Tallest tent in the world opens in Kazakhstan

Not a peg or guy rope in sight - inside are shops, cinemas and even a beach

The world's tallest tent has opened to the public in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan.

Designed by the British architects Foster & Partners, the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre in the capital Astana is 150m (490ft) high.

It opens on the day the city celebrates 13 years as the capital and President Nursultan Nazarbayev his 70th birthday.

The centre has a huge indoor leisure park, designed to be protected from the region's harsh climate.

Khan Shatyr: A 'world within'

• The tent is made from three layers of ETFE, a special see-through plastic that allows daylight to wash the interiors while sheltering them from weather extremes
• Air is pumped in between the layers inflating them into enormous pillows, giving the tent covering the appearance of a large quilt
• The aim is to provide the city with a range of civic, cultural and social amenities sheltered all year round, whatever the weather
• In winter, a key challenge is to prevent the formation of ice on the inside of the tent using temperature control and directing warm air currents up the inner fabric surface
• The government of Kazakhstan decided to move the capital north to Astana from Almaty in the country's southeast corner because of Almaty's susceptibility to earthquakes and its proximity to the Chinese border

• Foster & Partners

Standing on a 200m concrete base, Khan Shatyr is the city's highest structure and the world's tallest tent.

Inside, visitors will find shops, restaurants and cinemas - even an artificial beach and a running track.

Astana experiences extreme changes in temperature, from 30C in the summer to -30C in the winter.

The giant tent, which took four years to build, is designed to withstand harsh weather and maintain a comfortable temperature inside.

It is made from three layers of ETFE; a special see-through plastic that allows daylight to wash the interiors while sheltering them from weather extremes.

It is the latest in an extraordinary building programme that has transformed Astana since it became the Kazakh capital 13 years ago.

bbc news 6/7/2010

SUPP Bengoh critics urged to show face

SUPP Bengoh Branch secretary, Liu Thian Leong

KUCHING – Secretary of the SUPP Bengoh Branch, Liu Thian Leong today hit out at critics who criticised the Youth Chairman and the other 13 members who had quit SUPP.

Branding the critics as cowards without a face, Liu said the 14 who had left the party was not due to some small position which they were unable to get.

“Even the post of Penghulu was offered in Bengoh but there was no taker as the job itself is tough. It was even offered to me but I turned it down,” he said.

14 members led by Bengoh Youth Chairman, Lee Chee Fui resigned on Sunday, Liu said a lot of people had come out to complain and to spread malicious speculation about them.

“A lot of my friends also asked me why I did not resigned that day,” he said.

Liu said the Chinese papers was splashed with gossip about them and it was alleged that this SUPP member said this, that SUPP members said that and all were without a name or a face.

“If it were true these were SUPP members, come out openly and tell us in the face instead of hiding behind the pseudonym of being a SUPP member. Don’t be a coward,” he said.

Calling these people apple polisher who were greedy themselves for post and positions, Liu said these are the same people who would never said the party leaders had done wrong.

“I dare them to come out in the open,” he added.

Liu said if he and the others were merely interested in positions, they would not have come out in the open to tell the party leaders of their wrong doing.

“We are not interested in Kapitans or Pemanca or whatever. We want the party leadership to change for the better,” he said.

Saying that he would go when the time is right, he said he would not say anything.

“I will just hand in my resignation letter and that is it. I don’t need any rumour-mongers to start their speculation,” he said.

He pointed out that he has been in the party for 20 years. The other 14 had contribute tremendously towards the party. So why should the party not appreciate them of what they had done but kept hitting out at them, he said.

sarawakupdate 31/7/2010

92% pelajar Cina dapat tempat

Oleh AZRAN FITRI RAHIM
azran.rahim@utusan.com.my

KOTA BHARU 30 Julai - Seramai 92 peratus pelajar Cina yang cemerlang dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) dan Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) pada tahun ini mendapat tempat di universiti tempatan.

Naib Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen (gambar) berkata, ini membuktikan bahawa perjuangan parti tersebut dalam Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk pendidikan pelajar Cina berjaya.

Beliau berkata, jumlah tersebut lebih tinggi berbanding tahun lepas di mana hanya 80 peratus pelajar cemerlang daripada kaum itu mendapat tempat di universiti tempatan untuk kursus-kursus popular.

"Kita telah membuktikan apa yang kita buat dalam diam, kita telah memperjuangkan hak pelajar-pelajar kita berbanding pembangkang yang hanya bising tetapi tidak buat apa-apa.

"Sebahagian pelajar yang berprestasi ini juga berjaya mendapat kursus-kursus yang popular," katanya kepada pemberita pada perasmian Mesyuarat Agung MCA Kelantan di sini hari ini.

Mesyuarat tersebut dirasmikan oleh Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek. Turut Hadir, Setiausaha Agung MCA, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha dan Ketua Pemuda MCA, Dr. Wee Ka Siong.

Yen Yen yang juga Menteri Pelancongan berkata, kejayaan pelajar tersebut telah berjaya menyelesaikan masalah golongan tersebut yang sering dibangkitkan pada setiap tahun.

"Selama 53 tahun ini, usaha MCA untuk membangunkan negara adalah jelas dapat dilihat, kami terus menghasilkan prestasi yang belum pernah terjadi sebelum ini.

"Baik dalam masalah-masalah ekonomi, membanteras kemiskinan dan biasiswa kerajaan serta masalah etnik Cina di universiti," katanya yang juga Pengerusi MCA Kelantan.

Tambahnya, MCA telah memberikan yang terbaik dalam memperjuangkan hak etnik Cina dan ia tidak boleh dipertikaikan oleh mana-mana pihak.

PKFZ: Ada lagi VIP didakwa?

Oleh ASSIM HASSAN
jenayah@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR 30 Julai - Mungkinkah ada lagi 'jerung ' yang akan dihadapkan ke mahkamah berhubung skandal Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ), selepas bekas Menteri Pengangkutan, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik didakwa semalam?

Jawapannya ada! Selepas lima individu termasuk Liong Sik dihadapkan ke mahkamah berhubung skandal ini, beberapa lagi orang kenamaan (VIP) dijangka diheret ke mahkamah atas kes yang sama.

Menurut sumber, beberapa nama VIP yang masih dan pernah memegang jawatan penting hanya menunggu masa untuk didakwa berhubung skandal yang sama.

Bagaimanapun, keputusan untuk mendakwa individu terbabit di mahkamah hanya akan ditentukan oleh pihak Peguam Negara.

"Selepas Liong Sik, ada lagi ahli politik atau bekas ahli politik yang akan diheret ke mahkamah berhubung skandal ini.

"Apa pun, biar pihak Peguam Negara yang tentukan," katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Akhir tahun lalu, bekas Pengurus Besar Lembaga Pelabuhan Klang (LPK), Datin Paduka Oi Choo Phang dan tiga lagi didakwa melakukan pecah amanah dan menipu dengan membuat tuntutan palsu.

Projek PKFZ, yang dibina di kawasan seluas 405 hektar di Pulau Indah dekat Pelabuhan Barat, Pelabuhan Klang, sebagai hab penghantaran kargo bersepadu menimbulkan kontroversi apabila kosnya melambung daripada RM2 bilion kepada RM4.6 bilion.

Ia mengandungi 256 hektar kawasan terbuka untuk kilang/gudang, 512 lot perindustrian ringan dan 500,000 kaki persegi ruang pejabat untuk sewaan, 135-bilik hotel dan sebuah pusat pameran.

Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) yang menyiasat projek itu mencadangkan supaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) dan polis menyiasat bekas Menteri Pengangkutan, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy dan Phang kerana pecah amanah.

Selain Phang, tiga lagi yang didakwa ialah Ketua Pegawai Operasi Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd. (KDSB), Stephen Abok, 51; Seng Swee, 48, dari syarikat perunding BTA Architect serta bekas pengurus projek syarikat kontraktor pembangunan PKFZ, Law Jenn Dong, 51.

Kes Liong Sik bukti sistem undang-undang di Malaysia telus

KUALA LUMPUR 30 Julai - Tindakan pihak berkuasa mendakwa bekas Menteri Pengangkutan, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik atas tuduhan menipu kerajaan Malaysia berhubung skandal Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ) membuktikan sistem perundangan negara ini tidak mengenal pangkat serta kedudukan seseorang.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, fakta itu sekali gus menolak dakwaan pihak pembangkang khususnya Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bahawa perundangan Malaysia tidak adil dan berat sebelah.

Beliau berkata, selama ini telah menjadi dasar kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) tidak menyebelahi mana-mana pihak yang didakwa melakukan kesalahan sebaliknya pihak berkenaan akan dibawa ke muka pengadilan untuk dibicarakan secara adil, telus dan saksama.

"Saya akui agak terperanjat apabila mendengar berita ini tetapi saya juga percaya apabila sampai satu peringkat pihak berkuasa harus mengambil tindakan-tindakan sewajarnya terhadap mereka yang terlibat dengan dakwaan seperti ini.

"Oleh itu kita harus menyerahkan kepada pihak berkuasa untuk mengambil tindakan yang sepatutnya dan sistem perundangan negara kita sudah tentu akan berlaku adil kepada pihak terbabit,'' katanya selepas meraikan kejayaan kontinjen Malaysia yang menyertai Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah ASEAN kedua di Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil di sini.

Akhbar hari ini melaporkan Liong Sik dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen, Putrajaya atas tuduhan menipu kerajaan Malaysia berhubung skandal Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ) melibatkan pembelian tanah bernilai RM1.08 bilion, hampir lapan tahun lalu.

Bekas Presiden MCA itu mengaku tidak bersalah dan minta dibicarakan atas satu tuduhan utama dan satu tuduhan pilihan - menipu Jemaah Menteri untuk memberikan persetujuan terhadap pembelian tanah di Pulau Indah bagi projek PKFZ (dahulu dikenali sebagai Mega Distribution Hub).

utusan malaysia 31/7/2010

Jangan terperangkap sandiwara Tony Pua

KUALA LUMPUR 30 Julai - Seorang penganalisis politik hari ini menyifatkan tindakan Ahli Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara, Tony Pua membangkitkan isu pemansuhan diskaun kepada bumiputera sebagai satu helah bagi menarik perhatian pengundi.

Oleh itu, penganalisis politik tersebut, Prof. Madya Datuk Zainal Abidin Borhan menasihati ahli-ahli politik, terutamanya daripada UMNO, supaya berhati-hati dengan sandiwara yang dimainkan oleh Tony kerana kenyataan tersebut adalah helah DAP untuk meraih sokongan pengundi Cina kepada mereka.

''Tony dan DAP sebenarnya sedang memancing sokongan pengundi kepadanya dengan melontarkan isu sensitif yang melibatkan keistimewaan orang Melayu dan bumiputera.

''Beliau tahu melalui tindakan berkenaan pemimpin Melayu akan marah dan ia membolehkan kaum Cina hilang kepercayaan kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) dan menyokong DAP,'' katanya.

Tony ketika membuat dakwaan itu meminta pemansuhan diskaun berkenaan melibatkan pemilikan hartanah komersial dan rumah mewah di Selangor.

Cadangan beliau turut mendapat sokongan daripada Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Sementara itu, pensyarah politik Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Prof. Dr. Ahmad Atory Hussain berkata, cadangan pemansuhan pemberian diskaun tersebut adalah satu tindakan yang boleh dianggap menentang dasar nasional.

Ahmad Atory berkata, pemberian diskaun kepada bumiputera sememangnya sudah termaktub dalam pelaksanaan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) dan ia sentiasa dipatuhi oleh BN.

''Oleh itu jika DAP mahu menghapuskannya mereka perlu bersedia untuk menghadapi sebarang akibat berikutan tindakan tersebut,'' katanya.

DAP juga kata beliau, perlu memberikan penjelasan atas alasan apakah mereka mahu memansuhkan dasar pemberian diskaun berkenaan sedangkan jurang ekuiti antara bumiputera dan bukan bumiputera masih jauh.

utusan malaysia 31/7/2010

Tun Ling charged with cheating over PKFZ

PUTRAJAYA, July 29 – Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was charged with cheating here today over the scandal hit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

The prosecution of Dr Ling comes as a huge shock and is expected to have repercussions for MCA as he is still considered a kingmaker in the party.

Dr Ling (picture) is believed to be the first Tun ever to be prosecuted.

The high powered prosecution team is led by the Attorney General Abdul Ghani Pattail, Deputy Public Prosector (dpp) Tun Majid Tun Hamzah and dpp Manoj Kurup.

Ling will be represented by Datuk R R Sethu.

Dr Ling led MCA from 1986 to 2003. The PKFZ project was mooted during his tenure as Transport Minister and the cost of the project, initially estimated at less than RM2 billion, more than doubled to RM4.6 billion by 2007.

The cost of the project has been further projected to swell to as much as RM12.5 billion due to interest costs from deferred payments if the trans-shipment hub fails to perform.

Though he left the post of MCA president in 2003, Ling is still influential in MCA and is perceived as a king maker and the charges will have repercussions on the party which is struggling to regain Chinese support.

The move to charge Ling however could help deflect criticisms that the Najib Administration lacks the will to go after the “real masterminds” behind the PKFZ project and boost its reform credentials.

The charges concern land evaluations under the penal code with the principle charge under section 418 with the alternative charge being 417.

Ling claimed trial to the charges and when the charges were read out to him Ling said he was “not guilty” to both charges.

The AG has requested bail at RM1 million and the defence had no objections.

Punishment for offences under section 417 carries a jail term of not more than 5 years and not more than 7 years under section 418.

The case has been fixed for mention on September 3 and judge will be Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin.

According to the penal code, section 418 concerns “Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may be thereby caused to a person whose interest the offender is bound to protect” while section 417 concerns “Punishment for cheating.”

Ling entered the court accompanied by five policemen and dressed in a striped blue and white shirt and black slacks.

His wife Toh Puan Ena Ling was spotted in the court gallery.

Ling is out on police bail and will post bail tomorrow as it is too late for him to do so today

When approached by reporters on his way out of the court, Ling said: “When you’re in the Palace of Justice, you must be very confident of justice.”

Earlier, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and three DPPs, including head of prosecution Tun Abdul Majid Hamzah, arrived at court around 4pm but declined to speak to the scores of journalists camping there since morning after getting wind that a VIP would be charged.

The other two DPPs were Manoj Kurup and Dzulkifli Ahmad.

Ling, a long-time cabinet minister, was also a close associate of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was elected MP for the Mata Kuching constituency in 1974. He successfully defended his position in 1978 and 1982.

In 1986, he was elected as the MP for Labis and defended his seat in three subsequent general elections.

The sixth MCA president helmed the party for 17 years until his retirement in 2003.

In 1986, he was appointed transport minister. Prior to that, he had held the position of parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Federal Territory, deputy information minister, deputy finance minister and deputy education minister.

