In Kim Gary The Mines now having dinner after a tiring journey driving back to kl. Will update more photos taken during my stay in Batu Ferringhi, Penang on Wednesday before i go for knee ops on Thursday/Friday.
Happy New Year 2008 to everybody!
May all your dreams come true!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Pre-Paid my Medical Bill (Part)
Just paid part of my medical bill. I should called it pre-paid! If not, i will not be operated on 4th Jan 2008. Now everybody want to implement "per-paid" system. Celaka!
Damn broke now! Can't claim any single cent!
Life..........
Time To Go Home - Bt Ferringhi
It has been almost 6 months since my last trip to go back to Penang. While for this time, few purposes, one of it is to attend wedding dinner of my secondary & Form 6 friend and also become his photographer. Of course the most important thing is to go home and see my parent, grandma, my trees, Fried Koay Teow, Fried Oyster and Batu Ferringhi.
I will spend my time till 31st December 07. Wanna yam cha, then SMS or call me at maxis 4081 896!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Register Yourself as Voter
For those age more than 21 and yet not a registered voter, please spend some time at nearby post office to get yourself register before 31st December 2007 (4th quarter) in order for you to vote in the next General Election if the next GE is held on march 2008. Only 8 days left before end of this quarter, grab the chance.
Make a change! Time to Change! The choice is in your hand!
50 years is enough!
BN - Not A Place for Good Man
Ya, to be a good Man, you can't stay at BN. BN only allow Man that obey blindly, kow tow type of mentality, without fight back even things are wrong, a Yes Man.
To be a good Man, your only choice is to leave BN a.k.a UMNO-BN. That peanut brain Kerismuddin again open his big mouth, threatening to sever all relations with Gerakan.
I think as a responsibility party, it is time for Gerakan to pull out from BN. Else, good luck for Gerakan in the coming GE especially Penang.
2nd Penang Bridge: Stop Work Order
Due to delay, they just want to quickly start the work and failed to comply the environment regulation.
Hey, Sustainable Development lah! Takkan UEM does not know the DOE's rules & regulation meh before start work?
Quote from Thestar:
“The stop-work order was issued when they did not submit a report of their mitigation measures for the sludge disposal,” he told newsmen after opening a recycling campaign here yesterday.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Merdeka Review: 没厕所·租店屋·依附华小 淡小飘摇刺痛印裔社会的心
失落印记系列（三）
到马来西亚淡米尔教育研究与发展基金会（Tamil Foundation）访问时，该会执行主任纪威（Jiwi Kathaiah，右图）把一本厚厚的剪贴册交到我手中，剪贴册贴满了淡米尔文小学（简称“淡小”）年久失修、门户破落的照片；每一页，都洒满淡米尔教育的血泪控诉。其中好几张照片显示，孩子们悠哉闲哉地坐在大树下吃便当，仔细阅读图说，才知悉优美的“树头享食图”背后，隐含着学校没有食堂的真相。
该报告进一步指出：“没有政府的全津贴，大部份淡小在几近坍塌的旧建筑物中办学，在这些建筑物教学并不安全。”“公共工程局也鉴定，一部份淡小建筑物不安全，如森美兰州的双溪柯拉玛园丘淡小（SJK(T) Ladang Sungai Kelamah）。”
淡米尔基金会主席乌达雅索利安（K. Uthayasoorian，右图）透露，我国目前有523所淡小，其中376所或72%是半津贴小学。由于半津贴淡小没法享有政府的发展拨款，376所半津贴淡小中的129所，情况非常糟糕，其中一些没有厕所、没有食堂、黑板残破，也有的欠缺桌椅、文件柜和教具。
乌达雅索利安表示，在园丘淡小面临学生削减的窘境的同时，城市地区的淡小供不应求。他举例说：“巴生新邦立马淡小（SJK(T) Simpang Lima）只有400个学位，可是却录取了500多名学生，还有两百多名学生被拒于门外，我们也不知道该把他们送到哪里去好。”
纪威说，不可增建淡小是政府不成文的政策，因此城市淡小爆满，只能透过“迁校”方式解决。他一脸悲愤地说，一所迁至首都武吉加里尔（Bukit Jalil）的淡小，被迫迁到了火葬场去，新校舍就跟火葬场毗邻。
乌达雅索利安甚至和纪威透露，森美兰州芦骨（Lukut）双溪沙叻园丘淡小（SJK(T) Sg. Salak）原先坐落在园丘内，因学校学生不足，且校舍过于破落，而向教育部申请搬迁。可是，由于没有人捐献土地，该校最终决定租借店面办学（右图），最令人震惊的是，教育部官员竟批准校方这么做。
印裔社会自顾不暇，还需兼顾淡小的发展，可谓雪上加霜、捉襟见肘。淡米尔基金会前总秘书阿鲁姆干（K.Arumugam，右图）指出，印裔社会每年大约捐出一千万元接应淡米尔文小学，这笔钱尚不足以应付庞大的扩建和发展开销。
乌达雅索利安告诉《独立新闻在线》，出钱的来来去去都是同一批人，久而久之大家都累了。
访问当天（12月7日），纪威向记者展示当日的淡米尔文报纸，说：“报纸写，印度国大党主席成功为新学校筹获捐款；他在任的26年内，总共增加了76所新学校，但实际上，钱都来自于公众，且大部份新学校都是在迁校计划下诞生的。”
淡小的命运与华小无异，过去数十年来，淡米尔文小学的学生增加了，但学校非但没有增建，反而减少。根据社会策略基金会2000年的报告，在1963年马来西亚初成立时，我国有720所淡小，可是在1973年，淡小减少至631所，1985年进一步减至555所，形成2000年只剩526所淡小的局面。这期间，淡小减少了194所，但淡小学生的人数已从1970年的7万9278人增加至2000年的9万7000人。
制度偏差延续到第九计划
尽管44岁的吉打州吉华K校老师曾文珩2005年9月坠楼丧命，敲响校舍年久失修、危及人命的警钟，可是除了拨出一千万元的紧急拨款作为全国所有半津贴学校的维修校舍基金，迄今未见政府采取任何具体步骤，以制度化解决“半津贴小学”校舍陈旧失修的问题。
《1996年教育法令》没有区分“全津贴小学”和“半津贴小学”，反之把所有国民型小学都归为政府资助学校（government-aid school），可享有全部的资助拨款（full grant-in-aid）及资本拨款（capital grant）。
《1996年教育法令》生效后，教育部于1998年通过一份书面指南，把校地属于中央政府的学校划为“sekolah bantuan penuh”（“全津贴学校”），而校地不属于中央政府的学校则划为“sekolah bantuan modal”（“半津贴学校”），以致建在州政府、学校董事会、社团、园丘公司等土地上的华小和淡小，都成为了半津贴学校。【点击：董事须注册教育局却说没表格 董总收集书面资料拟起诉政府】
“半津贴学校”这个新生概念最具争议性之处，是此类学校没法享有政府的发展拨款，只可获得行政津贴，应付水电费、电话费等日常开销。社会策略基金会因而在《21世纪淡米尔文学校蓝图》中建议政府指示园丘公司和教堂转换土地权予政府，或援引《土地征用法》收购淡小土地。
可是，政府没有采纳此建议，反之把教育部书面指南的偏差，导入引领我国前进的《第九马来西亚计划（2006-2010年）》。第九马来西亚计划拨予小学的发展拨款为马币48亿3730万元；2006年4月13日，副教育部长诺奥玛（Noh Omar）在国会下议院表示，华小和淡小的发展拨款各为马币1亿7434万元和6484万元。
48亿3730万元的巨额拨款中，政府只拨出区区6484元作为淡小未来五年的发展资金，触怒了早已意识到政策失衡的部份印裔国民。今年三月，600名印裔国民响应了有心公民组织（Group of Concerned Citizens）的号召，到国会大厦向国会在野党领袖林吉祥和首相署部长纳兹里（Nazri Aziz）提呈一份备忘录，呼吁政府莫再把淡小当作油瓶子。【“拉伯，救救我们的淡小！” 六百印裔国会大厦前请愿救校】
首相选择性听真话？
虽说淡小问题严峻，宣称拥有一双“大耳朵”的首相阿都拉迄今尚未交出决心，改善淡米尔教育的问题。三万印度人走上街头之后，屡番宣称“要听真话”的阿都拉在12月14日召见印裔团体，请他们向他“说真话”，可是，乌达雅索利安告诉《独立新闻在线》，阿都拉并没有邀请任何一个与淡米尔教育有直接关联的非政府组织派代表出席上述特别会议。
乌达雅索利安表示，阿都拉召见的都是亲印度国大党的组织，当中没有任何团体与淡米尔教育有直接关联。他坚决认为，淡米尔基金会作为一个捍卫淡米尔教育的团体，应该被纳入受邀团体之列。
淡米尔基金会前总秘书阿鲁姆干认为，首相没有邀请淡米尔基金会，目的是压下该机构的声音。
淡米尔基金会在于淡米尔教育的地位，相当于董教总在于华文教育，唯与成立逾50年的董教总相比，这个捍卫淡米尔教育的非政府组织年龄尚幼。淡米尔基金会在1993年开始投入运作，2003年方正式注册，迄今运作了14个年头。
