Preparing the Chessboard for the "Clash of Civilizations": Divide, Conquer and Rule the "New Middle East"

by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya

The name "Arab Spring" is a catch phrase concocted in distant offices in Washington, London, Paris, and Brussels by individuals and groups who, other than having some superficial knowledge of the region, know very little about the Arabs. What is unfolding amongst the Arab peoples is naturally a mixed package. Insurgency is part of this package as is opportunism. Where there is revolution, there is always counter-revolution.
The upheavals in the Arab World are not an Arab "awakening" either; such a term implies that the Arabs have always been sleeping while dictatorship and injustice has been surrounding them. In reality the Arab World, which is part of the broader Turko-Arabo-Iranic World, has been filled with frequent revolts that have been put down by the Arab dictators in coordination with countries like the United States, Britain, and France. It has been the interference of these powers that has always acted as a counter-balance to democracy and it will continue to do so.

Divide and Conquer: How the First "Arab Spring" was Manipulated

Post-Gaddafi Government jailing and executing any opposition to their rule

AirAsia Q3 profit down

Posted on 23 November 2011 - 05:39am

Izwan Idris
sunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA (Nov 23, 2011): AirAsia Bhd, the region’s biggest low-cost carrier, saw its net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2011 (Q3) fall 53% to RM152.3 million from RM327.3 million a year ago, despite a higher revenue of RM1.07 billion against RM979.7 million previously.

Airasia enggan bayar cukai, bagaimana kalau penumpang enggan bayar harga tinggi airasia?

AirAsia ignores airport tax increase

Posted on 25 November 2011 - 05:37am

KANG SIEW LI
thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA (Nov 25, 2011): Budget carrier AirAsia Bhd said it will continue to ignore the government-imposed airport tax hike on departing international passengers at the current low cost-carrier terminal (LCCT) in Sepang, in an act of defiance against the move.
The higher airport tax rate came into effect 10 days ago.
In a post on its Facebook fan page yesterday, AirAsia head of commercial, Jasmine Lee, said the carrier will continue to lobby the government "not in favour of the airport tax rise".
It blamed airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) over the move to increase airport charges, saying the poor facilities at the LCCT does not justify the increase.
"Look at the queue at the immigration, space for check-in counters, quality of toilets, cleanliness of the facilities — is it really worth the increase?" Lee said.
In an earlier posting on Wednesday, AirAsia regional head of commercial, Kathleen Tan, said: "You (MAHB) can increase if you improve the facilities. I don't see the justification for it as our guests (passengers) are the ones paying for it, and it costs more to fly now."
Airlines like AirAsia collect the airport tax on behalf of MAHB.
MAHB had on Oct 27 received the Transport Ministry's nod to raise the airport tax on international passengers from Nov 15. Under the move, departing international passengers at the LCCT in Sepang and Terminal 2 Kota Kinabalu have to pay RM32, up RM7 from RM25 previously.
According to industry observers, the move by AirAsia is unprecedented.
"They (AirAsia) would have to sort the matter out with the Transport Ministry as any increase or decrease in airport charges are within the latter's purview, and not MAHB," said an observer.
"Back in 2007, the Transport Ministry was also the one who halved the airport tax at the LCCT from RM51 to RM25 for international passengers and from RM9 to RM6 for domestic passengers," he added.

Sir Tony Fernandes bersama DAP serang Kementerian Pengangkutan

 

Fernandes mocks Malaysia Airports over KLIA2

By Lee Wei Lian

November 23, 2011

Fernandes lashed at MAHB’s explanation over the cost overrun as “a joke”. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — Main airports operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) became a target of Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ ire yesterday following reports that the new low cost carrier terminal near here may have blown its budget. The AirAsia CEO said MAHB was “laughable” and that the reported comments of one of their officials were “a joke”.
The Edge Financial Daily reported yesterday that the cost of the new low cost carrier terminal, dubbed KLIA2, is speculated to have increased significantly over its original estimate of RM2 to 2.5 billion.
The report also quoted MAHB officials as saying that additional cost would not immediately mean higher airport fees as these were regulated by the Transport Ministry and MAHB could recoup the costs from non-aeronautical revenues such as airport retail.
The official also said the airport charges are not based on the cost of building the airport and that the return on investment (ROI) for KLIA2 is based solely on non-aeronautical income.
Fernandes questioned the rationale behind MAHB’s comments and pointed out that MAHB recently raised its airport charges.
“They said that they won’t raise charges because of non-aeronautical revenue, then why have it raised it now,” the airline chief posted on the Twitter microblogging service. “It’s a joke and very sad.”
“They haven’t admitted the cost of the terminal (KLIA2) or delivery,” he added. “But to say that the cost of the terminal makes no difference to airlines and passengers is a joke.”

