MAVRKY Newsroom

Raja Petra Statutory Declaration

2008-06-20T20:17:00.001-07:00

18th June 2008

Source: Malaysiakini

Damage Done

2006-12-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

Source: Sensitrovert

Shouthub

2006-11-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

my.shouthub.com

8th Nov 2006.

2006-10-25T20:37:00.001-07:00

Zakaria ill

2006-10-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

Zakaria in Alor Gajah

2006-10-21T20:42:00.001-07:00

PTPTN Repayment

2006-10-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Bridge Claim

2006-10-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

Zaid Ibrahim

2006-10-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Mazlynoor Mansion

2006-10-21T20:17:00.001-07:00

Zakaria Mansion

2006-10-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

Zakaria fine

2006-10-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Mubarak on Islam

2006-10-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Anti-Khalwat

Socialapathy: The Business of Blogging

2006-10-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Socialapathy

Howsy: The Departed Blog

2006-10-16T09:36:00.001-07:00

howsy

PreferVision: Salute to Maverick SM

2006-10-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

PreferVision

2006-09-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

PM has answered his critics

2006-09-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Allow PM to do his way

2006-09-26T09:44:00.001-07:00

PM: Don't misjudge me

2006-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

PM: Don't misread me

2006-09-26T09:43:00.001-07:00

PM: I do it My Way

2006-09-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

PM: I am Aware

2006-09-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ong Ka Ting & Chan Kong Choy

2006-09-26T08:07:00.001-07:00

KJ and Kamal

2006-09-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Pak Lah with a bag

2006-09-26T07:45:00.001-07:00

13As student unfulfilled dream

2006-09-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

Rotten Bridge in Kelantan 2

2006-09-26T07:44:00.001-07:00

Rotten Bridge in Kelantan

2006-09-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

Malay Woman with Baby

2006-09-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

Robin Hood

2006-09-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

Khairy & Nori

2006-09-25T08:44:00.001-07:00

Tired Cat

2006-09-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

Tired Girl Yawning

2006-09-25T08:43:00.001-07:00

Tired Girl Eating

2006-09-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

Tired Boy Shitting

2006-09-25T08:42:00.001-07:00

Tired Baby

2006-09-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Tired Chan Kong Choy

2006-09-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Tired Kapal Singh

2006-09-25T08:40:00.001-07:00

Tired Ng Yen Yen

2006-09-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

Tired Azalina

2006-09-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Tired Mavrky

Pak Lah - Photo gallery

2006-09-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Fraudster gadget at Bank ATM

2005-09-29T05:03:00.000-07:00

A team of organized criminals are installing equipment on legitimate bank ATM's in at least 2 regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank using the phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN are cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A "skimmer" is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.

At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.

Equipment being installed on front of existing bank card slot.

The equipment as it appears installed over the normal ATM bank slot.

The PIN reading camera being installed on the ATM is housed in an innocent looking leaflet enclosure.

The camera shown installed and ready to capture PIN's by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN

Trophy Wife & Boy Toy

2005-08-22T01:36:00.000-07:00

Trophy Wife

A trophy wife refers to a marriage pattern in Western society in which some men marry attractive women as a form of display intended to exhibit their wealth and success to others.

A trophy wife doesn’t have to cook and clean and get her manicured nails all dirty.

Often rich and successful men who follow this pattern divorce their first wives, often with a generous divorce settlement, and then marry a second much younger woman.

In many cases this pattern is repeated with subsequent wives. This marriage pattern is of interest to anthropologists because is can be seen as a form of serial monogamy and is analogous to patterns of polygamy in other societies.

Rock stars in particular, like Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart, never take anything BUT trophy wives. And there are billionaires like Donald Trump, whose latest acquisition is model Melania Knauss.

And what happens when the trophy wife gets older, like Bianca Jagger and Ivana Trump? Why, the men dump them, usually with a fair settlement, and take another one! It’s like swapping your Jimmy Choos for a newer, better-looking model.

Toy Boy

Encouraged by Madonna and Demi Moore, increasing numbers of women are dating younger men. But what's in it for the toy boys? Oscar Humphreys, 22, explains the appeal.

Demi Moore is set to marry her toyboy lover Ashton Kutcher in a Kabbalah wedding ceremony.

The couple - who have an age gap of 15 years between them - will tie the knot in November. Moore has been dating Kutcher since April 2003, after being introduced to one another by Puff Daddy at a party in New York.

The marriage will be the 41-year-old star's third - she first wed musician Freddy Moore, whose surname she took, when she was 18.

She then tied the knot with Hollywood actor Bruce Willis - with whom she has three daughters.

The kind of woman who goes for a toy boy is usually financially and emotionally independent; she doesn't require a man for status or security.

SHARON STONE is desperately looking for a toyboy lover - because DEMI MOORE shows dating a younger man can work.

Stone is thrilled Moore's relationship with 27-year-old Kutcher has been a success and wants to find her own younger man.

"They should watch out because if they're not careful, their wives will now be the ones leaving them for younger men.

"Only a few days ago I was chatted up in a bar by a 25 year old. I said, 'I could be your mother.'

"A 25-year-old would be happy to spend the whole afternoon washing your hair for you. But a 40-year-old man who works too hard will get his secretary to send you flowers."

I live with my mother but sometimes I tell people that I live alone. My room is full of overflowing ashtrays and last week's Starbucks cups, and I am constantly surrounded by chaos.

Germaine Greer caused a storm earlier this year when it was revealed that her next book, The Boy, would be a thesis on "why boys have always been the world's pin-ups". Who better, then, to explain to me the appeal of "the boy" to older women?

"Women have always turned on to boys and, historically, older women were expected to introduce boys to the refinement and excitement of sex with the older woman," Greer told me. "They were lovers but they were also teachers. The sexual potency of boys, who have sperm that flows like tap water, is galling to older men. Older men sit in judgement but boys don't do that. They are able to admire a woman for what she has achieved."

Can there be equality in our relationship? Well, there is sexual equality, but, I have to admit, little else (Greer tells me that we are both at our sexual peaks). It is, indeed, an unbalanced arrangement, but that is how my girlfriend likes it.

The way I see it, the kind of woman who goes for a toy boy is usually financially and emotionally independent; she doesn't require a man for status or security. She is therefore able to make a truly honest and objective choice about who she wants to be with.

She doesn't want a bloated banker to buy her dinner; she would rather have fun and laugh with a boy than have boring, responsible weekends in the country with a man her own age. She wants to be reminded that she can still be independent and is still sexy.

Veteran actress Faye Dunaway found an unlikely boy toy in the 22-year-old son of the SULTAN OF BRUNEI

At 64, Dunaway is old enough to be the grandmother of PRINCE AZIM, whose dad is one of the richest men in the world, with a fortune of $47.5 billion (GBP25 billion).

Nevertheless, the pair left exclusive London restaurant Nobu hand-in-hand together last night (27JUN05) prompting reports of a romance.

Pals insist their relationship is strictly business-based - budding film-maker Prince Azim is hoping to persuade Dunaway to appear in a new movie he is making.

But the young lothario has a history with older women - he once sent SIR MICK JAGGER's ex-wife JERRY HALL a bouquet of flowers so large two men had to deliver it, reports the London Evening Standard.

More ...

Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, 26, better known as a hard-hitting journalist to many TV3 viewers, married Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 58, in a closed ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday August 20th, 2005.

Toys & Trophies in Display -Part 2

2005-08-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

Former Miss Malaysia Wed Sweetheart

BY JAIVIN DOMPOK

PETALING JAYA: The days of flying as a stewardess for Miss Malaysia Universe 2001 Tung Mei Chin are over.

The 25-year-old beauty queen's career was “grounded” a few weeks before her engagement to John Tang, 29, in September last year.

And Tung, who was a SIA flight attendant for two years, will be married on the date her grandfather set – Sept 18.

“The date is important for both families as it does not clash with the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival,” she told The Star yesterday.

The couple’s love started innocently as they were friends for three years before becoming an item.

“I met John through his friend while I was studying in a college in Petaling Jaya,” she said.

Their relationship grew warmer when Tang was posted to China while she was a stewardess in Singapore.

“When I had my off days he would try to fly to Singapore to visit me and I would try to change my flight destination to Hong Kong so that I could be with him there,” Tung said.

In July last year, Tang proposed in front of a hotel lobby in Kuala Lumpur when they were in the country for a holiday.

“That took me by surprise. I did not expect anything to happen during that short trip,” Tung said, adding that two months later she quit her job as she wanted to be closer to Tang in China.

The couple plan to move to Guangzhou, China, after their marriage to help in Tang’s family business in garment manufacturing.

Tung and Tang, both Penangites, will hold their wedding ceremony in Penang.

Azrinaz Weds Brunei Sultan

WITH politics and other heavy issues hogging the headlines these past few weeks, Berita Minggu instead broke the story of a former TV3 personality marrying the Sultan of Brunei on its front page.

Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, 26, better known as a hard-hitting journalist to many TV3 viewers, married Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 58, in a closed ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

One guest told Berita Minggu that the ceremony was only attended by family members, relatives and close friends of both bride and groom.

Azrinaz took a course in broadcasting diploma at the Malaysian Institute of Integrative Media (MIIM) or Akademi TV3 in 1997 and started work as an executive journalist with the station two years later.

However, the winner of TV3 Promising Journalist for 2000 resigned last May, saying she hoped to explore other fields.

She received a MIIM Alumni Award in 2002.

With Azrinaz’s marriage, the newspaper said, it has solved a riddle that had been circulating so strongly for some time.

The paper also highlighted an award presented by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman to newly crowned Akademi Fantasia winner Asmawi Ani, popularly known as Mawi, for making the state famous.

In his speech before 3,000 spectators, Abdul Ghani said Mawi had successfully projected the image of a clean Malay youth with a winning personality and uplifted the name of the state with his talent.

Both the newspaper and Mingguan Malaysia also highlighted a statement by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat calling on wives to keep in mind the “problems” faced by aging virgin women, whose number has increased in the country, and not stop their husbands from marrying again.

These wives, he said, should not prevent their husbands’ plans by reacting violently as long as the latter could afford to take another wife.

“Just think of the situation faced by the aged virgin. She will be forced to remain unmarried when in actual fact, there is a man who desires her. Wives should thus give these men room.

“These things will not be resolved as long as people only seek to fulfil their own desires but not think of others’ desires as well,” he said.

Toys & Trophies in Display -Part 1

2005-08-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

Love blossoms and he becomes a grandpa at 27

BY DERRICK VINESH

BUTTERWORTH: She is a 47-year-old widow with five children and a 10-month-old grandson. He is 27.

They met eight months ago. Love blossomed and despite the initial family shock and protest, they tied the knot yesterday.

In so doing, Mohd Riduan Husiani may have become the youngest grandfather on record, even if not from a biological viewpoint.

Hasnah Abdullah, looking resplendent in her turquoise blue baju kebaya bridal outfit, smiled shyly as she exchanged rings with her partner during their akad nikah at Masjid Jamek Seberang Jaya.

“My first husband, Ridzuan Said, died from kidney failure nine years ago. I felt lonely after that. Then Mohd Riduan came along.

“Both of them have similar names. I believe it is fate that brought us together.”

Hasnah, a factory operator, met Mohd Riduan, a security officer, at their previous workplace in Permatang Batu, Bukit Mertajam.

Her daughter, Siti Fairus Ridzuan, 17, said the family was initially shocked.

“We told her she was crazy. But after listening to her reasons, we relented and accepted Mohd Riduan as part of the family.

“We find it odd calling him dad though, as he is quite young. So, we have decided on calling him pakcik (uncle) instead.”

Mohd Riduan said his parents, too, initially disapproved of the marriage plans because of the wide age gap.

They later gave their consent, but chose not to attend the wedding ceremony.

“I am proud to be a ready-made grandfather as I love children,” said Mohd Riduan.

“I accept Hasnah's children and grandson as my own, but I hope to have at least two children with her.”

They plan to go on a honeymoon in Pangkor.

“She may be as old as my mother, but I know she will take good care of me, just as I will take care of her,” said Mohd Riduan.

They were among 12 couples who were married in an inaugural mass wedding ceremony for Muslims in the Permatang Pauh constituency arranged by Seberang Jaya assemblyman Arif Shah Omar Shah.

P & D CEO fined $600,000 for CBT

2005-08-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

CBT

This is a Criminal Breach of Trust; a failure in performing a fudiciary duty of which it was entrusted to him by the public and of which $26 million was blatantly misused and abused. For that crime, he was fined $600,000 by the Session Court. Isn't it worth? I would want to take this risk, as it's worth the efforts where the public had to pay $26mil?

To add salt, the ACA spent huge sums to investigate the affairs and culminated with this conclusion. Oh.....god is great, but men are greater....

Read the story:

Former chief executive officer of Plantations and Development (Malaysia) Bhd, Yong Tiam Yoon, was fined RM600,000 yesterday for abetting the company in misusing RM26.5mil in public issue proceeds nine years ago. Sessions Court judge Nursinah Adzmi fined Yong, 54, the amount in default 20 months' jail. He paid the fine.

Yong pleaded guilty on Tuesday after initially claiming trial to the offence committed between Aug 1 and Nov 15, 1996, at the company’s premises in IGB Plaza, Jalan Kampar, here. Yong, in his capacity as CEO, was charged in 2001 with abetting P&D in contravening a condition imposed by the Securities Commission, which had approved the company’s application to list on the Main Board of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (now known as Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd).

In a letter of approval dated Feb 12, 1996, the SC had stipulated that RM30.15mil of public issue proceeds were to be utilised for the acquisition of land, financing a joint venture project, acquiring an office block at Sentul Raya and as working capital for P&D. However, the funds were used to reduce loan facilities by several subsidiary companies of P&D and as at Nov 15, 1996, a total of RM26,493,335.57 had been misutilised.

Two others charged with the same offence were P&D executive directors Chua Peng Len @ Chua Peng Jin, 65, and Gwi Chin Fatt, 51. Chua was fined RM250,000 after he pleaded guilty in 2001 while Gwi was fined RM500,000 when he admitted to the offence two weeks ago.

In mitigating for a light sentence, counsel Tan Hock Chuan said that Yong was not the sole person who made the decision on how the said proceeds were to be utilised. He said P&D’s board of directors had decided against the acquisition of land and the office block at Sentul Raya due to the weak property market at the time. He pleaded for a non-custodial sentence for Yong who suffers from diabetes, hypertension and stomach complications.

“The accused is married with three children and comes from a prominent family in Singapore. His reputation has already been affected as a result of this conviction.”

P&D was classified under Practice Note 4 of the KLSE Rules in February 2001 with a negative shareholders’ fund of RM134.5mil as at Dec 31, 1999,

In November 2003, its listing status was subsequently taken over by Fountain View Development Bhd. The new company is also entangled in some legal problems. Businessman and substantial shareholder of Fountain View Development, Datuk Chin Chan Leong, 52, was charged on June 25 with manipulating the company’s shares in the stock market. Former Avenue Securities Sdn Bhd remisier Hiew Yoke Lan, 43, was also charged with abetting him.

Corporate Governance? Minority Watchdogs? Where are they????

Malaysia Boleh Ideology!!!!!

My Obssession with Marina

2005-08-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

My obsession with Marina

She is back with another diatribe. She is brunt and straight, and she would not live to be a hypocrite. What has she got to say,; about what? Read below her article in The Star today:

Let them speak

By MARINA MAHATHIR

I’ve always thought that Malaysians are disinclined towards self-reflection and analysis. Why this should be so could probably be blamed on an education system that does not encourage independent thinking and questioning, as well as a dislike for confronting anything unpleasant. This is all very well if you never have to face it for yourself. But lately I’ve been in situations where I’ve had to witness this and you want to just curl up in embarrassment.

First I was at an overseas conference where a Malaysian government official was presenting a paper on a subject that was controversial and has few supporters in the international community. I was surprised that he had accepted the invitation to speak in the first place but having done so, I thought he must have worked out a convincing argument. To the utter bemusement of everybody, he presented a paper more suited to a high school student than a senior government official. Not only was it devoid of any scientific justification, it bore no logic at all.

It made me realise that some officials must live in an insular world where they have no idea what the rest of the world thinks and therefore naively present arguments that they don’t even realise will not hold water among well-informed people. Then they are shocked at the strong reaction they get. Now if they can then respond by presenting cogent reasons for their viewpoint, they might have saved a modicum of respect. But instead they simply give up and refuse to take the challenge of engaging in a debate. Everybody is then left dissatisfied.

I thought this was just an aberration until I witnessed the same inability to read an audience and present an intelligent analysis of a situation from an even more senior official. Perhaps when we are used to an uninformed unquestioning audience, we tend to underestimate the intelligence of every one we face.

It wouldn’t have alarmed me, if I thought that there was a new generation of Malaysians who could be different. So I went to a seminar hoping to listen to more interesting viewpoints. I did find some but not from anyone I didn’t already know. In a panel where university lecturers spoke and students asked questions and ventured opinions, I was struck by how some supposedly highly-qualified academicians had the same inability to provide a rational analysis of real situations and instead resorted to vague generalisations and illogic. Unsurprisingly the students were no better, asking unoriginal questions and spouting well-worn phrases that elicited applause from their own crowd. Not a single student asked any questions which were at all provocative or revealed some real thinking.

