Yes, our schools better but can trust ISIS or MPC?!

Scrutinize the report here at:

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GCR_Report_2011-12.pdf

Yes, the report states so. Malaysia's ranking is higher than the 3 countries that DPM mentioned.

But the question remains - can we trust the Partner Institutes of WEF - ISIS and MPC?

We don't even trust our own judiciary.

Stupid NFC trying to stop Rafizi: Rafizi for RAKYAT!

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli has vowed to continue exposing alleged fraud in National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) in the wake of a police report made against him by NFC.

Yesterday, NFC lodged a police report against Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi for allegedly contravening the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 (Bafia) and accused of illegally distributing confidential NFC’s bank account documents to the media at a press conference on March 7.

If found guilty, the trio are liable to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM3 million.

An attempt to spook the people

Rafizi, in a press statement today, described the police report as a move to “spook the people.” and confirmed that the PKR press conference, which is to be held next week to expose further details of the NFC scandal, would proceed.

Rafizi said, “The purpose of law is to ensure justice, not to conceal fraud and allow the perpetrator to go scot-free. I am confident to face NFC in court as we must respect the rakyat’s aspirations for the wrongdoing in NFC to be exposed.”

Some That Might Be: A CLUTCH OF BREASTS

Thanks to zorro-unmasked's latest blog posting, I've learnt new collective nouns.
 
Some are less widely known albeit interesting.

They are:

a Pride of lions,

a Gaggle of women,
a Herd of cows,

a Flock of chickens,

a Rope of onions

a Balance of Accountants

a Bevy of Alcoholics

a Clutch of Breasts


Well, click on link below for an exhaustive list of Collective Nouns:
http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm

TOYOL: Danger in 5 states, Daim: Safe in 3 states!

Five states ‘in danger’ for BN in GE, says Khir Toyo

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

March 30, 2012

Not long ago, I blogged:

Sage Daim says BN only safe in 3 states in GE13?

Wah, why suddenly there are all these predictions that are so predictable? Another prediction is Sarawak is a 'safe deposit' for BN. ;)

Will Lai Kwan's son death spell the death of Lynas?

Anti-Lynas lobby tells Putrajaya to ‘learn lesson’ from Perak death

By Shannon Teoh

March 30, 2012

Critics of the Lynas refinery contend that it will cause the same health problems that have been blamed on the ARE facility. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — The federal government must learn from the mistakes of the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah, Ipoh, those leading protests against Lynas Corp’s rare earth refinery in Kuantan said today after an ARE worker’s son died last night.
They told The Malaysian Insider the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration must “stop gambling with people’s lives” after the death of Cheah Kok Leong, whose mother Lai Kwan blames congenital defects he was born with 30 years ago on radiation exposure from working at the plant while she was pregnant with him.
“How many more lives must we lose before Putrajaya learns its lesson?” said Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, who has led protests against Australian miner Lynas’s RM2.3 billion project there.
“I will do my best, so that not even one family will have to go through the same kind of suffering as Lai Kwan in Kuantan, STOP LYNAS!!” the PKR vice president added on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chairman Tan Bun Teet also said it was “sad that politicians are making decisions that capitalise on the forgetfulness of others.”
“Lai Kwan’s 30 years of suffering and other deaths in Bukit Merah, although not proven to be a direct result of ARE, should convince the government to show more prudence and care,” said the leader of the group of Kuantan residents opposed to the plant that has raised fears of radiation pollution.
The 11,000-strong Bukit Merah community blames the ARE plant for birth defects and eight leukaemia cases in the last five years, seven of which were fatal.
But radiation regulator Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) has said it was unlikely that Lai’s child was born with mental defects because of her exposure to radiation, explaining that nerve tissue is the most resistant to radiation.
DAP MP Fong Po Kuan said that in her emergency motion on reports of unsafe radiation in the area that was debated in Parliament last week, she had called on the government “not to make the same mistake in Gebeng as it did in Bukit Merah in 1983.”
Fong’s Batu Gajah constituency includes Bukit Merah
“The issue is simple: stop Lynas and stop gambling with people’s lives,” she added.
Lynas Corp has insisted its RM2.3 billion plant is safe, saying it produces only low radiation waste that the Australian miner says it will recycle into commercial products.
The project was on course for approval until the New York Times highlighted it a year ago, using the ARE plant as a cautionary tale.
An article in the newspaper’s March 9, 2011 edition zeroed in on Lai’s story of how she decided to take up a better-paying job in the refinery.
Lai, now 70, told the NYT that she was told to take unpaid days off while pregnant when factory bosses said particularly dangerous consignments of ore were arriving.
“She has spent the last 29 years washing, dressing, feeding and otherwise taking care of her son from that pregnancy... she and other local residents blame the refinery for the problems, although birth defects can have many causes,” the daily reported.
The report galvanised local opposition to the Lynas plant, leading Putrajaya to call for a review by an international panel of experts in June the same year.
However, the AELB has since approved a temporary operating licence subject to a few conditions yet to be fulfilled that include finding a suitable waste disposal site.
But continued protests, backed by the federal opposition, have forced the government to form a Parliamentary Select Committee to study the project.
However, Pakatan Rakyat has refused to participate in the panel, calling it an attempt to “whitewash” the alleged danger of radiation pollution from the refinery.

