Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth died the same day as Steve Jobs

(Source: The Other Guy Who Died @ http://www.apenotmonkey.com/2011/10/07/the-other-guy-who-died/)

Kepala Gobala: Tak ada beza antara Dada dan Pala

'Kg Buah Dada': Gobala told to leave Dewan Rakyat

Hazlan Zakaria
1:01PM Oct 31, 2011

Former PKR MP N Gobalakrishnan (Independent-Padang Serai) was asked to leave the Dewan Rakyat this morning by deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar after raising a ruckus in the House today when he refused repeated orders by the deputy speaker to stand down.

A shouting match had broken out after Gobalakrishnan interrupted Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) who was seeking clarification from Wan Junaidi over the rejection in chambers of his motion to censure Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau).

In his letter to Karpal rejecting motion, the speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said that the subject matter of the proposed motion was the focal point of an ongoing police investigation following a police report - hence it was not an urget matter requiring the intervention of the House.

Nevertheless, Karpal argued that the matter should be up discussed within the Dewan as it touched upon the conduct of one its members and the dignity of the legislative body.

Karpal's motion was to discuss Khairy's tweet (the tweet mockingly stated the demolition of the Kampung Buah Pala village in Penang may have been to make way for ‘Kampung Buah Dada’) poking fun at allegations of sexual misconduct by the son of Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Attacking Karpal (right) for bringing up the issue, Gobala stood up, berated Karpal and the DAP leadership and thundered, saying, "It does not matter if it is 'Kampung Buah Pala' or 'Kampung Buah Dada', as it is the fate of the people making up the traditional Indian village that is the issue of concern."

Soon after his ejection, Gobala spoke to reporters in a press conference and said DAP seems to be concerned more with arguing over the choice of words than the fate of the villagers they had vowed to protect.

MRT Co between the devil and the deep blue sea! ;)

MRT Co claims ‘bent over backwards’ to please Chinatown owners

By Clara Chooi

October 31, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — MRT Corporation has lashed out against “unfair” reports of its alleged high-handedness in resolving the Klang Valley MRT land row, complaining that much of its efforts to please city traders and landowners here have been met with hostility.
Its chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said he has been facing heat from both parties — the government and the owners — and “bending over backwards” to strike workable agreements that would result in an amicable end to the dispute.

File photo of Chinatown traders and owners protesting against the MRT alignment.

He said he had first pleaded with the government, and even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for extra time to court the traders and landowners, particularly those from the iconic Chinatown street who are lobbying for a realignment of the multibillion ringgit rail line. But despite the efforts, Azhar admitted talks with both Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan (Chinatown) traders are close to reaching a deadlock, leaving him little choice but to back out from the row and allow the group to take on the government on their own.
“Do you know how much it took for me to get the government to agree with what I am doing? It is unprecedented. I had to go right to the top. I conveyed to the PM that I will get Jalan Sultan (Chinatown) settled and now I am so frustrated that I could not do it.
“The Attorney-General even ticked me off, saying first you said you can do it and now you can’t,” he told The Malaysian Insider recently in an exclusive interview.
“That is why I am disappointed with the articles, very unfair. It made it seem like we have been very high-handed in our approach. What we are doing is that we are trying to minimise the short-term pains for long-term gains but we urge the people to allow for some sacrifices,” he said.
Azhar complained that most of the Jalan Sultan traders had insisted on rejecting the proposal he had mooted to resolve the land dispute even though the plan would see the heritage site preserved and their properties and land rights untouched.
“I have already met all their original requirements. Heritage is not an issue anymore, retaining their properties is not an issue anymore, demolition is not an issue anymore. What more do they want?
“I am paying them for the inconvenience, I am paying them for lawyers, I have promised not to start work during Chinese New Year to disrupt their business... what more? Do they want me to live with them?” he asked.
The Jalan Sultan traders had earlier protested against the project after receiving notice that their properties would be acquired to make way for the MRT line, which will run beneath their lots along the iconic street.

Azhar said he has ‘bent over backwards’ to strike workable agreements that would result in an amicable end to the dispute.

Engaging their own private engineer, the group then suggested a realignment that will see the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line extended by 200m, rerouted from Jalan Sultan to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock and will include integrated terminals with the LRT Pasar Seni station and KTMB line and another with the Puduraya bus terminal. To resolve the row, Azhar then promised to leave the traders’ properties and land rights untouched, full compensation for the six months they would have to vacate their premises to facilitate tunnelling work and any legal fees involved in the process.
“I told them to engage their own lawyers and I will pay for it. I am bending over backwards, as far as I can see, for them. We will even look at temporary accommodation... no problem,” he said.
However, Azhar said the same formula could not be applied to Jalan Bukit Bintang.
“Here, to me, it is a no-go. The problem is, the area is too tight... we cannot dig down to make space for work without demolition,” he said.
But, he stressed that MRT Co was willing to compensate the traders fairly for their losses and rebuild their properties “brick for brick” upon completion of the rail project.
“Even if you want the dirt back, I’ll put the dirt back for you. We do not want your land... that is not my business,” he said.
Bukit Bintang traders have however refused to accept the suggestion and went on a week-long signature drive from October 18, hoping to pressure Putrajaya into reverting to its original plan to build two MRT stations in the area.
Two stations, BB West and BB East, were originally meant to bookend the capital’s premier shopping district but the proposal was later dropped in favour of a single station opposite BB Plaza and Lot 10.
Traders say construction of the single BB Central station underneath the busy intersection of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail and the demolition of nearby shops will disrupt business and kill tourism.

Obviously, all us know who devil is.

Deep blue sea? hehe....well, you know the Chinese saying 'people hill, people sea'?

Don't play play lor if the devil doesn't know the meaning of 'demos' + 'kratos'! ;)

Penang-born Koh no match for Johor-born CM LGE!

