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Sewaktu di Afrika beberapa tahun lalu, seorang lelaki yang kelihatan mabuk, tiba-tiba menjerit-jerit kepada saya. Saya sendiri tidak tahu mengapakah dia berkelakuan begitu. Sukar untuk saya memahami apakah yang dijeritkannya. Bagaimanapun, saya masih ingat dia berkata, "Your are going to get rich!"

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Saya sudah melupakan peristiwa itu; tidak ambil kisah dengan cakap orang mabuk sehinggalah baru-baru ini apabila saya menerima email darinya. Sekarang baru saya percaya kepada apa yang dijeritkan oleh lelaki berkulit hitam itu:

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Political Hurdles Ahead for Malaysian Economy

Excerpt from the Straits Times Singapore:

"Political uncertainties are not something we should worry too much about," argued Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (Mier) executive director Mohamed Ariff earlier this month.

He was speaking to the media after the release of Mier's latest report on the Malaysian economy, which it said was "remarkably resilient", despite local political developments and the negative global outlook.

Yet there are good reasons for suggesting that if current political conditions persist, economic policy could increasingly become hostage to politics.

It is not simply that the success of opposition parties in key states such as Penang, Perak and Selangor in the March elections has thrown many promised mega projects into doubt--though their cancellation as a result of disputes with opposition-run state governments will almost certainly have a significant impact on future private-sector demand.

Rather, what are worrying are the lack of strong leadership in economic affairs and the increasing reluctance of a besieged federal government to take unpopular steps for the long-term health of the economy. Click here for more.

Minyak Mentah Mencecah US$130?

Kemaskini 2.00 petang, 22 Mei 2008 - Harga minyak mentah di pasaran antarabangsa kini mencecah US$135.04 setong. Klik di sini untuk membaca: No Sign of Oil Prices Easing Soon

Kemaskini 9.00 pagi, 22 Mei, 2008 - Harga minyak mentah di pasaran antarabangsa sudah mencecah US$134.42 setong pada hari ini. Dalam tempoh 52 minggu lepas, harganya meningkat dari US$88.87 satu tong kepada harga sekarang.

Pada masa ini, harga minyak mentah di pasaran antarabangsa sudah mencapai US$129.29 setong. Bilakah harganya akan mencecah US$130 setong? Adakah harganya akan mencapai US$150 setong pada Jun ini seperti ramalan sesetengah pihak?

Dr Mahathir Terperangkap Provokasi?

Adakah sudah sekian lama Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berfikir untuk meninggalkan UMNO? Atau, mungkinkah dia terperangkap dengan provokasi Ismail Wan Teh, bekas calon PAS dalam PRU lalu bagi DUN Kota Siputeh (dalam kawasan parlimen Jerlun)? Sehingga kini belum jelas siapakah pemimpin UMNO yang akan mengikut jejak langkah Mahathir. Ahli Parlimen Jerlun, Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir memberitahu beliau tidak akan keluar UMNO, sekurang-kurangnya pada masa ini.

PAS man lit the ‘resignation’ fuse

ALOR STAR: The man who challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno is actually PAS member Ismail Wan Teh.

Ismail was wearing a non-governmental organisation’s hat when he asked Dr Mahathir if he would be willing to quit Umno as a sign of protest against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership.

Ismail, the Kedah Citizens’ Action Group deputy chairman, asked the question based on Dr Mahathir’s call to Umno members to resign en masse as a show of no-confidence in Abdullah.

Ismail asked if Dr Mahathir were willing to quit, as it would have a major impact on Umno.

Dr Mahathir who was probably not aware that Ismail was a PAS member, said it sounded like a challenge.

"I will leave Umno until Abdullah’s leadership is ended," he said.

Dr Mahathir, who is Umno member number 000 0001, told a press conference later that he would rejoin Umno after Abdullah had stepped down.

Ismail contested and lost the Kota Siputeh state seat in Jerlun in the recent general election.

(Source: The Star, 20th of May, 2008) Klik di sini untuk membaca laporan Berita Harian.

Tembak al-Quran: Jahil atau Biadab?

BAGHDAD (AP) — President Bush has apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for an American sniper's use of a copy of the Quran for target practice, Maliki's office said Tuesday.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush spoke to al-Maliki about the Quran shooting incident during a regularly scheduled videoconference on Monday. She said Bush expressed his "serious concern."

"He told the prime minister that we take this matter seriously, and he noted that the soldier had been reprimanded and removed from Iraq by his commanders," Perino said.

A statement issued by al-Maliki's office said Al-Maliki told Bush of the "disappointment and anger of the people and government of Iraq over the soldier's disgraceful action," the statement said. Click here for more.