Rafidah: Political Wisdom?

Rafidah Aziz has advised the Barisan Nasional leadership against repeating past mistakes, by listening to the voters and not party members when selecting candidates for the next general elections.

I think this is one good advice coming from this doyen in a long, long time. I sometimes wonder whether she took her own advice when she was surfing the political waters as Wanita UMNO chieftain.

She said too many good candidates had been axed during Election 2008 because of this policy.

“In the next general election, what we really need are good candidates, the right candidates, winnable candidates.“To get this, we must listen to the people, not the party members,” she said. On the dot, my dear lady, on the dot!

The outspoken leader pointed out that many party members had their own personal agenda to achieve, which could prove to be detrimental to Barisan Nasional (BN) at large.

“If you ask only them (the party members) on who should contest next, they might say the present representative needs to be removed.

“Of course they would say this. Why? Because there is usually already someone else there, waiting in the wings to take over,” she said.

Rafidah said it was important for the leadership to start collecting grassroots feedback from all quarters of society, which includes both party members and the voters themselves.[Who is being task to do this? Is he or she morally upright?]

“Sometimes, the people like their representative. But this representative could not be popular among party members because he or she is maybe not too ‘party-centric’,” she said.

She explained that this may not sit well with the party members who felt that they have not been getting enough “largesse” from the disputed candidate. [ We need a mind-set change here!]

“So that is where the disparity of perception comes in. You ask the party members and they would say to change the candidate but when you speak to the people, they like their representative.

“But do not look at what the party members want alone — the people end up casting the votes in the end,” she said.

Without elaborating, Rafidah said that this had clearly happened during the last general election in March 2008.

The election had seen the Pakatan Rakyat parties of PAS, DAP and PKR unexpectedly rise to power when it swept up five states and denied BN its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“Last election, too many changes were made without consideration on who these candidates were — whether they could be accepted by the public at large,” said Rafidah.

She commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his leadership to date but urged him to remind his “soldiers” in the government to strive harder to carry out his newborn initiatives.

“He has made real effort in consolidating the country, especially through his 1Malaysia concept.

“But more needs to be done. We need to go to the grassroots and explain to the people that this 1Malaysia not just about ‘one’ everything — one uniform, one murtabak.

“It is not just symbolism... it is about how we are all Malaysians and that despite our differences, we are held together by this one thread that is Malaysia,” Rafidah said.

She said that Najib seemed to understand what needed to be done to strengthen the country’s economy but pointed out that it was one thing to create approaches like the New Economic Model (NEM) and another to ensure that work was actually carried out.

“Having the NEM is one thing but making sure that things are done is another. To me, for any government of any time, there is nothing else but the ‘nose to the grindstone’ approach.[Hard work and clean conscience, my good dame!]

“Everyone in the administration must be diligent in achieving targets. All must be on their toes, there is no slacking, whether or not you are in the Cabinet or in the public service or in the education sector — you have to know your role and achieve your target,” said the former Cabinet Minister cum ex-economics lecturer in Universiti Malaya.

Rafidah added that the government needed to be stern in preventing detractors from politicising policies that were beneficial to the people. “Like the subsidy cuts for example. Do not let these detractors to politicise on it and divide the people because the cuts are for the good of the people. [Who says so? Not the poor. Not the impoverished salaried class!]

“As Malaysians, we owe it to ourselves to accept things that are good for us and the country so if we need to cut back on subsidies, then we must accept it and the government must explain to the people why,” she said.

I guess she is with Jala and suffering the blind spot malady too, in this instance!

The Cabinet in June 2010

The new Cabinet is an old Cabinet plus one new Minister.Ong Tee Kiat has got the tip of the boot and Chor has come in to take over Kong's portfolio. Kong moves to Transport.

We assume that PM Najib is happy with his Cabinet pre-June as except for the MCA replacement and transfer, every one stayed put.

Are we ready for the long haul now?

The MCA New IOUs

Yes, Ong Tee Keat has been summarily removed from the Cabinet. To many, it is just his due desserts. He has lost the political up-manship against his nemesis.

As the gentleman he claimed to be, Dr. Chua has omitted himself from the mini Cabinet reshuffle. What message can we get from this? For public consumption, he said he needs time to go about to unite the party which continues to be in tatters.  This is just shadow play.

Two party supporters were given Cabinet portfolios. Kong transferred to the Transport portfolio whereas Chor was promoted to the Housing Ministry.

Looks like the succession plan is now in place.

Chua Junior has also been elevated to Deputy Ministership to promote a private family succession plan while the two Ministers owe Chua Soi Lek a personal IOU each as well.

It's partial pay-back time for them in supporting Chua Sio Lek in quashing  Liow Tiong Lai's bid for party hegemony.


