ANWAR WITH MALAYSIAKINI: RM7million for a house?

Malaysiakini reported that the parliamentary debate on Malaysia Anti Corruption Bill has irked Taib Mahmud's family. But a little note posted in mykmujohor, showing a little bungalow purportedly owned by an opposition leader is worth reading. [ My Kmu Johor.. Read more... ]

2. RM7 million is considered cheap, because to roll the political game over the years require more than that. If he really owns that RM7million bungalow, then good luck to him because a little guy from Ijok who had put a cross on PKR in PRU12 is very much happy with a 70,000 terraced house. If one care to travel from Ijok to Kuala Selangor, one cant miss the many hand painted signboards, "boleh buang tanah disini". That signage has more than one meaning.

3. It will not be nice to probe further unless Manikavasagam [ PKR MP is quitting], the quitting PKR MP would like to throw some light on the reality of PKR political fund! I suppose that is quite a bomb. A much bigger bomb.

beritadarigunung

Malaysia safe from global financial turmoil: Kadir

Published Date: October 26, 2008
By Ben Garcia, Staff Writer

KUWAIT: "We are not seriously affected by the global financial turmoil, we are not saying nil, but on a minimal level," disclosed Mohammad Rafik Kadir, Deputy Governor of Central Bank Malaysia, speaking with the local media on the sideline of their seminar conducted at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuwait recently. Kadir's delegation was composed of over 30 Malaysian businessmen who visited the country with the aim of strengthening bilateral economic ties with Kuwait.

Khadir was accompanied by high-level economic delegations comprising of Omar Merican, Chief Operating Officer of Malaysian Stock Exchange, Raja Nazrin Shah, Crown Prince of Perak, Jalila Baba, Director General Malaysia Industrial Authority and Kris Azman Abdullah, Securities Commission Malaysia. Malaysian Ambassador to Kuwait Ashaary Sani hosted the economic delegation.

Just looking at the records, we are not seriously affected. We only have 12 percent of the total export with the US. We have 11 percent trading with the EU and about 15 percent in the Arab world. The majority of our trading was with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which constitutes about 64 percent of our trading overseas," he said.

The Malaysian Stock Exchange however admitted to a downfall of 38 percent on their stock index. But Omar Merican, Chief Operating Officer of Bursa Malaysia Stock Exchange, noted that Malaysia is still very fortunate compared with their ASEAN neighbors.

We are still lucky compared to other ASEAN neighbors, like the Philippines, the stocks are down by 45 percent, Jakarta is 51 percent, Korea is down by 44 percent, Taiwan is 44 percent," he said.

The foreign direct investment according to Jalilah Baba, Director General Malaysia Industrial Authority was thriving. "Despite global financial turmoil, we have a mass of inquiries from abroad and we have some positive and ongoing negotiations. We might experience a slowdown in foreign direct investments in 2009 since many are cautious on spending, but it won't affect us much," she said.

Asked on the status of their meetings with their counterparts, Kadir pointed out that 'everything went well'. "Our meeting with our counterparts in Kuwait was very successful. Our mission here was to create awareness about the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Center (MIFC) initiatives. MIFC was introduced by the Malaysian government in 2006 and was aimed at issuing licenses to Islamic banking in Malaysia. With this regard, we have met with the chairman of the Al-Aquila and Leasing Company and we br
iefed them about business opportunities in Malaysia," he added.

Taking the lead as a center for Islamic Finance, MIFC provides for a coordinated regulatory framework, fiscal incentives and facilitative business environment. It has also actively initiated dialogues, road shows and spoken at seminars throughout the world in showcasing economic and trade opportunities leveraging on Islamic finance.

We are keen to share with our Kuwaiti counterparts and key stakeholders the many opportunities and mutual benefits available under the MIFC initiative, in advancing the trade relationship and investment opportunities between our countries," Razif added.

Kuwait and Malaysia enjoy a growing bilateral trade relationship that has seen Kuwait's trade accounting for 0.2 percent of Malaysia's total trade alone in the first seven months of 2008. Exports to Kuwait consist of fats and oil (dairy products and palm oil), electrical products and furniture, while imports from Kuwait are mainly minerals, plastics and ships.

Kuwaiti investments continue to play a growing role in Malaysia's financial market, insurance, real-estate and business service sub-sector, accounting for some 0.2 percent of total foreign direct investment since 2004. This proportion, however, is expected to rise in the coming years.

Kuwait's largest bank, Kuwait Finance House was granted the first foreign Islamic bank license to set up operations in Malaysia in 2004 and continues to be a key player forging new heights in Malaysia.


source:

Malaysia safe from global financial turmoil: Kadir
Kuwait Times, Kuwait

K. Thanabalasingam: A cry for my beloved country

By K. Thanabalasingam
Rear Admiral (Rtd)
Chief of Navy, Malaysia

I am a concerned citizen extremely worried and fearful for the immediate future of our country. It makes me wonder where we, as a nation, are headed.

I am a septuagenarian in my twilight years having witnessed Malaya under the British protectorate; the Communist terrorist insurgency and the declaration of Emergency by the British in 1948; our Independence on Aug. 31, 1957 with Tunku Abdul Rahman becoming Prime Minister; the end of the Emergency and the introduction of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1960; the formation of Malaysia on Sept. 16, 1963 and the start and end of the Indonesian Confrontation; the unfortunate May 13, 1969 racial riots and the formation of the National Operational Council; the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1970; and all the political changes up to and including Mahathir Mohamad handing over power to current PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2003.

Let me begin by stating that I have never ever been politically inclined or belonged to any political party. Even when PM Abdul Razak suggested that I enter politics in 1974, I respectfully declined stating that I was not cut out to be a politician. My stand today is still the same. I am neither with a non-governmental organization nor an activist.

During the Japanese occupation I saw with my own eyes a few atrocities committed by some Japanese soldiers which left a lasting impression on me. I served in uniform during the Emergency which officially ended in 1960, with the ISA replaced the Emergency regulations. I also actively served at sea during the Indonesian Confrontation. I served in various appointments in the Navy.

It was during my long tenure as Chief of Navy that May 13, 1969 incident occurred and being at the Defence HQ in Kuala Lumpur, I knew exactly what had happened and what we had to do to restore public order.

The Armed Forces had to be brought in to complement the police. Those below the age of 40 today were not born or were babies when May 13 occurred. It was the black mark in our nation’s history and that is why I am so concerned of the course our nation is to take henceforth under the prevailing racial and political tensions and the economic uncertainty.

The May 13 incident was triggered by politicians and the current racial tensions in the country are again being fanned by some politicians on both sides of the political divide. My plea to all politicians is please control your emotions and think of our country and our children’s future. We cannot afford another May 13 or anything similar.

Foreign investment is already affected and foreign businessmen and government officials are asking what is happening in Malaysia.

Even our Chief of Defence Forces was concerned enough recently to make a rare public statement which I fully endorse because I was personally involved with my fellow comrades-in-arms from the Army, Navy, Air Force and the police in 1969 in the restoration of public order and know the chaos that prevailed then and the damage inflicted on the nation.

The recent arrests under the ISA of a reporter, a politician and a blogger have not helped. There has been a lot written recently on the ISA but let me make my piece.

The ISA’s original intention was for the sole purpose of dealing with the communist terrorist insurgency and armed struggle conceived to overthrow the duly elected government or to organize violence. The recent arrests and some conflicting statements made by the authorities have amazed me. The New Sunday Times on Sept. 21 quoted a minister as saying that the police can invoke the ISA even without informing him.

