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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
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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. - July 2007
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 Poor padifarmers? - by @lbert
  Posted:31/07/2007 - 15:27 - in category: food
A thought when creating the utopia called Northern Corridor, that will indebt future generations by the billions.
The poor rice farmers of Kedah....
Are they really that poor? I do not think so. Rice is heavily subsidized so are fertilizers.
Than what is the problem?
The problem is that rice culture in Malaysia in a mono culture.
Every 1st year agriculture student will tell you that a monoculture is devastating for the soil and the environment.
The soil gets 'lazy' because never any natural fertilizer is added, since all paddi farmers burn the remains, which only results in carbon and sulphur and is a pest for the environment.
Pesticides used, have to get stronger and stronger because the pests get resistant to the pesticides.
So a vicious circle, that as end result is a poisoning the coastal area of Kedah and Perlis, because all the rubbish flows into the sea.
The sea in Kedah is so heavily polluted that only 'buluh babi' will survive, all coral is dead.
Is there a solution?
Of course their is....
First of all the scale of growing padi. Small holders have absolutely no viability.
Only size of scale can survive, so padi farms should have at least 20 hectare of arable land to be sustainable.
Change the monoculture... i year grow padi, the next year grow maize, this also reduces Malaysia's dependency on maize imports.
Of course other crops plenty to grow.
After the harvest spit under all the remains and let it rot into vertilizer!
Find the natural enemies of certain diseases and use them instead of pesticides.

Will they use this solution? NO because UMNO get his majority of votes from the farmers and the likes.
Less farmers or rich farmers would mean no votes and the demise of UMNO.
Think about that.....
| Permalink | 2 comments | Add Comment |