How he is is going to get his voice heard through the Cabinet meetings is definitely through Kong and Chor. They will have to report to him pronto as soon as any big issues are brought up in Cabinet so that he can lend his wisdom. They will most likely to be at his beck and call.

I believe Chua Soi Lek will leave the presidency by the next MCA AGM to allow Kong to take over to spearhead the next General Elections due in 2013.

We do not know whether all is lost for MCA.

As long as it does not bury its head in the sand every time an issue that affects the community springs up like in the past, there may yet be redemption for this beleaguered party.

OECD: No Double-dipping, only Skinny Dipping

The oraclers at  the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] have crystal-balled and have concluded sapiently that the world will not double dip in recession. Only a little skinny-dipping, perhaps.

" Taking cognizance of the  austerity measures in some major economies, they heralded affirmatively. Its Secretary-General, Angel Gurria has this to espoused. "“No, I do not see a double-dip, I do not see a recurrence of the recession,”

The OECD is a group of free market democracies that is expanding its membership of 31 mostly developed market economies to include an increasing number of emerging economies, such as Slovenia, which was formally approved last week.

Gurria said latest indicators show there is a chance that low growth and high unemployment could persist for years which can only be prevented by necessary policy changes.

“What we see in the medium term, let’s say 5, 7 years, is a relatively low level of growth, a relatively high level of unemployment and relatively high budget deficits. ... What can change this projection? Well, policies,” he said. [ This is very painful, Mr Angel of Mercy!]

“After we have stabilised the financial system, after we have plotted a medium- and long-term fiscal plan, we have to have also medium- and long-term structural policies so that the recovery is sustainable”.

He also said the euro zone’s help package to its indebted member Greece should calm the jittery markets.

“Considering that the total debt of Greece is about 300 billion (euros), 110 billion on the table is an enormous amount of money and it should give peace of mind,” Gurria said."

Temporary reprieve, I would say,my good man!

MEASAT: What is Your Footprint Now for Section 108?

Yes, you turned around in 2009 thanks to Africasat-, MEASAT-3a and foreign exchange gains.

So things are going great guns for you. As usual, your insensitive BOD has agreed not to give any dividends-an unfriendly gesture in a good year.Why are we paying you Board allowances?

Also, tell us what you are going to do with the RM359,075,000 of your retained earnings? This issue has been cropping up year after year at your AGM. I guess it will be paraded once more on 10th June.

You have up to 2013 to pay franked dividends and this could be as good as any year to begin to do so.

On top of that, you have yet another RM37,992,000 in a separate tax-exempt account. This could similarly be franked out as special dividends.

This can all be paid  in a single tier dividend manner so that it is tax-free to your patriotic shareholders.

Is there any constructive manner you can pay out these retained earnings?

Can it be converted into a paid rights issues?

You can do so by declaring a rights and then  internally  use franked dividends to pay for them.

It is a win-win situation.

Mr. MEASAT Chairman, are you listening?

Post-script:

Is MEASAT's price moving up because of potential special dividends that will be declared, a paid-up rights issue or both?

Do not disappoint us, Mr Chairman. I do hope your ear-print is as sound as the satellites you have above us.

For the Love of the English Tongue

Adib Esa is a rare breed. He knows the importance of English at an early age and it now transmitting the language skills the best he can in all the opportunities God leads him into.

Let us read the engaging telling of his story.

"I remember an unforgettable incident when I was a Standard Three pupil in the outskirts of Pontian, Johor. I nervously sought my class teacher's permission to go to the toilet. The teacher was furious when I uttered "please teacher may I go up" instead of out.

From then on, I was told to pronounce the correct syllable in every sentence of a story. I was also given novels and short fiction stories by my kind-hearted teacher to brush up my command of the English language.

My proficiency progressed as I advanced into the secondary level where English was the medium in all subjects, except for Bahasa Malaysia and Religious Studies.

I took part in debates, dramas, choral speaking and other oratory contests organised at the school, zone and district levels. I even secured top marks for the subject in the then Senior Cambridge Examinations in 1966.
The following year, when I was 20, I became a teacher trainee at the now defunct Mohd Khalid Teachers College or MPMK, located beside SM Sultan Ismail and is now the site for Sekolah Seni and SM Mohd Khalid, both premier secondary schools.

My two years at MPMK was memorable as I was in the first batch of students to be admitted to its newly constructed premises.

I was an English teacher at several primary and secondary schools in Selangor and Johor for the next 18 years.

Although the standard of English among students and pupils of that era was eroding due to a change in the education policy, my students' interest in the subject was very encouraging.

My approach in introducing the subject was very informal. Initially, I requested the pupils to get a jotter book where they could fill in words and find their meanings in the dictionary.

They were also encouraged to write sentences from these words and were told to jot down quotes by listening to conversations on television or radio programmes.

