mmmmm....London

Londoners struggled to and from work on Monday after a strike on the underground rail network.

Che Det batuk dan selsema di Melbourne

Tun M di masukan ke hospital Hospital Epworth di Melbourne, Australia kerana batuk dana selsema malam tadi.

Beliau berada di Australia untuk berucap di bawah topik "Are We Ready for 1Malaysia: Does Race Still Play A Part?" pada seminar mengenai pembangunan manusia anjuran Kelab Umno Australia Melbourne di University of Melbourne hari ini.

Didoakan semoga beliau sembuh dan berada dalam sihat.

Dr Daud Bakar lebih dikenali di luar negara dari di negerinya sendiri

MT terpanggil untuk mengenengahkan Dr Daud Bakar, seorang tokoh Kedah yang mungkin ada di kalangan kita mengenali beliau dan ada yang tidak.

Kepada yang tidak mengenali beliau di bawah adalah profil ringkas latar belakang beliau yang dipetik dari http://www.amaniedubai.com/index_files/Page613.htm.

Beliau merupakan anak Kedah dan bekas penuntut di Ma'ahad Mahmud atau Maktab Mahmud. Pertemuan dengan beliau ternyata beliau sorang tokoh yang "low profile" dan banyak berkhidmat di luar negara khasnya pengurusan  kewangan Islam.

Melihat dari kecermerlangan hebat profile ini beliau memang layak dianugerah apa-apa darjah kebesaran oleh Kerajaan Negeri Kedah, daripada dianugerah-anugerah ini diberi kepada tauke-tauke balak atau entah kepada individu yang bukan-bukan.

Tokoh-tokoh sebegini selalunya jarang mendapat perhatian kerana didominasikan tokoh-tokoh politik yang berlumba-lumba, lobi melobi tak habis-habis.

Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar is currently the President/CEO of Amanie Islamic Finance Learning Centre Dubai (AIFLC), International Institute of Islamic Finance (IIIF) Inc. (BVI) and Amanie Business Solutions Sdn. Bhd. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the International Islamic University Malaysia. He received his first degree in Shari’ah from University of Kuwait in 1988 and obtained his PhD from University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom in 1993.

In 2002, he went on to complete his external Bachelor of Jurisprudence at University of Malaya. He has published a number of articles in various academic journals and in various conferences both local and abroad. Dr Mohd Daud is currently the Chairman of the Central Shari’ah Advisory Council of the Central Bank of Malaysia and a member of Shariah Advisory Council of Securities Commission of Malaysia.

He is also a member of Shari’ah board of Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) (Bahrain), International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM) (Bahrain), Dow Jones Islamic Market Index (New York), Oasis Asset Management (Cape Town, South Africa), Unicorn Investment Bank (Bahrain), Financial Guidance (USA), BNP Paribas (Bahrain), Morgan Stanley (Dubai), Jadwa-Russell Islamic Fund (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Bank of London and Middle East (London), Dubai Bank (Dubai), Noor Islamic Bank (Dubai), Salamah Takaful (Dubai), Islamic Bank of Asia (Singapore), Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and in other financial institutions both local and abroad.

During his affiliation with the International Islamic University Malaysia, he developed a course on Shariah compliance for both Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Finance as well as MBA in Islamic Banking. He also developed and taught a course on Islamic Finance for Masters of Comparative Laws at the same university. Dr Daud authored a few articles in INCEIF textbook on Applied Shari’ah, for which he also doubled as the editor. He was also responsible for writing and contributing in the CIMA Certificate in Islamic Finance modules.

Presiden NUJ, Hata Wahari harus teropong The Star dahulu

Kenyataan sulong Hata Wahari Presiden NUJ Malaysia bahawa,

“NUJ Malaysia melihat adalah tidak adil untuk menyalahkan akhbar Utusan Malaysia yang di dalamnya terdapat wartawan, jurugambar dan artis grafik serta pekerja-pekerja lain yang tidak berkongsi agenda serta tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menegur ketua pengarang dan pengarang-pengarang kanan”.

"Ketua Pengarang sebagai orang yang menentukan agenda, berita dan pelbagai pendapat untuk disiarkan oleh akhbar Utusan Malaysia harus dipertanggungjawabkan sepenuhnya atas kesan negatif, rungutan dan sebarang rasa tidak puas hati yang dilemparkan kepada akhbar Utusan Malaysia," tegas Hata.

"Perjuangan saya ialah untuk melihat akhbar-akhbar di negara ini terlepas dari kongkongan tuan-tuan politik baik daripada BN, Pakatan Rakyat dan pemimpin-pemimpin politik lain. Akhbar dan media seharusnya dimiliki oleh rakyat kerana dengan itu barulah akhbar itu dapat berkhidmat kepada rakyat seperti mana yang dilakukan oleh Utusan sebelum ia dikuasai oleh parti politik sebelum tahun 1961," sanggah Hata.

Ternyata Presiden baru NUJ ini gagal melihat bahawa akhbar The Star juga di kawal rapi oleh political master mereka. Bukan setakat master yang nampak di hadapan tetapi ada lagi master-master di belakang tabir yang tersembunyi yang lebih teruk dan mangkuk dari itu.

Ambil contoh kecil seperti sisipan Metro North akhbar The Star yang sebelum Pulau Pinang diperintah DAP kerap memuatkan liputan pembangunan keseluruh di kawasan Utara kerana bunyi sisipannya pun “MetroNorth”.

Tetapi hari ini, sejak Pulau Pinang diperintah DAP mereka lebih tertumpu kepada liputan di Pulau Pinang sahaja kerana bagi mereka”North” itu hanya PP. Rakan Pakatan Mereka di Kedah hanya kuda tunggangan untuk menang pilihanraya.

Persoalannya siapa political master mereka?

Hatta Wahari jangan hanya melihat di dalam kain sendiri kerana sebagai Presiden NUJ beliau harus bijak menembusi kain The Star dan Sin Chew juga.

Wayang gambar wayang ketar,DAP, Hindraf dan PR

Pendedahan oleh para pengamal blog dan sebuah akhbar utama negara berhubung suspek utama pembunuhan Datuk Sosilawati adalah ahli Dap seumur hidup dan juga penyumbang utama kewangan serta peguam bagi pertubuhan haram Hindraf perlu dihayati oleh rakyat. Apabila pendedahan ini dibuat oleh blog dan media utama maka para pemimpin-pemimpin dari Dap mula melompat dan menafikan suspek utama tersebut adalah ahli Dap seumur hidup. Sebaliknya pemimpin Dap untuk menutup kenyataan sedemikian, akan mengambil tindakan seperti menyaman media berkenaan berdasarkan tuduhan yang dilemparkan.

