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30 April 2014

Mahathir: Chinese are rich, Indians are lawyers?

I wonder why Tun Mahathir is so defensive on Obama's comment. In any country, all citizens should have equal opportunities, free from discriminations.

In Malaysia, it should be the same. Assistance should be given to groups that requires help, regardless of race. If the majority that forms that group happens to be Malays, help should be given. But other groups, from other races, should not be excluded by virtue of their race or religion.

Again, politicians tend to have a skewed and biased view on the role of government. They tend to meddle with society to fit their political agendas.

It is true that non-Malays have the opportunity to become rich or become professionals in various fields. But it is also true that those who managed to achieved success did so in spite of the various hurdles and glass-ceilings faced by non-Malays. So, it is not accurate to paint the government as altruistic. Anyway, this is not the point of this post.

I'm glad Tun Mahathir recommended Joseph Stiglitz's book on inequality. I think the main point made by Joseph Stiglitz is the class inequality, not race.

However, I find that it applies to Malaysia as well. Actually, I believe that class inequality is the underlying problem we are facing today in Malaysia. Regardless of race or religion, there is a growing inequality in the distribution of the country's wealth.

If we look at each community, we will find that the gap between the rich and poor is astounding.

Yes. It applies to the Malays as well. There's actually a large group of very wealthy Malays, mostly the nouveau riche. If we were to take the official statistics that states that the Malays make up the poorest in Malaysia, then it would logically make the income disparity between the rich & poor among the Malays the highest among communities.

So, if we want to racialise issues, it works both ways! Take that!

Anyway, according to Tun Mahathir, there is a wide disparity between the richest 1% and the rest in the USA. This has created an imbalance of wealth among the population. Well, just so you know, the same is happening in Malaysia. The top 1% in Malaysia comprises of all races.

The questions we should be asking the government is:
Are the 1% helping to improve economy of the country?
Are the 1% investing their wealth in industries that would drive the economy?
Are the 1% creating desirable jobs for the people?

And most importantly, which percentage group does Tun Mahathir and the rest of our esteemed leaders belong to?

I think most of us have the answer already.









Mahathir disagrees with Obama’s inequality remark


KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad disagrees with US President Barack Obama over his remark that Malaysia will not succeed if non-muslims are not given equal opportunity.

After launching the ‘UN Chronicle’ book here today, Mahathir said that there is no equality in America as only one percent of the US population holds all the wealth.

“The one percent, controls the wealth in America and the rest are poor. That is the why there is a group in the US who call themselves ’99′ who want to occupy Wall Street.

“In Malaysia despite our policies, do you see the Chinese as the poorest people?

“Indians have become lawyers and doctors. You see, those who didn’t come to Malaysia are not so fortunate,” said Mahathir.

Mahathir recommended that people read ‘The price of inequality’ a book written by nobel laureate on economics, Joseph Stiglitz.

On Sunday when addressing a young leaders group at the University of Malaya, Obama had said that “Malaysia cannot flourish if the non-Muslims do not have the same opportunity”.

In his first official state visit, Obama said that “prejudices against people from different religions and races have no place in the modern world and must be removed”.

Obama also said that non-Muslims in Malaysia are currently facing hostility, and that some felt oppressed.

He added that countries, including Malaysia, will not succeed if women, who comprise roughly half of the population, are not given the same opportunities as men.
- http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/04/30/mahathir-disagrees-with-obamas-inequality-remark/

28 April 2014

Bankruptcy cases on the rise in Malaysia


If I understand correctly, according to the news report, from 2007 to 2014, a total of 253,000 people were declared brankrupt. Out of that, 26.54% were due to vehicle loans. Followed by housing loans.

Both housing & car loans are the 2 biggest loans taken by the average person. And both are the most expensive items a person would buy, sometimes in their entire lives.

Houses are becoming or already are unaffordable. What about cars?

Why should cars be the second most expensive? So expensive that consumers need to take a nine-year loan to buy one?




Bankruptcy cases on the rise in Malaysia 

Published: Wednesday April 9, 2014 MYT 1:37:00 PM 

KUALA LUMPUR: Most incidents of bankruptcy in Malaysia arise from the sale and purchase of vehicles, making up 26.54% of the total cases between 2007 and this year.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri said some 33,570 Malaysians were declared bankrupt within that period after they faced problems involving vehicle sales transactions.
"The second cause of bankruptcy is housing loans. This shows that bankruptcy may not necessarily be due to the challenging economy but because of the personal needs of the people," she said during question time in Parliament Wednesday.

