Bighouse Madness

Shamsubahrin charge ‘diversion’ from NFC scandal?

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:03:00 +0000

The main plan was to bribe the police but with the NFC fiasco being in public domain . A "mess" was how the Auditor General had described it , and a trailed of misappropriation by the NFC management unearthed daily by the alternative media for public consumption , no police officer in his/her right frame of mind would dare take the risk of accepting any " kaotiam " money . Certainly not from a herdsman tending to exclusive " lembus " residing in plush condominiums downtown , Bangsar .

Alas , the initial plot was a total failure . The cops on the other hand were calculative and viewed all options . One was the opportunity to seek reconciliation from all the adversed publicity the department was receiving . A rarity at its most perfect of timing . To make worthy their " sworn " oath of duty , for a change.

The men in blue , as to the manner of how events were unfolding knew it made perfect sense to not simply undermine or hogwashed the whistle-blower(s) and exposures made that were consistently supported by documentary as well as physical evidence which has led to the opening of one can of worms after the other.

Owing to these circumstances and as things stood , it was the most opportune period to play to the gallery and side society instead .

Hence , neither hesitation nor fickleness were to be the order of the day and to not make it a subject of an "after taught" maneuver by a highly skeptical public , resolved as the dawning of an impending new year , they highlighted the attempt of this alleged bribery.

But then again this Dato' Samshubahrin fella is a running dog for who? if not those who are Sayalazat lady minister's hubby , children and associates , all of whom are either powerful or backed by the powers that be , but with a major setback so hazardous , it was simply too unjustifiable to be swept under the carpet even for an entity specifically endowed with the crafty art of deceitfulness .
Hazardous as it is , salvaging has to be done , nonetheless . Notwithstanding that , the total disregard for accountability has dragged the entire government machinery into hot soup

Realizing Plan A had not only gone into tatters but almost got their protruding ugly asses paraded out in the open , the masterminds behind this silly idea had to come-up with something new and fast .

So , Plan B is hatched . However for the plan to run its course (convincing or not is another matter to be dealt with in due time ) ; seemingly , the top echelon of the PDRM hire-achy had to be persuaded to stretch their cooperation a little further and that is to charge Samshubahrin for the crime of cheating the NFC boss . A claimed , with all due respect is even sillier .

The latest twist and turn of events conjured-up by the authorities , has undoubtedly left the public with more questions than answers.

The most valid of em all would be , Why have the PDRM or MACC not charge the suspect for attempted bribery or better still , charge the owners of the Feedlot for embezzlement of public funds? - Danildaud

