Dec 16, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said police will take action against Sungai Siput member of parliament Dr D. Jeyakumar for allegedly using children in Cycling for Change" campaign, organised by Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas or Oppressed People Network in Rawang.

He said Dr Jeyakumar would be taken action under Seksyen 32 of the Act for using children in the gathering as those aged 18 and below are considered children under the Child Act 2001.

[…] We detained them for (taking part in an) illegal procession. Later when we checked their details, 28 were found to be under the age of 18…clearly this violates the Child Act as some are only 15 years old. […]

"As for the children, we have actually saved them from being misused and exploited by irresponsible people… we did not arrest them."

Fast-forwarded to Dec 29.

Some 1500 protesters in Penang from Malaysian Coalition of Malay NGOs called on Malay rulers to revoke the citizenship of Malaysians who dispute Malay special rights and demanded safeguards to their special position as enshrined in the constitution.

Among them are 400 children.

About 50 police personnel, both in uniform and plainclothes, kept a close watch on the gathering.

But how about the 400 children? The police didn’t have to take necessary action to ensure that they’re protected and not being exploited by irresponsible people?

Why didn’t the police disperse the group and take action against them like what happened in rallies held around Klang Valley?

Just curious whether the Selangor police chief and Penang police chief are operating under different set of law?

The children in Selangor needs protection from the police force whereas the children is Penang are self-protected?

Hang on, are we talking about double standard from the police force here?

The ball is now in the IGP Musa Hassan’s court as he owes the entire country a thorough explanation.

Recession?

It doesn’t seem to hit Malaysia as Malaysians are still packing the shopping malls despite fears of a worldwide recession.

Probably Malaysians are resilient lot, hence the shopping spree continues, the Christmas celebration is no less grand than last year, long queue at restaurants, etc.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell more than $3 a barrel or more than 9% to $35.35 per barrel - one of the largest percentage drops ever, despite a record 2.5mil barrels per day cut in production by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which supplies 40 per cent of the world’s oil.

How does this is expected to hit Malaysia? Few might aware that 30-40% of our GDP is fueled by the export of pure commodities such as petroleum, liquefied natural gas, etc.

Now, with the downward pressure on Malaysia exports expected, the Government is going to impose tax if the price of petrol falls below a certain level, in which the rate is yet to be announced to the public as according to the Domestic Trade Minister Shahrir Samad.

The victim? Unfortunately, it’s people like you and me.

It’s essential 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 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!

It’s funny how easy Malaysians can be caught in the wrong limelight for all the wrong reasons.

The latest contention is about what language to use in our schools to teach Science and Mathematics. There’s so much one can say about this hotly debated topic and various quarters who are passionate about the matter are rushing to give their inputs.

Some are saying the policy must remain for the betterment of pupils.

Some are arguing a child learns best, when she understands what she’s hearing, otherwise the learning experience is going to be frustrating, boring and useless.

There are those who seek a compromise, such as teaching in English for only upper primary or secondary and a "to teach his own" approach, where schools are allowed to teach the two subjects in whatever language the parent-teacher association agrees with.

Instead of harping on the what’s right and what’s wrong and what’s yes and what’s not, it’s making more sense if we should be more concerned with what we teach our children instead of what language to use to teach our children. There is this parent who complained that it’s our syllabus is so outdated that it makes no difference whether it is taught in Bahasa or in English or Spanish for that matter!

Naturally, children is the largest victim here when they’re caught in the crossfire of a fight they do not fully understand and suffer in silent.

They know neither politics nor racial quarrels. All they know is that they have to do as they are told. Their opinions are hardly sought. It is only when they grow older that they understand what was at stake, and how it has affected them.

On the other hand, the parents continue to fight over what they think is best for their children and forgetting the fact that students come first under this circumstance.

We need to stop politicizing the education system, and start making it more about what the student needs to succeed.  Rejection of native languages for the subjects is not disrespecting the language or the people. 

