Moor-thing

NEVER BELIEVE A RUMOUR UNTIL IF IS OFFICIALLY DENIED

2011-03-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Never believe a rumour until it is officially denied. You know what they say about a sleazy or delicious sounding rumour: believe it only after the person or persons linked to it puts up a strenuously official denial. It’s an old dictum of politics that has been confirmed and re-confirmed many times over. The names of previous rumour models are many: DP Vijendran, Chua Soi Lek, Anwar Ibrahim rings a bell.

Usually, rumours made in Malaysia centre on the usual corruption and sex scandal. Sex scandals involving government leaders and officials are dished out every time there is an alignment of the planets, or if the powers-that-be want someone out even if that someone stubbornly and desperately clings to power.

However, corruption involving senior leaders of opposition parties is rarer than the Asian tsunami but when it comes, it is inundating and intoxicating, more so after they have received a taste of real power. Finally the DAP leaders understand now how their BN counterparts feel when they get accused with all kinds of treacherous allegations.

Check out the overflow of outrage after Ean Yong Hian Wah was fingered again in the inquiry for making false claims of investing in development for the people, but in actuality, reaping the funds for himself or his cohorts, all covertly from the Selangor Government.

The assemblyman for Sri Kembangan was all bluster and fury when denying the charges, repeated by MACC investigation unit head Hairul Ilham Hamzah when he was replying to questions posed by the RCI examiners.

That a DAP branch received an illegal cut from payments for state government projects in the Seri Kembangan constituency in 2008 is now difficult to prove because the true testimony that would nail Ean Yong died with Teoh Beng Hock, so much so that the MACC is unable to proceed with charging the DAP assemblyman, a situation reminiscent of movies of gangsters trying to protect their assets by eliminating evidence and witnesses.

The situation is intriguing: who stands to gain more from Teoh’s death? Not the MACC, now vilified by the DAP for what is essentially a cover up of the DAP’s corrupt deeds. It is fortuitously convenient, isn’t it, Teoh’s death?

The DAP’s complicity is more apparent after the father-son lawyer duo of Karpal Singh and Gobind Singh Deo kicked an unnecessary but almighty fuss - biased Attorney-General’s chambers, conflict of interest from a sitting judge who heads the RCI that tried to mask the DAP’s liability but instead enhanced their corrupt nature more glaringly.

The Singhs’ derailment plot failed because RCI chairman Tan Sri James Foong is not only tough and forthright but also shrewdly saw through the smokescreen.

He is still a candidate for Most Neutral Fellow of The Year who, like all of us except the frightened DAP leaders, is determine to find out just how exactly Teoh died.

Already three forensic scientists have established how Teoh did indeed die - from jumping out of a building, a suicide arising from immense guilt and shame of unwittingly exposing his DAP superiors with the evidence of fake invoices he kept inside his laptop.

Once Teoh realised the magnitude of his evidence and the fact that he spilled the beans more than he relished, he simply refused to go home even after the long hours of questioning by the MACC. Teoh even requested that he be given a resting place in MACC’s office, which the MACC obliged as simple courtesy, unaware of its deadly consequence.

Here’s a logical twist to Teoh’s behaviour. If he was abused as to what the DAP would like us to believe, then Teoh would have naturally fled the MACC office to the sanctuary of his DAP peers and then conduct the perfect photo opportunity for Opposition-friendly media, websites and blogs by lodging a police report from strength in numbers.

Besides, Teoh was getting married the next day. Why would he remain in the MACC’s office when he could be in the comfort of his fiancé? What was he so fearful of?

MP for Wangsa Maju Wee Choo Keong had steadfastly pointed out that the suicide established by three qualified forensic scientists was already a common knowledge between fearful DAP leaders. But if the truth was out, there goes the DAP neighbourhood and bang goes the dream of re-conquering Selangor in the next general election, scheduled for a slot maybe by mid-next year.

With suicide a likely verdict in the RCI, the bigger question would be is, how high does the DAP conspiracy go? Right now, all suspicion is on Ean Yong but he can’t be operating solo for a caper that extends to the millions. Someone else too within the Selangor DAP wants their cut.

Since only Teoh knew for sure, based on the documents he possessed, it will be the MACC’s responsibility to divulge them in the next few weeks. The DAP, whether they realised it or not, forced the MACC’s hand - the more the DAP tries to flash the spotlight of liability on the MACC, the more the DAP is exposed.

If the MACC has proof, then the law enforcement agency should charge the guilty in the court of law, ranted Teresa Kok, the Selangor DAP chief but that was what the MACC was about to do when Teoh met with his unfortunate death, fortunate though for the people who want him “silenced”.

Since a case for corruption is difficult without Teoh’s material testimony, the next best thing for the MACC was to divulge the information they secured from Teoh to the RCI and in the final analysis, the court of public opinion.

The DAP should be familiar with this - they have shamelessly seized on it every time they plot against their rivals in the Barisan Nasional. Now, they are painfully consuming huge doses of their own bad medicine.

The weeks to come before the RCI wraps up its proceedings will be crucial. What is up next will depend on how badly the DAP screams and shouts and how much they would insist on covering up with denials and distractions.

Ultimately, the DAP might try this desperate ploy - put the blame entirely on Teoh when the evidence is mounting and let a dead man take the rap. - PJ Moorthy - Malaysia Instinct

How to bandit Railway figures

2011-03-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

With the recent completion of the contractors briefing held by Prasarana, opposition supporters were quick to pounce on the estimated amount of the cost of building of the new MRT line from Sungai Buluh to Kajang which was dissected and analysed by CIMB research.

The talk of the town is that the figures has ballooned (from RM36 billion when first mooted by MMC Gamuda to the current estimated RM53 billion) to facilitate 'undertable' monies and linked back to UMNO.

The email being circulated also compared the figure to China's Beijing-Shanghai line which required a mere US22 billion at the time of construction (mooted in 2007, the line took three years to build and is set to begin operations in June 2011)

What seems to justify the argument is that the Shanghai-Beijing line measures 1,318km vs the Sungai Buluh-Kajang line at 150km, as such the cost of construction for the Beijing Shanghai line should be higher than the Kajang-Sungai Buluh line.

At first glance, the email does makes sense, but here is what is NOT considered by these opposition bandits;

1. The land acquisition cost in the Sungai buluh Kajang line would definitely cost more vs the Beijing-Shanghai line, as it runs through cosmopolitan and urban areas vs farm land in China, and the acquisition of land for the China line was done prior to 2007.

2. The USD exchange rate differs sharply vs what it is today.

3. Transportation cost with the cost of oil per barrel is at least 30-40% higher currently vs the China construction period which took place between 2007 and 2010.

4. Skilled labour cost in China is at least 60% lower to what is available in Malaysia

The fact that there are many emails being circulated amongst opposition supporters that aims to instill that corruption and misuse of funds are the very fact why such impression are heaped on the country. However, it does not take a genius to carefully consider what is being bandit around because a curios mind will always be able to find out hard facts that are 'hidden' from the message.

If one considers carefully what it takes to develop a country, one will not find it hard to believe that Malaysia is indeed ranked as one of the top three choices of countries to live in this part of the world.

