Here are the facts about Tun Mahathir's lineage

Here are the facts about Tun Mahathir Bin Mohamad Bin Iskandar :
Yang datang dari Kerala bukan Ayahanda Tun.M tetapi Nenda Tun.M bernama Iskandar.
Kerala adalah bukan Bangsa asal India tetapi berketurunan Yaman.
Iskandar ( Nenda ) berkahwin dengan Siti Hawa Dari Johor maka Lahirlah Mohamad pada 1881 di Pulau Pinang.

Mohamad pula berkahwin dengan Wan Tempawan Bt Wan Hanafi maka lahirlah Tun.M @Che Det.
Che adalah kerana Wan berkahwin dengan rakyat kebanyakkan.
Nenda ( Iskandar ) di datangkan oleh Syarikat Hindia Timor ( British ) untuk mengajar Bahasa Inggeris di Istana.
Manakala Mohamad adalah Pengetua Pertama Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid di Kedah.
Perlu telititi salasilah dan wasilah asli sebelum memuatnaik status keturunan seseorang tanpa kepastian sendiri.

Credit Dt Key Marzuki

Kampung Mutiara residents protest demolition of village

BY LOGEISWARY THEVADASS

 
GEORGE TOWN: Residents of Kampung Mutiara near Batu Ferringhi and supporters came out to protest the demolition of the village, scheduled to take place today (Monday).

The small road leading to the village was blocked with tree logs, concrete pillars and a few vehicles, including a four-wheel drive and a multi-purpose vehicle.

A banner which read "the traditional village will be lost and Kampung Mutiara residents will be chased out by the landowner" was placed across the logs.

Aside from the villagers, Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari, Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim and the Penang Chief Minister's information officer Major Zaidi Ahmad were at the site.

The Kampung Mutiara villagers obtained a temporary reprieve on Dec 29 when the demolition exercise was postponed for a month after a discussion with the police and a court registrar.

It was reported that the landowner, Peter Loke, had bought the 1.4ha plot in 1991 at a court auction for an undisclosed price and launched legal proceedings to seek vacant possession in 2007.

There are between 40 and 60 homes on the land.

The villagers said they have lived there for almost 30 years. They are also asking the developer to build new houses for them as compensation.

Beware sniffing ownself's arse is a serious cause of mental Breakdown

MAH HALLUCINATES: GERAKAN CHIEF PREDICTS ABOVE 30% SUPPORT FROM CHINESE VOTERS FOR BN IN GE14

Politics | July 31, 2017 by | 0 Comments

KUALA LUMPUR – Chinese votes for Barisan Nasional are expected to improve to 30% in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14) from the 13.4% received in the 2013 polls, said Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.

“I am confident that this time around the support from Chinese voters will hit above 30% based on our survey and projection,” he told reporters after launching the party’s Federal Territories delegates conference.


Mah said the confidence was also based on results and data gathered in the by-elections in Teluk Intan, Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, in which Barisan candidates won with comfortable margins.

He noted that the survey in 2013 had put Chinese support for Barisan at 13.4%.

Mah said he was confident that Gerakan would win more seats here and in Penang.



“We are not sure when the GE will be called but Gerakan is ready. We have worked hard and we hope to win more,” he said adding that the party will be contesting in the Segambut, Batu and Kepong parliamentary constituencies.

“I think the Kepong seat will be returned to us but the Prime Minister has the final say,” he added.

People’s Progressive Party’s (MyPPP) Datuk A. Chandrakumanan and an independent Yee Poh Ping contested the Kepong seat in GE13 which was won by DAP’s Tan Seng Giaw by over 40,000 votes.

– ANN

When is this God's gift to mankind talk going to stop

KR1M a loss-making social responsibility venture, Mydin says

On Sunday, the DPM criticised the operator of the KR1M chain for allegedly selling basic goods for above market prices, adding he was informed that it was allegedly profiteering. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Accused of profiteering, the operator of the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) insisted the chain was an unprofitable venture undertaken for the public good.

Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin declined to address Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remarks when contacted, but later issued a statement to Malay Mail Online.

“I would only like to say that this has been a massive loss-making CSR (corporate social responsibility) project for Mydin, and we have done this for the benefit of the Malaysian rakyat (people).

“Our conscience is clear. Those who know me, would know what Mydin had to endure in running this CSR project. I need not say more. Thank you for the support,” Amer added.

On Sunday, the DPM criticised the operator of the KR1M chain for allegedly selling basic goods for above market prices, adding he was informed that it was allegedly profiteering.

State news agency Bernama reported Ahmad Zahid as saying he instructed the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to immediately terminate the contracts of the firm appointed to run the KR1M for the alleged practice.

He said the goods should have been sold for lower prices as the government was allocating funds to ensure that items sold through KR1M outlets would be affordable.

The KR1M stores were launched in 2011 as a government-backed initiative to mitigate rising costs of living.

Mydin operates the KR1M chain, and is responsible for the stores, its products and systems. It also provides retail and technical expertise as well as training, according to the KR1M website.

Najib Compares His Malaysia To Iraq Under Sadam Hussein??

31 July 2017


“Changing the government is not a solution, if it is better, then it makes sense … if worse, more disaster and more uncertainties … that’s a stupid thing to do … Sorry, have to say it.
“My doctor at the IJN (National Heart Institute) informed me about this Iraqi patient who when asked if it was better then or now, he said even that even under hated President Saddam Hussein, at least they had food on the table, children could go to school, and the country was safe.
“However, look at it now, it’s all destroyed.
“Changing an existing government does not guarantee better governance,” Najib was quoted as saying by the national news agency.
Yesterday, the prime minister told the Parit Umno division annual meeting that only powerless parties that wanted to topple the government engaged in fear politics.
The national news agency cited Najib as saying Umno, as the ruling party, did not need to play “politics of fear” as this would only destroy the people’s hopes.
“We will be in disarray, disorganised, uncertain, aimless (if resorting to politics of fear), Umno will continue to give hope for the people because it has been proven that for the 60 years Umno has been in power, we are the party that has done a lot of deeds and brought changes to Malaysia,” he had said.
In his speech today, Najib also emphasised how Malaysia was not a failed state contrary to claims by the opposition.
Source: Najib Compares His Malaysia To Iraq Under Sadam Hussein??
Comment

So, Najib has just compared his governance of Malaysia to the murderous dictatorship of Iraq under Sadam Hussein, which finally provoked disastrous foreign intervention – or is he just warning of further things to come?
Many will agree that Malaysia is already on the road towards a nasty Middle Eastern-style dictatorship, what with the Prime Minister’s repeated violations of the constitution always with the purpose of securing his own position, preventing investigations into corruption and keeping loyal people in key positions that ought to be independent.
It is called abuse of power and once embarked upon it can lead a country down a very steep and dangerous slope. This is what people ought to be fearful of, because the consequences can indeed be war, famine, primitive conditions – certainly the loss of liberty.
The peaceful transition of power from one party to another, on the other hand, as provided for every five years by Malaysia’s consitution, is the best way to avoid such conflicts, since it allows the people to get rid of uselss, corrupt and discredited leaders in a polite and peaceful manner.
By seeking to block democratic change and inciting fear amongst voters in this way, it is Najib who creating danger for Malaysia and setting it further towards the path of dictatorship, doom and disaster!

