Prayers for all passengers and crews of QZ8501 flight

I'm shocked and speechless. Oh, not again!

Ya Rabbi, permudahkanlah segalanya.

My thoughts for all passengers and crews on the QZ8501 flight, operated by AirAsia Indonesia that has went missing on Sunday morning. Please stay strong.

And my prayers too for all victims affected by the massive floods in West Malaysia.

Semoga Allah perteguhkan semangat semua dan permudahkan segalanya. Aamin.

Al-fatihah buat Dato' Mustapha Ma'arof

Gambar ihsan daripada Zack Zackozerek -abcendol.com

Industri seni tanahair kehilangan seorang lagi anak wayangnya. Mula diperkenalkan menerusi filem Hang Tuah, Dato' Mustapha Ma'arof mula memegang watak utama dalam filem Bawang Putih Bawang Merah.

Dato' Mustapha Azahari Ma'arof, 79 tahun,
telah kembali ke rahmatullah pada pagi ini akibat komplikasi masalah paru-paru.

Semoga Allah mengampunkan arwah dan menempatkan roh beliau di kalangan hamba-hamba yang diredhai-Nya.

Al-fatihah.

Puteri Balqis Aziz wins again!

She won her first best acting by an actress in a leading role last month at Anugerah Skrin 2014, in her excellent performance in a telemovie titled Balqis. Puteri Balqis is so far the youngest Malaysian in to win best actress category after beating big names such as Normah Damanhuri and Nad Zainal.

She made another history last Thursday to emerge as the youngest actress to win best actress award at the 19th Asian Television Awards in Singapore. She beats big names in Asia, including Joan Chen.

Congratulations to Balqis and keep up the good work.

Juara Sulung Piala Pusingan Cikgu Jaafar Abdul Hamid

Pasukan Kaki 3 yang dibarisi oleh Mohd Amin, Mohd Fahmi dan Mohd Raziran

Tahniah diucapkan kepada pasukan Kaki 3 yang telah muncul sebagai Johan di dalam Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Tertutup 2014, setelah menumpaskan pasukan Dedau A. Selain pingat, goodies dan hamper, pasukan ini menjadi pemenang sulung Piala Pusingan Cikgu Jaafar Abdul Hamid.

10 kumpulan belia telah berentap dalam perlawanan kalah mati yang dijalankan pada 7 Disember 2014 di balai raya Kampung Pasir Puteh, Bachang Melaka dan Dewan JAPERUN DUN Bachang. 

Majlis penyampaian hadiah telah disempurnakan oleh Yang Berusaha Encik Sapian Abu Sop, Pengarah JASA Melaka.

Tahniah diucapkan kepada kesemua pasukan yang bertanding dan juga kepada pihak penganjur. Semoga kejohanan ini akan menjadi acara tahunan yang dinantikan oleh para belia di negeri Melaka, in shaa Allah.

Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Tertutup Bachang 2014

Kepada yang lapang dan senang pada hari Ahad ini, jangan lupa untuk datang dan memberik sokongan kepada pasukan-pasukan yang akan berentap untuk menjulang Piala Pusingan Cikgu Jaafar Abdul Hamid.

Kejohanan Sepak Takraw Tertutup Bachang 2014 ini adalah anjuran bersama Belia 4B Pasir Putih dan Pemuda UMNO Cawangan Pasir Puteh, Bachang.

Menurut ketua jawatankuasa penganjur, Encik Hasfizul Hamdan, kejohanan ini terbuka kepada semua belia, terutamanya remaja daripada kampung-kampung di bawah DUN Bachang, tidak kira latar belakang masing-masing.

Jadi... jumpa anda di sana!

Piala Pusingan Cikgu Jaafar Abdul Hamid

Gegar Vaganza

Malam tadi buat pertama kalinya aku menonton rancangan terbaru Astro Ria, Gegar Vaganza. Konsert ketiga itu menampilkan 11 artis (menurut Mak aku ada 12 penyanyi semuanya, di mana Hasnol telah terkeluar pada minggu kedua) yang pernah mewarnai industri seni suara suatu ketika dahulu untuk membuat "comeback".

Rata-rata penyanyi yang mengambil bahagian tiada daya juang yang tinggi. Malah kreativiti yang cuba diketengahkan agar hambar dan ketinggalan zaman. Pendek kata, masing-masing tiada aura yang memukau.

Jangan salah anggap. Kebanyakan mereka masih boleh menyanyi dengan baik, cuma mereka hanya setakat menyanyi. Yang lebih menyedihkan, ada yang terikut-ikut gaya penyanyi asal.

Tiada usaha-usaha improvasi langsung!

Setidak-tidaknya kita mahu "kelahiran semula" seperti mana Tomok lakukan dalam rancangan One In A Million! Daripada seorang penyanyi yang agak nasal kepada penyanyi yang beraura baharu dan segar.

Mungkin format rancangan ini boleh diperkemas dengan memasukkan kerjasama daripada komposer/penerbit yang prolifik untuk membantu penyanyi-penyanyi ini "berkarya".

Pujangga Sri Kijang muncul Juara

Pujangga Sri Kijang bersama Puan Siti Salbiah Dasiyo

Penantian berakhir kira-kira jam 10.30 malam tadi apabila Pujangga Sri Kijang dinobatkan sebagai Juara Pesta Pantun Integriti 2014, dengan mengalahkan pasukan daripada Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta, Suara Anak Bumi 1.

Lebih manis lagi, pemantun kedua daripada pasukan Pujangga Sri Kijang telah diumumkan sebagai Pemantun Terbaik.

Pujangga Sri Kijang diwakili oleh Azuraini Ab Karim, Marina Musa, HB Hamdan dan Fatimah Yahya.

Fuel Subsidy Cut

This is one of the few issues that I disagree with Pakatan Rakyat. I personally think that DIRECT fuel subsidy is not good for the economy in the long run.

The direct fuel subsidy policy distorts prices of so many products and services. Rakyat and the Government may disillutionally think that transport-related costs are cheap when in actual fact, they are not.

First and foremost, we need to agree that someone must pay for the subsidised portion of fuel price. Since the Government intervened the fuel price by lowering it through subsidy, rakyat might think that they pay less on fuels. Actually, the Government pays for it using a portion of its revenue (of course bulk of it from taxes) and deprives rakyat of other benefits such as better education, healthcare and public transport.

In addition, subsidised fuel has moral hazzard to consumers as it might not incentivise them enough to save on fuels. Hence, increase the subsidy to be paid using "duit rakyat". Also, it gives wrong impression to some people that the cost of owning private transport, especially cars is cheap and affordable. 

Nevertheless, the above does not mean I support some of Barisan Nasional policies pertaining to the abolishment of fuel subsidy.

Firstly, I do not think BRIM a viable policy to counter subsidy cut. Although it directly goes to the targeted groups, BRIM handouts do not have impactful spillover effects.

Instead, all savings from subsidy cut should go to public transport, such as providing free public transport to school children, senior citizen and OKUs as well as strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of public transport. Enhancing effectiveness can be done through widening the coverage of public transport, at least by bus and strengthening the efficiency can be done through increasing the frequency of service and introduction of dedicated line for public buses and taxis.

I also disagree the continuation of subsidising the IPPs. If rakyat have pay full price, why should we allow IPPs make lots of profits, due mainly to subsidy and one-sided purchase agreement.

The same goes to natural gas subsidy which was reported that about 80% of the total subsidy went to businesses and corporations.

In summary, I agree for the prices of fuel and natural gas to be determined by market. Nevertheless, the savings from the subsidy cut MUST go to public transport, at least to provide for the following two objectives:

1. Free public transport for children, senior citizens and OKUs; and
2. Strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of public transport nationwide. 

AirAsia ASEAN Pass

To all my friends, AirAsia has announced yesterday its new product called ASEAN Pass. It allows the pass holders to fly up to 10 times within 30 day to any of AirAsia routes within the 10 ASEAN countries for a flat price of RM500, excluding airport taxes and charges.

According "Abang Tony", the ASEAN Pass will be available starting from 15 January 2015. One of the conditions is no repeats. Well, AirAsia needs to elaborate on this. My understanding is if one flies from klia2 to Bangkok (1 out of 10) and flies back to klia (2 out 10), he or she cannot fly to Bangkok again in order to utilise his or her balance of up to 8 flights. 