I suppose we should not blame our students’ lack of thinking skills when people who don’t have them either are teaching them. (And I know it isn’t just me saying this; some visiting academicians have embarrassingly mentioned the same thing). Students are also not going to stand up and say anything different for fear of attracting derision both from their lecturers and their peers. This is not a country that values original thinking and difference much after all.

The sad thing is, when you get young people by themselves, away from adults that they depend on, they can be very different. They can express opinions that don’t imitate others and you can appeal to their common sense and inherent goodness. But how much opportunity do we give young people to do this safely and without attracting some sort of punishment?

Yet if we expect the next generation to compete on an international level, we have to nurture their ability to speak and stand up for themselves. The types that I’ve been listening to will only be laughed at overseas.

I know what I speak of. As a young university student overseas, I was shocked to find that not only did people have vastly different opinions than me, they were more than willing to tell me exactly why I was wrong. The first few times I would retreat wounded into my room and cry with frustration at my own inability to defend my views. I also wondered how much of my views were in fact my own or just regurgitation of someone else’s. In time I got better at thinking out issues and putting across my opinion. I also learnt that it isn’t the end of the world if everybody disagreed with you.

We have to do something concrete about nurturing the thinking skills of our young people because otherwise they will not survive in the larger world. For a start we could be more stringent about the intellectual abilities of those who teach them. We can also create an environment that would be safe and encouraging for our young people to express themselves. Only then can we hold our heads high wherever we are.

COMMENTS:

Profanity? Ya, to some of the gaudy Malaysian Academicians and senior officials; but to most commoners, Marina is not the only person who scorn these un-ingenious dim-wit. We have often seen it the way she saw it except the fact that she speaks out loud and unassuming.

But the system managers, didn't they know about their own megalomaniacs? oh, oh, oh, they may not for they are megalomaniacs too.....

more ...

Full List of AP to be Published

2005-07-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

AP - Full Publication

From Salbiah Said

www.bernama.com

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa), July 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday directed Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz to publish the full list of Approved Permit (AP) holders to avoid negative perceptions from the public.

"Okay publish all, publish all. There's no need to keep. Why should we keep. If by keeping we create negative perceptions, that's not right, that's wrong," he told the Malaysian media at the end of his three-day official visit to South Africa.

He said this in response to allegations from former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the government did not issue the full list to the public.

Rafidah, who was at the press conference, said that she would publish the full list including those owning showrooms.

In a quick response, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry released the list of 2004 AP holders in Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier at the press conference, Abdullah said that he had no intention of not publishing what had already been made public.

"The list was the latest until 2005 and the public has seen the latest list. If there's anything that has been left out inadvertently, then we would furnish further. But Rafidah would be in a better position. I have given and published the list on that day," he said .

The prime minister said he was looking at the AP issue from major aspects.

"We may have to review the policy and introduce stricter regulations on the issuance of open APs to prevent abuse. They should be importing cars and selling cars and not selling APs," Abdullah said.

On the franchise APs, he said that the government would also have to review the issuance in the interests of the future, but said that he was not in a position to announce the details on the matter.

As for Proton board's decision not to renew its Chief Executive Officer Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff's contract, he said it was the board's decision which was properly made.

On Tengku Mahaleel's successor, Abdullah said that the new CEO would be experienced and one who had served about 12 years with Proton.

"We'll see who's going to be the CEO. It will not be a foreigner. Don't start speculating," he said when asked to comment on talks that a foreigner might be appointed to replace Tengku Mahaleel.

Abdullah said that clarifications on the matter should be made by the board.

"They will know the answer. I would give the board the benefit of the doubt. The board must act in the interest of Proton as the national car manufacturer. They must have the interest of the national car at heart," the premier said.

"They must ensure that there's been progress by Proton. That is certainly what I want to see. Details of the management are matters for them to decide. I will leave them to make the best of decisions in the interest of the board.

"They may have many reasons for whatever they have done. I would like to remind them and make this statement, that decisions must be made in the interest and progress and development of Proton."

Tengku Mahaleel is on leave effective July 26 prior to his retirement on Sept 30, 2005.

Following the decision to terminate Tengku Mahaleel's contract, Proton appointed Datuk Kisai Rahmat, who was Director of Operations and Datuk Kamarulzaman Darus, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Tanjung Malim Sdn Bhd, as joint operating officers to run Proton Holdings Bhd effective July 26.

Later, after the press conference, Rafidah told reporters that she was too hurt to reply to Dr Mahathir's allegations.

Non Malays Prefer Private Sector?

2005-07-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Private Sector Preferred

New Straits Times report:

The dearth of non-Malay civil servants may be attributed to many preferring private sector jobs instead of a career in the public service. While Chinese accounted for 29.7 per cent and Indians 9.8 per cent of civil servants in the 1980s, their numbers fell to 8.2 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively in 2003. The numbers have, however, been encouraging since 2001, said Public Services Commission secretary Luey Puteh.

"If the numbers of non-Malays applying is small, what can we do? The PSC is an appointing authority and we can’t woo certain racial groups or we’d appear biased."

The PSC, she said, could not conduct recruitment drives among non-Malays alone for the sake of neutrality. She said the drastic drop in the number of non-Malay civil servants since the 1980s was due to the retirement of the post-Merdeka batch of civil servants, who were not being replaced. Luey said efforts to encourage non-Malays to join the civil service were best left to political parties or government agencies.

She added that the PSC functioned as a recruiter, but approval was in the hands of the heads of department in the federal service. There had been a slight increase in the number of non-Malays applying of late for professional and managerial (Grade A) posts. More were also applying to be support staff, but the numbers have fluctuated in recent years.

While few non-Malays look at civil service for jobs, many however succeeded. For instance, 5,668 Chinese applied for Group A federal posts last year, of whom 1,042 made the cut for interviews, with 564 or 54.13 per cent offered jobs. A similar pattern has emerged for other non-Malay applicants.

One reason few applicants turn up for interviews is that it can take up to three years before an applicant is called for an interview. "We have to wait for ministries or agencies to make a request," Luey explained. "Until then, we don’t process the job applications. If one is lucky, there may be a post available sooner."

Luey said the number of vacancies fell short of candidates because there were no new posts being created or applicants did not meet the stringent requirements. "If there are many applicants for few posts, we raise the bar in our vetting process. This can be difficult for applicants to understand. They think they are qualified and get upset when they find we have made vetting more stringent without telling them."

The PSC only handled recruitment for about 30 per cent of all public sector jobs, but is the largest appointing body, Luey said. The rest are under the respective service commissions of the police, armed forces, Education, Legal and Judicial, state and local authorities. Luey said there were generally more applicants than vacancies in public service. Last year, 418,000 applied for vacancies but only 19,000 were hired. She cited an example where 18,000 applications were received for 10 vacancies for Customs officers.

COMMENTS:

Non Malays preferred private sector instead of civil service?

Oh No! Please, please,.... everyone one in Malaysia are interested in civil service. As there are so many who had applied, and the clear preferences based on ethnicity, the non-Malays understand the reality and the onerousness. We accept reality and instead of competing with the privileged and later cause some uproar in UMNO, we prefer to adapt and seek the competitive world of employment - the private sector. In the private sector, excluding the government linked companies, employment is based absolutely on meritocracy, the ability to perform and the commitment to work long hours, beyond normal working time.

Furthermore, in the private sector, if you are a high performer, you will be given the opportunity to rise in the ranks plus the benefits will commensurate with your effort and dedication. In civil service, it is accepted that even if you are more senior, more years of service, and deserving, some positions are sacred and are reserved under the rule of convention. Otherwise, UMNO Youth will be shouting biases and uneven playing field.

To Cik Luey Puteh, thank you very much for your openness and fair comments. We are happy that there are millions of Malays who are fair and reasonable headed, unlike those from UMNO. On behalf of the non-malays, we sincerely appreciate your fairness and competency. We are happy to continue our dog-fight in the private sector. Tho it is tough and stressful, but we have learn to live with the environment and to compete based on meritocracy. Many of us have not been successful but there are many too that had succeed. To those who have not been successful, they are still struggling and will continue to survive; but they are happy tho' poor.

UMNO can have what they want and we will not object as long as they don't try to rob us of what we had achieved thru our hardwork, blood and sweat. We don't need APs, we don't need NEP, we don't need the post of D-G, PM, DPM. We don't need rent-seeking. What we need is basic education and university education for our children and medical benefits offered by the government hospitals to help the poor who could not afford private hospital services. We need social life, self esteem and we need peace of mind.

Thank you to those who understand, including all those from PAS and KeAdilan, and those deprived UMNO members. The problem is only the eunuchs from the inner circle of the dynasty.

No reason for non-Malays to worry

2005-07-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

NEP- DON'T WORRY

Najib: No reason for non-Malays to worry

With the Government’s commitment to economic growth for all, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said there was no reason for non-Malays to be uneasy over calls to revive the New Economic Policy (NEP).

"The Government is committed to expanding the economic growth of other races, so there is no reason for them to feel worried that their interests will be affected," Najib said.

Though Malays had made strides in various fields since the affirmative action programme for the Bumiputeras was introduced more than three decades ago, he said several targets had not been met. "It is our hope that we can fulfil what has been promised to the Malays as enshrined in the NEP."

Najib was commenting on the statement by Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik that Malay leaders should analyse why the community had failed to achieve a 30 per cent share of the economy.

Lim said the issue could turn into a racial confrontation if Malays failed to address their economic weaknesses.

Najib said that in general, Malay leaders knew the cause of the failure and were the first to admit that the shortcomings needed to be addressed immediately.

"We’re the first to admit that we have to rectify the weaknesses in the Malays, like the ‘leakages’ raised by the Prime Minister in his speech, the Malays’ habit of wanting to get rich quickly, not wanting to strive for themselves, and the many other things that we have criticised them for."

The decision to revive the NEP would finally reside with the Barisan Nasional coalition. "The BN is resilient," he said. "We have found solutions to problems and maintained racial harmony in the country.

"I’m confident that the national development and the national agenda for the country will be tackled in the BN spirit through consensus."

COMMENTS:

Dear Najib, thank you and we appreciate your frankness and fairness. We believe Pak Lah shares your philosophy and ideology. We also thank you that your father, Tun Razak, had done what was necessary for the people of Malaysia, and has help to eradicate poverty particularly, of the Malays and had been successful. The only unfortunate thing is he has only served as PM for only a few years. If he had been PM for another 10 more years, the NEP would have been fully fulfilled and we need not suffer the rumblings from the moronic eunuchs. Sad to say, what Allahyarham had done was deviated since his demise. The policies were abruptly re-invented using innovative and creative wealth creation, benefitting a selected few, at the expense of the majority of the Malays.

We hope someday, when you become PM, you will not forget what your father had done, his philosophy and ideology of equality amongst the Malays, without discriminating the other Malaysians; not of the system of unfair enrichment of the selected few cronies and the policy based on nepotism.

May God bless you and anoint you with His wisdom. Amen.

Maha-REELED

2005-07-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Mahaleeled

PROTON Board SACKS CEO

GAME-OVER for Mahaleel! Proton Board of Directors decided to sack their maverick CEO, after months of altercation.

It must have been a brave decision, considering the well-known fact that Mahaleel has always been protected by Tun Mahathir, Proton's Advisor and our beloved ex-PM. This decision must have received the consent from the prime minister, Abdullah Badawi.

Read the details from Kyodo News:

Malaysia's national carmaker Proton Bhd. chief executive officer Mahaleel Ariff will be replaced, the company said Monday, ending months of speculation triggered by his criticism of government automotive policies.

The company said in a statement the board of directors, in their meeting Monday, "has resolved not to renew the tenure of the group CEO for another term. Under the terms of the current arrangements, he will therefore be retiring with effect from Sept. 30, 2005. Meanwhile, the group CEO will be on leave with immediate effect, from July 26, 2005, till the end of his tenure, Sept. 30, 2005."

The decision ended months of speculation over Mahaleel's future in the company. His feud with the board has been an open secret. His only ally has been Proton adviser Mahathir Mohamad, former prime minister.

Mahathir twice saved Mahaleel from an early exit and it has been alleged it was Mahathir's meddling that led to Proton's former chairman, Abu Hassan Kendut, quitting early this year in protest because he felt Mahathir, with no formal executive position, was interfering with management efforts to revamp the long-protected automaker, including axing Mahaleel.

But the latest straw was when Mahaleel, who has been Proton CEO for eight years, went on a head-on collision with the government, which he accused of trying to kill Proton by opening up the automotive market.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi replied the government stood by its commitment to market liberalization, including cutting tariffs on imported cars and urged Proton to improve.

As a national car company, Proton still receives government protection in the form of a 50 percent excise tax rebate.

At a press conference, Proton Chairman Mohammed Azlan Hashim declined to say if Mahaleel's contract was not renewed because of his criticism of the government.

"It's a question of change. Proton is an institution. It's not about an individual," Azlan said.

He added Mahathir has been informed of the board decision and that they are still looking for a new CEO.

Proton was Mahathir's brainchild, created in 1983 to spearhead the country's heavy industry.

It once dominated the market with an up to 80 percent share, but that has dwindled to about 40 percent in a 430,000 unit-a-year market due to the influx of cheaper models from South Korea and Japan.

Proton is currently in talks with Volkswagen AG for a partnership where the German company will use Proton to assemble its cars for the Southeast Asian market while Proton benefits from Volkswagen's technological know-how.

Globalization: The China Doll Effect

2005-07-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

China Dolls

The world is swamped with cheap products from China and Malaysian Industries must be prepared to face the competitive onslaught from products from China.

Apart from manufactured goods, China are also exporting massive "Biological weapons" in the form of beautiful-tall babydolls, which provide "extra" services to meet men's biological needs. This time, it is not only the industry that faces the economic onslaught but wifes are facing getter challanges to keep their husband filial.

Hundreds of thousands of tall, beautiful made-in-China ladies are spreading their charm, attracting and seducing men. If you put a nice fish infront of a cat, no matter how hard he tried to resist, the temptation is beyond our biological capability to resist.

In sitiawan, hundreds of wifes are complaining that these "China dolls" are offering their "extra" services, to elderly men in the district for a handsome fee. The women from the Foo Chow district in China are available for "rental" of up to RM6,000 a month depending on their age and beauty. The 20- to 30-year-olds have latched on to local agents who advertise their services by word of mouth to the mostly Foo Chow-speaking members of the local Chinese community.

It is learnt that the women are virtually invisible except for a brief period about 9pm daily when they meet for dinner at a restaurant in Jalan Kampung Selamat. By 6pm, the parking area is filled with expensive cars, from which elderly men alight with the women in tow.

A businessman in the property line here, who declined to be identified, said one needed to be in the right circles to be able to "rent" the women. According to him, the agents set the women up in apartments where those "renting" them can visit daily. The rental period could range between a day and a month. "If you go to the right location, you can see men as old as 70 being accompanied by women in their 20s to breakfast.“

WOMEN from China have also “invaded” Taiping to take up jobs as “short-term mistresses,” Sin Chew Daily reported in July last year.

In August 2004, China Press reported that Chinese families are apparently under threat of being broken up by “seductresses” from China. The daily received many calls, letters and faxes from readers complaining that the women seduced their husbands who often end up losing money and breaking up the families. The women, who came on social visit passes, targeted cities and towns with a high Chinese population, such as Kepong, Jinjang, Tanjung Sepat, Cameron Highlands, Teluk Intan and Seremban. They worked in karaoke lounges, bars and restaurants to get close to the men.

Those who found a sugar daddy would be given accommodation, cars and allowances.

A reader narrated the story of her friend’s husband who was so obsessed with a woman from China that he spent up to RM1mil on her a year. The man’s marriage ended in divorce. He was later abandoned by the mistress who found a “new target” after draining the man of his fortune. The daily said the women were good at gaining sympathy by telling sob stories, such as the tough life they had in China or that their ailing parents and siblings needed money for medical treatment.

While they have made many men happy, they have also made many "OLD" wives unhappy. These "PRETTY WOMEN" act as social escorts, but cautioned against tarring all female visitors from China as there were genuine visitors with relatives in the area. The authorities should take care not to arrest the innocent.

A woman, unhappy that some local men had been calling on the foreigners, approached Perak state immigration director Datuk Ishak Mohamed and told him in broken Malay: “Orang tua keranda punya duit belum cukup lagi mali sini cari itu perempuan (These old men have not saved enough to pay for their coffins and yet they can come here to find the women).”

“The residents are happy that we conducted the raid as they feared such vice activities would spread,” Ishak said yesterday. He added that the women were especially worried their husbands would spend their life savings seeking the services of the foreigners.

Well, we are in the age of globalization and liberalization. Married women must try to stay body beautiful and sweet, otherwise, the China Dolls will relieved them of their duties in bed.

Maybe, soon, the handsome Chinamen may also be seducing the local wifes. Watch out old-men with sweet wifes!!!

