Perak, BN and Gamuda

Still wondering why the Sultan of Perak was so swift in putting BN back in business?

Malaysia Today has the dirty details...

"Malaysian politics is perhaps the dirtiest but you can’t blame the public to have a perception that the federal government was twisting the arms of the Sultan (silly assumption, is it not?). However on the business perspective you do not need to wake Einstein up from his grave to tell you that Gamuda is basically at the mercy of the Federal government. With water taps closed by the federal government to three of the most developed states, Selangor, Perak and Penang, Gamuda is screaming for projects. Certainly the nation has the money. In fact the country is flushed with more money than before the Mar 2008 general election simply because the federal government does not know where to pump the money to since the most developed states such as Selangor, Perak (was) and Penang are controlled by opposition parties.

The largest shareholder of Gamuda is also the second richest woman on the 2008 Forbes 40 Richest Malaysians at #35 spot is Raja Datuk Seri Eleena Raja Azlan Shah, the daughter of the Sultan of Perak, Raja Azlan Shah.


Gamuda Directors (seated L-R) Mr. Ng Kee Leen, YAM Raja Dato’ Seri Eleena binti Raja Azlan Shah, YBhg Dato’ Ir. Haji Azmi bin Mat Nor, with the 20 recipients of Gamuda Scholarship 2007.

She was worth RM773 Million ($228 Million) at #25 spot in 2007’s 40 Richest Malaysians but this figure dropped to RM510 Million ($150 Million) in 2008 at #35 spot. Based on today’s stock price of RM1.91 a share her fortune is only at RM287.46 million based on her remaining stake of 7.5% in Gamuda via Generasi Setia (M) Sdn Berhad. Naturally when his father refused to dissolve the state assembly for a fresh election various rumors and speculations began its circulation."

Looking at Gamuda's 2006 Financial Report, the biggest shareholder is Generasi Setia (8.71%) and YAM Raja Dato’ Seri Eleena Azlan Shah also indirectly holds 76,710,000 shares as of 31 July 2006.

Victory for Najib At Last

BN reclaims Perak from Pakatan Rakyat

Barely hours after Perak MB claims his government was "stable" BN with Najib at the helm scored an unprecedetented victory which would put Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to shame.

3 defections (2 from PKR and 1 from DAP) by Members of Parliament left the ruling coalition crippled and without a strong majority. In comes Knight Rider Najib swooping them up and declaring them loyal to BN. Didn't take long for him to convince the Sultan (a fact which surprised many!) that the people of Perak were all for the BN government to return to its roost.



The people of Perak must now be very happy to return to their good old days and their good old ways where everything can now once again move smoothly with just some Najib "oil" added.




A constitutional crisis brewing in Perak

Mahathir: Anwar gets a taste of his own medicine

Pakatan MB Nizar booted out from office

Is the Sultan right in dismissing Perak MB Nizar?

Latest: Najib & Co gets a warm hot welcome at swearing-in ceremony as Perakians show their "love" for him

Latest: Royal city rocked by protests

Look at the mess Najib created:

Penang Hop On Bus Service (FREE!)

Visitors to Penang can now enjoy a bus ride within George Town, the UNESCO World Heritage City, for FREE.

The Hop On Free Central Area Transit (CAT) ply the route between Weld Quay Jetty and Komtar on 15-minute intervals from 6am-12midnight.

Exploring the grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage City has never been this convenient now with 19 CAT stops in between all the famous heritage landmarks of Penang!



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44 places to go in 2009

Penang is ranked No.2 by NY Times readers!

Penang has been voted the 2nd best place to go in 2009 by New York Times readers! You can visit the site and see where are the other 41 places to go in 2009.

Its more discerning editors however placed Penang at the 22nd spot with the only other Asian destinations Phuket ranked at No. 12 while Boracay made it at 26. Needless to say Penang food was what tempted the readers to make it a must in your list of the most tempting places to visit in 2009.



What to eat and where to eat in Penang

BN Losing More Ground

BN Fails to Retain Kuala Terengganu

Despite the nationwide campaign to retain its seat BN found itself losing more ground this time deep in the Malay heartland when it failed to retain its Kuala Terengganu seat.



After all the empty promises, the bribes, the pathetic back-stabbing and the total media control (e.g. The Star featured an incredible amount of bad news about the Opposition in almost every other page in its print version, and almost every day) it looks like BN is really heading for the sunset this time.

Pakatan didn't even have to do anything except to let BN talk itself hoarse and still they won. I guess this speak volumes about how everyone sees BN now, except for those inside BN who still thinks they are still as popular as "nasi dagang" while they are actually more like "nasi semalam".

So while Najib thinks its just a minor setback and Muhyiddin thinks UMNO was not exciting enough, the people go back to being bored by BN MPs who try to be as insulting as possible to gain popularity. So let us all just wait for the next by-election and the next one until we get rid of all the BN rubbish.

