Dinosaurs In The Securities Commission

By Syed Akbar Ali

Folks, maybe with the exception of Bank Negara Malaysia, the management of the economy, the capital markets and their related regulatory authority are in some shambles. They certainly do not inspire confidence in the system.

The GLCs are best known as Government Losing Concerns - they lose and continue to lose so much money. Just today I heard that a bank GLC that was formed by an ikan bilis bank swallowing another ikan busuk bank is facing serious Non Performing Loans problems.

Its CEO, who is the younger brother of you know who, is now rumoured to be possibly moved to the mother of all the Government Losing Concerns. The present CEO of the mother of GLCs may therefore have to make tracks (this rumour comes from inside). This is seen to be a face saving device for the two brothers - the spin will be the younger is going to the mother GLC to keep a closer watch over all the silver.

Now there are things brewing over at the Securities Commission. The SC is run by a dinosaur leftover from the days of the Slumberjack regime. Rocky has been speaking about the SC at his Blog here. Most interestingly Another Brick In The Wall has also been speaking about possible shenanigans at the SC itself here.

The SC has done something quite unprecedented by hauling in reporters for interrogation over business news reports they have been writing about misbehaving management of a listed company. I dont think this has ever happened before. It would appear that instead of sorting out the message, the SC is out to harass the messengers.

I lay the blame for this incompetence on the Prime Minister Dato Najib Tun Razak. The corrupt regime of Slumberjack has been deposed. We kicked him out not just for his corruption but because of his gross incompetence. During his time many people were also appointed to important positions, some of whom were corrupt (and still are) or just incompetent (and still are) or both.

We need a thorough spring cleaning of the entire Government machinery. We need to be rid of the corrupt first - beginning with the Cabinet Ministers first. We also need to be rid of corrupt KSUs. Then we need to be rid of the incompetents and the laggards - those who were put in positions of power and authority not because of what they know (which is often little) but because of what they do not know (which is often a lot).

Hence we see the frequent fumbles across the entire spectrum of Government and the consequent grumbles. The worst are of course the corrupt Cabinet members.

Finally we must be really rid of all the fossilised dinosaurs that inhabit the corridors of power. The PM must really learn to cut with a scalpel and remove all that excess skin. Get newer and younger people to take over. We need to nurture the second generation and the third generation to take over.

The wrinkled and constipated dinosaurs just have to be let go. If the PM does not make these changes fast, the people will lose faith in the PM.

Rasa Seronok Ke Bila Orang Islam Mati?

By Syed Akbar Ali

Cop dies in bid to escape raid

KOTA BARU: A police lance corporal died after he leapt from the third floor of a budget hotel here to evade a raid by religious department enforcement officers.

The 33-year-old married man was found sprawled on the ground in a pool of blood. He was writhing in pain, according to hotel staff who called the ambulance to take him to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, 1km away.

I believe there was another death last month in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur in a similar khalwat raid. It looks like there is at least one death a month in this khalwat raid. So does this make people happy? Did the raiding party attend the funeral? Did they baca yasin for the man whose death they had caused?

They most certainly caused his death. He was afraid of being caught by the snoop squad, so he jumped out the window and died.

This puts us in the barbaric and uncivilised category of humans. Causing the death of human beings for no good reason. Somebody should have enough brains and guts to put a stop to these snoop squads.

Here is a thought. If someone has multiple sex partners, then it is either prostitution or promiscuity (or it could be the Brader). But if you legalise it and call it polygamy - with marriage licenses and all, then its ok.

No Such Thing As "Ulama" Class In Islam

By Syed Akbar Ali

Some people are crowing that 40 'ulamak' have joined UMNO. One portal has reported on the most obvious danger that this implies :

"An Umno delegate from Penang, Shabudin Yahaya has suggested that Umno set up its own 'Dewan Ulamak' to deal with issues involving Islam."

This is the news report about the 'ulamak' joining UMNO :

"KUANTAN: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Saturday that the participation of many ulama in Umno will not turn the party into an extremist Islamic party. . . .He was commenting on the move by 40 young ulama throughout the country who had submitted their Umno membership forms to him in Kuala Lumpur Friday night. Najib, who is also the Umno president, said the party had always welcomed intellectuals well-versed in Islam to join Umno. . . .He was commenting on the move by 40 young ulama throughout the country who had submitted their Umno membership forms to him in Kuala Lumpur Friday night. Najib, who is also the Umno president, said the party had always welcomed intellectuals well-versed in Islam to join Umno."