Ling is the most high-profile figure to be hauled to court in recent years.

UPDATED @ 05:56:06 PM 29-07-2010

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani and Lee Wei Lian

July 29, 2010

UPDATED @ 05:56:06 PM 29-07-2010

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani and Lee Wei Lian

July 29, 2010

Tony Pua's agenda to demonize Najib's NEMeconomics

PJ Utara DAP MP Tony Pua, who is also DAP’s propaganda Chief is set to demonize PM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s effort to improve the economic position, especially with the New Economic Model bold agenda of doubling the income per capita within 10 years.

The Malaysian Insider reports:


FDI crashing because investors lost faith, says DAP

KUALA LUMPUR July 25 — A lack of confidence in Malaysia’s economy has driven foreign direct investment FDI to our neighbours leaving the once-roaring “Asian tiger” to compete with Indochina countries the DAP said today The World Foreign Investment Report WIR 2010 released by the United Nations showed that FDI in Malaysia plunged 81 per cent last year trailing behind countries like the Philippines Vietnam Thailand Indonesia and Singapore “For the first time ever in history Malaysia attracted less investment than the Philippines ” DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said in a statement today Pua pointed out that Malaysia was the only Asean country to experience negative FDI flow in 2009 The Philippines attracted US$1 95 billion RM6 24 billion in FDI compared to Malaysia’s US$1 38 billion while Singapore raked in the most — more than US$16 billion “Among Southeast Asian nations we are now only attracting more FDI than Cambodia Myanmar Brunei Laos and Timor-Leste ” added Pua “What was previously unimaginable that we may one day be compared to countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar is now a real possibility ” said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP pointing out that those countries had also attracted less than US$2 billion in FDIs last year Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been trying to lift Malaysia’s profile as a destination for foreign investment to help the country achieve an average gross domestic product GDP growth of at least six per cent per annum over the next five years But Malaysia’s FDI rates have fallen faster than other regional players like Singapore and China and at the same time capital outflows have dampened private domestic investments The Najib administration has also warned that the economy may slow down in the second half of the year due to external factors but have insisted that a six per cent growth was still achievable Today Pua also said that Malaysia had suffered the biggest decline of FDI in Southeast Asia from 2008 till 2009 “The government cannot use the excuse of the global financial crisis as the reason for the precipitous drop in FDI as we have performed the worst compared to all other countries big and small in the region ” said Pua Data revealed that Malaysia suffered a large 81 1 per cent drop in FDIs compared to far healthier figures in Thailand 30 4 per cent Vietnam 44 1 per cent and Indonesia 44 7 per cent However Singapore Brunei Philippines and Myanmar still managed to register positive growth said Pua Pua also DAP’s chief economist pointed out that Malaysia was the sole Southeast Asian nation to have registered a net negative FDI flow last year Najib was criticised for stalling on the NEM “Malaysia was the only country where our outflow of FDI amounting to US$8 04 billion is substantially greater than the FDI of US$1 38 billion received ” said Pua “Not only are foreign investors unwilling to invest in Malaysia our own local investors as well as foreign investors who are already in the country have a total lack of confidence in the ability of our economy to generate an attractive return to their investments ” added Pua He pointed out that Malaysia’s net FDI flows have declined from US$2 56 billion in 2004 and US$1 09 billion 2005 to a net negative US$0 02 billion 2006 negative US$2 7 billion 2007 and negative US$7 67 billion in 2008 “Despite Datuk Seri Najib repeatedly insisting that the era where ‘the government knows best’ is over his administration continues to crowd out private investments by directly awarding mega-projects to government-linked entities such as the Sungai Buloh land to an Employee Provident Fund joint venture with the government or the Sungai Besi airport redevelopment to the 1 Malaysia Development Fund ” said Pua “Without these necessary and critical changes to the government’s economic policies the Malaysian economy will only continue to drift away from the radar of both local and foreign investors ” he added Pua went on to criticise Najib for not moving ahead with his New Economic Model pointing out the prime minister had been forced to call it a “trial balloon” after a sour reaction from some Malay groups.

************

The truth is far from what has been described. Tony Pua is using the 2009 figures to back his claims that the economy is not so bullish and losing out FDIs to our neighbours. The analysis is comparatively weak as the correspondong period of analysis was no longer relevant, in the context of the real economic propulsion programs ever since PM Najib took charge and new policies, which include liberalisation to 27 subsectors announced.

MITI under Dato’ Seri Mustapha Mohamad is bullish and confident of realising RM 115 billion of FDIs for the next 10th Malaysia Plan (2010-15). The growth set is at 12.8 % annually as compared to an average of 2% per annum during PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s watch.

Bernama.com report on the matter:

Print
M’sia Optimistic to Woo RM115 Billion Private Investment by 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 JULY, 2010: Malaysia is optimistic of wooing RM115 billion private investment by 2015 in line with the target set under the 10th Malaysia Plan, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said the Government Transformation Plan would create a conducive environment for investment flow.
“RM115 billion investment represents foreign direct investment and Malaysia’s investments overseas. The six per cent gross domestic product growth forecast this year is achievable,” he said.
Mustapa also said there was potential investments from South Korea particularly in the property sector.
To date, investments from South Korea totalled US$3 billion, he said.

Mustapa said there are indications that South Korean companies are keen to increase their investments in Malaysia.
“We should exploit this potential with South Korea’s aggressive investment overseas,” he said.
The latest investment from South Korea is the acquisition of Malaysia’s largest petrochemical producer, Titan Chemicals Corp Bhd, by Honam Petrochemical Corp.
Another investment by South Korea is the plan to set up a solar cell manufacturing plant at the Senai Hi-Tech Park in Johor by STX Corp.
Mustapa said interest in Malaysia’s property sector among South Koreans was also promising as they see Malaysia as an ideal place to live due to good quality of life and safe environment.

Meanwhile, at the Business Councils meeting with the International Trade and Industry Ministry today, Mustapa said strategic partnership promotion and ways to boost trade and investment took centrestage.
Among the Business councils which attended the meeting are the Malaysian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Malaysian-Swedish Business Association, Malaysia-Norway Business Council, Malaysia-Italy Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Malaysia-Dutch Business Council.
The East Asia Business Council and Malaysia-Japan Economic Association also attended the meeting.
Mustapa also said there was a need to enhance the ministry’s database system to provide comprehensive information on foreign investors and trade.
“We discussed ways to share information and to complement the information with the foreign countries,” he said.

He said the currrent database system focused on information gathered from the Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA), mainly on companies that have received incentives from MIDA.
“Some companies which don’t have large investments are not captured,” he added.

– Bernama

The fact is that PM Najib’s effort to restore the confidence of investors in the active campaign to meet industrialists and financiers in his trips to the US, EU, Japan and China is very much reflected in the first quarter’s FDI alone almost match with the whole of 2009 FDIs.

Human capital is one of the agenda to uplift the capabilities and competencies of the Malaysian workforce, to realise the expectations of the high value economy demands. Newly formed agencies such as the Talent Corporation is designed to source for the necessary talents from outside, to meet the shortfall of the demands. The Federal Government is also investing in over RM 1.5 billion a year for human capital programs, which include training and skill-sets uplifting programs for new and existing workforce.

To facilitate the influx of FDIs and promotion of further expansion of already existing MNCs, the rules of ownership have been relaxed. New banking and finanncial services license issued and better process for industries to be set up is being actively introduced.

