Seludup semakin sakit

Penyeludupan semakin meningkat kerana penguncupan kemampuan yang lahir daripada strategi ‘cukai dosa’ (sin tax) yang dikenakan bagi mengurangkan penggunaan barangan seperti rokok dan arak.

Strategi ini bertujuan mengalihkan perbelanjaan bagi perubatan merawat pesakit yang meningkat kerana merokok.

Namun, ianya mengundang permasalahan yang berlainan.

Nilai penyeludupan rokok ini telah menyelenyapkan lebih RM5b pendapatan.

Kajian menunjukkan peningkatan cukai mendadak, tidak mengurangkan penggunaan malah permintaan menjadikan aktiviti penyeludupan meningkat mendadak.

Dianggarkan 10billion batang rokok diseludup dan edarkan setiap tahun di negara ini. Data ini meletakkan Malaysia negara no.1 dunia dalam aktiviti rokok seludup.

Rakyat, samada warga atau masyarakat immigran, tidak menghiraukan apa-apa kesan daripada rokok yang diseludup, termasuk bahan yang tidak dikawal.

Kajian menunjukkan penyeludupan rokok ini begitu berleluasa.

Ianya juga menjadi saluran yang sama kepada arak yang diseludup.

Persoalan dari perspektif keselamatan dalam negeri timbul sekiranya saluran penyeludupan ini begitu berleluasa dan tidak mendapat kawalan sewajarnya, apa lagi bahan yang berjaya diseludup ‘menumpang’ saluran yang sama?

Amanah Saham (Sendirian) Had mana?

It is interesting that how and where ghost of Christmas Past turn up, when the Saint Niklaus is back with the sack of treasures or in modern times, treasures for ransack.

Blog Another Brick in the Wall revealed that former Bank Negara Governor and PNB Chairman Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz is one of the investors of a firm Ecotive Limited (incorporated in Middlesex, England 2014).

The founder and principal is Kamal Sidiqqi.

Siddiqi is a name associated with Proton and the tie up with Fraser Nash Research and Development quite sometime ago. Apparently, it didn’t turn out quite well for the National car company.

NST story:

Proton’s hybrid misadventures

APRIL 10, 2016 @ 11:02AM
BY A JALIL HAMID

With Proton very much in the news lately, Malaysians must be wondering about the fate of the generous public funds being disbursed to the company for the past few years to develop hybrid cars.

In 2010, Proton reportedly secured an R&D grant of RM270 million to develop hybrid cars. It is worth noting that Proton had a cash balance of RM1.2 billion as at the end of March 2011.

The Proton plan had envisaged mass production of hybrid cars to begin in 2012.

A total of 30 hybrid cars were to be delivered by the end of 2011. This was obviously not met. Media releases later said that 200 hybrid cars were scheduled to be delivered only in 2013.

For the record, Proton was in a joint venture with UK firm Frazer–Nash Research Ltd to develop the hybrid technology.

The chairman and owner of Frazer-Nash is Kamal Siddiqi, a UK-based Indian businessman who, by most accounts, is very close to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Many industry insiders claimed that Frazer-Nash was fully paid upfront even without one electric car being delivered to Proton.

What is more startling is that Siddiqi had been recently implicated in the controversy involving jailed ex-PetroSaudi International executive Xavier Andre Justo.

According to documents sighted by the Malay Mail, Justo had, in his confession to Thai police, spoken to his “best friend”, Christian Frampton, regarding his offer to sell the stolen PetroSaudi data he had.

The Swiss national claimed he was sure Frampton did not know or meet Sarawak Report’s Clare Rewcastle-Brown and that the journalist had introduced Sidiqqi “as an intermediary in subsequent WhatsApp conversations”.

Siddiqi owns Kamkorp, a British-Swiss holding company. The 
company is part of the Frazer-
Nash group specialising in electric vehicle technologies.

About five years ago, Siddiqi boasted publicly about his long partnership with Proton.

“I believe we have come a long way, with lots of patience and perseverance. It is because of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who believes in what we are doing.

“He (Mahathir) saw hybrids and eventually REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) as the future, and we are proud of what Proton engineers have done — a brilliant job. I believe we can showcase our technology with this smart partnership.”

In response to parliamentary questions on the Proton-Frazer-Nash deal, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said in September 2012 that Proton would be selling electric vehicles by 2014.

He had said Proton was collaborating with UK-based Frazer-Nash to develop its own EV.

In a reply to Gombak member of parliament (Datuk Seri) Azmin Ali, the MITI minister said that Proton had allocated RM500 million for R&D in green technology and was expected to gain profits after commercialising EVs in 2014.

The PKR man had asked MITI to state the rationale of investment by Proton through Frazer-Nash, to which Mustapa replied that Proton’s R&D spend was much smaller than other car manufacturers.

Allegations that Proton spent some RM270 million to test 30 cars with each costing about RM9 million were untrue, Mustapa said.

Apart from RM120 million that Proton would receive in 2013, it had already been given RM100 million in 2012. This was on top of the RM270 million in grants given in 2010.

This means a total of RM490 million in grants was given to Proton in four years.

The government on Friday approved a RM1.5 billion soft loan to cash-strapped Proton. The money will be used mainly to pay the amount outstanding to its component suppliers.

But the loan came with strings attached.

The question is, will this fresh lifeline be enough to take Proton forward?

Proton critically needs a strategic foreign partner to inject life into it, with the company at its lowest ebb in its history. The foreign partner can help transfer technology and regain domestic market share.

Some European automakers are looking at Asean as a huge market potential. Proton may offer some answers.

Proton can offer infrastructure, skilled workers and a vendor base.

What it needs to do is develop new and relevant products and build up a critical mass.

Currently, its problem is its low brand equity. After 30 years, it is still struggling to build a reputation as a maker of competitive but quality cars.

A veteran newsman, A Jalil Hamid believes that a good journalist should be curious and sceptical at the same time

© 2019. NEW STRAITS TIMES PRESS (M) BERHAD (4485-H).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

**********

In his passion for automotive technology, Gerontocracy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad provided his patronage for the Proton-Fraser Nash Research and Development tie up.

It is very important for Zeti to disclose whether or not she is still in commercial relationship in any Siddiqi’s ventures.

Based on reports, Siddiqi isn’t quite a reputable businessman.

Anyhow, it was said that Siddiqi was the chap who arranged Dr Mahathir to meet Sarawak Report Editor Claire Rewcastle-Brown and PKR Deputy President and then MB Selangor Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali in London.

Separately, of course.

Just to note, at the time Dr Mahathir was still UMNO member and also the Chairman of Proton. It was also the time Dr Mahathir lambasted the Federal Government, particularly Minister of MITI Dato Seri Mustapha Mohamad for not providing the RM1.7b grant to Proton.

At this point of time, it is also interesting to know what is the business of Ecotive Limited.

However, if the same dodgy character is in all these stories, it is intriguing, isn’t it?

Saluran Seludup

Gejala penyeludupan yang kemungkinan makin menular dikalangan warga Malaysia, termasuk golongan immigran negara, lambas laun akan bergerak menjadi encaman sekiranya telah pun menjejaskan kepentingan negara.

Laporan Utusan Malaysia:

Rokok seludup RM4.2 juta dirampas

**********

10 Ogos 2019 11:18 AM





13

KUALA LUMPUR 10 Ogos – Polis menumpaskan sindiket pengedaran rokok seludup dengan merampas sebanyak 25,750 karton rokok jenama U2 bernilai RM4.2 juta selepas cukai taksiran menerusi operasi khas di Mersing, Johor, semalam.

Pengarah Jabatan Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan Ketenteraman Awam (KDNKA) Bukit Aman, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani berkata, operasi dijalankan Bahagian Perisikan dan Siasatan Khas, Pasukan Gerakan Khas jabatan itu selepas mendapat maklumat daripada orang awam.