Why I used "up to" is because each eligible route will be valued in the range of  1 credit and 8 credits. A 30-day pass comes with a value of 10 credits. If the first flight costs you 8 credits, you will be left with 2 more credits 😋

I'm sure my friends Aidie and Eja as well as my cousin Ojot will find this new product of AirAsia, irresistable!

Hopefully, this innovation will spark more innovative products from other airlines serving ASEAN countries.

The picture is taken from The Borneo Post.

Pesta Pantun Integriti 2014

Pujangga Sri Kijang

We formed a last minute team to represent the Bank in the augural of Pesta Pantun Integriti 2014. The team is called Pujangga Sri Kijang.

The organiser is Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta and it's open to all agencies under the Minister/Ministry of Finance, Malaysia.

We beat Jabatan Akauntan Negara in the qualifying round before beating Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri in the second semi-final. In another semi-final, Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta beat Langkawi Development Authority to reach to final.

In shaa Allah, Pujangga Sri Kijang will meet the tuan rumah, which is called Suara Anak Bumi 1 in the final which has been scheduled on 28 November 2014.

Fitnah terhadap Anwar Ibrahim – Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

Segala puji bagi Allah, dan selawat dan salam ke atas Rasulullah SAW, keluarganya dan sahabat serta yang mengikuti petunjuk-Nya.

Malaysia mempunyai kedudukan yang tinggi di sisi kami, dan kami menaruh kasih sayang terhadapnya dengan hati yang jujur. Impian kami adalah untuk melihat Malaysia sebagai realisasi model Islam yang wasatiyyah, bertamadun, maju dan kontemporari. Semua itu tidak akan berlaku kecuali dengan perjuangan orang-orang ikhlas terdiri daripada anak-anak Malaysia, berusaha dan kerjasama berganding bahu, mereka yang amat ingin untuk menjayakan masa depan negara. Mereka saling bantu membantu sehingga berdiri tegak rakyat Malaysia seluruhnya.

Sesungguhnya Allah mengasihi orang-orang yang berperang untuk membela agamaNya, dalam barisan yang teratur rapi, seolah-olah mereka sebuah bangunan yang tersusun kukuh. (As Saff: 4)

Adalah tidak patut bagi badan kehakiman bertukar menjadi pentas kebencian dan permusuhan politik atau wasilah bagi menjerat pihak lawan di dalam cengkaman kes-kes. Perkara demikian kebanyakannya bertujuan untuk mencalar peribadi melebihi tujuan mencari kebenaran.

Sesungguhnya kami percaya, kemajuan Malaysia, kebangkitan dan kekuatannya terpancar daripada ketinggian nilai-nilai kebebasan dan demokrasi, dan pengukuhan prinsip-prinsip kepelbagaian pemikiran serta persaingan yang mulia demi berkhidmat untuk negara yang berdaulat ini.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim terdiri daripada pemimpin ternama dengan sejarah dan pengalamannya serta perjuangannya, dan kesabaran serta ketabahannya sejak zaman usia muda sehingga ke hari ini. Anwar sewajarnya dilayani dengan jasa perjuangannya dan kerja gigihnya, bukannya menuduhnya dengan tuduhan-tuduhan batil yang tanpa asas.

Mahkamah sebelum ini membebaskannya daripada tuduhan itu. Tetapi jelas terdapat pihak yang yang merekayasa komplot dan tidak mempedulikan kebaikan negara dan masa depan rakyatnya.

Kami beriman dengan apa yang difirmankan Allah SWT tentang peristiwa Hadithat al Ifk:-

Sepatutnya semasa kamu mendengar tuduhan itu, orang- orang yang beriman – lelaki dan perempuan, menaruh baik sangka kepada diri (orang-orang) mereka sendiri, dan berkata: "Ini ialah tuduhan dusta yang nyata".

Sepatutnya mereka (yang menuduh) membawa empat orang saksi membuktikan tuduhan itu. Disebabkan kerana mereka tidak mendatangkan empat orang saksi, maka mereka itu pada sisi hukum Allah, adalah orang-orang yang dusta.

(Surah An Nur 12-13)

Aku menyeru kepada saudara-saudaraku rakyat Malaysia supaya bekerjasama dan saling bantu-membantu. Aku berharap saudara-saudara di Malaysia menjauhkan diri daripada konflik-konflik yang tidak ada faedah di sebaliknya, malah ianya memudaratkan, tidak memberi manfaat, menghancurkan,  tidak membina, merosakkan dan tidak mendatangkan kebaikan.

Segala puji bagi Allah, Tuhan sekalian alam. – 27 Oktober, 2014.

* Penulis ialah Presiden Kesatuan Antarabangsa Ulama Islam.

High income not enough to become developed nation

[Note: The article was first published on The Malaysian Insider.]

Simply becoming a high-income nation is no basis for Malaysia to be considered a developed country by 2020, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed.

The former prime minister said that equally important is research and development, as well as the skills that are available in the country, Bernama reported today.

Speaking at a seminar in Cyberjaya today, he said, "Malaysia may not be a developed country by 2020, if its only emphasis is on becoming a high-income nation but it still lags in research and development".

"Malaysia's income is almost reaching that of a developed country but the people's experience and skills are still very much like those of a developing country.

"At the moment... I am afraid. I am not very hopeful that by 2020, Malaysia will be a developed country," Bernama quoted Dr Mahathir as saying.

Giving the example of Brunei, he noted that while it was a high income nation, it was not developed, adding that high income and low productivity would only make the cost of living higher.

"The mindset of Malaysians on research and development (R&D) must be tuned. Malaysians still lack understanding on the importance of R&D and always question the return on investment of R&D."

According to Bernama, Dr Mahathir said that Malaysia was the only developing country which had its own automative industry and developing countries were learning from Malaysia.

Emphasising its importance, the Proton chairman added that the automative industry has the potential to be a catalyst in providing Malaysians skills, knowledge and ability in engineering.

However, he lamented that Proton's share of the car market in Malaysia stood at only 18%. – October 29, 2014.

Anwar’s UM talk fiasco stirred academic freedom push, say academics

Universiti Malaya might have blacked out and locked down its campus to prevent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from giving a talk this week but the students who defied the ban showed that they cherished the principle of academic freedom and wanted to reclaim their rights to it, say academics.

That sums up the good and bad that came out of the fiasco at the university where students broke through a lockdown and blackout to enable Anwar to enter the campus and address them.

The bad part was how UM authorities bungled the incident, the academics told The Malaysian Insider.

The administrators’ actions have tarred the university’s prestige and ruined its long tradition of being one of Malaysia’s most intellectually vibrant institutions.

The good that came out of the incident was how UM students stood up to reclaim their rights to host a learning experience, which was UM’s responsibility to provide in the first place.

The student’s actions also revealed an awakening of sorts by a section of society that has often been treated as school children by university administrators, when in reality they go to university to become adults.

Prof Zaharom Nain of University of Nottingham's Malaysia campus said banning the event was bad enough from the point of view of nurturing academic freedom.

But the joke was that the wide publicity the event received made it seem as if UM administrators were secretly Anwar fans.

“If they had allowed the event to proceed it would have proceeded peacefully and not have attracted that much interest,” said Zaharom who is Professor of Media and Communication Studies.

Proof of this, Zaharom said, was in interviews The Malaysian Insider did with students who turned up for the talk.

Many students said they were not at all interested in the talk until UM administrators started closing the gates to the campus and shutting off the electricity.

The turnout, Zaharom said, was less reflective of Anwar’s appeal and more of the students’ reaction to the university’s mishandling of the event.

“It’s reflective of youths who want to take back their rights. It’s about them saying enough is enough,” said Zaharom.

UM administrators had tried to bar Anwar from attending a talk held on Monday, titled "40 years: From UM to prison", on the eve of his Federal Court appeal against his conviction of sodomising a former aide.

The university’s authorities had allowed staff to leave at 4pm and started a lockdown in order to stop Anwar’s talk.

After university staff had left the campus grounds, UM security personnel closed the Kuala Lumpur entrance to all vehicles and redirected incoming and outgoing traffic to the Petaling Jaya entrance.

However, determined UM students and supporters ensured that Anwar was able to enter his alma mater by forcing open the university's main gate at its Kuala Lumpur/Bangsar entrance and marching onto the campus grounds.

When Anwar arrived outside Dewan Tunku Canselor, the area was pitch black as the university administration's claims of electrical issues appeared to have some basis.

