web of vice

phewwwww!


finally! ... The Star runs this report.


ever since pakatan riot began winning few states in the twelfth general election, one of the earliest phenomena that seemed unstoppable is the mushrooming of massage parlours throughout the nation.


these web of vice is known as foot reflexology or body and foot massage centres and the most prominent feature of these centres are young sexy amoi from tanah besar who can ask you 'sakit?' and that's about all they can say to you. 


I went into one of these in my quaint little town. I had to. It was so strange to see these centres actually popped up overnight when in 2008 the whole world went into economic freeze but my little town was turned upside down and housing estates mushroomed, new town with new bus terminal built [a turnkey project and until now the bus terminal is not operative]. Nevertheless hotels and massage parlours mushroomed. 


they were not friendly at all and i had to wait very long for someone who eventually shoved a piece of laminated A4 [i could almost smell the 'freshness' of the 'menu']. And this old mokcik know what a reflexology is NOT. 


just like the notion that EVERYTHING from China is good and medicinal, so  the scantily clad pink nailed impeccably made up china dolls are purportedly expert reflexologists.


for all it takes, it doesn't need a rocket scientist to figure out these out of season mushroom!!!


i don't know what will it take to make ANYONE listen

Young M'sians lured into web of vice by massage centre services

ANN - Monday, December 27

Miri (The Star/ANN) - Young men, including college and university students, have found themselves caught in a web of vice after being lured by the "special services" offered by massage parlours that have mushroomed throughout the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Some of these so-called body and foot massage centres here are accepting young men in their late teens and early 20s as customers, and the masseuses serving these clients are very young, mainly from China.

Concerned parents told The Star that they have heard of cases of college and university students frequenting these centres daily after getting "hooked" on the "extra services" these centres offered.

These youths are among many men who are making a beeline for the more than 100 massage parlours that have sprouted up here.

Dr Umah Devi, the chairman of the Miri Tunas Bakti Institution (a rehabilitation institution for troubled children and youths), said it was anyone's guess what actually was happening in some of these massage centres.

"It doesn't take a genius to realise that young healthy men in their late teens and early 20s don't need regular body or foot massages.

"It is also obvious that young women in their early 20s are usually not experienced in giving body massages because most expert body and foot masseuses are older people, many of whom are in the 'pakcik and makcik' age-bracket," she said.

Dr Umah wondered why these centres hired only young, sexy and beautiful foreign girls as masseuses.

"It is a fact that blind people are among the best masseurs or masseuses. So, why are these centres not hiring professionally-trained masseurs like the blind or experienced tukang urut from the villages?

"Why only sexy masseuses dressed in skimpy mini-skirts and revealing dresses? And why do these massage centres have small cubicles where clients are given one-on-one service?"

Dr Umah, a former Miri Hospital director, said the move by the Miri City Council to freeze new licences for massage parlours and foot reflexology centres, "though good, was not enough".

"There must be very strict by-laws on the age of customers seeking services in these centres. At the moment, there is no age limit. There is also no dress code for masseuses and a masseuse needs no qualification.

"Any so-called massage centre can simply hire any woman and say she is a masseuse," she said.

Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai admitted that even though the council had issued only 37 licences for massage centres, there are more than 100 all over the city and in the outskirts.

Censorship - porn on the net

i like this post from here. Copypasting everything here in the hope of penning more thought later. very surprising to note that Britain actually 'ban' porno sites [whatever that means]. What interest me the most is the 'tips' on how to access sites despite censorship by government ie Facebook in China.


No ‘opt-in’ system in S’pore for online porn: MDA
By Xavier Lur – December 25th, 2010

The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) does not intend to follow the British government in its plans to blocking pornographic websites and allow consumers to “opt in” to receive explicit material.

However, this does not imply that the Singapore government is not taking a serious stance on the matter.

According to The Straits Times, the MDA instead plans to better educate the public, especially school children and teen. This is believed to be more effective in the long run as compared to the mandatory ban.

“Education (particularly of children and youth) is a more effective long-term solution than the mandatory provisions of filters,” said the National Internet Advisory Committee (NIAC), whose members include academics, senior government officials and industry executives.

Maris Stella High School, which embraces a high level of technology into its educational system, places the safe use of the Internet as one of its top priorities.

“It’s not about those fanciful gadgets. Our goal is to create a rich ICT-orientated culture that inculcates a sense of responsibility regarding the use of technology in students. This is what education is all about,” Principal Joseph Lim tells Yahoo! in an interview two weeks ago.

MDA has banned over 100 “mass impact objectionable” pornographic websites so far, according to a 2008 report by Reuters.

Why the government chose not to block all pornographic websites

It is just not feasible. The sheer volume of pornographic material online made the job impossible.

According to the “The Stats On Internet Pornography” infographic by OnlineMBA, 12 per cent or 24.6 million websites on the Internet are pornographic.

And the number is growing significantly everyday, thus requiring a huge effort and manpower to block them. As such, MDA thinks that is not a wise solution to combat pornography.

There are numerous ways to bypass the ban and access to undesirable sites — via file-sharing networks, proxies and Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

How VPNs work is that users are given a foreign IP address, which connects them to servers based in foreign countries such as the United States or France, therefore allowing them to access blocked websites. This is how many Chinese Internet users manage to access Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in their country even though these websites are blocked in China.

