Pekan Rabu Complex: A disasterous Investment

Nobody shopping? Shops all closed? Why? $7 million investment by the state govt down the drain?

Where is this complex?

Oh, Pekan Rabu 3-storey shopping complex, Tampoi, Johor.

The complex owner even give:

Everything for free; yet no takers at complex

Monthly rental of RM600 has been waived; water and electricity charges are also waived, but the traders are missing. Despite the incentives, 90% of the shops remain closed.

Shops in Pekan Rabu complex remained closed after one year of launching. It was built and owned by Johor govt.

The complex site previously was a wholesale market of which you will see a big crowd everyday, shopping for their necessities and a popular place for breakfast. The govt decided to built a complex as a money-spinning business opportunity for bumiputra entrepreneurs.

Designed to mirror the Johor Malay architecture, the one-stop centre was also supposed to sell a diverse range of goods including salted fish, clothes, handicraft, cakes as well as famous Johor dishes.

A year after the RM7mil three-storey complex was launched amidst much fanfare, the building is practically deserted with only a handful traders opening their doors for business daily. The basement parking lots as well as the parking bays outside the complex are empty.

Many of the shops have fancy names and signboards, but instead of bustling crowds, the most distinctive features of the complex are the closed metal shutters and eerie silence.

One of the traders, Abrizah Abu Bakar, 46, said she used to drive a BMW and could easily rake in about RM21,000 a month when she had two cosmetics shops in UDA and Perling. “Now I make RM2,000 on a good month. There are months when I’ve made nothing at all. “I have sold my car, my houses and my land. I now drive a Kancil and don’t even have the option of moving out as I can’t afford to pay rental,” she said of the situation in Pekan Rabu. She sold her two shops to move here.

State Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development committee chairman Samat Aripin revealed that there were plans to integrate an Immigration department into the Pekan Rabu complex to help draw customers. “That way, the traders will be assured of customers, as some 1,500 to 2,000 people go to the department daily,” he said.

Why is it that nobody wants to shop there? Why is it that most govt-funded commercial investments for "money-spinning business opportunity for bumiputra entrepreneurs" fails? Is there something missing? Or, was it poor planning? Asked the Johoreans, particularly those in Tampoi, Perling and Singaporeans.

The answer: Market feasibility study was fictitious and improperly done. Who was the marketing surveyor/consultant? They didn't built something that people need and want; they built things that they think what people may want. Look at other shops around Tun Aminah, Perling, and even in Tampoi (UDA complex at Tampoi)

Quote for the Day

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.

Washington Irving

Children are the only people wise enough to enjoy today...without regretting yesterday or fearing tomorrow.

Coin Machine Journal

RM70 million for the Moon Trip

First female paying space tourist, Anousheh Ansari, has landed on the Kazakh steppe after a journey back from the International Space Station (ISS). The Soyuz capsule also carried fellow US astronaut Jeff Williams and Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov. It landed in the 56-mile (90km) predicted zone.

The return to Earth took just over three hours. G-forces caused by heavy deceleration can be physically draining after time spent "weightless".

The 40-year-old Iranian-born US businesswoman smiled weakly as she exited the Russian capsule. She is thought to have paid at least £10.6m (about RM70 million) for the holiday trip in space. Ms Ansari becomes the fourth tourist to visit the ISS after Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth and Greg Olsen.

Ms Ansari said she was an ambassador for attracting private investment into space programmes. Her family sponsored the X-Prize, which honoured the first private vehicle to make it into space.

Congratualtion to Ms Ansari. Malaysia will also be sending (a $70 million govt funded) astronaut there too. What did Ms Ansari brought home for the trip?

The space explorers brought back snails, worms and barley grown during experiments aboard the ISS.

I hope the Malaysian astronaut will bring back something which can cheer up the poor people in Kedah, as about 7,495 poor aid recipients in the state of Kedah had yet to be paid (amount totalling a meager RM1.04mil from the federal aid had been impliedly used to pay for his trip).