With a world class rail transportation system set in the offing, KL will bound to challenge for top honours.

This author asks the very relevant question that is this thought to be an apple vs an apple? Similarities to the APC argument that is the song and dance of Tony Pua vs MINDEF? - PJ Moorthy, Malaysia Instinct

Royal Commission of Inquiry on Teoh’s death scares DAP

2011-03-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

t4tbh.blogspot.com - This blog has been revealing very telling
documents regarding DAP's source of revenue

After three forensic scientists concluded that Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic death was likely prompted by suicide or at the very least, not pre-meditated murder, the reality of the troublesome outcome may have less to do with the MACC’s negligence in not guarding him properly but more to do with the political corruption and shenanigans that Teoh was forced to confront and divulge.

A troublesome point is the baffling moments in the inquest to establish Teoh’s death, like why certain documents were ignored and relevant witnesses not called to testify. The counsel for the MACC desperately tried to raise the matter but he was ignored.

A key submission “disallowed” was when documents and witnesses – contractors of the four companies mentioned on the letterheads of the suspicious documents – were “disallowed'.

Why it is that testimony crucial to the build-up towards Teoh’s death was not given due diligence? On the other hand, why was it stonewalled?

Here’s a plausible reason: the coroner wanted to play it so safe that he had in his mind opted for an open verdict judgment from the moment he became fully aware of the tremendous implication of whatever decision he makes. He would have gotten that attitude consulting lawyers who are his friends.

Perhaps the pressure was also too much on him, perhaps he disagreed with the way the opposition was more interested in making Teoh a martyr and the MACC guilty as hell but can’t influence the flow of the inquest’s proceeding. This can only be the only possible rationale.

The people have the right to know the absolute truth but it was not to be forthcoming because of the coroner’s fear for his career and maybe his life too, not so much from physical threat, but one that will be forever chaotic by the decision he makes. Hence, a bland neutral stance which saves him and makes him a laughing stock but unwittingly conceals the truth.

While the coroner saved himself or rather, took himself out of the Teoh Beng Hock equation, the case became an international cause for strident critics of the Najib administration who would use the no-man’s land decision to capitalise on its uncertainties.

The critics, and that includes DAP’s top guns like Karpal Singh and Gobind Singh Deo, jumped on the opportunity to castigate the PM, even though he had nothing to do with the coroner’s lack of backbone.

But since the critics are crying out loud for a Royal Commission of Inquiry, the PM authorised one - with power - to probe everything when the initial RCI had limited terms and reference.

Now Karpal and Gobind are in a bind, their theatrics exposed. The RCI will no doubt revisit the scenario why the key submissions were ignored in the first place.

So they made a big fuss of the Attorney-General’s “biased” standing and even took a ridiculous dig at the RCI chairman, being a Federal Court judge, was unsuitable to helm the proceedings.

After all their wag-the-dog tactics failed, the DAP used the last ace in their sleeve – total withdrawal from the RCI in the hopes it will cast a big shadow on the commission and undermine its credibility.

Fat chance. The RCI is now so strongly independent that even the PM have no say as to how it conduct its investigations, which has the eager attention of the international community.

The RCI also knows that Malaysia's reputation is at stake but they have the chance to put things right. Their only request, which they had conveyed to Teoh’s family was: give the RCI a chance, give justice a chance. But the family, likely under the coercion of the Singh lawyers, regretfully withdrew.

Back to the issue of documents held by Teoh, the question of them being tampered is ludicrous.

Teoh kept his laptop closer to him than his girlfriend. He had his laptop with him at all the times while he was being questioned, even when the MACC considered him as a possible accomplice to the big scam of making false claims. Furthermore, the documents and the laptop were also secured by police since July 16 after Teoh died. Therefore, tampering was impossible.

Another issue is, the MACC needed Teoh for the valuable testimony he provided. Teoh or even his boss was practically nobodies to trigger a suspicious scenario where someone would want to fix them up.

But since Teoh’s death, they have became household names. They may be linked to bigger fish who have set up a well-established con job that we are now are beginning to truly understand.

If the documents were invented, it would only make more sense to ensure that the true evidence stick, to show that larger sums of money were suckered in.

Nothing about the case makes sense, from the Singhs’ theatrics to the family’s withdrawal. But now we know there was method to that madness. There is now fear in the DAP camp, especially the State Excos who have been raking in huge sums illegally for months since they won Selangor in the March 8, 2008 general election.

In a way, there is a silver lining to the Singhs withdrawal. They can’t be putting up roadblocks or red herrings to deter or distract the RCI’s progress to the point that a conclusion may come early, and not 18 months from time of death to outcome of inquest decision.

That’s why the RCI is free to examine all facts of the case, especially the documents which can be produced without someone in there trying to stop its exposure.

It is steadily becoming evident that the extent of the corruption going on was perhaps powerful enough to push Teoh to the edge. And to the probable suicide inferred by three top forensic scientists.

The parallels of Wildlife and DAP

2010-08-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

PJ Moorthy

The Star Probe team had interviewed Anson Wong sometime back, and in that open interview Anson Wong ( who was handed a 71 Month Jail term and USD60,000 fine) had admitted that although he was involved in the smuggling of wildlife previously, he has turned the corner and now operates a legitimate business 'above board'.

Clearly, his reference of above board is different from those who used the term to signify their coming clean.

Anson Wong was arrested yesterday in Sepang International Airport for attempting to smuggle 90 snakes of various species.

What is the significance in Malaysia?

Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen had openly said that Malaysia was in need of stronger and clearer legislation to prevent the smuggling of wildlife.

In Malaysia, the chinese are fondly said to be connoisseurs of exotic meats, with a saying that 'The Chinese will eat anything with its back facing the sun'. There are several hotspots in Kuala Lumpur that serves up exotic dishes, and do the customers question the source of meat?

It is thanks to these demands that enable people like Anson Wong to thrive in the trafficking of illegal wildlife. The poaching of endagered wildlife in Malaysia must stop, and if there is a political will, there must be a way.

Anson Wong typically represents chinese businessmen in many aspects. They seem to be oblivious to the surroundings and have no qualms in making money out of anything. Where is their conscience?

Where is the conscience of doing things out of convenience and making profit from it?

DAP seems to know that already. They are after all in a partnership with PAS that shares only the will to stay in power, for their ideologies defer drastically, one for a secular nation and the other an ultra Islamic nation that even UMNO do not subscribe to.

One wonders, for how long will the chinese community bend over to see DAP go the distance. Are they all above board like Anson Wong?

Don't tear the seams of Malaysia

2010-07-29T18:27:00.001-07:00

PJ Moorthy - Malaysia Instinct

Don't cut the last cake and split it 10 ways without first replicating the lost recipe. Once you cut it, you will have 10 recipes of different proportions!

Mexico, populated by around 6.6million residents. Largely hot summers, typical dessert climate but also has cool forest in the north, with famous sites in the likes of The Grand Canyon.

There really isn't any similarities here, but one thing that has hit the American state might just happen here in Kuala Lumpur one day.

