Pathetic Chinese Primary School #1

I have visited 3 primary Chinese schools located at Negeri Sembilan & Selangor recently, tables and chairs found at the classroom are majority broken. I asked the teachers why? The reply I got is “no fund”! My poor schools…

语录

政治是一时的， 教育是永远的。
科技是一时的， 科学是永远的。

Ethnic cracks widen in Malaysia’s ruling coalition

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia’s governing coalition sought to defuse a racial row Tuesday after a Malay official made a stunning outburst by warning the ethnic Chinese minority not to become greedy for political and economic power.

Ahmad Ismail, a district chief in the United Malays National Organization ruling party, claimed that the Malay majority was losing patience with minorities, particularly ethnic Chinese politicians.

“I urge the Chinese not to become like the Jewish in America, where it is not enough that they control the economy, but they also want to dominate politics,” Ahmad told a news conference late Monday in northern Penang state.

“Consider this a warning from the Malays,” Ahmad said. “The patience of the Malays has a limit. Do not push us against the wall, for we will be forced to turn back and push the Chinese for our own survival.”

Gerakan, an ethnic Chinese-based party in the National Front coalition government, later announced it was severing ties with Ahmad and Malay officials in Penang who publicly backed him. Gerakan leaders have recently warned they may consider quitting the government, largely due to dissatisfaction over racial issues.

The National Front comprises 14 groups spearheaded by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Malay party, which shares power with parties that have traditionally represented ethnic Chinese, Indians and other minorities.

The dispute is a fresh headache for Abdullah, who is struggling to hold the coalition together amid a threat by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to seize power by luring government lawmakers to his side by next week.

Growing dissatisfaction about racial policies prompted many Chinese and Indians to vote against the government in March general elections. Many Malays also backed the opposition, causing the National Front to retain power with only a simple parliamentary majority.

Abdullah said he was “utterly unhappy” with Ahmad’s comments and promised to “take stern action over the matter.”

Chinese officials are likely to pressure Abdullah at a National Front meeting Tuesday to penalize Ahmad, who rankled ethnic Chinese last month when he described them as “squatters” and “immigrants.” Police said last week they were investigating Ahmad for possible sedition, which is punishable by three years in prison.

Most Chinese and Indian Malaysians are descendants of 19th and early 20th century immigrants who came as traders, laborers and miners during British colonial rule.

Ethnic Chinese now comprise a quarter of Malaysia’s 27 million people, while Indians form less than 10 percent. They have grown increasingly vocal about alleged government discrimination in economic, social and religious policies.

Malays, who constitute about 60 percent of the population, enjoy a host of privileges in jobs, education and business as part of an affirmative action program launched in 1970 following racial riots fueled by Malay frustration over the Chinese community’s wealth.

Banks to ease financial burden of customers

Ivan: Banks can ease the financial burden by introducing more “friendly” package or reform. But it will never teach the people about how to do a proper financial plan. This will lead to a viscous cycle and end up with another financial crisis! Please read the below for more details:

Finance companies are resorting to restructuring car loan repayments to help ease the burden of customers with heavy financial commitments.

At least three major banks will announce their hire-purchase loan restructuring plans soon.

A senior manager of a prominent local bank with a substantial volume of hire-purchase customers said that given the current economic scenario, where prices of fuel and food had increased, many customers would be burdened by the high repayment plans that they had signed previously.

Finance companies could not rule out that some customers might find it difficult to service their monthly instalments, he said.

“We expect that for next year there will be more repossession orders given, but it won’t be a drastic increase,” he said, adding that his company issued a monthly average of 2,500 repossession orders.

Most banks and finance companies will try to assist any customer whom they feel could fail to meet their monthly instalments.

The move is expected to bring cheer to thousands of hire-purchase customers, especially those paying high monthly instalments for their car loans.

A Perodua Kelisa owner, Jen Neoh, 29, welcomes an option to restructure her car loan, as it would ease her financial burden.

“I think it’s better to be in debt with a bank, rather than borrowing from friends, family or even loan sharks,” she said.

Neoh, who now pays almost RM400 for her monthly instalments, said she would be comfortable paying about RM200 instead.

A public relations manager in a large bank here said her bank was now very selective with new approvals for hire-purchase loans.

“And we have also started calling customers to help restructure their hire-purchase agreements to help them make ends meet,” she said.

Loan restructuring is commonly done by extending the account holder’s repayment period to lower the monthly instalment that needs to be paid.

“Many factors affect how much the refinancing would affect the new monthly repayment amount,” said a head of retail collection in Kuala Lumpur.

He said they included how much loan was taken in the first place and the customer’s financial status.

“But if they can’t pay, reduction is not a solution. They can always surrender their cars. But we will try to help them so that they won’t have to,” he said.

Federation of Consumer Associations adviser Datuk Hamdan Adnan said Bank Negara must step in and help consumers who have been threatened with having their vehicles repossessed.

“Banks always claim they are customer-friendly. But in reality, they exploit some customers,” he said.

BLR remains the same!

GOOD NEWS: Glad to know the Bank Negara will maintain the interest rate till the end of the year!

Hope they will keep their promise!

