Journaler0203

October 19, 2011

KAF-All By Themselves

KAF Seagrott-Campbell will hold its AGM on 10 November 2011.

So, they put out an administrative note. Only shareholders having a minimum of 1000 shares who attend the meeting will be given a door-gift. This is worse than Genting Berhad which stipulates that only holders of tradeable lots of 100 shares could be given door-gifts!

So all KAF shareholders having less than that magic bullet number of shares will go home empty if they turned up for the AGM on 10 November 2011.

In the past, all attending shareholders will get door gifts and car park endorsements.

I guess it is going to be one quiet meeting for KAF this year and many more of the same to come in the ensuing years

To the Board of Directors of KAF --enjoy your meeting sama-sama and bersyiok sendiri, fellas!

October 13, 2011

Hot Potato Topic!

This is the hot topic for those interested in the quagmire of Malaysian politics. These days, no place is it

debated more than in the coffee-shops, be in the urban or rural landscape.

So when do you think the general election will be held now that ‘Goody Budget 2012’ has been announced and proclaimed much to the chagrin of the people? Remember, conditions apply!

A couple of issues will have to be addressed first besides logistics and procedural matters.

The most important will be the unity of UMNO and its Barisan Nasional comrade parties.

Objectively, looking at UMNO, its weakness will be that of leadership. Can the PM amicably dislodged the current 'warlords' in the various states namely Perlis and Trengganu?

What about UMNO led states which may go into 'hung' status such as Perak and Negeri Sembilan.

Pessimists also see attrition of seats in the bastion states of Johor and Pahang. Looks like the BN safe states are Malacca, Johor and Pahang.

As for Pakatan-led states, Kelantan and Penang are good as gone. Even Kedah and Selangor are not push-overs

Across the sea lies Sabah and Sarawak. Expect more urban seats to be lost. This could be upsetting if semi-urban areas go the other way too!

Will UMNO's next annual general election be a boon or bane for Najib? If he can get new faces in to

replace the faces of yesteryears, there could be a good chance of getting new voters to vote BN. If the old faces remain in place, then things may not be too rosy in the face of the best predictions. The same goes for the constituent parties of BN.

As for these BN parties, time is not on their side. Gerakan is so bashed up;it is as good as gone. MCA is going, silently down the chute. Unlikely to see a last man standing. MIC- it may hope to fare better than 2008 but not great surprise if it remains status quo. SUPP- Silence of the Lambs.Sabah-nothing left, is there?

Timing is the next issue. Fresh after the feel-good budget, will the people warm up to the BN.

The earliest they can get the promised goodies is in January 2012. Let us look at the laundry list of goodies to see whether they are better than palatable. The most important thing is "terms and conditions apply".

I think the civil servant and the uniform personnel such as the army and the police has been somewhat appeased. They got a full one month bonus. The pensioners are less unhappy. More is in the offing for those in service, though most of these will only see the light of day after GE13. Right now, the civil servants can dream......and hope.

For the students who are getting a windfall of RM100. Most are not voters. So, the effect on GE is remote.

Let us now turn to those who are going into college life, matriculation and Form 6. Some are voters, some are re not. Again, not every one of the would be voter goes into tertiary education to get this RM200 book voucher. It is an exclusive one off gift that many would not access especially if they go into the job market.

Health care for the silver-haired above 60 years old? Nah, they are only getting the registration fees gratis. For the others from diagnostics, consultancy to pharmaceuticals, they still need to pay the going rate.

The gift of the anti-cancer vaccine for our ladies-good one. Those who are already passed their menopausal phase--nada!

Public transportation half-fares for the senior citizens-looks good at first. After analysis, appears it is exclusively urbane in characteristic. So only those in the Klang Valley can enjoy. As for the others-so solly!

As for the RM500 per household one-off hand-out for household income below RM3, 000, nothing is for sure................ We await the details to see how lucky we can be. Jackpot?

Employers are voters. The 13% unbudgeted EPF contribution will be looked at with disdain! Some

likelihood anger may be shown through the ballot box!

Whatever the procedures and criteria for the handouts, it has to be in January 2012 and possibly

through Pos Malaysia or Bank Simpanan Nasional. Assuming it takes 30days for the rush to draw down on the goodies, the earliest possible date for the GE will be after the Chinese New Year (CNY). Remember CNY is in the last week of January in 2012!

Logistics? There was news on the appointments of polling personnel. Until more news come our way, let us assume it is a matter of course. As for the polling stations, politics is the art of the possible. It can be held at anytime regardless of the school time-table!

The economy-it will go into bitter mood in the next 6 months as European and US markets shrink

their demand for exports. Commodity producers must brace for the worst! So, Malaysia has to batten down as well!

Demography of the voting public is salient. This is dependent on place and age. BN should be okay in constituencies where postal votes are concerned. As for the new voters, it is anyone’s guess. However, if the new-bloods are more attuned to Bersih type of sentiments, they could vote against BN.

Lastly, the much talked about Parliament Select Committee to review election practices. They can only wrap up after April. This could be quicken and hasten. Same old-same old issues. So no big issue to get the recommendations in sooner.

Let me re-hash on the points once more.

UMNO and BN-Still not out of the woods. UMNO’s candidate selection will be messy pre or post UMNO AGM.

Budget 2012-Generally good and bad depending whether you are a public servant or not.

Logistics- not a problem though weather and festivities could be a consideration.

Economy- very serious problem. The earlier the GE is called, the better for BN.

Demography- can work for or against. The issue of new voters-young blood can be anti-establishment.

Parliament Select Committee- a non-issue

Therefore my guess-GE will likely be called from mid February to May 2012 or BN will have to go for the full term.

October 10, 2011

The Cruellest Cut!

Pension Short-changed---how sad!

Yes, it was an ex- PM that promised full pension rights be accorded with a salary revision implementation ions ago.

Then he dropped a clanger. Economy was not good in 1996 and so cannot implement. When the economy recovered he conveniently forgot about it.

Yes, the one-off payment of RM1, 000 has be great for pensioners this year. We have to thank the current PM.

And about the 2% pension increment beginning 2013, it is just a wee droplet in the mighty ocean of runaway inflation. Would not even dent! Boo-Hoo!

So, yes-we are grateful, I grant you that but more justice need to be done.

While Cuepacs is negotiating a pay review for 1.27 million civil servants, the pensioners’ plight should also be considered as pensioners are also affected by the rising cost of living.

The Cheras Pensioners Association, in its 11th appeal letter to the government, requested for the implementation of the revised pension formula for calculating pension based on the full period of service, which was approved by the government in 1996 but was withheld because of the economic downturn. Mudah lupa!

Fifteen years have gone and the pensioners are still waiting. They are not asking for anything new or extra, but just that the promise made 15 years ago be fulfilled.

A total of RM943 million was allocated for pensions adjustments in 1995 and 1996 and subsequently approved by the government in 1996.

During the one-year waiting period, the cost of pension payments has been reduced by nearly 50 per cent because about 10 major government departments have been privatised.

Moreover, nearly 60 per cent of pensioners awaiting implementation of the revised pension formula are dead and the remaining 40 per cent are sick.

The time is overdue for the government to fulfill its promise made 15 years ago.

Are we waiting for Godot?