Jejak Pujangga

Azmin Ali Biadab!

2010-10-05T12:09:00.004+08:00

Calon Timbalan Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat Azmin Ali merujuk kepada negarawan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sebagai orang yang dah "tersungkur di Australia". Pemimpin yang sebegini lah yang kita ada dalam PKR! Cukup kurang ajar dan rendah martabatnya!

Biadab! Manusiakah Azmin ini?

P.S. Saya berdoa Tun Dr Mahathir akan cepat sembuh dan kembali ke tanahair secepat mungkin.

Sime Darby's forensic audit report will not be made public

2010-09-21T10:53:00.003+08:00

Sime Darby Berhad has informed Bursa Malaysia that it does not intend to make public the forensic audit report on losses incurred by the group, which now runs into billions of ringgit.

In a filing to the bourse last night, Sime Darby admitted "possibilites of breaches of duties and obligations, and inappropriate conduct on a prima facie basis."

Here's the full Bernama report:

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Forensic and legal consultants have completed investigations into Sime Darby Bhd's projects in the energy and utilities division and submitted reports today to the conglomerate's board.
Four key projects being investigated are the Bulhanine and Maydan Mahzam project with Qatar Petroleum, the Maersk Oil Qatar project, the Bakun hydroelectric dam and the Marine Project.
In a filing to Bursa Malaysia today, Sime Darby said the investigations revealed possibilites of breaches of duties and obligations, and inappropriate conduct on a prima facie basis.
It said the board had resolved to initiate legal proceedings and had lodged reports with the relevant authorities.
The board has been advised to keep details of the report confidential and nature of such proceedings so as not to adversely affect the interest of the group.
On May 27, Sime Darby's energy and utilities division reported an operating loss of RM1,019 million for the first nine months ended March 31, 2010.
This was after recording provisions for the oil and gas and engineering sub-segments which amounted to RM964 million that was announced on May 13.
-- BERNAMA

I find it utterly ridiculous that Sime Darby has saw it fit not to reveal the findings to its shareholders. Sime Darby is a GLC and it is dealing with public funds.

I hope Sime Darby's shareholders attending the company's AGM on Nov 16, will demand that the report is made public.

Kenapa kes kehilangan yang lain masih tergantung? PDRM perlu jelaskan.

2010-09-14T11:31:00.005+08:00

Seperti rakan-rakan blogger lain, saya juga ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada Polis di-Raja Malaysia (PDRM) kerana telah berjaya membuat beberapa penahanan dalam kes membabitkan kehilangan jutawan kosmetik Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya dan tiga rakannya.

Tetapi hati kecil saya masih tertanya-tanya kenapa PDRM tidak dapat menyelesaikan kes kehilangan empat orang lain (dan mungkin lebih) yang kini diuar-uarkan oleh PDRM sendiri bahawa ianya mungkin ada kaitan dengan suspek-suspek yang sama. Malah, kes-kes ini dilaporkan lebih awal dari kes Datuk Sosilawati.

Saya khuatir umum akan beranggapan kes-kes ini tidak diberi keutamaan kerana ia tidak membabitkan individu berstatus tinggi?

Saya terkejut juga apabila membaca akhbar The Star dan New Straits Times hari ini (Sept 14) yang memetik isteri kepada salah seorang mangsa bahawa beliau telah membuat laporan polis kali KEDUA pada Sept 8, 2010. Malah, laporan itu dibuat di balai polis Banting.

M. Usharani datang ke Malaysia dari Chennai, India untuk mencari suaminya A. Muthuraja yang didakwa hilang setelah berjumpa dengan kedua-dua peguam yang juga suspek dalam kes Sosilawati. Kali terakhir beliau bercakap dengan Muthuraja ialah apabila Muthuraja berada di rumah suspek.

Saya hairan kerana walaupun sudah ada "lead", polis tidak dapat menyelesaikan kes tersebut. Persoalannya sekarang ialah apakah polis telah mengambil keterangan dari peguam-peguam tersebut dalam kes kehilangan Muthuraja? Bukankah ianya "Standard Operating Procedure" pihak polis untuk mengambil keterangan daripada mana-mana pihak yang terakhir sekali berada bersama mangsa?

Jika kes Muthuraja telah diselesaikan dengan penangkapan, MUNGKIN tragedi yang menimpa Datuk Sosilawati, pemandunya, peguamnya dan pegawai banknya dapat dielakkan.

PDRM perlu juga memulakan satu penyiasatan dalaman untuk mengetahui apa tindakan yang diambil (atau tidak diambil) diatas laporan yang dibuat oleh Usharani. Ini membabitkan nama baik PDRM dari kacamata antarabangsa.

Corruption cases: Why they just don't seem to stick?

2010-09-03T21:53:00.007+08:00

Is there a serious flaw with the way corruption cases are being prosecuted? Are there anomalies in the law which make it technically easy for the accused persons to be let off the hook easily?

I raise these questions because it seems to me that far too many cases, especially high profile cases involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are being thrown out of court. If the subordinate court finds an accused guilty, the superior court takes an opposite position.

The latest being the acquittal of former Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement director Capt (R) Abdul Kudus Ahmad and former Pahang State Exco member Datuk Omar Othman. I am not suggesting that both of them are guilty or that they should have been found guilty. But it is rather surprising that in the case of Abdul Kudus who was charged with 30 counts of corrupt practices, not even a single charge stuck!

Datuk Omar was acquitted after a six-year trial. He was charged with abusing his power to award two village road projects to a company he allegedly had interest in.

After six years of trial (and a lot of tax payers' money, including mine spent), he was released.

I think the number of high-profile corruption cases which ended up in acquittals in recent years are far too many for to me to list down here. Given the frequency of these cases being thrown out of court, I wonder what is MACC's actual success rate of convictions after all avenues of appeal are exhausted.

And a bigger wonder is whether the investigation methods used by the MACC are in fact effective.

Stop intimidating bloggers!

2010-09-01T14:04:00.005+08:00

Have our authorities lost their sense of humour? Or is this an attempt by the Attorney-General and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to intimidate bloggers.

I am referring to blogger Hassan Skodeng who will be charged at the Petaling Jaya sessions court tomorrow for poking fun at Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Earth Hour. Now it is also a crime to make jokes.

I have reproduced below what Hassan wrote, and let me make it clear that this is a joke...a parody, in case they decide to charge me too for reproducing the blogpost.

By Hassan Skodeng
TNB to sue WWF over Earth Hour

KUALA LUMPUR — Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia’s premier energy provider today announced that they were taking legal action against the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) for organising the Earth Hour, a global movement that makes a stand against climate change by turning off all non-essential lights and electrical equipment for an hour every year.

In a Press conference, TNB president and CEO Dato’ Sri Che Khalib Mohd Noh said that the annual worldwide symbolic gesture, which this year would be observed this Saturday at 8.30pm, is nothing more than an ‘arrogant and thoughtless viral movement’ aimed to hurt power companies such as TNB.

CHE KHALIB: These people are inconsiderate. “Obviously these green-minded fellows think they’re really cute, organising such an irresponsible campaign,” said Che Khalib angrily. “They say ‘turn off your lights for an hour’ and people do. I bet that really makes them feel all powerful.

“What these western colonialists fail to grasp is how such drastic action affects the poor companies like us. One hour of unused electricity means an hour of wastage for TNB. Did you know that last year’s Earth Hour costed us millions in unrealised revenue?” asked Che Khalib, seething.

“How do you think that affected our production? We couldn’t exactly turn off our power plants just because a large number of Malaysians turn off their lights at the same time. So imagine all that wasted energy.

“This year, we expect even more people to fall for this global con-job,” added Che Khalib.

“So there’ll be more lights turned off. KL alone would be engulfed in darkness. Yes, sure, it may seem fun to some, running around in complete darkness. But that also means TNB would get less money. Tell me, what am I supposed to say to the kids of this electrical technician when we can’t give bonus this year?” asked Che Khalib, as he pointed to a TNB staff manning the lights for the Press conference.

He added, “In light of such inconsiderate actions by these tree huggers, TNB has no choice but to take legal action against the Earth Hour organisers, WWF. We’ll wait for our accountants to come back with the loss figure after this year’s Earth Hour, and we plan to sue them for that same amount. We may even add a hundred million ringgit or so, to teach them a lesson.”

Che Khalib also reminded Malaysians to ignore the Earth Hour, calling it a ‘cultural invasion, a concerted assault by extreme liberal forces aimed to destabilise poorer nations’.

“We are Malaysians, and we should be proud of our lights. Every night we should go out and see the beautiful sparkling lights in our city skylines. Don’t be ashamed of the lights,” said Che Khalib, as he unveiled a set of pictures showing the Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding buildings consequently going dark during last year’s Earth Hour.

God knows how many people tripped over things and hurt themselves in the complete darkness, not to mention the number of bad people going around doing naughty things, knowing the authorities could not see them.

“Let’s reverse the order of these pictures this year, and fight for the rights to our lights,” continued Che Khalib. “Let’s unite as 1Malaysia, and tell these green terrorists that we will not go dark! We will not switch off! Let’s tell them that we love our lights!

“POWERRR… EXTREME!” he screamed, as powerful clusters of foglamps flooded the conference room with ultra-bright and hot light, temporarily blinding everyone present, and signalling the end of the Press conference.

Siapa dalang di sebalik demonstrasi di Jakarta?

2010-08-26T15:10:00.003+08:00

Kita semua tahu hakikatnya. Di Indonesia, dengan wang sebanyak RM100, kita boleh mengupah seramai 10 orang untuk menganjurkan satu demonstrasi mengenai apa saja isu.

Bermakna dengan RM50,000 kita boleh mendapat 5,000 orang untuk mengadakan satu demonstrasi besar-besaran. Dalam erti kata lain, kalau ada pulus, semua beres.

Sebab itu bila ditanya, majoriti yang melibatkan diri tidak tahu pun apa tujuan sebenar demonstrasi itu diadakan.

Tapi persoalannya sekarang siapakah dalang yang membiayai demonstrasi di hadapan Kedutaan Malaysia di Jakarta serta Konsulat Malaysia di Pekan Baru dan Medan?

Kita pasti boleh mendapat jawapannya sekiranya kita mencongak dari persoalan pokok ini:

Siapakah sebenarnya yang mahu melihat Malaysia dan Indonesia bermusuhan?

Apapun, rumusannya ialah kumpulan penunjuk perasaan di Jakarta yang memijak Jalur Gemilang dan membuang najis manusia kedalam kawasan Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Jakarta, cukup kurang ajar dan tidak bertamadun. Kemungkinan besar mereka mendapat bayaran lebih sedikit kali ini kerana terpaksa bersusah payah mengumpulkan najis manusia dan sanggup menggunakan tangan untuk menyapu najis itu ke dinding Kedutaan.

Dengan wang ringgit, semuanya boleh dibeli. Bisa saja!

Sime Darby's Forensic Audit Report please?

2010-08-19T13:51:00.004+08:00

Today is the 19th day of August, 2010. Still no sign of the forensic audit and internal investigations report on Sime Darby Berhad's RM2 billion plus losses.

On June 15, Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam said:

"We will make the relevant disclosures as soon as the third phase or the forensic audit and legal investigations are ready, which are expected to be around the end of August 2010."

To be fair, Tun Musa did say "end of August". That gives him about 10 days more.

As I wait anxiously for the audit report, I wonder whether it will recommend punitive action against the entire Board of Directors as well as several senior management staff for their role in misleading the Government, the shareholders and the public in general:

To my mind, besides the Board, the following senior executives should be held answerable:

1. Sekhar Krishnan - The Group Financial Officer when Sime Darby ventured into Qatar and when the whole fiasco began.

2. Hisham Hamdan - The former Head of Group Stategy and Business - he vets through all investments. If he says no go, papers do not go to Board. All projects, including the Qatar projects and Bakun were okayed by him. He did not see the fact that Sime Darby was not ready for the projects in Qatar. It is strange that he is now tasked to lead Energy and Utilities Division.

3. Madam Tong Poh Keow who was appointed the Group Chief Financial Officer of Sime Darby Berhad on June 24, 2008 - She was Group CFO for year end June 2008 and June 2009 accounts - why did she failed to insist on provisions? Why did she sign the Statutory Declaration in the annual report saying that the accounts were correct?
In an Annual Report, the directors sign the Statement of Directors (s169(15)Companies Act). The CFO signs Statutory Declaration (s169(16) Companies Act) in accordance with Statutory Declaration Act 1960. So what is the CFO's legal position in making incorrect statutory declarations? In an Annual Report, the key sections are:
1) Corporate Governance Statement
2) Chairman's Statement - Nothing was mentioned in Tun Musa's statement in June 2008 and June 2009 in relation to E&U Division
3) Audit Committee Report
4) Statement of Internal Control - contains Board responsibility, risk management framework, etc
5) Directors' Report

Were the representations in the above sections accurate or misleading?

Since Annual Reports are tabled at the Annual General Meeting for shareholders, the Sime Darby shareholders, public at large, the Securities Commission, Bursa Malaysia, Minority Shareholders' Watchdog Group, etc were obviously misled. This is an obvious breach of the Companies Act.

4. Nik Muhammad Hanafi Nik Abdullah who was then Sime Darby's Head of Internal Audit. He failed to question the Finance and Accounts Department when it did not make provisions for the losses.

6. Foo Marn Hin, the former Head of Sime Darby's Risk Management. He was Head of Risk Management when Sime Darby venture into Qatar. He failed to warn the company about the risks involved in the Qatar projects, given the fact that Sime Darby lacked the experience and the expertise to venture into such projects at that point of time.

5. Abdul Rahim Ismail, who was then the Chief Financial Officer of the Energy and Utilities Division. He should have known all along the extent of the damage.

More on Anwar, Wolfowitz and Al-Gore

2010-08-13T21:23:00.002+08:00

My friend Pasquale has more about the unholy alliance of Anwar Ibrahim, Wolfowitz and Al Gore here

Anwar, Al Gore, Wolfowitz - birds of a feather!

2010-08-05T19:46:00.008+08:00

Birds of a feather flock together. Just like ex-convict Anwar Ibrahim, both Al Gore and Paul Wolfowitz are tainted with scandals and therefore lack the credibility to even try to make each other look good. In other words, they lack moral ground.

So I am sure, those who read the joint article by Al Gore and Wolfowitz in the Wall Street Journal on Aug 3 asking their Government to interfere in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial would have simply laughed it off.

Wolfowitz, as we know, had an adulterous affair with his staff Shaha Riza and rewarded her for her "services" with a handsome pay package. He had to beg and plead to keep his job as World Bank President.

Al Gore also had his fair share of scandals. At least two more women have come forward claiming that they were sexually abused by the former Vice President.

Shortly following the announcement that he was divorcing Tipper, his wife of 40 years, Star Magazine reported that Gore was in the midst of a 2-year affair with Laurie David, the ex-wife of Larry David.

Then came the sexual assault allegations. Massage therapist Molly Hagerty accused Gore of sexually harassing her in Portland, Oregon, four years ago -- and she showed off her semen-stained pants on the cover of the National Enquirer to prove it. Gore emphatically denied her allegations.

Hagerty reported the incident to the authorities in 2006, and again in 2009, but they closed the case. Earlier this month, the Portland police reopened the investigation.

And now, two unidentified women -- both massage therapists -- claim that Al Gore made some unwanted advances towards them.

And in Anwar's case, although the Federal Court had in 2004 overturned the sodomy charge against him due to technicalities, the court held that there was evidence confirming that Anwar did engage in homosexual activities.

Given these scandals, it seems comical to me that both Wolfowitz and Al Gore have come together to support Anwar. And they even have the gall to say that Anwar's sodomy charges are "trumped up".

Denying their scandals at all cost is all they can do now! And for that, they need each other's help.

Kalimullah and the plot to topple Najib?

2010-07-25T22:48:00.003+08:00

Apakah bekas Ketua Pengarang The New Straits Times Press Datuk Kalimullah Hassan bersekongkol untuk menjatuhkan Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak apabila beliau menjawat jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Pertahanan.

Berikut laporan penuh yang disiarkan Mingguan Malaysia hari ini, 25 Julai 2010:

Kalimullah didesak jelaskan plot jatuhkan Najib

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Julai - Ahli Dewan Tertinggi Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), Mohd. Zahid Md. Arip meminta tokoh media, Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan supaya menjelaskan kaitannya dalam plot menjatuhkan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semasa menyandang jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Pertahanan.

Dalam temu bual bersama TV3 yang disiarkan menerusi Buletin Utama malam ini, Mohd. Zahid mendakwa, Kalimullah dipercayai mempunyai kaitan dalam plot itu.

Ini kerana, dakwanya, Kalimullah menyiarkan artikel yang tidak tepat semasa menerajui The New Straits Times Press Berhad (NSTP), mengenai bahan letupan C4 yang digunakan dalam kes pembunuhan model warga Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu pada 2006.

"Dalam artikel itu, C4 ini kononnya hanya dimiliki oleh Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dan perlu kelulusan tertinggi Kementerian Pertahanan.

"Berita ini tidak tepat kerana kita tahu bahan letupan ini juga ada di semua depot senjata Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dan penggunaannya tidak memerlukan kelulusan tertinggi.

"Kalau Kalimullah tidak mahu bertanggungjawab, tidak mahu menjawab, dan berdiam diri, dia jangan marahkan saya. Seluruh rakyat percaya beliau salah seorang yang merancang plot untuk menjatuhkan Najib ketika itu dan agenda itu berterusan sehingga sekarang," dakwanya seperti disiarkan dalam Buletin Utama itu.

Hari ini, Utusan Malaysia menyiarkan kenyataan Mohd. Zahid yang juga bekas Naib Ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mempersoalkan penafian Kalimullah kononnya beliau tidak pernah mendapat sebarang kontrak kerajaan sebelum bergelar jutawan.

Mohd. Zahid dilaporkan berkata, beliau hairan dengan penafian itu kerana dakwanya, VPI International iaitu anak syarikat kepada Efficient E Solutions yang mana Kalimullah merupakan pengarahnya, memperoleh kontrak bernilai RM216,090,927 daripada Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) pada September 2005.

Sedangkan, tambah Mohd. Zahid, dalam penafiannya baru-baru ini Kalimullah memberitahu hanya melepaskan jawatan sebagai pengarah di Efficient E Solutions pada 21 Jun 2006 iaitu selepas sembilan bulan kontrak diluluskan.

Sehingga malam ini, Kalimullah belum memberikan sebarang ulasan berhubung desakan Mohd. Zahid itu.

Kita masih menunggu penjelasan Kalimullah.

Kali oh Kali

2010-07-22T16:51:00.007+08:00

Datuk Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan told Bernama yesterday:

"I am also not a director of Efficient E Solutions which I quit on June 21, 2006. I did not get any government contract in my life and am not a shareholder in VPI International," he said in response to allegations by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO)".

He said this in a statement denying that he was behind the funding of The Malaysian Insider, a news portal highly critical of the Government and the Monarchy.

But according to Jaringan Melayu Malaysia, the contract was from 2005 to 2010. This means, when the decison to award the imaging and data capture scanning service contract to VPI International Sdn Bhd by the Inland Revenue Board was made, Kalimullah was still a director of Efficient E Solutions.

Efficient E-Solutions then held a 20 per cent stake in VPI International.

I have lifted the following information from APANAMA.

How low can one go?

No Government projects, Kalimullah?

2010-07-21T23:22:00.006+08:00

According to journalist turned multi-millionaire Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan, he did not get a single Government project in his entire 50+ years of life. At least that is what he told Bernama in a statement denying that he has any links with the news portal The Malaysian Insider.

This is the Bernama story in full:

KALIMULLAH DENIES INVOLVEMENT WITH 'MALAYSIAN INSIDER'

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- Journalist-turned-businessman Datuk Kalimullah Hassan today stressed that he had never been involved with 'The Malaysian Insider', a news portal, in any way.

"I am also not a director of Efficient E Solutions which I quit on June 21, 2006. I did not get any government contract in my life and am not a shareholder in VPI International," he said in response to allegations by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), yesterday.

JMM alleged that the backers of the news portal had defamed the government although they had profited from government contracts.

JMM's allegation was based on an inference that Efficient E-Solutions held a 20 per cent stake in VPI International, which won an imaging and data capture scanning service contract from the Inland Revenue Board.

Kalimullah said: "If JMM has evidence of wrongdoings, it should, as a responsible NGO funded by well-meaning Malaysians of high standing, hand over the evidence to the authorities, without further delay."

He also hoped that BERNAMA, as the national news agency, "of which I was once chairman, would act responsibly in future and verify such allegations before publishing them." - BERNAMA.

Yes Kali, we believe you! We are naive Malaysians. By the way, we also believe in the Tooth Fairy.

No point denying it when everyone knows that your friends Brenden Pereira and Jahabar Sadiq are running The Malaysian Insider. And what about the millions of ringgit made by Fox Media? Your friend/proxy Pereira was behind it. Didn't Fox Media make millions from the Government from event management and PR for the five economic corridors. Fox Media was even receiving a RM250,000 monthly retainer from Sime Darby Berhad, the highest ever paid to a local PR company. That only stopped after the bloggers started to make a fuss about it. Is this money being used to finance the highly-paid CEOs and writers employed by The Malaysian Insider?

Having served under Kalimullah in the NST, I have a lot of stories about this man. But I will keep that for another day.

Tahniah, Dato' Sabri!

2010-07-15T20:23:00.002+08:00

Saya ingin mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada bekas bos saya yang juga bekas Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan Golden Hope Plantations Berhad Dato' Sabri Ahmad yang dilantik Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan Felda Holdings Berhad berkuatkuasa hari ini.

