SPEECH BY PENANG CHIEF MINISTER LIM GUAN ENG AT THE PRIVATE SCREENING OF THE HABITAT DOCUMENTARY FILM – “URBANIZED” ON 19 APRIL 2012, 11AM AT GSC, GURNEY PLAZA, PENANG

I would like to welcome all of you to this screening of the documentary “Urbanized” by Gary Hustwit, brought to you today by Penang Institute in conjunction with Think City.

This new documentary film is currently being screened and discussed in many places around the world. Not only does this film highlight many of the serious challenges that face an increasingly urban world, it also shows how some of these problems are addressed.

Over half the world’s population now live in urban areas, and 75% will call a city home by 2050. However, while cities comprise less than 1 percent of the earth’s surface, they generate 75 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions.

In the context of an ever-expanding urban population, issues such as increasing cost of energy and climate change will result in greater competition for our declining resources. Hence, many of the urban challenges we face can only be resolved by changing the way we plan, build and manage our cities and urban areas.

Cities have always been sites of innovation and incubators of creativity. It is the flow of people, goods, energy, information and services that determine whether a city becomes a destination and habitat of choice. Therefore, the current set of challenges can be viewed as an opportunity for cities to forge a path that is more sustainable and driven by innovative ideas, new technologies and the creativity of its people.

This film will show us how other cities around the world are addressing their urban challenges, and through that perhaps it will also provide a lens for us to approach some of the issues that we face here in Penang.

After the film, we have a distinguished panel of professionals made up of planners, politicians, academics and urbanists who will provide their reactions to the film. Discussions on this issue are timely, and even more critical that it involves a broad range of stakeholders like what we have here today, from NGOs to members of local authorities to professional architects, planners and developers. All of you are responsible for the planning and development of our city and state and thus it is important that we are aware of the challenges of the modern world.

It is my hope that the following film will inspire ideas on how we go about planning together, to make Penang not only the most sustainable and liveable city in Malaysia and the region, but also to achieve our collective goal of becoming an international and intelligent city of the future.

There are 3 pressing habitat issues in Penang that requires urban solutions that offers sustainable development. One is traffic congestion. Unfortunately traffic congestion in Penang as a result of policy failure and leadership apathy and neglect over the previous 18 years, can not be overcome overnight.

The state government through the 2 local authorities of Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang(MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai(MPSP) had undertaken:-

• short-term measures of forcible clamping and removal of vehicles that block traffic, synchronization of traffic lights and redirection of traffic flows;

• medium-term measures of widening roads and building lay-bys and connecting roads to widen transport accesses;

• long-term measures of at least 4 major infrastructure structures project to provide four lane highways to connect heavily congested areas, including a 3 rd link between Gurney Drive and Butterworth through Malaysia’s first underground sea tunnel.

The Penang PR state government has also help to fund the RM3.2 millon Penang Transport Master Plan(PTM). Even though 2 proposals are mooted by the transport consultants, certain irresponsible parties appear to blame the state government for either ignoring the PTM or not developing public transport.

The Penang state government agrees that public transport is the most coherent and effective method to reduce traffic congestion in line with the principle of moving people, not vehicles. Unfortunately the state government has no control over public transport which is a Federal jurisdiction. So powerless is the state government that we have no powers to impose meters on taxis or even ask buses to provide for free bus services paid by the state government.

The PTM consultants realizes the limits of state government’s powers and is making two proposals,

1. a RM13 billion balanced public transport option assuming full co-operation and assistance from the Federal government; and

2. a RM12.5 billion highway option as a fall-back position of 7 highways, including the state government’s 4 infrastructure projects, in the event federal co-operaton and assistance is not forthcoming. So far, the Federal government has not fulfilled its promised monorail/tram or road by-pass as promised before the 2008 general elections.

In other words, the traffic consultants’ 7 proposed highways is more than the 4 proposed by the state governments.

Two, habitat protection requires rigorous enforcement and restrictions on hillslope development. The PR state government is proud of our record of not approving any hillslope development and has asked the local authorities to ensure compliance. I have been informed by the two local authorities that any hillslope developments are either approved are undertaken by the previous state government.

Unfortunately, such approvals given by the previous state government is still in legally in force and the procedures that follow from such approvals usually can not be stopped. As a rules-based government, the present state government has to observe the laws and respect approvals given, even though it is from the previous state government. Again those who try to pin the blame on the state government for any hill-slope development should explain why they gave approvals in the first place.

Thirdly provide affordable housing. The PR Penang State government will be outlining a complete and holistic framework of providing affordable housing to Penangites involving not just the government but also the private sector. For the past four years, the state government has saved and gathered funds. An initial sum of RM500 million and free land has been provided for this purpose with the first project of 12,000 units in the new satellite town of Batu Kawan. More of such affordable projects will be proposed, including on the island of Penang.

As a first step to protect the interests of local Malaysians, the state government is proposing to increase the minimum limit for foreign purchases of all properties from the existing level of RM 500,000 to RM1 million with a higher limit of RM 2 million for landed properties only in Penang island and retaining the present RM 500,000 limit for Permanent Residents.

In 2010 and 2011 there were 774 and 890 property transactions involving foreigners. These transactions constitute only 2.98% and 2.26% respectively of the total number of transations in Penang. However to protect the interests of locals to ensure that they enjoy priority for less expensive properties, this restriction will help to provide a level playing field since foreigners have the advantage of a higher currency.

The Penang state government stresses that we welcome foreign participation in our economy including our property market. The state government feels that foreign participation can be profitable to both Penangites and foreigners in the higher end market where they can add value by helping Penang to transform itself into an international and intelligent city.

We would like to get feedback and opinions from NGOs, property developers, foreigners and the public on this proposal. The state government hopes to implement this proposal the earliest by 1 June 2012 or the latest by 1 July 2012.

Lim Guan Eng

—-BM Translation–

Teks Ucapan Ketua Menteri（MAIN POINT）

Kerajaan Negeri bercadang untuk meningkatkan had minimum untuk pembelian hartanah untuk pembelian asing daripada tahap yang sedia ada RM500,000 kepada RM1 juta dengan had yang lebih tinggi sebanyak RM2 juta untuk hartanah di Pulau Pinang sahaja dan mengekalkan had RM500, 000 sekarang kepada penduduk tetap.

Terdapat 3 isu penting di Pulau Pinang yang memerlukan penyelesaian urban yang menawarkan pembangunan mampan. Salah satunya ialah kesesakan lalu lintas. Malangnya kesesakan lalu lintas di Pulau Pinang adalah disebabkan kegagalan dasar dan sikap tidak ambil peduli kepimpinan dan pengabaian yang dilakukan sepanjang 18 tahun sebelumnya, dan tidak boleh diatasi dengan sekelip mata.

Kerajaan Negeri melalui 2 pihak berkuasa tempatan Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) dan Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP) telah melaksanakan :-
• Langkah jangka pendek dengan tindakan “clamping” dan mengurangkan kenderaan yang menghalang lalulintas, penyelarasan lampu isyarat dan peralihan aliran trafik.
• Langkah jangka sederhana dengan meluaskan jalan dan membina ‘lay-bys’ dan menyambung jalan untuk kemudahan mengakses pengangkutan
• Langkah jangka panjang dengan pembinaan sekurang-kurangnya 4 struktur projek infrastruktur utama untuk menyediakan empat lorong lebuh raya menghubungkan kawasan kesesakan teruk termasuk lingkaran ketiga antara Persiaran Gurney dan Butterworth melalui terowong bawah laut yang pertama di Malaysia.

Kerajaan Negeri PR Pulau Pinang juga telah membantu membiayai RM3.2 juta untuk Pelan Induk Pengangkutan Pulau Pinang (PTM). Walaupun 2 cadangan yang dicadangkan oleh perunding pengangkutan, beberapa pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab muncul untuk menyalahkan Kerajaan Negeri untuk sama ada tidak mengendahkan PTM atau tidak membangunkan pengangkutan awam.

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang bersetuju bahawa pengangkutan awam adalah kaedah yang paling koheren dan berkesan untuk mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas sejajar dengan prinsip pergerakan manusia, bukan kenderaan. Malangnya Kerajaan Negeri tidak dapat mengawal pengangkutan awam yang mana ia merupakan kuasa Kerajaan Persekutuan. Disebabkan tiada kuasa tersebut, Kerajaan Negeri juga tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk mengenakan meter pada teksi atau juga meminta bas untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan bas percuma yang dibayar oleh Kerajaa Negeri.

Perunding PTM sedar had kuasa Kerajaan Negeri yang terhad dan membuat dua cadangan ,

1- RM13 bilion diperlukan untuk mengimbangi pengangkutan awam dengan menganggap mendapat kerjasama penuh dan bantuan daripada Kerajaan Persekutuan
2- RM12.5 bilion diperlukan untuk kos pembinaan 7 lebuhraya termasuk 4 projek infrastruktur Kerajaan Negeri sekiranya peruntukan Kerajaan Persekutuan tidak berhasil. Setakat ini Kerajaan Persekutuan tidak memenuhi janji untuk menyediakan monorel/trem atau jalan by-pass seperti yang telah dijanjikan sebelum pilihan raya umum 2008.

Dalam erti kata lain, 7 proposal lebuhraya yang dicadangkan oleh perunding trafik adalah lebih baik daripada 4 yang dicadangkan oleh Kerajaan Negeri.