Nancy said the economy was only the top fourth reason for bankruptcy while the third factor was problems in personal and business loans.

She said according to the Insolvency Department, the total number of bankrupts as of December last year was 253,635.

The department's records showed that the number of bankruptcy cases was consistently increasing from 13,238 in 2007 to 13,855 in 2008, 16,228 in 2009 and 18,119 in 2010.

Even though the number decreased to 16,167 in 2011, it rose again to 19,525 in 2012 and 21,987 in 2013.

Nancy said bankrupts aged below 25 totalled 1,895 between 2007 and this year, comprising only 1.5% of the total cases. There were 25,552 cases involving those aged between 25 and 34, she added.
On efforts by the Government to combat bankruptcy, Nancy admitted that conducting outreach programmes was not sufficient.

"However, we aggressively carry out programmes that are targeted at specific groups, including single mothers, who may have been left or cheated by their husbands and are forced to settle debts they never took in the first place," she said.

She added that the Government was also in the midst of drafting a law to give a second chance to bankrupts but could not elaborate further on this move.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/04/09/Bankruptcy-on-the-rise-in-Malaysia/

 

23 April 2014

The Chinese poor - Koon Yew Yin

The best thing we can do for ourselves, is to constantly seek the truth. To our children, teach and nurture them to seek knowledge throughout their lives, which will empower them to find truth.

Anyway, this article by Koon Yew Yin is worth highlighting because of the points he raised which are true. There are actually poor Chinese Malaysians. Gasp! Unbelievable? Just as there are poor Malays, poor Indians, generally poor Malaysians!

But in this country, we just love to look at everything from a racial or religious context don't we? Poverty doesn't discriminate. Many people have also highlighted the poor Indians but it is actually sad that many fellow Malaysians, especially those so-called "educated", "middle-class" ones especially who often have scant interest or worse, showed disdain.

But what if I were to highlight the poor Malaysians, the poor-class of all races, Malays, Indians, Chinese, Orang Asli, etc. The urban poor. Mind you, these are the ones whom, everyday, sees you in your luxury cars everyday, your expensive houses & your expensive clothes. things that they will never be able to afford. What do you think is their perception of you? That the world is fair?

In years to come, the gap between the rich and poor will increase. The numbers of the poor will also increase. Many from the so-called "middle class" will join the "poor class". There will ba a class struggle, but politicians will turn it into a racial or religious conflict so that they will stay in power.

Anyway, I would like to add a few comments on some points.

One of the biggest handicaps of the Chinese poor and their children is their inability to communicate effectively in other languages than their own dialects.
This is very true. Isn't it similar to what we hear about Malay youths lacking in English proficiency? I bet everyone thinks that only Malays face this problem because of the standard of our National schools. Well, it's the same in vernacular schools. The difference is, because of the worldwide Chinese diaspora, the Chinese will/can find work overseas (sometimes illegally) while the Malays here have no choice or prefer to remain in Malaysia. It's cultural also I suppose, because Indonesians (belonging to the same Malay stock) are more adventurous and industrious hence venturing out to all corners of the world to make a living. Although we always read about negative reports of Indonesian maids or construction workers overseas, I've always admired their courage to work in a foreign land. It is something that the Chinese have in common with Indonesians.

The Chinese poor are almost completely excluded from all government schemes providing skills training, income generation or educational and housing support. 
Actually, many Chinese come from small towns or villages or the new villages. Some were farmers, hawkers, trishaw pullers, factory workers, etc. Of course, some bigotted Malays online are just so fixated on the idea that the ancenstors of the Chinese here are all prostitutes and coolies.

The Chinese, especially the younger generation, should not resort to doing the same and mock the ancestors of the Malays nor other races. We should never be ashamed of our roots, and our ancestors. We should instead be grateful and honour them for their sacrifice.

It's just too bad that the Malaysian government choose to racialise poverty. But in practise, all races do get help from the government, although there may be some racial biased.