Beliau juga akan turut memegang jawatan Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Saya pernah berkhidmat dengan Dato' Sabri dari tahun 2004 hingga 2007 apabila saya memegang jawatan Pengurus Besar Hal Ehwal Korporat di Golden Hope Plantations. Pada masa yang sama, saya juga memegang jawatan Pegawai Khas kepada Dato' Sabri.

Saya memang kagum dengan kebolehan dan ilmu pengetahuan Dato' Sabri yang begitu luas. Banyak yang saya pelajari dari beliau. Beliau juga ialah seorang individu yang tekun, amanah, jujur, warak serta mempunyai hubungan yang begitu akrab dengan stafnya.

Dato' Sabri yang pernah menyandang jawatan Pengerusi Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia (MPOB) dari tahun 2007 hingga April lalu, mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam industri perladangan.

Beliau telah berkhidmat dengan Golden Hope Plantations selama 20 tahun dan dilantik Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulannya pada tahun 2004 sehingga ianya digabungkan dengan Sime Darby Berhad pada tahun 2007.

Beliau juga adalah bekas pengerusi Persatuan Minyak Sawit Malaysia (MPOA).

Dato' Sabri mendapat pendidikan awal di Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar dan meneruskan pengajiannya ke peringkat Ijazah Sarjana Sains dalam bidang ekonomi pertanian di University of London.

Beliau juga mempunyai diploma lanjutan dalam kajian antarabangsa dari University of Rhode Island serta menghadiri program pengurusan lanjutan di Oxford University.

Dato' Sabri menggantikan Dato' Mohd Bakke Salleh, yang juga mula menjawat Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan Sime Darby hari ini.

Saya pasti Felda akan mencapai kejayaan demi kejayaan dibawah kepimpinan beliau.

New FELDA Group CEO

2010-07-14T16:02:00.002+08:00

An announcement of the new Group Chief Executive Officer of Felda is expected tomorrow (Thursday, July 15).

The person, whom I cannot name just yet, is certainly most deserving. He has had an illustrious career in the palm oil industry and well respected by industry players.

The Government certainly made the right decision in appointing this person to helm Felda.

I have no doubt he will take Felda to greater, dizzier heights.

Announcement on Monday?

2010-06-10T20:36:00.002+08:00

The Sime Darby Berhad board is meeting on Monday, June 14. I heard that some kind of announcement is expected. I doubt it is going to be as dramatic as the Board members accepting responsibility for the RM2.03 billion losses and resigning en bloc, like most of us would like to hear.

Perhaps the announcement of the new President and Group Chief Executive?

Stay tuned to this blog. I may be able to give you a headstart.

Sime Darby board must be accountable, says Kadir

2010-06-07T23:32:00.002+08:00

My former boss and prominent journalist cum blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin wrote an interesting piece in his blog Other Thots. I reproduce the full piece here:

MONDAY, JUNE 07, 2010
Isu Sime Darby: Hukum Seorang, Hukum Semua
A Kadir Jasin

[Komen menggunakan pengenalan anonymous TIDAK AKAN DILAYAN. Sila gunakan nama sebenar atau nama samaran. Jikalau menggunakan anonymous, sila nyatakan nama di penghujung komen. Ulasan yang mengandungi unsur fitnah, hasutan, perkauman dan bahasa kesat tidak akan disiarkan. Ulasan yang terkeluar daripada tajuk tidak akan diberi keutamaan.]

URA-URA Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BBCBN) hendak mendesak kerajaan agar tidak lagi melantik pesara sektor awam menganggotai lembaga pengarah syarikat-syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) ada baik dan buruknya.

Laporan media massa mengatakan cadangan itu diuar-uarkan (bukan war-war) berikutan kerugian besar yang dialami dua GLC iaitu Sime Darby Berhad dan Pos Malaysia Berhad.

Timbalan Pengerusi Kelab, Bung Moktar Radin, memberitahu portal berita The Malaysian Insider dia akan membangkitkan perkara itu dalam sidang Dewan Rakyat yang bermula hari ini.

“Kalau mereka tidak berminat (menerajui syarikat-syarikat besar) jangan paksa mereka memegang jawatan pengarah khususnya di syarikat-syarikat besar dan ternama macam Sime Darby,” kata Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan, Sabah, itu.

Sebarang usaha untuk mendalami kefahaman mengenai kerugian atau prestasi buruk GLC, khasnya oleh Parlimen, adalah dialu-alukan. Malah ia satu kewajipan.

Namun adalah tidak adil dan tidak tepat menyalahkan ahli lembaga pengarah (ALP) yang terdiri daripada bekas pegawai kerajaan sahaja. Tindak-tanduk pengurusan pun wajib didalami juga.

Kita ambil contoh Sime Darby (SD). Ia sudah beberapa kali mengalami masalah yang menyebabkan kerugian berbilion ringgit. Mungkin ramai sudah lupa kemuflisan Sime Bank dan kerugian besar SD pada akhir tahun 1990an.

Sebenarnya kali ini SD tidak rugi. Malaj bagi separuh pertama tahun ini ia mencatatkan RM1.113 bilion keuntungan. Yang rugi lebih RM1 bilion itu adalah operasi minyak dan gas di Teluk Parsi dan pembinaan penjana elektrik hidro Bakun.

Kerugian operasi ini menjadi isu sensasi kerana SD baru sahaja menelan dua syarikat Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) yang lain iaitu Golden Hope dan Guthrie Corporation.

Apabila penggabungan ini diilhamkan ketika pentadbiran Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan didalangi oleh CIMB Bank atas nama Synergy Drive Sdn Bhd. pada tahun 2007, ramai yang menantangnya, termasuk PNB walaupun secara diam-diam.

Sebelum penggabungan, ketiga-tiga syarikat perladangan PNB itu beroperasi dengan menguntungkan walaupun ramai ALPnya terdiri daripada pesara awam, termasuk Pengerusi PNB, Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid.

Tetapi apabila SD siap digabungkan dan diuar-uarkan sebagai syarikat perladangan kepada sawit terbesar di dunia, bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Musa Hitam, dilantik pengerusi dengan Ahmad Sarji sebagai timbalan.

Bukan Musa sahaja yang menjadi pengerusi atau ALP GLC. Ramai lagi ahli politik, sama ada yang bersara atau masih cergas, menjadi pengerusi dan ALP GLC. Jadi jangan salahkan ALP yang terdiri daripada pesara awam sahaja.

Malah ada ALP yang terdiri daripada orang politik sangat teruk. Ada ketua dan timbalan ketua bahagian yang tak tahu apa-apa pun (clueless) mengenai perniagaan dilantik untuk dapat elaun. Jadi Bung Mokthar wajib juga bahaskan peranan ALP yang terdiri daripada orang politik.

Khusus mengenai SD, saya lebih cenderung menganggapnya sebagai syarikat amanah Bumiputera dan bukan GLC. GLC milik semua rakyat Malaysia tetapi agensi amanah seperti PNB adalah milik Bumiputera.

Saya kata begitu kerana majoriti saham SD dipegang oleh Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera dan PNB. PNB adalah agensi amanah Bumiputera.

Mengenai pelantikan menjadi APP ini, kita kena juga tanya, siapa yang lantik mereka kalau bukan kerajaan sendiri? Akibatnya, jadilah mereka pengarah bebas yang tidak bebas.

Pada satu masa dulu, SD mempunyai apa yang dipanggil International Board of Directors atau Lembaga Pengarah Antarabangsa yang terdiri daripada orang kenamaan Asia dan dunia.

Saya pernah beberapa kali dijemput oleh Pengerusi SD waktu itu, Allahyarham Tun Dr Ismail Mohd Ali, untuk makan tengah hari bersama mereka. Salah seorang yang saya masih ingat adalah Sir David Li Kwok-po yang kini berupa pengerusi dan ketua eksekutif Bank of East Asia, Hong Kong.

Jadi, dalam hal SD ini adalah tidak patut menyalahkan dan menghukum seorang sahaja iaitu ketua pegawai eksekutif, Ahmad Zubir Murshid.

Keseluruhan ALP dan pengurusan kanan yang membantu Ahmad Zubir wajib dipertanggungjawabkan. Begitu juga juruaudit luar jika mereka gagal membuat catatan (qualification) dalam audit tahunan mereka.
Posted by A KADIR JASIN at 8:11 AM 27 comments

Tun M: Sime Darby Board must be held responsible for losses

2010-06-04T16:51:00.003+08:00

The Board of Directors of Sime Darby Berhad must take responsibility for the RM2.03 billion ringgit losses inccured by the group.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Board had fiduciary duties to shareholders and therefore, could not claim ignorance to the events that led to the massive losses.

Such an excuse, he said, did not make sense, as he himself was aware of Sime Darby's losses from as early as 2007.

Dr Mahathir said while the Group Chief Executive was responsible for the losses, the Board of Directors should also be held liable.

“If it had happened in another country, the Board would have resigned by now”, he said.

Dr Mahathir said this in an interview with TV3 this morning.

Subsidy cuts - shouldn't the corporate sector sacrifice too?

2010-06-01T17:27:00.006+08:00

Subsidy cuts are inevitable. Let's accept that. Eventually they have to go. The Government cannot go on subsidising everything under the sun. It's going to impact the country's economy, although I doubt that it's going to be as dramatic as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and the CEO of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit(Pemandu), Datuk Idris Jala put it.

I don't think any Malaysian in his or her right mind wants to continue to see Singaporeans travelling to Johor Baru to fill subsidised petrol or to shop simply because it's cheaper. Similarly, we don't want to see the Thais or Malaysians up north smuggling petrol and subsidised goods into Thailand to make quick profits. Every Malaysian would agree that this should stop.

It is a sin to allow foreigners to benefit from this at the expense of the country's economic well-being.

It is a fact that the Government of today led by Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak is saddled by the deficit accumulated over the years. It's important that the deficit which now stands at almost RM300 billion is reduced or better, cleared, so that our vision to become an industrialised and a high income nation by 2020 can be realised.

However, my concern is the poor. The Government has to device a strategy to ensure that the hardcore poor and the vulnerable group do not end up poorer. While we vigorously pursue the developed nation status, we should not allow the disparity between the rich and the poor to widen. Poverty does not sustain stability and hunger does not sustain democracy.

The Government must be seen to act. The poor must be protected at all costs. One way is to introduce minimum wage. We have been arguing about this for a long time, but we are not getting anywhere.

By paying low wages, the rich employers are in fact, being subsidised. There are a few plantation companies in Malaysia which choose not to become members of the Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association(MAPA) so that they do not have to subscribe to the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) basic monthly salary requirement. This is an outright exploitation of workers.

There are also discrepancies in other areas. One which quickly comes to mind is the energy sector. If the Government is considering a tariff hike, then Tenaga Nasional Berhad must re-negotiate its contracts with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Currently, power produced by the IPPs are being forced down TNB's throat, although it doesn't really need it.

TNB's current reserve power margin stands at 44.7 per cent. It may require about 20 per cent reserve for emergencies, but the remaining 25 per cent is left idle. This is absolute waste of money.

Granted that there is a contract between TNB and the IPPs requiring the former to buy the power produced by the latter, irrespective of the need. But all contracts can be re-negotiated. Even at the absence of a clause in the contract which allows re-negotiation, there is a provision in the Law of Contract which allows it.

I am sure, after many years, the IPPs have recouped their investments and have even made a lot of profit. As such, during crunch time, the IPPs should demonstrate good corporate citizenry by agreeing to re-negotiate their contracts. This is national service, so to speak.

For the country's sake, the IPPs should be flexible. If the country's financial position takes a dip, they too will suffer.

How do we explain to the rakyat that TNB is making the rich IPPs even richer by buying power that it does not need? How do we explain to the rakyat that they have to pay higher electricity tariff while at the same time, TNB has reserve power going to waste. Does it make economic sense?

If the Government is asking the rakyat to tighten their belts, it should do the same with the corporate sector.

My argument also extends to the highway toll concessionaires, while they make billions of ringgit, they insist on raising the toll each time the rates are up for revision. They insist on doing so even during a crisis.

During difficult times, all including the corporate sector, must sacrifice. The rakyat alone should not bear the burden. WE are after all the nation.

The Sime Darby fiasco - the biggest scandal in Malaysia's corporate history

2010-05-30T16:53:00.006+08:00

I have a gut feeling that Sime Darby Berhad, the world's biggest oil palm plantation company, is going to make history soon - for all the wrong reasons.

With an overzealous management, with some executives corrupt to the core and a Board of Directors which knew nothing about the things happening around it, the fiasco in Sime Darby is poised to become the biggest corporate scandal in Malaysia's history.

Therefore, those probing the financial scandal should not confine their investigations to the cost-overruns in Qatar and Bakun. There's more to it than meets the eye.

There are many other questionable deals which took place prior and after Sime Darby's merger with Golden Hope Plantations Berhad and Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad in November 2007.

I have some questions begging for answers:

1. What happened to the trading loss in China which had reached RM80 million at one stage? The Chinese buyers had refused to accept palm oil which was ordered when the price was high but fell when the shipment reached China? Why is palm oil being sold cheaper in China than it is in Malaysia? What is the actual quantum of investments of Sime Darby in China? Utilities Divison's Weifang operations, Jinning Port, Motor operations, property investments, etc. Has Sime Darby evaluated the country risks? Did Sime Darby over-expose itself in China? Was there a risk management report on China before all these investments took place? Were money paid to middlemen to secure projects?

2. What happened to the two AHTS (Anchor Handling Tugs) and one DLB (Derrick Lay Barge) which Sime Darby awarded to MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd to build. Were these ships, worth RM155 million, ever delivered. Or was the RM155 million written off? Did Sime Darby call for tender before awarding the project to MLC? Does MLC, owned by one Redzuan Goh, have the expertise to build ships?

3. Why invest in plantations in Liberia? Is it worth taking the risk going to Liberia? Could Sime Darby have generated more money expanding/developing estates in Malaysia (ie Sabah/Sarawak) - less risk and still plenty of fertile land? Isn't it easier to deal with Sabah/Sarawak Government than the Liberian Government? What's the economic rationale of going to Liberia? This is despite the known fact that Guthrie started the Liberian project but got out of it twice due to civil wars. The Liberian Government is fragile. What if a new regime takes over and nationalises the Sime Darby project?

4. What is this special relationship with Brunsfield Group that enables it to secure many projects from Sime Darby. Among others, Brunsfield was given the contract to renovate KLGCC, to build Sime Darby's World Headquarters in Bukit Kiara, and The Oasis in Ara Damansara where the Divisional headquarters will be located. The total contract awarded to Brunsfield could actually be billions.

5. The sale of the land at USJ Elite Exit (now being developed by a private company - MCT). At what price was this land sold and what was its price when Sime Darby bought it? What is the market price now? Why was the land sold anyway? Is it to show income in an attempt to make losses elsewhere look smaller?

6. The Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Bukit Kiara now sits on a land leased from City Hall. Apparently, the Sime Darby management had agreed to buy the land from City Hall without the approval of the Board. To rectify the situation, a paper was submitted to the Board last week to approve the sales and purchase of the land in retrospect. It will be silly for the Board to do so, especially now when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is carrying out an investigation on Sime Darby. How much is the new facelift of the KLGCC going to cost?

I wonder if the Board is aware of all these things I have mentioned.

Sime Darby's losses reach RM1.3 billion

2010-05-28T07:30:00.005+08:00

The provisions for losses incurred by Sime Darby Berhad's Energy and Utilities Division have now been raised to RM1.3 billion.

Announcing the company's third quarter results for Financial Year 2009/2010, its acting Group Chief Executive Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the figure was not a final one.

The excerpts of the Press Statement issued yesterday:

PROVISIONS OF RM964 MILLION IN THE ENERGY & UTILITIES DIVISION
The Energy & Utilities division had reported an operating loss of RM1,019 million in the first nine months of the year. This was after recording provisions for the oil & gas and engineering sub-segment in 3QFY2010 amounting to RM964 million that was announced on 13 May 2010.

The breakdown in the provisions totaling RM964 million is as follows:

RM200 million for the Qatar Petroleum (QP) project;
RM159 million for the Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) project;
RM155 million for the Marine project;
RM450 million for the Bakun project;

Inclusive of the above provisions, the total provision for the four projects at the end of the third quarter amounted to RM1.3 billion. These provisions are based on the current best judgment of the forecast cost to completion of each of the projects. The QP project was completed and handed over in August 2009. The MOQ project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Negotiations on cost recovery in all four projects are ongoing.

NEXT: What really happened to Sime Darby's investments in China

MACC probes Sime Darby

2010-05-26T15:29:00.003+08:00

I am glad that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has started its probe on Sime Darby Berhad as reported in the New Straits Times today:

I hope they read my two previous postings on Sime Darby while doing so. Here is the full story in the NST:

MACC steps in
Probe under way into Sime Darby’s huge losses
2010/05/26
By Farrah Naz Karim
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has taken a proactive step by initiating investigations into the massive losses suffered by Sime Darby.
Investigations will start with a probe focusing on the internal inquiry being carried out by the conglomerate. The company’s internal investigation, believed to have started some eight months ago, is to determine the real extent of the
losses in its energy and utilities division and whether they were anything beyond just making bad investment calls.

There may also be probes into other divisions and projects. MACC investigations director Mustafar Ali confirmed that the commission had started investigations.

“We will be identifying areas that have elements of corruption,

misappropriation and abuse of power.

“Like all cases, we’ll deal with this one with urgency, not only because this probably involves billions of ringgit but also the interests of the people,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

MACC had last week offered Sime Darby its expertise in detecting elements of graft but the country’s oldest and largest conglomerate had to date not approached the antigraft body for help in facilitating its investigation.

Until last week, MACC said it would let Sime Darby complete its investigation and would only open an investigation file into the financial affairs of the governmentlinked company if any element of corruption was suspected in its
massive losses.

Sime Darby recently confirmed the market’s worst fears when it announced that it would have to post massive losses suffered in projects in the Middle East as well as the Bakun hydroelectric dam project in Sarawak.

It is expected to post close to RM1 billion losses in its third quarter results,
which are expected to be released tomorrow. Sime Darby is also expected to disclose tomorrow the findings of the task force set up to investigate its
energy and utilities operations.

The cost overrunswere discovered by a board work-group formed in October last year to “assess the corporate governance and performance” of Sime Darby’s energy and utilities division. The work-group members are Datuk Seri Andrew Sheng, a member of the National Economic Advisory Council, Tan Sri Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin and Datin Paduka Zaitoon Othman.

In announcing the losses, Sime Darby also ordered its group chief executive, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid, to take leave of absence. The company has appointed Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid acting group CEO for the interim period, while the government has assured transparency in any investigation into the company.

This is not the first time the anti-graft body started an investigation
into a GLC. In 1996, MACC, which was then known as Anti-Corruption Agency,
launched investigations into Perwaja Steel after it was declared insolvent,
with debts and losses totalling RM10 billion.

This led to the arrest of its managing director, the late Tan Sri Eric Chia, in February the same year, where he was charged with embezzlement. He was acquitted in 2007 after the Sessions Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

V. Sivapathasundaram (1942-2010)

2010-05-25T10:37:00.007+08:00

For lack of a better word V.Sivapathasundram, a former teacher at Tunku Besar Secondary School (TBS), Tampin and hockey coach who passed away on Sunday at the age of 68, is simply a LEGEND.

Being as mischievous as I was growing up, I was often the subject of punishment by this man. Those were the days when teachers had special permission from parents, including mine, to use the rod, even outside the school.

There have been many ocassions when I was slapped so hard that I literally saw stars. I was then in my teenage years and played hockey for the school, Tampin district and the State of Negri Sembilan. Siva was my teacher-cum coach.

One particular incident which I shall never forget took place when I was in Form Five. It was a hockey-training day and I was given the duty of picking up hockey balls. When my team mate Amarjit and I got to the PE store, there wasn't a single ball. We later realised that the girls' team beat us to it.

So looking all over the PE store for hockey balls, I remarked:

"There are no hockey balls here, so I guess we'll have to use Siva's BALLS,". Both of us burst out laughing, and that's when we heard his signature cough. As we turned around, we saw Siva standing right behind us. I shall leave the rest of this story to your imagination.

Siva was a dedicated teacher with hockey being his No 1 passion. Like my friend and former colleague Jugjet Singh described in his column in the New Straits Times today, Siva was often pre-occupied plotting the defeat of the other hockey Titan in Negeri Sembilan - the St Paul's Institution. TBS would often meet SPI in the finals. Both had a fair share of winning.

Despite being a strict disciplinarian demanding both academic and sporting excellence from his students, Siva had a soft spot which he chose not to show. He gladly let some of his students to stay in his house for as long as they wanted. These students were poor and could not commute to school from home for hockey training because they lived far away and the hostel could not accommodate them.

A former TBS hockey player, Azlan Harun, recalled his experience staying with Siva. He bought special crockery for the Muslims and catered halal food for them, all at his own expense.

How many teachers we know today would do the same? How many teachers we know today would walk around the school field in the scorching afternoon heat to pluck thorns and line the hockey pitch? How many teachers in the rural areas we know today would take the trouble to go to KL and buy hockey sticks and boots for their students? Siva used to give them away for free to poor students. I was among the beneficiaries.

It will take a whole book for me to describe Siva's contributions to the development of sports in Tampin District, Negeri Sembilan and country. A voice in Sports did a fantastic job, here.

Siva's love for cigarettes landed him in hospital many times. He suffered at least a couple of heart attacks when I was still in Tampin. Two or three days after being discharged from the hospital, he would be back in the field. His deteriorating health never seemed to bother him.

I was told that three weeks before his death, he was still coaching young children under the BAKAT programme. He was coughing away, but that didn't stop him.

Siva was the man behind the scene. If there is a posthumous award for a dedicated teacher and sportsman, I would vote for him over and over again.