Earth Hour in office NOW! Do your bit for Earth Hour - http://www.wwf.org.my/?13820/Come-Join-Earth-Hour-2012

It all started with a simple request by my boss' four-year-old daughter who went around the office and petitoned to have the lights off for 1 hour.

I signed the petition.

Well, none of us employees quite expected the boss to switch off the main office lights. Thank God we still have the air-cond but it feels slightly cooler now that most lights are off.

Oh, by the way, my office will be unofficialy supporting Earth Hour 2012 Malaysia tomorrow Saturday - EVERYTHING will be switched off and NONE of us will be working!

Friday March 30, 2012

Do your bit during Earth Hour

By ALEX TENG
north@thestar.com.my

Come Join Earth Hour 2012 at Sunway Pyramid, Selangor

WWF-Malaysia and Sunway Shopping Malls would like to invite everyone to participate in the Earth Hour 2012 event at the main entrance of Sunway Pyramid on Saturday 31st March 2012 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. Members of the public are invited to join the “Dance in the Dark” for Earth Hour; please learn the dance steps here.

From its inception as a single-city initiative in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global movement where hundreds of millions of people from every continent join together to acknowledge the importance of mitigating climate change.

We hope that you can lend your support by joining us at the Earth Hour event – along with celebrities Amanda Imani, Amber Chia, Chermaine Poo, Joey G, Rina Omar, Soo Wincci, Xandria Ooi and Yuri Wong – where we will stand together with the world in a global celebration of the one thing that unites us all: our living planet.

Celebrity emcee Jeremy Teo of Red FM will energise the event!


Earth Hour 2012

Day, Date: Saturday, 31st March 2012

Time: 8:00pm to 9:35pm

Venue: Main Entrance, Sunway Pyramid

Programme
At main entrance, Sunway Pyramid
8.00 pm Welcome by emcee
8.05 pm Speech by Sunway Shopping Malls CEO
8.10 pm Speech by WWF-Malaysia Executive Director/CEO
8.25 pm Countdown
8:35pm SnL singers

8:50 pm Dance in the Dark for Earth Hour (Music by Air Symphony, public invited to join)
9:05 pm Media guided up the ramp to take photos of the “60” formation
9:15pm “60” formation by students, public invited to join / Media guided back to main entrance
9:25pm Spokespersons invited back on to stage
9:29pm Countdown to lights on
9.30 pm Lights on

Hope to see you there!

Note: You can purchase Earth Hour T-shirts at Sunway Giza, Ground Floor or Sunway Pyramid, First Floor near Cha Time from 24th March to 31st March.

Look out for updates at wwf.org.my/facebook

WHY Umno BODOH or BODOH SOMBONG! Mooo

Melayu Ridhuan Tee dakwa Dong Zong KOMUNIS!?

Betul ke Dong Zong (boleh kata kaum Cina) 'biadap', komunis?

Tahu tak Ridhuan Tee tentang Laporan Razak?

Siapa sebenarnya yang 'ultra kiasu'?

Kenapa kaum majoriti selau terasa diancam, justeru asyik mendakwa ada ancaman daripada kaum minoriti?

Masuk akal ke?

Umno propaganda. Umno 'kafir'! Umno guna agama!

Pakatan Rakyat condemned the latest move to instil fear of the threat of Christianisation in the country, blaming it as tactic by Umno to “frighten” the Muslim Malay majority.

Speaking at a press conference at Parliament today, Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim pointed out that if a movement exists to threaten the faith of the Muslims, then there are adequate legal measures that can be taken for transgressing the law and said, “I want to state, the all mighty in Malaysia is Umno - Umno is in charge of religion, Umno is in charge of the finances - so if the allegations (of attempt to spread Christianity) is true, that means it is Umno that failed to strengthened the faith of the Muslims. What I can confirm is that this is nothing other than a disgusting political manoeuvre to use religion to frighten the people.”

Anwar was responding to a letter addressed to primary and secondary schools heads in the Johor Baru district, required two religious teachers from 55 schools in the district to attend the seminar.

The letter was on a seminar organised by the Johor Education Department the coming Saturday titled ‘Pemantapan Aqidah, Bahaya Liberalisme dan Pluralism Serta Ancaman Kristianisasi Terhadap Umat Islam. Apa Peranan Guru?’

(Strengthening Faith, Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?).

Drawing similarities to past claims of proselytisation of Muslims, Anwar said that the relevant authorities have failed to furnish evidence.

Yes, the all mighty in Malaysia is Umno - Umno is in charge of religion, Umno is in charge of the finances. Umno can do no wrong, Umno is above the law.

Wee got thumbs down only, not even a WEE punch

An eyewitness of the alleged "assault" on Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong at last Sunday's Chinese education rally in Kajang says the 'attacker' did not try to punch Wee but to show him the "thumbs down" sign.

The eyewitness was Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) secretary-general Stanley Yong Yew Wei. He was just a metre away from Wee when the incident took place, told Sin Chew Daily that it was not an assault but an "inappropriate action".

According to him, Wee took some seven minutes to walk from the entrance of New Era College, where the rally was held, to his seat in front of the stage, escorted by some 10 policemen and marshals.

