Penduduk sekitar Kuantan terus bantah loji Lynas

Lee Long Hui

Kira-kira 2,000 penduduk tempatan sekitar kawasan pembinaan loji pemprsosesan nadir bumi di Gebeng, Pahang, hari ini menyertai perhimpunan anti-Lynas yang dianjurkan oleh jawatankuasa ‘Selamatkan Malaysia’.

Sebagai tanda sokongan terhadap bantahan yang diadakan di Taman Gelora, Kuantan, itu, mereka membawa beberapa ‘pinata’ - iaitu objek yang diperbuat daripada cenisan kertas - dan memukulnya secara simbolik.

Menurut pengerusi penganjur bantahan itu, Tan Bun Teet, pihak polis sejak awal pagi memantau keadaan sekitar taman itu dan orang ramai yang hendak ke taman awam itu terpaksa mendaftarkan diri mereka.

Selain itu, dakwanya, mereka juga diingatkan supaya tidaak menyertai perhimpunan haram itu.

Walaupun, Tan mengakui, pihaknya tidak mempunyai permit, namun katanya, Taman Gelora adalah kawasan awam, di mana orang ramai tidak boleh dihalang daaripada pergi ke sana.

Tiada perkara yang tidak diingini dilaporkan.

Sementara itu sebuah lagi NGO anti-Lynas, Gabungan Hentikan Lynas (GHL) mahu Menteri Besar Pahang Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob supaya tidak mengeluarkan kenyatan berbaur rasis dan cuba memutarbelikkan isu sebenar.

Bersifat rasis

Dalam kenyataan medianya, GHL menasihatkan Adnan supaya menghentikan kenyataannya yang bercanggah dari segi logik dan rasional tetapi bersifat rasis.

“Dalam temuramah tersebut (dengan aktivis Australia Ryan Albrey pada 7 September lalu), Adnan tidak menolak kemungkinan bahawa orang Cina di Malaysia cuba bersuhabat dengan negara China untuk menggagalkan projek Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) supaya China boleh kekal memonopoli pasaran tanah jarang di dunia.

“Ini merupakan satu tuduhan yang serius dan GHL harap Adnan dapat menunjukkan bukti atas dakwaan beliau.

“Jika tidak, Adnan selaku menteri besar Pahang bukan sahaja tidak peka terhadap kesejahteraan dan keharmonian masyarakt majmuk di Malaysia, malah cuba mengkaburi mata orang awam dengan andaian yang tidak berasas malah bersifat perkauman,” petik kenyataan itu.

Sehubungan itu, GHL berkata Adnan perlu berhenti menjadi jurujual kepada Lamp dengan kata-kata yang manis tetapi tidak masuk akal dan tidak membawa makna.

“Apa yang rakyat harap adalah sikap pihak pemerintah yang akur dan mendengar kepada suara rakyat, tetapi bukan sikap politik yang dangkal dan jijik mainan pemimpin yang hanya mahu terus kekal berkuasa sahaja,” petik kenyatan itu lagi.

Lynas: A colossal catastrophe waiting to happen

By MN D’Cruz, Aliran
I am writing this as a concerned citizen, living in Kuantan for the past 60-odd years. My concern is not about my personal safety or health, as I am well into my eighties and the call may come anytime, sooner rather than later. May I also add that I have no political agenda in this matter and I am not a member of any political party, Barisan Nasional or Opposition.
But my real concern is about the safety and health of generations of our children to come, as well as the expanding population that has to work, live and perhaps die in the vicinity of the proposed plant. This vicinity includes Kuantan Town, Beserah, Batu Hitam, Jabor, Balok, Sungei Karang, Cherating and other settlements along the coast, right up to Kemaman and may be further on into the neighbouring state of Terengganu.
Most of these villages are well populated and growing. The proponents of this project and those in the authority of the state/federal governments now have a solemn duty to ensure the health and safety of the people in these regions for generations to come. But I am really concerned that whatever assurance they may give verbally or in writing may not hold good for ever. Nobody, except God, can predict natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tidal waves and floods, which may strike anytime.
I am sure those who built the plants in the Three Mile Island in USA (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) had taken utmost precautions to prevent disasters and yet they happened. Thousands of people died in these disasters and thousands more are still suffering the after-effects of these disasters. Do we want to have a similar situation in this country?
The biggest question is “Why do we want this plant in Gebeng or for that matter anywhere in Malaysia?”
Are we so hard-up for foreign direct investment that we are prepared to accept a backyard industry, rejected in its own country? Western Australia has all the required facilities, viz. less populated region, accessibility to seawater and port, good transport system and infrastructure.

So why do they want to come to Gebeng to do this job?

According to Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, “the state government did not approve the project and it had no power to stop it…”

“When Lynas first proposed the project, International Trade and Industry Ministry had given the project to Terengganu . However, due to delays (or rejection by Terengganu?) the Ministry asked us to consider having the plant in Gebeng” (Press report, 20 April 2011).

