this is asterix.

I am disgusted by the arrogance shown by the Prime Minister in his speech yesterday. He was commenting on the call for a particular minister to resign for underperforming his duties. While I am indifference as to the minister’s performance, I felt shocked that the Prime Minister’s remarks that his decisions cannot be questioned. He went on to say that as the Prime Minister, he knows what is best for the country and therefore no one can ever doubt his decisions. He also went as far as saying that as the Prime Minister, it is his to right to decide whatever he deems fit for the people. Mainstream media describe the Prime Minister’s statement as charismatic. I describe it as downright arrogant. In short, the Prime Minister is describing himself as a prophet, who is sent by God for the betterment of mankind – or in this case, the Malaysians. Therefore, people are supposed to just sit quietly and listen to whatever he is saying and obey his decree to the letter. To give the Prime Minister t...

When are they going to realize this? It does not matter who brought, stepped, and spat on the cow head. It does not matter if they are UMNO members. It does not matter if they are PKR members. It does not matter if they are PAS member. It does not matter if they are DAP, MCA, MIC members. What matters is, the media has their pictures and videos. What matters is, from those pictures and videos, we can charge them in court. What matters is that the court has to find them guilty and they have to be punished. I personally do not give a damn from which party they came from. I especially do not give a damn if they are not even residences of Section 23. But I give a damn if they are not punished for their insensitive actions. So please stop all these drama on which party was behind the whole thing because that is not even the issue at hand. Our politicians have this habit of deviating from the real issue at hand. That is one trademark – apart from corrupted – of our politicians that I despise...

So now we are back to square one. Deputy Prime Minister announced today that the teaching of science and maths will revert to Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Malaysia (I still don’t know what they call it these days because the keep changing it every time we have a new Information Minister). The reason for the flip-flop was because the gap between rural and urban students have widen since the introduction of the policy in 2003. Let me get this straight, is the Deputy Prime Minister trying to tell everyone that before the teaching of science and maths in English, the performance of the rural students are at par with the urban students? If that is true, I think our education system must have been the best in the world. So, basically the teaching of maths and science in English policy had ruined our education system. Hail to the government for making things right for everybody. From 2012 onwards, we would see the equal performance of both rural and urban students in public examinations. Parents w...

When Datuk Seri Nizar just shouted in the parliament on Monday, I just thought that the former Mentri Besar had just found a new low in his behaviour – even lower than the attempted hunger strike a month ago. However, when Datuk Seri Nizar said, his action in the Parliament was spontaneous, I just realize that this so-called Datuk Seri can actually go lower than any dirt can go (pardon the language). I honestly do not mind if any of our MPs would want to convey their message by wearing a badge or a headband. I can also tolerate some sub-intelligent actions by them such as shouting in the august house because that’s what our MPs do. I did have an entry in this blog labelling our MPs as monkeys. But, to actually tell the press that whatever you did in the parliament on Monday was purely spontaneous, that’s just…well…lets just not go there shall we? If its not for the hypocrisy, I would have noted his actions in the parliament as bold (though that doesn’t mean I approve it). But, since Da...

I think at the moment, everyone is already aware of what is happening in Perak. Some call it a constitutional crisis, others call it political crisis but I think, it should be called a time-waster. For goodness’ sake, the whole world is facing the worst economic crisis since the 1930’s Great Depression. And instead of focusing on how to improve our economy, our politicians – so-called Wakil Rakyat’ – are not even putting the Rakyat’s interests at heart. All they care is about how to become and maintain their position as a government. First of all, in an ideal democratic world, in a situation like this, a fresh election should be called so that the people can actually voice out their opinion through the ballot paper. But, one should take a holistic approach and I believe the Sultan of Perak took this approach. At the current economic crisis, should we be concerned about democracy or about having food on our table? Let’s think for a while, and look around us carefully. Everyday, we are h...

I just came back from Ulu Yam when I heard the news from my sister-in-law. And my heart goes to those who were affected. As at this afternoon, four were found dead while some are still trapped under the rubble and some were already relocated to Datuk Keramat. For your information, this is the third time it happen this week. First is in Ulu Yam, then Jalan Semantan in Damansara. I am taken aback by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s statement on not permitting hillside development because we should already have this policy since the Highland Towers tragedy. Don’t we already have this policy already or someone is not doing their job right? OK, lets put this aside for a moment and focus on rescuing the survivors of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy.

Succession plan was never provided for under the party constitution. So, why bother having a so-called plan in the first place? Such succession plan will only work if the duration of the plan does not clash with party election. That is a simple politics 101, of which I am sure seasoned politicians like Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz know at the back of her head. And as one of the people who were vocal in asking Pak Lah not to defend his position as the party President, I think our Kak Dah would know already that her time is up. But then again, if one wants to uphold the party constitution, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz should defend her position because she has the nominations needed to contest in the Party Election in March 2009. Therefore, asking her not to contest is very wrong indeed. I would say, let Kak Dah defend her post because that is what the party members want. And at the same time, let Datuk Kamilla contest the Deputy Wanita Chief post because again, the members have spoken. The question tha...

