Janganla buat lawak bang...

Kuala Terengganu airport to get international status

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Sultan Mahmud Airport here will be awarded international status allowing Jumbo Jets to land and depart, to balance the ambitious Eastern Corridor Economic Corridor (ECER) project for the state.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the airport would be the first with such a status in the east coast region. “The airport will complement ECER as Terengganu is earmarked as a tourism gateway and educational hub under the blueprint,” he said after chairing the weekly state Exco meeting here, Wednesday.

Idris said the airport's new complex is expected to be operational soon while currently the airport’s runway extension project, covering a length of 2,800m, is underway and the state government submitted another proposal to extend the runway an additional 600m.

He said apart from the airport, Kuala Terengganu will be turned into a hub to ferry tourists to resort islands.

Currently tourists have to board ferries at Merchang, Kuala Besut and Marang jetties to get to these islands and only the only boat to Redang is from the Kuala Terengganu Dataran Shahbandar jetty.

Idris said more jetties would be constructed if the need arose and the waterway will be deepened to allow passenger boats to berth close to the current jetty.

_______________________________________

Janganlah buat lawak. I understand that there's gonna be big changes at the K.T airport. Tapi kot ye pon please la don't say about giving international airport status.

Mr Idris Jusoh, do you think that the K.T airport a.k.a Sultan Mahmud Airport is freakin ready to be named an international airport? Remember la Pak Deris, with great power comes great responsibility.

I am not questioning on how you manage your responsibility currently, but giving Sultan Mahmud airport such big status is just totally insane. Especially, with the recent problem faced at the airport which eventually resulted in Sultan Mizan, our beloved Yang DiPertua Agong missed his flight. And why did that happened?

All because of a silly lights failure problem. If the flights (together with six other commercial flights which were also affected due to a such embarrassing problem) were to be delayed due to storm or bad weather, that could be fine since that is for sure an external factor, but not on this issue. This isn't just a simple HFE (Human-Factor Error), but more on a lack of discipline la brother.

With this attitude, do you expect Sultan Mahmud airport to be given the rank, regardless of the size and technology available there ?

Another Ali Baba Fairytale

No wonder the Malaysian mainstream can't be trusted now, there's always stories of Ali Baba inside them. Read this article from NST, and compare it with the one from Reuters below it.

Arab group plans to pump in RM5b

September 15
2007

A GROUP of companies from the Middle East, led by a Qatari insurance firm, plans to invest at least RM5 billion in the fields of oil and gas, Islamic banking and property development.

The consortium will be led by national insurance company, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company, Gulf Petroleum Ltd Qatar and other prominent investment and banking groups from the Gulf countries especially from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement released via legal firm Azmi Abdullah & Co, Qatar General Insurance chairman Sheikh Nasser Ali Saud Al-Thani said the group has started official talks with the relevant parties in Malaysia as well as in neighbouring countries for oil and gas projects.

"We have also started negotiations in the acquisition of equity stakes in financial institutions, acquisition of landed properties and office towers. Several official agreements are expected to be executed (on Monday, September 17) in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Nasser, who is also chairman and president of Gulf Petroleum (M) Sdn Bhd, will also hold a press conference on its planned investments in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

"The consortium is planning to make Malaysia their regional hub for Asia-Pacific operations.Investments to be made by the consortium in Malaysia for the three sectors are estimated to be not less than RM5 billion," Sheikh Nasser said.

Nasser is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya on Monday morning.

Qatar General Insurance, which is listed on Qatar Stock Exchange, has interests in the financial industry, energy and properties within the Gulf countries and the Middle East and North Africa region. It is also a major shareholder in Gulf Petroleum.

Gulf Petroleum is an integrated oil and gas group with networks in West Asia and North Africa and Europe. Its shareholders include the Qatar royal family, Qatar General Insurance , Al-Mana Group, National Petroleum Services and banking group Al-Sari.

Qatar is the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas with a forecast production of 77 million tonnes a year by 2010.

Gulf Petroleum shareholders, particularly Qatar General Insurance, are also actively involved in developing and buying office towers including the US$200 million (RM696 million) World Trade Centre of Doha.

(NST Business Times)

Qatar insurer denies Malaysia report
by Reuters
on Tuesday, 18 September 2007

Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance has denied a newspaper report it is heading a group that will invest at least $1.4 billion in Islamic finance, property and energy projects in Malaysia.

Malaysia's New Straits Times reported last week that Qatar General Insurance, Gulf Petroleum Ltd Qatar and investment and banking firms from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates would invest in the Southeast Asian state.

The newspaper quoted law firm Azmi Abdullah & Co, without saying whom Azmi Abdullah represented.

"Sheikh Nasser was in Malaysia on a visit to explore investment opportunities, but no actual agreements or plans have been made yet," Qatar General Insurance Financial Comptroller Ahmad Ibrahim told Reuters from the Qatari capital, Doha.

(ArabianBusiness.com)

Now this is really funny. No wonder the Port Klang Free Zone a.k.a PFKZ got problem. All because of this Ali Baba deals.

Oh really...

Islam tidak galak kekacauan

Oleh WAN ZULKIFLI WAN YAACOB dan AZRAN FITRI

PASIR MAS 16 Sept. – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, Islam tidak pernah menyuruh umatnya melakukan rusuhan dengan merosakkan harta benda awam sehingga menimbulkan kekacauan dalam negara.

Perdana Menteri berkata, sebenarnya rakyat di negara ini mencintai keamanan dan menolak sama sekali sebarang tindakan ganas dan liar semata-mata untuk memuaskan hati golongan tertentu.

“Negara kita merupakan sebuah negara aman dan tindakan merusuh di tempat awam adalah satu tindakan yang tidak bersesuaian dengan keadaan negara ini.

“Kita tidak suka jika ada (pihak) yang bertindak liar dan berbuat rusuhan sehingga menimbulkan kekacauan serta kesusahan, kita tidak mahu itu.

“Allah juga tidak sukakan mereka yang melakukan rusuhan dan kerosakan di muka bumi ini,” katanya.

Who did it, and for whom? As what I can see, the oppositions are being put at blame for all these, while the event is actually organized by an NGO named BERSIH. IMHO, the one who are benefiting from this event is the BN, because from this pinpoint, they actually make it spread throughout the nation, putting fear inside the heart of Malaysians and telling the Malaysians "This is what you get for voting them, so please don't vote them, aite?"

Allah memang tidak sukakan mereka yang melakukan kerosakan di muka bumi. And then, what about the overcrowding pig farm issue in Malacca? And you guys just let them (the farm owners) riot without counter-attacking them, unlike what happened at Batu Buruk.

Perdana Menteri berkata demikian semasa berucap pada Majlis Penyampaian Sumbangan Kepada Ibu Tunggal dan Golongan Daif Parlimen Pasir Mas dan Parlimen Rantau Panjang di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kangkong di sini hari ini.

Pada 8 September lalu, kira-kira 750 penyokong parti pembangkang merusuh di Batu Buruk, Terengganu kerana tidak berpuas hati selepas anggota polis menyuraikan perhimpunan haram di kawasan tersebut.

Kejadian pada kira-kira pukul 9 malam itu menjadi tidak terkawal selepas penyokong terbabit bertindak agresif menyebabkan empat anggota polis dan tiga penyokong parti pembangkang mengalami kecederaan dan dirawat di hospital berhampiran.

Abdullah berkata, rakyat di negara ini sewajarnya bersyukur dengan keamanan yang dikecapi berbanding dengan negara-negara lain yang masih bergelut untuk membangun daripada semua aspek.

“Inilah masa bagi kita untuk meningkatkan amal ibadat dan mensyukuri nikmat keamanan yang dikecapi sehingga sekarang.

“Sekiranya di negara lain, rakyat terus menderita sedangkan kita aman tiada kesusahan, malah terdapat umat Islam di negara luar tidak dapat melaksanakan ibadah dengan sempurna.

“Di negara ini umat Islam boleh menunaikan ibadah puasa dan segala tuntutan agama dengan selesa tanpa sebarang perasaan takut serta sangsi,” katanya.

Oh really ? Orang pi imamkan jemaah solat kat masjid pon boleh kene tangkap? Orang pi edar risalah tidak berunsurkan politik kat Jom Heboh pon boleh kene tangkap? Explain please, oh leader of a rotten state.

Nice pictures ?

Now tell me. What is the different between the first picture from the others ?

The flag is different? Ok, that's true. But I'm not talking about that. See the environment. In the other three pictures, everyone is looking and focusing on the burning flag. Yet, in the first picture, no one seems to really care about what the mat rempit is even doing? Weird, isn't it? And not just that, the mat rempit is even wearing his helmet! Tak panas ke pakai helmet tu bang?

Just Another Dream ?

