Credit cards, personal loans: Banks give 'easy money'

Friday September 30, 2011

Bank Negara steps in to curb rise in credit card bills and personal loans

PETALING JAYA: Rising credit card debts and easy approval of personal loans have moved Bank Negara to introduce a fresh ruling.

Effective tomorrow, banks will implement a new payment allocation method for credit card balances to enable cardholders to better manage their mounting debts.

Banks will tabulate credit card balances by focusing on expenses hit with the highest interest rate. This will result in considerable savings in terms of interest payable.

Maybank, the country's largest bank, also wants the authorities to tighten control on the ease with which personal loans are being approved by non-bank lenders.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said “over-competition” among banks was also worrying him.

Related Stories:
Helping credit cardholders to cut losses'
Rein in super-easy personal loans' 

Occasionally, I do receive calls from a certain bank that offers 'attractive' personal loans. I only have to say 'yes' and it will be approved 'on the spot'.

Frankly, being human, I'm always tempted to take up the offer each time I get a call. Why? Instant approval, that's why. Easy. In fact, it's so easy that I know a bank actually calls it 'EASY - express loan'. ;)

Pre-GE sweet goodies for BN's bloated civil service!

Maximum 40pc pay rise as Putrajaya reverts to single-tier civil service

By G. Manimaran
Bahasa Malaysia Editor

September 30, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Putrajaya is to implement a new pay scheme for the country’s 1.3 million civil servants that will see salaries jump by up to 40 per cent next year, sources say. 

 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to announce a return to a single-tier system when tabling Budget 2012 next week after more than 15 years of grumbling from public sector employees who say the current triple-tier system is unfair.

File picture of policewomen marching in the Malaysia Day and National Day parade in Kuala Lumpur on September 16, 2011. They are also expected to benefit from the proposed hefty pay rise. — Reuters pic

The government will also implement a new Integrated Competency Development Programme (Prospek) appraisal system from next January 1 to replace the controversial Efficiency Level Assessment (PTK) currently in use by the Public Service Department (PSD).

 

“Government agencies have completed studies into introducing the new system. It is not an adjustment but a new single-tier scheme.

“The increase could be up to RM700, and in terms of percentage this will be up to 40 per cent for some grades,” a source told The Malaysian Insider. 

Another source confirmed the raise and the appraisal system.

The Malaysian Insider reported last week that the prime minister was considering a hefty bonus or pay increase for the civil service in a “break-the-bank” budget to counter rising costs and keep their support ahead of a general election expected within a year.

The move is similar to former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s move in 2007, who announced a salary increase of between 7.5 and 42 per cent for civil servants and a 100 per cent increase in the cost of living allowance (Cola) a year before calling polls.

The civil service has been seen as a bedrock of support for Najib’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition but it lost badly in Election 2008 under Abdullah despite his overwhelming win of 91 per cent of Parliament four years earlier.

Critics and analysts said a combination of rising inflation and a push for civil liberties cut BN’s support in the polls.

Najib is determined to turn around the coalition’s fortunes and recently restarted his reforms agenda by announcing the repeal and revision of several security and media laws in his Malaysia Day address, including the replacement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) with two new laws that focus on terrorism and race and religious issues.

The Najib administration has already paid out a half-month bonus to all 1.3 million civil servants and RM500 to 600,000 government pensioners ahead of Hari Raya last month amid public concern over rising inflation.

The payout cost Putrajaya RM2 billion although the government usually gives another one-month bonus at the end of the year.

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has lobbied against the triple-tier Sistem Saraan Baru (SSB) scheme that was introduced in 1992, demanding in 1995 a return to a single-tier plan.
The government ignored the civil service unions again when it stuck to the three tiers in 2002’s Sistem Saraan Malaysia (SSM), sparking widespread dissatisfaction due to caps for higher rates of annual increments.

Google plans data centers in HK, Taiwan, Singapore - www.forbes.com

Associated Press

Google plans data centers in HK, Taiwan, Singapore

By KELVIN CHAN , 09.29.11, 03:30 AM EDT 

HONG KONG -- Google Inc. plans to invest at least $200 million to build its first three data centers in Asia as it expands its infrastructure to keep pace with the region's burgeoning Internet use.

The Internet search giant has bought land in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore for the data centers, which typically are secure facilities packed with thousands of computers that store and serve vast amounts of data.

Click here to read more.

Body snatching: Syariah court can't cite kin

Lawyers familiar with cases of conversion say the Negri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) cannot cite the family of the late Lawrence Selvanathan for contempt of the syariah court for cremating his remains.

According to noted syariah lawyer Muhamad Burok, this is because the family is Christian - hence, they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the syariah court.

When contacted, Muhamad (right) said, "The jurisdiction of the syariah court, according to the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 2003, only extends to cases where all parties are Muslim. This is the law, but if there is a clause that allows (the contempt action) then let me know."

Agreeing with him, lawyer M Kulasegaran said the federal constitution, through the inclusion of clause (1A) into Article 121, clearly states that Malaysia practices two parallel legal systems and that the High Courts has "no jurisdiction in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of the syariah court".

Kulasegaran said, "It also states that the syariah court has jurisdiction only "over persons professing the religion of Islam. In view of this, the law does not apply to non-Muslims, subpoenas don't apply and it is my view that contempt also does not apply."

