BUM2008 is fast approaching!

Bloggers Universe Malaysia 2008

UPDATE: DEADLINE EXTENDED--

Deadline for Registration/Payment has been extended to next Tuesday, 29th April 2008, at 17:00 hrs., to try to accommodate those laissez-faire individuals who find it so difficult to change their "Last-minute is us" procrastinating bad habit!!!!!!!

1st May 2008 at Lake Club, Subang Jaya, don't miss it!
LAST CALL!
STOP PRESS:"Raja Petra Kamarudin is that "Surprise speaker" flagged off in our earlier Post dated March 24, 2008 for the Evening Brainstormy Session."
READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE

• Remove thumbs from bums.
• Engage brains in gear.
• Arise from thy slumbering.
• Don't be a last-minute bum.
  

Procrastinate no more, the deadline (it is 5pm TODAY 24th April 2008) fast approaches, don't miss embarking the bum-boat, BUM2008 sets sail soon.

All aboard!!

Shake the moths out from your purses and wallets, rake together the princely sum of RM50.00 then pay your dues to register your attendance at BUM2008.

Hope to see you there.

Lectori Salutem

- Greetings to the reader

Malaysian blogger Rustam A. Sani passes away

Al-Fatihah

image source malaysiakini

Sad news.
Former Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) deputy president Rustam A. Sani passed away at 03:00 today Wednesday 23 April 2008 at his home in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur. He was 64 years of age

The noted academician, newspaper columnist, poet and writer was a pioneer Malaysian blogger with his blogs Vox Populi and Suara Ku.

He was the vice-president of PRM when it merged with Parti Keadilan Nasional to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), he sat on the new party's leadership council until poor health forced him to take a less active role.

His funeral will be held this afternoon after Zohor prayers.

The late Rustam A. Sani will always be an inspiration for thinking Malaysians.

Requiescat in pace (RIP)

- May he rest in peace

Wheeler dealer CM to add a bigger wheel to the Malacca fun fare

Malacca already has a teeny weenie wheel, in a little fun fare by the Malacca River, (see video below) it only opens after dusk, and does not seem to be well patronised, this mini wheel must have caused RM millions to go down the drain,

The Malacca state government will, as reported in the local media, now be dumpling RM42 million in a joint-venture project for the construction of an integrated complex and to shift the medium sized (60 metre high) wheel from Taman Titiwangsa, in Kuala Lumpur, after the end of August to Malacca, where it will be permanently erected.

Mohd Ali Rustam the Chief Minister of Malacca said, "the wheel will be sited in a two-hectare site next to the Malacca River, apart from the wheel there will be a water screen display and aerospace walk featuring projections to give visitors a feel of being in space."

Whatever that is supposed to mean.

He said "the state government had agreed that its subsidiary Kumpulan Melaka Berhad" (which also runs the 110 metre high Taming Sari viewing tower in Bandar Hilir, see HERE) 'would enter into a 40:60 j-v agreement with operators of the 'Eye on Malaysia', MST AD Suria Sdn Bhd."

I wonder who owns MST AD Sdn. Bhd.?

Someone with UMNO political connections no doubt?

“On our part, we (the state government) "have agreed to provide land for the project and RM12 million, with the remaining being borne by the company concerned,” “The Ferris wheel will become a permanent ‘tourist landmark’ here and is in line with our effort to promote Malacca as an open-air theme park."

I thought that Malacca was trying to get UNESCO approval to be declared a World Heritage Site, now they had better have a back-up plan and also turn to the Walt Disney Corporation to be listed as a Disneyland look-alike !!!

“Several other projects such as the 52-lane bowling centre and international go-kart track in Ayer Keroh are also expected to be completed this year,” he added.

More money down the drain?

He was reported as saying that "the wheel would earn enough to let the operators get back their investment within four years, based on projected ticket sales."

The 'Eye on Malaysia' in Kuala Lumpur

This may be wishful thinking, since the wheel apparently has not been a money maker as the 'Eye on Malaysia’ even though it was located at a prime site in Kuala Lumpur, in fact the government was reported as having bought tens of thousands of tickets to give away free to schools to boost the visitor numbers and consequently subsidised the operator using tax-payers’ money.

