Khamis, 29 November 2012

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The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 5)

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:56 PM PST

I had never tendered for fishing nets before so I was not too clear of the costing. I sought the advise of a friend who gave me the previous year's prices and asked me to drop my bid 7% below that price so that we can be the cheapest bidder. That was the most screwed up advice I ever received, as I would soon learn.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Most Malays are Ali Baba businessmen, said Chia Kim Peong a.k.a. Ah Piow. The Chinese use the Malays to get business. You, however, are a Baba Ali businessman. It is the other way around. You use the Chinese to do business. And you do all the work while I just sit back and collect my dividends. Ah Piow probably found that very amusing.

That quip was triggered by an episode involving the fishing net business that I started. I tried to get supplies from the Fusan fishing net manufacturer in Port Kelang but they told me that Nam Lee was their sole distributor.

I tried to meet up with Nam Lee but they refused to see me. They told me they were not interested in my business because they already had more than enough business to handle.

I spoke to Ah Piow who told me that he knows the Nam Lee people very well. He asked me to meet him at their office and he brought me in to meet the Managing Director although we had no prior appointment. I tried many times to meet them but failed and Ah Piow can just walk in unannounced. Clearly contacts are the key to business success.

Nam Lee agreed to supply me the fishing nets on condition that Ah Piow guaranteed my company's debts. Ah Piow told me not to make him 'lose face'. 'Face' is everything to the Chinese so I have to make good my debts to Nam Lee.

Once I had learned the ins and outs of the fishing net business I participated in my first public tender. The tender was for RM12 million and seven companies participated. Amongst the seven were Pernas and Nam Lee plus companies owned by Bank Pertanian and Shamelin, an Umno-linked company founded by Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, the one-time Agriculture Minister.

I had never tendered for fishing nets before so I was not too clear of the costing. I sought the advise of a friend who gave me the previous year's prices and asked me to drop my bid 7% below that price so that we can be the cheapest bidder. That was the most screwed up advice I ever received, as I would soon learn.

The buyer called the seven of us for a meeting and I was informed that our prices were 30% below everyone else. They said I had clearly made a mistake so they were giving me the opportunity to withdraw, leaving the remaining six in the race. The RM12 million contract would then be divided six ways, around RM2 million per bidder.

I refused to withdraw and insisted that we remain in the race. I noticed the others around the table, who had been in this game a number of years, whisper and snigger. I was furious. There was no way I was going to withdraw and 'lose face'. I was going to stay and fight even if I lost my pants. And if they were right that I had made a mistake then I stand to lose quite a bit of money. But then this is about 'face', not money.

Because our price was 30% lower than all the rest, they had no choice but to give us the entire contract. The rest got nothing. With variation orders and a two-year extension, the RM12 million contract became RM20 million.

As luck would have it, Korea, which had many fishing net factories (unlike Malaysia which had only one) saw an oversupply situation when the market for fishing nets coincidentally took a dive. Fishing nets have a short shelf life so they needed to dispose off these nets as fast as possible. So now many factories in Korea were scrambling and were trying to dump their nets at fire sale prices.

The Koreans came to see me to try and get me to buy from them. They told me that based on normal pricing I was going to lose money big time because I had made a mistake in my pricing. However, they were prepared to supply me and would allow me to make 2.5% over the contract price.

I told the Koreans that their price was not attractive enough and that I could get the nets cheaper elsewhere. They told me that that would be impossible because nowhere in the world could I get nets at that kind of pricing. I told them in that case they should sit back and watch me do it.

They went off after telling me they will remain in Kuala Lumpur in case I change my mind because they were still interested in doing business with me.

I never called them back. In the meantime, the clock was ticking. I was supposed to supply the nets within 60 days and now 30 days had passed. If I can't get my hands on the supply I would default and the contract would be cancelled plus I would lose the performance bond of RM600,000.

Five days later, the Koreans called again and said they agree to my terms. They will give me 30% and supply all my requirements. But they will require a Letter of Credit. I told them, "No Letter of Credit." They were the ones chasing me, not me chasing them. If they want me to buy from them then they will have to give me 60 days credit.

The deal was sealed and I made my first delivery after requesting a 30-day extension for the first delivery and then 60 days delivery thereafter.

Fusan and Nam Lee were taught a lesson of their lives. Pernas, which had about RM500,000 in unsold stocks had to write off their fishing nets because the rats and cockroaches had eaten all the nets in their store (nets are perishable items when left in the store).

My satisfaction was not in making around RM5 million on that three-year contract that eventually totalled RM20 million. It was in teaching the 'big boys' a lesson to not snigger at me during a meeting as if I did not know what I was doing.

Well, actually I did not know what I was doing. It was just luck and a game of poker with the Koreans that prevented me from losing my pants, yet again. Needless to say, I never tried that stunt again.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 4)

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST

This was no longer about making money. We were already making plenty of money -- Johan's turnover was in the hundreds of millions a year and our business interests were spread out in all the continents of this world. This was about which of the Taikos can become the Taipan. It was a game of prestige. I suppose at that time we felt immortal and lost focus of the objectives of doing business.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

They say a drowning man surfaces only three times. On the third time he goes down he stays down for good. He will never surface again. He will die.

It is now 1991. I was already 17 years in business and had survived two economic recessions and had fought off two bankruptcies. Therefore I could afford only one more collapse before I go down for good and never rise again.

The first crisis I faced was in 1975, merely a few months after I started my business back in 1974. And that story is as follows.

My business partner, Zulkifly Mohd Nor, an ex-Pernas officer, had cleaned out our bank account and had absconded with the company's money. This could only be done with the collaboration of the branch manager of Bank Rakyat Kuala Terengganu.

I confronted the bank manager, Ghazi, and he confirmed he had released all the payments for the sales of the Yanmar engines that we had made to the fishermen. The arrangement was: Bank Rakyat would finance our buyers and would pay us for the cost of the engines. The money was supposed to have been paid directly to the company. However, instead of paying the money into the company's bank account, it had all been diverted to Zulkifly's personal bank account.

I spoke to Michael Toh Hong Hooi, the manager of Chong Lee Leong Seng, our Yanmar supplier, and told him that the money was all gone. Zulkifly had 'kebas' the money and there was nothing left. I only had a few hundred Ringgit in my pocket, and that was all.

Chong Lee Leong Seng can choose to sue us and get us declared bankrupt or they can allow us to 'live' and I will ensure that all the money will eventually be paid back in full. I would also need them to continue giving us credit so that we can continue to trade.

Michael Toh agreed to create two trading accounts for us. 'Account A' would be the old unpaid debt while 'Account B' would be the new credit line that Chong Lee Leong Seng would extend to us. 'Account B' would have a RM30,000 limit with a 90-day credit period. Once we reach 90 days, or we reach the RM30,000 limit, we would have to pay up before more supplies can be made. But each time we paid for 'Account B' we would also have to pay for part of 'Account A'.

In time, it was hoped, 'Account A' would be fully settled.

One more condition that Michael Toh imposed on us was that I would have to take a Chinese partner and give him 30% of the company. This Chinese businessman would offer Chong Lee Leong Seng the 'comfort' of continuing to do business with us.

I was introduced to this Chinese businessman, a man named Chia Kim Peong from Sabak Bernam. Chia gave me RM10,000 as working capital and he guaranteed the RM30,000 credit line from Chong Lee Leong Seng. I would have to 'roll' with this RM10,000 and the RM30,000 credit line from Chong Lee Leong Seng.

When Chia cashed out his 30% interest in my company in 1985, he made about RM300,000 on the RM10,000 he gave me in 1975, not a bad return for just ten years.

With this new 'lease of life' in 1975, it took me three years of hard work to rise again. I practically lived in my car with my daughter, my only child then, Raja Suraya, sleeping in the back seat of the car as I drove from Kelantan to Johor to Kedah to market my Yanmar engines. In 1975, we did only RM300,000 in sales. By 1976 and 1977, we touched RM1 million a year. In 1978, our sales touched RM6 million. And in 1979 and 1980 we did about RM10 million a year in sales.

It took me three years to make our first million. That was in 1978. They say the first million is the most difficult to make. Once you have made your first million then the second million is easier. That is quite true. It took me only two years to make our second million and by 1980 we had RM3 million in cash reserves and had done roughly RM30 million in sales over those five years or so.

