Owner: A Simple Malaysian URL:http://asimplemalaysian.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2006 03:14:32 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: This blog is about events taking place in my country, Malaysia, and my responses to them. The target audience are my fellow Malaysians who do not read Chinese, because some of the stories carried in the Chinese news papers are NOT mentioned by news papers Site statistics:Click here
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2006-10-25 10:20:00
Wishing all Muslim friends in Malaysia :
SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI!
Who is more convincing, EPU or ASLI ? 2006-10-16 07:45:00 The Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) claims in its recent report that Bumiputeras (Malays and other indegenous races) hold 45% of the share equity in Malaysia. But the Economy Planning Unit (EPU) rebutes it and claims instead the real figure should be 18.9%. Please note the insersion of the decimal point by the EPU in order to emphasy the accuracy of its findings.Who is lying and who is telling the truth?But who cares? Figures like these really tell nothing as far as us ordinary folks are concerned, we are not trained to grasp the implications behind.What we can readily understand are the number of retail outlets lining the streets, in shopping complexes and supermalls or the workshops and factories in industrial estates. We can count the number of saloon, kedai kopi (including those 24 hours types), tailors,etc, etc......If anyone were to conduct a survey as I mentioned just now, the truth will be shocking and sad -- majority of the owners of those outlets are indeed no
Tun Dr Mahathir Not Elected As Delegate 2006-09-11 17:24:00 In the Kubang PasuUMNO division election on Sunday, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir failed in his bid to be elected as one of 7 delegates to the party's nation wide annual assembly in November. There were 15 candidates competing for 7 seats, Tun Mahathir got 9th place while his son was in the 5th place, therefore will be one of elected delegates.Politics is cruel.By right, Tun Mahathir will be accorded a seat, a VIP seat at that, without having to go through such humilations. But now..... Read more:Elected
Moves To Curb Handbags Snatch Thieves 2006-09-07 08:53:00 It was learned that the Cabinet of Malaysia is planning to increase the sentence for handbags snatch thefts from 7 years maximum to 14 years maximum or death sentence if the offence resulted in death.I hope this will be tabled in the Parliament and become a bill soon before more snatch thefts victims are hurt. I also hope that there won't be any hypocrites who might jump out and criticize the bill, for they do not know how crazy this kind of theft is and how harmful it is.In the past, petty robbery like this was normal done without causing harm to the victims. The victims were always threatened with a knife or gun (very rarely) to surrender their valuables, which the victims most of the time would obliged and escaped being harmed. But in the current scenario, the robbers do not give the victims any choice. They will snatch the handbags without warning the victims, and the force of the sudden jerk will cause the victims to fall to the ground usually flat on their backs, sometimes resu Read more:Handbags
, Snatch
Old Song Remixed By Khairy Jamaluddin 2006-08-24 03:35:00 Former Prime Minister of Malaysia (Tun Dr Mahathir) is driving the son-in-law of current Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), Khairy Jamaluddin, to the wall recently. Khairy who is also the deputy chairman of the youth wing of United Malays National Organisation(UMNO), in a bid to maneuver the focal point away from himself, warned the members of UMNO about the danger of a weakened UMNO will give rise to opportunity for other component parties within the National Front Coalition(BN), especially the Chinese-based parties to demand for more rights and benefits. The BN will be strong only if UMNO is strong.Sure enough this draws outcry from leaders of Gerakan and MCA(Malaya Chinese Association),especially the younger ones. The strongest protest came from Ling Hing Leong, vice president of the MCA youth.Incidentally, Ling is the son of former MCA president Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik. He demanded an explanation from Khairy for belittling the Chinese parties and for forgetting th Read more:Remixed
Will it be safe to leave the house any more? 2006-08-04 17:17:00 The senseless killing of a year 1 student of UniTAR by 2 heartless robbers jolted the whole Malaysian nation up. A smart, deligent boy lost his life just because of a hand phone and some cash, (being a student I don't think he would have a lot with him).