.... they are exploited by their employers, especially in the small and medium-scale enterprises and workshops where they work in dirty jobs for little pay.
This is the reason why I am always perplexed when these Malay NGOs and politicians keep harping on the low percentage of Malays employees in the private sector, especially in these Chinese-run companies. And those ignorant Malay masses, who have never worked a day in these companies, will often parrot that point like they are being discriminated and missing out of untold riches. The fact is, most of them will leave within a year (which is considered good already if they last that long), unable to take the pressure and stress. Their first choice has always been the civil service.



.... they are exploited by money lenders who many have to turn to in view of their frequent need for cash advances to meet emergencies, etc.



A good number of them actually join the underworld or involve in illegal activities. In fact, I noticed that the numbers have not decreased and they do earn good money. Of course, they are not as visible as the Indians, who have taken over the street levels.

The Chinese community also have to deal with bad habits, such as gambling, drugs and alcoholism, which also contributes to the problems with "Alongs".

.... they are exploited by the government which fails to provide them and their children with equal opportunities and regards them as “pendatang”.
This is perhaps the reality the Chinese will have to accept if they want to live peacefully in this country. It's a fact that the civil service, for example, is heavily biased towards Malays. Well, the government have to provide jobs for the Malays. This is the easiest solution to the problem of unemployment among the Malay graduates. I don't think this policy will change anytime soon.


However, I'm quite disappointed when it comes to education because I believe everyone should be entitled to it, regardless of race. Any student who qualifies should be allowed and provided with a place to further their studies. It's a basic human rights that should not be denied. And it should be free. I would rather build one bridge less in order to build 5 more schools. And don't get me started on the quality of education...





The less visible Chinese poor – Koon Yew Yin


April 23, 2014

Perkasa and other Malay right-wing organisations are always complaining about how the Chinese have taken over the country's economy. They use this simplistic observation to frighten Malays to unite under a “ketuanan Melayu” and “ketuanan Islam” banner against so­called Chinese domination of the economy.

But how much of truth is there in this allegation? In earlier analysis, I had pointed out that owing to the New Economic Policy (NEP), the Malays have made tremendous strides since the 1970s in the economic sphere. 

For example, they control Bank Negara and all the major banks (except for Public Bank); all the government-linked companies (GLCs); Petronas; as well as comprise the majority in the top professional and best-paying occupations in the private sector. They, in fact, control what can be called “the commanding heights” of the economy.

What about the Chinese? Firstly, we should realise that not all Chinese are successful in business. In fact, only a tiny minority of Chinese belong to the class of the super­rich or billionaires – perhaps no more than a hundred or even less throughout the country. There is a fairly large Chinese middle class though so that generally, the Chinese are on the average more well off compared to non­Chinese in terms of average household income.

But let's also not forget that income inequality is also highest among the Chinese. What this means is that much of Chinese wealth is concentrated in the hands of the Chinese super­rich and that we have a very large number of Chinese who either fall well below the urban poverty line or are only slightly above the poverty line. Unfortunately, there are few recent studies on the Chinese poor.

The government's statistical department ignores the presence of this group and the academics in the public and private universities have avoided studying them.

Although I am not an academic and have not studied the group of Chinese poor, let me share these observations accumulated through the scholarship programme that I have run for the last five years during which I have received at least one or two applications every week – mostly from the children of poor Chinese. I offer scholarships to help the poor because I was from a poor family before and I know how difficult it is to be poor.

1. The Chinese poor mainly come from Chinese school backgrounds.

2. Many are dropouts and work as unskilled or semi­skilled labour in poorly paid agricultural or urban jobs with little potential for upward mobility.

3. The Chinese poor also come from self-employed backgrounds with businesses such as hawking, food stalls, etc. unable to succeed or grow because of competition and other factors.

4. They are most vulnerable when they are unable to work due to ill health or old age as they do not have access to EPF savings or government pension safety net.

5. Because they are poor, they are unable to provide the proper environment for their children to do well in their studies. This often leads to the reproduction of poverty in the family rather than socio­economic advancement for the younger generation.

6. One of the biggest handicaps of the Chinese poor and their children is their inability to communicate effectively in other languages than their own dialects. This can be seen in the broken English or Bahasa Malaysia letters written to me.

7. The Chinese poor are almost completely excluded from all government schemes providing skills training, income generation or educational and housing support.  

The Chinese poor suffer from exploitation in several ways. Firstly, they are exploited by their employers, especially in the small and medium-scale enterprises and workshops where they work in dirty jobs for little pay.

Secondly, they are exploited by money lenders who many have to turn to in view of their frequent need for cash advances to meet emergencies, etc.

