Children pretending to be men

This sort of things only happens in America. They do all sorts of unimaginable childish stunts to gain attention. Even when they are supposed to be grown ups. In their open-ness, the resulted to some serious immature pranks, in the name of public interests.

Eccentric celebrity billionaire Donald Trump challenges President Barack H. Obama to release his personal records:

President Obama responded with style and humour:

Stephen Colbert responded directly to Donald Trump:

Maturity is a virtue. Ability to think, is too. For the Middle America, combination of both is probably divine. In seven days, they decide who shall become President. Literally the most powerful man in the world.

However, there are active campaigners like Joss Whedon:

The outcome of next week’s race shall assume the self-appointed role of ‘World Policeman’.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha 1433H

Over two million Muslims are assembled in Arafah at this moment.

Between today and the end of the day on 10 Zulhijjah, its a very defining moment for Muslims for the submission to Allah S.W.T., especially those who are in Arafah to perform the Wuquf at this hour. It is a moment where every man is him or herself and everyone is equal, in the eyes of Al Mighty God Rab-ul-Jalil.

Islam means ‘Peace’. Amongst Muslims, they greet others with ‘Assalamualaikum’ which means ‘Peace be upon you’. Islam teaches Muslims to be tolerant and fair. If it is unjust, then it is not Islamic.

Muslims strive in their worship and submission to The One to earn their place of eternal sanctuary in the after life. In the same note, Islam requires the believers to strive in the quest to be the best in everything; educated, productive, prosper, trustworthy, reliable and honest. The first verse of God’s word which Arcangle Jibrail made Muhammad S.A.W. recite is “Read”. Reading is the key for Muslims to successful now on earth and later in the after life.

In short, Muslims are commanded to strike the balance between the quest for a success in their undertakings and getting the blessing from Allah S.W.T. It is a model of the insan which Muhammad S.A.W. keeps on reminding in his 23 years of teachings as the last of God’s prophet.

In that principle and philosophy of all that, Muslims should be defined as ‘Moderate’.

However, Muslims have been misunderstood and misrepresented, for all the wrong reasons. The West demands the Muslims to be ‘moderate’. Worse than that, the West themselves don’t apply the same definition of moderation to themselves.

Someone who is born in the West debated on this. To quote the latest The Mole columnist Iain Buchanan innaugral piece on the arguments on ‘Whose Moderate Muslim?’, “And yet it is mandatory, these days, for Muslims to define their “moderates” in terms of Western-derived conceptions of democracy and free elections, free speech, religious “tolerance”, sexual equality, children’s rights, and so on”.

It is time for Muslims and Non Muslims alike to be fair. Fair amongst themselves. Fair to each other. Fair to all. Fair to the environment. Fair to Mother Earth. Fair to be the ‘moderate beings’ that God created to be the mainstay of the ‘Third Rock From The Sun’.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha 1433H.

A very BIG THANK YOU to all

Big Dog, when was still a Small Pup with late uncle Mohamad Tahir Abdul Majid

I was born on the operating theatre at Hospital Assunta, Petaling Jaya at 240am 45 years ago at the very same day. Dr R S Mc Coy did a C-section to my mother as the baby in her wombs was already suffocating and getting weak. Not until two days later, she knew that her son survived.

God bless, I survived. And here I am forty-five years later.

I would like to offer my utmost gratitude and appreciation to all, who have been instrumental and participative in the process, for me to arrive at this point. Me arriving at this point include having a gem of a wife and a cheeky but ultra manja daughter. My parents, My parents-in-laws, my brother, sister, their spouses, my brother in laws sand their spouses, all my nieces and nephews, aunties, uncles, cousins and their off springs and all my distant relatives, who have been there for me as they should be, my relatives.

Not to forget my work colleagues and associates, clients and even competitors.

Then there are my mentors and those who I really look up to. Most of all, to those kind persons who took an incorrigible fellow like me under their wing, and part a thing or two, which I will always treasure and uphold.

Of course, my blogging brothers and sisters whose immense support, encouragements and faith me brought this blog this far.

A very huge thank you to all. God bless all.

*Updated 900pm

I was with an intense meeting with top management of a corporation. We exchanged views, but not without debate. This is a ‘surprise’ they had installed for me:

Thank you

The tale of shrinking tower and reach

Across town in parties and social dos, Malaysians are still laughing at Tony Fernandes for getting the egg thrown to his face due to rapid approval and Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s support on upcoming Malindo Airways launch recently.

