The Real Solution To The Telco Prepaid 6% Tax Problem

I have been observing the media reports, from msm news items, blog postings, even radio interviews of prepaid mobile customers about this issue. The thing that concerns me about this issue is that the telcos seem to have succeeded in playing the innocent corporate citizens here...

For me, the 6% increase in prepaid rates is just a scheme for telcos to increase profits from existing customers. They are already paying the 6% tax off existing sales, but since the prepaid business in Malaysia is so cut-throat competitive, the margin of profitability has probably become too slim to be sustainable. Sure enough, it is understood that Digi is the telco that has been pushing this hard, and it should come as no surprise that prepaid is its largest revenue stream!

OK, if the price of prepaid is now so low that telcos do not find it sufficiently profitable to stay in the prepaid business, what should it do? The natural options to me would be to:

1. Raise the price. Ah, but this is not an easy solution to make. A price rise may result in better unit profitability, but the loss in market share, especially with removal of non-price barriers like the ability to swap the same number between services, may be too painfull.


2. Cut the cost. May be a little harder to do even than raising the price. With each additional new technology on offer, the cost of delivery to customers increase. And some costs that appear easy to cut have real medium to long term implications. e.g. cutting promotions budget means reduced market share or slowing of growth whilst cutting training, a firm favourite among Finance and HR managers, will lead to reduced staff competency...


3. Leave the business... ya lah, dah not profitable enough to be sustainable, tutup kedai la, what else!

However, the telcos as an industry have actually decided to go for option 1 above, only newly improved with some spinning! Also, to ensure a successful outcome of option without the penalty of loss of market share, they have chosen to do it collectively, together, like a cartel - something illegal in many developed countries and soon to be illegal in Malaysia come January 2012!

On the spin, instead of saying they are increasing the price to make more profits, they decided to 'pass on the 6% tax' to the customers. Pass on the 6% tax? What nonsense! Such a statement only makes sense if prepaid mobile charges are subsidised, but they are not! Telcos are already make a profit after paying the 6% tax. All this talk of telcos 'absorbing the taxes' so far is a load of nonsense! Customers are paying the taxes already via the current prices...

So all this talk of 'passing on' the 6% tax is just spin that sounds better than telcos saying, we will increase prices by 6%! In fact, it even helps avoid clever customers, or worse still, bloggers, from sitting down and calculating how much % profitability telcos will gain from increasing prepaid prices by 6%! 'Passing on' taxes my foot, it is the dishonesty to customers that really gets me about this spin!

Then, the telcos choose to perform the increase collectively, like a cartel! Such activities are 'anti-competitive' or rather, against consumer interests! The last time I looked, the telco industry is not heavily regulated for price, hence the myriad offers in the marketplace, which is good for consumer choice. Such collective behaviour in an industry, even among a few major players, would be criminal in more developed economies.

In fact, if the telcos chose to do this early next year, they would be subject to criminal action under Malaysia's own anti-competition laws, due to be debated and ratified by Parliament in December, with the enforcement under the purview of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC). Interestingly, the MDTCC Minister, DS Ismail Sabri, has already shown himself to be not only competent, but determined to champion consumer choice!

Could the telcos be moving now due to the threat of the coming anti-competition law curtailing such actions by early next year? If so, this 'passing on of taxes' disguising a 6% price increase collectively moved by the industry in criminally insidious! In fact, perhaps some of the telcos with foreign ownerships, such as Digi or even Celcom Axiata should worry about anti-competition laws being brought against them in other countries! It can be done!

Locally, such behaviour by the industry should not be tolerated. Perhaps the MDTCC should consider tabling the new anti-competition act to be retrospective in application for at least 6 months! this should help curtail further corporate evils of this sort against the rakyat!

Mat Sabu: Icon Of Corruption, Pakatan Rakyat Government Style...

There has been much talk of Mohamad 'Mat' Sabu's poor behaviour of late. As a person who has known of Mat Sabu's various inconsistencies over the years, I am actually a little surprised that there has been such shock regarding this behaviour. Perhaps it is time to scrutinise this 'new' icon of Pakatan rakyat politics... and this is where long time PAS members may feel uncomfortable, as to me, the present Mat Sabu is a creature born of Pakatan, not PAS ideals...

Let us do a broad sweep of Mat Sabu's various inconsistencies...

1. Mat Sabu the leader of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Sunnah) is a fan of the Syiah revolutionary politics of the Ayatollahs


2. Mat Sabu, the first national political leader of any party to imply DS Anwar Ibrahim had bisexual tendencies by calling him Anwar 'Al-Juburi' or Anwar 'of the arse' has since declared his devotion to Anwar as 'his' leader and 'friend' from since the 1970's.


3. Mat Sabu, the famous PAS leader was acquitted from the religious crime of being in 'close proximity' (khalwat) by the Kelantan Syariah court but later married the woman he was caught and accused committing khalwat with when she was soon divorced by her husband after the incident.


4. Mat Sabu, once so called champion of the people in the Kuala Kedah constituency when he was MP for the 1999-2004 term of Parliament, is now happily acting as Lim Guan Eng's agent to stop any attempt by Kedah state to apply water tariffs to its supply to Penang as an appointed member of the Penang Water Board.


5. Mat Sabu happily condemns the PAS government of Kedah and Kelantan of various misconduct but is silent of the management of DAP's Penang and PKR's selangor led governments but forgets that people know he is a beneficiary of salaries from both Penang and Selangor state agencies... all to do with Water.

Effectively, Mat Sabu is a new kind of Icon of Corruption that is being born by the Pakatan government. A creature that is salaried by PAS' coalition partners to keep PAS in line or rather in 'harmony' with the principles of its partners. Mat Sabu only ever became a contender to PAS Deputy Presidency in the Pakatan environment. PAS would have preferred a more learned man before, but PAS in Pakatan knows to win, they must have a Pakatan man for a leader.

In this regard, Mat Sabu is an ideal Pakatan man. He can be bought with salaried positions in Penang or Selangor state agencies. He is not a good Muslim, though is such a fiery speaker that PAS can't bear to part with him. His principles appear to be for sale, and if he is willing to embrace Iranian Shiite Revolutionary success due to its success, little wonder then that he could forgive Anwar 'Al-Juburi' for his preference if it will gain him power!

