Tan insists Felda in trouble, calls Umno man an ‘idiot’

Former Land and Co-Operative Development deputy minister Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong today brushed off Felda's defamation suit threat, and called the Umno deputy minister who announced the suit “an idiot.”

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan told a press conference this afternoon that Felda would be filing a defamation suit to the tune of hundreds of millions of ringgit against all those who were involved in the allegation claiming Felda was bankrupt.

Several PKR leaders, including Tan (picture), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim as well as Suara Keadilan, its owners and chief editor, a PAS MP and several reporters are expected to be named in the suit, set to be filed soon.

Tan, who is now with the PKR after leaving Gerakan, however remained nonchalant and maintained that 100 per cent of Felda settlers were in agreement with him.

“Think very carefully about whatever that idiot (Ahmad) is saying... you can call him that, an idiot. You may not be an expert in oil palm but look at what happened in the figures.

“How can, when the authority had cash of about RM4.5 billion and no borrowings before (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) took over, how can any company mess up with such a healthy balance sheet?

“God only knows,” he told

He said that with such a robust financial standing, the land development authority should not witness a depleting cash reserve.

“When oil palm companies are now registering profits, your cash reserves are going down,” he pointed out.

He told Ahmad not to continue “talking nonsense” and advised Felda to stick to its core business.

“Stick to your core business. Do not rip the Felda settlers off. Stop talking nonsense. Do oil palm, there is plenty of money in this business.

“Why do you need to invest in the US? What technology does the US have in oil palm?

“You are supposed to be providing land for the landless and you are dealing with what we call black, edible oil... it is like black gold,” he said.

He pointed out that crude palm oil (CPO) prices over the past few years had been very high and this should help Felda's cash reserve grow.

“How can you mess up like this, especially when other companies have been profiting?” he said.

When Tan recently raised the issue of Felda's depleting cash reserve, Ahmad had in Parliament admitted that the authority was facing a decline in its cash pile.

In his press conference today, the deputy minister reiterated that while it was true that Felda's cash reserves had declined RM2.73 billion from RM4.08 billion in 2004 to RM1.35 billion in 2009, its current and fixed assets had risen as much as RM6.2 billion from RM9.17 billion in 2004 to RM15.37 billion in 2009.

Ahmad also pointed out that at present, Felda, the world's largest plantation operator, had net assets worth RM12.2 billion and had investments around the world in countries like Indonesia, South Africa, China, Turkey, US, Canada, Pakistan, Australia, Thailand, France, India and Saudi Arabia.

“What assets? It is ok. Let them prove this. I will stick to what I have said,” Tan insisted, sounding increasingly frustrated.

When contacted, Zaid brushed off the prospect of being sued and defended himself by saying he had never called Felda “bankrupt.”

“Was Felda embarrassed with what we said? We will have to see the truth,” he said.

He pointed out that at least now, the government was finally revealing the details of Felda's financial situation.

“At least all this caused them to give out this information. It is good because prior to this, no one knew what was happening in felda, about its overseas investments, about its returns,” he said.




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I recalled that no one, including Dr. Tan had mentioned that Felda is bankrupt. Tan said that Felda's cash reserve has declined from RM4.5 billion in 2004 to RM200 million in 2009. What defamation? Is Datuk Ahmad Maslan overreacting by threathening to suit for defamation?

If a leader is black mail by his "close friends" every now and then, all because of his wrong doings and his tail is stepped by few of these "close friends", quick thinking people would know where he is going to extract the money from, no only felda has problem, believes more government agencies also in red.

Before you say anything about sueing anybody, show us the figures first, Otherwise people may called you an idiot for just talking and nothing to proof. Now that you have said it , dare to proceed till the end, or else people may now called you a coward. Its time for all Malaysians to be accountable and live a decent life, as Malaysians cant hide behind the corrupt protective shell provided by the preveious government anymore

Najib says no to football betting licence

Datuk Seri Najib Razak capitulated to popular public opinion tonight when he announced the government will not issue a football betting licence, weeks after tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan said his Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd had received approval for an old licence.


"After taking into account various views, we are of the opinion that the majority did not agree the decision to issue the license to Ascot Sports," he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.

"The government therefore decided that the license will not be issued," said the finance minister adding that Ascot Sports has been informed of the decision.

He said the withdrawal was supported by members of the Umno supreme council.

Najib said the government had earlier agreed to issue the sports betting licence but with strict condition such as banning Muslim involvement in the activity.

On whether Ascot Sports would be compensated Najib said there is no such requirement in the law.

"Under the act, the minister of finance can withdraw anytime," said Najib, declining to say when the decision was made.

He also hoped that Barisan Nasional (BN) component party members such as MCA and MIC who have supported legalised sports betting to accept the government's decision.

Several Barisan Nasional (BN) parties had supported the move but Umno Johor, Perak and Youth wing opposed the licence saying the social cost outweighed the possible tax revenue.

Tan's listed Berjaya Corporation Berhad had announced the approval in a filing to Bursa Malaysia last May 12 but Najib denied it in Parliament on June 7.

