MALAYSIA'S COMING FINANCIAL TSUNAMI

 

Fitch pushes Malaysia’s credit rating outlook to negative

July 31, 2013
Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings has revised Malaysia's sovereign credit rating outlook from stable to negative as the possibility of addressing public finance weaknesses has deteriorated after Election 2013.

The news comes as the Malaysian ringgit slid to three-year lows against the US dollar and 15-year lows against the Singapore dollar, making imports more expensive while exports would be cheaper although exports have slipped.

But it affirmed the country's long-term foreign and local currency issuer default ratings at A- and A, respectively.

“Malaysia’s public finances are its key rating weakness. Federal government debt rose to 53.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) at end-2012, up from 51.6 percent at end-2011 and 39.8 percent at end-2008.
"The general government budget deficit (Fitch basis) widened to 4.7 percent of GDP in 2012 from 3.8 percent in 2011, led by a 19 percent rise in spending on public wages in a pre-election year,” it said.
But Fitch believed that it would be difficult for Putrajaya to achieve its interim 3 percent federal government deficit target for 2015 without additional consolidation measures.

“Fitch sees risks even to the achievement of the agency’s 3.5 percent deficit projection, as this already factors in one percentage point of GDP of spending cuts.

"This leaves Malaysia’s public finances more exposed to any future negative shock,” it said.
It pointed out that Putrajaya's contingent liabilities were on the rise and its debt guaranteed rose to 15.2 percent of GDP by end-2012 from 9.0 percent at end-2008, as state-owned enterprises (SoEs) participated in a government-led investment programme.

"Also, Malaysia's fiscal revenue base is low at 24.7 percent of GDP, against an 'A' range median of 32.8 percent. Fitch has long emphasised two key budgetary vulnerabilities: reliance on petroleum-derived revenues and the high and rising weight of subsidies in expenditure. Fitch estimated that petroleum-derived revenues contributed 33.7 percent of federal revenues in 2012," the ratings agency said.

"We believe the lack of progress on structural budgetary reform could be due to the general elections, resulting in the government delaying its reform. The situation was compounded by the Umno general election that has been set on October 5.

"Indeed, the government has since put on hold its subsidies rationalisation, after it last cut its fuel subsidies in December 2010. This was made worse by fiscal transfer in 2012 and 2013 to help ease people’s financial burden," Fitch said.

It pointed although the subsidies were projected to fall, it remained sizeable and accounts for 18 percent of the revenue in 2013 (+21.3 percent in 2012), which was still uncomfortably high.

"Way back in the early 2000s, the subsidies only accounted for 2.9-7.8 percent of revenue in 2000-2004, compared with an average of 18.0 percent a year in 2008-12.

"We expect the government to resume its fiscal reform once the Umno election is over. This may help to convince Fitch that the government is committed to bring down its budget deficit through fiscal reform including rationalisation of subsidies and implementation of the goods & services tax (GST) to broaden the government’s tax base," it said.

But it also affirmed the Short-Term Foreign Currency IDR at F2 and the Country Ceiling at A. Despite the weaknesses, the rating house also acknowledged the strengths in the composition of Malaysia’s debt and its funding base.

“Federal Government debt is overwhelmingly denominated in local currency (97 percent at end-2012) and has a smooth maturity profile.

"Sovereign funding conditions benefit from deep domestic capital markets and from the role of the broader public sector in funnelling savings to the Government,” it stated.

Fitch also said Malaysia’s credit fundamentals were weak by a range standards, as the average income level of US$10,400 (RM33,597) in 2012 was closer to the BBB range median of US$11,300 than the A median of US$18,600.

“Its overall level of development and standards of governance are also considered weak for its A- rating. Fitch’s Banking System Indicator of bbb suggests the standalone strength of Malaysian banks does not weigh on the credit profile.

However, Malaysia’s high level of private sector leverage is a risk from a credit perspective,” it said, pointing out it reached 118 percent of GDP at end-2012, above the 'A' median 94 percent.

Malaysia’s household debt also rose from a low of 60.4 percent in 2008 to 81.1 percent of GDP in 2012 and further to 82.9 percent in March 2013 but RHB Research said it was set to rise further given that household loans in the banking system continued to outpace the growth of GDP currently.
- July 31, 2013.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/fitch-pushes-malaysias-credit-rating-outlook-to-negative

 

Mahathir's Great Legacy to the Malays

  Dr Mahathir  and the Malays

by

Mariam Mokhtar
 
 http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/236996

If some of you think that this nation is in a mess, then blame the Malays because they are the problem. Malays know that Malaysia is not the land of gold and honey any longer.
In these difficult times, they have become more aware of their surroundings; but one other person has noticed this sea-change in the Malays.

He is former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He knows that a thinking and independent Malay is detrimental to his legacy, his creation - Umno-Baru - and to the well-being of his family’s fortunes. Today’s self-aware Malay is Mahathir’s downfall.

Malays are in positions of power in government and the civil service. They dictate policies and run the wheels of government; but Malays are also the nation’s worst hypocrites.

They are greedy. They are happy with short-term solutions. They do not think of the consequences. They are happy to hide behind the cloak of race and religion if it will bring them some material benefit or status. The day they lose everything is probably the day they will regain their humility, values and self-respect.

With the downturn in the economy, Malays have noticed that jobs are hard to come by, that only the chosen Malays receive government tenders, and that the cost of living is increasing. Scholarships for the poor Malay child are snapped up by children of Umno Baru politicians and cronies, leaving only a few places for the needy.

Crime is rife and foreigners are a common sight in every community, schools and hospitals. The Malay market-trader has to compete with a foreigner, who is willing to work harder for less money. Children in the rural areas are disillusioned and difficult to motivate. Many drift to the cities looking for jobs, then find that there are no jobs, so they add to the Mat Rempit menace.