Moulded Meritocracy. What?

2005-07-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

Moulded Meritocracy

NST SUNDAY INTERVIEW, July 24, 2005, NST

This is an abstract from the NST interview with UMNO Youth President, Hishamuddin.

Q: How do you square the message of bringing back the NEP with the PM’s call to Malays not to expect any handouts?

A: Malays are not competing on a level playing field. If you look at education and the issue of strengthening national schools, there is nothing racial about it.

You are talking about schools that don’t have water and electricity. There is no way that students coming out of schools can compete with students coming from Smart schools, with the best teachers and facilities.

In that context, while we deal with the leakages, corruption, the delivery system, the civil service and the party, it’s very important for everyone to realise that we need to address fundamental issues such as the basic needs of those in the remote areas, villages.

Meritocracy is being discussed today. Umno Youth has always said yes, we want meritocracy. But at the same time, we want meritocracy in our own mould.

WHAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

MOULDED MERITOCRACY? HAVEN'T HEARD!

I tried checking Oxford dictionary, Webster, and Wikipedia - there is no vocab on moulded meritocracy.

Meritocracy means:

"a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement", or

"leadership selected on the basis of intellectual criteria"

Cambridge Advance Learner's Dictionary described it as:

"a social system or society in which people have power because of their abilities, not because of their wealth or social position"

Wikipedia explains:

Meritocracy is a system of government based on rule by ability (merit) rather than by wealth or social position. “Merit” means roughly intelligence plus effort. One implication is that whatever level in society a citizen reaches is held to be what such an individual deserves. Meritocratic can also sometimes be used to describe a government, or other body, that stresses formal education and competence despite other features (e.g. ancestry or sex or race).

Most systems of government contain some meritocratic elements; for instance, elected officials usually hire expert advisers to help formulate policies. Some would suggest that the military ranking system is perhaps the closest meritocratic organization which can easily be found. Pure meritocracies, however, are virtually unknown.

Proponents of meritocracy argue that a meritocratic system is more just and more productive than other systems, and that it allows for an end to distinctions based on such things as gender and race (though social classes would still exist).

Proponents of critical theory often argue that merit is defined by the power elite simply to legitimise a system in which social status is actually determined by class, birth, and wealth.

MOULDED MERITOCRACY? Tak Ada oh!

Is Hishamuddin trying to say that because rural schools don't have electricity and water in their school, therefore, if they fail SPM but have pass at least one subject, they should be admitted into university to study medicine or engineering?

If that's the case, we will end up with more unemployable graduates.

Whatever decision is made, meritocracy is merit, that is, INTELLIGENCE PLUS EFFORT.

The government can decide what they want and which Malay to put into unversity. I don't think any non-Malays would object. What the non-Malays asked is that their children be provided with educational opportunities if they pass their SPM and STPM with meritocratic results (minimum Bs and Cs as stipulated by the university of equal status; maybe, follow Oxford or Imperial College of UK standard). For UMNO, they can lobby to have those who have Ds and Es to be admitted but others, we only asked to be admitted into university based on the standard set by international quality universities - that, we consider fair and just.

Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad, an Umno Supreme Council member, chairman of Bank Rakyat and currently chairman of French telecommunication company, Alcatel Malaysia has this to say:

"It takes sharp business acumen to make it a success. At least, by the time all market barriers come down a few years down the road, there will be those among us who are ready with their “shields” for the “attacks” from foreigners in a globalised world.”

Likening the attacks on Rafidah and the Malay AP kings to herd mentality, Norraesah said:

“At MCA meetings, can you imagine them screaming for the blood of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong for getting the monopoly on the casino licence, Tan Sri Francis Yeoh for his IPP (independent power producer) licence or Tan Sri Vincent Tan for the projects that he got over the years? And no one complains about Ananda Krishan having a controlling stake in Astro.”

The Chinese and Indians, they would not cry foul if anyone gets rich or are given any privilege which they do not enjoy. What concerns them is any attempt to discriminate them by depriving them of the basic social necessity such as education and medical services. So far, we have not complain about the APs being given to Malays, projects classified as Bumi-only, Class F licence for Bumis' only, UiTM for Malays only, PM and DPM for Malays only, GLCs controlled by Malays, Civil services dominated by Malays, Metriculation for Malays, etc, etc.

We can find ways to survive, be it a hawker, a mechanic, pasar-malam retailer, VCD peddler, bookies, mini-casinos, karaoke, coffeeshop owner, insurance agent, salesmen, or any profession that can help us earn a living and feed our children. Leave us alone and don't try intimidate us. Being patient and humble does not mean we are fools. It is just that we love peace and harmony, and strive to co-exist and accept some bearable pain. We do all this to preserve harmony and for the sake of our children and the future generation. Please don't use the UMNO general assembly where you placade your toons and mock all others to derive some joy to camouflage your own mediocrity and weaknesses, which is no fault of others.

“We live in one global environment with a huge number of ecological, economic, social, and political pressures tearing at its only dimly perceived, basically uninterpreted and uncomprehended fabric. Anyone with even a value consciousness of this whole is alarmed at how such remorselessly selfish and narrow interests – patriotism, chauvinism, ethnic, religious, and racial hatred – can in fact lead to mass destructiveness. The world simply cannot afford this many more times”.

- Edward Said 1993, 21

Keep Profit in the Hands of "SELECTED" Malays

2005-07-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Keep Profits in Malays Hands

"The Profound Obscrurity of our Ignorance is scarely illuminated by a few Glimmers of our Insight. ...that the process in the unconscious or in the id obey different laws from those in the Preconscious Ego."

- Sigmund Freud

Keep Profit in the hands of the Malays? Of course! But which Malay? What then if there is no profit?

Where does profit come from? Profit is equal to total revenue minus total expenses and net profit is equal to gross profit minus overhead and taxes.

No one with sound mind would hand over profit to another person, be it their friends, relatives, or person from other races.

When I was young, just started my vocation, my mother told me to keep any money I had and deposit it with her. I asked her why? She said, that way, it will ensure that I won't spent it away. Then I asked her: "Why don't teach me the knowledge of how to save money so that I will learnt to keep them and nurture them myself." She said: "No, you will spent it away."

Today, I told my children: "You must learnt to save for your future." My son said: "Dad, every month I park a few hundred dollars with mum and she will save it for me." I told my wife: "Don't do it for him. You are not educating him if you do it. He must learnt to handle it himself as he will have to plan his own financial freedom. We must let "go" of him so that he can live and survive independently. We can't cuddle him forever. If we don't make him take care of himself, he will continue to depend on us for directions and decisions and someday, we will leave this world and then he will be without our guidance. He will then suffer."

I am absolutely certain, Malays are able to take care of themselve. They are educated and they know how to differentiate between the right and wrong.

When Khairy said: Keep the profits with the Malays, it puzzled me! What does he mean?

My first presumption is: Malays given projects must do it themselves so that the profit will be kept within the community and thus, over the years, more Malays will have achieve financial freedom, meeting the objective of the NEP.

This presumption, I strongly support! It will work.

But caution must be taken as business is also about risk taking. When projects are awarded, every businessmen will take the presumption that every project will make profit. But that is idealism. Take for example of the steel bar price increase of $600 per ton. If you have tendered and awarded a project before the price increase, then subsequently, the price increase will affect the financial bottomline and you end up losing money. But how can businessmen predict accurately what's going to happen? Look at the price of crude oil. One year ago, it was USD30 per barrel. Now, it is USD60.

For the Chinese and Indians, they never had a problem about ALI-BABA-ism. When a Chinese contractor gets a project, almost all of them, will sub-contract it to a few sub-contractors. This is because, they do not have the competency to carry out the operation of the specialized work packages. They would concentrate on management and finance aspects. They are never called Ali Baba. Similar actions are taken by Indian contractors.

But when a Bumiputra contractor does it, they are called AB and most likely, their PKK licence may be withdrawn. At such, most Bumi contractors have to engage their own workers to do the specialized work packages themselves of which they have no competency and technical ability. To add to the complexity, their workers may not perform to the planned productivity which lead to delay and ultimately cost more money. In the end, their profit were eaten up by their high cost and overheads and which lead them to a state of insolvency. Some even suffered termination of contract and bankruptcy. When this happened, the NEP is defeated.

The biggest challenge to Bumi and non-bumi contractor is the political contributions every project had to pay. Known throughout the whole construction industry, only denied at the executive and political level, it cannot be denied and shut-out that most government projects awarded, there is always been an unwritten convention that the potential contractor have to lobby for the project through politicians and there is always a price to pay for the "goodwill" service". Often, the goodwill is millions of dollars for each project. Before you start work, and earned revenue (get progress payment), you have to pay-upfront - likely in millions or hundreds of thousands - that's a sure and certain expenses that has to be paid to get the award letter. With this upfront cost, most bumi contractors (except the PLCs) will have to source the money as they do not have them. The only natural way is to get anyone who is a cash cow towkay to fund the over-the-table money. Naturally, the towkay will have conditions for funding them - thus, it ends up that the towkay will be the China-Baba or Mamak-Baba or Singh-Baba.

That's what caused Ali-Baba-ism.

Can we eradicate it? ONEROUS!

We have yet to see a minister who is not rich! Osu Sukam only spent a few years as federal minister and two years as chief minister, and it was reported in the affidavit that he gambled away RM156 million in the casino (see: The Star: How Osu frittered away those millions ) and lostRM31.17mil at the casino in just seven months, from February to September 2002. Casino gaming manager Robert Whitehall, who filed the affidavit on May 29, 2003, said the lowest amount that the Malaysian politician had gambled was £700,000 (RM4.66mil) on Feb 15 2002. Even then, he lost £600,000 (RM3.99mil). Then in just one day, on Sept 9, 2002, Osu gambled away £2.06mil (RM13.72mil) and lost £1.75mil (RM11.65mil). It seemed the amount he would gamble increased with every visit. The affidavit mentioned that Osu could not afford to repay his £1.75mil debt and an instalment arrangement was therefore made.

I dare not say every minister is corrupt - there is no evidence to support this statement. But in our society, we cannot hide and pretend ...... the political system have been derived from kleptorism and cartelism of the emperor's men. [period].

The greatest sandiwara is about to unfold. It is a master plan and a great master piece of strategic management.

The government under Pak Lah's leadership has declared that mega projects is yesterday's dream. There will be no more pump priming for the construction and development projects. This decision will definiately affect the new emperor's men. In the age of a new dynasty and a new emperor, there are many rising lieutenants that had waited for the crowning glory and the wealth distribution via projects. Now, the emperor pronounced the negative: There will not be anymore mega projects and pump priming! Disappointment and Dismayed ... psychologically betrayed!

Oh, don't worry, the eunuchs are innovative and creative. They now called for the setting up of an agency to assist and to be empowered to advice GLCs and Petronas. They claimed it will promote better management and to act as police and auditors to ensure that the interests of the Malays will be protected and that it could act against rent-seekers through market intelligence measures. WOW, great master tactician!

With lesser projects, attention is turned to Khazanah and Petronas. Now, these eunuch wants the power to influence decision-making in these two organizations because they are the only cows with plenty of milk. Azman Mokhtar and Hassan Merican must bring themselves to be prepared to face and deal with this powerful chief eunuch of the royal chamber.

The Malays are never lack behind in economic prosperity. Over the last twenty years, we have seen the rise of Tajuddin Ramli, Syed Mokhtar, Halim Saad, Wan Azmi, Ahmad Pardas, Jalaluddin Mohd Jarjis, Izham Yusoff, Charon Wardini, Khalid Ibrahim, Nasir Razak, Amin Shah, Jamaladdin, Azman Yahya, Syed Azman, Mohd Haniff, Azzuddin Ahmad, Ishak Ismail, Rozali Ismail, Ahmad Aznan, Johari Abdul Ghani, Izhar Sulaiman, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, Mohammadiah Moner, Zainuddin Abdul Rahman, Zainol Izham, Muhammad Faizal, Ayob Saad, Ramzia Arshad, Faridah Ghazali, Zatizam Ghazali, Diam Zainuddin, Khairy, Kalimullah, etc, etc. There are many thousands more if we have to name them. they are all successful and rich; many are ultra rich.

What is the problem with NEP? It definitely have proven successful in breeding millionaires amongst the Malays and the UMNO politicians and ministers. Be comforted that all Malaysians of other races respect them and in fact feel happy for them.

Probably, the only set-back is that the vast majority in the kampung is still struggling to make ends meet. But will the new Malay Agenda ensure that these kampung folks will benefit. I am not pessimistic; just realistic! IT WON'T!

All the rhetorics made at the general assembly sounds to be fighting for millions of deprived Malays. Believe the truth - it is shouted in their name but any harvest will definitely not meant for their pockets. It will still end up with the eunuch system of the dynasty. Each dynasty that had ended always saw the emergence of a new Phalanx and a mad-wealth grabbing by the phalanx in the name of equality and equity. For 49 years, the same song had been sung so many times, and each time, the voice grows louder and Asphyxiating.

Those in the deprived sector when hearing of it thought: This time is for real; but each time, and each year passes with a new agenda paraded and each time the voice gets incendiary, but, they remain empty handed and they see politicians parading their multi-million dollar bungalows and contributing millions to casinos. This will go on for the next 49 years, and the next dynasty will have to come up with a new agenda to parade in front of the credulous lot.

You can't clean up the system without first cleaning up the house. Charity always must begin from the home. Honesty is a value and can only become a culture within the society if the same value is ingrained within those who inherited and exercise power. No honest person can accumulate hundreds of millions within 5 years; neither can Warren Buffet. It took Warren Buffet more than 20 years to make his hundred million. In Malaysia, even 28 years old protege is worth hundreds of millions but they still cry foul! Is it that they do not have enough? Or, are they benchmarking with Diam?

God bless them and all the Malaysians. May God shower his wisdom on Pak Lah so that he can make a better and prosperous Malaysia for all Malaysian; not just the eunuchs.

ENOUGH? Are You Sure?

2005-07-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

ENOUGH

"The Profound Obscrurity of our Ignorance is scarely illuminated by a few Glimmers of our Insight. ...that the process in the Unconscious or in the id obey different laws from those in the Preconscious Ego."

- Sigmund Freud

Government cannot continue to play Santa Claus

THE Government cannot play Santa Claus by continually handing out contracts as “gifts” to Class F contractors, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Conceding that his decision might not be popular, he said there would be no more pump priming of the construction sector because “every cycle runs its course.”

“No one can deny that, in the past, there were among us those who had received too much assistance and too many chances."

“There were those who had not received enough assistance and those who had not been given opportunities at all. This is not fair. This cannot continue."

“We must wake up to the fact that when we award a scholarship to an unqualified bumiputra, we are depriving a more deserving bumiputra recipient. This is clearly unjust,” Pak Lah said.

“Awarding a contract to a bumiputra company that is incapable of doing quality work when there are other bumiputra companies that are more capable is also unjust and cannot be allowed. It must be stopped. We set targets but others mock us."

RENT-SEEKERS and "leakage" in implementation resulted in Bumiputeras failing to achieve fully the targets set under the New Economic Policy. These rent-seekers abused the opportunities given to them. Instead of using the opportunity to expand businesses and enhance capacity, which would have ensured continued and lasting success, they went for short-term gains.

The permits, facilities, contracts and licences allocated to them were instead handed over to others for a quick profit.

After that, they demanded new opportunities again and again. Their actions led to the creation of a class of Malays who transformed the term "middlemen" into a full-time profession.

They were given shares under the Bumiputera quota allocation to meet equity ownership targets. It was a tragedy for the Malay race that these people sold their shares for immediate gain.

Individuals were entrusted to helm companies but were content with symbolic involvement, remaining on the sideline.

The greater tragedy for the race were those who betrayed the trust placed on them by committing fraud.

Our dignity and our survival are at stake. We have to approach our problems with a new mindset and a fresh spirit.

(read: MALAY AGENDA: Success if you embody new Malay spirit )

According to Pak Lah, it is imperative that Malaysia must follow a 10-point plan for collective prosperity. The Plan is aimed at building a knowledge-based economy.

(read: 10-point plan for prosperity)

First, the nation must multiply efforts to ensure higher and sustained economic performance. It would include managing the economy carefully and safeguarding funds and savings for the future, managing public spending, striking a balance between stimulating economic activity and reducing the deficit. “We will reduce the deficit in stages to allow the economy to still prosper; and a reasonable amount of development expenditure has been allocated,” Pak Lah said.

Secondly, there would be a shift in focus from “hardware” to “the software elements that touch on human development.”

The third approach was to strengthen the basics and fundamentals of Malaysia’s economy and to explore new sources of growth.

Forth Point: The Plan also recognises the need to further improve the public sector delivery system. “Investors, including domestic investors, do not have the time or patience to wait long periods. They will choose destinations that facilitate business.

Fifth Point: “Excessive bureaucracy must be abolished. A delivery system that is efficient and expedient plays a big role in reducing corruption, which increases the cost of doing business and consequently blunts our competitive edge.”

Sixth Point: The Plan is designed to enhance integrity and eradicate corruption in every sector and grouping.