I wonder how a powerful Act like the ISA can be left entirely to the discretion of the police. I have the highest respect and trust for the police force and am not inferring anything ulterior. Surely the ISA is a very serious piece of legislation which the government must use extremely carefully and wisely and therefore exercise complete control over it at all times.

I believe that with no communist threat in the country anymore, the ISA has outlived its usefulness and become irrelevant and should be abolished or revised. When the ISA was first introduced it was an absolute necessity because we were fighting armed communist terrorists in the country.

If the government decides to do away with the ISA, an “Anti-Terrorism Act” should be enacted to check the world-wide terrorism threat. This Act should be very specific and clear in its intent and should be used only for this purpose. The ISA has mutated in its use over the past 30 years or so and is now being used for what it was never intended. We are quick to blame others like the Americans for their Guantanamo Bay detainees but our own ISA is worse in some ways.

At least the American detainees are all foreigners (not that that is right) but ours are all our own citizens.

In Kalimullah Hassan’s New Sunday Times article on Sept. 21, he wrote about immigrants and how all our five Prime Ministers have at least some migrant heritage. I also read an article which was an extract from a book written by a Singapore professor on the anthropological history of the peoples of South East Asia, especially Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines wherein it states that even our Orang Asli are descendants from African migration and our Dayaks and Kadazans are actually descendants from migrants from Vietnam and southern China.

This is also attested to in a program on the National Geographic channel.
So what are we really? In my own family I have Chinese in-laws, Caucasian in-laws, a nephew married to a Kadazan, another nephew’s wife’s mother is a Portuguese and so on. To me our origin is immaterial — we are simply Malaysians. During difficult times like our communist terrorist insurgency and “Confrontation,” our armed forces and police comprising all races fought side-by-side as Malaysians and many died in the defence of our nation.

I find it embarrassing that 51 years after independence, we still have racially based political parties. To an extent this is what has kept us apart. In my 70-odd years I have never seen us more divided than we are today, except perhaps immediately after May 13.

Malaysia’s National Economic Policy was born out of the May 13 incident to correct the economic imbalance between the races and to eradicate poverty for all. When it was implemented in 1970 it was meant to be for 20-year duration. It is 38 years since and I understand that the target has not been achieved.

K. Thanabalasingam was the first Malaysian chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy. He currently lives in Kuala Lumpur.

A tumultous decade

Here is a chronology of recent political events in Malaysia;

Sept. 1998: Anwar Ibrahim, then deputy to prime minister Mahathir
Mohamad, is sacked and slapped with sodomy and corruption charges that he said were politically motivated.

April 1999: Found guilty of corruption and sentenced to six years in jail.

Aug. 2000: Found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Sept 2004: Released after Malaysia’s highest court overturns sodomy conviction.

March 2008: Leads a resurgent opposition to stunning victories in general elections, seizing five states and a third of parliamentary seats.

April 2008: Ban on holding public office, relating to his corruption
conviction, expires.

June 2008: Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 23-year-old who was a volunteer at his office, lodges a police report claiming Anwar sodomized him.

July 16: Anwar arrested amid a tussle over fixing a date for police interrogation, and spends night in custody before being released.

July 31: Announces he will contest parliamentary by-election for the
Permatang Pauh constituency in his home state of Penang, after his wife resigns the seat to make way for him.

Aug. 7: Anwar is charged with sodomy, an offence that carries a penalty of 20 years imprisonment.

Aug. 26: Anwar wins a landslide by-election victory.

Sept. 5: Abdullah vows to thwart Anwar’s plan to seize power.

Sept. 10: In a sign of cracks in the ruling coalition, Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin urges Abdullah to consider stepping down before mid-2010.

Sept. 12: An opposition politician, a prominent blogger and a journalist are arrested under draconian internal security laws, triggering widespread criticism even from within the cabinet.

By K. Thanabalasingam
Rear Admiral (Rtd)
Chief of Navy, Malaysia

source: A cry for my beloved country
The Asian Pacific Post, Canada

Mengulas Malaysiakini: Teresa, dont play with fire.

Kok's family home attacked
Rahmah Ghazali | Sep 27, 08 10:10am

breaking news updated 12.40pm Two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the family home of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur early today. No one was hurt in the incident.MORE

• Vulgar message thrown in too
• Family members very shaken

Beritadarigunung:

1. Ambiga, The Lina Joy case as well as the two public fora on the social contract and conversion to Islam this year, which appear to have rent further the gap between the civil and syariah courts. Datuk S. Ambiga, she'd say they were a little "too eventful”. Ambiga herself has received several threatening messages and phone calls from anonymous parties, most particularly after last month's forum on "Conversion to Islam: Revisiting Article 121(A) of the Federal Constitution". A Molotov cocktail was lobbed into the compound of her old family home, now occupied by Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women's Affairs, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, and her family.

2. IPOH, May 15 (Bernama) — The Perak DAP headquarters in Bandar Ipoh Raya here was damaged when two unidentified men hurled a petrol bomb at it early this morning. The incident, which happened at 2.20am, was witnessed by a security guard, Ammeri Ahmad, 45, who was on duty at a nearby school and who then called the police.

3. November 7, 2001 Churches torched in Malaysia in reaction against war in Afghanistan. Christian churches in Malaysia have been under attack as extremist Islamic groups reacted to the U.S.-led military attacks on Afghanistan. The latest of a series of arson attempts on Christian churches took place on October 27, when extremists set ablaze the Christ Community Center Church in Subang Jaya.

A fortnight before this, extremists attempted to torch the Catholic Church of Christ the King in Sungai Petani, a city about 190 miles northwest of Kuala Lumpur in the northern state of Kedah, the home state of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

In a separate attack, Molotov cocktails were thrown at St Philip’s Catholic Centre on October 14 in Segamat in the southern state of Johore. Fortunately, most of the Molotov cocktails failed to explode and only the door was damaged.

The Marthoma Christian Community Centre, also in Sungai Petani, was set ablaze by suspected Muslim extremists in July. Damage to the Center was estimated at £55,000 and police believe members of the Malaysian Mujahideen Group (Kumpulan Militan Malaysia), were responsible for the fire

4. Myanmar who threw a Molotov cocktail at KL Myanmar embassy will be charged

August 2, 2008 KUALA LUMPUR: A Myanmar citizen who allegedly threw a molotov cocktail at his country’s embassy in Ampang will be charged for mischief on Aug 14.

A Sessions Court here set the date to hear two charges against arts graduate Saw Naung, 25, a Myanmar national, who is said to have thrown a molotov cocktail at the embassy in Jalan Ampang Hilir in Cheras at noon on July 22.

5. Malaysia 'teapot cult' attacked. A lawyer for the sect, Haris Mohamad Ibrahim, said that about 30 armed men dressed in Arab robes had attacked the commune with Molotov cocktails. No-one was injured in the attack, which caused a small fire Its leader, Ayah Pin, says he is the saviour of the world.

6. The house of an Australian computer consultant here was attacked by four Molotov cocktails, but no one was killed or injured, local reports said on Tuesday.

The Australian was at home with a female Malaysian friend when four Molotov cocktails were hurled at the house, but only two of them exploded, Malaysia's national news services Bernama said.

