Carrots for Permatang Pauh folks

Carrots from Barisan Nasional so far;


For the Chinese

• RM 1.2 million for 6 chinese schools in the Permatang Pauh constituency. Why the BN Govt only provides aid during election shall forever remain a mystery.

For the Indians

• A meagre RM50,000 each for two Tamil schools.


• Government has agreed to approve scrap metal collector's licence for them, says DPM Najib. Possibly depends on outcome of election so Indians shouldn't really hold their breath. Blogger G.Krishnan says 'Scrap Metal? Show Me the Real Stuff, Honey!'

More is to come says BN candidate Arif Shah. Saying if he wins he'll be able to pour more money into Permatang Pauh because of his cordial relationship with Abdullah Badawi.

IF YOU ARE IGNORANT OF THE BIBLE, STOP COMMENTING!

Whether Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s act of swearing on the Quran to substantiate his sodomy allegations is in accordance with Islam or not is not for me as a non-muslim to comment. That is the purview of the Islamic scholars.

However, I am peeved of when Pas President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Pas’s spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat claim that the act of placing the hand on the Quran while taking the oath to declare that one was telling the truth was imitating what the Christians did when they placed their hand on the Bible. That’s far from the truth and displays sheer ignorance.

Let me tell all ignorant what the Holy Bible says on swearing :-

THE OLD TESTAMENT.
LEVITICUS 19:12
“Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intend to keep it; that brings disgrace on my name. I am the Lord your God”.

THE NEW TESTAMENT
MATHEW 5:34-37
“But now I tell you; do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heavens, for it is God’s throne, nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem for it is the city of the great King. Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make single hair white or black. Just say yes or No-everything else comes from the Evil One”.

So, it is high time those ignorant of the Bible or the Christian teachings stop making comments or cast aspersions on the Holy Bible.

Despite the protests, democracy wins the day

Aniza Damis : NST

OVER the past week, many illustrious people and journalists have condemned the demonstrations against the Bar Council forum on Aug 9.

But I think it was a sterling example of how wonderfully democratic we have become.Nearly a year ago, I wrote about the Bar Council's Walk for Justice, when the Malaysian Bar walked from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister's Office. Seeing the peaceful protest, I commented that the public and Royal Malaysia Police seemed well on the way to learning how to be democratic.Last week's demonstration, this time against the Bar Council, showed that Malaysia has been on a sharp learning curve: we have advanced so far that even a less-than-peaceful protest is acceptable.

Consider this. The Bar Council forum was not declared illegal; the content of the forum was not declared illegal; the forum was held at the Bar Council building, which is private premises.

About 500 people stood outside the building, blocking the street, shouting, protesting, and condemning. They also threatened to storm the building. Not one was arrested.Even as little as a year ago, any demonstrating group without a police permit hurling abuses at a legally-convened meeting, would have been ordered to disperse, then water-cannoned, tear-gassed and, if they remained adamant, arrested and escorted to police vehicles.

Instead, what happened was that the police functioned only as a buffer between the demonstrators and the forum organisers and participants. In fact, as the riot police shuffled in to control the swelling crowd, it seemed as if they were reluctant to even be there.This, to me, is proof that the authorities have come to accept demonstrations -- peaceful or otherwise -- as a right in our democratic society.

Demonstrators have also become more sophisticated. While protesters of early days used to spray-paint slogans on old bedsheets, this time, one group, the Muslim Consumer Organisation, came with a dozen large, high-quality, professionally manufactured banners that must have cost about RM500 each.

Even though inflation is driving some poor Malay families to consuming just instant noodles and fried eggs several days a week, the Muslim Consumer Organisation obviously understood that, if you want to protest, you can't do it in half-measures.

Meanwhile, inside the Bar Council's auditorium, the forum to discuss the problems faced by non-Muslim families when a family member converts to Islam was under way.A young Chinese woman spoke about how her father had converted to Islam to marry an Iranian. A few years after this, he died. And the Muslim faraid inheritance system did not recognise the non-Muslim wife as his wife, nor the non-Muslim children as his children. "Can you imagine, the house you've been living in for 30 years is declared not your house," the young woman sobbed.

Listening to all this, I thought it was quite right for government leaders and de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to have called for the forum to be closed-door.Because then the discussion would only involve religious leaders, and we wouldn't have to listen to the sad stories of these sad families, and feel sad.

About an hour into the forum, the police came in, followed by a handful of protesters who wanted to enforce an early shutdown of the forum.

I don't know how it is with other cultures, but I was taught that when you want to enter someone's home, you have to first give the salam (greeting of good wishes) to the host, then wait to be invited in before stepping over the threshold.If you give the salam three times and no one answers, then you should go away peacefully.

Naturally, the gate-crashing came as a shock. But then, I remembered the virtue for which Malaysia is famous: tolerance of other cultures. Obviously, the culture I had been brought up in is but one of the many different cultures that co-exist harmoniously in Ma-laysia.

When Professor Mehrun Siraj, a law professor who has taught at least an entire generation of lawyers in several Malaysian universities (and is probably now teaching the children of her first students), stood in front of the hall and started to speak, a couple of protesters, including Peninsular Malay Students Federation vice-president Jais Abdul Kari, yelled at her at the top of their lungs, trying to shout her down.

I was upset by this. I was as angry as I would have been if they had been shouting at my own mother. But then, I realised that this must be this culture's way of showing respect to elders. So, I calmed down.

After the forum was declared officially ended, Jais shouted, "Everyone get out! Take only the stairs, so that we can see that all of you vacate this building. "We will not leave until you all get out!" and stood by the auditorium's main door, like a host who's trying to kick out rowdy party guests.

Some people might find this disturbing. But the beauty is it brought together people of different ideologies.For instance, two protesters, one from Pas, the other from Umno rather happily and proudly said, "See! Who said Pas and Umno can't work together!"Meanwhile, at the front of the auditorium, PKR member of parliament Zulkifli Nordin was telling Bar Council officers off: "Don't touch (on) Islam. Don't touch (on) Muslims."The fact that members from the Islamist Pas, ultra-Malay Umno and secularist multiracial PKR can come together, focused on a shared belief, instead of bickering over political differences, shows how mature and fluid politics has become in this country.

The greatest proof of democracy at work that day was this: Might is right.Unlike in other countries where Muslims are the minority and have to patiently engage with the non-Muslims and convince them Islam is a peaceful religion and our God is merciful and just, over here, the Muslim majority can just tell people to shut up.

Many people might be opposed to this, but I sincerely hope democracy will be allowed to flourish.Then I can quit my day job and go into the banner-making business.

NOW YOU KNOW WHY NATIONAL SCHOOLS ARE NO MORE SCHOOL OF FIRST CHOICE.

It can only happen in Malaysia. A history teacher from SMK Telok Panglima Garang repeatedly utters racial, derogatory and unprintable slurs against Indian students. Instead of immediately sacking the teacher, the Education Department and Ministry Of Education condones her disgraceful behaviour and rewards her with a transfers to a smart school located near her house. The reason stated in her letter of transfer was that she was being transferred due to concerns for her security. So teachers (and other government servants) there you have it, fancy a transfer? Just spew racial profanities at a minority race and preferably Indians and you are assured of a transfer to premier (smart) school or another department others can only dream off.

Rightfully, the racist teacher should not only have been sacked but the police should have simultaneously proceeded to charge her. Her so called apology ought not to absolve her from her action, instead her apology should only mitigate her punishment. In this case her apology has turned into an unexpected reward.

In condoning her action and even worst adding insult to injury by rewarding her, perhaps the government must now understand why Chinese and Indians have deserted national schools. Now even the Malays are clamoring for places in Chinese schools.