Yong is quoted as saying., "When Wee was near his seat, some six to seven people approached him. At that time, I noticed a middle-age man clad in yellow squeeze to the front with few others. When Wee was about to sit down, this man charged forward, mumbled something about wanting Wee to step down, and with his right hand showed the 'thumbs down' sign, meaning Wee should step down."

Nevertheless, Wee told reporters his own version of the "assault", saying, “When I walked in (to the place), there were no police guarding me. Immediately, those who were there started closing in, that was when about 10 police personnel formed a human chain on the left and the right. It is not possible for them to conclude that nothing happened unless there was a helicopter capturing what happened on video from above. How do you define assault? When there is an apparent bruise or bleeding? I was not injured, but I saw a fist coming towards me but I moved and I just felt a touch.”

Anwar & Yakcop: Class war Putrajaya's next WAR!

Anwar: GE13 a class war

By Shannon Teoh

March 28, 2012

Nor Yackop warns class war is Putrajaya’s next challenge

UPDATED @ 07:58:40 PM 31-07-2011

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

July 31, 2011

Umno-led gov't invited Lynas to build. 4X cheaper ok

In an article in The New York Times written by KEITH BRADSHER and published on March 8, 2011, it stated:

Nicholas Curtis, Lynas’s executive chairman, said it would cost four times as much to build and operate such a refinery in Australia, which has much higher labor and construction costs. Australia is also home to an environmentally minded and politically powerful Green party.

Despite the potential hazards, the Malaysian government was eager for investment by Lynas, even offering a 12-year tax holiday. If rare earth prices stay at current lofty levels, the refinery will generate $1.7 billion a year in exports starting late next year, equal to nearly 1 percent of the entire Malaysian economy.

Today, The Malaysian Insider reported the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili as saying, “They (Lynas Corp) are the investors coming here. We are here to invite investors, of course, we are here to facilitate, but we are not going to work for you. You have to go and get (the permission). You must take (your) waste out of (this) area... It is up to you, I am not going to help you.”

Indeed, Malaysia is a cheap country for Lynas.

It has already saved four times even before building the refinery!

On top of that, it gets to have a 12-year tax holiday! What more can an investor ask for?

Tribunal will show A-G’s hand in Altantuya trial: Mat Zain

Tribunal will show A-G’s hand in Altantuya trial, says Mat Zain

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

March 26, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim today continued to pressure the prime minister to investigate the Attorney-General for alleged abuse of power, arguing that a tribunal will prove Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s “manipulation” in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial. 

PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak had on Friday said there was no need to probe claims against the A-G made by Mat Zain and former Bukit Aman commercial criminal investigations chief Datuk Ramli Yusoff, saying they were mere allegations.

But Mat Zain claimed today a tribunal would “expose the wrongdoings of Abdul Gani in manipulating, hiding material evidence” in the Altantuya trial.

The A-G’s manipulation, said the ex-cop, was evident with the change in prosecutors in the trial, where deputy public prosecutor Datuk Sallehuddin Saidin was replaced by Datuk Tun Majid Hamzah.

Mat Zain said the reason given by Abdul Gani (picture) back then was that Sallehuddin had an “intimate relationship” with the presiding judge as they were “badminton partners”, and that that might affect the trial process.

“If the close ties betwen judge Mohd Zaki and Sallehuddin are being questioned, why did Gani Patail hide his personal relationship with Mohd Zaki and as well as Tun Majid’s ties with the judge?

“Mohd Zaki was a judicial commissioner (JC) under Abdul Gani in 2005. Tun Majid, like Sallehuddin had close ties with Mohd Zaki as they were working together in Perak in 1987, and then the A-G’s chambers,” Mat Zain said today in an open letter addressed to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

He said that if Abdul Gani had really wanted to be fair and impartial, he would have ensured that another judge presided over the Altantuya murder trial.

“By withholding material evidence, it is an offence under Section 415 of the Penal Code, and Gani cannot do this,” added the ex-cop.

Mat Zain also claimed that former trial suspect Abdul Razak Baginda had signed an affidavit relating to the case in 2007, but the contents of the affidavit were never challenged by the A-G.

“Mohd Zaki released him without calling for his defence, as though his affidavit was not challenged.

“When Razak Baginda was freed, Gani Patail did not want to file an appeal even though there were a lot of calls to do so.”

Mat Zain also alleged that a tribunal would shed some light into instances of power abuse and manipulation of facts in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II trial and 1998 “black eye” incident involving the A-G and former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

He accused the two of stealing Anwar’s blood samples for DNA tests in the Sodomy II trial and using it against him.

Mat Zain stressed that these were merely parts of a “no holds barred” testimony that he is prepared to give in front of the tribunal, should it be formed.

“The issue of a tribunal will not go away as long as both Abdul Gani and Musa Hassan are not brought to justice. Their transgression...is too serious to be forgiven.”

Ananda Krishnan & his only son, a Buddhist monk!

The monk who flew in a jet

By business bhutan | 01 January 2011

Whaddaya know?! Old news but I guess few know about Ananda and his only son, a monk!

 Facts from Rich-Bastards.com

Did you know...?