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

December 31, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The cheating charge against Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail is an attempt to divert attention away from the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal, Pakatan Rakyat leaders claimed today.The opposition pact leaders added that allegations of misappropriating public funds linked to the national cattle farming project remain unanswered.
The case has been linked to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family. Her husband, Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, is the NFC chairman and chief executive while their children help run the business.
Shamsubahrin, 45, was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with cheating Mohamad Sallehout of RM1.76 million in consultation fees by offering the latter fraudulent advisory services.
“The charge brought against Shamsubahrin Ismail shocks the nation and will go down in Malaysian history as the most ridiculous diversion ever attempted.
“The NFC scandal has reached the temperature that the public demands immediate action to recover all the public money spent and bring those responsible for the misappropriation to be accountable,” PKR chief strategist Rafizi Ramli (picture) told The Malaysian Insider.
He pointed out that the evidence disclosed to the public so far had been “compelling” and and that it has not been denied “even once” by the NFC, Shahrizat, or any other Umno leader from the ruling coalition.
“That Umno leadership thinks they can make Malaysians believe that the NFC leadership is a victim of a fraud perpetrated by Shamsubaharin, just proves that Umno has lost the plot.
“By the strength of this evidence alone, in other countries with a functioning rule of law (this) would be sufficient to bring Datuk Seri Shahrizat and her family to justice,” added the PKR leader.
Rafizi said that PKR would pursue the issue and make sure that the people responsible for approving the project and soft loans are brought to justice.
“PKR will make new revelation next week on NFC - if Umno refuses the rule of law to judge those responsible, then let the court of public opinion judges Umno and its leadership for its failure to act on NFC.”
DAP central executive committee (CEC) member Liew Chin Tong said that the charge against Shamsubahrin did not provide any explanation to how federal funds for a cattle project were used to purchase luxury condominiums.
“By charging him it does not mean the original case has gone away.
“Morally, politically something has to be done. Allegations on abuse of funds have to be answered,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
The Bukit Bendera MP said that the government should make public the papers and documents relating to NFCorp’s cattle project, and that complete transparency was the way to solve the debacle.
Police are investigating NFCorp for alleged criminal breach of trust, following accusations by PKR that the company had misused millions in federal funds meant for a cattle feedlot scheme.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced last week it would investigate claims that NFCorp had misappropriated government funds, despite previously saying it would not probe the matter.
The MACC later seized a computer CPU and several documents during a raid on NFCorp’s headquarters in Solaris Mont Kiara.
PKR first latched onto the issue after the RM250 million publicly-funded cattle project — run by Mohamad Salleh, husband to federal minister Shahrizat - made it into the pages of this year’s Auditor-General’s Report for failing to meet production targets. The opposition party has since made several revelations relating to the scandal, including NFCorp’s purchase of two multi-million ringgit condominium units in Bangsar and alleged use of project funds to Shahrizat and her family’s personal expenses and trips abroad.
It also claimed there was a transfer of resources to unrelated companies in Singapore, as well as the purchase a Mercedes-Benz CLS350 for RM534,622 and two plots of land in Putrajaya’s Precinct 10 for RM3,363,507.
The latest disclosure by PKR, made last Tuesday, further alleged that some RM10 million had been diverted towards the purchase of a luxury condominium unit in Singapore for Shahrizat’s family.
Shahrizat tried deflecting attention by stating she’s “only the wife” of the national cattle farming project’s chairman and had nothing to do with the NFC.
The senator has faced calls to quit as minister from within Umno, including from influential former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Battle Of The Christmas Songs 2011

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:31:00 +0000

Battle Of The Christmas Songs 2011

So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Here at RealMusic Blog Towers, we’ve listened to a whole bunch of new music this year – but frankly, what’s new music when it’s now considered OK to play Wham!’s Last Christmas at crazy volumes? Nowt, that’s what. However, it’s not all about Mariah, Wham! and The Pogues, despite what radio stations may tell you. Because every year a new crop of Christmas hopefuls appear at the festive pop pedestal, and it’s up to you, dear reader, to decide whether to let them through or kick them into touch. Last year we had Coldplay, Train and Hurts. This year’s candidates, make yourself known…

Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas
If there was one record that truly didn’t need to be overhauled this season, it’s the Mariah classic All I Want For Christmas Is You. The original has it all – a coy Mariah, a sweet sentiment and a catchy chorus. But modern times call for modernisation – and that means wheeling in the big guns. Or Justin Bieber. And so we have Mariah trotting out the first verse in a skimpy Santa outfit, then Bieber screeching verse two while hamming it up to camera and clutching his chest like he’s in pain. Oh dear god, make it stop. Add in shameless product placement and a video so sickly sweet we’re still picking it out of our teeth and whoever’s responsible for this should be taken out and made to have dinner with Jeremy Clarkson. Oh, and did we mention the chilling bit where Bieber climbs aboard Mariah’s sleigh and they attempt some sexual chemistry? No, thought not.
To watch, click here

Bryan Adams – Merry Christmas
For Bryan’s Christmas cracker he’s gone the whole hog, coming up with a tune that rhymes ‘choir’ with ‘fire’ and one that has sleigh bells jingling throughout – admirable. Couple that with the fact that the video is honest-to-god-real-life footage of a mini Bryan and his brother toddling around in 1961 and you don’t need a roaring fire to warm your stone cold heart – just watch the video and coo. The fact that the song’s a load of ol’ Christmas trite is beside the point. Honestly, you’re so picky sometimes.
To watch, click here
TOWIE – Last Christmas
I’ll admit it – I’m a TOWIE virgin – even though I’m originally from Essex. Perhaps that’s why. So from my limited perspective, this seems to be a group of orange people talking about Christmas vajazzles and having a reem Christmas while singing badly over the top of a Casio-keyboard backing track. I’m assuming this could definitely make the top ten – think of it as like being on the 10.33pm from Fenchurch Street to Basildon on the Friday before Christmas. No, we wouldn’t recommend that either.

