How Stupid Are We. Build Then Plan?

Yet before the MRT starts construction in July 2011, there has been criticisms from several associations pertaining to feasibility, acquisition, planning and projecting of the project. When the MRT was first announced in the middle of last year, there were several doubts lingering on how it was pushed to move ahead without proper land feasibility, structure, expenditure, actual cost, designs, maintenance, etc.. Now matter how fast you wish to pursue the project, those main issues will crop up at a certain point. Of course, I agree with the AWER association's opinion that MRT is rushed up. Like a computer program, a design plan is not always perfect and in our computer lingo, not always 100% perfect, bug-free. 

Note: Map accompanying the MRT plan can be viewed here (Look for tags KD, RL, KA)

Excerpt from MI:

“Based on his answer, it creates more doubt. Question — Why are you putting an MRT? Answer — I want to reduce traffic congestion.

“Question — How much are you planning to reduce? Answer — I have not studied that.

“That sort of answer should not come from a regulator,” he pointed out. - 

Parking and Traffic Problems, Another KL Sentral Problem Scenario?

On this MRT matter, I noticed several things that were not taken into account. First thing foremost is parking facilities.  For the first phase of the MRT, there are 13 planned parking spaces covering from Sungai Buloh to Kajang. Questions arised include whether there would be sufficient space or not. What will be the parking bays like? Multiple-stories, situated next to the stations? 

If there are insufficient parking spaces in those 13 stations, the parking charges will be very high. Since there are one or two stations at 1Utama and The Curve, the parking charges will be likely to increase if the operations take place in that vicinity. What's more is that there will be traffic problems at stations because people will definitely try to park the car and the area could be clogged up. AWER has estimated another RM 400 million on additional fuel costs for the first five years of operation (see here).

Since the government has admitted that they have never planned on such thing, MRT stations can end in the same fate as in KL Sentral. You only need to see either KL Sentral or the Titiwangsa as to understand the consequences and implications of parking and traffic feasibility misplanned.

This is not like in Australia or Singapore where they have excellent inter-transport modes that it is okay to pay high price parking charges. At this point of time, Malaysians are unwilling to pay high exorbitant amounts (e.g, KL Sentral, parking per day can be approximately RM 30), and that can put off many people out there. Sure, this was an act of desperation to cut higher risk of bad traffic in that area, but the planning and conception went wrong at the beginning. 

Not Very Good Consultancy and Planning

I am primarily looking at the design angle and how the system is running. From what I know, the MRT technology and design is worked out with the consultants from Hong Kong. What is known is that the Hong Kong consultants are the same ones that Singapore initially used but eventually ditched it because they found out that it was flawed in several aspects. Why did Malaysia go for them in the first place? 

In the case of emergency, breakdown and daily maintenance, does the MRT system has several depots eyed where they can have proper technology to repair and clean when needed? Are depots taken into consideration when proposing such plan like this? 

The cost of 36 billion is merely an estimation and approximate, as what SPAD admitted and without taking into account other costs. This is also a case of bad factoring, a classic school boy mistake. 

Also, a case highlighted by the environmental consultant reveals of the need to occupy and acquiring 97 hectares of land unless there are realignments to the track made. There is definitely going to be a serious legal battles over land acquisition with neither side is willing to compromise over such thing. Therefore, a realignment on several parts of the tracks will have to be done before July. A lot of acquisition matters will have to be sorted out no doubt, but doing at this time can severely delay the project if neither side can agree.

Why It Wasn't There In The Beginning?

By history, the LRT, Komuter and Monorail services only came in at the late 90s and yet many people are complaining that there is a sloppy flexibility of travelling to one station to another, with people having to walk to go to another train mode. The MRT actually can fill in the puzzle but I think it was never clearly thought out at the beginning way before the financial crisis happened. If that is put together way back in the beginning, you don't even need to splash 36 billion for that. Oh, my, did Dr. M thought about that? But remember, LRT was slacked in the beginning that the company had to be bailed out....

Could MRT be the same fate as KTM Komuter? KTM is being whacked left and right by the people because they come late, they don't have enough rolling stocks to accommodate people, sometimes your trip gets delayed, long waiting time and among other problems. To this day, people are still unhappy with its service despite its convenience. 

Having also looked at the map, the concentration lies on the Sungai Buloh-Kajang. This means, other parts like Subang Jaya, and Inner Ring will have to wait longer after that. And that is pretty bad for people in some parts of Klang Valley.

How Stupid of Us

I sum up with one whole thing: How stupid are we all.  The ego has got the better of us. We tend to talk, then build, but no brain to plan and consider other aspects. And we tend to plan things later. It has happened to our main infrastructures like KL Sentral, the commuter system and other policies as well. I also have previously written of how critical I am of BN pushing for policies regardless of its consequences. They have failed to understand human psychology and giving a "I don't know" answer from a regulator seems to make things bad.

If you people are stupid in that case, you better step aside and let those who are better handle the governing and regulate affairs. In the mean time, I might check up on the MRT drawing boards later.

Over To You Gentlemen, Are You Qualified And Appealing?

"Please give me winnable candidates, I don't care whether they are old, new or middle-aged as long as they can win." 

Read more: BN wants winnable candidates -- Najib http://www.nst.com.my/articles/BNwantswinnablecandidates--Najib/Article/#ixzz1E2Yx71xu

This was what Najib Razak said on 16 January in Sarawak whereby there should be winnable candidates, not on candidates who are mere locals of an area or so, and doesn't matter if they are young, old or whatsoever. But however, the word "winnable" is not really appropriate, for even if the candidate is winnable, he can have a black spot in the past. For example, PAS accused the BN candidate, eventual winner in Tenang, of making a mistake in the past. Similarly, in Bagan Pinang, Isa Samad, though popular was involved in several abandoned projects in Bagan Pinang as well.

Therefore, the word winnable is not enough. It should be quality candidates who are winnable - in other words, saleable to the people of an area. If you look at the PAS candidate, Normala Sudirman, do you think she's saleable despite an acceptable candidate?

What Najib said above is what I want to question to very two specific men since I remember that Chegubard nearly got to become MP and since Setapak is my second home now, it seems right to think that Dr. Tan could be contesting as MP next round there. 

This picture above, taken from the Setapak wet market area, on the particular left shows a PKR Chinese New Year greeting from ex-Gerakan man, Dr. Tan Kee Kwong next to the MCA man Yew Teong Look. On the wet market side is of course the Chinese New Year banner greeting from current MP, Wee Choo Keong. It seems to my inference that when the next General Election comes in, it is definitely, Dr. Tan vs Yew Teong Look (definitely a match go regain what was lost). It would be a three-corner fight if Choo Keong decides to defend the seat, there is a high probability that it ain't so.

