TMJ surprises Johoreans with grocery bill payment offer

JOHOR BARU: It was pandemonium at a shopping mall here when the Tunku Mahkota Johor turned up unexpectedly and offered to foot the grocery bill of every shopper up to RM3,000.

Thursday, 12 Apr 2018

Apparently, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who was at the mall for less than five minutes, eventually spent more than RM1mil on the groceries.

The happy moment for the lucky shoppers happened at about 6.45pm yesterday when he arrived at AEON Tebrau with his wife Che Puan Khaleeda Bustamam.

Tunku Ismail promptly announced that he would be paying for the groceries of up to RM3,000 for each of them.

Cheers erupted, punctuated with shouts of “Hidup TMJ”.

Most shoppers were seen taking up to three trolleys each. The mall had to increase their security as people crowded the place.

At about 8pm, the mall had to bring down its shutters as more people started to arrive when the news spread.

Among the top items taken by the people included rice, cooking oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, flour, tea and other basic household items.

R. Sivalingam, 45, said that he was grateful for Tunku Ismail’s generosity, which helped him save a lot of money.

“I am really thankful to Tunku Ismail because I’m able to have at least two months’ worth of groceries,” he said when met at the mall.

Another shopper, Rafidah Mohd Khalid, 38, said she got items such as three packets of rice, two bottles of cooking oil, vegetables and other needs for her family.

“We are the lucky ones as Tunku Ismail helped to pay the bills. If it’s not for him, many of us would not be able to shop for so many things,” she said.

Retiree Tan Kuok Hua, 50, said he thought it was a prank initially when he heard that a VIP would pay for the groceries.

“I received a message on my WhatsApp that Tunku Ismail was there and he would be paying for the groceries,” he said.

He went there to verify the news and found that shoppers were making a beeline to the place.

The Johor royal family, he said, had always been kind and understood the plight of the ordinary people.

“For commoners like me, this is very huge. This is why we Johoreans love and respect the royal family,” he said.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/12/tmj-surprises-johoreans-with-grocery-bill-payment-offer

Rafidah quits Supermax board over MD’s apology

Former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has resigned as chairman and director of Supermax Corp Bhd, saying she disagreed with convicted managing director Datuk Seri Stanley Thai’s apology for supporting Malaysia’s Opposition in 2013.

Monday April 16, 2018

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz was appointed chairman of Supermax, the world’s second-largest
glove manufacturer, in 2015. — Picture by K.E. Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has resigned as chairman and director of Supermax Corp Bhd, saying she disagreed with convicted managing director Datuk Seri Stanley Thai’s apology for supporting Malaysia’s Opposition in 2013.

According to news portal Malaysiakini, Rafidah said it was the right of all Malaysians and companies to support whichever political party they choose.

“Pursuant to the ‘apology’ by Stanley Thai to the (incumbent) prime minister for whatever he did during the 13th general election, I have resigned from serving as a director of Supermax Corporation and as the chairperson, with effect from April 14.

“While it is his (Thai’s) right to do what he feels he needed to do, I do not share the same sentiments,” she was quoted saying.

The former international trade and industry minister said she was a strong proponent of integrity and honesty as well as a believer in the individual’s prerogative to back the political party of his choice without fear of repercussions.

Rafidah was appointed chairman of Supermax, the world’s second-largest glove manufacturer, in 2015.

Thai, who was convicted of insider trading in 2014 and is currently appealing against his five-year sentence, called a press conference last Saturday where he formally apologised to Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He expressed regret for allowing himself to be influenced by the local Opposition in 2013, and said he has since formed the belief that businesspeople “should not be involved in politics under any circumstances”.

In a 2013 interview with Bloomberg, Thai said he was joining the local Chinese community in withdrawing its support from the ruling Barisan Nasional “to protect the future of his children”.

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/rafidah-quits-supermax-board-over-mds-apology

Supermax's Stanley Thai apologises to Najib for involvement in politics

Former Supermax Corporation Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Stanley Thai has apologised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his involvement in Malaysian politics.

The Edge
15 April 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 14): Former Supermax Corporation Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Stanley Thai has apologised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his involvement in Malaysian politics.

In a statement read at a press conference here today, Thai said he regretted getting involved in the 13th General Election (GE13) and believed that he had been influenced by the opposition.

