FMT News |  |
- Bursa Malaysia ends on positive note
- Sempadan M’sia-Thai dorong tingkat penyeludupan senjata
- Amended Bill may lead to illegal property managers
- Isu Faekah: CheguBard gesa hindar konflik
- India’s Sonia Gandhi speaks out over rape cases
- ‘Dr M senile’ remark rude, say BN MPs
- Rewind your body age
- Three DPMs if Pakatan rules?
- Syarat undi pos dari luar M’sia masih longgar
- Mahathir: Ling is an honest man
- Umno LED display a danger for motorists?
- Russian mobile giant Megafon to launch IPO on LSE
- Mystery of young Mona Lisa
- Blaine wraps up high-voltage stunt
- Asian markets mixed, stimulus hopes lift China
- Deadlock over state-Penan negotiations
- Felda Global eyes southern Philippines
- Youths concerned over election date
- Cuba crisis pitted Kennedy against Khrushchev, Castro
- Taiwan showgirls strip for the dead
- Growth crisis exposes burden of French largesse
- Uthayakumar’s lieutenant joins PKR
- National Stadium pitch not fit for Malaysia Cup final
- Olympic Stadium, Wembley muscle in on Rugby World Cup
- Bangkai ikan terdampar di pantai Pengerang
- RoS shoud cease all forms of bad practices
- IMF cuts Asian growth forecast
- Eleven dead in Thai militant attacks: police
- China tipped to be second biggest luxury market by 2017
- Budget solution to commuter woes ‘useless’
- ICC launches inquiry into new match-fixing allegations
- AEG auction starts, seeking bids in US$10b range
- Pecat Faekah: Azmin serah pada Pusat
- Mila Kunis ‘sexiest woman alive’
- DAP: Guna RM272.5 juta untuk banteras jenayah
- Melayu hilang jati diri berpunca daripada Dr M
- ‘Judges still probing Scorpene deal’
- Romney casts Obama’s foreign policy as weak, dangerous
- US report dashes China telecoms’ expansion hopes
- Juru river dying of pollution
- Gambia claims success in treating aids with herbs
- Why group buying sites are bad for your business
- Adun BN, DAP bertikam lidah isu Islam
- Bank Negara prode hurts investors and GDP’s growth
- Punching at shadows
- Who is responsible for Perhilitan these days?
- NS mampu capai USD15,387 per kapita 2018
- Education blueprint must reflect aspirations of all Malaysians
- Offensive against Pak Lah a ‘distraction’
| Bursa Malaysia ends on positive note Posted: 09 Oct 2012 03:27 AM PDT
At 5 pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 3.1 points to 1,663.32 after hovering between 1,658.04 and 1,664.98 throughout the day. A dealer said the FBM KLCI was also supported by gains in oil stocks such as SapuraKencana Petroleum and Petronas Chemicals Group, which rose one sen each to RM2.42 and RM6.42, respectively. On regional sentiment, another dealer said Asian stock markets were traded mixed in cautious environment as poor US corporate earnings and weaker growth in Asia as forecast by the World Bank hit investors’ appetite to buy stocks. “Local investors, however, were not affected by the regional sentiment as buying interest continues to increase throughout the day, benefiting from the cheaper share prices due to profit-taking yesterday,” he said. The Finance Index improved 32.33 points to 14,754.79, the Industrial Index rose 13.81 points to 2,859.3. The Plantation Index, however, fell 1.91 points to 8,169.42. The FBM Mid 70 Index increased 34.21 points to 12,148.8 and the FBM Emas Index added 25.92 points to 11,289.05. The FBM Ace Index dipped 45.12 points to 4,226.98. Gainers beat losers by 424 to 296, while 335 counters were unchanged, 592 untraded and 19 others suspended. Turnover advanced to 1.1 billion shares worth RM1.6 billion from 881.87 million shares worth RM1.27 billion yesterday. Among actives, Scomi Group increased 2.5 sen to 43 sen, Latexx Partners added 46 sen to RM2.25, YTL Corp-Warr earned half sen to 20 sen and Integrated Rubber Corp improved one sen to 14.5 sen. Of the heavyweights, Maybank advanced two sen to RM8.96, Sime Darby rose 12 sen to RM9.78, CIMB rose a sen to RM7.78 and Axiata slipped two sen to RM6.73. Volume on the Main Market rose to 910.31 million units valued at RM1.57 billion from 640.55 million units valued at RM1.24 billion yesterday. Turnover on the ACE Market declined to 107.67 million shares worth RM24.06 million from 198.42 million shares worth RM30.47 million yesterday. Warrants jumped to 75.63 million units valued at RM5.17 million from 39.93 million units valued at RM2.52 million previously. Consumer products accounted for 44.29 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 181.03 million, construction 34.86 million, trade and services 462.07 million, technology 33.37 million, infrastructure 25.84 million, finance 52.29 million, hotels 168,800, properties 48.71 million, plantations 17.61 million, mining 432,300, REITs 10.63 million and closed/fund 4,000. - Bernama |
| Sempadan M’sia-Thai dorong tingkat penyeludupan senjata Posted: 09 Oct 2012 03:23 AM PDT
KUALA LUMPUR: Jarak sempadan Malaysia-Thailand yang begitu hampir antara faktor yang mendorong kepada rangkaian aktiviti penyeludupan senjata api masuk ke negara ini. Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, kedudukan Sungai Golok serta kewujudan ‘lorong tikus’ di sepanjang “Kebanyakan senjata api yang digunakan untuk melakukan jenayah dipercayai diseludup ke negara ini melalui negara jiran. “Pergerakan keluar masuk pada kadar yang kerap, kesibukan lalu lintas di pintu masuk serta interaksi ekonomi antara penduduk kawasan Beliau berkata demikian selepas menjawab pertanyaan Ahli Parlimen DAP-Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan yang mahu kerajaan menyatakan jumlah kes jenayah yang melibatkan penggunaan pistol serta langkah yang diambil bagi membanteras penyeludupan senjata ke negara ini. Hishammuddin berkata, bagi tempoh tahun 2010 hingga Ogos 2012, sebanyak 435 kes rampasan senjata api telah berjaya dibanteras hasil dari operasi dan aktiviti penguatkuasaan yang dijalankan dari semasa ke semasa. Katanya, bagi menangani aktiviti ini, Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) dan kerjasama agensi penguatkuasa lain termasuk kastam serta Unit Pencegah Penyeludupan (UPP) sentiasa memperketatkan kawalan dari semasa ke semasa sekaligus membanteras aktiviti penyeludupan senjata haram di sempadan. |
| Amended Bill may lead to illegal property managers Posted: 09 Oct 2012 03:21 AM PDT
The Bill was recently proposed by Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung. The Bill is supposed to govern the maintenance and management of buildings and common property of subdivided buildings and lands. The groups are namely the Malaysian Institute of Professional Property Managers (MIPPM), Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) and Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sectors of Malaysia (PEPS). They want Parliament to withdraw this amendment, saying that it could potentially put house buyers and owners at risk of unscrupulous and “illegal” property managers. The specific amendment in dispute, under Section 2 of the Bill, is the redefinition of the term “registered property manager” to allow for them to be appointed by parties including developers, joint management body, management corporation and management committee. This, they said, would essentially allow any “Tom, Dick and Harry” to be licensed property managers, which goes against the spirit of the Bill, which is to better regulate the industry. The Bill, which has gone through two readings last month in the Dewan Rakyat, is scheduled to be passed this session. “We took three years of vigorous and stringent drafting in order to safeguard the interests and rights of the house buyers and parcel owners. “But the housing ministry only took one week to reverse it by amending the bill to include this new term and now anyone can be a property manager. ” So simple? You can now continue to appoint cronies,” MIPPM president Ishak Ismail told a media briefing today. Very detailed and explicit “The problem is that this little group of people with an agenda have convinced some of the Mps; now they are divided, we’re here to tell you the facts,” he said, declining to name the opposing group. The new Bill is supposed to replace the repealed Building and Common Property Maintenance and Management) Act 2007, which was “plagued with loopholes and shortcomings”. Aside from the amendment in question, Ishak said that the proposed Act was “good”, adding that the draft was “very detailed and explicit”. The current problems caused by illegal property managers, he said, include poor maintenance, embezzlement of fund, overcharging, monopoly by developers, manipulation of accounts, property management by unqualified people, and so on. “We realise why they are objecting to being regulated: they don’t want to be accountable to any independent body; they can charge unsubstantiated fees, and award contracts to friendly parties, and can easily open up RM2 companies,” he said. Under the new Bill, licensed property managers would come under the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents (BVAEA), the existing statutory regulatory board under the Finance Ministry. Since 1984, BVAEA has issued licences to the registered property managers in Malaysia. Registered property managers are to adhere to the Malaysian Property Management Standards or could have their licences suspended if there are complaints. “Registered property managers provide indemnity to the house buyers and parcel owners through their professional indemnity insurance, fiduciary duties, transparency and accountability and also the scrutiny and regulatory control by BVAEA,” Ishak said, adding that the BVAEA also controls the scale of fees. Opening a Pandora’s Box
BMAM president Teo Chiang Kok claimed that the new bill would put the property management industry under the monopoly of licensed valuers. BMAM, which was not consulted during drafting stage, had said that if the bill was gazetted, about 80% of joint management bodies (JMBs) would end up jobless. When questioned about BMAM’s claims, RISM vice-president Adzman Shah Mohd Ariffin said that it was unfair to call it a monopoly. “While to others it is business, for us it is a profession. Is it fair to say that architects, engineers, and lawyers are monopolising the industries they specialise in?” Adzman also explained that there was the misconception that valuers are being given the monopoly, when in fact property managers and valuers fall under the same vocation. “When you study for a degree, you learn both about valuation and property management.” he said. When asked if the legislation, which requires registration of property managers, would cause a shortage of property managers, licensed or not, Ishak said that there would be a proposed “window” period of one year whereby the BVAEA would evaluate and allow existing unlicensed managers to be registered. Ishak also said that the amendment would affect the 420 graduates who take up Estate Management Degree and Property Management. He estimates that as of 2011, there are some 13,000 strata title properties with 4.1 million residents with about 50% having joint management bodies or committees. Of licensed property managers, there are about 5,000 currently. Ishak warned that if Parliament passes the law as it is, the government could end up opening a Pandora’s Box, “unleashing” more unscrupulous and unaccountable illegal property managers. This would “perpetuate the existing tyranny of unscrupulous developers masquerading as property managers through management companies”, he said. |
| Isu Faekah: CheguBard gesa hindar konflik Posted: 09 Oct 2012 02:39 AM PDT
Ketua Cabang Rembau, Badrul Hisham Shaharin @ CheguBard berkata tumpuan seharusnya kepada pentadbiran Selangor tatkala Umno- Barisan Nasional (BN) bertungkus lumus untuk merampas kembali negeri itu. Beliau berkata pimpinan parti yang terlibat tidak sepatutnya mengelirukan rakyat dengan isu sedemikian, malah beliau turut menyatakan kegusaran berhubung hal tersebut. “Siapa yang cakap tidak penting, tapi jangan bergaduh di media, guna twitter dan sebagainya. Saya gusar bila ada pimpinan besar buat contoh dan beri komen di laman sosial sehingga ahli lain pun akan turut serta. “Maka tiba masa hentikan semua kerja ini dan tumpu untuk menguatkan Selangor dengan cara pentadbiran yang baik. Tidak perlu kecoh tentang hal ini kerana masa terbaik adalah untuk diam,” kata CheguBard memberi nasihat. Semalam PKR Selangor yang diketuai Pengarah Pilihan Raya PKR Negeri, Borhan Aman Shah mahu parti mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap Faekah termasuk dipecat serta merta. Borhan dalam sidang media semalam mahu PKR berbuat demikian kerana Faekah sebelum ini secara terbuka mengkritik Azmin yang cuba campur tangan mengenai kedudukan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim selepas Pilihan Raya Umum ke 13 nanti. Manakala Azmin Ali yang juga Pengerusi PKR Selangor pula menyerahkan sepenuhnya konflik pemecatan Faekah Husin kepada PKR Pusat untuk dipertimbangkan. Dalam pada itu, Faekah gagal dihubungi sehingga kini untuk mendapatkan ulasan selanjutnya. Beliau difahamkan diarah menutup mulut dari memberi sebarang kenyataan berhubung hal ini. Desakan seperti bukan baru untuk Faekah memandangkan sebelum ini wujud satu gerakan kempen melalui laman sosial Twitter dengan #kamisayangPKR dan #PecatFaekah wujud untuk memberi tekanan kepada Faekah agar berundur dari posisinya kini. |
| India’s Sonia Gandhi speaks out over rape cases Posted: 09 Oct 2012 02:15 AM PDT  NEW DELHI: Sonia Gandhi, president of India’s ruling Congress party,today spoke out against a spate of rapes as she visited the family of a 16-year-old victim who committed suicide.Gandhi, seen as the most powerful politician in India, travelled to a village in Haryana state near New Delhi to meet relatives of the girl in a high-profile attempt to demonstrate government outrage over the recent attacks. Rape cases in Haryana have doubled over the last seven years, according to official figures, and a string of 12 alleged rapes in September – including one in which a victim’s father killed himself – attracted national headlines. “We will take strict action against the offenders,” Gandhi told reporters during the visit. “Such barbaric acts are condemnable… rapists should be given the severest punishment.” The girl committed suicide by burning herself to death last week after being gang-raped by men in Jind district, 130 kilometres from New Delhi. Local police have arrested five men over the case, including one policeman, according to media reports. “Now I am hopeful justice will be done,” said the victim’s mother after meeting Gandhi. Rape has become a hot political issue in Haryana, with recent cases triggering widespread public anger across the state, which is ruled by the Congress party. Womens’ rights group yesterday burnt effigies of the state’s chief minister and protested against some village elders who suggested that early marriage was a way to avoid rape. - AFP |
