Another Gaffe, no doubt.

What would you call a person who is being detained? Detainee, right?

detainee

     n : some held in custody

But according to Home Minister, there are some 60,377 foreigners held in Immigration detention camps, but they are not necessarily 'Detainees'.

Now why would he say that? According to him here, some detainees are classified as 'victims of human trafficking' and were placed in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Detention centre for their protection.

To be fair, Hisham also said that the government took the case of the runaway 'victims' as a serous case and would continue to improve security in these depots.

I have a suggestion sir. If I may, the next time you come across a vistim, send him on the next plane back to where he came from, its called, deportation, sure saves a lot of money, and the 60,377 will be greatly reduced, sir!

Believe me. I have handled a fw of them in my time in MAS. They just send them back on our plane with a big NTL...Not To Land on it!!

Jaeng, Jeang, Jaeng!!! (think suspense....)

No need to guess.

You heard it here first. Abuse of Power?

Not sure. But what I am sure is that MACC is interested, but which one Bru?

AIyooooo! Rais, Rais, apa lu mahu?

Its one thing when the Minister lodged a report claiming character assassination.
Its another for getting reporters in trouble for...err...reporting.

Its bad enough that Wong Choon Mei had to look for a new job following her misreporting previously on Najib's 'manifesto'......If you recall, she was the same Wong Choon Mei who had misrepresented MalaysiaKini

So, what did Choon Mei write this time that got her into trouble? This perhaps.

I was obviously in my own world when she blogged about Najib's speech. I was listening to it as well, and thought nothing about the speech.

Bloggers, run their own blogs. Hell, they are merely expressing their thoughts, and if she wants to take the speech one way from the other, let her do it. After all, there really isn't a point, for those who have already chosen to vote BN or PR, they already have.

Nothing can change their mind.

To me MCMC should focus on what it has been doing right before Rais. Yes. You heard me. Before Rais.

Right now, like they say, the shot has hit the fan....its not about 'not getting hit by crap'...its how much you crap you can avoid!'

*Lets be honest, opposition supporters rely on stuff like that from insider, chronicle, digest, and all those 'portals' out there, so whatever the story maybe...let it be!

Open Mall for Damansara?

In the Malay Mail last week (22 Oct 2010), it was reported that Puncakdana Sdn Bhd's Mah Siew Soon is close to realising his dream of opening his own mall.
Mah was quoted as a young man who traversed the Subang Airport old road and dreamt of opening his own mall.

What was not reported was how the mall came about.

You see, back in 2008, post Tsunami March 08, a group of residents that stay near the current CITTA MALL site had raised their ire over the development of the mall.

They even had an online petition. Zorro had then along with some other residents of the PNKORA embarked on a quest to stop Puncakdana Sdn Bhd from going ahead with their plans.

Representative of Puuncakdana Sdn Bhd explaining their plans to build CITTA

(Then) Puncak Nusa Kelana Owners and Residents Association (PNKORA) chairman Sudesh Ratnarajah pointing to the lake

Puncakdana had claimed that the lake was actually their land in which approval for an 18 storey block was already approved, but they had scalled down the project to 4 storeys instead.

In the residents briefing, despite objections, Puncakdana had proceeded with the plans, in what was later claimed as 'no approval from residents' was required.

This was later reported in the Star.

According to Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim, he had chaired a monthly meeting with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Sept 19 and has requested for another meeting between all the parties concerned, including the developers and residents.

“We’re hoping to have the meeting by next week to clear the air,” he said. This was carried in The STar on September 22 2008.

I tried to speak to Sudesh and Zorro about this when I moved into this condominium last year in 2009, but I was told that neither of them could comment on this, as the developer (puncakdana) had a court action against them, and they were being sued for their involvement in their quest to stop the development.

Even though MP Sivarasa, who had on a few occasion showed up to support the protest, and even though having claimed that the current Selangor Government was very much against the destruction of any green lung left, the project eventually started, and now we hear that they are near completion.

Such is the way things are. The rakyat loses everytime, no matter which political party we hope will fight for us.

From what I have gathered, the entire land that Puncakdana Sdn Bhd is developing is owned by Yayasan Selangor, a subsidiary of the Selangor Government.