Seventh Point: Improving quality of life through housing, healthcare, education and infrastructure development and the eradication of hardcore poverty follows.

Eighth Point: Capacity building and capacity enhancement of human resources were also in the Plan.

The final strategy will be to build a nation that is stable, united, peaceful and prosperous.

COMMENT:

Where is NINETH POINT? Sudah Hilang????

I can find in the print?

Maybe, Pak lah intentionally left it out so that someday, he can add it on if necessary.

BUT.... this is not what UMNO Youth had called for yesterday???

Is Pak Lah's ideology different from his son-inlaw who is UMNO Youth deputy chief?

This is glaring and it can be observed that both the institution are preaching different philosophy and have divergent ideology.

To Pak Lah's vision, Malaysia as a whole has to let go the Santa Claus expectation. To his son-inlaw, Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno Youth wants the return of the NEP and this was no longer a hidden agenda or something only in spirit and soul. He said this should be the basis for the country's economic planning in the coming Ninth Malaysia Plan with no shame or excuses. “No need to hide. This is the Malay agenda." "We want 30% equity for the bumiputras so that they will be on par with the other races.”

On par with other races? Which race? Chinese, Indian, American, English, Jews, Mamak?

In terms of wealth between the Malay, Chinese and Indians, the bumiputras controlled more than 51% of the nation's wealth. But 70-80% of the nation's wealth is in the hands of foreign investors. So, to be on par, UMNO Youth had to buy over the investments from the foreigners which is worth in excess of RM500 billions. And if you want 30% of this, then it would require RM150 billion. Where does he get the money? Steal, rob, burgle, or force a nationalization program on foreign investors? Try do it and see how the nation crumble!!!!

When we deal with economic prosperity, it is not about bulldozing your nose and stuck it into the asshole of another. It is about earning it. It is about capacity and capability building as enunciated by the Prime Minister. It is not about an AGENDA or a SCHEME. It is work hard and spent less. It include tapping wealth from the global economy. Iy requires entrepreneurship skill and risk taking. It is not about rhetorics and shouting loud and trying to frighten others. It is not about INTIMIDATION.

For information, there are more than 50% Chinese still living slightly above poverty level, and more than 70% Indians hovering at the poverty horizon. And they don't shout loud for privilege, social welfare and rent-seeking. They never ask for APs and Contracts. They only seek subsidized education and educational opportunities, and subsidised medical benefits. Yet they are intimidated!

Will Pak Lah's economic doctrine work? No way, if you read the lines of their Youth movement!!!

Bring NEP Back, cries UMNO Youth

2005-07-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

NEP

The Star; July 21, 2005; Nation

Bring back NEP, says Youth wing

UMNO Youth wants the New Economic Policy revived as part of the national development policy to protect the interest of the Malays. Movement chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the “growth by distribution” strategy, as outlined by the NEP should be pursued to ensure the 30% bumiputra stake of corporate ownership was maintained. “The NEP definition itself should be reapplied as part of the national development policy, so that the Malays would be empowered and not sidelined from now till the year 2020,” he said in his keynote address at the Umno Youth general assembly. Hishammuddin said the movement was raising the issue again as the same proposal at the last general assembly had not made any headway. Besides the 30% equity, he said there must be an assurance for the Malays to be allowed to dominate selected property sectors. The movement also called for the following:

EXTRA effort by the Entrepreneur Development Ministry to produce quality bumiputra entrepreneurs;
FRESH approaches in the funding and planning of projects in rural areas;
MAKING sure the key performance index of Government-linked companies or privatised companies safeguard the “Malay agenda”;
ENSURING authorities responsible for awarding tenders are committed and responsible towards the Malay agenda; and
CREATING a monitoring system to ensure a more efficient delivery system for the Malay agenda.

Besides the Malay agenda and the movement’s Jatidiri Pemuda principles of self-resilience, Hishammuddin said, Umno Youth would adopt the principles of Rukun Islam (five pillars of Islam), Rukun Iman (six tenets of faith) and the Rukun Negara (the five principles of nationalism) as its guiding principles.

Meanwhile, the movement's deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was cheered by the delegates as he praised Hishammuddin and pledged his unwavering support for him to continue to lead. He received thunderous applause when he sought permission for the floor to call for the reintroduction of the NEP.

Khairy, who was booed at last year’s assembly, thanked the delegates this year for not mandikan (ragging) him. He said Umno Youth was calling for a return of the NEP and this was no longer a hidden agenda or something only in spirit and soul. He said this should be the basis for the country's economic planning in the coming Ninth Malaysia Plan with no shame or excuses. “No need to hide. This is the Malay agenda. We want 30% equity for the bumiputras so that they will be on par with the other races.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

"If you do not know where you're going, any route will lead you to a destination"
- Alice in the Wonderland

I woke up early today, hoping to read some interesting topics in the news published. Grabbing hold of the Star I read the heading: RAFIDAH UNDER FIRE. I thought; they are singing the same old song - boring and bland. The I pick up my New Straits Times and saw the heading: REVIVE THE NEP & REVIEW SUBSIDIES!

My first reaction: WHAT? Revive NEP? First and foremost, when was the NEP scrapped of which no Malaysians were informed? So, if the NEP is still there and alive, how to revive? If ever, it should be REVIEW.

Next to cross my mind is: DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT?

Economics and control of economic asset is not the same. 30% of $10 and 30% of $10 billion is not the same. When the NEP was first mooted three decades ago, the Malaysian GDP is hovering around RM60 billion. So, a 30% stake is about RM18 billion. Tracing the statistics, we should be happy that we had in fact achieved the 30% Bumi participation as planned. But todays GDP is RM260 billion. If you are asking to have 30%, then we are looking at RM78 billion per annum. To understand GDP, we have to take into consideration that foreign investments contributed more than 80% of the GDP figures. We invited foreigners to invest in Malaysia and to make Malaysia their second home. So, they bring in their monies, built factories, set up banks and financial centers, invest in the stock market, and trade in our currencies. At such, they indirectly contributed to the huge GDP figures. So, what does UMNO Youth wants? If you want 30% of what foreigners invested, then we either had to buy over the foreign businesses and get them out of the country or to snatch or steal from them.

In order for Malaysia to grow in prosperity and become a developed nation, we need foreign investors to grow our economy. At the same time, we can't say, we want to control and owned the economy. You cannot have the cake and at the same time eat it!

So, what are we talking about? Khairy is an economic graduate from Oxbridge; doesn't he understand economic theory and the philosophy of economics? Or, they are playing rhetorics in front of their own people, to win votes using smokescreen tactics?

Look at China's economic position. In the 70s, they own close to 100% of the economic activities. Since opening up their economic door, foreigners, particularly Americans and Europeans are creeping in, investing trillions in their economy; building factories, buying over state-owned corporations and financing the Chinese economic activities. As a ball-park figure, foreigners have owned more than 60% of the Chinese economic activities. And the percentages will continue to increase in the coming years.

So, why did China give up control of their state-own corporations to the foreigners? Isn't China not concern about the dwindling economy ownership? Far from it. In fact, with the investments from foreigners, China are bringing in wealth from the global world and building prosperity for their people.

So, what's UMNO shouting about? We want foreign investments but UMNO Youth wants control of others' investments?

On one hand, Pak Lah said: we want to built towering Malays. Najib said we want Malays to be Glocal. On the other hand, we hear that UMNO Youth is directing Government-linked Companies (GLC) to ensure that Bumiputeras dominate in the bio-technology, farming, aero-space, defence, information technology, halal food manufacturing, petroleum and gas, finance, automotive, services and tourism sectors; that Government-linked companies are to ensure efficient and effective business management and at the same time ensure total contribution towards the Malay agenda; and civil servants are directed to fully understand the importance of the Malay agenda when awarding contracts or tenders.

So, what do they want? Towering Malays or Candu? Still hybernating?

I weep for all my Malay friends!

UMNO Youth Poke Fun at Elder Sister

2005-07-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

poke fun

Umno Youth delegates vented criticisms and cracked jokes against International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, making no qualms of how they felt about the way she handled the AP issue. The movement's information chief Datuk Azimi Daim asked Rafidah: “If one person gets 25,000 APs and makes a profit of RM30,000 for each one, how much would the total come up to? “How much is RM30,000 x 25,000? Tak kena (It’s just not right). What’s the story about giving one person so many APs?”

International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Sidek Hassan said he takes the full responsibility over the approved permits (APs) issue. Sidek, who is the chairman of the ministry’s AP Issuing Committee, admitted that he did not consult Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz before issuing the APs. “She (Rafidah) also does not give me any instruction before the APs are issued,” he said, adding that the four-man committee, including two ministry deputy secretaries-general, would decide on the approval of the APs.

Sidek said: “When the authorities approve 51,000 APs, they can not allocate the APs to 51,000 people just to show fairness.” He said that basically, the objective of giving out APs was to develop a business environment for bumiputras.

If you manage a company that imports cars, as a Bumi you are privileged to apply for franchise APs. And if your sales each year exceeds 15,000 units, it is natural you will apply for APs in equal quantity. The question whether each AP will profit $25,000 is cognitive and irrelevant UNLESS it was sold per se to some other people. The basic objective of giving out APs is considered fulfilled if the applicant use it to import the cars which must be above 1,800c.c. - which is not a direct competition with Proton.

Why comment about the benefits and profits of these importers? Is it that when they lose money that will make UMNO Youth happy? Isn't prospering the Bumis the objective? The question why 4 organization are given 40,000 APs are because they are the biggest 4 importers while others are only importing one to two hundred units a year. In fact, some of those who receive 100 APs are not importers at all. So, the problem to attend to is those who do not import cars but were given 100 to 200 APs and are selling it to importers; and these people should be penalized for abusing their privilege.

Sidek Hassan said he had never consulted Rafidah before issuing the APs and Rafidah also does not give me any instruction before the APs are issued. Yet throughout the whole episode, she had never once blame her ministry officials neither did drag them into the controversy. Rafidah had stood by her people in MITI and had taken full responsibility and the blame for whatever shortcomings in her department. Isn't this an example of leadership; leadership of a Bumiputra? Don't Bumi admire the quality she had exuded?

In the June PAS Muktamar, there were calls from PAS Youth for change. Youth leader Muhajid Yusuf Rawa said the outcome of the last general election was proof that voters felt uneasy with the party’s policies and strategies. “We must admit our mistakes and identify where we went wrong before even thinking of coming up with a new master plan to determine the party’s direction,” he said. Another Youth Leader Salahuddin asked the ulama to expand their field of knowledge and to work closely with party intellectuals and activists. In response to the Youth's call, Hassan, the PAS deputy president, told delegates at the party’s Youth assembly here that the wing members should set a higher standard for themselves before setting standards for others. ”For a start, the wing should improve its own image and establish a presence in every single party branch in the country,” he said when opening the assembly.

In retrospect, we can see the maturity of PAS members when dealing with problems and mistakes. The discussions topics and arguments are intellectual discourse aimed for seeking improvements and at the same time the forum exercises respect for the elders. In contrast, UMNO Youth choose to poke fun at their elder sister Rafidah and the issues and languages are clear evidence of contempt and disrespect for their elders. This is clearly against the teaching of the Prophet.

I will not vote for PAS because their doctrines are in contrast with mine. But I admired their maturity and sensibleness when they dealing on subjects concerning with defeats, mistakes and weaknesses.

I would vote for UMNO as their doctrine and policies are more accommodating to all races. But how do you expect others to respect them when they claimed Islam as the national religion but often acted in contempt and showed inmaturity and disrepect/disregard to national policies - the Rukunegara and our national constitution and in particular, against Islam Hadhari?

Islam Hadhari emphasizes the need to respect your elders, the need to work hard to earned respect and the need to seek competency, meritocracy and natural justice. In contrast of this principle, UMNO Youth had in fact demanded the government to MAKE sure the key performance index of Government-linked companies or privatised companies safeguard the “Malay agenda” & CREATE a monitoring system to ensure a more efficient delivery system for the Malay agenda. At such, is Islam Hadhari contravened? I have no right to question it!

What UMNO Youth should seek is a continuous and unwavering endeavor to assist and enable the underprivilege Malays to acquire knowledge and competency that will ensure the Malays will, within a shorter possible period, catch up/close the gap of economic disparities. To ensure this achievement, they should seek the cooperation and assistance of Malaysians of all races and together with the government's "friendlier" and accommodating policies, it will enhance and expedite the process. With the right attitude and mutual respect for everyone, the nation as a whole would rally behind UMNO's initiative to fulfill the vision and mission of a just, equitable and prosperous nation, for the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, the Melanaus, the Kadazans, the Dayaks, the Sikhs, and everyone who calls themselves Malaysian citizen and must include the foreign citizens residing in Malaysia and who shared the same values.

Would we see this happen? Only UMNO can answer. I hope they will discover the profound knowledge. God bless them. Amen.

DON'T CRY FOR ME, MALAYSIA

2005-07-20T03:06:00.000-07:00

TEARS OF SORROW

LET THE ONE WHO HAS NOT SINNED CAST THE FIRST STONE!

ENOUGH! ENOUGH! You are destroying your very own, your very own Malay leader!

I cry for the Malays! How far will you all go? Till you destroy everyone and yourself and till all are casted to the devil?

Don't throw all the blame to Rafidah. She has served the nation for more than two decades and she had served UMNO far longer than two decades. She don't deserve all this.

The AP system was not created by her. It was wrong to have initiated that system in the very first place. What she has done was to fulfill the system design. If ever it was wrong, it was the system. All within the system - the past and present government must share the blame.

The APs only benefit a few? How can the APs which are basically franchise APs be granted to all? It is only granted to those who have foreign franchise, that is, the foreign automakers have contracted to the local distributors who numbered only a few.

How is it that Proton had suffered? The total number of imported cars under 1800cc – those in direct competition with Proton is only 3.2% of the total production of Proton.

Only 17,455 foreign cars were brought in with APs while the total car production by Proton is 530,035 units.

The problem with Proton is the weak management and the failure to strike strategic alliance with strong foreign partners. Look and Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo and Samsung. They have team up with American jaggernauts and have grown stronger, more competitive and leaner.

If Proton is incapable to compete with global players, they should look into themselves and ask why. Mahaleel should shoulder the responsibility instead of blaming everyone. Why hide behind Mahathir and Why drag in Mahathir who has retired from politics to the front line?

Why blame Rafidah? Even if the claim that she had benefited from the AP system, it can only be: because the system has made it possible. Corruption? Oh, don't pick on her! The whole system is utterly corrupt and everyone within the system is just sharing the spoils.

If Pak Lah is serious about mitigating the kleptocratic system, he should start the house cleaning beginning from his home, his family and his party.

Apologise to Mahathir? What for? He was the boss for 22 years and he set up the AP system. It was known that such system would ultimately lead to such consequences as seen today.

Blame Mahathir? What for? He has done everything possible to bring up the Malays to what they are today. He has done everything possible to bring the Malays to the forefront of the world of economics and prosperity. Malays today are big time businessmen and millions have got university education. Isn't that proof of what he has done for the good of the Malays and the nation as a whole?

UMNO and the Malays must stop crushing their own people. They had crush Isa and now they are going to crush Rafidah. What good will it bring to the nation and to the Malays in particular?

Looking back is only good if the system is trying to learn from the past mistakes. Otherwise, it is more important to look forward and to make Malaysia a better nation for everyone.

Globalization and liberalization will devour us if we are not going to adopt and adapt. Meritocracy and Competence should be the maxim. Glocal or Glokal or Towering ... all these ... it won't work!

Think Global and Act Local - that's what we should do! Seek competency; seek meritocracy; built learning organization; seek knowledge; and most of all, seek virtue and seek God.

The current governmental and civil service system needs a complete overhaul. Every minister and top rank civil servant must shed their billionaire dream. The social fabric must be integrated and enhanced. There is no way forwward, until we are prepared to built a system based on competencies and meritocracy.

We can continue to shout rhetorics. We can continue to blame everyone for our failures. UMNO can continue to cry foul and blame meritocracy as discriminating. Another new UMNO manisfesto won't work. Another jargon from their leaders won't work.

ONLY Honesty, hardwork and a strong political will is all that's needed to see a better tommorrow.

UNACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES DEGREES

2005-07-19T12:05:00.001-07:00

UNACCREDITED DEGREES

Degrees from dubious universities under probe
By Koh Lay Chin

The Higher Education Ministry is now looking into complaint that two universities offering degrees from Cambridgeshire University and the Irish International University are not accredited or recognised in the UK, US and Ireland and that the institutions are bogus. The institution, NetAcademy Sdn Bhd, and Kolej Putra are the consultants appointed to conduct the courses offered by these universities and had applied to the ministry for official approval.

Another institution, Kolej Putra, also offers courses in collaboration with Cambridgeshire University.

According to a Kolej Putra officer, its courses in collaboration with Cambridgeshire University had been approved by the Education Ministry and were accredited by the Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (LAN).

NetAcademy, an MSC-status "education provider" approved by the government to provide e-learning are offering the MBA qualifications from these two universities.