| ‘Dr M senile’ remark rude, say BN MPs Posted: 09 Oct 2012 02:10 AM PDT
"It’s very rude and stupid of him (Pua)," said Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman. Yesterday, an online portal reported Pua referring to Mahathir as senile for saying a vote for opposition is a vote for billionaire financial speculator, George Soros. Pua said that Mahathir was no longer relevant in today’s world and reminded that the former strongman once even sought Soros’ help for Perdana Leadership Foundation. Tajuddin said: "Pua’s statement reflects on his own lack of quality and credibility as a member of parliament." Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said that it was not proper for Pua to refer to an elder statesman like Mahathir with such comments. "Mahathir is a senior citizen. We must show respect to him. That’s our culture," said Wee. "For political greenhorns like Pua, just remember that Mahathir has vast experience in running the country. "And during his tenure, attempts were made by foreign powers to influence local policies. So Mahathir spoke from experience," said Abdul Rahman. Pua, however, defended his remarks once again, saying the former premier’s statement made no sense at all. "Mahathir can give whatever political views he wants but when he says something completely preposterous, then there must be something completely wrong with him up there," said Pua. |
| Posted: 09 Oct 2012 02:07 AM PDT
Wrinkles and sagging skin Poor posture Declining brain function and poor memory Weight gain Cardiovascular diseases Poor eyesight Painful joints and arthritis LINKS |
| Posted: 09 Oct 2012 02:05 AM PDT
One of the deputy premiers would be from Sabah or Sarawak, he told FMT after addressing a ceramah on Sunday in Simpang, a few kilometres from here. "We are still in discussion on this issue and have yet to come to a conclusion," he added. According to him, the idea is being discussed in the context of finding ways to place the political representation of the East Malaysian states on equal footing with PAS, DAP and PKR in governing the nation after the 13th general election. The PAS leader, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said the probability of Pakatan winning the election was becoming greater because more and more voters were becoming aware of the extent of corruption within Barisan Nasional and Umno. Nevertheless, he added, Pakatan had one great worry—the alleged registration of thousands of foreigners as voters. Mohamad also claimed that support for BN in Sabah and Sarawak was disintegrating as a result of increased awareness among the people there of their democratic rights. To prove this, he pointed to the frequency of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's visits to the two states, especially Sabah, where he said the level of alarm over the influx of illegal immigrants had risen since the 2008 election. He said Pakatan expected to secure at least 10 parliamentary seats in Sarawak and even more in Sabah. At present BN occupies 29 of the 31 Sarawak parliamentary seats and 21 of Sabah's 26. "It's the quality of candidates that count, not the quantity put up by any one party within the coalition," he said. In his speech at the Simpang ceramah, Mohamad informed the crowd that the proposed Pakatan gathering on Nov 3 would be held inside either the Bukit Jalil National Stadium or the Merdeka Stadium. The rally, billed as "People's Uprising", is to protest against the government's refusal to meet the eight core demands of election reform group Bersih. Bersih and opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of deliberately dragging its feet in cleaning up discrepancies in the voter rolls as part of a conspiracy to help BN restore its two-third majority in Parliament. Mohamad said of the Nov 3 rally: "We are following Najib's advice to hold such protest events within a stadium. But if we are denied this facility, we will take to the streets. "Then his janji ditepati will be just another janji dicapati." |
| Syarat undi pos dari luar M’sia masih longgar Posted: 09 Oct 2012 02:00 AM PDT
Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk V K Liew berkata berbanding Malaysia, Singapura menetapkan syarat warganya yang telah berdaftar sebagai pemilih supaya perlu berada di tanah air sekurang-kurangnya selama 30 hari dalam tempoh tiga tahun sebelum bulan Januari pada tahun pilihan raya. “Syarat ini sangat ketat kerana kerana kita (Malaysia) tak tahu bila pilihan raya,” katanya ketika menjawab soalan tambahan dalam Dewan Rakyat di sini hari ini. Menurut Liew, bagi warga negara Amerika Syarikat yang memohon sebagai pengundi tidak hadir (absentee voter) dan mahu menjadi pengundi pos pula perlu menjelaskan cukai pendapatan dan mengemaskini alamat mereka setiap tahun. Sementara di Thailand, seseorang mesti tinggal di sesuatu kawasan pilihan raya sekurang-kurangnya tiga bulan dan perlu daftar sebagai pengundi luar negara sebelum tarikh tutup yang ditetapkan. “Manakala di Australia, pemilih perlu berdaftar untuk jadi pengundi pos dan tidak boleh meninggalkan negara melebihi tiga tahun,” Ahli Parlimen Sandakan itu bagaimanapun berkata kerajaan masih meneliti cadangan membenarkan pemilih berdaftar yang menetap di luar “Sama ada diterima semua kita akan pertimbangkan dan akan pinda perundangan atau peraturan pilihan raya. “Sekali gus membolehkan mereka dijadikan sebagai pengundi pos sekiranya ada perubahan dalam perlembagaan,” katanya. Sementara itu, beliau menyatakan jumlah pemilih terkini bagi kesemua 222 kawasan Parlimen adalah seramai 13,052,374 pengundi. Jumlah itu dicatatkan bagi suku tahun kedua 2012 yang diwartakan pada 16 Ogos lalu. Katanya, berdasarkan jumlah tersebut, 12,778,127 daripadanya adalah pengundi biasa, manakala 161,756 pengundi tentera dan pasangan, polis Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA) dan pasangan (110,055 orang), serta pengundi tidak hadir luar negara (2,436). |
| Mahathir: Ling is an honest man Posted: 09 Oct 2012 01:15 AM PDT
Responding to Ling’s counsel Wong Kian Kheong as to his personal opinion of his client, Mahathir, 87, said he had known Ling for 30 years and the former transport minister also did his job well, especially in developing Port Klang. The fourth defence witness was resuming his testimony during the Port Klang Free Zone corruption trial. Prior to this question however, there was a tense moment in the proceedings, when deputy public prosecutor Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah objected to Wong’s question of “Was Ling capable of cheating?”. Pointing at Ling in the dock and raising his tone, Abdul Majid said: “Who knows if he (Dr Ling) is capable or not but he (Dr Ling) knows.” Abdul Majid’s objection shocked the audience in the public gallery, some of whom started talking loudly until Judge Ahmadi Asnawi ordered them to be silent. Meanwhile, earlier in the proceedings, when Mahathir was shown two summarised notes dated Oct 29, 2002 on the Pulau Indah land acquisition, he said that none of the Finance Ministry officers had complained of a mistake or inaccurate and misleading statements in the document. He said that he usually had a discussion with the officers before cabinet meetings. Questioned as to whether he had lodged a police report about the two notes containing a factual lie, Mahathir said: “No.” He added that the Cabinet Ministers had also not complained about being cheated or misled by the documents. Mahathir further stated that his special advisor Ali Abu Hassan had studied the document and informed him the PKFZ project was viable; agreed to the land being acquired on the terms contained therein, which among others included a ‘willing buyer-willing seller’ basis; land price of RM25 per square feet (psf) and a repayment period of 15 years. He said Ali usually reported to him on any proposed projects but he (Dr Mahathir) could not recall if Ali had ever complained of a mistake in the PKFZ project. Mahathir reiterated his testimony of yesterday saying on Oct 2, 2002 the Cabinet had decided to acquire the land at RM25 psf with a 15-year deferred payment. He also said the RM25 psf rate was excluding interest as the price was based on cash purchase. The total price of the land at RM1.088 million was also excluding interest, he added. Mahathir said none of the Cabinet Ministers complained about the price as being too high and the decision was reached ‘collectively and unanimously’. Ling, who was transport minister for 17 years from 1986, is charged with cheating the government by not disclosing to the Cabinet, an additional interest rate of 7.5 per cent per annum on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project, which had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), based on RM25 psf, inclusive of the coupon/interest rates. He also faces two alternative (amended) charges of cheating and intentionally not disclosing to the Cabinet that the 7.5 per cent per annum was an additional interest rate on the land price. He is alleged to have committed the offences at the fourth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office, Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002. The hearing continues. Bernama |
| Umno LED display a danger for motorists? Posted: 09 Oct 2012 01:13 AM PDT
However, several Pakatan Rakyat leaders queried whether the Umno building management had the necessary approval for this. Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran asked whether the building management had complied with the necessary regulation. "Has the local council approved it? I don’t think they would have allowed [such a large display] in other places," he said. The DAP vice chairman said that the LED display was huge and imposing, distracting drivers using the surrounding roads. "Legally speaking, I wonder whether a driver who gets into an accident due to the distraction could hold the building management responsible for it," he added. PAS MP Salahuddin Ayub said the authorities should conduct a study whether the LED display was causing traffic congestion. "It’s their right because it’s their building. But if it’s found to be obstructing traffic, then I leave it to Umno’s wisdom to decide on the matter," said the PAS vice president. Sharing his personal experince, Salahuddin said that the display did distract him at times whenever he was driving along the roads located close to the building. Meanwhile, PKR MP Tian Chua urged the Kuala Lumpur City Hall [DBKL] to study the traffic flow in the area. |
| Russian mobile giant Megafon to launch IPO on LSE Posted: 09 Oct 2012 01:08 AM PDT
The company said in a statement that it intended to proceed with the IPO in the fourth quarter, subject to market conditions, using shares belonging to a Cyprus-based subsidiary and its Swedish shareholder TeliaSonera. “Today is the right time for our IPO which will support a new stage in Megafon’s development,” chief executive Ivan Tavrin said. Megafon did not give details on the number of shares that would be offered to institutional and foreign investors in the IPO. However the Kommersant daily said the tranche could amount to 15% in Megafon, indicating that the offering volume could amount to several billion dollars. Megafon’s main shareholder, the tycoon Alisher Usmanov who gained control of the firm in April, would not be parting with any of his shares, Kommersant added. The IPO itself would take place on November 1, it said. The company said it expected the IPO to include an offering of ordinary shares in Russia and of ordinary shares and GDRs (global depository receipts) to institutional investors outside the country. - AFP |
| Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:53 AM PDT
But in a twist typical of the intrigue-prone world of art, the diaries — notes by early 20th century British connoisseur and collector Hugh Blaker — disappeared and the Washington address they were sent to seems never to have existed. “Those papers could well provide the key to pushing back the provenance of this version of the ‘Mona Lisa’ by at least 150 years,” Robert Meyrick, an academic and expert on the largely forgotten Blaker, told Reuters. And, of course, to helping establish if the so-called “Isleworth” variant of the world’s most famous painting in the Paris Louvre could indeed be an earlier — and priceless — portrayal by Leonardo of the enigmatic, smiling lady. Blaker, an unsuccessful painter who as a museum curator and dealer had a reputation for recognizing lost Old Masters, found and bought the “younger Mona Lisa” in 1913 — in, he later said, a nobleman’s country house in Somerset in western England. Sure it was a real Leonardo, he kept it at his home in the London suburb of Isleworth — giving it its informal identity tag — until it passed to his sister Jane on his death in 1936. But Blaker told no one the name of the country house or of the seller. Meyrick, who was invited to the Geneva presentation to talk about the bachelor connoisseur, is keen to solve that mystery for a biography he plans to write. “I think he must have put the details in his diaries,” he said in an e-mail message this month from Aberystwyth University in Wales where he is Head of the School of Art. “But the very brief published extracts we have give no clue. If we have that knowledge, we should be able to trace how it came into the Somerset family’s possession, and where.” Grand tour purchase? Meyrick theorizes that it could have been picked up by an 18th century member of the family during one of the Grand Tours across Europe undertaken by young English nobles. Many great works of European art came to Britain that way. After Jane Blaker died in 1947, the painting was eventually purchased by an international art dealer and then lay for nearly 40 years in Swiss bank vaults until last month’s Geneva presentation by a Zurich-based “Mona Lisa Foundation.” At that session, Italian Leonardo specialist Alessandro Vezzosi praised its quality but held back from endorsing the foundation’s claim that it is the work of Leonardo, who died in 1519. For that, much more work was needed, said Vezzosi.