"With much regret, I realised that I was being influenced by the propaganda and the opposition during the election time and I truly regretted it and realised it was wrong to get involved in politics as a businessman. Thus. I hereby tender my apology to the Prime Minister Najib for what I have done in GE13," he said. 

In his statement, Thai said that prior to GE13 his comments at a dinner in March 2013 was quoted by Bloomberg in a report two weeks before the polls. 

In the article, he was quoted as saying that he would join Malaysian Chinese in abandoning support for Najib and vote for the opposition for the first time in GE13.

In GE13, the Barisan Nasional coalition, led by Najib, retained power in Putrajaya, despite losing the popular vote.

Today, Thai said he has completely stopped all political activities and has no affiliation with any political parties since May 2013.

"I have even requested Institute Rakyat to remove my name from their website as a member of their advisory panel thereafter. I also like to reiterate that I will continue to fully support the ruling government’s sound economic policies. 

"After GEl3 elections, I was focusing on my business and most of the time I was travelling overseas. I am now sincerely seeking the forgiveness from Datuk Seri Najib for what I have done in the last election and I truly regretted it," he said. 

"Just for record purposes, I have been a supporter of the ruling government’s economic policy from day one including the economic policies implemented by Datuk Seri Najib. The frustrations that we had over the years has been the infrastructure delays in expanding our glove manufacturing business. The last two projects, there were delayed for two and a half to three years due to the water supply issues in Selangor state where most of our plants are located," he added. 

It is worth noting that in the last three years, Thai has been fighting an insider trading charge related to Supermax unit APL Industries Bhd (APLI).
Late last year, he was sentenced by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to a five-year jail term and RM5 million fine for the insider trading offences committed when he was CEO of APLI, a company that was delisted from Bursa Malaysia in 2009.

The sentence was the first time a jail term was imposed for insider trading. It is also the harshest sentence passed down thus far by the court for the offence.

It has been reported that Thai would appeal against the sentence. 

Thai's full statement below:

1. First and foremost, I would appreciate very much that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would allow me to render my explanation with respect to the previous GE13 circumstances leading to unfortunate mistake I have made in the past. I hereby calling for this press conference to make a formal apology to our beloved Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib. Again, the main purpose of this press conference is to apologise to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib and Barisan Nasional for what I have done in the previous GEl3. 

2. I regretted getting involved in GEl3 which I believe that I have been influenced by the opposition. Being a businessman, I should not be involved in Politics under any circumstances & I truly regretted it 

3. Prior to the last GEI3, I was invited to be a member of the advisory panel of Institute Rakyat. During that time, I met Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the first time. 

4. I attended the launching of the Institute Rakyat on January 2013 and thereafter I never attended any meeting associated with Institute Rakyat. 

5. Sometime in February or March 2013, I was involved in organising an Economic Forum through Institute Rakyat held at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. The speakers include Anwar Ibrahim as the keynote speaker. the then Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, Chief Minister of Penang and a few other speakers. 

6. Subsequently sometime in March, 2013. I was invited for a dinner by Bloomberg Malaysia. Considering Bloomberg being a Business Media, I attended the dinner. During the conversation when I was casually asked “why some of the Chinese are not supporting Barisan Nasional”. Considering it a casual dinner I made my comments. However, when my private & casual conversation was reported and published two weeks before the GEl3, I begin to realise that the contents of the news article went virus quickly in the social media and it was exploited by the opposition politicians. Subsequently other opposition parties invited me to speak at their ceramah. 

7. I went to Bukit Tinggi in Klang for a fund raising dinner for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. One of my printing suppliers invited me to this ceramah and I also attended ceramahs in Johor few days before the election. During the election eve, I attended ceramah at Lembah Pantai. 

8. After the election & on 8 May 2013, I attended a rally at Kelana Jaya Stadium. Those were my only involvement in political activities during the election period. 

9. Subsequently, with much regret, I realised that I was being influenced by the propaganda and the opposition during the election time and I truly regretted it & realised it was wrong to get involve in politics as a businessman. 

Thus. I hereby tender my apology to the Prime Minister Najib for what I have done in GE13. 