I have not been updating my blog because I am in the middle of getting myself to working life. I will write more on that in other entry. But for now, I just want to express my sadness over the Black 26. I can only hope and pray that things will get better after this. P.S. Working life can be both fun and boring at the same time.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced two days ago that a ‘Majlis Ekonomi’ will be set up to tackle economic problems in this country. This council will help the government to come up with solutions to lower inflation and slow economic growth. While I welcome this move – albeit too late – I also have to ask one question. During the economic crisis of 1998, the government at that time set up Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Negara (MTEN), which eventually helped the country to get out of the recession. For many years after that, MTEN was also involved in helping the government to write their annual budget. My question is, why do we need another Majlis Ekonomi? What the hell happen to MTEN? Is MTEN not qualified enough? Or is MTEN no longer exist? As usual, my question will be left unanswered but that is not my main concern. My only concern is for whether this so-called Majlis Ekonomi can come up with anything solid to ease the burden of my fellow Malaysians during this difficult time.

Apparently, to our so-called leaders, democracy kills. Therefore, democracy must be avoided at any costs. I am talking about this one political party that supposed to represent the Malays in Malaysia. I have always have a soft spot for this one political party. However, lately, I am beginning to have my doubt. I mean, how can I continue to support a political party that has no respect towards democracy? But then again, there is no such political party anyway in this country. Going back to this political party, how can the supreme council of the party recommend the members not to contest in certain positions? I find it absurd that an elected leader of a party can name his/her successor, who is also supposed to be elected by the members. Who gave them the rights to name his/her successor? A Prime Minister can do that because it is his prerogative in choosing his successor. But an elected leader of a party does not have such privileges. In fact, he cannot even recommend to the members who...

Was it our fault? Have you ever been kicked in the nut after being punched in your stomach? I think most Malaysians would say yes to that question. Only after not less than two months of announcing the biggest fuel prices hike in history, few days ago the government also agreed to increase fares for express bus services. The government stopped short of saying by how much the fare will be increased. Like I said in my last entry, the people who are badly affected by this difficult time are the low income people who probably have been using the same Kancil 660cc for the past 10 years. They might have 4-5 kids who are still in school. Taking up advice by their beloved Deputy Prime Minister to change their lifestyle, they seek to lower their travelling expenses by taking express bus services to go to their hometown. But now, even than last ray of hope looks bleak. I also read in The Star yesterday how students are struggling especially in buying books. I’m talking about the college and univ...

I think the time has come for everyone – from all walks of life – to express their dissatisfaction at our politicians. This madness has got to stop. I mean, we – the rakyat – struggling to make ends meet and our politicians are more engrossed with their own problems (political and/or private). I suggest that those politicians to take one step back and look at how the people struggle to live their lives in this difficult time. I mean, the rate of inflation is already 7% and soon, the central bank will increase interest rate. Someone made a remark the other day about how Malaysians are still out at the mall on a shopping spree, which means, Malaysians are not that affected by the increase in costs of living. But, what that someone failed to notice is that the ones affected are the low income people who had no other ways to change their lifestyle due to higher costs of living. I mean, the middle income people can change their lifestyle because their lifestyle consists of necessities and e...

On UMNO. I don’t understand why all these Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri are already nominating Prime Minister Abdullah and Deputy Prime Minister Najib as the President and Deputy President of UMNO. I mean, according to the party constitution, only UMNO division can nominate anyone for anything. Don’t they know the constitution of their own party? Or are those some kind of hint (read instruction) to the UMNO Divisions to do the same. I don’t care if UMNO already have a transition plan in place, because when it comes to democracy, nothing else matters (and I do not mean street demonstration). So, I guess the UMNO leaders should just let the division to make up their own mind on who to nominate. And what about this so-called 2-year transition plan. How can Prime Minister Abdullah name Deputy Najib as his successor in two years’ time when UMNO election is coming in 5 months’ time? How can he be so sure that Deputy Najib will still be there after the December election? And Deputy Najib was ...

DEAR STUPID MALAYSIAN POLITICIANS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, STOP ALL THIS CONSPIRACY THEORIES BULLSH*T. IT IS TIME TO WORK ON OUR NOT-SO-GROWING ECONOMY. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT THINKING ABOUT HOW TO FEED THEIR KIDS TOMORROW. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT THINKING HOW TO PAY THIS MONTH’S BILLS. FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE LET FOCUS OUR ATTENTION TO DEVELOP THIS COUNTRY, TO LOWER OUR RATE OF INFLATION, TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT, TO SET A NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE AND TO ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR STANDARD OF LIVING. FRUSTRATED CITIZEN. P.S. It is essential that capital letters are used in this post to show how frustrated I am with our self-centered politicians – and that means all Malaysian politicians. P.P.S. I’m finally back in Malaysia. P.P.P.S. Sorry for the language. Except that I am not sorry at all.

