Adakah Muhyiddin Sanggup Berbohong Demi Mahathir Dan DAP?

"Ambil BR1M itu rasuah," kata Mahathir
“Ambil BR1M itu rasuah,” kata Mahathir

Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia adalah merupakan satu skim pembahagian bantuan kewangan kepada golongan sasar secara lebih berkesan dari pemberian subsidi kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia.  Sebelum ini, subsidi, contohnya subsidi minyak yang diberikan telah memberi manfaat kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Namun, perbelanjaan untuk subsidi minyak adalah terlalu besar dan manfaatnya tidak dapat dinikmati secara adil oleh rakyat Malaysia berpendapatan rendah.

Sebagai contoh, pemberian subsidi minyak memberi lebih manfaat kepada golongan berpendapatan tinggi kerana mereka menggunakan kenderaan yang menggunakan lebih minyak berbanding dengan golongan berpendapat rendah yang kebanyakan menggunakan motorsikal untuk bergerak:

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Wang subsidi yang dimansuhkan ditukarkan ke dalam bentuk BR1M dan diberikan kepada golongan yang lebih layak menerima.  Untuk menerima BR1M, seseorang pemohon itu perlu membuktikan bahawa beliau layak menerima.  Rasuah apa yang perlukan permohonan dan pembuktian kelayakan?

Itulah sahaja modal yang Mahathir ada untuk menghentam kerajaan.  Lain-lain isu yang diketengahkan oleh Mahathir adalah isu lama yang telah dijawab tetapi dimainkan semula sehinggakan Mahathir berbunyi seperti sebuah radio karat.

Untuk menguatkan hujah beliau, beliau memerlukan sokongan para pemegang jawatan Pribumi.  Maka, yang lantang menyokong beliau tidak lain tidak bukan ialah anak beliau sendiri, Mukhriz.

Mukhriz mempersoalkan BR1M dalam Twitternya bertarikh 28hb Disember 2016
Mukhriz mempersoalkan BR1M dalam Twitternya bertarikh 28hb Disember 2016

Bukankah beliau juga dahulu menonggang atas kejayaan BR1M yang sama demi kepentingan politik beliau?

Kalau BR1M bukan simbol kejayaan, kenapa tak serahkan kepada pegawai daerah sahaja untuk agihan?
Kalau BR1M bukan simbol kejayaan, kenapa tak serahkan kepada pegawai daerah sahaja untuk agihan?
Lain dulu lain sekarang. Inilah akibat lidah bercabang
Lain dulu lain sekarang. Inilah akibat lidah bercabang

Yang paling senyap hingga kini ialah Muhyiddin Yassin.  Langsung tidak kedengaran beliau mengecam BR1M.

Muhyiddin pernah berkata kepada rakyat Malaysia bahawa beliau tidak berbohong mengenai BR1M.  Malah beliau berkata bahawa BR1M, selain pengawalan harga barangan keperluan, adalah di antara usaha kerajaan untuk membantu supaya rakyat supaya tidak berada dalam kesusahan.

"Gua tak bohong punya orang," kata Muhyiddin menerangkan mengenai kebaikan BR1M
“Gua tak bohong punya orang,” kata Muhyiddin menerangkan mengenai kebaikan BR1M

Malah pada tahun 2014, Muhyiddin juga membuat kenyataan bahawa BR1M bukan rasuah.

Persoalannya sekarang ialah, kenapa Muhyiddin masih belum mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan menyokong atau membantah kenyataan Mahathir berhubung dengan BR1M?

Kalau beliau menyokong kenyataan Mahathir bermakna beliau memang pembohong.  Bagaimanapun, sekiranya beliau tidak menyokong Mahathir maka akibatnya adalah lebih buruk buat beliau.

Kita semua tahu walaupun beliau merupakan Presiden Pro-tem kepada parti Pribumi, Muhyiddin bukanlah pilihan Mahathir sebagai Perdana Menteri.  Muhyiddin terlalu banyak bebanan yang dibawa bersamanya.

Muhyiddin terpaksa diselamatkan oleh Mahathir pada tahun 1990an kerana ‘dibuang’ dari Johor oleh Almarhum Sultan Iskandar dan terpaksa ditukarkan dengan Menteri Belia dan Sukan ketika itu iaitu Ghani Othman.  Malah, masih ramai golongan pertengahan usia dan emas yang masih belum mengampunkan dosa-dosa Muhyiddin terhadap orang Johor, terutamanya warga FELDA.