“The controversy underlines the importance of the diaries,” says Meyrick. With other papers and an unpublished novel, they passed after the death of Blaker — whose keen eye had brought the scorned Italian artist Amadeo Modigliani to the British art public in the 1920s — to his painter friend Murray Urquhart. Before he died in 1972 Urquhart, whose son Brian was a key figure in the United Nations in the 1970s and 80s, said he had sent Blaker’s notes from before 1931 to a researcher named Charles Woods who had written asking to see them. According to Urquhart’s account, he posted them to Woods at 116 1/2 (Eds: correct) Maryland Drive, Washington DC — but heard nothing more. “All I can establish is that there is no such address, and probably never was,” says Meyrick. There is also no trace of Woods. But in 2010, in response to a standing appeal on his website (www.robertmeyrick.co.uk), Meyrick was sent Blaker’s diaries for the last five years of his life by a family who found them years before in a junk shop in Gravesend, east of London. “Did all the papers end up as junk, or did the earlier diaries really go to Washington?” asks Meyrick, who has written widely on British 20th century art. “Perhaps we will never know, but I plan to keep looking.”—Reuters |
| Blaine wraps up high-voltage stunt Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:40 AM PDT
The magician emerged shortly before 9 p.m. yesterday after spending three days and three nights standing in the middle of 1 million volts of electric currents at New York's Pier 54. A spokesman said Blaine was able to walk with assistance, speak to fiancée Alizee Guinochet before being taken to a hospital to be examined. The 39-year-old Blaine wore a chainmail bodysuit as a barrier between himself and the currents, emitted by Tesla coils. The stunt was called "Electrified – One Million Volts Always On." It was streamed on YouTube, with help from Intel Corp. Blaine's past stunts include hanging upside down over Central Park and being encased in a block of ice.—Agencies |
| Asian markets mixed, stimulus hopes lift China Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:15 AM PDT
With the corporate earnings season coming up, dealers were taking a cautious approach, while a cut in growth forecasts for the regional and world economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also weighed on markets. Sydney rose 0.52%, or 23.4 points, to close at 4,505.3 – a 14-month high thanks to rising iron ore prices. Seoul eased 0.14%, or 2.85 points, to 1,979.04 and Tokyo fell 1.06%, or 93.71 points, to 8,769.59. In the afternoon Hong Kong jumped 1.16% and Shanghai advanced 1.77%. Yesterday saw markets around the world slump on concerns about the eurozone, with Spain still refusing to ask for a bailout and Greece deadlocked in talks with its creditors over its next tranche of rescue funds. In Shanghai, dealers were betting that China’s leaders will unveil a fresh set of measures to boost the economy, especially with a date for a handover of power pencilled in for early next month. The composite index fell yesterday owing to disappointment over manufacturing data that came out last week, when traders were on holiday. The government’s purchasing managers’ index edged up to 49.8 in September from 49.2 in August – a slight improvement but still below the 50 mark, indicating contraction. “The latest economic data, albeit weak, did show signs of stabilisation, and that gives investors some confidence,” said Shenzhen Zhongzheng Investment Consulting analyst Zhang Suoqing. “Expectations are heightened that more stimulus measures will be introduced.” The upbeat outlook had a knock-on effect for Hong Kong, marking its sixth gain in seven sessions. However, shares in Tokyo, which was closed yesterday for a public holiday, slipped as the yen, which rose in New York against the euro on European debt fears, hurt exporters. The euro was up slightly in Tokyo but remained under pressure. In afternoon trade it was changing hands at US$1.2985 and 101.75 yen against US$1.2967 and 101.57 yen in New York late yesterday. The dollar was trading at 78.36 yen compared with 78.31 yen in US trade. “Friday’s US payroll figures were certainly a positive surprise, but still not that great when put into a broader context. They still don’t afford much of a sense of security,” said Naoki Fujiwara, fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management in Tokyo. “Trepidation ahead of… earnings results, and the IMF’s cut of its global economic growth forecast, are hurting the market,” he told Dow Jones Newswires. The United States last Friday released figures showing the unemployment rate at 7.8% in September, its lowest in almost four years and lifting hopes for the economy. However, concerns about the global recovery were underlined on Tuesday, when the IMF cut its growth projections for the global economy and said things could worsen if the eurozone crisis is not resolved. It also reduced its outlook for China, Japan and developing Asia, warning of the knock-on effects from Europe as well as the weak impact of monetary easing measures. On oil markets New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, was up 87 US cents to US$90.20 a barrel in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude also for November advanced 81 US cents to US$112.63. Gold was at US$1,777.50 at 0340 GMT compared with US$1,768.00 today. In other markets, Taipei fell 0.31%, or 23.88 points, to 7,592.01. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co shed 2.24% to Tw$87.1 while leading smartphone maker HTC was 7.0% limit-down at Tw$267.0. Wellington slipped 0.41%, or 15.92 points, to 3,907.99. Fletcher Building was off 2.4% NZ$7.30 and Telecom closed down 0.63% at NZ$2.37. - AFP |
| Deadlock over state-Penan negotiations Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:11 AM PDT
Spokesman for the community Isah Abang said the government must keep to its promises especially on the cash compensation. "As agreed between our community and the government four years ago, the cash compensation of RM500,000 should remain and it should not be deducted for any other purposes. This is one of the reasons why we erected the blockade on Sept 26. "We were told that the cash compensation would be used for other purposes such as for building our houses, land for planting our crops and other expenditure which would exceed the RM500,000 and we would end up owing the government. "If this is the case, we really feel cheated. If they insisted on this, then we would want the dam to be stopped and we want our land back as we would prefer to be as we were before,” she reportedly told local daily Borneo Post. She along with 13 other Penan elders were here on the invitation of Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagan who facilitated the meeting between them and Deputy State Secretary Ose Murang. Isah and the elders were representing the eight Penan villages affected by the Murum dam.The villages were Long Wat, Long Luar, Long Tangau, Long Menapa, Long Singu, Long Malim, Long Peran, Long Jaik and one Kenyah-Badeng village at Long Umpa. According to them the government had agreed on the terms of compensation before the dam was constructed four years ago. Among the terms agreed on were the RM500,000 cash compensation per family for all the 300 affected families and another RM4 million for the transgression (Pemali) of their burial grounds. And this involved all nine villages. Other demands include: i) 25 hectares of land for each of the 300 families affected by the dam; ii) 30,000 hectares of land to each of the nine villages; iii) Free housing including water and electricity per family; iv) Allowances for community chiefs, v) Royalty from the power generation from the hydro electric project; vi) Education fund for their children; vii) Community development fund for their community; and viii) The right to the land which are not flooded by the dam. Meanwhile undaunted, Liwan said that negotiations would continue for the next two weeks until a solution is found. Murum dam is which is reportedly 70% completed would be the second largest after Bakun. Bakun, which is 70km upriver has been transmitting power since August 6, last year. |
| Felda Global eyes southern Philippines Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:09 AM PDT
The Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels agreed on Sunday on a pact to end 40 years of conflict in the impoverished southern region of Mindanao. Officials have cautioned that the deal is only a first step as the two sides need to thrash out details on the scope and powers of a new autonomous region. Conflict-wracked Mindanao has the most suitable land in the Philippines for oil palms, Sabri Ahmad, chief executive of cash-rich Felda Global told Reuters in an interview. “We will go there for oil palms,” he said here yesterday. “There is ample area for oil palms to meet strong local demand,” he added. Felda Global had a US$3.1 billion listing earlier this year, at the time the largest in the world after Facebook’s IPO, and had said it planned to use the funds to expand in Southeast Asia and Africa. The fighting in Mindanao has deterred any widespread foreign investment in the agriculture and mineral-rich region. Despite the natural resources, the Philippines imports more than 500,000 tonnes of crude palm oil a year to meet strong local demand for the product, used mostly for cooking. While Sabri did not give an estimate for how many hectares Felda Global was looking to develop, he said plantation companies would need to invest in at least 10,000 hectares to gain economies of scale. “We would have to look at building up the infrastructure. It will have to be a holistic approach,” he said. Mindanao has about one million hectares of grasslands, equivalent to the size of Puerto Rico, that can be turned into oil palm estates, the Philippines Palm Oil Development Council (PPDCI) has estimated. The southern Philippines could become the next destination for land-hungry companies like Malaysia’s Sime Darby and Singapore-listed Wilmar which have struggled with environmental restrictions in top palm oil producer Indonesia and harsh weather conditions in Africa. The rush for land comes as benchmark palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange have nearly doubled over a decade, driven by demand for its products ranging from cooking oil and biofuel to cosmetics. Felda Global could bring to the Philippines the farmer’s co-operative model developed by its parent – the Malaysian government’s Federal Land Development Authority, said Sabri. The government gave the rural poor cheap loans to acquire and develop small tracts of land. Felda Global in turn, buys palm fruits from the farmers to ensures a steady income flow. “When commodity prices are high, these farmers have the leeway to improve their lives. Everyone wins,” said Sabri. With Felda Global buying up palm fruits from the farmers and other independent farmers to process, it has become the world’s largest crude palm oil producer with an annual output of around 3.3 million tonnes. Myanmar – a big market Felda Global is also in discussions with Myanmar to bring this farming model to the former pariah state that has undergone a year of reforms. But it faces pressure from farmers who say interest from private firms has fuelled land grabs. “Once the embargoes get fully lifted, we want to reach out to the World Bank and other agencies to start up these co-operatives in a sustainable manner,” said Sabri. “Ideally, we would like to take up 5,000 hectares of oil palm estates and then help the farmers develop the surrounding land for themselves. Then they can also provide palm oil to us for processing,” he said. Felda wants to develop the supply chain for other business segments like sugar and rubber in Myanmar. The company is conducting a study to develop 30,000 hectares of sugarcane near Mandalay in the central region and another 30,000 hectares of rubber estates in the south of Myanmar. Myanmar’s 60 million population – nearly two times the size of Malaysia’s – could be a big market for palm based-cooking oil and margarine that Felda Global exports. “Demand is picking up. Currently, it is about 150,000 tonnes and I can safely say it will go up to more than half a million tonnes,” Sabri said. “Myanmar is going to be big for us.” - Reuters |
| Youths concerned over election date Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:45 PM PDT
FMT spoke to several Klang Valley residents between the ages of 21 and 25 and found that most were concerned with the uncertainty over the election date. They also claimed that their generation was not apathetic to issues concerning the wellbeing of the nation and that they were exposed to arguments from both sides of the political divide. Melvin Lourdes, a marketing executive, said he agreed with many of his friends that the delay did not put BN in a good light. "It only shows that they have no confidence in getting the support of the public," he said. "I also feel that even members of the ruling government might be looking forward to election dates as they too need to do necessary preparations." said Melvin. However, undergraduate Su-Ann said she suspected that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was being pressured by BN to milk every last opportunity to sway the votes towards the ruling coalition. She appeared to resent any suggestion that her generation was politically apathetic. "We are aware and concerned, but fed up of all the politicking," she said. IT student Naveen Thomas said political apathy was rare these days, regardless of which age group one would refer to. "City folk are well versed with the current political situation, especially because of the Internet," he said. Lourdes agreed with Thomas. "Each side will say that the party it supports will fulfil its manifesto and the other coalition's manifesto is an empty dream," he said. He believes that only a small number of city youths are politically apathetic. "They believe that politics is not for them or that they cannot bring much change with their one vote." Too much polemics However, copywriter David Lim said he felt apathy had come about among youths because there did not seem to be a "clear leadership or a sense of direction for the country". According to him, the delay in announcing the election was not a good indicator of a decisive government. Some are of the opinion that apathy among youths is the result of too much polemics in the public arena on issues that hold little relevance to their concerns. Technical writer Andrew Yew said he felt some people were apathetic because a lot of the issues raised in current political discourse do not relate to the needs of the young working class. Fresh graduate Ivan Chong said he knew of young people who had not registered to vote because they had despaired of the Malaysian system of governance. He said this could have been brought about by their disappointment with the seeming lack of government determination to address such issues as income disparities and the deterioration of the education system. |
| Cuba crisis pitted Kennedy against Khrushchev, Castro Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:40 PM PDT
The 45-year-old Kennedy, born to privilege and power, had been in office less than two years when he was faced with the worst crisis of the Cold War. His handling of the failed invasion of Cuba in April 1961 — in which he refused additional American military support for anti-Castro forces — convinced his Soviet counterpart that the US president was weak and indecisive, a view reinforced at a summit between the two leaders in Vienna. Under intense stress, Kennedy was on numerous medications at the time, including steroids for his colitis, procaine for his back pain, testosterone to increase his weight and antibiotics to prevent the return of an old venereal infection. When the missile crisis erupted, Kennedy had to navigate conflicting advice from his divided cabinet, with hawks pushing for an invasion of Cuba and more cautious aides advocating negotiation. His generals recommended a massive bombing campaign and Air Force chief General Curtis LeMay told the president the decision to impose a naval blockade was akin to appeasing Hitler. But Kennedy had grown skeptical of the military’s advice after the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and despite pressure from lawmakers and a series of alarming incidents, he finally reached a compromise with Moscow. Khrushchev’s contempt turned to respect for his American rival. He later wrote in his memoirs that Kennedy had not “overestimated America’s might” and had “left himself a way out of the crisis.” Kennedy’s hagiographers would later mythologize his role, describing him as facing down the Soviets “eyeball to eyeball.” But the accounts glossed over the often confused atmosphere inside the US government and how plots Kennedy had authorized to sabotage and overthrow Castro’s regime helped pave the way for Moscow’s actions. A relieved Kennedy displayed his characteristic black humor after the crisis. Referring to president Abraham Lincoln, who went to the theater to celebrate the triumphant end to the Civil War only to be assassinated, he told his brother: “This is the night I should go to the theater.” Kennedy was murdered a little more than than a year later, by an assassin who had belonged to a protest group called “Fair Play to Cuba.” An uneducated peasant who clawed his way to the top of the Soviet leadership, Khrushchev was given to bold strokes and erratic moods. His decision to station nuclear missiles in Cuba came out of anger over US warheads near his country’s borders and an urge to punch back at the Americans. But he made the gamble without a plan if the United States discovered the weapons before they were armed and operational. As a result, he faced a stark choice — pulling back the missiles or fighting a nuclear war. The bald, rotund Khrushchev was known for his shoe-pounding antics and his threat to “bury” the capitalist system, but he was a far more multi-faceted character than his cartoonish image in the West. The gentler side of the man known at home as Nikita Sergeyevich revealed a peasant who risked his life to denounce Stalin and who softened the edges of the Soviet system, opening the door to some Western-style products and freedoms. His 11-year rule over the Warsaw Pact camp is remembered for his 1956 Party Congress speech condemning the cult around Stalin and a period known across Russia as “The Thaw.” Hitherto unseen books were published and jazz records filled store shelves. But — far more importantly to Russians — so did toilet paper and sausages. The one-time miner was ousted in a well-coordinated conservative pushback in 1964, replaced by the no-nonsense Leonid Breshnev, and he lived out his days in obscurity at a Moscow dacha. His handling of the Cuban missile crisis was cited by party leaders as one of the reasons for his removal from power. He died from heart failure at the age of 77 in 1971. Castro came to power only three years before the missile crisis erupted, stunning the world by sweeping aside dictator Fulgencio Batista. Khrushchev and the elderly men running the Soviet Union were enamored of the bearded revolutionary, who had defied the mighty United States and repulsed a botched invasion by Cuban emigres bankrolled by the CIA in April 1961. Born August 13, 1926 to a prosperous Spanish immigrant landowner, Castro became a communist icon, an unrepentant anti-American leader who managed to hold on to power even after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He led a revolt in 1953 against the Batista regime but his attack on the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba failed, landing him and his brother Raul in prison. After two years, he was exiled to Mexico, where he built up a guerrilla force and rallied popular support in Cuba against Batista’s corrupt rule. One he toppled Batista, his sweeping Marxist land and economic reforms failed miserably. He turned to the Soviet Union for help and by buying up Cuba’s sugar and other subsidies Moscow helped keep Castro’s regime afloat despite a strict US embargo that is still in place to this day. A survivor of numerous CIA plots and assassination attempts, the long-winded Castro tightly orchestrated public life from January 1959 until he suffered a health crisis in 2006 and delegated his duties to his brother Raul Castro. “El Comandante,” who now lives mostly out of public view due to his bad health, has never expressed regret for his his hardline stance during the missile crisis. In a letter to Khrushchev, he advised Moscow to launch a nuclear attack on the United States before what he believed was an imminent invasion of Cuba. When he learned of the compromise deal between Khrushchev and Kennedy that required Moscow to withdraw its nuclear missiles from the island, Castro was enraged. Feeling betrayed and humiliated by his Soviet comrades, who did not consult him about the agreement beforehand, Castro unleashed a torrent of curses on hearing the news, kicking a wall and breaking a mirror, according to historical accounts. Castro celebrated his 86th birthday in August, with official newspapers publishing congratulatory messages and youth concerts organized in his honor. -AFP |
| Taiwan showgirls strip for the dead Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:39 PM PDT TAOYUAN, (Taiwan): Dressed in mini skirts barely covering their hips, the two girls took to the neon-lit stage and moved vigorously to the loud pumping pop music. Their job: to appease the wandering spirits.