Dream on, Najib tells Opposition

SHAH ALAM: Opposition parties are deluding themselves if they think they can wrest more seats in the next general election, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib said the rakyat had seen Barisan Nasional’s good track record and were confident with their representatives.

“PAS can go on announcing they can win more seats but it is in fact not within their reach. With the election fever, all sorts of statements will be issued, but for the opposition, it is self-delusion,” he added.

“Our representatives are with the people. Grassroots support is there and Barisan Nasional has brought development and even ensured basic amenities are met in all areas,” he said.

On Thursday, a Malay daily said PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa told reporters in Kota Baru that PAS was aiming to sweep at least 40 parliamentary seats in the next general election to strengthen the party’s position in the Dewan Rakyat.

Najib said opposition parties must realise that Barisan had been bringing progress to the nation and people since independence.

Earlier, Najib launched the Federal Land Development Authority and Football Association of Malaysia National Futsal Championship at Stadium Malawati here.

On the promotion of futsal among Felda youngsters, he said the Government had built 14 world-class futsal courts costing RM33mil within plantation clusters.

One court costs around RM2mil.

“We want the locals to benefit and at the same time nurture new talents in futsal. It is a good game as it involves ball control, teamwork and concentration,” he added.

[Article from TheStar]

_____________________________

PAS menang jejak pendapat TV3, Umno panik?
Posted on Saturday, August 11 @ 17:12:20 MYT by greenboc
Oleh klpos

JARANG-jarang benar kita tengok jejak pendapat yang disiarkan oleh Buletin Utama TV3 berlawanan dengan hasrat bos-bosnya. Tapi entah apa malangnya, keputusan jejak pendapat yang disiarkan oleh stesen TV percuma paling ramai penonton itu 10 Ogos lalu amat berlainan.

Dari awal lagi, pembaca berita TV3 dok sebut pepatah Melayu 'angan-angan mat jenin', yang maksud lebih kurangnya adalah impian yang mustahil dicapai atau syok sendiri.

Ungkapan itu berdasarkan kata-kata Naib Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Soalannya jejak pendapat TV3 amat mudah, 'Harapan PAS Tawan 40 kerusi Parlimen hanya angan-angan Mat Jenin?' setuju atau tidak. Kalau setuju jawab A, kalau tidak jawab B.

Selain temubual dengan Muhyiddin ada juga pendapat Ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, nampak sangat dari segi pemberitaannya, cubaan untuk spin supaya ramai yang hantar A iaitu setuju.

Bagaimanapun di akhir laporan Buletin Utama, keputusan mendapati 60 peratus tidak setuju bahawa ia angan-angan Mat Jenin seperti yang dikatakan oleh Muhyiddin.

Dalam kata lain hanya 40 peratus sahaja yang setuju dengan pandangan bahawa sasaran itu adalah angan-angan Mat Jenin.

Kalau game, kira malam tadi PAS dah menang satu kosong.

Panik juga pemimpin Umno khabarnya, mau tak panik, Buletin Utama merupakan rancangan paling ramai penonton dalam semua siaran TV di Malaysia.

2.5 juta penonton Buletin Utama

Setiap malam, purata penonton yang tengok TV3 antara 2.2 juta hingga 2.5 juta. Bukan klpos.com kata, syarikat yang buat rating TV yang bagi angka itu.

Sampaikan Menteri Penerangan Datuk Zainudin Maidin yang kena jaga RTM, kata dia tidak percaya pada rating tersebut.

Begitupun keputusan itu tidak disiarkan secara penuh dan diumumkan oleh pembaca berita berbanding bancian sebelum ini yang mana pembaca berita akan membacakan keputusan dan memaparkan grafnya sekali.

Adakan keputusan itu sebenarnya memalukan mereka setelah terdahulu sebelum itu mereka dilihat bersungguh-sungguh membacakan tajuk 'Harapan PAS Tawan 40 kerusi Parlimen hanya angan-angan Mat Jenin?.

Keputusan itu hanya diumumkan dengan berita ringkas yang menghiasi ruang berita kecil di bawah garisan kamera yang memfokuskan kepada pentas tempat pemberita TV3 membaca berita.

Cerita ini bermula apabila, Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Husam Musa berkata partinya mempunyai hajat besar dalam pilihanraya umum kali ini.

"PAS mensasarkan 40 kerusi parlimen untuk dimenangi dalam pilihanraya akan datang," kata Husam.

PAS kini mempunyai tujuh kerusi parlimen yang dimenangi oleh parti itu semasa pilihanraya umum Mac 2004 lalu, dan jika ditambah dengan 33 kerusi lagi maknanya jumlah itu melebihi 13 kerusi iaitu 27 yang dimenanginya semasa pilihanraya umum tahun 1999 ketika Barisan Nasional.

Enam kerusi parlimen parti itu kini ialah di Kelantan iaitu Tumpat, Pengkalan Chepa, Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, Kubang Kerian dan Pasir Putih. Satu lagi ialah di Pendang, Kedah.

Semasa pilihanraya umum 1999 PAS yang bertanding di 62 kerusi parlimen menang 10 kerusi di Kelantan, 8 Kedah, 7 Terengganu dan 2 Perak.

Sasar Kelantan, Perak, Kedah Perlis

Bagi kerusi dewan undangan negeri pula dari 236 kawasan yang ditandingi ia menang 98 iaitu 41 di Kelantan, 28 Terengganu, 12 Kedah, 6 Pahang, 4 Selangor, 3 Perlis, 3 Perak dan 1 Pulau Pinang.

Husam Musa memberitahu para wartawan selepas satu acara di Kota Bharu Khamis PAS kini memfokuskan untuk memenangi sekurang-kurangnya 40 kerusi parlimen di seluruh negara pada pilihan raya umum akan datang bagi menguatkan parti itu di Dewan Rakyat.

Beliau tidak menghuraikan cara bagaimana parti nak menawan kerusi sebanyak itu.

Katanya parti itu yakin ia mampu buat kejutan berdasarkan kekuatan parti terutamanya di Kelantan, Perak, Kedah dan Perlis.

Husam juga tidak menyebut sama ada kesepakatan telah dicapai dalam soal pembahagian kerusi antara Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan DAP dengan parti itu.

Menurutnya banyak sumbangan dapat diberikan parti itu seandainya mereka mampu memenangi 40 kerusi parlimen. klpos, harakahdaily, agendadaily

[Article from Tranungkite]

Now. who's dreaming ? The wanna-be next future leaders of Malaysia, or the half-past six leaders of Malaysia?

Jackpot!

First of all I would like to apologize if there are any readers who taught that I have stopped blogging, but for sure I am not. I am just waiting in a slumber for a jackpot. And here it is :

Anwar a traitor to Malay cause, says Khairy

KUALA KANGSAR: Umno Youth has labelled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who was once head of the movement – a traitor to the Malay cause.

In making the declaration, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin said: “The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays.”

Band of brothers: Khairy showing a wristband which will be worn by BN Youth members on Aug 26 to launch its election machinery.

“Anwar is a puppet of the United States and the Jews, thus he must be hounded until there is no more place for him to run to,” he told a state Umno Youth gathering on Wednesday night.

Among the 5,000 people present were the wing’s former chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Information Minister, and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

Khairy said the movement was angered by Anwar’s persistence in wanting to do away with the New Economic Policy, a cause close to the hearts of the Malays.

“He wanted to abolish it simply because he wanted to win the support of the non-Malays,” he said.

In Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Khairy said there should be no more statements from any Barisan Nasional component party leaders concerning demands for extra seats for the parties.

He said the coalition’s success was based on the power-sharing consensus formula, which will be maintained.

“Umno Youth will not accept threats from the component parties that they will leave the Barisan if they fail to get additional seats,” he said, in an apparent reference to the People’s Progressive Party’s request for more seats in the coming general election,

“That’s unfair and it’s not the Barisan style. We always share and discuss, and we make compromises.

“We hope there will not be any such talk from the component parties,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting on preparations for a Merdeka Day youth gathering.

From : The Star Malaysia.

Eh. Are you sure he is the traitor? Have you been to your own building ?

Hey, what's that flag in the middle? It starts with I and ends with L. It is Israel. Come on Khairy. "Gajah yang jauh di seberang nampak, nyamuk di depan mata tak nampak". Enough with your lies, your 4th floor agendas. It is not gonna work. Is it Anwar, or you guys who are the traitors? Please explain.

New Economic Policy. It look good. Beneficial especially for the bumiputras after a long way of 'divide and rule' method used by the British during the early 1900s. Yet, who actually benefits from NEP ? Is NEP a fair policy? I don't think so. It is already too old. Leakage here and there, not to mention the aggressive crony capitalism. Plus, the rampant nepotims by the People with Power, which is the very basic reason revamps must be made. Abolish NEP, or change it in some way that a win-win situation can be achieved. No more Ali-Baba partnership and contract biddings. Malaysia now isn't Malaysia 30 years ago.

