It Is A Narrow Minded Season

Australian Muslim leader under fire over remarks on women - Todayonline, 26th Oct 2006

• Australia's most senior Islamic cleric has sparked uproar after describing scantily-clad women as "uncovered meat" inviting sexual attack.
• The government's sex discrimination commissioner called for the cleric, Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali, to be sacked and deported while several ministers expressed outrage over the remarks.
• Al-Hilali made the remarks in a Ramadan sermon to 500 worshippers last month in which he criticised women who "sway suggestively", wear make-up and no hijab or Islamic headscarf, The Australian newspaper reported.
• "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat," he said.
• "The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred."

Analogously, "If you take out a lot of money, put it in your pocket, or inside your tiny undies, and someone robs you or even murder you, whose fault is it, the robber or the money". It is a season of narrow minded people giving the stupidest speech and thought on earth. Let's stop all this ignorant act. You don't live in your own world, and do pay some respect to the people, religion, environment around you. You are just humiliating yourself.

Link: Another Unreasonable Reason, Wish you a not so happy occasion

Buying Time

Govt Will Answer To Dr Mahathir's Criticisms - Bernama, 24th Oct 2006

• Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday that the government will respond to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's allegations against the government and the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
• The deputy prime minister said Abdullah would give a "long and detailed" answer to all the questions and clarifications sought by his predecessor.
• "I have spoken to Pak Lah (Abdullah) and he is prepared to answer the issues raised by Tun Dr Mahathir in great detail."The answers will be given at a meeting or in writing...it's up to the prime minister," Najib told reporters at the Aidilfitri open house of the prime minister and cabinet ministers at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
• However, Abdullah needed time to answer all the latest allegations by Dr Mahathir because they were only raised last Sunday, he added.

When a leader claims that he is "in control", why wasn't he able to give an immediate response to people's enquiry? Why does he need to "prepare" answers while everything should be on his fingertips?

Is this another typical response, just like the previous ASLI's case? Every Malaysian who is not senile, would recall that Najib still owe us an answer on Bumiputera's equity debate. Buying your time again? I still have doubts, Najib. When are you showing us the figures?

Link: Brain Drain, True Man With Courage - Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Backing Down, Finally

Law to Protect Rela, Not You, Folks

Govt to act against Rela members who abuse their powers - The Star, 25th Oct 2006

• Action will be taken against Rela members who abuse the powers given to them to help arrest illegal immigrants, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.
• Radzi was commenting on the recent protest by the residents in Cheras that Rela members misused their powers to crash into their homes after breaking door locks and smashing gates during their raid to arrest illegals.
• "Rela is a voluntary organisation. When they conduct the raids, they are given the power to enter the premises and then to arrest,'' he said, adding that he meant ''business premises'' and ''not dwelling houses.''
• Asked if they could enter without a search warrant, Radzi said: "They have the powers to do it. They are empowered by the law.''
• "But if any Rela member oversteps their powers, I'll take care,'' he stressed.

If RELA are being empowered by the law to enter premises without a search warrant, it means the law itself does not protect the citizens. This is unacceptable, it is a lobed sided empowerment and those who being affected by the recent incidents should stand up and voice for a change.

Place: Pulau Besar (Johor, Malaysia)

Jetty at Pulau Besar

Beach at Pulau Besar

White Sandy Beach, Crystal Clear Water

Beautiful Sunset

Pulau besar is a short 30mins boat ride from Mersing, Johor. The island is pretty un-commercialised as compare to the bigger brother, Pulau Tioman (Tioman Island) and only a few small resorts (?) have erected there. These small scale resorts, with very basic facilities provided are for those seeking for a typical "kampung-feeling" retreat. I realized from my last trip that a few of the resorts have closed down, maybe due to few people that know the existence and fierce competition from the surrounding islands. For me, I call this exclusivity and privacy.

There is no nightspot around the island (thank god) and neither there is any seller or tout trying to harrass you, offering various bargains and packages. All it has is the quiet ambience, crystal clear water and fine, white sandy beaches. Corals can be easily spotted around the island and it is close to the shore, which you can bring your own snorkel gears and off you go with schools of fish swimming around you. If you are aiming for some exotic corals, you can arrange for a snorkel trip to the nearby islands with the resorts.

There are mountains at the center of the island and it is a short trek (1 hour, one way) to the peak, for some spectacular view of the vicinities.

Happy Deepavali and "Selamat Hari Raya"

I will be leaving for a short trip to a deserted place, without any internet connection and I won't be blogging for a few days (consider it a break).

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone an early HAPPY HOLIDAY, and for those celebrating the big occasion, HAPPY DEEPAVALI and "SELAMAT HARI RAYA".

Take care my friends, drive safely and best wishes to your family.

Certain Criteria

Councillor appointment process may be reviewed - The Star, 20th Oct 2006

• The Government will take a second look into the process of appointing councillors to avoid instances where more than one member of a family is appointed to a council, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
• He said this was necessary to avoid accusations that district or municipal councils would only comprise members of a certain family.
• “We will consider looking into this again. Actually, this situation had never happened before, as appointments are made based on certain criteria,” he said.
• “It so happens that members of this family met the criteria. We had never expected this scenario (where several members of the same family become members of the same council) to happen,” he told reporters after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Investment at his office yesterday.

What's the criteria for one to be chosen as councillor? "Certain criteria" is the answer, literally means "do not question". Perhaps it is too transparent again that we couldn't see.

FTA? What The Hell Is That?

