The Magical Power of a Flying Carpet

The following is what I translated from an article by the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sin Chew Daily, published on 8 January 2012:  

I am not sure if Deepak is a carpet merchant, or a businessman who flies in on a carpet. (Gan SL: Maybe a carpetbagger from somewhere?) 

On the surface, he appears to be a carpet merchant, involved with the import and sale of carpets from the Middle East, nothing unusual.

However, his “experiences” are quite extraordinary, as manifested by exceptional maneuvering achievable only if one rides on a flying carpet!  

He admitted to his involvement in the Mongolian woman case, even claimed to have influenced investigator Bala in his second statutory affidavit, with the latter overthrowing his own first affidavit. To date, the exact whereabouts of Bala is still unknown.  

Deepak claimed to have close ties with certain "powerful people", enjoying and maintaining such contacts because of some mutual business interests.   

He also said he wanted to publish a book to expose BIG secrets. The result was an e-book titled "The Black Rose". (Gan SL: Ask me and I shall send an e-copy to you.)  

This eBook did not live up to expectations, as there is no real big expose or insider story. (Gan SL: At least not stuff that most people don’t already know). Perhaps he lacks the skill of a writer? But the more likely reason is: He only wanted to create a smoke screen, holding back something with the intention of just conveying a veiled message, a cliffhanger of sorts, for better and bigger show to come…..

Deepak’s efforts so far have not been in vain. He gained fame (Gan SL: Or infamy?) overnight, enough to hog the Malaysia New Year's Eve spotlight for a while.  

In fact, his words and actions have been well-planned. Letting go and withdrawing them at will, just like maneuvering a flying carpet: He disappeared after throwing a shocker, waited for the message to “ferment”; then he re-appeared to throw another shocker, creating another fresh topic for more speculations.  

Media were all drawn to him, with no shortage of online publications keen to co-operate with and support him. In addition, he also attracted the interest of the opposition parties, all in hot pursuit of him. Yes, Deepak is certainly useful to all of them!   

Of course, they are all being used by Deepak, too.   

Question is: Why is Deepak doing all this? Obviously, he is NOT advertising to sell carpets, neither is he aspiring to become a writer.   

The real story is gradually emerging…….  

Deepak and Wanita Umno Selangor Chairman Raja Ropiaah are business partners. Ropiaah’s company Awan Megah and the Department of Defense has a privatization deal. Awan Megah is responsible for the construction of a defense research center in Putrajaya, in exchange for 200 acres of land in Klang owned by the Ministry of Defence. (Gan SL: FYI, her mentor is said to be none other than the Cowgate scandal ex-minsiter.)

Deepak and Ropiaah had an agreement: Deepak’s company Astacanggih will develop this piece of land.     

For some reasons, this agreement later “turned sour”. Awan Megah did not give the development project to Astacanggih, but instead, sold the land to the listed company Boustead; whose major shareholder is the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT).  

With this turn of event, Deepak saw the appetizing roast duck flying away! He threatened Ropiaah and her company with legal action for breach of contract. At the same time, he started blowing whistle on various political inside stories.  

So, the flying carpet magic comes from both political and economic connections.  

After some hullabaloo, Boustead proposed a business scheme: The company will pay 130 million ringgit to Awan Megah for the acquisition of that piece of land, and another 30 million ringgit for a 80% stake of Deepak’s Astacanggih share. 

If the three parties are all satisfied with the deal, Deepak will no longer blow the whistle or break BIG news. (Gan SL: So, not all whistle-blowers are selfless, public-spirited beings.)  

I am thinking aloud: Deepak has made use of the media and the opposition, but has he really achieved his original goal?   

Sharp observers, however, will ask: Where now is the much talked about National Defense Research Center? Will it still be built? If yes, it will be funded by whom?  

How come the government's privatization policy can be at the beck and call of the fairy tale flying carpet? And, obscured by so many clouds?  

Our bewilderment aside, shouldn’t the truth be told?  

More update here: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/81776?tid=12

DAP Fund-raising Dinner

Ooops! Sorry, I made a slip in my previous posting "Winnable Candidate": The three "frogs" which were won over by money politics to party-hop and change the Perak state government are ADUN's, not MP's.

Here's the info about the upocoming event:

Date: 19 January 2013

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: MBPJ Hockey Stadium, Jalan Selangor, Seksyen 3 Petaling Jaya 

The distinguished speakers at this fund-raising dinner will feature Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PAS Deputy President Mat Sabu. 

Other speakers include Tony Pua, Lau Weng San, Kasthuri Patto and Yeo Bee Yin. 

Silver tickets are available at RM60 each or RM600 per table. Gold and Platinum tables are also available at RM1,500 and RM3,000 respectively.

For tickets, please email dapdinner@gmail.com or call Chew (016-8782472).  

 

Alternatively, if you are not able to make the dinner but would like to donate to the cause, you may write the cheque to “DAP Damansara Branch” or deposit to “Maybank a/c: 514196342008”

 

Winnable Candidate?

What is a winnable candidate in Malaysia?

