(Adam: Sigh. Please wake me up when it's over.)I suppose that if our Malay friends and fellow citizens of Bolehland on the island of Penang celebrated Christmas they would indeed have a Jolly Christmas this year. Today’s NST carried the front page headline, “HOMES IN PRIME AREAS FOR PENANG MALAYS”. (Wow! Great sensational journalism by the NST flers. Keep it up and the NST’s circulation will overtake the tired old Star very soon.)
For those of you who have been asleep since 1957 here’s some background to that. Some months ago somebody up there in Pulau Pinang complained that the Gerakan led government wasn’t doing enough for the Malays on the island. Among the grouses was that the Malays could not afford to own homes in the prime housing areas of Penang. Of course any intelligent thinking person would have deduced that homes in prime areas cost more than others. That’s why they are called prime areas. And to buy them means that you have to work hard at something, succeed, make lots of money, then go buy the homes in the prime areas. But here in Bolehland that obviously isn’t the methodology. “Give me! I want!” seems to be enough to get the machinery chugging to grant the demands. Better than a magic wand if you ask me.
So how is it going to work for our friends in Penang? I read the NST story on page 16 but only after swallowing a Valium pill. Just in case, you know.
Second Finance, Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohd. Yakop announced that Pelabuhan Hartanah Bumiputera Berhad would purchase 3 parcels of land in “prime” areas to be developed into “affordable” housing and commercial lots for the Malays of Penang. The land was purchased from Island and Peninsula and TNB at what the minister terms “below the market price” (read whatever you want into that line and weep at why they didn’t do the same thing for the classic heritage Bok House in KL to save it from demolition) The minister also announced that the government was in the process of working out an innovative mechanism to ensure Bumiputeras, especially from the lower income group, would be able to buy the units. 2 questions here. Why would the lower income group want homes in ‘prime’ areas where everything else would be more expensive and where they would feel like second class residents among million Ringgit condominiums and bungalows with swimming pools? It’s like building low cost housing in Bangsar and Bukit Tunku. If you move lower income residents into a prime housing area wouldn’t that mean that the area would eventually become “non-prime”? Then how?
Hey there you are! You’re in a prime area now so what else you want? Isn’t this teaching the people to rely on handouts rather than to achieve and improve? You want to live in prime areas? Ok we give you la. Then you will always remain in the same shit state of mind so you will continue to vote for us. And…wait a minute! Ah maybe those politicians aren’t that stupid after all. Silly me! Hey listen I am 100% for the NEP and helping our deserving Bumiputera brethren but I don’t think this is the way to go man.
Towards the end of the NST article it was read that a trust was formed with RM2billion to ensure that real estate beyond the reach of the Malays could be purchased by way of a collective fund. Huh??? There’s probably some hidden wisdom for the good of our country behind this. But I’m sorry, folks. It escapes me. It just makes me really upset, as a citizen of this country to hear things like that. Real estate beyond the reach of the Malays to be purchased by a collective fund??? So how is that going to help in the development of a people? Sigh. That’s the way it is these days. Ask and you shall be given.
‘Tis the season to be jolly! But there isn’t really very much to be jolly about as we prepare to celebrate the season.
Samy Velu has already announced that our toll rates are among the lowest in the world. Of course he didn’t tell you that in countries that have higher toll charges you don’t have to pay the toll and then be confronted by blood vessel popping traffic jams right after you pay. And also, being Samy Velu, he told us that highway companies couldn’t recover their investments if there are no increases. Huh? Like the FUCK I care. It’s business isn’t it? You want the contract to build and operate highways you do your projections. And when your proposal is approved you’re on your own. Go shoot yourself and your board of directors if after a few years you realise that you’d made a mistake in your calculations.
Some other clown has said that our taxi fares are among the lowest in the region. Maybe true but the same clown didn’t say that we can only benefit from that if we can find a taxi driver who doesn’t ask, “pegi mana? Tak boleh ah. Jam la.” Or “Mahu pegi Ampang ah? 30 Ringgit” for a 5 Ringgit ride on the meter.
Another red-nosed entertainer has told us that water rates need to be increased because the privatised company trusted with providing us with H2O has suddenly realised that they had taken on too many debts that they cannot pay back. So? The government wants to privatise water supply. You want the job and bid for it. You get it. So get on with your job and your business. Ask your consumers to pay for your mistakes?
And our government is spending millions of our money to send some joker into space and have the opportunity to call him an astronaut when he is just a paying space tourist. Well one thing to be jolly about is that at least they have done away with the teh tarik stunt after providing the entire world with laughs for a while.
