Sunday, November 30, 2008
Table Talks
My conversation with my spouse was centered on something else. Somehow this friend of mine had something in common with our topic of discussion. And immediately I got jolted off my seat about a dinner invitation. He called me back after receiving my SMS by saying the very evening was that actual dinner date. Call it a coincidence but I think it is more of 'divine intervention'. God does watch over us and intervene!
So, the evening started like any other wedding dinner although my friend was an Indian and married a Chinese girl. Seated with my spouse and kiddo were some senior Indian and Chinese couples. Guess what, as soon as the "ice was broken", the whole table talks went into political reality of Malaysia today.
How policies of national interest were created, changed and manipulated to become lopsided, biased and unfair to the other races. How cases or wrongdoings involving politicians of a ruling party and powers that be are brushed off as non-relevant or swept aside or judged with hidden hand. Evidence or even SD is nothing. However, simple issues involving politicians from the "other side" are fast-tracked with investigations as good as being prejudged with guilt.
At times, everyone at the table got so worked up just by thinking of what could have been if Malaysia were governed properly and with good leadership. What have become of Malaysia nowadays compare to the 70's or early 80's?
Today, we cannot see eye to eye in many things, racial issues are cooked up for nothing, we cannot do this and that, either classified as sensitive or pure ignorant, ignoring the fact that Malaysians too want FREEDOM to choose and decide. Today, we have many lopsided policies being put into practice thus creating more dissatisfaction and hatred amongst Malaysians.
Who is to be blamed??? The very person who ruled with iron fist for 22 years did the damage somehow. Credited with bringing Malaysia up to what she is today, national policies could have been dealt with better if not best.
Breeding greed will ruin one's empire. The future certainly looks bleak if not corrected immediately. FAIRPLAY does not necessarily sidelining the other. Not even want a silver spoon.
Is that too much to ask for?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
No Brain
Do you know what it is in this picture? Yeah, it's a brain. Everybody has one.
But, a big BUT here, some people just forget to use it properly or rather not use it at all! When someone's brain is not utilized properly, you get into all sort of troubles with him or them.
To me, these people who do not utilize their brains, I call them ASSHOLES. They can talk like one or act like one. Worse still, some are "given" authority to become one. To these assholes, bear in mind, this is internet-age.
Those who call themselves top leaders of Malaysia from a ruling party say nothing, seem to condone such stupid acts. I think all these people ought to be sent back to school to learn the basics. But then again, nowadays our education standard is too low, can't help either!
Now, what am I talking about or referring to or mad about these people I call ASSHOLES??? Look at the roadsign that has alternative language to give foreign visitors easy reference when they come to our shores. The name in national language i.e. Bahasa Malaysia is still very much visible (bigger too).
What more, a certain parts of Penang (i.e. surrounding Georgetown) have been listed as heritage sites which will make roadsigns with alternative language(s) even more useful. The world may want to know more about Penang. If the original name can be retained, certainly it is more meaningful to the foreign visitors.
Back to what I am mad about....just by having extra language on the roadsigns, CAN THE STATUS OF OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE i.e. BAHASA MALAYSIA BE THREATENED??? That is exactly what the assholes think it will!
Can our children grow up without knowing Bahasa Malaysia? Can I benumbed and totally not able to speak a word of Bahasa Malaysia? The questions to those assholes continue....
It is completely stupid to think that the very status of a language can be eroded by a simple but noble way of adding another language to it. What sort of message are they telling the world - that Malaysians are "living on trees"?
Hey, even though I did not learn a word of Mandarin in school, somehow I still able to 'speak' Mandarin quite fluently now. I'm proud to be able to speak THREE languages but I'm still very Malaysian! Not even a part of me has changed.
To the assholes, if your children become one of the jobless graduates one day, don't blame this and that but your own doing, lousy system and outdated thinking. As the Malay saying goes - like the "frog under the coconut shell" people. By championing the wrong cause will lead to nothing. And don't deprive of others the opportunity.
