Jakarta under attacks again!

The morning news shocked me. Bombings at Jakarta's Ritz Carlton and Marriott were unacceptable.

As at 11am, at least 11 people died and scores injured in at least 2 explosions at the hotels. This was similar to the attacks last year and 2007 which killed dozens of tourists and locals. (more here...)

We should condemn this act of terrorism. Indonesia, as our most friendly neighbour, has been the target of subversive agents over the past decade.

Lets extent of deepest sympathy to those affected in this incidents. We Malaysians are perhaps the luckiest on this planet as we share the joy of harmony and peace.

I will be meeting some of the Indonesian diplomat in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon...

Good show, Petronas... but be careful!

Salomon Smith Barney has given Petronas an upward rating in its latest survey on oil and gas companies worldwide.

The recent binding agreement between Santos and Petronas, and the Papua New Guinea LNG agreement between Exxon Mobil, Santos and Oil Search as transformative agreements for the sector will 'augur well for the industry players in the Asia-Pacific region', it says (read here...).

However, some analysts said Petronas must also take into account its agreements with other parties, locally and abroad, as not to waste too much money on unnecessary spendings.

Petronas and UMW had recently entered a re-negotiation on a USD170 million Naga 2 deal.

Besides, it will have to pay 71 per cent more than Reliance Industries Ltd to rent a drillship. Petronas and BHP Billton Ltd will pay USD640,000 per day from November 2010 to drill Malaysian deep waters.

Petronas, too, has agreed to study Uzbekistan gas-to-fuel plant project as part of its expansion programme abroad.

Now, taking into account the bigger expenditure its has to fork out, the advise to really choose the right partners and places to invest should be well-considered.

Manek terb'Urai'!

Manek Urai terus menjadi milik Pas. Calonnya, Mohd Fauzi Abdullah, 50 menang dengan majoriti tipis 65 undi apabila memperolehi 5348 undi berbanding calon BN, Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat yang meraih 5283 undi.

Memang sengit. Rata-rata Umno mampu meningkatkan sokongannya pada pilihanraya kecil ini. Biarpun tewas, usaha menarik sokongan terhadap kerajaan Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak sebagai persediaan menghadapi pilihanraya umum ke-13 akan datang, sudah membuahkan hasil.

Dari awal lagi, saya sudah menjangkakan pertarungan sengit. Biarpun saya tidak langsung memberi peluang kepada BN dalam posting saya sebelum ini, saya melihat banyak perubahan di segi sikap dan penerimaan pengundi Manek Urai terhadap kerajaan yang ada sekarang.

Umno sudah berusaha membuat yang terbaik. Peningkatan sokongan terhadap kerajaan Najib sudah cukup memberi petanda bahawa beliau makin diterima rakyat di seluruh negara, termasuk di Kelantan sendiri.

Begitupun, beberapa isu mengenai kerajaan Najib yang dirungutkan oleh penduduk Manek Urai dirasakan tidak sampai kepada Perdana Menteri sendiri. Mungkin Tan Sri Muhyiddin menyifatkannya terlalu 'kecil' untuk dimaklumkan kepada Najib. Begitu juga Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.

Kerajaan 100 hari Najib sudah memperkenalkan banyak pembaharuan dan rancangan pembangunan. Slogan 1Malaysia amat diterima baik oleh rakyat. Pemansuhan PPSMI juga disambut baik dan dipuji demi memartabatkan bahasa ibunda.

Misi 'Rakyat Diutamakan' turut membantu calon Umno memberi banyak tentangan terhadap Pas, apalagi dengan keadaan yang hampir disifatkan 'tiada isu langsung' di pihak pembangkang, kecuali isu lama yang diperbaharui.

Tempoh kempen berjalan lancar dan aman. Cuma satu dua insiden di hari pembuangan undi yang sedikit mencacatkan harapan semua pihak agar proses mengundi diharungi tanpa sebarang insiden tidak diingini.

Apa yang cuba saya bentangkan di sini ialah, punca di sebalik kekalahan Umno. Walaupun majoriti Pas menjadi terlalu tipis, angan-angan beberapa pemimpin BN untuk merampas semula Manek Urai banyak bergantung kepada isu yang disuarakan rakyat, yang mereka anggap terlalu 'remeh'.

Selepas 100 hari menjadi PM, Najib memang diterima baik. Ramai penduduk Manek Urai mengiktiraf beliau sebagai pemimpin yang benar-benar berjiwa rakyat. Apa tidaknya, slogan 'Rakyat Diutamakan' sudah memberi gambaran bahawa Najib memang mementingkan kehendak mereka.

Begitupun, dalam usaha Najib menjana pembangunan negara, mungkin beliau bergerak terlalu pantas dalam tempoh 100 hari pertamanya. Pengenalan terlalu banyak program pembangunan, insentif dan kemudahan, beliau dilihat boleh 'tersadung' dalam melaksanakan semua itu.