The most privileged section of the community also has the highest proportion of drug users. Why are Malays more prone to drug addiction? Are they trying to escape reality? People who volunteer in charitable organisations allege that Malays have the highest incidence of problems, ranging from domestic violence to sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual problems such as rape, incest and illegitimate children.

Corruption is killing the country, but Malays are quite happy with the RM50 or RM500 offered by Umno Baru. The muftis order ridiculous fatwas and Friday sermons are politicised, but few Malays voice their objections. If this were Indonesia, the Indonesians would have walked out of the mosques, in protest.

Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. If Indonesian women were subjected to acts of humiliation, many Indonesian women and men would have picketed to protest and demand that stern action be taken. Malay women would rather watch the latest TV soap.

Exacting vengeance

Malays are aware that government tenders above a certain value involve bribery but will they lodge complaints? Perhaps, they are aware that nothing will be done. The people who head these anti-graft bodies are Malay.

Malays know that cheating was rife in GE13 and in the by-election in Kuala Besut on July 24. It appears that Malays were more concerned about getting in the queue for their “travel allowance”, than stopping corruption.

The hundreds of millions of ringgit should instead have been pumped into schemes to benefit the community. The scoundrels are the Election Commission (EC) chairperson and his deputy; both Malays. Men who lack principle and dignity are championed by Umno-Baru.

Umno Baru seems to be promoting the Malays, whereas Pakatan Rakyat appears to be inclusive of all Malaysians, but the irony is that the only way for Malays to prosper is to vote against Umno-Baru and ensure that Pakatan forms the next government.

Mahathir knows which buttons to push. He is good at making you react, he excels at getting your attention and is pleased when you become all worked up - his expertise is that of a master manipulator. Mahathir would have made a better psychiatrist than a general practitioner.

Those who claim that Mahathir’s policies “help” the Malays, are wrong. What he does under the pretext of helping Malays is designed to have the opposite effect. He is exacting his own vengeance on the Malays. Sadly, the Malays are too blind or stupid to notice.

When Mahathir was a child, which traumatic episode in particular made him turn against the Malays? He appears to be torn between pleasing the Malays, so that he is accepted by them, but at the same time is driven by feelings of guilt, to redeem himself for being cast as an outsider.

Was he teased in the school playground and called derogatory names pertaining to his background? Was he ashamed of being registered as an Indian at medical school in Singapore? Despite having a Malay mother, did elite Malays, royalty and the community treat Mahathir as an outsider? Did an incident deprive Mahathir of a deep emotional connection with the Malay community, which fostered a deep seated envy of the Malays?

This week, Mahathir has again tried to pit Malays against Chinese, and vice-versa; he queried whether the Chinese wanted to share, or to seize power, in Malaysia.

The non-Malay colleagues or beneficiaries of Mahathir’s largesse are silent. If they are angry with Mahathir, none would dare voice their objections publicly. Mahathir knows that patronage has its advantages, and its limits.

Poor-quality leaders

Today, we are a nation divided along racial and religious lines and all of us are to blame. From the beginning, Mahathir had a racist agenda. The Malays were mesmerised by Mahathir’s spin but then, the non-Malays are not entirely innocent.

In the WikiLeaks cables released in April 2013, it was revealed that the US embassy expressed surprise that Mahathir had been appointed deputy PM in 1976, but they were probably more amazed by the lack of opposition from the non-Malays despite Mahathir’s “Malay chauvinism”.

Francis T Underhill Jr, the ambassador at the time noted that “... the small, predominantly Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP) has expressed some concern over Mahathir’s past record but has not openly opposed his selection. Other Chinese parties or politicians have either not commented or have welcomed Mahathir’s appointment in a pro forma manner”.

Malaysia does not have a Malay or a Chinese dilemma. Our only dilemma is Mahathir. His latest outburst about the Chinese seizing power is merely a side-show. He wants to deflect attention from the greatest show in Malaysia, the Umno Baru general assembly.

Behind the scenes, the Malays in Umno-Baru are positioning themselves, like pieces on a chess board. The rakyat’s problem is that we have poor quality Malay Umno Baru leaders, who only want to maintain their vested interests.

Malays are the problem of this country but they could also be the solution. Right now, any aspiring Malay who wants to be leader must listen to the needs of the lower-income groups and families with aspiration. He must address concerns of the rakyat like illegal immigration, corruption, education and rising crime.

Nothing gives Mahathir a greater sense of schadenfreude than seeing the Malays suffer, despite the Ketuanan Melayu and Umno Baru.

---

Dr Mahathir Mohamad is ANTI-CHINESE, Pure and Simple.

 

QUOTE

"Let us admit this. The CHINESE community contributed enormously to the growth and the development of our country over centuries.

Instead of giving them due credit for their hard work and sacrifices, UMNO has used them as punching bag for ITS FAILURE to uplift the living and educational standards of the Malays.

They are quite happy to have a MALAY Prime Minister and a MALAY dominated government. THAT IS GIVEN.

At issue to them (and me too) is what kind of Malay leadership we should have for Malaysia.

They (the Chinese) expect a government which is transparent and accountable, not a corrupt one. In the last election, they voted against UMNO-led Barisan Nasional for this reason.

The Chinese want enlightened and progressive Malay leaders who will not use race and religion for their political ends.

They want to be respected as Malaysians with rights guaranteed by the constitution, not as pendatangs, to have some say in the affairs of state in so far as policies affect their interests

And they want to contribute to the future development of Malaysia. "

- Dato Din Merican

-------------

 

FULL ARTICLEhttp://tinyurl.com/q8p5jxl

NOT MALAY DILEMMA, NOT CHINESE DILEMMA... ITS ALL ABOUT MAHATHIR'S OWN DILEMMA

by

Dato Din Merican

Dr. Mahathir has yet to deal with the ghosts of his past deeds. Here no one can help him but he himself.