'MPs must know FTA's impact on future generations' - The Star, 19th Oct 2006

• It is imperative for Members of Parliament (MPs) to know what impact the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the US and Malaysia will have, as the agreement will affect the country's economy and future.
• "Many MPs are clueless about the FTA and its implications," Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director Charles Santiago said today.
• "MPs should ask questions on the FTA's contents and its impact, for the good of future generations," he added at a Gabungan Rakyat Menentang FTA (GRMFTA) press conference.
• The group - comprising 38 non-governmental organisations and opposition parties - offered to help MPs understand the issues involved through briefings.
• It also asked if the government had conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the FTA that takes into account trade and job gains and losses, loss of policy freedom, social effects such as access to affordable medicines and knowledge, food security and technology transfer.
• Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy secretary general Dr Xavier Jayakumar said: "We are not against trade, but we do not want a lopsided trade agreement with the US."
• "The World Trade Organisation agreement is a government-to-government level agreement but the FTA is an agreement between the country and large corporate interests," he said.
• "Once it is signed, there is no turning back," he said, noting that the FTA also allows private companies - some which are richer than the country itself - to haul governments to international courts.

Clueless? I bet they are, with the worshipping practice, "government must be right!". They don't need to know anything because it just can't be wrong. It sounds pretty dangerous to their empire when companies can haul government to international courts.

No more cover-up, closed-door meeting and under table solutions for you guys? Better think carefully before you put your signature on it, you seriously need to know the impact on future generation, especially your unquestionable empire and not even FIL can get you out of the mess you created.

FTA sounds to me that I am getting "more transparency"?

Who Build The Nuclear Weapon

Bush signs Bill legalising CIA prisons - TODAYonline, 18 Oct 2006

• United States President George W Bush yesterday signed a controversial law legalising secret CIA prisons, harsh interrogation practices and military trials as weapons against suspected terrorists.
• "It is a rare occasion when a president can sign a Bill he knows will save American lives." "I have that privilege this morning," Mr Bush said at a White House signing ceremony.
• "The Bill I sign today helps secure this country, and it sends a clear message: This nation is patient and decent and fair, and we will never back down from the threats to our freedom."
• Both houses of Congress last month passed the Bill, which became a focus of the debate over security and civil liberties in Mr Bush's war on terror, launched after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks.
• The measure was drafted in response to a US Supreme Court ruling in June that Mr Bush had overstepped his powers and breached the Geneva Conventions by setting up special war crimes tribunals for "war on terror" suspects.
• The sweeping legislation sets guidelines for interrogating suspected terrorists and would send several hundred inmates held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to trial after years of detention.

Legalising CIA prison with harsh interrogation practices and military trials sounds the same to me as building nuclear weapon in North Korea and allowing Japan to have their very own army platoons. The only difference is who made the decision and how you phrase it nicely with your super-duper powerful English, "It is a rare occasion when a president can sign a Bill he knows will save American lives.".

If we were being given a chance to build such a prison (or we already have it?), this is how we phrase it. "Finally we got to build a prison, we can jail and abuse them, get them to admit they are the stupid terrorist suspect. Then we lock them up for as long as we want. We are the law."

And here comes America.... "Hey, you violated human rights".. My foot!

Future Malaysian Leader

Mat Rempit attack police station with rocks - New Straits Times, 17th Oct 2006

• The Mat Rempit’s mob-rule mentality emerged again when a group of them brazenly attacked a police station on Sunday.
• About 20 of the illegal racers, unhappy that police took in two of their friends, threw rocks at the Kubang Semang police station to register their protest.
• Seberang Prai Tengah acting police chief Superintendent Zainal Abidin Nin confirmed the incident and said the two youths had been arrested.
• He said the suspects were arrested in connection with a motorcycle theft case.

If UMNO is interested in these Mat Rempit, by all means, take them all. I am just wondering if any of the Malaysians is looking forward to see any of them becoming transport minister, or even prime minister of Malaysia. Do vote for them OK?

MIC and MCA say no open discussions on socio-economic concerns - The Sun, 17th Oct 2006

• The MIC will not talk openly on issues involving the economic interests of the Indian community, but will stick to its existing approach of closed discussions with the government, said its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
• MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting also favours internal meetings. In a statement posted on its Chinese website yesterday, he said MCA will not compromise the fundamental principles and rights of the Chinese community. "In order to present the Chinese community's views effectively, MCA has to use strategic ways to put the views forward. We opt to raise issues in internal meetings," he said.

Or maybe you prefer to vote for Samy and OKT so that they can conduct a closed discussions with government when it concerns your survival? Who wrote the speach for you, Samy and OKY? What a coincidence, just a different way to rephrase it.

Resort: The Narima (Koh Lanta, Thailand)

I will start off my travel review with the most memorable resort that I have stayed for 3 nights, namely, The Narima at Koh Lanta, Thailand. Amidst of the great-expensive-5 stars hotels/resorts around the island, this small resort caught my eye with good reviews from various travellers.

Upon reaching Krabi airport, I spent two hours on board a small van, crowded with tourist and local people to reach my destination. The resort has warned me about the crampness in the shared transport, but due to tight budget I sticked with my initial decision. The journey is slightly uncomfortable, but still bearable, provided the air-con is working. The resort is situated on Koh Lanta, certainly not one of the most common tourist location one would choose to go at the vicinity. From Krabi airport, you have the choices of the more developed tourist attraction like, Aonang, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi islands or you can join me at Koh Lanta, if you want a place that is not too commercialised, with friendly people around you.

The reason I have chosen The Narima as my "home" for 3 nights are simple. The Narima has their own secluded beach (a bit rocky though) and you have a lot of privacy, instead of swimming on the crowded beach, which is shared by infinite resorts. You will be disappointed if you are expecting a white, sandy beach but the resort has not failed to show the genuine condition on their website, a yellow sand, and slightly rocky beach. There are times when I stepped in a hotel and wonder if I have gone into a wrong place because everything just look so different from their photos but for this particular resort, it is as real as it can be. There is a nice pool, small secluded beach and simple yet stylish rooms.