10. Thereafter, I stopped completely all political activities and have no affiliations whatsoever with any political parties since May 20l3. I have even requested Institute Rakyat to remove my name from their website as a member of their advisory panel thereafter. I also like to reiterate that I will continue to fully support the ruling government’s sound economic policies. 

11. After GEl3 elections, I was focusing on my business and most of the time I was travelling overseas. 

12. I am now sincerely seeking the forgiveness from Datuk Seri Najib for what I have done in the last election and I truly regretted it. 

13. Just for record purposes, I have been a supporter of the ruling government’s economic policy from day one including the economic policies implemented by Datuk Seri Najib. 

14. The frustrations that we had over the years has been the infrastructure delays in expanding our glove manufacturing business. The last two projects, there were delayed for two and a half to three years due to the water supply issues in Selangor state where most of our plants are located. 

15. Bank Negara has confirmed our country’s economy is doing well and this will not be possible without the able leadership of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib. International rating agency also reaffirmed the high rating of the country’s economy. 

16. As far as the proposed increase of minimum wage to RMl,500 over the next five years, I strongly support this initiative as it is in line with the government’s intention to improve the standard of living of the B40 and to bring the country into a high income nation. 

17. As a member of the business community, I like to see political stability. Businesses operating in Malaysia will continue to prosper with the sound economic policy of the ruling government that is led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib. Foreign investors will continue to have hill confidence to participate and drive the economic growth and continue to expand their investment in Malaysia. 

17. Again, I would like to repeat that this press conference is to specifically to present my apology to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib for what I have done in GE13 and reiterate again that I am in full support of the ruling government sound economic policies. 

Thank you

Datuk Seri Stanley Thai
Kuala Lumpur
Apr 14, 2018

https://www.msn.com/en-my/money/topstories/supermaxs-stanley-thai-apologises-to-najib-for-involvement-in-politics/ar-AAvSehg?li=BBr8Mka



Sorry I backed Pakatan, boss of world top glovemaker Supermax tells Najib

Saturday April 14, 2018 

Supermax Corp Bhd Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Stanley Thai today expressed regret for getting involved in campaigning for the opposition in the 13th General Election. — Picture by Azneal Ishak

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — Supermax Corp Bhd Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Stanley Thai today expressed regret for getting involved in campaigning for the opposition in the 13th General Election (GE13).

Extending a formal apology to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at a press conference here, Thai said he was influenced by the opposition’s propaganda in the previous general election, and realised that it was wrong for him as a businessman to be involved in politics.

“As a member of the business community, I like to see political stability. Businesses operating in Malaysia will continue to prosper with the sound economic policy of the ruling government that is led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

“Foreign investors will continue to have full confidence to participate and drive the economic growth and continue to expand their investments in Malaysia,” he saId.

During the press conference, Thai also expressed his disappointment with the state of Selangor’s management of the water issue, as it had cost Supermax, one of the largest rubber glove makers in the world, millions of dollars and hindered its growth.

“Our last two projects there were delayed for two and a half to three years due to the water supply issues in Selangor, where most of our plants are located,” he said, adding that Supermax has a total of 11 plants nationwide, and eight are located in Selangor.

Thai added that he believed that good governance and management are key to industry’s growth, and that he will continue to fully support the government’s policies. — Bernama

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/sorry-i-backed-pakatan-boss-of-world-top-glovemaker-supermax-tells-najib

DPM Zahid To M'sians In S'pore: If You Can't Get Leave Then Don't Come Back To Vote

• On Saturday, 13 April, Malaysiakini quoted caretaker DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that if the Malaysians working in Singapore don't get leave on 9 May, then they need not return to vote in GE14

  •  Sadho Ram — 14 Apr 2018, 02:50 PM
  • 
  • May 9, which has been declared as the day of the polling in Malaysia, falls on a Wednesday, i.e. working day. While initially, the date was a cause of concern for many Malaysians in the country, it has now been declared a public holiday.
    
    The PMO made the announcement on 11 April after criticism from the rakyat.
    
    However, prior to PMO's announcement, several companies in Malaysia had already given their employees the day off to make sure they exercise their right to vote.
    
    Even some companies in Singapore have declared that they will grant leave to all their Malaysian employees so that they can return to cast their vote in GE14.
    
    One of them is the Scandinavian furniture giant, IKEA, which has extended one paid day of leave to its Malaysian employees who wish to travel back home to vote.
    
