This morning, Malaysia’s largest mobile operator Maxis Communications Berhad received notification from it’s major shareholder Usaha Tegas, which is owned by Ananda Krishnan to suspense trading of its securities for today.

It was made known to the KLSE that the notice of takeover offer will be served on or before 3 May 2007, as Tuesday and Wednesday are public holiday in Malaysia.

This privatization of Maxis could allow AK to free utilize his own wealth to fund major investments in India and Indonesia, in which Maxis owns India’s Aircell and Indonesia’s PT Natrindo Telepon Selular (NTS), where the mobile penetration rate is rather low at both countries and huge untapped opportunities.

The next interesting thing is to observe: Maxis is going to be listed overseas? Is this going to create any impact on KLSE?

By looking into the Ijok’s by-election result, a few thoughts came into my mind:-

• It’s time for Barisan Nasional’s K. Parthiban to carry out the responsibility entrusted on him. Najib Tun Razak and Khir Toyo, please walk the walk.
• "If you don’t think (about) what you are doing, you don’t use your vote intelligently, then of course, you are to be blamed," Tun Mahathir said.
• We need to place more emphasis on voters education. Why so? God knows.
• Let’s pray hard and hope that National Broadband Plan (NBP) will achieve its aim to provide 2.7 million homes in Malaysia with broadband access by 2007, so that more Malaysians will read more of Malaysiakini and blogs.
• Hantu?

So Pak Lah, what about General Election by end of 2007 since your good factor is now a level up?

This is the most striking message by former prime minister Tun Mahathir when he took a swipe at the Government as Ijok’s by-election is merely 36 hours from now.

"They don’t care whether it is a good government or not. We are Barisan people. We vote Barisan. No assessment, no study. We vote (Barisan) because we must. That’s why I say a country deserves the government it gets. [...]

"If you don’t think (about) what you are doing, you don’t use your vote intelligently, then of course, you are to be blamed." [...]

“Don’t vote BN blindly, don’t vote PAS blindly, don’t vote DAP blindly. Think. Use your faculties to think,”

Of course, Tun is not dumb enough to tell you straight into the face on who you should vote for, but I’m sure even a dead cat is smart enough to catch the hint.

Subsequently, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman paid a surprise visit to Ijok, a move being seen as the feeling of insecurity within the BN’s camp as it’s quite uncommon for the PM to visit by-election constituencies in which the campaign is under the responsibility of its deputy Najib Tun Razak.

I’ve a strong feeling that PKR’s Khalid Ibrahim is going to pull a win in Ijok, denting the entire feel-good-my-a*s factor for the PM to call for early GE.

Having said so, never mind the fact that opposition camp has lesser ceramah to speak at, together with the brutal reality that I can only watch from afar, however I can sense the climate has come to Ijok even before the D-Day.

Meanwhile, a few minutes ago, I received a SMS from an anonymous number commenting on the TV3 midnight Nightline.

Oh my god, TV3 12pm new tonight is the most ’spinned’ news programme I ever watched in my life. It looks more "advertisement" than the "advertisement".

Damn it, I just miss the fiesta.

One of the best letter to Malaysiakini that I’ve ever read.

After reading how fast and effective the BN government was for the Machap and Ijok by-elections in suddenly approving millions of ringgit (of our taxpayers’ money) to fill up every pothole and fulfilling every wish of the voters in those by-elections, I now am envious of the folks in Machap and Ijok.

My present MP, after the last general election, has not been seen or heard of ever since. Given a choice, I would rather prefer a dead but effective MP rather one who is alive but ineffective.

At least, I don’t have to drive through faulty traffic lights and potholes along my way to and from work everyday.

So, come the next general election, if there is a candidate in my constituent who dares declare that he or she will resign after winning the election, I will definitely be voting for you.

At least, we will have a by-election whereby our hard-earned money will be wisely spent on us, rather than on self-serving MPs.

Bearing the name Long Suffering Voter, you’ve got to give the author some credits for braving his/her long term suffering and produce such a brilliant idea for the sake of rakyat rather than dying in vain.

Thank you Long Suffering Voter, I hope local politicians can be as creative as you, as well as some balls to take up your proposal.

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Al-Haj as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

Daulat Tuanku.

On paper, the confidence level in BN’s camp is exceptionally high. The master and the student sings a similar tune — the tune of high confidence level which will lead to over-confident, in which eventually will lead not to the winning road, but more to the road of disaster.

