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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. - November 2006
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 Malaysia bites back and industriously trades the insults - by @lbert
  Posted:29/11/2006 - 16:44 - in category: politics Malaysia
Malaysia bites back and industriously trades the insults
by Michael Backman
The Age November 29, 2006

MY LAST column on wasteful government spending in Malaysia (Business, 15/11) generated a furore. I received more than 600 emails from readers, mostly Malaysians (both expatriate and in Malaysia) and nearly all supportive.

The column was the most emailed item on The Age's website for six days straight and it was replicated in dozens of blogs worldwide.

My personal website received more than 50,000 hits. A Malaysian Government minister criticised the column publicly. And the Malaysian Opposition Leader issued a news release in its support.

The minister, Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia's Minister for Trade and Industry, declared somewhat imperiously that she didn't care what I said because I am a foreigner and I probably don't know much about Malaysia anyway.

Rafidah knows her trade brief like few others. Her knowledge of the complex rules of the international trading system, with its many trade barriers, is remarkable. In meetings with other trade ministers, she rarely needs assistance from minders. Hard working and tenacious, I once thought she might make a reasonable prime minister.

But her technical abilities are marred by her mishandling of other issues, most recently her ministry's allocation of much coveted car import permits. Most went to a handful of well-connected businessmen, including her own relatives.

The issue exploded in Malaysia late last year and she was lucky to keep her job.

And then there are the corruption allegations. In 1995, in a report to the attorney-general, the public prosecutor said there was a prima facie basis for Rafidah's arrest and prosecution on five counts of corruption.
( details here, Albert)
An opposition activist later acquired official documents that appeared to confirm this. He was jailed for two years under the Official Secrets Act simply for possessing them. Rafidah, on the other hand, was not even charged.

Rafidah added to her remarks about my column that no Malaysian should say such things. It's little wonder that she doesn't welcome scrutiny from her own people. But then the idea that Malaysians cannot comment publicly about how their country is run but a non-Malaysian can, is disgraceful.

Perhaps Rafidah needs to be reminded who pays her salary.

And as if to underscore my points about waste, on the day that my column was published, an assistant minister told the Malaysian Parliament that Malaysia's first astronaut to be sent into space next year
aboard a Russian space mission will be tasked to play batu seremban, a traditional Malay children's game played with pebbles, will do some batik painting and will make teh tarik, a type of Malaysian milky tea, all to see how these things can be done without gravity.

The day before, the Government announced that a new RM400 million ($A142 million) palace will be built for Malaysia's king, a position that is almost entirely ceremonial.

And the week before a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a second bridge between Penang and the Malaysian peninsular costing RM3 billion, a bridge that many consider unnecessary.

Where would the money be better spent?

Education is the obvious answer. But not on school buildings, for it matters less in what children are educated than how. And how children are educated in Malaysia is a national disaster.

Learning is largely by rote. In an email to me last week, one Malaysian recalled her schooling as being in a system �all about spoon-feeding, memory work and regurgitation. Students are not encouraged to
think for themselves and they become adults who swallow everything they're told.�

Even the existing system fails many. It has just emerged that in Sabah state, only 46 per cent of the students who had sat the UPSR � the exam that students sit before going to secondary school � had passed. One small school actually had a 100 per cent failure rate.

But does the Malaysian Government want creative, critical thinkers? Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said to the ruling party's recent general assembly Malaysia needed to make students creative. But that means they must be questioning and thus critical; what hope is there of that when one of Abdullah's own ministers tells Malaysians that they cannot say the things that I can and hundreds of them write to me to complain because they don't feel that they can complain to their own Government?

Malaysia needs to do something. Its oil will run out soon and it has lost much of its appeal to foreign investors � recent UN figures show that from 2004 to 2005, foreign investment in Malaysia fell by 14 per cent, when the world economy was enjoying one of its longest periods of growth. One might wonder what the Trade and Industry Minister has actually been doing.

But, while politicians from the ruling party preach about Malay nationalism, there are at least some who quietly go about the business of trying to secure the country's future. Not all of them are Chinese.

Two weeks ago, Malaysia's MMC Corporation, together with a local partner, won a $US30 billion infrastructure deal in Saudi Arabia. That's a huge undertaking for any company, let alone a Malaysian one, and just as well too � someone has to pay the bills.

This is a full copy of backman's blog which is here
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 Yummy a non fat cheesecake - by @lbert
  Posted:29/11/2006 - 10:10 - in category: food
I love cheesecake, but with all the cream they use for a good one, it is a cholesterol bomb.
Till i ran into this recepi, it uses no cream and taste just as good.....
Needed: cream cheese RM 7-8
or make soft cheese from slices
sugar 3 1/2 cup
margerine 125 grams
eggs 2
marie biscuit 10-15 pcs

Grind the maries, and mix them with melted (soft) margerine.
Make the bottom with this mix in your spring.
Let it cool down in the fridge for 10 mins.

