NETANYAHU OFFERS US$5 MILLION RANSOM FOR EACH HOSTAGE

 

Here is the latest from Gaza. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has offered a ransom of US$5 Million (18.7 Million Israeli shekels) for the release of each Israeli held hostage in Gaza. That is a lot of money. There are 101 hostages remaining. That can add up to US$505 Million. Over RM2.2 Billion!

 

Netanyahu is being clever here. Once the hostages are released the Israeli army can simply go all out to search and destroy any remaining Hamas and PIJ fighters in Gaza. No need to worry about endangering the safety of the hostages anymore.

This hostage ransom will save Israel a lot of money because the cost of the war in Gaza is running at about US$2 billion per month!

This US$5 million ransom can create serious tensions and frictions inside Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). There will be those who will be tempted by that US$5 million ransom money plus safe passage for them and their families out of Gaza. They will take the deal. This can cause break ups inside both Hamas and the PIJ.

Or Hamas will try to get the money for themselves by negotiating secretly with Israel. I see that as a more likely scenario.  

Remember this is the Middle East. This is a land without honor or honesty. Or anything else really. They will sell each other out for a few shekels.

THERE WERE NO MILITARY OBJECTIVES

In any armed conflict there should be a military objective. In the Vietnam War the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong had a clear objective - to defeat and throw out the US Army and its allies and liberate all of South Vietnam. Which they did achieve in 1975.

 

The Taliban in Afghanistan too had a clear military objective - to liberate all of Afghanistan from American military occupation. They achieved this in August 2021.

 

From my observation there have been conflicts where the main protagonist (the fellow who created the conflict) did not have a military objective. But they had other objectives. 

 

One example was the communist insurgency in Malaya (1948-1960). There was absolutely no military objective at all in the communist insurgency. There was no way a rag tag group of a few hundred or a few thousand (maximum) starving, frequently sick insurgents of a minority race were going to overrun a whole country. The Communist Party of Malaya  was more successful as an extortion and gangster outfit which extorted money and supplies from the Chinese population in Malaya. They killed market traders who would not pay their "taxes". There was no military objective. It was an extortion outfit.

 

The same thing is happening in the Middle East. The Shia Houthis are shooting missiles at international shipping in the Red Sea. This has reduced the flow of trade through the Suez Canal and has caused prices of goods to shoot up for the whole world. But what is the military objective here that benefits the Houthis? Israel has other ports like Haifa which sits on the Mediterranean Sea. 

The Hamas attacked Israel with no military objective. It was a suicide attack which sacrificed over 1,000 Hamas fighters in just a few hours. The surviving attackers all returned within a few hours bringing with them 250 hostages. That was it. So what military objective was achieved? They provoked a reaction from the fourth most powerful army in the world. One year later Gaza is in total ruins. 

The Hezbollah in Lebanon decided to throw in their lot with Hamas. They too attacked Israel by launching rockets. That is all they have been doing - launching rockets for over a year now. Not a single Hezbollah foot soldier has invaded and "liberated" a single square inch of territory. What was their military objective? None.

The Hezbollah also never received any assistance or acknowledgement from Hamas or any of the Sunni Arab countries for shooting rockets into Israel. When their leader Nasrallah was killed there were not even condolence messages from the Sunni Arabs or from Hamas. So what was the military objective?

One year later the Israelis have invaded Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon. In the map below the blue areas represented (past tense, the frontlines have changed since) the Israeli movement into southern Lebanon. 

In the next map here, the Israelis have almost completely surrounded all the Hezbollah areas in southern Lebanon (the yellow striped area). The Hezbollah are finished. The Israeli's single pincer movement towards Mazraat Buyut Sayad will completely isolate southern Lebanon. 

 

The Hezbollah are now offering ceasefire. What ceasefire can they offer when they have lost the "war"? Imagine the Japanese offering a ceasefire AFTER Hiroshima and Nagasaki were atom-bombed.

But there were absolutely no military objectives that could be achieved by the Houthis shooting missiles at global shipping, by the Hamas' one-day raid into Israel or the Hezbollah shooting small rockets into northern Israel. Plus both Gaza and southern Lebanon have been quite destroyed and are now occupied by Israeli troops. 