Anwar then gave his speech under a street light nearby.

Assoc Prof Dr Andrew Aeria of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said the UM authorities’ actions showed them for what they truly were despite the university’s image as a premier institution.

“It showed that the university is run by grovelling administrators who prioritise kow-towing to authority instead of committing to international recognised standards of academic quality,” said Aeria, a political economist.

It was also regrettable that UM’s current administrators had forgotten the institution’s glorious history of encouraging debates from all political spectrums, said Prof Datuk Abdul Rahman Embong of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

“The fundamental principle of a university is that it is a marketplace of ideas for students, scholars and the public. This is how it nurtures future leaders,” said Abdul Rahman who is Principal Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS).

Abdul Rahman said unlike the UM administrators who did not live up to the institution’s tradition, the students reclaimed their movement’s past glory.

Historically, the UM student union was famous for being fiercely independent and influential in the country’s political landscape in the 1950s and 1960s.

Anwar himself was a famous student leader and the university has produced many of the nation’s future political leaders as well as world-renown scholars.

Aeria said the students’ actions were also an expression of their dissatisfaction with the quality of education that has been dished out to them by the university.

“The students are upset because they are patronised as children. They take out loans to pay for their education yet they are treated like children. It is insulting.”

The president of UM Undergraduates' Association (PMUM), Fahmi Zainol, who was among hundreds who stormed the university's main gates on Monday night to allow Anwar to enter his alma mater and address a crowd of about 2,000, said he was ready to face the consequences of his actions.

He said the programme was not just to support Anwar, but to send a message that students were fed-up with the various restrictions imposed on academic freedom.

"We are sick and tired of hearing all the complicated procedures constantly dredged up as an excuse to curb students' freedom," he said.

The students’ courage in taking on the university administration earned the praise of Negara-Ku co-chair and former Bar Council chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan who said she was amazed by the fighting spirit displayed by the students.

Describing them as the agent of change in the country, Ambiga said: "What we see now is change happening, now we are seeing our youth rising up against oppression."

And although there will be severe penalties for the students who organised the talk, Zaharom believes that their actions sent an important message to the university and other students.

“There students have stood up and said that they will not be led by the nose. That they wanted to be creative, critical and questioning citizens.”

The article was first published on The Malaysian Insider.

Al-fatihah buat Farid Wajidi Ariffin

My deepest condolence to the family and friends of Farid Wajidi Ariffin, an old friend that I made when I was studying at MARA College Banting in 1990s.

May Allah forgive all your sins and place your soul amongst His believers.

Sesungguhnya, arwah seorang kawan yang baik. Al-fatihah.


p/s: Thank you Affendi Rashdi for conveying the news to me.

Thank You TSKI!

Thank you for your clean leadership. I wish you all the best in your future undertakings. May Allah grant you will more rahmat and berkat.

It's a pity that rakyat of Selangor miss their their chance of having the first female Menteri Besar in Malaysia.

Congratulations to YB Azmin for his appointment as the new, 15th Selangor Menteri Besar. Please lead Selangoreans to a greater height.

Praise to Allah, the Almighty.

Are you a kiasu too?

You know you cannot survive without the Internet when you actually act like this... http://arenaKu.sharethisstory.net/my-829834-5724


Sent from my iPhone

Happy birthday Malaysia

Malaysia celebrates its 51st birthday today. It's a public holiday but the mood for celebration is not as grand as Hari Merdeka. For the record, Malaysia and Sabah got their independence from British imperialist on 31 August. Malaya in 1957 and Sabah 1963. Sarawak gained hers on 22 July 1963.

And happy birthday to my colleague, Azreena. Moga murah rezeki, berkat usia.

Global Finance Grades The World’s Top Central Bankers 2014

NEW YORK, September 5, 2014 — Global Finance magazine has named the heads of the central banks of India, Israel, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Taiwan as the World’s Best Central Bankers over the past year, in recognition of their achievement of an “A” grade on Global Finance’s Central Banker Report Cards. In addition, the central bankers of Chile, Colombia and the European Union earned “A-” grades.

The Central Banker Report Cards, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, grades central bank governors of nearly 70 key countries (and the European Union) on an “A” to “F” scale for success in areas such as inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management. (“A” represents an excellent performance down through “F” for outright failure.) Subjective criteria also apply. This year, 17 central banks are being graded for the first time.

Global Finance publisher and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo notes, “Global economies are starting to recover, despite rising geopolitical risk in certain markets. Central bankers once again face challenging times in managing monetary policy to positively influence economic stability and growth—and some of the changes in our scores this year reflect those challenges. Every year, we assess the determination of central bankers to stand up to political interference and their efforts at influencing their governments on such issues as spending and economic openness to foreign investment and financial services.”

The full Central Banker Report Cards 2014 report will be published in the October issue of Global Finance.

The Central Bankers earning an “A” rating in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Card feature publishing in the October issue are:

• India Raghuram Rajan A
• Israel Karnit Flug A
• Malaysia Zeti Akhtar Aziz A
• Philippines Amando Tetangco Jr. A
• Saudi Arabia Fahad al-Mubarak A
• Switzerland Thomas Jordan A
• Taiwan Fai-Nan Perng A

The Central Bankers earning an “A-” rating are:

• Chile Rodrigo Vergara A-
• Colombia José Dario Uribe Escobar A-
• European Union Mario Draghi A-

Putrajaya perlu ‘political will’ pulihkan MAS

Ditulis oleh: Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed

Akhirnya, pemilik Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) iaitu kerajaan Malaysia melalui Khazanah Nasional mengumumkan 12 pelan tindakan bagi menyelamatkan ikon kebanggaan negara, Jumaat lalu, selepas dinantikan semua pihak bagi mengembalikan semula nyawa kepada syarikat penerbangan yang sedang nazak dan “berdarah” RM3 juta sehari.

Saya turut menantikan tindakan Khazanah Nasional yang dipimpin individu berpengaruh dan amat sinonim dengan pelan pemulihan MAS sejak ia mula diambil semula daripada tokoh perniagaan kontroversi, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli tetapi terus tidak mendatangkan sebarang hasil konkrit.

Selepas dua kali menulis mengenai MAS dalam ruangan saya dalam portal berita ini, bertajuk “Kerajaan, MAS dan industri penerbangan negara ‘sakit’” bahagian 1 dan 2 yang diterbitkan pada 6 Mac dan 1 April lalu, terus terang saya terpaksa akui tiada apa yang menarik mengenai pelan tindakan MAS itu. 

Selain terus menggunakan wang rakyat berjumlah RM6 bilion yang terpaksa dilabur bagi menyelamatkan “Wau” negara ini, penstrukturan MAS hanyalah bersifat penstrukturan kewangan atau lebih kepada membersihkan “balance sheet”.

Tetapi saya tersenyum juga memandangkan Khazanah bersetuju dengan artikel saya dalam portal berita ini, mengenai pentingnya Dasar Penerbangan Negara digubal bagi memastikan setiap syarikat penerbangan tempatan dapat beroperasi secara kompetitif.

Bagaimanapun, sedikit kecewa kerana tiada huraian mengenai Dasar Penerbangan Negara itu, yang sepatutnya diumumkan Menteri Pengangkutan atau Khazanah mahu menyimpan sedikit rahsia bagi mengejutkan semua orang.

Sesuatu yang sebenarnya langsung tidak perlu dilakukan bagi menyimpan rahsia menyelamatkan MAS atau syarikat pelaburan kerajaan itu perlu menunggu hasil khidmat konsultan asing berjuta ringgit yang dilantik seperti kebiasaan dilakukan.

Itulah yang selama ini, menjadi “kekuatan” Khazanah, melantik konsultan dengan belanja berjuta ringgit bagi menjalankan kerja mereka sedangkan, umum mengetahui betapa pengurusan tertinggi syarikat pelaburan berkenaan, memperoleh upah yang begitu lumayan sekali berbanding GLC lain.

Lebih memelikkan Khazanah memerlukan sehingga tiga tahun untuk menjalankan penstrukturan kewangan MAS tetapi langsung tidak menghuraikan mengenai model perniagaan baru syarikat berkenaan bagi meletakkan ia semula menjadi pemain utama dalam industri penerbangan di rantau ini.