While it may be wrong to tar all the teachers with the same brush and think all Malay teachers are racist, but teachers such as her and incidents such as these are no more isolated cases. What parents expect of a teacher is to teach. Nothing more and nothing less. Some teachers like the one from SMK Telok Panglima Garang however find that a difficult task. Non Malay parents simply do not wish to send their children to be taught by racist minded, ideologically deranged and intellectually bankrupt teachers.

It is no secret that national schools are no more the first choice for Chinese and Tamils. That is sad. National schools were established after merdeka with the objective and hope that children of all races could integrate freely, Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction and a common syllabus to promote national unity. Unfortunately, over the years, national schools have evolved, changed and acquired an image of Malay school with Islamic orientation and emphasis.

For the Chinese, Chinese schools have long being the school of choice to educate their children. It is estimated that just 1 out of 20 Chinese parents send their children to national schools and there is a tremendous demand for a place in Chinese schools. Add to that statistics is that more than 60,000 non Chinese are now studying in Chinese schools.

Chinese parents are convinced beyond belief that Chinese schools provide quality education, not to mention that they are assured that no teacher is going to call their children “babi” or “balik Cina”. Many parents have said the reason why they did not choose national schools is because in national schools there is a greater emphasis and priority on frivolous matters like ensuring students wear long trousers for physical activities or making students address the headmistress “Bonda” (there is actually a premier girls school in Johor Bahru where the headmistress require the students to address her as “Bonda”). Then there is an over emphasis on Islam over other religion and instilling moral values which are not universal values but often values of a single community. Classes are often segregated with the excuse that they are done for convenience sake and activities and celebrations are usually of one race. There have been instances where some school even prevented non Muslim children from bringing cooked food from home or even discouraged non Muslim pupils from wearing crucifix or putting holy ash on the forehead. Children who enter national schools innocent, unhurried by pretensions and untainted by prejudices, leave school imbedded with racist bigotry, religious supremacy and closed mind. It is safe to say polarization starts from school and that sadly does not augur well for the future of this country.

There is also a perception that many of the teachers in national schools are unmotivated and teaching was actually their last choice. The real attraction is actually the short hours and the long holidays. A retired senior lecturer from a Teachers Training College in Johor Bahru once lamented that education has not gone to the dogs but dogs have come to education.

How times have changed. When I went to school almost all my teachers were Malays and they had a tremendous passion for teaching. They had only one desire- teach and teach they did with zeal and passion. In their eyes we were not a Malay, Chinese or an Indian. We were simply pupils. One teacher I remember with great fondness, Cikgu Maimunah, although was suffering from cancer hardly took leave even in her final days of her life. Her 35 Non Malays and 2 Malays pupils mattered more than her health. More importantly, never once did any teacher utter any racial slurs against any student. Sadly these are teachers of a bygone era.

Teachers in Chinese schools are extremely dedicated and motivated to teach. There is a real zeal to ensure that the students study and perform well in their examination. I know of teachers from Chinese schools who sacrifice their weekends particularly when exams near by giving free tuition to their students. Would a teacher from a national type school be prepared to sacrifice their weekends giving extra tuition and even worst to give free tuition? Now you can understand why former students of Chinese schools donate generously to their alma matter.

While Chinese schools have long been a choice of education for Chinese parents, in recent years, there has been a growing trend for even Indians to send their children to Tamil schools. Tamil schools have made good and steady progress in national examination such as the UPSR. A recent survey by the Ministry of Education reveals that only 4% of Indian parents are sending their children to national schools compared to 53% who send their children to Tamil schools. The only problem faced by Indian parents is that unlike the Chinese whose children can later proceed to Chinese Secondary schools, there are no Tamil secondary school, thus inevitably Indian students will have to return to national schools for their secondary education. In national schools some teachers just like the one from SMK Telok Panglima Garang prey on Indian students spewing filth and profanities

Incidents such as the one which befell on the Indian students of SMK Telok Panglima Garang can only fortify non Malay resolute to give national schools a miss. So unless the the government and Ministry of Education can send the right message that they do not condone or support behaviour and antics of racist teachers and prove it by not only sacking such teachers but also ensuring that they are also charged in court, Chinese and Tamil schools will become school of first choice. Parents would not want children coming home crying that the teacher called them “keling or ”babi”.

Muslim scholars must engage intelectually with non muslims

Article by Blogger Mohamed Hanipa Maidin ( Peguampas.Blogspot)

Frankly speaking I am a bit puzzled by the anger expressed by some muslims in this country over the Bar Council’s forum on "Conversion to Islam: Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, Subashini & Shamala Revisited". After all it was only a forum where the chosen speakers were supposed to air their views in respect of the chosen topic.
May be , the angered muslims are right . The topic of the forum was quite sensitive and provocative. It should have been changed to make is less provocative. But it does not change the fact that it was still a forum – an avenue for the respective speakers to market their ideas which would be followed by fruitful discussions by the members of the floor.
A forum is closely connected with a freedom of speech and expression which is guaranteed by Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

Needless to say Islam values such right and jealously protects it. Be that as it may, when the muslims vehemently protested such forum, I have , with the greatest respect, a difficulty to understand the reasons of such protest. While we ,the muslims, are entitled to protect and defend our religion , we must also at the same time be just and tolerant in our stand. Whatever stand we opted it must be based on the principle of fairness.

Just because we may have unsettled prejudice against certain group does not mean we have to oppose whatever program organized by such group.The forum , I am of the view, was not on a conversion of Islam per se as understood by certain quarters. In other words , the organizer, I believe, did not intend to question the right of non muslim to convert to Islam. On the other hand what the forum sought to achieve was the repercussion of the non muslim ‘s ancillary rights such as on the issue of custody of children and the maintainance over such conversion as reflected in the Federal Court’s judgment in Subashini a/p Rajasingam v Saravanan a/l Thangatoray.I sincerely believe many muslims ( and non muslims alike ) are not aware of and don’t have the full knowledge of the said case i.e Subashini a/p Rajasingam v Saravanan a/l Thangatoray. Unfortunately even without such knowledge , some have protested for the sake of protest .

The statement by certain irresponsible UMNO Ministers aggravated the situation. It is rather puzzling the protesters did not condemn a mediocre leader of UMNO ,Mohd Ali Rustam, when he suggested to use ISA to detain the organizer of the forum. I dare to say ISA is more dangerous and wicked than the said forum. Reading the judgment of the Federal Court in Subashini shows that the issue of the clash of jurisdictions ( civil and shariah ) has not been satisfactorily resolved. Thus it is fit and proper to organize a forum to discuss the said case and all the issues raised in the said case.

Do our muslim brothers and sisters know that until now the muslim has not not been allowed to file a divorce petition in the civil court when he or she converted to Islam. This is because under section 51 of the Law Reform ( Marriage & Divorce ) Act, only the non muslim spouse is entitled to file a divorce petition in the civil court if the other spouse embraced Islam. This has caused a lot of problems to the muslim spouse. He or she has no other option but to go to the Shariah Court to get his earlier marriage dissolved . But the decision of the Shariah court does not bind the other spouse who refused to embrace Islam.

Thus as far as the non muslim spouse is concerned , he or she is still legally considered a lawful husband or wife of the muslim convert. With this kind of forum , the muslim speakers may inter alia be able to highlight to the non muslim that even the muslims are discriminated against when they chose to embrace Islam. The main reason why such forum should be allowed to be held is that it did not only invite the non muslims as speakers. There were muslim speakers who were invited to air their views in the said forum. These three speakers, I believe , were competent to defend the muslims’ interest in that forum. When two out of the said three speakers pulled out from the forum at the eleventh hour , the inescapable conclusion was that the muslim scholars were not ready to engage intellectually with other non muslim speakers in that forum.