In Rembau, Khairy has stated that he's not going to defend his Rembau parliamentary seat. Chegubard nearly won, but claimed that he lost because of last minute rigging with new 5000 votes coming in from nowhere. Looks like should Khairy gets out of the way, Chegubard has a better chance of winning that seat. 

There could be at least another 8 to 10 months before a possible snap polls, so my key question to both Dr. Tan and Chegubard is whether they are qualified and winnable candidates that are appealing to their constituencies? Of course let me emphasized that my question comes from Najib's statement last month. 

I remembered that it took Tian Chua four years to make himself a much better qualified and winnable candidate that makes him appealing to the Batu constituency (Read: Sentul, Jalan Ipoh, etc..) after his failed attempt in 2004. This too, I believe is what Chegubard is facing as well - maybe because of a bad stroke of luck.

For Dr. Tan and Chegubard

So, gentlemen, are you two qualified and appealing to your respective constituencies?  

Have you gauge the latest people reaction towards you? 

Have you done your groundwork already and sufficiently? 

Why not show your future people of your constituencies that you're appealing to them. Tell them in a forum or something.

The people including myself are keen to know and it's our right anyhow.

Over to you gentlemen. 

Virtue Lies Defeated For Hindraf

VIC. I.T VIR (VICTA JACET VIRTUS) / Virtue Lies Defeated

Note: This drawing from Arturo Reverte's The Club Dumas book may be similar to some other real-life tarot cards, but I want to comment about the title of the card. The original drawing is actually a knight with the sword in the Archangel Michael position (a halo of light around his head) ready to cut a woman (not a monk) down.

This picture simply tells us two things:

1. A good man in form of the monk gets beaten down a knight with club - where good gets beat down by unjust people. Sounds like life is unfair and cruel to us. The actual drawing is having a knight with a sword in the pose of Archangel Michael ready to strike down a kneeling woman.

2. The wheel of fortune at behind shows of the cycle of reign (past, present and future). In the counter-clockwise direction, the man in facing up shows of "I Will Reign", while on the man on top shows "I Reign", and the head down position shows "I've Already Reigned".

There is also another meaning here:

The traveler whose consciousness reflects the level of Netzach/lower feeling will find that his emotional response to the 'ups' and 'downs' of life is colored by his ego's assessment as to whether what is happening to him is 'just' or 'unjust'. If he believes that the experience is 'unjust', he will feel victimized by powers that are apparently beyond his control and may come to believe that there is no moral order in the world or that the world is actually 'evil'. If he believes that his experience is 'just', he may draw the conclusion that by behaving in accordance with certain rules, he can control what happens to him in the future. For example, he may expect that good behavior will result in favorable experience ('favorable' as defined by the ego, of course). Notice that the two perceptions are extreme opposites -- the belief is either that the individual has no control over what happens to him (and this is perceived as 'evil'), or that the individual has absolute control over what happens to him (and this is perceived as 'good'). From the ego's perspective, the most important thing is that it always be 'in control'. If it perceives that it is *not* 'in control', it feels that it is being 'victimized'. 

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I tend to notice some similarities in Malaysia as with what is explained above and in the card. Sunday's clampdown on the outlawed Hindraf activists by the police in several states tend prompted some commentary on what is happening in Malaysia's society. Some would say that freedom has been stifled, some say that the level of freedom entitled has not reached to the accepted point although there is. But this is where how a virtue lies defeated.

If you see a knight beats down a monk, it's like a police coming in down and arresting people for non-violent crimes, crimes that do not make sense, crimes that violate the moral code. Sound's unjust, yes. Let's recall first hand, what is the definition of virtue? Virtue means moral excellence, a trait that is morally excellent and thus valued as a foundation of principle and good being.

We also look at the wheel. This also reflects on what is happening in Malaysia. Currently BN is running Malaysia, and inevitably someday they will fall eventually. It is clear, that as mentioned in the wheel of fortune picture above, no man or entity is omnipotent. Their slogan of "Now and Forever" seems to challenge the law of nature. There are people wishing for change to happen, but the question posed is when is likely change will be seen? When? Only after disaster strikes? Only when people finally realizes false promises all around? When people finally realize that things have gone wrong and upside down?

because they had objected to the unlawful confiscation of their Hindraf Makkal Sakthi shirts. To continue to detain them for this reason is in complete breach of the law and demonstrates the arbitrary conduct of the police. - N. Surendran's press statement on HRP arrests.

Hindraf tried to tell Malaysia how things go wrong. Instead they were treated as criminals with weapon arms. When they want to leave with their shirts, the police threatened to hold them further in prison. Hindraf fell short of reaching out to the mass reaches. Had they speak to the masses in Bahasa Malaysia, they might have captured the attention of 15 million Malaysians who are Malays - since the bulk of them forms the electorate in Malaysia. When they are arrested, this means that their virtue of doing what is right has been defeated by the evil. A convoy has been assumed as an illegal assembly.

Shouldn't the police pay more attention to getting those violent criminals and the safety on the streets rather than going after people who want to assemble in big groups? Perhaps paranoia has already affected them or what they do puts me into thinking that they are acting on behalf of their political masters who are hell bent to whack the opposition to kingdom come?

Do I support Hindraf? Not entirely, but I see the latest arrest as a virtue being defeated. God is not there on that day? You bet it. 

It Takes One National Scale Disaster For People To Wake Up

We have seen recently the 18 days of mass protests in Egypt, culminating with the resignation of Mubarak and the start of the road to election process due in September. It is clearly due to people power, the mass numbers and the refusal to buckle upon the pressure by regime authorities that threaten arrests for things we do that do not amount to crime that the government finally relent to pressure. The starting point comes from Tunisia, where the moment citizens reach the boiling point and could not stand any more, they decided to come down to the streets and protest, to get the government of the day's attention.

The Domino Effect

One nation after another, other nations have started to take cue from Tunisia and Egypt. The list includes Jordan, Yemen and now Algeria. The exhilaration of people power in both countries will turn that into a domino effect. Imagine of knocking a tile of domino and in turn will knock down thousands of it in a matter of few seconds. Of course, in the process, the hegemony of United States and Israel, coupled by the big two's quest for world domination would be disarrayed with mass revolutions. Fortunately, the response in Jordan towards mass people dissatisfaction was very fast and swift, with a well-educated ruler in King Abdullah sacking the existing government and appointed another one with the key condition of mass and swift reforms.

But before the spark starts, there must be a reason to explain why the people would go down to the streets to protest. Something that in mass scale that will enrage people from all kinds of society and race that eventually realized that it is time to change, time of one party hegemony is over and the old ties that bind will have to be broken down to make it better, a.l.a. house restoration. People in Arab have already awaken from the long slumber of false sense of reality.

