ELEVEN MALAYSIAN POLITICIANS

RESCUED WITH A TEN PERSON ROPE

Eleven Malaysian politicians, ten UMNO men and
one PKR woman are hanging on for grim death,
with both hands, to a ten person capacity
rescue rope attached beneath a helicopter.


The rope isn't strong enough to carry all eleven of
them, so they decide someone must let go before
they all fall to their deaths. 

Unable to vote who should let go, the PKR woman
launches in to a very touching speech:

"I'm used to giving up everything for my husband,
children and for men in general.” 

"We women always have and always will
make scarifices for men, expecting little
or nothing in return."

“Faced with this knowledge, I'm prepared to
voluntarily let go of the rope.” 

Visibly moved by her willingness to sacrifice herself and
impressed by the eloquence and power of her speech,
all ten UMNO men started clapping........

Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit

- If the end is good, everything will be good

(all's well that ends well)

Malaysia , Truly An Amazing Laughing Stock

Malaysia has degenerated into
'The UMNO Circus'

Since Malaysia has become the laughing stock of the world, this blog will run jokes for a while.


This is in keeping with the laughable but nevertheless very sad state of affairs in Malaysia.


The sooner the UMNO & BN clowns are removed from the federal government, the sooner Malaysia will be restored to credibility, and will become fully democratic, uncorrupted, transparent, free, fair and a truly developed nation.

Panem et circenses




- Bread and circuses. Food and games to keep people happy.

A STORY, FROM A LADY.

The Vacuum Cleaner Salesman

Yesterday I answered a knock on the door, only to be
confronted bya well dressed young man carrying
a vacuum cleaner.

“Good morning,” 

said the young man. 

“If I could take a couple of minutes of your time,
I would like to demonstrate the very latest in high-powered
vacuum cleaners.”

“Go away!” 

I said. 

“I haven't got any money!",
"I'm broke!” 

And proceeded to close the door.

Quick as a flash, the young man wedged his foot in the door
and pushed it wide open. 

“Don't be too hasty!” he said. 

“Not until you have at least seen my 
demonstration.” 

And with that, he emptied a bucket of horse shit onto
my hallway carpet.

“If this vacuum cleaner does not remove all traces of this horse
shit from your carpet, Madam, I will personally eat the remainder.” 

I stepped back and said,

“Well I hope you've got a good appetite, because
they cut off my electricity this morning.
What part of ‘broke’ do you not understand?” 

 Caveat venditor 


- Let the seller beware

MAS Engineering Denies it Maintains QANTAS B747 Aircraft

According to the Malaysian newspaper Star on-line, click HERE

Malaysia Airlines has refuted a QANTAS senior pilot's allegation that maintenance of the QANTAS Boeing 747-400 Registration Number VH-OJK, which suffered a ruptured fuselage on Friday 25^th July 2008 on route from Hong Kong to Melbourne, had been outsourced to Malaysia.

MAS reported stated that the Australian airline QANTAS had also confirmed that the report in the Australian media was incorrect.

MAS senior general manager Mohd Roslan Ismail in a statement issued on Saturday 26^th July 2008, reportedly stated that MAS Engineering handled the engineering and maintenance of QANTAS Boeing 737 aircraft but not the Boeing 747 series aircraft.

Veritas numquam perit

- Truth never perishes

QANTAS B747-400 Incident-Was the Malaysian Lackadaisical Maintenance Culture A Factor?

QANTAS B747-400 "Spirit of Australia

I certainly hope it was not, but have a gut-feeling it may have been!

If it was there must be a full inquiry and all those involved must be severely dealt with.

Sydney-based tabloid The Daily Telegraph quoted an anonymous senior QANTAS pilot as a saying that the yesterday’s (25^th July 2008) QANTAS Flight QF 30 Boeing 747-400 incident could have been due to the company’s outsourcing of maintenance to Malaysia.

The pilot said that there had been a lot of talk among pilots about the poor checks on aircraft being performed overseas.

“Qantas outsourcing maintenance to Malaysia is certainly worrying a lot of us pilots. There has been aircraft coming back with dodgy staples to secure wiring,” said the quoted QANTAS pilot.

