Kevin's Birthday

Yesterday is officially Kevin's birthday but since Monday was a public holiday, I called him out for some lunch at KLCC.

Well, he just turned 18 and told me that he reached Level 80 in playing WOW. I was shell-shocked when he said that he took one day to reached the level whereas when we had a holiday one week ago, he was at level 78.

He was in town on Saturday but did not call me because he thought I was too busy. Well I was indeed too busy in office, spending Saturday from 11.30 to 8.30 there to finish something important.

I took one photo but in black and white because dad thinks there's some IT in shooting B&W.

Must have been from watching Schindler's List black and white footage.

Candidate Selection Dilemma For KT By-Election

1. On the Kuala Terengganu by-election situation, the EC has set the nomination date to be on 6th of January and the polling date to be on 17th January. Both sides will have the problem of selecting the best man to run for the vacant Parliamentary seat.

2.On the BN camp, the possible candidates are narrowed to two. One of them is Zaid Embong. Of course Zaid is a Terengganu man but the risk of using him for the by-election is that he is one of the old-generation regime of UMNO and chances of winning could be in jeopardy since a lot of voters there are those new-generation of voters and those born after Merdeka.

3. The other choice is obviously Abdullah Badawi's political secretary and deputy Home Minister Wan Farid Salleh. But most of us note him and his brother Wan Hisham of being one of the few notable cronies. His brother Wan Hisham plays an active part on Monsoon Cup, while he himself handles the state's wang ehsan contribution to federal government - 12 billion in 8 years. But if you remember the Batu Buruk - he is believed to be responsible for setting up the provocation event since he met the police two hours before the event started.

4. Between the two, Wan Farid is the BN's best choice for he can capture the attention of the voters particularly those born after Merdeka man. He is a new generation educated person so that will help to add to the credentials. Mat Sabu kept mentioning that he is the one that orders the police to go hard on opposition ceramahs, protests, etc..

5. The voters in Terengganu would prefer to have a candidate from Terengganu itself. IN this case, they would prefer to have a candidate from Kuala Terengganu. In the recent general election, Mat Sabu lost by a margin of 685 votes since the spoilt was won by the 85-year old lady. Many observers are sure that PAS man Mat Sabu will contest again but the catch is he is not from Terengganu but from Penang and this could cast some doubt on some voters on whether to vote for him. A poll conducted shows that Mat Sabu is the popular choice to contest that election again.

6. The next obvious choice for PAS candidate is Mustafa Ali. Chances could be good since he is also an assemblyman of a state seat that falls under the KT parliamentary seat. But the one problem for Mustafa is that the relationship of him with the PKR-DAP allies is not in a very good situation and this could pose a problem for the Pakatan Rakyat leadership. There is also a risk of having a loose-canon that is him.

7. The 1999-2004 MP Dr. Syed Azman, also from PAS is a possible choice but in terms of situation and criteria, he fits the bill. He is a doctor in profession, able to get in touch with the new generation and of course being knowledgable in terms of education and etc. Since he's also a Terengganu man, this would of course fit the voters criteria of having a local to be an MP.

8. There are also two other people in PAS that could be selected.

9. It would be better if both camps instead select an unknown quantum person as a candidate. Not only it provides good competition from bird's eye view, it also gets the notable people from both camps to campaign for the unknown candidate. Also, this would get the voters to assess analytically from nomination day until polling day to determine who would be the best man to win the by-election.

10. The 11% of voters in KT are Chinese and both camps are desperate to get them for their votes could swing the decision in favor either party though they form the minority group.

Why Ali Rustam Will Win UMNO Deputy Presidency

Anyone can figure - with analysis that Ali Rustam will win the UMNO presidency.

1. Money is king. If you want to have votes, you need to give red packet to your voters. This also happens in Johor, prominently to gain respect from the kingmakers there. Many have claimed and believed that Muhyiddin as a 'stingy' or 'koo hon' person, similarly to Ku Li who doesn't offer money for votes. Since money politics is rampant, chances are those votes could go to either Mike Tyson Taib or Ali Rustam.