Pakatan Rakyat governments in Penang, Selangor and Kedah said they will not approve business licences for football betting although Tan said he will try to persuade them.

He had promised to donate the RM525 million for his share of Ascot Sports sold to Berjaya Corp to his own charity, Better Malaysia Foundation.

Apart from saying that football bets will be offered through the telephone and available at 220 out of the 680 Sports Toto outlets which are not Muslim majority areas, Tan said operations would begin after the current FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi claimed two weeks ago that Ascot Sports will offer betting services for four major leagues — the English Premier League, the Italian league, as well as the Spanish and German leagues.

Nasrudin said that the sports betting company could not prepare itself to serve the World Cup because it was “too soon”.

PAS had also vowed to mobilise Malaysians to join its “100,000 march” to the Istana Negara this July 3 in protest over the Najib administration’s legalisation of sports-betting.

DAP’s Tony Pua claimed earlier this week to have documents to show companies controlled by Tan were proceeding with plans to start offering football betting by August and were raising RM800 million to finance operations.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP told reporters in Parliament that on June 11, four days after the Finance Ministry had denied issuing any licence for football betting, Berjaya Sports Toto had issued an “information memorandum” detailing financing arrangements to raise RM800 million in loans for a period of ten years to finance its new business.

Berjaya Sports Toto is a subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation, and currently operates numbers forecast betting shops in peninsular Malaysia.

According to documents obtained by Pua, the principal adviser for the financing arrangements was Maybank Investment Bank Sdn Bhd, and lead manager AmInvestment Bank Berhad.

“They repeated the statement that Ascot Sports had been given approval for the reissuance of licence to carry out sports betting operations upon certain terms and conditions.

“They reiterated they have received approval. They stated that initially 220 of the Sports Toto outlets will be used as distribution points with expansion plans to accommodate more Sports Toto outlets in the future. The implementation was to be carried out in August or early September, in time for the EPL (English Premier League),” said Pua.

Another document produced by Pua was a credit analysis by MARC (Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad) on Berjaya Sports Toto.

A rating agency is usually needed to determine the “quality” of a loan.

The MARC report states that “the timeframe for the rollout of the sports betting games are yet to be finalised.”

“MARC has assigned AA- rating to this exercise to raise money by Berjaya Sports Toto and among the contributory factors to the AA-rating is stated on page 4, under recent development following a recent announcement (that it is) yet to be finalised.

“Basically, what we see is that the approval has been given, but the actual licence has not been given.

“As Finance Minister, Najib needs to rectify this... It has now become a stupid play of words,” said Pua.




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So how are the BN government going to repay Vincent Tan? Give B.Toto another extra 2 special draws per month? Hehehehe.

BN is worried that they may lose the next election if license is approved! Nevertheless Malaysians are smarter now Approve or don't approve, BN will still lose the next election!

LOL. How stupid will the MCA and Chua Soi Lek look now? Forced to support legalised betting by UMNO who now reject it themselves. Serves them right, these useless MCA running dogs of UMNO who have even disparaged the Chinese people in the process, saying gambling is part of Chinese culture (without any rebuttal by the silent MCA, of course).

Umno gets 40 ulamas but not Asri

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight welcomed 40 religious scholars into the party but influential ex-Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin was not one of them.

The group, led by UKM’s Fadlan Mohd Othman was accompanied by former Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

“We are here not for political reasons, but to continue our missionary work,” said Fadlan.

“God willing we will be able to work with Umno on spiritual and religious affairs,” he told reporters.

“The admission into Umno will be in stages,” said Shahidan when asked about Asri’s absence.

“There are Umno supporters, and there are Umno members. Dr Asri will become a member when the time comes,” he said.

He said the group of ulamas would fulfil their religious duties without fear after joining Umno.

“They are the real ulamas. They will say what is right and will oppose any wrongdoing,” said Shahidan.

“They are not here as a threat to anyone, but they are here to portray Islam as a peaceful religion,” he added.

When asked about PAS’ accusation that ulamas would be sidelined in Umno, Shahidan pointed it was the Malay nationalist party that first formed a wing for religious scholar.

“Umno was the first political party to form an ulama council, but they left us to form PAS,” said Shahidan.

PAS was formed in 1951 by Ahmad Fuad Hassan together with religious leaders who abandoned Umno.




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Are these 40 really ulama. What qualifies them to be called ulama when there are many more knowledgeable people in Islam. 40 ulama??? Reminds me of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves (or is it Najib and the 40 jokers). God is really great.... associating these 40 ulama to 40 thieves.....

Asri calls Umno ‘backstabbers’

Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, the former Perlis Mufti has spoken after various rumours that linked him with a move to Umno. He has denied any involvement with the party as well as that of the JI (Jemaah Islamiah) where the government is saying that it is a security threat. He called Umno ‘backstabbers’ and hit out at the BN (Barisan Nasional) for politicizing the issue of JI.