We were now Chong Lee Leong Seng's number one Yanmar dealer.

It was now time to go big time. And 'big time' to us then was, of course, to 'go public'. Public listed companies was the measure of a person's success and a status symbol back in 1980.

Michael Toh introduced me to his uncle, Tan Kay Hock (now a 'Tan Sri') -- yes, the man currently in the middle of the George Kent (M) Bhd/Ampang LRT controversy -- who was about to take over a dormant public listed company, Johan Tin (now called Johan Holdings Berhad). I invested heavily in Johan, mainly through bank borrowings (and the main reason for my RM20 million debts which I wrote about earlier in parts 2 and 3 of this series).

From a 'bankrupt' in 1975 to a millionaire in 1980 and a multi-millionaire in 1985 -- I thought nothing was going to stop me. The sky was the limit. I was now in the ranks of the corporate chiefs like Tan Sri Ibrahim (Promet), Vincent Tan (Berjaya), and so on. We were all 'racing' to see whose shares could go the highest. Promet's and Johan's shares had both exceeded RM10 per share but Promet's shares were RM0.20 ahead of Johan's.

This was no longer about making money. We were already making plenty of money -- Johan's turnover was in the hundreds of millions a year and our business interests were spread out in all the continents of this world. This was about which of the Taikos can become the Taipan. It was a game of prestige. I suppose at that time we felt immortal and lost focus of the objectives of doing business.

And we would soon learn that we would pay a heavy price for that arrogance.

In 1985, the recession hit us, followed by the 1987 stock market collapse. What I had made over the last ten years was lost in a mere couple of months. Our RM10 shares dived to less than RM0.50. I was saddled with RM20 million in debts but with shares that could not even cover half that amount. I had no choice but to bail out and embark upon a 'fire sale' -- as related in parts 2 and 3 of this series.

So there you are. I was now, again, broke, and would have to start from the bottom all over again. The dream of becoming the Taipan had now turned into a nightmare. But how do I bounce back with the economy and my personal finances in tatters?

I found out that many companies were still listing their shares but there were no takers. No one wanted to invest in the stock market. Everyone was still licking his/her wounds from the last disaster and it appeared like full recovery may take some years yet.

One company, Hexza Corporation Berhad, was facing this same dilemma. They had issued a few million shares, which the Ministry of Trade and Industry was holding on to but with no investors wanting to pick them up.

I approached the Ministry to enquire into these shares and they told me that they could let me have ten million shares at RM0.65 per share if I wanted them. The Ministry was happy to get rid of these shares that no one wanted. I told them I only wanted a million shares and they told to come back with a bank draft for RM650,000.

I went home and told my wife, Marina, about the offer. She phoned her stockbroker who told her that Hexza was trading at RM0.95 per share. She said it was a good deal and that we should pick up those shares. But let's not be too greedy, Marina said. Let's pick up just one million shares, in case.

Marina dug into her cookie jar and pulled out RM150,000. So we were still short of RM500,000. I went to Kwong Yik Bank and they agreed to give me a loan of RM500,000 -- if we hand over the RM150,000 to the bank and ask the Ministry to issue the shares in the name of Kwong Yik Nominees.

We completed the transaction over the next few days and then lodged the one million Hexza Corporation Berhad shares with the bank. I then told Marina to do what she wanted with them. By the time Marina unloaded the shares a few months later, the shares had climbed to more than RM2 per share. After paying back the bank the RM500,000 we owed them, we managed to walk away with about RM1.5 million in cash.

It was time to reinvest this money and make that RM1.5 million grow to RM15 million.

TO BE CONTINUED

 
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Rep faces fine over alleged sexist remarks

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 01:13 PM PST

(The Star) - An assemblyman may end up having RM5,000 docked from his allowance for allegedly making sexist remarks at the state assembly.

Gan Pei Nei (PKR-Rawang) filed the motion against Datuk Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (BN-Batang Kali) for making the alleged remarks during the state assembly last Thursday.

Mohd Isa was said to have told state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong "to remember to take care of your own forest" during the debate.

The following day, Mohd Isa denied that the remarks were sexist in nature, saying he only commented on Wong's work in maintaining the state's forest reserves.

"I did not make any such statement. The Hansard can prove that I did not say it when it is released," he said.

At a press conference at the state assembly lobby yesterday, Gan said a fine was not enough to teach Mohd Isa a lesson and recommended he go for counselling sessions as well.

"A fine will serve to highlight the seriousness of his remarks. Not just a fine, Mohd Isa needs to go for counselling too," she said.

Rodziah Ismail (PKR-Batu Tiga) said it must be made compulsory for Mohd Isa to attend a "crash course" on gender sensitivities.

Wong accused Mohd Isa of interjecting during the debate just to humiliate her.

"At the workplace, it would constitute sexual harassment. But in the Dewan, what he said is protected by privilege," she said.

On Monday, MPs proposed a change to Parliament rules, where Standing Order 36 now reads: "It shall be out of order for Members of the House to use offensive language or make a sexist remark."

However, Selangor state assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim said there was no need to emulate Parliament as members of the House could ask for the offending statement to be retracted or file a motion on the matter.

 

Abim bantah konsert Elton John/Jennifer Lopez

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:59 PM PST

(From left) National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students Association (PKPIM) president Muhammad Faisal Aziz, Abim secretary-general Mohd Raimi, PKPIM vice-president (international relations) Abu Qassim Nur Azmi and PKPIM deputy president Mohd Akmal Afiq Mohamad (8 Jan 2010 pic).

(Harakah) - Khuatir generasi muda terus dibanjiri idola tanpa teladan, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) mengecam penganjuran Konsert Elton John, serta Konsert Jennifer Lopez. 

Ini memandangkan konsert tersebut dianjurkan taktala negara masih bergelut untuk merungkaikan pelbagai kemelut sosial yang melanda negara ini.

Persembahan Elton dibuat melalui Elton John & Band: 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man pada 29 November 2012 manakala Jenifer pula melalui Jennifer Lopez live in Malaysia pada 2 Disember ini.

Abim juga menilai penganjuran konsert seakan-akan menggambarkan sikap acuh tidak acuh pihak tertentu terhadap pelbagai bantahan yang dikemukakan terhadap penganjuran konsert-konsert serta program hiburan melampau membabitkan artis-artis dari luar Negara.

Hiburan merupakan elemen berpengaruh terutama sekali di kalangan golongan remaja. Hiburan yang bersifat mendidik akan mendorong golongan remaja untuk mengembangkan sahsiah diri mereka secara positif.

Akan tetapi sekiranya mereka menerima pendedahan dari hiburan yang bersifat hendonistik semata-mata, ia akan mendorong golongan muda ini untuk bertindak menurut kepuasan hawa nafsu semata-mata.

Tambahan pula, salah seorang artis tersebut secara terbuka mengamalkan hubungan sejenis (gay) yang boleh memberikan ekspresi keteladanan yang salah di kalangan golongan muda.

"Seharusnya ancaman LGBT serta beberapa gejala songsang yang lain membuatkan pihak-pihak yang berwajib lebih berwaspada serta berhati-hati dalam menyaring sebarang kemasukan serta penganjuran hiburan membabitkan artis-artis luar negara," kata Setiausaha Agungnya, Mohamad Raimi Abdul Rahim.

Penganjuran kedua-dua konsert tersebut, katanya,  merupakan titik hitam di sebalik kemilau kebangkitan hiburan Islamik serta selebriti dakwah di negara ini.

Ketegasan serta keprihatinan dari pihak berwajib serta masyarakat adalah perlu untuk mengelakkan golongan muda dari terus dibanjiri "idola" tanpa sebarang rujukan keteladanan yang positif, tegasnya.

 

Sabah cops worried about political implications

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:53 PM PST

The Internet is abuzz with claims that foreigners were involved in the recent murder of a teenager in Sabah.

Queville To, FMT

KOTA KINABALU: The unexplained death of a local teenage girl that ignited a torrent of comments and speculation on social network sites has put police here on the spot and drawn comments from senior political leaders.