2. From experience, a potential Deputy Prime Minister must be able to speak English particularly on international duty. But everyone knows that Mike Tyson Taib "cannot speak Engrish" he had the problem of reading RPK's article where Mike Tyson lodged a complaint to the police station. In the time where economy is in recession and cost cutting is needed, hiring a translator for Mike Tyson could be costly.

3. From the two points above Ali Rustam falls between #1 and #2. And chances are votes could go to him.

Police: You Cannot Cycle Here, There, Everywhere...

I don't know why the police is so bent on stopping those moral-good rallies or campaigns like the JERIT cycling campaign. Malaysiakini reported that 50 bicycles were seized in Teluk Kumbar following a police road-block. However, the cops relented after three hours following talks by Sungai Siput MP Jeyakumar Devaraj. The eye-catching line?

“I told them, come on-lah, there are so many criminals around for you to deal with; just let our cyclists do their thing and they won’t cause any problem,” he said over the phone.

“If you want, you can send police to help us with the traffic, though even that won’t be necessary as we have our own marshals"

I have a gut feeling that whoever ordered the cops to clamp down is pretty stupid and bigot. And it shows one thing that the police are political UMNO lapdogs. See, on opposition campaigns, they come down very hard, probably on instruction from Home Ministry while on the PRO-ISA they couldn't do so because UMNO's PEKIDA gang is there to backup. If they try to go in, they risk the wrath of their paymen.

So who's the real bigot out there? Are you saying that I cannot cycle on the road?

A Payout Cheque By Nuffnang

For those of you who have signed up for Nuffnang but yet to get a paycheck at all, this is what you get.

For my case, it took me a little more than a month to receive the cheque. I requested for a cash out on 27 October. It took more than month to process, and finally the cheque was sent from Penang on the 2nd. It took three days to reach other states (according to postal rules) before it came here today. If the destination is within a state, it can reach in one day.

Behind the cheque, you can see a watermark to show that it is a real one, not a forgery.

This pay is the result of advertising for exactly one year. I've started the Nuffnang advertising in October 2007. The thing is that if you have more people visiting your blogs, chances are your pay would be higher.

Yesterday - By Beatles - New Remix

Yesterday,
All financial crisis seemed so far away.
Now it looks as though they're here to stay,
Oh, I was rich just yesterday...

Suddenly,
I am half the net worth I used to be,
with the markets falling constantly,
Oh yesterday I was wealthy.

Why the bubble burst, I don't know,
Leverage, they say.
Should I go short or long
It's gone wrong whichever way-ya-ya-ya. ..

Yesterday,
It was such as an easy game to play
Now I need a loan to pay my way,
Oh interest rates, please drop today

How I long for yesterday….

RM1.70 Tak Bolehkah? Dollah Kedekut!

Late last night I got news that the new petrol price would be at RM 1.90 instead of the max of RM 1.85. And there's a difference of just RM 2 for every 40 liters purchased.

According to Malaysiakini, Penang CM Lim Guan Eng chastised Abdullah Badawi for not reducing the prices further. He said that based on the price of $48 per barrel, the price should be as of August 2005 that is RM 1.52. Now then, earlier on, Shahrir Samad did admit that the current price in Malaysia is higher than the other nations for we pay 38 cents for tax.

That means that the actual price minus tax and operator / company commission is at RM 1.30.

Why not give them the price of RM 1.70 but with the taxes cut by half. Instead of 38, it's 19 cents per liter? Picture this, if we based price on RM 1.70 per liter, we stand to save another RM 8 for every 40 liters purchased. When Shahrir said that reduction is not more than 15 cents this round, it implies that Dollah Badawi and the cabinet is pretty kedekut. I remembered my grandfather always get chastised by my grandma for being kedekut and I see Dollah Badawi the same thing as well...

Also, whatever Dollah Badawi said of the economy outlook 2009, don't take it blindly for it may not be as what it seems. Everyone better buck up their seatbelts for the bumpy ride is to go at least for the first half of next year.

Subsidy For Dryer Machines Ah?

This is from The Star:

PUTRAJAYA: Those living in multilevel residences will no longer be allowed to dry their clothes in the open “where the whole world can see,” effective next year.

This follows a government decision to tackle the eye-sore problem once and for all, and to clean up the image of Malaysian cities by coming up with a guideline for both developers and residents of such buildings.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said a guideline should be in place so that developers would be made responsible for preparing a special area or the proper facilities in its properties for drying clothes.