Kedua, perlindungan habitat memerlukan penguatkuasaan yang ketat dan sekatan ke atas pembangunan cerun bukit. Kerajaan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat sangat berbangga dengan rekod tidak pernah meluluskan sebarang pembangunan cerun bukit dan telah meminta pihak berkuasa tempatan memastikan pematuhan ini dipatuhi. Saya telah dimaklumkan oleh kedua-dua pihak berkuasa tempatan bahawa mana- mana pembangunan cerun bukit diluluskan dan dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan Negeri terdahulu.

Malangnya, kelulusan yang diberikan oleh Kerajaan Negeri terdahulu masih sah di sisi undang-undang berkuasa dan mengikut prosedur kelulusan seperti tersebut biasanya tidak boleh dihentikan. Sebagai kerajaan yang berasaskan undang-undang, Kerajaan Negeri sekarang perlu mematuhi undang-undang dan menghormati kelulusan yang diberikan walaupun ia adalah dari Kerajaan Negeri sebelumnya. Sekali lagi mereka yang cuba untuk menyalahkan Kerajaan Negeri untuk mana-mana pembangunan cerun bukit perlu menjelaskan mengapa mereka memberikan kelulusan di peringkat pertama terlebih dahulu.

Ketiga, menyediakan perumahan mampu milik. Kerajaan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang akan menggariskan rangka kerja yang lengkap dan holistik untuk menyediakn perumahan mampu milik kepada rakyat Pulau Pinang, bukan sahaja oleh kerajaan tetapi juga oleh sektor swasta. Sejak 4 tahun yang lalu, Kerajaan Negeri telah berjimat dan mengumpul dana. Sebagai permulaan, sejumlah RM500 juta dan tanah percuma telah disediakan untuk tujuan projek pertama iaitu membina 12,000 unit di bandar satelit baru di Batu Kawan. Lebih banyak projek rumah mampu milik akan dicadangkan termasuk di kawasan pulau di Pulau Pinang.

Sebagai langkah pertama untuk melindungi kepentingan rakyat Malaysia, Kerajaan Negeri bercadang untuk meningkatkan had minimum untuk pembelian hartanah untuk pembelian asing daripada tahap yang sedia ada RM500,000 kepada RM1 juta dengan had yang lebih tinggi sebanyak RM2 juta untuk hartanah di Pulau Pinang sahaja dan mengekalkan had RM500, 000 sekarang kepada penduduk tetap.

Pada tahun 2010 dan 2011, terdapat 774 dan 890 transaksi harta yang melibatkan warga asing. Urus niaga ini hanya 2.98% dan 2.26% masing-masing daripada jumlah bilangan transaksi di Pulau Pinang. Walau bagaimanapun untuk melindungi kepentingan penduduk tempatan untuk memastikan mereka menikmati keutamaan membeli hartanah yang lebih rendah, sekatan ini akan membantu menyediakan persaingan yang adil kerana warga asing mempunyai kelebihan mata wang yang lebih tinggi.

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang menekankan bahawa kita mengalu-alukan penyertaan warga asing dalam ekonomi kita termasuk pasaran hartanah kami. Kerajaan Negeri merasakan bahawa penyertaan warga asing ini boleh menguntungkan kedua- dua rakyat Pulau Pinang dan warga asing dalam pasaran yang lebih tinggi di mana mereka boleh menambah nilai dengan membantu Pulau Pinang untuk menjadi bandar antarabangsa dan pintar.

Kami ingin mendapatkan maklum balas dan pendapat daripada NGO, pemaju hartanah, warga asing dan orang awam mengenai cadangan ini. Kerajaan Negeri berharap dapat melaksanakan cadangan ini paling seawal 1 Jun 2012 atau 1 Julai 2012 (terkini).

—Mandarin Version—

槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年4月19日于合您广场的人类居住地记录片“城市化”放映会上发表演讲，重点如下：

槟城提议，把外国人在槟岛购买房产的最低价格，从现有的50万令吉，增加至100万令吉，而有地房产的最低价格则为200万令吉，至于永久居民的房产购买价维持在最低50万令吉。

在槟州有三项居住问题需要可持续发展的都市问题解决方案。第一、交通拥挤。不幸的是，槟城的交通拥挤是过去18年来政策失败及领袖漠视的结果，不是地朝一夕可以解决的。

州政府通过槟岛市政局和威省市政局采取了下列措施：

• 短期措施：强制性锁车轮及移走阻碍交通的交通工具、让交通灯同步、重新规划交通流向。

• 中期措施：加宽道路及建筑物的避车道，把道路与交通连接起来。

• 长期措施： 进行四项基础建设，以提供四条通道的高速公路，连接严重塞车的地方，包括连接关仔角和北海的海底隧道。

槟州民联政府也资助了320万令吉的槟州交通大蓝图。虽然已有交通顾问提呈了两份计划书，一些不负责任的人士却责怪州政府不理会交通大蓝图、或说我们没有发展公共交通。

州政府认同公共交通是最明显、最有效地改善交通阻塞问题的方式，这个原则就是“移动人，而不是移动交通工具”。不幸的是，州政府没有公共交通控制权，那是联邦政府的权限。州政府完全没有权力，我们不能制订德士的计费表、就连州政府自掏腰包要巴士公司提供免费服务的权力也没有。

交通大蓝图顾问意识到州政府的权力有限，他们提出两项建议：

1. 130亿令吉的平衡公共交通，这假定获得联邦政府的全面支持和协助

2. 125亿高速公路做为应对计划，兴建7条高速公路，包括州政府的四项基础建设，这是联邦政府如果不合作、不帮忙的情况下的应对计划。到目前为止，联邦政府还没有兑现他们在2008年大选的承诺，兴建轻快铁或交替公路。

换句话说，交通顾问建议增加7条高速公路，比州政府建议的还多。

第二、人类居住地的保护需要严厉执法及限制山坡发展。民联政府在任期间，从未批准任何山坡发展，并要求地方政府严格遵守。两个地方政府告诉我，现有的山坡发展计划，都是前朝政府批准的。

不幸地，这些前朝政府批准的计划，在法律上依然有效，通常我们不能停止已批准工程的程序。做为一个法治政府，现任政府必须遵守法律、遵重已批准的事项，即使那是前朝政府批准的。因此，那些想到责怪州政府进行山坡发展计划的人士，必须首先解释为何他们当初批准这些计划。

第三、提供可负担房屋。槟州民联政府会继续规划全盘计划来为槟州人民提供可负担房屋，不只是政府，私人界也将涉及。过去四年，州政府一直在筹集资金。我们已经获得一笔5亿令吉的初始基金，并在峇都加湾卫星市分配地段兴建1万2000个单位。我们将建议更多类似的计划，包括槟岛。

做为保护本地人利益的措施，州政府提议，把外国人在槟岛购买房产的最低价格，从现有的50万令吉，增加至100万令吉，而有地房产的最低价格则为200万令吉，至于永久居民的房产购买价维持在最低50万令吉。

在2010年及2011年，分别有774及890槟州的房产买卖涉及外国人。这些买卖占了总房产交易的2.98%及2.26%。 不过，为了保护本地人的利益，让他们可以购买不那么昂贵的房产，这项限制能够提供公平竞争机会，因为外国人往往能从高价值的货币中得益。

我们希望各方提呈建议，州政府希望在2012年6月1日或最迟在2012年7月1日执行这项计划。

Concern over branded computers sold with pirated software leading to cyber security risks Kuala Lumpur, 19 April 2012 – Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”) has won a civil lawsuit against Vital IT Marketing Services Sdn. Bhd. (“Vital IT”), a company incorporated in 2002 and whose shares are valued at RM1 million. Vital IT has been in operation [...]

Microsoft wins copyright lawsuit against computer dealer who installed pirated software in branded computers written by: dannyfoo ------------------------------------------------------------ Websites Made Simple | Websites Made Simple - Malaysia website design blog

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Pagi tadi masa tengah sibuk-sibuk nak bersiap nak bersarapan, terperasan yang pokok-pokok gerbera kuning dan oren di laman dah mula berkembang mekar. Tak banyak lagi, ada la dalam 6-7 kuntum yang sedang mekar. Bila nak snap pic dengan iPhone terperasan juga dah banyak ladybirds berkeliaran merayap-rayap di taman kali ni. Memang musim bunga dah kembali. Sekejap je musim bunga ni, lepas ni masuk plak musim panas 48′c. hehe

Tetiba juga teringat bait-bait dalam lagu Dato’ Sheila Majid melalui lagi beliau Hitam Putih Kehidupan – “Lihatlah sekitar alam, dunia luas terbentang, langit tinggi kebiruan, pohon-pohon kehijaun. Hembusan bayu yang menyegarkan”. Best kan lagu ni. Bila tengok balik bunga-bunga ni teringat kepada keindahan alam ciptaan Ilahi. Kita tak perlu pergi jauh untuk menikmati keindahan alam ciptaan tuhan. Cukup dengan meneliti keindahan di sekeliling kita sahaja.

The Star reports Bill to strengthen Malaysian Medical Council tabled in Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: A Bill, which aims to strengthen the Malaysian Medical Council and enhance the regulation of the medical profession, was tabled for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin tabled the Medical (Amendment) Bill 2012.
The proposed amendment introduces the establishment of a Medical Qualifying Committee to look into the accreditation of qualifications of both local and international training institutions.
The Bill also seeks to establish the council as a corporate body.
The council may enter into contracts and acquire or lease property, as it deems fit

We’ll have to wait to see how this unravels.
.

from the Malaysian Medical Resources

Unified MQE – possibly coming?

@Jimbo‘s giving a talk and you can download the slides here

from the Malaysian Medical Resources

10 things you need to know about fluid management in dengue

Malaysia Chronicle

The Tun Dr Mahathir who still stubbornly remains fixated on the falsified notion of his that the Malays and the Chinese are potent forces with ingrained enmity against and for each other deserves outright condemnation. It in fact is a racist remark and deserves the Rule of Law to act decisively.