Norikoh Saliwah's body was found by the roadside, near Kampung Ranau, about 2km from Kota Marudu town on Nov 25 and since then the Internet has been abuzz with claims that foreigners are linked to her death.

The theory that Sabah's teeming population of illegal immigrants and foreign workers has something to do with her death has especially alarmed the police, given the political ramifications of such insinuations.

State Police Commissioner Hamza Taib said earlier this week that inaccurate facts on the case published in the Internet would not only create undue fear among the people but could also threaten national security.

Kota Marudu MP Maximus Ongkili, Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing and Tandek state assemblyman Anita Baranting have visited the family of the victim to express their condolences. In doing so they also applied further pressure on the police to solve the case.

However, the police here, already under pressure over the abduction in Lahad Datu of two businessmen by a group of gunmen believed to be foreigners, are worried that the uptick of anti-immigrant sentiments on the back of political pressure to solve Sabah's hot-potato issue regarding the massive number of illegal immigrants in the state could spiral out of control.

Hamza said claims circulating on the Internet that five Pakistanis had gang-raped the victim before killing and dumping her body by the roadside was "just too much" as the case is still under police investigation.

Pakistani detained

Saliwa, said to have been working as a maid, was from Kampung Bombong 1, Kota Marudu, and had accompanied her 32-year-old sister and a 15-year-old male cousin to Kota Marudu to look for a job for the boy.

From there the trio had gone to a furniture shop in Goshen, some 2km from Kota Marudu, where the cousin was given a job.

The trio then returned to Kota Marudu together with the manager of the furniture shop for a drink.

"While they were having a drink in Kota Marudu, the victim's sister realised that she had left something at the furniture shop in Goshen and asked the victim to follow the store manager back to the shop to collect it," Hamza said.

"After the victim and the store manager had left, the victim's sister was still able to call the victim to check if she was fine and the victim replied saying that she was all right and nothing was wrong.

"Moments later, the sister and the cousin heard news of the victim's body with head injuries being found on the roadside, placing the 40-year-old Pakistani store manager as the last person known to be with the victim before she died," he said, adding that police had detained the latter on Nov 27 to assist in their investigation.

"I strongly remind online publishers to stop releasing false information or action will be taken under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or one year's jail term," he said during a press conference at the state police headquarters in Kepayan.

Ongkili, who is also Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said he had been briefed by the district police and assured the family on Tuesday that a thorough and speedy investigation was being conducted.

"The post-mortem has revealed a cracked skull but no sign of rape on the victim. Police have not ruled out that she might have been killed and a suspect has been arrested," he said.

Did Nazri lie?

On Thursday, Bumburing who recently resigned from his Barisan Nasional coalition member party, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and crossed over to the opposition over the government's failure to resolve Sabah's long-standing illegal immigrant problem, said the country was facing a "serious security threat".

"We want to know what is the real cause of the death of the girl, whether a post-mortem has been carried out to determine the cause of death and if the victim was raped before her death.

"If indeed the police discover in the course of their investigation that foreign nationals are found to be involved in the death of the girl, then it confirms what I have said in Parliament about foreign elements posing serious security threat in the country.

"If this incident is true, then what Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz said in Parliament recently that foreigners are not posing any form of security threat, are lies to hoodwink the people," he said in a statement.

Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee also muscled into the debate today by ticking off Hamza for intimidating Sabahans about posting comments on the Internet about the alleged murder.

He said police should be doing their job and providing security to the people in the state rather than warning citizens that actions could be taken against them under section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

READ MORE HERE

 

Numbers do not denote strength

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:41 PM PST

The number of people at an event does not determine the strength or weakness of a political party.

By Shen Yee Aun, FMT

The numbers at any political event is not the right and accurate benchmark to indicate a political party's weakness or strength. I wonder how can some claim that the current Himpunan Hijau protest is a sign of a death knell for MCA ?

In the past when Barisan Nasional was at its peak, we saw large numbers attending opposition ceramah but the opposition still failed to make inroads during the polls.

MCA's mega dinners have drawn an attendance ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 in each division but did MCA ever claim that it would win the next general election or that Pakatan Rakyat is losing steam?

MCA only claimed that it was recovering and was stronger than before. MCA would never take the numbers game for granted to brag that it was a sign of early victory.

In 1998, the Reformasi movement saw huge crowds, bigger than those who turned up for the Bersih and Lynas rallies, taking to the streets. But still MCA did well in the 1999 general election.

If the strength and weakness of a political party were just based on the impact of the numbers at a protest, then we must also include the 1,500 NGOs that participated in a rally with Barisan Nasional recently. Do we interpret this as BN's strength?

If we want to play the numbers game, then 1,500 NGOs is much bigger compared to Himpunan Hijau. If we are talking about numbers, then it would be 1 (Pakatan) vs 1,500 (BN).

What about the recent 2,000 single mothers who protested against the Selangor Pakatan government that had cheated and manipulated them with empty promise after taking over the state? Is this the death knell for Pakatan in Selangor?

Selective environmentalism

The Lynas issue is actually one of the most successful political deceptions, lies and manipulations in history. Until today, there are still many who believe Pakatan that Lynas is actually a nuclear plant.

Any neutral science expert would tell you that the radiation of Lynas is way lower than the radiation from our mobile phones and even the radiation of taking flights. In reality, Lim Guan Eng's solar plant in Penang would produce more radiation than Lynas.

READ MORE HERE

 

Just words and lip service

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST

The Umno president's speech lacked substance and had no clear policy direction for the people and country, says Chua Jui Meng. 

By Chua Jui Meng, FMT

Najib Tun Razak delivered his presidential address at the annual Umno general assembly yesterday. It was shocking that his speech lacked substance – no clear policy direction for the people and country, just words and lip service.

It was also an amazingly short policy speech, if not the shortest, ever delivered by an Umno president.

To quote William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Najib was "full of sound and fury signifying nothing".

Pre-Umno assembly Najib had also claimed that change can be initiated within Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in general.

After 55 years, did we see any change in the attitude of the party national delegates, in the quality of debates at the assembly?

It was the same old rhetoric featuring inflammatory issues coupled with ridiculous claims like "God has chosen Umno".

The May 13 bogey was still used to intimidate Malaysians to continue to support Umno and BN, racist remarks like "Malays will lose power if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) rules" and "May 13 will recur if PR rules".

Is Umno claiming that only Umno Malays are Malays or Muslims? What about the Malays and Muslims in PKR, PAS, and others?

What changes are Najib and his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, talking about?

Clearly, there has been no change after 55 years and after the March 2008 political tsunami. The same arrogance is displayed by Umno and BN.

Do you mean there are no important and serious public issues covering competency, accountability, transparency, integrity, abuse of power, corruption and economic policies to discuss or debate?

If Umno has really changed, how could its top leaders go into the assembly pretending as if the following did not happen:

  • The ongoing French court probe on alleged corrupt practices in the Defence Ministry's purchase of two second hand Scorpene submarines at RM6.7 billion and Deepak Jaikishan's explosive admission of his ties with Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor and his role in private investigator P Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD) that neutralised a first damning SD that implicated the prime minister and his wife in the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu.
  • How and who erased the Immigration Department's records of Altantuya's entry and exit?
  • Ex-IGP Musa Hassan's allegations of infiltration of criminal elements in the force, political interference and the lack of control by the current IGP.
  • Ex-serviceman Nasir Moni's revelation that he and several colleagues had to mark thousands of postal ballots meant for soldiers during general elections. Hence the need for international observers in the next general election.

Compare the above with what the Umno leaders focused on their debates:

READ MORE HERE

 

Sabah businesses shifting alliances?

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:31 PM PST

Opposition STAR's recent meeting with the Chinese business community in Sabah is indicative of the state's political direction. 

(FMT) - Is the "ground shifting" in Sabah? The general consensus seems to be an emphatic "yes". But the question remains: how far will this leaning towards the opposition be?

In the meantime, any hope of hearing Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announce polls next month came to naught at the end of the current parliamentary session yesterday after he failed to humour soothsayers and supporters of his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin.

Speculations were rife that Muhyiddin's supporters were (indirectly) "pressuring" Najib to dissolve Parliament by Nov 30. But there was no indication of this during Najib's speech at the Umno general assembly yesterday.

