Between the Lines - The Malaysian News you need to know

Thu

16 Mar 2023

Does Maddey have a “cunning” comeback plan?

Juuust when you think he's out for the count, like a Whac-a-Mole, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, our nonagenarian ex-PM, could be popping back up and mounting a comeback!

Elsewhere in today's newsletter, some places are off limits for Selangor Muslims; there's much ado about mucho costly books on palm oil; another day, another political appointment; and, what's the deal with these new, not-so-fun concert guidelines?!
 


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Top stories

Game-changing name change?

 

What's in a name?

 

Well, quite a lot, it would seem, if you're PM4/7 Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

 

See, according to an Utusan Malaysia report, Putra, that Malay supremacist party led by Ibrahim "Don't Talk Sh*t" Ali is on the verge of a name change. And apparently, the plan is to rechristen it Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA), with Maddey taking over the helm as president.

 

GTA, you might recall, is already the name of the Maddey-led loose alliance of Malay-based parties that currently comprises Putra, Berjasa and Iman (and previously Pejuang) and which lost in every single seat it contested in the 15th general election (GE15). So, Putra's apparent, supposed name-change gambit is a bit of a head-scratcher.

 

But the bigger story is that the Utusan report, which quotes a Putra insider, claims that GTA/Putra will not only align with its previous buddies Berjasa and Iman but also, Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional (PN). And allegedly, purportedly, this all stems from a closed-door meeting between Mads and PAS tauke Abdul Hadi Awang and is being done to ensure Malays regain power when GE16 eventually rolls around in a few years.

 

Now, note that Putra sec-gen Rosdi Idris has since pooh-poohed the claims, adding that such matters weren't discussed at the party's recent supreme council meeting. But weren't talked about doesn't mean a flat-out no. And Putra's upcoming AGM, set for May 7, oughta provide clarity.

 

That being the case, however, there're lotsa things that don't exactly make sense now, and a truckload of questions. Among 'em:

 

Would Maddey really be willing to work with "traitor" Moo Yassin again?! Why did his former party Pejuang exit GTA only to try and get in bed with a PN that may also soon include GTA?! Were/are Maddey and sonny boy/Pejuang chieftain Mukhriz really feuding, or was/is it all a ruse?!

 

Incidentally, if GTA and Pejuang do both end up joining/aligning with PN, it'd become the biggest Malay bloc. And that'd push Gerakan, already the odd 1 out in PN, further to the fringes.

 

Meanwhile, as Malay-based opposition parties look to maybe, possibly align, Umno appears to have its sight locked on the Malay heartland state of Kelantan, with 

party head honcho Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pledging to solve the state's water woes, if Umno manages to wrest the state in the upcoming state polls.   

 

FYI, dry taps and low water pressure have majorly annoyed folks in Kelantan over the years. But be that as it may, PAS has continued to rule the state. So maybe try harder, Uncle Zed?

 

Fade to black

Did you chance upon a news article yesterday about the gomen introducing shiny sparkly guidelines for international artistes performing in Malaysia? Were you irritated by said guidelines?

 

This is what went down — The article, originally published by The Star, initially quoted Comms Minister Fahmi Fadzil on the guidelines by the Central Committee for Application of Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal). 

 

That piece, however, has since been taken down, with Fahmi's team saying that the minister never issued such a statement. And in its place, The Star published another article; essentially saying kinda sorta the same things but quoting an unnamed source from the ministry instead.  

 

Notwithstanding who actually issued the statement, though, the bottom line is that at a time when the PM and other politicos have been falling over themselves to praise Michelle Yeoh over her Oscar win, a gomen agency appears to be cracking down on artistic expression.

 

How so? Well, ICYMI, here's a snapshot of the rules that are apparently, purportedly aimed at "protecting the sensitivities of everybody in Malaysia":

  • Foreign artistes are barred from holding concerts on the eve of any Islamic holidays and on the actual day
     
  • Looser rules for performances around Merdeka (Aug 31) and Malaysia Day 
     
  • Male performers are prohibited from cross-dressing (bye-bye Harry Styles!)
     
  • Performers are barred from removing items of clothing during performances (so no taking off of jackets even? what about caps?)
     
  • Foreign film crews are to be subjected to the same rules
     
  • All scripts must be approved beforehand, and can't negatively depict any Malaysian security or enforcement agency

Now, apparently, Malaysia's big plan is "to attract more international stars to hold their shows here". Hence the need for clearer rules. Erm, we guess "attract" here could also mean "chase away"?

 

Remember, live concerts are big business, and you just have to recall the stadium-filling shows by Jay ChouAR Rahman and most recently, Blackpink as proof of that. But while our neighbours Thailand and Singapore have long been raking in a pretty penny thanks to 'em being arguably more accommodating to the arts, Malaysia appears intent on heading back to the stone ages. And that is likely gonna hurt us in the pocket.

 

BT-Dubs, on an unrelated but also somewhat related note, Selangor religious affairs exco Zawawi Ahmad Mughni has declared that programmes involving Muslims at non-Muslim houses of worship are not permitted in the state. 

 

The guy's statement comes following an outcry over a poster by Impact Malaysia promoting a visit to a Klang church, despite Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh saying no Muslims were involved in the event. 

 

Wait, so can't a Muslim friend/family member attend a wedding at a temple/church/Gurdwara?

 
 

The price of palm oil

 

Quite a lot went down in Parliament yesterday. And we kick things off with the issue of allegedly, purportedly mega-expensive books about palm oil. Yeah, we know, riveting stuff.

 

COSTLY READ

 

Malaysia's long been on a mission to ensure schoolkids are provided with info on palm oil. And last year, then-Miss Palm Oil a.k.a. ex-plantations minister Zuraida Kamaruddin announced a grand plan to print and distribute some 300k books on the subject to gomen and private schools.

