Am no genius

And now I can justify why my table is always in a state of organised mess!

http://web.tickle.com


Your IQ score is 133. This means that you are smarter than 98.0% of all other Super IQ test takers.

This number is the result of a scientifically-tested formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on the Tickle Super IQ Test.

But there's more to intelligence than a single number, a single score, or a single label. Tickle uses 8 distinguishable dimensions of intelligence in the Super IQ Test. By analyzing your individual scores on those 8 scales, we are able to look beyond the raw IQ score into how you process information, and which intellectual strengths you're best at.

Your test results indicate that the way you process information makes you a Visual Linguist.

You are highly intelligent and multi-talented. Particularly strong are your language skills and your ability to interpret visual information. You tend to map things out spatially, so it's immediately clear to you how things work. Understanding abstract concepts is unusually easy for you and it helps that you are able to see things differently, to see multiple angles on one situation or thing.

You have a very realistic interpretation of life, but your mind is capable of complex, conceptual thought. With most things, you just know what you know and don't particularly enjoy having to explain why or how.

Here's an example of your Visual Linguist thinking skills at work in a real-life situation:

You are in the car with a friend on the way to a party. You are both trying to figure out which route to take. You are very late already, and so want to make sure you take the quickest route. Your friend is arguing that the faster route would be the highway for several miles and then side streets. You quickly realize — based on your general knowledge of the direction and distance of roads in the area — that the route she's describing would take you way out of the way. You then convince your friend of a faster route on a road (with a moderate speed limit) that goes almost directly to the party. On the way back from the party you try the other route — just to see how long it would have taken. You find that it would have taken you almost twice as long. Both of you are very glad to have followed your advice.

Your Super IQ Dimensions

Now that you know about how you process information, let's drill down to see what your specific intellectual strengths are. None of the intellectual abilities is more important than any of the others. And it's your unique scores on each of these scales, that makes you an interesting addition to any group, office, or family.

These intellectual strengths color your world and the way you perceive it, and also allow you to contribute your original perspective when solving problems and coming up with ideas. No one intellectual dimension can define you. It's the original combination of your intellectual strengths that makes you special.

As you can see, your top scores are in the areas of Spatial, Mechanical, and Visual. This is a very unusual combination — only 6 in 1,000 people have it. Want more proof? Then pay attention to the percentages of people who scored higher and lower than you on each of the 8 intellectual strengths.

Spatial

You scored 99 out of 100. You use spatial ability to judge the relationship between objects and physical space, like a parked car and the width of the road. It is also what helps you visualize a room when you are decorating or rearranging furniture.

In every-day life, you use this ability when you drive or even when you are walking through a packed crowd (so that you don't run into other people!). Some people actually use this ability to help them with non-physical things. If they are trying to understand a situation, they might think of the words as shapes that they need to negotiate.

Compared with others, your spatial abilities are very high. This means that you have a very strong sense of how things exist in physical space.


Mechanical Ability


You scored 99 out of 100. Mechanical ability is what helps you understand how machines and tools work. Someone with a good amount of mechanical ability probably has an innate understanding of physics. High mechanical skill is also associated with a high degree of precision and practical thinking.

Here's a question that required high mechanical ability to solve:

Which object will fall faster? A 8 x 11 piece of paper or a peanut? Both weigh the same amount.

A. The piece of paper
B. The peanut
C. It is impossible to know

The paper will encounter more resistance than will the peanut, and so it will fall more slowly. The peanut will fall faster and so the correct answer is B.

In every-day life, mechanical ability comes in handy when anything in the house breaks, or when you have to purchase something that requires physical assembly. It is also helpful in finding solutions to physical problems, such as determining how to build a pulley to bring water out of a well.

Compared with others, your mechanical abilities are very high. This means that you have a very strong mechanical ability.


Visual Ability


Your score is 99 out of 100. Visual ability allows you to accurately visualize all aspects of an object for the purposes of recreating it, the way painters do. It's also what you use to imagine a scene from a novel or a story someone tells you — the ability to accurately reproduce reality in the mind's eye.
In every-day life, visual ability is what you use when creating original art. In order to reproduce an object on canvas (as painters do) you have to be able to accurately represent the dimensions of those objects in the picture. Getting the accurate perspective and depth is easiest for someone with a strong visual ability.

Compared with others, your visual ability is very high. This means that you have a very strong visual ability.


Verbal Ability

Your verbal ability score is 96 out of 100. Verbal ability means having an expansive range of vocabulary, being able to use it, and feeling a desire to add to it. It is also what allows you to comprehend the relationships and subtle difference between words.

Here's a question that required verbal ability:

The opposite of acute is:

A. Severe
B. Incisive
C. Dull
D. Flamboyant

The opposite of the word acute, meaning sharp or finely tuned, is dull, so the correct answer is C.

In every-day life, verbal ability is essential to being able to interpret written materials. It's also valuable for communication — the more vocabulary words you know, the more precisely you may be able to convey your point.

Compared with others, your verbal ability is very high. This means that you have a very strong verbal ability.


Numerical Ability


You scored 96 out of 100. You use numerical ability when you spot a numerical pattern or solve a numerical equation. Here's a question that assessed your numerical ability:

Which number completes the series? 1, 3/2, 2, 5/2, ?

Here's the answer: 3

In every-day life, you use the ability to calculate a tip at a restaurant, or estimate taxes on a purchase. Everyone has this ability to a greater or lesser extent.

Compared with others, your numerical ability is very high. This means that you have no problem processing numbers.


Organizational Ability

Your organizational ability score is 88 out of 100. Organizational ability is what allows you to organize and arrange information effectively, be precise, and proofread carefully.


In every-day life, organizational ability is what you use to proofread a paper or organize a messy desk. Coming up with an organizational system for keeping track of things comes easy to those who are high in this ability. It is a highly practical skill.

Compared with others, your organizational ability is high. This means that you have a strong organizational ability.


Abstract Reasoning Ability
Your score is 86 out of 100. With abstract reasoning you can think on multiple levels and see relationships between ideas that are not easily apparent. When you're using your abstract reasoning skills, you draw on both external logical and creative sources of information to come up with your solution.

In every-day life, abstract reasoning ability is used to understand complex, multi-layered situations, sometimes involving the associations and relationships between two seemingly different sets of information. For example, imagine someone who has taken piano lessons and was taught that the skill was more easily obtained when she pointed out her struggles to her teacher. She was able to learn from them and improve. This same woman then takes writing lessons and again makes her mistakes obvious so that the instructor can suggest changes and she can improve.

Compared with others, your abstract ability is This means that you have a strong abstract ability.


Logical Ability

Your scored 82 out of 100. Logical ability is what you use when determining whether or not something makes sense. You rely on logic when analyzing an argument, step-by-step. This ability also contributes to your aptitude for recognizing underlying patterns.

Here's a question that required high logical ability to solve:

Mary loved pink flowers more than she loved red ones. She didn't like orange flowers at all, and while she liked yellow flowers, she couldn't say that she really loved them. Which of these is true?

A. She liked red flowers less than orange flowers
B. She liked yellow flowers more than red flowers
C. She liked pink flowers more than yellow flowers
D. She liked orange flowers more than pink flowers

Here's the answer: She liked yellow flowers but didn't love them; however, she did love pink and red ones - pink more than red. Thus far the order of preference is pink, red, yellow. But she liked orange least of all, which means the new order is pink, red, yellow, orange. This means that she liked red more than orange (which makes option A not true). She liked yellow less than red (which makes option B not true). She liked pink more than yellow, which makes option C true, and she liked orange less than any of the flowers, which makes option D not true. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

In every-day life, you might use this ability to figure out the best route to the store, or to figure out the best deal when choosing between a couple items to buy. Everyone has a certain ability to use logic to solve problems. Some are better at it than others, however.

Compared with others, your logical ability is high. This means that you are a pretty consistently logical person.

A forgotten october post

Updated: hmmm this was a forgotten post in draft form.

Its just past the half month mark. Almost everywhere friends and acquaintances are complaining about things being slow. The market is slow, unsurprisingly.

Our committee managed to meet up with the head honcho of the state a couple of weeks back. We did give feedback that things were very slow on the ground and the people were restless. And it wasnt surprising that the perception was this contributes to a higher crime rate.

Well, he did extend excellent hospitality throughout our 45 minute exchange of views. A couple of things that caught my attention was the proposed redevelopment of the old prison facility to house a 100-plus storey commercial building, and a proposed MRT to link up to our "little dot of a city nation" as well as a LRT system for our urban area.

While the latter proposal was welcome, the tower was a bit over the top.

Everyone seems to be waiting for the November launch and briefing of the South Johor Economic Region by the PM. Everyone waiting in anticipation of a serious sustained and realistic series of actions and ideas to transform this small border town into something that should truly reflect its actual role and importance.
Updated:
Well, the launch came and went. And sad to say we are none the wiser. What exactly will be done, and who the investors are, still remain a mystery. But the one evident benefit would be the billions poured into infrastructure projects in south johor.

However, at a time when we and our neighbouring countries are all chasing FDIs, it doesnt help when a head honcho issues a statement that foreigners arent to be trusted. Or is it mat sallehs. Doesnt matter. The effect is the same. At a time when we are supposed to embrace the world, negative statements continue to be made.

