Personal Injury Solicitor

Linked to The Green Mechanics: Personal Injury Solicitor.

Floyd asked: "Do we have Personal Injury Solicitor?"

This is not exactly an expert opinion or good post. :D

I had an accident that resulted in bodily injury. After the good sergeant ruled that the other party was at fault, he forwarded my contact number to an accident claim lawyer (can this be termed personal injury solicitor?). Don’t ask me, I didn’t know how to get one, I didn’t even know if they exist. :)

The same day (or was it night or evening?), the law firm rep contacted me for a meeting. The keyphrase were free of charge service even though the claim was unsuccessful but would only charge certain percent from the total claim if successful. So, I agreed to see him.

The next day, he really came. Upon seeing me in unilateral full leg cast, he (unconsciously?) nodded (as if he confirmed the truth of the good sergeant story) to me, greeted me, shook my hand and asked about my health (as if he couldn’t see I had difficulty moving, and in pain at that). I answered I was okey but moving difficultly and still in pain. He missed the sarcasm though (in my mind, was he even care about his (potential?) client.

I introduced him to another person involved in the accident (my girlfriend). Well, she didn’t have broken bones, just (according to the doctors) some bruises, laceration and probably soft tissues injury (from the medical report I managed to peek before the nurse at the A&E "took and hid" it from me). :)

Seeing he was perhaps in haste (got signs of agitation, and perhaps nervousness from the attention from my family members), I asked him go ahead. Then, he became so business-like (I bet this was the fruit of his training and his strength that he completely forgotten about his "discomfort") began to explain the process of how to get my right.

He (re-)explained, the charge was FREE OF CHARGE if the claim was unsuccessful. However, they would ask for certain percentage if the claim was successful. Furthermore, he said my case was a straightforward one (in other word, simple and sure get one, and I was like, so not so straightforward case you don’t take lah?).

He gave examples how much I might gain. Can’t really remember how much but below numbers are just examples, mind you:
1. One finger broken equal RM5,000.00.
2. One broken leg equal RM20,000.00.

So, total I could gain equaled RM25,000.00. That total not yet included other claim they might help (or "help", take your pick) to apply e.g.:
3. Loss of income (personal).
4. Loss of income (to workplace, due to me not able to come to work, resulted in loss of revenues).
5. Extra cost of medical related (not covered in the top two items) cost e.g. eh, not sure about this one. :)
6. Others, can’t remember anymore. ;)

He hypothesized, “Say you get RM30,000.00 from this (your bodily injury claim), we will only take 30% from the total, so you’ll still have about RM21,000.00, if you agree that is.”

When I asked if there were other “hidden” charges or fees (though I didn’t exactly say the word hidden). I really didn’t like the idea of “Oh, why do I have to pay RM10 for check in again (just because I didn’t know about the news about the RM10 counter check in)?”. Ops, stray from the topic again. :D

“No, no, no! You Don’t. Need.” (Remember to pause after every dot) While he was making chopping hand, horizontal style). “To pay for Anything. At. All. If we lost the case that is. Only, if we win we’ll, hmmm, proceed with the charge.” Well, he’s using a very layman term to explain to my tiny bruised (?) brain.

So, with zero starting fee/charge, a “winnable” (borrowed term from our PM Najib Razak) case, and still might gain okey amount for the trouble I got by the result of the accidents, I agreed.

“So, when can I, eh, we, expect the claim?” I asked. “After we register the case, we can expect at the fastest 8 months, depending if the other party’s insurance company wanted to fight their case or not. Which, might prolong the claim.” He shrugged (but looked relieved, probably because I already signed the consent form for them to proceed with my claim). :)

“However, we have heard of claim being approved in 2 months,” he supplied. “You mean after medical report was releases(which is about 6 months)?” I asked. “Of course,” he said and stood up. “We’ll keep you inform. Have a nice day.” (Oh, I forgot, he did take some picture of me and my girlfriend before he went out.)

BTW, did I mention that he declined my invitation to see two other persons (just upstairs) involved in the same accident just because they wouldn't be, eh, pressing charge/claim, because, they would be going back to peninsular the next day? No? :)

Fast forwarded to this day, I have not yet had any update in so long... Last I heard (few months ago), from the kind sergeant, my medical report had not been released, and thus the delay, according to the law firm to the kind sergeant.

So, you tell me, do we have Personal Injury Solicitor? I think the answer is YES (BUT). However only by "invitation" or "introduction" (like my case). Except if you know some lawyer who know who to contact. If not, you're on your own. Some NGO like Biro Bantuan Guaman (Legal Aid Bureau) may help you but an experience of a friend doesn't really convince me of their, eh, help.

Sabah Legal Aid Bureau can be contacted at:
Biro Bantuan Guaman (Cawangan Sabah),
Tkt 4, Blk B, Bangunan KWSP,
Peti surat no. 11319,
88814 Kota Kinabalu.
Phone: 088-238966
Fax: 088-242344

Other like Sabah Law Association may point you to the right direction. SLA can be contacted at:
2nd Floor, 58, Jalan Pantai,
Hainan Association Building,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, SABAH.
W.D.T. no. 414, 88904 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Phone: 088-232662
Fax: 088-232654
Email: info@sabahbar.org.my
URL: http://www.sabahbar.org.my/

The best Personal Claim Solicitor is your insurance agent. So, go buy yourself an insurance. Not only it protects you, it's also a good investment. ;) Have a nice day.

Sabah Position As No. 1 Oil Palm State in Malaysia In Jeopardy?

Stephanie Lee reported in the front page of Daily Express (Nov 21, 2011) titled "Sabah palm oil at risk":

"Kota Kinabalu: Members of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) who breach rules by developing oil palm in areas of high conservation value will not be issued with the RSPO certification - and this may jeopardise Sabah's position as the No. 1 oil palm State in Malaysia and hugely dependant on the commodity for revenue."

How so? "RSPO Malaysia Secretary-General Darrel Webber... (learned) that the Sabah Forestry Department was having a tough time cracking down on people who keep clearing Class One forest reserves to plant oil palm by claiming native customary rights." read on...

Points:

1. Sabah is no. 1 (means biggest) palm oil state in Malaysia.
2. Palm oil is one of the source of revenue. [Supporting Source: Insight Sabah: Sabah Budget 2011 - Spending Big For Growth (Roll down to paragraph 5)]
3. Sabahan palm oil growers (dubbed "faux natives" meaning they claim to have NCR of the land they're clearing) have been allegedly clearing class 1 forest for palm oil planting (which gives hard time for the Sabah Forest Department to crack) so they;
4. Breach (one or few of) RSPO rules (on restriction on not to develop palm oil industry in high conservation value areas e.g. Class 1 forest) and thus;
5. RSPO would not issue RSPO certification(s) to the alleged parties (in other word they will be "greylisted", not "blacklisted" mind you) and thus;
6. No sales/trades of palm oil and its products maybe conducted (between the "whitelisted" members of RSPO) and thus;
7. Would generate less revenue and thus:
8. Point No. 2 would be jeopardized because of it. Hey, how about point No. 1?

Have I listed all points from the two paragraphs above? I would like to think so. However, few things don't feel right. For example:

1. Forest clearing (including clearing Class 1 forest for any purpose, and for palm oil planting/development for any other forest class) has been happening since 'eternally' but no action has been taken, or at least enforcement is inconsistent... [Sorry no source supplied.] Only now RSPO 'learned' or mention about it?
2. RSPO certification is almost meaningless. Why? Even "certified" members can still breach (and sell palm oil product). [Source] Even "greylisted breachers" can still sell their products through (not-so-sincere) whitelisted members. [Hearsay, sorry no source]
3. RSPO certification is for 'so supply chain can be traced on each level/facility that uses "certified oil"'. No system is foolproof, it can be fooled! [No source supplied]
4. Ah, NCR (native customary rights) is a sensitive things to discuss here. But Sabahan knows better that some NCR rightful owners got "owned", some got their rightful NCR after sooooooo long (sorry can't help myself :)), some not-so-right NCR holder got their NCR somehow, some NCR got "cancelled" by government after introductions of some enactments. [Not related but still a Source]

RSPO is a not-for-profit (whatever it means) association that unites stakeholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry - oil palm producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs and social or developmental NGOs - to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil. [Source]

According to RSPO website, Malaysia has the highest number of members by country.