"We may have to go overseas to conduct our investigations," the Ministry officer told the New Straits Times.

Last year, former student Yap Yee Lan lodged a police report against NetAcademy. She also took her case to the Consumer Claims Tribunal today, seeking a refund of almost RM14,000 in fees she paid to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She alleged that after a year of classes in the MBA programme of the International Irish University, she and her classmates were abruptly asked to transfer to the programme of Cambridgeshire University. She then did some research, and discovered the universities were apparently unaccredited and unrecognised here.

Officials of both the British Council and the Malaysian- American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE) said they had no knowledge of these two universities or the courses offered.

Public Service Department accreditation unit officer Ross Rafizal Rosli also confirmed the two were not on its list of recognised universities and qualifications.

NetAcademy principal William Chong said there were many types of accreditation. "We do not tell people that we are a regionally accredited university, so they enrol at their choice and we have explained this to our students," he said.

"We are an MSC-status company which has been recognised by the Government to do e-learning programmes."

COMMENTS

University Malaya degrees in Engineering and medicine are accredited and recognised by Malaysian authorities but are not recognised in UK, Europe and US. So?

Taiwan Engineering, pharmaceutical, dental and medical degrees are not recognised by Malaysian authorities but are recognised in UK and US. So?

University Crimea, Akita University and Chiba University of Japan - their medical degrees are not recognised by Malaysia Medical Council but are recognised in Japan, UK and US and Europe. So?

Many Malaysian graduates from local public universities (all accredited by Malaysian authorities) can't even speak proper English and unable to communicate in oral and written English. They are unemployable in Multi-national corporations and local corporations that do business with multi-nationals; except probably the Malaysian government services and GLCs. So?

What's the problem? What is accreditiation and what benefit can we derive from such accreditation?

The advantage of having a degree with an accredited university is the presumption that these accredited universities are deemed to have the necessary quality assurance system for the education offered and at such, the graduates are enabled with the relevant knowledge which will enable them to apply it into the works.

However, academic knowledge and emphirical knowledge are not the same. The presumption is that, with a good academic knowledge and the right exposure to the work environment, these graduates will in shorter time be able to built competencies and expertise.

Again, these are basically presumptions and organizations seeking to employ graduates may consider this presumptions as the basis of their evaluation. But the main criteria for employment do not rest entirely on this presumption. Take an example: when two person go for a job interview with an American or European multi-national corporation, one has an accredited degree from Malaysian University and cannot communicate in English, either written or oral, and the other is from Cambridgeshire which is unaccredited, but is excellent in English language, both written and oral, and both have the relevant engineering knowledge; who do you think gets employed?

In literal senses, it would be best to get into an accredited university, possibly at an Ivy League U, like Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Stanford, Imperial College, Nottingham, Warwick, Northrumbria, etc. But the cost of education in these universities may be unaffordable to many. Further, entry is limited and onerous.

The next best choice is probably a local university degree which are accredited. But then, it is reserved for under-graduates and the places available are insufficient to meet the growing population completing their from SPM and STPM students.

The other available choice for working professionals is to seek degrees via distant learning programs offered by local and foreign universities and managed by local organizations. Some are accredited by Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (LAN) while others do not apply for it as the cost of the application can be exorbitant. So, in a competitive environment and to stay viable, using this cost advantage, these providers are able to get more students.

The fundamental issue is not whether you have an accredited degree or an unaccredited one. It is about yourself. Most of these unaccredited distant learning institutions do provide excellent education and teaching materials. They get good lecturers to conduct seminary-styled lectures and students are to do attend lectures, do assignments, which will be marked by their foreign counterparts. In the final year, students may have to sit an exam, while many require students to submit volumnous dissertations or thesis.

At the end of the day, what matters is for those who go through these education to ask themselves what they had acquired and achieved and would the education make them a better professional?

The weakness of the system is that some of these local providers are unethical and have bad practices and approaches. They do not care about the quality of education and some even conduct themselves in a way that is seen as paper-milling organization. To those who "BUY" these degrees, they are accountable for themselves. They can have a degree but that is only a piece of paper. Ultimately, it is their knowledge capacity and capability to translate their newly learnt knowledge into their work environment. If inside their brain there has nothing, then, having the degree would not make them an intellectual.

What matters is the intellectual knowledge within, not that piece of paper qualification. Even those who do not have the paper qualification can be competent in what they do, largely because they read a lot, read wide enough, and had acquired intellectual knowledge. Many organizations are concerned with intellectual knowledge and competencies, not paper qualification. Paper qualification is most useful when seeking employment with government services only. Of course, if you have all the three - competencies, academic qualifications and right attitude, you will go far and high.

PROBLEM SOLVING SOLUTION?

2005-07-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

PROBLEM SOLVING SOLUTION?

Problematic projects get helping hand
By Reports by Chok Suat Ling

Ten major development projects identified as "problematic" will be completed on schedule, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said the ministry had offered technical advice to the contractors involved and was facilitating the approvals they required.

"Other steps taken include using less steel in designs, re-scheduling projects as a result of necessary extra work, making more frequent development payments and paying 25 per cent construction costs up-front," Zin said when replying to Senator Lee Sing Chooi.

"As a result, we have managed to resolve most of the problems faced by the 10 projects and all will be completed on schedule.“

In May, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had said that at the end of last year, 215 development projects had been identified as "problematic". Of them, 10 were considered major – four hospitals, four federal roads, a bridge and a university.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

EXCELLENT! GREAT! SYABAS! Good job done!

How was the problem overcome? Steps taken include using less steel in designs, re-scheduling projects as a result of necessary extra work, making more frequent development payments and paying 25 per cent construction costs up-front.

Using less steel in designs? What? Engineers, please explain how we can use less steel? Is it over-design in the first instance, or are we replacing the steel with other structural components? Steel is the fundamental component in reinforced concrete design; so using less steel???

Ten major development projects identified as "problematic" will be completed on schedule? Steps taken include re-scheduling projects as a result of necessary extra work - and the minister call it complete on schedule? Complete within the new revised schedule or complete within the original schedule?

Paying 25% construction costs upfront? Wow! Why not 50% or 75% or maybe, 100% upfront?

Did they solve the problem? Ya, the problem was solved! Do we call it problem solving? Doing less with more and driving project completion using gold-plating methodology is the best solution?

Please don't tell the world that's how our Minister and his department manage projects and solve the problems. We will make a mockery of project management.

Just say: it is Malaysia-Boleh methodology!!!!

APOLOGISE? TO WHO?

2005-07-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

APOLOGISE TO WHO?

TALE FROM THE KOPITIAM

Apologise to Dr M, Zainuddin urges Rafidah

ISA: Eh Samy and Ah Beng, you read what Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said to International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz?

SAMY: What did the mamak say?

AH BENG: What good can come out from his sengget mouth?

ISA: He asked Rafidah to apologise openly to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for her “disconcerting” statements on the approved permits (AP). Zainuddin said Rafidah should apologise to the former Prime Minister before the coming 56th Umno General Assembly. He said the replies by Rafidah on Dr Mahathir’s proposal that the names of AP holders be made public were rather hurtful.

AH BENG: What so hurtful?

ISA: He said that although Rafidah has replied to Dr Mahathir on the AP issue, she should do it in a respectful manner as he was, after all, the former prime minister. Zainuddin felt sad when Rafidah launched an attack against Tun Mahathir by disclosing his son’s name as an AP holder to import a Porsche.

SAMY: But Rafidah had said that she had explained “the real situation” to Dr Mahathir, who is Proton adviser, regarding the issues he raised relating to the local motor vehicle industry.

AH BENG: What is Mahathir's problem?

ISA: Dr Mahathir had complained that the large numbers of cars brought in under APs had led to unfair competition to our national car Proton.

AH BENG: What so unfair to Proton? Is he saying that if Proton cannot compete with foreign car makers, then the govt should banned all foreign cars or impose exorbitant taxes and duties so that we cannot afford to buy them and force us Malaysians buy the Proton cars at a very unreasonable high price? Is this what he called fair? Is he saying we Malaysians should be suckers and stay stupid for the sake of Proton?

SAMY: Ya lah! It is already 20 years since Proton was set up and if they are not able to compete with foreign cars, then it must be the fault of their management and we citizens cannot be made to pay unreasonably high prices in order to keep Proton alive. Don't suck our blood for the sake of Proton.

ISA: But you must know, the Proton project was Mahathir's dream. He wants Proton to be the International best car, maybe better than the Americans.

SAMY: Best car? I think if you asked all Malaysians, they would prefer to buy anything except Proton. So many of us appreciate Kancil and Perodua, but Proton, the window problem until now is still not solved; even my Proton is facing the same problem.

AH BENG: International best car? Even the people within Proton won't buy that car if given a choice.

ISA: Do you think Rafidah should apologise to Mahathir?

AH BENG: Apologise for what? The AP initiative was created by Mahathir and he should also be responsible for the outcome. He was PM for 22 years and he cannot absolve himself entirely. He cannot blamed that so few people were benefiting from the APs. It was the same for the last 24 years.

SAMY: Ya lah! Even his son gets a few hundred APs last year.

AH BENG: The objective of the APs is to help as many Bumiputras get into the automobil business by giving them an unfair advantage over the others within the same industry. That should not be the way to built entrepreneurs. If we are desirous of building the Bumis to become successful entrepreneurs, we must teach them and enable them with knowledge, skills and the use of the relevant tools and techniques and over a period of time, we should see to it that they had acquired the necessary competencies to be able to compete internationally and competitively. But we give them ecstasy and schizophrenic drugs - candu and marijuana and they now are totally reliant upon it to survive.

SAMY: The old saying cannot be wrong. Give them fishes and they eat for a day. Teach them to fish and they can feed themselves for a lifetime.

AH BENG: We reap what we sow and don't blame Rafidah. She has been doing what she was doing over the last 2 decades. If what she do is wrong, then Mahathir should also be responsible as he was her boss for umpteen years and had not removed her.

ISA: I think the AP problem is not a problem. The problem is Proton not being competitive and trying to blame everyone for their weakness.

AH BENG: Ya lah! In the first place, the AP system should not have been initiated. The Proton project should have been an assembly plant. We shouldn't try to stand 6 feet tall by wearing 10 inches high heel shoes; we will fall and then we blame the ground for not been evenly built.

SAMY: Why blame Rafidah? Don't blame Mahathir too. Blame UMNO and the Rent Seeking UNMO Youth system.

I weep for Malaysia......

.

Planet with 3 Suns?

2005-07-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

Three Suns

Did the scientist discover more Suns?

Read this: California Institute of Technology Press Release

An extrasolar planet under three suns has been discovered in the constellation Cygnus by a planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology using the 10-meter Keck I telescope in Hawaii. The planet is slightly larger than Jupiter and, given that it has to contend with the gravitational pull of three bodies, promises to seriously challenge our current understanding of how planets are formed.

In the July 14 issue of Nature, Maciej Konacki, a senior postdoctoral scholar in planetary science at Caltech, reports on the discovery of the Jupiter-class planet orbiting the main star of the close-triple-star system known as HD 188753. The three stars are about 149 light-years from Earth and are about as close to one another as the distance between the sun and Saturn.

In other words, a viewer there would see three bright suns in the sky. In fact, the sun that the planet orbits would be a very large object in the sky indeed, given that the planet's "year" is only three and a half days long. And it would be yellow, because the main star of HD 188753 is very similar to our own sun. The larger of the other two suns would be orange, and the smaller red.

Konacki refers to the new type of planet as "Tatooine planets," because of the similarity to Luke Skywalker's view of his home planet's sky in the first Star Wars movie.

"The environment in which this planet exists is quite spectacular," says Konacki. "With three suns, the sky view must be out of this world-literally and figuratively."

However, Konacki adds that the fact that a planet can even exist in a multiple-star system is amazing in itself. Binary and multiple stars are quite common in the solar neigborhood, and in fact outnumber single stars by some 20 percent.

Researchers have found most of the extrasolar planets discovered so far by using a precision velocity technique that is easier to employ on studies of single stars. Experts generally avoided close-binary and close-multiple stars because the existing planet detection techniques fail for such complicated systems, and also because theories of solar-system formation suggested that planets were very unlikely to form in such environments.

Konacki's breakthrough was made possible by his development of a novel method that allows him to precisely measure velocities of all members of close-binary and close-multiple-star systems. He used the technique for a search for extrasolar planets in such systems with the Keck I telescope. The planet in the HD 188753 system is the first one from this survey.

"If we believe that the same basic processes lead to the formation of planets around single stars and components of multiple stellar systems, then such processes should be equally feasible, regardless of the presence of stellar companions," Konacki says. "Planets from complicated stellar systems will put our theories of planet formation to a strict test."

Scientists in 1995 discovered the first "hot Jupiter"-in other words, an extrasolar gas-giant planet with an orbital period of three to nine days. Today, more than 20 such planets are known to orbit other stars. These planets are believed to form in a disk of gas and condensed matter at or beyond three astronomical units (three times the 93-million-mile distance between the sun and Earth).

A sufficient amount of solid material exists at three astronomical units to produce a core capable of capturing enough gas to form a giant planet. After formation, these planets are believed to migrate inward to their present very close orbits.

If the parent star is orbited by a close stellar companion, then its gravitational pull can significantly truncate a protoplanetary disk around the main star. In the case of HD 188753, the two stellar companions would truncate the disk around the main star to a radius of only 1.3 astronomical units, leaving no space for a planet to form.

"How that planet formed in such a complicated setting is very puzzling. I believe there is yet much to be learned about how giant planets are formed," says Konacki.

The research was funded by NASA.

Can Speak England?

2005-07-18T00:55:00.000-07:00

Speak England?

How do you find our university graduates' English? What about our politicians and ministers' command on English? Read this article from the New Straits Times on July 17, 2005 by the maverick Kalimullah Hassan.

Do you speak the England?
THE SUNDAY COLUMN:
By Kalimullah Hassan

SOME time ago, we interviewed aspiring journalists for Berita Harian, now the country’s top selling Bahasa Malaysia daily. The New Straits Times Press’ deputy group editor-in-chief Datuk Hishamuddin Aun normally tests applicants on their command of the English language as it is taken for granted that anyone not proficient in Bahasa Malaysia would be foolish to apply for a job in Berita Harian.

Hisham’s favourite story is of one candidate who was asked about his family. It goes like this:

Hisham: How many are there in your family?

Applicant: I number three.

Hisham: What does your father do?

Applicant: Father die already.

Hisham: What does your mother do?

Applicant: Mother not yet die.

Hisham could not have made his questions simpler. And the applicant, who naturally did not get the job, could hardly have answered in a more simplistic way.

Hisham’s story is not peculiar in today’s Malaysia. Editors who interviewed applicants for the New Straits Times, where they are also tested for their proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, found that a good number — from different racial groups, from both rural and urban schools - spoke the "not yet die" kind of English.

A few months ago, a senior news vendor from Perak and five of his colleagues — all in their late forties and above — met me to discuss some issues.

The spokesman among them, a gentleman by the name of Pandian, began by saying: "Sir, we come here not to lament…"

And one by one, as I heard them out, what amazed me was that they all spoke good English and used words that many of us no longer use in day-to-day conversation. They were pukka old school and it was a delight to just listen to them.

There you are. There is a vast difference in command of both Bahasa Malaysia and the English language between the 45-and-above generation and the 40-and- below generation.

A generation of Malaysians — the lost generation, as Hisham describes them — have joined our work force, the majority of them having only a passable, if not rudimentary, knowledge of English.

Now, with the re-emphasis on English in schools, we find that we have teachers who are not well versed enough in the language to teach their students. We find that in rural areas, children find it harder to adapt and fare worse than their counterparts in the urban areas.

When the New Straits Times launched its compact version last September, we conducted a number of surveys and focus group studies to determine why some people preferred to buy our rival newspapers.

A frequent comment that came from the younger readers of English newspapers was "your English too high". Of course, there were other reasons given but that response of "English too high" floored us.

Talk to the older civil servants. Talk to some of our retirees. They are proud Malaysians and take equal pride in being able to speak perfect Bahasa Malaysia. But they will also tell you of the days when Malaysians were always chosen by our neighbours such as Thailand and Indonesia to represent the region’s views at international forums.

Why? Because that generation of Malaysians did not speak "not yet die" English; because they spoke "we come here not to lament" English.

Well, no more. Today, we have a new generation of Thais and Indonesians which speaks English eloquently, who can sit down at international forums and conferences and articulate their country’s case with those whose mother tongue is English and who can go through trade agreements and pacts without missing any nuance that may disadvantage their countries.

Malaysians who used to visit Thailand and Indonesia in the 1980s and who go there now will be the best judges of then and now. Today, as it used to be in Malaysia, it is more likely that one will find an Indonesian or a Thai who can speak passable if not good English than one who cannot.

Look at China. Receptionists and front desk managers at hotels are always testing out their English with guests and many have a pocket dictionary that they always refer to in their free time, learning as many English words as they can in a day.

Taxi drivers in Beijing and Shanghai can, to a large extent, follow instructions in English. India, of course, has always had a fascination for the English language and has produced many renowned writers of international standing.

