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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. - September 2007
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 RSS Feeds. - by @lbert
  Posted:29/09/2007 - 13:59 - in category: internet / computers
RSS Newsfeeds on blogs and news sites are more rare than you think.
In the blog area, blogspot does not have any, same for wordpress only a link through to a funny page.
Out of news site, surprisingly a newspaper like Singapore Straights Times does not have any at all!
I am still searching who has... The Star has, NST has but i am not interested in this piece of shit.
Some others i will have to check.
Out of the blogs, Jeff Ooi's Screenshot has a proper RSS feed, so does my weblog.
A headline ticker still seems incomplete with so many sites not addable....
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 Annual global retirement index - by @lbert
  Posted:27/09/2007 - 09:32 - in category: living
Malaysia is among the countries of choice where foreigners prefer to spend their retirement.
It ranked 7th, along with Spain and South Africa, in the 29-nation poll.
Number one on the Fifth Annual Global Retirement Index was Mexico, followed by Ecuador, Italy, Panama (last year's top destination), and Australia and Malta, the joint fifth, while France and Thailand tied for 10th place.
Malaysia's high ranking can be attributed to benefits for retirees under the Malaysia My Second Home programme, which has attracted some 10,600 expatriates since its launch 11 years ago, mostly from China, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
Malaysia emerged tops for its low cost of living, modern infrastructure and facilities, pleasant weather, political stability and that English is widely spoken.
It beat developed countries such as New Zealand (12th placing), the United States (19th), Ireland (27th) and the UK (last spot).

The index was compiled by the International Living magazine's website, internationalliving.com, a global lifestyle, travel and investment site. (from NST)

But look what Panama (number 1) does to attract pensioners

Panama's pensionada program
Import duty exemption for household goods
Tax exemption to import a new car every two years
50% off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, theaters, concerts, sporting events)
30% off in-country bus, boat, and train fares
25% off in-country airline tickets
50% off hotel stays Monday through Thursday
30% off hotels stays Friday through Sunday
25% off restaurant bills
15% off at fast-food restaurants
15% off hospital bills (if no insurance applies)
10% off prescription medicines
20% off medical consultations
15% off dental and eye exams
20% off professional and technical services
50% reduction in closing costs for home loans
25% discounts on utility bills
15% off loans made in your name
1% less on home mortgages for homes used for personal residence
[red]That's what i call impressive![/red]
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 Malaysian lawyers hold rare protest in capital - by @lbert
  Posted:27/09/2007 - 01:00 - in category: general
From Associated Press, Published 26-Sept-2007

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: About 1,000 lawyers and social activists rallied in Malaysia's administrative capital Wednesday in a rare public demonstration, calling for a top-level inquiry into allegations of corruption and cronyism in the judiciary.

The demonstration, the first in nearly two decades by the 12,000-member Bar Council of Malaysia, was prompted by the disclosure last week of a video clip that allegedly shows a prominent lawyer brokering the appointment of top judges in 2002.

"What do we want? Justice!" shouted the lawyers dressed in court attire � black jackets and pants or skirts. Some held banners reading "Stop the patronage, stop the rot" and "Clean up the judiciary" as riot police with rifles and batons looked on.

They assembled outside the Palace of Justice, a magnificent building housing the country's top courts, before marching toward the prime minister's office, about 2 kilometers (1 mile) away, to hand over a statement.

Police stopped the marchers some distance away but allowed Bar Council President Ambiga Sreenevasan and a few others deliver their statement.

The statement calls for a royal commission of inquiry to be formed to look "into the present state of the judiciary as a whole," including changing the procedure for appointing judges, Sreenevasan said.

At present, judges are appointed by the king on the prime minister's recommendation. The council wants an impartial commission to make the appointments, she said.

"We are walking for justice. We want judicial reforms. We believe we can have a First World judiciary and we deserve a First World judiciary," Sreenevasan said.

"Lawyers don't walk everyday. When lawyers walk something's wrong," she said, adding that the credibility of the judiciary has suffered since 1988, when constitutional changes reduced judicial powers, giving the government the upper hand in making decisions.

The judiciary was dealt another blow in 1998 when former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim � sacked earlier by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad � was charged with corruption and sodomy. Anwar says the charges, for which he was convicted and jailed in 1999, were politically motivated. The sodomy conviction was later overturned.

Anwar set off a storm last week when he released the video clip, which shows the well-known lawyer, whose face is clearly visible, talking on his mobile phone and identifying the person on the other end as a senior judge. The voice at the other end is not heard.

The lawyer speaks about how he helped get the judge appointed to his current post, and discusses plans to elevate him further with the help of a tycoon and a senior politician. A number of prominent judges are also named during the conversation.

