Tuesday 21 October 2008

Huru-hara ekonomi

Government finally start to admit of our economy crisis. For month our 'elite' government officials (public servants) has given out statement of our inpenetrable economi stability, despite of world financial market turmoil that we be left untouchable.

Only a few month ago, when the oil price at its peak, again our elite club was saying that we are in oil price crisis and had no choice but to increase the petrol price. Cost of living shot up and to date there are no sign of its getting lower. Today, the oil halves its value and now it became the loss revenue crisis. Oil palm and rubber price also slumped. Soon we will see the poverty rate will be on the rise.

Yesterday, RM5 billions, yes, billions was allocated to bail out the undervalue shares. Today, like nobody business, the number had doubled. Today, more than 100 millions ringgit paid out to felda settler announced. It is a good thing, don't get me wrong. Is it a genuine pay out or is it merely to calm the rural supporters whom are the backbone of their majority votes. It is huge sum by total, how much exactly would it translated to per household pay out?

Bailout suppose to only meant for necessity which eventually lead to the most important aspect, unemployment prevention, ultimatum of depression. Knowing Malaysia, would it be for real this time or will it only to keep the rich rich!? We could only hope.

Everyday our trustful media (not like there are freedom of media filteration) announcing all kind of our elite member voting for Najib for the top position. If only he is half as good as his father. But, these are the group of people where public trust lies upon. Were we stupid to let these group of people to represent our voice or had they turned stupid. I could only hope that the media is showing what they want to show and not the truth.

Vote count for our top position will reflect the wisdom of our chosen leaders. If Najib get landslide victory, then I will say that we are heading for the worse.

Thursday 16 October 2008

Nothing changed!!

It has been a while since my last posting. Political and diversion issues are really irritating and the stupidity and ignorance is just too humiliating to witness. The world is riding a hard financial wave.

All around the world, worries and measures had been taken. Bless Malaysia for its mighty leader, arose and say there is nothing to worry about. Today, proudly written in newspaper that USA & Europe is using ‘Malaysian style’ of bailing out failing companies. USA and Europe missing the most successful ingredient, which to make sure whoever that screwed up still get the wealth. That would be Malaysian style.

Then come the power transition issues. AAB want to step down and apparently everybody is voting on Najib to be the next in throne. Where are we going with this? Why do I want to vote for those MP whom willingly clap their hand for Najib? Do we need such weak character to lead our days to glory? Do we want Rosmah to be our first lady?

AAB insist that he have agenda to complete. Which are the corridors development I presume. Or is it merely want to get cash out of the reserve and pay for his ‘contractors’ as much as he could before the project get shut? And what do we do about it?? Nothing!!

Wednesday 27 August 2008

What now? Kedai kopi?

As expected DSAI won the election and very soon would gain a clearance to parliament. Public had spoken, more voters jump ship signalling more dissatisfaction and perhaps distress to current government leadership.

BN is now in pressure to play their next cards. Let us look onto the possibilities:
1. Sodomy conviction
This might be the last card than Pak Lah would like to play. If the ‘evidence’ is strong, they should already been a private meeting with DSAI to limit his advancement to Prime Minister role. Looking at the current scenario, it is unlikely the evidence even exist. To convict DSAI on this charges itself will bring more chaos and instability from public anger and frustration. Then BN will be in total lost of control and defy all the harmony that they claimed they built.

2. Reduce fuel price
We know Malaysia have a lot of financial resources. Reducing price to RM2.00 as intended by DSAI can even be sealed at kedai kopi.

3. PAS
Malaysia already have shariah law in place. It is only a matter of mandate to PAS to manage and possibly PAS would be hooked to the proposal. BN would wait until the cross-over speculation really surfacing the truth.
4. More funding to Sabah
Typical strategy from BN. Again, Malaysia have a lot of resources to make this easily happen.


The political uncertainty in Malaysia is very entertaining indeed. No wonder we can’t wait to do our sembang kedai kopi for the possibility of speculation is endless.