Though historical beginnings defer on the origins of Arizona if one chooses to speak to different people there, it is largely believed that Arizona was made a apart of the US after the American-Mexican war which resulted in the then newly formed republic of Mexico having lost the territories and compensated for it. It has s strong Spanish history, and die to its proximity to Mexico, has to deal with a large number of Mexicans who enter US illegally.

Malaysia on the other hand has a large border with Indonesians, but having the Straits of Malacca as a natural deterrent for illegal entry, it is vastly different from Arizona vis-a-vis Mexico. Naturally, the difference in economic strength between US and Mexico makes the former a much sought after location for those seeking economic riches. As the same with Malaysia vis-a-vis Indonesia.

But if one cares to look at the similarities, it will be staring Malaysians at the face.

As with the Mexicans to Arizona, most were brought in to help in economic activities, thus gaining legal citizenship much later, and hence become naturalised Americans.

As with the Chinese and Indians to Malaya then, most were brought in by the British to help in the same, to grow Malaysia economically, and in their efforts gaining them citizenship and naturalisation as Malaysians.

But what comes after, many years after the American-Mexican war is the influx of illegal immigrants into Arizona that had the lawmakers up in arms collectively to pass into law a motion to authorise the legal request for proof of citizenship in their efforts to quell the rising entry of these, leaches, call them if you may.

And this in Malaysia might just happen if there is a blurring of rights, and guarantees of constitution are overlooked in the overzealous efforts to chase that change that so few are asking. The bumiputera rights are rightfully enshrined in the constitution and is therefore protected by it. The calamitous efforts of the opposition in their quest to gain more votes from their supporters and the fence sitters who are calling for the doing away of it, creating a 'fair and equal' disbursement of rights, so it seems.

This is akin to the Mexicans who mask themselves as Americans saying that they have the right to stay and demanding that their citizenships unquestionable rights as any Americans. Wouldn't that be nice!

There is a clear distinction of law and rights, and to the Americans, their rights is to establish the citizen from the alien.

Here in Malaysia, doing away with the rights of Bumis is the same as getting the constitution changed to acknowledge that Mr.Mutusamy who hails from Kerala 20 years ago, peddling 'Putumayam' who goes back to Kerala every 5 years to build his dream home that houses his family and those of his in-laws and in-laws of the in-laws, as one of their own, giving him basic land rights and government assistance.

Whereas Mr.Xiao Ching the right to bring his family and send his children to SJKC, granting access to the previously defined 'tanah hak Melayu' in gratitude for his father's contribution in the tin mines of Kampar, and expecting Pak Ali, whose nine children have been finding it hard to break in to the workforce, when the likes of IBM is hiring Malaysian graduates from Ivy League Universities.

Already forced to compete with the 65% ration of bumi students that make up the composition of public higher education institutions, Pak Ali's children have to also compete to enter real paying jobs, something that does not seem to affect their counterparts of Chinese origins.

The economic strength is held by the Chinese, and the Malays do not begrudge that, so why are the rest then begrudge the Malays of their rights that are guaranteed by the constitution?

This writer is of the opinion that Malaysia pre 2008 was far better off, for that was the time that Malaysians were collectively united in their goal, which was achieved through the ballot box. Post 2008, they have since gone their own ways forgetting the bond of unity that they once shared.Don't cut the last cake and split it 10 ways without first replicating the lost recipe. Once you cut it, you will have 10 recipes of different proportions!

Forever Accusing...

2010-07-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

pix from freemalaysiatoday.com

'The likes of Chua Jui Meng who was incidentally (not related) stripped off his titles by the Sultan of Selangor can never find peace with themselves' was a remark that a politician shared with me when we had a talk sometime ago.

This statement had always lingered in my mind, and I took the same view each time I came across someone who had crossed that 'line'.

So today, reading about what Chua Jui Meng had said (I should apologise, isn't he still a datuk? by some other state's account?) in a very 'anti establishment' portal in Free Malaysia Today, I simply reflected on what I was told.

Chua had unequivocally stated that 'Chinese voters want fairness'.

By whose account? How many Chinese voters does he represent, enough to make that statement?

When moving to Malaysia, I could not help but compare the Chinese here to those from their southern neighbour.

I am making a guess here, but won't one think that the chinese in Singapore are much fairly treated as compared to Malaysia? From what I gathered from Chua's statement, he had said that chinese voters demand equality. But equality with whom?

Aren't the Chinese here much better off with their Indians and Malay counterparts? I would like to dare someone with a comprehensive comparison between the races. Didn't someone dispute some figures from the National Statistics department sometime before the elections?

I dare say, that the chinese are the most well off compared to the Malays and Indians. In fact, the demand of equality by the chinese should be met, and the equality should extend out to the Indians and Malays. How often have we heard the saying repeated that the Indians and Malays cannot be trusted witht e completion of projects, and when the unveiling is done, it was some chinaman who had concocted the scheme in the first place!

The point to remember is this, in order to move forward, Malaysians must have a common goal and objective, and from what PM Najib had preached and done, all is pointing to the one real Malaysia that should emerge if given the right support from the voters.

After all Najib has implemented the change he promised, and his fruits is beginning to show. In all the pessimism that has been shown by the opposition, there are more optimism shown by those in charge today. And for what its worth, the opposition has only been firing blanks and burying their head in the many holes that Selangor has now managed to dig itself in.

The question I have for Mr Chua Jui Meng (datuk? Sorry, but since my immediate neighbour is the Johor household, I consider myself Johorean too!) is what drives economy? Forever borrowing money you said? And if America is not the biggest borrower, would it affect world economy? The engine of growth is fuelled by money, not just one's own but the money that flows in will ensure that it is well circulated, and in that ensures that the economy is well fuelled.

Then again, I am no economist, but did Chu Jui Meng ever showed that he was one too? How about a Minister of Helath? Did he even leave a legacy behind?

Judging from the mass migration of helath workers during his time, I am guessing not!

This write thinks that recycled politicians have a used by date, and this one as with his lookalike has long past their due. - PJ Moorthy MI

Anwar Ibrahim - Media buyer

2010-07-22T19:02:00.001-07:00

Embroiled in his own 'media buying' conspiracy, Anwar Ibrahim is now trying to insinuate that Prime Minister Najib Razak has done the same in using dubious PR companies as well as the Washington Times in giving his visit to the US more prominence during the month of April 2010.

In a blog posting published in his blog, written by Malaysiakini's Stephen Gan, it was said that the Prime Minister's Office had a hand in paying PR Firm, The Laurus Group USD15,000.00 which was in turned paid to QGA. It was claimed that QGA was supposed to have a major newspaper print a prepared article purportedly by the PMO.

In recent months, Anwar has come under severe scrutiny by the US press on his role in anti US and Israel protest as well as allegations that the Malaysian government was infiltrated by Israel agents. This has increased criticisms against Anwar given his close relationship with former key Bush-era officials. Anwar was the Chairman of The Foundation of the Future, a group which was a brainchild of former VP of US Dick Cheney, and had his daughter Elizabeth as a Deputy Director of the Foundation.

In his half baked attempt at apologising for his own debacle, Anwar had embarked on a whirlwind apology tour to his friend and obvious supporter. It was Paul Wolfowitz who had gotten Anwar the position of Chairman at the Foundation of the Future, a move that will eventually see him resigning as President of the world bank after revelations that he had himself gotten his girlfriend Shah Riza a position in the same foundation.