While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry - Business

The following is an article that appeared in Oz land. Picked the lead at www.jeffooi.com.
While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry - Business - Business

Its exactly what lots of forward thinking malays and non-malays have been urging for the past few years. Unfortunately the focus continues to be on the gravy trains that service the select few within the ruling parties.

A nice one for Mondays

A bus station is where a bus stops.

A train station is where train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station....
what more can I say..........


Well, its been a hectic month. Quite a lot of travelling. Even made a mid-September trip to Penang for work. Very eventful. To the point that i had to follow up with an email to the GM of a hotel there, and not get a reply even after 2 weeks.

But it was an enjoyable trip. Lots of good food. Exercised too. We walked about 1 to 2 kilometres, just to find that Twin sisters char kuay teow stall. It was worth the exercise.

No time to elaborate, perhaps later in the day.

Lessons in hiring staff

A blonde is explaining to her girlfriend the bad day she'd had at work, and that her boss had suffered a heart attack and died.

"How horrible!" said the friend, "What did you do?"

The blonde replies, "Well there was nothing I could do. He kept yelling at me to call 9-1-1, but he wouldn't tell me the rest of the numbers!"

When hiring blondes and the like minded, always hire another too, to do the actual work!

Further on ..relationships...

The Perfect Girl: "A friend asked a gentleman how it is that he never married?

Replied the gentleman, 'Well, I guess I just never met the right woman ... I guess I've been looking for the perfect girl.'

'Oh, come on now,' said the friend, 'Surely you have met at least on girl that you wanted to marry.'

'Yes, there was one girl .. once. I guess she was the one perfect girl.

The only perfect girl I really ever met. She was just the right everything .. I really mean that she was the perfect girl for me.'

'Well, why didn't you marry her,' asked the friend.

'She was looking for the perfect man,' he said. "

Relationships. Its all a matter of understanding needs

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.

FOR EXAMPLE:

One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."

I said, "WHAT??!! What was that?!"

So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear...

"You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man."

She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, "Lets get a pair for each outfit."

We went on to the jewellery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you... she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.

I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement.

Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."
Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled,

"WHAT?"

I then said, "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman."

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"

Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either....but at least that *%^@!h knows I'm smarter than her.

(OK, this is an old email floating around. Someone sent it to me again today. So, what better way to keep then to blog it here. But somehow, i have a feeling two other scenarios could occur. One, the couple would break up. The other would be the optimistically unrealistic scenario of man and women finally understanding their needs and having great sex together that night, and moderate shopping within budget!!)

Politicians...

HE KNOWS NO
FEAR

HE KNOWS NO
DANGER

HE KNOWS
NOTHING

What if we, as a nation, had taken a different path

Something was discussed over a heavy lunch yesterday. There was no alcohol served, so we were all pretty sober and knew what we were talking about.

How would Malaysia be, or how much could we have achieved as a country, IF the government of the day had truthfully implemented the noble policies of the National Economic Policy in terms of poverty eradication and restructuring of the wealth/communities.

By this i mean, no cronyism, no favouritism, no denying of education aids to our brightest regardless of race and religion, meritocracy to be the basis in the civil service, no arbitary issuing of huge inflated contracts to friendly parties, and the like.

Instead of the 6% - 8% growth per annum achieved since the 80s, would we have achived double digit growths till today? Would we have become the financial hub for the south east asia region? Would we have become a developed state in the 90s itself? Would we not be so far ahead of other financial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong?

Success breeds success. If we had achived all that, considering the numerous natural resources that we have, multi racial and lingual young population, kind weather and stable political climate, wouldnt poverty been eradicated long ago? Wouldnt everyone be financially better off? Wouldnt even the rural areas be thriving economically?

These are all thoughts worth pondering.

Instead of the above, what we have achieved thus far is a pittance. Cronies get richer. The poor are generally not so much the better. The wealth gap amongst the rich and the poor widens more. The rural sector continues to struggle.

And chest thumping and keris wielding continue to occur. They celebrate the somewhat miserable achievements (at the expense of much losses). They keep harping on 2020 as the target, when in actual fact we should have achieved that ages ago!

The SJER is supposedly to be fashioned and developed along the lines of Shenzen. Yes, we are extremely good in talking but suck big time in walking the talk. We are blind to the fact that our southern neighbour, with hardly any natural resources, has outpaced and outthinked us in various fields. Surely there must be something right in the manner they have developed their city state. Surely there is much to be learnt from them. By the way, many of their administrators were once upon a time our citizens.

So, in this month of august when the country celebrates its independence, i feel nothing but disappointment and pessimism. The question "What IF?" will forever continue to be asked.

JKR

They're in the limelight, yet again, for the wrong reasons. The Health Ministry is not happy with the excessive delays in the Hospital Sultan Ibrahim, Pandan. Neither is the Education Ministry and Perak State happy with the works done by JKR on the hockey pitch at KL and the Velodrome Rakyat at Ipoh.

Over the years we have seen numerous complaints against JKR, though most were not truly of their fault. Some of the major probs relating to uncompleted buildings e.g Matrade, PMCs (project management companies), were actually not caused by JKR per se. They were just players in that gigantic puzzle of a scheme to enrich some. Decisions are almost always made at the Finance Ministry and JKR were only the monitoring or implementing body.

Well, these are my ignorant simplistic thoughts on JKR. It must be chopped down to size. Its too big and powerful. The federal government has a Jabatan Perkhidmatan Harta dan Penilaian (JPPH) thats filled with valuers and property managers. And yet none of them are involved in the management of the country's physical assets. Perhaps a tiny percentage. Management and maintenance of the assets are almost always under the purview of JKR.

Years ago, the waterworks department within JKR was chopped off and privatised. I believe it is about time that the JPPH is asked to play a major role in managing and maintaining the country's physical assets. The top cannot be lamenting of poor maintenance and then think that the solution is throwing RM500 million or thereabout to Class F contractors in the form of maintenance contracts. There just has to be a structural change in the way things are done here.

Horny, bored and the like

Men are horny creatures (women too ..but theyre almost always too nice, shy or reserved to admit it).

But when youre busy and not bored, you wont think of being horny, unless youre busy having "not-boring" sex. (But then again, is there such a thing as boring sex for males?)

So, when youre not busy, and not having sex, you will tend to get horny..sex comes into the mind.

Unless of course youre impotent or in menopause. Am neither, yet.

monday blues just never seem to go away

Only some time back the Government was encouraging or allowing EPF contributors to shift their funds to insurance companies for the latter to manage and then distribute annuities along the lines of pensions upon retirement.

And now, this happens. Thankfully, the scheme had long been disbanded.

Then we have this reported:

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has ordered a temporary freeze on the sale and purchase of land in the Southern Johor Economic Region (SJER).

He said the move would prevent land prices in the region from skyrocketing and tempting local residents to sell their properties for short-term gain.

However, owners who wish to mortgage their land to financial institutions to obtain development capital would be exempted from the freeze order, he said in a special interview with RTM.

Now, they failed to freeze things when Gelang Patah was first being acquired in the early 1990s, resulting in excessive speculation. The latter resulted in compensation payments far exceeding what was deemed to be realistic prior to the announcements and gazette notifications. In the present instance, its all talk yet again.

We had talks of RM15Billion coming into this region, even before anything is in the pocket. Now we're told land transactions are frozen. Surely they are aware that the district of Johor Bahru is huge, and the area covered by the South Johor Economic Region is equally big. Perhaps I need to verify with some friends if an intended acquisition notice under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 has been gazetted.

To top it all up, we have the all too familiar story of a high achiever in SPM, with 10A1s, being denied scholarships to further his studies by the Federal Government. This time around though, its the good people at UTAR who agrees to sponsor the guy on a year to year basis. This is a guy who has lost his dad and works in school canteen to supplement the family's low income. If the powers that be do not help such people, it boggles the mind the rationale behind their decision making. But then again, weren't these the same Government who decided that 15A1s were better results than 15A1s + 1A2.

As for the newspapers, as the days pass by, one thing becomes very clear yet again. There is a lot of spinning going on to further certain parties' agendas and interests. One who reads only the newspapers it would seem are being deprived of a lot of truths. A lot of questions being asked are valid to me. A lot of dirty linen is being washed in the public sphere. While this is good in the long run, IF the system improves later, it would seem that the business community is very uneasy. I know i am. Things are slow. That sort of explains the number of posts i've made of late.

oh Johor.....sigh. I cry for you.

Learnt more of the State last night. Was watching part of the news late nite. I cant remember which particular channel it was. But the person interviewed or giving a lecture was the head honcho of Perbadanan Johor aka the corporatised version of the old State Economic Development Corporation.

He was talking about CSR if my bad memory serves me well, in the context of the muslim environment. No probs or worries there.

But what caught my attention was his statement which was something alone the lines of ... "Johor Corporation being a body that belongs to or owned by the muslims..."

And so the head honcho feels the State Economic Development Corporation with a modern name of Perbadanan Johor, which they conveniently prefer to call Johor Corporation, is a body thats belonging to persons of a particular religion. Does that mean also that the every other government department or agency, is also one thats belonging to that race? Here I was being so ignorant. Thinking that a state agency like SEDC was actually a body that belongs to every citizen of that state. To protect the State's interest and that of all its citizens. How can I have such idealistic views in the first place.

Sigh, me so stoopid. I had to learn this via the tv.