What can we talk about in kedai kopi?
1. Leader tak sedar diri
Not even Pak Lah, Najib, Khairi, Saberi and Khir Toyo, even Samy Vellu does not accept that they are bringing down the party

2. Conspiracy


a. Pak Lah and DSAI are at the same team.
i. Pak Lah released DSAI
ii. Their home origin is not far apart
iii. Pak Lah purposely weakening BN
iv. Handover in 2010, can be done sooner to gain voters confidence, but no.
v. Let Najib surrounded with scandals.


b. DSAI and Najib are at the same team
i. Top position is not important to Najib. Having authority on defence deal is more important.
ii. Najib brought in the sensitive sodomy conspiracy, which clearly known that rakyat would not accept. This even give DSAI campaigning momentom to be continuosly victimized by dirty politics.

c. Saiful work for DSAI
i. Face it, a lot of so called muslim out there is a non-believer. If DSAI do the sumpah laknat as well, then one of them will be a non-believer. Until then, we wouldn’t know.
ii. The accusation is too lame that it works more on DSAI side rather than BN
iii. We see Najib at PP as well didn’t we?


d. Rise of Tun M
i. God of master planner.
ii. Pak Lah = weak + OFF scandal, Najib & DSAI both have scandals.
iii. He spoke of only the ‘truth’ through his blog.

3. How trustworthy is DSAI?
1. What exactly happened before that he pissed Tun M off so much?
2. Intervention by USA?
3. Is he going to lead us to another BLR spike? We are onto recession.
4. What will be left for Malay?


That is Malaysia truly Malaysia. Everybody have secret box of somebody else. Yet everybody claiming they are the ‘clean’ guy.

Friday 22 August 2008

KESAS

It came to my attention that our force expenditure issue is far from a positive solution. I posted fact and figures about Plus and how there should be no reason for any excuses to not to reduce the toll. Today’s paper showing LDP, Kesas and NPE profitability and none of it been passed on to public.

Let us first look on the KESAS, which claimed to earn RM5.61 billions profit.

Shareholders:
PKNS (30%)
GAMUDA (30%)
AMDB (Arab Malaysian) (20%)
PNB (Permodalan Nasional Berhad) (20%)

Combined state (PKNS) and central (PNB) say to the company decision, 50% right already given to government combined. This has not been thoroughly deep for GLC equity in AMDB and GAMUDA. Combine both direct and indirect equity holding, I am sure government have the veto decision of the KESAS well being.

What possibly could justify the RM 2.20 per tollbooth charges?
R&R – I am sure KESAS is charging the stall/ shop keepers with rent
Toilet – how much does it need to facilitate and maintain toilet per R&R
Emergency line – it wouldn’t cost that much.
No traffic jam – is it?

The toll charges will keep escalating with the concession deal. The end of it is farsighted, and the 28 years 9 month concession would end on late 2021. Knowing our present government trend, like we observe on PUSPAKOM 15 years extension deal, government would hardly want to loose any revenue that each time mysteriously missing Malaysian public pocket.

There is no reason for optimistic thinking. The concession deal needs to be looked at immediately. Charges need to be reasonable and tax money should not be paid to the concessionaire on profit loss recovery.

Tuesday 19 August 2008

Fuel Price.

Malaysia is burdened by the subsidy when oil price increased but loss in revenue when the price decreases. There are no room for the public to enjoy the benefit of our own oil resources.

So we all know that we are net exporter of crude oil. We have refinery facility and we have distribution and marketing arm. All this chaotic equation caused by three factors:
Malaysia earned from trade, all our light sweet crude oil sold elsewhere and cheaper crude oil brought in for domestic market.
Petronas does not have the full right of our oil reserve. Shell has the most?
Controlled petrol/ diesel/ gas price. Subsidy not only to Petronas but other player as well.

How about if we use local oil resource for our oil refinery and Petronas to market it for domestic usage. Since it is all ours to begin with, the actual cost incurred is oil extraction, refinery process, additive and distribution. Since god does not charge us per barrel oil extracted from our soil/ seabed, then we can’t be tied up with the global price. Excess domestic requirement can be exported.

With that, then government do not have to give subsidy anymore. Petrol price will be governed by Petronas lead price. Shell will have the equal power, and Petronas – Shell competition will ensure price is reasonable.

When there is no subsidy, and then there will be no smuggling issues. Singaporean can fill their tank all their want and we will make money for the profit. Industry will bloom again because of lower cost. Even local businesses will get benefit from tourist.

As Petronas said, local petrol distribution only gives them a few percent to their revenues. Sure the opportunity loss from trading better oil for lower grade would be negligible. The important thing is, Petronas will still make money and government will not be at loss.
How about it? Kira cincai la.

Monday 18 August 2008

Sumpah

Secara zahirnya, pemilihan masa untuk membuat akuan lafaz sumpah ini di lakukan menjadi tanda-tanya dan sekali lagi rakyat menjeling ke arah puduk pimpinan UMNO. Spekulasi boleh di nafikan, tetapi dengan keadaan yang amat kritikal bagi kedua-dua pihak yang bertelagah di Permatang Pauh, susah untuk kita menerima dengan seadanya keadaan ini.