Anwar had in the past accused APCO for being an Israeli outfit, complete with Mossad agents, and when that failed, he had tried to pin all kinds of accusations against Najib. Around the blogs, much has been said about Anwar's interview over CNN, that even the US press picked up and accused CNN of playing up to Anwar, and planting the interview.

So, in perfect Anwar style, the same is now lobbed over to Najib's court. This is the Anwar that we know, one that passes the buck.

Before he was convicted of corruption and sodomy, Anwar had openly voiced his intention to tackle the Asian financial crisis a-la IMF way. It was a move that would send his boss, Tun Mahathir to react the way he did which eventually drew the wrath of IMF (with currency control mechanisms that Mahathir introduced) but had more importantly taken Malaysia through a very patchy time, unlike her neighbours, Thailand, Indonesia and Phillipines which until today still suffer from the stining effects of that crisis in the late 90's.

Here is a man which anti government supporters are rounting for, one that has shown if anything, inconsistencies in his position as former Education and Finance Minister. Here is a man who has sat proudly on the chair of a Foundation, knowing well that the USD35 million that it had was from the US government, and yet knowing so, is hell bent on attacking it simply because Najib is now becoming a friend of Obama's policies.

But all this really is inconsequential. What is most disgusting is Anwar's nonchalant ways in upholding Malaysia's pride, so much so, that his many trips abroad had always only one mission - to bring Malaysia down, so that he can be seen as a hero once again to the people who had long thought of him as a two faced lizard. - PJ Moorthy , MI

HuffPo Salivating on Anwar's claims

2010-07-21T18:53:00.001-07:00

The recent barrage of attacks against Anwar for his anti-semitics stance has now taken on a new low for journalism.

Though it has been reported in the western media on Anwar's about turn, and his many attempts to apologise and explain his statement and actions, there are yet some who see it fit to twist and spin his fault the other way.

The latest is from Huffington Post, in which Thor Halvorssen described Malaysia as an ' one of the world’s most insidious authoritarian governments' whilst describing the sodomy trial of Anwar as 'charges against Anwar are transparently political'.

Thor further adds that 'the only way to get unfiltered news in Malaysia is online. Here, the media is protected by the “Bill of Guarantee of No Internet Censorship” – a law passed in the 1990s.

A total stranger to Malaysia would probably tend to believe this Thor fellow for his piece, after all Malaysia is only of interest to those who have dealings with it.

Anyone who is aware of Anwar's first case would know that he was released based on it being overturned in Federal Court when the judges made a 2:1 decision, but added that they had reason to believe that all involved were engaged in homosexual activities.

Bear in mind that sodomy is a crime in Malaysia.

Thor also adds that, "Opposition voices like Anwar who are politically attacked through the courts are hardly better off than victims of the ISA. Virtually all positions in the justice system beyond the local level are held by government cronies."

Here, this foreigner has gone one step further and claim that Malaysia's judiaciary is virtually tainted. Right. Perhaps then it is not surprising to find that our FDI are declining, given that there are still many out there who buy into the one person who has been going around convincing all his supporters to continue to peddle lies about Malaysia.

Isn't all this comments subjudice to the case in mention? Why haven't Anwar's lawyers asked for a mistrial in this case?

Another technicality created by him for his escape?

The truth is this. Someone knows he is in deep trouble, because unlike the last time, there is no room for technicalities anymore. word has it that the lab that concurs with DNA evidence is one based in the US, so no chance for a foreign pathologist or even genealogist to get this one thrown out.

What makes it worse is that the victim this time was someone he trusted and was practically inside (pun intended).

So the next best thing is to rely on leftist media controlled by those who have had some idea of bisexuality.

(For those uninitiated Huftington Post was partly founded by Arianna Huftington, former wife of Michael Huffington who confessed of his bisexuality) - PJ Moorthy, MI

'Semper Fidelis' to your cause

2010-07-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

No matter how you look at it, it is all too difficult to shed that 'I'm an Indian' attitude to Malaysians here of Indian origin.

The recent brouhaha by the opposition on Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhiyiddin on his claim that he is Malay first, and then Malaysian, is something that all Malaysians can attest to.

Try talking to a Singaporean of a minority origin.

Although Singapore practises a meritocracy policy, it wasn't till recently that Singapore's first Malay General emerged. The reason that it took that long was that 'we don’t want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his emotions for his religion', so says Mindef.

So, to my point that no matter how you look at it, there is bound to be a part of us that is biased somewhat.

To be part of a group or an organisation will always make one loyal to it somehow.

Take America for instance. The Middle East question has always been asked of their Presidents. The 44th President, though having had probably the worst of times to experience a dip where relationship with Israel is concerned, must still have a 'sort of biased' support to Israel's ongoing torture of it's neighbours.

Although there are attempts to try to persuade Israel from its hardline stance, a full attempt will allienate their alliance. So, whichever way one looks at it, for all the protest and what nought, the US will always be on Israel's side.

Similarly, for all the negative ceramahs that Anwar Ibrahim makes of Israel and Zionism, he will still crawl back with his hands and knees to beg them to understand that he has to put on a show for his so called moderate muslim supporters in Malaysia.

For all the positive moves that Prime Minister Najib has made to make Malaysia relevant again in the region, Malaysia has her 'running dog' ( Chow Khou - a cantonese term commonly used for people who turne against their own) that will forever put Malaysia down in the International Arena.

In Tun Mahathir's time, the world was watching, and for every Prime Minister that wished to term Mahathir as a 'Recalcitrant' there was always two others who think highly of his policies and benefits that he brought to those countries that stood by him, and with that elevation to Malaysia that no such Prime Minister has been able to do, until now.

Rightfully, Najib's policies has been seen by ASEAN countries as one that would support a growing region. With Singapore-Malaysia relationship at an all time high, Tsien Loong would think twice before trying to pull anything from under Najib's feet.

Now, Najib has to work doubly hard, not only to win his countrymates over, but also the world, mindful that Anwar already has a network of doomsayers in the likes of private eyes and balding pseudo editors, not to mention International Media who choose only to paint Anwar as a hero, and not the lying politician that he is.

Committed to his cause to bring Malaysia to a level that she has not seen before, taking India and China alone as her main trading partners can only forge Malaysia ahead in these perceived bad times, precisely what Prime Minister Najib is planning and executing.

Meanwhile on the other end, committed to the cause of dragging Malaysia through the filth of slander is a former Deputy Prime Minister bent on making his dream of being Malaysia's seventh no 1 man.

The US Marines greet each other with a call 'Semper Fi, Marine!' - the term meaning Semper Fidelis, latin for 'Always faithful', so whilst Najib remains faithful to his call to bring together Malaysia as one (1 Malaysia), Anwar remains faithful to his Jewish Friends.

Joshua Trevino could not have put it better, and for those who are majoring in mass communications, its time to remain faithful to your call.

