Tun Mahathir is Proton Chairman

Well, well. It looks like the good times are back... for Proton that is. It can be safely assumed that Malaysian's will continue paying ridiculous prices for their cars forever. What does it tell us about the company when it needs an ex-Prime Minister to "make it a success"? Wouldn't they be better off by appointing internationally successful professionals instead? Like other auto companies who hired established professionals to be part of their team? Like KIA's Design Director, Peter Schreyer?

Anyway, whatever suggestions given by auto industry experts in Malaysia all these years are purely academic. It's not like the people at Proton doesn't know.

The question is, do the Malaysian public still care whether Proton succeeds or not? All car buyers are only concerned about one thing, the price of cars! Something is seriously wrong when we have to take 9-year loans for a car.

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Tun Mahathir confirms appointment as Proton chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed that he will be appointed Chairman of Proton Holdings Bhd.

The official announcement is expected to be made tomorrow.

"My plan is to work with Proton, and make it (Proton) a success," he told reporters before the Asian Banker Annual Leadership Achievement Awards Dinner 2014 here tonight.

Read more: Tun Mahathir confirms appointment as Proton chairman - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/tun-mahathir-confirms-appointment-as-proton-chairman-1.601747#ixzz32Kx6lhrA

The Invention of Lying

Happy Wesak Day

Health, Contentment & Trust are things we often take for granted. We live in a material world. We need money for shelter, food, education, etc. Therefore, in our journey in life, let us not let our lives be dictated by money and wealth. When you are happy with whatever you have, that's contentment.

Trust, sadly is in short supply these days. I've noticed that people, in their pursuit of wealth, are willing to do almost anything. Especially those who have a decent education and job, white-collar workers and professionals. Even with a job and paycheck, they are not contented. Some will cheat, steal, and even betray their families and make use of their friends. Blinded by greed and accustomed to unethical ways, sometimes, they are not even aware that they have committed a crime or offence that could ruin their lives and the lives of those they've wronged. Trust means very little to them. 

Trust is also lacking in business, friendship, and even politics. Trust is abused so often, people have become accustomed to it. What becomes of a society, when trust means so little? Has trust lost it's value in modern times?

Health is the most precious gain and contentment the greatest wealth. A trustworthy person is the best kinsman, Nibbana the highest bliss.

Ārogyaparamā lābhā santuṭṭhiparamaṃ dhanaṃ
Vissāsaparamā ñātī nibbāṇaparamaṃ sukhaṃ.

- Dhammapada Verse 204

https://www.facebook.com/tbcm.org.my

Monks at the Sri Lanka Buddhist temple in Sentul, preparing colourful paper lanterns to hang around the temple grounds during the Wesak celebrations.

Reuse and reduce: Juliet Wong Ming Sze, 10, shows a cut-out plastic bottle made by students of the Buddhist Institute Sunday Dhamma School in Brickfileds to hold lotus candles.

 

A greener, more meaningful event to mark Wesak Day 

SOME Buddhist temples are trying to ensure that this year’s Wesak Day will be a greener event by building their own floats with recycled materials and by not using disposable utensils.

Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple deputy chief monk Rev Siriwimala said Wesak should be a day to focus on Buddha and his teachings.

“Wesak is a day where we commemorate his birth, enlightenment and death but we should also take time to thank Mother Nature for what she has given us.

“We will not play loud music as we want to create a more peaceful environment for devotees,” he said.

The temple decided to cut costs by making the procession floats themselves instead of paying outsiders to construct them.

Read more here: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/05/13/A-greener-more-meaningful-event-Buddhist-devotees-and-monks-take-ecofriendly-measures-to-mark-Wesak/

 

Missing: Low Min You

Do not leave your kids in the car unattended. This has been happening too often. I've seen kids left alone in the cars too many times. If you need to run errands, take them with you. Never leave kids out of your sight, even for a second.

Hope the person/persons whom have abducted little Min You will have some compassion and return him to his parents.