Does it mean the state government has no power to refuse permission for the plant to be built in Gebeng? Land usage is a state matter and the state should have the last say in such matters. So it is surprising to note the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has forced the Lynas Gebeng Project, down the state’s throat.
“Atomic Board has limited jurisdiction” (press report).
Does it mean that in matters outside its jurisdiction, it can wash its hands and put the blame on other agencies like the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, the Department of Environment and even the State Development Corporation?
“A full operational licence will not be issued if Lynas does not meet the requirements that have been set” (press report, April 23, 2011).
So, if the requirements are not met with, will the RM700 million Lynas plant under construction now become a white elephant?
“Lynas, which hopes to begin operation in September 2011, expects to bring in RM8 billion a year from 2013 that too tax-free, based on current prices.”
Who are the real beneficiaries of the RM8 billion a year income — the state government, Lynas Australia, the federal government, Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd?
I understand there is LYNAS (M) Sdn Bhd in existence.
Who are the directors, shareholders and stakeholders of this company?
It has been reported that a delegation of state exco reps visited the Lynas headquarters in Australia.
Who sponsored their visit? Did they see any plant in operation there? What technical or scientific expertise did the members of the delegation have to do an objective study of the pros and cons of operating such a plant? Who paid for their expenses? Lynas or the state government?
The raw-material is to be imported from Lynas Australia.
Why bring the raw materials from Australia, when it could safely be processed there? Is it because the 41 safety and health regulations by the Australian government are more stringent than whatever conditions we may impose in Malaysia?
According to some experts the public is already exposed to naturally occurring and ionising radiation. Do we need an extra dose of radiation?
The finished products will be taken back to Australia but the “tailings” will be “safely” left behind in Gebeng.
Why should we hold on to this toxic waste for many, many years, even if they are deposited underground?
Isn’t it true that there is no ‘safe’ level of radiation, as far as its effects on the health of the people is concerned? (Letter to the Press by Mr David K C Quek dated May 27, 2011).
Do we want a repeat of Bukit Merah, Perak, where the Japanese Company which ran the rare-earth plant is spending RM300 million to do the clean-up and even after more than 25 years, they have not succeeded in cleaning up, leaving behind those with birth defects and eight leukaemia cases — seven have since died (New York Times, March 8, 2011)
“Chinese farmers in China pay the price for rare-earth addictive” (press report).

Lynas: MB Pahang dituntut mohon maaf

Khairil Abdul Rahim

KUANTAN, 13 Nov: Gabungan Hentikan Lynas (GHL) menuntut Menteri Besar Pahang Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob memohon maaf di atas kesilapan beliau menyebut bahawa bahan di Bukit Merah adalah bukan tanah jarang (rare earth) semasa temuramah beliau dengan aktivis Australia Ryan Albrey baru-baru ini. GHL dalam kenyataan yang diedarkan kepada media menyebut, mereka amat terkilan dengan kenyataan Adnan dalam temuramah tersebut bahawa Asian Rare Earth (ARE) itu hanya merupakan nama syarikat tetapi tidak memproses tanah jarang. GHL mendakwa, kenyataan Adnan itu merupakan satu tuduhan palsu dan tidak berasas kerana ARE menghasilkan Yttrium daripada Monozite sementara Yttrium pula merupakan bahan mentah untuk menghasilkan tiub untuk televisyen. “Mengikut definasi International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), tanah jarang terdiri daripada 17 jenis bahan, iaitu 15 jenis Lanthanides, Scandium dan Yttrium. Maka jelas bahawa kilang ARE memang menghasilkan tanah jarang, mana pula juga telah mengaut keuntungan besar dengan menggadaikan nyawa dan keselamatan rakyat tempatan. “Peristiwa pahit Bukit Merah telah memberikan satu iktibar besar kepada Rakyat Malaysia supaya jangan mengulangi kesilapan yang sama. GHL menganggap mungkin Adnan tidak berapa memahami peristiwa Bukit Merah sehingga boleh melontarkan kenyataan yang tidak berasaskan fakta, membuat perbandingan yang meremeh-temehkan perjuangan penduduk, dan menyinggung perasaan mangsa dan keluarga mangsa di Bukit Merah. “Justeru, GHL menggesa Adnan Yaakob meminta maaf kepada penduduk Bukit Merah atas kesilapan fakta tersebut,” tulis kenyataan tersebut. Selain itu, GHL juga berasa kesal dengan kenyataan Adnan yang berbaur rasis dan cuba memutarbelitkan isu sebenar di mana dalam temuramah tersebut beliau tidak menolak kemungkinan bahawa Orang Cina di Malaysia cuba bersuhabat dengan negara China untuk menggagalkan projek Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP) supaya China boleh kekal memonopoli pasaran tanah jarang di dunia. “Ini merupakan satu tuduhan yang serius dan GHL harap Adnan dapat menunjukkan bukti atas dakwaan beliau. Jika tidak, Adnan selaku Menteri Besar Pahang bukan sahaja tidak peka terhadap kesejahteraan dan keharmonian masyarakt majmuk di Malaysia, malah cuba mengkaburi mata orang awam dengan andaian yang tidak berasas malah bersifat perkauman. “GHL ingin mengingatkan Menteri Besar Pahang bahawa rakyat Kuantan dan Pahang sedang meneliti tindaklaku dan perbuatan Kerajaan BN sekarang. Rakyat Kuantan yang terdiri daripada berbilang kaum dan agama telah menghantar satu mesej yang jelas kepada pihak yang berkuasa bahawa mereka menolak Projek LAMP sepenuhnya. “Walhal, dalam temuramah tersebut Adnan sendiri mengakui bahawa Negeri Pahang tidak mendapat apa-apa daripada Projek LAMP melainkan cukai tahunan tanah dan cukai pintu sahaja.” Sementara itu, GHL juga meminta Adnan supaya hentikan percakapan yang bercanggah dari segi logik dan rasional. Misalnya, Adnan berkata semua perkara yang dijalani dalam kehidupan seharian ada risiko. Akan tetapi, Adnan sengaja mengabaikan hakikat bahawa Projek LAMP merupakan risiko lebihan yang disuapkan kepada rakyat dan generasi yang akan datang tanpa persetujuan mereka. “Dalam temuramah tersebut, secara semberono Adnan juga berkata bahawa keadaan hartanah turun harga merupakan satu perkara yang baik dan menasihatkan siapa yang ada duit untuk membeli hartanah yang sedang turun sekarang. “GHL menganggap kenyataan-kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Adnan ini hanya menunjukkan kelalaian dan kecetekan pandangan beliau terhadap Projek LAMP serta hak dan kepentingan rakyat justeru GHL meminta Adnan berhenti menjadi jurujual kepada LAMP dengan kata-kata yang manis tetapi tidak masuk akal dan tidak membawa makna. “Apa yang rakyat harap adalah sikap pihak pemerintah yang akur dan mendengar kepada suara rakyat, tetapi bukan sikap politik yang dangkal dan jijik mainan pemimpin yang hanya mahu terus kekal berkuasa sahaja,” kenyataan tersebut dipetik.