Little wonder then also that Mat Sabu would forget he was supposed to be not just a Muslim, but a Muslim leader, when he declared communist murderers to be fathers of our Merdeka.

The problem for PAS now is that, it is clearly now no longer a party of Islamic ideals, as its members appear willing to favour an inconsistent leader that is in the pocket of its coalition partners, just so they can please some coalition partners in pursuit of power. Mat Sabu hence now stands tall in the age of new PAS, a PAS led by Pakatan leaders, leaders of compromise for the sake of power, Mat Sabu... Icon of Corruption... Pakatn style...

The Merdeka That Never Was?

Last Wednesday was the 54th anniversary of our independece. One was expecting much fanfare as in previous years, but was grossly disappointed. It would seem the 2nd day of Hari Raya was of greater significance to MALAYSIANS, not saying Muslim Malaysians here but MALAYSIANS, as even the customary flurry of flags was absent or near enough as along the streets, skyline and even screens this year.

Read what you will of this phenomena, but I find it sad that a day for celebrating the birth of our nation was so easily forgotten due to a holiday, the second day of which even has little religious significance at that...; Muslims can even fast on the 2nd day of Syawal, the month after Ramadhan, as opposed to being forbidden to toil in celebration of the end of Ramadhan the day before. And even if the Muslims were busy, where was the fanfare by non-Muslim Malaysians?

Of course, the week long holiday these days is not enjoyed just by Muslims but also non-Muslims alike - note the traffic jams offering Muslim and non-Muslim driven cars especially to local tourist destinations! However, no reason for us to neglect our Merdeka day I think! In this regard, we fail still as a nation to exhibit our maturity through celebrating key parts of our nationhood as a nation should and must. Are we not Malaysians then after all?

In response to this need to 'fill the vacuum', MAYC Perak with support from my team at MAYC Kebangsaan and Perak state agencies will be holding a Merdeka Poetry Event at Menara Condong or the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan on the evening of 10 September 2011. All are welcomed to join us and with much support and effort, may we attempt to inflame anew the spirit of Merdeka within us all, and with luck, inspiring along the rest of Malaysia as well...

Lessons Of Ramadhan Often Soon Forgotten

Friends and Readers all, please reminded of the pitfalls of the post-Ramadhan period, especially how one forgets some key lessons, such as:

1. Eat to stay alive, not be Alive for by Eating! (This is probably a cautions to this still 100+ kg mass blogger most of all...)



2. Make time to worship Allah, not worship Him when you have the time!



3. Orphans do not stop being orphans after Ramadhan or even after Syawal. They remain orphans and in need in other months of the year too!



4. It is more important to keep the compulsory prayers 5 times a day, all year around than to have completed your 20+ rakaat of Tarawikh a night throughout Ramadhan! Tarwikh are BONUS POINTS, the Fardhu prayers are compulsory to pass...



5. You can continue fasting after Ramadhan if you want. If you want... why diet, just fast!



6. An addition to 1.: Just because the 5 houses you are visiting have 5 dishes of which 50% overlap, does not mean you have to sample every dish to compare, to enjoy, or to 'be polite'! OK, there is the be polite thing, but why not pick a couple of stuff not overlapping each time for a start... even if you miss some, there is always tomorrow!



7. An addition to 2.: No, rushing to balik kampung or even running between relatives' houses are not grounds for completely missing prayers!



8. Muslims may believe that Satan is chained up in Ramadhan, hence all evil done then reflects the true nature of the man, but... Muslims can't blame Satan or use him as an excuse for all the evil they do outside of Ramadhan!

Just some thoughts I thought worthy of sharing as we celebrate...

SELAMAT HARI RAYA
MAAF ZAHIR BATIN

Reflections At The End Of Ramadhan

Ramadhan ends this year with this blogger feeling much regret. This is in stark contrast to last year's Ramadhan where there seemed much hope. Maybe one has matured enough over a year to realise certain truths which were once too clouded by optimism. Whatever the reason(s) may be, the end of Ramadhan seems to be a better time to set down aspirations for the coming year... so...

In the coming year, much activity among SoPo bloggers will be focused on the build-up to PRU13. Some may wonder whether this is not already the case, but I can confirm it is not. Whilst many of the SoPo community held the belief that PRU13 would be held late this year, with the date 11.11.11 looming large, the more significant participants have always found grounds for an early elections rather weak... and DS Najib Tun Razak has shown he is far from a fool...

Recent intelligence indicate that PRU13 may well be held much later than the second favourite estimated date of March 2012. Nevertheless, the timing for full focus towards PRU13 build-up is now. So this blogger has to decide, of the myriad activities in hand, be it blogging, MAYC, politicking via UMNO and its NGOs, what should be the focus of activities besides continuing to build on a promising career and matters of family?

Well, since the status of MAYC is much in limbo due variously to the ineptitude, corruption and cowardice of those that should be addressing the issue, we are pretty much now running on 'automatic', developing our programs. Time spent at MAYC will hence not be all consuming. Politicking via UMNO and its NGOs have become and increasing waste of time... there is much talk but little product...

So one returns to blogging of one of the most rewarding activities I have embarked in over the last 10-15 years - originally due to my lack of physical presence in Malaysia, but now it seems as platform, blogging remains the most free for one to achieve in one's own terms. But the focus should be of more interest of course. One feels a need to return to the original Tangents where there was more study and philisophy...

Of course, there will still be passion in these pages...

Anyway, SELAMAT HARI RAYA TO ALL!

Reducing Cost Of Living Without Subsidies

I was pleased to hear today of the government's intention to expand the Kedai 1Malaysia chain when announcing the opening of a 3rd outlet in Pantai Dalam. The most recent opening should answer the challenge of detractors on whether such a chain is just a publicity stunt or gymic by the government or whether the attempt is a genuine effort to allow the rakyat to purchase necessities at a more affordable price.

What further impressed me with this initiative is that it is another indication of the government's serious effort to move away from having subsidies as a key component of the country's economic make-up. How so? With the Kedai 1Malaysia, given a sufficient number of stores in time such as it has pricing strength, the government will be able to influence a downward movement of the price of necessities, not through subsidies but direct pricing in the market!