Apabila Qantas Australia mengumumkan kerugian beberapa hari semula pengumuman Khazanah, ia seakan cuba memberitahu semua syarikat penerbangan dunia berhadapan dengan kemerosotan kewangan hingga mengakibatkan kerugian.

Namun di Malaysia, ia sesuatu yang amat berbeza memandangkan setiap kali MAS mengumumkan kerugian, setiap kali itulah syarikat tambang rendah negara, AirAsia mengumumkan keuntungan.

Malah, model perniagaan AirAsia kemudian seakan ditiru Malindo Air sekaligus terus memberikan tekanan kepada MAS hingga ada tanggapan Khazanah selaku pemilik MAS “buta” dengan apa yang sedang berlaku di AirAsia.

Bukan mahu memuji AirAsia tetapi siapa boleh menyangkal kemajuan dalam syarikat berkenaan yang beroperasi tidak sampai dua dekad tetapi kini mempunyai akses laluan domestik dan antarabangsa kepada lebih banyak negara berbanding MAS.

Atas sebab itu juga Khazanah dan kerajaan cuba untuk mewujudkan sinergi dengan AirAsia dan ia dilakukan pada Ogos 2011 melalui Kerangka Kerja Usaha Sama Komprehensif (CCF) bagi membolehkan MAS, AirAsia dan AirAsia X meneroka peluang bekerjasama dalam pelbagai bidang, bagi memanfaatkan kecekapan teras masing-masing dan mengoptimumkan kecekapan.

Sebagai sebahagian daripada CCF itu, Khazanah dan Tune Air menjalin perjanjian pertukaran saham bagi menjajarkan kepentingan pemegang saham utama MAS dan AirAsia, yang sekaligus akan mengukuhkan potensi kerjasama berkenaan dan majlis menandatangani CCF itu saksikan sendiri Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak sebagai “endorsement” terhadap usaha berkenaan.

Namun seperti kata pepatah “harapkan panas hingga ke petang, rupanya hujan di tengah hari”, selepas lapan bulan dikecam semua pihak termasuk Ahli Parlimen BN dalam sidang Dewan Rakyat, MAS dan AirAsia membatalkan perjanjian berkenaan.

Dan lebih malang lagi, kedua-dua syarikat penerbangan itu, kemudiannya didenda Suruhanjaya Anti Persaingan (MyCC) pada September 2013 kerana CCF itu, mempunyai matlamat berkongsi pasaran domestik.

Ada yang menyatakan pada saya, denda yang dikenakan MyCC itu adalah sesuatu yang amat kelakar kerana bagaimana satu perjanjian yang dirangka sekelompok individu berkuasa dan berpengaruh di Malaysia sama ada dalam bidang perniagaan atau kerajaan, boleh dikenakan denda?

Adakah mereka ini, langsung tidak berfikir atau terlepas pandang mengenai matlamat CCF itu yang jelas melanggar undang-undang atau adakah mereka berasa mereka di atas undang-undang?

Justeru, satu lagi episod baru MAS dilakonkan sekali lagi melalui penstrukturan yang diumumkan dan dengan tiada langsung kerangka mengenai penstrukturan operasi MAS, sebenarnya, tidak banyak boleh dilakukan bagi memulihkan semula “Wau” negara  kembali ke zaman kegemilangannya pada tahun 80-an.

Malah jika diteliti pada semua pelan tindakan berkenaan, ia seakan sama seperti yang pernah cuba diusahakan Datuk Seri Idris Jala yang dipilih menjadi pengarah urusan MAS pada 2005.

Sebenarnya, MAS memerlukan penstrukturan operasi radikal dalam memastikan ia mampu bersaing dengan AirAsia khususnya, terutama sekali merebut semula cengkaman terhadap laluan domestik yang kini, dibolot syarikat penerbangan tambang murah berkenaan.

Pada masa sama ancaman MAS juga tidak hanya berkisar kepada AirAsia tetapi juga Dasar Langit Terbuka yang akan dilaksanakan pada 2015 yang membolehkan semua syarikat penerbangan asing bebas untuk keluar masuk penumpang ke negara ini.

Ketika MAS dikatakan mempunyai kelebihan sebagai “full service airline”, ia sebenarnya tidak lagi memberi sebarang keistimewaan kepada penumpang masa kini, yang lebih mementingkan harga tambang murah dan sanggup berkompromi terhadap faktor keselesaan.

Selain itu, armada pesawat MAS yang sudah berusia juga perlu diganti dengan segera kerana ia bukan sahaja merugikan daripada segi penyelenggaraan dan operasi tetapi juga imej MAS.

Semua perkara ini, tidak disentuh Khazanah dalam 12 pelan tindakannya, yang ada hanya mengurangkan pekerja dan usaha lain termasuk mewujudkan syarikat baru (NewCo) bagi mengambil alih semua yang dimiliki MAS termasuk liabiliti.

Ia sebenarnya amat “dejavu” untuk saya apabila membaca mengenai penubuhan NewCo ini, seakan sama seperti apa yang pernah dilakukan Khazanah melalui Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB) yang ditubuhkan pada 2002, sebagai salah satu usaha menstrukturkan MAS dan akhirnya mengakibatkan kerugian kepada kerajaan kira-kira RM3 bilion.

Jika kerajaan benar-benar ikhlas dalam memulihkan semula MAS, ia sepatutnya menggunakan peluang ini, bagi memastikan Dasar Penerbangan Negara yang bakal digubal benar-benar bersifat inklusif serta pragmatik.

Kita sudah tentu tidak mahu, apa yang akan dilakukan kerajaan bagi memulihkan semula MAS melalui Dasar Penerbangan Negara, bakal membantut dan menekan syarikat penerbangan tempatan lain daripada berkembang.

Ini adalah situasi tidak elok untuk imej Malaysia dalam iklim ekonomi dan perniagaan dunia kerana seharusnya, semua syarikat penerbangan tempatan diberikan peluang dan perlindungan sama rata, bukan terikat dengan emosi serta sentimen masa lalu seperti kata pepatah “jangan yang dikejar tidak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran” kerana apa yang penting adalah dasar ini, memberikan kebaikan kepada rakyat dengan laluan bertambah dan kos tambang yang rendah.

Apa yang berlaku pada MAS bukan sesuatu yang luar biasa atau misteri seperti dialami MH370, tetapi ia pernah terjadi kepada banyak syarikat penerbangan utama dunia seperti Japan Airlines dan British Airways.

Yang paling penting adalah “political will” daripada Putrajaya dalam memastikan MAS benar-benar mampu pulih seperti yang pernah dikecapinya.

Jika ramai yang memikirkan nasib 6,000 pekerja MAS yang bakal kehilangan pekerjaannya dalam penstrukturannya, bagaimana pula dengan nasib baki pekerjanya, yang terus tertanya-tanya apa sebenarnya masa depan mereka dan apa sebenarnya hala tuju MAS di tangan Khazanah.

Khazanah sudah membelanjakan dan kemudian rugi RM17 billion  dalam MAS sejak ia mengambil alih daripada Tan Sri Tajuddin dan kini, kerajaan bersetuju menyalurkan sekali lagi RM6 bilion dalam bentuk “pelaburan” dan apa yang digariskan Khazanah langsung tidak berkisar kepada penstrukturan operasi dan perniagaan.

Dan di sebalik segala kerugian yang dialami Khazanah terhadap MAS, ada suatu yang amat pelik dan menjadi tanda tanya apabila tiada siapa dalam Khazanah dipertanggungjawabkan atas segala kegagalan pelan-pelan penstrukturan sebelum ini, yang hanya disaksikan dalam episod MAS lalu, adalah pertukaran MD selaku pelakon utama silih berganti.

Jika ini nasihat kepada kerajaan melalui “punahsihat” mengenai MAS, sudah pasti tiga tahun lagi, kita tidak akan menyaksikan sebarang keistimewaan akan berlaku pada “Wau” negara ini.

Tidak mustahil tiga tahun lagi, ketika Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) 14 semakin hampir, MAS akan terus mencatatkan kerugian dan percayalah, ia akan menjadi modal politik utama kepada pembangkang menghentam BN kerana terus gagal berbelanja dengan berhemah sehingga mengabaikan kepentingan rakyat secara keseluruhannya.

The article was first published on The Malaysian Insider.

Is the grass greener on the other side?

A close friend of mine had tendered his 24-hour notice of resignation yesterday. It really shocked me to the core when I first got his whatsapp message early Thursday morning.