The thing that impressed me the most is the friendliness of the resort owner, Dr. Yodchai and Dr. Nopawan. You can read more on their info at the website if you wish to know how they look like, fell in love and started the venture. Nopawan greeted us with great smile when we reached, and instructed the waitress to serve us some cold water and snacks while we sit comfortably on the bench to complete the registration. Since it was not the peak season of the year, Nopawan walked us to the chalets and recommended a few with better view for us to choose from. She was also kind enough to show us around the chalet, and told us where to look for what, how to get down to the beaches and what are the activities available. In fact, most of the time, you will see Nopawan and Yodchai strolling around the beach and restaurant, chit-chatting with the guests, learning and sharing the cultures and stories.

We had all our meals at the resort's restaurant and the food was fantastic, yet reasonably priced. It was one of the best Thai food I ever had from a hotel/resort and I strongly recommend to try all the courses if you can. Trust me, you won't regret it.

The two most interesting experience that we have are (1) snorkelling at Koh Rok and (2) Lanta-Lanta Festival. Nopawan has recommended the snorkelling trip during our arrival and we went for the snorkelling on our second day. The snorkelling was great with beautiful corals, fish and we had our lunch on one of the fine and white sandy beaches. The water was crystal clear and as turquoise as it can be. For me, this is heaven.

We placed a reservation to the Lanta-Lanta festival later of the day and to my amaze, Nopawan and Yodchai were leading the tour. Due to the huge participation, they have booked for additional transportations to bring us to and fro the festival, apart from picking up a few lucky one on their own car. All of this are free of charge, a great gesture for us from Nopawan and Yodchai. What you can find on the festival is shop, shop and more shopping. You don't need to bargain as hard as you would be in Bangkok or Phuket since the price is relatively realistic and low. There are also some cultural show and good food, if you know how to enjoy it.

The only word that I can use to describe my feeling throughout the stay is "homely". You will feel as comfortable as if you are at your own home, and every workers in the resort is part of the big family, headed by the friendly Nopawan and Yodchai. If you are looking for some peaceful retreat, this is the place for you. If you are opting for alcohol, shopping and girls/boys, perhaps you should try your luck elsewhere.

Travel Review

Since I am travelling quite frequently, I have decided to post some info on resorts/hotels/places that I have been to, be it good or bad, to share with the readers. Well, this is not to the expense of my postings on the "polluted scenes" around us and hopefully with the "transparency" guaranteed by our DPM, I have more time to write on nice people and places. Do note that the details included are simply based on my own travel experience and nobody actually paid me to do this. Anyway, there is no harm if anyone is willing to pay for my trip for a travel review, do let me know, yeah. If you need any specific info on anything, just drop me an email at o2deprivation@gmail.com and I will try to help as possible.

There are some instances when customers claimed that they were being treated differently because they are Asian, and the reviews written by westerners might not be the truely applicable. Let's hope this review will do them justice based on my personal experience as a (1) Asian (2) Malaysian (3) Chinese.

Poor Investment

PAC to probe Bank Islam's RM1.5b losses - The Star, 16th Oct 2006

• The Public Accounts Committee will look into Bank Islam's stunning RM1.5 billion provision for loan losses this year - more than double last year's - by quizzing its shareholders.
• He said the PAC cannot look into the goings-on in Bank Islam directly as it is not a government agency or department. However, it can do so through its investors, he said.
• Bank Islam's current major investors are Lembaga Tabung Haji, which holds 29.7% equity, followed by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (25.2%) and the Employees Provident Fund (6.4%).
• Transparency International Malaysia (TI) said the delay by the government and regulatory authorities in making public the reasons behind the losses by Bank Islam would go contrary to the transparency and accountability promoted by the government.

1st point, let's look at who is the investors, damn, EPF. 2nd point, please check with DPM on the self-proclaimed transparent government.

Let's Grilled The Numbers

PM: Ask properly - Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the government was willing to make public the methodology used by the EPU to calculate the corporate equity ownership of various community. "If there are still doubts (on the figures), we can reveal the methodology used and the government was transparent when it comes to such economic data. "We have no problem revealing the methodology but there should be no insinuation as if the government is not being transparent," he said. (The Sun, 16th Oct 2006)

Of cos there are doubts, and in fact, these doubts were not being plucked from the air but it arose following all the "rubbish" statements, denial of ASLI's report and Dr. Lim's resignation to defend his stand and academic freedom. Where are the self-proclaimed transparencies when we first started questioning the figure? It always comes late, just like the "999" we dialed, that take forever for someone to pick-it-up. Maybe our kampung scientist still buying time to put the mathematical pieces together, making it sounds as reasonable as it can? They must be working very late these few nights, poor guys.

The ASLI's report was submitted few months back, but they received no respond from the government. Perhaps some are hoping that by applying similar methodologies of "act blur", "report is lost" and "the number you dial is not reachable" were good enough to prevent the news from spreading. Now, when people start questioning on the transparency, our PM said "ask properly" and our DPM echoed "our government was transparent". Did the PM ever tell SIL to "ask properly" when he was out there, grilling the poor non-bumis?

Can't wait for the "transparency"in this issue. Let's see how much of the information is reaching the public, or it is another closed door debate with endless speculations. If you want to debate the methodologies, now is the time, there is no need for further delay.

Link: Buying Time, Brain Drain, True Man With Courage - Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Backing Down, Finally

Time Off

It's good that I managed to take some time off for a light travelling, leaving this polluted scene for a while, grazing some good supply of oxygen. Catch with with all of you, my readers in a few days time. Take care.