Thank you and goodbye, Sir. I am forever indebted to you. And you shall forever remain my favourite teacher, my mentor and my friend.

May you find eternal peace.

The Sime Darby Fiasco - who else should be held responsible.

2010-05-23T16:38:00.012+08:00

In my last posting, I promised to name the senior management executives who should be held accountable for the losses incurred by Sime Darby Berhad.

My argument that the management had contravened the Company's Act and failed to comply to the principles of Corporate Governance is supported by Sime Darby Chairman Tun Musa Hitam in an interview which appeared in Mingguan Malaysia today.

This is what he said, and I quote:

"Semua laporan yang sepatutnya (sampai), tidak sampai kepada pihak Lembaga Pengarah. Kalau ada pun, ia tidak memberi gambaran sebenar. Kami tidak mempunyai laluan untuk maklumat sebenar."

In other words, Tun Musa is admitting that the management had misled the Board of Directors. Besides the President and Group Chief Executive of Sime Darby Datuk Ahmad Zubir Murshid, why were the rest of the management executives in the same chain of command spared? To me, this is mind-boggling.

Let me try and put in perspective what had happened earlier when Golden Hope Plantations Berhad incurred trading losses amounting to RM40 million due to overzealous trading activities by a rogue trader. The matter came to light between 2006 and 2007 and was accounted for in several financial statements. In other words, Golden Hope made it transparent.

Unfortunately due to the high palm oil prices, the amount was inflated to about RM60 million.

But when Golden Hope and Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad were merged with Sime Darby in 2007,the Sime Darby management led by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Mushid insisted on the resignations of the former Group Chief Executive of Golden Hope Datuk Sabri Ahmad (who was absorbed into Sime Darby as Advisor, Plantations Division), the director of Oils and Fats Dr Anhar Suki, the Director of Finance Razidan Ghazalli (who was absorbed into Sime Darby as Group Chief Financial Officer), the General Manager of Trading Azmir Yahya and the General Manager of Golden Jomalina Sdn Bhd Muhammad Mohan Abdullah.

Datuk Sabri, Dr Anhar and Azmir chose to resign, but Razidan and Muhammad Mohan stood their ground and refused to do so. As a result, both Razidan and Muhammad Mohan were sacked on the same day. The two then took their case to the Labour Court. Months later, in an apparent admission of guilt, Sime Darby chose to settle the matter out of court and compensated both of them.

The fact is, Golden Hope did not keep the matter under wraps. The loss was reported in all its financial statements, and yet Datuk Sabri, Dr Anhar and Azmir were forced to resign while Razidan and Muhammad Mohan were given the sack. The decision to take action against the five was a Board decision headed by Tun Musa. He has to be consistent, but from what I have observed so far, he is not so.

In contrast to what Golden Hope did, the Sime Darby management tried to hide the losses incurred in Qatar and Bakun. Only one provision was made in the second quarter results of the 2009/2010 Financial Year - to a tune of RM210 million for cost over-runs in the Qatar Maersk Oil project. In actual fact, the amount was much higher.

It also made no mention of the losses incurred in the Bulhanine and Maydan Mahzam project with Qatar Petroleum as well as the cost over-run in the Bakun project.

In other words, not only did Sime Darby go against the principles of good governance but also breached the various laws.

So who among the management should be held responsible:

1. Sekhar Krishnan - The Group Financial Officer when Sime Darby ventured into Qatar and when the whole fiasco began.

2. Hisham Hamdan - The former Head of Group Stategy and Business - he vets through all investments. If he says no go, papers do not go to Board. All projects, including the Qatar projects and Bakun were okayed by him. He did not see the fact that Sime Darby was not ready for the projects in Qatar. It is strange that he is now tasked to lead Energy and Utilities Division.

3. Madam Tong Poh Keow who was appointed the Group Chief Financial Officer of Sime Darby Berhad on June 24, 2008 - She was Group CFO for year end June 2008 and June 2009 accounts - why did she failed to insist on provisions? Why did she sign the Statutory Declaration in the annual report saying that the accounts were correct?
In an Annual Report, the directors sign the Statement of Directors (s169(15)Companies Act). The CFO signs Statutory Declaration (s169(16) Companies Act) in accordance with Statutory Declaration Act 1960. So what is the CFO's legal position in making incorrect statutory declarations? In an Annual Report, the key sections are:
1) Corporate Governance Statement
2) Chairman's Statement - Nothing was mentioned in Tun Musa's statement in June 2008 and June 2009 in relation to E&U Division
3) Audit Committee Report
4) Statement of Internal Control - contains Board responsibility, risk management framework, etc
5) Directors' Report

Were the representations in the above sections accurate or misleading?

Since Annual Reports are tabled at the Annual General Meeting for shareholders, the Sime Darby shareholders, public at large, the Securities Commission, Bursa Malaysia, Minority Shareholders' Watchdog Group, etc were obviously misled. This is an obvious breach of the Companies Act.

4. Nik Muhammad Hanafi Nik Abdullah who was then Sime Darby's Head of Internal Audit. He failed to question the Finance and Accounts Department when it did not make provisions for the losses.

5. Abdul Rahim Ismail, who was then the Chief Financial Officer of the Energy and Utilities Division. He should have known all along the extent of the damage.

Sime Darby must act against those responsible, even if it means instituting legal action. Transferring them to another division like what it did in the case of Nik Muhammad Hanafi and Abdul Rahim, would not solve the problem. The problem will be merely shifted to another division.

The entire Sime Darby Board must go

2010-05-22T14:06:00.010+08:00

The only way to rescue Sime Darby Berhad now is to sack the entire Board, including chairman Tun Musa Hitam and to revamp its top management. To my mind, none of the divisional heads should remain. This is because they were all part of the decision-making process. They are collectively responsible for all the wrong-decisions, unlawful decisions, non-compliance of Corporate Governance, etc.

The Board of Directors of the expanded Sime Darby was appointed just before the Legal Day One of the merged entity on November 27, 2007. (Sime Darby, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad and Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad were merged). In another six months, that would be three years.

Therefore, the Board cannot claim ignorance to what Sime Darby has been doing. Legally, having no knowledge is no defence. Sime Darby's investment in Qatar dates back to 2006 and 2007. It only goes to show that the Board failed to keep in check the actions of the management or worst, was by-passed altogether. But one thing for certain, the Board had failed miserably in monitoring the projects entered into by the management.

The proposal to merge Sime Darby, Golden Hope and Guthrie was mooted by Sime Darby, then led by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid. At the point of the merger, all three companies were very profitable. In it's final year, Golden Hope made RM700 million and had embarked on a mission to increase its profits to RM1 billion by this year. That's half the profit the expanded Sime Darby is making now.

The exercise was called a merger because it was a Related Party Transaction. In actual fact, it was a Sime Darby take over. They did not call it a take over, because they would then be required to adhere to the stringent Take Over Code. If it was a take over, Permodalan Nasional Berhad as a major shareholder would not be able to exercise its voting right as it was a RPT.

I was then the General Manager of Group Corporate Affairs cum special Officer to the Group Chief Executive at Golden Hope. Therefore, I was privy to certain information.

I have every reason to believe that Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Hamid (now Tun) who was then the Chairman of both Sime Darby and Golden Hope, was by-passed when the merger proposal was made to the Government. He was kept in the dark until the very last minute. I may be wrong here, but when confronted by the senior management of Golden Hope Tun Ahmad Sarji denied knowledge of the merger. His facial expression was genuine. It's either that or Tun Ahmad Sarji is a damn good poker player.

Datuk Seri Zubir did not want Golden Hope to know about the merger until after Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the then Prime Minister approved it. My point is this, if Datuk Seri Zubir could do things without the knowledge of his Chairman and his Board then, could he not do the same now.

The reason for keeping the planned merger a secret was simple. Datuk Seri Zubir knew that Golden Hope and Guthrie would not agree to it. To keep them in the loop would only give rise to messy debate. So the best thing is not to consult them at all. Get the Government to agree to it and then shove it down their throats.

In fact, to this day, most of the ex-Golden Hopers and Guthriens who joined Sime Darby wish the clock can be turned back. The merger was a big mistake. It failed from the very beginning, a non-starter so to speak. It is working against the country and the Government. The number of resignations at the Plantation Division is climbing by the day. Morale among the staff is a big issue.

A few days ago after announcing that Datuk Seri Zubir had been asked to go on leave pending the expiry of his contract in November, Tun Musa treated editors and bloggers to a sumptuous dinner and tried to explain his side of the story. Perhaps also to get them over to his side.

But things don't work that way.

So many things need explanation. They include:

1. Payment made to middlemen in dealing with the Chinese Government/projects in China
2. The projects awarded to the Brunsfield Group of Companies with/without the approval of the Board
3. Encroachment into the High Value Virgin Forest in Kalimantan which incurred the wrath of the Indonesian authorities. What was the total amount of money paid as compensation?
4. The RM18 million paid to one "Azeez". Read this.
5. The lavish lifestyle of certain people, globetrotting with private jet, etc...
6. The sale of the land at USJ Elite Exit (now being developed by a private company - MCT). At what price was this land sold and what was its price when Sime Darby bought it. What is the market price now? Why was the land sold anyway? Is it to show income in an attempt to make losses elsewhere look small?
7. The false statement made in relation to the projects in Qatar in 2008 in response to the posting by "Sime Darby Watch". Sime Darby issued a statement denying the cost over-run. It is now evident that the statement was issued to mislead the authorities including the Securities Commission and Bursa Malaysia as well as the shareholders and the general public.

As an Amanah Saham Nasional account holder, I call upon the Government to set up an independent committee to re-audit the company accounts over the last five years.

I am not at all convinced that the negative impact on Sime Darby's balance sheet this year can be capped at RM964 million. Someone try and convince me please.

And I do hope PNB would not use the Sime Darby loss as an excuse to pay lesser ASN/ASB dividends this year.

As things fall into place, I am now beginning to wonder whether the merger was deliberately planned to "hide" some of Sime Darby's earlier indiscretion/wrongdoings. If the merger did not take place, the losses in Qatar and Bakun, would have impacted Sime Darby in a far greater way. Perhaps, someone saw the merger as the only solution to cushion the impact. According to The Star, Sime Darby's market capitalisation was about RM71 billion in January 2008, two months after the merger. Its Market Capitalisation is now RM52 billion and dwindling.

What Sime Darby is left with now is the cash and assets it took from Golden Hope and Guthrie.

Next posting: The four senior executives who willl have to face the music...

Wee Choo Keong now an Independent

2010-05-15T13:21:00.005+08:00

I congratulate my long-time friend and MP for Wangsa Maju saudara Wee Choo Keong for taking the bold decision to quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Although our views on national politics defer most of the time, Choo Keong and I have been friends for about 20 years now. When I first met him as a cadet reporter with the New Straits Times, he was still a DAP member.

Choo Keong is a non-nonsense, man of principles.

He left DAP when the party deviated from its founding tenets and when the "Lim" family started to practise nepotism. Choo Keong then set up the Malaysian Democratic Party in 1998. He later decided run in the 2008 general election under PKR.

Choo Keong's departure from PKR is a loss the party can never recover.

Good move, saudara Choo Keong.

Re-audit Sime Darby accounts

2010-05-14T15:44:00.003+08:00

As an Amanah Bumiputera Berhad account holder, I call upon the Board of Directors of Sime Darby Berhad and the Government to set up an independent audit committee to re-audit the company's accounts over the past five years.

The committee should in particular investigate losses in the energy and utilities, property and the motors divisions.

I am puzzled as to why Sime Darby awarded many big property development projects to Brunsfield Berhad despite the fact that Guthrie, which has expertise in property development, is now part of the enlarged Sime Darby.

The committee should also investigate the disposal of high-value land. I wonder if all these decisions were made with the approval of the Board.

If there are elements of fraud, those responsible must be sent to prison.

Zubir out, Azhar fills in...temporarily.

2010-05-13T16:51:00.007+08:00

Held responsible for the losses in its projects in Qatar and Bakun, The President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime Darby Berhad Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid has been ordered by the Board of Directors to take leave of absence pending the expiry of his contract on Nov 26.

Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, currently the Executive Vice-President, Plantations has been appointed acting Group Chief Executive until a candidate is found to fill the vacancy.

Following is the full statement from Sime Darby:

For Immediate Release
Thursday, 13 May 2010

Sime Darby Addressing Challenges In Its Energy & Utilities Division

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 May 2010 - The Board of Directors of Sime Darby Berhad would like to state that in October 2009 it established a Board Work Group to review the operations of its Energy & Utilities Division (the "Division"). The purpose of the Work Group was to assess the corporate governance and performance of the Division, following its results in FY2009.

The Work Group consists of Datuk Seri Panglima Andrew Sheng Len Tao (Chairman), Tan Sri Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin and Datin Paduka Zaitoon Dato' Othman. The Work Group has been advised by independent lawyers and accountants.

The Work Group reviewed in particular: the Bulhanine and Maydan Mahzam project with Qatar Petroleum (the "QP Project"); the Maersk Oil Qatar project (the "MOQ Project"); a project concerning the construction of vessels for use in the MOQ Project (the "Marine Project"); and the Bakun hydroelectric dam project. The Board deliberated on the findings of the Work Group on 12 May 2010.

The key findings of the Board were:

1. The QP Project was awarded in April 2006 and was scheduled for completion in August 2008. However, the Division has encountered delays and cost overruns which resulted in losses on the project exceeding RM500 million, which have already been accounted for. The Division is currently in negotiations with the client on the QP Project on claims for the cost overrun. Although negotiations are ongoing, in light of the delay in concluding this matter, the Board has decided to reverse the revenue of RM200 million previously recognized in the Group accounts for FY2009.

2. The MOQ Project was awarded in January 2007 and was due for completion in October 2009. There have been delays and cost overruns in this project which have resulted in foreseeable losses of RM526 million for FY2010. Of this, RM367 million has already been recognized in the Group's first half FY2010 results and the Board has decided to recognize the remaining RM159 million. Again, negotiations are currently underway with the client on the MOQ Project.

3. The Marine Project concerns the construction of two tug boats and a Derrick Lay barge for use in the MOQ project. The barge has not yet been delivered and the Board estimates that the project may result in losses of about RM155 million. Management is presently reviewing all available options.

4. The Bakun hydroelectric dam project, in which Sime Engineering Sdn Bhd holds a 35.7% effective interest, was awarded in September 2002 and was initially scheduled for completion in September 2007. However, due to various factors, completion has been delayed and costs have escalated. Management estimates that there could be a potential additional cost attributable to the Group in the FY2010 results of RM450 million. Again, negotiations are in progress with the client and subcontractors on the project. The Group is appointing independent technical advisers on the project.

After negotiations are concluded with the client in each project, further announcements will be made.

As a result of the above, the Group estimates there will be a negative impact of RM964 million on its results for the second half of FY2010. The Group announced a profit of RM1,113 million for the first half of FY2010. The third quarter results of the Group will be announced on 27 May 2010.

The Board has seriously considered the implications of the above with regard to the management and internal controls of the Group and is taking immediate and stringent measures to correct the deficiencies identified.

The President & Group Chief Executive (GCE), Dato' Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid, has been asked to take leave of absence prior to the expiry of his contract on 26 November 2010. Pending the appointment of a new President & Group Chief Executive, Dato' Azhar Abdul Hamid, currently Executive Vice President - Plantation Division has been appointed Acting GCE. He will work closely with the Group Chief Operating Officer, Dato' Abd Wahab Maskan who will be responsible for Group operations and also with the Group Chief Financial Officer, Madam Tong Poh Keow. Mr Franki Anthony Dass, currently Head, Plantation Upstream, has been appointed Acting Executive Vice President - Plantation Division. Meanwhile, the Board's Nomination Committee has been tasked to search for a new GCE. In making these new appointments, the Board has given instructions to Management to strengthen controls and manage all operations in the most prudent and efficient manner.

As and when further information becomes available, Sime Darby will make the necessary announcements.

Thank you.

Important Announcement at Sime Darby?

2010-05-13T12:19:00.003+08:00

Something's brewing at Sime Darby. Heard that there will be a Press conference at the Sime Darby Convention Centre in Bukit Kiara at 2.30pm today.

I wonder if heads will roll for the losses in Qatar and Bakun which exceeded RM2 billion.

When Golden Hope recorded a trading loss of RM40 million before the 2007 merger, the Group CEO Datuk Sabri Ahmad and several others were asked to resign by Sime Darby post-merger.

Two other Golden Hopers Muhammad Mohan Abdullah and Razidan Ghazalli were sacked. Several months later, however, the two were paid off handsomely by Sime Darby, perhaps in an admission of guilt. The two then withdrew their legal action against Sime Darby.

I think the Group CEO of Sime Darby Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid and his entire management team should be held responsible for the losses in Qatar and Bakun.

What is RM40 million compared to RM2.76 billion?

CIMB downgrades Sime Darby

2010-05-07T12:26:00.000+08:00

Sime Darby Bhd was downgraded at CIMB Investment Bank Bhd as media reports on the Malaysian company incurring cost overruns from building the Bakun hydro-electric project raised concerns it may hurt earnings.

The company was cut to “neutral” from “trading buy” and its share price estimate reduced to RM9.70 from RM10.82, CIMB said in a report today. -- Bloomberg

Sime Darby probes?

2010-05-07T12:20:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Sime Darby said today it has set up a task force to investigate its energy and utilities division to address "the tough and challenging situation it is currently facing".

The Star newspaper had cited unnamed sources yesterday as saying Sime Darby has incurred more than RM1 billion in cost overruns for carrying out civil works on the Bakun dam.

"The group would like to confirm that a task force is investigating all aspects of this division's business operations," Sime Darby said in a statement posted on its website.

"The task force has yet to complete its investigations, and once completed, the group will make all relevant disclosures during its third quarterly results announcement on May, 27 2010."

"The Sime Darby management is aware of the difficulties and challenges besetting its energy and utilities division, especially with regard to operational efficiency and project management, and has instituted a new management team at the division."

It said it is addressing the situation by implementing appropriate measures.

- Reuters

Cost over run at Sime Darby...again!

2010-05-06T08:12:00.003+08:00

The Star report on May 6, 2010:

PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby has incurred around more than RM1bil in total cost overruns from carrying out the civil works contract for the Bakun hydro-electric project, sources said.

One estimate puts the total cost overrun figure in the region of a whopping RM1.7bil, almost the same size as the Sime Darby’s actual Bakun contract of RM1.8bil that it had secured back in 2002.

When contacted, Sime Darby did not deny or confirm this.

In an emailed reply, the company merely said that it had made provisions to the tune of RM130mil for its share of the cost overruns in the Bakun project.

The discovery of the more than RM1bil cost overrun in the Bakun project is believed to be among the findings of the special taskforce within the group that was set up late last year to probe losses in its energy and utilities division.

The taskforce is also looking into the reasons for the cost overruns and whether there were lapses in internal audit and whether other improprieties occurred.

It is understood the Government has agreed to reimburse Sime Darby for around RM700mil, leaving Sime Darby with around RM1bil to be dealt with, by some estimates.

Sime Darby’s energy and utilities division recorded an operating loss of RM110mil in the second half of its financial year ended Dec 31, 2009, compared with a profit of RM56.3mil previously. But within this division, its oil and gas and engineering divisions’ losses alone totalled RM201mil.

However, Sime Darby said this loss was due to overruns from another project, namely its RM2.1bil Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) project.

“Sime Darby recognised a project loss for MOQ amounting to RM210mil (including the impact of foreign exchange losses). As a result, the oil and gas segment recorded losses of RM201mil in 1HFY2010,” it said in the email to StarBiz.

Assuming the cost overruns have taken place in the Bakun project, the group will still need to deal with a significant amount of provisioning or expensing, which could seriously dent its profits for FY2010.

When asked if Sime Darby will be providing or expensing any amounts this year arising from the Bakun project, Sime Darby said: “As part of its disclosure obligations, Sime Darby regularly reviews its portfolio of projects and if required, makes provisions in accordance with the Group’s accounting policies.”

Assisting the taskforce in its findings were specialists from external accounting, legal and engineering firms, sources said.

To recap, Sime Engineering, a unit of Sime Darby, was awarded the civil works for the Bakun project in September 2002 at a fixed lump-sum price of RM1.8bil. It has been reported that Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd has approved a variation order for RM700mil for the Bakun project. Sime Darby did not confirm or deny this.

“As with all such construction projects of this nature, we have received periodic payments and agreed claims from the Government. In the past, some cost overruns were incurred due to increase in material costs and variations in design but these have been dealt with,” Sime Darby said in the email reply.

Sarawak Hidro is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance Inc Malaysia and entrusted to develop and manage the Bakun project since May 2000.

Sime Darby had yet to reply to questions posed to it by StarBiz yesterday afternoon.

But in Sime Darby’s press statement when announcing its first-half results, president and group CEO Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid said that there were issues with the energy and utilities division.

“We have faced several challenges with the oil and gas business unit especially with operational efficiency and project management. Nevertheless, with a new management team on board, measures have been taken to increase operational efficiency and improve our project management capabilities,” he had said.

A change in leadership at its energy and utilities division had taken place recently, following the resignation of Datuk Mohamad Shukri Baharom

Mohamad Shukri was replaced by Hisham Hamdan, who was previously the executive vice-president for group strategy and business development.

Sime Darby has also said it has been taking steps to prevent a repeat of the cost overruns, including reviewing and re-evaluating systems and processes in the division.

Note: Al-Fatihah to my former Golden Hope colleague Azlin Ariffin who died a few days ago while carrying out her duties and also to the worker who suffered the same fate at Sime Darby's St Helier Estate a few days ago. Both were Class One deaths.

