Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri
Mohon Maaf Zahir dan Batin
&
Pada
Tanggal 31 Ogos 2011
Monday, 29 August 2011
Anybody who calls Communist Terrorists as heroes insults the memory of the civilians and armed forces members murdered by them
On 21st August 2011, Mat Sabu who used to call Anwar Ibrahim Al-Jubr gave a PAS ceramah at Tasek Gelugor Pulau Pinang where he hailed as the real heroes the 200 Communist Terrorists lead by Mat Indera(a sumatran) and Goh Peng Tun who attacked the Small Police Station at Bukit Kepung manned by about 25 Malay Police Constables.
In the attack the Police Station were overwhelmed and burnt to the ground and most of the Constables including their families, wives and children were massacred by Mat Sabu's heroes.
Mat Sabu also had the temerity to say that Dato'Onn Jaafar who led the successful anti Malayan Union movement and Tunku Abdul Rahman our Bapa merdeka are not qualified to be called independence fighters as they worked for the Brits colonialists. Can PAS leaders ask this guy to shut up as his ignorance is reflecting badly on PAS in many ways than one.
These are the overwhelming reaction of Malaysians towards Mat Sabu kurang ajar speech:
 |
| A visibly upset Malaysian War Hero, Kanang Anak Langkau the only double recipient of Pingat Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) and Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) after reading Mat Sabu's history challenged statement I would not be surprised if former members of our security forces whose colleagues lost lives and limbs fighting the Communist Terrorists way after Merdeka until 1989 are really upset with Mat Sabu who I think is a bit mentally challenged for his post as PAS's Timbalan Presiden. He will be a liability for PAS if he keeps up with making divisive and potentially seditious statements in public. PAS will be punished in the next election, I mean really punished big time. Many see red over Mat Sabu's statementPolitics of making heroes villainsI like this post written from some one who really knows and has been in action against the Communists Terrorists, an ex-PASKAU officer, Bro Seademon: The image of a burnt corpse of a fallen hero in the Bukit Kepong massacre by the Communist terrorists is haunting and will shadow any shallow ignoramus like Mat Sabu who thinks that these Communist terrorists are "heroes" fighting for Malaysia's independence. In fact Historian Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim said that Malaysians who claimed to be Communists supporters usually were not aware of what they were fighting for in the country and how communism came here. He asked if Mat Sabu were aware that the Communists in Malaya were part of a world movement and never had any intention to make Malaya an independent state but part of a communist order with no boundaries between nations. TS Khoo also said that prior to the Communist Party of Malaya, the first Communist organisation here were called The Provisional Commission of the Communist Party of China which spoke volumes of its link to China's politics. Subsequently the communist Party of Malaya was formed at the directive of Communist International which has its roots in Russia. The rest is history, not UMNO's inspired history but history as it is written by historians. I think Mat Sabu or Ronnie Liu does not know nor do they bother to read Malaysia's history. It is more important now that Sejarah be made a compulsory pass for students, otherwise they would be led down the garden path by ignoramus politicians the likes of PAS's Mat Sabu. Some people say people like Mat Sabu should be ignored, I say no, people like Mat Sabu should be investigated for sedition. There are already dozens of Police Reports against Mat Mabu, I hope the PDRM will investigate this matter thoroughly and bring Mat Sabu to court if there are enough evidence to charge him. Let Mat Sabu be a lesson for any Communist Terrorist sympathisers or lovers who dare to divide and incite Malaysians to hate each other. Mat Sabu and his ilk insults the memory of many civilians and armed forces members murdered by these Communist Terrorists. I would also like to know what is Pakatan Leaders stand on Mat Sabu's statement that the Communist Terrorist mass murderers who murdered our civilians and our armed forces members are heroes of independence, as Merdeka day approaches I want a clear answer from Hj Hadi, Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim. If no clear response is forthcoming then I can only conclude they are Communist Terrorists sympathisers as well, they do not deserve to govern this blessed nation. |
Friday, 26 August 2011
Lynas issue: Time for PKR Fuziah to issue a public apology in light of latest revelation by 2 of the country's nuclear scientists
The Anti-Lynas Protest led by PKR MP for Kuantan YB Fuziah Salleh hit a solid wall yesterday after two of the country's nuclear scientist Prof. Dr. Ahmad Termizi Ramli and PAS MP for Hulu Langat YB Dr.Che Rosli Che Mat spoke against the unnecessary rumor mongering by the Anti-Lynas movement led by PKR supported by DAP, PAS the Bar Council dan yang lain-lain yang sekutu dengan mereka.
Yes folks the Lynas Plant is NOT a nuclear plant and the radiation levels is safe not as bad as portrayed by the Anti Lynas movement. See the report here:
The truth is out, the anti Lynas movement is just a political ploy manipulated to the hilt by the PKR and DAP to garner support for themselves for the upcoming General elections that is all.
In light of the latest revelation, I think the only thing left to do for YB Fuziah and PKR is to issue a public apology for misleading the public especially Kuantan folks on the Lynas issue.
Blogger Dato' Ahirudin certainly thinks that YB Fuziah is not alone read his very chili pedas post here:
Lynas lies: Fuziah wasn't alone
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Did Anwar Ibrahim Say too much, asked the Asia Sentinel
Have you had the chance to read Anwar Ibrahim's un-sworn statement from the dock, please read the speech here. My first impression was that after the first few sentence denying the crime he just basically went into attack mode on almost everybody The Judge, Prosecution, Najib and many more, hardly a good defence in my humble unlearned opinion.
Anyway this is an interesting theory from the Asia Sentinel:
Did Malaysia's Anwar Say too Much?
Written by John Berthelsen
He says accuser acknowledged readying himself for sex
Deep into Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s hour-long attack Monday on the Malaysian court that is trying him for sodomy, a sentence appeared that seems extremely awkward for both prosecution and defense.
Anwar was brought up on the charges by his accuser, former aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhairy Azlan, in July of 2008, five months after the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition that he heads scored a historic victory in national elections, for the first time breaking the Barisan Nasional’s historic 50-year two-thirds majority in Parliament. It is the second time he has been in the dock on sodomy charges. The first was in 1998, when he was convicted in a trial that has been widely condemned as engineered to end his threat as an opposition leader. He served six years before he was pardoned on the sexual perversion charges.
Anwar said in his prepared statement that after Saiful went to Anwar’s condo in an exclusive area of Kuala Lumpur, he admitted that “he had brought along lubricant and had himself voluntarily and without hesitation applied it” to get ready to go ahead with the sexual act.
That sentence would tend to invalidate any assumption that the then-60-year-old Anwar suddenly forced himself on the 24-year-old aide. If, as Anwar says, Saiful brought the lubricant with him, it would certainly indicate that Saiful knew what he was getting into when he went to Anwar’s condo that night.
This in turn is hardly helpful for Anwar, who is on trial for his political life in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur over the allegations, because Saiful’s statement has the ring of truth to it. If you are going to make up a story about being forced into a sex act, you would hardly acknowledge that you voluntarily lubricated your own anus.
I think that speech in court could screw up Anwar big time. Let us see shall we, the Prosecution will certainly try to find a way to cross examine Anwar on parts of his statement at least.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Forging Unity Through Religion by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
Once in a while there there comes along superbly written articles about a multi-religious Malaysia with due regards to Islam as the official religion of this blessed country, one such article written by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar was published today (Thank you MI for highlighting the post):
Forging unity through religion — Chandra Muzaffar
August 23, 2011
Forging unity through religion — Chandra Muzaffar
August 23, 2011
AUG 23 — Is religion in multi-religious Malaysia a force for unity — or disunity? This is an important question to ask at this juncture since religion has assumed tremendous significance in the public arena in recent times.
In the first decade and a half of our Independence, religion was not perceived as a hindrance to national unity. The Malaysian Constitution recognised Islam as the religion of the Federation. It was an affirmation of the identity of the new nation which had evolved from Muslim Sultanates. If this identity was not acknowledged, the Malay-Muslim populace would have felt that the Malaysian state had not taken cognisance of their identity as a people.
The Islamic identity of the land expressed itself through both ceremony and substance in the early years of Merdeka. The recital of the doa at official functions was an example of the former; state funding for the building of mosques and Islamic religious instruction in national schools were examples of the latter. Ceremony and substance continue to feature in the expression of Malaysia’s Islamic identity.
The non-Muslim communities were not unhappy about the status and practise of Islam. By and large the nation’s Islamic identity did not impinge upon their rights. In fact, the Constitution, then and now, protects their right to profess and practise their religion, to manage their own religious affairs, “to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes; and “to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with law.”
It is a truism that Buddhist Viharas, Hindu temples, and Christian Churches are integral to the landscape of a nation where more than 60 per cent of the population is Muslim. The religious festivals of communities which constitute less than even 10 per cent of the total are celebrated as public holidays, and have become etched in the people’s collective psyche.