Food outlets and me

Why is it that I am the one almost always getting the wrong order delivered to my table, or having the waiter/waiteress forgetting my order, or screwing it up totally. I believe i blogged about this earlier.

These two ladies and myself were out in town this afternoon to look for some material to buy for an association.

We passed by the nasi kandar outlet and gave it a pass cos it appeared a bit noisy and next to a busy road. We thought Compact Hotel would be a nicer place, as the coffee house would be airconditioned. We ordered fried kuay teow for the ladies, with one requesting specifically for no squids. I ordered for a spanking orange chicken, which the waiter had to go back to the kitchen to find out what it was. We werent any wiser but I still went for it just for the heck of it. After more than 10 minutes, he says the orange chicken dish is "out of order". I didnt know whether to ROTFLMAO or to curse and swear for wasting 10 minutes. Changed the order to chicken chop. The fun had just begun.

The kuay teow came after another 10 to 15 minutes. Both had squids. We requested for another plate with no squids. Within 2 minutes, super fast cooking my foot, the dish came back, minus the squid. The green-still-new-at-his-job waiter told her the squids were removed and this was her kuay teow. The drinks came, and we wondered why my hot chocolate looked like milo with too much milk. It sure did taste like milo. It didnt help when the waiter actually did say "here's your Milo" or something like that. He only corrected after I pointed out I had asked for hot choc. Sigh.

The chicken chop was huge. But the squid-less dish was a big issue. Insisted on the restaurant manager to come, but alas the person was out, during lunch time summore!! Nobody senior. Each time we complained, the waiters went into the kitchen.

We got up. Insisted on paying only for the drinks and an appetiser. We refused to pay for the 3 meals. We just did it, paid, and walked off.

First time ever entering the place, and got screwed service.

Yes, Sic. JB is a screwed place for food and service. Theres just too few places where one can truly go and enjoy a good meal.

... no idea what the title of this should be....

In reply to a comment made by a buddy in an earlier post, what to do lah. Some of us got to struggle to earn a living in the wrong industry. No. Thats not it. I've just not been able to sit, and write.

I've been troubled of late on the directions the corporate sector is taking. Professional firms seem to need to have Bumiputra shareholders and directors to remain in the panels of some banks, regardless of how long you have been in their panel, or how good you are. At least 2 local banks have implemented this rule to our detriment, supposedly. Supposedly, cos only one bank was forthright about this issue, and the other just avoided commenting. Yes, I am totally aware of the 30% requirement in all stock exchange listing exercises, almost all FIC approvals on investment, in State Authority approvals for land development etc.

I have nothing against equal rights and fair competition. That is after all the basis of free trade. The stark reality which people have to know is this. The good professional Bumis come out and set up their own firms. And generally, they are doing very well. We wish them well. What the market is left with is the not so good ones. and almost all of them are contented to remain as employees and not seek professional status which would enable them to be shareholders or directors. Why are we being punished for something that is not of our fault. We have tried for many years, but have not found someone. Even the ones we train and groom, eventually leave to the corporate sector, not staying and growing with the company.

Johor

How I wish I had the liberty of a few hours of free time, to sit here at my pc, and hammer away my thoughts on this state and country of mine. The trend amongst some bloggers is to say...how they cry for the country. Well, I have yet to reach that stage I guess.

In every aspect of our lives here, there are substantial shortcomings. I read somewhere, my memory fails me yet again, that live life not thinking of all the problems one faces and all the negativities in our midst. Just look ahead, look at the little good stuff, and live it. To ponder on things beyond one's control could be merely a mechanism to hold you back. Or something to that effect.

Desaru International Resort in the early 90s. Numerous proposed billion dollar investments or projects. Numerous world trade centres and mega-projects, some of which were privatization projects. We've been swamped with such grandiose proposals over the past 15 years or more.

The mind has become numb. There is one thing in common in all the above proposals. Nothing came out of it. Well, hardly anything.

The thing is, our administrators have that knack of announcing to gain whatever milleage when things are not even signed and sealed.

We have the South Johor Economic Region. First, we needed to be reinforced by the PM himself that this was a project that he and he himself came out with, not some other person. (I sensed hidden uncalled for tone there)

The 9thMP has been announced many weeks back, and theyre still talking about proposals. Proposed billions to be invested. On-going discussions with numerous foreign entities quequing to dump their cash here. And then we have the bombshell today, that the masterplan would only be ready at the end of this year. Huh??

In the meantime, billions of dollars continue to pour into our little red dot of an island neighbour in the form of FDIs. And, we continue to talk of proposals.

Time doesnt permit me to write a comprehensive take on the SJER at the moment.

I would end with this short story, which sort of says it all about our government and the people within it.

Recently, a foreign investor set up a museum in Melaka town. Spent millions, supposedly, within a row of 3 old shops. He had the MB come for its opening late last year when it was completed. Now, its revealed, he cant even get the CFO for one of the units as the building doesnt conform to standars or some other excuse. And the guy threatens to pull out his investments and move his museum to Indonesia.

Now. How did a building that hadnt secured the CFO, get to have an MB to come and do the opening ceremony?

The benefits of studying history

Welcome to Sun2Surf: "Islam's status in our secular charter

I refer to your editorial 'Mashitah needs history lesson' (theSun, July 14). I am concerned that two paragraphs in the editorial may obfuscate the issue, viz. 'Although our Constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the country, nowhere does it state that it is an Islamic country. Mashitah rightly asserts that Islam is mentioned 20 times in the Constitution as the official religion, but there is nothing of Malaysia being an Islamic nation'.

May I point out that the relevant Article 3(1) of the Constitution provides that 'Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation'.

Under the deliberations leading up to the formulation of the Constitution and independence for Malaya on Aug 31, 1957, Article 3 was widely accepted as ascribing a formal status to Islam for ceremonial purposes which is quite different from designating it as the official religion, and much less, to have the effect of constituting Malaya (and Malaysia) as an Islamic state. I append below paragraph 169 of the Report of the Reid Commission which was appointed to draft the Constitution:

'We have considered the question whether there should be any statement in the Constitution to the effect that Islam should be the State religion. There was universal agreement that if any provision were inserted it must be made clear that it would not in any way affect the civil rights of non-Muslims. In the memorandum submitted by the Alliance it was stated - 'the religion of Malaysia (sic) shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practising their own religions and shall not imply that the State is not a secular State.' There is nothing in the draft Constitution to affect the continuance of the present position in the states on the recognition of Islam or to prevent the recognition of Islam or to prevent the recognition of Islam in the Federation by legislation or otherwise in any respect which does not prejudice the civil rights of individual non-Muslims. The majority of us think that it is best to leave the matter on this basis, looking to the fact that Counsel for the Rulers said to us - "It is Their Highness' (the Malay Rulers') considered view that it would not be desirable to insert some declaration such as has been suggested that the Muslim Faith or Islamic Faith be the established religion of the Federation. Their Highnesses are not in favour of such a declaration being inserted and that is a matter of specific instruction in which I myself have played very little part." Mr Justice Abdul Hamid is of the opinion that a declaration should be inserted in the Constitution as suggested by the Alliance and his views are set out in his note appended to this report."

Richard Y. W. Yeoh,
Director,
Institute of Research for Social Advancement

Updated: 04:55PM Thu, 20 Jul 2006

And so, you cant say we are not a secular State. And it wasnt the personal opinion of the previous PMs as claimed by some jokers now.

More intellectuals with access to historical documents must voice out and not remain silent. These are troubled times. Apathy and silence will only lead us all the wrong way.

Article 11 forum

I had been unwell for a couple of weeks, so were the kids. Everyones almost ok now.

A few of us friends attended the Article 11 forum in JB last saturday. It was more out of curiousity as we were quite aware of the issues at hand and the problems related.

We arrived at New York Hotel and proceeded to a mamak restaurant near Hotel Selesa for breakfast. There were some people who didnt appear to blend into the surroundings. Jalan Abdullah Tahir was after all more like an entertainment belt, with a few night spots.

Entering the hotel wasnt a problem, there wasnt much of a crowd at 9am. We registered without a fuss and within minutes something struck my attention. There were CID and other policemen plus some other unidentified people taking lots of video and photos of all the participants. Somehow, personally, I felt like a criminal. It was intimidation to the max.

As for the speakers, what was presented was just a brief of what was discussed in KL earlier this year. We were listening to mainly the same stuff we had read about in the papers. But then again, we were there to hear it personally. There was a mixed crowd of chinese and indians plus a few malays. Old and young.

By 1115am, we were told to end. We were told to wait for a while first though. By then there was a crowd of 100 - 200 demonstrating at the hotel entrance. Now, how come these illegal demonstrators were not arrested? The rule of law fails, yet again.

We went downstairs and was politely adviced not to exit via the main entrance, but to use the side entrance. A friend had parked his car at the multi storey carpark within, so we tagged along to make sure he was ok. While we were waiting at the lift lobby, there were two guys taking photos and videos of us. I was tempted to ask if they wanted my autograph, or to confront them to stop. But then, knowing how the system works, the slightest sign of dissent was enough of an excuse for them to haul us up with wild accusations. We kept just laughed and ignored what was happening.