The lawyer, Kulasegaran, who is also DAP's Ipoh Barat MP and acted for the late Everest mountaineer M Moorthy's wife in the controversial body snatching case in 2005, said, "This would therefore extend to the syariah court order obtained by JHEAINS to stop Lawrence's funeral on Sept 22 as well.

The family can look at all this with impunity," said Kulasegaran.

Anwar laughs off Utusan's claim of infiltration. Haha!

'Thanks for the compliment, Utusan'

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has laughed off a claim in Utusan Malaysia that his men have infiltrated government bodies in a move to topple the administration of Najib Abdul Razak.

Asked to comment on the opinion piece published today, Anwar jokingly said with a smile, "Thank you very much, Utusan! Every day they attack Anwar, without Anwar appearing to rebut or explain. Isn't that interesting? It's a compliment (as to) how powerful I am, to be able to influence ... I hope its not the PMO (Prime Minister's Office),"

Anwar said he does not usually take articles written in the Umno-owned Malay daily seriously and added saying, "..I don't read Utusan. Was it a major thing in Utusan?"

The article claimed that the 'enemies within' have been feeding the opposition with confidential information about Najib, including details about his official overseas trips and private holidays but it did not name any government agency.

Senior editor Zaini Hassan (right), who wrote the article in his Cuit column, claimed he had received reliable information on the matter and said, "The information I received shows that it is a real and evident situation."

Hehe...Najib's men must be turning their backs on their master by releasing confidential information...these Umno buffoons are so unreliable. Sack 'em all, I say!

Fauziah Arof latest racist targetted by 1Malaysia Namewee

Annoyed by an Utusan Malaysia commentary criticising his debut movie Nasi Lemak 2.0, rapper-cum-filmaker Wee Meng Chee, who is better known as Namewee, disparaged the Malay daily in his latest video, calling it a “rubbish paper”, saying that he can accept criticism from those who have watched his movie but not from the author who did not conduct any “research” before commenting.

Fauziah Arof who authored the commentary entitled 'Bukan Nasi Lemak 2.0, soalnya Namewee' (Not Nasi Lemak 2.0, the problem is Namewee), was published last Wednesday and wrote that although many gave the thumbs-up to the movie, she is not interested in watching it even if she were offered a free movie ticket.

She then recounted several video clips made by Namewee, that had offended many people and insulted Muslims in the country, including the controversial Negarakuku.

Responding to the article, Namewee uploaded another video clip in the Malay language to video sharing website YouTube last night entitled 'Namewee Fxxx Utusan' and said he would remove the video at midnight tonight, claiming in Chinese that he is doing this for his family and good friends and hoped people would understand his decision.

So what are you waiting for?

Quickly watch Namewee whacking Fauziah, the racist!

Explosion: Empire Shopping Gallery. More photos @ http://blog.galvintan.com/explosion-at-empire-shopping-gallery/

More photos

@

'Explosion At Empire Shopping Gallery'.

(Posting using email aka Mail2Blogger)

Posting using email aka Mail2Blogger: Testing 1, 2, 3

Well, did you know that you can post text and images directly to your blog by using email?



I'm testing it right now.

Do you see it published in my blog?

Bumiputera quotas set to go. Bright Bumis boleh! ;)

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said today the government is seeking to do away with the quota approach in building the capacities of the bumiputera as it does not serve the purpose.

Instead, Najib said, the 30 percent bumiputera equity quota only hampered capable bumiputera entrepreneurs from developing their abilities and added, saying, “We want to do away with quotas, but we will support (bumiputera entrepreneurs) to grow. If we give quotas, they will rest on their laurels and not gain expertise to manage their businesses.”

Answering a question from the floor at a question-and-answer session at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Najib (left) said setting a quota “does not mean anything” reason being the bumiputera entrepreneurs would sell off their shares when the prices were high and only a small percentage of the amount allocated for bumiputeras will be left in bumiputera hands.

As such, the PM said, the government will “go on a different footing” in affirmative action by finding “good, tested bumiputera who can succeed and to support them in ways so they will be more competitive” and have identified more than 1,000 companies through Teraju that the government would see how to help these companies become bigger and better, referring to the government agency set up to oversee bumiputera economic affairs.

By supporting the “bright bumiputera”, not only will it develop the talent pool in the community but also avoid resentment from their non-bumiputera counterparts, Najib said.

'Sarbaini inquest a mirror image of Teoh's'

The inquest into the death of Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed which concluded yesterday with the ruling that the customs officer had accidentally fallen to his death, bore a stark resemblance to that of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock last year.

According to PKR vice-president N Surendran (left), the obvious similarity of both Sarbani's and Teoh's inquest was in the manner in which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), in which custody both men died, had behaved.

Surendran said in a statement, "It is noteworthy that the MACC behaved in a similar fashion during the investigation and inquiries into the death of (Teoh), who also died during MACC investigations on July 16, 2009. In both instances, the MACC participated in open attacks on the reputation of the deceased victims during the various inquiries."

Surendran added that this went against the basic principle of the common law system "that court proceedings must never be used to unnecessarily defame absent parties." and said during both inquests the MACC had produced evidence that both Teoh and Sarbaini were involved in graft "although (neither were) able to answer the charge or defend (themselves)."

