Digest on Malaysian News

No, it's not an April Fool joke. Proton now has break the Malaysian record for being the first local manufacturer to recall it's car.

Proton must be desperate to break the market monopoly for the sales of locally made car currently held by Perodua that they asked for the recall. For safety purpose, it's a must. But on the bright side, Proton basically earn free publicity and soon they probably start to lelong their unsold old Proton Saga hatchback. The old Proton Saga hatchback numbered in thousands have littered the nation car yard because it cannot sell.

So the problem with Savvy would allow them to do stock clearance on their old Saga hatchback stock.

Related post:
* Defective Proton Savvy set for recall


Extracted from: nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20080331184851/Article/index_html (Mar 31, 2008)

Proton recalls Savvy to check wheel bearing problem

KUALA LUMPUR, mon:

Proton is recalling its Savvy cars to address the possibility of water entry into the rear wheel bearing which could lead to a malfunction.

“The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a primary concern. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all Savvy’s for inspection and repair.

We do apologise to all Savvy owners for any inconvenience,” managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said in a statement here today.

The recall will affect 34,000 Savvy cars and Proton will conduct the necessary checks and replacements at no cost to the customer.

Proton said all Savvy owners are advised to take their cars to the nearest Proton Edar or EON service branches for an inspection.

“This recall is purely a precautionary measure as the convenience and safety of customers is Proton’s highest priority,” Proton said.

Customers are encouraged to immediately contact the nearest service branches for an appointment to have their cars inspected. As an alternative, they can call Proton i-Care at 1-300-880-888.

Proton recalls their compact cars Savvy due to a problem on the car's rear-wheel bearing. The defect could be due to inferior quality of material used or a problem due to design defect.

What is wrong with the rear-wheel bearing when there are millions of cars have a rear-wheel bearing ? It is not that Proton is the first manufacturer to invent a rear-wheel bearing. Yet, defect is there.

It will a costly move for Proton to recall the cars but for customers safety, it has to be done. With this latest recall, Proton dominant will further reduced. So much for their decade of monopoly.

This lesson clearly indicates that you cannot sleep on your laurel or be complacent.

Most Malaysian companies are complacent, and as this article illustrates it will haunt them years later and it will be costly. How does this affect us, the rakyat of Malaysia ? Well, the next time Proton produce a newer model, it will be more costly in order for them to compensate their lose for this recalls.

Proton said it would conduct the necessary checks and replacements at no cost to the customer. Yes, right. I'm sure they will find ways to get back the cost.


Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/31/nation/20080331184926&sec=nation (Mar 31, 2008)

Proton recalls 34,000 Savvy cars

PETALING JAYA: Proton is recalling its Savvy cars over a possible problem with regards to the car’s rear-wheel bearing.

The company said a recent inspection has brought to its attention that water could get into the bearing, which could lead to a malfunction.

“The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a primary concern. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all Savvy’s for inspection and repair,” Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed said in a press statement.

The recall will affect a total of 34,000 cars. All Savvy owners are advised to take their cars to the nearest Proton Edar or EON service branch for an inspection.

Proton said it would conduct the necessary checks and replacements at no cost to the customer.

They can also call Proton i-Care at 1-300-880-888 for further info.

Sabah have qualified contractors but to make the issue tight, those involved awarded the project to Non-Sabahan. With outsiders instead of the locals in the loop, they won't be too worried about scrunity and leakages. Anyway, it still leak to DAP.

This case is just a tip-of-the-iceberg. They are plenty of suspected corruption that are not reported. That is why, Sabah has become one of the state with high cost of living. Because, contractors jacked up the price to compensate for the donation given to those incharge in awarding project. And the state treasury has to bear higher project cost. All this will be pass down to the consumer, the rakyat.

Extracted from: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=56659 (Mar 31, 2008)

DAP wants ACA to probe RM9.8m Penampang project

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP called on the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate whether the recent awarding of a RM9.825 million contract to build the new premises of the Penampang District Council (PDC) was above board.

It suspects irregularities in the awarding of the project.

Its Infrastructure Bureau Chief, Steven Jimbangan, in a statement claimed that the project had been directly awarded to a non-Sabahan contractor by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing without going through open tender.

The project was unveiled by Moyog Assemblyman Donald Mojuntin on behalf of the Minister, Datuk Hajiji Noor.

Steven, who is also Kepayan DAP Chairman, said the project should have first been referred to the District Council or the Public Works Department (PWD) for costing, particularly since it is funded by PDC revenue.

He cited "sources" as saying that the Penampang councillors were merely asked to endorse the project at the Town Planning Committee and not during the Council meeting.

"RM9.8 million is not a small amount and yet nobody knew about the project until the groundbreaking ceremony was held," he said. He was claimed that the shareholders of the contractor's company comprised non-Sabahans.

"Is Sabah really lacking qualified contractors that we have to award our projects to outsiders or is it because of other interesting factors that the Ministry is not telling us?" he asked.

He also questioned why only now the project was given the go-ahead when the Council had declared that its present building was unsafe for occupation way back in 1995.

Steven said the State Government should emulate what DAP-led Penang Government is doing by awarding all development projects that cost more than RM25,000 through open tender.

They should consider introducing election in the local government so as to ensure taxpayers' money is prudently spent and accounted for. He said the Council should, instead, be spend its money on pressing matters such as improving public infrastructures and amenities like roads, streetlights and drainage.

The Sarawak National Party’s (SNAP) despite being in existence for the last 46 years has become irrelevant and turning into a nuisance mosquito. SNAP has been losing members and leaders. It has been broken into pieces and each pieces turned into a arch-rival such as PBDS, STAR, MDC, SPDP and PRS. So instead of being lost in the messy political landscape of Sarawak, might as well as SNAP hardcore members join PKR and become PKR Sarawak representatives.

PKR in Sarawak right now lack good candidates but PKR have the fund. SNAP do have some caliber candidates but the party is broke. So the right choice, is to bury SNAP and join PKR.

So far, PBB is too Malays/Melanaus, SUPP is too Chinese, PRS is too Iban, SPDP is too Iban, DAP is too Chinese.

PKR offer a balance mixed as it not too extreme in their composition of racial members and leadership.

Current leaders of SNAP can continue their political struggle. What political struggle eh ? But they must be prepare to be an outcast and be obliterate into thin air with the emergence of PKR and other stronger opposition parties.

SNAP is mati tidak, hidup tidak. If you can't beat them, join them.


Extract from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/31/nation/20798272&sec=nation (Mar 31, 2008)

SNAP leaders in favour of dissolving party

KUCHING: The Sarawak National Party’s (SNAP) top leadership is supportive of a proposal to dissolve the 46-year-old Dayak-based party in a move to consolidate the state’s opposition political strength.