The government appointed an independent panel on Tuesday to investigate the authenticity of the video.

Sreenevasan welcomed the setting up of the panel, but said it should go beyond investigating the authenticity of the video and look into the conduct of judges.
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 Malaysia a notch up... - by @lbert
  Posted:27/09/2007 - 07:29 - in category: general
Malaysia moved up a notch in the corruption perception index of the world by Tansparency Index Org.

Malaysia scored 5.1, Singapore 9.3, Australia 8.6.
Sorry Bolehland still has a long way to go!
The complete index for SE Asia can be found here (PDF)
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 Freedom for Myanmar now! - by @lbert
  Posted:26/09/2007 - 12:52 - in category: politics Malaysia
UPDATE 22.00
Some remarks from our intelligent minister of foreign affairs Syed Hamid Albar:
Myanmar, he said, should be open and call upon all parties to resolve the turbulence there.
He said Myanmar's process towards democratisation had been too slow.
"We must see some tangible results," he said, adding that the problem must be resolved within the region.
"If it worsens and gets out of Asean's hands, the consequences won't be good," he said.

No minister, Myanmar gives a shit about Asean, and you because they know they are unwilling to interfere.
Dialog is of no use to a country like this.
MYANMAR SHOULD BE KICKED OUT OF ASEAN ON THE SPOT!

Myanmar monks marching in Yangon (AFP)


According to newsagencies, already 4 people are killed by the army and hundreds are wounded. The army shot several rounds into the crowd!
But ASEAN won't interfere..... assholes!
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 Orangutan mugs French tourist - by @lbert
  Posted:26/09/2007 - 09:20 - in category: travel Malaysia
An orangutan who objected to having its photograph taken by a French tourist snatched her backpack before ripping off her trousers.
The woman, known only as Odile, was taking photographs of a female orangutan named Delima in Malaysia's Semenggoh Wildlife Center on Borneo when the ape took offense.
The pair tussled over Odile's backpack before Delima decided to go for the tourist's clothes.
"He (Delima) took my shoes and socks off, and then tried to take off my trousers," Odile told the Associated Press news agency.
"As he couldn't with his hands only, he tried with his teeth and that's when I got bitten. As soon as he got my trousers he went away." She denied she had tried to touch or harass the animal.
Wilfred Landong, the chief park warden at Malaysia's Semenggoh Wildlife Centre on Borneo island, said rangers gave Odile medical treatment after she suffered scratches and bruises on her knees and thighs.
He said: "We are not faulting anyone, but we remind tourists that they should not go too near the orangutans."
The wildlife centre displays signs warning visitors to walk away if orangutans - which are native to Malaysia - approach them because they often grab at humans and objects, Mr Landong added.
source: AFP
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 Fasting or feasting? - by @lbert
  Posted:24/09/2007 - 14:54 - in category: religion
I wonder if i look around on the Pasar Puasa, or in the supermarkets.
Is it Fasting month or is it Feasting month.
I think that the present way of fasting is no fasting at all, they eat so much that they actually gain weight.
Where is the moderation? In having a buka puasa meal in a luxury hotel for RM 50++.
This is all rediculous and shows that they not even know what fasting means according to the Koran.

But yes anyone who eats a bowl of Mie-Maggie in the daytime gets arrested and fined RM 500 as it is an offence.
Isn't that a thing between you and God?
Look in Indonesia, every eating stall is open they just hang some cloth around the stall so you cannot see who's inside.
Why in Malaysia everything has to be controlled? Except the indulging and non-moderation?
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 Nuri Jazlin. - by @lbert
  Posted:24/09/2007 - 10:34 - in category: general
Nurin Jazlin Jazimin�s parents could be hauled up for negligence following her abduction and murder an offence punishable under Child Act 2001, said Minister in the Prime Minister�s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz.
He was commenting on a statement by the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan that police would investigate if Nurin Jazlin�s parents had been negligent.

Isn't this the bloody limit? An 8 year old girl or boy is clever enough i would assume to do some shopping.
It is the sick brain of the 2 persons mentioned above to blame the parents instead of finding the culprit who did this nasty murder.