According to the New Straits Times, “The catch-phrase "winnable candidates" is gaining a lot of currency since it was first bandied about over a year ago by Umno leaders.” Frankly, I am not sure if I should be amused or annoyed by this strange usage of the adjective “winnable”. My hunch is that Simon Winchester may actually frown upon this new meaning UMNO politicians have assigned to "winnable".

In my humble opinion, it’s something of a misnomer to refer to someone as a “winnable candidate”. Winnable refers to something that can be won, not someone who can win. A war or a battle is winnable, an election or a parliamentary seat may be winnable, but a candidate who can win is not “winnable”, unless he is like the infamous three Perak MP’s: can be won over by money politics to change the government! J  

So, back to semantics, does UMNO want to field “winnable” candidates (who can be won over by money politics or even PKR?) or candidates who can win?  

 

 

Security Alert!

Security Alert! Is Crime Rate On the Up or Down in Malaysia?

This afternoon I was eyewitness -- for the first and I hope the only time -- to a snatch theft in broad daylight, at the busy junction of Petaling Street, Sultan Street and Jalan Hang Jebat, pretty near to the Bali Polis Tun HS Lee. That is a place bustling with tourists, but in retrospect, how come we didn’t see any policeman on patrol?

My friend and I were walking towards YuYi Book store on Sultan Street, and mind you, we were walking on the wide pavement of the road shoulder, NOT on the road itself. As we walked, we were chatting, when suddenly I heard the loud vroom of a motorbike…..Before I knew it, this bike was already ON the pavement, and the rider was ripping and pulling off the chains from my friend’s neck! It all happened in a split second…we were both stunned as we watched the thief speeding away on Jalan Hang Jebat. However, I did catch a glimpse of the guy, he was dark, rather burly, and in his late 30’s, not the typical scrawny drug addict. I thought he is Indonesian, but the jaga kereta boys in the two parking lots nearby told us that he is a local “professional” who have already preyed on a few people in the past week. So, be very careful and alert if you are anywhere near that area.    

The financial loss was close to RM 6K, but my friend was more upset by the loss of some lockets of sentimental value. He also suffered a minor scratch and some redness on the neck that disappeared in nimutes. I on my part could only thank God that nothing worse happened, as I remember another snatch theft victime, a friend who is ex-principal of BBGS. In a snatch theft incident in February 2011, she was pushed, hit her head on the pavement and is now still under medical care and rehabilitation, unable to speak or walk. I am not even sure if her brain is functioning like before. L 

Fortunately, all is NOT lost. At the bookshop, my friend discovered that his treasured locket, pendant and talisman were still trapped and stuck between his belt and t-shirt! These were items that he has been wearing for the past 40 years or so, which explain why he never thought of taking off the gold chain. L I too wear a gold chain – which is flimsy and worth a few hundred ringgit only -- because of two pendants of sentimental value. This incident is reminder that I should probably replace the chain with a worthless black string! Who knows, when people are desperate, even a few hundred ringgit is good enough for them.  

We analysed the situation and concluded that the thief could have observed and stalked us. Or, he could be stationed there looking out for victims. At the right moment and place, he moved in and hit his target. He didn’t even need to have an accomplice as the pillion rider, he was so prepared that he could do it all by himself! We are usually very alert and wary when we walk by ourselves, but because we were with company today, we got distracted, thus becoming the easy target. [sigh] This is a costly but perhaps timely lesson for us. Times are really getting bad…..we must be more careful.  

I must commend my friend for his calmness, or perhaps nonchalance, “what has happened has happened….the chain can be replaced, the items of sentimental value are not lost….” So, in spite of this unfortunate incident, we were still able to go enjoy our wantan noodles at Koon Kee, and buy our favorite famous durian puffs down the road. His bonus was, of course, some delicious carrot muffins that a mutual friend has asked me to pass on to him! J  

Excerpt of A Cantonese Opera, a treat from PCCO  

For those of us who attended the MPO concert featuring PCCO (Professional Cultural Center Orchestra) on last Thursday 30^th August, we were given a treat and a pleasant surprise. Not only were we entertained with some really melodious Chinese music, there was a folk dance and an excerpt of Cantonese Opera to boot!  

The folk dance accompanied the musical piece “Harvest Drums”. The Cantonese Opera excerpt (fairly long, 20 minutes) was the very popular “Meeting of Yeung Chung-bo and Muk Kwai-ying” from the famous opera about the Yeung/Yang family of warriors in the Sung Dynasty. The costumes of the couple were beautiful, both the acting and singing were superb! It was an enjoyable evening well spent at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. J 

 

Another thing worthy of a special mention: While the orchestra was playing the piece “Jasmine Flower” (which Puccini included in Turandot), a narrator walked around the musicians on stage to give brief introductions about the various instruments used in the performance. It was very educational and informative, especially for the uninitiated. For me, I now know of this newly invented Chinese musical instrument called Wen Qing (文琴). I think it is probably easier to play than a lot of other Chinese musical instruments, especially the erhu. J

 

The next MPO concert I am looking forward to is the ever popular La Traviata....this coming weekend!  