Party president Edwin Dundang described the proposal as “a good idea.” “If it is good for the people and country, it is worth to consider,” he told The Star yesterday.

Party secretary-general Stanley Jugol agreed that it was time to consider SNAP’s position – either to continue with its own political struggle or join a bigger group under the opposition alliance or Barisan Rakyat Sarawak.

SNAP has failed in its attempts to make a political comeback after opting out of the Barisan Nasional six years ago. In the recent parliamentary polls, all its three candidates were defeated.

Dundang, who took over the party leadership from Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min (a former deputy chief minister) in 2003, said there were suggestions that the party should consider various options, one of which was to dissolve or merge with other parties, to ensure sustainability in its political struggle.

SNAP has a glorious history as it produced Sarawak’s first chief minister, the late Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan, in the 1960’s.

Its political influence was significantly weakened in two major political crises in 1993 and 2002.

Dundang said SNAP’s next central executive committee meeting, the date of which has not been fixed, might discuss the party’s dissolution proposal.

On news reports that several SNAP division leaders have applied to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Dundang said he was not aware of this.

That's right. East Malaysian has been taken for a free ride for the last 50 years. East Malaysian have been faithful and loyal to the ruling federal government. East Malaysia has been branded as "fixed deposit" states by Najib but got cheated and got no interest paid on the so-called fixed deposit.

After the result of Malaysia general election 2008, in which the Barisan National narrowly win, East Malaysian are not given their fair shares in Cabinet ministerial representation. BN in West Malaysia lost 5 states to the opposition while the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak delivered 54 seats (almost a third of BN total win in the parliamentary seats).

And what is the rewards for the MP from Sabah and Sarawak ? Only a handful of federal ministerial positions, mostly are deputy ministers.

Syabas for Bernard Dompok for being vocal about this issue. Let Badawi knows that Sabahan and Sarawakian are more politically aware now. And big shame to Musa and Taib for kow-towing to Badawi and keeping mum about it.


Extract from : http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/17027 (Mar 31, 2008)

Taken for granted

KOTA KINABALU: More Sabah leaders are coming forward to express their thoughts out in the open, saying that more of its MPs be given roles in the Cabinet and that rewards could also come in the form of more development.

Another also called on Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders to provide the Prime Minister with feedback from the people when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visits the state soon.

The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) party president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said Sabah BN component parties want balanced representation in the (Federal) Cabinet.

He said that wherever he went, he was questioned on the issue of Sabah BN representation in the Federal Government, especially after they had won 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats in the state in the March 8 general election.

“So, they (federal government) should look at what has been given to Sabah to maintain (the victory for the BN),” he was quoting as telling Bernama. He said this was among the issues that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had to clarify during his upcoming meeting with Sabah BN leaders, expected to be held in Kota Kinabalu this week.

Dompok, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said Sabah and Sarawak, which delivered 54 of the 140 parliamentary seats to the BN, only got five ministerial posts — three for Sabah and two for Sarawak — while Johor BN, which delivered 25 seats, got seven ministerial posts, he said. Dompok said: “It looks like what the people of Sabah have given (to the BN) has been taken for granted.

“They (the federal government) have to look fairly, (in the) case of Sabah and Sarawak, for their splendid performance in the recent general election,” he said. When announcing his cabinet on March 18, Abdullah retained the three posts of minister and raised from two to four the posts of deputy minister for Sabah. Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman declined to accept the post of deputy minister of transport while Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh resigned as deputy minister of natural resources and environment on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Puteri Umno vice-head Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin yesterday called on Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to take advantage of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s forthcoming visit to the state to provide him with the feedback from the people.

Kemabong assemblyman, Datuk Rubin Balang said the federal government need not think too long on the form of rewards that should be given to the people of Sabah.

Robert Lau of SUPP is endorsing wastage of fund. While Tree Planting project is a noble intention, Robert Lau know shit about the environment. In fact, the entire Sarawak Barisan National know shit about the environment.

KTS who organized program is one of those big lumbering companies in central region of Sarawak to have raped and destroyed the jungle landscape in the upper reach of Rajang. Other wicked companies probably include Sanyan Group, Rimbunan Hijau, SamLing and others have cut trees by the millions at Rajang upriver and their act have caused uncontrolled soil erosion and heavy silting at Rajang River.

I wouldn't be surprise if vessel cannot call on Rajang Port in 5 years time if the situation is not improve.

Robert Lau is on a publicity campaign to portray his noble deed to replant trees in Sibu (by the way, Sibu is full of swamp and thus limited space of plant tree actually) and not bothering to study the real issues. The issues of upper Rajang being canablised by KTS, Sanyan, RH, Samling and other foochow timber companies. So why can't the YB go over to the jungle and replant the tree seedling there. By the way YB, don't worry ah, the jungle is botak so you can use helicopter to go there. No need to worry about thick jungle undergrowth.

KTS sponsored the event so that as a supporting actor, they might get an award also. Don't be fool. KTS is one of the culprit in the destruction of nature resources in Rajang delta. And their tree planting project in Sibu town is just a cover up to cloud the eyes of the rakyat.


Extract from: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=33307 (Mar 31, 2008)

Adopt ‘City in Forest’ concept, SMC urged

By Conny Banji

SIBU: The ‘City in a Forest’ design concept of the internationally acclaimed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) should be copied by the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) for the landscaping of the town, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew suggested.

He made the remarks when officiating at the launch of the SMC Tree Planting Day, a community project organised in collaboration with KTS-Stihl at CK Tiong Enterprise Sdn Bhd compound at Jalan Lanang Barat here, yesterday.

The event was also held in conjunction with the KTS-Stihl business partnership 40th anniversary celebration.

Lau added for Sibu to successfully adopt this concept, government departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), schools and other bodies should contribute more to tree planting projects.

“If all 200,000 Sibu residents play their role by planting trees and being aware of the changes in our environment, then together we’ll create a greener environment.”

Later, Lau accompanied by KTS Group deputy managing director Vincent Lau, SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, secretary Daniel Ngieng and Pelawan state assemblyman Vincent Goh planted trees to launch the Tree Planting Day campaign.

About 200 trees and 3,000 hibiscus cuttings were planted along Jalan Lanang Barat to Lanang Bridge.

Meanwhile, 15 schools here participated in a recycling campaign which was part of the KTS-Stihl 40th anniversary celebration programme. They were SMK Methodist, SMK St Elizabeth, SMK Chung Hua, SMK Tung Hua, SMK Tiong Hin, SMK Agama Sibu, Wong Nai Siong Secondary School, SMK Bukit Assek, SMK Rosli Dhoby, Catholic High School, SMK Lanang, SMK Sacred Heart, SMK Bandar Sibu, SMK Kampung Nangka and SMK Kiang Hin Middle School.