MCA: When no one praises you, praise yourself

Bloomberg Video: Vote a major blow to Najib

Lim Guan Eng Has A Chance In A Lifetime

I envy him. Lim Guan Eng that is. He is free from any political encumbrance manifested by UMNO or MCA. And now he has this one chance in a lifetime.



To build Penang to be the next Singapore or Hong Kong.

Many have tried and failed. Lim Chong Eu. Koh Tsu Khoon. Is it that difficult?

Penang has everything...

- The seaside
- The hills
- A port
- The history and a multi racial culture
- The immensely good food
- The friendly local people, the expatriate community and good weather
- (what else do you want??)

It is a tourist magnet and a metropolitan city waiting to be born . Yet his predecessors have failed ...

Penang should think small to grow big says SOO EWE JIN

I say this...

Mr Lim, you really do not have to do much

1. Don't play politics
2. Keep Penang clean
3. Give us first class good roads.
4. Upkeep Penang properly (please strictly control MPPP/MPSP)
5. Give us good security (more traffic police and cops on the roads please)

And Penang will do the rest. You can't fail... unless you want to.

P/S: Don't worry too much about sore losers

Who's In and Who's Out in UMNO

You know how some things never change in this country

Who Is In?


Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak)

Why?

He managed to infuriate almost every one in Parliament and insult every other intelligent being on this planet.


Who Is Out?


Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (Former Law Minister)

Why?

He attended an opposition party's dinner function

Or is it because of this letter to our PM?

-Quote
"I believe the people of this country are mature and intelligent enough to distinguish actions that constitute a ‘real’ threat to the country from those that threaten political interests. Malaysians have come know that the ISA is used against political opponents and, it would seem, when the leadership is under challenge either from within the ruling party or from external elements."
-Unquote

Now you know how "very matured" and "developed" nation we have become!

Razak Baginda turns spokesman for Najib

"He will make a good PM"

After being released recently Abdul Razak Baginda is now a spokesman for soon-to-be PM Najib Tun Razak. Declaring that he has been friends all this while with Najib, Abdula Razak says that Najib has never met murdered Mongolian model Altantuya whom Abdul Razak was put in jail for. It just goes to show how important whom your friends are in this country or is it because they share the same Razak in their names??



Time to fly off to Britain and lay low for some time.

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RPK to continue his good work of nation building

Unfazed after being unjustly imprisoned RPK vows to continue his fight

On Friday, High Court judge Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad freed Raja Petra after finding that his two-year detention order under the ISA was unlawful.



When asked if the police had informed him why he was detained, Raja Petra replied they told him it was because he had insulted Islam through an article which demeaned Prophet Muhammad and also because of another article entitled “Let’s send Altantuya’s murderer to hell.”

“The strange thing is, I am already being charged under the Sedition Act for the article on Altantuya, but I was also detained under the ISA for writing it.

“Do they want to charge me or do they want to detain me. I don’t understand.”

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Guinness World Record For Most Corruption Reports Submitted (Malaysia Boleh!)

UMNO looks set to enter the Guinness World Record Books For Most Corruption Cases Reported
PUTRAJAYA: The Umno disciplinary board has been asked to speed up its investigations into the 900 complaints of money politics it has received so that those found guilty would not be able to contest in the party polls next March.


Yeah! We have 900 complaints now!

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said this was decided in a recent meeting between himself, disciplinary board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen and party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“The President stressed to us that if possible, we should speed up the probes into these cases so that those found guilty of indulging in money politics would not be able to contest.

“Those who have been elected into their posts will have to step down or acquisce with the disciplinary board’s findings and directives,” he said, adding that the board was also working together with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) on investigation into complaints of money politics received during the party’s division meetings.

In the last party polls, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad, the former Federal Territories Minister, had contested and won a vice-president post before being subsequently found guilty of money politics by the board. He was stripped of all his party posts.

Tengku Adnan was commenting on a statement by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that more than 900 complaints had been received so far.

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JR: Maybe they can also enter Ripley's Believe It Or Not?

Ramon Navaratnam: UMNO's money politics will ruin the nation

Abdullah Badawi: Bribery in UMNO out of control

Teresa Kok released!

Our prayers for Teresa have been answered! Malaysia's "security threat" Teresa Kok has been released unconditionally by the police.



“I do not know why I was released today, just as I do not know why I was detained.”

Related:
UMNO supreme council says PM Abdullah is an embarassment and should quit by Oct 9

Karpal to sue Utusan Malaysia for RM10 million

Teresa Kok to sue Utusan and Government too

A Trying Time For Bloggers

It is so easy to blame your problems on someone else

First it was RPK, now they have gone after Kickdefella

Bloggers, I hope this Pet Shop Boys song will provide some inspiration to all:



The Patsy Kensit version:



Latest: Bursa Malaysia experiences highest 1-day loss