BERDUYUN PELABUR ASING TINGGALKAN MALAYSIA

Pelabur dijangka memberi reaksi negatif terhadap berita bahawa RM1.78 bilion dana asing sudah meninggalkan negara ini pada tempoh 4/10/2000-1/11/2000. Lapuran itu dipetik dari NEAC. Ia tidak menyatakan dengan jelas sebab musabab itu berlaku sebelum berita MSCI menggunakan kaedah baru menilai saham. Pengurus dana asing kurang senang dengan cara syarikat tempatan mengendalikan perniagaan di negara kita. Ada banyak permainan dan campurtangan jembalang barua yang rapat dengan pemimpin tertinggi umno. Semalam Tajuddin melepaskan sahamnya dan Halim Saad bising bermain kata.... tapi indeks BSKL tidak naik-naik juga!

WANITA BARU(A) MENJADI TUMPUAN MAHATHIR?

Perlantikan Ainum mendapat perhatian media. Sebelum ini Dr Zetty mendapat liputan kerana menempa sejarah tanah-air. Jangan lupa Putri Umno baru(a) pula menyinarkan satu nama yang menggoda - Azalina. Nampaknya perlantikkan Hakim Dziauddin dibayangi oleh perlantikkan ramai wanita. Mungkin kita belum lupa Umi Hafilda... mengapa dia masih 'keseorangan'.... apakah orang umno sendiri pun tidak senang atau gian dengannya? Bukankah beliau 'pandai' memakai beberapa pakaian yang bergaya? Tidak 'cun' ke?

Nampak jelas Mahathir cuba berbuat sesuatu untuk menyinarkan sokongan yang kian malap terhadap kerajaan umno baru(a). Jangan lupa pengundi baru dan pelajar universiti kini agak ramai juga yang berketurunan hawa. Mahathir mahu memancing undi wanita, tetapi jangan memandang rendah pemikiran politik mereka.

Bukankah ramai juga wanita yang menyertai demo jalanan dan wanita itu jugalah yang akan melahirkan lebih ramai pejuang untuk membebaskan tanah-air kini dari dijajah oleh Umno dan BN? Lagipun kemenagan BA di Lunas juga adalah berpunca dari kegigihan beberapa gadis muda yang menabur bakti berjuang untuk menyahkan BN dengan suara dan tenaga.

Kita dengar apa kata Mahathir:

"Orang lelaki terlalu malas untuk belajar, mereka lebih sibuk berdemonstrasi, jadi kami tidak punya banyak pilihan calun".

Mengikut statistik, lebih ramai penuntut wanita melayu dari penuntut lelaki melayu.

Walaupun begitu sudah ada cerita yang tidak senang mengenai Ainum ini. Kita simpan dulu... mungkin selepas bulan puasa ini kita dedahkan siapa beliau yang sebenarnya. Untuk itu saya cadangkan para pembaca menemu ramah beberapa pekedai yang menjual rokok di sekitar bandaraya. Di situlah beberapa jawapan yang menarik pasti menanti dan ia tentunya akan mencuit hati.

Rencana Rujukan:

http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/news/singapore/dowjones/article.html? s=sgfinance/news/001220/singapore/dowjones/ MARKET_TALK-SG-KL__Analysts_Say_Bk_Restructuring_Slow.html

MARKET TALK-SG-KL:

Analysts Say Bank Restructuring Slow

0837 [Dow Jones] SINGAPORE: Analysts say attempts to restructure banking sector so far amount to lots of talk, little action. But looking ahead, they say pace should pick up as banks come under pressure to sell noncore assets and focus on basic business. Authorities hope selling these assets will force banks to consolidate, as face growing competition from foreign rivals; so far only banks that have moved to consolidate are government-linked institutions, with family-controlled banks reluctant. Overall, however, prospects for sector look bright: Jardine Fleming predicts net profit at local banks will increase by 15% in 2001.(RXM)

0835 [Dow Jones] MALAYSIA: Investors may react negatively to news of MYR1.78 billion outflow of foreign funds from Malaysia Oct. 4-Nov. 1. Figures released by NEAC late yesterday; didn't give reasons for outflow but analysts say many foreign funds exited market before recent MSCI announcement of shift to free-float. Also, foreign funds concerned about corporate governance at local companies.(NIM)

