The Star’s SMS alert at 10:00am.

Altantuya murder case: Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda acquitted of murder abetment charge while C/Insp Izilah Hadri and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar ordered by Shah Alam High Court to enter defence against murder charge.

More later!

Yesterday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng falling nearly 13 percent and Japan’s Nikkei index closing at its lowest level in over a quarter century.

KLSE was having a day off on Monday due to the Deepavali, the day when the light triumphs over the darkness.

Lucky us, but that’s as good for yesterday itself.

This morning, KLSE wasn’t spared of the downshift trend. As of 12:30pm, KLSE is suffering a drop of more than 50 points, currently at the verge of 800 points with N% of market capitalization wiped off, creating fears the index might continue to slip further, hence the ongoing market sell-off.

But hey people, chill. We’re Malaysians, we’re flexible bunch of people, especially our ministers.

Malaysia will not slip into a recession this year or the next year,

Malaysia was fortunate as the country possessed strong economic pillars.

So say our Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Viva Malaysia!

As I was flipping The Star Sunday, I came across this column by Raja Zarith Idris about the importance of we Malaysians seeing each other as "we" rather than seeing one another as "them" and "us", clearly pointing to the worseing racial segregation lately made worse by the racial politics perpetuated by irresponsible parties to gain political milegae.

Raja Zarith Idris is a Royal Fellow, School of Languages and Linguistics, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and whose father is the late Sultan Idris Shah of Perak.

I long for the long-ago times of my childhood and teenage years when we could make fun of each other without worrying if it would lead to a racial skirmish.

We used to identify each other according to which state we came from, not our races, not our religions. As foreign students, we had a bond because we met up at events organised by what we called ourselves: the Malaysian Students Association.

As a Malaysian, born and bred, I am honestly sick and tired of the print media constantly bringing up race and religious matters.

Our hearts and minds should not be simmering with a fire stoked by racially- and religious-conscious speakers and journalists but by the strong hopes that we can overcome any crisis together because we are Malaysians and we have gone through a lot since the time the Portuguese came to our shores centuries ago.

I’m on the same page as Raja Zarith too and I can truly feel her frustration in wake of the racial widening from politicians, individuals and organisations with their respective agendas.

It’s a timely reminder to curb the worsening racial divide which is taking place in our domestic scenes. If Malaysians regardless of race, religion and cultural belief managed to come together as one to gain independence from the British, I’m wondering why after 50 years of being Malaysians, the racial tension index is gaining foothold from time to time?

Suffice to say, amidst the global economic crisis and its shoddy outlook, for us to wade through the worst economic storm as predicted by naysayers out there, it’s imperative for us to treat each other with due respect as a singular identity of anak bangsa Malaysia. Anything less than that is a disaster in making which we can’t afford experience, in which if racial sensitiveness not being given its utmost care and tremendous consideration from each and every Malaysian, our strength of pillar in the name of national unity will be under pervasive threat.

(SOURCE: Flickr)

And the echo of the chants

Wishing peace and prosperity to all my Indian friends and readers with Deepavali wishes.

… is the mayor in KL in which consists of 10 Opposition members of Parliament with only one from Barisan Nasional.

… the mayor who renamed the popular street of "Jalan Alor" to "Jalan Kejora" as part of the so-called "new image creation exercise" without consulting the public regarding the matter, and,

… the mayor who spent RM1.329mil on overseas trip and the sweetest part, it’s fully paid by Malaysian taxpayers, like you, me and many more who work hard to put three square meals on the table.

… is the mayor who should have resigned or otherwise being sacked for the above reasons but so far, he chooses to defense his latest move.

… is the mayor who doesn’t really care if there is more than a million results on the search engine when you search "Jalan Alor" while "Jalan Kejora" is an alien word to the tourist worldwide. Who cares about the tourist anyway, "new image" is more important.

…. is the mayor who is prepared to go down the Malaysia Book of Records as the mayor who changes the name for highest number of roads around the Bukit Bintang area. Again, who cares about the tourist anyway, "new image" is paramount.

