Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Port Dickson- now an Army Town
The Prme Minister had declared that Port Dickson be also known as Army Town. There goes the image of a beautiful beach resort which has been the haven for tourists, both local and international. I dont deny the fact that we should give recognition to the army for the sacrifice in defending the country, but should'nt we avoid putting the army in a spotlight in such manner? Now we will have the image of tanks, army trucks and soldiers everywhere. I dont want to be paranoid, but wont this be the first place our enemies would attack in case there is a war? This will be the place where the rockets and bombs will land.It is like telling our enemies, "here we are, right here, no need to look any further". On the one hand there may be security with the army as your companion, but would you have peace of mind knowing that this is the first target of attack. I am sure there are other better ways of rewarding or recognising the army, such as better pay and better retirement benefits.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
RPK speaking about his Solitary Confinement
10 ft by 10 ft square cell without ventilation, piece of plywood for a bed and a piece of 'Good morning' towel to clean himself from a bucket, deprived off natural sunlight, hand-cuffed and blind-folded and subjected to brain washing, and all these for a political dissident. Come on, he is not even a criminal or a murderer and has proven that he loves this country more than all the interrogators put together. We treat animals better. These people must have been trained by the KGB or Gestapo and are really desperate in getting a confession to the extent of forgetting they are human beings. I thought we Malaysians, especially the Malays are a very cultured race, respectful, religious and non-violent in their life style. So where does this streak of causing hurt and pain come from? Surely must be imported and we know who these people are, especially from their names.
Kugan Petition Failed
Kugan's mother failed in her attempt to deliver her petition to the Agong to seek the Istana's intervention to force the police to take action on those who were involved. It is now already 8 months and still no one has been charged. It is amazing how the police is dragging its feet. All the mother wanted was justice and since she couldn't get it from the police, she is pleading with her king to do something. Where else can she turn to? As parents, we most certainly can feel the heart-wrenching sadness and frustration. So please your Majesty, do not turn away from the plea of your subjects. This has nothing to do with politics. It has all to do with compassion and love of your subjects.
As you watch the video, pay attention to the Brickfields police chief, ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid. Watch his action and listen to the tone of his voice as he shouted at the small crowd which included a distraught mother, MPs and lawyers. Even when the crowd was already walking away, he still shouted at them, as if enjoying his show of power.
Where is his professionalism as a police officer? Maybe he hasn't got one as he had already shown himself as an uncouth low-class officer when he shouted and arrested the 5 lawyers who were at the Brickfiels police station to represent those arrested sometime back.
As you watch the video, pay attention to the Brickfields police chief, ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid. Watch his action and listen to the tone of his voice as he shouted at the small crowd which included a distraught mother, MPs and lawyers. Even when the crowd was already walking away, he still shouted at them, as if enjoying his show of power.
Where is his professionalism as a police officer? Maybe he hasn't got one as he had already shown himself as an uncouth low-class officer when he shouted and arrested the 5 lawyers who were at the Brickfiels police station to represent those arrested sometime back.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tanjung Piai - a Sorely Neglected Tourist Gem
Back in Malaysia, specifically in Johore, we have a famous landmark which hardly appears in any brochure. Some tour agents and most Malaysian don’t even know of its existence. I am referring to a piece of land inTanjung Piai which has been accredited to being the southern-most tip of the Asian continent. And Malaysia, known for its penchant for building and creating the longest, the tallest, the most this and that, it is amazing how the tourism authority could ignore and neglect this ‘most’ southern tip of the world’s largest continent. Greater effort should be made to capitalize on this natural gift of nature. All travelers would want to feel proud of the fact that they are standing on the tip of the world’s largest land mass. Imagine the exhilarating feeling when you step up on one of the platforms (top pic) and stretch your hands and take the whole world into your embrace. But regretfully, except for a stone monument (bottom left) declaring its unique position, nothing much is done to promote this unique place. 
