Vice-president or President?

Either way, Chua is expected to announce his bid for the party presidency tomorrow.

Which way you think he should go for?

At his age, he should be wise enough.

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[UPDATED VERSION] Speculations have been rife of late that Chua could either go for the president post against Ong Ka Ting or challenge Chan Kong Choy for the deputy presidency. Many believe that he would go for the presidency if he is keen to resurrect his political career.

It is unlikely that Chua will want to become a deputy to Ong, who at 49, is not only a lot younger than him but also much junior in politics, said a political observer.

That being the case, he has no choice but to go for broke and challenge Ong for the top post despite knowing fully well that the odds are heavily stacked against him, he said

“Chua has nothing to lose too. He is no longer in the cabinet. If he loses, he would probably retire or remain in the political background. On the other hand, Ong’s political career will be dealt a heavy blow should he lose.”

Rumours are so intense that you can’t exclude the possibility that petrol price is going to increase again.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given a broad hint that the retail price of petrol could be revised because of the high price of crude oil. Quote:

"We have to make preparations, and if they are tough and a little terrible, we all have to be patient." [...] 

Earlier on June 27, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal did not rule out the possibility of another fuel price hike, is monitoring the escalation of oil prices in the international market which had breached the US$60 per barrel mark. Quote:

"We have to wait and see (the price of oil in the world market)…the government is subsidising and this is putting (financial) pressure on the government." 

He then continued by saying:

"High oil prices would obviously benefit the national oil company, Petronas, but the high revenue earned was not enough to subsidise local usage of fuel." [...]

For your information, the government under pressure of escalating subsidies for petroleum products, last raised fuel prices on May 5, 2005. The price of petrol went up by 10 sen a litre and 20 sen a litre for diesel in an effort to reduce the subsidy.

The price of Petrol RON97 for Peninsular Malaysia is now RM1.52 while petrol RON92 is RM1.48. Diesel in the peninsula is at present RM1.08. The last raise in fuel prices before this increase was in March this year.

This time, the hike is inevitable. So do the long queue, I might as well be prepared to endure the traffic jam too.

"What happend to our education system?", a not-so-chubby-afterall’s friend jejeli asked, quoting her experience interviewing people during the recently held MSC Recruitment Fair for ICT Industry 2005 in Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC). Quote:

One point to note is that the unemployment rate is really a big problem in Malaysia. Imagine I interview 3 MBA holders who try to apply for internship program. Besides, there are a lot of fresh graduates who are too choosy, saying that no I don’t like this no I don’t like that during interview session. Even worse, a lot of the interviewees can’t even speak english. What happend to our education system?

Leave the choosy graduates aside, the part that really strike me is the non-english speaking interviewee. I remembered Mack shared with me that he once interviewed a few MBA students for some research purpose to assist in his thesis writing, ended up feeling extremely shock that some of them can’t even spell a proper sentence in english?

Now, back to the attitude problem, how true it is?

According to DLJR Consultancy chief executive officer David Lim, unemployed graduates only have themselves to blame for not securing jobs as many have a serious attitude problem. Quote:

"Only about 20% of graduates who join our programme had the right attitude and commitment to learn the skills to become good financial planners."

"At least 50% of the applicants are crowd-followers while 30%(more) are indecisive."

He then continued to say this:

"Many graduates have the perception that there are lots of better-paying jobs." [...]

"They should go for sales and marketing jobs, which pay well, rather than complain about low salaries and then keep on changing jobs."

While I’ve to agree with the Law of Abundance that there are lots of better-paying jobs out there, however my question is: Are you qualified enough to fulfill the criteria?

OK, let’s say you "believe" that you’re a real talented fresh graduate and you’re damn sure that you’re qualified for that, ask yourself what else you manage to get out of that job for your own personal development, besides the only high paid salary that you’ve got?

However, I won’t blame you for you may not able to accept what I’m trying to tell you here. Afterall, you’re now doing things that serve your own belief system.

Remember, there is no right and no wrong in choosing your very own career path, but don’t overqualified yourself, especially fresh graduates.

It’s simple enough: Learn how to learn, before you learn how to demand.

Accept it or ignore it, you’ve a choice.

Now, back to the main issue, is the education system OR the serious attitude problem to blame for the alarming unemployment rate?