However, the relatively tension free coexistence among the majority and minority religious communities of the first 15 years, began to witness some strains from the eighties onwards. Rapid Malay urbanisation since the seventies has created a situation in which Muslims today share physical and cultural space with people of other faiths as never before.
The consequent interaction has resulted in an increase in inter-religious marriages and divorces, and the attendant problems of conversion especially of minors, custody of children, the abandonment of one’s religion, the religious status of the deceased, and so on.
Often, in situations like this where interaction gives rise to friction, segments within a religious community become more conscious of religious boundaries. Any breach of what is sometimes an artificially constructed boundary arouses passions and heightens tensions. The controversy over the use of the term “Allah” by non-Muslims is a case in point.
To overcome this and other controversies, there has to be a fundamental change in the mindset of the influential stratum of Muslim society. There will be no solution to controversies such as child conversion as long as one accords primacy to religious injunctions that have developed over time rather than the perennial values and principles of the Qur’an.
Our religious establishment, religious teachers at all levels and the media will have to be imbued with a more enlightened and dynamic outlook on the meaning and practice of faith in a multi-religious society grappling with contemporary challenges.
In this regard, it is important to emphasise that while this conservative, sometimes atavistic, mindset that confronts us transcends party affiliations, the dogma associated with it is more closely aligned to PAS than Umno. This is why it is PAS that sought to introduce hudud—the emblem of this dogma—- in Kelantan and Trengganu , something which no Umno-led state or federal government has done in the last 54 years.
If a certain mindset within a segment of the Muslim population is a barrier to national unity, so is a certain movement within the growing Christian community. Evangelical Christians determined to spread Christianity are becoming more zealous. Non-Muslim communities are their main targets in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.
But there is increasing evidence to suggest that Malays are also being approached — in spite of the constitutional provision that restricts “the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.”
The evangelical push in Malaysia and other parts of the world has a lot to do with the rise of what is broadly described as the Christian Right in the United States. For the Christian Right exporting their brand of the religion serves to strengthen the global hegemonic power of the US.
As Iain Buchannan shows in his superb academic study of this movement entitled The Armies of God, converting Muslims to Christianity is one of the evangelist’s cherished goals. Since Muslims worldwide have always resisted conversion, the tactics employed are more subtle and sophisticated.
Many Christian groups in Malaysia and other countries are opposed to this sort of evangelism. They know that it is not only a betrayal of the essence of Jesus’ message of love, compassion and justice but also inimical to harmonious relations among different religious communities. They emphasise universal values shared by Christianity, Islam and other religions.
It is these shared values that should be the fount of unity in a multi-religious society. They underscore our common humanity. If religions through the deeds of their adherents bring forth our common humanity, they will help forge unity in this land that we call our home.
* Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Yayasan 1Malaysia and Professor of Global Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
In the first decade and a half of our Independence, religion was not perceived as a hindrance to national unity. The Malaysian Constitution recognised Islam as the religion of the Federation. It was an affirmation of the identity of the new nation which had evolved from Muslim Sultanates. If this identity was not acknowledged, the Malay-Muslim populace would have felt that the Malaysian state had not taken cognisance of their identity as a people.
The Islamic identity of the land expressed itself through both ceremony and substance in the early years of Merdeka. The recital of the doa at official functions was an example of the former; state funding for the building of mosques and Islamic religious instruction in national schools were examples of the latter. Ceremony and substance continue to feature in the expression of Malaysia’s Islamic identity.
The non-Muslim communities were not unhappy about the status and practise of Islam. By and large the nation’s Islamic identity did not impinge upon their rights. In fact, the Constitution, then and now, protects their right to profess and practise their religion, to manage their own religious affairs, “to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes; and “to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with law.”
It is a truism that Buddhist Viharas, Hindu temples, and Christian Churches are integral to the landscape of a nation where more than 60 per cent of the population is Muslim. The religious festivals of communities which constitute less than even 10 per cent of the total are celebrated as public holidays, and have become etched in the people’s collective psyche.
However, the relatively tension free coexistence among the majority and minority religious communities of the first 15 years, began to witness some strains from the eighties onwards. Rapid Malay urbanisation since the seventies has created a situation in which Muslims today share physical and cultural space with people of other faiths as never before.
The consequent interaction has resulted in an increase in inter-religious marriages and divorces, and the attendant problems of conversion especially of minors, custody of children, the abandonment of one’s religion, the religious status of the deceased, and so on.
Often, in situations like this where interaction gives rise to friction, segments within a religious community become more conscious of religious boundaries. Any breach of what is sometimes an artificially constructed boundary arouses passions and heightens tensions. The controversy over the use of the term “Allah” by non-Muslims is a case in point.
To overcome this and other controversies, there has to be a fundamental change in the mindset of the influential stratum of Muslim society. There will be no solution to controversies such as child conversion as long as one accords primacy to religious injunctions that have developed over time rather than the perennial values and principles of the Qur’an.
Our religious establishment, religious teachers at all levels and the media will have to be imbued with a more enlightened and dynamic outlook on the meaning and practice of faith in a multi-religious society grappling with contemporary challenges.
In this regard, it is important to emphasise that while this conservative, sometimes atavistic, mindset that confronts us transcends party affiliations, the dogma associated with it is more closely aligned to PAS than Umno. This is why it is PAS that sought to introduce hudud—the emblem of this dogma—- in Kelantan and Trengganu , something which no Umno-led state or federal government has done in the last 54 years.
If a certain mindset within a segment of the Muslim population is a barrier to national unity, so is a certain movement within the growing Christian community. Evangelical Christians determined to spread Christianity are becoming more zealous. Non-Muslim communities are their main targets in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.
But there is increasing evidence to suggest that Malays are also being approached — in spite of the constitutional provision that restricts “the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.”
The evangelical push in Malaysia and other parts of the world has a lot to do with the rise of what is broadly described as the Christian Right in the United States. For the Christian Right exporting their brand of the religion serves to strengthen the global hegemonic power of the US.
As Iain Buchannan shows in his superb academic study of this movement entitled The Armies of God, converting Muslims to Christianity is one of the evangelist’s cherished goals. Since Muslims worldwide have always resisted conversion, the tactics employed are more subtle and sophisticated.
Many Christian groups in Malaysia and other countries are opposed to this sort of evangelism. They know that it is not only a betrayal of the essence of Jesus’ message of love, compassion and justice but also inimical to harmonious relations among different religious communities. They emphasise universal values shared by Christianity, Islam and other religions.
It is these shared values that should be the fount of unity in a multi-religious society. They underscore our common humanity. If religions through the deeds of their adherents bring forth our common humanity, they will help forge unity in this land that we call our home.
* Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Yayasan 1Malaysia and Professor of Global Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Acid splashing crimes: The minimum punishment ought to be a mandatory life sentence
1. Besides murder and drug trafficking, one of the most heinous crime that could be done to another human being is splashing of liquid acid on another fellow human being with the evil aim to maim and disfigure the victim.
3. There are many documented cases of acid attacks all over the globe, just google "acid attacks" and you will find many results.
4. I am very alarmed on the number of acid throwing crimes which has not been solved and the perpetrators still at large read here - Serial Acid Splasher in Malaysia/specifically KL. I fear for the safety of our sons and daughters due to the random nature of the attack.
5. Just recently a victim, a young man was splashed with acid leaving his face disfigured and probably an eye damaged beyond medical help and it turned out that the attacker is a friend of his read here.
6. Criminal attacks using corrosive acids is not new and Malaysia have plenty of Laws to deal with these heinous crime according to the the severity of the injury read here. quote"There are sufficient provisions of law under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 and also the Penal Code (revised 1997), Section 323, 324 or 326, for the prosecution of such offenders,"end quote.
7. We can't fault the tireless men in Blue for trying very hard to nab the criminals, read here, all they need is a small break or an anonymous info which will help nab the acid splashing beasts.
8. As a deterrent, I would like to suggest to the Authorities, our Peguam Negara Tan Sri Gani Patail that the punishment for acid splashing of any kind which cause any severity of injury to the face and body be a mandatory life sentence. If he splashes 1 person it will be 1 life sentence, if he splashes 10 persons with acid then he be given 10 consecutive life sentences. If he is determined to be mentally unstable then he should be lock-up up in an asylum and the key be thrown away. Society must be protected from such criminals.
9. As a control I also suggest that all sale and distribution of corrosive acids be recorded and only persons with special Government registration can be allowed to sell and buy acids. The sale of acids should be the same as that of existing rule to cover the sale and usage of high explosives. Acids are after all a most dangerous substance that could maim victims physically and mentally for the rest of their lives.
Anwar's surprise unsworn statement in court is merely a tirade, will the Judge be impressed?
