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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. - August 2007
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 The propaganda machine and more - by @lbert
  Posted:29/08/2007 - 10:43 - in category: general
The past 2-3 weeks every day it is every 5 minutes some propaganda for Malaysia 50 tahun on TV.
It is done on such a large scale that it makes me nuts.
This is instilling patriotism? Well Jozef Goebbels ministry still has a lot to learn, or did they take classes at the Kim Il Yung II school in North Korea.
If i see all the preparations for the 31st parade i think N.Korea could not have improved it.
Is there anything spontaneous going to happen on the 31st? Or is it all stupid politicians who want more mileage?

I hope Yan will have some unorganized un-political fun. Because i am definitely not going to watch any propaganda crap show.

Than looking back on 50 years of federation Malaya, and 44 years Malaysia, I only can say please LOOK BACK!

Malaysia now has the largest gap where the top 10 percent is 22.1 times richer than the poorest 10 percent.
Malaysia�s income gap is higher than Philippines (16.5), Thailand (13.4), Indonesia (7.8) and Vietnam (8.4).
The richest 10 percent in Malaysia controls 38.4 percent of the country�s economic income as compared to the poorest 10 percent controlling 1.7 percent.
Racial integration is at its worst ever, look back just 20 years ago... yes than there was racial integration, now you find it only in Sabah and Sarawak.
Semenanjung is totally polarized by the Taliban in this country.
No tolerance is found anymore, anything and they start screaming.

I hope to see back the times when Malay, Chinese and Indian could sit in 1 coffeeshop and chit-chat, and not each in its own coffeeshop (now).
Thats why i say LOOK BACK, and see what has been lost.
And i hope for Malaysia, never a Mahathir regime again and for sure not a Pak Tak Tahu regime again.
The last 20++ years were Malaysia's worst, as the country is robbed blind, corruption is higher than ever, and the judiciary is malfunctioning.
Ridiculous projects came and went, and have cost 50 billion + and still counting.

Malaysia is prosperous, yes thanks to whom?
Not thanks to its government, but thanks to its hard working people.
But they could have been so much better off if they were not robbed blind.
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 Trafic woes... - by @lbert
  Posted:27/08/2007 - 20:13 - in category: general
Bus drivers are complaining about the harsh controls by the government.
Well just let them complain.
If they don't want to drive, don't drive, no pay either.
And don not stop this action in a few weeks time, keep it going till at least after raya!
Let them scream and kick....never mind.

Same goes for Penang, why was the clamp down on taxi drivers suddenly stopped?
Why not continue for at least 2 month, if the don't want to drive, revoke taxi permits!
Still do not want to use meters, permit gone as well.
This lousy way of 4 days checking does not help at all, kill off all those leeches who only suck the customers blood!
If no taxi's after a month, fine..... than problem is solved and just start issuing new licenses, but NOT to the old bunch.

See the same with Rapid Penang, Yellow Bus already folded down, good thats what they deserved.
Hin Bus will probably follow suit soon, because all their busses are only good for the scrap yard.
I wonder any bus is less than 40 years old. Hin Bus also gets what they deserve!

Probably this raya balik kampung will be the biggest disaster ever.
Well who created it? Right Pak Tak Tahu's government with their lackadaisy attitude.
It is more important to proclaim that Malaysia is an islamic state, than take real action on any matter. Rather launch another megaproject!
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 Dream on Menteri Besar.... - by @lbert
  Posted:24/08/2007 - 11:18 - in category: Yan Kedah
The white elephant in Yan also called pipeline, is simply a wild dream.
The pipeline would stretch from the west coast town of Yan, which the government has designated a petroleum development zone, to the small fishing port of Bachok in the east.
Despite government backing, some analysts have questioned the rationale for the pipeline, saying it remains cheaper to sail around Singapore than to unload a super-tanker at Yan, pump the crude to Bachok and put it on another tanker.
A similar project in Thailand was scrapped two years ago due to rising steel costs, safety issues after the tsunami and environmental concerns.

Trans-Peninsula Petroleum planned to build the pipeline over eight years from 2008.
The first phase, costing $2.3 billion, could transport 2 million barrels of oil per day (bpd).
After the final, third phase, capacity would reach 6 million bpd.
Ranhill would undertake the main construction work while Bakrie, controlled by the family of Indonesian chief social welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie, would supply steel pipes.
Trans-Peninsula is a company with a paid-up capital of RM 150.000 (dont laugh!)