Some of the theory of the above will require further elaboration of course, but for now, I would say the government is not simply determined but is actively pursuing a policy of pro-active substitution of subsidies with mechanisms to achieve the same aims; i.e. rather than keeping the cost of necessities like sugar and rice low by subsidies or direct price controls, using market mechanisms such as alternative competitive offerings to the market via the Kedai 1Malaysia.

What's particularly attractive about these non-subsidies mechanisms are that they are less distortionary and less open to abuse! For instance, the subsidies recently rescinded for certain industries, such as the deep-sea fishing sector, for the purchase of diesel, was always open to allegations of abuse, such as diesel smuggling. Allegations seemingly supported by how fish prices continue to rise despite these wealthy big-boated 'fishermen' being subsidised.

One can also reflect on how whilst price controls kept sugar prices low for many decades, it also enriched many who built monopolies around sugar and other controlled goods. A rich example would be Tan Sri Robert Kuok and his family empire, as he was dubbed the 'Sugar-King' for good reason, he made a sizable fortune from dominating the subsidised sugar business in Malaysia! It is also no mystery now then why he is no longer in the sugar business in Malaysia.

TS Robert, being a shrewd businessman, probably saw the need to remove sugar subsidies well before the good Minister of Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives, DS Ismail Sabri, successfully suppressed the once large subsidies handed out to sugar producers in Malaysia! I imagine the P&L* of all those in the Sugar business was of great interest to the Minister! And now from that success, DS Ismail is moving on to other successes.

Malaysians having been living in the honey-pot of a subsidy-nation may be a little too addicted to subsidies, but perhaps they would feel less angry about subsidies removal if they realised how many people have become filthy rich in Malaysia on the back of such subsidies. It makes one question, who really does benefit from subsidies? At least in the case of Mydin, who run the Kedai 1Malaysia, they may benefit from the program, but the rakyat don't pay for it!

*P&L - Profit & Loss Account

How Is Ayah?

Last Friday, I received a call from my father-in-law. He was asking about how Ayah was doing and was moved to do so as many of his friends had been asking him at the mosque after prayers. Worse still, some of Ayah's friends were asking and complaining that they couldn't get an update even from this blog!

Truth be told, Ayah sprung a surprise on me last Wednesday when he did not tell us he was being discharged from the hospital that day. For my siblings, news on this spread fast enough, but as I was occupied with work and the MAYC Buka Puasa event with Tun Dr Mahathir, I only just got to know from Ayah's friends among the MAYC Veterans who had tried to see him at the hospital in the afternoon only to find that he had checked out!

So, to all who have been following this blog for news of Ayah's progress, my humblest apologies. For your information, Ayah has been discharged from SJMC and is convalescing at home. He still needs much rest, and advice not just from his doctors, but THE Doctor, Tun Dr Mahathir, who reminded me as such on the same Wednesday Ayah was discharged. Those who wish to visit may sms his mobile (probably being sentried by my Nyanyak) or contact me.

I also would like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated Doctors and staff at SJMC, or now known as Sime Darby Medical Centre at Subang Jaya for their tireless effort for which Allah S.W.T. has seen fit for us to have a further time extension to spend with Ayah. I reserve special mention for Dato' Setia Dr Anuar Masduki whose dedication, wisdom and sheer persistence dragged Ayah from edge of the abyss when those of us who knew suspected all may be lost...

As a family, we are ever grateful to Datuk Dr Anwar, his collegues and the staff of SJMC and thank them for their continued patience in managing the non-ideality presented by my Ayah's treatment and our family's managing of the situation.

Finally, thank you also to family, from Jakarta, Acheh, Subang Jaya and Yan, Ayah's friends spanning from Sweden, Medan, Port Dickson, Langkawi, Gombak to the Middle East, friends of us siblings, as well as total strangers who remembered Ayah's deeds well enough to gift him with at least the Doa so Allah S.W.T. may consider us worthy of having Ayah for a little more time. Your real and spiritual support, especially for those who came to be with us, we hold dear.

Some mention is due also to friends in both traditional and new media for carrying the news we wished carried... for the most part! We know it was not all ideal and forgive any minor failings due to the good that your efforts have brought outweighing the bad.

As to what happens now, we will be seeking further advice from Dato' Dr Anwar when Ayah has healed sufficiently. The rest will be in Allah's hands...

Ayah No Longer Under Critical Care As Ramadhan Begins

I received the wonderful news yesterday that Ayah has recovered enough that he no longer needs to be under critical care. However, he still needs much rest, hence, guests will still need to be patient when visiting as my Nyak will not likely allow more than a couple of guests in at a time and only over short periods when Ayah is not resting. Ayah not only has to rest to his Doctors' orders but to Tun Dr M's advice.

Ramadhan is upon it and it is our sincere hope that Ayah regains his full strength within this holy month, as it will allow us also to enjoy Hari Raya celebrating his health as well as the conclusion of our obligations to fast, give alms and perform other good works. Ramadhan also provides me with the opportunity to really reduce my weight and hopefully avoid the troubles Ayah has been facing, or at least delay its onset...

I am in Sandakan today working, in Kuching tomorrow and will fly into more meetings in KL on Thursday, all events on these 3 days ending in a Majlis Berbuka Puasa! It will be a challenge not to stuff myself at buka puasa, but a worthy challenge I'm sure you'll agree. So Selamat Berpuasa to all Muslims out there and remember what Ramadhan is all about please when confronted by the buffet table...

Another First For Tun Dr Mahathir: The First Visitor Ayah Could Speak To!

Ayah's situation alhamdulillah improved significantly enough this late morning for the respirator tube to be removed. His situation still keeps him under critical care, but for once he has just an oxygen mask and far fewer drugs keeping him stable.

Nyak and I were just waiting to return to his bedside when who was to appear other than Tun Dr Mahathir himself! Fortunately also, Ayah was still wide awake when Tun arrived, hence allowing Tun the opportunity to be the first of Ayah's visitors able to converse with him since the procedure. The exchange was short, but we are grateful for the visit as Tun has advised REST as the ultimate cure. The effect of the visit has also been positive for Ayah's morale we think.

Unfortunately, my obesity was an item of discussion... for good reason... and which I endured nor just in good grace but happiness...