They are going to build a multi-million Ringgit sports complex in England to train our sportsmen and women when millions of other talented Malaysians still have to kick a soccer ball on gravelly lanes and beside longkangs.
And the list goes on and on and on.
A Merry Christmas everyone?
P/S Oh yes, and don't forget that the PM has now allegedly bought himself a yacht that cost RM30 million on a PM's salary of...what? RM30,000 a month?
A Merry, Merry Christmas Everybody!!!
63 comments:
Isnt enough being done for the Malays all over Malaysia, what abt the Indians I think they are still the lowest income generators.
The question is what can we do? We are all upset. They hardly pay for anything anymore. Feels like we have one something really really bad in our past life to be treated like not even second but 3rd class citizens.
Patrick Teoh for PM ! We need people like you.
Hi Pat, and the gomen says they pay compensation to the concessionaires with RM2.7b of our tax money so that it would ease our burden of having to pay the full toll? What twisted logic.
Hope to meet you in person if I'm in Subang Jaya. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas.
HI Daniel. If you're in Subang Jaya we shall definitely not get to meet. I've not been near there for years:-) Thanks for visiting.
Anonymous, PT for PM? Hahahahahahaha...you're funny. But i notice that you only posted that anonymously. I wonder why? Part of the things about living in Bolehland I suppose. We have been so well brought up that we censor ourselves on a daily basis. LOL.. Thanks for visiting.
Patrick..jus to say I appreciate yr writing :) ..been reading your blog to learn writing skills :)
merry xmas n a happy new year.
Glad to see u back blogging PT and I see Penang has recharged ur batteries! hehe Tis sad this is all happening.. Have u read marina mahathir's blog on the soros- TM meeting? very interesting what she said....
I agree with almost everything you say in this post, Patrick, except for:
"...I am 100% for the NEP and helping our deserving Bumiputera brethren..."
I myself would be 100% for an economic policy that helped people based on *economic* need and on socio-economic factors rather than race. While we're helping the deserving Bumiputera brethren, what about the deserving Chinese and Indian brethren too? Hey, they're out there, you know? They may not be Princes of the Earth, but didn't they help to build the country too? In another post, Patrick, you wrote about how all races came together to fight for independence -- well, why then should the fruits of that struggle be distributed unevenly to the different races?
So no, I can't get behind the NEP as it stands now. I'm actually a believer in big government, in a government that takes care of its people and doesn't let the needy fall through the cracks. I don't necessarily subscribe to the 100% capitalist viewpoint of "you get what you work for and that's it" -- I do think there are cases in which people in certain socio-economic situations need a helping hand in order to get back on their feet and into the game.
But government handouts need to be based on who needs the $, not on race. We need to stop putting race on a pedestal. The more important we make it, the bigger a monster it becomes (countless examples out there: the U.S., Israel, France). There'll never be a true *Malaysian* identity as long as we focus so much on race and so little on the things that unite us.
It's good to finally able to see your sarcasm again. And it's even better when such sarcasm is being channeled towards the right direction, rather than making your listeners feel so small when you were still a deejay. Keep it up Pat!
What?!? What are you talking about, remesis? I certainly remember Patrick making his listeners "feel so small" on his radio show, and I (and my family) listened to him for years. Are you sure you were listening to the same Patrick Teoh?!?
I meant, I certainly DON'T remember Patrick making his listeners "feel so small." DON'T remember it. Sorry that was so confusing.
Cheese with a spoon, take a valium lah. Chill out.
Ahh, Patrick, don't forget that when the gomen spend money, it is your tax money that is being used. So, errr, actually, we the rakyat are paying for that RM2 bln collective fund. Better make that 2 Valium pills to swallow.
Also, because no open tender for all those infrastructure projects, the rates we are going to pay (toll, water, electricity, etc) are based on the jacked-up "investment costs", so how like that one ? Maybe if those flers didn't inflate the costs by 30-50%, we will all be paying less.
But, brudder, we are the people with power mah. Next election, do the right thing lor(as said by Russell Peters)
Ahh... and the insanity rolls on as yet another season comes upon us.
Still the upshot is that YOU have been named "Person Of The Year" by TIME magazine.
Just came by to wish you and yours a peaceful one.
Cheers!
Hi...Wonderful site..your sarcasm rocks...this is my 1st visit though it wont be my last....GOMEN really takes the public as fools..i didnt spend 12 years of my life in GOMEN SKOOL to be taken for a ride you know!!!!
you're spot on with your observations! it's just so illogical, what's going on in our country... sigh...
Hi economist. Thanks for visiting. 12 years in a garmen school means that you were taught well for going on rides:-)LOL
Wah! jnerique I'm Man of The Year ah? Cool. Hahahahaha...have a wonderful Christmas yourself.