The Tun fails to see that the DAP, PKR and PAS all have all races within their party as members. Has he ever walked the streets of Kota Bahru to see how Malays and Chinese eat, work, play, live and laugh side by side? Has he walked into any Taman in sprawling Kuala Lumpur to see how all races live side by side and in the same flats happily?

Stop your racist view points for this is 2012 not 1969, Tun. You have seemingly deep frozen your philosphies with your Malay Dilema, really. The same type of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians that still float within BN are also the members within the opposition coalition.

Opposition does not have Japanese, Russians, Mongolians or any other as their party members. They are all citizens of this land, please do not forget Che Det.

Loose coalition? What about Samy Vellu telling you off

Now the Tun also spoke of PR being a loose coalition that would spilt up quite easily. How presumptuous.

He fails to recall that only last week his MIC kingpin, Samy Vellu, who stood by him for 22 years revealed that he was stabbed in the back by none other than the Tun himself. Is this not worst than splitting because of ideology?

It is very clear that either the Tun is living a life too high up or that his gurkas are not keeping him piped on the ground realities today.

In any case PR better be forewarned. As the General Election looms around a mysterious corner, it is obligatory and a categorical imperative that all three members – PKR, DAP and PAS get their act cemented together. There should be no space for even a hairline crack or tiny chip to your solidarity, viewpoints and coalition principles.

It is mandatory that you script the same verse, sing the same song and dance to the same tune. You cannot afford any disagreement and conflicting statements to hit the sail. If you are not vigilant and are unable to harness the changing winds that is proving to be increasing in your favour, you risk losing all of it with any signs or even a whisper of your in-congruent positions.

And it certainly calls for solidarity and sacrifice; forget about compromises. Your combined intentions is to act in the best interest of nationhood and the future of all Malaysians who are the subjects of His Majesty and Council of Rulers and citizens of the same land.

Pakatan must stay united behind their anointed Leader

Let your anointed Leader be the torch bearer at all times; let your lieutenants be a team. Put aside your ideologies and stand united for a common goal and agreed pathways.

This is not the season to go to battle with internal conflicts and jostlings with a mysterious enemy who cannot even tell you fairly and squarely when election date is. Hold on to a nation-manifesto not a party-blueprint. The 13th GE is not about political party winning; it is about returning to society what rightfully belongs to a nation’s citizens.

Once you have won the battle hands down, you can get back to your drawing boards to see how best you can galvanise your divergent strengths and distinct ideologies to work together in delivering on the promises to nationhood.

Tough yes, but it is do-able. It is worth all the price and prize because we get to put the nation back on its path that is not riddled with corruption, racism, divisive politics and personal, self-serving greed.

Like they say,:When the going gets tough, only the tough can get going.

DSAI must prove the Tun wrong

And having said that, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the responsibility falls on your shoulders.

Surely you can carry the yoke with ease given your incarceration in prison, the unceremonious and acrimonious slanders slammed upon you and your family, and most importantly with the dedicated support of the coalition members who have come a long way of fifty over years struggling with commitment and determination despite the mammoth and almost insurmountable challenges and frustrations thrown in their way.

In short, prove the Tun wrong. There is no space for self-centered mistakes. PR cannot afford to make apologies like their opposition the BN.

Let us march on and show the world that we have made Malaysia ‘Truly Asia’ – a nation of solidarity, harmony, co-existence, justice, civil liberties and democratic to the dot.

And on that score, dear Tun, please also be informed that people who vote for the opposition are not lacking in common sense. It is just that the voters have grown tired of all the promises undelivered and the hurt thrown at them for half a century. And you Sir will have to take the whole blame because we gave you the benefit of doubt for 22 years only to drive us to the other side of the wall.

Harakah

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 April: Sekumpulan antara 40 hingga 80 samseng berkelakuan biadap apabila menyerang perkhemahan mahasiswa di Dataran Merdeka, kira-kira jam 2.30 pagi, lapor KeadilanDaily.
 
Berpakaian serba hitam, samseng itu turut meroboh khemah, memukul mahasiwa dan orang ramai yang menyokong perkhemahan dengan menumpu sasaran terhadap mereka yang membawa kamera dan perakam video.
 
(Kanan: Mahasiswa dan orang ramai berkumpul menceritakan detik-detik cemas, namun semangat mereka tidak luntur.)

Kejadian itu menyebabkan seorang lelaki terpaksa dihantar menaiki ambulans ke hospital manakala beberapa orang termasuk mahasiswa, ditendang, ditampar dan ditumbuk.
 
“Saya sedang tidur dalam khemah sebelum terjaga apabila muka saya ditendang dari luar,” kata penuntut sarjana Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Nur Ruqayyah Abdul Rahman yang berpurdah itu kepada Keadilan Daily, awal pagi ini.
 
Beliau yang turut kehilangan telefon bimbit akibat insiden itu berkata demikian ketika berkongsi detik cemas itu bersama mahasiswa dan orang ramai.
 
Kebanyakan mereka kesal kerana kumpulan samseng itu dibiar bermaharaja lela walaupun balai polis bergerak terletak hanya 10 meter dari lokasi perkhemahan.
 
Seorang saksi lain kesal kerana polis enggan memberi bantuan walaupun beliau merayu bantuan tetapi anggota pihak berkuasa itu memberi alasan ‘bimbang keselamatan mereka terancam’.
 
(Kiri: Khemah mahasiswa yang dirosakkan kumpulan samseng.)

Dalam kejadian itu, samseng turut melontar kata-kata kesat dan mencampakkan cermin mata aktivis sosial, Fahmi Reza manakala rakannya, Boon Kia Meng, seorang pensyarah institusi pengajian tinggi swasta, ditumbuk.
 
“Sebaik saja keluar khemah akibat kekecohan itu, saya hanya duduk tanpa membalas cercaan mereka. Sebaliknya, mereka ambil dan campak cermin mata saya. Kia Meng di sebelah pula ditumbuk,” katanya.
 
Kamera Nurul Haniza Mohamad, 24, pula rosak selepas ia dirampas ketika dikerumuni lima atau enam samseng.
 
“Mereka tarik baju dan beg saya. Ada seorang tunjal kepala saya sambil menghambur kata-kata kesat,” katanya yang berasal dari Batu Arang, Selangor.
 
(Kanan: Kebiadapan samseng tidak mematahkan semangat mahasiswa untuk terus berkhemah sehingga 28 April ini.)

Seorang ahli Unit Amal PAS Batu, Mohd Kassim Abdullah, 24, pula ditampar dua kali, malah disiram air oleh sekumpulan samseng berkenaan.
 
Sungguhpun berdepan kekasaran samseng itu, semua mahasiswa dan kumpulan penyokong tetap bersemangat, malah membuat ketetapan untuk terus kekal berada di situ.

Malaysia now has a situation where there is a glut of house officers, to the extent that HOs are now put on shift rotation rather than put “on call”. Part of this seems to stem from a Government policy to ‘flood the market’ with doctors, despite warnings from senior doctors about declining standards. This applies to the mushrooming of local medical colleges (some with dubious staffing) as well as graduates from medical schools of dubious standards.
It’s not surprising that the issue of a unified Medical Qualifying Examination arises yet again. In theory this would be a fair system but in practice this would be very difficult to implement. Firstly, if it were to be fair (truly meritocratic) then it should apply without favour to all local and foreign medical graduates. Secondly it will be a huge logistic exercise, one that perhaps can be achieved if all the local medical schools agree to do away with their final exams to be replaced by a common MQE.
Read this 2 part letter on a common MQE published in the Sun Daily:

Standardise evaluation of medical graduates

One qualifying exam for all

The author of the letter concluded by saying it is to ‘help graduates of foreign medical colleges’. I don’t agree this should be the primary aim. The primary aim is to safe guard medical standards, irrespective of where one graduated from. We’ve covered the topic of MQEs quite a bit in the past and here are our previous related posts

So what do you think? Should there be a common MQE? Do you think it can be done?

from the Malaysian Medical Resources

Another call for a unified MQE

Malaysiakini

Ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menegaskan bahawa golongan kaya perlu membayar semula pinjaman melalui Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) walau Pakatan Rakyat komited untuk memansuhkan bayaran itu.

Anwar berkata, Pakatan akan berusaha untuk menyediakan rangka kerja untuk memberi pendidikan percuma dan memansuhkan pinjaman semula itu.

Namun langkah itu lebih banyak melibatkan golongan miskin dan juga yang berpendapatan sederhana yang tidak mampu membiaya pendidikan selain melalui pinjaman, katanya.

Katanya lagi, peluang pendidikan bukanlah satu masalah kepada golongan kaya dan maha kaya, katanya lagi,

“Saya dengar, anak lelaki bos AirAsia (Tan Sri) Tony Fernandes pun memohon (pinjaman PTPTN), ini tak munasabah,” katanya dengan berjenaka dalam satu sidang media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat majlis pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat hari ini.

Sinar Harian

KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Rakyat (PR) mencadangkan agar Selangor tidak turut serta dalam Pilihan Raya Umumke-13 (PRU13) serentak bersama Kerajaan Pusat jika Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) gagal membersihkan senarai daftar pemilihyang dipertikaikan pembangkang.

Perkara itu diputuskan pada mesyuarat Majlis Pimpinan PR di sini, petang ini.

Ketua Umumnya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, jika PRU13 diadakan dalam tempoh singkat ini, Selangor tidak akan turut serta selagi SPR tidak membersihkan senarai daftar pemilih.