Technically the current government's term ends on April 28 next year, so once again the wheel of fortune will grind with soothsayers and punters tossing possible dates post-Chinese New Year.

The further delay, albeit exasperating, has given Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR) under Jeffrey Kitingan added time to continue convincing voters that they should be voted in.

For fast-rising STAR, it's the state that matters most and Jeffrey's team is training its guns on the state seats. A recent series of meetings with the local Chinese business communities seem to attest to that.

STAR has some 7,000 Chinese among its 200,000 members and its Chinese task force recently gathered 60 members of the business community to a discussion at the Sabah Golf and Country Club.

Attending were "influential" members of the Sabah Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), the Sabah chapter of the Malaysian Travel and Tours Operators Association (Matta) and several other local business councils.

On the table were issues and policies"plaguing", "controlling" or "holding back" the development of commerce in the state.

But this was not the first time STAR had met with key players from the Sabah Chinese community.

READ MORE HERE

 

Two BN leaders join STAR

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:28 PM PST

The crossover of two senior BN men to opposition STAR means Sabah leaders are beginning to accept the reality of the unfair treatment, says Jeffrey Kitingan. 

Queville To, FMT

KOTA KINABALU: Maverick Sabah opposition leader Jeffrey Kitingan had something to smile about this week. Two former Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition party leaders jumped ship and joined him in the State Reform Party (STAR).

After months of watching Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition leaders going rogue but refraining from joining his Sabah and Borneo-centric party, Kitingan welcomed two more BN want-aways into his fold on Tuesday.

Patrick Paunil, a former United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation (Upko) division secretary and John Bague, a senior leader from Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) have joined Sabah STAR along with their supporters to provide the local party with fresh impetus as it prepares for the 13th general election.

The crossover will come as a much needed boost for Kitingan whose pleas to his fellow Sabahan politicians to ditch the BN over its decidedly peninsula-bias stand at the expense of Sabah have so far been ignored including by his elder brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the de facto leader of the native Kadazandusun community.

Kitingan's relief that at least some BN leaders are listening to pleas was discernible in his welcome speech to the duo and their supporters at the launching of the party's Timbou polling district election body in Tambunan, on Tuesday.

"Sabah BN leaders should emulate the both of you and take up the challenge to fight for the restoration of Sabah's rights and autonomy and to stop the colonisation and further damage to Sabah," he said.

"A change of the BN support in Sabah will also lead to a change of the BN federal government and stop the rot in Sabah.

"In the true spirit of Sabah rights and autonomy in a true Malaysia federation, the time has arrived for all Sabahans to stand up and unite and remove the BN state government and take charge of their future destiny," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Umno leaders and London properties

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:23 PM PST

It a known fact among Malaysians in the UK that senior Umno leaders own an extensive array of properties in London.

Luke Rintod, FMT

LONDON: There is no doubt that Umno leaders are filthy rich. In fact, word here is that almost all senior federal leaders in Umno are so wealthy that they own multiple properties in central London.

Not surprising, their spendthrift ways and that of their children have been making the news for a while.

Malaysians living in London have been privy to this information for decades and view it with repugnance and shame.

They are surprised that despite the dazzling light on the unusual wealth accumulated by government ministers which is displayed in their purchase of numerous properties around the world, their brazen hypocrisy elicits little comment back home.

Malaysians living here claim a former top Umno leader is linked to over a thousand properties in various parts of central London. Most of the properties are in the Canary Wharf areas.

"We know for a fact of this Umno guy who owns 1,400 properties in London. He is filthy rich… very, very rich. He even has a new wife now," said one Malaysian who has been residing here for the last 20 years.

He told FMT that politically-aware Malaysians in London do keep tabs on these Umno leaders, while the Umno leaders in turn are aware that their properties in the United Kingdom are no secret at all to Malaysians residing here.

"We know some of their kids are studying here and we know where they live and what they do. They may be Muslims but they drink and they flirt a lot here, something that they dare not do openly back home, but who cares when they are here," the London resident said.

Political rot

He said that it was a known fact that many Umno national leaders, both present and past, are rich and own properties around the world, including here in central London.

"The [federal] ministers own at least a few properties in London. Once in a while they do visit their houses or in some cases their children and family stayed while on study or holidays here."

Asked if he could provide evidence of his claims, he said it was no secret here and that some of them have been caught on camera and the photos had made their way onto social media sites.

Another Malaysian residing here, who also requested anonymity, claimed that Sabah and Sarawak leaders also own properties in various places here either under their own names or their family members.

"How can they afford it? With just a minister's salary they could not be this rich… they own properties everywhere in Europe.

"We also know of one who have bought properties even in Argentina.

"He could be preparing for himself to live in Argentina if Umno loses at the coming general election to Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

The fact that Malaysians outside the country are mortified by the wealth of their nation's leaders should be a reminder to delegates at the ongoing annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur that what they consider non-issue speaks volumes about how deep is the political rot in the country.

 

After speaking to media, ‘Carpetman’ finds himself unwanted in his companies

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:43 AM PST

(Harakah) - Deepak Jaikishan said he was pressured by his board to resign from 26 companies where he is a director following his interviews with alternative news portals, including Harakahdaily.

"This morning I was asked by my board of directors to resign from all the 26 companies where I am a director because of the controversy involving Altantuya  and private investigator Bala (Subramaniam)," he said during his press conference yesterday.

Deepak said he was pressured as soon as he finished interview with various news portals.

"Especially my interview with Harakah (daily), and I have been asked to resign from all 26 companies," he said.

Deepak also claimed that his families members had also objected to him coming out in the open. However, he insisted on continuing his expose as he strongly believed that the controversy would not rest until  Mongolian citizen Altantuya Shaariibuu who was murdered in 2006 using a C4-bomb, a weapon available only in the army's arsenal, received a just trial.

"We all know Altantuya did not get the fair trial. This case cannot be silenced anymore," he added.

Deepak was heavily involved in the saga of P Balasubramaniam, the private investigator who issued a damning statutory declaration implicating prime minister Najib Razak of an affair with murdered Altantuya only to retract it the next day.

Two days ago, he had told various news portals about his relationship with Najib's family and explained that his involvement with Bala was unintentional as he only meant to help a drowning friend.

"So I jumped into the pool to help a friend. I felt at that time, I was the only one (they) sought after for help. It's not that I helped directly. The lawyer was theirs, I just helped in coordinating," he said, who quickly replied "Najib's family" when asked whom he meant by 'theirs'.

On another development, Deepak and his company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd were suing a UMNO wanita leader over a fraud transaction involving three plots of land in Bukit Raja, Selangor.

It was learnt that the 233 acres of land worth RM72 million was sold by the government to the UMNO wanita leader, who then sold it to Astacanggih for RM120 million.

However, the transaction did not materialise despite multiple payments being made.  It was understood that the UMNO wanita leader had then sold off the plots of land to another company at the price tag of RM150 million.

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 5)

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:56 PM PST

I had never tendered for fishing nets before so I was not too clear of the costing. I sought the advise of a friend who gave me the previous year's prices and asked me to drop my bid 7% below that price so that we can be the cheapest bidder. That was the most screwed up advice I ever received, as I would soon learn.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Most Malays are Ali Baba businessmen, said Chia Kim Peong a.k.a. Ah Piow. The Chinese use the Malays to get business. You, however, are a Baba Ali businessman. It is the other way around. You use the Chinese to do business. And you do all the work while I just sit back and collect my dividends. Ah Piow probably found that very amusing.

That quip was triggered by an episode involving the fishing net business that I started. I tried to get supplies from the Fusan fishing net manufacturer in Port Kelang but they told me that Nam Lee was their sole distributor.

I tried to meet up with Nam Lee but they refused to see me. They told me they were not interested in my business because they already had more than enough business to handle.

I spoke to Ah Piow who told me that he knows the Nam Lee people very well. He asked me to meet him at their office and he brought me in to meet the Managing Director although we had no prior appointment. I tried many times to meet them but failed and Ah Piow can just walk in unannounced. Clearly contacts are the key to business success.

Nam Lee agreed to supply me the fishing nets on condition that Ah Piow guaranteed my company's debts. Ah Piow told me not to make him 'lose face'. 'Face' is everything to the Chinese so I have to make good my debts to Nam Lee.

