Prescene 8 - Will Pak Lah's son exits Scomi?

Jurublog has been planning to put up this Predictive Scenario (Prescene) upon noticing a flurry of exits by Pak Lah’s known lieutenants from the corporate scene. These exits looked like a prelude to Pak Lah’s own exit from Malaysia main political scene in March 2009.

Kalimullah has exited New Straits Times, where he has been helming the mainstream paper’s editorial board. There are now lesser “over-the-top” praises for Pak Lah in the newspaper on anything that Pak Lah did (except sleeping during meetings and conferences, even in the presence of the Agong). Kalimullah had a few times boasted in his weekly column in the newspaper that he was so close to Pak Lah that he would know first hand of Pak Lah’s intended actions.

Patrick Lim (a.k.a. Patrick Badawi) has also exited Equine Capital. Patrick Lim was one of main guys responsible for the mega project in Penang, which has since been abandoned by the DAP state government. Patrick Lim was also involved in Monsoon Cup in Terengganu. It was said that in one occasion in Terengganu, Pak Lah actually disembarked from his official car to ride on together with Patrick Badawi. It was also said that Patrick Badawi would be at Pak lah’s house on the first day of Hari Raya wearing full gear Baju Melayu with samping. And the house that Pak Lah was purportedly staying in Perth, Western Australia during the great flood in Johor in December 2007, was owned by Patrick Lim’s family.

But last week’s announcement by Scomi to undertake Rights Issue of shares to raise RM120 million in capital caught Jurublog by surprise. During this time of financial crunch, when it is difficult to get investors to invest new monies, Scomi made a bold move to solicit new capital from its shareholders.

Scomi is substantially owned by Pak Lah’s son, Kamaluddin, together with Shah Hakim Zain, the CEO of Scomi.

Scomi has loss a potentially lucrative monorail project in Penang when the current DAP government decided to look at other alternatives to ease the urban transportation problem on the island.

When Pak Lah decided to ride on the Komuter and LRT just before Hari Raya 2008, everybody thought that he was going to announce something for the benefit of Scomi, to compensate Scomi’s loss of the monorail project in Penang. Luckily, by not announcing any major initiatives after his public transportation surprise ride, Pak Lah has avoided another potential controversy.

To be fair, much of Scomi’s businesses are located overseas. Scomi has recently been awarded a mega train project in Mumbai, India. The RM120 million capital raising exercise through the Rights Issue may be use to partly finance the Mumbai project. Unfortunately, due to the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, the project looked a bit risky, and may be subjected to prolonged delays.

Unfortunately too, although Scomi has been relatively successful with their overseas ventures, there are negative perceptions on their ability to deliver their part of the deal locally in Malaysia. For example, Scomi has been criticised for the abandoned city buses owned by RapidKL.

With Pak Lah exiting the top administration post, it will be likely that Kamaluddin will concentrate on his overseas projects.

Will he exit Scomi? May be. Jurublog thinks so.

Prescene 7 - The Arafah Sky Opens Up For Doa Made By Muslim Pilgrims During Wukuf

As narrated by Imam Muslim and others, Prophet Mohamad SAW said, “There is no day on which Allah frees more of His slaves from the Fire than on the Day of Arafah, and He verily draws near, then boasts of them before the angels, saying: ‘What do they seek?’”.

Today, 9 Zulhijjah of the Muslim Calendar (7 December 2008) is the Day of Arafah.

The blessed and the selected few of our Muslim brothers and sisters are currently gathering at Arafah (a large plain to the south-east of Makkah) for Wukuf (Standing in Arafah), the main rite for Hajj.

For the pilgrims, it is sunnah to stand upon the rocks beneath the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ur-Rahmah) and if not then all of Arafah is a place of standing. It is sunnah to stand facing the Qiblah, raising hands making doa and reciting talbiyyah.

It is sunnah for the pilgrims to recite much “La ilaha illallah” as it is the best doa of the Day of Arafah as the Prophet SAW said: “The best thing that I and the Prophets have said on the evening of Arafah is ‘La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareekalahu lahul mulk wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’ia qadeer’”, and occasionally adds in the talbiyyah: “Innamal khairul akhirati (All good is the good of the Hereafter)”.

And the pilgrims remain in that state, remembering Allah, reciting tarbiyah, making doa as they wish – hoping from Allah that He will make them of those whom He boasts of (those He frees from the Fire) to the Angels as occurs in the Hadeeth above. In another Hadeeth as narrated by Imam Ahmad and others, Prophet Mohamad SAW said: “Verily Allah boasts of the people of Arafah before the people of heaven (the angels), saying: ‘Look to my servants who have come to Me dishevelled and dusty.’”

It was said that on the Day of Arafah, at the time of Wukuf (from Zohor until Maghrib), Allah will grant the doa of the pilgrims. It was said that it is best for the pilgrims to stand on the plain of Arafah (preferably on top of a hill) facing the Qiblah and make doa to the Almighty. For it was said that the sky will open up, for Allah to directly hear the doa of the pilgrims, and grant them their doa.