Brain Drain

What is happening in Singapore:
16 outstanding researchers receive Science & Tech awards - Channel News Asia, 11th Oct 2006

What is happening in Malaysia:
ASLI director quits over controversial findings - The Star, 11th Oct 2006

Noticed the difference? Being controversial in Malaysia is always a big NO NO, you will not be rewarded. It gets you no way because people (or rather government?) is not ready for a change. Ultimately, you should just follow the crowd and path where the stream takes you and this is what we call "loyalty" or rather, "rigidity". It can get you even further if you start swinging your keris, or maybe parang if you don't have one.

Our PM is calling for feedback on brain-draining issue, striving hard to woo the experts back to Malaysia, but has he got the anwer yet? Search me........ geeesh, I really don't know.

Being creative needs a strong will to be controversial. Impeding someone to be controversial, kills creativity and while we are moving towards a more R&D culture, once again we fight with empty rifle.

Rejection of Asli report sends wrong signal: Toh - The Sun, 12th Oct 2006

• The government's rejection of the report on bumiputra corporate equity published by Asli's Centre for Public Policy Studies, which challenges the official data, has sent the wrong signal that dissent is not tolerated and honest pursuit of knowledge discouraged, says state executive councillor Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon.
• "Discussions with CPPS (headed by its director Dr Lim Teck Ghee) and others on these issues could have been held and a consensus arrived at.
• "Instead, the government lambasted Lim. The signal seems to be that dissent is not tolerated and honest pursuit of knowledge discouraged," he said.
• The Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said critics of the Asli report must use the "same or a higher level of intellectual rigour" to dispute its findings
• DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Mirzan's statement and apology had reduced Asli's credibility and integrity because it was without academic basis or rational. "Clearly, Mirzan's retraction was politically motivated and not driven by any flaws or shortcomings either in the centre's methodology or research data," he said.

The space is shrinking, oxygen is depriving. Simple explanation, there is no room for negotiation and those that hold a keris won. While ASLI is willing to debate on the computation, there is no transparency coming from government side, how do we put our faith in a government that operates like a black box? The damage is already done, but don't forget the next election is coming soon. We shall see about that.

Lim hopes to teach at local varsity - 17th Oct 2006

• Dr Lim Teck Ghee, who last week announced he would step down as director of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute's (Asli) Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) in the interest of academic integrity, hopes to be able to teach in a university here.
  However, if things don't work out, he will probably leave the country again.
• "I'll continue researching and would like to teach at one of our universities. But it could be that they may not find my presence and expertise convenient or appropriate. Let's see, if things don't work out, I will probably leave the country again," he said of his future plans in an e-mail interview.
• "I'd like to return to researching issues of Malay poverty and under-development, an area which I worked on in the 70s and 80s in Malaysia, which I've left aside for some years now," he added.

Brain-draining again?

Link: Buying Time, Let's Grilled The Numbers, True Man With Courage - Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Backing Down, Finally

Another Unreasonable Reason

E-mail from Takaful man ‘not fatwa’ - The Star, 11th Oct 2006

• An e-mail from Takaful Malaysia’s Syariah department head Fauzi Mustaffar forbidding Muslims to wish Hindu friends Happy Deepavali is a narrow interpretation of Islam, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin.
• “It’s his personal view. He has no authority to say Muslims shouldn’t wish Hindus because that is like a fatwa (edict). And fatwas can only come from the National Fatwa Council and Jakim,” he said.
• When contacted for his comments, Fauzi said the e-mail was in response to enquiries from employees and was only meant for internal circulation.

Even if the letter is only meant for internal circulation, a narrow minded thinking like this will actually cause mis-conception of other people on Muslims. This is such a lame excuse, another unreasonable reason. Let's wave our sword and demand an apology from Mr. Fauzi. Wait, he is the department head? I just can't believe how someone with such un-liberalised thinking can make it to that position. What a disgrace.

Link: It Is A Narrow Minded Season, Wish you a not so happy occasion

Barbarian Is In Town

“If you can guarantee the wind will not blow (in this direction), then I can guarantee it (haze) will not happen again.” [...] When we export oxygen, you don’t say anything; when we export haze, you complain.” Indonesia First Secretary (political affairs), Mudzakir

What else can I say? This is just so barbaric.

Link: The Ultimate Solution, Pray Harder Folks, Dear Neighbour, Have You Walk The Walk

True Man With Courage - Dr Lim Teck Ghee

ASLI director quits over controversial findings - The Star, 11th Oct 2006

• Dr Lim Teck Ghee, director of Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS), has resigned as a director of Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli).
• Dr Lim said he could not agree with Asli president Mirzan Mahathir's statement that a report on bumiputra corporate equity did not fairly reflect the true picture of the equity ownership by bumiputras in Malaysia.
• "Since I cannot agree with Mirzan's statement and because of the need to defend the position and integrity of independent and non-partisan scholarship, I regret to inform that I will be stepping down from my position as director at the end of the month" Dr Lim said in a press statement.

Quote:
I hope the public space opened up by the Centre’s work on this particular, as well as other important, issues will be expanded on and vigorously defended by others. It is the fundamental right of the Malaysian public to question all government statistics and policies, more so when these are not transparent or defensible.

Dr Lim is a former UN regional advisor and World bank senior political scientist. He is also a recipient of international academic awards.

Today is a notable day in Malaysia's history, on how big bully won the game with words of mouth and no fact is needed. My ultimate salute to Dr Lim, at least he is not one of those who joined the crowd when realised that they cannot beat them. Dr Lim is a true man with courage, someone we should be proud of. You can read more about the resignation from Jeff's entry.