That is not withstanding the fact the Malaysia Airlines-Air Asia ‘share-swap’ inked August last year was over turned on Labour Day. It was Prime Minister Najib’s gift to the Malaysia Airlines’ work force, who were solid up-at-arms with so many Malaysians against Fernandes’s ‘control’ over the national carrier.

Recently, Malaysia Airlines celebrated its 40th anniversary. To many of the workforce, the BOD without Fernandes is something to be thankful.

Then again October 2012 would be a ‘Dark October’ for Fernandes.

It is believed that Air Asia has been allocated a plot of land in the vicinity of the new KLIA2. Rumours are circulating about Air Asia building their headquarters on the plot of land. They wanted to stamp their mark.

Part of that rumour is that Fernandes wanted a 10 storey building. Building plans were submitted and waiting from comments from relevant authorities. It should be a pride for Air Asia, and a personal trophy for Fernandes.

It is also believed Department of Civil Aviation’s (DCA) comment to the approving authority for the proposal of the 10 story building to be rejected. It was way too tall to be so close proximity, particularly the intruding into the operations of the KLIA2 new air control tower. It was also rumoured that Fernandes’s reaction to this “Tell them to build the control tower taller”. In all likeliness, this statement could not be possible for a award winning corporate leader to utter such childish words.

So, rumour has it that a new proposal was submitted for a five storey complex. However, to suit the new proposal, they wanted more land to accommodate the building.

Now, the situation has become like how famous Malay proverbs are frequently repeated to best describe the situation; ‘Belanda dapat tanah‘ and/or ‘Bagi betis nak peha‘. They simply wanted more and win at any situation. This very much reflect the attitude, which is coming very apparent lately.

However, that is not as sensational as this other rumour. The market is buzzing about the story that Air Asia received a very stern letter from DCA with regards to their operations.

Apparently, the alleged DCA technical audit report dated 26 September had these findings:

1.0. ‘Flight Following’ which is the Communications between Flight Operations and pilots are flawed. Issues raised have not been addressed properly

2. There are failures detected in the Director of Flight Operations discharging his duties:
2.1. It is believed that the operations manual has not been updated
2.2. The execution of the flight operations is not in accordance to their manual

3.0. There is a management system failure where the lower graded staff not executing their task in accordance to the flight operations manual

It was said DCA recommended the Air Asia’s Flight Operations and Director of Flight Operations be reviewed.

As such, it was said in certain quarters that on 1 October DCA only renewed Air Asia’s Airlines Operation Certified (AOC) for six months. It will be reviewed only after all the issues have been addressed and resolve.

Air Asia should quickly mitigate all these. If their Flight Operations people are not the right people, then they have to review the team as per the said DCA recommendations. All these got to be implemented very quickly, as Flight Operations is the heart and cardiovascular system of any air carriers.

Most importantly, offer the right explanation to all stakeholders.

The confidence is at stake. This is not about Fernandes, even though he has been very a pain in everyone’s neck for quite a bit. It is about air travel via the most promising and award winning low cost carrier in the world.

Splice the mainbrace

Royal Malaysian Navy ‘dolphins’

Today is a very special remembrance day for some of the senior members of the elite submarine fraternity. It is the birthday  of  one of the first three Royal Malaysian Navy personnel pioneer group to be trained and certified as submariners and obtained their ‘dolphins’ in 1993 from the Royal Australian Navy.

Mustaffa Bin Dapat, an aeronautical engineering graduate who enrolled as Cadet Officer in Royal Malaysian Navy, volunteered and then selected to undergo submarine training in Australia. It is a very tough service for any seaman to specialize. It requires unsurpassed dedication, commitment and to certain extend, passion. The highly demanding job require them to work and live in conditions unlike other seamen.

The submarine Project Team was formed in 2003 and the 20 officers and men assumed their project team office in Arsenal, Cherboug, France later that year. In March 2005, the first batch of submariners arrived in Brest, France. In all, 156 officers and men received their extensive training and exposure with NAVFCO in Brest. The first Perdana Class Scorpene submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman arrived at Malaysian shores in September 2009. KD Tun Razak arrived ten months later.

It has gone a long way then. Today, the submarine fraternity grew to 120 members. The Royal Malaysian Navy incepted a Submarine Force HQ and it is based in TLDM Naval Base, Sepanggar Bay, Sabah. Two Perdana Class Scorpene submarines KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak are the pride of the RMN and Malaysian Armed Forces strategic assets.