Mnuts, sorry that I have not been providing the laughs for you. But if you think about it things are still funny altho tragically so la.
trashed, i know it is my money they are spending. Just trying not to say so for fear that somebody will call me racist or some other equally unsavory names:-) Listen people...like trashed says at the next election DO THE RIGHT THING. Make your voice heard. Loud.
I really didn't get this about making people feel small or something. When I was on the radio I never made anyone feel small or inadequate. They do that to themselves quite well, thank you. LOL
Hiyah remisis, when your friend tell you the same thing the baarger is damn funny, damn stupid or shut up la you or dei order another teh tarik da. But when it comes from someone you don't know...baarger damn sarcastic la. Baarger, try to belittle me some more...LOL...thanks for visiting remisis. You still listen to the radio?
Hello cheese ah, the NEP "as it stands" like you said doesn't work. I agree with you on that. The principles of the NEP are great. It's just that the whole thing has been abused by its managers. I'm all for helping our Malay brethren. Of course there are also poor Chinese and Indians etc. But since there are more of them we help them first lor. But if helping means just giving and giving and not inculcating a sense of effort and achievement then it is useless. Worse if the giving doesn't seem to have an end in sight. Anyone, Malay, Chinese or Indian will eventually be spoilt by the abuse of the NEP and become totally dependent.
Actually, cheese you brought up an interesting topic...Things That Unite Us.
Could be the title of another post. What are the things that UNITE us as Malaysians? Anybody know a way of creating a list that comment-ers can add to?
Hi cuddly. Penang and the Lone Pine hotel is always good for the soul. Heard you were up there too?
bengbeng, you're are reading my blog to learn writing skills???!!! You poor misguided soul. Hahahahahaha...thanks for visiting, my friend.
Hi Patrick,
Welcome back, I missed your blog posts. Got any Valium to spare?
Yah I was actually just trying to defend Patrick from the charge of making-people-feel-small sarcasm, but then I got told to take a Valium. How ah? Cannot stand up for other people, is it? I know Patrick is more than capable of standing up for himself, but I just wanted to express *my* opinion as a former listener of the radio show, just to show that there are different opinions out there.
Totally agree with your response to my main post, Patrick, *except* that sure, if you look just at absolute numbers, there are more poor Malays, but if you look at poverty as a proportion of the total population, there is a much higher percentage within the Indian community. The Indians are being totally screwed by the government *and,* on top of that, by themselves -- simply no initiative to take care of each other in most cases (yes I'm generalising shamelessly but I'm Indian so can lah) -- and it shows. They have the highest alcoholism rates, the highest suicide rates, you name it. And how about them temple demolitions? Not so funny. In the end these are social problems that will affect everyone. As for the Chinese, well, everybody pretends like there are no poor Chinese and they are all sitting on big fat bank balances -- all the rhetoric is always about "wealthy" Chinese "businessmen" and "towkays," we talk like nothing else exists, but that's simply not true, is it? Businessmen osso, got rich businessmen and no-so-rich businessmen what? It's not like all Chinese can afford to send their children to posh schools overseas, but we only seem to remember that fact when the whole STPM-results-university-admissions debate rears its familiar head again.
As to The Things That Unite Us. Ha! I'm not going to start that one because this post is already long enough and now some bugger will come and ask me to take another valium, so insulting, OI! I was just trying to keep the conversation going, know or not? Bye now.
If one looks at the state that Penang is in right now, with its widely publicised public transportation problems and more recently, with claims that the local malays are being marginalised, one can only surmise that the CM of Penang ie. a supposedly Harvard graduate at that, is doing fuck all at tackling a seemingly solvable problem. After all, Penang is about the size of Singapore and it is not too difficult to emulate what the PAP has done for the little red dot, IF and only IF, there are capable people with the political will to do what is best for the people, with no hidden and personal agenda. The only difference is that we have a CM who is a "yes-man" and who is totally incapable of of being a "leader" in the true sense of the word. If this is the best choice to lead Gerakan, then truly BN deserves to be relegated to the rank of being the opposition after the next election. I sincecely doubt that they can even do a decent job as the opposition. But by then, who cares?
Is this bodohland getting more ridiculous or the Internet making their stupidity more visible?
Can't afford housing. So, build them houses in prime area. Many can't afford car. Go buy them Ferrari! This is not only apartheid. It's apartheid with absolute stupidity!