Who should we trust? Scientest or empty rifle? what a day.

Link: Buying Time, Let's Grilled The Numbers, Brain Drain, Backing Down, Finally

Backing Down, Finally

Asli backs down over NEP data - The Sun, 10th Oct 2006

• Under pressure from Umno politicians and certain segments of the Malay community, think tank Asli has backed down and agreed to withdraw a contentious report on the New Economic Policy (NEP).
• Asli or the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute president Mirzan Mahathir issued a statement today saying the findings by its Centre for Public Policy Studies that bumiputra equity ownership could be as high as 45% cannot be "vigorously justified".
• Mirzan noted that the report - Corporate Equity Distribution: Past Trends and Future Policy - was part of a larger study undertaken by a multi-racial group of scholars and consultants in connection with the Ninth Malaysia Plan. It was submitted to government in February, but the centre did not receive any feedback.
• Sources said although Asli has officially agreed to withdraw the report, those involved in putting it together are standing by their work. However, they accept that the political reality left the institute no choice but to back down in order to stop the attacks on Asli.

ASLI has backed down under the intensed pressure, this is such a sad story to start my day with apart from hearing mave is retiring from blogging. I was still wondering if ASLI will maintain its debate and cross-checks government's account book and this news suddenly struck me hard on my head, dream on, man! Note that they have submitted the report to government in February but there is no feedback. Our government might just be a notch over Indonesian's since they can "tok kok sing song" and at the same time "act blur".

Link: Link: Buying Time, Let's Grilled The Numbers, Brain Drain, True Man With Courage - Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Lagging or not lagging, Malaysians should not question, A chess game, LKY is sorry, what about UMNO?, More statistics, anyone?, Bumiputera Equity at 45%, 43 more to go, A marginalisation?, Migration issue, Contradiction: Let the voice of people be heard, Customer is always right, Something to think about, Misleading? By who?

Wish You A "Not So Happy" Occasion

Rocky's blog has the coverage on how Muslim staff of the public-listed company, Takaful Malaysia, are discouraged from wishing its customers "Happy Deepavali" as it was against the syariat.

This is so narrow-minded and I am extremely disgusted with that. I do not believe that we should stop wishing others to be happy on their special occasion. What should we do then? Wish them a "not so happy" so that only we can be "happy" about it? I simply cannot agree with marginalisation of others by the name of one's religion since I believe the teachings of any religion emphasize on peace and harmony. Is there any mis-interpretation of the teachings by some narrow-minded persons? Please tell me about it.

Link: It Is A Narrow Minded Season, Another Unreasonable Reason

"Tok Kok Sing Song"

1. US oil major Chevron and Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) will pay Chad US$281.6 million (RM1.04 billion) under a deal to end a tax dispute which saw them threatened with expulsion from the central African country, the Government said. (Business Times, 9th Oct 2006)
2. According to D-G of IRB, Tan Sri Zainol Abidin Abd Rashid, Petronas is a responsible tax payer. “There is no reason for Petronas not to pay tax and hurt its own reputation,” Zainol said. “I don’t believe that Petronas would have done that as it is an international class company and the sole local company listed on the Fortune 500.”

I learned about "deduction" method from the Mathematics classes that I have attended under the great Malaysia education system. This is how I apply the technique, "If statement 1 is true, then Petronas is a f*ck-up company since they earned billions from the country but not paying tax", else, "ZA from statement 2 must be bull-shitting since Petronas has already admitted to the tax dispute". Did I score a 100 marks or 0?

All these statements sound so faimiliar to me, what does "the sole local company listed on the Fortune 500" has to do with not paying tax? The same goes to when Muhyiddin's claim on the equity dispute that ASLI's report is "rubbish", simply because it "challenges the government authority". Maybe the local company and government has grown so great that people start worshipping it.

Those from Singapore can easily put this in a very straightforward, simple term "tok kok, sing song". Let's Karaoke.

Fund Raising for Seputeh's DAP

I read from Teresa Kok's blog that Seputeh's DAP is having a fund-raising drive. I am neither a political supporter of ruling party nor DAP but I believe the service centre is worth every bit of sweat and blood that you have donated since it is there for you, by you.

You can help by sending a crossed cheque to: DAP Cawangan Seputeh, or make a deposit into DAP's MayBank account 5-14235-464557. For more information, please refer to Teresa's blog at http://teresakok.blogsome.com/2006/10/06/dime/

The Ultimate Solution, Pray Harder Folks

Source of info: The Sun, 9th Oct 2006

Wish if Allah will be more responsive than Indonesian government. There are a few things that Allah can do to aid the current situation (1) shower the earth with water (2) uncover some gold mine in Indonesia and the most importantly (3) knock the brain out of Indonesian government.

While all the neighbours are suffering and eager to provide assistance to Indonesia over the open-burning issue, they are still reluctant to put their signature on the treaty. Years after years, I hope someone has answered their prayer, how about ours? Are we going to take tough actions on Indonesia? Are we going to claim damages for the impact on health of fellow Malaysians and decrease in tourists?

Link: Barbarian is in town, Dear Neighbour, Have You Walk The Walk

Lagging Or Not Lagging

PM: Bumiputeras still lagging - New Straits Times, 6th Oct 2006

• Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the methodology used by Asli in counting government-linked companies (GLCs) as Bumiputera companies was wrong and could even lead to anger."They adopted an approach based on a survey involving only 1,000 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia, unlike the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), which involved 600,000 Malaysian companies (in its survey) and used government documents.
• Zainal Aznam also said the Asli study considered government- linked companies as predominantly Bumiputera, while the government removed GLCs from its figures
• A third flaw was Asli’s use of market capitalisation while the government used the par value, or nominal value, and the number of units of shares a person held.