Koh dismisses reports claiming he will run against Guan Eng

By Lisa J. Ariffin

October 30, 2011

Koh denied today that he had been interviewed by any blogger with regard to candidacy for the 13th general elections. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon dismissed today reports saying he will run against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in the coming national polls. Several blogs have alleged the Gerakan president had said he was ready to take on the Johor-born DAP leader in the 13th general elections, which are expected in the next six months, to revive his flagging political career.
Koh was Penang chief minister for 13 years before being ousted in the landmark 2008 election that effectively wiped out the powerful Barisan Nasional (BN) component party from the state.
“I will not give any comment based on one writing on a blog. The bloggers can say anything they want ... there are other blogs writing all sorts of things about me,” the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of unity and performance management told reporters today.
He was responding to a blog post on the HaprakNews website titled “Koh Tsu Koon sedia tentang Lim Guan Eng PRU13 ini’ (Koh Tsu Koon ready to face Lim Guan Eng in GE13)”.
Dated October 25, the anonymous blogger had quoted Koh as saying, in Bahasa Malaysia: “I personally wish to contest against Lim Guang Eng [sic] no matter where he stands in Penang. I am Penang-born and not an outsider who knows nothing about the state’s circumstances.”
The article has been hyperlinked to other websites, including a known pro-Umno blogger who goes by the name PapaGomo.
Koh denied he had been interviewed by any such blogger.
“I will not entertain blogs because it is a waste of my time,” he said, and chided the unknown writer for attributing the report to him for publicity.
Koh’s leadership has come under attack in recent days from within his party and other members of the ruling BN coalition who question if he is “winnable candidate” material.
The social scientist has previously disclosed that he is willing to make a “sacrifice” for the party in the coming elections but continued today to hold off from elaborating further.

Jib, isteri tunai haji. Pilihanraya umum pd 10 Dis '11

The Najibs’ pilgrimage and GE

Jeswan Kaur | October 29, 2011 

 

If the allegation is true that it is nothing more than a political gimmick, Does Najib think manipulating his hajj will assure him of the people's vote?

COMMENT

News is out that the 13th general election is scheduled for Dec 10. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is expected to dissolve Parliament on Nov 11.
All this will happen once Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor return from their hajj pilgrimage on Nov 6.
Along with this news which was made by Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chairperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin or better known as CheguBard, came some disturbing revelations.
Naively or otherwise, Badrul said his “inside sources” told him that Najib and Rosmah’s trip to Mecca was related to the image building-cum-enhancement of the PM and his domineering wife.
Badrul went on to say that media coverage has been put in place to provide extensive coverage to the hajj pilgrimage performed by the premier and his wife.
What is astonioshing is the reason behind the airing of the couple’s pilgrimage – to influence and lure the rakyat, especially the Malays in winning their votes come the 13th GE.
“Don’t be surprised if the image or video clip of Najib and Romah entering the Kaabah is aired every night,” Badrul was quoted as saying.
Does Najib think manipulating his hajj will assure him of the people’s vote and victory in the impending general election? Was that the real intent of Najib and Rosmah, to make the full of trials and tribulations journey to Mecca, to perform the hajj?
Najib’s hajj agenda
For those doing the hajj, it is said to be a very “private” affair, between them and God. Donned in the white ihram and devoid of all material comforts, the hajj is performed with the intention of seeking forgiveness for the sins done.
In the case of Najib and Rosmah, misusing the pilgrimage to further their worldly vested interests, i.e. improving their image to win the hearts of voters will put any decent human being to shame.
It was just two months ago that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department or Jais gate-crashed into a thanksgiving dinner organised by the Damansara Utama Methodist Church, accusing the church of trying to convert Muslim guests at the dinner.
It is illegal to proselytise Muslims in Malaysia.
But extremist organisations like Perkasa were far from assured that proselytisation was never the church’s agenda. In retaliation, on Oct 22, the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun) was organised.
Perkasa, the Malay rights group, lauded the success of Himpun claiming it unified Muslims even from opposing political factions.
Himpun claims to have the backing of 200 NGOs representing four million Muslims nationwide.
Yet the 100,000 seats in the Shah Alam Stadium were glaringly empty with barely 5,000 people turning up for the rally. To the Christian leaders, the Himpun fight is “irrelevant” as no conversion attempts were ever made.
Himpun’s co-organiser, Mohd Yusri Mohamed, had prior to the rally insisted that the rally was not anti-Christian, amid rumblings of uneasiness that it could spark further racial tensions.
What does Perkasa have to say about the Najib-Rosmah hajj pilgrimage, which is all about fulfilling their hidden agenda?
Rushing into the GE a disaster
Badrul, who is also Rembau branch PKR chief, said he was made to understand that Najib deliberately chose the date Nov 11 after receiving paranormal and astrological advice which said the number 1 is the lucky digit for Najib and Rosmah.
Are Muslims not forbade from believing in such matters? It is said that not only is the practice of astrology haram or forbidden, so is visiting an astrologist and listening to his predictions, buying books on astrology or reading one’s horoscope are also forbidden!
Since astrology is mainly used for predicting the future, those who practice it are considered fortune-tellers. And the one who seeks his horoscope comes under the ruling contained in the Prophet’s statement:
“The Salaah (daily prayer) of whoever approaches a fortune-teller and asks him about anything will not be accepted for forty days and nights.”
Such a belief is considered shirik or polytheism because Allah has clearly stated: “With Him are the keys to the unseen and none knows it except Him.”
To-date, it is confirmed that Najib will go by the Nov 11 date despite being cautioned by some quarters not to hold the general election much earlier and in a surprised manner.
Badrul went on to say that the 13th GE is also being rushed to tackle the inner crisis troubling Umno, the country’s dominant party representing Malay rights. The 13th GE is Najib’s way of making sure his detractors within Umno do not succeed in dethroning him.
But Badrul is worried that the call for the GE much sooner will only spell trouble for Najib, keeping in mind the chain of events post-July, when election watchdog Bersih 2.0 held its “Walk for Democracy”. One of them was the setting up of a parliamentary select committee on electoral reform in August this year.
Bersih 2.0 has cautioned the Najib administration that any move towards electoral reform would be deemed insincere and deceitful if the eight immediate demands by Bersih 2.0 are ignored before the 13th general election.

 

Tok Guru Nik Aziz orang alim, orang Umno...zalim?

In Kelantan, coming polls a referendum on Nik Aziz, Mustapa

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

October 30, 2011

Umno is banking on Mustapa’s untainted image to win over Kelantan voters. — File pic

KOTA BARU, Oct 30 — The fight for Kelantan in the upcoming national polls will see PAS and Umno pit Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and federal minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed against each other to see who is the more popular choice for the state’s mentri besar post.