Oleh sebab itu, hanya Mahathir dan Mukhriz yang banyak bergerak menggunakan pentas Pribumi di negeri Johor, terutamanya di kawasan-kawasan FELDA tanpa membawa Muhyiddin yang terpaksa menagih simpati merempat di atas pentas PKR dan DAP.

Mahathir tidak pernah gemarkan Johor.  Beliau sendiri sering berlaga angin dengan Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, malah cuba untuk menghalang Sultan Iskandar dari menjadi Yang Dipertuan Agong.  Beberapa kali Mahathir gunakan helikopter Nuri milik Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia mendarat di padang bola Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar untuk mengadap Almarhum Sultan Idris memujuk baginda untuk bersetuju menjadi YDP Agong pada tahun 1983.

Kemudian pada tahun 1987, melalui pengisytiharan haram UMNO ketika itu beliau menyingkirkan ramai anggota kabinet dari Johor termasuk Musa Hitam dan Shahrir Samad, Allahyarham Ajib Ahmad.

Kepentingan Mahathir di Johor hanyalah jambatan bengkok beliau yang telah dibatalkan oleh Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  Kalau betul beliau pentingkan rakyat Johor, sudah lama Muhyiddin keluar masuk mahkamah dan penjaa akibat skandal tanah FELDA Johor dan lain-lain.

Akhir-akhir ini, Pribumi juga digegarkan dengan skandal seks Anina Saaduddin yang menyebabkan beliau disingkirkan dari jawatan Ketua Srikandinya.

Ainina menggelar Pribumi sebuah parti bodoh
Ainina menggelar Pribumi sebuah parti bodoh

Skandal yang dikatakan didedahkan oleh orang Pribumi yang inginkan jawatan Anina itu adalah lantaran pergaduhan Anina dengan Sanusi Junid dan anaknya Akramsyah – kedua-duanya penyokong kuat Mahathir.  Rata-rata pemerhati Pribumi mengatakan bahawa bekas exco Perak Hamidah Osman dan adiknya Hamizura Osman memainkan peranan dalam menjatuhkan Anina.

Datuk Baharom Abdul Ghani dari Gelang Patah yang juga merupakan penyokong kuat Mahathir juga dikatakan sedang bergasak dengan abang kepada Muhyiddin.

Di Kelantan pula penyokong kuat Mukhriz iaitu Sazmi Miah dikatakan mahu dilantik sebagai pengerusi Pribumi negeri tersebut.

Maka, di manakah letaknya Muhyiddin?

Muhyiddin teraksa mendiamkan diri.  Bergolak bersama dengan berpihak dalam Pribumi adalah amat berbahaya kepada beliau. Berdiam diri merupakan pilihan yang terbaik sekiranya inginkan kesinambungan di dalam kehidupan politiknya yang kini berada di hujung tanduk Mahathir.

Sekiranya beliau bersuara menyokong kenyataan Mahathir yang mengatakan BR1M itu rasuah, maka beliau memang ‘bohong punya orang‘.  Sekiranya beliau bersuara menentang Mahathir maka seluruh kisah buruk beliau akan didedahkan dan beliau akan dilondehkan di khalayak umum sepertimana dilakukan Mahathir terhadap Anwar Ibrahim 18 tahun yang silam.

Malah, amaran tersebut telah pun dikeluarkan oleh orang kanan Mahathir sendiri:

screen-shot-2016-12-29-at-15-23-17

Mungkin inilah penghujung hidup Muhyiddin dala arena politik sebelum tiba kepada noktahnya.  Pribumi kini giat menyingkirkan mereka yang tidak menyokong Mahathir dan mereka yang menjadi beban kepada perjuangan kepentingan diri Mahathir.

Mahathir bijak. Beliau lebih lama makan asam dan garam dalam politik.  Ramai yang ingat mereka dapat menunggang Mahathir untuk kepentingan politik mereka tetapi tidak sedar mereka dipergunakan oleh Mahathir untuk kepentingan diri beliau sendiri.  Beliau akan terus biarkan Pribumi bergolak sepertimana UMNO pada tahun 1987 dulu.

Yang penting, kepuasan kepentingan peribadi beliau tercapai.

Fikir-fikirkanlah sebelum memilih.