SMK Methodist which raised RM5,497.07 in the campaign was adjudged Top Fund Collector followed by SMK St Elizabeth with RM2,317.56 and SMK Chung Hua (RM1,928.36) as the second and third place winners respectively.

The winning schools received cash prize of RM2,000, RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively.

For the Global Warming Awareness slogan competition, the first to third prize winners were SMK Kampung Nangka which received RM1,000, Wong Nai Siong Secondary School which received RM700 and SMK Sacred Heart (RM500).

Mawan the president of SPDP said "We have the tendency to find fault with those already elected, always having the mentality that we can do a better job than them."

Apparently he have forgotten that he play a big part in the splitting and downfall of Sarawak National Party (SNAP). SPDP is born as a result of divorce of SNAP leaders (when Mawan was among the leaders).

To be the new leader, Mawan has a hand (maybe more) in the infighting in SNAP that caused SNAP to break-up. The breakdown of SNAP means the Iban and other Dayaks has been divided and this make it easier for Taib to divide and rule the Dayaks.

So why is Mawan so scare that his party members is envious of him? He were in their shoes last time what. It's not like he never overthrow his previous boss last time.

Party members are usually not envious of the leader because he is a leader. It is due to the style of managing the party and keeping promises to their members and the voters that many times have been a disappointment.



Extract from: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=33333 (Mar 31, 2008)

Dayak ego battlegrounds

By Lucas Jalong Bato

Dayak bodies become battlegrounds of egos as envious members undermine leaders they elected: Mawan

MIRI: The so-called ‘crab mentality’ prevalent among members of Dayak and Dayak-based associations have turned the organisations into ‘battlegrounds of egos’, the Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation Dato Sri William Mawan observed.

“When we elect individuals to lead an association, no matter how noble its objectives and good the intentions of the elected leaders, the association is doomed to fail if the members do not support the committee,” he said.

“The ordinary members have the obligation to support the elected leaders. But sad to say, this is not the case. We have the tendency to find fault with those already elected, always having the mentality that we can do a better job than them.”

There is no need to go into high intellectual discourse on ‘crab mentality’ because no one actually knows the mentality of crabs.

The phrase was simply coined by local people who have observed the collective behaviour of crabs when placed in a confined space such as a basket.

In their efforts to get up the sides of the basket they tend to crawl over one another and in the process weigh down the ones at the top.

Unable to carry the weight and the constant struggle below, the top crabs eventually lose their grip and fall.

“Because of this crab mentality, we become envious of those leaders we ourselves elected to office, and we undermine their leadership with the intention of bringing them down,” said Mawan.

He spoke during the installation of the supreme executive council members of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) and dinner on Saturday.

Its president Mengga Mikui and organising chairman Dr John Brian Anthony were among those present.

Regarding SDNU which was formed in 1956 with the aim of uniting the Dayaks in the state under one umbrella, Mawan said its next 50 years would be more challenging than the last 50 years.

“The challenges will be varied and challenging. Our community will live in an entirely different environment from what we are experiencing now,” he said.

Mawan said due to the dynamism within the association, the Dayak Iban played a prominent and dominant role in the association resulting in other Dayak communities like the Orang Ulu and Bidayuh staying away and eventually forming their own associations.

“The challenge before the SDNU present leadership is to find a unity of purpose, to get that cohesiveness so as to be able to draw the other Dayak communities into the association to give it greater leverage.

To the members of the supreme council, Mawan has this to say: “Victory goes to those who know which rivers not to cross, which roads not to travel and which walls not to climb.”

UMNO has been championing the need of Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP or DEB for Dasar Ekonomi Baru in Malay) to help the Malays. The NEP launched in 1971 and ended in 1990 was succeeded by the National Development Policy (NDP) in 1991. Both NEP or the newer NDP objectives are to give more advantages to the Malay.

The NEP and the NDP did make the Malay more successfully or richer but only for the selected fews. The rich Malays become richer Malays. The poor Malays remain poor.

What Leo Moggie should refer to is the NDP, not the NEP. Anyway, his message is that the NDP should also be helping the Dayaks.

Both Leo Moggie and UMNO are wrong in their intentions. But obviously. What the rakyat really wish for is the NEP or the newer NDP to help the poor Malaysian not the Malays alone. NEP or NDP is 110% racism and the sole aim is to make the Malays better than other race instead of making all Malaysian better.

How about the difficulties faced by the Dayaks in Sarawak or the KadazanDusun, the Bajaus, the Murut in Sabah? How about the poor Indians in estates in West Malaysia? How about the poor Chinese in other states ? Is there any policies that can improve their situation ?

Whoever support the NDP is a racist and not fitted to be a citizen of Malaysia. Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-religion country and any policies implemented must be for the benefits of all rakyat regardless of race or skin colour.

Barisan National, the ruling government of Malaysia is responsible for the introduction and implementation of NEP and NDP and BN is only concern to make sure that their members (the rich Malays) continue to be rich.


Extract from: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/2199526/Article/index_html (Mar 30, 2008)

Dayaks need the NEP, says Moggie

KUCHING: The Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for the continuation of the New Economic Policy to help the Dayaks effectively participate in business. Newly-elected president Tan Sri Leo Moggie said the community needed more assistance than others to succeed as businessmen.

"There may be a debate in the peninsula on whether the NEP should continue. But as far as the Dayak community is concerned, they should be given opportunities," he said yesterday after chairing his first annual general meeting -- the chamber's sixth -- here.

The former federal Minister of Energy, Communications and Multimedia said this was the spirit of the new economic policy.

Moggie, who claimed to be a "reluctant president" of the chamber, said the Dayaks were still behind in commerce and business skills as they lacked knowledge in those fields. "Their networking capacity is very limited. They have a very steep learning curve. They need all the help, support and encouragement they can get."

Moggie took over the presidency from Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah.

"I can see it's going to be a challenging time ahead (for me)," Moggie said.

"Though there are not many Dayaks in business, we are now seeing more younger ones venturing into it.

"With the level of education among these young Dayaks being better than it was 10 to 15 years ago, we believe they can succeed in their ventures if they are given opportunities."

First thing first, Najib never heard of NASA and thought that Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is an astronaut. Kenot lar. Sheikh Muszaphar is neither an astronaut or cosmonaut or taikonaut. He's merely a space traveler.

And when Sheikh Muszaphar completed his mission (in reality, just a paid space tour), he is being accorded a title Datuk. Dah lah kena sponsor, bagi pangkat Datuk pulak. What the point of spending huge sum of money for this kind of program and reward the person with a title. It's not the first of it's kind among mankind what.

And how much was the cost for sending Sheikh Muszaphar to space ? The cost is estimated to be over RM100 million (over USD25 million). The actual figure is triple but the government would not confirm it.