While we all were disturbed by the long list of unsolved rape-cum-murder cases, and the snatching handbags injuries (some were fatal) were almost daily news, but this one really shakes everyone. We finally realize it is no longer safe to allow our children to walk Malayisan streets without adult companions. And again, a year 1 uni boy is almost an adult already, right? Yet this tragedy tells us that it is still not safe for a person at that age to go out alone nowadays.Will somebody do some thing to make it safe for our children to walk on the streets again, please?
Not long ago, the Senior Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew criticised that Malaysia is not a safe place to live in. We were so furious at his remarks, saying unkind w
Using English As Medium Of Teaching Fails Miserably 2006-11-12 09:16:00 Malaysia Minister of EducationDatuk Seri Hishamuddin said the policy to use English
as medium for teaching science and mathematics in primary schools will be reviewed in the year 2008 to decide whether to scrap it or improve on it.Why wait for 2008? Do something about it quick now.I was looking at the maths test papers of a primary-2 boy the other day and was shocked at what I read. He got only 20% for that test, I was not shocked at his marks but at the way the questions were presented.Below is one of the questions:
"John has 349 cards. After giving 154 cards to his sister, how many cards has he left?"
Now compare to what the boy is learning currently in his English class by referring to his text book:
"Puan Fatimah is a teacher"
"I am reading a story book"
"Ali is drawing on the black boar"
Notice the vast difference between the level of standards of the English use for the maths test papers and what he has learned in the language class?
He is only begainning to learn si Read more:Medium
When the lunatics run the asylum 2006-12-16 09:55:00 The message which the following story conveys is very similar to one of my previous entries ( http://asimplemalaysian.blogspot.com/2006/10/who-is-more-convincing-epu-or-asli.html)
Anyway,enjoy...:=))
> > "Hidup China! Hidup China! Hidup China!"> >> > "Hey, Wong! What the hell are you trying to do ah?"> >> > "I'm rehearsing my speech for the Annual General> > Assembly lah Ali."> >> > "But what's with this `hidup China' thing?"> >> > "That's how I will close my speech. I will shout> > `hidup China' three> > times."> >> > "That's so ridiculous. Can you just imagine a Malay> > standing on> > stage and screaming `hidup Melayu' at the end of his> > speech? Would> > he not look downright stupid? I'm sure he would also> > be considered a> > racist. And isn't brandishing that Kung Fu sword> > above your head> > very provocative as well? I mean, how would y
Ideas for Christmas 2006-12-16 09:46:00 Here's a list for adding to your ideas of having fun during Christmas
holidays:
Christmas fun ideas
Chairman Of Parliament Back Benchers Resigned 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Datuk Sharir Samad, the chairman of the Backbenchers' Club in Malaysia Parliament
, resigned.He did so after supporting the Opposition Leader, Lim Kiat Siang who moved to eradicate corruptions in Malaysia. But the back benchers did not follow his example, and voted against the motion instead. Datuk Sharir felt that he no longer command the respect of his fellow backbenchers and does not find any reason to stay as leader of the backbenchers club. He does not want to play the role of a rubber stamp in the Parliament, he wants all Members of Parliament to uphold their dignities and have own rights of decision.I tip my hat to a politician who lives up to his principals here. Read more:Chairman
, Resigned
Singapore Having Their General Election Soon 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The nearest (note I didn't use the word closest) neighbour of Malaysia, Singapore
will be having their general election in a few days' time.This time the ruling party did not win the election on nomination day itself. Suprise, surprise!Actually, why should they bother to hold any election at all? The Singaporeans won't dare to elect any opposition candidate anyway. They are all conditioned to listen to the ruling party since the day they were born.Supposing any of the opposition candidates was elected, he will be quickly disqualified due to the fact that he being a bankrupt. How come? Don't you know that he will be sued by the leaders of the ruling party for libel because he criticised them during the election campaign. They will definitely win and the poor chap will have to declare himself bankrupt because he will never be able to pay for the ridiculously high damage amount awarded by the court. It happened before, just go and check the reords.Malaysian government has a powerful Read more:Having
, General
, Election
