YOUR BAGGAGE IS NOT SAFE AT THE AIRPORT - (VIDEO)

Folks, apparently all the locks we put on our travel bags when we travel is of no use. This video shows that just armed with a pen, our bag zippers can be opened and then closed neatly. Now, I understand why some passengers usually cleanwrap their baggage. I usually to smile at them thinking what kiasu fellas they were.

 

 

 

 

I have a few zipper travel bags for quick fire sale. Anyone interested ?

 

 

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL ON MAS ?

Investigators investigating a technical defect ( ie aircraft engine fire) on a MAS flight on Tuesday which was bound for London should not rule out sabotage as a likely cause so said the  aviation and aerospace industry officials.

Now this is really… really worrying ! 

I ( and other MAS passengers) could just about be flying in a flying coffin if what has been alleged is true. Hope the management of MAS will quickly clarify and allay our fears. Until then, it shall be Emirates for long haul, Air Asia, Fire Fly and Tiger Airways.

Anyways here is the news which appeared on NST April 19.

 

 

 

CHRISTIANS CAN NO LONGER BE APOLITICAL AND INDIFFERENT.

Christians and Christianity in Malaysia is fast becoming an enemy of the state. Christians have for far too long been apolitical and indifferent. It must now dawn on the Christians that they and their faith are under attack. Christians must now be more conscious and assetive in protecting and defending their faith.

 

Christians form 9.2% of Malaysia’s 28.3 million population. According to the Official Catholic Directory 2012, the number of Catholics as at 2010 stands at 1,007,643 and some 70% of the Catholics reside in Sabah and Sarawak. Further it is estimated that there are approximately 50,000 migrants and itenerants of Catholic faith in the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese. 

 

While for the majority of Muslims and Christians in Malaysia live ( and wish to) in harmony and tolerance respecting each other,  there is now a segment of vociferous Muslims bordering on extremism who has taken upon themselves to speak for the moderate Muslims who seem to have been cowed to silence to the extent they have become be apathetic. These groups have become evermore brazen in putting their views across. Christians and Christianity has become the Muslim’s boogeyman in Malaysia.

 

Take the latest incident. Last month the Johor Education Department organized a seminar for some 55 primary and secondary schools in the Johor Bahru district “Pemantapan Aqidah, Bahaya Liberalisme dan Pluaralism serta Ancaman Kristianisasi Terhadap Umat islam. Apa Peranan Guru.” (Strengthening faith, dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers ?). Imagine, a religious body joining hands with a government agency whose salaries are paid by tax-payers and Christians included, to organize a seminar with the objective of scaremongering and to cultivate fear and bigotry. 

 

Although after adverse publicity and much criticism , the organizers dropped the words “Ancaman Kristianisasi” ( Threat of Christianity), it cannot be denied that the whole purpose of the course was to brainwash and instill in the teachers  the dangers of Christians and Christianity. Worst, the fact that that the seminar was sanctioned and allowed to continue means that Barisan Nasional government and perhaps the party you may have voted had approved the seminar.  It is to these teachers who have been inculcated with prejudicial and bigoted values, you Christian parents are entrusting your children’s education to. Any wonder why Chinese parents have completely bypassed the national schools as a medium of education for their children.

 

Catholics still remember when on November 2006 about  1000 Muslim protestors besieged Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ipoh after the Mufti of Perak Harussani Zakaria send an SMS claiming that 600 Muslim students of Ungku Omar Polytechnic were to be baptized by the national mariner Azhar Mansor. Investigations revealed that the Mufti of Perak, Datuk Harussani had sent an SMS after a Malay lady met and informed him of the ‘impending” event. No attempt was made by the Mufti to verify the authensity of report. The Mufti out to have realized that, one does not become a Catholic by a mere handshake or the Church will allows any individual let alone a Muslim to conduct baptism but unlike other faith, applicants interested in the Catholic faith must first undergo a rigorous course of study before voluntarily accepting the Catholic faith.

 

The same Mufti was again mischief making when in February 2006 made a sensational claim that some 250,000 Muslims have apostasised while 100,000 Muslims have submitted application to renounce their religion. When demands were made for the Mufti to substantiate his claim, he could not do since his allegation was a lie from the start. In both the incidents no action was taken against the Mufti ( or even against the woman). 

 

In truth, Dr Mohd Azam Mohd Adil, a law professor at UITM, in his research found that the National Registration Department recorded only 750 applications beween 1999 and 2003 to July 2003 to change names from Muslims to non Muslims in the identity card and of these only 220 were granted and even then most of the applicants were converts to Islam. Even more startling were the revealation that the actual numbers of applicants who filed an application to leave Islam for the period between 1994 and 2003 was a mere 100. No wonder former Mufti of Perlis, Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin poured scorn about the Mufti of Perak’s preposterous claim.

 

In 2009, Catholics were mortified to read about two Muslim journalist who went undercover to investigate the going on in a Catholic church. The two journalist not only participated in the ceremony but also consumed the holy wafer, spat out the remains and photographed it and published the picture in an article in the May 2009 edition of al- Islam entitled “Tinjauan al-Islam Dalam Gereja: Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Murtad”. Despite this sacrilegious act of desecrating the white wafer which is sacred and of utmost reverence to Catholics, no action was ever taken against the journalist nor against the publication.

