At long last...the parents of those jobless graduates understand why their graduated children could not get reasonably employed as per their qualification and discipline of studies. It is mainly because the old folks just refused to retire at 55!! This definitely deprived the younger generation of Malaysians to takeover the management of the country.......

The private sector can employ a worker until he is 70 under a proposed law that mandates a minimum retirement age of 60, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said today.

By G. Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — The private sector can employ a worker until he is 70 under a proposed law that mandates a minimum retirement age of 60, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said today.

Its executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said the new law will raise the current retirement age from 55 but would still allow qualified employees to continue working according to their contracts.

“The new law only sets a mandatory limit of 60 but if there are those who can work until 65 or 70, they can based on the availability and needs of employees and employers respectively,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.

He said the proposed Private Sector Retirement Age Act would bring Malaysia up to speed with other markets in the region which have already set the retirement age at 60.

“The private sector has used this age (55) since independence. Then, the life expectancy was only about 50 years but now it has reached 73 to 74.

We need to use experienced human resource,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider understands that only a few workers currently continue until 65 or 70.

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has also welcomed the government’s move to extend the private sector retirement age.

Its chief executive Tan Sri Azlan Zainol wants the law to be tabled at next month’s parliamentary sitting.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that the government was drafting a law to raise the minimum retirement age to 60 with an option to extend for a further four years.

Comments (9)...

written by Free 2 Live, September 27, 2011 19:49:45

Employee is welcome to work longer if they choose to. However, If the EPF withdrawal age is forced to move from 55 to something higher, then I believe somebody is using our money and EPF is bankrupt! ..

written by Continue-corrupting Heads of Departments, September 27, 2011 18:00:06

This is good news to those hold positions of power in departments, institutions, agencies and GLCs. A few more years of opportunity to corrupt, steal, plunder the allocations of funds through dubious dealings in tenders contracts and kick-backs that are happening so openly in all these government places.



No wonder they still ask for extension of service after retirement age is up so as to continue corrupting, just like their BN leaders never want to step down, with the motive solely to suck out and pocket from the government allocation funds. Though they, as government servants, may not get a million but hundred of thousands can be taken from kickback for each contact awarded to their own cronies. But they easily became millionaires even before they retire finally.

See, it's good news for these corrupted heads of departments! written by Simple Employee, September 27, 2011 16:39:36

EPF withdrawals MUST remain at 55. Any attempt to amend this ruling is a NO NO DEAL!!! ..

written by F A Long, September 27, 2011 15:47:11

Shotcut to early retirement - MKT ??? ..

written by arazak, September 27, 2011 14:22:18

Yeah right. . ., we will also believe you if you said that Big Fat Mama is still a virgin when she married you! ..

written by Short man, September 27, 2011 14:16:10

As an employee , as long as I am healthy and willing to work , I am certain I could be employed on a contract basis , even if I am well above 55-yr old.

As an employer , as long as my employee is healthy and willing to work , I will definitely want him/her to continue to work for me .

As long as I could withdraw all my EPF money when I am 55-yr old and continue to contribute my EPF if I am being employed .This is an arm length mutual benefit to the employee and employer.

So what is the fuss ! After all the private sector is not a welfare department , whereby they could dish out money like the GOM at the expense of the tax payers

There are far too many laws in this country already ! ...

written by Littlebird, September 27, 2011 13:38:57

Like it or not - I have to work till my last breath. ...

written by Up Yours!, September 27, 2011 13:14:02

Sounds more like EPF not having enough money for withdrawals on 55? ...

written by Revolution, September 27, 2011 13:08:16

The private sector has used this age (55) since independence. Then, the life expectancy was only about 50 years but now it has reached 73 to 74.

Give retirement at 55 while people dies at 50 ...Like that they were sure you die before you get retire ... So now , should be 80 ?

What we Malaysians want to know is how in the world this “Shy-fool” managed to get an appointment with PM? Further, “nak liwat bontot lembu pon susah...ini kan pulak punggong manusia yang berbadan tegap dan besar??” Lu piker sendiri le rakyat Malaysia!!! Tak payah nak membazir jutaan wang rakyat kat mahkamah......

(FMT) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak admitted meeting Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan two days prior to the latter being allegedly sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim.

However, Najib said he had no knowledge of the June 26, 2008 (alleged sodomy) incident and therefore could not provide any information or relevant evidence on issues raised by the defence in the ongoing Sodomy II trial.

This was stated by Najib in his affidavit to support his application to set aside the subpeona compelling him to testify in the trial. His application would be heard on Thursday.

He also stated that prior to or after June 24, 2008, he never met the complainant, instructed anyone or conspirated with any individual to incriminate Anwar.

“I categorically deny any notion that my wife and I conspired in “mereka-rekakan ataupun mengada-adakan” anything which were very detrimental to the respondent (Anwar),” he said.

The affidavit, affirmed on Sept 23, also stated that Saiful only informed Najib of alleged sodomy incidents which took place prior to the June 26 incident. The prime miniser said he had advised Saiful to let the police investigate the matter.

Najib urged the court to set aside the subpeona on the ground that he strongly believes that the intention (to get him to testify) of the respondent (Anwar) was not in good faith.

According to the premier, it was just an attempt to abuse the process of the court.

Rosmah: I’m not a relevant witness

Meaawhile, Rosmah in her affidavit stated that she had never met or spoke with the complainant, and like her husband, denied involvement in any conspiracy against Anwar.

“I’m not a relevent witness in this trial, therefore the subpeona against me should be set aside,” read the affidavit.

Comments (37)...

written by R.Prem Kumar, September 27, 2011 20:03:05

Remember when 1 BN Frog jumped into Perak PKR arena & then 3 Frogs plus earlier Frog jumped out to oust the State Govt? Having secured the required amphibians, Najib then had audience wth Ruler who consented to new state govt. Then Najib with victory most foul reflected in body lingo announced with pink lip smacking gusto formation of BN State govt? Why, even then Najib had nothing to do wth all dat transpired, right? Hey Najib bro, u aroused the ire of those who voted in a govt of change. Now, with v r expected to believe SaiFool expected despite his poor scholarly record, to a scholarship? He wasted his PTPTN for what? V all know & understand how Ros the Flower Lady of M'sia conspired with u on this filthy episode & subsequent sexcapades video graphic of DSAI. Of cos why wld u want to face up to any questioning ìn court. Bro, this time its no longer wresting a state; its denying us the pleasure to kick ur ass out of Putrajaya. This time v wont ask the security perimeter fencing guards for permission to land a couple of good ones on ur buttocks & FLOM's buttox. ...

written by Shameless and immoral PM, September 27, 2011 19:28:32

Prime SInister Najib C4 is a shameless and immoral Leader of the country...

Najib has not a bit of shame and conscience to start off with....
Just go to the courts and be 'oiled' by Karpar Singh....do not act like a Girl and hide behing all your corrupted/greedy kangaroo judges, courts and AG chambers, Prosecutors..

Najib is a National shame and disgrace to the Office of the PMO......and to the who;e country and world..

Just kick this Toxic /unethical UMno-BN regime beasts /crooks led by Satan Dr. Evil mahthir and MafiaKing Najib and gangs !!!...



Najib and Mahthief strill think that the whole country and people bvelong to them ???Wake them up and hang them to death for looting, stealing, mus-use of powers and even for murders !!! ...

written by MK, September 27, 2011 18:42:01

PM Sir,

I have a serve financial problem. Could I just drive to Sri Perdana this weekend to met you. What is the password that I need to say to the gurds to be allowed in. Oh I know the password " Annuar" ...

written by bumiputar, September 27, 2011 17:59:33

wait, where all the luchio c***i c**k talking fellows?? quiet like F**king mouse. ...

written by Pro arte, September 27, 2011 17:17:10

Najib tells Saiful to go to the Police whatever for? We need to find out. Najib has to come to court to explain. Was Saiful applying for a scholarship to join the police force or was it related to his complaint to Najib that he was a victim of sodomy? If a rape victim has been advised to make a police report about the repeated abuse, one would be hard pressed to explain why the rape victim would go to the rapist to get raped again. Only 2 conclusions can be made. It was consensual sex and part of a police conspiracy to frame Anwar. In this scenario it could not be deemed to be rape and hence the charges are wrong. On the account alone, any conviction would be unsafe and hence Anwar should be acquitted. The other conclusion is that that this is a high level conspiracy involving Najib and that sodomy did not take place at all. Either way Anwar must be acquitted. ..

written by Kadi, September 27, 2011 16:57:32

The "sumpah" will become "sumpah-sumpah" Can they be denied...? Yes... coz, Jibby are fond of "sumpah-sumpah" ...

written by muttalif, September 27, 2011 16:39:28

Najib and Kak Ros will be attending the court case just to please the rakyat. Maklumlah nak ambil hati rakyat. PRU 13 is just around the corner ...

written by kancil, September 27, 2011 15:44:22

Only illiterate people will believe in them. Met Saiful 2 days prior to the alleged crime? For what??? Saiful came to let him sodomise him first so that the third dna was inside his rectum??? Rosmah not relevant witness??? Rosmah you better remember your root of javanese whom came to this land using my late great grandfather boat as a farmer in Gerisik Bukit Gambir Muar just like Musa Hassan and Tahrir Shamsuddin Johor Mufti.Dont imagine that you are from aristocrat family. ...

written by Rengan, September 27, 2011 15:38:36

ANWAR=ANUAR NO WORRIED ANAK RAZAK ..

written by Pegasus, September 27, 2011 15:35:26

Never trust a serpent with fork tongue! ...

written by F A Long, September 27, 2011 15:34:08

Just go to the court and answer as man. As a Muslim. God will be with you. ...

written by bruni, September 27, 2011 15:32:59

Mr PM. What I want to know is how in the world this saiful managed to get an appointment with PM? What is the protocol that he has gone thru? Is it just go and stand in front of the gate and tell the security guard that 'saya di liwat..jadi nak jumpa PM' will do? or 'Pakcik Guard, saya nak mohon biasiswa, jadi nak jumpa PM' then the guard says 'ok boleh masuk'. ...

written by arh, September 27, 2011 15:29:30

Lying to people is nothing when you can even lie to God by using the Quran to utter your sumpah.

