The Scribe A Kadir Jasin

biar saya yg jadi org pertama nak bg komen.

pertama soal ceramah :

dulu mereka2 nie kata kalau nak berceramah, jgnlah bercakap depan pembangkang.. sebab kalau buat jugak, dituduh pembelot dan tak patut dibiarkan menjadi ahli UMNO. Dan dgn akal TDM yg baru digunakan 1% , beliau mula berceramah depan org UMNO dan tiada pembangkang yg hadir. Kesannya, mereka tersepit utk kali kedua. nak diburukkan nama dah tak boleh sebab para pendengar yg hadir majoriti adalah org UMNO. Skang di kata pulak jgn pergi mendengar ceramah TDM sebab boleh memecahbelahkan parti.
ini apa pulak nie? rancangan pertama gagal, ader pulak plan B ker? ape yg memecahbelahkan? sebelum TDm bersuara, keadaan dah teruk dipecahbelahkan oelh mereka2 nie. jadi bila TDm bersuara, keadaan yg huru hara secara diam2 tuh tiba2 menjadi terang2. itu yg buat mereka2 nie gelabah.

Kedua soal Temuramah AAB:

Apekah signifikan dgn interview malam tadi? apakah jawapan2 yg ingin dijawab yg pada mulanya seolah2 interview itu adalah satu yg cukup GAH dan cukup hebat dimana segala soalan akan dijawab pada masa itu.

tapi apa yg saya tgk, semuanya adalah bicara kedai kopi. tidak ada intelektual langsung. seolah2 yg bercakap itu hanyalah org2 biasa sahaja. APA yang dijawab? semuanya semata2 hanya untuk menaikkan diri sendiri dan menaikkan saham sendiri yg kini jatuh menjunam. tetapi apa yg dpt dilihat selepas interview itu, saham yg dijangkakan boleh naik, akan jatuh lebih teruk lagi kerana saoalan2 yg terlalu bodoh dan tidak ada apa2 kelebihan langsung. segalanya hanyalah soalan mudah yg terlalu umum. betol2 membuang masa saya mendegar hujah yg hanya layak di kedai mamak.

Sdr akupening,

Sekadar reality check. Kedai mamak sekarang tak macam kedai mamak dulu lagi. Dah besar-besar. Dah ada yang berangkai. Dah ada cara francais.

Dan yang datang makan minum pun bukan orang seberangan saja. Ada menteri, ada menteri besar, ada ketua pembangkang, ada MP dan ada orang besar korporat dan GLC.

Malah kalau pemimpin macam Datuk Radzi kerap ke kedai mamak atau restoran daun pisang, dia boleh dapat banyak maklumat yang berguna untuk mengemaskinikan Umno dan Kerajaan.

Blog saya yang terbaru inipun ditulis ke kedai kopi sebab dapat guna elektrik percuma dan sekali sekali dapat free wireless connection.

Datuk:

heh.. memanglah kedai mamamak sekarang bukanlah seperti dulu. malah kedai kopi sekarang pon bukan seperti kedai kopi dulu. sekarang kedai kopi yg namanya pon tidak sedap di sedapkan dengan nama Coffeebean, San Francisco dan sebagainya. mana ada lagi kedai kopi ah seng yg ada disediakan wireless internet.. :D

berbalik kepada temuramah tadi. saya masih lagi pening dgn tujuan tmuramah(TR) tadi. apakah yg cuba ditonjolkan dlm TR itu? adakah masa selama 45 min itu hanyalah untuk menceritakan kehebatan diri sendiri yg hebat mana pon. perlukah diberitahu seluruh rakyat yg beliaulah yg seorang yg cukup bagus menjadi PM kerana tindakannya menelefon menteri2 yg terlibat (pada masa yg sama, menteri alam sekitar pon dia tak kenal) utk menyatakan itu dan ini. TDm tak perlu memberitahu kepada org ramai. segalanya akan diketahui oleh org melalui kabar dr mulut ke mulut. seolah-olah nak menaikkan diri sendiri.

assalamualaikum datuk

lama tak join blog datuk...hari2 dok perati saja...