-PJ Moorthy Malaysia Inctinct

PJ remains faithful to Singapore, but is ever mindful of Malaysia as his lovely neighbours. He thinks there should be no problem having Jewish friends too, but attacking your neighbours one moment and telling them you have to do it to make yourself look good is a no no.

Highway Concessions:The return of the Cronies

2010-07-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

I received an email tip from a valuable source, and thought that this was water under the bridge.

Or do I stand corrected?

"It was an underhand tactic that past personalities are known for" remarked an oberserver who wished to remain unknown.

He was referring to the way Asas Serba had planned their press conference when making it known of their intentions of the proposed takeover of highway concessionaires recently.

"This is a trademark of those who are well connected, dropping bombshells and then bulldozing it through, but that can only happen then." Things are not the same now.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib is a man on the ball not like Tun Abdullah who relied heavily on the advice of some people.

The Asas Serba porposal was mooted by key personnel who were closely linked with Tan Sri Halim Saad of Renong.

The Prime Minister's Department had yesterday replied formally to MP Wangsa Maju, Wee Choo Keong that no such proposal had been received by them in relation to the proposed takeover, in short Asas Serba had made a press statement, but submitted no proposal.

However, talks of another party entering the fray appeared in a blog 'Asasserbawatch.wordpress.com' and on close inspection, it was revealed that Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar had also presented his version of proposal to the Economic Planning Unit.

Given that the reply to Wee Choo Keong's question was directly related to Asas Serba, could it be that the Syed Mokhtar proposal was kept under the radar?

Timely still, that The Star carried a pertinent article on the expansion of certain stretches of the highway that has been earmarked for widening and the contract went to PLUS. Given all the recent questions and activities surrounding highway concessions, could it be a prelude to a sort of 'return of the cronies'? - PJ Moorthy - Malaysia Instinct

Renewed Renewal

2009-03-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

It went as expected, with everyone doing their part to show that they actually cared. In case you are wondering which event I was referring to, its Earth hour of course.
But let's not stop there shall we? We should do our part, in recycling materials, in ensuring disposal of garbage in the right manner (and in case you are wondering again, do not dispose your batteries in the same household garbage bags) and to contribute to the Earth's sustainability by not wasting energy. Its really simple to write all this up, but to do it is a different matter.

And of course, the conclusion of the recent 2008 UMNO Annual General Meeting went about as smooth as it could, barring the slight crowd trouble during the announcement of the Youth Presidency.

Expected, I supposed. And the curtain closer was also proper, the Previous, the Past and the Future. I am referring of course to the unexpected showing up of Tun Dr Mahathir, who also took the opportunity to have his media moment with Abdullah and Najib. But its no accident.

The new president, Datuk Seri Najib, certainly knew when it was the right time, and he welcomed Tun Dr Mahathir, who went up to the stage, and also wished Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi whilst congratulating (presumably) Datuk Seri Najib on his takeover. It all came together nicely.

Sure there was talk that the current dream team could have better consistency, but I am certain that Najib will make do with the new appointments. The conclusion of the AGM is timely, for UMNO will now head Barisan into the current most important factor of upcoming by-elections.

Whatever the reasons, Pakatan will insist that the results of all the past and the next three by-elections are the mandate for Najib and his Government. UMNO will emerge stronger and more united from this AGM and will focus on their most nagging wannabe member. Anwar Ibrahim had not left UMNO wholeheartedly, as evidenced by his
own admission that he did seek a meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir, after his termination from the party to 'negotiate his return' (this was revealed by his then most trusted aide Ezam prior to the Permatang Pauh by-election which Anwar won).

In fact, PKR was very much an accidental political party, formed primarily to seek Anwar's release on his now convicted sodomy charge. The fact that PKR had emerged victorious in the past 12th General Election, clearly showed (and also admitted by the Pakatan) that the electoral had in fact showed their displeasure, by voting against
Barisan.

But that would be the past. Clear wrongdoings by the current state governments that PKR led, and with the controversial departure of PKR's second highest politically appointees have shown that Anwar does not have the Lieutenants he needs to help him administer his party's victory. More aptly, PKR has promoted foot soldiers to Generals in their quest to run their states. In their quest to justify their actions, they saw it fit to kill their own captains (in the likes of their own two ADUNS and former EXCO members)

UMNO does not have the problem that plagues PKR, but the same cannot be said about PKR. For when Anwar loyalist decided to abandon UMNO, they merely did so to show their loyalty to Anwar. UMNO on th other hand has a pool of untapped talents, leaders, and to a certain extent, foot soldiers. Evidently, these UMNO members did not
abandon their party even when found guilty of certain malpractices, as
in the case of Ali Rustam. Such is the case, with the new appointments of the recent AGM, a new wave of grassroots leaders are now poised to impart the party's
leadership visions and missions.

For Barisan, this can only herald a new better front, given that Najib has again reiterated that his vision of One Malaysia will prevail, and will do all in his capacity to achieve something that no previous Malaysian leader had tried enough. With renewed confidence, UMNO should lead the fight against its political enemies, and with that set
their sights on one of UMNO's own prodigal son, Anwar. - PJ Moorthy - Malaysia-Instinct

Monkeys, Trees and Horses

2009-03-06T06:29:00.001-08:00

The one thing that Malaysians are talking about in the coffee shops and mamaks are how depressing it will get, both in economics and politics. Malaysians have to be forgiven for their pessimism.
It seems that the sentiments of the Ali, Raju and Ah Chong on the streets are of the 'slow spiral to meltdown' of the Barisan government is speeding up.
Social-Political observers both far and near have wighed in, in fact contributing, if not starting these so call 'winds of change'. But have they really?

Monkeys. One cannot discount a coordinated effort by certain powers to wreak havoc in this peace loving nation called Malaysia. Some 12 years ago, Malaysia witnessed its second earth shattering moment. After the riots of 1969 (widely acknowledged as the first) unruly mobs tried to destabilise her again by taking to the streets to protest the sacking of then convicted Anwar Ibrahim. CNN reported sporadic rioting by mobs, though it was mostly centered around the Dataran Merdeka area leading up top the then official residence of the deputy prime minister. Now, as this goes to print, different sporadic groups are trying the same tactics albeit in a more orderly manner to defy the government of the day. Groups making police reports on police brutality are spurred on by lawmakers aligned to the opposition. Elsewhere, groups are gathering under the shady raintree to defy a constitutional (arguable) state government. Yet elsewhere in the cyberworld, others are starting 'fires' or reigniting 'fires' aimed at destabilising the country.
If one takes a step back and look at the ultimate goal, it can be said that all this points to hoping that all these instability will put Anwar Ibrahim unto the country's number one position instead of Najib Tun Razak.
It does not take a rocket scientist to see the pattern here. Clearly, the objective to overturn the government is clear, and given the reaction, it seems destabilising the country for one man's goal does not seem to bother these people. Of course, these are just hypothetical theories.

