Samy Vellu booed in Penang

Hostile reception for Semi-Value in Penang

MIC president Samy Vellu was booed and publicly humiliated when he turned up to officiate at the Aattam 100 Vagai 3 (100 types of dance) performance at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) recently.



Another Mahathir relic whom has long overstayed his welcome.

One day summary of BN failures

It is not difficult for the layman to judge how BN have continuously failed the people by just reading one day's worth of "Letters to the Editor" courtesy of TheStar, 29th January 2008:-

Simply afraid to take the bus
"Because of this accident, my friends and I now have a phobia of taking the bus. I don’t want to live in fear. I have a future, too."
- JOLENE LAI PEI SHAN



Reckless bus drivers must be stopped
"I thought express buses are only supposed to drive at 90kph. This bus driver went way above the speed limit."
- DISSATISFIED AND FRIGHTENED

Vital to remove all subsidies
"Price controls result in a lack of choice and quality for consumers, and ultimately, higher prices. Price subsidies come out of the taxpayer’s pocket. Taxpayers subsidise other taxpayers for goods they don’t consume or use."
- DR IAN MACKECHNIE

Explain why doc was sent to jail
I recall “Ismail assures private docs over new law,” (The Star June 20, 2006) by the Director-General of Health that quoted him as saying: “I want to give them the guarantee that we’ll be careful when enforcing the legislation, and that we won’t send them to jail for the slightest offences.”
- OBEDIENT DOCTOR

Sad state of affairs at local libraries
"Are we placing the wrong staff in these venues? One of them gave me a blank look when I asked for a certain section – did she not expect to be queried at all?"
- S. LEONG

Building smart corridors sure won't solve the above common problems the rakyat faces everyday. Why doesn't BN tackle the REAL problems faced by the rakyat?

Gerakan sinking, MCA brought in to help woo voters in Penang

Like a chicken without its head Gerakan is running in circles as Penang voters continue to reject them. It looks like Barisan is now calling its unwilling partner MCA to help seek more support from the Chinese voters in Penang.

MCA to remind voters of their track record

MCA bringing in big guns to Penang

Gerakan with nothing to show, tries to blame others

Gerakan strongman retreats

DAP makes a strong bid as Gerakan falters

DAP expresses regret in PM's unwillingness to reveal election date (Malaysia's ultimate form of kiasuism)

UMNO as usual is only interested in lobbying for posts

Elsewhere: Malaysian PM gives HIMSELF a pat on the back for "abolishing" poverty in Malaysia (apparently, only 7 out of 1000 people are poor in Malaysia!)

Blogger (and DAP member now) Jeff Ooi has the story on why the Malaysian Chinese are so fed up with the PM, but that does not necessary translate to votes for the Opposition. Read the article

Latest: Is PM Badawi planning to appoint a Chinese DPM?

Dr Koh: A "tired leader" about to be phased out from Penang

The Star, 20 Jan 2007: Dr Koh leaving Penang will not be a huge loss

Dr Koh is not a huge liability but neither is he a glowing asset.

The former academic was only 41 when he catapulted into the top office in 1990 but after four terms, he is seen as a rather “tired leader” and he is sitting on a depleting reservoir of goodwill.

“He does not have charisma or the political street-smartness that is so crucial in politics. But he has stayed clean and is respected for his scholarship and diligence. There's no denying he has the brains but he seems to lack a certain toughness to deal with internal politicking in the Barisan Nasional,” says Dr Khoo Kay Peng.

His staying on will not adversely affect the Barisan's chances but it will also not provide the sort of oomph that the coalition needs in the face of an opposition wind.

Read the full article

Penang: All out attack from the Opposition to capitalize on the people's dissatisfaction with Gerakan

Dr M's ex-deputy Anwar volunteers to refresh his memory

From The Star, 18 January 2008:-

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has volunteered to testify on matters that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad could not recall on or remember during his testimony yesterday.



M. Puravalen, counsel for Anwar, told the Royal Commission: “He (Anwar) said the former prime minister might not be able to recall certain things in the Cabinet because of his age but he is younger and can be of some assistance.”

Puravalen also said that Anwar would like to testify before Wednesday as he would be going abroad. “He is leaving for Hong Kong on that day and would prefer to testify either tomorrow (today) or on Monday,” he said.