Bernama said that last Saturday and Monday, Molotov cocktails were hurled at the houses of the executive director and a senior manager of KFC holdings in Malaysia.UPDATED: 21:10, March 21, 2006

7. Molotov cocktail attack in Tawau: Man held 18 January, 2005 Tawau: Police have detained a Bugis in his 40s in connection with the molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) attack on the house of a businessman at Taman Leitz, here, on Friday. District Police Chief, ACP Sulaiman Junaidi, said police spotted the vehicle matching the complainant's description at Km 6, Jalan Kuhara, on Sunday afternoon. The vehicle was stopped and the driver detained to facilitate investigations, he said.

8. Molotov cocktails are used against the Police when 2 men are injured after live bullets were fired in the crowd at the Batu Burok violence in Terengganu, Malaysia on Saturday night (September 8). The clash was sparked when police ordered the crowd of 500 people (some reported 750) gathering at Jalan Sultan Mahmud, close to Batu Burok, to disperse peacefully at 10pm. The crowd was there to attend a talk organized by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections

9. DISPUTE OVER A SHRINE. HOW TO EXPLAIN THE ugly religious incident in downtown Penang? The economy? Politics? It began when Muslims attending prayers complained about noise from a Hindu shrine nearby and asked them to move. State authorities allocated a new site less than a kilometer away, and in late March Hindu devotees gathered to move the shrine. That's when Muslims began hurling rocks and taunts, according to bystanders. "It was intimidating," says a state assemblyman who spoke to witnesses.

The next evening a group of Muslims prepared to march to the new Hindu site. Police managed to head off a clash and arrested 94 "troublemakers" armed with Molotov cocktails and parangs (knives). Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim, who hails from Penang state, persuaded leaders of both sides to shake hands.

According to a senior official, politics may have played a part. A few months ago the owner of the land asked the city to remove the shrine because it was an illegal structure. The authorities prevaricated. During campaigning for internal division elections for the United Malays National Organization (dominant party in the federal coalition) one of the challengers in a three-way fight reportedly backed the Muslims' complaint. Concluded the state assemblyman: "Some say local leaders took advantage of the situation."

According to a senior official, politics may have played a part.
According to a senior official, politics may have played a part.
According to a senior official, politics may have played a part.
According to a senior official, politics may have played a part.
According to a senior official, politics may have played a part.
According to a senior official, politics may have played a part.


beritadarigunung: Thanks to the original write-ups by friends. Of course, to continue living in Malaysia, we have to get to know the distant cousins where ever they are, black, brown, yellow and whites.

Asian Central Banks Cut Rates to Counter Impact of U.S. Crisis

By Shamim Adam

Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Asia's central banks have started to cut interest rates, judging they need to counter the effect of the U.S. financial crisis on their export-dependent economies as inflation peaks.

Taiwan cut borrowing costs on Sept. 25, joining China, Australia and New Zealand in easing the price of money this month. Inflation rates have slowed in Thailand and Sri Lanka, and policy makers in the Philippines, India and Indonesia forecast price gains will cool before the end of the year.

Lower borrowing costs may spur growth as the economies of the U.S., Europe and Japan weaken and the deepening credit crisis threatens to tip the world into a recession. Still, some analysts say the inflation fight isn't over and that loose monetary policy or a surge in oil costs may spark another bout of higher prices.

``The bias may be shifting too quickly to growth and that is not wise,'' said Jan Lambregts, head of Asia research at Rabobank International in Hong Kong. ``It's too early to declare victory over inflation.''

The credit crisis led Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. to file for bankruptcy and prompted the sale of Merrill Lynch & Co. to Bank of America Corp. this month. U.S. regulators have seized at least nine lenders since July, including Washington Mutual Inc. yesterday, the fastest pace in 15 years.

While the contagion from the turmoil isn't likely to infect Asia's banking systems, the credit crisis is hurting exports.

Fewer orders for made-in-Asia goods are cooling industrial production in China, Singapore and Taiwan among others. Bank of Korea official Kang Myung Hun, who opposed a rate increase last month, said the nation's slowing economy is more of a concern than accelerating inflation.

Growth Forecasts

Merrill Lynch & Co. this month cut its forecast for Asia's growth in 2008 and 2009. The region will expand 7.7 percent this year, and ease further to 7.3 percent in 2009. Both forecasts were reduced from previous predictions of 7.9 percent growth.

``The U.S. is deteriorating and investors are increasingly pessimistic about the European economy,'' said Tomo Kinoshita, chief economist for Asia outside Japan at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Hong Kong. ``These are major destinations for Asian exports, and the implications of slower growth cannot be ignored.''

Taiwan's central bank unexpectedly reduced interest rates 12.5 basis points to 3.5 percent on Sept. 25, saying the global financial crisis had heightened the risk of an economic slowdown.

The People's Bank of China reduced its one-year lending rate to 7.20 percent from 7.47 percent on Sept. 15 and Australia's central bank lowered borrowing costs on Sept. 2, its first reduction in seven years.

In Malaysia and Sri Lanka, central bank officials refrained from raising rates even as inflation accelerated to the highest in decades.

Philippines, Indonesia

The Philippine central bank may not need to raise interest rates further as inflation may have peaked at 12.5 percent, Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto said Sept. 17.

Bank Indonesia's Deputy Governor Hartadi Sarwono last month said an interest rate of 9.5 percent may be ``adequate'' to slow inflation. The central bank's key rate is at 9.25 percent now.

``They're all pretty much done with raising interest rates, and those who didn't move probably won't have to,'' says Joseph Tan, chief economist for Asia at Credit Suisse Private Banking in Singapore. ``Asia needs to cushion against further downside risks to growth and guard against the fallout in the global financial system.''

Some economists are concerned the interest-rates cuts will rekindle inflation.

`Inflation Genie'

``Put the inflation genie back in the bottle now,'' said Asian Development Bank Chief Economist Ifzal Ali. Asia needs to ``tighten monetary policy even if it requires a temporary sacrifice of growth.''

Inflation in Asia will reach 7.8 percent this year, higher than an April forecast of 5.1 percent that was already the most in a decade, the ADB said. Prices may ease to 6 percent next year, it predicts.

``Lower rates will increase domestic demand and inflation pressures will start to kick in once again, exactly what central banks were trying to avoid in the first place,'' Lambregts said. ``It's a risky move and they'll pay a price for it.''

source: Asian Central Banks Cut Rates to Counter Impact of US Crisis
Bloomberg

DUTCH LADY: PRODUCTS IN MALAYSIA SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION

Bernama - Sunday, September 21

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd has assured consumers in Malaysia that its full range of products for various age groups, ranging from Infant Formula to powders and liquid are safe for consumption and free from melamine contamination.

In a statement here today, the company said it was concerned about the tainted milk problem in China. "Milk products from Dutch Lady sold in Malaysia use local fresh milk or milk powder sourced from countries like the Netherlands and New Zealand.

"As a precaution, in Singapore and Hong Kong, Dutch Lady-affiliated companies have initiated a recall of some milk products that were sourced from China.

"These products are not for sale in Malaysia," he said.

The company said in Malaysia, no Dutch Lady products were sourced from China, and that all its products were safe for consumption. -- BERNAMA

MOHAMED JAWHAR HASSAN: Our Achilles heel: the politics, not the economics

Soaring oil and food prices have caused untold suffering to the world’s poor.

AMERICA is sneezing, and the rest of the world is catching cold. Unlike the financial crisis of the late 1990s, this time around it is not the developing economies of East Asia but the world's largest developed economy that is spreading the bug. And the United States is prescribing for itself the very medicine that it flayed Asian economies for. It is resorting to the grandmother of all bailouts.