2009 was particularly a bad year for business. Since the subprime financial meltdown in the US during the second half of 2008 and escalated to EU, the Malaysian economy is not spared. The lakclustre and lack of faith to PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah’s weak administration compounded to the poor FDIs attracted for 2009.

Pua should instead clearly demonstrate if DAP controlled Penang State Government under DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng did manage to attract FDIs for 2009-10 actually faired much better against what Gerakan led BN Penang State Governemt under Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon did. The proof is a must for the State Government’s based on its own initiatives and not initiated by Federal Government campaigns, which is spearheaded by MIDA and NCIA. CM Lim and Excos did a lot of trade missions on their own and the effectiveness is yet to be seen.

http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/

Intra-Regional Trade And Investment The Way Forward In Rebuilding Global Economy, Says Taib

July 27, 2010 12:14 PM
From Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

OXFORD, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Muslim world and indeed the whole world, needs to belief that intra-regional trade and investment is the way forward in rebuilding today's global economy, says Chief Minister of Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

All countries should make wise decisions for the long-term and initiate bold reforms to make them competitive in a new world economic order to succeed and not retreat or return to the old status quo.

He pointed out that the surge in oil prices in 1970s, had set the stage for Arab countries to become major investors.

The recent further rise in oil prices, he added, had enabled OPEC nations to become major investors with more than US$500 billion annually in current account surplus.

"Unlike in the past, most of this money is being sent to Islamic financial institutions.

"As a result, even some western governments, are trying to adjust to the change. For instance, Britain is now preparing to sell Syariah compliant treasury bonds," he said in his keynote address at the Inaugural Oxford Global Islamic Branding and Marketing Forum here on Monday.

The theme of his address was,"The Role of Muslim Nations in Rebuilding Today's Global Economy."

Taib said Muslims in general, would continue to look for food that has been certified Halal and financial services products, that are compliant with the Syariah and according to the Quran.

This includes fashion, combining the latest trend in the west, with Islamic principles of modesty.

Currently, the halal market assets are variously estimated to be between US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion, which bodes well for the development of various halal hubs worldwide as no single hub can cater to the need of Muslims, he explained.

"To achieve this, linkages can be established between regional hubs to ensure coordination and standardisation of halal products," he said.

Taib said the growth of the Islamic financial market over the past few years had been remarkable, as the number of financial institutions had grown to over 600 with a presence in more than 75 countries.

He said the Islamic asset under management now stood at about US$750 billion and is expected to hit US$1 trillion by year-end, while the global sukuk alone is already valued at approximately US$153 billion.

"The challenge before us is to build a new financial architecture that would allow for a more efficient functioning of not only financial intermediation within national economies but also across borders," he added.

According to Taib, the global business community must be mindful that a Islamic lifestyle does not necessarily mean anti-Western nor modernity.

"Though the majority of Muslim consumers' lives are defined by the dietary, lifestyle and financial rules of Islam, Muslims are far from being completely homogeneous," he said.

He said Muslim nations are very much part of the changes taking place in the global economy and the international financial system.

He said the pace of economic and financial integration among Muslim nations and other economies, should gain momentum, driven by structural factors by the conscious policy put in place in the enabling environment and by benefits derived that are mutually rewarding.

"The evidence in this decade has demonstrated that more integrated and cohesive Muslim nations contribute towards balanced global growth. Resilient Muslim nations also contribute to greater global economic stability.

"While a better connected world in this new phase of globalisation will bring new vulnerability, it also brings with it the promise of new opportunities,relationships and partnerships in the world economy," he highlighted.

The two-day Forum beginning Monday, was organised by the Said Business School, University of Oxford, of which the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub is one of the lead partners.

Tanjung Manis is a Sarawak state government project, as a component of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

-- BERNAMA

MCA: Between largesse and being intellectual

May 20, 2010

MAY 20 — The media on May 18 quoted the MCA president, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, as saying that the Chinese community is no longer concerned with bread-and-butter issues, but with “intellectual” issues such as fair implementation of policies.

The Malaysian Insider news portal headlined it “Soi Lek says Chinese drawn to fair policies, not largesse.” Largesse is defined as (1) generous giving, as from a patron, (2) a gift or gifts given in a generous, or sometimes showy or patronising, way and (3) nobility of spirit.

From the outset, I agree with him on the part about fair implementation of policies. Had government policies been implemented fairly and effectively, there would not have been the gaping income gaps among the races, states and regions.

The Bumiputeras would have achieved their modest 30 per cent wealth ownership target and our society would have been more equal and egalitarian. The top 20 per cent would not continue to suck up the wealth.

Unfortunately, the opposite might be the case. Poverty is creeping back and the income gaps among the races have widened. Official statistics that accompanied the launching of the New Economic Model show that 60 per cent of households earn below RM3,000 a month, and 80 per cent of them are Bumiputera households.

Thanks to their stronger economic position at the outset of the NEP and their monopoly of the economic supply chain, the Chinese were able to beat all the targets set for them but the Bumiputeras and the Indians lag behind.

While the Bumiputeras and the poor Chinese and Indians benefited modestly from official largesse, the Chinese mercantile and professional classes benefited more substantially.

With one stroke of the pen by the finance minister allowing football betting, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan is richer by RM525 million. His Ascot Sports sold 70 per cent of the business to his corporate vehicle Berjaya Group. If that’s not gargantuan largesse, I don’t know what.

The Chinese enjoyed official largesse by way of large monopolies, concessions, contracts and subsidies — anything from sugar monopoly to large timber concessions, gaming franchises, IPP licences, massive contracts and billion ringgit worth of direct and indirect subsidies.

In fact, official largesse not only helped to prosper the well-connected Malay-, Chinese- and Indian-controlled conglomerates, but also in some instances saved them from bankruptcies.

The YTL official website tells of the company nearly going bankrupt in the 1970s, forcing family members to chip in to rescue it. By the 1980s, the YTL Group took off on a grand scale on account of large government contracts to build schools and modular hospitals and later on privatisation of railway land and the award of the first independent power producer (IPP) licence.

Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Group took off when it was awarded the privatisation of Sports Toto in the 1980s while Ananda Krishnan became an overnight sensation when he was awarded the super-lucrative privatisation of the Jalan Ampang race course and a series of gaming and telecommunications franchises plus considerable seed capital from state-owned funds.

He is survivor, always enjoying the patronage of powerful Malay political figures. Today he is a master market maker known for taking his prized assets private only to re-quote them at handsome premiums.

It’s fine with me if the new MCA under Dr Chua no longer wants the bread-and-butter-type largesse for the Chinese, but is instead more concerned with intellectual matters such as good governance, accessibility to education, scholarships, promotions, the judiciary and crime.

If I can speak for the Malays, the Orang Asli and other Bumiputeras, I think we too are concerned about good governance. Without good governance, the poor are more likely to be marginalised because they cannot afford to give fat ang pow, duit kopi, sponsorships and cuti-cuti to the ruling elite.

The Malays, the Orang Asli and other Bumiputeras too want accessibility to education and scholarships, not only to attend public universities, but also to enrol in private universities and colleges.

The Malays, the Orang Asli and other Bumiputeras too want better promotion opportunities in the Chinese- and Indian-controlled conglomerates, especially those that enjoy massive government largesse apart from the GLCs.

The Malays, the Orang Asli and other Bumiputeras too want an independent judiciary and a reduction in crime because they too want justice and they too are victims of rising crime rates.

