The “Rohingya” are Bangladeshi Muslims who have migrated into Burma. They are indistinguishable from Bangladeshi Muslims in Dhaka or Chittagong. “Rohingya” practice the same Hanafi School of Sunni Islam as their colleagues in Dhaka. Allelic markers on their mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) will show the exact allelic patterns as any Bangladeshi Muslim, for the obvious reason that “Rohingya” originate from Bangladesh, and have no indigenous origins in Burma, anymore than my British PhD Supervisor, born in Rangoon, resident in Canada, and with a father was with the British Rifles in British India.
This is not a tough question for Jokowi. Not in the slightest. Of course he would answer he can. Food security jargon is a nice way of avoiding the discussion of class dynamics in Indonesia. Technocrats don’t even like the word class. Why ween a whole class of people onto subsidization and keep them in a cycle of demanding subdidization even after reaching said “security”? What study found only 30 percent of the poor received the three social assistance programs? Sources in text are helpful. Also, in practice, rice imports are not restricted at all. Finding a solution in Indonesian law is like finding mud in a river.
Please read “The Colour of Inequality” by Muhammad Abdul Khalid, which is being relaunched this week and should be in MPH bookstores by the end of the week, particularly the section on labour market impediments in Chapter 4 (pg 140 in the 1st edition).
1. BNM does not limit the number of credit cards one can have, but any number above two is subject to a levy. In some cases, banks have absorbed this cost, so you might not feel it.
2. Youth unemployment is a global phenomena, not a uniquely Malaysian one. I see no evidence that Malaysia’s situation is any better or worse than anybody else.
3. Oil and gas related revenue as a percentage of total revenue is given in the article. Government policy is to fund operating expenditure entirely out of revenue; only capital expenditure is funded by borrowing. This rule has been adhered to in all but three years since Independence. The three exceptions were 1972, 1986, and 1987.
4. IPPs do not receive subsidies on oil and gas inputs; these are passed through straight to TNB. IPPs do however receive unfair protection on profit margins.
The main fuel subsidy element to corporations is via diesel and gas subsidies, but these constitute just over 50% of total fuel subsidies, not the “bulk” (the actual breakdown is about 45% petrol, 45% diesel, 10% gas). As such, changes in fuel pricing affects both households and corporations simultaneously. It should be noted that gas prices for corporations were raised just this week.
The public debt figure does not include household borrowing for houses, cars or anything else. Total debt (govt + households + corporations but not including bank debt) is above 200% of GDP.
It depends on who you ask, but Malaysia’s trade in oil is at best slightly positive, at worse already in deficit. Don’t have to wait eight years, it’s already here.
And I believe I did mention off balance sheet borrowing.
Nathan
” Posted October 28, 2014 at 3:08 PM
Thanks, Nick, for this poignant photo essay and reminder that the Red Shirts are very much alive in spirit and only waiting for the present group of self-appointed thugs ruling Thailand to self-destruct.”
The thug is in Dubai Nathan, present Government or similar form can be expected for many years
1. “measures such as limiting two credit cards per person”
I Have four (4) credit cards, and most of the people I hang around with have multiple cards….
2. “current generation is more educated”
tens of thousands unemployed (or
unemployable) graduates and a whole lot
more under employed in Govt and GLCs
service. From your response, it seems you
are from the “economics: team of the
Govt, so you know the actual numbers
3. Malaysian govt revenue to GDP- petroleum
income its 24%
What, percentage of the Govt
expenditure is funded by the Petroleum
funds? How would the Govt make up the
difference? IT is a double whammy, as
money would have to be spent on oil
imports
4. The petroleum subsidy will be almost
totally abolished by 2015
Fallacy, as the bulk of subsidies are
going to IPPs and selected industries.
The abolishing is only spelled out for
fuel at pumps, and the system is not
well spelled out.
(as an aside, the company rumored to be
awarded the contract to “provide” the
system for managing the tiered subsidy
is called Fuelsub. Sdn. Bhd. How “crony”
blatant can you get.. Fuelsub Sdn. Bhd. DUH!
There has often been misunderstood that Ho attended to the Versailles conference. He didn’t. He just sent or delivered the request, most probably from a Vietnamese exile group in Paris, to the conference participants.
Nice review.
The photograf’ text “Ho Chi Minh at Versailles, 1919” is not correct.
The photograf on top showing an Asian man standing and other European men sitting was most probably taken in 1920, at the conference of the French communist party. Nguyen Ai Quoc supported Lenin’s Comintern thesis, and he belonged to the 70% majority at the conference to found the French communist party.