The current financial crisis is unlikely to be as traumatic as the last one a decade ago for East Asia. Its impact however is far more widespread. Markets are reeling not only in Asia but in Europe and other continents as well. Recent gains in world global bourses caused by a proposed gigantic rescue plan in the US do not detract from the fundamental vulnerability of the global financial system.

The problem of course is much more than tumbling share prices across the globe triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the cascading effects on other financial institutions and markets.

A heavy economic pall has descended over the globe. Inflation is one of the more prominent features of this landscape. A Morgan Stanley report in June pointed out that no less than 50 countries containing half the world's population suffer from double-digit inflation. Prices of oil and food account for a substantial portion of the inflation. As usual, the poor suffer the most.

The greatest fear is low growth combined with high inflation. The International Monetary Fund predicts that world economic growth this year will fall significantly from five per cent last year to 4.1 per cent this year. Growth is expected to decline even further to 3.9 per cent in 2009. Developing economies, including the most dynamic such China and India, will be affected.
Growth trajectories are also generally flat across Western Europe. In Japan, the economy has contracted and is believed to be at or near recession. In Britain, there is talk of another recession after 15 years.

All this adds up to an extremely negative external environment for the Malaysian economy this year and the next. Malaysia is exposed to imported inflation in the form of high energy and commodity prices, the prospect of declining exports to major trading destinations such as the United States, Japan and Europe, currency depreciation against a rebounding US dollar, and a significant fall in the shares market reflecting global sentiment.

For the next 18 months or so at least, until the global economy recovers, the government will find its goal of stimulating economic growth more challenging. It will have to work harder than ever to attract foreign and domestic investment in the face of adverse sentiment, create new jobs and sustain as well as improve living standards.

As economic growth will be moderate for a developing economy, it will also find it more challenging to carry out affirmative action programmes for the poor and to close income divides within and across ethnic groups and regions.

Fortunately for the Malaysian economy however, it has some strengths.

Despite the negative external environment, the country's exports surged strongly in July by 25.4 per cent year-on-year, the highest in four years. Exports were at a new high of RM63.36 billion. Total trade expanded by 20.6 per cent from July last year to RM112.2 billion.

Contrary to claims by some detractors about a decline, Malaysia has in fact become more competitive globally as ranked by the IMD's World Competitiveness Yearbook. Malaysia climbed four places, from 23rd in 2007 to 19th this year.

Malaysia also leapt five places in the World Bank's annual country ranking for ease of doing business, from 25th in the 2008 report to 20th in the 2009 report. This is a credit to the government's Pemudah initiative.

While Malaysia is still heavily export and trade dependent, domestic demand accounts for 58.5 per cent of its GDP.

The government has also succeeded in diversifying export markets. The US accounted for only 15.6 per cent of the country's exports last year. The country can also leverage on its attraction for Gulf Cooperation Council funds and its strengths as a hub for Islamic finance.

Though it faces some serious challenges, Malaysia's Achilles heel in responding to the current global situation is not its economics. Rather it is its politics. The damage done to the credibility of some of its key institutions, constant talk of crossovers and toppling the Barisan Nasional government, and Umno and the BN's own internal problems are creating an air of uncertainty and loss of confidence.

In the MIER's CEO Confidence Index report recently, no less than 87 per cent of the 235 CEOs polled said that current political uncertainties had a negative impact on domestic investment, 97 per cent stated it dampened foreign investments and 90 per cent said it undermined consumer confidence.

Political parties could therefore do the country and its citizens great service if they ceased destabilising the situation and moderated their intense politicking.

Pakatan Rakyat has five state governments to run and perform as a responsible opposition in Parliament until the next general election, when it can make another bid for power.

Umno and the BN can cut down on internal dissension and curb public displays of disagreement. They must address not just leadership issues but focus even more importantly on fundamental reform to restore their relevance and regain their credibility. Drawing inspiration from their founding ideals, aspirations and spirit of selfless service would not be a bad place to begin.

Parties across the political divide have a common responsibility to help the country and government overcome the current grave economic challenges, rather than erode its capacity to respond.

They can do more to be a part of the solution and less a part of the problem.


* Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan is chairman and CEO of ISIS Malaysia. The views here are his own.


source: Our Achilles heel: the politics, not the economics
New Straits Times, Malaysia

Politics: Cracking Malaysia

The cracks have been apparent since the March election when the ruling coalition could only muster a relatively narrow 30-seat majority.

Since then Malaysian politics have been simmering towards an inevitable boil which will either spill over towards a new dawn or burst into another failed political puff.

These are the tribulations of a politically closed political system, i.e., cyclical crossroads which any reticent regime must face in a bid to sustain a monopoly of power.

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is no Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister was cut from the same cloth as our own Soeharto albeit with different tailoring -- not as ruthless but just as shrewd.

Mahathir raised Malaysia to regional eminence by the same combination of fear and bounty.

The nation's body politic contracted by an injection of racially charged fear, as avarice was satisfied by economic opportunity.

Though he did try, Badawi has failed to consolidate his power base within the Barisan Nasional (BN) ranks.

The regional mood for change which has swept the region since 1998 has found a haven in small corners of the Malaysian state and in pockets of a disenchanted middle class.

What set apart old dictators from new autocrats was the elegance with which they could discharge opponents.

Whether the charges be true or false, "sodomy" is hardly a stylish deposition fitting political rationale.

Since coming to power in 2003 Badawi has not helped his own cause by failing to win over public sentiment as inflation remains a concern, economic disparity widens and promised reforms progress at a frustrating pace.

Even promising to step down in 2010 has not quelled discontent within the BN rank.

Increasingly Malaysia politics are turning back toward the terrible specter of primordial politics -- religion and race -- as a means of distracting the electorate from the political interests of the elite.

This is a sad state of affairs for a country supposedly infused with "Islam Hadari" (Civilized Islam).

However, Malaysia is, unfortunately, wanting in alternatives.

There are questions whether the perceived prime minister-in-waiting Najib Tun Razak can sustain the dominance of the old guard.

Najib's performance as minister of finance, which he assumed Wednesday, will gauge his acceptability as Malaysia's next leader.

On the other end of the spectrum the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat under Anwar Ibrahim has been big on headlines but lacking on actual policy proposals.

Less we forget, Anwar too was a very integral part of the status quo until he was exorcised through charges of sodomy.

Is Anwar's plight a consequence of his "good fight"? Or has he picked up the mantle of change because he lost his own political fight?

While we welcome the ushering in of democratic change within our neighboring state, we lack full confidence that the practical alternatives will suffice for Malaysia's needs.

Let us remind our Malaysian cousins that based on Indonesia's own painful experience, a change of allegiance at the elite level is not equivalent to a change in fundamental beliefs toward the primacy of civil society.

Defecting lawmakers from the ruling coalition to the opposition does not make them democracy's soldiers, only political opportunists.

We fear that what we are seeing in Malaysia is neither revolution nor evolution, but is instead a potential transition from one power to another.

BN and its preceding Parti Perikatan which has governed Malaysia since independence, has ruled for too long.

It is time for change.

But Pakatan too must show it is more than just a vehicle for Anwar.

More importantly it has to demonstrate that it can be a voice for all Malaysians -- not just Malays and Muslims -- living in a multiethnic society.

source: Cracking Malaysia
Jakarta Post, Indonesia

49 Terbang ke Taiwan tertinggal Murai Merah.

BERITADARIGUNUNG


Saya ingin mengulas tentang rundingan. Hidup ini penuh dengan rundingan. Adakala hasil rundingan adalah adil dan saksama. Tetapi yang sering berlaku ialah hasil rundingan yang berat sebelah. Seperti yang dijangka, yang kuat akan memaksa, dan yang licik sering bijak membelit (manipulate?).

