[UPDATED VERSION] This morning, I received numerous SMS informing that the petrol price is going to increase as much as 20 cents a litre, as early as tomorrow.

Malay Mail’s Francis Fernandez has a report on this too.

[...] diesel prices might be increased by as much as 10 sen a litre, and that if global fuel prices remain on the steep end, a further increase in petroleum based products might be made in March or April 2006.

It is believed that an announcement on the matter, might be made as early as next week. The retail pump petrol price is currently about RM1.62 per litre. [...]

Another hint at here and here?

As the say goes around, no harm filling up the tank now, but please-lah, don’t fight.

You might not be a minimiser, but there’s nothing wrong in just filling up your tanks before you reach home. One sen saved is one sen earned.

Jam on the road, and yeah, at petrol stations too.

* * *

Maxis SMS alert at 9:45pm.

The gov has no plans to raise petroleum prices in the near future, Minister Shafie Apdal.

Via Bernama:

"If there is any increase, we will make an announcement."

The recent controversy over “forced” burial of a Malaysia Everest mountain climber M. Moorthy in accordance to Islamic rites, in which the decision was disputed by Moorthy’s family, has stir discussion among public.

Earlier, Moorthy’s widow Kaliammal Sinnasamy was seeking to declare that her late husband was a Hindu who practised the Hindu way of life prior to his death and never mention one single word of his purported conversion to her or her relatives. Subsequently, she filed a civil action in the High Court, only to be ruled out later the court will not disturb declaration that Moorthy was a Muslim because the matter was under the jurisdiction of Syariah Court. Only Moorthy’s brother who is also a Muslim convert and the only family member that attend the funeral.

Majority of Malaysian public believes converts have the moral obligation to inform family especially if they were married and had children, where International Movement for a Just World President Dr. Chandra Muzaffar proposed a clause be included in the conversion certificate of the new Muslim that he would undertake to tell the family while Malaysia Human Rights Commission chairman Abu Talib Othman said the civil court should not have avoided the issue by merely ruling that Moorthy conversion to Islam came under the jurisdiction of the Syariah court.

[…] “The civil court should have considered the constitutionality of the amendment to the Federal Constitution, which was presented by the Government and passed by Parliament, and decide whether it is constitutional or not. Because in the matter of constitutionality, the civil court is competent.” […]

Also, the commision does not interfere interfere on matters that have been decided by the courts, however the commission could probe whether human rights principles have been violated in this case, if the family lodge a report with commision.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz too spoke the need for a ‘better way’ to settle Islamic matters affecting non-Muslims and said that when there was a dispute over conversions, the case should be heard in a civil court where all sides can be represented while Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism feels that a subsection of the Federal Constitution should be repealed to make it clear that the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction to hear matters involving non-Muslims.

Politics 101 Malaysia believes the case which started off as a legal wrangle and progressed into a constitutional crisis, needs a political solution while Maobi dedicated a blogwatch on this case.

Malaysia Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang will convene a parliamentary roundtable in Parliament this coming Thursday (5th Jan 2006) on what what Parliament could do to rectify the injustices emanating from Malaysia Federal Constitution Article 121(1A), where non-Muslims have no remedy in any court where their rights have been adversely affected by syariah court decisions.

So far, only the Senators Club has asked media to stop reporting on the controversy.

[Repost of my entry at Global Voices Online]

Funny but true enough.

A 53-years-old on Monarch Airlines was cast away on a remote volcanic island Porto Santo, after abusing crew for being refused with more alcohol and disrupting other travelers aboard a holiday flight from the UK to the Spanish Canary Islands.

I believe this is an unprecedented move in aviation history, however don’t be surprised if other airlines are going to adopt this policy soon, in case if there is any abusive-alike case in the future.

Hmm, don’t say no one prewarn you.

The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC) has appointed Hewlett-Packard’s country general manager Badlisham Ghazali, as its new chief executive officer (CEO) with effect from Jan 16, 2006.

Badlisham, 42, will succeed Mohamed Arif Nun who will complete his three year tenure as CEO of MDC on Dec 31, 2005.

He was the director and country general manager in Malaysia and country general manager of HP Technology Solutions Group (TSG) and more than more than 18 years of experience in the field of technical solutions, marketing, sales and international management having worked at a number of strategic positions at HP.

By 1996, Badlisham had worked his way up to managing director at 33-years-old, HP Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (HPSM)’s youngest ever.

Cool profile, as cool as Idris Jala one?

In remembrance of the Tsunami which took place at Asia Pacific in 2004, bloggers around the world were putting up posts to commemorate the event.

The fact is that, more MPs started to blog, begun to realise that they can engage a wider and younger audience by riding the Internet wave, because younger Malaysians are comfortable online.

However, please don’t expect much unless an unbalanced arena, if you so like.

So far, Backbenchers Club chairman Shahrir Samad is the only Barisan Nasional leader to blog while the remaining "politician-cum-bloggers" are from the DAP camp.

While Shahrir hires someone to update his blog, he spends time reading Mack and MGG Pillai too!

Ah, good idea, isn’t it? :p

Related Link:
- James Wong | Anwar should set up his own blog now

It’s definitely a last minute rush for MyKad, at least for a major portion of the 1.2 million ignorant Malaysians, including this blogger.