CTOS

Credit Tip-Off Service surely made the headlines in the mainstream medias quite a lot, if not 'membolot' all the medias. Somehow last week, Datuk M Kayveas, in all of a sudden, unleash an attack on CTOS, saying that the company is 'blackmailing' people and selling the personal infos to creditors.

Well, how true might it be? RM25 per person? Wow, so cheap. They really must have to be taken down, by hook or by crook. CTOS is a danger to all!

And it was a damn kaput throughout Malaysia. For the past few days, it was CTOS here and CTOS there. Even our own Prime Minister is having his own mind on CTOS. Change it.

Not to forget, some people claiming that they were threatened, not given loans, and some even went to 'Ah-Longs' to get rid of these CTOS problems. Pity them. Really.

But wait, what is all this rush about? Why so sudden? Yes, there are some peoples showing themselves as 'rakyat yang tertindas akibat masalah berkaitan CTOS', but why now? Or specifically, what happened to Datuk M Kayveas that he suddenly made a tank-rush attack on CTOS?

Dia kena sekali ka? Huhu. And the best part is, this all happened when Malaysians were witnessing one of the weirdest case in history (apart from Anwar's case, that was also historical), a murder which could even involve the DPM Tan Sri Najib Tun Razak. Maybe this is just another project to wind off people from talking about the Altantuya murder ? Who knows? Besides, CTOS bravely answered all the unanswered questions in TV3 somewhere yesterday ( July 3 2007). No company would dare to take such action, unless under these probabilities :

1- There are fully innocent. This is just another act to divert Malaysians from the Altantuya murder case.

2- They (CTOS Sdn Bhd) have back-up plan, even if their lies and bad things were unraveled piece by piece.

Well, we just have to wait for the next news,perhaps.

Me : I rather talk about ATOS. At least it is drivable :lol:

By CHELSEA L.Y. NG and CECIL FUNG

SHAH ALAM: Abdul Razak Baginda and C/Insp Azilah Hadri planned the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu before the police officer carried it out with his subordinate Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, the High Court here was told.

The prosecution, in kick-starting the much-awaited murder trial yesterday, said it would prove this as well as all events leading to it through direct evidence and circumstantial evidence.

In his opening statement, DPP Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah said the prosecution would produce evidence to show that Abdul Razak, 47, had known the deceased since 2004, and frequently met her and gave her money during the course of their relationship.

'Mrs Razak Baginda' Mazlinda Makhzan accompanying her husband political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda into the Shah Alam High Court for the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial Monday. She and her family members wore white T-shirts which spelled out their relationship with Abdul Razak in a major show of support for him. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

Despite ending their relationship in August 2005, the political analyst continued to give money to the Mongolian translator whenever she asked for it until early 2006 when he started declining her demands.

As a result, the Mongolian beauty hired a private investigator to track down Abdul Razak and came to Malaysia several times to demand money from him.

On arriving in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 8 last year, the 28-year-old Altantuya tried in vain to meet Abdul Razak who refused to see her.

In desperation, she left several notes for Abdul Razak, including a threat that his daughter would be in danger if he did not give her money.

The political analyst then hired a private investigator to trail Altantuya and also watch his house to prevent her from harassing him but despite all his efforts, the harassment and threats continued.

Tun Abdul Majid said that upon confiding in a senior police officer friend about his problems, Abdul Razak was advised to lodge a police report in view of the serious threats.

However, the political analyst did not do so and in turn, asked his friend to keep whatever he told him a secret. Abdul Razak then met C/Insp Azilah at his office at the Bangunan Lembaga Getah Asli on the morning of Oct 18 after his friend gave him his number.

Tun Abdul Majid said the evidence would show that C/Insp Azilah, 31, and Abdul Razak planned Altantuya’s murder together and a few hours after their meeting, the officer, together with Kpl Sirul Azhar, 36, went to Hotel Malaya where Altantuya had been staying.

He said a note seized from C/Insp Azilah’s office, which had the deceased’s name written on it in addition to her address and phone number as well as the name of Abdul Razak’s private investigator, would be tendered as part of the evidence.

In addition, the prosecution would also produce evidence to show that Altantuya had gone to Abdul Razak’s house on the evening of Oct 19 last year and the political analyst, on learning that she was there, asked the private investigator to “entertain her until his men arrived.”

Subsequently, Abdul Razak contacted C/Insp Azilah, who later came to his house in a car with Kpl Sirul Azhar to take Altantuya away.

The two policemen were the last people seen with the deceased.

According to the opening statement, Altantuya might not have been shot dead before she was blown up with explosives, as widely believed.

Tun Abdul Majid said evidence would be adduced to show that the deceased’s cause of death was “probable blast-related injuries”, which means she may have died the cruel death of being blown up alive.

Altantuya, in a police report lodged some eight hours before her disappearance, had stated that if anything were to happen to her, the police should look for someone named “Razak Baginda.”

Apart from that, the prosecution would also rely on a confession made by Kpl Sirul Azhar to his superior, and also on some items belonging to the deceased found in his house for this case.

In addition, a pair of bloodstained slippers was also found in the corporal’s car, and a DNA test concluded that it was the deceased’s blood.

Tun Abdul Majid said that it was C/Insp Azilah who led police to the crime scene.

The two policemen are charged with jointly murdering Altantuya between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006 at Lots 12843 and 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam.

Abdul Razak, who is accused of abetting them, had his charge amended yesterday to having committed the offence between 9.54am on Oct 18 and 9.45pm on Oct 19 in 2006 in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

In the original charge, he was accused of committing the offence between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 at Level 10, Bangunan Getah Asli, 148, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

________________________

Me : Now that is surely nice. Apart of actually being there for the case, these people are uncovering the unopened truth, one at a time. The only thing is that we for sure do not know whether it is the truth, or just merely another true lies, like the one happened to Anwar Ibrahim.

Hey, I'm no supporter of Anwar Ibrahim, but he did got trapped in the true lies. Murder under influence, harassment. Now that is nice. Perhaps they are trying to cover up the real story behind the murder. Perhaps they are trying to cover up the story of these middlemen stuffs, as per told in the alternative medias.

Really, is there any way anyone could be blown up just like that, without having any signs of resistance? That is totally weird. Unless you are tied up or something, you will surely object to being blown up into pieces. I wondered, then, how will the defence turn in during their show?

Seludup manusia: Malaysia sangkal dakwaan Washington

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Jun – Kerajaan hari ini mengkritik langkah Washington yang menyenaraikan Malaysia sebagai antara negara yang terlibat dalam penyeludupan manusia dan menyangkal dakwaan bahawa kerajaan tidak melakukan tindakan sewajarnya untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar yang menyangkal dakwaan tersebut menyatakan ia merupakan maklumat yang salah.

“Keseluruhan situasi dalam laporan tersebut membuat pra penilaian tanpa memahami keadaan sebenar di dalam negara.

“Mereka mempunyai hak untuk bercakap mengenai Malaysia tetapi dalam apa sahaja perkara yang tidak memberikan cerita yang betul, kami mempunyai hak untuk menyangkal dan laporan tersebut adalah berdasarkan kepada beberapa tanggapan yang tidak benar dan tidak sah,” katanya.

Negara ini telah disenaraihitamkan oleh Washington bersama beberapa buah negara lain seperti Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Korea Utara dan Sudan kerana didakwa tidak melakukan tindakan sewajarnya bagi menangani masalah itu.

Malaysia yang merupakan antara rakan perdagangan penting Amerika Syarikat (AS) bersama enam negara lain termasuk sekutu Arab AS iaitu Bahrain, Kuwait dan Oman disenarai hitam oleh Jabatan Negara AS dalam laporan tahunan “Trafficking in Persons Report”.

Kuala Lumpur dipetik sebagai “gagal menunjukkan tindakan yang memuaskan” dalam beberapa perkara seperti hukuman terhadap pesalah, penyediaan perlindungan yang mencukupi dan perkhidmatan sosial yang sewajarnya kepada mangsa, serta melindungi pekerja asing daripada perhambaan secara paksa, kata laporan itu.

Menurut laporan tersebut, mangsa penyeludupan seks di Malaysia kebanyakannya adalah wanita dan gadis yang berasal dari Indonesia, Thailand, Filipina, Kemboja, Myanmar dan China.

Syed Hamid mengakui bahawa undang-undang Malaysia pada masa ini tidak mempunyai perbezaan antara penyeludupan manusia dan pendatang tanpa izin ke negara ini.

Bagaimanapun katanya, Parlimen akan meluluskan undang- undang anti penyeludupan yang akan mengenakan hukuman penjara selama 20 tahun terhadap pesalah selain daripada turut dikenakan denda.