Jika kerajaan beliau kekal untuk tempoh satu atau dua penggal, mungkin banyak lagi pembaharuan akan diperkenalkan tetapi dalam beberapa hal, bukan semua rakyat 'memberkati' pendekatan sedemikian.

Isu BN (yang disebut sebagai Bini Najib), royalti minyak yang dituntut oleh Kelantan (yang dinafikan oleh kerajaan dan Petronas), isu Altantuya Shaariibuu dan penghapusan kuota 30 peratus Bumiputera dalam pemilikan ekuiti syarikat asing dan bukan Bumiputera, amat 'menggigit' sanubari orang Melayu sendiri.

Langkah meliberalisasikan sektor kewangan dan perkhidmatan adalah isu utama yang dibincangkan oleh orang Melayu, termasuk di Manek Urai sendiri.

Dua sektor ini masih kurang penyertaan Melayu. Jika ada pun, mereka hanya duduk seperti melukut di tepi gantang. Jika mereka cuba bersaing dengan bangsa lain dan orang asing, nescaya mereka tidak memiliki peluang yang banyak.

Dalam tempoh 10, 20 atau 30 tahun akan datang, penyertaan Bumiputera di kedua-dua sektor ini mungkin tiada langsung. Masalah mereka yang terbabit di sektor ini, terutamanya perkhidmatan, kurang didengar oleh wakil kerajaan, apalagi untuk mendapatkan bantuan kewangan daripada bank.

Seruan kerajaan agar bank melonggarkan syarat pinjaman perniagaan, memang tepat pada masanya tetapi kebanyakan yang ditolak adalah permohonan orang Melayu. Monopoli kedua-dua sektor ini tidak pernah menjadi milik orang Melayu, malah tidak akan dikuasai mereka jika agensi kerajaan yang dipertanggungjawabkan membantu mereka hanya bertindak sekadar melepaskan batuk di tangga.

Saya lihat isu ini boleh menjadi 'bom jangka' suatu hari nanti jika kerajaan tidak betul-betul memastikan bahawa orang Melayu dibantu sewajarnya bagi meningkatkan daya saing mereka di pasaran terbuka.

Sebagai contoh, produk orang Melayu amat sukar menembusi pasar raya besar di negara ini. Jika diterima pun, ia akan diletakkan di rak paling bawah.

Satu isu lagi yang mengejutkan saya di Manek Urai ialah mengenai 'kebenaran' Najib berbual selama 20 minit dengan Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Barack Obama baru-baru ini. Walaupun Manek Urai amat terpencil, ada antara golongan terpelajarnya yang mampu menyorot isu itu di laman Internet.

Ada yang menunjukkan kepada saya 'print-out' kenyataan akhbar yang kononnya dikeluarkan oleh Kedutaan Amerika di Kuala Lumpur, yang menafikan perkara itu.

Begitu juga isu kononnya Menteri Kanan Singapura, Lee Kuan Yew menemui Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor secara berasingan ketika dalam rangka lawatannya selama seminggu ke Malaysia baru-baru ini. Isu yang disebut di sini, patutkah Kuan Yew berbuat demikian dan apa fungsi Rosmah di dalam hubungan Malaysia-Singapura.

Kontrak yang sebelum ini dikatakan banyak diberikan kepada Rosmah (ketika Najib belum menjadi PM) turut mengisi desas-desus di Manek Urai. Bekas PM, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sendiri pernah menyebut perkara ini pada zaman Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Sepanjang tempoh berkempen, kerajaan mengumumkan banyak 'gula-gula' untuk penduduk Manek Urai, termasuk jambatan, sekolah baru dan sebagainya. Seperti juga pilihanraya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu pada Januari lepas, terlalu banyak janji ditabur sedangkan rakyat sudah lama 'disogok' dengan benda seperti ini.

Selama lebih 20 tahun di bawah Pas, penduduk Manek Urai hidup sederhana. Biarpun hampir tidak ada langsung projek baru diberikan, mereka mempunyai pendirian bahawa siapa pun yang memimpin Kerajaan Pusat, nasib hidup mereka tidak akan berubah. Daripada itu, eloklah menyokong Tok Guru.'

Keputusan pilihanraya kecil ini pun tidak disiarkan secara langsung oleh rangkaian televisyen Media Prima. Pengumuman hanya disiarkan sebagai nota kaki. Lainlah jika keputusan berpihak kepada BN, pengumumannya akan dibuat secara langsung.

'Sour grapes', kata orang putih. Memang benar, adakalanya media yang merosakkan peluang BN untuk menang.

Renungkanlah....

Manek Urai: No chance for BN

Manek Urai. Nothing differs in BN approach. My personal observation, its not between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. Its more about Umno and Pas vendetta.

