14, 2007
MYT 6:35:17 PM

Struggle will go on, says Hindraf leader

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) will continue its peaceful struggle through prayers advocating the rights of Malaysian Indians, its chairman P. Waythamoorthy said.

Waythamoorthy, contacted by telephone in London Friday, said the group was undeterred by the arrest of its leaders.

“Hindraf will continue to defend the five leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the other 31 Indians arrested for the peaceful walk in the city.

“We have further lost confidence in the Government after it detained our top officials without trial,” said Waythamoorthy, who will plan the group’s next course of action from London. He is currently there to garner international support for Hindraf.

He urged supporters to remain calm and pray for the release of those detained and others arrested.

On Thursday, P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kengadharan, V. Ganabatirau and K. Vasantha Kumar were arrested under the ISA. They have been detained at the Kamunting detention centre.

Their detention order was signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Internal Security Minister.

“Arresting our leaders does not mean we are without a leadership. I, and a few others, will continue to lead our non-violent struggle for Indian rights in Malaysia,” said Waythamoorthy.

“I will continue to issue statements from London and keep the Indians informed through the other leaders in Malaysia.” He stressed that Hindraf would remain apolitical and did not want any political party to hijack the movement’s struggle.