WILL INDIAN YOUTHS TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ?

Here is an advertisement which had appeared in the Malay and English newspaper. Since, Tamil is not my mother tongue and thus I cannot read Tamil, I can only assume that a similar advertisement would have appeared in the Tamil and Chinese newspapers.

 

It is a Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia course offered by Johor Skills Development Centre. Among the certificate courses offered for the March intake are among others, electrical, electronic, pipe fitter, industrial mechanics and panel-beaters. The duration for these certificate courses are for about 12 months.

Here is what is attractive about this course. I have bulleted with comments.

“Terbuka kepada lepasan SPM dengan lulus Bahasa Malaysia, boleh menulis, membaca dan berminat dalam bidang kemahiran.”

Comment:      These courses offered by Johor Skills Development Centre is opened to ALL. That means INDIANS included.

“Elaun akan diberi setiap bulan.”

Comment:      Imagine, Johor Skills Development Centre not only conducting the courses but also giving monthly allowance to the participants.

“Yuran pengajian ditaja sepenuhnya oleh kerajaan.”

Comment:      How good can it get. How often can you get a good deal like this. Study for free.

“Asrama dan Pengangkutan disediakan dengan kadar bayaran minima bagi mereka yang memerlukan.”

Comment:      Really. It cannot get any better than this. Even your hostel and transport is taken care off.

Imagine, a course where you can obtain a skills certificate where you need not pay for the course, monthly allowance given and hostel and transportation is provided. If a course with such a deal is offered say in Java Indonesia, there will be a queue from Java island to Papua, all wanting to enroll.

Now, Indian youths particularly those who have dropped out of school should take the opportunity and enroll in this course. There is so much to be gained and it may be life changing and a start to uplifting their life and perhaps lifelihood.

Sometime ago, some Indians complained that when they tried to apply for jobs in the local councils, they were rejected because they did not have a Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia. Perhaps now, Indian youths can after obtaining the certificate then can apply for jobs with the local councils. If that fails at least you have an opportunity to find a better paying job or even start your own business.

Just the other day, a plumber came and did some work and charged me RM200.00. Imagine getting two jobs a day. That RM400.00 a day which can work out to about RM12,000.00 per month.

If only, Indians would take the little opportunities offered…. 

TAXI COUPON SYSTEM MUST CONTINUE.

Folks, taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur are up in arms. They want the authorities to abolish the coupon system which is used in certain areas in KL to be abolished. ( Read the news at the bottom of this post).

Now, here’s their reasons. Apparently with the coupon system, taxi drivers earn less and… hear this… oh you must laugh at this… the coupon system burdens the consumer with higher charges ! Imagine ! taxi drivers concerned about the long suffering public. That’s like a snatch-thief after snatching the victim’s hand-bag is concerned that the victims thereafter would not have a handbag.

The truth is this. Dengan system kopon, pemandu-pemandu teksi tak boleh menipu passengers. If no kopon system, tak payah pakai meter boleh cekik darah. Pakai letak harga aje… KL to PJ ? RM 50. Jalan Ipoh to Segambut RM 15. Tak nak bayar… cari teksi lain.

The taxi coupon system is a testament that we have a failed taxi service and even worst there a complete lack of monitoring and enforcement system. It is because most taxi drivers are cheats who fleeces the general public who are at their mercy, that a coupon system has no choice but to be implemented.

In most civilized cities, taxi drivers use meters. Tak payah pi jauh-jauh.  Just go to Singapore. Stop a cab. No need to ask if he can take you to your destination. No need to haggle over fare. Get inside the taxi and tell the destination.  The taxi driver then turn on the meter and drives you to your destination. Remember you are travelling in a comfortable, clean and well maintained taxi. More often than not the ordinary taxi would be a Toyota Crown or Hyundai Sonata. Of course the higher end includes Mercedes Benz and even Chrysler !. Here in Malaysia budget is usually the Proton Saga and executive is the Proton Waja.  Imagine Waja as an executive car. Oh yes, there is also the Hyundai Sonata as executive taxi. 

In Bandung and Jakarta, the Bluebird Taxi company is known for the honesty. The taxi drivers never charge even a rupiah extra. This Christian taxi company even has a website where all items accidentally left behind by passengers are immediately uploaded into the Lost & Found section of the company website. Oh by the way, In Bandung or Jakarta be very wary of taxi drivers of a company that uses Proton taxis.  Their whole existence is to cheat.

I Malaysia, most of the taxis are weather beaten, poorly maintained and reeking with foul odour Proton taxis. In fact you will need an “urut” after travelling in some of these taxis, because the shock absorbers were last changed before the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. Just how Puspakam passes as road worthy has always baffled me.