When I was 4 or 5 i daily had to do some shopping for my mom to get a few things from nearby grocery shops, a normal thing i would assume.
But in Bolehland it is not, you charge the parents and give a damn about the rest.
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 Micro$oft fined big money - by @lbert
  Posted:17/09/2007 - 22:27 - in category: internet / computers
The European Court confirmed the fine for Micro$oft. Herewith a 9 year old fight came to an end. The court in Luxembourg confirmed the fines.
Micro$oft has to cough up 497 million Euro's! That is roughly 2.335 billion MYR.
Finally someone nailed them.
The Euro Commissionair Neelie Kroes said, that if Microsoft tries to evade paying the fine, the European Comission will take further steps.
This company controls 95% of the market and prices are way to high because of lack of competition.
New fines will be considered if Microsoft does no comply.
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 Campus Gestapo... - by @lbert
  Posted:17/09/2007 - 21:58 - in category: politics Malaysia
I am surprised to learn, that university campus of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) seems to have some kind of Gestapo.
This Gestapo can break into rooms, take away property belonging to others.
They seem to have more rights than the Malaysian police.
Read Jeff Ooi for the details and reference to Malaysiakini video's.

I had no idea that Malaysia is developing into a real police state, unbelievable,
and all this for some campus elections, Malaysia is sinking lower and lower!
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 Roasting a minister... - by @lbert
  Posted:15/09/2007 - 13:42 - in category: TV
Have you seen the interview of BBC's interview with Syed Hamid Albar by Sarah Montague?
You really should see/listen to it. The first time ever i have seen a Malaysian minister really getting roasted in public, without prepared questions and andswers.
The interviewer several times repeated her question because the ministers answer was not an answer.
Constantly in denial (as usual in Malaysia), people from outside Malaysia cannot understand the problems inside Malaysia.
It was actually laughable to see a foreign minister giving such stupid answers, especially on questions about NEP and the likes.
Well it shows again to the world ...Malaysia boleh!

The BBC interview can be seen here.
You will need Real Audio
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 The feel good feeling...where? - by @lbert
  Posted:11/09/2007 - 14:21 - in category: politics Malaysia
How good is the Ringgit doing?
Well its doing very very bad not to say its turning into a piece of shit!
The dollar is sinking and sinking, so does the Ringgit.
1 year ago you got 11 baht for 1 ringgit, now not even 0.92
Against the Euro the Ringgit sunk to 4.90.
So Malaysia is drowning with the dollar, well done.

Relations with neighbours are so good that Indonesia totally snubbed Malaysia's 50th birthday. No one attended the festivities. Indonesia has not even an ambassador in KL anymore.

But that is what you get in a police state where police can 'defend' themselves with live bullets.
Is the FRU so stupid that they cannot control a crowd of 500 with batons?
Well as usual they probably had agent provocateurs in the crowd to instigate the whole thing.
Malaysia should learn that these things can be avoided by giving people the right to hold gatherings and meetings, without having the permit withdrawn on the last moment, because it did not suit UMNO or BN.
The Herald Tribune showed Malaysia's world wide publicity again.
Well done PDRM, Malaysia Boleh!
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 Malaysian banking. - by @lbert
  Posted:07/09/2007 - 21:03 - in category: consumer affairs
A friend of mine wanted to open an account with Maybank. So he went there.
This is the conversation:
Q: Can i open an account with Maybank?
A: Yes you can.
Q: What is the minimum to put in?
A: RM 250.
Q: What you need for verification?
A: Your IC and your driving license.
Q: What if i dont have a driving license?
A: Anything else to prove identity.
Q: Is my new IC not enough?
A: No you IC can be false.....
(If i can falsify an IC i also can falsify a driving license!)
Q: OK OPEN THE ACCOUNT
A: THAN YOU HAVETO COME BACK AT 11.30!
Q: Why is that?
a: YOU CAN ONLY OPEN AN ACCOUNT ON APPOINTMENT!

This is Malaysia's biggest bank, but definitely also the most lousiest bank in Malaysia.
Their service stinks 7 miles high!

Go Singapore...you open an account in less than 1 hour, ATM card provided!
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 Human trafficking - by @lbert
  Posted:04/09/2007 - 07:29 - in category: general
Read this shocking story about human trafficking to Malaysia from the Philipines, and the bastards who make the money.
It is featured on MSNBC here.
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 Its over....back to reality - by @lbert
  Posted:03/09/2007 - 12:39 - in category: politics Malaysia
The 50th Merdeka party is over. All politicians have had their chance in getting an orgasm of publicity again.
In spite of the kings request to keep Merdeka day free of politics, it was all politics.
One reason i did not watch TV, totally crazy if you have RTM 1/2 TV3 NTV7 TV8 TV9 all showing the same, with the same crappy interviews and comments, and that on a orchestrated North-Korean style show.
What a stupid show of 'unity'.
Well its over..... so reality is there again!
There were plenty of people who had nothing to celebrate, they have been marginalized for 50 years. Do something about these people.
And without equal education for all the future is bleak, the same goes for racial integration, nep and plenty of other unbelievable things.
Malaysians work hard, due to that they prosper, but they can prosper double if their 'pemimpin' are not wasting their efforts by the billions. Think about that.
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