This is indeed tragic for a once formidable leader of our country who is advancing in years (born in 1925). He just cannot let go and now he has taken upon himself the task of interpreting history.

It is not Malay or Chinese Dilemma. It is Dr Mahathir’s.

He is unwilling to come to terms with himself.

Let us admit this. The Chinese community contributed enormously to the growth and the development of our country over centuries.

In stead of giving them due credit for their hard work and sacrifices, UMNO has used them as punching bag for its failure to uplift the living and educational standards of the Malays.

(a) The Chinese know what they want and are willing to put up with obstacles and hindrances in their way to get ahead.

(b)Their work ethic is the envy of all Malaysians.

(c) They are investing heavily in the education of their young.

(d) They continue to modernise their companies for opportunities abroad, since they cannot get contracts in our country on their own merit, and must, therefore, be sub-contractors to favoured UMNO businessmen.

(e) At home, they (the Chinese) expect a government which is transparent and accountable, NOT a corrupt one. In the last election, THEY VOTED AGAINST UMNO-LED BARISAN NASIONAL FOR THIS REASON.

Are the Chinese after political power?

I have Chinese friends–and Indian friends too– with whom I discuss issues (corruption, abuse of power, discrimination, good governance, race relations, and so on).

From them I get the sense that :

1. THEY ARE QUITE HAPPY TO HAVE A MALAY PRIME MINISTER AND A MALAY DOMINATED GOVERNMENT. That is a given.

2, They respect our King and his brother rulers. But at issue to them (and me too) is what kind of Malay leadership we should have for Malaysia.

3. THE CHINESE WANT ENLIGHTENED AND PROGRESSIVE MALAY LEADERS WHO WILL NOT USE RACE AND RELIGION FOR THEIR POLITICAL ENDS.

4. They feel that Chinese bashing after GE-13 should stop.

5. They want to be respected as Malaysians with rights guaranteed by the constitution, not as pendatangs, to have some say in the affairs of state in so far as policies affect their interests, and they want to contribute to the future development of Malaysia.

I am sure that, like me, THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH A FORMER PRIME MINISTER WHO HAS ABANDONED HIS BANGSA MALAYSIA VISION in order to further HIS INTEREST IN SEEING A MALAY MALAYSIA. I will have none of this.

Just give me a Malaysia for all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, colour and religion so that together we can face the challenges of a 21st century world.

- Dato Din Merican

Shower-Room turned to Dining Room in Seri Pristana School for Non Muslim Students During Fasting Month

 Read here

The  Education Ministry has decided to put a lid on the controversy of non-Muslim pupils using the shower room as a makeshift canteen during Ramadan.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan closed the case involving Sk Seri Pristana in Sungai Buloh in "nervous haste".

Lim said the parents want an answer to the "inconsistencies and self-contradictions in facts and events" surrounding the matter.

"All Malaysians want the truth and nothing but the truth to be revealed before they are convinced by Kamalanathan's claims that this is not an issue related to race or religion," he added in a statement.


The Penang chief minister said that such hastiness in closing the controversy would be seen as a "cover-up" unless Kamalanathan can explain why the parents were not informed since March this year that the canteen would be relocated to the shower room because of renovations.

"Further, why were there no signs of renovation of the canteen? If the renovation has been only recently completed, why was the canteen not reopened?" Lim queried.

"Lastly, how can Kamalanathan fail to address the parents' complaints that their children were only asked to eat in the makeshift canteen in the shower room two days into Ramadan?" he further asked.

Those responsible must be punished
 
Lim said that while it was one thing to resolve the issue, equally important was punishing those responsible for the matter so that such incidents do not recur.

He added that the public wanted to know how it happened in the first place because it is "humiliating" for children to eat in a shower room.

Lim said a strong message must be sent that civil servants must respect the sensitivities and rights of all communities.

"Failure to do so will only accelerate the negative perception that the sensitivities and rights of non-Muslims can be trampled upon without punishment," he said.

"Such negative perception can easily turn to a feeling of victimisation by non-Muslims," he added.

Lim said the party was "saddened" by pictures of policemen with heavy weapons standing guard outside the school, holding back angry parents and their friends.

"Do Malaysian schools have to deteriorate to this level where policemen with weapons are required to stand guard outside not to protect the school against criminals but against angry parents seeking answers and justice?" he ask

WHEN WILL KINDNESS PREVAIL ? by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

 

 

QUOTE

" ...By and large, NON-Malays and NON-Muslims have always been respectful of Malays and Muslims for as long as I can remember.

For many years after independence, the Chinese and Indians have always stayed in the background and known their place under the Malaysian sun.

In fact, their reluctance to be involved was interpreted as apathy and unwillingness to be involved in nation-building.

Now, the younger generation wants to have a say and for that they are accused of being ungrateful. Suddenly, these young Malaysians are being labelled as unpatriotic.

What has happened is the result of heightened Malay-Muslim consciousness, promoted by politicians and Islamic bureaucrats who-under the cloak of race and in some cases religion or both-want to be identified as champions of their race and religion.

The real culprits for the present day distortion are the Malays who always blame the Chinese for their shortcomings, and the false Muslim preachers who teach the Muslims to have an all-consuming fear of God but then conveniently forget that Allah commands us to look after our fellow beings more than ourselves.

What ails the country are these false teachings and false ideologies that are bereft of human decency and dignity, making meaningful relationships among the people of this country difficult to achieve.