Min You: The three-year-old was sleeping in the pick-up car when it was driven off.

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Vehicle and son driven off while dad takes a leak

Where’s the boy?: ACP Jauteh (left) and his police officers at the scene where the stolen vehicle was found near Signal Hill in Kota Kinabalu.

KOTA KINABALU: A three-year-old boy is missing after the pick-up car he was sleeping in was driven off.

Low Yee Sheng, 31, left his son in the vehicle with the engine running next to a petrol station to use the toilet at 5.50am yesterday.

He found the vehicle later but the boy, Low Min You, was nowhere to be seen.

The father of two was walking back to where he had parked the vehicle when he realised it had been driven off.

Low immediately alerted the police, who eventually found the vehicle abandoned near the Atkinson Tower parking area in Signal Hill here at 9.30am, about 2.5km from where it went missing.

The boy was not in the vehicle or in the immediate area. 

The police mobilised a canine unit to search for Min You. He was wearing a blue shirt and green shorts when last seen.

Low, who is from the peninsula and works as a CCTV installer, had apparently returned home at 4am. He has been living in Sabah the last six years with his Sabahan wife Yong Siau Yee, 26.

Initial police investigations showed that Low had left their home in Telipok, just outside the city, at 5am with his son after a quarrel with his wife over his drinking habits and late nights.

When met at the scene where the vehicle was recovered, the distraught father said he was in a state of shock.

“I left my son in the car because he was sleeping. I took less than five minutes at the washroom,” said Low.

He told reporters that he had come to the Kg Air area in the city to check into a hotel.

Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm Jauteh Jikun said they were looking at all angles into the incident and the search for the boy was continuing.

Later last night, a Michelle Lim (believed to be the boy’s mother) posted on Facebook a RM20,000 reward to anyone who finds the boy.

“Please don’t spread rumours, cause that will cause us pain. Thank you so much,” she said in the post.

At press time, there has been no leads on the boy’s whereabouts or the people who might be behind it.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/10/Vehicle-and-son-driven-off-while-dad-takes-a-leak/

RPK: Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink

I think it is timely that RPK has decided to write about the water mismanagement in Selangor & Kuala Lumpur. He has done a great service to the people of Malaysia.

The main point which I would like to highlight is that everybody, Federal Government, State Government, BN, Pakatan Rakyat, and the relevant Governement Department & Ministries, are all aware of this problem. They've know about this 30 years ago.

1. Non-revenue water is high, averaging at 47% nationwide.
2. Privatised water management companies such as Syabas only process the water to be sold to consumers.
3. The State or Federal Government is responsible for the pipes. So, non-revenue water is the government's problem.
4. The water we are supplied with is actually toxic.
5. Building more dams & treatment plants will not solve the problem because the main problem is the toxic & leaking pipes. It will only benefit the water consessionaires, aka water corporations.

So, all of these people mentioned above should stop playing games and feigning ignorance.

As Malaysians, will these people who are given the power and responsibility to manage the country's resources do what is right?

Collectively, they have failed in their duties. They have put their own interests above the nation's.

If this is not treason, I don't know what is.

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Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink

Do you really need to be a water engineer to know that you have no water when you open your tap and nothing comes out of it? Do you really need to be a water engineer to know that your water is dirty when the water that comes out of your tap is brown in colour?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

About 30 years ago, I attended a meeting at the Bankers Club Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the then Deputy Director General of the Public Works Department to listen to a talk on water. What I learned was quiet interesting.

More than 70% of the earth is covered with water but about 97% is seawater. Out of about 3% fresh water only about 1% is potable. Hence we actually have very little water to drink unless we want to melt the glaziers, condense the water vapour in the air, drain the lakes and rivers, and whatnot.
In Malaysia, all our rivers are polluted and we need to treat the water with a high dosage of chemicals to make it safe to drink. The chemicals we use in our water far exceed the recommended (or safe) dosage of the United Nations World Health Organisation by more than ten times.

