Hot War

Cold War was over when the communist regime fell across Europe. With USSR disintegrated and most East Europeans' communism regime fell down the drain, the Cold War disappeared silently too.

Lately, the USA was trying to place some of its missles and radar system in Poland and Czech Republic in which Russia took it seriously and said that USA has breached ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty. Russia stated that those placements were meant to target Russia.

Meanwhile, USA has responded by saying that those interceptor missiles and radar system's placement were meant to counter any future threats from Iran and North Korea.

Very sensitive situation. Was USA's reasons justified? It seems that Russia was not buying it.

On the other hand, in showing that their arms' strength are still powerful, Russia launched a RS-24 missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome last Tuesday. This missle could be armed with up to 10 warheads and was designed to evade missile defence systems. Wow! Evade? If you don't intend to bomb people in future why a need for a missile that could evade...... and a missile that could fit in 10 warheads???????? This missile could have been planned for few years back when everything was peaceful and their mind was already filled with destruction of another country with just one powerful missile....tsk tsk tsk

The NATO-Russia Council stated that it will continue to to address Russia’s concerns regarding the plans. Concerns on what when Russia was also well prepared?

Ain't this going to be a HOT WAR!!! Must practice my shooting skills with my Counter Strike game. You'll never know when it will come in handy.
Tags: Cold War, USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, NATO-Russia Council, ABM Treaty, RS-24, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Missile Defence System, Iran, North Korea

Digging Up Malaysia's Racial Past

A new book presents the view that 1969 race riots were instigated by ambitious Malay politicians. Now it seems the book will be banned by the government.

Thirty-eight years on, the traumatic ethnic riots of May 13, 1969 in Malaysia remain as much a subject of official censorship as the events of June 4, 1989 in China. Now a new book by a Malaysian Chinese academic, launched on 13 May 2007 itself, is on the point of being officially banned for suggesting that May 13 was the occasion for what amounted to a coup against the independence leader and Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman by his United Malays National Organisation ("UMNO") colleagues who were pushing pro-Malay policies. Officials of Malaysia's Internal Security Ministry Tuesday confiscated 10 copies of the book from a Kuala Lumpur bookstore, advising the store not to sell it as it may be banned. According to a letter issued by Ministry officials, the book is suspected of being an "undesirable publication."

What happened on May 13 remains highly relevant to UMNO's position as the leader of the Barisan Nasional, the alliance of race-based parties that has ruled the country since independence 50 years ago.

"Declassified Documents on the Malaysian riots of 1969" by Dr Kua Kia Soong, the principal of New Era College, is based not directly on Malaysian sources, but on now-open British documents held at the Public Records Office in Kew Gardens, near London. These consist of contemporary British diplomatic and intelligence reports which suggest that the riots were not spontaneous acts of communal violence, as is constantly alleged by UMNO, but were fanned by Malay elements, with support from the army and police, wanting to discredit the accommodating prime minister and impose a much more rigorous Malay agenda. One British document concluded that the goal was to "formalize Malay dominance, sideline the Chinese and shelve Tunku."

The official Malaysian government version of events was that the riots were sparked by opposition parties "infiltrated by communist insurgents" following huge opposition gains in the election. Although the UMNO-led Alliance, the predecessor of the Barisan National, retained an overall majority, it lost its two thirds majority and its control of Selangor state was threatened. Certainly there was much celebrating among the mainly Chinese opposition parties at the election result, which angered Malay politicians who sensed their political dominance was under threat.

By the time the riots were over, official figures said 196 people had been killed, 6,000 made homeless and more than 700 buildings destroyed or damaged.

Non-Malays, in particular, have long believed that though there was violence on both sides, it was a mostly one-sided affair with some Malay politicians, notably Selangor Chief Minister Harun Idris, encouraging mobs to attack Chinese areas and that the security forces initially did little to prevent violence. This is largely confirmed by contemporary reports such as those of Far Eastern Economic Review correspondent Bob Reece.