Moreover, there are several legal issues regarding consumer rights laws that need to be reviewed before any blocking policy is implemented as it will include websites that sell premium pornographic materials.

Will educating the public be a better solution?

It will be a more effective measure, but only to a certain extent.

A mandatory ban sends a signal of what is acceptable and what is not in society while education tells a person the right and wrong doings, but it does not ensure that he or she will abide by it.

A surprise

Somehow always struck me the lion prides down south are invincible.


This is interesting.

Indonesia's anti-trust agency seeks $13 mln from Singapore

Reuters - Wednesday, December 22

JAKARTA, Dec 21 - Indonesia's anti-trust agency is seeking ways to seize assets worth 120 billion rupiah from Singapore's Temasek Holdings over an outstanding fine of the same amount, a KPPU commissioner said on Tuesday.

The KPPU ruled in 2007 that Temasek and eight affiliates were in breach of Indonesia's anti-monopoly laws because of holdings in two Indonesian telecom firms, and ordered Singapore's state investor to sell the stake in one while fining the affiliates 15 billion rupiah each.

Indonesia's supreme court rejected a final appeal from Temasek to overturn the ruling in May this year. [ID:nJAK180737]

"We're working with the central Jakarta district court to gather data for the plan," said Erwin Syahril, a KPPU commissioner, in a phone interview with Reuters.

"If they don't want to pay, then we have to seize assets worth as much as the fine," he said adding the agency had not set a deadline for the recovery.

Temasek, through its units, sold a stake in PT Indosat Tbk in 2008 but retains a significant shareholding in PT Telkomsel, a unit of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia .

The company said it was not officially aware of the move.

love scorned

will update on this issue based on these two reports today

1- Stabbed teen fighting for life

2- Heartbreak in Facebook world

Malaysian Chinese

One thing I noticed, the Malaysian Chinese [funny ain't it when they insist that they are the sons of this soil but in truth they are Chinese born of parents who were GIVEN Malaysian citizenship but couldn't even bother to speak the tongue of this soil] would swear on their mother's head that everything that comes from China is definitely superior and full of medicinal value. Even the  bottled rainwater could heal 1001 ailments that no one in this universe could.


Apart from news after news about all sorts of contamination [latest being contaminated oranges] I am not at all surprised with this news from thestar 

This is what aroused my interest -

A 51 year old woman from Singapore is fighting for her life after taking pain-relieving pills that maybe linked to liver failure.

The pills – round, black balls about 5mm in diameter – came in plastic bags with Chinese words claiming to be “homemade from secret ingredients of herbs”. It recommended that adults take four pills a day and children take half that dose.

She took them till July this year. The pills seemed to cure her pain.

But in August, an annual health check found problems with her liver. The doctor told her to stop taking the pills and referred her to a specialist.

On Nov 10, doctors confirmed that she had acute liver failure and put her on the waiting list for a liver from a dead person.

Her daughter, a 27 year old bank executive had been worried about her mother taking the Chinese medicine. “I asked her if she was sure it was safe. She told me that Chinese medicine has no side effects, and that they worked.”

In 2002, slimming pills under the name Slim 10 took the life of one woman, and actress Andrea D’Cruz survived only after getting a liver transplant

Double standard - SUARAM

I thought there are invisible hands playing the tunes for SUARAM.


Here is Tun Dr Mahathir's reply to earlier report.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today dismissed a human rights report released by Suaram, which said Malaysia''s poor human rights situation signalled a return to his era.

The former prime minister also said the report showed poor judgement and described the human rights NGO as a lackey of foreign countries or some politicians.

"If you are concerned about human rights, you must not be concerned about human rights in this country only. In Gaza, people are being killed. Did they say anything about it.

"Did they do anything to help?," he told reporters after attending Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) Ideapreneuer Innovation Programme 2010 at the Malaysian Technology Park Auditorium in Bukit Jalil near here today.

In its Civil and Political Right Report 2010 released today, Suaram had said that violation of human rights this year, including arrests over public assemblies and clampdown on media, were signals of a "closing society".

-- MORE

MAHATHIR-HUMAN RIGHTS 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

Dr Mahathir also said that the report was basically political.

"But they are thinking politically in Malaysia and they must make accusations, accuse people that they are against. That is not a good judgement," he said.

"I can also say they are guilty of breaching human rights because I have the right to say...they are just lackeys of some other countries or some politicians. That is my right to say," he added.

What is going on?

Really! 


I do not understand this


Wonder if the same rule applies to ... say Singapore?


What about Guantanamo?


Is this an effort to "Cubanized" us? 


Because we do not kow tow?


Is GE coming soon that this invisible hands are starting to spin again?


I am praying hard that sons of the soil realize this MO by now.


I am also praying that the new media will be able to give some kind of balance to this assault.


Here is the news.

Malaysia's leading human rights watchdog Thursday accused the government of committing rights violations this year that mark a return to the era of authoritarian former leader Mahathir Mohamad.

Suaram said in an annual report that despite reforms promised by Prime Minister Najib Razak when he came to power in 2009, the ruling coalition "continues to display intolerance towards dissent and free speech in 2010".

It said that the use of draconian internal security laws which allow for detention without trial, bans on public protests, and controls on publishing and the media were ominous.