M Bakri Musa who is a surgeon residing in California posted recently about the legend of the monkey handler. Insinuating that the resignation of the three state assembly persons that brought about the downfall of the Pakatan State government was lead and masterminded by Najib Tun Razak shows his inability to keep pace with the happenings on the ground here back home in Malaysia.
His total disregard of the 'triggers' that happened prior to the downfall of PR in Perak shows his lack of understanding of the events. How DAP is known to have a crack in its state hierarchy emerged when Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan threatened to drop her candidacy in protest against the two 'brothers' is conveniently put aside by pro opposition observers. How PKR strong armed their way into the formation of certain state goverments, displays the hypocrisy of the very thing they are trying to fight in UMNO, mystifies me from a neutral point of view. Yes, this is how politics is played in every country, but to lose the cardgame to the law is the last thing any gambler would want. Yet PR insist that they are the government(state) elected by the people. No need to remind the people that the man they very much want to see as the next Prime Minister has been trying to get lawmakers to switch camps (thought it is widely speculated and accepted that Anwar was the mastermind of the downfall of the Sabah state government in the 90's through rounghshod tactics) No need to remind the people about the sly way PR has been winning the hearts and minds of those supporting them by playing up BN's 'kezaliman', whilst they keep trying to hide their hypocrisies! How else does one explain their insistance of pursuing legal action against BN instead of the Sultanate of Perak? Anwar knows that by doing so they will lose popularity amongst the core Malay support. He also slyly calculates that based on the consitution, judgement will have to go to the federal courts, and here, PR has succeeded in brainwashing the general public that the judicial arm has been subservient to BN. Hence, the monkey stories continue.

Trees. Symbolic to nature, and the beautiful raintree which thrives in Ipoh has now got a new identity. Dubbed 'Pokok Demokrasi' by its supporters, V Sivakumar continued to mock the system by donning ceremonial robes, insisting that it was a legal sitting of the state assembly (though funny enough how he avoided inviting trouble by not sending assembly notices to all state reps, conveniently omitting those he deemed rogue, namely the Royally consented and appointed Zambry and his exco, as well as the independent assembly persons). Evidently, all this is a play masterminded by someone to continue to show the audience, which is the rakyat, that PR is still alive and fighting. The need for sympathy votes is very much acknowledged here. Admittedly (by all three parties) PR was voted in on March 8 by those who who wanted to vote against BN, not for PR. Hence the need to gather around trees.

And horses. Apart from them being animals, lets spare these beautiful animal from the cesspool of sympathy politics that continues to the domain of Pakatan's tactics.
For now, Anwar's failed tactics has seen him resort to new lows by deceiving the peace loving majority of Malaysians into believing that everything wrong about Malaysia is caused by UMNO.
I beg to differ. Mahathir has come and gone. Badawi is leaving, and Najib will soon take over.
In all these years the common factor is Anwar Ibrahim. Go figure.

Another Open Letter, Pete?

2009-01-30T01:39:00.000-08:00

Someone sent me an email to alert me of another RPK open letter recently. Yes. From a man bankrupt of ideas (who is also a bankrupt) , and according to my well informed sources also a man who sells his skills, it comes as no surprise. Funny how it always seems that whatever he writes, readers tend to take it all in. Till date all his accusations remain just that, no proof, no reveal, just accusations.

Yes, he can probably be classified as a victim, in the case of his recent ISA detention. But then again there are 63 others who are deemed a danger to national security. It cannot be denied that he writes from his heart, and along with that his readers take heed in his rantings. But one wonders how many of his readers know about his background? For example, presumably, he was a director in a public listed company (before it went public) to handle bumiputera contacts and to reap all benefits that went along with it. It isn’t his fault really, because a man has to make a living, right? But what about the extent of going to see Tun Dr Mahathir and even to see Dato Seri Najib for financial support? It is ok, because the man has to make a living, right? And hence, when he could not get any money from either of them, he turned on them, presumably.

In his latest open letter addressed to Pak Lah, it is said that BN is now opposed by young rural malays as they see hope in Pakatan Rakyat. He went as far as to say that the ‘Kampung Malays’ are openly defiant of UMNO ad the recent results in the Trengganu by-election is a concerted no to Pak Lah and the soon to be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

It is easy for him to comment on these results, because when RPK says so, it is a fact. Forget about the 30 odd thousand voters that voted for BN. Forget about the fact that Chinese populated constituencies voted for BN. Pay attention instead to the fact that Kuala Trengganu, though urban in part is very much rural country and the fact that PAS has a strong foothold on islamist fundamentals. Malaysian politics is hard to predict, and one wonders how a candidate is named (PAS named their candidate based on the party supremo’s dream that he had the right candidate). The fact remains that there is a government in power in the form of Barisan Nasional, which that has brought this country to prosper and continues to lead the country in these trying times.
One must not forget that in the lead of the yet to be proven Pakatan Rakyat is a former figure of UMNO, Annuar Ibrahim. Annuar is no angel either, having been in the heart of UMNO’s corridor of power who has even attacked the Indian community in his infamous ‘I will silence the Temples’ tirade in Penang. However, since the March 8 elections, the rakyat has see it fit to place their eggs in Annuar’s basket (given their support in Parliament,m it can be argued that Pakatan has almost one third support, almost)

As a former journalist in Singapore, one has to be doubly sure of facts and figures when reporting. Bur these rules do not seem to apply to bloggers. For example, if I were to say that United States is in fact doomed and that 25% of their citizens are already unemployed according to the New York Evening Today. But there really isn’t a New York Evening Today, and the figures are really something that was plucked from the air! So how does one really check the figures? Readers should and must do their own verification. But how many actually do? So if it was printed in Malaysia Today, it must be true, because if it wasn’t then they would have sued RPK! So on the basis of no legal suit, then it must be true!

All said, readers must pay attention to false accusations and nay-sayers. Do not be taken in by false reporting. IF THERE ARE NO SENSATIOAL NEWS, its really means just that. If you choose to read open letters, let’s just say you should then stay open to judgements. Ever wondered why there are no open letters in Singapore? Singaporeans are more knowledgeable, and choose not to believe in false news. Malaysians are the opposite. The more lies the better.

The Truth Matters . . . Not To Detractors.

2008-11-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

Its often said that the truth matters. That truth shall prevail. We hear it from our formative years, our parents constantly drilling it into us. Then it happens. When we grow up, we do the same but practice not.

The controversial release of Razak Baginda who was accused of the murder of the now infamous Altantuya Shariibu Murder had indeed stroked further the imaginations of conspiracy theory subscribers. That he was released and acquitted, and the fact that the prosecution did not appeal the verdict added fuel to it. Now he has done one better by finally appearing for a press conference, earlier not showing up for one.

All this cannot help Razak one bit as he attempts to justify his position.

Which leads us to this, the Courts found him innocent, Razak provides details for the first time, and in his course, verifies that Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor were not known to the victim. He further stated that the purported claims that the victim was linked to an arms deal never happened.

So how are we convinced that Razak is guilty?

Razak said it. Bloggers were responsible for spreading the theories, and after many statutory declarations that were made and withdrawn, it helped these accusations. Fact that even Anwar Ibrahim had supported it said even more. But how did it come about?

