Author: bajunid

TH – Great Minds Think Alike…No?

It has been while since I scribbled stuff on this blog. Been busy, I put off writing stuff in favour of doing something else. It’s bad though, very bad, considering I have a long list of things to write about.

So what happened since then? PH government doing a very bad job, some of the ministers are downright ‘tin losing’ (empty cans, made a loud noise but otherwise empty on the inside) and the state of our politics have been made worse with many of the folks on my Facebook Newsfeeds talking about nothing but ‘Melayu tu, Cina ni’ and Islam tu, kapiaq ni’. It’s super depressing, we can’t seemed to get past this divisive nature of race  and religion politics. Remember people, we can do race politics without the divisive nature of it. But alas, people are not logical, we are psychological.

Alright, back to the topic at hand, Tabung Haji. The just announced ‘hibah’ (gift of money to depositors) to be exact. Historically, 2018 was the lowest, by a mile, at 1.25%. A lot has been said about why 2018 hibah was pretty poor, go and read them up. What it all boils down to, TH’s asset and liability position only allowed them to give that much.

HIBAH-TH-2018_0

For those who are a little behind on TH asset and liability situation and the related transfer of its asset (about RM20 billion) to an SPV can read up on it HERE. Pretty well written and can be easily understood by most I believe.

What I wanted to touch on is THIS Facebook posting by Ely. I do not know her personally, however seeing a few of my friends quoting the article and commenting on TH, I was then inspired to write again. A big thank you to Ely Raziah.

So to start with, Ely, right of the bat, attacked all accountants, finance and banking folks. among the words written includes ‘jumud’, too much adhering to guidelines, can’t see the big picture and close minded. She then also knocked on these accountants for being too black and white, and not seeing the greys. And the thing that really made me want to write this reply is, these accountants are too much into ‘technicalities’.

Okay let’s stop there, I don’t want to regurgitate too much or else I’ll literally start to vomit. She keeps on talking about technicalities stopping us to see the big picture. She wants us to ignore the technicalities because the big picture or end goal is much more important. End goal of enriching the economy of the muslims is what she’s alluding to.

Let us be clear, technicalities that she’s referring to is what we call standard or guidelines or rules. Imagining not playing a game according to the rules. Yes, the goal of a football match is to score a goal, imagine when we have a team who suddenly use their hands to carry the ball into the goal area and claim a win. When asked, oh don’t talk about the technicalities, it’s important we know the big picture objective. It’s to win right? So we won lah.

A more real and grounded example, imagine someone selling you a car but not wanting to tell you the year it was made. When asked, “Ahhh those are technicalities, the big picture is you want to buy a car right? The mileage you don’t need to care lah, it’s technicalities. just buy this good car!”. So what do you think? It’s fun if we are on the side of the car seller lah.

This situation of ignoring the technicalities or closing one eye on the technicalities is what destroying us. It’s the least Islamic thing to do. Especially when we do it to achieve our goals. The end never justifies the means (Matlamat tidak menghalalkan cara). It’s the most unIslamic things to do. Talk about man-made, this is exactly it. Ikut suka mak bapak nak buat apa is the most Malay and Malaysian thing and it’s not Islamic at all. We can’t change the rules just because we wanted to do something.

Just because we want to put a few billion ringgit into the muslim economy this Ramadhan we change the rules? Just because we want to build a few masjid we change the rules? just because we want to increase the amount that goes to zakat we change the rules?

Rules are there for a reason, changing it and not following it as and when we like, kinda defeat the purpose for it to be there in the first place. No one wants to play a game where the rules change as and when the players like, especially when only one side can change the rules as they like, especially when that side changes the rules silently. It’s almost the same as cheating! and it’s a slippery slope to be on.

Lastly, another issue with Melayu, when something is wrong, just swept it under the carpet or under the table. This is public’s money, not your children’s money and certainly not your children exam result. It’s not similar to the analogy that Ely made about the parent and child.

So it’s not something that can be done under table. Get our head screwed right, all government bodies out there are to be scrutinised by the people. If something is wrong, it’s better if it’s out there, and if something is so good and right, it’s also better if it’s outside there.