Once I had learned the ins and outs of the fishing net business I participated in my first public tender. The tender was for RM12 million and seven companies participated. Amongst the seven were Pernas and Nam Lee plus companies owned by Bank Pertanian and Shamelin, an Umno-linked company founded by Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, the one-time Agriculture Minister.

I had never tendered for fishing nets before so I was not too clear of the costing. I sought the advise of a friend who gave me the previous year's prices and asked me to drop my bid 7% below that price so that we can be the cheapest bidder. That was the most screwed up advice I ever received, as I would soon learn.

The buyer called the seven of us for a meeting and I was informed that our prices were 30% below everyone else. They said I had clearly made a mistake so they were giving me the opportunity to withdraw, leaving the remaining six in the race. The RM12 million contract would then be divided six ways, around RM2 million per bidder.

I refused to withdraw and insisted that we remain in the race. I noticed the others around the table, who had been in this game a number of years, whisper and snigger. I was furious. There was no way I was going to withdraw and 'lose face'. I was going to stay and fight even if I lost my pants. And if they were right that I had made a mistake then I stand to lose quite a bit of money. But then this is about 'face', not money.

Because our price was 30% lower than all the rest, they had no choice but to give us the entire contract. The rest got nothing. With variation orders and a two-year extension, the RM12 million contract became RM20 million.

As luck would have it, Korea, which had many fishing net factories (unlike Malaysia which had only one) saw an oversupply situation when the market for fishing nets coincidentally took a dive. Fishing nets have a short shelf life so they needed to dispose off these nets as fast as possible. So now many factories in Korea were scrambling and were trying to dump their nets at fire sale prices.

The Koreans came to see me to try and get me to buy from them. They told me that based on normal pricing I was going to lose money big time because I had made a mistake in my pricing. However, they were prepared to supply me and would allow me to make 2.5% over the contract price.

I told the Koreans that their price was not attractive enough and that I could get the nets cheaper elsewhere. They told me that that would be impossible because nowhere in the world could I get nets at that kind of pricing. I told them in that case they should sit back and watch me do it.

They went off after telling me they will remain in Kuala Lumpur in case I change my mind because they were still interested in doing business with me.

I never called them back. In the meantime, the clock was ticking. I was supposed to supply the nets within 60 days and now 30 days had passed. If I can't get my hands on the supply I would default and the contract would be cancelled plus I would lose the performance bond of RM600,000.

Five days later, the Koreans called again and said they agree to my terms. They will give me 30% and supply all my requirements. But they will require a Letter of Credit. I told them, "No Letter of Credit." They were the ones chasing me, not me chasing them. If they want me to buy from them then they will have to give me 60 days credit.

The deal was sealed and I made my first delivery after requesting a 30-day extension for the first delivery and then 60 days delivery thereafter.

Fusan and Nam Lee were taught a lesson of their lives. Pernas, which had about RM500,000 in unsold stocks had to write off their fishing nets because the rats and cockroaches had eaten all the nets in their store (nets are perishable items when left in the store).

My satisfaction was not in making around RM5 million on that three-year contract that eventually totalled RM20 million. It was in teaching the 'big boys' a lesson to not snigger at me during a meeting as if I did not know what I was doing.

Well, actually I did not know what I was doing. It was just luck and a game of poker with the Koreans that prevented me from losing my pants, yet again. Needless to say, I never tried that stunt again.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

No plans yet to bring Musa Hasan into PKR

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:03 PM PST

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says if there is an application from the former IGP, then it would be given special attention.

Alyaa Azhar, FMT

There are no plans to bring former IGP Musa Hassan into the PKR fold just yet. PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that when someone 'important' decides to join the party, the application is given special attention.

"Approval of applications is done on a monthly basis. When we have distinguished names of 'big people', of course we take note of it," he said.

There has been some talk that Musa is leaning towards the opposition with his constant attacks on his former employers – the Barisan Nasional government.

Yesterday Musa at a press conference accused Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein of interfering with police affairs.

Musa is the patron of a new NGO called Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch).

When asked if Anwar Ibrahim would be the stumbling block if Musa wants to join PKR, Saifuddin said the decision is made collectively.

"When there are applications made by big names, the decision to approve them is made by the party leadership," he said.

He explained that usually the supreme council members will come up with the decision. He further stated that it is definitely not done by an individual.

 

Now can you see the light?

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 05:55 PM PST

 

No, I am not going to write about this matter. I just want you to read what the news portals reported (below) and for you to form your own opinion and come to your own conclusion. What I want you to take special note about, though, is to compare what was reported below to what I have been saying for more than five years since early 2007.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

'Criminal elements present in police, politics'

(FMT) - Criminal elements have infiltrated the police force and even politics, the former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan suggested when he kick-started a new anti-crime NGO, MyWatch. "Looking at the present situation, where there is a lot of illegal activities, do you think there is no links? You can answer yourself," he told a press conference where he was named patron and advisor to MyWatch yesterday.

He revealed that there are cases where the links are too high up and "nobody dares talk about it". He cited a case of a high-ranking police officer he did not name who was brought overseas for golfing by a "shady businessman".

"Sometimes I feel they can even dictate officers, sometimes even spend [money] on police officers," he said. "It is very bad now. Later on the Mafia will be ruling this country, we don't want that to happen, it took 30 years to clean up the Mafia in America," he said.

Musa himself has been accused of such links, especially in the case of Johor kingpin Goh Cheng Poh a.k.a. 'Tengku' Goh but has repeatedly dismissed the claims as attempts to bring him down. "During my time, there was a professional way of doing things if we needed to get close to underworld characters. That is undercover work. When I was in narcotics, my relationship would be to purely gather evidence. There must be a line drawn," he explained.

Musa named Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy as the people who would usually try to give instructions to the force, and that this bad trend was still occurring. "During my time whenever I arrested some crooks, there will be phone calls from top people. They even ask us to release. I will ask for an instruction in black and white," he said, adding that the politicians would usually back off after being asked for a written order.

He also said that aside from ministers and deputy ministers, there were also "others" who attempt to give orders to the police, including opposition politicians.

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

'Bala's U-turn foiled Anwar-Umno's Altantuya expose'

(Malaysiakini) - Because there was a concentrated effort. There were two factions here - you had Bala sitting down with (opposition leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) and you had another faction (in Umno) that didn't want the people named in the first SD to come to power.

They were determined, although they were from different sides, to work together to achieve this and both had the power to do so. Hence the absolute concern.

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

Deepak to reveal more dirt from under the carpet

(FMT) - "The SD was not just about the opposition. There was a concentrated effort of two factions here. You had Bala sitting down with Anwar and you had another faction who didn't want the people named in the first SD to come to power. They were determined, although they were from different sides, to work together to achieve this. Both had the power to do this," he said, adding that the other side came from Umno itself.

He said that the side that wanted to push for the second SD and overturn the original SD was the one that protected or ensured that Najib became prime minister. "I got involved in the second SD to protect the interest of Najib. There is no other logical reason, is there?" he said.

 

Lawyer flays Deepak for land scam claim

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 05:17 PM PST

Controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan (right) is represented by PKR leader Sivarasa Rasiah.

Chua Sue-Ann, fz.com

A senior lawyer flayed controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan today for apparently making up allegations of land fraud by a Wanita Umno leader that is now the subject of a court case.
Deepak was the sole plaintiff witness and shareholder of Astacanggih Sdn Bhd, the private company that is suing Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd for rights to three parcels of land measuring 223 acres in Bukit Raja, Klang.
 
Astacanggih claims that Awan Megah, a vehicle of Senator Datuk Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah, resold part of the land that was initally sold to Astacanggih.
 
When cross-examined by Awan Megah's counsel Datuk Saseedharan Menon, Deepak said Awan Megah resold the land to Gunnyunip Sdn Bhd but the deal, which was masked as a joint venture, was "merely a facade of an actual sale where they took money and banking facilities".
 
Saseedharan objected to Deepak's statement as hearsay.
 
"No documents are given. It is hearsay. This is a creation of his own, a figment of his own mind!" an exasperated Saseedharan told the court.
 
In describing the turn of events, Deepak claimed that Astacanggih had on May 16, 2007 entered into an agreement with Awan Megah to acquire government land that was awarded to Awan Megah.
 