To recap the long sodomy trial, Anwar Ibrahim is being charged under Section 377B of the Malaysian Penal Code:
Carnal intercourse against the order of nature
377A. Any person who has sexual connection with another person
by the introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth of the other
person is said to commit carnal intercourse against the order of nature.
Explanation—Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual connection necessary to the offence described in this section.
Punishment for committing carnal intercourse against the orderof nature
377B. Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against
the order of nature shall be punished with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping."
Finally Anwar Ibrahim's D-Day where he had to make his defence on the charge of sodomy with his former assistant came this morning. He had however chosen to make his defence in an unsworn statement reading a 32 page prepared text consisting basically of tirades against the Judge, the Judiciary, TheProsecutor, PM Najib, the Government, The BN, UMNO, Dr. Mahathir and family well just about everything and I fear if he can blame the weather he would have probably done so.
Why he chose to give a unsworn statement that will not be given weight by the Court and not subjected to a cross examination is not hard to see if you have time to read the prepared text of his "speech" read here. Notice Anwar does not offer any alibi to where he is at the time of the alleged sodomy. Anyway the trial is ongoing and let us see what more "surprise tactics" Anwar's defense team have in store for the Judge and Prosecution. The main thing now is that the Judge is not allowing any more delays to the trial.
The defence also said that they have sent subpoenas to PM Najib, Rosmah, former IGP Musa Hassan don't know what good it will do unless they can confirm Anwar was with them when the alleged sodomy occurred though.
Here is a splendid post by a Lawyer/Blogger WS Choo which could explain why Anwar chose to deliver an unsworn statement from the dock:
The Right of An Accused: Anwar Ibrahim
Does Wrath of God ring a bell?
Friday, 19 August 2011
Meritocracy Alone will breed mediocrity says PM
Prime Minister Najib Razak delivered a rousing speech today at Universiti Teknologi Mara.
Though undoubtedly the tone and nature of the speech is for the Malay/Bumi audience I am sure that the BN Gomen aim has always been to help the poor and disadvantaged, just so happens that as the majority in Malaysia, the poor and disadvantaged group are mostly made up of Malays and Bumis.
One thing I agree is that Malaysia with its multi racial and multi religious population cannot afford to practice full meritocracy just yet, as if it is done now, the gap between the rich and the poor will grow larger causing economic disparity and then social instability that could erupt in violence we do not want to happen in this blessed country.
However, after the infamous MAS-AA share swap deal making the well connected rich much richer, I am a bit skeptical, lets see whether this Najib Gomen walks its talk or just giving out mere rhetorics because the general election is coming nearer and nearer.
The speech delivered by our YAB Prime Minister today:
The speech delivered by our YAB Prime Minister today:
Najib says meritocracy alone will breed ‘mediocrity’
UPDATED @ 02:59:29 PM 19-08-2011
By Clara Chooi (TMI)
August 19, 2011
SHAH ALAM, Aug 19 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak sought today to justify his administration’s apparent return to affirmative action policies to boost the Bumiputera economy, saying a system based 100 per cent on meritocracy would only breed “a nation of mediocrity”.
"We must have a blend of meritocracy and social justice and social justice. If there is only meritocracy, there will be nothing. What will happen to our country? We will be a nation of mediocrity," the prime minister said today.
The prime minister told a convention here that the government’s “new system” was to use meritocracy among Bumiputeras by identifying and rewarding sincere and deserving Malay businesses while at the same time creating a more competitive environment to enhance the Malay economy.
He said focussing entirely on meritocracy would not be fair to individuals living in rural and suburban areas, claiming they would not be able to compete on a level playing field with those living in urban centres.
“Yes, some have said that the time has arrived that we no longer need affirmative action, some say we can scrap the quota system, we do not need this and that... and that we should practise full meritocracy.
“This is not coming from the non-Malays alone but the Malays themselves, the so-called liberal Malays,” Najib said in his keynote address at the opening of the “Strengthening the New Economic Model — 1 Jihad Bumiputera Economy” convention at Universiti Teknologi Mara here.
“I say that it is true that the non-Malays became rich because of hard work but it is no less important to note that they became rich also because of our country’s stability and a sound administration... because when they needed money, we gave it to them, even from before,” he said.
Najib said Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) should be credited for being “considerate” and “fair” to the non-Malays, resulting in an environment that enabled their businesses to thrive.
Najib said Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) should be partly credited for being “considerate” and “fair” to the non-Malays, resulting in an environment that enabled their businesses to thrive.
“But do not now fail to be considerate to the Malays as well... they (non-Malays) should also be fair because Malays are presently at a disadvantage.
Read in full here.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Dear BN Gomen, lets give our Children the best deal possible, reinstate the PPSMI
Sometimes I can't understand this BN Gomen, with every changing of a PM there will always be some fundamental ways how the new Prime Minister will run this blessed country, why can't a Gomen from the same ruling coalition stick to agreed beneficial long term policies as before?
Of course undeniably I am grateful that many changes are good but today I am in no mood talking about the good, preferring to talk about the bad specifically the cancellation of the PPSMI - Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris OR The Teaching and Learning of Mathematics and Science in the English Language which received widespread protest by many Parents in Malaysia the protest has turned into a movement called PAGE led by its tireless Chairman Noor Azimah.
I have posted a few articles on the PPSMI too here and here, to help where I can to raise awareness to this pressing PPSMI issue which I promise the Gomen will not go away and hidden buried under the carpet of replacement Acronyms like MBMMBI (Upholding the national language, strengthening the English language)
OK Lets read the news shall we, it started with a statement from the DPM and Minister of Education:
Still under study Tan Sri? I think the Cabinet are wasting valuable time for our children as the world passes us by, all this while Gomen talks about encouraging Malaysian to be able to compete and work globally even wanting to import Ex-malaysian Talents from overseas who are presumably fluent in English to work here to the detriment of the loyal local work force already in place in Malaysia.
I say the future of our children in education especially should not be sacrificed on the altars of political expediency to get political support for the incumbent Gomen from selfish groups with vested interests.
I totally support PAGE's Noor Azimah open letter to the BN Gomen:
Posted on 17 August 2011 - 11:20am
THE decline of English proficiency among Malaysians was long foreseen when English-medium schools were abolished in 1970.
It was made worse that students were influenced by young activists and ultra-nationalists who were adamant that speaking the English language meant being “colonised” and that one could survive with Bahasa Malaysia only.
Ten years ago, the then prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his cabinet, resolved that the best way possible within the confines of the Federal Constitution, was to introduce the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI).
It was a policy that was two-prong, superior, tried and tested, and visionary. It addressed the importance of acquiring the knowledge of science, technology and international finance which was desperately needed to achieve developed nation status in 2020 and, simultaneously, provided a context in which the English language could be applied and practised.
PPSMI is now being replaced by MBMMBI (Upholding the national language, strengthening the English language), a policy which now appears not well thought out, in that exposure of students to the English language in terms of subject hours is now halved as compared to what was implemented under PPSMI.
The very basic question for the deputy prime minister to answer is, “How will English proficiency improve if exposure to the language is halved?”
PPSMI has proven itself to have improved English. Since its implementation in 2003, the SPM results have revealed, every year, that rural students (92.3% passes) have continued to outperform urban students (91.0% passes), in science which is in English, at the last count.
With English, during the same span of time, rural students have tremendously improved in their English proficiency, from as low as 61.4% passes at the start, gradually trending upwards and now achieving up to 71.2% passes, a marked incline.
PPSMI is a ready solution which needs to be improved upon. Rebranding Malay-medium schools is not. Neither is yet another review.
Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Chairman
PAGE Malaysia
Ten years ago, the then prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his cabinet, resolved that the best way possible within the confines of the Federal Constitution, was to introduce the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI).
It was a policy that was two-prong, superior, tried and tested, and visionary. It addressed the importance of acquiring the knowledge of science, technology and international finance which was desperately needed to achieve developed nation status in 2020 and, simultaneously, provided a context in which the English language could be applied and practised.
PPSMI is now being replaced by MBMMBI (Upholding the national language, strengthening the English language), a policy which now appears not well thought out, in that exposure of students to the English language in terms of subject hours is now halved as compared to what was implemented under PPSMI.
The very basic question for the deputy prime minister to answer is, “How will English proficiency improve if exposure to the language is halved?”
PPSMI has proven itself to have improved English. Since its implementation in 2003, the SPM results have revealed, every year, that rural students (92.3% passes) have continued to outperform urban students (91.0% passes), in science which is in English, at the last count.
With English, during the same span of time, rural students have tremendously improved in their English proficiency, from as low as 61.4% passes at the start, gradually trending upwards and now achieving up to 71.2% passes, a marked incline.
PPSMI is a ready solution which needs to be improved upon. Rebranding Malay-medium schools is not. Neither is yet another review.
Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Chairman
PAGE Malaysia
The Najib BN Gomen must remember their mantra:
The reinstatement of the PPSMI is one flip flop decision that will be welcome by thankful parents throughout Malaysia. The Gomen is at a cross road, the moment of truth is at hand, reinstate the PPSMI and Malaysians will forever remember this Najib BN Gomen as one who really walk the talk not just walking about with the rakyat.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
More insights on the MAS - AirAsia share swap deal
Updated 17 August 2011; More by YB Wee:
Original Post
YB Wee Choo Keong have been writing quite a bit on the nontransparent MAS-AirAsia Share Swap deal, his latest:
WAU! What a rosy report on MAS!
excerpts:
MAS-Air Asia swap: A shroud of mystery by anotherbrickinthewall
Tony Fernandes has dumped AirAsia: Time for fans to face misplaced devotion
KLSE: Please investigate why no announcement when the “MAS-AirAsia” share swap was almost “MAS-AK”!
Original Post
YB Wee Choo Keong have been writing quite a bit on the nontransparent MAS-AirAsia Share Swap deal, his latest:
WAU! What a rosy report on MAS!
excerpts:
"I wonder how much did MAS pay BinaFikir Sdn Bhd for a job well done. Ten years later, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, under Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, had to undergo negotiations for a share swap that was shrouded with secrecy with AirAsia in order to save the nation carrier, MAS. Tan Sri Azman should be applauded for his great efforts.
It was also coincidental that his former co-founder in BinaFikir Sdn Bhd,Mohammed Rashdan Yusof, who is also a Khazanah director, is now appointed to sit on MAS board. Henceforth, MAS should be flying high again. After this secretive MAS/AirAsia share swap, it will be interesting to wait and see MAS could hold on to its existing destinations and/or had to take up a big chunk of the 200 airbus that AirAsia has ordered."
It was also coincidental that his former co-founder in BinaFikir Sdn Bhd,Mohammed Rashdan Yusof, who is also a Khazanah director, is now appointed to sit on MAS board. Henceforth, MAS should be flying high again. After this secretive MAS/AirAsia share swap, it will be interesting to wait and see MAS could hold on to its existing destinations and/or had to take up a big chunk of the 200 airbus that AirAsia has ordered."
Read the rest of YB Wee's superb post here.
The clincher to YB Wee's post is the responses in the commenter section which could throw some lights on whether Khazanah's latest move will be a profitable venture or a misadventure which would only make friends and cronies rich while the public watch in utter disgust as the so called financial experts/decision makers of Khazanah blundered big time, again.
I think the comments are worth a blog posting in itself and should be read by many more:
Anonymous
It was rosy then but now need a boost through the share swap in darkness from Azman and Rashdan, the great MAS saviour of all times.
Now is another asset restructuring where a good friend of them, Tony, must be put into MAS to help MAS by giving up more destinations to AirAsia and take up Airbus from AirAsia otherwise the 200 airbus will be parked at KLIA as air show. What a stupid move.
Khinzirnah
YB, when WAU was proposed to MAS, BinaFikir has only 2 employees – Azman and Rashdan. And WAU is Binafikir’s first project for the so-called advisory outfit and Malaysia. The fees charges from Taxpayers from WAU (which turned out as the most expensive TOILET PAPER in the world) is nothing less than US$1million. Few years later, Azman got promotion (no thanks to Pak Lelah) to join Khazanah in 2004 and in 2008 Rashdan sold BinaFikir to Maybank for …. million and was appointed as CEO of Maybank Investment. Not sure how Maybank agreed on the price, but “8″ seems like a nice number, to some, and easy to remember. During his tenure as CEO of Maybank Investment, many experienced staff left the Group between 2008-2010 because cannot stand Rashdan’s arrogant attitude and some commented that he seems to know everything! (After all, he holds a “double first class” from University of Cambridge UK, so no point arguing with the prick!). Wahid is aware of the problem in Maybank – after the appointment of Rashdan, staff morale were extremely low, productivity is as good as zero, and KPIs were well below par. Although initially Wahid defended Rashdan for his “out-of-the-universe” management-style (also known as “kurang ajar” to most), the poor performance of Maybank Investment left Wahid with no choice but to kick Rashdan out from the Group. Heard that Maybankers were having parties and kenduri kesyukuran when Rashdan announced his resignation in March 2010. 2 months later, in May 2010, Azman offered him position in Khazanah as Executive Director of Investment (well that’s what friends are for, right?) and to cut short Rashdan’s “colourful” resume, in 2011 he is the Executive Director of MAS.
There’s a good article in The Sun dated 9 August about MAS-AirAsia deal written by Datuk Azman Ujang – “…Dick Brown, the then CEO of Cable & Wireless of US said the world of business has more bright people. I like to see both, but if i has to choose between high intelligence and effective execution, I would take effective execution all the time”..also “a top industry player explains MAS badly needs an operations man at the helm and not a finance man.”
Need to say more?
Good Luck Malaysia!
The Troubleshooters
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your relentless effort. My heart is bleeding again.
We are ready to surface.
I have also read somewhere about the main issue that has been overlooked.
“The state-owned airline has already had two rights issues since Jala took over, raking in RM1.6 billion in 2007 and RM2.67 billion in 2010 to fund its operations and fleet purchases.
Industry experts said that a further injection of cash will not save MAS as “operational fixes” are required.”
“The past financial fixes haven’t helped MAS. Another round of money won’t either, an industry source told The Malaysian Insider despite a touted RM8.4 billion aircraft renewal programme.
“Most of the past solutions for MAS, either the WAU or Jala’s business transformation plan, were financial in nature to keep the airline in the black. But what is needed are operational fixes,” he added.”
Yes, this is what lacking in MAS leadership – an Operational person who is FIRM, FAIR and FULLY FUNCTIONAL (as in operational).
I have also written many analysis and some reports were given PERSONALLY to Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof (when he was the MD) and Tan Sri Munir Majid (when he was the Chairman).
Being Finance persons, they somehow were not able to understand operational issues.
The observations below are extracted from my report titled “ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION WORK CULTURE: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS” dated 11 December 2003
5. THE OBSERVATIONS
Based on a series of investigation, study and event that have unfolded, out of plain responsibility, I would like to raise my concerns on Engineering and possibly other MAS senior Management that we may be living in an unhealthy and disturbing culture whereby:
1. We take problems for granted.
2. We fail to analyze the real underlying issues and thus not able to provide professional solutions
3. We tend to defer important issues and failed to put first thing first preferring to continue prescribing quick fixes and fire fighting instead of fire prevention.
4. We tend to contain main issues, buying time, with the hope that the issues may miraculously go away or at the very least, the individual who raised it will be frustrated, fed up and eventually give up.
5. We are slow to act and react, we tend to condone many malpractices especially among the management. We have been led to believe that if we expose these malpractices, we are backstabbing our own friends and colleagues. We failed to recognise the fact that if we do not correct and instead choose to ignore the issues, we are actually backstabbing and betrayed the trust given by the nation and the public (staff)
6. The true professionals and leaders were not given the due recognition and credit they deserve.
The non performers (yes man) are rewarded whereas the performers are sidelined simply because their superiors felt threatened by their able subordinates.
7. Many have been exposed albeit ineffectively on various course such as leadership, communication, financial, management etc. What really missing is the very basic skills of learning which is analytical, comprehension, expression, interpretation and research skills
8. We tend to tolerate our own incompetence, giving too many chances when what seriously lacking is a dose of proper lessons
9. We tend to penalize those who defy, those who had guts in exposing our own incompetence and malpractices.
10. We tend to be ignorant of the huge responsibilities that Engineering & Maintenance have to shoulder and our inaction could jeopardize many lives including our loved ones.
11. Engineering as the engine of growth and heart of MAS acutely lack professionals who can provide solutions to the needs and problems and leaders who solve problem others fear.
12. In summary, we do not seem to be doing the right things and OUITE EVIDENTLY we do not know the right things to do.
Now, after nearly 8 years under tight wrapped, it is time for me to share with the public.
Thank you 1Malaysia.
It was rosy then but now need a boost through the share swap in darkness from Azman and Rashdan, the great MAS saviour of all times.
Now is another asset restructuring where a good friend of them, Tony, must be put into MAS to help MAS by giving up more destinations to AirAsia and take up Airbus from AirAsia otherwise the 200 airbus will be parked at KLIA as air show. What a stupid move.
