The real Sakti. That the MIC’s president-in-waiting G. Palanivel is not too pleased with the warm reception BN leader Najib Razak has shown Makkal Sakti, the latest political party that will rival the MIC for the support of Malaysian Indians, is understandable.
The country’s first PM would not have turned his back on the MIC. “Unfortunately,” Palani laments in his latest blog posting, “we no longer live in the era of leaders like the Tunku.” [Who is the real Sakti? by Palani 11/10/09]

Yesterday, Najib quashed talk that Makkal Sakti was his baby [Government will work with anyone who back 1Malaysia concept, Bernama 10/10/09].

“Makkal Sakti was not formed on my instigation but eventually it would be good for these (Indian-based political parties) to consolidate. The formation of this party is probably the political evolution for Indians in the country,” he added.

“I do not want to say whether the MIC failed or succeeded (in assisting the community)…but it is the choice of the Indians (formation of MMSP). What is important is that they support the government,” said Najib.

Asked if MMSP would be BN’s trump card in winning back the support of the community, which deserted the BN at the 2008 general election, Najib said it was not up to him to say if the newly launched party would be BN’s trump card in facing future general elections.

“But Makkal Sakti has brought a lot of support and we hope it can attract more support. On their inclusion into the BN we will discuss that later. It is up to the BN supreme council. Whether they are in or out (of the BN), we are willing to work together and that is the most important thing,” he added.

It’s too early to tell how MIC and Makkal Sakti leaders will react to Najib’s consolidation hint, but much depends on how the BN fares in the Bagan Pinang by-election today (LIVE coverage here), where Indian voters are said to be crucial in deciding if Pakatan Rakyat’s by-election winning streak will end) and Palani’s own brand of leadership when he takes over the MIC presidency from Samy Vellu (which is expected to happen very, very soon .. sooner than most pundits would dare expect).

HEADNOTE: Article 35 of the MCA Constitution states that an EGM needs the votes of two-thirds of the delegates to oust the President.

Now, consider the outcome of the voting on Resolution 1: That the members of the general assembly have no confidence in the leadership of president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

There were 1155 delegates who voted FOR this resolution, against 1141 delegates who voted AGAINST it.
The margin, therefore, is 14.

That is clearly NOT a two-thirds margin!

Original Article:

Toll tales. Either Nor Mohamed Yakcop has discussed the proposal by Asas Serba with Najib, or he thinks he is still the Finance Minister II and therefore can decide without asking what the PM thinks or if the views of the Cabinet on Asas Serba’s proposal ought to be sought. [Nor was 2nd Finance Minister under Pak Lah; the post went to Husni after Najib became PM and took the finance portfolio as well].

Whichever way you think, what’s certain is this man formerly nicknamed “Top Cat” sounded like he knew exactly what he was talking about yesterday.

“If anyone has a plan to buy (the tolled roads), good luck but we have no plans to sell.” - Top Cat

According to the Star’s report here, Nor Mohamed was responding to questions regarding a report that said private entity Asas Serba Sdn Bhd was to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on its proposal to consolidate the management and operations of all highway concessionaire companies in the country, including PLUS Expressways Bhd and Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings Bhd, in a deal estimated at RM50bil. It is reported that Asas Serba would be able to reduce toll charges by some 20% after the consolidation while lessening the Government’s subsidies by some RM114 bil but to do so, it might need to seek a longer concession period.

According to the Business Times/NST, about a month ago, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said state investment agency Khazanah Nasional Bhd has no plan to sell PLUS. Recent reports quoting Asas Serba’s allies, however, claimed that the Prime Minister was now interested to listen to the firm’s proposal, and that a briefing was supposed to have been held last week. Khazanah directly and indirectly holds 64 per cent of PLUS. The EPU is responsible for carrying out a study for the government to take over some of the busier highways including PLUS to ease the burden of toll users. It further reported that Asas Serba had in May this year proposed to the Works Ministry to acquire all 22 highway concessionaire companies for RM50 billion. The company is manned by four businessmen, two of whom are former senior executives of the former Renong conglomerate.

We are paying too much toll, especially those of us who commute daily on intra-urban expressways. We all want something to be done by the government to reduce our burden. But I happen to think that making us pay less but for a longer period just won’t cut it. If all Asas Serba is thinking is that, then it will not go down well with most.

BUT is that what Asas Serba’s proposal is about?

Has the proposal gone to the PM and the Cabinet? (And if not, why did NMY pre-empt them?).

Does NMY has a better idea?

Andif it’s not the PM, shouldn’t the official take on such a plan come from the 2nd Finance Minister?

NST 02/10: Beng Hock’s inquest: DNA found on Teoh’s blazer and belt belonged to deceased M. Gopala whose post mortem was conducted just before Teoh

BH 02/10: DNA misteri pada mayat Teoh Beng Hock adalah milik M. Gopala yang dibedah siasat di meja sama sebelum Teoh di HTAR Klang.

