[UPDATED VERSION] Unprecedented in Malaysia political history ever since we gained our independence in 1957.

Former Bandar Tun Razak Umno secretary Zaharin Yassin was expelled from Umno, for criticising the party leadership in his blog entitled "Sang Kelembai", a pro-Mahathir’s blog started since January 2006.

"The Management Committee tabled the case and the MT unanimously decided that he be expelled," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reportes after the Umno MT meeting, saying it’s a unanimous decision made by the Supreme Council.

So, what’s the message Umno trying to deliver? It’s NOT ok for Umno members to critisize externally? Or plainly because Sang Kelembai is an Umno member who is also a pro-Mahathir’s blogger?

Perhaps it’s a sin to critisize the GREAT afterall?

Meanwhile, according to a report by Malaysiakini, Zaharin lambasted the PM following his expulsion and vowed to work towards ousting the Umno’s president.

"I accept the sacking and consider it a blessing which will stop me from supporting an organisation led by a president whom I feel is inclined towards ‘munafik’ (hypocritical) traits.

"The sacking will free me from the binds of the new Umno constitution which throttles the space to criticise and reprimand leaders, an action which is against the principles of Islam Hadhari.

"My sacking proves that the Umno leadership cannot be criticised … (and) as to criticising the prime minister, it is regarded as a big sin in the party." […]

"The sacking will open up more space for me to write and attend whatever functions to expose the lies of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," he said.

"I am committed to ensuring that he resigns or is ousted as prime minister in a democratic way in the coming elections." […]

Api kecil-kecil menjadi kawan, apabila besar menjadi lawan.

Recently, Tourism Deputy Minister Donald Lim lead a delegation to Hong Kong, meeting up with Malaysia top billionaire Robert Kuok Hock Nien.

Kuok, 83, may have lived in Hong Kong for decades but he is still very much a Malaysian at heart, especially when it comes to promoting his homeland Malaysia. While he prays and hopes the country will get better, he reminded Malaysians to conduct business in honest and hard way.

"Business is always hard work. Many people think they can make money with the Government’s help. […]

"You have to do business the proper way. Never bribe anyone. Money can be made slowly," he said.

Wannabee out there, get it loud and clear?

Nowadays, even Ah Longs also know how to remain competitive!

(SOURCE: The Star, 28 September 2006)

Interest dropped from 30% to 5%!

Festive seasons are supposed to be a joyious time for all. However, unfortunately, quite a small number of them must end up celebrating it in sombre mood, due to self-recklessness. In this case, it’s all about "self-made firecrackers".

(SOURCE: The Star, 27 September 2006)

Since 1991, firecrackers and fireworks are banned by the government, includes its manufacture, import, sale, purchase, possession and use. However, self-made firecrackers are still pervasive, with carbide normally used as the main explosive content.

Due to that, injuries caused by homemade firecrackers were reported every year during pre-season celebration. As the kids are still young at age, the question is, is now the time for severe punishment to be meted out against parents for negligence in discharging their responsibilities?

It’s not the first time and it’s definitely not going to be the last time that we’re going to listen to such injuries reports. It’s time to make someone accountable for that, once and for all.

The government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is in discussion with local internet providers and industry players on the setting up of the country’s own Internet Exchange, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik said.

"I have made up my mind and you know when I make up my mind I push for it. This is what I am going to do with the internet exchange. The internet exchange must be independent of any telecommunications company or internet provider…it must not be controlled by a single party. This will avoid monopoly." […]

"The internet exchange can be run by a consortium of companies…do not force me to make a ministerial declaration for the industry to set up the exchange. We have given them (industry) all the necessary explanation and now it is up to them to execute."

An Internet exchange primarily functions as a point for networks to interconnect directly rather than through a third- party network. With an Internet exchange, however, Keng Yaik said cost to the consumer would be reduced while bandwidth speed increased.

Malaysian Internet exchange was introduced three years ago but failed to take off when the main players TM Net Sdn Bhd and Jaring failed to work together.

Currently, Malaysia Internet users surfing Malaysia-based websites are routed via hosted servers located in Singapore or even the United States, as they have more international telecommunication cables and operating costs are cheaper, subsequently caused the foreign outflow of the ringgit.

I can’t imagine I read this.

An error, supposedly made by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), has given Perak RM795mil more to spend for Ninth Malaysia Plan projects. 

Mentri Besar Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the EPU had allocated the money for a double track project that had been scrapped. 

“Maybe, they have made a mistake,” he told a gathering at Batu Kurau, near here, when opening a village community hall yesterday. 

