"Sodo" mee anyone ?

Want to have some "Sodo" mee tonight ?

Well its back! Just when I thought they stopped making this type of mee, its back! I cant believe it. Simply just cant believe it! The noodles that made sensational gastronomical news some years back, is back.Remember how all the newspapers, radio and TV carried the news of the launch of the mee ? Remember how the utensils for making the mee were so proudly paraded on TV ? Remember ?

It was and is still being touted to be the best type of mee to be served to up and coming politicians especially popular ones. Hmmm......

Anyway,I am "reliably informed" that the mee is still basically the same. The only difference this time around is that it has a new ingredient that gives a new twist to the flavour.The makers of the noodles are also touting it to be better than the product released the last time around. Well looks like we have to wait and see on that onelah!

Me, I am a mee lover, I have to declare! Ha-ha!! But before any of you get any ideas, I have to state for the record that this type of mee to me has a most foul odour and taste. I guess I just don't have the stomach for this kind of mee.I don't see how the makers keep insisting on wanting to dish out the same stale old mee again and again. The ingredients to me are all wronglah! The taste is still just as bad. In fact I think it is even more foul than the last time around.I wonder why the makers keep wanting to come up with this type of mee. Didn't they learn anything the last time around? Anyway, the only thing assured after digesting this kinda mee is a bad stomach ache. I mean a really bad,bad stomach ache!

To the manufacturers of this mee I have only this to say..... Hello, tutup kedai sajalah!

Cheers,

M V Nathan

20,000 to rally for PM

Will this really work mate ?

It appears that some people are gonna go in a convoy from the 7th of July to the 12 to get signatures from UMNO leaders and the rakyat for a memorandum in support of the PM. Well it appears that the memorandum is being prepared to show support and to urge PM Abdullah to continue as the Prime Minister. It is said more than 20,000 people are to gather in Putrajaya to hand over the said memorandum to the PM. You can read all about it here http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2278547/Article/index_html

The chairman of "Gabungan Badan NGO Malaysia yang menyokong Perdana Menteri"is reported to have said PM Abdullah needed to know that he had the support of many Malaysians. He is also reported to have said "Fingers were pointed at him after the Barisan Nasional's loss at the March 8 general election, even though it wasn't his fault.People said he was weak and incompetent, but we believe otherwise"

Hello, you really need to go organise a convoy just to do this ah ? Nothing else to do is it ? So free one ah! Look if you really are that free let me suggest some other alternatives that might be more useful :-

1)Maybe you and your friends can go on a road trip to educate the public on the dangers of smoking;

2) Maybe you and your friends can go round the countryside and educate people to conserve energy and to protect our natural resources;

3) Maybe you and your friends can go on a road trip to educate the young the pitfalls of becoming a "mat rempit";

4)Maybe you and your friends can go around the country to create awareness for AIDS, Cancer,Down Syndrome etc;

5) Maybe you and your friends can go round driving around the country side to collect donations for the many people that need urgent medical attention but cant afford it;

6)Maybe you and your friends can even go around the country to visit all the orphanages and old folks home whose inhabitants really crave for attention and love.

Look my list is not exhaustive and should not be seen as one. Should you and your friends need further suggestions I would be only too happy to oblige. Look,the point I am trying to make is this. The PM is an adult and has enough people to polish and rub his ego everyday. No need to organise this and waste valuable time and resources just to make one man feel wanted or loved. I wonder how much money is going to be wasted on this "noble" deed that is being planned. The PM was elected into office and it is time for him to deliver the goods. He has to be responsible and strive to do the best for the people of this nation. If he fails then he has to be accountable. That goes with the job. Tak payah buang masa going round the country side trying to "make him feel wanted,supported or even needed". Just let him carry on with his joblah.Should he feel insecure and need this sort of love and attention then maybe he should not be the PM after all. Finally, last time I checked the BN actually won the 8/3/08 elections. I believe that is why Abdullah is still PM.

Should you insist on showing love and support to PM Abdullah, then well and good for you. Maybe you should use e-mails or even post cards to express al that love. Cheaperlah!Take my word for it.

Finally, you got apply for police permit or not ? Maybe in your case the authorities can "tutup satu matalah"!

Cheers,

M V Nathan

"He's a liar" - Najib

"...total garbage. That's all I want to say"

Wah ! Finally Our beloved DPM has made his stand loud and clear. All of you that have missed the news, it appears that our DPM has rubbished RPK's Statutory Declaration. Well done sir!

If you don't mind me Sir, I have a question here....ahh... What took you so long ah ? If somebody had accused me and my wife of complicity in a serious crime i know would be jumping up and down saying "slander", "libel" and "defamation" the moment it is made known. In fact I would be so incensed about it that I would walk in to the nearest police station to lodge a police report against the perpetrator of the slanderous/libelous remark/statements. Did you lodge one Sir ? Sorrlylah but the newspapers make no mention if you did lodge one. In fact none of the mainstream media has carried any explanation as to why you took so long to respond. Maybe you could have said you were too busy and that would have explained it.

OK, now that you say it is a lie and your boss also says it is a lie then why did RPK make his Statutory Declaration ? I hope RPK is aware that he may go to prison for a long time should all his allegations be found to be untrue. Well we ordinary people on the streets would just have to be patient and wait to see how this intriguing story ends. Me,I am hoping for a happy ending. I just love happy endings where the bad guys eventually get caught and get sent to prison for a long time. Doesn't matter who the bad guys are, so long as they are caught.

On another matter the IGP has said that the police would take severe action against people who spread rumours regarding petrol stations. The IGP says this is akin to economic sabotage! Wah big words! He says this is a malicious act and that these people are out to sabotage the country's economy. Wah very clever hoh! What he says next is the best part I think. "The police would not hesitate to use the ISA against them".