I am beginning to think that the Israelis may have had prior knowledge about the Hamas attack and they let it happen. To give them an excuse to clean up the Middle East. Which they are doing now. Which is indeed a military objective.

 

I Have Not Been Invited To President Donald Trump's Inauguration, Yet.

Well if I am invited I will go. I do miss the American winter sometimes. Sometimes only. I have gone through FIVE winters in the US.

I received the following. Dont know how accurate is this news. But it is fun trivia anyway.

"The heads of state from Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam have been invited for Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20th, 2025.

The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur J----n L--w and Cardinal S-------n of Penang have also been invited".

To Mr Archbishop and Mr Cardinal if this news is incorrect may I minta maaf upfront? No offense is meant.   Is there anyone missing from this list?

So folks, has anyone else among you been invited to President Donald Trump's Inauguration in Washington?

When Mr Trump first became the 45th president of the United States in 2016 his first visit overseas was to Saudi Arabia where he invited almost ALL the heads of the Islamic countries for a meeting with him. (At that time I was not too keen on Bossku attending that meeting but Trump turned out ok with Malaysia).

This time around I dont think President Trump will be having any such meeting.

UNTUK PERHATIAN MAJLIS PERBANDARAN SEREMBAN : TAMAN TASIK LAMAN AZALEA, NILAI PERLUKAN SEDIKIT 'TLC'

 

TLC maksudnya tender, loving, care. 

Sila perhatikan gambar berikut. Keadaan sebenarnya lagi kotor.   Saya bersama isteri sering pergi morning walk di kawasan tasik di Laman Azalea, Nilai.

Sepertimana tuan-tuan boleh melihat dalam gambar atas keadaan taman tasik ini perlu dibersihkan dan dijaga lebih baik. 

Kerja ubahsuai taman tasik ini (atau naik taraf) yang sedang berjalan pula sangat slow. Kami perhatikan pekerja Bangla membuang masa bersembang daripada membuat kerja.

Untuk perhatian Ketua Majlis Perbandaran Seremban. 

Sayangilah Warga Kita.

THE GLOBAL TOURIST - "his visits overseas have largely been ignored, with no real support for his views from the global community"

Here is an article by G. Mohamad.
(I dont know him, I just received this from someone else. Thank you). 
These are very perceptive observations by G. Mohamad about the Global Tourist.  
I know for quite certain that these views are shared by many other people. 
I have first extracted some points (and adapted them a little). 
The rest of the article follows.

 

• Instead of focusing on fixing the country’s pressing issues—such as corruption, debt, and economic stagnation— the 'Global Tourist' spends more time trying to project an image of international importance abroad
  
• his visits overseas have largely been ignored, with no real support for his views from the global community'
• These foreign trips seem more like an attempt to create an image of leadership glory
• just filling a seat at international gatherings, without any meaningful influence on the discussions
• more a token figure than a serious player on the world stage
• sharp contrast between his "Global Tourist" international image and the everyday struggles of the people at home 
• claims to have secured billions in investments during his trips abroad have not turned into any real results
  
• these promises are nothing more than empty boasts
• gap between the Global Tourist's self-image as a global leader and the harsh reality of the country's economic and political troubles is glaring
• foreign trips often result in nothing more than polite exchanges with no real commitment to his cause
• no major Arab or Muslim country seems to care much about his stance
• his Global Tourist role is more about impressing the domestic audience, than building meaningful global alliances.

 

Here is the full article by G Mohamad:

 
The Global Tourist's world tours that change nothing
By G. Mohamad


The constant travel around the world, claiming to support the Palestinian cause and backing Hamas, raises doubts about the real impact of his actions.

Despite attending high-profile events like the Arab Muslim Summit in Riyadh, APEC Summit in Peru, and the G20 Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; his presence has largely been ignored, with no real support for his views from the global community.

These trips seem more like an attempt to create an image of leadership glory, rather than actually making a difference.

His participation in these events often feels like he’s just filling a seat, without any meaningful influence on the discussions.

For all the attention he gets in the media, he’s seen more as a token figure than a serious player on the world stage.

At home, the Global Tourist is praised by a local media that presents him as a hero, but this image doesn’t match the reality of the country's many issues.

While he portrays himself as an advocate for Palestine and a global leader, his own country is facing serious issues.

The country is burdened with a trillion in debt, struggling with corruption, rising living costs, and stagnant wages.