1. Sejarah memaparkan beberapa rundingan penting. Rundingan di Baling adalah antara Kerajaan dan Parti Kominis Malaya. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra alHaj duduk semeja dengan Chin Peng. Akhirnya mereka pulang ketempat masing-masing. Idealisma memisahkan mereka. Chin Peng yakin dengan perjuangannya. Inggeris ingin keluar dari Malaya dengan kenangan manis mengalahkan Kominis walaupun tewas dengan Jepun. Banyak permainan politik dicelah rundingan Baling. Pada suatu tempuh masa Chin Peng pernah berjasa, berjuang mengusir Inggeris.

2. Perjanjian Pangkor pada 20 Januari 1874, antara Andrew Clarke dan Raja Abdullah membuka pintu Kota Perak, kerana sengketa merebut takhta. Akhirnya ramai memberontak, Birch ditikam, dan pejuang Melayu digantung dan dibuang. Selepas itu, orang Melayu disisih dari hasil bumi sendiri! Ngah Ibrahim sudah ada kapal dan lombong bijih yang besar sebelum dibuang dari bumi Perak. Selepas itu Inggeris berselindung disebalik Orang China mengaut hasil bumi Perak. Sengketa tampuk Kuasa mengabui mata, dan murai merah di pohon jelutong masih melompat dan bercerita.

3. Minggu ini Taiwan menjadi destinasi 49 orang Ahli Parlimen. Ada yang beragama Islam dan ada juga yang bukan Islam. Ada yang menyuarakan pandangan "bukankah eluk Ahli Parlimen Islam tidak kemana-mana, sebaliknya perlu beribadat sahaja sempena Bulan Ramadan?". Mungkin pandangan itu betul, jika definasi beribadat terhad kepada mengira tasbih sahaja. Ibadat mengikut sesetengah Ustaz, jauh merangkumi seluruh perjuangan hidup. Usaha menjaga kesejahteraan negara, tentunya murni DAN WAJAR.

4. Kita dimaklumkan tentang beberapa siri rundingan inisiatif Anwar sebelum ini. Saiful Bukhari Azlan, pembancuh kopi mengesahkan pernah melihat pertemuan demi pertemuan samada di kondominium ibukota, atau diluar negara. Tidak perlu pertikai kesahihan kata-kata pembancuh kopi. Apalah kita untuk menimbang. Neraca milik kita bukan sentiasa tepat. Bila sering menilai dengan yang "nyata", kita akan terpedaya kerana muslihat menyorok dicelah kebenaran. Dalam sejarah dunia, bukan sekali dua manusia terpukau dan tertipu. Yang rakus dan gelojoh biasanya, adalah yang mahu takhta. Lalu ramai turut berjuang dengan mata terbuka tetapi hati terus buta.

5. Intervention Inggeris di Negeri Perak adalah sesuatu yang wajar diambil ikhtibar. Yang mati dan terbuang adalah pejuang Melayu. Sejak itu Orang Melayu berhenti dari mendominasi ekonomi negeri bertuah Perak. Apa mungkin Nizar belajar sejarah sekadar menghafal tarikh untuk lulus periksa? Apa mungkin Nizar tidak peduli sejarah asal rasa hebat memerintah?. Apa mungkin Nizar juga seperti sebahagian rakyat Bangi, Kampung Tunku dan Shah Alam, sesudah menerima tempias economic affirmative action pasca 13 mei, tanpa segan silu mempersetankan Kerajaan BN dengan UMNO tonggaknya. Seolah rezeki datang terus dari langit meleleh celah misai dan janggut.

6. Berkunjung ke Taiwan memberi ruang untuk kita membuka buku sejarah Orang Melayu. Apa yang berlaku waktu dulu, masih relevan sekarang. Kita boleh himpun burung kakak tua, murai merah dan belatuk kepala kuning untuk mendengar syair Melayu lama yang sedih. Tulisan tangan atas kertas usang syair lama, masih terang untuk dibaca. Merah tinta masih terang, seterang ikhtibar sejarah Melayu Perak, semerah darah pejuang Melayu Perak, dan juga semerah rakus dan gelojoh mereka yang mahu merebut tampuk Kuasa.

7. Dalam memerangi rasa ghairah, gelojoh dan rakus, sempena bulan Puasa, wajar kita berdoa, bukan sekadar untuk kesejahteraan manusia bernama Ali, Ahmad atau Abu, tetapi juga demi kesejahteraan Bangsa Melayu dan Umat Islam, juga untuk Negeri Tanah Melayu, supaya anak-anak Melayu tidak berjalan atas tanah melayu yang terbakar jadi abu.

8. Dan dalam dunia subversive dan manipulative, setengah watak adalah kelongsong semata-mata, dalamnya adalah jasad dan aspirasi pengkhianat merempat. Watak sebegini bukan hanya ada dalam filem, sebaliknya ada dalam lingkungan kita. Haruslah kita berwaspada.

• Selamat Berpuasa dan Maaf jika terlanjur kata.

beritadarigunung

Bolehlah kita sama-sama rujuk bahan-bahan ini, sambil mengira, berkira dan beribadah. Kita bukan sentiasa betul.

1. Celoteh Murai 4...... Tinta Merah
2. SUARA HATI MENGENAI BN MUTAKHIR .....kudakepang ruhanie ahmad
10. HORMATILAH SUARA HATI MELAYU DAN ISLAM .... kudakepang ruhanie ahmad
3. Majlis Perpaduan Boleh Selamatkan Umno A Kadir Ja... ....scribe kadirjasin
4. Chun Wai: Blinkered racism analysis to demonise a Statesman? .... Big Dog
5. Pemimpin UMNO mengorak langkah untuk membetulkan keadaan
6. Rundingan Baling -
7. Perjanjian Pangkor -Perjanjian Pangkor II -
8. Pangkor Treaty (Perjanji) 1874, an important part of the Malaysian ...
9. Bukti Nizar hanya MB Boneka DAP

The most popular Member of Parliament in Penang.

BERITADARIGUNUNG

1. Data berikut adalah dari PRU12 april 2008 dan tidak mengambil kira keputusan pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pauh 26 Ogos 2008 yang lalu. Calon paling popular bermaksud yang menerima peratus undi tertinggi dari pengundi kawasan parlimen berkenaan. Kedudukan Ahli Parlimen disusun dari yang paling popular ke yang paling tidak popular.

2. Kaedah susunan populariti ini tidak mengambilkira komposisi kaum pengundi tempat berkenaan. Dalam suasana kemerdekaan, wajar untuk ketepikan buat sementara waktu warna kulit, bangsa, dan agama. Penonjolan secara keterlaluan mengenai bangsa dikhuatiri mengheret penulis ke kancah "pohon maaf", maka oleh itu bangsa harus diketepikan.

3. Walaupun begitu, pembaca wajar membuat penelitian terhadap latarbelakang kawasan berkenaan dari segi bandar/luar bandar, socioeconomy, etc. Hanya dengan kefahaman demikian, analisa lebih mendalam boleh dicapai untuk memahami trend pengundi era sekarang.

4. Umur pengundi juga adalah penting sebab ia menggambarkan pengalaman yang mereka lalui, tahap ilmu tatarakyat, senario pendidikan yang ditempuhi. Yang lahir pada tahun merdeka 1957 kini berusia 51 tahun, yang lahir waktu Malaysia ditubuhkan kini berusia 45 tahun dan yang lahir selepas Anwar ditumbuk hingga lebam kini baru berusia 11 tahun.