Mr IGP I do not wish to pour cold water on your enthusiasm in wanting to go about catching this rumour mongers, but since when did the police have "powers" to detain anyone under the ISA ? Can you please inform us where does it say in the Internal Security Act 1960 that the police can use/exercise the powers under the ISA ? The last time I checked,the Internal Security Act makes mention that it is the Minister(Home Affairs I believe) that shall make the order for any detention under the ISA. By the way I am also not sure about your reasoning as to the "economic sabotage" arguments as well. I don't see how the ISA can ever be used for rumour mongering about the closing of petrol stations. I don't think the drafters of the ISA had this kind of matters in mind when they came up with the ISA. What has it got to do with the security of the nation anyway?

In any event the ISA is an obsolete and draconian piece of legislation that ought to have been repealed a long time ago. Tell you what Mr IGP, if you have proof that some people are passing these rumours, simply go tangkap themlah. Next charge them in court. Let them have their day in court. If you are so certain that they have done some wrong, gather the evidence and prove it in court. Otherwise I think you should just stop making silly remarks that make people laugh.

Cheers,

M V Nathan

Only now deny ?

Nothing was sent to melah !

Finally after days of keeping the nation in suspense, finally our dear PM has declared that he was not given any report from army intelligence regarding the Altantuya murder. He has also clarified that what Raja Petra had said in his Statutory Declaration was wrong. Further he has for the record stated that he does not believe that the DPM and wife were in any way involved in the murder. Front page news man, just check out today's NST paper.

Well done Mr PM! My only beef with you here is this; What took you so long ah ? I would have thought that anyone in your shoes would have been jumping up and down and demanding immediate responses for being "implicated"! I don't know about you sir but the first thing I would have done when this Statutory Declaration hit the public domain would have been to call for a news conference to deny any involvement/complicity. Then again that is me and you are definitely not me right?

Anyway, I hope now that the matter has been clarified by you, you would not make any about turns in the near future. Look i just don't know whether I can trust you anymorelah. That is the honest truth. Remember when you denied getting remarried ? Or the time when you said parliament was not going to be dissolved? Or even when you said fuel prices were not going to go up, remember sir ? Remember ?

Sir a little advice from little me, should you be reading this; better sack you PR advisers. In this sort of matters sir, you need to move a little faster. In my book your PR advisers failed you here Sir.

Oh Dear! How is this saga going to end ? So many questions and not enough answers....

Praying that truth shall always reign supreme,

M V Nathan

Wah so fast one ah?

My horse "Justice" in a real hurry !

I like how sometimes things move at a real fast pace here in Malaysia. To me the lightning speed that the ACA moved in to investigate a certain Datuk from Sabah is really amazing. This Datuk is a leader of one of the component parties that form BN.This Datuk also recently announced that he and his party was going to move a vote of no confidence against our very lovable PM. In fact the two Members of Parliament from his party was supposed to do just that when Parliament reconvened on Monday. Sadly it was a no show!

This is the part that i like. The ACA that normally is accused of going into deep sleep like state or even self induced coma when carrying out its duties, suddenly sprung into action. They then announced that they were going to carry out investigations on our Datuk from Sabah for alleged payments amounting to RM5 million made to his agents.

I am sure some of you would be saying this to me now " hello, people slow you complain people fast also you complain ah?". What to say ? I guess there is no pleasing melah. The fact of the matter is this, if this Datuk didn't threaten to move this vote of no confidence against the PM, would the ACA been as efficient ? The timing here really "stinks". How sure are we that this investigations are not a kind of tit for tat reaction on the part of the government ? I am not convinced at all that these investigations are being made in good faith or as a genuine gesture of wanting to eradicate corruption in this country. Only lesson that one can learn from here in my opinion is the following " You mess with me boy and boy will I mess you!".

I have this to say to the ACA " boss what happened to the investigations against our former PM and his merry men ? " Belum habis siasatkah? Manyak lambatlah!

Sigh! if only the ACA can move with lightning speed in other matters as well!

Cheers

M V Nathan

Pure Dynamite !

Aduh bang ! Meletuplah!!!

There is this rule in law called "sub judice". If you are a lawyer or if you are well versed in legal jargon then chances are you would know what it means. Basically in lay man's language it means " Tak boleh cakaplah pasal itu kes dalam mahkamah" or " no discussions allowed on the merits of an ongoing case". Whatever i am writing here has to be done with that rule in mind.

Well it appears that there is this one murder case that has the nation's citizens gripped to the edges of their seats. It has all the elements of a bestselling novel i.e the adultery,romance, Paris, submarines, jilted lover, guns, explosions so on and so forth. Malaysia Boleh you say ?

The trial has been going on for some time now. The only constant in the trial were the three accused as there have been many changes to the other key personnel in the trial. Sometimes i cant remember who is who anymore in the trial! No joke! This trial has seen a change in the presiding judge, prosecutors and even defence counsels.

Anyway the one thing that was a constant in the trial were the three accused. Well it appears that even that may change soon; that is if one was to believe the statutory declaration made by someone called Raja Petra. To those who don't know what a statutory declaration is; simply put, it is a statement made under oath. Now Raja Petra has made a statutory declaration that he has been reliably informed that there are more people involved in the murder! So called prominent people are named as being present when the dastardly act of murder was committed! You can read it at http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/9050/84/

What happens next to me is mind boggling. I would have thought that the mainstream media would have gone to town with the allegations and reported the story in its front pages. But nolah! it didn't happen. Why ah ? I would have thought that something like this would have caused a media frenzy and all that. Very strangelah!

Anyway, I don't think something like this has ever happened in a murder trial before. I don't think anyone has ever made a statutory declaration publicly declaring that other people may be involved in the crime midway through a trial. Is Raja Petra aware of his actions and its implications? Why is he making his allegations only now ? Is there any truth to his allegations ? Why the muted response from the powers that be ? Has there been a perversion of justice in this case ? What happens to the trial now ? So many questionslah!