Why? What happened? I asked myself countless times.

My ex-housemate and I also had a brief discussion on this. He still cannot comprehend why staffs leave established and prominent organisations such as a central bank.

My quick answer was money as this was also the motive of my boss leaving the office today for an offer of double of his current salary.

How about other perks? He asked back.

My boss shared with me of his insights into motives behind what make some people stay and some people leave.

Are you satisfied of what you have/are now?

Well materially, I cannot lie myself that my current pay won't be enough to fulfil all of my wants! Nevertheless, alhamdulillah, I'm very grateful of the living standard that I'm currently enjoying. More than enough to finance the lifestyle of a single, eldest son of retired parents which only receive 'pension' from their own children.

Anyhow, I applaud your courage to leave your comfort zone and pursue career betterment beyond here. I pray for your greater success at the new place and really hope your journey would inspire me to pursue mine too. 

This is our starting point for a colourful friendship 13 years ago and I hope it won't be our last meeting place, nor that was our last hug. And I won't bid you farewell because goodbye isn't our common vocabulary. But I will shed a tear to mark this important milestone of you in our scrapbook of friendship.

‘Crises are bound to happen again and again'

Governor of Malaysia's central bank Zeti Akhtar Aziz shares her insights from the front line of the battle against regional and global financial crisis, in an exclusive interview with the Nation Group's Veenarat Laohapakakul.

Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz is the first female central bank governor in Asia. She has been with Malaysia's central bank since 1985, becoming interim governor during the financial crisis in 1998 and governor in 2000. She has been credited with developing the financial sector and steering Malaysia onto a stable economic path.

A lot has been said about the Asean Economic Community, but how will integration in next year actually impact our 10 economies?

I am a strong advocate for this integration process because I think our approach is very different to the way Europe has approached economic and financial integration, though we would like to achieve the same objectives of greater prosperity for all the countries. We come from a region of highly diverse countries and so we can leverage on our complementary strengths. Going forward we really need to intensify our interconnectivities so that there's more trade. Right now, [only] 25 per cent of our total trade is within Southeast Asia, so we need to intensify this. We need to recycle our savings so they are invested within our region. We should put in place the infrastructure to enable this to happen.

This should be win-win. No countries should be marginalised as a result of this process. It cannot be a winner-takes-all approach.

The BRICS countries recently formed a development bank. Do you think that's a good
idea?

To some extent I think it's an expression of frustration that emerging economies do not have
a voice in existing international organisations like the IMF and World Bank. There are
tremendous challenges in restructuring the quota system to get greater representation. We
are becoming more dominant. The world becomes more multipolar. There's increasing
significance of emerging markets in contributing to global growth, so we want to have a
greater choice and be part of the international decision-making process. When that is not
happening, this is what happens. International organisations, like the World Bank and IMF,
should leverage on these organisations and work collaboratively rather than looking at it as a
threat.

Bankers cause financial crisis. Do you agree?

Well, not necessarily. In some cases, it was because part of a financial system, especially in
the US, was not actually regulated - investment banking, and so on. The environment has
also changed significantly that the crisis starts in the financial market and it can be
addressed at that point in time to manage the stresses and dysfunctionalities that occurred
in the financial market because from the financial market it translates into massive losses to
the financial institutions, then you have financial stress and economic crisis that follows.
I don't think you can put the blame on anyone in particular because equally important is the
regulator that provides the oversight. We should see the oncoming nature of the
developments that are taking place. I believe in intervention. We have a very interventionist
supervisory oversight. The central bank of Malaysia doesn't believe in the light touch
approach because sometimes the market gets over exuberance and this need to be
contained. It's very difficult to take away the punch bowl when the party is going, but it's the
role of the regulator to tamper these kinds of trends. It's not very popular but the price for it
later on is much, much higher. It's very damaging and can be very devastating to a country.

What do you think the relationship between the central bank and its government
should be?

That is always a challenging relationship. It has to be a continuous relationship of
engagement. The central bank wants to have its independence and that is very important. It
is in the interest of the government to have an independent central bank because the central
bank will be at the forefront of any crises and crisis is all about managing confidence. When
you lose confidence, it can be very highly destabilising, far more destabilising than the factor
that triggers the crisis. So having an independent central bank that had a high degree of
credibility is very important.

What is important is the central bank had to keep the government informed of what it is
doing because most governments do not like surprises and neither do markets. This
relationship has to be managed well. Differences exist because there's lack of awareness
and understanding of the issues. The issues going forward have become far more complex.
The central bank can never on its own manage a financial crisis, but has to manage it
collectively, not only with Finance Ministry but with other ministries and agencies.

Does the Malaysian government ever tell you what or what not to do?

No. There's a degree of respect. There are differences in views on how certain matters are to be addressed, but these differences are resolved bilaterally, not done over the media or in the market. This is the constructive way to do it.

Was the financial crisis back in 1998 the most difficult time for you as a central banker?

Reflecting now, the most challenging time for me was probably the financial crisis. The reason is that in such an environment, if the wrong decision was made or there was inaction, the cost of it would be so high and would be high for all people living in the country. The cost would be devastating. The stakes are very high.
The second reason why it was so challenging is that the central bank, which is at the forefront of any financial crises, you cannot resolve the crisis on your own. You have to rely on others that have very important roles and therefore it is the collective effort, but any form of collaboration when there's very diverse views and interests, it's highly challenging. When the crisis reached its peak, it was a moment in history where it could go one way or the other. That was the most challenging time that I've experienced.

Is there any chance we will ever see a financial crisis like 1997-1998's again?

Well, that is unpredictable. Recently I gave a paper on "Managing financial crisis in an interconnected world" and the subheading was "Anticipating the next mega tidal wave". This is because crises are bound to happen again and again. Over the recent 30 years, there've been more than a hundred crises around the world. Some have greater spillover effects than others. Therefore, what is important is we have the capability in managing such crisis. If we are best able to manage such crisis, we can minimise its impact on us, whether it's generated within our own financial system, or it's a spillover effect from another part of the world.
This capability has to be in-built. Most central banks have business continuity teams that can manage disruptions but we also need a crisis management team that can coordinate any eventualities of a crisis. I do believe that's the way forward. I do not think we can prevent crisis from happening.


This exclusive interview was aired on Nation TV's "Mong Rao Mong Lok" programme on 8 August 2014 at 6.30pm, (Digital TV Channel 22 or Satellite TV Channel 32).

Putrajaya salah strategi isu kenaikan tol Tambak Johor

Oleh: YB Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed

Dalam kemeriahan umat Islam menyambut Aidilfitri pada saat kenaikan harga barangan serta kos sara hidup yang semakin meningkat, rakyat Malaysia di kawasan Johor selatan dikejutkan dengan kenaikan tol di Tambak Johor lebih 400%, berkuatkuasa Jumaat lalu.

Kenaikan tol itu yang diumumkan Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) dua hari sebelum Aidilfitri mengundang pelbagai reaksi segenap lapisan masyarakat di Johor khususnya di kawasan Johor selatan atau lebih tepat lagi Johor Baru.

Saya selaku ahli Parlimen Pulai mengeluarkan kenyataan media sebaik mendapat makluman mengenai kenaikan kadar tol berkenaan menuntut supaya kerajaan mengkaji semula kenaikan tol itu kerana ia jelas akan membebankan rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di Singapura yang sebelum ini, sudah terjejas dengan kenaikan Permit Kemasukan Kenderaan (VEP) oleh Singapura.

Namun tanpa disangka, kenaikan tol di Tambak Johor dan Lebuhraya Penyuraian Timur (EDL) bertukar menjadi  isu perkauman kerana ia dilihat lebih terkesan kepada masyarakat Cina yang lebih ramai bekerja di Singapura berbanding kaum lain termasuk orang Melayu.
Sebagai ahli Parlimen untuk semua kaum, saya berpendapat keputusan kerajaan menaikkan kadar tol berkenaan tanpa mengadakan rundingan dengan pihak berkepentingan termasuk saya sendiri selaku ahli Parlimen amat tidak menggambarkan konsep 'rakyat didahulukan'.

Isu kenaikan kadar tol ini, jelas dipolitikkan begitu meluas di media sosial dengan pelbagai pihak mempunyai pandangan masing-masing termasuk memberikan gambaran ia adalah reaksi emosi kerajaan Malaysia terhadap kenaikan VEP Singapura. Malah, saya sendiri 'dihentam' bloggers pro BN yang menggambarkan kenyataan saya seperti ahli Parlimen dari Singapura serta tidak menyokong keputusan kerajaan menaikkan kadar tol berkenaan.