Tetapi tertanya-tanya juga…apa kata Muhyiddin sekarang mengenai BR1M?

Bagus BR1M ni. Shafie pun tolong Muhyiddin agihkan dulu
Bagus BR1M ni. Shafie pun tolong Muhyiddin agihkan dulu

In The Spirit Of Air Lanas

On the 23 August 2012, I wrote the following:

This was the way the British divided and ruled. Eventually, swayed by the profit they were earning from the Malay States that they forgot their promise to the Sultans which was to protect the interest and welfare of the Malays. The bulk of the Malays lived in rural areas and they had very minimal contact with the other races, the Chinese were basically in towns and tin mines, while the Indians were in rubber plantations. The effect to this was that the Malays remained backwards and were told to stay as peasants or tillers of the soil, the Chinese inherited all the tradings in the Malay States and became the richest residents, and the Indians remained as rubber-tappers without proper infrastructure. The Malays, according to Chai Hon-Chan:
“…merely retreated from the tide of commercial activity and material prosperity…whereas the British, Europeans, Chinese and Indians had the lion share of the country’s wealth…”
As a result, the Malays who were given land to cultivate, forced by economic disadvantages, began charging or creating a lien (collateral) over their land to the Chettiars. The Malays, already in a disadvantaged position, cried foul and started the “Malaya for Malays” movement in the late 1800s. EW Birch, the 8th British Resident of Perak, recognized this dire situation and quickly proposed a policy of preserving the Malay land. The only way to him to preserve the Malay race was to “free them from the clutches of those people who now remit to Indian large sums of money, which they bleed from the (Malay) people.”

The Malays were in a very disadvantageous position just before Merdeka, one of the reasons the Malayan Union was rejected so as to protect the rights and position of the Malays then.

FELDA was created 60 years ago to provide organised smallholders farming through resettlement of rural Malay poor who did not own any land. A year later Tunku Abdul Rahman launched the first settlement in Air Lanas, Kelantan where 400 settlers were relocated.

FELDA has grown into a very respectable organisation and has diversified its activities. FELDA Global Ventures, although separated in terms of its structure, is the third largest palm oil company in the world by acreage that also has downstream activities in oleochemicals.

Of late, FGV has not been performing well. Being in Malaysia, the government gets the blame although FGV has its own board. And the Opposition pins the blame on one person and one person only: Najib Razak.

Reading Raja Petra’s latest instalment does make me wonder if Isa Samad who is both the Chairman of FELDA and FGV is aware of the damage FELDA is causing to UMNO.

The allegations that Isa Samad and family is using FELDA/FGV as personal treasure chests is not something new. My only question is why is this cancer not nipped in the bud? 

It is still not too late for Najib Razak to act, and act he must! It would be sad to see a legacy left by his late father and the Tunku before that, that started in Air Lanas, be ruined by greed and irresponsible behaviours.

And what more if it is true as Raja Petra alleged that FELDA is being used to destroy UMNO in the upcoming general elections.

I can only echo a post on Facebook by Azmi Arshad – act now and save FELDA!

Belum Puas Berbohong

Episod terbaharu "Pembohong Bersiri" akan muncul
Episod terbaharu “Pembohong Bersiri” akan muncul

Juara Pembohong Bersiri, Rafizi Ramli, sekali lagi akan menjadi ‘pejuang rakyat’ dengan membela nasib rakyat dengan suatu isu yang amat penting menurutnya. Yang menjadi persoalan ialah, sekiranya perkara tersebut merupakan sesuatu yang amat penting, kenapa perlu tunggu hingga hari Khamis ini untuk membuat laporang polis?

Isu penting - membuat sidang media lebih penting dari membuat laporan polis
Isu penting – membuat sidang media lebih penting dari membuat laporan polis

Sudah tentu kesejahteraan para peneroka menjadi tumpuan utama pihak FELDA. Saya difahamkan sumber kewangan FELDA tidak akan digunakan oleh FELDA Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) untuk pembelian 37 peratus saham PT Eagle High Plantations (EHP). Maka isu program kesejahteraan para peneroka FELDA langsung tidak wujud.