Another thing. Just watch how the taxi drivers decorate their taxis with doa or religious stickers, pictures and figurines of deities or have the tasbih beads and other religious ornaments hanging on the rear mirror. Despite all these picture of religiousity, the average taxi driver has no qualms of scalping his passenger. Many times I have asked myself, these taxi crooks who cheat passengers, berkatkah kehidupan kamu bila kamu ambil wang yang tidak dihalalkan. Once when I told this to a taxi driver, his initial reply was ‘Encik, bawa taxi susah cari makan”. My reply “ kamu lihat tak burung yang terbang dilangit, tuhan juga sediakan makan untuknya. Apatah lagi untuk manusia. Carilah pendapatan yang halal. Mungkin kamu cekik darah ambil RM10 lebih, tak lama lagi anak kamu sakit dan belanja ubat RM100. Stunned by my remark, the taxi driver apologized and even wanted to return all my fare for the good advice.

Back to the issue, so long and until authorities like SPAD cannot get the monitoring and enforcing of taxi drivers in order, the general public would want the coupon system to continue. Judging from the opinions of the general public as reported in the newspapers, the public want the coupon system to continue.  

Here’s the news in full:

City cabbies want coupon system abolished, cite less revenue

By Lisa J. Ariffin

January 29, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — Klang Valley taxi drivers want the authorities to abolish the coupon system put in place in several city landmarks, saying today it burdens the driver with less revenue and the consumer with higher charges. 

A group claiming to represent 200 taxi drivers gathered today and asked the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to meet them and resolve issues, including abolishing the coupons which was instituted to prevent rampant over-charging. 

“(We) strongly feel the coupon system on metered taxis has led to two systems — a premise charge for the taxis, and also a counter charge,” taxi driver Amran Jan told a press conference here today. 

“Additionally, only members are allowed to queue up for passengers. This clearly points to monopoly,” he added. 

Amran said under the coupon system, taxi drivers are required to pay a monthly membership fee of RM100 to operate in designated areas which includes tourist hot spots like the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Sunway Pyramid and KL Sentral. 

“The system profit is 10 per cent from the coupon price, but zero per cent is given to the taxi drivers. The coupon price is also not fixed,” he said, citing KL Sentral to LCCT as an example. 

“From KL Sentral to LCCT, the price is fixed at RM90, but from LCCT to KL Sentral, it is fixed at RM75. Why the double standard?” he asked. 

“Moreover, the time spent queueing up for passengers (at least 45 minute a trip) leads to profit loss in the long run,” he added. 

Cab driver Zaki Bashir said the system would lead to haggling of fares and concentration of drivers following loss of operating areas. 

“(We drivers) have to earn a living too. We have families to feed. Right now, there is no protection for us. All the negative perception is put upon us,” he said. 

“SPAD’s coupon system, which they say was implemented “to increase service quality”, is only rhetoric. They do not care for the taxi drivers.” 

The group was accompanied by Batu MP Chua Tian Chang and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar. 

There are nearly 40,000 taxis in the Malay peninsula with some 32,000 operating in the Klang Valley. 

Apart from taxis, SPAD is charge of public transport such as buses and commuter trains. The city bus system has also received complaints from operators who say they have incurred losses due to controls over ticket prices. SPAD has allocated RM400 million to help bus operators overcome their problems.

Comment : anfalaw@streamyx.com

I AM RICH 

Boy, Gods of Fortune have knocked on my door. I received today an email which could be life-changing for a simple man from me. While BN government is dishing out a meager RM500 to all, here is someone offering me money beyond my imagination.

From : Ms Gloria Andre

Attn:

I am Ms Gloria, the only daughter of late Dr and Mrs Andre Pesaga, from Cote d’Ivoire. My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in northern part of Cote d’ Ivoire. He was killed along side with my mum during the political crisis in my country Cote d’Ivoire. My late father deposited the sum of Eight Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars(US$8,900,000.00) with a bank in Ghana under some conditions. I contacted you to assist me transfer to your account and invest it in any lucrative businesses you know that can better my future.

Presently I am residing under political asylum in  Ghana and the condition of life is very unbearable over here most reasons I contacted you. I am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of account overseas while 3% will be mapped out for expenses that may be incurred during the transfer process. Please if you touched to help me, kindly reply.

Thanks and remain blessed

From_MS_GLORIA_ANDRE

Just did a quick calculation. Gloria got US$8,900,000.00. That’s about MR27,590,000.00 moolahs at US$1-RM3.10 exchange rate). Now, generous Gloria wants to give me for my effort if I take up her offer RM5,518,000.00. Thundering typhoons… blistering barnacles… Lima Juta Lebih… I am weak on my knees. Then again why would a simple man like me need this much money.

So a letter to Gloria is appropriate. For easy reading decided to just highlight my reply.