An estimated 6.8 million tourists are expected to visit Malacca this year with the number likely to increase to eight million by 2010.

Big deal!

This visitor forecast may fail to be achieved if the state government continues to destroy Malacca’s cultural and historic heritage!

The new Malacca motto may need to be changed from "Bersatu Teguh" ("United, Strong") to:

"Si tu id aeficas, ei venient. Ager somnia"

- If you build it, they will come

Mahathir ready to be probed

Mahathir

Mahathir Mohamad says he is prepared to be investigated by a full and formal public inquiry if Anwar Ibrahim were to become the Prime Minister.

However, the former premier said he hoped that those who sit on the board of inquiry would be neutral, impartial and probably foreigners.

See Mahathir’s performance in the 23 minute interview on the BBC World News HARDtalk programme with Stephen Sackur.

See below:

Click here to watch the interview

"Last month Malaysia's ruling National Front endured its worst electoral performance in five decades yet it remains in power."

"Mahathir Mohamad was Malaysia's Prime Minister for 22 years.

Is it the beginning of the end for the National Front?

When he was Prime Minister his critics labelled him a racist and a dictator.

Have his controversial views mellowed in retirement? Mahathir Mohamad talks to Stephen Sackur.

This edition of HARDtalk was on BBC World at 15:30 GMT Friday 18th April, 03:30 GMT and 22:30 GMT on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th April.

Hardtalk can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 & 23:30."

Panem et circenses


-Bread and Circuses

RELAX: RELA to be upgraded to be an enforcement agency

RELA on parade

Proposal to upgrade RELA

RELA (Ikatan Relawan Rakyat) the Peoples Volunteer Corps of Malaysia, are an outdated, one could even say obsolete, inefficient organisation, which has been heavily criticised in the past for their unprofessional and thuggish behaviour, especially towards foreigners, both illegal immigrants and those who were here legally.

Their ignorance, lack of discipline and unkempt and unhealthy appearance has made them objects of ridicule and contempt, they have even been referred to as RELAX instead of RELA.

Now it has been reported that the ministry of home affairs is to propose that "RELA be upgraded to full departmental status to function as an enforcement agency" under that ministry.

The minister concerned Syed Hamid Albar, said this would enhance the organisation's enforcement and public order operations, adding that a draft of the proposal was being finalised before being tabled to the Government for approval.

Surely this sort of thing needs to be tabled before Parliament, the government per se is a different entity to Parliament

“The role and responsibility of RELA has increased and become even more challenging, as such it is appropriate that the organisation be upgraded to an enforcement agency under the ministry,” Syed Hamid was reported to have told reporters, he went on to say that the move would allow for better logistical support and funding for facilities, equipment, and uniforms for its personnel.

WHAT UTTER BULLSHIT!

“We need to give the 508,000 volunteers sufficient training, not only to enhance RELA’s capability but also to further assist police and the Immigration Department, as of today, RELA has nabbed 73,938 illegal immigrants," he added.

Under the Ninth Malaysian Plan , three more RELA training camps are due to be established in the states of Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Perak to complement the camps already in operation in Malacca, Kedah and Sabah.

Wow, that’s only on average only one (1) illegal immigrant per seven (7) RELA volunteers, not a sterling performance by any standards, even more so when it is a running total, not an annual one!
Furthermore, there may be a million or more illegal immigrant workers in Malaysia at any one time.

This proposal, to professionalise RELA may be a good one in theory, however all the ‘deadwood’ needs to be removed from RELA, this trimming exercise should trim the corps down by perhaps as much as 80 to 90%, the remainder may then be good men and women who have the credibility, capability and personality to be thoroughly trained to become efficient professional law enforcement officers.

If this is not done, then the tax-payers money will be once again squandered on a wasteful and unproductive project.

However the question which needs to be asked first is:-

Would it not be better to disband RELA altogether?

RELA in action

After all RELA have clearly proved thus far that they are, apart from being a national embarrassment, non-productive, unprofessional, inefficient and more of a liability than an asset.