Ayah Kembali Berkomunikasi

Alhamdulillah, jurublog dapat berkomunikasi dengan Ayah buat kali pertama menjelang Maghrib sebentar tadi. Oleh kerana mulutnya masih penuh dengan saluran pernafasan, beliau hanya mampu menulis beberapa perkataan di atas kertas untuk meminta sesuatu, bertanya atau meluahkan perasaan. Antara lain, beliau bertanyakan khabar blog ini.

Insya'Allah, ini petanda beliau semakin pulih, namun Dr masih mahukan beliau diberi perhatian terperinci barang 1-2 malam lagi.

Demam Ayah Reda Sedikit, Terima Kasih Atas Doa

Semalam jurublog mengambil keputusan untuk ke Melaka bagi menyertai mesyuarat kerja pada sebelah petang. Ini memandangkan Ayah masih belum stabil, walaupun tekanan darahnya tanpa bantuan ubat tinggi sedikit dari hari sebelumnya; beliau masih memerlukan ubat-ubatan untuk kekal pada tahap yang dikira 'normal'. Saya agak yakin Ayah semakin lega, sekaligus tak mungkin cukup stabil untuk diberi rawatan lanjutan oleh Doktornya semalam.

Sekembali dari Melaka, jurublog mendapat berita baik yang secara peribadi menimbulkan rasa kecewa atas keputusan untuk kembali bertugas. Pertama sekali, jurublog kembali ke KL agak lewat dan terlepas dari menyertai acara doa selamat bagi Ayah yang diatur adik-adik, disertai oleh ramai keluarga dan sahabat akrab Ayah. Kedua, saya terlepas juga peluang melihat sendiri kedudukan Ayah yang semakin pulih di hospital.

Ayah pulih sedikit menjelang lewat petang semalam, tetapi masih dalam keadaan kritikal. Demamnya alhamdulillah sudah surut dan beliau buat kali pertama dapat berkomunikasi sepatah dua secara bertulis (beliau tak boleh bersuara kerana kerongkongnya dipenuhi tiub oksigen ke paru-paru) dengan Nyak (panggilan ibu jurublog) sebelum terlena kembali hasil lalian ubat. Pulihnya mungkin sedikit, tetapi kami bersyukur setidak-tidaknya keadaan beliau tidak semakin buruk.

Ayah, TS Sanusi Junid, masih memerlukan kiriman doa semua yang sudi memohon kurnia Allah swt untuk memulihkan kesihatan beliau. Semalam, keluarga dari Indonesia semakin ramai sampai dan semakin ramai kunjungan di terima di hospital, walaupun kebanyakan penunjung kecewa kerana tidak dapat masuk menjenguk Ayah. Namun kami berterima-kasih dan memohon semua untuk setidak-tidaknya mengirim doa sahaja. Wallahualam...

Pengasas ABIM Masih Dalam Keadaan Kritikal - ABIM Founder Still In Critical State

Pada tahun 1971, seorang anak Melayu yang ingin berdakwah telah mendapati dirinya serta kawan-kawan berpendidikan bukan 'pondok' amnya ditolak oleh para tokoh agama yang lazimnya kelahiran sistem 'pondok' dari terlibat dalam memimpin aktiviti keagamaan. Atas niat murni mewujudkan 'platform' untuk berdakwah bagi anak-anak muda Melayu, terutama lepasan jurusan universiti yang bukan berbentuk keagamaan, ADAM telah dicadangkan.

ADAM, atau Angkatan DAkwah Malaysia, dibiayai penuh penubuhannya oleh anak Melayu demikian, yang pada masa tersebut merupakan antara pegawai bank tertinggi jawatannya di kalangan rakyat Malaysia, seorang insan bernama Sanusi bin Junid. Namun nama ADAM telah dipohon pertukaran namanya oleh seorang ahli barunya untuk membolehkannya terlibat dengan aktiviti belia berpersatuan. Maka ADAM bertukar nama kepada ABIM, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia.

Dari awal penubuhannya, TS Sanusi telah mengusahakan agar ABIM mekar subur sebagai sebuah NGO ulung, walau membelakangi dirinya sebagai pengasas. Maka, walaupun ABIM ditubuhkan dan didaftarkan pada alamat rumah beliau di No.3, Lorong Batai Dalam, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, TS Sanusi telah memilih seorang tokoh agama muda yang lebih unggul untuk menerajui ABIM sebagai Presidennya yang pertama, yakni (Prof Dr) Ghazali Nawawi.

Jasa awal TS Sanusi sebagai Pengasas dan Naib Presiden ABIM pertama kini masih dikenang oleh para pemimpin veteran ABIM yang masih ikhlas memikul perjuangan asalnya, termasuklah Profesor Datuk Dr Sidek Baba, dan juga para pemimpinnya yang lebih muda tetapi tak kurang unggulnya, seperti pemimpin kes membantah pendaftaran Lina Joy, Dr Yusri Mohamad. Pada kumpulan inilah kesedihan kini melanda mendengarkan keadaan kesihatan TS Sanusi.

Buat pengetahuan pembaca, Ayah jurublog, yakni TS Sanusi Junid, walaupun kini semakin pulih statistik kesihatannya, seperti tekanan darahnya, di bawah pemantauan Dr-Drnya, namun masih dalam keadaan yang merisaukan, apatah lagi apabila suhu badan beliau kelihatan melonjak ke paras demam pada akhir siang semalam. Namun kita hanya mampu berdoa ke hadrat Ilahi agar memanjangkan umur TS Sanusi agar jasanya bertambah dan terus dihargai.

Dengan ini, kaum keluarga besar TS Sanusi memohon semua yang sudi untuk mengambil kesempatan barakah hari Jumaat ini untuk mendoakan kesihatan beliau. Sumbangan semua yang sudi amatlah dihargai.

It is among the sources of greatest pain to Ayah I am sure, though it has always remained relatively well hidden, that he, TS Sanusi Junid, was never formally acknowledged as the THE founder of ABIM by the organisation itself. It would seem that in the drive to project DS Anwar Ibrahim as a great leader, many even of the original cohort are happy to commit the sin of bearing false witness that it is supposedly Anwar Ibrahim who founded ABIM!

Unfortunately for nay-sayers of TS Sanusi's involvement in ABIM, there is too much historical documentation that backs the truth. For instance, the articles of formation of ABIM clearly states TS Sanusi as the founding Vice President, with ABIM registered at his home address! Anwar Ibrahim's name as a key office bearer was conspicuously absent! This was as Anwar was leading the Muslim Students' NGO, PKPIM, and chasing the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) too!