 Next to go up.... - by @lbert
  Posted:29/07/2007 - 22:34 - in category: consumer affairs
Wheat has gone up on the world markets by as much as 60% in the past few weeks, due among others to droughts in africa.
Expect the price of flower to go up 20-30%.
Same for a loaf of bread, instant mee, spaghetti, macaroni and the likes.Just got your pay rise? Well there it goes....
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Fighting of spam. - by @lbert
  Posted:29/07/2007 - 12:30 - in category: internet / computers
Fighting of spam in blogs and forums can be a hopeless task.
Most of the spam fighting 'engines' use an elephant to shoot a mouse.
What do spammers want? Well they are like puppies and like to piss everywhere they can, in this case they piss 'urls'. In blogs they often piss insults.
So how to fight them off?
For forums i use a captcha code to block automatic spamming, than for new users whether they register or not, in their first 5 or so postings they cannot add an url (that will block the posting) and cannot enter dirty words (always).
For blogs i have a different approach, i register the ip, verify whether the email address is an existing one (if false posting rejected). On top of that you can add an unwanted word filter.
Using both of these on my website has reduced the spam to almost zero!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 What if a blogger joins a party? - by @lbert
  Posted:29/07/2007 - 12:19 - in category: politics Malaysia
What if a famous blogger joins a specific party?
Well i would say he has the right to express his vision in any party of his liking.
Afterall not every party/grouping is a rubberstamp like the BN components where no one can stray from the party line.
The people vote in their candidates, and the representative is representing the party but ALSO the people who voted him in.
If the party strays from the ideas of the voters who voted him in, the representative has every right to vote against the party in parliament.
Afterall he is representing people!
In BN this is non existing, but they cant help it because probably 90% of them is a brainless bunch of morons who only can insult the intelligence of the people who voted them in.
So if a famous blogger joins a party and he thinks he can see his visions expressed in that party without fear, well go for it.
On top of that if the government tries to stifle him again with ISA or OSA, than it is now a member of the opposition that got chased after, and that sounds worse than 'just' a blogger!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 I told you... - by @lbert
  Posted:26/07/2007 - 23:08 - in category: general
The price of milk products is going crazy!
I already explained why here.
Expect another round of price increases in a week or two.
Milk powder without delivery contracts already goes for RM 20.00 a kg.(retail)
Some retailers in Penang who import milk powder themselves are already forced to charge RM 20.00 a kg. A tin of condensed milk will soon go for 2.70-2.90. The pekat manis one will go over RM 2.00.
So expect a 2.3 kg bag of milk powder to go up to RM 50.00 or so in the near future. If you have small children better stock up!!
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 Round 1 for RPK - by @lbert
  Posted:26/07/2007 - 23:01 - in category: politics Malaysia
Do read Raja Petra's story about his interrogation, this is an eye opener!
A comedy of errors..
The story is shocking, especially why the PM ran away to Australia.
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 RPK reply to ex menteri besar. - by @lbert
  Posted:25/07/2007 - 09:06 - in category: politics Malaysia
Read Raja Petra's reaction to the police report filed by ex menteri besar of Selangor.
The best writing i have seen in years!
This is Raja Petra at his best, read Muhamad the son of Muhamad, see you in Hell!
The Nazi minister, Nazri Aziz said he will use the Internal Security Act, the Sedition Act, and Section 121B of the Penal Code against bloggers who write on sensitive issues. Go ahead minister 3/4 ++ of them is already anonymous!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 High-jacking Merdeka. - by @lbert
  Posted:24/07/2007 - 10:17 - in category: general
I got a feeling that BN and especially UMNO will go all out to high-jack the 50th Merdeka anniversairy.
Toll booth on the high ways already posters with all BN heads.
Wait for more noise from Krishamuddin and the SIL on this matter.
On TV the whole thing is already pushed through everybody's throat.
It seems that they still dont understand that patriotism can not be created artificial.
Patriotism is something that grows over years and i think that there are plenty of Malaysians who dont see or feel any reason to wave a flag on Merdeka day.
And has the so called racial harmony in Malaysia not been crushed by the ruling clique in he past 20 years or so?
All is Living Apart Together ad 2007!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Potter price war.... - by @lbert
  Posted:22/07/2007 - 15:07 - in category: general
MPH, Popular Bookstore and Times on Friday announced they would not sell Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after Carrefour and Tesco hypermarkets advertised that they were selling the books at RM69.90.
Well good for them, who's on the loosing end?
Of course they are and not Tesco and Carrefour.
They should learn the a book is a commodity just like rice or a bottle of wine.
Wherever its cheaper you buy it.
It only proves that MPH, Popular Bookstore and Times on Friday are making scandalous profits on books. So if only can hope Carrefour and Tesco will discount more books to make them available to 'normal' people.
Afterall RM 70.00 for the Potter book is already a lot to many people.
So the only reaction appropriate is:
GO TO HELL MPH, Popular Bookstore and Times on Friday !
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Mahathir on th NEP. - by @lbert
  Posted:21/07/2007 - 14:19 - in category: politics Malaysia
Read this article in Bloomberg.com.
A good analyzes of the NEP.
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Islamic state? - by @lbert
  Posted:20/07/2007 - 08:19 - in category: politics Malaysia
The remarks by dpm Najib that Malaysia has been an islamic state all the way, stirred a lot of commotion.
But now we can be sure.... this country is ruled by ayatholla Badawi and ayatholla Najib.
Wait for the beheadings in the national stadium.
By the way the press is not allowed to discuss anything, all browned out!
So now bolehland becomes immamland.
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Fruits fruits... - by @lbert
  Posted:15/07/2007 - 19:12 - in category: Yan Kedah
Fruits this year so abundand that mangosteen have dropped to 0,50 a kg.
Rambutan are going for around 60-75 sen a kg.
Durian dropped this week to RM 8.00 for a bundle (10 or more).
Really the time for eat till you drop!
I made my rambutam jam for this year and it tastes great, i added real lime jus this time, saves adding extra pectine.
Even nanas madu now are going for 3-4 pcs for RM 2.00, so i think i make some pineapple jam to! Great with icecream, but so is durian, especially the yellow type.
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Bolehland or bodohland? - by @lbert
  Posted:15/07/2007 - 19:06 - in category: general
What is becoming out of Malaysia recently?
I am shocked if i see all the facts!
1) Unsolved religious problems.
2) Massive Corruption, hight ranking cases are ignored or go under the carpet.
3) Selective reporting by media including TV (which is owned by the ruling party or cronies control it.)
4) Less FDI investments coming into the country (lack of interest in Malaysia)
5) Stunning increase in crime rates.
6) Massive spending on unnecessary projects, now already for 30 years!
7) Mana ada transparency?
8) Ministers who make rude sexual remarks and racial taunts and are not reprimanded.
Even deputy ministers can order the police to go after website owners.
9) Ministers can file reports against the nations head of police.
10) A PM who has done nothing for this country during his tennure.
11) Ministers who behave like little Napoleons and are unfit for their job.
12) An offical secrets act that contraveines the constitution.
13) An internal security act that violates every human right.
14) National integration that ends up as LAT (living apart together)
15) No action taken against religious fanatism that is totally baseless.
16) Totally undemocratic election system/machinery.
....this list can go on, till you reach 1000+ probably.