So yeah, it is not a case of ‘how one approaches the issue’. It’s about declaring hibah the right way according to the rules. If the government wants to give the Muslim’s community economy a few billions ringgit, do it the right way. There are many ways it can be done but obviously not by cheating on the rules of TH. Remember, the end does not justify the means, no matter how noble the end goal is.

And please don’t equate TH and KLSE as the kids of the government. Now it kinda made sense why she hates the finance people so much. She probably doesn’t understand it much. Let’s hope she will one day understand how it works.

Sorry Ely, in this case our minds don’t think alike and it’s probably because I use my brain while you use your heart.

Peace be unto you and all.

To Pay or Not To Pay…

I’ve been fascinated by the phrase To be, or not to be”, it says so much and yet so little, that’s William Shakespeare indeed.

Recently The Star reported Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, our newly appointed Khazanah MD said, “The government is not the sole decision-maker in whether toll rates should be reduced or maintained as it also depended on the stakeholders”. He continued, “They will not simply dishonour the contract. No government can break those contract. You can read the full news HERE.

 

shahril epf
Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan. He was the CEO of EPF since 2013 before moving to EPF.

Naturally, I wanted to know who these stakeholders are, so I straight away googled the owner of PLUS. In my head, questions flying around, “Khazanah can’t even negotiate with them? They are the cronies of previous government or something like that?”

So the first Google search result for the phrase “plus highway shareholders” returned THIS. it’s another article in The Star back in September 2017. Apparently there are only two shareholder for PLUS Malaysia Bhd, UEM Group 51% and EPF 49%.

So in my head, God damn you UEM, you won’t agree to at least reduce the tolls? Who owns you, I want to know!

So I googled “UEM Group Shareholder”, lo and behold, the first search result returned UEM website with the sentence “UEM Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the strategic investment fund of the Government of Malaysia.”

Then it hit me, “The stakeholders” here are EPF, then UEM and in turn Khazanah of whom he Shahril himself is the MD. Is this another case of “Najib, mintak dekat Najib, Najib kata boleh, dan bagi dekat Najib” as popularised by our Dear Mat Sabu. Although this time it’s Shahril instead of Najib.

A guy who helmed EPF, and now Khazanah, spouting out nonsense like that. Is he taking us for ride? Just because one is of Oxford and Cambridge educated, it surely doesn’t mean one is full of wisdom. To me, in this regard, he’s a load of bulls. There’s no stakeholder this and that, what it takes is just the will to make it happen. That’s all, no need to spin here and there Datuk Khazanah MD.

And people still wonder why I despise most of the top people at GLC so much.

Adios, and peace be unto all of you.

The Prince and the Youngster

This article on our youngest minister really hit me hard. Here’s a guy who shared on his twitter page, his experience working with the person he really admires, and out of nowhere, our regal prince came and took a jibe at the young minister.

The Prince and the Youngster.

I can’t help but surmise that our prince just could let our dear Tun get all the attention and admiration he deserves. In the past, our prince had also took a jibe at Tun before GE14, not forgetting to mention the conflict our dear Tun had with his late grandfather.

He also said “Don’t change the boat if the engine is not broken, don’t even change the skipper but allow HM The Sultan of Johor and I to work with the skipper”. We all know what he meant by this.

Rewinding a little further back, our prince’s JDT Facebook Page has also been saying things that are unpatriotic and unbecoming of a Malaysian. I have said my piece in a Facebook posting I made on 31 August. and not long after that, the good prince complained that he and his father are being monitored on social media, and I’ve said my piece as well.

And today, here we are again, saying my good piece for the good prince, yet again. My prince, one’s age is not the absolute measure for wisdom or stupidity. Looking at the young minister, he is already a full cabinet minister. On the other hand, many, many years ago, I was still trying to figure out what to do with my life after I got married at 25.

After the stories of Tun’s wonderful UN speech, we have several people coming out sharing similar experience with Tun, on him being ‘a master at his own work’ validating our young minister’s ‘claim’. You can check them HERE and HERE.