"Taken together, all the incidents and controversies that have happened... signal a return to the Mahathir era, a period of stifling control, abuse of powers and suppression of human rights," said the report's author Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar.

Mahathir, who ruled for more than two decades until 2003, was known for his tough stance against political opponents, many of whom were locked up under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA).

Hasbeemasputra said recent pledges to amend the ISA failed to address the "fundamental flaw of... detention without trial" and that the government uses the law as "as a tool to instil fear and stifle political dissent".

A relic of the British colonial era, the ISA has been used to detain alleged terrorists as well as government opponents in the past. Suaram says there are presently 15 people being held under the legislation.

The report said the government was also flouting the "constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of assembly" with the arrest of over 100 people taking part in street demonstrations this year.

And it said freedom of speech has been curtailed with the banning of several publications critical of the government, which it also accused of using publishing laws to "stifle dissent and alternative opinions".

All newspapers in Malaysia need a permit which must be renewed annually. The licensing system allows the government to close media outlets at will and puts publishers under pressure to toe the line.

What next?

This is interesting [full news here]


Perhaps they will get inspiration from us to demand for vernacular school next.

The plaintiffs are seeking to join an August complaint filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Kern County federal court over the hospital's enforcement of a rule requiring workers to speak English.

Filipino workers said they were called to a special meeting in August 2006 where they were warned not to speak Tagalog and told surveillance cameras would be installed, if necessary, to monitor them. Since then, workers said they were told on a daily basis by fellow staffers to speak only English, even on breaks.

Ye ke?

Baca blog Mazidulakma di sini  pasal pemerhatian beliau di Kelantan. Tak terkejut pun bila beliau merakamkan ketergamamannya

"Satu hari saya ternampak budak perempuan berseragam sekolah  masuk ke rumah  dengan 6 budak lelaki. Saya datang jumpa dan halau semua budak lelaki. Bila saya tanya umur, budak perempuan tu jawab, 12 tahun. Kemudian saya tanya, tak takut ke kalau kena 'main'? Dia jawab dah biasa, pecah dara dulu katanya, dia kena 'main' 7 lelaki. Lepas bersembang dan dia mula percaya dengan saya, dia mengaku datang ke rumah tu sebab nak 'main'. Dengan 6 lelaki sekaligus ke? Dia jawab, tak, dalam dua tiga orang lah. Dia kata dia ketagih 'main', kalau tak dapat dia gelisah dan kena cari juga lelaki nak main dengan dia"

Saya terdiam.

Tergamam."


Terbaca pulak rencana ini di Utusan Malaysia [rencana penuh di sini] pasal keluhan seorang remaja 12 tahun. Ingatkan isu yang sama dengan apa yang diutarakan Mazidul rupanya it's the other side of the coin.


Budak ini mengeluh kerana bosan tiada aktiviti masa cuti sekolah panjang dan menginginkan buku cerita untuk dibaca.


Rasa macam tak percaya di zaman ini ada budak umur 12 tahun mengeluh ingin baca buku cerita.


Memang tidak dinafikan apa yang dikatanya pasal perpustakaan sekolah. Selain dari kurang buku, masalah besar yang saya perhatikan ialah masa penggunaan perpustakaan.


Perpustakaan sekolah dibuka waktu sekolah sedangkan logiknya waktu pelajar di sekolah penuh dengan jadual waktu matapelajaran dari waktu mula sampai sehingga waktu balik dengan 15 minit waktu rehat.


Beratur di kantin untuk sepinggan mee goreng dan segelas sirap pun dah memakan keseluruhan 15 minit waktu rehat.


Bila kala seorang pelajar ada masa nak ke perpustakaan?


Siapa pulak yang jaga perpustakaan? Cikgu? Pustakawan? PAR?


Siapa pun ... masa tetap merupakan masalah.


Pilihan terbaik ialah perpustakaan awam.


Setahu saya kini banyak diirikan perpustakaan desa.


Ada juga perpustakaan bergerak.


Hendak seribu daya ...

MCMC - Errr! Say that again Mr Minister

The Star today reported [source]


THE price of netbooks under the 1Malaysia Netbooks Computer Initiative has been capped at RM1,000 each.


Information, Communications and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the sum was not only for the computers, but also for the software and six months’ broadband subscription.


“The 1Malaysia computer programme was allocated RM1bil under the Universal Service Provider (USP) fund to supply one million computers to those deserving, as announced by the Prime Minister on March 24,” he said in a written reply to Wee Choo Keong (Ind-Wangsa Maju).


Dr Rais also said that as at Nov 3, RM11.05mil had been disbursed to the USP license holder under the first phase of the programme.

“As at Nov 2, the USP fund had RM4.53bil in cash reserves,” he added.


On 09/11/2010 NST ran this report [here]. 


CYBERJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed yesterday how the RM4.15 billion Universal Service Provision (USP) fund was spent. The bulk was used for the purchase of netbooks.
USP division acting senior director Zulkarnain Mohd Yassin said RM1 billion was spent to buy the netbooks as MCMC could not achieve some of the fund's objectives.

The MCMC came under scrutiny as questions were raised over the use of RM1billion from the fund to finance the netbooks when the allocation was meant for developing infra/connectivity in underserved areas, especially rural areas.