To read the full Malaysiakini report, please click HERE

Read the Sydney Daily Telegraph news report click HERE

My earlier posts:

“Is Aircraft Maintenance in Malaysia Sub-standard?”

click HERE , refers to a similar subject.

and also

"QANTAS Aircraft Maintenance in Malaysia –Follow Up" HERE

Virtutis fortuna comes

- Good luck is the companion of courage

UMNO As I See It

Offering No Malaysian Unity [ONMU] Arse-About-Face and Upside Down

UMNO = Unity My Narrow Objective

Going by the performance and examples set by the current leaders, that would be about right, but anyone of those below may suffice?

Undemocratic Mediocre Nepotistic Opportunistic

Untrustworthy Malingering Nincompoops’ Organisation

Unmitigated Morons None Outstanding

Undoubtedly Morally Negative Organism

Universally Manufacturing National Odium

Useless Malodorous Nasty Opportunists

U Me No Others

United Mercurial Numbskull Outlaws

Unified Malevolent Never Overt

Underhanded Musty Nexus Offensive

Unpalatable Mangy Naff Osmidrosis

Whatever UMNO really stands for, the majority of Malaysians appear to have had enough of UMNO, its obvious corruption, racism, self-centred, self enrichment, arrogance, greed, nepotism, non-transparency, total disregard for human rights and freedoms, and untrustworthy, unworthy dictatorial leaders.

Under Mahathir there was No Objection, but now there are gaping cracks in UMNO which will hopefully soon cause them to self implode / explode and then quickly disintegrate and vanish into oblivion before they are voted out at the next General Election

The time is ripe for a change of government from UNMO and the make-believe coalition called BN.

If this change does not happen soon, God help Malaysia.

Please remember this motto:

"LET'S BUILD A BETTER MALAYSIA, WITH UNITY OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR DIVERSITY!"

Ut humiliter opinor

- In my humble opinion

Vincit omnia veritas

- Truth conquers all

All of Malaysia is Not for Sale, including Sarawak

This country belongs to its RAKYAT, not political parties!

Poster and footnote thanks to mob1900



"Politicians love visible beneficiaries and invisible victims."



- Dr. Walter Williams on WABC-AM 31 October 2003

"When will the world wake up and realize that most politicians, especially in the poorest countries of the world, are nothing more than glorified gangsters who view government as simply a fiercely-guarded monopoly on every form of compulsion and extortion to be perpetrated in a specific geographical area?

Why do you think the largest amounts of 'foreign aid' extracted from the gullible diplomats of wealthier countries wind up in those politicians' pockets or Swiss bank accounts, despite all the virtuous-sounding rhetoric?"

-Bert Rand

POSCO eyes Sarawak, watch out for air and water pollution, destruction of the natural environment and loss of flora and fauna

Will this be yet another nail in Sarawak's coffin?

Some are undoubtedly going to get even richer if this plan by Pohang Iron and Steel Company, of South Korean is allowed to proceed will-nilly.

See this recent news report taken from the international marine publication ‘Fairplay’.

"Now POSCO eyes Sarawak

THE WORLD’S third-largest steel producer, POSCO of South Korea, is keenly eyeing the vast economic potential of the eastern Malaysian state of Sarawak, now that the company’s Vietnam plans have come to grief.

South Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia Yang Bong Ryull told the Bernama News Agency:

“POSCO is showing big interest in Sarawak.” Yang was briefing reporters after attending a briefing by senior Sarawak Energy officials in Kuching.

Vietnam government-owned shipbuilder Vinashin recently decided to withdraw from a deal with POSCO for a $3.5Bn integrated steel mill plant.

But POSCO has reportedly submitted a feasibility study to build a different steel plant in central Vietnam. Korean sources close to POSCO said that it awaits Vietnamese government approval for a plant with first-phase production of 1.8M tonnes of steel a year."

Patria est communis omnium parens

- Our native land is the common parent of us all.

Lili Marleen, the tall ship

Lili Marleen under full sail

Plan of the decks of Lili Marleen

(click on images for a larger view)

LILI MARLEEN

Asiaone Travel Reported a NST story HERE on 21^st July 2008

QUOTE “High living on the high seas

BY: R. Gomathy

MALACCA, MALAYSIA: Fancy sailing aboard a luxury yacht and experiencing five-star dining on the high seas in the Straits of Malacca?