首相在12月14日召开特别会议，听印裔团体代表反映印裔社群的问题，受邀团体大部份是宗教和经济领域的非政府组织。《新海峡时报》在特别会议次日刊登的报道列出了14个受邀出席特别会议团体，其中包括儿童资讯、学习和发展中心和社会策略基金会
社会策略基金会是国大党属下机构，能否在国大党主席三美威鲁在场的情况下，向首相“说真话”，无疑是一大疑问；儿童资讯、学习和发展中心主席比莱纳登（Pillay Nathan）则告诉《独立新闻在线》，他是以经济学者的身份受邀出席上述特别会议，儿童资讯、学习和发展中心并没有接到正式邀请。
【本刊陈慧思撰述】当华社哀叹华文小学没钱维修扩建之际，我国一些淡米尔文小学，连厕所也没有；有些淡米尔文小学，只能租借店屋办学，有的甚至没有正式的名号，只能依附在华小校园里，苟延残喘地担负传承母语教育的使命。
到马来西亚淡米尔教育研究与发展基金会（Tamil Foundation）访问时，该会执行主任纪威（Jiwi Kathaiah，右图）把一本厚厚的剪贴册交到我手中，剪贴册贴满了淡米尔文小学（简称“淡小”）年久失修、门户破落的照片；每一页，都洒满淡米尔教育的血泪控诉。其中好几张照片显示，孩子们悠哉闲哉地坐在大树下吃便当，仔细阅读图说，才知悉优美的“树头享食图”背后，隐含着学校没有食堂的真相。没有食堂事小，纪威还说，有些淡米尔文小学没有厕所。学校厕所没水、抽水系统失灵，在马来西亚自是司空见惯的事，可纪威说的是“学校没有厕所”。 没有食堂，孩子可坐在树下吃便当填饱肚子，可没有厕所，孩子们该到哪里大小解？
“拉开裤子，就小在草丛里、大树边。”纪威说。托付未来之地，饱受政策欺凌，因此，印度人管淡小叫“油瓶子”。
淡小借华小名义办学
淡米尔文小学的悲剧，早已写在印度国大党属下机构社会策略基金会（Yayasan Strategik Sosial）在2000年发布的《21世纪淡米尔文学校蓝图》（Pelan Induk Sekolah-sekolah Tamil）里。
该机构确认，淡米尔文学校基础建设严缺，“大部份淡米尔文学校没有适当的建筑物和基础设备，如桌椅、课室、游戏场、资料室、厕所、图书馆”。
根据《21世纪淡米尔文学校蓝图》，2000年全国共有520所淡小，其中433所（83.3%）坐落在乡区的私人土地上；许多淡小因教室不足，一些班级被迫共用教室；一些学校因没有校地，被迫以“国民型华小淡米尔分部”（SJK(C) Bahagian Tamil）名号办学，例如彭亨州金马扬国民型华小淡米尔分部小学。
该报告进一步指出：“没有政府的全津贴，大部份淡小在几近坍塌的旧建筑物中办学，在这些建筑物教学并不安全。”“公共工程局也鉴定，一部份淡小建筑物不安全，如森美兰州的双溪柯拉玛园丘淡小（SJK(T) Ladang Sungai Kelamah）。”
淡米尔基金会主席乌达雅索利安（K. Uthayasoorian，右图）透露，我国目前有523所淡小，其中376所或72%是半津贴小学。由于半津贴淡小没法享有政府的发展拨款，376所半津贴淡小中的129所，情况非常糟糕，其中一些没有厕所、没有食堂、黑板残破，也有的欠缺桌椅、文件柜和教具。半津贴淡小年久失修、设备严缺，源自于发展拨款的缺席。发展拨款则是指兴建新学校、重建校舍、扩建校舍、维修校舍、购买桌椅及其它硬体设备的拨款。华小和淡小一直以来都很难申请到发展拨款，以作为学校硬体设备建设的用途。
董教总曾发表文告指出，华小和淡小长期未获政府的发展拨款。从过去几个马来西亚计划的发展拨款来看，政府显然是不曾公平合理对待华小和淡小；例如，在第八马来西亚计划（2001-2005年），华小和淡小学生人数分别占各源流小学学生总数的21%和3%，但只得到2.73%（1亿3360万元）和1.17%（5760万元）的发展拨款而已。【点击：促政府三年拨十亿建百所华小 董教总提九建议改善教育蓝图】
被迫租借店屋办学
乌达雅索利安表示，在园丘淡小面临学生削减的窘境的同时，城市地区的淡小供不应求。他举例说：“巴生新邦立马淡小（SJK(T) Simpang Lima）只有400个学位，可是却录取了500多名学生，还有两百多名学生被拒于门外，我们也不知道该把他们送到哪里去好。”
纪威说，不可增建淡小是政府不成文的政策，因此城市淡小爆满，只能透过“迁校”方式解决。他一脸悲愤地说，一所迁至首都武吉加里尔（Bukit Jalil）的淡小，被迫迁到了火葬场去，新校舍就跟火葬场毗邻。
乌达雅索利安甚至和纪威透露，森美兰州芦骨（Lukut）双溪沙叻园丘淡小（SJK(T) Sg. Salak）原先坐落在园丘内，因学校学生不足，且校舍过于破落，而向教育部申请搬迁。可是，由于没有人捐献土地，该校最终决定租借店面办学（右图），最令人震惊的是，教育部官员竟批准校方这么做。纪威指出，该校目前租用一个双层店屋单位教学，就读学生约有一百名。
除了无从增校，淡小也面对师资短缺、办学素质下降的问题。乌达雅索利安指出，去年淡小缺乏768名受训教师，影响淡小的办学素质。
与华小的问题一般，淡小的问题是非马来文教育遭边缘化的问题。由于半津贴淡小没法取得政府拨款维修和扩建校园，印裔社群必须扛起维修和扩建校园的重责。与华小一般无异，增建淡小是太阳底下的鲜事，宣称代表印裔社群的印度国大党只以“搬迁淡小”居功，没有从教育需求的角度着手挑战现有的政策。
出钱的人都捐累了
除了接应半津贴淡小，印裔社群还须分身兼顾全津贴淡小。如果学生人数少的学校获准搬迁，印裔社会非但必须自行觅地，还需自行承担建筑费。
乌达雅指出，新邦立马淡小虽说是一所全津贴学校，可是扩充学校的费用，还是落到了公众的身上。他说，该淡小新落成一栋四层楼高的校舍，建筑费高达160万元，可是由于捐款不足，目前尚欠下三、四万元债务。
富裕的华社每年捐款二亿元贡献华文教育，尚且酿成2005年华小教师曾文珩踩到腐朽的天花板坠楼的人间惨剧，印裔社会自然无法扛负沉重的教育重责，每年的捐款可谓杯水车薪。此外，原先由园丘公司设立的淡小，没有华小的“董事会”制度，加之园丘淡小学生的家长一般经济拮据，淡米尔教育的考验，肯定比华文教育严峻。
印裔社会自顾不暇，还需兼顾淡小的发展，可谓雪上加霜、捉襟见肘。淡米尔基金会前总秘书阿鲁姆干（K.Arumugam，右图）指出，印裔社会每年大约捐出一千万元接应淡米尔文小学，这笔钱尚不足以应付庞大的扩建和发展开销。 乌达雅索利安告诉《独立新闻在线》，出钱的来来去去都是同一批人，久而久之大家都累了。
访问当天（12月7日），纪威向记者展示当日的淡米尔文报纸，说：“报纸写，印度国大党主席成功为新学校筹获捐款；他在任的26年内，总共增加了76所新学校，但实际上，钱都来自于公众，且大部份新学校都是在迁校计划下诞生的。”
淡小的命运与华小无异，过去数十年来，淡米尔文小学的学生增加了，但学校非但没有增建，反而减少。根据社会策略基金会2000年的报告，在1963年马来西亚初成立时，我国有720所淡小，可是在1973年，淡小减少至631所，1985年进一步减至555所，形成2000年只剩526所淡小的局面。这期间，淡小减少了194所，但淡小学生的人数已从1970年的7万9278人增加至2000年的9万7000人。
制度偏差延续到第九计划
尽管44岁的吉打州吉华K校老师曾文珩2005年9月坠楼丧命，敲响校舍年久失修、危及人命的警钟，可是除了拨出一千万元的紧急拨款作为全国所有半津贴学校的维修校舍基金，迄今未见政府采取任何具体步骤，以制度化解决“半津贴小学”校舍陈旧失修的问题。
《1996年教育法令》没有区分“全津贴小学”和“半津贴小学”，反之把所有国民型小学都归为政府资助学校（government-aid school），可享有全部的资助拨款（full grant-in-aid）及资本拨款（capital grant）。
《1996年教育法令》生效后，教育部于1998年通过一份书面指南，把校地属于中央政府的学校划为“sekolah bantuan penuh”（“全津贴学校”），而校地不属于中央政府的学校则划为“sekolah bantuan modal”（“半津贴学校”），以致建在州政府、学校董事会、社团、园丘公司等土地上的华小和淡小，都成为了半津贴学校。【点击：董事须注册教育局却说没表格 董总收集书面资料拟起诉政府】
“半津贴学校”这个新生概念最具争议性之处，是此类学校没法享有政府的发展拨款，只可获得行政津贴，应付水电费、电话费等日常开销。社会策略基金会因而在《21世纪淡米尔文学校蓝图》中建议政府指示园丘公司和教堂转换土地权予政府，或援引《土地征用法》收购淡小土地。
可是，政府没有采纳此建议，反之把教育部书面指南的偏差，导入引领我国前进的《第九马来西亚计划（2006-2010年）》。第九马来西亚计划拨予小学的发展拨款为马币48亿3730万元；2006年4月13日，副教育部长诺奥玛（Noh Omar）在国会下议院表示，华小和淡小的发展拨款各为马币1亿7434万元和6484万元。 48亿3730万元的巨额拨款中，政府只拨出区区6484元作为淡小未来五年的发展资金，触怒了早已意识到政策失衡的部份印裔国民。今年三月，600名印裔国民响应了有心公民组织（Group of Concerned Citizens）的号召，到国会大厦向国会在野党领袖林吉祥和首相署部长纳兹里（Nazri Aziz）提呈一份备忘录，呼吁政府莫再把淡小当作油瓶子。【“拉伯，救救我们的淡小！” 六百印裔国会大厦前请愿救校】
首相选择性听真话？
虽说淡小问题严峻，宣称拥有一双“大耳朵”的首相阿都拉迄今尚未交出决心，改善淡米尔教育的问题。三万印度人走上街头之后，屡番宣称“要听真话”的阿都拉在12月14日召见印裔团体，请他们向他“说真话”，可是，乌达雅索利安告诉《独立新闻在线》，阿都拉并没有邀请任何一个与淡米尔教育有直接关联的非政府组织派代表出席上述特别会议。
乌达雅索利安表示，阿都拉召见的都是亲印度国大党的组织，当中没有任何团体与淡米尔教育有直接关联。他坚决认为，淡米尔基金会作为一个捍卫淡米尔教育的团体，应该被纳入受邀团体之列。 淡米尔基金会前总秘书阿鲁姆干认为，首相没有邀请淡米尔基金会，目的是压下该机构的声音。
淡米尔基金会在于淡米尔教育的地位，相当于董教总在于华文教育，唯与成立逾50年的董教总相比，这个捍卫淡米尔教育的非政府组织年龄尚幼。淡米尔基金会在1993年开始投入运作，2003年方正式注册，迄今运作了14个年头。
首相在12月14日召开特别会议，听印裔团体代表反映印裔社群的问题，受邀团体大部份是宗教和经济领域的非政府组织。《新海峡时报》在特别会议次日刊登的报道列出了14个受邀出席特别会议团体，其中包括儿童资讯、学习和发展中心和社会策略基金会
社会策略基金会是国大党属下机构，能否在国大党主席三美威鲁在场的情况下，向首相“说真话”，无疑是一大疑问；儿童资讯、学习和发展中心主席比莱纳登（Pillay Nathan）则告诉《独立新闻在线》，他是以经济学者的身份受邀出席上述特别会议，儿童资讯、学习和发展中心并没有接到正式邀请。
Merdeka Review: 马来人原住民同归类土著 平均收入数字说真话了吗？
失落印记系列（二）
【本刊陈慧思撰述】2007年12月3日，副乡村与区域发展部长再那阿比丁（Zainal Abidin）以数据论证印裔收入比土著高。他在国会下议院说，2004年各族贫穷和赤贫率是土著8.3%、印裔2.9%，华裔0.6%，而同年各族每月家庭收入数据显示，土著家庭平均月入2711元，印裔3456元，华裔4437元。
数据可以拨乱归正，也可以混淆视听，上述数据事实上没有说明我国主要族群的财富实况。第九马来西亚计划书以“土著”、“华裔”和“印裔”划分各大族群，其中“土著”涵盖马来人和原住民，虽说《联邦宪法》赋予马来人及东马（沙巴和砂拉越）原住民相同的“特殊地位”，但两者享有的资源实有天渊之别。政府计算贫穷率时，把一直被政府政策边缘化的原住民与备受眷顾的马来人同归类为“土著”，无疑遮盖社会的真实面貌。
经济学者查尔斯圣地亚哥（右图）认为，把原住民和马来人混为一谈，是官方贫穷家庭数字的关键疑点。贫困的东马原住民肯定拉底了“土著”的家庭月均收入，为此他质疑“马来人最多贫穷家庭”说法的真实性。