“We can see today that most people living in multilevel residences like flats, apartments and condominiums dry their clothes in the open. It is unsystematic and affects our efforts to portray a modern image for Malaysian cities.

“For the moment, we will have a guideline so that necessary action can be taken by parties concerned, including residents to have proper equipment and facilities so they need not expose their laundry,” he said after chairing the National Council on Local Government meeting on Tuesday.

The Deputy Prime Minister however said there was nothing punitive about the guideline as the aim was to encourage the public to be more sensitive about the issue.

“For the time being, it is more on making the moral switch. It it does not work, then we have to consider amending existing laws,” he said, adding a circular would be issued by the ministry next year to inform local authorities of the decision.

Najib said it would be the duty of local authorities and the Commissioner of Buildings to inform developers and managements of flats, apartments and condominiums to see to it that the guideline was followed.

****

My dear Najib, I don't know whose idea was it to raise this issue, I better hope it's not Rosie out there. If you say that you don't want hanging clothes outside, don't wait until those developers add in those special facilities. Instead, why not you offer subsidy for dryer machines so that everyone can buy one. Look at Singapore, buying a Bravia W series TV is much cheaper because Singapore offers subsidy. They are encouraging people to have TV in each household.

It's a pretty simple solution, isn't it?

The Co-Pilot Syndrome in Malaysia

If you have seen the Malaysiakini video by Raja Petra yesterday at the Bar Council, yes, you have read the big portion of what I'm trying to say. Which you should do first before continuing.

The real problem right now and I pity is that most Malays right now have the co-pilot syndrome, which is they have trouble when they do not how to fish to feed themselves.

Tun Mahathir did the NEP and those affirmative-action initiatives to help the Malays to be on their own feet - to teach them how to do their own fishing when those who feed them are gone. Unfortunately, it has been misintepreted, many perceived Ketuanan Melayu as stamping on others, rather than it's actual objective - to become sirs of their own standard. Now the problem is still not solved, that is instead of sirs, there are still beggars (state of mind) still out there. People were brainwashed and taught to use this as a last resort when changes for the beter of the nation are favored by others but considered as a threat to the Malay race.

The other day, I got headband that said "Hidup Melayu Hidup Islam". Does that mean that if Melayu is gone Islam is gone? Try asking the real Arab scholars about this question. I bet that they will laugh on this thing. Islam exists way long before Melayu exists.

When you have this syndrome around, Malaysia can never be as great as Singapore. or other nations better than us in overall aspects They keep saying that some people who really call for changes are American agents, but they never questioned themselves whether they are really agen Amerika? What about sending police against ceramah's and vigils? Isn't that the Bush American prescription? Who is the real Agen Amerika? Those bigots who call themselves great or we the people?

Not Now For Reinstatement of Royal Immunity

There have been calls by certain royals to call upon the government to reinstate the royal immunity that has been removed since 1993.

I have a mixed bag of opinion of this issue.

I concur with what was written in the letter to Malaysiakini. Rulers have seem to forget their roles to the people. And I still remember of cases where members of royalty go and assault citizens for some small mistakes. Take the Douglas Gomez affair where he was assaulted for speaking up. In fact it was the royals who ordered the pullout of the BPSS from the MSSM Hockey games in 1992 in wake of the horrendous episode in Sukma 1992.

For now, I don't agree to have the reinstatement unless the rulers prove to the people that they do not misuse their privilege at normal people.

Commencement of Ipoh-KL Shuttle Services

From tomorrow onwards, the KL-Ipoh KTM commuter service will start. The service will run on weekdays basis, with five trips per direction daily. The estimated time of travel between this two towns would be at approximately three hours.

The newly refurbished Ipoh railway station has changed a lot and if I remembered properly, the underground passage that links Platform 1 to Platform 2 has been sealed off and replaced with an overhead passageway.

Here are some pics to show the refurbished state of the station.




This used to be the old entrance towards there. For better clarity, you might want to read Lat's Town Boy graphic novel.

Now In Vacancy: Kuala Terengganu

The Deputy Education Minister dead after a game of badminton?

See the news piece below:

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail died at the Aminuddin Baki Institute in Genting Highlands at about 6.30pm Friday.