Last weekend, the Chief of Navy Admiral Tan Sri Abd Aziz Ja’afar brought the media for a visit to the naval base and the highlight of the two day visit was to the Submarine Force HQ. Most of the senior officers in the submarine force were either Mustaffa’s contemporaries or immediate subordinates.

One of them wrote a tribute for Mustaffa, to remember him on his birthday:

Mustaffa b. Dapat, 21 Oct 1964 -28 Aug 2004

A TRIBUTE TO MUSTAFFA BIN DAPAT-  SENIOR, FRIEND AND FELLOW SUBMARINER

Mustaffa Dapat was born to a former British Army employee, Dapat b. Selamat on the 21^st Oct 1964. He was initially intended to be named as ‘Ahmad Suhardi b. Dapat’. However, his aunt somehow managed to change his name to ‘Mustaffa’ instead. He grew up in Kampung Stulang Baru, Johor Bahru, Johor and attended Larkin School. His father by then became a Postman at Bukit Panjang Post Office, Bukit Panjang, Singapore while his mother ran a food stall in Larkin.

Mus attended MARA Junior Science College, Kuantan, Pahang (1977-1981). He went to Oklahoma to study engineering but was transferred to Ohio University in Columbus, Ohio where he earned a bachelor in aeronautical engineering in 1986.

Mus returned to Malaysia during the recession. After his mother passed away in 1987 to stomach ulcer, Mustaffa join in the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) as a Cadet Officer. Having consistently performed to the highest standard, he was commissioned in July 1989 and awarded with the Sword of Honour as best cadet.

Despite being commissioned as Seaman officer (Executive Branch of the navy) Mus secretly harbour a desire to be an aeronautical engineer of which he was trained for. Unfortunately at that time, the Navy did not yet have the bureaucratic flexibility to accommodate such need. In 1992, while still a Sub. Lt, Mus was sent to HMAS PEGUIN, the Royal Australian Navy submarine school located in Sydney. There he earned his ‘Dolphins’ in 1993, the first RMN officer to be qualified as submariner, along with Lt. Abdul Rahman Ayob and Petty Officer Suhaimi following a training stint in an RAN OBERON Class submarine.

While working as staff officers in Navy HR, Mus again express his interest in switching his specialization from Regular Commission General Duty – Executive Branch to Professional Duty Engineer. And again as bureaucracy would have it, this came to nought. Besides, he was doing very well as a seaman that the higher ups thought why not groom him as a seaman officer and in times he’ll be a flag officer. Indeed there are more than a few in the Admiralty who would attest to the fact that Mus is a CN material. Judging by the way things are today, I am confident that Mus will be well on his way to become a First Admiral had he stayed in the navy.

As fate would have it Mus decided with a heavy heart no doubt, to leave the navy. Well not completely though. While he did joined ATSC as Project Manager for maintenance of the RMAF MIG 29N fighter jets, and another stint at Rajawali Aerospace, he was still doing a soul searching, uncertain of his true calling. When he was offered to join Perimekar to help oversee the implementation of RMN Submarine projects from the commercial side, boy did he jump on the opportunity. For me the cycle is complete. Mus, you are a submariner after all! Alas, I wonder how different things would have been if you realised this part of yourself much earlier.

Mus went to Cherbourg, France to assume his new role in December 2002. While I’ve yet to be there, we did correspond with each other from time to time. And through this I was assured that the project is proceeding well and the RMN will have ‘One Hell of a Beast’.

In late July 2004, Mustaffa fell ill due to viral fever and was admitted to the Louis Pasteur Hospital, Cherbourg in early August. Five days later he was transferred to another hospital in Caen where he was warded for the next two and half weeks. Unfortunately, things turn from bad to worse, while undergoing his treatment, he was diagnosed with a rare allergy known in the medical circle as ‘Steven Johnson syndrome’. Mus went into coma and finally succumb to this illness just before six a.m. on Saturday, 28 August 2004. He was barely fourty. I guess there is truth in the saying ‘whom the god love dies young’.

During his lifetime, Mus was a person of surpassing integrity; his quiet demeanor belies a brilliant yet humble, determined man. His dedication to honour and duty was exemplary. Above all he was a patriot. This somewhat larger than life character won him many loyal friends and admirer. While he was my super senior in MRSM, he joined the navy just two years before I did. While still under training in the officer school, KD PELANDUK Mus mentored me on all those basic things that are necessary in the making of an officer and a gentleman. Back then, somehow I always felt really small and short of his expectation. Later on, being a drafting officer in the naval officer career planning department, he pulled me while on patrol in the ‘far flung’ corners of east Malaysia to be a staff officer in HQ alongside him. Here our desk is literally inches from each other. Fresh from his submarine training tour, he told me that he wanted me to join the submarine service. I duly complied. After a rigorous selection process, I was selected and sent to Australia in 1995, and here is where it all began for me.