Begitu juga bagi yang sering mengatakan FGV membayar harga premium terlalu tinggi untuk saham tersebut.  Kita perlu tahu bahawa harga saham sesebuah syarikat itu tidak langsung menggambarkan nilai syarikat tersebut. Saham EHP juga dikawal oleh Kumpulan Rajawali sebanyak 70 peratus dan disenaraikan di Bursa Saham Jakarta yang tidak secair (liquid) BSKL mahupun SGX.

Peluang yang diperolehi oleh FGV ini sudah tentu akan meningkatkan lagi profil tanaman FELDA kerana purata umur pokok milik EHP adalah 7 tahun berbanding dengan 15 tahun di tanah-tanah FELDA/FGV.  Kerajaan Indonesia juga dikhabarkan telah bersetuju memberi pengecualian kali ini sahaja bagi sebuah entiti luar memiliki tanah sebegitu luas di Indonesia.  Kalau ini bukan peluang yang baik untuk FELDA/FGV memajukan diri serta memberi lebih banyak manfaat kepada para penerokanya, maka saya tidak tahu apa yang akan lebih menguntungkan mereka.

Kita jangan lupa dengan sejarah penipuan Rafizi.  Malah beliau telah berkali-kali didapati bersalah di mahkamah kerana menipu.

Pada tahun 2012, Rafizi telah mendakwa bahawa dana daripada sebuah kontraktor pertahanan telah digunakan untuk membeli 80 peratus saham dalam Astacanggih Sdn Bhd.  Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang ketika itu merupakan Menteri Pertahanan telah memfailkan saman terhadap Rafizi.

Pada bulan Januari berikutnya, Rafizi telah memberitahu portal The Malaysian Insider (26hb Januari 2013) bahawa beliau akan tetap dengan dakwaan beliau dan akan melawan Zahid di mahkamah.

 

Walau bagaimanapun, Rafizi telah membuat permohonan di Mahkamah Tinggi pada 9hb April 2013 untuk mahkamah menolak writ saman yang telah difailkan oleh Zahid.  Empat hari sebelum itu Rafizi telah menafikan bahawa beliau telah memfitnah Zahid dan akhirnya memadamkan semua dakwaan beliau terhadap Zahid di laman blognya.

Pada 24hb November 2014, Rafizi telah memfitnah Rosmah Mansor isteri kepada Najib Razak dalam sebuah forum di Bandar Tun Razak. Beliau mendakwa bahawa kenaikan harga minyak telah membolehkan Rosmah Mansor membeli cincin berlian.  Apabila disaman, beliau membuat kenyataan bahawa beliau hanya bergurau mengenai perkara tersebut!

 

Rafizi kuat bergurau - tetapi tak tahan gurauan orang lain
Rafizi kuat bergurau – tetapi tak tahan gurauan orang lain

Gurauan beliau mengenai Tabung Haji pada tahun 2015 juga telah mengakibatkan ramai pencarum mengeluarkan simpanan mereka.  Ada juga yang sanggup melepaskan giliran mereka untuk menunaikan ibadah Haji semata-mata termakan ‘gurauan’ Rafizi.

rafizi04 rafizi05

Namun, setelah beratus orang mengeluarkan wang mereka dari Tabung Haji, Rafizi tidak pula berbuat sedemikian. Malah beliau terus menikmati dividen sebanyak RM25,000 untuk simpanan beliau yang ketika itu berjumlah RM530,000.

rafizi07

Bukankah ini merupakan suatu penganiayaan terhadap mereka yang buta tuli mempercayai beliau?  Tidakkah beliau langsung merasa berdosa terhadap mereka yang telah mendapat giliran untuk menunaikan ibadah Haji tetapi melepaskan peluang tersebut hanya kerana termakan hasutan beliau?

Cuba kita lihat apa kata Surah An-Nahl Ayat 105 mengenai orang seperti Rafizi?

rafizi01

Baru-baru ini juga beliau telah dikantoikan oleh pihak MRT kerana membuat dakwaan palsu terhadap projek tersebut.  Tidak tahan dengan pendedahan oleh pihak MRT, beliau kini mengalihkan siri pembohongan beliau dengan percubaan menghasut warga FELDA pula.

Apa yang nak dihairankan? Beliau sendiri akui bahawa tugas beliau adalah menghasut.  Namun, masih ada yang kurang uaya akal yang percaya akan pembohong bersiri ini.

Bila Otak Dah Mereput

Semalam, ketua songlap negara menyatakan bahawa pengambilan BR1M adalah merupakan suatu perbuatan rasuah dan adalah salah di sisi undang-undang.