Tony Pua threatens to call for investigations by PAC and Auditor-General

Airasia quitely raises prices with baggage, golf bags, visa and check-in - Transport Minister

Transport ministry strikes back at Fernandes

Presenna Nambiar

Published: 2011/11/18

The Transport Ministry is incensed by Tony Fernandes’ tweets which criticised Malaysia Airports and the government for raising passenger service charges for international travellers from November 15.
Pangkor Island The Transport Ministry has struck back at Tan Sri Tony Fernandes for his critical remarks on passenger service charge increase by the government and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

“When you point the finger at one person, three fingers point back at yourself,” Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said, referring to Fernandes.

He was speaking after the reactivation of scheduled flight services into Pangkor Island by Berjaya Air yesterday.

Kong was incensed by Fernandes’ tweets recently which criticised MAHB and the government for increasing passenger service
charges (PSC) for international travellers from November 15.

International PSC is now RM32 for low-cost terminals and RM65 for all other international airports.

According to Kong, the Treasury has been paying RM180 million a
year to subsidise the PSC increase which had been approved in 2009.

This is in accordance with an agreement effected between MAHB
and the government then, which states that the government
compensate for any shortfall in charges that the government
did not want passed on to passengers.

“There were other increases that were done quietly by airlines
... I won’t mention which airline. Baggage charges, golf bags, buy ticket using Visa card or credit card, even when checking
in by counter ... why nobody complain?” Kong asked.

Fireflyz Sarawak load factor 90% - YB Datuk Amar Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari

Posted on 22 November 2011 - 01:00pm

Sulok Tawie
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUCHING (Nov 22, 2011): The Federal Government has agreed to Sarawak's proposal for MASWings to become a regional airline, operating within the BIMP EAGA region.
Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg announced this while winding up the debate in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly today.
However, he declined to reveal more about the details, saying it involves a lot of technical formalities.
Abang Johari said he will be meeting with his counterpart in Sabah to discuss the organisational structure and the routes which is aimed at enhancing commerce, trade and tourism for Sabah and Sarawak, while connecting Kalimantan, Brunei, Philippines and by extension, to Australia in the future.
“I had said give me three months to sort out the problems arising from the MAS-AirAsia collaboration and I am pleased to say that I have fulfilled my task – at least by obtaining the federal government's approval to make MASwings as a regional player,” he said.
Abang Johari thanked the Federal Government, particularly Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, for agreeing to the state’s proposal..
He said that air connectivity will continue to be the biggest challenge in Sarawak's effort to promote itself as a sustainable tourism destination.
“All our promotional and marketing efforts will be futile if we are not well connected to the main airline hubs and frequency of flights are constantly interrupted,” he said.
He said the recent collaboration exercise and share swap between MAS and Air Asia has already created uncertainty and anxiety among the state’s tourism players.
He said travel agents have to plan and sell their packages abroad well in advance therefore any cancellation of flights is detrimental to consumer confidence in the state’s tourism industry.
Khazanah Nasional states that Fireflyz flights to Sarawak are loss-making BUT
“With the termination of Firefly flights into Kuching (which ran seven time daily) from Kuala Lumpur and Johore (twice daily), accessibility into the state will be adversely affected, bearing in mind the favourable load factor of at least 90% on Firefly flights.

Sir Tony Fernandes tidak jawab soalan mengenai monopolinya tetapi menyerang Kementerian Pengangkutan

AirAsia chief launches attack on MAHB on social media

KANG SIEW LI
sunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA (Nov 15, 2011): AirAsia chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is in the news again, this time attacking Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in the social media realm, the same day the airport operator was raising the airport departure tax for international passengers as well as aircraft landing and parking charges for airlines.
Slamming MAHB's move, Fernandes, who is also a director of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), said: "With economic conditions as they are, MAS and AirAsia have given MAHB great ideas to increase their income by working with us and attract more (new) airlines (to operate from Malaysia)... then (MAHB should) reduce (airport) charges to the people.
"It's the passengers who pay airport tax. We are fighting for the people of Malaysia!" he posted on his Facebook page.
Incidentally, AirAsia had scheduled a press conference yesterday to address the hike in airport taxes by MAHB, but had cancelled it at the last minute, "due to an unforeseen circumstance".