Source: Duiker W.J. Ho Chi Minh. A life. Hyperion 2000.
neptunian, Malaysian budget reporting adhers to international standard, flornwhatever faults it has the Malaysian treasury do fudge their numbers like China.
Private debts are included in the Public Debt Figure which 500 billion RM plus which is 50% of Malaysian almost Rm1 trillion GDP, this include debts by Malaysians who buy cars and houses. The Central Bank has raised interest rates to control private dents and curb crdit cards and loans through a plethora of measures such as limiting two credit cards per person and using gross income(total income minus current debts) to secure loans and many other. Malaysianhas a sophisticated banking sector and loans are easily accessible, which naturally lead to public debts,
Even if the petroleum income is absent, the total Malaysian govt revenue to GDP ratio is considred normal by ASEAN and global standards at 20%, include the petroleum income its 24%. Petroleum dividents are capped at RM30 billion per annum as the govt wants to wean off this unsustainabke dependence and the GST in 2015 will help sustain and expand the govt tax base.
The petroleum subsidy will be almost totatlly abolished by 2015, hence Malaysia is embracing the reality that its petroleum resources are finite earlier than we thought. A risky and bold move by Najib regardless of his faults.
Malaysian advantage is its young population, mean age is 26-28 years old and the current generation is more educated. What need to be done is to improve its universities, and encourage vocational educations to supply graduates that match industry needs like the Germna mol and of course boost up RnD funds for lcoal universities. The country also need to move up the value chainin industries that it is good at like its OnG companies that has produced world class companies like Petrnas and SapuraKenaca, Palm Oil industry and its semicnductor sector which is well developed.
Thanks for the review. Particularly enjoyed reading about Sri Lankans trying to change class positions via their names. Though once I was Grasshopper, and then changed to other names occasionally – it was always usually to make snide remarks without being hit back. This has resulted in bad karma. Subsequently, I could never move up in class, only down in class. This is reflected in my new name – Brown Hopper. Though Grasshoppers are relatively peaceful (and disposed to Kung Fu), a Brown Hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) plague fast creates havoc for peasants who just want a simple, sufficient life. I am just one Brown Hopper; not an interesting insect alone – but the anonymous posters here are all Brown Hoppers deep down too. We will devour all, including, finally the essence of karma itself! You have been warned.
Police in tourist resorts have to pay large upfront fees and monthly retainers. So it stands to reason they will work with established local mafia to cover their fixed costs and maximise earnings, rather than confront them and reduce the size of the pie for everyone. so effectively you have parallel uniformed and plain clothed mafias.
What is curious though is that the junta sent in trusted police from outside to uproot the infamous Patong mafia. Unfortunately this seems only noteworthy as an exception to the rule of seizing control in order to maintain the status quo. I wonder what happened there. Did the Patong clan fail to send their quota of PDRC guards to Bkk or did they just bounce a check?
Sadly the Patong incident proves how easy at this time it would be for the military to mess with the various mafias around the country along with their police lackeys, if only they wanted to.
Thanks a lot. 🙂
Events such as this, without the obvious drama of a conflict situation, are very telling, and unfortunately are mostly very under reported. I wish, for example, somebody would go and do an essay on Suthep’s ongoing pilgrimage, for example.
By the way, i have sent you a message via facebook a few days ago, which i think you haven’t received yet.
The official fiscal deficit is a fallacy – basically bovine excrement.
That number does not include all the money that Govt agencies and enterprises are borrowing to finance, what is essentially Govt Capital expenditures!
Govt exposure to “private” debts also runs into billions (100+ on last count)
However, Malaysia fiscal challenge will really come to a head in about 8 years time, when Malaysia truly becomes a “net importer” of petroleum. The shit will really hit the ceiling fan then… not before.
Nick: I just had a chance to read and view this photo-essay. I really do appreciate this work. The emotion shown and the story of the conflict over the funeral – and the junta’s fear – was revealing indeed. Thanks.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Myanmar’s Muslim mosaic and the politics of belonging
The “Rohingya” are Bangladeshi Muslims who have migrated into Burma. They are indistinguishable from Bangladeshi Muslims in Dhaka or Chittagong. “Rohingya” practice the same Hanafi School of Sunni Islam as their colleagues in Dhaka. Allelic markers on their mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) will show the exact allelic patterns as any Bangladeshi Muslim, for the obvious reason that “Rohingya” originate from Bangladesh, and have no indigenous origins in Burma, anymore than my British PhD Supervisor, born in Rangoon, resident in Canada, and with a father was with the British Rifles in British India.
