Malaysia's Internal Affair/Crisis!

As i have said in my blog, i want to comment on the issues that are concerning our beloved bolehland, Malaysia. First, i wanna talk about our first angkasawan/astronaut/cosmonaut/spaceflight participant, then the lingam video tape or lingam-gate scandal, the independent of the judiciary, the parliament and the general elections.

First, let us talk about the first Malaysian in space. Dr. Sheikh Muzzaphar Shukor, is our country's first man to go to space. He is also the first South-East Asian to go to space. Well, how proud are you, as a malaysian? The Russian called him a cosmonaut, the NASA called him a space flight participant and the Malaysian government insisted that he is indeed a angkasawan. Astronaut is the same meaning as Cosmonaut. Cosmonaut term is used by the Russians. The angkawan term is also the same with astronaut and cosmonaut.

Perhaps he will be conferred a Datuk-ship. This is Malaysia's style. There are many controversies surrounding the angkasawan project.

It all started in year 2003, when the Malaysian government agreed to buy 18 units of Sukhoi Su-30MKM. As part of the deal, the Russian government agreed to send a malaysian into the space in 2007. The cost is estimated to be US$900 million! Each unit cost about US$33-45million according to wikipedia. I think it is better to purchase F-16 fighting falcon as it is much cheaper than Su-30MKM. But US$900 million is too much. The money can be used for other projects, such as repairing the lousy roads across the country! There are many potholes in the country, and yet we spent millions to send a man into the space! What is this all for? The money can be used for other development projects as well! Look, the government spent more than the revenue generated for 11 consecutive years(budget deficit).

The exact figure for sending the man to space was never revealed. However, it is indeed very costly and they are planning to send 2nd man to space again.

Next, let's talk about the videotape scandal. This is not a pornographic videotape. This is not an anime's videotape. This is the arrangement in appointing judges. The Federal Constitution made it clear that it is only the DYMM YDP-Agong as the only one who can appoint judges(with the recommendations by the Chief Justice) and Chief Judge of Malaya, Sabah & Sarawak and Chief Justice of Malaysia acting on the advice of the PM and Conference of Rulers. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It is a prominet lawyer who recommend who to appoint as CJM(Chief Judge of Malaya). Well, i'm not a law student, so correct me if i am wrong in some facts. The video is quite funny. Watch at youtube for it! Do you know the Watergate Scandal that forced US. Pres. Nixon to resign from office? Let's see if this lingamgate scandal can force the CJ to resign.

After Anwar Ibrahim released the videotape, the government immediately form a 3-man Independent Panel to check the authenticity of the videotape. The Malaysian Bar Council organised a 'Walk from Justice' from the Palace of Justice to the PM's Department. There are thousands of lawyers and supporters took part in the march. They all wore black and white attire. The Bar Council demanded a formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry, as it has more power to investigate the scandal. And it is true that the Independent Panel failed miserably to deliver. The Bar Council's Pres Ambiga Srenevesan infamous quote:

"Lawyers don't walk everyday. Not even every month. Not even every year. But when they walk, then something must be very wrong."

I really admire the United States's Congress. They are very powerful. They can reject Pres. Bush's application for War funding. The Republicans and Democrats are free to vote in any motion. They have the senate committee. The Senate Committee can conduct any inquiry or investigation, such as the blackwater shooting in Iraq, the 1998 former Pres. Clinton's sex scandal that nearly kicks him out from office, the then 13yrs old girl who was sexually abused and many more.
If our Parliament can act professionally like this and have this power, it is really great!

Next, let's talk about the fairness or Independent-ness of the Judiciary. I don't believe it they are 100% independent. Lina Joy's attempt to leave her former religion has failed in the highest court, the Federal Court. She was denied her freedom of religion, as guaranteed in the Federal Constitution, on Article 11. 'Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion.'

But lately, there are a number of lawsuits against the government are success. First, a former ISA's detainee was awarded RM2.5mil in the suit against the police and government. Then, the news just came in, Irene Fernandes was awarded Rm200k in her suit against an UMNO-owned daily. These judges who attend those cases are indeed independent and fair. One more lawsuit was filed 2 days ago. I believe there will be more and more suits will be filed in the future!

Next, let's talk about the General Elections. Many believe that it will be held after the General Assembly of UMNO. Oh yea, let's hope the delegates won't make any racist comments or statements during the assembly! Let's hope the keris will not be waved against other races.
Next year, i believe the fuel price will increase, at least by 10-20sen per litre. Toll rates will go up as well. Thus, the transportation costs will increase. Then, the price of goods will increase! This is called 'cost push inflation' in Economics. By then, perhaps a normal bowl of Kolo Mee will cost Rm3++!

The inflation rate is rising, and on April, Anwar will be eligible to contest. With the inflation, the people will get angry and the votes will swing to the opposition. So it does make sense that the GE will be called before the toll and fuel price hike. They will not be that stupid to repeat the mistake in the 2006 Sarawak State Election. It is like smacking your head with a hammer.