过去一直走在原住民人权路上的柯林认为，官方数字匪夷所思，政府把“土著”当作一个族群（ethnic group），是“非常错误”的，因为原住民虽贵为“土著”，但向来没法与马来人同享土著特权；反之，原住民人权遭蚕食的状况时而有之。
柯林说：“因此有人说，土著分成三种，马来人是第一等土著，沙巴和砂拉越的原住民是第二等土著、西马的原住民则是第三等土著。”
他表示，根据1970年推行的新经济政策，马来人、沙巴和砂拉越的原住民及西马原住民都归类为“土著”（Bumiputra），但他们的权利有巨大差距；譬如，原住民的土地可轻易地被财团占为己有，不过马来人的土地不易转手，且马来人可透过垦殖地计划联邦土地发展局计划（Felda）取得土地。
柯林认为，官方数字把马来人和原住民包揽一块儿，无异于隐瞒实情，因为超过75%的西马原住民生活在贫穷线上，其中三分之一还是赤贫人士。他说：“原住民的收入每个月都有变化，这个月是雨季，属于艰难的时期，他们大概只可挣得100元左右。”
兴都权利行动力量（HINDRAF）在11月25日号召了三万印度人走上街头，为己身权益呛声之后，政府机构、国大党领袖接连在主流媒体极力打造“印裔不贫穷”的印象。除了副乡村与区域发展部长在国会下议院以家庭平均月收和贫穷率论证印裔收入比土著高，首相阿都拉巴达威也在12月1日宣称“政府为印裔尽心尽力”（government doing its best for Indians），驳斥印裔遭边缘化的说法。
国大党主席三美威鲁（Samy Vellu）否认印裔被边缘化，且在12月9日大谈反映“印裔成功”的数字，包括原先60%在园丘工作的印裔，目前已有80%人口迁移到城市、印裔失业率仅3.1%、印裔专业人士和经理占劳动人口11.5%、副教授、讲师和护士占19.4%、印裔平均月入3456元等等。
三美威鲁的数据与第九马来西亚计划书的数据无异，只是经济学者从这串数据中看到的，是印度人的困境，而非印度人的成功故事。
此外，圣地亚哥也指出，印裔律师、医生等专业人士比例已逐年下降；在1980年代，印裔医生原占各族医生总数的41.7%，但到了2005年，印裔医生已下跌到26.6%；印裔律师也从1980年代的35.4%的高比例，下滑到2005年的24.1%。
415元可供一家吃营养餐？
根据第九马来西亚计划，我国的赤贫家庭数目已从9万1700户减低到6万7300户。在2004年，土著的赤贫家庭比率达1.9%、华人赤贫家庭则占0.1%、印度人占0.3%。可是，数据说真话了吗？
我国在2005年重新调整沿用自1977年的贫穷线收入（Poverty Line Income），把贫穷线收入定在每户家庭月入691元、赤贫线收入定在415元。这个收入且是以每户家庭4.5个成员作为计算单位，换言之，“赤贫人士”是以每月收入少于93元界定，贫穷人士则是月入少于155元的国民。
官方的计算方式非常令人疑惑。在20分钱可以买一碗辣沙面条的1977年，我国的贫穷线收入是588元、赤贫线收入是294元，在三、四元才能买一碗辣沙面条的今天，贫穷线收入竟只增加103元，赤贫线收入则只增121元。
第九马来西亚报告宣称，重新计算赤贫线收入时已征询营养师、食疗师和专业医生的意见，415元已足以让一个家庭享有均衡营养，包括吃到谷麦产品、鸡、蛋、鱼、牛奶、油、脂肪、糖、蔬菜、水果和豆类。我国只以“食”作为制定赤贫线收入的准绳，没有把“衣、住、行”上的开支纳入考量，贫穷线收入则把“衣、住、行”也纳入考量。值得关注的是，纵使纳入“衣、住、行”方面的开销，贫穷线收入也只比单单计算食物开销的赤贫线收入高出276元。
此外，政府也在第九马来西亚计划书中承认，各州和区之间依旧存在巨大的贫富差距。计划书指出，经济成长是收入和生活素质提升的刺激因素，可是它没有确保社会上所有人皆可公平共享成长的好处。
三万原先任命似地日以继夜在园丘和工厂默默工作的印度人，冒着被警察逮捕的危险，在11月25日当天走上街头发出由衷的怒吼；他们从“36.4%从事低薪行业的印度人”的数据中走来、从每日缠身的苦难中走来，可是，只一会儿他们的声音又被官方数据淹没。
官方界定赤贫线收入的方式，到种族的分类都出现争议，乃至一族当中的贫富悬殊状况被模糊化，因此，官方数字说真话了吗？宣称自己有双大耳朵的首相阿都拉，确定自己听见真话了吗？
【本刊陈慧思撰述】2007年12月3日，副乡村与区域发展部长再那阿比丁（Zainal Abidin）以数据论证印裔收入比土著高。他在国会下议院说，2004年各族贫穷和赤贫率是土著8.3%、印裔2.9%，华裔0.6%，而同年各族每月家庭收入数据显示，土著家庭平均月入2711元，印裔3456元，华裔4437元。
数据可以拨乱归正，也可以混淆视听，上述数据事实上没有说明我国主要族群的财富实况。第九马来西亚计划书以“土著”、“华裔”和“印裔”划分各大族群，其中“土著”涵盖马来人和原住民，虽说《联邦宪法》赋予马来人及东马（沙巴和砂拉越）原住民相同的“特殊地位”，但两者享有的资源实有天渊之别。政府计算贫穷率时，把一直被政府政策边缘化的原住民与备受眷顾的马来人同归类为“土著”，无疑遮盖社会的真实面貌。
原住民关怀中心（Centre for Orang Asli Concern）负责人柯林尼克拉斯（Colin Nicholas，右图）以一个粗浅的经济学例子，说明平均收入耐人寻味之处：一个小岛国如果只住着两个人，一个是坐拥一百万元的富翁，另一个是一文不名的穷光蛋，虽说该国有一半人口没钱开饭，但人均收入却是50万元。
因此，平均收入无法反映某一群体的贫穷状况，我国印裔的处境，无法以平均收入测量。经济学者查尔斯圣地亚哥（Charles Santiago）就指出，印裔的股权从2000年的1.5%掉到2005年的1.2%，其中大部份股权由全国第二首富阿南达（Ananda Krishnan）拥有，除却阿南达的份额，印裔大约只有0.5至0.9%的股份。
民主行动党怡保西区国会议员古拉（M.Kulasegaran）早前也曾在一篇文告中说，我国65%的印度人活在贫穷线上；占全国总人口8%的印裔，只控制我国1.2%的股权，而马来人占了20%，华人则占了40%。在印裔所占的1.2%股权之中，其中1%就由印裔首富阿南达占据。
阿南达现年68岁，根据《福布斯》的估计，阿南达的财富高达60亿美元（约马币200亿元）。阿南达的业务主要集中在亚太区，遍布东南亚、澳洲、印度和中国。除了涉足流动通讯服务的明讯，阿南达还有两家上市公司--寰宇电视和丹戎。
政策偏颇 土著分贵贱
经济学者查尔斯圣地亚哥（右图）认为，把原住民和马来人混为一谈，是官方贫穷家庭数字的关键疑点。贫困的东马原住民肯定拉底了“土著”的家庭月均收入，为此他质疑“马来人最多贫穷家庭”说法的真实性。
根据第九马来西亚计划中2004年的数据，土著高居我国赤贫和贫穷率榜首，赤贫人口有1.9%、贫穷人口有8.3%；其次是印裔，赤贫人口达0.3%、贫穷人口达2.9%；华裔族群中则有0.1%赤贫人口，以及0.6%贫穷人口。必须注意的是，“土著”涵盖了马来人及沙巴、砂拉越和半岛的原住民；原住民享有的优惠，与马来人的落差很大，东马许多原住民甚至活在没有水电供应的环境中。因此，把马来人和原住民混为一谈的所谓“土著贫穷率和赤贫率”肯定无法实际反映马来人的处境。
过去一直走在原住民人权路上的柯林认为，官方数字匪夷所思，政府把“土著”当作一个族群（ethnic group），是“非常错误”的，因为原住民虽贵为“土著”，但向来没法与马来人同享土著特权；反之，原住民人权遭蚕食的状况时而有之。
柯林说：“因此有人说，土著分成三种，马来人是第一等土著，沙巴和砂拉越的原住民是第二等土著、西马的原住民则是第三等土著。”
他表示，根据1970年推行的新经济政策，马来人、沙巴和砂拉越的原住民及西马原住民都归类为“土著”（Bumiputra），但他们的权利有巨大差距；譬如，原住民的土地可轻易地被财团占为己有，不过马来人的土地不易转手，且马来人可透过垦殖地计划联邦土地发展局计划（Felda）取得土地。
此外，原住民也没有从固打制中获益，原住民事务局（Jabatan Orang Asli）甚至由非原住民管理。
西马75%原住民贫穷
柯林认为，官方数字把马来人和原住民包揽一块儿，无异于隐瞒实情，因为超过75%的西马原住民生活在贫穷线上，其中三分之一还是赤贫人士。他说：“原住民的收入每个月都有变化，这个月是雨季，属于艰难的时期，他们大概只可挣得100元左右。”
根据第九马来西亚计划书，2005年的人口有2675万人，其中2436万人是公民。在2436名公民之中，1606万人是土著，占总人口64.9%；615万人是华人，占总人口25.3%；183万人是印度人，占总人口7.5%，其他族群有32万人。
第九马来西亚计划书和我国统计局（Jabatan Statistik）的人口报告都没有详细说明“土著”大伞下的各族人口。我国原住民人口并不少，全马原住民总人口相当于第三大族群印裔的人口。
砂拉越和沙巴的人口分别在230万至250万左右，根据统计局2000年人口统计，伊班族（Iban）就占了砂拉越总人口的30.1%；卡达山族（Kadazan Dusun）和巴瑶族（Bajau）总共占沙巴州总人口的35.7%。换言之，两州的主要原住民人口就达到150万人。
砂拉越和沙巴的人口分别在230万至250万左右，根据统计局2000年人口统计，伊班族（Iban）就占了砂拉越总人口的30.1%；卡达山族（Kadazan Dusun）和巴瑶族（Bajau）总共占沙巴州总人口的35.7%。换言之，两州的主要原住民人口就达到150万人。
表一：2004年我国各族平均家庭月收和坚尼指数（Gini Coeefficient）
表二：1999年和2004年各族贫穷率和赤贫率（%）
36.4%印度人从事底薪行业
国大党主席三美威鲁（Samy Vellu）否认印裔被边缘化，且在12月9日大谈反映“印裔成功”的数字，包括原先60%在园丘工作的印裔，目前已有80%人口迁移到城市、印裔失业率仅3.1%、印裔专业人士和经理占劳动人口11.5%、副教授、讲师和护士占19.4%、印裔平均月入3456元等等。
三美威鲁的数据与第九马来西亚计划书的数据无异，只是经济学者从这串数据中看到的，是印度人的困境，而非印度人的成功故事。
第九马来西亚计划报告书显示，印裔家庭平均月收和贫穷率皆比土著高，但由于“土著”涵盖巫裔和原住民，无法为人透视各族人民的真实处境；印裔社群巨大的贫富鸿沟也令大部份印裔的困境被掩埋在亮眼的家庭平均收入中，经济学者唯有从其它数据中寻端倪。
查尔斯圣地亚哥引用第九马来西亚计划书的2005年数据指出，20.1%印度人从事种植业、机械操作和装备工作，另有16.3%印度人从事没有任何技能需求的“基础行业”（elementary occupations）；换言之，有36.4%印度人从事底薪行业。在三大比较族群中，从事上述两个低薪范畴工作的印度人比例最高，土著次之（25.4%），华人居下（19.1%）。
一般人的印象是，许多印度人投身高薪专业领域，社会上许多医生、律师都是印裔脸孔，但实际上印裔族群的专业人士比例是三大族群中最低。根据第九马来西亚计划，专业人士占印裔劳动人口的5.2%，共有4万4100人，仅占我国专业人士总数的8.2%。土著专业人士占土著劳动人口的6.1%，共有31万4200人，占我国专业人士总数的58.5%；华裔专业人士占华裔劳动人口的5.8%，共有17万1300人，占我国专业人士总数的31.9%。
印裔自杀率各族最高
此外，圣地亚哥也指出，印裔律师、医生等专业人士比例已逐年下降；在1980年代，印裔医生原占各族医生总数的41.7%，但到了2005年，印裔医生已下跌到26.6%；印裔律师也从1980年代的35.4%的高比例，下滑到2005年的24.1%。
圣地亚哥也透露，国内有30%印度人没有住处、10万个印度人当中有21.1人自杀，是我国自杀率最高的族群。他进一步披露，我国有七万印度人没有报生纸、没有身份证，因此没有机会享有国民福利，比如接受教育和获享医疗服务。圣地亚哥没有进一步证实上述说法，但他表示，的确有许多土生土长的印度人没有报生纸和身份证，确切数字可能超过七万人。
他指出，单从表面上的生活成本数字，没法评比各族的贫穷率，因为马来人可在一定程度上享受国家扶助，而且其他族群的生活成本要比马来人高。他举例，在教育方面，政府开办全宿学校（Sekolah Asrama），解决贫困巫裔学生的教育问题，巫裔学生也可申请国州政府或国油等官联公司奖学金在国内外大学深造；在房屋方面，土著较易申请到廉价屋，购屋也享有土著优惠，反之其他族群则没法享有类似福利。