The State don't have money to pay the aid recipient and we are spending $70mil to send astronaut to the moon. What is the objective? Pak Lah must answer! Or maybe Khairy should talk about these people who are destitute and marginalised rather than just Balik Pulau. Oh, I forget, Balik Pulau issue was created to belied the assigned-award of projects earmarked for his cronies. Because of the outcry, the chief minister had now no choice but to agree with the award of the 9MP projects to those cronies. It's confirmed that Penang 2nd bridge is awarded to UEM. It's widely speculated that the monorail will go to MRCB-Mtran. Who is Mtran?

No Money to pay Welfare Recipients!

What is 30% Equity? What's the real issue?

The government said it is 19% currently, while institutional survey results said it's already 45% and if it include nominees and GLCs, it's 80%.

Many tried to argue that both sets of results are fictitious and "creatively concocted".

But those who open up their eyes, they are not blinded by the figures. However, nothing will change the truth, the bare truth that large part of the Malaysian community, be ye Malay, Chinese, Indian, Dayak, Iban, Melanau, Kadazan, Sikh, any race, any color, any creed, so avalanche of people are marginalised and substantial numbers are still living in destitute condition.

30 years, since the inception of NEP, the primary objective being to eradicate poverty of all, not just Malay, had in fact created a coterie of ultra rich Malays, while the majority of the Malays, particularly in rural areas, and include many in urban areas had been marginalised and neglected.

Hundreds of millions and many at times, billions, are spent on projects and programs that had little significance and little benefit for those poors.

Brickendonbury, Italian-marble public toilet projects, Program to the Moon, Belly-Dancing Survey trip to Egypt by Excos, and African-trip by Municipalities to learnt about toilet cleanliness, 1bil spent to build 110 Rakan Muda Complexes, RM10 billion for bailing out the three Kuala Lumpur Light Rail Transit System (LRT) projects, (viz: LRT 1 – Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan (STAR) – RM5.248 billion
LRT 2 - Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik (PUTRA) – RM3.006 billion
LRT 3 - Kuala Lumpur Monorail – RM600 million (soft loan)), etc, etc.

What had the billion dollar expenditure benefited the poor and destitute?

Read this:

All the districts in Kedah affected by Shortage of welfare funds

Baling's poor and destitute are not the only ones who have not been paid their allowances in the past four months, Kedah Social Welfare Department director Hadisah Hamid said. She said the department's shortage of funds also affected those in all districts of the state.

She added that the shortage was caused by Federal funds meant for them being used to help flood victims.

“This has caused an imbalance in the payout to poor single mothers, the aged and the disabled in all districts in Kedah,'' she said. Hasidah's deputy Mohamed Hazam Ismail said that the department had not disbursed money to several aid recipients for the past three months as it had ran out of funds since May. Affected recipients of federal aid have voiced their concern over the delay in receiving their allowances as they have to prepare for the coming Hari Raya .

Hadisah said the department had used RM1.04mil of its federal aid meant for 7,495 poor recipients in the state to provide immediate aid to students who had lost their school books and uniforms in last December’s flood disaster. She said she was instructed by the department’s headquarters to disburse the money to 10,440 students in Kota Setar, Kubang Pasu, Langkawi, Padang Terap and Pendang in August. Hadisah said that although this year’s federal aid of RM9.9mil was topped up by another RM8mil, the department still faced a shortage of funds.

We read problems, welfare problems due to shortage of funds. We read about tsunami funds lying somewhere in some departments which were supposed to be returned (but didn't) to the treasury such that it could be utilised for the relief of the poor and destitute. We read of 2,000 projects in the 8MP not implemented because there was no money and many of those projects were yet to be paid (approx RM20 billion owed to contractors) and we read of the news of billions to be spent for Super Coridoors at the North, South and East.

What did we read? Did it tell you anything? I bemused!

Marginalisation - did it exist?

NEP - did it benefit the Malays, those poor and destitute or only UMNOputeras?