In other words, we are poisoning our drinking water. Even then we are advised to boil this water before drinking it to kill the bacteria in the water. And because we are drinking chemical-laced water the incidence of cancer is very high.

This is what the Finnish Study Links Chlorinated Water to Cancer reported. “Statistically significant exposure-response association was observed between exposure to chlorinated water and incidence of bladder, kidney and stomach cancers. In an ordinary municipality using chlorinated surface water, this exposure would indicate a relative risk of 1.2 for bladder cancer and 1.2 to 1.4 for kidney cancer compared with municipalities where non-mutagenic drinking water was consumed.”
About a year or two after that talk at the Bankers Club Kuala Lumpur, I presented a paper to the Public Works Department at the request of the Works Minister, Samy Vellu. This paper was actually the same one that I presented to the Finance Minister, Daim Zainuddin, who referred this matter to the Works Minister. Daim was kind enough to give me an appointment to explain what my paper was about and after he heard what I had to say he arranged for me to meet Samy Vellu, the man in charge of this matter.

This paper was very thick, obviously, but the summary of what I was telling the government is that Malaysia’s NRW (Non-Revenue Water) averages 45% (and as high as 70% in some areas) while the UN recommended NRW is less than 20%. Hence we are more than double the international standards. And the result of this would be: in roughly 20-30 years time (in the new Millennium) Malaysia will run short of water, especially in places like the Kelang Valley.

Hence the government must do something about it.

I do not know whether this was why the government decided to privatise the water industry soon after that. But I spoke out against the Malaysian government’s privatisation plan because they only privatised the production of water and not the distribution of water, which was where the real problem of the 45% NRW lies. Hence the government is not going to solve the problem of the NRW and the possible water shortage by 2000-2010 or so if the source of the problem, the 45% NRW, is not addressed.

Unfortunately, I am not a water engineer (in fact, I am not an engineer, period). I am also not an Umno politician (in fact, I am not a politician, period). Hence no one would want to take what I say seriously (even though a number of Pengarah JKR whispered that they agreed with me but this has to be a political and not a technical decision — as is always the case in Malaysia).

Why I decided to embark on this ‘crusade’ is simple. I am a product of the 1960s. And those who were teenagers or were growing up in the 1960s would remember the three-day 1969 Woodstock Music Festival that, as far as I am concerned, changed the world.

Later, Woodstock came into the news yet again. And this time it was because Woodstock was reported to have the highest incidence of stomach cancer in the United States. And the cause of this cancer was traced to the town’s water supply and the use of AC pipes.

And Malaysia, too, used AC pipes, which the United States banned but we were still using. Hence my proposal to the government was not to produce more water by building more treatment plants but to improve the efficiency of the distribution of water by reducing the NRW by more than half and at the same time get rid of all those pipes that are a health hazard and will expose Malaysians to the risk of cancer.

Is it not ironical that we ban smoking in public places because of the risk of cancer and then we supply Malaysians with water that will give us cancer? And what will happen after 2000 when highly urbanised areas like the Kelang Valley run short of water? Will we then impose water rationing and ban the washing of cars and the watering of lawns?

That must have sounded very dramatic back in the late 1980s to early 1990s, a sort of doomsday scenario. But those living in the Kelang Valley today, 25 years or so later, might not think so.
Today, we blame the Federal Government or Umno or Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim for the dilemma that Selangor is facing. We turn this into a political issue. The fact remains that the Federal Government was warned and Anwar Ibrahim who took over from Daim Zainuddin as Finance Minister soon after that was also warned.

So, yes, the Federal Government, the Selangor Government, Umno, and so on, should be blamed. But I feel Anwar should also apologise to the nation or to the Selangor State and admit that when he was the number two in the government he failed to address this issue, which now has become a crisis for Selangor.

And is not Anwar the Economic Adviser for Selangor?

Four and a half years ago, or two and a half years after the 2008 general election, I raised this issue amongst many other issues with Anwar when he visited the UK and we met in London. Anwar’s response was that ‘we cannot listen to everything that Raja Petra Kamarudin says. He is living in the UK and he cannot tell us what to do’.