In the end, I ask myself, is Sabah Position As No. 1 Oil Palm State in Malaysia In Jeopardy? Not likely if we consider the "hugeness" of palm oil plantation. We still have big companies here "doing" palm oil as opposed to "NCR" claimers clearing forest for palm oil, but of course I'll defer to Stephanie can show me if the "NCR" claimers' lands are larger than the big boys' lands. Compared to revenue to Sabah from tax of crude palm oil (CPO). A "decertification" might affect revenue but not so much due to "resourceful" (would/might-be) greylisted members of RSPO...

Murder-Raper to Hang, Don't Forget the Drug Dealers

Some time ago I posted about a trial about a man who raped and then stabbed a 9-year-old girl before left her to her death. Today, Daily Express published this story which excerpt I reproduce from [their website].

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Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old unemployed local was sentenced to death by hanging here Friday for murdering a nine-year-old schoolgirl five years ago.

Jamaludin Saripudin was found guilty of killing Haserawati Sarioi @ Saridi between 7am and 8am on Jan 8, 2004 in the bushes on a hill slope near a road in Kampung Ratau, Tebobon, in Menggatal.

Jamaludin, who has four convictions for theft, is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence plus 24 strokes of the cane for raping the same girl at the same place and time.

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In my previous post, he claimed he was under influence of drug. I commented that if the claim was true then all the drug dealers should be put to death. My feeling and thinking is still the same now.

I just read Clarice's post about people using rohypnol for date-rape crime. I commented the very same thing. Death sentence to the drug possessors (with ill intention) and the suppliers, or life prison if the possessors can supply information that may lead to the arrest of their supplier.

Ah, well, just ventilating my rage and most hated crime... You all (minus the drug dealers, murderers, rapers and other criminals) have a nice day.

Piggy Birdie Homo Flu?

[UPDATED: 01 July 2009]
Well, it seems that the international medias (including AFP and Reuters) are against WHO's 2009 April, 30 "plea" (and a second repeated "plea") not to use the term Swine Flu. The pix was taken from CDC's H1N1 site. Does anyone know what is happening? It's like a big conspiracy where FAO/WHO/OIE/WTO/CDC and the Name Callers are wedging war for the "right of name/s"!

Oh, about the title, read the excerpt:

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus. [Source]

Perhaps the "tug of naming war" is related with [this] news piece?
Excerpts:

This outbreak (sometime in Jan 1976) affected 230 military personnel, killing one person, but it was successfully contained and was almost certainly caused by the direct transmission of swine flu from pigs. [Source]

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My Related Post: Piggy Flu

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Piggy Flu

Few days ago Art Minister asked the media to use the term swine flu (only?) to describe the "Mexican 2009 flu", the MoH responded by explaining why they stick to Influenza A(H1N1). The Art Minister then amended his suggestion to use BOTH swine flu AND A(H1N1) thus becoming Selsema Babi A(H1N1) (A(H1N1) swine flu).

I notice that RTM, TV3 and Astro Awani all take the Minister's suggestion. Haven't checked the Bernama TV yet but Bernama seems to stick with MoH. BTW, I checked all the "references" given by the Minister above and I notice their media too uses swine flu but not the health people. *shrug* Same here I think. *shrug* It's up to the media to take the suggestion or not.

Cheers! ;)

P/S: Rest in peace, Michael Jackson @ Mikail. I grew up listening to his song...

The "Safest" and Mildest Pandemic Ever?

Yesterday (or is it today?), WHO raised the pandemic level of Influenza A(H1N1) to maximum level 6 (meaning full blown pandemic). [Source] With confirmed cases reach 29,669 including 145 deaths over 74 countries, the mortality rate is "still" less than 1%. [Source]

And the symptoms are "only" flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, mostly mild. [Source]

So, do we have the "safest" and "mildest" pandemic ever? Well, I don’t think so. Had the WHO not raised the pandemic level to level 5 in earlier date:

• many would have died because they were not managed (quarantine and/or hospitalised) properly and swiftly;
• and the spread would be too hard to control;
• and with more spreading, mutation from the "mild" influenza may become more rapidly developed and probably deadlier;
• besides, we do have mortality eventhough it is lesser than 1%, but death is still an unwelcomed result.

So, bravo to WHO for their fast action. But still, we always want to ask them to be faster than "most" fastest. :D

Primal-ry Fight?

Politic is not healthy for school especially for the primary school children.

According to Daily Express [sorry no link], two disputing
parties of a primary school management board were having discord over "power claim" causing havoc to school management and distress to school children and their parents.

Read the alternate site [news].

My thought is, sounds like two groups of primates fighting over “territorial control”. *shrug*

Wei! kasian lah (pity) those children and parents!

Legal Illegals?

[Warning: Damn Long Post!]

Home Minister on Sunday (June 7) announced the registration of illegal immigrants (workers and their families?) in Sabah to be extended until October 31. Not only that, he also announced the foreign workers levy to be halved starting July 1, 2009. He added the employers MUST take this chance. [Source]

Yesterday, he said employers who failed to register their undocumented foreign workers would be named and shamed. [Source]

A brief anecdots (tuned to my taste):- :P

August to October 2008:
Immigration Department in Sabah received 312,837 applications from a total of 22,862 employers to register their “undocumented” foreign workers & their families. [Source]

April 2009 (Rumour but based on the then DPM – now PM – mini budget talk):
Foreign Workers Levy to be doubled effective May 1, 2009. [My related post]

April 31, 2009:
Human Resource Minister announced the Govt had postponed levy increase/double until the economy became okay. [Source]

May 2009:
Sabah State Secretary announced a total of 389,129 illegal immigrants were arrested between 1990 and 2008 (roughly 19 years, translated to 20,480 per year, or slightly more than 5,120 per three months, please compare the Aug to Oct 2008 number above.) and 80% or 315,752 were deported back to their countries of origin. [Source]

My thought:
1. Wow! The employers must be very happy for the second chance.
2. The existing and/or elusive illegals don’t need to hide anymore now that they have second chance to be “legalised”.
3. The (unscrupulous) employers/agents say, “Welcome, please enter illegally and en mass, we’ll legalised (all of) you (for a “small” fee).”
4. The criminal illegals also get a second chance (based on last year experience) now that they can change they identities. And I’m accusing the Consulate of DOESN’T-CARE-LESS attitude. Read their previous assertion [Click on the pix to know more] (DUH! Cakap tidak serupa bikin!).
5. The Job Agencies must be very happy for durian runtuh (fortune) of getting businesses from employers.
6. “Deported? No problem! Just come in (legally or illegally) (again), we’ll legalised you (with new identity if possible) (again).”
7. This means more “income” for certain (dodgy) enforcers/officers during their “impromptu” and (questionable) “routine” rounds.
8. Has mine ears heard (or eyes seen) wrong? Within 3 months we get 312,837 “LEGAL illegals” vs 389,129 “ILLEGAL illegals” over TWO DECADES.
9. What with the fluctuating levy???
10. What about our own (scarce) good quality local human resource (but underpaid, just because foreigners are cheaper labour)?
11. The papers failed to mention that employers are not only companies, factories, construction contractor etc., all that may have more than one top executives (few individuals as boss), but also individual bosses e.g. landowners (usually agricultural), housewives who hire maid/s. The point is, 22,862 employers who registered the illegals are ONLY a fraction of total number of all the employers in Sabah. Yes, only 22,862 employers registered their legal illegals during Aug to Oct 2008 “Amnesty” program in the WHOLE of Sabah!
12. Not only that, there are still MANY employers who employ illegal illegals (as opposed to legal illegals registered by the 22,862). Of course I don’t have the prove, yet. However, try to ask (discreetly please) the job agencies about last minute frantic employers trying to register their “unlegalisible” illegals (because registration date was closed). You’ll find MANY of them there are still employing those “poor souls” because they couldn’t register their workers. *shrug*
13. And now, the Home Minister wanted to name and shame them. Wah! Very kaya ah the Ministry?
14. Where to to put the names? Newspapers? Have to print very small lah, who wants to read small font and boring lists? TV? Impossible task and wastage of rakyat money! Well, perhaps some “object learnings” where you prosecute only a few of those employers, save money and instill fear (duh!)? But fair or not? You tell me!
15. Ah, I forgot about internet. Who give a damn about some lists in the internet? Well, except you also forward their names to the bank or IRB (loan blacklisting) or Immigration Department (travel ban) or perhaps the police can arrest them all and/or prosecute them (someone asked me, “Wah, so free ah the police? No crime to solve/prevent?”)??? Or... or...
16. Someone tell me, “Need to survive mah.” Yeah right!
17. Oh, I have almost forgotten about the NON-compulsory preliminary medical checkup for legal illegals like last year. So, to all those who have INFECTIOUS and NOTIFIABLE diseases, you don’t need to worry because:

1. The first year is exempted from checkups and the year after, you just need to find OTHER’s blood/body for checking (can use this for first years too);
2. The “qualified health officers/staffs” are “susceptible” to being “ignorant” or easily “deceived” by the “evasive” foreign patients’ “tricks” in supplying health information or simply “equivocal” about how the health procedures are supposed to be conducted in TRANSPARENT and ETHICAL manners.
3. Growarisan not yet (or won’t be?) exercising the new foreign workers quarantine procedures. Why? You go ask them!

Did someone just accuse me of lying about the claims above. I say, bring it on! And please, please be a RESPONSIBLE Malaysian and Blogger!

As much as I like to “vent” my thought, I think I must give constructive ideas as well. However, many people had voiced their proposals way better than what I would have given. So, I’ll just put few good links below: ;)
1. Set up Royal Commission on Inquiry [Related news]
2. Step up enforcement [Related news]

Disclaimer: No offense to the kind, incorruptible, hardworking and dedicated officers, enforcers, employers, job agencies and staffs, local civilians, tourists, and legal foreign immigrants (workers), and all their families. Oh, also to those innocent men, women, children and bystanders. :D

Cheers and have a nice and happy days. ;)

Beauty is in the Eye of Beholder

Promised to write a post about beauty but never got quality time to draft. (Alasan!) ;) Presenting you this video, old news but always refreshing to watch.



Check her full singing [here]. (More than 59 million views)

Latest news: ['Britain's Got Talent' starts semi-finals with Susan Boyle leading the pack]

Interesting news excerpt: "By Douglas Wight, 10/05/2009
SUSAN Boyle turned down the chance of a dream dinner date with President Barack Obama in Washington . . . to stay at home and wash her hair, we can reveal." Read more [here].

Beauty is everywhere. You only have to look for it. Cheers! ;)

Dear Dato' Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein (nothing really, just a question of rumour about Immigration Department's Irregularity)

[UPDATED: 02 May]
Bernama reported (1 May):

The Cabinet has decided to defer temporarily the implementation of the foreign worker levy hike, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr. S.Subramaniam said.

"The Cabinet felt that it was not the right time to implement the levy hike on foreign workers due to the uncertain economic situation,"

"With this decision, the implementation of the doubling of levy payment for foreign workers will be deferred temporarily until the economy improves," he said.

My comment: Then my request considered scrapped for now. ;)

[UPDATED: 25 April]
The news is confirmed already. Daily Express reported (25 April) in a very small paragraph:

"Meanwhile, in a statement the levy for foreign workers in the services, agriculture and factories sector will be increased effective May 1, this year."

However, the "rumour" of the different levy increase between the two agriculture sectors are still the same. If someone can correct me I'll be happy to add it here. ;)

[ORIGINAL POST]
First of all, allow me to congratulate Dato’ Seri on your appointment as Minister of Home Affairs Ministry. It is hoped that you will do as excellent as or better than the previous administration.

Now, to the task. I heard a “rumour” that spreads like wildfire. Nothing scandalous or mind-boggling really. (No, not like the bribery investigation of the department director/s.) Just that the last time when the then DPM (now PM) presented the Mini Budget (Financial Stimulus), he said ONLY the foreign worker’s levy for service sector would be raised (and 100% at that) which causes much furore from the service sectors especially from the restaurant owners.

The “rumour” I heard indicated that NOT ONLY the foreign worker levy from service sector would be increased 100% but also from and [KY: Edited 24 April] the manufacture sector and but also from [KY:Added 24 April] SMALL SCALE (less than 100 acres) AGRICULTURE sector. Starting 1st May 2009, all foreign worker employers from those sectors mentioned were needed to pay additional 100% the cost of levy aside from the usual fees. Exceptions were given to the construction and LARGE SCALE (100 acres or larger) AGRICULTURE sectors.

I am not against the notion that the employers should employ local instead of foreign workers. However, I would like to quote from an employer, Mr YS:

“Kalau pekerja tempatan boleh diharap kami tak bising punya. Ini! Baru kerja dua bulan sudah berhenti!” (If local workers can be depended then we have no qualm one. This! Just after a couple of months work they quit already!)

No, if I know Mr YS well, he isn’t the one who treat his worker badly. In fact, he rewards his workers by their work performance, accordingly and generously, even more so if the workers are local. According to another employer, Mr G, not all but most of the available meagre numbers of (former) local workers actually:

1. Demand more wages.
2. Demand more day off.
3. Do less work (less productive).
4. Have habit to disappear once supervisor is away.
5. Have habit to steal from employers.

Well, I could add more, but I’m sure you see what I mean. I know there are some fair employers (and unfair ones at that) and hardworking local workers out there. However, the case of bad impression of the local workers is not something that can be overlooked or brushed away. Okay, I’m straying from the main question.

The point is, if the department wanted to (according to that “rumour”) double the levy for hiring foreign workers, they should be FAIR to all. Supposedly you ask, “How unfair?” I suppose I can provide you with a table for comparison (based on Tawau Immigration Department Fee):

Sector	Usual Fee (RM)			Additional Fee (RM)	Total (RM)	Percentage Increase
	Levy	Pass	Process
Agriculture (Small-scale)	360.00	60.00	10.00	360.00	790.00	45.57%
Agriculture (Large-scale)	540.00	60.00	10.00	-	610.00	-
Construction	960.00	60.00	50.00	-	1,070.00	-
Manufacture	960.00	60.00	50.00	960.00	2,030.00	47.29%
Service	1,440.00	60.00	50.00	1,400.00	2,950.00	47.46%

If you can see from the table, all 3 double levy sectors have increase of at least 45% cost. However, please check between the two different scale agricultural sectors. The small-scale agriculture employers need to pay MORE than their large-scale agriculture “counterpart”. Talk about helping small time/scale agriculture! Sorry if I appear to be “shouting”. ;)

So, Dato' Seri, since Immigration Department is under your Ministry, can you confirm or deny this irregularity (with explanation how this “rumour” arise if it’s okay with you), and possibly (if confirmed that is), can you influent to have them fixed/amended (fairly), or postponed (which is preferable)?

Thank you for taking your time to look into this insignificant inquiry.