Mainly from Malaysia Today, in fact mainly from Raja Petra Kamaruddin. And how is he getting away with it? Simply because those that he chose to name in his many postings choose not to give him the time of day. RPK is no doubt a popular blogger. His uncanny ability to get his readers to indulge in his many fantasies seems so uncomplicated. But if you really look into the details like some who care do, you should be able to find the misleading ‘facts’. For example, the proclaimed date and time of Datin Sri Rosmah and her ‘presence’ in the site of the murder does not even correlate with her time being at that place. It doesn’t matter, because if anyone actually pays notice to the person who claimed so would have been easily written off as a Najib collaborator.

And that really brings us back to the title. Truth matters, but not to the detractors.

Stand back and take a good look around you and try to imagine you being the accused, going against the might of Malaysia Today. Hurts, doesn’t it?

Trained journalists are taught to do that. Verify statements and check around for details, however minute it can be. Bloggers? Most of them trumpet the sensational stories. Don’t believe me. Check for yourself. Look through the more popular pro opposition blogs, or for that matter, pro government blogs, and see and ask for yourself. Look at the skewed writings of Bernard Khoo, whose post are as littered with made up facts as many as potholes in Johor Bharu (Post in question vary from Zakaria’s Palatial home where he used photos of the purported Mugabe house, and claims of the use of Government Jet by certain Government officials). The mainstream media may want to tell you what they want you to see, but you can be rest assured that they will tell it as best as they can.

The truth does indeed matter, to us who aim to do. Telling fibs is just not on.

Bloggers Knows Best

2008-11-18T23:14:00.000-08:00

The New Media industry is really tough! We have been in business now for almost two months, ironing out all the hiccups, and given the onset of recession in Singapore, and the hopeful barring of technical recession in Malaysia, we online portals are finding it hard to draw in the advertisers!

And yet people like Malaysia Today, can have its editorial staff go in and out of jail, spend countless of supporters 'Makan and Minum' and fishing no less!

The cracks in the 'A list' of Malaysian Blogosphere has reared its ugly head!

In recent weeks, Bernard Khoo of Zorro's unmasked has come out with guns blazing against Ahirudin Attan of Rocky's Bru. Well, if you are truly a blog troller, you would have already seen them.

But hold on. If you take Bernard's view, and all those wonderfully articulated angst of a former teacher, you will surely want to beat up Rocky. But lets stop and analyse Bernard, shall we?

Remember the photos of Istana Idaman? Photos which he very quickly put up on his blog and procalimed it as Zakaria's palace? A boo boo no less.

And what about the countless rant about the Army's mechanised Batalion heading for the Istana Negara to support the Bersih march? No need to verify this, as it is the absolute truth.

And today, he claims that Rosmah, and Najib had taken the 'Government's VIP Jet to the APEC meeting in Peru on 22-23 November. After the 2 day meeting they will proceed for a week long tax payer paid holiday in Washington DC, from 24 to 29 November to take advantage of the Thanksgiving holidays. This as everyone knows is the peak holiday shopping period in the

! The couple will therefore be making a great contribution to the recession plagued

economy.'
It did not matter to his readers that he was not there to send Najib and Rosmah. It did not matter that the other dignitaries from all APEC countries and their spouses are there to do their part for the namesake of their country's contribution to the world's economic health. It did not matter to him that there were reporters sent to do their jobs to actually report on Najib's trip.
It matters only to Bernard that he continues to write from his heart and take in all his readers and make ridiculous claims as illustrated above.

On the contrary, there are trained professional's like us who are trying to make our living the only way we can, trained to see, to report and to gauge, hopefully to turn our portals to success stories like 'Malaysikini'! For Rocky to have used his skills, the ones he knew and still know best from his years in mainstream journalism, he is deemed to have spinned for his masters.

I guess, if all fails, I will return to the country I still call home, and to the Political Monopoly of PAP!

Good luck Malaysia....

Finally An Ombudsman For Media And Media Practitioners….

2008-10-23T00:17:00.000-07:00

The proposed formation of a National Media Council has drawn both support and flak from media practitioners as well as critics. In light of the recent heavyweight lawsuits, most are not willing to go on paper to make their feelings known.

It’s a well known fact that two of Malaysia’s more famous netizens, Ahirudin Attan a.k.a Rocky and Jeff Ooi, Yang Berhormat since the March 8 General Elections, were brought to the civil courts in an attempt to silence their oft critical and revealing post on a main stream newspaper.

The proposed formation of the council comes in the wake of recent lawsuits taken by YB Seputeh, Teresa Kok. Though not attributed as the cause, it cannot be said that this is not the straw the broke the camel’s back.

For once too often, the media has been blamed for the ‘spins’ and half truths of many articles, coincidentally, most involving the Pakatan Political parties. In recent days, even the fore runner of Malaysia’s Web News Portal, Malaysiakini, have come into disrepute, publishing a purported DPM Najib Tun Razak’s manifesto for the Presidency of UMNO,

Malaysiakini’s Editor in charge of the day’s publishing has since tendered her resignation.

What then does the proposed council hold for the ordinary Ahmad, Raju and Ah Beng on the street?

For one, it will be deemed the one stop centre for complaints, sort of like an ombudsman.

But how far will media practitioners go to make this council work? Main stream media is already controlled by the Printing and Press Act, not to forget the Sedition Act, and probably a host of many other laws too. It will then be the place to go to where people can make complaints and take the media to task without having to fear the courts. Much like the BAR is to lawyers. Something like that. Here in Malaysia, Media practitioners since the March 8 Political Tsunami also includes the much loved 7 letter word, Bloggers. They certainly did their part in the urban political landscape, contributing to the history making change in the political scene of Malaysia.

But that is as far as it goes. In recent months, the once ‘apolitical’ group has turned on its head! Probably the trigger that brought these bloggers to the fore was the Ijok by election of 2007. Of the handful of bloggers that ‘covered’ the event, quite a few has turned ‘pro-reformasi!’ (Annuar Ibrahim’s KeAdilan Party formed in 1997 to fight for the overturn of his conviction on misuse of power amd sodomy charges coined the phrase reformasi in the late nineties, and his party KeAdilan, trounced in the 2004 elections underwent a change, eventually renaming itself Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR) Recent post by these bloggers have even gone as far as to insinuate that Altantuya was able to reach out to them through third party seance to tell her grim tale.

Never mind that the case is still in court, and never mind that the Police has actually cleared those mysteriously named in Statutory Declarations and testaments. These bloggers are hell bent that Najib and his wife are actually involved. All thanks to the expose of Raja Petra Kamaruddin, whose many accusations and articles remain that.

Amazingly none of his accusers have taken him to court, and perhaps this has fuelled the conspiracy subscribers that when there is smoke, there is fire.

However, many have failed to actually check the source. Most do not realize the extent of RPK’s ability to spin. From the pro Anwar Reformasi days, which saw him critical of then Prime Minister Mahathir to the post Anwar release days, which saw him in Mahathir’s group asking for help, in which it was reported that he offered his spinning abilities against Abdullah Badawi. Malaysians, it seems in their dire hope of the much longed for, change in government has gone the length to convince themselves that all that is printed on the internet is indeed the truth and nothing but that. Not even Police investigations and commission of Inquiry can tell them otherwise.