I can’t but feel something is off when our good prince is in the news for all the wrong reasons this year. Perhaps something can be learned HERE.

Daulat Tuanku. Peace be unto all of you.

Thinking and Writing

So after close to a year not having my laptop in working condition, I now have it fixed. It was suffering from a logic board malfunction. After spending a good amount of money, I managed to get it working again. I love this MacBook, bought it back in 2012. It’s still very good at doing its thing. Getting a new one will cost me close to RM10K. I don’t think I should be spending that kind of money for a laptop.

Earlier today, I watched our dear Tun M talk on Asia Society, he was asked a question that probably get ask almost every single time he is interviewed. The host was in awe of Tun’s stamina and his great health so he asked where did such health come from.

Tun, reply in the simplest way, we need to be active all the time. Both physically and mentally. What strikes me was when he specifically mentioned READING (nothing new here, we all know he’s a avid reader), THINKING and WRITING.

Thinking and writing is what really made me go “Huh! I know this, this is not the first time I heard this. It was the very reason why I was inspired to write back in the days”.

So, armed with the trusty laptop that has served me since 2012, I started to write again. Not really a heavy hitting post, but just something to get it moving. What do you do before starting a full workout? Just a simple warm-up, right?

Going forward I’ll try to write at least 2-3 times a week. Mostly a commentary of things happening around us. You have got to exercise at least 2-3 times a week right?

So, till we meet again…soon-ish…a certain prince has caught my attention recently.

Peace be unto you.

Of Rafizi and Khairy…

I’ve always been fascinated by Rafizi and Khairy, the ability for them to debate make their rival knees bent, the ability for them to tweet and have their followers retweet and share it, is astounding. However, I’m very much sceptical or should I say, I doubt what they say is a product of high intelligence (for the lack of a better word). Anyway, I don’t really like people with great oratory skills. Easy to be conned by them. Had a bad experience with one guy like that once, Canggih lah, Anggun lah, anjakan paradigma lah. In the end, it’s all for show. Talk only, no substance.

Anyway, back to our two guys, take this piece of statement by Khairy to illustrate my point. A few weeks back when TNB electricity hike was announced, knowing that he has a good platform to speak and at the same time win the hearts of his audience, said a few things targeted at TNB (Source: The Sun).

“I am bound by the Cabinet decision but, as (Umno) Youth chief, I felt the need to raise it (displeasure over the tariff hike). I also raised it in Cabinet.

“There are two parts to the hike, one is about the rising cost of fuel. We understand that but TNB’s profits are just too high,” he said.

“But for me and the rakyat, that is not good enough,” he added.

First, He’s a Cabinet Minister. He should know that above all, he agreed to the hike. For better or for worse, you need to stick to that decision. If you are dead serious about your stand of not agreeing with the decision, then make your point heard in the Cabinet Meeting.

Second, What’s the point he’s trying to make in telling us that TNB should not be thinking about profits only? First of all, TNB is not asking for a hike in tariff. It was the Cabinet who decided to remove Gas subsidies and also introduce LNG at market prices. To pay for the removal of these subsidies, someone has to bear the brunt, the Cabinet (this means you and your friends Khairy) has decided that TNB tariff hike is the way to go.

So, the only reason for you Khairy to be saying those things to TNB at the UMNO assembly is to serve only one purpose. To act as if you care about the public. Behind us the Rakyat you agree with the Cabinet, in front of us, you tell us, I don’t agree with them, they all salah, I tak salah and they paksa I to agree.

What the heck is that Mr Minister? If you really do not agree, quit your job as a Minister and stop being with the lot that you don’t agree with. You Mr Minister, is the type of person that we dislike to be friends with when we’re kids. Depan cakap lain, belakang cakap lain. I’d rather listen to people with principal that they stand by their decision. If you can’t agree then don’t be with the whole lot. Period.

Also, TNB gets nothing from the increase in tariff, of the 4.99 sen increase, only 0.90 sen (18%) will go to TNB for capital and operational expenditure to do system improvement for the next four years. The rest goes to Petronas (3.92 sen or 79%) and coal 0.17 sen or 3.4%).’ TNB profit? Zero (Source: mole.my). Please do you homework before you spouts off nonsense.