Pak Lah, You Are A Huge Disappointment 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Member of Parliament (MP) of Jasin, Mohd Said Yusof admits that he is the sole proprietor of the forwarding agency, Binyu Sof Enterprise, which transported the consignment of imported sawn timber seized by the Malacca Customs. This gives a new twist to the controversy surrounding the dramatic resignation of Datuk Shahrir Samad as the chairman of the Backbenchers' Club in the parliament of Malaysia.It all started as a story carried on the Malaysia's English dairy, The New Straits Times, reporting that a MP was interfering with the operations of the Customs Office by telling the Director of Customs to "close one eye". Seeing the opportunity, the Leader of Opposition, Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), brought the matter to the Parliament and moved that the said report carried in the NST to be referred to the Rights and Previllages Committee.On normal day this story will usually end here, the National Front (BN) MPs will simply vote it out treating it as just anothe Read more:Disappointment
, Pak Lah
Land Slide Tragedy At Hulu Klang 1970-01-01 00:59:59 At Last, the two missing persons in the Kg Pasir, Hulu Kelang land slide tragedy were found buried under 4-foot of mud after days of digging by the rescue crew members. The victims were a 32-year old Malay woman and her 4-year old daughter. Mother and daughter were found dead embracing each other. This brings the total casualty to 4.The place where the tragedy occured was not far from the scene of a far more tragic land slide many years ago, the High Land Towers Condominium, where a 40-storey high apartments collasped like a match box when its foundation shifted due to land slide. Many occupants lost their lives, including the son of former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Musa Hitam. Two adjecent blocks of apartments were subsequently declared unsafe, and they still remain vacant until today.The High Land Towers tragedy was reported widely by international news media because Malaysian government had sought help from experienced rescue teams from foreign nations like Germany, S Read more:Slide
, Tragedy
, Klang
Pak Lah VS Tun Dr Mahathir 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohd is criricising harshly his hand-picked successor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.The current PM has shelfed a few of Tun Dr Mahathir's mega projects which were expected to be completed by Datuk Abdullah.Some of the said projects are :The upgrading of the nation's railway systemSelling off of the Agusta Motorcycle factoryShelfing of the Scenic Bridge which was to replace the Johor-Singapore CausewayThese are mega-mega projects requiring tons and tons of budget to complete. This is not to Datuk Abdullah's likings.When Tun Dr Mahathir announced his decision to step down and his preferred successor was Datuk Seri Adbullah, everybody was surprised not only by the sudden announcement but also by his choice of successor. Tun Dr Mahathir was a high profile, glory seeking and glamourous person, while Datuk Seri Abdullah is a low profile person. Tun Mahathir should be aware that Datuk Abdullah might not have stomach for his super mega Read more:Pak Lah
The 9th Malaysia Plan 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The prime minister of Malaysia
, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had unveiled the much aniticipated 5-year 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) yesterday.Here's the Ninth Malaysia Plan at a glance :9MP to cost RM220 billionsECONOMY to expand by 6.0 % per annumRURAL Dvelopment RM10.9 billions, Finance RM9.8 billions, Transport RM9.5 billionsPOPULATION to grow to to 28.96 millionsBUMI corporate equity share to reach 30%INDIAN share of corporate equity to attain 3.0%RM9.1 billions for agriculturePRIVATE FINANCE initiative for RM20 billions of projectsPM's DEPT gets lion's share of RM29.68 billions or 13.5%EDUCATION RM23.19 billions or 10.5%, works Ministry RM18.9 billionsHIGHER education RM17.6 billions, Defence RM15.75 billionsENERGY, Water & Communications RM12.12, Health 11.00 billionsBUMI CONTRACTS to make up 60% of all works in civil works.Although the proposed allocation for 9MP is quite handsome, but the plan is an anti climax. There is nothing new in the content of the plan, it still harps