This is indeed a sad day. The PM is seriously mistaken. There is no such thing as an "ulama" priest class in the Quran and Islam. It has always been the hallmark of Islam that we never had a clergy like the christians and other religions do. This is further proof that Islam is NOT a religion.

There has never been a priest hierarchy in Islam, there have never been "head of Islam" allowed in Islam. There is no equivalent to a Pope, Vatican, installation rituals for religious clergy etc. There is no headquarters for Islam anywhere in the world, comparable to the Vatican for Christianity, the Pope for Catholics or other such beliefs in other religions. There is nothing comparable in Islam. There is no Chief High Priest in Islam.

There is not one single institution anywhere in the Islamic world that can certify anyone as an ulamak. There is no such thing. The only exception to this rule is the Persatuan Ulamak Malaysia, where by paying a few Ringgit registration fee, one is deemed an 'ulamak'. That is a joke not understood by those with impaired oxygen intake into the grey matter.

In Islam there is a direct relationship between man and his Creator. The Quran says "Allah is nearer to you than the veins in your neck". We do not need intermediaries.

If these 40 guys want to join UMNO, they are welcome but not because they are "ulama". There is no such thing. Those who claim to be "ulama" better join the PIS (Parti Islam SeMalaysia).

About 10 years back, I used to attend meetings where we discussed many things. At that time the PAS was crowing as loud as ever and there was a suggestion from someone that UMNO too take a religious approach towards things. A Minister who was present said it right that UMNO's struggle must always be based on bringing economic development to the people. Religion should not be made a platform for the party's struggle. I fully concur with that. I really hope this is not changing.

Leave religion to the beardos. It will be a disaster if we allow the religious folks to determine the politics of this country. They are inherently corrupt and false. How do you even know a person is a real Muslim or not? And any primate with a beard can claim to be a priest too with primus inter pares status.

Here is some info about the word 'ulama' from the Quran.

"Do you not see that GOD sends down from the sky water, whereby we produce fruits of various colors? Even the mountains have different colors; the peaks are white, or red, or some other color. And the ravens are black. Also, the people, the animals, and the livestock come in various colors. This is why the people who truly reverence GOD are those who are knowledgeable (al ulama). GOD is Almighty, Forgiving." Surah 35: 27-28

The verses above clearly refer to observing the natural environment around us and feeling reverence for Allah's Creation. It begins with "do you not see.."

See what ? Please read the verse again closely.

We have to see and observe

i. the water that comes down from the sky (this is observing and studying the water cycle)

ii. the atmosphere (ecology, environment)

iii. the fruits growing (the study of botany, horticulture)

iv. mountain rocks of many hues (study geology, minerology)

v. the ravens that are black (studying ornithology, biology)

vi. the people (studying anthropology, biology, medical science)

vi. animals and livestock (animal husbandry, zoology, biology).

The Quran says the people who see all this Nature and observe all this Creation and appreciate all this handiwork of the Creator are called the 'ulama'. Clearly then this is a description of scientists. An ulama is therefore a scientist.

The word science of course comes from the Latin word 'scientia' which means knowledge. And the arab word Ulama is the plural of the arab word alim. Alim comes from the arabic word "Ilmu" which ALSO means knowledge or science.

An alim is therefore a knowledgeable person and ulama is plural meaning 'many knowledgeable people'. Ulama are therefore scientists who study everything around them and appreciate all the things that the Creator has created in this universe. Those are the ulama.

But will a Book such as the Quran fail to provide a proper name for the priests of religion, those guys who wear beards and robes, who dress funny, talk funny and behave funny who are part and parcel of every "religion"? Not at all. Here is the Quran again :

Surah 9:31 "They have set up their religious leaders (habar) and rabbis as lords, instead of GOD. . . "

The Quran refers to 'religious leaders' and the priests as HABAR. They are not referred to as ulama.

Habar are the religious priests who wear strange clothes, wear beards, speak strange and say that they are "closer to God". They can promise things like the keys to paradise. They are best given doodle pads to draw on and be locked up in asylums. If allowed to roam free, they can become "mursyidul am", ayatollah, pak sheikh and so on (in extreme cases).

The UMNO party was set up based on strong and workable ideals. The present crop of leaders has deviated from some but not all of the party's true struggle. In a multi dimensional world, UMNO also has to reform and move with the times. The commitment to multi culturalism and multi racialism has always been an UMNO trademark - otherwise there will NOT be 17 Chinese Ministers and Deputy Ministers in Cabinet.