“This is hard work but I need to make a living,” said 18 year-old En En, out of breath after stripping for the crowd during the recent religious festival. En En had just earned Tw$3,000 (US$100) for her act, which began on stage, but ended as she mingled with the audience, letting men touch her for tips. Folk religion in Taiwan is a unique mixture of the spiritual and the earthly, and one of its most remarkable manifestations is the practice of hiring showgirls to perform at festivals, weddings, and even funerals. The girls work on “electronic flower cars” — specially designed trucks equipped with light and sound equipment that can become a stage, allowing them to travel to performances often held in smaller cities and rural areas. “The groups attract crowds to our events and they perform for the gods and the spirits to seek blessings,” said Chen Chung-hsien, an official at Wu Fu Temple, a Taoist landmark in north Taiwan’s Taoyuan county. “They have become part of our religion and folk culture.” At 26, Chiang Pei-ying is already a veteran performer with nearly 20 years of experience, travelling across Taiwan with her father and two sisters for their family business to entertain audiences — both alive and dead. Chiang made her debut when she was in kindergarten because she liked singing and dancing on stage and has become a celebrity performer with her sisters, charging up to Tw$80,000 for a 20-minute show. She said she enjoys her line of work, even if she has to deal with some odd requests from customers such as walking around coffins and singing for the deceased at funerals. “I’ve watched this since I was little so it’s nothing peculiar for me. Performing for the dead is just like performing for the living people,” she said. “They liked to sing when they were alive and their relatives thought they would have liked to have somebody sing for them in the end. For me, I get good tips and I hope I am accumulating good karma too.” Hot and noisy Other performers, however, make much less money and tend to be more discreet about their job, especially those who still do striptease despite risking arrest.
“Some people like going to hostess clubs, so when they pass away their relatives arrange striptease to reflect their interests while they were alive,” said Chiang Wan-yuan, Pei-ying’s father and a 30-year veteran in the business. It is difficult to imagine a similar show going on outside a European village church, and some local critics have dismissed the practice, which emerged in the 1970s, as shocking and vulgar. Others, however, see it as a natural extension of a traditional folk culture lacking in the sharp separation of sex and religion often seen in other parts of the world. Marc Moskowitz, an anthropologist at the University of South Carolina, said the practice evolved out of the special Chinese concept of “hot and noisy”, which brims with positive connotations. “In traditional Chinese and contemporary Taiwanese culture this signifies that for an event to be fun or noteworthy it must be full of noise and crowds,” said Moskowitz, who shot a documentary “Dancing for the Dead” in 2011. He added most people who watched his work appeared to enjoy it and recognise this practice as an “interesting and unique cultural phenomenon,” which to his knowledge is only found in Taiwan. “As I watched these performances I came to appreciate the idea of celebrating someone’s life to help assuage the feelings of grief,” he said. - AFP |
| Growth crisis exposes burden of French largesse Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:31 PM PDT
They have jobs for life that pay 40% above the average French take-home salary and get “wet weather” bonuses when they work in drizzle, storms or snow. Stalled growth in Europe’s No 2 economy has exposed the strain on public finances from the benefits lavished on these and other civil servants, and a growing chorus of opinion says it is time they were radically pruned back. “I won’t lie, we do very well,” said one of the gardeners, who gave her name only as Natalie. “We earn much more than in the private sector and we basically can’t be fired.” Even more comfortable are the hundreds of administrative staff inside who get bonuses if lawmaker debates run over into the night – regardless of whether they stayed late themselves. They all rank as “fonctionnaires”, a status held by 5.3 million state-employed teachers, medics, magistrates and clerks in a labyrinthine French administration running from the president’s office to the furthest-flung town hall. The system has cushioned the households of one in five French workers from an economic crisis that has battered industry and bled private-sector jobs across most of Europe. But with a public debt of 90% of output and Socialist President Francois Hollande battling to slash a 4.5% deficit, the question is whether France can still afford it. France must tackle its debt mountain as part of efforts to end the three-year crisis over euro zone sovereign debt that has raised doubts over the survival of the currency. Hollande stuck to taxing the rich and a mere freeze on public spending in his first budget last month but investors are looking for much deeper cuts to the state system. “It’s the reform we keep putting off,” Gerard Dussillol, an investment adviser and author of a 2012 book, “La Crise, enfin” (“At Last, The Crisis”). “If we want to avoid becoming the next domino in the euro zone crisis we must attack public spending,” he told Reuters. Political Mille-Feuille Public spending eats up 56.3% of France’s economic output, second only to Denmark among developed nations and 10 points above neighbouring Germany. Around 40% of the bill goes on a fiercely cherished welfare system and the rest funds central and local government costs. The government is about to embark on thorny discussions with trade unions and employers on new ways of funding France’s generous welfare state, currently financed by labour charges which companies say is damaging their competitiveness. But others say huge cuts could be achieved by paring down the vast mechanics of the public sector itself. Mainland France is marked into 22 regions subdivided into 96 departments, then into 3,883 cantons and finally 35,303 communes, ranging from tiny hamlets to big cities and each with its own mayor and municipal council. The communes are then grouped into 2,581 “intercommunal structures”, adding another layer of bureaucracy to co-manage issues like water treatment, waste management and schools. Even more layers exist: regions are chopped into “pays” – areas sharing common interests – and the tiniest communes have their services provided by 2,358 communal associations. The addition of several hundred thousand local government jobs in the last 20 years has spurred a 25 percent rise in the number of fonctionnaires over a period when the population grew just 15%. Inefficiencies and wastage in the system were mercilessly exposed in a tell-all-book in 2010 by a local council employee in the city of Bordeaux that sold 400,000 copies. In “Absolument debordee” (“Totally Snowed Under”), penned under a false name, Aurelie Boullet describes overpaid officials, sometimes hired via political friendships, who shuffle papers all day and slack off in pointless meetings. Now 33 and reinstated in a different Bordeaux office, Boullet says she has seen people skipping work by using fake doctors’ notes or by having colleagues clock in their badges. “The system is absurd. It needs a proper reorganisation,” Boullet told Reuters, noting some mayors have twice as many staff as ministers. “It’s a minority abusing the system. Most people are frustrated and want to put their skills into action.” The 58,000-euro-a-minute summit The state’s own audit office weighed in last month, rapping the government for splurging 50 billion euros (US$65 billion) a year outsourcing services to more than 1,200 external agencies whose staff is growing at 6% a year. Left-wing lawmaker Rene Dosiere, who has spent years poring over wasteful spending, calculates that 15 billion euros could be shaved off annually by cutting out overlapping layers of local government that have grown up in recent years. Boullet says vast sums of money are splurged at the tens of thousands of local government offices on champagne receptions, hiring superfluous employees or office refurbishments. Dussillol believes a total 30 billion could be saved pruning agencies and local government, enough to cut 1.4 points off a deficit France must reduce to 3% of GDP by end-2013.
Sarkozy once held an EU summit that worked out at 58,000 euros a minute, due to his refurbishing of a Paris museum complex for the three-hour event, according to Dosiere. Under Hollande, ministerial salaries have been cut and lower house lawmakers will see a 10% reduction to a 6,412 euro monthly office allowance they get to spend as they please. But hitting fonctionnaires with cuts is risky. With unemployment at a 13-year-high above 10% and Hollande’s approval ratings as low as 41% he could face street protests the moment he mentions the idea. Hollande understands the merits of slimming down the local government system, people close to him say, and his team is actively discussing how it could be done. Yet a concrete plan is months away and may be limited in its goals. “We are taking a hard look at what we could do to save money in the public sector,” said a government source. “It’s not enough to prune budgets. We need a big-picture approach.” No one should expect drastic measures yet. The source acknowledged the goal of any overhaul would only be to bring down public spending to pre-crisis levels of 53% – still well above the developed-country average of 43% percent. Hollande has a rare window of power as the Socialists currently control most French regions. Yet the fact many lawmakers are also mayors of communes – and thus enjoy the benefits of both – could mean stiff opposition in Parliament. Those raking up the leaves in the luxuriant Luxembourg Gardens, run by the Senate since 1958, doubt much can change. “France is too generous so people take it for granted,” said Natalie, 39, who has been in the job since she was 18. - Reuters |
| Uthayakumar’s lieutenant joins PKR Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:22 PM PDT
During a press conference at the PKR headquarters today, Jayathas submitted his membership application form to party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar. Also present were vice-president N Surendran, Subang MP R Sivarasah and other party officials. Jayathas said he decided to work with PKR because he needed a stronger platform to champion the cause of the Indian community. However, he refused to answer questions on whether he considered Hindraf no longer relevant. “For the time being, PKR is the better party to fight towards a better future of the Indians,” he said. He added that PKR had shown genuine concern for the Indian community and was committed to address their grouses. Jayathas was one of the pioneer members of PKR but left the party due to his activeness in the Hindraf movement. The Malacca-born businessman was defeated by BN candidate in the Merlimau state assembly seat in the 2004 state election where he Jayathas’ departure from Hindraf would render a blow to the movement, which over the years had lost its influence among the Indian community. In an immediate reaction, Hindraf Youth chief S Thiagarajan, Jayathas had joined PKR because he was suffering from financial problems. "We had a meeting last Friday where Jayathas told us that he wanted to join PKR because he received a ‘better offer’," he said, without elaborating. However, Thiagarajan said Hindraf was grateful to Jayathas’ contribution to the movement. Responding to Thiagarajan’s claims, Jayathas said he would have joined Barisan Nasional if monetary reward was his motivation. |
| National Stadium pitch not fit for Malaysia Cup final Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:19 PM PDT  SINGAPORE: The playing surface at Kuala Lumpur’s 87,000-seater National Stadium is not fit to host the Malaysia Cup final later this month and an alternative venue will be used, a local football official has told reporters. The showpiece match will now be played at the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor, some 25 kilometres west of the capital. The switch marks the second consecutive year that the 80,000-capacity Shah Alam venue will stand in for the National Stadium. Last year, it was due to maintenance work being carried out on the track around the pitch. “The plan was to hold the Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium because it’s a neutral venue and the biggest stadium in the country,” Malaysian Football Association official Hamidin Mohd Amin told local reporters. “However, we received an update on the pitch conditions… and found that it won’t be ready. “The grass is new and the pitch is not fully even yet. This poses a safety risk to the players. We have no choice but to hold the final at the next biggest venue in the country.” The final is scheduled for October 20 and will feature the winner of Kelantan and Selangor, versus either Armed Forces or Singapore’s Lions XII. The venue switch is a boost for Selangor, who play their home matches at the Shah Alam stadium. -Reuters |
| Olympic Stadium, Wembley muscle in on Rugby World Cup Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:17 PM PDT
Twickenham, home to English rugby, and the Millennium Stadium in the Welsh capital Cardiff also featured on the 17-strong list of grounds released by England Rugby 2015, who will cut it to a final list of 12 next year. Gloucester’s Kingsholm in western England was the only English club rugby ground selected in the list, that also included Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Leicester City’s 32,000-capacity home and 10 other club soccer stadiums. “Welford Road has hosted many major occasions over the years, including visits from South Africa, Australia and Argentina national teams in recent seasons,” Leicester club chairman Peter Tom said in a statement. “It is home to the best-supported and most successful club in the history of the professional game in this country and, as such, we believe is worthy of Rugby World Cup status. “That the organisers of RWC2015 do not think this an appropriate venue is disappointing and confusing both for the professional club game in this country and for its supporters.” England Rugby 2015 Chief Operating Officer Ross Young said that the pitch at Welford Road was not big enough to meet World Cup specifications once television camera positions were factored in. “We’re talking about a world event and we’re talking about giving as many people as possible access to games,” Young said. “I don’t think it’s an indictment at all on the club game in this country,” he added, noting that rugby clubs such as Saracens had taken matches to Wembley to accommodate bigger crowds. Organisers have set an ambitious target of selling 2.9 million tickets for the 48 World Cup matches in September and October 2015 as they try to generate 100 million pounds ($162 million) in profits and that drive for profit was a part of the ground selection criteria. Ian Ritchie, CEO of the Rugby Football Union and on the board of the union’s 2015 World Cup company, said the decision had been an entirely practical one. Space issues “Of course you recognise what Leicester have done and that they do a fantastic job in relation to the community but there was a very extensive audit of all the grounds and Leicester was found not to satisfy on all levels. “There were issues with space around the ground, size of the pitch, other facilities, how it works with broadcaster requirements etc. “We want to get large numbers of people going to matches and then there were clearly some issues with Welford Road that were not capable of being addressed before 2015.” The tournament and the inclusion of rugby sevens in the 2016 Olympics are seen as a golden opportunity to develop the sport further commercially. Tournament organisers have been talking to officials from soccer’s Premier League and Football League about trying to overcome the problems of coordinating the World Cup and the domestic soccer calendar. “While we are not in a position to make guarantees at this time we will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with England Rugby 2015 with a view to working towards achieving a satisfactory outcome for all parties,” the leagues said in a joint statement. Young noted that France had used a number of soccer stadiums when it hosted the 2007 World Cup. A maximum of 12 venues to stage games in 2015 will be selected from the list next year. -Reuters |
| Bangkai ikan terdampar di pantai Pengerang Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:12 PM PDT
Ahli Jawatankuasa Gabungan NGO Pengerang, Hong Thian Hwa berkata, fenomena sebegini amat ganjil kerana kejadian ini tidak pernah berlaku. Menurutnya, beliau telah menerima panggilan daripada penduduk Sungai Buntu. Pada petang keesokan hari, beliau membuat pemerhatian di persisiran Sungai Buntu dan Sungai Kapal dan mendapati bangkai ikan yang terapung sebelumnya telah dihanyut ke persisiran pantai. Hong juga menjumpai bangkai seekor anjing di pantai Sungai Kapal dan penduduk di situ memberitahunya anjing tersebut masih bekeliaran di tepi pantai pada sebelah pagi semalam. Penduduk mensyaki anjing tersebut mati selepas termakan bangkai ikan. Menurut beliau, pada tahun 2010 pernah berlaku sekumpulan ikan mati disebabkan oleh tumpahan minyak di lautan berdekatan tetapi jika dibandingkan dengan kejadian ini ianya jauh lebih serius. Semalam katanya, pegawai dari Jabatan Perikanan telah membuat pemeriksaan di tempat kejadian. Beliau berharap Jabatan Perikanan boleh mengemukakan hasil siasatan atas sebab kematian sekumpulan ikan itu dan supaya langkah- langkah pencegahan dapat diambil. |