When the newspaper reported yesterday that one of Barisan Nasional component parties will be making an announcement today, I began to sense that the announcement will be a big one. Especially after there had been rumours going around about the party leaving the coalition. And when I woke up this morning, turns out, I am right. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) announced today that when the parliament begins its new session next Monday, their MPs will table a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. For you information, such motion would be the first in the history of Malaysian politics. What are the implications of this motion? Firstly, the motion has to be approved by the Speaker. Only then the vote of no confidence will be taken. If majority members of the house voted against the Prime Minister, he would have no choice but to tender his resignation. When this happens, the King would have two choices, either to appoint a new Prime Minister among the membe...

Should the fuel prices in Malaysia be increased? I would say it has to at some point and increasing it now is better than later right? Well, depends on where you stand, there is a big chance that you might not agree with me. First of all, the oil subsidies already costing the government up to RM53 billion annually, which is a huge amount of money. Secondly, other countries have already beginning to tax fuel when our country is still continuing to subsidise fuel. And third, letting the fuel prices to float at market level might actually allow us to use cheap fuel when the oil price goes down (if it goes down, that is). So, what is wrong with this increase? Firstly, last year, the government announced that the civil servant got an increase in salary by 35% and at the same time, household prices increased by 20%. And now, the fuel prices increased between 40% and 63%, which basically means the previous increased in salary is now meaningless. Another thing, the civil servant got an increas...

The Malaysian government is planning to make Malaysians pay the real price of fuel by August this year. This will be done by removing fuel subsidies altogether. This means – correct me if I’m wrong – from August onwards, the fuel prices will go higher than the current level. The government said that the fuel prices will be reviewed every month to follow the world prices. What this means is, when the prices go up, the domestic prices will go up as well – minus 30 cent (the capped subsidies that will still be given by the government). Whether the government will reduce prices of fuel should the world prices go down remains to be seen. This brings with it another question to the Malaysians. If we now have to pay real prices for fuel, should we also pay real prices for our cars? Let me illustrate this to you. Let us start with a basic model of Honda City i-DSI. The price for the car sold in Peninsular Malaysia is RM 79,800.00 (On-the-road with insurance). The price for the same model in L...

I just read a piece of news on BBC about the idea of having a European army. Should I be scared? Is it not enough with the world having to deal with the US army invading Iraq and Afghanistan? And I haven’t included the UK army in the equation yet. Why on earth the European community would need an army? Can’t just the individual countries just find ways to coordinate their armies together? Ok, the basis for having a European army is for defence and peacekeeping role. But, what guarantee can the European Union give that that will be it? That the new army will not be used for another pre-emptive strike against any region or country? I am happy to support – not that it matters anyway – for the establishment of such organisation if the purpose of the army is just for defence and peacekeeping. And to be honest, I don’t think the UK will support any move towards having a European army, especially not after the Iraq fiasco. On another matter, albeit slightly too late, I condemned the Malaysian...

Jetstar had just announced that they will discontinue Kuala Lumpur-Sydney route after September 2008. This is not a surprise news but a very sad news indeed. It is not a surprise because Qantas, Jetstar parent company, had announced a few days earlier that they will reduce their flight capacity. And other airline companies like RyanAir and British Airways also had announced that the plan to reduce capacity is in the pipeline, depending on the jet fuel price in the market. I guess, in trying times like these, it is better for airline companies to rationalise their routes and only fly to routes that will the most yield possible. Actually, the most optimum route would be the route that will give the highest revenue per available seat-kilometre (RASK). And according to Jetstar, the reason for the withdrawal from Kuala Lumpur was to free up airplanes to fly to Japan. So, I guess, we can now say that the Japan routes generate more RASK than Kuala Lumpur. This is a sad news because, there had...

Petrol prices will be increased by 40% and 63% effective 12 midnight 5th June 2008. The old price for petrol was RM1.92 now, it will be RM2.70 and the new price for diesel is RM2.58 as opposed to the old price of RM1.58. Under the new system, people who use cars under 2000cc will be getting an annual cash rebate of RM625, while motorcyclists will be getting RM120. This cash rebate can be claimed when these people renew their road tax. I am speechless. I really don’t know what to say about this. Although, I have to ask the government this question, what the government intends to do with the savings in fuel subsidies as a result of the new prices? What do people say about this? “This is ridiculous. There would be more transaction costs to consumers and the government in claiming the annual cash rebate.” “There would be a ripple effect as a result of this. The increase in the price of fuel would push transportation costs for businesses. This means, a lot of household products would become...