Datuk Radzi punya statement dia sebut perpecahan tahun 1999 saja..yg dia sendiri bersama dgn pm sekarang masa lawan tun tahun 1987 tak nak pulak dia sebut...

tengok pula rancangan berssama pm di tv3..buang masa saya saja..dahlah tengok dlm internet..tersekat-sekat...tun bercakap 3 jam saya tak letih...siap ulang-ulang lagi...

kesimpulam saya dari rancangan bersama pm tu..jelaslah punca kepada segala masalah nak dipertahankan..kalaulah punca tak nak dibaiki...susahlah penyakit nak sembuh....sembuh pun sekejap..lepas tu dia akan datang balik....

First, it was the South Johore Corridor announcement - This is my vision.

Now, AAB is stating - This my way.

As a PM, he seems to be too self-concious about how he project his personality to the masses, rather than taking the opportunity to rebut TDM's queries with facts.

And defending his family on public tv was considered more important than national issues. How laah?

We can classify this interview as 'Kedai kopi talk' (3rd class, belum francais punya).

Furthermore, I presume the mediation process will now be thrown out the window. 4th or 5th floor makes no difference, I guess.

Aku hanya mengandaikan saja;

45 minit itu mesti telah disusun, ditapis dan siap dgn rehearsalnya sekali. Tentu ada pengurusnya, AJKnya yang akan meneliti impak dan keberkesanannya. Atau tidak ada sapa2 nak bantu lagi, tinggalkan QQ sorang-sorang uruskan diri sendiri? Tough, tough.

It could have been better. Cikgu yang melatih murid berlakun drama Hang Tuah disekolah mungkin boleh beri idea-idea bernas.

Saudara,
Mahu atau tidak, kita sebanarnya berhadapan dengan satu keadaan yang boleh menjadi punca keruntuhan sebuah negara yang selama ini membangun dengan pesat, berdiri dengan gagah, bersuara dengan lantang dan bergerak senada. Dalam saat-saat di mana negara akan menyambut ulangtahun kemerdekaan yang ke 49, kita, iaitu rakyat, disaji dengan kemelut yang semakin meruncing dan berkemungkinan besar menjadi perosak apa juga yang kita sudah capai setakat ini. Saudara menyebut tentang Dato Radzi sebagai Setiausaha Agong yang memang perlu memeras otak dan tulang empat kerat untuk memberi nafas kepada perjuangan Umno demi bangsa, agama dan negara. Namun, saya tidak nampak bagaimana beliau dapat mencari jalan menjernihkan keadaan dan mengembalikan kepercayaan rakyat kepada parti yang menjadi tonggak kepada negara ini.

Saya lihat bahawa pemimpin Umno, samada di peringkat pusat mahupun negeri, bahagian mahupun cawangan, sedang bergelut mencari titik pertemuan yang boleh memperkukuhkan parti yang dicabar kewibawaannya dari dalam. Bekas presiden dan Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, menyuarakan pelbagai perkara yang disifatkan sebagai perkara yang tidak patut berlaku hari ini. Kritikan beliau terhadap pucuk pimpinan hari ini akan terus bermain di kepala setiap pemimpin Umno, dan saya belum berjumpa dengan sesiapapun yang yakin bahawa masalah ini boleh diatasi dalam waktu yang terdekat.

Walau apapun yang disebut, samada di Coffee Bean atau di warong teh tarik di tepi jalan, hanya dua individu sahaja yang boleh menjernihkan kekeruhan hari ini. Perang propaganda atau tangkis menangkis yang sedang berlaku hari ini cuma berjaya menyemarakkan kekusutan. Siapa yang benar? Atau siapa yang lebih benar? Dalam keadaan tuduh menuduh hari ini, siapa tuduh siapa tidak lagi penting. Yang penting ialah - pertuduhan yang mana satu yang berasas, yang mana palsu, yang mana mainan politik, yang mana ikhlas? Saya dan ramai rakyat sangat khuatir - dan saya percaya Saudara tidak terkecuali. Apakah kita akan melihat keadaan di mana yang menang jadi arang, yang kalah jadi abu?

Saya terjumpa sajak Usman Awang yang ditulisnya pada 1958. Sajak bernama "Zaman ini" itu mengandungi bait yang sedikit sebanyak menggambarkan keadaan hari ini:

hati hati bila bicara di muka siapa,
Kerling mati menyisip antara ruang penjara.