“Dengan undang-undang baru, saya percaya kita menuju kepada arah yang betul,” kata Syed Hamid.

Sementara itu, Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) turut mengkritik perkara tersebut sebagai tidak adil kepada negara ini tetapi turut melahirkan kebimbangan terhadap isu tersebut.

“Saya setuju lebih banyak perkara mesti dilakukan tetapi meletakkan Malaysia dalam senarai tersebut adalah perkara yang tidak adil dilakukan oleh AS,” kata Pesuruhjaya Suhakam, N. Siva Subramaniam.

– AFP (Source : Utusan Malaysia)

_____________________________

Me : When I heard the news at Malaysia Hari Ini early in the morning, I was shocked too. I mean, what is their right to publicly do such things, which could easily tarnish the relationship between US and Malaysia, especially as we are trying to sell our Proton shares to Volkswagen AG. This would hurt our economy is a sense, since US is (if the source I received is still relevant) 2nd to Singapore as Malaysia's economy factor.

But nevertheless I would like to keep silent first, knowing that it would be better if I let the officials speak first. Besides, office-time is a big thing to do. I'm no manager who sits in the office, but a system tester who test PC systems. That's hard, right? So, I just kept silent and browse through previous articles in Malaysia Today, Malaysia Kini, The Star, Utusan, NST, BHarian, name it. And something caught my eyes.

If the report is true, then that would surely be a direct proof of human trafficking in Sabah, as per said by Raja Petra Kamarudin. PRK, with Deep Throat as his source, said about the Sabah officials bringing in Indonesians to vote for them, giving them a huge win all over the state, if not all over Malaysia. I forgot the link, but you can always search for it at Malaysia-Today.

Also, this could also proof that RPK's writing on illegal workers brought in by the officials is also true. Read here.

Some retailers unhappy over price controls

By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: Some retailers have expressed unhappiness over the Government’s move to reduce the prices of goods, which have been on the rise after a pay increase for civil servants was announced.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said these retailers had also complained that the Government was only helping hypermarket chains with its campaign to get consumers to buy cheaper goods.

“We are not helping the hypermarkets but the 26 million consumers in the country.

“There are certain retailers who are forced to sell their goods at a higher price due to their location at rural places but we should exercise our rights as consumers by avoiding those who are taking advantage of the situation.

“Many of these retailers claim the goods are being supplied to them at a higher price than previously. If this is the case, they should inform the ministry of it and we will help them get in contact with better suppliers,” he told reporters after a dialogue with industry players and non-governmental organisations here on Friday.

Shafie said he had also asked Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for agricultural production and output of fish and other seafood to be increased, so as to ensure prices remained stable.

Six hypermarket chains had recently pledged to reduce the prices of goods sold on their premises, with one even promising cuts on some 2,300 types of goods.

Shafie had also been quoted as saying that Malaysia was trying to woo other hypermarkets such as the American Wal-Mart and Metro AG from Germany to set up stores in the country.

There has been a ban on new foreign hypermarkets since 2002.

Shafie said the ministry was concerned that the recent approval in pay increase for civil servants would lead to similar demands by staff in the private sector, which would then lead to inflationary pressure on the prices of goods.

He also said it was time for Malaysian consumers to change their buying habits as some of the recent “shortages” were due to them going on a spree.

“It’s ridiculous for a country which produces palm oil to be short of cooking oil. Consumers were panicking and buying more cooking oil packs than they usually did because of rumours of such shortages,” he said.

Shafie said between May 21 and last Thursday, the ministry’s enforcement officers had conducted checks on 64,008 premises and received 107 complaints against errant traders.

“We have also confiscated goods totalling some RM95,038 and compounded RM136,230 in fines against errant traders,” he said.

[Source: The Star Malaysia Online]

________________________________

Me : Will this be another drama unfolded, one piece at a time? Before this, Pak Dollah stated about the 'naik gaji' and COLA for gov't staffs. After that, Dato' Shafie Apdal (if I am correct, or was it Pak Dollah himself) saying that there won't be any goods' price increment. Then, a shallow voice came from the Gang2 Kedai Mamak (actually I forgot their real association name, someone could help me with that) about price-increment-gonna-be-soon at their stalls. The gov't then said this is not allowed, and the Gang2 Kedai Mamak rep. agreed and tried to compromise. The gov't then started looking for stalls selling Iced Milo at RM1.80 and other stuff with outstandingly increasing prices. Then came the retailers unhappy about the price control. Finally, perhaps, it would be like this : Due to the unhappiness of the retailers and stall-keepers, the government decided to raise up the prices of goods in Malaysia, but not to worry, the price is still control.

Yeah. That might be a logical ending in soap-opera-based country like Malaysia. There's just too much dramas in the TVs that the government is making their own drama, the only thing differs that their dramas affected our lives.

This must come to end. The 'naik gaji' thing is not a really relevant thing to do. Why did I say this? First of all, only the government staffs will enjoy this. This would come to a greater unbalance and rift between the races in Malaysia, especially the Malay-Chinese-India trio. Everyone knows that the government staffs comprises of mainly Malays. There are of course other races too, but to be compared with Bumi staffs, there would still be quite a large gap.

Secondly, price controlling could be bad for small shops. Hey, not only that they needed to fight with hypermarkets such as Tesco and Carrefour (and perhaps coming soon hyppies in Malaysia such as Walmart). This would of course give an advantage to the hypermarkets if the prices is kept low. Maybe the government would say that with lower prices, the customers would have a better choice in choosing between small sundry shops and hypermarkets. Still, customers will tend to go to hypermarket for their well-known establishment around the world. Thus, a price increase is perhaps needed by the shop owners to cover up their losses.

The next thing in mind is the fear of western globalisation. As per said in the previous paragraph, there would be a big advantage for the hypermarkets if the prices are controlled. Thus, what will happen to small sundry shops at the corner lots? Most of them will eventually cease to exist, as the earnings from their regular customers are just not good enough to keep them on the market. This will eventually leads up to great domination of hypermarkets, capitalisation at our own border. Instead of nurturing young entreprenuers, we will end up to producing workers for western entreprenuers. Yes, we still have Giant and so on, but the numbers are not as much as small sundry shops.

Sometimes it is not just about the customers. Yes, commonly customers are always right, but are they if their action ends up only in giving a big economic boom to outsiders, and throwing over a 'You sell your stuff too high la! Cut down price la!' round object to the shop owners without knowing that the round object is actually a hand grenade, which will eventually 'kills' the shop owners.

Don't Go For Outdated Voting Procedures, Says Chia

PENANG, June 4 (Bernama) -- The current voting system is fair and efficient, and the Election Commission (EC) should opt for up-to-date technology rather than outdated methods if it wants to improve it further, Deputy Information Minister Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said.

"We welcome any move to enhance the system but it doesn't mean that the EC should go for outdated procedures," he told a news conference on the Bukit Bendera family day carnival here Monday.

He was commenting on EC's plan to introduce the use of indelible ink and possibly transparent ballot boxes at the next general election to prevent cheating.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said on Friday that the use of indelible ink had been agreed to in principle.

On the 4.6 million eligible Malaysians who have yet to register as voters, Chia said the ministry, through Radio and Television Malaysia, would cooperate with the EC in organising a voter registration campaign.

On the carnival, he said it would take place at the Youth Park here Sunday. Among others, visitors will be able to register as voters at the EC counter and undergo health checks.

-- BERNAMA

Me : Now this is really weird. Indelible ink, though it might look outdated, have yet been the best solution to cleanse the image of corruption in Malaysia. Everytime during the GEs, there will be some special places where for no reason, there's tonnes of ballot papers which came by post that weren't expected by anyone. And that thing changed the election result dramatically, and the election is valid, for as long as no hard evidence is found giving a clue that the election was already rigged, hacked, corrupted.

If we are going for better election technology, that is always fine. Why not we use the India technique, where they used EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) to replace booth voting ?

Zam Regrets Some Media Still Using Bahasa Melayu

LANGKAWI, Jun 4 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin is disappointed that some print and electronic media are still using the term Bahasa Melayu instead of Bahasa Malaysia.

He said Bahasa Melayu should no longer be used to refer to the national language after the Cabinet made its decision on the matter in April.

"The Cabinet had made its decision and I had informed the media through Bernama (Malaysian National News Agency) on this. But unfortunately, some media choose to ignore the instruction.

"I also believe that Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka should play an important role in ensuring that the term Bahasa Malaysia be used by everyone," he told Bernama here, Monday.

He said there should be no excuse for any quarters not to use the term Bahasa Malaysia as the language to unite all Malaysians.

"The Indonesians too do not use Bahasa Melayu to refer to the Malay language but use Bahasa Indonesia instead.

"Bahasa Malaysia is for all and not just the Malays, but I regret that there are Malays who are still narrow-minded that they refuse to use the term.