X Factor Finalists – Wishing On A Star
Ther X Factor finalists are all here – croaky Janet, fat Craig, moustachioed Marcus, super-shiny Misha B. And at the big key change towards the end, they’re joined by jumpered-up X Factor alumni JLS and One Direction. There are also sick children in the video, smiling even though they have tubes coming out of their mouths. If you buy this, sick children will not die. However, musically, inside, you will. It’s completely up to you.
To watch, click here

MACC Probe on NFC: Another Political Sandiwara in the Making?

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Duuh!! MACC might as well bury their heads in cow dung… no one expected them to act from the word go and now with this about turn – is like telling Malaysians since you guys are adamant on digging the whole scam up onto the surface, you leave us with little choice but to come out with more damage control measures… This is why I have said earlier , a massive street protest would be a better solution.
______________
danildaud,
Soon the Peaceful Assembly which has been approved by Dewan Rakyat and endorsed by Dewan Negara will be become law after Royal Accent. That option is going to be difficult as protestors will be violating the law.–Din Merican

danildaud - December 22, 2011 at 8:38 pm

“Anti-Corruption Commission has announced that a special team will be formed to investigate claims that UMNO Minister Shahrizat Jalil’s family had squandered public funds allocated to the RM250 million NFC cattle livestock project on personal items and luxurious assets.”

Squandered is the key word here… tell me does this MACC-chief knows what he is saying?

Yea , the rakyat have been short change big time with the promised of a cheaper source of venison meat … Nay , the funds were never squandered since its release. Embezzled if you like but not squandered..
If there is any truth of Sayalazat’s alleged promiscuous past…spreading her legs this time round will not be such a good idea no-more . The flesh has turned from raw , fresh to rotten..

danildaud - December 22, 2011 at 9:14 pm

Yup! Dato , thanks for the reminder…but then again the protest could be leveled at this bill as well.

danildaud - December 22, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Danildaud,
I don’t know if anybody in MACC knows what they are doing but I do know that the language used suggests that Sharizat is being set up for a ‘no case to answer’ before the issue even gets to our courts.

‘Squander” is not part of any legal language to refer to crimes committed under the country’s Penal Code.

Mr Bean - December 22, 2011 at 9:56 pm

Soon the Peaceful Assembly which has been approved by Dewan Rakyat and endorsed by Dewan Negara will be become law after Royal Accent. That option is going to be difficult as protestors will be violating the law.–Din Merican
Dato,
Has Malaysia changed so much after I left that even our Agong talks with an accent?

Mr Bean - December 22, 2011 at 10:01 pm

Haha! cant help picking on the Dato eeh…. yup! Bean , precise interpretation of the language used and the hidden motives…

danildaud - December 22, 2011 at 11:07 pm

MACC Probe on NFC

December 22, 2011

MACC Probe on NFC: Another Political Sandiwara in the Making?

by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Amid signs that Prime Minister Najib Razak’s UMNO is fast unraveling, hit by massive graft and infighting amongst its top leadership, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has announced that a special team will be formed to investigate claims that UMNO Minister Shahrizat Jalil’s family had squandered public funds allocated to the RM250 million NFC cattle livestock project on personal items and luxurious assets.

However, instead of appeasing public anger, all eyes are now on the drama at play in UMNO. While Shahrizat has hinted she was ready to quit, it is unlikely that she will allow herself to be railroaded or be made an easy scapegoat of by her own party mates.

All eyes are now on how Najib, himself the subject of a probe by the French government over allegations of having taken a 114 million euros or RM570 million kickback from French naval giant DCN for the purchase of 2 Scorpene submarines, will deal with the issue. Najib is also the UMNO President.