Here is a typical case, of MPs trying to make themselves look good by showing up and taking the 'fight' apparently, but in the end, the developers get their way.

We are not against development, but already, as it is, there is a glut of office space here, in Dana 1, as well as the many four storey shophouses in the Ara Damansara area. Soon Sime Darby's Oasis will open, so where does that put us?

In order for me to take my kids to the park now, we have to cycle about 20 minutes away, crossing a few main roads (basically dicing with death!) just so that we can enjoy the park in Ara Damansara.

The lake could have easily been saved, but apparently the power of money is far greater than the power to save nature.

I don't intend to set foot in the Mall, and I know that the residents who were up in arms were also planning to boycott the mall, question is, do they have the staying power to do so?

Rais son named in telco civil case

So there is a fire after all.

Read here for what Rais's son Dino has to answer to.......

To be fair...Dino made this statement to the Malay Mail.....In an SMS response to The Malay Mail this morning regarding the mention of his name in the afidavit Dino said: "I don't have anything to do with Razak. I was merely invited by Desmond (Looh) to advise him in terms of Malay write up and Malay social ethic since his Bahasa vocabulary is not that generous.

"Furthermore his partner (Abdul Razak) is Malay and I was only giving personal views regarding simple matters. I never touched on business dealings and I've never owned a telecommunications company as mentioned lately.

"Perhaps Razak is not happy with certain things hence he is claiming 'names' as a stepping stone to wrestle things his way."

So what now Mr Minister?

The fine line between a lie and a mistake

It really is a fine line.

We make errors time and again, and in the media, errors are not tolerated, hence to publish a correction is as good as adding ten years to your jail sentence for a journalist.

My editor had previously insisted that if I needed to include a quote, the full name of the person quoted along with his position must be stated clearly. No spelling mistakes.

If this is expected from the main stream media, then how is it that we tend to believe everything wholesale from bloggers, yet choosing to ignore mistakes, even to the point of repeating the mistakes?

How fine is the line between a mistake, intended or not, and a lie?

So here, I produce some examples of what I mean by lies and errors.

i. Reported in New Straits Times; RM26B financial hub (this being a press reported item is normally derived from press releases where facts are concerned, i.e, the amount of investment, timeline, names etc) key points, KLIFD - a 1MDB & Mubadala joint development, lead by 1MDB to develop KLIFD, details to be announced in early to mid 2011.
And based on the same, this is what is churned out by;

a. TIAN CHUA / ANWAR IBRAHIM read in Anwar's blog here
Factual errors or Lies
1.Chua berkata malah, 1MDB juga telah memeterai perjanjian dengan Mubadala Development yang beribu-pejabat di Abu Dhabi bagi membangunkan semula pangkalan udara seluas 458 ekar itu. Here Tian Chua implies that the agreement between Mubadala and 1MDB is to develop Sungai Besi Airbase (it should be KLIFD)

2.Perjanjian yang dimeterai pada Jumaat lalu itu akan menyaksikan pembangunan semula pangkalan udara di Lembah Klang itu untuk dimasukkan ke Wilayah Kewangan Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur(KLIFD)
Tian Chua implies that the Sungai Besi Airbase is to be developed and included as the Kuala Lumpur International Financial District

3.Projek yang dikenali sebagai ‘Greater Kuala Lumpur ‘ itu dijangka menelan belanja RM26 bilion. Permeteraian kedua-dua syarikat itu disaksikan oleh Najib.
Tian Chua has now coined a new name for KLIFD, calling it Greater KL instead. But credit to him for getting the RM26Billion right.

Giving the MP from Batu the benefit of the doubt, I am assuming that he gets his source of news from somewhere esle, given that they (opposition MPs) do subscribe to the notion that ALL Main stream Medias are liars.
So is it a mistake or a lie made out to be a mistake?

4. This is Anwar's pet lie (which he is not jealous about) Read here in Anwar's blog
Anwar mengingatkan Dewan Rakyat bahawa syarikat berkenaan (1MDB) berkaitan dengan jutawan Low Taek jho,
Anwar chooses to ignore the statement by Jho Low himself, yet choosing instead to shed doubts by continuously linking Jho Low to 1MDB. If Anwar expects us to believe him instead of evidence, why is he then insisting that readers believe allegations rather than statement from the accused himself in this case Jho Low?