In a better world, we would have more individualized learning systems, to maximize the learning potential of each young one, if there is so much fuss about what’s right and what’s wrong, what’s yes and what’s not.

We can surely talk until the cows come home and someone is to prevail as the eventual winner, but the big question is, at whose expense?

His child, her child or your child?

Can you afford to pay the price?

Think about it when our neighboring friends are zooming past us merely seeing donkeys fighting around, nothing much nothing less.

Look, the old man is grumbling.

Authorities managing four of five development corridors have to follow through and “cannot just depend on me to think for them. […]

"I leave it to the respective authorities to think." […]

"I’ve created the opportunity, a very big area for them and given them the money. So start thinking, start looking for investments." […]

In any business entities that I know of out there, as far as performance is concerned, we know for the fact that if the chieftains do not perform up to the expectation in achieving the key performance index (KPI), it’s either they’re being asked to leave, resign gracefully or else, being sacked by the board of directors.

Year in, year out, our Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration can’t stop to bemuse me. Instead of issuing ultimatum to these caretakers of these corridors to live up to his (or rather the Government) expectation, he is grumbling like a disgruntled old man in the public.

Those corridors are established in first place as part of Abdullah’s initiative to help spur the economic by helping to develop potential industries, to help create more employment opportunities as well as to raise the living standard.

I still remember when Iskandar was first announced to the world, Abdullah was proud enough to proclaim the grand plan as his own idea, quickly quashing rumors the plan as an imitation of Tun’s vision 2020, giving a perception that he is trying to leave behind his own legacy.

The next thing we know, tens of billions are poured to kickstart the plan.

Subsequently, the rest of the remaining corridors were announced and again, not surprisingly, another tens of bilions of taxpayers money are allocated for the purpose. All said and done (rolling out) prior to the March 8 general election, where Pak Lah envisions it to be a stepping stone for yet another BN victory.

His dream never come true when BN lost the two-third majority in the parliament, first time ever since independence. Pak Lah was forced out and Najib is expected to take over come March 2009, way earlier than he (Najib) and the rest of us expected.

Now, before we’d like to know what’s going to happen to the corridors in the future, the immediate question to ask is why Pak Lah continues to retain those incompetent, incapable and useless bosses if they can’t even exercise their brain to think properly as claim by Pak Lah openly, let alone managing hundred of billions of taxpayers money?

Why can’t Pak Lah appoint professional managers to take care and help run the corridors like a real business if they (the current bosses) are found to be a liability to him? Instead of appointing politicians, ex-politicians, retiremen, ex-military men and many other who are without proven credentials, why not getting candidates with credibility to take over the helm? Look at MAS under Idris Jala, that’s a good example of how a professional manager can help to manage well. 

Just like any shareholders in public listed companies, we the taxpayers have the right to demand an answer from you, hence I beg you to stop ruining this country and does the right thing before you step down for good, that also provided that your appointed successor Najib Tun Razak is kind enough to continue with the development of these corridors.

Mind you, that’s only the development part I’m talking about here and god knows how our half-past-six mentality is going to drive the implementation phase.

It would be unimaginable what’s the consequence is going to be like when Najib ascends to the power and decides to do another Pak Lah with another "my vision" kind of thing, hence the explanation why our Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) is in such a bad state like it’s now.

It’s not the time to put the Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy behind us, not now and not in the next 15 years.

15 years ago, when one of the Highland Towers condominium collapsed, killing 48 people and government leaders quickly responded with promises to ensure more stringent regulations.

15 years later, in the landslide which killed 4 people with many more injured, politicians continue to put up public stunt with their pretentious look to show how caring they’re towards the victims.

The PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urged all the state governments to consider stopping housing projects on high-risk hillslopes.

"It would be good if the other state governments disallow housing developments in hilly areas. It’s not a loss, it’s for safety," he said.

After so many mishaps and victims, now only we Malaysians have the chance to experience rude awakening and to realize that for you to call for the end of housing development in hilly areas is due to your safety concern.

Thank you Pak Lah, your brilliant point taken!