My very little one cent: Look into your own internal factor, think and learn on how to improve on it. If you’re unemployeable, don’t blame how bad the education system is, don’t blame how you’re unfairly treated by the education system, look at your ownself and ask what you’ve learnt and what you still need to learn and equip urself, then move forward. As I said, you’ve a choice by your own default that it set by you yourself, pick up the choice which you "think" is correct, and live on with your dream, not until the day you failed your dream, you start to blame the same old shit that you’ve blamed during your growing up years, feeling regret for the rest of your life.

I’ve a friend, feeling very ungrateful towards things that happened in our backyard, decided to sell off his business and started a joint-venture in Hong Kong not long ago. I asked, what made you decide to start your own business in HK? He replied: "What I want is not only money, I don’t just live for money, but for the LIFE that I want."

All the best, mate!

Penaga
Originally uploaded by Xiao Niao.

Now, I can view the image of my hometown using Google Earth, thanks to Jeff alert.

However, this is the best view that I can capture, which is not detail enough. A bit shock to see less greenery seen spotted compared to the brown area.

Probably a better graphic card can help me to have a better insight?

Any idea?

** Large version (740X597) is available here. **

Yes, it’s true! Mack highlighted that a Malaysian blogger had received a legal letter to give up his domain.

True enough, this is unprecedented in Malaysia blogging history.

If you’ve any constructive idea where you believe can help this blogger (known as blewtooth) to cover his ars, please drop me an email or the onwer can also be contacted via email and mobile phone at 013-2246869.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

P/S: Uncle Mack, please don’t send me a legal letter for using the same title with your entry.

I write and you tell me the story.

June 25: Deputy UMNO President Najib Tun Razak confirmed that the vacant VP post will not be filled until the next party elections.

June 27: Muhammad Muhd Taib echoed Najib’s statement.

Hmmm, any idea?

It all started last Thursday, and it ended very early too.

Yesterday, UMNO’s disciplinary board chairperson Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail indicated that there were no new complaints against other members of the supreme council for money politics, scotching widespread rumours of a second ‘big fish’ waiting to be hauled in. Quote:

"I made a statement on April 8 this year that if anyone had complaints regarding money politics, (they would have) to make it before April 18." [...]

"The board has not received any complaints against committee members who participated or were successful in the last (party) elections."

He said this during a press conference held at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon to formally announce vice-president (VP) Mohd Isa Abdul Samad’s suspension from post and party for six years.

However, he refused to acknowledge questions as to whether action will be taken against other ‘big names’, specifically another VP and Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

The conclusion is very straightforward and simpe enough:

I was disconnected from the outside world for the past few days, not until I got a copy of NST on board, I never realise that a verdict had been meted out on no other than the UMNO third highest ranking member, Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

Here’s the event chronology:

June 23: Isa being called up for hearing at PWTC.

June 24: TV3 carried the report and quoted sources that Isa could be suspended for up to six years.

June 25: Bernama reported that Isa’s political secretary Salim Shariff, who is also the Jempol division’s UMNO Youth Chief confirmed Isa’s six years suspension for breaching the party’s code of ethics. Together with Isa, he was also suspended for three years for the same cause. Malaysiakini, The Star, NST and Utusan also carried the same headline in the morning. He also expressed his shock over the decision as the verdict was meted out on Friday, which is a day after Isa had been called for hearing. "Political conspiration", he said.

Meanwhile, two others were also suspended in connection with Isa. They were Raub division chief and Pahang exco member Shahirudin Ab Moin, who was suspended for two years, and Pandan division deputy head Jamaluddin Ropa who got three years.

Deputy PM Najib Tun Razak then said that the vacancy will not be filled until the next party election in 2007, shutting down any chance of near-time come back by ex-UMNO VP Muhammad Muhd Taib, who garnered the fourth highest vote.

June 26: NST quoted PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying that ACA may step in, which can result in these members even going to jail.

**********************************

Now, I consider that a medium fish is up on the hook, end of story for this chapter. But, how about those remaining fishes yet to be catched? Is this an indication of the commencement of continuous of fishery season or end up like this familiar but fast forgotten of old and mixed fishes? Just a reminder, in case if everyone has disregarded those unknown big fishes.

Either you manage to smell good or bad, let’s applause PM for exercising his prerogative well, at least for this little thing done. If more fishes are to be catched soon, it’ll serve more than a reminder to everyone who were already addicted to those bad practises.