Robert Kuok once known as the Sugar King of Asia

Ananda Krishnan Maxis Communications is Malaysia's largest cellphone service provider ... notable philanthropist ... has son who is a monk and lives in a forest

@ Altius Directory | Ananda Krishnan Profile
http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Business/world-billionaire.php?profile=Ananda-Krishnan&id=90

Some Little Known Facts about Ananda Krishnan

• He has a hobby of collection of modern arts.
• He has homes in Kuala Lumpur‚ London‚ and south of France. Ananda Krishnan also owns a farmhouse in Australia.
• He is a very private person and shies away from public exposure when it comes to his personal life. He maintains a very low-profile lifestyle unusual for a person of his stature.
• He has a spiritual son who is a monk.

Wee chose to forgive, easy like a boy who wee-wee

No police report will be lodged against the person who has been accused of shoving his fist into the face of Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong at a rally in Kajang yesterday. Wee's unexpected visit to the rally, organised by Chinese education group Dong Zong to protest the shortage of Chinese-educated teachers for Chinese schools, caused a commotion and a scuffle reportedly broke out between a middle-aged man and Wee's police escort, when the man tried to approach Wee upon his arrival at the New Era College in Kajang.

Wee told reporters at the Parliament lobby today that he has "forgiven" the person who tried to punch him.

Responding to demands from Pakatan Rakyat MPs that he lodges a police report on the alleged attack, Wee said, aid, "I've chosen to forgive them... I was prepared for the worst. It took guts to go and listen to their voices, that's all."

However, DAP's Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai categorically denied the allegation made in several news reports that cited Wee as saying that the person who punched him was an opposition supporter (some reported that the person was a DAP member), saying it was a "presumptuous" claim.

Wee said. "I've already said yesterday... I don't want to politicise it. If I wanted to politicise it I could have had another round of police reports and press conferences. I don't even want to talk abut it."

Fine, fine. Wee doesn't want to politicise and has chosen to forgive but he's still not solving the problem faced by Chinese schools.

If Wee quits, he will never get to solve the problem. If Wee stays, he can never ever solve the problem.

Poor Wee. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Lame Wee may quit - hence concedes MCA weak?

Ka Siong: I’ll quit if that solves Chinese teacher shortage

By Shannon Teoh

March 26, 2012

People come first when it comes to fishing for votes

"I’m supposed to be in Sepang for the F1 race, but I’m here. The people come first. “(Lewis) Hamilton can’t vote, but everyone here can."

 - Umno-appointed  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Also, people come first when it comes to plundering!

Lame Wee blames opposition! Can do nothing! Boo!

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong's surprise appearance at a Chinese education rally in Kajang today drew heckles from participants.

According to eye witnesses, a scuffle broke out between Wee's bodyguard and a middle aged man, when the former stopped the latter who tried to approach and punch Wee upon his arrival at 11am.

Wee, who appeared at the rally at New Era College with heavy police escort, has been blamed for failing to resolve the matter. [Watch video here] and later confirmed the incident, saying that the man almost touched his left cheek, saying, “I could not identify him, I only know he was wearing a T-shirt.”

The rally, organised by Chinese education group Dong Zong, in protest against acute shortage of Chinese-educated teachers, is dubbed the "325 assembly".

Indeed, time and again, MCA has proven that it cannot fight for the Chinese, let alone Malaysians of every race and creed.

Do we need MCA to fight for Chinese? No.

If the 'I am-Malay-first-Malaysian-second' DPM was sincere, he should have resolved the matter. If he did not, he could have at least attended the rally too.

Worst of all, the 1Malaysia PM can do nothing.

The Chinese is the 'second-biggest-majority' race in Malaysia yet the government has shown nothing but apathy to the shortage of Chinese-medium teachers.

Google Adsense paid me for 3rd time: Hallelujah! 8)

Not much but something is better than nothing!
After all, I'm no famous blogger, let alone celebrity blogger.
Just an ordinary blogger interested in the current affairs of this beloved nation, Malaysia!

Wanita Umno magnanimous! Shahrizat MOOves on

Ben's Pavilion KL: Teriyaki Salmon with Sesame Seed Crust!

 Seriously, this salmon dish is yummy!

 

 There are Table Topics to choose from!

 Incidentally, I picked up this Table Topic.

If this question were posed to Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid, his answer would certainly be 'Internet'!

'Anak Nazri dilepaskan lagi?' Sama spt kes Darren?

Saturday, 24 March 2012 00:48

Nazri's son accused of beating up security guard: Another Darren Kang type of cover-up?

Written by  Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle

Latest:

Cops clear Nazri’s son of any wrongdoing

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F3%2F24%2Fnation%2F20120324194255&sec=nation

Jacob George, no 'mafia developer' under taiko BN?!

'Mafia developer' control Penang?

Why so anti-PR?

You mean everything was hunky-dory during BN rule?

Come on, you know that the people nowadays know better and won't be easily fooled.

This is what Raja Petra said about Umno-led BN:
The real Taiko is Barisan Nasional, with Umno as the CEO or gang leader.

Najib lied. Useless PSC can't decide on Lynas' fate!

On March 17, 2012 19:06 PM, Bernama reported:

PSC To Increase Public Awareness On Lynas Issue - Najib

IPOH, March 17 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today said the setting up of a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to look into issues related to the Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng, Pahang, is an engagement process with the public to ensure that the matter is well understood by them.