By invoking false ideologies of patriotism and Islamisation, they have invaded the public space and filled the minds of the people with so much indoctrinal nonsense that some Malays and Muslims have forgotten basic human decency and moral values in their interpersonal relationship with others.

The process has numbed the conscience of these administrators, a condition described by our Malay elders as "HILANG HATI PERUT"

It means they have LOST their sense of fairness, empathy and understanding and can no longer appreciate the consequence of their actions on others who do not belong to their group.

They simply NO LONGER care enough.

These false champions of their race and religion then blame NON-Malays and NON-Muslims for being insensitive..."

- Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

-------

FULL ARTICLE - READ HERE http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/when-will-kindness-prevail

WHEN WILL KINDNESS PREVAIL ?

By

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

Another school fiasco has taken place if the reports about the schoolchildren in Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Pristana in Sungai Buloh are correct.

The children were required to use the changing room next to the toilet as a makeshift canteen because the canteen itself was closed for the fasting month.

Predictably, the DPM has ordered a probe and probably the other education minister will express some regret over the incident.

This is NOT the FIRST time such ugliness has marred our school halls.

-- In 2010, the principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Johor made it to the news for making racial remarks against her Chinese and Indian students.

Typically, in such incidents after the furor has died down all is forgotten.

-- Then another incident unfolds because Malay and Muslim administrators do not think non-Malays and non-Muslims are important enough to be treated with respect and dignity.


What has happened is the result of heightened Malay-Muslim consciousness, promoted by politicians and Islamic bureaucrats who-under the cloak of race and in some cases religion or both-want to be identified as champions of their race and religion.

But by invoking false ideologies of patriotism and Islamisation, they have invaded the public space and filled the minds of the people with so much indoctrinal nonsense that some Malays and Muslims have forgotten basic human decency and moral values in their interpersonal relationship with others.

The process has numbed the conscience of these administrators, a condition described by our Malay elders as "hilang hati perut".

It means they have lost their sense of fairness, empathy and understanding and can no longer appreciate the consequence of their actions on others who do not belong to their group.

They simply no longer care enough.

These false champions of their race and religion then blame non-Malays and non-Muslims for being insensitive.

Just this morning a deputy minister BLAMED THE CHINESE for organising a beauty contest knowing about the fatwa issue, IMPLYING THE CHINESE MUST ALSO FOLLOW THE FATWA.

Some SILLY BLOGGERSmay have given them the ammunition to justify what they say.

But by and large, non-Malays and non-Muslims have always been respectful of Malays and Muslims for as long as I can remember.

For many years after independence, the Chinese and Indians have always stayed in the background and known their place under the Malaysian sun.

In fact, their reluctance to be involved was interpreted as apathy and unwillingness to be involved in nation-building.

Now, the younger generation wants to have a say and for that they are accused of being ungrateful.

Suddenly, these young Malaysians are being labelled as unpatriotic.

A special course on nationhood has been invoked by no less a figure than the Regent of Perak, implying that non-Malays and non-Muslims are found wanting in their sense of national loyalty.

On the contrary, I believe that, if at all, the ones who need to undergo a course on nationhood are Malays and Muslims who have forgotten that there are Malaysians who are unlike them.

I am tired of listening to some of our so-called leaders hand out their prescriptions for what ails the country.

THE NON MALAYS AND NON MUSLIMS MUST STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS; BECAUSE ONLY THEN WE WILL A COUNTRY OF EQUALS. The Malays will also benefit from this situation where people are treated as they should be treated, with fairness and equanimity.

The REAL CULPRITS for the present day distortion are the Malays who always blame the Chinese for their shortcomings, and the false Muslim preachers who teach the Muslims to have an all-consuming fear of God but then conveniently forget that Allah commands us to look after our fellow beings more than ourselves.

What ails the country are these FALSE teachings and FALSE ideologies that are bereft of human decency and dignity, making meaningful relationships among the people of this country difficult to achieve.

So on his 60th birthday, can we have our PM (Prime Minister) say and do something that will right the moral compass of good behaviour between Malays and non-Malays?

Remove the distorting prism that guides our present actions PURELY ON THE BASIS OF RACE OR BELIEFS.

Can we agree that Malaysians of whatever group are HUMAN BEINGS FIRST, and that they DESERVE EQUAL AND FAIR TREATMENT?

Advanced countries put a premium on developing a caring and compassionate society and SO SHOULD WE.

Success certainly CANNOT be measured by GDP (gross domestic product) and per capita income alone.

- Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

NAJIB'S 1MALAYSIA - A COUNTRY OF TWO LAWS FOR SAME OFFENCE FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE

Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman - Otak Tak Berakal

 

Insulting the Rulers, UMNO-style

READ HERE ORIGINAL ARTICLE by KTemoc Konsiders

TMI - MCMC: Woman detained for insulting King on Facebook

Malaysiakini - Facebook user held for allegedly insulting Agong

HM Yang DiPertuan Agong of Malaysia

nice bloke, very punctual in his official schedule

very caring for his personal staff

RPK of Malaysia-Today said in his post Criticism is mandatory in Islam:

I feel His Majesty the Agong should pardon that woman who was arrested for insulting His Majesty in the spirit that Muslim leaders and rulers are not exempt from criticism. I know I said that insults are not criticism and that there is a difference.

Nevertheless, let this be a lesson to all Malaysians that under Islam criticism of leaders and rulers is allowed as long as you know the difference between a criticism and an insult.

What that woman did was an insult to His Majesty the Agong. The problem is most Malaysians do not understand the difference between criticism and insult. And they think that freedom of speech means freedom to vilify and disparage. Maybe with this latest episode they can become a bit wiser. If not then expect a few more arrests and this time with no pardon.