The passing of a journalism Guru...

2010-04-06T11:16:00.005+08:00

Caption: K. Bala, the team manager of the NST Editorial hockey team holding the trophy after the team emerged champion in the NST Inter-Department hockey tournament. Three others in this picture - John Pillay, M.A. Razman (aka Rattan Singh) and C. Navaratnam - have since passed on.

I lost yet another journalism sifu today.

K. Bala, who used to send shivers down the spine of every journalist I know at NST and Malay Mail, died in his sleep in Pulau Langkawi last night. He has been spending a lot of time in this legendary island upon his retirement some 15 years ago. He grew so much fondness for this island that even in his ill-health, he visited the island on and off.

Bala was a taskmaster, but never stinged on passing on his knowledge to young reporters. I was among them. He scolded us everyday, made sure we got out of the office to meet contacts and made us sit next to him when he was clearing our stories. As much as he grumbled, he taught us.

He did not spare the rod and did not spare the harsh words. But when it was end of the year and bonus time, he was fair in the performance appraisal. Many of my colleagues can vouch for that.

There are many stories about Bala. If I decide to write a book in future, perhaps he will take up a whole chapter.

Saiful, Kams and I had made plans to visit Bala one of these days. That didn't take place because the three of us couldn't actually agree on a suitable time. We now have to live with the regret that we didn't.

Goodbye Bala. Thank you. The country's journalism fraternity mourns your passing. May you rest in peace.

More on Sime Darby's RM1 billion loss in Qatar

2010-04-05T19:06:00.003+08:00

To those unfamiliar with the Sime Darby Berhad project in Qatar, here is some background. This is what The Edge wrote on March 8, 2010:

Big Money: Keeping an eye on Sime’s growing list of cost overruns

Tags: Sime Darby Bhd

Written by Jenny Ng
Monday, 08 March 2010 00:00

The saying that there is no smoke without fire rings true yet again. This time it relates to the year-old speculation of losses incurred at Sime Darby Bhd’s oil and gas (O&G) projects in Qatar.

Sime Darby provided for RM210 million in cost overruns on its RM2.1 billion Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) project during its second quarter ended Dec 31, 2009. Sime Darby’s O&G sub-segment recorded losses of RM201 million in 1HFY2010, which led to RM110 million losses for the energy and utilities division.

The MOQ project had been dogged by rumours of cost overruns and losses — from as little as RM120 million to as high as RM800 million — in 2008 and 2009, all of which were denied by Sime Darby.

Two weeks ago, this publication highlighted the possibility of a provision of over RM100 million on Sime Darby’s other Qatar project — the RM1 billion Qatar Petroleum project in the Bull Hanine and Maydan Mahzan fields.

It turned out that the provisions were for MOQ to the tune of RM210 million. Both projects were awarded to then-listed Sime Engineering Services Bhd in 2006 and 2007.

When contacted, Sime Darby says the cost overruns were incurred on transport and installation, and hookup and commissioning works. These costs have been booked in and the project is expected to be handed over soon, it adds.

It is not clear if the overruns were the result of under-budgeting, an unexpected increase in raw material costs, or both, or some other reason.

In FY2009, Sime Darby had provided for the Qatar Petroleum project which resulted in losses of RM80 million for the O&G sub-segment. The project was completed and handed over last year.

The MOQ project is now 96% completed. In an analyst briefing, Sime Darby gave the assurance that all cost overruns had been provided for, and confirmed this in its response to
The Edge.

“Yes, at this point Sime Darby does not foresee any further cost overruns for both the Qatar Petroleum project and the Maersk Oil Qatar project. As stated earlier, the Qatar Petroleum project has already been handed over and is fully provided for,” says the company.

Besides a change in leadership at its energy and utilities division, following the resignation of Datuk Mohamad Shukri Baharom who has been replaced by Hisham Hamdan, Sime Darby says it is also taking steps to prevent a repeat of the cost overruns. Hisham was previously the executive vice-president for group strategy and business development.

“We are in the midst of reviewing and reevaluating the systems and processes in the division. Naturally this will involve tightening controls and ensuring the highest standards of project management and monitoring. The review will take more time. In the meantime, we continue to position ourselves to bid for more contracts and projects, and we are confident that the division will become an integral part of the group’s overall growth strategy,” it says.

Be that as it may, why weren’t the controls and high standards already in place, especially after the Synergy Drive mega merger involving eight listed companies (including Sime Engineering), whose ultimate goal is to grow shareholder value?

Some may consider the amount of RM210 million to be immaterial to a company with a market capitalisation of more than RM50 billion and makes an annual profit of over RM2 billion. Besides, the energy and utilities division is among the smaller of Sime Darby’s five core businesses in terms of revenue and income. Still, it is good money which could have been put to better use. Incidents like cost overruns indicate incompetence and inefficiency, which only support the argument for Sime Darby to overhaul its diversified and sprawling operations, including the listing of its plantation unit and selling the auto business.

Given the energy and utilities’ smallish contribution to Sime Darby’s bottom line, investors may find it easier to forgive the losses (the RM210 million provision works out to 3.5 sen per share) as they are overshadowed by the group’s combined earnings. This argument supports the case for keeping Sime Darby’s various businesses intact.

If the Synergy Drive merger had not taken place, the impact would have been more visible — possibly on the share price of Sime Engineering, for instance. Then again, cost overruns are not totally alien to Sime Engineering. Since its listing in August 2003, it fell into the red in FY2004 and FY2005 due to provisions for cost overruns.

Sime Engineering was the lead partner with a 35.7% stake in the Malaysia-China Hydro Joint Venture, which was constructing the main civil works for the Bakun Hydroelectric Project. The contract was worth RM1.8 billion. In FY2004, Sime Engineering made a provision for RM77.1 million for foreseeable contract losses arising from changes in the cost structure of the project.
In FY2005, it made an additional provision of RM55 million on the same project as it experienced delays, bringing the total provisions on the project to RM130 million.

Although it has to be said that the recent provisions were for the O&G sub-segment and the earlier provisions were from the construction business, one can’t help but wonder whether Sime Engineering has learnt from past experience.

To be fair, cost overruns and delays are risks prevalent in engineering and construction works, and 10% cost overrun is sometimes considered the norm depending on the nature of the job and reasons for the cost increase. The good news is negotiations with the client could lead to write-backs. However, these may take time.

With a new guy helming Sime’s energy and utilities division, shareholders and investors will be keen to see if he can bring about positive changes to the O&G business and entire division as well. With a growing list of cost overruns, investors will certainly be watching closely.

You can read the article here.

Sime Darby's RM1 billion loss in Qatar

2010-04-03T19:40:00.009+08:00

I suppose it just can't be hidden through creative accounting anymore. My friend Big Dog wrote about it on Feb 9, 2010. Read it here.

The truth is Sime Darby has incurred losses of almost RM1 billion from its project with Qatar Petroleum. At a townhall meeting with Sime Darby staff last week, its Group Chief Executive Officer and President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid admitted that the company had incurred heavy losses in Qatar.

Aparrently the project was a mistake ab initio. Under-quoted from the very start, compounded by lack of knowledge and shortage of expertise.

I am surprised that the Sime Darby Board did not or has not called for the resignation of the top management. The mere resignation of Sime Engineering Services' managing director Datuk Mohamad Shukri Baharom (picture above) is insufficient.

When Golden Hope Plantations Berhad incurred trading losses of a mere RM120 million due to the doing of a rogue trader, Dato' Sabri Ahmad, the former Group Chief Executive of GHope, was asked to resign from Sime Darby. He joined Sime Darby as the adviser for the plantations division for a few months when Golden Hope merged with Sime Darby in November 2007.

Two others Razidan Ghazalli - the Finance Director of Golden Hope and Muhammad Mohan Abdullah, the General Manager of a Golden Hope subsidiary, Golden Jomalina Sdn Bhd, were sacked when they refused to resign.

Both Muhammad and Razidan took legal action and sued Sime Darby for wrongful dismissal. But Sime Darby, perhaps in an admission of guilt, chose to settle the mattter out of court and paid them off handsomely.

I have one question to ask the Sime Darby Board: Why the double standards?

I am waiting eagerly for the Prime Minister's GLC transformation efforts. Sime Darby certainly needs to be transformed from the top to bottom.

Loss of staff morale is a big issue in Sime Darby. I was told that close to 20,000 have resigned since the November 2007 merger. This has heavily hampered productivity.

Al-Fatihah buat Tok Mat (1938-2010)

2010-01-01T14:23:00.010+08:00

Sudah lama saya tidak menulis dalam ruangan ini kerana kesibukan tugas di TV3. Tetapi hari ini, saya rasa terpanggil untuk mencoretkan sepatah dua kata untuk Allahyarham Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat, 72, yang telah kembali ke Rahmatullah pagi tadi.

Semasa betugas sebagai wartawan di New Straits Times dari tahun 1988 hingga 2004, banyak juga kenangan saya dengan Allahyarham, terutama sekali apabila membuat liputan Umno.

Seperti yang kita tahu sepanjang hayatnya, terlalu banyak sumbangan Allahyarham kepada kerajaan, Umno dan Barisan Nasional. Beliau menjadi setiausaha agung Umno dari 1988 hingga 1996 dan setiausaha agung Barisan Nasional dari tahun 1993 hingga 2004.

Beliau menjadi Ahli Parlimen Pulai (kerusi yang kini dipegang oleh anak sulungnya dan sahabat saya, Nur Jazlan) selama 30 tahun, dari 1969 hingga 1999.

Allahyarham sememangnya amat disayangi para wartawan dan editor di negara kita. Mungkin rakan-rakan wartawan yang seangkatan dengan saya akan bersetuju kalau saya menyatakan bahawa Allahyarham adalah Menteri yang paling "approachable" dalam era beliau. Sering juga beliau akan memanggil kami untuk memberi "background briefing" tentang isu-isu dalam Umno dan kerajaan. Ini amat memudahkan kerja kami.

Banyak juga saya dapat "tip-off" dari beliau. Sehingga hari ini saya tertanya-tanya, apakah tip-off ini memang dirancang beliau untuk membetulkan sesuatu yang tidak betul dalam Umno dan kerajaan. Memang sukar untuk membaca air-muka beliau yang bersahaja.

Oleh kerana beliau banyak mendapat kerjasama dari pihak Media, idea-idea yang dicetuskan beliau seperti SEMARAK dan SETIA akhirnya akan mencatat kejayaan. program-program beliau tetap didokong dan disokong oleh Media Massa di negara ini.

Kebetulan saya baru saja habis membaca buku yang ditulis oleh Allahyarham "Umno: Akhir sebuah impian". Buku itu hanya diterbitkan beberapa bulan lepas. Dalam buku itu beliau banyak mencoretkan kisah hidup dan pengalaman beliau semasa berkhidmat sebagai Menteri serta Setiausaha Agung Umno.

Saya mungkin tidak bersetuju dengan beberapa isu yang dibangkitkan Allahyarham dalam bukunya, tetapi saya tetap menghormati pandangan beliau.

Dalam buku itu juga, Allahyarham menyifatkan dirinya sebagai orang yang "paling dibenci" dalam pentadbiran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mungkin ya dan mungkin tidak. Tapi itu kisah dulu. Umum mengetahui bahawa sumbangan beliau kepada agama, bangsa dan negara amat besar nilainya.

Hakikatnya, ramai yang terperanjat, sedih dan berduka dengan kembalinya beliau ke Rahmatullah. Saya adalah salah seorang daripada mereka.

Al-Fatihah...Semoga roh Allahyarham dicucuri rahmat dan ditempatkan di syurga Firdausi seperti yang dijanjikan kepada hamba-hambaNya yang soleh. Amin.

Negeri Sembilan - hobin jang hobin, Kelantan - Apa dah jadi?

2009-11-09T12:34:00.004+08:00

Ramai juga yang bertanya mengapa saya sudah lama tidak menulis dalam blog ini. Banyak sebabnya. Sebab utama ialah saya masih lagi mempelajari liku-liku bidang media elektronik, setelah 5 bulan bersama TV3.

Walaupun agak sibuk, saya ketepikan dulu hal-hal di pejabat untuk berbicara tentang perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia baru-baru ini yang dimenangi Negeri Sembilan, negeri kelahiran dan tanah tumpah darah saya. Memang banyak pun keringat dan darah saya tumpah di sana semasa saya mewakili pasukan hoki Negeri Sembilan satu ketika dulu.

Saya mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi syabas dan tahniah kepada pasukan Negeri Sembilan kerana bermain dengan begitu cemerlang sekali dalam Piala Malaysia sehingga berjaya menjadi juara.

Yang mengecewakan ialah perangai peminat-peminat Kelantan yang tidak boleh menerima kekalahan. Mereka begitu fanatik dengan sifat kedaerahan. Kemudahan di Stadium Bukit Jalil dibakar dan dirosakkan, seolah-olah mereka ini imun daripada undang-undang negara. Kalau dibiarkan, mungkin seluruh stadium hangus dibakar. Saya sedih kerana merosakkan harta awam bukan budaya kita, bukan cara Islam.

Saya tidak suka mengaitkan sukan dengan politik kerana kedua-duanya seperti laut dan bumi, tetapi persoalan ini bermain di fikiran saya: Apakah generasi sebegini yang dihasilkan oleh kepimpinan PAS di Kelantan?

Celcom - The Power is in Your Hands?

2009-09-25T20:14:00.005+08:00

I normally get an average of 10 calls a day. But over the past 48 hours, my mobile phone did not ring at all. And that's because there was no power in my hands. The Celcom network just went bust.

Apparently, this is the first time in Malaysian history that a service provider went bust for more than a day.

According to Celcom, the high traffic volume which increased by five-fold during the festive period.

"As a result, some of our major network nodes experienced a sudden overloading, causing a loss of signal between the nodes. It is really unfortunate that these nodes, in Kepong, Selangor, and Perda in Seberang Prai, were both affected at the same time," said Celcom (Malaysia) Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly.

But I have this question for Shazally: Did you not anticipate heavy call volumes during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri?

Perhaps it slipped Shazally's mind that more than half of the Malaysian population are Muslims and they celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Normally, they call or sms their beloved ones to greet them.

I hope it doesn't recur.

Wahai RM50

2009-09-23T11:12:00.003+08:00

Tidak begitu menceriakan! Itulah komen saya tentang duit RM50 kita yang dikeluarkan Bank Negara baru-baru ini.

Warnanya begitu pudar dan rekabentuknya tidak begitu menarik. Saya harap ia tidak mencerminkan ekonomi negara kita pada masa ini.

Ini cuma pendapat saya. Lain orang, lain pendapatnya. Mungkin ada yang tidak bersetuju dengan saya. Cuma saya berharap Bank Negara akan menggunakan warna yang lebih ceria dan meriah kalau ianya berhajat untuk menukar rekabentuk denominasi lain.

Mungkin juga Bank Negara boleh mendapatkan idea-idea dari pelajar-pelajar muda Art & Design yang begitu ramai sekali di institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi di negara ini. Kita perlukan idea-idea baru. Mungkin juga kita perlu rekabentuk yang lain daripada lain.

MIC must name, expel delegate

2009-09-16T09:56:00.004+08:00

I have this message for the MIC: please name the delegate who called for the picture of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad be garlanded with slippers and expel him from the party. His action is far more serious than what Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek did to deserve a sacking from MCA.

I am surprised that until today, three days after the MIC's 63rd AGM where the delegate uttered those derogatory words, he has not been named. This gives the impression that the party is protecting the culprit.

As we know, slippers and brooms are not acceptable in any our cultures. By suggesting that a garland of slippers be placed on the portrait of Dr Mahathir, the delegate has inferred that the former Prime Minister is the lowliest of all Godly creations.

On the contrary, Dr Mahathir is a Statesman who turned Malaysia into a force to be reckoned with. His contributions to country and the developing world is enormous.

I urge MIC to act immediately to show its seriousness in resolving the issue and give the delegate the boot (or slippers).

RM800 a month for an Indonesian maid?

2009-09-06T20:27:00.007+08:00

I am not paying RM800 a month for an Indonesian maid. Period.

I have had far too many bad experiences with Indonesian maids and I am not about to waste RM800 a month, just to have them run away again. Worse, agents these days demand RM7,000 in fees for a maid.

Indonesia is dependent on Malaysia to feed 1.7 million of its workers here, both legal and illegal. It should stop making demands. My Malaysian friends who live in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia pay their maids only between RM50-RM100 a month. Their Indonesian drivers are paid between RM70 and RM100 a month.

So why is the Indonesian government making such demands for their citizens employed as maids here? If they are university graduates, it is a different matter all together. Most of the Indonesians who come to Malaysia to work as maids are illiterate. They can take care of the children, but not "nanny" them. It is a different matter with the Filipinas.

An average Malaysian cannot afford RM800 a month. Imposing such a high minimum wage, will lead to other problems.

More and more people will begin to employ illegals as maids because they will not demand a minimum wage. Even if they do, it's not going to be as high as RM800.

There will be other problems as well. Tekongs will bend over backwards to bring in more illegals because with the new ruling, the demand for illegal maids will increase many folds. There will be an influx of illegal Indonesians entering Malaysia.

As illegals, they will have no where to turn to if they don't get paid, mistreated or even abused. They will not lodge reports for fear of getting arrested for entering the country illegally. Unscruplous employers will take advantage of them and treat them as slaves.

If we look at the bigger picture, imposing too high of a minimum wage will eventually lead to a diplomatic problem between Indonesia and Malaysia.

I think it is about time that we should seriously reconsider employing Indonesians in all sectors. We can always source workers from other countries which do not make ridiculous demands.

Good neighbourliness is a two-way thing.

Sime Darby's pre-tax profit halved

2009-08-28T11:39:00.002+08:00

SIME Darby Bhd's pre-tax profit for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2009 fell to RM1.108 billion from RM1.454 billion in the corresponding period of 2008.

According to bernama, Sime Darby's revenue decreased to RM7.535 billion from RM9.121 billion previously.

For the financial year ended June 30, 2009, Sime Darby said its pre-tax profit dropped 41 per cent to RM3.071 billion from RM5.206 billion as revenue fell nine percent to RM31.014 billion from RM34.045 billion.

Sime Darby said its net profit of RM2.3 billion after tax and minority interest, exceeded by 20 per cent the group's Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of RM1.9 billion.

The group recorded a Return on Average Shareholders' Funds of 10.6 per cent versus its KPI of 8.8 per cent.

As for the Plantation Division, it registered a 56 percent decline in operating profit to RM1.7 billion compared with the previous year.

This was principally driven by lower average CPO prices in the year as well as lower production as a result of biological tree stress and unfavourable weather conditions, it said.

Double jeopardy for Soi Lek, MCA in crisis...

2009-08-27T02:12:00.008+08:00

A couple of hours ago, the MCA Presidential Council sacked party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek from all party positions and as member of the party.

The Council which met for five hours on Wednesday night, accepted the recommendations of the party's disciplinary board. The board recommended that Dr Chua be expelled "for bringing disrepute to the party" as a result of a sex DVD involving him.

On Aug 4, the MCA discipinary board had met following a complaint by Simpang Renggam MCA division chairman Eng Cheng Guan over the sex DVD involving Dr Chua.

The board went on with the inquiry despite Eng withdrawing the complaint.

To me, it looks like a double jeopardy for Dr Chua.

On Jan 1, 2008, Dr Chua admitted that he was the man featured in the sex DVD and that the lady involved was a personal friend. He took pains to resign from all government and party posts.

MCA was then led by Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting. Under Ka Ting's leadership, MCA found Dr Chua's resignation as Health Minister and party vice-president as sufficient. No punishment was meted out.

However, the matter re-surfaced when Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat took over as party president in October last year. Despite the fact that Eng withdrew his complaint, the Presidential council adopted it.

It doesn't seem right to me. Granted that Dr Chua's tryst is unbecoming of a national leader, but he came out in the open and admitted his mistake. And he was gentleman enough to resign from the Cabinet and as vice-president of the party. This is not something many politicians in Malaysia will do even if they are caught with their pants down (no pun intended).

Dr Chua did not wait for others to punish him. He punished himself. After he had served his "sentence", the party finds it fit to punish him all over again. If this is not double jeopardy, I don't know what is.

The Presidential Council and the disciplinary board may comprise senior members of the party, but they do not represent the voice of the majority. A good number of MCA members do support Dr Chua and have forgiven him for his sins. It was this support that enabled Dr Chua to win the Deputy Presidency in the recent MCA elections. Dr Chua's supporters should never be taken for granted.

"Tarnishing the party's image is a very serious crime. I'm lucky they didn't sentence me to death. Gantung (sampai) mati," Dr Chua was heard telling reporters as he left the meeting of the presidential council, midway.

Dr Chua has 14 days to appeal.

I think, MCA is now officially, in crisis.

Selamat Berpuasa

2009-08-22T10:07:00.002+08:00

Saya mengucapkan Selamat Berpuasa kepada rakan-rakan saya yang beragama Islam. Semoga ibadah kita diterima Allah SWT.

Sempena bulan Ramadan ini, marilah kita mengeratkan silaturahim sesama Islam dan hentikan segala perbalahan dan sengketa.

Better to be safe than sorry...

2009-08-17T12:21:00.006+08:00

Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS) is embarking on a road safety campaign with a difference. It is called "Malaysians Unite for Road Safety 090909". I think this is a good step towards reducing the number of accidents in Malaysia which kill more people daily than any disease including h1n1.

The campaign involves engaging the people. Motorists can actually go to the website at www.090909.org.my and make a pledge to do away with a bad habit. I have pledged to stop SMSing while driving, a promise I plan to keep. The website has received 83 pledges so far.