1          Dear Gorilla, oh sorry, sorry me calling you a gorilla. Gloria… yea Gloria.

2.        “Daughter of the late Dr and Mrs Andre Pesaga from Cote’d’Ivoire”.

            Really huh ! Did a little web search and found out that you have been you have been writing to many netizens with the same introduction. Still do I care you are the daughter if you’re the daughter of a doctor or a baboon.

3         “ wealthy cocoa merchants”

         Wow. Yeah… I love cocoa chocolates but not black coons… sorry chocolates. Sure not,wealthy con- artist ? Anyway the senders of all emails I regularly get have described themselves as “the granddaughter of Idi Amin”, “the grandson of Muammar Ghadafi”, “the cousin of Ferdinand Marcos”, 10^th child of Charles Taylor and somehow all these wealthy children want to befriend a simple person like me. Great.

4.        “He was killed alongside my mum…”

            Awww ! that is sad but what a wife …in life and death together. Bless their good souls.

5         “Deposited UD$8,900,000.00 with a bank in Ghana”

          Fu Yoh ! that’s more “koli-muthas” than I have in my fridge. US$8 million over moolahs…. That one hellava money ? 

6          “Assist me in transferring into … (my ) account”

           Goodness gracious ! you hardly know me from Adam and here’s you making a business proposition!

7          “Willing to offer 20% for (my imput/effort)”

          Really? Boy, you are surely heaven sent. Are you sure you are not an angel in disguise ? Of all the billion people in the world and ET, you found me. What can I say. So the beef if I get a 20% cut from the loot. Hmm… let keep it simple. “No thank you. You can stuff your stinking con inside the place where the sun don’t shine… you coon-ass”. How’s that for a NO.

8          “if I am touched, I am to help you”

         Now… now now…no getting mushy mushy eyes gorilla… oh sorry Gloria, yeah, you ask if I am touched.  Getting involved in your scam could get me really F****D. Find another sucker. Good try. You sure you are not writing all this from some cyber-café in Kepong or Puchong ?

  

9.        Gloria…. Gloria nice try. As they always say, a sucker is born every minute.  Someone else.

WHAT INDONESIA CAN TEACH ‘MODERATE’ MALAYSIA

WHAT INDONESIA CAN TEACH ‘MODERATE’ MALAYSIA

I have just returned from a four day visit to yet another Indonesian city and this time, Padang in the island of Sumatera. Padang, the land of the Minangkabau is a city of of more than 850,000 people. This gracious people have an eye for business in their genes and can compete on equal or better terms with the Chinese. No need for quotas or AP’s. Maybe that’s why there is comparably a smaller Chinese population in Padang than other cities. Incidentally, there is also a very small Tamil… yes Tamil population in Padang.

This time, instead of flying from Johor Bahru and then lounging aimlessly for hours at the LCCT cattle station at Sepang, KL to catch a flight to Indonesia, I decided to first take a ferry from Stulang ferry terminal at the Zon, Johor Bahru to the island of Batam, Indonesia. The journey is about 90 minutes and there is a ferry every hour from Stulang (and vice-versa). I took the first ferry out at 8.30 am. Batam is on Waktu Indonesia Barat and an hour behind Malaysian time, which means when you arrive in Batam you have gained an hour. I arrived at Batam Center at 10 am Malaysian time or 9 am Indonesian time.

The 90 minute ferry ride is  a pleasant ride, though there is nothing much to do save for looking at the wide blue sea and reflecting on life unless you want while-away reading the New Straits Times or Star and get high blood pressure and thus spoiling your holiday.

Arriving at Batam Center ferry port, it is only a Rp70,000 for a taxi ride to the Airport or called Bandara (Airport) Hang Nadim. Incidentally there are more flights taking off from Batam Airport than from our Senai “ghostport”.

I had decided to try an Indonesian airline instead of travelling by Air Asia. Incidentally, had I chosen Air Asia, I would not be able to take Air Asia’s morning flight to Padang since Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur leaves from Johor Bahru  at about 8.30 am and Air Asia’s morning flight to Padang from LCCT Sepang, KL is also around that time  . The afternoon flight to Padang by Air Asia leaves from LCCT late afternoon. That means travelling to Kuala Lumpur in the morning and then lounging aimlessly in the LCCT cattle station before catching the late afternoon flight to Padang. Travelling via Stulang and then from Batam gives me an early start not to mention savings on the time difference.