USP-funded projects are related to communications and multimedia, such as basic telephony, cellular coverage, Community Broadband Centres (CBC), Community Broadband Libraries (CBL) and People's Internet Centres (PIR).
As at Sept 30, the cumulative contribution from eligible licensees to the USP fund stood at RM4.15 billion.

Of the total, RM629.23 million was for basic telephony, telecommunication towers for expansion of cellular coverage (RM1.87 billion), CBC and CBL (RM573.7 million), Mini CBC and PIR (RM10 million) and 1Malaysia netbooks (RM1 billion).

Another RM150 million was for the expansion of broadband network coverage areas to the communities surrounding CBCs and CBLs, while some RM520 million had been set aside for collective broadband network and Kampung WiFi.

Another RM40 million was for "other collective broadband network projects".

This will leave a cash balance of RM380 million by next year.

Earlier, MCMC chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli gave a welcome address, noting that there had been much interest generated in the press relating to its work as an industry developer and regulator of the communications and multimedia sector in the country.

He was at the briefing conducted by Zulkarnain but was absent during the question-and-answer session.

Zulkarnain said 123,000 netbooks had been distributed under the first phase (2002-2008).

The remaining 300,000 netbooks under the second phase (2009-2011) would be distributed from next month. Students and low-income earners are expected to receive them by February.

A netbook costs RM830, with an additional RM80 for installation of Microsoft software and another RM2 for anti-virus software.

The remaining allocation will be spent in the third phase, where some 500,000 netbooks will be bought.

The third phase will be launched after the study on the effectiveness of the project in the first two phases is completed.

Zulkarnain said suppliers had stated that there would be no hiccups in supplying some 100,000 units a month under the second phase.

He named well-known manufacturers such as Dell, Samsung, Acer and HP. It is understood that the netbook has been rebranded as Idola.

"Logistically, it may be difficult as it will be the school holidays and monsoon season, but we are confident of distributing some 100,000 machines every month and will complete the roll-out in three months."

He said the recipients would be thoroughly vetted, not only by government authorities but also by community leaders and MCMC officers.

About 60 per cent of the recipients will be secondary school and university students. The rest of the netbooks will go to those in the low-income group.

Flanked by four senior MCMC personnel who interjected every now and then, Zulkarnain stopped short of saying there was nothing MCMC could do to ensure recipients made good use of the netbooks instead of selling them for a quick buck.

There is a difference of the price reported. 

In thestar report, The Honourable Minister himself announced the price of the netbooks as RM1000 each including the software and six months broadband subscription. 

Earlier nst reported the netbooks cost RM830 plus RM80 for installation of MS software an RM2 for antivirus.

Doesn't tally.

And I am still waiting for telephone landline.

Pot calling kettle black

The Star carried out this article about a tussle between rival sides in Selangor DAP for control in all state party posts. [read here].


" ... the establishment group led by senior state exco member Teresa Kok held a open rally where her line-up, endorsed by the party’s top leadership, was made public at a dinner in Serdang.

Their rivals, a group of disgruntled veterans purportedly led by Selangor state assembly Speaker and Sungei Pinang assemblymen Teng Chang Khim and calling themselves the Justice and Reform Group, have mounted a challenge exploiting numerous issues to dethrone Teresa’s line-up."

What struck me is that these are the people who barked the loudest at what they call undemocratic practice by the government, used it to garner support and went on to wrestle five states from BN in the last general election.


The party's supremo father and son the advisor and secretary-general are backing up the establishment group and been calling up supporters and grassroots leaders to "preserve party unity".


“They urged delegates to see the larger picture and not get emotional and back the rebels ...” 


These people were never bothered at a larger picture where once Malaysia was on the way to the other side of development divide.


I prefer the Italian's version Il bue che dà del cornuto all'asino  ("The ox calling the donkey horned").

White Elephant

Just came across this issue on rocky's bru here.


Finally I am getting some answers to my wonderings here

I have stayed at my present location since 2003. 13 km away from the nearest town and I couldn't get landline telephone. 


Enquiries at the TELEKOM office yielded one answer - no line


Offered me CDMA. I took it and subcribed to internet. 


Fixed line wireless dial-up which afforded a connection at a speed of about 20 kbps 


Sometimes my internet bill ran up to RM700-RM800/month.


Couldn't afford it. Terminated CDMA after about 3 years subscription. 


I was "lucky" because Maxis build their tower about 5 km away.


Right away got myself a Samsung SGH-E590 [that was 2007] and subscribed to Maxis wireless broadband RM99/month unlimited access.


The phone gives me 486 kbps. 13 km away my friends enjoy 3G internet connection at less than half the price I am paying.


My niece received one of the MCMC'c RM1 billion netbook schema.


A pity really. She had to register with a Community Broaband Center to get the netbook running. Charged RM5. [Hmmm ... 1 million netbook x RM5 is a lot of RM]


Compulsory to pay RM20.00/month for 2 years to entahapakenama company. for internet connection.


Wonder beyond yonder! 


Where she is staying [which is 13 km from the nearest town] has NO basic telephony. No broadband no WiFi.


How can she get connected to the internet?


Her father bought a prepaid Digi wireless modem. Buy a RM5 credit and she can log on to her FB.


What the ***k is the RM20/month being paid to entahapakenama company?


Maybe someone should lodge a police report about this ...