Awan Megah was awarded the land and RM28 million cash in exchange for developing a defence education centre called Pusat Pengajian Pertahanan Nasional (Puspahanas) in Putrajaya.
 
Deepak claimed Astacanggih paid Awan Megah RM13 million and procured a RM72.5 million land bond in favour of the government as the purchase consideration for the three pieces of land.
 
But the deal fell through when Awan Megah failed to hand over the land rights.
 
Deepak said he filed a police report and lodged a caveat on the land after he found out this year that Awan Megah had on July 9, 2007 sold one of the three land parcels to Guppyunip for a joint venture.
 
Deepak also alleged that Astacanggih had to seek special permission from the then Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to transfer the land privatised to Awan Megah to a nominee company called Cebur Megah Sdn Bhd.
 
According to Deepak, he had discussed the matter with Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor whom he claimed later arranged for him to meet Najib.
 
Deepak further alleged that Najib had consented to the transfer of land to Cebur Megah and instructed the defence ministry deputy secretary-general to arrange the paperwork.
 
During cross examination, Deepak however admitted that he did not know if the land in question had already been transfered to Awan Megah or Cebur Megah from the government.
 
Deepak also claimed he was unaware of letters sent by Awan Megah's solicitors that the land could not be transferred due to objections from the Selangor state authorities on the subdivision of the land.
 
Earlier during the hearing, High Court Judge Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof instructed Deepak to refrain from mentioning the political positions held by Raja Ropiaah as the details were not relevant but Deepak pleaded that it was relevant to show "political conspiracy".
 
Zabariah also warned Deepak, who was represented by PKR leaders Sivarasa Rasiah and N Surendran, not to use the court process to embarrass certain parties.
 
"I hope you don't go overboard. We don't want to put any inference that is not in the pleadings.
 
"Once you say things you cannot just erase it, especially now I know the press are here," Zabariah said referring to the presence of reporters at the hearing.
 
Aside from Deepak, defence called one witness to the stand, lawyer Nasir Zihni Yusoff, who is Awan Megah's solicitor.
 
The court will hear submissions from both parties on Dec 4.
 
Deepak earlier told fz.com that the 223-acre land is now worth about RM400 million with a gross development value of RM11 billion if developed in phases.

 

Umno chosen by God, says Reezal

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 05:13 PM PST

NONE

Hazlan Zakaria, Malaysiakini

Umno is the party chosen by God to liberate the chosen land of Malaysia and to uplift the chosen race of the Malays, claimed Umno Youth information chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

"Remember, we are mukhtarin, the chosen ones," he told the Umno general assembly while debating the president's address.

As such, he said that no matter how people want to choose otherwise or have the right as humans to make their own choices, they must realise that they are bound by God's dictates.

And God's choice, he said, is that the assembled delegates are Malays living in the chosen land of Malaysia and is to be liberated and administered by Umno.

He explained that God is the true authority over all governments and shall give power to those that He has chosen.

'Umno united Malays under Islam'


Reezal also reminded Malays that Umno is the party that uplifted them, united them and gave them dignity.

"What is there of the Malays before Umno came along?"

The Malays before Umno, he claimed, were a race of people fragmented by sectarian identities amongst the subracial groups like those from Java, Banjars, Sabah Malays and Indian Muslims.

It was the party, he claimed, which united the various Malay groups as one under Islam and the constitutional provision that defines everyone who is a Muslim, practices Malay customs and speaks the Malay language is a Malay.

 

Hisham dismisses ex-IGP’s claims as distraction from Umno assembly

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 05:05 PM PST

Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider

Tan Sri Musa Hassan's claim yesterday that the government interferes in police matters is merely an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing Umno general assembly, party vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

Hishammuddin, who was named by the former Inspector-General of Police as among those who interferes in police investigations, added that the issue has already been discussed and explained in Parliament.

"There are parties trying to divert (attention) with side issues... I hope the public will not be confused with their agenda.

"It is an attempt to divert from issues here (Umno assembly)," he told a press conference at the Umno general assembly here.

Musa dropped a bombshell at a press conference yesterday when he named Hishammuddin (picture) as among the ministers and politicians whom he claimed would regularly interfere in police matters during his term as IGP.

The former top cop described his working relationship with Hishammuddin as cordial, but the home minister did not see eye-to-eye with him on the command of the police force.

"When I found out that instructions were given to junior officers and OCPDs (Officer in Charge of Police Districts) without my knowledge, then something is wrong.

"So I highlighted to him the section 4(1) of Police Act ... command and control of the police force is by the IGP, not a minister.

"I talked to him nicely, he didn't like it ... that's why (my tenure) was not extended," Musa claimed.

Musa, who retired as IGP in September 2010, even suggested that the practice still continues today, saying that his refusal to indulge those who tried to interfere was likely the reason why his contract was not renewed.

READ MORE HERE

 

A Present for the UMNO Delegates- A Dead MCA

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 04:56 PM PST

SAKMONGKOL AK47

There is a system in their madness. UMNO has to go to town saying Malays will be in danger should PR wins. DAP will dominate everything. The country will turn republic and Malay kings will be in danger. Islam will be sidelined. UMNO has to do this because it must do everything to keep Malays in check. Why? Because if only 30% of the Malay electorate in each of the parliamentary seat where MCA is the incumbent vote PKR, MCA is wiped out. UMNO wants to save its Islam bashing partner at all costs even if it means speaking like an infidel.

MCA on the other must do everything to keep the Chinese intact. It is facing an uphill battle. MCA has lost its credibility and relevance. It goes to town, saying if PR wins, then PAS will talibanise everything. You can't play mahjong, eat pork, bah kut teh, wash hair, yam seng and all that. MCA must say, PAS will restrict everything.

UMNO and MCA are playing two sides of the same coin, but the subterfuge is not fooling everyone. How do we kill off MCA for good? There is a simple formula. if only 30% of the Malay voters vote Pakatan and 80% of non-Malay voters vote the same way, MCA is finished. This is all we need. MCA can lose all its 15 seats.

The prospects of eliminating MCA are good. 80-85% of non-Malays are supporting Pakatan and 50% of the Malays will vote for Pakatan. We have many instances where voters in  areas with Malay majority giving substantial support to Pakatan. A place like Jerantut in Pahang which is almost 90% Malay gave 46% support to PR. Therefore UMNO can't assume that just because an area has a majority Malay electorate, it can get big support. In 2008, UMNO candidates got only 2 million votes from the 5.7 million Malay voters. That's only 35% Malay support.

But let us use 30% Malay support for Pakatan as a benchmark. Assume also that 80% of non-Malays support Pakatan. UMNO knows that it has to get big Malay support otherwise its doomed. That is why it using all the dirty tricks- racism, the specter of racial clash, the demise of Malay royalty, the assault on Islam.

So that we won't have to see the fornicating face of Soi Lek, puke at seeing Wee Ka Siong and Ms Yen Yen, all we need is to ensure the 30:80 formula. Just get 30% of Malay support in the MCA areas and ensure we get 80% non-Malay support.  

Only 30% of Malay voters are what we need. If 30% of the Malay voters in the seats MCA won in 2008, now vote for PR- MCA is finished. If voting goes along the same line as it did in 2008, UMNO is already doomed. So we can treat UMNO's General Assembly now as a just a sideshow- its last before the party crumbles.

Let's do as what UMNO shouts for and let us take on what UMNO says. If the Malays heed what UMNO wants, they should withdraw their support from these MCA seats. MCA is your enemy. Its president made fun of Islam -does not the Quran command the Muslims to not make friends with Muslims and non Muslims who make fun and belittle Islam? See Quran 5:57.

MCA has 15 parliamentary seats most of them in Johor. Out of the 7 seats in Johor, only 2 have Malay majority. It's sinful for the Malays in Air Hitam and Alor Star to vote for MCA infidels. Do like the Quran instruct- do not take them as friends or protectors because they have soiled Islam.

READ MORE HERE

 

‘For Indians’ sake, let’s talk to Pakatan’

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 04:44 PM PST

MIC leader S Vell Paari is proposing that the party holds unity talks with Indian opposition and NGO leaders in order to address the community's woes.