Khinzirnah
YB, when WAU was proposed to MAS, BinaFikir has only 2 employees – Azman and Rashdan. And WAU is Binafikir’s first project for the so-called advisory outfit and Malaysia. The fees charges from Taxpayers from WAU (which turned out as the most expensive TOILET PAPER in the world) is nothing less than US$1million. Few years later, Azman got promotion (no thanks to Pak Lelah) to join Khazanah in 2004 and in 2008 Rashdan sold BinaFikir to Maybank for …. million and was appointed as CEO of Maybank Investment. Not sure how Maybank agreed on the price, but “8″ seems like a nice number, to some, and easy to remember. During his tenure as CEO of Maybank Investment, many experienced staff left the Group between 2008-2010 because cannot stand Rashdan’s arrogant attitude and some commented that he seems to know everything! (After all, he holds a “double first class” from University of Cambridge UK, so no point arguing with the prick!). Wahid is aware of the problem in Maybank – after the appointment of Rashdan, staff morale were extremely low, productivity is as good as zero, and KPIs were well below par. Although initially Wahid defended Rashdan for his “out-of-the-universe” management-style (also known as “kurang ajar” to most), the poor performance of Maybank Investment left Wahid with no choice but to kick Rashdan out from the Group. Heard that Maybankers were having parties and kenduri kesyukuran when Rashdan announced his resignation in March 2010. 2 months later, in May 2010, Azman offered him position in Khazanah as Executive Director of Investment (well that’s what friends are for, right?) and to cut short Rashdan’s “colourful” resume, in 2011 he is the Executive Director of MAS.
There’s a good article in The Sun dated 9 August about MAS-AirAsia deal written by Datuk Azman Ujang – “…Dick Brown, the then CEO of Cable & Wireless of US said the world of business has more bright people. I like to see both, but if i has to choose between high intelligence and effective execution, I would take effective execution all the time”..also “a top industry player explains MAS badly needs an operations man at the helm and not a finance man.”
Need to say more?
Good Luck Malaysia!
The Troubleshooters
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your relentless effort. My heart is bleeding again.
We are ready to surface.
I have also read somewhere about the main issue that has been overlooked.
“The state-owned airline has already had two rights issues since Jala took over, raking in RM1.6 billion in 2007 and RM2.67 billion in 2010 to fund its operations and fleet purchases.
Industry experts said that a further injection of cash will not save MAS as “operational fixes” are required.”
“The past financial fixes haven’t helped MAS. Another round of money won’t either, an industry source told The Malaysian Insider despite a touted RM8.4 billion aircraft renewal programme.
“Most of the past solutions for MAS, either the WAU or Jala’s business transformation plan, were financial in nature to keep the airline in the black. But what is needed are operational fixes,” he added.”
Yes, this is what lacking in MAS leadership – an Operational person who is FIRM, FAIR and FULLY FUNCTIONAL (as in operational).
I have also written many analysis and some reports were given PERSONALLY to Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof (when he was the MD) and Tan Sri Munir Majid (when he was the Chairman).
Being Finance persons, they somehow were not able to understand operational issues.
The observations below are extracted from my report titled “ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION WORK CULTURE: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS” dated 11 December 2003
5. THE OBSERVATIONS
Based on a series of investigation, study and event that have unfolded, out of plain responsibility, I would like to raise my concerns on Engineering and possibly other MAS senior Management that we may be living in an unhealthy and disturbing culture whereby:
1. We take problems for granted.
2. We fail to analyze the real underlying issues and thus not able to provide professional solutions
3. We tend to defer important issues and failed to put first thing first preferring to continue prescribing quick fixes and fire fighting instead of fire prevention.
4. We tend to contain main issues, buying time, with the hope that the issues may miraculously go away or at the very least, the individual who raised it will be frustrated, fed up and eventually give up.
5. We are slow to act and react, we tend to condone many malpractices especially among the management. We have been led to believe that if we expose these malpractices, we are backstabbing our own friends and colleagues. We failed to recognise the fact that if we do not correct and instead choose to ignore the issues, we are actually backstabbing and betrayed the trust given by the nation and the public (staff)
6. The true professionals and leaders were not given the due recognition and credit they deserve.
The non performers (yes man) are rewarded whereas the performers are sidelined simply because their superiors felt threatened by their able subordinates.
7. Many have been exposed albeit ineffectively on various course such as leadership, communication, financial, management etc. What really missing is the very basic skills of learning which is analytical, comprehension, expression, interpretation and research skills
8. We tend to tolerate our own incompetence, giving too many chances when what seriously lacking is a dose of proper lessons
9. We tend to penalize those who defy, those who had guts in exposing our own incompetence and malpractices.
10. We tend to be ignorant of the huge responsibilities that Engineering & Maintenance have to shoulder and our inaction could jeopardize many lives including our loved ones.
11. Engineering as the engine of growth and heart of MAS acutely lack professionals who can provide solutions to the needs and problems and leaders who solve problem others fear.
12. In summary, we do not seem to be doing the right things and OUITE EVIDENTLY we do not know the right things to do.
Now, after nearly 8 years under tight wrapped, it is time for me to share with the public.
Thank you 1Malaysia.
Read the full comments here.
Must reads to get a clearer view about the shameless share swap deal:
Sakmongkol AK47 expose:A Sting job in the air? Sting is in the air?
I must say that what was described by "The Troubleshooter" who seems to have inside knowledge of the workings in MAS, is a dilemma faced by many Engineers/technical professionals who worked in a company whose core is Operations but managed by Finance People who appreciate numbers/cost/profits but not operational/maintenance management.
Sakmongkol AK47 expose:A Sting job in the air? Sting is in the air?
Tony Fernandes has dumped AirAsia: Time for fans to face misplaced devotion
Selamat Menyambut Nuzul Quran, let us understand the Quranic recitals
If you have been reading the local news on paper and the internet you will be quite familiar with the debate about the volume intensity of the Quran recital in the morning before the Suboh (Morning) Azan call for prayers.
Penang Mufti says no coercion in Quran broadcast banAugust 15, 2011
The Islamic cleric also denied that the ban included the azan (Muslim call to prayer), before clarifying that the decision was an advisory and not an edict as widely reported.
“I am disappointed over the unprofessional and ill-mannered statements from all quarters, including accusations that the state Fatwa Council decided on the matter in a reckless manner,”
Hassan was quoted in a Bernama Online report today.
“This matter is not a political issue but is a directive from Prophet Muhammad and also to safeguard a harmonious Islam.”Hassan explained that under Section 45 Penang Islamic Enactment 2004, fatwas require the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the head of Islam before they could be issued.
The state’s ban on loudspeaker broadcasts of Quran readings had received the support of Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who advised Muslims to consider the sensitivities of their neighbours when practising their faith.
The PAS spiritual leader’s backing of the ruling became political fodder when Malay rights group Perkasa seized upon it to declare themselves the new defenders of Islam, saying Nik Aziz’s remarks meant the Islamist party was no longer committed to the religion. Read the rest here.
I am a Muslim but I am no expert in my religion. I am not going to give my thoughts on the appropriate volume level for broadcast of the Quran recital as the debate will never end. People will debate on volume intensity of Azans for Subuh, Dzuhur, Asar, Magrib and Isya' next you can be sure of that. I think the Majlis Fatwa Negara should convene before the matter gets out of hand with people less knowledgeable about Islamic knowledge giving their own versions of fatwa.
Actually in this Holy month of Ramadhan I am less worried about the volume of the Quranic recital than the problem about people who recites the Quran in Arabic but do not know the meaning of the verses. Unfortunately too much emphasis is placed on the form but not on the substance.
In fact I think many Muslims have forgotten that the first verse of the Quran revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) starts with the word "Read":
Read in the name of your Lord who created
Created man from a clinging substance.Read, and your Lord is the most Generous -Who taught by the pen
Taught man that which he knew not.
Read the rest of Surah Al-Alaq here.
READ (BACA)
While some of us enjoy to READ the Quran many still do not understand what they are reading. If majority Muslims had understood the first verses revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) we would have been one of the most advanced people on earth because it tells us to read and seek knowledge.
This is a beautiful celebration of the first word of the first verse revealed by ALLAH to his Prophet Muhammad by Ahmad Bukhatir:
Selamat Menyambut Nuzul Quran
Monday, 15 August 2011
Anwar Sodomy Trial2: Judge orders Anwar to enter his defense on Monday 22 Aug 2011
Today the High Court Judge presiding over Anwar's Sodomy trial has decided that there will be no more delay for witness interviewing after this week, next Monday 22 August 2011 Anwar Ibrahim will have to enter his defense.
The news:
Sodomy II: Trial postponed to Aug 22, Anwar to be first defence witness
So Anwar will be the first witness, lets pray he does not fall ill on that day and stay in the best of health throughout the remainder of the trial.
The news:
Sodomy II: Trial postponed to Aug 22, Anwar to be first defence witness
So Anwar will be the first witness, lets pray he does not fall ill on that day and stay in the best of health throughout the remainder of the trial.