The campaign will begin on 9/9/99. The date was chosen because 999 is the number to call during emergencies and also because 9 is an auspicious number to the Chinese.

Lets make our roads safer.

Shut down the schools before we are sorry!

2009-08-14T14:48:00.008+08:00

I have been getting an earful from my sister Saro, a mother of two, every day over the past three days or so. So much so, I dread answering her phone calls. She is worried sick, bordering paranoia, over the infuenza h1n1 (I shall not glorify this disease by even putting its name in the upper case).

Her daughter, my niece, is in form 5 and goes to school in Bandar Sri Damansara. Apparently, the teachers in the school wear face masks but the pupils are not given any.

She refuses to allow my niece to go to school and makes her stay home. I am a parent myself, and I have been doing the same. I refuse to allow my eight-year-old daughter attend school. My son who completed his PMR trial exam yesterday is going to stay home too.

Like my sister, I am concerned about my kids. So I do take exception to the Minister of Health Datuk Liow Ting Lai's remarks that there is no point declaring a school holiday because school children will only go to places where they can catch the virus. I think his statement is an insult to every civic, right-thinking Malaysian.

As of today, Malaysia which only has a population of 27 million, recorded 56 h1n1-related deaths. Liow can say what he wants, but I think this is quite alarming. The population:h1n1-patient ratio in Malaysia is indeed high compared with other countries.

To date, India, which has a population of 1.14 billion only has 22 deaths. The authorities in Mumbai, where the highest number of cases were reported, have shutdown schools, colleges and cinemas. The did so at the risk of severely impacting the Bollywood movie industry. As we know, India churns out the most number of movies in the world and the movie industry is a major contributor to the country's GDP.

Mexico, where it all started, only recorded 163 deaths so far.

I think the Government of Malaysia must resort to drastic measures. The problem is compounded by the high number of dengue cases. Government hospitals are full to the corridors. We don't have enough doctors and nurses to handle the situation.

Worse, the Health Minister keeps saying that all those who died are within the "high-risk" group. Ironically, the number of diseases which fall under the high-risk category as given by the Health Ministry is growing by the day.

Obesity is the latest to join the list. Earlier, high-risk was just confined to diseases of the higher respiratory tract, including asthma, lung and perhaps heart diseases.

It seems to me that we are simply looking for excuses and now we are running out of them. Yesterday, a 19-year-old teenager died. I wonder what was his risk factor.

So Mr Minister, if I have piles (not that I do), will I be high-risk too?

Yasmin Ahmad 1958-2009

2009-07-26T02:14:00.006+08:00

Award-winning film director Yasmin Ahmad passed away at the Damansara Specialist Centre three hours ago. She was 51.

Yasmin collapsed after suffering a stroke while making a presentation at Sri Pentas. I happened to be in a meeting in the next room when the incident took place. When I rushed over, she had apparently stopped breathing. Media Prima staff and the resident doctor were frantically trying to revive her. She was then rushed to the DSH.

Yasmin was a legend in her own right. She lent her creative ideas in the production of many movies, TV and print advertisements. However, she will be best remembered for her contributions to race relations in this country. In almost all her artistic works, she injected elements of race relations.

She will always remain in our memories.
Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya.

Al-fatihah.

Indonesian maids: can we do without them?

2009-06-25T14:10:00.006+08:00

Before you read any further, See this video and this.

In 2001, when my daughter was just four months old and my son in standard one, my maid, an Indonesian from Medan decided to abandon them and run away with her new found boyfriend, her country man.

Fortunately for me and my wife, she decided to do so on a Sunday when both of us were at home. She was seen by a neighbour walking about in my porch restlessly about 5.30am. She was obviously waiting for someone to pick her up. My wife and I woke up to find her long gone.

When she came to work with us, we accepted her as a family and gave her a day off on Sundays. Sundays will be a day of outing for her and other Indonesian maids in my neighbourhood. So together, they would go out and return about 6pm.

It was during one of these outings that she met the Indonesian man who she eventually ran away with. A neighbour's maid later admitted to us that my maid would see the man every Sunday without fail. To this day, I don't know what happened to her. The man could have been a member of a syndicate supplying illegal maids, or worse, could be a pimp.

Having learnt a lesson from these ordeal, we decided not to give day offs to my second maid who joined us about three months after the first one ran away. Each Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and Hari Raya Aidil Adha, we gave her a small bonus. No complaints, and everything was fine.

She stayed with us for seven years and decided to return to Indonesia only when her daughter had a baby and needed her to babysit. We had no problems with her. There were no problems because we didn't give her the opportunity to mingle with the outside world.

My point is, I do not welcome the Government's idea of making it compulsory for employers to give a day off to maids.

It is going to cause serious social problems. Surely, the number of missing maids is going to increase. They are going to show up in whorehouses. Human trafficking will increase, and Malaysia may be accused of being the hub for the trafficking of Indonesian women.

The problem is, whenever there is a case of maid abuse, etc, although isolated, the Ministry of Human Resources stoops to the pressure of the Indonesian Government. Each time such a case is reported in the Press, the Minister responsible will propose new regulations. Some times they are implemented, some times they are not.

I don't intend to cause a diplomatic row between Malaysia and Indonesia, but why should the Malaysian Government bow to Indonesia. If the Indonesian Government wants to stop sending maids to Malaysia because of a few isolated cases of maid abuse, so be it. We can consider employing maids from elsewhere. At the same time, we can also consider stopping recruiting Indonesian workers in the other economic sectors.

And who cares what the United States says about us. Remember, American corporations are the biggest culprits when it comes to employing child labour at their overseas operations. So is the US really in a position to talk dictate Human Resource policies?

An isolated case of maid abuse in Malaysia is often blown out of proportion. But what about maids who abandon helpless young children under their care and run away, leaving families in a lurch? What about the cases of maids abusing children? What about cases where maids work in cahoots with thieves who break in and steal their employers' valuables? What about maids getting pregnant because they use their day offs spending time with their new found boyfriends?

Joining TV3...

2009-06-16T10:55:00.003+08:00

I've finally signed on the dotted line. I am joining TV3 as Group Editor with effect from Thursday June 18, 2009.

Although I was a reporter and an editor with the New Straits Times for 16 years from 1988 to 2004, broadcast journalism is new to me, and thus my new job is going to be rather challenging.

I acknowledge the fact that this job comes with a huge responsibility. It will require hard work and dedication. Basically, my responsibility will be to make TV3 news programmes more interesting and viewer-friendly.

My performance will be based on whether the rating for news programmes goes up.

Wish me luck...

Husam's defeat a rejection of Anwar?

2009-06-06T11:47:00.006+08:00

Is Husam Musa's defeat to Nasaruddin Mat Isa for the PAS deputy Presidency, a clear rejection of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?

Although some people believe that Nasaruddin's thrashing of Husam, the protege of Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat shows that the party prefers to stick to the Ulamak faction to rule the party, many believe that the party delegates have sent a clear message that they do not favour Anwar.

If that is the case, surely Pakatan Rakyat, the adhoc coalition of Opposition parties are in for more trouble. This is so because Anwar has clearly proclaimed himself as the leader of the so-called coalition.

Congratulations Malaysia!

2009-05-15T22:45:00.003+08:00

Malaysia went down to Pakistan 2-4 in the Asia Cup Hockey in Kuantan, Pahang yesterday, but not before putting up a good fight.

I congratulate Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the MHF President as well as Tai Beng Hai and Nor Saiful Zaini, the Coach and Assistant Coach respectively. I also congratulate the players for their dedication and commitment.

This is a young team. It should be kept together. I hope to see them perform in next year's Word Cup in India and in the 2012 Olympics in England.

p.s. Someone pointed out to me that Malaysia does not qualify for next year's hockey World Cup in India despite making it to the semi-finals of the Asia Cup. I was in the impression that the top four teams in the Asia Cup will automatically qualify for the World Cup. My mistake, and I apologise for it.

Syabas Beng Hai dan Saiful

2009-05-14T15:52:00.002+08:00

Saya ingin mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada rakan-rakan saya iaitu jurulatih skuad hoki Malaysia Tai Beng Hai dan penolongnya, Nor Saiful Zaini.

Saya gembira Malaysia telah melayakkan diri ke peringkat separuh akhir Pertandingan Hoki Asia yang berlangsung di Kuantan, Pahang ketika ini, dan sekali gus ke Piala Dunia di India pada tahun depan.

Saya sudah lama mengenali Beng Hai dan Saiful. Semasa saya bermain untuk pasukan Negeri Sembilan dari tahun 1983 hingga tahun 1990, mereka bermain untuk pasukan Perak. Walaupun di atas padang kami bermusuhan, di luar meraka adalah sahabat baik saya.

Beng Hai dan Saiful telah membuktikan kepada peminat-peminat hoki negara bahawa Malaysia tidak memerlukan jurulatih asing yang dibayar berpuluh ribu ringgit sebulan untuk melatih pasukan negara.

Sebagai bekas pemain kebangsaan, Beng Hai dan Saiful tentu faham keperluan pemain-pemain tempatan.

Saya tahu apabila sesi latihan, jurulatih asing hanya fokus kepada strategi permainan saja. Mereka jarang sekali mengambil kisah tentang fitness pemain-pemain. Selalunya pemain akan dibiarkan melakukan fitness training sendiri.

Bila pemain dibiarkan membuat fitness training sendiri, ramai yang mencuri tulang. Akibatnya, tahap kecerdasan mereka turun dan mereka tidak dapat beraksi dengan cemerlang semasa pertandingan.

Saya tahu Saiful ialah jurulatih yang amat berdisiplin. Semasa beliau menjadi ketua pasukan hoki negara beberapa tahun dahulu, beliau akan menentukan setiap pemain berada diatas katil pada jam 10 malam semasa training dan pertandingan. Beliau begitu serius sekali dengan peraturan "lights off at 10" yang dikenakan terhadap setiap pemain.

Pasukan hoki negara perlukan seorang jurulatih yang begitu berdisiplin.

Syabas Beng Hai, Syabas Saiful, Syabas Malaysia.

Passing of a journalism Guru

2009-04-25T17:57:00.003+08:00

Al-Fatihah

I lost my journalism sifu and a good friend today.

M.A.Razman @ Rattan Singh, a long-serving journalist in the New Straits Times Press Group, did not wake up this morning. According to friends, he passed away in his sleep....peacefully.

I first came to know Razman when I joined the Pre-Entry Editorial Training Scheme (PETs) in 1988. He was the journalism facilitator for the NST group.

Razman was a no-nonsense teacher. It was easy for him to lose his temper, but he was equally quick to make up for it.

Razman was also a keen hockey player. He played hockey for the NST team until the day he retired. Upon his retirement, coached the Victoria Institution Under-18 hockey.

It was under Razman's tutelage that the NSTP managed to produce many renowned journalists. I can't name them here as the list will be too long.

Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat dan di tempatkan di syurga Firdausi seperti yang dijanjikan kepada hamba-hambNya yang soleh.

Al-Fatihah

p.s. This picture was taken after the NST editorial team, of which Razman was captain, won the NSTP inter-department hockey tournament. I can't remember what year it was. Razman is standing second from left.

Tahniah Rashid!

2009-04-21T12:50:00.002+08:00

Saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada Saudara Rashid Yusof yang telah dilantik sebagai Setiausaha Akhabar kepada YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkuatkuasa hari ini.

Dengan kewibawaan, dedikasi dan pengalaman yang ada pada Saudara Rashid, bekas penulis khas The New Straits Times, saya percaya beliau akan memberi khidmat bakti yang terbaik sekali kepada Tan Sri Muhyiddin.

Saya kenal Saudara Rashid begitu lama sekali. Kami sama-sama di NST pada satu ketika dulu dan banyak juga mengharungi pengalaman pahit manis bersama.

Syabas saudara.

Morally wrong for Wong to resume duties

2009-04-16T13:04:00.004+08:00

It is morally wrong for Elizabeth Wong to resume duties as the State Assemblywoman for Bukit Lanjan and Selangor State Exco member. It is so because, by her own admission, she allowed her boyfriend, a Muslim, to be alone with her at her home, I presume on several occasions.

As a leader, Wong should have known that being alone with her Muslim boyfriend is an offence under the Syariah Law. He was committing khalwat each time and I am she knew it, but she let it happen.

Although, as a non-Muslim she cannot be charged under the Syariah Law, she should lead by example. But what she did points to only one thing - she has no respect for laws governing Muslims in this country.

Her Muslim voters have every right to protest.

And whether this is an invasion of privacy, is debatable. It would be clear cut invasion of policy if a stalker breaks into her house and takes her pictures. But in this case, the boyfriend was a guest, he was in the house with her permission.

Can we tell for sure that he took her pictures without her permission?

Najib announces balanced Cabinet, Khairy left out.

2009-04-09T16:15:00.003+08:00

A few hours ago, Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak named his new Cabinet, which I think is quite balanced. Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin seems to be the odd one out.

Azalina Othman Said, Syed Hamid Albar (Home), Muhammad Muhammad Taib (Rural Development), Amirsham A Aziz (PM's Department) and Ong Ka Chuan (Housing) have been dropped.

The new Cabinet:

Mohd Najib Tun Razak - PM

Muhyiddin Yassin - Deputy PM

Ministers in PMs Department:

Koh Tsu Koon - Unity and Performance

Nor Mohamed Yakcob - Economy Planning Unit

Nazri Abdul Aziz - Parliament

Jamil Khir Baharom - Religious Affairs

Finance Ministry:

Najib Abdul Razak (1)

Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (2)

Education:
Muhyiddin Yassin

Transport:
Ong Tee Keat

Home Affairs:
Hishammuddin Hussein

Information, Culture, Arts and Communications:
Rais Yatim

Energy, Green Technology and Water:
Peter Chin

Rural Development:
Shafie Apdal

Higher Education:
Khaled Nordin

International Trade and Industry:
Mustapa Mohamed

Tourism:
Ng Yen Yen

Agriculture:
Noh Omar

Defence:
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Works:
Shaziman Abu Mansor

Health:
Liow Tiong Lai

Youth and Sports:
Ahmad Shabery Cheek

Human Resources:
S Subramaniam

Housing and Local Goverment:
Kong Cho Ha

Women, Family and Community Development:
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil

Foreign Affairs:
Anifah Aman

Federal Territory:
Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin

Consumer Affairs and Domestic Trade
Ismail Sabri Yaakob

Najib takes over as PM in style, releases 13 ISA detainees

2009-04-03T21:21:00.003+08:00

I welcome Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak as the nation's 6th Prime Minister. As I've said in my earlier posting, I have been looking forward to this for a long time.

If we go by his address to the nation tonight, Najib seems serious about getting closer to the rakyat.

I also welcome his decision to release 13 Internal Security Act detainees with immediate effect. Some of them have been rotting in prison. Some of them have been detained under the ISA for so long that they had completely missed their children's growing up years.

Najib also said the Government would review the ISA. While I think it is necessary for the Government to review the Act and expunge loose clauses which enables the Home Minister to make unjustified detentions for political reasons, the Government should not completely abolish it. The Act is still necessary as a preventive law to curb extremism, terrorism, etc. Advanced countries like the United States and Britain now have such preventive laws.

I also welcome Najib's decision to lift the suspension on Suara Keadilan and Harakah. I wonder why Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar suspended them in the first place.

If the two publications make allegations against the Government, it is the Government's duty to clarify them. The Government should not find the easy way out.

Najib has made a fantastic first impression as Prime Minister. I hope he will continue to reach out to the rakyat. If each of his Cabinet colleagues listen to the rakyat, the next general election will be a sure victory for the Barisan Nasional.

Speaking about Cabinet Ministers, I can't wait for Najib's announcement of the new Cabinet line-up. Yes, the appointment of Cabinet Ministers is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, but I do hope that he will not keep the corrupt and those who have run foul of the law. Najib's Cabinet should not only be clean, but seen to be clean.

I was told that at least 40% of Najib's Cabinet is going to be new blood. I welcome that.

I hope under Najib's able stewardship, Malaysia will continue to achieve success after success.

Najib to be made PM, Anwar's worst ever nightmare comes true

2009-04-02T17:08:00.010+08:00

By this time (6pm) tomorrow, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak will be the nation's sixth Prime Minister, something that I have been looking forward to for a long time.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim however dreads the idea of Najib becoming the Premier. The reason is simple. Anwar is afraid that 2004 will repeat itself.

In 2004, Barisan Nasional was given a landslide victory by the rakyat. Malaysians gave overwhelming support to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi because they were, to a certain extent, upset with former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad over the handling of Anwar's sodomy issue. Many people did not believe the allegation at that time. It was not Dr Mahathir's fault though. Anwar's case was then badly handled by the police and the prosecution.

So in the 1999 general election, a year after Anwar was sacked from all his Government and Umno posts, those who simply refused to believe that there was "another side" to Anwar voted for the Opposition. BN narrowly obtained two-thirds majority.

In 2004, soon after Dr Mahathir handed the baton to Abdullah, the voters who previously voted for the Opposition gave Abdullah and the BN the biggest ever win in the country's history. These voters were angry, for a short while, with BN.

But shortly after Abdullah took over, his policies or the lack of them, disappointed the people. Abdullah's administration practised cronyism and nepotism of the highest degree. Children and in-laws were favoured over others. Close associates like Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan, Patrick (Badawi) Lim got everything they wanted. Abdullah was like a ginny in an Aladdin lamp. Each time, they rubbed him a little, their wishes will come true. It was that easy!

Kalimullah was obssessed with Abdullah. He behaved like a teenager in love. When he took over as Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP, he wanted everyone to love Abdullah like he did. He had no qualms of sacking those who didn't. Many left before they were axed. He brought in people whom he knew would never say "NO" to him. One of them was Brenden Pereira.

Kalimullah ran the paper with an iron fist. His hatchet man Pereira will even tell off reporters who spoke loudly on the phone. The atmosphere of a newsroom which is supposed to be lively, soon became like a Government Department in Singapore. People began to whisper to one another. He created zombies. I remember how, when I was still at the NST, we used to crack jokes across the floor. Everyone used to laugh at those jokes, Yani and Rokk being the loudest.

During Kalimullah's era, all political articles must give credit to Abdullah. No mention of Tun Mahathir, no mention of Anwar Ibrahim. They should not even be mentioned in passing. He re-wrote commentaries and columns to give credit to Abdullah, although it was other people's efforts. The reputation of some writers were badly affected because of Kalimullah's doings. When BN won by-elections which were normally spearheaded by Najib, Kalimullah would never acknowledge that it was Najib's efforts. It was always Abdullah. But when BN lost, it would be Najib's fault. Kalimullah steered the NST into ruins.

Soon after Abdullah took over most people became convinced that Dr Mahathir was right about Anwar. Needless to say, Dr Mahathir was once again vindicated.

Abdullah paid a heavy price for his cronyism and nepotism as well as the flip-flop policies. As a result Barisan Nasional lost its two-third majority in the 2008 general election, the worst ever in the history of the coalition. Political pressure soon mounted and Abdullah was forced to call it quits. When Abdullah retires tomorrow, he would become the shortest serving Prime Minister in Malaysia's history.

My point is this. Most Malaysians still want BN to rule. Whenever they vote for the Opposition, they do so only to vent their anger at BN. They don't stay angry for long. Now that Abdullah has decided to retire, these voters will soon return to BN.

I am sure the people will give Najib overwhelming support just like they gave Abdullah in 2004. This is what Anwar fears most.

Hence, Anwar's letter today to DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Agong urging him to postpone the appointment of Najib until an Independent Commission clears Najib of involvement in the Altantuya murder.

Why is there a need for an Independent Commission when the police have repeatedly said there was nothing to link Najib to the case?

In fact, Najib had even sworn by the Quran, that he had never met Altantuya. As a Muslim, Anwar knows that no Muslim would lie on the Quran. For the record, Anwar had never sworn by the Quran to deny all those things that he has been accused of doing.

P.s. If you receive an sms saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has refused to appoint Najib as the Prime Minister, don't believe it as it is a maliscious lie.

Umno back to its glory days?

2009-03-29T21:26:00.003+08:00

This is by far the best local picture I have seen in years.

I am glad former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has decided to put aside his differences with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and promised to return to Umno.

I don't think any Malaysian, irrespective of his or her political affiliation, will deny that Dr Mahathir is a great Statesman. His wisdom and advice is sought after not only by leaders of the developed world but also those of the developed world like former Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher (now Baronness).

Umno needs the experience of Dr Mahathir and Abdullah. Both have seen Umno at its best and its worst.

Umno has no time to waste. Past and present Umno leaders must put their shoulders to the wheel and ensure that Barisan Nasional will be given overwhelming support by the rakyat in the 13th General Election which has to be held by 2013. Differences must be thrashed out within closed doors.

Past leaders must remain in the background. They must not be seen to be interfering with the functions of the Government. They must give in-coming Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak a free hand to run the Government.

Now that Dr Mahathir and Abdullah have agreed to help Umno to return to its past glory, I am confident that Barisan Nasional will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

I am confident that the Brisan Nasional led by Najib will be given a landslide victory in the next general election, similar to the one in 2004, hardly a year after Abdullah took office.

To begin with, I hope both Dr Mahathir and Abdullah will help BN campaign in the Batang Ai, Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-election on April 7.

A win in all the three elections will send a strong signal to Pakatan Rakyat that Umno has been reborn, and is now stronger than ever before.

Najib takes over as captain in stormy weather

2009-03-28T01:23:00.004+08:00

I congratulate the new Umno President Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and his "dream team" who were voted into office by party delegates on Wednesday and Thursday.

I am confident that under Najib's stewardship of Umno, the party will be steered back to its past glory.

Najib and his team have only about three years to regain the people's confidence in Barisan Nasional. In politics, three years is extremely short.