0833 [Dow Jones] SINGAPORE: STI likely to open lower on disappointment over FOMC not cutting U.S. interest rates despite warning of weakness in U.S. economy ahead. Falls likely across the board following Wall Street weakness and led by tech stocks after Nasdaq's 4.3% fall. Property stocks also likely under selling pressure after rising yesterday on hopes of U.S. rate cut. STI support based on 100-day moving average at 1920; index closed yesterday down 0.5% at 1960.86.(AXH)

0831 [Dow Jones] MALAYSIA: Edaran Otomobil Nasional (4774) shares unlikely to get big boost from news it's negotiating to sell 30% stake in stockbroking company Leong & Co to Multi-Purpose Holdings (3859) because already factored in after business weekly The Edge reported it as an unsourced story earlier in week. No details of pricing given, although news report mentioned price of 1.8X Leong's NTA. EON shares up 2.2% at MYR6.90 yesterday.(NIM)

0829 [Dow Jones] MALAYSIA: Investors likely neutral to news of Ekran (3085) confirming negotiations with government for two construction projects; no details provided. Ekran led consortium for multibillion-ringgit Bakun dam until government shelved project in 1997 due to financial crisis. Government has taken over project and plans to revive it on smaller scale. Investors waiting to learn if rumor Ekran may get slice of it is true. Shares closed 1.4% higher at 70.5 sen yesterday.(NIM)

0827 [Dow Jones] Nasdaq tumble weighs heavily on Nikkei tech shares, sending main index below 14000 in opening trade for first time intraday since March 3, 1999; "with fewer players before Christmas, sellers are outweighing buyers in the absence of buying incentives," says Japan brokerage equity general manager. Nikkei now down 1.9% at 13867.(KIX)

0825 [Dow Jones] SINGAPORE: Seatown (S75) likely to open flat due to low liquidity of its shares despite narrower FY00 loss of S$4.9 million from S$16.7 million on-year as company focused more on construction and less on can-making, which is operating under difficult conditions. Revenue rose to S$54.2 million from S$48.9 million year ago. Expects performance to improve in FY01 and forward statement that it will focus on growing its construction business may help sentiment. Shares closed flat at 9.5 Singapore cents.(SHG)

0823 [Dow Jones] MALAYSIA: YTL Corp (4677) and unit YTL Power International (6742) bought back shares for second consecutive day yesterday to support prices. Companies likely to keep doing this if market remains weak; they can afford to do so since YTL Corp is cash-rich. YTL Corp ended yesterday up 1.8% at MYR5.05; YTL Power rose 2.8% to MYR2.96.(NIM)

0821 [Dow Jones] MALAYSIA: Tanjong (2267) reports lower 3Q01 net profit of MYR45 million from MYR54 million on-year due to higher prize payouts in number-forecasting operations. 9-month profit up to MYR144.3 million from MYR128.4 previously. Barra Global Estimates' consensus forecast for FY01 is MYR210.6 million; Tanjong must post net profit of around MYR66 million in 4Q to meet forecast; given lower 3Q earnings, investors likely to question if it can be done. Shares closed 1.5% higher at MYR6.75 yesterday.(NIM)

0819 [Dow Jones] SINGAPORE: Creative Technology (C76) likely to open lower on news it expects 2Q revenue at US$410 million-US$420 million, or 5%-7% below original guidance. Says revision primarily caused by lower-than-forecasted demand from some of PC maker customers and PC system integrators. Shares closed yesterday down 4.8% at S$19.70.(SHG)

0817 [Dow Jones] MALAYSIA: Investors likely neutral to Malaysian Resources Corp's (1651) announcement late yesterday it doesn't intend to sell 22.7% stake in Rashid Hussain (1309) at present; but shares likely to react positively to company's statement it's "continually reviewing its investments in order to enhance shareholder value and further strengthen its financial position." Given company's well-publicized opposition to RHB Group's restructuring, investors will be closely watching for further developments. Malaysian Resources shares fell 2.5% to MYR1.55 yesterday.(NIM)

0815 [Dow Jones] SINGAPORE: Poh Lian Holdings (P30) has requested share trading suspension today, pending announcement; no indication what announcement might be. Shares closed yesterday down 3.5% at 55 Singapore cents.(SHG)