Who is the 100% foreigner here Mahathir or Zahid Hamidi

Zahid has acted without class’

Nawar Firdaws | July 31, 2017

DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement about Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Indian lineage has backfired,

PETALING JAYA: Umno leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi acted “without class” when he hit below the belt by questioning Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s lineage, despite all the former prime minister’s contributions to the country.

Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, in saying this, also pointed out the hypocrisy of Zahid and Umno, which once accepted the “Mahathir anak lelaki (son of) Iskandar Kutty” as their leader.

“This just proves that Umno leaders have lost their sanity, from the pressure that comes from Mahathir’s political comeback,” he told FMT.

“They are panicking to the point that they are no longer able to behave in a civilised manner and are now resorting to personal attacks.

Zahidi Hamidi talking about his Indonesian born Javanese parents and his own birth in Indonesia

“Even Zahid himself had once accepted Mahathir (as Umno president and the prime minister). And the Malays too had accepted him, so his lineage should not now become an issue.”
Zahid, who is Umno’s acting deputy president, claimed he had been shown a copy of Mahathir’s identity card (IC), which allegedly stated his name as “Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty”.
The deputy prime minister had also, in his address at the Kelana Jaya Umno division meeting, said that “the man who struggled for the Malay agenda” was actually “using the Malays”.

Zainuddin said Zahid’s statement had displayed just how low he would go to discredit Mahathir’s political influence. It also reeked of desperation, he added.
“Zahid is trying to show that he is the one more relevant to one day becoming the prime minister, compared with his competitor, Hishammuddin Hussein.

“He has to prove that his loyalty towards the party and towards Najib is far greater than that of Hishammuddin,” said Zainuddin, in reference to Umno president Najib Razak.
In doing so, Zahid has confirmed how Umno is still stuck with racial politics, said Zainuddin.
Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim expressed the same views. He said the attack on Mahathir, who is now the chairman of opposition pact Pakatan Harapan, is “most unfair”.
“And it’s unbecoming from a leader of the country,” he told FMT.
“This non-stop abuse from the prime minister and his deputy shows how desperate Umno has become.

“What is clear is that both of them are totally lacking in stature and class.”
PPBM supreme council member Tariq Ismail, on the other hand, “thanked God” for Zahid’s statement.

This is because Zahid had revealed that Umno leaders, who had been boasting that the party is made up of fighters of the Malays, was actually led by a non-Malay for more than 22 years.

“The Malays are no longer tied to the dogma that they can only be led by another Malay,” he said in a statement issued  tonight.

Tariq, who is the grandson of former deputy prime minister Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, also said that while Zahid had claimed his remarks about Mahathir weren’t meant to be a personal attack, it actually was.


“When the lineage of any race is considered disgraceful, it crosses the line between being personal and professional,” he added.

There is no law in Malaysia and only UMNO's law

Lawyers: Slippery slope if NRD can openly defy court decision


KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Any government agency’s refusal to abide by legal court rulings would damage the rule of law, said lawyers.

The legal practitioners all disapproved of the National Registration Department’s (NRD) rebuff of a decision allowing illegitimate Muslim children to bear their biological fathers’ names, saying this was blatantly contemptuous of the Court of Appeal.

Short of securing a stay of the ruling, they insist the agency must observe the appellate court’s decision despite contesting the outcome.

“The NRD’s decision to disregard the decision of the CoA is illegal and in contempt. There is no justifiable excuse as to why the decision of the CoA is not immediately adhered to,” Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

He also criticised NRD director-general Datuk Yazid Ramli who said his agency will continue with the convention of using “Abdullah” as the father’s name in cases of illegitimate Muslim births, pending the outcome of the appeal to the Federal Court.

Geethan explained that Yazid did not have the prerogative to decide which rulings he would abide by or otherwise.

“His duty under the Births and Deaths Registration Act (BDRA) is merely to register births and deaths in the states of Peninsular Malaysia. He is bound to follow the law and nothing else,” he said critically.

Similar views were expressed by lawyers Dinesh Muthal and Syahredzan Johan, a former Bar Council member.

Calling the court ruling clear and the obligation to observe the decision as unambiguous, Dinesh raised the possible chaos that would ensue if government agencies were free to choose which laws they would prefer to obey.

“The court has already given an order, so it is the duty of a public office such as this to follow the order, and for them to choose not to follow, then what respect is there for the judiciary?” he said.

“Any government bodies including civilians are governed by the law. It’s as straightforward as that. That’s all.”

On Facebook, Syahredzan said any government that willingly disregards an unfavourable court ruling was one that “does not believe in the rule of law.”

The Court of Appeal on July 25 released the written judgment of their landmark decision that the NRD director-general is not obliged to apply and is not bound by fatwa or religious edicts when deciding on whether a Muslim child born out of wedlock could take on his father’s name.

It previously ruled that such a Muslim child has the right to bear his father’s name

The naming of Muslim children born out of wedlock using “Abdullah” in place of their father’s name in official documents from birth certificates to identity cards risks exposing them to the stigma of being illegitimate.

Police swoop down on mat rempit race in KL; 391 ticketed

KUALA LUMPUR: Police issued 391 compounds in an operation on mat rempits at Jalan Raja Laut here yesterday.

The operation, which began at 9.30pm and finished at 11.45pm, swooped down on an illegal race routine which the mat rempits had shifted to Sunday nights.

City Traffic chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nadzri Hussain said the mat rempits usually converged on Friday and Saturday nights, but had recently begun holding activities on Sundays, possibly in an effort to avoid the police's regular operations on them.

The compounds were issued for various offences, including riding without licence (58 summonses), expired license (42), fancy number plate (56) and plate numbers not complying with standard requirement (20).

Police also arrested a man believed to have been involved in the theft of a motorcycle in Sentul.

Nadzri said police will continue to conduct operations against mat rempits to keep the city centre free from illegal races.

A Mat Rempit is a Malaysian term for "an individual who participates in immoral activities and public disturbance with a motorcycle as their main transport", usually involving underbone motorcycles, colloquially known as Kapcai, or scooters.

No Politics, no Race no Religion ....just DURIANS!

Hello Durian Lovers

I was a durian seller for more 30 years since 1960's.

I am revealing some durian sellers dirty tricks & the quality of the durians.This year the durians are very expensive & hope readers will decide after reading it.

1) Never buy durian from display packaging pack why? becos the seller will assemble overnight or half spoilt durians into packaging pack & sell at fixed price.Actually overnight durians are almost worthless & easily get bad.If the durians taste sour pls stop eating & throw away the pack.