Disturbing events. All over again. People not being aware of the problems some citizens face, and being manipulated to demonstrate for the sake of demonstrating. The argument against an inter-faith dialogue, runs smack against all reason. How can one talk of compassion and respect for a fellow human being, and yet deny the existence of others or the problems others face. The seige mentality is so prevalent. Some people out there just dont like the world to be a peaceful place i guess.

Security in condos

This happened at JB. Married woman visited politician's condo and they.. err not sure what they did ;)

Married woman's businessman husband and his friends breaks open condo door and catches them.

Questions to be asked:
- How the heck did the businessman and his friends enter the condo? Guards sleeping?

So much for paying service fees monthly and having people come and break open your door.

Wonder who's the politician though.

First class service in the civil service

No, there has not been any such nonsense. The title is but a dream of almost every tax payer.

We wrote a letter to the Kastam DiRaja Malaysia way back on 16 November 2005, complaining that the Land Office refuses to pay the service tax for professional fees which the latter had to pay us. The LO claimed they were exempted from paying such taxes. And on our side, we had to account for service tax when we raised our invoices.

So, being the good citizen wanting to abide by the law, we wrote in to the Kastam, asking for clarification and guidance. We had hoped that they would actually write a letter to the LO directing them to pay the taxes. One other friend in another company had written in at about the same time regarding this matter.

As usual, such things take a long time to see the light of day.

Late June, I enquired from the secretary to investigate why there was no reply forthcoming. Surprise! surprise! Kastam said they had replied to that other friend of ours, and thought it fit that there was no need to reply to our letter. KNNCB!

And so we insisted on a reply. This morning the reply comes. Why am I not surprised.

The letter merely stated serice tax is is payable for certain businesses and professions. And that theres concerns were to tax their customers. They requested us to call them if we had any doubts.

What the f$## lah. We ask a simple question and they tell us the known obvious facts. So its a wild goose chase again.

On another front, sicko had posted about our Tourism Minister's statement on the need to have more nightlife, longer opening hours etc. Reading from the Star page, its stated that he wanted more action to repaint and improve on infrastructure.

The way i see it, this country will forever be in a predicament. The need to balance religious sensitivities and short sighted/extremist views, against the need for foreign investment and tourism dollars. On one hand they spend millions asking people to invest and/or visit our country.

On the other hand, the red tape is a killer. Even after the top indian IT firm told off our number two this being the major obstacle which made them decide to set up a hub at another country, instead of here, things have not changed for the better. A foreign investor is never made to feel welcome. The tax payers themselves are treated badly. For foreigners to get a PR too will be next to impossible, unless youre a manual labourer from our neighbouring country, and of a certain religion I guess. The brilliant and/or rich ones from elsewhere will be treated like dirt. People apply for years and dont even get a reply. A potential con from across gets it or even an IC within months. I digress.

They spend millions trying to get tourists to come here, and the moment they touch down at the airports, the front line people will make life miserable for the tourists.

I was at JPJ Johor yesterday, at around 1220pm. To pay a summons. Was at the counter. By 1230 the lady had printed out something, but said the payment counter had closed at 1230pm and i had to return after 2pm if i wished to settle. What the !@#$!. This is basic customer service. Your citizens can only do such things in their free time, lunch time or days off. There are so many officers within such departments, and a few counters. Why cant they rotate staff working outs to ensure service is extended during lunch time? Surely we dont need to engage a harvard consultant to tell the government this???

Almost every government department practices the same outdated and ridiculous systems. I guess only Pos Malaysia opens its counters during lunch time.

Recently the Immigration Department got some publicity too. Major rush for passports. The director had the cheek to ask members of public who knew runners selling application forms at higher prices to complain to the department. In the first place the runners are plying their trade just outside his department. Each person entitled to 1 or 2 forms only, and how did the runners obtain stacks of them?

In the midst of all these gloom, all hope is not lost. There still are a minority within who still performs their duties to the best of their abilty and serve the public where they can. We had a need to see someone at the Land Registry here for clarification. This very senior officer took the time to listen and then answer. Very professionally, very politely. If only we had more such people.

First impressions count

Was at a dentist on Sunday. One of the molars chipped off and was hurting. Since I was too busy or lazy to get it done during work days, I headed to one near my home.

Walked in, registered and after a while I was called into the room. There they were, 3 almost fully clad ladies. No sign of the two dentists whos names adorned the door of the office.

Nevertheless, I still went in.

Sat at the chair and an assistant proceeded to tie a bib around my neck. This would prevent my tshirt from getting wet, I guessed. Didnt think much of it. Just then the lady dentist walked over. I asked if I could gargle first. Raised my head and I realised I couldnt! My neck was secured against the head of the headrest by the bib!!! I was like...huh! Complained and the dentist realised the assistant had messed up. Apologized and said the assistant was new.

She lowered the chair till I was practically horizontal! I was uncomfy. She said she was short, therefore she had to lower the seat. I was like.. huh. But then, on impulse, said its ok, I was the tall one. She proceeded to do her job and it was somewhat done in an ok manner. I thought, what the heck. Since I am there, I might as well do some polishing or scaling.

Should have stopped while the going was good. Within seconds she started and she was practically scrapping my gums. It was hurting and I just raised my hand and said, STOP! Her work was rough. And I know it shouldnt hurt as Ive done it countless times over the years. She just nodded, I paid and left.

Still cant understand the tie-up to the headrest. For a while thought I was a goner there.

ahh...yes..life starts now.. or does it really?

Yes. I turned 40 on sunday. No fan fare. No cakes, no parties. Being woken up and wished in the morning, after a late nite watching football, by my two daughters was the best gift I could ask for.

Theyre still down a bit with cough and cold. D took the trouble to do a birthday card with a drawing of a tortoise within. She had traced it from an animal book. Ok, I get the message. Her old man was getting old!

That nite, coincidently, there was a cultural show in town. We brought the kids there. All the way, throughout the show and the way back, D and K kept asking and mentioning the same thing. Wahhh.. Dad's birthday got show. Why? ... Naturally, dad answers "Cos so many people likes dad"..LOL!

Well, its the big 40. Its just another number. Somehow the feeling this time around is a bit different. One tends to realise that life is precious. Lost touch of Shak, an old classmate for like 25 years, and a group of us were emailing about 2 years back. We just found out he passed away due to illness a few weeks ago.

We are reaching an age where one by one, quite a number of us will depart. Losing Dad one and a half years ago was a major blow to me. I still wish I could have done more for him. Well, thats life, most will say.

Attended a funeral of a family friend's dad. He was 92 and died after an illness. Now, thats what one calls a ripe old age, living a full life. I had casually mentioned to a couple of uncles in the 50s and 60s age group that the younger generations can only dream to reach the 90s age band. We're not even sure to reach the 60s or 70s. Somehow that didnt come out right. I had to elaborate and say that with each passing generation, the life expectancy is reducing.

Another year passed. Wishes? Yes, am hoping for many years to come. Hoping to see D and K grow up and be there for them. And for mom to see it too. To see them settle down and have kids would be a bonus. As for now, I just hope they stay healthy.

and they continue to spin..

Its been getting more ridiculous. To all my friends who a couple of years back didnt agree when i said AAB would be useless and was all talk and no action, i have unfortunately been proven right. Time and again.

It is getting worse. As someone online quoted.. SSDD ... same shit different day.

We will continue to lose the best brains.
We will continue to get less FDI.
We will continue to discriminate based on skin and we're heading towards discrimination based on religion.
We will continue to see old favour seeking leaders helming political parties who wouldnt finish serving until they die.
We will continue living in a third world mentality world, even though i think equating with third world countries is an insult to such countries. We're probably worse.
We will continue to be told to leave, if we cant accept such rubbish and hypocricy. We will continue to see the special hypocrite ones not understand that this world and its occupants are created by HIM and that to discriminate or chase away from a particular region or country, is something that is so contrary to any morals or religious beliefs. To have a blind concept of brotherhood, yet demanding patriotism for the country, are, to me at least, two concepts that will never go hand in hand. We will continue to see hugely inflated contracts issued to friendly parties in the name of social restructuring.
We will continue to churn out a substantial percentage of unproductive grads who will go around demanding the government owe them a living.
We will however continue to see the not-so-special ones rise above the shit and improve themselves while hoping for opportunities across the fence.

And sadly, we will continue to see many blinded by such injustice, who will continue to support such injustices all because they are benefitting from such or dream of such benefits.
And, we will continue to see many who rather look or keep their grey matter preoccupied with mundane personal lifestyle happenings.
Finally, we will continue to see a growing number who just cant take it and resort to ballooning the size of the blogsphere.

Excuse the grammar. Am just so tired. Only brazil thrashing ghana, and spain beating france, will perk me up today. Its been too long since i had liquor.

chaos

Everything is chaotic. Life is in a state of chaos. Work has been very very tiring. Health has been trying. Kids have been unwell for such a long time, one after another. There has been too many distractions. The only welcome distraction being the world cup thats been going on the past week.

Been travelling a bit too. Two trips to segamat by road. Another to KL a few days ago. All work related.

As a result so many things that needed to be done the past month has been at a standstill. The calls from all over is very very tiring to handle.

When oh when will this chaotic period end......

Funny thing happened though.

What would anyone do or how would anyone react to this:

An acquaintance changes h.p. number. The person then asks if you want the new number. How would you answer?

Me? I reacted in my usual way.

Swettenham, Usman Awang...