415元可供一家吃营养餐？
我国的贫穷率计算法一向有争议，韩德森（Jeffrey Henderson）等人在2002年发表的《马来西亚的经济治国和贫穷下降》学术论文中指出，我国的贫穷线指数的计算方式，单以衣食住行基本生活所需作准，没有纳入其它方面的考量。作者也提及，在贫穷研究中，详细、分析性的资料尤其重要，可是，我国缺乏有关贫穷的特性方面的资料。
根据第九马来西亚计划，我国的赤贫家庭数目已从9万1700户减低到6万7300户。在2004年，土著的赤贫家庭比率达1.9%、华人赤贫家庭则占0.1%、印度人占0.3%。可是，数据说真话了吗？
我国在2005年重新调整沿用自1977年的贫穷线收入（Poverty Line Income），把贫穷线收入定在每户家庭月入691元、赤贫线收入定在415元。这个收入且是以每户家庭4.5个成员作为计算单位，换言之，“赤贫人士”是以每月收入少于93元界定，贫穷人士则是月入少于155元的国民。
官方的计算方式非常令人疑惑。在20分钱可以买一碗辣沙面条的1977年，我国的贫穷线收入是588元、赤贫线收入是294元，在三、四元才能买一碗辣沙面条的今天，贫穷线收入竟只增加103元，赤贫线收入则只增121元。
第九马来西亚报告宣称，重新计算赤贫线收入时已征询营养师、食疗师和专业医生的意见，415元已足以让一个家庭享有均衡营养，包括吃到谷麦产品、鸡、蛋、鱼、牛奶、油、脂肪、糖、蔬菜、水果和豆类。我国只以“食”作为制定赤贫线收入的准绳，没有把“衣、住、行”上的开支纳入考量，贫穷线收入则把“衣、住、行”也纳入考量。值得关注的是，纵使纳入“衣、住、行”方面的开销，贫穷线收入也只比单单计算食物开销的赤贫线收入高出276元。
各族收入鸿沟持续扩大
虽说一般的印象是，贫穷和赤贫线收入被低估了，但贫穷和赤贫比率仍比1977年明显提高。根据第九来西亚计划，2005年的贫穷率是5.7%（1977年：4.4%）、赤贫率是1.2%（0.7%）。
按照上述计算基础，赤贫比率尚有攀升的趋势，实际赤贫数字恐怕是个令人吃惊的数字。2004年，赤贫比率为1.2%，比1977年的0.7%高出0.5%。第九马来西亚计划也提及，各族和族群之中的收入失衡现象有恶化趋势，各族的收入差距也持续扩大。
此外，政府也在第九马来西亚计划书中承认，各州和区之间依旧存在巨大的贫富差距。计划书指出，经济成长是收入和生活素质提升的刺激因素，可是它没有确保社会上所有人皆可公平共享成长的好处。
三万原先任命似地日以继夜在园丘和工厂默默工作的印度人，冒着被警察逮捕的危险，在11月25日当天走上街头发出由衷的怒吼；他们从“36.4%从事低薪行业的印度人”的数据中走来、从每日缠身的苦难中走来，可是，只一会儿他们的声音又被官方数据淹没。
官方界定赤贫线收入的方式，到种族的分类都出现争议，乃至一族当中的贫富悬殊状况被模糊化，因此，官方数字说真话了吗？宣称自己有双大耳朵的首相阿都拉，确定自己听见真话了吗？
Merdeka Review: 园丘奠定印度人悲惨命运 歧视性政策拉长历史悲剧
失落印记系列（一）
【本刊陈慧思撰述】迪鲁（化名）有两个兄弟，一个20岁，一个22岁，三兄弟都在政府学院求学。11月24日晚上八时，迪鲁与母亲和两个兄弟到首都黑风洞为刚刚动过脊椎手术的父亲祈福。晚上十时回到泊车处取车时，他们遇上了蜂拥而至的镇暴队，与同在当地的八千人被逼回了庙宇的铁栏栅内。接着，警察向内射来阵阵催泪弹和水炮，印裔向外投掷砖块，场面一片混乱。【点击：警方向黑风洞庙发水炮催泪弹 公民组织拟向人权委员会投报】
迪鲁的两兄弟也许冒犯了警察，12月4日凌晨2时，没有着制服的警察出现在迪鲁的家门前，把他两个刚从睡梦中惊醒的兄弟带走。两日后，兄弟俩与另外29人被总检察长提控参与非法集会、企图谋杀和破坏公物，法官拒允31人保释，迪鲁的两兄弟需在扣留所内过日子，直到审讯结束。【点击：采纳总检察长公众利益论 地庭不准31印裔被告保外】
法官的一道口头指令，是迪鲁一家梦魇的开始。由于明年一月法庭审讯才刚开始，迪鲁担忧，明年一月开学前，兄弟俩还没能走出扣留所。迪鲁一家的生活原已被父亲脊椎手术打乱，现在家中两个孩子被扣留，更是雪上加霜。迪鲁告诉我，兄弟被带走后，母亲终日以泪洗脸，他现在的感觉，除了茫然，还是茫然。现年21岁的迪鲁说：“或许我会出去社会工作。”
迪鲁的父亲是典型的城市印裔劳工，一个月只挣千多元，可是需要养活一家五口。一场脊椎手术的到来，就足以击垮一直以来撑起整个家的梁柱；被政治势力打压时，没有政治力量、经济力量可以投靠，只能眼睁睁看着已身命运遭任意宰割。
邱家金：英人没分而治之
城市印裔劳工的命运，可追溯至英殖民地时期的历史。在英殖民时期，马来人从事传统农业，农产收入是马来苏丹的主要财富来源。19世纪英国工业革命兴起，极需大批原料，为了开发锡矿业和橡胶业，英殖民地政府引进中国人工开采锡矿，又从印度引进淡米尔纳都省（Tamil Nadu）的劳工，到橡胶园工作，造就了今日三大种族共存的局面。印度人的命运，无法与这段历史切割开来。
一般认为，我国三大种族各自为政，是英殖民地政府“分而治之”的结果，兴都权利行动力量（Hindraf）甚至把马来西亚印度人今日的命运归咎于英殖民地政府，入禀英国法庭向英国政府索取四兆美元的赔偿。可是，皇家教授邱家金（左图）接受《独立新闻在线》访问时，断定英殖民地政府没有推行“分而治之”政策。
邱家金指出，英殖民政府没有蓄意推行“分而治之”政策（Divide and Rule Policy）；各族群迥异的生活形态，是我国各种族人民各自为政、集群而居的结果。他说：“华人在华人商店购物，印度人在印度商店购物，马来人在马来人商店购物，那时候也有华校、淡小、马来文学校，这些全都不是由英国（政府）创造的。”
邱家金表示：“这些都不是英国人策划，是人们自己造成，华人想要去华校，印度人要去淡米尔学校，马来人要去马来文学校。当时的华人仍旧效忠中国，英国人尝试把教育‘马来化’，可是遭到华人反对。”
当记者提出，英殖民地的“分而治之”政策早已写在我国中学历史课本，邱家金一口回驳：“不不不，没这回事，他们随便撰写历史。”
目前在马来亚大学担任历史系教授的他指出，在英殖民时期，马来人拒绝到园丘工作，中国人则占据了锡矿业，开发园丘的英国人因而从英国殖民地印度引进劳工到园丘工作。他强调，我国第二大人口华人是由华裔锡矿业者从中国引进的，英国人从未引进中国人。
他解释，英国人从未统治过中国，对华人缺乏了解，且避免卷入华人私会党问题，因此英国人干脆从英殖民地印度引进印度人。
11月25日，三万名印裔国民响应兴都权利行动力量的号召，挂起印度国父甘地（Gandhi）的图像、举起诉求自身权利的布条走上街头，控诉政府剥夺印度人权利、边缘化这个族群。虽说兴都权利行动力量领袖的动员方式和诉求手法引发争议，可是一般人都能认同，我国推行多年的歧视性政策，已对经济力量薄弱的印度人造成切身的困扰，以致印度人终于挺身发出同一分贝的抗议声。
无论如何，邱家金不认同屈身园丘是印度人贫穷的根本原因，反之他引述《新海峡时报》刊登的数据指出，土著才是我国最穷的族群。他表示，很多印度人透过教育（特别是英文教育），走出了园丘，成为教师、助理、律师、医生。英国人在引进印度人劳工的同时，也从印度带入了一批谙英语的专业人士，协助管理马来半岛，因此，在英殖民地时期，许多书记、医院护理人员都是印度人。
走出园丘 印度人由零开始
人权工作者阿鲁茨万（S.Arutchelvan，右图）有另一番说法。他向《独立新闻在线》表示，19
世纪以前到马来亚半岛定居的印度人是经商的印度人，19世纪以后英殖民政府引进的则是贫苦的劳工；因此，可说我国印裔社会有富裕的传统，也有贫困的传统，富裕阶层诞生许多专业人士，贫困阶层则始终困顿园丘。
也是社会主义党总秘书的阿鲁茨万说，在国家发展过程中，许多园丘逐渐被淘汰，或转型作其它商业用途；外国劳工也开始走入园丘，与我国园丘工人争饭碗，原先居住在园丘宿舍的园丘工人被迫迁居到城市谋生。早期迁居的印度人，都在没有地契的木屋区落脚，以致今日园丘内的兴都庙宇被拆、木屋区兴都庙宇被拆的事件时有所闻。
经济学者查尔斯圣地亚哥认同，印裔园丘工人从园丘迁移到城市，是从一个形式的贫穷问题，走到另一个形式的贫穷问题。他指出，印裔劳工孑然一身，拖儿带女迁移到城市，没有工作，也没有求生技能（原先的农业技能没法派上用场），只能到工厂工作，成为城市中的贫穷阶级。
他表示，马来人和华人早年占用政府地建造的房子和种植农作物，这些土地逐渐地转换成他们各自的资产，可是，大批印度人一开始就在园丘工作，住在园丘公司提供的员工房舍，园丘关闭后员工即一无所有。
阿鲁茨万认同上述说法，他补充，在园丘工作时，园丘公司为印度人提供住宿，园丘内也有兴都庙、淡米尔学校、游乐场等设备，因此，在园丘生活的印度人一旦离开园丘，一切必须由零开始。 换言之，印裔园工没有累计资产，一起步即落后其他族群几个马鼻。为此，圣地亚哥认为，国家欠下国内印度人“历史债务”（historical debt）。
英殖民地时代遗下的“历史债务”，没有为我国政府适当“偿还”，反之，我国政府在1969年“513事件”后制订为期20年的新经济政策（1971-1990）以及为期十年的国家发展政策（1991-2000），推行扶助土著（实乃马来人）的政策，持续漠视印度人的贫困问题。因此，经济力量薄弱的印度人在国家独立50年后走上街头讨取本身的权益，肯定是印裔社群积怨爆发的结果。
新经济政策两大目标为重组社会及不分种族消除贫穷，可是其消除贫穷的方式却是落实土著固打制，以致“不分种族消除贫穷”的目标成为大幌子，这项具歧视性的政策也因而被视为非巫裔国民遭边缘化的祸首。
因捍卫学术尊严愤而辞去公共策略研究中心（Centre for Public Policy Studies）主任职位的林德宜就曾非议，新经济政策是一项边缘大部分国民、利惠一小撮人的畸形政策；新经济政策非但无法成功塑造各族团结一致的马来西亚，反之把先天成长条件优渥的马来西亚塑造成是一个异常分裂、充满不安、妒嫉、忧愁、没有爱心和不自由的国家。【点击：新经济政策拖累国运衰败 林德宜讥我国为亚洲小猫】
1973年拥屋政策失灵
阿鲁茨万提出，新经济政策早已意识到园丘工人的贫穷问题，且计划落实“1973年工人房屋拥有计划”（Workers House Ownership Scheme），可是在20年的推行过程中，只有区区2%园丘工人受惠！
他表示，早在1973年，新经济政策就已确认了六大贫穷类别，其中一个贫穷类别即是园丘工人。于是，政府在1973年拟定“1973年工人房屋拥有计划”，以便园丘工人可以取得园丘房屋的拥有权。可是，计划推出后，真正落实的园丘公司只有2%，由于政府没有认真落实计划，园丘公司根本就无视于政策的存在，以致“居者无其屋”的问题仍旧缠绕园丘印度人。
目前我国仍有为数众多的印度人在园丘工作，从自大学时代就走入园丘和工厂，关心园丘和工厂工人命运的阿鲁茨万指出，园丘的生活环境非常恶劣，虽说园丘内有诊疗所，园丘工人也可享有诊疗所的“免费医疗服务”，可是目前整个马来西亚半岛的园丘只有三名医生，许多园丘的诊疗所只在下午六时过后开业，且只有一名员工负责视病情派药，卫生医疗情况非常糟糕。
他指出，目前我国约有10万名园丘工人，大部份园丘工人的薪金会因农产品的市场价格、每日气候而有起落，一搬上，胶工的月薪是450元至650元之间、油棕园工人则是600元至1000元之间，园丘的普通员工则月薪在500元上下。马来西亚的家庭贫穷线收入定在月收691元、赤贫线收入定在415元。
以印裔为主的园丘工人，岂会没有贫穷问题？
My Knee ACL Operation
The date postponed to 4th January 2008 instead of 3rd January 2008 and i shall check in on 3rd Jan 2008, ready to be operated by surgeon Dr Sam.
Now, the problem is to settle the bill 1st (to purchase the necessary accessories), CASH!
Money, money, money.