Surendran said, "This was disgraceful and unimportant to the inquiry into how he met his death."

Surendran whose stand is consistent with that of Ahmad Sarbaini's widow, Maziah Manap.

She has accused MACC lawyer Shafee Abdullah of defaming her late husband through media statements.

.

21 September 2011 Last updated at 16:48 GMT

Hugo Boss apology for Nazi past as book is published

 

Hugo Boss supplied uniforms to both the party and armed forces

The German fashion firm Hugo Boss has apologised for its maltreatment of forced workers during World War II when it supplied the Nazis with uniforms.

It issued the apology to coincide with the publication of a new history of the company during the Hitler years, which it commissioned itself.

Its factory used 140 Polish and 40 French forced workers.

The book concludes that company founder Hugo Boss, whose past is already well documented, was a loyal Nazi.

"It is clear that Hugo F Boss did not only join the party because it led to contracts for uniform production, but also because he was a follower of National Socialism," wrote the author, Roman Koester, an economic historian at the Bundeswehr (English: German army) University in Munich.

Both Mr Koester and the company insist that it had no influence over the contents of the book, although it provided the funding.

Continue reading the main story

 

What's the big deal? JB known for its 'crime rate' ;-)

TV3: Guan Eng's faux pas in S'pore, not Australia

While Penang Chief Miniser Lim Guan Eng has denied maligning Johor in an interview on an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio station, TV3 last night disclosed that the DAP secretary-general did indeed 'bad mouth' Johor - in Singapore.

The purported audio recording - TV3's Buletin Utama - reveals that he had disparaged Johor over its crime rate at a luncheon talk with the Foreign Correspondents' Association in Singapore on Aug 12 when he flaunted Penang's relative safety when he commented that Singaporeans are "likely to be kidnapped" when they go to Johor.

The TV station, TV3, is linked to Umno.

Buletin Utama's full transcript of the purported audio recording reads:

"(Penang) is visibly cleaner, greener and also safer. We talk of safety in term of reducing crime index. Penang was number one last year in term of cutting crime. We cut crimes by 37 percent last year and for the first six months of the year, we cut crime by another 25 percent.

"So you don't have to worry about your safety when you come to Penang. In Johor, if you are a Singaporean, you are likely to get kidnapped. You ask any Singaporeans, they would know, but you don't have that problem when you come to Penang."

Aiyo, just google 'crime rate johor bahru' and one can find many disparaging remarks lah - some by Johorean themselves! ;)

If Malaysians had not matured, Umno would still continue to 'control' rakyat!

What insult? ‘Undilah’ producer asks

By Shannon Teoh

September 26, 2011

Teo said he did not see any malice in the juxtaposition. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Musician Pete Teo denied today that his “Undilah” video mocked the prime minister and called for critics to explain how “Star Wars is an insult” to Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

A Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmaker said yesterday a scene where a man dressed as Star Wars’ character “Jabba the Hutt” and standing next to a poster of Najib at a bus stop, mocked the prime minister.

But Teo, who produced the public service announcement (PSA), insisted that “there is nothing wrong with a Star Wars character standing next to Najib.”

“It’s just a zany thing I do in all my videos. Does this mean that other people sitting at the bus stop are also mocking the PM? I’d like them to explain to me how it insults him,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

He pointed out that he had pears randomly appearing in previous videos he produced.

When quizzed over Jabba the Hutt’s role as a villain in the Star Wars films, Teo merely replied, “I don’t see the connection. It’s just a Star Wars character in a bus stop.”

He said this despite insisting that “it was crucial that the video is not political. We were neurotic about this.”

Teo also dismissed accusations that other scenes contained anti-BN messages, saying that even “the prime minister has admitted the country has problems.”

“What is the premise of Najib’s Economic and Government Transformation Programmes? It is an admission that there are problems and it is part of the PM’s agenda to solve them,” Teo said.

The PSA opens with Umno’s Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah describing Malaysia as a country with “many problems.”

His colleague Datuk Abdul Abdul Rahman said that the Kelantan prince — who is known to be openly critical of his party — appeared to encourage Malaysians to fight the establishment.

The Kota Belud MP also pointed out other instances where the 4.38-minute clip appeared to ridicule BN such as a man browsing through a copy of Harakah, a PAS organ, with headlines that read, “BN tiru Buku Jingga” (BN copied Buku Jingga).

Abdul Rahman added that there is a snapshot of the Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, which was the centre of much controversy during the uproar over claims of police brutality at the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

The Malaysian Insider reported last week that the clip was taken off the air by local broadcasters despite a push for greater democracy because it contains opposition figures and Tengku Razaleigh’s speech.

But the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) later claimed that its decision to temporarily pull the “Undilah” video was because it has not yet been approved by the Film Censorship Board.

Najib had pledged to repeal several security laws including the Internal Security Act (ISA) and do away with annual publishing licences in his Malaysia Day address.

He said this was because Malaysians had matured and deserved greater freedom as the “days of government knows best” had ended.

The truth is out, isn't it? Before Malaysians matured or when they were generally still ignorant, the Umno-led government continued to 'cheat' the people. Now, after 308, we understand the meaning of democracy so much more. The people are not ignorant anymore. The people know they are the boss!

Democracy comes from two Greek words: demos, meaning "the people," and kratos, meaning "to rule". Hence, the people rule!