2) Please do not eat branded durians like Mao Shan Wang/D24/red prawns & others why? the durian farmers will spray toxic chemicals at the tree roots/bark & durians to prevent flying fox/snake/insects & others from attacking their expensive durians.As a result you can hardly see housefly & ants at the durian stalls nowadays.

3) FYI I lost 2 good friends ( died from throats cancer) by eating branded durians for few years. I did warn them😰 Just try to eat Mao Shan Wang/D24/red prawns & others you can straight away feel the burning sensation at your throat during your sleep or next morning.This indicate the toxic chemical are working.Another gd example to confirm the above that there are no housefly or ants attacking the durian packaging sale pack although the durians are very sweet. Just check it yourself.

4) Please buy durians without any pre-opening why? the durians fell from trees snakes/insects will try to eat/attack at any opening of the durians---not safe

Made sure your durians are open in front of you & any pre-opening pls do not accept as the sellers are always tricky. They try to pass the bad one to you & after all they are businessman.( I know all their dirty tricks like using hand gloves or cloth to cover the durians & pretend to open it------actually the durians are already opened or pretend sweet talk to distract you) 

Pls check all your buy durians before paying( they can switch them very fast) & also check their weighting machines.After all the durians is like the price of gold.

5) pls do not eat any durian cakes/pudding/deserts as the owners buy the cheapest quality.

P/S watch out for more update news.

Good luck & enjoy it

Malaysia so rich , think again and see why the Malays are living like beggers

Petronas scraps US$29b western Canada LNG project

ALGARY (Alberta), July 26 ― Malaysian oil company Petronas scrapped a proposed C$36 billion (RM123.2 billion) liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in western Canada due to weak prices, in a blow to both its global ambitions and Canada's hopes of becoming a major LNG player.

Pacific NorthWest LNG in British Columbia was meant to produce 12 megatonnes per year and spur further development of Canada's largest shale play, but industry observers said the move was widely expected given years of delay.

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“It is a good decision not to invest in this project which is expensive and risky,” said Subbu Bettadapura, senior director, Asia Pacific, Frost and Sullivan. “Only question is why they took so long to come to this decision.”

Analysts had been skeptical about the project's prospects given current low gas prices and constraints facing state-run Petronas, which has been cutting costs to deal with lower profits and cash flow.

The decision is the latest setback for Canada's energy industry, already bruised by international oil firms selling off around US$23 billion in Canadian energy assets this year alone.

“We have a window of opportunity to develop BC's LNG industry, but the next several years will be critical,” said Gillian Robinson, spokeswoman for the BC LNG Alliance. “We risk losing thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in benefits if B.C. does not have diversified access to markets.”

Pacific NorthWest LNG received approval from the Canadian government last year, but Petronas delayed its final investment decision on what would have been its biggest foreign investment.

Price tag

The C$36 billion price tag included around C$11 billion for the export terminal, C$6.5 billion in pipelines, the C$5.5 billion Petronas paid for Progress Energy and its natural gas assets and around C$2 billion a year expected to be spent on producing natural gas.

TransCanada Corp, which was contracted to build the pipeline connecting gas wells to the LNG terminal, said it will be reimbursed for costs associated with the project. It had spent C$500 million as of April, spokesman Shawn Howard said.

Petronas had no immediate comment when asked about TransCanada's statement.

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co (Japex) said it would take a loss of about C$102 million ($82 million) due to the scrapping of the project.

Petronas had planned to produce its own gas to supply Pacific NorthWest LNG, rather than buying it from other producers, but no LNG demand means firms like Painted Pony Petroleum and Seven Generations Energy will continue to see low gas prices, analysts said.

“The demise of the LNG industry in Western Canada means that Western Canadian gas will largely remain captive to the oversupplied North American market,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Randy Ollenberger said in a note.

Of more than a dozen projects proposed for British Columbia, only the C$1.6 billion privately held Woodfibre project has so far been given the green light by its developers.

Last July Royal Dutch Shell and partners pushed back a final investment decision on their proposed LNG Canada project, citing global industry challenges.

Michelle Mungall, British Columbia's energy minister, said she will be calling other LNG companies to reassure them her government is ready to work with them, but BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver released a statement saying the future does not lie in “chasing the fossil fuel economy.”

The ruling New Democratic Party, which formally took power this month, is backed by the environmentalist Green Party. Its rise has fueled uncertainty about energy development in the province.

A spokesman for Canada's Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, said Petronas' move was a business decision.

Focus shift

Pacific NorthWest LNG board chairman Anuar Taib said in a statement that Petronas and partners would continue to develop natural gas assets in Canada.

“We are disappointed that the extremely challenging environment brought about by the prolonged depressed prices and shifts in the energy industry have led us to this decision,” Taib said.

However, the company also appears to have shifted its focus to the $27 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) in southern Malaysia, that got a $7 billion investment boost from Saudi oil giant Aramco in February.

With Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak expected to call elections in coming months, the state firm may also be more inclined to push ahead domestic projects, said Bettadapura.

“They would want to make sure the economy grows here and they have a good report card before the elections. Petronas would not want to squander away its capital,” he said. ― Reuters

Laughter of the day - NO.1 IN CORRUPTION? MALAYSIAN POLICE RATED ‘BEST’ IN ASEAN REGION – ZAHID

KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysian Police has been rated by an international body as the best police force in Asean, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Deputy Prime Minister said that despite the recognition and the reduction of the country’s crime index by some 47%, there was still negative public perception towards the police.


However, he did not give further details on which international body gave the rating.

“The Royal Malaysian Police, according to the ratings is acknowledged as the best police in Asean.

“This is an international recognition but what is the perception? In my estimation only 20% are positive about the police,” he said in his speech at the Addressing Perception on Safety and Security forum here on Wednesday.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also said he decided to extend the discussion time with the audience at the forum by one hour to gauge the sentiments of the people towards the men in blue.

He pointed out that the forum was a valuable platform for the Government and its agencies to engage with stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations.





“We would like to create confidence among the people in order to change the perception.

“We must create a situation where people are safe and feel safe, and as Home Minister I will do my best,” he said.

He said the police should find a friendlier approach to deal with the public apart from increasing its engagement with them to better understand the problems and find solutions.

“This will be our approach. It will take time to change perceptions and this effort cannot be done only by the police,” he said.

– ANN

Gov't takes 'child conceived out of wedlock' case to Federal Court - A very vengeful Government out to destroy a kids life before it starts

The government and the National Registration Department has filed an application for leave to appeal to the Federal Court over the Court of Appeal's landmark decision that children conceived out of wedlock can bear the surname of the father.

The appellate court also decided that an edict on this by the National Fatwa Committee does not have the force of law.

Lawyer Nizam Bashir, who represents the child and his parents, said the government had already filed the application for leave (permission).

“That is where the case stands now. Let us see how it goes,” he told Malaysiakini today, adding that he thought it was a "reasonable judgment" by the Court of Appeal...

