Archive for April, 2009

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MIC to pull out of Cabinet?

April 11th, 2009
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UPDATE 12/4: As expected, there’s a slew of denial issued by Palanivel in Malaysiakini, Saravanan and Dr S Subra (NST).

“We have not heard about such a move. Whatever decision on any matter concerning the party has always been discussed with the party president in the central working committee.

“If there are any differences within the Barisan Nasional, they will be discussed behind closed doors and resolved amicably.”

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I was quite surprised with the title of Malaysiakini article – “MIC mulls pulling out of new cabinet“. MIC is not the type to rock the boat, and the info revealed came from a “party insider”, meaning we can expect Samy or other top honchos to issue denial tomorrow.

The reason for MIC’s anger is the treatment given to it by Najib. Not being allocated a more powerful ministry (Works Ministry is seen as more powerful than Human Resources) is seen as an insult to the Indian community. MIC have appealed many times to get back Works Ministry, but nothing materialised. So, MIC wants bigger posts, and using community name to gain it.  For them, the status of Human Resource Ministry does not reflect the position of Indians as the third largest community (err..aren’t the Indonesians more than us?)

“The decision is expected to be made soon, perhaps at the next MIC central working committee meeting later this month,” he said.

The party insider said topping the list of grouses is the fact that the Indians were still being ‘treated as second or even third class’ citizens in the country.

MIC claims to slowly getting back the support of the community as seen in the two Bukit by-elections, so the lack of reward/incentive in the new line-up is unacceptable.

MIC also find it hard to accept that parties that claim to represent communities which did not vote for BN most of the time is given more positions (MCA – 4 ministers and 7 deputy, Gerakan – 1 minister and 2 deputy).  Well, grow up la…that’s politics. The new government need to please the Chinese a bit so that can boost the economy. Indians, apa ada? duit tadak, bising banyak., semua mau mintak kerajaan. And, the other parties have changed leadership, so got some new faces. MIC apa ada? Same old faces only. I think the main problem is that the leader has not changed. So, this may be a snub to Samy rather than punishing the community.

When contacted, Samy Vellu declined to comment on the matter but those close to the veteran politician conceded that he was very unhappy with the current situation.

Well, what to do, nasi dah nak jadi bubur. If MIC pull out now, then it can be more “independent” says the party insider. But it will be toothless tiger. No one will entertain them anymore. Good opening for PPP’s Murugiah to step in and take lead.

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Drugs with deities

April 11th, 2009
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What a disgrace. Criminals making use of religion to do their business:

CHENNAI: Customs officials uncovered the unholy intentions of a syndicate when they seized ketamine concealed in a plywood box packed with statues of Hindu deities bound for Malaysia.

The drug, worth about RM1 million, was headed for a Malaysian address in Central Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

The box, meant to be an air consignment, bore a label which indicated it was a gift to a Tamil association and was declared as paper mesh holy deities.

It was only when a team of customs officers became suspicious of the unusual weight of the box and opened it, that they discovered there was nothing divine about its contents.

Commissioner of Customs (Imports), C. Rajan said his officers became suspicious of a wooden box weighing 44.8kg at the courier terminal on Thursday.
He said the box was said to contain eight statues bearing the likeness of Hindu deities.

“But the box was heavy, and upon breaking open its false bottom, we discovered three polythene parcels.

“The sender is suspected to be from Chennai,” Rajan said.

He said each packet weighed 5kg and in total, there were 15kg of ketamine, valued about RM1 million in the international market.

“As the sender had provided fictitious details, the Customs Department was unable to trace the suspect.

“He had given a copy of his driving licence at the counter but when we checked the address, it was found to be fictitious,” added Rajan.

Of late, Chennai has become a popular gateway for local and international traffickers, mainly for buyers based in Malaysia.

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term limit for MIC president post

April 11th, 2009
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One would wonder why only now is there a proposal to limit the term of MIC office-bearers. I can’t remember any such proposal in the last 30 years during the MIC AGM or general assembly. Anyone can clarify? MCA had implement a limit since last two years. I think many other parties don’t have such limit, be it ruling or opposition parties.

Proponents say the limit will ensure new blood and ideas are constantly injected into the party. Detractors say there’ will be constant infighting/competition for posts and that long-term plans can’t be implemented if got term limit. But I think a 5-6 year term is more than enough to attain few milestones of a long term plan of, let’s say, 30 years. Let the next person come in and fine tune the plans put in place.

Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who has been MIC president for 11 terms, is proposing that the party limits the term of office-bearers as part of its re-branding exercise to regain the trust of the Indian community.

This is among the last mandate which he wants to accomplish as he enters the last lap of his presidency.

He has held the post since 1979 and has become the longest-serving leader in Barisan Nasional.

Samy Vellu said that besides limiting the term of office-bearers, the party wants to attract younger leaders in an attempt to regain its position as the main party for Indians.