We have to face it. We blundered when we started treating English as just another subject in the mid-1970s and made it non-compulsory to pass for examinations. Today, in a keenly competitive world, where English is the major language of knowledge and communication, one generation of Malaysians is paying the price for that blunder.

No point, though, in "lamenting" about that costly mistake. At least, we have taken steps to remedy the sorry situation we are in.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s task is not an easy one.

But the process of "re-learning" English, forced through by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite strong opposition, is being backed just as strongly by the current administration. That, perhaps, may make the difference.

The 1960s’ and early 1970s’ generation grew up earning English not only through books but through children’s games as well.

We had this game of learning our colours where we would start off with a question going around "my mother went to the market and bought me some fish. What colour do you want?"

The person at whom the question stopped would answer "red". R-E-D would be counted out on his spread fingers, stopping at the third finger, which would then be closed.

The question would go around and around and all the colours would come up: blue, purple, grey, orange, yellow, pink, white, black and when we ran out of the normal colours we knew, we would try to find new ones to win the game. Such as burgundy, turquoise…

The person who managed to close all 10 fingers first won the game.

It may seem juvenile now but we learned our colours.

Scrabble competitions were a big hit and there used to be inter-school Scrabble championships.

Competition always brings out the best in people and it may not be a bad idea to re-think the tools of old to build up the Malaysians of tomorrow.

Speaking of job applicants and journalists, stories which go around newspaper circles often can be quite funny, especially anecdotes of the unprintable stuff about newsmakers.

In 1993, at the height of the battle for posts in Umno, a colleague from the Far Eastern Economic Review, Michael Vatikiotis, interviewed a senior Menteri Besar (since retired) who said: "We will win because of our prestation."

"Prestation?" Michael asked.

"Ya, ya… prestation. You know, prestasi (Bahasa Malaysia for performance)."

A few years ago, another Menteri Besar, at a dinner with senior editors, slapped his thighs excitedly at one point during the conversation, and said: "That’s the reason is…".

It was, of course, a direct translation from Bahasa Malaysia’s "itulah sebabnya".

That same Menteri Besar was known for always trying very hard to speak English and one day, impressed by a study tour of China, he briefed journalists saying he would implement in his State the "les-kay-pe" he saw in Beijing.

"Les-kay-pe?"

Eventually, it dawned on everyone that he was talking about landscaping though initially it sounded like he was speaking about a cousin of Nescafe.

But to his credit, this Menteri Besar took lessons and is today better versed in the language.

There was also a deputy minister, now in a more senior position, who attended a dinner organised by shipping companies. He kept referring to "the koeh" and "the koehs" in his speech. No, it was not kuih.

He was referring to the quay and the quays. His English is still appalling. My apologies if offence is taken but there is no slur intended.

Just like there is a need for many of our politicians to be more proficient in the national language, they need to set an example by improving their English.

We can’t be like the ketam mengajar anaknya jalan betul (a crab trying to teach its young to walk straight).

And we need to do more for our young, especially in the rural schools. Certainly, there is a limit to what the Government and the Education Ministry, in particular, can do. There is a need for the private sector and for individuals who have done well in life to help as well.

We can adopt schools and provide them with books for their resource centres; we can pay for extra tuition classes; we can volunteer our services to teach and train these students after classes; we can organise workshops for teachers.

Many of these things are already being done but they have not received the widespread support that is required to ensure that another generation does not suffer.

Perhaps, our greatest asset is, as proven by that Menteri Besar, that our spirit to learn and improve ourselves "not yet die".

MeritoCRaZY Phobia

2005-07-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Meritocracy Phobia-Syed Nazri

ABSTRACT FROM:

HARDCOPY: Time to get over meritocracy phobia
By Syed Nadzri; NST, JULY 14, 2005

MERITOCRATIC discrimination? That’s probably one of the worst oxymorons we’ll ever hear. But it came over the weekend from Johor Umno — yes, the same group that urged the Umno headquarters a fortnight ago not to publicise the names of those found guilty of money politics. Johor Umno liaison committee had criticised the meritocracy system introduced by the Government, saying it had resulted in a fall in the achievement of Malay students and was thus a form of "discrimination and oppression".

How do you like that? Meritocracy equals discrimination.

Perhaps Johor Umno chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman meant well when he said the meritocracy system of selecting students into public universities had adversely affected "tens of thousands of Bumiputera students in the rural areas who were denied quality education in view of the uneven playing field".

But it is wrong to say that meritocracy — a system based on ability and not on racial quota — is discrimination, let alone oppression. If Bumiputera students are not doing well in rural schools because of lack of access to proper facilities and quality education, then there must be something wrong with the education development and implementation system.

Why are rural schools still worse off 35 years into the New Economic Policy? Johor Umno should demand an answer to that and insist on immediate steps to rectify shortcomings in the implementation system to ensure that rural schools get quality teachers and facilities like the urban schools.

While at it, Johor Umno and everybody else should examine whether it is true as reported in Utusan Malaysia yesterday that 120,000 Malay students have failed to gain places in public universities despite meeting the requirements.

If it is true, we should insist too that an urgent analysis be made to find the root causes — not criticise the meritocracy system at a time when the country is facing the challenges of globalisation, a tsunami that is ready to sweep anyone by the wayside if he’s not up to it.

There is actually no substitute for quality in the present day and Malaysia has taken that right step forward on meritocracy.

Let’s not take two steps back for the sake of political expediency.

Johor Umno should not expect all Malays to agree with its suggestion just because it touches certain sentiments. Pahang Umno chief and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob for one has come out to respond, saying he supported meritocracy as this would spur Bumiputera students to do better and not take things for granted.

In his speech at the Pahang Umno convention on Sunday, he quipped:

"I would prefer to go to a doctor who entered a public university based on merit rather than someone who gained entry because of his Bumiputera status."

That’s exactly the point. The biggest favour for Bumiputeras is to build up their competitiveness and confidence so they can soar higher — not to get the bar lowered.

Many politicians have spoken about this, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who stated several times about the need for Malays and Bumiputeras to now do away with their "crutches" of government protection.

The wrong application of affirmative action could sometimes lead to disastrous consequences as when graduates find themselves out of depth in the real world.

Sit through a recruitment interview and you are bound to come across the most awkward of situations when the person applying for the job is simply not up to it or is too overawed by the occasion to be audible enough.

Sometimes it is a case of sheer lack of self-confidence and sometimes the baggage of narrow beliefs from the classroom days are simply carried forward into the job-seeking phase and deep into the tenure of employment.

How many times, for instance, have we heard of company managers, officers in the civil service and people serving in the diplomatic corps shunning cocktail parties either because they don’t know how to carry themselves or because they consider such receptions haram?

Old-timers say the situation is definitely worse now in Malaysia than it had ever been despite the increase in the competitiveness of everyday life and the exposure to globalised communication through the Internet and satellite TV.

These, plus the preoccupation of some Malays on trash literature and Akademi Fantasia, are some of the more urgent things that need to be addressed rather than going the other way with that fixation on doing away with meritocracy.

One senior minister expressed a lot of concern recently about schools putting too much emphasis on science and technical subjects to the point of disregarding the broad-thinking liberal arts education which goes a long way towards building character and maturity of thought.

READ ANOTHER ARTICLE BY MACKZULKIFLI

brandmalaysia.com/

July 11, 2005

Abdul Ghani Othman has a point. Yes, it is hurting rural malay students. That is a fact that I cannot deny. However, the solution might not be entirely a matter for policy-makers to intervene and address, because as a maker of National policy, one must work within the confines of a greater justice for all. Being rewarded by merits is, universally, and generally, even in religion, something that is a virtue that must be upheld to the best of one's ability. It is a God given truth that favouritism leads to abuse. Still, as a Prime Minister, I am guessing that Pak Lah has an obligation to listen, and hence is open to discussion.

It is an insurmountable fact that this country is, by and large, a country segregated by racial borders first. The architecture of our political system reflects that. Our history, and the historical administration of colonial Britain that shaped our present day, sort of ensured that. Thus, we have political parties that is mandated, by their constitution and political responsibility, to look after it's own, and yet balance that responsibility with the need to maintain balance. Tough act, but as demonstrated since 1957, not entirely impossible.

Which brings me to my point. Perhaps it is up to UMNO, and it's two youth wings, PUTERA and UMNO Youth, to develop a comprehensive method to aid these Malay students in making strides towards entering fields of studies deemed critical, namely fields such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and law.

At the last count, Malaysia has 24 million souls as nationals. Malays and indigenous makes up fifty eight percent of that population, which would make that about 14 million, rounded up to a large figure. There are 3 million UMNO members, of which, given those numbers, we can safely come to a conclusion that 1 in 5 'bumiputera's are UMNO members. That's an impressive number.

While I have not looked at it in detail, I am willing to bet that if UMNO uses part of it's huge manpower potential, with funding that it can no doubt obtain by itself, this problem can be addressed at party level, without having to call for arguments on the meritocracy ideals at policy level, thereupon avoiding controversy, and creating statements that might alienate the other races that equally stake their future on the well being of Malaysia, as a country.

We have teachers who are UMNO members. Party heads can mobilise them as the instruments of a strategy, designed with the intention of creating students that qualify for these critical disciplines. Some funds can be set aside, and human resource be allocated towards making this a success.We have academics, leading major think-tanks, and retired civil servants with loads of experience, who ar also UMNO members, and can contribute. It is not something that is very difficult to craft, I thought of the rough structure, broke it down into actionable constituencies and did a rough strategic map in inder twenty minutes flat, and I am not special, there are those who outgun me in strategic thinking within UMNO itself.

The tough part is that, an initiative like this takes initiative driven by passion, perhaps a little sacrifice, and a whole lot of dedication to a cause that embetters your breathren. Should that not be the passion of those who join political parties? Are those not the passion demonstarted in every UMNO general assembly?

COMMENTS

What we have seen and heard is truly disheartening and totally unfair to the Malays as a whole. With the constant preaching and bombardment from UMNO over the decades, it has not help in its entirety to build a Towering Malay society. On the contrary, UMNO had impliedly convinced many of the Malays that they are incapable, uncompetitive, unintellectual, and impliedly, a parasite within the society who largely depended on the CANDU (Opium) donated by the government to help them survive. Without this candu, the Malays, it seems, cannot match all the other races in terms of intellectual achievement and individual competency.

In my years of lecturing at universities and the many public seminars conducted, it truly depress me that no matter how hard I tried to motivate the Malays, the Malay participants had believed in their inferiority as preached by UMNO and its leaders. Even my law school Malay lecturers told me that he believes the Malay need the candu, otherwise, they will be left behind. Sadly, even my fellow Malay colleagues somewhat believes in this maxim too.

What transpired is that we had in fact led the Malays to believe something which is utterly frivolous and ludicrous. We have failed to motivate the Malays to have self belief in their ability and the ability to develop competency. We have led them to be despised by the world at large, and would made them a laughing stock. We have utterly failed to developed the social fabric that enhances continuous improvement and competency development. We have failed as a nation to develop our human capital of which the Malays are the majority.

On the contrary, the Indians who are the minority and much neglected within the system management are proud of themselves and they have self-confidence. They believe they can and would succeed. I have many classmates in law school, many of them who are young Indians (between 22 to 35 years old) and who have self belief and confidence that they can succeed and be able to build a professional career. Their parents are poor and yet they are in private colleges, self-financing their education inorder to acquire a law degree. Many are not exceptionally bright students, but they work hard and study hard - they want to succeed. They know they would not have the financial support from the govt and neither would they be given places in local public universities. They didn't shout or cry of deprivation, discrimination and prejudice. Their families stretched their own financial limits to budget and balance their little income to spare the money needed to pay fees at private colleges in order to earn a degree; and many had succeeded.

Similarly, many Chinese families are poor too. Yet, without the system support, (of which they had perceived) the parents and individuals would sacrifice their time and money in order to get a degree at private colleges which are expensive. They believe they can succeed even in an environment of uneven playing field; even in a society that do not believe in meritocracy.

In concluding, until and unless the system administrators and the UMNO politicians discard their "Oxymoron" attitude and start believing in themselves, and keeps motivating the Malays to believe in themselves, they will be left behind. The system is not capable to continually provide "fishes" and "Candu"; soon they will deplete themselves of resources and will have to resort to beggerism.

The old saying is clear: Give him a fish and he will eat for one day; teach him to fish and he will have food to feed himself for a lifetime.

The political leaders in UMNO should stop their nonsensical rhetorics. For their own selfish political agenda, they are playing the sentiments of the ignorant. For the sake of power and personal wealth, they are prepared to sacrifice their very own. These political leaders are prepared to sacrifice the health of the nation and are willing to destroy the harmonious relationship between the various races. They use candu and install smoke screens to blind the Malays, in particular, the rural folks. They lead them into the wilderness and allows them be butchered; and yet they claim to champion their causes. What a shame!

Just how long would the rural Malays be patsy and credulous, allowing themselves to be misled by their imbecile leaders. The Asphyxiating litany must stop. Positive actions must be taken to build a towering Malay society. The people must open their eyes and see what these fools have done to them. The Malays are NEVER inferior. They will succeed with or without UMNO. Its their leaders who wants them to remain drugged and schizophrenic ...

Ghani becomes kalumguni

2005-07-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

Ghani the NUTHEAD

Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency
July 09, 2005 22:11 PM

READ the brainless doctrine from the charlatan from Johor entitled:

Johor Umno Says Meritocracy A Form Of Discrimination

The Johor Umno Liaison Committee Saturday criticised the meritocracy system introduced by the government, saying that it resulted in a fall in the achievement of Malay students and is a form of discrimination and oppression.

Its chairman, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who is also the Johor Menteri Besar, said it had adversly affected tens of thousands of Bumiputera students in the rural areas who had been denied quality education in view of the "uneven competitive field".

The system had resulted in a fall in the number of Malay students in medicine, engineering, pharmacy, dentistry and other competitive fields, he said. Citing the situation at the University of Malaya (UM), he said the number of Bumiputera students who studied medicine, pharmacy, law and buisness had declined. He said the system had prevented the entry of Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera students into public institutions of higher learning based on the 55:45 ratio as used in the quota system. "Although there was an increase in the number of Malays in accountancy, architecture, law and other fields from 1970 to 2002, the Bumiputeras account for only 20 percent in accountancy compared to the non-Bumiputeras, medicine and dentistry (36 percent), engineering (26.5 percent) and registered lawyers (35 percent).

Hence, Malay graduates who were jobless or working below their capacity had increased in 2003. Abdul Ghani also urged the government to make learning at national schools more attractive because Bumiputera students were mostly from these schools.

COMMENTS:

I have never in my life heard or read a more frivolous and farcical statement from an educated State leader who is married to a wife who is a university professor. It is utmost balderdash and resembles the blaring from a klutz of the primitive society.

How could we digest the platitude that a meritocratic system could result in a fall in the achievement of Malay students and is a form of discrimination and oppression?

It is PURE malapropism and a rigmarole.

First and foremost, the Barisan Government of which Ghani belongs, had been in power for the last 49 years. If tens of thousands of Bumiputera students in the rural areas are been denied quality education, then Barisan Nasional must answer for it. The government had been in power since independence, and what have they done for the rural people who are denied quality education, as claim by Ghani? Why blame everyone other than themselves? The rural people deserve quality education and the government is fully responsible to ensure that these rural folks are not neglected.

Ghani claimed that these rural folks were competing with city and town folks in an "uneven competitive field". If that's the case, the state govt of Johor had failed in their duty to the rural rakyat. It is their fiduciary duty to ensure that the rural areas are been taken care of, and that all efforts including financial budgets are appropriately allocated to these rural areas to ensure that the "fields are even". If the state govt had failed in their duty, why blame others? They should step down voluntarily and let others who have the passion and ability take over. I am certain Nik Aziz would have done a better job.

The question that the meritocracy system had resulted in a fall in the number of Malay students in medicine, engineering, pharmacy, dentistry and other competitive fields is utterly incredulous and a twaddle. On one side Ghani said the meritocracy system had resulted in the fall of the number of malay student; on the other, he said the 65%:35% quota system used is unfair. So, which is which, and is the system selection based on meritocracy or based on quota? If the system is desirous of quota, then stick to quota; if the govt wants meritocracy system, then stick to meritocracy! You can't blame meritocracy and then at the same time says the quota system practiced is unfair.

Further, the numbers as published by him is totally inaccurate and misleading. These numbers exclude students admitted into MARA and Islamic University and also those sent overseas thru' scholarships. Add them up, we should have 80% to 85% Bumiputras in all the critical courses.

The question to be posed is whether those who had scored 10 Ds and 10 Es. Should they also be selected to do medicine, accountancy, engineering, pharmacy, and dentistry? If Ghani is desirous that they too be allowed into medical colleges, then the govt must direct Malaysian Medical Council to lower down the qualifying standards. And please don't claim that Crimea University is accepting lesser qualified students into their medical faculty, when our local universities are in fact practising it.