These issues create a sharp contrast between his ("Happy Grasshopper") international image and the everyday struggles of the people at home.

His claims to have secured billions in investments during his trips abroad have not turned into any real results, leaving many to question whether these promises are nothing more than empty boasts.

His focus on international matters like Palestine —  doesn’t seem to resonate with those who matter most, namely the Arab and Muslim nations.

His diplomatic visits often result in nothing more than polite exchanges with no real commitment to his cause.

The truth is, no major Arab or Muslim country seems to care much about his stance, suggesting that his global tourism role is more about impressing a domestic audience, than building meaningful global alliances.

The Global Tourist's rhetoric of global leadership and support for Palestine also rings hollow when compared to the challenges faced by the people at home.

Instead of focusing on fixing the country’s pressing issues—such as corruption, debt, and economic stagnation—he spends more time trying to project an image of international importance.

His promises of investment during his diplomatic trips have so far failed to produce any real change for the country.

These trips also seem less about benefiting the country and more about boosting his own image.

The gap between the Global Tourists self-image as a global leader and the harsh reality of the country's economic and political troubles is glaring.

His focus on international issues has not translated into solutions for the problems the country faces daily.

Instead of addressing the country’s pressing needs, he seems more interested in projecting a heroic image on the global stage.

His Global Tourism will remain little more than empty gestures, doing little to help the country's own difficulties.

*G. MOHAMAD – Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Malay Professionals Organisation. 

 

MY COMMENTS 

• In the military it is called  AWOL or Away Without Leave.  
• Absconding from your post and ignoring your responsibilities and duties. 
• In the military going AWOL is a serious offence. 
• You can be punished with jail, being demoted or getting kicked out.

They have become nothing more than makan angin tours. The crazy thing I notice is some of these visits are far too long - six days here, four days there. What for? 

And the Global Tourist has visited some countries FOUR times and FIVE times !!

And now they are running out of major countries to visit. Visit Bangladesh for what? 

The following is from Wikipedia, it could be outdated.

• in under two years the Global Tourist has made 37 international trips to 27 nations
• One (1) visit : Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Germany, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Peru, Brazil
• Two (2) visits : Turkey, United States, Japan, Laos, Egypt
• Three (3) visits : Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, China
• Four (4) visits : Thailand
• Five (5) visits : Saudi Arabia

Four visits to Thailand? 
Five visits to Saudi Arabia?  
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan? 

So how many billions of investments are coming from Genghiskhanistan?

Maybe he cannot take the pressure of reading all those files in the office. Plus he does not understand many things - he never had a good education and he is no technocrat. it has been like that for a very long time. He quotes this book and that book but I doubt he reads books from cover to cover. 

So those foreign trips are an escape from reading all those files at the office. According to the United Nations, there are 195 countries in the world.  Among them Botswana, Lesotho, Guinea Bissau, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga.  

 

              Chief Hungkadungka may be willing to invest billions, create high paying jobs.

 

The Peter Principle states that an employee continues to receive promotions to work in higher ranks up to that point where he reaches a level of incompetence. In simple terms, the higher the hierarchy ladder an individual goes, the more likely he is to fail in his new position.

Too many civil servants are either moonlighting or doing some side businesses. Government integrity is at stake - by Murray Hunter

    
Too many civil servants are either moonlighting or doing some side businesses
Government integrity is at stake by Murray Hunter -  Nov 20
    

 

Malaysian civil servants are very lucky. During the Covid emergency they were guaranteed their salaries and even got a bonus. Just recently, civil servants got a 10 percent plus salary hike, something those working within the private sector must fight hard for.

In-fact, those civil servants over grade 56 should be considered as the part of the top echelon of salary earners in Malaysia. Together with their benefits and allowances, they are the real lucky ones.

However, many civil servants are not happy with this.

Many are conducting side businesses.

There are two categories.

The first category includes those who prepare and sell food in markets, Ramadan Bazaars, and conduct other “harmless” businesses outside their work. Some are very innovative, making soaps, artworks, and other things for Sunday markets etc. Most of the activities, unless they take up undue time are really just hobby businesses.