One thing is for sure, every one is innocent until proven guilty. That means this matter has to be thoroughly investigated and action must be taken if there has been any wrong done by any one; Raja Petra included. For that to happen only the truth would suffice.

Confused today,

M V Nathan

Jambuism - the new faith in town ?

All hail the infinite wisdom of the Jambu tree !!!

I am reproducing below an excerpt i took from my buddy Haris's post in the People's Parliament. Hey Haris, if you are reading this post sorry bro, didn't ask permission! Hope you don't mind. Tell you what bro, this is one nice story that I just had to put it here!

Imagine now that one Z, a bachelor with no family dependents, believes that the jambu tree in his garden is God. Every morning , Z wakes up, goes into his garden, prostrates before the jambu tree and gives thanks for the blessings he will receive and asks that he be given strength and courage to do what is good and right.
After his morning prayers, Z leaves his house and heads for his workplace of the last 30 years : an orphanage. Z teaches English to young orphans. Lunch is provided at the orphanage and in the evening, before he leaves for home, Z picks up two food packs. One for dinner that night and the other for breakfast tomorrow. That’s his wages for the day.
That, in a nutshell, sums up Z’s daily life.
Fast forward to judgment day.
Z’s turn is up and he is summoned into the judgment chamber.
He enters with great trepidation, expecting to see his familiar jambu tree.
No tree.
Nothing, except the sense of a Great Presence.
And then he hears judgment being handed down.
“Expecting a tree were you, you silly bugger! Go on, the door to heaven’s on the left”.

Tell you what, I really liked that story. To me it doesn't matter what or how we pray or even if we "pray"at all! What is more important is how we lead our lives. What is the point in being a so called religious person, praying all the time when our actions seem to be at total odds with all that religious fervour ? Do we really need to fight , quarrel and even kill one another merely because we have different faiths? I honestly think that religion is one of the main reason why there is so much conflict in the world today. Funny how many people are of the opinion that their faith is the only true religion. They also seem to think that that everyone else is doomed for refusing to adopt their "true" faith. To think of the wars that were fought in the past and continues to be fought in the name of religion today! Ah... All rather silly me thinks.

I think "Jambuism" illustrates the true path to "heaven"!!!

Cheers,

M V Nathan

Why only now Marina?

Aiyoh! Rumah sudah terbakarlah! Baru u sampaikah?

I read today's The Star newspaper and was quite surprised to read what Marina Mahathir had to say in her "Musings" column. Well it appears that Ms Marina would want the government to walk the talk. She says the government should "share our burden" and take steps to curb spending in view of the recent fuel hike.

I like the way she had gone out of her way to list 15 points/suggestions for the government to consider. No harm there right? Look I really like the suggestions just that I don't quite like the messenger. I know Marina is doing all that good work in raising awareness for the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS and all that. Well done on that. I mean it.

The problem here is this. WHY didn't she raise all these suggestions and get them published in the newspaper when her father was the PM? Why only now ? Is it because it is ok to bash the Abdullah administration? Didn't Abdullah inherit the rotten system from your father ? The way I see it the old man was responsible for all the excesses that we've come to lament so much now.

Did we really need the Twin Towers or Putrajaya for that matter. As a matter of fact, every time i drive into Putrajaya i have this nauseating feeling in my throat. I look around and see so few people on the streets. Isn't the place supposed to be the administrative capital of the government. Shouldn't this place be just teeming with activity ? To me, in my little eyes the place looks so very empty and dare I say even has a ghost town like feel to it. Did we really need a place where every other street lamp design is different from the other ? Marina, try asking the average Joe on the street what he thinks of Putrajaya. Ask him how convenient it is to get there. Chances are you would not like the answers!

Now tell me please Marina, did you advise your dad then against the many excesses and the abuses of power ? Did you also get it published in the newspapers ?

Anyway for whatever its worth, thanks for the list.

Cheers,

M V Nathan

I wonder how these parents feel ?

Just so sad!

Just so sad. I happened to read a report in the "STAR" newspaper that according to one NGO there are some poor parents who are substituting infant formula with diluted condensed milk, rock sugar water, black coffee and even plain tea to feed their infants and toddlers! According to the NGO , parents with low incomes of under RM1,500.00 with an average of three children have even reduced feeding infant formula from five times a day to only twice a day! According to the NGO the mothers could not produce breast milk as they are undernourished themselves!

Oh Dear ! That is one of the most distressing news I have read about recently. What has happened to us ? Were we not gloating in the not too distant past of being capable of sending "tourists" into space to make teh tarik? Did we not gloat and boast at our ability in building the Twin Towers; touted as one of the tallest buildings in the world ? The country that hosts formula one car races and other world world sporting events surely does not have this problem. Surely this cannot happen in a country that spends millions of RM to send its citizens on expeditions to the South pole, up the Everest and even to navigate solo around the globe in a boat! Surely this report cant be true.

But then again, why did the "STAR" carry this story if it was not true ? Never mind the fact that it was carried at the bottom of page 6 of the "Paper that cares". Never mind the fact that this story ought to have been carried on page one of the day's paper. Well, at least the story was reported.

So now that the story is out, why is there no "committees to look into this matter","fact finding missions" or even "investigations" being carried out to verify this story ? Hello.... every one on "kursus" or "lawatan sambil belajar" is it ? Please someone in the government...please do something. This cannot be allowed to happen here.

I don't know about you but that story if true is one of the most distressing things I've heard. I cant imagine a child/infant being deprived of its basic sustenance to survive here in Malaysia. Sure I've heard about starvation in Somalia or Uganda but last time I checked this was still Malaysia! I am sad. In fact very sad. Well it appears all these recent price hikes are really hurting the rakyat.

So, the question then; How to solve this problem? Maybe start a fund in the name of "Help feed our starving Malaysians" ?

Sad today,

M V Nathan

Happy Father's Day!