Sehingga hari ini, para pemimpin Dap dan PR tidak bersuara dan berdiam diri berhubung isu kematian usahawan kosmetik ini. Sebaliknya ketika isu Kugan dan Tan Beng Hock merekalah perancang utama menghasut rakyat dan memfitnah pihak berkuasa di atas kematian tersebut. Sebaliknya dalam kes kematian Datuk Sosilawati, mereka membisu dan cuba menyalahkan Kerajaan dengan mengaitkan sentimen perkauman apabila kes melibatkan kaum Melayu tumpuan diberikan sepenuhnya berbanding jika melibatkan kaum lain. Inilah agenda yang sedang di spin oleh Dap dan PR terhadap BN bagi menutup dakwaan suspek utama adalah ahli Dap seumur hidup dan penyumbang wang utama kepada pertubuhan haram Hindraf yang ditaja oleh Dap dan PR.

Paling menyedihkan untuk menghalalkan dan menafikan pembabitan Dap dalam kes ini, ada juak-juak dalam geng pak janggut dan pak serban menyatakan kematian arwah Sosilawati mungkin balasan dari yang maha Esa dari apa yang dilakukan semasa hayatnya di dunia. Begitu dangkal dan biadab mereka yang mengaku perjuangkan Islam tetapi apabila umat Islam sendiri disembelih sedemikian rupa masih lagi mengangkat dan memuja syaitan yang sahih neraka adalah tempatnya.

Sehingga kini pemimpin tertinggi Pas dan PKR yang beragama Islam diam seribu bahasa dan tidak mengulas isu suspek utama kes pembunuhan ini yang dikatakan ahli Dap seumur hidup dan juga dermawan serta peguam bagi pertubuhan haram Hindraf. Mahu tidak mahu PR terutamanya Dap sedang menyusun strategi mengarahkan Nik Aziz atau mereka yang seangkatannya dari PKR menafikan kenyataan sedemikian sebaliknya memainkan sentimen perkauman bagi mengheret dan menyalahkan BN. Kemungkinan satu hari Nik Aziz dan para pengikutnya akan menyatakan, ini adalah permainan politik kotor BN untuk menarik perhatian dan meraih simpati orang Melayu dan cuba meruntuhkan Dap. Kemungkinan kenyataan ini keluar dari pemimpin Pas terutama Nik Aziz adalah tidak mustahil kerana sebelum ini pun Nik Aziz sanggup membela Dap walaupun mereka menghina Islam dan juga isu penggunaan khalimah Allah.

Dalam politik, Pas dilihat sanggup lakukan apa saja asalkan hajat mereka untuk berkuasa dapat dipenuhi walaupun mereka sedar bahawa mereka hanyalah ‘monyet’ umpanan bagi Dap untuk melebarkan kuasa mereka. Dalam kes suspek utama pembunuhan Datuk Sosilawati ini pihak berkuasa hendaklah menyiasat parti Dap dan PR serta Hindraf sebelum bukti-bukti penting dihapuskan oleh mereka. Adakah kematian rakan karib Sosilawati di P.Pinang hari ini (berita harian 19 September 2010) ada kaitan dengan pembunuhan Sosilawati serta pendedahan suspek utama adalah ahli Dap seumur hidup? Begitu pelik seorang rakan baik mati gantung diri dengan alasan tertekan atau sebenarnya wujud perkara lain kerana si mati mungkin banyak mengetahui maklumat berhubung kes kematian Sosilawati.

Apa yang ingin diulas disini ialah apabila kematian sebegini melibatkan orang Melayu, para pemimpin Pas, PKR dan juga Dap serta media-media ekstrim mereka diam seribu bahasa. Walaupun ada berita yang disiarkan oleh media mereka, ia hanyalah berita sisipan sekadar mengisi ruangan yang ada. Sebaliknya jika kematian itu melibatkan kaum bukan Melayu, heboh satu dunia digoncang dan war-warkan kononnya bagi menuntut pembelaan di atas kelemahan pihak berkuasa Kerajaan dan menuduh wujudnya konspirasi BN dalam sesuatu kejadian. Maka berhimpunanlah mereka, beraraklah mereka disegenap jalan utama bersama dengan lilin bagi memperingati si mangsa, tapi bila melibatkan orang Melayu mereka mengambil sikap diam seribu bahasa kononnya tidak mahu menggangu siasatan pihak berkuasa.

Inilah wadah perjuangan pemimpin ‘bangsat’ yang sanggup menjual maruah agama, bangsa dan negara biarpun tahu ianya boleh menyebabkan kita merempat dibumi sendiri di suatu masa. Kerana yang merempat dan terseksa nanti bukanlah mereka sebaliknya rakyat yang mereka tipu dan telah terperdaya dengan janji manis mereka.
(Oleh Hj Ibrahim Abdul Rahman)

Cadangan Mufti Kedah untuk laksana hukum Qisas harus disambut baik oleh MB Kedah

ALOR SETAR - Masyarakat kini harus kembali kepada ajaran al-Quran dengan melaksanakan hukum Qisas atau hukum balas bagi kesalahan jenayah melampau yang disifatkan kejam dan di luar tabii.

Mufti Kedah, Datuk Sheikh Muhamad Baderudin Ahmad berkata, hanya hukuman yang boleh memberi pengajaran kepada pesalah dan orang sekeliling dapat membendung jenayah kejam daripada terus berleluasa.

“Hukuman sedia ada tidak memberi pengajaran sewajarnya kepada masyarakat, tidak hairanlah jenayah makin berleluasa sehingga ada pihak sanggup membunuh warga emas, kanak-kanak mahupun membuang bayi tanpa ada belas kasihan,” katanya.

Sheikh Muhamad Baderudin berkata, hukuman Qisas seperti yang termaktub dalam kitab suci adalah sesuai untuk semua zaman, malah Allah SWT telah menyebut bahawa hukuman ini dapat memberi kehidupan yang selesa pada masyarakat.

“Apabila masyarakat melihat kesan daripada hukuman ini, contohnya mencuri hukumannya potong tangan. Mereka akan takut untuk melakukan jenayah itu kerana boleh menyebabkan mereka hilang anggota badan. Oleh itu mereka tidak berani buat begitu pada orang lain kerana hukum balas ini adalah supaya pesalah merasai keperitan mangsa,” katanya.

Sheikh Muhamad Baderudin mengulas kejadian tragis yang menimpa jutawan kosmetik, Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya dan tiga rakannya yang dipukul, dibunuh dan dibakar selain abu mayat kesemua mangsa dibuang ke dalam sungai, baru-baru ini.

Tragedi yang turut memberi kesan pada masyarakat ialah insiden seorang warga emas wanita, Lian Osman, 74, yang tinggal bersendirian di Yan, mati dibunuh selepas disamun di dalam rumah sendiri pada 15 Ogos lalu.

Kejadian lain membabitkan seorang wanita berusia 26 tahun, Suhana Mohd Shariff dari Kota Tanah, dekat sini, yang ditikam rakan baiknya sendiri sebanyak tujuh kali di perut menggunakan sebilah pisau pemotong sayur sepanjang 17.8 sentimeter. Kejadian pada 2 Mei itu menggemparkan rakyat Kedah kerana dianggap kejam dan tidak berperikemanusiaan.