No doubt that there were sweet words about 'Pas-Umno unity talks', the atmosphere here is rather sombre. No issue, except the bag of goodies brought by some Federal leaders to woo voters.

Umno approach is still the same. They never learnt from the defeat in Kuala Terengganu. Too many goodies, so many promises. As usual, the parade of luxury cars has begun. Pemuda and Puteri, especially, were turning this landlocked area as their arena to gain personal mileage.

They were quite okay in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau, keeping their heads low as possible.

However in Manek Urai, they were up to their galore again. I dont think it will augur well for Umno. The folks of Manek Urai are 70 per cent Pas supporter. Irrespective of how much money and how many projects you flush them, their domain will remain.

Perhaps Tan Sri Muhyiddin should call a briefing among those involved in Manek Urai. With just two more days to polling, they should concentrate more on talking sense. The Manek Urai people do respect Umno but after living under Pas for so many years, they know how to survive.

Please tell a few of Umno/BN speakers to leave Manek Urai. Carpet bombings are normal things in 'ceramahs' but personal assassination is not the kind of thing the people like to hear.

I doubt Umno will win this time (although I want them to).

"Biaso la. Demo tu maghi, janji bui mace-mace. Bakpo dulu tok maghi? Kami biaso doh hidup tagho ni. Pah ko, Umno ko... tadok bezo ko orghe sini. Kami sokong ustaz pun molek..."

Bernama TV incurs more loses...

Spoke to someone about an hour ago in Setiawangsa. This former senior Bernama guy said Bernama TV has accumulated losses of more than RM21 million, up from RM14 million reported early this year.

How could? I though AZ was running the organisation well enough.

However, this guy who once was one of the forces in Bernama TV set-up said some 'silly' mistakes led to the ugly record book.

"How could you let Bernama TV to become a part of Astro? Why must TV1 and TV2 or other private TV stations be allowed into Astro channel.

"At one time, Astro was paying Bernama but it stopped. Bernama TV and TV1 and TV2 are government's. Astro is a pay station. To include this three stations as part of Astro rights are basically wrong.

"One who subscribe to Astro will not be able to watch this stations should Astro channel is discupted by bad weather. They are free channels. For Astro to use its decorder on this stations, is not a fair game and they should pay Bernama instead.

"The government, especially Rais Yatim should look into this," he said.

Should AZ be replaced?

"MESTILAH!" he said. But who wants to clear the mess and just walks in to 'cuci mangkuk?'

Manek Urai needs no bloggers... Really?

"The question to hire two or three Umno bloggers for Manek Urai by-election does not arise, not just yet. We may not need bloggers there..."

That was the answer I got from a high-ranking Umno leader about the possibility of 'employing' few pro-BN bloggers to help the campaign.

Few minutes ago, I stumbled into A Voice posting about 'To Blog or Not To Blog' for Manek Urai (MU). Interesting piece.

Reading postings on pro-Pas and the Opposition blogs make me shudder. They were quick with their ammo, gimmicks and nasty words about Umno.

So far, no Umno or pro-BN bloggers have shown any indication about the opportunity in MU. Although its gonna be a tough one, Umno could at least deploy a good team of Media/blogger to help sharpening up its tool.

I wont comment further...

Financial crisis pushes more of world's poor into hunger

The United Nations committee tasked with building alliances in the global fight against hunger has warned that the world financial crisis will aggravate malnutrition among the most vulnerable in developing countries.

According to the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN), recent estimates suggest that soaring food prices combined with the global economic meltdown will push more than 1 billion of the world’s poorest people into hunger in 2009.

The group is pressing governments to invest in programmes that increase the productivity of smallholder farmers, strengthen the livelihoods of the poorest households, and supply local markets with affordable and safe foods for a healthy diet, in the margins of the upcoming summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations in Italy.

“Experience from previous food crises show that the first move by poor households is to reduce food expenses and cut down on non-staple food consumption,” the UNSCN said in a news release.

“These coping mechanisms first affect the diversity and safety of diets, the size of portions and ultimately the energy intake,” it added.

With the global economy expected to shrink by 1.7 per cent, gross domestic product (GDP) growth in developing countries forecast to slow to 2.1 per cent and recession predicted for those nations, a “shocking” 53 million people will join the ranks of extremely poor in 2009, on top of the jump from 130 to 155 million in the previous three years, said the Committee.

The poor economy coupled with rising food prices in many countries has meant that the working hours needed to feed a household of five increased by 10 hours a week or more, and with higher unemployment the number of family members supported by wage-earners is growing.

The Committee said that the resulting malnutrition has economic and social consequences for any population, including a deterioration in the ability to work, lower potential incomes for individuals and households, and higher health costs in the short and long term.