He said “Malaysians understand our views and we have always been propagating progressive Islam, racial and religious harmony, opposed to extremism and any form of extreme views. The issues that we have been bringing up have always attracted people of all racial and religious groups as we portray a tolerant Islam based on our plural society. For us it is not right to link PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to a terrorist organisation. He was the Terengganu mentri besar and has been leading a political party for a very long time,”




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HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF.

What Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin is now going through is exactly what Nasrudin Hassan & Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had gone through last year.

First Umno spread about the unity talks between PAS & UMNO, in less than 24 hours Umno started to twist/spin , from unity talks it become unity governance. Umno don't have any sincerity in unity talks, it is part of their 'master plane' that is to create uneasiness among the Pakatan Rakyat and also between PAS itself. Nasurdin Hassan is still a green head, he is a bit naive and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was tempted by Umno's wolf in a sheep skin gesture .... but it was Tok Guru who save the day. Tok Guru is one of the wisest, rationale and most respected muslim around. Many thanks to Tok Guru.

In the beginning Umno was sooooooooooooo nice to PAS, spreading rumours about Unity Talks lah, Unity Governance lah and when PAS rejected the ideas and within 24 hours Umno change it stand and accused it was PAS who started with the Unity Talks and Unity Governance. OMG ... what a double head snake, Umno is. From then on Umno keep on playing with Unity Talks and Unity Governance for few more months hoping it can succeed in breaking up Pakatan Rakyat. But our politicians and rakyat are so much more smarter than Umnooooooo and again Umno failed once more.

O.K. back to Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, how could Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has any link with JI ??????? I had read almost all the article (Star) written by Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, he wrote about the fairness and compassion of Islam, he pointed out that our present government had failed to provide understanding of Islam toward the non muslim. He said " Islam cannot force someone to change it original name, unless he/she do it on his/her own free will ". He said " Prophet Mohammad said be nice to your non muslim neighbour, respect your non muslim religon and there is no such thing as race-superiority or racial discrimination in Islam in his last sermon .... etc...etc ". So how could one who preach fairness and compassion could be link to JI ?????????? Another important point is if Dr Mohd Asri is really link to JI why Umno open its door and lay a red carpet to welcome Dr Mohd Asri to join Umno ..... SO IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.

Dr Mohd Asri had said " i have no plan to join any political party ". In the past, Dr Mohd Asri is bold enough to point out the weakness in Umno and our present FG Islamic council and that anger both Umno & FG islamic council. And on the other hand, Dr Mohd Asri had attended PAS and PKR functions and that angered Umno even further more. You know, i know lah, Umno is a sensitive, calculative, recalcitrant and narrow minded bastard. To the Umno, whoever talks good about Pakatan will become be targeted by Umno .... a real farking bastard party.

Many years ago, Umno did the same strategy, they had smeared PAS reputations by spreading PAS is an extremist party ..... Yes it worked, many non muslims were being duped by BN. Today, many non muslims have accept PAS and since PAS had open its door to non muslim ( ten of thousands of non muslim are flocking to PAS, this had cause great fear in Umno ) and again Umno is trying to use the same old tactic again by linking PAS/ JI to smear PAS's reputation. Umno is evil !

Selangor assemblymen puzzled about federal ‘revolt’ against MB

PKR executive councillors Elizabeth Wong and Dr Xavier Jayakumar today both expressed surprise about talk of an internal party plot to remove the Selangor mentri besar.

“Who are they and what are they upset about?” asked Wong.

PKR MPs, who chose to remain anonymous, earlier today confirmed there was a move to remove Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

It was reported that the MPs intend to send a petition to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

But Wong (picture) pointed out that both Anwar and PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had already said at the recent party congress that there would be no leadership change in Selangor.

Wong also said she was surprised that the appointment of Khalid’s new political secretary Faekah Husin was being used as an excuse by some quarters against him.

It was reported that Khalid had appointed the former lawyer instead of a candidate proposed by the party’s political bureau.

But Wong said the appointment of a political secretary was Khalid’s prerogative.

“It’s something personal,” she said.

She pointed out that Faekah was well qualified, having serve as Wan Azizah’s political secretary when she was opposition leader.

She said the speculation was affecting the party’s image.

Meanwhile, Xavier said the talk about Khalid’s removal was “news to him”.

“If there is such a move, those involved should raise it with the PKR supreme council, with everyone present.”

He said that while those unhappy with Khalid have their point of view there were others who may not agree with them.

PAS executive councillor Iskandar Abd Samad said he was personally happy with Khalid’s leadership.

“Of course, I am part of his administration,” he said.

The DAP’s Ean Yong Hian Wah described the issue as “an internal PKR matter”.

“I don’t want to comment on it,” said the Selangor DAP chief.

However, PKR assemblyman Mat Suhaimi Shafie said there was nothing wrong with asking for a change in mentri besar.

“Even prime ministers have been changed, so why not,” said the Sri Muda state lawmaker.

However, he questioned the authority of the federal PKR lawmakers to call for the removal of a mentri besar of a state.