Read Below

In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that a child conceived out of wedlock can take on his or her father's surname, and that the edict on this by the National Fatwa Committee does not have the force of law.


Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli, who wrote the unanimous decision, said the jurisdiction of the National Registration Department (NRD) director-general is a civil one and is confined to determine whether the father had fulfilled the requirements of Section 13A(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (BDRA).

This covers all children conceived out of wedlock, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.

The ruling was made in an appeal involving a seven-year-old child, who was born five months and 24 days (or five months and 27 days according to the Islamic Qamariah calendar) after his parents married.

In 2003, the National Fatwa Committee decided that a child conceived out of wedlock (“Anak Tak Sah Taraf”) cannot carry the name (“tidak boleh dinasabkan”) of the person who claims to be the father of the child, if the child was born less than six months of the marriage...

Think next when you leave your car overnight at the service center

Got this from Facebook and please pass around

Beware of Malaysia franchise car service centres for continental car manufacturers as these service centres are running a racket of replacing car spares with used car parts when cars are left there overnight . Venerable cars are with expired manufacturers warranty . When car gives problems and at the service centres the spares are replaced by the second spare parts taken from cars and charge for new parts. The brand new spares are then sold to fences . These thievery and cheating is organised . The gang at service centre gets 35% of the value of the spares from the fences . Turn over daily is in the hundreds of thousand ringgits . Venerable car makes are lower end Peugeot, Volkswagen , mini coopers , local assemblers of BMW . More exposed later on

Yes a very confused Malaysian Indian Muslim family in Malaysia

A very confused Kimma family wants to be a Tamil at home and a Malay Bumiputra outside home. Just sold their mother and finding another family member to be sold also


As a Malaysian, the current debate about the meaning of the term "Bumiputera" moves me greatly. As an Indian Hindu, and a minority in this country, I wonder if this term is a boon or bane? A curse or a blessing?

I have many Indian Muslim friends, and the current debate is dividing their community too.

Many Indian Muslims practice Malay customs and speak Malay. A significant portion wishes to be considered "Bumiputera" to enjoy special privileges that the rest of us are not eligible for.

Editor's Pick

Why vote for the opposition?
There are others, however, in the Indian Muslim community who reject that, and feel that their Indian heritage, culture and tradition is something they do not want to sacrifice.

I do not blame those who seek Bumiputera status. Why wouldn’t they want it if it could help their children get to university and study the course they want at an affordable price, buy a house more easily, open their own business with government assistance, et cetera? I would like to have it too!

After all, when a family cuts a cake, doesn't every member deserve a slice?

At the end of the day, we are all Malaysians. And we are all hungry. Let us all have a slice of the cake, please.

The poem below depicts an imagined conversation between a Malaysian Indian Muslim father and his young son.

Are We Bumiputera?

Daddy,
What does the word “Bumiputera” mean?
You were arguing about it last week,
That we should be regarded as “Bumis”,
And the prime minister must give what we seek.

You say that we are Indian,
When you speak to a relative.
But to officials we are Malay,
You become very “creative”.

You always tell me not to lie,
But isn’t that what you do?
You say we need to do this,
But where will it take you?

You say don’t speak Tamil,
In front of “Outsiders”,
But that’s what we speak
At home with “Insiders”.

You say we need to be seen,
With “Bumiputera” qualification.
That we are “sons of the soil”;
Is that your justification?

I know we are devout Muslims,
But that is just about religion.
What about race and heritage,
Isn’t this blatant discrimination?

What about the other Malaysians,
And natives of this beautiful land,
Here for so many generations, yet
Cast out of the “Bumiputera” band?

Son,
I can’t answer your questions,
Though they make perfect sense.
I really don’t know what to say,
In my country’s defence.

The meaning of this phrase,
Is neither here nor there.
Not defined in the Constitution,
It’s vague; clarified nowhere.

But it matters; it really does.
Life for you will be much easier.
You will be given preferences,
Though others may be better.

You can study what you want,
In a public university; you shall
Not fall under an unfair quota;
Bang your head against a wall.

Your job prospects will be brighter,
Ventures into business assisted,
Acquisitions of property cheaper,
Your successes loudly trumpeted.

There are many more advantages,
I cannot speak of them all here.
One day you will realise yourself,
All these values we hold so dear.

Thus “Bumiputera” we hope to be,
We have the right, please trust me.
As for the “Others”, please don’t worry,
Justice and Equality, not theirs to see.

A REAL WARNING FOR MALAYSIA: AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY BUBBLE FUELLED BY CHINA BUYERS – GET OUT NOW, BEFORE IT BURSTS

The land down under was a great place to invest, especially its property orreal estate. Parents from neighbouring Asian countries have been pouring billions of dollars snapping up properties – either for investment or for their children’s education. Chinese parents love sending their kids to a foreign country to further their education, and Australia is one of the top destinations.

The impact of Chinese buyers on the real estate market in Australia has been nothing but impressive. But it wasn’t the property market alone that has benefited from the Chinese hot money. Those rich kids from mainland China brought along their buying power, buying everything under the sun – cars, clothing, handbags, sunglasses and whatnot – everything designer.


They’re no longer what the Aussie used to call “the Chinese immigrants” or refugees looking for a better life in Australia. Students spending US$16,000 on a handbag is a common trend. The latest influx of wealthy Chinese who have sent their children to Australian universities means the local property market also experienced tremendous sales.

Rich Chinese Students Shopping at Gucci Australia

After a multi-year boom, the cost of an average home in the country now sits at 669,700 Australian dollars (US$529,000; £407,000; RM2.26 million). Eventually, the musical chairs will have to stop. And according to researchers at the Swiss bank, UBS, the property market in Australia is just too hot to handle; therefore, the bubble could burst anytime now.

What the Australian housing market needs is a little push in the form of interest rates hikes by the country’s central bank – Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) – and voila, it could trigger a crash. The Australian government data shows the growth in residential property prices at 10.2% year on year for the 2017 March quarter. So what’s the problem here?

The problem here is that the housing starts tumbling 19% in the first quarter of the year and May’s mortgage approvals also plunged 20%. Recently, the Turnbull government said they are prepared to further intervene in the housing market, if the federal budget’s housing package fails to calm rising house prices. Effectively, the Australian government is equally concerned of a bubble burst.

Australia Property Market - House Sold

Everyone agrees that Australian properties have become too ridiculously expensive, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, and housing prices have stalled. Clearly, this is the first recipe that what will happen next isn’t going to be pretty. But certain people refuse to use the word “collapse”. In fact, they argue that Australia has never experienced a “crash” in housing market.

d, they prefer to use the word “correction”, where property prices go down slightly – in an orderly manner. Additionally, they argued, the unemployment isn’t terrible that it could trigger a wave of forced home sales, even if the government is reckless enough to raise interest rates. And they couldn’t find any reason why the Turnbull government would be dumb enough to do it.