5.This was what was first reported in relation to the stolen jet engines
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that a group of low-ranking officers were in cahoots with civilians in the well- planned theft and sale of the RM50mil engine.
Zahid himself, was it a lie to make the previous Defense Minister look bad? or was Zahid given wrng figures by his people to make him look bad? or did he simply get the numbers wrong?

Clearly, bloggers and pressmen, and whoever else who think that they sometimes get it right, actually got it wrong, and the first immediate response is to be defensive and adopt the 'I stand by my statement' response.

So is this then a factual error, or a lie made to look like a mistake.....I leave you this!

This is the receipt that Syed Akbar Ali got from the court when his wife posted bail.

In my posting, I asked what happened to the bloggers defense fund that was suggested by RPK himself with funds he raised.
It was very good of him to bail Syed Akbar Ali, possibly the only PRO-government blogger that has ever been bailed by RPK. RPK said he bailed Syed for RM5K! but clearly its only RM3K.
And for the record, RM3K was given to Syed, but not by Zorro, as claimed.

So little factual errors here and there is deemed to be what?

Mistakes or lies?

The point is this, lets not get too worked up over stuff that we ourselves do not have access to.
And until you can confirm that its what you deem as the truth, try to take it with a pinch of salt.

The 'real' blogger's defense fund!

A few days ago, when I posted about Biggie's campaign for Rocky's Laptop, Zorro had corrected me by saying this.

At that point in time, I was very much 'involved' as the custodian of Blog House. And as such, I got in on all the action! So when Syed Akbar Ali was charged, as did RPK, the question of bail money was raised.

Long story short, RPK raised well over RM50K, I was told RM60K, but whichever the case, RPK used it to bail himself and also Syek Akbar Ali, this I was told a few days ago via Zorro's post.

Good that RPK, had helped Syed Akbar Ali. Remember, Bloggers defence fund.

Anyways, I am certainly not gonna pick a fight with someone whom I respect and consider a friend, but when facts needs to be corrected, they need to.

For example, the Vigilers for Bersih? I used to follow along for all these vigils, heck even carried the supply of candles. As far as vigils are concerned, the police are the ones that need to be told off, not the 'vigilers'.

But I wonder which ones of them blog too. After all, it was blogger defence fund. But, hey, its RM50 or 60K that rightly belongs to RPK, and if he choose to get Zorro to bail anyone, its up to him.

Which brings us to the next point. Opposition bloggers have a defense fund, but if it comes to bloggers who are deemed pro-government (though I don't see which part of the post that Rocky, Bigdog, nor TnT is pro government!) there is the perceived thought that they will NEVER get into trouble.

Tony, Tony quite contrary should be the next line then! Let's see shall we?

RPK - Very much opposition - charged but fled to London
Syed Akbar Ali - Very much neutral (otherwise, where got attack Najib and even Permata?) - Charged but case won (or was it dropped)
Kickdefella - Very much neutral now (formerly Pro PAS) Charged and required to report to police (on police bail - hey Sheikh...Tak terima bail money dari RPK via Zorro ke?)
Rocky - Very much neutral (but unfortunately because got Datukship and also because 'they' say so, is very very much Pro Government) - One court case pending (no bail money from RPK bru?), one being investigated, and countless more to come (this one applies to anyone who blogs responsibly)
Hassan Skodeng - Bailed RM4K by Rocky (bru, no bail money from RPK via Zorro?)
Big Dog - Very much pro UMNO (but yet doesnt stop him from attacking UMNO!)

The point is the bail money, was used, yes. Though to imply that it was used to bail bloggers, a little too much lah!

BTW, bail money is returned to the bailor after the case is disposed of (and contrary to popular belief, the money is not used to offset cost) so, if case dropped, the blogger defense fund should still be there lah! Lucky for those who are associated to RPK and Zorro then.

And of course, you would also know that along with that they also do not have a shortage of a string of very very capable lawyers.

You see, truth be told. Now that I am not a part of 'that' group, I don't have that.
Neither does Rocky, BigDog, Syed Akbar, and a whole lot of others.