Madnoh brought to my attention this quite some time back. Interesting read to be followed up by the following:

Usman Awang

Melayu

Melayu itu orang yang bijaksana
Nakalnya bersulam jenaka
Budi bahasanya tidak terkira
Kurang ajarnya tetap santun
Jika menipu pun masih bersopan
Bila mengampu bijak beralas tangan

Melayu itu berani jika bersalah
Kecut takut kerana benar
Janji simpan di perut
Selalu pecah di mulut
Biar mati adat
Jangan mati anak

Melayu di Tanah Semenanjung luas maknanya:
Jawa itu Melayu, Bugis itu Melayu
Banjar juga disebut Melayu,
Minangkabau memang Melayu,
Keturunan Acheh adalah Melayu,
Jakun dan Sakai asli Melayu,
Arab dan Pakistani, semua Melayu
Mamak dan Malbari serap ke Melayu
Malah mua'alaf bertakrif Melayu
(Setelah disunat anunya itu)

Dalam sejarahnya
Melayu itu pengembara lautan
Melorongkan jalur sejarah zaman
Begitu luas daerah sempadan
Sayangnya kini segala kehilangan

Melayu itu kaya falsafahnya
Kias kata bidal pusaka
Akar budi bersulamkan daya
Gedung akal laut bicara

Malangnya Melayu itu kuat bersorak
Terlalu ghairah pesta temasya
Sedangkan kampung telah tergadai
Sawah sejalur tinggal sejengkal
Tanah sebidang mudah terjual

Meski telah memiliki telaga
Tangan masih memegang tali
Sedang orang mencapai timba
Berbuahlah pisang tiga kali
Melayu itu masih bermimpi

Walaupun sudah mengenal universiti
Masih berdagang di rumah sendiri
Berkelahi cara Melayu
Menikam dengan pantun
Menyanggah dengan senyum
Marahnya dengan diam
Merendah bukan menyembah
Meninggi bukan melonjak

Watak Melayu menolak permusuhan
Setia dan sabar tiada sempadan
Tapi jika marah tak nampak telinga
Musuh dicari ke lubang cacing
Tak dapat tanduk telinga dijinjing
Maruah dan agama dihina jangan
Hebat amuknya tak kenal lawan

Berdamai cara Melayu indah sekali
Silaturrahim hati yang murni
Maaf diungkap senantiasa bersahut
Tangan diulur sentiasa bersambut
Luka pun tidak lagi berparut

Baiknya hati Melayu itu tak terbandingkan
Selaga yang ada sanggup diberikan
Sehingga tercipta sebuah kiasan:
"Dagang lalu nasi ditanakkan
Suami pulang lapar tak makan
Kera di hutan disusu-susukan
Anak di pangkuan mati kebuluran"

Bagaimanakah Melayu abad dua puluh satu
Masihkan tunduk tersipu-sipu ?
Jangan takut melanggar pantang
Jika pantang menghalang kemajuan;
Jangan segan menentang larangan
Jika yakin kepada kebenaran;
Jangan malu mengucapkan keyakinan
Jika percaya kepada keadilan

Jadilah bangsa yang bijaksana
Memegang tali memegang timba
Memiliki ekonomi mencipta budaya
Menjadi tuan di negara Merdeka

Wonder if the above is translatable into english..

down time

Life has been hectic, to say the least, over the past few weeks. Lack of sleep was the order of the day for many a week. The deadline for submission was yesterday, and thankfully we made it in time. At a price though.

A slight throat irritation turned into a full blown inflammation, cold and fever. Been down the past 3 days. My senior assistant had high bp and exhausted. Another assistant was not only tired, had to take a day off to take care of his sick wife and kids.

As a result I had to cancel a trip to KL for the meeting yesterday. Thankfully the feedback we got was favourable. They vetted the reports and only minor amendments were required. We have completed them and sent it out today.

Life goes back to almost normal, hopefully. Little D and K are both sick too. D has been complaining about headaches, crying at times. Both suffering from cough and cold, and the occasional fever. Took ourselves to the hospital today and each given lots of medication. Urghhh. Giving medication to kids is a tough job.

Here's hoping for a quiet and rest-filled weekend.

How to fill the top post of an organization

Was it last saturday that i saw a job advert for FINAS, Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Malaysia. They were looking for a Director General. An organization looking for a head. Nothing wrong with it. Their webpage confirms this here. See the pdf file.

What appeared wrong was, interested applicants are to forward their application to "The Director General, FINAS, c/o HR Unit of Finas".

Funny how the HR unit is the one vetting applications for the post of CEO. Even if the existing Director General is in office, it doesnt appear logical for him to be the one receiving such application.

This country never fails to amaze me on how to do things wrongly.

tiring..

Money or more specifically the greed for money, makes the world, no, people go crazy. How did they have it within themselves to end the life of a 7 year old child, stuff him in a bag and dump him into a river? Reading the front page of The Star paper today was disturbing. The papers were so insensitive to the extent of showing the photo of the boy's legs lying out of the bag.

Then there was this young girl who was about to be sexually assaulted and pretended to be dead, and was almost put on fire by the assailant. She courageously went through the charade and lived to tell the miraculous escape. What was not acceptable was the fact that at least one english daily published the photo of her lying in hospital, with her parents (i think) beside her. Whatever happened to the law of protecting the identity of juveniles???????

Not only is this world rotting, the newspapers are also sensationalizing such news. Reporting is good. Sensationalizing to sell more papers at the expense of the privacy of victims and their families, is insensitive.

On kids, a few of us were having lunch this afternoon. A big extended family walked in and immediately our attention was drawn to a cute young girl, perhaps about 4 to 5 years of age who was crying. The father was fiercely trying to get her to stop. It didnt work, not surprisingly. Instilling fear only works once a while, on kids. Not always. When it fails, youve got to use other methods.

They sat two tables away, and we continued with our lunch. All of a sudden, the father got aggresive, and pulled the little girl hand leading her out of the place.. and out of the blue, while being behind her, slapped the side of her face hard. We heard it so clearly. It was violent. One loud thud. We were stunned. So were a number of people there. Everyone was murmurring amongst themselves. More than half the crowd there were lawyers. For heavens sake, a kid is a kid. Theyre meant to be like that. Why the hell slap, and that too from the back towards the cheek. She could have easily fractured her cheekbone.

After a few minutes, they came back to their chair, and the girl was obviously shaken up. They finished their meal and left.

We were talking about this. Deep down, i felt guilty. As a human being, perhaps the right thing to do would have been to confront the guy and tick him off for abusing the child. And yet, being the typical malaysian in a state of apathy or fear of confronting, i let him get away with it. I dont know why i write about this now, when in the first place i failed to act. In a fit of extreme anger, human beings have the tendency to react irrationally.

Deep down, i prayed that she would be well. She looked about the same size as my elder one, who is 5. I reminded myself again, hitting kids is not the way. And prayed that i will have the strength to always have the patience to do the right thing in their upbringing. That they will always be safe and well. It is not too much to pray for, i hope, in this wretched world.

A region of hope?

There is potential for the southern region to explode and transform itself into a new and exciting place.

The average growth rate of Johor State’s economy was 4.5% for the first 9 months of 2005 and projected to grow by 5.0% for the entire 2005. In 2006, a growth rate of 5% to 6% would be achievable if the global economy grew at 4.3% as expected. (Source: Economic Report 2005/2006, Stock Economic Planning Unit)

At the national level, the economy grew at an annual rate of 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2005, i.e. at about 5.3% growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the entire 2005, as against 7.1% in 2004. GDP growth is forecast to expand at 5.5% in 2006. (Bank Negara Malaysia Press Release). The Malaysia Institute of Economic Research forecasts the growth to be 5.5% in 2006 and 5.8% in 2007.

The near to mid term future presently a challenging environment for the property sector. The “Draf Rancangan Struktur Negeri Johor 2020” has outlined the Federal and State Governments intentions to earmark Johor Bahru District generally and Kulai-Senai specifically, as a Transportation and Logistic Hub, which amongst others comprise the following components.

i. Johor Bahru Sentral Station (transportation hub).
ii. Sultan Ismail Airport in Senai as a cargo centre and regional logistics centre.
iii. The building of a highway from Senai to Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Pasir Gudang and Johor Bahru Sentral.
iv. Dual track electric train and monorail from Johor Bahru Sentral to Sultan Ismail Airport, Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Pasir Gudang.

Since late 2005, there had been an air of expectation that the Southern Johor region, will come under special focus of the Federal Government. The recently announced 9th Malaysia Plan has specifically targeted the South Johor Economic Region, which covers an area bounded by Kulai at the north, and Mukim of Serkat (Port of Tanjung Pelepas) and Pasir Gudang on the western and eastern flanks, and Johor Bahru in the south, to expand the services sector from the highly developed Klang Valley. The region contains Johor’s logistic hub, which included two international seaports and an international airport.

The state’s new administrative centre will be relocated to Bandar Nusajaya in a few years while the RM7.8 billion coal-fired power plant at Tanjung Bin is under construction and slated to begin partial operations in August 2006.

There is also the impending major involvement of Khazanah into the Danga Bay project. Not to mention the casino and mega entertainment projects planned in Singapore.

The region has the potential to be substantially transformed. Yet, at the back of my mind, the fear is the region has also the potential to be permanently scarred by ad-hoc decisions, bad implementation and lack of long term comprehensive planning. Not the mention the long list of the usual crowd waiting for handouts.