Commission chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor replied that the commission would take note of the request and would make its decision today.

Former chief justice Tun Eusoff Chin, who is the 11th witness, is scheduled to take the witness stand at 10am today.

Read the full transcript of the infamous video here


Lingam A Devil In Disguise?

Dr M's acute memory fails him as he takes the stand

From The Star, 18 January 2008:-

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's much awaited testimony before the V.K. Lingam video clip inquiry yesterday failed to shed much light.

He repeatedly replied “No” or “I do not remember” to various questions posed by leading officer DPP Datuk Nordin Hassan.

However, Dr Mahathir, the first former prime minister to appear before a Royal Commission of Inquiry, emphatically denied that he was influenced by anyone on the appointment of judges.

Before he took the stand, his counsel Tunku Sofiah Jewa told the inquiry that Dr Mahathir would give his full cooperation.

“Our client wishes us to say that he will answer questions put to him even if in law from our perspectives as counsel we think the questions are not relevant or within the scope of the terms of reference of this Royal Commission of Inquiry,” she added.

How PM Abdullah Badawi fares in cyberspace

The unofficial results are in (PM's report card):

Excellent [ 11 ] [1.57%]
Good [ 13 ] [1.86%]
Average [ 82 ] [11.71%]
Bad [ 168 ] [24.00%]
Worst [ 404 ] [57.71%]
Don't know/No Comment [ 22 ] [3.14%]

This is just too good to not reproduce it here. I think it kind of sums up what Malaysians on the internet think of him (credits to Igor):

Tunku Abdul Rahman - Bapa Kemerdekaan

Tun Abdul Razak - Bapa Pembangunan

Tun Hussein Onn - Bapa Perpaduan

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad - Bapa Pemodenan

Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi - Bapa Mertua Khairy


"OK, are all the photographers from every national newspaper here??"

The cameraman reveals himself

Identity of Lingam's video shooter is now known

The man behind the camera (or his father) has now revealed himself in public, Malaysiakini reports. He is not in Malaysia and has pleaded with our PM to provide him some protection. No reply is the standard reply, of course.

Latest: Commission member Tan Sri Haidar asks to disqualify himself as Lingam's tape inquiry kicks-off.

Elsewhere: Mahathir decries that our leaders are not ethical. Har! Har!

Elsewhere: Dr Koh is suddenly all touchy-feely about the Indian community. Tsk ! Tsk!

Elsewhere: Vincent Tan has a sudden calling to be charitable

Is that the sound of rats scurrying about I hear?

Daily traffic jams on the Penang bridge becoming a routine

If you are using the Penang bridge to work every day I am sure you will be stressed out by the time you reach home. A daily jam is now seen everyday along the southern coast from Bayan Lepas leading to the bridge daily as the factory workers leave their office to make their way to Butterworth. It is also the same from the Butterworth side and God help you if an accident happens or if it decides to rain.

Work on widening the bridge is going on at a snail pace and the second bridge remains an election promise where most Penangites are still skeptical about seeing it turn into a reality.



Will Penangites vote for a change this coming election?

Gerakan continues to make Penang a miserable place

If there is one thing Gerakan is good at - it is in mismanaging Penang



Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) state executive councillor Teng Chang Yeow said the Penang Road works will be completed soon but this has to be seen to be believed. It is truly unbelievable that Gerakan can do such a thing to their voters with the coming Chinese New Year and the impending elections:

Campbell Street Business Association chairman Charles Leong said since the entrance was closed, shoppers had been advised to park their cars at the council's Hutton Lane multi-storey car park and at Kampong Malabar before coming to the popular shopping area.

He said it was vital to their livelihood that the Campbell Street entrance be open to traffic especially with the approaching festive season.

“We are appealing to the council to expedite the completion of roadworks which have badly affected our business.

“We do not want our business to be affected further as the month leading up to the Chinese New Year is our opportunity to enjoy brisk business,” he said.

Leong added that the closure of the Campbell Street entrance had affected the business of its 150-odd association members.

“Many of our members are wholesalers who have complained that they are unable to unload their goods as lorries could not come in,” he said.

The current roadworks is part of the RM4.4mil Penang Road second phase upgrading project which began on Aug 1 last year. It is scheduled for completion on May 31.