Kua's thesis suggests that there was a grander political design behind the episode, which from the beginning was intended to create a new political agenda and new leadership. He attributes this to a younger Malay group dissatisfied with the aristocratic, pro-British Tunku.

In any event, the Tunku effectively stepped aside as emergency powers to rule by decree were (temporarily) placed in the hands of a National Operations Council headed by his deputy Tun Abdul Razak - father of current deputy prime minister Najib Razak. The Tunku remained prime minister until September 1970, but had little authority any more. In 1971 he also stepped down as president of UMNO after virulent criticism by the Malay "Young Turks," headed by Mahathir Mohamad, the future Prime Minister. The same year the government enunciated the New Economic Policy and began aggressive affirmative action programs to advance the economic and educational level of Malays.

However, while the consequences of May 13 may be clear, there are disagreements about Kua's thesis even among those who attribute the riots to Malay politicians. For example, Dr Syed Husin Ali also a respected academic and deputy head of the opposition Keadilan Party, has suggested that while some UMNO figures used the events as an opportunity to sideline the Tunku and set out a pro-Malay agenda, it was not planned as such.

In other words, Razak and others took advantage of the situation which arose after the election and the appearance of Malay mobs to grab the reins of power from the Tunku, with whom they were dissatisfied, but that it was not premeditated. Syed also takes issue with Kua's view that they represented an aspirant Malay capitalist class when most had traditional and feudal links.

Bookstores have been advised not to sell Kua's book and a formal ban looks likely on the grounds that it will stir up racial animosities, which it could well do in the short run. However, from a broader perspective it is hard to see how a multi-racial, multi-religious Malaysia can flourish if events such as May 13 can only be discussed in private, while the public is fed a distorted official version in order to sustain the legitimacy of UMNO politicians. (source: Asia Sentinel)

Reading: Rusuhan 13 Mei atau peristiwa 13 Mei

Tags: Politics, May 13, Kua Kia Soong, UMNO, Malay, Chinese, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Riot, Racial, Barisan Nasional, New Era College, Public Records Office, New Economic Policy

Inhuman Treatment

In this era, many medical teachings pointed to close bonding between the parents and a newborn will affect the baby's growth as it grew older. Every parents would have been so joyful of seeing their newborn. Some may have sleepless nights in the first few months but nonetheless it's worth it.

But not so for a couple, the husband an Indian and the wife who was an Indian Muslim. They didn't register their marriage due to the wife's religion. A child was born and the mother was subsequently taken to a detention camp known as Pusat Pemulihan Akidah (or Faith Rehabilitation Centers in english) at Ulu Yam, Selangor. Reason: it's to rehabilitated her for 100 days as she has declared herself a non-practising muslim. Though she's expected to be released on 18 April, such rehabilitation programme could be extended.

The baby was also taken away by group comprised of a policemen, a lawyer and the wife's mother to a place not known by the baby's father.

HOW COME HUMAN SENSE DOES NOT PREVAIL AT ALL????????????
How can an issue on religion brought such inhumane treatment upon this family who just want to have a simple family life? Religious officials who wants their religion to be upheld properly should have thought of how will the baby's mother cope knowing her newborn is out there without her. The baby's father had 'lost' the wife to a religious detention camp where over-zealous religious people are determined to change the wife's mindset.

What would God do if he was on earth? Last few days, blogs (e.g. here) and mainstream media have been publishing about a lost child, Mohd Nazrin aged 5, who had wandered around Sogo shopping centre and yet to be found. Why bother? This child don't need your concern as the child will find his way to someone who is willing to buy the child from unscrupulous gangs preying on such victims. I'm insensitive? It's the same logic behind the couple who had been separated now.

On the other hand, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and the Education Ministry are organising a Best Human Rights Practice in School competition. Why waste time with such competition when one small matter as above couldn't be solved properly.