Do a survey and find out why 50% of the Chinese are still facing financial cruxes and 70% of Indians are hovering around the poverty benchmark and 50% of Malays are having the same plights.

The stupid statistics, the measurement of equity and control, they measured nothing of the truth. By observation, we can see that 20% of Malays are ultra rich while 30% are medium income wage earners and 50% are poor; 10% of Chinese are ultra rich (and they are residing overseas and controls 35% of the equity market), while 50% are wage earners struggling to make ends meet and the rest of 40% are hovering at the poverty line; 5% of Indians are ultra rich while 30% are middle income wage earners and businessmen while 65% are struggling. This should be the hypothesis and a research and survey conducted to test this hypothesis.

Fruits or Animals Fun Pics

Before we get indigestion from too much politics, let's have some fun pics.

A Banana dedicated to Pak Lah!

This for Khairy!

This one dedicated to Wingz and Lin Peh!

Should include Cocka too!

This's for Ibrahim Ali!

This's for Ong Ka Ting!

This is dedicated to the 3-musketeers

Desi, Howsy, AMoi

include Lucia lah!

This is Kenny

This... is dedicated to all BN MPs!!!

The Damned Story

This is a true story.

The Dam

This letter was sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania. Ryan's response is hilarious, but read the State's letter before you read the responded letter.

SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

1. Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
2. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity.

A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2006.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.

Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative and Water Management Division.


Here is the letter sent by Mr. DeVries to David Price:

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania.

A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris."

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is:

(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names.

If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do tolive and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone.

If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU.
RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS


Do you like it?

Source: Onelongdick from Angola

Note: Those who don't know what is beavers and lazy to check the dictionary:

They are semi-aquatic herbivorous rodents (small gnawing mammals) comprising a family having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges

2 New Chinese Schools allocated in 9MP

Approval for two Chinese schools

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said two new Chinese schools will be built under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP). They are SJK (C) Tun Tan Siew Sin in Putra Heights, Selangor, and SJK (C) Kulai (2) in Johor.

Hishammuddin said this prove Barisan Nasional had not been just rhetoric. “We have our ways of discussing such issues and it is not our style to make an announcement until everything has been sorted out,” he said.

Last week, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar had said in Parliament that the Government would not build any vernacular schools under the 9MP. Hishammuddin, however, pointed out that his deputy could not be blamed for what he said because the matter was not under him. “As minister, I am the one with the power to decide whether we are to have such schools,” he said.

“This is why I decided to announce these new schools to prove there are such plans. There has never been a policy of not building national-type schools under the 9MP,” he said. “In fact, the Cabinet approved the name change to SJK (C) Tun Tan Siew Sin from SJK (C) Putra Heights one-and-a-half months ago.”

Reading this piece of news, I just find it hard to digest on various aspects.

Firstly, I am perplexed to hear a minister said his deputy wouldn't know what had been discussed in his own ministry. From the statement of Hishamuddin, it seems that only the minister had the power to decide without the need of his deputy to even know of it. I thought Pak Lah said every decision is based on consensus and no decisions will be made without consensus. That philosophy seems to contradict Hishamuddin's ideology.

Secondly, I may be perceived to be an ignoramus, but, in reality, do we need vernacular schools in Malaysia? Why are Chinese and Indians so conscious of the existence of such schools? Is there practical advantage to school children or is it merely to satisfy political-racial idealism to prove a point that such existence is prove of the rights of the races within the political realms.

Even in Singapore, nobody clamoured for a Chinese school. If it exist, it is about market demand and had nothing to do with races. In fact, in China, there are clamours for English schools and the Chinese authorities are effectively promoting English language.

Why are national-type schools used as a yardstick of measurement and measurement of what? Racial equality and social justice for the minorities cannot be benchmark or measured using vernacular schools and it shouldn't be used as a yardstick for political mileage. If those in power, the minority representatives, they should emphasise racial integration and equality in all social and economic aspects; more towards eradication of poverty, balanced educational and health system administration, and the abolition of discrimination and marginalisation. Most commoners aren't expecting the govt to give pecuniary handouts to enrich them; rather, they are seeking equalilty, social justice and economic efficiencies that benefited all, and neglected none, irrespective of race, color or creed.

