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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. - June 2003
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 A week not there... - by @lbert
  Posted:30/06/2003 - 20:07 - in category: general
I will be oustation for a week, and going to enjoy the sultanate of Yogyakarta for a week, and maybe a few days Jakarta.
If the connection is not to bad, i might give an impression from there.
My blog will resume on the 12 or 13th of july anyway.
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 Sounds familiar?? - by @lbert
  Posted:23/06/2003 - 18:57 - in category: general
I like to share the findings below.....

14 dalil of facism.... (no need for 50+)

The Free Inquiry magazine, Volume 23, Number 2. compiled a list of common threads spotted in seven fascist regimes over the last century.

Spot the similarities..........you will be surprised!

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
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 How much is a billion - by @lbert
  Posted:23/06/2003 - 08:31 - in category: politics Malaysia
A billion seconds ago it was 1972.

A billion minutes ago Jesus 100 birthday.

A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minute at the rate Washington spends it

How long does a billion last in Malaysia? Anyone?
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 That was the last speech hopefully - by @lbert
  Posted:22/06/2003 - 15:02 - in category: politics Malaysia
After listening to part of Mahatirs opening and closing speeches of the UMNO assembly.
(I did not listen to all, to tiring)
What a rethoric, halftruth, pertinent lies it contained. And not to mention all the racism.
Former South African president Verwoerd could have been proud of it.
Dr M about condemd the whole western world, but forgot south-africa with their apartheid, japan with their occupation of s.e. asia, and china. Well what to expect of the writer of a Malay-Dilemma?? A frustrated old man who thought he was a world leader, and finally retires a someone who is forgotten in a week.
His rein was full of failures and disasters, but he refuses to accept that, and retires (at least 10 year to late) as a frustrated old man.
I pitty him. And his sucessor will have to do a lot of talking to all those insulted in all the years, in order to make Malaysia a really accepted nation again.
Well it was the last speech, Malaysia can start breathing again.
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 Cartoons and Interviews - by @lbert
  Posted:20/06/2003 - 12:18 - in category: politics Malaysia
What an uproar over a simple cartoon by Zunar. Those goverment people really have to cry foul over anything that goes against them. No resistance at all, if you wanne be a politician, you gata have a thick skin, otherwise stay out!
A foreigner remarks something, than he is trying to recolonialize the country if it is a local he/she is unpolight and trying to discredit the goverment. Hey!! high trees catch the most wind, learn to live with it mr and mrs politician, otherwise go back to your kampung and plant 'jagung'. And you are elected by people, so you have the duty to answer your peoples questions as well, like it or not.
The same you see on tv interviews with politicians, they ask something and the politician gives a useless answer, noone ever has the guts in saying, you did not answer my question. Roast them, undress them till they are naked, thats what they do everywhere else.
If they dont have to walk on their toes they take everything for granted.
And where are tv interviewers for?? Pull the truth out, and if they dont answer proberly, make a fool out of them. That is your responsibility mr/mrs interviewer. If you are not willing to do that go to your kampung and tanam jagung!!
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 Bangsa Malaysia - by @lbert
  Posted:19/06/2003 - 19:28 - in category: politics Malaysia
Bangsa Malaysia, literally translated Malaysian Race.
I listened to part of dr M's speech today.
What i heard is numerous times, bangsa kita, bangsa kita,(our race in this case Malays).
So, so much for Bangsa Malaysia, the big utopia it seems.
Every big party in Malaysia is 100% racial based, i absolutely cannot understand this.
Are people so stupid selfish that they are only interested in progress of their own race and not the countries progress? A proper vision crosses racial and religious lines.
I cannot understand why only small parties like Keadillan and DAP are multiracial.
Umno does not even accept non Malays, so much for racial unity.
All the big boys (parties) run education funds, support funds and whatever funds to support their own race, and in some cases their own pockets. They run businesses and make money (they say they dont of course). And control the press.
The goverment does it a bit 'better' by in general only supporting Malays and let the rest take care of the rest.
Bumiputra politics mean denial of the fact that there are damned poor Indian people and evenly poor Chinese people. And than the funny word Bumiputra, who gives Malays the right to call themselves Bumiputra?? (Sons of the soil)
If there are Bumiputra in Malaysia they are the Orang Asli.(indigenous people) They are the sons of the soil, not the Malays they are import into Malaysia, just as the Chinese and Indians. Only Indians and Chinese came in a bit late in the history.