UiTM can increase its size and built more campus to accomodate these 10Es student to study medicine and pharmacy. The only problem that will be is that the country will produce more graduates that shall be unemployable.

5,000 years ago, Confucious had enunciated that: whatever we sow, we shall reap. Over the last few years, we had more than hundred thousand of graduates that are unemployable and the numbers are burgeoning. Soon, Malaysia will become a country full of graduates who are unemployble and we will have another new milestone in the Guiness Book of Record - re-affirming the Malaysia Boleh Doctrine.

Fundamentally, helping those rural folks are important but it is not about giving them a degree and making them a doctor. It is about providing them with EDUCATION and educating them, providing the infrastructure and the resources that will enable them to uplift their intellectualism and make them the human capital of the nation - in the words of Pak Lah - Towering Malays!

If the system is desirous of Towering Malays, then efforts and resources must be allocated and managed. Everything must start from ground zero. We have to take the pain and be willing to sacrifice our time and energy to acquire intellectual knowledge and built competencies. We need to motivate Bumiputras to succeed and to win by meritocracy. We can't let mediocrity replace meritocracy. The "political will" must be calcified and time is the essence. Stop the bullshit and stop being rapacious. Start working and implementing the programs that will built the people's confidence. It can be done and it can succeed if the political will be amplified.

Stay truthful to your belief and stay honest to the citizens, Mr. Ghani. Please asked your wife how to succeed, Mr. Ghani! And please end your stupidity and stop being a charlatan.

Overhaul AP System?

2005-07-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

Overhaul or Abolish AP

AP system needs overhaul?

Comment by Sidek Kamiso

THE comment by Proton Holdings Bhd advisor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed on how approved permits (APs) are given out should send a strong signal for the Government to review the current system of issuing these permits to car importers and manufacturers.

Dr Mahathir said the AP system did not nurture bumiputra entrepreneurs as it had intended since its introduction in 1970. Although it was reviewed in 1987, the current system benefited only a few companies rather than a large number of bumiputra companies.

According to statistics issued by the International Trade and Industry Ministry, there are 116 companies receiving APs. Of this number, 76 are allowed to import any brand of car from any country while the other 40 are franchise holders who are allowed to import specific brands and makes from their principals.

Dr Mahathir had expressed surprise that of the 67,000 APs issued last year, only 12,600 were given to 82 companies, while 54,000 were given to 20 companies.

“It should benefit a big number of people rather than concentrate on a few,” Mahathir said.

The question now is whether any revision to the AP system will benefit these entrepreneurs, or even Proton.

So, if the system benefited neither one of the two parties it was intended to serve, shouldn’t it be dismantled completely?

Before we can see the end to the system, it is probably worthwhile to look at why it rankles Proton so much. In the case of Korean cars, some models have proved to be so successful that Proton's standing as a top-selling brand was threatened.

Previously, the AP system was used to protect Proton's position. The number of APs issued was limited and no AP was given for cars that directly competed with Proton.

The system worked well until recently when Naza Ria was conferred national car status. Naza subsequently brought in more Kia models, priced much lower than Proton models of similar engine capacity. Although there are many allegations that these Korean cars are being dumped in Malaysia, their prices had been approved by the authorities. The AP system allows for the Government to exert certain control over the pricing of cars.

In light of the Asean Free Trade Area, national carmakers like Proton and Perodua should be gearing up to compete more aggressively in the global arena and not merely looking to protect their home turf. With both companies showing dismal export figures, it is not easy to see who will suffer or benefit most if the ruling under the AP system were enforced diligently. For International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, the AP controversy could be the biggest test for her. There is much she can do to resolve the issue and she certainly will not want to go down in our history books as the one who killed the dream of having the national car achieve international recognition.

COMMENTS

WHAT'S WRONG? Nothing has gone wrong. Don't blame Rafidah Aziz. Don't make her a scapegoat for the system malfunction.

Why? Because it was design to malfunction and the result was within expectation.

Why? You reap what you sow. We plant lallang, we won't get padi.

What do you mean? Erecting Barriers against market forces have always proven to fail historically. As long as your economic system is based on the doctrines of capitalism, liberalization of trade is the only solution to ensure survival.

How is it? Because if you try to protect certain industry, you are actually retarding their philosophical senses and it shall demotivate them from seeking competitive actions and reactions, which would result in competitive advantages; the maxim of corporate survival in the age of globalization.

But then, if we don't protect Proton, it won't survive from the very start?

Yes, that is why countries like Singapore, Thailand, Hongkong and Taiwan, they would not set up a automobile manufacturing plant. Why? Because in automobile industry, even the size and might of Chrysler, Fiat and Nissan can go bust in months. These corporations had to be bailed out once too often ... it is historical information, and we cannot escape the fact that large and financially strong automobile manufacturers which are worth ten or hundreds of times more than Proton had even gone bankrupt or face insolvency.

Then, we should not have set up Proton? Well, it was a dream. At that time, Mahathir has a dream and a strategic plan which he believes it will work and his dream is supported by world reknown Japanese economist; his personal advisor.

Would Mahathir's dream work? Yes! But it must be in an ideal environment.

What does that mean? It means, Proton management must take no more than 5 years to fully transfer the Japanese technology to locals and within the first 10 years, Proton must concurrently built up a strong and competent team of research and development experts and engineering scientists to be able to provide innovative and creative designs capable to compete against the best in the global industry.

In short, proton has to bring in the world expertise in R & D and at the same time built up a core competent team of locals as backup, all within the first 10 years. To do that, the doctrine of meritocracy must persist; which was the system nostalgia.

If we can't do that and still wants a automobile plant, what should we have done? Oh, that's what we should have done - adopt Naza's Philosophy - Assembly Plant System!!!

Explain? In the age of Globalization and Liberalization, outsourcing is the most competitive tool. Example: Boeing company do not manufacture all the parts for the airplane in USA. Components are may be designed France and Germany (design expertise), manufactured in China (cheap labor), part-assembled in India or Malaysia, final assembly in the purchaser's country. This is Globalization - tapping the core competence globally, abundant cheap labor and raw material availability (cost competitiveness), logistic & distribution advantage, and neo-political networking.

Do you mean to say Proton should have done what Naza had done? Yes, absolutely! What Naza did was not their invention or an original idea. It was what the global corporations were doing. Look at GE, Motorolla, Western Digital, Aji-na-moto, Honda, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, etc, etc .. They set up manufacturing plant at locations which gave them cost effectiveness in terms of cheap labor and raw materials, particularly centered on cheap labor source, financial, marketing & capitalization benefit, tax havens & benefits of duty free zone, political patronage, geographical and logistical advantages.

What should Proton do now? It is late, but not doomsday. They had to seek strategic global partners who have the muscles to get the product marketed to Europe and America and China. These are the continents that have large consumption capacity and there is also the problem of trade barriers and economic cartels. Proton has to have a strategic partner who has the muscles to shake govt economic decisions. Economic decision-making is tied closely to political patronage and alliances. Example: If you get a British partner, then you may not get French approval. if you get Iranian partner, you will not get Bush's approval.

Will proton do it? NO! Why? Because they have an EGO as large as Bush and although Proton and Malaysia may not like what Bush did, but they copy and paste his ego and adopt the Bush's doctrine per se.

What is the probable future of Proton? the future have two possibilities - first, Proton may be assemblers only; second, Malaysian govt will have to be a minority owner of Proton if Proton is to continue to exist as a manufacturer (i.e. strategic partnership with foreign gaints with them having control).

What about the APs? Whatever the noble reason, it was wrong in the first place to introduce the system. It was from the beginning, a step in the wrong direction. It was known that this system would benefit a selected few and the results as enunciated by Mahathir has proven Murphy was right: Whatever you think can happen will happen.

So, why is Proton making so much noise? Because Naza is the bigger beneficiary now; Ptoton has suck the Malaysians for 20 years (the govt has taxed foreign cars to the extent that we have to buy proton which is then the cheapest car in the marketplace), and now it is Naza who is giving Malaysians the option to obtain a cheaper car and that affects Proton's competitiveness.

Whatever said, we must appreciate that Naza has given Malaysians the opportunity to buy cheaper cars and probably better cars. Proton may not be absolutely lousy, but is quite lousy...except that Mahaleel and Mahathir do not agree with most Malaysians' perspective.

We must look at the scenario and as a commoner, what is happening does benefit the commoners; of course at the presumed expense of Proton. Naza may have Rafidah courtship; but we should just look at the commoners' perspective; their relationship does not affect us...

If Proton gets what they want, Malaysians will not have economically and competitively priced cars because with the govt's protection & barrier of entry, Proton will then be able to continue to price their cars at skyhigh price ...and that sucks.

Naza may be enriched by the AP; so what? Malaysians are benefitting as a whole...I got a Kia Spectra for $67,000 full spec; compare it with Proton Waja ... Proton Perdana was $110,ooo at one time, and the price was reduced subsequently to $95,000 in order to compete with Kia and Hyundai... and now, cherry, and other china-made cars. Even Toyota and Honda are today competitively price.

Proton continually blame their high cost was due to the fact that they have 80% local component content. What it means is that their local vendors are not competitive (and their quality sucks too). Proton has Lotus branding but not Lotus brain; and Lotus are never the comparable market leader in terms of technology and economical product management. Lotus could not survive over the last 30 years and that's why Proton had the chance to buy them. But did we buy Lotus technology or Brand? We actually bought the shell of Lotus and the remnants.

With Naza providing the competitive environment in the local automobile market, isn't this good for consumers?

Noraimah Encounter System Destruction

2005-07-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Noraimah livelihood destroyed

Coffeeshop torn down amid business
KUALA KEDAH:

Noraimah could only cry as her coffeeshop was torn down by the Alor Star City Council yesterday. What hurts her more was that she had just prepared the dishes for her afternoon customers and her four children aged between three and 15.

Noraimah Othman, 43, said she was cooking when she saw a convoy of six lorries and six pick-up trucks from the Alor Star City Council, Land Office, Public Works Department, Tenaga Nasional Berhad and police with two excavators passing her shop at about 9.30am.

She said she saw the convoy heading to a shop at Jalan Seberang Kota, about 200m from hers, and tearing it down.

“I thought my shop would be spared as it was on the Kampung Seberang Kota mosque endowment land. I was surprised when an officer from the Land Office came up to me and said they were going to pull down my shop. I was helpless and could only cry as I looked at the cooked fish curry and fried fish,” she said.

Noraimah, however, admitted that she had received a notice to move out two months ago. Noraimah, who operated the coffeeshop with her husband Mohamad Ariffin, 52, was among five operators here whose premises were torn down in an operation led by Kota Star District land administrator Che Barni Md Noor. Asked why Kuala Kedah was targeted instead of an illegal township and the many illegal structures in Alor Star, Kota Star Land Officer Mohd Zaini Ramli said enforcement action would be carried out in stages to remove all the structures.

The Law vs Equity

What the council was doing was in accordance with the law. But law are made to protect the society, to provide a system of natural justice, and to ensure every citizen can live in peace and harmony.

What the council had done was 'doing things right' which is contrary to 'NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING'.

Law are legislated to protect the people and not to destroy them. A government is elected by the people, to provide for the people, and to protect the people from injustice. Is the council doing justice?

What Noraimah had done was not a crime in itself, but an inchoate offence. She doesn't deserve the destruction of her property which will cause her much more hardship. What her family had benefitted from the shop is to earn a few hundred ringgit a month to feed the children and keep everyone in her family alive. By destroying her property, she will be left with nothing to survive upon.

No one who is financially capable will want to set up an unauthorised shop. If she had the financial capability, she would have rented a shop to manage the business. It is because she doesn't have the money to do that.

The authorities should have look at an alternative to provide her a place to do business that will help her to earn a meagre living. Is that asking too much of the government? Can't they be more sympathetic towards the poor?

Noraimah, and many others like her are trying to earn an honest living. Why can't the system and those officers in the council think of ways to help these honest and poor people?

We are not propagating that the system should allow crimes to exist right in their eyes. But inchoate offence is not a crime. The system should manage to uplift the people's livelihood if they are desirous of an honest living, such as that shown by Noraimah.

The irony is that, those rich who had acquired wealth by illegal means are protected by the law enforcer, while those who are from the lower income group are facing the brunt of the law.

The 4-D operators, the prostitute shops, the bookies, the drug peddlers, etc; these people have the money to shut up and shut out the enforcers - read the Commissioner's report on police corruption, Michael Soosai case and Kudus case.

Pak Lah should come up with directives on council enforcement. Don't let them harass Pasar malam operators, unlicence coffeeshops and foodstalls. Let these people survive or alternatively, provide them with a place to earn a meager living. Be emphathetic towards them. Think, as if they are your mother, what would you have done? Would you still tear down the shop? Pak Lah has a son and a son-in-law that is worth hundreds of million. At least, if you can't donate some to them, don't destroy them in the name of LAW and enforcement. Be human. Jangan Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin.

At least Noraimah is not selling drugs or stealing from anybody. She is unable to find an alternative but to run a shop in this manner. Until she has earned more than her expenses, she could then be able to save some money to pay the rental for a shop and pay to get a licence from the council to operate. At the meantime, why don't the council give her a notice that permits her 2-3 years from now to save some money to pay the rental and setup costs for a shop?

Can we Malaysians contribute to help her?

EPF - Employees PROVIDING the Fundings

2005-07-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

EPF

EPF records higher gross income

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) recorded a gross income of RM11.8bil last year, 7.1% higher than the RM11bil in 2003. EPF chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali said in a statement that the fund's investments last year had also increased by RM20.1bil, or 9.2%, to RM237.1bil, compared with RM217bil in 2003.

He said Malaysian Government Securities remained the EPF's major choice of investment, with RM92.5bil, or 39%, of its total investments, followed by loans and bonds (RM74.4bil), equities (RM47.4bil), money market instruments (RM21.3bil) and properties (RM1.5bil).

“In line with the prudent and effective investment strategies adopted, the EPF declared a dividend of 4.75% last year compared with 4.5% in 2003,” he added.

Abdul Halim said the EPF undertook several initiatives last year to improve its investment management, including outsourcing funds to fund managers, championing corporate governance and minority shareholder activism, diversifying into the property and private equities market, and establishing a Risk Management Department to guide investment decisions.

He added that the number of active members in the fund stood at 5.1 million as of Dec 31 last year. The number of employers increased by 17,500, or 4.9%, to 372,700 last year, against 355,200 in the previous year. “Of the number, only 2.9% are defaulting employers. This is testimony to the EPF’s strong enforcement stand to track down errant employers,” he added.

Abdul Halim also said the EPF’s total assets increased from RM220.2bil in 2003 to RM240.4bil last year. “The total contributions collected by the EPF last year increased by 8.5% to RM21.9bil compared with RM20.1bil in 2003,” he said, adding that RM12.7bil was withdrawn under various schemes last year, an increase of 16.8% over the RM10.9bil in the previous year.

ANALYSIS

“In line with the prudent and effective investment strategies adopted, the EPF declared a dividend of 4.75% last year compared with 4.5% in 2003,” EPF chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali BOASTED.

Declaring 4.75% dividend is due to PRUDENT & EFFECTIVE investment strategies?

So, when Templeton Fund and Berkshire Hathaway declared 35% dividend, what shall we call it?

At the rate of dividend, employees (mainly lower and middle income earners) shall not have a retirement fund. By the time an employee retires at 55, their savings in EPF will be able to survive them for only a few years and they will then have to become beggers, or pray that their children (if they had any) will contribute to pay their living expenses and medical expenses.

Of course, we should also thank EPF management too. Why? At least they did not squandered the money like Amanah Saham Johor and Amanah Saham Sabah (for every dollar of investment in ASS and ASJ, the NTA value is less than ten cents now). For this reason, we should be thankful to Abdul Halim and EPF management as they had manage to keep the employees savings intact; just like the parable jesus says about a father who gave the son a dime and the son hid it in the ground.

But 4.5% dividend is prudent and effective? Consider that Risk-Free Return is 3.4%, EPF is doing 1.1% better than fixed deposit, and that's because of prudent and effective investment strategies? Oh, Allahmak!!!

We cannot dispute the fact that EPF has to invest in government securities which gives a low rate of return but is fully guaranteed by the government. But the investment in government securities is only 39%.

But then, EPF had also loan monies to public listed corporations at 4% chargeable interest (rate of return). YTL Corp, Time Engineering, etc, etc, they had borrowed hundreds of millions from EPF at an interest rate of 4%; and EPF pays us 4.75% dividend - that's definitely super, isn't it?

EPF invested in bond funds of up to 30%. I have invested in RHB bond funds and the dividend is 8% p.a., and plus other bonuses.

Abdul Halim said the EPF undertook several initiatives last year to improve its investment management, including outsourcing funds to fund managers, championing corporate governance and minority shareholder activism, diversifying into the property and private equities market, and establishing a Risk Management Department to guide investment decisions.

Excellent, Tan Sri, but that statement you made said EPF had undertook several initiatives last year. Does it mean over the last 10 and 20 years, EPF did not do that? And yet EPF paid 8% during those years. So, last year, EPF had taken several initiatives to improve investment; can we expect EPF to give 8% dividend or more next year? If not, then the statement is fallacious.