Msia toll is among the lowest in the world? Absolute nonsense! From Kayu Hitam to Chengmai (Thailand highway), not a single cent charge. Singapore charge $0.50 to $2.50 during peak-hours, only in business districts and the rates vary every 30 minutes. Samy Vellu will convert and compare. But, they earn spore dollars & their salaries are higher. Even their basic necessities are cheaper than ours (in terms of dollar)! Where else this Semi-Value want to compare?
The only thing lowest is the CREDIBILITY of this government. You practically cannot believe anything they say. Full of bullshits!
to those outside Penang....
have you ever experienced the greatest jam on earth?
i m not talking of pineapple jam, strawberry jam etc etc..
The greatest jam on Earth is ...
The PENANG BRIDGE JAM...
Every few days or so, we get to experience that..
Jams that will start from around 4.30 pm and last until 9.00pm...
Traffic is practically non-moving..
Walking across the bridge would be even faster.
Few weeks ago, the jam lasted until midnight...
Why there is no solution?
The CM don't use the bridge!!!
He only drive from his home in TG BUNGA to town..not affected la...
So for those outside Penang, u want to enjoy the Penang Bridge view?
Come every Friday around 5.00pm...
U can stop your car in the middle of the Bridge and take some photos for the memories...
the last anonymous comment. It's true. As an Islander, I rarely ventured across the bridge. If we ever relocated to Penang mebbe different.. but then u know something, everywhere got Traffic jam wei.. KL/PJ/Penang... And now they want to intro congestion charge for KL.. right... if your public transport was up to scratch, mebbe ok.. but.. how? but saying all this, going home to Penang is quite a nice change from KL, u have more folks mingling, even indian and sikh folks speak hokkien.. I will admit I also love understanding what chinese people are saying and also can order, bargain etc in native tongue! And we took heaps of pix of the old buildings etc (at least u still have).. and after that nice warm glow.. we returned to KL to the news of no more bok house.. I used to go there to makan, loved looking at it as we passed by... Mebbe they want to build luxury appartments there for the low income Malays, part of the keris wielding policy (chinese tycoon land mah).. Heritage be damned..
my heart goes out to the poor Johoreans who are in the throes of horrendous floods etc..Hope things settle down soon...
Cheese, say, things that unite us? Our food springs to mind first of all.. OUr colonial past is something we cant change, but yet they want to stamp it out.. (francis light wasnt the first settler there u know, apparently.. some folks are WAY too anal abt these things)..
I know, I know I sound angry, upset.. I loved that old building, I hate seeing all the beautiful things getting stomped on, all the things our forefathers "fought" for are being eroded.. The next election, the reason BN gets in all the time is ..well.. a non-BN area gets isolated etc.. So macam tu lah.. Power of them upstairs..Power of the people? hmmm..
ok I shuddup now.. LOL
cycle lor... save time, save petrol money, save toll money, save some trees...
The scheme of buying affordable homes in prime area is not wise at all.
Has the 2nd Finance Minister considered the incidental and incremental daily cost of living in prime area. Grocery cost, public transportation, health and medical cost at the area. People who stay in Bangsar can tell you these prices.
In in the end it will hurt them if they live there. Or unless the Minister just want them to own/possess it without staying there.
Instead of embarking of this kind of short term and knee jerk reaction, they should improved the standard and enrich them through proper education, create job opportunities, enhancing technology know how. Unfortunately with the current investment atmosphere job opportunities are lacking. To depend on government contracts will not sustain in long term.
Already Soros is comparing us to Angola! What next?
Yo Yo everyone. Wow, didn't know my comment turned into a short topic of discussion. Anyway, I was refering to the time when Pat was hosting some spooky radio show back at the time when people still listen to Radio 4. Sarcasm is one thing, but there were some incidents that were downright rude.
But it's ok, cos as the years roll by, I realised I am turning into such person too, simply becos I think some ppl are just pure stupid.
As for 'Things that unite us'.... well, blog is certainly one of them.
Pat, waiting for your next blog and yes, I still listen to radio. Well, who wouldn't?
feels like we're being fooled upright over and over again. WHat can we do? SEriously, is there something we can do. The govt's getting more and more ridiculous frankly.
y'mean we can get Valium here? Wow..I'm really missing out, aren't I? Mebbe some shud be prescribed to our gomen!
Hi Patrick,
A Merry Christmas to you, Peace be with you.
This is the first time I posting on your blog, but the subject is on my favourite place, Penang, so I can resist putting in my 2 cents worth. The so-called marginalisation of Malays in Penang is just a red herring. By any objective measure, the average Malays in Penang are better off than in most other Umno controlled states. Poverty level is low, there is nearly full employment in the state. Penang has largely developed into a middle-income economy, and Everybody has benefited, including the Malays.