Today I take a break from the usual rant to write in honour of all fathers out there. Its not easy being a father I tell you. You have to be a role model, disciplinarian, friend etc. No easy task I tell you. I guess I am not the best of models as many would agree ... so many flaws in the blue print! Anyway I try to do my best.

I have two sons aged 12 and 10 respectively. They are growing up so fast that sometimes it scares me. I think I still see them as babies still not realising that they are no longer such. Susahlah ! Now they tell me how I should exercise and eat less! Aiyoh ! Susahlah!

I can imagine in a few years time they would also want to spread their wings and fly far from the nest.Not too far guys, ok! Oh dear! How I dread the day! Guys, I hope both of you would grow up to be good and make me proud. Be all that you can be and always speak the truth.

This day also reminds me of my late father. He passed on in October 2000. He was a man of few words. I guess you can say he was a very reserved man who kept his thoughts very private. But you know what, he managed to raise 8 kids on his meagre income as a storekeeper with the government. Now that in my book was an achievement! I do not think I am capable of doing what he had accomplished.

I also remember how my father being a strict disciplinarian that he was, used to cane me when I was younger. My other siblings never got it as much as I did. Well, you can say I was a little "hyper-nakal" when I was younger. Ha-ha!!! I remember running around the house with my father chasing after me. Anything can be the rotan those days,I tell you. Most of the time it was a branch from the Jambu tree that we had in our house compound. No point buying when can get free right? Ha-ha!!!

Anyway Pa, thanks for all the lessons in life. Though it has been 8 years I still miss you a lot. I hope to be at least half the man you were. Wherever you may be Pa , May you always be well and happy!

Love always,

M V Nathan

What is wrong with this man ?

What's up Doc ?

When I first started blogging, I had resolved not to pay too much heed to what this man says. I am of the humble opinion that this man is responsible for so many ills that have befallen this nation of ours. The issues regarding the judiciary is something that is close to heart and is one such ill. Can anyone out there especially after the "lingam tapes" affair safely say that this man was not at least partly if not wholly responsible for the rot in the judiciary ? Anyway I am going to write about this man today despite my earlier resolve not to because this man I believe continues to spew poison in his speeches.

I wonder how and why it is, that this man is still allowed to go around the countryside preaching his brand of "national politics" ? Freedom of speech you say ? Well, I guess everyone is entitled to his or her opinions. Even if such views are held in contempt and ridicule by many, I guess a man's view is after all his view. He is entitled to it; no matter how perverted and vile it may be!

Well it appears that this man now says that the non malays in this country should stop questioning the special rights of the Malays and count themselves privileged, having been given citizenship and other rights in this country!

My immediate question here would be this; Doc who is questioning these issues ? What was said, where and when ? Who are these people that continue to harp on these issues ? I stand corrected here Doc, the only thing that is on every ones minds these days are about rising prices and how it is affecting them. I don't think anyone is talking about special rights or citizenship of anyone these days. THE ONLY person now that I can think of is only YOU! I find that you are doing it quite regularly these days.

Why Doc ? Why? Why didn't you say these things when you were the PM ? Why only now ? To ask which country in the world has given immigrants equal rights ? Maybe you are right on that score. After all I am informed that your father was such an immigrant from India! See how the nation has given the opportunity for you to rise to become its Prime Minister!

You are also quoted to have said "If the Malays were willing to accept the immigrants we should not let other people now question our rights" Hmm.... Have to think here for a bit. Whose rights are we talking about now ? All very confusinglah!

Tell you what Doc, maybe these days you should start counting your blessings that this government does not have the moral conviction nor the fortitude in wanting to undo all the alleged wrongs committed by you and your friends in the past. If the government was really serious about wanting to "clean house" they would have already done so by now.

Tell you what Doc, please stop raising all this irrelevant issues. We as a nation have much to do to move forward. Believe it or not we are no longer "immigrants" or "Malays"! We are all Malaysians! Should we fail to acknowledge this fact and move ahead united in these trying times then I guess we as a nation are doomed to failure. The world is shrinking Doc! Globalisation is the "in" word these days. We have much to worry about. The last thing we want to hear these days are about you and your silly antiquated views!

Cheers,

M V Nathan

Stop talking nonsenselah!

Maybe they studied here and got PHD! Permanent Head Damagelah!

I don't get it how some people try to be clever and try to "speak clever" when they really are not. Simply pathetic lot I tell you. Well it appears that our City Police Chief whatever his name is, would want us to believe that if you have rallies then "criminals would take advantage of the chaotic situation"! What brilliant reasoning! Tell me Datuk how many criminals were arrested commiting a crime the last time some group had a rally? Hmmm....I wonder if he studied in the above pictured place?

He says that it is all a waste of time. All this demonstrating and getting involved in illegal rallies are burdening the police force. "It is a waste of manpower. Our main focus is crime prevention, not crowd control or directing traffic". Geez... What a genius! Mind you he has also warned people not to join the march.

Look Mr whatever your name is, the people are genuinely upset. People everywhere are annoyed, disappointed and angry with the present government to say the least. Let the people march and say whatever they want to saylah. Surely you are aware that they have a right to peaceful assembly under the Constitution. Why do you want to suppress this healthy activity ? Your bosses told you to do it, is it ? Wait no promotion is it?

If I were you Datuk, which thankfully I am not , I would have made sure that the people go about their rally in a peaceful manner. No need for 1500 to 2000 policemen to jaga this peoplelah! They just want to release some steam and make known to the government their feelings. That is all. No need to tembak with water cannon and no need to use FRUlah. Simple matter to handle onelah. Try it for oncelah.Belum cuba belum tau kan ? Tell you what, I am sure they would be well behaved. Take my word for it.

You know something, it is your bosses in the government that have misbehavedlah. It is not the people that have squandered billions of valuable People's Ringgit on nonsensical projects!I am sure you know what projects. You and your friends investigated and then decided "No Further Action"what. It is these people that you should jaga. Not only jaga but also tangkap!!! They are the real criminals and not the poor fellow on the street!