(R) Copyright Reserved. No part can be re-produced in any form without the written consent of the author.

same ol same ol...

Some days back there was this pic in the papers about our Minister of Housing and Local Government officiating some sports event for the Town and Country Planning Department. Didnt pay much attention to it.

Two days back, I asked one of my staff to urgently head to the Johor Town and Country Planning Department. We needed to check details of a new housing development. It was needed to completed an urgent assignment.

After an hour, my staff got back. Guess what....

"Sorry ya. Semua pegawai pergi bersukan. Tolong datang balik hari Khamis (or is it ..lepas Khamis)"

That was the sorry ass reply. Theyre one of the more friendlier departments.

So much for paradigm shifts in mentalities. So much for aspirations to be in the First World league. So much for civil servants serving the public. Theyre still having social events with tax payers money, during office hours.


Updated noon:

Went to the said planner's office. The file was being used by someone. So they cant offer us any information. Simultaneously, another staff who went to the Majlis Daerah about 22 kilometres away, calls back to say the pegawai in charge was not around and the staff cannot release information to us.

$%$#@@!@$%&**#!!@#! just as i had feared.

Of prince of the land, nationalism and religion. Contradicting concepts?

A major diversion, but one thats in line with the flow of thoughts thats been prevailing for quite some time. No intention to offend anyone.

I had a doubt. I did a search online to get confirmation and found this info.

"The life of human beings began with the creation of two people, a male and a female named Adam and Hawwa (Eve)."

and,

"From these two individuals, generations of human beings have inhabited the earth. "Oh humankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured among you in the sight of Allah is the who is the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)" (49:13)."

Ok, here is my view. If we all began from the same source, why do we then need to have the term "prince of the land", and accord special privileges to them? In the first place they all happen to come from other places a few hundred years or even tens of years earlier than the rest. If the entire population is considered to be from the creation of the One, why this mad pre-occupation to use race as the supreme divisive factor to justify dominance over others? Isnt this, as usual, another act of supreme hypocricy purely to justify holding on to political power and selfish accumulation of personal wealth at the expense of the masses?

I have come across some radical ones online who professed the idea that theres no room for race or nationalism. Everything has to be looked at from the religion grouping. I find it difficult to accept such a thought, for i would think nationalism would be the best starting point. You belong to a country. And you look at everything from the "country" point of view. Religion would be between you and your Maker. A personal relationship. Naturally if you commit a criminal offence, you cant hide behind that argument and you must be judged by your fellow humans.

These are just thoughts that came to mind this morning. How contradictory some issues in life are. Am no philosopher, neither a politician wannabe. With such thoughts in mind, I am just putting them into written form. Perhaps one fine day to be thought about and discussed deeper with the right wise persons.

On the above, if the divisive factor was religion, i wouldnt have an issue with it.

We're not even going to talk about the world being one village, WTO, free trade blah blah blah.

I must get away from all this and get high.

Top 100 sites Malaysians go to online

This list refers to the most popular sites among users in the country, not sites hosted in the country.

Alexa Web Search - Top 500: "Top Sites Malaysia
Browse the most popular sites on the web. Learn more."

Distractions

Life was somewhat simpler during the pre-internet days. No disractions from stuff like internet chatting, porn and real news, not the doctored censored ones you find in the print media. Information was scarce. To obtain information on the economy for example would require one to collate newspaper clippings, or spend lots of money accumulating annual reports of BNM for example. To obtain diverse views and opinions on technical matters would require one to attend seminars at ridiculous prices or buy expensive books.

But at least those days, we were resigned to the situation and made do with whatever we could have. Life went on. We didnt worry much.

But with the internet over the past few years, life has been not been a bed of roses. Ones eyes are forced open by not only the amount of porn thats too easily accessed, but more importantly how unjust a world we seem to live in. We begin to learn how our lives are indirectly or directly screwed by the powers that be. That theres always a hidden agenda in whatever thats been decided up there in our gomen aka government. We learn how the police appear to be the licensed thugs in this country. How politicians have a hand in the economic pie. How percentages are what they live for. How almost every project in the country is done at such an inflated amount so that someone gets their percentages. How the bright are deprived of the chances thats due to them either career wise or education wise. How the colour of skin dictates how you progress in the civil service.

You also realise how the ones screwing this country, are the very ones getting screwed by smarter people overseas. You would also learn that there is a lot of talk but action of the opposite nature in the real world. For example, to have a brain gain program to encourage our smart ones overseas to migrate back, but make life almost a living hell with red tape when theyre here. And in the same breadth allowing our young smart ones being pinched by other countries all because the colour of their skin prevents them to have fair access to opportunities here.

I know i can go on and on. This morning it hit me. Wouldnt life be simpler if this technology wasnt around. Would i be not that distracted if i wasnt a bit enlightened by what i come across online. As exciting as its been, is the distraction worth it? Wouldnt i be spending time doing productive work rather than hammering out frustrations here. As usual, thats something i dont want to think about too much. Another few minutes wasted.

MGGPillai.com :: The racial divide in Malaysia is now a fact

The racial divide in Malaysia is now a fact

THE NON-MALAY CABINET MINISTERS who complained to their prime minister, Pak Lah, about non-Muslim voices being unheard, is ordered by Pak Lah himself to withdraw it and not let it be discussed by outsiders, i.e. Malaysians. Why they took this extreme stand, especially when they agreed with Pak Lah in the cabinet what they protest now is easy to explain. The non-Malay ministers are beholden to UMNO, and they nod their heads when the prime minister tells them to. This time, their ground is in revolt. But most of them have withdrawn their memo as the prime minister requested. One minister even said he was surprised the press took great interest in the memorandum. He of course chose to forget which were the media. But among the two ministers who signed the memorandum is the MCA and MIC presidents. The president of the two parties signed the agreement which gave this country independence. Now they have to express their dissatisfaction in a memo the the prime minister. It also revealed, though not for the first time, that Pak Lah is prime minister not of Malaysia but of the Malays. UMNO has decided, though that becomes less and less decisive, that they will lead the Malays. But he looks after the Malays only, and helps divide the country into racial units.

Thirty years after the New Economic Policy and that of Malay Dominance, by which non-Malays will hold no position in the government service that they cannot be promoted to any supervisory position in the lower services, and the promotions in the upper services are limited. After the nude squat scandal, the lack of non-Malays were highlighted. The official explanation is that they will not join the government services or the uniformed branch because they are paid better outside. It is the non-Malay view now. They took this view when they found they touched a glass ceiling early. There is an attempt to get non-Malays now, but the non-Malays do not trust the government now. A non-Malay promoted in the civil service means the Malay who recommended him would be penalised. No one wants that for himself, Malay or non-Malay. In the armed services, they retire as lieutenant-colonels or colonels, that latter rank given them in the last year of their service, while most of their Malay juniors had jumped over them. One examples will suffice: a non-Malay police officer retired as assistant superintendent of police, but his batchmate died as deputy inspector-general of police. They had retired in the 1970s, which means they jointed the force in the 1950s, after Merdeka. This would not happen now because the non-Malay would not be selected.

It became more of a Malay government with the passing years. The prime minister was concerned with what the Malays, usually from UMNO, felt. As the years went by, and the opposition within the Malays became sharper, he gave up all pretence of being fair. He would lose his job otherwise. UMNO has got the other parties in the National Front to obey its dictates. A Chinese or Indian minister would argue for a Malay concession. Tthis is supposed to show the government's concern for all races; but the reverse will not happen. As the non-Malay ministers sent their memorandum to Pak Lah, the Malay ministers queued up to attack them for not saying their peace in the cabinet, out of publicity. The 1969 riots was to remove the first Prime Minister, Tengku Abdul Rahman, from office. He was friendly, so it was reported at the time, to the Chinese. The NEP and Malay Dominance became UMNO policies then. It was made easy by the then MCA president, Tun Tan Siew Sin, pulled out of the coalition. He was brought back after UMNO had framed its new policies. The non-Malay ministers were not given any policy making portfolios, a policy that is in force 30 years later.

Malaysia would rather get westerners for which non-Malays are capable. All government-linked companies employ only Malays in senior positions. All university vice-chancellors are Malays, the non-Malays leave after a time into the private sector. As opposition to UMNO spreads down to the undergraduates, no UMNO ministers dare visit the universities. Before Pak Lah could visit the University, intense negotiations took place so that the students would not rebel or protest. The police are afraid of its own shadow since they took the position as guardians of the regime, especially against Malays who rebel. When the then deputy prime minister. Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was arrested, Malays came out in their thousands to protest. This surprised the authorities, which acted against them irrationally. Over the years, this has worsened. Today, about half the Malays are against UMNO. The federal government uses the police as its goon squad in states like Kelantan, governed by the opposition PAS.