“Tell me, which UMNO leader does not have problem?” was Shahrizat’s sharp retort when asked to comment whether she would heed the growing calls to resign, as reported in the Sin Chew newspaper a few days ago.

Lip service expected from the MACC

Indeed, public cynicism is inevitable given that the MACC had previously passed the buck to the police despite receiving reports from Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

The Najib administration lost further credibility when Deputy Inspector General of Police Khalid Bakar publicly declared there were no elements of criminal breach of trust during the recent UMNO General Assembly. Khalid, often called a stooge for the UMNO-led government, was accused of ‘play-acting’ in a bid to save the UMNO leaders embarrassment.

“We have acted accordingly by collecting evidence and statements since the issue was reported in the Auditor-General’s Report. A large part of the issues brought up in the latest complaint (against NFC) had already been acted upon,” a defensive-sounding MACC investigations director Mustafar Ali said in a statement released on Thursday.

The MACC was also quick to stress it could not divulge details of investigations as stipulated under Section 29(4) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009. “We call on the parties to give their full co-operation by not politicising the issues which could affect our investigation,” Mustafar added.

Given the tone of the statement, it was clear to political watchers that the MACC was not going to do much to uncover the dirt in NFC or National Feedlot Centre, a project aimed to raise local supply of beef to up to 40% of consumption and keep prices affordable.

The project was awarded to Shahrizat’s husband, Salleh Ismail, and her children in 2006 by then then Agriculture minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the prodding of UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin, the son-in-law of former premier Abdullah Badawi. Najib also played a part in approving the project to Shahrizat’s family.

Another shameless sandiwara

Cynicism is high that this was the latest ‘sandiwara’ or drama enacted by UMNO to tell Shahrizat to quit her Cabinet post and take responsibility before general elections are held next year.

No one is expecting any major change in the attitude of the top UMNO leaders, who are renowned for their corruption-tainted records – as Shahrizat herself alluded to.

“Both Shahrizat and UMNO are shameless. The issue is why such a loan was given to her family when she was holding the position of a Cabinet minister. It is impossible they could have got the loan if she were not a minister. She and her family have deprived needy and hardworking Malaysians from the benefit of the fund (meant to supply everyday Malaysians with a cheap source of beef),” PKR vice president N Surendran told Malaysia Chronicle.

“It is also pointless to blame Shahrizat alone. UMNO bears the biggest blame. Benefiting cronies and families from public funds is a central part of UMNO’s political culture.”

Victim of the Mahathir legacy of corruption?

Furthermore, those who have called on her to quit before she is “chased out” include former premier Mahathir Mohamad, notorious for defining and expanding UMNO’s feudal system of politics where the ruling elite have carte blanche over almost every aspect of economic and political life in Malaysia.

In the recently released Global Financial Integrity report, Malaysia was identified to be the 4th most corrupt nation in the world, racking up a total of US$338 billion (RM1.08 trillion) in illicit outflows over the first decade of the century.

GFI also said the Malaysian increase was “at a scale seen in few Asian countries.” In January, it had reported that RM930 billion flowed out of Malaysia from 2000 to 2008, growing to RM218 billion per year from an initial RM71 billion in that period.

“This report should be a wake-up call to world leaders that more must be done to address these harmful outflows,” GFI director Raymond Baker said in a press release.

Upon release of the GFI’s report in January, it was telling that one of the first UMNO leaders to cast doubt on the renowned Washington-based body was Mukhriz Mahathir, the youngest son of the former PM. Now 86, Mahathir had ruled Malaysia for 22 years and is widely believed to be the one who has salted away the biggest fortune at taxpayers’ expense.

Malaysia Chronicle

Open Letter from India to Mahathir and UMNO

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Madir qualifies to be a villain in Bollywood movies.. he has all what it takes…this is what is being said…no need to read in between the lines.

