Perhaps, some thoughts on this...

Four richest Americans are Israel-lovers or Jewish

"Two Israel-lovers and two Jews are the richest people in America, according to Forbes magazine. The top spot is traditionally occupied by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 50, whose personal wealth is estimated at more than USD 53 billion.

Gates visited Israel about a year ago and lavished many words of love and praise on the country. The total Microsoft investment in Israel thus far is estimated at more than one billion dollars."

Read full story here:

Maybe just out of curiosity we may want to read the above in the context of this:

Government approaches Microsoft for halal food hub venture

PUTRAJAYA (The Star, 23 May, 2007): The Government has approached Microsoft Corporation to help build up the information technology infrastructure to support Malaysia’s bid to be a halal food hub.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis said ICT applied research and development organisation Mimos Bhd would now start discussing with Microsoft the details of the project.

“We told Microsoft that the Malaysian Government, especially the special Cabinet committee on high impact industries chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, is willing to consider various incentives should it decide to jointly develop our country as the halal food hub.


Blogger's Comment : The extract above and its pairing with a take from today's Star (may 23, 2007) pertaining to JJ's request from Microsoft to consider helping Malaysia to setup the ICT part of the halal food hub is merely a teaser. It is no big deal that an Israeli website paid tribute to Bill Gates in such a manner as, elsewhere, it has been reported by Microsft that the company was not interested in the politics or protracted state of war, in which the country is in.

However, back home in Malaysia, we just would like to remind JJ that embarking on developing an ICT platform for the envisioned halal hub is quite a no-brainer. There are many IT companies (even small ones) that can come up with good job at that. It is just like sometime back when it was reported that JJ went abroad to scout for companies to help build and place the tsunami/earthquake warning mechanism in Malaysian waters. That, too, can be done by Malaysians.