Sense of omnipotence too play a part of a leader's downfall. Suharto, Murbarak and even Marcos ruled a country for more than 2 decades. Same thing over and over again, with nothing much to change upon and bad track record on reforms, human rights - and still the leader wants to preside over the country again and again - to when? When they die? 

Taib Mahmud could be following the same path, fate and situation as those three people. Having running Sarawak for 3 decades, isn't it time to go? Aren't angry over mass fortunes that he has that violate the priority of Sarawakians first before his own family? Aren't there many reports that express anger over the sense of his omnipotence?

There are some points that I agreed on Dr. Mahathir's recent laments, particularly on how not even a single Muslim country is well developed because mainly on many placing religion over main priorities. In fact, Dr Mahathir should also look into Malaysia as well - the direction is too following the problem above. Some similar cases can be noted here, except that Malaysia is still a secular country because of multi-racial population and the use of English-style Federal Constitution. As what the famous scholar Al-Qaradawi said that preserving freedom is more important than going too much religion that can spook people here.

The One Common Thing That Really Makes It Happen

If we have the analytical mind, we can find out the one common thing that triggers in all those nations involved in the people revolution: national-scale disaster. A disaster that can be felt by almost everybody from top to bottom.

Most of the nations mentioned in those cases are having national-scale disasters in the form of heavy unemployment, a very weak economy, mass inflation that makes the poor more poorer, unfair people treatments and discrimination and a few other things. This has been happening elsewhere many times before. Indonesia is the best case in point, where because of the Asian Financial Crisis, Indonesia has devalued the rupiah so severely to the point that people would not stand anymore of its impact - inflation, debts, etc.. , coupled by the bad human rights track record by Suharto that people have decided to go down to the streets to protest. It might be a different case in each country, like in Philippines,  Aquino Sr's assassination after a return from exile by agents of Marcos forced the people's hand - simply killing a respected opposition figure for means of eliminating the political threat causes mass protests because of bad human rights record.

In this age and time, there are two main themes that primarily be formed as part of a national disaster - an economy disaster on the national scale or a tragedy that makes people angry in following a bad human rights track record. The former is the worst because a country will not be able to run with mass debts hanging around the neck.

Having a big number of intellectuals - figures that spur people spirit against oppression in Egypt and in Tunisia also helped to spark people revolution there. These intellectuals have liberated minds. But these kind of minds are considered dangerous to some authoritarian regimes.

Will It Happen In Malaysia?

At this point of time, I don't really think the majority of Malaysians will wake up to the false sense of reality that is around us. The Tenang by-election - using the voter situations there illustrates the present state of reality in Malaysia.

The following excerpt is from Clarissa (taken from Loyar Burok):

Well, we probably should think of Malaysia and Malaysians as people living in the Matrix. They believe they have the freedom, that the economy will improve with all these economic transformation plans, that they can still enjoy material excess and progress, that they will continue to live in comfort. I think I have written about this more than a decade ago and the situation still has not changed, not one mite.

People are still lulled by a false sense of security, not understanding that the carpet will be pulled out from under their feet anytime, at any moment. They are not unlike North Koreans in general, minus the physical deprivation and visceral torture, because they believe in much of what is fed to them. The government is smart in creating a quasi welfare state, and in creating a false sense of us going somewhere, when in reality, we are just going in circles, as what I have seen from the time I was a freshman in college, more than a decade ago.

Tenang election clearly illustrates that. Kuala Selangor illustrates that. People are still lulled by false sense of security. In other words, we are still slumbering in false reality. And clearly, it will take a national disaster for people to really wake up the fact that there are many things that have already mislead us. Simply read any article on any Malaysian newspapers that involves any BN politicians / ministers and it tastes more of a feel good thing for government. (Notice that it's play nice with government and thrash the opposition style of writing). But sometimes, it is also equivalent to lying to yourself with such sentiment.

Answer? - Not likely until disaster strikes.

The One National-Scale Disaster That Could Happen in Malaysia

I clearly believe that the next national-scale disaster is neither political, nor natural in nature (e.g, floods). Instead the next one would be economical in nature.Malaysia's national debt stands at RM 577 billion and counting. The signs of trouble of a possible worldwide scale economic bubble burst are happening now and no nation will be spared from this problem the moment the economic bubble of China or America bursts. 

When the US Dollar is no longer accepted as the main reserve currency worldwide, America dies economically and the whatever US reserves we carry in Malaysia will no longer has value. It will become a paper money with no value. Therefore, the reserves that Malaysia hold, could go below zero and the deficit becomes higher since USD reserves would not be taken into account.

The ringgit could be possibly devalued again, subsidies could be totally removed. However I was really certain that this subsidy rationalization is part of a economic hit men suggestion. Indonesia's economic collapse was also due to economic hitmen. A confession by John Perkins in his Confessions of Economic Hitmen book revealed his part in Indonesia - advising "politikus" on various things with the ulterior motive of conning the nation, billions of money out. This is no doubt is what could be happening in Malaysia in the space of one to two years time.

Once part of the integrity of a foundation has been compromised, you can see how the chips fall and it will culminate in a national-scale disaster. Not even Perkasa who screams of Malay rights, not even political games, not even hero village attitudes will save Malaysia. This is a potential global scale disaster that can bankrupt Malaysia even before Idris Jala's 2019 bankrupt forecast.

Test Case on Mitigation

Is Malaysia ready for to mitigate such risk? Not likely and I don't really believe that Najib's administration has a solid plan at all. That was the conclusion I could get. A few days ago, I have decided to query a Member of Parliament in a forum that I participated. I did not ask anything that is political, but instead concentrated on economical question in nature since the forum topic deals with East Malaysia politics and economy. I posed a question whether he is aware of possible economic bubble burst in China and America. I stressed that the answer I was keen to here is purely on personal point of view.

The answer I got is that there is a concern for the China bubble, since America is considering of forcing China to increase the yuan rate to suit US. Military might and confrontation is definitely out of the way since neither side can win in provocation contest. 

Malaysia, unlike Singapore do not have the sufficient reserves to withstand the impact of the next upcoming economic collapse. Singapore is the opposite, with reserves standing close to $600 billion SGD, with only a fraction used for its stimulus package during the 2008 recession and its currency close to the value of the US, Australian and Canadian currencies. 

The other main question that I asked was whether Malaysia has sufficient safety nets for this situation. The reaction that I got from the YB seems to tell me that Malaysia doesn't have adequate measures, with the politicking still running around and the main party seem hell bent on annihilating the opposition before national priority on all aspects. Why would Perkasa even complaint about Anwar Ibrahim's alleged plan of escape where an economic meteor is hitting Malaysia, which takes precedence over other matters?