What's else? Now Sheikh Muszaphar has published a 71-page book. A thin book as a compliment for the wasted RM100 million program. Probably a book without substance and contained mostly personal photo of Sheikh Muszaphar while in space. No research or experiment topics kah ? Well, don't bother, you can read those in the secondary Science text-book.

Back to the amount of money flush into space ... it could have been properly utilitize to fund construction of hospitals, clinics or schools which are severely lacking in some part of Malaysia. Let's take Kuching (the state capital of Sarawak) as a case. Kuching is roughly populated with over 800,000 inhabitants. There is a General Hospital and the number of beds is about 2,000. Imagine 2,000 beds for a population of 800,000.

This is Najib strategy to become more popular when Malaysia politics is in a mess. It's also a veil to distract the citizens of Malaysia while the politics bickering is ongoing from the streets to the Cabinet. He show-off his Kenot program to impress the raykat for his personal interest.

Extract from : http://www.bernama.com/ (Mar 28, 2008)

Astronaut Programme Widens People's World View - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- The government's success in sending the country's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, into space last year has brought about changes to the mindset of the people, especially among the younger generation.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said if previously many among them would say they wanted to become doctors, engineers or other professionals, the national astronaut programme, which started in 2006, had widened their world views.

"If previously we have not heard of anyone wanting to be an astronaut, after Dr Sheikh's blast into space, this has changed. Many among the younger generation are now saying they want to become astronauts.

"This is a reflection of the changes in the mindset among Malaysian people," he said at the launching of a book, titled "Reaching For The Stars" written by the late Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's younger brother.

Present were Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's parents Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Shukor and Datin Zuraidah Sheikh Ahmad.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor as well as a Russian and an American astronauts blasted into space onboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft in October last year.

He was at the International Space Station for 11 days before returning to earth on Oct 21.

Najib said the space mission was Malaysia's national success as a developing nation on a quest to become a developed country by 2020.

"One of the most important challenges for Malaysians to realise in our endeavor to become a truly developed nation, is the challenge to transform our mindsets to become winners, doers and achievers," he said.

The 71-page book, published by MPH Group Publishing, tells Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's experience in space.

Priced at RM20 per copy, the book also contains exclusive photographs of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in space.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor hoped the book would inspire greater interests towards science and technology among students.

He said the royalty from the sale of the book would go to the education funds of his brother's children -- Aiman, 3, and Balkish, 1.

His brother, Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie died on Oct 27 after being in coma as a result of a fall on the day the astronaut return to earth.

Pak Lah was seated next to a little girl on an airplane that was leaving KLIA. He turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.'

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to Pak Lah, 'What would you like to talk about?'

'Oh, I don't know', said Pak Lah, 'How about who is going to win the next election?'

'OK', she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat grass, the same stuff. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?'

Pak Lah thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.'

The little girl then asks, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss who is going to win the next election when you don't know shit?'

10 sins of Idris Jusoh to the people of Terengganu when he was the Terengganu chief minister:

1. Kemiskinan - Poverty
2. Pilih Kasih - Favorism
3. RM300juta untuk Monsoon Cup - unnecessary overspending
4. RM500juta untuk Pulau Wan Man project - unnecessary overspending
5. Kroni - Crony
6. Harga Barang Melambung - Uncontrolled price inflation
7. MB Hanya Patung - Puppet to PM and Khairy
8. Tiada Peluang Pekerjaan - High rate of unemployment
9. Merobohkan Masjid - Demolition of place of worship
10. Menembak Rakyat

Terengganu despite being rich in natural resources (petroleum and gas) has became a poorer state due to mismanagement of funds and state affairs by Idris Jusoh and UMNO.

See newspaper clipping below.

Barisan backs Ahmad as Terengganu MB

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has decided to fully support Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said as the new Terengganu Mentri Besar instead of its earlier choice Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the announcement after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting at the PWTC yesterday.

He said the coalition wanted to move away from the impasse and form the new state government quickly so that it can get down to work to implement projects beneficial to the people.

Abdullah, who is the Umno president, said the decision was also made based on the fact that Idris, the former Mentri Besar, had said that he would accept whatever decision made by the supreme council and support whoever was chosen to lead the state.

On whether the decision to accept Ahmad instead of Idris was a “loss of face” for the Prime Minister, Abdullah replied: “It’s not a question of losing face because what is more important was that the matter has been resolved.

“We are aware that the Regency Advisory Council has made the decision that (Ahmad) is the person they want for Mentri Besar ... and Idris has said he will accept whoever is chosen, including Ahmad.

“What is important is that the matter has been resolved. In our efforts to find a resolution of course there will be matters that will be weighed. What is important is the people of Terengganu.
“Terengganu needs to have a state government and the Mentri Besar who has been chosen still does not have an exco. He’s only one man and has not even been sworn in.

“So, now that we have given our support, the other action (selecting the exco) can follow and we are confident that the state government will now be able to be formed and function.”

Abdullah pointed out that Barisan had won Terengganu by a two-thirds majority, which was a big mandate, and thus it was important to find a solution as soon as possible so that the rakyat could get a government that could move the projects for their future and for the state.

The Prime Minister said his meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu, on Wednesday was to find the best solution so that the Mentri Besar could function as soon as possible.

Abdullah revealed that Tuanku Mizan had said that he had no part in it because it was a decision by the Terengganu Regency Advisory Council.

On whether the appointment of Ahmad was constitutional, Abdullah said that it was in accordance with the Terengganu constitution.

“What is important is that the appointment has been made and we must go on and not be engaged on the question of legality or anything of that sort.

“It’s already been more than two weeks now since we (Barisan) have been declared the winners. Therefore it is our intention as the winners to be sure the people who have voted for us will have a government that will look after their interests and carry out whatever projects for the advancement and progress of the state.”

To a question on why there was no compromise for a third person to be Mentri Besar, Abdullah said the details were not for the press to know.

“What you should know is that a decision has been made in the interest of the people of Terengganu. That is what we have uppermost in our mind. We cannot be going on disputing. I think that’s not good.”

He believed that the 22 assemblymen who had opposed Ahmad as Mentri Besar and pledged their support for Idris instead would be able to work with their new Mentri Besar.

“I believe the (22) assemblymen are loyal to the party and will wholeheartedly accept and support whatever decision that is made by the party. I’m sure they can work with him,” he said.
Abdullah also said the supreme council thanked Idris for his years of service as the Terengganu Mentri Besar.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/28/nation/20778281&sec=nation (Mar 28, 2008)


MD Says:

Badawi 0
Terengganu Palace 1

That's the score line now. Prime minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi finally conceded defeat and submit to the Terengganu Palace on their decision to appoint Admad Said as the next Terengganu Mentri Besar (MB) instead of Badawi puppet's Idris Jusoh.