Perhaps, then if the proposed National Media Council actually did cover the blogosphere, then maybe, just maybe, these personal opinion maestros of the blogs might just succumb to authority. As it is, the likes of masked men, Cikgus, Cerpen writers, Political Aides, has-been-was-there bloggers will continue to mesmerize their readers with imagined fowls and miraged post men with their fairy tales!

This writer believes that these personal pages (otherwise known as Blogs) remain….oh so personal and should not be looked at as THE SOURCE for news.

Aye! I say YES to the NMC!

Malaysia Today Says..Therefore It Is..

2008-10-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Having read a lot of Malaysian Blogs lately, it comes as no surprise, when people start to think that sensational news printed in one of those popular blogs, Malaysia Today, are real facts. Really.
I say this because, what Malaysia Today prints, Malaysia Today does not have to proof. Really.
Take for example this posting here.

Let me digress a little. Rocky has been saying that Utusan Malaysia should not be sued, as freedom of Press means the freedom to write about issues in the spirit of journalism (Pardon me, Rocky, If I seemed to have misread your posting). And people started calling him names. Funny, though, cause not so long ago, I seem to remember him being the hailed the 'Captain of the Black Pearl'!

The point is this, the letter written by Kapt Dato Zahar Hashim is from his view as an Officer of the company bidding for the job, Mentari Services Sdn Bhd. What the letter did not mention was that the helicopters proposed by Mentari belonged to Kazan Helicopters, a Russian Company originally set up as a splinter of Russia's state-owned Rosoboronexport. Interestingly when Turkey bought helicopters from Kazan, it discovered that Kazan had no permits to deliver or overhaul military aircrafts and Kazan was also embroiled in allegations of corruption in their deals. Turkish Journalist, Lalle Sarii reported for Todays Zaman, a Turkish news site. Though the Russians are well known for their MIGs, the same cannot be said about their Helicopters. Although its hows that there are over 1940 helicopters used in Asia, majority of them were used in Korea. BUT this is not important. As these are only allegations and in retrospect, it was between Turkey and Russia.

But lets look at the hardware then. Illustrated here are the different hardware from Eurocopter and Kazan...shall I say Mentari-Kelowna.

OK, I am no Military expert, but lets just take a look at the two different choppers, and say if you were the Minister, which will you recommend?

Then let's take a look at reputation. Eurocopter is the direct result from Aerospatialle and Daimler Chrysler cooperation, two top names in Aviation, not to mention Aerospatialle's involvement in Rockets....but before you think I am 'selling' you Eurocopter, think again.
I am merely comparing both 'apples'. And lets look at Kazan, or should we look at Kelowna, or Mentari? Ok , unfair to even mention Kelowna or Mentari, lets say Kazan. Kazan's website was last updated in ..2007. Sorry, I tried extensively to get newer web documents, but no later than 2007 in Kazan's official website.

Then, lets look at choppers in service. Eurocopter wins handsdown. Howabout support services? Eurocopter has a regional office in Kuala Lumpur based out of Subang, and Kelowna (representing Kazan) based in Canada (Hamilton and Kelowna). Eurocopter is jointly owned and operated by a consortium of Aviation companies. Kelowna founded by two engineers.
Eurocopter develops, build and sells Helicopters. Kelowna services Helicopters. Kelowna's subsidiary operates a Canadian Government Military Service Contract.

Kapten Zahar raised the issue of saving RM1.4 Billion.
In a purchase like this, I am assuming that the Government would want something reliable and also reputable. Of course, its only an assumption, but I am only hazarding a guess, which can backfire. But did the good Kapten think at any time at all that he is peddling something outdated and inferior?

Since reading the letter, I have done a fair bit of armchair investigation. Coming across the Turkish 'Kazan' files only assured me that, if we needed to replace the helicopters, Eurocopter, will be my choice. But then again, this blogger is not an A list blogger, and certainly, this is only my opinion stemming from the letter which points that there were wrongdoing in the appointment of Eurocopter as the next vendor for rotary aircraft to the Malaysian Armed Forces.
In my humble opinion, choosing a Mercedes over a Cherry should not be questioned, if I am looking for a good machine with proven engineering record rather than a bargain from a representative!

What Makes The Pen Mightier Than The Sword

2008-10-13T06:33:00.001-07:00

The phrase itself seems to trace back to the Bible, according to some, and yet others believe that Edward B Lytton is the one who coined the popular phrase in its current form, ' The Pen is mightier than the Sword'.

From the campaign trail in the US to the Blogsites of Kuala Lumpur, more and more people are resorting to the many different media available in order to find out about the topics and issues that are close to their heart. Whatmore, in Malaysia, with the recent arrest and detention of a popular Anti Government Blog Editor, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, internet users find no shortage of these materials.
It matters not that it looks like a piece of script from a Hollywood movie, but as long as it involves some high profile politician, and contents that sound suspicious, it can be the truth. Perhaps, this is unique only in Malaysia. Perhaps not. A highly placed Senior Management official of the Country's English Daily, long considered a confidant and 'press advisor' of the outgoing Prime Minister, was revealed to have tendered his resignation, perceived to be a 'clear out' before the transition of power takes effect in full. This official was thought to have used the daily to promote the Prime Minister and with his column, put paid to those against him! Such perception itself lends credence to these bloggers and postings.

Since the 12th General Election, more and more internet users are turning to online portals and popular 'So-Po' blogs have taken a life of their own. Bloggers it seems, are here to stay.
But that remains that. Bloggers also seem to have taken a role in public life. More and more internet users are turning to these bloggers, in hope of uncovering the truth. Civil liberties action groups look to these bloggers for events and vigils in support for those detained. Truth, they say is stranger than fiction. But how far does fiction go? And when will the conspiracy subscribers stop subscribing to these theories?

Apparently, short messaging system exchanges can give rise to abuse of power. If a reader is to believe the different exchanges between two cell phone numbers, thought to be that of Najib Tun Razak (The Deputy Prime Minister) and that of Shafee Abdullah ( lawyer to Razak Baginda, the murder accused) then surely there are a lot of others who must now stop sending sms's. It seems, according to the blog author, the exchanges amount to abuse of power and perhaps even, perversion of justice by the sender of the sms, thought to be the Deputy Prime Minister.

Which brings us back to the heading, that is. Is the pen really mightier than the sword?
Here are some questions for you to make up your own mind.
1.Do bloggers blog responsibly just because they identify themselves?
2.And with this identity, post stories and exchanges of sms to lead their readers to believe their point?
3.And does this writer who wants to put his point across that Bloggers remain bloggers, and that their writing remain that of their point of view, have that same right to inform his readers that these bloggers do not necessarily know the truth?
4.Does that mean that this writer is a 'spin doctor' just because he does not belief that all that is written is THE TRUTH?

Go figure...

The Mooring of Moorthy

2008-10-08T20:58:00.001-07:00

Its good to be back.
With the current events unfolding in the Peninsula just North of the land I used to make a living, I think it is a timely return, sort of a mooring.
Hence, the blogname, Moor-thing. Kind of like the mooring of Moorthy.
Friends who know me call me PJ.
And its great to be part of the team at Malaysia Instinct.com.

Do read about it in the coming days, as we embark on a new journey, and hopefully
if you do like what you read, return and perhaps even advertise with Malaysia's latest on line portal!