| RoS shoud cease all forms of bad practices Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:57 PM PDT FMT LETTER: From Nalini Elumalai, via e-mail Three notices pursuant to section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) dated Oct 8, 2012 have been sent to the office of Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd’s (Suaram) lawyer. The notices ordered three individuals i.e Mohd Nasir Hashim (Adun Kota Damansara and also co founder of Suaram), Fan Yew Leng @ Fan Yew Teng (deceased) and Suaram’s Executive Director, Nalini Elumalai to appear before Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) Investigating Officer, Ab Rahim Mohammad on Friday (Oct 12, 2012) to record a statement under S112 CPC. Suaram is perturbed at the notices and view with concern that this may be the possible outcome of the legal research task-force set up by the RoS in September 2012. Suaram sees a mind blowing attempt by the task-force to stretch the jurisdiction of RoS beyond its legal scope to probe into a company registered under the Companies Act 1965. On Oct 4, 2012, lawyers representing Sivarasa Rasiah (MP Subang and co-founder of Suaram) and Cynthia Gabriel (Suaram secretariat member) at the RoS had respectfully stated that Suaram’s cooperation to the RoS was in good faith and had advised that the RoS has no jurisdiction to act against a registered company. It is clear that Suaram, as a registered company, owes no duty and obligation to the RoS. Despite this, the RoS still sees it fit to continuously harass Suaram, as demonstrated in the latest notices. The notices were all served to the office of Suaram’s lawyer, instead of the named individuals. It is embarrassing to note that one of the named individuals, Fan Yew Leng @ Fan Yew Teng had deceased in 2010 but RoS still issued the notice out of ignorance. Suaram’s lawyer had also been ordered to produce Suaram’s documents to the same Investigating Officer pursuant to a notice under section 51(1) CPC dated Oct 5, 2012. By requesting privileged documents and information belonging to Suaram from our lawyer, the RoS has violated solicitors/client privilege and confidentiality under the Legal Profession Act 1976. This is a complete mockery of fundamental principle of solicitor-client confidentiality by which lawyers are bound. We wish to put on record that our cooperation to the RoS was premised on protecting and upholding the rule of law in this country despite the ultra vires acts of RoS. Suaram notes with concern that the RoS may have breached its professional duties as civil servants by acting on political instructions to harass Suaram. On this note, we strongly urge the RoS, as law enforcers to immediately cease all forms of bad practices and act in accordance with the law. |
| IMF cuts Asian growth forecast Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:49 PM PDT
It also cut the outlook on Japan, saying disaster reconstruction spending would tail off and lead to weaker growth next year. The International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook comes at the beginning of a week that will see it and the World Bank hold their annual meetings in Japan, ahead of a meeting of the Group of Seven. It also reinforces concerns expressed by the World Bank on Monday and Asian Development Bank last week as they cut their regional forecasts, citing global weaknesses. The IMF said growth for developing Asia would come in at 6.7 percent this year and 7.2 percent in 2013. That compares with July’s estimate of 7.1 percent this year and 7.5 percent next year. “Compared with the region’s growth performance in recent years, the near- and medium-term outlooks are less buoyant,” the report said. “This view reflects weaker anticipated external demand resulting from the tepid growth prospects in major advanced economies and a downshift in China’s and India’s growth prospects.” It warned a worsening of the eurozone debt crisis and failure by US lawmakers to avert a possible “fiscal cliff” could fuel problems. China’s economy, a key driver of regional growth, will see just 7.8 percent expansion this year, the IMF warned, but 8.2 percent next year as easing measures kick in. Both figures are lower than the July forecasts of 8.0 percent and 8.5 percent. “Slowing growth in China has affected activity in the rest of Asia, a consequence of the deepening of linkages throughout the region in the past decade,” it said. It warned “a return to double-digit growth in China (is) unlikely” as the country’s leaders try to shift from an export-driven economy to one balanced with domestic demand. The numbers are well down from the 9.3 percent surge in 2011 and 10.4 percent in 2010. Fighting painful deflation “This easing, however, has not yet gained the traction expected earlier in the year,” the IMF said. Japan is tipped to see 2.2 percent growth this year owing to spending on post-tsunami work, but that would ease to 1.2 percent next year. In July the IMF forecast 2012 growth of 2.4 percent and 1.5 percent in 2013. The Fund did say monetary easing would support the economy but further measures would be needed to fight painful deflation. There are also growing fears about the impact on the world economy of a territorial feud between China and Japan. Earlier this month IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the dispute could not be allowed to fester. Speaking to Japanese media, she said the two sides should show tolerance for the good of the world. “The current status of the economy and the global economy needs both Japan and China fully engaged,” Lagarde said. India is seen growing 4.9 percent this year and 6.0 percent next, with the IMF blaming “stalled investment caused by governance issues and red tape, and a deterioration in business sentiment” as well as a weakening rupee. However, IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard told reporters in Tokyo Tuesday he did not see China and India suffering a hard landing. “Indeed we see positive policy measures being taken… But they suggest lower growth for some time, lower than we have seen in the recent past,” he said. He said efforts to cut deficits were clearly needed but added: “This is a marathon not a sprint.” Improvement in the Philippines and Thailand And the ADB Wednesday reduced its estimate for Asia’s emerging economies to the lowest level since 2009, while also warning of significant risks from problems in Europe and the United States. Slowing exports were also blamed by the IMF for weaker growth in three of Southeast Asia’s five biggest developing economies — Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The report said only the Philippines and Thailand would see improvement this year compared with 2011, with the latter boosted by reconstruction and investment after devastating floods hit the country’s north. However, overall the five would enjoy growth of 5.4 percent this year and 5.8 percent next year. Last year saw growth of 4.5 percent. - AFP |
| Eleven dead in Thai militant attacks: police Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:38 PM PDT
The rangers were ambushed while travelling in a pick-up truck on Monday in Pattani province in the Muslim-majority border region, where an eight-year conflict has claimed thousands of lives. On the same day, four Buddhist rubber tappers died on their way to work in two separate gun attacks in Pattani, while a pair of Muslim men were killed in a drive-by shooting in neighbouring Yala province, police said. Two vegetable vendors were also shot dead in Songkhla province, which had been relatively untouched by the violence until a number of attacks this year, including a series of car bombs in April that left 15 people dead. A complex insurgency calling for greater autonomy has plagued Thailand’s far south near the border with Malaysia since 2004, claiming more than 5,300 lives, both Buddhist and Muslim, with near daily bomb or gun attacks. The authorities said in August they were holding informal peace talks with some Muslim insurgent groups, in an apparent policy reversal that followed a spike in attacks. “Some militant groups don’t want a peaceful solution so they look for an opportunity to terrorise people,” southern army spokesman Colonel Pramote Prom-in told AFP on Tuesday. “We’re trying to find measures to prevent this kind of violence but still haven’t succeeded,” he added. The militants are not thought to be part of a global jihad movement but are rebelling against a history of perceived discrimination against ethnic Malay Muslims by successive Thai governments and alleged rights abuses by the army. - AFP |
| China tipped to be second biggest luxury market by 2017 Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:34 PM PDT
Developed countries still dominate the personal luxury market but economic woes are reducing demand while rising middle classes in emerging economies take up the slack, consumer research group Euromonitor said. Luxury-goods sales could top US$302 billion worldwide this year, up 4.0% from 2011, as buyers from developing nations snap up designer handbags, clothes, jewellery, watches, fine wine, champagne and spirits, it said. “Benefiting from a fast-growing middle class and a fast-developing luxury distribution network, sales of luxury goods in China have consistently outperformed the global market,” Euromonitor said. Japan is currently the world’s second biggest market for luxury goods but its share has been shrinking as the country struggles with economic problems. Demand for luxury goods has been lacklustre this year in developed Western markets and Japan due to rising prices and mounting insecurity over jobs and pensions, Euromonitor said. However, emerging markets led by the so-called BRIC grouping – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are making up for the shortfall. The BRIC countries will account for 11% of total luxury sales with a combined retail value of over US$33 billion this year, up from only 4.0% in 2007, it said. This is forecast to rise to US$59 billion, or 16% of global sales, by 2017. The world’s four biggest luxury goods markets – the United States, Japan, Italy and France – still accounted for almost half the value in sales this year, the report said. Designer apparel are expected to remain the best-selling items, accounting for 42% of total luxury goods revenue by 2017, but jewellery and timepieces are fast gaining popularity, it said. While China’s importance to luxury goods makers has soared in recent years, signs have emerged of demand growth easing. Last month saw shares in luxury clothing and accessories group Burberry tumble after the British firm issued a surprise profit warning which analysts blamed on China’s economic slowdown. - AFP |
| Budget solution to commuter woes ‘useless’ Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:15 PM PDT
The consumer affairs watchdog said that recent announcements by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for Budget 2013 did not indicate any systematic efforts to overhaul the “terrible” state of the country’s public transport, which is a “key basic need”. Fomca CEO Paul Selvaraj said that his organisation is concerned that too much emphasis is being given to mega projects such as the MRT and KTM Komuter while failing to integrate those systems with the ‘smaller’ buses and taxis. “In every other country in the world, public transport is being subsidised, and the consumer gets an affordable service.” “What’s happening now is that whenever a bus service, which is privately run, has suffered too much loses and is forced to stop operation, then only the state starts engaging with them. It’s too late then,” said Selvaraj. Citing examples of bus companies that have closed shop in Seremban, Kuantan and Malacca, he said the local government tried to help them, but these gestures seemed like an afterthought. “By then, the bus operators are asking themselves: Why should we continue to run when we are just losing money?” Paul said that a reasonable standing policy should be worked out with bus operators so that they are financially stable and regulated by the state. “Don’t wait for a crisis,” he advised. He said that while the government just announced a new RapidKuantan and hailed RapidKL “as successful”, the fact remains that “they are terrible.” “Buses shouldn’t be caught in a traffic, but they are. Also, I myself am afraid to take the KTM… too many times it came late. So what if we’re getting more discounts (for KTM) Fix the system, not give out bits and pieces.” He said that free competition among public transport operators was also a big “no no”. “You do not allow competition. It should be regulated. You need buses to run even during unpopular times. Other issues According to Fomca, there are other issues on public transport that needs addressing and these include:
On the suggestion that local councils should be roped in to fix the public transport system, Paul disagreed. “I don’t think that will work. The whole issue last time was that there were too many agencies handling transport. Now there’s supposed to be just one– SPAD.” He said that while state governments, perhaps out of desperation, have been coming forward, the local authorities can only help with planning the routes. The federal government, must, and should step in to work things out, he said. Earlier this year, a national survey by Fomca noted that the chief concern of all consumers was the increasing prices of food and essential goods. The second biggest concern was public transport. The government's response to public transport grouses in the 2013 Budget has been limited to extending the current 50 per cent discount for KTM Komuter train fares to Malaysians earning under RM3,000 a month and launching more buses under state-owned transport firm Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Berhad (Prasarana). |
| ICC launches inquiry into new match-fixing allegations Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:10 PM PDT
India TV has alleged six umpires were willing to fix World Twenty20 games ahead of the tournament in a programme broadcast on Monday. Cricket’s governing body has called on the broadcaster to hand over evidence that could help its investigation. It said: “None of the umpires named were involved in any of the official games of the ICC World Twenty20.” India TV has alleged the umpires – whom it says are from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh – were willing to fix matches for money during the tournament, which was won by West Indies on Sunday. However, a seventh umpire approached during the sting operation earlier in the summer declined to get involved, the station claimed. In a statement responding to the programme’s claims the ICC said: “The ICC and its relevant members have been made aware of the allegations made by India TV this evening and calls on the station to turn over any information which can assist the ICC’s urgent investigations into this matter. “The ICC reiterates its zero tolerance towards corruption whether alleged against players or officials. “The ICC will not make any further comment on this issue.” -Agencies |
| AEG auction starts, seeking bids in US$10b range Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:06 PM PDT
The initial, 25-page AEG information memorandum that describes the business but has no financial information was expected to go to “dozens” of potential buyers yesterday, the sources said. The initial group of recipients is expected to include rich individuals, rivals, sovereign wealth funds, real estate firms, and private equity firms, they said. Anschutz is likely to start signing non-disclosure agreements and send out the books with financial details by the end of the month, the sources said. The list of potential bidders includes trade buyers such as Liberty Media Corp; investment companies such as Guggenheim Partners LLC; private equity firms such as Thomas H Lee Partners LP, Bain Capital LLC and Colony Capital LLC; and rich individuals such as Los Angeles biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, sources have previously said. Bidders are likely to need to come up with bids in the “high single digit, low double digit” billion dollars to proceed to the next round, the sources said, signalling that Anschutz has a higher price expectation than previously believed. Sources close to potential buyers had said last month that the company could fetch between US$6 billion and US$8 billion in a sale. “The Anschutz Co has no comment on the sales process beyond its press release announcing the sales process,” it said in a statement yesterday. As a private owner, the Denver-based billionaire has the final say in any deal. AEG, which has around 25,000 employees, has developed more than 100 entertainment venues globally, in some of the world’s largest cities such as Los Angeles, London, Berlin and Shanghai. These include the Staples Center in Los Angeles, The O2 Arena in London and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. The company also owns sports assets that include the Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer team, possibly best-known for its star David Beckham, and a stake in the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers. Complex sale The idea behind AEG broadly is to own the real estate and draw people to the venues through sporting events and live entertainment. Anschutz wants to keep the AEG platform in one piece because he believes the company’s holdings are more valuable as a group than in individual pieces, the sources said. The price expectations and Anschutz’s insistence on keeping the platform and the management team in place, however, adds complexity to an eventual sale. A buyer would need to write a large cheque for the company, including their own cash and bank financing, which could make it necessary for bidders to form consortiums. There are no easy comparisons for potential buyers to draw on in valuing the company. What’s more, Anschutz will need to get approvals from sports organisations such as the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association to be able to transfer ownership of sports teams. A valuation analysis could eventually include a sum of the parts determination, the sources said. For example, one of the sources said, the Staples Center in Los Angeles alone could be worth around US$1 billion. Blackstone bankers are also planning to keep control of how bidding groups are formed, the sources said. The confidentiality agreement with potential buyers is expected to have a provision that will prevent parties from discussing joint bids. The requirement is sometimes imposed by sellers in auctions to prevent bidders from forming groups as a way to undercut on price and possibly to help broker deals between bidders when the size of the asset is large. Later on in the auction, possibly around the second round, the advisers also plan to launch a parallel process to seek approvals from the various sports leagues for the bidders, the sources said. Blackstone bankers used a similar approach when they advised on the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team earlier this year, which eventually sold for US$2 billion to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson and one-time Hollywood studio executive Peter Guber. In the Dodgers deal Johnson was the “face” of the consortium, a preference among sports leagues that usually insist on an individual rather than an institution buying the franchises. Anschutz is likely to look to pair up the bidders in a similar manner as well, the sources said. Blackstone declined to comment. - Reuters |