Anyway, from Batam, I took Sriwijaya Air. Paid Rp350,000 (@RM125.00 all in) one way for Batam-Padang sector. Looking at the logo on the livery I sensed this maybe an airline owned by Indonesian Chinese. That was confirmed once inside the plane when reading Sriwijaya Air’s in-flight magazine. Apparently Sriwijaya Air is a Jakarta based airline founded by Chandra lie, Lie Hendry (a little on this guys later and which I really want to highlight), Andi Halim and Fandy Linga and commenced its first service in 2003. It now flies to almost all major cities in Indonesia and regionally it has a flight to Singapore and to Penang. It is categorized as a medium service airline which means alight refreshment is served in a box to all passengers. It has good leg space and eye pleasing stewardesses’.

Here is a little piece of history of Sriwijaya Air as extracted from the in-flight magazine.

(SEJARAH SRIWIJAYA AIR)

Now, as I said earlier among the founders of this airline are Chandra Lie who is the President-Director of the airline. Here is his welcoming message as extracted from the in-flight magazine.

  

( 2012 LAYANAN TERBAIK UNTUK PELANGGAN )

 

Look at the introduction. Despite not being a Muslim, Chandra Lie starts his message with the Muslim greeting “Assaalamu’alaikum wr wb”. He ends his message with “Wassalamu’alaikum wr wb”. Amazing isn’t it a Non Muslim using Islamic greeting. Imagine Air Asia’s Tony Fernandez in his in-flight magazine doing the same. No NGO’s, religious scholars, or any group has objected or protested Chandra Lie using such greetings. Imagine, if Non Muslim in Malaysia use such greeting. Imagine the reaction by Perkasa, Perkida, Hassan Ali, Harussani and other NGO’s may get into a hissy fit.

Now, here is something really unheard of. Again it is extracted from the in-flight magazine.

(DOA-DOA PERJALANAN)

This must be a first ! It is the first time I have seen prayers seeking God’s providence and blessing in all faith. Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Buddha and Confucian. Will we ever see a Malaysian airline do the same ? In fact do Malaysia Airlines or even Air Asia has the gumption to do what Sriwijaya Air has done? In fact, at first I thought that was a unique gesture by Sriwijaya Air. In the return flight from Padang to Batam, I travelled on Lion Air. Guess what in the seat pocket, there is a laminated prayer sheet and again for denomination. Maybe it is the norm in Indonesia.

Malaysia always bleats how moderate they are et all…and have international conferences trumpeting its “moderation”. Indonesia by action shows what is acceptance, tolerance and moderation. There are many things we can learn from Indonesia.

Lastly, here is a page extracted from the in-flight magazine of Sriwijaya. It shows a Christmas fellowship for all its staff and business associates at Sriwijaya Air’s prayer house.

 

(NATAL BERSAMA SRIWIJAYA AIR)

The picture shows, Sriwijaya Air’s President-Director Chandra Lie, his wife and his children participating in the celebration. The four girls singing are his daughters. Haven’t heard any Sriwijaya staff or business staff complaining that the event was an attempt to change their “aqidah”.

 

Comments at anfalaw@streamyx.com

This is a series on reflection from Indonesia. Norman Fernandez intend to visit Manado, Indonesia next. Feel free to send any information about Manado if you have visited there.

INDONESIA ON THE MOVE

(Video downloaded from http://www.syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/ )

I have uploaded this video from Syed Akbar Ali’s blog www. syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com. Watch it ! Imagine, only in this country can raving loonies find a captive audience to peddle their stupid yarn. Then again who can blame him when you have a spellbound audience who have enough time to listen to the claptrap. Maybe these people have all the time is because, their birth has bestowed them on them good fate and good luck for them. But for how long, Malaysia ?

Straits Times Friday January 20, 2012 front paged news that “Indonesia draws record Sgp$25billion or US$19.3 Billion in investments. Here are the highlights :

I Foreign investors pumped a record US$19.3 Billion into Indonesia, up 20% from last year;

ii Despite global downturn, officials expect that to rise another 25% this year.

iii Malaysia and Vietnam each attracted only around US$10 billion in pledged and actual foreign

investments last year

iv Last month Fitch Ratings raised Indonesia’s credit status to Investment status, Moody’s has

followed suit and Standard and Poor is expected to do the same in the coming months.

Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product has crossed the US$1 trillion mark, thus joining economic powerhouses such as China, India and South Korea.

Indonesia’s has really come a long way and there has been remarkable changes since the economic crisis of 1997-1998 and the fall of President Soeharto after 32 years in power. Under Soeharto there was political stability and religious radicalism was almost unheard and there was some economic progress much of which was wiped away during the economic crisis of 1997-1998. Still, compared to its close Asean neighbours it was an economic laggard. Its people was reduced to eking out a living while Soeharto made Indonesia his personal fiefdom where he, his family and his cronies creamed and siphoned off much of its wealth. Incidentally, in Malaysia one politician has now replicated what Soeharto did and has made his state his and his family’s personal fiefdom.