Finally they are exploited by the government which fails to provide them and their children with equal opportunities and regards them as “pendatang”.

Many of the Chinese poor have been citizens of the country for more than one generation – in some cases, several generations. They have lived and contributed their blood and sweat to the country's development far longer than many newly arrived “pendatang” from Indonesia and other Muslim countries.

Malaysia is the only homeland they know but the government continues to treat them as if they are second-class citizens. Is it surprising that they are not loyal to the MCA and the Barisan Nasional when they are treated worse than newly arrived immigrants? Is it surprising that the attitude of the Chinese poor towards the government is so different from that of the Chinese super and very rich? 


http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/the-less-visible-chinese-poor-koon-yew-yin





Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

Bertrand Russell's Message to the Future


Bertrand Russell on God



The Three Passions of Bertrand Russell



Paul McCartney on Bertrand Russell & Views on War





Bertrand Russell on Smoking




Bertrand Russell - Face to Face Interview (BBC, 1959)






And also something about his views on society and world government. New World Order?

http://www.sovereignindependentuk.co.uk/2013/07/30/bertrand-russell-on-the-new-world-order-2/

17 April 2014

Karpal Singh 1940-2014

Today, Malaysia lost a person who's larger than life, a household name, and a fearless politician and lawyer.

Karpal Singh aka Tiger of Jelutong, 74 years old, (1940-2014)

Karpal Singh at the Penang High Court in 1987. - Starpix/CHUAH YEW KHOON
The official photo of the new contender for the Alor Setar Parliament and State seats in 1974.
The president of the University of Singapore’s Dunearn hostel delivering a speech in 1963. – Photo courtesy of Karpal Singh and family

"WITH the passing away of Karpal Singh, the country has lost a great Malaysian, a great man and a great lawyer." - Retired judge Datuk K.C.Vohrah.


Karpal spoke up for all Malaysians, says retired judge

Some may say we have lost a good politician; he was an improbable politician, perhaps, and I often wondered how a patently honest man given to straight talking and straight thinking could have ever become a politician - but his effect as a politician was far-reaching nevertheless.

He made Malaysians aware of unvarnished truths, however unpalatable they were. He spoke loudly on the social ills of the country affecting all communities irrespective of race, religion, gender or creed. He spoke of the problems in the criminal justice system and the legal system and of serious issues of constitutional, administrative and criminal law that need to be addressed, especially in relation to fundamental liberties.

He spoke on issues most people dare not talk about in this country - where most people keep their views to themselves, for whatever reasons.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/04/17/Karpal-Singh-Vohrah-remembers/

 

Penang to give Karpal state-level funeral 

GEORGE TOWN: The funeral of Karpal Singh will be conducted with Penang state honours.
An emergency state exco meeting decided that the state flag would be flown at half-mast until Karpal's funeral on Sunday, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The ceremony, open to the public, will be held at the Dewan Sri Pinang in Light Street on Sunday from 9am to 11pm, and his casket will be draped with the Penang flag.

"Karpal's departure will an immense void, not only in his family's lives, but also in those of all Malaysians who have been inspired by his cause.

"With his passing, the DAP has lost an upstanding and outstanding leader, the nation lost a brilliant legal mind and the people a fearless 'tiger' with an indomitable spirit who stood up for the poor, weak, defenseless and dispossessed.

"He will forever be remembered as a Malaysian patriot who stood valiantly for justice, integrity and freedom without fear or favour," Lim said.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said the party would postpone all party events and functions nationwide to a date after the funeral as a mark of respect. 

We have also established the national funeral committee headed by acting national DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai at the national level, while Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow shall lead the Penang state funeral committee. 

The wake is currently being held at Karpal's residence in 144A, Jalan Utama, beginning 3pm Thursday. 

His cortege will leave for Dewan Sri Pinang on Sunday for the state-level funeral before cremation at the Batu Gantong crematorium.

Karpal's ashes will be scattered in the sea on Monday morning.



Karpal Singh: Lorry driver in crash tested positive for ganja

IPOH: Initial urine sample of the lorry driver, 45, involved in the accident that killed Karpal Singh has tested positive for ganja. 

Perak police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani (pic) said the initial screening showed traces of ganja but it was not conclusive. 

"The second sample has been sent to the pathologist to confirm it.