Qui totum vult totum perdit


-He who wants everything loses everything

Welcome the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch to Malaysia

As the Beijing 2008 Olympic countdown gets nearer, it will be Malaysia's turn today, Monday 21st April 2008, to host the Olympic torch relay.

The torch arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday from Bangkok, and will, whilst it is in Malaysia, be protected by a 1,000 strong Royal Malaysian police presence, which will include the Federal Reserve Unit [FRU] (Riot Police) as well as Police Special Forces Commandos, Special Action Squad (UTK) members and others.

It has been stated that the UTK will run with and surround the Olympic Flame throughout the whole torch relay

The other police personnel will be there to 'help' you if you shout, are deemed to be protesting, get lost and get too close to the torch, etc., so, if you misbehave please be careful and watch out for the, batons, tear gas and chemical laced water canons, and perhaps more deadly weaponry too. (see lists below)

UTK (Police Special Action Force)

FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) Riot Police

Police Special Forces weaponry, firearms

Firearms
Pistols	Shotguns	Submachine guns	Rifles/ Carbines	Sniper Rifles	Machine Guns	Grenade Gun
Beretta M92FS1	Remington 870	HK MP5A3	AR-18	Acc-Int. PM	M60E2	M79
Browning HP Mk.3	Remington 1100	HK MP5-K	Colt M16A1	HK G3/SG-1	HK 11 LMG	M203
Colt M1911A11	Winchester M12	HK MP5SD2	HK 331	HK 33 Sniper1		HE Grenade
Glock 19	SPAS 12	HK MP7 PDW	HK 416	SIG-Sauer SSG 2000		Flashbang
HK P9S	SPAS 15		HK G36C	Remington 700		Smoke Grenade
Sig Sauer P226			Steyr AUG A2
Steyr M9 Compact
Vektor SP1
Yavuz 16
STI 5.0

Click below for more details:
Source

Support Equipment

Support Equipment
High Explosive Grenades	Flash- bang	Tear Gas Grenades	Ballistic Shields	Night Vision Goggles	Laser Designator
T - Baton	Police Flexi Cuffs	Taser Weapon	SF-10 Gas Mask	Pepper Spray	Telescopic Sight
Fiber Optic Camera	Surefire	Battering Rams	Tactical Bulletproof Vest	C-4 Explosives	Range finder Camera
Assault Ladders	Binocular	SPECTRA Helmet	Thermal Weapon Sight	Aimpoint CompM2	Aimpoint CompM4
First Aid Kit	Hiatts Speedcuffs	EO Tech Holosights	Bean Bag Shells1	EOD Tools	AN/PEQ-6

Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ...
Surefire U2 digital variable-output LED flashlight Surefire is a California-based company that produces precision tactical flashlights commonly used in the law enforcement and military fields. ... An assault ladder is designed in conjunction with Special Forces units for situations where a full sized ladder is not required or when working in confined spaces. ... Binoculars A set of binoculars (from Latin, bi-, two-, and oculus, eye) is a hand-held tool used to magnify distant objects by passing the image through two adjacent series of lenses, and erecting prisms. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. Note

¹The Bean Bag (or flexible baton round) shell is typically fired from a shotgun, and is used by police and military forces, to disperse the type of riot which is not able to be controlled with tear gas weapon. When fired, the bean bag (or BB) made from rubber and plastic is expelled at around 70-90 meters/second; it spreads out in flight and distributes its impact over about 6 centimetres of the target. It is designed to deliver a blow that will cause minimum long-term trauma and no penetration but will result in a muscle spasm or other reaction to briefly render a violent suspect immobile. For PGK teams, these shells will be used to injure suspects when orders are given to apprehend a suspect.

Special Vehicles

As the special operations units, Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) also employ specific vehicles for operations in land, sea and the air.

For more information click Source

These Chinese 'Torch Guardians' in blue track suits and white baseball caps will be there too.

These are the Chinese Secret Police 'Torch Guardians', who are the cream of China's special secret police who were hand picked from across China, they all have specialist training in crowd control and vehicle handling, etc.

These 70 young riot police were sworn in as the 'Olympic Flame Guardians' in August 2007, 30 to take responsibility during the torch relays overseas and the other 40 to follow the torch when it is inside China.