Now, the problem is to settle the bill 1st (to purchase the necessary accessories), CASH!
Money, money, money.
Monday, December 17, 2007
See You On Friday
Tomorrow i will be off to Miri and shall be back to KL at night. See you on Friday afternoon after some leave, holoday and "MC" on Friday morning.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Full Video Clip - VK Lingam
From http://www.suarakeadilan.com/:
Full Transcript
Full version of VK Lingam Video.
The rot has to stop!
Time To Change!
Full version of VK Lingam Video.
The rot has to stop!
Time To Change!
ALIRAN: No to PGCC! Yes to Penang State Park!
If you are a concern Penangite, you should read this! It is all about crony & crony only! For me, it is just another development similar to Penang Hill back in 1980s where Penangite eventually launched the "Save Penang Hill" campaign and BN amost lost the Penang to DAP (3 more seats needed by DAP to rule Penang) in 1990 GE. It is time for another campaign. It is indeed another Deja Vu, both events happended before General Election (if the 12th GE is next year).
From ALIRAN:
Penang Turf Club land (240 acres)
Sold to Abad Naluri ("open recreational space"): RM43 per square foot
After re-zoning (to "mixed development"): value soars to RM250-300psf
Developer makes windfall profits before work can even begin!
Aliran puts the spotlight on an iconic monument to folly known as the Penang Global City Centre Project with an eye-popping development value estimated at RM25 billion. Critics have dubbed it the "Penang Graveyard and Crematorium Complex" because of its proximity to a crematorium and a cemetery. Already a civil society campaign against the PGCC is gaining momentum as more and more Penangites become aware of its horrendous environmental implications. Instead of creating a concrete monstrosity with 40 towers, the government must convert the Turf Club land into a State Park as a legacy for future generations
We are dismayed that the PM has launched the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project, because in doing so he has given legitimacy to a project that has not yet been approved by the MPPP and is clearly opposed by large sections of the community. With the enormous prestige and weight of his office behind it and with his call for approvals to be fast-tracked, it will be difficult for the government and municipal council officials concerned to decide and act impartially and objectively. They will be under tremendous pressure to deliver not withstanding the obvious shortcomings of the project.
Moreover it is also shrouded in serious controversy, which he must surely be aware of. Serious questions have been raised about the manner in which the land was converted from ‘Open Space’ to ‘Mixed Development’, about likely traffic congestion, the lack of public consultation, the absence of provision for social housing on the site and the shortage of recreational space in the state.
Private profits trump public park
The site of the project - the present Turf Club racecourse - was originally acquired for a nominal sum and was zoned as ‘Open Space’. This was changed very recently to ‘Mixed Development’, even though public opinion was unanimously against it, judging from the submissions sent in by the public during the 2007 Structure Plan exercise.
By going ahead with the rezoning, the State has acted arbitrarily and sacrificed the interests of the community to abet a group of land speculators who now stand to reap billions of ringgit in profit. Is the developer going to see through the project for the next 15 years or is he going to inflate the land price, make a quick profit and resell the land as was the case in the sale of the land for the Port Klang Free Zone? In the first place, how did the developer acquire the land at such a low price of RM488 million? And where did the money come from?
What any responsible government concerned about the lack of green spaces for the public should have done was to acquire the property from the previous owner at a fair price (based on the recreational value of the land) and then turn it into a public park for the people of Penang and as a legacy for generations to come.
Raising carbon emissions - not cutting them
The developer claims dubiously that the project will have a zero carbon target. This is a misleading claim, because carbon emissions should be measured from the moment work on the project begins and not after it is up and running. The destruction of the turf club environment and the construction of 40 towers, most of them over 40 storeys, are going to generate carbon emissions – not reduce them. Most of the towers will come with five-storey car-parks. And what about the increased volume of traffic and the elevated and widened roads that are bound to add rather than diminish carbon emissions?
If the developer is serious about zero carbon emissions or greening the earth, he would be better off turning the place into a park and planting trees. Since it is quite obvious from the project plans that the developer is more intent on making profits, we have to dismiss the zero-carbon emissions claim as a PR ploy aimed at winning over public support for the plans.