Their efforts will then be discussed in the classroom. My technique succeeded as the students' standard of English improved tremendously.

This was proven by the high grades and marks they achieved in examinations.

My teaching style also produced students who could write short stories and articles. A few of them even sold their works to colleagues.

My teaching career ended in 1988 after I was posted to the Johor Education Department first as supervisor for student affairs and later, as supervisor for health education.

Both positions had little to do with English and I only held on to them for three years. In 1991, I finally secured a job I loved best, as senior state English supervisor and held on to it until 2003.

During my tenure, proficiency courses for English teachers and department personnel were organised in all districts at least twice a year.

As for the students, there were "Speak English Campaign" in schools, singing and choir competitions, poetry, choral speaking and many more.

A few years after retirement, I set up "JELTA" (Johor English Language Teachers Enterprise) along with a group of retired teachers and private teachers from learning and tuition centres throughout the state.

Since its inception, JELTA has organised a series of English courses and seminars on UPSR, PMR and SPM question-answer techniques for students.

Other targeted groups include pre-school teachers, private teachers of religious schools, and individuals eager to master the language.

Two years ago, I was elected the English coordinator for Felda English Language Centre and I also lecture at VSS Academy.

Early this year, I became a relief teacher of a government school under the Education Ministry's programme called "Kumpulan Guru Simpanan Kebangsaan" (National Relief Teachers' Group).

Although the government via the ministry had contributed efforts to enhance the standard of English among students, its objectives are still questionable.

English teachers, in particular, should be more proactive and prepare their lesson plans well before presenting them in the classroom.

A good, creative educator will do away with the traditional approach, and let the young present their ideas, communicate and write freely.

Child-centred learning is beneficial as it allows students to share their points through mind-webbing, brainstorming and words listing in the discussed topic. Teachers should only act as facilitators.

My advice for teachers is to sacrifice some time in learning to be more creative when teaching the subject.

Adib Esa, 63, stays in Bandar Baru Uda with his wife, Nahariah Abd Majid. They have three children and five grandchildren."

We must have more teachers passionate of this subject  such as Adib to ensure English continues to be upgraded in the coming years.

Car Loans- It's Up and Away

ajor bankers have upped interest rates on new non-national car loans has increased by an average of 0.25 percentage point effective yesterday while rates for new national car loans saw a hike of about 0.10 percentage point.

Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the hikes were likely to have a “small initial impact ” on car sales.

“Car companies may see a light impact at first but the increase is marginal and people will get used to the new rate,” she said when contacted by StarBiz.

 

Aishah said if there was any major impact, it would most likely be on companies that sold affordable, mass-market cars. “The high-end players would be less affected,” she added.

An EON Bank Bhd hire-purchase officer said the bank’s revised interest rates for new non-national cars were 3.5% (5-year tenure), 3.75% (7-year) and 3.85% (9-year).

Meanwhile, rates for new national cars now stood at 3.85% (5-year tenure), 4% (7-year) and 4.10% (9-year), he added.

Previously, new non-national car loan rates at EON Bank ranged from 3.25% to 3.5% while new national car loan rates were 3.75% to 4%, he said.

The last car loan rates increase was in March when the overnight policy rate (OPR), the benchmark interest rate that determines banks’ lending rates, was revised upward by 25 basis points.

On May 13, the central bank raised again the OPR by another 25 basis points to the current 2.5%.

Not too long ago, when the OPR was at a historical low of 2%, users used to pay only up to 2.8% interest rate for a new non-national car.

At the rate of 2.8% over nine years, a person borrowing RM80,000 would have paid about RM70 less per month compared with the one that borrows the same amount but at the current rate of 3.85%.

Nevertheless, MAA’s Aishah said the association would not revise its total industry volume forecast of 550,000 units for 2010, given the steady consumer confidence.

In 2009, sales volume stood at 536,905. Year-to-date sales stand at 196,121 units from 162,075 in the previous corresponding period.

Nasim Sdn Bhd director Samson George was unperturbed by the rate hike, saying that it was unlikely to have any impact on the company’s sales. Nasim is the official distributor of Peugeot cars in the country.

“Higher interest rates will have an impact on car sales in general but the profile of our customers are different, as they tend to be more affluent.”

Earlier this month, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Dr Ang Bon Beng said the second increase in OPR to 2.5% would not have a major impact on vehicle buyers.

However, should the rate be raised by another 50 basis points by the year-end as predicted by some economists, the motor industry would be affected, he said.

Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia president Armin Baniaz Pahamin said that after the first round of OPR hike this year, the company was expecting an “adverse impact” on sales.

Yes, buy more cars for the banks, Proton and Perodua  to stay afloat. After all most of the cars on the road belongs to the banks. The old jalopies are self-owned , of course!