Ganesh Sahathevan

Australians have already it seems become the poor white trash of Asia, just as Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore predicted in the 80s’. This at least seems to be the opinion of the ASX ‘s leadership, led by its chairman David Gonski who, if believed, must lead Australians to the conclusion that they lack what it takes to build wealth. In promoting the SGX Ltd takeover of ASX Ltd, Gonski and his team at the ASX argued that unless ASX got taken over by SGX and led by its management, Australia would become an investment backwater. Meanwhile , ASX management has not seem to have done anything to integrate the Australian stock exchange into Asia’s capital markets. Apart from the cursory roadshows which tell market participants what they already know, little appears to have been done to improve ties with the very Asians ASX wants to join. For example, while much has been said about the need to integrate into Asian trading platforms, ASX appears not to have been interested in the ASEAN E...

Attention grabbing: Yeoh wearing Mandalay’s RM6.8mil imperial green jadeite necklace with diamonds at the Cannes Film Festival International superstar Michelle Yeoh hopes her upcoming film The Lady, based on the life of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, will be nominated for several Academy Awards next year. "If the media continues to give the film good publicity and reviews, it could become a reality," Yeoh told reporters during a press conference on the International Ipoh Run 2011 in Malaysia. She is the ambassador for the event. The Malaysia-born Yeoh, who was in award-winning films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of the Geisha, said she also hoped to be nominated for Best Actress for her role in the movie. She said the shooting for The Lady wrapped up early this year, adding that the film was a great honour and tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who celebrated her 66th birthday on Sunday. "I would like to wish her good health and stabili...

According to BCorp on 11 June 2010: We note that there had been many conflicting discussions about the actual status of the approval given to Ascot to operate sports betting in the country. ..... ......... it is evident from the above statements that Ascot has the approval from the Minister of Finance to conduct a sports betting operations and that the formal licence was first issued in 1987 is pending re-issuance. We hope this clarifies the matter (See full statement below) So accroding to BCorp-we have all got confused-the license has only been approved but not re-issued.What then to make of the statements made by none other than the BCorp Executive Chairman himself,reported in his and BCorp's very own paper THE SUN: a) "One particular person, who is a wanted fugitive, claimed that some government officials and political parties have benefited from the licence being re-issued to Ascot Sport Sdn Bhd," he said.... Tan said the system for bets collection will not be ready...

by Ganesh Sahathevan Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi  This story was first published on March 23 2010 and concerned Accenture Plc's consolidated earnings for all periods in which it operated its business in Malaysia. It is now updated with additional information on Shahrol Halmi, former CEO of 1MDB, and prior to that a senior executive at Accenture's Malaysian office. In March 2013 this writer reported: Accenture Plc, a major supplier of accounting and transaction services to the financial services industry worldwide has misstated its interest in its businesses in Malaysia. Consequently Accenture’s reported earnings may well have been overstated. Accenture has consolidated the earnings of the Malaysian incorporated Accenture Sdn Bhd claiming it to be a wholly-owned subsidiary. However the records of the Malaysian Government's Companies Commission reveal that Accenture Malaysia is owned b...

As reported in THE AUSTRALIAN: ABC managing director Mark Scott last night proposed a dramatic expansion of his organisation's services into Africa, Latin America and Asia, saying it would lift Australia's profile. "We have an important role to play and we have to use all the tools at our disposal to continue to do so," Mr Scott said in a speech in Sydney. "One of these tools is soft diplomacy -- using the media to put our nation's culture, views and policies on show." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/pm-propaganda-not-abc-role-nick-minchin/story-e6frgczf-1225794871714 But what of this inconvenient truth: By mid-1991, after Senator Evans had acknowledged the insensitive actions of a "number of different groups in Australia - some in the media, some in Parliament, and some in pressure groups in the wider community," Mahathir agreed that the Australian Government should not necessarily be blamed for the failings of the media. According to Mahathir...

According to THE EDGE: Popular Internet news website Malaysiakini.com is in talks on a tie-up with payment systems operator MOL AccessPortal Bhd, a company under the stable of Tan Sri Dat Seri (x9) Vincent Tan Chee Yioun. Sources said the discussions did not discount the possibility of an exchange of equity and both parties were currently negotiating a deal that would be of mutual benefit. (http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/152223-mol-malaysiakini-in-talks.html) Meanwhile, Malaysiakini continues to solicit donations (http://www.manage4me.com/donation/mkini/).It is unclear how donors will benefit from a share swap or any other deal involving the shareholders. Malaysiakini.com is owned and operated by Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, a private limited company incorporated in July 1999. Mkini is a digital media company, focusing on Internet and other interactive media technology and information services. The Directors of the company are the founders of Malaysiakini.com Steven Gan and Prem...

Readers can decide for themselves from the reports below if it is wrong to conclude that the Malaysian taxpayer has and will for time to come, pay for Tony Fernandes's F1 Team. Readers should note that the team's "Sepang HQ" is still in its "planning stages", a euphemism , readers will agree , for money that is unlikely (and God willing will never have) to be spent. Malaysian taxpayers and others who might dispute the fact that it is Tony Fernandes's team are simply referred to this entry on the official Formula One website and the publicity that it has generated: Company Name: 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd Team Name: Lotus F1 Team Country: Malaysia Team Principal: Tony Fernandes http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9934.html According to Malaysian PM Najib: This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the SIC, manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit-stop team consists of Malaysians,” he said. A...