Economic Tsunami

I think the economic tsunami getting nearer.

Khoo Kay Peng sent us more bad news when he first touched down in US yesterday to take part in the US Government IVLP on I-Vote 2008. The situation may be more serious than most of the Malaysian including our leaders is thinking.

Today, the market resumed sliding despite a few measures had been taken. Nikkei stock index falling to a 26-year low, Hong Kong's Han Seng Index tumbled 12.7 percent to 11,015.84, its lowest close in more than four years. In the Philippines, the key index plummeted 12.3 percent to 1,713.83 points, triggering a circuit-breaker that automatically halted trading for 15 minutes.

Our Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, should feel relax and no worries for his next promotion to be the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, after sweeping 100% nominations so far as UMNO Party President in next March.

Thus, he could now concentrate and put all his effort to work out measures to face the coming economic tsunami. He should temporary forget about his eurocopters, on-loan RM5 bil injection to the cronies stock market or others white elephant mega projects.

Work somethings smart and practical not like the young Level 4's 'ciku' previously. Do not forget we still have the alternative stand-by out there.

"Food Market" not "Share Market"

Ouiiiiiiii......please wake up, our most respectable, honours, smart & experience New Finance Minister and probably the PM in-waiting,

When we urged the government to assist the market to prevent potential economy turmoil, we were so thankful that the new Finance Minister listened and act immediately.......by announcing to inject RM5bil into the market, precisely the 'share market'.

Our honourable FM, I guess you and your beloved wife did not visit the real food market for quite a long time. What we mean is the market which served us daily food, and not the market which serves the greediness of rich people.

The other thing made us more worry is the money not come from the government pocket, instead is from our own pocket through EPF. As you know, we work so hard so far and earn only a little. Even this, we still have no regret to contribute fraction of our little income into our retirement fund, hoping that our basis livelihood is protected when we getting old.

Now, I am not sure whether you have rights to decide for us to give loan to a "SDN BHD" company to "invest" in "share market". Don't you know that the RM5bil could not even sufficient to contra the losses of one of the 10 richest man in Malaysia in share market.

We are not the economist, but i think we should agreed that RM5bil is too little for share market but means a lot for "food market".

Pleaselah, don't made us upset again. RM5bil is not sufficient and not the way to bring back the confidence of people to the share market.

MCA New Line Up

MCA members finally came to a decision of "dare dare choice".

Ong Tee Keat never been a mainstream list in the party or favorite leader. He had a very hard time along his political career in MCA, but considered fortunate as there are always members that supporting him so far to slot in someone contrary in the mainstream leadership in MCA.

Thus, he struggle but succeed to find a space as Youth President, Vice President and now finally, the Party President. So now, he is not 'lone ranger' and could not be 'lone ranger' anymore.

Dr Chua Soi Lek made a come back successfully despite of his sex scandal. After watching MCA debate, we could feel and should admit that he is serious, never give up and capable. He had a better track record and more outspoken as compared with more mainstream approach Ka Chuan.

Successful of other leaders like Yen Yen, Tiong Lai showing that the majority members' desperation and eagerness to reform the party by the new line up.

The members level had made the decision of "dare dare choice", now is the turn of new leaders to "dare dare act".

Hindraf Ban. Siapa Lebih Melampau?

The ban and declared Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as an illegal organisation again shows how BN (UMNO) government handle criticism or appeal from the People.

They also again missed the opportunity to comfort and bring back the supports and confident of a significant and neglected minority in the country of his ruling.

This remind us when the Chinese society submitted their Appeal or "Su Qiu" (诉求）just before the 1999 election to ex-PM. The PM said after the election that the Chinese society acted like communist and he was forced to accept the Su Qiu to get votes. This hurt the Chinese society and the disappointment is planted.

The ex-PM is lucky as he handover the power to the current PM, who gave hopes for change. The PEOPLE gave a chance to the current government in 2004. However, the current government made the same move against Hindraf and do you think the coming-PM will enjoy the same as next election?

The allegation of "kerajaan terpaksa mengharamkan Hindraf kerana mereka terbabit dalam perbagai aktiviti melampau, termasuk demonstrasi jalanan dan tunjuk perasaan."B. Harian. is totally unreasonable.

Siapa lebih melampau?

Dare to Angry, Dare to Speak, but Dare to Act?

"Dare To Angry, Dare To Speak" is the hottest slogan of MCA party election this year. All members especially the candidates show how "dares" they are everyday, critising their big brothers especially, thinking that the "darest" will win the highest post.

Even though the Chinese papers and some TV channels allocate a big column for MCA party election, however the people outside the party in general did not show high interest about the election as compared with UMNO election and current economy turmoil. Thus, all speaks, slogan and propaganda are just "own talk, own shiok" within their party members.

Many People still never give up and hope that MCA could reform and represent the PEOPLE rights.Thus, when MCA decided to stay in BN and "observe or monitor" how UMNO reforms, never forget that the PEOPLE also monitor MCA performance when they handle issues created by thier components especially UMNO.

So, "Dare to Angry, Dare to Speak", but the the question is "Date to Act"?

The recent actions/speeches against ISA show that MCA was still struggling how far they could get angry. When the reporter was arrested under ISA, MCA jumped out immedietly to get angry as they knew that some of the UMNO ministers were also object. (The joke part was I received a few sms saying that Gerakan, MCA and even MIC were working very hard to release Tan Hoon Cheng, the reporter.)

However, when Teresa Kok was not released by ISA, MCA also reduces their anger against ISA as they knew that UMNO will not happy if they protest.