KY (An insignificant voter) ;)

Awang oh! Awang - Bukan Cerita Kanak-kanak

Wake up on boring Sunday. My first act was to check the news today from The Malaysia Insider. Stumbled upon this unlikely news. “Believe it! You moron!” I heard myself talking back to me. Since I have nothing better to do, I’ve decided to write this piece of crap. Not that anyone will read this junk I think. It may even be considered racist, I am actually hoping for the word “insignificant”. Ah well, why don’t I just go ahead and see for myself? ;)

Awang oh! Awang. He did it again (provoking other races’ intellect)! Said he wasn't surprised with their reaksi keterlaluan (excessive reaction?) of the headline story. Sure, only someone who was PREPARED to face such reaction would not be easily surprised, which means the person had DELIBERATELY done the very thing that led to the EXPECTED reaction.

Said the report was disalah tafsir (taken out of context?) and digambarkan seolah-olah satu provokasi kepada kaum lain (depicted as if it was a provocation to other races?). No comment there old boy. Whatever the front pager means was not CLEARLY stated in the front page headline. How can people know what was ACTUALLY MEANT when the front pager wrote something but it ACTUALLY MEANT something else?

Said the report was only as response to the various statements and demands by certain parties (whoever you mean) including akbar bahasa ibunda (non-Malay press?) and blogs. Claimed that the headline story (only?) encouraged Malays to be united in the context of “Malay Unity is the tonggak (foundation? pillar?) for Stability for All Races” in this country. (Running back to fetch the April 15 newspaper.)

Er, which paragraph did you say as your claim? There are only few statements that MAYBE says what you mean:

1. Ketua Pembangkang Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo berkata, hak orang Melayu tidak harus dilepaskan dalam usaha kerajaan memenuhi kehendak masyarakat pelbagai kaum. (Selangor DUN Opposition Leader, said, Malay’s rights should not be dilepaskan (sacrificed? “released” sounds very inappropriate.) in the efforts of government to fulfill the demands of multiracial community.) [Nah, I don’t think this is what you mean.]

2. Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad berkata, walaupun kerajaan mahu menekankan konsep Satu Malaysia yang menyatukan rakyat pelbagai kaum, langkah juga perlu dilakukan bagi mengembalikan keharmonian di kalangan orang Melayu sendiri. (Deputy President of GPMS said, even though government wants to stress the concept of One Malaysia that unites the multiracial rakyat, steps to return the harmony within Malays themselves need to be done.) [Nope! Don’t think this one either.]

3. [3 paragraphs in one] Ketua Umum Badan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM), Osman Abu Bakar yang sependapat dengan GPMS berkata, ... kerjasama antara dua parti politik itu bukan sahaja akan memberi faedah kepada orang Melayu sahaja tetapi juga kaum lain. Tambahnya, penyatuan UMNO dan Pas perlu menjadi batu loncatan untuk mengeratkan semua rakyat berbilang kaum di negara ini. (OAB (General Leader?) of BBPM said ... cooperation between the two parties (UMNO and PAS) will not only benefit the Malay but also other races. He added, the unity of UMNO and PAS needs to be the stepping stone to strengthen (the relation) of all races in this country.) [Ah, perhaps THIS is what you mean. But then why single out only TWO parties? What of Malays from OTHER parties? It must have hurt their feeling by leaving them out.]

He asked is it wrong if Malays are united and why gundah (feeling discomfort/disgruntled?) of Malay unity? No at all, old boy. ;) United THEY should (not you of course since you are already IN and not OUT), for the good of the country. People only gundah if you INCLUDE Malay Unity (although most of the time your newspaper articles stop at the word Malay, the unity thing only sometimes mentioned) and VERSES other races in the same sentence, or in the same context. Shall I quote from the headline story? Ah, I’m sure you know that already. ;)

[Skip 2 paragraphs] No comment on that. One Malaysia is a “new” concept proposed by PM. So everyone has his/her own interpretation, or misinterpretation (if others disagree with someone’s interpretation), of the concept. Can’t really blame Awang if he just senyum sambil geleng kepala (smiled while shaking his head), on top of feeling of menghairankan (flabbergasted/astonished?), of others’ evaluation and analysis and attempt to relate 1Malaysia concept and the report (he used mengaitkanNYA, not sure NYA means the report or something else).

Said he, the (sad) reality of today, Malay press seakan perlu tunduk kepada tekanan gerakan politik bukan Melayu (seemed they have to bow to the pressure of Non-Malay political movement). Not really. You have done everything in your power to continue publishing, er, “may be misinterpreted” to seditious and racist articles.

Said he, “Jika akhbar berbahasa ibunda menyiarkan laporan dan berita yang amat berbaur perkauman, ia hanya dianggap sebagai kebebasan media atas nama demokrasi. Tetapi jika akhbar Melayu melaporkan suara isi hati orang Melayu dan adakalanya menyanggah tuntutan keterlaluan kaum lain, ia dituduh rasis.”

(If non-Malay press publishes SUPER RACIST (can’t help myself choosing this word LOL!) reports and news, it is considered freedom of press in the name of democracy. BUT if Malay press voices the isi hati (desire? thought? aspiration?) of the Malay which is sometimes menyanggah (contradictory? in disagreement? at odds?) with the UNREASONABLE demands of other races, we are accused of being racist.)

Fair argument Awang. Now you’re talking sense. Of course, we may disagree to the FINER POINTS of what UNREASONABLE DEMANDS you mean. For the sake of racial harmony, I’ll agree with you NO ONE should “play” at racism in the name of democracy and freedom of press. Yes, that’s including you and me and the others. ANYONE playing at racism should be PROSECUTED and not PROTECTED. So, you see, not all people are as UNREASONABLE as such the ones that you have met. Er, did you say there’re MILLIONS of them out there? ;)

He said we (I think he mean the ACCUSERS) should make our own research and assured us it will ABSOLUTELY surprise us. He related a friend’s statement, “Laporan mereka jauh lebih dahsyat seolah-olah Malaysia bukan negara pelbagai kaum.” (Their, meaning non-Malay’s, news report are more dahsyat (worse? slanderous? seditious? ULTRA RACIST?) as if (depicting) Malaysia is not multiracial country).

Again, fair argument Awang. No surprise though. We all know there are some IRRESPONSIBLE people out there writing/saying UNETHICAL and RACIST reports or remarks without REGARDS of social harmony. But then again, I hope you can treat this matter as a WHOLE. Not just NOT-UNETHICAL akbar Melayu verses UNETHICAL akbar bahasa ibunda. What about the seemingly disalah tafsir UNETHICAL akbar Melayu?

Said he, “Pada Awang, sebahagian media berkenaan memberikan banyak isyarat berbeza dan mengelirukan. Dalam mereka mendakwa mendokong kerajaan, ia tidak dicerminkan dengan laporan yang secara konsisten boleh dibaca membawa agenda berlainan. Pun begitu, tidak timbul desakan agar para pemimpin Cina mengawal akhbar mereka.”

(To Awang, SOME of those media gives contradictory and confusing indications. While they claim to be supporting the government, their reports are inconsistent (with their claim) and appear to have different agendas. Even then, there’s no insistence/pressure for the Chinese leaders to control their press.)

Ah, now Awang makes his point clearer. No just ANY non-Malay press but SPECIFICALLY the Chinese press, or rather, CHINESE-CONTROLLED PRESS. Why didn’t you say earlier, Awang oh! Awang? Are you playing teka-teki (guessing games) with the readers. You must have a very crooked sense of humor. ;) So, those presses are flip-flopping with their LOYALTY you said? To whom did you say again? Ah, to the government! Thank you for clearing up that one too. Nasib baik (fortunately) you didn’t say disloyalty to the King and Country. ;)

He questioned, “Persoalannya apakah perlu ada piawaian berbeza antara media Melayu dan bukan Melayu? Akhbar Melayu tidak boleh lantang sementara akhbar bukan Melayu mesti diberi lebih kebebasan?” (The question is, is there need to have different standard between Malay media and non-Malay media? So, Malay press cannot be lantang (critical? or loud?) while non-Malay press must be given more freedom?”)