English is still and will be the international language. More people in the world are also learning Mandarin now! The latter is touted to be the second language of the world in another decade or so.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A Basket-fool of ... A's
Year in year out, Malaysia students make headlines, getting attention from the media of how many A's they have scored in exams, three times a year, at least. Why three times a year because we have UPSR for the Primary Six, PMR for Sec 3 and SPM for Sec 5 ('O' Level). If A's are used purely to judge a student's ability or intelligence, I have no doubt it is not a true reflection at all given Malaysia low standard education system.
What is the passing marks for scoring A's? Are they vary for every different subject? E.g. English, Science, Math compare to the "extra" non-relevant subjects such as foreign language or religious studies. I say this because it has not been proven how it is done or worse still the way it is done has not been made transparent. Help me to understand if you know.
It makes me wonder....every year students are getting more A's than the last, ballooning up to 18, 19, 20 and it is counting in SPM!!! How is that possible? 21 As means 21 subjects! It is certainly a shocker to me and also sounds STUPID.
My father could read and write Mandarin, English and Bahasa Malaysia but only educated till LCE level - those days. Today, you got students with A's that can fill up a basket at SPM level ('O' Level) BUT cannot phrase a proper sentence in English. Don't ask these high scorers to speak English because your funny bone might be tickled pink! Know what I'm sayin'.
Thanks and no thanks to our education system, policies makers, dumb politicians, overzealous national language guardians, etc. Whatever you call these people - they really fit the tag 'dumb and dumber' anyway. I would bet they may not even let their children finish education here - most end up overseas!
Come on, what is the relevancy of such many A's??? Isn't it quality counts over quantity at the end of the day? What counts is your spot-on ability to impress your interviewers. E.g. if one can speak good English, use correct tenses or grammars, phrase a complete sentence that your listeners can understand, it says a lot even without the many A's. Some can't even do a simple math calculation but call himself a degree holder. Huh!
If we don't practise matriculation and continue to harp on QUOTA i.e. reserved places for the Malays, it is futile to score a basket-fool of A's for show. If we don't allow competition, let the best compete with the best, it is meaningless. If we keep on flip-flopping our education system, worse still back-tracking it, changing it at whim and fancy, what future does our children have? What kind of future leaders does our country want to produce, etc.?
A BASKET-FOOL of A's, you bet we have it every year! We are going to break more Malaysia Book of Records in quantity of A's scored in national level exams. Surely but bodoh-ly (stupid)!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
My Moment With CM
I say 'late' because a dinner function is like another important appointment, you just got to be punctual. 10 minutes late for a dinner function could be excusable. But always people will take their own sweet time coming to a dinner function. It's a matter of respecting the host or organizer la. So be punctual next time as though you are meeting someone important i.e. your darling or sweetheart!
OK, the dinner went on as usual, nothing much "unusual", looking around I spotted some people are taking such opportunity to walk around "to be seen" and or course many just want to "look-see look-see" for beautiful species. There were also some people like to chat their lungs out, even at a distance you could hear them talking about "yesterday night good times".
An hour later, came our honorable guest - Penang CM Lim Guan Eng. He got a standing ovation, alright. I was proud to see him too, just being at the same venue. Is he anything special? Hmmm, not really. The fact is HE IS LIKEABLE WITH A BOY-NEXT-DOOR- IMAGE THAT STRIKES MANY IN THE HEART. He looks so simple and humble as a person - portraying that kind of 'no air' (lan si) image.
Yeah he was busy indeed that week and what more just came back from overseas trip to Korea and came straight to this function upon touching down in Penang on that day. So, my moment was standing on stage with him, supposedly receiving a recognition momento from him but no, anyway shook his hand and took a couple group photos that were published in various mainstream Chinese media. Check out Penang CM, fourth from right. And me, I was "somewhere" on the right side.