Ujarnya, sindiket itu dipercayai aktif menjalankan aktiviti pengedaran rokok seludup di kawasan Semenanjung Malaysia.
“Dalam operasi tersebut, kita turut menahan lima lelaki tempatan berusia lingkungan 23 hingga 37 tahun. 
“Selain rampasan rokok, kita juga menyita sebuah lori dan sebuah kereta Proton Wira yang digunakan sindiket untuk menjalankan aktiviti penyeludupan,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.
Tambah Acryl Sani, kesemua suspek ditahan reman di Ibu pejabat Polis Daerah Mersing selama tiga hari bermula semalam sehingga esok bagi membantu siasatan di bawah Seksyen 135(1)(d) Akta Kastam 1967. – UTUSAN ONLINE

********

Mungkin rokok dipandang sebagai perkara remeh sekiranya ianya penyeludupan bahan yang menjadi sebahagian dari konsumsi warga Malaysia, termasuk golongan imigran.

Menurut laporan pakar, negara kerugian jumlah pendapatan kasar lebih RM6 billion setahun akibat penyeludupan rokok.

Ianya tidak setakat daripada industri rokok tempatan, termasuk pendapatan kepada Kerajaan melalui cukai, duti import dan lesen, tetapi agihan pendapatan daripada industri tersebut dalam bentuk perniagaan, pendapatan pekerja dan petani tembakau.

Penyeludupan rokok juga merupakan ancaman yang luar daripada jawapan pihak berwajib.

Bahaya ini akan meninggalkan kesan kepada seluruh eko-sistem peruncitan, terutama dikedai-kedai makan, pusat istirehat dan maupun kedai runcit-mudah (convenient store), stesyen minuak dan sebagainya yang sebenarnya makin bertambah.

Buckling on to the push to the shove

Gerontocracy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad started to demonstrate his ‘Malay Ultra’ness and uneasy with the Chinese Chauvinism and anti-Malay traits of the ‘Unholy-marriage-of-(in)convenience-between-backstabbing-strange-bedfellows’, especially with DAP and openly attacking them.

Malay Mail Online story:

Dr M labels Dong Zong as racist for not agreeing with anything

Published 2 hours ago on 12 August 2019

LANGKAWI, Aug 12 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has described Dong Zong, the United Chinese School Committees’ Association, as racist as it has never agreed with national education policies, including the introduction of Jawi calligraphy in schools.

The prime minister said apart from the Jawi calligraphy or khat issue, the group had also protested against the setting up of Vision School (Sekolah Wawasan) for fear of Chinese students mixing with other races.

“Dong Zong is racist; we set up a campus in Vision School to put a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK) Cina, a SJK Tamil and a sekolah kebangsaan (national school) in one campus, but they were against it.

“They are afraid to let their children mix with Malays, so they did not want it. They are against all (implemented by the government), never agreed with anything,” he told reporters after attending a gathering with the residents of Padang Matsirat in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration here today.

He was asked to comment on Dong Zong’s move to organise a petition to protest the learning of Jawi calligraphy in vernacular schools.

Elaborating, Dr Mahathir said the decision to introduce khat was made in 2012 by the previous government but the Chinese pressure group did not raise its objection at that time.

He said the present government is practising a more open policy for groups to voice their views compared to the earlier government.

Dr Mahathir also said when the country wanted to achieve independence, the government introduced romanised writing to help non-Malays as it would be difficult for them to learn Jawi.

“Now the Malays have to learn Jawi to read the Quran instead. So, why are we fighting? We have given special consideration in the interest of non-Malays,” he said.

Asked whether policy matters should be discussed in the Cabinet before a decision is made, Dr Mahathir said almost all matters are discussed in the Cabinet but the contents of discussion are not made public.

Meanwhile, commenting on a call by Klang MP Charles Santiago who wanted the power of the prime minister in making decisions curbed, Dr Mahathir cynically said he will refer to Charles before making any decision.

“In future, when making a decision, I will ask Charles Santiago; if he did not agree I will not make the decision. Of course, I have to obtain his view; he is on the same level as me,” he said. — Bernama

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

Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir conceded to the expectation of the Malays amidst a growing anti-Government sentiments, as the Federal Government is felt of not only neglecting to the Malays but also allowing the increasing anti-Malay policies.

Brothing the Hot Soup

Pakatan Harapan leaders are throwing the blame to Gerontocracy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of allowing disability, with the intent to stay in power longer and not handover the Premiership to heir apparent PKR President Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim.

The Malay Mail Online story:

DAP MP demands Pakatan rein in Dr M

Published 54 minutes ago on 12 August 2019

BY JUSTIN ONG

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Klang MP Charles Santiago accused Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of unilateralism today and told the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council to curb the “minority party” leader.

The DAP MP blamed the Bersatu chairman for the current controversy over the introduction of khat in primary schools, insisting Dr Mahathir must have known it would trigger public dissatisfaction.

He also cited the government’s decisions in other issues including the refusal to deport Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik as well as the high-profile reversals on Lynas Malaysia and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) as examples.

“Mahathir, by now, should be able to read the mood of the people. And he must understand that arbitrary decisions, without consultation, will not get him far.

“Therefore, there must be a review in the decision-making process at the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council,” he said in a statement.

Charles asserted that the PH leadership must be consulted on matters relating to race and religion in government policy.

The country’s education system was also in need of fundamental reforms that were more pressing than the introduction of khat, he said.

He warned that voters were “livid and furious” with the administration and threatening to expel the current leaders in the next general election.

“Currently, it looks like there it too much power in the hands of the prime minister and so this power needs to be shared equally amongst all the component parties.

“We can’t get rid of former premier Najib Razak, only to become just like him,” Charles said.

***********

A Machiavellian that he is, Gerontocracy Prime Minister is the Master of Divide and Rule.

Now, he got them by the short and curlies!

He has perfectly mastered the art to continuously create controversies, and he wouldn’t be allowed to leave in the middle of these unresolved issues.

DAP leaders within the ruling is accusing Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir has been making unilateral decisions of issues like Tulisan Jawi/Khat in schools.

Where as amongst DAP, the introduction of it as part of Bahasa Melayu at year four didn’t augur well at the grassroots level.

Two days ago Emperorissimo of Chinese Chauvinism Lim Kit Siang was heckled by his own constituents on the matter.

The Star story:

Kit Siang heckled in own constituency over khat issue

---

• NATION

• Saturday, 10 Aug 2019

• 10:09 AM MYT

PETALING JAYA: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang was seen heckled by the public over the khat issue during a Hungry Ghost Festival event in his constituency on Friday.

In two videos circulating on social media, Lim, who is the Iskandar Puteri MP, can be seen being shouted and booed at by the public.

In the first video, a man is heard shouting at Lim, “Are you still lying” while Lim is giving a speech.

In the second video, another man questions Lim but does not get a response as Lim just continues with his speech.

Online portal Malaysiakini reported that the function’s organiser had claimed that Lim was booed at by locals as they were not happy over the khat issue.

The report also stated that Lim did not leave the event later over the jeering, but because he needed to attend another function.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/10/kit-siang-heckled-in-own-constituency-over-khat-issue#1Q3dJlTqesWAJYqe.99

***********

This is a prickly issue which is part of DAP’s successful anti-Malay Strategy, for over half a century and those who bought into this, now would not accept DAP to concede on the matter.

The fact is that DAP leaders across the board are trying hard to continue to sow the ‘anti-Malay Strategy’.

Malaysiakini story:

Speech, ‘Jawi in porno book’ example taken out of context – Kluang MP

10:06 am (Updated 11:57 am)

Pakatan Harapan lawmaker Wong Shu Qi today accused the opposition of taking her speech on the introduction of khat (Jawi calligraphy) in schools out of context in a bid to play up racial sentiments.