FEAR NOT!!!!
Yesterday, a few bloggers got together, two who are being investigated (Rocky and Big Dog) and one that is appearing in the horizon (yours truly, again) at the prodding of Syed Akbar Ali, and those who have been following the development decided to put their foot down!

Yes, so if you want to know what we are planning........please go get a copy of The Malay Mail. They were there to ask us of our plans........(the rest of the story will be posted later today!)

All I can say is, as long as there is a healthy support for either those deemed pro-opposition, or pro-government, or if you are a social blogger being bullied by a big
corporation, we aim to protect!

Towards a healthy blogosphere that encourages engagement!

Read here on Pro Tem President Syed Akbar Ali's take on BFM (Bloggers for Malaysia)
Rocky Bru who is in a protem commitee member has his piece here
And Malay Mail was there to tell ....

I suppose, they say that out of a cloud comes the silver lining.
With the latest threat against bloggers, another body is born and I know this one will take off.
Adieu, All-Blogs! Hello BfM!

Pictures paints a thousand words.....

This picture is too good to be missed. (It was sent to me, thanks to the Wall)

Lest I want to be prosecuted, I have made sure I am on the 'positive' side of the law (well, at least for this posting only!! - so read the caption carefully!!

Basically, the message is, if only Rocky was the PM, then perhaps that scenario might have happened!

The original puicture is of course found in many blogs, and this one is from orange4k.com
The title of the post was 'Rais Yatim melepaskan Blogger Menghina Al-marhum Sultan Johor', with the picture above. Wow! That was kind of a very low head bow, normally reserved for people you very well respected!

Imagine, blogger offends the late Sultan of Johor, gets let off. Blogger puts a link on his blog on Rais, gets investigated!! Whoooooaw!

Does this mean one is more important than the other?

The beauty about bloggers

My apologies, for having assumed that that there isn't a 'bloggers protection fund'!

At least that is what I have been told when I got up this morning to a reply from Zorro and RPK.

I must confess that I have yet to read their reply, but my immediate response, is it is good to note that bloggers can put aside their differences to support each other's right to blog.

So if you are a social political blogger, and you think that you are in trouble, please check with Zorro, if there is any possibility for help.

I know I might be called up anytime soon for an MCMC interview too.

I hope by then there will be a proper 'Bloggers Protection fund' by then.

I am counting on Blog House to come to the fore by then.

BigDog aims to help Rocky get another Ferrari!

The last time I remembered an online campaign to raise funds, it was done by RPK.

RPK had wanted the people's support in raising bail money, to show that he had the support, a sought of 'in yer face' ...at the judge. He raised around RM60k and had pledged to use the balance of the money to start up a defense fund for bloggers. That did not happened.

Yesterday, Rocky lost his broadband connection and laptop to the police who took the role of 'tarik laptop' and handed it over to the Raiss' boys in MCMC.

I can understand the laptop, but modem? It is like a child, if you do this to me, I'll do this back!!

So rightly, BigDog has initiated a campaign to raise money to get another laptop for Rocky.
I read the comments left behind by some people, and on twitter too.

Let me put this to you, its not about the money, its about the support for the right to blog and stand by it. What does MCMC aim to to with the laptop? Its not that we are anonymous! Hell, Rocky owned up to it, as did BigDog, and the guys in TnT.

So, click on the sticky banner on the sidebar, if you want to do your part. If not, no worries.

I also read that someone commented on Rocky's position, and he should be able to get one himself. Again its the support.

Remember the RM60K that RPK got? His bail was only RM5K. He stayed in a bungalow, drove a brand new Civic, and now living in London (at whose expense?)

Eh? Which is it 5K or 3K? Knowing our friend, 3 can be made into 5 no problem!

So, its good to know that there is the support for RPK to do what he does, just as it is good to know that there is also support for Rocky to do what he does.

I know I am doing my small part by doing this, and so can you.

Confusius say don't confuse yourself, Tian Chua!

Ever since Prime Minister Najib Razak took office, the opposition has been hurling all kinds of accusations and innuendos against him, alleging corruption and misleading policies, at least this is what PR MP's want you to remember them.

It is one thing to claim ignorance, but to do it so plainly for all to see, simply shows their capability. Did they say Tian Chua graduated from Australia or Austria?