And you know what MCA president response to Hishamuddin's statement?

The Star reported: Hishamuddin has very good and long-term plan, says Ka Ting

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has welcomed the Education Ministry’s approval to build two Chinese primary schools under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. He also thanked Education Minister Hishammuddin for the move that could help cater to the wishes of the majority of Malaysian Chinese.

OKT said: “I know Datuk Seri Hishammuddin has very good and long-term plans for our Malaysian education system. He is taking care of our multi-ethnic society.”

I don't know what's there to cheer about? Two schools and the trumpet is blared! MCA? Malaysian Chinese Association? Do they represents the Chinese in Malaysia? I doubt!

What Pak Lah can learn from Tony Blair

Probably, his last speech as the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's speech was truly elegant and full of wisdom. There are many things which our prime minister could and should learn from him.

Here are some abstracts from his speech worth pondering:

About Politics, Economic Efficiency and Social Justice

They taught me that most of politics isn't about politics, in the sense of meetings, resolutions, speeches or even parties. It starts with people. It's about friendship, art, culture, sport. It's about being a fully paid up member of the human race before being a fully paid up member of the [Labour] party. ...We proved that economic efficiency and social justice are not opposites but partners in progress.

About Political Values

Values unrelated to modern reality are not just electorally hopeless, the values themselves become devalued. They have no purchase on the real world. We won not because we surrendered our values but because we finally had the courage to be true to them. Our courage in changing gave the British people the courage to change. That's how we won. 10 years after, government has taken its toll. It does. It's in the nature of the beast.

About Responsibility Towards the People

I spoke to a woman the other day, a part-time worker, complaining about the amount of her tax credit. I said: hold on a minute: before 1997, there were no tax credits not for working families not for any families; child benefit was frozen; maternity pay half what it is; maternity leave likewise and paternity leave didn't exist at all. And no minimum wage, no full time rights for part time workers, in fact nothing. "So what?", she said "that's why we elected you. Now go and sort out my tax credit." And, of course, she's right.

About "Letting Go"

In government you carry each hope; each disillusion. And in politics it's always about the next challenge. The truth is, you can't go on forever. That's why it is right that this is my last conference as Leader. Of course it is hard to let go. But it is also right to let go. For the country, and for you, the party.

About the Past, the Present and the Future

So now, 10 years on, this party faces the real test of leadership: not about what we've achieved in the past; but what we can achieve for Britain's future.

About Globalisation and Change

In 1997 the challenges we faced were essentially British. Today they are essentially global. The world today is a vast reservoir of potential opportunity. New jobs in environmental technology, the creative industries, financial services. Cheap goods and travel. The internet. Advances in science and technology. In 1997 we barely mentioned China. Not any more. Last year China and India produced more graduates than all of Europe put together. We used to feel we could shut our front door on the problems and conflicts of the wider world. Not any more. Not with globalisation. Not with climate change. Not with organised crime. Not when suicide bombers born and bred in Britain bring carnage to the streets of London . In the name of religion. A speech by the Pope to an academic seminar in Bavaria leads to protests in Britain.

The question today is different to the one we faced in 1997. It is how we reconcile openness to the rich possibilities of globalisation, with security in the face of its threats. How to be open and secure.

And again, there is a third way. Some want a fortress Britain - job protection, pull up the drawbridge, get out of international engagement. Others see no option but to submit to global forces and let the strongest survive.

Our answer is very clear. It is, once again, to help people through a changing world by using collective power to advance opportunity and provide security for all. To reconcile openness and security as we reconciled aspiration and compassion, not as enemies but as partners in progress. Over the next year we are reviewing every aspect of our economic policy, not because we were wrong in the past, but because whether in tax and spending, regulation, planning, enterprise, the question is not about our competitiveness in the last 10 years, but in the next 10. If we fail, and without change we will, then believe me: change will still be done; but in a regressive way by a Conservative Party.

