The Star carried a short piece of news, Samy: Consult before demolishing temples, with regards to Samy Vellu saying that 'he' should be consulted first before any more of the Indian temples are demolished.
I smiled when I read that. They don't listen to you la, Uncle...and not like they care about what you've got to say either. If they did, the problem this time round would not have happened in the first place - this is certainly not the first time that the people are angry at the way their temples have been destroyed - without any care, consultation and most importantly, respect. And you can be sure that no such thing would happen to a mosque in Malaysia. Now, that's called double standards.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
"Emotional Abuse"
Now apparently, Kelantan's Menteri Besar is trying to make Malaysia famous again with his out-of-this-world comments - how does this guy come up with such "unthinkable" ideas?
His latest theory - I called it a theory simply because there is really no scientific proof on this - is that:
Now, I'm not sure if that's what he has actually said - but judging from the other mind-boggling theories he has came up with in the past...I'm not too surprised.
Just think about it. What he's suggesting - and has done so quite a number of times - is that women and the way they dress is responsible for how a man thinks and acts. When a man acts based on the judgment of his penis, it's considered justified if the opposite sex shows them a bare shoulder or thigh (what were they doing looking there in the first place?). How stupid is the logic? And how much more sexist can one get?
His latest theory - I called it a theory simply because there is really no scientific proof on this - is that:
Malaysia's Muslim men are suffering sleepless nights and cannot pray properly because their thoughts are distracted by a growing number of women who wear sexy clothes in public, a prominent cleric said [...]He further added that:
We always [hear about] the abuse of children and wives in households, which is easily perceived by the eye, but the emotional abuse of men cannot be seen [...]What can I say? Just Wow...x2
Our prayers become unfocused and our sleep is often disturbed [...]
Now, I'm not sure if that's what he has actually said - but judging from the other mind-boggling theories he has came up with in the past...I'm not too surprised.
Just think about it. What he's suggesting - and has done so quite a number of times - is that women and the way they dress is responsible for how a man thinks and acts. When a man acts based on the judgment of his penis, it's considered justified if the opposite sex shows them a bare shoulder or thigh (what were they doing looking there in the first place?). How stupid is the logic? And how much more sexist can one get?
Of wheat and bread - Updates
This is a follow-up from my previous entry on the possible rise of bread prices in view of the higher cost of wheat worldwide.
According to this piece of news, bread will now costs between 20 sen and 30 sen more per loaf - and this price increase started yesterday. A loaf of Gardenia white bread will now cost RM2.10. Prices for bread from Hi5 has also seen an increase of 10%-25%.
However, the festive season price control scheme would be on for 15 days until Nov 15 for Deepavali.
According to this piece of news, bread will now costs between 20 sen and 30 sen more per loaf - and this price increase started yesterday. A loaf of Gardenia white bread will now cost RM2.10. Prices for bread from Hi5 has also seen an increase of 10%-25%.
However, the festive season price control scheme would be on for 15 days until Nov 15 for Deepavali.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
"Unity, Liberty, Equality" by Tan Cheng Lock
The following speech was written by Tan Cheng Lock titled, "Malayans - Unite To Achieve Merdeka (Freedom) - Stand By 3 Principles of Unity, Liberty, Equality". - taken from Sepuluh Tahun.
Do take some time to read it. Unity, Liberty, Equality - these are the things that we have not fully attain, even after 50 years of independence. Much worse, we have found our rights eroded and bullied into accepting it.
On this, the occasion of the first anniversary of the founding of the Malayan Democratic Union, permit me to offer the President, the Executive Committee and members my cordial congratulations, coupled with the earnest prayer that the Union, which occupies a unique position in this country in that it embraces all race, will have a giant growth as an organisation pledged to help to bring to fruition the ideal of a democratic self-government in a United Malaya, in which the different racial elements comprised in its domiciled population shall be ensured equality of status and rights.
Emancipation from oppressive conditions, whether they be political, social, or economic can only be won at the price of personal endeavour. National progress must be attained by definitely organised and carefully concerted endeavour. Success needs to be achieved – it cannot be granted or conferred.
Unless every one in a population regards not only his selfish interests but also concerns himself with his share of the collective interest, self-government or good government is not possible.