No public consultation
The project is so large that it will affect almost every person in Penang, but there has been very little public consultation or transparent information forthcoming. By our estimate it will generate about 60,000 traffic movements daily which will be channelled into Scotland Road and Jalan Utama (via Jalan Brook). Even now these roads are heavily congested and we worry what effect the huge additional traffic will have. For sure, we can expect more carbon emissions and noise pollution.
The traffic dispersal plan for the project leaves much to be desired based on such failed feeble attempts previously undertaken by the state government. We are therefore asking that the space be preserved for recreational use as a public park.
Traffic nightmare
For such a large project, public consultation was minimal, perfunctory and the areas of concern entirely ignored.
The project was obviously approved in Putrajaya, the plans were finalised without any local input, and it has now been publicly launched with much fanfare. That is not consultation. It smacks of an attempt to ride roughshod over all objections. It is top-down planning of the worst type and is against all principles of participatory democracy.
We call for greater genuine public consultation, as we believe many Penangites would rather see this space as a green lung, which is sadly lacking on the island.
No place for the poor and marginalised
Even though it is official policy that all development must include 30 per cent low-cost housing, inexplicably none will be built on the site. Instead the developer is proposing to build low and low-medium cost housing somewhere else, away from the site, on land he does not even own. We do not understand why he wants to deliberately keep away low income folks – including poor and marginalised Malays, Chinese, Indians and others – from this site.
We urge the Penang Municipal Council to act transparently and in the interest of Penangites by withholding approval for this luxury project, which caters only to the well-heeled. Instead, we call for this land to be turned into an iconic public park that will belong to everyone and be preserved as part of the authentic greening of the earth.
Where is the detailed EIA?
Given the size of the project, we are alarmed that it is being fast-tracked. A preliminary study would only be an eyewash and would not honestly address all the issues that are of serious concern.
We are confident that an honest independent EIA would show up the negative aspects of the project with all its adverse consequences for the environment and traffic as well as the tragic loss of future recreational space.
A major election issue
For all these reasons, we categorically reject the PGCC. We regret that the PM is giving this controversial and unapproved project legitimacy and urging the state authorities to expedite approval for a private firm’s project that would result in huge profits for the developer at the expense of the people of Penang.
We call on the Federal Government, the Penang State Government, the Penang Municipal Council, the Department of the Environment and other relevant approving bodies to reject the plans because it will result in tons of concrete being poured on the last remaining huge open green space on the island that could be turned into a public park.
We serve notice that we will be taking this campaign to the people of Penang through signature petitions, pamphleteering, independent media reports and the Internet to raise awareness of the need to protect and preserve the natural environment for future generations. We will make this a major issue in Penang for the coming general election.
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
Déjà vu after 20 years
1987 - ISA used in Ops Lalang
2007 - ISA used in HINDRAF (more news here)
The best way Pak Lah to shut them up up to 2 blardy years.
From Wikipedia:
However, several politicians from the Barisan Nasional coalition, including its largest component party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO or Umno), that has governed Malaysia since independence have also criticised the ISA. The fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, went on the record in 1988 to state "If we want to save Malaysia and Umno, Dr Mahathir (then Prime Minister) must be removed. He uses draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act to silence his critics." The year before, he had also stated "Laws such as the Internal Security Act have no place in modern Malaysia. It is a draconian and barbaric law." In 2003 when he became Prime Minister, however, Abdullah called the ISA "a necessary law," and argued "We have never misused the Internal Security Act. All those detained under the Internal Security Act are proven threats to society."
Déjà vu.
2007 - ISA used in HINDRAF (more news here)
The best way Pak Lah to shut them up up to 2 blardy years.
From Wikipedia:
However, several politicians from the Barisan Nasional coalition, including its largest component party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO or Umno), that has governed Malaysia since independence have also criticised the ISA. The fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, went on the record in 1988 to state "If we want to save Malaysia and Umno, Dr Mahathir (then Prime Minister) must be removed. He uses draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act to silence his critics." The year before, he had also stated "Laws such as the Internal Security Act have no place in modern Malaysia. It is a draconian and barbaric law." In 2003 when he became Prime Minister, however, Abdullah called the ISA "a necessary law," and argued "We have never misused the Internal Security Act. All those detained under the Internal Security Act are proven threats to society."
Déjà vu.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Flower In The Pocket
Presented by Da Huang Pictures.
A Film by Liew Seng Tat
20th Dec 2007
For Ticket: contact KJ at 012-2191860
Arrested Because He Love His Country ......
From Kit Siang's blog:
He (Chin Huat) committed no crime except for his love for the country and to protect and promote the Malaysian Constitution.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Tony Pua's Incredulity
From Tony Pua's Blog: Incredulity
Pak Lah, you have betrayed the trust of the people. I had plenty of faith in you when you first took over the prime ministership of this country. As I've blogged before, I had hope. Even when I lost faith in your leadership, I had thought that you were a pious and sincere person who lacked the necessary skills as a leader.
I'm sad to say that I was dead wrong. Clearly, many will tell me now that I'm such a terrible judge of character. Not only is our current prime minister a sleeping, absent, incompetent prime minister, his personal integrity and his sincerity in creating a better Malaysia is clearly in doubt.
When the Parliament, the symbol of people's democracy, where its members are themselves elected by the people, becomes a 'forbidden palace' to the people who want their grouses heard, it is the ultimate mockery of "democracy".
You would have read it here in Malaysiakini, where all roads to Parliament are blocked, preventing the people from handing their petition to the people who claim to represent them. Worse, Pak Lah ordered the leaders of BERSIH, the very people asking for clean and fair elections, arrested for attempting to hand the petition to the Parliament.
Pak Lah, you have declared in your BN mouthpiece, The Star, that you have ordered the arrests because "public safety above all". Pak Lah, do you bloody think that we are 3 year old kids? Are you trying to tell us that the rakyat, armed only with a few sheets of paper, approaching the Parliament on the edge of the city, is threatening the safety of Malaysians?
Pak Lah, please stop telling lies to our fellow Malaysians. You lied to the world when you declared that your cabinet comprised of 50% non-Malays.
Pak Lah, you promised us a less corrupt nation when you took over. Instead, we are more corrupt than ever, dropping a spot in international rankings for each year of your reign to 43rd this year.
Pak Lah, you also promised no more mega-bailouts, yet this year, you approved the biggest bailout ever in the history of Malaysia, attempting to rescue the unrescuable Port Klang Free Zone project with RM6.7 billion. And yet, the culprits for the fiasco has not been brought to book.
Pak Lah, you promised and boasted of greater press freedom, but interference in the mainstream media has never been more apparent! Malaysia crashed to its lowest ever press freedom ranking at 124th!
Pak Lah, most of all, you told us you wanted to hear the truth, no matter how much it hurts, but instead, you had your Minister of Misinformation, Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, tell the press editors that he'll only listen to Barisan Nasional component parties and not the media or the public. What's worse, there was never a denial that the instruction came from you!
Pak Lah, you said you were a Prime Minister for all Malaysians, but you declared Malaysia an Islamic state and concurred with your deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak that Malaysia was "never, never a secular state", a clear-cut defiance of the Federal Constitution, and discriminating against Malaysians' fundamental right to freedom of religion.
Pak Lah, you have clearly lost control of your administration. You have only demonstrated your utter incompetence, your lies and hypocrisy. Now, not only have I lost faith in your leadership, I have also lost faith in your integrity and piety.
Pak Lah, you are rubbish and you are a absolute disgrace to the nation.
I'm sad to say that I was dead wrong. Clearly, many will tell me now that I'm such a terrible judge of character. Not only is our current prime minister a sleeping, absent, incompetent prime minister, his personal integrity and his sincerity in creating a better Malaysia is clearly in doubt.
When the Parliament, the symbol of people's democracy, where its members are themselves elected by the people, becomes a 'forbidden palace' to the people who want their grouses heard, it is the ultimate mockery of "democracy".
You would have read it here in Malaysiakini, where all roads to Parliament are blocked, preventing the people from handing their petition to the people who claim to represent them. Worse, Pak Lah ordered the leaders of BERSIH, the very people asking for clean and fair elections, arrested for attempting to hand the petition to the Parliament.
Pak Lah, you have declared in your BN mouthpiece, The Star, that you have ordered the arrests because "public safety above all". Pak Lah, do you bloody think that we are 3 year old kids? Are you trying to tell us that the rakyat, armed only with a few sheets of paper, approaching the Parliament on the edge of the city, is threatening the safety of Malaysians?
Pak Lah, please stop telling lies to our fellow Malaysians. You lied to the world when you declared that your cabinet comprised of 50% non-Malays.
Pak Lah, you promised us a less corrupt nation when you took over. Instead, we are more corrupt than ever, dropping a spot in international rankings for each year of your reign to 43rd this year.
Pak Lah, you also promised no more mega-bailouts, yet this year, you approved the biggest bailout ever in the history of Malaysia, attempting to rescue the unrescuable Port Klang Free Zone project with RM6.7 billion. And yet, the culprits for the fiasco has not been brought to book.
Pak Lah, you promised and boasted of greater press freedom, but interference in the mainstream media has never been more apparent! Malaysia crashed to its lowest ever press freedom ranking at 124th!
Pak Lah, most of all, you told us you wanted to hear the truth, no matter how much it hurts, but instead, you had your Minister of Misinformation, Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, tell the press editors that he'll only listen to Barisan Nasional component parties and not the media or the public. What's worse, there was never a denial that the instruction came from you!
Pak Lah, you said you were a Prime Minister for all Malaysians, but you declared Malaysia an Islamic state and concurred with your deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak that Malaysia was "never, never a secular state", a clear-cut defiance of the Federal Constitution, and discriminating against Malaysians' fundamental right to freedom of religion.
Pak Lah, you have clearly lost control of your administration. You have only demonstrated your utter incompetence, your lies and hypocrisy. Now, not only have I lost faith in your leadership, I have also lost faith in your integrity and piety.
Pak Lah, you are rubbish and you are a absolute disgrace to the nation.
Bleeding
My son play play run here and there, then terjatuh and hit his mouth on the floor. End up, bleeding and cry lor.
Growing phase sure got jatuh one. But once jatuh, must know how to stand up again, and never try to do that again... ini orang kata learn from mistake lah.
Poor boy...... sure pain one and no selera makan.
第2次茅草行动箭在弦上 阿都拉受促听取慕沙谏言
Many people think that the series of crack down recently can be linked to Operasi Lalang (茅草行动). For those who went through the Ops Lalang back in 1987 like me, even though i was only 11 years old that time, i took the strike as well by not attending the school for 2 days. I know little story only during that time. For those who are not familiar with the Ops Lalang, please read it at wikipedia.