 

 

Petition to Save the Chinese School

Here’s a quotable "quote” (translated and paraphrased) from a father who was at the 325 “Save the Chinese School” peaceful assembly in Kajang, with his kid in tow:

“Twenty five years ago, as a kid, I was at Thean Hou Temple (Robson Height) with my dad, attending a similar “Save the Chinese School” assembly. Today, I am here with my son for the same reason. I hope my son won’t be here with my grandchildren petitioning for the same cause 25 years from now…” L

Lynas Issue (Comments in Nanyang Siang Pau)

The Kuantan/Pahang/Malaysian people want to stop Lynas’s operation in Malaysia, period. But the government keeps harping on looking for a “suitable” way or place to dispose the waste! So, will there be a win-win situation eventually? We need not gaze into a crystal ball, writing is on the wall…

Frustrated and anxious Malaysians await the outcome of this whole intriguing saga with bated breath. Meanwhile, let’s just see things from a more international or “interesting” perspective…as expressed by a columnist/political commentator in the Nanyang Siang Pau 2012-03-05 17:06

BTW, this column is named慢又不准, literally translated into “Slow and yet Inaccurate” J A little tongue-in-cheek…

The following is my own translation, as Google’s master piece is, as usual, simply incomprehensible!  

The West applauds Malaysia for the production of rare earth ● Wong

Deng Xiaoping once said: there is oil in the Middle East, there is rare earth in China. (GSL: 20/20 foresight!)

The importance of rare earth in today’s advanced technology cannot be overstated. The value of rare earth will continue to skyrocket in the many years to come.

Since the nineties, the price of rare earth has risen at least tenfold, but this is just the beginning. Advertisements on the Internet abound that rare earth price is really rock-bottom right now, almost like the low pricing of pork a decade or two ago. I am sure in time to come, it will be better to invest in rare earth rather than in gold or stocks! So, come, come, let’s jump on the bandwagon, and invest in rare earth now! There are experts to help you. You do not have to hoard rare earth in your backyard, just swipe your plastic card, and voila! The experts will do the rest. You can just watch online how the value of your investment soar day after day, and year after year, while you sit back, relax and collect interest or dividend……....

No production of rare earth, therefore no waste

Years ago, both the US and France mined rare earth. However, such activity has been discontinued because their mining and production technologies, so said pundits, have since lagged behind those of China, the newcomer. Although the US is said to still have a rare earth capacity of 13 million tons, accounting for 13% of the total rare earth stock worldwide, their production is now zero. The Malaysian Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Mustafa remarked recently that if the Malaysian government cancels Linus's license, it will be the joke of the international industry. Well, maybe it’s true. But to say that the US disposes their rare earth plant waste directly into the sewage drains is a bigger joke - the US is not even producing rare earth, where does the waste come from?

Going back to Deng Xiaoping’s famous words about rare earth in China, one can see that the Chinese people over the past years have been acting like the Arabs. The Arabs were once sitting blissfully on their oil wells, not knowing how to manipulate oil prices to their advantage. But everything changed after the oil crisis of the 1970s….. God’s gift of black gold is no longer cheap these days, as oil prices have since soared from a few US dollars a barrel to hundreds today. The Yankees crank their printing press for endless supply of green notes, but rare earth, like oil, will definitely be exhausted one day. Exchanging a limited resource for unlimited green notes? How can anyone continue to foolishly sell rare earth cheap?

China’s big rare earth reserve

Right now, China’s 36% of the world’s rare earth stock is monopolizing more than 90% of the world market. Countries in the West like the US (13%), Russia (19%) and Australia (5%) have zero output. Are they just hoarding and waiting for a better time in the future?

Other than the high cost of production and the wait for a “better time”, zero production may well be a calculated move to avert mass destruction of their environment and jeopardizing their citizens’ precious health and lives. If Third World factories are sweatshops, rare earth plants definitely involve more than sweat, there are tears and blood! (GSL: ...if not lives!)

After thirty to forty years of “blood, sweat and tears”, China has made some money. They no longer need to foolishly trade 8 tahils of work without getting back half a kati of reward. Look at the West, Apple is a shining example of trading one tahil of effort for tens of thousands of gold in return! (GSL: So is the Third World’s pirated software trade that unforgivable?) Now the well-fed Chinese can see all this quite clearly, even with their drunken eyes. Rare earth can no longer be sold cheap. 

Don’t even think about polluting the Australian Environment

The Chinese want to up rare earth price, the rest of the world can’t say no. So, what’s the way out? Break China's monopoly! But, who would do it?  

The Yankees and the Russians are not budging, so this leaves Australia to play hero. Australia has the rare earth to mine, but is averse to polluting their environment. So, FDI-hungry 1Malayisa and even hungrier Pahang are their ideal partners, or targets!   

This is why in response to Linus setting up a plant here in Malaysia, we have the hopping-mad Himpunan Hijau 2.0, but the contrasting Western media’s loud applause! Yes, applause for Malaysia’s sacrifice of its environment and national health, to break the Chinese monopoly!