He sumpah he didnt know Saiful

He sumpah he didnt know Altatunya

He sumpah he didnt know Ziana Zain

He sumpah money received from submarine purchase was not bribe but commission

He sumpah that Rosmah's pussy smells sweeter and more tasty than that of his ex-wife

Aayaaa...with so many sumpah even God gets confused and needs time to sort things out before deciding on the most appripriate action to take on Najib. We hope and pray that almighty God would

not stamp NFA on Najib's file. ..

written by gurjit, September 27, 2011 15:26:49

Sure we believe you.You are our most be.....deviled pm!No guts to face the LION of Courts?SHAME SHAME ...

written by promotheus, September 27, 2011 15:23:51

Carefully read Najib's statement: 'I categorically deny my wife and I...' Note Najib's repudiation of a JOINT conspiracy. He does not deny a personal conspiracy. Neat. ...

written by 1Najis, September 27, 2011 15:23:17

Leave this poor bastard Najis alone! Can't you all see attending court scare the shit out of him? There're too many lies in his shithead, he can't even talk straight and might got them mixed up in court.

As for RoastPorky, the only way to get her to court is to ask her to talk about her handbags. There is nothing else much really in her fatty brain, maybe just one or two about what she just eat...

written by AntiAPCO, September 27, 2011 15:07:01

Whatever happened to "Saya tidak takut pada Anwar!!"
And also... "Saya tahu banyak cerita Anwar, kalau saya cerita nanti dia DEMAM!"
Now... sapa takut and sapa demam?? ...

written by LMa, September 27, 2011 15:03:13

It shows Najib is very frightened. He could have answered all what he had stated in his affidavit during the examination in chief by Anwar's lawyer later.

I think there are a lot more things that he had asked Siful to do other than meeting Siful. The evidence clearly shows Siful's own sperm was found in his arse. Siful must have been counselled and advised to do such an abnormal thing. Why..Siful complained to the Pushrawi Dr that he had been sodomised by a plastic object. This must be the instrument to plant the semen, I suppose. ...

written by Bourne, September 27, 2011 15:01:10

How can Najib not be relevant as a witness. He met the Plaintiff, did he not? Anyway, affidavits are signed by individuals. Why is he speaking on behalf of his wife? Guilty as charged ...

written by Havoc, September 27, 2011 14:55:52

F**k it and go to court and get grilled by Anwar's lawyers. Then we will see some light at end of the tunnel. As far we Malaysians are concerned, we don't thrust Najis and fat mama. Both even say they don't know the miss from Mongolia. Ha! Ha. Mr. Kapal Singh waiting to grille both of you. Bai, main dia punyai belakang nanti. Najis when you speak you have very suspicious eyes. We don't believe in you anymore. F**k off UMNO and BN for good. ..

written by Fart Fart Wah, September 27, 2011 14:55:00

How did Saifool have a permit to enter through the backdoor....?? was he passed around in UMNO until he reached your backdoorstep?? CAn I just come and knock at your door too?? ..

written by nocha libre, September 27, 2011 14:43:44

Dear friends, read this snippet carefully.....
“I categorically deny any notion that my wife and I conspired in “mereka-rekakan ataupun mengada-adakan” anything which were very detrimental to the respondent (Anwar),” he said.
It's clear evident that NAJIS is drop dead frightened of " BUTT OX "... oops.....i mean BUTOX mama as even now he mentions " that my wife & I ...".

Get a life lah .... The entire world is laughing their ASS out at us.......

written by Rengan, September 27, 2011 14:24:51

Najib lost his balls and Rosmah shrink her gender in,just a snail hiding int it,s shell. ..

written by whereweheadto, September 27, 2011 14:16:07

You may fool the court but the public whose perception on you is down the bottom. ..

written by Poyolahkau, September 27, 2011 14:03:03

Yeah, right Najib, you are innocent. And Santa Claus exists too. ...

written by Watsasadday, September 27, 2011 14:02:42

Wow! I believe u like I believe pigs can fly.
Roast-ma baby can I see y tonight? I like to complain I got erectable defunction due to your nazib BS.

I know your door are always open to us. ...

written by Bullshit, September 27, 2011 14:01:53

Why are you afraid? No balls / bini ..

written by Vendetta 88, September 27, 2011 14:00:41

Talk is cheap. Any Ali, Muttu and AhChong can say whatever they like in public domain......just appear in court and tell all, show all if you have nothing to hide. ...

written by gotaneyedea, September 27, 2011 13:42:36

would it be different if his statement had read "I categorically deny any notion that NEITHER my wife OR (instead of 'and') I conspired in “mereka-rekakan ataupun mengada-adakan”? ..

written by Najib's fan, September 27, 2011 13:40:04

That;s fantastic, Najib!
I believe you!

Now go to Court and demolish Anwar with your testimony. Make him crumble like a ragged old man in Court before you. Make him come crawling and sobbing to your feet. Then you, in your benevolent self, help him up and console him. Show this scene all across Malaysian and the world!

WoW!!! You will singlehandedly send Pakatan Rakyat to stone-age and your political enemies will become your lap-dog.

The rakyat will worship you because of your graciousness in victory and will pray for your well-being. They will chant you name as you walk past.
Well, wouldn't you love that?

Now, quickly go to Court and show them your greatness!!! ..

written by LANLAH, September 27, 2011 13:39:51

NAJIB N ROSMAH KENA PEGI COURT UNTUK EXPLAIN PERKARA TERSEBUT BUKANNYA MELALUI AFFIDAVIT. GOOD LUCK BIK MAMA. ...

written by mangchik, September 27, 2011 13:39:10

U lied the first time then u backtracked n u call yourself PM? Wow....

written by Fed-up, September 27, 2011 13:35:28

What for give afidavit? Go to court and explain lah. You have accussed Anwar of defending himslef from te dock. Now you are dead scare to come to the courts. You can say what you want, but the facts are that you met Saiful, whom you said is a nobody, a few days before the alleged sodomy took place. Everybody smells rat but you are trying to deny that. Pathetic sungguh... ...

written by malaysianforever, September 27, 2011 13:13:59

No need to give reasons. We know that both of them are real cowards. The mlae has lost his deflated balls. The FIRST COWARDS OF MALAYSIA!!! ..

written by bumiputar, September 27, 2011 13:13:53

oh..sure....dear pm, i need scholarship for pdh of sodomy study, would u care to support full fees? ...

written by Revolution, September 27, 2011 13:11:34

Najib is not conspiring against Anwar only . He and his Umno gang are conspiring against Malaysia .... ..

written by MIKE CHONG, September 27, 2011 13:08:50

Najib we need no explainations from you and Rosmah just attend the court hearing. Good luck.

"I don't know if that extraordinary man, the Kelantan menteri besar (Nik Aziz Nik Mat), is a Mutazilite or an Asharite......” - Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia

Harakah Daily) - A top Catholic bishop has thrown his support for the implementation of the Islamic criminal laws stipulating deterrent punishment on serious crimes, or hudud, in Kelantan, provided non-Muslims were given "a cast-iron guarantee that it will not be implemented on us".

In comments on the issue sparked by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's challenge to Kelantan Menteri Besar Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, said it was wise for non-Muslims not to oppose such laws among Muslims "if they so desire".

“I say it's time to allow Muslims in Kelantan, if they so desire, to implement shariah only for them and with that the hudud enactments provided non-Muslims are exempt from its implementation,” online news portal Malaysiakini quoted Dr Paul, also the titular head of Catholics in the Melaka-Johor diocese, as saying.

His comments come in the wake of a statement by Mahathir that Nik Aziz should implement hudud in Kelantan now that the former was no longer the prime minister who had once sent a letter warning the PAS-led state against any attempt to introduce the Islamic laws.

In response, Nik Aziz said a prime ministerial decree would not expire with Mahathir's resignation, and called on the current PM Najib Razak to revoke the Federal government's earlier stance on the issue.

'Extraordinary man'

Giving his views, Dr Paul said the issue had to do with the debate between two different Islamic schools of theology, the 'rationalists' or Mu'tazilites, and the 'traditionalists', or Ash'arites.