Umum tahu walaupun pemberian BR1M itu bukankah suatu jumlah yang besar buat setiap individu namun sedikit-sebanyak ianya membantu menampung perbelanjaan terutamanya bagi golongan berpendapatan rendah.

Sebelum ini, subsidi yang dikeluarkan okeh kerajaan dinikmati oleh setiap rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira kemampuan dan adalah merupakan suatu sistem yang kurang adil.

Setelah banyak subsidi dihapuskan, simpanan yang diperolehi kerajaan diberi kepada golongan sasar dalam bentuk BR1M dan lain-lain kemudahan.

Syarikat-syarikat besar yang selama ini mengelak dari pembayaran cukai pendapatan dengan cara mengaburi jumlah jualan kini tidak dapat lari dengan adanya GST. Kutipan GST juga membantu kerajaan mengalihkan punca pendapatan yang terlalu bergantung kepada industri minyak dan gas.

BR1M yang berjumlah RM5.3 bilion telah membantu seramai 7.4 juta orang dari golongan sasar. Jumlah tersebut juga telah membantu pacuan ekonomi melalui suntikan aliran tunai yang dibelanjakan oleh penerima BR1M.

Tidak hairanlah apabila kerajaan Arab Saudi baru-baru ini mengumumkan bantuan kewangan a la BR1M kepada golongan sasar di negara tersebut bagi membantu memacu ekonomi negara tersebut.


Arab Saudi juga telah mengambil langkah yang sama seperti Malaysia dengan menghapuskan subsidi dan memoerkenalkan skim bantuan kewangan bagi golongan berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana.

Adakah ini bermakna kerajaan Arab Saudi juga mengamalkan pemberian rasuah? Sudah tentu kenyataan ketua songlap negara itu menghina bukan sahaja kerajaan kedua-dua negara malah menghina golongan yang amat memerlukan bantuan tersebut.

Mungkin otak beliau sudah mula mereput akibat lanjut umur. Sebab itulah orang yang berumur lebih rendah dari beliau lebih banyak menghabiskan masa beribadah sebelum lupa diri dan hidup sia-sia menambah dosa.

Christmas Lim Guan Eng Style

Malaysia is a failed state.

That was the gist of Lim Guan Eng’s Christmas message today. In the 547-word message, the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ was only found once while the word ‘Christmas’ was found only on one occasion.

Other than those words the message was just one large piece of slander proving that despite being a Christian, Lim Guan Eng’s Christianity is merely for show while he uses it to sow seeds of hatred.

Claiming that Malaysia uses fear to silence its critics, Guan Eng forgets that his message is all about himself.

He sued the New Straits Times and directed Sin Chew Daily to write according to his instructions.

If the Government of Malaysia is truly oppressive would Guan Eng even be allowed to roam and make such anti-Federal statements freely?

On the other hand, it is Lim Guan Eng who has been using state government apparatus to silence those opposed to him.

The Penang municipal raids of 3 coffee shops and the demolition of part of the shop owned by Penang businessman Patrick Ooi the next day after a Penang Councillor had warned him of enforcement action for criticizing the Penang Chief Minister is not a new thing.

Even though they always cry “freedom of speech” or being fair, the DAP regime has a history of rudeness, vindictiveness and abuse of power – even against those who are supposed to be on their side – when faced with criticism. 
The following incidents happened in this year alone: 
1. The CM publicly calling and vilifying Penang Councilor Lim Mah Hui a liar after Mah Hui had criticized the Penang council over traffic enforcement.
2. DAP leaders calling Lim Mah Hui a traitor after Mah Hui had written to UNESCO on his concerns over Penang’s heritage status.
3. Well known activist and permanent member Khoo Salma was asked to leave the Penang Transport Council Meeting to discuss the RM46 billion Penang Transport Masterplan coz she is no longer welcome after criticizing the DAP state government many times recently.
4. PKR ADUNs Cheah Kah Peng and another PKR assemblyman, Ong Chin Wen, were removed from their posts in state-owned GLCs after they abstained from voting against a land reclamation motion.
5. The Penang CM insulting the Clan Jetties leader using “Lut You” and boasting “this is not your father’s land” after the Penang State Govt tried to muscle in on the Clan Jetties CNY Tian Kong festival.
6. DAP leaders and supporters insulting former DAP member and scholar Roger Teoh as cowardly, desperate, asking him to grow up and asking him to emulate Chairman Mao’s “Great Leap Forward” after Roger Teoh has raised grave concerns on the multiple scandals of the Penang Masterplan.
7. The DAP Penang Govt’s continued refusal to give approvals for projects from Federal Govt agencies JKP Sdn Bhd, PR1MA and PERDOS for property developments to fund affordable housing.
8. The Penang CM and his team publicly attacking newspapers because they feel that the newspapers did not carry his statements more prominently enough.
And this is just this year 2016 alone.