The funny thing is, that was how they argued about the U.S. property market, just before the 2008 subprime crisis exploded. The fact is the longer that prices boom, the closer they get to a correction (if that’s the word you like instead of “a crash”). AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver has forecast the price growth to slow this year, and home prices in Sydney and Melbourne to drop 5-10% next year.

Reserve Bank of Australia

Like any governments too scare to poke the beehives, the Reserve Bank of Australia has left the official cash rate on hold at a record low 1.5%. But the government couldn’t ignore the reality that they aren’t convinced that the labour market is strong enough to begin thinking about tightening rates. In the meantime, the growth in housing debt continues to skyrocket.

CoreLogic Australia head of research Tim Lawless said the RBA was actually “stuck between a rock and hard place”. The Australian government could not afford to push the official interest rate higher just to slow house price growth in two cities if that would mean damaging the broader economy. Of course, hardcore property speculators and investors disagree a crash would happen.

Author, investor and university lecturer Peter Koulizos said there was no need to panic about housing affordability, let alone a crash, and he questioned how many buyers remembered the days of double-digit home loan interest rates two decades ago. He said – “Housing affordability today is better than it was in the 1980s and 1990s when interest rates were 17.5%.”

Australia Booming Property Market Real Estate - Cnstruction Sites

Well, since the Reserve Bank of Australia isn’t going to raise its rate anywhere near 17.5%, why was Governor Philip Lowe then so damn worry about raising the interest rate? That’s because household debt is too “high” relative to incomes, making it likely that many Australians would respond to a market correction with a “sharp correction in their spending”.

Yes, the chain reaction is scary. The amount of debt that Australians carry, their low savings rate, their approach to debt (happy go lucky), and their high levels of consumption means if the Reserve Bank interest rate went up from 1.5% to 3.5% (still miles away from 17.5%), that could cause a lot of pain to Australia. The Australians are reaching the tipping point despite enjoying easy money.

Australian households owed debt in the March quarter equal to 190% of their yearly disposable income – a new all-time high. If salaries or the value of homes fall, many families – and the banks they owe – will be hurt. Moody’s, a ratings agency, recently warned that Australian households are leveraged to about the same degree as those in Ireland before its property market crashed in 2007.

Australia Sydney

In fact, not even the Americans, just before it plunged much of the world into economic chaos back in 2008, had a debt-income ratio as high as Australia’s current 190%. A year before the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, the U.S. household debt was estimated to be close to 140% only. Data from the Reserve Bank confirmed that Australia’s debt mountain is largely due to soaring property prices.

Citibank predicts that property investment could fall by nearly 6% in 2018. A recent poll found that the majority of non-homeowners worry that they will never own a place. Last month, the Swiss-based Bank for International Settlements warned that Australia’s surge in household indebtedness was likely to constrain future economic growth and increase the nation’s susceptibility to another crisis.

The government hates to admit it but tax breaks and popular interest-only loans have encouraged speculators and even foreign investors to buy houses and leave them empty, and Australian property is seen as a safe haven for Chinese riches. While the wealthy Chinese couldn’t care less about overheating property market, the same cannot be said about local Australians.

Australians Looking at SOLD Ads for Housing

Hence, the good news is the Australian housing debt is heavily skewed towards the wealthy top 20%. That is the only different from what occurred in the United States in the run-up to the subprime crisis. Still, the bad news remains that those mortgages are eating up the peoples’ retirement. One way or another, the bubble is going to burst. The Australian government might just (suddenly) raise interest rates.

– Finance Twitter

End is very near for UMNO in Malaysia

IN UMNO, A COVERT MOVE TO OUST NAJIB GATHERS STEAM: IN PUBLIC, DIVISION LEADERS SMILE & SWEAR SUPPORT. IN PRIVATE, THEY PREPARE TO JUMP TO DR M’S BERSATU ONCE THEY HAVE WON THEIR SEATS IN GE14 UNDER UMNO’S UMBRELLA
Politics | July 27, 2017 by | 0 Comments

A friend with the opposition tip-off political movement within UMNO to oust Najib. He believes there is justified reasons.

It seemed almost similar to the thinking of someone close to Tun Dr Mahathir that facts do not matter but the (claimed) principle justified. Whatever principle, it is mere excuse for power and self serving economic interest.


That tip-off came late because it’s long known Dato Husni Hanazlah is involved. Rosli Md Sah FB here revealed the UMNO division officials confer in Perth. Few months ago, there was a Bandung pow wow involving Perak UMNO and PPBM leaders.


 Rosli Mohd. Sah

Follow · 25 July near Ampang ·






Apa cerita ‘Gerakan KUB dan TKUB’ yang berhimpun di Perth baru2 ni dengan pemergian mereka ditaja sepenuhnya oleh seseorang demi memalukan dan menggulingkan Najib Abdul Razak.

Jadi ke nak melompat ke Parti Cap Bunga sebaik2 nama dicalonkan, atau tunggu selepas menang setelah UMNO-BN atau PAS kempen guna dana parti utk mereka. Atau sebaik2 dicalonkan, akan tarik diri dan bagi kemenangan percuma kepada Pakatan Harapan?

PAS dah kena dengan PAN. Nampaknya UMNO pula akan kena dengan Cap Bunga!

What’s the story ‘ motion kub and tkub ‘ that assemble in Perth baru2 this and and and…

What was our April posting, “PPBM’s devious and dishonest politics” about then?

As we approach the general election, the distinction between truth and lies seemed irrelevant. The campaign is going to be dirty and dirtier, or rather bloody ugly. It will be far worse and tricky than yesterday’s skirmish between UMNO and PPBM Youth in front of PWTC.

There will be more expose similar to yesterday’s here on Ann Clwyd and Pergau-arms deal in the early 90s. It would be Mahathir’s one and only 1MDB slander against Najib versus encyclopedic volumes of his wrongdoing. Anyone interested, go to Roslan Latif FB here.

Yesterday, Dato Najib fired a shot at Mahathir in a language unlike his gentlemenly self. It was in a tune that is music longed for in decades. Like forex RCI, the open secrets in the past and flocks of elephants long roaming in the room need be addressed with honesty.

Cracking down on crony capitalism

In front of an international crowd, Najib spoke frankly of the past cronyism and corruption practises of Mahathir. The Malay Mail Online reported:

Before international investors, Najib denounces Dr M’s legacy

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

Tuesday July 25, 2017
10:42 AM GMT+8

UPDATED: July 25, 2017
12:07 PM GMT+8

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 ― Speaking before the international business community here today, Datuk Seri Najib Razak denounced the legacy of his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as being rife with cronyism and corruption.

Najib rarely uses international business platforms to criticise his political foes but today the Umno president said it was necessary to appeal to investors to avoid placing faith in an Opposition bloc led by a man with a track record for “cutting corners” and rolling out policies that only benefited his close allies.