Conclusion: With incapable politicians running and handling  the economic policies coupling with corruption index rate that has yet to improve, Malaysia is not likely to withstand that disaster long-term. Even the warning by the PM on not letting the same thing happening in Egypt is not going to work anymore, so I think that having seen the letter written by one Eunice Wong from Seremban, I don't really think that will work as one factor that could cause that is due to the government's own failings and mismanagement.

After Waking Up, Too Late To Take Back

Most of the heads and rulers of the aforementioned Arab nations with their families are found to amass a big fortune. The Mubarak family has been amassing over $70 billion US dollars of assets in Egypt and in overseas. This allegation has in fact prompted the Swiss bank to freeze the accounts pending investigation. Likewise, in Tunisia, when the former president Ben Ali left, Leila, the young wife of Ben Ali ran with mass gold - the value can feed millions of poor Tunisians there. What is concerned that if people have successfully ousted oppressed regimes, the dictators and corrupt leaders in particular will take their fortune, that the government should have and returned to the people away. It's plundering we're talking about!

The story of how Leila's obsession and antics can be equaled to Rosmah's with both of them are in housewife-style of politics. Don't get what they want, and they would call their husbands, and lamenting like a child. Not only for the two women above, there are wives of leaders elsewhere that could fall in that category.

The saying of prevention is better than cure is not likely aware by many Malaysians in this case. There are a few scenarios to illustrate the above point: if the Opposition beats Barisan Nasional in the general elections by a big majority (corrupt and greedy leaders will attempt to plunder whatever they have before going, something like in Selangor where state docs are destroyed on the night of election, and they could go King Kong), or if there happens to be a revolution like in Arab that ended successfully with leaders thrown out.

Yes, we can wake up after disaster, but at what cost? There are things too late to be done, where if not for our own coward and ignorant citizens who still are in slumber in false reality. The country's attempt to rebuild the economy after the Asian Financial Crisis goes in vain again and it could take more than the same amount of time to rebuild the economy. If the government of the day still is BN by the time a disaster like that happen, the next four letter word that people would cuss on would not be "FUCK" but "UMNO"!

Not Yet March 8 2011 And There's Another By-Election Looming!

PETALING JAYA: The nation will see yet another by-election, the 16th, with the death of Umno’s Kerdau elected representative Zaharuddin Abu Kassim this evening.

It is learnt that Zaharuddin, 63, died after suffering from a fall in his washroom at about 6.30pm.

His death was confirmed by Temerloh’s deputy police chief Supt Zundin Mahmood.

The politician was reported to be serious last year when he was admitted at the Nation Heart Institute (IJN) in a critical condition over kidney and heart complications.

He however recovered sufficiently and got married to Rozlifah Ahmad, 33, late last year.

The country had just witnessed a by-election in Tenang, Johor – a state seat which was retained by Barisan Nasional/Umno.

There will be another by-election in Merlimau, Malacca on March 6 following the death of the state rep, also from Umno.

The Kerdau by-election will be the first in Pahang, the homestate of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

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The above is a news flash from Free Malaysia Today.

I suppose there should be a rule calling that all assemblymen cannot die without consent of Bik Mama. Maybe this is because of the number of unprecedented by-elections that is happening before we hit 3 years after March 8 2008.

According to the 2008 statistics, the bulk of the 6000 plus voters are Malays (89%). Kerdau is in the Temerloh constituency and it is in the upper part, heading towards Kuala Krau. Ideally, a PAS candidate can be there or if there is PKR man who is famous in that part of town, then they should put that fellow there.

I wonder how much money that Barisan Nasional has splashed in all the by-elections so far. Not even the recent by-elections can surpass the astronomical amount of goodies and campaign money (actually can be used for subsidy money instead of for the wrong ends).

The big question is how can we educate voters on not to be afraid of bogeyman tactics and used their heads properly without thinking of such defeatist mentalities like (follow the leader, all is fate, etc..?)

There Are Worse Things Than Valentine Ban!

Come on, get real. Why does JAKIM and its state religious departments start going for those Valentine ban when there are bigger things to combat about? Isn't bribery corruption is worse than going on love and sex? Isn't third degree interrogation or detention without trial worse than going out pair to pair? Does this mean that those two sins are legitimate or halal in Malaysia, as in according to their version, whereas it is actually wrong in every sense?

The problem above in fact reinforces the Islamophobia that the non-Malays are facing. Too much Malay here and there, and it can alienate some people. But hold on, isn't the government of the day Barisan Nasional? Aren't they supposed to do more racial integration, as matching 1 Malaysia's objectives vs this thing? Isn't that cakap tak serupa bikin?

"Mengtuakan Orang Muda"

There is only one stage of youth in a man's life cycle. And it has to be used well, people have to feel things that may not be done when reaching middle-age or the twilight of their lives. Whatever these bunch of jokers want to do is attempting to make the young people behave like old men and women. This is wrong. This is not letting people to feel things that they should be given freedom and things to do.

Free Will Not Encouraged?

I don't think many people would give a damn about the fatwa thing that doesn't allow such kind of activity. Are you saying that you can do elsewhere but not in Malaysia? People should be given the free rein to think and act on their own will. To do such thing, and others things that fall under the moral control activity is to stifle the capability to think. This already adds insult to the present education system that still produces people that are not able to think on their own accord or their own free will. 

Go For The Bigger Fish!

ISA is violating human rights. Why not a fatwa for that instead of Valentine?

Bribery and corruption is worse than Valentine? Why not make a fatwa on that?

Why go for the little fish?

These people have no respect for the other races. How are you going to get people to integrate with one another of all races when you say such thing? Get real. And see how the other people get angry at this senile men that claims to be holier than thou.

Mubarak Leaves At Last

News came in that due to people power, the Egyptian military has finally stepped in and in that stage, Hosni Mubarak has already moved out to a Red Sea Resort.

16 days of protests and finally demands are finally met. Quoting from AP:

Gen. Hassan al-Roueini, military commander for the Cairo area, told thousands of protesters in central Tahrir Square, "All your demands will be met today." Some in the crowd held up their hands in V-for-victory signs, shouting "the people want the end of the regime" and "Allahu akbar," or "God is great," a victory cry used by secular and religious people alike.

If Tunisia starts first, then Egypt, then it could spread to Yemen and other Arab nations. Jordan has swiftly changed government with King Abdullah issuing a decree of immediate reform. It's a domino effect, but it could happen elsewhere. 

What about Malaysia? Do we notice that some of our leaders are already been running for too long and should go?