The pulling out, with respect, was not the good option. I believe that the topic of the forum was not detrimental to Islam unless it was unduly sensationalized and blown out of proportion. . The forum was the right avenue for the muslim scholars to defend Islam and its legal system. It was also the best opportunity for the muslim to engage intellectually with the non muslims. The muslim don’t have to be apologetic in such forum. This forum, is not akin to Article 11’s campaign. For me , the group of Article 11 was a kind of movement. It had launched a roadshow all over the country in order to attain certain hidden agenda. As such Article 11 was rightly protested by the muslims as it sought to drive home a message that the muslim in this country has the right to “murtad” and such right is protected by Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

Many muslims rightly believed that Article 11 was created to pursue the IFC’s unsuccessful agenda. It is high time for the muslims to engage intellectually with the non muslims. We must show to our non muslims brothers and sisters that Islam promotes dialogue and intellectual discourse. Islam is the religion of truth and because of this truth the muslim are always ready and willing to engage with anybodies or any parties whatever their backgrounds.

It is relevant to quote this valuable advice by Allamah Yusuf Alqardhawi in this kind of issue
“ Lasna fi hajah liman yahmilu as-saifa liyuballigha hadzihi al-risalat bil ‘aksi nahnu fi hajah liman yahmilu al fikra wa yahmilu al’ilma wal qalama liyuballigha hadzihi al-risalat ila al-syarki wa ila al-gharbi”
( Translation : At present , we ( the muslims ) are not in need those who can bring the sword on the contrary we are in greater need those who can bring knowledge and pen in order to propagate the message of Islam to the East and to the West )

They are calling us Babi

Pic taken from Malaysia Today

Racist teacher gets a better deal.

Apparently, the teacher has been transferred to a school closer to her home, no disciplinary action taken. Best of all, the letter of transfer stated that she was being transferred due to concerns for her security and not because she had committed an offence. State Education Dept say they had wanted to transfer the person out of the state but had acceded to a request from the teacher to remain in the district


Meanwhile, the victimised students are being blamed by some teachers of the school for the lack of history teacher.

The teacher "had some explaining to do" is the statement given by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Read more on the NST here

psycho history teacher at SMK Telok Panglima, Selangor

Recently, about 500 angry parents and other members of the Indian community gathered outside the school to stage a protest over racial slurs and abuse allegedly uttered by a teacher against Indian students recently.

The slurs by the teacher was apparently included in the police report and it somehow managed to appear on the The Star's online version, although it appears to have been taken down afterwards. Blogger Poobalan managed to post the original Star report.

Caution - The words mentioned might put off some. Read it here.


In the aftermath,

“She also said that she did not expect things to become so serious and has agreed to be transferred to another school,” said Senator T. Murugiah, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department , who visited SMK Telok Panglima Garang.


Truly 'Cemerlang - Gemilang - Terbilang'

HINDUS AND MUSLIM’S PRAYING TOGETHER.

Came across this picture which appeared in the STAR of Hindus and Muslims in India PRAYING TOGETHER. Had such a ceremony taken place in Malaysia there would have been a chorus of disapproval.

How I wish something like this can happen in Malaysia. No point in wishful thinking, I guess!

MAN SERVING PRISON SENTENCE MADE GUARANTOR FOR LOAN BY BANK.

DAP TIDAK PERNAH TIPU PAS - Pengakuan Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.

DAP tidak pernah tipu PAS. Begitulah pengakuan Tuan Guru Nik Aziz semasa ditemubual akhbar Siasah. Apabila ditanya Siasah bagaimana Pas boleh berbaik dengan DAP sedangkan dengan UMNO tidak, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz menyatakan :-

"DAP tidak pernah tipu kami, semasa dia hendak keluar dalam pakatan Gagasan Rakyat sebelum ini mereka memberitahu dengan terbuka. Biar pun DAP keluar dari gagasan tetapi tidak macam PAS keluar dari BN sehingga pecah tiga parti itu.

Umno bawa PAS masuk dalam Barisan Nasional maka kami setuju, kemudian apabila sudah tidak perlukan lagi dia tendang kami keluar."

(Sila baca Siasah edisi 20 - 26 Julai).

Semoga PAS mengambil iktibar daripada kenyataan Tuan Guru.

Semalam suratkhabar-suratkhabar tempatan memaparkan pendedahan Perdana Mentari Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang mengaku bahawa yang UMNO dan PAS telah bertemu sebanyak tiga kali untuk berbincang berkenaan dengan hal kepentingan bersama.

PAS perlu sedar sejarah persefahaman mereka dengan UMNO-Barisan Nasional sebelum ini.

Kini UMNO-Barisan Nasional bergoyah dan bagi UMNO, PAS adalah talian hayat.

Harapan baru untuk Malaysia ialah P.R - PAS, DAP & PKR bukannya Barisan Nasional.

BEGINIKAH KITA MEMBALAS BUDI JASA SEORANG PARAJURIT?

Apakah ini cara negara membalas budi jasa seorang parajurit yang telah berkhidmat untuk negara dan yang telah sedia berkorban nyawa mempertahankan ibu pertiwi?

Bacalah cerita malang Othman Naim yang tersiar dalam NST 18, July. Apa komen saudara?

Men in balaclavas

In another part of the world.

Somewhere nearby...

Anwar arrested!

Anwar arrested for sodomy

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 - Police have arrested opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy under Section 377 of the Penal Code, lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah said.

Proton gets flak over Harley’s buy of MV Agusta for RM360m

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — American motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson has, according to the Associated Press, agreed to buy MV Agusta for US$109 million (RM360 million), in sharp contrast to the one euro Italian company Gevi paid when it bought the Italian bike-maker from Proton Holdings in 2006.

Harley-Davidson said in a statement out of Milwaukee last Friday that it was likely to seal the deal in weeks but the news is likely to unleash a firestorm of criticism against Proton, which was savagely assailed for the 2006 sale by no less a person than former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who conceived Proton back in 1984, according to the Singapore Business Times.

More here

DAP denies attending rally meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw denied attending a meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders on July 9 on the alleged Monday rally.

DAP has called for a retraction from Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar who said Monday that the meeting was attended by various leaders, including Kit Siang, Guan Eng, Dr Tan and PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.
DAP claims there was no such meeting among the Pakatan top leadership.

Kit Siang added that there should be a public inquiry into the massive road blocks on Monday.
He also called for Syed Hamid to resign if he failed to provide an explanation for the massive jams on Monday.

Syed Hamid's reply..... " I'll apologise only if they ask nicely"
Source : The Star
========================

Minister: Police action justified
Source : The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The police action of putting up roadblocks in the city for three days is justifiable based on the intelligence gathered, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar. He told a press conference at his office in Parliament yesterday that the information included blog postings and the SMS sent out inviting people to gather at Parliament yesterday.

“The blogs calling for people to turn up were 1426.blogspot.com and zul4kulim.blogspot.com,” he revealed. Syed Hamid said intelligence was also gathered from a July 9 meeting chaired by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. at the PKR headquarters. “Anwar said at the meeting that some BN MPs would give support to PKR (on the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister) and he would then lead the demonstration at Parliament,” he added.

Syed Hamid said the meeting was attended by various leaders, including DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, DAP vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw and PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.

Syed Hamid apologises, says roadblocks for security

Control Freak of the Year Award

It's close call between Syed Hamid Albar and KL Police Chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman

Syed Hamid has proof of planned protest.

PARLIAMENT, July 14 - Despite protests from the opposition that they were not planning any demonstrations, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar today claimed the authorities have intelligence pointing to an assembly organised by the Pakatan Rakyat at the Parliament.
"We cannot compromise our intelligence network. This information also comes from their people. Now if they ask who these people are, of course we won't reveal," Syed Hamid told reporters . Full story here

Road blocks may go on
KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 – On the day that thousands of workers got to their offices late because road blocks all over the city had reduced traffic to a total standstill, the police are saying that road blocks just may go on as they are a necessity and "successfully prevented any illegal activities from taking place".
At a press conference in the KL Police Contingent headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah today, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Wira Muhammad Sabtu Osman reiterated that police road blocks have proven to be an effective method in helping to curtail anti government activities which could threaten national security. Full story at the Malaysian Insider.