The MCA cannot pull wool over people’s eyes by blaming its declining support among the Chinese to the implementation of government policies. The MCA is part and parcel of the policies and their implementation. The MCA should instead thank the government and claim the credit that the NEP had given the Chinese a much larger slice of the expanded cake than the Bumiputeras and the Indians.

Also, it is not as if whenever or wherever the MIC is in the driving seat, things are better. The Port Klang Free Zone fiasco is a case in point.

And in Sarawak, where the BN had just been ousted from the Sibu parliamentary seat by the DAP on account of Chinese support, who benefited from the massive timber concessions and infrastructure contracts if not a handful of Chinese tycoons?

The Star newspaper in a report on March 27 listed them as Tiong Hiew King, Ting Pek Khiing, the Lau brothers (Henry Lau Lee Kong, Stephen Lau Lee Kiong and Vincent Lau Lee Ming), Hii Yii Chiong, Ding Jack Sung, Ling Chiong Ho, Wong Kie Nai, and Yaw Teck Seng. It labelled them the “Sarawak Shakers”.

The MCA, especially its new president, cannot continue to pin the blame for the party’s poor rating among the Chinese on others. More so when the few seats it won in the 2008 general election were mostly on account of Malay votes.

I am all for the MCA being concerned with intellectual issues so that the party will be better able to relate to the everyday things like morality, infidelity, the evil of gambling and alcoholism, the along menace, prostitution, human trafficking, illegal wildlife trade, drug trade, profiteering and many more issues plaguing our multi-religious and multi-racial society. — kadirjasin.blogspot.com

— A. Kadir Jasin

Four new political secretaries sworn in

Sih Hua Tong

Angeline Umih

by Johnson K Saai
July 27, 2010, Tuesday

KUCHING: Four new political secretaries to the Chief Minister were sworn in yesterday, bringing the total to 23.

They were from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Taking their oath of office before Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here were Kijan Toynbee @ Ipang (SPDP), Angeline Umih Tujoh (PRS), Sih Hua Tong (SUPP) and Tengku Gruna (PBB).

The first to take the oath was 54-year-old Kijan, a Kelabit from Bario. She has served the Miri City Council (MCC) for 15 years, and at the party level Kijan is SPDP Central’s Wanita vice-chairman.

Kijan Toynbee @ Ipang

Tengku Gruna

She is also SPDP Piasau’s Women chief and the Federation of the Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA) Women chief.

Angeline is a Supreme Council member in PRS, while Sih, 46, is SUPP Youth Chief. Tengku, 50, is the auditor for PBB Song division.

Except for Sih, who was appointed to replace Ding Kuong Sing, the MP for Sarikei, the rest were new appointments.

Commenting on the appointment of the new political secretaries, Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “I am happy with the four new appointments, which now increase the number of political secretaries to the Chief Minister to 23.

“I wish to congratulate them on their appointment. I’ve full confidence that, with their vast experience in their respective careers, they will be able to help BN and the government in maintaining political stability in the state,” he said.

"I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HATE US"

By

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

on July 23, 2010 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (108) | TrackBacks (0)

1. Americans seem incapable or more likely unable to accept the real reason why they are hated by Muslims.

2. After 9/11 Bush was reported to have said, "I don't know why they (the Muslims) hate us".

3. Later on answering his own question, Bush declared that "they hate our democracy. They hate our freedom".

4. Since then more and more reasons have been suggested as to why Muslim individuals are prepared to tie explosives to their bodies and blow themselves up in order to kill Americans.

5. Books have also been written about Islam and Muslims to explain their hatred of the Americans and the West. Much of the blame is placed on the teachings of Islam, in particular that which is concerned with jihad or holy war and martyrdom.

6. There have also been attempts to exonerate Islam and to attribute the violence against the West to the wrong interpretations of Islam by people with vested interest.

7. But the Americans almost invariably refuse to acknowledge that it was their seizure or their backing of the seizure of Palestinian land and their subsequent support of Israeli violence and oppression of the Palestinians which has caused the Muslims to hate the Americans. Each time the Palestinian tried to regain their land, the Americans would ensure that they fail by giving massive support for Israel. It is well-known that they provide financial support to sustain the state of Israel. Every time the Israelis set up settlements and build walls to break up Palestinian families, the US would back it. Israeli intransigence, Israel's disregard and breaches of international laws, disregard for normal human behaviour America would staunchly back Israel. To the Americans, Israel can do no wrong.

8. All these happened before the attack against the New York World Trade Centre. After that came the "shock and awe" invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq with the loss of life of hundreds of thousands of these people and the total destruction of their cities and countries.

9. Since the invasions the Americans have remained in occupation of these two countries, where American soldiers continue to kill civilians with impunity. Many innocent people have been detained and tortured. Muslim countries which are friendly towards the United States are not spared.

10. The so-called "war on terror" is clearly a war against Muslims. It is enough for a person to have a Muslim or a Muslim sounding name for him to be ill-treated and sometimes detained without trial for years.

11. Only Muslim countries have been attacked or are threatened to be attacked. Non-Muslim countries building nuclear weapons may be threatened but no real action would be taken.

12. So why do they, the Muslims, hate Americans? Is it because they hate democracy and freedom? Only the most stupid can suggest this. They hate Americans and Europeans generally because they aided and abetted in the seizure of Palestine, in the unquestioning support for Israel's oppression and brutalities, in Israel's settlements on Palestinian land, and all the other crimes committed by Israel.

13. They hate the Americans because without American support for Israel they, the Palestinians, could have regained their land. As it is they are not even allowed to call their land Palestine. They are just the Palestinian Authority.

14. When they are unable to withstand the oppression and the killing of their people and they hit back their action is not reported as retaliation against Israel's action. Instead when the Israelis hit with overwhelming force, killing hundreds and thousands as happened in Gaza, they were described as Israeli retaliation against the primitive Hamas rockets which did very little damage.

15. Americans should not kid themselves that they are hated for their democracy and freedom. They are not. They are not hated even for religious differences. They are hated because they join the Israelis in all their brutalities, in their illegal occupation of Palestinian land, in the protection they afford Israel intransigence against the rest of the world. And now of course in their terror attacks against the innocent peoples of Afghanistan, Iraq and other Muslim countries.

16. It is important that the Americans know and admit the true reasons for the hatred against them. It is important because until they do they will not be able to come up with any solution to the present costly war. This war can go on forever because future generations of Palestinians, of Muslims, will never forget the injustice inflicted on them by Americans.

14 SUPP Bengoh branch members quit

We quit... Bengoh branch members showing their resignation letter

KUCHING – Fourteen SUPP Bengoh branch members including its’ Youth Chairman, Lee Chee Fui announce their decision to quit the party today.

In a press conference held at the Four Points Sheraton, Lee with a group of party members said they decided to quit the party out of love for SUPP and could not bear to see the party going downhill due to the Central party leadership.

Lee who just flown in from KL was flanked by his Youth Secretary, Chong Jit Leong and Treasurer Chang Hon Hiung said he is in his 7th year as a MPP Councillor and will also quit the post too.

He said the decision made by them was a painful one but their main motive was to show to the party leaders the seriousness of the situation.

Both Chong, Lee and Bengoh Secretary, Liu Thian Leong received showcause letters for speaking against the party late last month.

Although a meeting was held between President Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri George Chan and Secretary General, Senator Datuk Sim Kheng Hui on July 14, Chan has considered the case resolved without any discipline action taken against them.

Lee said they were not out to destroy the party but more of showing the party leaders their stand on what they thought of the party leadership.