Reading: First his wife and then his daughter taken away… - Lim Kit Siang
Reading: What’s Lina Joy’s status? - The Star
Tags: Religious, Inhuman, Human Rights, Siti Fatimah, Malaysia, Pusat Pemulihan Akidah

Safe In Baghdad

Sen. John McCain from USA said that it was safe to walk in the streets of Baghdad just to prove what he had said earlier was correct. Off he went to Iraq.

He wanted to show his support to the current President on USA's involvement in Iraq's internal conflict. 'Bodek' in Malay language or just want to impress the President of his so-called loyalty. Politician's ploy.

Walked he did but not alone. Talk BIG only. He was wearing a Kevlar vest, the area that he was to 'walk' was sweeped clean by more than 100 battle-ready troops and armored Humvees. At the same time, 3 Blackhawk helicopters and 2 Apache attack helicopters were patrolling from above. Sharpshooters were posted on the surrounding rooftops. The cost of such protection deployment just to please a guy's statement made - US$40,000. Who was that guy???????

Reading: McCain Strolls Through Baghdad Market - Think Progress

Reading: The American Tragedy of John McCain - Truth Out

Tags: John McCain, Baghdad, Kevlar, Humvee, Blackhawk, Apache

Malaysian Mathematician

I find it most alarming that Malaysian schools teach our children the wrong things. I mean, can the children really apply what they are taught in school later in life?

For example, can you imagine a mathematics question in a recent examination as follows?

"If an egg costs fifty sen, and if you buy one-eighth of the egg, how much would you have to pay?" Who in heaven's name will want to buy one-eighth of an egg? The shopkeeper will probably think you are crazy and he will be equally stupid to break the egg and measure one-eighth for you. Yet, this is how they structure the questions in Malaysian schools.

Why not pose questions that would be more useful later in life when you go out into the world to earn your living? To help Malaysia 's Ministry of Education bet to face the realities of life, we are suggesting some questions they could use in our classrooms:-

QUESTION 1 If you drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang along the PLUS Highway and there are four speed traps along the way, and if each speed trap would cost you RM300.00 in fines, how much in fines would you accumulate by the time you reach Penang ?

ANSWER (Choose one)

1. I would not suffer any fines as the on coming cars would flash their headlights and I would slow down before coming to the speed trap.

2. I would only need to pay a total of RM80.00 as I would pay a RM20.00 bribe at each speed trap.

3. I would not be stopped as I am an UMNO Wakil Rakyat so I am exempted from speed traps.

QUESTION 2 If your Bumiputera company is awarded a RM150 million government contract, and you make a 20% profit, how much profit would be at the end of the contract period?

ANSWER (Choose one)

1. I will not be making a 20% profit as I would have to pay the Minister 10% and UMNO 5%.

2. I would make 30% profit, which is the progress payment I receive, after which I will abandon the project and let the government call for re-tender.

3. My company will not make any profit at all as I will siphon out all the profits and show a loss to avoid paying corporate tax.

QUESTION 3 If the ruling party obtained 54% of the popular votes the last election and won 151 or 80% of the seats, and if it saw an increase of 10% in votes this election, how many more seats would it gain?

ANSWER (Choose one)

1. The ruling party will not show a 10% increase in votes, as it will stuff the ballot box with another 20% to give it a 30% vote increase.

2. The ruling party will win a ich are the newly created seats in the delineation exercise recently done.

3. The ruling party has already decided it will win 90% of the seats and the votes have nothing to do with it.

QUESTION 4 If the national petroleum company, Petronas, pays a 5% royalty to Terengganu State and if the amount paid is RM800,000,000 per year, how much should Petronas have in the bank accumulated over the last 25years?

ANSWER (Choose one)

1. Nobody is supposed to know as Petronas need not show its accounts to anyone except the Prime Minister and this information comes under the Official Secrets Act.

2. Petronas earns only 50% of its petroleum revenue from Terengganu so Petronas' total income accumulated in the banks over 25 years should be RM800 billion.

3. Petronas has nothing accumulated in the bank as all the money has spent bailing out companies and finance mega projects.

Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Politics, Malaysia, Mathematics, PLUS Highway, UMNO Wakil Rakyat, Petronas, Terengganu, Ministry of Education

Double Standard?

The Malaysian Education Ministry has handed out RM1.409 million to 248 chinese schools for the year 2006, the highest handout since year 2001. The money was used for school refurbishment and extension projects. That figure worked to about RM5,682.00 per chinese school throughout the whole of Malaysia. (source: 7 Mar 07, The Star)

On the other hand, a single school in Penang, High School Bukit Mertajam, has been allocated a staggering development fund of RM20.0 million that will be used for construction of a hostel, teachers' quarters, a sports pavilion and a laboratory. Bear in mind that this development fund itself was specially allocated under the 9th Malaysian Plan. How privilege! (source: 19 Jan 07, The Star)

How did a development fund for a single school made it into the 9th Malaysian Plan wherelse funding for any chinese or tamil schools have not been specifically mentioned. Am I being picky here? Such practise is really double standard or pure discrimination does exist straight at your face.
Tags: Education Ministry, Malaysia, Chinese School, 9th Malaysian Plan, High School Bukit Mertajam, Discrimination, Double Standard, School

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency's Head

Malaysia's ranking in the recent Transparency International 2006 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has dropped to no. 44 in the listing, down 5 places from previous year. But a minister said "It's not too bad".

If Malaysia was trying to implement any plans to bolster that ranking, I think the following news came out at the wrong timing:-
* Reading: Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity fixed March 12 for Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Director-General Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor - Lim Kit Siang
* Reading: Explosive allegations against ACA chief - Malaysiakini
* Reading: ACA chief - 'Let the law decide' - New Straits Times
* Reading: Kegiatan rasuah Ketua Pengarah BPR dilindungi Bukit Aman? - Malaysia Today
* Reading: Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption (Gerak)
Tags: Tranparency International, Malaysia, Ranking, Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity, Anti-Corruption Agency, ACA, Zulkipli Mat Noor, Rasuah, BPR, Gerak, Corruption

Pan-Asian - UnMalaysian?

The recent ban on Pan-Asian looks in advertisements are not going to be accepted by government-owned television stations. Now let's see, RTM1, RTM2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV & Channel9, all these channels are government-owned and they are the only free TV channels available in Malaysia. Pan-Asians can only be involved in advertisements that will run in the only private television channels (other than those mentioned above) under the Astro station.

Why the non-acceptance? Even though if the Pan-Asians are having full & legitimate Malaysian citizenship? Reason? Discrimination Again?

Reading: Models with Pan-Asian look not happy with proposal
Reading: Malaysian models defend the mixed look
Reading: Move seen as giving others a chance
Reading: Ad agency explains why Pan-Asians are preferred models
Tags: Pan-Asian, Discrimination, Advertisement, TV Channels, Malaysia, Models

Interview with Financial Times

Malaysia's Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was interviewed by the Financial Times while he was in England recently where the interview transcript is being published online.

Extracting from the transcript, it did quote the PM saying "But fortunately for us, we are doing a lot of things to make our (Malaysia) government do well. The Muslims are being looked after with all sorts of policies, ensuring their progress, increasing their economic participation, providing education for the children, as we do also for other children. From that point of view, they are satisfied. From another point of view, they are sick."

I wonder who was he referring to as sick.

When asked on the issue of declining FDI in Malaysia, the PM was quoted as saying "Since then, Vietnam is catching up, China catching up and India catching up as low cost producers. Of course, slowly China is becoming high cost, in certain areas. So naturally we cannot any more be a low cost producer. So where are we today? We are moving up the value chain. We have become, although we are a higher cost producer today, we are offering higher skills. We are going for value-added products that are more sophisticated technologically. There is FDI for that. But we have to deliver."