Where is ?

PRICE OF CHICKEN SHIT HITS THE ROOF !

The China Press, a couple of days ago reported that farmers in Cameron Highland are having difficulty getting their hands on chicken shit. According to the farmers there, there is a acute shortage of chicken shit thus causing the price of chicken shit to skyrocket. Before Chinese New Year it used to be RM 4 for a bag and now the price is RM6.50 and there are worrying signs that the price is going up further.

Farmers blame the shortage of chicken shit on the oil palm estates who because of skyrocketing price of non organic fertilizers worldwide, have turned to using chicken shit as manure. So next time if the fried chicken taste like shit, just blame the palm oil.

Such is the shortage for chicken shit, when one farmer said that where previously he could get his order of chicken shit every two days, he is now lucky if he can get some within a week. Sometimes the farmers have to wait up to a month!.

In the meantime, the chickens themselves are getting stressed out. What with duty to lay eggs, sacrifice themselves for meat and now they have to meet urgent deadlines for extra orders of shit. There is only that much nature can help!. If it goes on farmers may have to turn to politicians crap. Now! that’s definitely dangerous to health.

AH LONGS FANCY THAT!

LOAN APPLICATION FORM.

JOHOR STATE GOVERNMENT TAKES AWAY TAMIL SCHOOL LAND FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai was built in 1953 and was initially known as SRJK(T) Karai Nagar. In 1985, the school was made a sekolah bantuan penuh kerajaan and its name was changed to SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai.

The school is situated on a 0.6 acre land and has two double storey blocks of eight classrooms which is in a dilapidated state.

Infact the Public Works Department as early as 2002 after inspection stated “ bangunan ini tidak sesuai dijadikan bilik darjah kerana tidak mengikut keadaan semasa dan merbahaya untuk di gunakan.”. In its report it further advised the Education Department that “pihak kami mengesyorkan bangunan tersebut dirobohkan dan digantikan dengan bangunan baru”. Even Jabatan Bomba and Penyelamat after conducting an inspection of the school in 2002 found that among others “ Tangga keselamatan tidak mengikut ciri-ciri keselamatan yang diperakui JBDPM”, “Tiada pintu keluar keselamatan di belakang bangunan sekolah” and “ tiada alat keselamatan kebakaran”. In short the school is a death trap !.

The school has no field or vacant space and is prone to floods and is situated smack in the middle of a housing estate. The noise and din from the passing traffic does not provide a conducive studying atmosphere for the students. Students also have to make do without basic facilities like a school hall, computer lab or even a meeting room.

Despite all this shortcomings, SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai which has presently has 768 students has been for sometime among the country’s top scoring schools. In 2005, 17 students scored Seven-A’s in the UPSR examination.

On September 29, 2006 some 250 parents demonstrated in front of the school highlighting the dilapidated condition of the school.

In the immediate aftermath, Datuk Seri Samy Vellu said “I have directed the PWD to speed up work on the Tamil schools and have asked the department to furnish all the necessary requirements including the layout plans within week.”

The then Education Ministry’s parliamentary secretary Komala Krishnamoorthy confirmed that the Johor government had allotted land for the school and that construction works would begin in 2007.

The State M.I.C Chairman Datuk K.S Balakrishnan confirmed that a 2.69 ha land had been alloted by the Johor state government and further the Education Ministry has allocated RM5.4 million for the new school.

Now, in 2008 the new SJK(T) Kangkar Tebrau has yet to be constructed and even worst the land allotted for the construction of the school has been quietly taken away and instead the state government has given approval for the construction of a commercial project.

TAMIL SCHOOL LAND TAKEN AWAY BY JOHOR STATE GOVERNMENT

Yesterday’s (07.07.2008) STAR reported that the school authorities at top scoring SJK (T) Kangkar Pulai are fuming mad after finding out that the land promised to them for a new school has now been approved for a commercial project without their knowledge.

According to the School PTA Chairman K.Kanapathy, he has now discovered that although the Johor state government has in 2004 approved a 2.3ha land for the school and also gone on to announce a RM5.4million for the construction of the school under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the state executive council had instead on April 4, 2007 approved an application for commercial development. The state government has instead given a new piece of land for the school which is near a jungle and a quarry.

The state M.I.C Chairman Datuk K.S Balakrishnan, who was previously a state exco member now is unsure how the approved land for school has been converted. He now informs that the Johor Menteri Besar had been informed who in turn has instructed the Land Mines Department to give the land back to the school.

I think the Johor State Government has to give clear answers as to:-

1. What was the reason the state authority after having given approval in 2004 the land for the construction of the new SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai could then without informing the PTA SJK (T) Kangkar Pulai take away the land and approve it for a commercial project.

2. Why and how did the state authority on April 4, 2007 approve the application by the developers for the commercial project made in early 2006.

3. Has the land been sold to the developer by the state authorities?

4. If it has, how would it be possible and would it be possible now for Johor state to take the land from the developers and to give the land back for the construction of SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai.

5. The Johor state government is to be held responsible for taking away the land approved for the construction of the Tamil school and now has the responsibility to ensure that the land is taken back from the developers of the commercial project.

The Johor State government ought to realize that the school authorities had gone to great lengths to obtain the land and it is unfair for the state government to take the land back.

Anil Netto : Bala - before and after “fish-head curry”

Source : Anil Netto's Blog

The Sandiwara Continues..PI retracts statutory declaration

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — The Najib-Altantuya Shaariibuu case took a dramatic turn today when the private investigator who made startling allegations about the Deputy Prime Minister’s relations with the Mongolian model retracted his statutory declaration.

P. Balasubramaniam told reporters that all of what he alleged was wrong. He then rushed off without taking any questions. The manner in which he retracted the statutory declaration will raise more questions about this whole affair. He told friends yesterday that he had come under severe pressure after releasing the statutory declaration.

Read the whole story here

IF YOU HAVE RM 500.00 PUNB WILL GIVE RM 50,000

I came across this advertisement in the local paper of PUNB scheme to assist Bumiputra graduates.

Could the government not assist deserving Non Bumiputra graduates with similar schemes? I think the less said is better. The contents are self explanatory. Read and make your own conclusion.

NO INVESTMENT BY SINGAPORE IN ISKANDAR

Finally it has been confirmed that Johor have not received any investment from Singapore in Iskandar Malaysia.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman at the State Assembly when replying to question by Dr Sheikh Ibrahim (PAS Sg. Abong) said that Johor had received several investment from foreign countries including the Middle East. However, the state “have not received any form of investment from our neighbouring country (Singapore). (see Star July, 1)

I am the least bit surprised.

When small minded politician with a myopic view regularly ups the ante with jingoistic statements that Iskandar Malaysia will meet the same fate as Pedra Branca and send the message that Singapore’s investment is unwelcome, we must realise that Singaporeans in the circumstances will not be foolish or desperate enough to invest good money in Iskandar Malaysia. Period.

Watching and blogging for a better-run city
Norman Fernandez

Norman Fernandez is a lawyer and vice-chairman of Johor DAP. In 2004 and 2008, he contested the Stulang state seat.

















EFFECTIVE: Norman Fernandez runs the JB Watch blog.

PREVIOUSLY, whenever I saw, heard or received any public complaints, I would write letters to the local authorities to complain or telephone their office asking to speak to the person-in-charge.

Most of the time, I never got a reply. My calls were met with replies such as “menghadiri kursus” (attending courses), at a briefing or on leave.

Returning telephone calls does not seem to be in the work culture of some local authority staff and officials.