Talib admits MAS-AirAsia share swap impacted tourism

by Churchill Edward, Johnson K Saai, Lim How Pim, Antonia Chiam, Simon Ingka, and Lee Ya Yun, Photographers: Chimon Upon and Jeffery Mostapa, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 18, 2011, Friday

LIVELY DEBATE: A TV screen at the DUN showing Chong (DAP - Kota Sentosa) engages in exchange of words with Talib.

KUCHING: The state government acknowledged that the recent MAS-AirAsia share swap had affected the state’s tourism sector.

“The lack of public information on the future plan of this joint collaboration between MAS and AirAsia has created anxiety among industry players.
“Furthermore, Sarawak has experienced cancellations of flights and this has caused inconvenience to the public,” noted Tourism Assistant Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.
He was responding to state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek) who asked how the collaboration had affected Sarawak both positively and adversely.
On Firefly ceasing to operate its Kuala Lumpur-Kuching and Johor Bahru-Kuching routes from Oct 31, Talib also noted that the move had undoubtedly left behind a vacuum.
“To address the issue, the state government has written to the federal government to express concern and displeasure on the lack of communication and consultation. The abrupt cancellation of firefly services after the announcement of the swap and collaboration between the two airlines do not augur well for the state.
“The state government has also initiated dialogues and meeting sessions to seek opportunities for foreign airlines to operate in Sarawak. The state government through Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd has offered attractive incentives such as three years free landing and parking fees and marketing support,” he said.
Talib said the government, however, had no intention to establish its own airlines.
“We are looking at various options including the positioning of MASWings as a regional airline to service Sarawak, Sabah and BIMP-Eaga region,” he added.

Beri kontrak kepada syarikat Sarawak - Murni Suhaili

November 18, 2011, Friday

Syarikat negeri ini ada kepakaran setara atau lebih dari segi keadaan setempat
KUCHING: Syarikat minyak dan gas seperti Shell dan Petronas sewajarnya memberi peluang kontrak yang lebih banyak kepada syarikat-syarikat dari Sarawak.
Perkara ini dinyatakan oleh Murni Suhaili (BN-Daro) dalam ucapan perbahasan pada Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di sini semalam.
Menurut ADUN Daro ini, syarikat-syarikat dari Sarawak turut mempunyai kepakaran yang setara atau lebih daripada syarikat-syarikat lain dari segi keadaan setempat.
Pada masa yang sama menu-rutnya, kita mahu agihan kek ekonomi yang adil dan saksama kepada syarikat-syarikat dari negeri ini.
“Sarawak mempunyai perolehan daripada hasil bayaran dan pelaburan yang dikaitkan dengan minyak dan gas daripada Shell dan Petronas yang mana kedua-dua syarikat ini berpangkalan di Miri.
“Kalau kita bandingkan peratusan dan bilangan kontraktor berlesen di Miri yang berkaitan dengan syarikat-syarikat Sarawak, hanya 7.3 peratus sahaja kontraktor Sarawak bagi sektor Petronas,” katanya.
Tambah Murni, bagi syarikat Shell, 115 daripada 972 atau 12 peratus sahaja kontraktor adalah syarikat dari Sarawak dengan jumlah kontrak untuk tiga tahun bermula 2008 ialah 346 bernilai RM4,817 juta.
“Apa yang kita mahu ialah supaya syarikat dari Sarawak diberi peluang kontrak yang lebih banyak oleh Shell dan Petronas sepertimana yang difahamkan berlaku di negeri Sabah,” katanya.

Airasia milik Tony Fernandez hisap darah rakyat miskin dan menipu : Ahli-ahli Parlimen UMNO