That is true. That is also the same response I received back in the 1990s. ‘Who is Raja Petra Kamarudin? He is not a water engineer.’ But do you really need to be a water engineer to know that you have no water when you open your tap and nothing comes out of it? Do you really need to be a water engineer to know that your water is dirty when the water that comes out of your tap is brown in colour?

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What a woeful waste of water

PETALING JAYA: Leaky, ageing pipes are taking a huge toll on the country, with close to two trillion litres of treated water lost to seepage, poor water quality and frequent disruptions at the consumer end.

And it’s going to get worse. Much of the problem lies in the 43,890km of ageing pipes around the country.

Made of asbestos-cement (AC), these pipes were installed in vast numbers decades ago.

They have a lifespan of 30 years and many have outlived their usefulness or are getting there.

Last year alone, nearly two trillion litres of treated water were lost.

The non-revenue water (NRW) was more than a third of all treated water pumped out of plants in 2012 – enough to supply every family in the country with water for 189 days, or fill 797,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The leakage forced water operators to pump more through the pipes to meet demand.

“An interruption of water supply for frequent pipe burst and repairs can cause low water pressure for consumers as well as affect water quality,” said Malaysian Water Association council member Hai­ri Basri.

In 2012, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) found that of the 1.994 trillion litres of water was lost, and 3.479 trillion litres reached people’s taps – an NRW level of 36.4%.

Hairi said: “We can’t be proud of an industry that lost 36.4% of its final product before it could reach consumers.”

SPAN executive director (Water Regulatory Department) Marzuki Mohammad said the installing of AC pipes was stopped in the early 90s and the country’s pipes need to be changed.

Modern day water distributors use copper, stainless steel or ductile iron pipes.

“If replacement does not keep pace with the deterioration of the pipes, leakages and NRW will keep rising with water suppliers suffering more losses,” he said.

It shows in SPAN’s numbers. In 2011, a total of 1.939 trillion litres were lost. Last year, it was 1.994 trillion – a staggering 55 billion litres more.

There was a burst pipe, breakage or leak reported every 84 seconds in Malaysia last year, amounting to 376,159 complaints in total.

The number of unscheduled water disruption also rose from 214,270 in 2011 to 238,542 in 2012.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/11/13/What-a-woeful-waste-of-water-Two-trillion-litres-lost-each-year-and-its-going-to-get-worse.aspx/

Malaysia Airlines MH370 Crash - Updated (8 May 2014)

Two months on, still nothing. Zero. I really find it hard to believe that not a single shred of evidence has been found if indeed the plane crashed where they said it did.

Worse is, by their own admission, they are going back to the drawing board, after wasting 2 months of effort.

Why the u-turn now, when they were so convinced with the Inmarsat data in the first place? This proves that the information provided by Inmarsat is unreliable. And Malaysia still insist on searching in the SAME AREA?

It makes no sense at all.

Common sense tells us that when we go back to the drawing board, ALL possibilities, data and information should not be discounted. Hence, they should be investigating all claims and angles. The nothern arch perhaps? the South China Sea? Gulf of Thailand?

Missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370: Officials say it's back to drawing board with data as search enters ‘new phase’ 

“Unfortunately all of that effort has found nothing. We have been confident on the basis of the information provided that the search area was the right one, but in practice that confidence has not been converted into us discovering any trace of the aircraft.”

Mr Truss said that as visual searches above the surface seemed increasingly unlikely to produce any sign of debris from the plane, the next stage of the search would be “focussed on intensifying the ocean floor search in a much larger area”.

Angus Houston, the former chief marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force tasked with leading the search, said they wanted to ensure their assumptions were correct. 

“We've got to this stage of the process where it's very sensible to go back and have a look at all of the data that has been gathered, all of the analysis that has been done and make sure there's no flaws in it, the assumptions are right, the analysis is right and the deductions and conclusions are right,” he said.

- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370-officials-say-its-back-to-drawing-board-with-data-as-search-enters-new-phase-9323768.html

Govt seeks help from local firms in MH370 search mission

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian companies are ready to deploy their specialised assets in the new deepwater search phase for flight MH370.

Acting transport minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he has contacted SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd (SapuraKencana), Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Boustead Holding Bhd, Deftech Engineering Sdn Bhd to assist in the search mission.

"These companies have been contacted to possibly deploy their specialised assets to help in the search mission," Hishammuddin said.

Hishammuddin was referring to underwater systems and platforms which include unmanned vehicles, deep-water side-scan sonars, remotely operated vehicles, and support vessels.

- http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1034927

 

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US pilot believes he's found wreckage of missing airliner

Published: 15:12 GMT, 28 April 2014 | Updated: 16:45 GMT, 28 April 2014

A pilot from New York believes he has found the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airline Flight 370 off the coast of Thailand after searching thousands of satellite images online.

Michael Hoebel, 60, spent hours trawling through the images made available to the public on a crowd-sourcing website, TomNod.com, before coming across what he believes is the doomed plane.

The recreational pilot from Tonawanda said he was shocked to discover that the aircraft, which vanished two months ago, appeared to be in one piece beneath the water off the northeast coast of Malaysia, just west of Songkhla in Thailand. The image was taken days after the crash.

- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614932/U-S-pilot-believes-hes-wreckage-missing-Malaysia-flight-searching-satellite-images.html

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An interesting take on what happened to Flight MH370...

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Day 23 (30 March 2014) - Looks like it's going to be a long search

Malaysia flight MH370: Chinese families vent anger

Relatives of Chinese passengers from the missing Malaysian plane have vented their anger at government officials, after arriving in Kuala Lumpur.

Chanting "Tell us the truth", they said they wanted the Malaysian prime minister to apologise for what they regard as misleading statements.

Ten planes and eight ships are looking for remains of the airliner in a vast area of the Indian Ocean.

An Australian vessel carrying a US device known as a "towed pinger locator" is due to join the search in the coming days.

The device is designed to detect any ultrasonic signals - "pings" - from flight recorders and can operate up to a depth of about 6,000m.

But the search area is huge - covering some 319,000 sq km (123,000 sq miles) - and time is running short. The flight recorders' batteries are expected to run out in about a week's time.

- http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26806791

As much as I sympathise with the Chinese people and the families of the crew and passengers for their loss, but I think the Chinese group's unrelentless demands and criticism on the Malaysian Government and Malaysians in general are becoming illogical. There are people from other nations including Malaysian passengers and crew on that plane. In times of crisis and loss, we sometimes lose sight of reality. To the people of China and others critical of Malaysia, please know that the people of Malaysia can empathise with you because we lost our people as well. Although Malaysia has it's shortcomings, I'm positive that the Malaysian government is doing it's best. If there are indeed reasonable suspicion on the government's actions, the families of the Malaysian passengers will be the first to demand answers. But in the meantime, it is prudent for everyone to remain gounded and focus on the more important task of finding the plane.

Sometimes, the answers you seek lies with those countries which possess more advanced technology and counter intelligence capabilities. In this day and age, it is no child's play to make a jetliner disappear without anyone knowing about it. And if those advanced nations, with their advanced equipments, ships, planes and satellites, still couldn't find the plane, who else can?

Malaysians, regardless of political affiliation, shoud not add fuel to the fire. This tragedy, if you have not realised already, is going to have a heavy impact on our country more than one would think.

However, the worst come from Malaysians themselves, some whom are exploiting this tragedy for politics, criticising the country, and even questioning the loyalty of Chinese Malaysians just because of the actions and political affliation of a disillusioned few.