Sweet victory for Shafee. Takdir untuk Sarbani terjatuh mati dalam kustodi!!

Coroner’s verdict absolves MACC, says lawyer

UPDATED @ 07:17:45 PM 26-09-2011

By Debra Chong

September 26, 2011

Shafee (centre) smiles as he exits the coroner’s court after the ruling on Ahmad Sarbaini’s death, in Kuala Lumpur September 26, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been “100 per cent” cleared of blame by the coroner’s court when it ruled that a Customs officer’s death in the graftbuster’s Kuala Lumpur office was by misadventure, the commission’s lawyer said today. Prominent lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who was hired to act for the national anti-graft body, beamed as he told reporters his client has been fully absolved by the verdict on the death of Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed.
However, the prominent lawyer said he agreed with coroner Aizatul Akmal Maharani’s observation that an MACC officer named “Kamal” had been negligent in his duty for leaving the former Customs assistant director alone at its Jalan Cochrane headquarters.
“He should not have left a person for even one second,” Muhammad Shafee said, after the verdict announcement, adding that he would advise MACC to act on the coroner’s remark.
“For sure there’ll be a follow-up on Kamal,” the lawyer told reporters.
MACC assistant superintendent Kamal Awang Besar had testified during the inquest that he left Sarbaini alone in a witness room for three to four minutes before the latter disappeared, as he wanted to get further instructions from investigating officer (IO) Abd Ghani Ali.
Kamal and another colleague with the same rank, Sheikh Niza Khairy Sheikh Mohamad, were both suspended on April 8, after the death.

Most Kelantanese want hudud law. Umno can now close shop in Kelantan!!

Don: Most Kelantanese want hudud law

A visit to Kelantan has changed a constitutional expert's perspective of hudud law - it has convinced him that it is what the majority of the people there want, and that the state government is under pressure to implement it.

In an email to Malaysiakini, Abdul Aziz Bari who is the UIAM law lecturer, said after going to Kelantan to brief Tok Guru (Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, below, yesterday) and listening to the grassroots' sentiments, he admitted that what he saw and heard during the short visit had changed his perspective on the issue.

"The PAS-led state government is willing to hold a referendum on the implementation of hudud law, since it is the wish of the Kelantanese," added Abdul Aziz.

He commented that Najib's rejection of hudud law may not help BN to regain non-Muslim votes and said, "Given this sentiment, Umno leaders over there cursed (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) for saying 'No' to hudud because that statement simply means Umno can now close shop in the state."

Umno & pro-Umno bloggers 'CRUEL'. Thus, the 'CRUEL' sex video claim!

Sex video allegations ‘cruel’, says Customs DG

By Syed Mu’az Syed Putra

September 25, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Customs’ chief said there was no proof its officer was in a sex video recently unveiled by pro-Umno bloggers, adding it’s “cruel” to link it to Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed’s death. “Although the blog clearly showed sexual acts, until today there has been no further information over who was involved. As such, it cannot be conclusively said that it involved a Customs staff,” Customs director-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Yusuf said in an SMS response to The Malaysian Insider.

“Linking the sex act to Sarbaini’s case, which I cannot even see the link, is a cruel act and an irresponsible one, if it seeks to humiliate a person who has died,” he added.

If there was proof, then Khalid said the evidence should be passed to the police, not revealed in public.

Earlier this week, Umno-linked blogs released a video in an apparent attempt to tarnish the reputation of Customs officers ahead of Monday’s verdict in the Sarbaini inquest.

The video — which appears to have been secretly recorded — shows a Malay man engaging in sex with a Caucasian woman in what looks like a hotel room.

Umno-linked blog theunspinners.blogspot.com was the first to release the video, claiming the man in the recording was a Customs officer while suggesting the woman was a Russian prostitute.

The man in the video is not named, but the blogger links the recording, which is titled “Pegawai Kastam Yang Terlampau,” to the senior Customs officer’s death while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) earlier this year.

The blogger also echoes the position of the MACC and its lawyer Datuk Seri Shafee Muhamad Shafee Abdullah during the Ahmad Sarbaini inquest.

Ahmad Sarbaini, the Selangor Customs assistant director, is believed to have fallen from the third-floor pantry of the MACC office in Jalan Cochrane here on April 6 and landed on the badminton court on the first floor.

Ahmad Sarbaini’s case is seen as high profile as it was the second death involving a person under the MACC’s care.

Teoh Beng Hock Teoh, a DAP political aide, was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after he was questioned overnight by MACC officers at their then-Selangor headquarters.

Shafee had argued during the inquest that there had been no evidence presented to suggest either homicide or foul play, as claimed by Ahmad Sarbaini’s family.

The lawyer said that there was also compelling evidence that Ahmad Sarbaini had climbed out of the window, from which he is believed to have fallen, on his own.

Say ‘no’ to shark fin soup? I HAD to eat it three times this month. HOW AH?!