Sweetie, there's obviously a mighty and probably painful difference between insulting Michelle Yeoh and HM.

Be that as it may, please flash back to 10 December 1992.

Dr Affifuddin Hj Omar

On that day, in Parliament, Dr Affifuddin Omar, an UMNO man from Padang Terap, no doubt given the imprimatur by his party leaders, said this:

"How can we continue to uphold rulers who are known to be robbers, adulterers, drunkards and kaki pukul (thugs)?" [...]
"They (the rulers) must be made to realize that they do not own this country. They are not Superman but placed on their thrones by the people."
"The real power did not lie with them, but with us - the representatives of the people."
"The 'syndrome of religiosity' associated with the Rulers was only to cloud the people's view of who the Rulers actually were."

Which ‘non’ could have said that and got away? None!

Only UMNO and UMNO alone could have gotten away scot-free with its abuse of the raja whom they claim to defend today.

Then in that same parliamentary session, when the UMNO-led government tabled a motion to amend the Constitution to strip away the Rulers' immunity from prosecution, the Rulers Conference rejected (but of course, what did you think?) that amendment (but which was achieved in a subsequent parliamentary session in January 1993 via a motion tabled personally by the PM Dr Mahathir), Wan Hanafiah Wan Mat Saman (UMNO-Kota Setar) preferred the Malay Rulers to be treated the way the Indian Maharajas were treated.

He said in his speech:

"After the struggle for India's independence in 1947, Deputy Prime Minister Sardar V Patel was given the task of negotiating with the Rulers to phase out them.:

"Patel rounded up the Maharajas and put them in a hotel. On the first day of discussion, he could not get them to agree to the Government's proposal.”

"On the second day, he placed soldiers around the perimeter of the hotel. On the third day, he cut the electricity supply; on the fourth day, he stopped the water supply and on the fifth day, he stopped food from being brought in. On the sixth day, all the Rulers, who were confined to the building, agreed to the government proposals.”

"When Patel was asked why he did not obtain the consent of the Rulers in a normal fashion,  Patel replied, 'Do you ask the consent of the chicken before it is slaughtered?'"

Continuing his speech, Wan Hanafiah said that "a similar approach could have been taken to solve the present problem with the Rulers."

[above quoted from a post at Dewan Pemuda PAS Serdang blog]

Francis Bacon once said: 

“The zeal which begins with hypocrisy must conclude in treachery; at first it deceives, at last it betrays”, but obviously UMNO has done it the other way around, first betraying the rulers, now (deceitfully) defending them.

UMNO has been the biggest hypocrite of all.

The difference between a saint and a hypocrite is that one lies for his religion, the other by it.

-----

AND HERE INSULTING  THE MALAY RULER IN PUBLIC PROTEST

IS HM YDP AGONG ALWAYS BEING TOLD THE TRUTH BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

READ HERE IN MALAYSIAKINI

Is the Agong always told the truth?

BY Zorro-unmasked

2:16PM Jun 4, 2013

• Does he know that since 2000, there have been 218 custodial deaths?

• Does he know that there have been three deaths in police custody within the last 11 days?

• Does he know why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has not been held accountable for the deaths of Teoh Beng Hock and Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed while the duo were in their custody?

• Does he know why the Defence Ministry (Mindef) agreed to pay Abdul Razak Baginda RM500 million for services rendered to the Malaysian government in the purchase of the Scorpene submarines?

• Did he know that royal titles are being sold, like in the 2006 case of Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom who paid a whopping RM250,000 in order to be called a 'Datuk'?

• Was he made aware that according to a report by influential London-based daily The Guardian, a Tax Justice Network's researcher estimated that US$283 billion (RM892 billion) has been transferred to tax havens from 1970 to 2010 - an amount that is three and a half times more than Malaysia's foreign debt of RM257.2 billion in 2011, and is second only to Nigeria (US$306 billion or RM964 billion)?

• Was he told that the toll companies have thus far collected more than RM20 billion, and that the government is still giving them license to plunder and pillage the rakyat?

• Is he made aware that despite the ‘1Malaysia’ claim, 100 big companies set up, owned and managed by Chinese Malaysians were taken over by the government, and later managed by Malays since the 1970s - e.g. urban transformation centres (UTCs), United Malayan Banking Corporation Berhad (UMBC), MISC Berhad and Southern Bank - as happened to rice millers in Kedah and Chinese-owned bus transport companies?

• Was he informed that the daughter of the recently-retired chief secretary to the government, Mohd Sidek Hassan - despite any proven track record in the energy field - has the “lion’s share” in the newly-introduced renewable alternative energy scheme, Feed-in Tariff (FiT)?

• Was it ever revealed to him, the wastages generated by:

1. The BMF Finance scandal - RM3.2 billion                               
2. The Maminco scandal -  RM1.6 billion
3. The forex losses scandal - RM30 billion
4. The Perwaja Steel scandal - RM 2.56 billion
5. The Scorpene submarines commission - RM500 million
6. Bank Islam losses and bailout - RM700 million                               
7. The Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal - RM12 billion
8. Sime Darby losses - RM964 million
9. Terengganu stadium collapse - RM292 million
10. National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) Cowgate scandal - RM250 milion
11. Bailout of Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), twice - RM7.9 billion
12. Mindef paying RM1,146 for a RM160 technical pen;
13. Youth and Sports Ministry buying a RM50 carjack for RM1,664;
14. Paying RM2.57 million to deceased pensioners;                  
15. Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) training centre paying RM25,500 for 150kg of sugar;
16. Tourism Ministry overpaying almost RM270 million for advertisements;
17. Marine Park Department paying RM56,350 for night binoculars valued at RM1,940; and
18. Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) spending RM770,000 to supply power to a single house.