The second category is much more alarming and more widespread than many believe. Some civil services create specific vehicles to benefit from there position within the civil service. Examples of this would include the supplying of stationary, IT, or other equipment to the departments they work within. Some offer event management to the government. Others offer consulting to those who might want to deal with government. There are plenty of other examples. The common thread is that these activities profit from their positions within the civil service.

Unfortunately, some people within the senior echelons in government at both state and federal levels have turned this into a fine art, using think tanks as emissaries, facilitators, and intermediaries between private enterprise and government.  

This is making the civil service, inefficient, bloated, and even dishonest to the oaths of office they made. If senior civil servants have time to undertake businesses outside their jobs, it’s the government and people who are missing out on efficiency and innovation.

This is an issue that has been discussed for more than 20 years. It was a pet issue of the DAP, who are silent today, when they are in government. As former DAP MP Wong Chen said, many of these side businesses can create conflicts of interest.

According to the public service regulations, regulation 5 says public servants are prohibited from,

• directly or indirectly participate in any commercial, agricultural, or industrial enterprise
• seek paid work from any private institution, company, firm, or individual.
• provide paid or free expert reports or opinions
• serve as a trustee, administrator, or receiver

For far too long a blind eye has been given to civil servants running their side businesses.

This is a small area which can be looked at to end corruption and improve efficiency and integrity of the civil service.

Trumpism Versus Benua Asia Tenggalam

 

The following are snippets (with my adaptation) from Prof Murray Hunter's latest article.

• Trump wasted no time in selecting group of change agents to transform US 
• Trump's well publicized agenda
• securing US national borders, fighting cost of living
• Trump has selected very capable people.
• Trump receiving heroic welcomes wherever he goes, like a superstar
• 
  

• Trump major focus on trimming size and wastage in govt
• Dept of Govt Efficiency, to trim billions off US govt budget.
• US Dept of Education will be disbanded and rebuilt from the ground.
• high quality education needed to ‘Make America Great Again” 
• 
  

• Trump focused on destroying censorship that govt-deep state created
• Free speech being revitalised. 
• Trump believes no democracy without free speech.
• Trump poised at cutting edge of reform. 
• very exciting the next four years in the US
• 
  

• US election like a fairytale 
• a story of what could be 
• Trump giving people real hope
• American excitement verses Benua Asia Tenggalam
  
• In Benua Asia Tenggalam no reform of Sedition Act
• no true freedom of speech 
• no improvement of economic circumstances
• average family not better off 
• no true sense of multiculturalism
  
• Two years later even traditional supporters disappointed
• Even heartlands have not warmed up 
•  
  

• propped up by agreement between old elites
• failing to live up to expectations
• less freedom of speech than ever before
• more racially divided than ever before. 
• turning into Islamic Caliphate
• through backdoor circumventing the constitution
• economic plans are for the elites
•  

• reinforcing feudalism post haste
• Those who criticize are persecuted with draconian laws 
• regime is bankrupt of any new ideas
• Even formula fellow had to call for help
• those who lost their seats given senior positions in govt
• Meritocracy caste aside with political appointees
• legal system weaponised 
• DNAAs and discounts on sentences rewards for elite
• 
  

Mat Sabu sebaiknya letak jawatan segera ?? The Conference On "Takut Apa?"

 

"But is your DNA so terencat you cant even see you are going to lose the next elections?"

 

 

Someone sent me some info about some conference some folks are planning.

'Join us for an event that brings together leaders, professionals, and innovators to share ideas and find solutions to today's global challenges. * . . .a platform to think, act, and create a greater impact'

• I think this is just b.s. 
• Nothing will change. 
• The people will get screwed again and again. 
• The elite will get richer and richer.
  

If I may make a suggestion the theme of that Conference should be 'Takut Apa?' 
Just exactly what the hell are you all so afraid of? 

Here is another suggestion. PermaduMalaysia blog has made a suggestion that Mat Sabu resign because the shortage of locally produced rice is quite bad.  

This is the link:  Mat Sabu sebaiknya letak jawatan segera — Gagal tangani beras tempatan hilang di pasaran -  Permadu Malaysia.

Permadu says - "Sangat memalukan kerajaan Madani — seburuk-buruk kerajaan-kerajaan terdahulu, tak pernah berlaku beras tempatan yang membekal 60% keperluan domestik hilang di pasaran!"

So maybe that Conference can discuss how to alleviate the locally produced  rice shortage.  Local rice production meets 60% of our demand. Balance 40% has to be imported.