"This has caused prejudice among certain quarters towards Bahasa Malaysia, hence foiling efforts to turn Bahasa Malaysia into a dynamic language," he added.

Zainuddin said there were also those who were more interested in trivial matters instead of focusing on pragmatic approaches for the development of Bahasa Malaysia.

"It is hoped that Bahasa Malaysia is used by all citizens of this country and people from outside too so as to bring it to a higher level," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Me : I wonder what is actually wrong in defining it as Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Melayu. To me, it is still the same. The reason is simple, Bahasa Malaysia is because the language is the official language of Malaysia, and Bahasa Melayu goes for the mother tongue for Malays. So what is there to be rambled about? Defining it as Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Melayu won't give a difference to this racist problem. If not, then why is English Language called as such? It is because it sourced from the Englishmen, the Britons.

If we are to built a real harmony in this multi-racial country, the very first thing to do is to avoid bringing such cases to court. Yep, the court power in high, but the effects are high too. For instance, the Lina Joy case. The Muslims won't agree if Lina Joy's appeal was allowed. The liberalists will stand by Lina Joy if she lost her appeal (and yep, they did that). Thus, the government created an open wound automatically by bringing such cases to court. Would not it be better if someone in the government just tell Miss Lina Joy that apostasy isn't allowed in this country, so please travel to another country, and change nationality and then change the religion status. Would not that be easier?

That is , of course, just a beginning. There is still much needed if we were to build a harmonic multi-racial country. Not by this Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Melayu. Please, stop becoming a laughing stock.

Karaoke 50 jam tanpa henti

Kementerian Pelancongan Malaysia menganjurkan Majlis Citrarasa 2007 mulai 8 Jun ini di Tasik Titiwangsa Kuala Lumpur.

Berbagai aktiviti diaturkan termasuk persembahan kesenian, pertunjukan bunga api dan persembahan artis popular. Menganggarkan lebih 100,000 orang akan mengunjungi majlis itu, pihak penganjur turut menyediakan gerai-gerai jualan makanan.

Menurut Ketua Unit Acara Kementerian Pelancongan Malaysia, Datin Zaiton Mohd. Ali, “Kami juga merancangkan aktiviti berkaraoke selama 50 jam sepanjang tiga hari tanpa henti. Ia akan bermula pada 8 Jun pukul 3 petang dan berakhir pada 10 Jun.

“Kalau program ini berjaya dilaksanakan, ia akan dicatatkan dalam Malaysia Book of Records sebagai program karaoke terlama,” kata Zaiton.

Untuk itu, katanya pihak penganjur mengalu-alukan penyertaan orang ramai. Mereka yang berminat menjayakan program tersebut boleh hubungi Romli Bidin di talian 017-3101288.

Selain itu, pertandingan karaoke yang menjanjikan hadiah lumayan juga diadakan pada majlis yang sama. Untuk menyertainya, khalayak boleh hubungi Inet di talian 019-2484545.

Sementara itu, bagi pengunjung yang ingin menyaksikan penampilan artis popular, satu persembahan nyanyian akan diadakan pada 9 Jun pukul 8 malam di tempat yang sama.

Gandingan penyanyi-penyanyi lama dan baru pada malam itu dijangka akan dapat mencipta kenangan indah kepada pengunjung Majlis Citrarasa 2007.

Kumpulan Ruffedge misalnya akan mempersembahkan lagu-lagu popularnya seperti Lemas, Da Bomb, Bila Rindu dan Secebis Kepercayaan. Sementara Sasi The Don dengan lagunya Hey General, Anbe, Giving Thanks To Jah dan Suatu Impian, Aspalela Abdullah (Pengodaan, Ibunda Tercinta, Joget Memujuk dan Bunga Hati), Amylea AF3 (Joget Sayang, Andai, If I Ain’t Got You dan Ku Berserah).

Selain itu Farhan AF3 juga akan diundang menyampaikan lagu Still got The Blues, Route 66, Aku Saja Yang Tahu dan Dia, Kelvin Lau (Shanghai Beach, Sonata Musim Salju, Kau Ilhamku dan Pencinta Wanita), J.Sham (Suratku Untukmu, Resam Dunia, Ku Akan Pulang dan Di Pinggir Kali) dan L.Ramlee (Ayahku Kahwin Lagi, Dara Pujaan, Siapa Bilang Aku Tak Sayang dan Joget Baju Kurung).

Persembahan artis pada malam itu akan diacarakan oleh pelakon kacak, Fahrin Ahmad.

[Source : Utusan Malaysia Online]

Me : Now this is really stupid. As we are going for Vision 2020, I really can't stand it to see something as funny as this. We are in the middle of so-called globalisation, and yet we are still being kiddies in the eyes of the world. Before this we have already made stupid world records such as longest Keropok Lekor and so on. This is just lame.

We want ourselves to be known as intellectual, and we are known for our good education system. Still, even with such systems, we are not producing first-class mentality, but we are producing these kind of mentality.

I do understand that we need fun and enjoyment, but there must be a limit to these things. It is not about being an ill-socialized geek who had no fun at all, but there must be an end to all this. As we are pursuing other nations to invest in our country with WPI and so on, we are becoming a laughing stock for them as well with these things.

Or yet, is this another signal of so-called globalisation? This is the very reason why some critical-minded Easterners rejects globalisation. They are afraid that with globalisation, we are not becoming global, but we are surrendering our thoughts, minds and actions to the Westerns and agree that their agenda is correct. Booming economy is a thing, but a collapse in our morality is also a thing. This certainly does not go with Malaysian culture. This activity, known in Malaysia as 'karok' should remain as a past time hobby if it was to pass by unnoticed, no more than that.

Proton : Aftermath

Talk to other firms, Proton told

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked Proton Holdings Bhd to start talks with other carmakers on a partnership because Volkswagen AG is not interested.

“I have made the decision that since Volkswagen is not interested in the proposal that Proton wants in terms of the equity participation but they want cooperation in some other form, Proton can begin to talk to others,” the Prime Minister told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting last night.

Besides the German carmaker, US-based General Motors Corp had in the past expressed interest along with French PSA Peugeot SA to work with Proton.

When both the car manufacturers pulled out, Volkswagen became the forerunner.

However, the March 31 deadline to announce the strategic foreign partner of Proton passed without any development.

The Government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, is offering its 38% equity in Proton for sale to save the carmaker from further losses.

Local automotive companies who have been eyeing a stake in Proton include Naza Group, Mofaz Group and DRB-Hicom Bhd.

Abdullah also called on Proton to do whatever necessary to turn around the national car industry.

It was announced yesterday that Proton’s net loss was RM591.4mil for the year ending March 31.

On whether there was a need to revamp the top management of Proton, Abdullah replied: “They have to do whatever is necessary.”

[Source : The Star Malaysia Online]

ME : Whatever is necessary :

1) Bring up all the CEOs of GLC to together help PROTON. Where's KJ this time? He said about Jihad Ekonomi ?

2) Cut their pays, including the top figures.

3) Make surveys of what people would go for their car, and let them have it for a real cheap price ? (Hey, Americans did this when they created their muscle cars)

But then again, I wonder who would eventually 'help' the company, economically. Well, Volkswagen is not going to do it, for sure. Surely people wouldn't want Naza to buyout Proton. So, perhaps Proton will go to Temasek Group ? Nope, we aren't so sure about that, but still that is a potential. Nobody knows.

Decision on Lina Joy's case next Wednesday

BY RAPHAEL WONG

PUTRAJAYA: Next Wednesday, the Federal Court will deliver its decision on the appeal of Lina Joy against the Court of Appeal’s majority ruling two years ago, which ruled that the National Registration Department director-general was right in not allowing her application to delete the word “Islam” from her identity card.

Lina's solicitor Benjamin Dawson confirmed the date of decision today.

On July 3, last year, Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judge Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff reserved their judgment to a date to be fixed.

Lina, 42, was born Azlina Jailani to Malay parents. She was brought up as a Muslim but at the age of 26 decided to become a Christian.

In 1999, she managed to change the name in her identity card to Lina Joy but her religion remains as Islam.

On April 23, 2001, the High Court refused to decide on her application to renounce Islam as her religion on grounds that the issue should be decided by the Syariah Court.

It also dismissed her application for an order to direct the department to drop the word “Islam” from her identity card.

[The Star Malaysia Online]

Me : Finally the result is coming out. After about one year since she (Lina Joy) appealed for her case, there's been many rumours by both sides of the party, or perhaps it is better to unify them as a new pack of people, the havoc-creators, for nobody knew who started the rumours first, but it was surely done for the sake of raging up both sides of the parties, the ones who are clearly against the appeal of Lina Joy, the concerned Muslims (including me), and the ones who are clearly got their backs on Lina Joy, a.k.a the 'liberalists' and socialists.