Sheikh Muhamad Baderudin berkata, manusia menjadi semakin kejam apabila kehidupan mereka bertunjangkan duniawi sehingga sanggup berbunuhan demi harta kekayaan.

“Banyak faktor yang menyumbang kepada kekejaman, antaranya tekanan hidup, gila harta dan kuasa. Sikap cintakan duniawi punca berlakunya kepincangan dalam masyarakat. Kita sudah hilang nilai-nilai murni dan agama yang sepatutnya dipupuk sejak kecil,” katanya.

Menurutnya, ajaran Islam tidak hanya mementingkan hukuman setimpal, sebaliknya sebelum pesalah dikenakan hukuman, mereka perlu diberi didikan.

“Jika didikan tidak beri kesan, barulah dikenakan hukuman setimpal yang boleh memberi pengajaran. Ini termasuk gejala sosial seperti buang anak dan berzina,” katanya.

Sheikh Muhamad Baderudin turut kesal kerana perbuatan kejam yang banyak dipaparkan di dada akhbar menunjukkan realiti kepincangan masyarakat kini.

“Orang yang bertamadun tidak akan melakukan kekejaman yang melampau,” katanya.

KJ dan PERKASA siapa lebih bahaya kepada UMNO?

Sejak lepas PRU12 yang lepas apabila BN mengalami tsunami politik yang amat parah KJ dan Pak Lah atau Pak Lah dan KJ tak habis-habis kena titik.

Kelmarin apabila KJ mencadangkan dipanggil pulang duta Malaysia di Jakarta sebagai jalan penyelesaian isu demonstrasi anti Malaysia di Jakarta. KJ telah dititik rapat oleh Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. Beliau dilabelkan cerdik tapi tidak bijak oleh Menteri Luar tersebut.

Maka tidak hairanlah jika Ketua Pemuda UMNO tidak dilantik oleh Presiden UMNO menjadi Menteri atau Timbalan Menteri kerana kurang cerdik. Ternyata Universiti Oxford tidak mendidik KJ dengan secukupnya untuk menjadi cerdik dan layak menjadi pemimpin generasi yang akan datang.

Persoalannya, apakah UMNO tidak risau bahawa mereka sebenarnya mandul dan tidak ada pemimpin pelapis yang berkualiti. Tunas-tunas yang ada hanyalah seperti batang pisang atau pokok pisang yang hanya berbuah sekali selepas itu mesti ditebang.

Kesan dari tsunami PRU12 itu maka lahirlah PERKASA. Hari ini UMNO menjadi takut pula dengan PERKASA demi menjaga rakan dalam komponen BN, UMNO harus istihar mereka bermusuh dengan PERKASA. Walhal KJ lebih merbahaya dari PERKASA.

Begitulah UMNO hari ini seperti melukut ditepi gantang.

Misteri Quran kecil $US8juta

A miniature Koran, which conmen McGurk tried to sell to the sultan for $US8 million as a wedding gift to his third bride AZRINAZ Mazhar Hakim.

The former wife of the Sultan of Brunei, has obtained a court injunction to stop the circulation of the best-selling book "The Fast Life and Sudden Death of Michael McGurk". The book describes McGurk's dealings with the eccentric monarch over the precious stone-encrusted, matchbox-sized Koran as well as a secret rendezvous with Brunei officials in Singapore. (Sydney Morning Herald)

Bunga diberi najis dibalas.

Mursyidul Am PAS merangkap Menteri Besar Kelantan YAB Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, dengan resminya telah menolak hasrat untuk berunding dengan UMNO. Undangan UMNO ini telah ditolak mentah-mentah oleh Nik Aziz dengan berbagai retorik politik.

Nik Aziz lebih mementingkan ikatan dengan PKR dan DAP. Kata Nik Aziz kalau UMNO ingin sangat menjaga perjuangan orang Melayu Umno harus menukar dasarnya kepada Islam.

“Pada saya, kalau Umno tukar dasarnya daripada Melayu kepada Islam, maka Umno boleh bersama PAS dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Bila Umno boleh bersama PAS atas dasar Islam, orang Islam makin kuat dan politik Melayu bertambah kukuh.” Kata Nik Aziz.

“Sekaranglah masanya untuk Umno menukar dasar Melayunya itu. Jangan terikut-ikut dengan puak Yahudi. Kerana pengasas perjuangan bangsa itu adalah puak Yahudi. Ia disambung pula oleh puak Arab. Sedangkan perjuangan atas dasar kaum atau bangsa tidak diterima di sisi Nabi Muhammad SAW” kata Nok Aziz lagi.

Sama ada Nik Aziz sedar atau tidak apa yang beliau cakap itu adalah apa yang beliau praktikan. Nik Aziz telah membutakan matanya untuk melihat bahawa sebenarnya agen Yahudi yang dimaksudkan beliau sedang berlegar-legar di dalam jubahnya sekarang.

Manakala untuk bersama PAS, Nik Aziz menyeru UMNO menukar dasarnya dari Melayu kepada Islam, persoalanya sejak bila pula puak-puak DAP, Karpal Singh dan Lim Kit Siang menukar dasar mereka kepada Islam sehingga membolehkan PAS bersama mereka seperti syarat Nik Aziz kepada UMNO.

Itulah sombongnya PAS yang masih lagi mabuk kemenangan dalam PRU12 yang lepas pada hal semua itu adalah dugaan dari Allah SWT semata-mata.

Stanley Ho hantar jet ke Singapura untuk beli durian Malaysia

THE Musang King durian from Malaysia has proven to be so delicious that Stanley Ho, who is Macau’s Gambling King, sent his personal jet to pick up 88 durians from Singapore.

China Press reported that Ho bought about RM4,800 worth of the durian from the 818 Durian Stall in the island republic.

Ho then shared the king of fruits with his friend Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing by giving him 10 durians.

The daily reported that Ho’s worker wanted to buy 98 durians but only managed to get 88 as supply was low due to adverse weather.

In Singapore, the Musang King durian costs about RM38 per kilo, the daily reported.

ESQ Leadership Training tidak bercanggah

Pendekatan berkesan yang dibawa oleh ESQ Leadership Training ternyata tidak haram seperti yang dikeluarkan oleh Jawatankuasa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan pada 14/7/2010. Walaubagaimanapun pengendaliannya mestilah di bawah pengawasan penuh panel syariahnya.

Boycott Yahudi Boycott Anwar Ibrahim

JOM KEMPEN

BOYCOTT ANWAR IBRAHIM!!!!

Kita berhabis jutaan ringgit kempen memboikot produk Yahudi alam masa yang sama kita tidak harus lupa untuk memboikot juga tali barut Yahudi , Mr Anwar Ibrahim.

Pembatalan lesen judi bola, semoga ekonomi negara mendapat berkat

Keputusan Perdana Menteri, DS Najib untuk membatalkan lesen judi bola yang diberikan kepada Ascot SportsSdn Bhd ternyata PM akur kepada suara-suara masyarakat Islam dalam Negara ini.