Engkau penyair akan menulis segala cerita,
Penamu tajam boleh menghiris segala cerita!
Zaman ini mengajarmu hidup berpura-pura,
Atau sekadar menyelamatkan diri menganggukan kepala.

Engkau wartawan kutip berita antara manusia,
Penamu tajam dapat mencungkil keburukan mereka!
Engkau diam mengikat tangan di bawah meja,
Zaman ini memaksa mu menulis yang baik belaka.

Saudara,
Saya bertemu seorang tua tempoh hari. Beliau berpakaian kemas dan sedang menatap sebuah akhbar mingguan. Kemudian beliau mengeloh, dan keluhan itu memaksa saya menoleh dan bertanya kepadanya:

"Mengapa pakcik? Ada berita yang tak baik kah?" tanya saya.
"Aku buntu," katanya.
"Buntu?" soal saya lagi.
"Ya buntu bercampur marah, dan keciwa. Sampai bila Pak Lah dan Tun Mahathir akan bertegang leher ni? Kalau ya pun kita tidak sehaluan, atau tak mahu mengalah antara satu sama lain, apa akan jadi kepada Malaysia ni? Tak boleh kah duduk semeja dan mencari penyelesaian. Saya orang tua. Tak pergi sekolah tinggi, tapi saya tak lah bodoh dan tak berperasaan. Tak sesiapun akan untung kalau kita tak sepakat. Sebagai orang tua, saya akan memaafkan anak saya bila mereka berjumpa di pagi raya. Dan saya juga latih anak2 supaya menghormati yang lebih tua dari mereka. Sebagai orang tua, saya pun tak semestinya tak buat kesilapan. Dalam dunia ni, tak ada masalah yang boleh diselesaikan jika ada keikhlasan, dan jika tidak ada prasangka antara satu sama lain. Sudahlah, mari kita balik ke pangkal jalan sebelum terlambat" katanya sambil beredar.

Mesti ada mesej yang tersirat dalam kata-katanya..

dato',
dulu saya baca newspaper, saya keliru.Rata2 tulis mcm TDM dah bepaling tadah dengan UMNO.Tapi bila saya dengar ceramah beliau di Kelantan, saya tabik dengan TDM.Walaupun dikecam hebat beliau masih kental menyuarakan pendirian beliau sbg seorng ahli UMNO.

Sebenarnya bukan mudah nak memerintah NEGARA.Nak perintah satu keluarga pun ramai yang tergelincir.PakLah kene jadi pemimpin yang berani.Mungkin Paklah takkan jadik TDM.Tapi apa salahnya belajar dari TDM.Saya tgh buat research psl financial crisis 1997-98, makin tebal kekaguman saya pada TDM punya pemerintahan.Memanglah ade sedikit cacat cela.Tapi tgk kepada pembangunan negara, cacat cela yang skit tu boleh dimaafkan.Buku yang saya baca rata2 sebut nama TDM yang berani menyampaikan pendapat beliau.Saya kagum seorng DOKTOR, sangat2 bagus dalam menyelenggara ekonomi negara.Saya harap akan ade bakal pemimpin yang sebijak TDM dan Tun daim...Yang ade sekrng nampak mcm hampas belaka...

Pada menteri2 sekrng, saya rase hina sungguh taraf mereka sampai tak tahu nak menghormati tokoh negara.Siapalah mereka berbanding dengan TDM yang 20 puluh tahun memerintah negara dengan jayanya..Memang tak sedar diri!!!!