After almost 50 years of independence isn't it time to finally do away with racial politics and really start nation building? From what i experienced around me, racial harmony is skin deep. Especially on the country side. A malay does business/buys from a malay, a chinese from a chinese, unless there is no choice. As long as the biggest party in Malaysia still propagates racial advantage politics, what can you expect of a Bangsa Malaysia, it will remain utopia.
Even every form you get will require you to fill in your 'bangsa', why is this needed?
If you apply for a passport / driving licence / business / ic document why is a race required??
To my idea no need to use it to see who's doing better, thats obvious.
Personally i am against any form of prejudism/discrimination againt any race or religion. You only can build a nation if you fully but than really fully respect each other as what you are.
No one is more or less than the other. If you have the capacity you can lead whatever your background. A position in goverment means a resposability to the nation, not a chance to enrich yourself or push certain visions through someone else his throat whether they like it or not. A well thinking goverment apreciates critics because they can learn from it. Not silence every form of opposition/critics or fully control press and radio tv.
The behaviour of TV3 and NTV7 is really pathetic with their complete airing of the UMNO assembly.
We are talking about a party gathering, not about parliament (although both are rubber stamps). Why is this forced through more than 60% of the populations throat?? Do it on TV1 the propaganda channel for 24 hours is that not enough?
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 Critics will be jailed. - by @lbert
  Posted:18/06/2003 - 13:20 - in category: politics Malaysia
The latest act of curbing freedom in Malaysia.
There is a national service proposed in order to stimulate racial harmony and some more blablabla.....
The proposed law also states that critics of the national service can be jailed of fined!!
This is Malaysia boleh in optima forma.
Anything the goverment wants is pushed through your throat. If you dont like it you don't even have the right to complain verbally.
MALAYSIA = BIRMA is this analogy showing truth?? Or am i mistaken??
Why not ban all oposition parties.....
We are all already sickened by the UMNO show going on on tv, why does a party congress have to fill hours on tv?? Looks like one or other communist country where they love all this noncense. It there anyone really interested?? Or is it aired for the few cronies to see whether there 'man' is doing well.
Oh on a happy note the haze finally is reduced to almost nothing, we can breath again!
And Asean urged Birma to clean up its act, this is really applaudable.
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 We don't interfere -part 2- - by @lbert
  Posted:16/06/2003 - 18:30 - in category: politics Malaysia
In Cambodja the meeting of asean ministers is going on, that means that the representatives of Myanmar are also there.
But on questions Malaysia's deputy pm said Malaysia cannot and will not interfere in Myanmar internal affairs.
On the contrairy the UN representative who just came back from Myanmar (and Razali Ismail is also a Malaysian) was deeply frustrated, and told that Asean should finally make up their mind, and make themselfs believable and respected by finally opening up their mouth.
Well isn't it high time that this opressive regime in Myanmar has to go, they have stepped on every democratic right available and made themselves outcasts.
Sadam had to go.... why can they stay??
Ahmad Badawi open up your mouth! Or are you afraid Umno might be the next victim??
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 Moral - Morality - by @lbert
  Posted:10/06/2003 - 19:42 - in category: politics Malaysia
Recently malaysian police have been clamping down on sales of illegal VCD and porno VCD.
I was really surprised by the fanatism in which all went.
I have never seen them solve a burglary with so much fanatism.
My house was broken in 3 times. But until now nothing has been solved, inspite of a full set of fingerprints of left and right hand.
I think they did not even try to solve anything.
But solving a crime is difficult. Catching VCD is bloody easy.
And as long as OEM VCD and audio CD remain ridiculus in price, i will buy my VCD-CD haram.
Come on an official CD costs somewhere around RM 40.- as tape it's RM 22.- .
What's the cost of a CD in mass? No more than 1.20 add a box and a cover thats may be 2.50.
Than remains 37.50 profit for all channels, a scandalous rip off!
Sorry i will buy mine for RM 5.-
Same goes for video. And DVD is even worse with their scandal prices.
And Mr. Norian, do you think no porno is sold anymore now??
Wohaaaaa dont make me laugh, it goes underground and the profits are even getting bigger.
They tried this in Europe 20 years ago, and finally gave up, because they can't control.
It is like the utopia of a drugs free nation. It will never happen.
Same with illigal gambling, prostitution and so on.
If you give it some legality at least you know what happens and where.
Now you know nothing and it still happens, and waste more time in going after it.
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 Int. Wartime Tribunal (ICC) - by @lbert
  Posted:06/06/2003 - 14:34 - in category: politics Malaysia
I read a letter in Malaysiakini concerning the ICC by a reader Dzirhan Mahadzir (sure the spelling is right??) and this letter makes me pissed.