This was confirmed by Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom when contacted by Bernama today.

It is believed that Razali, 59, who is the MP for Kuala Terengganu, collapsed while playing badminton at the institute.

Alimuddin said the body would be taken to Hospital Bentong, Pahang.

Razali leaves a wife, Datin Nooraini Lob Yusoff, and five children.

A staff of the institute said Razali had been playing badminton with several staff members when he collapsed.

"He did not have any specific function there. He had come for recreation," he said.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, when contacted, said Razali’s death was a great loss to the ministry.

"I’m deeply saddened. It’s a great loss," he said in a text message.

Hishammuddin said he was at the institute and was engaged with the funeral arrangements.

Anyhow, Kuala Terengganu seat is vacant and a by-election must be held in the next 60 days. Initial intelligence reveals that BN only had a 50-50 chance of winning that seat. At the general elections, Razali was facing stiff competition against Mat Sabu from PAS. So the only possible solution for them is to put in a nold lady as an independent candidate hoping to take away some votes so that. That worked out well as Maimun Yusuf polled 685 votes, enabling Razali to win by 628. Were Maimun did not compete, Mat Sabu could have won by a tiny margin of 57 votes.

Barisan seats are now reduced to a possible 136. The coalition now has only 138. The other 2 possible seats would be this one and the other one in Sabah where Kurup's seat is now declared vacant following the null and void order by the court.

I met Mat Sabu at Maju Curry house that day and I simply said "Uncle Mat - you should be the next Home Minister". Well, chances are I believed that Mat Sabu can contest that seat again and should he wins, becomes MP and when Pakatan takes over, - if true- then he could be the next Home Minister.

"My Ass Is On The Line"!

That's what my manager admittedly said to one of my seniors today. I was still in nervous mood, because I was constantly reminded that if the reviews of tomorrow is negative, that's the end of everything, the sack and the project goes down the drain. Even the manager is not sparred from this as well. I was trying to get over this episode and hope that things would go well in the coming week, whereby the product is released, get good reviews and then keep working more towards the end. So far, only one main module is completed and out of the 21 people today, all except one to three were roped in to finish the most difficult module ever in the software.

I started to think as what my bud said as 'over-committing' - committing from the very beginning, very sure of the product delivered in time. I felt that it's like overkill because either the buffer time is insufficient or those guys on top keep pushing or so. Perhaps the new term 'when it's done will have to come though'. Throughout the whole day I was very nervous that I took a lot of water, going to the toilet for the leak.

In the evening it was raining heavily but not at this time of writing. I saw two possible outcomes, either if God or Heaven is in sympathy over our troubles or it's not going to end well tomorrow. I rather being proved wrong tomorrow but I see the signs show that it's the bad and the latter. Around 8.30, just before I left, everyone was asked of remaining leave (medical and annual) and number of days worked for this month of November excluding tomorrow. APAC HQ was asking for it, not Bombay (since it's closed due to the terrorist attack) and I was suspecting of leave freeze, leave deduction or maybe worse.

I overheard my manager berating me through a conversation with Ponvel that I felt very offended. He thought that I should be given a try in one segment instead of sticking my time in one segment. He did remark at one point, "Where's the fun?" I only went to another segment briefly before going back here. I was a scared. Vasem was never constantly in that angry mood but in the recent days given that he has more pressure and possibly faces the worst wrath ever, he may have to do this at screaming at the workers like myself.

I asked my local guy Hock Kee at lunch whether if whether he's ready to be fired. He said no problem. Go back up north for his holiday, sort of. When I started work today, I felt time was very slow today and since yesterday, measurement report was like having a bad feeling Vasem is going to berate me anytime for missing out things. It was a little unfair for an accidental mistake or maybe because the assignment is quite complex.

A big shot from APAC HQ came over for three days there. From Wednesday, adminstrative staff started going around and asking people why on being either a few minutes late or not wearing a tie. Imagine if the July 14 episode (where roads were blocked up by the police) happens again..then what? Yunus came a minute late and was asked for an explaination.

Somehow I observed that the work could have finished faster and earlier if BK, orByresh could have stayed longer here instead of going back to India. Maybe that could save a lot of time and covered Alfred and Arunbabu's ass. But the poor girl from India was around here less than three months but left abruptly because of allegedly she complained about sexual harrassment by Yunus or Ayyappa.