Fair question, Awang. Had you not mentioned this I would NEVER have known there are already different standard between the two medias! Now I know that Malay press is suppressed while the non-Malay press is running amok of unrestricted freedom. Perhaps the government should fix that either by (1) giving both the SAME freedom of press or (2) SUPPRESS both seemingly “misinterpreted as” UNETHICAL and RACIST publications. What do you say in that? It is a very fair solution, right?

Said he, “Malah pada hari ini, semua orang tahu, akhbar bahasa ibunda jauh lebih bebas dan berani memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum mereka berbanding akhbar bahasa Melayu. Apakah kebebasan yang mereka nikmati itu mahu dibiarkan untuk melenyapkan akhbar bahasa Melayu?”

(Even today, everybody knows non-Malay press has been far freer and bolder in fighting for the interest of their races COMPARED TO the Malay press. Does the freedom they enjoy mahu dibiarkan(can be allowed?) so that they can wipe out Malay press?)

(1) That everybody knows: true. (2) That non-Malay press is freer and bolder: true. (3) That COMPARED TO: true. (4) That Wipe out Malay press: Huh? Does he mean Non-Malay press’ “Freedom of Press” EQUALS Wiping Out of Malay press? You must have been withholding certain evidences that can unearth this Conspiracy to Wipe Out Malay press, or you’re just being over suspicious type, and blatantly accuse the non-Malay press of this.

Said he, “Sememangnya ada gerakan terancang terutama parti pembangkang tertentu untuk melemahkan akhbar Melayu khususnya Utusan atas muslihat politik. Ini kerana Utusan selama ini menjadi wadah mempertahankan kepentingan Islam dan Melayu atas rasa tanggungjawab untuk menjamin keharmonian pelbagai kaum.”

(There’s been a choreographed movement especially from certain opposition parties to weaken the Malay press and especially Utusan in their political maneuvering. This is because Utusan has been (forever) a vanguard to protect interest of Islam and Malays in the sense of responsibility to guarantee the multiracial harmony.)

I can’t disagree with you there’s probably movement to weaken Utusan (specifically) but Malay press as whole? *Shrug* So, you do feel responsible in guaranteeing multiracial harmony. It’s just you have been giving, quoting you, “isyarat berbeza dan mengelirukan” (confusing and contradictory gesture). What you did doesn’t reflect what you mean.

Said he, “Pendirian syarikat akhbar ini cukup jelas dan konsisten iaitu menolak ekstremisme kaum dan agama sepanjang 75 tahun sejarah penubuhannya. Sebab itu, Utusan mendokong Umno yang mengamalkan pendekatan kesederhanaan berbanding parti tertentu sebelum ini yang membawa aliran ekstrem.”

(Our stand is very clear and consistent in rejecting racial and religious extremisms for the 75 years of its existence. That’s why Utusan supports UMNO who practices moderation approach compared to certain parties that previously brought extreme flow.)

Ah, you manage to raise my eyebrows. You support moderation you said? Should I say “No comment?” Senyum sambil geleng kepala.

Said he, “Dasar Umno itulah yang menjadi payung berlindung kepada masyarakat pelbagai kaum. Kepimpinan negara dan juga Umno mengambil pendirian yang berani dalam melawan ekstremisme biarpun terpaksa bertembung dengan sebahagian orang Melayu. Dalam hubungan ini, Umno yang memulakan perkongsian kuasa dengan kaum lain sehingga berdekad-dekad lamanya dituduh bekerjasama dengan golongan kafir.”

(UMNO fundamental is the thing that protects multiracial community. The country leadership and UMNO take a bold stand to fight extremism even though they had to confront part of (other?) Malays. In this context, UMNO was the one who started the power sharing with other races and for decades she has been branded collaborating with the non-believers.)

Said he, “Umno juga berjaya menghalang kelompok pelampau yang mahu kekayaan negara dibolot oleh Melayu sebagai kaum teras di negara ini.” (UMNO also succeeded in preventing extremist groups that wanted to rob country riches for Malay as the core race in this country.)

He exclaimed, “Tetapi siapa peduli kepada hakikat sejarah itu termasuk sumbangan Utusan?” (But who cares about this historical fact and what Utusan has contributed?)

Not me. I certainly acknowledge UMNO’s contributions from before Independence until recently.

Said he, “Awang tidak berhajat untuk mengulas panjang kerana akur nasihat Najib agar semua pihak termasuk media tidak memainkan sentimen perkauman. Tiada siapa harus ambil mudah seruan beliau. Apa yang Awang nyatakan tadi sekadar luahan untuk renungan bersama.”

(Awang doesn’t want to make long review because I listen to PM’s advice that all parties including the media not to play racial sentiments. No one should take his appeal lightly. What Awang said just now was only his thought expression for mutual reflection.)

Agree. We all should definitely listen to him. Let me rephrase that, we ALL (including you) should definitely listen to him. Expression of thought is okay, just try to be diplomatic sometimes, same to all the others of course. ;)

Said he, “Inilah masa untuk semua pihak memberikan sokongan padu kepada beliau bagi menangani pelbagai cabaran. Tetapi sokongan itu perlulah ikhlas, bukannya percaturan untuk menguntungkan kaum sendiri sahaja. Najib cukup komited untuk membawa keberhasilan kepada semua kaum menerusi Satu Malaysia.”

(This is the time for all party to give support for him to face all challenges. However, the support must be sincere, not just some maneuver to enrich own race only. PM is very committed to bring keberhasilan (success?) to all races though One Malaysia.)

He concluded, “Bijaklah menghargainya.” (Be wise to appreciate it.)

Sure. We all should be wise to appreciate it. ;) BTW, there’s something about your title “Nasib Akbar Melayu” (The fate of Malay press).

Awang oh! Awang. Can Harakah and Suara Keadilan be considered akbar Melayu? I don't think so. Since the government won't give them permission to publish their "paper" daily.

I remember I used to subscribe to Harakah, back when it was allowed to be sold publicly, and they sold like goreng pisang. No, I am not an opposition voter. I just wanted to read what the non-mainstream media said.

Then suddenly, their permit revoked, er, I mean re-defined. From biweekly became bimonthly publication. I believe they were applying for daily publication at that time (so that their papers can be justified as akbar Melayu harian).

"Wow!" I said. That was sure a blow to the opposition (never mind their majority Malay members), in which the ruling government won landslide victory following that. So, I became non-subscriber, reading Harakah, or SK, only when I visited my opposition friends. Now, I haven't been reading Harakah as often since I left peninsular.

So, Awang oh! Awang, what has become of the nasib of akbar Melayu? Why don't you tell that to the publishers of Harakah and Suara keadilan?

Disclaimer: All interpretation/misinterpretation are written in English. Should any discrepancy found the BM version will always govern the meaning and interpretation. I’m sure Utusan people have superior BM than me. ;)

P/S: I should stop doing this. I’m getting tired of sticking my nose into other people’s bickering. ;)

No Intention to ... kill her (Although she was stabbed 8 times)

Daily Express today published news coverage of a high court murder trial of Jamaludin Saripudin, 31, who was accused of murdering a nine-year-old schoolgirl, after raping her, titled 'No intention to rape and kill girl, 9'. He serves a 20 year jail term plus 24 strokes of the cane for the rape.

On Wednesday (Apr 15), he told the court that he remembered stabbing a little girl with a knife five years ago but had NO INTENTION TO RAPE AND KILL THE GIRL. Apart from that he claimed it was ALL BECAUSE OF he was high on Syabu.