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Can we just live and let live and stop thinking about "sharing" our faith with people of other faiths
I am not going to write about the JAIS raid (they say inspection) of the illegal Damansara Utama Methodist Church which is causing tons of headache to the PKR some say DAP led Selangor State Government. Read here and here.
I got to hand it to the Malaysian Insider though, they carry news that will make everybody on the receiving end complaining about them:
Lets start with this news:
Split among Christians over moves to convert Muslims, says senior leader
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Mainstream Christian churches are distancing themselves from independent evangelical churches’ “over-enthusiastic” attempts to proselytise Muslims in Malaysia, says a senior Protestant church leader.
I got to hand it to the Malaysian Insider though, they carry news that will make everybody on the receiving end complaining about them:
Lets start with this news:
Split among Christians over moves to convert Muslims, says senior leader
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Mainstream Christian churches are distancing themselves from independent evangelical churches’ “over-enthusiastic” attempts to proselytise Muslims in Malaysia, says a senior Protestant church leader.
He told The Malaysian Insider that the mainstream churches were disappointed with some independent Christian groups for being insensitive to other religious communities when sharing their faith.
“We’ve had cases where the Hindus complain that the Christians have been too assertive,” said the church leader, adding that Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs have made similar complaints. Read the rest here.
Now a red faced denial the next day carried by MI too:
Evangelical group calls church split ‘wild allegations’
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Malaysia’s main Christian evangelical group has said it does not have to defend independent evangelical churches from “wild allegations”, denying there is a split among Christians over attempts to proselytise Muslims.
The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship’s (NECF) denial came after The Malaysian Insider reported that mainstream churches are disappointed with some independent Christian groups for being too assertive in sharing their faith with Muslims and other religious communities.
“Why should I defend the group? There’s no proof!” NECF chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng (picture)told The Malaysian Insider heatedly yesterday.
“There is definitely no split in the church,” he stressed.
Eu pointed out that such allegations were not brought up when the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) and the NECF met last Tuesday in Penang during the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) meeting.
The inter-denominational meeting occurred before the controversial Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on a thanksgiving dinner in the evangelical Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya last Wednesday night.
Asked if independent Christian churches shared their faith with Muslims openly, Eu said: “I don’t think they share openly.”
After being pressed further on whether such groups proselytised Muslims at all, he replied: “They always share. Anyone shares the message. They share the message. Read the Rest here.
Who should we believe here then, the denial or the confirmation of proselytizing of Muslims to Christianity in Malaysia?
As a Muslim in Malaysia I would like to advise my fellow people of the book, my Christian brethrens that we Muslims are awfully sensitive about people of other faiths actively trying to convert Muslims to other faiths. We make no apologies for being overly sensitive about it and some would even turn aggressive about it.
Please don't give us such gobbledygook of a statement that Muslims must be strong willed must not be weak so as to resist the temptations to convert to the faith. I think It is just as wrong and immoral to think that giving money or aid or whatever you want to call it to poor destitute Muslims so that they can be persuaded to share the faith.
For the Churches kind information, Malaysia have plenty of non religious charity organisation on top of that we have the Baitul Mal we also have the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat to help the single parents, the destitute etc. to carry on with their lives in reasonable comfort.
So why not we Malaysian just live and let live and live happily ever after without thinking about proselytizing or sharing our faith with others.
Lets not play with a fire that could become a firestorm that would engulf this blessed nation of ours.
“We’ve had cases where the Hindus complain that the Christians have been too assertive,” said the church leader, adding that Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs have made similar complaints. Read the rest here.
Now a red faced denial the next day carried by MI too:
Evangelical group calls church split ‘wild allegations’
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Malaysia’s main Christian evangelical group has said it does not have to defend independent evangelical churches from “wild allegations”, denying there is a split among Christians over attempts to proselytise Muslims.
The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship’s (NECF) denial came after The Malaysian Insider reported that mainstream churches are disappointed with some independent Christian groups for being too assertive in sharing their faith with Muslims and other religious communities.
“Why should I defend the group? There’s no proof!” NECF chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng (picture)told The Malaysian Insider heatedly yesterday.
“There is definitely no split in the church,” he stressed.
Eu pointed out that such allegations were not brought up when the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) and the NECF met last Tuesday in Penang during the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) meeting.
The inter-denominational meeting occurred before the controversial Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on a thanksgiving dinner in the evangelical Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya last Wednesday night.
Asked if independent Christian churches shared their faith with Muslims openly, Eu said: “I don’t think they share openly.”
After being pressed further on whether such groups proselytised Muslims at all, he replied: “They always share. Anyone shares the message. They share the message. Read the Rest here.
Who should we believe here then, the denial or the confirmation of proselytizing of Muslims to Christianity in Malaysia?
As a Muslim in Malaysia I would like to advise my fellow people of the book, my Christian brethrens that we Muslims are awfully sensitive about people of other faiths actively trying to convert Muslims to other faiths. We make no apologies for being overly sensitive about it and some would even turn aggressive about it.
Please don't give us such gobbledygook of a statement that Muslims must be strong willed must not be weak so as to resist the temptations to convert to the faith. I think It is just as wrong and immoral to think that giving money or aid or whatever you want to call it to poor destitute Muslims so that they can be persuaded to share the faith.
For the Churches kind information, Malaysia have plenty of non religious charity organisation on top of that we have the Baitul Mal we also have the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat to help the single parents, the destitute etc. to carry on with their lives in reasonable comfort.
So why not we Malaysian just live and let live and live happily ever after without thinking about proselytizing or sharing our faith with others.
Lets not play with a fire that could become a firestorm that would engulf this blessed nation of ours.
Friday, 12 August 2011
MAS - AirAsia share swap; so YAB PM where is the slogan Rakyat diUtamakan, Pencapaian DiUtamakan?
I am one of those concerned Malaysians who are really pissed with the ungodly haste that the MAS-AirAsia share swap was carried out by Khazanah Nasional upon an unsuspecting Malaysian public. I am no economist nor a financial expert but I am concerned that a private listed company with billion ringgit debt is given so much priority to own a big share of our National Carrier, Malaysia Airlines. How in God's name will this share swap deal be of benefit to our national carrier would anybody care to enlighten us.
I am always suspicious of share swaps based on prevailing share prices as we all know that these prices will be subject to speculation. As one of the many cybern volunteers who works very hard for free to give positive perception of the BN Government, I am really disappointed with the BN Government which ultimately controls Khazanah Nasional which in the absence of any dissenting voice from the Cabinet Ministers is acting like a Government unto themselves.
I tweeted the following a couple of hours ago, I hope YAB Najib Razak knows the disappointment of Malaysian in this deal which is an uncanny resemblance of the Abdullah Badawi era's ECM Libra taking over of the bigger entity of Avenue Capital. And what is a more stranger coincidence the same Abdullah, is now Advisor to MAS.
I am reproducing the above Air Asia Mas Fiasco blog article here for record to remind us all what cock a doodle doo that Khazanah Nasional had done with taxpayer's money:
I hope that this will not be the end for MAS, tak masuk akal only Tony Fernandes and his friends dapat untung on the back of Gomen money and assistance while many PKK Contractors and their employees are living hand to mouth existence as the Gomen is apparently lacking funds to budget for new construction projects.
I also think that it is high time that a permanent parliamentary oversight committee be formed to oversee the strategic decisions of Khazanah Nasional to ensure that its moves are beneficial to all Malaysian not selected elite minority who does not form the majority of voters who voted the incumbent Government into power.
Additional Must Read:
Posted in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
I am always suspicious of share swaps based on prevailing share prices as we all know that these prices will be subject to speculation. As one of the many cybern volunteers who works very hard for free to give positive perception of the BN Government, I am really disappointed with the BN Government which ultimately controls Khazanah Nasional which in the absence of any dissenting voice from the Cabinet Ministers is acting like a Government unto themselves.
I tweeted the following a couple of hours ago, I hope YAB Najib Razak knows the disappointment of Malaysian in this deal which is an uncanny resemblance of the Abdullah Badawi era's ECM Libra taking over of the bigger entity of Avenue Capital. And what is a more stranger coincidence the same Abdullah, is now Advisor to MAS.
eddydaud eddydaud
MAS-AA share swap deal, YAB @NajibRazak apa dah jadi pada Rakyat diDahulukan, pencapaian diUtamakan? Sila bacamalaysianewsnetwork.net/portal/2011/08…
"Tony become the single biggest shareholder in MAS with 20.5% and Khazanah hold only 10% share in Air Asia….is this right? Many MAS staff is left wondering where is their value of loyalty to MAS after all these years? Those left MAS for Air Asia desperately wanted to come back to MAS.
In my effort to write about my anger about this share swap, I found out that I’m not the only one who has actually wrote about it but the funny thing is, these people effort did not even given the media attention…why? Gag order from the government? Why the secrecy? Has the motion been passed in Parliament? Why has it not been made know to the public?