Say ‘no’ to shark fin soup

September 25, 2011

In a handout picture released by WildAid on September 22, 2011 Chinese basketball star Yao Ming (R) and British entrepreneur Richard Branson (L) attend the launch of a new campaign to urge Chinese diners to take the delicacy shark fin off the dining table in Shanghai on September 22, 2011. The campaign, launched in Shanghai, includes public service ads by the two and an outlet for people to make an on-line pledge to stop eating shark fin soup, said the organiser, international conservation group WildAid. – AFP pic/WildAid

SHANGHAI, Sept 25 – Basketball star Yao Ming and British entrepreneur Richard Branson recently launched a campaign urging Chinese to stop eating shark fin soup to help save the predators. Shark fins are used in a thick soup that is viewed as a delicacy by Chinese people and served at luxury restaurants in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The method of shark-finning – slicing off the fins of live animals and then throwing them back in the water to die – is condemned by animal rights campaigners and blamed by scientists for a worldwide collapse in populations.
The campaign, launched in Shanghai, includes advertisements featuring the two celebrities and a website for people to make an online pledge to stop eating the soup, said the organiser, international conservation group WildAid.


Yao, who retired from the sport in July but remains one of China’s biggest sporting names, made a pledge to stop eating shark fin soup five years ago and has since served as an ambassador for WildAid, the group said in a statement.
Branson is backing the campaign through his non-profit foundation Virgin Unite.
“I simply cannot imagine a world without sharks – we must not let this happen,” he said in the statement.
WildAid, which seeks to halt the trade in wildlife, estimates up to 73 million sharks are harvested annually, mainly for shark fin soup.
“The ongoing and increasing demand for shark fin is holding many species on the brink of extinction, further threatening marine ecosystems the world over,” it said.
Earlier this year, a member of China’s parliament proposed a ban on the trade in shark fins.
Ding Liguo, a businessman delegate to the National People’s Congress, said China should lead the world in banning the trade since 95 per cent of shark fin is consumed in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. – AFP

Shark fin soup is one of the 'standard' menu in most if not all Chinese wedding dinners in Malaysia whether they're held in hotels or restaurants. How come this report says 'Shark fins are used in a thick soup that is viewed as a delicacy by Chinese people and served at luxury restaurants in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.'?

Umno in deep denial, can't face the truth that Malaysia has many problems

‘Undilah’ clip contains anti-BN messages, claims Kota Belud MP

UPDATED @ 06:42:37 PM 25-09-2011

By Clara Chooi

September 25, 2011

A screen grab of Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s Twitter page today.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — A Barisan Nasional (BN) MP disagreed today that the “Undilah” video is apolitical, insisting that the public service announcement urging Malaysians to vote contains “subliminal” messages to ridicule the establishment.

While admitting that he appreciated the video’s catchy tune and its aim of encouraging Malaysians to vote, Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan pointed out that certain scenes in the 4.38-minute video appeared to be “not so pleasant to BN”.

He said that at one point in the clip, a man dressed as Star Wars’ character “Jabba the Hutt” is seen standing next to a poster of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, a scene that appeared to mock the prime minister.

“There are some elements that ridicule the establishment,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.

At the beginning of the video, added Abdul Rahman, a man is seen browsing through a copy of Harakah, a PAS organ, with headlines that read, “BN tiru Buku Jingga” (BN copied Buku Jingga). Buku Jingga is a book detailing Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) 100-day reform promises should the opposition come to power in the next polls.

An example cited by Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan today was the appearance of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the video, which he said seemed to encourage Malaysians to fight the establishment. — file pic

He said the video also briefly showed a snapshot of the Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, which was the centre of much controversy during the uproar over claims of police brutality at the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

The use of Umno’s Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as the video’s main star, added Abdul Rahman, also appeared to encourage Malaysians to fight the establishment.

Tengku Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, is known to be openly critical of his party. In the “Undilah” video by musician Pete Teo, Ku Li is seen describing Malaysia as a country with “many problems”.

 

Again, kudos to Ku Li for telling it as it is! Ku Li, a man of honesty!

Same old trick. Will Chinese 'hard up' for money and vote BN out this time?

Najib eyes key Chinese vote with double visit to Penang

By Jahabar Sadiq
Editor

September 25, 2011

PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak (left) with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (yellow) during their cycling event in Georgetown Sept 25 2011. — Penang CM’s office

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak will make a push for the crucial Chinese vote in Penang with two visits in a span of five days, in hopes of winning back the state from Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman is due to take part in a cycling event today and coalition sources say the prime minister will give at least RM500,000 to each Chinese school in the state now run by PR Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“There are two significant visits for the prime minister to Penang this week. The cycling event on Sunday and a visit to the Han Chiang School on Thursday,” a BN source told The Malaysian Insider.

“He will give the Chinese schools some money,” he added, noting that the Chinese are the majority in urban seats which seem to support BN’s political foes.

Guan Eng, who just returned from a visit of Australia, is due to attend both events as is his predecessor, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Najib (picture), who now has a new team of image consultants who had helped former British PM Tony Blair win elections, has been visiting various states every weekend in what is seen as a prelude to the next elections widely expected within a year.

The prime minister, who is big on symbolism, will address large gathering at the Han Chiang school which was the venue of the big opposition bash just two days before Election 2008 when BN lost our more states and 82 federal seats.

Sources also say that several well known Chinese businessmen have indicated that they can help win PR state assemblymen over to BN. PR holds 29 out of the 40 seats in the state assembly.

But it is unclear whether these businessmen have the pull or whether these are self serving statements of corporate figures eyeing government largesse.

“The PM is eyeing the Chinese vote because it is crucial if BN wants to take back Penang,” an Umno official said.