Before this, Badawi and his UMNO have been barking that appointment of Ahmad Said as the next MB is unconstitutional and not healthy to UMNO. The crisis between supporters of Admad Said and Idris Jusoh was creating a small rift with UMNO.

In the meantime, Terengganu Palace maintain their ground and Badawi have no choice but to follow the request of the Sultan and now have publicly support Admad Said as the new MB in order to not prolonging the setting up of new the Terengganu state government.

Even within UMNO, there is fierce politic but what this episode illustrates is that even the royals are standing up to let their voice heard.

And with Idris Jusoh out of the way, the royals are hoping that Admad Said will be able to fully make use of the royalty money from Petronas to develop the state. Since the Petronas money no longer flow to Badawi and UMNO, they in the meantime have to seek fund from other sources.

Related Post:
* Understanding the Terengganu MB Issue
* Terengganu MB Crisis due to oil royalty

Places of worship and schools to pay only RM1

By WANI MUTHIAH and EDWARD RAJENDRA

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

SHAH ALAM: All registered places of worship and schools in Selangor will soon no longer pay quit rent and assessment rates. Instead, they will be charged a token annual fee of RM1.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said this would allow places of worship to channel funds for their own activities while schools would no longer be bogged down by fund-raising work.

The decision was made at the state exco meeting yesterday.

Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo had three months ago waived close to RM500,000 in quit rent arrears owed by vernacular schools, to allow them to concentrate on education activities.

Klang Valley Taoism Association chairman Yeoh Choo Beng, 59, said the RM1 nominal fee for places of worship showed the caring approach of the new government.

Former Sree Selvavinayagar Temple chairman N.P. Raman lauded the move, while proposing that 100-year-old Hindu temples be gazetted as heritage buildings.

On the state's deal with Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd, Khalid said that such a privatisation exercise must ideally relieve the state of financial burden and commitment of managing utility services.

“And at the same time, it must be advantageous to the users, but if any one of these positions is not attainable, I think the rakyat has the right to find other ways to resolve the issue,” Khalid said.

On the eve of polling day, an agreement was signed between the previous state government and Puncak Niaga for the operation, management and maintenance of a raw water collection and treatment plant in Sungai Sireh, Tanjung Karang.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said on Monday that the Federal Government regarded the contract as being valid as long as the National Water Services Commission did not object to it.

Khalid said that if the agreement was not fair, the state government would ask Selangor residents to write to Shaziman that it was not done in the best interests of the state and its residents.

Asked how the state was going to resolve the problem, given that the Federal Government was also involved, Khalid said: “You will see. I come from the corporate world and we understand the word ‘restructure’.”

“The last time the calculations were done, it did not include consumers,” said Khalid, adding that all agreements made by the previous government would be reviewed.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/27/nation/20760843&sec=nation (Mar 27, 2008)


MD Says:

A good news from Selangor. Places of worship (hopefully include churches and temples) are allow to channel funds for their own activities and while schools (hopefully include nursery or pre-school) would no longer be bogged down by fund-raising work and they can concentrate on education activities.

In fact, the ruling federal goverment should apply the same case throughout the country.

Timik asked to thank SPDP

By Samuel Aubrey

Bidayuh representation in federal cabinet in last eight years because of SPDP: Mawan

KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Dato Sri William Mawan (pictured right) was upset yesterday following allegation that the party is to be blamed for the loss of Bidayuh representation in the federal cabinet.

“As far as Bidayuh representation is concerned, the party put up a Bidayuh in the person of Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe for the last eight years in federal cabinet. Why not highlight that?” he said to reporters after the prize presentation ceremony for Malaysian Sports School Council (MSSM) age-group golf championships at Kelab Golf Sarawak here.

Mawan was asked to comment on a statement made by Peter Timik Juin, who was Dr Tiki’s principal assistant secretary when the latter was the Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister. Timik on Tuesday said SPDP leadership was to blame for the exclusion of Bidayuhs from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s cabinet.

“Dr Tiki’s principal assistant secretary is talking in the opposite. He should (instead) thank SPDP for putting the representation of the Bidayuhs for the last eight years,” Mawan countered.

Mawan pointed out that SPDP is a multi-racial party, but a small one in the Barisan Nasional, and thus it cannot just champion the cause of one particular race.

Rather SPDP strove to ensure that the other minorities in the party were also represented in the cabinet, Mawan said. He said the party could not afford to pay attention any single community, stressing: “What about other races? What about the Kedayans in Bekenu? What about the Bisayas in Limbang?

“What about Kayan and Kenyahs in Baram, the other Orang Ulu like Kelabit and Lun Bawang? What about the Chinese?

“I cannot just be talking about one issue, (or) one single race as far as SPDP is concerned as highlighted by Dr Tiki’s secretary.”

Mawan said in the spirit of multiracial SPDP and in the interests of all communities, the cabinet representation from the party had to be shifted to the Orang Ulu which had not been represented in the cabinet since the 1990s.

SPDP senior vice president Datuk Jacob Sagan, a Kenyah, is the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.

Mawan, however, refused to comment on Timik’s claim that the leadership of SPDP did not fully and wholeheartedly support Dr Tiki in the last parliamentary election.

“No comment from me as of now. I think somebody from the party will comment on this soon,” he said.

Timik, in his statement published in The Borneo Post yesterday, had made this claim, indicating a rift in the party.

“Some of those who make the noisy complaint of Bidayuh absence in the federal cabinet line-up might not themselves have been enthusiastic supporters of Datuk Dr Tiki’s campaign efforts in Mas Gading.

“Datuk Dr Tiki could have failed to win the Mas Gading MP seat if leaders of other BN component parties were not asked to help in the campaign,” the report quoted Timik as saying.

Dr Tiki, who is an SPDP vice president, had served in the federal cabinet for two terms before being dropped by Abdullah from the new cabinet announced on March 17.

Despite the challenges Dr Tiki was said to have faced during the polls, he still managed to increase his winning majority. He had faced three contenders - Sarawak National Party’s (SNAP) Dr Patau Rubis and two independent candidates, Favian Tisen and Apin Baeng.

Dr Tiki polled 8,551 votes to win by a majority of 4,301 votes. In the 2004 polls, he faced Dr Patau in a straight fight and won with a majority of 2,712 votes after he garnered 10,579 votes. Dr Tiki, who has been the Mas Gading MP since 1999, was the only Bidayuh in the cabinet before the recent reshuffle.

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=33141 (Mar 27, 2008)

MD Says:

Welcome to the blaming game.

William Mawan is only playing game with the Bidayuh YB. Before the election, rumours were abound saying that Dr. Tiki may not be recall to defend his Mas Gading seat due to his fallout with Taib, business community and some grassroot groups.