I decided to piece together information retrieved from various blogs as it lauded what I have to say and from there, more info will be added. So please understand the below facts why I opposed to this ridiculous MAS Air Asia share swap deal.
1. As of the 1st Quarter of 2011, Air Asia paid up capital stands RM 2.76 billion and debts amounted to 7.7 billion with cash balances amounting to 1.7billion compared to Malaysia Airlines is an asset backed corporation. The paid up stands at RM 3.384 billion, where it is represented with a fixed asset value of RM 8.4 billion. The net asset is at RM 6.962 billion, where cash constitute RM 2.086 billion. It is very clear that MAS is in better position than Air Asia, so why the share swap which giving Air Asia 20.5% share in MAS?
2. Air Asia shares ended yesterday at RM2.35, up by 17 sen. It was among the top ten biggest gainers of the day. In contrast, MAS ended flat at RM2.27 but still with the asset and paid up capital, MAS remains stronger than Air Asia. So again I asked why Air Asia got 20.5% in MAS and through Khazanah, MAS got only 10% in Air Asia.? Air Asia is good on paper but in reality they can hardly make any profit. So how to show the world that they are in the “blue”?
3. In August 2010. AIR ASIA announced a deferment of their proposed aircraft purchases but sometime in June 2011 they reversed their decision and proceeded to place an order for an additional 200 new aircrafts at the Paris Air Show. As of 31 March 2011, based on data from their 1st Quarter report, AIR ASIA’s capital commitments stood at RM 19 billion. With the above announcement, an additional RM 54 billion will be added as Capital Commitments. RM54 billion? Where the hell Air Asia going to get such money when their annual turnover only about RM1.1 billion.
4. The proposed purchase of roughly 75 billion will be spread over a 15 year period ending 2026. In other words AIR ASIA has to ratchet up its earnings to an average of 5 billion per annum to meet its future dues. From 2006 to 2010, AIR ASIA’s revenue grew by 10 fold from 110 million to roughly 1.1billion, an average growth of RM 200 million per annum. Still not enough to cover Air Asia future debt commitment, so what Air Asia will do?
5. Its cash trove raised 6 fold from approximately 300 million to 1.7 billion but its debts skyrocketed from 1.05 billion in 2006 to 7.7 billion in 2010, an increase of 700% in 4 years’ time. One gets the ghastly feeling that this is a debt burden that is spiraling out of control. Tony brilliant business plan is actually putting Air Asia in the red mark, so what will he need to do?
6. Bear in mind that Air Asia at one point of time, they owed Malaysia Airports over RM 65 million. Has Air Asia paid this debt? These are money for the government which can be used for the benefit of rakyat!
7. Malaysia Airlines’ annual operating turnover is RM 12.98 billion versus Air Asia’s RM 3.948 billion. That is three times more sales for year 2010. Malaysia Airlines’ operating revenue from airline operation is at RM 11.649 billion against Air Asia’s RM 2.839 billion. Can you see now why Air Asia desperately wants MAS? Can you see how Air Asia will get their cash required to cover their future debt commitment?
8. The “Thirteen Million Ringgit Plus” question is that how the hell could Khazanah give away 20.5% of a company’s holding with bigger network, higher standard of service, three times more operating revenue, stronger assets, lesser debts, more cash and better paymaster track record to another company with lesser track record, just because they make so much net money in shorter time?
9. For the second quarter ended June 2010, Air Asia posted a net income of RM198.93 million, while MAS suffered a net loss of RM532.73 million. So why MAS lost? Simple, the governments are putting MAS into an early grave by suffocating the management team with all sort of restriction! MAS management team too contributed to the operational loss by over spending and did not make any effort by investing serious marketing exposure like Air Asia did. This does not help to when they cut high revenue international sectors like Spain, Stockholm, Munich etc.
10. Inside information too reported that whenever MAS formulate marketing plan to boost sales but that “plan” somehow or rather are being leaked out to Air Asia. MAS senior general manager for sales and marketing Datuk Bernard Francis gave a 24-hour resignation notice. Why? MAS are plague with moles that worked for Tony that feeds him information about MAS movement? Corporate espionage at its best! Tan Sri Dr. Mohamed Munir Abdul Majid has resigned from his post as chairman and director of the airline too early this month despite being eligible to be elected again…why? I say it good riddance as he spends MAS money like his own but why resign?
11. Those MAS managers stationed overseas who are supposed to sell seats, especially the 1st class seats which would subsidize those traveling on Y Class are not doing do their jobs. They have been at these places for donkey years and where their children practically grow to adulthood there. Perhaps the sales people in MAS are corrupt people. If you don’t sell the 1st class seats, you don’t make money. You make money only if planes are in the air. If need to have the planes fly, you will need destinations. How to have destinations when it has already been cut?
12. This merger is exactly like when ECM Libra ‘took over’ Avenue Capital Resources Bhd. in a very controversial takeover laced with manipulation and failure of disclosures, where the latter is valued four times more than the former. Avenue Capital’s intangible assets amounting to RM 296 million were irregularly impaired so that the merger value gap is being narrowed. The minority shareholders were denied of the rights to a Mandatory General Offer. Mind you, ECM Libra was only RM 2 paid up capital but suddenly managed to get “private loan” from Singapore friends. Guess who was in ECM Libra, Khairy or KJ and Kalimullah.
13. The MAS and AIR ASIA share swap is full of irregularities and manipulation. The deal was done without the public knowing it and doubt even the Parliament knows about it too. You have to remember that Khazanah is a GLC company and by being GLC, they must protect the interest of the government thus rakyat as it is our money being invested in Khazanah but does the public have a say about the share swap? NO…even the BN politicians have no clues what is going on. Only handful of bloggers and independent MP managed to get the scent of this one sided deal. Again, why the secrecy?
14. The culprit who is thought to be behind this is Rashdan “Danny” Yusoff and Datuk Omar Ong. Rashdan, who was then a partner in Binafikir Consulting which offered the ‘Wide Asset Unbundling’ (WAU) scheme to rescue Malaysia Airlines a few years ago, is now a Director of Malaysia Airlines. Omar recently was appointed to the BOD of Air Asia. Previously, Omar Ong was rejected by the public to head PETRONAS. Najib back down and appointed someone else as the PETRONAS CEO. Ong also was one of the level 4 boys during the Pak Lah administration and we all know that Khairy controls level 4. So is this to compensate Ong? Why?
15. It is expected that the outcome of this, would be share swap deal where Khazanah Nasional Bhd. relinquish 17% of its holding to Tune Air, the parent company of Air Asia and Air Asia X. In return Khazanah would get 20% in Air Asia and 15% in Air Asia X. Of course it is rumored that CIMB is the adviser to this deal. Guess who heads CIMB? Why CIMB?
16. The clear winner of this deal is Tony Fernandes. As a single largest shareholder in Tune Air, he would earn a seat in Malaysia Airlines Bhd. He would have a say in how, what, where and how much of Malaysia Airlines’ strategic business decision. With Omar on his BOD and being so close to Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, all strategic decision involving air travel and airline business would be unequivocally favorable to Fernandes’s side. It is very ironic that Tony used to fly MAS for free before Air Asia X existed. When the European routes being cut down by Idris Jala, Air Asia X “happily” took over the lucrative routes, do I smell conspiracy in cannibalizing MAS?
17. Now let’s ask a stupid question? Can a CEO of your rival company be given a chance to take up position in your company and asked to manage your company at the same time? Isn’t there a conflict of interest here? Or is Fernandes being prepared to take over MAS itself?
18. It is Air Asia X’s dream to be a major intercontinental carrier. Getting landing rights would be a G-to-G arrangement and national carriers usually get the first right of refusal. Now AirAsiaX is accessible to lucrative landing rights and destinations. But wait, it is not easy to get landing right unless Air Asia used existing operating carrier like MAS who has many code sharing with other major airlines and landing right. So another benefit to Air Asia?
19. Air Asia could now expect to get a national carrier status. A private company with no loyalties to the country and its people will get such title, why? Tony has proven this by abandoning the rural routes. Fernandes took those routes to build up Air Asia’s capacity and also the numbers. The heavy subsidy was proven beneficial to his business model too. The moment the numbers went up substantially, Fernandes gave back the RAS away and Government insisted that Malaysia Airlines took the service back again, for the sake of Sabahans and Sarawakians. So who absorbed the lost? MAS off course!
20. Malaysia Airlines did her fair share of national service and many Malaysians benefitted from this at the times where communications were poor or nonexistence. In 2005 when PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agreed to ‘Level Four Boys’ concocted ‘Airline Rationalization Plan’, where Malaysia Airlines to run the ‘trunk route’ and feeder to the international destination where else Air Asia got the rest. This includes heavily subsidized Rural Air Service.