Next, here comes the DPM Najib Tun Razak who said the government will not allow any development in hilly areas at risk of landslides to avert a recurrence of the mishaps.

"I believe there is no reason to carry out development on hill slopes at risk of landslides. It is better to take preventive measures to avert possible disasters. We have to learn from what has happened today," he said.

Apart from the Highland Towers, more than 10 landslide-related incidents had occurred in the Hulu Klang area as far back as 1985, it’s amazing for him to be fully aware now that it’s better to take preventive measures to avert possible disasters.

Thank you Pak Najib, just like Pak Lah, another brilliant point from you taken!

Now, let’s listen to a few firsthand accounts from a few survivors who have had tragic experience in the Highland Towers tragedy. Among them are Dr Benjamin George and former DPM Tun Musa Hitam.

Dr Benjamin George believes that landslides will never end because the authorities do not have the will to stop it.

The politicians will climb up their helicopters and say all development must stop.

There will be a stop-work order for two months but in the third month the tractors will start work again.

I have survived long enough to see all this nonsense repeated. […]

As for the former DPM, he is very disappointed that nobody seems to have learnt from the Highland Towers tragedy.

"So many years have since passed and today there are incidents like this happening again, causing death (as well). It’s very unpleasant memory, so sad. I personally experienced it. It has been hoped that whoever was guilty must be punished," he said.

His son and daughter-in-law were among the 48 killed in the unfortunate incident.

Now, after the finger-pointing and the delusions of pretentious sorrow and "I’m so sorry look" shown by those politicians who directly and indirectly played a role in these tragedies, what’s next?

Are we going to experience the recurrence of another disaster 3 months down the road after this latest tragedy, with tractors going to be seen working on another new hillside development?

Are we going to experience the similar wrath from the politicians 15 years down the road with the recurrence of the similar unfortunate incident, succumbing to the usual finger pointing games, review this and that, no permit for this and that, blame this and that, so on and so forth?

Now, a true Malaysian like Patrick Teoh, who truly understands how the typical Malaysia government works and having seen enough of delusions of pretentious sorrow display from those in power, feeling upset and painfully aware that the infamous remarks from the infamous duo liken to putting salt on the wound without any sincere and determined action.

Now as a Malaysian I should be used to politicians talking cock each time there is a disaster and lives lost. But this time what I saw and heard was just too much to bear. If I had been at the press conferences I would have spat in the faces of these two insensitive, idiotic, infuriating morons. Malaysians have lost loved ones, are traumatised and have an uncertain future facing them and all these 2 fuckers can come up with is a load of political-speak. Of course, the studies will be launched. Task forces will be set up. Reviews will be done. As they have been done before. And a lot of fucking good these have done. Nobody even remembers them. And listening to the 2 of them I could already hear the insincerity of the statements made.

Now you be the judge.

This is an entry about jealousy, a conspiracy of jealousy as alleged by the Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

In the end of the day, I leave it to your own conscience to rate this guy, in which his performance has been criticized from both the internal and external circles.

Interestingly, when he was asked about his performance as well as rumors about his possible replacement, most of the time he will thrust himself into a very defensive style, alleging that some quarters are jealous of his quick rise in the political arena, hence the allegation in first place.

Prior to this, his performance was openly criticized by his party boss Anwar Ibrahim who reminded him to buck up in his capacity as the DCM and Penanti assemblyman.

Lately rumors are rife that Fairus had fallen out with Anwar and intended to resign his government post and the Penang CM Lim Guan Eng is going to announce a state exco reshuffle, with Fairus set to be replaced.

Now, let’s look at the multiple time-line where he never cease to boost his "quick rise" while condemning the rest for being jealous of his achievement.

Case #1 - October 26

Fairus warned his adversaries, whom he claimed are jealous of his quick political rise, that they were miscalculating if they thought he is lembik (soft) person.

Case #2 -September 2

Fairus instead blamed Umno members for making the allegations.

He said: "I believe the allegations were created by Umno members who are jealous of me as I am the youngest deputy chief minister in Penang history."