Now, how a person endears himself to people by and large is really a 'natural' skill of sort, not taught in school. The way one speaks, reacts, portrays own image, etc. especially as a public figure is self-taught as far as I'm concern. During his speech he was as usual calm and gentlemanly, however, couldn't resist taking a swipe at the federal garmen's many decisions. Everybody had a good laugh....
Example, Penang state government is going ahead to implement a FREE WiFi service to Penang (of course a chunk of the cost is to be borne by sponsors) BUT our federal garmen of the day is going to spend "billions" to go wireless. Yeah right, millions are too small a sum nowadays! Think again!!!
Penang Gerakan, the sunset political party, made so much noise when Penang CM led a group of 50 to Korea on business trip - in fact they were barking at the wrong tree! But a worthless agricultural trip to Taiwan recently was not sounded. Classic example there.
Lastly, to all the politicians who are always talking about going to the grassroots, please learn a thing or two from CM Lim first. His guanxi (relationship) with Penang people is building up momentum - very good indeed.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Astronaut, Made In Bolehland
Here we call astronaut as angkasawan.
So we have one who went up there, did what he only knew what he did, came back a hero of sort, got a Datukship (a title, as usual given away like nobody business), go around trying to inspire school children (if not how his paymaster is going to justify the money spent), of course getting paid handsomely too (a figure that we only knew lately, plus hidden perks, maybe), etc.
His father gave a flip-flop statement the other day. Is he or is he not making millions from giving talks? So actually did he charge for every so-called inspiring talks or given FREE? Or free to the organizers but getting paid extra by his paymaster using taxpayers' fund? When something is hidden, it smells fishy. Simple.
A problem starts when Malaysians are deprived of the truth - where money is simply spent excessively. Everyone knows how it is done in Malaysia by the powers that be when it come to matters "concerning the public interest" i.e. do it quietly. Shhhhhhh! When the secret is broken to publicly, usually it takes two weeks for someone at the top to cook up a bullshit (reason) to quash the whole issue, like now.
This fellow has been going round giving talks in the country ever since he "landed" back on earth. And only today his wall cracks amid controversy. Perhaps it is not his entire doing. You bet. You know how good some people in that particular political party exploit cheap publicity either for the party or individuals with personal agenda.
What about hiring a driver and bodyguard??? Can he not drive himself? Is Malaysia so unsafe, needed to go around with bodyguard? Now there is someone indirectly admitted, huh, that Malaysia is unsafe! I thought only in Chow Kit and JB areas!!!
Is he kidding me that he pays the driver and bodyguard out of his RM5000.oo salary? Money is no issue to the garmen what!!! EPF got so much money inside, just sign a RM5,000,000,000.00 cheque also can. Am I getting my digits correct for billion?
In a Batman movie you can afford a Joker to run the show. In Malaysia, Malaysians do not need joker(s) to run the country.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Freedom
So RPK is finally a free man. And what's next?
What??? The garmen is going to appeal against his release? So, it's like if you can appeal, I also can appeal huh! In the first place there was no case whatsoever. What happened was a mess cooked up by the powers that be or rather that most idiotic YB in the country, ever produced. Damn.
And as though making statements that irk most Malaysians is not enough, he took to the street yesterday, a place supposed to be the-most-notorious, the-most-dirty with contagious diseases just to be photographed and to prove his earlier statement in parliament was misquoted.
So, the police beat base was closed because the owner took back the building. It took him so long to cook up another bullshit. What about the street since he took a walk with so much security in tow, did he find any contagious diseases??? Anymore bullshit? So, no reason given but again people misquoted him? Damn.
Next, RPK should take action against that YB for wrongfully signed his detention paper. Otherwise many more monkeys like him will simply do as what they like. It's the rule of law too that people sue them back ala YB Teresa.
RPK, I just wanted to congratulate you for your release. You have got back your freedom. Don't stop till they drop!
Friday, November 7, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama - Full Speech
Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama
(as prepared for delivery)
Election Night
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Chicago, Illinois
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Democracy
Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history Tuesday night by winning election as the first African-American president of the United States.
“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” Obama declared.
