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A weblog about life / politics/ impressions of Malaysia through the eyes of a foreigner




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Monday 30 June, 2008
25 Jumada al-Thanni 1429AH

A weblog by Albert. From my home in Yan Kedah. I reside here since 1992. See here to know where Yan is.

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Blog category: all categories. - May 2007
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 No joy for Lina Joy - by @lbert
  Posted:30/05/2007 - 12:20 - in category: religion
Lina Joy's request to change the religion on here ic today was rejected.
This proves that freedom of religion actually is a farce in Malaysia.
If a non muslim becomes a muslim everything is arranged in no time. If a muslim converts to another religion, nothing is possible.
You should not forget that probably 99% of people have a religion, not because they have chosen it, but because their parents found it necessary to 'babtize' them even before they could speak properly, let alone make a choice.
Furthermore what is the use of stating a religion on an ic? Can't they live without?
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 Back from Indonesia - by @lbert
  Posted:30/05/2007 - 09:40 - in category: travel abroad
I had to spend 10 days in Yogya to do some work. This country still remains the country of no progress.
1 Year after the earthquake hundreds of people are still camping in tents and ramshackle huts, in spite of the governments promise to give them money to rebuild their lives. The money probably disappeared in corruption again as usual.
What also still amazes me that in Indonesia so many products are so much cheaper there than they are in Malaysia. The Malaysian agents are making fortunes here.
Especially cosmetics are crazy, Biore is 30% cheaper, L'Oreal is 40-60% cheaper.
Pepsodent that costs RM4+ in Malaysia, in Indonesia only costs 2.00.
Also biscuits (exported to Malaysia) are half price of Malaysia. I think it is high time some people start to do parallel imports of these good to force the Malaysian agents to reduce their prices, which are outrageous!
On the way back i catched another cold on the KLCCT which i think is worlds worst cheap terminal. All sales of goods are monopolised by Malaysian Airports Bhd. They make millions by screwing you with their exorbitant prices.
And oh.... a McD icecream cone that costs RM 2.00 in Malaysia, in Indonesia only costs RM 0.85!!
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 Interesting read... - by @lbert
  Posted:17/05/2007 - 08:45 - in category: politics Malaysia
I found an interesting article by Farish A Noor called Malaysia�s fumbling, pragmatic modernity in the Khaleej Times.
Mr Farish articles of course do not appear in mainstream media, only Malaysia Kini.
Dr Farish A Noor is a Malaysian political scientist and human rights activist.
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 The chief sues... - by @lbert
  Posted:16/05/2007 - 16:51 - in category: politics Malaysia
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is suing a Malay daily, Malaysiakini and two Parti Keadilan Rakyat senior officials in Sarawak for making allegations of corrupt practices against him.
All go back to the same source the Japan Times which published an article on kickbacks and corruption.
Is Taib going to sue the Japan Times as well?
I doubt whether suing the Japan Times will have any succes, where he wants to sue ? Here in Malaysia.... dont make me laugh!
In Japan? Well than he should be prepared to fork out lots of Yens to pay for the cost of lawyers there.
Oh...the japan Times article is here.
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 Cheating !! - by @lbert
  Posted:16/05/2007 - 11:47 - in category: consumer affairs
Flour went up by 15 sen, so everything related to flour will go up by at least 30 sen, thats the Malaysian system.
But what i do not understand is why things as Coke/ 7-up and the likes have to go up.
You pay now RM 3.00 for a bottle of water with gas + sugar, totally outrageous.
This stuff is nowadays more expensive than petrol!!
I hope Tesco will give this F&N; a run for their money with Tesco Coke / Orange / Sarsi for RM 1.50.
High time all these profiteers get punished for their greed.
Same goes for those selling milk products, they all play the same trick, price does not go up, by te contents are less!
This is pure cheating.
I used to buy 2.5 kg pack of milkpowder for around RM 27.00.
Now the price is around 30.00 but you only get 2.3 kg.
This means the actual price went up by as much as 20%.
Is the government doing anything? No, they just talk and talk.
How about the people with small income, how are they supposed to survive Pak Tak Tahu?
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 The speed of internet... - by @lbert
  Posted:14/05/2007 - 22:43 - in category: internet / computers
KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) -- The blogsite operator who reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi fainted at a function in Lumut, Perak, Sunday could face action including being charged under the Sedition Act if the article contained elements of slander.
Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the ministry was studying the report before deciding on the type of action to be taken against the blogger.
"I have not read the report in the blogsite but if there are elements of slander, action can be taken under the Penal Code. This comes under the Internal Security Ministry," he told reporters at the parliament lobby here today.