Last but not least, he is the mayor who is going to oversee and decide who gets the contract for the "new image" exercise, and … so …

It’s high time for the Government to resuscitate the long dead local council election as soon as possible as it’s the only way to compel the elected representatives answerable to the taxpayers, until then, things will continue to be swept under the carpet.

While Malaysia is busy demoting bloggers, journalists and more importantly, working extra hours looking for excuses to stifle the freedom of expression in this nation, Malaysian-based-Jakarta blogger Unspun blogged about how the Indonesian Minister of Communications and Information Muhammed Nuh pledged to respect the freedom of expression in Indonesia, let alone any evil thoughts of putting bloggers behind the bar.

That’s the stark contrast between the two, as far as the ruling mentality is concern, where the tiny Malaysia claimed to be an Islamic state and Indonesia is a non-Islamic state with the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

What about a jaunt down to Jakarta paying the Indonesia cabinet a visit?

Any taker out there? Syed Hamid? Shaziman?

Bye for Maxis. Bye for KJ.

Don’t jump into conclusion yet, as of now, it’s still a hypothetical circumstance.

Finally, 2400 eligible MCA central delegates elected from 191 division nationwide decided a minor tsunami is necessary to revive the party, hence the result last night.

Ong Tee Keat and Chua Soi Lek have been voted in as the new party president and deputy president respectively after defeating their rivals with slim majority, immediately raising claim by the party critics as the end to the "Ong Dynasty".

While it’s expected Tee Keat to be voted as their next president, there is a shock wave in the deputy president contest when the dark horse Soi Lek staged a major upset against the outgoing president Ong Ka Ting’s brother Ong Ka Chua, who is also the current secretary-general of the party.

On the other hand, Soi Lek was forced to quit his party and ministerial post last year over a sex scandal and when he announced his decision to contest the deputy president post recently, dirty allegations and poison tactics surfaced, came in all-together and were used against him by some of the supporter from his opponents camp to raise delegates suspicion that his moral inclination is a major concern and whether he is fit to assume the role.

In the end of the day, it’s obvious who is the real winner here, which just shows that MCA members are eager to see their party rejuvenated with fresh faces to propel the party forward. Perhaps, dirty tactics against Soi Lek backfired, which means he receieved some sympathy votes by delegates who believe that he was victimized in the sex scandal which ended his political career abruptly.

Nevertheless, in a way or another, it shows the members determination to see a revived party and then, I came to realize that political tsunami is no longer a unique occasion or yet-another rare circumstance as some wouldn’t want to believe it’s really happening, like the losing candidate Ka Chuan who chose to believe it’s a ‘balanced’ outcome. Well, this can be a topic by itself for another day.

Anyway, the latest result of this MCA poll is another good example that political tsunami is now a trend, a trend which might permeate into the upcoming Umno election, which is slotted for next March and possibly as early as December as rumors are rife that a plot is ongoing to hasten the exit of its president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin who earlier spearheaded the open call for Abdullah to step down might want to take extra precautionary that anything is possible nowadays during this turbulence period, even though he is now the only aspiring deputy president candidate to garner enough nominations from the divisions.

Probably Muhyiddin should consider himself lucky as Umno has this nomination policy, something which is inherited from Mahathir’s era, otherwise upset is possible given that many aspiring Umno elites have openly showing their intention of going after the similar post.

Now, let’s get back to MCA. It’s now proven that delegates are willing to take a huge risk in throwing their support behind Soi Lek as the deputy president even though he is without ministerial post in the cabinet, possibly made worse by the sexual allegation. Ka Ting is dumped by the delegate and Soi Lek is staging a marvelous comeback.

With that, more questions remain unanswered.

Is Ka Chuan going to be forced out from the Cabinet when a reshuffle is expected by the time the next PM ascends to the power?

How about Soi Lek, is he going to make a comeback into the cabinet albeit the known sex scandal last year?

How about the unlikely combination of the top 2 pact between both Tee Keat and Soi Lek are going to work together as a team as they’re known of not being in good term in the run up to the party election?