I am not financial analyst nor economist. Hopefully someone can put up a good comparison, explains the difference between the calculation methods and at the same time identifies the correct analysis. For a layman like me, my understanding is that EPU is having a bigger sample size while at the same time, GLCs were excluded. Assuming all GLCs are predminantly Bumiputeras' is wrong by ASLI, but government either did not explain how many of it actually own by Bumiputera? Maybe it is true as what ASLI has pointed out, some of the information is just not accessible. These complex calculation always left me hanging.

What is real stake of bumis in KL market? - The Straits Times, 7th Oct 2006

• Asli estimated that bumiputeras own 70 per cent of the shares in GLCs, which make up a third of the market value of the stock exchange. They include utility companies such as Tenaga Nasional and Telekom Malaysia, and Malaysia's biggest bank, Maybank. Asli also did its sums using the market values of the shares, rather than the par or nominal values, for the simple reason that it is market value that actually denotes the value of a company.
• But Datuk Seri Abdullah disagreed. He said the Economic Planning Unit's method was more accurate because it surveyed the 600,000 companies registered in Malaysia, excluding GLCs, and did its calculations using the par value of the shares. He said it was not right to include the GLCs.'The revenues reaped by GLCs will be handed over to the government to be saved in funds for use by the people and the country,' he said.

Right or wrong to include GLC? It simply depends on your objectives. Anyway, ASLI is willing to let the government examines their book, how about our least-transparent government, are you doing the same too?

More flak for study saying bumiputeras have 45% stake - The Straits Times, 9th October 2006

• In a Mingguan Malaysia report, published yesterday, Tan Sri Muhyiddin said the research challenges the government's authority. He described it as irresponsible and urged the government to be strict if Asli fails to retract the research. 'The research is rubbish and cannot be used. As a Malay, I feel angry and I think it has ulterior motives,' he said. 'The research might have certain agendas aimed at sparking off a polemic, especially among those who think the research is true. That group will surely accuse the government of releasing false information.'
• - O2's comment: The phrase "challenging the government's authority", make it sounds like we are living in the dictators era and it is an equally irresponsible statement. By the way, "as a Chinese, I feel angry and I think you also have ulterior motives". If the government did nothing wrong, why should they worry about accusation? Show us the data, we just want transparency!
• Economist professor Dr Ismail Md Salleh said the report was inaccurate because different measurements were used.
• - O2's comment: It might be government's report that is inaccurate because different measurements were used, right? This is why ASLI, as an NGO is willing to let you examine their method. Why shoot them down in an open discussion? Aren't we a democratic nation?
• Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin said they could be unhappy with the renewed NEP and the target of 30 per cent bumiputera equity ownership. He noted that the government figures were accepted by international economists, and warned that if Asli's report was accepted, it could retard the government's effort to distribute the nation's wealth based on race equality.
• - O2's comment: Yes, we are unhappy not because of the 30 percent bumiputera equity ownership. We are sad because we have tried to co-operate and help the Bumis achieving better life though the "Never Ending Policy" but the outcome is the rich one are getting richer and poor one remains. We should all feel unhappy about it, regardless of race and ethnic since it never really benefits any of us, with the widening of income gap.
• The Malaysian Malay Entrepreneurs and Merchants Association has asked Asli to be more sensitive towards bumiputera issues. The association's president, Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir, told Mingguan Malaysia that Asli should focus on matters which require their involvement rather than intervene in the bumiputera status in the country
• - O2's comment: ASLI is an NGO, they have the right to involve in any activities if there is a need to. If they only involve in matters assign by the government, they should re-brand themselves as GO. Please get the definition clear before you voice your opinion.

I saw this piece of news in The Straits Times and would like to have my personal opinion on this issue, just like the way our politicians have commented without needing much facts to support their point. I guess nobody can blame me for doing the same, right? Unless we are practicing double standards, are we?

Link: Backing down, finally, Malaysians should not question, A chess game, LKY is sorry, what about UMNO?, More statistics, anyone?, Bumiputera Equity at 45%, 43 more to go, A marginalisation?, Migration issue, Contradiction: Let the voice of people be heard, Customer is always right, Something to think about, Misleading? By who?

Dear Neighbour, Have You Walk The Walk

Azmi's frustration - The Star, 6th Oct 2006

• To put it mildly, the haze has made Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid one frustrated man.
• ”It is outside our control. We can only hope the they can overcome their problems; and we will help by sending our firefighters there if they request for it,” he said.
• Azmi reiterated this many times and said he was sure that the Indonesians themselves were suffering.
• “In fact, I was in Indonesia in June and met the relevant ministers. They told me they had the systems to control the haze. It looks like their system is not effective,” Azmi said.
• Azmi added that the situation could not improve further until Indonesia ratified the Asean transboundary haze agreement. As of March this year, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines had yet to ratify the treaty.

Years after years we waited, especially for Sarawakians that suffer the most during the hazy days. Is our government going to put some pressure on Indonesia, making sure that their system is working effectively to control the haze? We are still waiting, and of cos at the same time, we are still suffering. Where is your promise, Indonesian government? Talk the talk but doesn't walk the walk, how familiar is that.