    According to a report in The Malay Mail Online, there are about 400,000 Malaysians who work and live in Singapore, and in addition to that, more than 250,000 Malaysians, mainly blue-collar workers, who commute daily from Johor to Singapore to work.
    
    So when DPM Zahid was asked about his advice to Johoreans working in Singapore as to what should they do when it comes to voting, the caretaker DPM was quoted by Malaysiakini, saying it's "up to them if they want to come back to vote or otherwise."
• 
  
  According to DPM Zahid, if a Singapore employer does not allow their Malaysian employees to take leave for the polling day, then the best thing for these Malaysians to do is to not come back to vote
• • "We have announced a public holiday on voting day, so it is up to them if they want to come back to vote or otherwise. In my view, the government neither encourages nor discourages (returning to vote) as that is an individual right.
    
    "But if the employer from the said country (Singapore) does not permit (their Malaysian workers to take leave), then I think the best thing to do is to not come back to vote," Malaysiakini quoted DPM Zahid as saying at a press conference in Kluang yesterday.
  • http://says.com/my/news/dpm-zahid-to-m-sians-in-s-pore-if-you-can-t-get-leave-then-don-t-come-back-to-vote

Govt To Spend Over RM53 Million While Distributing RM800 Fuel Cards To 67,000 Taxi Drivers

Najib also hinted at the possibility of reviewing the RM800 limit it in the future.

Published by Sadho Ram — 14 Apr 2018, 05:21 PM

• At a gathering at the MAEPS in Serdang on Friday, 13 April, Datuk Seri Najib Razak presented the 1Malaysia Taxi Aid Card worth RM800 to be awarded to a total of 67,000 taxi drivers nationwide

  • The assistance card comes with a preloaded value of RM800 which can be used to purchase petrol or natural gas for vehicles at Petronas stations nationwide.
    
    According to the caretaker prime minister, the assistance card is part of the BN Government's "efforts to boost the competitiveness level of the taxi group."
    
    The taxi drivers will also get other facilities under the Mesra Petronas loyalty programme including personal accident insurance protection up to RM50,000.
    
    The aid, that would be disbursed via the SPAD and Finance Ministry, is being distributed in stages starting from Friday, the day of the announcement.
  • • Image via Azneal Ishak/The Malay Mail Online

• The card involves funding of RM53.6 million

  • "I would like to announce that the government will be handing out the 1Malaysia Taxi Assistance Card to roughly 67,000 taxi drivers nationwide worth RM800.
    
    "The government has allocated RM53.6 million for this assistance and with this card, taxi drivers can fill their tanks with petrol or NGV at Petronas stations," Najib told a crowd of roughly 10,000 taxi drivers, who cheered and gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech, according to The Malay Mail Online.
    
    "I believe with this card, it will reduce the cost of daily operations and raise income. The government will never forget taxi drivers who have always been close to the heart of the government," the caretaker prime minister told the crowd of 10,000 taxi drivers who had gathered at the Malaysia Agriculture Exposition Park from throughout the country.
    
    The Borneo Post Online, meanwhile, reported Najib saying that the RM800 stored value would be reviewed from time to time depending on the government's affordability.
  • • Image via NST Online

• Reaction to the RM800 fuel card has been mixed.

  While taxi drivers interviewed by The Star Online said they were thrilled, many of them were laughing when Najib told them "If all of you help me, I will definitely help you", according to Malaysiakini.

  • "I am happy about this and I support the Government's efforts," said a 58-year-old taxi driver, adding that the card would help reduce his daily operational cost.
    
    "The RM800 is a great help as our income has been on the decline," a 50-year-old Jamaluddin Ahmad from Senawang told The Star Online, adding that he was "grateful."
    
    On the other hand, according to Malaysiakini, the fuel aid handout has failed to douse taxi drivers' frustration at the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional (BN).
    
    "I will say it as it is – this is dedak that they give out when it is election time. Do you know how long we have been fighting (against e-hailing services)?
    
    "This (fuel aid card) only helps a little bit, it will be gone in two or three months.
    