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BN got nothing better to do, create confusions for PKR to reply, just do your tasks given.
Its going to see the downfall of BN in he 13th Election

Declare Batu seat vacant! Ibrahim Ali

Datuk Ibrahim Ali, the Independent Member of Parliament has urged the EC (Election Commission) to declare the Batu parliamentary seat vacant. The seat is held by PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat)’s Tian Chua who was recently sentenced to a fine of RM2,000 for an incident where he bit a policeman 3 years ago. The High Court judge had earlier ruled for a fine of RM3,000 but reviewed it and reduced it to RM2,000 to avoid another by-election.

Ibrahim said “The judge is required to make decisions only on law and not to avoid by-elections. That’s not his role according to the doctrine of separation of powers. It was inappropriate for Tian Chua, who is PKR strategic director, to continue to be a lawmaker when he has been convicted of breaking the law by hurting a policeman.” According to Article 48 of the Federal Constitution, “An MP should be disqualified from his seat if he is fined not less than RM2 000 or sentenced to not less than a one-year jail term for an offence.”



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since when this no brain p i g head iblahim ali talk big than his boss NAJIS,

RM6.7b spent on purchasing and maintenance of submarines

According to the Minister of Defence, some RM6.7billion has been spent to purchase the 2 Scorpene submarines which was completed last year at the LIMA Exhibition. He was replying in writing to Tian Chua, the Batu Member of Parliament where he reported the purchasing of the 2 submarines as well as 40 SM-39 Block 2 torpedoes from France and 30 Black Shark torpedoes from Italy. The 2 submarines cost €1.084billion while the rest cost €37.5million.

He said “The total cost of the torpedoes amounted to €219.265 million. If you add all this up, the total cost is RM6.7 billion. But this does not include maintenance fees for the submarines,” Chua had earlier claimed that the supplier of the company, DCN had allegedly quoted an additional RM600million in maintenance costs. He said “This figure was quoted by DCN prior to its joint venture with Boustead Holdings, a Malaysian company. After the venture, Boustead told the Defence Ministry that RM270 million would be needed for maintenance of the submarines each year. The RM600 million is the top ceiling cost for all six years. If the RM600 million were to be added to the RM6.7 billion, the total cost would be RM7.3 billion. While we are facing financial problems, with subsidies here and there, the government is having two white elephants which keep expanding in cost. We are not sure whether this will be the end of the payments, or will there be more,”



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Per torpedo costs more than RM 12 million. If they fire 10 torpedoes in target practice, more than RM 120 million will be 'kaboooommmm...

How about the cost Atan Tu Laaa life ? And the price given to the 2 police's family, work DONE!!!


How much money was: overpaid and commission???? How many hospitals, schools, roads couls have been build with that amount of money! How many low cost houses for the poor! Shame on you Malaysian Government that you spend so much money on war toys and forget all about the Malaysian and the future generations! No money, no oil, no gas-going bankrupt but buy war toys for a few generals to play with!


If this Country is ruled by Pakatan Rakyat long time ago, we will be better off than Singapore with so many natural resources and talented people. We can even afford to buy 10 submarines equipped with torpedoes rather than Najis buying just 2 empty floating cans without fire power.....ha ha ha.

umno malays just like to stay on and hungry for power (corruption) to rule ruin this Country with stupid malays like mami aziza waiting to be spoon fed.....to more stupid the umno malay supporters, the better for the umno goons to carry on their robbing.....ha ha ha.

Gun goes off inside RMAF copter

A high-powered M-16 rifle was reported to have been triggered during a tactical rescue training inside a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Nuri helicopter in Pulau Labuan on June 10.

RMAF public relations officer Major Kamarulzaman Ali said no one was injured in the 11am incident which involved seven combat search and rescue personnel

At the time, he said, the aircraft experienced turbulence following strong winds.

At that juncture, the rifle fell and went off, he said.



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Is there a low-powered M-16?

of course there are. don't you remember we have submarines that cannot dive?

The same type of guy who dropped the M16 and don't know how to use the safety catch will be manning the 6bil Submarine.

With the amount of billions dump into defense, do our military personnel know what they are doing or serious about what they are doing? This is like shooting own goal in Football. Are we actually going to be any good if we are attacked?

Rosmah: Education Ministry to take over Permata programme from 2012

The Education Ministry will take over the implementation of the Permata Negara programme from 2012 when two relevant Acts have been amended by Parliament, the prime minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor disclosed today.

Rosmah, the patron of the programme, said according to the initial plan, the takeover by the ministry should commence in March next year, but amendments to the Education Act 1996 and Childcare Centre Act 1984 needed time to be fine-tuned.

“The Education Ministry will take over the Permata programme of early childhood education and care,” she said after chairing a meeting on strengthening the implementation of the programme at her residence here.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will take over the running of the taska (kindergartens).

Rosmah said the Permata Negara programme, however, would still be monitored by the Permata Programme Implementation Council chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Permata Programme Monitoring Working Committee chaired by her.

She said details of the takeover plan involved areas of jurisdiction of the agencies concerned, including providing trained pre-school teachers.