As such, each time the PR MP's give a press conference, they very quickly mislead those junior reporters..........so how did this get past, MalaysiaKini, who in the recent months have been offering all sorts of 'New Media' courses?

'Sg Besi airbase deal inked without letter of intent'

Malaysiakini, Oct 12, 10 5:41pm

A Parliamentary written reply by the Defence Ministry on the redevelopment of the Sungai Besi airbase has raised more questions about the ambitious and controversial project.

According to the ministry, the government had in principle accepted the proposal by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), in which its board of advisors is chaired by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, no letter of intent (LOI) has been issued, said Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) in his written reply to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu).

Chua points out that 1MDB had already signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Development to redevelop the 458 acre airbase.

The agreement was inked on Friday involving the redevelopment of the country's first modern air force base in the Klang Valley into the Kuala Lumpur International Financial District (KLIFD).

The project, part of the government's Greater Kuala Lumpur plan, is expected to cost in excess of RM26 billion. The signing between the two companies was witnessed by Najib.

"If it is true that 1MDB signed an agreement last week, Zahid's answer is misleading as a project cannot be granted to a company without a LOI," Chua (right) said.

He pointed out that national security is also a real concern, as relocating the airbase would bring a whole host of problems, not least being its strategic location.

"We have to look at how the security of the city will be affected by the move. There are very few countries in the world that do not have military protection for their capital cities," Chua added, taking the example of the Andrews Air Force base in Maryland, United States, that is 13km from the administrative capital of Washington DC.

PAS MP for Pokok Sena, Mahfuz Omar, urged the government to first table a white paper on the proposed relocation of the Sungai Besi base, as there is no indication that there is an equally strategic location to set up a new base.

"We also want the government to be clear on its policy on this because if their main reason is because the price of land at the base is high, then there's nothing to stop them to move the base again the next time the price goes up... it will be never ending," he said.

The above from MalaysiaKini - and the highlighted part simply explains the misleading statements.

The Mubadala Agreement was signed on October 8th, and;

1. NO MR.TIAN CHUA, IT DOES NOT SAY THAT MUBADALA WILL REDEVELOP THE SG BESI AIRBASE! IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS KLIFD!(READ HERE FOR 1MDB PRESS RELEASE)

2. THE SG BESI AIRBASE IS NOT BEING REDEVELOPED INTO KLIFD

3. STRATEGIC AIR FORCE BASE? DID HE SAY? SINCE WHEN DID TIAN CHUA BECOME A MILITARY EXPERT? IF HE FEELS SAFE IN WASHINGTON, THEN, PLEASE MOVE TO THE US. (AFTER ALL, HE WAS LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE WHEN HE ATTENDED THE US INDEPENDENCE DAY DO IN THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL LAST YEAR! FRESHLY MINTED AS AN MP THEN)

4. MR TIAN CHUA, STOP MISLEADING US ALL THE TIME! (AND DON'T BITE THE LAWMAN EITHER!) KLIFD IS NOWHERE IN SG BESI AIRBASE, IT IS SITUATED NEAR IMBI AREA. SMACK IN THAT TRIANGLE OPPOSITE RHB, PRIME LAND! 36ACRES, NOT 458 ACRES!

5.MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS YOUR INTENTION TO PURPOSELY MISLEAD MALAYSIANS ON A PERFECTLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR KL? ARE YOU SINGLE HANDEDLY TRYING TO SCARE OF MUBADALA? DID YOU SPEND YOUR TIME AWAY TO CONJURE UP THIS TACTIC KNOWING THAT 1MDB HAS ALREADY SECURED MUCH NEEDED INVESTMENT?

(and in case you are wondering why I am 'shouting' with all those capital letters, its because I am!!)

Heck, one day, they blame the government of not securing FDI, next thing they make all kinds of accusations, alleging wrong doing!

Clearly, there can be no clearer lie to bad mouth 1MDB and the government's efforts here!

I Strongly suggest Tian Chua spend his time off attending the ETP workshop rather than go holiday, then come back and bark like Anwar's pet dog that bites! (not surprising then that Anwar reposted the accusations in his blog!)