What a waste. Probably it’s a question of patriotism. Are the people working in the tourism industry patriotic enough or proud enough to want to show to the whole world that we have something unique or are they just there to “makan gaji saja”.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Selective Disclosure
So after selective persecution and selective prosecution, we now have selective disclosure. In connection with the leaked PKFZ 18-page document, the PM said that the people is not to be denied “the right of information in the PKFZ case”, and “the people will continue to be informed of developments on the PKFZ investigation” .But in the same breath he flipped with “what we are supposed to tell the people, we will do so.” So we will only be told what the cabinet wants us to know, and all the dirt and corruption will be classified as OSA to protect those in the corridors of power. The BN must also surely have skeletons in the cupboard which must be kept from the public’s knowledge and scrutiny.
And as always, action will be taken against those who leaked the cabinet documents, but nothing is mentioned about action against the perpetrators of the scandal. Malaysia today should be lauded for disclosing the documents without which we the public would not have known about the many corruption and mismanagement that are being exposed. The amazing thing is that none of the BN leaders has shown any concern as to how and why we the Malaysian tax-paying public are being burdened with a RM12.2 billion scandal spanning over three prime minsters and three finance minsters.
And as always, action will be taken against those who leaked the cabinet documents, but nothing is mentioned about action against the perpetrators of the scandal. Malaysia today should be lauded for disclosing the documents without which we the public would not have known about the many corruption and mismanagement that are being exposed. The amazing thing is that none of the BN leaders has shown any concern as to how and why we the Malaysian tax-paying public are being burdened with a RM12.2 billion scandal spanning over three prime minsters and three finance minsters.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Astro Sports Package - Price increase
Astro has started on another round of price increase. This time it begins with the Sports package.
Last July Astro wrote to all subscribers to inform them of the need to increase the price of the Sports package because of the escalating cost of sports content. If that is the case, then the increase should be confined to the Sports package. However the increase Astro imposed varies with different packages. I have 2 smart cards, both subscribing to Sports package. The increase on my first card is RM 5.99 (from my current price of RM46.89), but the increase on my second card is RM 12.00.(from my current price of RM105.95). If the increase is for only the Sports package, it baffles me greatly how one Sports package is increased by RM5.99 and another same sports package, by RM12.00. On what basis or formula does Astro base its increase? It is fortunate that I have 2 packages to compare the difference. Those who have only one package will inadvertently accept the arbitrary increase without knowing this discrepancy.
Astro also stated that the price of the Sports package, before and after the increase, is still the lowest in the region. This is like an old record being replayed repeatedly whenever justification is needed for an increase. The consumers of today do not accept everything blindly. If you make a comparison, show us the figure. Moreover, other factors, like standard of life, are to be considered. As a corporate entity, at least extend to us this respect and courtesy.
You thank us for our understanding. However I regret that we cannot thank you for yours, because you really do not understand us. At this time of economic hardship, when everyone is trying to keep prices down or at least status quo, you at Astro has deemed it proper to increase your prices. Where is your understanding? Having said that, I am sure that this is not the end of the price increase story.
Last July Astro wrote to all subscribers to inform them of the need to increase the price of the Sports package because of the escalating cost of sports content. If that is the case, then the increase should be confined to the Sports package. However the increase Astro imposed varies with different packages. I have 2 smart cards, both subscribing to Sports package. The increase on my first card is RM 5.99 (from my current price of RM46.89), but the increase on my second card is RM 12.00.(from my current price of RM105.95). If the increase is for only the Sports package, it baffles me greatly how one Sports package is increased by RM5.99 and another same sports package, by RM12.00. On what basis or formula does Astro base its increase? It is fortunate that I have 2 packages to compare the difference. Those who have only one package will inadvertently accept the arbitrary increase without knowing this discrepancy.
Astro also stated that the price of the Sports package, before and after the increase, is still the lowest in the region. This is like an old record being replayed repeatedly whenever justification is needed for an increase. The consumers of today do not accept everything blindly. If you make a comparison, show us the figure. Moreover, other factors, like standard of life, are to be considered. As a corporate entity, at least extend to us this respect and courtesy.