According to her, some of the Taska Kemas and Taska Perpaduan had adhered to the Permata Negara curriculum.

On the plan to strengthen the programme, Rosmah said it would involve the building and upgrading of 70 Taska Kemas, 27 Taska Perpaduan, eight kindergartens under the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department and 20 workplace or community kindergartens.

On training of Permata teachers, she said several new elements had been incorporated such as creative and critical thinking, multiculturalism, introduction to music and instilling love for the country.

Rosmah said private kindergartens interested to use the Permata Negara curriculum should apply for the licence first through the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry or the Education Ministry.




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Who's running the country?

Rosmah here and Rosmah there...sounds like First Lady

sound like you the Education Minister in The Prime Minister Office!!!

Wander where is the Education Minister stands................................Muhi have you done your homework?


Since when Rosmah become Govt official? She not even elected.

PAS claims no proof of JI threat

PAS alleged today that a recent high-powered briefing by top police officers to Higher Education Ministry officials did not disclose proof of Jemaah Islamiah (JI) recruiting local university students.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub threatened to reveal the details of the briefing, said to have been held a few days ago, if the government did not state its official stand and show proof of terror threats by the end of this Parliamentary session.

“We request that this issue is explained in Parliament. We will give them a time frame and if they fail to abide by this, I will expose the exact details of the briefing.

“We have the information on what happened and from what I was told, there were no evidence, empirical or otherwise, that was presented to the ministry on this JI issue,” he told a joint press conference with other PAS MPs at the Parliament lobby here today.

He said that the meeting had been held between the Higher Education Ministry, the Inspector-General of Police as well as several high-ranking police officials.

The opposition had last week slammed the government for capitalising on unproven information that terrorism threats existed in the country.

They claimed the government was fabricating such threats in order to divert the people’s attention away from issues of national concern, such as the sports betting fiasco, Apco Worldwide and others.

Salahuddin claimed that the government was employing a similar tactic used by the US government to use terror threats to create fear among its people.

“I am worried because this could be a global agenda. Especially after the Prime Minister’s meeting with US president Barack Obama recently, we see this agenda being played up again.

“They are using this method to divert form the true issues at hand,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan recently told reporters that terror group JI had been recruiting students from local universities to join their ranks.

“I can confirm that no evidence was given that these local universities house terrorist nests. Perhaps the government plans to use some people as their scapegoats,” said Salahuddin.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar concurred with his colleague and slammed Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for calling the opposition “crazy” for their allegations regarding the government’s claims.

“He (Hishamuddin) said (PKR de facto leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and I were crazy. It is clear from what Salahuddin is saying today that the police themselves had failed to provide proof that these threats exist.

“We are not crazy but we are facing crazy politics that drive us crazy,” he said.

Mahfuz added that the police had also failed to prove that a group of terrorists had allegedly been planning attacks on two places of worship in Penang and in Selangor.

He was referring to the case of when nine foreigners and one local were arrested in an anti-terror raid in Gombak earlier this year. The foreigners were later deported to their home countries in April, where they were further detained.

The group, allegedly linked to al Qaeda, were reportedly on a mission to recruit members for the international terror group and the Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

According to a report in an English daily, the group comprising four Syrians, two Yemenis, two Nigerians, a Jordanian and a Malaysian, were planning to blow up two places of worship in Penang and Selangor but were caught before they could carry out the acts.

PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad accused the government of attempting to create “Islamophobia” among the people, in preparation for the next general election.

“This terrorist term has always been used by these people to create fear in public. They want to create this fear of Islam among the non-Muslims.

“This is a weapon used by the US and by the Israelis,” he said.

Khalid added that this tactic could be detrimental to the country for it would only serve to scare away tourists and possible investors.

“We are shooting ourselves in our own foot. The government should not, just for the sake of its own political survival, gamble away the country’s future and peace by creating this Islamophobia,” he said.



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Even Osama and gang have decided to take a break so how is it possible for JI to break into the local scene. This scare tactic certainly reminds me of storie told in the dark to enlarge the imagination and keep one housebound. The name of the game is spin and divert.

Government claims no interference in cancelled NTV7, TV2 shows

The government categorically denied today that either the Prime Minister’s Department or Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor had interfered in the management of broadcaster NTV7, thus leading to the resignation of a producer in April.

In responding to Chua Tian Chang’s (PKR-Batu) adjournment speech in Parliament tonight, Information, Communication and Culture Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Salang said the allegation linking the department and the prime minister’s wife to the resignation of the station’s former producer Joshua Wong was “untrue and baseless”.

“On the contrary, it was an internal issue of the station whereby the producer refused to listen to the advice of his management on the station’s policy,” Joseph explained.

He claimed that NTV7 had received a public complaint that Wong’s show, “Editor’s Time”, was imbalanced, aired inappropriate topics and that its line of discussions touched on sensitive issues.

“As a media station, NTV7 has to take into account the views of the people besides following the law to avoid controversies that could affect public sentiment.