So it's D-Day tomorrow. God help us all.

A Letter For Grandma

Dear Grandma,

It's already been two years.

I remembered last week when I was invited for dinner at the Wharf with some colorful guests. It was fish affair - steam fish, roast lamb, vegetables, curry fish and etc.. I thought for one moment I was at home, but the reality is that you were out there to remind me of the home cook food that I have not eaten for two years already.

I remembered the steam fish -it was like back home, where there's steam fish for dinner. I yearned to go back home for more than three weeks but the burden of work on the entire department forced me to postpone the trip to home three times.

Atmosphere in the department and office is pretty grim and sombre in the last few days. I was in a real nervous mood. The department had to work past normal hours, that's fine, but the grim warning is circling around: we had three policy components to deliver in good condition by end of grace period or the whole department gets fired. That even means me, my buddies and even my manager Vasem. I came back from toilet when he scolded my senior. I was freaked out. I had some chest pains probably because of overexerting myself. I was kicking myself hard, frantically trying to finish everything in time, but I look at it is unfair for everyone.

For a few times today I beg to either God or find a guy after work hours to help me through. But I wasn't happy or satisfied really. I don't what will happen in the next week or month or so. Losing a job at this point of time isn't right for all of us. We all felt the heat. I wasted a few hours over one problem whereas I wanted to use it to do something else that I am comfortable to handle with.

I could only turn to Ma for words in the last two days. I wanted to talk to someone close to me physically, not by phone, not by mail. And there was some feeling of anguish inside me for sometime. Apart from cousins or colleagues or friends, there's no one to turn to physically.

In one movie I watched, the protagonist said, "God does not speak to me, even on top where Christ was crucified." I was unsure whether I was put to this mess for my mistakes or there are things I do not want by was forced to do so. Look, I don't want to end as a recession casualty..the company has to reduce headcount because of the recession thing. On second thought I thought the Big Man was trying to tell me keep stocking my money. Forget about buying a desktop computer that I've waited for so long.

How I wish if God or you could speak to me and help me out. And yes, I am not speaking to you physically but instead I am speaking to a headstone in a temple where you are r.i.p. You were gone for two years already - things could be different if that is not the case.

It's pretty restless now. I only wish that tomorrow would be really better than today.

What A Bunch of Hypocrites!

What does an average Malaysian citizen expects out of a policeman? He / she expects them to help keep things under control in the streets at all times, helps the people in the dire need and make the world a safer place for all of us to leave.

But then, it seems that our perceptions of the police force is facing at:

A: Biased that acts brutally on innocent people and protecting the corrupt and racist scum
B: Instead of making an effort to reduce the crime rate, it keeps going high and police are looking at the wrong pole.
C: There are some who wants to do the morally right thing but were overruled by the executive or the chain of command.

Sum: I don't know whether to trust them or not.

Case In Point:

If you have seen the news where the police come in like gangsters and stop the anti-ISA gathering in Pandan Indah, you might want to compare with how pro-ISA march event that happened on Sunday afternoon. The police couldn't had the guts to stop them although both PERWARIS and GMI do the same peace marches. I was sure PERWARIS march went on because they had the PERKIDA (connected to UMNO) party to back them up.

You can reveal the two Malaysiakini videos (first link here is on the Ampang episode) and second link is on the PERWARIS.


If you remember last week, the police has issued several ridiculous conditions for the PJ anti-ISA vigil that includes no banners or t-shirts that says no to ISA. What about those PEWARIS jokers out there? What about the T-Shirts or those headbands that say Hidup Melayu?

If you just let the pro-government people do what they want but stamp on those other side who wants to do the same thing, then you are no more better than a lapdog, cannon fodder for the government. I can no longer have that level of trust at them anymore.

Well, you guys be the judge. If I am the PM, I'd sack the entire top brass of PDRM.

The Weekly PJ Anti-ISA Vigil

Despite the rain, roughly 200 managed (almost the same as last week) to show up at the vigil in front of the City Council office. Emceeing the event is councillor Richard Yeoh. He also repeated the conditions given by the police for the permit there and make one significant breakthrough announcement: the Vigil and the activity for people to express has caught the attention of Sultan of Selangor that his Majesty has given an aye towards the notion of another Hyde Park.