The PM did mention that Malaysia is embarking on the bio-tech industry but only 1 sophisticated technology???? What else? From knowing quite a number of foreign business associates who tried to start their business ventures in Malaysia, they were faced with so many hurdles that made them gave up on it and skipped over to neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. So, if we are not cost effective at the bottom of the value chain and neither at the higher value chain due to tons of red tapes and you know what, where are we heading to?

And lastly on the issue of New Economic Policy that was put in place for the ethnic Malay race, the PM stated that "The objectives of the new economic policy introduced in 1971 in terms of providing fair equity participation in the economy have yet to be achieved. We aim for 30 per cent [participation]. In some sectors, yes, we have achieved that goal and we can stop."

We can stop? Which sector? When is the government stopping it? Stop to what extent? Or is it just to please the readers only?
Tags: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Interview, Prime Minister, Financial Times, Muslims, FDI, New Economic Policy, Malay

Free Travel!!!

It's something for you to read only & not so much of an offer available somewhere for your taking.

But if you are poor enough and managed to get a last minute Venezuelan citizenship, you could still get a chance to travel for free provided you are sick at the same time. The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, has approved tentatively with the Cuban government in sending 100,000 poor Venezuelans who require medical attention. Cuban doctors in various medical fields will be ready to provide the medical services required. (source: Granma International)

What a nice president. And I'm sure they are real hard core poor people instead of related parties or cronies riding along the trip in getting FREE stuff. Surely no discrimination on which race will have more people or fixing any quota on other races.
Tags: Venezuela, Medical Services, Cuba, Travel, Medicine

Apache in Kuala Lumpur

Red Indians? US Air Force's helicopters? A notorious gang?

It's actually a gang of motorcyclists terrorising around the city of Kuala Lumpur and had committed 21 robberies in 2 months. Their way of intimidating their victims resembled the Apache Red Indians when attacking the cowboys. Surround your victims and go round and round before launching the 'attack'. The latest incident happened to 2 ladies at Bangsar, an upscale area in Kuala Lumpur.

Such groups of motorcyclists, rampant throughout the country, are notorious and they have been given a name, Mat Rempit (actually they are illegal street racers), by certain political people. The concerned political people wanted to drive some sense into the Mat Rempits' brains but was futile. Efforts such as constructing a race track to keep them off the road and organising big gatherings with healthy activities have vapourised. How come the concerned political people don't know what sort of activities that drives the Mat Rempits? The adrenalin is when the Mat Rempits squeeze through tight traffic and zoom pass the red traffic lights daring each other. Or jumping over a pit of raging fire but not a gathering.

I support such good intention but without proper planning and yet recognising them with a name, it has backfired. Many people have said that it was a political agenda to draw the motorcyclists to join the political party that came out with the idea. A ploy but without meat in the plan?

Intention was even made to upgrade their name to Mat Cemerlang (similar to 'Excellent Dude') in Nov 2006. This idea has been conveniently swept under the carpet as it was shot down by the general public. Sometimes I really wonder why such high intelligence political people can come out with such brilliant ideas. Even the police force doesn't agree with such branding.

A victim of such Mat Rempits has launched a blog, Anti Rempit Campaign, about the notorious motorcyclists' situation in the country. The police force is at their wits controlling such gangs.
Tags: Motorcyclist, Malaysia, Politics, Notorious, Apache, Mat Rempit, Mat Cemerlang

Bloggers Unite

With Jeff Ooi and Rocky being sued, lots of Malaysian bloggers have united together. It wouldn't have happened if NST didn't initiate the legal suits.
- Malaysian bloggers unite against defamation lawsuits

Susan Loone has created a webspace for Bloggers United for bloggers to join hands calling for freedom of speech.

Kickdefella has allowed bloggers, young & old, Malaysian & non-Malaysian to unite to denounce NST.

Certain individuals have put up a blog, called Walk With Us, dedicated to support both Jeff and Rocky.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance have also come out in support of Jeff and Rocky, urging NST to drop the suits.

Another blog called Blacklisted writer is just for your reading pleasure.