About Leadership

Distance this country and you may find it's a long way back. So all these changes of a magnitude we never dreamt of, sweeping the world, are calling for answers of equal magnitude and vision. All require leadership. And here is something else I've learnt. The danger for us today is not reversion to the politics of the 1980s. It is retreat to the sidelines. To the comfort zone. It is unconsciously to lose the psychology of a governing party. As I said in 1994, courage is our friend. Caution, our enemy. A governing party has confidence, self-belief. It sees the tough decision and thinks it should be taking it. Reaches for responsibility first. Serves by leading. The most common phrase uttered to me - and not at rallies or public events but in meetings of chance, quietly, is not "I hate you" or "I like you" but "I would not have your job for all the world". The British people will, sometimes, forgive a wrong decision. They won't forgive not deciding. They know the choices are hard. They know there isn't some fantasy government where nothing difficult ever happens. They've got the Lib Dems for that.

About Government's Responsibility

Government isn't about protests or placards, shouting the odds or stealing the scene. It's about the hard graft of achievement. There are no third-term popular governments. Don't ignore the polls but don't be paralysed by them either. 10 years on, our advantage is time, our disadvantage time. Time gives us experience. Our capacity to lead is greater. Time gives the people fatigue; their willingness to be led, is less. But they will lose faith in us only if first we lose faith in ourselves. Polls now are as relevant as last year's weather forecast for tomorrow's weather. It's three years until an election. The first rule of politics: there are no rules. You make your own luck.

About Social Justice and Equality

The true believer believes in social justice, in solidarity, in help for those not able to help themselves. They know the race can't just be to the swift and survival for the strong. But they also know that these values, gentle and compassionate as they are, have to be applied in a harsh, uncompromising world and what makes the difference is not belief alone, but the raw courage to make it happen.

Why Winning Matters:

There's only one tradition I hated:losing. I hated the 1980s not just for our irrelevance but for our revelling in irrelevance. And I don't want to win for winning's sake but for the sake of the millions here that depend on us to win, and throughout the world. Every day this government has been in power, every day in Africa, children have lived who otherwise would have died because this country led the way in cancelling debt and global poverty. That's why winning matters.

To read the full text of the speech: Tony Blair's Valedictory Speech

Would our government and our prime minister have the same raw courage to change and provide social justice to all; eliminating discrimination and marginalisation of the lesser, the minority and at the same time uplift the living standards of the people, everyone, whatever race or creed or color?

Equally, the danger for us today is not reversion to the politics of the 1970s; the NEP and Rent-seeking. It is retreat to the sidelines; to the comfort zone. It is unconsciously to lose the psychology of a governing party.

Alas, I am not pessimistic. I am pragmatic. Our leaders are synonymous with the popular phrase: Cakap Tak Boleh Serupa Bikin.

It's our icon! The Malaysia bukan(Tak) Boleh ideology; it;s tak boleh boleh!

Badminton Failure: No One is to be Blamed!

BAM choose not to blame anyone for poor results in Madrid

Malaysian shuttlers held top rankings in the men's singles and men's doubles but none of them made it to the semi-finals.

National Sports Council (NSC) claimed that the national badminton team had not justified the large amount of money spent on them and had time and again failed to deliver what was expected of them in major tournaments.

The NSC's deputy director general, Datuk Zolkples Embong, had said that almost half a million ringgit were spent on the shuttlers for the World Championships and the government was disappointed with their performances in Madrid.

The NSC questioned the BAM on sending the team to Madrid much earlier to adapt better to the conditions there and also the need to send a large contingent.

And the NSC said that they were concerned over how the team would fare in the Asiad scheduled for Dec 1-15.

Nadzmi said: “There were positive results from the players prior to the world championships and we had confidence in them to do well in Madrid. I have to admit that it was very disappointing that none of our men reached the singles or doubles semi-finals.”