If you dont know, it is not the people who get to go on paid ASEAN country trips. Look the people cant even afford entertainmentlah these days. Semua barang naik harga! So allow the people to walk the streets for two hours or so. Let them shout till they get sore throats. Maybe then the thick skulled, dumb government officials that we have running this country would take notice and then make and implement policies with the people's interest genuinely at heart!

What say you Datuk ?

Cheers,

M V Nathan

Read and make your own conclusions

Please read below an email sent to me for what ever it's worth. Hmm.... Sounds convincing to me! But then again, maybe some of you out there know better. Kindly enlighten me if the statements below are true.

Cheers,

M V Nathan

WHAT IS NEVER MENTIONED IN Mainstream Media like NST/TheStar/Utusan/BH arethese facts....Malaysian PerCapita Income USD 5000VSSingaporean PerCapita Income USD 25000Further The Star made a comparison of prices in Thailand , Singapore and Indonesia .For Thailand it is quoted at RM3.90/liter, however are they aware that inThailand new cars are cheaper than Malaysia by RM10,000? They pay only onelife time for their driving license? No renewal fee after that? Also thatgoes for road tax as well? And do TheStar also aware that you can drive allthe way from Hadtyai to Bangkok on a six lane highway without paying anyTolls ??!!Whereas here in Malaysia you have to pay yearly renewal for road tax ,driving license and TOLLS, TOLLS, TOLLS!!!For Singapore how can you quote RM 5.20 ? Please quote in Singapore Dollarsbecause they are earning in Sing Dollars. You might as well say Europeansare paying RM10/liter. RM5.20/liter = Sing $ 2.20/liter, still cheaper thanMalaysia in view of fact that Singapore is not a crude oil exporter. Areyou saying that you fill up petrol in Singapore by paying Ringgit?In economy, dollar to dollar must be compared as apple to apple. Notcomparing like durian in M'sia is much cheaper than durian in Japan !! Ofcourse-lah, Japan is not durian producer!!! Comparing Malaysian durian withThailand durian make more sense!!For Indonesia we might say is cheaper there at RM2.07/liter but comparethat to their level of income!Now, let us compare the price with OIL PRODUCING countries:UAE – RM1.19/litreEygpt – RM1.03/litreBahrain – RM0.87/litreQatar – RM0.68/litreKuwait – RM0.67/litreSaudi Arabia – RM0.38/litreIran – RM0.35/litreNigeria – RM0.32/litreTurkmenistan – RM0.25/litreVenezuela – RM0.16/litreMALAYSIA – RM2.70/litreRM 2.70!!! Individual perspective:As of last month a Toyota Vios would 'cause a damage' of about RM 89,000.In the international market, a Toyota Vios is about USD 19,000USD 19,000 = RM 62,700 (using the indicative rates of USD 1 = RM 3.30)That makes Malaysian Vios owners pay an extra RM 26,300.This RM 26,300 should be cost of operations, profit and tax because thetransportation costs have been factored in to the USD 19,000.RM 26,300/ RM625 petrol rebate per year translates to a Vios being used for42.08 years.I do understand that the RM 625 is a rebate given by the government, but italso means that one has to use the Vios for 42.08 years just to make backthe amount paid in taxes for the usage of a foreign car. Would anyone useany kind of car for that long?Now with these numbers in front of us, does the subsidy sound like asubsidy or does it sound like a penalty? This just seems to be a heavyincrement in our daily cost of living as we are not only charged with highcar taxes but also with a drastic increase in fuel price.With all the numbers listed out, I urge all Malaysians to join me inanalyzing the situation further.Car taxation is government profit, fuel sales is Petronas' (GLC) profitwhich also translates into government profit. The government may ridiculeus Malaysians by saying look at the world market and fuel price world wide.Please, we are Malaysians, we fought of the British, had a internationalport in the early centuries (Malacca), home to a racially mixed nation andWE ARE NOT STUPID!!!We know the international rates are above the USD 130/barrel. We understandthe fact that the fuel prices are increasing worldwide and we also knowthat major scientist are still contradicting on why this phenomenon ishappening. Some blame Bush and his plunders around the world and some blameclimate change and there are others which say petroleum 'wells' are gettingscarce.Again we go back to numbers to be more straight fwd1 barrel = 159 liters x RM2.70/liter = RM 429 or USD 134On 1 hand, we are paying the full cost of 1 barrel of crude oil with RM2.70per liter but on the other hand the crude oil only produces 46% of fuel.Msia sells crude oil per barrel at USD130 buys back Fuel per barrel atUSD134. And not forgetting, every barrel of fuel is produced with 2 barrelsof crude oil.1 barrel crude oil = produce 46% fuel (or half of crude oil), therefore2 barrel crude oil = approximately 1 barrel fuelIn other words, each time we sell 2 barrels of crude oil, equivalently wewill buy back 1 barrel of fuel.Financially,Malaysia sell 2 barrel crude oil @ USD 130/barrel = USD 260 = RM 858then, Malaysia will buy back fuel @ USD 134/barrel = RM 442/barrelThus, Malaysia earn net extra USD 126 = RM 416 for each 2 barrel of crudesold/exported vs imported 1 barrel of fuel !!!(USD 260-134 = USD 126 = RM416)So where this extra USD 126/barrel income is channeled to by MalaysianGovt?????????Another analysis:1 barrel crude oil = 159 liters.46-47% of a barrel of crude oil = fuel that we use in our vehicles.46% of 159 = 73.14 liters.@ RM 2.70/liter x 73.14 liter = RM197.48 of fuel per barrel of crude oil.This is only 46% of the barrel, mind you. Using RM 3.30 = USD 1, we getthat a barrel of crude oil produces USD 59.84 worth of petrol fuel (46% of1barrel).USD 59.84 of USD 130/barrel turns out to be 46% of a barrel as well.Another 54% = bitumen, kerosene, and natural gases and so many more.And this makes a balance of USD 70.16 that has not been accounted for.So this is where I got curious. Where is the subsidy if we are paying 46%of the price of a barrel of crude oil when the production of petrol/barrelof crude oil is still only 46%?In actual fact, we still pay for this as they are charged in the forms offuel surcharge by airlines and road taxes for the building of road (becausethey use the tar/bitumen) and many more excuse charging us but let us justleave all that out of our calculations.As far as I know, only the politicians who live in Putrajaya and come fortheir Parliament meetings in Kuala Lumpur (approximately 60+ km) are theones to gain as they claim their fuel and toll charges from the money ofthe RAKYAT's TAX.It is so disappointing to see this happen time and time again to theMalaysian public, where they are deceived by the propaganda held by thepoliticians and the controls they have over the press.Which stupid idiot economist equates rebates for rich or poor with the ccof the vehicles? An average office clerk may own a second hand 1300ccproton Iswara costing $7,000 (rebate = $625) while the Datuk's children canown a fleet of 10 new cars of BMW, Audi and Volvo all less than 2000cccosting $2 millions and get a total rebate of $625 x 10 = $6,250! Wow whatkind of economists we are keeping in Malaysia ...wonder which phDcertificate that they bought from...Misleading concept of Subsidy:The word "subsidy" has been brandished by the BN government as if it has sogenerously helped the rakyat and in doing so incurred losses. This simpleexample will help to explain the fallacy:Example:Ahmad is a fisherman. He sells a fish to you at $10 which is below themarket value of $15. Let's assume that he caught the fish from theabundance of the sea at little or no cost. Ahmad claims that since themarket value of the fish is $15 and he sold you the fish for $10, he hadsubsidised you $5 and therefore made a loss of $5.Question : Did Ahmad actually make a profit of $10 or loss of $5 which heclaimed is the subsidy?Answer:Ahmad makes a profit of $10 which is the difference of the selling price($10) minus the cost price ($0 since the fish was caught from the abundanceof the sea). There is no subsidy as claimed by Ahmad.The BN government claims that it is a subsidy because the oil is kept andtreated as somebody else's property (you know who). By right, the oilbelongs to all citizens of the country and the government is a trustee forthe citizens. So as in the above simple example, the BN government cannotclaim that it has subsidised the citizen!