UMNO's challenges are really very simple : to completely eradicate corruption, to rapidly move the Malays up the competitive ladder, to cater to the needs of the other races in the country, to move the economy of the country very very fast forward, to change the country into a First World nation in all aspects.

Talking religion and talking big about 40 'habar' joining the party is not a step in the right direction. If UMNO ever sets up a Dewan Ulama UMNO, the party is doomed. It will become another PIS pot.

Slave Labouring Again

By Syed Akbar Ali

This news here is an apt description of the type of raw predatory forces that are still dominant in our country. We are still quite firmly in the Third World.

The Star has to be commended for highlighting this issue on the front page. There is slavery and abuse going on at the construction site to build the National Palace. 1,300 foreign workers are suffering injustices. There are too many uncivilised people in this country, masquerading as human beings, who are wont to say "Who cares?"

It looks like all the usual unsavoury behaviour is present too : closing one eye, taichi, corruption, bullying - all done by Malaysians of course. We are masters at this game. My comments in blue.

Foreigners hired to build palace claim they have not been paid

There are over 1,000 migrant workers hired by 130 sub-contractors working at the project site. . . . The Star, responding to an SOS call, visited the site in Jalan Duta and found the workers living in frustration and fear as many do not have work permits or cannot afford to renew their permits which have expired. . . . The project’s main contractor, Maya Maju Sdn Bhd, said it is the responsibility of the sub-contractors to pay their workers. . . The Human Resources Ministry has asked the Labour Department to investigate the matter and take immediate action while the police has asked the workers to come forward to lodge complaints.

Well Maya Maju is correct of course. They are the main - con. The foreign workers are being conned by the sub-cons. Its not their responsibility. As the main - con, they only collect the difference. The sub-cons do all the work.

Here is the taichi part : The Human Resources Ministry has asked the Labour Dept to investigate. The Police has asked the workers to come forward and complain. Maybe the Health Department will do a brain scan on the Police Department. Or the Immigration Dept will do a raid on the Human Resources Ministry. The Statistics Dept can compile statistics on the whole thing.

In the meantime, the foreign slave workers will continue enjoying five star treatment like this :

There is more news :

Migrant workers claim they’re being held to ransom by bosses

According to workers interviewed by The Star, some employers threatened to call the police when they persisted in asking for their wages. . . Several workers even claimed they were harassed by the police and Rela officers and that their possessions like mobile phones, cigarettes and canned drinks were confiscated. . . . Indonesian Punawi, 32, who does plastering work, said he had not been paid for five months and barely had any money left for food. . . “I only manage with one meal a day and that’s because the foodstall owner allows me to eat on credit. My work permit has expired and I don’t have RM3,000 to renew it,” he added. . . . Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the last police raid took place several months ago to flush out illegals squatting in the jungles. . . ..“Perhaps another agency was involved in the recent raids. If the allegations are true, the workers can come and see me and I will do what I can to help,” Wan Abdul Bari said.

Why cant the Police buy their own canned drinks? It is very, very old news that crooked Policemen steal from foreign workers. They confiscate money, handphones and whatever else they can get their hands on. The foreign workers are not going to protest. If they protest, they can be arrested and get sent to that camp in Semenyih where they can cool off for a few days or get deported.

Therefore the suggestion by the Brickfields OCPD that these foreign workers, including the illegals coolly come to see him and that he will help them is bullshit. The OCPD is making fun of these poor folks. A foreign worker, especially an illegal foreign worker, will not even get the time of day at a Police Station.

Wasnt there a ruling that people who employed illegal foreign workers should be caned with the rotan? Can we have some caning then?

Why employ illegal foreign workers in the first place? This is a Government project lah. On the one hand the Government says no more foreign workers. Then here at a Government project site, there are not only foreign workers but illegal foreign workers too.

Then when they are there, toiling in the sun to build the National Palace, we treat them like dirt. They are not paid, they live in dirt, the Police steal from them, the Immigration Department takes bribes from them, the Labour Department does what ah, everyone else closes 'one eye'. When they have finished their construction we are supposed to be proud of the National Palace.

Here is my question : if the workers are not getting paid, how come the project has gone into cost over run from RM400 million to over RM800 million? If the foreign workers are all paid, will the cost over run figure go even higher?