Even stranger is that your freedom of speech is taken away and they personally insult you and you are called a traitor only when you criticize them or expose their scandals. 
But when a prominent DAP member insults an entire country when he insist that “South China Sea belongs to China” or when they offend an entire community when he ask for “Malays to screw the Malays so we can watch the best show of a lifetime”, no action is taken by DAP as this is “his personal opinion and not the party’s stand”.
Also, despite repeatedly calling for it being abolished, DAP is a fan of the sedition act and have asked for its use several times when it suits their purpose.
Looking at their track-record, if DAP comes into federal power, they will probably bring back ISA.
It is a pity that the hatred for his own self has driven this former convict and charged-for-corruption Chief Minister to issue a statement to lambast his own actions on Christmas Day.

Maybe he is the Anti-Christ. You may never know.

Defence: What Have YOU Done For Your Country?

The late Major Kayamboo Chellam TUDM

The nation, especially the Royal Malaysian Air Force, said goodbye to one of its finest, Major Kayamboo Chellam TUDM who perished in an accident involving the aircraft he captained at the Butterworth Airbase.

He died on his 45th birthday.

The recently retired Chief of the RMAF, General Tan Sri Dato Sri Roslan bin Saad TUDM found it alarming that the non-Malays are staying away from joining the RMAF

In a September interview, General Roslan invited more non-Malays to join the RMAF.

The late Major Kayamboo was among the non-Malays who make up the five to ten percent of the RMAF’s total strength of 15,000.

Both he and his severely injured co-pilot Captain Wai Lik, also a non-Malay, decided to serve the nation when many prefer to condemn the country on a daily basis.

Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein visiting Captain Wai Lik TUDM at the Seberang Jaya Hospital. He is flanked by the Chief of RMAF General Dato Sri Hj Affendi bin Buang TUDM and Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor. Captain Wai Lik’s father is in red.

In fact, Captain Wai Lik’s father proudly said:

“Forget about serving for the country if you cannot die for the country.”

So what excuse do you have when all you do daily is to whine about but never serve the nation?

The Myanmar Muddle

When it comes to the Rohingya problem, Malaysia has always been voicing out her concerns regarding the issue.

In September 2012, the Royal Malaysian Navy’s KD Indera Sakti delivered 480 tonnes of aid to the Rohingyas through the port of Sittwe.

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s multi-role support ship KD Indera Sakti

At the peak of the Rohingya refugee crisis last year, only Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to temporarily shelter 7,000 Rohingya refugees. Malaysia also deployed five naval assets to provide assistance to the boat people.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak also joined thousands in a rally at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month to show his concerns regarding the Rohingyan plight as they continue to be massacred by anti-Islamic parties in Myanmar while the Myanmarese government turn a blind eye on Rakhine.

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman also called for a meeting with his ASEAN counterparts to discuss the problem.

ASEAN ministers meeting on the Rohingya problem

In attendance was Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who has denied the rights of the Rohingya.

New York Times report on Aung San Suu Kyii’s refusal to address the Rohingya problem

Malaysia’s stand has won the admiration of many Rohingya in Malaysia and abroad. I met several in Saudi Arabia recently who said Malaysia’s stern voice has provided some relief to the Rohingya people in Myanmar.

One of those whom I met was Shah, a hotel cleaner who has lived in Saudi Arabia for the past 19 years. Although he has never been to Malaysia, he was singing praises as news from home said that the oppression has slowed down after Malaysia voiced out its concerns.

Shah the cleaner from Myanmar who is happy with Malaysia’s stand on the Rohingya issue

It is hoped that Malaysia would be able to get other ASEAN members to find a sustainable long-term solution to the problem and continue to be the voice for the Rohingya. 

Another Promise Delivered

Another promise delivered, another history made.