“We will talk to the coaches and players and get feedback from them on what really happened in Madrid. The World Championships were important for us,” he said.

Nadzmi said that the BAM would not blame anyone else for the players' performances.

Nadzmi, however, was cynical on the NSC for questioning the BAM on having the team in Madrid much earlier and for sending a larger contingent.

“If they did not agree to it, why did they approve it in the first place? They should have told us before and not now,” he said.

So, no one is to be blame for the failures! That's Malaysia Boleh! Nadzmi should have said that Malaysia send the players to participate as a goodwill gesture, and there is no intention to win. It's all about sporting spirit, the Malaysian spirit.

Roti Canai & Teh Tarik No More!

No nasi lemak or teh tarik, but Jalur Gemilang is OK

There will be no teh tarik and roti canai in space. But Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor or Capt Dr Faiz Khaleed will only be allowed to take along a Malaysian flag.

In March last year, National Space Agency director-general Prof Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman said she wanted oto send teh tarik, roti canai and sambal belacan.

But it is too difficult to package these food items for space, according to Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha. He added that the Jalur Gemilang would make a good reminder of home.

The Star reported that Kong Cho Ha said that even during their one-year training at Star City in Moscow, space candidates Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Kapten Dr Faiz Khaleed have to go without these local favourites because their food and diet would be planned by nutritionists.

Is it because of difficulty to package the food for space or is it because the Russian refused to allow these food to be shipped up there?

Malaysian Ministers loves to bullshit. They can't admit that their ego had signed cheques that their body can't pay. They boasted about taking the teh tarik up in space only to find out later that the Russian authorities wouldn't allow it as it is political in nature.

So, Malaysia cannot set another Guinness book of world record for being the first astronaut to drink teh tarik and makan roti canai in the moon. Maybe, we can request russia to allow us to bring along a Proton to the moon; if not at least a miniature one.

5-Star Public Toilets

50 sen five-star loo facility

For 50 sen, the public will get to enjoy “five-star” facilities at a public toilet in Dataran Shah Bandar, Kuala Trengganu. The restroom, costing more than RM200,000, was constructed by the Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council to provide a conducive amenity for locals and tourists. The toilet floor is tiled with Italian marble while decorative items and paintings adorn the walls.

For another RM1.50, one can even take a hot or cold shower. The counter staff will provide a towel and soap.

Does the public and tourists need 5-star toilet or just clean toilets?

Italian marble? Langkawi marble put tak boleh?

State Health, Unity, Consumer Affairs and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw said more “five-star” restrooms were in the pipeline. “We want to change the mindset of locals and remind them of the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of public toilets, “We are also aiming for zero complaints from tourists on filthy toilets,” he added.

Many more of these toilets in the pipeline? Are they part of Pak Lah's 9th Malaysia Plan projects?

Toh said he believed the public did not mind paying a bit more to use a restroom similar to that of a hotel. He said similar restrooms were available in Dungun and Kemaman while other local councils were planning to emulate the five-star concept for public toilets. Toh said contract janitors had to follow a maintenance timetable to ensure the public toilets were clean and stench-free.

Oh my God?????

3-Years passed, only a bit late?

“It’s not that I’ve forgotten or don’t care at all about reforms,

but reforms must be introduced after careful planning and study and results cannot be expected overnight.”

“It is all right we are a bit late, provided we have looked into all the relevant aspects to analyze an issue.”

An airplane maker builds up backlogs of orders; we cannot build up a backlog of needs for children.

Children are not made of steel and plastic and plywood...

You can't stack them up in a corner to await your good time to put together the parts that make their lives.

While they are waiting, they are growing and needling things.

There's a deadline.

A day too late in our ministering to a child's need is just as hopeless as a lost minute when you have missed a train.

Has he???

Who was the Robin Hood of Malaysia?