While bloggers go to MCMC, 9 companies get their 2600Mhz band

While bloggers Rocky Bru, Big Dog and one other have to answer to MCMC's investigations, as well as possibly a police investigation, 9 companies were announced as successful recipients of the 2600mhz bandwith in which they are to roll out '4G' technology by January 1 2013.

The companies are apparently existing WIMAX and 3G players, except one. They are;
1.Celcom Axiata Bhd
2,Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd
3.Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
4.U-Mobile Sdn Bhd
5.Asiaspace Sdn Bhd
6.Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd
7.RedTone Marketing Sdn Bhd
8.YTL Communications Sdn Bhd
9.Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd ('Peaking your spirit' yet??)

I know, you are probably wondering who is Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd.
A quick check revealed that it has a yet to be launched website (more accurately, not completed website; www.puncaksemangat.com.my)
The server that hosts the website is located out of (presumably) cyberjaya, addressed in the MYNIC register as Wise Hunter Sdn Bhd (540720-V)
Helang Block, Villa & Office Complex ,Cyberview Gardens
63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor
(Tel) 603-83122512
(Fax) 603-83122481

I reserve my opinion on these 'wise' names of the companies.
The registra also registers Abid Mohd Noor as the administrative contact,
Wise Hunter Sdn Bhd, 8A, Jalan Kenari 5 , Bandar Puchong Jaya , 47100 Puchong , Selangor
and the billing contact (normally used for billing purposes) as Abid Mohd Noor Commerce Dot Com
1st Floor , Wisma Amtek, 15 Jalan Tandang, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

The servers are registered as *********.commerce.com.

Amtek Berhad lists Tuan Syed Azmin bin Syed Nor, a Malaysian, aged 43, has a Director of Amtek since 15 August 1981. He is also the Executive Chairman and member ofESOS Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee of Amtek. He graduated with a Bachelor ofscience, majoring in Business Management from Universityof Berkeley, United
States of America. Upon his graduation in 1984, he was Envolved in several private business ventures which included trading in commodities such as sugar, rice and palm oil. Apart from this, he was also involved in housing development, manufacturing and international trading.

Tuan Syed Azmin operated his own private company World Network Sdn Bhd, a company involved in the trading of timber and rubber products.
In 1993, he joined limber Master Industries Berhad, a company listed on the Second Board ofthe KLSE and he was later appointed as Executive Director in 1994, responsible in corporate affairs and business
development,a position he held until 1996.
Subsequently, he was appointed as Executive Director of CN Asia Corporation
Berhad in 1997 responsible for corporate affairs and business development.

In 1999, Syed Azmin incorporated Commerce Dot Com Sdn Bhd an IT company undertaking Government Electronic Project the largest E-Commerce project in Malaysia
of which he is the Founder/Director.

In 2002, he was appointed as independent Non-Executive Director of Engtex Group
Berhad. Also in 2006 he was appointed as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director in Tradewinds (Malaysia) Berhad, Tradewinds Corporations Berhad and United Malayan Land Berhad.

Tuan Syed Azmin still sits on the Board of Commerce Dot Com Sdn Bhd and World Network Sdn Bhd.

He also sits on the board of Megaplace Sdn Bhd, Amtek International Sdn Bhd, Golden Perspective Sdn Bhd, Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd, SKS Ventures Sdn Bhd, Islamic Research Centre Sdn Bhd, Frazernash Microelectronics (MaLaysia) Sdn Bhd, Global Raya Sdn Bhd, Kelana Ventures Sdn Bhd, KHSB Equity Sdn Bhd, AnzzarWarisan Sdn Bhd, Bateel Asia Sdn Bhd and Engtex Marketing Sdn Bhd.

That much we know about puncak semangat, who else is involved is anyone's guess!
(information above from Amtek Annual Report)

Tsk.Tsk.Tsk. Another police report against bloggers! ...and Big Dog...and ...?

Ok. Honestly? How many times have we bloggers repeated the same few lines, elaborate on salient points, then point it to the source? How many? How else does one get his source eh? You tell me.

I am lucky enough, I have been invited to a few launches here and there, and get first hand information, but that is as far as commercial launches goes.

Come 20th October, I will be a part of a group attending a function, good news that is for those people in that state. But apart from that, we DON'T really get scoops.