There is no denying that DS Anwar was the source of the name ABIM, proposed to replace the original name ADAM to enable him to use ABIM as a vehicle to remain active in Youth politics after his departure from university. But therein one sees Anwar's involvement was always laced in self interest. Perhaps this is why many ABIM activists from the earliest days, such as Prof. Datuk Dr Sidek Baba, has since abandoned DS Anwar for their original leader, TS Sanusi Junid.

It is to these sincere campaigners of Islam as well as many other friends and those touch by TS Sanusi Junid's deeds that his family now turns to for assistance in the form of doa on this Friday. May your good words beseeching Allah swt to grant my Ayah more time on this earth to continue contributing his wisdom, time and energy, results in Allah swt granting us such a pleasure. With all sincerity.

Doa Untuk Ayah, A Prayer For Ayah

Ayah jurublog malam tadi telah dikejarkan ke hospital dan selesai periksa, terus melalui rawatan emergency angioplasti. Beliau kini masih berada dalam keadaan kritikal sementara dibiarkan berehat seketika sebelum doktor meneruskan rawatan. Kami sekeluarga kini tak putus berdoa sementara menanti usaha terkini para doktor Ayah. Sudilah para pembaca mendoakan semoga Allah dapat mengurniakan lagi umur masa Ayah bersama kami ...

Kata akhir Ayah sebelum masuk ke bilik rawatan merupakan teguran kepada saya dan adik-adik lelaki untuk menurunkan berat badan demi mengelak dari terjebak dalam perangkap sakit jantung yang sama menghadapinya sekarang ...

Please lend a prayer all who may dein to so as Allah may allow us some more time with Ayah. He is critically ill, his heart ...

Mass: ~105kg

Winners And Losers Of Bersih 2.0 As Well As A (Local) Hidden Hand...

Claims and counter-claims abound about who are the winners or losers coming out the Bersih 2.0 demos on Saturday. Here are my opinions:

The People of KL: BIGGEST LOSERS! The demo disrupted KL life such that the demonstrators, not the police, are being blamed, unlike for Bersih 1.0! I have heard from people as varied as Shiela Majid (on twitter) and my son's elderly Chinese Chess coach express their disappointment at the so called 'leaders' disrupting and disturbing people's lives. What more the brides and grooms as well as other for which the day should have been memorable for better reasons!

The People of Malaysia: Losers, but not too big me-thinks. The biggest concern would have been if this led to loss of investor confidence, etc. But considering how relatively tame the demos were and the relatively balanced coverage by the international media, such as by the BBC, as well as many people having visited Malaysia over the years, knowing much of this is just opposition political propaganda, the damage I believe has been relatively limited.

Bersih 2.0: Losers, but not too big either as they seem to be feeling good about themselves! Quote delusional this, as they were talking about getting 500,000 to demo, ended up having to claim only a 10% turnout of 50,000, whilst even independent analysts can only confirm an attendance of 10,000! Actually, quite a pathetic performance considering Dato' Ambiga's and Pakatan Rakyat's previous claims.

Perkasa (& known Allied NGOs): BIG WINNERS! They did not turn up in the end, hence will be taking the credit for being respectful to the Agong, to the police, the authorities, as well as concerned with the impact on the city's people! And sure enough, Dato' Ibrahim Ali has wasted no time seizing the moral high ground by criticising Bersih 2.0, especially Dato' Ambiga!

Patriot (or KJ's gang cum 'Pemuda UMNO'): Indifferent. No one really knows what they were trying to do, maybe just piggy-back ride on Perkasa's crowd? In the end, their smaller numbers were quite insignificant, and still had to suffer being water-cannoned by the police! KJ was lauded by some UMNO reps at the gathering at PWTC yesterday, but they were following a cue, and Patriot remains an organisation in a limbo legally that has achieved... nothing!

DS Anwar Ibrahim: Loser. This was probably going to be DS Anwar's swansong as demos go, as he is likely to spend a long time in prison due to Saiful. Surely he must be disappointed that he did not manage to lead a massive enough procession, so much so that news of him falling and needing the hospital was about the best coverage he could achieve... pathetic! At least no one pointed out Bersih 2.0's poor turnout is proof the DS Anwar did nothing but Hijack Bersih 1.0!

The Police: Indifferent. Actually, the police managed the situation quite well. However, I find it hard to see people agreeing to the use of any force such as water-cannons etc on demonstrators. However, the people are so annoyed by Bersih 2.0, they would probably have some respect towards the Police for doing their job that day and keeping their peace.

DS Najib: Marginal Winner. I actually had DS Najib down as Loser or Indifferent until I saw photos of his Walkabout around KL on Sunday. That was EXCELLENT! May not have addressed all the questions of the management of Bersih 2.0 over the weeks or indeed the stadium alternative debacle, for which he cannot shoulder all the blame, but the Walkabout was in welcome contrast to the life-disrupting Bersih 2.0 activity.

So, what was the point of the Bersih 2.0 demo on Saturday? That is a rhetorical question which answer is... IT WAS FOR NOTHING! There is much that the people of KL has suffered from Dr Ambiga and her Pakatan friends, but enough for many KL-ites to return to BN if PRU-13 was tomorrow? Maybe not, but DS Anwar and his allies did not gain much, but lost some on Saturday, 9 July, 2011.

On the Hidden Hand... many conspiracy stories have been flying around about 'foreign influence' upon Ambiga and her Bersih 2.0 leadership. However, it may be of interest to many that by far the biggest contributor to Dato' Ambiga's Bersih 2.0's so called 'success', with advice, influence though perhaps less money, is a LOCAL! A PROMINENT LOCAL! ONE WHO IS CLOSE TO BN's LEADERSHIP AND CAN SEE THE AGONG! But who is this 'Dalang'...

Betulkah Saya Kata Bersih 2.0 Bengong?

Memandangkan kenyataan pendapat saya sebagai Presiden MAYC mengenai perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 yang diwartakan Bernama nampaknya diguna-pakai oleh ramai pihak, termasuklah Malaysiakini, rasanya ada baiknya saya membetulkan sedikit yakni berkenaan penggunaan perkataan 'Bengong'.