World Cup : An Argentina Holland Final?

By Syed Akbar Ali

Update 1 : Last nite 26 June, 2010 Uruguay beat South Korea 2:1 and Ghana beat USA also 2:1. So far my forecast is still on the ball.

Update 2 : Last nite 27 June, 2010 Germany beat England 4:1 and Argentina beat Mexico 3:1. So Argentina will meet Germany in the quarter finals. My forecast still on the ball.

Update 3 : Last nite 28 June, 2010 Brazil beat Chile 3:0 and Holland beat Slovakia 2:1. So Brazil will meet Holland in the quarter finals. Forecast still good.

The first round of the World Cup is drawing to a close. More clarity is descending upon the playing fields. The Round of 16 starts today.

The hotel staff and guests at the KL Hilton last nite were glued to the TV in the Lobby - the Brazil vs Portugal slogger. Older people were cheering for Brazil - its a religious type thing again. We grew up with names like Pele, Socrates, Dunga and (later for the younger folks) Ronaldo. Can anyone name many (or any) players from Portugal? Religion favors what we like to recall from our grandfathers' teachings.

The Syed Restoran in Bangsar (no relation to me ok) was also packed. About 200 people seated on rows and rows of chairs were dead quiet. The Brazil - Portugal score was 0 - 0. Boring. There was another Bloggers meeting but we had to move to the quieter Mahbub. Still there was a decent crowd - seriously 'eating' folks.

I was reading the World Cup score tables today. Only two teams have won ALL three games and secured NINE points ie Argentina (Group B) and Holland (Group E).

Argentina beat Nigeria, Greece and South Korea in their group. Not exactly heavy weight teams in the world but the Argies did a good job.

Holland has beaten Denmark, Japan and Cameroon - all three teams are pretty strong. It is therefore possible to see an Argentina - Holland final. (In such an event only folks) Holland may win the final, but "religion" makes me biased. I favour Argentina to take the cup. They have done three goals at the finals before.

'Religion of Football' favorites Brazil has only seven points at the top of Group G. They beat Ivory Coast 3:1 and North Korea 2:1.

Uruguay is top dog in Group A with seven points too. Do note that they beat Mexico and South Africa and drew with France. Not bad.

Bottom of the leagues : Group C leader USA has five points, Group F leader Paraguay also has five points and Group H leader Chile has six points. Germany the leader in Group D has six points. I dont think anyone from these four groups will make it to the final - unless the Germans do a 'come back artist' thing again. They have done this before.

The Round of 16 starts today. On 26 June (today) Uruguay play South Korea. I pick Uruguay to win.

Also USA plays Ghana. Ghana beat Serbia 1:0 and Serbia beat Germany also 1:0. I pick Ghana to win over USA.

So in the 1st game of the quarter finals on July 2nd, my pick is Uruguay vs Ghana where Uruguay wins and qualifies for the semi finals.

On June 28th its Holland vs Slovakia and I pick Holland to win.

On the same day Brazil will play the No. 2 (?) from Group H. I pick Brazil to win.

So in the 2nd game of the quarer finals on July 2nd, my pick is it will be a hot, hot game between Holland and Brazil. I say Holland wins and moves to the semi finals. If Holland loses, forget you ever read this OK :)

On June 27, Germany plays England (the question is why?) Maybe the English will have had their tea and scones by then and perhaps gotten over their gas and constipation problems. Germany to win.

On the same day Argentina plays Mexico (which has only 4 points todate). I predict an easy win for Argentina.

So on July 3rd, the third quarter final game will be between Germany and Argentina. Solamente Argentinas ! ! I predict Argentina to win and move to the semis.

On the 29th Paraguay plays Japan (Japan will win lah) and Portugal plays Group H leader.

I forecast the fourth quarter final game on July 3rd between Japan and Portugal where Japan wins and goes to the semi finals. (Japan has six points todate and Portugal has five points only.)

So the first semi final will be on July 6th between Uruguay and Holland and if so, Holland will win and move to the final.

The second semis will be between Argentina and Japan on July 7th and Argentina will move to the final.

The finals are on July 11 and will be between Holland and Argentina. I predict Argentina to win. This is my Saturday morning forecast lah.

If all this comes true, maybe Syed Restoran in Bangsar will hang my picture by their wide screen TV and people can place flowers and drop money in a box too. I will come by and collect the box once a day or something.

Cheers. Go Argentina.