“We want to ensure that MIC becomes a party with equal opportunities for the young and old,” he told newsmen after meeting party leaders at a hotel here yesterday.

Samy Vellu said these were among several proposals that he wants to implement before retiring from politics.

So, what do you think? Is term limit good or bad? If good, how long should a limit be?

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Employer of the Year goes too..

April 10th, 2009
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2007 award (and I guess awards before and after that as well).

I d0 get questions from students and fresh graduates alike – which company is a good employer. My answer is usually to refer to survey by companies like Jobstreet and so on. Usually, MNCs and GLCs are in the top ten list.

But, now there’s a new person in the list. So, guys and gals, forget about HSBC, Shell, Petronas or KPMG.  Get a job under Vell Paari! Chance for further studies (no quota and family members included), guarantor/down payment on house (Rm200k out of RM400k) and car (last time was Mazda RX8), very caring and understanding employer, accompanying you to clinic for treatment, trips to overseas (did I mentioned family included?). Definitely the best company in Malaysia, if not the world.

Continuing his testimony this afternoon before coroner Mohd Fauzi Che Abu, Vell Paari said he had paid RM200,000 in cash for Sujatha’s apartment at Sangsuria Condominium in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.

This was used to settle half of Sujatha’s RM400,000 loan for the posh condominium.

The Maika Holdings chief also said he was the guarantor for the hire-purchase loan which Sujatha took to purchase her Mazda RX8 sports car.

Questioned by deputy public prosecutor Geethan Ram Vincent, who is assisting Mohd Fauzi, Vell Paari added he had also financed her medical treatments in India and had accompanied her twice to India.

He also said that he had taken Sujatha and her family to Perth, Australia before.

Asked by Geethan if it was normal for him to be generous, Vell Paari said he had also helped out other employees previously.

He said that he had given financial aid like housing loans and deposits for some of his staff who worked for him. He has business interests locally as well as in India and Australia.

Asked to list a few examples, Vell Paari said he had once paid a housing deposit worth RM70,000 for a staff.

He also said that he had given financial aid worth 250,000 Australian dollars to two of his chief executive officers and a financial controller based in Australia.

NST also provides some details on the career benefits offered by the employer:

The chief executive officer of Maika Holdings Bhd, S. Vell Paari, paid RM220,000 as a downpayment for the condominium of late local drama actress K. Sujatha.

For the remaining RM200,000, he took a loan under his name but the unit was registered in Sujatha’s name and she was servicing the loan payments.

He said he paid for Sujatha’s medical treatment and education — her final year in diploma and her Master’s degree in commerce — and was also the guarantor for the bank loan taken for her Mazda RX8.

He, however, denied buying the car for Sujatha, who was then his personal assistant.

He also admitted that he had accompanied Sujatha and her family members twice to India for her medical treatment, which he had funded.

Sujatha had also accompanied him to Australia. Vell Paari’s wife Shaila Nair had never followed them during these trips.

Vell Paari denied having a sexual relationship with Sujatha, but said that he would normally go to her house for official reasons and also during functions.

Geethan: You are a caring employer.

Vell Paari: Yes, I do that for all my staff.

Geethan: Is it the norm for you to buy a house for your employee?

Vell Paari: Yes, the amount has been higher for some of them.

On Monday, Vell Paari told the court that he had funded the education for Sujatha’s two brothers, Surenthiran and Ugenthiran. Ugenthiran was then studying in Australia.

But, you may hear some news about a staff who died under suspicious circumstances. I mean, people die all the time right? So what if someone accidentally drank a bottle of paraquat. Accidents happen all the time. So, please ignore it.

And don’t start asking where the money comes from. Rich people have lots of business interests throughout the world. It doesn’t hurt if your dad is a well known personality among the Indian diaspora. Tax payment you ask? Well, I’m sure LHDN have that covered. Don’t you worry over that as well.

So, folks, what are you waiting for? Lots of graduates will be coming out in the coming months. Send your resumes to the best employer  in the country and all the best.

Suggestion to VP: why not run a reality show ala Trump show?

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New Cabinet line up

April 10th, 2009
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Old cabinet: 32 Ministers, 38 Deputies, 28 Ministries

New cabinet: 28 Ministers, 40 Deputies, 25 Ministries

Thus, nett decrease of 2 positions.