Sebenarnya, yang saya sebutkan dalam temuramah menerusi telefon adalah yang Belia akan Bingung akibat berlangsungnya perhimpunan Bersih 2.0, apatah lagi sekiranya seronok menyertainya. Saya tidak mengatakan Belia akan Bengong kalau turut serta... ya lah, kan menjawab soalan Bernama, takkanlah saya nak guna perkataan Bengong!

Yang menariknya, Malaysiakini pula menyalah-tafsir sama termasuklah konteks penggunaan perkataan Bengong yang kononnya digunakan oleh saya. Ia mewartakan yang saya menyifatkan mereka yang bakal menyertai perhimpunan haram sedemikian sebagai Bengong. Ini juga tidak betul, saya tidak menyifatkan mereka yang bakal menurut serta Bengong, hanya mungkin sekadar Bingung.

Tetapi kalaulah ada yang mewartakan yang saya merasakan penganjur Bersih 2.0 sebagai Bengong, walaupun saya tidak menyatakan sedemikian kepada Bernama, namun ia merupakan laporan yang tepat! Pada saya, memang Bengong (fools) yang menganjur Bersih 2.0. Apa diorang tak nampakkah apa yang bakal berlaku? Ka sengaja nak berlaku sedemikian?

Walaupun perhimpunan Bersih yang asal di'hijack' oleh DS Anwar Ibrahim, namun niat di sebaliknya merupakan niat murni untuk menyahkan seorang pemimpin yang dipercayai oleh semua yang terlibat, semakin membinasakan kemakmuran dan kesejahteraan rakyat Malaysia, yakni Pak Lah. Bersih yang asal digerakkan oleh begitu ramai tokoh dari setiap pola politik, agama dan bangsa di Malaysia.

Malangnya, Bersih 2.0, jelas tidak mendapat sokongan dari kesemua pihak. Malah, ada yang mengatur perhimpunan anti-Bersih pimpinan Perkasa pun merupakan antara pengelola serta perancang Bersih 1.0. Yang si DS Anwar Ibrahim pula, nak 'hijack' nanti pun lebih bermasalah, sebab KJ pun sibuk juga nak 'hijack' perhimpunan pada 9 July! Lagi Bengong!

Kesimpulannya, saya harap semua aktiviti haram di jalanan pada 9 July tu baik batal sajalah. Buang-buang masa dan duit sahaja! Kalau ada yang mencabar saya kenapa MAYC tidak menyertai setidak-tidaknya perhimpunan anti-Bersih 2.0 bersama NGO lain, saya sedia menjawab, kita di MAYC tidak ada masa, tenaga mahupun kewangan untuk dibazirkan dalam perhimpunan syok sendiri seperti ini.

Lebih baik MAYC memanfaatkan ahli kelab-kelab MAYC dan mahupun golongan Belia amnya dengan program-program yang lebih membina. Di sinilah harus ditumpukan masa, tenaga dan kewangan MAYC, bukan berdemonstrasi jalanan...

Hard Times In Malaysia... Really? Or Just Mass Denial Of A Subsidy Nation?

Bloghouse Malaysia President Syed Akbar Ali has chosen to post and comment on the writting of a so called MCA Head of Research Stanley Koh here. Whilst I have some respect for what was written, I cannot find myself agreeing with either much of Stanley Koh's writting and even some of Syed Akbar's commentary. Why? Because I think the premise is wrong for a nation that is supposed to be maturing. If anything, it seems more as if our nation is going through teen angst!

For instance, for some reason the idea of removing subsidies is so taboo in Malaysia that even when category C2 subsidies are removed from some 'fishermen' in Malaysia, everyone from across political lines are up in arms, seeking justice for the injustice against these 'fishermen'. Many fail to note that the said fishermen are not those doing subsistence fishing, but doing deep sea fishing, with ships and businesses worth millions! These are not poor fishermen!

Some also neglect to examine the following logic. These fishermen are boycotting from doing any fishing due to the subsidy cancellation. If they were poor subsistence fishermen, could they have afforded this? The amount of subsidy for them have nigh doubled this year in order to reduce cost of fishing, but have the price of fish reduced? No? So what is the point of the subsidy? To make these rich fishermen more rich and even at the expense of us consumers?

I am disgusted... and have to go home... more later...

Ayah Better... But Not Out Of The Woods Yet

Firstly, thanks to all the well-wishers and especially those who prayed for Ayah's well-being over the last few weeks. He is fine, the procedure to clear a partially blocked artery to the brain at IJN went well, and he is now resting at home after a brief spell at the hospital. He underwent a vascular-angioplasti, if I am not mistaken, that basically cleared a 75% blockage on the artery - a potential risk for stroke especially as the blockage was 'herniated'.

However, Ayah is not out of the woods yet. Following the procedure, he expressed some surprise that he was still getting tired far too soon, forgetting that he is still due a by-pass or alternative procedure to improve the state of his heart. On a more positive note, Ayah has lost some 10kg since all the drama began last month, testament to Nyak (my mother), seizing back control of his diet I am sure!

As for myself, between Ayah, work, MAYC (Hari Belia!) and other things family, I have not been blogging as much as I would like, and am getting a little annoyed with myself. Still too much nonsense being bandied about as considered opinion I think, but that's for another post. For now, I'd rather pause and post the grateful message, due to Allah's good grace, that Ayah is better, but not quite out of the woods just yet...

One final word... I find with great interest that I may not actually need to do any suing of TS Syed Hamid to vindicate myself, as it would seem TS Syed Hamid's cronies are already being sued for things related to the abuse of power and corruption at MAYC! The Veterans of MAYC, now led by the variously 'notorious' Dato' Nasir Safar, have uncovered quite a lot of evidence of just such corruption! Fun I think to sit back, watch and learn a while as the Veterans get stuck in!

Mass (measured last week): 104kg (ya, ya I know... WORSE!)

Saya Obes... Peringatan Dari Situasi Ayah

Saya Obes. Berat saya pada hari ini 103.3kg, dan memandangkan ketinggian saya lebih kurang sama dengan Melayu lain, maka saya Obes menurut piawaian sains BMI. Saya tidak boleh menyalahkan sesiapa pun tentang keadaan Obes ini melainkan diri sendiri. Memang kita ada masalah lebih dari orang lain, sakit belakang menghindar dari banyak aktiviti sukan, makan banyak sebab aktif ber-NGO, tapi ini hanyalah alasan sebenarnya... saya obes kerana saya.