Tags: Malaysian Bloggers Sued, Bloggers United, Malaysia, Reporters Without Borders, Southeast Asian Press Alliance, NST, Jeff Ooi, Screenshots, Ahirudin Attan, RockyBru, Walk With Us, Susan Loone, Kickdefella

Bloggers United

I'm a fan of Manchester United ...... didn't expect that there is the United thing in blogosphere too. Well, this Bloggers United started off from Sheih of Kickdefella where it calls for Malaysian bloggers to be united in freedom of speech.

If you are a Malaysian blogger, you can copy this picture to be pasted in your blog. If you are a non-Malaysian blogger but supports bloggers, you can also paste it in your blog. Or access Kickdefella's website for more picture sizes.

Sadly, we have been informed that 2 socio-political bloggers have been issued Writs of Summon (of 12 inches high) for their blogging. It seems comments made in the respective blogs are also taken into consideration as part of the blogger's responsibility now.

Jeff Ooi of Screenshots and Ahiruddin Attan of RockyBru will have to appear before the court by month end.

Kickdefella came up with a poster in support of RockyBru.

No more freedom of speech in Malaysia?
Tags: Writ of Summon, Jeff Ooi, Screenshots, Ahirudin Attan, RockyBru, Bloggers United, Kickdefella

USA's $4.5 Trillion Financial Scandal

How true are the following reports thus far that US Treasury Secretary has been arrested in Germany and news have been covered up as it involves a number of top ranking people in USA and Europe. And if this is real, it will be the world's worse financial scandal of all time which could even trigger the fall of US Dollars and maybe even the EURO.

Biggest Scandal in U.S. History Covered Up By U.S. Corporate Media - Inform America

U.S. Treasury Secretary Arrested in Germany - World Reports Limited

Treasury Secretary Paulson Arrested in Germany as Bushbox Crumbles and Disgraces America Again - After Downing Street

White House Still Not Talking about $4.5 Trillion Wanta Settlement - The Artic Beacon

The above happened within the last week of year 2006 till 30 Dec 2006.

Want my feedback? I think it's a hoax as it did mention that the International Court of Justice ("ICJ") has subpoena Henry Paulson to the ICJ. ICJ is located in The Hague, Netherlands anyway. FYI, the ICJ only settles (1) cases involving countries pertaining to international law or legal disputes and (2) will give legal advisory on those disputes submitted by international organisations and agencies. Only states may apply or appear before the court. An arrest could not be made or issued by ICJ on the spot even though it involves states as there are procedures to be followed.
Tags: USA, Euro, US Treasury Secretary, Germany, Financial Scandal, International Court of Justice, Wanta, Arrest, $4.5 Trillion

Saddam Hussein's Death

All good things will come to an end. To some international community, that's what they perceive of Saddam for his reign as the President of Iraq.

It ended yesterday at dawn and the international community didn't agree with the execution but neither did they agree for what he has done in the past. Todate, the Allied Force has not shown us the WMD to the public. And will this execution calm the situation in Iraq before the sectarian war erupts further. Will the withdrawal of the Allied Force help the situation?

Tags: Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq, WMD, Allied Force, War, Politics

New Yacht For Malaysian PM?

* LATEST - Abdullah Denies Buying RM30 Million Boat *
CARACAS, Dec 20 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied buying a RM30 million boat as reported by a newspaper in Turkey recently."The report is inaccurate. It is a lie. I don't know where it got such facts," he told reporters here when asked to comment on a newspaper report that he went to Bodrum in Turkey recently to see the boat which he ordered four months ago.Abdullah said he would ask the newspaper to make a correction.According to the report, the boat is made of Akuju, Maun, Sipo and Brimanya tree which is imported from South Africa and expected to be completed in 16 months."I was in Turkey but did not see the boat," he said in reference to his transit in Turkey from Kuala Lumpur before coming here for a three-day official which ended Tuesday. (source: BERNAMA)