The economic crisis of 1997-1998 which led to Soeharto’s downfall had a profound effect on Indonesia. From the dark days of the economic crisis and race riots, Indonesia has since then moved forward and is indeed moving forward at a rapid phase. For this credit must be given to former president Abdul Rahman Wahid (Gus Dur), whose compassionate presidency nursed the country after the terrible turmoil and the present president Susilo Bambang Yudhihono who has been a steady anchor in seeing Indonesia grow and develop.

Naturally there some serious problems to be tacked like infrastructural bottlenecks, red-tapes, ease of doing business, and corruption. However, gone are the days when politicians can easy loot the country and the corrupt live free from the long hands of the law. Now, with a greater degree of openness and transparency, crooked politicians and those who have breached their trust gets caught much more easily.

While Indonesia is on the accendancy, in the land of plenty called Malaysia, it is one big happy hunting grounds for politicians to enrich themselves and their families first, while throwing crumbs and bones to their community, reminding them to be thankful and frightening them that they will not get this if their benefactors lose political power. Rent seekers are now dime a dozen over here and working hard is an option rather than a choice with “kaut untung atas angin” being the job of choice.

Accountability is zilch and transparency is an alien word. The majority of the population in Malaysia care less about the financial mismanagements and financial sheninigans of the government, its agencies or by its ministers. Even the Auditor General’s annual expose merely extracts a little rumble of dissatisfaction and is quickly forgotten when the government dishes out RM500 for momentary appeasement. Since measures like this gives the people momentary happiness, the government continues to sedate the gullible population with regular handouts in different forms. Maybe its financial appeacement like these which allows many to have lots of free time so as to indulge in activities which bring no benefit, such as attending this type of ceramah’s where the preachers prey on their brethrens emotions, fear and anger.

It is however different in Indonesia where life is difficult and many still struggle to make a living. So people have less time to bicker over irrelevant things. People there are more interested in working hard to improve their lives. People have got no time for religious bigotry or fight over linguistic semantics or racial supremacy or get involved in things which is not going to benefit them or uplift their lives.

Here is another reason why I am convinced that Malaysia is heading for one direction and one direction only – southbound.

The New Straits Times Wednesday 25^th January,2012 reports that The Obedient Wives Club (OWC), yup ! whose vice president Dr Rohaya Mohamed once told Muslim wives to be obedient to their husbands and to serve them like “first class prostitute” to prevent the men from straying, are at it again. Apparently it is starting an unusual campaign kicking off with “Rasulullah Tokoh Seks Suci Islam” to coincide with the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday this coming February 5 or 12^th Rabiul Awal in the Islamic calendar. I think the title is an insult to Islam and the Prophet. Wonder if the authorities will take any action.

Anyway, here is the news in full :

It embarks on an unusual campaign to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday

(New Straits Times) - THE Obedient Wives Club (OWC) is courting controversy with its unusual campaign to honour the Prophet Muhammad's birthday on Feb 5, or 12th Rabiul Awal in the Islamic calendar.
The campaign Rasulullah Tokoh Seks Suci Islam, aimed at redressing the growing moral decay among Muslims, will kick-off today at their headquarters in Pelangi Square, Damansara from 9am to noon with talks and an exhibition. It will be on for 12 days until the prophet's birthday.

It is, however, a closed-door event for invited guests and the local media.

OWC's spokesman Zaiton Omar when contacted yesterday, said they were disturbed with the growing trend of homosexuality and gay marriages and cited the recent case of a former Petronas-sponsored student who married his gay lover in Ireland.

"There are too many unhealthy elements in our society nowadays and we want to do something to right the wrong.

"We chose the prophet as he is revered and had led an exemplary life, and we want other Muslims to follow his way of life."

She said they deliberately chose the title despite knowing it would cause a stir among Muslims.

"The prophet is the perfect example ... he had 11 wives and the campaign will be perfect to celebrate his birthday."

Perak Mufti, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, felt the title was insulting to the prophet who had bequeathed a legacy of a great leadership by example to human civilisation.

"He was also portrayed as a good and sincere husband,

"The title is an insult to Islam and the prophet. OWC should change it and point out instead that the prophet was a good husband," he said.

He said the public's perception on sex topics would often be negative.

"Even in the Quran, there are no references to the prophet as a sexual figure or idol."

The OWC is no stranger to controversies since last June when its vice-president Dr Rohaya Mohamed told Muslim wives here to be obedient to their husbands and to serve them like a "first-class prostitute" to prevent the men from straying.

The OWC, which has 1,000 members -- 800 of whom are Malaysians, has since received brickbats from women's rights groups and the public.

Founded by Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd, an off-shoot of the now defunct Al-Arqam movement, OWC has branches in Indonesia, Singapore and Jordan.