MAS-AirAsia: MP Umno dakwa Azman, Tony tipu rakyat

  14-11-2011

Oleh Shannon Teoh

November 14, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Nov – Beberapa ahli Parlimen Umno hari ini menuduh Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar dan Tan Sri Tony Fernandes telah menipu rakyat dalam urusan perjanjian saham melibatkan Malaysia Airlines (MAS) dan AirAsia Ogos lalu.
Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan Datuk Bung Mohtar Radin mahu Azman, ketua eksekutif Khazanah disoal siasat ekoran keputusan agensi pelaburan kerajaan memutuskan untuk menukar 20.5 peratus saham dalam MAS bagi mengambil 10 peratus saham dalam AirAsia.
“Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) harus memanggil Tan Sri Azman... kesemua mereka... jika ada  penyelewengan, humban mereka ke dalam penjara,” kata Timbalan Pengerusi BN-BBC ini di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.
“Bagaimana Khazanah boleh diperbodohkan, macam mana boleh jadi bodoh, diperdayakan oleh Tony Fernandes. Jika saya berada dalam kedudukan, saya akan letak jawatan daripada menyusahkan orang lain,” katanya lagi.
“Kemungkinan mereka bukan bodoh. Kemungkinan mereka mendapat keuntungan besar dengan mengaut wang rakyat,” kata beliau dengan kedudukan Tune Air, milik Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif AirAsia, kini memiliki satu perlima pegangan dalam MAS.
Ahli Parlimen Sri Gading Mohamad Aziz juga mendakwa AirAsia dengan jelas menipu publik dan “sekarang cuba untuk menipu MAS.”
“Jika orang macam ini (Fernandes) menguasai kita, astaghfirullah,” katanya ketika membahaskan Bajet 2012.
Bung Mohtar juga berkata bahawa kerajaan tidak harus takut dengan Fernandes.
“Apa sahaja beliau mahu, kita beri. Beliau mahu kenakan caj tambahan bagi lebihan (muatan) bagasi dan hisap darah rakyat miskin.

Global recession minimal impact on Sarawak - Taib

Bernama – Sun, Nov 13, 2011

KUCHING, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak economy will continue to grow next
year as the global recession is likely to have minimal impacts on the state,
said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today.
Taib, who is also the State Finance Minister, said based on the positive
economic growth in China and India, it was expected that similar growth would be
experienced in other Asian countries including Malaysia.
"We believe Sarawak can overcome the global economic recession and at the
same time (are) confident that the state economic growth is on the right track,"
he told reporters after chairing the state Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti
Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) meetings in conjunction with the State
Legislative Assembly sitting at the PBB headquarters, here.
On the 2012 State Budget to be tabled at tomorrow''s sitting, Taib, who is
the state BN chairman and PBB president, said next year''s budget would be a
realistic one that focused on stimulating economic growth and strengthening
existing sources of income.
Only two bills will be tabled in the eight-day sitting that will start
tomorrow, namely the Supply (2012) Bill 2011 or better known as the 2012 Budget
and Supplementary Supply (2011) Bill 2011.
The sitting will end on Nov 23.
-- BERNAMA

Tony Fernandez and Danny Yusof 'save MAS' plan is turning out to 'destroy MAS'?

Is saving MAS still a priority?

Published: 2011/11/12

The aviation scene in Malaysia is not about free and fair competition. It never has been.
It was a monopoly in the 1990s. It is a monopoly now. The government made it that way.

The only difference is, in the 1990s it was to safeguard the flag carrier's interests, now.... well, you can't really be sure why it's still a monopoly.

The share-swap between Khazanah Nasional Bhd and AirAsia Bhd founders Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun was essentially to save MAS.

Khazanah appeared to relax its policy to reduce its stake in companies. There is also the concern that corporate governance could be compromised by both MAS and AirAsia having common shareholders. All in the name of saving MAS.

At least you would have thought that was why Khazanah did it.

Barely three months into the deal though, Firefly's jet operations are virtually non-existent, its reputation in tatters, news of Caterham Jet breaks, and there is still no news of MAS' game plan.

Bajet Sarawak 2012

State proposes RM3.9bil budget

By YU JI thestar.com.my

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has proposed a budget of RM3.964bil for next year — one of the biggest ever for the state — with exactly 70% of the sum allocated for development purposes and the remainder for operating expenditure. More than a development biased budget, it will also be a surplus budget, yielding a projected RM79mil surplus, against an estimated total revenue of RM4.043bil.
Chief Minister and state Finance Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who tabled the Supply (2012) Bill, 2011 at the State Legislative Assembly complex here yesterday, also said the state economy should grow by 5% next year.

Billions/weapons smuggled into Syria to start civil war and destroy Syria

Airasia berpura-pura tambang murah dan menaikkan harga dari 'hidden charges'?

Saturday November 12, 2011

AirAsia seeks to lift ancillary income (non fare charges)

By B.K. SIDHU
thestar

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia group is working towards stretching its ancillary income to RM60RM65 per passenger over the medium term from RM50 currently.

JFK assasination links

Who Killed JFK?

August 16, 2011 — Dean Henderson (Excerpted from Chapter 9: The Texas Oil Mafia: Big Oil & Their Bankers in the Persian Gulf…)
Texaco insider Clint Murchison had meat packing interests in Haiti which were looked after by CIA agent George deMohrenschildt, a wealthy Russian oilman and, according to the FBI, a Nazi spy during WWII.  It was de Mohrenschildt who drove Lee Harvey Oswald from New Orleans to Dallas days before the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor jual asset kerajaan untuk tipu rakyat

BN: Khalid abuses GLC assets to fund populist policies

Sir Tony Fernandez buka syarikat penerbangan untuk lawan MAS?