We have set a movement on foot at aiming at winning our freedom by making Malaya one country and one nation with a common destiny for its peoples animated by a spirit of brotherhood and active co-operation for mutual help and benefit in all spheres of life. There is no other alternative if we Malayans of all races are intent upon facing reality and securing the supreme political goods of liberty and justice.
Trade, travel, migration and intercourse of all kinds being of the very texture of human life on this planet throughout the history of mankind, there is no such thing even in the modern world as a homogenous national state.
Further, the geographical position of Malaya, a rich and underpopulated land with easy reach of the overcrowded countries of China, India and Java, has made a mixed population inevitable.
Even in a mixed population the different communities, while being politically united, can maintain their own intellectual, cultural and spiritual life.
A political philosopher has affirmed that in a population of mixed communities if the Government assigns no privilege to any one of them and chooses its instruments indifferently from all; in the course of a few generations, identity of situation often produces harmony of feeling and the different races come to feel towards each other as fellow countrymen; particularly if they are dispersed over the same tract of country.
So Malaya can become one country and one nation if the right principles and policy are followed, and the three principles by which we stand may be condensed in the motto ‘Unity, Liberty and Equality.’
In concrete form the three fundamental principles resolve themselves into, firstly
(a) a United Front of Malayan peoples based on inter-communal concord and joint action; and
(b) the political unification of the whole of Malaya, inclusive of Singapore, as a unitary state in all essential respects under one central government;
secondly, a measure of self-government, providing for
(a) a Central Legislature of a United Malaya with substantial elected unofficial majority; and
(b) the exercise of the executive power by a Ministry responsible to the Legislature and all matters of internal and civil administration;
and thirdly, the equality of status and rights for all those who regard Malaya as their real homeland and the object of their single-minded devotion and loyalty.
Responsibility to the governed is the greatest of all securities for good Government.
Malayans of all races! Unite to achieve “Merdeka” or freedom – for only in unity lies our salvation.
Do take some time to read it. Unity, Liberty, Equality - these are the things that we have not fully attain, even after 50 years of independence. Much worse, we have found our rights eroded and bullied into accepting it.
On this, the occasion of the first anniversary of the founding of the Malayan Democratic Union, permit me to offer the President, the Executive Committee and members my cordial congratulations, coupled with the earnest prayer that the Union, which occupies a unique position in this country in that it embraces all race, will have a giant growth as an organisation pledged to help to bring to fruition the ideal of a democratic self-government in a United Malaya, in which the different racial elements comprised in its domiciled population shall be ensured equality of status and rights.
Emancipation from oppressive conditions, whether they be political, social, or economic can only be won at the price of personal endeavour. National progress must be attained by definitely organised and carefully concerted endeavour. Success needs to be achieved – it cannot be granted or conferred.
Unless every one in a population regards not only his selfish interests but also concerns himself with his share of the collective interest, self-government or good government is not possible.
We have set a movement on foot at aiming at winning our freedom by making Malaya one country and one nation with a common destiny for its peoples animated by a spirit of brotherhood and active co-operation for mutual help and benefit in all spheres of life. There is no other alternative if we Malayans of all races are intent upon facing reality and securing the supreme political goods of liberty and justice.
Trade, travel, migration and intercourse of all kinds being of the very texture of human life on this planet throughout the history of mankind, there is no such thing even in the modern world as a homogenous national state.
Further, the geographical position of Malaya, a rich and underpopulated land with easy reach of the overcrowded countries of China, India and Java, has made a mixed population inevitable.
Even in a mixed population the different communities, while being politically united, can maintain their own intellectual, cultural and spiritual life.
A political philosopher has affirmed that in a population of mixed communities if the Government assigns no privilege to any one of them and chooses its instruments indifferently from all; in the course of a few generations, identity of situation often produces harmony of feeling and the different races come to feel towards each other as fellow countrymen; particularly if they are dispersed over the same tract of country.
So Malaya can become one country and one nation if the right principles and policy are followed, and the three principles by which we stand may be condensed in the motto ‘Unity, Liberty and Equality.’
In concrete form the three fundamental principles resolve themselves into, firstly
(a) a United Front of Malayan peoples based on inter-communal concord and joint action; and
(b) the political unification of the whole of Malaya, inclusive of Singapore, as a unitary state in all essential respects under one central government;
secondly, a measure of self-government, providing for
(a) a Central Legislature of a United Malaya with substantial elected unofficial majority; and
(b) the exercise of the executive power by a Ministry responsible to the Legislature and all matters of internal and civil administration;
and thirdly, the equality of status and rights for all those who regard Malaya as their real homeland and the object of their single-minded devotion and loyalty.