“Hence the station’s management discussed the issue with the producer but he decided not to abide by its policies and insisted on resigning,” Joseph said.

In April, Wong, an award-winning producer, resigned from the station, alleging “overzealous self-censorship and government interference” from the Prime Minister’s Department and Rosmah.

He claimed that he had been directed not to discuss political issues or invite opposition leaders on his show. He had also said that a special screening for the Hulu Selangor by-election, which was ongoing at the time, had been cancelled.

Joseph also denied that there were “political interferences” in the cancellation of the TV2 documentary “Galeri Mandarin Nasional” handled by producer Chou Z Lam, which was set to discuss the problems faced by the people over the Bakun dam issue.

“The cancellation of the documentary was also not linked to the Sibu by-election.

“The decision on the cancellation was purely professional for it had failed to abide by the guidelines of the TV2 station. Additionally, it also did not speak of the true purpose of the Bakun dam project and its benefits to the country,” he said.

Joseph said that according to the standard operating procedures on airing public programmes on television, the RTM was responsible in ensuring that the people received “balanced information” on government projects.

On the sudden termination of Chou after a second programme, this time on the construction of a high-tension tower in Rawang, Joseph explained that it was a step to “balance out” the number of staff working in the station.

“The hiring and termination of staff is according to proper procedures,” he said.

He further explained that the subsequent appointment of an MCA Youth member from Bera, Yap Chy Cuan, to “monitor” the Mandarin programmes aired on the channel was not “politically motivated”.

“His work as a politician does not clash with his work at the station. He is also a contract staff. His experience in journalism can improve the quality of the programmes aired,” he said.

At a press conference later, Chua slammed the deputy minister for his “unqualified” answer to the House.

He pointed out that after Wong had resigned from NTV7, the “Editor’s Time” talk show no longer invited opposition politicians for discussions.

“This is a clear indication that everything was politically motivated,” he said.

Chua also questioned the guidelines on what programmes could be aired on TV and urged the government to answer whether the guidelines meant that only information that supported the ruling government could be aired.

“Must these programmes only praise the government? Or can they present information of facts, not through political viewpoints but truly on the pros and cons of government projects?” he said.




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the government can deny all they want but every one knows that bn has been on denial mode at everything thrown at them by the opposition. should there be leaders who wish to be a little more transparent, they will be removed like how the former mca president was; for trying to bring the culprits in the pkfz scandal to light.

If it is not politically motivated, then what? We Malaysians are not stupid. ANd don't treat us like one.

Don't they think their denial comes way, way too late. just like the dissociation with Perkasa. UMNO just can't get it right because everything from UMNO is a work of APCO puboic relations.

All hot air, nothing of substance.

Najib and his 1Malaysia and NEW which have become very quiet now. Wonder what next?

After spending millions of tax-payers money to glorify Rosmah in a full page, colour advertisement in the New York Times, you expect us to buy your denial? We are not stupid

Nazir is NEP product too, says Ibrahim Ali

Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali rebuffed today Datuk Seri Nazir Razak’s criticisms of the New Economic Policy (NEP) by pointing out that the CIMB chief was also a product of affirmative action policies.


The de facto leader of right-wing Malay groups fighting to maintain affirmative action policies as Bumiputera rights urged the prime minister’s brother to be fair in assessing pro-Bumiputera policies in Malaysia.

Yesterday, Nazir repeated his call for a review of the NEP, saying that the policy has been unfair to the majority of Malays.

Nazir, a younger brother to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said the time had come for the government to protect the interest of the majority of the Malays and not just a selected few.

But the controversial Ibrahim (picture) said today that the CIMB chief too had benefited from the NEP.

“That was his personal opinion and I believe he is a product of the New Economic Policy,” said Ibrahim.

“Bank Bumiputra, now known as CIMB, was a product of affirmative action policy,” he added.

“Everyone should look at what they have received so that they can be fair to others,” said Ibrahim.

In calling for a review of NEP-type policies, Nazir questioned the lack of transparency in the allocation of Bumiputera shares in listed companies and the awarding of APs.

Nazir told the influential Malay weekly Mingguan Malaysia that the NEP, which was introduced during his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein’s administration to forge unity, had become a divisive policy.

“I would like to suggest to Datuk Seri Nazir to read the book ‘World on Fire’ by Amy Chua from Yale University,” said Ibrahim.

“If he reads the book, he will understand the reason behind fair distribution of wealth and the importance of policies like the NEP,” he added.

The book by Chua, a Yale University Law School professor, argues that free market democracy can increase ethnic conflicts when there is a market-dominant minority. The findings of the book have been disputed by many scholars.

Ibrahim said Nazir may have viewed the matter from a banker’s point of view.

“Maybe Datuk Nazir was looking at it as a banker, but he is not a politician like his brother Datuk Seri Najib,” said Ibrahim.



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Nobody disagreed that all successful Malays in this country are the product of NEP. Nobody is asking for abolishment of the NEP. Majority of the people ask for a review of the implementation of NEP.