Memang benar, hujah beberapa pihak mengenai kesetiaan rakyat Malaysia yang memilih untuk menjadi Pemastautin Tetap (PR) Singapura dan memilih untuk terus tinggal di Johor serta memandu kenderaan negara seberang tambak berkenaan.

Tetapi selaku ahli Parlimen di kawasan Johor selatan, saya perlu bersikap adil dengan pengundi Parlimen Pulai yang bekerja di Singapura yang jelas terbeban serta terkesan dengan kenaikan kadar tol berkenaan.

Bagi mereka keputusan kerajaan itu langsung tidak adil serta tidak memahami keperitan mereka perlu berulang alik ke Singapura demi mencari rezeki yang kemudian dibawa balik semula ke Johor sekali gus meningkatkan ekonomi negeri. Mereka ini, tidak mempunyai pilihan kerana perlu bekerja di negara seberang Tambak berikutan kadar upah lebih tinggi serta peluang pekerjaan lebih baik yang tidak didapati di Johor.

Kenaikan kadar tol berkenaan yang kemudian akan disusuli dengan VEP oleh Malaysia tidak lama lagi, jelas memberikan kesan besar terhadap perbelanjaan seharian mereka dan mungkin menyebabkan mereka terpaksa mengurangkan perbelanjaan 'mewah' di Johor.

Ia akan mengakibatkan rantaian ekonomi Johor terganggu terutama sekali peniaga kedai makanan serta runcit yang amat bergantung kepada kuasa membeli rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di Singapura.

Pada masa sama, saya juga tidak mahu tindakan kerajaan menaikkan kadar tol selain pengenalan VEP untuk kenderaan asing dilihat sebagai 'tit for tat' daripada Malaysia disebabkan tindakan Singapura.

Malah, tindakan membebankan sama ada daripada kerajaan Singapura dan Malaysia sudah pasti memberikan kesan besar kepada rakyat kedua-dua negara yang mempunyai pertalian kuat serta bergantung bukan saja daripada ekonomi malah juga sosial.

Berikutan tindakan kerajaan menaikkan kadar tol Jumaat lalu, Pihak Berkuasa Pengangkutan Darat (LAT) kemudian mengeluarkan kenyataan tidak menolak kemungkinan akan menaikkan juga kadar tol di Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ) Woodlands.

Sampai bila sikap berbalas-balas seperti ini, akan berakhir?

Rakyat perlu dimaklumkan terlebih dulu mengenai kemungkinan berlaku kenaikan kadar tol bagi membolehkan mereka bersedia dan menyesuaikan diri terutama sekali daripada segi perbelanjaan.

Kini, apa yang dapat dilihat adalah tindakan kerajaan menaikkan kadar tol berkenaan bukan disebabkan dasar tetapi lebih kepada emosi selain timbul 1001 persoalan mengenai status EDL itu sendiri.

Ini kerana EDL pada asalnya, dibina sebuah syarikat swasta kemudian diambil alih kerajaan selepas wujud desakan masyarakat setempat supaya lebuh raya berkenaan dikecualikan tol, tetapi kini kerajaan mengumumkan pula kenaikan tol di Tambak Johor dengan alasan pengguna lalu lintas ke Singapura menikmati infrastruktur yang lebih baik.

Infrastruktur apakah yang dimaksudkan itu? Adakah ia EDL? Atau CIQ BSI? Di sinilah timbul pelbagai persoalan di kalangan rakyat Johor Baru yang semakin pelik dengan tindakan kerajaan dilihat cuba menyembunyikan sesuatu dan tidak mahu berterus terang mengenai alasan kenaikan kadar tol itu.

Sebab itu, selaku pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC), saya mahu mengetahui status sebenar EDL ini, kerana pada asalnya ia bukan projek kerajaan dan tidak melalui tender kerajaan.

Jika kerajaan terus bertegas menaikkan kadar tol ini, pengecualian segera perlu diberikan kepada pengangkutan awam yang digunakan rakyat berpendapatan rendah untuk berulang alik dari Johor ke Singapura.

Disebabkan kurangnya sikap berhati-hati dalam menaikkan kadar tol ini, ia turut menyebabkan berlaku mogok bas awam yang tidak mahu membayar harga tol baru sekali gus menyusahkan rakyat jelata.

Tidak mustahil selepas ini, syarikat bas awam yang berulang dari Johor ke Singapura akan mengumumkan kenaikan harga tambang bagi menyerap kadar tol baru dan ia akan membebankan mereka yang berpendapatan rendah.

Dasar kerajaan seharusnya, melindungi kepentingan rakyat secara keseluruhan bukan tunduk kepada desakan politik kerana kerajaan perlu sedar mereka akan dinilai rakyat pada Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU).

Ketika ini, parti pembangkang khususnya, DAP dilihat menjadi pejuang kepada golongan yang terjejas akibat kenaikan kadar tol ini, dan ia sebenarnya, adalah petanda tidak baik kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) khususnya di kawasan Johor selatan.

Kita perlu sedar hakikat kawasan Johor selatan kini, mempunyai ramai pengundi masyarakat Cina yang bekerja di Singapura dan mereka sudah pasti mahu memilih parti yang memperjuangkan nasib mereka.

Sebab itu, kenaikan kadar tol ini, terus menjadi isu politik yang kemudian menjadi isu perkauman sekali gus akan memberikan imej tidak baik kepada BN dan Umno Johor kerana terus dilihat gagal membela nasib semua kaum secara inklusif seperti yang dilaungkan Datuk Seri Najib Razak selaku presiden Umno dan perdana menteri.

Jalan penyelesaian perlu diambil dengan segera dan campur tangan pantas Putrajaya amat perlu bagi menyelesaikan isu kenaikan kadar tol ini, kerana rakyat akar umbi tidak mahu menerima alasan lemah yang diberikan kerajaan.

Alasan kenaikan disebabkan infrastruktur yang lebih baik serta mengawal jumlah kenderaan masuk ke Johor amat tidak boleh diterima dan lemah menyebabkan ia mudah dipolitikkan.

Ini disebabkan walaupun mempunyai EDL dan CIQ baru, semua mengetahui mengenai kesesakan lalu lintas yang terus terpaksa dihadapi untuk memasuki Johor melalui Tambak Johor.

Selain itu, kerajaan juga perlu mempertimbangkan mengenai pertumbuhan Iskandar Malaysia dan adalah sesuatu yang memelikkan kerana tidak ada kenyataan daripada Pihak Berkuasa Iskandar Malaysia (Irda) mengenai kenaikan kadar tol ini, sama ada ia akan menjejaskan pelaburan dari Singapura ke wilayah ekonomi ini.

Justeru sudah pasti akan wujud kesan terhadap kenaikan kadar tol ini, terutama sekali rakyat Singapura yang berulang alik ke Johor sama ada yang menetap atau bekerja di Iskandar Malaysia.

Terus terang saya nyatakan rakyat Singapura yang masuk ke Johor Baru tidak akan merasai kesan kenaikan kadar tol ini, kerana menikmati tukaran mata wang yang tinggi selain perlu untuk keluar dari republik berkenaan.

Yang paling teruk terjejas adalah rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di Singapura demi mencari rezeki lebih baik di negara berkenaan disebabkan kurangnya peluang pekerjaan di Johor itu sendiri.

Kerajaan sedar kejayaan Iskandar Malaysia amat bergantung kepada pelaburan dari Singapura dan atas sebab itu, saya dimaklumkan mengenai adanya 'arahan' kerajan Singapura kepada media negara itu, untuk tidak menghentam Iskandar Malaysia dan kepimpinan Najib.

'Endorsement' Singapura terhadap Iskandar Malaysia amat perlu dalam menarik pelabur asing ke wilayah pembangunan ekonomi ini, dan andai kata pelabur dan rakyat negara itu, sudah mula bercakap mengenai keburukan dan kelemahan Malaysia dan Johor khususnya, pertumbuhan Iskandar Malaysia pasti akan terjejas.

Atas sebab itu, suatu tindakan segera amat perlu diambil dalam menangani kenaikan kadar tol ini, kerana bagi saya selain ia melarat menjadi isu politik dan perkauman, masa depan Iskandar Malaysia juga perlu diambil kira.

