ASLI Retracts Its Findings

With reference to my earlier blog on 9 Oct, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) has retracted its findings. ASLI president, Mirzan Mahathir, had said that on re-examining the methodology and conclusions of the report, "ASLI has concluded that there are shortcomings in assumption and calculation that led to conclusions that cannot be vigorously justified."

As a result of ASLI's action, Centre for Public Policy Studies's Director, Dr. Lim Teck Ghee has resigned on his own accord. Dr Lim was a former UN regional advisor and World Bank Senior Political Scientist. He is also a recipient of international academic awards.

In his resignation statement, Dr. Lim says, as Director of the CPPS, he takes full responsibility, and stands by the findings of the study and the other studies that were submitted in a comprehensive report to the Government on the 9th Malaysia Plan in February 2006. However, Dr Lim adds that since he cannot agree with Mirzan's statement, and because of the need to defend the position and integrity of independent and non-partisan scholarship, he will be stepping down from his position as Director at the end of October.
(source: Screenshots & Malaysiakini)
Tags: Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, ASLI, Centre for Public Policy Studies, CPPS, 9th Malaysian Plan, Mirzan Mahathir, Methodology

Malaysian Scenario

Patriotic Motivation & Semi-Value Project
(source: Zunar's Book of Malaysia Boleh Cartoons)
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Malaysia, Politics, Zunar, Malaysia Boleh Cartoons

Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has SHOT DOWN (thought it was sensitive to use this 2 words lately) any suggestion of a tender to appoint a central clearing house operator, a lucrative job, for the implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

“There will be no tender. There will be only one company,” he told reporters after delivering the keynote address at the seminar. Lim did not identify the company but when asked, he said: “Wait.” Dr Lim had said one company, Talian Gerak Alih Sdn Bhd, had presented its plans to him and that he was impressed with it because of its US-based technology partner, Telcordia Technologies Inc.

A clearing house operator is required to manage the database of all mobile subscribers and re-route all calls and data traffic for a fee that will charged to the telcos up to a rate of RM0.001 per re-routing.

BUT WHY NO TENDER? Talian Gerak Alih Sdn Bhd is reportedly owned by Sinar Aturan Sdn Bhd, which in turn is 70% owned by Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail (the son of the current King of Malaysia). A La Trobe University, Australia graduate too.

FYI, Singapore has it since 1997.
Tags: Mobile Number Portability, MNP, Clearing House Operator, Mobile Subscriber, Data Traffic, Technology

Munich / Break Up - movie review

Munich – starring Eric Bana (The Hulk) & Daniel Craig (the new James Bond) and directed by Steven Spielberg. An intriguing movie that depicts the terrorist incident during the Munich Olympic in 1972 where Israelite Olympians were kidnapped and killed subsequently. All the perpetrators were of Palestinian background and most were killed during their getaway attempt at an airport. Thereafter, in revenge and to show the world that Israel can’t be bullied, the Israel government arranged for a mission led by the former prime minister’s bodyguard to hunt down the people behind the Munich incident. 11 names were given with 5 Israelites given the mission going around Europe hunting them down. Quite gory at times. Not advisable for young kids.

You must have an open mind to watch this show and shouldn’t judge who’s wrong or right as this is just a movie. Would say it’s quite sensitive & stunning but highly rated by me as the deep thoughts of those people were acted out. Too bad, I think it was banned in Malaysia too.

Break Up – starring Vince Vaughn & Jennifer Aniston. Both were living happily together but as time passed by, Jennifer felt that Vince wasn’t helping around the house. After numerous hinting and without Vince lifting a single finger, she had enough and broke up the relationship. As the nice apartment was under both of their names, they wouldn’t want to move out and endured each other’s presence in the house. During that period, both parties tried to break each other’s heart further by getting their way in the house by inviting their own friends to their house. One of their mutual friends finally got them to sell the house instead of destroying the apartment’s value. From there onwards, their individual life didn’t get any better. Why? Couldn’t find much meaning in this movie but Vince was really convincing in his role. If you have time like me, force yourself to see it.

Tags: Movie, Review, Cinema, Munich, Break Up, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Steven Spielberg, Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Munich Olympic, Palestine

Villagers Attacked Local Police Station

In Zhonghuo town, Danzhou, Hainan of China, there have been three consecutive days of rioting in which 20-30 villagers attacked the local police station. The door into the station was kicked down, the desks and air-conditioners were wrecked, the window glasses were smashed, several motorcycles in the courtyard were overturned and a police car was overturned and tossed into a ditch.
Several police officers were injured - 1 was stabbed in the stomach by a dagger, while 2 others were injured in the chest and back.

What happened here? Before you say "human rights violation," you should read the description. On the evening of 3 October, about 20 youths from Changshatian village had an arugment with youths from Zhonghuo village at a dance hall. This turned into a mass brawl, in which the youths from Changshatian village used iron bars, rocks and machetes to fight with Zhonghuo village youth in the middle of the "triangle street" During the fight, Zhonghuo resident Zhong Guangshen sustained serious injuries and died. The Zhonghuo villagers blamed the police for not taking action against the perpetrators, and that was why they laid siege to the police station. (source: Nanguo Metropolis Daily and EastSouthWestNorth)

Worse than terrorists!!
Tags: Zhonghuo, Danzhou, Hainan, China, Police, Changshatian

Nuclear Bomb Test By North Korea

What is the yield of the North Korean nuclear test bomb?
South Korea recorded a tremor of 3.58 Richter scale; the US Geological Services measured 4.2 Richter scale. Based upon these data, South Korea puts the explosion as being equivalent to 550 tons of TNT, or 2.6% of the 1945 Nagasaki atomic bomb. However, Russia estimated the yield to be 5,000-15,000 tons or equivalent to the Hiroshima atomic bomb which killed 240,000 people.
Reuters - UN Council Members Condemn North Korea's Actions
Associated Press - World Leaders Condemn North Korea's Nuke Test
North Korea - Official Homepage
Tags: North Korea, Nuclear, South Korea, USA, TNT, United Nations, UN Security Council

The Price of Growing Old

AN elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and had a set of hearing aids fitted.
A month later, he went back for a check-up and the doctor said: “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.”
The gentleman replied: “Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to their conversations. I’ve changed my will three times!”
******
TWO gentlemen from a retirement centre were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: “Slim, I’m 83 and just full of aches and pains. I know you’re about my age. How do you feel?”
Slim replies: “I feel just like a newborn baby.”
“Really? Like a newborn babe?”
“Yep. No hair, no teeth ... and I think I just wet my pants.”
******
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Retirement, Hearing, Newborn