It has never crossed the small minds of these Chinese haters that there were many Chinese Malaysians on board that plane, including crew members. It matters not to these Chinese haters that there are many Chinese Malaysian volunteers who are currently providing support and counselling to the grieving families. These people also conveniently disregard the actions and words from those of their own race in disparaging their own country and government. They also conveniently ignore the less than flattering reporting by some of the foreign press.

The loyalty of citizens are to the country, not to personalities or political parties.

There are insidious and traitorous persons and groups bent on creating disharmony in this country. It is sad that these types would exploit a tragedy like this for their own agendas. And their relentless pursuit of blaming and threatening the Chinese shows their true racist views and motives. Perhaps that is their idea of loyalty?

And the irony is, these are the same people who would deny they are racists, often hiding behind their Chinese relatives, parent, spouse or friends. These are the same people, whom have no compunction in proclaiming sympathy for the families of this tragedy while in the same breath, spewing hate towards the Chinese.

They say, trying times brings out the best in people, but sometimes, we get the opposite.

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Day 19 (27 March 2014) - Search continues

When the Prime Minister made the announcement 2 days ago, many thought that they had discovered debris from the plane. Unfortunately, it was only based on the data from Inmarsat.

Today, French satellite photos showed 122 potential objects. And apparently, the first lawsuit against Malaysia Airline & Boeing is on it's way. Looks like money is a priority for some people.

The objects spotted by French satellites. Images processed by MRSA.

"MRSA analysed the images, and in an area measuring some 400 sq km, were able to identify 122 potential objects. Some objects were a metre in length, some objects were 23 metres in length. Some of the objects appeared bright, possibly indicating solid material," said Hishammuddin during a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Wednesday.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/26/MH370-crash-new-french-sat-pix-122-objects/

U.S. law firm seeks records from Malaysian Airlines, Boeing

(Reuters) - Malaysian Airlines and Boeing Co are facing a potential lawsuit over the Beijing-bound flight that disappeared more than two weeks ago with 239 people on board, according to a law firm representing passengers' families.

A petition for discovery has been filed against Boeing Co, manufacturer of the aircraft, and Malaysian Airlines, operator of the plane, Chicago-based Ribbeck Law said in a statement on Tuesday.

 - http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-malaysia-airlines-lawsuit-idUSBREA2P01K20140326

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Day 17 (25 March 2014) - BREAKING NEWS

It was just announced that evidence point to the plane had indeed crashed in the Indian Ocean. None of those 239 on board survived.

All 239 on board MH370 are lost

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines has issued a text message to the families deeply regretting that MH370 has been lost and none of of the 239 passengers and crew on board survived.

The text message to the families read:

"Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia's Prime Minister, we must now accept all evidence suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean."

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/24/missing-mh370-mas-text-message/

 

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Day 16 (24 March 2014)

Seems like the search is concentrated in the south corridor with evidence of various satellite sightings. Some highlights:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26678492

Key Points

• A multinational search is continuing in the southern Indian Ocean on Monday for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
• Chinese aircraft searching for the missing plane spotted "suspicious" objects, Chinese state media said on Monday.
• The airliner with 239 people on board disappeared on 8 March after leaving Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing.
• Ten planes were due to scour the southern Indian Ocean area on Monday for possible debris picked up earlier by radar echoes and satellite imagery.
• Chinese and Japanese planes on Monday joined the search in the southern corridor.

 - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26711298

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Day 10 (16 March 2014)

If indeed MH370 was hijacked, where could the plane have landed? Possibly somewhere remote and difficult to find... Afganistan seems to have many remote airfields.

Kyrgyzstan

Osh Airport

Daroot-Korgon Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Murgab Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Tajikistan

Afganistan

Jalalabad Airport

Kunduz Airport

Khost Airfield

Fayzabad Airport

Khwahan Airport

Sheghnan Airport

Taloqan Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Afghanistan

 

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Day 8 (16 March 2014)

Malaysian PM Najib gave a press statement today. Hopefully the plane managed to land safely without casualties.....

Apparently, there are 2 directions MH370 could have flown. I'm more inclined to think that hey took the north-west direction.