I am sure, however, that Najib will be able to do it despite having to weather the storm along the way. Half the battle would be won when Najib rids the party and the Government of corruption.

I am looking forward to it.

Anwar semakin terdesak, menjadikan media asing kuda tunggangan

2009-03-13T14:46:00.006+08:00

Nampaknya Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim semakin terdesak menjelang peralihan kuasa dari Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kepada Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak hujung bulan ini.

Semakin dekat Perhimpunan Agung Umno, semakin banyak kempen untuk menjatuhkan Najib, semuanya berbau politik mainan Anwar. Parti Keadilan Rakyat yang dipimpin oleh Anwar turut menggunakan media asing dan blog-blog yang dikendalikan oleh ahli-ahlinya untuk membuat tuduhan-tuduhan yang tidak berasas terhadap Najib. Tujuan mereka hanya satu - supaya Najib tidak menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Tuduhan yang sama dan yang semakin basi, bahawa Najib dan isterinya terlibat dalam pembunuhan Altantuya Sharibuu, seorang rakyat Mongolia dibuat sewenang-wenangnya dalam media asing dan blog-blog pro-pembangkang. Ini masih berlaku walaupun pihak polis sudah menjelaskan bahawa Najib dan Rosmah tidak ada kena-mengena langsung dalam kes tersebut.

Dengan membut tuduhan yang sama terhadap Najib walaupun setelah ianya diperjelaskan oleh pihak polis, Anwar dan kuncu-kuncunya mempersoalkan kewibawaan polis dan sistem keadilan di Malaysia. Mustahil semua pegawai dan anggota polis boleh bersekongkol dalam isu sebesar ini.

Dalam komennya tentang pakej rangsangan bernilai RM60 billion yang dibentangkan oleh Najib pada 10 Mac lepas, naib presiden PKR Tian Chua berkata: "I have to stay out of the parliament chamber. I have no appetite to stomach craps from a murderer."

Seperti yang kita tahu Tian Chua tiada kredibiliti untuk berhujah tentang isu ini kerana beliau pernah cuba membohong dengan mengatakan bahawa Najib pernah makan malam bersama Altantuya dan Abdul Razak Baginda di Paris. Bersama artikelnya bertajuk "French dinner for 3", Tian Chua juga telah menyiarkan gambar palsu untuk menipu rakyat.

Anwar pula cuba untuk memberi maklumat-maklumat palsu kepada rakan-rakan media asingnya untuk mencemarkan nama baik Najib. Wartawan The Far Eastern Economic Review, Barry Wain, dalam artikelnya membuat berbagai tuduhan terhadap Najib semasa beliau menjawat jawatan Menteri Pelajaran lagi.

Walaupun Wain menetap di Hong Kong, beliau menulis seperti sudah berada di Kuala Lumpur bertahun lamanya. Hakikatnya ialah beliau hanya mengulangi pembohongan pembangkang selama ini. Jelas "sumber" beliau adalah semuanya dari parti pembangkang.

Seorang penulis yang beretika selalunya akan mendapatkan penjelasan daripada pihak yang menuduh dan pihak yang tertuduh. Saya diberitahu Wain tidak pernah cuba untuk mendapatkan penjelasan dari Najib sebelum menulis artikelnya.

Begitu juga dengan penulis akhbar Liberation Arnaud Dubus, seperti yang saya komen di sini. Beliau juga membuat tuduhan-tuduhan yang sama. Artikelnya juga berat sebelah.

Tuduhan-tuduhan yang dibuat oleh pembangkang tidak berasas sama sekali. Semasa mengumumkan Kabinet barunya selepas Pilihanraya Umum yang ke 12 tahun lalu, Abdullah telah menegaskan bahawa semua ahli Jemaah Menteri telah diskrin dan diluluskan oleh Biro Pencegah Rasuah dan polis. Jelas isu pembabitan dalam rasuah atau kegiatan tidak bermoral sebelum tahun 2008 tidak berbangkit.

Apa yang jelas ialah Anwar dalam ketakutan. Anwar tahu Najib bukan sebarang pemimpin. Najib boleh mengembalikan Barisan Nasional ke era kegemilangannya. Bila ianya berlaku, PKR dan Pakatan Rakyat akan terkubur. Cita-cita Anwar untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri akan turut terkubur. September 16 akan tinggal impian.

p.s. Betul ke Saiful sempat merakamkan video menerusi telefon bimbitnya?

Dubus and the Anwar connection

2009-03-08T13:45:00.007+08:00

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must have met with the Liberation writer Arnaud Dubus when the latter came to Kuala Lumpur. Anwar must have developed a certain kind of fondness for the writer. Coincidentally, his name is Dubus. But what is not a coincident is that there is a link between the Liberation newspaper and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The the Paris-based French Liberation newspaper recently alleged that Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and Datin' Seri Rosmah Mansor are involved in the murder of Mongolian Altantuyaa Sharibuu.

Utter rubbish! But Dubus' article was lifted by Malaysiakini.

Apparently, one of the owners of the newpaper Edouard Rothschild who owns a majority 37 per cent of the newspaper through his investment of 20 million Euros in 2005, is a close ally of Anwar. The left-wing daily was founded by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and Maoist militant Serge July in 1973 but in recent years has sustained substantial losses and struggling to increase its circulation.

The French multi-millionaire is the head of Rothschild & CIE bank which he founded in 1987.

Rothschild worked closely with Anwar through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund as well as the State Department-funded Foundation for the Future, of which Anwar was once Chairman.

In his article which is highly defamatory to Najib and Rosmah, Dubus claimed that in the course of writing his article, he had travelled to Kuala Lumpur and Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia.

I have many questions for Dubus? Who did he meet in KL and Bangkok? Who fed him with all the lies so convincingly that he so naively took them for Gospel truth? Must be someone for whom he holds high regard. Who looked after Dubus when he was in KL? Who facilitated his investigative reporting?

Najib is not as naive as his predecessor Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Anwar is afraid that under Najib's stewardship, Barisan Nasional will regain its strength. Anwar, his Part Keadilan Rakyat and the adhoc Pakatan Rakyat alliance will then slip into oblivion.

Enough is enough! Police should act against Najib's accusers

2009-03-06T09:15:00.008+08:00

It has become quite obvious that as the date for Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak to take over the nation's premiership draws close, the number of campaigns to smear his good name is increasing.

The latest of one of these campaigns is a purported article which appeared in the left-wing Liberation newspaper, written by journalist Arnaud Dubus. The article, which was lifted by news portal Malaysiakini, makes various allegations against Dato' Sri Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Abdul Razak Baginda.

Abdul Razak was initially charged with the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Sharibuu, but was later acquitted without his defence being called.

Apparently, Dubus' entire article is based on a single document which was never produced in court. The fact that the document was never admitted in court, can only point to one thing - it is not credible.

The article also purportedly links Altantuya's murder and her acquiantance with Abdul Razak Baginda to Dato' Sri Najib and Datin Seri Rosmah and the purchase of submarines from France.

There are several issues here which need emphasis. Firstly, the Government has cleared Dato' Sri Najib from any wrongdoings in the submarine deal. The payment of Euro 115 million was not as commission but for services rendered to the French party. This has been answered in Parliment. Again, no issue. To those who are not happy, check the Parliament Hansard.

Secondly, Dato' Sri Najib has denied knowing Altantuya. In fact, as a Muslim he did what most other Muslims would fear to do, swear upon the Al-Quran. No guilty Muslim would do so. One example is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Thirdly, everyone know that the alleged picture of Dato' Sri Najib with Abdul Razak and Altantuya, does not exist. Perhaps the journalist got hold of the one doctored by Tian Chua (who admitted to doctoring the picture by inserting a photo of Dato' Sri Najib). This is the same Tian Chua who talks about ethics, human rights, equal rights, etc. The picture which he doctored is now all over the internet. If seen by the ignorant, they may assume that it's authentic. Dubus is one of the many ignorant ones. This is the extent of the damage created by Tian Chua.

I can't for the life of me understand why those who are against Dato' Sri Najib continue to harp on the Altantuya issue. The police have repeated said that he was not involved in the murder of Sharibuu.

Perhaps these people have run out of issues. And perhaps these people are worried that Barisan Nasional will regain the strength it lost under Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and would once again become a force to be reckoned with.

Accusations such as the one made by Dubus and given credence by Malaysiakini is an outright criminal defamation. I think it is time for the police to take action against those who hurl baseless accusations against the Deputy Prime Minister.

The police have a duty to protect the leaders in this country, especially the person who will become the Prime Minister of Malaysia in less than a month.

Elizabeth Wong must resign!

2009-02-18T17:10:00.003+08:00

There's no two-way about it. Elizabeth Wong, the Parti KeADILAN Rakyat State Assemblywoman for Bukit Lanjan must resign. She is a public figure. It may be legally right for her to be naked around her house, but it is definitely morally wrong.

Her pictures are now available for public viewing. It can be viewed by Malaysians of all ages, people of different cultural and religious backgrounds. It may be acceptable to some, but to most it is not.

Her boyfriend, purportedly a Muslim, took the pictures. This only goes to show that she had consciously, or unconsciously allowed him access to take pictures of her in the nude.

The fact that her boyfriend has been spending time with her alone in her home is an offence under the Syariah Law. Although being a non-Muslim, Wong cannot be charged under Syariah, I am sure she knows that her boyfriend was committing close proximity, a serious offence. However, she allowed it to happen.

She is an elected representative of all races. She has to respect the laws which governs the Muslims. By committing close proximity with her Muslim boyfriend, she had blatantly shown disrespect for Muslims and the Syariah law which they uphold.

How can an elected representative behave in such a manner? Can she be a role model to our young?

Imagine if the situation was reversed. If pictures of a Barisan Nasional Assemblyman or Assemblywoman in a compromising situation were made available to the public, I am sure Wong will be quick to join the chorus of Opposition asking him or her to resign.

PKR should not try and skirt the issue by saying that the entire episode is politically motivated. Such an argument is unacceptable. This is an all-in-the-family affair, almost incestuos, as it involved a PKR party member and PKR Assemblywoman.

PKR should accept the blame.

I call upon Wong to resign as both Exco member and State Assemblywoman of Bukit Lanjan with immediate effect.

Pakatan Rakyat goyah!

2009-02-16T12:39:00.009+08:00

Pakatan Rakyat nampak begitu goyah sekali selepas Barisan Nasional merampas kembali pentadbiran negeri Perak baru-baru ini. Banyak masalah dalam parti-parti yang menganggotai PR iaitu Pas, KeADILan dan DAP kini timbul. Jelas PR ialah hasil dari "marriage of convenience". Dalam ertikata lain bukan cinta dan kata sepakat untuk hidup-semati yang melahirkan PR. PR terhasil kerana nafsu serakah pemimpin-pemimpinnya yang gila jawatan. Ianya cuma untuk mengaburi mata rakyat bahawa parti-parti pembangkang pun boleh bekerjasama seperti BN. Tetapi hakikatnya tidak.

Pemimpin-pemimpin DAP sebagai contoh, sudah tidak sehaluan. Pengerusinya Karpal Singh, seorang ahli politik dan peguam veteran, telah mengkritik Lim Kit Siang dan anaknya, Lim Guan Eng secara terbuka. Karpal berkata Kit Siang dan Guan Eng langsung tidak menyokongnya apabila beliau mendesak Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim meletakkan jawatan sebagai Ketua PR, setelah Perak jatuh ke tangan BN. Sebaliknya, Kit Siang dan Guan Eng telah menyatakan pendirian mereka untuk terus menyokong Anwar. Masalah dalaman DAP kini jelas.

Begitu juga dengan PKR. Wakil rakyatnya sudah mula meninggalkan parti untuk menyokong BN, seperti dua ADUNnya di Perak baru-baru ini. Kini mereka sedar, PKR adalah Anwar dan Anwar adalah PKR. PKR tidak ada halatuju. Ianya ditubuhkan untuk satu tujuan saja - supaya Anwar dapat melempiaskan nafsunya untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Masalah dalam Pas juga kini jelas kelihatan. Walaupun Murshidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat telah menasihatkan bekas Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin supaya tidak mencabar keputusan Sultan Perak DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah yang telah melantik Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir sebagai Menteri Besar yang baru, Nizar masih enggan meletakkan jawatan. Ini menunjukkan bawah Nizar langsung tidak menghormati Nik Aziz, seorang tokoh yang amat disegani bukan saja dikalangan ahli-ahli Pas tetapi juga oleh penyokong-penyokong BN.

Sekarang ini Nizar dan "Exco"nya menjadi bahan ketawa. Seperti gila talak. Ini mengingatkan saya tentang kisah Maharaja India dulu. Apabila India menjadi sebuah republik, Maharaja-Maharaja dan ahli-ahli keluarga mereka enggan keluar dari istana mereka. Saya diberitahu sehingga ke hari ini ada dikalangan mereka yang masih duduk distesyen-stesyen keretapi dengan berpakaian diRaja serba lengkap dan berlagak seperti masih mempunyai pengaruh.

Mungkinkah Nizar dan "Exco"nya akan berpindah ke stesyen keretapi Ipoh?

Dalam isu yang berkaitan, Guan Eng berkata mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad patut dipersalahkan diatas kes saman Karpal Singh terhadap DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah. Tuduhan ini langsung tidak masuk akal. Ia hanya menunjukkan bahawa Guan Eng cuba lari dari isu sebenarnya iaitu perpecahan dalam parti DAP.

Memang benar Parlimen dan Dewan-dewan Undangan Negeri, semasa zaman Dr Mahathir sebagai Perdana Menteri, telah mengurangkan hak raja-raja dari segi tingkahlaku mereka sebagai individu diluar tugas rasmi. Tetapi dalam menjalankan tugas rasmi, mereka masih mempunyai immuniti. Dalam membuat keputusan bahawa BN kini berkuasa kembali di Perak, DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah sekadar menjalankan tugas rasmi mengikut Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri Perak. DYMM Sultan Azlan masih dilindungi undang-undang.

Saya tidak syak lagi bahawa keputusan DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah adalah keputusan yang tepat dibawah-bawah undang-undang yang sedia-ada.

DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah ialah bekas Ketua Hakim Negara yang amat disegani. Sehingga hari ini, keputusan-keputusan yang dibuatnya semasa menjadi hakim dahulu digunapakai sebagai "authority" bukan saja dimahkamah-mahkamah di Malaysia, tetapi juga di negara-negara Komanwel yang lain, terutamanya Britain.

BN takes back Perak? Anwar embarrassed...

2009-02-04T21:20:00.004+08:00

The Barisan Nasional now has majority seats in the Perak State Assembly after two Parti keADILan Rakyat Assemblymen Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang), Osman Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) and a Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang)decided to leave their parties and be BN-friendly. The State Assmblyman for Bota Datuk Nasarudin Hashim is returning to BN.

It is only a matter of time that the DYMM Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah will announce his decision on whether he should take the advice of the Menteri Besar and dissolve the State Assembly or give his consent to the Barisan Nasional to form the Government.

If the DYMM Sultan decides that the BN should form the Government, which is highly likely by virtue of BN being the majority, it will be a big embarassment for Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar had been telling the world that Pakatan Rakyat would form the Government on September 16 last year because by then he would get many BN parliamentarians to cross over to PR. September 16 happened only in Anwar's dreams.

While he is going around telling the world that BN MPs are going to cross over to his party, the Opposite is happening right under his nose. Anwar is now in no position to say that party-hopping is unethical.

What's real is that BN is about to wrest Perak and the people in Perak especially and in Malaysia generally are losing faith in PR. That will be the biggest slap in the face for Anwar.

Najib says "NO" to KLIA@East

2009-01-30T19:26:00.002+08:00

Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak has put his foot down and said "NO" to the proposed new low cost carrier terminal in Labu, Negeri Sembilan.

According to Sime Darby Watch, Najib conveyed his disapproval at a meeting with Air Asia and Sime Darby Berhad this morning. Khazanah Nasional is also against the project.

Thank you, Dato' Sri for taking into account the feelings of the people.

I wonder if the decision was made earlier, BN could have clinched Kuala Terengganu in the recent by-election.

Kong Hee Fatt Choy

2009-01-25T00:08:00.003+08:00

I wish all my Chinese friends and readers a Happy Chinese New Year.

Please explain Sime Darby...

2009-01-23T18:46:00.006+08:00

I am shocked! I heard over the radio a few minutes ago that the Government has not given the approval for Sime Darby and Air Asia to proceed with the proposed new Low Cost Carrier Terminal to be built in Labu, Negeri Sembilan.

The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

But early this month, Sime Darby, in an announcement to Bursa Malaysia said the Government has given its approval for the construction of the new LCCT.

So which is which? I am confused!

I am sure our Deputy Prime Minister wouldn't have got it wrong because he sits on the Cabinet. Decisions such as this are normally made after a lengthy deliberation in the Cabinet. Furthermore, as Finance Minister, he would have first hand information about this project.

Blogger Sime Darby Watch is asking whether Sime Darby lied to Bursa Malaysia, its shareholders, and the people of Malaysia. Read here.

My dear friend Rockybru is also puzzled. Read this.

YB Wee Choo Keong, the MP for Wangsa Maju has also joined the chorus. Read here.

If indeed Sime Darby had lied, then I agree with Sime Darby Watch that the entire Board of Directors should be given the sack. Is Sime Darby trying to show that it is more powerful than the Government?

Bursa Malaysia is duty-bound to look into this matter immediately.

I reproduce here the full Sime Darby statement to Bursa Malaysia dated 5 January 2009:

Type : Announcement
Subject : Sime Darby Berhad
Proposal to develop a private low cost carrier terminal
("Proposed LCCT Project")

Contents : We refer to Sime Darby Berhad's ("Company") announcement on 23 December 2008 on the above matter.

The Company wishes to announce that it had, today, obtained approval from the Government of Malaysia to proceed with the Proposed LCCT Project.

The Proposed LCCT Project is an integral part of the Company's development plan for its Negeri Sembilan Vision City ("NSVC"). NSVC is part of the Company's Central Vision Valley ("CVV") property development project spanning Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

This announcement is dated 5 January 2009.

Berapakah harga nyawa seorang wakil rakyat BN?

2009-01-21T16:05:00.005+08:00

Berapakah harga nyawa seorang wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional? Inilah persoalannya setelah kerusi Parlimen Barisan Nasional di Kuala Terengganu dirampas oleh PAS minggu lepas.

Pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu diadakan berikutan kematian Ahli Parlimennya Datuk Razali Ismail semasa bermain badminton di Institut Aminuddin Baki, Genting Highlands November lepas.

Nyawa seorang Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional di Perak, Kedah, Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan, Pulau Pinang, Kelantan dan di negeri-negeri di mana pembangkang mempunyai pengaruh yang kuat seperti Terengganu dan Perlis secara tiba-tiba menjadi lebih berharga berbanding negeri-negeri lain di mana BN mempunyai kuasa penuh.

Hidup dan mati di tangan Allah SWT. Allah memberi, dan Allah mengambilnya semula. Inilah hakikatnya.

Walaupun kekalahan BN di Kuala Terengganu tidak boleh dijadikan ukuran samada populariti BN semakin menurun, tetapi nampaknya Umno dan Barisan Nasional menghadapi risiko yang amat besar kalau ada pilihanraya kecil yang lain. Dulu lain, sekarang lain.

Oleh itu, nasihat saya pada Ahli-ahli Parlimen BN ialah:
Sayangilah nyawa. Jangan mengundang pilihanraya kecil di mana pun anda berada. Janganlah bermain badminton dan sebagainya kalau keadaan fizikal tidak mengizinkan. Pandulah kereta mengikut had laju, dan pakailah talipinggang keledar di depan dan di belakang (kalau kereta dipandu oleh drebar).

Kalau berpenyakit, ikutlah nasihat doktor. Nyawa anda begitu berharga.

Kempen di Kuala Terengganu

2009-01-12T10:20:00.006+08:00

Pada hujung minggu lepas saya telah mengikuti kempen Barisan Nasional di Kuala Terengganu. Kebetulan pula, apabila saya tiba di Kuala Terengganu pada pagi Sabtu, YB Dato' Shaziman Abu Mansor, Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi sedang berkempen disana.

Saya telah berpeluang untuk mengikuti rombongan beliau dari rumah ke rumah untuk menemui para pengundi. Saya kagum dengan semangat Dato' Shaziman yang berkempen dari pagi sampai ke pagi tanpa henti selama beberapa hari berada di Kuala Terengganu.

Kalau semua pemimpin BN bersemangat seperti Dato' Shaziman, saya rasa Senator Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh akan memperolehi kemenangan mudah pada pilihanraya kecil Kuala Terengganu pada Januari 17 ini.

Tapi seadanya peluang BN untuk memenangi kerusi parlimen itu ialah 60-40. Saya rasa mesej yang dibawa pada hari-hari terakhir kempen akan menjadi penentu siapa akan menyandang kerusi Parlimen tersebut.

Nampaknya ramai pemimpin lama BN saja yang berada di sana. Anak-anak muda seperti tidak bersemangat. Di mana pemuda, di mana putera dan puteri?

Sime Darby abandons IJN bid, reputation battered

2009-01-06T22:05:00.009+08:00

Sime Darby has decided to drop its bid to purchase 51% of Institut Jantung Negara, a decision welcomed by every Malaysian I know.

It was a non-starter, a no-brainer. Like I said in my earlier posting, IJN is literally close to the hearts of every Malaysian who lived through the days of its inception in 1992. It saved the lives of millions of Malaysians including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Malay Rulers, community leaders, the civil servants and the poor.