But more importantly, moving forward, how MCA as one of the largest component party within the Barisan Nasional coalition is going to make their voices heard and not continuing to kow-tow to the Umnoputras as the lame-duck PM Abdullah denied that Umno is a big bully as hinted by the outgoing MCA president Ka Ting in his opening speech?

What about MCA’s role in tackling the draconion law like ISA which are being put in place to curb political dissidents, which is contrary to the purpose of its establishment in first place, with the latest victims ranges from the wrongful detention of Opposition MP Teresa Kok, a reporter Tan Hoon Cheng who was subsequently released within 48 hours, Malaysia Today’s Raja Petra Kamarudin, the Hindraf 5 and many more who are still crippling in the infamous Kamunting Detention Center without being charged in the civil courts?

As Pak Lah openly rejected the idea of reviewing the ISA, Malaysians would be watching closely on how these elected candidates would be getting their hands around from the party perspective in putting the ISA to rest after decades of unlawful detention to curb dissentment against the Government.

For the record, both Tee Keat and Soi Lek has openly rejected the ISA which they published on their blogs, which you can find here and here. If the Government insists the ISA is here to stay,

This time around, amid the political turbulence version 2008, Malaysians who are more net-literate as compared to old days are going to watch closely and making sure that they’ll be placed under intense public scrutiny and no one is going out of the radar,

But no, not like I’m suggesting to you that they’re doing that out of their love towards MCA. :-)

The moment I’m back in KL, I was greeted with something good, but not getting quite close to ecstasy yet.

From tomorrow, RON 97 petrol reduced by 15 sen to RM2.30; RON 92 petrol reduced by 10 sen to RM2.20; diesel reduced by 20 sen to RM2.20

The Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the reduction was done in a bid to curb rising inflation in the country, never mind the fact it’s the sudden raise of over 44% of petrol price which propelled our inflation rate to a record high since the past two decades.

As the crude oil price is quite volatile nowadays and more or less is at its downsize, the Government should have came out with a weekly or bi-weekly review instead of the monthly review if the Government is serious in its effort for the people to enjoy instant benefit of lower retail price.

On top of that, it’s time for the people to move away from the subsidy mentality when sooner or later, the public must face the reality and pay the real market price instead of the price subsidized by the Government.

In the end of the day, when the public is ready to give away such a luxury whereas we as a oil producing country, it’s the responsibility of the Government to ensure the subsidy saved would be put into good use, especially the much needed upgrade as far as our public transportation system is concern.

That’s the one and the only measure to win over the hearts of millions of Malaysians if the Government is suggesting the people to adapt to the reality and change our lifestyle as perpetuated earlier. It’s a give and take from both parties with nothing less than a sincere guarantee from the Government, never mind the billions of taxpayers money promised to stir the growth of public transportation system nationwide are yet to seen any significant result, which unfortunately, as expected.

As part of the job requirement, I’ve been traveling quite a fair bit around the Asia Pacific region for quite some times, which brought me to this controversial Taiwan on numerous occasions.

Now, I’m back in Taiwan for the third time and the good thing is, this time, I’m on vacation! It’s my excessive love towards this amazing paradise which thrust me all the way here among the many destinations, albeit the unfavorable weather forecast prior to that.

Unexpectedly, the weather has been quite lenient on us and it’s a brisk taking wonderful shots here and there. Currently in HuaLian, departing from GaoHsiung this morning via the train, bringing us through a superb view of the east coast’s aboriginal valley and Pacific Ocean beautiful scenes. We’ll be moving up north to YiLan county before back in the vibrant Taipei.

So far, this colourful journey is all about its food, its people, it’s cultural, it’s infrastructure and many more. As of now, the most unforgetful experience is attributed to the culture which values exceptional hospitality, attitude, professionalism and more importantly, we as the customer can sense the utmost pleasure at the receiving end, in which they take pride in providing an exceptional experience, something which I hope our MPs on fully sponsored jaunt in Taiwan recently manage to pick up a bit or two, besides the agriculture experience as claimed.

Anyway, more on Taiwan when I’m back in KL next week fully rejuvenated, meanwhile I just need to indulge myself with all the best things about Taiwan before I’m going to be expectedly overwhelmed by a new life experience.