Kalau mengikut kiraan pendapatan hasil melalui cukai judi kepada negara ini ianya memang mendatangkan pulangan yang lumayan. Bukannya jutaan tetapi billionan seperti yang dikira oleh tauke judi terbesar Tan Sri Vincent Tan pemegang unggul lesen judi bola ini.

Hakikatnya wang bukan segala-galanya untuk mentadbir negara ini tetapi akhlak dan iman harus menjadi keutamaan. Negara sudah tidak tertanggung lagi untuk memikul beban sakit keruntuhan akhlak yang amat dasyat dengan berbagai masalah rosak sosial dari membuang anak luar nikah, sumbang mahram, lesbian, liwat, rasuah, hutang ahlong dan berbagai lagi.

Pentadbiran Najib harus bekerja lebih keras dengan memerah otak melalui jalan halal untuk membawa hasil kemakmuran kepada negara ini bukannya jalan pintas melalui hasil cukai judi bola seperti yang disyorkan oleh Timbalan Menteri Keewangan beliau Senator Awang Adik Hussein.

Insyaalah hasil-hasil halal akan lebih membawa berkat bukan sahaja kepada pimpinan Najib tetapi rakyat negara ini amnya. Semoga dengan keberkatan Allah SWT ini ianya tidak mudah meruntuhkan ekonomi negara ini seperti keruntuhan beberapa syarikat besar AS sehingga mengheret kepada kemelut ekonomi negara mereka.

Pemuda UMNO dan BN hilang arah

Sumber visual : http://www.jkkkbtgemuroh.blogspot.com/

Hasil kajian Pemuda BN yang dibuat 2 bulan dahulu terdapat 62% pengundi di kalangan belia berada di atas pagar. Mereka terdiri dari pengundi-pengundi belia yang sedang memerhati telatah BN, PKR, PAS, DAP dan lain-lain parti.

Ini bermakna mana-mana parti politik yang bijak menyentuh naluri mereka, mereka akan menyokong parti tersebut. Jika semua parti politik yang ada penuh dengan keberantakan mereka tidak akan keluar mengundi. Itu lah situasi mereka.

Menurut kajian tersebut, rata-rata mereka ini terdiri dari belia-belia di kawasan pendalaman atau desa-desa dan kampung-kampung.

Pendedahan ini dibuat oleh Pengerusi Pemuda BN merangkap Ketua Pemuda UMNO Malaysia, saudara Khairi Jamaludin atau lebih dikenali dengan panggillan mesra KJ selepas merasmikan Perhimpunan Agung PPP pada 17 Jun 2010.

Walau apa juga kaedah dan modul kajian ini, angka 62% bukan lah satu angka yang kecil. Angka ini dikira boleh mencorak warna dan wajah generasi masa hadapan dan kedudukan politik negara ini.

Menyedari situasi ini, menurut KJ Pemuda BN sudah pun menjalankan beberapa aktiviti seperti Jelajah 1Malaysia dan Rally 1Malaysia yang kononnya pendekatan ini telah menaikkan sedikit sokongan kepada BN.

Hakikatnya di sini Jelajah 1Malaysia ialah aktiviti kayuhan basikal yang disertai perserta tempatan dan antarabangsa untuk mempromosikan Malaysia ke mata dunia sebagai destinasi pelancongan dan leisure.

Manakala Rally 1Malaysia adalah aktiviti yang membawa tema1Misi, 1Hati, 1Pemuda, 1Malaysia, JOM yang digerakkan menerusi sebuah bas bakal membawa barisan kepimpinan Pergerakan Pemuda Barisan Nasional (BN) ke seluruh pelosok negara untuk bersama komuniti belia dalam usaha menarik kembali kepercayaan golongan itu terhadap BN. (ruj Utusan Malaysia)

Kedua-kedua aktiviti ini ternyata tidak berlandaskan pratikalitinya dan langsung jauh tidak termasuk dalam kotak akal dan tersasar keluar dari “finding” kajian mereka kerana tidak menyentuh naluri dan sanubari belia-belia desa, kampong dan pendalaman.

Ianya lebih kepada “one-off” aktiviti untuk syok-syok bersiar-siar dan jalan-lalan cari makan. Belia-belia di kampong tidak pandang aktiviti tersebut sebagai aktiviti dalam kampong mereka.

Naluri dan sanubari akan lebih tersentuh jika aktiviti tersebut lebih “dicustomizekan” fokus kepada kehendak dalaman kampong mereka sendiri. Aktiviti-aktiviti sebegini jika dirancang dengan berhemah ia tidak melibatkan kos yang tinggi.

Kesimpulannya KJ dan Pemuda BN harus lebih praktikal merancang aktiviti untuk menarik 62% pengundi belia yang dikatakan berada di atas pagar ini.

Hakikatnya hari ini tanpa kajian yang mendalampun rakyat telah boleh melihat Pemuda BN dan UMNO masih tidak berubah, bercakaran sesama sendiri, materialistik dan bergerak tanpa fokus serta hilang haluan perjuangan.

Sultan Brunei menceraikan Azrinaz Mazhar hakim

Memetik sumber rakan blogger www.mybloghub.my Sultan Brunei menceraikan isteri ketiganya :

Sultan Brunei, Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah, 63 menceraikan Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim semalam. Baginda mengahwini Azrinaz, bekas wartawan penyiaran TV3, lima tahun yang lalu (2005).

Azrinaz, 30 mempunyai dua orang cahaya mata dengan Sultan Brunei, seorang lelaki (dilahirkan setahun selapas perkahwinan mereka pada 2005) dan seorang anak perempuan yang dilahirkan pada 2008.

Perceraian itu diumumkan oleh stesen radio dan televisyen rasmi Brunei petang semalam (Rabu – 16 Jun 2010).Tidak ada sebarang maklumat lanjut diberikan akan mengapa Sultan Brunei bertindak menceraikan Azrinaz namun kisah perpisahan pasangan berkenaan sudah lama tersebar di negara kecil berkenaan.

Azrinaz merupakan isteri baginda yang ketiga. Kekayaan Sultan Brunei ditafsir sekitar USD20 bilion.

Mujahid Agung, kisah seorang pejuang kemerdekaan

Selepas dua tahun Haji Omar memegang jawatan sebagai ahli exco yang bertanggungjawab ke atas hal-ehwal perhutanan, beliau ditukarkan ke portfolio agama dan pendidikan yang sebelum ini dipegang oleh Menteri Besar sendiri. Ini adalah kehendak Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultan, kerana baginda mahu seorang ulama mengepalai pentadbiran agama.

Haji Husin berasa sangat gembira kerana sahabat karibnya tentu sekali akan bersetuju bertindak ke atas segala cadangannya di dalam Dewan supaya perkara-perkara yang merosakkan akidah dan keimanan orang-orang Islam dihapuskan.