What's perhaps less available are crony projects to enrich the ruling party members. During much of TDM's tenure as PM, Penang was largely starved of Federal allocations for any projects. Eg. Even though Penang is a prime tourist destination in Malaysia, the tourism budget for Penang was laughable. I never figured out why, but Dr.M had a barely concealed dislike for Penang. There was very little in Federal projects to go around for anybody. Naturally, the Umnoputras lost out compared to other states.
Land is scarce on the island, so property is quite a lot more expensive. That's a problem for everybody. You have to be Mercedes-driving rich to own property in a prime area. Why do some people think that amounts to marginalisation?
Can some1 knock some sense into your ministers???....Why spend so much money on useless stupid things like a stadium in London just for the cold..?!! Sending ppl - just normal fit blokes to space for what?? Research?? No..for batu seremban! Ppl would die to do experiments in space - zero gravity...
All this for who's benefit?! Country's name? Glory?...Fix problems that are at home before actually trying to stamp M'sia on the Map....
I am a Student in Ireland...I have practically given up telling ppl where exactly M'sia is on the Map..They know all our neighbouring countries..and when i think about it..hey..we are actually better than them..(thats what i think anyways...being brainwashed by the m'sian education)..but why? why ppl don't know us? When I tell them I'm chinese, they give me the weirdest face.."I-thought-you-are-a-malaysian-face"..I give up!
I'm a proud Malaysian, but I'm not that proud of what Malaysia is doing right now...
*Your blog has kept me up to date about "things" that have been happening back home...and the view of the other side of a coin..ThanxxXx N sorry for rambling..being far away from home has made me see things from a distance...
Christmas is here again,
As we rejoice and jolly,
Prices are up again and again,
Is it our fault and folly?
In Johor people adrift in rescue boats,
In Turkey, our PM fishes in his 30 Million Ringgit boat,
Come January, toll rates are raised,
Come the next GE make the BN fall flat on its face.
Angela,
The reason why people overseas have poor recall of Malaysia is very simple.
Despite the media blasts of Malaysia Boleh in the local papers and gahmen advertising all over in Malaysia, the tempurong is only in Malaysia.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Malaysia does not make the news overseas because there is no "bad" news to report. The current floods in Johor will probably only get a small mention in Irish newspapers, if at all, but the Rayappan, Moorthy and Lina Joy case will have more newsworthiness. I doubt that that fler in Klang who put up the "Istana" will also get mentioned in Irish papers.
Where got people writing that Malaysian food is the best ? But maybe in Ireland, they may have heard of Nicole David.
But if you get more people to tokkok with Patrick here, he will get more motivated to write more stuff. Errrm, sorry ah Patrick - trying to get your production moving. Hahaha.
From Bolehland to Bodohland,
That's the public perception,
Once a proud and flourishing land,
Now is full of deceptions.
Malaysia oh Malaysia,
Thou has stepped backwards,
Are you truly 'Asia'?
When Thy Ministers are waywards.
Behold Thy people shall awaken,
And see through all the lies,
Scandals abound in the open,
To thy tomb BN shall lie!!
Wah! Looks like this post has inspired some bad poets:-) Bad rhymes but I guess the sentiments are clear enough. LOL.
Thanks, Trashed. Now I got more pressure to update more often. Baarger! Just as I was preparing to kick back and enjoy the Christmas holidays. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamm Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeng!!
Hey Angela, we are better off than our neighbouring countries? Which neighbours were you thinking of? Ghana is quite far away what. Next time somebody asks just tell them you're from that place which is between Thailand and Singapore. They'll get it. So you're a Malay? Chinese? But you just said you're from Malaysia. So you're from China?
Hi Kitty Kat. I think that being ignored by the Federal government has actually done Penang more good than bad. I may be wrong but whenever I visit I get the impression that compared to other cities in the Peninsula Penang appears to be better administered. Relatively. True?
Mott, of course you can get Valium here. Just act a little crazy.
Tihtahpah, sure there are things we can do. Speak out, vote, fight mediocrity in every situation.
Okay mnuts, Welcome hawaiichee. Happy now?
Remisis, rude issit? When was the last time you said to a friend, "Hiyah don't be so stupid la you." Did he/she think you were rude?
Assam, knee jerk reactions are what keep voting citizens happy and politicians elected. Sad isn't it?
I can't believe the amount of racism PT has on his blog.For once, can we speak for the 'other' race (esp the poor Malays in Penang)Did they choose to be poor? Pls know the difference between meritocracy and parentocracy.