• Was he told this truth that while the federal debt on paper inches closer to the 55 percent of GDP threshold, the “true debt” as of December 2011 was RM573 billion, or a whopping 67 percent of the GDP which included contingent liabilities such as government guarantees and “off balance sheet” borrowings.

• In 2009, these hidden debts totalled RM84 billion, which increased to RM117 billion in 2011. 

• Five years ago, our government borrowings stood at RM250 billion, but now it has reached RM520 billion.

• If we include the borrowings of government-linked companies (GLCs) such as MAS, TNB and others, total borrowings would hit almost RM700 billion.

• Was he informed that Malaysia (US$350 billion) is No 5 in the top 10 list of countries with the highest measured cumulative illicit financial outflows between 2000 and 2009?

• Was he made aware that the MACC is a declawed, debarked, toothless and tethered watchdog?

• Was he duly informed the three ministers in the new cabinet was sworn in without being appointed as senators?

• Was he told why Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and her family are still not been held accountable for the debacle in the NFC?

• Was he told that people who have never registered to vote is on the electoral roll? 

• Did he know that foreigners were given Malaysian identity cards (ICs) and citizenships to vote in the GE13?

• Was he told that among the 92 percent valid addresses, 74 percent of the voters could be recognised, and yet only 31 percent of the recognisable voters resided at their listed addresses?

• Was he told that the National Fatwa Council-approved indelible ink was diluted to dissolve some haram (forbidden) elements in the ink?

• He was definitely not told that an audit on the electoral roll has revealed a shockingly large number of dubious voter records, a total of about 200,000.

If he, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, was adequately informed of the above in a timely manner, would he have urged the rakyat to accept the results of the GE13 and to support efforts by the prime minister to restore national understanding?

FOR THE RECORD: FACTS AND FIGURES ON VOTERS IN THE GE-13

Read here for more

Population in the country                = 29 million ( 2012 official census)

Population under the age of 21        = 11 million  ( 2012 official census)

(* 29.4% of 0-14 + half of the 17.2% of 15-24 =38% of 29 million  = 11 million ( 2012 July census)

Registered Voters                          =  13 million ( SPR )

Voters who VOTED                       =   10.8 million (SPR)

Malaysians QUALIFIED  to Vote:   29 million (total)  -  11 million (underaged)  =  18 million

Malaysians who DIDN'T BOTHER to vote:  18 million (qualified)  -  13 million (registered)  =  5 million 

Malaysians who REGISTERED but STAYED AT HOME (did NOT turn up to vote):   
13 million (registered) -  10.8 million (who actually voted)  = 2.2 million  

 MALAYSIANS WHO DID NOT  VOTE:  --  11 million (underaged)
--  18 million (qualified) - 10.8 million (voted) = 7.2 million (qualified but did not vote)

TOTAL MALAYSIANS WHO DID NOT VOTE = 18.2 million

Of the 18.2 milliion who did NOT  vote, 60.4% (11 million) are under-aged to vote.

The actual number of voters who consciously chose to give up right to vote is 7.2 million only

Therefore,  the figure that there are 23 million ABSENTEE VOTERS  is a MYTH.

In  GE13,  a total of 10.8 million voters caste  their vote out of the 13 milliion  registered, so PR’s 51% is INDEED a majority of people as claimed!!!!

As far as the issue of which majority, seats vis-à-vis votes, that’s a MORAL  issue. 
 

MALAY HISTORY: WHAT'S MISSING IN MALAYSIAN HISTORY BOOKS.

BY

JOHN DOE

(first publish in CPI website 19 January 2011

Brunei has always been known to be one of the earliest Muslim Kingdoms in Southeast Asia. They pride themselves in this fact. All their neighbors pride themselves in this too, and of course, since it is fact, it is irrefutable. Right?

Good. Let’s quickly look at some FACTS then:

It is taught in school textbooks that Pateh Berbai, the brother of Awang Semaun and Awang Alak Betatar, discovered Brunei. Awang Alak Betatar subsequently became Brunei’s first Sultan and was known as Sultan Muhammad Shah. Awang Semaun and Awang Alak Betatar were the famous heroes in Brunei during that time.

Sultan Muhammad Shah was the first Sultan of Brunei. He ruled Brunei from 1363 to 1402. He was the first Muslim ruler of Brunei as a result of his conversion to Islam in 1363 for his marriage to a Johorean-Temasik princess. Prior to conversion to Islam, he was known as Awang Alak Betatar.

He sent a mission to China in 1371 by which his name is recorded in Ming historical record as Mo-ha-mo-sha. Sultan Muhammad Shah died in 1402. Sultan Muhammad Shah was the first Sultan of Brunei. He ruled Brunei from 1363 to 1402. He married the daughter of Iskander, a Johorean-Temasik princess introduced by Bal-Paki, her brother-in-law to be.

So far so good... Oh Really?

Read the above again very carefully !! Sultan Muhammad Shah married a Johorean-Temasik princess in 1363. Now, for all those products of Biro Tata Negara (BTN) out there, what year was Malacca formed? 1403. So, there was a Johor king already in 1363? Are you going to argue with Ketuanan Brunei on this? (By the way, he’s more Melayu than YOU!) Also for those who insist that Penang be handed over to Kedah, read the following again and again …

The Johor ruler was under the Thais. The entire Peninsular belonged to the Thais! The ‘king’ of Singapore (Temasik), whom Parameswara of the Malaccan Sultanate murdered in cold blood was in fact the brother-in-Law of the ‘King’ of Pattani, who was under Ayodthaya rule. For those who do not know, Ayodthaya is in Thailand. And that, my friend was already well established before 1363.