The DAP Kluang MP said this includes a reference she made to the use of Jawi text in pornographic books during a dialogue session with Chinese groups last Friday.

In a statement, Wong alleged that “an MCA leader” in attendance had recorded her speech without permission, which was later uploaded on social media by a Kluang MCA Youth leader.

Part of this recording, which has since been deleted, was later used by Umno cybertroopers to accuse her of insulting Jawi, she claimed. Video clips of the speech are circulating online.

“By referring to the same speech, MCA accused me of supporting Jawi to incite the Chinese, Umno claimed I insulted Jawi to incite the Malays. Their evil political game is clearly shining through,” she said.

As Wong noted, she was explaining the khat issue during a dialogue session with representatives from the Tiong Hwa Association and 27 other Chinese groups in Kluang.

“In my speech, I explained that Jawi was used as the general system of writing for Bahasa Malaysia before 1956, and was used for all sorts of reading materials in the language, which were not limited to Islamic writing alone.

“In the presentation, I used three slides to explain the argument through the history of Jawi writing, including… Jawi being used in Bahasa Malaysia writing before Romanised letters were introduced. Hence, Jawi was used in the Christian Bible in the 19th century.

“Slide two gave examples of other reading materials which used Jawi, including pornographic reading materials,” her statement read.

The third slide, Wong explained, showed that people do not assume Chinese calligraphy is reserved for Buddhism just because it is used in religious manuscripts.

From the purported transcript of her speech during the dialogue session, Wong had said the image on the second slide “shows pornography books from long ago, and is just used as a picture reference here.

“If Jawi was specific for Islamic use only, should Islamic extremists have known of this, there is a chance they would have objected to the use of Jawi by non-Muslims, as these kinds of materials could insult Islam.”

Wong today stressed in her statement that her presentation was aimed at clearing the confusion over the introduction of khat by the Education Ministry, which some believe to be an Islamisation tactic.

“The evil action of twisting my speech shows that MCA and Umno conspired to play up racial sentiments over the issue of Jawi (khat) writing.”

DAP leaders have been slammed by its grassroots and by Chinese educationist groups for defending the introduction of optional khat writing lessons in the Standard 4 Bahasa Malaysia syllabus, including for vernacular schools.

Khat is the calligraphic or written art form of Jawi, which was used to write Bahasa Malaysia prior to use of the Roman alphabet.

Meanwhile, former Umno Youth leader Mohd Razlan Rafii said Wong’s choice of example on the use of Jawi was “irresponsible” and a mere popularity tactic.

“There are many examples which could have been taken to show DAP is sincere in supporting (teaching of khat).

“DAP likes seeking popularity by bringing in sensitive issues with hidden meanings,” he claimed in a statement.

As such, Razlan accused Wong of intentionally sensationalising the issue by shaming khat writing.

**********

It is abundantly clear day-by-day the current ideology and relationship with Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir and his pro-Melayu worshippers would never work hand-in-hand with DAP and their anti-Malay ideology.

Dashing the Nine-Dash-Line

The recent uproar against the DAP leaders for the Chinese Chauvinism anti-Malay stance, it is obvious that the minority within the minority is throwing the weight around to create an imbalance and destabilise the nation where tolerance and understanding are the fundamental ingredients when the nationhood platform was laid

The Star story:

Lim Lip Eng says sorry for sharing FB post over khat issue

---

• NATION

• Monday, 05 Aug 2019

• 10:04 PM MYT

• By FATIMAH ZAINAL

KUALA LUMPUR: Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has apologised for recently sharing on his Facebook post a quote from an article over the proposal of teaching khat in primary schools.

Lim received backlash for his post on Saturday (Aug 3) after putting up a Facebook post which read: “While education ministers in our neighbouring countries are planning to introduce computer programming language (coding) to their young students, let us not rub cow manure on our faces by introducing khat. Please.”

However,the post was deleted five hours after being put up and Lim said that this quote was not his, but from an article from a news portal that he linked to his Facebook page.

Lim admitted that he erred when he shared the quote from the article on his social media account without attributing it to the original writer, causing social media users to think that it was his own view.

“I also promise to be careful in posting on social media. I hope that the misunderstanding can be cleared up with this explanation,” said Lim in a statement on Monday (Aug 5).

The issue of khat calligraphy has become heavily debated after the Education Ministry announced its plan to implement the art of writing the Jawi script for primary school pupils.

The syllabus is planned to start next year as part of the Year 4 Bahasa Melayu subject, although students will not be tested on their skill in writing khat.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/05/lim-lip-eng-says-sorry-for-sharing-fb-post-over-khat-issue#Qc7xDH0Spb0yT0KK.99

**********

The DAP Chinese Chauvinism and nature of being anti Malay isn’t a new phenomenon.

In fact, the DAP has systematically provoked and insulted everything in the eco-system about the Malays, right from their inception over half a century ago.

An example is Emperorissimo of Chinese Chauvinist Lim Kit Siang’s 1984 writing about the Jawi scriptures.

Lim Kit Siang’s blog:

Education Ministry’s regulation that Jawi is a compulsory subject violates Article 152 of Malaysian Constitution

Speech by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and Mp for Kota Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, at the Selangor State DAP Committee meeting on Friday, 1.6.1984 at 8 pm

Education Ministry’s regulation that Jawi is a compulsory subject violates Article 152 of Malaysian Constitution

On 26th Feb.1984, when opening the Penang DAP State Seminar on Malaysian Culture, I stated for the first time that there was proposal, in conformity with the ‘One Language, One Culture’ policy proclaimed after the Barisan Nasional’s April 1982 general elections victory, to make Jawi a compulsory subject for all pupils, including Chinese and Tamil primary schools.

Although the Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Tan Tiong Hong, vehemently denied at that time that there was any such plan, it is now clear that either Dr. Tan did not know what he was talking about or he was taking part in a deliberate plan mislead the parents, pupils and the public.

The compulsory teaching of Jawi to school pupils was officially admitted for the first time in the Actionline of New Straits Times May 31, 1984, in response to an irate parent’s query to know whether it was compulsory for non- Malays to learn Jawi, as his nephew at a primary school in Jalan Peel, Kuala Lumpur was made to write 100 lines in Jawi because his earlier Jawi writing was unsatisfactory.
In response to this letter, the Federal Territory Deputy Director of Education, Haji Zainal Bahaudin said Jawi now compulsory for all pupils. He said:

“Everybody must learn Jawi as it is now taught as part or Bahasa Malaysia in the primary school syllabus.
“Previously Jawi was taught during religious classes and as such only Malay pupils were taught.
“Parent should be clear that Jawi is now regarded as part of the academic subject and since Bahasa Malaysia is a compulsory subject, pupils – regardless of race – must study it.”

The DAP is opposed to the introduction of Jawi as a compulsory subject for the primary schools, for it is clearly against the Constitutional provision in Article 152 which provided for the national language to be Rumi script of Bahasa Malaysia. The Jawi script therefore is not part of the national language, or official language.

If education officials can by administrative decisions amend the meaning of the national language to include the Jawi script, then they have superseded even Parliament itself which is the sole authority to amend the Constitution. No wonder a Deputy Minister like Dr. Tan is treated like small boy by his Ministry officials, who think they are even more powerful than Parliament! The DAP is also very concerned at the dangerous precedent that is being set to make Jawi a compulsory subject, by making it part of Bahasa Malaysia. If this is not challenged, then in future, some over-zealous education officials would suggest that Islamic civilisation should also be taught as part of Bahasa Malaysia!

The DAP is not opposed to the teaching and learning of Jawi, but cannot agree to its introduction as a compulsory subjects, like raising the standard of English or mother-tongue proficiency for non-Malay students.