The proposal to takeover IJN was a fatal miscalculation on the part of Sime Darby. Why IJN? It is doing well on its own. If Sime Darby's intention is noble and if it "can provide affordable healthcare to the poor", then it should take over every district hospital in the country.

Perhaps, given Sime Darby's sheer size, deep pocket and influence in the Government, it thought it could move mountains. But how wrong it was.

Now, Sime Darby is left with a deep visible scar, an irreversible damage to its reputation. It is now known all over the world as a parasite organisation the bloggers dislike. I know that some bloggers and writers wanted to go to the extent of calling for a boycott of Sime Darby products, a move I didn't agree with simply because Sime Darby is a Malaysian company, a GLC at that.

The damage control is going to be tough. It is going to take many years for Sime Darby and its leaders, especially Chairman Tun Musa Hitam and President Dato' Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid to regain their reputation and the people's respect.

The people lost their respect for Sime Darby simply because it insulted their intelligence by saying that the privatised IJN will continue to provide affordable service for the poor. Service, perhaps, but affordable?

It simply doesn't make sense. A vast majority of IJN patients are poor, tens of thousands of them, and civil servants who are entitled for free treatment. It doesn't fit the equation.

If the 24-year-old Sime Darby-owned Subang Jaya Medical Centre had a good record for helping the poor, then Sime Darby would have had something to show. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

Tahniah Tuanku!

2009-01-01T01:25:00.003+08:00

Ampun Tuanku,
Sebagai anak watan Negeri Sembilan, patik menjunjung kasih dan mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada KDYMM Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir sempena pemasyuran Tuanku sebagai Yang di Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan ke 11 pada hari Isnin lepas.

Patik percaya dengan pemasyuran dan seterusnya pertabalan KDYMM Tuanku sebagai Yam Tuan Besar dan dengan pemerintahan Tuanku yang adil dan saksama, Negeri Sembilan akan mencapai kemajuan demi kemajuan.

Patik melajazkan ikrar taat setia kepada KDYMM Tuanku.

Ampun Tuanku.

Get it right, Bernard. It's the "rakyat". Period.

2008-12-31T23:22:00.003+08:00

Barisan Rakyat? What "Barisan Rakyat" is Bernard Khoo talking about?

Malaysiakini named the "rakyat" as the newsmaker of the year and NOT "Barisan Rakyat", a term coined by a few anti-Government activists. In actual fact, it was just the plain "rakyat" who brought about the changes that we saw in 2008. I wish Bernard will not put a spin to it and call it "Barisan Rakyat".

Many or even a majority I would say voted for the Opposition not because the Opposition is good but because they were angry with the Government led by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. I don't think they are turncoats. I am sure Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak will remedy the situation when he takes over.

Kudos also to bloggers who managed to change a few things during the year.

Happy New Year.

Tuanku Jaafar Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (1922-2008)

2008-12-27T14:16:00.005+08:00

Saya turut bersedih di atas kemangkatan DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Al-Marhum Tuanku Jaafar Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman pagi tadi.

DYMM Tuanku Jaafar, putera kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agung yang pertama Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhammad, telah dilahirkan pada Julai 19, 1922. Tuanku Jaafar telah memerintah Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus selama 40 tahun, bermula dari 6 April 1968.

Semasa pemerintahan DYMM Tuanku Jaafar, saya telah dikurniakan anugerah kebesaran sebanyak dua kali sempena hari keputeraannya, Pingat Khidmat Cemerlang Masyarakat pada tahun 2002 dan Bintang Ahli Setia Negeri Sembilan pada tahun 2005.

Selama 4 dekad, DYMM Tuanku Jaafar telah memerintah Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus dengan penuh adil dan saksama.

Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat dan ditempatkan di syurga Firdausi seperti yang telah dijanjikan kepada hamba-hambaNya yang soleh.

Al-Fatihah...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2008-12-24T16:00:00.004+08:00

To all my Christian friends, I wish you a Merry Christmas and to everyone, a Happy New Year. Let's leave behind our sorrows during this festive season and rejoice with our beloved ones.

Pengambilalihan IJN oleh Sime Darby batal

2008-12-19T18:29:00.005+08:00

Saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada kerajaan kerana telah menunda (tersurat), membatalkan (tersirat) pengambilalihan Institut Jantung Negara oleh Kumpulan Sime Darby Berhad.

Saya berharap kerajaan akan mengambil kira pendapat rakyat dahulu sebelum membuat keputusan sebegini pada masa depan.

Saya juga mengucapkan tahniah kepada 35 orang pakar perunding di IJN yang telah mengeluarkan satu kenyataan untuk membetulkan persepsi bahawa isu kenaikan gaji mereka adalah satu faktor untuk menswastakan IJN.

Berikut adalah kenyataan penuh yang dikeluarkan:

19th December 2008

Statement from IJN medical consultants

We read with concern the perceived perception that the medical staff of IJN are demanding higher pay and will leave IJN if these demands are not met.

We feel it is important that these negative perceptions are correctly put into context.

The institution was set up in 1992 as a corporate body directly under the purview of Ministry of Finance. Its board of Directors include representatives from Ministry of Health and MOF to ensure its direction and objectives of providing good quality and affordable medical care to Malaysians from all walks of life are adhered to.

In that respect, IJN has done and continue to do well, both in maintaining its moral as well as financial obligations. The institution has been self-sustaining since its inception (and has been able to pay year end bonuses annually without fail). For 2007 and up to end Nov 2008, we have accumulated 285,764 number of outpatients, performed 15,084 cardiac catheterization interventions including angiograms and angioplasties, 6,094 heart and lung surgeries, 7 mechanical hearts and heart and lung transplants surgeries.

As true with any organization of our size, there will be people leaving the organization at various times in order to pursue different career paths. Over the last 7 years of operation, out of a total of 35 consultants, only 7 have left IJN to work either in local or overseas private centres. Therefore, our consultants' annual attrition rate is only 3%, and we have responded consistently over time to promote our home grown talents to fill up the voids accordingly. Currently, 75% of IJN consultants have been in their posts for more than 10 years.

All of us are salaried based on a different payscale than that of the MOH though not at par with the private centres. Periodic review of salary scale is usually undertaken, subject to approval from Ministry of Finance.

As proven from our consultants' attrition rate and longevity in serving this institution, it is logical to surmise that on the whole we are happy with the current scheme and proving it by remaining with IJN. Many of us have served than 10 years, excluding time spent within the MOH Hospitals prior to setting up of IJN.

Whilst we have yet to have a clear picture of the proposed privatization by Sime Darby, we would like to reiterate our commitment to serve IJN in its current form and want to stress that the proposed privatization of IJN must not be seen to be as a response to our demands for better pay. The medical personnel of IJN are not at all involved, directly or otherwise, in the negotiations for the said privatization.

Being responsible employees of IJN, we are not in the position to dictate the outcome of the privatization proposal from Sime Darby to the stakeholders of IJN. However, the perception that the privatization proposal is in response to demands for higher remunerations by its medical staff is misconceived and must be corrected accordingly to safeguard and preserve the trust placed upon us by our patients.

Signed,

1. Sharifah Suraya Syed Mohd Tahir
2. Suhaini Kadiman
3. Nor Azlina Abdul Jalil
4. Ariffin Marzuki Mokhtar
5. Thiru Kumar Namasivayam
6. Mohd Sharif Mohd Shaffie
7. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Ariff
8. Azhari Rosman
9. Amin Ariff Nuruddin
10. Ahmad Khairddin Mohd Yusof
11. Aiza Aizan Abdul Rahim
12. Mohd Nasir Muda
13. Shaiful Azmi @ Jamauddin Yahaya
14. Balachandaran Kandasamy
15. Azlan Hussin
16. Razali Omar
17. Chew Soon Ping @ David Chew
18. Rosli Mohd Ali
19. Robaayah Zambahari
20. Mohd Azhari Yakub
21. Pau Khew Kong
22. Sivakumar Sivalingam
23. Abdul Rais Sanusi
24. Hew Chee Chin
25. Hamdan Leman
26. Alwi Mohamed Yunus

IJN issue - people's opinions ignored?

2008-12-19T10:42:00.003+08:00

Call it a gut feeling, but I think the issue of selling Institut Jantung Negara to Sime Darby Berhad is going to be the Barisan Nasional Government's most unpopular decision since the petrol hike. The petrol hike as we know, was one of the reasons for BN's worst ever performance in the 2008 general election. I am not talking about the RM0.78 petrol hike after the election which of course, angered the people even more. I am talking about the earlier ones.

On the outset, the selling of IJN to Sime Darby may look like a simple business deal. But to many Malaysians, it is not.

First, the sentimental reasons - IJN was founded by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the nation's fourth Prime Minister at a time cardiovascular disease became the No 1 killer in Malaysia. So when you are caught in the traffic jam along Jalan Tun Razak like we often do, and when we take a look at IJN, the first thing that comes to mind is Dr Mahathir and the fact that this institution was built by him for the people. The institution is now so popular that people from all over the world seek treatment there. The poor who are only required to pay a nominal fee, are also welcome at IJN. They are never shooed away like some private hospitals. The Government servants and their spouses also enjoy the same treatment, I was told.

Secondly, the commercial reason - why should it be sold to Sime Darby? Why wasn't it open to other companies who specialise in hospitals? Although both the Government and Sime Darby have given the assurance that the poor will still be able to get cheap treatment, people simply don't buy it. True, Sime Darby has the financial capability to increase the salaries of specialists to US$30,000 a month, but where will its profits come from. This has to be made clear. You cannot treat 3,000 rich patients a month for a higher fee and try to balance it up with 50,000 poor patients who pay only the registration fee of RM8.

Thirdly and the most important fact is that the people are now feeling left out from the Government's decision-making process. I make no apology for saying this, but the Government seems to be making decisions these days like as though the people, whom they are answerable to, do not exist. IJN was built from the people's money and Sime Darby is a public-listed company. A Press statement should have been issued a long time ago to inform the people that Sime Darby was making a bid to buy IJN. Then the Government can gauge public opinion before a decision is made. In this case, the Cabinet simply approved the bid. The people only knew about it AFTER the decision was made.

So why isn't the Government talking to the people? It is things like these which make the Government unpopular and give the Opposition a field day!

Why the need for Sime Darby to buy into IJN?

2008-12-18T12:55:00.007+08:00

I am confused, just like millions of other Malaysians, I am sure. What is the actual Cabinet decision pertaining to the Sime Darby Berhad-Institut Jantung Negara issue? The earlier statement says that the Cabinet has agreed in principle to begin discussions with Sime Darby which has shown an interest in "buying" IJN.

However, in its statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Sime Darby said it is eyeing "a stake" in IJN.

So has there been a change of mind? Did the public outcry influence this change.

But the real story remains untold...how much stake is Sime Darby seeking to buy? Is it 51%? Could it be 99.9%?

No doubt Sime Darby is a GLC, but it is a profit-making entity. Will it not be tempted to make profits out of the ordinary people if it takes over IJN?

There have been many horror stories about private hospitals, including Subang Jaya Medical Centre which is owned by Sime Darby. They have even refused to accept seriously injured accident victims simply because they were unable to pay a deposit.

I don't really see a logic in the Government's decision to sell IJN to Sime Darby. IJN has been performing well as the country's No 1 heart hospital. It is renowned throughout the world.

As we know, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad founded IJN in 1992. He went through two bypass surgeries there.

Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy...Ada fulus, terus lulus!

2008-12-06T20:23:00.009+08:00

Each time there is a landslide at the Ampang area, we get statements from Government officials and politicians that development in the hilly areas will be prohibited permanently.

But who are we kidding? A couple of months after such tragedies, we see cranes and tractors moving in to work on new projects.

Why is the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council allowing this? Shouldn't it be held responsible if the projects that it approves cause such tragedies? It reeks of corruption. Surely, there must be some form of incentive which encourages officers to approve these projects although they are not supposed to. Otherwise, will developers continue to get the necessary approval for projects in the hilly areas? Money, it seems, can buy all forms of approvals. Ada pulus, terus lulus!

The highlands in Ampang serve as water catchment areas. This simply means the level of rainfall in these areas is high. If we chop down the trees, we won't have enough greens to absorb the water. If the water is not absorbed, it remains on the ground and loosens the soil. The soil then begins to move and cause landslides.

So many lives have been lost, so many properties destroyed, landslides after landslides have occured, but trees are being chopped down indiscriminately and developments at the hilly areas continue.

Our problem is, we never learn from history.

Ho Koh Chye (1942-2008)

2008-12-03T22:50:00.005+08:00

I was shocked and saddened when I received an sms from Lazarus Rokk informing me that one of Malaysia's greatest sportsman, former Olympian Datuk Ho Koh Chye passed away at the Kelana Medical Centre this evening.

Although at the point of writing this blog, the cause of his death had not been established, it was learnt that he had earlier today complained of abdominal pains.

Ho, 66, was a great sportsman. He represented Malaysia in hockey for many years and played a pivotal role in making Malaysia the top four in the world hockey ranking. Those were the days when you took part in sports in the spirit of nationalism and patriotism and not the lure of monetary rewards. Those were the days when Ho, like other sportsmen and sportswomen, survived on a RM10 meal allowance a day.

An old boy of St Paul's Institution in Seremban, Ho was one of the best hockey goalkeepers the country had ever produced.

Even after retiring from active hockey, he continued to contribute as a volunteer towards developing Malaysian sports.

He was the Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Having represented Negri Sembilan in hockey from 1983 to 1989, I knew Ho as a dedicated man who devoted his entire 66 years of life to the development of sports in Malaysia, especially hockey.

Ho's untimely death leaves a vacuum in the Malaysian sporting arena which only a great person like he was can fill.

Forget Altantuya, Najib has a job to do.

2008-11-21T11:22:00.005+08:00

I've always thought that it is ridiculous to link Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the Altantuya murder case.

Now that Abdul Razak Baginda, who was initially accused with the murder but acquitted, has said that Najib and Rosmah don't even know Altantuya and have never met her, I think everyone including the Opposition should drop all the wild accusations against the two.

Najib has an arduous task ahead. To undo the damages done by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Umno and Barisan Nasional will not be an easy job. BN has hit rock bottom. Never before in the history of Malaysia that the coalition Government performed so badly like it did in the 12th General Election in March 2008.

We should give our full support to Najib to rebuild Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Layakkah Shahrizat menjadi Ketua Wanita?

2008-11-18T12:09:00.005+08:00

Sehingga kekalahannya dengan calon muda Nurul Izzah Ibrahim dengan majoriti yang besar untuk "kerusi tetapnya" iaitu Lembah Pantai dalam Pilihanraya Umum yang ke 12 Mac lalu, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil telah memegang jawatan Ahli Parlimen selama 3 penggal dan Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat selama 2 penggal.

Tetapi apakah sumbangannya kepada agama, bangsa dan negara yang melayakkan beliau merebut kerusi Ketua Wanita? Saya rasa tidak ada yang menyerlah. Beliau sudah tidak sabar lagi untuk menjawat jawatan tertinggi dalam pergerakkan Wanita Umno, tetapi beliau belum cukup layak. Jauh berbeza dengan Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz yang cukup berpengalaman, cerdik, dihormati bukan sahaja di Malaysia, malah di arena antarabangsa.

Rafidah cukup berani orangnya. Berani kerana ada keyakinan diri. Keyakinan diri pula datangnya dari pengalaman dan ilmu. Saya masih ingat lagi apabila beliau bertikam lidah dengan Madeleine Albright, Setiausaha Luar, Amerika Syarikat ketika itu, dalam satu forum antarabangsa yang diadakan di Kuala Lumpur. Albright tidak dapat berkata-kata kerana Rafidah bercakap dengan fakta-fakta yang lengkap, tanpa perlu merujuk kepada pegawai-peagawainya. Beliau juga amat disegani dalam forum-forum antarabangsa seperti World Trade Organisation, ASEAN, ASEM, EAEC dan lain-lain.

Di bawah kepimpinan Rafidah sebagai Menteri Perusahaan Antarabangsa dan Industri selama lebih kurang 3 dekad, Malaysia mengalami zaman kegemilangan dalam menarik pelaburan asing ke Malaysia. Kalau kita memandu dari Johor ke Perlis dan melihat kilang-kilang antarabangsa di keliling kita, kita harus mengakui bahawa inilah Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) yang mengalir masuk ke Malaysia pada zaman beliau. Itulah pengorbanan beliau kepada negara. Beliau sanggup kehilangan "masa kualiti" bersama keluarga untuk melawat negara-negara asing setiap masa demi untuk membawa masuk pelaburan luar.

Wanita Umno belum ada lagi calon yang berkaliber untuk menggantikan Rafidah. Mungkin saya "bias" sedikit kerana saya mencapai "usia baligh" sebagai seorang wartawan dizaman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sebagai Perdana Menteri dan Rafidah sebagai Ketua Wanita Umno dan Menteri Kanan dalam Kabinet.

Hakikat yang mungkin dipersetujui oleh hampir semua rakyat Malaysia ialah Dr Mahathir dan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak boleh dibandingkan kerana kebolehan mereka seperti langit dan bumi. Begitu juga kalau dibandingkan Rafidah dan Shahrizat.

Rafidah dan Shahrizat adalah dalam liga yang berlainan. Mungkin saya perlu menerima hakikat bahawa mungkin tidak akan ada Ketua Wanita yang sehebat Rafidah. Namun, saya berharap calon Ketua Wanita dipilih dari kalangan ahli-ahli yang telah cukup berjasa kepada Umno dan negara.

Shahrizat tidak layak sebenarnya kerana alasan-alasan berikut:

* Beliau telah kalah dalam PRU12 dengan majoriti yang besar kepada seorang anak muda yang baru berkecimpung dalam arena politik. Ini bermakna ahli-ahli Umno dikawasan Lembah Pantai pun tidak mengundi Shahrizat. Beliau tidak diterima dikawasan beliau sendiri. Apabila beliau kalah, beliau hanya memikirkan kepentingan beliau sendiri dan merayu pada Abdullah untuk menlantik beliau sebagai Penasihat Khas dengan status Menteri.

* Beliau telah menjadi Menteri selama 2 penggal, tetapi apakah legasinya? Perlindungan kanak-kanak masih ditahap paling minima. Nurin di bunuh dengan kejam manakala Sharlinie dan ramai lagi budak-budak yang lesap begitu sahaja. Kes perceraian dikalangan orang Islam dan bukan Islam meningkat dengan mendadak, satu tanda bahawa institusi keluarga semakin rapuh. Hubungan kaum langsung tidak boleh dibanggakan.

* Telah menjadi makluman umum bahawa Shahrizat telah mengarahkan Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim untuk bertanding jawatan timbalan ketua Wanita supaya beliau boleh menggunakan alasan ini untuk bertanding jawatan Ketua Wanita. Ini taktik lama.

Bagi saya, Shahrizat tidak layak untuk jawatan No 1 dan Kamilia langsung tidak layak untuk jawatan No 2.

Mungkin Shahrizat patut digalakkan untuk bertanding dengan Rafidah. Jika berlaku pertandingan dan andaikata Shahrizat kalah, pelan peralihan kuasa yang dijadualkan bulan Jun hadapan, tidak perlu dilakukan. Rafidah boleh meneruskan perjuangannya sehingga penggal depan.

Masa depan Shahrizat sebagai ahli politik pula akan terus terkubur.

Radio IKIM dan panggilan lucah

2008-11-16T19:23:00.009+08:00

Pada 15 November 2008, jam lebih kurang 3 pagi, apabila saya sedang mendengar Radio IKIM, iaitu sebuah stesen radio yang dikendalikan oleh Institut Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (IKIM), saya dikejutkan oleh satu panggilan lucah yang diudarakan.

Kata-kata lucah yang diluahkan kepada deejay wanita yang bertugas itu turut didengari oleh saya dan mungkin juga jutaan rakyat Malaysia yang lain. Saya amat bersimpati dengan deejay tersebut yang sememangnya terkejut dengan panggilan itu. Walau bagaimanapun beliau telah dapat mengawal keadaan dengan baik. Saya kesal kerana penerbit program tersebut gagal menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik.

Sebagai sebuah stesen yang dikendalikan oleh institusi berlandaskan Islam, stesen ini tidak sepatutnya memberi tugas malam kepada staf wanita. Memadailah kalau deejay wanita hanya bertugas sehingga 10 malam sahaja, itupun kalau tidak ada petugas lelaki.

Harus diingat, suara wanita adalah aurat. Program yang memerlukan interaksi di antara lelaki dan perempuan pada malam hari harus dihentikan kerana ianya bukan cara Islam.

Saya juga hairan kerana Radio IKIM tidak menggunakan sistem "delaying transmission". Sistem ini membolehkan transmisi panggilan telefon dilewatkan beberapa saat sebelum ianya diudarakan. Sistem ini akan memberi masa kepada penerbit stesen radio untuk menghentikan sesuatu panggilan lucah sebelum ianya diudarakan.

Sebagai sebuah stesen yang mempunyai "rating" yang tinggi dari kalangan pendengar radio di Malaysia, Radio IKIM sepatutnya mendapatkan system terbaru supaya ianya boleh memberi perkhidmatan yang sempurna keepada pendengar-pendengar setianya.

Saya pasti Pengerusi IKIM, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, seorang tokoh yang amat saya hormati dan kagumi, akan mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya.

Astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar's RM8,000 an hour?

2008-11-08T21:57:00.013+08:00

I've heard from some friends that our Astronaut, Dato' Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha is now demanding RM8,000 an hour to speak at public functions, even at primary and secondary schools. And that excludes hotel and flight charges.

If this is true, then I think the practice must stop. RM8,000 to speak for just an hour or as an "appearance fee" is exorbitant. It is unethical, inmoral almost. How is a primary school going to cough up RM8,000?