However, the Prime Minister said that the committee would not decide on the fate of the project.

Five days later, during an interview with radio station 988FM, Najib had said he would scrap the Lynas plant construction if there was scientific evidence to prove it was hazardous.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday:

Guan Eng: PM must halt Lynas plant construction

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

March 23, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak should immediately halt the construction of the Lynas refinery in Gebeng to prove his commitment to public safety, Lim Guan Eng said today.

Penang Chief Minister Lim accused the prime minister of contradicting himself during an interview with radio station 988FM yesterday, where Najib had said he would scrap the Lynas plant construction if there was scientific evidence to prove it was hazardous.

Whitney Houston: Bathtub drowning on cocaine! 8-(

Singer Whitney Houston: Bathtub drowning on cocaine

• Published: 23/03/2012 at 09:43 PM
• Online news: Learning From News

The coroner's report is out.

Besides cocaine, she had other drugs in her system, such as marijuana, alprazolam (Xanax), cyclobenzaprine (Flexiril) and Diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Spasso Milano Italian Cuisine @ Pavilion KL: Mmm

Western Australia no to Lynas. Umno-led gov't YES

Western Australia says no to Lynas waste

By Shannon Teoh

March 23, 2012

Shoes shoes shoes & a free man! Shoe-gar daddies, ladies? www.facebook.com/shoedating

A Malaysian shoe store has launched a promotion that is too bizarre to make up: "Get a pair of shoes from Shoes Shoes Shoes and get a free man."

The Kuala Lumpur-based shop has joined forces with a dating site to combine sex and stilettos.

How does it work, you ask?

A man logs into Lunch Actually, picks out the shoes he would like his lady friend to wear, and then promises to pay for a portion of the price if the woman who buys the rest agrees to go out with him. (Women have the power to check out their potential dates' profiles only after they buy the shoes).

Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-21/news/31218870_1_radio-stations-free-woman-shoes-shoes-shoes#ixzz1ptmQsvBI

More info and pix: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/shoe-dating-malaysia-shoes-prostitution_n_1368424.html
Website: www.facebook.com/shoedating
Contact: info@shoesshoesshoes.com.my

ARE radiation high but SAFE? Is Lynas the SAME?

The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) said that the radiation at the site of the decommissioned Asia Rare Earth (ARE) factory in Bukit Merah, Perak is about four times higher than the national average, but is safe and not caused by ARE.

Answering questions from a member of the public who suggested the possibility of unknown dump sites when radiation levels at the site of the decommissioned ARE factory and the disposal site of ARE’s waste are lower than in the surrounding areas, AELB licensing director Hasmadi Hassan said the above average radiation in Perak was because it was a former tin-mining area and explained, “The tin industry came before independence; I think 100 or 200 years ago. It was during these tin mining days that they left the amang (tin tailings). The amang’s content of naturally occurring radiation is very high.” 

Quoting figures from United Nations Scientific Committee of the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), Hasmadi (right) said the national average background radiation level was 0.05 microsieverts per hour and urged members of the public with information on such dump sites to submit their claims to AELB for further investigation.

By comparison, the AELB’s monitoring at the ARE site showed that the radiation is at 0.17 microsieverts per hour; and one to 1.14 microsieverts per hour at the new disposal facilities in Mukim Belanja, Perak.

Umno gov't will NOT shut down Lynas if Lynas safe!

The government will not allow Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, to operate if scientific evidence proves that the plant is harmful to people’s health and the environment, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.


During a live interview with Mandarin radio station 988 this morning., Najib (left) stressed that the government needs to have dialogues with those who oppose the plant, but it must be done based on scientific facts instead of emotional and political arguments and said, “We will never compromise on that... the safety of Malaysian citizens will not be compromised. A pure environmental issue has become a political issue, this is unfortunate.”

Najib explained that the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on Lyans plant formed on Tuesday but boycotted by the opposition, is one of the mechanisms to gather scientific evidence related to the project.

 
As to whether the government will be bound by the findings of PSC, Najib said the PSC is a “strong basis for us to make a decision”.

Worry when Umno-led government says don't worry!

Malaysia’s national debt is not at a critical or worrying level, says Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin, despite it being only two percent shy of the constitutionally allowed government borrowing limit.

During Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today Awang Adek (right) was answering a supplementary question from Saifuddin Nasution (PKR-Machang) on what the government is doing to control the rising government debt. The latter also claimed that the rising trend in national debts will soon lead to the country owing up to 100 percent of its GDP, citing financial records from 2008 onwards that exhibited rising debts year on year.

He said, "It is not at a critical level at the moment. Our limit or threshold is 55 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we are now at 53 percent. So you don’t have to worry about it."

Awang Adek argued, saying that as a responsible government, they will never allow expenditures and borrowings to exceed the set threshold.

 

He said, “We have the threshold at 55 percent, which we shall not pass. If we don’t pass 55 percent then we will never reach 100 percent.”

Khir guna wang KDEB beli pangsapuri syiok sendiri?