But as an advantage to SPDP, Mawan still proceed to nominate Dr. Tiki because his party can sell the ideas to the Bidayuh majority at Mas Gading that:
- Bidayuh should respect a deputy federal minister (i.e Dr. Tiki)
- SNAP/STAR have no election issues to raise to the voters
- promising to retain Dr. Tiki at the Parliament

Taib on the other hand (and because he is not happy with Dr. Tiki due to certain issues), is more than happy with PM decision to exclude Dr. Tiki in the new cabinet line-up. Might as well as he propose his son (Sulaiman) to be in the Parliament Cabinet. Mawan couldn't care less as long as Mas Gading is still retain under SPDP.

What should be done is, Mawan knowing Taib displeasure with Dr. Tiki could have proposed a younger leader from Mas Gading. A new face. A new potential to be groom to replace the old guards.

What's the point of nominating a candidate just for retaining the seat but did not make use of the elected candidate to serve the rakyat ?

I'll say that Mawan is still at fault, not for not pushing Dr. Tiki to the Parliament but for not continuing with Bidayuh political struggle among the younger generation. For Bidayuh's sake, Mawan should groom new Bidayuh aspiring politics to continue with their struggle.

Raja Petra and editors to pay RM7mil for libel

ALOR STAR: A High Court here has ordered blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the group chief editor and editor of PKR’s organ Suara Keadilan to pay a total of RM7mil to Universiti Utara Malaysia and its vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi for libel.

High Court deputy registrar Priscilla Gengadaran made the order yesterday following a judgment in default she handed down on Feb 26 after the three had failed to file their defence within the required period.

She ordered the damages to be paid to the plaintiffs for claiming that Dr Nordin was a plagiarist on the Malaysia Today website and in the 98th edition of Suara Keadilan in November 2006.

Nordin and UUM had filed a lawsuit against Raja Petra, PKR, Suara Keadilan group chief editor and the editor. Only PKR had submitted its defence.

Priscilla ordered Raja Petra to pay RM2mil to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively. She also ordered each of the editors to pay RM1mil and RM500,000 to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively.

Dr Nordin told a press conference yesterday that the judgment showed that there was room for the public to take action against bloggers who made slanderous remarks.

“Politicians and artistes who are the usual targets should take action to ensure bloggers do not make libellous statements,” he said.

Dr Nordin said that if the defendants paid up, he would use the money for the benefit of UUM.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/27/courts/20763017&sec=courts (Mar 27, 2008)


MD Says:

RM7 million is a hefty fine. Hopefully Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) can sort things out and continue with his scorching posts at Malaysia Today. RPK claims of Dr Nordin Kardi being a copy cat could be true but with insufficient evidences or he may have soft evidences with the court does not accept or recognize.

Below is the definition "plagiarism":

Plagiarism is the practice of claiming or implying original authorship of (or incorporating material from) someone else's written or creative work, in whole or in part, into one's own without adequate acknowledgement. Unlike cases of forgery, in which the authenticity of the writing, document, or some other kind of object itself is in question, plagiarism is concerned with the issue of false attribution.

Within academia, plagiarism by students, professors, or researchers is considered academic dishonesty or academic fraud and offenders are subject to academic censure. In journalism, plagiarism is considered a breach of journalistic ethics, and reporters caught plagiarizing typically face disciplinary measures ranging from suspension to termination. Some individuals caught plagiarizing in academic or journalistic contexts claim that they plagiarized unintentionally, by failing to include quotations or give the appropriate citation. While plagiarism in scholarship and journalism has a centuries-old history, the development of the Internet, where articles appear as electronic text, has made the physical act of copying the work of others much easier, simply by copying and pasting text from one web page to another.

Plagiarism is different from copyright infringement. While both terms may apply to a particular act, they emphasize different aspects of the transgression. Copyright infringement is a violation of the rights of the copyright holder, when material is used without the copyright holder's consent. On the other hand, plagiarism is concerned with the unearned increment to the plagiarizing author's reputation that is achieved through false claims of authorship.

Ding lambasts youths for being ungrateful

By Anthony Aga

SARIKEI: The Sarikei member of parliament Ding Kuong Hiing expressed his dismay over the ingratitude and lack of appreciation to the government among the young generation.

This was clearly shown by their attitude towards the government when instead of being thankful to the government who had accorded them the best of treatment, they supported the opposition in the elections, he said.

“This should not happen to our youngsters, because the government had considered them as the most valuable assets and accorded them the best treatment.”

They were given the opportunity and incentives to acquire the highest education possible to change their life for the better so that they could contribute towards nation-building, he stressed.

The youth seemed to be ungrateful to people, including their own parents, who gave them good things. More often than not they were more receptive to bad influence and preferred bad company.

If that was the case, he felt there was a need for teachers to correct the attitude among the students, he said when he officiated at the divisional Education Department Excellent Awards presentation ceremony at the civic centre here yesterday afternoon.

“Teachers ought to instill in their students the sense of appreciation towards those who give them opportunities and guidance towards a bright future.”

To ensure our youth enjoyed the best opportunities in education, the government had allocated 45 per cent of the nation’s annual expenditure for education, he said, adding, that the budget included provision of free text books, free school fees, free examination fees and many other forms of assistance for the low-income group.

No many governments offered this kind of treatment to the youth, he said, citing the case of China where children had to pay huge amount of fees to enroll into schools.

Apart from education, the government had Publish Postalso allocated funds to ease the hardship of the people in general. That included cheap medical services at government hospital and subsidies on essential goods. It might be difficult to instill this value in the youth overnight, but he believed a systematic way of inculcating the value would gradually click in their mind.

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=33068 (Mar 25, 2008)


MD Says:

If Ding Kuong Hiing is referring to the younger generation of Sarikei have no appreciation of the government, then he should think twice before giving the comment. Maybe he should think trice.

The reason why the younger generation of Sarikei, in particular, are not appreciating the government is because of the lack of job opportunity. I am doubtful if Ding is residing full time in Sarikei because Sarikei is almost a dead town. A town void of job opportunities. It is the government fault of not planning the future of Sarikei and provide the necessary uplifting for the residents there.

Most young generation of Sarikei after completing their studies are migrating to Kuching or West Malaysia to look for jobs. The only people left at Sarikei are the old folks and school going kids. Those youths that stayed back at Sarikei probably does not have the right qualification for jobs outside Sarikei or maybe they are committed to accompany their parents at home.

Locals originating from Sarikei loves their town and district but have to venture elsewhere to earn their living. Government did provide education but not the opportunity to work and stay in Sarikei.

Lastly, Ding mentioned the cheap medical services at government hospital. All I can say is that the medical services of government run hospital is cheap but hopeless and slow with instances of reported negligent. What Ding should mentioned is that the government hospital is efficient. But that's is only a wish.