Okay..no qualms over his point of view of how far democracy ought be adhered to before arm-twisting tactics is administered..this , he has acclaimed -” set a bench mark” already …now it is up to the present and future generation of Malaysians to charter where they wanna go from here…

What strikes most people or irks them is not his over zealousness in preaching his view on righteousness and a just society which he has done countless of times every opportunity that came his way….some even construed this as a voice of dissent that came from a leader of a miniature nation who was bold enough to throw a challenged at the big boys gracing the world stage but the years he was in office , tainted by the introduction of cronyism…nepotism… were detestable especially at the local front and forever synonym whenever his name creeps-up …

Of late…isolated as he is…has acquired another aspect of his hidden talent that of a hatemonger-er…all for the sake of preserving his legacy and for what?

danildaud - December 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm

Open Letter from India to Mahathir and UMNO

by Siddharthya Swapan Roy (12-14-11)

14 December, 2011

Dear Mr Mahathir,

A couple of days back I woke up to Indian newspaper reports which quoted you as saying that India’s democracy is a hindrance to its development and if we did away with the nuisance of democracy we will be become developed (1).

Well Sir, it is heartening to see your concern about India’s future. Especially now that our own elected government has orphaned us, someone from the outside caring about our development sounds so very nice. But you see Sir, your (apparently) good intentions notwithstanding, your advice to Indians is, well how should I put it…ill-advised. I’m not really sure if you know much about the history of our nation. Don’t get me wrong.

Know Your Facts

Going by facts like the general absence of news from Malaysia’s newspapers; the absence of anything but song and dance in your electronic media; the absence of bookstores that sell knowledgeable books (for example, the ones from which you can learn about history and not how to get rich in six steps); the abundance of malls and the stark absence of libraries; the abundance of coaching centers that can make masseurs, air hostesses and a host of quick fix technicians and the relative absence of centres of higher learning especially in the social sciences; and above all the fact that this insanely consumerist and hedonist Malaysia was made under your tutelage, makes me doubt your knowledge of the history of India or any nation for that matter.

Understand the Story of Indian Independence

So allow me to apprise you of the story of our Independence. We won Independence from colonial rulers waging a long and torturous battle. A battle that sought to replace a discriminatory, unjust and violent regime that had enslaved huge populations with one which was based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.

India was home then, as is now and as will always be, to an immense diversity of people who spoke different tongues, prayed to different Gods, wore different clothes and had different political beliefs. These diverse people said to each other that – we, despite our differences, will strive to live and flourish together and make a sovereign nation which will be democratic, socialist and secular. We did not anywhere say that we want to be Malaysia or for that matter China or the USA.

India treats all its citizen as equal

We want to become a nation with a system that treats all its citizens as equal unlike your country that officially accords special rights to Malay Muslims calling them first class citizens while relegating thousands of people of Tamil, Chinese and other ethnic origins. Despite the fact that they have known no other land other than Malaysia as their own, you denigrate them with the tag of being second class citizens.

Meritocracy and Hard Work, Not Identity-based Cartelisation

We try to work towards having a system wherein a person will grow according to his merit and hard work earning what he has rightfully earned. You may be surprised to know that here in India making cartels based on identity, even if under the name of bumiputra or son-of-the-soil, is called cartelisation and is looked down upon by most of us.

Here promoting the selective interests of one’s self or that of his kin is called corruption and nepotism and not, as you call it, development. We are in fact fighting tooth and nail to arrest the scourge of corruption and (you’ll be shocked to know) get the guilty punished.

In India, No One is Above the Law

Here in India no one is above the law and many a times powerful public figures go to jail for being corrupt or subverting the law. Now that we are at it, Sir, I’m sure it would be interesting to know what the minorities of you countries have to say – especially the jailed and beaten ones – about the development-democracy debate.

In fact Sir, your idea of development is largely at odds with many of us here. What you did to the tropical forests and water-bodies of Malaysia (that is raze vast acres of them into oblivion making way for big bucks palm oil plantations and piggeries and so on) would cause huge outrage amongst many of us who are looking for sustainable development.

We are yet to be unanimously convinced that making cemented roads – however broad, lining them with buildings – even if glass covered and glossy, putting cars on them – however fast they are– is a substitute for our valued bio-diversity. Many of us are very convinced that displacing huge populations of native people for useless things like racing tracks is a blot on the word ‘development’.