Logically the supermarkets should always have 60% local rice and 40% imported (oops) rice for sale. But in the supermarket where we shop local rice is down to zero percent on most days. If we want to buy domestic rice the fellow who stacks the rice says 'datang pagi Sabtu, tapi datang awal sebab cepat habis'.

As it is now, we will be paying tolls for a total of 70 years. If the people are dumb enough (I am referring to you folks) the tolls can be extended even beyond the end of those 70 years. 

But when will this really impoverishing rice monopoly come to an end? 

Hello what happened to that investigation about domestic rice being repackaged and resold as imported price to make a higher profit ? Lu orang sudah lupa kah? Here is the news from Bernama:

• So what happened to the investigation? 
• Still investigating kah Datuk? 
• Tak mahu panggil itu Sherlock Holmes kah? 
• Investigation, investigation, investigation.

• Why cant we just take the bull by the horns.  
• Abolish the price controls on rice 
• Abolish that rice monopoly. 
• Rice will become fully available.
• No more shortage.
  
• The prices of rice will stabilise. 
• And PLEEEEASE do not create another rice import OLIGOPOLY pula.
• DO NOT REPLACE THE MONOPOLY WITH AN OLIGOPOLY.
  
• It means no need for any type of license to import rice anymore.
• Let anyone import, export, entrepot rice from anywhere in the world.
• Abolish all those controls on the movement of rice between the States. 
• Apa susah sangat? Takut apa?

 

Hello kawan, you are going to lose the next general elections. 

All of you are going to get kicked out.

You do not care for the people.  

You only care about your own pocket.

Pukul habis while the sun shines.

Which economic text book in the world says that monopolies are good?

Maybe your DNA terencat and you dont understand basic economics.

But is your DNA so terencat you cant even see you are going to lose the elections?

SOME SKULLDUGGERY

Here is an interesting video about the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh with a significant digression about the assassination of Hamas gun buyer Mahmud Mabhouh in Dubai in January 2010.

 

Mahmoud Mabhouh a senior Hamas operative was killed by the Mossad in the five-star Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai. Hamas is also the Muslim Brotherhood. Some folks questioned how the Mossad fellows cracked open the secure hotel room door. Sliding  a credit card works best in the movies. They would have needed some electronic password. Maybe someone gave it to them.

The Al Bustan Rotana Hotel is owned by a Saudi billionaire prince.   "By 2003, Al ------ owned 100 percent of Rotana". This is the same Prince who sent his private jet to fly someone with a serious backache problem to see a doctor in Holland or Germany - saya sudah lupa. Do you all recall that episode? The fellow made a miraculous recovery.

Anyway that Saudi prince is known to be very anti Muslim Brotherhood. So maybe 2+2 = 5? Always remember to choose your friends carefully.

The Mossad did not make a mistake in Dubai. They got their mark and all their agents got away safely. Some argued that the Mossad deliberately left a trail of bread crumbs as a warning to some others. Or even more skullduggery.

The Haniyeh hit in Teheran is much more complicated. As the video shows it was a highly secure  compound where foreign leaders were regularly hosted. If the bomb was planted under the bed hours before Haniyeh's arrival there was still the great risk of the bomb being discovered by Haniyeh's security detail. Unless the bomb was cleverly hidden somehow that would escape detection. In that case much more effort and time would have been needed to place the bomb. Even the Mossad cannot be that clever.

To say that the British and Americans DO NOT ASSASSINATE people covertly is a joke. The CIA has assassinated thousands of people. Just one example was Che Guevara who was killed by the CIA. 

The British have been assassinating people for centuries.   Being British they use diplomatic language. They call it "rendition".

In the 1960s the British once had Indonesian Army officer Benny Moerdani in the gun sights of their snipers. Moerdani was travelling in a boat on a river in Kalimantan just across the border from Sarawak. Unexpectedly there was a white woman with Moerdani on that boat. The shot was not taken. Moerdani would go on to become General Benjamin Moerdani, Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) in the 1980s and later he became Indonesia's Minister of Defense. He died in 2004.

Some skullduggery.