B Nantha Kumar, FMT

MIC, which is the largest Indian-based political party in the country, should initiate talks with Indian opposition and NGO leaders for the betterment of the community.

This suggestion was put forth by MIC communication chief S Vell Paari during the party's recent Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting.

He told FMT that MIC should aggressively pursue the idea of holding unity talks with Indian leaders whether from DAP or PKR and work towards a united approach to solving the community's woes.

"If Umno can invite PAS for such talks on Malay unity, why not MIC? The unity talk would only strengthen the community and enable it to make certain demands that is good for the community.

"A united front would be the way to go for Malaysian Indians.

"Mistakes were made in the past but we must ensure that the same mistakes are not repeated. If not our children and granchildren would face the same predicaments," he added.

Citing the Hindraf rally in 2007, Vell Paari said that the movement had invited MIC to a discussion then but the latter turned it down.

"We refused Hindraf's invitation just to defend Umno's stand of banning Hindraf and declaring it an illegal movement.

"But today, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is ready to talk with Hindraf to gain votes in the upcoming election. Thus, it is clear that the current situation is different," he said.

"I am sure those in the opposition also want a better life for the community. So let's start by working together," he added.

Vell Paari, who is the son of former MIC president S Samy Vellu, revealed that the CWC had not made a decision on his proposal.

He also stressed that the unity talk proposal was his personal stand.

READ MORE HERE

 

‘Criminal elements present in police, politics’

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 04:37 PM PST

Ex-IGP Musa Hassan makes several hard hitting allegations, including the infiltration of criminal elements in the force, political interference and the lack of control by the current IGP

Teoh El Sen, FMT

Criminal elements have infiltrated the police force and even politics, the former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan suggested when he kick-started a new anti-crime NGO, MyWatch.

"Looking at the present situation, where there is a lot of illegal activities, do you think there is no links? You can answer yourself," he told a press conference where he was named patron and advisor to MyWatch yesterday.

He revealed that there are cases where the links are too high up and "nobody dares talk about it". He cited a case of a high-ranking police officer he did not name who was brought overseas for golfing by a "shady businessman".

"Sometimes I feel they can even dictate officers, sometimes even spend [money] on police officers," he said.

Musa advised the current police leadership to be careful with the people they mingle with or face dire consequences.

"Of course as a police officer, you cannot have links with dubious people. The people now have eyes, every phone has a camera. You are living in a glass house. If you don't take care of yourself, if you allow to be friendly then your organisation will be destroyed," he said, adding that politicians should not have underground links.

"It is very bad now. Later on the Mafia will be ruling this country, we don't want that to happen, it took 30 years to clean up the Mafia in America," he said.

Musa himself has been accused of such links, especially in the case of Johor kingpin Goh Cheng Poh aka Tengku Goh but has repeatedly dismissed the claims as attempts to bring him down.

"During my time, there was a professional way of doing things if we needed to get close to underworld characters. That is undercover work. When I was in narcotics, my relationship would be to purely gather evidence. There must be a line drawn," he explained.

The press conference was chaired by MyWatch chief R Sri Sanjeevan and advisor S Gobi Krishnan, both PKR leaders.

Sri Sanjeevan said that the main objective of this new NGO, called the Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force, was to fight crime and not merely criticise the government.

However, he warned that if he did not get the cooperation of the current police, under IGP Ismail Omar, he would "go public with evidence".

Gobi Krishnan said that the NGO would be challenging "every official statistic", and promised to reveal "real" numbers.

Political interference

During the press meet, which lasted close to three hours, Musa also spoke about political interference and implied that his successor Ismail was losing command and control of the force.

Musa named Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy as the people who would usually try to give instructions to the force, and that this bad trend was still occurring.

"During my time whenever I arrested some crooks, there will be phone calls from top people. They even ask us to release. I will ask for an instruction in black and white," he said, adding that the politicians would usually back off after being asked for a written order.

"You read the papers, sometimes you hear 'I have directed the police to do this and that'. That's wrong," he said. He cited Section 4 of the Police Act which says that control and command of the force should come under the sole power of the IGP.

He also said that aside from ministers and deputy ministers, there were also "others" who attempt to give orders to the police, including opposition politicians.

Musa chastised the current police leadership under Ismail.

"The current IGP must make his own decisions on how to run the police force, not taking orders and all that from anyone.

"Even before I retired, I said, 'please don't interfere with the police administration'. Let the police do their job, do not interfere with the police… there are dissatisfaction on the ground among officers who said that they received instructions not from (their police superiors) but from the Home Ministry.

"He [Ismail] is a good man, but being a good man alone is not a criteria to be an IGP. You have to be tough also. Sometimes you have to be vocal towards your superiors. When it is not right," he said.

"Dont just say "Yes". I use to say, if the IGP is a 'yes man' he will be the best IGP in the world, if he is vocal then he will have alot of allegations against him. If you are a 'yes man' then you are the best IGP in the world, because in Malaysia it works that way," he added.

Musa, however, expressed confidence in Ismail from his past record under him: "He was good before, strict. I feel that he is clean, that's why I groomed him to be the IGP, but now he has to perform. I use to tell him he must be better than me!"

He also spoke about the time when he was speculated to have a fall out with Hishammuddin, saying their relationship was "so far so good".

"When I found out that instructions were given [by Hishammuddin] to junior officers and OCPDs (Officer in Charge of Police District) without my knowledge, then something is wrong.

"So, I highlighted to him Section 4(1) of the Police Act … command and control of the police force is by the IGP, not a minister. I talked to him nicely, he didn't like it… that's why I [my tenure] was not extended," said Musa, who retired as IGP in September 2010.

Musa also lamented that "nobody seems to respect the police now" and asked the "top police generals to look at themselves whether they can improve further on their service."

"If you want to improve things, you need to introspect and see the weaknesses in your organisation, you identify that weakness then you change and improve," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ex-IGP: 6P encourages human trafficking

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 04:32 PM PST

Musa Hassan also says former minster Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad cannot claim ignorance of the operations of the company in which he is a director. 

Teoh El Sen, FMT

Former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan weighed in on the controversy surrounding the 6P amnesty programme, alleging that the way the government had conducted it was akin to human trafficking.

"When you privatise 6P and foreign labour, and allow third parties to be making money out of it… this can regarded as human trafficking," Musa told FMT.

Although more than 300 6P agents were appointed by the government, Musa said that it does not stop the outsourced companies, including unlicensed agents, from exploiting foreigners.

"Why do you need a third party to do it for you? That is not really good. Because you already have the proper channels and agencies in charge of this.

"Managing foreign workers is the job of the Immigration Department and Labour Department. You don't need to privatise it, which opens it up to manipulation," he said.

Musa also said former Home Minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad cannot claim ignorance of the operations of SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, a 6P agent, being probed for abuses.

"Being a director in the company, Radzi cannot say that he doesn't know what the company is doing. He should know," said Musa.

Musa: Things must be done properly

FMT, in a series of articles, exposed SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd to be behind the exploitation of foreign workers, mainly Bangladeshis.

The company has been accused of committing several offences, including cheating by falsely claiming to be able to register foreigners under the 6P programme and getting work permits for them, and setting up dozens of bogus employment agencies.

Those working in the company were also accused of assaulting these foreigners, an episode of which was captured on CCTV recordings.

READ MORE HERE

 

Amaran 13 Mei bukan ancaman

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 04:17 PM PST

Namun perbezaan ideologi antara parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat menjadi faktor utama yang mampu menggugat kestabilan negara, kata Muhyiddin Yassin.

Jamilah Kamarudin, FMT

Timbalan Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin menegaskan parti itu tidak akan membenarkan peristiwa hitam 13 Mei berulang kembali.

Namun beliau tidak menjamin perkara yang sama tidak akan berlaku sekiranya kuasa pentadbiran Pusat beralih tangan kepada Pakatan Rakyat selepas Pilihan Raya Umum 13 (PRU13).

Ini kerana menurut Muhyiddin, perbezaan ideologi antara parti dalam Pakatan menjadi faktor utama yang mampu menggugat kestabilan negara.

"Maksud kita keadaan akan jadi porak peranda (kerana) pertembungan ideologi yang besar. Bayangkan kalau mereka duduk semeja, bagaimana nak capai keputusan tadbir negara pada lima tahun akan datang?