Refering to the graphics above, right at the edge of the red line are 2 possible places MH370 could have landed, Kashgar Airport & Hotan Airport. Just my assumptions.

Najib: MH370 deviated but no confirmation on hijacking

Saturday March 15, 2014 MYT 6:22:24 PM  

• the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) was disabled just before the aircraft reached the East coast of peninsular Malaysia.

• Shortly afterwards, near the border between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic control, the aircraft’s transponder was switched off.

• From this point onwards, the Royal Malaysian Air Force primary radar showed that an aircraft which was believed – but not confirmed – to be MH370 did indeed turn back. It then flew in a westerly direction back over peninsular Malaysia before turning northwest. Up until the point at which it left military primary radar coverage, these movements are consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane.

• According to the new data, the last confirmed communication between the plane and the satellite was at 8:11AM Malaysian time on Saturday 8th March.

• However, based on this new data, the aviation authorities of Malaysia and their international counterparts have determined that the plane’s last communication with the satellite was in one of two possible corridors: a northern corridor stretching approximately from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern corridor stretching approximately from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean.

• In view of this latest development the Malaysian authorities have refocused their investigation into the crew and passengers on board.

• We are ending our operations in the South China Sea and reassessing the redeployment of our assets. 

• For the families and friends of those involved, we hope this new information brings us one step closer to finding the plane.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/15/missing-mh370-najib-statement/

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Day 7 (15 March 2014)

One week already and still no sign of the plane. However, based on reports, the data so far points to a strong possibility of hijacking or sabotage. Assuming the plane was still flying for 5 hours after IGARI waypoint, and it only took the plane about 2 hours to reach Andaman Sea. So, what happened during the last 3 hours?

Route based on satellite signal from the plane.

Najib: No confirmation missing MH370 hijacked

“Today, based on raw satellite data which was obtained from the satellite data service provider, we can confirm that the aircraft shown in the primary radar data was flight MH370,” said Najib.

According to the new data, the last confirmed communication between the plane and the satellite was at 8.11am Malaysian time on Saturday, March 8. - http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/15/Najib-No-confirmation-missing-MH370-hijacked/

 

Day 6 (14 March 2014)

It has been 6 days since MH370's mysterious disappearance. Unfortunately, the news reports for the past few days has been anything but informative. Apart from blame, rumours, denials & theories, there has not been a single piece of information out there that would give us a clue as to the whereabouts of the missing plane.

So, I have decided that it is pointless for me to update this post unless there is something worthwhile or groundbreaking to post.

In the meantime, we can only hope... and wait.

Based on the WSJ article, the plane could have travelled anywhere within or even beyond the green circle.

The information in the WSJ article if true, could potentially change the direction of investigations & search and rescue missions. However, the Malaysian government has denied any knowledge nor info regarding this.

Perhaps WSJ and the journalist should offer clarification on how they obtained such information.

Malaysian officials deny claims that missing flight MH370 flew on for hours

Thursday 13 March 2014 12.30 GMT

Airline chief says Rolls-Royce and Boeing have said they did not receive data from plane after 1.07am on night of disappearance.

Malaysian authorities have said reports that the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may have flown for an additional four hours beyond its last sighting are inaccurate, and that the final information received from its engines indicated everything was operating normally.

Sources described as familiar with the details of the missing Boeing 777's data had told the Wall Street Journal that US investigators believed the plane had flown for a total of five hours, indicating that the plane may have been diverted "with the intention of using it later for another purpose".

The theory was based on data downloaded in real time straight from the Boeing's engines, which are manufactured by British company Rolls-Royce.