"I don't know if that extraordinary man, the Kelantan menteri besar (Nik Aziz Nik Mat), is a Mutazilite or an Asharite. Sometimes he sounds like a Mu'tazilite, sometimes like an Ash'arite," said Dr Paul, who added that such an ambiguity was "a good thing".

"It shows he is not dogmatic. I say let him and all who hold with him have their way so long as non-Muslims have iron-clad guarantees of their exemption. I am in favour of Kelantan Muslims having hudud implemented for them only," the portal quoted him.

Prior to this, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (left) said he was personally in favour of hudud laws being introduced in Kelantan as it would ensure justice.

Earlier, the issue, regarded as highly contentious and which in the past created rifts between DAP and PAS, has instead laid bare cracks between MCA and UMNO.

MCA president Chua Soi Lek said the Chinese-based party would leave the Barisan Nasional coalition if UMNO supported hudud laws. This was in response to UMNO deputy president Muhyiddin Yasin's cautioned comments on Kelantan's long-fought battle with the Federal government over hudud, saying he was obligated as a Muslim to support hudud but differed on the timing of its implementation.

Comments (34)...

written by Aries, September 25, 2011 07:19:19

If you Bishop Tan witnessed a muslim rapping .Do You know that You cannot be a witness in Hudud lawsystem. So Think. ...

written by reeperbahn, September 25, 2011 05:12:01

Paul Tan, you are no better than pope Benedict. you should decide for yourself but don't speak on behalf of others.

is it not funny that the Pope tells the african poor already ravaged by HIV not to use contraceptives?

a country should be run by capable government administrators and not by religious leaders, regardless of whatever religion. the bishop should be taking care of his sheep not dabbling in politics.

the opposition on the other hand is seem to be afflicted by the foot-in-the-mouth disease, God, never mind which, save us please! ...

written by Sam V Wellu, September 25, 2011 04:44:18

DEAR BISHOP PAUL TAN

So brave of you to take this stand , however I am sure you are aware that the Assunta Hospital , a former catholic hospital built on public donations for the poor and underpriviledged is now only for the rich, its a great shame that people like you have allowed greedy people to hijack a catholic hospital which opened its doors to the poor and underpriviledged has now said you must pay ...

written by Just wondering, September 25, 2011 03:12:49

Sorry, lah, please post this, am itching to just slam that Jim (not the Lord), yup Jim you know me from a couple of moons ago. You are so really fond of slamming other people's religion aren't you.
You're not even fit to wipe the foot of Bishop Paul, let alone, Pope Benedict. These people of my faith have said and done so many good things, your pea-brain can't even comprehend.

As for your reasoning, hello, you call that reasoning, I call that stupidity and yes, I will say it, you're are an idiot and I hope a fool...

written by Just wondering, September 25, 2011 02:34:27

Bishop Paul Tan, I understand you. And I know you, wise one. You lead by example and are the man of the cloth.
However humans being humans are sinful by nature. Don't really know whether hudud is implementable, even if the rights of non-Muslims are preserved. The irony of the fact is sin abounds in this day and age. Our conscience also include all, you know. For those who are on the straight and narrow, their views would be "so what?" but for those who have fallen off the pedestral big-time, it is very worrisome. If they already pengsan at the thought of jail-time, imagine what will happen if stricter laws are implemented.

It's an irony. Ironic issue really for those who have nothing on their conscience. They will say, "So what?"

Me, I don't think my brain can handle this complexity of an issue, though I am prone to having the thought of saying "So what?"

But the strong looks out for the weak. And so it should be. ...

written by butahudud, September 25, 2011 01:50:52

denying hudud to muslims is like denying pork and alcohol to non muslims. hudud is a muslim's civil right. In this bolehland why non muslim has to be bothered by the law that was supposed to be implemented only to muslims? Let them be. If the result is good, then let it be. If it doesn't, just kick PAS out in the next GE.

however, i believe once hudud is implemented, we won't be seeing a lot of hand chopping or large scale immigration, especially in kelantan. if there are migration, that's only the mobs, rapist, robbers etc. I pity those in other states coz they'll be in BIG TROUBLE afterwards. For those who fear hudud, you've been caught in umno's scare tactics. ...

written by robot, September 25, 2011 01:49:15

wow... guys,,,, go on with your chopping here chopping there.....

written by Mat bond, September 25, 2011 01:00:54

Gr8...

Anak razak n fatty, anwar, all mamaks in bn,...will hve their hands chop off

Anak tambi , rice, ...dick chop off

Taib...everthing chop off

. Mahakutty ....tongue, handle chop off
Better recruit more immigration officers.....to handle those outgoing and incoming muslim refugees....

Also because need to replace current corrupt immigration officers.... ...

written by therealCM, September 24, 2011 23:36:57

Anwar talking about hudud ???

HAHAHAHA.

His will be the 1st one to be lopped off. ...

written by PK Nair, September 24, 2011 23:08:52

This is true leadership ...

written by selvasuria, September 24, 2011 22:45:03

The implementation of Hudud Law in Malaysia will create unique society in Malaysia.Just imagine,how many police officers,lawyers,politician,engineers,technician, office boy's government and private clerical officers hand will be amputate,Oh my God by 2020 Malaysia will be filled up with" orang Kudung' Most of the member of political parties will loose their tangan and only kaki will remain.No more kakitangan only kakibadan.

Fantastic Hudud Law.Anyway i only believe Nature law.Ok,Brothers and sisters of PAS please draft the Hudud Law and make referendum.See how many Kelantanese and Malaysian support the law.Please don't waste time! ...

written by Soberi, September 24, 2011 21:46:49

Dear All, Please look Hudud in a bigger picture as if you see Hudud like you a ghost. ...

written by Pro arte, September 24, 2011 21:45:10

Simple question. Can a Muslim reject Hudud and be given the option of coming under the jurisdiction of the status quo i.e. civil laws? This is the crux of the matter which the venerable Bishop has not taken into account.

As human beings, let alone Catholics we must be concerned about issues of morality and the notion of freedom of conscience is a moral issue. We cannot allow Muslims to be judged under Hudud when they do not believe in such laws. ..

written by Eskay 345, September 24, 2011 21:45:09
I am referring to the "implementation of the Hudud Laws for Muslims only.

Looks like not a bad idea to use these laws to rule the Muslim populace especially the politicians and those politically- connected because they are getting out of hand, with cheating, stealing, robbing the poor citizens through mismanagement and corruption and then flaunting their ill-gotten wealth.

Like the saying: "If you can't fight them, then join them" ...

written by Malaikat666, September 24, 2011 21:05:32

Hudud can be implemented in Malaysia for Muslims only, because it is a Muslim law, and also provided that all Muslim women are not allowed to work in public establishments to avoid social complications. ...

written by Fanzu, September 24, 2011 20:31:34

In short, what his Bishopness is trying to say, moslems can do whatever the hell they want, as long as it don't bother the non moslems. Sounds fair. I guess . . ...

written by Obadiyah, September 24, 2011 19:58:26

Hahahahaha !! I just read that Jibby has turned CHICKEN-SHIT, and decided NOT to implement HUDUD !

WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH !!! He must have heard that you endorse HUDUD !

KUDOS to YOU !!!

Nandri !!! ...

written by Ahmad Q, September 24, 2011 19:07:14

Now Dr Tan is a Christian I respect. Definitely knowledgeable and widely read. I think we all need a dose of knowledge before discussing many things including Hudud and Islam. Now lets see, if we are to discuss the relativity theory certainly I think all will rush to read up first before going into the discussion, Similarly if we are the discuss the Christian baptism; I certainly dare not unless I read up on it or at least talk to someone knowledgeable on it. But with Hudud everybody jumps in even with minimal knowledge, Of course it has do with how people think hudud will affect non Muslim's drinking and womanising preferences. Yes perhaps all should address this to allay all fears. I think drinking will still be allowed for non Muslims under Islamic law provided no Muslims involved. Womanising I dont know I think under all religions this is forbidden. ...

written by slash2013, September 24, 2011 17:52:05

i know that Hudud law won't affect non-muslims but Malaysia is the one and only bolehland in the world whos know what will happen after they implement huddud law ok for example me and my girl friend last nite both of us in the garden just hug each other but a malay officer(i dont know from which dept.)gave us a warning and told us not to do it again,but come on, we are not muslim why cant we do that?we didnt kiss in public we just hug only whats wrong with that?now u can guess what will happen after they implement huddud law.i think soon non muslim will go out meet men or women in a room also must with door open or must bring one more friend to join them. so now you know why non muslim not accept the huddud law. Malaysia is bolehland anything can happen ...

written by Lord Jim, September 24, 2011 16:57:43

The learned Catholic bishop should either prescribe same for his flock or he should mind his own business! He won't like it if some Muslim tells him how to run his business!

If the top bishop sees fit hudud law for the Muslim, he should see it fit for the gander.

Problem with practising hudud law is same as for the Old Testament - you will see those most eager to "cast the first stone" the clones of those itching to apply the law as in Life of Brian.

Won't be nice though when "Christians" get dragged out for their crimes and sins of buggery, sexual abuses, rape, perversions, etc and lashed and stoned, the man in the white bedsheets is right at this moment in Germany meeting the Catholic abuse victims in Germany.