Will Penangites like their American counterparts vote for a change? Do we have a Barack Obama in our midst or should we settle for a sleeping Prime Minister?




Read the full article from The Star

It takes 27 years to complete a project in Penang

The Star, 7 January - Jelutong Sewage plant becomes a reality after 27 years

PENANGITES, especially those living near the foreshore area of George Town, may soon be enjoying fresher air after enduring the stench of raw sewage for decades.

The RM478mil Jelutong sewage treatment plant, mooted 27 years ago, has just been completed and is expected to be fully operational by end of next month. Construction for the plant started in December 2004.

Located on a 14.7ha site beside the Jelutong Expressway, the plant is the country’s biggest centralised sewerage and sludge treatment plant.

JR: I wonder how many years will the Gerakan government take to fill up the potholes along Jalan Jelutong which I have noticed since more then 20 years ago, too. Is it any wonder then why DAP is going all out for Penang?

Happy New Year 2008

Wishing all readers a wonderful year ahead!
Let's hope and pray For A Better Malaysia

No End To Discrimination Stories

More readers of The Star have wrote in to say that they too have been discriminated against by The Malaysian PSD as the PSD DG (and of course the whole Malaysian government) continues their silence. Is this the way to treat Malaysians who complain through the "proper channels"? Or is our Government waiting for another mass rally before they act?

BTW, can our government for once define what are proper channels?


Complaint No.4

I REFER to press reports that quoted the Director-General of the Public Services Department as stating that “...of the 486,802 applications to work in the civil service last year, Chinese and Indians only accounted for 1.78% and 2.5% respectively.”

Since then I have also read letters to rebut the D-G's statement and in particular a letter by Au Yeong How regarding his attempts to enter the civil service albeit without success as the hiring system failed him.

My son also applied to join the police force in 2006 after graduating with a 2nd class LLB and he speaks fluent Malay, too.

He received an acknowledgement of his application but was not even called for any preliminary interview.

I was dissatisfied and e-mailed Datuk Ismail Adam using the address I obtained from the PSD website but as expected, there was no response.

If the very few non-Malay who have the minimum qualification applied and did not even get called for a preliminary interview, how does Ismail expect to recruit non-Malays into the civil service?

In addition, I would like to tell the D-G about what we hear on the ground in Sarawak – that although Sarawak has more non-Malay bumiputras, the government offices and even local councils are staffed mostly by Malays, especially at officer levels because the recruitment officers are mostly Malays from Peninsular Malaysia.

We can see this in certain local councils and government departments and of course it leads us to believe that the PSD is biased. Does the D-G want to correct this negative perception? Well, the ball is in his court now.

ANOTHER GOVT JOB SEEKER,
Kuching, Sarawak.


Complaint No.5


I REFER to the report “Few non-Malays applying, says PSD,” by the Director-General of the Public Services Department Tan Sri Ismail Adam (The Star, Dec 25) and wish to add my comments to that of Elsie Leei in “Case of once bitten?” (The Star, Dec 30).

Ismail’s statement that Government’s appointments are “based on merit or academic qualifications, not race?” is highly questionable as pointed out by Leei and Au Yeong How in “Qualified but can’t get government job,” (The Star, Dec 27).

The Government may have set fair policies but when it comes to recruitment and promotion, they do not work out that way.

Whether we want to admit it or not, the tendency to recruit and promote based on race is a common malaise in government departments.

This blatant disregard for fairness can be seen in my school.

Four years ago, a non-Malay colleague was appointed Ketua Bidang.

He had efficiently and responsibly carried out his duties for a good part of the year while waiting for his appointment letter.

But lo and behold, when the letter came, a Malay colleague who was well known for his lackadaisical approach to work got the job.

Recently, the school recommended a non-Malay colleague with 25 years experience for a senior administrative post but it was given to a Malay colleague who was much more junior in rank. Can the district and state education department sincerely say that such appointments are done based on merit or academic qualifications?

This is just a few among the many incidences that have occurred. Unless something is done to overcome this malaise and non-Malays are given the opportunity to achieve their full career potential “trying to reduce the gap between the races in the civil service” will continue to be a fruitless exercise.

FAIR & JUST,
Kuala Lumpur.