Bagai Belanda Minta Tanah

Peribahasa tradisional Betawi yang dikiaskan kepada orang atau orang-orang yang licik dan serakah atau rakus. Diberi sedikit minta banyak, diberi banyak diambil semuanya. Ada dua versi cerita rakyat yang berkaitan dengan pepatah ini.

Versi pertama: Orang-orang Belanda minta izin memakai sebidang tanah. Mereka hendak mendirikan kantor dagang dengan minta tanah hanya seluas kulit sapi yang mereka bawa. Setelah mendapat izin, maka diukurlah tanah yang diminta oleh orang-orang Belanda itu. Panjang dan lebar tanah diukur dengan tali yang terbuat dari kulit sapi yang mereka bawa yang ukurannya tentu jauh berbeda.

Versi kedua: Orang-orang Belanda minta ijin mendirikan benteng mereka yang didirikan pada tiga tempat yang berjauhan letaknya. Benteng-benteng itu lalu diakui oleh Belanda sebagai tanah yang diberikan kepadanya, bahkan Belanda juga mengakui tanah yang luas itu sebagai hak miliknya. Cerita ini menunjukkan betapa licik dan serakahnya orang-orang Belanda. Diberi sedikit mereka mengambil banyak dan kemudian mengambil semuanya. [dari sini]

Penggunaan perkataan Belanda dalam peribahasa ini mengundang label rasis kepada penggunanya walaupun pilihan perkataan itu ada akar umbi nya.

Bagaimana pula bila ada sebahagian rakyat negara ini yang bukan setakat bermati matian mempertahankan sekolah vernakular, kini dengan nyaringnya mau kan pula supaya Bahasa Inggeris dijadikan bahasa rasmi kedua bagi P Pinang memandangkan ada keinginan menjadikan George Town satu bandar antarabangsa.

"Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat) said English was also important because it was the lingua franca in most countries of the world.

"I am not dismissing Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and official language of the country, but English is also important, and I ask the state government to consider making it the second official language in Penang," he said during the debate on the Supply Bill 2011 in the state assembly." [berita penuh di sini]

Agaknya peribahasa lama ini boleh diberi versi baru ... 'Bagai **** diberi kewarganegaraan'.

Dah hampir seminggu jemaah dubuk nih menayangkan warna sebenar mereka, hanya beberapa blog yang ambil 'pot'.

Mana pergi pejuang bangsa yang berguling guling mahukan PPSMI dimansuhkan?

Menyedihkan bila hanya seorang ahli akademik berani bersuara tentang ini. Mana perginya legislator yang makan gaji untuk menegakkan undang undang negara ini.

**Satu lagi hal yang menyebabkan telinga bernanah ialah bila ahli ahli sukan yang mewakili Malaysia ke sukan komonwel 2010 dan sukan Asia bertutur dalam bahasa Cina [tak tahu lah Mandarin ke Cantonese].

Wakil Malaysia. Untuk penonton Malaysia. Orang Malaysia ke?

SENGAL !!!

Pandai nyerrrr

Update. Read this statement from Rais Yatim  


THE price of netbooks under the 1Malaysia Netbooks Computer Initiative has been capped at RM1,000 each.

Information, Communications and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the sum was not only for the computers, but also for the software and six months’ broadband subscription.

“The 1Malaysia computer programme was allocated RM1bil under the Universal Service Provider (USP) fund to supply one million computers to those deserving, as announced by the Prime Minister on March 24,” he said in a written reply to Wee Choo Keong (Ind-Wangsa Maju).

Dr Rais also said that as at Nov 3, RM11.05mil had been disbursed to the USP license holder under the first phase of the programme.

“As at Nov 2, the USP fund had RM4.53bil in cash reserves,” he added.

Ni yang buat den terbakar.


Sejak tahun 2002 den minta talian telefon ke rumah, TELEKOM jawab tak de 'line'.


Den tanya bila nak dapat line, TELEKOM jawab tak tahu bila, kena tunggu pembangunan infrastruktur.


Bulan lepas, tetiba je orang kampung den heboh bebudak sekolah dapat netbook percuma tapi wajib kena bayar langganan broadband [entah apa apa brand].


Anak sedara den ada sorang yang dapat netbook.


Malangnya tak dapat capai internet sebab TIADA talian telefon tetap. Harapkan wireless telco yang kelajuannya tak sampai 200kbps. Orang KL dah dapat guna 4G.


Tapi masih wajib bayar RM20 sebulan selama 2 tahun.


Pandai MCMC 'berniaga' tanpa modal.


Kalu gitu, den pun pandai!


Bulk of fund went to netbooks


The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed yesterday how the RM4.15 billion Universal Service Provision (USP) fund was spent. The bulk was used for the purchase of netbooks.
USP division acting senior director Zulkarnain Mohd Yassin said RM1 billion was spent to buy the netbooks as MCMC could not achieve some of the fund's objectives.

The MCMC came under scrutiny as questions were raised over the use of RM1billion from the fund to finance the netbooks when the allocation was meant for developing infra/connectivity in underserved areas, especially rural areas.

USP-funded projects are related to communications and multimedia, such as basic telephony, cellular coverage, Community Broadband Centres (CBC), Community Broadband Libraries (CBL) and People's Internet Centres (PIR).