Go get a second job says Minister !

Overworked mate ? No such thing... Go get a second job!

Well it appears that the government would want the people (all Malaysians) to go get a second job to cope with rising costs and inflation! It's true! Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Tan Sri Amirsham A.Aziz says that's what the people ought to do. So you people out there you heard from the man ... go get a second job! No excuses OK ! Excuses like you are already overworked or tired, have babysitter problems is simply not going to be good enough! People you have to work harder, make more money and pay more taxesloh....!More taxes mean more money to spend!How else do you think Ministers are going to get to go for their one week all paid ASEAN trips ? But then again the Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad just three or four days ago advised civil servants against looking for second jobs to supplement incomes! Typical flip flop policies of this world class government you say ? Maybe they attend separate cabinet meetings? I dont knowlah, very confusing!!!

The Tourism Minister is quoted in the papers today as advising Malaysians to stop going for holidays overseas but rather to go to local destinations. I don't know about you but the last thing on my mind now is to want to go on a holiday. Simply put, just cant afford itlah. Maybe I should become minister also...Hmmm....neh! Not so muka tebal lah!

On another matter close to heart I read what Justice Datuk Ian Chin had to say in one elections petition case. Simply astounding or maybe not actually. I guess I am no longer surprised to read about how the former PM and his co-horts had been alleged to have interfered with the administration of justice in this country. I wonder what other revelations are going to be made in the near future and by whom? What ever it is, I guess the only way forward is to put things back in order. That would necessarily mean to prosecute all that were involved in making the administration of justice to the state it is in today... Simply rotten!!! Why has there been no prosecutions brought against any one thus far ? Mr AG... Hello...??? Oh Dear, the silence is deafening!

Today also no cheerslah!

M V Nathan

Cuts from the top ?

I want my London trip... boo-hoo-hoo...Me WANT!!!

The PM has announced that there will be "cuts from the top" in view of the people's sufferings. Well done Mr PM! The PM is quoted as saying that there shall be an austerity drive after the fuel price hike. Well done Mr PM! Were you reading my post here yesterday? Hmmm......

For starters Mr PM is quoted as saying all Ministers will have 10% of their ENTERTAINMENT bills trimmed. Wow! That means the ministers will have 10% less to spend on entertaining themselves! How very prudent! Well done Mr PM! The Rakyat will be so very relieved to know that our Ministers are going to spend less of the Rakyat's money on entertainment.Well done Mr PM! You really have the people's welfare as your top most consideration. I hear some cant afford to buy food or pay school bus fees these days! 10% less entertainment for ministers would most certainly go down well with these people!

Mr PM has also been quoted as saying that there will be a partial hiring freeze in the civil service. This measure is certainly most welcomed to encourage greater efficiency in the public sector. As it is I believe there are one too many serving in the government service.Mr PM maybe you should have added that from now on there will be less meetings and less courses to be attended by government officials. Maybe then all the excuses like "dia meetinglah" or "dia kursus" will be heard less often by the people.

Mr PM has also been quoted as saying that there shall be no more paid holidays other than in ASEAN countries for our Ministers and deputy ministers. Well done Mr PM, you certainly have the people's interest at heart. I don't know about you but I think the average Ahmad, Ah Seng or Raju cant afford a vacation to even Pulau Batu Putih these days. Well done Mr PM!