This is the kind of comments from a peanut sized brain of a deputy minister.
These people are ruling this country!
People want news as it is and not the polished versions issued by Bernama or other crony press associates!
The speed of the internet speaks for itself, and besides that everybody has a handphone, so the news of a PM collapsing or feeling unwell is spread in a matter of seconds!!
The deputy minister already talks cock, before he even has read anything, so intelligent.
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 Dr. M interview. - by @lbert
  Posted:11/05/2007 - 09:18 - in category: politics Malaysia
Berita Malaysia has the interview with Mahathir in full.
Allthough the Tun has plenty of butter on his head, this interview is very interesting reading.
And shows also some of his blunders if you read in between the lines.
And Dr.M is an excellent orator, compared to Pak Tak Tahu who only can read something from paper, but can not improvise at all.
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 VIVA Perodua!! - by @lbert
  Posted:11/05/2007 - 08:45 - in category: general
Perodua did it again. This company without many words beat Proton again.
The new Viva is a slick looking car.
The 660cc version is affordable and probably a nice replacement for the Kancil.
It even comes with 3 yr warranty, imagine that in a Proton within 3 years probably all smaller plastic parts and power windows would have to be replaced.
Pedudua is NOT eating into the tax payers money and not subsidized with millions and millions. This is the way to go!

If Proton cannot find a foreign partner, well just let them go bust, it is like the NEP a never ending subsidy story.

The Viva has the following prices
660 cc from RM 28.400.00 on
850 cc from RM 32.500.00 on
1000 cc from RM 36.000.00 on
With its length of 1.84 meter it is easy to park in any small spot! 5 doors that open 90 degrees and with backseats down lots of luggage space!
All in all a lovely compact car that will give you pleasure on the overcrowded Malaysian roads.
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 Maybank ordered to revise. - by @lbert
  Posted:10/05/2007 - 08:50 - in category: politics Malaysia
Maybank has been ordered by the government, to revise its so called 'bumi' policy.
Why does the government has to order this, isn't this the task of Bank Negara?
Dr Zetti was probably also sleeping on the job.
Besides that for such a giant bank, they really have a lousy PR department with a lot of no-brainers.

Now government, order the same for Petronas as they have the same racist policy already for years and it also goes on unchanged!
Under their vendor developement programs, all those in this program have to be 100% bumi owned & operated. This is just the 1st teir vendors. 2nd teir vendors (or other vendors) have to have minimum of 50% bumi equity AND 50% of all level of staff has to be bumis, including management and excutives level.
All vendors that want to deal with Petronas have to apply for a Petronas License, and bumi equity and the percentage of bumi personnel are some the main criteria.
The descrimination policy does not stop on the vendor level. It extends even to the sub-vendor level. When a tender is called, one of the tender requirement is to reveal the sub-vendor's bumi equity & the percentage of bumi personnel within the sub-vendor's organisation.
Have you ever heard of a chinese or indian having a Petronas petrol station?That is racist politics, and worse than Maybank.
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 Yusril Mahendra shown the door. - by @lbert
  Posted:08/05/2007 - 23:01 - in category: foreign
From the Jakarta Post:
Former state secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra was offered a new post as ambassador to Malaysia but reportedly turned down the offer, saying that he felt the new position was akin to a consolation prize.
Yusril declined to attend a meeting with Yudhoyono on Monday, in which the President was expected to explain the reason for his dismissal.

Finally SBY kicked the ass of this idiot guy.
He was responsible among others for the imposing of entry visa's for foreigners and the ridiculous anti porno bill.
He was/is a member of a small party of islamic fanatics. Malaysia can be happy he did not become ambassador, he certainly would have strained ties with Malaysia!
It seems SBY finally got rid of some corrupters and fanatics. I wish him luck in fighting corruption in the world's most corrupt country.

IndCoup had some remarks about Yusri Mahendra some time ago, read it here
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 Working after 55 - by @lbert
  Posted:08/05/2007 - 16:22 - in category: general
The protest about reduced EPF contributions for people over 55 are fully grounded!
In any country in the west, retirement age is between 60 and 65.
Malaysia with its 55 years for retirement is ridiculous. All those so called pensioners straight away go looking for a job, or continue working with their current employee, because on the EPF they can not survive.
In general these people are very useful because they have a wealth of experience, contra to a school leaver who has no working experience at all.
The proposal is simply discriminating against people who still can be great pillars of society!!
Shame on you EPF!!
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 Guidelines for muslim astronauts - by @lbert
  Posted:05/05/2007 - 22:40 - in category: religion
The whole world has been waiting for it and finally it is there.
Malaysia issued guidelines for muslim astronauts!!
They needed a whole commission to set up these guidelines, go figure.