Situasi kesihatan Ayah sekarang telah dijelaskan oleh Doktor sebagai lebih rumit dari mula-mula disangkakan. Beliau memerlukan 2 rawatan untuk menyelamatkan keadaan, kedua-duanya mencabar, sehinggakan ia harus dilakukan oleh pakar-pakar dari 2 hospital berlainan. Namun Ayah tetap tabah. Pagi tadi beliau lebih berminat menasihatkan saya ke tempat bersenam untuk mengurangkan risiko kesihatan saya akibat Obes.

Ayah juga dahulu pernah Obes, tetapi selesai pertama kali beliau dipanjangkan umur oleh Allah s.w.t. melalui rawatan 'angioplasti', atau menurut kata orang Melayu 'guna belon', beliau obses menurunkan berat badannya hingga boleh dikatakan 'slim'lah juga. Ayah mahu saya menurunkan berat sebelum terjadinya apa-apa kepada saya, terutama sekali agar saya dapat mengelak behana penyakit kencing manis.

Saya sudah pun mula berubat untuk Darah Tinggi dan Kolestrol sekitar 3 tahun lepas. Pada masa mula kena masalah ini, saya 'overweight' tetapi belum Obes lagi. Saya sedang bekerja di Singapura pada masa itu sementara keluarga di Malaysia. Senanglah diri menuduh 'stress' dari kerja sebagai penyebab, tetapi sekarang saya sudah Obes, apakebendanya 'stress' sekarang berbanding hari-hari di Singapura tempohari?

Kembali kepada Ayah, beliau akan memerlukan 2 rawatan, yang pertama insya'Allah akan dilaksanakan dalm tempoh 2 minggu ini, tetapi beliau kemudian harus berehat untuk rawatan kedua menjelang bulan Julai atau Ogos. Mengenal Ayah, beliau pasti akan mencuba mempercepatkan segala rawatan ini, setidak-tidaknya untuk membolehkan beliau berpuasa Ramadhan dan mungkin juga dengan cita-cita untuk berumrah di Mekah lagi di penghujung bulan suci tersebut.

Akhir kata, kalau saya bertanya Ayah, beliau pasti setuju yang saya bukan Obes kerana hidangan yang dijual di kantin sekolah. Ide yang kononnya inilah sebabnya kanak-kanak ke dewasa orang Malaysia semakin ramai Obes adalah ide karut. Bila terkeluar ide kononnya ini boleh diselesaikan dengan sistem bekalan makanan baru untuk kantin-kantin sekolah, tahulah saya yang ini bukan untuk menyelesaikan Obes, tetapi untuk sapu kontrek kantin sekolah kaw-kaw punya!

Kalau diri sendiri Obes, tengoklah cermin untuk menyedari siapa yang bertanggungjawab. Bila anak pun sudah mula nak Obes, sedarlah yang ibu-bapa menyuap atau membekalkan makanan ke anak-anak lebih dari kantin sekolah - duit ke kantin pun ibu-bapa yang bagi? Kalau nak tangani Obes, baik kita kempen jangan bawa anak-anak ke McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut dan lain-lain dari menuduh pengusaha kantin yang tak berdosa.

Saya Obes. Alhamdulillah, anak saya belum Obes. Bagaimana dengan saudara-saudari? Akuilah salah sendiri dan tanganinya sekaligus nyahkan ide-ide karut yang akhirnya tidak menyelamatkan anak-anak malah memperkayakan makhluk 'opportunist' di sekeliling kita...

Berat: 103.3kg

Berita Ayah Dan Usaha Membereskan Urusan

Selain keluarga, kawan-kawan terdekat Ayah pun mungkin baru sahaja mengetahui yang Ayah, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, kini dalam keadaan merisaukan kesihatannya. Kiranya dilawat sekarang, mungkin ada menyedari di sebalik senyum Ayah adalah kepenatan dari berjalan naik-turun tangga rumah sekalipun yang dahulunya tiada. Menurut para doktor, walaupun Ayah 18 tahun muda umurnya dari Tun Dr M, namun jantung Ayah lebih tua 'umur'nya berbanding Tun.

Sewaktu bersarapan tadi, jurublog ditegur Ayah kerana sudah terlalu sedikit menulis. Jurublog juga melihat Ayah sibuk membereskan urusan memandangkan doktor mungkin mengesa beliau ke rumah sakit semula tak lama lagi. Teguran dan inspirasi dari usaha beliau menggerak hati jurublog untuk menulis semula, sekaligus menjawab suatu persoalan terkini tentang MAYC yang dilontarkan kepada Ayah sebagai fitnah yang harus dicuci.

Jurublog telah diberitahu oleh seorang pemimpin veteran bahawa seorang pemimpin Belia MAYC yang didukung oleh TS Syed Hamid dan Tuan Syed Rahman telah menuduh yang Ayah, TS Sanusi, bercita-cita untuk mengaut atau merampas harta MAYC, termasuklah Wisma Belia. Fitnah ini bukan sekadar tidak benar tetapi ternyata dibuahkan oleh seorang pemimpin MAYC yang tidak mengetahui sejarah walaupun mengatakan dirinya 'orang lama'.

Buat pengetahuan, kompleks Wisma Belia terdiri dari 2 bangunan utama yakni Wisma Belia dan Wisma Tunku. Wisma Belia telah dibina hasil titik peluh arwah Tunku Abdullah dan Tun Dr Mahathir apabila menerajui MAYC, tetapi Wisma Tunku terbina hasil usaha TS Sanusi Junid. Malah, modal asal pembinaan Wisma Tunku juga datangnya dari sumbangan ikhlas TS Sanusi ke MAYC! Bagaimana?

Pada awal tahun 70-an, arwah Ibnu Sutowo yang pada masa itu merupakan kepala Pertamina telah memohon bantuan nasihat dari bekas Menteri Kewangan Jerman, Karl Schiller. Herr Schiller telah menghubungkan Ibnu Sutowo dengan bekas muridnya di University of Hamburg, seorang 'banker' dari Malaysia bernama Sanusi Junid. Banker tersebut telah berjaya menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi oleh Ibnu Sutowo, maka telah ditawarkan 'ganjaran' oleh Ibnu Sutowo.