Kalaulah Mengundi Boleh Mengubah Keadaan......Telah Lama Undi Diharamkan!

Undi Pos di Lembah Pantai meningkat 1,363 peratus

(Oleh: Nabihah Hamid)
KUALA LUMPUR 10 Nov : Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai , Nurul Izzah Anwar melahirkan kebimbangannya terhadap peningkatan undi pos yang mendadak sebanyak 1363 peratus di kawasan itu.
Naib Presiden KEADILAN itu berkata, sebanyak 149 undi pos direkodkan pada 26 September 2011 namun beliau hairan dengan jumlah yang meningkat kepada 2180 pengundi pada 2 November 2011.
“Itu tak termasuk lagi isteri-isteri mereka yang dalam undang-undang Malaysia dibolehkan mengundi menerusi undi pos.
“Kita juga mendapat senarai jumlah pemilih yang dikesan tanpa alamat dalam senarai SPR berjumlah 4847. Jadi kita bangkitkan kerana ia menimbulkan keraguan, tiada alamat rumah, siapa-siapa boleh melakukan penipuan,” katanya.
Izzah turut mendedahkan penambahan mendadak undi pos di Balai Polis Petaling dengan 497 pengundi iaitu penambahan sebanyak 63 pemilih, Balai Polis Bangsar sebanyak 478 pengundi dengan penambahan 121 pemilih dan Balai Polis Kerinci seramai 41 pengundi dengan penambahan sebanyak 25 pemilih.
Selain itu katanya, pihaknya juga menemui senarai pengundi di lokaliti kosong iaitu pendaftaran nama pemilih di Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum di mana kampung tersebut tidak lagi wujud setelah penduduk asal dipindahkan.
“Bagaimana mungkin wujud pengundi di kampung yang sudah lagi tidak wujud. Apa yang lebih mengejutkan pada masa yang sama berlakunya penambahan nama pemilih daripada 3,204 nama pemilih kepada 3,300 pemilih, iaitu penambahan sebanyak 96 nama pemilih walaupun Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum tidak lagi wujud di dalam
peta Lembah Pantai,” katanya lagi.
Nurul Izzah turut memberitahu penemuan-penemuan itu membuktikan wujudnya kecacatan dalam senarai pemilih yang dipamerkan oleh SPR.
“Pihak berkuasa perlu mengambil tindakan segera atas penyelewengan yang wujud dalam daftar pemilih tersebut.Sebaliknya sistem sedia ada dan keengganan SPR bersikap dengan lebih terbuka membantutkan sebarang usaha untuk membersihkan daftar pemilih yang akan digunapakai di dalam pilihanraya umum yang akan
datang,” katanya.
Short URL: http://www.keadilandaily.com/?p=22836

Jangan Main-main Sama Nama!