Paying compensation is more painful than stoning, look and the Catholic churches in the US and Canada panicking over the whopping sums that are finally paid out..!

Yes, bring back the whips, don't forget the chains and the nuns habit too!

Hit me with your rhythm stick, hit me, hit me..! ...

written by bumiputar, September 24, 2011 16:48:47

YES!!!!!! Dr. Paul Tan, this is the best way to handle this kind of things. Now the ball goes back to the people fantacizing hudud........ ...

written by HUDUD is needed, September 24, 2011 16:09:50

as a non-Muslim - I fully support HUDUD laws for ALL

nothing to fear if not doing crime

all the lying, stealing, philandering, alcoholic Politicians will be the ones shivering

nothing good comes from drinking Alcohol, having illicit Sex, Gambling, watching Porno - so let's have the STRICTEST DETERRENTS possible to these Socially degrading & Morally bankrupting pursuits

I say HUDUD for ALL MALAYSIANS ...

written by chrissy, September 24, 2011 15:21:22

read' outsidethebox' blog please, the writer say hudud is found in bible, not quran. So christians what say u ..

written by SoundMan, September 24, 2011 15:18:05

Ai yah ! mass migration of Muslims to everywhere but kelantan.

The once left behind will be walking without hands and feet, you see lah.
And quarry stones will sell at a premium. Stones for Friday killings. ...

written by soboi, September 24, 2011 14:55:21

abraham ali and his cohorts must be pissing in their pants...padan muka ko...nah kita semua non/kafirs sokong 100% hukum hukum hudud/syariah di laksanakan di Malaysia. Cam mana abraham ? nak pi dang dut pun payah...kakakakaka..... ...

written by siewchinteo, September 24, 2011 14:38:43

yo bishop, methinks you should have a long chat with YM RPK about how laws are passed, no offence meant...

written by alacarte, September 24, 2011 14:31:57

written by syd, September 24, 2011 13:50:53

if kelantan or Malaysia implements hudud, 80% of the malay population will change religion or migrate to another country. There is no fun living anymore. may as well be dead.

They don't have to change religion at all, just hop across the border and do what they like, no problem with that, unless of course the Kelantan Gomen start banning Kelantanese from travel abroad, which is too extreme.

Just look at Saudi Arabia will do, the Saudis will travel to neighboring countries, especially Bharain to jig-a-jig every weekend. ...

written by JustMe2, September 24, 2011 14:08:17

How can Hudud law affect non-muslims? Isn't Hudud law is part of Shariah? Just like other rituals such as 5 daily prayers, performing haj in Makkah etc are not required by non-muslims.

written by arazak, September 24, 2011 14:07:15

Correct. . ., his excellency is 100% correct. Why they need to implement hudud law in Kelantan is because the UMNO thieves who stole the Petroleum royalty money from the poor Kelantanese people needs to have their stinikig thieving hands chopped of!



The hands of the thieving UMNO goons that needed to be chopped off first includes Toon Kutty, Sleepyhead Bodohwi, Jibby and Rosmah. Those UMNO goons and their cronies who consumed the money under the pretext of "wang ehsan" also needs to be chopped off! ...

written by Poyolahkau, September 24, 2011 13:58:02

The honourable Catholic gentleman has a valid point. These are clearly Islamic laws and should only be applicable to those who believe in Islam. I don't see any reason why non-Muslims are so agitated about how Muslims want to govern their own state of affairs. If Muslims can't force you to worship Allah, what makes you think they can impose the Shariah laws on you? For the non-Muslims, the Malaysian common law applies to them. In case of adultery between a non-Muslim and a Muslim, just apply Shariah law on the Muslim party. I don't see the unfairness here. ...

written by syd, September 24, 2011 13:50:53

if kelantan or Malaysia implements hudud, 80% of the malay population will change religion or migrate to another country. There is no fun living anymore. may as well be dead.



Can those people who does not wish to screw, drink and party please mind their own business and conduct your life style without imposing it on others. ...

written by dinosaur, September 24, 2011 13:47:50

The best way to fix up those corrupted Muslims, especially the UMNO Muslims. Stone them to death, chop off theirs palms, hands, legs or pitoils? They deserve it anyway. For those corrupted non-Muslims, follow the main land China Laws, give each deserving one a bullet! written by earthman, September 24, 2011 13:45:44

Maybe Dr Paul Tan is just mocking . Knowing well that the syariah laws will encroached on every expect of our lives. He is a learned theologian, he knows that. He is just mocking or telling the Catholics to leave the Muslims alone. ...

written by Pollux, September 24, 2011 13:27:24

No 'cast iron' business in Malaysia!

Increasing the employability of graduates.........

In the global economy, Europe can only compete on the basis of knowledge, skills and capacity for innovation.


An EU strategy for modernising higher education – Questions and Answers

Posted By Mariah Jen On 24, September 2011 @ 6:48 PM In Politics

Why is the Commission launching a strategy for modernising higher education?

A reform strategy for the modernisation of higher education is necessary and urgent, because, if properly supported, higher education can be the engine of Europe’s competitiveness, innovation and social cohesion, and a key driver for growth and jobs in Europe.

In the European Union, education is principally a matter of national competence. But the challenges have a clear European dimension: this is the key message of the Europe 2020 strategy. Modernising higher education requires an EU-level contribution, in partnership with Member States.

In the global economy, Europe can only compete on the basis of knowledge, skills and capacity for innovation. Demand for people with high skills will continue to rise. 35% of all jobs in the EU will require high-level qualifications by 2020, but only 26% of the workforce currently has a higher education qualification. Europe needs to raise levels of quality too. Education programmes need continual updating, so that graduates have the types of knowledge and skills they will need to succeed, and to have the flexibility to adapt to a changing labour market. Higher education must be more closely aligned to the needs of the labour market, and more open to co-operation with business, including in the design of curricula, improving governance and injecting additional funding.

Higher education should also contribute to making the knowledge economy work better in Europe: creating effective links between education, research and business to produce innovation; and maximising the contribution of higher education to regional regeneration, including through Community funds.

Europe 2020 sent a clear message about the need to invest in growth-friendly areas such as education and research. Particularly in a time of financial constraints, funding must be efficient – freeing up higher education governance and investing in quality education to match labour market needs.

While many European Member States are prioritising the modernisation of their higher education systems, the potential of higher education institutions to contribute to Europe’s prosperity, create growth and jobs, and fulfil their wider role in society is not yet fully realised. The Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth aims to help develop this potential by placing education at its centre and setting the target that by 2020, 40% of Europe’s young people should have completed tertiary education.

What can the EU do to improve higher education in Europe?

Member States are first and foremost responsible for their own education and training systems, and higher education institutions are autonomous organisations in most countries. The EU plays a supporting role, working with Member State authorities in identifying issues, providing evidence of what works and what doesn’t, setting joint targets and learning from each other.

Under the Europe 2020 strategy, Member States have agreed to report every year on the progress they are making towards the shared European targets. The Commission will monitor progress made towards reaching the national targets for higher education attainment that the Member States have set to contribute to the overall EU target.

In addition, at the EU level, we provide funds to encourage institutions both in the EU and across the world to co-operate and to create more opportunities for students and staff to study, train or teach abroad. We also provide money for education and training through the Structural Funds. The EU also launches specific initiatives where it can achieve better results than Member States acting alone, such as the cross-border European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, which recognises periods spend studying or training abroad.

This combination of approaches has allowed the EU to contribute effectively to change at system and institutional level, as well as bringing benefits to individuals who benefit from funding for study and training abroad. This renewed reform agenda will give further impetus to this process. For example, as announced in this strategy, the Commission will:

Develop a new multi-dimensional information and ranking tool for profiling higher education institutions, to improve the transparency of the higher education sector.

Through its proposal for a new single funding programme for education, training and youth from 2014 (see IP/11/857), extend opportunities for all students to study or to follow a traineeship in another country.

Launch, as part of the new programme, an Erasmus Masters’ degree mobility loan guarantee scheme, to enable more students to find affordable finance to take their Masters degree in another Member State.

Set up the EU Skills Panorama to improve intelligence on current and future skills needs.

Improve data on graduate employment and on learning mobility, as a basis for better policies.

Work with Member States and stakeholders to analyse the impact of different funding approaches on higher education.

Propose a quality framework for traineeships to help students and graduates gain relevant experience and obtain better quality placements.

Improve the recognition of studies abroad by strengthening the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) for recognising results from learning mobility.

How will this modernisation strategy contribute to meeting the 40% EU target for higher education attainment?

Increasing graduate numbers will require higher education to be more attractive to groups that are currently under-represented, such as those from low-income backgrounds and migrant groups. This includes making courses as relevant as possible to the needs of the labour market and creating new, more flexible ways to study, including distance, modular, or part-time learning.

Making it easier for students to move between higher education systems in different countries and to spend periods abroad (through “mobility windows” in course programmes) will make higher education more attractive.

Raising the proportion of young people in higher education also requires changes in school education to tackle early school leaving (see MEMO/11/316) and to ensure pupils receive adequate information and guidance about the higher education options open to them.