Very often racial prejudices in this country is passed on by racist parents/single race schools.The Malays cannot speak for themselves cos' they have lost their tongue in their own land.English has taken over.I know you guys will have a longer response on this: see why they are backwards? Cos' their attitude towards English, they are the lazy natives.Gimme a break PT and supporters, get off that colonial hat!Malays in Penang have been reduced to aboriginal status in Australia.
kookookaakaa says: "Malays in Penang have been reduced to aboriginal status in Australia".
What an interesting assessment/perception. What about poor Malays in other states. They are much poorer. What are they? What are their statuses? You are very unfair to them.
What about the poor of other races? Poverty is cruel and it is colour blind!
I am all for helping the poor. The best solution is to help them to improve their lives in a self-sustainable way. Spoon feeding does more harm than good for them as well as for the country. How long can we afford to go on like this?
The competition in the globalized world has no mercy. Imagine when more people cannot find job and msia no longer has oil. We are in for very rough ride then. If the entire country is poor like dirt and chaos everywhere, what status we have then?
Look around us. More and more people are losing their jobs. Prices has gone up for almost everything, and can expect more to come. So many countries are competing with us nowadays. Time is not on our side. The sign is not good, my fellow msian.
"kookookaakaa"
I can never finish explaining. Please read the blog with open mind. The majority of people on PT's blog are against racism, abuse of power and absurd policies and etc.
The worst racist remarks I ever seen on PT's blog are yours. Your remarks were racist, mostly against the Malays. For every Malay who cannot speak English, you can also find one of other race who can't. And certainly, you labeling the Malays as lazy natives is not acceptable.
The problem caused by language is the result of failed policies that many concerned msians have been objecting even before the policies were implemented. So are many other half-baked policies. That was then. In today's globalized world, the consequences of failed policies will be much more severe.
Please help to raise awareness so that we can have a more responsible government. Only by that, msia can have a fighting chance in this very competitive world.
Why is it always has to come down to "racist"? Everyone has stereotypes, politicians all same also, whatever da party at the moment.. As hasilox said, poverty doesnt discriminate. The prime land on Penang island dang expensive wei, whether you are Malay, chinese, indian or dan lain-lain (thats my category hehe). None of us can afford it. The question is whether having a fund to buy land to redistribute "FOC" to the lower income group is going solve any "marginalisation". Why bother to pull urself up out of poverty when you just have to buka tangan, gifts fall in? Same as the welfare system elsewhere in the world, many get too complacent being on the dole mah..
One of those charity ads (and Im paraphrasing badly here)had this saying (they could have got it elsewhere also, how i know lol): "Give a man bottles of water and he can have water for his family for a time. Show a man how to dig and sustain a well and he can have clean water for his family for a lifetime."
Think about it.. :) Season's greetings!
Yo Pat,
First of all, Merry Christmas. And it's remEsis and not remisis.
is it confirm that there gonna be a street protest against the toll-hike on jan 07, 2007 as mentioned by hawaiichee ?
if it is on, please let me know - encourage more ppl to join in to fight for our rights ...
Answer to your question "Why would the lower income group want homes in ‘prime’ areas..? "
Very easy. The bumis will get a 10% discount off the selling price and then sell it to others(read non-bumis) at a price hike of 300%. If the original price of the shoplot is RM300,000, they can get it for RM270,000(borrow the money from bank) and then sell it for RM900,000-- making a cooooooool profit of RM630,000 after repaying the bank loan. That's why hordes of Indonesians and Filipinos are pouring into Malaysia and applying for citizenship. Just look at Uncle Sukma, you-know-who's adopted brother.
The malays are viewed in a poor light not only by the non-malays but by the malays themselves.
And this is a fact. See how arrogant and cocky the moron from Jerai is. He talks as if he owns the Malaysia country when in fact he is just a water boy running errands for his Umno masters.
Most of them cannot argue their points and when push comes to shove would draw their keris or parang for effect. How naive.
I got this regarding Singapore, since Lee Shien Long take over the prime minister post from Goh Chok Tong, things had changed.
I am a Malaysian working in Singapore. My observation on Singapore is in recent years, Singapore had slowly open up and loosen control on certain things. Now they allow bar top dancing, casino and etc.
Although they still ban chewing gum, littering and political speeches and other, but what you get is cleaner environment, low crime rate, order and rules. As long as you do not touch the sensitive political issue, you everyday life is much better than Malaysia where you have to worry when you will get rob everyday.
Due to fallen birth rate, recently Singapore had lower its immigration requirement. It is not true that I have to be rich, professional to be qualified. Now if you are skill worker, even hairdresser is qualified. They also lower the income tax to attract more foreign talents.
Compare with Malaysia, the cost of living is higher but there are also plenty of opportunities. Singapore economic is growth at 8 - 9% this year. Stock market is matching towards history height of 3000, compare with 1996 of 2300. Property prices hit history height because of foreign buyers.