The Malaysian Insider understands both parties have embarked on aggressive campaigns to promote their respective candidates for the state’s top spot ahead of the general election that is expected to be called by early next year.

The Kelantan Umno leadership is banking on Mustapa to again lead the coalition in the next election as its mentri besar-designate despite the Umno leader not being as popular as Nik Aziz.

Nik Aziz’s popularity is well-established both in Kelantan and nationally. — File pic

“Although we know that Nik Aziz is popular as a state leader, you see his pictures everywhere, but the fact remains is that he is old; he is not going to lead the state forever.

“What we are telling people on the ground is that who in PAS will take over after Nik Aziz? Datuk Husam Musa? There is no clear succession plan in PAS, but Umno, we have Tok Pa (Mustapa) and no arguments there, he is our choice for MB,” Pengkalan Chepa Umno Youth division chief Che Othman Che Wil told The Malaysian Insider in an interview last week.

Che Othman and many other state Umno leaders believe Mustapa’s “squeaky-clean” and “scandal-free” image will help shore up voter support, and have made it a point to burnish the minister’s credentials “every chance” they get in forums and even public events.

“Tok Pa is a trade minister; he has the know-how to bring development to Kelantan, better than a so-called Tok Guru. He (Nik Aziz) is not even scandal-free,” said Che Othman, referring to nepotism allegations involving the Kelantan MB and his son-in-law, former Kelantan Mentri Besar Incorporated (PMBK) chief executive officer, Abdul Ariffahmi Ab. Rahman.

Mustapa, who is the international trade and industry minister as well as Jeli MP, has been working with Umno officials on its “Gelombang Merah” campaign to take back the state lost two decades ago. He is an economist, holding a first class honours degree in Economics from University of Melbourne, Australia and a Masters in Economic Development from the Boston University.

It is understood that even PAS officials are worried about succession in the state, pointing out that Nik Aziz turns 80 this year without a successor in sight. There have been hints of a power struggle but the Islamist party has shown enough discipline to keep the issue under wraps.

State government leaders have been on the defensive, insisting that the issue of succession is “not as important as some people would make it out to be.”

“In politics it is about uncertainty, we may plan for a person to take over, but when the time comes, things can change.

“Umno may have one good leader, Tok Pa (Mustapa), but the rest are rotten apples, all contractors wanting a cut from the state if they take over,” state executive councillor Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah told The Malaysian Insider in an interview recently.

Anuar, who holds the portfolio for entrepreneurial, trade and people’s development said that a number of candidates are already being considered, including the state deputy MB, Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.

“Umno only has one choice candidate. We have several and this will eventually be decided by the PAS leadership,” said Anuar.

But Umno’s plans to unseat Nik Aziz may not be so easy, as the PAS spiritual leader still commands respect and support from majority of Kelantan folk.

Sharifah says it is too late for Umno to retake the state. — Picture by Choo Choy May

“When you talk about winning Kelantan, it has to be about personalities... party is not enough,” says Kelantan opposition leader Datuk Che Alwi Ahmad.

“For instance, I can bring up many issues on mismanagement by the state government, but at the end of the day, what people will see is me attacking an old man wearing a jubah in the Dewan Negeri (state assembly),” he told The Malaysian Insider, referring to Nik Aziz.

For the people in Kelantan, especially in rural areas, Nik Aziz remains a symbol of PAS’s brand of Islam- religiosity and moderation in governance.

“Under Tok Guru’s (Nik Aziz) leadership, there is fairness. Dia orang alim (He is religious) unlike Umno leaders, he has brought good to Kelantan, we are a state which adheres to the tenets of Islam... is that not enough? People in Kelantan are simple folk,” businesswoman Sharifah Noraini, 47 said during a recent interview near her home in Lubok Setol, Rantau Panjang.

Sharifah said that various restrictions on entertainment in the state by Nik Aziz’s administration was “good” as it prevented youths from getting into trouble.

“Umno already had their chance years back... and nothing changed back then, so the time for giving them a chance is over.”


Well, actually opposite of alim is not zalim, right? 

Or is it kafir? hehe...


Well, well. All of us know corrupted Umno is.

Even Dr M blogged on Nov 30, 2009:
1. Pilihanraya Umum ke-13 hanya dua tahun lagi. Saya sedang meneliti reaksi rakyat terhadap UMNO dibawah pimpinan baru. Saya terkejut. Saya terkejut kerana seorang bekas pemimpin UMNO yang kanan telah meluahkan perasaannya dengan berkata “UMNO is rotten to the core” (UMNO busuk hingga ke ususnya).

Secret Recipe KLIA: Kid's meal mini burger. Yummy

Pizza, defined mathematically. Volume=pi.z.z.a 8-)

Pizza

By Maggie Koerth-Baker at 2:21 pm Thursday, Oct 20

I'm not sure I have any comment for this, other than to say how pleased I am that puns work just as well in math.

Via Vincent Knight

PM tok cock, does not walk the talk, snubs PPSMI

In his speech during Gerakan's 40th National Delegates Conference on 16 October 2011, Najib said, "We make history because we listen to the cries of the rakyat, on the rising costs of living, on education, or on housing. I will deliver what the people want." 

So, who is Najib listening to right now?

Is he listening to the cries of the parents and students affected by the sudden switch from English to Bahasa in the teaching science and maths?

PAGE warns BN of polls backlash from PPSMI snub

Perodua, Proton tak pernah, tak kan sedia bersaing

Ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit out at the 'high income economy' espoused by current Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Mahathir said one thing about high income, that the government didn't say, was that it would lead to a higher cost of living and hinted at the danger of accompanying inflation as observed in Japan.

He also took issue with the government's intention to liberalise the automotive industry in the country, saying that Malaysia is not and has never been, ready for that but added, saying, "Which is why we would like to stay as we are But if the government want to liberalise the industry, it is their right."

Mahathir was speaking to reporters at a press conference after attending the ‘PM Tea with Tun Mahathir' organised by Perodua in Kuala Lumpur today and his statement belied the Najib administration's aggressive policy of liberalisation of our automotive sector, which will come into full effect in 2015.