But raising participation will not be enough, if those who go to university are not able to complete their studies. Measures to reduce drop-out should include tailored guidance to inform study choices, more flexibility in moving between courses and adequate financial support, especially for those from lower income backgrounds.

How much does the Commission spend on education/training each year?

The budget for the EU’s funding programmes in education and training which includes schemes such as the Erasmus mobility programme, is currently about €7 billion, over the seven year budgetary period (2007-13). Through ‘Marie Curie Actions’ the EU spends an additional €4.7 billion on training, mobility and career development of researchers.

In addition, investment from the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund, represents more than €72 billion for education and training and €60 billion for research and innovation during 2007-2013.

The Commission proposals for the next budgetary period (2014-2020) stress the priority of ‘smart growth’ through knowledge creation and upskilling and include substantial increases for investment in skills and knowledge creation. According to the Commission’s proposal, a single funding programme for education, training and youth would receive €15.2 billion in 2014-2020, an increase of 73% on current investment (€8.8 billion for 2007-2013). The Commission has proposed a 46% rise in research funding, increasing this to €80 billion under the planned ‘Horizon 2020′ funding programme.

How does the EU strategy for the modernisation of higher education link to the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process)?

The European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process) is an intergovernmental co-operation process involving 47 countries, including all EU Member States. The European Commission is a full partner and provides policy input and financial support for many Bologna activities, such as providing funding for experts to advise institutions on implementing Bologna reforms. The current Bologna priorities are set out in the Leuven-Louvain la Neuve Communiqué of 2009.

The EU agenda for the modernisation of higher education responds to the Europe 2020 strategy and is a key priority of the Commission’s Youth on the Move initiative (see IP/10/1124). The 27 EU Member States, plus candidate countries and associated countries, co-operate to share policy experience in order to learn from each other and work towards agreed targets. The Commission monitors progress and supports Member State reform efforts, including through country-specific recommendations and with EU funding programmes.

Many of the key issues are common to both processes, such as widening the participation of underrepresented groups, and increasing the employability of graduates.

Have you ever wondered what your true mission in life is?

Every one of us is born into this world to serve a specific purpose.

Have you ever wondered what you were born into this world to do, be, and accomplish?

You were put on this earth to do something wonderful with your life. Your job is to find out what that wonderful thing is and then throw your whole heart into doing it extremely well.

Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the stoic philosopher, Epictetus:

“Circumstances do not make the man. They merely reveal him to himself.”

In determining your ideal mission and purpose, look back over your life and evaluate your previous successes and failures. What qualities, skills, or attributes have been mainly responsible for your successes in life to date? What have been your peak experiences or moments of highest achievement and pride, and what do these moments have in common?

If you make a list of all the things that you have done in which you are particularly proud of, you will find that there is a common thread running through each of those activities. In every case you were with a particular kind of person and you were accomplishing a particular kind of task. You were receiving a particular type of recognition from a particular kind of person, as well.

Only by evaluating past experiences and achievements, can you identify your strengths and ultimate purpose in life.

Meritocracy, pragmatism and a clean government have taken Singapore to where it is, and losing sight of any of them will cause the country to lose momentum....

By ChannelNewsAsia

SINGAPORE: Singapore's former minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew said it is unlikely that Singapore and Malaysia will merge in the future.
He was speaking at the Singapore Global Dialogue, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, on Thursday evening. The dialogue was attended by some 400 participants from all over world.

Mr Lee was asked by a Malaysian citizen if he foresees both countries coming to a political or economic union in the future, given the growing strength of Indonesia.

Mr Lee said having gone through a failed merger in the 1960s, such a move is not likely.

But he also gave a positive outlook of bilateral relations, noting the efforts of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

These include developing the Iskandar region in southern Johor, which will complement Singapore's own economic growth.

"Najib has brought forth a positive view of bilateral relations and the desire to develop southern Johor, the Iskandar region, using Singapore as a kind of Shenzhen. (This) means a complementary set of forces will be let loose, which will make it unprofitable for either side to be unfriendly," said Mr Lee.

He added: "You want our investments, we want to invest. Having invested, we don't want problems with Malaysia, and Malaysia which wants more investments will not give us problems. So that's a positive development."

Mr Lee also said it is in the country's best interest to spread its wealth, to maintain "national solidarity".

"If you have fast growth, and it's confined only to one section of society, particularly the Chinese, and the Malays are left behind, I think it's not sustainable," said Mr Lee.

"It is in our interest to maintain national solidarity, to ensure there is a spread of the wealth that comes with growth, to the disadvantaged in the population."

The 40-minute dialogue saw wide-ranging questions from the audience.

Among them, what Mr Lee Kuan Yew thought were the key qualities that will keep Singapore going.

Mr Lee said factors such as meritocracy, pragmatism and a clean government have taken Singapore to where it is, and losing sight of any of them will cause the country to lose momentum.

Asked about his thoughts on Singapore's recent general election in May, where the ruling People's Action Party saw its vote share dip, Mr Lee said the "result was bound to happen".

"Our total dominance was not sustainable, a younger generation wants to see competition, they voted in an opposition party... (but) to have a two-party system is another matter. It depends on the performance of the opposition, the response of the government, and the mindset of succeeding younger generations that come with every general election."

When asked on how he hoped to be remembered, Mr Lee said he has no desire to be remembered for any particular reason, but he has a job to do - that is to maintain a fair distribution of growth for the country, and to maintain good relations with neighbours.

Malays are backward because they are being held back by their religion............

In my negotiations with the MCMC, it was pointed out that the comments rather than my articles were the main problem. If I could assure the authorities that I will control or moderate the comments then they will consider unbanning Malaysia Today. I gave them my assurance that from that day on all comments would be ‘controlled’.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Some of you may remember that at 6.00pm on 26th August 2008, Malaysia Today was blocked and for about two weeks no one in Malaysia could access the site. Those outside Malaysia could still read Malaysia Today though.



Over those two weeks, I met up with officials from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to try to get them to unblock Malaysia Today.



The complaint against Malaysia Today was not regarding any of my articles but about some of the comments that were posted in the site. We do not know who posted these comments. In fact, they could have even been posted by Umno cyber-troopers.



Nevertheless, the comments were considered offensive and, subsequently, Malaysia Today was ‘banned’.



Now, who interprets whether the comments are offensive or not? Well, the government of course.



If Ibrahim Ali says that the Chinese are too much, biadap (insolent), and are inviting another May 13, to you and me that may be offensive but to the government that may be quite an acceptable statement.



Then, if I say that the Malays are backward because they are being held back by their religion, to you and me that may be a fact but the government may view that statement as an insult to Islam and will take action against me (which they did, mind you).



So it does not take much to get Malaysia Today banned. One ‘planted’ comment is all it takes and we all will lose Malaysia Today forever.



In my negotiations with the MCMC, it was pointed out that the comments rather than my articles were the main problem. If I could assure the authorities that I will control or moderate the comments then they will consider unbanning Malaysia Today.



I gave them my assurance that from that day on all comments would be ‘controlled’.



Malaysia Today was subsequently unblocked. However, the following day, the police came to my house to detain me under the Internal Security Act. Of my many so-called ‘crimes’ that warranted my detention, some of them were the comments in Malaysia Today.



What I have never told you before (until now, that is) is that 26 other Malaysians also suffered retaliation. The police went to their house or office and confiscated their computer. They were also summoned to the police station. One person was charged under the Sedition Act.



Today, we are trying to relax things a bit. While you can still register to comment, whereby your comments get published immediately, you can also post comments without registering.



However, they will need to be approved first -- or rejected, as the case may be.



Why are we now relaxing things a bit? Because the next general election will soon be upon us and we may need to allow more discourse and debate.



Nevertheless, we still can’t allow a total free-for-all. This would be giving a ‘licence’ to the Umno cyber-troopers to kill Malaysia Today with planted comments. And 2008 has shown us that this is not only possible but was in fact done before.



The problem with this, though, is that this may cause some delay because the moderators need to first read your comments before they will appear on the site. All our moderators are volunteers who can afford a mere few hours a day with so many other commitments to meet.



You can, of course, avoid this delay if you register. But if you do not wish to register then I hope you will bear with the delay.

Comments (31)...

written by JJFoo, September 20, 2011 22:34:40

RPK, that's a brilliant move, thoughtful as usual and steady as a rock. Thanks. ...

written by Jonathan JSK, September 20, 2011 22:33:37

Thanks for the privilege RPK & team.

To all commentators and would be commentators, I believe that if the desire to comment is tempered with a real necessity of saying something and the ability to say it in a way that adds value to the discourse, then the moderators will have no reason to censure. Learning when to speak is as important as knowing what and how to speak it. Cheers ..

written by nikisme, September 20, 2011 22:32:01

Met you and Marina at Holborn last year, after attending your talk. Back on the home truf now. Well, the change we all want won't happen, IMHO. ...

written by Student , September 20, 2011 22:31:40

Just to say, I do enjoy article posted here not necessarily informative but rather sarcastic . ..

written by confuseus 2.0, September 20, 2011 22:30:34

Nice move, Pet. We meet again

I did register thru paypal and email but got no reply.



Anyway, welcome home soon.