"Demo Bukan Budaya Kita" - 2 Years Later

DEMO BUKAN BUDAYA KITA: DR M

KUALA LUMPUR: Pembangkang, yang hilang kuasa mentadbir kerajaan Perak, perlu sedar demonstrasi jalanan bukan budaya Malaysia dan menunjuk kekuatan seperti ini boleh berlaku erhadap mereka pada masa depan, kata Mahathir Mohamad.

"Ia (demonstrasi jalanan) bukan budaya kita. Bagaimana anda hendak membentuk sebuah kerajaan dengan bertindak di jalan raya. Jika mereka (pembangkang) sendiri menggalakkan demonstrasi jalanan, macam mana pula mereka hendak mentadbir negeri.

"Jika anda bertindak di jalan raya setiap kali ada masalah, maka jika dan bila anda membentuk kerajaan, orang lain akan melakukan yang sama," katanya kepada pemberita selepas demonstrasi teknologi SmartPool di the Mines Waterfront Business Park, di sini, semalam.

Dr Mahathir diminta mengulas demonstrasi jalanan oleh penyokong Pakatan Rakyat ketika upacara mengangkat sumpah Menteri Besar Perak yang baru kira-kira satu kilometer dari Istana Kuala Kangsar kelmarin.

Kerajaan PR yang belum berusia setahun tumbang selepas empat anggota dewan undangannya melompat ke Barisan Nasional (BN).

Dr Mahathir berkata "tindakan melompat" itu seharusnya mengakibatkan pembubaran dewan undangan negeri (DUN) tetapi oleh kerana Sultan Azlan Shah mengisytiharkan tidak perlu diadakan pilihan raya, keputusan itu harus dihormati.

Katanya, Menteri Besar pembangkang harus dibenarkan memanggil mesyuarat DUN dan undi tidak percaya perlu diluluskan terhadap kerajaan berkenaan.

"Tetapi jika Menteri Besar tidak mahu mengadakan sidang DUN, jadi bagaimana kita boleh paksa beliau berbuat demikian. Undang-undang menyatakan undi tidak percaya mesti diluluskan sebelum ada pertukaran kerajaan.

"Sekalipun mereka terus memerintah negeri itu, mereka bertindak sebagai kerajaan minoriti. Bagaimana kerajaan minoriti hendak mentadbir negeri, bila ia tidak punya sokongan," katanya.

Mengenai laporan bahawa pembangkang bercadang mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Sultan berhubung keputusannya, Dr Mahathir berkata walaupun tindakan pembangkang itu tidak beretika, undang-undang membolehkan tindakan itu diambil.

Bagaimanapun, Ketua Umum PR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim semalam berkata, pihaknya tidak akan memfail saman terhadap Sultan.

- Berita Harian - 8 February 2009

**************

Today I will not talk much except to bring back something for everyone of us to go through and compare to the current situation, 2 years after the report was first published. True, I am pretty exhausted after work in office and treating myself to watching a movie to have some fun.

This week marks exactly 2 years of when Dr. Mahathir made that statement above that "demonstration" is not our culture" in the wake of the fall of the Pakatan Perak Government 2 days before on 5th February 2009. There have been plenty of demonstrations in the last 4 years, tracing back to the Lawyer's march in Putrajaya in August 2007 in the wake of the Lingam tape leak, then going on with the Bersih rally in November 2007 and the Hindraf rally three weeks later.

Those three demos got the ball rolling and in other words proved to Malaysia that anyone can gather for a common cause. However, do note that demonstrations usually happen primarily because of whatever grievances aired via official channels were mostly ignored and turned away by the government that we have entrusted our vote with in the elections.

The Perak coup de tat was the lowest point of all because the sultan had ignored the Perakians vote and choice of the government and instead UMNO and Barisan had taken over via the backdoor route, a.l.a. Katak frogging that Anwar Ibrahim spoke of about the never happened 916 promise. And still, there happen to be more demos in the subsequent times after the low point including anti-GST tax rallies, anti-ISA rallies, and so forth.

Why does it happen? It's primarily that people's wishes were ignored in favor of political power and survival. If the majority of people say no to ISA for example, the government must immediately throw it off, not to amend, not to keep it because the boss said so. Demonstrations happened usually as the last resort when everything was turned away and people - like an infant - cry for attention when there is no one else to turn to.

There are more than a dozen of demos around Malaysia after Dr. Mahathir's statement. This means, that in other words, that no one give a hoot on Dr. M's statement. And it also reveals that in this situation, Dr. M has misjudged himself as well as getting too much than what he can chew on. Maybe his statement could be irrelevant already, if we take the domino factor from Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan as well.

The Simplest Solution To Interlok

The Interlok novel problem still remains unresolved officially as the National Writers Association are unhappy with the Education ministry's decision to go ahead with the novel, albeit with a few modifications to the original content. However, what many people do not get it is that by modifying the content of the novel, even though by a few pages, the structure of the story can be altered drastically. This will definitely be very much against Abdullah Hussain's intentions of the story when he wrote that novel and thus damaging the integrity of the novel.

Being Politicize and Provoked

It is a shame that the novel is being politicized by the Indians over a small matter. The word alone "Pariah" is somewhat considered a bane, but however, don't forget that it was written at that period, hence, Interlok is somewhat considered as a periodical piece set in that particular period. We will elaborate on that shortly. 

I simply do not understand whether the Education ministry has done a thorough read through over the story, and considered whether if the story is to be used particularly for a specific group / cluster of schools or not. But the Education ministry and the government should take the share of the blame because of committing to the decision of using this material in school. By going ahead in using this as one of the three possible literature books for Bahasa Malaysia, the Education ministry is either unintentionally provoking the other races into whacking one another, thus more racial tension problems or otherwise deliberately intending of doing so. Who really made the final decision on which novels to be used? One of the department heads of the Ministry? Muhyiddin or Wee themselves?

Read the Content and Other Material

I must concur with the National Writers Association's stance that the novel should be remain intact as it is. First of all, because of it's story setting period that comprises of 6 decades from the early 20th century to prior Merdeka, there have been social and racial prejudices against the Malayan society. Pariah, is a common prejudice as what the English would do to discriminate the Indians in the point of time. This means that Abdullah Hussain's book is correct, in historical terms, of painting the point of Indians at that time, before World War II and prior to Merdeka.

Actually, there is nothing to gain for taking the issue out of proportion, politicize it and to turn it into mass rallies and so forth just because we didn't understand the content nor going back to the early times to verify the history and the portrayal of the Indian community. If we didn't understand those things above, then what is the point of having a National Archive or a National library for? Turn books and historical documents to dust?  Isn't this problem similar to as what Gandhi and the India  faced back in India before the 1947 independence?  

Case Example in Burgess

Hussain's novel isn't the only one that suffers the brunt of anger over discrimination. If anyone of you have read the Malayan stories by the late Anthony Burgess (author of A Clockwork Orange), you would find that the content is pretty similar in here.