When is Malaysia going to grow up and become a real nation? Ever?
No way by 2020....
| Permalink | one comment | Add Comment |

 World's first... - by @lbert
  Posted:13/07/2007 - 11:04 - in category: politics Malaysia
An oximoron created an oximoron.
Minister Nazri Aziz yesterday created a closed door public hearing on crime held by the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance in Petaling Jaya.
Even Jozeph Stalin did not manage to do this but this minister put Malaysia on the map again.
Go on like this....
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Idiots! - by @lbert
  Posted:10/07/2007 - 12:58 - in category: religion
Below a foto of the JAIS or JAIP members, i cannot tell the difference. I only can say that they are morons.

| Permalink | one comment | Add Comment |

 Inflation rate. - by @lbert
  Posted:09/07/2007 - 21:51 - in category: consumer affairs
Inflation 2.5% as several ministers said? BULL they are lying through their teeth.
Inflation this year is rapidly creeping towards 10% or more.
Milk products all went up by 15-20%. You cannot get a tin of condensed milk under 2.15 anymore, that used to be 1.70.

Milk powder went up from 30.00 for 2 kg to 35-36.00.

Meat went up from RM 15-16 to RM 17.00 (Tesco has the guts to charge 40.++ for some kinds of local meat)

Cut chicken went up by 10% at least.

Tomatoes are going through the roof at RM 5.00 or more a kg on the pasar.

Sawi goes for 2.50-2.70 a kg at the pasar here.

Repair shops are all raising labour charges by 10-20%.

Well the list can go on for ever..... there is not end in sight.
To the ministers i only can say LIARS!! BOHONG!!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Thank you Indonesia. - by @lbert
  Posted:06/07/2007 - 10:07 - in category: environment
Thank you indonesia....for the so maniest year Malaysia is in a thick haze again.
The stupid Indonesian government is unwilling to do anything about it already for years!
The haze has been a yearly event for the past 10 years or so and the Indonesian government doesn't seem to see any urgency in curbing this environmental catastrophe.
This whole thing is an environmental catastrophe, it is NO LONGER an internal Indonesian affair. It is an international disaster. Indonesia now should be forced to do something about it, if not international sanctions against indonesia should be applied!
Enough is enough.....
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 Peak oil again.... - by @lbert
  Posted:06/07/2007 - 09:55 - in category: general
In Jeff Ooi's blog the peak oil question finally got some attention. I already blogged about it on 11/10/2006 here.
The problem is still very relevant as it will crash Malaysia's 9 MP completely as their is less and less milk available from Petronas, after been sucked dry for years.
So by that time only crying Umno Putra's and no more money. The world is recolonizing Malaysia again! And Malaisia pretends it knows nothing, they only scream when it is to late!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Debt info and CTOS - by @lbert
  Posted:06/07/2007 - 08:47 - in category: general
CTOS and selling financial details. Maybe it is new to Malaysia, but in almost the whole western world you will find services like this.
One of the biggest is I think Dun and Bradstreet.(all over the world)
You can contact them, give the name of the company or person you want info on, and you get a report. (against payment of course)
This also as in almost all countries details about bankrubtcies, court claims and other claims against a person or company are freely available, so they just have to collect it and put it in a database.

Have a look at Dun and Bradstreet (US) website and you can see what they all do.
More than CTOS can ever dream of.
In Malaysia the only errors CTOS made is they did not file financial reports, and had some delays in updating their data.
But as usual the fines on this are minimal and will not bother anyone.
So the minister can tone down a bit, nothing illegal has been done.
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Fruits abundant! - by @lbert
  Posted:03/07/2007 - 13:10 - in category: Yan Kedah
This year the garden is giving so many fruits that it is unbelievable.
Rambutan now almost ripe so many that the jam production will run overtime. Manggis every morning can collect a few kilo's amazing.
The durians also a few days more and they can be enjoyed.
If i see all the trees in Yan, rambutans and durian will be super cheap this year. Even manggis are cheaper than ever.

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