Tipu nama ketika angkat sumpah, jawatan Najib tidak sah?

(Oleh: Masdar Wahid)
KUALA LUMPUR 10 Nov: Bekas pegawai kanan polis, Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim mempersoal tindakan  Datuk Seri Najib Razak tidak menggunakan namanya yang sebenar ketika mengangkat sumpah sebagai perdana menteri.
Menurut Mat Zain, Najib meletakkan Muhammad atau Mohd di pangkal namanya ketika berbuat demikian dan semasa mengumumkan barisan kabinetnya pada 9 April 2009.
Namun kata Mat Zain, pada 21 dan 23 September 2011, ketika mengenepikan sepina dalam perbicaraan fitnah terhadap Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Najib hanya mengikrarkan namanya sebagai “Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak” sahaja.
Nama itu katanya, ditulis sebanyak lapan kali dalam kedua-dua afidavitnya.
“Mustahil berlaku kesilapan kerana Afidavit itu pasti sudah disemak seramai empat peguamcara berpengalaman yang mewakilinya dalam permohonan mengenepi sepina itu,” jelas beliau.
Malah kata Mat Zain,  Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, dalam afidavit berasingan bagi kes sama, juga merujuk nama suaminya sebagai ‘Datuk Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak’.
“Menerusi afidavit-afidavit yang diikrar Najib dan isterinya, tidak syak lagi nama sebenarnya seperti dalam kad pengenalannya ialah “Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak” dan bukan “Muhammad Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak” sepertimana yang beliau bersumpah ‘demi Allah’ di hadapan YDPA di-Istana Negara pada 3 April 2009,” kata Mat Zain.
Oleh itu, katanya, Najib perlu menjelaskan bagaimana nama beliau boleh berbeza di antara dua sumpah yang dibuat.
“Samada rakyat akan mencabar kesahihan upacara angkat sumpah jawatan PM yang dilafaz pada 3 April 2009 itu, adalah terletak kepada hak dan kebebasan pilihan masing-masing.
“Namun, jika sumpah jawatan PM Najib itu diistihar tidak sah, akibat mengguna nama yang bukan nama sebenarnya, maka beliau bukan Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang sah mengikut undang-undang,” katanya.
Oleh itu, katanya, Najib tiada kuasa untuk membubar Palimen kerana mengikrar sesuatu fakta yang penting atau mengelirukan dalam sesuatu afidavit adalah secara sendirinya merupakan kesalahan jenayah.
Sebelum ini, Presiden Amerika, Barrack Obama terpaksa mengangkat sumpah buat kali kedua pada 21 Januari 2009 akibat kesilapan sebutan satu perkataan sahaja dalam upacara mengangkat sumpah kali pertama sehari sebelumnya.
Short URL: http://www.keadilandaily.com/?p=22848

Bagaimana Tekanan Jiwa Membunuh Anda

Dalam satu kajian, larva pepatung diletakkan di dalam akuarium di mana ia dapat mengesan kehadiran pemangsa yang berada di persekitaran tersebut. Sebenarnya pemangsa tidak dapat mengapa-apakan larva pepatung itu kerana ada halangan yang diletakkan. Satu lagi kumpulan larva pepatung diletakkan di kawasan yang tidak ada pemangsa.

Kajian mendapati larva yang berada di kawasan pemangsa adalah di antara 2.5 hingga 4.3 kali ganda lebih berkemungkinan untuk mati daripada larva yang tidak mengahdapi tekanan untuk di makan.

Manusia juga sebenarnya sama sahaja, akan lebih pendek umur jika hidup dalam tekanan. Kajian yang dilakukan oleh University College London mendapati mereka yang sentiasa bahagia dan gembira adalah 35% lebih berkemungkinan untuk hidup dalam tempoh 5 tahun lagi daripada mereka yang suram, tertekan dan tidak bahagia.

Memang benar sebenarnya bahawa hidup tertekan dan senantiasa muram membawa kepada maut. Banyak yang telah saya lihat daripada kalangan orang tua-tua yang melayan kesukaran serta perasaan mereka dan mula hidup penuh dengan kesuraman akhirnya menjadi semakin lemah ditimpa berbagai penyakit dan akhirnya membawa kepada kematian.(wartashubhi)

Raja Abdullah Al Saud Talian Hayat Terakhir Haji Najib?

Jamil Khir Baharom Pecah Rekod Dunia !

Selesai Haji. PM nampak semakin comel berjubah. Poster
PRU13 nanti tentu akan menggunakan Najib siap berpakaian
ihram atau jubah berserban!

Kepulangan PM Najib hari ini dari menunaikan fardu haji di Tanah Suci Mekah dengan membawa satu berita paling menggemparkan apabila dia mengumumkan sambutan paling luar biasa daripada Kerajaan Arab Saudi terhadap pemerintahan negara kita sekarang.