Mahathir pointed out that other countries were not opening up their automotive sectors to Malaysia, particularly singling out South Korea, Japan and China as no-go areas for Malaysian cars as well as the European Union which imposes strict emissions control requirements that makes it expensive to penetrate their market.

Mahathir, the man responsible for steering Malaysia into the automotive, said, "It is a one way traffic... not fair yet. We should look at our own interests first. Why cater to others when others don't cater to us."

Yes, South Korea and Japan close their doors to Malaysian cars but why does US open up their automotive sector to Toyota and Hyundai cars but not Perodua or Proton cars?

Why? 

All of us know the answer that is Malaysian cars are sub-standard cars.

11.11.11 – the hottest date to wed, 20.11.2011 next!

Monday October 3, 2011

11.11.11 – the hottest date to wed

By YEE XIANG YUN 

Tuesday October 11, 2011

Couples rush to take the plunge on 20.11.2011

By ANDREA FILMER

GEORGE TOWN: While it is widely believed that 11.11.11 is the most popular day to get married, another date is fast emerging as a contender.

Wedding slots for Nov 20 this year written numerically as 20.11.2011 are fast being snapped up.

A check with the Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society showed that the 20 slots available for that Sunday were filled in just four days.

Fifty other couples had to be turned away.

Latest craze: Yeoh posing with red and pink floral decorations which are used during the wedding ceremonies. The society had to turn away 50 couples who wanted to wed on Nov 20.

 

“Registrations for weddings in November opened on Sept 2 and we had a lot of interest for 20.11.2011,” said the society's assistant registrar Yeoh Loy Cheow.

“However that date is just one week after our 11.11.11 mass wedding ceremony,” she said.

She explained that for normal Sundays, the society accepted 20 marriage registrations.

Yeoh added that the 111 wedding slots for the big 11.11.11 ceremony had been filled in just over two weeks.

“These days are not particularly more auspicious, but couples like special dates that are easy to remember,” Yeoh said.

“This is the latest craze and repeated numbers, in particular, are very popular,” she added.

At the Penang Chinese Town Hall, assistant registrar Chong Kim Seong said they too were receiving calls for marriage registrations on 20.11.2011.

“Normally, we conduct our weekly marriage registrations on Saturdays, but a special request has come in from one of our officers to have a ceremony on Nov 20.

“This is a special case, but we will consider requests from other couples to book this date as well,” Chong said, adding that so far, over 70 couples had registered to be wed on 11.11.11.

What shame? Royalty ultimately shamed by Tun M

Don’t shame me with illegal rallies, Johor Sultan tells students

By Shannon Teoh

October 29, 2011

Dr M and his 'crusade' against the Malay Rulers will always be remembered in history.

Sunday May 4, 2008 

Mahathir vs the Malay Rulers

WIDE ANGLE
By HUZIR SULAIMAN

Apple Tower: In remembrance of Steve Jobs

 

(Source: Thought for the week - 06.10.11RIP. Thanks Steve.)

Mountain Biker Vs. African Antelope @ The Adventure Blog

Story @ The Adventure Blog.

Yen Yen 'doublespeak'. No overspend, overpaid only

Yen Yen denies overpaying RM270m for ads

UPDATED @ 07:07:36 AM 29-10-2011

By Lisa J. Ariffin

October 28, 2011

Ng maintains her ministry spent more for advertisement, but not more in total. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen denied today that the Tourism Ministry overpaid nearly RM270 million for advertisements last year, despite a finding by the Auditor-General that showed direct negotiations in breach of government rules had contributed to the extra amount.

She provided no explanation, however, as to why the Auditor-General’s report tabled in Parliament this week had singled out her ministry for breaching Treasury rules.

“Ministry of Tourism Malaysia did not overspend, did not spend more... The report says that the amount of direct buy is more but not the total amount of promotion is more, there’s a difference,” Ng told reporters today following the launch of Art Expo Malaysia 2011 here.

The Auditor-General had reported that the ministry had overpaid in advertising fees when it chose to use direct bookings instead of open tenders, to which Ng said, “Direct [negotiations] can be conducted.”

“[With] direct [negotiation,] you deal directly with the media, you do away with intermediary. The prices we paid are never above the market price,” she said.

“However, I have instructed my secretary-general to do a full study of this report and take all necessary steps to fine tune and strengthen the management.”

When asked if the ministry would be opting for open tenders in the future, Ng said the ministry will do “whatever is best for us”.

“When you buy from media directly, a lot of intermediaries are off. Their price is standard,” she said, adding that it was impossible for companies to overcharge the ministry because “we know the price”.

“So we admit that the report is true, but we did not overspend. In fact our promotion budget was the lowest in 2009 and 2010, but the amount of direct [negotiations were] higher because we wanted to go right on and get as much value for money as possible,” she said.

Ng then pointed out that her ministry had obtained a “Sijil Bersih” in the Auditor-General report, which she described as “very important”.

The Auditor-General Report for 2010 showed the Tourism Ministry overpaid nearly RM270 million for advertisements when it chose to use direct bookings instead of open tenders.

The report noted that in doing so, the ministry had also breached the Treasury’s regulations as laid down in a circular in 2007.

The ministry also spent a whopping RM1.95 million to buy 1,000 racks — RM1,950 per rack — to hold its tourism pamphlets for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign, the report said, again pointing out the move was done without the treasury’s approval.

Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said the ministry must hold an open tender “so the price offered will be more competitive, transparent and provide better value for money”.

“In addition, this method would have avoided power abuse as well as created internal controls and good governance in booking advertisement space,” he said in the report.

He noted further that if the ministry had held an open tender, its advertising spending would have cost RM75.38 million.

The Auditor-General said it was also unable to confirm the distribution of 22 of the 1,000 racks as the ministry could not supply the note of delivery as proof of claim, while another 127 racks were also not accounted for.

It noted the ministry’s explanation that 622 racks had been distributed to hotels, 127 were “expired” by the contracted company, Leo Communications Sdn Bhd, due to “financial complications” and lack of storage space, and as many as 85 racks were locked in the company’s storage hold.

Clearly, Yen Yen fell into her own trap when she said, “So we admit that the report is true, but we did not overspend...”

The report showed Tourism Ministry overpaid due to direct buys.