Case #3 - November 20

Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has lashed out at certain quarters who he said were jealous of him and were after his position.

Case #4 - December 1

"Since day one of my appointment, certain quarters have been trying to pull me down. I am the youngest DCM in the history of Malaysian politics so of course there is jealousy."

Case #5 - December 6

“Being the youngest Deputy Chief Minister in history, there is bound to be envy and jealousy from all quarters."

In all cases highlighted above, jealousy continues to pop up from his mouth, which is a bit irritating to a certain extent.

I’d strongly recommend him to shut up, stops the finger pointing game, forgets about any political ploy and starts to work double hard to salvage his reputation.

After all, I for one is neither feeling jealous nor envy towards his little achievement, if there is any. In politics, perception is the key and sorry to say, it’s about everything that matters as far as politics is concern.

Not only you must do the right thing, you must be seen as doing the right too.

It needs to be both, not one or another.

That’s the reality.

If Fairus is not up to the challenge, it’s conducive for him to cut short his political career (no matter how young and how successful he is as claim), dismissing himself from the lineup and don’t stand in the way of other high calibre candidate to assist Guan Eng to propel the state and the people to greater heights.

That’s my advice to you, Mr. Jealous before you’re fired by Donald Trump like yet-another apprentice.

Some parting shots from Zaid Ibrahim, who was sacked from Umno yesterday for not being able to accept his open-minded approaches and views.

"Umno leaders like Nazri, Muhyiddin, Mat Taib (Muhammad) and others always made fun of me and said all sort of things. I think they should concentrate on doing their work and resolve the country’s problems.

"Like they said, since I am a nobody, there is no need for them to belittle me all the time, focus on your work,"

Zaid probably missed out Azalina from the list.

The Star’s SMS alert at 5:56pm.

Govt has cut petrol prices by another 10 sen, bringing pump prices down to RM1.90 per litre, with RON95 and diesel at RM1.80 effective midnight.

The Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a statement released this afternoon said the government has again made a decision to reduce retail prices so that the public can benefit.

The DPM Najib Tun Razak, who is slated for the top role as soon as the PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down, is working hard to impress the police force.

"Based on the statistics given by the police, it indicates that the crime rate in Malaysia is lower than Japan and Hong Kong. […]

"It is also just slightly higher than Singapore to the basis of per hundred thousand of population… but the perception of the public is not the case,"

This is classical. If perception is what matters in this issue, it must be me at the wrong end of accepting the wrong signal from the public as well as the media on the crime woes in this country.

A few weeks ago, my friend was slashed to near death right at the front of his house and robbers got away with his car. Subsequently, his parents lodged a police report, to be told that it’s a "common issue" and there is nothing much they can do as most robbers, according to them, look alike.

Subsequently, in fear of his own security, his family decided to move away from the area for fear the robbers will go back to him or his family for retaliation.

Last week, when I was in a clinic, a middle-aged men rushed into a clinic with blood all over his head, when I was told later by the doctor that the guy was robbed around the area.

Now, 2 days ago, a contact put up a status on her MSN: "My house was burglarized last night".

Put aside the incidents above, Najib might be right to say that it’s the perception stir by these people that indirectly instilled fear in us, hence the bad perception about the crime level in this country.

However, when you continuously read about the crime cases and being told what’s happening and experienced by your circle of friends, something is amiss here. Top gun like Najib and his gangs are maneuvering the nation with bodyguards around him, with police escorts giving way to him and what’s not available to average joe like us, hence it’s not surprising for him to utter such a remark.

But it’s too irresponsible for him to write off the issue when he doesn’t try to really understand the public concern, especially for the fact that he is going to be the next PM soon (if things go on as planned).

The last thing this nation needs is an ignorant PM who merely listen to the 4th floor officers or being convinced by the colorful charts and numbers prepared to please the master, generally speaking. If Najib is not taking this seriously, I’m afraid his ignorant attitude is going to bring joy to the thugs, gangsters, robbers, burglars and what’s not out there.