The master: I am very confident we will retain this seat.

The student: I am very confident of winning. I think, based on the support from voters of all races, I might even obtain a higher majority.

Two days ago, Samy Vellu was seen in a reconciliation act with his political foe MG Pandithan and now, he said he is very confident.

Not sure about you, but this time around, I can really sense that Samy is extremely desperate to regain Ijok. Hopefuly, this coming D-Day will prove that Samy is no longer relevant in our local political scence or Indian society to be specified.

We’re indeed of urgent help from Ijok-ians to do us a huge favor, kick the another fella away, put him into cold storage once and forever.

When Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was stopped from holding 3 ceramah, its Youth Leader Latheefa Koya raised an impeccable question.

"If we only have nine days of campaigning, how can we meet the 14-day advance notice to make an application?" she asked.

"In that sense, we are curious how BN got their permit? Is there an ‘instant permit’?"

Interestingly, some 50 metres away from where the policemen and FRU personnel stationed, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was addressing about 200 people at a Barisan Nasional (BN) function.

Then, Kuala Selangor district police chief Ibrahim Chin told the organisers to disperse the crowd immediately or face action under the Police Act for holding an illegal gathering???!!!!

Kurang Ajar

"Kurang ajar", two words with profound meaning, which translates into a highly derogatory equivalent of "ill educated and ill mannered", infuriating many Malaysians at the time.

(SOURCE: Screenshots, 24 April)

This time, the Barisan Nasional’s Gempur strategy might have backfired when even the older generations of Umno members in the village are being turned off by the BN campaigners, only God knows who they are.

"Gempur!" (attack!) they shouted as they passed us. It was very rude of them. Some of us sitting there were PAS (members), and some were not, but their behavior was just plain kurang ajar (rude) to all of us!” he said.

During the old days, the tactic of combining fear, nostalgia and the lure of comfortable life were proven to be working. But nowadays, it appears to me that this strategy is irrelevant and not applicable anymore, especially when the consciousness level among voters has grown.

This time around, I pray hard and wish that 12,272 Ijok-ians will turun padang in full force and vote for a better Malaysia for us to live in. The choice has never been that easy to decide, ever.

Bloody stupid. Can’t you be any smarter?

Yes, you, Mr. Tourism! MTF….

This is how talented MIC president S Samy Vellu is when comes to wayang.

(SOURCE: Malaysiakini, 23 April 2007)
8 years of hatchet buried on a stage due to a newcomer K. Parthiban, that merely shows how desperate Uncle Samy is to win the full support of Indian voters and ultimately regain Ijok.

"In fact, I had forgotten my differences with him long ago.

"When the hearts have united, two bodies would not be a problem,"

If what MB Khir Toyo and DPM Najib Tun Razak did last week was being considered as rhetorical, you’ve got to show some respect to Samy Vellu for his truly profound acting skill.

No politician in Malaysia’s history can beat him to that, ever.

So heres come the usual rhetoric, which is — the election gimmick.

When politicians need a precious vote from you, as long as you are outspoken and willing to open your huge mouth, believe me, you’ll get what you want.

No political ground stands to be an exception, not so far at least, until a real politician is going to prove me wrong on this. The same goes to the Ijok’s by election too, similar promise, similar trick and bigger pie than usual since it’s the one and the only national focus now.

So here you go. Last Saturday, the Semuanya OK Menteri Besar Khir Toyo appointed himself as the representative of Ijok’s Malay residents and adopted Ijok as his state constituency.

"After this I’ll open an office in Ijok and appoint a local to be my personal representative, not only for the Malays, but also for all the people." [...]

Then, DPM Najib Tun Razak promised to look after Ijok’s affair even after the by-election and assured that the Government is not going to abandon them.

"I will look at the constituency not only until April 28 but even after that date, and if there are problems that can’t be resolved and need assistence from the federal government, I’m prepared to come down to Ijok to assist all of you." [...]

This is not the first time and definitely not going to be last time that you’re going to hear the similar promise over-and-over again until the day you’re gone forever.

The choice is in your hand to send a clear message that the old tactic is not going to work anymore, not in the Semuanya OK land at least!

If not, think about this. "Kerja bersama saya dan bukan untuk saya….work with me and not for me", sounds familiar?