The question is, what is the date of GE and how many seats the opposition will grab! For sure, the landslide victory for BN in 2004 GE will not be repeated this time. The opposition should be able to win at least 45-50 seats. Perhaps the elections will be held later this year or early next year before they increase the fuel price and toll.

Signing off now...... Izzit ok to post socio-political stuffs in the UGS blog??
*kenny, our posts are equal now?

Green Eyed Monster

Why is the MSN man green?
Crystal Jo, by tagboard

Dear Crystal,
Green is a lovely colour. It is the colour of trees in spring, the slashes of neon in Tokyo. Green is the feeling of freshness by the waterfall. Green is the chosen corporate colour by many companies, most of which escape my clever mind now. Green is the colour my hair is going to be. In fact, Green is The Best Colour In The World. Unlike Purple.

I love green. Dark green is mistletoe, under which lovers kiss. Green is a color with many different shades, all within a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nm. Green is considered one of the additive primary colors. It is the complement of magenta. Green in the Flag Of Ireland is called Shamrock Green. In the Middle Ages, green represented evil or demonic beings (including dragons) and sometimes love. Green Day crafted that critically acclaimed album American Idiot, in which a journey of warped proportions is recorded (Jesus of Surburbia, if you're wondering).

And i have to say green is .... yeah, what was your question again? ^.^

National Service And You

Is National Service worth the money spent on it?
Scared, by email.

Dear Scared,
There is no need to worry about National Service because it was created by the Government and the Government is always right. Starting off with the clever move to allow handphones in schools and then the equally clever move to question the need for Science and Mathematics in English (after four brilliant years) , one can surely see that the fate of our nation is in very good hands.

National Service aims to create patriotic Malaysian bigfoot citizens called the Belia. You and i are Belia, but the Government wants celver, intelligent Belia who love the country very much, like the many denizens found in Dawn Of The Dead.

Malaysian NS camps are thus removed from society, and it was reported that in their serach for the coveted Bigfoot (a scientific endeavour on par with making Teh Tarik in space, no doubt), researchers stumbled across a strange new blue zebra-like species. They named it Paranoia Zombifilus.

We must be proud of Malaysian diversity, now mustn't we?

The Car. The Malaysian.

Are imported cars ever going to get any cheaper? I want to buy one for my son.
4 wheels, by email.

Dear 4 wheels,
The only reason Malaysia has a horrendously one-sided National Automotive Policy is Proton. It seems that unlike its brother the Perodua, out proton has ade a brevy of stupid moves and in the process earning it the honourable title of Malaysian corporate failure alongside MAS. But MAS has redeemed itself, at least with the fact it did not attempt to manufacture toy airplanes the same way Proton tried to manufacture Agusta bikes. No, it's right on track ... by making you pay right through your nose. At any rate it seems to have a better corporate image than Proton - which is known for easily dented plasticky cars like the Gen 2.

So the only answer to your question would be to look at how Proton is faring. The fact that the new Satria is solid on the road is a good sign of improvement, and thus we must all pray it pulls through. Even if it doesn't, no worry - we can all zoom around in equally cheap Kancils, and then pray even harder that Proton suffers the recieving end of a hostile takeover.

Still intent on buying your sonan imported car? Give him a Wira and tell him it's a Mitsubishi in disguise.

Ask Stupid Question

The Nasi Lemak Culture
What are Malaysians and how are they defined?
Xenophobik, by email.

Dear Xenophobik,
Malaysians are interesting specimens that should be studied thoroughly by many major universities. They live on a diet of mamak food, teh tarik and laksa, so any national crisis in Malaysia usually means a direct threat on any of these dishes. The occasional allegation of stroke causing teh tarik and boric-acid noodles is treated with the lifted Malaysian eyebrow - before they return to their gorging once again.

Malaysia is a democratic country, and Malaysians are a democratic bunch. They stack flags one on top the other on their car roofs and spray messages on political posters, usually concerning the genitalia of the said political figure. They are fed a constant stream of censored music, movies and their newspapers are filled by Datuks and Tuns, who must blame someone for their community's problems. Malaysian thought is controlled by the ISA (I Sodomized Anwar) act and they are afraid they would be arrested and jailed without trail, in programs such as Operasi Lallang (The Weed Operation). To top it off, the Malaysian Parliament is a serious place of discussion, where pressing issues require MPs to call each other monkeys/snakes/jangan kurang ajar (or vice versa) and kings of all the animals in the jungle.

Socially Malaysians get along very well. Malaysian driving resembles pinball and the Malaysian public toilet requires David Blaine levitation to use. Malaysian are also very polite. With the exception of opening doors, picking up dropped papers and thanking Readers Digest researchers, we are the most polite people on the planet. The only people who beat us are New Yorkers, for they are Americans and the care a lot for other people.

In a durian shell Malaysians are a weed fearing, pinball playing, laksa eating, levitating branch of the human race. I hope you understand them better.