5. Ahli parlimen dari Bukit Mertajam adalah yang paling popular dengan memperolehi 75.97% undi, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dari Kepala Batas yang ke tujuh (7) dengan 65.78%, manakala yang paling tidak popular adalah dari Balik Pulau cuma dengan 51.15% undi.



beritadarigunung

Ahli Parlimen paling popular di Pulau Pinang.

BERITADARIGUNUNG

1. Data berikut adalah dari PRU12 april 2008 dan tidak mengambil kira keputusan pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pauh 26 Ogos 2008 yang lalu. Calon paling popular bermaksud yang menerima peratus undi tertinggi dari pengundi kawasan parlimen berkenaan. Kedudukan Ahli Parlimen disusun dari yang paling popular ke yang paling tidak popular.

2. Kaedah susunan populariti ini tidak mengambilkira komposisi kaum pengundi tempat berkenaan. Dalam suasana kemerdekaan, wajar untuk ketepikan buat sementara waktu warna kulit, bangsa, dan agama. Penonjolan secara keterlaluan mengenai bangsa dikhuatiri mengheret penulis ke kancah "pohon maaf", maka oleh itu bangsa harus diketepikan.

3. Walaupun begitu, pembaca wajar membuat penelitian terhadap latarbelakang kawasan berkenaan dari segi bandar/luar bandar, socioeconomy, etc. Hanya dengan kefahaman demikian, analisa lebih mendalam boleh dicapai untuk memahami trend pengundi era sekarang.

4. Umur pengundi juga adalah penting sebab ia menggambarkan pengalaman yang mereka lalui, tahap ilmu tatarakyat, senario pendidikan yang ditempuhi. Yang lahir pada tahun merdeka 1957 kini berusia 51 tahun, yang lahir waktu Malaysia ditubuhkan kini berusia 45 tahun dan yang lahir selepas Anwar ditumbuk hingga lebam kini baru berusia 11 tahun.

5. Ahli parlimen dari Bukit Mertajam adalah yang paling popular dengan memperolehi 75.97% undi, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dari Kepala Batas yang ke tujuh (7) dengan 65.78%, manakala yang paling tidak popular adalah dari Balik Pulau cuma dengan 51.15% undi.



beritadarigunung

Malaysia dan Russia: Reforms yang substandard!!

Berita dari gunung said...

Dato,

Satu posting yang menarik. Malaysia sudah lama merdeka. BN sudah lama memerintah. Dan Umno sudah lama jadi tonggak pemerintahan.

Seolah ada usaha untuk membina semula Malaysia dengan reforms. Baik tidak baik, itu lain cerita. Tetapi situasi sedemikian sudah berlarutan agak lama, hingga ramai sempat sedar.

Saya yakin kepimpinan juga sedar bahawa reforms kalau perlu, mesti dengan pertimbangan. "Pertimbangan" adalah milik negarawan ulong, bukan barang mainan pemimpin lahir semalam.

Kita rasa terpanggil untuk mengkaji semula Gorbachev dan Russia. Atas nama reforms, negara besar Russia, dikerat-kerat, jadi kecil dan berselerak dan buat seketika hilang suara dan sengat.

Putin muncul untuk memaksa rakyat berfikir, apakah halatuju Russia. Putin tahu, Russia tidak sehandal China menangani reforms. Putin tidak menganggap Russia terlalu lewat untuk kembali gagah.

Ada kelibat Gorbachev waktu mengurus reforms dalam negara Malaysia. Sudah ada yang sedar. Kini Selangor dan Khir Toyo bukan lagi jadi maskot atas nama keterbukaan demi kemajuan dan kelangsungan.

Sebahagian dari reforms yang dicanang untuk Malaysia dilihat tidak jujur. Ada juga yang menganggap reforms dicemari dengan dendam Team B untuk menghakis legacy Tun Mahathir. Reforms sedemikian adalah substandard!

Terima kasih.

2:29 AM

merujuk posting asal A Kadir Jasin Scribe dalam : Lift The Ban And Take RPK To Court A Kadir Jasin ...

Antara Malaysia dan Siam dari perspektif Raja, Tentera, Pemimpin dan Rakyat.

Berita dari gunung said...

Dato dan rakan pembaca.

Siam adalah negara berdaulat yang unik. Pengaruh raja meresapi kedalam masyarakat hingga ke akar umbi.

Selain itu, Tentera Siam telah memainkan peranan yang jelas dalam politik dan kerajaan. Bukan sekali dua, tentera jadi pencatur dalam kekalutan politik negara.

Dimasa-masa tertentu Raja Siam muncul menggaris halatuju. Raja kelihatan terasing tetapi dalam kekalutan, dirujuk untuk menghurai makna warna yang samar.

Setting negara kita ada sedikit kelainan. Raja kita dengan Raja Siam tidak sama. Tentera kita bukan pencatur. Manakala demonstrasi jalanan pula bukan budaya kita, kalau ada pun adalah kesan dari permainan politik Anwar.

Dalam suasana merdeka, biarlah sebarang perarakan hanya untuk menghayati erti kemerdekaan. Demonstrasi jalanan yang dijadikan medan bagi melayan sifat rakus dan gelojoh ahli politik tertentu wajar ditegah.

Rakyat telah diheret bersengkang mata, mendongak melihat kumat kamit mulut, hailer dan pembesar suara. Undi sudah dikira. Yang menang sudah diketahui.

Maka pemimpin politik harus bergerak dari situ. Dengan niat yang baik, negara akan kekal selamat. Manakala niat yang tidak baik, dendam yang kekal membara, dengki yang tak sudah-sudah, ditakuti pintu Kota Melaka akan dibuka dari dalam. Kelak anasir, musuh, dan petualang akan beraja di hati. Relakah kita terus jadi melukut?

Dengan semangat Kemerdekaan, negara Malaysia harus dipelihara sebaik mungkin. Rakyat jangan dijadikan habuan perang. Andai rakyat sangsi dengan keluhuran kepimpinan, maka PRU13 adalah wadah yang lebih sesuai.

Memacak dan mengibar bendera hanyalah terjemahan mudah kemerdekaan, yang lebih mendalam adalah semangat pemimpin untuk menjadikan negara dan rakyat benar-benar merdeka.

Saya yakin dalam barisan kepimpinan negara kini, masih ada yang waras dan mampu melihat lebih jauh dari yang nyata. Suara yang jujur harus juga diberi perhatian, walau telinga terasa sakit dan hati jadi pedih.

Terima kasih.

1:34 AM

merujuk posting asal Dato Ruhanie Ahmad kudakepang : KRISIS BERTERUSAN, PM THAI TEGAS TERUS MEMERINTAH

India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand: Asia Local Bond Preview

By Wes Goodman

Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The following events and economic reports may influence trading in Asian local-currency bonds today. Yields are from the previous session.

China: China Mobile Ltd., the world's biggest phone company by market value, said second-quarter profit increased 51 percent, more than analysts estimated, after cutting prices to attract users. The central bank said yesterday it would sell 3 billion yuan ($438.6 million) of six-month bills today.

The yield on the 3.92 percent bond due July 2011 fell 2 basis points to 3.78 percent, according to the China Interbank Bond Market. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

India: Inflation probably accelerated to 12.81 percent in the week ended Aug. 16, the fastest pace since June 1992, according to the median estimate of a Bloomberg News survey of economists. The government will release the figure at about 5 p.m. today in New Delhi.