I was told that Faiz Khaleed, the reserve astronaut who did not even leave the earth's orbit is also charging a similar fee.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, I was told, earns a salary from the Government, being an employee of Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Furthermore, his outer space adventure was funded by the Malaysian public, including me. He shouldn't be commercialising his public-funded stardom and make more money for himself. If he continues to do that, he will soon lose his "hero" reputation and will be despised by the public.

I am sure my friend Dato' Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis who as the Minister of MOSTI worked very hard to make the astronaut programme a success and to put Malaysia in the history books, would "jump" if he hears about this.

Tahniah Najib!

2008-11-03T13:06:00.005+08:00

Saya mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Tazak kerana telah memenangi jawatan Presiden Umno tanpa bertanding. Beliau telah berjaya memperolehi 134 pencalonan.

Saya yakin dengan kepimpinan beliau, Umno akan dapat kembali kepada zaman kegemilangannya.

Saya juga pasti dengan kepimpinan beliau, rakyat Malaysia akan memberi mandat penuh kepada Barisan Nasional dalam Pilihanraya Umum yang ke13.

Perhimpunan Agung Umno perlu dipercepatkan

2008-10-30T23:42:00.004+08:00

Ugutan melalui SMS, politik wang, negara diambang krisis kewangan yang mungkin paling dasyat sejak the "Great Depression", dan kemungkinan Umno, dari Perlis ke Sabah akan berpecah-belah, adalah alasan-alasan yang cukup munasabah untuk mempercepatkan Perhimpunan Agung Umno.

Justeru itu, mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi Umno hari ini perlu mengkaji semula keputusannya untuk menunda Perhimpunan Agung ke Mac depan. Sebaliknya, Perhimpunan Agung perlu diadakan selewat-lewatnya pada bulan Disember ini seperti cadangan asal.

Lima bulan adalah terlalu lama. Risikonya amat tinggi sekali. Calon-calon yang memegang jawatan kerajaan kini terlalu sibuk berkempen untuk jawatan dalam parti sehingga tugas-tugas kerajaan diabaikan.

Negara kini berada diambang krisis kewangan. Oleh itu, setiap pemimpin yang memegang jawatan kerajaan perlu menumpukan perhatian kepada pelan tindakan yang perlu diambil untuk mengelak krisis ini atau mengurangkan impaknya.

Semasa krisis kewangan 1997/98, Perdana Menteri pada masa itu Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mengadakan mesyuarat MTEN (Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Negara) setiap hari dari jam 9 pagi hingga 1 tengahari untuk meneliti data-data harian dan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya. Pada masa itu kerajaan begitu fokus sekali. Tindakan sedemikianlah yang membolehkan Malaysia keluar dari krisis kewangan lebih awal dari negara-negara jiran.

Kita juga telah mendengar rungutan dari beberapa orang pemimpin Umno bahawa mereka mendapat ugutan menerusi SMS untuk menyokong calon-calon tertentu dalam pemilihan Umno kelak. Ini adalah satu trend yang tidak sihat.

Dalam berpolitik, tempoh kempen yang terlalu lama akan mengundang perkara-perkara yang tidak diingini. Hari ini ugutan SMS, esok apa pula?

Majlis Tertinggi, sebagai badan yang bertanggungjawab bukan saja perlu mengambil tindakan yang akan menguntungkan Umno, tetapi juga perlu melindungi ahli-ahlinya.

Bermusuhan dalam politik adalah lumrah. Kalau tempoh kempen lebih lama, maka lebih ramailah musuh kita.

Menjelang PRU13, Umno perlu lebih kuat dan mantap, bukan lebih lemah dan bermusuh-musuhan.

Kegemilangan Barisan Nasional pra-2008 perlu dikembalikan. Untuk itu, sebagai parti komponen terbesar, Umno perlu diperkuatkan dahulu.

Hakikatnya ialah, di bawah kepimpinan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Barisan Nasional hampir terkubur. Ianya mungkin akan terkubur pada tahun 2013 jika keputusan-keputusan yang diambil lebih mementingkan individu tertentu daripada parti.

Ia akan lebih menguntungkan Umno jika perhimpunan agungnya diadakan pada bulan Disember ini.

Valuecap...langkah kerajaan mengelakkan krisis

2008-10-29T21:25:00.009+08:00

Langkah Kementerian Kewangan untuk mengukuhkan pasaran saham Malaysia dengan membeli saham-saham syarikat yang harganya telah jatuh menjunam menerusi Valuecap Sdn Bhd perlu dipuji.

Walaupun "fundamentals" atau asas syarikat-syarikat yang disenaraikan dalam Bursa Malaysia ini adalah kukuh, sentimen pasaran sedunia dan krisis kewangan yang dialami oleh hegara-negara Eropah serta Amerika Syarikat telah mempengaruhi aktiviti jual-beli saham sehingga harga-harga saham mereka terjejas dengan teruk.

Amat tidak adil kalau syarikat-syarikat Malaysia yang mempunyai "fundamentals" yang begitu kukuh, termasuk simpanan dan aset yang banyak, pasaran yang meluas, potensi yang baik dan pengurusan yang efisien, terjejas akibat dari "panic-selling" kerana sentimen pasaran antarabangsa.

Oleh itu, Valuecap yang akan membeli saham-saham syarikat seperti ini dengan tujuan untuk mengukuhkan harga-harga saham, adalah satu langkah yang murni. Langkah ini tidak patut dipertikaikan. Ianya perlu dilihat sebagai langkah proaktif kerajaan untuk mengelakkan krisis ekonomi yang lebih teruk. Sebuah kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab terhadap warganegara korporatnya, tidak akan membiarkan syarikat-syarikat ini mengalami masalah kerana faktor luaran.

Negara-negara maju yang pernah mencaci Malaysia kerana memberi suntikan kewangan kepada syarikat-syarikat yang mengalami masalah kerana krisis ekonomi serantau dan dunia, kini melakukan perkara yang sama.

Amerika Syarikat telah mengumumkan langkahnya untuk menyuntik sebanyak US$700 billion kedalam syarikat-syarikat dan institusi-institusi kewangannya. Ini adalah langkah "bail-out" yang terbesar yang pernah dilakukan. Begitu juga dengan negara-negara Eropah.

Kalau dibandingkan dengan US$700 billion, RM5 billion adalah amat kecil sekali.

Tun Dr M di TV hari ini

2008-10-28T11:50:00.003+08:00

Mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad akan muncul dalam Astro Awani malam ini jam 9 malam untuk membincangkan pemilihan Umno Mac depan. Semestinya ini ialah rancangan yang "MESTI DITONTON".

Beliau juga akan muncul dalam "talkshow" Bloomberg pada jam 1 tengahari ini (Saluran 519). Rancangan ini akan diulangtayang pada jam 8.30 dan 11.30 malam ini juga.

Dalam rancagan Bloomberg ini beliau akan membincangkan krisis kewangan dunia dan tindakan kerajaan Amerika Syarikat memberi bantuan kewangan (bail-out) kepada syarikat-syarikat yang menghadapi masalah.

Happy Deepavali

2008-10-27T11:08:00.004+08:00

I wish all Hindu Malaysians a Happy Deepavali. Each of us have a role in ensuring peace and harmony among the races. So let's respect one another and live together as one big family of different colours and creed. Let the rest of the world envy us.

Tahniah Jazlan

2008-10-27T10:09:00.005+08:00

Saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada rakan saya Nur Jazlan Mohamed yang telah mengumumkan keputusannya untuk mengundurkan diri dari bertanding untuk jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno dalam Perhimpunan Agung Umno Mac depan.

Mungkin keputusannya terdorong dari kegagalan beliau untuk mendapatkan pencalonan dari bahagian-bahagian yang telahpun mengadakan mesyuarat masing-masing. Mungkin juga kerana beliau memikir secara rasional bahawa beliau belum bersedia untuk jawatan setinggi itu.

Apa pun, saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada Jazlan di atas keputusannya itu. Anak muda ini mempunyai potensi yang besar. Kalau beliau mengharungi onak duri politik dengan penuh kesabaran dan sanggup menunggu, even the sky is not the limit.

Tidak ada jalan singkat dalam politik, seperti juga dalam bidang kewartawanan.

Oh! Azman Mokhtar

2008-10-24T14:07:00.007+08:00

Unfortunately for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it is people like Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar who gives his Government a bad name.

Instead of playing his role effectively to attract investments to Malaysia, he seems to be doing things in the contrary.

One example is his recent statement that Malaysia is going to face a shortage of electricity in 2012. This statement, plucked from the air I suppose, has far-reaching effect. It can instil fear among foreign investors who are seeking to have long-term investments in Malaysia.

At the Regional Eisenhower Fellowship Conference in Kuala Lumpur last week, Azman had said the "structural problems" in the power supply industry could cause the nation to experience a power shortage in 2012, and the collapse of national electricity utility, Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

In actual fact, the current 42 per cent reserve will rise to 47% next year with the commissioning of a new independent power producer (IPP) in Jimah, Negri Sembilan.

It would have been wiser for Azman to have checked with the Energy Commission before making such a statement.

If he is so worried about TNB, he should get it to reduce operating costs and act like a company which needs to practise financial prudence. But this is the same fellow who approved the 100% salary increase for TNB CEO Dato' Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh. Apparently, despite the public uproar, Che Khalib still managed to get a 50% pay rise. That, I have to check.

I congratulate Dato' Shaziman Abu Mansor, the Minister of Energy, Water and Communication for taking Azmman to task.

Kudos to Wong Choong Mei

2008-10-22T11:41:00.003+08:00

I congratulate reporter Wong Choon Mei who resigned from Malaysiakini after taking responsibility for a report in the news portal which associated the Deputy Prime Minister to a manifesto he did not issue.

I am sorry that she lost her job. But she did the right thing. She is a living proof that at least a few reporters in Malaysia have pride and dignity.

Don't we all know of a shameless editor who refused to quit even after he was caught with his pants down for plagiarising a writer he idolises.

He gave all sorts of other reasons to quit. That happens only in Malaysia.

Mind you Malaysiakini, Najib's not suing!

2008-10-20T23:15:00.003+08:00

Malaysiakini has apologised and Najib is not suing. You see the difference between a true leader and the Theresa Koks of the Opposition...

I reproduce here the full Press Statement from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Monday, October 20, 2008
Press Statement from DPM's Office on Malaysiakini's Article.
PRESS STATEMENT

The internet news portal Malaysiakini yesterday published an email purportedly from a ‘Najib Support Group’ containing a so-called Manifesto supposedly linked to Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Razak. Without any verification, Malaysiakini has deemed it appropriate to publish the false contents of this email.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s office would like to clarify that Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Razak has never issued any manifesto to back his bid for the UMNO presidency.

The Malaysiakini report is therefore patently false and misleading. Malaysiakini’s decision to publish the story is extremely unethical as they had failed to verify the matter with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office prior to publication.

The conduct of Malaysiakini is regrettable and unacceptable. Certainly, it is an unfortunate display of negligence and lack of professionalism in news reporting.

It is important for Malaysiakini to investigate the origin of the malicious e-mail in order for it to clear its name and reputation.

Malaysiakini has apologized to the Deputy Prime Minister on this matter. Nevertheless, it is our hope that Malaysiakini and other news portals, regardless of their editorial policy, will conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner.

This false story is the latest move in what is obviously a concerted effort by certain quarters to tarnish the image of the Deputy Prime Minister. Indeed, of late, ever since the UMNO Transition Plan was brought forward to March 2009, there has been a consistent and continuous effort by some websites to concoct and publish false and malicious reports aimed at discrediting the Deputy Prime Minister.

We hope the Malaysian public, in particular readers of these websites are able to distinguish truth from falsehood when reading the materials published.

Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
20th October 2008

Now this is REAL proof that there is a concerted attempt by certain news portals and blogs to discredit Najib. They spread all sorts of lies about him and even called him names - from a cold-blood murderer to a Hindu priest.

Enough is enough. Why don't we just rally behind Najib for the love of our country? He has an uphill task of repairing the damages left behind by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. These are damages never before sustained by the Barisan Nasional in the country's entire 50-year history. And that's not going to be easy.

Perhimpunan Agung Umno perlu diadakan pada bulan Disember

2008-10-18T22:21:00.004+08:00

Dalam keadaan ekonomi global yang kian meruncing dan "contagion effect" dari krisis kewangan yang kemungkinan besar akan membawa kesan yang lebih dasyat kepada ekonomi negara kita berbanding krisis 1997/98, Majlis Tertinggi Umno perlu mengkaji semula keputusannya untuk menunda Perhimpunan Agung Umno ke Mac depan.

Saya bersetuju dengan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan beberapa pemimpin Umno yang lain bahawa jika perhimpunan agung diadakan pada bulan Mac, tempoh 5 bulan untuk berkempen adalah terlalu lama.

Kalau pemimpin Umno terlalu sibuk berkempen, saya risau hal-hal pentadbiran negara akan diabaikan. Krisis kewangan dan masalah ekonomi yang dihadapi negara pada masa ini, perlu ditangani secara komprehensif, dengan penyertaan setiap pemimpin negara.

Saya juga bimbang oleh kerana tempoh masa berkempen terlalu lama, politik wang akan berleluasa. Gejala-gejala lain yang tidak sihat akan terus menular. Akibatnya, pemimpin-peminpin Umno akan bermusuh-musuhan antara satu sama lain.

Ia akan membawa kepada perpecahan Umno. Mungkin juga ianya akan membawa kepada masalah yang tidak boleh diperbaiki sampai bila-bila.

Oleh itu, adalah amat penting Pehimpunan Agung Umno diadakan pada bulan Disember, seperti cadangan asal. Janganlah kerana kepentingan individu, parti dan negara digadaikan.

Kalau Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ingin juga memegang jawatan Perdana Menteri hingga ke bulan Mac, biarlah beliau memenuhi hajatnya..

Opposition papers, blogs are even more biased

2008-10-14T10:22:00.005+08:00

Why is everyone attacking my friend Rocky? Wasn't he right when he said that members of the Opposition parties, who are in the habit of saying that the mainstream media are biased, but at the same time do not see the biasness of the media that supports them, are now quick to file lawsuits against the newspapers.

I see this as a Opposition way of intimidating the mainstream media.

Theresa Kok has filed a RM30 million dollar suit againt Utusan Malaysia on the Azan issue. I agree with Rocky that this is becoming a trend. Another Opposition leader is also suing the newspaper on another issue.

To the Opposition, their own publications and pro-Opposition blogs can say whatever they want. The DAP's Rocket says all sorts of nasty things about the Government, but that's ok. The Suara Keadilan carries blatant lies about anything and everything, that is also ok. Harakah reports untruths all the time. That is also ok.

But we don't see Barisan Nasional leaders or Government officials suing them, do we?

Tian Chua, in a hurry to get a Parliament seat, published a doctored picture of Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak seated next to murdered Mongolian Altantuya Sharibuu. That was not only defamatory, but a criminal offence. But did Najib sue? Tian Chua later admitted doctoring the picture.

Raja Petra Kamaruddin's Malaysia Today carried all Sorts of lies about Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib, but did they sue? In fact, I know someone who said 80% of the contents of Malaysia today, are lies. But the Government tolerated. Until of course, Raja Petra began to publish blasphemous comments on Islam and started to publish articles detrimental to Malaysia's multi-racial composition. That, no Malaysian should tolerate.

Kickdefella, who works for Pas' Husam Musa also carried lies about Najib in his blog. But did Najib sue? Husam, by the way is Anwar's strongest supporter in Pas.

You see the link?

Kalimullah calls it a day?

2008-10-10T13:02:00.005+08:00

Datuk Seri Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan, the most controversial figure to be put in-charge of The New Straits Times, has tendered his resignation as the newspaper company's Deputy Chairman.

He was previously Group Editor-in-Chief, a post he took over from Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad (Dollah Kok Lanas) who was fired when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became Prime Minister in 2003.

According to sources, Kalimullah tendered his resignation to the NSTP Board of Directors on Sept 3. His last day will be on Dec 31.

From a reporter in the 80s and early 90s, Kalimullah became a self-made multi-millionaire, securing most of his projects from the Abdullah-led Government.

It doesn't pay to have advisers like Kalimullah

2008-10-10T10:46:00.006+08:00

For Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who in March will become the shortest serving Prime Minister in Malaysia's history, five years and four months is good enough. The fact that he has to step down because he has lost support, is a different matter. Whatever it is, his name is going down the annals of history as Malaysia's fifth Prime Minister. And that is quite an achievement.

Unlike his predecessor, Abdullah was dependent on his advisers. And these advisers, all with their own agenda to make money or advance their own political interests, were the actual cause of his downfall.

One of Abdullah's closest adviser is Datuk Seri Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan, the Deputy Chairman of The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. I first came to know Kalimullah when I joined the PETS Training in NST in 1987. I was then just 20 years old. Having quit from The Star, he had just joined NST as a senior reporter, but wasn't much of a journalist. Lagged far behind the likes of Sabri Sharif, Fabian Dawson, R Nadeswaran, etc. He never made it to an editor in any of the Malaysian newspapers.

I now believe that Kalimullah had no interest in journalism at all. Journalism was just a stepping stone to bigger things. His interest is only in making money, huge profits, like he is making now.

Abdullah's advisers, including Kalimullah, only told him what he wanted to hear. They hid the truth. They deliberately did not tell him about his dwindling support. They wanted him to remain in power so they can "make hay while the sun shines". They had no qualms about Abdullah being ridiculed and laughed at. They just wanted him to stay in power for as long as he could. They knew that it wouldn't be long. So in the last five years, they did what they could to amass wealth and push their political careers to dizzying heights.

It will be impossible for me to list all the projects that Abdullah's relatives and friends, including Kalimullah had secured over the last five years. My aging computer. I think, does not have enough capacity to carry such a long list.

And yet, Kalimullah, in his column in the NST today (10 October 2008), had the audacity to tell Prime Minister-in-waiting Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak not to give projects to his cronies.

I know Najib. And I know he is not as gullible as his "soon-to-be" predecessor. Najib deserves a chance to undo all the wrongs that Abdullah and his cronies did. Najib needs time to rehabilitate Barisan Nasional in time for the 13th general election in or before 2013. The people should refrain from making wild accusations against him because someone somewhere started it for his own interest.

I can't speak on behalf of Najib. If I could, I would have this to say to Kalimullah: TAKE YOUR ADVICE AND SHOVE IT!

The Umno Deputy Presidency: Are these candidates for real?

2008-10-06T20:56:00.010+08:00

I know Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, the young MP for Pulai and son of former Information Minister Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat.

We used to discuss local politics over a meal when I was still the News Editor of the New Straits Times. He wasn't a Parliamentarian then. When I left the newspaper, I stopped getting the ocassional calls that I used to get from him. I did try to call him on several ocassions, but I never got through.

I have not spoken to him for about 4 years now. But I have been keeping tabs on his political career. The last I heard was that he was finding it difficult to even get sound support from his own division - Pulai.

So when I heard that he had offered himself for the post of Deputy President, I almost fell off my chair.

To me, Jazlan has not attained political puberty for him to even vie for the position of a normal Umno Supreme Council seat, let alone the post of Deputy President.

The post of Deputy President is an important one. The Umno Deputy President also by tradition holds the second most powerful position in the country, the Deputy Prime Ministership.

It requires someone with vast experience in politics and administration, highly educated and knowledgeable, should be credible, should have the ability to be a good salesman, should be able to deal with both the local and foreign Press, should be good enough to succeed the Prime Minister and has the potential of becoming a Statesman, should have a good command of both English and Bahasa Malaysia and most of all, should not be an international embarrassment.

Jazlan may just be trying to prop up his name for bigger positions by throwing in the idea of him contesting the No 2 post, but by doing that, consciously or unconsciously, he is making a mockery of this important position.

I am not saying that Jazlan is not a Deputy President material. But it will certainly take him a good decade or so before he qualifies.

If I were him, I will focus on strengthening my position at the divisional and State levels before I aim any higher.

While in the subject of the Deputy Presidency, I am also quite disturbed by the fact that Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Ali Rustam have offered themselves for the post of Deputy President.

Both Zahid, with whom I had worked with when I was a journalist, and Ali do not have the sufficient background to become Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister. What outstanding contributions have they made to the country to deserve this important position? Are they better than all the other Umno Supreme Council members? Also worrying is the fact that they can hardly speak English.

Simply picture them speaking with President Barrack Obama with the aid of an interpreter. That will be the first for our country. God save us.

Kickbacks for the Kicker?

2008-10-02T20:11:00.005+08:00

I have been receiving many emails over the last week or so on the same subject matter. The authors of these email claim that there are bloggers under the payroll of one of the leaders of an Opposition party who is eager to become Prime Minister.

The E-mails claimed that these bloggers have been paid a large sum of money, and even a retainer, to discredit Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak. The aim is to prevent Najib from becoming Prime Minister. The person who is paying these bloggers does not want Najib to become Prime Minister simply because he is capable of repairing the damage done by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and returning Umno and Barisan Nasional to their original strength. If that happens, the Opposition will be buried.

In the absence of pure facts and substance, these bloggers resort to lies. They can even come up with absurd theories like those linking Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shahibuu. I was told that Raja Petra Kamaruddin was one of those who was being paid. In RPK's case, it was quite obvious. But now that he is serving a two-year term under the Internal Security Act (ISA), the money is going to another blogger.

I didn't believe it at first. But when I read his latest posting under the heading "We Know What Najib and Spouse Did Last Raya", it has become quite obvious.

When should Abdullah quit?

2008-10-02T18:28:00.002+08:00

I am running a poll on when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should quit. I hope many people will contribute to this poll so we can gauge the public perception on the issue and the confidence they have on Abdullah to continue as Prime Minister.

Thank you.