They were referred to as "Thugs" by Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Olympic Committee when they were in Great Britain recently, they were also condemned for their loutish behaviour in France.

May the Olympic Torch have a safe and uneventful trip around Kuala Lumpur and throughout the remainder of it's journey to Beijing.

There will be grid locked traffic in Kuala Lumpur, and many people will face great inconvenience, as it is a working day, perhaps it would have been better to declare a holiday for the city, the productivity will be seriously affected as many folks will be stuck in worse than normal traffic jams and may find it impossible to reach work, or to go about their usual business.

Keep politics out of sports and vice versa!



Ubi dubium ibi libertas


- Where there is doubt, there is freedom

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, English tutorial

Since this year's Olympic Games will be held in China later this year, on 8th August 2008 to be presise, the visiting athletes and officials better beware; the notices, menus and signs they see, which have been translated to English, may be somewhat confusing.

Please refer to the examples below for an brief overview and mini tutorial.

Be sure to follow all instructions carefully, swallow only!

The cuisine offered may be rather unfamiliar!

Salads may be hot as well as cold!



Meat balls may be testes!

To be forewarned is to be forearmed!

Pay attention to all notices!

If your English language skills are not yet up to standard, study hard!

The Japanese are getting the best English language lessons, just to be sure they fully understand everything!

If you need funds, or help with other more serious problems, please feel free to visit one of these self-help facilities in Beijing.

This H.O.T. Machine, or Self Activated Termination Equipment (SATE),
will be of great help.

Having fun is not an option.

and be very careful when shopping

Watch out for this type of supermarket!

When using the public conveniences, watch out, and be sure to follow all the instructions very very carefully.






When visiting Beijing for the 2008 Olympics , have a great time!

Don't worry if you've had one drink too many, other folks will be warned in advance.


image source


Keep politics out of sports and vice versa!

If you are fortunate enough to be able to visit China during the 2008 Olympic Games, have a wonderful time, enjoy the sports and try to get some sightseeing in too.

China has lots of cultural treasures for visitors to see.

Nemo risum praebuit, qui ex se coepit

- Nobody is laughed at, who laughs at himself.

Selangor UMNO, Pig Farms and Hypocrites

Dr Karim Mansor [a Selangor UMNO leader] posing next to a pig-sty giving the 'Pigs are Us' thumbs-up in Germany

Photo courtesy of Malaysiakini
Source of photo which Malaysiakini said was released by the Selangor State Government:

See this article in the Star today, Saturday 19th April 2008

Since Dr. Karim Mansor seems to be a pig enthusiast, could this be his vehicle of choice?


and perhaps he will always elect fly with Porcine International Group (PIG) Airways..up, up and away!!!

If pigs could fly, I could I'd fly a pig, to foreign countries small and big.
With PIG Airways, you could!

Check out the blog entry at 'Seventh Rangers Mechanised' HERE
and also HERE at blog 'Pray for Malaysia,'
as well as HERE for an article in the Sun, for more details.

Cui bono?

- For whose benefit is it?

Waste not, want not; time and tide waits for no one

The Menteri Besar of Terengganu says no red carpet or souvenirs for him, and be punctual!

RED CARPETS DOWN THE DRAIN!

No red carpet or souvenirs for me please!

This is the Terngganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said's clear message to all those inviting him to their functions.

“I’m a worker. I work for the state, so there’s no need for gifts. There’s no place for me to put them,” he said to rapturous applause. Ahmad was speaking at a gathering of Wisma Darul Iman (The State Government Offices) staff in Kuala Terengganu, recently.

He also stressed that when it came to discipline there was no compromise, especially when it came to being punctual.

SHAMEFULLY LATE!

Ahmad said although people joked about ‘Malaysian time’, not only did he not find the term amusing, but considered that it was, in fact, insulting.

He added those who wanted to meet up with him, to do so in order to give constructive ideas and not to back-stab others.

Wise and heartening words from Ahmad Said, let’s hope that this will become the universally adopted practice throughout the length and breadth of Malaysia, in all State Governments, and throughout the Federal Government, and private sector too.

