Universal Ghastly Old Soldiers

Old and Dreadful

To my mind, this is probably the last outing.

They have certainly thrashed the formula until there is just nothing left to give.

Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren have both aged hideously since that first successful  outing together eons ago.

Brainless violence

While many could have tolerated Universal Soldier 2, I am not sure of Universal Soldier 3.

I will give my comments after seeing it.

Universal Soldier 4 is truly violent with no reason at all for such graphic madness.

Also, the plot is wafer-thin.

The Only Saving Grace

The first half of the movie was all over the place with little direction while the latter part was violence never seen before since murderous Polpot's genocidal days in Cambodia.

Do give this ghastly movie a miss,won't you!

Total Recall-Dull the Second Time Around

Lack the Original Punch

I think nothing beats the original with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role and the attractive female lead in Rachel Ticotin.

This second romp on celluloid with Colin Farrel  and the two female fatale, Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale is certainly eye-candy all the way.

Biel Appeal

As for Colin,what would you expect-same old, same old. Rather expressionless!

He doesn't impress in most of the films he acted either as a hero like Alexander of as foes in other movies.

I was expecting to see some better graphics but there was little to show in the movie.

Gorgeous Beckinsale 

The story-line is also insipid here.

Verdict-see if if you are at lose ends!

YTL Power-Preposterous or Possible?

Gunning for longer lease or a sale

I sometimes wonder whether we imagine too much.

Do we create scenarios to rationalize for the action we take or have taken?

Today, YTL WR went ex and the last they did was at 20 sen or so yesterday.

YTL Power warrants also stood at at best at RM 0.42 sen.

So, what happens now?

Peter Chin, the Energy Minister said there is some good news for the rakyat soon as regards the IPPs amidst the rejection of the tariff revision suggested by Tenaga.

So what could this be?

Let's built some scenario on a win-win basis.

First thing, it must be rakyat-friendly.

Remember; its election time fever.

Secondly, it must take the wind out from the sails of the Opposition PR.

Thirdly, it must favour existing IPPs for them to agree or to sell out on profit.

Win-Win-Win All Round

We can cut the melon many ways on this.

If we follow the trajectory of 1MDB, I could expect YTL's power assets in Malaysia to be acquired by it very soon. Once this gets out of the way, they will go for Malakoff which is easy because it is from a friendly party.

After that, there will be direct negotiations with Tenaga and the IPP rates will be more favourable to Tenaga and the rakyat.

Wanton Buyer?

Question to ask is: How good will the rates be paid to YTL Power and Malakoff for the acquisition?

My answer is plain as day. They will definitely be some compensatory factor somewhere, patent or latent.

As such, I can expect the best scenario is for YTL Power's share price to soar.

The next scenario.

The government announces that the rates for YTL Power and Malakoff have been reviewed downwards and  the period of their contract will now extend by another 10 years as compensation. Another great possibility in Bolehland.

Not as clean as a direct acquisition but on the long term, it will breathe fresh new life into YTL Power and Malakoff. also it will be a precursor to its asset sales to 1MDB.

End result- walla! The rakyat  gains, Tenaga gains, YTL Power gains and Malakoff gains.

Biggest winner will be the current government and as for the PR, someone has just pin a hole and burst their balloon!. Likely scenario,agree?

So, as a YTL Corp shareholder, what would you do?

Buy your allocated units and  also buy some excess?

Get your cash ready and buy in if you think that YTL Power will still be good after the expected government announcement soon.

UAC-Tussle for a Privilege

It was one of those days that you felt you almost did not make it.

There we were at the UAC final EGM  at the Royale Bintang, Mutiara Damansara before they delist.

When we were out shopping at IKEA, I got a message from my sister that they have started giving out a second food voucher.

Apparently the famed William Woon won the heart of the UAC Chairman and convinced him that one food voucher for the road would be in order as this will be for the very last time that they will be seen together at a UAC meet.

Sadly for my son and me, we have thrown away our wrist-bands.

So, they refused to give me the voucher even asking a hotel staff to retrieve my band from a dustbin outside the hotel as proof. Nasty! Nasty!.

Fortunately my quick-thinking son showed her my poll deed and I got my voucher.

Unbeknownst to me, my son was not given his. So, I had to entreat the same lady officer to give my son a fair deal.

Fortunately, she did and we were most thankful for that.

Now, we plan to have dinner out at the Royale Bintang, compliments for UAC.

Our best to UAC.

You have been generous!