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By David Lang
The following stories may fire your imagination, pique your interest. Some say 1MDB is Malaysia's Sovereign Wealth fund; to others they asked what wealth fund when its total capitalization is just One million ringgit? But, then again, if you think you can look down on the pet idea of the Malaysian prime minister, think again. His idea has the potential of turning the now world famous - or shall we say, infamous - 1Malaysia Development Berhad into a giant corporation you can ever imagine - even bigger than Bill Gate's Microsoft! At least, it could be, if the original course is stayed. It was supposed to inspire Malaysians to think big besides advance growth, according to its slogans screaming out of giant bill boards throughout the country. 'Backed' by the finance ministry who owns it - which means money will never be the problem - it can only succeed. But..it didn't. It failed! That's why it may have piqued many people's curiosity. How can a company flush with cash and can borrow any amount (billions) anytime could fail? Well, this may be in line with your thinking. People have seen since its inception - I mean after its name was changed in 1999 from Trengganu Investment Authority (TIA) to the present - it hasn't done any business! I have used present tense deliberately. It hasn't done any business yet. I mean if you are in business you need to make profit or find ways to make profit. Or close shop. Oh, I had heard about their filings of tax returns and hiring of a couple of internationally known auditors to sign off on their balance sheets; but these concerned only the company's borrowings and interests to be paid. Two massive bonds were issued to the tune of $7 billions. To buy up power plants. Again I want to say if you are in business to make money even investing in independent Power Plants, it should be done with the view to making a profit. The decision may be long term or short term, it doesn't matter, it has to make money, or no deal. May be they have done the right thing. Maybe luck was not on their side. Still, the amount is staggering. I didn't know having or managing so much money can be a problem! But many - especially the Malays - have not given up hope yet. Yes, may be the durians are just ripening; may be they need time and may fall soon!
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!>The DRL Blog > News>Malaysia>opinion
Malaysia's Vision 2020
By:David Lang
Malaysia is supposed to be on its way to becoming a developed nation, by the year 2020. Will she make it (in less than five years -tick-tuck, tick-tuck)? There is no doubt the year 2020 is coming whether the country is ready or not, and if that will be the only requirement then Malaysia will attain that developed nation status on schedule. There is a question, though, Will Malaysia, or Malaysians, for that matter, be ready for that status as far as their affluence, quality of life's concern? Currently Malaysia's GNI per capita stood at US$10060. According to the World Bank high income economies are those with GNI per capita of US$12,745. And until Malaysians earn much more to be there, the developed nation status may not be achieved even by the year 2020. The futility of declaring a country a high income country when it's not, achieves nothing. May be even counter-productive; it lulls the country into false sense of success and premature celebration. Don't forget China reportedly overtook Japan as the world's second largest economy, but in actual fact China's citizens' ca pita income is a fraction of the incomes of the Japanese who earn $37,000. Chinese incomes range from $13,000. China's gross domestic product, taken as a whole, may beat Japan's, but in term of quality of life, and GNI per capita income, the criteria for a developed nation status, China still has a lot of catching up to do. That's why China still qualifies as recipient of Japan's economic aid meant for developing countries. Comparing with the Chinese per capita domestic product, Malaysia is even worse off. Unless the government bucks up and rushes to create more wealth for its citizens, the Vision 2020 dream may remain just that ..a dream.
Jun 29, 2013
'MCA go home' vs 'Where was DAP 13 years ago?' at Jonker Walk
What?! Gan qualified his being there as a survey, not to protest? Let alone to lead the protest? Did Mr. Gan Tian Loo realize that the MCA protest carries more weight than DAP protest many times over. The state government, being UMNO-led government, considers the DAP as the opposition working hand-in-hand with PAS and PKR to oust UMNO from power, rescinding the directive on the request from DAP leaders will make the party even more popular. I thought, at first, here come the MCA, finally to do what it's supposed to do. Then the expected happened. He got cold feet. The reporter who covered the protest reported Gan was suddenly cautious . He was like ..."I'm here to lend my support to..the .. no, wait! I am not here to support the traders - but just to do a quick survey! But I am glad to be standing here with the protesters but reporters, please put it down in black and white I am not, I repeat, am not here as part of the protest. This is the reason the MCA was shunned, I mean has been shunned by the Chinese. They do not represent the Chinese anymore. They cannot get things done anymore unlike in the old days. Gan admitted his meeting with the chief minister was fruitless, but would keep trying. Keep trying for what? He should stop embarrassing the MCA and reducing its credibility further by continuing to beg despite being rebuffed earlier. Again, this proved that the Malaysian Chinese Association has really completely lost its usefulness. If a small matter like Jonker Walk closure was beyond its power then, that 's it.
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The Free Gazette › News›opinion
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Jul 23, 2011
China's Dilemma
South China Sea could be next flash point that could be the mother of all flash points
Why China has become somewhat less visible and aggressive on the world stage for a while now, we could only guess.
When Japan detained its fishing boat and wanted to charge its captain for encroaching into its economic zone China was uncompromising (its trade mark whenever there is any dispute with any country) and went at the Japanese with vengeance, as if Japan is not its number one trading partner and large annual aid donor.
China knows that its 1-billion strong market is too visible and important to be ignored by anyone embroiled in disputes with it. Its large army too will be a deterrent to all except the US.
China by declaring its economic zone to swallow up all of the disputed Spratly Islands and their surrounding mineral rich areas, aimed to play safe. When the time to negotiate comes, which is a sure thing, it needs to have as many cards to play (concessions to give) as possible, to prove it is reasonable. It can say the whole of South China sea belongs to China; but being a peaceful and friendly country it is prepared to talk to the Philippines and Vietnam to settle the matter amicably and gives up some islands in settlement, and then ignored all other claimants.
Another possible option being considered by China could be: stick to its claim of all the whole area and islands, everything, as Chinese territories or properties and ignored all claims but pledges to leave the South China Seas open to all international shipping both warships and merchant ships to assuage Washington and remove any excuse the World's super power can use to get involved in the disputes.
Chinese leaders know, only too well, what the US can do if it wants to.
While China for the record has never backed down, given in to, or compromised with any body -- and always emerged the winner -- its leaders realize they do have a problem vis-a-vis Hanoi or Manila. These two countries are friends of America which means the threats of using nuclear weapons will get no where. If it comes to nuclear war or threat to use nuclear weapons no country -- not even Russia -- can match America.
So it is no surprising if there is any statement concerning the South China Seas to be made, it is solely for the consumption of Washington. Their only hope of winning the disputes with Manila and Hanoi is to neutralize Washington; get it to rescind the statement Hillary Clinton made on Saturday that it is in the US's national interests too to see to it that the shipping lanes are not controlled by anybody.China knows that the last thing it should do is antagonize the United States by behaving aggressively against its friends, especially the Philippines which reportedly has a mutual security arrangement to come to Manila's help if hostilities should break out between it and China.
Nobody knows if the US really wants to protect its former colony, but chances are it will, but it is doubtful if China is prepared to take that chance.
Legally China is also in weaker position compared to Vietnam and Philippines. It wisely declines Manila's suggestion to submit to world court where it will have no chance at all.
The course left for China is: avoid acting aggressively against other claimants and avoid doing anything that will harden Washington's position further, and perhaps wait for something to happen that will help its course, something like a new president takes over from President Obama.
As it is, it will be possible for the first time ever that China cannot have its own way.
This does not mean, however, that the Chinese will give in without a fight. It just means that the odds are stacked (may be) too high against them.
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