So to all of Khairy’s fans out there, be careful of a guy like this. Don’t need to remind you about his colourful past history while Pak Lah was still the PM.

Now let’s talk about Rafizi, He’s the the golden boy of PKR. The same can be said about Khairy, Golden boy of UMNO. The problem with Rafizi to me is, his research (or the lack of it) on his subject matter before he started to talk about it. Take the latest ‘ruhroh’ he did when he claimed Putrajaya sold national assets to achieve 2013 deficit target.

Now I don’t need to write a lot of things about him when we have the extra-ordinary SatD who has explained in details, Rafizi’s claim. I’ll just help to clear some air and let’s start with an extract of Rafizi claims:

  • Shocking proof of Putrajaya’s poor fiscal management
  • I suspect the plan to sell national assets have already occurred because it is intended to achieve the 4 per cent target deficit for 2013 which actually had failed.
  • This means national assets have already been sold and mortgaged so that it would gain returns in 2013 to close the national income and spending gap.

Let me just explains it a little bit, not rocket science stuff, although Rafizi who is a graduate of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, found it hard to understand. When he claimed that Govt has started selling off the country’s asset very recently just to achieve 2013 deficit target, he’s very much off target. Malaysia have started the exercise of asset securitisation way back in 2004. It’s not something that the Govt do this year just to achieve the target. The main reason why would we securitise our mortgages is to get unlock future value, basically get the money now instead of later in the future. This will also create liquidity in the market.

This get me thinking, how can an MP get this so wrong? He was shocked to know the Govt just sold off national’s assets. To start, this is not equivalent to selling of the National assets, secondly, this is certainly not just to achieve the 2013 deficit target and third, this is of course nothing new (started way back in 2004). The practice has been there for almost 10 years. How did he get to be so wrong? Then I realised, I believe may have Rafizi employed several interns via Keadilan Internship Program. Perhaps he gets all these ‘info’ from these interns and quickly use it to shoot the Govt, via a press conference to boot. Without checking the facts and figures. Yup, lacks homework there buddy.

Mr Rafizi, please take my advise, try to do some sort of homework before you start to talk. You are still young, trigger happy to shoot someone, sama lah macam your friend Khairy. You are another type I don’t want to be close to, asyik nak tembak ja. Check betoi2 dulu, baru tembak. All this lack of research only shows how uninformed you are. How can I follow you if you are THAT uninformed? I like you, but continue to be lazy and not do your homework, sorry, tanak kawan you dah.

To all of you fans of these two young chap, please listen to them with a pinch kilo of salt. Whatever they say are usually half truths, lacks research or just outright lies. I urge you folks to be careful. Wallahualam.

2.5 Billion Cash Reserves He Toll Us…

I was following up on the news on the toll rates hike and found this article on Yahoo News.

Yahoo News

Hah! So, yesterday I’ve said our ministers are no so brilliant, people surrounding our PM not so brilliant and all. But apparently, Menteri Besar Selangor is one brilliant guy. Not only is he pretending to be a hero by ‘giving out orders to the BOD representing the state to advise the concessionaires not to increase toll’. He’s also pretending to be rich and oh-so-efficient with the Rakyat’s money…RM2.5 Bil cash reserves…Berjaya tuuuu.

Cheeewaaahhhhh. Berjanya nyaaaaa.
Cheeewaaahhhhh. Berjaya nyaaaaa.

Auditor General’s report stated that Selangor used less than 50% of the funds given by the Federal Govt to maintain the roads. Total underspending of RM631 Mil. You guys can get the details in the article.

So that explains where the RM2.5 Bill cash reserves come from perhaps? This works out to be…a whopping 25% of the reserves! Hah! wonder where the remaining 75% comes from?

Oh wait, perhaps all the roads in Selangor are super smooth already? No potholes, no uneven roads, no broken signage at the side of the roads, no broken divider. Selangor roads are so good that we don’t need to spend the money to maintain the road.