He said they were forced to take such a drastic action to quit the party as whatever they have brought up their grievances, it went unheard and unsolved.

Chang echoed and said, “What happen to the Forward Plan after we lost heavily? Why was there no change in the party leadership as promised during the Triennial Delegates conference? Why was some party members so ashame of being known as SUPP members,” he asked.

Reading from a Mandarin statement, Lee said the party leaders never listen to the grassroot voices but on the top level, they were enjoying their own lifestyles. He said they were all sad to make such a decision and was not out to destroy the party.

“Who knows if the party is ready to reform and change, we may come back,” he added.

Asked if Bengoh Chairman who is the State Assemblyman there, Dr. Jerip Susil knew of their intention, Lee said he should know but the decision was made by them and they all have a good working relationship with Jerip.

The resignation letters, he said would be handed over to the Party secretary immediately after the press conference.

The group also signed a book , Memorial of Tan Sri Stephen Yong, which they said they wanted to give to Chan as a farewell present. They wanted Chan to read and know what a great leader should do.

Bengoh Secretary, Liu Thian Leong who is also the Sub branch chairman of Siniawan was not at the press conference.

When contacted, Liu said the decision to quit was sudden and he has no time to think it over.

He said he would not make any decision at the moment and understood why the youth members were so unhappy.

Liu also expressed his disappointment with the party leaders and said that quitting is not the answer to solve the problems in the party. He refused to commit himself to say he is staying. “Just say I have yet to make up my mind,”

When contacted, Party President Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri George Chan said he was sorry that it has happened but he has already bend backwards for the Bengoh branch.

“After all the hu-ha, I have called them in to explain the situation and if they still want to resign, there is nothing I can do,” he said.

Chan said he cannot be giving out position to every branches who asked for it.

“Everyone will have their turn and Richard Riot waited for his turn to be the Deputy Minister,” he added.

He urged other party members to stay calm over the decision made by Bengoh.

The Siege against Gaza: America's Ongoing Support of Israeli Military and Intelligence Operations