 

Well, DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok a.k.a. Miss Palm Oil 2018-2020 has found issues with that plan, specifically with regard to its cost — 2 batches of books at RM13.30 and RM19.30 per copy that translates to a staggering total of RM4mil! 

 

FYI, the initiative was funded by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). So, on top of the overspending, there's also the issue of accountability. Hence why Kok's urged current Plantations Minister and Deputy PM Fadillah Yusof to probe the matter, adding that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) oughta maybe get involved too.

 

NAME IN VAIN

 

Few MPs have appeared more invested in our egg supply issues than MCA boss Wee Ka Siong. And yesterday, the guy was at it again, this time telling the House how he'd been apparently intimidated by carpet seller/Rosmah Mansor's one-time best bud Deepak Jaikishan over his remarks.

 

FYI, J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd, the sole Malaysian importer of eggs from India, had previously demanded retractions and apologies from Wee for his statements that Indian eggs are of low quality and that they take 4-5 weeks to get here. 

 

But according to WeeWee, Deepak — who's denied any link to J&E — has this week (allegedly! allegedly!) phoned him claiming that the "PMO" (Prime Minister's Office?) wanted the MCA man to issue a statement.

 

Deep, note has since rubbished Wee's claim, saying he didn't even have the latter's phone number. Even so, the PMO's warned of stern action against anyone who takes its name in vain.

 

SLIP OF THE TONGUE OR FAULT OF THE MIND?

 

Opposition MP Rosol Wahid has accused PMX and Finance Tsar Anwar Ibrahim of "making confusing statements" about the misappropriation of RM10bil worth of diesel subsidy. 

 

Anwar had reportedly brought up the alleged multi-billion leakage during the tabling of Budget 2023. Problem is, said figures given by Nuar contradict those provided by the Domestic Trade Ministry. Hence, the rep wants our supreme leader to be referred to the rights and privileges committee.

 

GOLDEN YEARS

 

The gomen is slated to table the Senior Citizens Bill in Parliament next year. And according to the Women's Ministry, the law — if passed — is set to punish people for sending their elderly parents to care homes instead of taking care of them. This, the Ministry's said, is in line with its efforts to address the challenges of Malaysia becoming an ageing nation by 2030. 

 

The issue of old folks being dumped by their families is a serious one, with 2,100 seniors reported as having been abandoned at hospitals between 2018-June 2022. 

 

But the parameters for punishing people need to be clear. This is especially given how certain care homes provide specialist care in cases where family members are unable to the needs of their ill/aging parents. Or to prevent burden of care falling disproportionately on women's shoulders, as we noted in our previous special report on women mental health

 

Odds and ends and everything else

And here're a few more things from the news yesterday, in bite-sized chunks:

  • It's only been a coupla days since Umno's former youth chief Ahmad Wajdi Dusuki was appointed Mara chair, and we now have ex-Machang MP being reappointed as Felcra chairperson. FYI, Jazzie was previously Felcra boss from Oct 2021 till the new gomen came in and terminated all political appointments.
     
  • He was then re-picked by Deputy PM some days later only to have his re-appointment frozen apparently, supposedly 'cos the gomen needed to look into overlaps and such. Now, Jazzie's been appointed yet again, and it's anyone's guess if the appointment'll stick this time round.
     
  • Inglorious leader Anwar had dropped by Kedah on Tues night for a royal audience with state ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah. The visit came a coupla days after the ruler had called on the federal gomen to give the Kulim International Airport (KXP) due consideration.
     
  • Natural Resource, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has said his ministry'll actively involve the Orang Asli community in efforts to preserve the environment. 
     
  • study by Khazanah Research Institute has found that Malaysia's public housing policy leaves PPR residents "trapped" in the system. Even those who manage to earn more than the upper monthly wage limit of RM3k are unable to move because of über high private rentals.
     
  • Sabahan developer Megaworld Vest is planning to team up with Gezhouba Group from China to build a RM4bil hydro-power generation plant, that's able to generate up to 1,000 megawatts in Liwagu Ranau. FYI, Gezhouba was the main contractor for the 22,500 MW Three Gorges Dam in China. 
     
  • Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been getting quite the workout of late. On Tues, 4 individuals, including a company's senior officers, were arrested on the back of investigations into alleged misappropriation of RM596mil sukuk (sharia-compliant bonds). The funds are related to a gomen project for registering, recruiting and biometric information storage for migrant workers.

 

** Note that the gomen has not updated Malaysia's Covid-19 stats since Mar 11 and our vax stats since Mar 14. We'll resume updates in BTL if/when it does. In the meantime, you can visit the official site.
 
 

Quote of the day

I think people make their names nice or ugly just by what they are themselves.”

 

~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

 


International

  • Russian security services will try to retrieve the wrecked American MQ-9 drone that fell into the Black Sea to study. The drone was forced down by intercepting Russian fighter jets on Tuesday, though the US has stated that efforts have been made to minimise any intelligence value obtainable from the wreck. 
     
  • If the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (we wrote about it here) isn't alarming enough, shares of global investment bank Credit Suisse hit a major low (falling as much as 30%!), leading to Swiss regulators/white knights offering support.
     
  • Taiwan could lose an ally as Honduras is looking to build formal relations with Beijing. If that takes palace, Taiwan would only be recognised by 13 gomens, having lost 8 countries’ diplomatic recognition since 2016. 
     
  • Queen lead guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May is now Sir Brian May, having been knighted by King Charles III on Tuesday at Buckingham Palace. Talk about reaching for the stars!

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