Ask yourselves, are the roads in Selangor so good that we don’t need to maintain it anymore? I know that Shah Alam/Kelang area near my place certainly needs some repairing. Been like that for quite sometime already.You don’t believe what I say? Well the same report from the Auditor General stated that 545 respondents in Klang, Gombak and Shah Alam showed 80 percent of them expressing dissatisfaction with the condition of their local roads. I’m not the only one, hundreds of people are saying the same thing.

Basically, he’s not efficiently spending the money given by the Federal Govt. If this happens to me in my current company, the money will be taken away from my department for sure. Or worse, I will be deemed as unable to perform my duties effectively and efficiently.

So let me give you MB of Selangor some advise from a Rakyat Marhein point of view. First, During the time of The Caliph, the reserves are almost always zero. Meaning, it’s fully utilised to make sure the lives of the people are upheld. Simpan banyak buat buah berlagak buat apa? So, don’t boast that you have RM2.5 Bil reserves when your roads and Rakyat are still not living well. Secondly, Don’t boast to have huge reserves when it’s not your money to begin with. It’s the money given by Federal Govt for you to fix the road.  You’ve been shouting to the top of your lungs that the Govt is running on deficit, well, you Mr MB of Selangor, are hoarding the money. If you don’t need it, return it lah. Unless you want to use it for something else that’s good for the people…like raising your salary and also the rest of the EXCO/ADUN in Selangor. That will definitely help to repair all problems we have in maintaining the roads in Selangor.

I Toll You So…

I have not been following the ‘Toll increase next year” story as I’ve been quite busy with work recently. Not to mention my spotty internet connection making it harder for me to read the news. Normally, while sitting on my man-throne every morning, I can read quite a number of articles, now, I can only read a select few.

So, I’ve been catching up with some news today, and yes, it’s about the increase in highway toll. There have been a lot of people saying that Govt have made an announcement on this, searched the web for a few minutes, I still can’t find anything concrete about the announcement. Bernama carries this article…

Bernama

The article did not mention any official announcement being made except the fact that while answering some question from the reporters on the toll hikes, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid said it’s unavoidable since (1) it’s in the contract and (2) govt already postpone the increase in 2011 so second postponement would really cost the govt lots of money…millions!

The piece of news also mention that Works Minister saying more-or-less the same thing, that the rates are due to be revised next year as per the contracts with the concessionaires.

Because of these two nice gentlemen, all hell breaks loose. Both sides of theParliament saying things, the Opposition are having a party…again. On a side note, there have been far too many parties over at the Opposition sides nowadays. Facebook and Twitter are a blazin’ and so do messaging apps across Whatapps and WeChat and Line and whatever means of communications one can think.

All of them are saying, one thing, “Datuk Seri Najib and the Gomen sucks”. “Everything oso increase and the latest one is the highway toll”.

Fast forward a day or two, we have Dato’ Seri Anwar and Tan Sri Abdul Khalid coming out, telling all and sundry, “Kita mengarahkan ahli lembaga pengarah dalam PKNS untuk membuat beberapa cadangan meminta syarikat konsesi tidak menaikkan kadar tol tersebut demi menjaga kepentingan rakyat”

Yup, even when there is no final decision yet on toll hikes, no official announcement what so ever that toll rates will increase, heck, even the toll concessionaires haven’t received any notification from the Govt on toll hikes. Basically, they are putting a stop to something that’s not even started. Better yet, it’s like stopping a train that’s not only not going to move, in fact the train is not even there! See the article on The Star, “

The Star

So, the Facebook and Twitter are again a blazin’ with posts and honouring Selangor Govt. efforts. Dato’ Seri Anwar post on this has garnered more than 7500 likes and almost 500 shares within about an hour.

Why am I writing all these? I don’t know, perhaps because I’m appalled at all the stupidity in this. Don’t the Ministers, in this case, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid and also Datuk Fadilah know that talk of any increase in price be it the highway toll or the bloody Nasi Lemak at Kak Izzah’s stall is bloody sensitive? A simple mention of it will turn into National news, not to mention Facebook and Twitter will be a blazin’ with this news and people will start to spin it like gasing sampai berlubang lantai. Wahid was the CEO of Maybank for cry in’ out loud. Takkan tak reti2 jugak?