So, Yen Yen admits that the report is true but only for direct buys.

Direct buys, yes. Overspend, no.

Overpaid, yes. ;)

Syor RCI tak boleh pakai. Polis kena siasat lagi! X-(

TBH's kin lodges report to compel probe on MACC trio

2:56PM Oct 28, 2011

Teoh Beng Hock's family today lodged a police report to compel investigations on individuals implicated by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the political aide's death. 

Gobind Singh Deo, counsel for Teoh's family, said this is in response to de facto Law Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz who in his statement in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, said no criminal investigations were launched against three Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) implicated by the RCI because no police report was lodged.
 

Gobind lamented that the police report is a step back because a police report had already been made when Beng Hock died two years ago and pointed out there had been many rounds of investigations since, and the only thing left to do is to decide whether to bring forth criminal charges.

Gobind said, "If we are going to charge, then charge. If not, tell the family why is it we are not going charge despite having findings by the RCI, which clearly suggest there has been criminal wrongdoing."

Speaking to reporters before lodging the report at Tun HS Lee police station, Gobind questioned whether the attorney-general had no confidence in convicting those implicated based on the RCI's findings and said, "Does it mean that ultimately, even the RCI report does not inspire confidence? (Nevertheless) if the minister requires us to lodge a report so that action could be taken, then so be it."

On July 21, the RCI concluded that Teoh was driven to suicide by four rounds of aggressive interrogation that breached procedures - hence, it recommended that criminal action be taken against Hishammuddin, investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail and officer Mohd Ashraf Yunus.

ANGRY BIRDS DISCOVERED AT STONEHENGE!!

(Source)

Perkasa says 'no' to human rights, 'yes' to fascism!

DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua today flayed former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor who had on Wednesday suggested that the human rights movement was akin to communism and urged Malays to unite as they did against the "communist wave" because the latest "human rights wave" would undermine the country's social contract.

In a press statement today, Pua said, "If human rights can be akin to communism, then surely what Rahim is attempting to do during his speech at the 2nd Perkasa general assembly is to seed and grow the fascism movement in Malaysia."

Pua said this was consistent with the word 'fascism' defined by the Oxford English dictionary as "a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach".

Alastair Campbell denying the truth working for Jib?!

Former Blair aide Alastair Campbell denies working for Najib

By Shannon Teoh

October 27, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 ― Alastair Campbell, the man once called Tony Blair’s “unelected spin doctor”, moved today to deny reports that he had been appointed an adviser to Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Campbell (picture), who was the former British PM’s powerful director of strategy and communications, said on micro-blogging site Twitter that he has not even been to Malaysia, in response to suggestions that he recently visited Najib to advise the prime minister on his image.
“I see I have been spotted in Malaysia. Therefore I must be advising the government. Must have a double. Not been. Not advising. Fin d’histoire (Sic)(end of story),” he wrote this evening on his Twitter account @campbellclaret.
Whistleblower site Sarawak Report had cited sources as saying that Campbell, who gained infamy for the so-called Dodgy Dossier that sanctioned the invasion of Iraq in 2003, was in the capital recently to advivice Najib on strategies to win an upcoming general election.
The Malaysian Insider also reported last month that a group of political strategists that includes members of the team behind Blair’s“New Labour” campaign have started work to reinvent Najib as a moderate reformist.

The team is understood to be pushing a "Cool Najib" image to appeal to progressive voters as the PM prepares to lead his Barisan Nasional (BN) into elections for the first time.

The election as Britain’s PM of a relatively young Blair in 1997 was seen as a successful bid by his campaign to capitalise on the “Cool Britannia” era marked by a resurgence in British pop music acts, artists and fashion.

Blair’s New Labour movement that moved his party to the centre was closely associated with the “Cool Britannia” idea.

Najib has contracted a series of public relations firms, including APCO Worldwide, in an effort to burnish his personal and administration’s images locally and worldwide.

APCO’s time in Malaysia was marked by controversy after the opposition alleged the public relations firm was linked to Israel.

Putrajaya was also forced to end its RM96 million contract with British publicity firm FBC Media after an embarrassing exposé by Sarawak Report revealed Malaysian leaders routinely appeared in paid-for interviews on global television programmes.

Campbell, a former journalist, resigned from Blair's office in August 2003 after it was revealed that he ordered dossiers on Iraq's purported possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction to be altered to be consistent with the United States' stand.

Chat @ Bangsar Shopping Centre, KLCC in skyline

Altantuya's dad should get used to delay tactics! 8-|

EXCLUSIVE After a long hiatus, the father of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu has appealed to the Malaysian courts to hasten the hearing of the RM100 million civil suit he has filed against the government.

Setev Shaariibuu (left), who filed the suit on June 4, 2007, is suing the Malaysian government and those responsible for the gruesome murder of Altantuya in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam on Oct 19, 2006 and lamented that Ina year has passed but he has yet to receive any news of the commencement of the court case.

In a letter translated into English by his lawyer Mukhsaruul Mijiddorj, Shaariibuu said that he has paid a substantial amount of money amounting to RM60,000 as security bond to the Malaysian court last year. The letter, a copy of which was provided to Malaysiakini, is currently in the possession of Karpal Singh, who is representing Shariibuu in this case on a pro-bono basis.

The money was paid by the Mongolian government, on behalf of Shariibuu.

Shariibuu said that the fact that the government of Malaysia did not make positive steps towards the issue raised by Mongolia might perhaps adversely impact the interest of hundreds of Mongolians who were studying and living in Malaysia.

He also said despite the fact that the government of Mongolia proposed to discuss the issue by appointing and sending its representatives to Malaysia, it had been one year without any response.

Nevertheless, Shaariibuu did not elaborate on who and when the representatives he was referring to had come to the country to discuss the matter.

Rasuah tetap ada. Salahkan kerajaan Bazir Negara!