Doing away with presents, souvenirs, bouquets of flowers, corsages, red carpets, and all the other wasteful and unnecessary pampering and trappings will save vast sums of money every year.

Punctuality will also result in massive savings, both of time and money.

May I suggest that, if any guest of honour is more that five minutes late, then the function should commence without them, or perhaps all the other guests should get up and leave?

Non sibi sed suis

- Not for one's self but for one's people

BUM2008, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE

Deadline for Registration/Payment is 24th APRIL 2008!

Click above for the news from the source:

The gist is below-

CLOSING DEADLINE for REGISTRATION/PAYMENT is Thursday, 24th April 2008, at close of business 17:00 hours (5.00pm),
or at that point of time when the NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS/PAYMENTS RECEIVED REACHES 110, whichever is earlier.

The BUM2008 Organising Committee advises that seating is limited, and the revised target open to Registration is being reduced from 120 to 110 as a dozen Media representatives have been Registered to come as our Guests.

Any Registration/Payment that comes late, or after the110th payment received may have to be Cancelled/Refunded.

Thank you for your interest and cooperation.

Please pay and register NOW!

OK, folks, just do it!

The early bird catches the worm.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Venire facias



- You must come

NS MB says: Projects in PD will benefit people

PD Town

[This image and those satellite images below are from Google Earth]
(click on images for bigger view)

NS Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan

Is this really true?

I don’t think so!

NS Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan has lashed out at bloggers regarding their blog entries questioning his recent announcement of proposed development projects in Port Dickson, HERE

He said they should check their facts before criticising the projects which would benefit the people.

I think he needs to check his facts!

Mohamad Hasan recently announced that PD town, which is located at the end of a stretch of what was once pristine beaches, but are now rather an eyesore, with many abandoned hotels, uncompleted buildings, some on reclaimed land.

The reclaimed land at PD town, which lay unused for years

This was a Safuan Group project

The past reclamation projects (see an example in Google Earth satellite picture above) along the PD coast have evidently caused detrimental effects on the natural environment, such as erosion of the beaches, and deposition of mud on the coastline.

Some beaches have even had to be replenished with sand at great public expense!

The NS MB announced that Port Dickson would have a duty-free zone and a new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex once a multi-million Ringgit land reclamation project is completed.

The other tourist support facilities planned are a multi-purpose jetty, hotels, shopping complexes and office blocks, blaaah, blaaah, blaaah!

Speaking after the state government executive council meeting yesterday, Mohamad Hasan was reported as saying that the project would not destroy any part of the beach as the reclamation would be carried out near the town.

(NOTE: The beach has already been adversely affected by previous detrimental 'development' projects, this additional reclamation will only add to the problem)

Does he really know what he is talking about, maybe not, if his advisers have not explained the implications of such a project ?

Any reclamation of the sea, or coastal areas can cause fundamental, and often harmful changes, to the marine and coastal environment, these effects can even occur many miles away from the area being reclaimed.

Who will be visiting the PD beaches in droves anyway?

Port Dickson beach front

Many of the existing hotels, serviced apartments and other accommodation are run down, partially open and largely empty most of the time, some projects have been abandoned, why then build even more hotels?

Indonesia (Dumai) is not too far away by sea, but it is doubtful there are many Indonesians who would want to spend a few days on the seafront in Port Dickson, if they want to shop, they have better facilities in Kuala Lumpur, and elsewhere.

Passengers from cruise liners would, in my opinion, will not find Port Dickson an attractive port of call.

The public would get a chance to give their input, Mohamad Hasan said, that should be interesting!

He also stated that the Seremban / Port Dickson train service proposal was another project which the state hoped would boost tourist arrivals to the beach destination.

Years ago passenger trains ran to PD, this was stopped due to lack of passengers, so what's new!

Port Dickson is a now a failed beach resort, if it is to regain its former glory, sensible, practical and cost effective projects need to be implemented, and not mega buck fantasy projects, which will enrich the developers and their crony's and then will quickly become more white elephants to join the herd already encamped along the Port Dickson beach front!

Splendide mendax


- Splendidly false.