PM Najib juga mengumumkan Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom telah memecah satu rekod dunia dan mencipta sejarah apabila dijemput berucap memberikan ceramahnya di Mina dalam bahasa Arab. Ceramah yang dibuat oleh beliau merupakan satu-satunya menteri dari Malaysia yang diberi penghormatan sebegitu oleh Kerajaan Arab Saudi. PM Najib juga mengatakan ceramah tersebut dipuji dan diperkatakan di seluruh Arab Saudi!.

PM Najib juga mengumumkan satu lagi rekod dunia tercipta apabila beliau diberi peluang berbual dengan Raja Abdullah yang berada di Riyadh. Mereka berbual selama 25 minit melalui telefon.

Satu lagi rekod dunia dipecahkan oleh PM Najib diumumkan olehnya tadi apabila menjadi pemimpin pertama dunia yang bertemu dengan Putera Mahkota baru iaitu Putera Naif. Mereka dipertemukan selama setengah jam.

Merumuskan perkembangan yang berlaku di Tanah Suci tadi , Najib berkata ini membuktikan Raja Abdullah yang merupakan penjaga Tanah Suci Mekah nampaknya telah merestui pemimpin-pemimpin kerajaan Malaysia yang ada sekarang dan amat memuji mereka.

Nampaknya pemergian rombongan PM dan delegasinya ke Tanah Suci kali ini berhasil mendapat berkat dari Kerajaan Arab Saudi dan misi mereka berjaya nampaknya. Sudah tentu peristiwa ini menjadi satu modal besar untuk semua orang Melayu memangkah Umno atas restu yang besar Najib terima dari Raja Abdullah.

Haji Najib sudah bersedia untuk berentap dalam Pilihan Raya nampaknya. Ini bakal menjadi ujian pertama baginya semenjak memegang tapuk pemerintahan negara setelah mengambil alih daripada Pak lah.

Modal menunaikan haji digunakan terus sebaik sahaja beliau memijakkan kakinya tadi di tanah air dan selepas ini kita bakal melihat semua poster BN akan memaparkan Najib dengan lengkap berpakaian Ihram.

Agaknya ramai ke orang Melayu akan terpengaruh dengan pemergian Najib yang bergelar Haji sekarang ini???(wartashubhi)

Uzbek Connection !

World’s worst daughter? – Gulnara Karimova

As the saga of Taib and Najib’s global image-building continues to unravel, we can reveal that they not only shared their PR advisors with the notorious dictator of Kazakhstan, but also with the even more horrendous regime of Uzbekistan, where dissidents are boiled alive!
FBC Media’s Italian branch concluded a contract with Gulnara Karimova, the notoriously grasping eldest daughter of the country’s savage dictator, to boost her public image as she attempted to launch a global fashion and pop star career.

Younger generation – Gulnara likes to be known as an academic and a politician. However, this is how she promotes her singing career!

Gulnara is regarded as ‘the most hated person in Uzbekistan’, according to diplomatic cables released through WikiLeaks, because of her extraordinary raids on the country’s wealth (which includes oil and gas) and her own flamboyant self-promotion.
She is also regarded as her father, President Islam Karimov’s likely successor and the second most powerful person in the country.
When Gulnara divorced her husband, he was immediately stripped of his favoured monopoly over soft drinks in the country (which was given to her). He took refuge in the United States, but 24 members of his family were then arrested and sent at gunpoint over the border into Afghanistan!
She poses in multiple roles as a billionaire business-woman, pop singer, diplomat, government minister, her country’s permanent representative to the UN as well holding a position as a university academic and acting as patron of various organisations – all thanks to her father’s patronage!

Gulnara showing off her models and designs at Milan Fashion Week

Above all Gulnara wants to be a famous fashion designer and has poured her country’s resources into fashion shows in top locations so she can show-case her talents!
Indeed, Karimova, who has been dubbed ‘The World’s Worst Daughter’, appears to combine plain greed with a burning desire to be considered sexy and artistic, as well as clever. As the pictures below would suggest, Gulnara’s Daddy has provided her with everything, except an ability to see herself as others do!

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• World’s worst daughter? – Gulnara Karimova

[More of Gulnara's relentless self-promotion and photographs are available on her website and on You Tube]
Unfortunately, this ludicrous self-indulgence has come at the expense of her people, who are kept backward and poor, despite the rich resources of Uzbekistan.