Inflation – Blood Test Fee Hikes

I sent my dad to perform a regular blood test this morning at BP Lab. The testing fees were RM 70 on last December. My Dad and I got a shock when the nurse informed us we need to pay RM 150 for the same blood test packages!! The reason given is “Oh, petrol price increases, all sort things are more expensive, we have not choice”.

Petrol price increased 40%, but blood test fees increase by more than 100%. It is a good way to get more profit margin for the company, but it is too heavy for many people.

Najib: Talks won’t be at expense of non-Muslims

We are supposed to trust our leaders, as we need faith in them to lead the nation towards better tomorrow.

But how could we trust a Flip-Flop King’s statement. He said he doesn’t know the Mongolian lady, after a short while he said “NO! I did meet her”. He said he doesn’t the guy who claimed to be sodomized, but suddenly he said “NO! I met him before”.

From now on, we should say “NO” to whatever he says. Fair and square!

Ex-MCA leader to join PKR

PETALING JAYA: Former MCA central committee member Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew, who quit the party on Thursday, will be joining PKR soon.

Dr Tan, who was still discussing the details with PKR leaders, said she had decided to join the party.

“However, we never discussed party posts. As for me, the party positions are for those younger politicians who want to move up the ladder. I am not keen on party posts.

“I am looking for a platform to contribute to the nation. PKR is a good option for me to continue serving the people,” she said in a telephone interview here yesterday.

She said many of her supporters, including MCA members, might follow her footsteps in joining PKR.

The former Klang MP also denied that she had been offered the Klang Municipal Council president’s job by the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

On Thursday, Dr Tan, who described her decision to leave the party that she had served for 20 years as painful, sent her resignation by facsimile to the MCA headquarters.

Dr Tan said she had talked to PKR leaders, including its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on various national issues and Anwar had personally extended the invitation to her.

“I feel very touched. We have discussed how we can work together for the people as well as in handling sensitive issues.”

During a meeting with PKR members yesterday afternoon, vice-president Azmin Ali announced that Dr Tan and several MCA members would be crossing over to the party.

Ivan: She is a rare politician who has good reputation tagged by Klang residents. I did hear compliment to her from time to time. Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew joining PKR is definitely a great asset to the party, as I believe she is faithful to work for Rakyat, not someone crazy for “President seat” like “Wong X X”. I wish her all the best!

Raja Petra arrested, charged in court

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, 58, was arrested today and charged for defaming Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, and two others.

Editor: If one read newspaper not long ago, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife said she will not take action against Raja Petra, but less than a month, such decision is rebuked. Can you trust what politician or their spouse said?

You can catch Raja Petra and put him in jail, but there are many Raja Petra out there. One can never destroy justice, if yes, he destroys the country as well. I am very sad to see the dead of justice and democracy in my lovely homeland – Malaysia.

Debate between Anwar and Shabery

Upon viewing the debate conducted yesterday, here is my comment against both “tokoh”:

Against Shabery’s wisdom:

1. Shabery shall focus on the topic of debate not personal attack at Anwar. It is totally not professional to conduct such personal attack on such public debate. It implies Barisan National tricks.

2. The debating topic is a disadvantage to you. Why should you attend to such debate? My poor YB Shabery

Against Anwar:’s wisdom:

To be follow.

KUALA LUMPUR: Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek took on PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a rarely seen debate on live television last night.

The one-hour debate, entitled “Today we form the Government, tomorrow the fuel prices will go down” proceeded smoothly with both speakers backing their points with facts.

The event was organised by online news portal Agenda Daily and was broadcast live over TV9, Astro Awani and Bernama TV.

Invited to be the first speaker, Anwar started off by saying that fuel prices would be reduced by 50 sen a litre to alleviate the economic burden faced by the people if Pakatan Rakyat formed the Government tomorrow.

Anwar said it would only cost the Government RM5bil to bring down fuel prices by 50 sen.

He said RM2bil could be saved by reducing the country’s electricity buffer of 40% to 20%, as the extra capacity only benefited independent power producers (IPP).

Anwar hit out at the recent increase in fuel prices, saying such drastic measures within a short period had pushed inflation up.

“It was said that while prices go drastically up, inflation levels would not rise. Who was the one who taught that economic theory?” he said.

In response to that point, Shabery stressed that the inflation faced now could not be attributed solely to fuel prices.

He said major oil producers such as Venezuela and Iran experienced higher inflation than Malaysia although their fuel prices were much lower.

“In Venezuela, inflation is 30%, while Iran is one of the eight nations worst hit by inflation.

“It is not just oil prices that have gone up, but food as well. Our rice is cheaper than Thailand and that is because of our policies.

“We do not have to demonstrate on the streets or organise improper concerts,” he said.

On claims that as an oil producer, Malaysia stood to profit with from higher crude oil prices, Shabery said Malaysia was only a minor oil producer.

“In 2015, Malaysia will become a net importer of oil. By then, will we be forced to raise the price of fuel drastically?” he said.

Both Shabery and Anwar managed to squeeze in a few pot shots at each other.

Before leaving, Shabery told reporters that he was satisfied with the debate but would leave it to the Government to decide how he had performed.

Shabery had earlier said he would resign as Information Minister if he failed to defend the Government’s fuel policy.

Anwar said he was disappointed that several personal attacks had been made on him.