Messy

Dato',
"An Act of A Desprate Prime Minister" - Mungkin tajuk yang sesuai untuk temuramah bersama PakLah.Saya tak brapa pandai sangat English ni.Skolah pun sampai form 5 jer.Tak dapat peluang nak pergi universiti..apatah lagi Oxford atau Harvard pungg.Tajuk tu plak mengingatkan saya pada crite "Desprate Housewives".Bersungguh-sungguh mereka menampilkan diri untuk memuaskan serakah mereka.Tapi paklah plak bersungguh-sungguh menampilkan diri untuk mempertahankan anak hantu(menantu) tercinta.Apa sudah jadi dengan paklah.Mr Nice Guy not nice anymore.kalau ya pun nak jawab apa yg TDM tuduh..guna la point sket bila nak huraikan fakta.seolah-olah paklah macam 1st time kena temuramah.unlike TDM yg mintak soalan sebelum camera take pastu jawab dengan cara tertib untuk mengelakkan kekeliruan.tercapai ke matlamat paklah untuk memberi penerangan dengan temuramah tersebut?Kenapa paklah tak brani sebut nama TDM? TDM hanya disebut sebagai org-org yg membuat tuduhan dan org-org yg membuat fitnah.Brani ke paklah kalau TDM ajak berdebat secara langsung??bukan nak melagakan mereka..tp perlu ada penjelasan yg betul..bukan nak salahkan sesiapa..saya percaya dikalangan menteri juga ada yg masih sayangkan TDM walaupun dah takda "titah patik junjung".Mungkin takut hilang jawatan atau kepentingan membuatkan mereka jadi pakturut.Nazri Aziz plak soh org UMNO biar TDM nak bagi ceramah..sbb kalau dah letih nanti brenti lah dia..huh..Nazri tau ke bile TDM akan letih bagi ceramah ..ataupun Nazri ada cara nak kasi TDM letih???

Dato'
Kalau Dato' ada kenalan yg buleh bagi saya loan untuk beli saham,tolong kenalkan.If any..

Ok la..saya tak pandai nak hurai sangat..cuma nyer meluah aper yg berserabut dalam kepala otak..tu pasal comment pun berserabut..

you know what time it is?
it's mamak time..hehehe..tak bleh tdoq la

Messy

Kata PM, anak menantu tak minta projek. Kalau tak minta, tapi dapat itu lagi bagus.

IQRA'

AFX News Limited
Malaysia's Scomi secures 1.5 bln rgt drilling fluids materials contract
01.24.2006, 06:09 AM

KUALA LUMPUR (AFX) - Scomi Group Bhd said its wholly owned subsidiary Kota Minerals and Chemicals Sdn Bhd has received five separate letters of award to provide drilling fluids materials, equipment and services with an estimated revenue of 1.5 bln rgt.

The contracts were from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Shell Bhd, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc and Nippon Oil Exploration (M) Ltd.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia, Scomi said Kota Minerals and Chemicals is in the process of finalizing the terms and conditions of the contracts to be signed.

'Based on the letters of awards, the contracts are expected to be for a period of four years with an option for the tender parties to extend for another two years.

'Based on the number of wells indicated in the joint tender document, the company estimates the revenue to be generated from the contracts to be approximately 400 mln usd (equivalent to approximately 1.5 bln rgt), ' it said.

IQRA'

July 06, 2006 20:44 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

Scomi Marine Secures RM49.12 Mln Contract

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Scomi Marine Bhd has secured a RM49.12 million contract to transport coal from Australia, Indonesia, China and South Africa for TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, Scomi Marine said under the contract, the company was required to transport 500,000 metric tonnes of coal per year, subject to 20 percent variation at TNB Fuel's discretion.

The actual contract value would be determined based on the actual load of coal to be transported by the company.

Scomi Marine said that it was required to provide a performance bond in the sum of RM2.456 million, being approximately five percent of the maximum value of the coal to be transported in one year.

-- BERNAMA

IQRA'

In March, Malay Mail reported that KTM had in 2005 awarded a five-year RM50 million contract to Scomi Group "to overhaul and maintain" as many as 1,000 wagons.

Also in March, Business Times reported that Scomi Group was going to submit a bid for a RM120 million contract "to make body parts for about 400 buses for state-owned Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd."

Well, Pak Lah and Annuar Zaini should do better. Or can they?

What a hopeless state Malaysia is in right now. Our PM using emotions rather than facts trying to convince the rakyat. A PM who is given such plenty of time trying to answer at least one of the THE famous 4 questions, but yet keep on avoiding them.

Are we right now dealing with a PM who is too scared to answer simple questions, let alone dealing with the future pressure coming from anywhere, e.g. economic crisis, US or Singapore political and ecnomic pressure etc.

Day by day, the public sees Malaysia is becoming fuzzier and its light is getting dimmer. All the mega projects going around, meaning more expenditure but no revenue coming in as foreign business are shunning from Malaysia. When Tun undertake to develope all the so called "mega projects", he went also on the offensive by selling the image of Malaysia to investors. So basically, investors came overhere because they are convinced of the pluses that Malaysia have by developing all the infrastructure projects. Now, the only thing that can be drawn from havng AAB mega projects is simply to award projects to the contractors. Other, than that, nothing can be seen.