Those Tung Chiau Chung officials who joined the Gerakan in the April 1982 general elections on the platform of ‘Assault BN to rectify BN’ should also let the public know whether this is one of their many bitter fruits of ‘rectification’! Another such bitter fruits is the announcement by the Gerakan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Posts, Telecoms, Au Howe Cheong, that government departments would not accept cheques written in chinese.

Mr. Lim Kit Siang released this statement on June 1, 1984 and is filed under Constitution, Education.

**********

The systematic provocations and insults have often brought race relations between the Malays and Non Malays, particular the Chinese, into precarious zone.

The DAP leaders may not attacked Islam directly but indirectly, they are getting the hands in anti-Islam situation.

A good example is the prickly issue of proselytisation of Malay-Muslims into Christianity.

Then we are distracted towards a story from Hong Kong about how Chinese mainlanders are coming in droves and settling here in the Malay hinterland.

South China Morning Post story:

Why are Chinese moving to Malaysia by the thousands?

With an election looming, the country’s often fraught race relations are as complicated as ever, but that hasn’t dented its appeal to a ‘third wave’ of immigrants from China

Paul Ying Qian, 32, first tried durian when he was 10 years old in his home town of Hunan ( 湖南 ), China. A family friend had sent his mother the pungent fruit, which the whole family enjoyed. Paul tried durian again when he was studying in Australia, but it was expensive and didn’t match the taste in his memory.

Now he lives in durian-obsessed Malaysia, but it isn’t the fruit that brought him here. It was the temperate weather, cleaner air and mix of Asian values and Western infrastructure. “It’s easy to join in the culture here, and not feel like a total outsider. The different races get on well, and it’s quite near China – much nearer than Australia. The education is good, and the country maintains its traditional face while also experiencing development. Back home the seasons are very dramatic with extremely hot summers and very cold winters. Malaysians are very friendly. I feel this is a good place for my next generation.”

Paul, who gained his residency through the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, is one of thousands who have settled under the scheme. He has been here since 2009, and his two children, aged one and three, were born in Malaysia.

“I travel between here and China, spending about four months a year in my home town Wuhan (武漢) to take care of the family business. My wife Sophy stays in Malaysia with the kids,” he said.

He discovered Malaysia thanks to his father, who travelled the region in his youth.

“He went to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia. He liked it best and moved here when he was older. After I completed my undergraduate degree in Australia, I came here to do an MBA and stayed on. My parents actually live in the same building as me,” he said, pointing to the tall tower behind him ensconced in the leafy upmarket suburb of Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

Paul and his family are comfortable in the nation’s capital, even with MM2H’s no-work clause. His real estate and wholesale business dealings in China allow him to support his family, while he has also invested in the Malaysian hotel industry. And in his spare time he and his family go on road trips, travelling to hawker haven Penang or idyllic Langkawi just because they can.

Although Malaysia has a history of mistreating migrants, particularly refugees and foreign workers, those under the MM2H scheme are considered “expats”, an elite, high-earning group.

The scheme allows successful applicants largely unrestricted travel into and out of Malaysia as well as various incentives and tax exemptions. However, it comes with stringent eligibility criteria as well: liquid assets of 350,000 Malaysian ringgit (HK$615,000) to 500,000 ringgit, fixed deposits and a minimum price cap on purchasing property so as to curb speculation.

In 2016, more than 1,000 Chinese signed up for the scheme, fleeing the freezing cold winters and dangerous pollution levels of their homeland – 43.9 per cent of applicants were Chinese, with Japanese a distant second at 9.2 per cent.

Chinese have shown the most interest in the scheme. Official government statistics put the number of successful Chinese applicants at 7,967 from 2002 to 2016, out of a total of 31,732 successful applicants from around the world – 25.1 per cent of the share.

Malaysia is experiencing a “third wave” of Chinese migration – after a 15th century influx and a tin mining boom in the 19th century – these days that isn’t at all limited to just MM2H participants, but also includes foreign workers, some of whom are undocumented. A fair number of these migrant workers are usually employed in low-skilled sectors such as construction or factory lines. Recently, 127 Chinese nationals were rounded up by the Sarawak Immigration Department and 16 of them lacked valid travel documents.

This influx of Chinese migration comes at a time when Malaysia’s often fraught race relations are more complicated than ever, with a general election – always a good time for race to be made a political football – looming. In 2015, a pro-Malay protest with anti-Chinese sentiments drew the ire of Ambassador Huang Huikang, who said China would not ignore “infringement on China’s national interests or violations of legal rights and interests of Chinese citizens and businesses”, reported the media.

However, MM2H applicants brush aside such concerns, reporting friendliness from the Malaysians they meet. Since many divide time between China, where they deal with business obligations, and Malaysia, any concerns about racial tensions are lessened as they have someplace else to go.

Hu Xiaolong, 65, moved to Malaysia from Shanghai to be closer to his daughter after she married a Malaysian. Before he became part of the MM2H programme, he could not stay for longer than a month.

“I now spend a few months in Shanghai and a few months in Malaysia visiting my daughter. I found Malaysia a nice place for the elderly, so my wife and I bought an apartment in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

“Kuala Lumpur is nicely developed and everything is still quite cheap. Much cheaper than Shanghai. I have travelled to over 30 countries and I think Malaysia is a good fit for me. Chinese can live harmoniously with Malays and Indians here. There is no conflict among different ethnic groups.”

The only problem, he says, is when his wife tries to order food with her limited command of English. “But that’s why she usually goes for buffets,” he noted wryly.

Hu said he had urged friends to sell their properties in China and move to Malaysia.

“I told a friend that if he sells his apartment in Shanghai, he can buy a luxury home in Kuala Lumpur and still have some money left. My friend refused, saying that his social circle is still in China. But some friends are considering the second home scheme and they want to come here to have a look.”

Hu Yiqing, 48, fell in love with the sea when she visited her aunt in the island state of Penang. “You could see the sea from her home. We are from Shanghai and it’s rare to have a sea-view apartment in Shanghai. She told us about the scheme so once we went back to China, we immediately started applying … We filed all the papers in May and by August we relocated to Penang.”

Penang’s laid-back vibe appealed to homemaker Hu and her husband, who runs a financial services company. They do not miss the bad traffic and poor air quality in Shanghai.

She said her husband split his time between Penang and Shanghai. “If we had a better internet connection my husband would stay the whole year. But even now, we still don’t want to go back to China,” she said, adding that the pair and their son integrated into local life quickly due to the high number of Chinese-speaking Malaysians in Penang.

“There are so many Chinese that you can integrate into the society easily. My friends are from Chinese parents in international schools or Chinese from local churches.”

Hu said her son could go to an international school for half the price of Shanghai. “The education quality is pretty much the same – in fact, I like the international school in Penang better. In Shanghai, even if you study in an international school, kids are still being pushed by teachers to study hard and compete with each other. I disagree with their way of teaching.”

She has praised the scheme to her friends, many of whom are now applying.

“So many Chinese have been coming to Penang. It’s hard for children to enrol in an international school now. They are all packed.”

Retiree Maurice Choy, 55, left Hong Kong for Malaysia because of its weather and reasonable cost of living. Fishing, swimming and badminton are on his list of priorities.

“I travelled to Malaysia many times over the last 20 years for work and holiday, and I found Penang a nice place to retire. I bought an apartment there several years ago and applied for the scheme. This month I will settle permanently in Malaysia with my wife.

“Malaysia is much more affordable than Hong Kong. It’s easy for us to have a high-quality life with our pension. The weather is good, too. I actually migrated to Canada 10 years ago but had to come back because I’m not used to cold weather. The weather in Penang is good the whole year round.”

Despite Malaysia’s tendencies towards xenophobia and its sometimes strained race relations – balik Cina (go back to China) and apa lagi Cina mau (what more do the Chinese want) are slurs sometimes hurled at the Malaysian-Chinese community – these migrants appear shielded from it all or have not encountered such unpleasantness. Many MM2H participants have praised Malaysia for its friendliness.