Kredibiliti penganut agama rasmi Malaysia di persoalkan. Sekiranya DSAI turut melafazkan sumpah menidakkan usul yang di tuduh kepadanya, terang-terang salah seorang dari mereka menipu. Salah seorang akan menempa tempat sebagai yang di laknat tuhan. Implikasinya besar. Keadaan sekarang ini seolah-olah DSAI tidak bersedia untuk bersumpah dan menidakkan sumpah yang di tuduh kepadanya. Saya rasa, DSAI banyak kerja lain yang lebih penting, cetek bagi kita untuk membuat kesimpulan sendiri.

Tapi, tak ada cara lain ka? Sodom menyodom pun nak membabitkan kitab suci dan nama tuhan? Bukan ke ada teknik poligrafi yang boleh digunakan. Ini mufti-mufti pun bertentang pendapat, kata isu islam itu sensitif?

Laporan kesihatan sudah ada. DNA repot ada. Kalau DSAI mahu di adapkan ke mahkamah, jangan lah tunggu sampai hari pilihanraya kecil. Sekiranya kes tidak wujud dan laporan kesihatan seperti tersiar di MalaysiaToday itu benar, tangkaplah yang memfitnah. Sekiranya laporan saintifik merujuk kepada DSAI sebagai tertuduh, jangan lah buang masa rakyat dan terus meletakkan senario politik Malaysia huru-hara dan menjatuhkan ekonomi kita yang sememangnya goyang kerana teras yang lemah.

Thursday 14 August 2008

More on UiTM

Making an education institution with sole ethnic enrolment does not fit to any kind of reasoning and explanation. Not only the recognition of the institution itself is severely self-degraded, but also the value of the exposure that builds positive character of the student is totally prohibited.

Almost any proposal or remark with regard to Malay/ Bumi ‘right’ is condemn as racist slurs. It does not take a highly intellectual group to rationalize the necessity, enough with just two minutes thinking rather than emotionally driven acts.

Are we so inferior that we are scared of a little competition? Are we insecure for our allocation been taken away?

Let me share my experience for Malay to think about.

My early education school did not even have proper infrastructures. It was a new Felda area, so you could imagine that we were lack of everything. I was the top graduate back then. I was blessed with my parents work as a Felda executive, not settlers. Back then; Felda settlers were having a very rough ride. Not having a proper lighting to read books at night was not a myth but it was an absolute truth. With little competition and benefit from proper lighting, I soared to the top.

Based on my good primary school performance, I got a placement to Felda boarding boarding school program. The idea was to facilitate better environment and promote competitive edge to the students. From top graduate, my rank at this new town school skidded downhill. Ironically, this time I put more effort but the top seems far away. Somehow, the environment pushes me to do better, and I did. Not at the absolute top, but on the right side of the bell curve.

When I began my study in United States, again I was filled with inferiority. But, environment really changes your result. After first year, Malay student rose far above than local American. In fact, it was not a best option for them to be in the same class with a lot of Malay because we would raise the A par.

You see, we Malay are not inferior. We just never made aware of our potential, some of us did.

For the sincerity of our government to help Malay community, I give my full appreciation. Think again, is having UITM for Malay only is really helping? Even with Chinese, Indian and foreign students in the same institution, UMNO could always help Malay student on financial aid, self-confidence development, character building, extra English classes, extra Chinese and Indian dialect classes, and lots of other ways.

10%!. No harm. It is not even a political act to show respect to other ethnic education opportunity, but it is the least that you could do.

Systematic approach need to be in place to accommodate govenrment ‘sincerity’ on helping Malays. All this steps actually driven by the only factor of reducing economic diparities within ethnic especially for Malay as the majority population. The purpose of the act is to prevent any ethnic clash.
Now, to give full pledge of helping hand for a Malay to graduate with Degree in Diploma itself is not near sufficient.
Graduates with low score.
Graduates without job opportunity
Graduates with adequate score but with little recognition of the education instituition does not worth much either
Graduates with jobs but with double standard under-paid salary, not even enough to sustain living requirement and study loan repayment.
Graduates with low self confident?
Graduates with little or no communication skills?

The basis of this ‘aid’ still revert back to reducing ethnic economy diparities. What is the use of the degree when they can’t get a suffient job and make a good living from it? How do we expect Chinese and Indian employer to sincerely employ a Malay knowing Chinese/ Indian graduates had went on much tougher route and still successfully graduated.? Not even all Malay employer willingly employ a Malay. Most of the employment is coupled by lower salary pay.
Think!