There is no follow up interms of dissemmination of information e.g. how these projects can benefit the nation as a whole. What we have is, there is two days launching off on the Johor and Penang project and there's all about it. When Tun was around, he keep on from time to time telling the people the goodness why we have to implement the projects and it importance for our future. Public are well informed and can identify how this projects makes sense to us in achieving the vision 2020.

But Pak Lah mega project gives the public the creeps, because he is going to use most of the money from EPF, Permodalan Berhad and from other national coffers without us knowing how the return is going to be like. The worst is what if we are hit by another economic recession, and we found out we have used most of our money already. What are we going to do. Borrow from IMF. It is scary to think the image our nation is going to be at the same economic level as Indonesia.

assalamualaikum..

pada sesiapa tak pernah baca artikel ni...mungkin ada baiknya kena baca...sebab kita tahu bagaimana TDM cuba memahami sesuatu perkara di dalam mentadbir negara sebelum dia melaksanakan sebarang polisi...and will appreciate apa yang dia buat untuk Malaysia...

Good reading pleasure.....enjoy

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 1997 - 1998
By
Nor Mohamed Yakcop

A moment comes, which rarely comes in a lifetime, when a particular event redefines a person's life and changes the course permanently. For me, the meeting with Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on the evening of October 3, 1997 was such an event. It enabled me to devote the next 6 years of my life working for Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, meeting him almost daily. In the process, it enabled me to see, at very close range, the abilities of this great man.

The combination of many noble qualities in one person is rare, and it is this unique combination that has enabled Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to transform Malaysia from an otherwise typical third world country into a thriving and vibrant nation, well on the way to become a developed nation. It is also this combination of qualities that enabled Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to save Malaysia from becoming another IMF nation during the financial crisis of 1997 - 1998.

I am often asked about my involvement in the recovery plan implemented on September 1, 1998. It began on September 29, 1997, when I received a telephone call from the office of Dr Mahathir Mohamad informing me that the Prime Minister wanted to see me. The PM was in Cuba at that time, and I asked (in jest) if I was to meet the Prime Minister in Cuba !
I was told (not in jest) that he will be arriving in Buenos Aires on October 3, 1997 and I was to make sure I was in Buenos Aires at least a day before he arrived. I packed my bags and left for Buenos Aires, and arrived in Buenos Aires on October 2.

The PM arrived the following day at 5 pm and we met immediately at his suite. He informed me that he had asked many people to explain to him what was causing the financial crisis but no one was able to give him a satisfactory reply. He asked me whether I could explain to him what exactly was happening.

I asked him how much time he had, and he said two hours. I explained to him how the forex market works, about short positions and long positions, about hedging and how currencies are borrowed and sold, the difference between "bid" and "offer" and how funds can be transferred from one country to another at the click of a button. I also explained how the equity market works and the relationship between the forex market and the equity market. Dr. Mahathir hardly said anything, asked one or two questions, and listened intently.

After two hours, he had to end the meeting to get ready to go for an official dinner. He asked me about my plans for the night and I said I had been invited for the same dinner. Dr. Mahathir said to me: You go back to your room and write down all that you have been telling me for the last two hours, and see me at 7 am tomorrow. I went back to my room, skipped dinner, and wrote it all down, finishing at about 6 am.

I saw him the next morning at 7 am and gave him the report. He asked me to take a rest and come back again at 2 pm. When I returned, he told me that he had read the report and that he now understands what was happening in the financial markets. We started discussing various methods of overcoming the crisis, and our discussions continued when we returned to Malaysia. I met him almost daily for discussion, sometimes at his house and sometimes at his office. We tried a few mechanisms to overcome the crisis, some of which worked initially, but the hedge funds were so strong that it was difficult to proceed successfully with these mechanisms.

In early 1998, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad asked me to explore the idea of imposing an exchange control regime to overcome the crisis. I remember preparing voluminous notes on this subject. Dr. Mahathir went through the notes carefully, and kept asking for more and more details. We went through many rounds of discussion, until he was finally convinced both with the concept as well as the proposed mechanism. The rest, I guess, is history.