There are many of us who find it a shameful and cruel hypocrisy that in your country can have abundant openly advertised sex tourism and still whip women for being licentious! Thanks to the culture of reading here, many of us know of your penchant for cruelty in your personal career. A career during which you enacted despotic and violent acts at times in the name of (your contorted version of Islam) and at times in the name of security and national interest.

Malaysia’s Internal Security Act, 1960

We could recount how you rose to power annihilating huge numbers of your opponents and stayed there for over two decades continuing your devious rule using tactics and schemes which are far beyond Machiavelli. Many of us know about your vile Internal Security Act 1960, which you used to crush political opposition jailing and killing them with impunity and putting in place a frail and near sham democracy placing the entire nation under a one man rule of the UNMO for over two decades.

You will note that in the essay above I have used words like “most of us” “many of us” and have tried to stay away form absolute claims. Besides the age old Indian practice of accommodating different opinions, it is meant to recognise that there are people in this country too who think like you and will have applauded you for saying what you did.

They too think that roads are all that are important and not the humans which walk on them or the ones that sleep beside them. They have misconstrued the word development as development of personal wealth and that this ‘development’ is a holy cow and everything including the rights and lives of fellow humans is a lesser priority. Their money power helps them buy a lot of print space and electronic bandwidth so they may appear like the majority, but thankfully the truth is they aren’t.

Development through Increasing Democracy

The majority of us recognise and are willing to admit – and even discuss at length – that there are problems in our nation – including bad roads. But they’ll quickly add that we intend to solve those not by lessening democracy but by increasing it.

1. Speech on December 2 Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi

The author is a freelance writer and activist based in Maharashtra. siddharthyaroy@gmail.com

Umno needs help for voter support, party leaders admit

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:01:00 +0000

Umno is at the brink of extinction , grass root support has dwindled tremendously mainly due to the present crop of MTs spearheading the party . Prime Minister Najib is confronted with the inevitable reality , the flaws caused by imprudence on the part of an umno leadership that, throughout the years have been offered something precious but are unable to appreciate its worth . A valuable gift of governing the nation presented by the people to a group of self-serving dissidents who respond by abusing or defiling it. Up against a brick wall , Prime Minister Najib should pay solace and be reminded of an ancient phrase which is still current today. " Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest haply they trample them under " - Danil Daud

Umno needs help for voter support, party leaders admit

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal and Clara Chooi

November 22, 2011

Dr Mahathir warned Umno that keeping Perkasa at arm’s length may cost it the key Malay vote. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Umno needs to be “calculative” and befriend as many groups and organisations as possible to gain voter support in time for the upcoming polls, party leaders have said. Top Umno leaders said the party could not afford to be “picky” about which groups to align itself with, and that everything must be done with only one goal in mind: winning the next election.
Some appeared to agree with remarks made by former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, who said the party could not afford to make enemies of groups like Perkasa if it wanted to regain crucial Malay votes.
“We need to be calculative with whom to associate ourselves with; the criteria is those who can bring more support to the party,” Tangga Batu MP Datuk Idris Haron told The Malaysian Insider.
“Anything we do must have a political dividend.”
The Umno supreme council member said there was no point ignoring or marginalising certain groups when these could help Umno gain voter support, especially among the Malays.
“We cannot be too particular. What is important is that we win the elections,” he added.
Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said that Umno had over the years proven that it fought for not just the Malays but for other races as well.
“Umno is the single largest party and it’s the backbone of the government. So whatever we say will impact the nation,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
The Umno leader said that although Malays should always be prioritised, the party needed to be mindful of its actions as these could affect the future of Barisan Nasional (BN).
“We are friendly to everybody,” said Abdul Rahman.
Another Umno leader, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, said that it was crucial for Umno to cosy up to groups like Perkasa, and that such a move would strengthen Malay support for Umno before the upcoming polls.
“Yes, we need to be friendly to Perkasa, but Umno also needs to be friendly to everybody,” he added.
Umno is heading into what is likely to be its last annual assembly before a general election expected early next year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is said to need a marked improvement from the last polls to retain his position and only a return of BN’s customary two-thirds majority of Parliament can guarantee he remains in office.
BN ceded 82 federal seats and four state governments to the opposition in the landmark March 2008 election.