I am trying to lobby you to be either MCMC or MACC DG ...

written by Ibn Abd Halim, September 20, 2011 22:29:35

MT is yours. You decide, we abide. Fair! ...

written by RoboKop, September 20, 2011 22:27:35

Greatest move ever... RPK my Lord ...

written by T.ROY, September 20, 2011 22:24:53

Finally, I can post my comment. Don't hv paypal, not even cc . Been reading MT as my daily paper for years. I bet The Star will sure miss me. ...

written by Yamamoto, September 20, 2011 22:19:24

Ok then ..it is open season to all and sundry to make certain this government that sold this country to the Indons, Banglas and Filipinos is going to get the whipping of their lives for using every bit of power to cling on even if it means selling this country by printing ICs ....



The next Bukit Kepong will be at Bukit Aman.. ...

written by Ocassey, September 20, 2011 22:14:06

I may be considered and branded unpatriotic , seditious , blasphemous , a traitor and even ISAed by the ruling power of the day BUT when the old and long surviving treasonous plundering regime is replaced in due time then this mange "dog" may yet have its day and be considered as a "freedom worrior fighter " for the ANAK MALAYSIA !

Thus it is "BERSIH ! BERSIH ! BERSIH ! " for now until then !



Great to have a platform provided by our beloved RPK ! Our geysers will shoot much,much higher then those found in the Northern Island of N. Zealand ! ...

written by Lain-Lain, September 20, 2011 22:13:25

Syabas! ...

written by Khan, September 20, 2011 22:13:10

YM RPK



Thanks for clarifying on posting comments in MToday. When I heard that all comments will be moderated, I got disheartened a bit as only in MToday, we are free to say our piece without being censored and real time update of our comments. Try posting comments in Malaysian Insider...they would mostly not appear or there will be a great time lag from the time u post it to the time it gets approved and published.



I am glad that you are keeping the option of real time publishing of comments for registered users. Thank you RPK and on our part, we will strive to maintain decorum.



p.s. For the 1st time ever, my comments were censored in MToday relating to the article on Anwar refusing to comment on his alleged apartment visit with Eskay but may be I may have gone too overboard in degrading him. Sorry YM RPK... ..

written by yunu, September 20, 2011 22:09:24

"All our moderators are volunteers" - are they all angels ?

You may have more problems than you can handle if they reject too many bona fide comments too often. Your readers may desert you. I for one would like to know what you have culled and rejected. If someone publishes all those comments you have rejected, he may establish a new MT2. Far fetched? ...

written by eupara, September 20, 2011 22:07:37

this is a good start! ..

written by rvnrbts, September 20, 2011 22:03:22

Finally, been waiting for ages to post comment on MT Always been a lurker due to the lack of a paypal account. God bless you Pete! ...

written by PapaGomoi, September 20, 2011 22:01:29

You rock, sir! ...

written by alfred ho, September 20, 2011 21:59:12

thanks for allowing registered readers to make comments on your blog once again. as i have stated before if your readers are serious in bringing change in malysia, then i strongly feel that those who make comments on your blog should reveal their true identities instead of hiding behind ficticious names. alfred ho ...

written by losyot, September 20, 2011 21:34:45

Hi, I guess we will be seeing a lot of Super Admin rebuttals from now on..

Well, that is expected with the opening of the floodgates...

written by Tonberry, September 20, 2011 21:33:09

well, i m back ...

written by doggone, September 20, 2011 21:19:30

I have enjoyed posting my comments and photoshopped images since a friend recommended M2D to me. Some wicked, some funny but most of all it offer us a channel to release some of our pent up tension. For without, we might strap firecrackers to our body and try to blow up Nalip's tyres.. ...

written by Super Admin, September 20, 2011 21:12:57

Chiam, interesting comment -- if only I knew what you are trying to say. ..

written by Chiam, September 20, 2011 21:09:35

If you can give you must be able to take it.. That is the problem with mi .. They can't hOld water beside me .. So they influence the public with their propaganda .. It's the same here mate .. Nevertheless .. I have been waiting for this day .. I would love to see the capacity of these precious few that lurk within mt .. It's gonna be like stealing candy from a kid .. The Silent majority you teabaggers believe to have .. Will be proven otherwise .. ...

written by temenggong, September 20, 2011 21:06:31

None of my comments are seditious, or slander, or subversive.

It is just irritating. ...

written by Eugene Chan Keng Swee, September 20, 2011 21:06:15

Dumb the BN ! ..

written by Tompios, September 20, 2011 21:01:51

Tuanku RPK,

Never lost M2Day since August 2006! Thanks again for the privilege. ...

written by Pravin, September 20, 2011 21:00:32

Hello Pete..thanks! ..

written by Kong Ming, September 20, 2011 20:56:19

It is the best gift for a valued reader. ...

written by malchindian, September 20, 2011 20:50:56

Am I going to get into trouble yelling "bersih" here then? Aiyo! ...

written by norani63, September 20, 2011 20:43:47

I comment when I feel like it and always be sensible. ...

written by ibabonma, September 20, 2011 20:31:00

Well, I will just comment as usual. Thanks heaven. ...

written by Voter get Voters 1, September 20, 2011 20:30:53

'26 other Malaysians were summoned by the police' for comments seem unfavourable or seditious to umno.

Oh dear ... I better behave then.

BN is the 'best' Goverment in the World. We must be grateful that BN revoked or watever the much feared & hated ISA.

And I shall always vote for BN .........................to be dumped into the annals of history.

History always repeats itself, and human beings never learn from history. The only thing human beings learnt from history was that human beings never learned from history.....

In the 16th century, the Malacca sultanate was brought down by merchants from India who were actually Trojan horses for the Portuguese who colonized Goa for 450 years

By Masterwordsmith

The Malaysian Insider reported that a Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office unit website has claimed that its citizens working in Malaysia have been asked to vote for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government, prompting PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh to call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the contentious issue. That article has since been removed from the original site but can be read here.

Till now, there has been no official response from both sides as to the authenticity of the claims in that site. DSAI reportedly said here that he is asking his friends to verify the truth of that allegation. If that allegation is true, history may soon repeat itself if we are not careful to pay heed to all the signs of danger.
In the 16th century, the Malacca sultanate was brought down by merchants from India who were actually Trojan horses for the Portuguese who colonized Goa for 450 years.. The Sultan was stabbed in the back then by the Indian merchants who sold out the Sultan to the Portuguese.

According to this site:

Sultan Mansur took advantage of the breathing room he had won and gradually, through diplomacy, established good relations between the Thais and Melaka.

Would that all Melaka's rivals could have been won over by bluff followed by an olive branch! Unfortunately, a greater threat was to come from the West.

In September, 1509 European contact with the Malay Peninsula was established when a Portuguese squadron sailed into Melaka. They were considered oddities at first: The Malays called them Bengali putih, meaning "white Bengalis."

Melaka's Indian merchants are said to have pressured the sultan into attacking the Portuguese both because the merchants feared trade rivals and because word had reached them that the Portuguese were cruel to Muslims. The small squadron was duly driven off, leaving behind 20 Portuguese prisoners. (Curiously, one of the men who escaped was Ferdinand Magellan, whose fleet was later to become the first to circumnavigate the world.) Read more here.

Wikipedia says that "the Portuguese was helped by Guy Arojo, Chinese Capitans who supplied small ships to enter the Port of Malacca and the southern Indian and Javanese group who were in dispute with the Sultanate of Malacca."

Now, if that allegation is indeed true, we may have a situation where the status quo are depending on foreigners to keep them in power and once again, they WILL BE SOLD OUT - just like in the past!

In their greed for power, they have not learnt from history! If this were to happen, the 'imported voters' will eventually become so significant they can grab the powers that be by the balls and demand all sorts of things and they will have no choice but to say yes.

Even if this is not true, let us not forget other incidents that happened in the last thirty years.

Southern Thais have been known to have fled to Kelantan as reported HERE and here although denials have been issued here refuting a Thai politician's claim that more than 200,000 southern Thai Muslims have fled the violence in the region and have taken refuge in Kelantan. Whatever the case, in the last 20 years, there have been concerns as to how even in Kelantan, foreigners could tip the scale in the ballot box.

Comments (5)..

written by arazak, September 18, 2011 15:51:04

Now UMNO are churning ICs and citizenship by the hundred of thousands to Bangladeshis. One day we will have a Bangladeshi PeeM and Bangladesh will annex Bolehland as one of their states! ...

written by Obadiyah, September 17, 2011 22:52:53

Fooiyoh !!

Roadside Toilet also they want to take over ah? Why don't the Portuguese attack Malaya again?

Senile Mamak can be their spy, and Siam can also start attacking Malaya too. ...

written by syd, September 17, 2011 21:59:45

who cares who ruled malacca as long as the rulers are just and transparent, pro business and low taxes with a strong focus on education. religion are left to the individual with no state involvement.

the malay rulers of malacca were sex addicts who used hang tuah to kidnapped or trick village maidens into sex slaves in the palace. .

written by Angela Ooi, September 17, 2011 21:44:07

Never mind the pendatang Nons but if the Malays know what is good for them n how

their future n that of their children will be impacted by these 'imported' citizebs; they had better get hot n bothered NOW. Already , there is less $$ to go round for them n I even hear of students who are late in getting their Govt pocket allowances. They will have to SHARE their pie with all these instant hungry Bumiputras!! ...

written by yunu, September 17, 2011 20:27:09

History always repeats itself, and human beings never learn from history. The only thing human beings learnt from history was that human beings never learned from history.