Next, Kota Gelanggi was also another Thai City, (yet to be publicized). And why not? Because it is a Thai Buddhist kingdom. Yes, it’s along the Johor River. All I’m allowed to say at this point is that Kota Gelanggi is REALLY along the Johor River. Expose Kota Gelanggi, and you will find its 30ft Buddha statues and its many Buddhist Temples, in all it's glory.

So, for Penang to go back to Kedah, ALL of the peninsula needs to go back to the Thais. Sarawak needs to go back to Brunei, Brunei needs to go back to Majapahit, Sabah needs to go back to the Philippines, and Parameswara needs to go back to Palembang, leaving the Orang Asli in charge all over again. (I find it ludicrous that the Orang Asli are disqualified as ‘Bumiputera’ although they have been here since 60,000 years ago)

Next, the year 1363 is of great significance. Why? That was the year that the first Sultan of Brunei converted to Islam. And he immediately became the Ruler of Brunei? What was he before that? A fisherman? A carpenter? A farmer? What was Awang Alak Betatar in 1362? And what happened the following year when he became a Sultan? Is becoming a Muslim enough to justify becoming a Sultan? Was he the first person in Brunei to convert to Islam?

Let's scroll back time by 100 years; the year is now 1264. A full hundred years BEFORE Awang Alak Betatar converted to Islam, and declared himself a Sultan. A trip to Bandar Seri Begawan is not complete unless one visits the Muslim graves at Rangas. Chuck your ‘pantang’ out the window if you want to enjoy this first-hand, and in real life. Amongst these tombstones is the one of a Chinese Muslim by the name of Pu Kung Chih-mu. He was buried there in 1264. He was a Muslim, buried in a Muslim grave! This is more than a hundred years earlier, before the ascension of Awang Alak Betatar as the ‘first’ Sultan of Brunei. Not only that, he is not the only Chinese Muslim there. I cross-checked against the Brunei Museum Journal of 1993, and found that this has been so well documented!! In fact, this grave had already been found since 1973. Whole communities of Chinese Muslims had already been living in Kampong Batu well before the 12th Century. It is clearly recorded in the 1973 Brunei Museum Journal, and was visited by professors from Japan and China. Pictures are on page 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12. Some are even in colour.

So, here's another nugget for BTN un-educators. The Chinese brought Islam to this region in 1264. Wait! That's not even correct. It was even earlier, because, this Muslim Chinese died in 1264. He had lived a full life in Brunei before he died. And before anyone even thinks of contesting this, let me draw your attention to yet another well-established fact, and let’s see how early the Chinese arrived.

According to records – as in the ‘Notes on the Malay Archipelago and Malacca Compiled from Chinese Sources’ by WP Groeneveldt in 1880 – a Chinese Islamic trader arrived in Brunei in the 10th century. His name was P’u-lu-shieh. He was both a trader and a diplomat. SQ Fatimi writing in the Sociological Research Institute in Singapore in 1963 under an article entitled ‘Islam Comes to Malaysia’, P'u-lu-shieh name is akin to Abu al-Layth.

The Brunei King at that time was named ‘Hiang-ta’. The arrival of the diplomat-trader from China was greeted with great ceremony. If this is so, Islam actually arrived in Brunei in the year of 977.

If this is the year 977, and the Sultan’s name in the year 977 is Hiang-Ta, then how can Awang Alak Betatar be the ‘first’ Sultan of Brunei in 1363? For those with very bad logic (or timeline problems), the year 977 is 406 years older than 1363. And in the year 977, the Chinese were already sending Muslim ambassadors to Brunei. The real question should be, thus, who exactly was that ‘Hiang Ta’ who ruled Brunei in the year 977? An Iban? A Kadazan or a Chinese?

It gets even better. The MOST interesting thing was that the Brunei king’s delegation to China to return the emperor’s greetings was also headed by another Muslim official by the name of P’u A-li (Abu Ali).

Based on this fact alone, Abu Ali must have held an important position in the Brunei government if he was tasked to be Brunei’s ambassador in those days. This is again, irrefutable proof that there was already a government, with a King, and some members of his royal court were Muslims. Again, this is proof that Islam had already reached Brunei before the year 977. This is 75 years into the beginning of the Soong Dynasty, and only severely retarded people will say that Abu Ali was an Arab because of his name.

And by the way, Malacca was not to have been discovered for another 400 years. Is there a prawn under the stone? You can bet your bottom dollar (because Ringgit is worthless toilet paper) that whenever John Doe writes, there is. 

A number of European historians claimed that Brunei was still not a Muslim nation until the 15th century. However, the Ming Shih,Book 325, a Chinese reference book noted that the King of Brunei in 1370 was Ma-ho-mo-sa. Some say that this should be read as Mahmud Shah. In fact, local Brunei historians prefer to take this to refer to Muhammad Shah, the first Sultan of Brunei.

Robert Nicholl, a former Brunei Museum curator argued in another paper entitled ‘Notes on Some Controversial Issues in Brunei History’ in 1980 that the name Ma-ho-mo-sa could be pronounced as Maha Moksha which means ‘Great Eternity’. ‘Maha Mokhsa’ would make it a Buddhist name. Nicholl goes on to argue that even the Brunei Sultan who died in Nanjing in 1408 was not a Muslim. (History books always detail that the Sultan of Brunei went to China, but few will state that he died there),

Another historian Paul Pelliot said Ma-na-jo-kia-nai-nai was reconstituted as Maharajah Gyana (nai). But the closest title would have been Maharaja Karna. However Brunei historians have insisted that the King was Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan, who would have been the second Sultan of Brunei.