Haji Husin teringat kepada suatu peristiwa di mana beliau mengheret Haji Omar dan Haji Ismail keluar dewan jamuan, apabila minuman keras disajikan di dalam suatu jamuan Duta Amerika yang berkunjung ke Kedah. Menteri Besar berasa amat malu dengan tindakannya itu. Apabila disuarakannya kepada Haji Husin mengenai perasaannya itu, Haji Husin menjawab,

“Saya minta maaf kalau YAB dimalukan oleh saya.Tetapi YAB perlu lebih malu kepada Allah SWT kerana melanggar perintahNya semata-mata hendak meraikan seorang kafir. Dia datang ke rumah kita. Justeru apa yang kita minum dia mesti minum. Apa salahnya kita sajikan air buah-buahan. Wang yang kita belanja untuk makan minum di majlis itu adalah dimiliki rakyat. Kita yang bertanggungjawab mempastikan wang itu tidak dibelanjakan di jalan yang haram. Mungkin saya tidak sedemikian kalau wang yang digunakan membeli minuman keras itu adalah kepunyaan YAB sendiri”.

Haji Husin mengingatkan Haji Omar agar perkara sebegini tidak diulangi lagi oleh Kerajaan Negeri. Dia mahu Haji Omar menjadualkan beberapa tindakan yang perlu untuk menghapuskan maksiat di kalangan masyarakat umum.

Perasaan tidak senang hati di kalangan ahli-ahli exco (selain daripada Haji Omar) terhadap Tok-Tok Guru ahli Dewan memuncak apabila Haji Omar meminta pegawai-pegawai Jabatan Agama merobohkan rumah-rumah maksiat di Lorong Pattani atau diberi jolokan Lorong Selak Kain oleh penduduk tempatan. Lorong di depan sekolah menengah terkenal, Sultan Abdul Hamid College, merupakan pusat pelacuran harga murah semenjak zaman British lagi. Usahawan pelacuran di situ yang bernama Kak Mah,membina pondok-pondok kecil di perkarangan rumahnya yang luas, bertujuan memberi kemudahan kepada perempuan-perempuan sundal menjual tubuh mereka,siang dan malam.

Pondok-pondok kecil inilah yang dirobohkan , bukan rumah Kak Mah yang tersergam indah itu.Yang menjadi punca ketidaksenangan hati ahli-ahli exco itu ialah tindakan Haji Omar melampaui bidang kuasanya. Beliau diberi portfolio agama dan pendidikan, mengapa dia campur tangan ke dalam portfolio orang lain, iaitu portfolio Hal Ehwal Majlis Perbandaran di bawah tanggungjawab YB Dr. Lim Joo Kong.

Mesyuarat exco yang menyusul peristiwa itu menjadi panas apabila Menteri Besar sendiri memarahi Haji Omar.

“Mengapa YB melanggar bidang tanggungjawab YB Dr.Lim ? Bukankah tindakan itu salah dari segi prosedur?”

“YAB, saya mengambil tindakan itu atas nama Kerajaan Negeri bukan atas nama saya sendiri. Sudah beberapa lama rumah-rumah maksiat itu didirikan secara haram,tiada tindakan diambil walaupun banyak kali disuarakan oleh YB Haji Ismail di dalam Dewan”.

“Mengapa tidak tunggu saya mengambil tindakan?” celah YB Dr.Lim.

“Berapa lama hendak menunggu saya? YB Haji Ismail mula membawa perkara ini lebih dua tahun yang lalu. Lagi lama kita tunggu lagi banyak anak muda kita terjerumus ke dalam lembah maksiat!”, Haji Omar menyoal balik.

“Di dalam hal ini kita mesti bersabar,kerana umum nanti menganggap kerajaan tergesa-gesa mengabil tindakan meroboh rumah orang tanpa member notis terlebih dahulu”, ujar Menteri Besar.

Haji Omar naik berang dan terus membentak, ”Dato’, saya bertindak ke atas suatu perbuatan maksiat. Baik di dalam undang-undang akhirat mahu pun undang-undang manusia, persundalan adalah satu jenayah. Perbuatan maksiat tidak perlu diberi notis sebelum tindakan diambil. Mengapa Dato’ melihat isu ini dari sudut yang meruntuhkan rumah-rumah kecil yang sememangnya dibina secara haram itu? Adakah salah di sisi undang-undang negeri kalau rumah-rumah haram diruntuh tanpa notis?”.

“Tidaklah salah,tetapi kita mestilah member notis supaya mereka dapat keluar dari rumah-rumah itu dahulu”, tegas Menteri Besar.

“Keluar ke tempat lain untuk meneruskan kerja pelacuran?”,Tanya Haji Omar kebingungan,dan beliau menyambung, “Dato’,Negara kita mempunyai pekerjaan halal.Mengapa perempuan-perempuan ini memilih kerja ini? Jawapannya kerja ini senang dan pulangannya lumayan. Mereka lupa dosanya adalah dosa bersar! Dan kita sebagai pentadbir negeri dan pemimpin akan menanggung dosa kalau membiarkan penyakit sosial ini berterusan”.

“Bagaimana dengan prosedur?”, soal YB Lim.

“YB sibuk dengan prosedur.Kita yang mencipta prosedur itu. Mengapa kita tidak boleh mengubahnya?” jawab Haji Omar kesabarannya hilang.

Di atas adalah sedutan dari novel hasil tulisan Dato’ Dr Affifuddin Hj Omar, yang berjudul “Mujahid Agung, Kisah seorang pejuang kemerdekaan”. Beliau dilahirkan di Kampung Kubang Lembu, Jitra, Kedah pada 27 Mei 1943. Beliau mula menulis novel yang pertama pada tahun 2009 di masa bersara daripada karier politiknya.

Pengalamannya sebagai seorang pegawai kanan kerajaan, pengerusi bank, Timbalan Menteri dan beberapa NGO telah menyumbangkan banyak idea sebagai asas kepada penulisan beliau.

Jaguh Kampung, A Personal Perspective on Business Outside Malaysian Shores

by Tun Daim Zainuddin

Since my second retirement in 2001, I have accepted only one invitation to speak in Malaysia and that was in 2004.

So to accept this invitation, it took some serious thinking on my part. I have spoken many times overseas but at home I think people may be tired of hearing me talk all the time so as a retiree I should just keep quiet!

“I accepted this invitation because I have great faith in our young people. For us as a nation to grow and succeed in the future we need good leaders and you here are our leaders of tomorrow.

So, thank you Tengku Zafrul Aziz for inviting me. The topic you chose is interesting – Jaguh Kampung, A Personal Perspective on Business Outside Malaysian Shores.

Nowadays, the term Jaguh Kampung seems to suggest our failures. It dismisses our achievements and local successes. It portrays us as a failure overseas. It looks down upon us. It used to refer to sports, now it encompasses business.

I do not see anything derogatory about being a Jaguh Kampung, for how can you succeed globally if you have not achieved success even at home. It is here that you hone your skills, know of your strengths and weakness, make your mistakes and learn from them; it is here that you plant the seed of your success overseas. It is only negative when you are successful at home yet not able to translate the same success abroad. Why?