However, some Malaysians wonder how the country benefits from the programme. “In terms of cultural impact, it honestly depends on how the incoming Chinese population behave in a social setting. There won’t be a large economic impact unless a huge number come in with enough capital to invest in business,” said Hafidz Baharom, 34, the former communications head for the Malay Economic Action Council.

How Malaysia’s golden goose of ecotourism, Sabah, keeps the visitors coming

Accountant Tarsem Singh, 31, said that because MM2H minimum property thresholds were high, most programme applicants would only be able to buy homes that were out of the reach for most Malaysians. The minimums include 2 million Malaysian ringgit in Selangor and 1 million Malaysian ringgit in Kuala Lumpur. In Penang , on the island it is 1 million Malaysian ringgit for a condominium and 3 million Malaysian ringgit for landed properties.

“I am not sure how we benefit, other than property developers who get to sell their expensive homes,” Singh said, adding that immigration priorities should focus on young and skilled migrants to stimulate wealth creation and prevent brain drain. This was echoed by independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng: “Most who come here are retirees or run smaller businesses. The high net worth individuals prefer the US or Australia and other OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] countries.”

While MM2H is a good programme, lawyer Ong Yu Jian, 35, said that it needs to be kept in check with policies that limit artificial growth. His home state, Penang, recently raised the minimum price cap for foreigners purchasing property.

“In the short term, it boosts growth and makes the numbers on any economic paper look good. But the potential long-term trade-off may be the displacement of our own locals in terms of economic footholds and nation-building. If the Chinese do so, it may cause resentment and heightened tensions,” he said.

Malaysian Chinese Association Youth Chief Chong Sin Woon, however, dismissed the possibility of racial tension, saying that such animosities were the domain of a tiny minority of extremists.

“It’s a small group of radicals who harp on about this issue. Generally we are accepting of these migrants.”

Analyst Hwok-Aun Lee, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, agreed, attributing this to biases based on economic standing.

“Unfortunately, humankind tends to discriminate immigrants by class, viewing highly qualified and wealthy entrants more favourably.

“At the same time, opulent immigrants can also breed resentment. I would like to see a greater emphasis on human rights and dignity, mutual respect and appreciation of diversity, and conscious efforts to avoid group alienation or enclaves separated from society,” he said.

Faisal Hazis, of the National University of Malaysia’s Asian Studies Centre, warned that Malaysians might “not be comfortable with a glut of foreigners coming to Malaysia and potentially doing business or eating into the market. If this happens it may strain the relations between Malaysians – regardless of race – and Chinese nationals.”

Why Malaysia is fighting Singapore over a rock

And although the programme promises investment opportunities along with lower costs of living and tax-exempt offshore incomes, many participants, such as housewife Zhang Wei, 40, just want room to breathe.

“We used to live in Beijing. Air quality is so bad that my two kids couldn’t spend much time outdoors. Now my kids can spend a lot of time outdoors. They are happy, so am I.”

Last August she settled in Putrajaya, the country’s administrative capital, after deciding against the US due to its distance from China where her husband has business dealings.

Malaysia, she said, was better for living than for working or investment.

“Some of my friends have businesses in Malaysia so they want to live here, like a friend who runs a tourist company specialising in bringing Chinese newlyweds here for honeymoons,” she said.

“But I don’t think the business environment here is that great and I didn’t see any good investment opportunities. When we decide where to invest, we need to compare it with China. If there is an opportunity, we will invest – but we are still looking.” ■

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

There is the two different sides of people who share the cultural heritage and operating system.

One finds it necessary to the protagonist into the eco-system which accommodated them from being economic immigrant and allow them to power share.

And now, they felt it is their right as minority to systematically provoke the stability factor, for an opportunity for them to manipulate the ‘Peril of Democracy’ and put the majority under their control.

On the other hand, there are here in droves by choice to make Malaysia their emigration destination and a new place to settle.

Never the less last night, Gerontocracy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad encircled the wagon.

PPBM leaders, Menteri Besars, MPs and even the ‘monkeys from UMNO’ met, in the wake of the recent developments on the fresh demonstration of Chinese Chauvinism and anti Malay stance by DAP and PKR cracking up wide open.

Of course on the agenda is the UMNO and PAS partnership into ‘Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah’ charter, which would be stone-cast by middle of next month.

The Malay Muslims, who makes up the majority of the nation are ganging up nicely and the mainstay of Pakatan Harapan powerbase is getting bolder systematically attacking them and trying to use Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir’s administration as a shield.

Et tu Brute

At the rate of how the developments of sentiments and voracity of the ‘Rumblings in the Interior’ Deputy PKR President and a long time PKR staunchest leader Dato’ Seri Azmin Mohamed Ali has his numbered days, even sorted by decimals.

Joceline Tan’s Sunday column in the Star:

Knives are out for Azmin

---

• OPINION

• Sunday, 04 Aug 2019

• By Joceline Tan

IT has been an extremely agonising couple of months for Datuk Seri Azmin Ali with the political spotlight trained squarely on this once golden boy of PKR.

Despite his diligence to his ministerial duties, the sex video issue has yet to dissipate going by the nasty comments on his social media accounts while the rift between him and his party president continues to make the news.

He has lost some weight but has not lost his boyish good looks.

But make no mistake, the Economic Affairs Minister has survived the worst crisis of his career, thanks largely to the protection of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man he used to address as “uncle”.

His Cabinet post is intact as long as Dr Mahathir is there but he will struggle to go beyond that in the coming years unless something miraculous happens.

Given that, his endorsement of the Opposition’s support for Dr Mahathir to go on for a full term did not come as a surprise but it has infuriated people in his party.

Many in PKR saw it as proof that Azmin does not support what Dungun division chief Rahman Yusof refers to as hasrat PKR – the party’s aspiration to make Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the next prime minister.

“All his tweets wishing Mahathir long life to do his job, that is fine with us because we also wish the PM well. But to align with the Opposition, that is crossing the line, ” said Anwar’s political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.The disciplinary board has been under pressure to act against the deputy president.

There has been a steady stream of complaints to the disciplinary board since last month when 28 signatories released an open letter supporting Azmin and reprimanding Anwar for not standing by Azmin over the video issue.

Selayang MP and Anwar loyalist William Leong said it sparked off a groundswell of criticism from the grassroots.

Azmin’s zero attendance at any of the party’s supreme council and political bureau meetings since November has also been dredged up against him.

Azmin may have realised that he has gone too far because he finally acknowledged Anwar as the future prime minister a few days ago.

It was the first time since the acrimonious party elections that he has publicly said something to that effect.

Telling pressmen not to make assumptions about him, he denied that he does not support Anwar for the top job, and said he has no problems with Anwar.

But the fallout between him and Anwar started almost immediately after the party congress last year.

When the top two met after the congress, they had apparently agreed that Datuk Mansor Othman, who is close to both Anwar and Azmin, would take over from Datuk Saifuddin Nasution as secretary-general.

Azmin was furious when Anwar later decided to reappoint Saifuddin to the key post.

It was the big thorn in a string of disagreements over appointments to the supreme council, political bureaus as well as the state chairmen.

“It is not healthy for a party to have to face this kind of politicking. I’m not sure how it can be sorted out but our job is to serve the people, not fight for power, ” said Selangor PKR Youth chief Najwan Halimi.

PKR took a bold step when it sacked Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz weeks after he confessed to being the man in the video.

But would PKR dare act against Azmin?

Haziq was a nobody in the party but Azmin is the No.2 and a minister who is being shielded by Dr Mahathir.

It is learnt that Dr Mahathir, who has developed a liking for Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, had advised her to remain in PKR and strengthen the party rather than seek an exit route.