Guan Eng: Act on audit report or see repeat of abuses

By Shannon Teoh

October 27, 2011

Lim said failure to address the highlighted abuses will ensure their repeat next year. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — DAP has called for punishment to be meted out over abuses exposed in the 2010 Auditor-General report to ensure these are not repeated next year. Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in his Deepavali message today that the report was a reminder “of everything that is wrong in the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government.”
“The abuses of power, wrongdoings and financial malpractices exposed... will be certainly repeated next year unless action is taken against the departments, officials and even the ministers responsible,” the Penang chief minister said.
He cited cases such as RM56,350 being paid for night-vision marine binoculars that cost RM1,940, a LCD television and DVD player worth RM195 being bought for RM16,100, RM770,000 spent to supply electricity to one house, and a RM73.6 million cattle-farming project linked to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil that met only 40 per cent of breeding targets.
“The federal government has failed to stop the rot of wrongdoing, abuses of power and financial malpractices over the last 54 years. Only a change of government can bring about the transformation for good to win over bad,” the Bagan MP added.
The Auditor-General’s report is a financial audit of all government departments and has revealed irregularities in past years.
The audit for 2010 released on Monday revealed that nine federal ministries and departments overspent last year’s overall operational allocation by a total of RM3.73 billion.
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said it will probe seven ministries and agencies for weak financial management.
Chief Secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan also promised that the government will take action “according to the rules” on the report.
The opposition has claimed that the 2009 report proved that the government wastes RM28 billion annually.
But BN insisted the figure was wrongly reported as there is no specific mention in the report.

Teohs should accept fact that RCI just a sandiwara!

Teoh kin rue Putrajaya’s reluctance to charge MACC trio

By Debra Chong

October 27, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — Teoh Beng Hock’s family accused the Najib administration of “taking grieving family members for a ride” by not pushing for criminal charges against three national graftbusters despite a royal investigation panel finding the trio contributed to the political aide’s death two years ago.
The Teohs said the government’s inaction casts serious doubt not only on the credibility of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) the prime minister foisted on the family, but its chairman, Federal Court judge Tan Sri Datuk Seri James Foong Cheng Yuen.

The Teoh family. — file pic

“What we do not understand is until today, why the government still thinks the RCI report does not carry enough evidence for commencing action against these officers who have abused their power, but spends more public funds to conduct another round of investigation?” the dead DAP aide’s family questioned in an email statement to The Malaysian Insider. “We want to know then, on what basis that we, the grieving family members of the deceased, were asked to accept the findings stated in the RCI report, that Beng Hock died of forced suicide?” they asked.
The still-grieving family was responding to de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s statement three days ago that the government would not be prosecuting the three officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) despite being named in the RCI report released three months ago because no one had filed a police report to do so.
The Teohs said they found it incredulous the government remained suspicious and sceptical of the RCI report and left it to the MACC to head another “special task force investigating their own officers”.
They pointed out the RCI had incriminated the MACC trio in its report for using inappropriate violence to draw information out of Beng Hock who was only a witness.
The family further noted the RCI had named the MACC men as investigation officer Mohd Anuar Isamil (“the bully”); assistant investigation officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus (“the abuser”); and former deputy director of its Selangor branch Hishammuddin Hashim (“the arrogant leader”).
“If Nazri himself does not accept the findings of this report, why are we requested to accept the conclusion of this report then?
“Why impose such soul-destroying double standards upon us? Why the government can choose not to believe but we are not allowed to refute the conclusion of that report?” the family said.
“If this is really being played out, isn’t then the creation of the RCI merely a waste of time and public funds as well as taking the grieving family members for a ride?” they added.
Beng Hock was political secretary to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, and he was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth-floor external corridor of Selangor MACC’s office in Shah Alam after a marathon questioning overnight.
The government set up the RCI in January this year after the coroner delivered an “open verdict” ruling out both suicide and homicide.
The royal panel found that Teoh had been driven to suicide after harsh, relentless questioning by MACC officers.
But while the RCI was in session, a second person fell to his death while under the MACC’s care.
Senior Customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed was found dead on a badminton court on the first floor of the MACC building in Cheras on April 6, after purportedly returning to amend his previous testimony as a witness.

Perkasa anti human rights, non-Malays, non-Bumis!

Human rights movement like communism, says former IGP

By Yow Hong Chieh

October 26, 2011

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Mohd Nor chatting to Shazryl Eskay Abdullah at the Perkasa general assembly. – Picture by Jack Ooi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human rights movement like communism but '1Melayu, 1Bumi' movement like a ticking time bomb, a disaster waiting to happen, says Dr M.

Man arrested for child porn after tip-off from burglars

Police arrest man for child pornography after tipoff from burglars

October 06, 2011|By Kim Hutcherson, CNN

Power is with RAKYAT, not Pakatan Rakyat not BN

In Australia, Ambiga serves notice of people power

By KC Boey

October 26, 2011

Ambiga (left) speaks during a public lecture at University of Melbourne, October 25, 2011. — Pictures by KC Boey

MELBOURNE, Oct 26 — Bersih 2.0 will hold Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to the civic movement’s eight demands on elections and governance should the opposition pact come into government, chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said at a public forum here yesterday.

“Not only Pakatan,” Ambiga said of her movement that transcends party politics. “We will hold all parties accountable. That’s the way it should be. The power is with us (the people), not with them (political parties). It’s only when power is in the hands of the citizenry that we have a working democracy.”

Ambiga was responding to a question at a public lecture at the Asian Law Centre, University of Melbourne, to kick off a speaking tour of four of the most renowned law schools in Australia.

On Friday she shares Bersih 2.0 stories with Malaysians at a solidarity evening organised by Bersih 2.0 Australia and the Melbourne chapter of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia Australia (SABMoz).

Ambiga speaks at the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney on October 31, and the College of Law at the Australian National University in Canberra on November 1, at each stop encouraging Malaysians to register as voters.

Malaysians waiting in line to greet Ambiga (right) after the talk.

At the lecture in Melbourne, Malaysia’s Consulate-General in Melbourne, Dr Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, told the audience that foreign missions such as his had started to put in place processes to register voters.

“We registered 26 voters (last night),” said David Teoh, co-ordinator for Bersih 2.0 Australia and SABMoz Melbourne.

More than 300 mostly young Malaysians filled a lecture theatre at the Asian Law Centre for the lecture hosted by Dean of Law Professor Carolyn Evans.

In her talk on electoral reform and the quest for democracy in Malaysia, Ambiga spoke on the significance of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to which Malaysia is a signatory.