Fed up with knocking on closed doors, I had three choices — throw in the towel and turn a blind eye to problems as I am not an elected state assemblyman or local councillor, continue writing letters to the local councils or think of some other way to highlight the complaints and shortcomings.

Suddenly an idea struck me. Why not start a blog?

Five months ago, I started www.johorbahruwatch.blogspot.com, with the motto “Watching Johor Baru”.

I was not comfortable with the idea of walking around with a digital camera. Since my handphone is equipped with a fairly good camera, I was able to take photographs immediately when I saw some shoddy work.

All I needed to do next was to upload it to my blog using my laptop.

Since February, I have uploaded many images of clogged drains, potholes, uncovered manholes and damaged public facilities in the city.

I have also highlighted problems of missing metal covers, tilting lamp-posts, illegal advertisement posters and foreigners who make a living peddling wallets and other items on the streets.

When I upload the images on my blog, I also send a letter of complaint via email to MBJB. Since I set up the blog, I feel local authorities have taken notice of what I post on it. Things get resolved, although not always as quickly as I hope.

Highlighting the problem areas in the city, via the blog, has become more effective than writing and faxing to the authorities. Now, I even address my complaint directly to the authorities, including the Johor Baru mayor, on my blog. And the responses I received are “better” and faster. Maybe they are reading my blog.

For example, recently, city council contractors who were engaged in beautification work on the sidewalks left metal bolts protruding there. It was an accident waiting to happen. What was shocking was that no one from the council had come around to check on the completed work.

After a couple of weeks, just as I had anticipated, disaster struck when a 78-year-old man tripped and injured himself after hitting the protruding metal bolts at Jalan Gereja.

I took photographs of the injured man, put the pictures of the dangerous metal bolts in my blog, wrote a letter to the council informing them what had happened and demanded compensation for him.

The local press also highlighted the incident. Within 48 hours, all the protruding metal bolts around Jalan Gereja and Jalan Trus were covered with plastic cones. For good measure, and to prevent the cones from being stolen, they were secured with metal screws.

Why didn’t the council think of this in the first place? I have also been told that the council, as a gesture of goodwill, has given the injured old man a small amount of money.

I am pleased that my blog has helped someone. I am also glad to note that newspapers are downloading my blog and using the pictures in their stories.

What is clear is that the Internet and blogs are an excellent medium which can be used to interact with the local authorities.

It is obvious the local authorities would not feel comfortable to see shortcomings and shoddy work highlighted openly.

I am a proud Johorian, born in Kluang, and have made Johor Baru my workplace and home.

Naturally, I ought to take pride in my city and help make it a great city. As such, I must ensure that the local authority delivers good service to its residents.

I will continue to highlight issues pertaining to Johor Baru and MBJB in my blog.

As Reported in NST Johor Buzz 01.07.2008.

MIC in a quandary

The Star

MIC Youth leader S.A. Vigneswaran has resigned and threatened to open his former mentor’s Pandora’s box. These are signs that something is really not right in the party.IT IS rare for leaders in MIC to resign. The usual way to disconnect with the party is through expulsion.

Therefore it was a rare occasion for MIC Youth leader S.A. Vigneswaran, a one time blue-eyed boy of party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, to announce on Sunday his immediate resignation from the party.They had a fallout after Vigneswaran indirectly sided with rebels in the MIC whose aim is to pressure Samy Vellu to quit.

Vigneswaran or Vicky as he is known to those close to him, gave a rambling press conference going back and forth about Samy Vellu and how the March 8 election disaster is all Samy Vellu’s doing.The departure has left many in the MIC and outside speechless at what they say is “the waste” in Vicky's resignation.

Samy Vellu’s opponents had hoped Vicky would stay in the party and fight the MIC president from inside and hopefully force him to quit.Others had hoped he would be such an irritant to Samy Vellu in the MIC that the party supremo would be forced to sack him and in the process incur the wrath of the party’s Youth wing.

In the end it appears Vicky, who first became Youth leader in 2002, was not cut out to be the hero the “rebels” in the MIC and outside had hoped for.

“He is not the man to bell the cat,” said a disappointed member of the MIC central working committee.
“He does not have the guts or the vision.”
Besides, a big question mark hangs over Vicky’s political career.

He lost badly in the last general election and remains generally unpopular in the community largely because of his “arrogant” ways and the strong support he had always given to Samy Vellu.Nevertheless his resignation hits Samy Vellu hard in several areas and at a time when pressure is mounting on the MIC chief to leave the political stage, taking responsibility for the election disaster.

One is at a personal level. Vicky’s father M. Sanasee was a close personal friend of Samy Vellu in the 70s and 80s and a strong ally who helped Samy Vellu rise up in the Selangor MIC.
After Sanasee died in 1982, he promoted his brother Datuk K. Sellathevan up the ladder and later gave a helping hand to Vicky when he was hanging around in Klang town and not making any headway in life.

“It was Samy Velu who took care of his education and promoted him in the MIC, all because of the heartfelt gratitude, the party supremo has for his late friend Sannasee.“It will hurt deeply that it is a son of Sanasee who has stabbed him publicly,” said a former Selangor MIC leader.

On another level, Vicky’s resignation leaves the party president without a strong arm to enforce his rule in the party and at a time when his leadership is being questioned.

Vicky founded and headed a paralegal force called Pani Padai or Briged Putera, believed to be a vehicle to enforce order and compliance at MIC and Maika Holdings gatherings.While many were Indians youths genuinely interested in helping the MIC, some of the members were of questionable background, party insiders said.

Vicky on Sunday announced that the 20,000-strong brigade would be disbanded probably to deny Samy Vellu use of its members.

But party sources said Samy Vellu is already working to reconstitute the force and has asked Datuk M. Saravanan, a new rising star in the MIC and Deputy Federal Territories Minister, to either temporarily head the unit or find a new leader.

Samy Vellu will need all the help he can get as despite the pressure to quit, he is seeking re-election as MIC president for a final term in March 2009.As for Vicky, he is heading for something called the Malaysian Indian Youth Development, a private vehicle that will allow him to remain afloat and take constant snipes at his former mentor.

He has also promised, now that he is no longer an MIC member, to open the Pandora’s box of misdeeds by Samy Vellu.Likewise it must have crossed Samy Vellu’s mind to return the favour by opening the lid on his former blue-eyed boy’s box.

Mohd Saiful Bukhari

The police report made by one Mohd Saiful Bukhari against Anwar Ibrahim can be read at Rocky's Bru. This Saiful Bukhari is a UNITEN drop out who incidentally had been caught on camera with numerous top UMNO officials, read here.

HAMIDAH OSMAN, UMNO-BARISAN NASIONAL'S RACIST ADUN

This is the picture of Hamidah Osman. This UMNO-BARISAN NASIONAL racist bitch is the Perak Legislative Assembly member (ADUN) for Sungai Rapat. I really wanted to call her a PIG but that would have unneccessarily insulted Pigs.

During the Assembly sitting, she uttered a racial slur against Indians. Nothing surprising as she simply joins an illustrious list of racist bigots from Barisan Nasional-UMNO politicians who when unable to engage the brain, suffered intelligence blackout and immediately puked racist slurs.

She is unfit to hold public office and never again must good Malaysians elect her. She should hang her head in shame. She owes an apology to all Malaysians. Good Malaysians can do without her and those like her.

Dashini Jeyathurai, ex-student of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan (Perempuan) Yahya Awal selected to be valedictory speaker at US university

Source : NST

Stories abound over the achievements of Asian students in American universities.
Last month, 13-year-old child prodigy Sameer Mishra from India stunned the American nation by winning the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington.