Live 8 rocks the world, but will it help the poor?

2005-07-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

Live 8 Rock

By Mike Collett-White and Mark Egan
LONDON/PHILADELPHIA (Reuters)

After a galaxy of stars rocked the world in the largest live concert ever held, organisers on Sunday looked to a summit of rich nations to see if people power would change policy on poverty.

Over a million people listened to rock and pop musicians at venues across four continents on Saturday to demand that leaders of the Group of Eight industrialised countries meeting in Scotland on Wednesday relieve African debt and boost aid.

"For God's sake, take this seriously. Don't behave normally. Don't look for compromises. Be great," Live 8 organisers said in a joint statement after the concerts ended.

More than 26 million people worldwide sent text messages on Saturday in support of Live 8, setting a world record for a single event, organisers said. They had also expected up to two billion people to tune into the show worldwide.

In Edinburgh, close to where the G8 meets, 200,000 demonstrators marched peacefully through the city to back the Make Poverty History campaign.

The media in Britain, where the build-up to Live 8 has had a higher profile than in other countries, hailed organiser, rocker Bob Geldof, and the 170 pop acts who graced stages.

"A beautiful day," read the front page headline in the Independent on Sunday. "Is that loud enough for you?" asked the Sunday Times. But others are more sceptical.

In Philadelphia, where hundreds of thousands crammed the streets to hear Will Smith and Stevie Wonder, singer Alicia Keys questioned America's interest in helping Africa.

"America has a sense of disconnect when it comes to Africa or places that are very far away because many of us, most of us, won't get the opportunity to see those places," she said. Limited television coverage in the United States could also dampen the impact of such an impressive show of people power.

Tokyo kicked off Live 8, which was also staged in the Circus Maximus in Rome and before a crowd of 150,000 in Berlin. In Barrie, near Toronto, 35,000 people turned out for the musical feast, while France's concert boasted the Chateau de Versailles as its elegant backdrop. The numbers in Moscow's Red Square were low, perhaps unsurprising in a country where more than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line. In Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela addressed nearly 10,000 people.

London's Hyde Park had the strongest line-up, with Paul McCartney, Bono, Madonna, Elton John, Pink Floyd, The Who and George Michael entertaining 200,000 people. The raucous crowd fell silent when Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof replayed Live Aid footage of dying Ethiopians. After freezing on the image of a girl on the verge of death, the same person, a now healthy Birhan Woldu, was introduced on stage. Geldof, behind the Live Aid concerts 20 years ago that raised $100 million for Africa's starving, is pushing this time for a doubling of aid to Africa, forgiveness of debts and fairer trade rules.

"Mahatma Gandhi freed a continent, Martin Luther King freed a people, Nelson Mandela freed a country. It does work. They will listen," he said.

But Live 8 has sparked debate over whether making money available to African governments encourages corruption.

COMMENTS

Live 8's call is commendable and it shows the passion of so many artists willingness to subscribe to a noble act.

The hypothesis is: even if the develop countries wants to help, how do they go about it? Donate money and channel it thru' the corrupt govt? Helping the Africans and those who are poor is great and a virtue, but look at the third world countries and how they had been ruled. Look at their government and the ministers and how ultra rich they are. Look at Iraq; Saddham was an ultra billionaire and there are millions in Iraq that hardly have three meals to eat a day. Look at Nigeria and name the ultra rich - its a who's who in the system administrators.

Sometimes, we don't have to look too far; within our own system we can conclude convincingly; that we have the same system in practice - kleptocracy had been in existence for ages,since time inmemorial...

"Throwing money at African governments is not the answer," the brother of South African President Thabo Mbeki is convinced.

"Give the money to the people for productive investment," Moeletsi Mbeki said in the Mail on Sunday. "Africans are perfectly capable of improving their own lot."

But International grants, donations, and sponsorships have to be forwarded to the government of the country. That's the juxtaposition.

Look at the monies donated for Tsunami victims of Acheh, Sri Lanka, and include Malaysia; you can find the answer to any questions.

When comes to money, everybody is absolutely honest: they want it for themselves and will do it in the name of others; some even in the name of God.

They said: Money is the root of evil. No, not true. The only evil is without it. Asked Khairy and Isa.

Petronas Rebutted my Presumption

2005-07-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

Petronas Post 50% JUMP in Net Profit

For its year ended March 31 2005, Petronas returned RM31 billion to the Government, 47% higher compared with the last year. Since its incorporation, Petronas is reported to have paid the government a total of RM246 billion. During its last financial year, too, Petronas subsidised some RM6 billion for natural gas supplied to Malaysia's power sector.

The RM31.2 billion Petronas paid the Government include corporate taxes, royalties, export duty and dividends.

Petronas revenue hit a record RM137 billion, a 40.5 per cent increase from RM97.5 billion registered last year.

Of the RM137 billion in revenue, revenue from exploration and production rose 51.5% to RM31.3 billion; from oil it climbed 34.7% to RM51.4 billion; and, from gas it leapt 26.9% to RM26.7 billion. Revenue from petrochemicals also rose 51.6% to RM12 billion while logistics and maritime revenue was up 59.4% at RM8.1 billion with property revenue up 73.5% to RM5.6 billion. The balance comprised revenue from a wide range of other sources.

Petronas group’s total assets stands at RM239.1 billion, up 17.7 per cent from RM203.2 billion last year.

Petronas net profit for the year ended March 31 2005 is RM35.55 billion, the highest in its 30-year history on the back of a sharp spike in world oil prices. Petronas posted RM23.66 billion profit in the last financial year, which means it has increase of 50% profit margin.

So, RM31.2 billion was paid the Government which is 47% higher in taxes as compared to last year. That means, the government is receiving an additional of RM14 billion in revenue, a direct contribution from the increase in the price from crude oil.

Zeti

According to Zeti, the Bank Negara governor, a US$1 increase in global oil prices will positively impact the Government by RM100 million to RM200 million."

So, by mathematical analysis, if the price of crude oil now is USD60, and the previous comparative level is USD26, then the price increase will mathematically be USD34 and the additional gain by the government should be RM6.8 billion (based on Zeti's assumption of RM200 million for every dollar global oil price increase).

Mustapa Mohamed

According to the statement from the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Mustafa Mohammad (October 13, 2004, The Star; "Petrol Subsidies soaring"), if the price of crude oil stays at USD54, the government subsidies for fuel had increase to RM4.6bil from RM1 bil (when the price was USD26 in 2003). If the price of crude is USD60, then based on RM1.52 per litre of premium petrol, the subsidies will amount to no more than RM4 bil.

At such, even as the crude oil price is USD60, taking into consideration that Petronas alone had paid an additional of RM14bil in taxes, minus the subsidy of RM4 bil, the government is a net gainer of RM10 bil, solely from the taxes from Petronas. If we are to include the foreign oil and oil related companies additional taxes, the net additional gain is much, much higher.

So, is there a reason to increase the price of fuel?

Coming back to Petronas claim that they had contributed RM31 bil in taxes, duties, royalties and dividends, and a total RM246 bil contribution to the government over the last three decades, the question of subsidies becomes a paranoia.

Some quarters have asked why the highly-profitable national oil corporation cannot be asked to extend the subsidies instead.

Public opinions has being that Petronas, as a responsible corporate citizen, and being a net billion dollar gainer of the huge price increase from crude oil, should consider making substantial contributions towards assisting the government in the fuel subsidies, Petronas president and CEO, Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican said the national oil corporation should not be expected to subsidise petrol and diesel prices.

"Petronas should not be penalised for its success. We should be proud that a Malaysian company has gone this far," Hassan Marican said.

Hassan said Petronas has fulfilled its financial obligations to its shareholder [by contributing RM31 billion in taxes], the Government of Malaysia.

According to Hassan Marican, Petronas is not the only player in the domestic products retail market and it would be unfair for Petronas, which holds only a 30 per cent market share, to subsidise petrol and diesel prices as it would mean that it is subsidising all the other domestic fuel oil companies. Requiring the other oil companies in Malaysia to also subsidise prices of petrol and diesel would likewise be unfair as it would eat up the already slim margin they are making under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism. Worse still, it may drive the companies out of Malaysia and cripple the country's petroleum products retail system.

Mohd Hassan said as a business entity, imposing additional burden of subsidising petrol and diesel prices may have serious implications on international investors' confidence in Petronas. It may result in downgrading of the oil company's ratings by international rating agencies, he added.

Can we agree with the profound reasons propounded by the CEO and President?

eh.....oh!!!!!

The government has proven once too often that downgrading of international rating is not a concern to the nation, what more to Petronas.

During the economic crisis in 1997, the nation's economic position was even downgraded to junk status.The then government headed by Tun Mahathir doesn't even sneeze. In fact, rumours at that time was that Petronas had been used to bail out several corporations and failed financial institutions, including banks, Bank Bumiputra, Proton, Perwaja, etc, etc... and Petronas rating was downgraded rapidly; Petronas Chairman, CEO and President said nothing of it.

Survey: Yes, We Want Bribes

2005-07-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Survey: Yes to Bribe

Hundreds of thousands of Malaysian school leavers are willing to accept bribes if they have the power and the opportunity to do so.

According to a 2002 survey of the public’s perception of corruption by the Malaysian Integrity Institute (IIM), 30% of the students sampled said they would take bribes.

This shocking discovery was presented by IIM president Datuk Dr Sulaiman Mahbob at a briefing to the country’s top leaders and civil servants on Wednesday.

“It is a sub-sample. But we are concerned,” he said when contacted yesterday.

“They are post-Form Five students and represent a small percentage of the sample. It is not widespread. It’s just 2.4% of the population,” he said, downplaying the findings.

However, 2.4% of the country’s 26.1 million population represents an eye-popping 625,400 young people, many of whom have entered or will enter the country’s workforce.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, ministers, deputy ministers, government officials and representatives from other sectors were at Wednesday’s closed-door briefing.

HONEST COMMENTS:

Well, at least those interviewed by IIM were honest Malaysians - they speak with pure honesty.

IIM president Datuk Dr Sulaiman Mahbob said this survey is only a sub-sample.

I believe if a larger survey is made and if those interviewed are as honest as these group, the percentage should in fact indicate affirmativeness, and the percentage may possibly DOUBLE or TRIPLE.

Is there anything wrong with this post-form 5 students answer? NO! Absolutely not. Even if you asked those in their 30s and 40s, and include politicians and members of political parties and civl service, you will get the same result if they are prepared to be honest with their answer.

I have often put up case studies with this hypothesis at universities to post-graduates, and the answer is the same - because these people are prepared to give honest answers.

Unless we want to go into a denial syndrome!

Ask any businessmen, any employees and almost 100% will agree that as Malaysians, "Kau Tim" is our culture and if you see traffic police on highways and along roads, you know why - Cari Makan lah! If you submit any applications to the authorities, you will get no reply, or if there is reply, it would be about seeking more information or rejections. But if you "Kau-Tim", the approval is only days. Oh, don't say like that lah..... but what? What can I say otherwise????

In Malaysia, we are unique and equal when come to Kau-Tim, because your skin color and race is irrelevant - be ye Bumiputra or non-bumiputra. Everyone is equal and everyone has to Kau-Tim - Malay, Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Mat-Salleh, Mamak .... oh, particularly Mamak Restaurant because they want to put their tables and chairs on the street and walkways; ask Kudus.

It's ingrained in our culture and tradition. It is considered goodwill by those who receive, and a necessity by those who give; it motivates positive actions and reactions.

And if you are members of MIC, MCA, and in particular UMNO, then you can see everyone is fighting to be selected to be a national delegate to the general assembly to vote - UMNO calls it money-politics. MCA and MIC does not call it money politics; they termed it as expenses for the general assembly.

Pak Lah may not want to hear this; but I'm sorry as we Malaysians knows the absolute truth - just asked anyone on the street, school, and employees...... A truth is a truth, like it or not.

Please conduct a survey with childrens between 10 to 15 years-old, you may also get the same answer; unless you asked them to deny it so that the survey will help reflect our clean image.

Someone asked me how to eradicate corruption. My answer: Legalise it and call it political contribution.

Corruption & Rape at Crimea?

2005-07-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Corruption & Rape at Crimea

ALLEGATIONS of corruption and rape at Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) are among reasons that led to its de-registration, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He said the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) received letters from parents of Malaysian students studying at the university alleging corrupt practices there. He said there were also allegations of rape at the university, and victims were warned not to report the incidents.

“The MMC wrote to CSMU in 2004 to get an explanation from them but unfortunately, despite all the recent publicity, there is still no answer from the university,” he told Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur).

Dr Chua said another factor leading to the university’s de-registration was the undesirable lecturer-student ratio after the number of Malaysian students there increased from 53 in 2001 to 1,116 last year.

“Apart from that, students who graduated from CSMU and attached to the Health Ministry were found to be weak in their knowledge and skills because their command of English was so poor they could not understand medical jargon.

“This is why we decided to de-recognise the university,” he said.

At a press conference later, Lim, who is Opposition Leader, disputed the minister’s claim that CSMU had not replied to MMC.

Lim also distributed copies of correspondence between CSMU and MMC.

“I thank the Health Minister for answering my supplementary question just now, but his answer is not a satisfactory one as he appeared to rely on hearsay.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

It is interesting. Health Minister says the reason of de-recognition were: rape, corruption, poor English of graduates and lecturers-student ratio.

His Deputy Minister and Malaysian Medical Council says it was due to: CMSU admitted Arts student, Students who failed SPM and are admitted; lecturer-student ratio and poor English.

So, what's the real problem???

Rape and corruption?

What's that got to do with MMC and recognition?

Recognition is a rule set to monitor the quality of graduates who will become doctors one day, and the main issue is: will they be competent to do the professional assignment?

Rape and Corruption is a Criminal matter and must be referred to the relevant authorities for criminal indictment and prosecution; thats not the job of MMC, neither the duty of Health Ministry.

Is the Ministry saying that they are concerned with Human Rights and wants to show that they are the protector of Human Rights, then please help to resolve and amend the draconian statute in Malaysia first - the Internal Security Act (ISA). Please don't act like Americans and British legislators.

Not too long ago, there was a student in University Utara Malaysia (UUM) who was made pregnant and gave birth to a baby in the hostel; an unmarried girl giving birth to a baby at college; isn't that construed as rape? Did MMC take action against UUM?

So happen, I had a friend who had sent his daughter to Crimea two years ago. At Crimea, she died after falling down from a highrise apartment. It was reported by Ukranian authority that it was a case of suicide. It was rumoured that she was pushed down by someone and the bereaved father seek the assistance of MCA, hopefully to get an autopsy report.

I believe, Chua Soi Lek may be refering to this case when he says rape and corruption. There were allegations of rape and corruption; but is there proof? There was allegation that it was done by a fello Malaysian; but there was insufficient evidence; or for the fact, there was no factual evidence - it was merely hearsay. We can't alleged corruption and rape and the notion of guilty until proven innocent.

The next consideration is about English:

"Students who graduated from CSMU and attached to the Health Ministry were found to be weak in their knowledge and skills because their command of English was so poor they could not understand medical jargon."

The Ministry of Health had over the past years engaged expartriate doctors from Myanmar, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. They too had problem with English, but yet they were employed by Health Ministry. So, what's the problem?

46 Doctors Sacked

Should we have Malaysian medical graduates (who are basically practising as houseman), and who do not understand medical jargons in English, then the solution is, these graduates who are currently performing their housemanship, they should be required to undergo English classes, and had to pass a certain exam before they are allowed to practice as medical doctors.

Equally, Malaysian students in local universities are also poor in English. I have a few friends (Malaysians and working in public hospitals) who are accredited medical doctors and they too can't speak proper English. There was no problem with MMC! Couple of months back, I went to see a dentist in KL, and we have to converse in Bahasa Malaysia because she can't speak proper English. Any problem?

Next issue: "Undesirable lecturer-student ratio".

Is ratio the strict rule? The purpose of ratio is to set a control mechanism whereby it is a presumption that medical colleges should try maintain a ratio set (maybe 1:12) to ensure that each student will be given sufficient attention so that their progress and achievements are closely monitored. The ratio is a guideline and not a rule of law. It does not mean that if the ratio is increased to 1:15, the students will graduate as a moron. In fact, last year, our local universities have increase their ratio and agreed by MMC.

Next: So then, what is the other problem? Unless we include the problem of admission of Art Stream students and some who had failed their SPM, as the reason for de-recognition, I just can't find a any more reason for the de-recognition. The only probable reason not considered here is: political and racial. The ministry had denied this and we must believe it [period].

But if Art Stream students and SPM-failed students were the reasons, then, we are be-mocking our own system of government slapping our own face. Why? because the Ministry of Higher Education had considered the applications and had approved the applications of these group of students to read medicine at Crimea. They were issued Certificate of NO OBJECTION to read medicine at Crimea. So, what's the problem?

I don't know. I think the Minister also don't know. Only MMC knows!!!!

Can they find some other better excuse? Are we so lousy in finding a decrepid and lame, but acceptable excuse?