When Mus left the service in 1997, I somewhat felt that he wanted to tell me something but refrained himself from doing so. Yet he asked me to assist him with his documentation process till the end. When he depart from the HQ, I was the last person to see him out and he got those well deserve final salute from me. Years later in one of our conversation Mus finally told me what he wanted to say before but he did not because he thought it was too early. He told me he is confident that I have what it takes and he wanted me to ensure that RMN submarine force will be a force to be reckoned with, one that though he no longer part of, but can still be proud of. Well, Mus, I’ve tried my best and rest assured that our submarine force is highly regarded amongst those that matter. As for that ‘Hell of a Beast’; today, together they stand as the mainstay of this country conventional deterrence capability – a sentinel of our sea for which we gladly give our live away.

Mus, I hope you are at peace while on eternal patrol.

 

“The Trade“

They bear, in place of classic names,
No letters nor numbers on their skin.
They play their grisly blindfold games
In little boxes made of tin.
That is the custom of “The Trade.”

Few prize-courts sit upon their claims.
They never tow their targets in.
They follow certain secret aim.
Down under, far from strife or din.
When they are ready to begin,
No flag is flown, no fuss is made
No more than the shearing of a pin.
That is the custom of “The Trade.”

The Cruiser’s thunderous screw proclaims
Her coming out and going in
But for her, only whiffs of paraffin
Or creamy rings that fizz and fade
Show where the ‘one-eyed death’ has been.
That is the custom of “The Trade.”

Their feats, their fortunes and their fames
Hidden from their nearest kin,
No eager public backs or blames,
No journal prints the yarn they spin,
When they return from run or raid.
Unheard they work, unseen they win.
That is the custom of “The Trade.”

– Adapted from the original works of Rudyard Kipling

Cdr. Baharuddin Wan Mohd Nor, RMN

Former Commander, Perdana Class Submarine Sqdn and CO KD Tun Razak

21 Oct 2012

AND

Salam,

In commemorating the anniversary of the demise of our very dear friend/ brother Mustaffa Dapat.

After 8 years, our fond memories of him has not dwindled.  Looking back at the time when we were onboard HMAS OVENS doing our Part III Training for Submarine Officer Training Qualification Course, I couldn’t have asked for a better colleague to go through the course with.

Indeed the course was not an easy one and having Arwah through high and low of the course made everything less painful and many times even enjoyable.  His intelligence and dilligence in work and caring nature in friendship will forever be the way he stays in our minds and hearts.

Al Fatihah.

First Adm. Abdul Rahman Ayob, RMN

Commnander, Submarine Force HQ, Royal Malaysian Navy 

KD Tun Razak, berthed at Awana Porto Malai jetty from Monday 5 Dec till Friday 9 Dec 2011 for LIMA 2011

“Splice the mainbrace” is a naval term to celebrate after doing dangerous tasks, such as splicing the main brace (tying up the main mast after it broke, usually in a storm or during battle). By no means these submariners do dangerous work manning Malaysian Armed Forces’ most strategic assets.

We should all celebrate these extraordinary men. They have proven themselves able to undertake the process to be world class submariners and they are up to task for the most demanding job in the navy. They have made RMN a world class navy and proven that Malaysians could be qualified and do what men and women in superpower navies are qualified to do.

Former Commander of Submarine Force Rear Adm Dato’ Roaland Omar and Chief of Navy Adm Tan Sri Aziz Jaafar, in front of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman @ RMN Submarine Force HQ, Sepanggar Bay Naval Base

In short, they are the ‘soapbox’ that made Malaysians as tall as other people. Malaysians have now the submarine capability of navies of nations which once colonized this land.

Today, we remember Mustaffa Dapat. His contribution, even though was short, is immense. Mustaffa is one of those who helped in having the ‘soapbox’. May Allah bless him.

Season of slip-shots

Yesterday was a colorful day for reporting and analysis. One, is about Sime Darby Corporate Communications coming strong against our posting for the Board of Director’s (BOD) proposal to the shareholders Extraordinary General Meeting set on 8 November to approve a special ‘grant scheme’ for the senior management and executives.