Dr. Mahathir also asked me to prepare a paper on how to put an end to Malaysian shares traded in CLOB (Central Limit Order Book) in Singapore. Dr. Mahathir was of the view that an important reason for the falling stock market was the short-selling of Malaysian stocks in CLOB. I prepared the report and Dr. Mahathir understood, for the first time, how exactly CLOB operates. The report, which was also implemented on September 1, 1998, put to an end the trading of Malaysian shares in CLOB.

I should add that the exchange control measures were crafted in such a way as to minimize the control aspects and maximize the outcome. The Prime Minister went through the proposed mechanism many times to make sure that the control elements were as few as possible, but adequate enough to ensure a positive outcome. There were no bureaucratic elements in these measures, such as requiring importers to obtain Bank Negara's permission to import. The Ringgit was also pegged at a level where it was not overvalued. In almost every other country, which imposes exchange control measures and pegs its currency, there would, almost by definition, be numerous bureaucratic controls, and the currency would also be pegged at an overvalued rate.

It is often assumed that the system of exchange control (including fixed exchange rate) that we implemented on September 1, 1998 saved the country. The measures of September 1, 1998 were undoubtedly a necessary condition, but it was not a sufficient condition to overcome the crisis. Malaysia was saved, not by exchange control measures per se, but by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Let me explain. Any other developing country, facing a similar crisis, if it had introduced the measures that we introduced in September 1998, the measures would probably have failed. The fact that in Malaysia these measures succeeded is due to the ability and character of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The economy and the financial system, under Dr. Mahathir's leadership, was in a very healthy state--healthy enough for the exchange control measures to be implemented without negative consequences. Moreover, the Prime Minister's hands-on management style enabled quick and timely decisions to be made, which was vital under the new exchange control regime.

Dr. Mahathir, as Prime Minister, had ensured that the Malaysian economy was fundamentally strong. Ringgit was strong and stable. On the back of the currency stability (at RM2.50 against the US dollar) Malaysia was doing very well. At the end of 1996, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at almost 8.5 per cent and the growth was expected to continue for many more years. The government was enjoying a fiscal surplus. The external debt was low, at 40 per cent of the Gross National Product (GNP). The current account of the balance of payments had narrowed from a deficit of 10 per cent to 5 per cent of GNP, and was expected to improve further. Inflation was at its lowest at 2.1 percent. We had steady growth of over 8 per cent for a major part of that period. And this fundamental strength of Malaysia was a critical factor that enabled the exchange control measures to succeed.

For a period of more than a year after the measures of September 1, 1998 were implemented, the Prime Minister met with a small group of us everyday - 6 days a week - for at least 2 hours to go through various economic data, including data on loan growth, exports, imports, property overhang etc. This enabled the Prime Minister to take quick actions, whenever required. I remember one morning when we were going through the property figures, he looked at me and directed that I should organize a property fair to clear the overhang of properties. I did, and property worth more than RM 3 billion was sold. Even after the crisis was over, Dr. Mahathir continued to meet with the group regularly, though no longer on a daily basis. And Dr. Mahathir continued to go through all the economic data with a sharp pencil.

No other Prime Minister in the world, either in developed or developing countries, employs such a hands-on approach in managing the economy. We can see, therefore, that it was not the exchange control measures per se that saved the country but the man --- Dr. Mahathir Mohamad --- himself.

The period 1997 - 1998 was, to paraphrase Charles Dickens, the worst of times, but it was also the best of times. The worst conditions brought out the best in Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. There is a saying that a good leader is like good tea - you only know the true quality when he is in hot water !

Throughout the crisis, the Prime Minister was focussed on resolving the crisis. Day and night, he thought of nothing else but the crisis. He read all he could on finance; he kept asking me to prepare notes on various technical issues. Sometimes he was sick with bad flu and cough, but he did not take time off to rest. He was convinced that he had to understand the issues before he could work out the solutions. His native intelligence and ability to focus on core issues were there throughout the crisis. He did not show any sign of fear even at the worst of time, only concern at the fast deteriorating state of the economy. He was, at all times, confident that he would prevail in the end.