But for whoever wins, it will surely be a big loss for the other. If the Court's decided not to approve her appeal, one thing for sure that the DAP will use this issue for their own sake. Well, they are socialists for God's sake, any issue which they can use against the current government will surely be raised up, even in the Parliamentary, even for issues which concerns the Batu Gajah MP. Until now they have not kept silent and is still demanding further actions taken, even after the sexist MPs made a public apology, though there are this and that in the public apology, if you get what I am trying to say.

If the Court approve her appeal, perhaps it will be the worst which has yet to come. Maybe even another May 13 ( Please be reminded that I am not approving such things, and I am against such things, as I would gladly be the first one to stop such things from happening). This will surely tarnish the image of Islam Hadhari, whereby our very own Prime Minister was boasting about our great image as an Islamic nation. Hey, what kind of Islamic nation allows apostasy who denounces Islam and converted to other religion? It is surely not in the rule of Islam, thus Malaysia is surely not an Islamic nation, but just a nation with majority Muslim in the country, and taking several parts of Islam to be implemented in the governance, even though each and every Muslims is aware of Al-Baqarah:208 where it is stated that one should take Islam as a whole.

For whatever the outcome is, one thing is for sure, our Prime Minister and his puppets is going to have a bitter day.

PM: Kita mampu berjaya

Daripada AZNAN BAKAR

TOKYO 24 Mei – Malaysia mampu muncul sebagai sebuah negara Islam yang berjaya sama ada dari segi ekonomi mahupun hubungan antarabangsa kerana berpegang kepada prinsip agama itu yang sebenar, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Perdana Menteri berkata, walaupun rakyatnya berbilang kaum dan agama, namun apa yang dilaksanakan adalah selari dengan Islam yang mementingkan keadilan dan kesederhanaan selain tumpuan kepada pembangunan modal insan.

“Hubungan dengan komuniti antarabangsa yang lebih besar juga berasaskan nilai dan prinsip Islam termasuk keamanan. Saya percaya nilai dan prinsip ini selari dengan amalan antarabangsa,” katanya ketika berucap pada Persidangan Antarabangsa Nikkei mengenai Masa Depan Asia, di sini hari ini.

Katanya, nilai dan prinsip Islam tersebut termasuk keamanan, kesederhanaan, permuafakatan, keadilan, menghormati undang-undang dan membantu yang lemah dan yang miskin.

Katanya, di sebalik apa yang dilakukan itu, Malaysia berharap dapat menjadi contoh yang baik dan dapat memberi sumbangan membina kepada dunia Islam dan kepada masyarakat antarabangsa.

Sebagai pemimpin sebuah negara dan sebagai pengerusi semasa Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC), Abdullah berkata, hasratnya adalah untuk mengembalikan asas agenda umat Islam iaitu untuk memajukan ummah.

Sebab itu katanya, OIC perlu lebih memberi penekanan kepada pembangunan dan ekonomi daripada agenda politiknya.

Katanya, umat Islam perlu mengelak isu-isu perpecahan yang menyebabkan sebahagian besar daripada mereka tidak dapat menikmati keamanan dan kemakmuran.

Menurut Perdana Menteri, untuk itu Malaysia berusaha mengetengahkan Islam sebagai agama yang progresif termasuk dengan memainkan peranan utama dalam memperkenalkan inovasi dalam bidang kewangan Islam.

Katanya, ia dilakukan melalui penawaran instrumen kewangan berdasarkan undang-undang syariah yang membolehkan pelabur, termasuk bukan Islam, membuat pilihan produk yang konsisten dengan amalan terbaik dan beretika.

Beliau berkata, begitu juga dalam membangunkan produk dan perkhidmatan halal, Malaysia sedang menetapkan piawai yang memenuhi kehendak Islam serta yang diinginkan oleh orang bukan Islam untuk tujuan kesihatan dan lain-lain.

“Ini adalah satu lagi bukti mengenai keserasian ajaran Islam dengan kehidupan moden,” katanya.

– Utusan

Me : How could we be called an Islamic nation? Looking back to comments by the Ministers before, we are not an Islamic nation, the only thing is that we are a country with majority Muslim. That is what the MCA stands for during the huh-hah of Islamic nation thing.

If we were an Islamic nation, how come there's still ISA ? The very big thing which is very likely to oppose the way of Islam. Everyone knows how much that there is no justice in ISA. You are arrested for no relevant reason, other than 'for threatening the country' and so on. You are not brought to any kind of trial before you were sentenced for the 2 years under the bars of ISA. Or very much likely said by Saari Sungib, as 'tahanan politik'.

If we were an Islamic nation, how come we still allow gamblings? The only thing Malaysia doesn't allow is illegal gambling. Under the context of Islam, is there any such thing as illegal gambling? No, there isn't. Everyone knows that gambling is haraam, forbidden in Islam. But in Malaysia, it is haraam only if it is not registered, which means for each and every penny the gambling companies received, they must allocate a certain amount known as tax to the government. Does not that means the government too is involved in gambling?

If we were an Islamic nation, how come we still have the Guinness plant in our own land, for God's sake. We kept on talking about halal foods, how we were going to be halal hub and so on, yet we are one of the producers for haraam things. Does not that sounds funny?

They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling.^[] Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs." Thus Allâh makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought." [Al-Baqarah:219]

The only thing which sounds true is that part of us (on the governing side) looks like Islamic nation, while in other parts, it is not. Which in the end, it means only one thing, we are not an Islamic country, because for an Islamic country, each and every ruling of Islam must be taken into account, not just to agree in some parts of Islamic rule, while at the same time denounce the others.

O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islâm (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islâmic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.[Al-Baqarah:208]

Singapore Not Dictating On How To Manage IDR, Says Envoy

JOHOR BAHARU, May 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk N. Parameswaran today described as baseless allegations that the formation of a joint Malaysia-Singapore committee to oversee the cooperation in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) would affect Malaysia's sovereignty.

He said Singapore was not interested in meddling with Malaysia's internal affairs, more so dictating on how to manage the IDR.

"If there're those who have that kind of thinking, it means that they don't know the truth. There's no reason why the committee should get involved in Malaysia's affairs. And they (the committee) don't intend to do that," he told reporters after accompanying members of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce on a visit to the IDR here.

Certain parties have alleged that the joint committee would affect Malaysian sovereignty and questioned its rationale.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the formation of the committee after holding an informal meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, in Langkawi on Tuesday.

Parameswaran said the committee would only cooperate on technical matters. "Singapore hasn't expressed any intention to give ideas on the IDR. But we're ready to share our expertise, for example, in river clean-up with Malaysia," he said.

On the construction of a bridge to replace the Causeway, he said: "Let both prime ministers talk to each other. And when they're more confident, they can discuss the difficult issues," he said.

Developed by Khazanah Holding, the 2,200 sq km IDR in southern Johor covers areas like Johor Baharu, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Pontian.

___________________________________

Honestly, there's no reason why people SHOULD NOT described it as NOT AFFECTING Malaysia's sovereignty.

The very basic reason is because IDR is in Malaysia's land, not Singapore. Then why bother to ask them, to form a team to oversee IDR ? Unless, of course, Singapore is guaranteed to have a hold of IDR for themselves. It is just like you taking other's places, expect that you didn't need to withdraw guns and tanks, unlike what the States did to Iraq. All you need to do is just to disguise yourself as a 'potential partner', and then you make your way in controlling their economic path line.

Then again, in the context of our very own Malaysia, every man and woman knows how Singapore plays a big role, economically. Yep, the States and Singapore, two main economic resources of Malaysia in these days. With the States, the government is going for F.T.A agreement, though Pak Dollah Badawi himself knows that with F.T.A, his great agriculture plan would definitely fail. What about Singapore? Which is the beginning where we see the Temasek Group and IDR came into hands, and became parts of our gambling cards.

Malaysia need to sell off some things to make Singapore please. In simple words, if you sell fruits at the market, you need to attract your buyers to buy your stuffs. That's how Malaysia did it, though the costs are very great. Impossible it is not, as everyone knows politics is the art of possibility, turning the impossibles to possibles. No need to remind me of YTL proposal to built a fast train from KL to Singapore. No need to remind me of the ECM-Libra Avenue merger controversy. It's all just part of a long string.

As per said in the first place, why do we need Singapore to form a joint action to oversee IDR ? Why not we look for private companies which won't get extra-benefits from overseeing the development of IDR? Would not that sound better, rather than having a neighbour of ours to help us oversee our own land? Of course the costs might be higher, but hey, that's way better than having a country which is constantly buying sands and rocks to expand their territories, to oversee the IDR together with us. Silap-silap, masuk mulut buaya pula nanti.