Pada 17 November lepas, Abdul Khalid berkata, Dun Selangor tidak akan dibubarkan pada awal tahun ini meskipun kerajaan Persekutuan bertindak membubarkan Parlimen dan hanya bersedia menyertai pilihan raya umum ke-13 jika ia diadakan selepas
Jun 2012.

Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat telah menyatakan kesediaan untuk mengadakan pilihan raya negeri serentak dengan Parlimen bagi menjimatkan peruntukan kewangan dan tenaga kerja.

Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak pula menyerahkan keputusan kepada kepimpinan parti untuk menentukannya.

Beside Google AdSense, now you can make money with your blogs using Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger by promoting relevant products in your posts.

Get started

First of all, you need an AdSense account. If you don’t, sign up here.

1. Write a new post on Blogger
2. If your blog matches available ad categories, the ‘Advertise Products’ gadget
   will appear in the Post Settings panel
3. Select an affiliate ad from the ‘Advertise Products’ gadget
4. Publish your post

You can type in a product, retailer or brand name into the “Advertise products” widget to get a list of products. then you can insert the affiliate ad as a link, image, or full ad.

How do you earn money?

When your blog visitor clicks on the ads and makes a purchase on the advertiser’s site, then you will earn commission. The payment will be paid through your AdSense account.

My two cents

Affiliate ads is “payment by action”. You don’t get commission if your visitor clicks but no purchase. However, the commission is usually much higher than “payment by click”. It’s good to have more ways to monetize your blog.

I wish the Google Affiliate Ads widget will be available to non-Blogger bloggers too (read: WordPress plugin!).

via Blogger Buzz

Make Money with Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

One of the new iPad feature is the support of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, which will give you super fast wireless broadband download speed up to 73 Mbps.

Please hold your new iPad purchase and read this article if you are buying for iPad WiFi+4G for its 4G feature.

Bad news. iPad WiFi+4G most probably does not support your local LTE networks. The new iPad support 4G LTE on 700MHz and 2.1GHz frequency band. According to Apple official website, new iPad only supports LTE networks in US and Canada.

Malaysia 4G networks?

In Malaysia, we have P1 and YES who brand their wireless broadband as “4G” but they are actually WiMAX(wikipedia) networks (not LTE, surprised?).

Even with future 4G LTE developments, the Malaysia LTE will use 2.3GHz frequency band, not the 700MHz and 2.1GHz supported by the new iPad.

My two cents

In a nutshell, the new iPad does not support your local 4G LTE if they are not running on 700 MHz or 2.1 GHz frequency band. Check with your carrier.

Anyway, even without 4G LTE, the new iPad also supports HDPA+(wikipedia) which gives you download speed up to 21Mbps.

Since the frequency band is decided by local government (read: not changeable), we hope that future iPad (iPhone, and other LTE devices) support multiple frequency.

No, The New iPad (3rd generation) does NOT Support Your 4G Network (Except in US & Canada) is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Part 1: The F1 Trip To Singapore By Sony
Part 2: ION At Night, Breakfast & F1 Briefing
Part 3: Buffet Lunch & Popiah!
Part 4: The meet at Starbucks Orchard
Part 5: Shooting Speeding Night Race
Part 6: Singapore Flyer Plank! Best Marina Bay View Ever
Part 7: A Night With Fast Cars & Millions Of People
Part 8: Shaggy, F1 Party, Clarke Quay & The Last Train Back

So after a night of fun at the F1 party, I woke up the next day and went to the coffee house for breakfast.

Not super good but ok la edible. heh

After breakie, I went to walk around Orchard Road til noon. Then Eng Hoe joined me and we went to find my SG friends for lunch.

We met at some hawker center in Bugis.

They ordred so much Singaporean local food. Awesome stuff can try everything at the same time hehe

Iz us!

Jom Bersih 3.0

20 April 2012 (Jumaat)

1)    5.00 ptg – Perjumpaan Dengan Masyarakat India

          Lokasi : Ladang Alma, Bukit Mertajam

2)    7.00 mlm – Solat Dan Tazkirah Maghrib

         Lokasi: Masjid Daerah Balik Pulau

3)    8.00 – 11.30 mlm – Majlis Makan Malam

         Lokasi: Komplek Sukan Balik Pulau

4)    Penceramah:

i.                    YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

ii.                  YAB Lim Guan Eng

iii.                YB Dato’ Mansor Othman

iv.               YBhg Dato’ Seri Chua Jui Meng

v.                 YB Fauziah Salleh   

5) 9.00 – 12.00 mlm – Ceramah Perdana – Jom Bersih 3.0

         Lokasi : Taman Cermai, Sama Gagah, Permatang Pauh

6)    Penceramah:

i.                    YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

ii.                  YAB Lim Guan Eng

iii.                YB Dato’ Mansor Othman

iv.               YB Dato’ Salleh Man 

Press Statement by the Chief Minister of Penang and Chairman of Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang(PBAPP) Lim Guan Eng at KOMTAR, George Town on 18th April 2012.

For the first time in nine years, Penang has recorded a drop in domestic water consumption. In 2010, our per capita domestic consumption was 291 litres/capita/day (l/c/d) as compared to the national average of 203 l/c/d. In 2011, Penang’s per capita domestic consumption was 285 l/c/d. This is equivalent to a reduction of 1.9%, or 3.2 billion litres.

As a a water-stressed state with the highest per capita domestic consumption in Malaysia in 2010, Penang desperately needed to cut down on water wastage and water consumption. NGOs had said that Penang suffered the highest water consumption because Penangites enjoyed the lowest water tariffs and did not value water.

Penang’s domestic water tariffs (an average of RM0.31 per 1,000 litres for the first 35,000 litres per month) are the lowest in Malaysia. PBAPP subsidises RM 58.9 million last year to ensure that Penang enjoy the lowest tariffs in Malaysia. There is 100% urban supply coverage and 99.7% rural supply coverage in Penang last year.

NGOS had also severely criticised the state government for refusing to increase water tariffs and had also dismissed the Water Conservation Surcharge(WCS) imposed on those who waste water as grossly inadequate. In November 2010, PBAPP introduced a Water Conservation Surcharge (WCS) of RM0.24 per 1,000 litres for consumption above 35,000 litres per month to curb domestic water wastage.

Whilst accepting the criticisms by the NGOs that the water tariffs and WCS is too low and inadequate, the drop of a mere six litres per person per day is still significant because this is the first reduction in per capita domestic consumption since 2004. DESPITE the 6-litre per capita drop in domestic water consumption (3.2 billion litres) to 285 l/c/d in 2011, Penang is far behind the national average consumption of 203 l/c/d. Although 285 l/c/d in 2011 is less than 291 l/c/d in 2010, we are still well off the target set for 2011. Just to remind everyone, our target for 2011 was 233 l/c/d.

No Increase In Water Tariffs To Ensure That Penang Continues To Enjoy The Lowest Water Tariffs In Malaysia But Water Conservation Surcharge(WCS) May Be Increased If Water Consumption Is Not Significantly Reduced.

The public must recognise that Penang is a water-stressed state. The Penang state government assures that there will no increase in water tariffs to ensure that Penang continues to enjoy the lowest water tariffs in Malaysia. However WCS may be increased if there is no further significant reduction of water consumption. All 1.6 million Penangites are urged to use water more wisely at home(visit pba.com.my for water saving tips) or else billions of ringgit are required to build new intakes, dams, reservoirs and pumping stations, as well as to lay additional pipelines to ensure water is available for all.

Besides offering the lowest water tariffs in Malaysia, PBAPP is also the most efficient. PBAPP recorded the lowest water loss through water theft and pipe leakages with the lowest Non-Revenue Water(NRW) of 18.4% in Penang in 2011. This achievement compares favourably with the national NRW average for 2010 was 36.2%.

PBAPP’s other key initiative to reduce water consumption in Penang in the future was to promote the installation of water saving devices (WSDs) that reduce water consumption automatically. WSDs include water-saving shower systems (heads, handsets and control systems), tap equipment (heads, sinks, bibs and mixers) and toilet systems (dual flush systems, flushing cisterns and bidets) as well as washing machines and dishwashers.

As part of our efforts to transform Penang into an international city, our water authority must also develop international benchmarks. I wish to also congratulate PBAPP for winning the international “WaterLinks” Award for “Best Water Operator Partnership” in 2011 together with PDAM Tirta Musi Palembang of Indonesia.

WaterLinks represents the International Water Association (IWA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PBAPP helped PDAM Tirta Musi to improve continuous water supply and increase access to safe drinking water for the benefit of 150,000 residents; and water supply availability has been upgraded from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day in Palembang.

LIM GUAN ENG

===================================

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang dan Pengerusi Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) Lim Guan Eng di Komtar, George Town pada 18 April 2012

WALAUPUN PENGGUNAAN AIR DOMESTIK DITURUNKAN SEBANYAK 6 LITER PER KAPITA (3.2 BILION LITER) KEPADA 285 L/C/D PADA 2011, PULAU PINANG MASIH JAUH KEBELAKANG DALAM PENGGUNAAN PURATA NASIONAL 203 L/C/D.

Buat pertama kali dalam tempoh sembilan tahun, Pulau Pinang telah mencatatkan penurunan dalam penggunaan air domestik. Pada tahun 2010, penggunaan domestik per kapita ialah 291 liter/kapita/hari (l/c/d) berbanding dengan purata nasional sebanyak 203 l/c/d/ Pada tahun 2011, penggunaan domestik per capita Pulau Pinang adalah 285 l/c/d. Ini adalah bersamaan dengan pengurangan sebanyak 1.9% atau 3.2 bilion liter.