The other one is about Bernama report on what Deputy Minister MITI Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir said to a group of Universiti Utara Students freshmen/women earlier in the month at Sintok, Kedah, Apparently, Bernama reported that Mukhriz claimed that the Federal Government debt and borrowings stood at RM 800 billion.

That was not exactly true. According to Mukhriz, he did not make that claim as per what Bernama report. He is not known for being inaccurate with facts.

The Federal Government debt and borrowings actually stood at RM 456 billion. That is 52% of the 2011 GDP. And Mukhriz is right. The amount is manageable and the Federal Government has been steadfast in servicing all the borrowings and financial commitments all along.

In fact, Malaysia is better at borrowing for the purpose of socio and economic development as compared as some of the developed European nations. Take Italy for example. The borrowings stood at Euro 1.95 trillion or 120% of the GDP.

15 June 2012 Last updated at 15:30 GMT

Italy selling off state assets to reduce debt mountain

Italian prime minister Mario Monti is struggling to reduce his country’s debt mountain

Continue reading the main story

Eurozone crisis

• Eurozone inches towards bank plan
• Euro action gives breathing space
• Do summits work?
• Q&A: Bailout fund

The Italian government hopes to raise 10bn euros (£8.1bn; $12.6bn) selling off three state-owned companies, in a bid to reduce its crippling debt mountain.

Prime Minister Mario Monti described the measures, which include a reduction in the number of state employees, as “very robust”.

The companies, Fintecna, Sace and Simsest, are all owned by the country’s economy ministry.

More privatisations are likely.

The government is also reducing the size of its military forces and plans to sell off property released by this process.

The property will be put into a fund, then valued and sold to private investors.

In other cost-cutting measures, the government intends to merge some departments and reduce the number of employees.

Italy is in danger of buckling under the weight of its public debt, equal to about 120% of its gross domestic product (GDP).

On Thursday, the Bank of Italy announced that the country’s public debt level had reached a record high of 1.95tn euros (£1.57tn).

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

So, don’t be quick to jump at what has been reported. Analyse the information and cross-check, when necessary.

Santa Musa is coming to town

This year Christmas comes early for some ‘selected’ employees of Sime Darby. The Board of Directors (BOD) of Sime Darby will propose at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) for the shareholders set on 8 November 2012 to approve a special ‘grant for selected employees’, which will be given in the form of free shares.

The proposed resolutions for the EGM is to approve BOD’s authority to issue the said grant to the only two employees nominated. The first one is President and Group CEO Dato’ Seri Mohd Bakke Mohd. Salleh, for the maximum amount of 3,000,000 shares in this grant scheme. The other is Nur Tania Yusof for 200,000 shares.

Tania is the daughter of BOD member Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron.

The EGM also proposed for a grant scheme to be approved, which will be categorized in three different groups:

Sime Darby EGM proposal

The intention to promote productivity is noble. However the practice of plc giving away ‘free shares’ is very odd, considering the circumstance of modern reward schemes for working directors, senior management and employees who have been receiving handsome emoluments package which include salary, bonus, incentives and even other perks. Perks for some corporations include paid holidays and ‘retreats’.

The normal practice is to give Employee Share Option Scheme (ESOS) or ‘Trust Shares’, where employees and senior management are allocated shares and they have to take them up. The practice for ESOS would be a five-day average minus 10% discount. This goes for the ‘Trust Shares’ where the corporation will buy from the market for allocation with the same terms as the ESOS. Sometimes, the financing for these options is arranged.

Resolution 1 for the 8 November EGM

Resolution 2 and Resolution 3

These senior management and employees reward for the ESOS scheme will be realised in the future where they have to work hard for the productivity and performance of the corporation improved and they would make from the appreciation of the ESOS shares increased market value. Of course, the reward would also translate in the dividends paid, from the profitability.

In other plcs, CEOs have been given the option to take up rights issue.

Never the less, all of these schemes mean that the corporate individuals have to pay up for the holdings of the plc that they are serving. They have to own up for their holdings and there is no such thing as ‘free lunch’.

Why is Sime Darby BOD introducing these grant schemes, which include the liberty of BOD to determine which senior management or executives are entitled for these ‘free shares’ at the junction where the public demand for greater accountability?

The finer points have to be analyzed too. Bakke has only been in the service of Sime Darby for a little over two years. Three months earlier to the entrance of Bakke, Sime Darby BOD painfully admitted the scandals which plagued the plc, although these failed and scandalous projects have made Sime Darby as the laughing stock of the industry since two years before that. For the record, Sime Darby  is a mainstay of Bumiputera investment via the ASNB scheme where almost 9 million Bumiputera unit trust holders have their lifesavings tied at.

