Braving the global storm...!!

We have seen a lot happening in this country in these few days. Pak Lah has switch ministry with Najib with him replacing the Defence Minister while Najib took over Finance Minister. Hhhhmmm... So fishy...!!!

World economy especially US, is looking very bad now especially after big corporations including Lehman Brothers and 12 banks collapsed and the latest were Merrill Lynch which was then sold to BAC and AIG which the Federal Government has agreed to bail it out for USD85 billion. Economists believe that this is similar to 97-98 crisis which saw the global downturn which was blame mainly on the currency speculation activities. Different from this one which they mainly blame the short-selling as the biggest crook.

Despite the dipping in USD which the RM should gain heftily, RM is actually weakening compared to already weaken USD. What does it means? Our economy is also taking a slump. The high oil price resulted a hike in inflation rate to the highest in how many light years to more than 8%. But, the crude oil price has gone down further to on USD102.73 per barrel. Why the government has not yet review the fuel price since they’ve already knew that this is the main cause of increasing inflation rate?

US John McCain said that the Federal Govt should get back to "its core business of responsibly managing our money supply and inflation".... Wow.. Believe me... This was said by an American leader. I believe, if we’re looking into globalisation and developed country, our leaders should be talking and thinking like that since hhhhmmmmm... yesterday??!!

Instead, what is happening in Malaysia is that the leaders are busy getting their tank fueled up first and believe me they have a very big tank, even bigger than a 20k litre oil tank truck... Much much bigger than that..

McCain further said that leaders should put aside partisan differences and "any action should be designed to keep people in their homes and safeguard the life savings of all Americans." OMG...!!!! Gosh... A direct hit to the head for our national leaders, be it the government and the oppositions (but I blame the government more lah... Hahhahaha!!!)

I wonder if there is any of the UMNO leaders that can come out with this kind of statement? Zaid Ibrahim took a very dignified step by resigning from his post due to indifference with Pak Lah. My opinion is that he joined the cabinet as a very wealthy man and therefore he was spared the greedy attitude of other UMNO leaders obviously in the likes of Khairy Jamaluddin (although himself is not in cabinet... Wonder what will happen if he is...???!!)

The Malays always say, “Nawaitu kene betul”... in this context, I really feel that Zaid Ibrahim accepted the cabinet post with the right attitude and “nawaitu”...

Special Taskforce to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) board member Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam quoted as saying "One of the areas the private sector must help overcome is corruption, especially in matters that deals with government machinery. The private sector will have to go directly to some of the services as opposed to going to agents and consultants who are by and large the conduits of corruption," he said in an interview recently with Business Times.

Why you’re shouting for the private sector only to fight corruption?? It is also stated there especially that deals with government machineries. Why not prevent these ill-mannered business dealings by going against all these government servants? From my experience, when you deal with govt, some daring officers will directly ask for their “commission” should they approve any deal. Being a commoner or a businessman, what will you do if you’re facing this kind of situation??

I have the privilege to know one very ethical businessman when I was A/V last time. He told me that once he won an open tender from UPM and the officer in charge daringly ask his “part” from him. What this honest man did was he withdrew his application and willingly black-listed his company for not performing. Such a great man and such a pity that our so called intellectuals are also drowned in this shit tank.

I bet, in this world, there’s only a very few people would do this. So, my point is, you can ask the private sector to fight corruption but then again it’s the requestor is the one who we should be concentrating on. If there’s no demand, then there will be no supply. Am I right?

Another question would be who are these agents and consultants dubbed the main conduits of corruptions?? Of what race is most of them comprises from? Simple and direct question with only one answer.... UMNO MALAYS...

Anwar has also announced in his press conference that he has met several fund managers for this region with more than USD1 trillion and claim that they are willing to invest in Malaysia should he becomes the PM. Truthfully, I hope he speaks the truth and only the truth as I am very sick and tired with the current UMNO government. Theoretically, he is a very famous and friendly man and has networking all over the world especially he has won the hearts of many Pak Arabs. Practically, I see him as a man that won’t say anything if he is actually empty. So I guess what he claimed is high possibly true. Logically, I DON’T KNOW.. Period...

The current government has been yelling since the stone age that they have millions and millions and trillions and quadrillions of investments to come in via so many mega projects especially the so many corridors (maybe since his residence doesn’t have any corridor???!!). It has been more than 4 years now since the first corridor announced but still I cannot see the relevance of it to the people. In fact, the only thing affecting the local people is the increasing cost of living due to the special “corridor name” given to their area.

I came across this comment in Che Det blog;

By mukti on September 19, 2008 12:15 AM

Dear Tun,

I just read from Malaysia Today Anwar Ibrahim Press Conference on 18 Sept 2008. He quoted that he had meet with "Pengurus Dana Rantau Ini" with the fund more than 1 trillion USD to give support to the change of Malaysian Politic. I would like to ask question on that matter.

1. Do he will using that fund for him to be PM
2. What will happen to PETRONAS, PROTON MISC And also KHAZANAH.
3. Can we keep giving Malaysian Citizen with subsidies fuel.
4. And last do all Malaysian will get free education and medical.

So I am so worried what will be happend. May GOD save our country.

muktiahmad

Let me try to answer it.

1. He announced that the fund will be invested when he becomes the PM and not before that. If he has this fund to become the PM, then, he will not have to ask people to distribute donation boxes in all of his ceramahs. If the commentor meant that he will use the fund as “gula-gula” to the defectors, I think he has clearly said that those defectors are not offered any position or money for them to crossover. They are just offered their own conscience.

2. I believe that PETRONAS, PROTON, KHAZANAH and other government agencies are a very good platform in building the nation and also corporation that can compete in global stage. Therefore, I believe that when PR is in power, they will still maintain all these corporations and in fact will enhance its capabilities by eliminating all unproductive measures and corruptions in these organisations which will immediately increase their competitive level.

3. According to the recent crude oil price of USD102.73 per barrel, our petrol price should be selling at RM2.00 per litre without any subsidy given. That is already 21% lower than the current price. BTW, Anwar has repeatedly claimed that he can bring the petrol price lower by RM0.70 the next day he is in power. Logically, of course he can. If the market price should be at RM2.00 without subsidy, he only need to subsidise another RM0.15 which half of what the current government claim they are subsidising. The reduction of RM0.70 is already more than 27% than the current price which at least will help to reduce current people’s burden.

4. If the country’s resources are being managed well, it is beyond any reasonable doubts that all these cannot be provided. But due to the “ketirisan dan kebocoran” in this management, we are the one left to bear the sufferings. The monkeys up there didn’t even scratch of itchiness.

It is really up to us now whether we want to stick to this sinking ship or to move on to the more prospectable captain in leading us through braving the vicious storm ahead.