Comments : anfalaw@streamyx.com

(Norman Fernandez was recently on holiday in yet another Indonesian city of Padang, Sumatera and this is the first in a series of observation from Indonesia)

PIG HEAD's INCIDENT- WHY THE ARRESTED NOT CHARGED YET ?

On December 29, two plastic bags containing four pigs heads were found outside the compound of Al-Falah Mosque, Taman Daya Johor Bahru. The following day, another plastic bag with five pig heads were found at the mosque's entrance.

Right thinking Malaysians irrespective of whatever race and religion were enraged by the incident and it was also unfortunate that even before police could commence their investigation, some groups did public protests which insinuated non-muslims and warning them not to insult Islam. Sadly, these groups conveniently forgot that when a mosque/surau was descrerated last year in Johor, suspicion immediately fell on the non-muslims but police investigations which then led to apprehending the perpetrators revealed that they were not non-muslims.

In the aftermath of the recent incident, Johor police chief  Dato Mokhtar Shariff on Monday January 2,made public that police have arrested four individuals including a teenager in connection with the incident. Another man, in his 40's was also being sought to assist in the investigation. The Johor Police Chief, Dato Mokhtar and his special police task force must be commended for swiftly investigating and arresting the perpetrators. Syabas dan tahniah Dato Ketua Polis Johor dan PDRM.

However, it is now more than two weeks since the arrest and questions are being asked by the public who rightly wants to know the status of the case and why those arrested have yet to be charged in court. Before the public start making wild speculations which many are already doing, those arrested should be charged soonest.

For RM10, smugglers can breeze in and out

Corruption is rampant among law enforcers at border checkpoints

FOR a paltry sum, enforcement officers manning the country’s border checkpoints can be bought to provide smugglers a hassle-free passage.

Intelligence reports, backed by three years of surveillance by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, have revealed that the “buying” involved the lowest-ranking personnel right up to their bosses — who all guaranteed a pass through various levels of security checks.

The New Straits Times team, which joined several surveillance operations recently, found out the “rates” at the Rantau Panjang checkpoint.

It starts at RM10 at the front-most line, which is usually manned by General Operations Force (GOF) officers, while their Customs counterparts would accept RM50 or RM100 to allow a smuggler in and out of the country.

Officers from the Anti-Smuggling Unit would haggle for a fee of between RM10 and RM40. With Road Transport Department staff, however, smugglers would have to deal directly with their “boss”.

After paying between RM100 and RM150, the team was given a small sticker for the “smuggling vehicle”.

Smugglers with such stickers would be “protected”. Goods that are smuggled include RON 95 petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas.

With cash in small denominations, our van, loaded with contraband rice and other taxable goods, breezed through every checkpoint.

Surveillance at the Rantau Panjang border showed that from 6am to 10pm daily, between 50 and 100 vehicles freely moved goods in and out of the country.

A source said there would be at least four levels of security at the borders at any one time, but most of the officers (GOF, RTD, Customs and Anti-Smuggling Unit) were on the take.

Although Immigration Department officers were not involved, they failed to check the travel documents of those passing through the checkpoints.

“This is more than just about revenue or subsidised goods and losses for the country. Weapons and drugs could easily be smuggled into the country.

“The corruption is so deep-rooted that only a major shake-up of these checkpoints can rectify the problem,” said the source, adding that the authorities at the federal level should consider a more frequent rotation of officers.

At present, officers take about a year at their stations to get comfortable with the smugglers.

The NST was also made to understand that joint operations to arrest enforcement officers were difficult because details of the operations would be leaked.

The source said the “strong bond” between law enforcers and smugglers was hard to break, and they would never snitch on each other.

But operations by graft-busters had recently resulted in some of these officers being charged in court. However, a few GOF officers caught on tape taking bribes were only disciplined by their department and reassigned to other duties.

ONLY MALAYSIA

Officers make RM5,000 a day

Law enforcers make a killing in return for closing an eye to smuggling.

AS our van rolled to a stop in front of the Rantau Panjang security checkpoint near the Malaysian-Thai border, an officer from the General Operations Force (GOF) walked out of the guard post and motioned us to lower the window.

“Sepuluh ringgit, cepat, cepat (RM10, hurry, hurry),” he whispered, extending his hand inside the vehicle and glancing nervously at the other vehicles that had pulled up behind our dilapidated van.

An undercover enforcement officer in the front passenger seat pulled out RM10 and handed it  to the middle-aged GOF officer. He then let us through with a wave of his hand.

Moments later, at another checkpoint — this time,  Customs —  the undercover agent  got out and opened the back door of the van and showed them our illicit cargo of contraband fragrant rice stuffed in pillowcases and other taxable goods.

The payoff this time was RM50 and the methodology involved a bit of sleight-of-hand.