Sebagai negeri yang mempunyai penggunaan air domestik per kapita di Malaysia pada tahun 2010, Pulau Pinang perlu sedaya-upaya untuk mengurangkan pembaziran air dan penggunaan air. Badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) berkata bahawa Pulau Pinang mengalami penggunaan air tertinggi kerana Pulau Pinang menikmati tarif air yang terendah dan tidak menghargai air.

Tarif air domestik Pulau Pinang (purata RM0.31 bagi setiap 1,000 liter untuk 35,000 liter pertama sebulan) adalah yang terendah di Malaysia. PBAPP mensubsidi RM58.9 juta pada tahun lepas untuk memastikan Pulau Pinang menikmati tarif air yang terendah di Malaysia. Terdapat 100% liputan bekalan air di kawasan bandar dan 99.7% liputan bekalan air di kawasan luar bandar di Pulau Pinang pada tahun lepas.

NGO telah mengkritik Kerajaan Negeri kerana enggan menaikkan tarif air dan juga berkata bahawa Surcaj Pemuliharan Air (WCS) yang dikenakan ke atas mereka yang telah membazirkan air adalah tidak mencukupi. Pada November 2010, PBAPP memperkenalkan Surcaj Pemuliharaan Air (WCS) sebanyak RM0.24 untuk setiap 1000 liter bagi penggunaan melebihi 35,000 liter sebulan untuk membendung pembaziran air domestik.

Walaupun kami boleh menerima kritikan oleh NGO bahawa tarif air dan WCS adalah terlalu rendah dan tidak mencukupi, penurunan sebanyak enam liter per orang per hari tetap signifikan kerana ia adalah penggurangan penggunaan domestik per kapita yang pertama sejak tahun 2004. Walaupun mencapai penurunan 6 liter per kapita dalam penggunaan air domestik (3.2 bilion liter) kepada 285 l/p/d pada tahun 2011, Pulau Pinang masih jauh ketinggalan dalam penggunaan purata negara sebanyak 203 l/c/d. Walaupun 285 l/c/d pada tahun 2011 adalah kurang daripada 291 l/c/d pada tahun 2010, kita masih jauh daripada sasaran yang ditetapkan pada tahun 2011. Untuk peringatan kepada semua, sasaran kita untuk 2011 adalah 233 l/c/d.

Tiada Peningkatan Tarif Air untuk Memastikan bahawa Pulau Pinang Terus Menikmati Tarif Air Terendah di Malaysia tetapi Surcaj Pemuliharaan Air (WCS) Mungkin Akan Dinaikkan Jika Penggunaan Air Tidak Dikurangkan Secara Ketara

Orang ramai mesti menyedari bahawa Pulau Pinang adalah sebuah negeri yang mengalami kekurangan air. Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang memberi jaminan bahawa tidak akan meningkatkan tarif air untuk memastikan Pulau Pinang terus menikmati kadar tarif air terendah di Malaysia. Walau bagaimanapun, WCS mungkin akan dinaikkan jika tiada pengurangan ketara dalam penggunaan air. 1.6 juta rakyat Pulau Pinang digesa untuk menggunakan air secara lebih bijak di rumah (layari pba.com.my bagi tips penjimatan air) dan sekiranya tidak berbilion ringgit diperlukan untuk membina sumber air baru, takungan dan stesen pam serta meletakkan tambahan paip bagi memastikan air dapat disalurkan kepada semua.

Selain menawarkan tarif air yang terendah di Malaysia, PBAPP juga sangat cekap. PBAPP mencatatkan kehilangan air yang terendah melalui kecurian air dan kebocoran paip dengan Pengurangan Air Tidak Terhasil (NRW) sebanyak 18.4 % di Pulau Pinang pada tahun 2011. Pencapaian ini adalah lebih baik berbanding dengan purata nasional NRW bagi 2010 iaitu sebanyak 36.2%.

Inisiatif utama PBAPP yang lain adalah untuk menggurangkan penggunaan air di Pulau Pinang pada masa akan datang untuk menggalakan pemasangan alat-alat penjimatan air (WSD) yang dapat mengurangkan penggunaan air secara automatik. WSC adalah termasuk sistem penjimatan pancuran air (heads, handsets dan sistem kawalan), peralatan paip (heads, sinki, bibs and mixers) dan sistem tandas (sistem dwi-siram, tangki curahan dan bidet) serta mesin basuh dan mesin membasuh pinggan.

Sebagai sebahagian daripada usaha kami untuk mengubah Pulau Pinang menjadi bandaraya bertaraf antarabangsa, pihak berkuasa air hendaklah menggunakan penanda aras antarabangsa. Saya juga ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada PBAPP atas kejayaan memenangi anugerah bertaraf antarabangsa ““WaterLinks” untuk “Best Water Operator Partnership” pada 2011 bersama-sama dengan PDAM Tirta Musi Palembang di Indonesia.

Waterlinks mewakili Persatuan Air Antarabangsa (IWA), Bank Pembangunan Asia (ADB), dan Agensi Amerika Syarikat bagi Pembangunan Antarabangsa (USAID). PBAPP membantu PDAM INQPHARM Musi untuk memperbaiki bekalan air yang berterusan dan meningkatkan akses kepada air minuman yang selamat untuk faedah 150, 000 penghuni dan kebolehsediaan bekalan air telah dinaikkan daripada 12 jam sehari kepada 24 jam sehari di Palembang.

LIM GUAN ENG

========================================================

槟州首长及槟州供水机构主席林冠英于2012年4月18日在乔治市光大发表的文告。

虽然槟州的家庭用水量在2011年平均每人每天用水量是285公升，成功减少了6公升（共32亿公升），但是槟州距离203公升的全国平均每人每天用水量还相差很远。

槟州家庭用水量在9年来首次下跌。2010年，相较于全国203公升的平均每人每天用水量，槟州每人每天家庭用水量为291公升。2011年，槟州每人每天家庭用水量下跌至285公升，相当于减少了1.9%或32亿公升的用水。

作为2010年全国家庭用水量最高的州属，槟州极度需要减少浪费水源及用水量。非政府团体指出槟州用水量居高不下，究其因是槟城人享有出奇低廉的水费，所以不珍惜用水。

槟州家庭用水收费是马来西亚最低廉的，每个月首3万5000公升用水，平均每千公升只收费31仙而已。去年，槟州供水机构津贴5890万令吉，为的就是确保槟城能继续享有全马最低廉的水费。同时，槟州的供水服务，去年在城市地区获得百分百的覆盖率，郊区也获得99.7%的覆盖率。

非政府组织也经常非议州政府拒绝调涨水费及拒绝针对浪费水源者实施保护水源附加费。为此，槟州供水机构在2010年推出保护水源附加费政策，针对每月家庭用水量超过3万5000公升的用户，额外征收每千公升24仙的保护水源附加费。

即使非政府组织认为水费仍然太低及保护水源附加费也并不足够，但是槟城人每人每天成功减少6公升用水量还是非常重要的，因为这是2004年来以来首遭。虽然槟州在2011年平均每人每天家庭用水量是285公升，减少了6公升（共32亿公升），但是槟州距离203公升的全国平均每人每天用水量还相差很远。

虽说2011年285公升的每人每天用水量确实是比2010年的291公升来得低，但是我们2011年要达到的目标其实是233公升每人每天用水量，可是我们仍然远无法达到2011年的目标。

为确保槟州人民享有全马最便宜的水费，槟州水费将不会调涨，不过，若州民用水量依然没有明显减少的话，水源保护附加费或许会再调高。

民众必需了解，槟城是一个缺乏水源的州属。为了确保槟州人民享有全马最便宜的水费，槟州政府保证，将不会调高槟州的水费。不过，若州民用水量依然没有明显减少的话，水源保护附加费或话会调高。全槟160万人民受促在家精明用水（请浏览槟州供水机构网页的“精明用水”秘诀pba.com.my ），否则槟城需要耗资数十亿巨额费用来兴建新的水坝、蓄水池、抽水站，甚至是增建水管，以确保水源供应是足以应付人民需求的。

除了提供全马最廉宜的水费，槟州供水机构也是最有效率的供水机构，创下了无收益水最低的记录，也即是2011年的18.4%。无收益水就是水源被偷或水管破裂而流失的水源。与2010年度全国无收益水的36.2%平均值相比，槟城的成绩相对的好。

槟州供水机构节省水资源的其他主要措施，包括在往后推动安装节省水源设备（water saving devices (WSDs) ），以自动节省用水量。这包括节水型淋浴系统、水龙头装置及厕所系统（双频冲水系统、冲厕水箱和坐浴盆），以及洗衣机及洗碗机等。

作为我们欲把槟城打造成一个国际城市的努力之一，我们的供水单位也必需建立国际标准。我谨在此恭贺槟州供水机构，与印尼巨港的 PDAM Tirta Musi Palembang，共同赢得国际水准的“国际水务合作网”（WaterLinks）之“最佳水务营运伙伴”奖。

国际水务合作网（WaterLinks）是由国际水协会 (IWA)、亚洲开发银行(ADB)及美国国际开发署(USAID)共同合作的。在此计划下，槟州供水机构协助PDAM Tirta Musi提升他们持续供水的能力，并加强了安全饮用水的驳接，造惠当地的15万人口。与此同时，巨港的供水也从过去的每天仅有12小时供水同，增至每天24小时供水。

林冠英

Anda pernah gunting rambut bawah pokok? Mungkin suasana sebegini agak janggal di Malaysia, namun di Pakistan ianya adalah suasana yang begitu klise di mana-mana jua. Di mana sahaja ada pokok yang rendang dan redup, pasti akan ada tukang gunting rambut di bawahnya. Jom gunting rambut! Kos dalam Rs.30-50 rupees sahaja (RM1=Rs.30). Murah kan!