I would like to add two additional points related to the financial crisis. The first is that, in implementing the measures of September 1, 1998, Dr. Mahathir not only saved Malaysia but the neighbouring countries as well. Let me explain. When Malaysia imposed its exchange control measures on September 1, 1998, the currency speculators realised that the other affected countries (Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea) could also impose similar controls, and they, therefore, stopped their activities in its track. The speculators backed off. They bought back the currencies that they had sold. This is resulted in the regional currencies appreciating. Moreover, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not happy with what Malaysia had done, particularly since, after implementing the measures, we did exactly the opposite of what the IMF wanted us to do, i.e. we lowered our interest rates and injected liquidity into the system. The IMF, therefore, started relaxing conditions in other countries and allowed them to lower their interest rates and allowed them to inject liquidity to stimulate their economies so that Malaysia would not outperform the IMF countries. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Mahathir Mohamad not only saved Malaysia, but the other affected countries in the region as well - Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea.

My second point is regarding what would have happened if the exchange control measures were not implemented. If the measures were not implemented, many of corporations in Malaysia would have gone under, due to the high interest rates. When the corporations fall like dominos, banks would have faced severe liquidity and solvency problems due to the ballooning NPLs. The problems of the banks would have resulted in a credit squeeze, which would have led to another round of corporate failures. The Government's revenue would have fallen drastically as fewer firms would be paying corporate taxes, thereby reducing the Government's ability to stimulate the economy through fiscal policy measures. As a result of the problems faced by corporations and banks, unemployment would have increased substantially, leading to a second round of problems. This is the classic vicious cycle, which could have, in the end, destroyed the social and political stability of the country. This was a scenario that was waiting to happen. It did not happen because of the decisiveness and guts of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who decided to take the path less travelled.

We owe Dr. Mahathir much gratitude for what he has done for Malaysia over the last 22 years. Solving the financial crisis of 1997 - 1998 was just one, albeit perhaps the most important, of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's many contributions to the nation.

On a personal note, over the last 6 years, I have come to admire this great man for his abilities, his high moral values and, most of all, for his sincerity. Certainly, a man like Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is not born everyday.

(23rd. October, 2003)

Q and A – from Jue's perspective

(source from : interview between AAB & Mohd Annuar)

_ On the 9MP : “I have managed to reduce the deficit” – meaning that he had reduced the deficit and can be seen as one of his succeed story for the past 2 ½ years??

_ Image : “don’t talk behind my back – write it down” – well many people actually want to be themselves and try to express on what they feel is right and not right, on what went wrong, etc many of us have posted a lot of things (idea, opinion,etc) in the web and blog but lately we have heard that the government may imposed the so called act PPP and this will definitely restricted the freedom of the bloggers

_On style of governing : “first, truth & justice” – kindly walk the talk, we are tired of hearing to many slogans in AAB’s administration – I would like to ask the government – how trust and justice they are?? Is there any tool to measure and/or any mechanism to check ?? the national integrity plan (huh….the answer I supposed)…..

_On Proton : “if there is something wrong, we have to make it right immediately” – for the past 7 years most Malaysians supported the national car maker. But the AP issue remained unanswered and they themselves are not care enough about the future of Proton.

_On TDM : “the ministers should be allowed to explain to the people on matters concerning their ministers and the ministers prefer that I do not speak” – TDM asked AAB to answer not the ministers and the questions were posted to him not to the ministers.. who is leader of this country AAB or the ministers ??. He himself should face the reality !!

I am personally feel that UMNO is good but the people who run the party is sick!!......that is why they need a doctor!!!

Loqlaq sungguh Perdana Menteri kita.

1. Dia kata Menteri jawablah apa uang kena mengena dengan kementerian depa. [Tapi Menteri Kewangan tak jawab langsung pasai isu proton dan Avenue capital.] Dia ni tak tau bidang kuasa kot.

2. Saya telefon Khir Toyo suruh pasai peladang sayur haram. saya bagi tanah.

[isskk dia tak tau ka tanah tu bawah negeri, macam mana dia boleh bagi? Lagi loqlaq pi bagi tau dia suruh bagi tanah sebab takut berlaku kekecohan kaum sebab petani tu bangsa Cina. Kalau macam ni esok pemuda UMNO pakat pugaq tanah buat pertanian haram... dia akan halalkan semuaka? ini boleh jadi anarki!]

3. Dia kata anak dia tak dapat tender atau projek yang ada kena mengena dengan kerajaan atau kementerian kewangan. [Abih tu yang petronas dengan TNB tu bukan GLC ka?]