@ Malaysia Today

EPISODE 21: On the road to Hajj

Is this how the Barisan Nasional government uses the rakyat’s money? By buying luxury apartments for personal use? It looks like the NFC is not the only case of such abuse of power. KDEB appears to have done the same. And why has MB Khalid kept quiet?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin

Daim, Taib will prove Sarawak still BN's safe deposit

Taib: Component parties must ensure 2/3 majority win for BN

Read more: Taib: Component parties must ensure 2/3 majority win for BN - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/taib-component-parties-must-ensure-2-3-majority-win-for-bn-1.62360#ixzz1piqTsPih

Sage Daim says BN only safe in 3 states in GE13?

Former finance minister and long-time Umno treasurer Daim Zainuddin - who had predicted the fall of BN in Penang, Selangor and Kedah in the 2008 general election - has looked into his crystal ball again.

According to an exclusive interview with Daim published today by Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau, the view isn’t exactly rosy for the federal ruling coalition in the next polls,

Daim said he expects an easy victory for BN only in Johor, Malacca and Pahang.

He added that the key to recapturing Kedah and Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat, would be to find suitable leadership line-ups in those states.

Daim believes that in order to keep Terengganu and Sabah, a united Umno will be essential, but retaining Perak will be an uphill battle for BN.

Daim said that in Negri Sembilan, one of Pakatan's frontline states where BN only rules with a six-seat majority, the state BN must resolve some specific problems.

Although he did not elaborate on the issues, it is known that a suitable candidate must be found to fill the menteri besar’s post because the incumbent, Mohamad Hasan, is likely to move to a federal government post.

Daim said as for Kelantan and Penang,  BN would be fighting losing battles in the two Pakatan strongholds.

Daim described Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his team as "generals without soldiers", saying, "The prime minister and other key leaders have done enough. Their current situation is that of 'generals without soldiers'. Where are BN's soldiers? The leaders at division and branch levels must be more proactive in engaging with the people."

Daim observed that what Najib currently needs,  is a team that is on the same page with him.

Jilted male fruit flies slurp alcohol, reject virgin flies?

Jilted fruit flies slurp alcohol to forget, study reveal

March 18, 2012

Study finds rejected male flies have a tiny neuropeptide F molecule in their brain that pushes them to drink far more than their sexually satisfied counterparts. — Afp pic

 

WASHINGTON, March 18 — Frustrated male fruit flies, whose sexual advances are rejected by females, turn to alcohol to drown their sorrows, a study revealed. 

 

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco discovered that rejected male flies have a tiny neuropeptide F molecule in their brain that pushes them to drink far more than their sexually satisfied counterparts.

The levels of the molecule were higher in sexually satisfied males than in those who got no sex, leading scientists to speculate that their work could shed light on brain mechanisms behind human addiction. A similar human molecule — neuropeptide Y — may also link social triggers to behaviours such as heavy drinking and drug abuse, according to the study published in Science journal.

“If neuropeptide Y turns out to be the transducer between the state of the psyche and the drive to abuse alcohol and drugs, one could develop therapies to inhibit neuropeptide Y receptors,” said lead researcher Ulrike Heberlein, a professor of anatomy and neurology at UCSF. 

She said clinical trials were underway to determine whether neuropeptide Y can alleviate anxiety and other mood disorders as well as obesity. 

For the experiment, male fruit flies were placed in a container with females flies, including both virgins and some that had already mated. 

Virgin females were receptive to courting males and readily mated, but females flies who had mated lost interest in sex for a time because of sex peptide, a substance that males inject with sperm during the encounter. 

Rejected males then stopped trying to mate, even when placed in the same cage as virgin flies. 

But when they were placed by themselves in another container that had two straws — one containing plain food and the other containing food with 15 percent alcohol — the rejected males binged on the alcohol. 

The scientists said the behavior was predicted by the levels of neuropeptide F in their brains. 

“It’s a switch that represents the level of reward in the brain and translates it into reward-seeking behavior,” said lead author Galit Shohat-Ophir of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm Research Centre in Virginia. 

Rejected flies had lower levels of neuropeptide F and sought an alternative reward through intoxication. The scientists found that they could induce the same behaviours in the flies by genetically manipulating the levels of neuropeptide F in their brains. 

Activating neuropeptide F production in the brains of virgin male flies caused them to behave as though they were sexually satisfied, and thus they were less keen to drink. 

And lowering the levels of the molecule in sexually satisfied flies made them behave as though they were rejected, inciting them to drink more. — Afp-Relaxnews

What an interesting study! At least, now I know a human and a fruit fly have something in common!

NFCorp: Easy to get loan but NOT easy to payback

NFCorp says asked government to delay loan payback

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

March 19, 2012

No such thing as 'Malay/Chinese/Indian dll unity' X-(

No such thing as ‘Malay unity’

March 19, 2012

MARCH 19 — Currently, some people are calling for unity among one race in Malaysia — the Malay race. And this call is being heeded by political and non-political factions; this includes Perkasa, Umno and, of course, some people in PAS who still believe in the concept of racial unity contrary to their so-called conservative Islamic beliefs. Some leaders have spoken out against it being a reality and one of them is my much-admired once-bankrupted former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.

Now let me ask a question. How many prime ministers are really, truly, Malaysian Malay? Meaning that their parents, grandparents and perhaps even two generations beforehand were all from Malaysia?

Look back some 60 years, if not further.