It has been argued that Malaysians are far too comfortable at home and therefore cannot stand the competition outside. For the Malays particularly it is said that we do not have the history of migrants who came in junks and sampans to make a new life in a new land; that we have no history of doing business and that there is no NEP overseas.

I don’t subscribe to such an argument. Many non-Malays fail too. Many non-Malays who have succeeded here with Government help have failed overseas. It has nothing to do with race and everything to do with ourselves. We have to see our own strengths and weakness to know why we succeed and why we fail. I have no sociological or anthropological thesis on this but I can tell you of my personal experience to illustrate, if that is of any help.

So, I guess I shall start from the beginning. I come from a small place called Lorong Kampong Padang in Kota Tanah, Seberang Perak, Kedah. Growing up I was confused, we had no padang, no kota (fort), no perak (silver)! It was a small kampong where everyone knew everyone. Yet this village produced 3 doctors, 2 veterinary surgeons, a dentist and may top civil servants. As far as I knew, they were no lawyers, yet my father kept urging me “Grow up to be a lawyer”.

Two of the three doctors were Dr Mahathir who married another doctor, and Dr Bakar who married Tan Sri Dr Salmah, the first female Malay doctor in the country. Amongst my schoolmates and seniors were Tan Sri Hanafiah Ahmad of Tabung Haji, Tan Sri Hanafiah Hussein, the first Malay Chartered Accountant, and Tan Sri Bakar Hamid, Head of Income tax. The list goes on.

The late Tun Zahir (Speaker of Parliament) helped me with my admission to Lincoln’s Inn. In London I was friends with other students some of whom went on to become Judges, Chief Justices, President of the Ct. of Appeal, Lord Presidents, top Civil Servants etc. I learnt politics from the likes of Syed Albar and even when back in Kuala Lumpur he would come to my house weekends and drive me around Kuala Lumpur introducing me to the whos who of Malay politics. Hussein Onn would tell me Malayan political history.

When I moved to Kelantan I got to know the various political leaders in PAS like Asri, Zulkifli and Wan Mustapha. In fact PAS was the first to offer me to stand for election. When I joined the Legal Service, I served in Johor and Perak and built up further my network of friends.

When I was in private practice I represented the Governor of Sarawak in the case of Stephen Kalong Ningkan. I was in Allen & Gledhill then and a very junior lawyer too but the senior partner asked me to do it as he thought that I was able to handle it as he considered me well read and thorough in my work plus he knew that I was well versed in the politics of the day. It was during this case that I got to know Tun Razak, Tun Rahman Yakob and Tan Sri Taib Mahmmud. At 28, I attended my first Cabinet meeting to brief the Cabinet on the case. I never thought that 18 years later I would be attending it weekly.

Tengku Razaleigh and Manan Othman for reasons known to themselves, recommended to Hussein Onn that I be appointed a Senator. Suddenly people wanted to find out who this Daim was. Manan when he was Minister of Public Enterprise, put me on Board of UDA as I was recognized as a successful property developer then and later made me chairman of Peremba. When Tun Mahathir became PM, he appointed me as Chairman of Fleet Group. Tan Sri Sanusi made me Chairman of Rakyat First Merchant Bank. In 1984, Tun Mahathir made me Minister of Finance.

It is from all these people that I learnt so much and who had in some way or the other helped me in my professional, business and political life.

I was also a busy body and had an opinion on everything. I was there when Tan Chee Koon, Lim Chong Eu and Syed Hussein formed Parti Gerakan. I took part in the debate on the issue of Bahasa Kebangsaan and had friends who alerted me that I was to be arrested under the ISA on the issue. I wrote letters to the Prime Ministers in office, offering them my 2 cents worth, the advice unasked and often ignored but that did not deter me.

I started my private practice with some savings and a RM60k loan from MARA. I furnished my office frugally and spent the rest on the stock market. When May 13 came I almost lost the shirt on my back. I learnt there and then that the stock market is not a casino for me to gamble in but that investment has to be made through informed choices. Later when I decided to go back to the market I only invested in quality and strategic stocks.

Before I could invest in these quality stocks I had to make money to pay off my debts. Luckily I had my practice; but the need to succeed was too strong for me to remain purely a lawyer. Not one to give up, I decided to go into business. I invested in a salt making business – everyone needs salt right? well, an unseasonal storm washed that away! I went into many businesses that didn’t do too well, until I decided to go into property development. I approached Dato Harun Idris then MB of Selangor for a piece of an abandoned, disused mining land. I paid the premium for it and finally was on the road to success. It was not easy going. It would have been easier if it was a piece of flat estate land, instead I had manylakes to be filled before I can build.

But if it had been easy then I’m not sure I would have learnt the lessons that failure teaches you. Failure is a great teacher if you are willing to learn. My tenacity was my strength. I never gave up. As Churchill said “Success is not final and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts”. I stumbled, picked myself up and continued.

By the time I was in my mid thirties I was a millionaire. With the money I made I went looking for my strategic stakes not only in the stock market but also in properties. By the time I join the Cabinet I was the shareholder of Raleigh Bhd (a name famous worldwide for its bicycle, made since 1887) Raleigh had shares in Prudential and had landed properties and another listed company. I bought into UEP which had a 1,400 acre land bank which I later reversed into SIME for shares, making me the single largest shareholder of SIME then. I also had a Joint Venture with the State Government of Kedah to develop 2,000 acres of converted land. Maluri also JV’ed with PNB to develop 600 acres of land in Kajang. I had a housing estate in Malacca. My land bank was massive. I was also a founding shareholder and chairman of TV3. I was also the largest individual shareholder in Nestle, and in Jaya Jusco. I had 4 factories in Malacca producing cast iron, plastic, packaging and preserved foods. I also invested in a haulage company. I also had a stake in UMBC Bank. I’m telling you all this not to show off and impress you but to share with you my journey.

When I was asked by Dr Mahathir to join the Government I had to think very carefully. I knew it will be a sacrifice on my part to take the offer but then this would not be the first time I have been asked to sacrifice in the name of national interest. When I had the opportunity to increase my share in SIME to 30% Dr. Mahathir heard about it and asked me not to take it up as it would be better to be given to PNB. When UMNO youth objected to MCA buying shares in UMBC, MCA approached me to exchange my controlling shares in Malaysian French Bank for a non controlling stake in UMBC. I was not keen to give up control in one for non-controlling in another, further I had to borrow as I was buying into a bigger bank, but the government insisted on the exchange for economic and political stability. By the time the deal was completed I was made MoF and later had to sell my stake. The government insisted that I can only sell to a Bumi or Bumi company and at cost too! I had much higher offers from non Bumis and could have made money on this sale but I have no choice. On top of it all, I had to pay tax on the sale too!