As in related to the context above, in The Enemy of The Blanket, (part 2 of the trilogy), Mr. Jaganathan is a supporting character who is determined to sabotage the anti-hero at all costs. The motive of his actions is primarily because of how the Indians were treated by the English. Example:

"Jaganathan, you're a bloody fool! I'd be doing a great disservice to the Malay if I get out and let you take over!"

"You will kindly not call me a bloody fool in my own house, Mr. Crabbe." Jaganathan shook. "Who are you to say that I cannot run this school? I was running this school when you were still writing your wicked articles about the necessity of having Communist bandits in the east. While you were only a foolish soldier, I was running this school."

This piece above is a retaliation of and a hint of discrimination - note of "disservice to the Malay" phrase that Crabbe spoke of above. Remember that because this novel is set in 1956, one year before Merdeka, the racial prejudice is still there, so therefore it is society structure and state at that point of time is historically accurate and clearly reflected in Interlok. 

The below excerpt is from Beds of The East, the final part of the trilogy:

“Chinese, isn’t he (Robert Loo) ? Pity about that.” Nik Hassan made a sour gangster’s face. “Pity he’s not a Malay. Though, of course, he could use a what-you-call…”

“Pseudonym?”

“That’s right, a Malay pseudonym. It might carry a bit more weight. After all, everybody knows the Chinese are clever. We’re a bit sick of hearing it. We’re just dying for a Malay genius to turn up.”

But Nik is an anglicized Malay. Burgess writes:

Nik Hassan liked to be called “Nicky”. It was chic to have an English name in his circle. His friends Izuddin and Farid were called “Izzy” and “Fred”

Have we actually asked our surviving elders whether they themselves or other friends of theirs do the same thing or encountering such situations at that point of time? If it's a yes, then it is socially accurate using that period of time. Therefore, to emphasize it: there is nothing to be politicized and provoked off.

The Simplest Solution

If this problem keeps going on and on with neither side wants to compromise and resulting with a neither side winning the argument, the solution is very simple - either replace the book with another title that will not offend everyone, or since each school gets to choose one of the three Malay novels to be used for the Bahasa subject, they can opt not to take Interlok and choose another one. When the literature component was introduced back in 2000, I remembered that students or schools get to choose one of the books. Because anyhow, in the examination paper, I recalled that literature question and answer will only be based on which book you're reading. So, if I read book A, I will only need to answer questions related to book A only.

It's one of the two options they can choose, and it's a win-win case. Everyone can walk away and save the mess from happening. Why want to make an issue out of it?

PPPA: When People Get Angry at Senile Old Men

It's already clear that with the recent events of introducing extending the scope of publishing controls to encompass online media as well as gagging a blogger over the "rape maid" scandal clearly implies that the access of information more than what is usually seen is reaching to the point that they were unable to bear to see their control is slipping out of their fingers. Instead of going for information transparency, the government with such dementia is resorting to tightening the noose on citizens, including the cyber community that is expanding exponentially. No doubt, the main excuses used to state their decision includes: that a lot of false information and lies out there, and of course to have more control of what information goes out or not since the Wikileaks disaster that put America to its knees.

How Far Can People Stand Before Reaching The Boiling Point?

Generally, the people who mostly does the writing on online avenues are mostly formed of youngsters and those who are less than 50 years old. The numbers and statistics do speak for themselves. These group of people are more Internet savvy and they now do have the right to talk whatever they want. The moment if a group of senile men decide to impose such controls on them, what does that imply to all of us? It means to simply catch people for a crime that does not make sense, which is to talk anyway. 

The Sedition act charge against the Sri Muda assemblyman simply tells us that Malaysia is still a neo-feudalistic country with people from NGOs who know nothing much about the advancement of human civilization open their mouths and shooting at the person who has legit points to say in reply to a subject or an occasion that arises. As what the ex-Mufti Dr. Asri previously said - rulers are not on the level as with the famous prophets that we read in the Bible or the Quran. Humans do have flaws, and to say that people that fall under the group of rulers as omnipotent is a misconception and wrong. Since 2010, Britain has abolished Sedition laws mainly because the reality is that you can't catch a person just because he talks. 

If the controls persist there, how long do people can bear before they say that such laws are nonsensical and decide that enough is enough and the hell with the men who wanted those controls? Egypt is the perfect example - people, like the young are angry at senile old men for blocking access to what they want to say online. Online social and blogging sites like Facebook, Twitter, and etc..got blocked. People get angry, they would find a way to bypass the block and do whatever they want. To them, the message to be conveyed is "the hell with you."

This same case also applies to the attempt by the government to go after people who do illegal downloading. But to do that without solving the root causes of the problem - unrealistic censor laws, poor services in the cineplexes, the high cost of buying a video from the store is to invite more anger from the cyber-savvy community. Can you imagine blocking a 18-year person off from Internet because he's just writing diaries or things he want to talk? 

Go To Prison Because of Talking?

Thus, if the number of people in prisons for illogical petty crimes - talk, get stuff, participate in gatherings, etc.. surpasses the number of prisoners,  who are in there for murder, theft, white-collar crimes, and violent-nature crimes, then something is really wrong with how the country is run. In this case, you might need to build more prisons to house thousands of people guilty of petty crimes. 100,000 petty against 5000 violent - you do the math and conclusion! 

Online Privacy Invasion

Many people too believe that such controls is tantamount to privacy invasion. Remember back in 2007 where our former Information Minister Zam Maidin wanted to do blogger classification? Similar thing to what the government is bent to do. It's like wanting to know what a person is doing, event privately? There's the case of where people get Chinese New Year greetings from Najib. How do people's e-mail addresses or phone numbers in particular reach the hands the men who relayed Najib's message out? Aren't the telcos bound by the privacy clause that the personal information is strictly confidential and only used for their internal marketing purposes - not to be given to other parties? 

People do not like to be intruded upon and to scrutinize what people write is to see the big scissors on top of the ceiling ready to come down on people for nothing.

Information Branded A Lie But Factually True and Vice-Versa

That thing is a problem to contend with. The scenario is like: if Bernama writes news that is not entirely accurate but someone who write reveals information that was deliberately withheld and turned around by the news agency, where does that news landed into? An outright lie? A truth covered up as a lie?

But then, the lie disguising as a truth can be more venomous in nature because it misleads people into thinking that the lie has distorted many things and make people believe of some stupid things. For example, Article 153 in paper and word never talks about Malay rights at all, but it has been fanned into a political issue by NGOs and those affiliated to UMNO themselves. It is very misleading if you are told of a lie but never bother to investigate further by tracing the source materials that are claimed to back up a statement.