You thank us for our understanding. However I regret that we cannot thank you for yours, because you really do not understand us. At this time of economic hardship, when everyone is trying to keep prices down or at least status quo, you at Astro has deemed it proper to increase your prices. Where is your understanding? Having said that, I am sure that this is not the end of the price increase story.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Melaka - Transformed.
December 1999, after spending all my growing years and working life in the sleeping hollow town of Melaka, I packed up and moved to Subang Jaya where I am to spend the rest of my twilight years with my children and grandchildren. However, I still go back occasionally to meet with old friends. Old friends are either balder at the top or wider at mid-section. But that's not the transformation I am going to talk about. It is about the transformation of a sleepy hollow into a vibrant tourist hub. Credit must go to Ali Rustum, the Chief Minister for the astounding transformation, albeit the removal and destructuion of green lungs and open space in the city. I suppose the maxim that you cannot have the cake and eat it as well holds true here.
With the reclamation of the sea, the city has extended its land area and boundary, leading to the construction of a coastal road thereby easing traffic congestion in certain parts. An island has also been created from the reclaimed land.
The introduction of attractions like the Menara Taming Sari revolving tower (top left), the Eye on Melaka (top right) (as different from the Eye on Malaysia which was relocated from KL) have pulled in hordes of tourists, especially over the week-ends.
One transformation that will not escape the tourist's itinerary is the Malacca river (top). I used to fish here and my favourite spot is beside the old wet market in Kampong Mortem. And I never went home empty-handed. But it is a diferent story now. On two occasions, I spent one hour each time but came home empty handed. A local told me that the river is now too clean for the fish to survive. At the closing ceremony of an International Training Workshop for Youth on 22nd Aug. 2005 , the Chief Minister proudly announced that almost half a billion ringgit had been spent to rehabilitate and beautify the Melaka river, with features like the river-walks, Boardwalks and the river cruise. There is now talk that plans are in the pipeline to bring in a replica of Admiral Cheng Ho's ship to further add to the already congested tourist spots.
The state government has done well to exploit the resources available to make Melaka the best tourist destination in the country. There is the sea, the beaches, the river, the islands, the hills and the Mini Malaysia Park which make Melaka Truly Malaysia.
At times I wonder whether I have made the right decision to migrate.
With the reclamation of the sea, the city has extended its land area and boundary, leading to the construction of a coastal road thereby easing traffic congestion in certain parts. An island has also been created from the reclaimed land.
The introduction of attractions like the Menara Taming Sari revolving tower (top left), the Eye on Melaka (top right) (as different from the Eye on Malaysia which was relocated from KL) have pulled in hordes of tourists, especially over the week-ends.
The state government has done well to exploit the resources available to make Melaka the best tourist destination in the country. There is the sea, the beaches, the river, the islands, the hills and the Mini Malaysia Park which make Melaka Truly Malaysia.
At times I wonder whether I have made the right decision to migrate.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Dont They Look Stupid?
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Rape of the Penan women
What kind of police force do we have? According to the Sarawak CID chief Senior Asst. Comm II Huzir Mohamed, the police needed specific and detailed info before they can act. A special committee set up by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry had revealed and confirmed that the Penan women & girls had been raped. Various testimonies had also been given by the victims. CID director, Datuk Seri Mohd. Bakrim said that the victims refused to talk. If they refused then how did the ministry manage to get all the testimonies? Probably it is the issue of fear more than anything else. Former Catholic priest, Michael Jok said that a permit must be obtained from the logging company without which it is imposssible to pass the many security check points. Hence the Penans are left to the mercy of the timber workers. And what is this about obtaining a permit from the logging boss, but not from the govt. authority? Is this another case of little napoleans running little kingdoms?
Hence the inaction of the police because of lack of details is a lame excuse.These raped victims had also given birth to offsprings. And DNA tests can be conducted to determine who fathered the children. What more does the police want? Do they want others to do all the leg work and hand the culprits to them on a platter?
