MACC death of Teoh

About 2 years ago the aide of an opposition politician died while under interrogation by MACC. The interrogation was to squeeze for information to implicate the politician on corruption. Teoh was not the accused by only a witness.

When inquest was made, the outcome was an odd one. Teoh, was considered did not commit suicide and either he was murdered. Either they did not know or did not want to commit thus making the royal commission to be form.

The announcement of the RCI was made in 22 July 2011. The decision of RCI was Teoh commit suicide.

This had caused upset to the family members, and some others who do not believe that he commit suicide.

Illicit Cigarettes

The headline for Tuesday 26 Apr is about the illicit cigarettes in Malaysia.  Malaysia has became the no 1 country in the world with the highest trading on illegal cigarettes.

The people smokes a staggering nine billions sticks of illegal cigarettes annually. The problems is not only limited to the lost of earning but it had many more surprises.

1. Shocking contents of the fake clones - Many unsuspecting smokers think that they had a bargain, a cigarettes minus the high cost, but what they do not know is the harm these clones can bring about.

2. The customs estimates billion $$ of tax money had gone missing.

Read More about it..

Malaysians smoke nine billion sticks of illegal cigarettesevery year

Apr 26, 2011 ... KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians smoke a staggering nine billion sticks of illicit cigarettes each year, which means that almost four out of 10 ...

thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/26/nation/20110426082729&sec=nation

Malaysians smoke nine billion sticks of illegal cigarettes every year

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians smoke a staggering nine billion sticks of illicit cigarettes each year, which means that almost four out of 10 cigarettes smoked here are illegal.

Such cigarettes, which contain high levels of tar and nicotine, have become a growing scourge in Malaysia so much so that the country has become the world's No. 1 country in the trading of illicit cigarettes.

It is also costing the Government up to RM2bil in lost revenue from taxes.

A recent report by Goldman Sachs, the global investment bank, revealed astonishing details on the extent of the illegal trade.

Full story in The Star today

Fighting the Ah Long

In Malaysia we are having hard time with Ah Long. Looking at the word Ah Long means big brother, a nice name for a dubious personality. Most may not even think twice about the problem the illegal money loan can do to the borrowers. I know a few friends who were involved in borrowing. The interest is a cut throat business.. 10% per month is considered a good deal. You borrow $100, you get $90, the $10 is a safety deposit, on the first of next month it becomes $99. You have to pay the agree amount say $10, so the balance is $89.

Imagine if you borrow $10,000. It becomes double in a year.

The paper on 12 Apr carried the news that Ah Long ring was busted. It is worrying when this type of news keep coming back to often. That can only mean that, the Ah Long problem is far from over.

Probably the problem with the Malaysia is in the mind set. They are too focused on busting crime rather than solving problem. The same way that they are handling the road accident problems by creating loads of rules and regulation.. " we need a new law to curb the problem of...".

... from the news, 4 men aged between 22 to 37 were caught in Penang. They were involved in the illegal money-lending syndicate. Seized were over 1000 cards to record transaction. That mean, the are running a thriving business with good number of customers, post dated checques valued over RM13.5 mil.

Read more..

Police bust northern region Ah Long syndicate

Apr 11, 2011 ... "This was the biggest seizure involving Ah Longactivities this year in a region comprising Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak," he added. ...

thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/11/nation/20110411205348&sec=nation