Mix cheese and sugar till it is one 'paste', add the eggs, and beat till it is really fluffy.
This can take 10-15 mins!
You want a taste add vanilla esscense, or some orange juice or lemon juice.
Poor the whole thing in the cold spring.
Than in the oven for about 1 hour at about 50-75 degrees.
When the egg got stiff you cheese cake is done, cool it down and enjoy!
Try with kiwi juice and a few very thin slices on top..... super!
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 No live telecast - by @lbert
  Posted:28/11/2006 - 20:53 - in category: TV
No live telecast from the dewan rakyat.
The public is not mature enough to accept their MPs' behavior and racially charged debates, says Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin.
Hahahaha this is the bloody limit!
This circus of MP's with pea sized brains and no education is not mature enough for the Malaysian public! That's the truth not the other way round.
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 Freedom of press / TV - by @lbert
  Posted:28/11/2006 - 15:35 - in category: politics Malaysia
NST and Utusan under one umbrella. (approved by pak tak tahu)
All Chinese newspapers in 1 hand.
The whole press controlled bypolitical parties.
All independent TV stations in 1 hand.
All TV controlled by government or its cronies.

Malaysia boleh (or was it bodoh?).
This is the way forward to create an informed society, well done!
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 Sms scams, Touch and go ... - by @lbert
  Posted:28/11/2006 - 08:54 - in category: consumer affairs
It is amazing how few Malaysian really complain about certain things pushed through their throats.
When Touch and Go suddenly put a RM 5 fine on your balance who took them to the consumer court?
Companies like Air Asia that say refund requests can only be made through their customer service phone, and than let you incur 20-30 Ringgit in telephone charges because 'they are so busy'.
Who took them to the consumer court.
Whenever any of thos big boys push something through your throat, you just grumble at home and do nothing, that is why nothing changes in this country, and consumer protection is non-existent.
Companies can lie in their advertisements, like special offer, limited quantity (when there is only one).
Look at car advertisements for cars.... price $$$$ including approved optional accessories.
Now try to get the car without approved OPTIONAL accessories... they simply refuse or say that might take 6 month.
This is all cheating the customer.
If if big boy like Touch and Go changes the rules, you have the right to opt out, and they have to refund, that is what people forget.
And this shitty company called Rangkayan Segar does not answer to any message pertaining this when you write them.
So..i will take them to the consumer court, i want the balance back and the money i paid for the card! No way i let them go free.... even if it is only RM 30- or so this times a few 100.000 is big money. Like those SMS scams where they grab you for 15 sen or RM 1- but times x00.000 it is millions in total!
Support a consumer organization in your area, but it is high time Malaysia gets a nation wide consumer organization that is willing to take companies to court (like in europe) whatever it costs!
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 Someone with vision... - by @lbert
  Posted:27/11/2006 - 18:21 - in category: religion
Citing the Quran, the new Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin argues that Muslims can question and challenge religious leaders about teachings and practices of Islam.

Finally someone with a healthy view on Islam.
Any religion is a two way road, and not a path of edicts.
During the 10 up to the 15th century (the golden age of Islam) it was common practise to question the religion in order to find answers.
This was commonplace for scholars in the religion to question all kinds of things in the religion.

Let us hope it marks the beginning of a new era of mufti's with more open views.
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 Latest movies running in Malaysia - by @lbert
  Posted:26/11/2006 - 18:55 - in category: politics Malaysia
To see all the 'movies' available, go to kickdefella's website, they are great.