| Pecat Faekah: Azmin serah pada Pusat Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:05 PM PDT
“Saya tak tahu menahu..kenyataan itu perlu dirujuk kepada Setiausaha Agung PKR kerana ini masalah pentadbiran,” katanya yang juga Timbalan Presiden PKR Pusat kepada FMT ketika ditemui hari ini. Beliau mengulas mengenai desakan PKR Selangor yang diketuai Pengarah Pilihan Raya PKR Negeri, Borhan Aman Shah agar parti mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap Faekah termasuk dipecat serta merta. Borhan dalam sidang media semalam mahu PKR berbuat demikian kerana Faekah sebelum ini secara terbuka mengkritik Azmin yang cuba campur tangan mengenai kedudukan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim selepas Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) 13 nanti. “Saya gesa Faekah dipecat parti berkuat kuasa serta merta. Atas kapasiti Faekah tiada apa-apa jawatan dalam parti untuk mengkritik Timbalan Presiden secara terbuka dan jawatannya diberi secara ehsan oleh parti,” kata Borhan semalam. Azmin bagaimanapun mempertahankan kenyataan Borhan itu sebagai ‘suara akar umbi’, namun menafikannya mewakili suara Majlis Pimpinan Negeri (MPN) Selangor. Katanya, isu mengenai Faekah tidak pernah dibangkitkan dalam mesyuarat MPN. “Saya percaya dalam lawatan ke Cabang ada pandangan anggota (bawahan) yang diberikan dan dia mmberikan pandangan seperti yang dinyatakan semalam. “Pandangan itu telah disuarakan oleh anggota, terserah kepada parti “Kita hormati pandangan itu dan sebagai parti yang mengamalkan demokrasi dan hak bersuara (perkara itu) kita harus hormatilah,” katanya. Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung PKR Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail ketika ditemui berkata setakat ini pihaknya tidak menerima sebarang “Saya tak terima apa-apa (notis). Saya tak tahu tentang perkara ini,” katanya. Beberapa pemimpin PKR termasuk Naib Presiden PKR Tian Chua ketika ditemui turut enggan mengulas lanjut mengenainya. Ini merupakan ‘perang dingin’ kedua yang diterima Faekah dalam tahun ini selepas mengkritik Azmin mengenai isu amalan nepotisme dalam parti Jun lalu. Satu gerakan kempen melalui laman sosial Twitter menggunakan hash tag #kamisayangPKR dan #PecatFaekah sebelum ini juga penah dilihat wujud untuk memberi tekanan kepada Faekah berundur diri dari posisinya. Namun perkara ini segera dihalang pimpinan PKR Pusat yang mengeluarkan arahan agar sebarang gerakan atau kempen ke atas Faekah mahupun ke atas ahli parti dihentikan. |
| Mila Kunis ‘sexiest woman alive’ Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:35 PM PDT
Kunis, 29, a one-time star of the TV comedy “That ’70s Show,” was lauded by the men’s magazine on its website as “the most beautiful, opinionated, talkative, and funny movie star that we’ve all known since she was nine.” As a grown-up, the native of Ukraine electrified audiences with a solid performance opposite – and sometimes in bed with – Oscar-winner Natalie Portman in 2010 ballet movie “Black Swan.” She recently showed her comic chops in the surprise summer hit, “Ted.” Near year she will star in “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” and she is the voice of Meg Griffin on the animated Fox comedy “Family Guy.” Runners-up this year included Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, “Precious” star Gabourey Sidibe and newly divorced Katie Holmes. Kunis joins the ranks of past Esquire choices, including Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Halle Berry, and last year’s winner, Rihanna.—Reuters |
| DAP: Guna RM272.5 juta untuk banteras jenayah Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:22 PM PDT
Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng berkata, rakyat Malaysia amat bimbang dengan perkembangan aktiviti jenayah dan pertambahan kes jenayah di seluruh negara gagal dibendung setakat ini. “Kes terbaru ialah rompakan bersenjata RM11.5 juta mikrocip dari sebuah kilang di kawasan Industri Bukit Tengah Pulau Pinang kelmarin,” katanya yang juga Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang dalam satu kenyataan media semalam. Soal beliau, “bayangkan kalau kediaman Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan) sendiri tidak selamat kerana dimasukki pencuri, bagaimana 28 juta rakyat Malaysia boleh merasa selamat dari jenayah?” Atas sebab itu kata beliau, pihaknya tidak bersetuju bahawa RM272.5 juta itu dibelanjakan untuk "Meningkatkan Kepuasan Awam Terhadap Prestasi Polis". “Daripada membelanjakan wang pembayar cukai untuk memperbaiki pasukan polis dan mengurangkan kadar jenayah sebenar, kerajaan Barisan Nasional telah memperuntukkan wang ini bagi aktiviti perhubungan awam yang tidak mendatangkan faedah. “Aktiviti perhubungan awam ini hanya akan memberi manfaat kepada para perunding dan pengiklan yang mempunyai kaitan dengan orang-orang politik. “Hanya untuk mempakejkan bahawa Malaysia adalah selamat, polis melaksanakan tugas dengan baik dan Kementerian Dalam Negeri telah menjalankan tugasnya tidak akan membantu menyakinkan rakyat bahawa mereka selamat dari kejadian jenayah,” ujar beliau. |
| Melayu hilang jati diri berpunca daripada Dr M Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:18 PM PDT
Presiden Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia (Wadah), Datuk Dr Siddiq Fadzil berkata, Dr Mahathir lebih mementingkan pembinaan monumen hebat dan bersejarah di zaman pentadbirannya. Pembinaan monumen yang dikatakan menjadikan negara lebih maju dan moden berkisar dari segi pembangunan fizikal dan material semata-mata. Amalan sebegitu yang lebih diutamakan Dr Mahathir menyebabkan negara pada masakini menghadapi masalah moral yang kritikal di samping sistem pentadbiran negara dibelenggu gejala rasuah berleluasa. Menurutnya, pembangunan insan diabaikan menjadi punca umat Melayu beragama Islam hilang jati diri serta tahap kerohanian runtuh dan lemah. "Di zaman Dr Mahathir dulu apa dipentingkan ialah pembinaan monumen-monumen yang dibanggakan hingga apa dikatakan dengan slogan seperti "Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah", "Malaysia Boleh" dan yang lain tinggal slogan sahaja. "Apa ditinggalkan ialah pembangunan dan pembentukan insan yang merupakan asas kekuatan umat Melayu Islam," katanya dalam Bengkel Bedah Buku "Islam & Melayu" hasil karyanya di Universiti Selangor (Unisel) di sini semalam. Sementara itu, Exco Pendidikan, Pendidikan Tinggi dan Pembangunan Insan, Dr Halimah Ali dalam ucapan perasmiannya berkata, program diadakan itu adalah program yang mengupas satu isu yang amat penting di kalangan orang Melayu beragama Islam di negara ini. Beliau berkata, pihak penganjur wajar dipuji kerana mengadakannya dan membincangkan persoalan itu secara ilmiah dan berfakta. "Jati diri Melayu sama juga dengan jati diri bangsa lain, harus dipertahankan dengan masing-masing punya kelebihan dan kelainan. Bagi bangsa Melayu tentunya Islam menjadi paksi jati diri mereka," katanya. Hadir sama, Naib Canselor Unisel, Profesor Dr Anuar Ahmad; Dekan Fakulti Perniagaan Unisel, Profesor Dr Mohd Fuad Salleh; Penasihat Editor Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali. |
| ‘Judges still probing Scorpene deal’ Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:12 PM PDT
Yesterday, Charpenal had told national news agency Bernama that there was no ongoing trial in the 2009 multi-billion Scorpene submarine deal between Malaysia and France, as it was still under investigation by two French judges. "I am aware about all the fuss kicked up by certain media [organisations] in Malaysia over this matter but what I can say is that this is nothing more than a trial by the media," he was quoted as saying. But Suaram's lawyer William Bourdon said in a statement today that there had never been a question of an ongoing trial, as the investigating judges were still continuing their probe on the Scorpene inquiry. "The Tribunal deGrande Instance has convened a criminal inquiry of which Suaram has been accepted as a civil party since March 2012. "Upon completion of the inquiry will the investigating judge make the decision of whether the case goes to full trial." He also stressed that it was not for the prosecutor to decide if the case goes to full trial, but the two Judges, Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire. "To our knowledge the current prosecutors in charge of the case have not made any such statements as suggested by Charpenel," he said. In April this year, the Tribunal de Grand Instance in Paris began its inquiry into Suaram's claim that French naval firm DCNS had paid some RM452 million as a bribe to Malaysian officials to obtain a contract for two submarines. Malaysia had paid RM6.7 billion in 2009 for the two submarines of which RM574 million was earmarked for co-ordination and support services for Perimekar Sdn Bhd, owned by Abdul Razak Baginda , a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Human rights groups and opposition parties have also linked the submarine purchase to the 2006 murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, a one-time lover to Abdul Razak. But Defence Minister Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi said on Oct 6 that the Auditor-General had explained the purchase of the submarines was made according to legal procedures. The Malaysian government is now probing Suaram for having "misleading accounts" as well as allegedly distributing bribes to a civil servant in return for national secrets – both of which Suaram has denied and labelled as "harassment" due to the probe. The Umno-controlled daily New Straits Times has also accused Suaram, along with several other NGOs deemed opposition-friendly, of being part of a foreign plot to destabilise government. They have denied the charges and requested evidence to back up the accusations, which NST has yet to furnish. Also read: French lawyer: No Scorpene trial in France |
| Romney casts Obama’s foreign policy as weak, dangerous Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:12 PM PDT
In what his campaign called a major foreign policy address, Romney called for a more assertive use of American influence in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Romney, speaking before the white-uniformed cadets at Virginia Military Institute, questioned Obama’s handling of the episode in Libya last month in which US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed after the US consulate in Benghazi came under militant attack. The former Massachusetts governor also accused Obama of failing to use US diplomacy to shape events in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Russia and elsewhere. “The president is fond of saying that, ‘The tide of war is receding,’” Romney said. “And I want to believe him as much as anyone. But when we look at the Middle East today … it is clear that the risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the president took office.” Romney’s speech was short on specifics, but in broad terms he laid out his national security priorities before the second of his three debates with Obama, which will be at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on October 16 and will include discussion of foreign policy. Romney’s aim yesterday was to portray himself as having the presidential stature needed for the world stage. He had a similar goal during a trip overseas in July, but that was marred by a series of missteps, including his inadvertent insult of the organizers of the London Olympics. In calling for a more forceful foreign policy, Romney indicated that he would not rush into armed conflict. But he accused Obama of a hasty troop withdrawal from Iraq, saying hard-fought gains there are being eroded by rising violence and a resurgent al Qaeda. Obama considers his withdrawal of US troops from Iraq the fulfillment of a 2008 campaign promise, sought by Americans weary of war. Romney also said he might not be so quick to pull troops out of the unpopular war in Afghanistan. Obama has pledged to end the US combat role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 as part of NATO’s plan to hand over security responsibility to Afghan forces. Romney said he would pursue a transition to Afghan security forces by that time but would evaluate conditions there before making a final decision to pull out. Obama was right to order the mission that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden last year, Romney said, but he charged that other elements of the president’s strategy for the region were weak or ill-advised. Romney pointed to the extensive US reliance on attacks by drone aircraft as “no substitute for a national security strategy for the Middle East.” Romney, who accused Obama of pursuing a strategy of “passivity” rather than partnership with US allies, is running just behind or even with his Democratic rival in most opinion polls, which have gotten closer since Romney did well in their first debate last week. Reuters/Ipsos tracking polls indicate that more Americans favor Obama on foreign policy issues. The latest data, collected through Sunday, indicate that 40 percent of likely voters believe Obama has a better plan for combating terrorism, compared with 31.5 percent for Romney. In dealing with Iran, 35.4 percent of likely voters favored Obama; 30.9 percent backed Romney. Chest-pounding rhetoric Obama’s campaign portrayed Romney’s speech as the latest in a series of failed attempts by the Republican to look like a statesman on foreign policy. Obama aides cast Romney as unfit to be commander-in-chief because of his gaffe-filled overseas trip in July and his much-criticized immediate reaction to the Libyan attack. Romney blasted Obama’s actions before it was clear that Stevens had been killed in Benghazi and was accused of injecting politics into a national tragedy. “This is somebody who leads with chest-pounding rhetoric,” Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said of Romney. “He has been clumsy in his handling of foreign policy.” Romney promised that if elected on November 6, he would vigorously pursue those responsible for the Libyan attack, as Obama has vowed to do. During his speech, Romney pledged to tighten sanctions on Iran and deploy warships in the region to press Tehran to give up a nuclear program the West believes is aimed at producing atomic bombs. Obama’s campaign, and many foreign policy analysts, have said the sanctions on Iran have crippled Iran’s economy. The sanctions include a European Union oil embargo and U.S. Treasury restrictions on oil-related transactions with the country’s central bank. Along with Iran’s own economic mismanagement, they are believed to be behind a one-third drop in the value of the Iranian currency in the last 10 days. Romney also said he would increase military assistance and coordination with Israel, which has threatened a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. Romney pledged that his administration would work to find elements of the Syrian opposition who share U.S. values and ensure they obtain weapons needed to defeat President Bashir al-Assad’s forces. Syrian rebels have accused the United States and Western allies of sitting on the sidelines of the conflict. “Iran is sending arms to Assad because they know his downfall would be a strategic defeat for them,” Romney said. “We should be working no less vigorously with our international partners to support the many Syrians who would deliver that defeat to Iran – rather than sitting on the sidelines.” Psaki, the Obama campaign spokeswoman, noted that Romney’s foreign policy team includes several former advisers to George W. Bush, Obama’s predecessor and the architect of the unpopular war in Iraq. Romney has “surrounded himself with a number of people who were advisers to past President Bush, people who have used saber-rattling rhetoric when it comes to Syria and Iran,” Psaki said. “That’s something … we think the American people should take a look at.” - Reuters |
| US report dashes China telecoms’ expansion hopes Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:11 PM PDT