TS Sanusi dari umur muda memang sudah berintegriti orangnya, maka, beliau telah memohon supaya Ibnu Sutowo tidak memberi ganjaran tersebut secara langsung kepada beliau, sebaliknya dihadiahkan ke 2 organisasi kesayangan serta pimpinannya. Maka TS Sanusi telah menyalurkan 30% syer syarikat Tugu Insurance Malaysia - 15% diberikan ke Koperasi Shamelin dan 15% kepada MAYC. TS Sanusi tidak mengambil walau satu sen pun dari ganjaran tersebut.

Beberapa tahun kemudian, MAYC telah ditawarkan untuk menjual 15% syer Tugu Insurance ke sebuah syarikat Bumiputra. Syarikat itulah sekarang merupakan Arab-Malaysian Assurance! Hasil dari penjualan syer Tugu Insurance tersebutlah menjadi modal asas kepada pembinaan Wisma Tunku. Ini adalah hanya satu contoh dari pelbagai sumbangan TS Sanusi untuk menyuburkan kewangan MAYC sewaktu beliau memegang jawatan Presiden Kebangsaan.

Apabila Shamelin membina Taman Shamelin Perkasa, 2 buah lot kedai telah ditawarkan dengan harga berpatutan tanpa rebutan kepada MAYC. Ini masih lagi merupakan sebahagian dari aset MAYC yang membawa hasil. Banyak juga aktiviti perniagaan lain yang digerak maju sehingga apabila hutang MAYC tercabar pada akhir tahun 90-an hasil krisis ekonomi, MAYC mampu menyusun kewangan untuk membayar RM 50 ribu sebulan ke Danaharta untuk menebus hutang.

Jurublog pernah berkali-kali mendengar Tuan Syed Rahman mengatakan seolah-olah beliau dan Tuan Hashim telah menyelamatkan kewangan MAYC dari kononnya hutang-hutang menggunung pada zaman pentadbiran TS Sanusi. Tetapi fitnah Tuan Syed Rahman pula mematikan fitnah pemimpin Belia yang didukunginya, kerana apakah logiknya TS Sanusi merebut harta MAYC sekiranya betul MAYC parah kewangannya seperti diwar-warkan Tuan Syed Rahman?

Logikkah? Mungkinkah seorang pemimpin yang pada umur 30-40-an, menyumbang harta jutaan ringgit ke MAYC seperti TS Sanusi pada akhir hayatnya tiba-tiba rakus ingin merampasnya pula? Kalau terbalik mungkin bolehlah percaya! Fitnah seperti ini sebenarnya terlalu senang ditolak oleh golongan veteran yang tahu akan hal sebenar; bagaimana MAYC parah kewangannya hasil Tuan Syed Rahman & co melanun sejak Mesyuarat Agung MAYC tidak dipanggil lagi.

Namun apabila fitnah jijik mula disebarkan oleh seorang pemimpin Belia yang konon tahu dan dibisikkan ke anak muda Belia yang belum diajar sejarah, maka pembetulan haruslah dijalankan. Orang tua seperti TS Syed Hamid dan Tuan Syed Rahman mungkin faham sudah tiba masanya untuk mereka memohon ampun maaf kepada Ayah atas fitnah dan penghinaan mereka ke atas sejarah kepimpinan beliau. Semoga yang muda pula tidak terus membuta menanam dosa.

Campaign Against Reading Tun Dr M's Memoir

I have had the opportunity to personally interact with Tun Dr Mahathir several times. In each case, I have been left at least a tad wiser, whether it be when he remarked on it feeling better being buffetted by crowds of people seeking to take photos with him than being ignored with no one even giving him a friendly greeting, or when he mildly rebuffed me for asking his opinion of the best heart treatment for my Ayah, declaring that we should trust the doctors in charge.

His Memoirs I have hence found to be a delight, as it reveals to me the history of our country through his generation's eyes and gives perspective over who he was as a leader as well as why he decided the way he did on some matters when in power. It is essential reading for Malaysian opinion-makers, as it provides a basis for understanding how things came about, for better or worse, which in itself should be understood as we strive to improve matters in the post-Mahathir era.

I am hence appalled to hear recently that there are many who oppose the purchase and reading of Tun Dr M's Memoirs! The reasons given also seemed to be rather childish considering the level of education of persons concerned and indeed the roles they play in Malaysian society. The reasons given include:

1. "Why would you want to give Mahathir your money by buying his book?" This is by far the most ridiculous reason for not buying Tun's book. If you don't want to buy, just don't buy. Why worry about whether he makes money from the book?


2. "The book is too expensive!" This is almost as bad as 1. and is used against Malaysians who don't usually buy biographies... or even books!... but would consider buying Mahathir's Memoirs. Let me say that the Memoir is among the cheapest biographies to be found and if the RM100 is still a problem, then SAVE UP or wait for the soft-cover version la.


3. "Mahathir said this in his book, actually wrong, then he said, actually wrong, then this also he wrote not right... ad nauseum!" I actually saw comments like this in Twitter accounts of young PKR politicos. The problem is, the comments came just a couple of hours after the book was launched! I just replied - wow, you read the whole almost 1000 pages already ka can comment so much? There was silence in reply. They just pretended.


4. "Mahathir is old news, no longer relevant. Better buy something on Najib or Anwar." The "better buy Najib" line is smart, making the statement seem reasonable and apolitical. I actually find this argument a little narrow-minded in nature. I suppose the same guys would have people stop reading about Prophet Muhammad pbuh, Buddha or Jesus Christ?

The arguments go on, but in the end, this campaign to stop people reading Tun Dr M's Memoirs are by those who either hate him, oppose his ideas, or worse, fear the truth that he may expose, or further expose about the leaders they themselves idolise... which is why PKR politicos and other Anwaristas tend to be the most anti to the reading of Tun's Memoirs.

Which is ironic, as in the end, those who hate Mahathir and believe they are right to do so should be the ones reading the Memoirs so as to gain more ammunition to attack him no? And in the end, the attempt to stop people reading on Mahathir is futile... his Blog is still well visited, and that is current!