Today, it is a Malaysian girl’s turn to bag a rare distinction.Dashini Jeyathurai, 24, from Johor Baru, has been selected as one of two students out of the 30 bright students who auditioned for delivering the valediction speech on “Disorienting Dilemmas: Getting an Education.” She arrived in the United States in 2004 to pursue an undergraduate course in English and Womens Studies as her major and minor subjects at the reputed Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. The course is courtesy of Starr International Scholarship, awarded by the C.V. Starr Foundation in the US.

This month, Jeyathurai graduated with a summa-cum-laude distinction which is awarded to students who graduate with a 3.90 score and above.“I was the only Malaysian out of six students granted scholarships,” she said in an interview with Bernama.Jeyathurai is planning to study for her PhD in English and Womens Studies at the University of Michigan, a five-year academic endeavour.

She began her education at the Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan (Perempuan) Yahya Awal in Johor Baru, then went on to further studies in Singapore on an Asean scholarship.Jeyathurai has received accolades at Carleton, including the Mortar Board Fund Prize, Niles Prize in Medieval and Renaissance Studies and the Noyes Prize which is awarded to distinguished scholars from the junior class. This year, she won the Scott Tyler Bergner Prize for demonstrating excellence in character and thought, and the Andrea Iseminger Endowed Scholarship which enabled her to study theatre and empire literature in London.

PAS’S ALARMING PLAN FOR POWER GRAB.

A few days ago, DAP Johor was alerted by members of public of a commentary titled “Mendaulatkan Islam Yang Terbantut” posted in www.pasjohorbahru.com.

Our attention was drawn to a segment of the article and it is produced herein.

“…sekiranya PAS ingin melaksanakan undang-undang Islam, sewajibnya PAS

perlu menghantar wakil-wakilnya ke Parlimen sehingga menjadi suara

majority.

Dengan itu, jika PAS mahu melaksanakan hukum Allah, sewajibnya Pas perlu

menguasai kawasan DUN-DUN dan Parlimen-Parlimen. Justru itu, jika PAS

ingin menguasai DUN dan Parlimen, sudah pasti PAS perlu menghantar wakil

untuk bertanding di DUN-DUN dan Parlimen-Parlimen yang sudah

dimenangi PKR dan DAP.

Dalam kes ini, jika diharapkan dengan petugas-petugas sahaja agak susah

untuk pihak PAS merebut kerusi di DUN-DUN dan Parlimen-Parlimen yang

sudah dimenangi oleh PKR dan DAP, tetapi antara cara yang paling kuat

untuk “mengambil” kerusi itu adalah dengan membanyakkan cawangan-

cawangan PAS, yang dengannya PAS adalah golongan menguasai sesuatu

DUN atau Parlimen.

Apabila ini dapat dibentangkan dihadapan pihak DAP dan PKR, sudah pasti

mereka tidak boleh lagi hendak beralasan dengan mendakwa bahawa

sesuatu Dun atau parlimen itu milik mereka, yang dengan itu, walaupun

agak susah mereka terpaksa menyerahkan kerusi DUN atau parlimen itu

kepada PAS.”

I am gob smacked reading it. Occasionaly similar or like views do appear in blogs of inviduals but in the spirit of freedom of speech, such views can be tolerated and dismissed as an individual’s mussing however warped those views are.

However, in this instance, when such views appears in the party’s official website it naturally raises concern. It has to be deemed to be the party’s stand. In essence, the article reveals PAS plans for power grab and the extent it is prepared to go in order to achieve its aim. Naturally, it makes disturbing reading for Pakatan Rakyat’s coalition partners DAP and PKR

The open declaration and revelation by PAS of its actual and true agenda is not on callous but most disturbing. It may not be wrong to conclude that in truth PAS gives two hoots about its alliance with DAP and PKR. The end justifies its means and even if it means riding rough shod over its Pakatan Rakyat partners DAP and PKR.

It is high time PAS (and other parties in Pakatan Rakyat) realize that their success in the 2008 General Election was because each needed the other and each had to help the other. That’s the reason why the people supported and voted Pakatan Rakyat. People did not vote DAP or PKR or PAS. They voted Pakatan Rakyat.

Thus, when one party is not prepared to work together with its partners for the greater good of all and common goal but instead designs its own personal agenda and charts its own road to power grab, it can ultimately result only one thing – certainty of another failed alliance.

History has shown that opposition parties in order to challenge Barisan Nasional’s hegemony had in the past had attempted to form or replicate something similar to Barisan Nasional’s coalition. Unfortunately for one reason or another all the attempts did not last long.

Harakah Keadilan Rakyat (1986), Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (1990), Gagasan Rakyat (1995), Barisan Alternatif (1999) ought to be a reminder to parties in Pakatan Rakyat how alliances formed with fanfare and hope in the end due to personal and conflicting agenda floundered and failed.

Should parties in Pakatan Rakyat and in this instance PAS fail to learn the lessons of past and instead work against each other, it would only mean that Barisan National need not do anything towards Pakatan Rakyat. Pakatan Rakyat will destruct by itself.

INDIANS - TIME TO GET REAL.

Recently, newspapers reported the story of K.Kamine Devi. Although she scored 10A1 in last year’s SPM, the Public Service Department turned down her application to study medicine overseas. This after the PSD had issued a statement recently guaranteeing scholarship for students who scored 9 A’s in their SPM. To add insult to injury, her application for a matriculation programme was also rejected. Kamine Devi is an Indian.

She is not the only Indian in the lurch. Lost out simply because of skewed education and affirmative action policies. Also, Kamine Devi is not the only unfortunate Indian. There are many with a similar story.

A fortnight ago, M.I.C Central Working Committee Member S,Murugasen in a letter to Malaysiakini revealed that out of 751 successful candidates for Jawatan Pembantu Penguatkuasa Gred N17 only 10 candidates or 1.3% were Indians. Now, for the uninformed, Grade N17 are support staff and is usually open to applicants with SPM or equivalent qualification. There are more likely from the lower and lower-middle income families who may have discontinued studies after Form 5 to find a job in order to support their families.

What I found interesting was the M.I.C’s Central Working Committee Member’s expose that “whenever the issue of low percentage of Indians being accepted into the government employment is raised, the standard answer is that there were insufficient number of applicants. However, feedback from divisional level M.I.C Youth leaders is that many Indians Youths do apply for governmental jobs but are not called for interviews and out of those called only a very small percentage have been successful”. Quite startling and hard-hitting especially when during the recent general election, M.I.C gave a glowing report card about job opportunities for Indian youths. Yet three months later, M.I.C in public is talking about unfairness. Is M.I.C in the government or now running with the opposition?

Still on the same point, a letter from the Inland Revenue Board published in NST on Monday, June 23, 2008 stated that the Inland Revenue Board does not have race quota in recruitment of new officers. Now let me remind everyone that I also believe in the fairy god-mother and Santa Claus. According, to the Inland Revenue Board, in their recent recruitment exercise only 2,16% (324) of the total applicants (15,018) for the post of executive officer Grade 7 were Indians. And of the number of successful applicants, 2.47% ( eight) were Indians who fulfilled the criteria set for the job. As for the total application received (916) for the post of administrative assistant Grade 11, only 0.44 % (four) were Indian applicants. Of the total number of successful applicants (190) all four of them were successful.

Even in the Johor Bahru courts, the majority of the Indians are only employed as court interpreters. This is a sunset position as there are already some judges who encourage litigants born after 1970 to converse in Bahasa Malaysia. They are often urged to speak in Bahasa Malaysia without the aid of an Interpreter. So, it is safe to say that in years to come the job of interpreters especially Tamil and Chinese Interpreters will become redundant. With that another job opportunity in the civil service closes for Indians.

The private sector does not look promising either. Go to the banks and other office's and count the number of Indian faces there. Even, legal firms which once provided Indians with clerical job opportunities employ fewer Indians. If there is one segment of the Indians population who has better prospect of finding jobs, at least clerical jobs are those who can speak Mandarin. Trust me if you can speak Mandarin, you will never be jobless.