As reported in the Hurriyet Newspaper, a Turkish newspaper (translated to English as seen in RockyBru and Malaysia Today)
Malaysian Prime Minister here to see his boat.
Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmed Badawi arrived in Bodrum yesterday to see his boat which he ordered four months ago. Badawi arrived in Bodrum at 1.30 am with a private jet that belongs to Malaysia Airlines. The head official of Milas, Bahattin Atci, and Malaysian businessman Ananda Krishnan, who is the sixth richest man in Asia, welcomed Badawi. Kamil Sezgun, who is the director of Kobra Yachting and Tourism Ltd Co, was also present. Badawi and his friend Krishnan went to Gokova for fishing with a luxury motor yacht belonging to Kremala Holding, which was brought over here from Malta. The luxury yacht "Obsessions" is 40-meter long, made in the Netherlands and the captain of the yacht is Cavit Kabak. The yacht was anchored in Milta Marina.

Badawi said he loves Bodrum and south Aegean and the Mediterranean so much. It's a great pleasure for him to be here fishing and resting on the line (horizon) that connects blue and green (ocean and land). The boat will cost 8 million (US) dollars. The boat is made of Akaju, Maun, Sipo and Brimanya's tree which is imported from South Africa. It is expected to be completed in 16 months. Some 60 people are involved in the construction of the boat. The boat will be delivered after 12 months (since he ordered it four months ago). The capacity of the boat is for 14 people and the length is 44 meters. The boat will cost 8 million US dollars.

It seems that the new yacht will be similar to the ones in Interpac Yachts and Aegean Charters's websites. Whose yacht is it actually? Was it mis-reported? Or wrongly translated?
Tags: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysian Prime Minister, Luxury, Yacht, Turkey, Bodrum, Milas, Milta Marina, Hurriyet

Cover Up Or Else

Women working in retail outlets and restaurants in Kota Baru, the Kelantan state's capital city, (a state in Malaysia under the rule of an opposition Islamic political party - Parti Islam SeMalaysia a.k.a PAS) have been warned to mind their dressing or be prepared to face a fine. The Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) has announced that it would “no longer tolerate indecent dressing” by women, both Muslim and non-Muslim.

Under local council by-laws women who “dressed sexily or indecently” could be fined up to RM500 (US$138). “Such outfits are prohibited here as it smears the reputation of Kota Baru and affects its status as an Islamic City. The local council added that although punishment for indecent dressing was in place under the by-laws, it had not been totally enforced. “But now, MPKB will no longer tolerate skimpy outfits, following mounting complaints from the public,” MPKB PR officer said, adding that under the by-laws, women working in retail outlets should wear decent clothes. Council enforcement officers, he added, would step up checks in various localities. He said MPKB would focus on “suspicious areas”.

The council stated that they had received complaints from ratepayers that certain shop assistants and waitresses here donned sexy outfits, supposedly to woo more male customers. Under the standard dress code here, a Muslim women has to be covered until the ankles and wear a tudung. Non-Muslim women are required to wear decent clothes. Tight-fitting tops and pants were not allowed, even for non-Muslims, the PR officer said.

(source: 5 Dec 06, The Star and 4 Dec 06 International Herald Tribune) I'm still wondering how come an international newspaper could have reported this issue 1 day earlier than a Malaysian newspaper???????
Tags: Kelantan, Kota Baru, Muslim, Non-Muslim, Indecent, Dressing, Clothing, Dress Code

Malaysian Mathematics

**Got this via email**
I find it most alarming that Malaysian schools teach our children the wrong things. I mean: can the children really apply what they are taught in school later in life? For example, can you imagine a mathematics question in a recent examination as follows?"