Najib has made it clear he wants to win back both Penang and Selangor, the country’s top two industrialised and wealthy states, in the next general election.

Under the PR governments, Penang and Selangor have seen a rise in investments with the island state notching RM12.23 billion and the central state getting RM10.64 billion last year.

Selangor has also increased its cash reserves by some RM200 million in the first half of 2011, bringing the total to RM1.1 billion which Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said was the highest in 28 years.

The prime minister has told his Umno party and BN to win back support in all opposition-held states with Putrajaya approving increased allocations for its lawmakers to spend in their wards.

He has also announced the repeal of several security and media laws, including the Internal Security Act (ISA) last week in a move to win over Malaysians upset over curbs in civil liberties and the crackdown of the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally calling for free and fair elections.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, is due to unload more goodies in his Budget 2012 speech on October 7 including possible hefty bonus or pay rises for civil servants as part of his strategy to win back support in the next election which must be held by 2013.

Yes! Money! Money! These monies are the rakyat's in the first place. Thus, it is only right to give them back to the rakyat but the fact remains - the Chinese are still the second-class Malaysian citizens. Will the Chinese still be blinded by BN after all these years or wake up and vote BN out for good?!

Agong, Ambiga, Michelle, Tony SEKARANG 'EMPAT SEKAWAN'! WOOT

Agong, Ambiga, Michelle, Tony dah dikurniakan anugerah tertinggi Perancis! ;)

Ambiga conferred France’s top civilian award

By Debra Chong

September 23, 2011

Barety appends the award to Ambiga’s (left) dress during the conferment ceremony at the French Residence in Kuala Lumpur, September 23, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 — Resplendent in a black-and-gold sari, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan was tonight conferred France’s highest honour, the Chevalier de Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour).

As he pinned the distinctive five-pointed medal on her sari, France’s ambassador to Malaysia, Marc Barety, said the award was to recognise Ambiga’s dedication to human rights and to boost the rule of law in Malaysia.

A small gathering of some 20 close friends and associates of Ambiga’s, which included the who’s who of the legal world, burst into loud cheers amid the popping of champagne corks.

The French award has catapulted the prominent lawyer into an exclusive club of some 20 people that include the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, airline maverick Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Ipoh-born Hollywood actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Barety said.

Michelle Yeoh mentioned in Wikiepedia.

Tony Fernandes mentioned in Wikipedia.

Personally, why I believe the FOUR were conferred the top award. The WHY described in ONE word:

Agong because he's a 'royalty'.

Michelle because she's a 'celebrity'.

(her husband also a French guy mah!)

Tony because he's 'business-savvy'

Ambiga because she's a lady of 'democracy'!

De La Hoya, boxing legend, confesses he's an alcoholic who liked to cross-dress

De La Hoya: I am an alcoholic who liked to cross-dress

Boxing legend and US idol goes public on lifetime of addiction

By Alan Hubbard

Sunday, 18 September 2011

He was the original Golden Boy of boxing, hailed by presidents for his clean-cut, iconic image and worshipped by his millions of fans. But now Oscar De La Hoya has confessed that he is an alcoholic and drug addict who dressed in drag and cheated regularly on his wife, mother of two of his five children. The fight game is still reeling from the shock. Sad to hear stories of sports celebrities with little or no strength to overcome vices like drinking and womanising when they had so much will power to win in high-level sports. Irony indeed! ;-)

Umno backs hudud law too but MCA will pull out of BN if it's implemented! ;)

Muhyiddin: Umno backs hudud law too

UPDATED @ 07:00:08 AM 23-09-2011

By Yow Hong Chieh

September 22, 2011

MCA threatens to quit BN if Umno implements hudud law

UPDATED @ 02:13:37 PM 23-09-2011

By Lisa J. Ariffin

September 23, 2011

NATO Najib; Mat Sabu charged, Undilah video taken off-air. Dishonest PM

Najib violated own pledges with Mat Sabu charge, says Pakatan

UPDATED @ 07:04:23 AM 22-09-2011

By Clara Chooi

September 21, 2011

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu. — file pic

Undilah video taken off-air over Ku Li speech, opposition figures

By Jahabar Sadiq
Editor

September 23, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR

The word 'dishonest' best describes Najib as an 'Umno-appointed' PM:

dis·hon·estAdjective/disˈänist/

1. Behaving or prone to behave in an untrustworthy or fraudulent way.
2. Intended to mislead or cheat.

BN elected reps' 3-day retreat with 300 families. Wah, so close. So SCARY

A total of 240 BN elected representatives are in Kuala Selangor until Friday as part of BN's plans to wrest power from Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor and will stay with 300 families during the three-day retreat in an effort to "put the people first" and "be close to the rakyat" according to BN State Assembly Backbenchers Club president Nadzri Ismail.

Lauding this effort, Mahathir said, however, that sincerity might be lacking if the elected representatives went into the kampung in their luxury cars and to drive this point across, said, "For example, there was a BN candidate who went to a kampung in his Mercedes Benz to look for the constituency that he was selected to contest in. He didn't win."

So, why not stay and sleep with the people longer. Stay with them everyday to really know the rakyat's hardship.

1Malaysia: Rakyat jangan shop dulu, OK. FLOM Rosmah MESTI shop first!