For further reading: http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/112742
Hence the inaction of the police because of lack of details is a lame excuse.These raped victims had also given birth to offsprings. And DNA tests can be conducted to determine who fathered the children. What more does the police want? Do they want others to do all the leg work and hand the culprits to them on a platter?
For further reading: http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/112742
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
1 Malaysia - in the 60s and now
An article that hits the nail on the head. Shanghai Fish has expressed all that I feel about the 60s and where we have gone wrong. Thanks SF.
Where did we go wrong? - Shanghai Fish
Forget about 1Malaysia for now ! I don't have to be reminded of how it used to be. I was there when we were ONE as Malaysians ! And that seem like a damn long time ago ! Now you might want to ask what went wrong then and why we're again bombarded with these fake "feel good" advertisements to remind us of what we lived like then ? Everything changed after 1969, yes...everything ! Now don't go calling me a racist okay ! Just my personal opinion and observation laying bare for you to see ! And this is going to be a long post with no malice or mischief intended.
I'll tell you why and where we went wrong ;
a. it was the education system, phasing out English was a mistake !
b. introducing religious teachings as an integral part of the syllabus and in normal schooling hours was a mistake. In the 60's religion was taught at homes or at madrasahs and that too in the evenings. The rest of us had our churches, gurudwarahs and temples for that!
Civics or moral was the only subject taught to all kids in school and love and respect for elders (nobody emphasised on race then!) , yes respecting elders was a priority not race not religion. For when you respect the elders of any skin-color automatically all other personal beliefs were kept in line. Muslim religious scholars then went to Saudi Arabia to study Islamic theology in it's true form.
Then after 1969....some creep decided to send Islamic wannabe scholars to Pakistan and Afganistan....cos it was cheaper, nearer and maybe easier to pass ! Yes that was from my generation.....and graduate they did from Pakistan and Afganistan, and yes again, from my generation ! And boy what a whirl-wind of change they brought back to teach our young ones.....new words like kafir, infidel and Allahu...Akhbar were deemed solely for the use of one race and religion at a very young and tender age ! Color blind kids were "directed" to recognise and identify their neighbours skin colors by parents or teachers or politicians.
Nobody took offence before then, when we read in cartoon war-comic books when words like "by the beard of Allah" or "by the beard of the prophet" were exclaimed or uttered ! I cannot say the same now, can I ?
c. then "race" and "religion" was introduced and made mandatory when filling-up in all government forms.
d. then the politicians took over....reminding the people the close proximity of places of worship of the various faiths which have been there long before and for decades and now suddenly the sound of bells and chantings from temples and churches became annoying and unbearable while the volume of speakers in the suraus and mosques grew louder ! Still nobody cared or paid any attention, as we were still living in harmony, respecting each other's rights and beliefs.
These same "new" politicians then appointed and created powerful "little napoleons" and warlords to take care and of their "interests". As these "new" politicians now depended solely on ONE race of their choice for their very existence to remain in power.
e. then came an era of supremacy, and the "ketuanan melayu", where there was a huge increase of a certain races' population just so to tip the scales in forming a majority with the influx of immigrants from neighbouring lands and many "a/l" nationals conveniently converted to "bins".
Before you brand me otherwise....No, I repeat, I'm not a racist and I have nothing against any one race as I grew up with all races during my happy child-hood back in Taiping in the 60's !( go read my earlier posts , if you will !) Many are still very close to me till today ! Here I'm discussing the political scenario of all that has gone wrong.
f. government offices and agencies saw the dwindling decrease of an equal distribution of the various races in employment unlike before and promotions and heads of departments were replaced with only ONE type of race. I have yet to see a District Officer or a Ketua Pengarah who is not a Malay today, why and why not ? Is this in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia? They were there before 1969, what happened ?
g. Sabah and Sarawak are never a part of the a truely Malaysian identity. Even till today we are termed "them" and "us" as it is in the BN and the PR fractions. Does the current 1Malaysia concept consider all as "us" ? Of course not !
h. then the police and armed forces "misplaced" their loyalty to "King and country" when they got suckered into serving the ruling government of the day and the royalty favored the "government of the day" to the "rakyat".
i. the courts lost their privilege as being "independent" and were subservient to their paymasters aka "the government of the day" as the favored ones......the rest is history....and now just look at all the mess that's happening all around us !