What happened to “proper” post-mortem procedures? After the Kugan Ananthan’s case, where two pathologists came up with rather contradicting autopsy results, the independent investigating committee of experts appointed by the Health Ministry to decide on those two autopsies recommended, among other things, that “Proper post mortem procedures should be followed in all autopsy cases”.

That recommendation was made in April this year and, obviously, nobody gave a damn. In the post-mortem conducted on Teoh Beng Hock, one of the most basic proper procedures, which is to wash/sweep clean the table on which the post-mortem was to be conducted, was clearly neglected.

As a result, we have a dead man’s DNA on another dead man.

How lar, YB Liow?

Notes: I am making a link to a Press Release issued by the Health Ministry in April on the findings of the Independent Investigating Committee on A. Kugan’s death in police custody. It’s a long document, but it’s worth reading it. Click HERE.

Updated
Other blog posts on OO’s appointment:

1. A Soulless nation called home by SatD [note: rantings on OO in a local dialect]
2. Omar Ong slipped into Petronas by A Voice
3. Hmm .. Omar Ong is Petronas director by Shamsul Y

Original Article:
Omar Ong. He’s young, he’s bold and he’s on the Board of Directors of Petronas!

Read the Malay Mail, here.

Original article:

From UK with love. One of the ringleaders of Malaysia’s banned Hindraf movement, lawyer P. Waythamoorthy, 43, has been in Singapore for the last nearly two weeks to meet his family from Malaysia. He left for London today.

Waytha spoke to me in my capacity as The Editor of The Malay Mail just before he left.

In Singapore he also met up with P. Uthayakumar, the other ex-Hindraf ringleader who ended up under the Internal Security Act during Pak Lah’s watch (released last May and recently set up a political party to champion the Indians in Malaysia).

My exclusive interview with Waytha should be out in The Malay Mail tomorrow.

And the birth of a new media giant. The relevant parties have agreed to go ahead with plans to take the NSTP private. The decision was made late Thursday. The bosses of NSTP and Media Prima will have a joint committee to draw up details of the scheme, including the proposed general offer, date of delisting, etc. Expect a statement soon, and promises that this will be good for the group.

I sincerely hope so.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be honoring the Singapore F-1 tomorrow night with his presence. The man who helped bring F1 to this region via Sepang will be watching the race, together with the “drivers” of the RM308 million-a-year 1Malaysia F1 team [see excerpts below and link here], from a super-exclusive paddock, which should also see S.M. Nasa, the son of the late Nasimuddin, founder of the Naza Group, making his first public appearance with the 1Malaysia team.

Tony Fernandes has so kindly invited me to join the Tun but I had to decline, even though I will be in Singapore to celebrate Eid with friends and relatives. I will be watching the race from elsewhere just to experience the “unique” night F1, but basically I am not a motor sports fan.

For those who can’t join Dr M at the Singapore race but want to wish him Hari Raya personally, his Open House today beckons you at 58, Jalan Kuda Emas, The Mines, Seri Kembangan, until 5pm. Expect the longest queue, though, because I hear a lot of those who could not make it to his open houses the last 5 years are making their enthusiastic comebacks today!

Malaysian delegates. They’ll be in New York for 2 weeks. Not a holiday, mind you. They will have to sit in for meetings of UNGA, its sub-committees, envoys, etc. “It’s a great chance for me to represent my country,” one YB was overheard saying.

A move on the part of Najib’s government certainly to raise eyebrows on both sides of the political fence. Read HERE.

CORRECTION: The MM got 2 out of 3 right. The New York-bound DAP man won’t be Chong.

Blow by Blow. A special body or council should be set up to resolve problems involving members of the Malaysian royalty. They should not be allowed or encouraged to attack each other in public. It makes excellent copy for the newspapers, but it’s downright demeaning to have a royal family mud-slinging another during a press conference and then have the other party returning the favour.

Which is what the Johor’s Raja Muda is likely to do this week in order to protect his good name, or so says the front page article of the Malay Mail today. Read the article “No way, says Johor Royalty [Negri's RM50 million demand extortionate, they say]“ here.

Selamat Hari Raya
Maaf Zahir & Batin

This is my 4th Aidil Fitri in blogosphere. How time flies. The things I have written on Bru weren’t all sweet and pleasing, so where my words and pictures have offended you, bros and sis, please accept my ampun-maaf in the spirit of wonderful Syawal.

This beautiful photograph is of the Syed Al-Bukhary mosque in Alor Setar, courtesy of jeebsion.com [Correction: The pix is of another masjid - Masjid Zahir. I've included the other pix by the same photographer, which is of the Syed Al-Bukhary's mosque, at the end of this posting]

Blogger Reme Ahmad has a collection of Singapore mosques in his Raya greeting here. The Masjid Tentera in Clementi is probably where I first performed my Hari Raya prayers, circa end-60s. They have a basement/underground masjid too.

(Dara Naquiah) also denied rumours that she had demanded RM100 million from the Johor royal house as compensation.

“I said (to the Johor royals) my son is priceless. Even RM100 million would not suffice,” she said.

However, Dara Naquiah said a letter of demand has been sent to Ismail’s lawyers for RM50 million in compensation for damages and an apology.