What makes this dangerous is that Pak Lah and his government cannot right the state of affairs, without watching their back. He has delayed his long-promised cabinet reshuffle, for he is not sure those he drops will go the UMNO opposition. His son-in-law forced Dato' Isa Samad to resign from the cabinet. He went out of his way to make his departure painless. But he does not know to this day whether the man is with him. He controls about 50 votes in the presidential election; that can be disastrous if it went to his opponents. Many long standing cabinet ministers will remain by on different portfolios. He has to work out if they would then remain with him or against him. His inaction now, whatever the mainstream media says, would not help him. Since he uses the mainstream media to douse his opponents in UMNO, he is on a dangerous game. He announces policy, often on the run, but which is regarded in the press as 'earth-shattering'. But it is not. There is no discussion, his civil servants and personal staff do not care, and what he says or does is by rote. He tells Malaysians to not discuss the memorandum of the non-Malay ministers: the cabinet will discuss it. Most of the non-Malay ministers fell into line. But that shows divisions that never existed before 1970.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@streamyx.com

MGGPillai.com :: UMNO got rid off the Tengku with a riot, but did not think through its plan afterwords

MGGPillai.com :: UMNO got rid off the Tengku with a riot, but did not think through its plan afterwords: "MGG Commentary

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25-01-2006 11:13 pm

UMNO got rid off the Tengku with a riot, but did not think through its plan afterwords

WHAT HAPPENED ON MAY 13 – whether it is the Malays who orchestrated it or the DAP which started it – misses one important fact. It was to get Tengku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister, out of office. The deaths in the riots do not matter, only that the man must go. The MCA felt that the Chinese had let it down, and quit the government. It played into UMNO hands. The racial riots happened because UMNO wanted the Malays to look upon it as the only leader they will have. The Tengku was reduced to negotiating his departure so that he would be prime minister for a day under the new Yang Dipertuan Agung, his nephew the Sultan of Kedah. UMNO succeeded in their political aim in the last 35 years, but at what cost. UMNO the nationalist movement had made way for UMNO the political party in 1987. The Tengku did not join the political party, and died, with Tun Hussein Onn, out of the political party. In fact. the only ex-president of the political party is Tun Mahahir Mohamed. In 1969, the Tengku's namesis was Tun Mahathir, who plotted against him.

When Tun Mahathir came acalling on the Tengku in hospital on his terminal illness, I, who had gone to see him before Tun Mahathir, was asked to say. There was a tug-of-war of sorts between Tun Mahathir's security detail and the Tengku. He finally made me sit on the bed beside him. So when Tun Mahathir came in, I was also in the room. The Tengku had known me since the early 1950s, when as president of UMNO he shifted to Johore Bahru, and stayed near the edge of the Wadi Hana area where I stayed. When my father died in 1963, he was already prime minister and I did not inform him. When I returned to Reuters in Singapore from leave after the funeral to the night shift, I found the Tengku there. He told me to see him for breakfast at the Hotel Adephi, now no more. "M.A.G. Pillai was the Tengku's friend, not the prime minister's." giving me a wigging as only he could. He was in Saudi Arabia when my mother died in 1978, so I sent him a cable, and two of his personal staff turned up before the cremation. He used to say he was the happiest prime minister in the world because "he had as his deputy, Tun Razak". Tun Razak's premiership was spoiled for this reason. But little did he know, until it was too late, that Tun Razak was plotting against him. Tun Mahathir and the future deputy prime minister, Tan Sri Musa Hitam, were some of the plotters.

The May 13 riots, ostensibly because DAP celebrated their victory at the 1969 polls by taunting the Malays at Kampung Bahru after the opposition had got a tie in the state assembly seats in Selangor and Perak. The UMNO reaction as swift. Apart from the NEP and the policy of Malay Dominance, it separated Kuala Lumpur from Selangor, altered the constituencies that the Malay would always have the majority in the state assemblies. The MCA could win only in mixed or Malay majority. The MIC could win only in Malay majority seats. The Indian voters were spread to other constitutiences so that they could not be a threat. Areas like Brickfields were variously of Damansara, Siputeh, KL Bandar in the thirty five years since. The people in power, having made sure their version is the dominant, blame the Chinese for having started May 13. The DAP may have provided the catalyst, but the riots was the result of a deliberate plan. UMNO had the political power and the Chinese are blamed for it. The May 13 riots was to remove the Tengku and downgrade the non-Malays in government. They lost the policy making powers they had from independence. It was a far cry from signing the MCA and MIC presidents signing with UMNO the independence document with Britain to being a digit of the National Front in power today.

Over the years, money has taken over national policy. The NEP and Malay Dominance could have survived if it had followed the plan Tun Razak had worked out. Now the Chinese made sure the Malay in government was compromised. The policies were downgraded. UMNO had no thinkers of the Malay agenda. It showed. Tun Mahathir set up Proton so that the Malay will lose his fear of technology. It is now irrelevant, because its social purpose had given way to money. And it cannot be justified on that grounds. The death throes of Proton must be seen in that light. The Indian car firm Ambassador used the Morris Oxford for its model, and Premier cars the Fiat 1100, for more than 40 years, spawning a cottage industry of repairers throughout the country. but they hold ltheir own when foreign cars are brought into the country. That would not be with Proton, whose reason for existence went overboard when Tun Mahathir retired as prime minister. The is unfortunately true of all its industry. Proton could have been a force, an oditty in the world of automobile makers. Malaysia will lose out intially allowing cars in with reduced duties. But in the end, it would have held its ground. Not any more. Today when money rules, the relevance of Proton to national policy disappears, and with it out car policy. As Proton goes, so shall NEP and Malay Dominance.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@streamyx.com

MGGPillai.com :: The crooked bridge and cultural enmity

The late MGG Pillai wrote this. He was all for the bridge. He implied security as the prime purpose. To make it hard for the tanks to come over here. An interesting read. Not sure how long his site will be up, so have copy-pasted the article here.

MGGPillai.com :: The crooked bridge and cultural enmity: " MGG Commentary

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14-04-2006 08:53 am

The crooked bridge and cultural enmity

WHY DID DATO' SERI SYED HAMID, the foreign minister, and others in the cabinet, make a fool of themselves days before the Prime Minister, Pak Lah, said the crooked bridge to replace part of the causeway with Singapore would not be built? Why had they not been penalised for making the Malaysian government look stupid? What was the basis for Pak Lah making his decision? Was it because his son-in-law, Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, is reported to be close to Singapore and many believe is its representative here? Why did Pak Lah defy his cabinet ministers? He cannot say he is boss, and can do what he likes. He was a member of the Mahathir cabinet which approved the bridge. Much money has been spent in preparing for it. Just because Singapore says the crooked bridge is unworkable? The public reasons for the crooked bridge is as obscure as against it.

Politicians and academics from both sides of the causeway agree with Pak Lah's decision. But they will be proved wrong. Pak Lah had agreed to a cabinet decision in the past to build the bridge. Johore support it for economic, political and cultural reasons. But the problem is that it is sold to the man-in-street, and journalists, as an exercise in fantasy, and a way to make money. I knew it had a security purpose, which is not mentioned. Singapore would have known it, and told everyone who would listen it is not viable, changing the public attitude, for it would have a difficult time for its tanks should it ever invade this country. The people at the top in Malaysia forget their priorities when money wathe prime consideration.

I learnt of the crooked bridge when mooted in the 1990s, accepted why it had to be built. But what the prime minister's office said then in public and private were contradictory, but this was politics, and par for the course. Countries like Malaysia and Singapore, neighbours and rivals, have the other in their policy planning. Look and India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka. One cannot consider a policy except in reference to its neighbours. In Malaysia, the problem is complicated further because Johore has its own reasons for wanting the bridge, and its agreement is necessary. All agreed to it because it would have money in the promotors', and individuals', pockets. There must have been an equally good reason for Pak Lah to not have the bridge built, having approved it during Dr Mahathir's time as prime minister. But he does not say what it is.

It is fashionable to criticise Malaysia in public. It is difficult to see officials. Junior officials threaten local journalists with detention without trial if they ask the minister if he keeps a mistress in a love nest in a housing estate. Foreign journalists rarely go to Putra Jaya, where the most important officials are, unless they have to, and those they meet in Kuala Lumpur, including the Singapore high commission, tell them otherwise. Transport to Putra Jaya is not easy, and set you back about RM150. Contrary to official belief, people, even foreigners, are not wealthy. The Malaysian government is becoming aware, the first word in the ear, frequently repeated, that this is bound to get the public ear, and that it is often not Malaysia's. The public perception now is the crooked bridge is wasteful and irrelevant, and rightly for those reasons attacked.

I have been allowed into Singapore on a visit pass. specially applied for, from 1971, and banned permanently from 1991. It did not bother me since, an Italian journalist wrote in his book, I had done my shopping. I had written in an Indian paper of Israeli-made Singapore tanks and why they were bought. It was true, but local journalists could not write about it as they can never could get official confirmation. In defence matters, Singapore is touchy. The speeches I gave to the military staff college here on Singapore led me to be banned from it, a Singapore lecturer was invited to give the lecture instead. I still talk to senior military officials on Singapore privately. Malaysian officials do not want to hurt Singapore even if that makes Malaysia look silly. But is not time for Malaysia to take decisions that are for Malaysia's good and not other countries?

But there is one difference between Malaysia and Singapore, apart from the majority in one being Malays and the other Chinese. Malays think long term. Singapore short term. Coupled with good public relations, Singapore will steal a march in the short term over Malaysia. I believe in 2061, when the water agreeements expire, Singapore will be part of Malaysia, not as a state but as an adjunct to Johore. Singapore made that possible when it rejected a Malaysian proposal to shore in the profits of the water sold to commercial enterprises. That led to the then prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, coming to Kuala Lumpur in 1987 to sort it out with his Malaysian counterpart. It was at this meeting that Malaysia took the upper hand culturally from Singapore, which has tried to wrest it back by other means. In public, though, the Singaporean is seen as a go-getter, a Malaysian a bumbling fool harping on his past but quite happy to fill his pockets with money from any source.