 

Since the political tsunami of March 8, 2008, attacks and insults against Christians and Christinianity has intensified. A segment of Muslims in Malaysia encouraged by the fact that no action is taking by the authorities against them have grown more brazen and assertive to spew unsubstantiated accusations    and are on a relentless witchhunt against Christians and Christianity.

 

Hardly a month passes by when some individual, group or blogs raise the temperature by alleging that Christians are covertly attempting to convert Muslims and or have converted Muslims.

 

At the forefront in spooking the Muslims has to be Dato Hassan Ali the former Selangor State Exco for Islamic Affairs who with a religious zeal regularly makes spurious and preposterious allegations which hightens tension and  driving a wedge between the Muslims and Christians. Using the cover of his NGO, JATI, he has in recent months alleged that Christian missionaries have been using solar-powered talking bibles to spread Christianity to Muslims. Add to that, he has also alleged that Christians have set up welfare groups to extend financial and other forms of assistance to single mothers, the poor and the elderly and also have have alleged that Christian preachers were slowly spreading their belief among school-going Muslim children by way of free tuition classes. Then there were the allegations of Christians sending or distributing Christian pamphlets and literature in public places, homes, universities. If all that is not enough, there was also allegation of a conversion ceremony where the participants were made to drink holy water. Unlike other faith, Catholics do not drink holy water. Perhaps he got mixed up with zam-zam water which Muslims do.

 

If all these are not enough, Utusan Malaysia sensationalises preposterious allegations obtained from internet sites and questionable blogs to the extents it frontpaged a preposterios allegation obtained from a blog and without any attempt to verify, that Christians are plotting to make Christianity the official religion in Malaysia with a Christian Prime Minister. As if on cue, PERKASA and other Muslim NGO’s immediately went on a hissy fit lodging police reports nationwide. In truth, it was a dinner organized by the National Evangelical Fellowship, Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors Fellowship which incidentally had the attendance of the Chief Minister of Penang. The Home Minister expressed his grave concern and lo and behold ordered a police investigation not against the blog or the newspaper but to investigate the allegation if there were any truth about Christians wanting to make Christianity the official religion and a Christian as the Prime Minister. As usual no action was taken against the newspaper for the baseless and provocative report nor against the blogger for the unsubstantiated and seditious posting. Can’t a national leader attend a Christian event ?

 

Christians must realize their mistake thus far. Christians and particularly Catholics have for far too long remained apolitical and apathetic. Christians must realize,  it is their indifference which have embolden a segment of the Muslims population in Malaysia to commence a withhunt against Christians and Christianity to the extent that Christians and Christianity has become an enemy of the state. Christians and particularly Catholics must be conscious of what is happening to their faith and must take a stand. Your vote must  reflect the stand.

 

Younger generation Christians have paid the price for the mistakes of our elders indifference and apathy. Let us not make the same mistake. Let us not endow such a nation to our children. Take heed and vote wisely. Christians have a choice.

 

NORMAN FERNANDEZ

via email

Important to have friends (Case of Malaysia).

 

2011 Israel Preparation For The Coming Middle East War

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PERSIDANGAN PARLIMEN 2013

BUSY WEEK COMING UP FOR NASRUDDIN HASSAN AND HIS ILLKS.


The month of February is usually the time when Nasruddin Hassan, the Ketua Pemuda PAS gets into a hissy fit. What gets up his goat is the February 14 Valentine’s day celebration which in his warped brain is apparently a day for illicit sex and orgies. So each year, we get to hear his pre-Valentine’s day pronouncements and also the public notice of his anti-vice and moral patrols. Tuesday’s STAR already carried his Youth Wing’s first statement which calls the government to take immediate steps to curb the Valentine’s day celebration. Expect more updates and especially from Nasty Nas as time nears though its rather strange that Nasty Nas is keeping quiet.



If only this arsehole know that for most people especially the young at heart the Valentine day has no religious significance whatsoever. It is celebrated just the way Mother’s day or Teacher’s day is celebrated. It is special day to appreciate someone special in their life. What usually happen is giving a bouquet flowers, little gift or going out to dinner. It is not a day for sex and orgies as thought of by Nasty Nas. But for Nasty Nas, it is a day for sex. Fullstop. If you want to have a good laugh you should have a read about Nasty Nas research equating Valentine’s day and New Year’s eve celebration for the increase in illegitimate births later in the year.


Still you can be assured that there will be no stopping Nasty Nas and his merry men. Expect them to make “turun padang memberi nasihat dan teguran” But yang pelik, turun padang berdiri luar 7-11 tegur orang Melayu beli rokok, that they won’t do. Pi cari suami-suami yang liat tak bayar nafkah… itu kerja susah. Buat kajian kenapa di pantai timur, ada highest incidence kes-kes HIV… ini nak guna kepala. Buat kajian kenapa incident rogol anak and sumbang mahram is higher among the Malay community… ini kajian ilmiah, nak pakai otak.


But Valentine’s day…. Fu Yoh….Berbuih di mulut.


Also next week is going to turn out to be a really busy week. Add to Valentine’s Day, Avril Lavigne is in coming to town. Yes, the Canadian singer is back for a one day concert on 18th February in Kuala Lumpur. In 2008, PAS Youth tried to get the government to ban the concert. According to them “bukan contoh terbaik untuk orang muda”. Thank god, good sense prevailed and the concert with on. So far, no update from Nasty Nas as to what they plan to do. Maybe stand outside the stadium and hand out risalah?


With a week to go to both the events expect Nasty Nas to be in the limelight.

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.