Putrajaya perlu sedar mereka tidak seharusnya tunduk kepada desakan politik termasuk daripada Umno sendiri, dalam isu kenaikan kadar tol ini, yang menjadi keutamaan adalah rakyat yang sudah pasti bukan saja orang Melayu tetapi juga kaum lain.

Ingin saya tegaskan selaku ahli Parlimen Pulai yang terletak dalam kawasan Johor selatan, saya tidak bersetuju dengan kenaikan kadar tol ini, kerana implikasinya adalah penduduk Johor sendiri yang bekerja di Singapura terutama sekali pengundi dalam Parlimen Pulai.

Bagaimanapun, saya bukanlah mahu menolak terus kenaikan kadar tol ini, jika alasan menaikkan kadar tol ini disebabkan dasar berikutan inflasi selain ia tidak pernah dinaikkan sejak mula dilaksanakan.

Tetapi kenaikannya terlalu mendadak hingga kadarnya lebih tinggi daripada kadar inflasi sehingga timbul persepsi lebihan hasil tol berkenaan digunakan bagi menampung kos EDL.

Rakyat kini sudah cerdik dan perdana menteri sendiri menyatakan zaman kerajaan mengetahui segalanya sudah berakhir, jadi penjelasan telus perlu diberikan dan walaupun pahit, saya percaya rakyat boleh menerimanya bukan dengan alasan yang lemah seakan mahu membodohkan rakyat.

Tidak ada gunanya selepas ini, jika Iskandar Malaysia mempunyai segala macam kekayaan tetapi wakil rakyatnya terdiri daripada parti pembangkang seperti yang berlaku di Kuala Lumpur.

Jika Putrajaya tidak berhati-hati menangani kenaikan kadar tol ini, segala usaha Almarhum Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, perdana menteri Malaysia kedua untuk menguatkan perpaduan antara kaum di kawasan bandar selepas berlakunya tragedi hitam 13 Mei akan sia-sia kerana isu ini, sudah pasti bertukar menjadi isu perkauman di kawasan Johor selatan. – 4 Ogos, 2014.

Iklan Raya 2014

My top 5 Aidilfitri commercials for 2014 are as follows:

At no. 5 is the commercial (iklan) made by RTM titled Ini Baru Raya.

Watch it at http://youtu.be/H6wuoTYlCs4 and share with me what you think of this iklan.
Why I like it?
It highlights the key activities that we used (some still do these things!) during the Aidilfitri eve. I like the concept and overall theme, just that the execution part could be done better :)

At no. 4 is TVALHIJRAH's Kemuliaan Syawal, which you guys could view it at http://youtu.be/fw27gfrMRo4 to see it yourself.
Why I like it?
It has a good story line with beautiful cinematography and good acting. The minus point is it's a bit dragging.

No. 3 is the iklan by TM titled Adik, http://youtu.be/NJM7yqpMF8M.
Why I like it?
It's funny and creative too!

At no. 2 is Atuk [http://youtu.be/bs-gAhGcWKM] by Nissan.
Why I like it?
Raya and sentimental value cannot be apart. It has all sort of feelings. Some might argue that it lacks originality.

And this year's winner is Senantiasa Bersamamu, http://youtu.be/pZeb5gNEvw4

by TNB.
Why I like it?
I just like it. Period.

Malacca High School to stay put

JASON GERALD JOHN AND KELLY KOH news@nstp.com.my

ALOR GAJAH: THE oldest school in the state, Malacca High School, will not be relocated as it is part of Malacca’s heritage, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron. He said the school would be given a facelift.

When Malacca was listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, the school was included as part of the state’s heritage.

“As the school is located in the buffer zone of the Unesco World Heritage Site, there are no plans to develop the area, but only to upgrade and maintain it.”

Idris said the proposed relocation was made a long time ago, prior to it being recognised as a World Heritage Site.

“Under my administration, we have no plans to develop the area, other than to upgrade all buildings in the heritage zone.”

He said this at the Hari Raya open house of Umno executive secretary, Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh, in Kampung Pulau in Alor Gajah here yesterday.

Yesterday, the New Straits Times reported that state Education, Higher Education, Science, Technology, Green Technology and Innovations Committee chairman Datuk Md Yunos Husin had said there was a need to relocate Malacca High School to ease traffic congestion in the state. He said the state government was identifying alternative sites.

Various parties, especially students and teachers, had objected to the proposal, based on a letter dated June 30 from the Education Ministry’s Planning and Policy Research Division.

This is the second time in 20 years that the state government had proposed the relocation of the country’s second oldest school.

The school, established in 1826, was known as Malacca Free School and changed to its present name in 1878.

The first attempt, in 1993, to move the school out of Bandar Hilir, together with two schools — St Francis Institution and the Sacred Heart Convent — failed after meeting strong opposition from students and the schools’ alumni.

Outcry over bid to relocate school

KELLY KOH kelly.koh@nst.com.my

MALACCA: A STORM is brewing in the state following a plan by the state administration to relocate the historical city’s oldest school, the Malacca High School or SMK Tinggi Melaka.

This is the second time in over 20 years that the state government had proposed for the relocation of the country’s second oldest school, established in 1826.

The first attempt in 1993 to move the school out of Bandar Hilir, together with two other schools — St Francis Institution and the Sacred Heart Convent — failed after strong opposition from the students and the schools’ alumni.

State Education, Higher Education, Science, Technology, Green Technology, and Innovations Committee chairman, Datuk Md Yunos Husin said there was a need to relocate Malacca High School to ease the traffic congestion in the state.

“This is to provide a better traffic flow. The school, located in the city centre, is densely packed with people and vehicles, causing major traffic crawls.”

He said the state government was in the midst of identifying suitable alternative sites.

“What is certain is that we will find a site suitable for the students and motorists,” he said.

The state government, however, must first get feedback from the school’s management, alumni and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) before the plan can proceed.

On July 17, the Education Ministry’s Planning and Policy Research Division had urged the State Education Department to seek the consent of the school’s management, alumni and PTA on the proposed relocation plan.

Various parties, especially students and teachers, had objected.

The school’s chemistry teacher, Lim Ming Hui who has been
attached to the school for 24 years said, she was confident that
the relocation would not materialise.

The school, she said, was a part of the state’s history and was in the Unesco World Heritage site buffer zone.

“The school is something very precious to us. There is no way we will allow the school to be relocated elsewhere.

“We also have several powerful figures from the Malacca High School Old Boys Association who strongly oppose this,” she said.

A member of the school’s alumni, Joeal Lim Guan Chin, 24, expressed his disappointment at the idea of a relocation.

“This is not good because the school itself is part of the state’s history; it should not simply be moved for the sake of development.”

MHS, the second oldest Government English school in the country, was first known as Malacca Free School, and changed to its present name in 1878.

Breaking news: MH17 was shot down

My condolences to the families and friends of MH17 passengers and crews that boarded on the ill-fated plane.

I strongly condemn the uncivilised act by those responsible in downing the Malaysia Airlines flight at the area near Ukraine and Russia border.

How Italy became a submerging economy

An interesting article on The Edge.

#Special Report* How Italy became a submerging economy
via http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/298711-special-report-how-italy-became-a-submerging-economy.html

Sent from my iPhone

Laksanakan tender terbuka spekrum mudah alih

Oleh: Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed
[The article was first published on The Malaysian Insider dated 17 June 2014]


Kepesatan industri telekomunikasi mudah alih di negara ini tidak boleh dipertikaikan lagi dengan jumlah pengguna yang menggunakan perkhidmatan ini, tidak lagi terhad kepada golongan kaya semata-mata tetapi turut menjangkau segenap lapisan rakyat.

Malah, kadar penggunaan telefon mudah alih di Malaysia dikatakan antara yang tertinggi di dunia dan ia dibuktikan dengan statistik Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia (SKMM) bahawa penggunaan telefon mudah alih di negara ini melebihi jumlah rakyat di Malaysia.

Namun sejak kebelakangan ini, rata pengguna telefon mudah alih mula berdepan dengan pelbagai masalah yang melanda talian mereka, terutama sekali yang menggunakan perkhidmatan data.

