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Presenting the Adil Johan Quartet

Arts, culture and sports

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12 Mar 2009

An Adil Johan Quartet semi-original, “Listen'” featuring Dasha Logan. Live at No Black Tie, December 2008. Adil is the son of Johan Saravanamuttu (‘the singing professor’) and academic Maznah Mohamad. Darsha, on the other hand, is the daughter of the late Logan Arumugam of Alleycats fame. Looks like a couple of stars in the making…

This is a song about re-arranging your life. Talks of shady deals and contracts (“It’s not the way we want it to be, but those in power don’t want to see”), the struggle for change and the quest for justice and transparency. Quite appropriate for a guy named Adil Johan (“Champion of Justice”). Steve Naris Nanda: Drums; Hiro Maekawa: Bass; Terrence Liew: Keys; Adil Johan: Sax + Vocals.

US economic crisis could last 36 months

Anil Netto

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11 Mar 2009

7

“We could end up … with a 36-month recession, that could be “L-shaped stagnation, or near depression,” said Prof Nouriel Roubini.

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Can the BN save itself?

Anil Netto

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11 Mar 2009

14

The majestic Democracy Tree: Visitors from all ethnic groups gathered here yesterday morning – (Click to expand) Photos by Kinta Kid

More visitors turned up in the evening; notice the bouquet beneath the tree

The BN knows what it needs to do to survive: it has to push through major reforms to wipe our corruption and abuse of power to win back lost support. But is it really capable of such reforms? This was the cover story I wrote for a recent issue of Aliran Monthly:

As the Umno election and general assembly in March approaches, the party faces a huge dilemma.

It is phasing out a leader (Abdullah Badawi) it feels is not suitable to lead the party following a general election setback last year which saw it lose its coveted two thirds parliamentary majority, while five out of 13 states fell to opposition hands.

Umno is now about to endorse a new leader, Najib Razak, whose own leadership credentials are in tatters following crushing by-election defeats in Permatang Pauh last August and Kuala Terengganu in January.

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MACC contacts Perak assembly member for Canning

Anil Netto

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11 Mar 2009

9

Looks as if the MACC is having a busy time in Perak.

It’s now the turn of the Perak state assembly member for Canning, Wong Kah Woh of the DAP. The MACC phoned him yesterday afternoon to say it wants to record a statement from him. Kah Woh writes in his blog:

I just wonder if there is a need to do so, after having recorded statement with Speaker and the counsel (yes, the lawyer) Mr Augustine Anthony.

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Anwar-Abdullah lunch fuels speculation

M'sian politics

Anil Netto

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10 Mar 2009

30

What a day to have lunch together.

On a day when Najib is announcing his staggering RM60 billion stimulus package, Abdullah has lunch with Anwar.

I haven’t seen Abdullah looking so relaxed and cheerful for a long time. Click here to have a peek.

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RM60b package: “The boys” will be licking their lips…

Anil Netto

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10 Mar 2009

45

An enormous package that exceeds the expectations of most people – two weeks before the Umno general assembly.

RM60 billion of our money! And guess what? RM29 billion of this is slated for “assisting the private sector”. The “boys” will be licking their lips and rubbing their hands in anticipation. (I can just picture it – stimulated by the stimulus package!)

First off, the obvious question: where is this money coming from? “Domestic sources,” says Najib, cryptically. Apparently, there’s “ample liquidity” in the system.

And secondly, what mysteries lie hidden behind the RM60 billion? Let’s keep it simple. The RM60 billion package comprises:

RM15 billion in fiscal injection (RM10 billion in 2009 and RM5 billion in 2010). Fiscal deficit expected to rise to 7.6 per cent in 2009;
RM25 billion in guarantee funds (RM5 billion for SME Working Capital Fund, another RM5 billion for Industry Restructuring Fund and the rest?)
RM10 billion in equity investment (For Khazanah?)
RM7 billion for private finance initiative and off-budget projects (Where is this “private finance” coming from? Not out of the EPF, I hope.)
RM3 billion in tax initiatives

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US financial system “effectively insolvent”

Anil Netto

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10 Mar 2009

7

Despite all the stimulus packages and bailouts, the US financial system is broke.

That’s the view of Nouriel Roubini, the economics professor who predicted the global economic collapse, long before most people.

He adds there is a “rising risk of a global L-shaped depression that would be even worse than the current, painful U-shaped global recession”.

That’s in sharp contrast to the view of other economists, the IMF, and the local business press, who are hoping for a small recovery in 2010. Some even are hoping for a rally in the second half of this year.

But Nouriel says any rally or recovery from China’s and the US’ stimulus packages this year is likely to be illusory, a sucker’s rally.

Today, Najib is going to announce a multi-billion mammoth second “stimulus package”. But will it be more money down the drain – apart from the usual jobs for the boys with public money?

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Pokok Demokrasi draws more visitors

Democracy

Anil Netto

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10 Mar 2009

9

The Perak State Assembly member for Canning, Wong Kah Woh, reports here that more visitors are checking out the Democracy Tree and its five “offshoots” in Ipoh.

He also points out here that according to the Perak Legislative Assembly (Privileges) Enactment 1959, para 3 of the Schedule clearly states that assembly members are immune from any civil or criminal proceedings “for anything done or said before the Assembly”.

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Why you can’t always believe the political-corporate spin

Anil Netto

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10 Mar 2009

18

Exports of electrical and electronic products fell 35 per cent in Jan 2009

So Intel has started laying off workers in Kulim, according to The Edge:

KULIM: Intel Malaysia, which is closing two of its microchip production facilities in Penang — a move which will affect over 1,000 workers — has started laying off employees at its Kulim facility which has more than 3,500 workers.

Sources told The Edge Financial Daily that at least 16 people out of 26 employed in the department in charge of maintaining the three plants in Kulim were asked to leave yesterday.

According to a source, the workers were not offered a voluntary separation scheme or even asked if they wanted to leave.

“They were told their services were no longer needed and it was not restricted to any age group or hierarchy. The affected employees were technicians, supervisors and even managers.

“They are being paid a severance package of 1.5 months’ salary for every year of service,” the source said.

It is learnt that more employees from other departments would also be asked to leave in the coming days and months but their number could not be ascertained.

No choice, no VSS…

This is why you can’t always believe all the ‘spin’ you read. Recall what Guan Eng had said in this Bernama report on 22 January on the Intel plant closures.

Lim said: “There would not be any job losses for those working in Penang Intel as the multinational company is only consolidating its branches with its employees moving to Kulim.”

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5,000 Perakians give Speaker a standing ovation

Anil Netto

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9 Mar 2009

40

Hero’s welcome: Speaker Sivakumar is mobbed by ordinary Perakians – Photos by Kinta Kid

The Perak Speaker acknowledges the crowd

Keeping alive the flame of democracy, justice and freedom (Click to expand photo)

Kinta Kid reports from the first anniversary commemoration of the Pakatan in Perak last night:

The commemoration took place at the Tow Boo Keong Hall, a venue that actually has two halls separated by a temple in the centre. One of the halls was fitted with projectors for live viewing of the action from the main hall. The crowd was estimated at over 5,000 with the majority of them Chinese.

All the top guns were there such as ‘MB yang sah’ Nizar and Lim Kit Siang. But the hero of the night undoubtedly was the honourable Speaker V Sivakumar, the man who gave the country its Pokok Demokrasi after an emergency sitting of the Perak State Assembly was held beneath a raintree on 3 March 2008. Clearly appreciative of this person, the crowd in the hall rose and burst into applause as he arrived.

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