“This government..will always be straight with the people and we will always do the right by the people,” Najib said in his keynote address at Invest Malaysia 2017, a private event for investors.

“We will always put their interests first, from economic welfare to security even if it’s not the most popular thing to do..this is also one of the reasons I am not very popular with that certain nonagenarian.

“Under his leadership many corners were cut, and the Malaysian people had to pay a very high price so that a few of his friends benefitted,” the prime minister added.

Najib has increasingly targeted Dr Mahathir since the latter began a campaign to remove him, which included resigning from Umno, forming an Opposition party, and becoming chairman of the Pakatan Harapan pact.

Continuing with his salvo against the former PM, Najib said today his government was undoing much of the damage caused by Dr Mahathir’s policies, such as by “cracking down on crony capitalism”.

Dr Mahathir had a preference for trickle-down economics that favoured select businessmen and companies, but which ended up concentrating wealth in a handful of elites.

“No more sweetheart deals. No more national follies kept going to stroke the ego of one man,” the BN chairman said.
In case any sceptics wish to refute Najib, they could name names in Rocky’s here.

Thus far the alleged cronies are hardly a shadow to Mahathir’s proxy empire builders such as Vincent Tan, Ananda Krishnan, Arumugam, and Francis Yeoh, to name a few.

YTL-paid Mahathir smear campaign



Najib revealed to the international audience to be cautious of Mahathir-led smear campaign through allegedly YTL-funded international PR agency and Soros linked foregn media.

The report continues below:

Najib also warned of a campaign to discourage the business community from supporting his government through what he described as deliberate “misinformation” by the Opposition.

The BN chairman accused the Opposition of starting a drive to sabotage the economy through smear tactics that are often reported by pro-opposition press.

“There has in fact been a concerted campaign to send such misinformation overseas to damage Malaysia’s economy for their own selfish political objectives.

“So if you receive these smears, or you read it in publications that do not check facts properly, please beware”.

The prime minister previously asserted that political rivals were aiming to undermine the economic success of his government in order to generate political support.

But Najib said they have been unsuccessful as Malaysia’s economy continued to grow robustly and draw in investments.

He noted Malaysia’s GDP has grown at an average of 4 per cent annually since he took office in 2009. This year alone trade increased to 24 per cent or RM430 billion compared to the same period last year.

Najib said the data proved investors remain confident in his government.
Reported by Bernama in The Malaysian Insight here, he said:

“All this can point to only one conclusion, namely, our economy continues to prosper and we are stronger than ever as a result of the reforms and programmes the government has put in place,” he said.

“The business community wants the certainty of knowing the government is committed to the necessary reforms and to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, transparency, accountability, and good regulations.”
No former leader style cover-up for 1MDB


True gentleman he is, Najib admitted to the the mistakes of 1MDB. TMI reported:

PM admits to lapses in 1MDB governance

Noel Achariam
Published on 25 Jul 2017 11:36AM

PRIME Minister Najib Razak today admitted there were clear lapses in corporate governance in state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), but said he would not pour more money, unlike a predecessor.

In a clear reference to mentor-turned-nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he said he had ordered “unprecedented” investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

“However, rather than bury our heads in the sand, we ordered investigations into the company at a scale unprecedented in our nation’s history, rather than funnel money after to cover up any issues 1MDB might have faced, the model embraced by a former leader.

“I instructed the rationalisation of the company,” Najib said in his speech at the Invest Malaysia Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the rationalisation was progressing well as many of the assets formerly owned by 1MDB were thriving.

Citing the Tun Razak Exchange as an example, Najib said one only needs to drive by to see the progress of the new construction site.

While there are numerous investigations under way around the world, including three civil suits filed by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Singapore is the only country to have prosecuted those involved in 1MDB, chaired by Najib.

The DoJ moved to seize another US$540 million (RM2.3 billion) in assets allegedly bought with money stolen from 1MDB, bringing the misappropriated figure from 1MDB to US$4.5 billion.

However, Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing and the Malaysian authorities have cleared him.

Najib said while there were issues at 1MDB, it was certain politicians who blew them out of proportion while trying to sabotage the company in a bid to topple the government.

“If 1MDB hadn’t been around they would have chosen another line of attack to illegitimately try to change the government.” – July 25, 2017.
Reuters reported Najib asking investors to move past 1MDB as economy strengthens. The full speech is available in The Star here.

Not as deadly

The words spoken by Najib once cost an UMNO Youth leader his position and ISA detention. Mahathir will not be taking it lying down. It will be a fight to the death.

That is if Mahathir does not catch cold. He maybe a vicious fighter in the political arena. But a cold can be deadly to him. He is heard to have got one recently and cancelled few events.


Maybe it is an excuse to avoid a rebel faction in PPBM.

Mahathir had to get Mukhriz to announce stopping Deklarasi Rakyat. It is as though he is evading the 1MDB issue that was the bulk of the declaration by a gang of past Kleptocrats desperately “minta nyawa” from the opposition.

In the past, Mahathir would kill off any rebels within his fold. This time he seemed to dare not. Losing his killer touch or buying time?

– http://anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.my/

62 3 0 66 Ignore anti-vaccine preachers, Muslims told

Perak mufti says parents have a religious obligation to get their children inoculated even if vaccines are tainted.

Harussani-Zakaria-vaccinePETALING JAYA: Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria has urged Muslims to ignore preachers who speak against inoculation against diseases.

Speaking to FMT, he said parents had a religious obligation to get their children inoculated even if the vaccines were tainted with impurities, as some preachers have claimed.
“People should listen to what we the religious authorities have decided,” he said.
“We have even issued a fatwa on this matter.
“We have stated previously that it is necessary for children to be vaccinated regardless of whether the vaccines contain impurities.”

He added that people should ignore dubious information shared on social media against immunisation.

He said parents must ensure that their children are given the necessary injections to prevent them from contracting tuberculosis, measles, diphtheria and other diseases.
In a statement in April last year, Harussani said those who rejected the vaccinations were going against God’s injunctions.
Early this week, the health ministry said that the majority of parents who refused vaccination for their children in 2016 were from Perak, Terengganu and Pahang.


“They are unsure if the vaccines are halal or haram,” said Rozita Rahma, the assistant director of the ministry’s family health development division.

“Other than questioning whether there is porcine DNA in the vaccines, they fear that they contain prohibited substances or chemicals such as mercury.”

A study by the ministry found that Perak topped the list with 285 objections, followed by Terengganu (233), Pahang (178), Kedah (172) and Selangor (151).

It found that parents cited either religious reasons or fear of the risk of autism.
Some of the apprehension stemmed from information disseminated over the internet by groups associated with the anti-vaccine movement, often referred to as anti-vaxxers.
During the first six months of this year, the ministry recorded more than 800 cases of parents refusing vaccinations for their children.

Meanwhile, Selangor mufti Tamyes Abdul Wahid urged the health ministry to educate the public on the contents of the vaccines to curb irrational fears.