To prevent the drivers of the vehicles behind us from witnessing the transaction, the undercover agent discreetly placed the RM50 on the pile of rice.

The  Customs officer came around and pretended to rummage through the pile of contraband.

The RM50 was deftly swept up in one fluid motion. David Copperfield himself couldn’t have done it better.
Getting through the third round of checks was a breeze as prior arrangements had been made with one of the “bosses” at the Road Transport Department who gave us a “licence to smuggle”.

For RM250, we  got a green sticker that was stuck to the windscreen. This indicated to his men on the ground that we were one of the “untouchables”.

Now in the home stretch, our last hurdle was the Anti-Smuggling Unit checkpoint. True to form, we were let through with  a bribe of only  RM50.

At all the border security checkpoints, we were let through by the various enforcement agencies with no more than a cursory look, a casual nod and a payoff.
It is believed that these officers would rake in anywhere from RM3,000 to RM5,000 a day, depending on the traffic flow.
In an earlier operation to weed out “crooked” enforcers at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint, they flatly denied any involvement with smuggling syndicates.


One vehemently denied any involvement, saying repeatedly that he had no idea what the undercover officers were talking about. The minute he was shown video evidence, his memory improved immediately.

An officer at the Malaysian-Thai border accepting a bribe from a driver smuggling illicit goods into Thailand.

The RM250 green sticker (inset) that was affixed to the windscreen of a van. The sticker ensures a smuggler will not be bothered by RTD officers at the checkpoint.

Another Nigerian “Student” Bites The Dust

This news is from today’s STAR

  

Now this is from Malaysianinsider.

Nigeria tightens drug screening for Malaysia-bound flights

By Shannon Teoh

December 28, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Nigerian drug authorities have placed Malaysia-bound flights from the African country on red alert following a surge in drug trafficking on the route.

According to Nigerian online portal The Punch, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday passengers headed to Malaysia would be subjected to tougher airport screening after arrests multiplied by more than tenfold this year.

“The drastic measure is necessitated by the increasing number of arrests made on the route and the need to prevent obstinate drug traffickers from smuggling drugs to Malaysia where drug offences attract capital punishment,” the site quoted the anti-narcotics agency’s public affairs chief Mitchell Ofoyeju as saying.

Ofoyeju added in the press statement that NDLEA arrested two drug suspects going to Malaysia last year but arrests surged to 21 so far this year at the Lagos airport alone.

The United Nations reported last month that drug gangs from Africa and Iran are muscling in on Southeast Asia’s booming methamphetamine business.

The body’s Office on Drugs and Crime said the number of African couriers arrested annually almost doubled to 65 in 2010, including 50 Nigerians.

Early this month, police shot dead a Nigerian man after the drug suspect reportedly assaulted a policeman.

In January, police arrested a Nigerian student at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang holding 3.5kg of syabu worth RM875,000.

Police said he was paid RM7,750 to transport the drugs.

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Hear this folks! According to Nigerian Anti-Narcotics agency’s public affairs chief Mitchell Ofoyeju in 2010 the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested two drug suspects going to Malaysia. This year NDLEA has arrested 21 drug suspects!

What a shame! Malaysia has lost out 21 potential students.

TIME TO CURB THE AFRICAN MENACE IN MALAYSIA

In recent weeks, newspapers have been highlighting, police and immigration raids and arrest of Africans in Malaysia. In some instance, the Africans while trying to evade arrest were brazen enough to attack the police with metal rods. The temerity of them! Clearly Africans in Malaysia have moved from being a nuisance, to a menace and now they are fast becoming a threat to national security.

Folks here are some alarming statistics to make you jump out of your skin:

From Bernama February 03, 2002

• An average of 300 African enter Malaysia monthly via Bukit Kayu Hitam according to Malaysian Immigration. Ini baru “tourist” yang nak datang ‘cuti-cuti Malaysia’.

• In January 2002, 372 Africans from countries such as Cameroon, Liberia, Mali, Angola were checked through via Bukit Kayu Hitam.

• Most of them said they were tourists while others wanted to renew their Thai visas. If you believe those entering are tourist then you must also believe in Santa Claus.

From Bernama December 16, 2009

• Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat told Dewan Negara that Imigration statistics showed 99,769 African entered Malaysia between January and October 2009.

• So kawan-kawan bayangkan dalam 10 bulan sahaja hampir 100,000 orang Afrika masuk ke Malaysia !

From Malay Mail December 21, 2009

• In 2001, 51,383 African entered Malaysia

• In 2008, 111,805 African entered Malaysia both as tourist and students.

From Borneopost December 11, 2011

• Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong in Dewan Negara said that there are more than 25,000 Africans in the country.