If an egg costs fifty Sen, and if you buy one-eighth of the egg, how much would you have to pay?" Who in heaven's name will want to buy one-eighth of an egg? The shopkeeper will probably think you are crazy and he will be equally stupid to break the egg and measure one-eighth for you. Yet, this is how they structure the questions in Malaysian schools. Why not pose questions that would be more useful later in life when you go out into the world to earn your living?To help Malaysia 's Ministry of Education bet to face the realities of life, we are suggesting some questions they could use in our classrooms

QUESTION 1
If you drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang along the PLUS Highway and there are four speed traps along the way, and if each speed trap would cost you RM 300.00 in fines, how much in fines would you accumulate by the time you reach Penang ?
ANSWER (Choose one)
1. I would not suffer any fines as the oncoming cars would flash their headlights and I would slow down before coming to the speed trap.
2. I would only need to pay a total of RM80.00 as I would pay a RM20.00 bribe at each speed trap.
3. I would not be stopped as I am an UMNO Wakil Rakyat so I am exempted from speed traps.

QUESTION 2
If your Bumiputera company is awarded a RM150 million government contract, and you make a 20% profit, how much profit would be at the end of the contract period?
ANSWER (Choose one)
1. I will not be making a 20% profit as I would have to pay the Minister 10% and UMNO 5%.
2. I would make 30% profit, which is the progress payment I receive, after which I will abandon the project and let the government call for re-tender.
3. My company will not make any profit at all as I will siphon out all the profits and show a loss to avoid paying corporate tax.

QUESTION 3
If the ruling party obtained 54% of the popular votes the last election and won 151 or 80% of the seats, and if it saw an increase of 10% in votes this election, how many more seats would it gain?
ANSWER (Choose one)
1. The ruling party will not show a 10% increase in votes, as it will stuff the ballot box with another 20% to give it a 30% vote increase.
2. The ruling party will win a ich are the newly created seats in the delineation exercise recently done.
3. The ruling party has already decided it will win 90% of the seats and the votes have nothing to do with it.

QUESTION 4
If the national petroleum company, Petronas, pays a 5% royalty to Terengganu State and if the amount paid is RM800,000,000 per year, how much should Petronas have in the bank accumulated over the last 25 years?
ANSWER (Choose one)
1. Nobody is supposed to know as Petronas need not show its accounts to anyone except the Prime Minister and this information comes under the Official Secrets Act.
2. Petronas earns only 50% of its petroleum revenue from Terengganu so Petronas' total income accumulated in the banks over 25 years should be RM800 billion.
3. Petronas has nothing accumulated in the bank as all the money has spent bailing out companies and finance mega projects.
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Malaysia, Politics, Mathematics

80th Birthday Bash

Imagine if there were tanks that rolling through the streets and jets roared overhead with some 300,000 flag-waving people celebrating your 80th birthday, would you ensure that you make yourself available for it. Well, not for the case of Fidel Castro, the head of the Cuban government. The ailing leader, still recuperating after a major surgery done 4 months ago, did not attend in what many saw as a sign his long rule of Cuba may be over.
It was Castro's 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the start of the revolution that put him in power accelerated speculation that he may be fading into history after 47 years in control. It was the biggest military parade in Havana, Cuba since 1986 which capped 5 days of celebrations that felt more like a farewell than a birthday party and included conferences on Castro's place in history. The events were attended by left-wing politicians and intellectuals from dozens of countries.

Castro had emergency intestinal surgery in late July that forced him to temporarily turn over power to his brother Raul Castro. (source: Agence France-Presse and Reuters)

Tags: Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, Cuba, Havana

3 Civil Wars in Middle East

Jordan's King Abdullah has warned that three civil wars could break out in the Middle East crisis anytime unless the international community takes urgent action. He said conflicts in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories could spin out of control.

In Lebanon - tensions between pro- (led by Hezbollah) and anti- (led by March 14 Alliance) Syrian groups.
In Iraq - sectarian conflicts between the Sunni and Shiite.
In Palestine - the Hamas and Fatah (even have their own website) factions are on collision course.

And with Israel added into the picture, it's really hot........click here to see key maps tracing the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from pre-1947.
Tags: War, Civil War, Conflict, Middle East, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Hezbollah, March 14 Alliance, Sunni, Shiite, Hamas, Fatah