“The ministry should explain to the public what the contents of the vaccines are, as well as what the consequences would be if they refused to get their children immunised,” he said.
He said his religious position was that Muslims had the option to accept or reject vaccination.

Pathologist acquitted of misusing hospital equipment

SHAH ALAM, July 27 — The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital (HATTM) pathologist, Colonel Dr R. Kunaseegaran on six charges of using HATTM equipment without the knowledge of the hospital.

Judge Slamat Yahya also acquitted and discharged former HATTM assistant lab technician Yazid Lamin, 47, on three counts of abetting Dr Kunaseegaran, 54, by taking out the HATTM pathological laboratory equipment without the hospital’s knowledge.

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The court made the decision after being satisfied that the defence had cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case.

Dr Kunaseegaran, who is being remanded at the Sungai Buloh Prison near here, has also been charged with abetting seven men in the murder of Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais, two years ago.

On the six counts, Dr Kunaseegaran was charged with using equipment belonging to HATMM which included a Microtome’, ‘Microtome Rotary System’ and ‘Circular Parafin Floating Bath’ without the hospital’s knowledge, at No 23 and No 26 Galeri Empire, Jalan Empayar via Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, Klang near here in June 2010 and April 2012.

The charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment up to five years and whipping, and liable to be fined, if found guilty.

Meanwhile, Yazid, who is also a former military warrant officer, was charged with abetting Dr Kunaseegaran by taking out the hospital’s equipment, among them a Thermo Shandon Finesse E+ Microtome and a Leica Microtome Rotary System without the hospital’s knowledge.

The offences were allegedly committed at Clinipath (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, No 23, Galeri Empire, Jalan Empayar, Off Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim/KU 1, Klang, in June 2010.

Yazid, who had previously served 25 years in the Armed Forces, was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 403 of the same Act, which carries a jail term of up to five years and whipping and liable to a fine, upon conviction.

In his judgment, Judge Slamat said after reviewing the evidence of all the prosecution witnesses, exhibits and defence of the two accused, the court found the prosecution had failed to prove who had brought the three equipment to the laboratory.

“Both accused denied giving instructions or moving the equipment, in fact, there was no evidence to prove that the two accused had moved the equipment. There was no basis to show that all the equipment were properly registered at HATMM and failure of the 12th prosecution witness (registration staff) to do so made him a witness who was not credible.

“The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were also consistent with the defence of the two accused that the equipment were used for training purposes, hence, despite the fact that the defence of both accused were not supported by other defence witnesses, the court is satisfied that their defence had raised reasonable doubts in the prosecution’s case,” he said.

The prosecution was conducted by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) DPP Mohammed Heikal Ismail while Dr Kunaseegaran and Yazid were represented by lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent. — Bernama

Confused Victim of a robbery and a smart robber who knows best

Malaysian Diana Chan wins Masterchef Australia trophy

Monday, 24 July 2017 | MYT 10:33 PM
Malaysian Diana Chan wins Masterchef Australia trophy

BY S. INDRAMALAR


PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Diana Chan took home the Masterchef Australia trophy in a nail-biting finale on Monday night.

The Melbourne-based cook beat her competitor, Ben Ungermann in the closely fought final. She walks away with a trophy, A$250,000 and a regular column in the food magazine, Delicious.

A strong contender throughout the season, Chan impressed the judges not only with her innovative and flavourful food but also her ability to remain calm under pressure during the many intense challenges throughout the season.

Among the dishes she wowed judges with in this season was her Red Emperor Fish on Spicy Fragrant Sambal, based on a dish her mother used to cook.

Her parents - both strong cooks - were instrumental in developing  her interest in cooking.

The 29-year-old accountant grew up in Johor Baru before moving to KL in her late teens. She moved to Australia when she was 19.

Congratulations to Chan who hopes to open a restaurant serving "wholesome meals" showcasing Malaysian flavours.

Chan is the second Malaysian to win MasterChef Australia, after Adam Liaw, who was born in Penang, won in Season 2.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/07/24/malaysian-diana-chan-wins-masterchef-australia-trophy/#E2jp3R3GkKtWcbL7.99

China overseas buying spree ends badly

Stay united to defeat BN government in Malaysia

Somebody posted this in Facebook

Brothers and sisters...no offends meant to anyone here.....i see and feel so much of anger, frustration, hatred and disappointment to our current government...

Instead of being negative and frustrated all the time we can pursue some positive action..
After all negativity like anger, hatred, frustration will bring about sickness and disease, remember we are not young, almost 60 years of age and our immune system can take these bashing..

Let's, spend some productive time thinking as to how best we can assist in the coming election..lets take small steps, do little things that could change the outcome of this coming election..

It might not be big enough, but if it can influence the outcome by a small margin for the benefit of our future generation then we can proudly say we did something positive and stayed healthy staying away from negativity..
Again dont get me wrong , please do continue as you always been, no harm in that but lets also progress towards a summit of positivity which could be beneficial for our future generation..

We all have lived our life to the fullest...most of us ..what about creating a stage for the younger and future generation to live their fullest...

Let's not be SamyVelu, Najib, Liong Sek, Mahatir, or any of these selfish self centred pricks..lets be true Malaysian who cares and want to do the little that could transform the Malaysian political stage for the better...
Just my thoughts....

Why female sex should dress all up to avoid untold accidents on to the onlookers

Beware when car is jacked up in workshop

See video

Jack Ma's first unmanned supermarket

Watch the Video below

Today, on a street in Hangzhou (Zhejiang province), Jack Ma's first unmanned supermarket officially opened for business. Because there are no costs for manpower, the expenses for running the unmanned supermarket only add up to about a quarter of those of traditional supermarkets. The shop owner just needs to replenish the inventories every morning - nothing else needs to be done.

Entrance to the unmanned supermarket

Reports state that a single person on average is able to manage ten unmanned supermarkets. This means that the costs for employees would only be around 500RMB for each supermarket. This has caused a very severe blow to the traditional supermarkets and retail stores. The chances of survival for convenience stores and supermarkets with high costs are shrinking gradually, and their profits are dropping rapidly.

The first step: scanning a code with your mobile phone and going through the gate

The second step: Select and purchase goods

The third step: Going through the payment gate

Relying on Alipay's huge wireless payment capabilities, Jack Ma and Wahaha group's chairman Zong Qinghou, have recently announced that, in the coming years, 100,000 unmanned stores will be opened in China! Immediately afterwards the CEO of Jingdong, Liu Qiangdong, also reported that he would establish 500,000 convenience stores in China, and even a lot of unmanned Jingdong supermarkets.

The gate to the unmanned supermarket

Jack Ma's Alipay and Liu Qiangdong's payment services through WeChat both have huge wealth, capital, technology and an unmatched wireless system. After already having monopolized the online shopping market, these two giants have directed their gaze at offline stores now. The popularization of a 24/7 unmanned convenience store has already started! In the following 3 to 5 years, brick-and-mortar supermarkets and department stores are about to face an unforeseen calamity.