“Usually when we conduct such a urine screening, we will take two samples of the individual's urine, he told The Star

“If the first screening comes back as positive, then the second sample will be sent to the pathologist for verification. 

“The second sample has been sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for verification,” he said.

"The lorry driver's statements have been taken and he has been released," he added.

When asked on the details of the accident, SDCP Acryl Sani said it was being investigated.

"We need to get all statements involved to check on the evidence to conclude what had happened," he said.

"We are in the process of getting statements from Karpal's driver," he added.

Sources also revealed that Karpal’s vehicle had about 15 outstanding summonses for speeding. 
The source revealed that the Toyota Alphard accumulated a total of 29 traffic summonses, of which 15 had not been settled.  

SDCP Acryl said the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. 

The Bukit Gelugor MP and veteran DAP leader was killed when the car he was travelling in collided with a five-tonne lorry near Gua Tempurung on the North South Expressway  early Thursday.

The impact of the crash at about 1am killed the prominent lawyer and his assistant, C. Michael, on the spot. Karpal's son, Ramkarpal, and the car's driver, C. Selvam, were injured.


Karpal's Indonesian domestic helper was also injured and is in critical condition.


He was on his way to Penang to attend a court case later in the day.


In 2005, Karpal was involved in an accident which left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound. He was returning to his home in Penang when a car hit his taxi at the rear.


Karpal graduated from University of Singapore and started his law practice before becoming a DAP politician in 1978.


He recently stepped down as DAP chairman pending his appeal against a sedition charge of uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak in 2009.

More news: http://www.thestar.com.my/Topics/2014/04/17/Karpal-Singh/



In remembrance


Karpal with Tok Guru Nik Aziz

Karpal with Tunku Abdul Rahman

Karpal with Tun Dr Mahathir




Levitation with Acoustics




The idea that something so intangible can lift objects can seem unbelievable, but it's a real phenomenon. Acoustic levitation takes advantage of the properties of sound to cause solids, liquids and heavy gases to float. The process can take place in normal or reduced gravity. In other words, sound can levitate objects on Earth or in gas-filled enclosures in space.

Read more - http://science.howstuffworks.com/acoustic-levitation.htm

13 April 2014

Water rationing in Selangor: Dumb excuses

If there's one thing I hate more than stupidity, it's condescending people. And the state & federal government and agencies are full of them.

Let's get one thing clear. Water is free! Nobody can legally own water.

What we have here in Selangor and other states is a failure to manage the resource, which is free to begin with.

Water and Energy Consumer Association of Malaysia secretary-general Foon Weng Lian reportedly said the exercise will change the attitude of consumers who had taken the resource for granted and use them excessively.
The "exercise"? Is this an exercise to you? If you mean it in the physical sense, then the people are obviously getting lots of that from carrying buckets of water! Consumers have NEVER taken water for granted. It's the authorities who have taken the consumers and the nation for a ride! Who allowed rivers to be contaminated? Who failed to ensure adequate supply of clean water? Who failed to fix those leaking pipes? Who is in charge of managing water resources? Consumers or the authorities & government?


....Klang MP Charles Santiago said Malaysians used far more water in their households than those recommended by the United Nations.... "Malaysians used 500 litres per day, compared with 155 litres in Singapore and 90 litres in Thailand. The UN's recommendation is only about 200 litres per day... This has prompted him to urge that water users to switch up their lifestyle and play their part by reducing water usage on non-critical activities like washing cars....
The last time I checked, I am a long way off from using 500 litres of water a day. I would really like to know how I can achieve that amount of usage. Do I need to leave the taps running the whole day? In fact, we have so much of rainfall that our roads turn into rivers!

I've had it with these people telling others to change their lifestyle. In the first place, who do they think they are, telling others to change their lifestyle? What lifestyle? Take a look around you. The only lifestyle the people have are getting up in the morning, getting stuck in traffic jams going to work, and another round going home, eat, shower, sleep. and then repeat the next day. So, what lifestyle are they talking about? Oh, thanks to them, we now have to keep buckets of water in the house.

Do people wash their cars everyday? What are we supposed to do when our cars are covered with yellowish mud stains courtesy of the construction works happening at almost every street corner? Are you suggesting we just drive around in dirty cars? The fact is, consumers HAVE NO CHOICE but to scrub off the dirt every week, if we are lucky it lasts that long!