This is a very generous scheme for Sime Darby Chairman Tun Musa Hitam and BOD to propose to the shareholders. Then again, Musa should be assuming responsibility for the Sime Darby cock-ups, which aggregated to over RM 1.7 billion. Assuming responsibility is to leave sometime back, instead of fast-forwarding on the rewards scheme for the CEO who has yet to prove himself.

Musa’s departure from Sime Darby BOD, along with some other really expired old hags would be a good ‘Thanksgiving’ item for this year. Apparently, Thanksgiving 2012 celebrations for the Americans is on 22 November.

*Updated Saturday 20 October 2012 0100hrs

This is the press release issued by Sime Darby Corporate Communications to all mainstream media. It was not send to the bloggers:

False and erroneous allegations made against the Chairman, Board of Directors and senior management of Sime Darby

Sime Darby is responding to certain allegations and accusations that have recently been posted on certain blogs with regard to a proposed long term incentive plan for eligible employees of the Group. The information contained in these blogs is wrong and thus the opinions posted are not founded on fact. The proposed performance-based employee share scheme is still subject to the approval of shareholders at general meeting. The two blogs and the comments posted have caused embarrassment to the Chairman, Board of Directors and the senior management of Sime Darby. The company takes a serious view of these baseless accusations and the inferences therein and will take appropriate action to protect the reputation of the organization. An official from Sime Darby has contacted one of the bloggers and informed him of his mistakes. Despite having notified him of his errors the previous day, he has yet to correct the offending post or remove it, which suggests that his intentions are malicious, vexatious and mischievous. The post has attracted undue attention and perpetuated his mistaken assumptions. A summary of the erroneous statements and the actual facts is listed below:

No.	Accusations	Actual Facts
1.	EGM on 8 Nov to approve a special ‘grant for selected employees’ – in the form of free shares	Sime Darby Bhd will hold an EGM on 8 November 2012 to seek approval for the performance-based employee share scheme – a scheme that aims to drive long term sustainable performance of the Group as well as to attract, retain and motivate employees based on their performance and the fulfillment of certain performance conditions and targets. The fulfillment of these targets will enhance total shareholders’ returns and the overall performance of the company which will benefit all stakeholders.
2.	The reward is not to the 100,000 Sime Darby staff worldwide but only to two individuals.	For employees working in Malaysia, executives of all grades including the executive director will be eligible to participate in the proposed scheme. For those employees based outside of Malaysia, executives of job grade VP II and above will be eligible to participate in the proposed scheme.
3.	Only two employees have been nominated for the scheme, Dato’ Bakke for 3 million shares and Nur Tania Yusof for 200,000 shares	Under the listing requirements, separate resolutions are required to be passed by shareholders to approve the grants of shares to Dato’ Bakke as the executive Director and Nur Tania being a person connected to a Director of Sime Darby Berhad. However all executives of VP II and above are eligible to participate in the scheme. It is wrong to suggest that these two individuals are the only two who will benefit from the proposed scheme.
4.	The practise of giving away ‘free shares’ is very odd	Sime Darby is not the first organization in Malaysia to implement such a performance-based share scheme. Other companies like Axiata, Bursa Malaysia and Maybank have implemented similar schemes earlier.
5.	Why is Sime Darby’s Board of Directors at liberty to determine which senior management or employees are entitled for these ‘free shares’ at a time when the public is demanding for greater accountability?	The scheme envisages the establishment of a Board committee to implement and administer the proposed scheme. This is standard practice in all organisations. It would be ludicrous to expect external parties to determine performance and rewards.

Other facts

·        In the case of the President and Chief Executive, the proposed performance-based employee share scheme allows for the granting of a maximum of 3 million shares over the 10-year scheme period. This number of shares will be vested on a staggered basis and only in the event of exceptional performance both at individual and enterprise level for the 10 years and subject to fulfillment of stringent performance-based conditions. The shares will only be vested in the grantee three years after the grant, subject to vesting conditions. These criteria will apply to all eligible grantees.

·        The Board has built in safeguards into the process that will ensure that the interests of the company and its shareholders are at all times safeguarded.

The blogs posted on the performance-based employee share scheme are misinformed and reflect the lack of appreciation and understanding of industry practices on performance-based reward schemes. 

