Focus Malaysia

Updates: My friends Toh Lye Huat and Charles Raj, the deputy EICs of Focus, can expect some major complaints on their inaugural issue. Their article RM1 b fuel card fraud (pg 14) is pitting Shell against the authorities, basically making all of them look like fools. More seriously, the piece on DRB-Hicom gets Audi blow (page 20), quoting sources, is seriously flawed, according to my sources. The article says distributor Euromobil may lose rights in Malaysia because Audi "is "unhappy with the performance of the DRB subsidiary for not delivering the targeted numbers ...". Well, let me tell you, a lot of people will be wagging their tongues. Many would be too happy to take Euromobil's place, if the story is true. But if the story is not true, the new mag's critics and rivals will be too happy to tsk tsk at the sloppy reporting ..

Holy cow! Tong's the Edge set to get a run for its money

Halim Saad the "White Knight", Syed Mokhtar viewed in a better light (and deservingly) and a lovely Poo with shapely acumen ... Focus Malaysia, the new weekly business magazine that has its guns aimed directly at The Edge, the hugely successful weekly owned by Anwar's pal Tong, is making a great first impression.

Chermaine Poo

The people behind Focus Malaysia have "deep pockets", I was told by a leading advertising industry man. How deep? "RM200 million deep". Deep indeed, if that is so.

Editor-in-chief Chong Cheng Hai, in his first editorial, says there is a shortfall in rational, authoritative and holistic articles out there.

"Our job is to provide clarity to readers long deprived of factual, non-partisan and apolitical news and views. We vow to do so without malice. And we promise to be free*, faithful. fearless and fair in our reporting". 

Comeback kid Halim Saad?

Syed Mokhdar: Usually painted by the other mag as bad or ugly

* The first edition of Focus Malaysia is "free" as in compimentary but I don't think Cheng Hai means MF will be given out free forever ..