Robin Hood was a Welsh freedom fighter who never even set foot in Nottingham let alone Sherwood Forest. The mediaeval never once met Maid Marian nor Sheriff of Nottingham. He was a hardened guerilla based in the valleys.

The folk hero and his band of merry men had carried out their thieving in the Marsh, and the sheltered woodland had provided him with the perfect base to launch his lightning attacks.

While the forest of England had become well managed business properties, Wales still have enormous stretches of virgin wood. Robin Hood would be able to remain sheltered in the vast forest of the Marsh.

(Source: Stephen Lawhead, in his new book, Hood)



Who then is the Robin Hood of Malaysia?

Balik Pulau Malays Marginalised?

Who wasn't Marginalised?



Was she marginalised?



Weren't she living in a marginalised kampung?



Weren't they living in marginalised kampung?



Weren't she marginalised?

Who wasn't marginalised?


Were they marginalised?



All the ministers and their cohorts, weren't each had net worth of hundreds of millions????



He had $9 million worth of shares in ECM-Libra till a scandal erupted. In fact, it was chicken feed compared to his net worth.

The other is worth $300 million as reported by media (and had projects worth some $2 billion).



Did they both had net worth of more than $500 million too...???

Differences of telling story

What is the difference between girl's aged:

8, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68?




At 8 - You take her to bed and tell her a story.

At 18 - You tell her a story and take her to bed.

At 28 - You don't need to tell her a story to take her to bed.

At 38 - She tells you a story and takes you to bed.

At 48 - You tell her a story to avoid going to bed.

At 58 - You stay in bed to avoid her story.

At 68 - If you take her to bed, that will be a story!!

Source: Unknown!!!

How is it when you are Tired?

What is it like when a person is tired?

She's damn tired at dinner

She's damn tired after playing

He's damn tired during shitting

He's damn tired waiting

Chan Kong Choy is damn tired

Karpal Singh is damn exhausted

Ng Yen Yen has a handsome Masseur when tired

Azalina is damn tired listening to morons

The kittens are damn tired reading my blog

I am damn tired after the forum

He is also getting tired of ... guess????

Who says Indian are poor?

Who says Indian are poor?

Who says MIC didn't do enough for Indians?

Look at a success story of an Indian from Kedah.

See... he has a new Mansion, the size of an Istana

Sitting majestically on a hill at the Kulim Golf and Country resort is a RM5mil mansion, quite possibly the biggest house in Kedah. It is the dream home of businessman N. Appalanaidu, 51, who purchased four bungalow lots at the Kulim High Tech Park and designed his manor in accordance with the ancient science of dwelling for peace, happiness and prosperity.

The built up area occupies 1858sq m (20,000sq ft) and it has nine spacious rooms, six bathrooms, two kitchens and several private lobbies, corners and living areas.

From a distance, one might think this house was a clubhouse or a hotel owing to the gigantic rectangular structure with gold trimmed columns similar to the Roman Colosseum.

This is the dream home of Mr. Appalanaidu.

“I’m enjoying enhanced bliss and harmony in my spacious house and I thank the Almighty for blessing me with a Vasthu friendly property,” said Appalanaidu, the father of four.

“Whenever I drove past a big bungalow in Kuala Lumpur, I used to stop at the front gate and admire the structure and imagine how I would own one.

“I moved into my house 10 months ago and prior to this, I lived in a single storey terrace house for 15 years.”

He has two kitchens and dining areas, both in the north-west – one on the ground floor for daily use and the other on the top floor for private occasions.

His master bedroom in the south-west is the biggest room with an attached bathroom fitted with a jacuzzi and shower facilities.

An oval shaped conference table with Internet facilities is used as the study room in the north-east.

Although the western and southern areas of his house offer a panoramic view of the golf course, Appalanaidu made sure there were no balconies as Vasthu disallows such openings on this stretch.

I don't know how rich is him and what is his business. He must be extremely successful. I am not sure whether the NEP and APs had benefited him or not. But I believed he must be a good friend of Samy.

Wish him good luck!