A new super-premium airline in the works

Posted on 9 November 2011 - 12:23am

KANG SIEW LI
sunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA (Nov 9, 2011): AirAsia chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, who already has interest in four airlines, is set to expand his empire further as he moves to start a new super-premium full-service carrier (FSC) that will compete head-on with Qantas' upcoming Asia-based super-premium FSC called RedQ, aviation sources said.

Adakah Tony Fernandez tidak bercakap benar mengenai subsidi yang diterimanya?

Saudis or foreigners control Saudi Aramco oil?

JP Morgan Chase & the Saudi Oil Colony

October 19, 2011 — Dean Henderson (Excerpted from Chapter 3: The House of Saud & JP Morgan: Big Oil & Their Bankers in the Persian Gulf…)
ARAMCO
With 261 billion barrels of crude oil lying beneath its soil, Saudi Arabia remains the lynchpin in the international oil grab presided over by the Four Horsemen.  As Joseph Story, Middle East analyst and former ARAMCO executive once said, “Only one factor is involved in where the price of oil is going to go, and that is Saudi Arabia”.

Adenan Satem agih daging korban kepada 1,600 penduduk di konstituensinya

Posted on November 7, 2011, Monday

LUNDU: Makna Hari Raya Aidiladha dikongsikan bersama oleh ADUN Tanjung Datu, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem dengan mengagihkan daging korban kepada seramai 1,600 penduduk di sekitar konstituensinya yang terdiri daripada golongan memerlukan iaitu fakir miskin, orang kurang upaya (OKU), warga emas, ibu tunggal dan anak yatim.
Terdahulu, Adenan mengagihkan daging korban kepada 600 penerima di zon Sempadi melibatkan Kampung Sampadi, Kampung Rambungan, Kampung Sungai Cina, Kampung Selingok, Kampung Sungai Langgir dan Kampung Stoh di sini.
Selepas itu, Adenan mengagihkan daging korban kepada seramai 600 penerima di Kampung Seling Melayu dan kemudiannya ke Kampung Sekambal dan Bajo bagi mengagihkan daging korban kepada seramai 200 penerima dan turut menikmati makan tengah hari bersama penduduk di situ.
Selanjutnya, beliau juga telah mengagihkan daging korban kepada seramai 200 penduduk Kampung Tanah Hitam di Masjid Daerah Kecil Sematan.
Sebanyak 16 ekor lembu dikorbankan dalam ibadah korban tersebut iaitu lima ekor di zon Sempadi, lima ekor di Kampung Seling Melayu, empat ekor di Kampung Sekambal dan dua ekor di Tanah Hitam dan ia merupakan sumbangan Adenan, Timbalan Speaker Dewan Rakyat yang juga Ahli Parlimen Santubong Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar dan individu lain.
Adenan yang juga Menteri Tugas-tugas Khas berkata, beliau amat gembira melihat majlis disambut dengan penuh kesyukuran dan disemarakkan dengan semangat gotong-royong.
Katanya, semangat sedemikian amat penting kerana ia melambangkan keharmonian hidup bermasyarakat yang erat di kalangan umat Islam dan wajar dipertahankan oleh generasi muda yang bakal mewarisi dan mewarnai kepimpinan negara.
“Terima kasih kepada semua. Saya berasa gembira melihat penglibatan semua penduduk tanpa mengira tua dan muda bermula dari proses penyembelihan sehinggalah ke pengagihan daging korban,” katanya.
Ibadah korban di kawasan Tanjung Datu merupakan anjuran bersama PBB Tanjung Datu, Parlimen Santubong dan AJK masjid/surau kampung-kampung terlibat.
Hadir mengiringi Adenan bagi menyempurnakan pengagihan daging korban kepada para penerima ialah Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri Bujang Helmi Hazmi, Timbalan Ketua Cawangan PBB Tanjung Datu Abu Seman dan Pemanca Bujang.

Abraham

Surat 'Ibrāhīm (Abrahim) - سورة ابراهيم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

14:1

Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that you might bring mankind out of darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord - to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy -

14:2

Allah , to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe to the disbelievers from a severe punishment

14:3

The ones who prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter and avert [people] from the way of Allah , seeking to make it (seem) deviant. Those are in extreme error.