The Malaysian Mystery of ValueCap

Tuesday, 24 March 2009 | Written by Eric Ellis | Asia Sentinel

The lack of detailed public information about ValueCap has incensed both Malaysia's political opposition and its feisty and well-read blogosphere, fast becoming the credible news and information alternative to the traditionally government-controlled mainstream media. Malaysia's business and political blogs are scathing about the mysterious fund.

"These buggers are running away with our hard-earned money," said one blogger. "What is the best and most effective ways we can stop them?" Says another "who knows who gains from this outlay of 5 billion ringgit into the share market. Our government has got to be sincerely good for the people at large; and there has to be transparency."

At the very least, analysts say the government has a serious perception problem to deal with at ValueCap, at a time it can ill afford further controversy.[more]

Noam Chomsky - The Political system in the USA.

September 02, 2006 - A quick explanation of American politics aand political system by Noam Chomsky.

Suspicious device closes London airport

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:47:45 GMT

The photo shows an aircraft preparing to land at Gatwick Airport in southeast England.

The Gatwick Airport in London has been brought to a standstill after a passenger plane aroused the suspicion of pertinent officials.

Early in the morning on Sunday, all passengers and crew onboard a flight from Dubai were evacuated from Gatwick Airport and explosives experts took the matter into their own hands.

Airport spokeswoman Julie Ayres told CNN, "There was something on board that they were not happy about."

According to the police, the plane is now in a holding area.

Explosive experts are expected to announce later on whether or not the device is a threat and why it was on the UAE flight.

Gatwick was temporarily closed down as a safety precaution but reopened a short while ago, police have said.

There are a few flights slightly delayed but no major setbacks have been reported.

Experts: Islamic banking savior of Malaysian economy

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:29:57 Mahi Ramakrishnan, Press TV, Kuala Lumpur

Lebanese parliament nods at lowering voting age to 18

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:50:44 Mariam Saleh, Press TV, Beirut

The Altantuya Foundation has been set up in Bangkok

An association of independent journalists based in Bangkok and coordinated by French Liberation correspondent, Arnaud Dubus, has set up a foundation to offer material support to the family of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, killed in Malaysia in October 2006.

The Altantuya Foundation aims to bring concrete help to Mr Shaariibuu, the father of the deceased, and her two children, Altanshagai (five years old) and Mungunshagai (12 years old).

“When I met Shaariibuu in Ulan Bator in January, he told me he has not bought clothes for two years as he could not afford it. This sixty-year old man has to work on two different jobs, to be able to take care of his two orphaned grandchildren”, says Arnaud Dubus.

“I am a journalist, but I also have a heart. I could not help feel compassion for the Shaariibuu family”, he adds.

For transparency, the Foundation will be supervised by the Mongolian Embassy in Bangkok. All donations will be given to the Embassy, which will convey them directly to Mr Shaariibuu.

The first donor was Danthong Breen, well-known Thai human rights activist and Chairman of the Union for Civil Liberties. All donors will receive an official receipt. Small contributions (as well as bigger ones, but not too big please) are very much welcome, as any small amount can make a huge difference for the life of the Shaariibuu Family.

Foundation founders consider that it would be a wonderful gesture of human solidarity for people from different Nations, Asian and Western, to show their support for the family of this young interpreter savagely killed at the age of 28 years old.

For details, contact altantuyashaaribuu@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Arnaud Dubus, Foundation coordinator

Arnaud Dubus
Bangkok based journalist
Tel : 66 2 3816599
e mail : arnauddubus@yahoo.com
Blog : http://arnodubus.blogspot.com
Website : http://www.arnauddubus.com
adresse skype : arnauddubus
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fresh US sanctions slap Zimbabwe

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:36:04 GMT | PressTV

Mugabe has been criticized for hanging on to power for more than 28 years

US President Barack Obama extends Zimbabwe sanctions citing constant challenges to democracy and the failure to resolve political crisis.

In a message to Congress, Obama questioned the actions and policies of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, which he said had undermined Zimbabwe's democratic process.

"The crisis constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions has not been resolved," Obama's message to Congress suggested.

"I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe," Obama said in a statement.

The US sanctions against Mugabe are expanded at a time that his long-term rival Morgan Tsvangirai has joined him in country's political scene as Zimbabwe's prime minister after months of political unrest.

"These actions and policies pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat," Obama noted.

The African Union and South Africa had called on the international community to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe after Tsvangirai swore in office in February.

In 2008, Russia and China opposed US, French and British sanctions against Zimbabwe through vetoing UN Security Council resolutions that asked for embargos against Mugabe's government, in power for 28-years.

The 85-year-old Mugabe faced a deepening crisis after a controversial election last year, which supposedly eliminated Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition party.

Mugabe has been criticized for hanging on to power for more than 28 years and clamping down on opposition groups. He has also failed to efficiently run the country's economy as Zimbabwe now faces a 231 million percent inflation. Independent finance institutions put it over a quintillion.

Meanwhile the country's health system is also collapsing due to a cholera epidemic, which has killed more than 3,800 people and infected 85,149. Doctors, nurses and other health workers are quitting because they are not being paid, Doctors Without Borders said last month.

Police start probe on MACC chief

PENANG, March 2,2009 – Malaysianinsider– Bernama

The Penang police have opened investigation papers on Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, state police chief Datuk Ayub Yaakob said today.

He said the probe was being conducted under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation following a report lodged against Said.

“We have not called him yet, may be soon,” he told Bernama when asked whether the police would summon Said to have his statement recorded.

On Feb 23, Parti Keadilan Rakyat youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police station claiming Said had made a malicious remark in Penang against Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.