Of course, not to forget just how much 'we' spent to get Durians for Lee Hsien Loong, or in better words, our own money, RM26k, used by our very own Prime Minister just to satisfy the Singapore Prime Minister. And hey, it is not shark fins or turtle meats, it is just merely durians. Is not that weird, RM26k just for durians. Wow, this is really the land of Bolehland?

Beers will flow ... down the drain

By EDDIE CHUA

SEPANG: A total of 196,272 cans of beer are destined to go down the drain instead of quenching the thirst of drinkers.

The beers packed in 8,178 cartons were seized over the weekend from a syndicate specialising in reselling duty-free beers to pubs and sundry shops.

Busted booze: Madrina (left) inspecting the seized cartons of beer while KLIA Customs preventive chief senior assistant Saidi Ismail (centre) and Federal Territory Customs deputy director Zaimah Zainal Abidin look on.

The beers are being held pending the cases involving two Myanmar nationals caught during the raids by Customs officers at four shoplots in Section U5, Shah Alam light industrial estate.

It is learnt that Customs Department would not auction off the beers as the sale would affect the local market.

Federal Territory Customs chief Datuk Madrina Alwi said the beers, worth RM286,964, had an unpaid duty and sales tax of about RM1mil.

She said the syndicates worked with freight forwarders and haulers to obtain duty-free beers meant for Hong Kong, Singapore and the local duty-free outlets.

Based on the invoices and transaction records seized from the four shoplots which stored the beers, she said each carton was to be sold for RM30, one third of the market price.

She said the syndicate had been operating for more than six months.

Last week, Madrina said Customs officers arrested two Bangladeshis at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for smuggling 560 cartons of cigarettes and failing to declare RM10,000 worth of foreign currency.

They were apprehended when they tried to pass through the green lane.

Me (Undisclosed location) : Only something is wrong over here. The fellas who are selling the beers are wrong, for unpaid tax? Uhh.. c'mon. I just had a speech on Halal talk, and even Malaysia just handled the Halal Expo, right? Yet, why are we still claiming money for these things. Sorry if any non-Muslims are offended, but beers are not welcomed in Islam.

I really wondered how come a government that is saying loudly on "Katakan Tak Nak pada Rokok" just let go of the drinking issue. Even the Mix FM deejay said that his friend met an accident due to 'drink and drive'.

And what is more, Malaysia is currently being one of the backbone of OIC. Don't you feel it's wrong for us, who are leading people on what is Halal and Haram, and yet let go of beer just like that.

It is just nonsense. Like the people who asked Pak Lah "Are these halal haram only on foods? What about the other things in life?"

Halal and haram in Islam is not just the matter of what we eat, but also the money provided for us, and by us. That must also be accounted of. We would not want our sons and daughters to buy things using haram-stained money, right?

Malaysian minister hatches blog control plan

A top Malaysian minister has proposed a controversial plan to classify bloggers in a bid to contain the information they send on the Internet, a report said Sunday.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said bloggers would be labelled professional or non-professional to prevent the misuse of blog sites, since professional bloggers would ensure their web content was based on truth.

Zainuddin did not elaborate how his plan would be implemented.

The proposal follows an unprecedented defamation suit launched against two bloggers who were critical of the government.

Prominent bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan are being sued by the New Straits Times Press newspaper group for posts criticising the daily and the government.

Zainuddin, who has previously accused bloggers of using lies to overthrow the government, said "the classification will also facilitate any action to be taken against those found to have violated the country's laws."

"It is feared that these (blog sites) will be misused by those who have an agenda to spread slander," he was quoted as saying in the Sunday Star newspaper.

"By right, there should be a mechanism to control the phenomenon, including classifying bloggers as professionals and non-professionals," he added.

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang, with the Democratic Action Party, said it would be impossible to implement such a plan, which he described as "definitely an attempt to obstruct and impede free blogging."

"How are we going certify who is professional and non-professional? It is a ridiculous idea," he told AFP.

Lim, a blogger himself, said the government should instead fund bloggers to generate responsible blogging.

Another popular blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, who runs the blog site "Malaysia Today," said Zainuddin made many statements without "thinking them through properly."

"How do you evaluate what is truth? It is impossible to register bloggers. What if I refuse to register? How are you going to find out where the blogger is residing?" he said.

Rights groups have condemned government attempts to crackdown on bloggers, arguing that they offer a crucial alternative to the tightly-controlled mainstream media.

Agence France-Presse

Me: Another day of seeing democracy tarnished in Malaysia. Of course, then some of the peoples would then say, democracy in Malaysia is different than democracy in the West. To that kind of question, I would like to leave that aside and just ask them, How in the world do you define Democracy?

Some of my friends told me that all this democracy and other ism is just basically ways of the Illuminati to control us. Yep, true enough. Where does democracy comes from? Western country, right? What laws were they using then? Capitalism. Why? Because they wanted to fight another part of themselves, the Communist and Socialist. Believe me, the two people who introduced Socialist and Capitalist were friends, if not that they were from a same group of people.

The only way of attain democracy, to me, is none. There is no such thing as democracy, if some people were given absolute power. That is the mere problem happening everywhere, from United States of America to Japan. Whenever someone was given the green light, you will see the ego coming out from his head. And thus, war was started.

One simple example : The Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Before the events happened, the States needed the Commons to give them the green light, to bless their government to go away, even if it means an Unholy War.

Alright, enough on democracy. Now, on this blogathinga. Perhaps blogs needed to be control. We can see things like malaysiasucks.blogspot.com. Such blogs, perhaps might be controlled. But then again, how many Malaysians actually read blogs? The visitors' numbers might go up to 1 mil, but how many unique numbers? The urbanized areas like KL and JB, perhaps are opened to such things, but let me remind you, not everyone.

People in the kampung, it's like they care about politics. All they wanted is to have a simple life, having a place of their own, and quietly move along towards a future that they are sure of. For urban people, they know how dirty politics in Malaysia is, so they don't care. As long as their 'periuk nasik' aren't bothered, they won't care.

Politics to Malaysians are just satire. Influential people with great mouths speaking here and there, and makes people to laugh. It's just about that. Which is the reason why many Malaysians are yet to register as voters. They see the same ending everyday. "BN is gonna win for whatever reason it is. So, is there a difference if I vote?".

Honestly, there aren't any such things as dangerous blogs. Reason, these people will just say their words and after that, that's it. They won't take another step towards revolution. They can't. Malaysians are just too lazy to be revolutionists.

The thing that Zam need to stop is the porno sites, not these things. C'mon Mr. Zam, stop the politics and do something right, for all people, not just the BN. Thank you.

Endless Stories

_________________

Man charged with raping his daughter

By TEH ENG HOCK

JOHOR BARU: A 42-year-old man was charged in the Sessions Court here with raping his daughter.

The man pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge of raping his 16-year-old daughter on April 26 at his house in Johor Baru.

Judge Aliman Musri denied Mohd Yani bail, and set July 24 as a date for mention while awaiting a medical report on the girl.

_________________

Gang-raped in terror carjack

JOHOR BARU: A woman who was waiting in the car while her husband went to a toilet was held up at knife-point and taken on a terror ride, gang-raped and robbed.

The 28-year-old woman who works in Singapore, was driven around Plentong for three hours after being abducted from the petrol station in Tampoi. Her three-year-old son was in the car with her.

The drama unfolded when the victim and her son had accompanied her husband to town on his way to work in Singapore at 4am several days ago.

The husband stopped the car, with his wife and son inside, at the petrol station and kept the engine running.

Soon after, the woman was shocked to see a man armed with a knife, knocking at her window demanding that she open the door.

The woman, fearing for her son's safety, complied and the suspect then drove the car to pick up his friend from a nearby area.

They blindfolded the woman and threatened to harm her son if she struggled.

The woman begged the men to let them go as she was pregnant but they instead took her to a secluded area and took turns to rape her.

They then picked up another man before dropping both mother and son in Permas Jaya and driving off with the car and her belongings.

Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Shafie Ismail said that the car had been recovered two days after the incident in Majidee. He appealed to those with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

_________________

Endless Stories. Everyday we hear the same issue. Be it The Star, Utusan, Kosmo, Berita Harian, NST, it is always the same thing. RAPE. INCEST.

It seems that our government (I'm saying this to both sides) is like doing nothing to counter such things. The govt just spent about 36 million just to win Ijok. And the oppositions, they counter back the lies of the government. And issues like these are left behind.

Honestly, when did we start hear such things. Somewhere back in the year 2000, perhaps? What was the main thing about that? Internet. It was the starting of Internet for Malaysia. And since then, this issue also started.

Perhaps it is time for the government to start filtering the internet. It's not that they can't. If I am correct, the MCMC, or Dr. Lim Keng Yeik himself said about such filterization. But the government did not concern too much about it.

All they were concerned about was blogs and their 'lies'. All they were concerned about was their mishandlings being unfolded, one by one, in the Net, and they have just no other option left, except to deny it and campaign for support of filtering the Net from these blogs.