Today, Phase One of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line service comes online.

This service plies between the Sungai Buloh KTM station and the Semantan station (across from UOA Jalan Semantan) will run for free for a month until the 16th January 2016.


The project will be completed earlier than planned at RM2 billion less than the RM23 billion projected.

This is RM77 billion less than what was blurted out by PKR’s habitual and court-proven liar, Rafizi Ramli.


Once completed in April 2017, the MRT Line 1 will connect suburban areas with the urban networks servicing the city of Kuala Lumpur such as the LRT and KL Monorail.

Prime Minister Najib Razak also made it a project term that there would be Bumiputera participation in all aspects of the project.

While previous administrations emphasised on 30 percent Bumiputera participation, Najib Razak through MRT Corporation ensured a minimum of 50 percent Bumiputera participation in the civil elevated works (viaducts and stations).

Only in the underground works (tunneling and stations) as well as non-civil works (systems and integration) where foreign expertise is needed, Bumiputera participation must be at 30 percent or higher through joint-venture companies to ensure that technology knowledge-transfer takes place.

I must make mention of two things. I was fortunate to have spent a large chunk of my time in the MRT project under the tutelage of Michael Harfoot, a Welsh resident of Hong Kong, who is very knowledgeable in the field of urban railway construction.

Mr Harfoot remains one of the rare Chief Resident Engineers who could do and read as-built drawings without the use of computer aids. He also imparts knowledge to the local engineers with much zest.

Michael Harfoot (second from right) taking his staff on an MRT ride today

Secondly, the project would not have succeeded without the unenviable tasks of communicating with the public,especially with stakeholders – facing the brunt of public anger and so on.

Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah and his team from the Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Relations division had done very well in ensuring that things are communicated to and from the public.

Datuk Najmuddin is no stranger to the management of crises. He handled the communications during the MH370 and MH17 tragedies.

We should also not forget the tens of thousands of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indonesian workers who toiled to complete this project under the hot sun, doing work that no Malaysian would, and pouring rain, braving snake bites and dengue fever, who are forever thankful that Malaysia is still the land of milk and honey for them and the families that they feed.

If this country is truly going down the drains, they would have quit their job and moved elsewhere.

High Speed Development 

I look forward to taking my first train up to Putrajaya in ten years’ time.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is confident that the 350-kilometre high-speed rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore would bring both countries even closer together.

Facing a technical recession where the economy is more or less stagnant, Lee Hsien Loong has constantly reminded small and medium enterprises in Singapore to expand to neighbouring countries.

Hence, the HSR is truly important for Singapore to see that the project is completed within the stipulated ten-year period.

For Malaysia, it would definitely boost tourism as it opens up lesser known towns on the southwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia to tourists from Singapore.

As a matter of fact, Singapore’s Straits Times has printed a guide on the places that could be visited once the HSR is in operation.

Not only that, as with the rail system run by the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), areas surrounding the HSR link would definitely see an increase in both development and prosperity as connectivity improves.

While the 10-year timeframe is a “relatively short period of time” given the size and complexity of the project, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he is committed to meeting the deadline.

We have to work very closely together and be very focused, and we must overcome all the challenges as we move ahead,” he said.
Although Malaysia and Singapore are both different countries, they share a common history. Many from both countries are related and cross-border marriages are rife.

Perhaps Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has summed it all in the best way: “Our relationship with Malaysia is strong and flourishing. We are bound by history, kinship, culture and strong people-to-people ties.”

There is no doubt that the people from both countries would benefit from this single link.

A Police Report – Part 2

Following the police report that I made last Thursday the CEO of Malaysiakini Premesh Chandran has denied any knowledge of the document in question.

 “I have not seen this document before, nor was I part of any discussions on ‘shared frameworks’, nor was I the chair of any committee related to OSF,” said Premesh to Malaysiakini.

My response:

When I was interviewed after making the police report, I specifically asked for the police that in the name of fairness for all, to thoroughly investigate the authenticity of the said document.

Therefore there is no need for Premesh Chandran to do an outright denial and let the police investigate.

It is a known fact that Soros has indirect links to 29% ownership of MalaysiaKini – something that Mkini themselves had knowingly admitted.

Premesh should explain why OSF documents listed his name as the Chairman of the advisory board for Malaysia.

I did not name him. OSF did. Why jump before the police has completed their investigation?