For those who have had the privilege to perform the Hajj, they will testify that at the time of Wukuf, the sky surrounding the plain of Arafah will be very clear (blue) with minimal (or no) clouds at all. The occasion is so surreal. And yes, by the Will of Allah, their doa will be granted.

I have not heard of anybody experiencing rain in Arafah during Wukuf.

Another phenomenon that will be experienced by the pilgrims will be the strong winds going through the plain of Arafah after sunset (Maghrib) on the Day of Arafah, as if to clear the sins left by the pilgrims.

Ask your friends or relatives who had performed Hajj on the observations above (the clear sky and the wind gust on the Day of Arafah).

We should empirically test the observations above.

Prescene 6 - The Night of Power - Lailatul Qadr

In Surah Al-Qadr (Chapter 97) of the Holy Quran, Allah said:

1. We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power.
2. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?
3. The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.
4. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:
5. Peace!... This until the rise of Morn!

Based on the consensus of the Ulamaks, Lailatul Qadr will occur on one night in the holy month of Ramadhan.

Good deeds performed during the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) would be rewarded equivalent to deeds performed over a period of a thousand months.

The whole world will be calm during the occurrence of Lailatul Qadr.

However, a night time at one place would mean a daytime at another.

Hence, in my opinion, the Night of Power will continue throughout a period of at least 24 hours, covering the night time of every inch of the globe. Of course, a person on the ground would only experience his own period of night time, and be blessed with the deeds that he performed during his own period of Lailatul Qadr.

Allah has indicated that the Peace would prevail throughout the occurrence of Lailatul Qadr. I believe that the earth would become very calm during the occurrence of Lailatul Qadr.

And I believe that there would not be any earthquakes throughout Lailatul Qadr, as an indication that the earth is in peace and is celebrating the Night of Power.

Jurublog’s Prescene 6 (a.k.a. the Lailatul Qadr Hypothesis) states that:

“During the Holy Month of Ramadhan, there will be a period of at least 24 hours in which there will be no occurrence of earthquakes throughout the entire world. That period will indicate the Night of Power or Lailatul Qadr. For avoidance of doubt, the period of calmness would cover an entire night in the Holy City of Makkah (i.e. from sunset until dawn).”

Prescene 5 - A woman Vice Chancellor for USM

Professor Asma Ismail is currently the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of Universiti Sains Malaysia. She has very impressive credentials, both academically and through her breakthrough inventions. Her push for R-D-C-E mindset among her students and fellow lecturers spurred an increase in research and development activities in USM, with some having potential for commercialisation. (Note: R-D-C-E stands for Research, Development, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship).

Prof Asma would be a prime candidate for the post of Vice Chancellor for USM. All the best to her.

Prescene 4 - Bernas II and Puspakom II

Syed Mokhtar has at least two monopoly businesses: Bernas and Puspakom. Both will be under constant and rigorous attacks.

Khairy and his gang would probably be aiming for rice import APs. This will mean a break of exclusivity given to Bernas. Government may allow creation of Bernas II.

Puspakom has exclusivity in vehicle inspection. MCA would probably be eyeing for equity interest in Puspakom, given that most vehicle workshop owners are Chinese. The recent swoop by ACA on Puspakom may add pressure on Puspakom, especially from MCA-led Transport Ministry. Syed Mokhtar may either have to dispose some equity to the Chinese or be prepared for Puspakom II.

Prescene 3 - Aseambankers and Binafikir

When Wahid was appointed Maybank’s CEO, I told my friends to expect Binafikir to be injected into Aseambankers. That has happened.

Now that that Binafikir has been acquired by Aseambankers, with Danny and Feisal at the helm, expect more deal flows from Khazanah-controlled GLCs to be given to Aseambankers.

Currently, CIMB has near-monopoly of mandates from Khazanah. That may be a thing of the past.

Prescene 2 - Anwar and the defectors

Anwar will make full use of his second day as the Opposition Leader to rattle Barisan Nasional's confidence. He will make full use of the live TV telecast for Budget speech and make his presence felt.

Anwar will make a cliffhanger announcement on the impending defections of Barisan's MPs to Pakatan Rakyat. Thus, he will claim that by the time the Parliament is back in session after Ramadhan, Pakatan Rakyat will be in control of the federal government.

Expect some of the probable defection candidates to make statements either attacking the current government or in support of Pakatan. That includes Anifah Aman.

Anwar's aim is to ensure Barisan remains unsettled throughout the adjournment of Parliament.

Prescene 1 - Anwar's Permatang Pauh win

Anwar will win the Permatang Pauh by-elections. Any results to the contrary will be loudly claimed as rigged and will not be accepted by the US and the international community.

Anwar will take swipe of the Federal Government's machinery despite his win in the by-election, especially in case of reduced majority.

He will again reiterate his confidence of forming the new federal government, maintaining the 16 September 2008's Malaysia Day timing.