by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research, July 10, 2010
Perdana Global Peace Organization
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Perdana Global Peace Organization International Conference on Gaza: Breaking the Siege In the Spirit of Rachel Corrie and Mavi Marmara 11, July 2010, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia We are dealing with a carefully planned military operation. The Israeli Navy Commando which attacked the Marvi Marmara on May 31st had prior knowledge of who was on the Turkish ship including where passengers were residing in terms of cabin layout. According to Swedish author Henning Mankell, who was on board the Marmara , "the Israeli forces attacked sleeping civilians." These were targeted assassinations. Specific individuals were targeted. Journalists were targeted with a view to confiscating their audio and video recording equipment and tapes. "We were witnesses to premeditated murders," said historian Mattias Gardell who was on the Mavi Marmara. "...Asked about why activists on the Turkish ship had attacked the Israeli soldiers, Gardell stressed "it is not as if Israel is a police officer whom no human being has the legitimate right to defend him or herself against": "If you are attacked by commando troops you of course must have the right to defend yourself ... Many people on this ship thought they were going to kill everyone. They were very frightened ... It's strange if people think one should not defend oneself. Should you just sit there and say: 'Kill me'?" he said." (See Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Detailed Compiled Eyewitness Accounts Confirm Cold-Blooded Murder and Executions by Israeli Military, Global Research, June 1, 2010) “They even shot those who surrendered. Many of our friends saw this. They told me that there were handcuffed people who were shot,” (quoted by Press TV) The Israeli Commando had an explicit order to kill. What was the role of the United States? The raids on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, bear the mark of previous Israeli operations directed against unarmed civilians. It is a well established modus operandi of Israeli military-intelligence operations, which is tacitly supported by the US administration. The killing of civilians is intended to trigger a response by Palestinian resistance forces, which in turn justifies Israeli retaliation (on "humanitarian" grounds) as well as a process of military escalation. The logic of this process contained in Ariel Sharon`s "Operation Justified Vengeance" (also referred to as the "Dagan Plan" named after Sharon's National Security advisor) was initiated at the outset the Sharon government in 2001. This Operation was intent upon destroying the Palestinian Authority and transforming Gaza into an urban prison. (See Michel Chossudovsky, "Operation Justified Vengeance": Israeli Strike on Freedom Flotilla to Gaza is Part of a Broader Military Agenda, Global Research, June 1, 2010). "Operation Cast Lead" resulting in the December 2008 invasion of Gaza should be understood as part of the logic of "Operation Justified Vengeance". In turn, the Israeli attack on the Flotilla must be viewed as a continuation of "Operation Cast Lead" which seeks to enforce the Siege on Gaza. The attack on the Flotilla bears the fingerprints of a military intelligence operation coordinated by the IDF and Mossad, which is now headed by one of the main architects of "Operation Justified Vengeance", Meir Dagan. It is worth recalling that as a young Coronel, Dagan worked closely with then defense minister Ariel Sharon in the raids on the Palestinian settlements of Sabra and Shatilla in Beirut in 1982. The Role of the United States There are indications that the US was consulted at the highest levels regarding the nature of the military operation directed against the flotilla. Moreover, in the wake of the attacks, both the US and the UK unequivocally reaffirmed their support to Israel. There are longstanding and ongoing military and intelligence relations between the US and Israel including close working ties between various agencies of government: Pentagon, National Intelligence Council, State Department, Homeland Security and their respective Israeli counterparts. These various agencies of government are involved in routine liaison and consultations, usually directly as well as through the US Embassy in Israel, involving frequent shuttles of officials between Washington and Tel Aviv as well as exchange of personnel. Moreover, the US as well as Canada have public security cooperation agreements with Israel pertaining to the policing of international borders, including maritime borders. (See Israel-USA Homeland Security Cooperation, See also Michel Chossudovsky, The Canada-Israel "Public Security" Agreement, Global Research, 2 April 2008) Several high level US-Israel meetings were held in the months prior to the May 31st attacks. Rahm Emmanuel, Obama's White House chief of Staff was in Tel Aviv a week prior to the attacks. Confirmed by press reports, he had meetings behind closed doors with Prime Minister Netanyahu (May 26) as well as a private visit with President Shimon Peres on May 27. May 26 meeting between Rahm Emmanuel and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Official statements do not indicate whether other officials including cabinet ministers or IDF and Mossad officials were present at the Rahm Emmanuel-Netanyahu meeting. The Israeli press confirmed that Rahm Emmanuel had a meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, whose Ministry was responsible for overseeing the Commando attack on the Flotilla. (Rahm Emanuel visits Israel to celebrate son's bar mitzvah - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News, 23 May 2010). The White House also confirmed that Rahm Emmanuel was to meet other high-ranking Israeli officials, without providing further details. (Rahm Emanuel in Israel for Son's Bar Mitzvah, May Meet With Officials) "Our Man in the White House" While born in the US, Rahm Emmanuel also holds Israeli citizenship and has served in the Israeli military during the First Gulf War (1991). Rahm is also known for his connections to the pro-Israeli lobby in the US. The Israeli newspaper Maariv calls him "Our Man in the White House" (quoted in Irish Times, March 13, 2010). Rahm Emmanuel gave his support to Obama in the November 2008 presidential elections following Obama`s address to the pro-Israeli lobby AIPAC. At the time of Rahm Emmanuel's confirmation as White House chief of staff, there were reports in the Middle East media of Rahm Emanuel's connections to Israeli intelligence. The exact nature of Rahm Emmanuel's ties to the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus, however, is not the main issue. What we are dealing with is a broad process of bilateral coordination and decision-making between the two governments in the areas of foreign policy, intelligence and military planning, which has been ongoing for more than 50 years. In this regard, Israel, although exercising a certain degree of autonomy in military and strategic decisions, will not act unilaterally, without receiving the "green light" from Washington. Rahm Emmanuel`s meetings with the prime minister and Israeli officials are part of this ongoing process. Rahm Emmanuel's meetings in Tel Aviv on May 26 were a routine follow-up to visits to Washington by Prime Minister Netanyahu in March and by Minister of Defense Ehud Barak in late April. In these various bilateral US-Israel encounters at the White House, the state Department and the Pentagon, Rahm Emmanuel invariably plays a key role. While the pro-Israeli lobby in the US influences party politics in America, Washington also influences the direction of Israeli politics. There have been reports to the effect that Rahm Emmanuel would "lead a team of high octane Democratic party pro-Israel political operatives to run the campaign for the Defense Minister Ehud Barak" against Netanyahu in the next Israeli election. (Ira Glunts, Could Rahm Emanuel Help Barak Unseat Netanyahu? Palestine Chronicle, June 2, 2010) Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barack in Washington The April 27 meeting between US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Defense Minister Ehud Barak pertained to "a range of important defense issues" directly or indirectly related to the status of the Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation: "As President Obama has affirmed, the United States commitment to Israel's security is unshakable, and our defense relationship is stronger than ever, to the mutual benefit of both nations. The United States and our ally Israel share many of the same security challenges, from combating terrorism to confronting the threat posed by Iran's nuclear-weapons program. For years, the United States and Israel have worked together to prepare our armed forces to meet these and other challenges, a recent major example being the Juniper Cobra joint exercise held last October. Our work together on missile-defense technology is ongoing, and the United States will continue to ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge." (Press Conference with Secretary Gates and Israeli Defense Minister Barak, April 2010 - Council on Foreign Relations April 27, 2010) These consultations pertained to ongoing military preparations regarding Iran. Both Israel and the US have recently announced that a pre-emptive attack against Iran has been contemplated. Washington views Israel as being "'integrated into America’s military architecture,' especially in the missile defense sphere." (quoted in Emanuel to rabbis: US 'screwed up' Jerusalem Post, statement of Dennis Ross, who is in charge of the US administration’s Iran policy in the White House, May 16, 2010). Targeting Iran The attack on the Freedom Flotilla, might appear as a separate and distinct humanitarian issue, unrelated to US-Israeli war plans. But from the standpoint of both Tel Aviv and Washington, it was part of the broader military agenda. It was intended to create conditions favoring an atmosphere of confrontation and escalation in the Middle East war theater; "All the signs are that Israel has been stepping up its provocations to engineer a casus belli for a war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tel Aviv sees as unfinished business its inconclusive wars: the first in Lebanon in 2006, and the second in Gaza in 2008-09." (Jean Shaoul Washington Comes to the Aid of Israel over Gaza Convoy Massacre, Global Research, June 4, 2010) Following Israel's illegal assault in international waters, Netanyahu stated emphatically "Israel will continue to exercise its right to self defence. We will not allow the establishment of an Iranian port in Gaza," suggesting that the Gaza blockade was part of the pre-emptive war agenda directed against Iran, Syria and Lebanon. (Israeli forces board Gaza aid ship the Rachel Corrie - Telegraph, June 5, 2010, emphasis added) . Moreover, the raid on the Flotilla coincided with NATO-Israel war games directed against Iran. According to the Sunday Times, "three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline." (Israel Deploys Three Nuclear Cruise Missile-Armed Subs Along Iranian Coastline). While Israeli naval deployments were underway in the Persian Gulf, Israel was also involved in war games in the Mediterranean. The war game codenamed "MINOAS 2010" was carried out at a Greek air base in Souda Bay, on the island of Crete. Earlier in February, The Israeli air force "practiced simulated strikes at Iran's nuclear facilities using airspace of two Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, which are close territorially with the Islamic republic and cooperate with Israel on this issue." Ria Novosti,War Games: Israel gets ready to Strike at Iran's Nuclear Sites,, March 29, 2010) Also, in the wake of the final resolution of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation directed against Israel's nuclear weapons program, the White House has reaffirmed its endorsement of Israel's nuclear weapons capabilities. Washington's statement issued one day before the raid on the flotilla points to unbending US support to "Israel's strategic and deterrence capabilities", which also include the launching of a pre-emptive nuclear attack on Iran: "a senior political source in Jerusalem said Sunday that Israel received guarantees from