Perhaps we should put the event in chronological order:

28 hours before murder	Took Syabu for 2 to 4 hours at friend's house.
4 hours before murder	Returned home. He was "normal but high on Syabu". But was able to take bath and changed clothes.
3 1/2 hours before murder	Left home, said he wanted to go to the city. He remembered wearing a long-sleeve grey T-shirt, a singlet underneath the T-shirt, a pair of light blue jeans and a pair of black shoes. Apart from that, he also brought along a knife which he kept in a black bag, a cloth face mask and a white mask.
1 hour before murder	A 9-year-old schoolgirl was taken into the roadside bush, he stabbed her once, the girl screamed, he BECAME SCARED, since he said earlier he had NO INTENTION TO RAPE AND KILL THE GIRL, so the rape must have taken place after the first stab or in between the interval of further SEVEN stabbings.
1/2 hour before murder	Witnesses saw the accused walked out of the roadside bush, adjusting his jeans. Not only that, they heard a girl's voice called out "Mama". The witnesses were threatened and forced to flee. [Read here]
Post murder	Accused drop a mask and a black bag somewhere.
10-11 hours post murder	Accused was apprehended.

I just want to know:
(1) Why brought "a knife which he kept in a black bag, a cloth face mask and a white mask" to the city?
(2) Why pushed the girl into the bush?
(3) Why stabbed her?
(4) Why raped her?
(5) Why stabbed her SEVEN more times?
(6) According to witnesses, the girl might still be alive when they saw the accused. So, why left her to death?

Yeah, yeah! He told us already. He said he was HIGH ON SYABU! I say may he ROT IN HELL! And if Syabu has anything to contribute to his crime, I say, may all the DRUG dealers be put to death, just make it especially the SYABU dealers! Do you know here is one of the cases a case that is so saturated of my Most Hated Crimes?

Kebijaksanaan Kaum Cina Berpolitik - A Reply

[UPDATED: 19 April 2009]

Utusan Malaysia/Mingguan (UM) published a "rencana" by BISIK-BISIK AWANG SELAMAT titled Kebijaksanaan Kaum Cina Berpolitik (Chinese's Ingenuity/Wisdom/Brilliancy in Politicking?). I would say I was slightly pissed off. ;) So, I decided I will lift my “apolitical barrier” just this once. :D I hope Awang is reading this. ;)

It was the title that draw my eyes, Kebijaksanaan Kaum Cina Berpolitik. Initially I thought he meant to praise certain Chinese, perhaps even from both sides, in their ingenuity in their political campaign. After I read the whole article, I knew my initial thought was wrong. But then, it’s my fault to think too highly of Awang. I don’t know if Awang is his real name. Heck, I don’t even know if Awang is male or female!

First he wrote that BN losses in the two Bukits are expected. Okay, he didn’t write that. He said it wasn’t surprising at all. Then he supplied why BN lost:
(1) Strong anti-BN sentiments;
(2) (Wrong?) Candidates (from BN? Or Better from opposition?);
(3) Local issues and Hate sentiments played by the oppositions including slander and personal attacks;
(4) BN Chinese (he didn’t say this but he mentioned MCA and Gerakan, both Chinese majority BN component parties) didn’t work as aggressive and as long-hour as opposition (Chinese?).

“Bukanlah kita mahu menuding jari kepada mana-mana pihak tetapi itulah realitinya dan ia menuntut post mortem yang berani.” he wrote. (We don't want to point finger on anyone but that's the reality and it demands a bold post mortem).

I hope he means ALL four list above as the causes of why BN lost, not just the last one, as the title states. BTW, why the need for another post mortem if the main causes are the top 3 above? Would BN win if the BN Chinese work 24-7 and more aggressive? Personally, I doubt it.

“Umno memang perlu berubah tetapi parti komponen yang lain juga perlu berubah. MIC sudah tentu memerlukan perubahan lebih besar terutama kepimpinannya.” He continued. (UMNO needs to change but the component parties also need to change. MIC must need bigger change especially the leadership (level).)

Wow! He must have certain disagreement to the leadership of MIC, even though MIC leadership is their internal matter. I wonder what gives him right to question other people’s household bickering. Granted, he only thinks for the good of the bigger house (BN), one “rotten” house can bring down the whole lot. But then I think MIC members were as happy as they can be, with their own party election finished, they should be no problem right? But then I don’t think Awang will be satisfied by that.

Next, he wrote, “Dengan prestasi hambar itu maka MCA, Gerakan dan MIC tidak berhak untuk membuat pelbagai tuntutan apatah lagi bagi jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri kedua.” (With the disastrous performance, MCA, Gerakan (BN Chinese?) and MIC (BN Indians?) have no right to make any demand especially the DPM post).

So, who will represent the Malaysian Chinese and Indians if not the BN Chinese and BN Indians (even though they may not get the vote of majority) then? Well, he didn’t say that (again!), I have just taken him out of context. But then, it may seem like that right? Who then can make the “demand” or request on behalf of the (mostly opposition?) Chinese and Indians? Surely not from the opposition Chinese or Indians. I don’t think Awang will agree to that either.

Perhaps Awang will supply his suggestion in his next “rencana”. I just hope he won’t say something like:
(1) Chinese/Indian cannot demand anything;
(2) “The Government” will be able to “understand” your need and will be provided as we see fit.
(3) Why? I and certain race are enough to rule all of you! Don’t need all the other “non-my-race” (With evil grin and wicked eyes.)
No, I hope none of the above. ;)

Then, he suggested that UMNO not to heed or give in all demands by other component parties because it won’t help BN to rise again. He further assured that UMNO is still strong despite all the pressures and restrictions (from other component parties?). To give in to the demands is a blunder, he wrote.

Of course, giving in to any unnecessary demand is not only unwise and stupid, but also may be a cause of “Pembaziran Duit Rakyat,” (wastage of people’s money), not to mention being seen as weak! I would say if BN wants to rise again, it will need a TOTAL rebranding, any subtotal effort will just gets them back to square one. I wonder what Awang think about this?

He also mentioned that Malay votes for BN had increased while non-Malay vote shrink. He further claimed that usually non-Malay voters made many demands during the campaign season but their votes were still going to the opposition. He then listed all the “evidences” for his claim including:
(1) RM 1,000,000 for CHINESE schools;
(2) RM 400,000 for TAMIL schools;
(3) Reserve lands claim (Chinese/Indians only? Or including others?);
(4) and tens of other things.

Awang forgot to mention that usually certain candidates previously also made many promises but never deliver them. Oh, I didn’t mean it’s just from certain political party, I mean just about everyone that did this. Of course, perhaps Awang would like to list ALL the promises the opposition fails to deliver first. But Awang, please list ALL the failed promises, okay? Not just from ONE side only. ;)

Ah, we are straying from the story of course. I was telling about the mau pai (Chinese term means counterfeit/bogus/fake) “Aku Janji” (I Promise) by certain voters. So, Awang, an opposition voter cannot demand anything if they don’t vote for BN? Do you mean BN should punish them if they still vote for opposition by not granting their “demands”?

You said, “Apa makna ini semua? Bukankah ia menampakkan BN terus dipermainkan oleh pengundi bukan Melayu. Pada Awang, keputusan kedua-dua pilihan raya kecil itu dan beberapa yang lain sebelum ini adalah isyarat jelas kepada BN supaya jangan lagi terperangkap dengan muslihat sedemikian.”

(What’s the meaning of all this? Doesn’t it show BN was being toyed by the non-Malay voters? To Awang, the results of the two by-elections and few others before this are the signs so that BN must not fall prey with such trickery anymore.)

Wow! You based your claim on the election statistic (increased non-Malays vote for opposition and the reverse to BN) and then went on to say the non-Malays were toying with BN after flip-flopping on their votes thus earned them the “trickster” status? I would say that was an EXCELLENT mathematical deduction! It confounded me how you could see straight to the core of the problem:

“BN lost because of these “trickster” voters (pengundi bermuslihat.”

“Usahlah mengharapkan sangat perubahan sokongan bukan Melayu. Inilah kesan pendekatan politik pemimpin PKR, Anwar Ibrahim yang berjaya menggugat kuasa politik Melayu. Anwar membuka laluan dan Pas membantu.”

