DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND CRIMINALS.  IS MALAYSIA A MAGNET ?

The Malaysian public owes an immense gratitude to the Royal Malaysian Customs officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for their relentless apprehension of drugs traffickers trying to smuggle drugs into the country.

Tueday’s NST reported that about RM22.7 million worth of drugs were seized by the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Customs from January to June this year. According to Kuala Lumpur Customs Department Director Badaruddin Mohamad Rafik drugs weighing 138.98 kg and 897 pills were seized at KLIA and at the LCCT alone.

On the same day, the Star reported the news about a Nigerian drug–mule who was arrested at the LCCT with 400gm of syabu in capsules which she had swallowed. The drugs had a street value of RM98,000. Also reported was about the arrest of a Romanian man who tried to smuggle 3.29kg of syabu worth at least RM824,000 and an Indian man who was caught with 2.89kg of ketamine with a street value of RM114,000.

Now, what is the response from our Home Affairs Minister aka Menteri Amaran Dalam  Negeri?

 

Well, there you have it.

Seriously, it is as though the floodgates have been breached  and word has gotten out that Malaysia allows the easiest and unimpeded entry to criminals, suspicious tourists and dubious international post. They are all coming to Malaysia – the South Americans, the Nigerians and other Africans, Iranians, they are all making a beeline to Malaysia.

Despite having studied and graduated from Australia and having close family ties with Australia, on my recent trip to Australia, the immigration officers still spend a little time asking me about the purpose of visit, proof of my occupation and why I made a short trip to New Zealand before coming to Australia. In fact the embarkation card has a question “Do you have any criminal offence”? Now, after more than a century of Australian nationhood, I didn’t realize it is still a pre-requisite !.

The Malaysian public deserves better from the government and perhaps the Prime Minister should seriously look into the influx of suspicious tourists and dubious international students coming in droves to Malaysia. To continue to assign this task to Hishammuddin is a lost cause.

Another question is don’t the immigration officers vet at the entry point the arriving international visitor to confirm that he has a legitimate purpose wanting to come to Malaysia. Don’t the immigration officers ask his travel itenary, whether he has sufficient fund and if he is coming to apply to study whether he has the sufficient means. Or is it a case of “ all can come, no questions asked” policy.  Maybe, the immigration department and its officers ought to watch the program “Border Security” on Astro as to how the Australian immigration and custom officers deal with arriving passengers.

The government should also regularly review the entry free visa for countries whose citizens are becoming a menace and a security threat to the country. Make them apply for visa before they are allowed entry and vet thoroughly their application. Remember, how United Kingdom after seeing the high level of Malaysian overstayers wanted to impose visa before entry rule for Malaysians. A 45 year old Nigerian who expresses his desire to study English or for the matter Business Studies surely must trigger suspicion.

Malaysia having lost the fight against Indonesians overstayers and illegals cannot now become a haven for Africans, Iranians and South Americans whose sole purpose to enter Malaysia is for criminal purpose. 

KENYATAAN AKHBAR - 

PENGUMUMAN DAP JOHOR AKAN BERTANDING DI KERUSI PARLIMEN GELANG PATAH DAN KERUSI DUN JOHOR JAYA

DARIPADA :

NORMAN FERNANDEZ

Timbalan Pengerusi DAP Negeri Johor

KEPADA      :          

Ketua-Ketua Pengarang Akhbar dan Media Massa

PER :   PENGUMUMAN DAP JOHOR AKAN BERTANDING DI KERUSI PARLIMEN GELANG PATAH DAN KERUSI DUN JOHOR JAYA

1    DAP JOHOR hari ini membuat pengumuman resmi bahawa DAP JOHOR akan bertanding untuk kerusi Parlimen Gelang Patah dan kerusi DUN Johor Jaya.

Pengumuman resmi ini adalah untuk menjernihkan kenyataan dan pengumuman terbuka pimpinan PKR Negeri dan khususnya Pengerusi PKR Negeri Johor Dato Chua Jui Meng bahawa kedua-dua kerusi tersebut adalah milik PKR. Usul parti DAP bertanding ini telahpun dipersetujui dan di putuskan dalam mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Perhubungan DAP Negeri Johor.

2        DAP JOHOR telah sebelum ini telah menggunakan segala cara termasuk runding-cara  memberi alasan-alasan kukuh kepada PKR mengapa kedua-dua kerusi ini layak dan patut ditandingi parti DAP, namun PKR enggan menerima atau menimbang alasan-alasan yang dikemukakan DAP dan  malahan enggan berganjak dari memberi laluan kepada parti DAP.

3        DAP  pernah bertanding dikedua-dua kerusi ini dan sebelum ini demi kemuafakatan pembangkang, pada tahun 2004 di atas permintaan Pengerusi PKR Negeri Johor pada masa itu Razak Ahmad, dan selepas satu persefahaman telah dicapai, DAP Johor telah memberikan laluan untuk PKR  bertanding di kerusi Parlimen  Gelang Patah pada PRU 2004 dengan syarat yang dipersetujui bahawa kerusi Parlimen Gelang Patah akan dikembalikan dan ditandingi parti DAP pada PRU 2008.

4         DAP Juga pernah bertanding di kerusi tradisi DUN Johor Jaya dan pada tahun 2004, PKR walaupun menyedari bahawa kerusi Johor Jaya kan ditandingi parti DAP, mengingkari kemuafakatan pembangkang dengan sengaja meletakkan calun PKR dikerusi DUN Johor Jaya pada tahun 2004 yang berakhir dengan calun PKR hilang deposit.

            Jelas, PKR tiada berpegang kepada janji atau pada kemuafakatan.