Apart from the usual crowd that includes bloggers, the special guests on this edition's vigil includes MPs Sivarasa (see above) and Dzukefly Ahmad with Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San. The PR has constantly reiterated of the forthwith to abolish ISA the moment they take over the government. Some are about to learn of what is happening tomorrow when those detained would be reporting to the police station. From hearsays, those from Penang who were caught were not required to come as what the IO said.

This round features a call to youngsters to show up and express themselves. There was a police car around the compound with some plain-clothes policemen there. The crowd was waiting with anticipation of the situation on the other side of town where GMI is supposedly throwing an anti-ISA campaign.


As usual, the event ends at 9.45 p.m with the singing of the national anthem. We were updated with news that the GMI was dispersed with the police given them 5 minutes. The traffic to Pandan Indah was bad with many roads sealed off by the police. But my constant believe is that the rain this evening means the wrath of God on the corrupt and the scum.

Star columnist Kee Thuan Chye. I complemented him for the March 8 book.

Professor Azmi Sharom

That's Vivec - the guy who's providing on the ground report on the P.P by-election

Apparently this series of vigils here have sparked the inspiration of throwing another one in Klang and in Ampang. So far, from this event alone, this event has been held in other states including Penang, Ipoh and Seremban. Klang and Ampang is about to start soon, but it depends on the help and effort of MPs and people there as well.

Update: According to Malaysiakini, there were three people arrested at the GMI event in Ampang. PAS man Mat Sabu was about to kick start the event when the FRU started moving in. Crowd was less than 100, Jalan Pandan was sealed off. See more on the link above.

Stapa's Alleged Point Behind The Yoga Ban

First, here's a shot of the very man suggesting that Yoga to be banned for all Muslims in this country.

Last month, my friend Edmund wrote to me a comment in regards of fatwa on Yoga. He remarked:

Actually Yoga is something to prepare you to DIE. Ask any really honest Yogi and Swami. It is the art of dying, of being annihilated with the awakening of the Serpent of the Spine (the Kundalini Force). It is not a neutral, non-religious breathing exercise. For once, the Muslim Authorities got it right.

I supposed, though not revealed, that this could be the one main reason why our dear Professor Stapa started the motion of banning this for the Muslims. Read this piece "Is Yoga Serpent Worship?" here.

It's The Paranoia!

I had the notion that the Royal Police Force is in the state of paranoia over the two latest matters.

Video Tampering

I have reviewed the Malaysiakini video that was shot on the night the vigil went wrong on the 9th. If you look properly at the two sections that were tampered with, I just have one or two hypothesis about why the video was tampered with. Especially the one part where there is a shot of the cupboard or so on.

My hypothesis / guessing would be:

1. A plain-clothes officer, or a commander or Khalid Bakar himself is terrified that what was caught on the video by Shukri in an accident that could be giving an embarassinng reputation individually or collectively that he was desperate in the need to make sure no concrete evidence is up if this material is used in court cases. But IMO, I have the feeling that SB who whacked assemblyman Lau Weng San could be the one. But who would be the officer that was the the insert shot in the car?

2. While reviewing the footage shot at the police division, the officers involved could accidentally splice those footage and overriding it into the existing footage.

Chances are, hypothesis #1 is likely the thing. But whoever did it was too foolish to fool the people. Well, as the saying goes, we're not born yesterday, right?

Anyhow, the conclusion is that the Selangor state police force will be accused by the people of doing another Gani Patail cliche, that is evidence tampering as what Anwar Ibrahim is accusing about.

GMI Permit Refusal

The next issue that shows police paranoia is the police refusal to issue a permit for the anti-ISA launch. Accoring to the Bernama, they have applied for the permit and the results was negative. ACP Jalil Hassan rejected the permit on grounds of public order disruption and noise congestion in the area. But then, was that taken into account that Unit Amal would be helping out together with the place held in the MPAJ hall?

Someone who stayed in the area claimed that many in the Pandan Indah are those who not really as educated as other people do and they drop the chips at the first sign of huge unusual activity there.