So, tomorrow, Rocky will have to spend some time to go down to the police station somewhere in Cyber Jaya, simply because Rais Yatim felt that he was a target of 'character assassination'
(The Star publish the story on police reports made by Dr Rais’s press secretary, Norazli Noh who said the minister’s report claimed false accusations and information about his son)

Hello, Mr Minister! Even the PM has been 'character assassinated' by the likes of RPK! And we all damn well know it is based on lies!

But what did Big Dog say that riled you up eh?

It seems that Rais has made two police reports, purportedly, one against Big Dog, and the other against Taikors & Taikuns.

The funny thing is, presumably Rocky has been called because he posted the links to TnT and Big Dog.
Eh, even funnier, TnT also posted the link. Jadi? Rais tak berani take on Rocky, kot?

Nuff said, nanti kena charged sedition pulak.

I certainly read Big Dog's post, and all he is saying is that there are 'rumours', just like rumours are flying around about so many other politicians. Only those who have something to hide, react.
Others just go on with their job.

I guess, since TnT has been reported against, I better get myself ready too............

Here, Parpukari makes its his business!
Syed Akbar, has his take on the whole thing and believes, Rais will is merely showing his colours...

So for those, who seem to think that the bloggers above only blog about opposition follies, think again.

Can you see this? KLIFD set to make it

Wall Street, New York City

London's Financial District

Singapore's Financial District

The pictures above tell of one one thing. Great cities attract BIG MONEY! And along with that the big boys and their expensive toys roll in along with it.
But can you spot the one thing that the three cities share that Kuala Lumpur can stand out from?

All financial districts pictured above are based on their ability to draw from the world players that delve in the global financial system. I am no finance expert, and certainly no economics grad, but I can tell that the same players in the global market make their presence felt in these cities, primarily because that's where the wheeling and dealing takes place.

So, to further push Malaysia, and Kuala Lumpur up the economic ladder, Najib's administration has put this in place.

Kuala Lumpur International Financial District

I was skeptical at first, and like most other Malaysians who simply just condemn and criticise, I chose to look into what Malaysia stands for and how Kuala Lumpur can stand up to take its place on the world stage.

The KLIFD is simply a gem waiting to emerge and push KL up to where it should be.

Look at it like this, the three cities above, compete with each other, and when the crisis hit in late 07, all three shook at 9 on the rihcter scale.
This is where Malaysia can be different. Positioning itself as the Islamic model that it already is, with a secular Malaysia that does no harm to its Islamic image (so long as we do not have that extremist party in power, with that full moon as its sysmbol!), Kuala Lumpur can go a long way.

We definitely beat Singapore in terms of space, but we ARE NOT COMPETING with Singapore. In fact, where we are at, there is no competition. The Middle East knows it and that is why we have Abu Dhabi's Mubadala heading this way.

Kuala Lumpur can be and will be the middle ground that both West and East meet. More accurately, where religious idealogies of the East and West meet and greet.

Who would have thought that the likes of Goldman Sachs will meet its day huh?

And with the vacuum that exists, and the realms of extremism reaching and destroying the many platforms that both east and west struggle to build, how difficult is it to realise that Malaysia can stand out and lead in this area?

Our good reach in the Halal forums and new frontiers in the Halal industry goes to show what Malaysia can do, if only we can all band together. And what more appropriate than to have a complimenting financial system that the west is yearning to get into.

HSBC and Standard Chartered has certainly moved the right direction, by focussing in this region for a new market that they have just gotten into, Islamic Financing.

Like most Malaysians, I yearn for a better place that I would be proud to call home. I have always been proud of Malaysia, and with the plans that have been laid out, I am sure KL will grow into a better place.

In fact, I am looking forward to seeing the redevelopment of KLIFD and Sg Besi to better reflect our capital city. Better still if something could be done to maximise the big green area of the Sg Besi graveyard.

Hell! If Singapore can get the majority of Chinese, as well as minority Muslims there to repatriate the graves of their ancestors, I don't see why Malaysia cannot do the same!

The parrarel betwen US and Malaysia

George Ugeux, who is the former NYSE Head, and current Chairman & CEO of Galileo Global Advisors spoke at length this morning on BFM 89.9FM.