Aburizal Bakrie and family are some of the biggest crooks in Indonesia, among others responsible for the still continuing mudflow in Sidoarjo near Surabaya.
They quickly sold the company involved (Lapindo), to avoid being involved! In one word a bunch of bastards.
And Trans Peninsula wants to work with these crooks.
More on Bakrie here.
This whole project is simply crazy, because no one will use it.
The costs saved by unloading and reloading are so small that it is not worth while.
For the real big supertankers, very large crude carriers, there is no advantage at all, they sail around he Sunda Straits in 1 day+.
Well at least we have a bridge to Pulau Bunting, but the bridge ends nowhere.
Good for fishing maybe, but than a long jetty would have been a lot cheaper.

The petani near Sungai Limau are counting themselves rich already, as they think they can make a fortune for their land.
Also dreams....just look at the delapidated bridge, thats the projects future.

And for the menteri besar of Kedah.... dream on lah, just dream.

Read: Malaysia's Pipeline Dreams
Also: Does it add up?

The current white elephant state.

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 Ops bersih, mana bersih... - by @lbert
  Posted:23/08/2007 - 14:33 - in category: general
Ops Bersih, you think it will have any result?
Yes for 1 month and than its back to the old.
Malysia lacks enforcement on any law they have, be it environmental, industrial, traffic you name it.
Than on top of that fines are ridiculous low, and for trafic fines you can even ask a discount. Unique in the world!
Which proper thinking country gives a discount on trafic fines.
Than the fines themselves are way to low.
Beating a trqafic light costs you 300 maximum after discount probably 150.
Overtaking on double lines same.
Why does overtaking on double lines not carry a fines of at least 1500?
Beating a trafic light at least 500?
Why does Malaysia tolerate that people simply refuse to pay fines?
Simply make a ruling that if a fine is not paid within 30 days it doubles?
That will make them think delaying payment.
Trafic behavior in Malaysia is going down and down, nothing is done to stop the rot.
Taxi drivers dictate what they charge not the meter, nothing is done.
Bus/lorry drivers can speed, under drugs or even drunk nothing is done.

Fine and charge, and number 1 ENFORCE! Move those enforcement officers out of their aircon rooms!
How it works in Europe for sample....
You beat a red light and get a 5-700 Euro fine. If you have has multiple offenses within a certain period, you can now start walking.... license suspended for 6 month or so.
You don't pay up? Fine the fine is raised by 50% or doubled according to country.
You still don't pay? Well the fine goes on your tax record.
You cannot leave the country anymore unless you pay up.
If catched on a road block, instant pay or jail whatever you prefer.
Payments have to be made cash on the spot, or call your wife or child to bring the money over.

As long as fines in Malaysia are not a deterrent nothing will work.
Look at environmental fines 50K or so for pollution, hahaha....
Minimum should be 500K + cost of cleaning up + probation.
And remember the cost of cleaning up can run into multiple millions!
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 Sudirman - by @lbert
  Posted:22/08/2007 - 15:39 - in category: TV
To my surprise TV1 just now showed a program over the life and work of Sudirman Hj Arshad.
This program was very very nice to watch, finally some honour for the greatest artist Malaysia ever produced!
Sudirman was a real patriot, and loved by Malays, Chinese and Indians. His inventivity was enormous, so was his talent.
Sadly missed when he passed away on the age of 37! Imagine to what great heights he could have grown if he was still alive.
I really hope that this is a turn on RTM and we finally get some songs of Sudirman from time to time, and not allways the overchewed P. Ramlee stuff!
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 Poor monkeys... - by @lbert
  Posted:21/08/2007 - 21:30 - in category: politics Malaysia
The Cabinet has literally signed the monkeys death warrant by withdrawing protection for the so-called urban monkeys under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Remains one question, can we export all the urban monkeys in the dewan rakyat now too?
May i suggest to start with the Gunung Jerai monkey?

Malaysia put it self in the forefront of ridiculing again. Well done minister.... hats off!
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 Up, Up, Up... - by @lbert
  Posted:19/08/2007 - 11:24 - in category: consumer affairs
As i mentioned before prices of milk, cheese, bread will go up drastically in the near future.
In europe it already started with fresh milk products and cheese going up 20%.

Next on the list is chocolate, where also world prices are going through the roof.

There goes your 'cheap' cococrunch.....
But than price of chocolat in Malaysia is already ridiculous!
A bar that costs 17-18 RM is tax free in Labuan just RM8.
Go figure even chocolat has 100% protection tax it seems.
UPDATE:
I checked the government website.
Imported chocolate carries 19% import duty
Cocoa power carries and import duty of 10%.
This proves that importers as well as producers in Malaysia are filling up their pockets big scale, as chocolate tax free is less than half price, go figure...
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 Funny dead critter... - by @lbert
  Posted:18/08/2007 - 21:17 - in category: general
Yesterday i suddenly noticed that there was something hanging on the ceiling.
On evaluation it proved to be a cicak 100% dead and hanging on 1 back leg.
This is amazing i would expect them to drop down, but no it was hanging and had to be shoved off.
Nature surprises...
| Permalink | one comment | Add Comment |