Showing off her own ‘Uzbek style outfit’

It was a situation FBC Media were clearly happy to take advantage of. In 2009 they accepted 222,000 euros (about a million ringgit) to promote Uzbekistan’s so-called ‘Style US – Art Week”, which mainly provided a platform for Gulnara.
FBC’s duties included organising fashion shows and gourmet dinners and arranging for designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Valentino to appear at the event, along with stars like Sting and Rod Stewart!
The whole contract was eagerly signed by FBC Chairman, Alan Friedman, who was clearly aware that Gulnara’s wealth could buy plenty more such self-promotion. , Gulnara is apparently notorious for demanding a slice of every successful business in the country, providing yet another parallel with Uzbekistan’s model of government and the rapacious regime of the Taib family in Sarawak.
Slave labour and Gulnara’s fashion business

Decked in jewellry – The Taib family ladies would approve of this ‘soul sister’

Possibly the most controversial aspect of the Uzbek regime is that it remains the only country in the world where the State formally exploits child slave labour. Around 2 million children as young as 7 years old are driven out of school every year and forced into weeks of back-breaking work to bring the cotton harvest, managed by the state.
Despicably, that slave-farmed cotton doubtless supplies much of the material that Gulnara uses for her ‘fashion business’, promoting ‘Uzbek style’ across the world’s catwalks. Her association with such a terrible trade and further accusations by her ex-husband that she has also benefited from a trade in sex-trafficking women of her own country, has led to a series of protests and demonstrations outside her shows in the US and elsewhere.

One protest against a Gulnara fashion show in the US

Prime client for FBC
With such a terrible reputation plastered all over newspapers and the web and such a desire to be loved and admired, it is no surprise that glamorous Gulnara, with all her millions was beating a track to the door of FBC Media and Alan Friedman’s specialist PR services and crooked programme making.
FBC staff are reported to have been dismayed beyond belief that they were being bullied and cajoled by the aggressive Mr Friedman into presenting Gulanara on global factual TV programmes as if she was a benevolent woman seeking to help the less fortunate women in her country!
But the next contract forged with FBC’s Italian branch did exactly that. No less than three features were contracted for CNBC’s World Business, which FBC produced to showcase Gulnara and her supposed efforts to help women in her country develop small businesses. None of the movies mentioned the shocking human rights record in the country, of course. FBC Reporter Graham Addicot concentrated on featuring Gulnara as a well-meaning progressive following in the footsteps of Barak Obama!
We can reveal that Gulnara’s government office paid 28,000 euros (around RM 150,000) each for these three movies, making a total of over 80,000 euros (around half a million ringgit).
Milan and the World Economic Forum

Suave – FBC’s Alan Friedman shows off his best suit at Gulnara’s gala evening in Milan !

FBC were also willing to throw all their other contacts at Gulnara. They managed a gala of Style Uzbek at Milan Fashion week the following year at which Gulnara appeared on stage with her models, showing of her own creations!
Alan Friedman had himself photographed at the occasion and then went further in helping his extremely controversial client to meet up with the ‘great and the good’ of Italian business society by organising a ‘Business Seminar’ event.
Invited attendees included Letizia Morati, the Mayor of Milan, Andrea Goretti of Fininvest Group, top businessman Elio Cosimo Cantania and several other Italian movers and shakers who Gulnara was keen to get into her contacts book as she launched her global fashion plans!

Posing as a world economic leader on CNBC’s World Business – it cost Gulnara 28,000 euros!

Gulanara’s ambitions went further still, as she clearly sought to promote herself as a world political and business leader as well.
So Friedman again put his carefully cultivated contacts at her disposal, by showcasing her at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he has managed to acquire the status of a ‘Media Leader’.
Naturally, Gulnara managed another appearance on CNBC’s World Business, which FBC Media guaranteed to all its clients. But, Friedman went a step further in arranging a special private meeting between Gulnara and the highly regarded Chief of the WEF, Klaus Schwab! What great PR for the ‘Worst Daughter’ of Uzbekistan. No wonder FBC Media’s clients were happy until the whole crooked set up was exposed.

Carefully photographed and then posted up on CNBC. Schwab’s meeting with Gulnara – later it apparently continued into a private audience !

It seems extraordinary that such a prestigious world figure as Klaus Schwab, who by definition is knowledgeable about current affairs, allowed himself, like the Italian business leaders, to be introduced by FBC Media to such a person as Gulnara Karimova.
However, it cannot pass un-noticed that in the summer of 2009 Uzbekistan staged an event on the opening day of the summer World Economic Forum in China, featuring ‘Dr Gulnara Karimova’ at the head of an Uzbek Cultural Presentation. Such platforms do not come cheap at such a prestige event as the WEA.
(sarawakreport)

Mahathir - Cashing out from Malaysia?

By M Nathan

Why is it that Mahathir has forced Najib to give Mirzan the gas concession from Qatar Gas and force Tenaga to buy this gas at an inflated price? Imagine buying and shipping gas all the way from Qatar to burn here in Malaysia to generate electricity? Is this not going to bankrupt TNB and Malaysia in the process. NST reported recently that TNB has no more cash. How is this possible? A monopoly company going bankrupt?
Many people saw Mirzan on  the flight to Qatar to close the deal which forces our utility giant (now crippled because of other Mahathir’s cronism ideas like take or pay for Francis Yeoh iPP) to buy this gas using Petron, the San Miguel money laundering oil company in the Philippines. Just ask Fidel Ramos, who fought against and beat Eduardo Cojango the Chairman of San Miguel, and became President. It’s a matter of time before the Phillipinos put these crooks in jail. Lets beat them to it!