Last week, the Star gave a breakdown of the intake into public universities. Out of the 40,184 STPM and equivalent candidates, 6.84% were Indians. The number of places awarded to Indian student for critical courses are as follows:-

What can be seen is that the Indian intake into public universities is ridiculously and unfairly small.

Hoping for an overseas scholarship to study one of the critical courses will be like waiting for Godot. There is a better chance of witnessing the Halley’s comet.

So what’s the point I am making? Indians must realize that in the near future it is going to be nearly impossible for Indians to get employment in the civil service. In the private sector which is dominated by the Chinese, there is a “national service” pressure for companies to provide employment for Malays first before Indians. Just have a look at the banks and see how many Indians are employed. Indians are already finding it really difficult to near impossibility in getting scholarships. Indians must prepare now for their children’s future. Indians must begin to look elsewhere and not rely on the government to educate their children.

The only way for Indians to uplift themselves and their families is through education. That means Indian parents must make every possible sacrifice for their children. My sister, brother and myself are eternally grateful to our parents for the sacrifices they made to ensure that we got the education we want. My parents received not a single sen from the government yet my parents sacrificed their yesterday for our tomorrow. The saved every single sen to pay for our education.

To study, one needs money. Indian parents must realize that the realistic option for their children education are private universities or to study abroad. Whichever option, one needs money and lots of it. I just wonder how many parents and particularly from the lower and lower middle class Indian families actually put aside of money each month for their children’s education. However seeing the number of empty beer bottles on the table of the ever grateful Chinese coffee shop owner only, I fear a bleak future for many Indians. Add to that, is the sad sight of seeing children wasting their valuable studying time every night sitting together with their mothers watching Indian serials on Astro. Sometimes I just wonder if Indian parents ever care for their children’s future. There are many Indians who would not buy a computer for their children but have no qualms in installing Astro. Just where are their priorities, I often wonder. At least one can see Malay parents buying for their children computers at Courts Mammoth even if it is purchased through installment plan. Believe me, Malay children are really good or at least better than Indian children when it comes to computer technology.

Let me advise Indian parents, save and save all your money. Invest in your children’s education even if you could only educate them to have only trade skill. Education, that’s the best gift you can give your children. Cut out or at least reduce the beer, forget the cigarettes and disconnect Astro. That’s a good start. The savings made, put it into your children’s education account and see it grow. It is hard but sacrifice now and be assured you will reap benefits later. With education, the world and not just Malaysia opens opportunities for your children. Your children will never need to be victims of quota system and affirmative policies. Instead the world awaits and welcomes them.

The writer welcomes comments at anfalaw@streamyx.com

WHEN DOGS COME INTO EDUCATION

Many years ago, my friend who was a lecturer at a teachers training college in Johor Bahru lamented at the quality of the trainee teachers there. His profound words “education has not gone to the dogs but instead dogs have come into education” remains etched in my mind.

Now let me make it clear that it is not my intention to insult teachers. I have uncles and aunties who were school teachers and incidentally my good mother was also a teacher. Many of my school teachers had a great impact in my life and most of all Mr Chakravathy of Sekolah Menengah Tinggi Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. I still remember going to see and inform him that I will be leaving for teachers training. Instead he tore into shreds my teachers training selection notification and sternly told me to continue with my studies. Phew! what a right decision it has turned out to be.

Reading, Hannah Yeoh’s latest posting in her web-log www.hannahyeoh.blogspot reminds me of my friend’s profound words.

Hannah Yeoh is the DAP Assemblywoman for Subang Jaya. This law graduate from University of Tasmania and incidentally where I too graduated from, was a student of SMK Subang Jaya and was also the Head Prefect for the year 1995/1996. For years there has been a tradition of an annual Prefect Reunion where former and present prefects attend the function which is actually a private function.

What has made Hannah really upset is because some cabbage brained teachers saw it fit to issue a threat to the school prefects to withdraw their invitation to her and even worst to issue an ultimum that should Hannah be invited the function will be cancelled. I just wonder how sensisitive would her presence be at the function. Do the teachers think Hannah will turn the prefects reunion function into a political function and give a political ceramah or use the opportunity to recruit members for DAP? Come of it !

How true are the profound words of my friend said years ago. Dogs have indeed come into education. The school and the teachers of SMK Subang Jaya rightfully should feel proud that one of their students had not only qualified as a lawyer but also has now been elected as an Assemblywoman. Instead, these dumb-asses saw it fit to cast Hannah as an outcast for no other valid reason but simply because she was a DAP Assemblywoman. Had she been a BN Assemblywoman, the school would have had a special assembly and everyone connected with the school from the Principal to the tuck-shop operator to the lolly-pop man would have jostled to kiss her her arse in the hope of getting some “peruntukkan or surat sokongan”. The PIBG Chairperson would have been there with a garden of flowers pinned on his bush-jacket giving an off tangent glowing speech about the government and pleading for “peruntukkan untuk PIBG”.

It is sad that there are teachers who have been so brainwashed that they live in a blinkered and skewered world devoid of any logical and sensible reasoning. I still remember when I was selected by my class teacher to speak on the best book I have read and why to the class. I told the class the best book I read (then) was Time Bombs in Malaysia by Lim Kit Siang and went on to talk about what Lim Kit Siang said about the real situation in Malaysia and what was Malaysia’s future. Through out the session, the teacher felt really uneasy and after I had finished sarcastically quipped “lain kali baca buku yang lebih bermanfaat”. She just could not accept “such books”. She would have been happy as a button if I had said that the book I read was “ Hikayat kura- kura lawan arnab”. Incidentally when I became the top student for History, she presented me the book “The Malay Dilemma”.

Coming back, it is really despicable that teachers have became agents and tools of the government and has no qualms about and are willing to intimidate, instill fear and threaten others against others who do not share their belief - all hallmarks of the government. Teachers not only ought to impart knowledge but also identify role models which their students can emulate. Who better than their ex-students as role models. They ought to be proud of the achievements of the schools’ ex- students. Sadly, the teachers of SMK Subang Jaya are blissful to live in their cloistered coconut shell and see it fit to demean and mortify their own (ex) student. Would the teachers of SMK Subang Jaya reacted in the same manner had Hannah Yeoh been the Assemblywoman from BN? Surely not !

Rightfully, the parents of SMK Subang Jaya should demand an explanation from the Principal and identify the dumbass behind the withdrawal of the invitation. In fact that person could be a real threat to other students for that person may have his/her own agenda to poison the young minds at SMK Subang Jaya with his/her own skewed thoughts and other propaganda.

Truly, we can do without these petty minded teachers who are nothing who only know how to only froth the rulling party’s agenda.

RACIAL STREOTYPING OR SIMPLY PLAIN MISCHIEF

Reading, Kosmo June, 19 I came across an article about KRU Films new movie Notti. According to the movie’s lead actress Fara Fauzana, she is to play the role of five characters. No doubt it may be daunting to play that many roles but it is not impossible or that it has never been done. Afterall, a Tamil box office currently playing in the cinemas has the lead actor taking on ten roles including one that of George Bush!

Anyway, it not her multiple roles that caught my attention but her revealation that among the roles she would be playing would be “Watak orang jahat pula melakukan kerja seperti membunuh dan menjual dadah. Itu adalah watak orang Cina”.

Now hear it clearly- the murderer and the drug trafficker character is to be a Chinese. We can safely assume that Notti being a Malay movie, it is targetted for the Malay audience. That being the case, what’s the big idea of specifically making the murderer and the drug trafficker in a Malay movie to be a Chinese. Are the movie producers sending the message that murderers and drug traffickers are exclusively or usually Chinese? I am not saying that there are no are no Chinese who are murderers or drug traffickers but equally there are murderers and drug traffickers also from the Malay community.