For further information please refer to the Bursa Malaysia Website for Sime Darby’s circular to shareholders dated 16 October 2012 or contact:

Leela Barrock
Group Head, Communications & Corporate Affairs
Sime Darby Berhad
Tel: (603) 2698 7669
Fax: (603) 2698 0645
E-mail: leela.barrock@simedarby.com

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

Never the less, the grant schemes proposed by the BOD for the shareholders to approve on the 8 November EGM is for the executives and senior management of Vice President grade and and up. None for the middle managers or lower grades.

Sime Darby is a primary investment for the masses via ASNB and PNB unit trust schemes. The ‘grant schemes’ proposal is not exactly for the majority within Sime Darby.

* Updated Saturday 20 October 1530hrs

Please read Datuk Rocky’s and Another Brick in the Voice’s take on the story. There are ‘clear and present danger’ from the perspective of political backlash to this Sime Darby’s move, especially at this point of time and the more recent issues which made the political climate heated up just days ago.

In our opinion, Sime Darby is taking this posting very seriously. And in our experience, the company and/or any of the personalities involved or aforementioned are considering to take the ‘appropriate action’ which probably include a legal action against the blog, blogger and commenters.

Please comment at your own risk and at our greater risk.

Kadir Jasin: We have no discipline

“We have no discipline”, Tokoh Wartawan Negara 2011 Dato’ A Kadir Jasin remarked to younger Malaysians with regards in the handling ‘democracy’, be it the freedom to choose, which include their jobs, entertainment, political stance and expression of opinion.

“Finnish and Swedes are very developed, technologically advanced and fully exercise their freedom. They know when to work, when to play, when to demonstrate and when to express themselves”.

“Then again there is also the example of Singapore. They are developed. But there is no freedom to express themselves and no demonstration allowed”.

According to Kadir, things have change and the dynamism is fast. The development of technology and how people express themselves enabled the rapid growth of the freedom of information, that transcends borders, race, colours and creed.

Kadir was sharing his experience and thoughts at an intellectual discourse organized by Malaysian Press Institute (MPI). The event was also attended by UiTM communications students.

When will DAP leaders make a Police report against Nasharuddin Mat Isa?

Personaliti gereja dan DAP yang terlibat dalam majlis Red Rock Hotel pada 5 Mei 2011 dikenal pasti

On 7 May last year, the nation was shocked when Utusan Malaysia featured a front page story about BigDogDotCom’s 6 May posting on the 5 May 2011 meet in Red Rock Hotel in Macalister Road, Gerogetown, Pulau Pinang. DAP Jelutong MP and DAP Jelutong DAPSY Chief Ong Ah Tiong with several pastors “Vowed to make Christianity the ‘Official Religion’ of Malaysia and put a Christian the next Prime Minister”.

Utusan Malaysia Saturday 7 Mei 2011

On 8 May, DAP MP for Jelutong made a Police report against the blogger BigDogDotCom. The nation was rumbling with this controversy.

Five days later, a Jelutong DAP member Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman stepped up and made a Police report in North East Pulau Pinang Police to claim that “What was reported in Utusan Malaysia and blogs, were true. I was there and this did happen”.

Today, almost seventeen months after it happened, PAS leaders are now openly talking about what they vowed in the hotel on Macalister Road.

DAP leaders were very quick to react. They quickly issued a statement threatened to make a Police report against Nasharuddin, a fellow Pakatan Rakyat MP.

11 October 2012 | last updated at 01:12AM

DAP duo to lodge report against Nasharuddin

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KUALA LUMPUR: Two prominent DAP leaders will lodge a police report against former Pas deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa for alleging that DAP held a thanksgiving function to pray for Malaysia to become a Christian state.

DAP Sarawak chairman Wong Hoi Leng and secretary Chong Chieng Jen said they were “disgusted” with Nasharuddin’s statement.

However, they did not give an exact time frame when they would lodge the report.

“After the Sarawak elections (last year), DAP held victory and thanksgiving dinners in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri.

“It is unbelievable that Nasharuddin did not even identify the event where the alleged prayer was made,” he said at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

The duo said the thanksgiving was held merely to thank party members and volunteers who had worked in the state election and was not religious in nature.

“We had also invited Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Pas state leaders to attend the event.”

DAP also urged Nasharuddin to withdraw his allegations unconditionally and called upon the police to probe into the alleged remark.

Nasharuddin’s statement was also criticised by fellow Pas member, Shah Alam member of parliament Khalid Samad.