PRU-13 please vote out UMNO. No matter how much anyone may think its not important, the only way to get rid of Mahathir, cronyism, corruption,
Mirzan and these crooks and put them all in jail is to vote UMNO out. Its also the only way to have cheap electricity bills and to save TNB, and as a whole
save our country Malaysia from this greedy cheating mamak.

You can also see the merger of Kencana and Sapuracrest, they are taking money out RM 500 million from a merger and getting the SC to approve it.
No where else in the world would this be allowed. Go to Sharil Sapura’s daughter’s wedding soon and you can see this mamak connection and crooks all at the wedding. Go there and BERSIHkan their unholy alliance. Throw Sharil and Mirzan, Mokhzani, Muhkriz and all these children pretending to be aristocrats when all they are are just really nothing but crooks. We need to make sure they go behind bars. All of them, cashing out of Malaysia on the pretext of being so and so. PRU-13. This time, not wait to PRU-14. Only way to get rid of Mahathir and the mamak crooks and clan - Get rid of UMNO.

____________________________

Wednesday November 9, 2011

Kencana, SapuraCrest to jointly bid for contracts

By TEE LIN SAY

linsay@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Kencana Petroleum Bhd will jointly bid with SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd for international engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contracts upon completion of their merger slated for the first quarter of 2012, said Kencana group chief executive officer Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir.

“With SapuraCrest winning the contract from Petrobras, this is good for the merger. These are some the things we are hoping to do as a bigger company. To jointly bid for contracts is the whole purpose of our merger,” Mokhzani said.

SapuraCrest announced on Nov 1 that it had been awarded a US$1.4bil (RM4.4bil) contract to charter and operate three units of Pipe Laying Support
Vessels (PLSV) from Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras). It will be SapuraCrest's maiden entry into this region.

Asked whether Kencana was preparing or investing more for capital expenditure for future international jobs, Mokhzani declined to comment.

A Nomura Research analyst said SapuraCrest was making its mark in the oil and gas arena. While the analyst remained “neutral” for now on SapuraCrest, he said this development was setting up nicely for a re-rating story. “We are positive on this development. While we are still cautious in the near term,
this provides further comfort to investors to buy into the SapuraCrest Petroleum-Kencana Petroleum merger story,” the analyst said, adding that the
original Petrobras tender had involved six vessels for a total value of about US$2bil (RM6bil).

“The award of the lion's share of the contract, and without a tie-up with any other major installation player, signifies how far the company has come in
terms of international competitiveness since the Sapura group first became involved in 2003,” the analyst said.

He sees substantial earnings impact after the capital expenditure jump a 50% increase in normalised profit in its financial year ending Jan 31, 2012.Another analyst was less optimistic on SapuraCrest's ability to garner good profits from this contract. This is because, based on a report by Upstream, SapuraCrest's bid for the Petrobras contract was 9% below its closest foreign competitor.

“Nine per cent is very substantial. So I am concerned about the margin contribution of this project. Many Malaysian companies that go overseas always
go through a learning curve. To get a foothold in this project, SapuraCrest may be foregoing its margins on this project,” the analyst said.

Upstream reported that SapuraCrest had received bids from a list of Brazilian facilities that included OSX, Eisa, STX, Brasfels and Wilson &
Sons for the construction of one unit.

The report said only SapuraCrest had made a competitive offer for a single Brazilian-built vessel, with a daily charter rate of at least US$265,000.
SapuraCrest also bid to supply the two larger foreign-built vessels at US$245,000 per day 9% below the closest foreign bidder.

SapuraCrest is in the midst of merging with Kencana to form what would be the country's largest support services provider, valued at about RM12bil.

Under the proposal, Kencana shareholders will get RM3 a share worth of Integral Key Sdn Bhd stock sand cash, while owners of SapuraCrest stocks will receive the equivalent of RM4.60 per share in shares and cash. Integral Key is the special purpose vehicle established by Mayban Ventures Sdn. Bhd.

Ahli akademik diugut, apalagi ahli UMNO yang berlainan pandangan akan diboikot!