Tunku Abdul Rahman was partially Thai, the Onn family line were partially Turkish or at least Eurasian as I recall, and Tun Mahathir Mohamad himself isn’t purely local either. Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also partly Arabic and heck, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is in fact partly of Indonesian descent. And I haven’t even begun to go into the history lessons we had in Form 3 on the royal families yet.

Let us consider what to look at when you look at the Malays. Historically, the Malays were given the role of administrators by the British, but only the elites. The rest of the Malays toiled in the kampungs, focusing on agriculture while the Chinese focused on industry and manufacturing and the Indians were coolies. I am not being disrespectful, I am stating facts. Not all Indians came off a boat from Chennai and straight away became lawyers in good ol’ Malaya.

And then came 1969 when the Malays apparently had a clash with the Chinese because someone apparently took the wrong route in a victory parade that led to killings and the burning of buildings which could be seen by Tunku Abdul Rahman himself as he stood on his balcony.

But after that, everyone thought the Malays should unite, and the Chinese should do the same, which was why Gerakan and PAS both decided to join in the emergency government set up after that under Tun Abdul Razak. PAS would never have united under Tunku Abdul Rahman because the guy loved his horses and whiskey too much.

If these people want to unite the race, let me just ask this question. Under what banner? Do you want to unite under Perkasa, Umno or PAS?

Just pick one of the three and you would see that there, right there, is where the shit hits the fan. Personally on my side, I think all three are similar. The only difference is that one of them talks shit, the other is shit and the third thinks the nation is shit and needs to be saved so it is worthy of Allah’s grace. And if anyone has an objection, take it up with Shahnon Ahmad.

The Malays can’t unite because we believe in different things. Some believe that everyone should convert to Islam. Others think we should put race ahead of nation and religion. Well, fine by me. Go tell that to the Indonesians here. Let’s go ahead and join them, why don’t we? After all, they’re Malay too.

And, of course, there are some who think that if you’re constitutionally Malay, you’re good enough to get benefits that make Groupon weep. Just bring an IC that says “‘Melayu” and they will love you long time. As long as you vote for them, at least. That seems to be the message coming from Umno. If you want a good drainage system, electricity, water and even bailouts for wrongly budgeting jet fuel, just vote Umno in the general election and they will lend you a helping hand afterwards. They’re at least consistent with that, even if they’re not really all Malay.

The thing is Malays will not be united because we all have different causes, all right?

Some want to preach their beliefs, some want to help their own people and then there are others who want and will always be racist loudmouths. Then there’s the younger generation who think people should just shut up and live their lives without bothering anybody else; live and let live.

And personally, I am proud to be a Muslim, to be a Malay, to be gay and out, living my life but most of all for being Malaysian. And this is coming from yours truly, who is Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and Perak Malay by descent, who now resides in libertarian conservative Shah Alam. If you want to get me to unite with you, it won’t be on race, or religion, or politics because I am either too liberal or in some instances, too conservative.

It would only be on straight out nation building for our collective future. And that is where every Malaysian should heed the call to unity. Everything else is just a farce.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

Not long ago, I posted 'Tunku, Razak, Hussein Onn dll: Semua pendatang!', highlighting a video showing Dr Azmi Sharom, an Associate Professor at UMs Faculty of Law, sharing his views on the topic "Human Beings, All Born Free And Equal" from the Federal Constitution perspective.

Watch it, laugh and let the truth set you free!

PappaRich SouthGate: SouthGate = mini i-City - www.papparich.com.my

If you stay in KL and want to experience showers of lights, then head to Southgate KL.

It is accessible from Jalan Sungai Besi or Jalan Chan Sow Lin.

To enjoy lovely lights while dining, then go to PappaRich.

I like to drink barley lime at PappaRich.

RM4.20 Barley Lime + RM9.90 Fried Rice Special with Fried Egg & Pappa Chicken.

Abdul Kadir quits Umno that has never bought votes

Kadir Sheikh Fadzir quits Umno

By Yow Hong Chieh

March 19, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Former Information Minister and Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir resigned as an Umno member today after 56 years in the ruling party.

He said in a statement he handed in his notice of resignation to Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor earlier today, just a week after quitting his division treasurer’s post.

Abdul Kadir (picture) made headlines in January when he accused the ruling party of handing out between RM200 and RM1,000 to voters in previous elections in exchange for votes.

The former Umno supreme council member, however, had denied personally using the “bomb” strategy to win elections in Kulim-Bandar Baharu where he was MP for 30 years from 1978.

He also denied making the claim out of frustration for having been sidelined in the party, stressing that his relationship with the present administration and Umno leadership remained warm.

Tengku Adnan, however, has denied Abdul Kadir’s allegations that Umno had resorted to money politics, pointing out that the party has never bought votes and did not need to.

He added that as an Umno man Abdul Kadir should not be issuing statements that could tarnish the party’s reputation and questioned why the latter did not just quit Umno.

“If he feels Umno is not right, why hasn’t he left the party?” the former tourism minister had been quoted as saying by Bernama Online.

Money politics is an open secret, in fact, not a secret at all. What’s worse, many are not interested in even hiding the fact of vote-buying. Sadly, the younger generation is into it as well.

Marina Mahathir on "money politics" in elections during Umno General Assembly.

Umno has never bought votes?

Nobody believes in Umno any more than the boy who cried wolf!