• Deputy Home Minister also said that Immigration Department had also issued a total of 23,536 students passes to Africans to pursue their studies at public and private institutions of higher learning and international schools

• Incidentally, Deputy Home Minister also said a total of 101,644 Iranians were recorded to have entered the country in 2009 and the figure rosed to 2108,047 in 2010.

Bernama October 20, 2011

• According to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Nordin there are about 22,000 Africans studying in Malaysia.

Pelikkan, Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri bilang 23,536 pelajar Afrika belajar kat Malaysia
manakala Menteri Pelajaran kata 22,000 pelajar Afrika belajar kat Malaysia ! Mana pi lesap
1,536 pelajar Afrika ?

For some time Malaysians have been watching with great uneasiness, the growing influx of Africans into Malaysia. It would seem that many Africans are purported coming into Malaysia as students but in truth many of them are using this merely as a conduit to enter into this country, either to misuse their visas, overstay and become illegals or be involved in crime. Harian Metro in October 2006, reported that Africans have gone from being customers at brothels to running brothels with some earning up to RM1,000.00 per day. If that is not surprising, Utusan Malaysian on Sunday December 18, disclosed of an African who arrived in this country with only clothes on his back and then went on to build a RM400 million five star hotel back in Africa all from the money earned by cheating people in Malaysia.

Africans after arriving have moved on and created mini colonies in areas around Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negri Sembilan. With their loutish and boorish behavior, they are not only a nuisance but also a disturbance in many neighbourhood. In short they have become a menace.

In some areas like Cyberjaya, Nilai and Mantin where these African have registered to become students at the local colleges , there has been unending complaints about them, never mind their boorish and loutish behavior, which is an innate trait in them but their tendency to become increasingly brazen enough to disturb the locals and sometimes even threatening them. I suspect, many colleges are simply surviving because of African students and so long as the fees is paid the colleges are keeping an eye closed to the extra curricular and nocturnal activities of their African students.

Add to the African “students” influx, we are also seeing African “tourist” and most originating from Thailand entering into Malaysia peddling trinkets and other wares. They have become such a common sight at coffee shops and hawker centres. Don’t the immigration authorities do a through check to see if these Africans who are trying to enter Malaysia are bona-fide tourist. Don’t the authorities find out from these intending tourists how much money they are bringing, their travel itinerary, their accommodation at all destinations while in Malaysia, if they have a return ticket out to their country of origin ( not a one way bus ticket to Hadyai). Could Malaysia not impose a ruling that Africans must first obtain a visa from their Home Country before being able to enter Malaysia. Susah ke nak buat polisi macam tu, pak menteri ? How come you don’t see African “students” and “tourists” trying to enter Singapore. They know, what awaits them for misuse of visa or overstaying – whiplash on their back. But in Malaysia were are laying red carpet and wishing them ‘Selamat Datang”.

If previously Malaysian were used to and had to contend with dime a dozen Africans confidence tricksters, now it would seem that Africans in Malaysia are increasingly involved in serious crimes like rape, robbery, murder, robbery, drug dealings and drug trafficking. Add to that, there are many cases where Africans have sweet talked and conned Malaysian women to become drug mules. Many Malaysian women languishing in foreign jails are drug mules duped by Africans operating from Malaysia. In 2010, 16 women were arrested overseas for drug offences and almost in all cases they were duped by Africans.

Now contrast the menace by the Africans with the Korean community in Malaysia. Last year, some 264,000 Koreans entered Malaysia as tourist. There are currently 35 weekly flights from Seoul unto Malaysia. How often or rather have you ever heard about Koreans overstayers in Malaysia ? Folks, did you know that there is a thriving Korean community in Malaysia, especially in Ampang where a Koreatown is slowly beginning to sprout. In 2009, there were 14,580 Koreans residing in Malaysia many of them students or retirees coming under the Malaysia My Second Home. Add to these categories are the Korean expatriates working in local or Korean owned companies. Do we hear about Koreans being a nuisance or engaging in crime?

We have to admit that Malaysia has lost the fight against Indonesian immigrants either illegally entering Malaysia or overstaying. Let us now not lose also the fight against the Africans. Apprehending Africans is not the job of the police alone. People seeing Africans staying or being present in their neighbourhood ( unlike Indonesians, Africans are easily identifiable) must call the local police station and if no action is forthcoming call the Ketua Polis Negeri. If all attempts have failed then email me at anfalaw@streamyx.com Whatever do not do what the dumb assed Senator Datuk Paul Kong Sing Chu whose advise was “the best is to totally avoid them”. Really ?

I leave you with a chilling comment posted by a Nigerian in the Malay Mail Online “ I assure u (sic) that one day Nigerians will begin to contest for political posts in your country and if u (sic) are not careful they will gain victory, it has happen in so many places and Malaysia is no exception”.

Malaysians take heed… we have been warned by Africans themselves !