It is not that the Singaporean is not corrupt. He is, but the government controls that: certain people are authorised to be corrupt, but not others. I know of Singaporeans in high positions who got there because they had views different from the others. In Malaysia, this is not allowed. But given the society Singapore is, he would not do anything unless ordered. The Malaysian will take a different view in public even if he is pushed aside. But his view will eventually gain the public eye if sound and relevant. He would go against the government if he has to. The government is in trouble because of this. In Singapore, the naysayers tend to make known their ways in private or in closed quarters. In Malaysia, publicly. So we have, to the outside world, a disorganised, disoriented, speaking at cross purposes Malaysia and an organised, oriented and united Singapore in what matters today, the short term. But Malaysia will have its day in 2061. To paraphrase a saying: He laughs best who laughs last.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@streamyx.com

organizelah some protest around your neighbourhood????

and forfeit the right to cari makan and try save enough to migrate? and get a one way ticket to Simpang Renggam detention centre or worse yet revoked citizenship for being unpatriotic in the eyes of those in power?

This is after all an autocratic sort of asian country. Criticism of any kind is branded as an act of a traitor against the country. An act of a thankless immigrant whos been granted the privilleage to cari makan as well as enrich "them".

Protests wont work in this country, at this point of time, in these circumstances. Things have got to be so rotten, and only then possibly will the mass rise up in numbers. Only then will the silent majority act. I'd probably be dead by then.

Come to think of it, when ruling party Ministers themselves dont have the right to present a memo to the PM, when ruling MPs cant even vote based on what is right and wrong, when civil servants are almost always the servant of such rulers and yet be little emperors in their own right, what chance has the normal men and women on the street have?

Getting people to rise now? Bloody hell. I cant even get people to voice opinions or present alternate views or criticize in academic and professional seminars ive organised or attended. A few months back, i even directly hit out at the attendees of a seminar on this "tidak-apa" attitude amongst us malaysians, and asians generally. 99% of the people are content to just listen and read and go back to their normal routine. And true enough, nobody reacted to my comments.(maybe they were pissed off by my comments)

And so, thats why i say, the discontent lot have to be content with waiting impatiently for the day when it gets rotten to the core, or die, whichever comes first, for things to possibly change for the better.

Why is Lelaki Komunis Terakhir banned in Malaysia?

First was the disappointing yet not surprising response by the PM on the Shahrir controversy. Vote along party lines, my foot. Its just an attempt to divert people's attention to the widespread misdeeds amongst the MPs.

and now...

Lelaki Komunis Terakhir (The Last Communist): Why is Lelaki Komunis Terakhir banned in Malaysia?: "Why is Lelaki Komunis Terakhir banned in Malaysia?"

For the past few years, as every day passes, my confidence in the future of this country reduces further..and further. The future is bleak. Am a pessimist in the midst of capitalist corrupt cronies. Perhaps the country has to get rotten to the core, before there will be "light at the end of the tunnel". There will be those screaming "leave if you dont like it", but unfortunately am not rich like those ruling fellas or their cronies. So, we suffer...and wait.

Shahrir supposedly resigns..

Its obvious, all the recent issues played up by the newspapers are nothing more then a smokescreen. To distract the public from the core problems. Petrol, Police.

Wonder whats next in the minds of the puppet masters.

The Gatal incident - Hansard transcript

Tuan Haji Abdul Fatah bin Haji Haron [Rantau Panjang]

Saya rasa ada peluang bagi saya untuk meminta penjelasan serta memberi penjelasan terhadap persoalan yang ditimbulkan suatu (sewaktu) soal jawab tadi oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri berkenaan dengan kenapakah wanita yang kehilangan suami hasil dari penceraian di tinggal begitu atau tidak diambil kira oleh masyarakat, sedangkan suami yang meninggal kerana kematian itu banyak simpati daripada orang ramai.

Apakah Yang Berhormat sedar sebahagian besar perempuan yang ditinggalkan oleh suami ini ada masalah yang menyebabkan berlaku penceraian. Satu. Yang keduanya apabila masyarakat melihat seorang perempuan yang ditinggalkan oleh suami sudah tentulah mereka ini ada sebab-sebab yang boleh dipertikaikan.

Kalau kita lihat di dalam majlis-majlis yang besar, perempuan yang ketiadaan suami hasil penceraian ini ada gatal sedikit. Tidak seperti yang kehilangan suami kerana kematian. Yang kematian ini, nampak dia insaf, sedih dan nampaklah air muka itu ada sedikit keimanan. Tetapi sebahagian besarnya, yang kehilangan suami hasil pencerian ini" kalau di dalam majlis-majlis, dia nampak gatal, sebab itu hilang simpati. Harap komen daripada Yang Berhormat."

blah blah blah from Shahrizat. Asks him to retract.

Abdul Fatah continues:

Saya sebut ini sebahagian besar, saya tidak kata seluruh. Bukan tuduh, sebahagian besar. Kalau tengok di majlis-majlis, katakanlah di party, private partu kalau kita tengok yang mana. Janda yang macam mana yang gatal, yang 'gelenyar', bahasa Kelantan. Kelantan kata 'gelenyar', bahasa persuratan gatal. Yang mana? Yang kematian suami ataupun yang diceraikan oleh suami. Sebahagian besarnya yang gatal itu ialah yang bercerai kerana sebab-sebab tertentu, samada si suami itu jahat ataupun si isteri itu ada masalah. Terima kasih.

Memartabatkan bahasa

Its a photo i took in December, but only now got to upload here.

Apresiasi???????????? Apresiasi puisi?????????? Appreciation. Please tell me there is no other word in the Malay language that conveys the meaning of appreciation.

The end of the crooked bridge saga

Been a bit busy of late, thus not responded to comments on my own blog. Well, here goes.

I tend to believe a bit of what TDM has stated. He has done his homework. We have the right to do as we please, and give 6 months notice, where water pipes are concerned. Even for railway line, as long as re-connection is done within a specified period, as per the related law/agreement, our assets at spore remain intact.

As for sand and airspace. Yeah, its possible some bolehlandputras aka umnoputras have a stake in the sand business and want to include that in. As for airspace, perhaps spore pushed for this from day one.

What do i make of all this crap thats been dumped on us by your incompetent and spineless Govt? I am beginning to suspect that PM wanted to use this as a smokescreen to divert people's attention away from the rising oil prices. Halt the bridge and save a billion ringgit.

Why give the go-ahead a few weeks earlier for bridge? So, GP can do a bit of work, and then claim RM100 million for work done aka compensation for project being cancelled.

PM probably didnt count on TDM coming out guns blazing.

The price we paid? The whole world got to see first hand how bad our politicians were in decision making, diplomacy and politics.

Remembering the past..

"Chatting, friendship, intimacy or for that matter almost any relationship, is a two way affair. When its almost always only one party making an effort, then over time that person is going to just decide to fade away, not in anger, but in disappointment."

"Life is a continuous process of new beginnings. The past is just that, the past. To be cherished or remembered or.... feared (vic - 2005)"

An extract : Farewell, MGG - Malaysiakini

I've since the late 1990s been following the late MGG's articles and the sang kancil site. They were enlightening. Here was someone who wrote what he thought,no holds-barred. No kowtowing, no posturing and ball carrying, so unlike the local print media. The following is a letter that was posted in the malaysiakini site. I thought i would keep a copy here for old times sake. Something to remind myself of the ideals of a person and how he went about fighting for his beliefs. The last line of the letter, is a gem.

He was from English College.

May God bless his soul.
Farewell, MGG - Malaysiakini: "Farewell, MGG
Jonathan Kent
Apr 28, 06 4:10pm

MGG Pillai was a kindred spirit for any journalist in Malaysia, whether local or foreign, who believes that our calling is to report without fear or favour and that, to quote the 19th century American journalist Finlay Peter Dunne; 'The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.'

MGG was a lion amongst Malaysian correspondents. I won’t say that he was without his quirks, nor would I claim that everything he wrote was entirely right. There were times when I fancy he misread the shadows from the ‘wayang kulit’ of Malaysian politics. But he was fearless, he was true to himself and his convictions and he did his damndest to bring the facts, as he saw them, to his readers.

He became, through his work, a living link to just about every actor of note in Malaysian public life since the country won its independence some 49 years ago. He would wistfully recall chatting with the Tunku at his official residence, sitting at dinner with Abdul Razak or Hussein Onn, or tussling with Mahathir Mohamad.

I last saw MGG a month or so ago. We sat together over dinner and he told me about his unfinished memoirs and shared some of the gems that would have made them glitter. Had he lived to finish them they would surely have been required reading for any student, not just of Malaysian history, but of the region’s history over the last 50 years because MGG was there to witness much of it not least as a Reuters reporter during the Vietnam war.

His death leaves us all the poorer, his friends, among whom I’d like to count myself, immeasurably sadder and young Malaysian journalists with one less redoubtable role model. His baton now passes to those braver spirits in the media who could pay the man no greater tribute than to try to fill his great shoes by making sure that none in power can both fail the people and count on a sound night’s sleep.

Rest in peace, MGG."