The funnist part is they totally Dare Not Angry and Dare Not Speak when RPK is not released until now.

This is the furthest anger they can go so far.

Keep it up, MCA. Keep on angry, Keep on Speak and hopefully Keep on Act.

The Big Depression

This is the picture of a mother of seven children during The Big Depression in 1929. Here is some description about the Depression: The Great Depression took place from 1930 to 1939. During this time the prices of stock fell 40%. 9,000 banks went out of business and 9 million savings accounts were wiped out. 86,00 businesses failed, and wages were decreased by an average of 60%. The unemployment rate went from 9% all the way to 25%, about 15 million jobless people. I am not an economist and do not know if this will happen this round. Talking with my senior business partner and he gave me a simple formula,

Recession + Deflation = Depression

He said probably this will be the depression that everyone may have one in his life time. The last one in 1929. Sound scary. However, I only experience Recession that happened 1985 & 1997, but I could not understand Deflation as only Inflation all this while. However, I know Depression is very scary and it may kill people. (remind me Leslie Cheong, the Hong Kong star).

Hope that Malaysia could get away of it as promised by our New Smart Finance Minister.

Like This also called "Father of Democracy"

After a few months of "sai nai" and "merajuk" to its big brother UMNO, KTK back to its '3 legs' shows again. He anoounced that Gerakan will remain as BN components without any official debate. The new official President said that the "emotional reaction" by its 60% of members that originally intend to leave BN had been cooled down. Subsequently he called the outgoing PM as "Father of Democracy", forgetting that his picture was just torn by one the members not long ago and until now, no apology is made.

Gerakan will of course made their own call to determine their future. However, if Gerakan intention is to regain power in Penang, I am of opinion they face more obstacles as compared of they contest by their own.

1) It will be a difficult dream for Gerakan to gain back CM of Penang even if BN won Penang in the next election. Besides Pakatan Rakyat and the penang people, do you think UMNO and especially MCA will let the CM post to fly away again.

2) Do you think Gerakan will be given the most numbers of seats again in the next election, looking at they lost all in 2008.

3) If Gerakan sincerely want to stand up where it fell down, they can only depend on themselves to work hard and alone as they did in 1969. In case they gain sufficient influential supports again in the next election, then they will have more negotiation power.

I would think that KTK could forget about to reform the coalition and as for "Father of Democracy", I would agreed with Khoo Kay Peng that he is more an accidental agent of change.

The Change

In 2004, PEOPLE elected for CHANGE, as he promised to CHANGE.

In 2008, PEOPLE still elected for CHANGE, because he did not keep his promise to CHANGE.

In 2012, PEOPLE will still elect for CHANGE, so, whoever could keep their promise to change will win.

Taipei Study Trip (II)

4) High Speed Train

Even Taiwan has their high speed (bullet) train now. The train travel at about 350km/hr from Taipei to Kaohsiung taken about 90 minutes. This is what most of the Malaysian dream for (as compared to KLCC, KLIA and many other white elephant projects) if one day we can have the same from Padang Besar/Alor Setar to Johor Bahru, via all the major cities.

I travelled to a few countries recent years, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, East China, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Jakarta, etc. It was noticed that in terms of infrastructure, the electric train system is the most cost effective way to link up all cities and people. Of course, unless we still satisfy compared ourselves with Thailand, Vietnam, Jakarta, etc.

About double tracks or whatever, we are still talking, talking, talking,............... probably still could not decide which crony should get it.

5) The Economic Activities

This picture taken at one of the shopping street at small city in Tai Chung at 11.30pm on Tuesday night.

The island has about 20 over millions population, exposed to natural disaster like typhoons and earthquake. No natural resources like petroleum. Politically threatened by China.

But the aggressive & dynamic Taiwanese created a magic in their economic activities either in high-tech technologies and agricultural.

Similary, we in Malaysia, free from all the above disaster, also talked about high-tech industries, high-tech agricultural, MSC, etc., etc., for last many years. But now still hope and depending on foreign investment to boost our economy.

In short, there are many things to study in Taiwan.

However, I still feel that Malaysia is a better and more beautiful country. What we need are just be more hardworking, be more practical, be cleaner and smarter government management and get lost all political warlords.

Taiwan Study Trip (I)

I am back from the "study trip" in Taiwan to my beloved country this evening and herewith share some of the observations during the last 7 days.

1) Agricultural

Certainly we have to touch on the important agricultural sector. Due to I am not the "somebody" in the country like our MPs, I could only study from the local Taiwanese and the fruit farmer at the road side.

Besides their famous high-tech technologies in industrialiar sector, a lot of R&D and technologies are also implemented in the agricultural sector. A more quality fruits and food (rice, vege, etc) are produced for the country and export.

The interesting part was even the road side farmer knew that our MPs 'ran away' away from Malaysia to Taiwan last few weeks.

2) Typhoon Jangmi

We met Typhoon Jangmi, the strongest typhoon of the year, battering Taiwan with strong winds and torrential rain on Sunday in Hualian.

The typhoon had ceased the school and company operation for few days. Roads blocked, bridges broken, transportation stop, flooding, etc.

The 24-hour TV transparent reporting and effective rectification works from the authority had soften the damages and we could continue our journey smoothly.

3) TV Program

Taiwan had 100 over TV channels. I am impressed with their Religion and Political TV channels. All religions are free to set up their TV channels. The TV channels had all the freedom to organise political talk to criticise the opposition party and also the ruling party.

to be continue.........