Singapore malays might look down on Malaysia malays (because of NEP) but not Singapore Chinese. There are a lot of lawyers, lecturers and other professionals in Singapore are Malaysians.
In my company (MNC from US) half of the emplyees are Malaysians, most of them holding managerial post and higher. As a non-malay, if we can survive the harsh condition in Malaysia, we can survive anyway in the world including Singapore.
I was graduated from NUS more than 10 years ago. I am lucky I did not accept MU offer of science course (which is not my choice) and instead study engineering course in NUS. Now NUS is the top 10 universities in Asia and MU is close to 200.
I had a friend who had graduated from NUS together with me but decide to go back to Malaysia for good. After his company (MNC in KL) closed down and shifted to Vietnam 5 years ago, he could not find any engineering job and finally become insurance agent.
I am writing this is not because I am not patriotic. I just want to provide the actual information about outside world to Malaysians in Malaysia. Do not get brainwashed by the mainstream media on how Malaysia Boleh is.
Outside world is very dynamic and changing very fast. Most of them are changing for better, to name a few, China, India, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and many many more except Malaysia.
Malaysia had overtaken by Thailand and Vietnam and very soon by Indonesia. I am afraid Malaysia will be marginalised and become another Philippines. As a non-malay, I love my country but do my country love me? I doubt.
NEP - A truly Never Ending Policy!
Let us look at all the countries around the world.
Is there a country that has achieved economic equality among the races?
Let us not be fooled by the power-that-be.
Vote for change at the next election!
If you are to do a study among all Muslim countries, the level of development will be directly proportional to the level of Islamisation of the country.
Just do a study - you will know the fact. The reasons are so obvious why this is so. I do not want to elaborate here to hurt the feelings of Muslims but I mention just two:
- they sidelined the women.
- how many Muslim nations are in deep religious based wars?
- and plus many other activities against productivity.
You cannot have it both ways. Live in this world or live in the after world. There is time only for one.
This is why I see very bleak future for Malaysia the way it is heading - the day when we 'Talibanise' Malaysia.
Our constitution does not say we are a secular state. But by the same token, nowhere does it say we are an Islamic state either.
A country can be Islamic but yet remain secular in government. Turkey, Egypt and Algeria are prime examples. As long as the constitution remains the supreme law of the land, we are an Islamic country but a secular state.
All these are really non-issues as long as everybody sticks to the original game plan.
Look at it one way, it seems like they want to keep the NEP because they are taking advantage of perks and curbs, keep the Umno linked filthy rich.
First of all, the NEP has no goodwill towards the non-malays. They think that the non-malays are rich and can afford to run overseas because of the drought of local university places available?
This is another fallacy. Truth is a lot of the non-malay parents have to work their asses off, keeping a small unit family, just to use all their savings to finance education overseas because local opportunities are not forthcoming and not available.
Malaysia lose a lot of talents in such a way, especially when the NEP has indeed made certain non-malays very competitive on the global scale. For these people having been successful overseas and given a fair go at the opportunities, they will think twice to come home to adversity in Malaysia.
And that is a fact. Do you know that we lose almost 70% of our local talents to the US, UK and Australia every year! Go check the emigration records. Do you know that the Malaysian contingent is the largest oversea students in Australia, and almost 100% that succeeds takes up Australia PR and citizenship?
That is exactly the formula used by many progressive countries including the US, UK, Australia, even China.
These countries have policies that stress both the affirmative action to aid the poor and complement it with an emphasis on high standards, including robbing other countries of their human capital by enticements such as international scholarships.
So I can't understand why it is not palatable or applicable to the malays! Why lay back when you have the world as a challenge.
The failure of the various Malaysia communities to integrate is not because there is no common language, but the ill will festered by the outmoded communal politics that Umno Youth seems want to perpetuate, the NEP, and the lack of Malaysia kinship (e.g. one race want to be tuan).
It is only nature that human beings and animals learn more from failure than success. So, be prepared for a soul cleansing in the next 10-20 years in Malaysia.
Yes, the one common denominator is that they are all not Muslim countries. Even among Muslim countries, the less that Islamization is the focus of national existence, the better off the society from a social, political and economic standpoint.
That is why Turkey used to be relatively better off in various aspects compared to other Muslim countries but this has been starting to change recently.
Hate to say it but yes, obsession with Islam is anathema to progress, political stability, peace and economic well being.
We agree that it is difficult to manage a multiracial country like Malaysia with its diverse religions and races. It is also obvious from the discussion that the current political and economic model has failed us, particularly with regards to racial integration.