Pagi ini secara tetiba penulis ingin merakamkan suasana persekitaran tukang gunting rambut bawah pokok di perkampungan Saidpur yang popular di Islamabad ini. Bersama beberapa orang rakan, penulis singgah ke salah satu daripada “kedai” gunting rambut di bawah teduhan pokok mulberri yang ketiadaan daun dek kerana musim dingin. Tidak ramai pelanggan pada pagi ini. Hanya ada seorang pelanggan. Baru sahaj sebentar tadi seorang budak berlalu pergi meninggalkan kedai ini. Penulis gagal merakamkan aksi budak tadi digunting rambutnya. Mungkin lain kali

Lihatlah kepada kelengkapan minima yang ada di kedai gunting rambut bawah pokok ini. Sungguh minima. Hanya perlu gunting, sikat, air dan sedikit peralatan lain. Kedai gunting rambut ini dikhabarkan akan dibuka seawal jam 7 pagi, tidak kelihatan pula kedai chai di keliling kedai ini. Jika tidak, pastinya penulis akan gunting rambut dah kemudiannya singgah minum chai bersama rambut baru. Bergaya di pagi hari katanya

Kalau tiba-tiba rasa gatal di hidung dan kepala, boleh minta tukang gunting berhenti seketika. Sempatlah nak menggaru di permukaan kulit yang terasa gatal. Owh ya! Kini adalah musim bunga dan musim bunga di sini datang sekali dengan alergi kepada pollen atau debunga pokok paper mulberry. Setelah selesai menggaru hidung, bolehlah sambung kepada aktiviti pengguntingan rambut seterusnya. hehe

Perghhhhh siap ada free massage lagi kat tengkuk. Don’t play2 ha! Biasanya kat sini, kalau di kedai sekalipun akan ada perkhidmatan massage setelah selesai gunting rambut. Paling tak tahan bila depa guna mesin vibrator nak urut kepala. Seriau pun ada. Bergegar2 otak anda nanti haha Tapi bawah pokok ni takdelah vibrator tuh kan, tak tau la kalau ada, pasti pakai bateri tuh!

Lihatlah sahaja ketekunan tukang gunting rambut menggunakan ketam untuk menggunting janggut pelanggannya. Sungguh berhati-hati dan unik sekali. Penulis terlupa untuk merakamkan aksi ini di dalam kamera video. Smeentelahan memakai dSLR ini, penulis agak jarang menggunakan aplikasi video atau video mode. Nak jimatkan CF card katanya. hehe

Ni apa pula tiba-tiba ada kambing gurung berkeliaran di sini? Jangan tidak tau, perkampungan Saidpur juga terkenal dengan kawasan penjualan kambing. Kali ini tidak banyak kambing kerana belum tiba masa puncak ketika Hari Raya Korban nanti. Kelihatan penjual kambing sedang tawar menawar dengan pelanggan yang hendak membeli kambing di sini. Muka berkerut menandakan tawaran pahit telah dilaksanakan sebentar tadi. Gayanya memegang kaki kambing seolah-olah sedang bersalaman dengan kambingnya seraya mengucapkan selamat tinggal dan good luck bersama tuan barunya

Kambing yang telah dibeli biasanya akan menaiki teksi. Ya tuan-tuan dan puan-puan kambing di sini, selepas kita beli, kita kena bayar sekali kos pengangkutan untuk dibawa ke rumah kita. Pengangkutan awam ya. Kalau teksi, teksilah. Kelas kan kambing-kambing kat sini, siap dapat naik teksi kuning lagi datang rumah. Ko hado? haha

Sekianlah sahaja kisah tukang gunting rambut dan kambing jalanan menaiki teksi di Islamabad. Kalau ada masa terluang saya akan datang lagi ke kedai gunting rambut ni masa musim panas nanti. Nak tengok macam mana gunting rambut di bawah pokok dengan suhu mencecah 48′c. Bertemu lagi di lain blogpost di lain waktu. Salam dari Islamabad!

Malaysiakini

A pre-Bersih 3.0 rally last night raised eyebrows when Tamrin Abdul Ghafar, son of former deputy prime minister Abdul Ghafar Baba, made his debut by urging the crowd to throw their support behind the April 28 sit-in protest to demand clean and fair elections.

Tamrin (right) took to the stage and declared: “I have a clarification to make, I am still an Umno member.”

This invited laughter and some jeers from nearly 2,000 people who filled the muddy field in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

“But today, I have decided to come down to the ground with you because I can no longer bear to see the electoral system being manipulated for the sake of maintaining power,” he said.

Tamrin claimed that it was his first time speaking on stage since 1986. He was last spotted in 2010 with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim at a ceramah, but he was then a guest and made no speech.

Last night’s rally, marking the 10-day countdown to the massive protest expected at Dataran Merdeka on April 28, saw several participants wearing the trademark yellow Bersih T-shirt.

They sat on makeshift mats on wet grass to listen to speeches by some 31 activists, student leaders and politicians.

Tamrin contrasted premier Najib Abdul Razak’s administration with that of his father.

He said Abdul Razak had willingly surrendered power after assuming absolute authority as head of the National Operations Council following the May 13, 1969 riots.

“But today, I am saddened to see that our country can simply be sold to foreigners for the sake of winning (the general election),” he said.

Pointing to media reports that tens of thousands of foreigners were being granted instant citizenship in exchange for votes, Thamrin related that he too, had come across a Pakistani taxi driver, who was in fact a Malaysian citizen.

He also conveyed a message to the crowd from Umno veteran and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, popularly known as Ku Li.

“Ku Li has clearly said that he supports what Bersih is doing and he is also supportive of calls by Anwar and allies for PTPTN to be abolished in favour of free education. This is the best investment for our country,” he said.

‘Don’t let them steal the election’

Another surprise guest was former information minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir who urged the audience not to allow BN to “steal the election”.

“I was an Umno member for 56 years and it was a party owned by the members, the leaders were clean. But as time passed, it appeared that it had become their (selected few) fathers’ party.

“They stole this and stole that, I could no longer tolerate it and quit as a minister at the peak of my career,” he said.

“After I quit, I remained silent but the stealing became worse. Millions were no longer enough, its now in the billions, in the end I could no longer take it and quit the party.”

He said elections cannot be called until the government provides fair access to the media and stops abusing government machinery, the police and the army to give it an upper hand in the polls.

“Don’t forget that 48 percent of people voted for Pakatan Rakyat in 2008 without media access, half of the country was being blacked out… this is not a democracy.”

Abdul Kadir, who claimed that he had secretly supported the two Bersih rallies in 2007 and 2011, pledged to show up on April 28. He was then handed a Bersih T-shirt which he put on.

Others who spoke at the rally included PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, PKR deputy presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua, PSM secretary-general S Arulchelvan, former Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, Bersih steering committee members Maria Chin Abdullah and Hishammuddin Rais, Himpunan Hijau steering committee member Clement Chin and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia chief Safwan Anang.

Also gracing the event was Anne Ooi who shot to fame during the Bersih rally last July when she was photographed standing in front a phalanx of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers holding a yellow flower and drenched in acid- laced water.

The retired teacher, accompanied by Kota Raja state assemblyperson Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, cheekily told the crowd to give Najib “a headache”.

“Are afraid of the police? Are you afraid of Umno? Are you afraid of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)?” she asked, to which the crowd roared “No!”

Dataran Merdeka, the main venue for Bersih 3.0 rally which is expected to be simultaneously staged in more than 50 cities locally and globally, is under the jurisdiction of DBKL.

‘Rally for justice, no more deaths’

Azhar Mohd Kassim, the nephew of Baharuddin Baharuddin Ahmad who had died amid the chaos of the police crackdown in the Bersih 2.0 rally, appealed to the crowd to fulfill his uncle’s last wish.

“When my uncle left for the protest, he said he was doing it for justice… I hope that you can join the rally to uphold justice,” he said.

However, Azhar said he hoped the rally this time would not face a similar police crackdown and result in injuries and deaths.

As Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said, better known as Pak Samad took the stage, marking the final lap of the rally, the audience huddled closer to listen to the 77-year-old national laureatte.

“We have received hurtful answers from the Election Commission that constantly favour those in power… it is time for everyone to take responsibility if our democracy is tainted,” he said.

“April 28 will be an important day to voice our dissatisfaction with what has happened in the last 54 years.”

Pak Samad also commended the student activists who have taken a two-week head start to camp at Dataran Merdeka in spite of harassment from DBKL.

“If they (authorities) insist on evicting you from Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), then it is Dataran Penjajah (Colonialists Square); therefore anyone who prevents our right to gather at Dataran Merdeka is a colonialist,” he said.

Later, some 300 people visited the students, who entered the fifth day of camping there.

Police and DBKL officers have remained mum so far on whether Bersih will be allowed to hold its rally at Dataran Merdeka.

However, the organisers say they will go ahead with the rally with or without the authorities’ consent.

Malaysiakini

Peguam terkemuka Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah didakwa dilantik oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan isterinya Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor untuk tugasan sulit di luar negara daripada 2 hingga 25 April.

Dalam satu surat bertarikh 23 Mac, beliau dikatakan memohon kepada ketua hakim negara, presiden Mahkamah Rayuan dan hakim besar Malaya – dengan salinan kepada Najib dan Rosmah – supaya semua kesnya antara tarikh itu dikosongkan.

Sebahagian kandungan surat itu didedahkan di Dewan Rakyat oleh Datuk Saifuddin Nasution (PKR-Machang) semasa membahaskan Rang Undang-undang Kanun Keseksaan 2012 semalam.