KHAMENEI IN COMA OR DEAD - RUMOURS FLYING

 

 

Rumours are flying that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei  is either dead or in a coma. The 85 year old has been ill for sometime. He is ready to be replaced by his son Mojtaba (Mustafa) in the first picture above (on the left). If that happens it will not be good because it hints at a Khameini family dynasty being set up.

The strange thing is the Iranians have not dismissed these rumours, which they have at other times. Neither has Khamenei been seen in public lately. As the stomach churns.

TUGU JESUS CHRIST YANG TERTINGGI DI DUNIA (61 METER) DI MEDAN, SUMATERA

 

Sekali lagi Indonesia bukan saja membuktikan toleransi agama masyarakat mereka tetapi juga membuktikan toleransi Islam sebab  majoriti besar rakyat Indonesia ia itu 242 juta orang atau 87% daripada jumlah penduduk beragama Islam. 29 juta rakyat Indonesia ia itu 11% adalah Kristian. Sekurang-kurangnya di Indonesia Islam makin menjadi "religion of peace".

Selain daripada tugu Jesus Christ yang terbesar atau yang tertinggi di dunia yang telah didirikan di tebing Danau Toba di daerah Medan, Sumatera kedutaan besar Indonesia di Washington, Amerika Syarikat menarik perhatian dunia  apabila meletakkan patung dewi Hindu Saraswati di depan kedutaan itu (SEJAK TAHUN 2013).

 

Apa maksud yang sebenarnya di sebalik toleransi dan semangat 'co-existence' di kalangan masyarakat Indonesia? Jawapannya ialah masyarakat Indonesia amat berbangga dan rasa sangat selesa dengan sejarah dan warisan mereka yang begitu lama yang termasuk peradaban Hindu yang telah wujud di semua pulau dan penjuru nusantara sejak dua ribu tahun. Juga pengaruh agama Buddha yang tiba di Nusantara 1,500 tahun dulu. Kemudian ketibaan Islam kurang lebih pada abad ke-14 Masihi (800 tahun dulu) dan ketibaan Kristian dua ratus kemudian. 

Jelas sekali pengaruh yang paling besar pada budaya dan tradisi Nusantara adalah Hindu civilisation atau peradaban Hindu yang berasal dari benua India. 

Antara kerajaan Hindu di Nusantara adalah Kutai di Kalimantan Timur (abad ke-empat Masihi), Tarumanagara di Jawa Barat (5th century BC), Kalinga (7th century BC), Mataram (8th century AD), Sailendra (8th century BC ??) dan Majapahit di Jawa (13th century AD). 

Empayar Sri Vijaya (7th century AD) pula adalah kerajaan Buddhist yang bertapak di Sumatera (Samudera). 

Jelas sekali Indonesia adalah sebuah negara dan masyarakat yang amat kaya sejarah mereka. 

Dan masyarakat Indonesia sangat menghargai dan mengingati warisan  mereka. Syarikat penerbangan Indonesia diberi nama Garuda, lambang negara Indonesia diberi nama Garuda Pancasila. Slogan negara Indonesia menyebut Bhinneka Tunggal Ika bermaksud 'berbeza tapi Tetap Bersatu juga'.  

Sumatera (samudera), Nusantara, Garuda, Panca Sila, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika semuanya mencerminkan pengaruh bahasa, budaya, tradisi India dan Hindu di Nusantara sejak 2000 tahun atau lebih. Juga pengaruh agama Buddha, Islam dan Kristian.

Masyarakat Indonesia moden dengan segala kepelbagaian mereka (bahasa dan agama) selesa menerima sejarah mereka. 

Kita boleh menukar nama sesuatu tempat atau tukar nama jalan tetapi kita tidak boleh menukar sejarah tempat itu atau menukar sejarah sesiapa pun.

SUNDAY LITE - PERBINCANGAN ILMIAH (ACADEMIC DISCUSSION) STYLE PAK ARAB

 

 

                                         BANGSA YANG TERB*D*H DALAM DUNIA

BANGLADESH BEYOND THE CLUB OF DOOM

 

 

 

• DHAKA: protest of Bangladeshi hunger striker Mahbubul Haque Shipon  
• among six other demonstrations on the same busy thoroughfare.
  