Malaysians have had enough of haze woes - The Star, 7th Oct 2006

• We've had enough! That just about sums up the feelings of Malaysians when once again they have to bear with the blanket of haze that has left those suffering from respiratory problems gasping for breath.
• Schools in Sarawak will close when the air pollutant index (API) reaches the hazardous level of 300 and above.
• A state disaster relief committee meeting, to be chaired by Dr Chan, will be held next week to discuss the next step of action. He added that the number of respiratory cases was increasing due to the haze.
• The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board has already distributed more than 200,000 masks to the public.
• Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer for Sarawak Jok Jau Evong said: “The Malaysian Government must apply constant pressure on Indonesia to take action. We should not make noise only when the haze gets bad.
• “Malaysian authorities must also ensure that Malaysian-owned oil palm plantations in Indonesia are not involved in open burning.”
• Transparency International Ma-laysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said the Government should convene an urgent regional conference to discuss the haze in the region and come up with concrete and long-term solutions.
• He also questioned the effectiveness of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution signed in 2002 in tackling the issue. “The agreement is not producing results. Year in, year out, we see the haze continuing to occur due to illegal logging or open burning in Indonesia. What is Asean doing about this?” Navaratnam asked.

"Year in, year out", we are still watching the same episode; schools are shut, masks are distributed, patients with respiractory increased and the typical Indonesian dance carries on. What have you, Indonesian government done to recover our loses? Be it in education, health or tourism. Let's put some pressure on the Indonesian government, we must fight hard to prove out point, and when I say hard, I mean the "hard way" if we have to.

There is no difference if the company involved in open burning is a Malaysian, Indonesian or foreign company. When it happens in Indonesian soil, prosecute them using Indonesia's constitution law. Blaiming the companies from other countries for open burning in your soil makes zero sense to me, it is not their goverment that burned your forest and of cos, they don't run your country! We have offered help to you, and are struggling hard to help ourself in this haze problem. What have you done to help yourself and your neighbours?

Link: Barbarian is in town, The Ultimate Solution, Pray Harder Folks

Malaysians Should Not Question

Chua: Think of global issues, not equity share - The Star, 5th Oct 2006

• MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Malaysians, regardless of race, should focus on the global challenges.
• “What is important is how Malaysians can prepare the nation to enable it to compete with our neighbours such as Thailand and Vietnam,” he said after opening a lantern festival organised here by four MCA divisions on Tuesday.
• Dr Chua, who is also the Health Minister, said Malaysians should not question the equity distribution, as different evaluation methods would yield different results.
• Commenting on a statement by an NGO recently that the Malays controlled almost 45% of the nation’s wealth, he said the statement had no effect on national unity.
• The report by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute’s (Asli) Centre for Public Policy Studies on “Corporate Equity Distribution: Past Trends and Future Policy,” citing Bursa Malaysia Corporate Equity’s 2005 statistics, said the estimated volume of bumiputra equity ownership was 45% of the RM715.4bil of total stocks on the stock exchange, or RM325.08bil. However, the Government’s estimate of bumiputra equity ownership as stated in the 9MP was only 18.9%.

Mr vice president, let me get this straight, we are not trying to abolish the equity system, but merely being more critical on the assessment method. This will help to establish a proper and fair measurement method that is acceptable by the public. And when I mentioned public, I mean irregardless of race and ethnic. If this was not being defined correctly and openly, when will we know if the definition of "30% equity" is going to change again? Do you get it?

When it is concerning the country that we are living in and livelihood of the people, I wonder what is the role of you in our community? Instead of providing the necessary support, you requested your people to stop questioning. In my view point, you are simply dispensable when we are facing the "global challenge". I don't think you need much explanation on what is hogging us behind with all those gravy train allegations and unproductive projects.

Link: Backing down, finally, Lagging or not lagging, A chess game, LKY is sorry, what about UMNO?, More statistics, anyone?, Bumiputera Equity at 45%, 43 more to go, A marginalisation?, Migration issue, Contradiction: Let the voice of people be heard, Customer is always right, Something to think about, Misleading? By who?

Mydin Hypermarket

Probe into claims of selective sugar-selling - New Straits Times, 4th Oct 2006

• A probe has been launched into complaints against Mydin Hypermarket for allegedly refusing to sell sugar to non-Malays.
• Among the complaints include a letter to the New Straits Times alleging that the hypermarket only sold sugar to Malay customers but told others that they had run out.
• Other residents here also complained that the outlet was racially biased against non-Malays.
• The state enforcement unit chief Fahmi Kasim said a team conducted spot checks at the Mydin Hypermarket in Bandar Baru Uda here. Without disclosing any details, he said the management had been advised not to practise discrimination.
• He also said the management had earlier explained that it was trying to restrict customers from buying too much sugar at the expense of those who would be celebrating the festivities.

You can restrict people from over-stocking sugar but you shouldn't stop those that are really in need, irregardless of race. Let's boycott Mydin Hypermarket if this is true. Whether you are Bumi or non-Bumi, we should act together and condemn this discrimitory act for the sake of racial harmony. "The management has been advised"? We need more action for this issue, this is simply unacceptable. I think we should probe into the enforcement unit's decision, while they are probing the hypermarket.

MSC, Malay Superior Corner?

MSC offers chances to all races, says minister - The Star, 4th Oct 2006

• It has never been the Multimedia Super Corridor’s (MSC) policy to marginalise certain communities but to create wealth for the country, said Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha.
• Currently, he said, there were about 1,600 MSC companies, some 1,200 of which were locally-owned.
• More than 300 of the local-owned companies had bumiputra participation, he said. “It is not the MSC’s policy to marginalise certain communities as the country practices an open policy where those with capability are able to develop the companies,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
• He was commenting on Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s remark that bumiputras should be given priority in sectors such as biotechnology and information communications technology to ensure they were not left behind.

Cut the crap KJ! I fully agreed with Datuk Kong, it is about the "capability" to develop individual companies and I especially favourite the term, "open policy". Priority again? If the bumis failed after being given the priority, it is again other companies' fault for being too competitive. What is the next step? Another subsidy? Pardon me, it is Multimedia Super Corridor and not Malay Superior Corner.