(No need to hope for change of support from the non-Malays. This is the effect of the political approach used by PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim that succeeded in threatening Malay political power/authority. Anwar opened the path and PAS helped.)

” Sebab itu, pengundi Cina dan India sanggup memakai logo dan mengibarkan bendera Pas yang diterjemahkan menerusi peti undi. Ia bagi menjayakan agenda DAP dan PKR yang lebih dominan dalam pakatan pembangkang terutama dalam senario politik Perak.”

(That’s why Chinese and Indian voters dared to wear and waves PAS logo and flags, and then translated through the ballot box. It is to realize DAP and PKR agendas (both) who are the dominant ones in the opposition especially in the political scenario of Perak.)

What Anwar did (gaining support from non-Malay) is for the sake of his politic. What is wrong with that? Politic is what you do to achieve certain goals set by the politicians. But then I understand your fear of “diminishing” political power of the Malay. I thought “Malay Supremacy” (if there is such) was protected by the Constitution.

No even Anwar will forsake his Malay status (I think) even though he is more a Malaysian than a Malay (no offense to any Malay). But then WE ARE all more Malaysian then our races indicate. I am a proud Sino-Dusun (that is Bangsa “Dan lain-lain” (Other races) in the official government forms) but I am more proud to be a Malaysian than my race. That doesn’t mean I am less proud of me being a Sino-Dusun, or a Sabahan. I am a Malaysian, a Sabahan, a Sino-Dusun, and a human.

I will not comment further on the rest of your “rencana”. I think, (1) had you not chosen that title I would just let it go. But then you deliberately tried to provoke, I believe certain people, not me of course, and I decide to reply. Yes, I am a nobody. So what? (2) Had you been more diplomatic in your article, I’ll forgive you, but then you were indiscriminately throwing the word Kaum Cina here and there throughout your “rencana”. Now, I was wondering if you have previously experienced of falling out with another Chinese that you deliberately wrote this piece of faecal matter!

Have a nice day! ;)

---

bashir ahmad commented: (The link on his name goes to MalaysiaAktif.com. Sigh, I thought I could comment on his blog in return.)

Ky Chua, you said it:

``What Anwar did (gaining support from non-Malay) is for the sake of his politic. What is wrong with that? Politic is what you do to achieve certain goals set by the politicians. But then I understand your fear of “diminishing” political power of the Malay. I thought “Malay Supremacy” (if there is such) was protected by the Constitution.''

You're no different from Awang. I'm not sure how many Malaysians think they are Malaysians first and Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Malay etc. second. I believe it's easy to say I'm a Malaysian first. Anybody can claim so, but their hearts are just like you and Awang.

It's for the same reason that the Singaporean Chinese will never allow a Malay to be their Prime Minister. And their present Prime Minister (a Chinese) is honest about it. So what's wrong if Awang is being honest also.

KY answered:

Dear bashir ahmad, Thank you for your view. Though it may not be to my liking. ;)

Perhaps I'm no different from Awang in our conviction. However, when I wrote that (being a Malaysian first), I truly did (and still) believe what I had said.

Nothing is wrong with Awang being honest. In fact, I am (partly) grateful of that. The only thing I objected to his article is he should be specific which Chinese he means. And the title is a little bit too "racist" to my taste. Did he mean it in good faith, or with malicious intent? It was a little too vague.

Malaysia is different with Singapore. Here, if Anwar won, he would be the PM. Or even if a Chinese become a PM, I think it should be a Muslim Chinese (no offense to non-Muslim non-Malay). Then, there's King's decision to be considered.

Finally, should a non-Muslim non-Malay is to be PM, the criterion should be can s/he protect the interest of Islam & Muslim? If s/he can, with the blessing of the King and Rakyat, s/he can be PM.

---

DeePo commented: (Comment partially shown.)

haha....who reads utusan msia anyway?

KY replied:

DeePo, I hope it's really you, ;) since anyone can use the name DeePo. No comment on that. I believe most columnists/journalists (in this case, "rencana"-ists) are responsible people. Some, I think went the other way. And then, there are responsible Editors/Chief Editors, and others, I bersangka baik (think kindly of them), simply overlook certain articles. ;)

So, read Utusan anyway. They have plenty of good stuffs, especially the Education, World, Science & Technology sections. I improve my BM by reading Berita Harian & Utusan Malaysia.

Then I practice my BM with the BM-speaker, mostly Malays, few other races, but there was one I fondly remember, an Indian BM teacher, Cikgu Mahaletchumi, she spoke BETTER Malay than most people. She was one of the students of, er, should I say, "Supreme" Master/Scholar of Malay language, forgot her name. ;)

BTW, when did this post become BM discussion? :D

---

DeePo said:

KY...it's me...hahaha....both papers are good...in term of other things (except this supremacy-thingy)..but when read about the statement on racial issues, it really disgust me a lot....i just dun understand why always blame this ''kaum2 lain''....reading it always boil my temper...hahaha....lastly, i rarely read it...unless for entertainment corner..haha...

KY replied:

TQ for confirming your identity. ;) Same here (that sentiment of yours)! :D I remember my former teacher (may he rest in peace) once said:

"Kaum di Malaysia terbahagi kepada EMPAT kaum iaitu:

1. Kaum Melayu
2. Kaum Cina
3. Kaum India
4. Kaum BANGSA LAIN-LAIN."

(Races in Malaysia comprised of FOUR races: Malay, Chinese, Indian, and OTHER RACES.)

I miss his sarcastic comments... [Added: 19 April 2009] I forgot to add my former teacher was a peninsular Malay but had a very open-minded and compassionate nature.

Double Different Standard in the (Local) Media: The Case of Batang Ai/Air

This is not an attack to the mass media. It’s just an observation, with some unflattering comments of course. ;) I mean NON-FLATTERING comments, sorry for the misunderstanding. :D

I refer to DeePo’s Kopi Sejuk (a.k.a. cold coffee, which incidentally became famous when her post about the plight of Penan girls was highlighted by international media, and later, by our media) Blogspot post “Batang Ai or Batang Air” and "I Want Batang Ai Not Batang Air", the media seems confused which term should be used. Main stream media like Berita Harian prefers Batang AIR while Bernama maintains Batang AI in all the news post.

First, I would like to relate you what the “creator” (which was the Election Committee) of the “Batang AIR” term said:

In simple words: "The place is still Batang AI but the constituency is Batang AIR.” so said the EC person in so many words (more than the text above), responding to the question of the name “Batang AIR” on something they printed (which was probably misprinted or deliberately printed like that in the first place). (Berita Hairan Harian: Ejaan Berbeza Kelirukan Orang Ramai) [The link is broken, but check the Google cache, the news article was indeed there previously. So, alternatively, you can check ibankiih's post at www.rumahpanjai.com.]

[Jest intended] Perhaps he should add, “Yes, we have CREATED a new name, so what? There are a lot of Bujang Senangs (can be translated to crocodiles, the correct one, or mistranslated to perverts, the slightly incorrect one) here because there are beberapa BATANG AIR sungai (many rivers) here!” :D Alternatively, he could say, “Please! Don’t LASH at us (and BTW, we are not masochists), we are just using a PRESCRIBED/SUGGESTED name by (name omitted).” [End of Jest] ;)

“Not that Batang! (You sulphur-colour-minded person, I think she said in her mind!)” said DeePo. :D

Berita Harian’s Chief Editor, because out of respect or friendship sake (just random guess, mind you), ;) took the term “Batang AIR” into their heart in their posting of all Batang AI/AIR related news. I have the feeling that their Batang AIR term started at the same time as the news of that printed something above (someone correct me please!) though they do not dare to reprint Batang AI to Batang AIR if their news source is from Bernama. ;)

Bernama on other hand has been a faithful “Batang AI”-an (like Sabah and Sabahan, thus the term “-an”) since eternity, figuratively speaking of course. ;) Even after the EC person announcement, she (I liken Bernama to a very attractive, people friendly, assertive and responsible, not to mention honourable, but sometimes aloof lady) was (is) still a “Batang AI”-an and refused (and is still refusing) to be converted to “Batang AIR”-an.