From Malaysiakini.com
第2次茅草行动箭在弦上
阿都拉受促听取慕沙谏言
12月10日 傍晚5点32分
林吉祥呼吁首相阿都拉听取前副首相慕沙希淡（右图）的谏言，收回大逮捕与大提控的成命，在面临大肆镇压人权与民主前悬崖勒马，避免第2次茅草行动的发生，以免令国家的民主化及自由化倒退数十年。
他指出，许多人在问，我国是否处在第2次茅草行动的前夕。
“在1987年展开的茅草行动中，有许多人在内安法令下遭逮捕，4家报章被封闭，人权丶基本自由及民主遭到重挫，接着又发生1988年的所有司法危机之母事件，给司法独立与廉正带来无可弥补的破坏。”
“阿都拉在4年前上台时，公开承诺要捍卫与促进人权丶民主及法治原则，我现在要呼吁他 马上刹车，以免令国家的人权丶民主及法治冲下深渊。”
林吉祥指出，前副首相兼大马人权委员会首任主席敦慕沙希淡已提出一项方案，以阻止国家陷入人权丶民主及法治的新“黑暗期”。
“示威”并不等同于“暴力”
慕沙在星期日接受《新海峡时报》的专访时，已作出有说服力的呼吁，要大马成为首个尊重言论自由人权，而允许和平集会与示威的发展中国家。
被询及“大马昨好和平示威的准备吗”，慕沙给予有力与有把握的答案说：“当然，我们已经独立了50年。”。
林吉祥说，慕沙提出的两大重点是正确无误的，它们应获得首相及内阔在周三加以深思。
第一，将“示威”与“暴力”相提并论的谬论。
慕沙说得一点也没错，大马应迈步向前，摒弃把“示威”与“暴力”挂勾的原有心态，以及他建议政府允许和平的示威活动，也要主办当局负起确保示威是和平的责任。
“暴力是哪一个国家的文化？”
第二，慕沙驳斥电视台不断播映的“这不是我们的文化”短片来贬低示威活动做法。
慕沙说：“包歉，我嘲笑这种做法，但国内哪里有这么一种文化（暴力文化）？你认为暴力是一种法国人的文化？印尼人的？菲律宾人的？”
慕沙指印裔不满国大党没效率
林吉祥强调，阿都拉及内阁也应听取慕沙的忠告与看法，尤其是他坦言，大马印裔面对的问题是“真实”的，这是国家问题的一部份，以及印裔感到“绝望”，因为他们不满意他们视为没有效率的国大党之代表性。
此外，慕沙的以下观察尤其值得内阁在周三省思：
“当然，人人都有抱怨。马来人有抱怨。但淡米尔人是一个少数民族及他们不能构成一股强大的力量，因此大家似乎不太关注他们。但他们的确需要关注。”
“这是一种态度上的问题。我很高兴首相指示国大党探讨有关问题。但他们不应由首相告诉他们。这应是一个长期性的工作。也许他们本身需要一个良好的新形象。”
可悲的是，林吉祥却批评国大党却在国内带头否认200万大马印裔强烈感受到他们长久以来在政治丶经济丶教育丶社会丶文化及宗教上被边缘化至沦新国内新低下阶级。
“三美威鲁及其他国大党领袖大声否定兴都权益行动委员会的大马印裔遭“种族清洗”及灭族指控。为何他们在内阁丶国会及政府中，不准备同样的大声强调印裔遭边缘化已久，而急需政府推行新政，停止将印裔及其他族群边缘化？”
Another Hell Jam Created by Police
Updates 10 - 11 am :
The police have nothing to do yet creating another jam at highway leading to KL. I was stuck in jam for no bloody reason and i was late for work. Worst still, radio station only mentioned there is jam at Taman Midah at Cheras and cars moving slowly toward KL while there are accidents at KL-Seremban highway but actually is the police road block near there (as confirmed by my colleagues that used KL-Seremban and Taman Midah). Another block is at abondon Esso station at BESRAYA highway (i am the victim). One of my colleague wearing yellow long sleeve and was stopped by police for IC. Too sensitive! Mad cow sensitive to Red, but our Malaysia Police sensitive to Yellow which is in fact royal colour.
What the heck is going on with the police? It is becomoing a POLICE STATE.
Go and crack down the crime la ....... not craking down the people!
Damn!
Friday, December 07, 2007
My Deepest Condolences
My deepest condolences to Patrick Choo (Yong Chek) and his family who had lost his father today. I’m so sorry to hear the news and may his soul rest in peace.
From your ex-housemate
KLCC Night Scene
Captured this shot yesterday night when wanna go home. The best scene i ever see it from my office. Hand held shot. Using my Olympus Camedia 3.1 MP camera.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
NUBE: Boycott Maybank
Went to Bukit Bintang during lunch time just now, met some NUBE members demonstrating outside Maybank Bukit Bintang Branch demanding for 30% pay increament plus maintaining 2 months contractual bonus.
NUBE claims that Maybank robs not only the workers, but also us. See the below figure, then you will understand why they claimed that! NUBE will start publishing such information every two weeks.
Maybank charge us RM12 for ATM card yearly fee while other banks RM8 mostly.
Maybank charge us ATM transaction RM0.50/transaction after 4th transaction in month (other bank FOC). I called it rob the poor for rich people. To enjoy FOC transaction with unlimited in a month, your account need to have minimum RM5,000. Do you ever wonder how many percent of accounts have such minimum saving of 5K?
Maybank charge us RM0.50 for utilities online payment while other banks FOC.
Lastly, this is what NUBE told us:
ACT NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Also a Problem?
Read this from Uncle Kit's blog:
Extremist demands for removal of cross and demolition of Christian statutes in mission schools
Found some details of mission schools at Wikipedea.
Extremist demands for removal of cross and demolition of Christian statutes in mission schools
Found some details of mission schools at Wikipedea.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Eye on Malaysia
All photos taken with Olympus Camedia C-370 3.1 MP camera. The best that this camera can achieved. Visited the Eye on Malaysia - Ferris Wheel with the colleagues of my wife together with my son and sister. Long queue for you to try it. Price of Ticket: Adult RM15, children more than 3 - 12 years old RM 8.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Health: Read It
My mother always ask me not to use mosquitoes spray saying that it will cause cancer. Maybe she is right! Anyway, i hate the smell of the spray even though i hate mosquitoes more. I think it is very common that preagnant ladies should avoid sitting inside a fogging area.
Beware of pesticides, pregnant women warned
By CHRISTINA CHIN
PENANG: Pregnant women exposed to common household pesticides are putting their unborn babies at risk of developing breast cancer later on in life.
Even the slightest exposure to chemicals used in gardening and on insects and mosquitoes could cause dormant cancer cells to develop, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia Pacific scientist and PAN Aotearoa/New Zealand coordinator Dr Meriel Watts said at the PAN 25th Anniversary Conference.
Watts, who launched her book Pesticides and Breast Cancer: A Wake Up Call at the event Friday, said the book, which was a collation of scientific evidence spanning more than 30 years, provided compelling argument for preventing the exposure of women and girls to many of today’s commonly used pesticides.
"The book takes a very comprehensive look at 98 pesticides—including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides with the potential to cause breast cancer.
"One of the critical aspects is to see if these pesticides promote breast cancer cell growth especially at the foetal stage.
"Breast cancer is by far the most common cause of cancer in women throughout the world. The disease is also escalating in the Asia Pacific region. It is time for systemic change in our attitude to pesticides," she said, adding that the book which took three years to complete, was aimed at creating greater awareness about the dangers of pesticides not just for women who work in the fields, but also for expecting mothers and young girls.
By CHRISTINA CHIN
PENANG: Pregnant women exposed to common household pesticides are putting their unborn babies at risk of developing breast cancer later on in life.
Even the slightest exposure to chemicals used in gardening and on insects and mosquitoes could cause dormant cancer cells to develop, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia Pacific scientist and PAN Aotearoa/New Zealand coordinator Dr Meriel Watts said at the PAN 25th Anniversary Conference.
Watts, who launched her book Pesticides and Breast Cancer: A Wake Up Call at the event Friday, said the book, which was a collation of scientific evidence spanning more than 30 years, provided compelling argument for preventing the exposure of women and girls to many of today’s commonly used pesticides.
"The book takes a very comprehensive look at 98 pesticides—including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides with the potential to cause breast cancer.
"One of the critical aspects is to see if these pesticides promote breast cancer cell growth especially at the foetal stage.
"Breast cancer is by far the most common cause of cancer in women throughout the world. The disease is also escalating in the Asia Pacific region. It is time for systemic change in our attitude to pesticides," she said, adding that the book which took three years to complete, was aimed at creating greater awareness about the dangers of pesticides not just for women who work in the fields, but also for expecting mothers and young girls.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
New Toll Rates
Toll rates for highway will be increased starting 1st Jan 2008. However, there are four highway that the toll are not increase and the BN-lead-government need to compensate RM344 m including LDP and NNKSB.
Why the toll for the other highways increase?
The reason is simple:
Why the toll for the other highways increase?
The reason is simple:
The reason for increasing toll rates at some of the highways was because there was low traffic, Samy Vellu said.
So, don't be too happy especially NSE & Penang Bridge users. You are actually paid for it even though the toll rates are not increase! Don't be too happy also for Rakyat of East Coast and East Malaysia that you think you will never feel the General Erection as you think you are not going to use that highway in your daily life. Bear in mind that the compensation is from our Tax Money, that you and me is paying every year. Why the contract is being draft in such a manner that the compensation is calculated based on traffic volume? When the Government draft that contract can't they projected the conservative figure? Who draft that blood sucking contract anyway?
TIME TO CHANGE!!!!
In another report by Bernama.com, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said that the toll rate per kilometre in Malaysia is still the cheapest in the region and every increase considered by the government is affordable to motorists.
Somehow he forgot what is the income per capital of Malaysian compared to the neighbouring countries. The same old lame excuse being used by the ministries.
Quote from The Star:
KUALA LUMPUR: The toll on six highways will be raised by between 7.69% and 50% on Jan 1 but rates on four major ones, including the closed-toll portion of the North-South Expressway (NSE), will be maintained.
The highways where toll will be increased are the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (SPDH), the North-South Central Link (Elite), the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE), the Second Link, the New North Klang Straits Bypass (NNKSB), the two ends of the NSE at the Johor Causeway and the Bukit Kayu Hitam toll plaza.
The Causeway and Bukit Kayu Hitam are the only two open toll portions of the NSE. A closed-toll system is where road users pay according to the distance travelled while the open concept charges a fixed fee regardless of mileage.
Elite is operated by Expressway Lingkaran Tengah Sdn Bhd, BKE by Malaysia Mining Corporation and NNKSB by Syarikat Konsesi. Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong. The NSE, SPDH and the Causeway are operated by PLUS Highway.
KUALA LUMPUR: The toll on six highways will be raised by between 7.69% and 50% on Jan 1 but rates on four major ones, including the closed-toll portion of the North-South Expressway (NSE), will be maintained.