The elder man knows that if Azmin or any of his key loyalists were to quit the party, he would not be able to keep them in the Cabinet because Cabinet members have to come from the coalition partners.

Strange as it may sound, the man who is most reluctant to act against Azmin is none other than Anwar.

“Members want Anwar to take a stronger stand on those seen as undermining the party or else there will be no discipline in the party. But he is too soft-hearted towards his enemies, ” said Leong.

For instance, Anwar has been reaching out not only to Azmin but also Zuraida who has been a ferocious critic.

When they crossed paths in Parliament recently, he said they should have a chat.

Half an hour later, his aide called Zuraida to Anwar’s parliament office where both of them spoke their minds on what went wrong between their two respective camps.

Zuraida used to be seen as a mere sidekick of Azmin.

But she has since emerged as a leader in her own right. She has strong views and is not afraid to speak her mind or stick her neck out for what she believes in.

Anwar understands the necessity of keeping the party in one piece.

Losing a deputy president would damage the image of the party and it is better to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Forcing out Azmin would also mean losing MPs who may choose to follow Azmin out.

Everyone agrees that Anwar is playing the game well the second time around – olive branches to his enemies, regular meetings with the Prime Minister while letting others do the hard-hitting.

His supporters were elated when Dr Mahathir said he would pass the baton to Anwar unless someone holds a gun to his head.

It was the strongest assurance on the transition thus far.

Anwar’s only challenge now is to play nice with Azmin and wait patiently for the big day.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Star.

image: https://apicms.thestar.com.my/uploads/authors/423.jpg

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/08/04/knives-are-out-for-azmin#y32cCw1r3LFtEX6h.9

*********

The conundrum of which the ‘Semburit Scandal’ dragged Azmin’s political stardom turn down south sharply and digressed into desperation is abundantly clear.

PKR Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim May seemingly playing it cool and try to be nonchalant about the growing dissatisfaction amongst PKR upper echelon and leaders of Azmin’s game.

However, the mechanism is being mobilised and regardless how well networked Azmin’s faction is within the party, having the notion of being Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s blue-eyed-boy wouldn’t resonate well.

The Star story:

197 PKR division chiefs voice support for Anwar to helm party and be country’s 8th PM

---

• NATION

• Sunday, 04 Aug 2019

• 3:02 PM MYT

PETALING JAYA: PKR division chiefs have expressed their support to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the party president and as the country’s next Prime Minister, amid reports of an internal crisis in the party.

A joint statement issued by 197 PKR division chiefs nationwide said they felt compelled to express their solid support to Anwar to drive and lead the party.

The party has 219 division chiefs nationwide.

“This support directly proves that Keadilan (PKR) is still solid and united under Anwar’s leadership, and at the same time dispels the perception that the party is facing turmoil and is split.

A viral sex video controversy that allegedly implicated PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali marked the latest in an internal rift between supporters of Azmin and Anwar.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/04/197-pkr-division-chiefs-voice-support-for-anwar-to-helm-party-and-be-country039s-8th-pm#wpl8VkRHFCLpU4zE.99

**********

Many of them, particularly the ‘Otai Reformasi’ lot who have sacrificed a good part of the life for the cause of ‘Reformasi’ coming to twenty years now, wouldn’t take this ‘Not handing over to Anwar’ rather kindly.

In fact, they abhorred the notion that the coalition of DAP-PKR has decided to make Dr Mahathir as their front in their bid to ouster Barisan Nasional a little over two years ago.

PKR leaders are observing situation very closely. It interesting that Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir is wrangling up support from Opposition leaders to prop his position.

Particularly, in the growing development of demand for him to make the time table for handover of power to Mat King Leather.

Utusan Malaysia story:

Ahli DAP gesa Tun bersikap gentleman, hormati janji

KUALA LUMPUR 4 Ogos – Setiausaha DAP Selangor, Ronnie Liu mahu Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad bersikap seperti seorang lelaki terhormat atau gentleman dengan mematuhi janji beliau hanya menjadi Perdana Menteri sementara untuk tempoh dua tahun yang dipersetujui Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Ahli DAP itu mahu Dr. Mahathir tidak lagi menimbulkan keraguan termasuk seolah-olah menyebelahi Timbalan Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali yang dilihat mempunyai konflik dengan Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Liu yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Sungai Pelek, Selangor berkata, pengundi yang memberi kemenangan kepada PH dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-14 (PRU-14) hanya mengundi Dr. Mahathir sebagai Perdana Menteri sementara, dengan Anwar kemudian mengambil alih.

“Dr. Mahathir, tolong menjadi seorang lelaki terhormat dan memenuhi janji untuk melepaskan jawatan selepas dua tahun supaya Anwar dapat mengambil alih sebagaimana dipersetujui.

“Inilah yang dipilih pengundi. Mereka tidak mengundi untuk lima tahun dengan anda menjadi Perdana Menteri. Mereka mengundi anda sebagai Perdana Menteri sementara, dengan Anwar akhirnya mengambil alih,” katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Ahli DAP itu berkata, apabila PH memenangi PRU-14, terdapat peluang kepada Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri namun menolaknya kerana mahu mematuhi janji bahawa Dr. Mahathir akan menjadi Perdana Menteri sementara.

“Meskipun Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) mempunyai sedikit kerusi, kesemua komponen PH mengikut perjanjian janji yang dibuat untuk membolehkan anda (Dr. Mahathir) menjadi Perdana Menteri untuk tempoh selama dua. Mengapa? Kerana kita menghormati janji-janji yang dibuat.

“Setakat ini anda telah berkata akan menghormati janji. Namun, tidak mahu menyatakan tarikh penyerahan (jawatan Perdana Menteri).

“Sebaliknya, berkata mungkin dua hingga tiga tahun dan kadang-kala anda menjelaskan akan berlaku hanya apabila ekonomi pulih. Siapa yang tahu berapa lama (pemulihan ekonomi)?” soal Liu.

Beliau mengingatkan Dr. Mahathir bahawa janji yang diberikan kepada pengundi bukanlah Dr. Mahathir menjadi Perdana Menteri sehingga ekonomi pulih.

Liu berkata, baru-baru ini terdapat keraguan tentang sama ada Dr. Mahathir serius berpegang teguh pada kata-kata.

“Mohamed Azmin seolah-olah merasakan awak memihak kepadanya. Mengapa dan bagaimana beliau mempunyai pemikiran sedemikian? Mungkin kerana anda (Dr. Mahathir) telah memberikannya pemikiran sebegitu menerusi tingkah laku anda.

“Malah bukan hanya Mohamed Azmin yang mempunyai pemikiran sebegitu itu. Sesiapa yang memerhatikan suasana politik mempunyai persepsi serupa,” katanya.

Liu berharap Dr. Mahathir sedar di dalam PRU-14, Pengerusi Bersatu itu mempunyai peluang yang sangat jarang diperolehi iaitu dapat menebus diri di mata pengundi yang menganggap bekas Presiden UMNO itu melakukan banyak kesalahan semasa ‘tahun-tahun Mahathir’.

“Sila hormati hasrat pengundi dan turun dengan baik dalam tempoh masa yang dipersetujui,” tambahnya. – UTUSAN ONLINE

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

This ‘Fragile’ leadership and position is even propped further by Cabinet Minister from Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir’s own party.

New Straits Times story:

Investors may flee to Vietnam over Anwar-Azmin squabble, says Redzuan

AUGUST 4, 2019 @ 8:01AM 

BY ARFA YUNUS

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a possibility investors will choose Vietnam over Malaysia due to the political uncertainty in the country, said Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof.

He said this “uncertainty” was caused mainly by the PKR infighting involving its president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

According to the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council member, several investors have personally expressed concern to him over the issue, with one saying he might invest in Vietnam instead.