I would like to ask, “Why this double difference in their standard?” I believe (and I understand a belief can be a delusion, which means false firm belief) there are certain disagreeable personas within the world of media, just like the “real world” (I mean world outside media, the community, the people, schools, families, governments etc.) there are bickering, disagreement, and difference in views.

The things the two “schools of thought” may agree upon are: (1) Batang AI/AIR is located in Sarawak; (2) Batang AI/AIR is a constituency; (3) There was recently an election there won by one of the ruling government party components. ;)

If I am to choose between Batang AI/AIR. I would say I am a pro-BerNama one. ;) Notice the bold letters? :D Yes, I am that one, although a very disappointed type one. :D Just say if I were a foreigner, it doesn’t matter if it is Batang AI or Batang AIR, the sound will be almost the same, right. Please, let me have this one vanity of thinking I have an okay English. ;) Someone (very educated, to my distaste) said there is different phonetic-blahblahblah and I said, “Go to hell!” (in my mind of course.) :D

Since I am not a Sarawakian, someone should shout at me, “Mind your own business, you non-citizen (of Sarawak)!” (very polite, don’t you think?) or “Keep your mouth shut! You pig-eater!” (very unflattering but frankly, I do not eat pig!) or “Ceased to exist! You bastard!” (My birthright is not in doubt and well documented, thank you.) or “Shuddup! You ignorant dog!” (Sigh, people always misunderstand me...). ;)

Secondly (you’ll notice the first part is until before this paragraph, and a very long one that is), ;) no offense is intended to any party especially the Sarawakians (the government, non-governments, “normal” people – I wonder if there are “abnormal” people there), DeePo, Bernama and Berita Hairan Harian. ;) Have a nice day, you all and “cheeria-cheeria selalu.” :D Cheers! ;)

P/S: Initially I wanted to use the title “A Tale of 2 Batangs” but discarded it in favour of the above title. ;) “Not that Batang!” (DeePo’s). :D Yes, I know dear. ;)

Dear Health Minister

Original title "Health Minister, you owe Sabah answers" reproduced from MalaysiaKini.com. New Sabah Times added: "EDITOR’S NOTE : This letter was first published in the online portal Malaysiakini by a Concerned Citizen and reproduced in the New Sabah Times as this is an issue that concerns every Malaysian in Sabah. It is hoped that MCA leaders in Sabah,in particular Datuk Edward Khoo,take note of this plight and urged his fellow MCA leader,who is the Health Minister,to take immediate measures to rectify this anomaly. We simply cannot wait for a major disaster." On further check, the original letter is from Product of The System's blogspot titled "Open Letter to the Minister of Health." dated Feb 21, 2009.

Health Minister, you owe Sabah answers

Dear Health Minister,

Ali, a 32-year-old road traffic accident victim, travelled three hours from a district in Sabah and arrived in Kota Kinabalu six hours after the initial trauma. After the initial assessment in the emergency department, a CT scan of the head and abdomen was ordered to exclude intracranial bleeding and intraabdominal injury.

He was whisked back onto an ambulance to the privately-owned Sabah Medical Center (SMC) for the required scans. After the ten-minute procedure, he was repacked into the ambulance back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to undergo further assessment while awaiting the results of his blood tests and X-rays. His scans and X-rays were reviewed.

Ali was found to have a lacerated liver and a fractured long bone with multiple superficial wounds. He was then prepared for emergency surgery.

For that, the young man was then re-wheeled into the ambulance and headed once again to the SMC where the operating theatre and intensive care unit of QEH are currently housed. By the time surgery starts, it was already nine hours from the time of his motor vehicle accident.

My story hasn’t finished, Mr Minister.

One hour into the operation, our young chap bled tremendously that he required more blood products to sustain life. It would not be another hour or so before the blood products arrive from the blood bank of QEH to the SMC.

You see YB, blood has to be taken from the patient and passed to a house officer. The house officer will fill in the necessary forms and hand them over to an attendant. The attendant will wait for a chartered bus or ambulance to head back to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or rather, what remains of it.

Back in QEH, the attendant will wait 45 minutes for the blood to be cross-matched and then wait a while more for the arrival of a chartered bus or ambulance to ferry him (or her) back to SMC.

Anyway, being a fit and healthy young man previously, Ali survived the operation. He was admitted to the ICU and needed a repeated chest X-ray.

For that, the radiography team in QEH is informed. The duo will then take a the chartered bus or ambulance to SMC to perform the X-ray. Shooting an X-ray takes all but two minutes. Processing the cassette will take another five.

However, the processing is done back in the hospital and delivered by the next available ambulance back to SMC. By the time the X-ray films reach the patient, it could be anything from three to twelve hours later.

Dear Yang Berkhidmat (YB) Liow,

I hope you notice the unacceptable predicament our Sabahan patients (and medical staff) are facing currently. It is already six months since the initial and abrupt closure of Kota Kinabalu’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Since then, we have been without a proper operating theatre and intensive care unit.

We are also without distinctive wards for many of our surgical patients of most disciplines. Frankly speaking, the health crisis of the state of Sabah has run so deep and so far along that I do not where to begin.

I will instead serve an eye-opening fact to you, Mr. Liow. At the height of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) epidemic, the the communist government of the People’s Republic of China erected a 1,000-bed hospital within seven days.

Work on the Xiaotangshan Hospital started on April 24, 2003 and was completed on April 30, with 7,000 workers and 500 machines tirelessly on duty around the clock. Far from being a melamine-laced structure, the Xiaotangshan Hospital is equipped with the then state-of-the-art anti-infective measures and facilities.

The structure built within a week is still standing firm six years later today, ready to house any ill and potentially infective patient in the event of any unforeseen health crisis.

Mr Health Minister,

That is exactly what Sabahans are in right now – a health crisis. The Barisan Nasional government chants ‘Malaysia Boleh’ like some proverbial battle-cry but the Sabah state health crisis has proven that empty vessels make the most noise.

Unlike MCA members, not everyone enjoys being labeled a ‘squatter’. For six months, the medical staff and patients of Sabah have been housed in sections of the Sabah Medical Center paying a whooping rental of RM 90,000 per day.

For five months since our forced relocation into your prized SMC, we only had one operating room for life-threatening emergency cases. Elective surgeries were postponed indefinitely even those involving cancers and prostates and suspicious breast lumps.

We only restarted elective surgeries a month ago but even so, the backlog of cases is tremendous and catastrophic. I wonder Mr Minister, how would you like to have a tumor growing in your rectum with no avenue of getting it removed?

That is exactly what our poor Sabah folk are facing. They were without money and without a hospital to get operated in. In fact, they still don’t because they do not have a formal general hospital for Kota Kinabalu anymore.

Heck, we don’t even have our own CT scan. What we do have, however, is lots of bills to pay and debts to settle.

Is it true that the state department of health owes SMC a total of RM 6.1 million for CT scan services? Is it true that Hantaran Wira, the company contracted to provide transport to and fro SMC-QEH is paid RM500,000 per month?

Mr. Minister,

You owe the 3.4 million population of Sabah a lot of answers for wasted lives and needless deaths. Money cannot solve all problems in life. Thank you for listening.

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KY: While I might agree to most of the content above, I think political, emotional outburst and non-objectivity should be left out. For example: "Unlike MCA members, not everyone enjoys being labeled a ‘squatter’." The author of the letter is almost clearly anti-MCA/BN or at least a disappointed MCA member. If I am to take him/her out of context, I will certainly say s/he claims MCA members enjoy being labeled squatters (penghuni setinggan?) which is a blatant lie/false presumption!