As at Sept 30, the cumulative contribution from eligible licensees to the USP fund stood at RM4.15 billion.

Of the total, RM629.23 million was for basic telephony, telecommunication towers for expansion of cellular coverage (RM1.87 billion), CBC and CBL (RM573.7 million), Mini CBC and PIR (RM10 million) and 1Malaysia netbooks (RM1 billion).

Another RM150 million was for the expansion of broadband network coverage areas to the communities surrounding CBCs and CBLs, while some RM520 million had been set aside for collective broadband network and Kampung WiFi.

Another RM40 million was for "other collective broadband network projects".

This will leave a cash balance of RM380 million by next year.

Earlier, MCMC chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli gave a welcome address, noting that there had been much interest generated in the press relating to its work as an industry developer and regulator of the communications and multimedia sector in the country.

He was at the briefing conducted by Zulkarnain but was absent during the question-and-answer session.

Zulkarnain said 123,000 netbooks had been distributed under the first phase (2002-2008).

The remaining 300,000 netbooks under the second phase (2009-2011) would be distributed from next month. Students and low-income earners are expected to receive them by February.

A netbook costs RM830, with an additional RM80 for installation of Microsoft software and another RM2 for anti-virus software.

The remaining allocation will be spent in the third phase, where some 500,000 netbooks will be bought.

The third phase will be launched after the study on the effectiveness of the project in the first two phases is completed.

Zulkarnain said suppliers had stated that there would be no hiccups in supplying some 100,000 units a month under the second phase.

He named well-known manufacturers such as Dell, Samsung, Acer and HP. It is understood that the netbook has been rebranded as Idola.

"Logistically, it may be difficult as it will be the school holidays and monsoon season, but we are confident of distributing some 100,000 machines every month and will complete the roll-out in three months."

He said the recipients would be thoroughly vetted, not only by government authorities but also by community leaders and MCMC officers.

About 60 per cent of the recipients will be secondary school and university students. The rest of the netbooks will go to those in the low-income group.

Flanked by four senior MCMC personnel who interjected every now and then, Zulkarnain stopped short of saying there was nothing MCMC could do to ensure recipients made good use of the netbooks instead of selling them for a quick buck.

Read more: Bulk of fund went to netbooks http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/6betk/Article#ixzz14jlK9ptM

Perhimpunan Agung UMNO (PAU)

[07/11/10 - Cik Nah, I lost my train of thought and have wrapped up this posting. Thanks for dropping by]


[27/10/10 - Alamak Cik Nah, tak siap jugak. Kena sambung besok lak kalu mood mai]


Mulanya malas nak peduli pasal PAU.


Frust sangat dengan bajet 2011. Apa yang Syed Akbar Ali tulis di sini memang masuk akal. Pengulas kedua posting itu menggelar bajet ni Harakiri politik. 


Blogger dinturtle ajak kawan dia ngamuk beradab [di sini] sepanjang PAU.

Update 02/11/10. Ada pulak posting yang mempertahankan Menara Warisan ni [di sini] dan posting di blog anak muda penuntut UIA ni pun menarik juga [di sini] terutamanya komen komen dari rakan rakan nya.

Den rasa nak 'teriak' mengenangkan nasib anak cucu den lepas ni.


Dah 50 tahun den hidup. Lahir di Kelantan tahun 1960. Susahnya hidup den masa bebudak. Ayah den jual ikan kat pasar di pekan kecil Pulai Chondong untuk menyara den lima beradik. Makan bercatu. Selalu rasa lapar. Togok air kosong antara dua keping biskut tawar [kecik dan keras - sekarang dah tak de biskut ni] cicah teh O untuk sarapan dengan sesenduk nasi berlaukkan seekor ikan kembung kecil dibahagi antara 5 beradik. Pergi sekolah jalan kaki je sebab dekat. Tak pernah bawak duit. Bekal pun tak sebab memang tak de makanan. Waktu rehat tak de lah beratur kat kantin. Nak main pun tak de mood sebab perut berkeroncong. Kekadang ada kawan bagi 'sedut' aiskrim Malaysia. Nikmat nya.


Umur 11 tahun pindah ke Pahang. Ayah den kerja kat kilang kelapa sawit pikul kayu getah hantar ke dandang untuk masak kelapa sawit dalam 'cages'. Gaji lapan ringgit sehari. Tolak EPF dan SOCSO [kerja kompeni orang putih everything is in order] tinggal dalam RM200 untuk menyara kami 6 beradik [den 7 beradik semua sekali. Sorang adik perempuan diambil pelihara oleh tok saudara masa Ma sakit kena operate waktu den umur 9 tahun. Dua orang adik lahir selepas pindah ke Pahang]. Berek semi-D 2-bilik, api elektrik dan air paip tidak dirawat disediakan majikan.


Susah hidup kat estet ni lain macam dari susah hidup di kampung. Masa duduk di kampung, pendapatan Baba tidak menentu. Susah nak makan sebab tak de duit nak beli. Duduk di estet pulak, Baba dibayar 2 kali sebulan ... minggu ketiga dapat 'pinjam' lebih kurang 1/3 pendapatan dan akhir minggu pertama bulan berikutnya dapat 'gaji'. 


