A red hot level warning to Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, as reported by BBC.

Newspaper columnist Dina Zaman says some Malaysians are looking to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to take a tougher line.

"They don’t think he’s authoritative enough," she believes.

"You need someone to actually sit down and say, ‘Look you can’t do this, you can’t do that’. And yes, he’s a nice man but with… the crime rate, all these things… it just makes you wonder whether he’s too nice."

Millions of people will doubtless visit Malaysia during 2007 and most will have a very happy time.

But until Malaysia’s bureaucracy wants to make sure they all do, some would-be visitors may be deciding to holiday elsewhere.

A few incidents as quoted by BBC.

First, American Wayne Wright is far from convinced by the promise of Malaysian hospitality and the claim of its tourism slogan that it is truly Asia. Even worse, he branded that as the worst experience in his life.

"Honestly this was probably the worst experience I have had in my life,"

Second, Mr Nam, an ex-US Navy serviceman complained he was treated inhumanely which made him felt like a dog.

"I was treated inhumanely," said Mr Nam. "I felt like a dog, I felt like something worse than a dog."

Third, an American couple were woken at 0200 with threats to break down the door of their rented holiday apartment on Langkawi Island, where they were alleged to be Muslim and insisted to be checked upon by a team of 6 enforcement officers.

"They started yelling, ‘We want to see your woman, we want to see your woman’," an angry Mr Barnhart recalled.

"So I asked Carole, who was just wearing a sarong to stand back 15 feet in the light so they could see that she is a white woman - my wife of 42 years."

Meanwhile, Malaysians may have used to the regrettable and sorry words, however foreigners don’t take that as a valid reason, excuse or explanation as you may love to call it.

The reality is, 4 days into action of VMY 2007 and the campaign was marred by unwanted incidents, which is contradicted with the main purpose of ensuring visitors enjoying themselves so much and have such a good impression of the country that they will keep coming back.

Hears it well, YB Datuk Seri?

Credit must be given to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for the confession, expressing his regret over the transportation woes faced by trainees. However, whatever explanation that had been given, the fact is, nasi sudah jadi bubur.

Malaysia National Service or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) was first proposed in late 2001, brought to committee the next year, and finally brought to action in 2003.

4 years down the road and we’re stucked with what, transportation problem? It’s not even the start of the NS and yet, trainees already have unnecessary hurdles to face.

And the pointing show begins. First, The National Service Training Department Director-general Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said the problem was caused by the failure of some of the bus companies hired to transport the trainees to get temporary permits. Whose problem? Bus companies. But, who appointed them? Who are responsible to ensure things are in order?

Second, National Service Training Council chairman Lee Lam Thye said he is upset with the issue and saying that he could resign, but that would not solve the problem as he wasn’t the one responsible for transportation. He added that his duty was to monitor and strengthen the programme and instill confidence in parents.

Mr. Chairman, you’re damn right, you’re not responsible for transportation but you’re responsibile to monitor and strenghthen the programme, aren’t you? So, if the damn transportation arrangement is not working out well, does that mean you’re neglecting your job in monitoring the programme? If trivial issue like transportation can’t even being worked out properly, how are you going to strengthen the programme? During an interview shown by TV3 nightline (3 January 2007, 12am), didn’t you say that you talk about NS during your breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as dreaming about NS while you’re sleeping? So, can’t you forsee transportation problem since you talk and dream so much about NS?

In the end of the day, machais denied its their faults. So, whose fault? Never mind the fact that someone over the bridge is poking fun at us.

Via The Star:

(SOURCE: The Star, 3 January 2007)

I’ve never realise that, you need to exercise certain discipline such as limit usage of the internet, as part of the exercise to contain the limited bandwidth available(?)

Check only office mail and do not open a browser to surf the Internet unless you have to,” advised MCMC head of communications Adelina Iskandar.

Users might also want to consider cutting back on using Skype and other Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) applications. […]

The use of chat and instant messaging applications should also be disallowed or restricted at the office,

It’s true that the reparing work is currently underway to restore the undersea cables into order, but everyone has their own priorities when comes to the internet usage, isn’t it?

If by all means, as long as Malaysians adhere to cyber laws while staying connected, I guess MCMC wasn’t established to issue a statement to general public on the internet usage, but to provide proper explanation on the cause of the slowdown. That’s about it, especially when most of the Asian countries are affected.

Meanwhile, I’m going to proceed with all means of online communications, online study and research, which are being defined as non-vital to MCMC but quite essential to me.

It was a fruitful holiday runaway to usher 2007 and the best thing is, I was almost disconnected for the past few days, hence no internet no emails and no depressing news to absorb.

By the time , I do realise that, if by all means, numerous occasions shown so far indicate a rocky start for year 2007.

End of 2006, Iraq ex-president Saddam Hussein was executed in a rush, which leaves the world questioning the fairness of his trial.

Next, Thailand’s capital Bangkok was hit by a series of bomb or grenade explosions ahead of ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations which killed three people and injured about 30 others, including at least eight foreigners.

Meanwhile, an Indonesian ferry with at least 600 aboard sank during a stormy night voyage between the islands of Borneo and Java, with hundreds killed. On Jan 1, a 17-year-old Boeing 737-400 Adam Air passenger plane flying from Surabaya to Manado with 96 passengers and six crew aboard crashes on Sulawesi island. No wreckage had been found at the supposed crash site, adding to the distress of relatives of those on board.

If there is the only thing to thrill me at the beginning of 2007, that must be the Made-in-Malaysia AirAsia for a possible low-cost alliance with the UK’s Easyjet and Virgin Group. If the plan to go through, Malaysia stands to benefit with the influx of tourists from Europe continent, hence helps to generate more revenue and boosts the ongoing Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign.

(SOURCE: VMY 2007)

Happy New Year 2007, Happy Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and Happy Golden Jubilee, Malaysia!