“I have investors asking ‘Hey, Redzuan, what is happening in Malaysia?’ Somebody even said, ‘If this is what’s happening in this country, we’ll move to Vietnam’.

“I am not trying to scare anyone but there are investors (who are) thinking about this. They are not shutting off Malaysia completely but they are waiting at the door.

“They are adopting the ‘wait and see’ approach. This is why you see today that although there are some investment proposals reported, they haven’t been realised. Approved but not realised,” he said in an interview with the New Straits Times recently.

Speculation has been rife that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad preferred Azmin to succeed him despite an earlier agreement that he would pass the baton to Anwar in “two or three years”.

Dr Mahathir, however, has repeatedly said he would hold his end of the bargain, but he needed time to ensure the country is heading towards the right direction.

Recently, Umno and Pas said they would support for Dr Mahathir to continue as the premier until the end of his term. This call was also supported by Azmin.

Commenting further, Redzuan said Anwar should “slow down” and not be impatient as the premiership would eventually be passed to him.

“It’s already resolved that Dr Mahathir will hand over the seat to Anwar, so why is Anwar busy trying to unseat Dr Mahathir?

“Give Dr Mahathir a chance to fix the country so that when Anwar takes over, it will be easier for him to carry out his duties.

“In my opinion, if this infighting continues, the most eligible candidate who can take over the premiership is Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” he said.

Muhyiddin is currently the Home Minister. Previously, he was the Deputy Prime Minister but was booted out of the Cabinet on July 28, 2015 by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Asked on why Pakatan Harapan did not fix an exact time for Anwar to take over so that the Port Dickson Member of Parliament would feel at ease, Redzuan questioned the need to rush the decision.

“Why the rush? When we took over, we saw all the weaknesses that need to be improved and he (Anwar) saw this too.

“Is the Prime Minister supposed to just do his work halfway and pass the rest to his successor who is not even a Cabinet member at the moment?

“When Dr Mahathir is ready, he will hand over the reins to Anwar. Firstly, we need to stabilise the country by empowering the B40 and the Bumiputera.

“If the Bumiputera are not stable, the country will be unstable, too, and as a result, investors will run away from Malaysia,” he added.

***********

Nevermind Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof has his own political agenda and now sees the opportunity opening way for him.

Regardless, Minister Redzuan is spot on. Political instability would create further investment and market to be more cautious.

This is compounded with so many examples of Federal Government gross slack in policies, the process of decision making and decisions made.

Then the ghastly followthrough of the policies and/or decision made, the implementation and eventually outcome and trickle effect to the market and rakyat.

Almost everything is on hold and/or pause mode.

Many of the notion that ‘Semburit Scandal’ is Mat King Leather’s faction to hurt Azmin and that would cause instability for Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir to expedite the transition for Mat King Leather ascension as Prime Minister VIII.

However, it is slowly turning out that Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir is willing to stick his neck out for his blue-eyed-boy, and eye ball the agent of destabilisation and mount a flank attack.

It could be a situation where Caesar managed to stab Brutus instead and Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir is extending his stay further with the explicit excuse of ‘the politics got to be stabilised first’.

Either that, in time, Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir shall eventually come to a point of no return that Azmin is a bane instead of boon and throw him under the bus and stay on a little longer.

*Updated 1200hrs

Jom Jawi

Gerontocracy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad put his foot down on the polemic arisen from the proposal to re-introduce Jawi in Bahasa Melayu at schools.

Malaysiakini based on Bernama story:

PM bagi lampu hijau belajar Jawi dalam sukatan BM

Ogs 3, 2019 (Dikemaskini Ogs 3, 2019)

Penggunaan tulisan khat Jawi dalam mata pelajaran Bahasa Melayu Tahun Empat boleh diteruskan, kata Perdana Menteri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Merujuk bantahan sesetengah pihak mengenai perkara itu, perdana menteri berkata ia hanya melibatkan sebahagian kecil masyarakat.

Beliau berkata kerajaan berpegang kepada dasar kemakmuran bersama dan tidak pernah menghalang penggunaan tulisan bahasa lain.

“Kita tak pernah bantah tulisan lain (termasuk) dalam bahasa Cina kerana ini adalah sesuatu yang istimewa di negara kita ini. 

“Tulisan bahasa Cina tidak dibenarkan di negara lain seperti Indonesia umpamanya, Filipina dan Thailand, mereka guna tulisan mereka,” katanya menjawab pertanyaan seorang peserta Townhall Semarak Merdeka bersama Perdana Menteri di Melaka mengenai bantahan penggunaan tulisan khat.

Kenyataan perdana menteri itu menerima tepukan gemuruh ratusan hadirin pada sesi townhall itu yang diadakan sempena kunjungan Dr Mahathir ke Melaka bagi merasmikan sambutan Bulan Kebangsaan dan Kibar Jalur Gemilang 2019 yang akan berlangsung di Dataran Pahlawan, Bandar Hilir, malam ini.

Media sebelum ini melaporkan beberapa pemimpin dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) DAP menggesa anggota kabinet daripada parti itu membantah rancangan memperkenalkan tulisan khat dalam kurikulum Tahun Empat Bahasa Melayu bermula tahun hadapan.

Bagaimanapun Kementerian Pendidikan dalam kenyataan semalam menegaskan bahawa pengenalan tulisan khat Jawi dalam mata pelajaran Bahasa Melayu Tahun Empat akan dilaksanakan tahun hadapan seperti dijadual.

Dr Mahathir berkata tulisan khat merupakan satu seni yang tinggi dan ketika kunjungan beliau ke Turki baru-baru ini, beliau melihat rakyat negara itu amat mahir dalam penulisan seni khat Arab walaupun mereka juga menggunakan tulisan rumi. 

– Bernama

*********

It is very strong stance made by Gerontocracy Prime Minister amidst growing sentiments against Chinese Chauvinism amongst DAP leaders, particularly the hardliners.

Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir also made the timely call, in a juncture of his lowest political ebb. Especially in the period of arising pressure for the timetable for him to forgo the Premiership, to make way for PKR President Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim.

DAP Chinese Chauvinism is manifested in MP for Kepong Lim Lip Eng abhorrence Facebook comment to the Jawi issue, which her amended and eventually wipe out completely.

Utusan Malaysia story:

Lip Eng padam status akibat dikecam

Fauzi Suhaimi

03 Ogos 2019 6:48 PM

KUALA LUMPUR 3 Ogos – Selepas lima jam memuat naik status berbaur penghinaan, Ahli Parlimen Kepong, Lim Lip Eng akhirnya menyunting hantaran yang menyifatkan pelaksanaan pengenalan tulisan khat seperti menyapu tahi lembu pada wajah diri sendiri.

Selepas mendapat kecaman warga maya meskipun telah menyunting hantaran itu, beliau bagaimanapun memadam sepenuhnya hantaran tersebut yang dimuat naik menerusi akaun Facebook miliknya hari ini.

Pada awal hantarannya memberitahu, tindakan itu adalah bertentangan dengan rancangan dasar negara jiran yang mahu memperkenalkan bahasa program komputer kepada pelajar muda.

“Sedang Menteri Pendidikan di negara-negara jiran merancang memperkenalkan bahasa program komputer kepada pelajar-pelajar muda, jangan kita menyapu tahi lembu di wajah kita dengan memperkenalkan khat. Tolonglah,” katanya.

Beliau mengulas ketegasan Kementerian Pendidikan untuk meneruskan pelaksanaan pengenalan tulisan khat dalam mata pelajaran Bahasa Melayu Tahun 4 pada tahun 2020 – UTUSAN ONLINE

*********

The negative reaction to Ministry of Education’s proposal for the re-introduction of Jawi in Bahasa Melayu drew a lot flak.

Fragile

Gerontocracy Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s game to remain as the Premier regardless how lame it would be and has to be propped by Opposition leaders, is very intriguing.