Hold by-election when reps hop

By Lim How Pim

Morally wrong for MP elected on one party’s ticket to join another party, says SPDP

KUCHING: A by-election should be held in constituencies where elected representatives have switched parties, said Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) deputy president, Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie.

Supporting recent suggestions for the introduction of a law prohibiting party hopping, he said it was morally wrong for an MP elected on one party’s ticket to join another party. “I think the best way to stop party-hopping is to make or amend the law, maybe the election law, to provide for a by-election to be held after an MP has deserted his party,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post here yesterday.

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Farmers Organisation and Co-operatives) asserted that an MP could contest under the ticket of the party he wanted to hop to and he or she deserved the status again only if they won the by-election.

“At the moment, any MP can hop because there is no law governing it. It is not right and it’s against democratic principle to hop to another party, especially to the opposition,” he said, adding that voters elected them because of their original party. Nyarok, who is also Krian assemblyman, said if any Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs hopped to the opposition they “should be ashamed of themselves”.

“People elect you (as MPs) to serve them and if you hop to the opposition to go against BN, it is just not right,” he said.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak liaison chairman said the proposal for the law was not new as Sabah had passed a similar law before.

“Sabah passed it, but whether it was found unconstitutional, I’m not too sure,” said Dominique Ng.

The Padungan assemblyman stressed that elected members who hopped from one party to another were usually “those who have not much principle”.

In spite of being in favour of the proposal, Ng said he doubted the sincerity of those who proposed the law, which might suit only the needs of certain parties.

In Sabah, he said, the law was aimed at preventing bigger parties from persuading YBs (elected representatives) to cross over to them. He thus hoped that a similar legislation would not be proposed to serve the selfish purpose of certain parties.

Citing Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa as an example, he said the YB who won the state election (in 2006) as an independent candidate had immediately switched camp.

“Look at what happened to Dr Johnical. We don’t want this kind of people. We don’t want people who pretend to be good,” he said.

Having pointed out that the Federal Constitution “guarantees freedom of association”, he said the law might be found to be unconstitutional unless the government was willing to challenge and change the supreme law itself.

Last Saturday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim said he would propose to the cabinet to formulate a law prohibiting party hopping.

He said the act of switching parties after a general election was immoral.

A Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) faction leader, Larry Sng, described party-hopping as unhealthy for both the government and the opposition.

Concurring with Nyarok, he said it was good to have such a federal law considering that party-hopping had taken place in the past.

“I believe that most of the organisations will welcome the proposal. I think it is important to have such a law for the reason that people are promised based on certain manifesto during election time,” he said, adding that elected MPs should keep their promises.

Sng, who is also Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Economic Planning), reckoned that elected representatives should not hop to another party for personal interest, and if it happened it was equivalent to betraying voters’ trust.

While hoping that law could be proposed and adopted to prevent party-hopping, he also suggested that such law be extended to state assemblymen.

“Not only MPs, similar legislation can also be passed to apply to state assemblymen,” added the Pelagus assemblyman.

On Sunday, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan was reported to be in favour of a proposed federal law aimed at making party-hopping illegal for MPs.

“Yes. Why not? It is not good for our country if elected representatives jump here and there immediately after their loyal supporters voted them in,” he said, adding that party-hopping by MPs betrayed the trust of their supporters.

Singapore has such a law to control party-hopping and to maintain stability, said Dr Chan, who is also a Deputy Chief Minister, believing that the law would benefit the government, the opposition and more so their loyal supporters.

PRS president, Dato Sri Dr James Masing, however, has some reservations about anti-hopping laws, saying: “…it would be difficult (to enforce) because one cannot legislate conscience”.

He told reporters on Sunday that no amount of legal argument or law could stop people from party-hopping.

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=33074 (Mar 25, 2008)

MD Says:

Some quarters said Malaysia need a law to prohibit elected Member of Parliament (MP) to switch parties after being elected. Some quarters have reservations about anti-party hopping.

A by-election should be held in constituencies where elected representatives have switched parties is a good proposal. That maybe can discourage party hopping among traitorous MP who abandoned voters trusts for their personal gain in the new party.Dominique Ng, the Padungan assemblyman under PKR stressed that elected members who hopped from one party to another were usually “those who have not much principle”. Did he forgot that he once was a member of DAP ?

SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan was reported to be in favour of a proposed federal law aimed at making party-hopping illegal for MPs. Hah ! Maybe he also forgot that his party colleague, Dr Jerip Susil (ADUN Bengoh) was once a party member of STAR.

Related post:
* Why need an anti-party hopping law

Nik Aziz Supports Anti-hopping Law

KOTA BAHARU, March 22 (Bernama) -- Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is all for an anti-party hopping law to be enacted, describing politicians who engaged in it as "shameless creatures".

"They are not humans if they can be bought and sold like commodities," he told reporters after attending a thanksgiving for Senator Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, who was just appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, at the latter's residence here Saturday.

He said this when asked to comment on a suggestion by Mohd Zaid that a law be enacted to curb such practice.

"During PAS' previous term in Kelantan when we just had single seat majority in the state assembly, several of our assemblyman were offered up top RM7 million each to defect but could not be enticed because they were people of principles ," Nik Abdul Aziz added.

The PAS' spiritual advisor also said that the Barisan Nasional needs to do some soul searching was to why it fared very badly in the election.

Source: http://www.bernama.com/ (Mar 22, 2008)

MD Says:

Why is there a need for an anti-party hopping law for Malaysian politicians ? The anti-party hopping law was muted by some BN leaders to prevent their members from switching party. One of the opposition leader, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz also support the call. He might be worried that the BN pinched their representatives.

However, you don't need a law to enforce the politicians against switching party. The politicians themselves should be more ethical as the voters voted for them based on the party. That's why a party need a campaign Manifesto !. We hardly heard any news of foreign politicians switching side in their country as they stand on their principal of loyalty to their party and members.

TERENGGANU MB CRISIS
Ahmad Said remains defiant, will start work as MB tomorrow
By : T. N. Alagesh

KEMAMAN, Mon:

Terengganu Mentri Besar-designate Datuk Ahmad Said remains defiant against calls that he went against the Umno leadership by accepting his appointment to the post. Claims that he had been sacked from the party and he was not in a position to accept the appointment, was “debateable”, he said.

"It is not so easy to sack someone from the party," he said at this family home in Telok Kalong, Kijal here today. "I have never rebelled against Umno, and in fact have been serving the party since my father's time. There should not be any question about me being a penderhaka (rebel) except maybe the confusion of what had transpired. I also know the rules and regulations of the party and had never back stabbed anyone to be appointed to this post."