Link: Entry requirement

A Chess Game

Lee's statement could have incited feelings of Malaysians - The Star, 3rd Oct 2006

• Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the Government did not consider Lee's letter of explanation as a letter of apology. “It is not an apology, he was saying that he was sorry for causing discomfort, not that he was sorry for saying that. It is two different things. “He just restated what he felt and it went beyond (what was) just a previous discussion,” he said before breaking fast with Wisma Putra staff in Putrajaya yesterday.
• Barisan Nasional Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Lee had to issue an apology to the Malaysian Government and the people because he had clearly violated the country's dignity and sovereignty by his statement on how the Chinese in Malaysia were treated. He added that Lee had to apologise after he faced criticism from Malaysians of all races, that he had overstepped the boundaries on an internal issue that should be discussed by Malaysians and not outsiders.

It is obvious that Hishammuddin has a worse command of English than me because he has mis-interpreted the letter from LKY. Syed Hamid in the other way, is much better as he clearly understood that LKY simply apologized for the "miscomfort" and not the "statement" he has made. "Lee apologised after he faced criticism in Malaysia of all races"? No, Hishammuddin, you are wrong. Check out the poll result in Kwang Wah Yit Poh, I think he may have more Chinese supporter than you do. I have the less updated result in my previous blog entry if you want to have a glimpse. By the way, LKY decided to publicised the letter and the whole world is watching. The smarter guy won an upper hand in this round, even when he has apologised. So who is the gentleman now? LKY has "apologised" and what about Malaysia over the numerous marginalisation comments that he has quoted?

Lesson learned. A good chess player must be able to predict all the moves before you decide to hit on your opponent.

'Singapore knows our stand' - The government will not take the issue of Lee Kuan Yew’s inflammatory statement and explanation any further but hopes such rhetoric would not recur. Najib wondered if Lee was serious about good bilateral ties as "how is this going to happen if he makes such statements". (The Straits Times, 6th Oct 2006)

In case you are still confused and not aware at this state, LKY has pointed out a few persons, who have raised the issue of Malay's marginalisation in Singapore. I have not heard the apology from them, and if Malaysia is "serious about good bilateral ties", they should start apologising and "how is this going to happen if" Malaysians "make such statements?". Clean your backyard first before you start firing, haven't learnt the lesson? Irony?

Unity panel wants Kuan Yew to say sorry - A parliamentary panel yesterday called on Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to retract his statement that Chinese in Malaysia were being systematically marginalised. Maximus was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the committee near here. He said Lee’s remarks were uncalled for, unwelcome and tantamount to interfering in Malaysia’s affairs. (The Straits Times, 7th Oct 2006)

Maximus, why are you making the life so difficult for your PM. Didn't you realised that SIL, KJ has done the same mistake and now is a situation of "a thief shouting for another thief". Sigh! some people just don't get it. LKY is calling for a checkmate, unless you want another chess game? Are you up to it?

Link: Backing down, finally, Lagging or not lagging, Malaysians should not question, LKY is sorry, what about UMNO?, More statistics, anyone?, Bumiputera Equity at 45%, 43 more to go, A marginalisation?, Migration issue, Contradiction: Let the voice of people be heard, Customer is always right, Something to think about, Misleading? By who?

Understanding Malaysia's Culture

Briton wants PR — before he dies - New Straits Times, 2nd Oct 2006

• The long delay in granting Sir Norman Frank Sisson’s application for permanent residence has an Englishman who has lived here for nearly 20 years worried.
• In the past three years, Barker had become a regular visitor to the Kuantan immigration office as he pleads with the authorities to speed up his PR application.
• The red tape has Barker worried that the approval would come too late — just like in Sir Norman’s case.
• Barker said the delay had cost him a lot of money and time. He claimed that he had spent more than RM20,000 on air tickets and other expenses as he had to leave the country every three months when his visitor’s pass expired. He has to apply for a new visitor’s pass to re-enter the country.
• "There was even an occasion when the Immigration Department told me that they could not find my application file. They also don’t respond to my email," claimed the former manager at Ferrostall AG a contractor for Perwaja Steel.

I am really wondering why is there such a long wait for someone so keen to reside permanently in Malaysia? 3 years continous effort to urge the authority for speeding up the application gets him no where and leave him with question marks when they told him his application is lost and did not repond to his email. Well, hope Barker enjoys the "Malaysia Tak boleh" culture when he is going through the application process.

LKY Is Sorry, What About UMNO?

Lee says sorry - The Sun, 2nd Oct 2006

1. Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has apologised to the Prime Minister over his remarks that the Chinese had been systematically marginalised in Malaysia.
2. Lee said: "I am sorry that what I said has caused you a great deal of discomfort. After a decade of troubled relations with your predecessor, it is the last thing I wanted."
3. He pointed out that there were occasions when Umno leaders had publicly warned Malaysian Malays that if they ever lost power, they risked the same fate as Malays in Singapore, "whom they alleged are marginalised and discriminated against".
4. He said he had not said anything more than what he had said before, adding that he had no power to influence Malaysia’s politics or to incite the feelings of the Chinese in Malaysia.

By the way, LKY is sorry for making our PM feeling discomfort and not because of the statement that "Chinese has been systematically margnialised in Malaysia". Got it? So, is UMNO going to apologized to Singapore for their marginalisation comment? I doubt so.

Link: Backing down, finally, Lagging or not lagging, Malaysians should not question, A chess game, More statistics, anyone?, Bumiputera Equity at 45%, 43 more to go, A marginalisation?, Migration issue, Contradiction: Let the voice of people be heard, Customer is always right, Something to think about, Misleading? By who?