Thursday September 22, 2011

Shocking reasons why Malaysians are living beyond their means

While Star should be applauded for starting an initiative to highlight key issues faced by Malaysians in relation to the rising cost of living, it should, as the 'People's Paper', look at the bigger issues that are affecting our nation such as unnecessary spending by the Government on top of corruption.

MUHYIDDIN 'ANAK PARIA'? WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?

@ Malaysia Today
Blogger Umno gelar Muhyiddin 'anak paria'

Obviously, 'cool' Najib afraid to be interviewed, subpoenaed. NATO Najib!

Najib, Rosmah to snub Anwar trial if no subpoenas

UPDATED @ 02:00:18 PM 03-08-2011

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

August 03, 2011

ON Aug 12, 2011

PM and wife: We don't wish to be your witnesses

Najib, Rosmah, Musa subpoenaed

Malaysiakini – Mon, Aug 22, 2011

Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyer Karpal Singh informed the court today the defence has subpoenaed seven witnesses, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and ex-Malacca police chief Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof.
He said this after Anwar concluded testifying from the dock this morning, reading out a 32-page statement.
All four individuals had been called to be interviewed by the defence over the past two weeks.
However, all of them stated their refusal to answer any questions when interviewed by the defence.
The others for whom the defence applied for subpeonas are Pusrawi Hospital doctor Dr Mohamad Osman Abdul Hamid, nurse Yazihan Jusoh and a maid from Indonesia known only as ‘Suliati’.
According to Karpal ( right ), they have applied for the subpoenaes and the witnesses are expected to come to court.
Asked whether they can decline, Karpal said they cannot, or warrants of arrest can be issued against them.
"It can only be set-aside. So far, they  have not made any application to do so," he said.
In 1998, Anwar made attempts to call then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The former premier had his own lawyers set aside the attempt.
Another lawyer for Anwar, Sankara Nair ( left ), told Malaysiakini that they applied last Friday for the subpoenaes to be issued.
"The prosecution has accommodated and the subpoenaes have been issued," he said.
This means that all seven were supposed to be at the court's disposal today, said Sankara.
"The prosecution verified that all seven subpoenaes had been served and they were supposed to come."
"Najib, Rosmah, Musa and Rodwan were not in court despite the subpoenas being issued," added the lawyer.
Commenting on this, Anwar said, "We have issued subpoenas for Najib and Rosmah, and there is no reason why they should not come.
"It is important they set a good example, as public figures, by cooperating with the law," he said.
Tomorrow, Anwar's expert witnesses, specialist forensic pathologist Dr David Wells and DNA expert Dr Brian Mc Donald, are scheduled to take the stand, along with Mohamad Osman.

TODAY, That's not cool, Anwar tells Najib

Anwar Ibrahim has described Najib Abdul Razak's application to set aside his subpoena as “not cool”, giving short shrift to the premier's bid to achieve an image makeover and asked, "Now he is filing the application to have it set aside ... why shy away?"

Prior to this, Najib had said he would testify in the Sodomy II trial if subpoenaed, also indicating that he dares to face Anwar in court.

Anwar, is defending himself against the charge based on a complaint by his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.

Google+ opens to the world, yes! I was officially on Google+ on July 7 2011!

Today, the Internet is abuzz with news that Google+ is now open to the world. That means everyone can join without having to receive an invitation to join. I was invited to join and on Google+ since July 7.

So what are you waiting for?!


Go to www.google.com/+ NOW and join the next BIG wave in social network.

Najib, Rosmah seek to strike out subpoena. No worries. Umno court boleh

Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor are expected to file an application to strike out subpoenas compelling them to appear as witnesses at PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim's on-going sodomy trial.

A source informed Malaysiakini that the couple intend to file their application today but details surrounding their application remain unclear. The time of the filing of their application is also not known.

Government lawyer red-faced over Bersih ban suit. Kamaludin, the joker! ;-)

Government lawyer red-faced over Bersih ban suit

By Melissa Chi

September 19, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 – A senior federal counsel tripped up in court today and drew sniggers failing to explain why electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 cannot sue the government for outlawing it.
Datuk Kamaludin Mohd Said appeared to be arguing from Bersih 2.0’s standpoint when he echoed his opposing counsel, Tommy Thomas, who said a loose coalition of NGOs is not a society, which removes it from under the authority of the Societies Act.

In the order banning Bersih 2.0, the Home Minister had referred to it as a coalition and a movement that was “prejudicial to security interests” of the country.

Trial judge Datuk Rohana Yusof appeared confounded by this argument and directed the government lawyer to explain himself better. “I’m confused from the beginning,” Kamaludin replied, his ruddy complexion turning darker at the embarrassment as the public gallery chuckled at his slip.
The senior federal counsel was representing the Attorney-General, the Home Minister and the Inspector-General of Police who have all been named respondents in the judicial review.
Prominent lawyer and former Bar Council chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and her colleagues in Bersih’s steering committee want the Barisan Nasiona l(BN) government to lift its July 1 ban against the movement.
They also want the court to issue a restriction order against the authorities to stop government officers from entering and raiding theirpremises and to return all the Bersih 2.0 property and materials seized in the last two weeks, ranging from the yellow T-shirts, posters, placards, pictures, members’ list.
But Kamaludin argued that Ambiga was only a “busybody” and has no legal standing to represent Bersih 2.0 in court, despite being its head.
He insisted that the movement’s other leaders file their suits separately.
The 13 other leaders are named in the court filing as Maria Chin Abdullah, Datuk Toh Kin Woon, Zaid Kamaruddin, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, Arul Prakkash Sinnappan, Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, Andrew Khoo Chin Hock, Liau Kok Fah, Wong Chin Huat, Datuk Yeoh Yong Poh, and Yeo Yong Woi.
The loose coalition of 62 registered civil societies led tens of thousands to demand for free and fair elections in the capital city, which resulted in some 1,600 arrests but ultimately resulted in the government agreeing to set up a bi-partisan parliamentary polls panel last month.
The court will decide on whether to grant Bersih 2.0 leave to challenge the Home Minister’s order on September 28.