Ahmad was speaking to reporters after he arrived here following an audience with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Lumpur earlier in the day. Over 1,000 people gathered at the entrance of the Kemaman town to greet Ahmad and his convoy of supporters, who had made their way here after a stopover in Kuantan. Ahmad had during the stopover visited his mother, Wok Ali, 90, who is now warded at the Kuantan Medical Centre for an illness.

However, Ahmad appealed to Umno leadership to rethink its stand against his appointment. "I hope the Prime Minister and his deputy could have another look at the issue as we all actually do not really want these upheavals. All that had transpired was not due to what I want. There was nothing I can do as it is all due to the will of Allah, and we have to accept it as it is."

Ahmad, who received his letter of appointment as Menteri Besar from the Regency Advisory Council on Sunday, was reported to have been sacked by Umno for going against the wishes of the party leadership which wanted State Liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to be reappointed as MB.

However, Ahmad insisted that his decision to accept the post was backed by the majority of Umno members in Terengganu.

"As far as I am concerned, there should not be any problem when it comes to support among the people of Terengganu. You can just go to any district in the State and ask them...I am sure the majority do support my appointment."

Ahmad said he will proceed with his duties as warranted by his appointment and will deal with any issues regarding to his appointment "one at a time".
“Now it is my responsibility to manage the affairs of the state,” he said. “I will be in my office tomorrow to report for duty as the new Menteri Besar of Terengganu."

However, Ahmad declined to comment on the threat by 22 Umno assemblymen that they will resign if he proceeds to assume his post.

"I do not want to say anything about that for now,” he said. “All I can say is that, not all of them had protested when it was made known that I was being appointed to the post but they seems to have changed their stand later due to certain circumstances. I will talk about the whole matter in length later."

Ahmad said among his first task was to reunite Umno members in Terengganu, believing that with his years of experience in the party, members will eventually support him.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20080324214147/Article/index_html (Mar 24, 2008)


MD Says:

Unconfirmed rumor says BN under the current leadership has been siphoning off huge amount of royalty money from Petronas via Idris Jusoh. Petronas is suppose to give the royalty money to the state government in return for right to tap the oil and gas resources from Terengganu soil.

Terengganu, despite rich in natural resources such as petroleum and gas has become a poorer state under the BN's rule.

This probably contribute to the decision of Sultan of Terengganu to give the heavy responsibility to a cleaner guy, Ahmad Said. The PM by all mean will insist on Idris Jusoh to continue his second term as the Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) of Terengganu so that Idris will help to continue diverting the royalty money to UMNO coffers.

Once Ahmad Said established his role as the Mentri Besar of Terengganu, UMNO funding will be affected. That would left the UMNO coffers running dry and without cash, PM would have hard time feeding his honchos and sidekicks.

South African has made his millions leaving a salaried job to clean the “world’s toilets”

SIBU: You can become a millionaire by cleaning toilets.

At least, this is the message from Trevor Mulaudzi, a professional toilet cleaner from Johannesburg, South Africa who made a fortune from washing loos.

In his professional and business circles, he is popularly known as “Dr Sh*t” for his passion to free the world from human-waste pollution.

Speaking to reporters at the office of Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew here, Mulaudzi, who was by accompanied Sibu Toilet Council chairman Cr Robert Lau Hui Yew, said: “How I got into the profession and business of cleaning toilets was indeed strange.

“One day in 1996 (still the Apartheid era), I passed by a “Black” school where many students were crowding outside.

“I stopped my car and angrily ordered the students to get back into their school compound and attend classes.

“From among the crowd appeared a frightened schoolgirl who pleaded with me to let her find a toilet first.

“When I ordered her to use her school toilet, I was shocked when she answered back and told me all the school toilets were very dirty … full of human waste and unfit for use.”

“Refusing to believe her, I went to the school to check, and was shocked to find ‘mountains’ of human waste inside all the toilets.

“When the school principal allowed me to clean the toilets, I labouriously scooped up all the waste and repaired the damages and blockages.

“What was strange was that while on the job, I felt a calling to clean the toilets of the world.”

Mulaudzi said he decided to quit his highly-paid job as chief geologist with a big mining company to venture into the unseemly toilet-cleaning business.

The 50-year-old is a qualified mining engineer who now owns McTrev Consultancy CC (The Clean Shop), South Africa, set up in June 1996 with only four workers but now employs 208.

He is also actively involved with the World Toilet Organisation (WTO) and has travelled extensively to promote the culture of “respecting your own toilet”.

In fact, according to Mulaudzi, it was his many encounters with Datuk Lau, also chairman of the National Toilet Cleanliness Committee (NTCC) under his ministry, that prompted him to come and have a first-hand look at the toilet conditions in Malaysia, particularly Sibu.

At this juncture, Datuk Lau interjected to say: “Among others, we met in Belfast, Moscow and Bangkok at World Toilet Organisation meetings and conferences.”

Mulaudzi chipped in: “I believe in action and ‘the real thing’ not empty talks and resolutions.

“That’s why I travelled down here first … before making a practical presentation at your National Toilet Expo and Forum (NATEF) 2007 in early August.”

Datuk Lau confirmed Mulaudzi would be a key speaker at the forum, a high-profile event initiated by NTCC, organised by the Quality Restroom Association Malaysia (QRAM) and hosted by the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) here from Aug 9 to 12.

He revealed his committee and ministry would also conduct roadshows to promote toilet cleanliness nationwide towards the later part of the year.

“We will conduct a toilet audit throughout the country before calling on all the 144 local councils to Kuala Lumpur for a briefing on the roadshows on July 5,” Lau said, adding that he would call for another press conference specially on NATEF 2007.

On his many successes, Mulaudzi revealled his company’s latest major contract was sealed in April to clean the campus of University of Venda, South Africa, at Rand 500,000 (RM250,000) per month.
“I made a report on the university’s situation, including dirty and damaged toilets.

“The management challenged me to clean them up and it took me 10 weeks to finish the first round.

“The conditions deteriorated after they stop engaging me … so they decided to rehire me on monthly basis at a very attractive price of half-a-million Rand per month,” Mulaudzi said tongue-in-cheek.

Meanwhile Datuk Lau gave this parting advice to toilet owners and users in Malaysia “Please adopt three basics approaches for a clean toilet - first, clean the toilet, secondly, use the toilet exclusively as for easing yourself (not as a store or for any other things)and thirdly, business owners should allocate a toilet caretaker or cleaner for each toilet.”

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=20218 (Jun 23, 2007)

MD says:

I admit Malaysian sucks at keeping the toilet clean. But do we need an outsider to remind us how to keep the toilet clean. Whatever happen to our education system or parental guidance ?

Shouldn't the Minister of Housing and Local Government be more concern with other issues like proper approval of housing plan and safety ? Or plan for better road system and other infrastructure for housing estates ?

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