Then check in at the "floating hotel" in the form of the 76m-long yacht Lili Marleen, which belongs to the Halim Mazmin group.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who visited the yacht moored near the Malacca port yesterday, said he believed the floating hotel would be the next big tourism product to attract more tourists to the state.

"I consider this ship as a reward for Malacca being successfully listed (as a Unesco World Heritage Site)."

Anchored off Malacca town's waterfront, the Lili Marleen can accommodate up to 150 passengers ???????? TYPO SHOULD BE 50 ONLY????????.

It offers world class facilities such as deluxe cabins, restaurants, a lounge with bar and a sunbathing deck.

"It is a versatile platform for a variety of social, leisure and business functions. From now on, off-site seminars, conferences and meetings, luxury cruises and sail training can be arranged by the Lili Marleen crew."

Mohd Ali along with hoteliers, travel agents and members of the Malacca Tourism Department and the media, were treated to a cruise along the Straits of Malacca yesterday.

Meanwhile, Halim Mazmin group chief executive officer Tan Sri Halim Mohammad said the crew members were prepared to sail all the way to Penang and Langkawi.

"The Lili Marleen is 15 years old. She was purchased for E 6.5 million (RM33 million), and we are proud to own this one-of-a-kind ship in the Asia Pacific."

"Our concept is very simple -- for the guests to rest, relax and unwind.

"If the response is promising, then we are willing to add another vessel to meet the demand.

"We accept bookings for events such as wedding receptions. All you have to do is to inform us. We will plan the rest." UNQUOTE

Two days later, Star Metro South & East reported HERE

QUOTE “Wednesday July 23, 2008

Luxury yacht offers Straits tours

MALACCA: Tourists in Malacca can now enjoy sailing on a luxury yacht and enjoy the experience of five-star dining at high seas.

The 76.62m Lili Marleen, owned by Halim Mazmin Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, can take on 50 visitors at a time.

“It's a floating hotel. Besides sailing, tourists can enjoy fine dining,” Halim told reporters after a visit by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam on the yacht moored near Malacca Port here recently.

He said the yacht with sails bought in Germany would be used for social activities, adding that tourists would be taken to islands on the Straits of Malacca.

“We can also take tourists to Penang, Langkawi or Sumatra,” said Halim.

He said that tourists could liase with hotels and travel agents to arrange trips.

Asked about the rates, he said this would be discussed with players in the tourism industry.

Halim said the service was in line with Malacca’s recent listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said the state and related bodies would help promote the product. – Bernama” UNQUOTE

The Tall Ship, Sailing Vessel “Lili Marleen”, is a3 masted Barquentine with 50 passenger berths in 25 cabins, she was built 1994 and was formerly flying the German Flag, with the International Call Sign: DMJP, her IMO Number is 9086863 (A ship's IMO Number always remains the same throughout her life)

Her Technical Data (from her German Registry)

Length: 74,0 metres

Beam: 9,50 metres

Draught: 3,90 metres

GRT: 704

Displacement: 750

Sail Area: 1,200 m²

Rigging: Barquentine .

Built/Rebuilt: 1994 .

Engine: 660 kW

Whilst under the German flag and ownership she sailed on luxury cruises to many parts of the world including the Galapagos islands, the Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, Caribbean, Mediterranean and elsewhere.

Lili Marleen was registered as Malaysian Ship in year 2005:-

There are reports about her sailing out of her base in Langkawi, Kedah, on charters (see below) since then until the news reports of July 2008 (see above), stating she now has left Langkawi for Malacca, but her former home in Langkawi, Kedah was surely a far more scenic, viable and suitable place than Malacca to cruise the Andaman Sea, Malacca Straits and perhaps beyond?

Penang too would, in my opinion, be a far better home port than Malacca.

Anyway, let’s just wait see how long she stays anchored far off the, now shallower than ever, muddy coastline of Malacca.