Saifuddin ketika membacakan surat itu mendakwa, Shafee dilantik bagi pihak kerajaan Malaysia, terutamanya Najib dan isteri, untuk menjalankan tugas perundangan sensitif di luar negara yang mesti diselesaikan sebelum pilihan raya umum.

Shafee juga akan menjelajah tiga negara – New York, London dan Dubai – dan kemungkinan juga Paris dan akan terlibat dalam persediaan perundangan intensif, seperti berunding dengan pelbagai pihak serta saksi mereka, dakwa Saifuddin lagi.

Selain itu Shafee juga akan ditugaskan untuk merangka tuntutan dan afidavit serta dan mewawancara saksi yang berada di New York, London, Paris dan Basel (Switzerland), dakwanya.

Tugasan Shafee itu didakwa mempunyai kaitan dengan siasatan oleh kerajaan Perancis terhadap dakwaan rasuah dalam pembelian kapal selam Scorpene oleh kerajaan Malaysia, yang sekali gus dijangka menyentuh kes pembunuhan penterjemah Mongolia Altantuya Sharibuu, enam tahun lalu.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz dalam reaksi segera berkata beliau tidak dapat mengulas isu isu sehingga kesahihan surat yang didedahkan disahkan terlebih dahulu.

Further to the discussion on Houseman training and the complaints of “hardship” that are emerging in the press, I would like to highlight a letter CWD wrote to the NST yesterday

THE death of Dr Danny Lee Chang Tat, as regrettable as it is, has brought about a typical knee-jerk reaction — abrupt changes to a system without knowing its repercussions.
Dr Lee was found dead in the restroom of the paediatrics ward at Kajang Hospital by hospital staff on Wednesday morning.
Approximately five years ago, I started my housemanship in the country’s busiest hospital, where I was on call at least twice a week, working 36-hour shifts. Every ward was manned by three to four house officers, two to three medical officers and one or two specialists.
One could only imagine the workload, but we all managed to complete our work. In those times, issues of irresponsibility were practically unheard of. It was rare for house officers back then to be extended in service.
I have to admit that those were probably the worst of working conditions; we were so tired that at times we fell asleep while writing summaries, and occasionally, many of us felt like throwing in the towel.
Fast forward to this year, house officers now are working in shifts, their numbers have exponentially increased along with salary scales, but it seems that things are turning for the worse.
With so much focus on the well- being of house officers, the ones who actually shoulder the heaviest of burdens and responsibilities — the medical officers and specialists — have been forgotten.
What many people fail to understand is that house officers will one day complete their internships and become medical officers. The latter still work 30- to 36-hour shifts, sometimes with on-calls every other day.
How can one expect a house officer from the current shift system to be able to function as a medical officer later on if he or she is pampered all the way?
The behaviour of some of the house officers is appalling, as many of us can attest to the horror stories we hear and personally experience, which I feel the public should know. For example, house officers who go missing during rounds, not clerking cases but are instead sound asleep, and the list is endless.
This is not helped by the fact that the moratorium regarding medical schools is only paying lip service, with some medical schools, both local and foreign, churning out graduates of dubious quality, made worse by the fact that some of them are only studying medicine due to parental pressure.
Some house officers are even unable to tell what normal blood pressure or fasting glucose is.
I am glad that the welfare of house officers has improved for the better over the past few years, but I strongly feel that the well-being of the public is sacrificed in the process.
As the saying goes, the strongest of steel is forged in the hottest fire. The best doctors are those who have undergone vigorous and proper training, and sometimes, training comes with long hours.
So, I hope the Health Ministry will not, in its efforts to improve the welfare of the house officers, sacrifice the safety and health of the public.
Please also look into the welfare of the medical officers and specialists. For the time being, none of my family members will be seen by anyone else other than those in my profession whom I truly trust to be competent.

It’s not about working hours per se, but there are problems with the system which need to be addressed. There’s a post in the MMR which Dr TE Cheah made a few months ago where he makes pertinent points. Worth reading again:
Not solving the problem!

from the Malaysian Medical Resources

But what happens when the HOs become MOs?

If you are still unaware, apart from running this blog and discovrpOp, I’m also hosting a tech videocast with Ben from FlyFM, called TECHDUOLOGY.

It’s a weekly video podcast whereby Ben and I talk about the latest tech news, reviews the latest gadgets and recommends apps and games. It’s been going on for about a year now and I’m proud to announce that we are gonna have a LIVE recording of the show at the end of this month!

Details here

Do come over and have fun.. it’s free and we’ve got LOTS OF gadgets to be given out.
More info on facebook.com/techduology

Wordless Wednesday.

Decision – Flash Games Download – Overview In this Decision zombie apocalypse survival action flash game you get to shoot zombies, earn monies, buy bigger guns, abilities, kill more zombies, capture towers etc and make decisions! Decision sure is a weird name for a zombie shooting game eh? Games are running out of names nowadays.

Download Decision (File Size ~ 10.59 MB)
Download the ZIP archive:
decision.zip (4shared)
decision.zip (GameFront)

Please contact Deimos if:
- one of the above download links is broken.
- there is an updated version of this game.

Decision – Title Menu!

Why does the guy with the gun pointed to the head have white eyes? Not a human perhaps?

Decision – Intro?

The story is being told out via diary entries. About the protagonist making decisions.

Decision – Controls?

After trying out the so called recommended mouse controls Deimos very much prefers the classic keyboard controls. Keyboard to move while mouse to aim and shoot is always better.

Decision – Action!

The first level is a training level in which you must kill ten zombies. Just ten only. Very few.

Decision – City?

From the journal entry it seems that this game is about taking back the city from the dead.

Decision – Missions?

In between missions you can purchase new weapons or new abilities. Convenient yes?

Decision – Blood?

Using a shotgun at close range will cause many blood to splatter out from them zombies.

Decision – Recon?

Recon is a quick mission that you need to perform before you can do the main mission.

Decision – Danger?

Daily routines would be killing zombies while keeping the danger level low enough.

Decision – Tower?

In tower capture mission you must protect the generator while killing all zombies of course.

Built on Windows Phone platform, the app known as “Earth Hour Malaysia” was created to continuously cultivate an eco-friendly lifestyle among Malaysians Kuala Lumpur, 17 April, 2012 –Fresh from the success of Earth Hour 2012, WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia), in collaboration with Microsoft Malaysia (“Microsoft”) and Microsoft Student Partner, Pun Soong Teck (also known [...]

WWF-Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia encourage Malaysians to “Live Green” beyond Earth Hour with mobile application written by: dannyfoo ------------------------------------------------------------ Websites Made Simple | Websites Made Simple - Malaysia website design blog

Reports yesterday indicated that billionaire industrialist Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and Sunway Bhd have submitted a proposal to acquire 330 acres of prime real estate controlled by Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), which includes two 18-hole golf courses with a commercial value estimated at over RM 5 billion. It is learnt that Perspective Lane (M) Sdn Bhd, a private investment vehicle controlled by Syed Mokhtar, and Sunway City Sdn Bhd, had submitted a plan late last year to the Federal government.

Even though KGNS president Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas has denied that Syed Moktar is involved, an application appears to be submitted by some parties to acquire the 330 acres land site. To verify whether these reports are true, the Prime Minister needs to give a full explanation to uphold accountability in the interests of the public as well as the club members. Once again, it would appear that not only is a multi-billion ringgit privatisation deal being conducted without open competitive tenders, but it also appears to be another potential land grab similar to what is happening with the MRT project on heritage areas in Kuala Lumpur.

This KGNS land grab is set to become yet another “piratisation” exercise that exemplifies the rent-seeking and crony capitalistic culture synonymous with the BN government. However, this time the proposal has evoked a strong and emotional response even from prominent UMNO members. KGNS president Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin, who is also a member of the UMNO disciplinary committee, has even denounced the move as potential “political suicide” for the BN government.

The Prime Minister must clarify whether the“piratisation” of KGNS land is actually going to happen, and if so reveal details to the public. If not, all his talk about transformation will be proven to be meaningless. The only thing the Najib and BN has managed to prove is that regardless whether 1 Malaysia is genunine or sincere, there are no racial boundaries when it comes to daylight robbery of land grab. It is not just the Chinese, Iban, Kadazan, Orang Asli or the Indians but even the Malays who have become victims to the 1Malaysia land grab

—BM Version—

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Lim Guan Eng, Setiausaha Agung DAP dan Ahli Parlimen Bagan di Kuala Lumpur pada 17.4.2012

Demi Kepentingan Umum, Perdana Menteri Harus Menjelaskan Sama Ada Rampasan Tanah KGNS Adalah Lagi Satu Usaha “Penlanunan” Di Mana 1Malaysia Yang Diuar-uarkan BN Sebenarnya Bermaksud Rampasan Tanah Awam Tanpa Mengira Tanah Melayu, Cina, India, Iban, Kadazan Atau Orang Asli.

Laporan-laporan semalam mengatakan bahawa industrialis besar Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary dan Sunway Bhd telah menyerahkan cadangan untuk memperoleh hartanah perdana 330 ekar yang digunakan Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), yang termasuk dua padang golf 18-lubang dengan harga komersial yang dijangka melebihi RM5 bilion. Adalah difahamkan bahawa Perspective Lane (M) Sdn Bhd, sebuah syarikat pelaburan swasta yang dikusai Syed Mokhtar, dan Sunway City Sdn Bhd, telah menyerahkan pelan pada akhir tahun lepas kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan.