• Bangladesh summer revolution, culminating in autocratic Hasina’s ouster
• Hasina’s govt no longer able to contain anger over widening inequality
  

• more protests in Dhaka since Hasina ouster than during uprising against her
• calling for ouster of Bangla president – still in office
• clamour of numerous protests being staged
• Govt employees chanted demands for higher pay and benefits
• protest urging protections for Sufi religious shrines.
• university official subjected to anonymous death threats
• vandal attack on a nearby mosque 
• garment workers protesting unpaid wages held sit-ins on highways 
• student procession blocked the road outside the Secretariat 
• Non-stop demonstrations near the Secretariat building 
• sheer number of protests across sprawling megacity, 21 million people
• constant disruptions caused by protests
• protests threatened to provoke disorder and violence
• Islamist groups plan to besiege two newspapers for insulting Islam
• crowd stormed Dhaka’s most prestigious theatre to stop popular play

• ‘Fascist party’ 
• Hasina’s Awami League party attempting to regroup after top leaders arrested

MY COMMENTS : 

What is happening in Bangladesh is that hardly three months after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the euphoria of getting rid of a tyrant regime is now wearing thin. Because nothing is changing or has changed.

This is exactly what happened in Egypt after the Arab Spring when the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi became president of Egypt in 2012. Nothing changed so the euphoria of the "revolution" disappeared. People became fed up very quickly. So they overthrew Morsi in 2013. And now 11 years later still nothing much has changed in Egypt.

The same thing happened in Malaysia. In 2018, after 63 years the people threw out the BN / UMNO regime. Dr Mahathir took over. But nothing changed. No reforms. So the euphoria of kicking out the BN / UMNO also disappeared. And Dr Mahathir  was kicked out in 2020. 

Then Tan Sri Muhyiddin took over. Again there was some euphoria. Maybe this time things will improve. Nope. There was still no change. So Muhyiddin was taken out after a year. 

Then Ismail Sabri took over. By this time there was no euphoria. People were tired. And again nothing changed. The peoples' lives did not improve. So Sabri was ousted after about another year. 

Now the present gomen is in power in Malaysia. Absolutely nothing has changed.    No reforms nothing.  And there never was any euphoria either. The people are really tired.

So just like in Malaysia, in Bangladesh too they basically do not know what to do. Mohamed Yunos the unconstitutional 'Advisor' to the figurehead Bangladeshi President is running the country without any legal or electoral endorsement by the people of Bangladesh. There is no provision in their Constitution for an 'Advisor' to the President to manage the affairs of the country. There is no legally authorised Cabinet. He is occupying an unprecedented, 'illegal' position. 

How will we know all this for sure? We will know all this for sure if there is another revolution in Bangladesh (there will be) and a new group takes over. Then they will most likely throw Mohamed Yunos in jail.  He better have a CIA or Pakistani aircraft constantly warmed up and ready to take off at a moment's notice.

Bangladesh is waiting for the Muslim Brotherhood (aka Jamaate Islami) to give the green light for them to have general elections. This is going to be very tricky because the Jamate Islami cannot be sure of winning the votes to form a government. 

So the elections are going to take a while. That is why after THREE MONTHS there is no announcement when there will be general elections in Bangladesh. 

"Elections may be possible within the next year (2025), but there are many factors involved. Reforms and political compromises are said to lead to elections. The other factors are formation of a search committee and election commission, preparation of voter list etc. If these factors could be fulfilled, the election may be held next year (2025)", Dr Asif Nazrul, an adviser to the interim government, said in a statement.   "This is also my initial guess" he added.

Initial guess?  Meaning the elections are not going to happen anytime soon. Or even next year.

What the hell are  political compromises ?  Fixing things? Assembling 'electoral pacts' between friendly parties? Tripping up the 'fascist' Awami League from contesting? 

I think Bangladesh needs a DAP and an Abang Johari. You know for political stability. To be a moderating influence. Or maybe to launch a Chinese-aunty type van shuttle service to the train station using a trillion takas worth of public funds. Something like that. (Taka is the Bangla currency).

To make a long story short Bangladesh is screwed. They were screwed already. Now it will get worse.