Will Indians be fooled by PM's 'walk-with-me' mantra?

Don’t let me walk alone, Najib tells Indian community

UPDATED @ 07:57:53 PM 18-03-2012

By Yow Hong Chieh

March 18, 2012

Why no Bumi benefits for Indians if you're PM for all Malaysians?

When Najib announced 'Bumi benefit for Thais' last month, there was a mixture of reaction from the 'third-class' Malaysian Chinese:

Here are some samples of my friends' responses in Facebook:

My posting entitled 'Thais more loyal than Chinese, Indians put together':
We don't want help anymore, Mr. PM! We, the non-Bumis, don't want to be beneficiaries of 1Malaysia Charity! We want equal rights as citizens of Malaysia!

Lowlife Chua will never be MP. Lim will never be PM!

Saturday March 17, 2012

Chua: Lim will never be PM

By NG CHENG YEE

Fine! Coz the rakyat only want a Malaysian PM. No more Umno PM!

Here's an article published in Malaysia Today, originally published in Free Malaysia Today but no longer exists today:

What is worse than a pariah politician in Malaysia?

Jackson Ng, Retired Journalist

MY ANSWER is the current batch of MCA leaders. They have no qualms about sabotaging Barisan Nasional (BN), although they don’t have the intelligence to think they are doing so, just to serve their personal and selfish political agenda.

To the MCA leaders, led by an undisputed immoral president, anyone not in their inner circle and is a threat to their political survival must be eliminated at all costs – including BN.

At a time when BN chairman and prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is struggling, and failing miserably, to keep his coalition relevant, the MCA leaders choose to treat their former president, Ong Tee Keat, like a pariah.

For more than five years, Ong as Pandan MP, had lobbied for the relocation of Hulu Langat Batu 18 SJKC Choon Hwa’s relocation to Taman Lembah Maju in Pandan. When final approval of three acres of land was offered to the school this month, the wife cheating Chua Soi Lek and his MCA Youth chief and deputy education minister Wee Ka Siong quickly seized the opportunity to claim credit for the successful relocation.

They called for a media conference on March 13, claiming credit for everything under the sun while bashing their former boss for failing to do anything for the school. The conference was given wide media coverage by the mainstream Chinese vernacular print media on March 14, 2012.

Party insiders say Chua and Wee acted swiftly to claim credit after getting wind of Ong’s scheduled briefing and update on the school’s status to the school board members, Pandan non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and residents.

The briefing was held near the site allocated for Choon Hwa on March 14 – two days after the two MCA clowns claimed credit for the successful allocation, in time for the print media to preamp the scheduled briefing. You think the duo’s timing is coincidental?

The party insiders say Chua and Wee don’t even know where exactly Choon Hwa is being relocated to.

I have extracted and reproduced the following from Ong’s blog:

“For the record, Ong also provided the following chronology of events on Choon Hwa’s relocation:
2006: Choon Hwa is identified for relocation

2007: Pandan MP Ong submits official proposal to relocate Choon Hwa to Taman Lembah Maju

2008 (Jan 31): Then Education Minister Dato’ Sri Hishammuddin Hussein announces the approval for seven SJKCs to relocate, including Choon Hwa

2008 (March 3): Ekabena Sdn Bhd informs Hishammuddin that it is handing over 10.7 acres in Taman Lembah Maju for the construction of Choon Hwa; In an official visit to Pandan, Hishammuddin confirms Choon Hwa’s relocation

2008 (March 18): Selangor Education Department, via its director Datin Hamidah Nordin, requests Choon Hwa to get the approval from parents of students on the relocation 2008 (June 5): Ong submits official letter to Hishammuddin, appealing for a speedier relocation process following approval and identification of site for the school
2008 (November): Cabinet receives and approves Ong’s proposal that financial allocation for the construction of SJKCs to be directly managed by school boards and the ministry’s School Construction Implementation Action Committee

2009 (March): Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Abdul Razak approves RM95 million for the construction of 20 SJKCs approved on Jan 31, 2008, including RM3 million for Choon Hwa

2008 May to 2010 November: Choon Hwa’s board of directors liaises with the Selangor Education Department to resolve various relocation issues 2010 (Dec 13): Ong submits official letter to Prime Minister Najib regarding the relocation and the land identified

2010 (Dec 14): Najib directs Education Ministry, via its minister, to smoothen and speed up the relocation issue and processes; Ong and the school board then liaises with Muhyiddin, including the request for five acres of the 10-acre reserved land and reported that the land is now occupied by factories without any enforcement action by MPAJ or the Selangor Education Department. A total of seven meetings were held

2012 (March): Choon Hwa board of directors is officially informed of the approval of three acres for the relocation.”

From the above, now do you see why I say Chua and his MCA cronies are worse than pariah politicians. Just to promote their selfish agenda, they are willing to be in the cesspool to distort any issue just to claim credit to serve their personal political agenda.

Based on the chronology of events, do you believe Ong (who risked his political position to expose the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone financial fiasco) or Chua the adulterer?

How then can we trust BN to take care of the people’s interest? How then can Malaysians believe or trust BN in the next general election?

Yes. You can say the Chua-led MCA has dug its political grave since the March 2008 political tsunami. The irony is that Chua and his cronies are not even aware they are now nailing the coffin.