 5      DAP pada tahun 2008 hanya bertanding di 6 kerusi Parlimen dan 12 kerusi DUN. Sebaliknya, PKR sebuah parti baru bertanding di 11 Parlimen dan 10 kerusi DUN.

 

6      Adalah niat murni, parti DAP Johor untuk menggelak terjadinya pertandingan tiga penjuru, dimana-mana kerusi Parlimen  dan kerusi DUN di negeri Johor, namun tindakan dan kenyataan-kenyataan pimpinan PKR Johor masa kini, telah membuat DAP atas permintaan rakyat dan ahli-ahli DAP, tiada cara tetapi untuk akur kepada permintaan rakyat dan ahli-ahli DAP untuk bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Gelang Patah dan kerusi DUN Johor Jaya.

Norman Fernandez

Timbalan Pengerusi

DAP Negeri Johor

11hb Jun 2012

A HYPOCRITE CALLED TUNKU AZIZ

What a hypocrite Tunku Aziz has turned out to be. When it dawned on him that he neither had the guts nor the gumption to face Lim Guan Eng or for the matter the DAP CEC and further knowing that his Senatorship was not going to be renewed, he could have quietly and dignifiedly walked away from DAP. Instead, this ingrate not only left DAP in a haste but like many unprincipled politician he suddenly turns and makes an impassioned plea for all to support Najib Tun Razak.

This from the same man who had ridiculed Najib Tun Razak in his article “Najib Does Not Disapoint.” Here is the article :

 

Najib does not disappoint

Sunday, 11 October 2009 08:21am

© The Malaysian Insider (Used by permission) By Tunku Aziz OCT 10 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak does not disappoint. He is true to his values whatever they might be. He upholds his principles with messianic zeal. His principles are of indeterminate provenance, but Najib is not known to worry himself to distraction over such small matters. He has made many of us happy. It has nothing to do with his 1 Malaysia vision that he seems incapable of articulating to save his life, let alone convincing Malaysians who have decided that half a century of untruths and specious, convoluted political and social arguments should be more than enough for even the most sanguine of them. Najib has made us happy not because in a fit of mental aberration or misplaced exuberance he has added to his fantasy world the even a more preposterous 1 World vision that flashed across his mind. I bet it was a very brief moment in time. Najib has made us deliriously happy because he has just done something blatantly cynical to confirm what we have known all along about his attitude to corruption. Najib does not disappoint. His choice of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad as the BN candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election has left absolutely no doubt in our minds about Najib’s real attitude to corruption. He, ever the pragmatic, suave man about town leader of a country already systematically mired in corruption, sees it as nothing more that a necessary evil. If you cannot fight it, join it. His matter of fact response that “Even those convicted by the courts get another chance” must surely single him out, like a sore thumb even among the corrupt leaders of 1 Malaysia, as someone totally devoid of ethical values. It also points to a complete lack of the political will to curb corrupt practices in our country. The gap between his rhetoric and constructive action against corruption is growing ever wider under Najib. Just in case he forgets, the Kuala Lumpur-based diplomatic corps and the wider international community are watching this development with some concern. Najib does not disappoint. Bagan Pinang is a little backwater of a community on the Negri Sembilan coast. However, the choice of a candidate that even Umno, the party that sits well with corruption and takes it in its stride, was constrained to discipline marks a low point indeed. The much detested and reviled corruption-tainted and Isa has now been declared perfectly “kosher” to represent the country’s ruling coalition. Politics is indeed the art of the possible. Can we trust a government that is prepared to trade integrity? And for a rural state assembly seat which, the winning or losing of which, is not going to have a material effect on the political fate of BN in overall terms? I, unlike Najib, do not subscribe to the second chance dispensation because political corruption will ravage national values and systems. Are we blind to the fact that it was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s special brand of corrupt political stewardship, now still in place unfortunately, that has stifled our potential for dynamic growth, and kept us, in spite of the resources at our disposal, at the wrong end of the global competitiveness league table? Political corruption if not dealt with decisively will destroy our nation because the national decision-making processes will be distorted and manipulated. “State capture” by corrupt elements will be the end result. We cannot allow the country’s future to be hijacked by unprincipled politicians, by default. Fighting corruption is our individual and collective responsibility as citizens. It cannot be left to the tender mercies of the corrupt in the corridors of power. Now that Najib has dropped all pretence of queasiness about bedding down with corruption, he could do us all a big favour and save taxpayers a lot of money by closing down the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Institute of Integrity and all the other related agencies because he has made his position on corruption so clear. They are of no use to man or beast. And while we are about it, Najib may want to propose a general amnesty for all who have been convicted of corruption as well as those who have committed corrupt acts, but lucky enough not to be caught. This is totally consistent with his belief that the corrupt deserve a second chance, an official passport to Najib’s 1 Malaysia where anything goes and the devil looks after his own. Najib does not disappoint. Malaysians are now being treated to a display of arrogance unprecedented in the history of BN administration, and the choice of Isa, in all the circumstances, flies in the face of what little is left that is decent and honourable in our national life, worth preserving. Even by Umno’s and, by extension, Najib’s own standards, this is a very low point, and that is putting it charitably. Najib does not disappoint. Little Bagan Pinang will without a doubt deliver the seat that Najib so devoutly yearns to have. He needs it to prop his shaky leadership. Bagan Pinang will in the end be remembered in history as the place where Umno lost its moral bearing, credibility and legitimacy to lead the Malays. Umno’s ugly nakedness in surrendering ethical values and principles to political expediency is here for all to see: it will be its undoing. Najib does not disappoint. He never does!

Thank God, Lim Guan Eng saw the real Tunku Aziz. Well done, Sir,.

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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  RM19 return - Super Budget Airline
 

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.