Huawei, the world’s second-largest maker of routers and other telecom gear, and ZTE, the fifth-largest, for years have been stymied in their efforts to make big inroads into the United States due to national security concerns, but yesterday’s report escalated the dispute. The US House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee warned industry that Beijing could use equipment made by the two companies to spy on certain communications and threaten vital systems through computerised links. The panel urged network providers and others to seek other vendors for their projects. “It’s absolutely devastating,” said Roger Entner, a telecoms analyst at Recon Analytics. “While Huawei had its hands tied already, it’s one thing having restrictions that aren’t voiced publicly, but it’s another thing entirely when the government comes out publicly and says not to use Huawei.” The report also advised the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-agency government panel that vets foreign deals for security concerns, to block any future business tie-ups involving Huawei or ZTE and US companies. The demands come at a very sensitive time for US-China relations, ahead of the US presidential and congressional elections and a transition of power to a new leadership in China. Tensions have recently been ratcheting higher thanks to a series of trade actions against China by President Barack Obama, including his blocking of a privately owned Chinese company from building wind turbines close to a US military site, and his challenge of Chinese auto and auto-parts subsidies in a World Trade Organisation case. His Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, says if elected he will label China a currency manipulator from day one. Ed Snyder, an analyst at Charter Equity Research, said the committee’s report could lead to retaliation against US companies that sell products in China in the telecommunications industry and beyond. He mentioned Cisco, Google, Qualcomm, Apple as examples but said non-tech US companies could also be hit. “By calling them out like this they’re almost certain to get retribution,” Snyder said. “There’s a lot of ripe targets.” The report capped an 11-month investigation that Huawei itself had urged in early 2011. Huawei, which already has a US presence with its handset sales, had hoped that such a probe would remove suspicions that had killed its bid for US communications company 3Com and US server technology firm 3Leaf. The move apparently backfired. Committee chairman Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican who is a former FBI agent, said at a press conference yesterday that American companies must protect themselves against the national security risks posed by Huawei and ZTE. “My argument is that if this helps the Chinese government get out of the business of cyberespionage, then that’s great,” Rogers said. Huawei unequivocally denies the allegations in the report, said William Plummer, a company spokesman in Washington. He said the panel’s recommendations would set a “monstrous, market-distorting, trade-distorting policy precedent that could be used in other markets against American companies". ZTE, in a newly released copy of a letter to the committee, said it “profoundly disagrees” with allegations that it is directed or controlled by the Chinese government. “ZTE should not be a focus of this investigation to the exclusion of the much larger Western vendors,” it said. Possible DOJ probe The committee’s document was long on suspicion and short on evidence. A classified annex provides “significantly more information adding to the committee’s concerns,” it said. Rogers said that some anonymous US users of Huawei routers had told the committee of what he described as unauthorised shipments of large amounts of data to China late at night. Asked why the report did not detail those accusations, he cited what he called “proprietary” concerns involving confidential disclosures to the committee’s investigators. The panel also said it had referred to the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security credible allegations suggesting Huawei may be guilty of bribery and corruption, discriminatory behaviour and copyright infringement. DOJ spokeswoman Rebekah Carmichael said, “We take all credible allegations of foreign bribery seriously, and will review the materials when we receive them.” Rogers said lawmakers’ concerns had been heightened by what he and the panel’s top Democrat, CA Ruppersberger of Maryland, described as the companies’ lack of full cooperation with the investigation. Chris Johnson, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Huawei is not doing itself any favours by not being more forthcoming about sensitive aspects of its business, such as founder Ren Zhengfei’s history as an officer in the Chinese army. “They’ve taken a lot of steps, they’ve gone out and hired lobby firms and people like Bill Plummer to try to address the situation but it clearly it isn’t working, based on the report and the general sentiment people have,” Johnson said. Mobile phones spared Employee-owned Huawei has made greater strides expanding in Europe and India, becoming the world’s second-biggest maker of routers, switches and other telecommunications equipment after Sweden’s Ericsson. The committee’s warning comes as Huawei weighs a possible initial public offering, sources said, as part of an effort to overcome suspicions that have all but blocked its US efforts, including business tie-ins. Huawei’s US sales totalled US$1.3 billion last year, a small fraction of its worldwide sales of US$32.4 billion. Handheld devices accounted for about three-fourths of the US sales in the United States last year, including via T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint. ZTE’s US telecom infrastructure equipment sales last year were less than US$30 million. In contrast, two of the larger Western vendors alone had combined US sales that topped US$14 billion, ZTE has said, alluding to Espoo, Finland-based Nokia Siemens Networks and Paris-based Alcatel Lucent. Rogers, responding to a question at the press conference, stopped short of urging a US boycott of mobile phones and other handheld devices made by Huawei and ZTE. The panel’s warning pertains to devices that involve processing of data on a large scale, he said, not Huawei- and ZTE-made mobile phones. While the biggest US wireless providers do not use Huawei equipment in their networks, some smaller companies including Clearwire Corp use the Chinese vendor. Clearwire announced in 2009 that Huawei would supply it with equipment for its wireless network. It declined to say yesterday whether it will do any more business with Huawei in the future. ‘A bad mix’ Huawei and ZTE may not be the only companies that present a risk to US infrastructure, the committee’s report said, but they are the two largest Chinese-founded, Chinese-owned companies seeking to market critical network equipment in the United States. The report underscores how little return Huawei in particular has gotten from its significant investment in lobbying in Washington after suffering the setbacks with 3Leaf and 3Com. Private equity firm Bain Capital had partnered with Huawei for the latter deal. Huawei has brought on seven firms registered to lobby US lawmakers, including APCO, Doyce Boesch and Fleishman-Hillard, according to forms filed under the lobbying disclosure act. That is up from four firms in 2011, two in 2010 and one in 2009. But China trade analyst Derek Scissors of the Heritage Foundation said Huawei can only do so much to overcome its a fundamental image problem. “A company that’s in a sensitive sector that has both theft and the possibility of espionage? That’s a bad mix,” Scissors said. “No one will be surprised if Huawei and ZTE continue to be locked out.” - Reuters |
| Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:08 PM PDT
A recent study by the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) revealed that the toxic waste was from the nearby Prai Industrial Park. Other sources of pollution were residential water waste and black oil discharged to drains linked to Sungai Juru. "The deteriorating pollution seriously threatens the local fishery sector," said CAP president SM Mohamed Idris in a statement here today. Some 300 local fishermen from Kampung Kuala Juru were already badly affected by the deteriorating water pollution as their livelihood depended heavily on fish catch and cockle culture in the river and estuary. Now the fishermen face another potential serious environmental threat with the emergence of a shrimp farming project operating in 50 ponds on a 99-acre area since six months ago. The fishery community is worried that the shrimp project would worsen the pollution as the effluents were discharged into the river. The worsening river pollution threatened the livelihood of fishermen in Kuala Juru and Tok Keramat. Pollution from the shrimp project could potentially kill the mangrove trees along the river and destroy natural breeding grounds for fish, The river could also be heavily silted and become shallow. Idris urged the mainland council, departments of environment and drainage and irrigation to launch an immediate probe and take effective steps to save the river located in the Seberang Perai Tengah district. He also wanted the authorities to conduct regular monitoring and tighten legal enforcement to eradicate pollution. "The river has been threatened by pollution for the past 40 years. But until today, there is no sign of the pollution reducing causing much anxiety among the river communities," said Idris. |
| Gambia claims success in treating aids with herbs Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:59 PM PDT
Jammeh first announced he had found a natural remedy to cure AIDS in 2007, stirring anger among Western medical experts who claimed he was giving false hope to the sick. “Who am I to expect that everybody would praise me,” Jammeh said in a state television broadcast on Sunday evening, announcing that 68 patients had been cured and discharged from a treatment center. “Just as the Prophet Mohammed prevailed and established Islam (…) I also prevailed to cure HIV/AIDS to the point that 68 are being discharged today,” he said. The World Health Organisation and the United Nations have said Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS treatment is alarming mainly because patients are required to cease their anti-retroviral drugs making them more prone to infection. The president said the cured group was the seventh batch of HIV/AIDS patients undergoing his herbal remedy to have been discharged since the treatments began five years ago. Jammeh came to power in Gambia, a sliver of land on Africa’s west coast that is popular with sun-seeking European tourists, in a bloodless military coup in 1994. He is accused by activists of human rights abuses during his rule, and most recently drew international criticism for executing nine death row inmates by firing squad. Jammeh said on Sunday that his government would fully integrate “natural medicine” to all the country’s hospitals, to complement Western medical techniques. Other African leaders have drawn criticism for extolling the power of natural remedies to combat AIDS. The administration of former South African President Thabo Mbeki was ridiculed for denying there was a link between HIV and AIDS while prescribing meaningless treatments such as beet root instead of internationally proven medicines. The HIV rate in Gambia is relatively low compared to other African states, with 2 percent of the country’s roughly 1.8 million people infected, according to the United Nations. - Reuters |
| Why group buying sites are bad for your business Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:56 PM PDT
ChopChop wouldn't have any users if there weren't any merchants that are willing to adopt our product. When we started, it was quite a tough sell for us. Merchants did not see the value of customer loyalty in increasing sales. Merchants asked why weren't we more like group-buying sites, why couldn't we reach out to new customers which could boost their sales almost immediately. If you are a business owner, probably you should read this to understand why customer loyalty is so much more important than customer acquisition. Fast forward to today, ChopChop's acceptance by businesses is growing. Businesses are beginning to feel the group buying fatigue and starting to realise the long-term, sustainable value of cultivating customer loyalty. Many of our partner merchants have offered group buying deals and most, if not all, of their experiences weren't positive. The logic behind using group-buying is that we discount our prices heavily to attract a mass of consumers to give our brand a try, hope that you will be able to up-sell and cross-sell to them when they visit your outlet to cover for the deeply discounted prices and revenue-sharing with group-buying companies and then also hope that some of the customers will be converted to regulars, bringing in more sales in the future. Unfortunately, a large part of this logic has proven to be untrue. It is easy to understand how attractive and tempting it is to do group buying deal for your business as it gives nearly an immediate boost to your sales and how it helps your brand to reach out to massive number of consumers. The customers that are attracted to group buying deals are usually low value bargain hunters. They go where the best (cheapest) deals are. Value to them is perceived in price, not product. They only consume what the group buying deal has to offer. Many merchants told me that it is hard to cross-sell other products, and usually the only thing these customers bought were plain water! No more group buying by your brand, and you don't see them anymore. Tough chance in converting them to regulars. Not saying you can't, but probably the wrong customers to aim at and convert.
Beyond that, by thinking that group-buying could enhance your brand and boost sales is detrimental to your business. Yes, group-buying does boost sales. It boosts poor quality sales, it brings in sales that aren't profitable but also potentially creating losses which could have been avoided, it is sales that aren't sustainable, attracting the wrong customers, and could potentially damage your brand as these bargain hunters could easily amplify their less than pleasant experience at your premise. A recent writeup by New York Times clearly captures the essence of what I described above. It isn't just the merchants that are having a hard time when doing a group buying deal, but also customers themselves are undercut in terms of service and product quality. I have heard of similar experiences in Malaysia, but yet to see any merchants or consumers that are vocal enough about it to gain the attention of mainstream media. By doing it too frequently, deep discounts will dilute and degrade your brand. Consumers perceive the value in your brand as a discounted brand. I have merchants that have done group buying too frequently that they had customers telling them that they will be back only during the next group buying deal. And by doing more group buying to 'revive' your brand is simply exacerbating the declining value of the brand. How would your loyal customers feel when the customers (chances are they are new, bargain hunting customers and might not return) beside them are paying way less than what they are paying for, despite always being a regular? This will have some impact on your customer goodwill. Worse still, when a regular who is willing to pay RM10 a product, now comes in with a group buying deal and paying you half the price for the similar product. You are cannibalising your sales, losing out on quality sales that you could get without the group buying deal. To think about it, for businesses, if they really need to offer deep discount, why not offer it directly to their regulars for their next visit use rather than going through a third party (ie. group buying sites)? You might not reach out to the number of consumers as these group buying sites can offer, but at least you are ensured of bringing in profitable sales, and making your regulars happy. Even better, you don't have to share a cut of the sales with the group buying sites. In fact, loyal customers can be a great marketing agent for your brand. As we all know, word-of-mouth marketing is the best marketing channel. Make your customers happy, and they will be more than willing to spread the good word about your brand – for free, effectively. This content is provided by FMT content partner Entrepreneurs.my, one of Asia's leading entrepreneur resource and community. Click here to get access to some of the top entrepreneurial minds in Asia. |
| Adun BN, DAP bertikam lidah isu Islam Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:55 PM PDT
SEREMBAN: Persidangan Kedua Penggal Kelima Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) ke-12 semalam; kecoh seketika apabila Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Barisan Nasional (BN) dan DAP bertikam lidah berhubung isu berkaitan dengan Islam. Pertikaman lidah itu bermula apabila Adun Gemencheh-BN, Datuk Mohd Kamil Abdul Aziz dalam perbahasan beliau menegur PAS yang tidak membuat laporan polis terhadap Pengerusi DAP Perak, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham terhadap tindakan beliau yang berkata adalah membuang masa membuat bantahan ke atas isu filem menghina Nabi Muhammad iaitu 'Innocence of Muslims'. Ini menyebabkan Adun Lobak-DAP, Loke Siew Fook bingkas bangun dan berkata "Ngeh sudah pun menarik balik kenyataan twitter beliau. Adun Bukit Kepayang-DAP, Cha Kee Chin turut terlibat dalam pertikaian lidah tersebut. "Presiden MCA, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek memperlekehkan Islam hari-hari. Beliau mempersendakan hukum hudud. Kenapa Umno tidak membantah atau menegur beliau? "Pengerusi MCA Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Yeow Chai Thiam juga sering mempertikaikan hukum Islam dan hukum hudud. Kenapa Umno senyap sahaja?