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 ferries collide - by @lbert
  Posted:25/11/2006 - 20:30 - in category: travel Malaysia
Two ferries collide near Pulau Payar.
According to the story in heavy rain, but one of the ferries was clearly having a Furuno radar mounted..... or was the radar not working, because it costs money to repair.
I cannot understand how an accident like this can happen if there is a working radar.
The second ferry i could not see whether it had radar, if not that would be a scandal.
Well something to sweep under the carpet again....... Visit Malaysia 2007
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 81 spot for Malaysia - by @lbert
  Posted:24/11/2006 - 15:09 - in category: general
See the 81st spot for Malaysia as a flawed democraty, as published in the Economist.
Complete report as HTML here
Well done Pak Tak Tahu. Look all those who are faring better....
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 Sick of it. - by @lbert
  Posted:23/11/2006 - 17:08 - in category: politics Malaysia
I am so totally disgusted with politics in Malaysia that i give up on it.
Whether it is UMNO, MCA, Gerakan or MIC they are all in the game for pocketmoney.
Fingerpointing if everywhere around, time is wasted on ridiculous subjects.
Meanwhile Malaysia is going to hell.........
FDI is decreasing, inflation is way to high, ringgit is still controlled and thus heavily undervalued.
A PM that is doing nothing than giving statements where the rest of the clique gives a damn about, in total it is a very very sorry state!
In 5 years time Malaysia is a net importer of oil, that means petrol prices will double!
But no one cares........
Malaysians finally have to decide whether they want to swim or go under, and going under is less than 5 years from now.
I said i gave up on Malaysian politics, no on Malaysians (yet).
You people out there have to vote this corrupt clique out, if you don't , well just drown.
I give up writing about politics in Malaysia, enough is enough. Afterall i am just a guest in this country, not that i don't care, but i see no changes....
So from now on this blog is no longer containing any comments on Malaysian politics.
Unless they step on the freedom of rights/religion of people, because that really makes me mad.
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 Michael Backman replies. - by @lbert
  Posted:20/11/2006 - 19:26 - in category: foreign
Michael Backman the writer of the article that included 'Malaysia Bodoh' instead of 'Malaysia Boleh' defends himself, and its worth while reading here
The original article was mentioned in the Australian The Age newspaper.
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 What Thailand does recognise... - by @lbert
  Posted:20/11/2006 - 14:28 - in category: politics Malaysia
What Thailand foresees and openly discusses and supports without NEP, and Malaysia does not want to see and play their Malay agenda.
Read this article taken from The Nation Newspaper in Thailand:

Nearly 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises will fold this year in the face of fierce competition from overseas.
These companies are neither capital-intensive enough to withstand cheap products from China and Vietnam, nor quality-oriented enough compete with high-end products from the United States and Europe.

According to Jhitraporn Techacharn, director-general of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion, many SMEs in various industries will go under now free-trade agreements with countries like Australia, China and New Zealand are effective.

Meanwhile, SMEs face strong domestic competition from large foreign investors expanding in Thailand, especially in the retail sector. As a result, a number of SMEs have already closed.
"Some of Thailand's SMEs cannot adjust to meet the new business environment and as a result they have had to quit," Jhitraporn said on Friday.

The value of SME business will comprise 4 per cent of gross domestic product this year, compared with 4.7 per cent last year.

Jhitraporn said SME business value had grown only slightly because of an increase in operating costs and a lack of competitiveness.

However, her office plans to help with product development and data to meet market demand.
Though some SMEs are disappearing, others are emerging. So far this year 40,000 news SMEs have registered.

"SMEs have to develop niche products not cheaper products because they cannot compete with imports from China. But they have to develop trendy products or creative products that meet demand both domestically and internationally," she said.

The office will spend Bt700 million to help SMEs in the fiscal year ending next September.
That money will pay for new development centres. There are just six today but within the next 12 months their number will grow to 30. Centres provide suggestions for product development to meet customer demand both here and abroad.

The office has another Bt500 million to spend expanding One Tambon One Product (OTOP) products.
Jhitraporn said makers of OTOP products had the potential to become SMEs if they received good advice and developed packaging and design.

"Our target in the next year is not a high growth of SME numbers but to help existing operators produce high-quality products and strengthen businesses that will survive competition," she said.

Her office in conjunction with the Federation of Thai Industries has created six new projects to strengthen SMEs. It will spend Bt1.2 billion doing so.

These projects include promotion of industry standards, training, business matching between producers and buyers, logistics development, machinery renovation and industry development in provincial areas. All projects will last one year.

Jhitraporn added it would soon work with other industry associations in similar joint ventures.
Today there are almost 2.25 million SMEs and 5,000 are active exporters.

Exporting SMEs recorded sales of Bt1.37 trillion in 2005 and that figure will be Bt1.54 trillion this year - a 12-per-cent increase.
Jhitraporn said if the target were met, SME export growth would average 11 per cent a year.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul,
Somluck Srimalee
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 Hamid Albah's big mouth. - by @lbert
  Posted:20/11/2006 - 12:32 - in category: politics Malaysia
He openened his big mouth again, who? Malaysia's terrorist minister.
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar has criticised the Netherlands over a proposed government ban of face veils, saying it was discriminatory and violated the rights of Muslims.
"This is again another imbalance treatment. Why can't people have the freedom to dress the way they want to dress.
Well bad luck for the terrorist minister!
I support the ban in full. You migrate to a country in order to live there, you have to respect its customs.
Of course the terrorist minister respects nothing and nodbody.
What would you say Syed if European tourists would come to Malaysia and go sunbathing topless on Malaysia's beaches?
RIGHT you would scream from the highest tower it was against the religion and all Malaysian customs to do topless sunbathing and run around in bikini's.

So where is your point terrorist minister?
Right you have not got any!
Besides that the Netherlands proposed to ban the burqa which covers the whole face, or a niqab which is a veil covering the face but leaving the eye area clear.
I think that is completely rightfully. When i talk to somebody i want to know whom i am talking to, and not see a gunnysack.
And if they don't like that, well they have all the right to return to their own Paradise (which they fled, probably for economic reasons).