The first thing people should note is that there is no hard and fast rule that George is the authority of business relations between US and other countries, nor is he a spokesperson for NYSE. He speaks as an informed advisor, and his information is no more different than yours and mine, except that in most cases, his information is cross referenced and business information is naturally easier to obtain in his capacity both present and former.

I thought his views were rather similar, if you were to speak to anyone who has and do have an opinion of Malaysia.

George spoke about global financial issues, and also delved into the intricacies of foreign currency devaluation (especially with the call for devaluing the Yuan vs the dollar), but what caught my attention was his views on President Obama.

Yes, President Obama has been under severe critism, yet we all fail to remember that Obama had only been in office for 20 months. Similarly in Malaysia, Najib has been in office for a little over 17 months.

Yet the parallels, between US and Malaysia is clear. The Economic transformation program has been talked about mostly, and this topic is often discussed by people on the street. But how much does the man on the street understand and feel the change that is inspired by the current leadership? Are we to believe that these people who speak from their heart in the coffeeshops and 'mamaks' are the best source of information?

George speaks of the transformation in legislation brought about by the Obama administrati9on, as well as the rescue packages in excess of USD750Billion. What is not known however, is that according to George, the debts has been repaid, with the exception of AIG which is still in the process of completing the restructuring.

Back on home soil, what is not known by the man on the street is that behind the scenes, there are corporations that are doing their part to make Malaysia competitive again, and this despite all the doomsayers who have cleverly predicted that Malaysia would fall. Yes, the likes of Sime Darby should not have happened, and now that its out, let those responsible pay for it.

In fact, as our performance shows, we are heading quite well the different direction. And with the development planned to push Malaysia further up the value chain, it is then not surprising that even Financial Guru Jim Rogers have been keeping a keen eye on our shores.

The peculiar thing is that a lot of people who don't know nuts who get their information from a handfull of severely slanted blogs and 'portals' are all full of believe in half truths. And the worst thing? They all seem to believe in these stories. Worst still, not only believeing it but repeating it as though they were right there.

A clear example is that Jho Low fellow. Everyone who has something to say seems to speak as though Jho Low is at the other end of the line, always available to them for verification. Can you imagine that? And from where? Internet sites that only seem to propagate stories. Even his interview carried in The Star was hailed a PR stunt. Shiites! Here is a man who is telling his side of the story and yet not believed! It doesnt help him either that he is also very much involved in certain deals that are in the spotlight.

See this. Jho Low and UBG, not good, must be some conspiracy to make money. Law firm that is helmed by opposition MPs and Opposition leader taking work from municipal council where they are also councillors is ok. Can we all see the double standards here?

And on the other side, a man is on a crusade to bad mouth Malaysia, yet the masses believe in him (not that his black eye did not help either). Here he is, trying his level best to damage the country, and addressing his network to try to stop investments coming in. Yet, there are Malaysians who hail him as their hero. While the Prime Minister is addressing international conferences and administrative summits yet, the PM is being too ambitious and flamboyant.

What is wrong with our society? Newspapers are referred to as lying media, while another fugitive who takes the easy way out and is having a cushy life in London is hailed another hero.
What next?

The failure to verify information and opinion is considered truth is something that is not new. In the days of old, people are burnt alive for these kinds of rumour mongering! I am not saying that I am not to be blamed too, for I was was very much a part of this rumour mongering mill, even believing that the King and Army was very much behind the people for a clean election. Bersih!! And if it wasn't clean, would we even have the Tsunami that we have had in March!

The price we are paying for that Tsunami, is a pricey one! Even as Malaysia is riding the crisis of 2007-8, and clearly we have overcome that, all these rumour mongers a neigh-men are still on that path of destruction whereby those accused are trying their best to deliver.

The same is in US, for the fault of the previous administration, Obama has been bent backwards to ensure that the US is still relevant, fighting within the country and the pressures from outside. Amiracle in 20 months? not likely, but the steps taken if given the chance can turn US back onto the path. Remember, the fall of the US economy will no doubt affect the entire world.

The ETP is something with milestones, and real targets, not visionary corridors of a former leader.

Look at the bigger picture, and if you can try to verify your source next time.