Senile and Unqualified Old Men

So who's to blame for all of this? Look at Zam Maidin and Rais in example. These are old men (all in the 60s) that said of the desire to control access to information. But are they really qualified to do that? Do they have the knowledge of the information technology discipline to say that? Zam is an old-fashioned reporter before becoming a politician. Rais doesn't have much knowledge of things like e-mail, social networking and yet wants to do that? Do the other politicians have a familiarity with those modern technology materials?

In fact, to do those various print control amendments, retain sedition acts, monitoring petty things unravels their paranoia and dementia of people looking for information in cyberspace. Britain, who originated Sedition Act, has thrown it away to the bin because of the reality that you can't simply catch people for talking. Same in school, you can't stop a person from talking and asking questions. 

The young and educated community in Egypt are very angry at senile old men that attempt to turn off information and attempting to control cyberspace and talk. They have responded with street demos and various bypasses to the blocks. The American government tries to stop organizations from supporting Wikileaks, they got hit back with hacks and DDOS attacks..those have one thing in common - to snub senile old men who run and try to introduce nonsensical policies. 

Chinese New Year Greetings

I know that tomorrow will be a very heavy day for me, from morning to night, so I would like to wish you readers and friends a Happy Chinese Rabbit New Year (one of my aunties is a Rabbit as well).

Well, off for my reunion dinner with my maternal relatives shortly.

On Tenang

I am not surprised and have already anticipated how the election outcome turns out to be from the beginning, with the exception that heavy rain throughout the whole day yesterday has affected the voting turnover. But what the opposition claimed to have succeeded is primarily on having more Chinese votes than ever and there majority that UMNO wants by 5000 could not be reached at all. In the beginning, mainly it's because of the population composition of Labis and Tenang, it reminded me of how it was way back in Bagan Pinang, with the exception that there is no popularity factor taken into account. Bagan Pinang was like Permatang Pauh, because of the candidate's popularity, they won there - and nothing more. And unlike other places, the people's mentality in Johor is much more backwater in nature than the other states where previous by-elections took place. 

PKR and Anwar Ibrahim To Be Blamed

PKR actually has the biggest blame to take among the three component parties of Pakatan Rakyat. Many have said they are the weakest link of all due to many incidents like the fraud party elections, exit of 7 of their own MPs to become independents and internal problems. The first mistake that PR did was to field a PAS candidate. Although PAS and DAP have managed to handle things well on the campaign side, it is the people's perception of the party and candidate that spooked them all. That is not Kedah, Perak or Penang, but it is Johor and sad to say that their mentality is one step backwards. The moment if a PAS candidate decides to contest here, many non-Malays would associate PAS as "Taliban-style party" and MCA and UMNO would tell the Chinese of many bogeyman like negara Islam, etc..though it is not really simple and quick to change a country to use Islamic laws.

Like Bagan Pinang

The moment PR fields a PAS candidate, Pakatan Rakyat got off to the wrong footing. In this area where there is a mix composition, a PKR candidate should have been fielded instead because people perceive PKR as a party with a multi-racial composition. This is the same mistake that was made in Bagan Pinang and there it reveals the main mistake that BN had now adopted this approach, which is to look for winnable candidates over those who can't do the job. So that's where Anwar Ibrahim and his gang caught with the pants down again. 

Challenge of Mother Nature

The rain factor has also taken its toll against both sides, but more severe in PR's side. There has been raining over the last four days down south, not that severe as in KL yesterday that Labis and Segamat town has already become flooded. But the government machinery has boats, one hand advantage. Because of PR's inability to provide the resources to handle mother nature related situations such as this, the number of votes that they are supposed to gain from absentee of voters was approximately 883 votes. On the other hand, Barisan actually by right if by the numbers only gets another 5% additional majority than in 2008.

PAS: 3875 (2008), 2992 (2011) = -883 (drop of 22.78%)

BN: 6367(2008), 6699(2011) = 332 (5.21%)

Bread and Butter, At What Cost?

In this backwater yard, there is only one priority for those who vote: bread and butter issues. If they think BN takes care of it, then they would go for it. Most don't give a hoot about increase of oil prices, murder, detention, Beng Hock, Interlock role, that issues could not work against this kind of backward mindset. PR came without the FELDA matter ready in hand. Many think that to vote PR and PAS is to bite the hand that supports and helps the FELDA people. 

But it came at a terrible cost. Sometimes, there is land fraud, and just like in Galas, the moment BN wins, the price of petrol goes up. What does that tell you? People got befuddled? Does it mean to say, those goodies handed out are only during campaigning and the assemblyman does nothing after the people put up there? This is the problem and the dilemma: the numbers shown there reflects the complacency and backward mentality of many voters, including the makcik and pakcik Felda - no clue, kena tipu and all sorts of things. With this kind of mentality, Malaysia can never move ahead, because they do not want to change. 

Look at the price of petrol, shrinking of buying power, what does that tell you? A penalty to be paid for ignorance. I scolded once an Indian amah in Hulu Selangor for making the wrong choice long time back.

PKR Can Pack Up and Go

It looks like the PKR party still remains very weak and will have to rely more than just their two main partners. Whenever people criticize them, e.g Raja Petra, we get scolded for nothing. It's just critcism that the party would rather endure than hearing what a yes-man would say. 

The problem still runs around. Anwar is becoming more or less a double-edge sword - A glue or a man who wants to call all the shots. Maybe this might anger some people who might not agree with his style like Zaid, Gobalakrishnan. Maybe many have yet to understand the history of Anwar and Azmin. But in this case of how they handle the election thing, since they are the middle of the three-party alliance, Anwar might as well stand down and get someone who can repair the whole party to be a formidable challenger and reputable party. Otherwise, PKR might want to pack up their bags and close shop. 

PKR will have to prove me and other critics wrong that they are not going to throw towel, pack up and go. How do you want us to fix up, someone from PKR might ask? My answer? Take RPK's bitter pill!

Coming May 6, Always Bet on Duke!

I have been tracking the series of events that covers the 14 years of the making and finally it's coming out internationally on 6 May. Pretty excited to see it coming and tearing aliens apart!

The 14 year hiatus is primarily on switching of game engines, the compulsion by 3D Realms (George Broussard in particular) over many things to toss into it (the core issue is interactivity unsurpassed) and finally, the lack of money which resulted in 3D Realms closing down in May 2009. Lawsuits by Take Two against 3D realms over the incompleted project put that on hold and finally the resumption of the project towards its release....