I would really like to know, how does a person waste water? Is it by taking that extra shower a day? washing the car once a week? How much water do manufacturers & factories use? A lot! Perhaps that would be a good place to start don't you think?

If you guys can't manage the resources, and then have the cheek to give stupid excuses and blame the consumers, I suggest that you resign immediately.

Oh, and the next person who says there's still not enough rain to fill the dams, I suggest that they line themselves up at the nearest river after a thunderstorm and jump in.




Water rationing in Selangor: Authorities should stop playing stupid!


Posted on 12/04/2014 - 20:09
Cindi Loo

PETALING JAYA: Civil society has been sparring over what is meant to be a "lesson" behind the water rationing exercise in Selangor. Some say it is a reminder to educate consumers not to waste water while others feel that consumers are victims of a political ping-pong game and inefficient management of water.

On one hand, consumers affected by the ongoing Selangor water rationing exercise since early March have been told by experts to monitor their water usage so as not to waste water.

Water and Energy Consumer Association of Malaysia secretary-general Foon Weng Lian reportedly said the exercise will change the attitude of consumers who had taken the resource for granted and use them excessively.

However, another consumer association had lambasted critics for making consumers the scapegoat when water resources in Selangor have been badly managed for decades.


"It is always convenient for those responsible and had mismanaged the water resources to blame consumers over so-called wastages of water in order to hide their incompetence," said Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam chairman Datuk Dr Jacob George.

Selangor had been on a water rationing exercise since early March in a bid to regulate water consumption among all households in the state following a long dry spell that caused the water levels in several dams to reach critical points.

The rationing exercise would allow all areas in Selangor to enjoy some amount of water instead of having selected areas suffer through long periods of dry taps.


George told theantdaily that the rationing exercise is conducted in futility as it is only a short-term solution to a long-term problem that is likely to go on for years.


"We went on the ground to conduct our research in Selangor and other neighbouring states and we found that their water supply had not been properly managed, with the exception of Johor.

"This is supposed to be the most developed state in the country but it does not translate to intelligent management of resources," he said.

George added that the authorities should pay attention particularly to the operations of water concessionaires that took their time conducting repairs and maintenance, such as to reduce the outflow of non-revenue water.


"The loss of non-revenue water is now at 33% to 35%, but the CEOs' salaries seemed to keep increasing when they did not do their jobs properly," he said.

He also urged the federal government and the state government, which are run by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat respectively, to establish a proper joint working relationship that does not give way to allowing politicians to score points with the public.

"The present situation is akin to telling each other 'I told you so', especially when it comes with the Langat 2 water treatment plant. They are playing hostile ping pong and having back and forth arguments,"

"What we need now is a proper solution that does not involve politicians using this water issue to take pot shots over their rivals, and have us return to normal life as soon as possible" he said.

George also said the mixed messages sent out by the authorities as to the status of the current water rationing exercise can be infuriating to consumers.

"One moment they said the water rationing might extend all the way to December, but the other moment they said they can relax the rationing due to better water levels,"

"It shows that the authorities do not have a proper action plan that should be carried out and are relying on any changes of the environment. It's very worrying," he said.

The contention surrounding the water usage and the rationing exercise have stirred conversations about the amount of water an ordinary user will use in a day while unwittingly wasting water.

Although the public have blame much of their agony on the mishandling of water resources by authorities, Klang MP Charles Santiago said Malaysians used far more water in their households than those recommended by the United Nations.

"Malaysians used 500 litres per day, compared with 155 litres in Singapore and 90 litres in Thailand. The UN's recommendation is only about 200 litres per day," he said in a statement.

This has prompted him to urge that water users to switch up their lifestyle and play their part by reducing water usage on non-critical activities like washing cars.

"For example, even if the cars being washed were to be halved to say half a million a week, the amount of water being used daily for that purpose would be 1.75 million litres per day,

"Stopping cars from being washed saves up to eight times more water compared to water rationing," he said.

Santiago also urged that both governments make rain harvesting as a priority measure to combat water shortages as the country may face another round of drought between June and September.

"There is a lack of political will on the part of the federal and state governments to stop commercial development in water catchment areas. Catchment areas should be gazetted urgently,"

"Both governments cannot play stupid anymore. They must enact laws and regulation to support rain water harvesting as a matter of priority given that we might be facing another drought between June and September this year," he added.