Sudahlah susah sebab duit sikit, benda yang nak dibeli pula susah nak dapat. Teringat makan nasi berkuahkan kacang hijau yang direbus dengan serbuk kari berlaukkan ikan kering bakar. Itupun masak pakai kayu yang dikutip dari kebun getah berdekatan. Kalau tak sekolah, hari hari makan lempeng cicah gula berselang seli roti kering cicah teh O


Di kampung, sekolah dekat, kedai dekat, sedara mara ramai, jiran tetangga berlaga atap bertemu tangga.


Estet ni dalam hutan tempat jin bertendang. Kena menapak 3 km jalan tanah merah baru jumpa jalan raya. Sekali sekala lori tangki lalu, kenyang makan habuk. Lepas tu saling gelak tengok muka orang sebelah dah jadi macam tepung gomak. Paling lucu bulu mata jadi putih dan berat.


Kat estet tu tak de budak yang sebaya den pergi sekolah. Diaorang balik bersekolah di kampung. Sekolah paling dekat 6 km jaraknya dari estet. No public tranport. I trudged the distance to and from school with my elder brother. Selalu lewat sampai sekolah tapi cikgu tak pernah marah. Mungkin itu satu sebab den tak pernah segan nak ke sekolah. Kalau cikgu ikut peraturan dan mengambil tindakan setiap kali den lewat, kemungkinan besar den tak pergi sekolah dah. Terima kasih cikgu.


Kenkadang den pergi sekolah tumpang bas estet. Tapi kena kejar bas tu yang 'tidur' di kilang kelapa sawit tempat Baba kerja. Bas mula bergerak dari garaj jam 2.00 pagi. Den tidur awal dan bangun awal untuk naik bas. Zaman tu harga jam agak mahal bukan seperti sekarang sepuluh ringgit dah dapat jam dinding, dua puluh ringgit dapat jam tangan memacam pesen. 


Kami terlalu miskin untuk ada lampu picit. Harga dan jangka hayat bateri di luar capaian pendapatan Baba. Dari rumah nak naik bas estet tu, kena panjat jalan bukit kira kira 300 meter. Lorong kecil di celah pokok kelapa sawit  dengan semak samun di kiri kanan. Selalu terserempak ular tedung [memang dibiak kat estet untuk makan tikus yang merosakkan tuaian]. Den ngan Abang Long bawak pelita minyak tanah, panjat bukit kecil untuk tunggu bas kat jalan tanah merah jam 2.00 pagi. Naik bas sambung tidur sementara bas berpusing pusing mengambil pekerja di kawasan sekitar. Bas sampai kat sekolah jam 5.00 pagi. Pagar sekolah belum buka lagi. Den dan Abang Long serta tiga empat orang lagi rakan dari kampung berdekatan yang turut sama menumpang bas untuk ke sekolah menyusup bawah pagar ikut longkang untuk masuk kawasan sekolah. Bentang kain batik yang dibawa khas dan sambung tidur di koridor [kelas dikunci]. Jam 7.00 pagi jaga datang buka pintu pagar dan kelas. Kami bangun basuh muka dengan air bekalan sebab kat tandas memang tak ada air.


Begitu kitaran hidup den. Selalu juga tak ke sekolah sebab demam malaria. Teruk demam malaria ni. Mulanya badan menggigil kesejukan yang amat sangat hingga ke tulang hitam. Berlapis lapis selimut dan baju tebal pun tak berkesan. Lepas beberapa jam menggigil, badan jadi panas menyala nyala pulak. Rasa nak tanggal semua pakaian tapi tahu ajalah orang dedulu, kalau demam mesti berselimut supaya berpeluh dan cepat kebah. Jangan mimpi nak mandi lah. Kenkadang seminggu terus demam nya, kenkadang selang sehari. Naib baiknya pihak estet sediakan HA yang bagi kuinin. Pahit giler!


Update 22/10/10. Malaria mosquitoes are evolving into new species [read here]


Demam malaria menyebabkan limpa jadi bengkak dan perut kita jadi buncit. Keadaan tu kekal hingga kini [trying to explain my nine-month-pregnant stomach size - that is the swollen spleen plus kilograms of fat ... hehehe].


Tujuan den citer ni ialah untuk bandingkan keadaan den seorang ANAK JATI bumi ni yang memang tak de 'negeri' lain nak balik dah dengan anak anak buruh asing yang dah jadi warganegara tapi masih mengekalkan sekolah vernacular mereka sebab kononnya mereka nak balik 'negeri'; yang tinggal di bandar bandar dengan segala kemudahan: yang hari ini melalak lalak minta meritokrasi tapi jika kena posting ke kawasan pendalaman, sejuta enam alasan mereka. Sikap ultra kiasu mereka, satu dunia pun dah tahu. Hidup mereka hanya untuk makan. Rumah mereka tiada tingkap. Pesanan nenek moyang mereka ialah jika negara ini tidak cukup bagus, dapatkan pendidikan dan berhijrah ke tempat lain. Cari duit banyak banyak, makan kenyang kenyang. Bila ada malapetaka atau perang ... berduyun duyun mereka tinggalkan tempat ini. Cari tempat lain. 


Bukan den nak menabur bibit rasis. Sekadar meluahkan perasaan yang amat tertekan dengan apa yang sedang berlaku. Den ada merapu kat sini dan sini  tahun 2008. Lihat betapa tanggapan kaum Cina pada orang Melayu ...