I’m very interested to listen what the party’s disciplinary board chairperson Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail is going to say during a news conference scheduled on tomorrow (Monday). Subsequently, PM will comment and offer his views after that official announcement.

You too, aren’t you?

Scenario I: Dewan Rakyat

I came across this excerpt of Dewan Rakyat on Screenshots, and I can’t help not to blog about this:

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri [Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz]: Ya, duduk, duduk, duduk, duduk, racist, ini Ipoh Barat racist, duduk, duduk.

Duduk, perkauman, perkauman, perkauman, ini perkauman, duduk, cukup…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Perkauman, perkauman, perkauman, saya punya meja…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Perkauman Ipoh Barat, Ipoh Barat perkauman…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Bloody racist, racist, racist, racist [Dengan perasaan yang marah]

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Racist, itu hal-hal racist. Itu perkauman, perkauman, perkauman punya ahli parlimen…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Ipoh Barat, duduk, sudah habis, saya punya meja. You perkauman, duduk, saya punya meja…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Mahu beri 500 India, itu perkauman… [Dewan menjadi gamat dan riuh seketika]

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Duduk, perkauman, you are racist, racist, you are racist, you have got no place in this country. Malaysia tidak endak racist, you are racist…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Racist, baca usul, Ipoh Barat acist, duduk, racist…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Racist, racist duduk, racist duduk. Hei, duduk, perkauman duduk, bloody racist, duduk…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Racist duduk, duduk, perkauman duduk, duduk.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Lim Si Cheng]: Yang Berhormat baca usul kah? Bacakan usul.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Ya, saya baca usul, ya saya baca usul, saya baca usul.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Lim Si Cheng]: Baca, baca sila.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Huh racist, sila duduk racist, ya, racist. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Tuan Yang di-Pertua…

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz: Tarik balik, tarik balik racist, Tuan Yang di-Pertua…

[Source: Screenshots]

OK, till this far, I totally understand how you feel now. But really, if you feel like want to weep now, please hold your tears as I believe that the subsequent scenario will make you cry even HARDER.

*************************************
Scenario II: Cabinet

Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister S. Sothinathan has been suspended at once for 3 months, by none other than PM himself, for critisizing the government over a debate of the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) medical degree. Quote:

“As a member of the government he should not have taken the stand to criticise the government. It is a breach of party discipline.” [...]

On another hand, S. Sothinathan was quoted as saying during the debate:

“We (MIC) are the party in government representing the Indian community…it is our duty to right a wrong when it happened.” [...]

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said the move to suspend Sothinathan for three months was unfair as the deputy minister was only carrying out his responsibilities as a representative of the people. Quote:

“After all he was only speaking up, and it should not be used against him. It should not be a question of just or not just.” [...]

By now, I’m too tired to weep.

Nowadays, I always remain hopeful that, when I wake up the next morning, it must be a better Malaysia to live in, it must be.

Let’s keep our fingers cross.

Just imagine, The World Bank lost the borrowers’ list?

However, this is not the case and things like this will only take place in Malaysia.

The Scenario: PTPTN lost file that contain borrowers’ list.

Short say, LENYAP!

Related Link:
- Screenshots | Good News, Bad News

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June 12: The Star reported that Employees Provident Fund (EPF) had approved a loan of RM1bil to PTPTN. So, please reserve your last enough, especially if you’re being employed now.

Malaysia, welcome to Digital Age!

*********************

UPDATED: A technologist who prefer to remain anonymous, revealed that PTPTN uses Lotus Notes as its database to store the applicant details, where Lotus Notes should be an intranet systems and application platform. However, PTPTN had exposed part of the intranet system to the public when the hoo-haa on the last "late payer" issue. This, if not done correctly, can result in a breakdown as you are exposing an intranet application/system to the public via HTTP, unsecured, unencrypted, totally.

OK, talk is cheap, here’s the proof. Follow the steps:

1) Click here.
2) Right click to view the page source.
3) Lotus-Domino (Release 5.0.4 - June 8, 2000 on Solaris Sparc) appear on the top screen.

In case if you might not get what I mean, please read on:

It’s like a girl, wearing a skirt, but she wanna look sexy, so she wear a shorter one. Altough she look sexy, but if it is not done correctly, then she is going to expose her private part.

I’m not saying that you cannot wear a short skirt, you can, but you must know what you are doing to not expose your private part to the public.

End of story.