“We are not immune to economic collapse just by virtue of having some oil reserves, and Government plans such as the ETP and the GTP”

By A Different Spin

By Sheila Stanley
Sep 10, 2011

Many have started feeling the pinch of inflation

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We notice it in the every day purchases we make.

The properties we cannot afford, the groceries we buy, the medical expenses we are faced with, the clothes, shoes and just about everything else we purchase.

A friend of mine, who now lives in Germany, has her own quaint way to measure it. She tracks the price of a certain well-known brand of toothpaste.

I am writing about inflation. Is anyone else as conscious and as worried about the rising cost of living in Malaysia as I am? I’m betting there are, judging from the number of friends and colleagues who feel the pinch of inflation in Malaysia.

It does not help that we are such a consumerist culture. Malaysians turn to retail therapy as a quick anti-depressant fix-it.

Before the spectacular collapse of the Irish economy in 2008, Dublin was one of the most expensive cities to live in.

Property prices were ridiculously high, groceries were expensive — so expensive that many Dubliners would take a two hour drive to the Northern Irish border to purchase cheaper groceries available in British supermarkets — and clothes, shoes and just about everything else were cheaper a transatlantic flight away in New York.

Having lived through this, I live in fear of it happening in Malaysia. We are not immune to economic collapse just by virtue of having some oil reserves, and Government plans such as the Economic Transformation Programme and the Government Transformation Programme.

The most recent reported inflation rate for Malaysia is 3.1 per cent in July 2011. From 2005 until 2010, the average inflation rate in Malaysia was 2.77 percent. It reached a historical high of 8.50 per cent in July 2008 and a record low of -2.40 percent in July 2009.

The term “inflation rate” refers to a general rise in prices measured against a standard level of purchasing power. The most well-known measures of Inflation are the CPI (Consumer Price Index) which measures consumer prices, and the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) deflator, which measures inflation in the whole of the domestic economy.

For the average consumer, we look at the basic necessities as our yardstick to measure inflation. We talk about rising food prices.

Well, did you know that Malaysia now spends about RM13bil each year importing food and produce like fish, meat, rice, potatoes, fruits and vegetables?

There is a massive amount of cash flowing out of the country so we can buy basic vegetables like chillies, cabbage and choi sum.

When was the last time you walked into a supermarket and noted that the chillies you were throwing into your shopping trolley were an import from Thailand? My last time was over the weekend.

I am just another member of the growing middle class in Malaysia who have a demand for food. And my demand, like most of yours, is for a wide variety of food.

It covers a spectrum which includes what we would understand as both local and international food products. So we look for our Thai fragrant rice, Japanese rice, Basmathi rice, and of course our very own homegrown Malaysian rice.

We yearn for durians all year long, and we find certain species of non-Malaysian durians more flavoursome than homegrown varieties. We love rice, but we also love all sorts of potatoes from around the world and pasta.

Here’s the thing. If Malaysians made more of an effort in the area of agriculture, especially in terms of commercial food farming, then there will be less of a need for us to get our chillies from Thailand.

But farming, either on a small scale or a large one, is not viewed as an ideal income earner here.

IT, oil and gas, construction, engineering and the medical and legal professions are attracting more people.

When was the last time you met someone whose ambition was to be farmer? If anything, children of farming families aspire to get out of it.

And then there’s the fuel subsidies, which from all indications out there are set to stop sometime in the very near future. When that happens, there is no doubt there will be a sharp spike in inflation. The price of toothpaste will increase because the cost of transporting the toothpaste will.

We use more energy ¬— iPads and iPhones require charging.

So I wonder how much of inflation is down to us as consumers? What can we do to reduce its impact in our lives?

Write to me with any suggestions you may have. In my next column, I will be listing the top suggestions for all to read, and perhaps even practise. I know I want to have some element of control of the price of the toothpaste I buy.

Like most Malaysians, Sheila Stanley has dependents she buys food, energy and fuel for. You can e-mail her your ideas on how you reduce the impact of inflation in your life to sheila106@live.ie

"Winning is NOT God's gift. It is not about luck as luck can only happen to you once or twice. In the real world, the journey is a marathon NOT a short sprint”

Updated: Sunday September 11, 2011 MYT 7:19:42 PM

Avoid conformity, Utar graduates told

KUALA LUMPUR: To be successful in this world, break all the rules.

This was the message Star Publications Bhd executive deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lee had for graduates of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman at their convocation.

"I am not asking you to break the law, but if you want to stand out, to be noticed, you must avoid 'conformity.'

"You must be brave enough to break the rules of engagement," he said when addressing one of the sessions at the convocation.

Lee also touched on his soon-to-be-released book "Why 'Stupid' People Get Richer."

He said that as the title suggested, “stupid” people get richer because “stupid” people “win” most of the time.

"Winning is NOT God's gift. It is not about luck as luck can only happen to you once or twice.

"In the real world, the journey is a marathon NOT a short sprint.

"It has nothing to do with your degrees. Nobody gives you money just by looking at your degrees. Neither does family fortune come into play," he said

Full text of the speech.

It gives me great pleasure to join all of you at this 13th convocation of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar).

I thank Utar for inviting me as the guest-of-honour for this session. I would like to congratulate the members of the class of 2011. You are the very reason for our presence here today.

I am honoured that you have chosen me to help celebrate your graduation today.

I would like to assume that I am here today NOT because of the fact that I am the executive deputy chairman of The Star or that I am the executive chairman of Naga DDB.

Rather, I would like to think that the real reason as to why I am here is because of my soon to be published book called "Why Stupid' People Get Richer.”

You may think it's funny.

But in many ways, it's true when you come to think of it.

When I look around me now, I see a lot of successful people that were not perceived to be very clever while in school and yet at present they find themselves very rich. Ever wondered WHY “stupid” people get richer?

Simply put, they try harder! They never give up. They cross rivers when there is no bridge, they climb mountains when there are no ladders and they take flights when there is no wind.

So what do you fine students of 2011 need to hear from me?

As a branding and communications person, it would be fashionable to share a few of the latest methodologies or even marketing terminologies that would impress even the most astute of professors among us today.

In fact, it would be even more topical to share a few quotes from the various “gurus” of our time.

But to be perfectly honest, there really isn't much advice that I have to give you.

You are all smart. All educated. At the press of a button, you can now access information that we at our time took months if not years to learn.

This is the digital age, This is the age of speed and innovation. This is the age of creativity. Anybody with an idea can sell his idea to the world. The world now is borderless. It's a scary world out there, but I am not trying to frighten you.

On the contrary, I am here to inspire you to do the unthinkable. To win, to be the best in class no matter what field you choose to be in.

We live in a globalised age, and you know this world better than my generation ever did.

In many ways, it is I who need to learn from you.

What I can do, however, is to share with you what I have learnt - what I have discovered in this world.

This journey of discovery was not an easy one, especially when you are in the creative industry.

Most of the thoughts I am sharing with you today could be very applicable if you are to join this industry.

In the UK, the creative industry presently makes up more than half of the total economy.

The creative industry is not just about advertising but also consists of design, architecture, TV and radio, movies, product design, journalism, etc, just to name a few.

It is my hope that some of you will join this industry in the near future.

If you are to take away anything from what I said today, remember this: to be successful in this world, we simply need to break all the rules.

I am not asking you to break the law, but if you want to stand out, to be noticed, you must avoid “conformity” in the business world. You must be brave enough to break the rules of engagement.

In my world, so-called “winning formulas” are yesterday's news. As the saying goes, not only is yesterday's news OLD news, it is today's nasi lemak wrapper.

And as the title of my book suggests, “stupid” people get richer because “stupid” people “win” most of the time.

So as not to be too Machiavellian about things, winning is NOT God's gift. It is not about luck. As luck can only happen to you once or twice.

In the real world, the journey is a marathon NOT a short sprint.

It has nothing to do with your degrees. Nobody gives you money just by looking at your degrees. Neither does family fortune come into play.

Winning is a mentality.

“Stupid” people “win” most of the time not only because they try harder but also because they don't see any hurdles or choose to disregard any obstacles.

Have you ever seen an excitable dog jumping for a bone?

Sometimes, it jumps higher than it believes it can. Just like the dog, “stupid” people only see opportunities and pursue them relentlessly without fear or prejudice.

We all grow up with a fear of something or other.

For some, we are afraid of growing old. For many, we are afraid of failure. And the more competitive among us are just afraid that others will be more successful than we are.

I am sure that you would have heard at some point, a family member or a friend of a friend talk about that “stupid boy” at school who is now richer than them, and who is driving a faster car or living in a bigger house.

As we turn the page and embark on a new chapter in our lives, I believe that the answers to your life's concerns are in the following tenets:

#1. “Stupid” people don't follow formulas. Time and time again, we see street fighters defeat karate or kung fu masters in a brawl. Competitive economies require intuitive decisions to be made. “Smart” people think too much. Act too little. They suffer from what golfers call analysis-paralysis.