Pegawi khas: Muhyiddin tak faham, kritikan Ku Li mahu selamat Umno

Oleh G Manimaran

 KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Nov — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah memberi pandangan ikhlas untuk menyelamatkan Umno apabila mengatakan ruang untuk bersuara dalam parti teras Barisan Nasional (BN) tersebut terhad dan ramai dipinggirkan, kata pegawai khas kepada pemimpin veteran itu.
Muhd Lukhman Ghani, yang juga ahli jawatankuasa Umno Petaling Jaya Utara memberitahu, perkembangan semasa menunjukkan bahawa parti itu perlu memberi ruang yang luas kepada ahli-ahlinya untuk bersuara, bukan setakat memilih perwakilan mengikut kehendak kepimpinan untuk berucap pada perhimpunan agung setiap tahun.
"Tengku Razaleigh (gambar) sebenarnya memberi komen akibat keluhan dan keresahan ahli-ahli akar umbi, di mana mereka tidak boleh bersuara . . . tulisan dalam blog dan buku, yang terbaru seperti Kesilapan-kesilapan Najib, adalah contoh apa yang dirasakan dan difikirkan oleh ahli-ahli Umno di peringkat bawah," kata Muhd Lukhman lagi.
Kata beliau, sekiranya kepimpinan Umno tidak memperbaiki keadaan ini, pada satu hari nanti rakyat "akan mengubah kita."
"Kita kena berubah atau rakyat akan mengubah kita... itu mesej yang hendak disampaikan oleh Tengku Razaleigh," kata beliau lagi.
"(Oleh itu) pemimpin kena dengar pandangan orang bawahan, berikan mereka ruang untuk bersuara," katanya menyelar respons Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin kelmarin kononnya Umno tidak pernah menyekat mana-mana suara ahlinya dalam menyatakan pandangan seperti didakwa Tengku Razaleigh.
Dalam kenyataannya, Muhyiddin berkata Umno tidak pernah menyekat mana-mana pemimpinnya di semua peringkat daripada menyuarakan pendapat tentang isu melibatkan parti kerana Umno mengamalkan prinsip demokrasi.
Muhyiddin berkata setiap hari beliau membaca dalam akhbar banyak pendapat daripada pemimpin-pemimpin Umno yang mengulas mengenai pelbagai isu yang membuktikan tiada sekatan daripada parti.
"Tiada satu pun pekeliling yang dikeluarkan kepada mana-mana pemimpin Umno baik di peringkat negeri, bahagian atau individu mengatakan mulut mereka terkunci dan tertutup sepanjang masa. Kadang-kadang mereka bercakap lebih daripada yang sepatutnya pun," katanya menjawab Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pada hari yang sama menegaskan bahawa Umno sudah tiada peluang untuk bersuara, dan jika mahu bercakap pada perhimpunan agung pun, individu itu perlu mendapatkan kelulusan pihak atasan.
Pada 22 Julai lalu, Tengku Razaleigh yang juga Ketua Umno Gua Musang melancarkan sebuah pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dikenali sebagai Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) dengan beliau sebagai presidennya, sebagai platform untuk menyuarakan pendapat secara lebih meluas.
Kelmarin beliau mengumumkan agenda susulan pertubuhan itu selepas menerima kelulusan Pendaftar Pertubuhan bulan lalu.
Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang itu juga menegaskan beliau terpaksa menubuhkan Amanah kerana tidak lagi mempunyai ruang untuk bersuara dalam Umno.
Ia termasuk ruang untuk bercakap sewaktu perhimpunan agung Umno diberikan syarat yang ketat termasuk perlu mendapat kelulusan pimpinan parti.
Sambil menekankan bahawa banyak pihak dalam Umno dipinggirkan daripada memberi pandangan sama ada secara langsung atau tidak langsung termasuk dalam media dikuasai Umno sendiri, Muhd Lukhman menambah, Muhyiddin yang juga Timbalan Presiden Umno tidak sedar yang dirinya juga sedang dipinggirkan oleh media Umno.
"Sebenarnya Muhyiddin tidak faham atau buat tidak faham apa yang hendak disampaikan oleh Tengku (Razaleigh)," katanya lagi.
Mengambil kira pandangan itu, beliau berkata, status Muhyiddin mungkin berada di tangga kelima dalam carta 'orang yang diberi prioriti' oleh Umno dalam melahirkan suara mereka.
Perkara itu menurut beliau boleh dilihat melalui program-program anjuran Umno dan liputan media arus perdana yang pro-BN sendiri.
Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) ini berkata, orang pertama yang diberi keutamaan oleh Umno adalah Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan isterinya Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Kedua pula katanya, adalah Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim dan isterinya Datin Seri Maznah Rais.
"Tempat ketiga diberikan kepada pengampu-pengampu Najib dan yang menyalak ke arah (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) seperti Senator Ezam Mohd Nor dan Zaid Mat Arip serta ahli-ahli Parlimen bebas yang mengecam pembangkang. Muhyiddin tak ada dalam ranking empat yang utama, apatah lagi naib-naib presiden Umno.
"(Dalam Umno) kalau mengampu kerajaan baru dapat ruang," sindir Muhd Lukhman yang menyifatkan hanya 'ruang terpilih' yang ada dalam Umno.
Bagaimanapun mengulas perkara itu semalam, bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata saluran alternatif seperti blog harus dijadikan platform pemimpin parti politik untuk bersuara.
"Kita boleh guna blog untuk bersuara. Kalau tidak boleh bersuara dalam parti, kita guna blog. Dalam parti, kadang-kala dia (pemimpin) pun tak berapa dengar.
"Kita ada kebebasan bersuara. Jadi, kita boleh bersuara tetapi kalau orang lain tak berapa dengar, kita tak boleh buat apa-apa," kata bekas presiden Umno ini yang masih berpengaruh dalam kitaran politik negara ini.