THEIR BOUNCER IS DEAD SO IRAN DELEGATION REFUSED ENTRY INTO LEBANON

 

Folks remember this - this is the Middle East. The fate of nations, the fate of entire societies can change before the camel can blink its eye. Here is some news from Lebanon:

(PHOTO CREDIT REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)

Iran delegation claimed diplomatIc immunity, no need to be searched.
NOVEMBER 15, 2024

• Iran delegation refused access to Lebanon  
• after Iran officials refused to be searched by airport security
• Iran delegation claimed diplomatic immunity, no need to be searched.
• Beirut airport security chief Brig Gen Fadi Kfoury closed access to VIP lounge
• preventing Iran delegation from entering the country.

• Context to the visit
• visit came a day after US delivered draft truce to end Israel Hezbollah fighting
• Iranian official promised not to disrupt any agreements made

 

My Comments : 

Hassan Nasrallah the Iranian Shia bouncer in Beirut since 1992 (when he took over Hezbollah) is dead. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, 2024. Two of his successors have also been killed - since September 27, 2024. Naim Qassim the latest head of Hezbollah is said to have left Beirut and is hiding in Teheran, because the Israelis have said they will kill him too. 

Hezbollah is now without any effective leadership on the ground in Lebanon. Much of Hezbollah's fighting strength has been destroyed. The infamous Hezbollah rockets have also not materialised. They can hardly fire any rockets or do any real damage.

The rest of the Islamic world also does not care. The Hezbollah are Shias. So none of the Sunni countries expressed any protest or condolences when Hassan Nasrallah was killed in that airstrike.

And obviously the rest of Lebanon never liked the Hezbollah. So when the Iranian godfathers flew into Beirut airport  yesterday 15th November 2024 the Lebanese non-Shia general in charge of airport security refused to let the Iranian delegation entry into Lebanon. They were also denied access to the VIP lounge at the airport meaning they had to have lunch at Shamir's Shawarma Stand. (I assume they have since gone back).

After 32 years of screwing up Lebanon the Iranians are finding out that their welcome has worn out. 

 

  وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًۭا  

"And so all his produce was ˹totally˺ ruined, so he started to wring his hands for all he had spent on it, while it had collapsed on its trellises. He cried, “Alas! I wish I had never associated anyone with my Lord!” - Surah 18:42

THE GEOGRAPHY OF GAZA, THE WEST BANK AND RM45 MILLION.

 

 

KL : Malaysia donations, aid RM45mil to Gaza since Oct 7, 2023
channelled through Palestine People’s Humanitarian Trust Account (AAKRP) 
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) 
Malaysian Embassy in Amman, Jordan

5,000 tonnes aid from M'sia sent to Gaza through Rafah since Oct 2023 
which has benefited millions of Palestinians.

(OSTB : Population of Gaza is 2.142 million in 2024. So about 2.33 kg per pax??)

Rafah border closed since May 7, 2024  
only aid route through King Hussein Bridge in Jordan.
to participate in aid through this bridge in cooperation with Jordan govt

OSTB :  Here is the map of Gaza (the red dots), the West Bank (green colour), Jordan (beige) and Israel (blue).

 

• To go from Jordan to Gaza
• first you need to cross the King Hussein Bridge
• from Jordan into the West Bank. 
• Then from the West Bank you must cross into Israel at Jerusalem.
• Then you must travel across Israel to the Eretz Border crossing.
• Then at the Eretz Crossing you enter from Israel into Gaza.

• The Rafah border (Egypt) closed since May 7, 2024.    
• So access into Gaza through Egypt (a friendly Islamic country) is not possible. 
• We dont recognise Israel, so access into Gaza directly through Israel (at the Eretz Crossing) is also not possible.
  
• So we have no choice but to go around the head to touch the nose - we have to go through the Allenby Bridge in Jordan. 
• Question : Does Jordan request any "service fees", any "commissions" payable etc? There are no free camel rides in the Middle east. 
  

Also I am wondering how cash can get into Gaza since all the banks in Gaza are closed or not operating. And all money flows in and out of Gaza are now strictly controlled by the Israelis.

Here is some old news :  "AAKRP’S COLLECTION NOW AT RM81 MILLION, APPROACHING TARGET – October 19, 2023"

        In October 2023 the GLCs also contributed millions in donations. Public funds.

So they collected RM81 million by October 19, 2023. (Considering the Gaza war started 11 days earlier on October 8th 2023, that was done very fast).  But the Minister said in Parliament (now in Nov 2024) only RM45 million was sent to Gaza since October 2023. So RM36 million still ada balance lah kut.