Give me back the 60's please and I'll show you ONE Malaysia ! It was all there and nobody shoved anything down our throats to embrace one another ! We just lived happily together !
Sigh !
Posted by shanghaistephen
Where did we go wrong? - Shanghai Fish
Forget about 1Malaysia for now ! I don't have to be reminded of how it used to be. I was there when we were ONE as Malaysians ! And that seem like a damn long time ago ! Now you might want to ask what went wrong then and why we're again bombarded with these fake "feel good" advertisements to remind us of what we lived like then ? Everything changed after 1969, yes...everything ! Now don't go calling me a racist okay ! Just my personal opinion and observation laying bare for you to see ! And this is going to be a long post with no malice or mischief intended.
I'll tell you why and where we went wrong ;
a. it was the education system, phasing out English was a mistake !
b. introducing religious teachings as an integral part of the syllabus and in normal schooling hours was a mistake. In the 60's religion was taught at homes or at madrasahs and that too in the evenings. The rest of us had our churches, gurudwarahs and temples for that!
Civics or moral was the only subject taught to all kids in school and love and respect for elders (nobody emphasised on race then!) , yes respecting elders was a priority not race not religion. For when you respect the elders of any skin-color automatically all other personal beliefs were kept in line. Muslim religious scholars then went to Saudi Arabia to study Islamic theology in it's true form.
Then after 1969....some creep decided to send Islamic wannabe scholars to Pakistan and Afganistan....cos it was cheaper, nearer and maybe easier to pass ! Yes that was from my generation.....and graduate they did from Pakistan and Afganistan, and yes again, from my generation ! And boy what a whirl-wind of change they brought back to teach our young ones.....new words like kafir, infidel and Allahu...Akhbar were deemed solely for the use of one race and religion at a very young and tender age ! Color blind kids were "directed" to recognise and identify their neighbours skin colors by parents or teachers or politicians.
Nobody took offence before then, when we read in cartoon war-comic books when words like "by the beard of Allah" or "by the beard of the prophet" were exclaimed or uttered ! I cannot say the same now, can I ?
c. then "race" and "religion" was introduced and made mandatory when filling-up in all government forms.
d. then the politicians took over....reminding the people the close proximity of places of worship of the various faiths which have been there long before and for decades and now suddenly the sound of bells and chantings from temples and churches became annoying and unbearable while the volume of speakers in the suraus and mosques grew louder ! Still nobody cared or paid any attention, as we were still living in harmony, respecting each other's rights and beliefs.
These same "new" politicians then appointed and created powerful "little napoleons" and warlords to take care and of their "interests". As these "new" politicians now depended solely on ONE race of their choice for their very existence to remain in power.
e. then came an era of supremacy, and the "ketuanan melayu", where there was a huge increase of a certain races' population just so to tip the scales in forming a majority with the influx of immigrants from neighbouring lands and many "a/l" nationals conveniently converted to "bins".
Before you brand me otherwise....No, I repeat, I'm not a racist and I have nothing against any one race as I grew up with all races during my happy child-hood back in Taiping in the 60's !( go read my earlier posts , if you will !) Many are still very close to me till today ! Here I'm discussing the political scenario of all that has gone wrong.
f. government offices and agencies saw the dwindling decrease of an equal distribution of the various races in employment unlike before and promotions and heads of departments were replaced with only ONE type of race. I have yet to see a District Officer or a Ketua Pengarah who is not a Malay today, why and why not ? Is this in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia? They were there before 1969, what happened ?
g. Sabah and Sarawak are never a part of the a truely Malaysian identity. Even till today we are termed "them" and "us" as it is in the BN and the PR fractions. Does the current 1Malaysia concept consider all as "us" ? Of course not !
h. then the police and armed forces "misplaced" their loyalty to "King and country" when they got suckered into serving the ruling government of the day and the royalty favored the "government of the day" to the "rakyat".
i. the courts lost their privilege as being "independent" and were subservient to their paymasters aka "the government of the day" as the favored ones......the rest is history....and now just look at all the mess that's happening all around us !