Personally I liked how one Deputy Minister responded when asked about the removal of paid holidays other than in ASEAN countries. Please refer to page 6 of the NST under "What they say ". This Deputy Minister is quoted to having said this " I feel bad because Ministers and deputy ministers had a chance to travel to London previously. But we have to put the nation's interests first. It is one way to show people that we care for them". I only have this to say Mr Deputy Minister. If YOU were really sincere about caring for the people YOU would not have felt BAD! In fact,YOU would have been very honoured and/or even humbled to know that YOU are still able to go on a paid one week's holiday in some ASEAN country at OUR expense; i.e the Rakyat! That Mr Deputy Minister would be genuine concern and care for the people!

Cheers,

M V Nathan

Are you going to walk the talk Mr PM ?

I wouldn't be smiling if i were you!

Dear Mr Prime Minister,

When you first came to office, there was this feel good feeling amongst the people of this country. After many years of the repressive Mahathir era we welcomed you as a breath of fresh air. We had so much hope in you. You promised us so many wonderful things. You said that you were the Prime Minister for all and we were looking forward to better times under you.

Sadly none of your promises were fulfilled. In fact things have turned for the worse under your premiership. Your promise to eradicate corruption and abuses of power remained just that;mere promises. The general feeling is that there is more corruption and abuses of power under your regime than before. What happened ?

Mr Prime Minister are you aware that the prices of every essential goods in this country has spiralled upwards. Every where I go people are saying the same thing; How to survive? My income is only so much how am I going to survive?

Mr Prime Minister I simply cannot accept your reasoning when raising fuel prices recently. It simply doesn't add up! What is happening with the money generated from the sale of our oil ? If prices are going up wouldn't we be making more money too? How much exactly are we making anyway, from the sale of our oil? National secret you say? Why is that so Mr Prime Minister? Didn't you promise better transparency and accountability when you got elected? So why the secrecy? Why the need to classify the accounts of Petronas to be national secrets? Why are you and your merry men always comparing Malaysia with India, Singapore and Thailand when justifying price hikes? Look how many of the countries quoted by you are rich from the sale of rubber, oil palm and petroleum products? Do you and your your merry men know of the principle of purchasing power parity? Why no mention of this principle when comparing prices with Singapore?

The last time you and your merry men raised fuel prices you promised us better public transportation and improved infrastructure. You know what things are pretty much the same or worse depending on who you talk to these days. These days you want us to believe that the monies saved from the removal of subsidies are going to be used for food securities, better public transportation etc... You know what, I just don't trust you any more. If you have not realised it, people are fed up with your flip flop policies! We don't know what to believe anymore. We are confused I tell you. For example when you banned the sale of fuel to foreigners you then decided against it! Remember when you said you are not getting remarried and said "khabar angin", what happened ? Remember also the time when you told the nation that parliament was not going to be dissolved soon and doing just the opposite the very next day? I don't know about the rest of the Rakyat but I am just simply annoyed and disappointed with your flip flop ways!

Mr Prime Minister, when you tell the people to change their lifestyles are you also going to walk the talk? Are we going to see you soon at the LRT station taking the LRT to save on public money? Are we going to see you at Plaza Rakyat rushing to get to your bus where the bus driver happens to have 22o outstanding traffic summonses? Are we going to see you move house to some terrace house some where in Puchong to reduce spending? Are we also going to stop reading about how 1000 odd people attended your arrival at the air port from an overseas trip ? Should you insist on using people paid automobiles, are you going to use a Kancil? Are you going to insist the hell riders that accompany you on your trips by car be reduced to maybe just one from the usual ten ? Will you ? Will you ?

Are you Mr Prime Minister going to walk the talk? I hope I am going to read in the papers soon about WHAT STEPS YOU ARE TAKING TO STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY !!! After all what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. Don't you agree Mr Prime Minister ?

Cheers,

M V Nathan

The inevitable happened!

Oh Dear! Is more bad news coming our way ?

I am feeling a little annoyed this morning. Fuel prices are now at a price that was unimaginable before. An increase of 0.78 sen a litre for petrol! I do not want to think of the repercussions. I am sure it is only a matter of time before the prices of everything else spirals upwards.Well to be honest I always thought that fuel prices were going to go up but this is ridiculous. I remember how the government said during the last price hike that the money saved then would be used for better and more efficient public transportation! Well you know what, nothing of the sort has happened! The roads are just as bad and public transport is just diddly squat! And how can the government advise the people to change their lifestyles when the government itself has not ? When I see government officials or ministers taking using public transportation instead of their official cars maybe then I would also consider doing the same.

The thing that I don't understand is how this government continues to justify the price increase with nations like Singapore! Look if you don't know Singapore is just a small island nation and is not in the oil production business. We on the other hand are an oil producing nation last time I checked. The strange thing about our oil production is that it is a matter of National Security! No accounts are ever produced with regards our National Oil Company i.e Petronas even in Parliament. No one really knows what really goes on in Petronas other than the powers that be in this country. Really sad isn't it? No transparency nor accountability. Those two words don't mean much in this beloved nation of ours. Do they?

Anyway I am very much aware that the prices of fuel has spiralled upwards around the world and it was only a matter of time before it happens here. Maybe the price increase would not have been so objectionable if it had been done gradually and without the need for sudden surprises. Our PM has been very consistent on one thing, every time he denies something quite the opposite happens. Its true. He denied he was getting married again but then what happened? He denied Parliament was going to be dissolved and then the next day he announces the opposite! Very consistent on being inconsistent!

Now the government would want us to believe that the money saved from all the scrapped subsidies are going to be used for food security (whatever that means), cooking oil subsidies and the like.Call me a sceptic but I think the money would just be squandered like so many times before this. Just a sad fact of life in Malaysia. Just have to live with it I guess. Must we?

Sad today, so no cheerslah!

M V Nathan

Sometimes things move rather very slowly !

Tak boleh cepatlah! Banyak berat!