0813 [Dow Jones] Economists expect little relief for U.S. stocks from Fed's move to easing bias, with disappointment it didn't cut rates despite talking about slowdown in sales and earnings. "Expect more jumping around," says Edward D. Jones chief market strategist Alan Skrainka. "A lot of people will still talk about a Santa Claus rally" but prospects even more remote given Fed stance. Some floor traders add even though Fed could cut rates in January, doesn't change fact many companies issuing earnings warnings and that isn't going to change soon.(RXM)

0811 [Dow Jones] Many economists now think Fed will cut rates when it meets late January; it kept rates unchanged overnight and noted "some inflation risks persist," but added risks to economy "are weighted mainly toward conditions that may generate economic weakness in the foreseeable future." Of 12 firms that last Friday predicted in Dow Jones/CNBC survey Fed would stand pat next month, 9 now expect it to cut rates by quarter point. "With this aggressive move, we now are looking for the Fed to cut rates in January, most likely by 25 basis points," says Lehman Bros economist Drew Matus.(RXM)

http://www.lycos-asia.com/my/asia/malaysia/001219043700.gzekoxr2.html

Malaysia appoints first woman attorney-general http://www.lycos-asia.com/my/asia/malaysia/001219043700.gzekoxr2.html

Malaysia appoints first woman attorney-general

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (AFP) - 12:37 - Malaysia announced Tuesday it has appointed its first woman attorney-general.

Ainum Mohamed Saaid will take over on January 1 from Mohtar Abdullah, who oversaw the controversial prosecutions of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Ainum is currently deputy chief executive of the Securities Commission, the stock market watchdog. She has been appointed for a two-year term, the prime minister's office said in a statement quoted by Bernama news agency.

The attorney-general serves as public prosecutor and government legal adviser.

Ainum, 54, has a law degree from the University of Singapore and a higher legal degree from a Belgian university. She worked for 26 years in the judicial and legal service before taking retirement from government service in 1996.

Mohtar's term was due to end last year but was twice extended. He oversaw the prosecution of Anwar in separate trials for abuse of power and s###my.

Anwar is serving a total of 15 years after being convicted of both charges but says he was framed in a conspiracy masterminded by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- an accusation which the government denies.

International legal organisations, human rights groups and the US State Department criticised the conduct of both trials. The government rejects the criticisms.

Muslim-majority Malaysia also has a woman solicitor-general and central bank governor, as well as two female cabinet ministers.

"Nowadays the government is being taken over by women," Mahathir was quoted by Tuesday's New Straits Times as saying.

"The men are too lazy to learn, they are too busy demonstrating, so we don't have enough candidates."

Among ethnic Malays, female students outnumber men in universities.

Mahathir was quoted as saying he was satisfied with Mohtar's performance and did not discount the possibility of him being given other posts.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (AFP) - 12:37 - Malaysia announced Tuesday it has appointed its first woman attorney-general.

Ainum Mohamed Saaid will take over on January 1 from Mohtar Abdullah, who oversaw the controversial prosecutions of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Ainum is currently deputy chief executive of the Securities Commission, the stock market watchdog. She has been appointed for a two-year term, the prime minister's office said in a statement quoted by Bernama news agency.

The attorney-general serves as public prosecutor and government legal adviser.

Ainum, 54, has a law degree from the University of Singapore and a higher legal degree from a Belgian university. She worked for 26 years in the judicial and legal service before taking retirement from government service in 1996.

Mohtar's term was due to end last year but was twice extended. He oversaw the prosecution of Anwar in separate trials for abuse of power and s###my.

Anwar is serving a total of 15 years after being convicted of both charges but says he was framed in a conspiracy masterminded by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- an accusation which the government denies.

International legal organisations, human rights groups and the US State Department criticised the conduct of both trials. The government rejects the criticisms.

Muslim-majority Malaysia also has a woman solicitor-general and central bank governor, as well as two female cabinet ministers.

"Nowadays the government is being taken over by women," Mahathir was quoted by Tuesday's New Straits Times as saying.

"The men are too lazy to learn, they are too busy demonstrating, so we don't have enough candidates."

Among ethnic Malays, female students outnumber men in universities.

Mahathir was quoted as saying he was satisfied with Mohtar's performance and did not discount the possibility of him being given other posts.