Give me back the 60's please and I'll show you ONE Malaysia ! It was all there and nobody shoved anything down our throats to embrace one another ! We just lived happily together !
Sigh !
Posted by shanghaistephen
Racism in my beloved country
I am at a loss for words. I know racism exists today but not to this extent and as I watched this 2 video clips, there is a part of me that cannot believe this is actually going on today, in my country and after 52 years of independence! Actions and words cannot hide the truth. As if seditious actions and words are not enough, the home minister must pamper these religious bigots with excuses. Please watch them here
and here
and please pray for justice. If the police does not apply the full force of the law on these people, there will be more racial disputes and we will never see eace and harmony among the races. Will the police please nib this in the bud?
and here
and please pray for justice. If the police does not apply the full force of the law on these people, there will be more racial disputes and we will never see eace and harmony among the races. Will the police please nib this in the bud?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
COW HEAD - UMNO JUSTICE
HUFF
Datuk Seri Najib Razak has ordered the police to take swift action against a group that brought a cow's head to Shah Alam to protest a Hindu temple relocation in a bid to calm swirling racial tensions. (Aug 28)
HUFF
Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin condemned the protest, calling it insensitive and disrespectful to another religion. (Aug 28)
HUFF
Khalid warned that the police would not hesitate to take stern action against anyone out to create racial tension. (Aug 29)
and PUFF
He (Hishamuddin) stressed that in issues involving race and religion, the government would not bow to pressure and would not hesitate to act against those who refused to heed to such a warning. (Aug 31)
BUT, BUT,BUT,
The Home Minister today defended and justified last Friday's cow-head demonstration after meeting with Malay-Muslim representatives of Shah Alam's Section 23 at his office here today......he said, suggesting he was not in favour of legal action to be taken against any of the protestors. (Sept. 2)
Hishammuddin told reporters that the police allowed the demonstrators to proceed because the numbers of protestors were small.
(I am speechless)
Sheeeeeeesh !!! THIS IS UMNO JUSTICE
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Crying Wolf
Most of us know the story of the boy who cried 'wolf '. No need to repeat here, but the lesson is that when one keeps on telling lies, one day, even if he tells the truth, no one will believe him.
So it is with our minister and police. Various groups, especially those from umno had played the race card and yet the authorities had not taken any action except for a slap on the wrist. "Stern action will be taken" and "we will not tolerate those out to create trouble" are the standard wolf cries. Even the PM's instruction to take immediate action following the cow head incidence had been ignored. No one, especially the umno followers are taking all these warnings seriously. If only Ahmad Ismail had been dealt with the way they dealt with Theresa Kok, if only Utusan Melayu and B.Harian had been dealt with as they did with the Sin Chew reporter, there wont be any need to talk about restoring bridges and tearing down the walls as mentioned by the PM in his Merdeka Day message. All that is needed is to make an example of one umno race bigot.
So it is with our minister and police. Various groups, especially those from umno had played the race card and yet the authorities had not taken any action except for a slap on the wrist. "Stern action will be taken" and "we will not tolerate those out to create trouble" are the standard wolf cries. Even the PM's instruction to take immediate action following the cow head incidence had been ignored. No one, especially the umno followers are taking all these warnings seriously. If only Ahmad Ismail had been dealt with the way they dealt with Theresa Kok, if only Utusan Melayu and B.Harian had been dealt with as they did with the Sin Chew reporter, there wont be any need to talk about restoring bridges and tearing down the walls as mentioned by the PM in his Merdeka Day message. All that is needed is to make an example of one umno race bigot.
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