Not only are the Rakyat angry at you Mr Gomen, the opposition are hitching this train like no body business while you Mr Gomen, are left back there at the station.

Anyway, I’ve been telling many people, in fact people have been telling many people, that the PM needs to surround himself with people that are brilliant enough to help him steer this ship called Malaysia. So if the PM were to ask my opinion of this…I’m just going to say….I toll you so…

Being a Malay and a Malaysian

Over the weekend I was bed-bound, stricken with a heavy dose of diarrhoea. I didn’t do a lot of things being aside from reading a heavy dose of blog posts. Some of the more interesting blog posts are from anak si hamid. She’s a ~70 years old lady from Singapore who was a teacher. I followed the blog when it first started several years ago after being introduced by Rocky Bru. What draws it to me is the heavy dose of ‘what does it means to be a Malay’. This particular para that I read (way back in 2008) struck a chord in me, it still resonates within me from time to time. I’ll reproduce it verbatim.

The Malays are always going on about ‘berbudi bahasa’. And yet Malay men AND ‘hijab-ed’ women as well, both young and old have left me standing with my bags on the LRT while they remained seated, sometimes pretending to sleep; they have cut the queue and pushed in front of me at cashier’s counters without blinking an eyelid, they have knocked into me without saying a word of apology and they sullenly take our food orders without any thank you even though we show our appreciation by thanking them! Islam Hadhari? They first have to learn to be Malays- polite Malays like their grandfathers and great-grandfathers who were untainted by the desire to be Orang Putih celop or Arab-celup

This piece was published way back in 2008. This may sound like an old lady scolding young people about manners but sadly, it’s that. We boast of our Islamic tendencies, we declared that we are an Islamic country, we had Islam Hadhari as the centre piece of our nation’s progress, we demand for Hudud, we even shout ‘Allahu Akhbar’ every time time our politician finishes a sentence in his speech. Unfortunately, we lack manners still. We need a 70-yr old makcik to blog, scold the young folks.

Anyway, I digress, back to the main reason why I decided to write something today. Her latest post again struck a chord in me. It’s titled “Perfidy” (Defined as the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy). I urge everyone to read it and see if it struck your chord.

Talking about chords, I’m not terribly fond of Facebook nowadays. There’s too much negativity emitting from my timeline and my chords are all in a bind reading them posts. Strangely, the negativity doesn’t seemed to appear when I’m talking to my friends face-to-face. The negativity is almost exclusively through Facebook posts only. I’m now starting to think that perhaps the real person is the one on FB instead of the one in real life.

Personally, I think Facebook is just the means to communicate, it can be a phone, it can be face-to-face and it can also be a piece of paper with words written on it. So, as a Malay Muslim, let’s think and think again if what we are posting on the Net reflects who we are. Are we the kind of person who only complain about work/family/friends/politicians day-in and day-out? In a nutshell, are we that big of a complainer?

Answer is yes! Malaysian are famous as a big complainer. We complain and complain and complain about things but in the end, we still swallow it whole. Take the classic case of McDonalds and KFC, we complained that the price of these fast foods are getting higher ever year or that chicken wing are getting smaller, but we still visit the stores religiously. The latest act that is spot on in depicting us to be a big complainer but lacking action is regarding ‘Objection Notice’ against the DBKL assessment rate hike. There was a huge ruh-roh on FB about this recently and it’s gaining thousands likes and shares. Just how may people have actually submitted the objection notice officially? Just slightly over 10% of the total 500K house owners have submitted the notice. Whelp, I guess that’s us. Tau komplen saja, kerja tak mau buat.

Well…It’s A Start I Guess

The first time I thought about blogging was in 2004. I started where everyone blogs, Blogger, and I never got past the first post. Let’s hope this one at least finish lap around the track.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about many things, the state of our country especially after PRU13, the tech stuff I’m using and thinking of using, our work-life balance, is there such a thing?; and of course the many weird and awesome things we see on our Facebook and Twitter feeds. So, in a nutshell, these are the things I’ll be blogging about in the future.