“Young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans have sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of red states and blue states,” he said. “We have been and always will be the United States of America.
“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America,” he said to a long roar.
There is a real lesson to be learned from this historical election in America, coupled with the victory for the first African-American to become president of USA. True to his victory speech, America has been a place, a country where every dream is possible, never a doubt. Americans have decided and chosen their first black president. Aren't there more whites than black in America? How is that possible??? The above picture speaks a thousand words. All the white hands going up, cheering and signifying acceptance of a black president.
Obviously racism has been done with or kept to a distance. Millions of Americans have put on their thinking cap, decided the very best candidate wins. Their belief that the best candidate will lead America shows many countries in the world are still lacking in this mentality. There are no worries of any one race may be sidelined because there is none to worry about. Everyone, as a citizen in America is an American, deserves what is rightfully his or hers. It is as simple as that.
Just read excerpts from BO's victory speech above. This man really got the world sit up and in awe of his becoming the first of many historic moments in America and most of all moving into White House (as the joke goes...meant for white people only!) come Jan 20, 2009.
Can Malaysians who are rightful citizens in a country known as Malaysia CHOOSE/VOTE their Prime Minister? If only citizens of Malaysia can decide, if only citizens of Malaysia are equal, if only citizens of Malaysia disregard race, if only....if only.... .
God Save Malaysia.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Valuecap Debt - 1001 Questions
Please use your "smartest" brain to digest this article as published in alternative media today.
Pick from Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — State investment company Valuecap Sdn Bhd owes its three shareholders RM5.1 billion, which is due to be repaid in February 2009.
This debt, in the form of interest-bearing unsecured bonds, raises questions over plans for the Employees Provident Fund to lend RM5 billion to Valuecap to invest in the stock market.
In March 2003, Valuecap borrowed RM5.1 billion from shareholders Khazanah, Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen and Permodalan Nasional Bhd to invest in the stock market. At the time, world stock markets were bracing for a looming war in Iraq which followed on the September 2001 attacks on the US.
Valuecap’s bonds were due to be repaid in February 2006, but the company was given another three years to this coming February. At the end of 2006, the three shareholders each held RM1.7 billion in these bonds, according to documents obtained by The Malaysian Insider.
Since these debt instruments were not listed and are not tradeable, the three shareholders are probably still holding these bonds today.
Recently, the government proposed that EPF lend Valuecap RM5 billion to invest in the stock market. In view of its impending obligation to repay its shareholders, however, questions arise over whether the loaned funds will be used to redeem the bonds.
As at the end of 2006, Valuecap’s investments were valued at RM4.8 billion. Since then, the stock market has lost 21 per cent of its value. If Valuecap’s investments have tracked the stock market, these could be worth RM3.8 billion currently.
Valuecap may have managed to unwind some of its positions when it launched a RM840 million Islamic investment fund earlier this year. Called myETF Dow Jones Islamic Market Malaysia Titans 25, the fund is managed by a wholly-owned subsidiary, iVCAP Management Sdn Bhd.
At the end of October, the fund's value was 41 per cent lower than at its launch in January this year.
Market observers have speculated that this was Valuecap’s version of Hong Kong’s Tracker Fund, which the Hong Kong government launched in 1999 to unwind US$15 billion (RM52.5 billion) worth of stock positions accumulated during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The fund concluded the disposals of almost the shares by the end of 2002.
Current market conditions make it difficult, if not impossible, for Valuecap to unwind its positions.
If it is unable to sell its stock market investments, it may repay its shareholders in kind, transferring its share portfolio to them instead of coughing up cash.
If it did so, the EPF loan would provide fresh cash to make new investments. If its shareholders require to be repaid in cash, however, Valuecap may need the cash infusion from EPF.
The company has been servicing the interest on the debt. It has also established a sinking fund to set aside funds to repay the debt. As at December 2006, the sinking fund stood at roughly RM780 million, and it held RM1.7 billion in cash and deposits.
We really got screwed "deep, deep" with our hard-earned savings!!!