He said there was an earlier plan to construct a double rail track from Changkat Jering, near here, to Padang Rengas, near Kuala Kangsar. However, this plan was scrapped. 

The money that the EPU has allotted would now be used for other purposes.

RM795 mil or in real figure, it’s RM795,000,000.00.

You might be one of them who had "contributed" this big present to Perak, thanks to the brilliant Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

A time of reflection,
A time of prayer,
A time of devotion,
A time of remembrance,
Wishing peace and prosperity to all my Muslim friends and readers with Ramadan wishes.

"Arrogant and disrespectful," Tun Mahathir Mohamad slammed Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for his insulting remarks about Malaysian and Indonesia’s treatment of the Chinese community.

Last Friday, Kuan Yew said the attitude of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore was shaped by the way they treat their own ethnic Chinese minorities.

"Our neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful. They are hardworking and therefore they are systemically marginalised," he said.

Indonesia and Malaysia "want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese — compliant", Lee said.

In which, by responding to his statement, Mahathir told Kuan Yew not to feel smug about what he had said.

"You should just guard your own rice bowl. You are not that clever. In a small group, perhaps you seem clever.

"But when he goes to China, the Chinese there don’t want to listen to him. The Chinese in China don’t think much of him and it is a fact that he is marginalised by Chinese in the world," he said.

He thought he is clever, by taking cheapshots towards Malaysian Chinese and putting the whole community into the wrong limelight.

However, he might have missed the point that, the truth is he himself who made his people more compliant than ever, if he so wished to meddle into our affair. "What the Government says is right" and "follow the Government instruction is right" attitude are the result of ideology instilled by no other than him.

End of the day, the lesson we must grasp from this fiasco is, put aside the arrogant and disrespectful remark, if we ourselves aren’t showing that kind of unity within us, sometimes you just can’t blame others for taking chance on us.

Afterall, we’re who and what we’re, aren’t we?

A friendly reminder from Energy, Water and Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik.

(SOURCE: The Star, 22 September 2006)

He said current laws were enough to check on bloggers and refuted suggestions that his ministry is drafting a rules to block bloggers.

Remember the hype of internet control? Remember Fu Ah Kiow?

Let’s go straight to the point.

I was at Masjid Jamek’s Putra LRT at about 1pm. There are 4 manual ticket selling counters, however only one is operating. The queue was so long until it reached the staircase, where some were seen lining up on the staircase itself.

On the other side, there are 2 long queues at the automatic ticket vendering counter, which means out of the 4 automatic counters, only 2 are working and the remaining are not functioning, apparently. 2 staff were seen attending to the travellers without syiling, serving as coins exchangers. (For your information, the machine only accept ONE notes, the remaining of the balance has to be settled using coins!)

Now, here comes what I’ve observed based on my past 2 years ad-hoc experience of using the LRT service. Previously, 4 manual ticket selling counters were fully operational during peak hours and the 4 automatic ticket vendering counters were left unattended by users most of the time. Why? As I mentioned earlier, the machine only accept ONE notes, the remaining of the balance has to be settled using coins!

Out of a sudden, probably the Rapid KL realized it’s time to encourage the usage of automatic vendering machines, 3 of the manual ticket selling counters were shut down. Staff who were previously based at counters were designated to serve as coins exchangers at automatic vendering counters. The outcome? Chaos.

I manage to have a quick chat with a ticket validation’s guard at the entrance and quicky asked for whereabouts of the station manager. Surprisingly, he seems to know what I was having in my mind and pointed me to the call center number (1800-388-288) on a banner, saying that they themselves have complained to the Rapid KL management over the continuous long queue however to be left ignored.

Feeling compelled to address the situation from a user point of view, I lodged a complaint, together with my name and phone number provided in case if they need me to relate my first hand experience. I requested the decision makers to catch a glimpse on what’s happening on the ground and attended to the customers’ grouses, if they’re sincere in their effort in improving the user experience and service rendered.

Also, in order to encourage the usage of automatic ticket vendering machines, the system must be replaced with flexible working machines which are able to suck more than ONE notes similar to those vendering machines in major shopping complexes, as notes contains higher value and it’s convenience to carry compared to coins.

The planning and design of the payment system is a huge let down at first place, however to introduce fire fighting solution (e.g. putting staff at vendering counters to serve as coins exchangers!) is absolutely NOT a long term measure which Rapid KL would like to practice. Face the brutal reality, replace them!

Hong Kong provides one of the best light rapid transit system in this world, however Singapore’s MRT and LRT services are up to the mark too. The rest, it’s all up to the Rapid KL’s management.