This is what they do not want in the Dutch landscape

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 US keeps on destroying the world - by @lbert
  Posted:16/11/2006 - 08:51 - in category: foreign
Washington rejected pleas by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and dismissed his charge that there was a "frightening lack of leadership" in combating global warming.
They already refuse to sign the Kyoto Protocol and than maintain that they are leaders in fighting CO2 output. What a crap!
The United States is the world's number one source of heat-trapping emissions from burning fossil fuels in power plants, factories and cars ahead of China, Russia and India.
Again the US shows they are interested only in their own good, and give really a shit about the rest of the world.
What is needed to convince them? I think some more hurricanes of maximum power and enormous floodings might push the message into their selfish thick headed brains.
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 Food..or snack - by @lbert
  Posted:15/11/2006 - 16:07 - in category: general
I always like to strawl over the local markets.
So last week early morning i was in Sungei Petani on the market at the back of the bus station.
Actually i wanted lace which quite often is cheap there. But to my surprise i found radish, not the small horse radish (all imported) but the big radish like the japanese use.
For a nice one i payd RM 2.00. I just wanted to eat it raw, it tastes nice if you dip it in a bit of salt. Yummy and i must say exactly like horse radish which Cold Storage sells sometimes for RM6 for 10 lousy pieces.
Again found something i thought did not exists here.
Also have to try how they taste thinly cut with mayo/yoghurt as a salad.

Left the big radish, right the horse radish.
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 Umno-Jugend - by @lbert
  Posted:15/11/2006 - 12:29 - in category: politics Malaysia
Umno Jugend never learns.
They were even more racial in their demands than last year!

Hismamuddin 2006


Hishamuddin 2005


Stupid 'kids' with dangerous weapons, year after year. Big mouth and no brains.
Until now they still don't realize they are killing Malaysia!
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 Google AdSence - by @lbert
  Posted:14/11/2006 - 20:00 - in category: internet / computers
On 10 april 2004 i started with putting Google advertisements on my pages.
Now its 2 1/2 years later and i almost reached $100 revenue.....
Some statistics, highest payout on 1 day $ 3.54 second highest 3.45.
That om 174.288 advertisement imprints which captured 456 clicks or 0.26% revenue.
Really a small business, but better than nothing at least it pays the server for 1 year.
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 NEP again - by @lbert
  Posted:14/11/2006 - 11:58 - in category: politics Malaysia
This is was Najib said:
He said it was impossible to correct the 446 years Malays were oppressed under the rule of foreigners between 1511 and 1957 within a period of 20 to 30 years.
This means APARTHEID for ever! And the NEP (Never ending plundering) will also go on forever.
Well Najib, all i can say is that you put a time bomb under Malaysia.
FDI down, imported inflation rises by the day!

He further stated:
Similarly, Najib noted that the Economic Planning Unit figures last year showed that bumiputra owned 11.7% of commercial buildings while it was 71% for the Chinese.
So that means Malays spent their money otherwise and are not prudent enough to spent it on buildings, they rather have a new 4 wheel drive and an expensive holiday to Europe.
Likewise, he said the average monthly income of bumiputra had merely increased from RM339 in 1976 to RM2,711 in 2004 while for the Chinese, the figure rose from RM796 to RM4,437 during the same period.
That i dare to doubt as most workers earn the same salary whatever race they are.
On top of that the EPU is nothing else than a bunch of stupid figure fuckers, who never got their figures right!
They really seem to get nothing right!
But Najib.... the time bomb is ticking....
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 Nuts and idiots. - by @lbert
  Posted:12/11/2006 - 15:24 - in category: religion
Religious fanatics, hypocrits and idiots seem to be closely related nowadays in bolehland.
The muslim Consumer organization files a police report because they think that Wall's icecream Moo cookies resemble a cross.
First of all what the hell this has to do with a consumer organization, its not a hallal non-hallal issue.
Secondly the idiots should have their eyes inspected.
The foto below shows the cookie and what they think resembles a cross.

Check for yourself, you see anything??

These f$#%ers are only wasting the time of the police.
I even do not understand that this kind rubbish in entertained.
The police should send them a bill for wasted time.
Want to have a look a these nuts website....(they were the same as the Hi5 blablabla) its here
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 Horrible TV - by @lbert
  Posted:12/11/2006 - 14:05 - in category: TV
The Umno party assembly is drawing near.
And as in any good dictatorial state they will get full cover 24 hours a day on national TV.
Actually totally ridiculous that we are forced to watch all this propaganda crap on TV.
Do we also get another show of the UMNO-JUGEND with maybe this year another 'sampai-tua' youth-president swaying 2 krisses or so?
Or a son in law giving some more racial speeches?
Well may i puke in advance......
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