She recounted events leading up to Bersih’s rally on July 9, the implications of the rally, and considered whether the government’s subsequent undertaking to amend or repeal laws such as the Internal Security Act might offer hope for a more democratic Malaysia.

She drew attention to the aspirations of youth, lamenting the “disconnect” of old politics with new technology, a yellow pashmina draped around her neck, and sporting a “CleanBefore13” lapel badge. As Ambiga was speaking, Global Bersih was following events on microblogging service Twitter, using the #CleanBefore13 hashtag.

Moderator Professor Tim Lindsey, director of the Asian Law Centre, had to apologise for not being able to accommodate all those who had questions for Ambiga, almost all of them from Malaysians studying or living in Melbourne, who make up the highest number of Malaysians in Australia.

Ambiga was overwhelmed by the response. “As I said (in her talk), the future is with the youth,” she told The Malaysian Insider. “Never have they been so interested in an election.

“Look at the quality of the questions. That says it all.”

In the audience were Jufitri Joha and Farhana Halim, two Malaysians in Australia for a Young Muslims leadership programme organised by the Centre for Dialogue at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Jufitri and Farhana were disappointed at the low participation among Malays.

Both were disappointed there were not more Malays at the forum. “It is important to inculcate a culture of intellectual debate,” said Jufitri, vice-president international of Abim.

“It is the essence of Malaysia,” said Lawyers for Liberty advocate Farhana of the national conversation on the way forward for Malaysia. “Regardless of whether you support or not support (Bersih).

“If you do not support, it is an opportunity to question her.”

Farhana was overwhelmed by the crowd. “We underestimate the power of Malaysian Chinese involvement in the national movement... the Chinese sense of patriotism is the very opposite,” she said of what she discovered speaking to those among the overwhelmingly Chinese audience.

Ambiga’s lecture would have been an eye opener for Australians, going by Lindsey’s observation.

“Australians see the region as a bad news story — of the horror of Australians caught up in the violence, and in natural disasters,” said Lindsey, a scholar on Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia; he is also director of the Centre for Islamic Law and Society at the University of Melbourne.

“They are unaware of the debates on democracy going on... Out of the bad news (government reaction to Bersih) has come a good news face.”

It was important for Australians to be aware of changes in the region, Lindsey told The Malaysian Insider, and for government and politicians to stop conducting foreign policy “in reaction to domestic issues”.

Esplanade Presents @ The Concourse: Andy & Natalie C. Dizi and Guzheng Performance

Last Saturday, I happened to walk past behind the concourse of the Esplanade Singapore and heard beautiful music.

I stopped to look around and saw one blowing an instrument and another playing a keyboard.


So, I walked up the stairs that led to the concourse.

I was surprised to see a performance by a duo - a man playing what looked like traditional bamboo flutes and a woman playing the guzheng.

The music that they played was just too beautiful to not record it.

So, I decided to record the last song using my Xperia X10 mini pro.


So, here it is, for your listening pleasure!

Man Drives His 1990 Honda Accord 1 Million Miles!!

October 24

Honda goes the distance: 1 million miles

By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

SACO — Joe LoCicero’s 1990 Honda Accord slipped into a parking spot in front of City Hall with its engine purring, much as it did two decades ago after it rolled off the assembly line in Marysville, Ohio.

Joe LoCicero and his wife, Sharon, wave Sunday at a surprise parade in Saco to honor him for driving his 1990 Honda Accord, in background, over 1 million miles.

Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Dancers make their way down the parade route on Main Street in Saco sporting tires and a giant photo of Joe LoCicero, who has put over 1 million miles on his Honda Accord. Honda and Darling Auto Group sponsored the parade, which featured marching bands from Westbrook High School and Saco Middle School and varsity cheerleaders from Biddeford High School.

Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The town of Norway resident was honored with a surprise parade and given a 2012 Accord on Sunday afternoon after racking up more than 1 million miles on his trusted older model, nicknamed “True Blue” for its light-blue exterior.

LoCicero, 53, is the first person documented by the car manufacturer to have driven a Honda to the million-mile mark, according to a company spokeswoman.

“If you listen carefully, she’s getting old,” LoCicero said. “But it’s been an amazing ride.”

Known as “Million Mile Joe” through a recent advertising and web campaign, LoCicero is a master auto technician who travels throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont inspecting vehicles for warranty claims and lease terms.

Honda and Darling Auto Group sponsored the parade down Main Street, which featured marching bands from Westbrook High School and Saco Middle School and varsity cheerleaders from Biddeford High School.

“Joe is a testament to what you can do if you maintain your car,” said Ron Russell, Darling’s director of operations in Bangor. “Thankfully, not many people do it or we’d be out of business.”

Russell learned of LoCicero’s impending milestone in August 2010, when the car had clocked 938,000 miles. He informed Honda’s ad agency, which set up a website, millionmilejoe.com, where he has chronicled his story. The agency chose downtown Saco to hold and film Sunday’s celebration because of its classic New England appearance.

Local teenagers made the floats and costumes featured in the parade, including an oversized odometer and pine tree air freshener. A plane flew above, trailing a banner that said: “Way To Go Joe!” Miss Maine USA Ashley Marble helped to deliver the cobalt blue 2012 Accord.

“I like it,” LoCicero said, grinning as he sat in the new car.

LoCicero bought the older Honda in 1996, when it had 74,000 miles on it. He kept it running with diligent maintenance, keeping track of every fill-up, tire rotation and oil change in a couple of dozen notebooks.

“Every car needs maintenance,” LoCicero said, recommending that drivers follow maintenance schedules, use quality parts and drive safely.

He does much of the work himself, having been an auto mechanic for 18 years before becoming a vehicle inspector.

“He’ll be out there, underneath the car, on a blanket in the middle of winter,” said Sharon LoCicero, his wife of 32 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Through the years, the car’s seatbelts, steering wheel and upholstery have worn out and been replaced. The fuel pump blew at 741,000 miles, drawing laughter from his kids when the car had to be towed.

“They thought it was the funniest thing that it finally broke down,” Joe LoCicero said.

He swears that the engine and transmission are original.

“I took the engine apart once to clean it for a carbon issue and put it back together,” he said.