 Patriotism.... - by @lbert
  Posted:17/08/2007 - 08:16 - in category: general
Let me tell a story how we in Holland celebrate national days....
Actually we have 2, 5 th May liberation day (Germans surrendered in 1945) and the Queens birthday end April.
The queens birthday i think is far out the biggest.
On this day people wave the national flag and dress up in orange (the color of the queens, house of orange).
Many cities have freemarkets (you can sell anything you like without a permit, maybe foodstuff exempted).
On many places there are giant concerts and other festivities.
Amsterdam last time drew 1 MILLION visitors to the celebrations.
Mostly it starts at the night before the Queens Birtday people try to find the nicest spot for selling their stuff.
Cafe's are open till 6 or 7 in the morning. And cities are already loaded with people.
Than the next day it's 24 hours ++ partying and fun.
The queen every year picks another city to join in the celebrations
No politics involved, no one pressures anybody to be 'patriotic' and join.
No TV spots 3 times an hour in order to make you patriotic.
No people pressuring you to wave a flag.

The result:
One super giant patriotic party, food, fun and music. There is police of course, but most will walk around with an orange hat or other token.
FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE! No politician in sight, no stupid speeches, no racism!

That is patriotism......
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 Apologies? Crap! - by @lbert
  Posted:16/08/2007 - 09:02 - in category: general
UPDATED:
Student Wee Meng Chee, 24, who caused a furore here with his Negaraku rap video clip on YouTube, has apologized for the parody and will remove the video clip from his blog.
It has taught me a lesson about the spirit of nationalism and race relations.
As a Malaysian, I did not intend to shame the country or ridicule any religion.

What a total crap!! First of all Negaraku is not original it is stolen from a song by a french composer.
Secondly after going through the translation of the text there is nothing insulting in it.
Mentioning the morning prayer call ? Well for some this is an annoying irritating thing, for others it is part of life.
But he did not say either. Only some fanatic brainless muslims felt insulted, but whatever you say they always will be insulted.

But Chua Soi Lek and his fellow MCA screamers succeeded in their task.
Negarakuku was watched more than 1.2 MILLION times on your tube.
And it has probably been downloaded thousands of times via other websites.
Jozef Goebbels said we should forget the story.
Well his ministry also helped actively in achieving the 1.2 million.
Pak Tak Tahu is nowhere for a comment, (OOPS he is in the country for once...)

Update:
The Cabinet has not accepted student Wee Meng Chee�s apology for the furore caused by his Negaraku rap videoclip on video-sharing web portal YouTube.
�The offence was not against the Prime Minister or ministers concerned but against the nation,� Nazri told reporters.

What a pathetic reply out of the mouth of the countries most racist minister.
On top of that are there no urgent matters to attend to.....(like a 4++ billion bail out in Zakaria-land)
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 Mamula Moon - Negara Ku - by @lbert
  Posted:09/08/2007 - 09:23 - in category: general
Updated:
Negaraku, not is particular original Malaysian. Where does is originate? 'Negaraku' (English:'My Country') is the national anthem of Malaysia. "Negaraku" was selected as a national anthem at the time of the Federation of Malayas independence from Britain in 1957. The tune was originally used as the state anthem of Perak. The tune was also used for a popular song of that time, Terang Bulan, which was in turn borrowed from the song Mamula Moon, sang by Felix Mendelssohn and his Hawaiian Serenaders in 1947.
The song had been very popular on the island of Mah� in the Seychelles. where the Sultan of Perak had formerly been living in exile.
He heard it at a public band concert on the island, a song to a popular French melody, originally composed by the lyricist Pierre Jean de Beranger (1780-1857).
When a member of the Perak royal family was invited to a reception in Europe, he was asked what his state anthem was.
Realizing that his state did not in fact possess an anthem, he, in order not to appear backward in front of his hosts, proceeded to hum the aforementioned tune.
Thus was an anthem born. (Partial Wikipedia)
So Negaraku is actually a Hawaiian song.
Did they ever pay royalties to Mendelssohn?
Terang Bulan is here to download,
Mamula Moon is here to download

The other 'version' of Nagaraku on Yourtube is not even worth watching. (And has meanwhile been deleted) I don't understand why they had to mention it in the news, and stir all the commotion, now everybody is Googeling for Negarakuku.... Stupid it seems they never learn especially the Jozef Goebels ministry.
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 Malaysia's most informed bloggers! - by @lbert
  Posted:08/08/2007 - 12:17 - in category: internet / computers
The Malaysian bloggers ie 'Monyets/Monkeys' as classified by UMNO Youth Deputy Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin, are :