However, I was impressed by the efficiency shown by those diligent officers, working round the clock at Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN), as late applicants after the December 31 dateline will be fined an amount which is yet to be finalised.

This morning, I woke up later than expected and a call to the JPN general line at 03-88807000 was promptly picked up, saying that queue numbers final pick-up time is at 1500.

I arrived at around 1030 with an expected long queue and was given a queue number half-an-hour later.

To be frank, I never expect this to be that fast. With 13 counters online, even though it took me about 7 hours before my turn, I’m feeling good with the smooth-sailing process.

Also, no signs of anxiety or impatience among the public too, afterall, one’s has got to blame ownselves for the last-minute rush.

A quick check on the officer who entertained my application shows that total applicants for today itself is around 3000. The woman officer who took my photo was kind too, offered to retake my photo if I wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. In fact, the application part itself only used up less than 10 minutes, however it’s the waiting process that kills. :p

Oh, forgot to mention the part that, the news article on the angry Pak Azmi are pasted everywhere, but heck, who cares anyway?

Splendid evening scenery at Putrajaya, with camera at home. Ah, that must be a curse!

Now, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chairman Munir Majid has retaliated. A police report has been lodged over an e-mail containing several allegations against him.

Event chronology:

Nov 30:

MAS posted a net loss of RM367.7 million for its second quarter (2Q) ended Sept 30, 2005.

Dec 2:

Idris Jala assumes duties as new MAS managing director.

Dec 3:

Prime Minsiter Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government was prepared to support MAS.

Mid-Dec:

E-mail titled "MAS Flying Buffet" dated Nov 28 was made public when several senators mentioned specific allegations contained in it.

Dec 20:

A member of the Senators Club Puad Zarkashi revealed that MAS needs RM3 billion for its operational restructuring as well as to become profitable.

Dec 21:

Deputy Transport Minister Tengku Azlan said the purchase of three painting worth RM1.55 mil by MAS to decorate the chairman’s office was to maintain the status of the place and the money came under MAS’s current expenditure.

Senators Club members disagree with the proposal by MAS to sell its building as one of the way to save the company.

Meanwhile, on allegations of extravagance spending in MAS, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi chose to pass the baton to the new MD.

Dec 22:

MAS chairman Munir Majid was asked to step down by Senators, paving the way for the appointment of a new chairman.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister Department M. Kayeas said the ACA should investigate whether the purchase of the three paintings by the MAS management was carried out in accordance with "proper procedures".

Dec 23:

Munir Majid denied accusations that he he abused his position and frittered away the ailing national carrier’s funds on art instead of trying to reverse its failing fortunes and calling them lies. He had since seeked for legal advice and in the process of taking action against those who had made the accusations and others spreading them. A police report was lodged at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

Meanwhile, police are working with Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC) to trace the origin of the e-mail.

On a side note, to address MAS financial needs, bonds and other instruments may be sold.

Dec 25:

A group of Malay professionals urged Idris Jala be given free hand in turning around the national carrier.

What’s next?

Some who survived returned to countries where they experienced the disaster to see how the area is recovering and to offer special mass prayer. Afterall, it’s a tragic event which will stay long enough in one’s memory.

If you have anything to say on this anniversary, send in your views and experiences at here and here. Pictures of tsunami remembered can be viewed here, here, here, here and here.

Let us pray for the peace and stability we so wish for.

Related Links:
- 5xmom | Recycled post of my experiences during the 2004 tremors/tsunami
- Lucia Lai | tsunami - a year ago
- LWB | Remembering The Asian Tsunami
- Alvin | 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
- Tsunami Disaster in Malaysian and Thailand | A year has passed but we have not forgotten
- My So Called Life | A Year After Tsunami
- Brand New Malaysian | Remembering the Tsunami

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has a clear and simple message to every Malaysians.

The tranquillity seen in Malaysia is a result of the people’s hard work and determination to maintain harmony in its multi-racial society

Wong Chun Wai of The Star once again reminds us the importance of respecting each other beliefs and that everyone reserves the right to profess and practise his religion, which also means the right to carry out observations and practice of the faith.

The policy of the Barisan Nasional Government is clear. So, is our Federal Constitution which states every person has the right to profess and practice his religion, which surely also means the right to carry out the observations and practice of the faith.

The Constitution, as the supreme law of the land, becomes a meaningless document if we do not respect and practise what our forefathers had decided. 

Fortunately, the tolerance and mutual respect among ordinary Malaysians for one another’s faith is still very strong, and this is something we are all proud of. 

The Muslim call to prayer from mosques and suraus is a way of life for all of us. The loud Chinese operas during the Hungry Ghost Festival are not a problem to non-believers and similarly, everyone, including the huge Muslim population near Batu Caves, helps to make the Thaipusam a success every year by cooperating with the organisers. 

Leave it to the ordinary people and race and religion have never been a problem. When selfish politicians step in as self-appointed champions of their faith and their race, they become a problem and sometimes problems are simply imagined to allow them to hold on to their positions.

On this timely Christmas day, I’m halfway through reading the Ousted! by Patrick Keith, which significantly provide me with great perspective in which Malaysia and Singapore parted ways and became two sovereign entities on August 9, 1965.

One realization: The importance of unity can never to be taken for granted and I’m sure, we Malaysians will treasure this precious gift in this joyous day.

Merry Christmas!