Socio-political view on the Felda Global IPO

Khor Yu Leng is an independent analyst and the writer of Khor Reports, specialising in agribusiness in Southeast Asia and frontier markets for global corporate clients. She was trained as a political-economist at Oxford University and the London School of Economics. Recent client reports include updates on large-scale oil palm projects in West and Central Africa and on Myanmar’s mineral processing and port facilities. Yu Leng is also working on a book project on the history of agriculture frontier developments in Southeast Asia.

Q: With the IPO, how do you think this will benefit the settlers? What are the risks of the IPO?

Khor Reports answer: The market considers the Felda Global listing to be a Malaysia general election play which promises gains to those who hold IPO shares. It is touted as the second largest listing this year after Facebook. Many view the Felda Global IPO as being “designed to succeed.” Malaysian institutional investor support (dominated by state-controlled pension and investment funds) is expected to be strong. There is market chatter that pins hopes on the traded price reaching the RM5.50-6.00 per share range. Thus, there could be potential handsome gains for those subscribing for the shares, priced at RM4.65 each; but the medium to longer term market views are more cloudy.

Star: One to one fight ideal, but not necessary

KOTA KINABALU: The State Reform Party (Star) shares the sentiments of the Democratic Action Party (Dap) that the possibility of one-to-one fights in Sabah to take on the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) at the forthcoming 13th General Election is non-existent.

It also agrees with Dap that the Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) was out of synch with local politics but thinks “it would be kinder not to comment further on an irrelevant party”.

However, Star begs to differ with the Peninsular Malaysia-based national opposition party on why “it’s not possible to strike a deal with the self-glorified and unrealistic Star”.

Who Is Fickle-Minded ? Psm Slams Human Resource Minister

Once again it is clear that the Malaysian cabinet lacks a minister to adequately represent the interests of workers, and that the Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Subramaniam and his ministry are biased in favour of employers.

Dr Subramaniam’s statement yesterday echoing the claim of employers that a job-hopping young Malaysian workforce was what drove employers to hire foreign labour is disappointing. He took it upon himself to chide these young workers calling them fickle-minded for ‘liking’ to jump from one company to another and advised that they should be educated on the consequences.

Civil Suit against Ambiga and several members of the BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee

This evening (23. May 2012), a civil suit by the government has been served on Dato’ Ambiga, including eight more members of the BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee an a former committee member. The government claims RM 122,000 for demages during Duduk Bantah.
See the documents here:
Saman
Writ_Saman_&_Peryataan_Tuntutan

Borneo-based and led national 3rd Force in Parliament

Open Letter to Hindraf Makkal Sakthi

Dear Waytha and Uthaya,

Johore may be set for interesting times as it faces an uncertain future as an Umno bastion.

Muhiyiddin is reportedly trying to do a number on Najib here by planning to get rid of Ghani in a bid to prepare for the post-13th General Election period. He must think that Johore's and Mahathir's support alone are sufficient to help him mount a successful challenge against Najib for the Umno presidency.

The Sultan should continue to remain above politics and not agree to bring in, as rumoured, Khalid Nordin.The MB should be free of palace control.

The national Opposition alliance meanwhile is spreading any number of rumours on its political foes.

Today In History

Women leaders outraged

Kota Kinabalu (24 May, 2004): Several Sabah women leaders on Sunday demanded a public apology from Kota Kinabalu Umno pro tem head, Haji Roselan Johar Mohamed, and asked him to retract his “outrageous” remarks about rape victims which they feel are an insult to women’s intelligence.

While closing the “Legal Literacy Seminar” for Women on Saturday, Roselan had remarked, among others, that “If you cannot fight rape, better lay down and enjoy it.”

He also proposed that when a victim lodges a police report on rape, the doctor must carry out a psychological examination on the victim as to what extent she enjoyed it.

The seminar, held at Wisma SESB here, was jointly organised by the Kota Kinabalu Parliamentary Constituency-level Women, Family and Community Development Council and the Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Traders Association.

Illegal logging in Crocker Range in Ulu Kimanis?

Updated with more photos

By Dr. Nicholas Guntobon

PAPAR : What i am about to reveal is just a tip of an iceberg but enough to raise doubt on the seriousness of the ruling party in managing state affairs vis-a-vis illegal loggings, water catchments, environment, poverty eradication programme and even life of our citizens.

In Kampung Kinolosodon, Papar, in the Ulu Kimanis area on the Crocker Range is a coming up Mini Estet Sejahtera (MESEJ) project by the government. But this project under the Kimanis which is represented by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, many things were not right.

I used to ply this Kimanis - Keningau road and everytime i passed Kinosolodon, i am curious as more and more "logging tracks" could be seen from a far on the once dense forests of Crocker Range in Ulu Kimanis in that part in upper Kinosolodon.

Dr Jeffrey invites other opposition parties to UBA meeting May 28

KOTA KINABALU : The United Borneo Alliance (UBA) meeting today at 11am in TNGC Beverly Hills had been postponed to May 28 at a same time and venue.

No reason was given for the postponement. UBA Chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has invited all opposition parties in Sabah to the meeting.

Sharing by our honorary correspondent Joe Fernandez

Normal and Target Blood Glucose Ranges

 

Normal Blood Glucose Levels in People Who Do Not Have Diabetes

 

Upon waking-fasting                                                           70 to 99 mg/dL
After meals                                                                           70 to 140 mg/dL

 

Target Blood Glucose Levels in People Who Have Diabetes

 

Before meals                                                                         70 to 130 mg/dL
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal below                       180 mg/dL

 

 

Source: American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2008. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:S12-S54.

Govt urged to cancel Lincoln College’s licence

PETALING JAYA: A PKR leader today sought the withdrawal of a licence given to Lincoln University College (LUC) to run an offshore medical programme in the Ukraine.

Malacca PKR vice chairman G Rajendran, referring to a report that LUC was one of four private colleges that were fined last year for breaching a moratorium on nursing courses, said it was “strange” that the government had ignored this bad record when approving the licence last Nov 29.

However, it is not clear whether the breach was discovered before or after Nov 29.

The disclosure of the offence came last March 26 from Deputy Higher Education Minister Hou Kok Chung, who was replying to a question in Parliament. The moratorium, to address the problem of oversupply of nurses, has been in place since July 2010.