Particulars of Ship from Malaysian Registry:-

Name: Lili Marleen

Ship Type: Passenger Ship

Official Number: 330429

IMO Number: 9086863

Call Sign: 9MGJ2

Date of Malaysian Registry: 2005

Port of Registry: Port Klang

Year Built: 1994

GRT: 704

NRT: 243

Length: 56.46 metres

Bredth: 9.5 metres

Depth: 4.36 metres

Meanwhile, on line this can still be found HERE

Lili Marleen - Tall Ship for Charter

Rental Price: 10,000 EUR Per Day

Location: Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia

"Practical politics consists of ignoring facts."

- Henry Brooks Adams, The Education of Henry Adams

"The modus operandi which politicians have loved for so many years is:
'If it doesn't work, do more of it!' "


- Ian Bernard

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the Malaysian Army

Eagle 150B Aircraft

The Malaysian army will soon be equipped with 'state-of-the-art' Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), DPM Najib Razak, who is also defence minister said on 21^st July 2008 in Lumut.

Najib did not give an operational time frame, but only said tactical UAVs would be leased from a consortium made up of three companies, namely;

Composites Technology Research Malaysia,

Systems Consultancy Sdn Bhd, and

Ikramatic Sdn Bhd.,

which were said to be developing the UAV.

Najib said five units of UAV were being tested before being put to use by the army.

The UAV reportedly can fly at a speed of up to 55 knots and reach an altitude of 4,000 metres.

More white elephants to be fed and watered?

At a time when it is common to see army vehicles broken down by the sides of roads and highways, the mind boggles regarding how these UAV’s will be maintained so as to be in an every-ready operational state.

Furthermore let us hope that the lives of the public are not put at risk when these unmanned airborne vehicles are flying about, especially if Najib wants to have the UAVs used for crowd control if and when the army is roped in to police the citizens of Malaysia!

Money seems to be plentiful in the MOD, even at these belt-tightening times.

Malaysian Airborne Reconnaissance Vehicle is, according to Wikipedia,

"A development of the Eagle 150B aircraft as a UAV which has been designated the 'Eagle ARV System'.”

Also according to Wikipedia:

“The first system of three aircraft and a ground station has been purchased by the Malaysian government.”

Consuetudinis magna vis est

- The force of habit is great.

50% shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals in Malaysia

Hippocratic Oath -- Classical Version

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfil this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.


Translation from the Greek by Ludwig Edelstein. From The Hippocratic Oath: Text, Translation, and Interpretation, by Ludwig Edelstein. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1943.

Hippocratic Oath—Modern Version


I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:



I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.



I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.



I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.



I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.



I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.



I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.



I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.



I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.



If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.




Written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University,
and used in many medical schools today.

There is a acute shortage of l,800 specialists in government (public) hospitals throughout Malaysia.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has admitted that government hospitals have to operate with only 50 per cent of their specialist doctor strength.

He said the Ministry of Health needed 3,600 specialists to serve in government hospitals but at present there were only l,800 specialists employed.

"The Health Ministry is concerned over the shortage. It is finding ways to encourage more Malaysian specialists working overseas to return to work in the hospitals," Liow told reporters.

This is not a new phenomena, in has fact it has gradually been getting worse year by year.

What about the large number of Malaysian specialists who are working in the many very expensive private hospitals which have sprung up throughout Malaysia in recent years?

These hospitals are far beyond the reach of a large percentage of Malaysians, I hazard a guess at say 85% or more!

Can some of these specialists not be lured back to serve in public government hospitals?

Specialists from the public sector are currently allowed to work in private hospitals at weekends, why can the private hospital not provide health and medical care to the general public to take the load of the government hospitals?

The public are suffering less than adequate medical and health care due to severe shortage of specialist, doctors, nurses and ancillary health and medical personnel in the public sector.

There are many fine specialists, medical officers and other personnel still serving in the public hospitals, but overall it seems that the government medical services staffing is bottom heavy, and is in some areas possibly overstaffed. The clinical staff, are obviously overworked and are trying to cope with an immense work overload, thus the patients have to suffer long delays and in some cases perhaps less than optimum treatment.

The solution will not be simple, but urgent practical and effective measures need to be taken now, before it is a case of too little too late!