The first thing is primarily on the game engines. In 1997, it started with the Quake 2 engine (a.k.a Id Tech 2) - it was good, but Quake 2 at that time could not perform outdoor environments. In 1998, it was scrapped for the Unreal engine, which allows that capability. But in the subsequent years, Unreal engine evolved 3 times, and 2008 it was Unreal Engine 3. So virtually, the game content had to be moved to utilizing the new vast improvements of Unreal Engine. Virtually most of the content had to be replaced with newer content. I thought, with a PC Gamer magazine cover of the game in 1999, I thought it would be out as early as 2001, but it didn't really happened.

I have read about Broussard's obsession of never releasing a bad game in favor of taking time and perfection to getting all correct down to the bottom, and that includes the interactivity (e.g doing some crazy things like taking a leak in the toilet, using the drawing board and all those freedom of interactivity inside it. But in the process, ex-3D Realm alumni now Gearbox CEO, Randy Pitchford said that Broussard funded 20-30 million dollars of own money over that period but couldn't get it done. Quote: "He (Broussard) was committed to the point of insanity."

So in May 5 2009, 3D Realms closed down. The lawsuit came in a week later and finally a year later, at the Penny Arcade Expo 2010 everyone got surprised with a work-in-progress build that is being played by the visitors there. Confirmation on Gearbox taking over the rights to the game came in on September 2010 on a press release. At that time, they said that most of the game content has been completed and virtually the next few months is on polishing and tweaking, before the release date was announced a week plus ago.

The above video is a live demo taken from Amsterdam gaming convention a few months ago.

14 years is long the wait.

Malaysia in Blue Lantern Program

The Blue Lantern Program is defined as follows:

Initiated in September 1990 as the first systematic end-use check program, the Blue Lantern program has strengthened export controls and has proven to be a useful instrument in: 1) deterring diversions, 2) aiding the disruption of illicit supply networks used by rogue governments and international criminal organizations, and 3) helping the Department make informed licensing decisions and ensuring compliance with the AECA and the ITAR.  End-use checks performed under the Blue Lantern program have significantly encouraged compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and have proven particularly effective in addressing the growing problem of gray arms trade (the use of fraudulent export documentation to acquire defense articles through legitimate channels for end-users inimical to U.S. interests).  U.S. embassy personnel, or, in some instances, DDTC personnel, conduct Blue Lantern end-use checks abroad to verify the specific end-use and end-user of commercial defense exports and transfers controlled under the AECA.

Excerpt from: Federation of American Scientists

Wikileaks on 21 January released another cable that involves Malaysia from its Sao Paulo cable. This is the latest of the documents that pointed Malaysia's involvement with AVIBRAS, Brazil's aerospace company. The cable was dated  9 January 2009 and judging by the content of the document, it involves defence contracts with the Ministry of Defence (Najib was the Defence Minister / Deputy Prime Minister during that period mentioned before Pak Lah took over a few months before the end of his premiership.)

AVRIBAS had a 1000 page contract signed with the Malaysian government that includes product descriptions and comprehensive product blueprints. This would be the second contract signed with the Malaysia. The first one was signed back in 2000. AVRIBAS principally manufactures ASTROII missiles (Artillery Saturation Rocket System) and other air-to-air missile. 

So what's the idea of having those ASTROII missiles? How much does it cost? Anyone can fill in the blanks?

The main excerpt of the cable is as follows:

¶2. (SBU) AVIBRAS's supporting documentation included an approximately 1,000 page long sales contract from the Government of Malaysia. It included detailed descriptions of the product, including blueprints. A Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary level representative of the Government of Malaysia (GoM) had signed the contract and it contained the original seal of the GoM. Hassuani also showed original documentation from a similar contract with the GoM in 2000. Plaques, given as gifts to his company for its services from various countries' militaries, decorated an entire wall in his office. Hassuani even showed Econoff his Association of the U.S. Army card, showing his membership since 1984. 

¶3. (SBU) ABIBRAS has four sites, divided into munitions, armor and plating, civilian, and administrative. The compounds themselves are located some distance from the main road and protected by security guards. The munitions facility is located about one mile off kilometer 14 of the Tamoios highway, near the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. Upon arrival to the compound, the security guard requested Econoff turn off his cell phone, even though there appeared to be no reception available in the isolated compound. AVIBRAS also retains a member of the Brazilian Air Force to serve as their security liaison. The liaison officer conducts background investigations and grants security clearances to all AVIBRAS employees and contractors, in addition to periodic reviews of compound security. 

¶4. (SBU) AVIBRAS principally manufactures the Artillery Saturation Rocket System (ASTROS II). AVIBRAS also manufactures air-to-air missile delivery systems for Embraer jet fighters, civilian explosives, fuses, and the missiles themselves. They also have developed an unmanned drone. AVIBRAS does not serve as a broker, which Hassuani says is against Brazilian law. They import the parts for their systems and then manufacture the delivery systems themselves. After the product is complete, workers place it in a container and a Government of Brazil (GoB) customs agent travels to the factory to seal the container. The container is not opened again until the end-user receives delivery of the unit. 

¶5. (SBU) AVIBRAS sells exclusively to governments. According to Hussuani, they have sold equipment to the following countries' militaries: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Malaysia, Brunei, Morocco, Angola, Columbia, Chile, and Ecuador. The GoB must approve all transactions and it does deny sales to certain countries. Hassuani showed Econoff a list of the denied countries, which included Iran, Israel, and Ecuador. 

Are We Waiting Another 50 Years For Real Justice To Happen?

Navindran, the third cop named in the Kugan beating case in Subang Jaya got off scott free on Friday. Of course, those involved in the case were not satisfied of the outcome. There is a witness statement saying that Navindran beating Kugan in the police lockup there. 

There were two other police officers involved. Two others are Malay officers. But it's Gani Patail that said only Navindran was accused of torturing Kugan.

Is there a problem of not prosecuting the other two officers involved? 

Is it because that will make some groups of people very angry the moment they are hauled in the court out of making this issue racism that a Malay beat an Indian? 

Will it take 50 years like in the past only to declare a dead person innocent of all crimes?

Colin Ross, the first person falsely sentenced to death in Australia was declared innocent 100 years later.

Joan of Arc was declared innocent of alleged heresy and witchcraft approximately 30 years after being burnt at stake.

Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter - a boxer was declared innocent after 20 years plus after being framed for murder.

Napoleon was proven to be poisoned with arsenic by the English in his exile in St. Helena nearly 200 years after his death.

If real justice takes shape 50 years after that happen, then it is too late for people to find out. Some of us at that time may no longer be alive on earth to see it happen? Why do we need to wait that long to find out? With all that modern technology to help improve investigation processes, that shouldn't take that really long? Are those in the corridors of power or belonging to the big mob group in real fear over invert surveillance at themselves? Is paranoia driving them to behave crazily?

We all don't like to wait that too long, aren't we all?