I spoke to some people asking them about the permit refusal and many had the opinion that there are some in the police force, particularly those who are responsible for permit issue think that given of the non-violence posed by them and a few other factors, that should be okay to issue a permit. Howver, many claimed that the fault lies from the top-level chain of command of the police (e.g Musa and those under the same hierachy). Allegedly, the top-level chain of command has given orders to refuse any permit outright for those not pro-government. Some like ACP Jalil have no choice but to follow or they could risk being transferred or demoted - despite the fact that it is in line with the moral grounds.

That day, I reproduced the translated version of the permit letter issued to Richard and the last half of the conditions shows the level of paranoia shown by the police against ordinary people who pose no harm to others. I am not surprised that many could not think far further ahead.

This are not only the cases that shows government paranoia on the people there are more and countless of it, well you can judge it for yourselves if you happen to see a news piece of the same scenario. Speaking of the GMI thing, there will be unnecessary arrests tonight, wasting of tax payers money by Khalid Bakar and his gang, BAR council lawyers called in, etc..you name it.

It's Not Santa, But It's Recession Is Coming To Town!

X'mas song this year has changed - the lyrics are more "down to earth" . . . .

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

It's hitting you once,
It's hitting you twice
It doesn't care if you've been careful and wise
Recession is coming to town

It's worthless if you've got shares
It's worthless if you've got bonds
It's safe when you've got cash in hand
So keep cash for goodness sake, HEY

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town!

Finance products are confusing
Finance products are so vague
The banks make you bear the cost of risk
So keep out for goodness sake, OH

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

Tax Money And A Woman's Potential Misuse

Chart By Malaysiakini

Aren't we all surprised to see that government is no longer paying subsidy money for petrol since 1st of the month? And do most of you know the fact is that 40% of a liter goes as tax paying money? Shahrir Samad today let loose of the breakdown of how a price of a liter of petrol goes.

Assuming that a liter is at $1.92:

1. 12 cents goes to a petrol station operator.
2. 19 cents goes to the petrol company.

Fine, that's okay and there's the remaining $1.61. Out of that 64 cents is tax money which leaves the balance at 97 cents. So if I am to buy 40 liters of petrol per week, I'm paying $25.60 per week as tax. That is almost one month of my tax contribution, except I'm paying quadruple, of $103 per month.

And what's the point of paying a lot if the government is noted by many people to misuse tax money, the money I paid to the government for some wrong activities like police going at the wrong end, paying compensations to failed projects, for some lavish vacations as part of government trips and etc? That's indeed using for the wrong end.

Also look at other taxes that we paid as part of the cost. I go watch a movie, I pay 25% of entertainment tax, a company pays 25 percent corporate tax per year, an employee pays 15% income tax, misc taxes and what else? I thought it's to help development but it's being misused badly already. Given of this situation maybe it's time people start paying less by telling them in the face 'not all unless you do exactly as I say because I put you there'.

Maybe I think the revised amount of tax we should pay is:

1. Corporate - 20 percent.
2. Income - 12 percent. It's better than reducing it in EPF.
3. Entertainment - 10 percent - Azalina and the relevant ministers should consider it.
4. Service tax - 7 percent from 10.
5. Petrol - 20 percent or another 30 cent subsidy. Both have the same effect.

Back to petrol I think the price could go lower. If we based on the current price of $2:

1. 31 cents goes to operators and petrol company
2. 68 cents goes to government
3. $1.01 is the fuel price.

Therefore, we should be paying approximately RM 1.67 per liter instead of RM 2. Which is at the August 2005 price, considering that petrol tax is half. I feel we have been asked to pay more but we get less back. People are angry that although they pay tax, the get things less worthy for the money they paid.

Case in point: There is a buzz around cyberspace that Rosmah, although accompanying Najib to Peru for the economic summit might not be staying in Peru but instead will head to Washington first and Najib will meet her there two days later to spend 5 days there. You bet that there will be lavish spending of many things - hotels, cars, and, etc from tax payers money and if converted to ringgit that is going to cost more than a million ringgit for every $300K USD spend in that week.

I started to question myself whether I should pay only half of the tax payer money to show I'm not happy with how people's money is used by the BN government. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get the same quality as if you would buy at somewhere else at a half-price, don't you?