Malaysiakini story:

Dr M akui jumpa pembangkang, berahsia soal Azmin

Geraldine Tong
12:18 tengahari (Dikemaskini 12:57 tengahari)

Perdana Menteri Dr Mahathir Mohamad mengaku berjumpa dengan pemimpin pembangkang, yang dispekulasi mempunyai kaitan dengan perbincangan berhubung jawatan perdana menteri.

Bagaimanapun, Dr Mahathir menegaskan bahawa beliau sering mengadakan perjumpaan dengan pelbagai individu termasuk wakil dari NGO.

“Perjumpaan itu berlangsung tapi saya jumpa semua orang, bukan hanya pembangkang, tapi juga NGO.

“Seperti yang anda tahu, Presiden PAS Abdul Hadi Awang sentiasa kata dia sokong saya. Tak ada perkara baru,” katanya ketika ditanya pemberita mengenai laporan berhubung perjumpaan itu di sidang media di Putrajaya pagi ini.

Mengulas sama ada perjumpaan itu turut melibatkan pemimpin Umno dan Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Dr Mahathir berkata: “Mereka datang jumpa saya, jadi saya jumpa mereka. Saya dengar apa yang mereka nak kata. Ramai antara mereka yang menyatakan sokongan kepada saya. Terima kasih banyak.”

Bagaimanapun, ketika ditanya sama ada Menteri Hal Ehwal Ekonomi Mohamed Azmin Ali hadir dalam mesyuarat itu, Dr Mahathir secara sarkastik sekadar berkata: “Perjumpaan ini rahsia, saya tak boleh beritahu”.

Laporan The Star yang memetik sumber menyatakan pemimpin pembangkang berjumpa Dr Mahathir pada Selasa lalu untuk menyatakan sokongan agar perdana menteri itu berkhidmat sehingga habis penggal.

Menurut laporan itu, antara yang hadir ialah bekas naib presiden Umno, Hishammuddin Hussein, Naib Presiden PAS Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Setiausaha Agung PAS Takiyuddin Hassan dan Ketua Whip GPS Fadillah Yusof.

Laporan itu juga mendakwa Dr Mahathir turut meminta seorang menteri kanan PH menghadiri perjumpaan itu namun nama menteri yang dimaksudkan tidak didedahkan.

Sebelum ini, Azmin berkata Dr Mahathir perlu diberi peluang memimpin hingga ke akhir penggal bagi menjamin kestabilan, kesinambungan dan ketuntasan dasar-dasar kerajaan.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengalu-alukan kenyataan Presiden PAS Abdul Hadi Awang yang menegaskan pendirian parti itu dan sekutunya Umno kepada Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir berulang kali menegaskan akan menepati janji untuk menyerahkan jawatan kepada Presiden PKR Anwar Ibrahim.

Bagaimanapun, peralihan kuasa itu terus dipersoalkan dengan beberapa pihak tampil menyatakan sokongan agar Dr Mahathir kekal sehingga habis penggal, sementara pihak lain mempersoalkan tempoh peralihan kuasa.

Terbaru, tiga Adun Selangor semalam menyatakan sokongan dengan cadangan Azmin agar Dr Mahathir kekal sehingga habis penggal.

Perkembangan itu hadir ketika PKR dilihat berdepan dengan konflik dalaman antara Azmin dan Anwar susulan klip video seks yang dikaitkan dengan timbalan presiden PKR itu.

**********

We have heard stories and saw photos over the past year Gerontocracy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir conferred and consulted with Opposition leaders.

It is abundantly clear that his position is fragile and the ‘understanding’ Gerontocracy Prime Minister has obtained either with Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim and/or amongst the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council isn’t solid and a bankable proposition.

It serves to ascertain the notion that we have raised before several times, that the political instability arising from the uncertainty in the succession plan, timing and consideration, begets the inability for consistency in policies and decisions made.

Even if there were decisions made, the expectation of gross inability to followthrough and implementation is high on top of the long list of defects.

Needless to remind is grave failure in the delivery of the ‘Pakatan Harapan Manifesto’.

One example is the four concessions of tolled motorways under the Gamuda Group.

The humiliating process of this matter, is an evidence how the Gerontocracy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng don’t get along if not loggerhead in policies and implementation.

The Malay Mail Online story:

PM denies Guan Eng launched highway buyouts without Cabinet nod

Published 12 hours ago on 01 August 2019

BY AZRIL ANNUAR

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 1 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad refuted today a foreign news report claiming Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng initiated the proposed takeover of four highway concessions without informing the Cabinet.

The prime minister also denied that the proposal to buy out the concessions for an estimated RM6.2 billion was on hold pending a full review.  

“No such thing. The Cabinet was told about this plan by the Ministry of Finance and we have not said no.

“The date of the implementation is going to be decided by the Cabinet,” said Dr Mahathir said during a press conference here.

Yesterday, Singaporean news outlet The Straits Times published a report citing anonymous sources that claimed the proposed buyout was suspended due to concerns from within the government including ministers.

Dr Mahathir said Lim was convinced the proposed buyouts were viable but was constrained by the lack of public funds to purchase the concessions outright.

The prime minister then pointed out the proposal included a “congestion charge” that would make the entire exercise self-funding.

Lim’s ministry announced in June that a designated special purpose vehicle would raise the RM6.2 billion to finance the acquisition of the four concessionaires that would ostensibly cost taxpayers nothing.

The concessionaires involved are Kesas Sdn Bhd (Kesas), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat Sdn Bhd (Sprint), Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak) and Syarikat Mengurus Air Banjir dan Terowong Sdn Bhd (Smart).

*********

The adversarial position between Gerontocracy Prime Minister isn’t new. The ECRL was another glaring example.

So many gullible throw their lazy-minded trust behind Gerontocracy Prime Minister with lame excuse of “Don’t worry. He’d know what to do and how to manage”.

The fact is that he isn’t the leader he used to be. Gerontocracy Prime Minister is very much older, physically and functionally isn’t how he was, he is now more overwhelmed with emotions and such.

The ‘triangulation cross fire’ for turf and control between MOF Lim Guan Eng, Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali and Chairman of ‘Majlis Orang-Orang Tua’, is believed to be heightened more than the eyes could see and not just mere storm in the tea cup.

Each of them are trying to serve their own agenda and it’s their own interpretation of the ‘Reforms’, warranted with the failed if not fake political cries of Malaysia Baharu.

Like majority within Cabinet, it is likely they could agree on anything with sincerity but serving each faction’s own narrow and shallow minded political interests.

That is not at all surprising as they came together and formed a coalition, for the wrong reasons and amongst them hesitantly agreed that Dr Mahathir should be face and front for them to get their political agenda through, especially amongst the gullible majority.

On 9 May 2018 their gambit followed through, for the ‘Peril of Democracy’ and Pakatan Harapan leaders are neither ready nor have the apt to carry on the torch as stewards of Government of Malaysia.

Most of all, Gerontocracy Prime Minister in the seat of out the ‘Unholy-marriage-of-(in)convenience-between-backstabbing-strange-bedfellows’.

In the Malaysian history, Gerontocracy Prime Minister is the weakest Prime Minister.

His Bill to amend the Federal Constitution failed miserably with humiliation. Recently, the Bill to allow voting age be reduced failed and had to be reintroduced after being tweaked by taking Oppositions’ proposal.

He is running out of time and resources, which include able lieutenants to get the job properly done.

Even his advisers aren’t what they used to be.

An example is Chairman of ‘Majlis Orang-Orang Tua’ Daim Zainuddin isn’t half the stamina and physical fitness what he used to be thirty five years ago.

A true Machiavellian who has in the past managed quite well by the principle and practice of ‘Divide and Rule’, it is believed that he won’t get far this round.

Fragile is a precursor before Fracture. Forces on a fragile entity would eventually fracture it.