“awak ingat sangat senang maa .. mahu cali luit? Kita olang Cina oo bukan selupa Melayu. Cina olang mau kelija pun susah. Lagi mau cali wang bayat itu lumah lagi … Melayu suma apa pun flee oo. Tak mau kelija pun tak apa … kelajaan kasi duit maa. . Melayu aa … belanak pun kelajaan kasi duit oo … betut bukan?”

“Uiks! Melayu mana beranak dapat duit?”

“tu .. kelija ofis punye … “


“Lagi aa … melayu mau meniaga pun senang ... kelajaan kasi luit …mau pinjam luit bank pun senang … tak payah cali gelento oo … tak baya pun tak ape … kelajaan kasi luit lagi …”


“Bukannn … olang cina maa … mau cali luit sendili… lagi sekolah pun sudah mau cali sendili … olang cina cali luit mahu kasi makan itu lumah, melayu cali luit sendili mau pakai saja … mau cali kelija pun tak susah … cina aa … sume pun mau cali sendili … bank pun tak mau kasi pinjam … ”


Hebat sungguh propaganda yang ditanam dalam benak kaum Cina yang dilahirkan di Malaysia ni. Siapa yang menanam propaganda begini? 


Kalau benar kerajaan Malaysia kasi duit buta buta pada orang Melayu, adakah den perlu bersusah payah untuk pergi sekolah dengan perut kosong turun dari rumah jam 2.00 pagi bersuluhkan pelita ayan naik bukit tunggu bas estet yang pusing keliling dua buah kampung pun belum jijak waktu subuh, tidur atas simen koridor sekolah sementara menunggu matahari terbit, sarapan dengan nasi sejuk berlaukkan ikan kering bakar sedangkan Cina yang lahir di Malaysia ni tinggal di bandar dengan api elektrik, air paip, klinik, sekolah, kedai gunting rambut semuanya mudah. Susah mereka ialah bila tak dapat makan KFC minum coca-cola, tak dapat pergi tuisyen, tak dapat belajar piano, tak dapat belajar berenang. Susah bagi mereka bila tak dapat memandu Mercedes atau paling kurang Camry.


Kalau lah den tak dapat pergi ke Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah [SEMSAS] pada tahun 1973 tu, yang kerajaan bina untuk membantu anak anak orang kampung macam den yang berhempas pulas untuk ke sekolah, rasanya masa den umur 12 tahun, den dah kawin sebab ada orang masuk minang. Baba suruh den berhenti sekolah sebab dia kata tak mampu. 


Apa pilihan yang den ada?


Den dapat masuk ke sekolah berasrama penuh dengan keputusan 3A 2B. Ramai rakan satu 'batch' yang dapat 5A terutamanya mereka yang bersekolah di bandar dan ibu bapa mereka berpelajaran. Omak den tak sekolah, baba den sekolah takat boleh membaca dan menulis sahaja.


Bayangkan kalau tiada sebarang dasar afirmatif, pastinya den tak merasa belajar di SEMSAS. Dan satu lagi yang pasti ialah SEMSAS dan yang sewaktu dengan nya tentu dipenuhi mereka yang dapat 5A dalam peperiksaan Penilaian darjah 5 [setara dengan UPSR kini]. Den dan rakan rakan senasib yang usahkan kelas tuisyen dan vitamin tambahan; soru pun kekadang miss, peparu lemas dengan habuk jalan tanah merah, perut buncit kerana kurang protin dan  parasit bawaan vektor yang bersarang: kami anak bumi ini yang sampai hari ini masih bertungkus lumus mengais pagi petang hanya mampu berputih mata meneguk air liur melihat mereka yang mengaku rakyat negara ini tapi masih tak boleh berbahasa kebangsaan melahap meratah segala hasil pembangunan dengan mendabik dada mengaku semua itu adalah hasil keringat mereka membayar cukai pendapatan.


Kedua dua anak den bersekolah di luar bandar dapat 5A dalam UPSR tapi tak berpeluang ke sekolah berasrama penuh. Tak dapat biasiswa walaupun kedua duanya skor 9A dalam PMR. Usahkan biasiswa, pinjaman buku teks pun tak dapat. PTPTN dapat separuh aja.


Pastinya bukan den sorang dari 60% Melayu dan Bumiputera rakyat negara ini yang mengalami keadaan begini.


Dah hampir 8 tahun den pindah ke Kampung Kool ni. Hingga saat ni den masih menunggu talian telefon tetap. Pernah den guna CDMA yang dibekalkan TM tapi tak larat den bayar bil dial up internet yang mencecah RM800 sebulan dengan capaian ngalahkan siput. Nasib baik Maxis pasang menara dia 4 km dari kampung Kool. Dapatlah tumpang jalur lebar Maxis tapi almaklum sajalah ... capaian tanpa wayar GPRS saja. Deme yang duduk kat bandar dapat 3G, den dalam bukit nih kena pusing keliling rumah untuk cari signal GPRS Maxis. Main Farmville pun bangkrap sebab tanaman tak dapat dituai kerana jalur lebar sering tersumbat.


Den hanya mampu menadah tangan memohon pada Ilahi agar anak cucu den dapat merasa nikmat kemajuan negara tercinta ini. Amin ya Rabbal 'alamin.