4. Open Burning kecik dia talipon Menteri, yang masalah besar dia buat bodoh saja. memang Half past six gov

"Kalau tiada berok masakan pohon bergoyang," Ini adalah peribahasa yang dicipta bagi menunjukan terdapat golongan- golongan yang hendak memporak-perandakan dalaman UMNO itu sendiri.

Teringat saya kepada satu lagi peribahasa kerana nila setitik rosak susu sebelanga. Kerana segelintir insan-insan yang mementingkan diri sendiri maka akan binasa sesuatu umat itu.

Mari kita renung-renungkan kejatuhan sesebuah umat itu.

Sheih,
TPM sudah pulang. Setiausaha Akhbar beliau, Tengku Sariffuddin, memberitahu dia ada di pejabat.

TPM ke London untuk lawatan sambil kerja. Pulang sekejap dan lepas tu pergi bercuti.

apa kata di AF5 anjuran astro nanti, ahli politik diambil sebagai guru persembahan sebab amat jelas ahli2 politik mang pandai berlakon :-)

dgn cara begini, pasti adlin aman ramlee akan lebih berpuas hati terhadap persembahan pelajar2 AF

:-)

Harga Minyak naik...apa saya boleh buat......
Datuk,hampir 45 mini aab berhujah.....adakah perkara-perkara dibawah ini ada menyentuh hatinya? Ini semua adalah akibah kenaikan minyak pada rakyat yang makan gaji.

1.Perbelanjaan setiap hari untuk ke pasar telah bertambah naik,
2.Belanja untuk makan tengahari di tempat kerja telah naik, makan di luar bersama keluarga sudah berkurang,
3.Belanja Pengangkutan telah naik,belanja Petrol, Tol, jika pergi bekerja menggunakan kenderaan telah naik,
5.Belanja tambang bas sekolah anak-anak atau atau pengangkutan isteri ke pasar telah naik
6.Wang saku setiap hari telah menjadi kecil nilainya.
7.Wang untuk Rekreasi, Akhbar, atau perkara-perkara untuk hiburan keluarga sudah tiada, sudah ubah style.
8.Kelengkapan harian seperti sabun, syampu,dan minyak wangi berus dan ubat gigi, bedak dan sebagainya telah kurang dibeli.
9.Alat Tulis, Keperluan surat-menyurat serta belanja pos sudah tidak ada dalam belanjawan keluarga, mujur ada email dan internet yang di mulakan masa TDM
10.Perkakas-perkakas dan Kelengkapan seperti ubat-ubatan, plaster dan mentol lampu, tak boleh terus dibeli, nanti bajet lari.
12. Belanja untukn Kediaman termasuk sewa rumah, atau bayaran ansuran membeli rumah.cukai pintu dan sebagainya sering tertunggak.
13.Kenaikan bayaran untuk Kemudahan dan utiliti seperti Belanja gas, bil letrik dan air serta telefon. Pengangkutan Bayaran ansuran untuk kereta.
14.Bayaran untuk tanggungan keluarga seperti Memberi wang kepada ibu bapa atau tanggungan lain dah banyak berkurang.
15.Bayaran untuk langganan majalah, keahlian kelab, derma dan sebagainya dah tak ada dalam bajet keluarga.
16.Cukai jalan dan insurans kereta pun sering ditampong oleh pajak gadai.
17.Percutian dan belanja untuk melancung di dalam dan luar negeri dah jadi mimpi saja.
18.Senggaraan Membaiki, menjaga kereta, alat rumah dan lainnya Perubatan Bayaran perubatan, bersalin, penjagaan gigi nampak nya dah naik harga.
19.Belanja untuk perkara Kegemaran Segala yang bersangkut-paut dengan hobi Pakaian Belanja membeli pakaian dan kasut untuk diri, isteri dan anak-anak nampaknya hanya setahun sekali.
20.Insurans Insurans nyawa, perlindungan harta dan Iain-lain nampaknya dah lama tidak dapat dilunasi..
21.Yuran Yuran persekolahan, kolej atau pengajian tinggi anak-anak di catu dari duit gaji.
22.Zakat Zakat pendapatan, harta, simpanan dah lama tak dapat bayar.
23.Perbelanjaan untuk hari raya Harijadi Serta Iain-lain perayaan keluarga dah lama dah tak buat dah.

-untungnya menantu VVIP.