Another Malaysia boleh project.
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 Zam recommends labels for bloggers - by @lbert
  Posted:05/05/2007 - 22:29 - in category: internet / computers
The government-blogger row continues with Jozef Goebbels a.k.a. ZAM suggesting that bloggers be separated into two baskets - professionals and non-professionals.

May i give this minister a label?
[red]IDIOT[/red]

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 Lovely baquettes.. - by @lbert
  Posted:04/05/2007 - 19:11 - in category: food
I love french baquettes. But sadly enough all the so called 'roti peranchis' in the bakeries is like chewing gum.
Real fresh baquettes whether small or big should have a lovely crispy crust. They should be finished the same day, or rebake the next day.(see below)
Actually the same goes for all croissants sold in Malaysia, its junk, they also should be crispy and cannot be kept for longer than 1 day. And definitely not be packed in plastic!

I finally found a recipe that makes a lovely baquette.
Needed:
5 cups of flour
1 pack dry yeast
1 tea spoon salt
2 cups warm water (or milk to keep the bread longer) 45 degrees Celcius
1 table spoon cornmeal
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water

1. Put yeast in 1/4 cup of water for 5-10 mins until foamy.
2. in large bowl combine 2 cups of flour and salt add in remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and beat until well blended.
3. On a floured surface knead enough dough to make a stiff dough that is elastic.
Knead about 8-10 mins. Shape to a ball. Put in a greased bowl cover with moist cloth or plastic and let it rise.
4. Divide dough in half. Turn out on a lightly floured surface. Rest for 10 mins.
Roll each into a large rectangle. Roll up tightly starting from a long side.
Moisten with egg water and seal. Taper ends.
5. Line a large baking sheet/tray with parchment paper, sprinkle some cornmeal.
Place loaves with the seam side down on the tray. Lightly beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water.
Brush the loaves. Cover with damp cloth and let is rest for 40 mins.
6. With a sharp knife make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts about 1 cm deep across top of the loaf.
Bake in 190 degrees C oven for 20 mins. Brush again with egg mixture.
Bake for another 15-20 mins or until crust is golden brown.

That is it.... let it cool down, serve it for breakfast or lunch.
Gordious with ham or strawberry jam and butter.

If the next day there is any left over, wet the leftover crust under the tap, and put in the oven for about 7-10 minutes.
Wow, its crispy again.

If you want small baquettes make 4 (or even 6) instead of 2 baquettes out of this recipe.

Next i am gonna try is croissants.....if i succeed i will post the recipe!

PS: Baguettes are great if sliced in 1.5 cm slices and make a mixture of daun bawang+mayo+yoghurt (if you got it) put the mixture on the bread...wow you can't stop!
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 Press Freedom 2007 - by @lbert
  Posted:04/05/2007 - 10:40 - in category: general
Malaysia did it again....
In the world pressfreedom ranking 2007 of 192 countries it managed to secure the 150th place.
So much for the press freedom in Malaysia!
Some other countries:
114 Indonesia
126 Thailand
150 Malaysia,UAE,Maldives,Ivory Coast
154 Singapore
166 Brunei
181 China
191 Birma (Myanmar)
Well at least they can say we are better of than Sing and Brunei. Malaysia boleh!
The website is here
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 Another blow in the face - by @lbert
  Posted:03/05/2007 - 12:00 - in category: travel Malaysia
From The Star:
Overcharging by taxi drivers and traders, stinking cabs and poor knowledge by unsmiling frontliners have marred Malaysia�s image among Arab tourists. This feedback from Arab travel agents has left Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor red in the face.

Well anything else to expect?
Look at Penang, taxi's are supposed to have meters and use them since donkey years ago, and still they do not!
No enforcement, same goes for filthy dirty beaches in Batu Ferringi and elsewhere.
And as far as Penang is concerned i keep on saying Ko Tsu Kun what have you done for Penang in all those years? Right....Zip, ZERO, NOTHING, your crony clique is to busy with other things. Well Penang is a rapidly fading pearl already getting very blur.
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 May i puke? - by @lbert
  Posted:01/05/2007 - 18:39 - in category: TV
By accident i watched Warta Negri this afternoon.
Well Jozef Goebbels aka as ZAM got what he wanted a spot of at least 5 minutes, kicking against the opposition, against CNN against BBC and of course Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim.
This program was so low that i can puke, is this the way a democratic country treats its opposition and anyone who interviews someone of the opposition.
This program ZAM was so low, so way below any democratic means, that i totally lost respect for you as a minister.
Nothing left, you are a big ZERO and a real Jozef Goebbels! And on top of that a sour looser.
Probably this spot will be repeated a few times more as usual...
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