As an example, my poor friend Ahmad, Muthu and Ah Seng should be given help to buy house as a shelter for their family. They are earning RM1,000 or less a month. People like you don't deserve to get 7% discount when you buy your palatial home. You got so much money working for Vincent Tan.

This is the revision people are asking.

This guy seriously don't know what he is talking. Nazir mentioned of revamping to benefit the rest instead of the selected group. When we even snub him, he always has something to say.

I thought that this Frog will call for a demonstration against Nazir for his remarks but it looks like he still looks before he leaps.

So what is Ali's point here? That because a tiny sliver of UMNO-Putra's have benefited by stealing tax payers money, and they have hid behind the NEP to facilitate and legitimize the theft - that Ali and his band of bumi's also want the liberty to pursue the coveted opportunity to steal from the tax payers... irrespective of the fact that the Putra's in power would never let Ali join them at the trough... smart guy this Ali is...

Tian Chua might appeal court decision

Despite the reduction of the sentence and the reason given by the judge that his decision was to avoid a by-election, questions still hang over whether the RM2,000 fine is enough to disqualify Chua as an MP.

Article 48 of the Constitution states that an MP should be disqualified from his seat if he is fined not less than RM2,000 or sentenced to not less than a one-year jail term for an offence.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh has continued to insist that the RM2,000 punishment was enough to disqualify Chua as an MP.

“The issue here is not on my status. It is on the fact that I am innocent. I regret that the High Court had not looked into the evidence that there was no biting,” Chua insisted.

Although he had earlier indicated that he would not appeal Ghazali’s ruling, the first-term MP said tonight that he would discuss the issue with his lawyers.

“I want to return my innocence. I did not commit any crime. I will wait for my lawyers to advise me on this issue... not on my status as an MP, but on my innocence.

PKR’s Chua Tian Chang, who appears to be in a Catch-22 situation over his status as Batu MP, may file an appeal against his court sentence, thus rescuing himself from the sticky dilemma.

The wily politician, however, insists that if he were indeed to appeal the sentence, it would be to prove his innocence, and not to settle the dispute over his validity as an MP.

In a late press conference in Parliament tonight, the former civil rights activist insisted to the media that despite reports to the contrary, he was still the Batu MP.

“I think let us leave the matter to rest because today, we have received the judge’s assurance on my status so I think... leave it at that.

“However, I still maintain that despite the fact there is no disqualification, it was still an unfair judgment (to find me guilty) because I am innocent from any wrongdoing,” he said.

Chua (picture) was found guilty of biting a police constable on the arm outside the Parliament building in 2007.

He was initially slapped with a RM3,000 fine in default six months’ jail sentence by a magistrate but the sentence was reduced to RM2,000 in default two months’ jail by High Court Justice Datuk Ghazali Cha last week.


“My MP status no longer arises because there is no threat that my seat has been declared vacant,” he said.

On Karpal’s persistence in saying that he should be disqualified, Chua said he understood the veteran lawyer’s point of view and bore no grudges against him.

“I understand what Karpal is doing. Basically, he is insisting that as long as such an unjust law exists, we will all continue to be victims of such laws,” he said.

Chua added that a RM2,000 fine or RM2,500 fine in such cases was not a justifiable amount to disqualify an MP from his seat.

“The law should not be there. It should not include people who engage in activities like peaceful assemblies or those who speak out for the people.

“MPs should enjoy the immunity of being allowed to carry out their duties as the people’s voice. Laws that are draconian and that threaten the freedom of representatives to speak out and to act in defence of the people should be scrapped,” he said.



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Whatever. Make the appeal so that the judge can reverse your charge to not guilty OR re-adjust your fine to RM 1,999 so that it can save the time, trouble & money that will be cause if re-election were to take place, if you do not appeal at all. Help Malaysia clean up this mess the best way. Do it for us.

The Judiciary became tainted during DM's time and the stench is still with us. To reform the Judiciary, the way judges are promoted should be reformed; especially to the Court of Appeal as that is the final arbiter of justice.
I suggest when PR comes to power, the promotion to CoA must be done only after the candidate is summoned to Parliament and appears before a house committee that looks after justice matters.
We need to move away from the system where the PM holds so much power in appointing judges - he may nominate but subject to a review by law-makers

Sime Darby a conglomerate gone awry — Tunku Abdul Aziz

There is a place for conglomerates in the business world. However, as with everything else, some are good, but mostly they invariably become unwieldy and difficult to manage effectively. Many come unstuck, leaving behind a trail of miserable examples of management failures, human greed and frailties.


As always, there is a lot of cleaning up to do after the party is over. The sad truth is that we do not as yet have what it takes to run a complex business successfully, and a conglomerate is hellishly difficult to keep on a straight course because the temptation to wander off into the unfamiliar is often irresistible, and most conglomerates find themselves up a creek.

There have been many instances of major failures in the Sime stables. There was the case of the insurance business in the UK in the eighties, a member of Lloyds, which was in such a bad shape because of mismanagement that it had to be bundled with a very profitable money-broking company into an attractive package and sold for a song.