We are heading towards a crisis. We need to have a paradigm shift in our socio-economic model. Otherwise the omens look bad.
Now humans are humans, be it malays, Japanese or Israelis, when one is in absolute power there will be a tendency to sideline the minorities. Arrogance and abuse will crop in. There is no doubt about it.
To be developed, there should be peace, good sense of responsibilities, equality and cooperation. Of course, good leadership and governance is equally important. Every party should not to be made to feel deprived.
I still feel that mixing religion with politics is not wise - for we can see around the world almost everywhere trouble spots are based on religious differences and in countries where religion is part of politics. That is the reason why Malaysia although a Muslim country should remain secular.
Singapore prime minister mentioned during the 2006 National Rally that Singapore needed a population of 10 million to stay competitive and thriving into the future. Now it has 4 million. So, it needs a population injection of 2.5X.
And to sustain a larger population, it needs a larger land mass. I remember reading during the sell sand fiasco that the Johor sand was supposed to sell to Singapore, could have increased the island land mass to accommodate 2.5X its population, i.e. 10 million.
Malaysia has 25 million people. Roughly 24% are Chinese, i.e. 6 million people.
So ~ if we put 1, 2 and 3 together, isn't the road to solving Malaysia racial and religious problem as simple as selling the required sand to Singapore and then allowing all 6 million Chinese to emigrate?
If Malaysia and Singapore allow dual citizenship, or if Singapore loosen its PR processes, or if the commute between Malaysia and Singapore is made simpler - the cows will naturally move themselves.
In any case, I just wanted to highlight the convergence the figures 4 + 6 =10 million, from the seemingly independent issues.
At the end of the day, I doubt Singapore, given its track record, would want all 6 million of the Chinese Malaysians. They'd take all the high net worth people, the professional and the skilled, but would not go out of their way to court the rest.
They have got to make room for other sources of very, very talented people - China and India.
Honestly, I have lost all hope in this country! It is beyond redemption as it has already sunk into 'the abyss'.
It is a place to exist but not to live.
That is why I never celebrate national day and I never speak well of the country and this government.
The civil service is a refuge for the lazy. There is no commitment nor dedication.
Something to share. A 'letter' highlighted by another concerned Msian. Worth your time reading. I read it 3 times!!!
A world class beater, 31 yr old Msian working overseas. Willing to take 70% pay cut (current pay, US$22,000/mth) to return, but now trembling with fear...
http://kula.blogsome.com/2006/12/11/frightened-malaysian/
Hey Pat,
I think you need to moderate some comments here. It's getting too racist and not very healthy. Unless of course that's your intention.
Hey Remesis. You're absolutely right of course. Some people just don't get the point of the discussion or they just here to stir some racist shit. I should have deleted the comments long ago but the season to be jolly and the pedestrian speed of my "broadband" provider, Streamyx put paid to that. Thanks.
kookookaakaa, I really don't understand what you are trying to say here. We are on some colonial vendetta??? How did we give you that impression? Because this blog and its comments are in English? And Penang Malays have been reduced to aboriginal status??? Huh??? The Malays cannot speak because they have lost their tongue in their own land??? Wah sounds very profound indeed. Duh! What do you mean? Don't you speak Bahasa Malaysia? Weren't you educated like the rest of the rakyat in that medium? So?
i am happy to be a malaysian. but i never proud to be one.. maybe my dad works hard enough to provide me 3 meals a day, one personal room, and quality education in taylors college, as well as sufficient amount of pocket money to keep me happy in malaysia. What to be proud of? my dad or malaysia? he is earning japanese and chinese's money. international entrepreveur . nothing to do with the gomen.
I am happy being a malaysian
and
at the same time
i never proud to be one
Hi Patrick..
Certainly quite agree with you on the current state of traffic both within and out of our glorious capital city..
Even the tollways don't help much, especially when one main artery is shut off, tolls or not tolls doesn't help..
As I work in the vicinity of the KLCC area, I frequently pass through their taxi stand area along Jalan P Ramlee, I swear that if I had a gun or a blow torch, I'd shoot them of the face of the planet. This is one of the spots where you can get a RM30 ride to Bangsar when it costs less than RM8 on the meter. No sign of the authorities in getting rid off this scum of KL..
Oh well, as they say Malaysia Boleh innit?
cheers..
Hay Pat, Nicely voiced out. Wat to do ??? We live in Bolehland.....all we can do is sigh . Malaysia would snow , and Ringgit would be stronger than pounds if the government would say that they arent doing enuf for the Chinese and Indiana. Enuf said !!
Just dropping by to say.. I'm loving this blog. Muehehe.. My mind is now "open" to reason.
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