“Nasharuddin’s statement is ridiculous.

” He did not inform us about his remark in any of Pas’ meetings,” Khalid said.

“I question his motive in making the statement,” said Khalid adding that Nasharuddin has begun to ‘estrange’ himself from the party.

He said that Nasharuddin’s fate would be left to the discretion of the Pas Syura Council.

“What he said about DAP is his personal opinion and PAS does not share his sentiments.”

Read more: DAP duo to lodge report against Nasharuddin – General – New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/dap-duo-to-lodge-report-against-nasharuddin-1.155511#ixzz29DSTVY3S

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When will DAP leaders sue and make a Police report against the former PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Mat Isa statement? A lot at stake here.

An Anti-Constitutional warning

The Regent of Perak HRH Raja Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlah Shah in his contstitutional capacity, issued a warning to all the Anti Consitutional elements which include the Opposition leaders.

Published: Thursday October 11, 2012 MYT 6:24:00 PM
Updated: Thursday October 11, 2012 MYT 8:30:02 PM

Raja Nazrin: Desecrating flag an attack on nation’s sovereignty

KUALA LUMPUR: The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, likened the act of desecrating the Jalur Gemilang, which is one of the national symbols, as an attack on the nation’s sovereignty.

“Whatever our political or ideological differences, our national symbols belong to all citizens.

“By allowing these symbols to be trashed, we are opening ourselves up to a host of consequences, including the possibility of inflaming passions, inviting tit-for-tat retaliation and so forth.

“Hate and anger are some of the most powerful human emotions. When they take hold of society, they are difficult, and oftentimes impossible, to control.

“Our national symbols should therefore be placed above the political fray,” he said when launching the Malaysia Brand Forum 2012, here on Thursday.

Raja Nazrin said the act of desecrating a flag was more than one individual’s statement of disrespect and criticism.

“The act is deliberately designed to insult what many others treasure and consider a source of pride and joy.

“Whatever one may think of the rights of individuals to express themselves, the larger consequences of their actions cannot and should not be ignored,” he said.

Raja Nazrin said some countries had enacted specific laws to protect their national symbols, including Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland, with specific penalties for the desecration of their national flags.

Raja Nazrin also expressed concern over the tendency of some quarters to discredit and undermine the national symbols that play such an important role in Malaysian national life.

“I am also concerned about the extent to which some are pushing against the institutional pillars that are holding up this nation.”

He said there were at least two reasons why this might be the case.

One is a fundamental misunderstanding of how individual rights and freedoms are to be exercised within the context of a nation.

The other is the impact of generational change in eroding the significance, meanings and value of nation building and its symbols.

Raja Nazrin said human beings had always craved for freedom, however, “if boundaries are disregarded in the exercise of individual freedoms, we will end up weakening rather than strengthening the bonds that bind us as a nation. We need to instil in our young a sense of responsibility and community”.

As with generational change, he said: “With each passing generation, people become less familiar with the circumstances around which this country was formed and built. That is why I cannot over-emphasise enough the need for both well-thought and well-taught history in our schools.

“In this way, our students can better appreciate and respect the national institutions and symbols around us. This appreciation and respect are clearly missing when national symbols are deliberately desecrated.” – Bernama

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They have clearly demonstrated their Anti Constitutional traits, in their sordid attempt to come into power and impose themselves against the will of the majority. In the process, they have desecrated Jalur Gemilang, honour the leftists who were outright supporters of the communist rebels and terrorists, insulted Islam and Muslims and insult HRH Malay Rulers.

The plot gets thicker. Some Opposition leaders not only take their politics to the church, but openly support some churches effort to prosetylise Muslims. This is is clearly against the Federation of Malaysia Consitution, where Islam is the religion of the federation of Malaysia.

Even younger Malaysians openly demonstrated their Anti Constitutional tendencies, due to the ‘Politics of Hatred” strategy.

For a Ruler to issue such a strong titah, really reflect the severity of these Anti Consitutionalists. And his is not a first time a ruler issued a warning via a titah. HRH Tuanku Sultan Johor also issued similar titah against former DAP-puppet Menteri Besar of Perak Nizar Jamaluddin for his twitter insult against HRH Tuanku, in the opening ceremony of the Johor State Assembly on 14 June.

Some Opposition leaders have been advocating and practicing these Anti Constitutional traits since 45 years ago. It is clear they are unable to convince the majority for their support, via the democratic political process. So, they resorted to the ‘Politics of Hatred’ strategy.