"Sesiapa sahaja harus menghormati sensitiviti agama. Tak boleh lah keluarkan kenyataan menguris hati penganut agama lain dan lepas itu tarik balik kenyatan," kata Mohd Kamil. Adun Paroi-PAS, Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani selepas itu meminta Mohd Kamil menarik balik nama Ngeh kerana mengikut peraturan mesyuarat Dun; tidak boleh menyebut nama seseorang individu yang tidak ada di dalam dewan ketika perbahasan. Mohd Kamil menarik balik nama Ngeh walaubagaimanapun menggantikan dengan nama Pengerusi DAP Perak. "Saya tarik balik perkataan Ngeh Koo Ham tetapi kekalkan dengan nama Pengerusi DAP Perak," katanya. Mohd Kamil seterusnya meneruskan ucapan perbahasan beliau sehingga habis. |
| Bank Negara prode hurts investors and GDP’s growth Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:46 PM PDT FMT LETTER: From S Ramakrishnan, via e-mail Bank Negara's raid against Genneva and other gold companies has caused grave harm to two million investors’ life time savings. While it is appreciated that Bank Negara intervened to curb malpractices such as money laundering, misrepresentation and failure to submit documents, the central bank has failed in safeguard and protect the investors' lifelong savings. Does it serve any purpose in wanting to adhere to the rule of law precipitating grave pain and suffering to about two million dependents of investors? Bank Negara has failed to communicate and alert the investors on the illegality of these operations. Bank Negara should have the maturity and tenacity to act decisively on the promoters and managers with minimum hardship and damage to about 200,000 gold investors. Bank Negara should have given a grace period to the Genneva management to return the investments. During this grace period Bank Negara should conduct their investigation and identify the legal loopholes and arm themselves to prosecute the management. Instead Bank Negara freezed all assets and caused untold financial problems to their investors. Worse still, customers were told that Bank Negara had carted away about 200 kilogrammes of gold and cheques which were due to be given to investors. If the Government does not allow the cheques to be disbursed then the expansion of the economy will be curtailed. Crying foul, investors have cried out: "Please do not take away our money and gold." Genneva's Syariah compliant gold was officially launched by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, on Dec 15, 2010. See YouTube: The former King, Rosmah Mansor, royalties and other prominent BN personalities have graced Genneva's dinners and official events. How is that an operation which is deemed illegal has so many dignitaries officiating the so called illegal companies programmes and functions. The attendance of the ruling party dignitaries has given the impression to investors that Gennava management has the approval, support and acceptance of the government. Genneva's business model is praised as revolutionary, innovative and true to its spirit – a blue-ocean business strategy. It is for this reason, the Prime Minister has called on entrepreneurs to introduce innovative products for the expansion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Looks like Bank Negara was sleeping all this while and when they suddenly woke up to the thriving gold trading they suddenly realised the illegality of the operation. Gold trading is permissible and there is no restriction on it, as confirmed by a letter written to Genneva by the Finance Ministry. With so much blatant oversight on the part of Bank Negara and ministry of finance why these harsh and uncompromising actions on the investor's money? Bank Negara should make all effort to return the monies of investors to reduce the financial burden of Malaysians. |
| Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:44 PM PDT
The Great Debate may not happen. The whole world knows that the prime minister is not much of an inspiring speaker when he holds court with the people. Often his solo speeches verge on the tedium; if there is applause, it is not spontaneous. Frequently, it requires some prompting from his supporters to get the audience to clap and cheer. He gets all the limelight courtesy of the state-controlled media which never fail to project his popularity. However, it cannot hide the truth: behind the facade lies a weak "voice" of the people. No matter how bad the opposition leader and his policies have been portrayed, his alternative way is still attractive. The prime minister vehemently disagrees but that is his opinion. He cannot impose his views on the people and expect everyone to sing along. When he says the Orange Book – the opposition’s master plan for the country – is "not worth the paper it is printed on", he has to convince the public to dump the book. The only way he can do so is to hold a public debate. Argue your way into the people’s mind. Let your opponent rebut and make his case and let the voters finally decide who has made a more compelling stand. Now all the thunder comes from one side. The prime minister makes a lot of noise in official functions where he tears into his opponent with great bravado and gets a great write-up in his media. He is too busy punching at shadows. But he continues to duck and weave his way out of the reach of his opponent – not even wanting to debate his poked-marked budget in Parliament. Someone said the budget is people-friendly and that it is more important to deliver all the goodies than to jaw-jaw. It is another way of avoiding a clash with reality. A poor substitute The reality is, the people do want their prime minister to take on the opposition toe to toe on the public stage and sell his vision to the country. Using money to do all the talking is a poor substitute for the real thing. The public once saw a televised public debate between the opposition leader and a minister of the ruling party. The former gave a polished delivery while the latter a lacklustre, mouth-foaming performance. There was also the debate held on foreign soil between two political underlings of the opposing parties which had all the hallmarks of a great outing. But then a question was posed: "Why don’t your boss debate with my boss?" A clash between the two bosses in a public debate will set the political tone for the upcoming general election. People will get a closer look at how the two intend to make the country a better place and whose ideas will be more effective at realising this goal. If the prime minister says his transformation programmes are far more superior to the Orange Book, prove it. If he says his 1Malaysia is more workable than a welfare state, prove it. If he maintains the electoral roll is clean, prove it. Let the nation-wide audience also listen to the opposition leader and see whether he can come up with a more coherent and forceful response. One of the traits of a mature democracy is the ability of the leaders to argue their case on the same podium in front of an audience come election time. As an incumbent seeking another term, the prime minister or president must defend his record and lay out his future course of action. As a challenger, the leader of the opposition party must question and expose all the faults and misdeeds of the government. He must provide another path to economic and political salvation. The standard-bearer of the opposition front must be treated with respect and decorum because he is a potential candidate for the highest office on land. Unfortunately, the system of politics in Malaysia is adversarial. The prime minister treats his rival as his personal enemy who must be literally crushed and humiliated and not be accepted as a worthy opponent. In the absence of a close encounter between the two key adversaries, voters will have to judge their thoughts and deeds when they are on the stump. A bigger crowd will speak volumes about the candidate. A smaller crowd can spell trouble. But often it is the "doctored" crowd that will carry the day in the media. It is left to the people to debate the finer points of all the campaign speeches reported in the online and printed media and arrive at the final conclusion. |
| Who is responsible for Perhilitan these days? Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:43 PM PDT FMT LETTER: From Sean Whyte, via e-mail Just when you think Perhilitan could stoop no lower, they exceed even your lowest expectations. When Perhilitan promise confidentiality to people who inform them of any wildlife concerns, they are being economical with the truth. We recently submitted a report on a pet shop which had species of birds for sale and we had asked Perhilitan to check on their legal status, no more no less. Last week the owner of the pet shop concerned sent me a long, emotionally charged letter. He was clearly incensed that we had the courage to question the legality of the birds he had for sale. Despite the length of the letter he never actually said we were wrong. The pet shop owner could only have obtained my name and e-mail address from Perhilitan. We are still awaiting a response from Perhilitan to our report. The report on the pet shop was addressed to Dr Zabba Zainol Abidin, Deputy Director General, Perhilitan. If one cannot entrust a report to the DG, who in Perhilitan can be trusted? If the past is anything to go by, no one. Leaking informants details is a breach of trust and brings the department into further disrepute. Perhilitan remains a disgrace and embarrassment to Malaysia. Worse still, they fail the animals they are paid to protect. Zoo owners and wildlife traders receive better protection from Perhilitan than do the animals, but then, that's nothing new. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas is either impotent or simply incompetent on these issues? Rarely does one hear from him. The writer is CEO of Nature Alert …supporting Malaysian NGOs |
| NS mampu capai USD15,387 per kapita 2018 Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:40 PM PDT
SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan mampu mencapai pendapatan per kapita USD15,387 pada tahun 2018 sekiranya mengekalkan purata pertumbuhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) pada kadar 5.5 peratus bagi tempoh 2011 hingga 2020. Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan berkata berdasarkan kajian semula Pelan Strategik Pembangunan Ekonomi Negeri Sembilan; purata kadar pertumbuhan Negeri Sembilan dalam tempoh 2005 hingga 2009 adalah pada kadar 5.0 peratus. "Kedudukan ekonomi Negeri Sembilan bergantung kepada kedudukan ekonomi negara secara keseluruhannya. "Sehubungan dengan itu, nisbah sensitiviti pertumbuhan Negeri Sembilan berbanding negara secara keseluruhannya adalah pada 1.3 peratus, bermaksud 1 peratus KDNK Negara akan menyebabkan peningkatan sebanyak 1.3 peratus kepada KDNK Negeri. "Sekiranya kerajaan Negeri Sembilan mengekalkan purata pertumbuhan KDNK pada 5.5 peratus bagi tempoh 2011 hingga 2020, dengan andaian populasi Negeri Sembilan akan mencapai 1.1 juta pada tahun 2020 dan kadar tukaran USD berbanding RM pada RM3 per USD, Negeri Sembilan akan mencapai pendapatan per kapita USD15,000 pada tahun 2018 iaitu pada USD15,387," kata Mohamad. Mohamad berkata demikian ketika menjawab soalan lisan Adnan Abu Hasan (Pilah- BN) pada Persidangan Kedua Penggal Kelima Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) ke-12 semalam. Mohamad turut menambah bahawa sektor-sektor yang berkembang dengan pesat dan perlu diberikan fokus adalah sektor perkhidmatan (6.6 peratus) dan pembuatan (4.7 peratus). "Sektor pertanian walaupun mengalami pertumbuhan yang semakin perlahan tetapi kekal penting sebagai strategi untuk jaminan bekalan makanan dan pembangunan luar bandar. "Peluang pekerjaan yang diwujudkan dalam tempoh 2010-2014 adalah sebanyak 73,400 peluang pekerjaan baru terutamanya dalam sektor perkhidmatan," katanya. |
| Education blueprint must reflect aspirations of all Malaysians Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:40 PM PDT FMT LETTER: From Toh Boo Huat, via e-mail Not many were aware of the final Open Dialogue on the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025 on Oct 6, 2012 held at Pudu Sentral, Kuala Lumpur. I attended but walked away highly disappointed and furious that our time was spent in futility while taxpayers' money was wasted due to inept education officials. The Ministry of Education (MOE) screwed up big time with their thoughtless planning. And when they got bashed left and right for the badly chosen venue, they quickly claimed that it was a last-minute thing, giving excuses that the original plan was for a ‘Pameran’ only with no dialogue session. What a blatant outright lie! Their website dated Aug 14 had clearly stated: “10pagi: Sesi Dialog bersama KPPM / TKPPM” and was the only one planned for KL. The venue was noisy and unconducive. Instead of making any suggestions that I had intended to, I simply handed over my printed note to the chairperson and made a public statement to Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (TKP) Amin Senin that, “this whole thing is a joke! Cannot hear anything! If MOE cannot even get this kind of basic thing right, I feel sorry for all our children!” Upon further criticism by other attendees and sensing their folly, they quickly announced that another session will be held in KL again soon, at a proper venue. It was obviously a public relations face-saving attempt. One cannot help but get the impression that by giving it minimum publicity, MOE was not quite sincere with this whole exercise. Perhaps they fear facing a vocal public and NGOs who have all but denounced the blueprint. Stakeholders (including an elderly gentlemen who travelled all the way from Ipoh) were keen to provide final input to this 13-year blueprint that the whole country is counting on to bring about transformational changes to our education system. We are putting all our hopes and that of our children's future, into this blueprint. Organising a dialogue should be a piece of cake yet MOE failed to do it properly. At this rate, can we even trust them to carry out an overhaul of our education system and count on them to successfully implement a blueprint that it is inherently much more complex? During a Q&A, TKP insisted that all views had been taken into account. What perplexes me is, after taking into account all those views, who determines what goes into the blueprint, and how? Consider these: 1) Two widely supported suggestions i.e. for the continuation of PPSMI alongside MBMMBI and for a non-politician Education Minister, that received among the loudest applause during town hall meetings held earlier, are missing from the blueprint. 2) An attendee of two Round Table discussions on Education revealed that there was an almost unanimous agreement that English should be made the medium of instruction, at least for Mathematics and Science. It is highly questionably why their views were ignored. 3) During one of the dialogues, we were told of high-ranking Education Ministry officials who would not publicly state their stand when asked if they sanctioned the published blueprint. Instead, they opted to remain silent. 4) We also heard of claims that this published blueprint did not reflect some major contents in the original proposals compiled by very senior education officers. Unless the blueprint is amended to incorporate an accurate picture that truly results from MOE's engagement with the public, and which rightly reflects the aspirations of Malaysians, we, the stakeholders, cannot help but suspect that all the sessions and dialogues engaging with the public are just an eye-wash. Therefore, one should not be faulted for concluding that there is possible manipulation of data collected. It is extremely disappointing and nauseating to sense a lack of sincerity on the Minister's part to take our views into account. |
| Offensive against Pak Lah a ‘distraction’ Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:40 PM PDT
He said this strategy was evident in view of the fact that the Pakatan partners – PAS, PKR and DAP – were riddled with disagreements over issues such as "hudud" to affordable housing and over a leaked recording where one leader allegedly called Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng “arrogant and cocky”. And what better way to distract the people than by launching an offensive against Barisan Nasional, including on former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Penang, said Sheikh Hussein. "For Pakatan, its policy is that attack is the best form of defence. It is often critical of BN. It has become too preoccupied with attacking us until it has forgotten how to govern the state. There are many examples here," he said. Sheikh Hussein was responding to a statement by the Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak that BN stands to lose the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat and two other state seats if Abdullah chooses to retire from active politics. Rahmad based his prediction on the fact that Abdullah, who is better known as Pak Lah, is a stalwart in the constituency since 1978, and that his absence would create a vacuum which BN may not be able to fill in time for the next general election. Rahmad expects PAS to benefit greatly if Pak Lah decides to retire, as the former has a chance to wrest Kepala Batas. PAS has been stepping up its presence in the area since 2008. To this, Sheikh Hussein said Umno believes that the congress led by Rahmad is supporting DAP, although it has labelled itself as an apolitical entity here with a non-governmental organisation status. He accused Rahmad of intentionally trying to shift the focus of attention towards Pak Lah when the issue should be about the performance of the present state government. Pak Lah to retire? According to Sheikh Hussein, Pakatan wants to force BN to focus on its traditional strongholds such as Tasek Gelugor and Kepala Batas, as it is worried that it will lose its current parliamentary seats in Batu Kawan and Balik Pulau. He said Pakatan is working day and night to ensure that BN can successfully defend Tasek Gelugor and Kepala Batas from the anticipated onslaught by Pakatan. In another development, Pak Lah remained tight-lipped to a question on whether he will be retiring from active politics. When met at a function in a private college here on Sunday, Pak Lah smiled and said "he did not know if he would" continue to defend his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat. Speculations about his political future have heightened since a report on an online news portal indicated that the former prime minister was mulling full retirement from politics. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Free Malaysia Today To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.