Responsibility to the governed is the greatest of all securities for good Government.
Malayans of all races! Unite to achieve “Merdeka” or freedom – for only in unity lies our salvation.
Oil jumps $4
With the news of the interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserves (Fed), oil prices has now gone past the $94 per barrel. Fed cut interest rates by quarter-point to encourage lending and to ease the credit market.
The cut has led to a dive in the greenback, and major currencies around the world has seen a rise - in record high numbers - against the US dollar. This, couple with a decline in crude stocks has pushed oil prices to its current level.
As the KLSE opens this morning, the composite index is currently up by more than nine points. Leading the rise in share prices are plantation stocks such as the Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK), IOI Corp and Asiatic. Bursa is also doing well, but it seem that there will be much profit-taking today as investors try to cash in on gains from the past few days.
Personally, I have sold off most of my shares yesterday in view that there is a slim chance that Fed might not cut interest rates. But I'm back to buying today and hopefully the stock market will continue its bullish run for a few more days.
Some excerpts from around the news:
BBC:
The cut has led to a dive in the greenback, and major currencies around the world has seen a rise - in record high numbers - against the US dollar. This, couple with a decline in crude stocks has pushed oil prices to its current level.
As the KLSE opens this morning, the composite index is currently up by more than nine points. Leading the rise in share prices are plantation stocks such as the Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK), IOI Corp and Asiatic. Bursa is also doing well, but it seem that there will be much profit-taking today as investors try to cash in on gains from the past few days.
Personally, I have sold off most of my shares yesterday in view that there is a slim chance that Fed might not cut interest rates. But I'm back to buying today and hopefully the stock market will continue its bullish run for a few more days.
Some excerpts from around the news:
BBC:
US light crude ended the trading session up $4.15 to $94.53 a barrel, while London Brent traded at $90.63 a barrel, up $3.19 [...]CNN:
An array of factors have been driving oil prices higher. Oil prices have risen as the sliding greenback makes oil, which is priced dollars, cheaper to buy outside the US.
The dollar hit its weakest levels against the pound since 1981 on Wednesday. At the same time, oil investors have been casting a nervous eye on Turkey's threats to carry out a major military incursion into northern Iraq to attack Kurdish rebels [...]
AFP:An interest rate cut boosts oil prices because it is meant to spur economic activity, which would drive up demand for oil.
A rate cut also pushes down the dollar, in which oil is priced. A falling dollar makes oil cheaper for foreign consumers and means oil producing countries have less incentive to raise production, both of which are bullish for oil prices [...]
Oil prices got a boost in premarket trade Wednesday after a report said the U.S. economy grew by a robust 3.9 percent rate in the third quarter, which was more than expected.
Oil prices sold off by more than $3 a barrel Tuesday after a report from influential trading house Goldman Sachs urged investors to sell oil now in order to lock in profits.
But crude is still near all-time highs, even adjusted for inflation. The last time oil was this high was the early 1980s, when it rose to $93 to $101 a barrel, depending on the inflation calculation used and the oil contract cited [...]
In an accompanying statement to its second rate cut in as many months, the Federal Open Market Committee said that although financial market turmoil linked to a US housing downturn had eased in part, "the pace of economic expansion will likely slow in the near term, partly reflecting the intensification of the housing correction.Telegraph UK:
"Today's action, combined with the policy action taken in September, should help forestall some of the adverse effects on the broader economy that might otherwise arise from the disruptions in financial markets and promote moderate growth over time."
The Fed slashed its federal funds rate by a half point to 4.75 percent on September 18 to ease a credit crunch tied to the housing slump.
Kathy Lien, chief strategist of Forex Capital Markets, said the latest Fed move was "giving the financial markets exactly what they wanted and nothing more." [...]
The statement accompanying the decision was couched in far less reassuring tones than those that came with its emergency cut in September. It said the Fed remains concerned "the pace of economic expansion will likely slow in the near-term", adding that growth risks are to the "downside".
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However, it also voiced concern about the risks inflation poses to growth.
Economist James Knightley of ING said: "It seems as though the Fed is hinting that it doesn't see the need for a series of rate cuts as yet.
, The Dow Jones fell initially on the news but ended the day up 138 points at 13,930 [...]
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