Pro-BN online users our new army, says Najib

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:09:00 +0000

Pro-BN online users our new army, says Najib

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

November 20, 2011

Datuk Seri Najib hails social media users in the country, calling them BN's 'new army' - file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak today voiced his unconditional support towards pro-Barisan Nasional bloggers and social media users, calling them Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “new army.”
The BN chief said that the online world is the new battlefront between the opposition and BN and that many people now visited websites, portals and blogs as a means to access information.
“Barisan Nasional recognises you all, social media practitioners. You are our fighters, our new army,” Najib said today after launching 1 Malaysia Social Media Convention here.
The prime minister said that BN leaders and members need to be able to adapt to changing times by becoming affluent with social media if it wanted to remain relevant.
Social media has become increasingly important politically with 11.3 million Malaysians on Facebook in the middle of the year, a figure that continues to grow.
Najib told attendees here, mostly pro-BN bloggers that they need to explain to Malaysians online of the government’s efforts and successes and also to combat the “lies and half-truths” of the opposition.
“This is the role of the online warrior, who will go to the ground online using their blackberries, laptops, Ipads.
“If we cannot tackle this new wave, we will be swept away,” said Najib.
He said that he himself was an active online user and strived to keep abreast with the latest technological innovations.
As an example, Najib said that he recorded a live recording of himself during his recent Haj pilgrimage using his Iphone 4 and it was broadcast to the public on national television.
“If we cannot defend ourselves against the opposition, by default we will lose,” added the PM.
Also present at the function was Dr Novandri Hasan Bari, a Penang Umno leader and blogger known for his attacks against the Penang government.
One of the convention’s committee members, P. Kamalanathan told a news conference later that the event today attracted almost 2,000 participants.
The Hulu Selangor MP said that the convention aimed among other things to promote good ethics in blogging, tweeting as well as Facebooking.
A recent survey by global information and analytics provider Nielsen last month found that Malaysians spend on average of 20 hours online each week.
Nielsen’s analysis covered 1, 321 frequent digital users in Malaysia who used the Internet for four weeks in October

Its A Cow .....Its A Condo ...... Its Sayalazat Lady Minister

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:01:00 +0000

16th November 2011

The infamous “It’s A Bird … It’s A Plane … It’s Superman” tag, referring to the superhero who wears his red underwear outside, is here again. However, since this is a Malaysian version, the superhero’s adventure would undergo a total re-engineering. It would be a blockbuster. It could even wake Christopher Reeve up from his grave. It would most likely thriller than Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Of course the new superhero is Shahrizat (instead of Superman), Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
The National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal couldn’t come at a better time when PM Najib Razak was getting ready to call a snap election. Shahrizat was supposed to be Najib’s “Iron Lady Minister”, the same way Rafidah was during Mahathir’s premiership. Unfortunately unlike Rafidah who didn’t lose her seat to become a minister, Shahrizat lost hers and has to be made a Senator to become a back-door Minister. Also, unlike Rafidah who wisely invested most of her “wealth” overseas, particularly in United Kingdom, Shahrizat thought it was a magnificent idea to invest in a RM10 million luxury condo in upmarket Bangsar.

National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) was suposed to be a High Impact Project under Ninth Malaysia Plan with the objective of attaining 40% self sufficiency for beef production by 2010. But going by the scandal revelations, it seems someone has hijacked the RM250 million (soft-loan) project to become the person’s own self sufficiency agenda. It was revealed that the original plan from Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry was to spend RM6.37 million to breed 9,000 cattles with about 28% returns annually. But that plan took three years instead and with an explosive spending – RM141 million to rear only 8,000 cattles.

Instead of supplying the beef nationwide, it was revealed that Shahrizat family’s own fine-dining restaurants – Meatworks, Senor Santos and Brawns – received some 20 cattle from NFC. It was amusing to read how Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar defended the project as a success despite the 2010 Auditor-General’s Report calling it “a mess”. Noh Omar must have taken the convenient way out that as long as there’re couple of thousands of cattle around, the actual proposal can be thrown out of the windows.