21. The most important element of the plan was Malaysia Airlines were prohibited to lower down its fair. MAS were not allowed to compete with Air Asia because of its different class and capabilities. Tony was quick to protest of MAS plan to start their own low cost carrier as it would not be fair to Air Asia. This comes from a man who cannibalizes the government subsidies! What does Tony know about fair play when he himself not being fair in healthy business competition.
22. My question now is what will happen to Fire Flyz? What will happen to their staff that are mainly from Sabah and Sarawak?
23. Fernandes and Dato’ Kamaruddin Meranun non independent and non-executive directors with effect on 11 August 2011. In interim, the corporation would be managed by an executive committee chaired by Tan Sri Mohd. Nor Yusof. Members are Dato’ Mohamed Azman Yahya, Danny, Fernandes and Kamaruddin. They will oversee operations until new MD is appointed. Can they be more specific when? Or they will take their sweet time plundering MAS company secrets? Will this not be conflict of interest as they too present Air Asia which is rival to MAS?
24. Why is Khazanah, which is headed by Tan Sri Datuk Azman Hj Mokhtar, was not interested to look into why MAS was left in such a state and Air Asia “is flying so high”. Isn’t it Khazanah duties to protect government interest?
25. Since Khazanah is entrusted by the Government to “hold and manage the investment”, why is Khazanah not interested to look into how and why the growth of MAS was stifled directly or indirectly by the unseen hands! Are they full of rakyat monies that they can afford to lose more monies thus making it an excuse for the “strategic” share swap? Or someone or many individuals stand to benefit from this deal? From beginning it has already very clear that many people stands to gain from this deal and those not gaining in the rakyat.
26. Tan Sri Azman is fully aware of the lucrative catering business in the airline industry in Malaysia was taken from MAS and handed over in a silver platter to LSG Sky Chef Brahim Sdn Bhd (LSG) during the Pak Lah’s administration sometimes in 2004 to service and cater for all National and most International Airlines flying to and from Kuala Lumpur. It is believed that the contractual terms are one sided and unusually long! Guess who owns LSG? Let me give you a hint, he is related closely to our flip flop PM….
27. Why is Tan Sri Azman not interested in finding ways and means to take back this lucrative business of servicing and catering for all airlines in and out of KLIA with government help in the national interest for MAS? Why when Air Asia FAKS gave up Rural Air Services (RAS) PREMATURELY, Khazanah did not demand for the return of the subsidy of RM65 million from FAKS?
28. Why Khazanah did not demand for the payment of RM35 million, which was incurred by MAS to make the 7 aircraft airworthy for RAS, from Air Asia FAKS? These are enough glaring facts for Tan Sri Azman to ponder!
29. Coming back to LSG. Who has the control stake in LSG? We all should know who is that person related to? Now Khazanah seemed to be blaming MAS management for all the problems MAS is facing. This is most unfair and irresponsible of Khazanah, a national incorporation entrusted with looking after are national wealth. Of course, MAS management is not perfect just like any other company.
30. Khazanah’s chairman, Tan Sri Azman Mokthar, should touch his heart and ask why MAS is in such a sorry state? Was it engineered or just sheer incompetence or by chance? By whichever management standard one would like to set to measure MAS performance, it falls squarely on Khazanah for failing in its national duties to address whatever problems MAS was facing at the material times. For a start, Khazanah should stop the handing over of the lucrative business of servicing and catering to LSG but it didn’t lift a finger to stop. I hope that Khazanah was not instrumental in the whole exercise of LSG’s takeover of the said business.
31. On aircraft maintenance, Air Asia will have excess to world 3rd best aircraft maintenance facilities. They no longer will need to send their aircraft to Europe for maintenance and pay on time. Air Asia will have access to MAS engineering facilities and need not pay them as they did with MAB. This will turn to profit but lost to MAS.
32. I am aggrieved that MAS, our national carrier, has been “dianaktirikan” by certain quarters. Please take note that most; if not all, low cost airlines in America, India and last year Oasis in Hong Kong have collapsed. Their national government did not lift a finger to provide financial helps or for that matter to provide them with special rights to owe airport taxes with a discount upon settlement. Quite rightly so because they are public listed companies and should be treated like one. Surely we cannot expect our government to be a financial ambulance for public listed companies! But this does not happen in Malaysia where ex politicians with high portfolio being recruited by Air Asia.
33. I dare Tan Sri Tony Fernandes or Tan Sri Datuk Azman Mokthar for that matter to say that Air Asia has been better managed with great business plans with NO direct or indirect government help and the others collapsed low cost airlines did not have the same criteria. Hence, the share swap was made in the national interest!
34. I pray that the government will step in to investigate this share swap and the airlines servicing and catering business in KLIA with the sole view to put right the anomalies in the airline industry so that we can be proud of MAS again as our national carrier and ambassador, like before when MAS was under the care of Yg Bhg Tan Sri Aziz and the like. Stop the rot before it is too late.
35. As I suspected, there must be something behind the threats to move out to Jakarta. Remember about the fiasco a couple of weeks ago where Tony again denied he is moving Air Asia HQ to Jakarta? Maybe in return to being coaxed and persuaded not to move out to Jakarta, the PM authorizes the writing off of AIR ASIA’s debts to MAB or forced MAB to take a haircut maybe even a crew cut? If so, the rakyat has lost another RM100 million or so in airport charges and tax.
36. The threat was the harbinger of what is now taking place- in order not to move out to Jakarta, the Khazanah Mafiosi, headed by the capo dei capi, Amokh, recommended that Fernandes’s Tune Air Sdn Bhd be given a sweetener in the form of ownership and possibly the running of our national asset MAS. Even when rumors starts to surface few days back, MAS management send out emails to all staff to ignore such rumors BUT it has become reality. Why does the management caution the staff to keep quiet and ignore the rumors? Are they afraid that the MAS union will protest? Are they afraid that MAS union will go on strike? In my opinion, the MAS union still can protest and organized a nationwide strike! If they do, rakyat will be with them all the way!
37. The move or its threat to move to Indonesia can be regarded as treasonable or at the mildest, putting the country at ransom. These robber barons aided by the comprador capitalists masquerading as consultants and economic experts, residing temporarily in Khazanah are pushing this country to its limits. The majority shareholders of Air Asia are who? Khazanah and EPF? These are government entities.
38. So how can our government, kick itself in the groin by allowing Fernandes to even make that statement in the first place? Or was it part of an elaborate set up of mind conditioning? That statement was later attributed to the silliness of the journalists quoting Fernandes or something. That also tells us the mental capacity of the journalists we send to cover stories about corporate moves. If they don’t understand, don’t waste your money sending them.
39. We could have been forgiven to believe that after Jala cleaned house, MAS would be in fighting shape to make profits. That only goes to show, the management team which succeeded Jala is useless after all. Or, we can also be forgiven to believe that actually what Jala did was all sleight of hand con job.
40. Readers are reminded that Fernandes and Co, Air Asia’s major shareholders, is not what one might consider cash-rich. Hence the question to ask here is how such a deal might be made doable. One option, which this writer thinks is probable, might involve the following:
41. Tune Air ie Fernandes and Co borrow the required sum , say RM 1.25 billion as reported, and take Air Asia private, Air Asia stock serving as collateral for a bridging facility. The loans are then transferred to Air Asia, and/or charged against Air Asia’s assets, instead of Air Asia stock. The entire company with its new borrowing is then injected into a listed company, freeing Tune Air of any debt obligation and instead providing it unencumbered , tradable, liquid stock.
42. Readers will recall that Tony & Co and Kalimullah Hassan and Lim Kian Onn of ECM Libra are now associated via Air Asia X and other ventures. It seems where ever Pak Lah have gone, they will follow suit. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the man who failed this nation and her people miserably, is the current ADVISOR of MAS. Can you put the puzzle together? If Pak Lah manage to single handedly destroy Malaysia, what will you think happen to our beloved MAS where he is the “ADVISOR”?
I think I have made my case very clear. No doubt that I “stole” facts from other bloggers but bear in mind, they sing the same song as me. By putting all in one page, it will give clear picture how dangerous and one sided this MAS Air Asia share swap will be. It will be unfortunate for us to lose MAS to a company that only interested to promote themselves. The moment they got what they want, MAS will be left in the garbage for Khazanah. Again, who will lose in this deal? MAS, its staff of 20,000 strong, government and rakyat!.....
Yours Truly,Rahmat Azim Abdul Aziz"
Read the article in full here.
I also think that it is high time that a permanent parliamentary oversight committee be formed to oversee the strategic decisions of Khazanah Nasional to ensure that its moves are beneficial to all Malaysian not selected elite minority who does not form the majority of voters who voted the incumbent Government into power.
Additional Must Read:
Rocky Bru MAS-Air Asia and the MACC
Posted in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
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