The yield on the 8.24 percent bond due April 2018 was little changed at 8.89 percent, according to the central bank's trading system.

Indonesia: The government is marketing 6.23 trillion rupiah ($680.1 million) of five-year debt to individual investors. The offer will close tomorrow, according to Bhimantara Widyajala, a director at the Ministry of Finance. Indonesia yesterday sold 28-, 91-and 182-day bills and 28-day Islamic bills.

The yield on the 9 percent bond due in September 2018 rose 5 basis points to 12.11 percent, according to the Inter Dealer Market Association.

Malaysia: The economy grew 6 percent in the second quarter, versus 7.1 percent in the previous three months, according to the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Bank Negara Malaysia will report the figure at 6 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

The yield on the 4.24 percent bond due February 2018 rose 2 basis points to 4.70 percent, according to Bursa Malaysia Bhd.

Philippines: The central bank will increase its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage point to 6 percent today, according to 13 of 15 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Two predict a half-point jump to 6.25 percent. Gross domestic product growth probably slowed to 5 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, from 5.2 percent in the previous three months, a separate survey showed before the government reports the figure today.

The yield on the 5.875 percent note due January 2018 fell 9 basis points to 8.29 percent, according to the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

Singapore: Lim Hwee Hua, senior minister of state with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport, said yesterday that investors handling the city-state's money ``had actually taken some precautionary measures early in the downturn'' in the global economy. ``The downturns also offer opportunities for our agencies to invest in good quality assets at prices that are attractive.''

The yield on the 4 percent bond maturing September 2018 rose 1 basis point to 3.11 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

South Korea: The Finance Ministry is scheduled to announce its debt sales for September today. The government yesterday vowed to stem losses in the won amid concern its slump to the weakest in almost four years against the dollar will further fan inflation. ``The government cannot but worry about the recent won decline,'' said Choi Jong Ku, the finance ministry's key currency official.

The yield on the 5.25 percent bond due March 2013 fell 2 basis points to 5.91 percent, according to Korea Securities Dealers Association.

Sri Lanka: The central bank will sell a combined 2 billion rupees ($18.5 million) of debt due in 2010, 2011 and 2012 today.

The yield on the 16 percent bond due in April 2009 was little changed at 18.25 percent, according to Ceylinco Shriram Securities Ltd.

Taiwan: The index of leading indicators, a gauge of economic conditions three months ahead, fell 0.6 percent in July from the previous month, compared with a 0.4 percent decline in June, the government's Council for Economic Planning and Development said yesterday.

The yield on the 2.375 percent bond maturing in March 2018 was little changed at 2.53 percent, according to Gretai Securities Market.

Thailand: The central bank raised its benchmark interest rate for a second straight month yesterday to tame the fastest inflation in a decade. The Bank of Thailand increased its one- day bond repurchase rate by a quarter point to 3.75 percent, the central bank said in Bangkok.

The yield on the 5.125 percent bond due in March 2018 fell 11 basis points to 4.57 percent, according to the Thai Bond Market Association.

To contact the reporter on this story: Wes Goodman in Singapore at wgoodman@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 27, 2008 15:01 EDT

source: India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand: Asia Local Bond Preview
Bloomberg -

Malaysia-Brunei Reach Several Agreements on Overlapping Areas

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), Aug 27 Asia Pulse - Malaysia and Brunei have reached several agreements to resolve disputes on overlapping territories along the sea and land boundaries between the two countries, said Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tuesday.

He said that both countries would state the matters concerning the overlapping areas in an exchange of letters which would be signed soon.

Abdullah said this at a media conference after a four-eyed meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, in conjunction with the 12th Malaysia-Brunei Bilateral Conference, here.

The problem of the overlapping territories between Malaysia and Brunei involved territorial waters which are rich in oil and gas deposits in the border areas between the two countries and the land boundary in Limbang, Sarawak in Malaysia.

Following the dispute in the sea boundary, oil and gas exploration works in the area concerned had been put off to allow for negotiations to be held between the two countries.

The Prime Minister hoped that the signing of the letters of exchange would be carried out very soon in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei or any other city in Malaysia.

He said specific suggestion on the matter would be presented to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.

Abdullah was also asked whether the exchange of the letters between the two countries would mean that problems over the border dispute had been resolved.

"If the letters were signed, it would be an indication that the matters discussed had received mutual agreement, so once they are agreed upon, we can say that they have been resolved," the Prime Minister said.

Asked whether national oil corporation, Petronas, would be allowed to continue operations in the areas disputed by the two countries, Abdullah said it depended on what Brunei and Malaysia would agree upon.

He said that his discussion with the Sultan of Brunei also touched on the Frequent Travellers Card (FTC) which was launched last year to boost ties between the peoples of the two countries.

He said he and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah had agreed that the use of the FTC be promoted and used by more Malaysian and Brunei nationals.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister will accompany the Sultan of Brunei to attend a briefing on Iskandar Malaysia, the economic development corridor in southern Peninsular Malaysia.

(BERNAMA-OANA)

source: Malaysia-Brunei Reach Several Agreements on Overlapping Areas
Yahoo, Thailand

Malaysian seen shares sidelined ahead of Anwar vote

Thomson Financial News
08.25.08, 9:46 PM ET

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Malaysian shares are expected to trade in a narrow range on Tuesday as voting starts in a by-election in which former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to win a seat in parliament.

'I think the market is going to be very quiet with the by-election,' said one trader.

The benchmark Kuala Lumpur Stock Index <.KLSE> closed at 1078.73 on Monday, marginally lower than Friday's 1,085.60 points and the index has lost around 25 percent this year, due in part to political concerns.

Polling stations opened in the by-election at 0800 (0000 GMT) and the result should be out at around 2100.

Political analysts say that Anwar needs to match his wife's 13,000-plus majority in the election in the constituency she vacated to allow him to run so as to be able to stand a chance of ousting the government.

Palm oil stocks are likely trade sideways after the crude oil price staged only a small recovery from Friday's big falls, traders said.

Malaysia's third largest listed planter, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd , told Reuters in an interview on Monday that it planned to grow oil palm on an additional 10,000 hectares land every year, mostly in Indonesia, to meet global demand for the vegetable oil [nKLR225075].

The market is currently oversupplied and demand is falling and palm oil prices have plunged 40 percent since its March peak.

click here: Malaysian seen shares sidelined ahead of Anwar vote
Forbes, NY

Opportunities in Malaysian Tourism Industry (2007-2009)

a new market research report

The Malaysian tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, thanks to increasing promotional activities, growing MICE industry and rising level of personal disposable income that are fuelling growth into the country’s tourism industry. Also, being a preferred medical tourism destination and politically stable, the country has become a more profitable tourism industry.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the present andfuture prospects of the Malaysian tourism industry. It focuses on different tourism parameters, like inbound & outbound tourism, expenditure by inbound & outbound tourists, accommodation & transportation facilities and medical tourism. The report will help clients to evaluate the opportunities and factors critical to the success of tourism industry in Malaysia.

Key Findings

Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are important sources of visitors for Malaysia. Beyond ASEAN, tourist arrivals from China and India will remain an important influence throughout the forecast period (2008-2012) as the majority of Chinese tend to weigh their spending towards consumer purchases as opposed to luxury hotel accommodation.
The promotion of Education Tourism will continue to be expanded to expedite the development of Malaysia as a preferred destination for international students. The projected foreign exchange earnings from this potential source of growth are estimated at RM 900 Million by 2010.
It is expected that expenditure by international tourists in Malaysia will increase at a CAGR of 6.63% during the forecasted period.
Increasing disposable income in Malaysia will open the opportunities for both outbound and domestic tourism. It is expected that per head disposable income in the country will increase at a CAGR of 5.06% during 2008-2012.
It is expected that MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) industry will be one of the major contributors to the Malaysian tourism industry.