U.S. President Barack Obama that the U.S. would maintain and improve Israel's strategic and deterrence capabilities. According to the source, "Obama gave [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu unequivocal guarantees that include a substantial upgrade in Israel-U.S. relations." Obama promised that no decision taken during the recent 189-nation conference to review and strengthen the 40-year-old Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty "would be allowed to harm Israel's vital interests," the sources said. Obama promised to bolster Israel's strategic capabilities, Jerusalem officials say - Haaretz Daily Newspaper) Robert Gates and Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, Press Conference, April 27, 2010 The Turkey-Israel Relationship in Jeopardy? The actions of Israel against the Freedom Flotilla have important ramifications. Israel's criminal actions in international waters have contributed to weakening the US-NATO-Israel military alliance. The bilateral Israel-Turkey alliance in military, intelligence, joint military production is potentially in jeopardy. Ankara has already announced that three planned military exercises with Israel have been cancelled. "The government announced it was considering reducing its relations with Israel to a minimum." It should be understood that Israel and Turkey are partners and major actors in the US-NATO planned aerial attacks on Iran, which have been in the pipeline since mid-2005. The rift between Turkey and Israel has a direct bearing on NATO as a military alliance. Turkey is one of the more powerful NATO member states with regard to its conventional forces. The rift with Israel breaks a consensus within the Atlantic Alliance. It also undermines ongoing US-NATO-Israel pre-emptive war plans directed against Iran, which until recently were endorsed by the Turkish military. From the outset in 1992, the Israeli-Turkish military alliance was directed against Syria, as well as Iran and Iraq. (For details see See Michel Chossudovsky, "Triple Alliance": The US, Turkey, Israel and the War on Lebanon, Global Research, 2006) In 1997, Israel and Turkey launched "A Strategic Dialogue" involving a bi-annual process of high level military consultations by the respective deputy chiefs of staff. (Milliyet, Istanbul, in Turkish 14 July 2006). During the Clinton Administration, a triangular military alliance between the US, Israel and Turkey had unfolded. This "triple alliance", which in practice is dominated by the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, integrates and coordinates military command decisions between the three countries pertaining to the broader Middle East. It is based on the close military ties respectively of Israel and Turkey with the US, coupled with a strong bilateral military relationship between Tel Aviv and Ankara. Starting in 2005, Israel has become a de facto member of NATO. The triple alliance was coupled with a 2005 NATO-Israeli military cooperation agreement which included "many areas of common interest, such as the fight against terrorism and joint military exercises. These military cooperation ties with NATO are viewed by the Israeli military as a means to "enhance Israel's deterrence capability regarding potential enemies threatening it, mainly Iran and Syria." ("Triple Alliance": The US, Turkey, Israel and the War on Lebanon). The Issue of Territorial Waters: Gaza's Offshore Gas Fields Israel's blockade of Gaza is in large part motivated by the broader issue of control of Gaza's territorial waters, which contain significant reserves of natural gas. What is at stake is the confiscation of Palestinian gas fields and the unilateral de facto declaration of Israeli sovereignty over Gaza's maritime areas. If the blockade were to be broken, Israel's de facto control over Gaza's offshore gas reserves would be jeopardy. (See Michel Chossudovsky,War and Natural Gas: The Israeli Invasion and Gaza's Offshore Gas Fields, Global Research, January 8, 2009. See also Michel Chossudovsky, The War on Lebanon and the Battle for Oil, Global Research, July 23, 2006) British Gas (BG Group) and its partner, the Athens based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) owned by Lebanon's Sabbagh and Koury families, were granted oil and gas exploration rights in a 25 year agreement signed in November 1999 with the Palestinian Authority. The rights to the offshore gas field are respectively British Gas (60 percent); Consolidated Contractors (CCC) (30 percent); and the Investment Fund of the Palestinian Authority (10 percent). (Haaretz, October 21, 2007). The PA-BG-CCC agreement includes field development and the construction of a gas pipeline.(Middle East Economic Digest, Jan 5, 2001). The BG licence covers the entire Gazan offshore marine area, which is contiguous to several Israeli offshore gas facilities. (See Map below). It should be noted that 60 percent of the gas reserves along the Gaza-Israel coastline belong to Palestine. The BG Group drilled two wells in 2000: Gaza Marine-1 and Gaza Marine-2. Reserves are estimated by British Gas to be of the order of 1.4 trillion cubic feet, valued at approximately 4 billion dollars. These are the figures made public by British Gas. The size of Palestine's gas reserves could be much larger. Map 1 Map 2 Who Owns the Gas Fields The issue of sovereignty over Gaza's gas fields is crucial. From a legal standpoint, the gas reserves belong to Palestine. The death of Yasser Arafat, the election of the Hamas government and the ruin of the Palestinian Authority have enabled Israel to establish de facto control over Gaza's offshore gas reserves. British Gas (BG Group) has been dealing with the Tel Aviv government. In turn, the Hamas government has been bypassed in regards to exploration and development rights over the gas fields. The election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2001 was a major turning point. Palestine's sovereignty over the offshore gas fields was challenged in the Israeli Supreme Court. Sharon stated unequivocally that "Israel would never buy gas from Palestine" intimating that Gaza's offshore gas reserves belong to Israel. In 2003, Ariel Sharon, vetoed an initial deal, which would allow British Gas to supply Israel with natural gas from Gaza's offshore wells. (The Independent, August 19, 2003) The election victory of Hamas in 2006 was conducive to the demise of the Palestinian Authority, which became confined to the West Bank, under the proxy regime of Mahmoud Abbas. In 2006, British Gas "was close to signing a deal to pump the gas to Egypt." (Times, May, 23, 2007). According to reports, British Prime Minister Tony Blair intervened on behalf of Israel with a view to shunting the agreement with Egypt. The following year, in May 2007, the Israeli Cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "to buy gas from the Palestinian Authority." The proposed contract was for $4 billion, with profits of the order of $2 billion of which one billion was to go the Palestinians. Tel Aviv, however, had no intention on sharing the revenues with Palestine. An Israeli team of negotiators was set up by the Israeli Cabinet to thrash out a deal with the BG Group, bypassing both the Hamas government and the Palestinian Authority: "Israeli defence authorities want the Palestinians to be paid in goods and services and insist that no money go to the Hamas-controlled Government." (Ibid, emphasis added) The objective was essentially to nullify the contract signed in 1999 between the BG Group and the Palestinian Authority under Yasser Arafat. Under the proposed 2007 agreement with BG, Palestinian gas from Gaza's offshore wells was to be channeled by an undersea pipeline to the Israeli seaport of Ashkelon, thereby transferring control over the sale of the natural gas to Israel. The deal fell through. The negotiations were suspended: "Mossad Chief Meir Dagan opposed the transaction on security grounds, that the proceeds would fund terror". (Member of Knesset Gilad Erdan, Address to the Knesset on "The Intention of Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Purchase Gas from the Palestinians When Payment Will Serve Hamas," March 1, 2006, quoted in Lt. Gen. (ret.) Moshe Yaalon, Does the Prospective Purchase of British Gas from Gaza's Coastal Waters Threaten Israel's National Security? Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, October 2007) Israel's intent was to foreclose the possibility that royalties be paid to the Palestinians. In December 2007, The BG Group withdrew from the negotiations with Israel and in January 2008 they closed their office in Israel.(BG website). December 2008 Invasion Plan on The Drawing Board The invasion plan of the Gaza Strip under "Operation Cast Lead" was set in motion in June 2008, according to Israeli military sources: "Sources in the defense establishment said Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for the operation over six months ago [June or before June] , even as Israel was beginning to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Hamas."(Barak Ravid, Operation "Cast Lead": Israeli Air Force strike followed months of planning, Haaretz, December 27, 2008) That very same month, the Israeli authorities contacted British Gas, with a view to resuming crucial negotiations pertaining to the purchase of Gaza's natural gas: "Both Ministry of Finance director general Yarom Ariav and Ministry of National Infrastructures director general Hezi Kugler agreed to inform BG of Israel's wish to renew the talks. The sources added that BG has not yet officially responded to Israel's request, but that company executives would probably come to Israel in a few weeks to hold talks with government officials." (Globes online- Israel's Business Arena, June 23, 2008) The decision to speed up negotiations with British Gas (BG Group) coincided, chronologically, with the planning of the invasion of Gaza initiated in June. It would appear that Israel was anxious to reach an agreement with the BG Group prior to the invasion, which was already in an advanced planning stage. Moreover, these negotiations with British Gas were conducted by the Ehud Olmert government with the knowledge that a military invasion was on the drawing board. In all likelihood, a new "post war" political-territorial arrangement for the Gaza strip was also being contemplated by the Israeli government. In fact, negotiations between British Gas and Israeli officials were ongoing in October 2008, 2-3 months prior to the commencement of the bombings on December 27th. In November 2008, the Israeli Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Infrastructures instructed Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) to enter into negotiations with British Gas, on the purchase of natural gas from the BG's offshore concession in Gaza. (Globes, November 13, 2008) "Ministry of Finance director general Yarom Ariav and Ministry of National Infrastructures director general Hezi Kugler wrote to IEC CEO Amos Lasker recently, informing him of the government's decision to allow negotiations to go forward, in line with the framework proposal it approved earlier this year. The IEC board, headed by chairman Moti Friedman, approved the principles of the framework proposal a few weeks ago. The talks with BG Group will begin once the board approves the exemption from a tender." (Globes Nov. 13, 2008) Gaza and Energy Geopolitics The military occupation of Gaza is intent upon transferring the sovereignty of the gas fields to Israel in violation of international law. If this were to occur, the Gaza gas fields would be integrated into Israel's offshore installations, which are contiguous to those of the Gaza Strip. (See Map 1 above). These various offshore installations are also linked up to Israel's energy transport corridor, extending from the port of Eilat, which is an oil pipeline terminal, on the Red Sea to the seaport - pipeline terminal at Ashkelon, and northwards to Haifa, and eventually linking up through a proposed Israeli-Turkish pipeline with the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Ceyhan is the terminal of the Baku, Tblisi Ceyhan Trans Caspian pipeline. "What is envisaged is to link the BTC pipeline to the Trans-Israel Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, also known as Israel's Tipline." (See Michel Chossudovsky, The War on Lebanon and the Battle for Oil, Global Research, July 23, 2006) Map 3