LoCicero’s Accord has traveled about 48,000 miles per year. The average car travels 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year, said Russell, of Darling Auto Group. At that rate, it would take at least 66 years to reach LoCicero’s 1 million mark, which equals about 40 times around the Earth.

LoCicero said he’s not sure what he’ll do with the 1990 Accord now that he has a new model, also made in Ohio. He’s tried to sell the older model to a few car dealers recently for $1 million, hoping they’d want to display it to advertise the longevity of Honda vehicles.

“A buck a mile. That’s fair,” LoCicero said. “I didn’t get any bites.”

The electronic odometer in the old Accord turned over 1 million miles Thursday. Now, it says LoCicero has driven it 75 miles.

“I’m starting all over,” he said.

Hishamuddin Hashim and 'pack of liars' go scot-free

Prosecute ‘pack of liars’ for Beng Hock’s death, says Kit Siang

By Shannon Teoh

October 25, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Lim Kit Siang called today for the Attorney-General to prosecute “the pack of liars” linked to Teoh Beng Hock’s death.

A fatal plunge ended the life of the former DAP aide  at the premises of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over two years ago.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told Parliament yesterday that no legal action would be taken against the anti-graft officers who drove Teoh Beng Hock to suicide as no police report has been lodged over the matter.

But the DAP parliamentary leader said in a statement today that de facto law minister had given a “very lame excuse” as the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Teoh’s death offered “sufficient reasons... to bring to book Beng Hock’s killers.”

Lim (picture) pointed out that the RCI was “most scathing in its indictment of the character and testimony of the MACC officers... apart from two brave and truthful souls, the RCI virtually dismissed the rest as a pack of liars led by Hishamuddin Hashim, the “mastermind” of the massive and unjustified operation which resulted in Teoh’s death.”

“In fact, the report is a fertile source for multiple perjury charges against Hishamuddin and other MACC officers in giving false testimony at the RCI,” he said, referring to the offence under Section 193 of the Penal Code that provides for a maximum sentence of seven years jail and fine on conviction.

The Ipoh Timor MP said A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail should “direct a police report be lodged on Teoh Beng Hock’s death based on the findings and new leads in the RCI... and vigourous prosecution pursued (to ensure) no cover-up.”

Teoh, political aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth-floor corridor of Selangor MACC’s office in Shah Alam after overnight questioning.

The government formed a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into his death early this year after the coroner delivered an “open verdict” ruling out both suicide and homicide.

The royal panel found that Teoh had been driven to suicide after harsh, relentless questioning from MACC officers.

But while the RCI was in session, a second person fell to his death while under the MACC’s care.

Senior Customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed was found dead on a badminton court on the first floor of the MACC building in Cheras on April 6, after purportedly returning to amend his previous testimony as a witness.

Neither the police nor the AG are interested to investigate or prosecute these 'pack of liars'.

Why?

Because both are 'Umno-sponsored' government agencies!

Dakwaan terhadap menantu: Bila Muhyiddin nak lapor polis?

Muhyiddin, oh Muhyiddin

NSC found to be 'horsing around' with funds

NSC found to be 'horsing around' with funds

Eighteen out of 23 specially bred horses, costing RM3.94 million, bought by the National Sports Council (NSC) for equestrian and endurance contests failed to meet criteria set by the Federation Equestre Internationale. The 23 horses, costing RM5.66 million, were bought in 2008 via direct negotiations that did not obtain the Finance Ministry’s approval, says the 2010 Auditor-General’s Report which was tabled today in the Dewan Rakyat.

The eighteen horses were also rejected because they were injured while the other five horses - named Edenfels Zephyr, Blue Bronco, Amira Alborada, Navidad, Brookleigh Kentara - were fit to be entered in the World Endurance Championship.

The World Endurance Championship directorate committee members, headed by the NSC director-general, and including a veterinarian, technical officer and project officer carried out the selection.

The 23 horses were bought from the:

•    Equine Centre Sdn Bhd (six horses) at RM1.98 million

•    El Ranco Country Club (13) at RM2.48 million

•    Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (two) at RM0.58 million

•    Toft Endurance Pty Ltd (two) at RM0.62 million

These 23 horses have since been 'assigned' to several government agencies:

- Police horse unit (three horses)

- Kuala Lumpur City Hall mounted unit (three)

- Army equestrian centre (two)

- Universiti Putra Malaysia (three)

- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (two)

- Terengganu Sports Council (two)

- Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (eight)

Bonus bonanza at GLCs despite losses. So good...

Bonus bonanza at GLCs despite losses, says Auditor-General report

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

October 24, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd were among six government-linked companies (GLCs) that paid employees up to two months’ bonus despite suffering an accumulated RM354.91 million in losses in 2009, the Auditor-General’s report said today.

The report also said that sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional was among ten government companies that have not paid Putrajaya any dividends despite making net profits in 2009.

IWK, which suffered losses amounting to RM33.35 million in 2009, made between one-and-a-half to two month’s bonus payments to its staff during the year.

Prasarana, which lost RM188.03 million in the same year, gave out one-and-a-half months’ bonus to its staff.

Companies such as Halal Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (HIDC), Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB), and Mimos Bhd recorded RM14.57 million, RM92.59 million and RM5.3 million losses respectively in 2009. These companies paid out two to three months’ worth of bonuses to staff.

“Among the justification for approval for bonus payments are to lessen the financial burden of employees... higher KPI (key performance index) standards which reaches desired targets and companies which are not profit-oriented,” said the report.

The report also found that 10 GLCs have not made paid Putrajaya any form of dividends despite making profits last year.

It also said two companies — Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd (BiotechCorp) and UDA Holdings Bhd — recorded after-tax profits  for three years in a row, but have not paid any dividends to the government or stated reasons for not doing so.

Eight other companies — Pembinaan BLT Sdn Bhd, Water Asset Management Company (PAAB), Hotel Seri Malaysia network chain (RHSM), Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, Sepang International Circuit Sdn Bhd, Cyberview Sdn Bhd, Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd — also did not pay dividends to the government despite being profitable in 2009.

“The Auditor-General is of the view that to ensure the best form of administration, all companies need to have a dividend policy which is fitted in the company’s corporate plans.

“This is needed to safeguard the company’s image and the interest of the government which has investments in these companies,” the report said.