Myanmar’s Muslim mosaic and the politics of belonging
Brilliant Melissa!
Will Myanmar’s reforms continue after 2015?
Thank you for these projections. +1 for Trevor Wilson.
A tough question for President Jokowi
This is not a tough question for Jokowi. Not in the slightest. Of course he would answer he can. Food security jargon is a nice way of avoiding the discussion of class dynamics in Indonesia. Technocrats don’t even like the word class. Why ween a whole class of people onto subsidization and keep them in a cycle of demanding subdidization even after reaching said “security”? What study found only 30 percent of the poor received the three social assistance programs? Sources in text are helpful. Also, in practice, rice imports are not restricted at all. Finding a solution in Indonesian law is like finding mud in a river.
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
Ugh.. I am not the one who said – The Govt limit credit cards to two! I was countering the points raised!
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
@Jim #2
Please read “The Colour of Inequality” by Muhammad Abdul Khalid, which is being relaunched this week and should be in MPH bookstores by the end of the week, particularly the section on labour market impediments in Chapter 4 (pg 140 in the 1st edition).
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
@Neptunian
1. BNM does not limit the number of credit cards one can have, but any number above two is subject to a levy. In some cases, banks have absorbed this cost, so you might not feel it.
2. Youth unemployment is a global phenomena, not a uniquely Malaysian one. I see no evidence that Malaysia’s situation is any better or worse than anybody else.
3. Oil and gas related revenue as a percentage of total revenue is given in the article. Government policy is to fund operating expenditure entirely out of revenue; only capital expenditure is funded by borrowing. This rule has been adhered to in all but three years since Independence. The three exceptions were 1972, 1986, and 1987.
4. IPPs do not receive subsidies on oil and gas inputs; these are passed through straight to TNB. IPPs do however receive unfair protection on profit margins.
The main fuel subsidy element to corporations is via diesel and gas subsidies, but these constitute just over 50% of total fuel subsidies, not the “bulk” (the actual breakdown is about 45% petrol, 45% diesel, 10% gas). As such, changes in fuel pricing affects both households and corporations simultaneously. It should be noted that gas prices for corporations were raised just this week.
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
@SgWay
The public debt figure does not include household borrowing for houses, cars or anything else. Total debt (govt + households + corporations but not including bank debt) is above 200% of GDP.
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
@Neptunian
It depends on who you ask, but Malaysia’s trade in oil is at best slightly positive, at worse already in deficit. Don’t have to wait eight years, it’s already here.
And I believe I did mention off balance sheet borrowing.
The funeral of Dr Apiwan Wiriyachai
Nathan
” Posted October 28, 2014 at 3:08 PM
Thanks, Nick, for this poignant photo essay and reminder that the Red Shirts are very much alive in spirit and only waiting for the present group of self-appointed thugs ruling Thailand to self-destruct.”
The thug is in Dubai Nathan, present Government or similar form can be expected for many years
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
1. “measures such as limiting two credit cards per person”
I Have four (4) credit cards, and most of the people I hang around with have multiple cards….
2. “current generation is more educated”
tens of thousands unemployed (or
unemployable) graduates and a whole lot
more under employed in Govt and GLCs
service. From your response, it seems you
are from the “economics: team of the
Govt, so you know the actual numbers
3. Malaysian govt revenue to GDP- petroleum
income its 24%
What, percentage of the Govt
expenditure is funded by the Petroleum
funds? How would the Govt make up the
difference? IT is a double whammy, as
money would have to be spent on oil
imports
4. The petroleum subsidy will be almost
totally abolished by 2015
Fallacy, as the bulk of subsidies are
going to IPPs and selected industries.
The abolishing is only spelled out for
fuel at pumps, and the system is not
well spelled out.
(as an aside, the company rumored to be
awarded the contract to “provide” the
system for managing the tiered subsidy
is called Fuelsub. Sdn. Bhd. How “crony”
blatant can you get.. Fuelsub Sdn. Bhd. DUH!
Ho Chi Minh’s surprise letter
There has often been misunderstood that Ho attended to the Versailles conference. He didn’t. He just sent or delivered the request, most probably from a Vietnamese exile group in Paris, to the conference participants.
Ho Chi Minh’s surprise letter
Nice review.
The photograf’ text “Ho Chi Minh at Versailles, 1919” is not correct.