It appears to me that the findings of the Royal Commission of Enquiry into the Lingam tapes had been announced for sometime now. Maybe its just me but somehow I think since then everything regarding this fiasco has since lost its steam. People don't seem to want to talk about this matter anymore. The AG has requested for the police and the ACA to carry out investigations and thats the end of it. Why do I feel that things are not on the fast track as compared to some other cases ? Somehow I feel that investigations into this judicial fiasco is moving at snail's pace. That is just my perception; anyway what do I know right ? Read what the retired PM said here http://www.chedet.com/2008/06/royal-commissions.html He says that he is awaiting to be investigated! ." I am now named as one of those to be investigated by the authorities.6. I await the investigation which I suspect is possibly intended to incriminate me one way or another."- Former PM TUN DR MAHATHIR M.

I remember when one DAP MP was alleged to have made some seditious statements against the Perak Royalty, many police reports were made against him. In fact one of the police reports made against the said MP was at the behest of the PM. I remember how our boys in blue then sprung to action. They interviewed the said MP and recorded statements from many people. Some say they they lived up to the motto "Cepat dan Tepat"! As I recall many people were jumping up and down demanding for justice and honour then. If you had the read the papers then this issue would not have escaped you.

Somehow when the Royal Commission had announced its findings the reaction of some people were quite strange I thought. Instead of demanding the fiasco to be investigated immediately some were of the opinion that "restraint" should be the order of the day. Let them be investigated first they said. We should be fair to them and give them a fair hearing, etc....

The point I am making here is this. This judicial fiasco affects the judicial welfare of the nation right? Why didn't the PM himself make a police report against the alleged perpetrators of the fiasco ? Why didn't the boys in blue make immediate arrests and request for remand of the suspects under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code ? I thought our boys always arrested first and then applied for remand to enable them to complete investigations. I guess there are always exceptions to the general rule! Anyway what more investigations do you need to carry out to uncover further evidence, other than what was provided at Royal Commission ? In my opinion the evidence gathered at the Royal Commission is sufficient for a prima facie case to be proved against the alleged suspects. In my humble opinion the evidence is damning enough!

I remember how Harris Ibrahim was whisked away by our boys in blue at lightning speed from Dataran Merdeka to the Dang Wangi Police Station for holding a candle one night! I guess the candle that Harris was holding that night was not of regulation size and thus he had to be removed to ensure public order and safety!!!

Cheers,

M V Nathan

Would you be someones proxy?

Easy money anyone...?

I was with a friend for a cup of tea late yesterday evening. Tea was accompanied by the usual chit chat as most chit chats are about these days. I don't know about you but chances are these days we tend to talk about sugar levels, cholesterol and other health related matters. Must be a sign of growing old I guess. Funny how we will also talk about wanting to do more exercise. Yeah.. that's right just talk! My wife says the only exercise I ever do these days are when I chew my food in my mouth or when I move my fingers when I switch channels on my TV remote. Ha-Ha!!!

Anyway, the usual chat took a slight change from the norm. Something my friend said yesterday has kept me thinking on the subject, so much so that I felt I needed to post it here. He said, what if some rich and powerful politician was to ask you to be his proxy in some big company. Of course you are there to ensure that the politician's interests in the company are well protected. You see he cant be seen to be remotely connected with the company and its affairs. And that is why he needs you to be his proxy! Would you do it ? You would be paid handsomely for your troubles maybe even in the millions!... he added. The only slight setback is that you have to stand as guarantor to the loans that the company takes out with banks from time to time. Would you do it ? He asked again...think man, you would lead a jet setting lifestyle!

Well the answer my friend got from me left him wondering if there was something seriously wrong with me! I said "NO!" I told him that I was too independent in my views and that I valued my independence too much. I just cant stomach the idea of being someones stooge. Just me I guess. Terribly flawed!

My friend says that I am being very silly!. He says that I was not being practical as well. He says that I should be thinking about my family and their welfare. "Think about all the good you can do with all the money that you have"... he added. Money is no longer a problem to you. Total financial freedom. That's when I said " At what cost?"

My friend before leaving said this "The ends justifies the means mate... Think about it!"

What say you ? Does the ends justify the means ?

Cheers,

M V Nathan

National Service not in service?

"Tak Nak" to NS !!!

Why is it that I keep reading in the papers about how some poor kid in the National Service has either been molested, fallen ill, or even died? How many more times do we have to read in the papers that some poor kid has died or fallen ill in the National Service camps ? Look no further than today's NST at page 8 today.

I am a father of two boys. I dread the day when my sons are old enough to be drafted into the National Service programme. Frankly I simply don't have any confidence in the National Service programme currently in place. I tell you it is not ok when you hear people say "Oh.. it is only normal that people fall sick or die...It is bound to happen. Very normal..!!!" . I am lost for words when I hear or read things like this. Words just fail me!!! My brains freeze up and I am unable to respond in any way. What logic...

Imagine you sending your child for National Service hale and healthy and imagine what it would feel like when you receive a phone call informing you that he/she is dead and that you are to collect the remains at a particular hospital mortuary!!!Imagine the pain and sufferings of the parents and the other loved ones. Oh the horror!!!

Firstly I don't think by having a programme of three months the youth of our country are going to be better integrated, thereby forging better national unity amongst the races. I say this is wishful thinking on the part of the politicians! Nothing more and nothing less! It is absolute rubbish! Should you wish to have better unity amongst the races stop having the divisive politics and policies that discourage racial integration.

I say it is time that we reviewed the entire NS programme. If we cant run it in a safe and healthy environment...STOP THE PROGRAMME!!! We don't need to read about another kid falling sick neither do we need to read about another kid dying. And to all the government officials who say it is ok to have one or two deaths; I say no!It is never ok!!! Time to go back to the drawing board. Lets get it right and avoid all the undesirable/unwanted situations at all costs. Nothing else shall suffice.

On a happier note I am glad that the situation in Bandar Mahkota Cheras has finally been resolved; albeit temporarily pending all the legal suits. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed just for luck! You never know...... I am too much of a sceptic sometimes!

Peace always,

M V Nathan