Walaupun presiden KGNS Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas telah menafi penglibatan Syed Mokhtar, masih terdapat desas-desus bahawa aplikasi telah diserahkan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu untuk memperoleh tanah 330 ekar tersebut. Untuk mengesahkan sama ada laporan-laporan ini benar atau tidak, Perdana Menteri harus memberi penjelasan demi prinsip kebertanggungjawaban dan kepentingan pihak awam serta ahli-ahli kelab. Sekali lagi, bukan sahaja lagi satu perjanjian penswastaan sedang dilakukan tanpa tender terbuka, tetapi ia juga kelihatan seperti rampasan tanah yang serupa dengan apa yang sedang berlaku dengan projek MRT di kawasan-kawasan warisan di Kuala Lumpur.

Rampasan tanah KGNS ini berpotensi menjadi satu lagi “penlanunan” yang merupakan contoh tipikal gejala kapitalisme kroni yang sudah sinonim dengan kerajaan BN. Namun begitu, cadangan kali ini telah membangkitkan tentangan yang kuat dan penuh emosi dari kalangan ahli UMNO sendiri. Presiden KGNS Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin, yang juga merupakan seorang ahli jawatankuasa disiplin UMNO, telah mengutuk tindakan ini sebagai perbuatan yang mampu memusnahkan diri untuk kerajaan BN.

Perdana Menteri harus menjelaskan sama ada “penlanunan” tanah KGNS ini akan berlaku atau tidak, dan kalau ya beliau harus mendedahkan butir-butir kepada pihak awam. Kalau tidak, segala transformasi yang diuar-uarkan akan dibuktikan sebagai kata-kata kosong. Sampai sekarang, Najib dan BN hanya dapat membuktikan bahawa sempadan perkauman tidak menjadi faktor dalam usaha untuk merampas tanah. Bukan sahaja orang Cina, Iban, Kadazan, Orang Asli atau India, tetapi orang Melayu juga menjadi mangsa kepada rampasan tanah 1Malaysia.

— Mandarin Version—

民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年4月17日在吉隆坡发表声明：

首相必须基于公众利益解释梳邦国家高尔夫球俱乐部（KGNS）的土地夺取案是不是另一个“强盗化”计划，那就是国阵的“一个马来西亚”参与抢夺公众土地，不如它属于马来人、华人、印度人、伊班人、卡达山或原住民。

昨天的报道说，拥有亿万身家的工业家丹斯里赛莫达及双威公司已经提呈计划书征收330英亩的梳邦国家高尔夫球俱乐部（KGNS）黄金地，包括两个18洞的高尔夫球场，它们的商业价值超过50亿令吉，Perspective Lane私人有限公司（赛莫达所控制的私人投资工具）以及双威城有限公司在去年已经呈交一项计划给联邦政府。

虽然梳邦国家高尔夫球俱乐部主席丹斯里梅杰纳慕丁已经否认赛莫达涉及此案，当局似乎收到一些有关330英亩的申请。要查证这些报道是否属实，首相必须清楚解释，维护公众及俱乐部会员的利益。这又是一起上亿令吉无公开招标的私营化计划，但是它看来是另一次暗中抢夺土地的案子，与地铁计划建在吉隆坡古迹区雷同。

梳邦国家高尔夫球俱乐部土地抢夺案是另一种“强盗”的行为，这标榜着国阵政府的寻租及朋党资本主义文化横行。但是，这一次这项计划激起巫统高层领袖的情绪，有关俱乐部主席丹斯里梅杰也是巫统纪律委员会成员，他形容这种举动有如国阵的“政治自杀”。

首相必须解释上述俱乐部的土地是不是被“强盗化”，并公布详情给公众。否则，他关于转型的言论都只是空谈。纳吉和国阵唯一证明的是，不论一个马来西亚是否真情假意，一旦光天化日之下发生土地抢夺案，那将是无种族之分，不只是华人、伊班人、卡达山人、原住民或印度人将遭殃，就连马来人也成为一个马来西亚土地抢夺的受害者。

林冠英

Malaysia Chronicle

Today, the raging debate is about PTPTN loans. Buried within this concern that has gone viral and public today is a long and festering issue of making education into a business to profiteer from. The trophy of course goes to Tun Dr Mahathir although he has recently and as usual, blamed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim entirely.

When the Pakatan Leader announced that the Opposition political party will do away with education loans and ensure everyone had free access to higher education, the avalanche of BN machinery has come cascading.

Senior BN personalities have immediately dismissed the notion of free education. Their arguments ranged from maintaining that the nation would be bankrupted to one of one of putting the blame entirely on the head of DSAI. How pathetic.

But history is recorded. Let us take a trip down memory lane.

This is what Tunku said

In 1958 the late YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj declared, “Here I would like to emphasize that there is one thing the Government will not consider in terms of lack of money, and that is the question of education. In this case, the Government is giving special consideration in order to honor its education policy. The future of the country depends a great deal on the students of today.”

We did not have petro-dollars then; we did not have the highly profitable palm oil either. We were a poor, fourth-world nation that had just earned its independence after having lost so much wealth to feed and comfort the colonial powers. But Bapa Malaysia had that courage, determination and wisdom to recognize that education was the cornerstone for the future of the nation. He made it very clear that the Government must shoulder this responsibility fully.

And YTM Tunku encapsulated the role and responsibility very clearly – one that does not let money to be the impediment of education. If the money had to be found, it better be found so that every one can have free education.

And what Hussein Onn said

If that is not enough, let us hear out another Visionary Leader, the late YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn who held in 1979, “It has always been the Government’s desire to widen the opportunities and access to higher education for all. Tertiary education should not be confined only to those who can afford or those who come from higher income groups. But, it should be available to everyone who qualifies.”

Again, a right thinking Government ensured that there are no financial impediments to further education.

Then came Mahathirism

But look at what Mahathirism has yoked the rakyat with. Through all kinds of unprecedented privatization policies, crutches, favoritism, Ali Baba schemes, and what have you, the visions of our past Leaders were systematically dismantled and abandoned by the doctor who helmed the nation for 22 years.

And today when the students, unable to continue any longer with the burden of PTPTN loan schemes – given the spiraling cost of living and shrinking purse strings, raise the alarm what do we get in rebuttal?

> blaming the Opposition leader;

> challenging the opposition held States to go it alone;

> attempting to justify by stating that the Government already subsidizes the cost of education;

> taking high handed action against protestors; threatening that the country would sink into bankruptcy if education was free;

> accusing those in support of free education of becoming victims of populist ideologies – all of these despite having created for the select and privileged few a handful of billionaires;

> extravagant lifestyles for BN leaders and their families;

> recording eyebrow-raising profits year in, year out for some select companies;

> and what have you.

Just shut up and study!

One cannot question the wheeler-dealer mega million businesses inked under cloak and cover of the Official Secrets Act (OSA); arresting and shutting down people in the know who question such deals with the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) and beating up people with scare tactics and chemical laced water cannons if they protest in public.

“Your job students is to shut up and study, otherwise we will throw you out” has been the all too often threat billowed down the necks of students who moaned and groand under the trying conditions.

Too busy with bailouts for cronies

It is not a problem to pump billions of ringgit into loss making Government ventures; it is also okay to rescue sons and daughters and proxies when they hit troubled financial waters, thereby costing the nation’s coffers millions of ringgit.

So Mahathir set in motion an idea that was contrary to what YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn and YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj had about education. For the Tun and BN, education cannot be free. If you want we will lend you some money but you better pay up or else we will come after you like a blood hound.

Today when it comes to education, all the way from pre-school to the graduate corridors it is money making. From school bags to pencils, from text books to workbooks, from sports to extra-curriculum activities, from projects to examinations – it is money. Even to get to do your mandatory internship, you have to fork out your own money because the pittance paid by some organizations cannot even buy you one lunch every day.

No money, no talk.

And on top of that you have to borrow from your own Government and earn your guts out to make good all payments.

So, in a nutshell is it not a case of bonded slavery in disguise? The ordinary rakyat must slog all the way to his or her tombstone making others richer. If you happen to get rich through the long corridors of education, sheer hard work, and some luck, you must also keep paying the rent-seekers to keep moving on, right?

When do we say enough is enough? When do we say the buck stops right here? When do wake up and see the whole truth? And how?

It is only when we are all agreed on the answers to these questions can we start back from where our founding fathers YAB Dato’ Hussein Onn and YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj left us.

Otherwise, we are headed in one direction – all the way downhill for a crash landing. But by then the pilots would have fled to their havens under the pretext of giving others a chance to lead, you know.

Previously, we told you that the new iPad (3rd generation) release date in Malaysia is April 21, 2012. Apparently, we got the date quite right. Apple has now confirmed the date is April 20 (Friday).

The new iPad will be available in Malaysia and 11 additional countries: South Korea, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, St Maarten, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Beginning on April 27, the new iPad will be available in Colombia, Estonia, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa and Thailand.

New iPad price

The new iPad price is different for each country. Apple only stated the USD pricing but we think the new iPad pricing will be similar to the iPad 2 pricing when it was 1st available in Malaysia. Here’s for your reference:

iPad (3rd gen) WiFi

• 16GB – RM1499
• 32GB – RM1799
• 64GB – RM2099

iPad (3rd gen) WiFi+4G

• 16GB – RM1899
• 32GB – RM2199
• 64GB – RM2499

Specs

Apple iPad (3rd generation) is powered by new dual-core A5X processor with quad-core graphics, 1GB RAM. Retina display with 2048 x 1536 pixels screen resolution. 5 MP camera and support 4G LTE wireless network (not compatible with Malaysia’s 4G service providers).

Poll

via Apple Press. Thanks to everyone who send in the tip.

Confirmed: The Release Date of New iPad in Malaysia (and 11 additional Countries) is April 20, 2012 is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.