The photograf on top showing an Asian man standing and other European men sitting was most probably taken in 1920, at the conference of the French communist party. Nguyen Ai Quoc supported Lenin’s Comintern thesis, and he belonged to the 70% majority at the conference to found the French communist party.
Source: Duiker W.J. Ho Chi Minh. A life. Hyperion 2000.
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
neptunian, Malaysian budget reporting adhers to international standard, flornwhatever faults it has the Malaysian treasury do fudge their numbers like China.
Private debts are included in the Public Debt Figure which 500 billion RM plus which is 50% of Malaysian almost Rm1 trillion GDP, this include debts by Malaysians who buy cars and houses. The Central Bank has raised interest rates to control private dents and curb crdit cards and loans through a plethora of measures such as limiting two credit cards per person and using gross income(total income minus current debts) to secure loans and many other. Malaysianhas a sophisticated banking sector and loans are easily accessible, which naturally lead to public debts,
Even if the petroleum income is absent, the total Malaysian govt revenue to GDP ratio is considred normal by ASEAN and global standards at 20%, include the petroleum income its 24%. Petroleum dividents are capped at RM30 billion per annum as the govt wants to wean off this unsustainabke dependence and the GST in 2015 will help sustain and expand the govt tax base.
The petroleum subsidy will be almost totatlly abolished by 2015, hence Malaysia is embracing the reality that its petroleum resources are finite earlier than we thought. A risky and bold move by Najib regardless of his faults.
Malaysian advantage is its young population, mean age is 26-28 years old and the current generation is more educated. What need to be done is to improve its universities, and encourage vocational educations to supply graduates that match industry needs like the Germna mol and of course boost up RnD funds for lcoal universities. The country also need to move up the value chainin industries that it is good at like its OnG companies that has produced world class companies like Petrnas and SapuraKenaca, Palm Oil industry and its semicnductor sector which is well developed.
Review of Personal Names in Asia
Thanks for the review. Particularly enjoyed reading about Sri Lankans trying to change class positions via their names. Though once I was Grasshopper, and then changed to other names occasionally – it was always usually to make snide remarks without being hit back. This has resulted in bad karma. Subsequently, I could never move up in class, only down in class. This is reflected in my new name – Brown Hopper. Though Grasshoppers are relatively peaceful (and disposed to Kung Fu), a Brown Hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) plague fast creates havoc for peasants who just want a simple, sufficient life. I am just one Brown Hopper; not an interesting insect alone – but the anonymous posters here are all Brown Hoppers deep down too. We will devour all, including, finally the essence of karma itself! You have been warned.
Thai Police: Intent to reform?
Police in tourist resorts have to pay large upfront fees and monthly retainers. So it stands to reason they will work with established local mafia to cover their fixed costs and maximise earnings, rather than confront them and reduce the size of the pie for everyone. so effectively you have parallel uniformed and plain clothed mafias.
What is curious though is that the junta sent in trusted police from outside to uproot the infamous Patong mafia. Unfortunately this seems only noteworthy as an exception to the rule of seizing control in order to maintain the status quo. I wonder what happened there. Did the Patong clan fail to send their quota of PDRC guards to Bkk or did they just bounce a check?
Sadly the Patong incident proves how easy at this time it would be for the military to mess with the various mafias around the country along with their police lackeys, if only they wanted to.
The funeral of Dr Apiwan Wiriyachai
Thanks a lot. 🙂
Events such as this, without the obvious drama of a conflict situation, are very telling, and unfortunately are mostly very under reported. I wish, for example, somebody would go and do an essay on Suthep’s ongoing pilgrimage, for example.
By the way, i have sent you a message via facebook a few days ago, which i think you haven’t received yet.
Malaysia’s long term fiscal challenges
The official fiscal deficit is a fallacy – basically bovine excrement.
That number does not include all the money that Govt agencies and enterprises are borrowing to finance, what is essentially Govt Capital expenditures!
Govt exposure to “private” debts also runs into billions (100+ on last count)
However, Malaysia fiscal challenge will really come to a head in about 8 years time, when Malaysia truly becomes a “net importer” of petroleum. The shit will really hit the ceiling fan then… not before.
Jokowi fails his first test
[…] Indonesian human rights activists, academics and solidarity groups have all expressed concern about Jokowi’s new Defence Minister, […]
The funeral of Dr Apiwan Wiriyachai
Nick: I just had a chance to read and view this photo-essay. I really do appreciate this work. The emotion shown and the story of the conflict over the funeral – and the junta’s fear – was revealing indeed. Thanks.