Contracts Which Fail To Meet Deadline Will Be Terminated 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Malaysia's Minister Of Works, Datuk Seri Samy Vellu, warned contractors in the country that they should not delay to commence works once the contracts are awarded to them. They also must meet the deadline as stipulated in the contracts.In the 9MP period, the Works Ministry of Malaysia will monitor all contracts awarded closely. Investigations will be carried out if any project is found to be falling behind schedules, stern warning will be given to the contractors concerned, and they will be given another chance to rectify the problems.If they still fail to meet the deadlines, the delayed contracts will be terminated and be reawarded to new contractors. If the new contract sum is higher than the original contract sum, the difference shall be borne by the original contractors. In the past, such a difference was borne by the government.Will this measure be effective? Yes and no. If the contracting companies only are held responsible for the delay, the owners of these companies will simpl Read more:Contracts
, Deadline
Pak Lah's warning to all heads of departments 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Malaysia prime minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi warned all heads of government departments to buckle up and see that the implementation of the 9th Malaysia Plan is smooth and on target.They should ensure that everyone under their charge to perform, if anyone is found not complying with the 9th Malaysia Plan should be suspended or even terminated permanently. This also applies to the departmental heads themselves. There will be no room for sympathy for individuals in this case, because the inept performance of one person can affect the welfare of many.The PM sounds very serious this time, hope it will not fall on deal ears. Read more:Pak Lah
, warning
Malaysia's First Online Grocery Shopping Portal 1970-01-01 00:59:59 eGrocries.com.my - the first online gorcery shopping mall in Malaysia
was launched by the Wah Kong group and MnEBay Technologies Sdn Bhd.They expect the portal will generate RM6 million turnover in the first year of operation. Aren't they a bit over optismatic? The general Malaysian public is still not tuned to online purchase just yet and a vast majority feel insecured revealing their credit card details online.To over come this fear eGroceries provide door-door delivery and accept credit cards at the door. Then again this will limit their coverage, and defating the purpose of being "on the net" in the first place.Their door-to-door delivery is limited to Klang Valley areas only, and to enjoy this service the minimum purchase is RM100.00 in one receipt. Also they do not make deliveries on the following holidays: New Years Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Hari Raya Haji, Labor Day, Wesak Day, Agong's Birthday, Sultan Selangor birthday, Independence Day and Christmas Day. Orders will Read more:First
, Grocery
, Shopping
, Portal
The Scenic Bridge Plan is Scrapped 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the construction of the controversal "Scenic
Bridge" which were to replace the 82 year-old Johor Causeway linking Malaysia to Singapore will be stopped permanently, to everyone's surprise.The idea of building this bridge was mooted in 2003 by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir who reasoned that the Causeway was built without giving due environmental considerations to the Strait of Johor. He claimed that the Causeway was blocking the free flow of the water of Johor Strait and eventually turning it into a pond of dead water. Whereas a bridge will allow the sea water to flow freely below it. But his proposal was met with strong protests from the Singapore government, whatever for, I really don't understand. Maybe Singaporeans love dead waters.When Tun Dr Mahathir retired and Datuk Abd Badawi took over as PM, he continued to pursue the idea of replacing the old causeway with a new bridge, he even
A Great Stateman Has Passed Away 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, died of heart, lung and kidney complications at 7.34am yesterday at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Jalan Ampang. He was 81 years old.Tun Abd Ghafar Baba was no ordinary politician, he was a great statemen, who was from the grassroot, for the grassroot and with the grassroot till the day he died. He worked evry hard for national unity, eradication of poverty and corruptions all his life.Tun Ghafar was not a slew and cunning politician, he was one who "shoots straight", otherwise he would have become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Unfortunately he was betrayed by those who pretended to be loyal to him but quietly manupilated to unseat him in the party election in 1993.During the peak of his political life Tun Ghafar refused to accept any titles bestowed upon him, he preferred to be addressed as "Encik Ghafar" officially. He only accepted any title when he was no longer in the manistream of politics. What a simp Read more:Great