Of the ministers, 19 (65.5%) are from Umno (including PM and DPM), MCA (4), MIC (1), Gerakan (1), PBB-Sarawak (1), Supp-Sarawak (1), PBS-Sabah (1) and Upko-Sabah (1) – Total 29 Ministers (including PM, DPM and Finance Minister 2)

Of the deputy ministers, 17  (42.5%) are from Umno, MCA (7), PPP (1), MIC (2), Gerakan (2), PBB-Sarawak (3), Supp-Sarawak (2), LDP-Sabah (1), SPDP (2), PRS-Sarawak (2), PBRS-Sabah (1) – Total 40 Deputy Ministers

See chart of new cabinet (Malaysiakini)

FULL LIST

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (Umno)

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno)

Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department

Koh Tsu Koon – Unity Affairs & Performance Management (Gerakan)
Nazri Abdul Aziz – Minister in charge of Law and Parliament (Umno)
Nor Mohamed Yaakop – Economic Planning Unit (Umno)
Major Gen Jamil Khir Baharom – Islamic Affairs (Umno)

Deputies
Liew Vui Keong (LDP)
Mashitah Ibrahim (senator, Umno)
SK Devamany (MIC)
Ahmad Maslan (Umno)
T Murugiah (senator, PPP)

Finance Ministry

Najib Abdul Razak (1) (Umno)
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlan (2) (Umno)

Deputies
Chor Chee Heong (MCA)
Awang Adek Hussien (senator, Umno)

Education Ministry Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno)

Deputies
Wee Ka Siong (MCA)
Puad Zarkashi (Umno)

Transport Ministry Ong Tee Keat (MCA)

Deputies
Abdul Rahim Bakri (Umno)
Robert Lau Hoi Chew (Supp-Sarawak)

Plantation Industry and Commodities Bernard Dompok (Upko-Sabah)

Deputy
Hamzah Zainuddin (Umno)

Home Affairs Hishammuddin Hussein (Umno)

Deputies
Abu Seman Yusop (Umno)
Jelaing Mersat (SPDP-Sarawak)

Information, Communication, Arts and Culture Rais Yatim (Umno)

Deputies
Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS-Sarawak)
Heng Seai Kie (senator, MCA)

Energy, Green Technology and Water Peter Chin Fah Kui (Supp-Sarawak)

Deputy
Noriah Kasnon (Umno)

Rural Development and Territories Shafie Apdal (Umno)

Deputies
Hassan Malek (Umno)
Joseph Entulu Belaun (PRS-Sarawak)

Higher Education Khaled Nordin (Umno)

Deputies
Hou Kok Chung (MCA)
Saifuddin Abdullah (Umno)

International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamad (Umno)

Deputies
Mukhriz Mahathir (Umno)
Jacob Dungau Sagan (SPDP-Sarawak)

Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Maximus Ongkili (PBS-Sabah)

Deputy
Fadillah Yusof (PPB-Sarawak)

Natural Resources and Environment Douglas Uggah Embas (PPB-Sarawak)

Deputy
Joseph Kurup (PBRS-Sabah)

Tourism Ng Yen Yen (MCA)

Deputy
Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib (PBB-Sarawak)

Agriculture Noh Omar (Umno)

Deputies
Johari Baharom (Umno)
Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB-Sarawak)

Defence Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Umno)

Deputy
Abdul Latif Ahmad (Umno)

Works Shaziman Abu Mansor (Umno)

Deputy
Yong Khoon Seng (Supp-Sarawak)

Health Liow Tiong Lai (MCA)

Deputy
Rosnah Rashid Shilin (Umno)

Youth and Sports Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Umno)

Deputies
Razali Ibrahim (Umno)
Wee Jeck Seng (MCA)

Human Resource Dr S Subramaniam (MIC)

Deputy
Maznah Mazlan (Umno)

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno)

Deputy
Tan Lian Hoe (Gerakan)

Housing and Local Government Kong Cho Ha (MCA)

Deputy
Lajim Ukin (Umno)

Women, Family and Society Development Sharizat Abdul Jalil (senator, Umno)

Deputy
Chew Mei Fun (senator, MCA)

Foreign Anifah Aman (Umno)

Deputies
A Kohilan Pillay (senator, Gerakan), Lee Chee Leong (senator, MCA)

Federal Territories Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin (Umno)

Deputy
M Saravanan (MIC)

Dropped Ministers:

1. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Home)

2. Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed (Works)

3. Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique (FT)

4. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Tourism)

5. Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib (Rural)

6. Senator Datuk Amirsham A Aziz (EPU)

7. Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan

All MIC reps kept their old posts. Gerakan’s Kohilan Pillay is moved from Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry to Foreign Ministry.

Other surprises include MCA Wanita Chew Mei Fun who is appointed as Senator and will be Deputy Minister in Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Rais Yatim, as widely predicated, is retained in the new cabinet.

However, the biggest surprise comes in the form of snub to Khairy (UMNO Youth Chief). Not only he did not get any post, his deputy  Razali Ibrahim was appointed as Deputy Minister in Youth and Sports Ministry. His enemy Mukhriz Mahathir got himself a Deputy Minister post in International Trade & Industry Ministry. Whatever the logic or reason given by PM Najib, it will be seen as influence from Mahathir.

So, will it work? The new team will need some time to prove itself. One year?

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