As I said earlier, it was a sacrifice on my part. Joining the Government also meant that I would have to give up my business. I was rich and answered to no one. I was carefree and wanted to enjoy the fruits of my labour. I had my privacy which I value highly. It was a difficult decision to make. I took more than a month to think it over. Whilst I would sacrifice a life of greater wealth, there is more to life than making money and more money. At some point you have to look beyond material wealth and personal interest. In the end the call to serve was made, partially because growing up my father had always drummed it into my head that there was no better calling than to be serving the government. That to be of service is an honour. And he also thought that I should be Prime Minister. In fact when I was appointed MoF and I told him, he replied “bukan PM?”!! Obviously he thought very highly of me.

There has been bouquets and brickbats, but I did not take the job to win a popularity contest. National interest comes first and in the end, you have to do what you think is best for the nation. Joining the government has brought me immense satisfaction to see the economy succeed from an agrarian economy to an industrialised economy. If I had not joined the government I would have been far richer in wealth but so much poorer in experience. If there is any regret, it is regret for the loss of my privacy.

I couldn’t have done all this on my own. The friends I knew, the network I built was very useful. You cannot be successful if you are a hermit staying in your house watching TV after work. Whether its through school, work or sports, there is always an opportunity to meet people. Networking, building relationships, what the Chinese called “quan xi”, is important in business – you never know who you meet may be your guardian angel in disguise. Of course I’m not suggesting that you make friends for an ulterior motive – if you are not sincere, people can see through you. If you use people, it can only work once or twice before you lose your reputation and that, if once lost cannot be recovered.

Whenever I travel and meet people I would always write to them, to thank them, to keep in touch, to invite them over etc. So wherever I went I always knew someone or the other. But mix with like minded people. Your so called friends can lead you astray. As I have said earlier,networking is very important but is of no use when all you do with your network of friends is to “omong-omong kosong”.

Saudara, Saudari / Ladies and Gentlemen

After retirement I had no ministry and no company to run. All my life I have been active and staying home doing gardening and playing golf did not appeal to me. So I went to the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. I spent my time reading, meeting people, attending lectures. After a few months I was restless. I reassessed my situation – do I restart in Malaysia? If I did, and succeeded, my success would be questioned as I still had friends and contacts both in and out of Government. I had nothing to prove but I thought if I could succeed in Malaysia, maybe I could do so overseas. As I’ve said earlier Malays have been criticised that they can only succeed because of the NEP, I thought that I owe it to the Malays to prove otherwise.

In the course of my work as MoF I travelled and engaged with various people, government and non-government everywhere. I had visited Eastern Europe and was convinced that Russia could not hold on to them for very long.

In 1994 I started my banks in Republic of Czech and then Hungary, Albania, Bosnia. Whatever we may say of Russia, it left behind a very good education system and excellent infrastructure. Still, it was tough to do business there. There is the question of language and there was no experience of market economy. It was not easy to get Malaysians to work there and the locals were used to working for the government. We had to motivate them to work for profit, to understand that we go into business to make profit, profit to pay salaries, bonuses and to expand.

If Eastern Europe was tough, Africa was tougher. Why Africa? Its too long to go into but if you are interested I’ve given my reasons in a separate paper. Its with Tengku Zafrul. It was not easy for us to start in Africa. We were not Citibank or HSBC or Standard Chartered. Whilst most of the Governments in Africa knew me when I was MoF and I was involved in both the Smart Partnership and South-South Cooperation, nobody knew the Bank. Tun Dr. Mahathir’s name carries a lot of weight and Malaysia under him was held in high esteem. All these helped but we still had to prove ourselves and further we had to carry the burden of maintaining Malaysia’s good name. Failure was not an option.

Africa was tough. There was little discipline, most do not have the expertise nor the experience. The better ones had left and were in Europe or America. The pool to draw staff was small. If it was difficult to entice Malaysians to Eastern Europe, you can imagine what it was like to ask them to go to Africa!

We started from scratch. Fortunately for me, I had an excellent team who understood and shared my vision. The team you build is critical. You cannot do it alone.

My team were as determined as me to succeed. We had put our money there and our reputation and the country’s reputation were at stake. My team were motivated and prepared to sacrifice the comforts of home to blaze a trail there. It was pure team work and dedication that made it. Without a good team, no way would we be where we are today. Our banks have won many awards, particularly Euromoney’s Bank of the Year awards, some of them repeatedly. I am very proud of them. And I must add that we have a good reputation in Africa. Wherever I go and I meet Presidents, Prime Ministers, MoF, Governors of Central Bank of countries where we operate and where we don’t, they now know us and of us and are happy with us. They see that we have been fair and honest. We treat them as partners and equals. We train the locals and it is a measure of our success that our local staff are always in demand and poached by other financial institutions. We get a lot of requests to open up in their countries but we are limited by our resources. We cannot over-stretch ourselves and end up with quantity but not quality. Quality is of the utmost importance.

Today we have a presence in 10 countries in Africa and have also expanded our reach into Asia; Indonesia, Bangladesh, Laos, and are looking at other neighbouring countries. People must think that you have to be immensely rich to be in Europe, Africa and Asia, but that is not true. When we first started, the paid up for each bank was only US$2 million. Today a European bank’s paid up must be at least Euro 5 million, in Yemen for example, US$20 million, and in Nigeria US$100 million. With that kind of requirement, we had to reassess our business plans. We sold off Europe and with the proceeds decided to go to Asia.

In every business you start with a plan but the plan has to re evaluated, reassessed, and reconsidered at every turn. What works today may not necessarily work tomorrow. Facts change, operating conditions change and we must change with them. Business is not static and we cannot run on the spot.

I know I have gone on too much, boring you with my personal history. I should have just quoted my son’s one paragraph biography he wrote of me when he was in primary school: “My father was born in Kedah. He studied law and became a lawyer, then a businessman, then MoF twice. He is now retired and runs banks and does charitable work. He is a good father because he plays football with me.”

Seriously, though, what distinguish one who succeeds from one who fails? Everyone I’m sure starts out wanting success, but it has been said that success usually comes to those who were too busy to look for it. It is a sacrifice. You will have to defer immediate gratification and forgo leisure. You have to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. It really is hard work and nothing else. There is just no substitute for hard work. But you cannot work hard stupidly. You have to plan, execute the plan, change the plan when necessary to suit changing situations. As was said by Darwin – “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most adaptable to change”. How do you know that the situation changes? You have to read, read and read. Read all the time. Be curious about the world around you. Try to keep up with the latest in technology and business, the latest trends and the geo political changes too. As an example, when I read that the French Government was nationalising its banks I realised that it would have to sell its bank in Malaysia as Malaysia then did not allow government owned banks to operate in Malaysia. I saw an opportunity here and decided to contact the French Government to take over the Indo-Suez Bank which I later renamed the Malaysian French Bank. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It is also important that you take the opportunity to work in and learn from businesses that have been successful. It is no embarrassment to say you don’t know and to be aware of your own limitations. Never be too proud to learn from others. But on the other hand, do not follow blindly. If someone is successful at one thing it does not mean that you can too. You have to know yourself. It helps if you can do something that you love. As Confucius said “Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”. You have to be hands-on. No one is interested in your success except you. Its your money, and in most cases, borrowed money. You have to ensure your own success. You are your own best asset and the master of your own destiny, to make your own future. You have a choice to either work hard, remain committed, diligent, determined and disciplined or just buy a lottery ticket and hope to get rich overnight!