The writer among others states:
The ICC was intended to make future perpetrators of genocides and massacres accountable but unfortunately has mutated into a law that is far too loose and makes almost every form of military action subject to prosecution under it.
And further says:
The Bar Council also seems to ignore the fact that we already have a military justice system capable of trying any perpetrators from the MAF who commit war crimes, that is assuming that such will occur.

I would like to reply this:
First of all the ICC was created to be ABOVE any local court.
Is made up of judges from several countries.
So why are there no checks and balances
So where are you unsubstantiated proofs that it is not impartial?

Secondly Do you want to say that you still trust judicial independance of whatever court in Malaysia?
It is the malaysian judicial system that has lost all its checks and balances!
I call it ashame that already the US refuses to recognise the rights of the court. SHAME ON YOU U.S.!! You think you can police the world and do as you please.
It is high time this Bush guy is send into the bushes and the rest of the world start unilateral opposing the us!
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 Low interest rates - by @lbert
  Posted:05/06/2003 - 15:32 - in category: politics Malaysia
They push it through your throat.
BORROW MORE!! Its free (almost) no interest for the first year and more of this noncense.
Is anybody realizing that you have to pay back finally??
And is this supposed to stimulate the economy??
Don't make me laugh, this is all rubish, and an idle attempt to keep the local economy rolling.
Once everybody reached its limit of borrowing and is neck deep into shit, the whole thing is going to explode with the biggest bang they have ever heard.
In the past 5 years the world wide debt has gone up 5 fold, yes you read it right 5 fold.
And are the low interest rates benefitting the small and medium scale industries?? Again dont make me laugh the average smaall-scaler with a bank loan or o.d. facility of say 100-200.000 might save 5-6% interest compared to before the interest went down.
That is 5-10.000 on a yearly basis. Is this going to save a small company from bankrubcy?
No because a lousy company remains a lousy company, and a bad management is not getting better by lowering interest rates.
Who save yes, those giant inefficient mogols with millions of borrowings with all their creative bookkeepings.
I dont want to mention Perwaja.
Oh yes its a bit cheaper for goverments to borrow money, so they can spent more and build more deficits.
With all time champion the USA who's debts are in the trillions.
But even Malaysia, the governor of BM said the the foreign currency reserves almost equal the debt of the nation.
Well can't they use part of that money to pay back some loans and save millions in paying interest?
But i think it is to easy to use it for some more 'prestiges' things, and maybe another media team to another hotspot.
And how about pension funds? World wide pension funds lost trillions because of the bad share markets and low interest.
This are the pensions of the 1945-50 generation who will be on soon.
What is left of their 'old age security' they paid for?? Are they gonna get anything?
I dont know the answer, but one thing is for sure, wait for the next crisis, it will be the biggest bang you have ever seen.
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 We don't interfere - by @lbert
  Posted:03/06/2003 - 20:47 - in category: politics Malaysia
There was a small piece on Myanmar on TV tonight (2 minute or so). No comment, because it is an AEAN country and even if they breach all human rights, Malaysia does not interfere.
In Indonesia they counted 50+ hotspots again on Sumatera. We live in a haze again, cant see 1 km. But Malaysia does not interfere. They even do not mention it in the news or in newspapers. A total black out and a GIANT scandal.
They indonesian army goes on a rampage in Acheh, steps on all the human rights, but Malaysia does not interfere, it is an internal matter. They can kill half the population, it is an internal matter.
If foreigners protest against the draconic ISA laws, they are medling in Malaysia's internal affairs, even if they go against all human rights on a proper trial. Than it is they are trying to recolonialize 'us' again.
Because Malaysia does not interfere, so others should not interfere.
Except when it is about Iraq or Palestine. Than it is suddenly 'mencerobohan' (untidy) and more of these funny terms.
When the US infaded Iraq without UN permission Malaysia was interfering and screaming from every rooftop about agression, but when Europe + US were active in Servia without UN permission, Malaysia was o so quiet.
Is this 'the asian way' Mahatir proclaims??
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