Masalah seperti “dropped calls”, kelajuan data tidak mencapai kelajuan optimum seperti  diiklankan walaupun berada dalam lingkungan liputan 4G seperti yang didakwa syarikat telekomunikasi menyebabkan ramai pengguna yang merasakan tertipu.
Saya sendiri tidak terkecuali daripada masalah berkenaan walaupun menggunakan talian Celcom milik syarikat Axiata yang juga sebuah syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) melalui Khazanah Nasional.

Walaupun berada di rumah berdekatan dengan Parlimen dalam kawasan Kuala Lumpur, talian telefon mudah alih yang mudah terputus atau “dropped calls” terus menghantui saya, dan lebih teruk lagi, kadang-kala, telefon mudah alih menunjukkan tiada sebarang liputan walapun berada di Kuala Lumpur.

Keadaan ini, benar-benar menyebabkan saya merasa tertipu dengan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan dan percaya, ia bukan perasaan saya seorang bahkan dikongsi ribuan pengguna talian mudah alih ini.

Pengumuman syarikat telekomunikasi mudah alih ini, yang baru-baru ini, membuat pengumuman untuk membuat pelaburan sebanyak RM1 bilion bagi menaik taraf perkhidmatan liputan talian mudah alih sepatutnya sudah lama dilakukan.

Ini kerana pengguna talian mudah alih di negara ini, berkembang dengan begitu pesat malah statistik SKMM mendapati pengguna talian mudah alih di Malaysia menjangkau hampir sekali ganda daripada jumlah penduduk negara yang berjumlah kira-kira 28 juta orang.

Sebagai bekas Pengarah syarikat TM Bhd, saya pernah dimaklumkan semua syarikat talian mudah alih diwajibkan memberikan tahap mutu perkhidmatan sekurang-kurangnya 98% sentiasa terpasang setiap masa daripada apa yang mereka tawarkan kepada pengguna.

Jika mereka gagal memberikan perkhidmatan berkenaan, kerajaan melalui SKMM berhak mengenakan denda kepada syarikat terbabit dan ia dibuktikan dengan kenyataan SKMM beberapa syarikat talian mudah alih ini telah didenda kerana gagal memberikan perkhidmatan seperti yang ditawarkan kepada pengguna mereka.

Bagaimanapun, isu berkaitan industri telekomunikasi mudah alih ini, dilihat amat rumit untuk difahami penggunanya dan terpulang kepada kerajaan melalui SKMM untuk mengawal selia syarikat telekomunikasi daripada terus membebankan rakyat tanpa memberikan perkhidmatan setimpal dengan bayaran yang dikenakan.

Rungutan terhadap mengenai isu “dropped calls”, kelajuan data yang perlahan walaupun frekuensi menunjukkan isyarat penuh LTE atau 3G, kerap kali menjadi sungutan pengguna rangkaian mudah alih yang dilihat tertipu dengan perkhidmatan selular yang ditawarkan.

Selain itu, sesuatu yang memelikkan apabila pengguna telefon mudah alih sentiasa dihujani panggilan daripada telemarketer yang mendapat maklumat mengenai pengguna talian berkenaan sekaligus menyebabkan saya mengesyaki wujudnya sindiket menjual maklumat peribadi pengguna yang mungkin didalangi kakitangan syarikat telekomunikasi mudah alih kepada pihak ketiga.

Sedangkan, semua data serta maklumat peribadi pengguna talian mudah alih ini dilindungi Akta Perlindungan Peribadi dan seharusnya, SKMM turut melihat masalah ini bagi melindungi kepentingan pengguna.

Sebenarnya, apa yang berlaku dalam industri telekomunikasi mudah alih ketika ini, syarikat telekomunikasi dilihat lebih membuat pelaburan kepada “front end” sistem mereka serta mengabaikan keperluan untuk memperluaskan paip rangkaian mereka yang disambung kepada pusat sambungan rangkaian (NOC).

Keengganan syarikat telekomunikasi untuk membuat pelaburan terhadap sistem “back end” ini, iaitu memperbesarkan paip rangkaian menyebabkan kelajuan data tidak dapat dioptimumkan sekaligus ia suatu bentuk penipuan kepada pengguna.

Suatu ketika dulu, pengguna telefon mudah alih di negara ini banyak bergantung kepada panggilan suara atau sistem pesanan ringkas yang tidak memerlukan penggunaan sistem rangkaian yang besar dan laju.

Namun apabila berlaku evolusi dalam perkhidmatan telekomunikasi mudah alih dunia, dengan Internet mula boleh dilayari di telefon mudah alih, ia menuntut kepada jaringan rangkaian yang lebih laju dan besar.

Kegagalan untuk memperbesarkan infrastruktur utama rangkaian ini, dengan penyediaan paip rangkaian yang lebih besar untuk untuk disambung dengan NOC mengakibatkan berlaku kesesakan dalam pengunaan telekomunikasi mudah alih sekaligus menyebabkan isu seperti “dropped calls” berlaku.

 Justeru, saya berpendapat SKMM perlu memainkan peranan lebih aktif dengan memastikan atau mewajibkan semua syarikat telekomunikasi mudah alih membuat pelaburan bagi meningkatkan keupayaan rangkaian data mereka demi kepentingan pengguna.

Majoriti penguna masih tidak mengetahui perkhidmatan LTE memerlukan keupayaan kapasiti transmisi yang besar memandangkan jarak frekuensi talian ini tidak jauh.

Sekirannya, syarikat telekomunikasi mudah alih mahu memperluaskan perkhidmatan LTE ini, mereka perlu membina lebih banyak stesen pemancar dan penerima selain jumlah kuasa yang lebih kuat untuk memancarkan frekuensi ini.

Ia sekaligus akan meningkatkan kos operasi syarikat ini, yang sebenarnya tidak merasa tekanan untuk meningkatkan keupayaan perkhidmatan mereka memandangkan pengguna mereka kurang terdedah dalam perkara teknikal seperti ini.

Atas sebab itu, isu ini terus berlarutan dan syarikat terbabit terus mengaut keuntungan walaupun perkhidmatan tidak mencapai seperti apa yang ditawarkan kepada pengguna.

Selain itu, SKMM juga perlu melihat sama ada berlaku tindakan “oligopoli” antara syarikat telekomunikasi mudah alih di negara ini dalam menentukan kadar caj panggilan atau data kepada pengguna.

Ia disebabkan setiap tahun, kita mendengar dan membaca semua syarikat telekomunikasi di Malaysia terutama sekali syarikat telekomunikasi gergasi mengumumkan keuntungan beratus juta ringgit sedangkan tahap perkhidmatan yang disediakan seringkali menjadi rungutan kepada pengguna.

Malah, jika kita pergi ke negara lain, perkhidmatan telekomunikasi mudah alih yang ditawarkan mempunyai lebih banyak pilihan selain harga yang ditawarkan lebih rendah berbanding di negara ini.

Sehubungan itu, saya merasakan adalah penting untuk SKMM untuk mendenda syarikat telekomunikasi mudah alih yang tidak mematuhi kualiti perkhidmatan (QOS) yang ditawarkan kepada pengguna.

Saya juga ingin mencadangkan kepada kerajaan supaya melaksanakan tender terbuka kepada syarikat telekomunikasi yang mahu mendapatkan tambahan spektrum mudah alih kerana ia sebenarnya adalah aset berharga kepada kerajaan.

Ketika ini, kadar bayaran yang dikenakan bagi mendapatkan spektrum ini adalah rendah dan jika proses tender terbuka dilakukan kerajaan akan dapat memastikan perkhidmatan telekomunikasi mudah alih yang lebuh berkualiti.

Buat masa ini, syarikat telekomunikasi dilihat beroperasi dengan amat mewah dan mampu membayar gaji serta bonus yang tinggi kepada pengurusan syarikat seperti yang berlaku di Celcom.

Namun perkhidmatan telekomunikasi mudah alih yang ditawarkan seringkali menjadi rungutan kepada penggunannya sehingga menimbulkan persoalan ke mana wang keuntungan yang diperoleh dibelanjakan.

Kerajaan perlu memastikan bahawa syarikat telekomunikasi ini merasakan mereka “besar” melebihi SKMM yang bertindak sebagai badan pengawal dalam industri telekomunikasi di negara ini.

Sudah sampai masanya, SKMM memperlihatkan ketelusan kepada rakyat dalam mempamerkan bagaimana syarikat telekomunikasi ini mendapatkan lesen mereka dan beroperasi mengikut mutu perkhidmatan yang mereka janjikan kepada pengguna.