For the Malays particularly I say this to you – do not be afraid of competition. We are used to competing – we have other races to measure against, so there is no reason why we can’t succeed. Don’t believe in handouts, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Handouts do not test you and when faced with adversity, the price of that handout is failure.

For the Non-Malays, I say this to you – Do not accept any discrimination or perceived discrimination as an excuse for failure. See it as an obstacle to overcome and an opportunity to strengthen your resolve.

Do not fear the fear of failure. Do not fear to take chances. Do not fear of making mistakes that will shatter your confidence and fill you with doubts. You have to take a chance on life. When one door closes another opens but you have to look for that open door and not remain fixated on the closed door. Move on, you have done what you can. Learn from it and that will give you confidence in the next venture.

In your quest for success, be wary of making compromises; your values and beliefs will be tested. Have a clear conscience in what you do as you have to face the mirror everyday. Do not let praise go to you head nor criticism weigh you down. Have faith in yourself and faith in God. He will not let you down.

When you have achieved material successes, live simply and shun extravagance and arrogance. Do not lose all that you have achieved because you were resting on your laurels. What happens when that laurel wilts? Be humble and reach out to those less fortunate than you. Your success is an obligation and a responsibility to your society and it is only when you give back to society that you are truly successful.

Ladies and Gentlemen/ Saudara, Saudari

Be brave to leave your ‘kampung’ and go anywhere in the world to claim your future. I wish you well.

Thank you.
(Articles from Leaders for Tommorow - http://www.14t.org/)

Sime Darby, lebih baik bisnis getah scrap dari kilang tayar

Sime Darby membuat kejutan lagi. Kejutan yang lepas adalah apabila mereka ingin mengambil-alih Institut Jantung Negara. Hasrat ini membuat degupan jantung-jantung rakyat bawahan berdegup kencang kerana bimbang akan dinaikkan kos rawatan kerana KPI di dalam perniagaan adalah “profit and loss”.

Apabila mendapat tentangan hebat dari bebagai pihak bagai puting beliong dibuatnya, mereka menarik balik cadangan tersebut. Situasi menjadi reda dan jantung kembali berdegup tenang.

Hari ini Sime Darby, sebuah konglomerat kebanggaan negara yang mana pemegang sahamnya mewakili lebih 10 juta rakyat negara ini, telah meletupkan “time bomb”nya apabila mengisytiharkan kerugian sebanyak RM1.63billion.

Berpunca dari kerugian ini, Presiden dan Group CEO nya Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid secara terhormat disuruh bercuti. Ada juga suara dan desakkan yang meminta keseluruhan Ahli-ahli Lembaga Pengarahnya harus juga bertanggung jawab termasuk Pengerusinya Tun Musa Hitam, bekas TPM.

Hakikatnya apabila syarikat mengalami kerugian yang sebegitu besar maka akan berlaku “ripple effect” kepada pelaburan-pelaburannya yang lain, khususnya penglibatan Sime Darby di dalam pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara (Northern Corridor Economic Region).

Amalan meletak bekas-bekas pemimpin politik, Ketua Setiausaha Negara dan tokoh-tokoh pencen Jeneral-Jeneral ATM, Ketua Polis dsbnya sebagai Pengerusi GLC-GLC ini harus dikaji kembali kerana mereka bukannya “business minded” hanya “allowance oriented”.

Apabila berlaku kerugian yang sebegini besar, adalah amat hina menjadi Pengerusi di dalam sebuah konglomerat yang rugi dan lebih baik menjadi Kerani di dalam sebuah syarikat kecil yang untung.

Pekan Racist

Zainuddin Maidin Terima Anugerah Tokoh Melayu Terbilang

Rabu Mei 12, 2010 -mStar online
KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas Menteri Penerangan Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin yang menerima Anugerah Tokoh Melayu Terbilang sempena ulang tahun ke-64 Umno, menyifatkan anugerah itu sebagai pengiktirafan terhadap sumbangan beliau selama 40 tahun dalam dunia kewartawanan dan dunia politik yang singkat.

Beliau berkata kepimpinan Umno telah menjadikan hidupnya lebih berharga kerana memberi sesuatu yang tidak pernah dicita-citakan sebelum ini.

Zainuddin berkata demikian ketika ditemui pemberita selepas menerima anugerah itu daripada Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada majlis sambutan ulang tahun ke-64 Umno di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra di sini malam Selasa.

"Saya sekali lagi dilimpahi rahmat Allah untuk mendapat apa yang tidak merupakan cita-cita saya dalam hidup saya daripada awal saya jadi wartawan. Kemudian saya tidak ingat nak menjadi ketua pengarang... saya menjadi ketua pengarang.

"Kemudian jadi senator. Setakat itulah saya ingat. Kemudian Dr Mahathir (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) melantik saya menjadi Setiausaha Parlimen. Setiap tahun saya naik pangkat. Kemudian jadi timbalan menteri dan seterusnya Pak Lah (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) melantik saya menjadi menteri penuh. Semua ini adalah di luar buku kehidupan saya," katanya penuh kesyukuran.

Zainuddin, 71, berkata anugerah itu juga adalah pengiktirafan kepada Utusan Melayu yang dianggap sebagai universiti beliau.

Ditanya tentang perancangannya selepas ini, Zainuddin berkata beliau tidak mempunyai sebarang perancangan.

"Bagaimanapun saya sedang ditugaskan oleh Utusan Melayu untuk menulis sejarah Utusan Melayu yang perlu disiapkan dalam masa 18 bulan. Saya juga kini menjadi Karyawan Tamu di Institut Tun Dr Mahathir di Universiti Utara Malaysia," katanya.

Zainuddin yang dilahirkan di Kota Kuala Muda Kedah pada tahun 1939, memperoleh Diploma Kewartawanan dari Institute Journalism, Jerman pada tahun 1969 dan Fellowship Kewartawanan Profesional dari Universiti Michigan, Amerika Syarikat pada tahun 1981.

Beliau juga pernah menjadi ketua pengarang Kumpulan Utusan Melayu sebelum dilantik sebagai senator, setiausaha parlimen, timbalan menteri dan Menteri Penerangan.

Zainuddin terkenal secara provokatif menerusi ruangan pojok "Awang Selamat" dalam Mingguan Malaysia selain turut menentang puak pelampau Melayu dan bukan Melayu.

Beliau turut menulis beberapa buah buku termasuk "Yang Pertama dan Terakhir", "Mahathir Di Sebalik Tabir", "Tun Razak: Jejak Bertapak Seorang Patriot" dan "Wira Tidak Didendang." -BERNAMA