#2. Case studies are not to be followed. By the time the case studies are written and published, they are already outdated. We all know that success stories are post-analysed and post-rationalised to suit the strategies.

#3. To win, you need to be insightful and be led by blind faith. When successful, write a book (and claim it was foresight!)

#4. Never chase after money. Instead, chase after dreams! “Winners' are men and women who made the leap from facts into the realm of the imagination. Contrary to popular belief, money does not make money. Only having an idea of what to do with the money makes more money, just like how bankers make money from innovators.

#5. Speaking of chasing after money, choose to mix with people with ideas and not people with money. Rich people NEVER part with their money.

#6. When in pole position, act like a challenger. What it means is that when you are leading the pack, think you are number two. Keep running. When you are challenging, act big! Think and act like you are number one in the pack.

#7. The 51-49 rule. If you think the chances of success are no less than 51%, just do it. There are no fail safe ideas. It is better to learn to ride on three wheels than never be able to ride at all. Don't wait until the four wheels arrive and then only start moving. Take your risks now. As you get older, you will tend to be more fearful, and less flexible. The bottom line is you can't be afraid to fail.

This leads me to my final thoughts.

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.

And ALWAYS, be the dream.

I had always wished that for myself.

And now, as you graduate, and begin anew, I wish that of you.

________________________________________

© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

“The university is proud of its commitment to delivering industry-related courses which get jobs for our students. This is shown in the large numbers of students who enter graduate-level jobs when they leave.”

Calls for ‘long overdue’ reforms after universities survey

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/09/10/calls-for-long-overdue-reforms-after-universities-survey-91466-29395397/#ixzz3qBAGhvXt

A LECTURERS’ union has warned higher education reforms are “long overdue” after top Welsh universities slipped down a UK league table of institutions.

Seven out of the country’s nine universities dropped down the annual Sunday Times University Guide 2012 – with only Glyndwr University and the University of Glamorgan gaining places.

Cardiff is still Wales’ top-ranking university but has dropped out of the top 25, slipping from 24th to 26th.

Second best is Aberystwyth, which has gone from 43rd last year to 48th this time around.

Bangor University, down to 53rd from 48th, was rated as having the best teaching excellence in Wales (79.3%) and was among Britain’s top 15 universities on that measure.

Swansea also fell from 50th last year to 57th, while the University of Wales Trinity St David went from 102nd to 114th and the University of Wales, Newport, went from 111th to 115th.

Teaching Unions said the drop-off in standards across the majority of Welsh universities highlighted the need for the Welsh Government to keep pushing through reforms of the sector.

Dr Philip Dixon, director of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) in Wales, said: “The drop in the majority of universities going down this table does give cause for concern and is also a clear indication that the reorganisation of higher education in Wales is long overdue and why the minister has been right to push that agenda and speed it up.

“We have to develop higher education in Wales, not just so it is excellent in the UK but so it is excellent in world terms.”

There was good news for the University of Glamorgan, not just because it climbed five places from 92nd to 87th but also because it had the best success rate for graduates finding employment after their studies, with just 5.6% unemployed post-studies.

Glyndwr University was the only other Welsh climber, going from 109th last year to 103rd.

Staff from both Glyndwr and Glamorgan said the universities’ respective partnerships with industry had been key to their success.

Julie Lydon, University of Glamorgan vice-chancellor, said: “This is a result of our close partnership with industry and our commitment to giving students the employability skills they need to succeed in the jobs market.”

A spokesman for Glyndwr University said: “We are delighted to be one of only two universities in Wales to improve on our ranking this year.

“The university is proud of its commitment to delivering industry-related courses which get jobs for our students. This is shown in the large numbers of students who enter graduate-level jobs when they leave.”

Meanwhile, Professor John G Hughes, Bangor University vice-chancellor, said the university was “delighted” its teaching excellence had been recognised.

He said: “As a university we place a high value on excellent teaching and student care, so we’re delighted that the quality of our teaching has been recognised as the best in Wales.”

The Sunday Times University Guide is described as “the definitive rankings” for universities.

It rates universities on a range of criteria including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, degree results, student to staff ratio, graduate unemployment levels and university dropout rates.

But a Cardiff University spokeswoman said league tables were an “inexact science”, while those universities which have lost places pointed to the National Student Survey, which they said proved their popularity.

Professor Martin Jones, pro vice-chancellor at Aberystwyth University, said: “Aberystwyth University offers one of the best student experiences in the whole of the UK, a fact that was underlined in the most recent National Student Survey published in August, where it featured joint fourth in the UK for student satisfaction.

“Despite the fact that the number of students from Wales is in actual decline, Aberystwyth has seen its intake of Welsh students rise by 4% this year.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman reinforced the need to strengthen university learning to compete for the best students across the globe.

She said: “Our plans to reconfigure the sector will lead to fewer, stronger and more successful universities in Wales. Our aim is to ensure sustainable delivery of high quality, accessible HE provision throughout Wales.”

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/09/10/calls-for-long-overdue-reforms-after-universities-survey-91466-29395397/#ixzz3qBA6zbjj

“Though I saw guns everywhere and heard gunshots, somehow I felt I was where I was meant to be. I believe God had chosen me and the rest to be in Somalia, to witness that whatever happens is not by chance but divine appointment”

Sunday September 11, 2011

Dying for a lollipop

By Melissa Ong

melissa.pollena@gmail.com

THE words Kan ek'n paar asseblief (Can I have some please?) kept echoing. Hundreds of desperate, malnourished children were squatting with outstretched arms, hoping that my tub of lollipops would be enough to go around.

As I distributed the sweets, my heart broke seeing them in such a dire state and tears trickled down my cheeks. Really, how much can a lollipop mean to me? Close to nothing as I can go to any candy store, choose and buy whatever I want. Just like many of you reading this.

It's been seven days since we returned safely from a truly life-changing mission. I remember the day my boss approached me, asking if I would consider going to Somalia on a humanitarian mission with the Putera 1Malaysia Club.

I gave a resounding “yes” as it had been my lifelong dream to report from such countries.

Unforgettable experience: Ong of ntv7 was among the Malaysian journalists who went on the mission to Somalia. Here, she and her cameraman are seen protected by soldiers during the trip.

Before I knew it, I was on the Royal Malaysian Air Force Hercules C-130, flying 24 hours to Somalia.

The six days spent on the war-stricken ground have made me appreciate life more. You cannot possibly imagine the emotions I felt as I witnessed tens of thousands of Somalis lying helpless in their makeshift “homes” made of cloth and plastic. They had fled their homes to the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps to await international aid only to live in the barest conditions.

Children were dying of malnourishment as there was little food to go around; mothers had to make a heartbreaking choice leave their weakest children to die so that the stronger ones might have a fighting chance. The magnitude of suffering was just too great to bear.

Though I saw guns everywhere and heard gunshots, somehow I felt I was where I was meant to be. I believe God had chosen me and the rest to be in Somalia, to witness that whatever happens is not by chance but divine appointment. Through the experience, I truly discovered myself.

Now if I ever complain, I am reminded of famine-hit Somalia. I have matured as an individual and have so much to be thankful for. Life and death is in the hands of God. Our responsibility is to live our lives the best we can not tomorrow but right now, for the moment.

Ong posing with some of the Somalis who received aid from Malaysia. — Bernama

I was travelling in the same car as BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor when he was shot by a stray bullet. We were just 200m away from our hostel when I heard a loud, deafening “bang”. I turned to my right to see Noramfaizul, whom we affectionately call Abang Faizul, unconscious and TV3 cameraman Abang Aji covered in blood.

I immediately shouted: “Gunshot.” Medical attention was given promptly but it was too late to save Abang Faizul. Our last memory of him was the laughter we shared in the car before the short journey back to our hostel.

I will always treasure that. I believe Abang Faizul would want us to continue our good work in Somalia and I would like to return to set up an IDP camp in his honour.

Many people have asked: Could the incident have been avoided if we had worn bullet-proof vests?

A bullet-proof vest may not necessarily guarantee safety as other measures must also be in place. If we journalists are assigned to do reporting in hostile countries, we need to have a proper checklist.

The authorities must ensure:

1) Appropriate training.

2) Vaccination in advance and not at the last minute.

3) Provide safety gear helmets, face masks and bullet-proof vests.

It is always better to over-prepare than to be ill-prepared.

As a journalist, the experience has not only given me great stories to share but also enlarged my perspective of life.

To date, the violence in Somalia shows no sign of abating. Fighting, terrorist attacks and indiscriminate shelling are causing death and destruction.

I believe the people of Somalia are grateful for Malaysia's generosity. As we give, we receive and we learn. We learn to guard our peace and harmony. We learn to be united as 1Malaysia.

Let's celebrate what we have achieved in our 54 years of independence and strive to bring continued prosperity to Malaysia. And please, no hidden agenda, no political mileage.

Thank you all for your love and concern. I am truly overwhelmed by the support I have received the encouraging calls, SMS, and Facebook messages, especially from fellow Malaysians I have not met.

I am still recuperating from the experience but I have a renewed perspective of life. I now see my glass as half full rather than half empty.

> Melissa Ong is a broadcast journalist and newscaster with ntv7

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Cutting down on the risks
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© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)