The Kingmaker

I do not wish to talk about Malaysian politics. Not that I'm sick of it, but honestly, it is just too much. The talk about politics have gone to the extent that more people are talking about Permatang Pauh than sharing on the upcoming Independence Day.

So let's go at the broader, wider scale of the world. Is United States of America still the king maker in world domination ? All right, maybe not a total domination in term of conquering the whole land and seas as they did in Iraq and Afghanistan, but being a major political power which can't be brushed or singled out in any international or internal events. Even during the Reformasi days we saw US, specifically Albert Gore who commented on the Reformasi as a good change to Malaysia, though Mahathir clearly did not like such words. Yet, Mahathir was very powerless when it comes to US, except to play with other cards such as new economical agendas; he singled out the US currency rate. He didn't care what values were the Dow Jones at that time, he made it a static value, a constant, to the very end that our currency became stable and better.

Well, that may be 10 years ago. The situation now is clearly different. The Eastern bloc, or Russians, are clearly showing their paws again, after a long stand of North Korea and Iraq who kept on to their words of not caring for the words of USA in their nuclear program. When Russia attacked the capital of Georgia for it's internal problem. It is believed that one of the states in Georgia, South Ossetia asked for independence, but rejected and moreoverly attacked by the Georgian Army for asking such things. Being an ex-state of the then-USSR, Russia felt needed to help South Ossetia thus counter attacked Georgia.

To me, the issue isn't just about brothers-in-arms. It's also about revealing the true power of USA. We kept on seeing USA as a real major political power, but in this event, they are not able to do a thing. Their resources has clearly been spent so much in Iraq and Afghanistan that they are not able to help Georgia retaliate. All they could do was to found a diplomatic stance between Georgia and Russia. Yes, we all know that such stance will not last long. Should Russia have enough power, they will again launch another attack on Georgia to confirm the strength of the States.

Oppurtunist not wanted

Note : This article is written in response to PKR's statement to change the PROTES gathering this Sunday (060708) to a pro-Anwar rally. This article is personal and individual, thus does not reflects any party or organisation the writer is subjected to. More news: Fuel price protest to be pro-Anwar rally

Initially the plan was very good and brilliant, a gathering in defiance of the government's action to increase the fuel price in Malaysia. Unlike other previous gathering, this gathering is supposed to be very peaceful but cynical to the government, a new passive yet active way to send a message of defiance to the government.

Yet, for some reason, PKR made a statement to change the anti-fuel increment rally to a pro-Anwar rally. Now this is just bad.

First of all, Anwar has not been taken into custody yet. Until now, he is still a free man who walks anywhere he wants, around us, like any other normal people. There is only a police report which says that he sodomized Saiful Bukhari Azlan, which is yet to be be proved yet (My bet is that there won't be a case,it's not a res ipsa liquitor, but more of a prima facie case, and this is where Anwar would eventually win)

If there's a police report, you are not going to be captured or taken into custody by the police. Yet, you only need to go through a series of court appearance, where you will debate to defend yourself, should you be the accused, or prove the accused guilty, should you be the accuser.

Thus, in which point does Anwar actually needs such rally? Unlike 1998 case where he is put behind bars, today is only behind his house fences, not jail bars.

Second, his issue is more of a private, individual issue. Whatever happens, it will only affect his life (Yeah yeah, without him on track, the 16 Sept agenda would probably not happened). We, the commons however, are more interested in the increasing fuel price. This fuel price affects everyone. Oil is one of the basic needs today. Whatever the oil price is, that is the portion that needed to be paid for everyone who bought foods, beverages, and all other stuffs. This issue is national, or better sounded as international. That issue is just plain individual.

Of course, some might argue that without Anwar as the helm, the 16 Sept 2008 agenda would most probably be lost, but that is just hypocritical thinking. That is just an idea, a hope, something which has yet to happened. This, imminent fuel price increment is something that is happening right now, RM2.70 for a litre of RON97 fuel, plus some hushes on another yet-to-happen price increment to RM3.10, and some even said it would go as far as RM4.00 by the end of the year.

Thus, personally I would suggest that PKR retracts the idea of changing the agenda of the rally. You don't need that 1 million rally to become yours. It is not yours, but it belongs to the people. It is about oil, not someone, even if we are in favour of him. Please be professional.

A very hard formula

Tadi baru dok dengaq YB Khairy Jamaluddin melontarkan idea-idea tentang usul penjimatan subsidi. Ada la sikit celoteh tentang dengan penjimatan subsidi minyak, maka duit itu boleh digunakan untuk hal-hal lain, antaranya subsidi bagi makanan yang kian melonjak tinggi harganya.

Tuan YB, tahukah anda

Bila Minyak Naik, Harga Makanan pun Naik

Hal ini disebabkan makanan ini akan dipindahkan dari satu tempat ke tempat yang lain, bermula dari tempat seperti ladang/jeti sehinggalah ke supermarket ataupun kedai-kedai runcit. Untuk memindahkan barang makanan ini, kenderaan berskala besar, kebiasaannya lori, digunakan sebagai alat pengangkutan. Maka, apabila kenaikan harga diesel sebanyak RM1.58 sen seliter, takkanlah harga barangan makanan ini tidak naik. Macam harga roti canai la, tepung naik untuk sepeket, tapi roti canai pun naik gak dlm 10-20 sen untuk sekeping roti.

Bagi seorang yang bergelar engineer, orang itu lazimnya akan mempelajari satu subjek yang dipanggil HSE ataupun Health, Safety and Environment. Di dalam course ataupun subjek tersebut, orang itu akan diajar teknik-teknik untuk mengelakkan kejadian yang tidak diingini berlaku. Antara teknik-teknik terawal, ataupun langkah pencegahan terawal yang boleh dilakukan ialah dengan Solve at the source and along the process. Menggunakan langkah ini untuk diaplikasikan di dalam permasalahan harga makanan minyak, bukankah lebih baik jika sekiranya subsidi minyak yang diberikan, kerana ianya akan memberi impak (penurunan) pada harga makanan juga? Bak kata pepatah orang putih "To kill two birds with a stone". Ini barulah pemikiran minda kelas pertama.