Key Issues & Facts Analyzed

How is the ASEAN tourism industry performing?
What is the position of Malaysian tourism industry in the ASEAN tourism industry?
What are the emerging trends in the tourism sector in Malaysia?
What is the future outlook of the tourism industry?
What are the Key driving forces for the Malaysian tourism industry?
What opportunities exist for the industry?
What are the challenges for the industry?
How is the market affected by other factors prevailing in the economy?

Research Methodology Used

Information Sources
Information has been sourced from books, newspapers, trade journals, and white papers, industry portals, government agencies, trade associations, monitoring industry news and developments, and through access to more than 3000 paid databases.

Analysis Method
The analysis methods include ratio analysis, historical trend analysis, linear regression analysis using software tools, judgmental forecasting, and cause and effect analysis.

www.companiesandmarkets.com/Summary-Market-Report/Opportunities-

Malaysia: Why banks shun agro sector

Kuala Lumpur: Risk factors and lack of marketing strategies are among the reasons why commercial banks are reluctant to give out loans for agro-based projects, said Agro Bank chairman Datuk Mohamed Salleh Bajuri.

He said poor marketing led to agricultural produce being damaged before it reached the market place.

"How can these banks give out loans to them (agro-based projects) when they find that agricultural produce is always damaged as it reaches the market late. As such, farmers lose money. Definitely, the banks lose confidence in them... we cannot blame them (banks)," he said.

He was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's remarks that some banks were still doubtful about giving out loans for agro-based projects.

Mohamed Salleh said if the marketing network was efficient, excess produce could be sent more quickly to places where the demand was high, thus enabling it to be sold systematically.

He said fluctuation in the prices of agricultural produce resulted in farmers not getting consistent earnings.

"If the price drops, they (farmers) cannot afford to repay their creditors, what more if they are operating on a small-scale," he said.

Mohamed Salleh said those involved in the agricultural sector also lacked initiatives when confronted with the dumping of agricultural produce especially fruits.

Commercial banks were also concerned about weather uncertainties as they affected the cultivation of crops, he added.

He said to win the confidence of commercial banks, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) had to device efficient marketing strategies to ensure that agriculture produce reached the market on time and this would prevent farmers from losing money.

On Agro Bank, he said it gave out 70 per cent of its loans to farmers through the padi credit scheme, graduate agroentrepreneur scheme, food production credit scheme, and bumiputera industrial and trade community scheme.

Why banks shun agro sector
Daily Express, Malaysia

BEDB welcomes Malaysian delegates

Brunei Darussalam is currently experiencing the 'Third Wave of Investment' with the establishment of a world-class methanol plant at the Sungai Liang Industrial Park, as part of the emergence of downstream industries in the country.

The Acting Chairman of BEDB, Dato Paduka Timothy Ong said this during his welcoming remarks for 14 Malaysian industry players in construction services who are currently in the country for a three-day exploratory visit.

He also added that Brunei is actively looking into various investment opportunities such as ICT and eco-tourism among others, beyond the country's most dominant industry - oil and gas - and this proves to be the most opportune time for foreign investors to partake in the various potential economic ventures.

"These three - The Third Wave, The Ninth RKN (Ninth National Development Plan) and faster approaches in decision making - reasons are why it is an opportune time for you to visit Brunei and for us to give this dialogue as to where opportunity lies for collaboration between Brunei and Malaysia," Dato Paduka Timothy further stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of BEDB, Vincent Cheong gave an enlightening presentation on Brunei's economic opportunities, following the highly-informative remark by BEDB's Acting Chairman.

The Malaysian delegation, led by Tan Sri Dato' Ir Haji Zaini bin Omar, Head of the Special Unit for Overseas Project under the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia, is in the country to explore business opportunities in infrastructure and construction projects in Brunei with the hope to promote and increase the level of participation of Malaysian construction companies in the development of this country.

The delegation comprised of senior government officials from relevant agencies and members of the Malaysian international registered contractors including MATRADE, Malaysia's national trade promotion agency.

The Special Unit is a one stop agency which is the main coordinator for all Malaysian agencies involved in the export of construction services, as well as industry players such as contractors, consultants, suppliers, developers, financiers and investors. Its key role includes promoting, encouraging and supporting the export of Malaysian construction services and expertise abroad.

click here: BEDB welcomes Malaysian delegates
Borneo Bulletin, Brunei Darussalam -

Shahrir! wanna try pakistani's way?

I should not ask Shahrir too often as if it is his sole responsibility to handle inflation in this country. But folks in general look at inflation in a very crude way, how much is take-home pay, how many things you can buy with it, and how much you can save. very crude, i agree but that suffice to survive through this turbulence.

I ask Shahrir because his mask is "integrity". He flashed the mask at the slightest disagreement with his understanding of integrity, fundamentals and principle. He swapped BN symbol for key, lembu or something for one little by election down south just to prove the point. Parliment saw his wits when he relinquish the burden of being chief backbencher. He likes something and people dont, therefore he quit. For that matter, shahrir quits more than once through his public life.

Then came ECM Libra. Definitely he shouted. But again, he was a different person then. He learned how to keep quiet when needed. He shut both his big mouth and the case. What a miss, a terrible miss. Otherwise he will quit again.... But of course he send few boys to court, you know that little story about buying spanners, screwdrivers, cellotapes, pencils, pens hammers etc. So sad, the aftermath of Direct Nego is hell to bystanders, while the drivers have right of way in a toll free highway. Yes, accidents do happen.

Then the current price hike. We look at Shahrir as saviour. But he cant talk much, since not all things done in thios country come from his mind and mouth. The reality of 4th floor boys is beginning to make sense to Shahrir and folks.

Shahrir, look at Pakistan for a change. But of course they are different, too eastern in nature, because some of us find it necessary to look west where skins are fairer.


Benazir Income Support Programme : 3.5 million households on monthly basis in order to mitigate inflation-stricken poorest segments of the society in the wake of an unprecedented hike in food items and petroleum products.

"The government has identified and given priority to unemployed, widows and disabled persons in the scheme in order to give them relief by providing cash subsidy to the tune of

Rs 1,000 per month in order

to mitigate the rising prices of food items and the POL products," a top official of the government told The News here on Saturday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is going to formally launch the Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme within two weeks, probably when he would address the nation for giving his point of view on the first 100-day performance of the incumbent regime. ... Benazir Income Support Programme The News - International, Pakistan


BERITADARIGUNUNG: SHAHRIR oh SHAHRIR


Further reading:

1. Benazir Income Support Programme
The News - International, Pakistan

2. Food crisis gaping at Pakistan
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain

3. Editorial: Unfamiliar challenges and ‘leadership vacuum’
Daily Times, Pakistan

4. Sir Abdul Sattar Edhi fears bloody revolution if poverty not ...
Pakistan Daily, Pakistan

5. Govt making efforts to stabilise country’s economy: Naveed Qamar
Associated Press of Pakistan, Pakistan
6.
PPP govt committed to overcome crises facing country: Raja Riaz
Associated Press of Pakistan, Pakistan

7. The Real Crisis in Pakistan
Foreign Policy In Focus

8. Dangerous Ground
TIME

9. At 100 days, Pakistan government in disarray
The Kindred Times, UT