    "They can't give money so they give us a card. This is dedak, it's like they are feeding animals," a taxi driver, Abdul Aziz Yusof, told Malaysiakini.
  • • Image via Malaysiakini

• Meanwhile, some 30 taxi drivers were injured while queueing up to receive the cards, with one of them had to be taken to the hospital

  • "This unfortunate incident occurred when a handful of attendees did not follow the systematic crowd control measures upon entering the hall to collect the card," SPAD said in a statement while confirming the incident that took place at Hall C of the building at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
  • • Image via FMT

• Prior to this, the Crown Prince of Johor spent over RM1 million while surprising shoppers by paying RM3,000 each for their groceries:

  • TMJ Spent Over RM1 Million While Paying RM3,000 For Each Shopper's Groceries At Aeon Mall

    The Crown Prince said he "genuinely loves his people."

    says.com

• On the other hand, caretaker Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that if the Malaysians working in Singapore don't get leave on 9 May, then they need not return to vote in GE14:

  • DPM Zahid To M'sians In S'pore: If You Can't Get Leave Then Don't Come Back To Vote

    "It is up to them if they want to come back to vote or otherwise."

    says.com

• http://says.com/my/news/govt-to-spend-over-rm53-million-while-distributing-rm800-fuel-cards-to-67-000-taxi-drivers

Nazri: PPBM a mosquito party, deregistration means nothing

Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz believes the temporary deregistration of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) would not affect Barisan Nasional (BN) in any way, likening the party to a mere mosquito bite. "No, not at all, no. How do you feel about mosquito bites? I think you just scratch it off. You will scratch it and you still enjoy it....

05/04/2018 -

"I don't think it's going to affect us in any way. Suspended or not, or whether or not it's good for us (Barisan Nasional), I think voters have decided and they know who to vote," the Tourism and Culture Minister said when asked if he believed the deregistration would benefit BN.

He told this to a press conference after launching the Malaysia Smart Tourism 4.0 powered by Tencent, here, today.

The Registrar of Societies (Ros) announced today that PPBM would be temporarily deregistered as a political party under Section 14(5) of the Societies Act for failing to furnish certain particulars to the association.

Commenting further on the matter, Nazri said the dissolution of PPBM was all the party's own doing, and that RoS has every right to take such action, adding that he would have preferred to defeat the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led party at the polls.

"Certainly we don't want to win by default, in the sense that they are being declared as void. We want to win a fair and strong fight," he said.

"PPBM's constitution was formulated by the same people who created the party. Nobody forced them to put anything in the constitution except themselves.

"RoS didn't ask you to include any requirement except if you agree to. If PPBM doesn't comply with their constitution, then they cannot be a legal party. u have to follow the law," he said.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/04/05/nazri-ppbm-mosquito-party-deregistration-means-nothing

Related articles

• RoS temporarily deregisters PPBM (Updated)
• PPBM secretary-general gives statement to ROS
• PPBM will not be able to furnish two reports by deadline: Muhyiddin
• Mahathir willing to contest under DAP ticket in GE14
• RoS cited non-existent clause for Umno’s party election, says Muhyiddin

No Malay tsunami, says Nazri

A Malay tsunami is unlikely to happen in the general election as Malay votes are now divided and no one can obtain a two-thirds majority, says Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.


1 Apr 2018 | 7:00 AM

The Tourism and Culture Minister, who is also Umno supreme council member, said no coalition could sweep two-thirds of the seats after the 2008 general election.

“The coalition that wins 112 parliamentary seats can form the government,” he was quoted as saying in Sin Chew Daily.

Speaking to the media after opening a culture and arts event at Padang Rengas yesterday, Nazri said the notion of a Malay tsunami was only a ploy by the DAP.

image: 

On the issue of redelineation of electoral boundaries, Nazri said he disagreed with comments that shifting Malay voters would work in Umno’s favour.

Using Bukit Aman police headquarters as example, Nazri said even though it now fell under Opposition-held Lembah Pantai, it was uncertain if all policemen would support Barisan Nasional or not.

He said many retired policemen and soldiers were not Barisan supporters.

“Shifting Malay voters for the benefit of Barisan? Malays can choose among PAS, Parti Amanah Negara and PKR,” he said.

“Malays are now divided by four or five parties.”

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/01/no-malay-tsunami-says-nazri-minister-says-ethnic-voter-base-too-split-to-form-twothirds-majority/