Nicholl further argued that Sultan Muhammad Shah converted to Islam as late as the 16th century and not during the 14th century as is widely known. However according to Brunei historians, Sultan Muhammad Shah converted to Islam in 1363 and that he ruled until 1402. After which time, it was Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan, who died in China who ascended the throne. That was when Sultan Ahmad reigned in Brunei beginning 1406.

And why did I bring up this detail? Simple !! Read the top all over again:

• Sultan Muhammad Shah married a Johorean-Temasik Princess in 1363.
• And that Kota Gelanggi and the entire peninsular Malaya belonged to the Thais. And if this is true and correct, then both the Sultan of Brunei and his wife, would have been Buddhists.
• In fact, the entire peninsular Malaya had been Buddhist and/or Hindu ever since the second century when Lembah Bujang was built. And since this is the year 1363, all of Brunei and Borneo was also under the rule of King Hayam Wuruk, who was King of the Majapahit empire. And what religion did they have? (I’ll give you a hint... they built the Borobudor. And for those who claim that Borobudor is a mosque in disguise, please learn to recognize temple architecture.)

Borrobudor in all its splendour.

Oh, and even more important is this:

“Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan whose proper name is Zein Ul-Abidin, frequented the near distant islands, that He called ‘Solook’ (Sulu) from 1402 to 1424. Marrying the daughter (Parmursuli) of the Sulu Tomaoi (chief) Baginda??? – it means he had a Filipino wife.

Also important to note, that since this is 1363, Parameswara had not yet swum across Pirate-Bay to reach Temasik yet. Hence, the need to locate the earlier kingdoms which pre-date ‘His Royal Pendatangness’.

During the reign of Wikramawardhana, the series of Ming armada naval expeditions led by Admiral Hajji Mahmud Shams (aka Zheng He), a Muslim Chinese admiral, arrived in Java for several times, spanning the period from 1405 to 1433. By 1430, Zheng He’s expeditions has established Muslim Chinese and Arab communities in northern ports of Java, and thus Islam began to gain foothold on Java’s northern coast. “Admiral Hajji Mahmud Shams (aka Zheng He) was so frustrated when he first arrived in Java, because he could not find a single halal restaurant there???, so wrote Mah Huan, his scribe, thus deciding to spread Islam to the “barbarians??? as Chinese records would write.

Also interesting to note is the following:

“In late Yuan Dynasty, China became chaotic, people who lived along the coastal area of Fujian, under the leadership of Ong Sum Ping’s siblings, escaped to eastern Kalimantan — they landed at the river mouth. When they were exhausted, facing a shipping crisis, someone lost their arms. After that, the Kadazans named it as Sungai Kinabatangan — the place where the Chinese lost their arms.

Ong Sum Ping and his sister, and the Chinese people developed the area of Sungai Kinabatangan, and they increased their influences there. With the increase of his prosperity, the natives named him Raja, or King. The Chinese named him as ‘Chung Ping’ - meaning the General. We can clearly see that Ong Sum Ping controlled Eastern Kalimantan.

This is Ong Sum Ping Rd in Brunei.

(Part 2 will appear tomorrow)

Bibligraphy

Kenneth Hall, Maritime trade and state development in early Southeast Asia, citing Wang Gungwu, 'The Nanhai trade: a study of the early history of Chinese trade in the South China Sea', JMBRAS 31, 2 (1958): 33,  citing Paul Wheatley, The Golden Khersonese, studies in the historical geography of the Malay peninsula before 1500, Kuala Lumpur, 1961, and other secondary sources;

Yoshiaki Ishizawa, 'Chinese chronicles of C1st-5th century AD Funan', 

Yoshiaki Ishizawa, 'Chinese chronicles of C1st-5th century AD Funan', citing Wan Zhen, Nanzhou yuwuzhi.

Louise Levathes, When China Ruled the seas, citing the Liang Shu (History of the Liang dynasty) and (i) Paul Shao, Asiatic Influence in Precolumbian art, Ames, Iowa State Univ 1976,  and (ii) David H.Kelley, 'Nine lords of the night', Studies in the Archaeology of Mexico and Guatemala, 16, Berkeley, Univ of California Dept of Anthropology, Oct 1972 & 'Calendar animals and deities', Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, 16, Albuqerque, Univ of New Mexico, 1960.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Ongkili, James P. "Ancient Chinese Trading Links." East Malaysia and Brunei. Ed. Wendy Hutton. Tuttle Publishing, 2001.
Saunders, Graham. A History of Brunei. London and New York: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002.
Wright, Leigh. "Brunei: An Historical Relic." Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. 17 (1977).
"Background Note: Brunei Darussalam". U.S. State Department. Retrieved 2008-12-16.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/m/v/mvp111/karin.htm, citing vol.231 of The Great Chinese Encyclopedia, compiled by court historians of the Wang emperors from 502 to 556 AD (other refs give the editor's name as Ma Tuan-Lin);

Prof V.G.Nair, Buddhist mission visits America before Columbus, 

http://www.saigon.com/~hoasen/mission.htm; 

http://www.1s.com/hkmission/history/chinese.htm, citing hearsay of an 1100 page diary in the Chinese imperial archives of which only 75 pages of partial excerpts seen; 

http://users.wi.net/~maracon/;http://www.ventanawild.org/news/se01/fusang.html;

Kenneth L. Feder, Frauds, Myths and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology, p113-4, citing Frost, F, 1982, 

The Palos Verdes Chinese anchor mystery, Archaeology, Jan/Feb 23-27, 

quoted onwww.kenspy.com/Menzies/Ships.html regarding irrelevance of these anchors.

J.V.G.Mills, introduction, to Ma Huan, Ying-yai Sheng Lan; John Carswell, Blue & White, p.87; Louise Levathes, When China ruled the seas; Ma Huan, Ying-yai Sheng Lan. Inscription in Galle