In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas

- In necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity

Waste Not. Want Not

Monday 21st July 2006

The Terengganu state government has defended the purchased 14 Mercedes Benz E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil for the use of its state executive councillors and senior officials.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Ahmad Said said the state government had planned to purchase the cars for a long time now to replace its Proton Perdana V6 Executive fleet in a move to cut cost.

“Please understand that the Proton Perdanas go through continuous long-distance journeys. It’s costing us a lot of money due to high cost of maintenance."

“We are not saying that the national car is not good but in reality we are coughing up more money for maintaining the Proton Perdanas, particularly the gear boxes,” he said.

Ahmad cited the example of the Proton Perdana of state Commerce, Industry and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw, which has twice undergone expensive repairs costing RM50,000 within 36 months.

`

Well, if I had the choice between a Proton Perdana V6 Executive and a Mercedes Benz 200 Kompressor, I would certainly choose the later, but then I would not be be using other peoples money! I would also drive the car properly at the regulation speed limits, maintain it correctly and on schedule.

Parva scintilla saepe magnam flamam excitat



- The small sparkle often initiates a large flame

Anwar Ibrahim in an interview with the BBC's Robin Brant, in Kuala Lumpur,

Click HERE for the video

“We are clear, absolutely clear on the alibi, every single minute of the day”

Anwar Ibrahim

ANWAR SAYS he is the victim of a personal vendetta, and has called the allegation "complete fabrication".

To link to the BBC web page entitled:"MALAYSIA'S ANWAR IN 'SODOMY ALIBI'

click HERE

STORAGE OF FORENSIC DNA SAMPLES

"To best preserve DNA evidence, store in a cold environment.

Any probative biological sample that has been stored dry or frozen, regardless of age, may be considered for DNA analysis.

Nuclear DNA from blood and semen stains more than 20 years old has been analyzed successfully using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Samples that have been stored wet for an extended period of time should be considered for testing only using PCR and may be unsuitable for DNA analysis.

Mitochondrial DNA analysis has been performed on very old bones, teeth, and hair samples.

Samples generally considered unsuitable for testing with current techniques include embalmed bodies (with the possible exception of bone or plucked hairs), pathology or fetal tissue samples that have been immersed in formaldehyde or formalin for more than a few hours (with the notable exception of pathology paraffin blocks and slides), and urine stains.

Other samples such as feces, fecal stains, and vomit can potentially be tested, but are not routinely accepted by most laboratories for testing."

Source

Timendi causa est nescire

- Ignorance is the cause of fear

What a tangled, mischievous and devious web you weave!

MISCHEVIOUS

DEVIOUS

Malaysiakini reports:-

“PM: DNA yang ada, sudah lama

Muda Mohd Noor, Jul 18, 08 6:35pm

Perdana menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata DNA Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim diperlukan kerana DNA yang ada, sudah lama.

"Jadi kita kena minta yang baru," katanya”

English translation by me

PM: The DNA available is already old.

Prime Minister Abullah Ahmad Badawi said that the DNA of Anwar Ibrahim is required because the DNA we have is already old

(10 years old to be precise)

“That’s why we are asking for new” he said.

See YouTube / Malaysiakini video below:-

Meanwhile the Deputy Insp.Gen Police has been reported as saying that the police will not use the blood sample obtained 10 years ago from Anwar Ibrahim for investigations into the current sodomy allegation.

"That was the previous case. It is a different case now," said the DIGP Ismail Omar.

Ismail was referring to the investigation into the 1998 sodomy allegations against the then deputy prime minister.

At a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday, Ismail was asked if police could use the blood sample take in the 1998 case.

The deputy police chief shrugged off the suggestion, saying that they were looking at obtaining a court order instead to compel Anwar to give his blood sample for DNA tests.

"We are studying various laws," he said, without elaborating.

What are the two geezers, mentioned above, talking about, DNA remains unchanged and is usable for an indefinite time period!

They are, it seems, spinning a devious convoluted yarn to confuse and mislead the public.

Are both the PM & the DIGP unable to differentiate between an arse and an elbow, or perhaps they are confusing ‘DNA’ and ‘AND’?

Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!

Sir Walter Scott.

Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17.
Scottish author & novelist (1771 - 1832)