To add spices, opposition PKR also alleged that over RM84 million was siphoned off from NFC to companies controlled by Shahrizat’s husband Mohamad Salleh Ismail and her children Izran Mohamad Salleh and Izmir Mohamad Salleh. Of course the final straw that broke the camel’s back came with the revelation that NFC money (public’s fund) was used (by sister company National Livestock and Meats Corporation, NLMC) to purchase RM9.8 million condo at One Menerung, Bangsar, prompting jokes that Malaysian cows are more precious than Japanese’s famous Wagyu cattle which produces the legendary Kobe beef, simply because Malaysian cows stay in luxury condo with its own swimming pool.

Obviously you don’t have to become a rocket scientist to conclude that there’re irregularities in this scandal. Shahrizat was speechless and only managed to respond that she has work hard too and hence deserve to get some government project. But the fact that her whole family is sucking the public’s RM250 million money from NFC (via Shahrizat’s Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd) up to her purchase of the RM10 million condo shows the whole (business) transaction cycles are contaminated with element of corruption. OK, now that MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) found the condo issue was be too hot to handle and passed the ball to police, there could be criminal breach of trust, no?

But the condo purchase was a strategic investment, argued Khairy, another Prime Minister wannabe who doesn’t have any minister portfolio despite being the UMNO Youth Chief. By defending Shahrizat, Khairy was hoping the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development could whisper to PM Najib to shortlist his name for the coming general election. Nonetheless the justification was weak because it’s a well-known fact that property is one of the most illiquid investment instruments. While you can buy and sell shares or stocks with a button, you can’t do so with real property. Heck, the way Malaysian politicians are plundering taxpayer’s money makes even Tajima cattle scrambling to migrate to Malaysia from Hyogo Prefecture.

1Malaysia Update (A Personal update by the Prime Minister of Malaysia)

noreply@blogger.com (danildaud) — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:46:00 +0000

1Malaysia Update

	from	1Malaysia press@1malaysia.com.my
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date		Fri, May 27, 2011 at 12:10 PM
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May 27, 2011

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going!

In June, I will introduce two new interactive platforms: a mobile app and the online 1Malaysia Roundtable. The app integrates all my online platforms including my website, Facebook and Twitter so that you can connect with me more easily!
The Roundtable enables you and your fellow citizens to discuss ideas that can contribute towards nation-building, guided by Malaysian subject matter experts from various fields. I hope you are looking forward to using them very soon.

Tragedy

It is very saddening to hear about the Hulu Langat landslide incident. As soon as I arrived in Malaysia, I went to Hulu Langat to visit the victims as well as the orphanage home. Click here to watch the video and here to view the photos.

Stay up-to-date with my new video summary!

I compiled a short video of selected activities and events during the months of January and February that I would like to share with you. Click here to view the video.

Salam 1Malaysia,

Even though it has been a busy month, I have not forgotten my promise of interacting with you. My team and I have been busy working on some exciting interaction programmes. There will be some announcements soon on how we can bring the level of our interactions higher. Regardless, I am looking forward to connecting with you through the various existing platforms when I return home. Do continue to visit 1Malaysia and my social sites to stay updated.

Najib Razak

Bighouse Madness

Shamsubahrin charge ‘diversion’ from NFC scandal?

Battle Of The Christmas Songs 2011

Battle Of The Christmas Songs 2011

MACC Probe on NFC: Another Political Sandiwara in the Making?

MACC Probe on NFC

MACC Probe on NFC: Another Political Sandiwara in the Making?

Open Letter from India to Mahathir and UMNO

Open Letter from India to Mahathir and UMNO

by Siddharthya Swapan Roy (12-14-11)

Umno needs help for voter support, party leaders admit

Umno needs help for voter support, party leaders admit

Pro-BN online users our new army, says Najib

Pro-BN online users our new army, says Najib

Its A Cow .....Its A Condo ...... Its Sayalazat Lady Minister

1Malaysia Update (A Personal update by the Prime Minister of Malaysia)

1Malaysia Update

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going!

Tragedy

Stay up-to-date with my new video summary!

Salam 1Malaysia,

Quick links

Connect with me