"Di peringkat negeri yang mereka kuasai pun ada pertembungan yang nyata…konflik agak jelas," kata Muhyiddin yang juga Timbalan Perdana Menteri dalam sidang media di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Kenyataannnya itu sekaligus mempertahankan ucapan dasar Ketua Wanita Umno Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil semalam mengenai kemungkinan berulangnya tragedi tahun 1969 jika Umno kehilangan kuasa selepas PRU nanti.

"Jika kita tidak lagi ditampuk kuasa, maka kestabilan politik negara akan goyang. Pastinya kaum Melayu yang menjadi rakyat majoriti di negara kita tidak akan senang.

"Saya bimbang dan khuatir ini mungkin akan membawa kepada ketegangan kaum yang boleh mengundang kembali tragedi 13 Mei 1969," kata bekas Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat itu.

Mengulas lanjut, Muhyiddin berkata ucapan Shahrizat itu bukan berniat untuk menakutkan rakyat, sebaliknya satu peringatan tentang impak negatif sekiranya Pakatan menguasai Putrajaya.

READ MORE HERE

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 4)

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST

This was no longer about making money. We were already making plenty of money -- Johan's turnover was in the hundreds of millions a year and our business interests were spread out in all the continents of this world. This was about which of the Taikos can become the Taipan. It was a game of prestige. I suppose at that time we felt immortal and lost focus of the objectives of doing business.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

They say a drowning man surfaces only three times. On the third time he goes down he stays down for good. He will never surface again. He will die.

It is now 1991. I was already 17 years in business and had survived two economic recessions and had fought off two bankruptcies. Therefore I could afford only one more collapse before I go down for good and never rise again.

The first crisis I faced was in 1975, merely a few months after I started my business back in 1974. And that story is as follows.

My business partner, Zulkifly Mohd Nor, an ex-Pernas officer, had cleaned out our bank account and had absconded with the company's money. This could only be done with the collaboration of the branch manager of Bank Rakyat Kuala Terengganu.

I confronted the bank manager, Ghazi, and he confirmed he had released all the payments for the sales of the Yanmar engines that we had made to the fishermen. The arrangement was: Bank Rakyat would finance our buyers and would pay us for the cost of the engines. The money was supposed to have been paid directly to the company. However, instead of paying the money into the company's bank account, it had all been diverted to Zulkifly's personal bank account.

I spoke to Michael Toh Hong Hooi, the manager of Chong Lee Leong Seng, our Yanmar supplier, and told him that the money was all gone. Zulkifly had 'kebas' the money and there was nothing left. I only had a few hundred Ringgit in my pocket, and that was all.

Chong Lee Leong Seng can choose to sue us and get us declared bankrupt or they can allow us to 'live' and I will ensure that all the money will eventually be paid back in full. I would also need them to continue giving us credit so that we can continue to trade.

Michael Toh agreed to create two trading accounts for us. 'Account A' would be the old unpaid debt while 'Account B' would be the new credit line that Chong Lee Leong Seng would extend to us. 'Account B' would have a RM30,000 limit with a 90-day credit period. Once we reach 90 days, or we reach the RM30,000 limit, we would have to pay up before more supplies can be made. But each time we paid for 'Account B' we would also have to pay for part of 'Account A'.

In time, it was hoped, 'Account A' would be fully settled.

One more condition that Michael Toh imposed on us was that I would have to take a Chinese partner and give him 30% of the company. This Chinese businessman would offer Chong Lee Leong Seng the 'comfort' of continuing to do business with us.

I was introduced to this Chinese businessman, a man named Chia Kim Peong from Sabak Bernam. Chia gave me RM10,000 as working capital and he guaranteed the RM30,000 credit line from Chong Lee Leong Seng. I would have to 'roll' with this RM10,000 and the RM30,000 credit line from Chong Lee Leong Seng.

When Chia cashed out his 30% interest in my company in 1985, he made about RM300,000 on the RM10,000 he gave me in 1975, not a bad return for just ten years.

With this new 'lease of life' in 1975, it took me three years of hard work to rise again. I practically lived in my car with my daughter, my only child then, Raja Suraya, sleeping in the back seat of the car as I drove from Kelantan to Johor to Kedah to market my Yanmar engines. In 1975, we did only RM300,000 in sales. By 1976 and 1977, we touched RM1 million a year. In 1978, our sales touched RM6 million. And in 1979 and 1980 we did about RM10 million a year in sales.

It took me three years to make our first million. That was in 1978. They say the first million is the most difficult to make. Once you have made your first million then the second million is easier. That is quite true. It took me only two years to make our second million and by 1980 we had RM3 million in cash reserves and had done roughly RM30 million in sales over those five years or so.

We were now Chong Lee Leong Seng's number one Yanmar dealer.

It was now time to go big time. And 'big time' to us then was, of course, to 'go public'. Public listed companies was the measure of a person's success and a status symbol back in 1980.

Michael Toh introduced me to his uncle, Tan Kay Hock (now a 'Tan Sri') -- yes, the man currently in the middle of the George Kent (M) Bhd/Ampang LRT controversy -- who was about to take over a dormant public listed company, Johan Tin (now called Johan Holdings Berhad). I invested heavily in Johan, mainly through bank borrowings (and the main reason for my RM20 million debts which I wrote about earlier in parts 2 and 3 of this series).

From a 'bankrupt' in 1975 to a millionaire in 1980 and a multi-millionaire in 1985 -- I thought nothing was going to stop me. The sky was the limit. I was now in the ranks of the corporate chiefs like Tan Sri Ibrahim (Promet), Vincent Tan (Berjaya), and so on. We were all 'racing' to see whose shares could go the highest. Promet's and Johan's shares had both exceeded RM10 per share but Promet's shares were RM0.20 ahead of Johan's.

This was no longer about making money. We were already making plenty of money -- Johan's turnover was in the hundreds of millions a year and our business interests were spread out in all the continents of this world. This was about which of the Taikos can become the Taipan. It was a game of prestige. I suppose at that time we felt immortal and lost focus of the objectives of doing business.

And we would soon learn that we would pay a heavy price for that arrogance.

In 1985, the recession hit us, followed by the 1987 stock market collapse. What I had made over the last ten years was lost in a mere couple of months. Our RM10 shares dived to less than RM0.50. I was saddled with RM20 million in debts but with shares that could not even cover half that amount. I had no choice but to bail out and embark upon a 'fire sale' -- as related in parts 2 and 3 of this series.

So there you are. I was now, again, broke, and would have to start from the bottom all over again. The dream of becoming the Taipan had now turned into a nightmare. But how do I bounce back with the economy and my personal finances in tatters?

I found out that many companies were still listing their shares but there were no takers. No one wanted to invest in the stock market. Everyone was still licking his/her wounds from the last disaster and it appeared like full recovery may take some years yet.

One company, Hexza Corporation Berhad, was facing this same dilemma. They had issued a few million shares, which the Ministry of Trade and Industry was holding on to but with no investors wanting to pick them up.

I approached the Ministry to enquire into these shares and they told me that they could let me have ten million shares at RM0.65 per share if I wanted them. The Ministry was happy to get rid of these shares that no one wanted. I told them I only wanted a million shares and they told to come back with a bank draft for RM650,000.

I went home and told my wife, Marina, about the offer. She phoned her stockbroker who told her that Hexza was trading at RM0.95 per share. She said it was a good deal and that we should pick up those shares. But let's not be too greedy, Marina said. Let's pick up just one million shares, in case.

Marina dug into her cookie jar and pulled out RM150,000. So we were still short of RM500,000. I went to Kwong Yik Bank and they agreed to give me a loan of RM500,000 -- if we hand over the RM150,000 to the bank and ask the Ministry to issue the shares in the name of Kwong Yik Nominees.

We completed the transaction over the next few days and then lodged the one million Hexza Corporation Berhad shares with the bank. I then told Marina to do what she wanted with them. By the time Marina unloaded the shares a few months later, the shares had climbed to more than RM2 per share. After paying back the bank the RM500,000 we owed them, we managed to walk away with about RM1.5 million in cash.

It was time to reinvest this money and make that RM1.5 million grow to RM15 million.

TO BE CONTINUED

 
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