- http://www.theantdaily.com/news/2014/04/12/water-rationing-selangor-authorities-should-stop-playing-stupid



Related posts:

http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/03/selangor-water-crisis-car-washing-and.html
http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/03/selangor-water-rationing-more-areas.html
http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/03/selangor-water-rationing.html

04 April 2014

Chinese Tourist & Filipino Worker Abducted in Sabah

Whoever is responsible for this round of abduction has been doing this for years. That area has a history of abductions for ransom. It seems like these criminals have made a career out of this despicable act. I would venture to say that it is an act of terrorism. I wonder how a group of armed men is able to terrorize a country, which has military forces, for so many years. Apparently, according to some online news, there are still hostages in thier hands dating back years.

So much for Visit Malaysia Year... crime, haze, water crisis, invasions, missing plane, abductions – when it rains, it really pours!

Let's hope both of the hostages - Gao Huayuan, 29, a tourist from Shanghai and Marcy Dayawan, 40, a Filipina hotel employee, are safe and will be released soon.




Gao Huayuan, 29, a tourist from Shanghai








Chinese national, Filipino, abducted near Semporna

KOTA KINABALU: Two women, a Chinese national and a Filipino, were abducted from a resort located off Semporna last night, Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) director general Datuk Mohammad Mentek said.
They were at the resort jetty when a group of men, including one who was armed with a pistol, landed and took them away at about 10.30pm.

The jetty was the was the furthest point from the resort, which is built on stilts in shallow waters or commonly known as a floating resort, located less than 30 minutes by boat from Semporna town.
At the time there were other guests and staff at the resort.

On November 15 last year, another kidnapping incident occurred when armed man landed on Pom-Pom island near Semporna and killed a Taiwanese tourist and abducted his wife. The wife was later rescued by Philippines security forces on Dec 20.





China demands Malaysia ensure safety of Chinese after kidnap

Some Malaysian media reports said the 29-year old tourist was in her room when the gunmen forced her out into a waiting boat. Those reports were unclear where the hotel worker, aged 40, was when she was abducted. Other reports said both women were on a jetty when they were snatched.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing in Beijing that its consulate in Malaysian Borneo had demanded "that local police fully put into effect rescue work on the basis of guaranteeing safety and to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists there."

"The Chinese foreign ministry will pay close attention to how the situation develops," he added.

Abductions in Semporna could be deliberate act to sour Malaysia-China ties: Najib

PERTH/SEMPORNA - Malaysia is not ruling out the possibility that the latest abductions at a resort off Semporna, Sabah, are a deliberate act to sour the country's relations with China.

The Star newspaper quoted Prime Minister Najib Razak as saying on Thursday that the fact that one of those kidnapped was a Chinese national could further strain the already tense situation, following the Malaysia Airlines MH370 crisis.




Semporna resort kidnap: China's netizens call for rationality in comments

On Wednesday, Gao Huayuan, 29, a tourist from Shanghai, was taken along with Filipina hotel employee Marcy Dayawan, 40, in a raid by about six gunmen at around 10:30pm. There were 58 other Chinese tourists at the resort.
- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/04/03/semporna-resort-kidnap-chinese-netizens-call-for-rational-voice/

Selangor Water Rationing: Phase 4 (rationing ended 1 May 2014)

According to "the powers who controls water", they've decided to end the water rationing on 1 May 2014, and about time too. Let's see what happens when the next dry season decends upon us in a month or two...

Sadly, besides pumping water from a mining pond, it seems that they still have not found a permanent solution yet.

Until the next time we face the wrath of "the powers who controls water", I reckon many consumers will still be saving buckets of water all over the house, just in case...

Updated: Thursday May 1, 2014 MYT 9:29:37 AM

Water rationing ends today


SHAH ALAM: Residents in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya need no longer suffer the inconvenience of water rationing beginning today.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the water rationing exercise would end today.

All areas affected by the rationing will receive normal supply of water beginning today and the latest by Friday for localities with low water pressure, Khalid told a press conference after chairing the weekly exco meeting yesterday....

... “When we decided to consider (lifting the rationing) last week, the water level in the dam was about 37% to 38%,” said Khalid.

...“Based on that calculation, we assume we would have water to last everyone for five to six months,” explained Khalid, adding that the water level at the Sungai Selangor dam currently stood at 40%.

...The Mentri Besar, who could not say if water rationing would be implemented again, said the decision to call off the rationing would be reviewed from time to time. 