Crime is never associated and or ought to be associated with any one community. To do that is simply being racist. Notti being a Malay movie, could the directors not make the baddies also from the same community. Will there be a problem if it is done? But as it is now done, it is nothing more than racial stereotyping or at the very least mischief making. Since the lead actress is already playing four other roles, no harm will be done if she also plays the role of the murderer and drug trafficker without the neccessity for her to step into another community’s shoes.

BLESS THIS MAN

At a time when Malaysians are peeved off at the petrol hike, this story as appeared in the STAR June, 19 really brought a smile to my face. I read the news no less than three times and I visualised the whole scene.

Anyway, though what he did may be wrong but one has to be thankful for small mercies. At least all those lucky motorist ought to be. Afterall God acts in mysterious ways. If this man is ever caught and charged, I am most prepared to assist him pro bono. The very least to mitigate on his behalf for leniency.

Here is the article… read on

HOW MUCH INCOME DOES ONE NEED MONTHLY?

Just how much income does one need in order to have a reasonable and decent standard of living or to be able to support his family?

Here are two scenario’s. I found these interesting reads from the internet and newspapers.

Someone earning RM3,000-00 per month

(bench mark of an average Malaysian family per month). Family of four – father works, mother doesn’t and there are two children one school going and the other an infant.

The calculation :

· Electricity and water bills – RM100 (no air-conditioning, home theatre system or water

heater);

· Phone bill (Telekom Malaysia Bhd) – RM100;

· Meals – RM775 (based on three meals for the whole family at RM25 per day);

· Father’s refreshments, light lunch and the tarik during working hours – RM155 (that’s a

measly RM5 per day);

· Car instalment – RM400 (a modest Proton Saga Aeroback, seven-year repayment

period);

· Petrol – RM300 (driving in the city to go to work and take the son to school with very

minimal toll payment);

· Car and life insurance – RM650;

· House mortgage repayment – RM750 (low-cost or low medium-cost housing repayment

for 30 years, which can stretch on after retirement);

· Tuition ( a norm for every child) – RM80 (if there is one that cheap);

· Pocket money for the child to take to school – RM20 (that’s less than RM1 a day, is that

enough?);

· School fees for various activities, books and uniforms – RM130 (there is always something

to be paid);

· Milk powder for the younger child – RM50 (the least expensive ); and,

· Miscellaneous – RM100 (shampoo, soap, detergent, rice, sauce, toilet paper and other

household items).

The total for the above comes up to RM3,610 and that’s a clear deficit. And notice that the expenditure has not included some of the common things like satellite television subscription, mobile phone bills and Internet fees.

There are also no provisions for other kinds of family leisure. And the RM3,000 monthly wage has not taken into account the deductions for income tax and Employees’ Provident Fund.


Someone earning RM6,000 per month

Even if one is earning RM6,000 and having an ordinary lifestyle there is still a deficit each month.

The calculation :

Gross salary RM6,000.

· Net after EPF RM5,340;
· Net after Tax RM5,090;
· Less Housing Loan RM1,000;
· Less Car Loan RM600;
· Less Petrol RM350;
· Less Hand Phone RM150;
· Less Wife Allowance RM500;
· Less Parent Allowance RM500;
· Less Two Children Kindergarten RM350;
· Less House Electric RM120;
· Less House Water RM60;
· Less House Telephone RM80;
· Less House Food RM500;
· Less Own Lunch RM180;
· Less Car Instalment RM150;
· Less Medical RM100;
· Less Personal Insurance RM500;

Balance RM50

What is clear is that, it is becoming to rather difficult to have a decent living standard even if one is earning RM6,000. If that is so, just imagine those earning RM1,500 and below. Spare a thought for them. Who do you blame. The same people who promised “Aman, Selamat dan Makmur” – Barisan Nasional.

Incidentally here are some of the excesses of Barisan Nasional (ref : www.malaysiawaves.com).

This list below is hardly exhaustive as these are the ones uncovered so far – the tip of the ice-berg, if you will! What lies beneath could be much larger :-

1. The Bank Bumiputra twin scandals in the early 1980s saw US$1 billion (RM3.2 billion in 2008

ringgit) wasted;

2. The Maminco attempt to corner the world tin market in the 1980s is believed to have cost

some US$500 million (RM1.6 billion);

3. Betting in foreign exchange futures cost Bank Negara Malaysia RM30 billion in the 1990s;

4. Perwaja Steel resulted in losses of US$800 million (RM2.56 billion). Eric Chia was charged

with corruption for allegedly steering US$20 million (RM64 million) to a Hong Kong based

company);

5. Use of RM10 billion public funds in the Valuecap Sdn Bhd operation to shore up the stock

market.

6. Banking scandals of RM700 million losses in Bank Islam;

7. The sale of M.V. Agusta by Proton for one Euro making a loss of €75.99 million (RM348

million);

8. Wang Ehsan from oil royalty in Terengganu amounting to RM7.4 billion from 2004 – 2007;

9. For the past 10 years since the Philharmonic Orchestra was established, this orchestra has

swallowed a total of RM500 million;

10. In Advisors Fees, Mahathir was paid RM180,000; Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (Women and Social

Development Affairs) RM404,726; and Abdul Hamid Othman (Religious Affairs) RM549,675

per annum;

11. The government has spent a total of RM3.2 billion in teaching Maths and Science in English

over the past five years. Out of the amount, the government paid a whopping RM2.21

billion for the purchase of information and computer technology (ICT) equipment of which

the breakdown of costs is unknown;

12. The commission paid for the purchase of jets and submarines to two private companies,

Perimeker Sdn Bhd and IMT Defence Sdn Bhd amounted to RM910 million;

13. RM300 million to compensate Gerbang Perdana for the RM1.1 billion “Crooked Scenic Half-

Bridge”;

14. RM1.3 billion has been wasted building the white elephant Customs, Immigration and

Quarantine (CIQ) facilities on cancellation of the Malaysia – Singapore scenic bridge;

15. RM100 million spent on the Parliament building for renovations and to patch up leaks;

16. National Astronaut Programme – RM40 million;

17. National Service Training programme – yearly an estimate of RM500 million;

18. Eye on Malaysia – RM30 million and another RM5.7 million of free tickets;

19. RM4.63 billion ‘soft-loan’ to PKFZ;

20. RM2.4 million on indelible ink;

21. Samy announced in September 2006 that the government paid compensation amounting to

RM38.5 billion to 20 highway companies. A RM380 million windfall for 9 toll concessionaires

earned solely from the toll hikes in 2008 alone;

22. RM32 million timber export kickbacks involving companies connected to the Sarawak Chief

Minister and his family;

Bailouts –

23. Two bailouts of Malaysia Airline System at RM7.9 billion. At a time when MAS

incurred losses every year, RM1.55 million was used to but three paintings to decorate its

chairman’s (Munir) office;

24. Putra transport system bailout which cost RM4.486 billion;

25. STAR – LRT bailout costing RM3.256 billion;

26. National Sewerage System bailout costing RM192.54 million;

27. Seremban – Port Dickson Highway bailout costing RM142 million;

28. Kuching Prison bailout costing RM135 million;

29. Kajian Makanan dan Gunaan Orang Islam bailout costing RM8.3 million;

30. Le Tour de Langkawi bailout costing RM3.5 million;

31. Wholesale distribution of tens of millions of shares in bursa Saham Malaysia under the guise

of NEP to cronies, children and relatives of BN leaders and Ministers worth billions of

ringgits;

32. Time Asia magazine issue on March 15 2004, a South East Asian economist at Morgan

Stanley in Singapore, Daniel Lian, figures “that the country may have lost as much as

US$100 billion (RM320 billion) since the early 1980s to corruption. “Mind you, this is only

corruption and it does not include wastages and mismanagement which would increase the

amount!.

Food for thought?