Lim Kit Siang, Jeff Ooi, Ahiruddin Attan, Anwar Ibrahim, Bakri Musa, Azly Rahman, Ong Hock Chuan, Husam Musa, Malik Imtiaz Sawar, Zainol Abideen ("Mahaguru58"), Ronnie Liu, Ruhanie Ahmad, Raja Petra Kamarudin, Marina Mahathir, Nuraina Samad, Hajjah Fuziah Salleh, Rustam Sani, Ahmad Zaki Yamani, Faisal Mustaffa, A.Kadir Jasin, Bernad Khoo (Zorro), Syed Shahir, Dato Shahrir Abdul Samad, Shieh ("Kickdefella"), Haris Ibrahim, Kula Segaran, Imran Idris, Captain Yusuf Ahmad, Dr. Hsu Dar Ren, Husin Lempoyang, Hizami Iskandar, Susan Loone, Syed Imran ("Kuda Ranggi"), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Nizam Bashir, Zaharin Mohd Yasin ("Sang Kelembai"), Annuar Mohd Nor, Ibnu Hakeem, Hishamuddin Rais, Amir Hafizi, Mohd Adib Nor, Nathaniel Tan, Zaharah Othman ("choc-a-blog"), Patrick Teoh ("Niamah"), Fathi Aris Omar, Amin Yatim ("Cuit Sikit"), Khalid Jafar, Amin Iskandar, Ahmad A. Talib ("Pahit Manis"), Pak Idrus (In Passing - Malaysian"), Saari Sungib, etc.

So i think we can call all those Malaysia's most informed bloggers, even the SIL is getting scared of the truth.
Well the internet will roast all of those political corruptors and cronies.......
GOBLOK Khairy!
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 Taxi terror - by @lbert
  Posted:08/08/2007 - 09:20 - in category: Penang
From The Star:
Some 1,300 taxi drivers, all members of the Penang Federation of Taxi Drivers Association, have gone on a �boycott� following what they claim is �constant harassment� by the authorities over the past five days.

Association president Osman Majid said the members had �grounded� their vehicles since yesterday evening.

�Enough is enough. We cannot take it anymore. We are being summoned for not using meters and simple reasons such as not wearing our uniform,� Osman said.

Finally! I hope they will fine them ALL and revoke ALL their licenses. Let them strike as long as they please!
[red]High time these terrorists start using their taxi meters![/red]
| Permalink | 2 comments | Add Comment |

 Pak's new plane is there. - by @lbert
  Posted:07/08/2007 - 14:19 - in category: general
Pak Tak Tahu's new RM 200 million plane arrived in Malaysia.
The executive jet, not bought by the Government but by a subsidiary of Khazanah, according to the PM then (asif that makes any difference) , has been painted in TUDM colours.
Well now he can fly more often in style as a real 'Robert Mugabe' to Sydney, on taxpayers expenses of course.
In real world countries pm's fly business class only, so do the ministers.
But this is bolehland....
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 That saves money! - by @lbert
  Posted:02/08/2007 - 11:58 - in category: general
This really saves! Look at the German Loremo.
It drives 1 liter on 66 kilometers, amazing.
The engine is a 2 cylinder turboengine ( 20 hp ), topspeed 160 km/h, and 0-100 in twenty seconds.
The cheapest version in Europe will be around 13.000 Euro (RM 60K)
Four passengers can sit in the car, but the backseat passengers sit backward, so they look out of the rear.
The weight is 450 kg (almost no road tax), all plastic body with no paint. They use foil instead.
Length of the car 3.84 meters.
They are working on a GT version that uses 1 on 37 and will cost around 18.000 Euro.
On the market in 1 1/2 to 2 years.
Their website here.
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 No petrol at night - by @lbert
  Posted:02/08/2007 - 08:29 - in category: consumer affairs
The 3,200 petrol stations nationwide, including those along highways, will close at 10pm and open at 7am, with or without the approval of the Government.
This was decided at the annual delegates conference of the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) here yesterday. These people are turning the clock backward!
They run a service, and especially along the highways they MUST be open 24 hours.
What if i want to drive from Alor Setar to Johor at night (faster driving), and cannot even tank anywhere and will be stranded halfway.
And even in the cities 10 oclock is a ridiculous time, that should be at least 12.

This idea is totally rediculous. Just make filling up only possible by credit card at night, so the stations have no cash.
High time for the government to step in.
| Permalink | one comment | Add Comment |

 Changes to PoV weblog - by @lbert
  Posted:01/08/2007 - 18:10 - in category: internet / computers
I incorporated a change to the weblog.
As long as there are no or less than 5 entries for the new month, the last 10 entries will be show.
Zero entries will state that there are no entries for this month and that the last 10 are shown.
Afterwards (5 or more entries) only the current month will be shown.
This is on test, if it works ok, i will add it to the downloadable version.
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