Updated: Thursday May 1, 2014 MYT 6:35:29 AM

Selangor government slammed for 'idiotic move'


PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government has made an “unprofessional and idiotic move” in deciding to end water rationing in all areas as the critically important Sungai Selangor dam’s level is still below 55%, said the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia.

Its president S. Piarapakaran slammed Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s announcement yesterday as a populist move instead of a sound technical decision.

“The Sungai Selangor dam is only now reaching around the 40% level. This level increased by just 1% after two to three weeks of rain, as well as pumping of ex-mining pool water,” he said.

...He said this was because mining pools were man-made and filled up by rain water, which would be scarce during the dry spell. 

“Where are you going to pump the water from? If anything happens to the Sungai Selangor dam, we will be sitting ducks. We could even enter a situation where you receive water once a week,” he warned.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/01/Selangor-government-slammed-for-idiotic-move/





(4/4/14)
It's been raining almost every day these past few weeks. But according to the powers who controls water in Selangor, it did not rain at the reservoirs. I suppose, going by their logic, reservoirs are like buckets and collect water when it rains on them and not from sources such as rivers.

Now, the powers who controls water says that rationing must be continued for another month even when there is rain. The people of Selangor are surprisingly taking this rather well. Why don't we ration water permanently since Malaysia have two dry spells a year due to the monsoon season.

Then, we don't have to waste money building more dams & water treatment plants. Maybe the developers should consider including wells in their property development in the future.

List of affected areas provided by syabas: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz75RsRsLRYdaWRpMEJkVWk3XzA/view?pli=1&sle=true

http://www.syabas.com.my/media/water-disruption#1



  • “Seeing as the levels in the dams are still low, SPAN has agreed to continue the third stage of scheduled water distribution until Apr 30,” a spokesperson said.
  • As of Friday morning, these dams were at: 90.19% (Batu), 50.11% (Klang Gates), 49.31% (Langat), 72.31% (Semenyih), 36.74% (Sg Selangor), 62.7% (Sg Tinggi) and 87.93% (Tasik Subang).




Water rationing in Selangor extended to April 30

Updated: Friday March 28, 2014 MYT 9:03:33 PM

PETALING JAYA: Water rationing in Selangor has been extended to April 30 this year, with more areas expected to see dry taps as the country struggles with an on-going heat wave in the Peninsular.

The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) in a statement said Selangor’s seven dams were drying up, and that recent rainfall was too slight to increase water levels there.

“Seeing as the levels in the dams are still low, SPAN has agreed to continue the third stage of scheduled water distribution until Apr 30,” a spokesperson said.

SPAN added that a meeting between them, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, Selangor Government, water operators and other agencies on Friday led to a decision that a fourth phase of water rationing was to take place from Apr 4 onwards.

It added that under this phase, water rationing would be further expanded to other areas in Selangor, adding that details on this would be revealed by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) on Apr 1.

Set up on March 10, Selangor’s third phase of water rationing covers a total of 722,032 households or 3.6 million people.

Districts affected include Gombak, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Langat, USJ and Kuala Lumpur.

SPAN added that water rationing would also continue for 60,185 households affected by the closure of the Batu 11 (Cheras) and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants.

According to data provided by SPAN, the Sungai Selangor Dam collected only 2mm in Feb 2014, and 41mm of rainwater as from March 1 to March 27.

In comparison, the dam collected 149mm and 107mm of rainwater in March and Feb last year.

LUAS, the Selangor Water Management Authority, on its website showed that all dams in Selangor saw lower water levels than last week.

As of Friday morning, these dams were at: 90.19% (Batu), 50.11% (Klang Gates), 49.31% (Langat), 72.31% (Semenyih), 36.74% (Sg Selangor), 62.7% (Sg Tinggi) and 87.93% (Tasik Subang).

LUAS previously told The Star that the situation at Sungai Selangor would be considered critical if levels dipped below 30%.

Earlier this month, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximums Johnity Ongkili said that a water emergency may be declared if conditions did not improve.
- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/28/Water-rationing-in-Selangor-extended/




Related posts:
http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/04/water-rationing-in-selangor-dumb-excuses.html
http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/03/selangor-water-crisis-car-washing-and.html
http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/03/selangor-water-rationing-more-areas.html
http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/03/selangor-water-rationing.html