Sime Darby naturally had to be responsible for all the liabilities resulting from claims on policies transacted up to the time of the sale of the company. For the next several years after the sale of the company to the new owners, Sime Darby continued to send out to the UK enormous sums of money to cover the claims.

Then there was the Sime Bank debacle. Banking was a business in which it had no expertise and had to rely on the management that came along with the bank when it was acquired. The integrity of many of the top executives running Sime Bank was questionable. What happened to the bank should have been a lesson to the board of Sime Darby about sticking to what it was good at.

I well remember in Windsor, England, saying jocularly to Tunku Tan Sri Ahmad Yahaya, then Group Chief Executive, when he told me Sime Darby had acquired a bank, that he would be better off getting a casino licence. Later he admitted that I was right.

I also recall the factory ship fiasco in the early eighties. The Sime Darby-owned vessel operating in the North Atlantic off the coast of Africa found itself in rough seas financially.

Sime Darby decided to sack its two British employees claiming that they had got into this business with the approval of the board in Kuala Lumpur. This was patently untrue. The Brits would not be bullied into submission, and they sued Sime Darby and its then chairman Tun Tan Siew Sin for wrongful dismissal, and won a very substantial sum of money in an out of court settlement. Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid, the dismissed Group Chief Executive, should not have allowed the board of Sime Darby to treat him so shabbily.

I personally believe that with a loss of this scale of magnitude, an honourable board would have resigned because obviously it has failed to discharge its fiduciary and other related responsibilities of stewardship. Zubir has been used as a scapegoat in the Anglo-Malaysian corporate tradition. If Sime Darby had been an American company, the chair would have accepted responsibility and resigned or been forced to go without ceremony.

I find Tun Musa Hitam’s logic for staying put, saying that he would resign if required to do so by the shareholders, disingenuous and self-serving to say the least. He must know he has failed as chairman, and based on the principle of collective responsibility, his board must exit with him. This is the honourable thing expected of a responsible board, and this is what I expect the much trumpeted Sime tagline, “Developing Sustainable Futures” to be all about.

My advice to Zubir is to consider taking Musa and his board to the cleaners. Sue them. We need in this country boards that are principled, and we can also do with a little honour and integrity in our business leadership.

Sime Darby in the meantime must take a good, hard look at itself to see if operating on the present model is sustainable. It is obvious that Sime Darby has become largely unwieldy, unmanageable, and unsustainable. It is showing all the signs of having become a conglomerate in the worst possible sense. The worst is not over yet.



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Only an earth quake can force the boards of directors in Malaysia to resign to take responsibility for poor company performances. Take the case of Tabung Haji where millions are lost for investing dubious ventures somewhere in Central America. But the board remain and claimed ignorance. They never even apologise to the many depositors who put their hard earned money with the high hope that the money will be managed well and in halal ventures .

Ahmad Maslan urges Malays to mend ways

Malays should change their mindset to be in tandem with the objective of Vision 2020 which encompasses progress in education, business, unity, politics and leadership.

Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said they should also be competitive to be able to seize opportunities and be successful.

“The mentality and attitude of the Malays have to change so that they will be more open minded and competitive,” he said when opening the Wangsa Maju Umno divisional meeting here today.

Ahmad, who is deputy minister in the prime minister’s department, emphasised the need for Malays to acquire knowledge being that education was the basis for progress.

“Without knowledge, we cannot change the society,” he added. He also encouraged them to venture into the business sector for better income.

At a media conference later, Ahmad said there was no need for the government to entertain Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz’s call for the government to give time before holding a general election to enable the contesting political parties to prepare themselves. — Bernama



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He claimed knowledge is important. But he refuse to allow longer time for election preparation so that people will not be fully informed on the right candidates and party to vote for and in turn rule the state or country. Anyway with Utusan dan TV3 the mindset of the Malays will be hard to change.

Hishamuddin assured Malaysians that the national security is under control

National security is under control as security forces are constantly on the lookout for any threat from the terrorists. According to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, the police and special anti-terrorist squad were working alongside Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from the United States and intelligence from Australia and middle east countries to track any terrorist activities in the country
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He assured Malaysians that the country's security is under control and free from any threat as surveillance are carried out 24 hours a day, seven days a week all-year long. He made such statements to clarify speculations that terrorist groups had planned to attack worship places in Penang and Selangor.



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I AM , NOT QUITE SURE WE ARE SAFE. THE INSIDE TERRORISTS LED BY BN IS WORSE THEN THE JI OR THE AL QUEDA. WITH THEIR "DOGS", THE PDRM, AG AND MCCC (ACB) THIS COUNTRY WILL BE UPSIDE DOWN. HA... HA...

DSAI mentioned a few days ago that the Govt is using terrorist as an issue to blanket the other main issues. He ask the Govt to proof if there is such terrorist in the first place.

Hishamuddin always says everything is under control, this will just give him a thumps up, when there isn't in the first place. All this are wayang kulit talk. Just like how they claim they are working with Scotland Yard on RPK, but it did not happen.