Build and Sell Housing 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Malaysian government is considering to introduce the "build and sell" concept to housing developers in the country. They are thinking of ways to encourage the developers to adopt this concept.Why do we have to wait for so long to introduce this concept? The current "book and pay progressively" method is in fact a scam, but it is bewildering the Malaysian government has allowed it to go on for so many years. Imagine one can simply register a company and pose as a housing developer and starts to advertise to sell non existent house lots, all he has to show is an impressive billboard along the highway claiming how the completed units would look like. When more and more of the public fall into his trap he will have more money to make his scheme look more impressive by renting cozy air-cond office and beautiful sexy staff to receive visitors, with the buyers' money!He may even con some poor kampung folks into a deal whereby they allow their lands to be used as proof of his project's Read more:Build
, Housing
Controversial Ethnic Relations Guidebook Withdrawn 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Star siad,"The controversial Ethnic Relations
module taught at Universiti Putra Malaysia has been withdrawn, and will be replaced with a new one. ......"Well, another example of the "Look East" national policy backfires. We Malaysians did not learn from the Japanese their hard working ways towards life, but learn to alter historical events instead.When will we learn to pick the goods from the bads?Read more... Read more:Controversial
, Guidebook
Tun Mahathir Peppered By Kelataneses 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir, after months of letting go barrages of attacks at his successor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi Ahmad, does not show signs of calming down. Instead he chose to go round the country to voice his grievances. And the first destination he chose to start his campaign, of all places, is to Kelantan a state controlled by his arch rival the PAS!In fact Tun Mahathir is smart, he knows very well that Kelantaneses hate UMNO, and now he is attacking UMNO they will take him as a "dear friend". But he miscalculated the risks on this score obviously. Somebody threw a can of pepper powder (some media reported it was a gear gas canister, whatever la) the moment he got down from his car to start a speech. He was almost choked by coughing severely. What a way to welcome a friend, you Kelatanese.The saying goes, "the most dangerous place is the safest place", it does not seem to hold true this time leh!
Welcome 2007! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Happy New Year, Malaysia!Wish 2007 will be a better year for every Malaysians. Read more:Welcome
National Service is equally important for male and female students 2007-04-01 07:58:00 After 4 years in existence, the NationalService
Board is still struggling to iron out many of its problems.In my personal opinion the root of all these problems is the attitudes of the people entrusted with the responsibilities to run the service smoothly. They all treated this as "main main" stuff, afterall what can you learn in 3 short months? National service in other countries like Taiwan, Korea and Singapore last for 2 years and more, with proper salary scales and all. But in Malaysia everybody thinks it is just like a summer camp only.Then everybody has a rude awakening when Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Defence of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sacked 3 of the top brass in the board after a series of fumbles up during the first day of the first intake of year 2007 series which caused an up raor from the concerned parents. Datuk Najib's swift and decisive action drives home the message "don't play-play hah!". And things appears to improve, for the time being at l
Thumbs up for LPNK 2007-04-01 12:19:00 I have this to add to my previous post because I forgot to mention it.On the day my son was returning home from national service,my opinion on the national service board (LPNK) changed drastically.The way the LPNK officials were conducting things was a huge contrast to the first day when my son was reporting for duty.The number of officials deployed at the airport was increased and the most important difference was that they were dressed in official uniforms.The kids arriving at the airport were also in uniforms and could be easily picked out from other passengers travelling in the air craft with them. They were then ushered to a assembly corner and be counted.My confidence in the LPNK officials' professionism multiplied 100 folds immediately. How I wished it was done this way on the day when my son was boarding the plane, it would have saved us months of worrying.Sybas, LPNK!!!
Portrait of Bruce Lee 2007-05-13 05:57:00 I am a great fan of Bruce
Lee and would like to share this with fellow fans...http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=376187&fr=yvmtf Read more:Portrait
, Bruce Lee
Merdeka! 2007-08-31 14:09:00 Merdeka! Malaysia is 50 years old already!
Recommend Site To A Friend