Is it proper for the corrupt and those involved in vice to talk about morality?!

Anwar declines comment on 'new' video claims
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has refused to comment on allegations by an Umno-friendly blogger that he has further video evidence to implicate the PKR supremo in a sex scandal.

Anwar, who looked calm when answering journalists, said he would not entertain questions on issues pertaining to morality, alcohol, gambling, vice, cruelty, slander or saying (about) a bad character of a person.

Later Anwar clarified to Malaysiakini that it is not that issues of morality are not important and asked, "Is it proper for those involved in corruption, murder, or consume alcohol to make such accusations and talk about morality?"

GOOD ANSWER. Also, if you are not caught not in the act, it does not mean that you are clean, ok?! ;) How many vices have been committed in secret? Nobody knows! Even Dr M had said before that:
Umno busuk hingga ke ususnya, makan rasuah macam makan babi

Bersih book: Ambiga should call it 'Bersih: First step to best democracy'! ;-)

Ambiga mulls writing her own Bersih book

By Melissa Chi

September 18, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 – Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said today she is considering writing a book on her experiences of the Bersih rally, a Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.
“If I were to write it, it would have many chapters, it wouldn’t be just one story,” the lawyer said at the launch of the collection of Bersih stories here at the Central Market.
Ambiga (picture) went on saying the first chapter will be entitled pre-Bersih 2.0 where she would summarise the first Bersih rally in 2007 as well as the birth of Bersih 2.0 and how it had became a civil society movement.
“I would also say how we tried the avenue of discourse, discussion, several memorandum being handed in, we’ve tried all that and I remember how difficult it was to get people, the rakyat interested in the issue of electoral reform, it is a boring subject, there is no doubt about that,” she said, adding that work preparing for Bersih 2.0 took more than a year.
In the second chapter, Ambiga said she would talk about the need for Bersih 2.0.
“I would then talk about the Sarawak elections, one of the dirtiest elections we have ever had and I’ll also talk about how EC continued to live in denial as they still do by the way in relation to our demands.
“I think it became absolutely clear to us that a rally was necessary if we were to ensure that what happened in Sarawak does not happen in the 13th general elections,” she said.
The next chapter, the former Bar Council president said would be about the Bersih rallies held in 32 other cities on July 9 and that it was not part of the original Bersih 2.0 plan. She said people from all around the world had written in and asked what they can do to help their cause.
Ambiga said chapter four would be called the ugly side and it will be about the threats by the government to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) and that Bersih members were labelled communists, Jews, Hindu extremist and anti-Islam.
But she said, it was those things that had made the Bersih experience so different.
Ambiga said chapter five will be the week before the rally, about the stadium offer by the prime minister at first, which he later said was outside of KL, the meeting with Agung and meetings with police.
“I made my way to that hotel on the night before on the back of a motorbike, I’ve never been on a motorbike and that was my paranoia and I couldn’t risk not being allowed in,” she said with a chuckle.
She was among a long list of people who were banned from entering the city on July 9.
She said the next chapter would be about her experience on that day, how she was tear gassed at the KL Sentral underpass, and then detained. Ambiga pointed out that she was concerned about how they would treat her but the police had treated her well.
Chapter seven, would be about the reported police brutality, she said.
“I would also write about some of the policemen who were very good to the people who behaved very professionally who allowed them to come in and leave peacefully because they show they have now demonstrated that assemblies can be peacefully conducted and the police can play a meaningful role to make sure that happens,” Ambiga said.
The last chapter would be called the rakyat takeover because after the rally, she said there was an awakening and awareness.
She acknowledged that there are “good people” in the police force, the government and all kinds of authoritative bodies.
“Now is the time for them to stand up and speak if they feel what is happening now is not right and i would appeal to them to stand with the rakyat and fight for what is great and for what is right for Malaysia.
“We have to show the way sometimes. The people just have to take over and get on with it because we are sick of slogans and taglines, we’re not interested in that,” she said.

Marche @ VivoCity Singapore : Rosti with smoked salmon! Simply yummy

SGD14.77 - reasonable and filling!

My second time to a Marche restaurant. The first time was to Marche @ The Curve, Malaysia.

Went to Marche @ VivoCity Singapore for dinner. The queue started building up from half past six.

ISA repealed: Malaysia from flawed to best democracy? Can beat Norway?

Stop the charade of claiming to want to be the “best democracy in the world” – what Najib should do is to immediately end Malaysia’s ranking as a “flawed democracy”

- Lim Kit Siang