Malaysia Property market for Business premises and housing set for a severe crash landing with few servivours

Public announcement for Malaysian Indian students - Scholarships from Indian Government

Now Mahathir dares Hishammuddin to stand in Langkawi

Adam Abu Bakar | July 24, 2017

Former PM responds to the Umno vice-president’s challenge for him to take on prime minister Najib Razak in Pekan in the next general election.

MahathirKUALA LUMPUR: Dr Mahathir Mohamad today challenged Hishammuddin Hussein to contest in Langkawi, a day after the Umno vice-president dared the PPBM chairman to take on the prime minister in Pekan.

“I dare him to stand in Langkawi,” Mahathir, who is also the PPBM Langkawi division chief, told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat here.

Yesterday, Hishammuddin labelled the former prime minister’s announcement that he was open to contesting in Pekan against Najib Razak in the next general election as a populist statement.
Hishammuddin said Mahathir had deliberately issued the statement when the Umno divisional delegates’ meetings were being held to disrupt the focus of the party members.

“I see it as a populist statement. I challenge him to contest in Pekan.

“If he dares to, I myself, Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the whole Barisan Nasional’s leadership will go down there to defend the prime minister’s position as party president … so go ahead, if you dare,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Mahathir had also today alleged that there were phantom voters in Najib’s constituency, citing the increased number of voters to back up his claim.

“There’s something odd about that place.”

On a separate matter, Mahathir brushed aside Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s offer to debate him on issues surrounding 1MDB, saying that Puad wanted to help his “boss” Najib.
Mahathir said Puad, instead, should tell Najib not to fear him.
“This old man can’t do anything. He is young, I am 92. I can’t even say the right things. Why is he afraid?” he said, sarcastically.

Why Pakatan Harapan will win PRU 14

A U.S.-CHINA TRADE WAR ABOUT TO ERUPT- BUT THIS TIME, THE YANKEES CAN’T WIN!

Trump administration says the U.S. companies want more access to China’s economy. They wanted to rebalance what they say is an unfair trading relationship. During talks between the world’s two largest economies, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said China’s US$347 billion trade deficit with the United States was not the product of market forces.

“We must create more balance in our trade by increasing exports of made-in-America goods to China. There are significant opportunities to do this if we can work together to remove the significant barriers that continue to exist.” – Ross said at the Treasury Department. However, as predicted, the Chinese officials disagreed and practically told the Yankee to go fly kite.

So on Wednesday, the U.S. and China failed to agree on major new steps to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China. It was so screwed up that the annual economic dialogue session in Washington ended with cancelled news conferences, no joint statement and no new announcements on U.S. market access to China. It has failed spectacularly.


Essentially, the failure delivers a slap on President Donald Trump’s face as he had expected some form of success on his “U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue” talks. Trump who prides himself as being the ultimate deal maker appears to have bumped into a greater deal maker – China – as the Chinese refuse to budge so that the U.S. could win with ease.

The two nations had a “frank exchange” but failed to agree on most major bilateral trade and economic issues that were important to the United States. Trump had hoped that after his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-A-Lago, Florida, estate earlier in April, the Chinese could be persuaded to open its market to the Americans.

It was revealed that Trump’s team has presented a tall demand, included demands for access to China’s financial services markets, reducing excess Chinese steel capacity, reductions in auto tariffs, cutting subsidies for state-owned enterprises, ending Chinese requirements for data localization and lifting ownership caps for foreign firms in China.



The Chinese, however, drove a hard bargain when it had only granted some minor victories to Donald Trump, which included the resumption of American beef sales in China – after 14 years hiatus – and pledged to grant limited U.S. access to some financial services sectors, such as card payment services. They also to buy U.S. liquefied natural gas.

Mixing business with politics also saw Trump threatening new sanctions on small Chinese banks and other firms doing business with Pyongyang after he got frustrated with China’s lack of pressure on North Korea. After the meltdown in trade talks between both parties, Trump was asked by a reporter at the White House whether he would impose steel tariffs, to which he said – “Could happen.”

Trump administration has blamed massive Chinese excess capacity for a global steel glut that is hurting U.S. producers. But China has taken the opportunity to cry, whine and bitch about the same thing – that Washington has refused to sell Beijing advanced technology products. Therefore, the Chinese argued that the Yankees have to give them something in return, not threats.



The trade talks were also attended by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a senior White House adviser. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang said the two sides should maintain a healthy dialog and warned against starting down the path of confrontation over trade – “Dialog cannot immediately address all differences, but confrontation will immediately damage the interests of both.”

Investors interpreted the negative signals from the talks and lack of new trade announcements as making it more likely that Trump would forge ahead with broad steel tariffs or quotas. If Trump does that, either the China would be cowered or retaliated with its version of trade war. The burning question is: could Trump take more heat than he’s already facing now?

His plate is full of failures and scandals. The infamous Trump-Russia investigation is alive and kicking and even gaining steam, thanks to Trump’s idiot son. The infighting among Republicans saw Trump’s pledge to repeal and replace the Obamacare flops fantastically. Even Trump’s military threat against badass Kim Jong-un was met with more missile tests instead.


At this hour, could Trump really afford to launch a full-scale trade war with China? It would be a great diversion tactic to his domestic issues only if he is certain he could win the war. To be fair, Trump’s boys have picked the wrong timing to pressure China to open their markets, not that the Chinese would submit to the U.S. to begin with.

With the 19th Communist Party Congress around the corner, President Xi Jinping would be mad to meet Trump’s demands. If more American companies are allowed into the Chinese market through liberalization, it would be taken as a sign of an invasion of the Yankees – what more with the Americans wanting control on what they can and cannot do on Chinese soil.

If Trump still thinks that talking tough to China will produce positive results, clearly he doesn’t know the Chinese very well. From Beijing’s perspective, international trade takes a second seat to internal politics. President Xi Jinping’s top priority is to maintain political stability. He cannot lose face in his relations with President Trump and hope to retain power at home.


More importantly, Xi cannot deal with an American president who the Chinese feel fails to show proper respect for China itself, not after Trump sent some destroyer warships to South China Sea just to show off their military prowess. A trade war would not be a disaster for China, mainly because the U.S. needs China more than vice versa. The situation might have been different 20 years ago.

Even if companies like Apple agrees that America goes for a trade war with China, would American consumers agree to pay more for U.S.-made goods? Sure, on the surface they say they love U.S.-made products. But a research says otherwise. A latest Reuters/Ipsos poll found 70% of Americans think it is “very important” or “somewhat important” to buy U.S.-made products.

However, 37% said they would refuse to pay more for U.S.-made goods versus imports. About 26% said they would only pay up to 5% more to buy American, and 21% capped the premium at 10%. Hence, Trump’s promises of bringing back manufacturing jobs and boosting economic growth could backfire spectacularly.



– http://www.financetwitter.com

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