And the oppositions? Hmm, too much time spent on countering the government that they had no time to spend their time on this issue. They just walked away and started gossiping the government mishandlings (though most of the time the gossips appeared to be true). They just kept on commenting on the Malaysia's politic. And to some of them, it is all about politics. Politics, politics and politics.

True enough, we need to carry on with our life with politics. The Iskandar Development Region, MSC, whatever you name it. But as what cost? What is the use of such high-rising economy, or astounding technology, if no actions are taken to make sure the moral level of the Malaysians at the same time is also as the same level with the level of economy and technology. If the country trade can reach RM100 million (or what number it was, like I really care for such figures in times like these), why not make our moral level reach 100 million also, in moral currency that is. Is not this, also one of Islam Had Hari concepts (no wonder it is Had Hari, ada had dan harinya).

It does not matter who started it first. But please, someone, government or opposition, take some action please. It isn't something good if we had lost what we were once proud of, Moral, Ethic. 10 years ago in Malaysia is too different, in term of moral and ethic.

Ramblings

As the Ijok by-election is already over, let's take a look on what is left to be written:

1) Proton
Alright, this news have been silent for a time. Ramblings about Volkswagen AG buying Proton is far from over yet, though the officials have yet to say anything. Then again, rumours about Naza buying Proton is also there, just in case Volkswagen AG is not interested, somehow. But, for whatever is at stake, the percentage is high. 50%, if I am correct. With such percentage you can control the company and drive it anywhere you wanted, even if you were told to only handle them technically and let the elders take care of their management. And so on, and so on.

Of course there were dismissed issues, which are actually meant to help save Proton, like the 'salvage your old car and buy a new one with a CHEAPERRRR price', but officials say it was merely a suggestion, not an implementation. Proton could be better, if they wanted to, but they could not. They very reason behind it is perhaps their inability to counter foreign cars. Creating cheap cars for Malaysians, but with moderate CCs, is certainly a hard job. Perhaps they might want to look into how the Americans created their cheap cars which run fast?

2) WPI & FTA
Quite a controversial issues. Malaysians are already scared of seeing Singaporeans and Americans to actually run the whole place up.

Under the effect of FTA, we will see our rice farmers to be gone in at least 6 months. Under WPI, we will see a 2nd Singapore, right in our country.

But then again, what else could be done? In any way, these two countries are becoming our main supporters, like it or not. Most companies are already running away from Malaysia, and set off sail for countries with better oppurtunities such as China and Vietnam. The main reason, NEP. Believe me or not, NEP may be important for a country like Malaysia, but that is the trade off that we must bear in mind.

10 years ago, NEP may be relevant, as we are one of the best negara dunia ketiga which offers places to build foundries and plants, for the very reason that there is no place else as better as Malaysia. But as time goes by, China became more democratic. Vietnam became more democratic. In the end, companies have to let go of Malaysia, because countries like China and Vietnam offers better manpower and other.

3) ECM-Libra Avenue
Well here is something. Apart from the Ijok by-election, Starbiz wrote an article about Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan who is appointed as the new executive director for ECM Libra Avenue, after he stepped down last year from ECM Libra Avenue's helm, together with Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) and his friends.

Then again, he made a comeback now, and maybe it could be worse as time flies. What people are thinking right now, at this very right time, as Malaysia's economy has gone 'boom' earlier this year, ECM-Libra Avenue is going to be a major key player in the upcoming events, at least some of the ramblings above. Also, just as a reminder, Temasek Group should also have some influence in ECM-Libra Avenue, right? And not to mention KJ (well, if Kalimullah is there, somehow, unofficially, Khairy must be there too, right? It does not need to be in the black and white, for some level of friendship)

Blog Is Up : Part III

Alrite. Another widget updated today. Stat counter. Actually I had one before this, but decided to use a new one since the old one was used here and there. And not just that, you can also view the stats. Hehe. Alrite that's for now.

The Power Of Influence

To be honest, how they did this was amazing. All the main stream media wrote about the Ijok by-election which at current time has the largest voters' turn out, about 80%. I am really amazed at how they come up with such number. You guys just ought to see the numbers from 8 a.m right till the election booths closed.

______________________________________

KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- About 14 per cent of the 12,272 voters in the Ijok state by-election in Selangor have cast their ballots as at 10am, two hours after polling centres opened Saturday.

....(refer:Bernama)

______________________________________

KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The percentage of voters who have cast their ballots in the Ijok by-election hovered around the 50.85 per cent figure as at 2pm compared to 33 per cent at noon today.

... (refer:Bernama)

______________________________________

IJOK: A total of 10,049 voters or 81.88 per cent of the registered voters in Ijok had cast their ballots when polling ended at 5pm. It is the highest turn-out for a by-election.

... (refer:TheStar Malaysia)

______________________________________

Seriously, you guys (the BNs) perhaps have the very great mouth, with astounding skills of influencing peoples. Getting from 20 to 80% isn't an easy job, isn't it Joe ? I would really like to ask how you guys did it ? Hey, I wanna learn those ways too. You can see anywhere there's no such high voters turn out, except in our very own Malaysia, where the impossible is always possible, or what I was told as the Bolehland.

Yes, perhaps you guys might say “Hey, PKR was there too. They also must have their power of influence over people”. Well, firstly all main stream medias said that Anwar was no longer vital in the politic of Malaysia. Second, all main stream medias also said that Khalid Ibrahim forgot about how he bought Guthrie, with the help of BN and so on. Third, there is no way PKR or anyone else can do anything when the FRU is there. You will surely get a jolt of fright, at least.

So, I must say, you guys were fantastic. GL HF in the next election, and let’s see if not only the voters turn out is this high, but the timeflow is also the same. ;)

Zainuddin Questions Motives Of Foreign Media

KUALA SELANGOR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin today questioned the motives of some foreign media organisations which were giving wide coverage and publicity to an individual from a political party that had no credibility among Malaysians.

"We cannot understand the reasons. Do not underestimate the intelligence of Malaysians. The party in power in Parliament now was elected through the democratic process," he said when launching a Smart Community centre in Ijok near here today.

Under the concept of democracy, he said priority should be given to people who had majority support and in the case of the opposition it should be for its leader, namely Lim Kit Siang of the DAP.

"We are seeing a concerted effort to interfere in the internal affairs of Malaysia," he said.

Zainuddin said the English media organisations, based in West Asia, Britain and United States were giving undue attention and coverage to this "loser".

"They have an agenda to cause political instability in Malaysia," he said.

He also said that it was unfortunate that some of our own media people were joining the bandwagon in the guise of freedom of speech without understanding that democracy in Malaysia cannot be equated to that in the West.

"Why should we get outsiders to approve what we are doing. This is like saying if the West gives its stamp of approval, then it is right," he said.

At the same function, Zainuddin also said that he regretted the actions of the opposition for making wild allegations about the police when campaigning in the run-up to the Ijok by-election on Saturday.

He said that this was not good and that the force followed procedures when taking any action, and as such, opposition members should not have shielded a suspected criminal when the police wanted to arrest him in Ijok recently.

Zainuddin added that all parties should be aware that police's presence during elections or by-elections was in everyone's interest and that the opposition making baseless allegations about it was not justified.

Me : Who is the loser actually? Is he really a loser? How come, all the media are saying the same things? How come, all the blogs are saying the opposite?

Firstly, Mr Zainuddin perhaps should be a little clear about the political procedures in Malaysia. Unlike United States Of America, or England, the opposition here does not stand as one formally, but instead are made up of chunks of parties, which rally against the National Front. The National Front, might be made of different parties, which are united under one roof, named National Front. The Opposition, however, if I am correct, only have PKR and PAS as the Opposition Front, where as DAP is still a stand-alone party, which regularly make diplomatic contacts with PKR.

Secondly, human always have something called a tounge, which can be twisted. Through that, people lied. This is the reason they seeked him. Imagine if all the main stream medias is calling him a loser, one would say "Hey, doesn't it sound wrong, somewhere? Someone must have say the opposite thing". Yet, no main stream media did. Except for the blogs of course.

A person who does not have any credibility in the eyes of the commons, would surely have been left out alone when he is giving out his speech. Yet, he is not. Why is that, Mr Zainuddin. How do you justify him as having no credibility in the eyes of the commons, the eyes of Malaysians? By saying that he's a homo? Well, you might also want to consider that such charges against him was dropped.

Actions not justified, really? Then what about the incident which could cause blindness to a photographer named Paul Choo, or the assault on Dr. Lo' Lo when she was trying to give out medicines and treatments to those who needed it. Or even better, the list of voters showed in Malaysia Today. Are not they justified actions ?

Another thing, under the concept of democracy, anyone can be asked for opinions. That's what I see, as long as he is saying the truth.