The highways where toll will be increased are the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (SPDH), the North-South Central Link (Elite), the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE), the Second Link, the New North Klang Straits Bypass (NNKSB), the two ends of the NSE at the Johor Causeway and the Bukit Kayu Hitam toll plaza.
The Causeway and Bukit Kayu Hitam are the only two open toll portions of the NSE. A closed-toll system is where road users pay according to the distance travelled while the open concept charges a fixed fee regardless of mileage.
Elite is operated by Expressway Lingkaran Tengah Sdn Bhd, BKE by Malaysia Mining Corporation and NNKSB by Syarikat Konsesi. Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong. The NSE, SPDH and the Causeway are operated by PLUS Highway.
Please Register Yourself as Voter
For those who not yet a registered voter, please go and register at nearby Post Office. The steps are so simple. Give your IC to the staff, wait for few minutes for them to write down the details. I think they will give you back a piece of paper for reference. Then wait for 2 - 3 months, and finally go and check your voter status here: http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftarbi.asp. Please take note, the area that you will vote is depend on the address of your IC.
Ally, you register at 3rd quarter, you should check now.
For those who insist that "i don't like politic", "politic is dirty", "not interested in politic issues", please don't fark around and tok kok when you feel the pinch later. Don't blame the government of not caring for Rakyat, don't condemn the government of applying certain policies and regulation, don't angry because corruption is still here and there. BLAME YOURSELF for choosing not to choose. You can't run away from politic because politic is around you ALL THE TIME. Everything you do, yesterday, today and tomorrow and your future is ralated to politic and because of politic. So bear with it! YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY!!!
Grab the chance while you still have to get yourself ready and vote for 12th GE if the GE fall in March 2008. Please register during this 4th quarter of 2007.
PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission has endorsed an additional electoral roll of registered voters for the third quarter of this year.
Its public relations officer Sabri Said said the roll contained the names of 412,756 voters, 308,076 of whom were newly registered ones and 104,680 were applications to change their voting address.
The roll will be gazetted today.
“The EC has omitted 141,063 names from the record of registered voters. The EC also received 1,381 applications for new registration and change of address, which could not be resolved because of claims and protests. We also received 1,873 objections for applications for parliamentary constituencies in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
“This will be dealt with in the fourth quarter,” said Sabri in a statement here yesterday.
The number of registered voters is now 10.8 million.
“Voters are also encouraged to check their details on the electoral roll. They can make corrections by e-mailing spr@spr.gov.my,” said Sabri.
Its public relations officer Sabri Said said the roll contained the names of 412,756 voters, 308,076 of whom were newly registered ones and 104,680 were applications to change their voting address.
The roll will be gazetted today.
“The EC has omitted 141,063 names from the record of registered voters. The EC also received 1,381 applications for new registration and change of address, which could not be resolved because of claims and protests. We also received 1,873 objections for applications for parliamentary constituencies in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
“This will be dealt with in the fourth quarter,” said Sabri in a statement here yesterday.
The number of registered voters is now 10.8 million.
“Voters are also encouraged to check their details on the electoral roll. They can make corrections by e-mailing spr@spr.gov.my,” said Sabri.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Waiting
I am waiting patiently in the office. My patient will run dry at 7pm later.
And I am still waiting.
hmmm.... I need to go home by what ever mean! My son is waiting for me to pick him up. My wife still in foreign land (island). What a desperate situation for me, NOW!
And I am still waiting.
hmmm.... I need to go home by what ever mean! My son is waiting for me to pick him up. My wife still in foreign land (island). What a desperate situation for me, NOW!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Shame
Why i feel shame!
I was from UPM and i spent 5 years plus there. That is why i feel shame! I feel shame not because the UPM out of THES 200 Top University. I feel shame not because i did not score CGPA 1st Class.
What a shame!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
New Jam on The Road
JAM! Police CREATE jam again!
I was caught in jam this morning at BESRAYA after the Sungai Besi Toll.
A new crack down in on the way. As i said earlier, our Malaysia police got nothing better else to do..... Go and take care of people!
DAMN
I was caught in jam this morning at BESRAYA after the Sungai Besi Toll.
A new crack down in on the way. As i said earlier, our Malaysia police got nothing better else to do..... Go and take care of people!
DAMN
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
PROTON End Talks
UPDATES at 5.10pm:
Closing price RM4.02, drop 92c, almost 18.6%.
UPDATES:
By 3.06pm, Proton stock drop more than 92c and at one point drop to 96c.
Quote from NST:
"....the government decided to end the negotiations after studying recent positive developments in the car company."...
Consumer confidence in Proton cars has also improved, following stricter quality control. A poll showed that Proton's Consumer Satisfaction Index had risen to 713 points from 677 points last year.
Government said consumer confidence improved, but seem like the stock of PROTON not reflect that. Investors are "throwing" the shares. Refer the Figure. Should PROTON partner with foreign carmaker? I think in long term, Yes.
More news at The Star.
Closing price RM4.02, drop 92c, almost 18.6%.
UPDATES:
By 3.06pm, Proton stock drop more than 92c and at one point drop to 96c.
Quote from NST:"....the government decided to end the negotiations after studying recent positive developments in the car company."...
Consumer confidence in Proton cars has also improved, following stricter quality control. A poll showed that Proton's Consumer Satisfaction Index had risen to 713 points from 677 points last year.
Government said consumer confidence improved, but seem like the stock of PROTON not reflect that. Investors are "throwing" the shares. Refer the Figure. Should PROTON partner with foreign carmaker? I think in long term, Yes.
More news at The Star.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
ASTRO - Monopoly
UPDATES 2.10pm, 21 Nov 07:
ASTRO Metro & Maharaja is FREE till 30th November 07, 1st December onward, will be automatically OUT!
UPDATES 11.55am, 21 Nov 07:
I called Astro 1-300-82-3838, and i was holding my phone for 14min 30 second, YET no Customer Service the-so-called-Consultant entertain me. And you know what, according to the "lady voice" who keep on repeating the sentences, "There is currently 3 customer service consultant engaging, they will....bla...bla...bla".
What a Amazing Astro with so many subscribers but only 3 staffs working to pick up phone call!!!
DAMN
Previous Post:
ASTRO has indirectly increase the price of subscription since 16 November 2007.
Al-Jazeera & Bloomberg TV no longer FREE, now are under Mini Package.
To make me farking upside down is what previouly FREE as listed below are now being Charged at RM14.95 & RM9.95 respectively. Of course i do not watch Maharaja. In fact, Astro should reduce the price since it was removed, not charge as different package.
Metro
731 BBC Entertainment
732 Crime & Investigation Network
733 Discovery Home & Health
734 Discovery Real Time
Maharaja
211 Sun TV
212 Sun Music
213 Chutti TV
And please take note also, the below channel only FREE VIEW till end of December 2007. Meaning if you do not intend to subscribe "Fun" package, you will not have free Cartoon anymore except TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9 at the sellected time only!
121 Astro Aruna
122 Astro Kirana
303 KBS World
611 Astro Ceria
Conclusion: ASTRO is MONOPOLY!
Friday, November 16, 2007
He Knew It!
Wonder how come he knew it, because Pak Lah told him? Told him to transfer few thousand voters to Ipoh Timur and etc?
According to Merdeka Review:
官方新闻社马新社报道，阿都拉昔今天在马六甲出席当地选举官与助理选举官的大选汇报会后对记者说：“我不能骗你说，我不知道什么时候举行下一届大选。我不能告诉你什么时候（举行大选），但我已向各造做了足够的提醒，要准备大选。”
and TheSun:
"I can't lie to you that I don't know when the next general election will be held. I can't tell you when, but I have given enough reminders to all to prepare for the polls," Bernama quoted Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman as saying.
According to a friend of mine from PG Island, his mother heard something from a YB of MCA, saying that the GE will be held before Chinese New Year. This is quite true with what the election watchdog's prediction. A colleague of mine, a malay, told me that 13 Jan 2008 will be the last day of Haji. That is 10 days after my knee operation. And that is also the hottest week to announce the next GE. It also means that i will have around 20 - 25 days after knee operation to go back PG to cast my vote with the help of stretches. Sure my wife will ask me not to go back, but can i? Die-die also must vote!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Thanks GOD, It Was Rejected!!
At least my tax money will not go to drain without my notice. The millions pounds High Performance Training Centre Brickendonbury, England, has been rejected by the East Herts Council Development Control Committee .
Those who went there for training eventually end up suffering.
There were many news published by The Sun previously. Including:
and many more.
Bravo!!! Save the millions pound!!!
My New Boss
He is my new boss. Macam boss, sit like boss, even sleep also like a boss. He want to drive and like to drive my wife Kancil.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
SS & Denial Syndrome
Quote from TheSun:"DEPUTY Education Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim said Malaysian universities failed to be on the Times Higher Education Supplement’s (THES) list of top 200 universities this year not because the quality of the institutions has dropped but because foreign universities are moving ahead too fast."......
What kind of mentality our deputy minister has? He claimed that our Universities are improving but not too fast compared to the others. Is it still in conclusion that we are still lag behind? This is SS (syok sendiri) and another Denial Syndrome of our Government.
We should keep on improving ourself and always compared to the others. When there is competition & pressure, then only you can improve fast. Maybe i am wrong ...... Maybe you have a better way ......
Monday, November 12, 2007
10th November 2007 - A Day to Remember
A day to remember.
Three (3) things happened.
1. BERSIH Peace Demonstration
2. Wai Har & Keat Hong - Wedding Dinner at Royal China Restaurant
3. Ai Wah's Birthday
As i mentioned in my earlier post, all the roads that lead to city center were blocked by Police because Police got nothing else to do than checking every single car that drove to KL. Why, because they knew the Rakyat are angry, frustrated and dissapointed of what Malaysia is suffering now, they want to have a clean Election. And i belive Polices have the same feeling too just that they were receiving the order from the top to crack the rally. I mean BN la.
That day 10th November 2007 also is Wai Har & Keat Hong wedding dinner. A B2K from UPM, coursemate of me. Dinner started at 7pm but maybe due to jam and also bad habit of Chinese (always late for wedding dinner), the dinner started at 8.15pm. Ally & Family supposed to attend the dinner also but due to heavy traffic jam in North - South Highway, thanks to efficience Police that block the road, they turned back to Seremban at the Bangi area.
List of B2K that attended:
1. Kwang Hui & Family
1. Kwang Hui & Family
2. Tuck Seong & Family
3. Chee Wei & Family
4. Me, PL, HH
5. Mun Wai
6. Boon Keat
7. KJ & FK (girl friend)
8. Wai Kong
9. Ai Wah
Final event was Lim Ai Wah's Birthday. We all must thanks Boon Keat for the Secret Recepi's Apple Cheese Cake. Cut the cake in my house and tok kok till 2.30am. 
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