"We have contacted both the possible sources of data – Rolls-Royce and Boeing – and both have said they did not receive data beyond 1.07am," Malaysia Airlines chief executive, Ahmad Jauhari Yahyain, told reporters on Thursday afternoon. "The last transmission at 1.07am stated that everything was operating normally." - http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/malaysian-officials-deny-flight-mh370-missing-plane-flew-hours

U.S. Investigators Suspect Missing Malaysia Airlines Plane Flew On for Hours

Andy Pasztor

Updated March 13, 2014 4:17 a.m. ET

Engine Data Suggest Malaysia Flight Was Airborne Long After Radar Disappearance

....U.S. counterterrorism officials are pursuing the possibility that a pilot or someone else on board the plane may have diverted it toward an undisclosed location after intentionally turning off the jetliner's transponders to avoid radar detection, according to one person tracking the probe.... - SOURCE

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Day 3

Still no major news on the missing plane.

The photos of some of the missing Malaysians on MH370. 12 Crews & 38 passengers.

Unverified photo supposedly taken by the Vietnam rescue team which shows a floating object that resembles an orange life vest or life raft

https://www.facebook.com/Malaysia.MH370

 

A Vietnamese navy plane has spotted an object suspected of belonging to the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 that went missing early on Saturday with 239 people on board.

Published: March 10, 11:35 AM

KUALA LUMPUR - A Vietnamese official says searchers on ships worked throughout the night but could not find a rectangle object spotted yesterday (March 9) afternoon that was thought to be one of the doors of a missing Boeing 777.

http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/vietnam-cannot-find-object-thought-be-jet-door

MISSING MH370: Man claims possible sighting of airliner

KELANTAN: A businessman in Ketereh claimed that he saw a bright white light, believed to be of an aircraft, descending at high speed towards the South China Sea about 1.45am on the day flight MH370 went missing.

"I was walking towards my back door when I caught a glimpse of the white light.

"It was moving towards the sea, towards Bachok area, which was unusual.

"Usually, aircrafts that fly over here have their usual route pattern, but this one went completely towards the other way," he said.

Read more: MISSING MH370: Man claims possible sighting of airliner - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/font-color-red-missing-mh370-font-man-claims-possible-sighting-of-airliner-1.505683#ixzz2vYOSI7fJ

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Day 2

Not much new development on the search and rescue efforts. Hope they will have more success tomorrow. Some highlights below.

An aerial view of an oil spill is seen from a Vietnamese Air Force aircraft in the search area.

Watch eerie moment family of missing Malaysia Airlines passenger successfully ring his phone - but nobody answers

• The family of a passenger on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight successfully rang his mobile phone - but nobody answered.
• This video shows the moment relatives of a Chinese man among the 239 people feared dead after the passenger jet mysteriously disappeared rang his phone live on state television.
• The call connected, but then rang out.
• Chinese media reports that a number of families have been able to ring mobile phones of their missing loved ones but no one answers.
• The development raises even more questions about what has happened to flight MH370. 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/missing-malaysia-airlines-eerie-moment-3222919#ixzz2vUzEg1qe

Pilot: I established contact with plane

• SEPANG: A BOEING 777 pilot, who was flying 30 minutes ahead of the missing Malaysia Airlines     aircraft, said he established contact with    MH370  minutes  after  he   was    asked to do so by  Vietnamese air traffic control.

• The captain, who asked to not be named, said his plane, which was bound for Narita, Japan, was far into Vietnamese airspace when he was asked to relay, using his plane's emergency frequency, to MH370 for the latter to establish its position, as the authorities could not contact the aircraft.

• "We managed to establish contact with MH370 just after 1.30am and asked them if they have transferred into Vietnamese airspace.

• "The voice on the other side could have been either Captain Zaharie (Ahmad Shah, 53,) or Fariq (Abdul Hamid, 27), but I was sure it was the co-pilot.

Read more: MISSING MH370: Pilot: I established contact with plane - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/font-color-red-missing-mh370-font-pilot-i-established-contact-with-plane-1.503464#ixzz2vV0P37S9

 

Suspected fragments of missing Malaysia Airlines flight found as 'mid-air disintegration' theory investigated

• Vietnamese officials believe they have made the first major breakthrough since the jet carrying 239 people vanished. Chinese warships are on their way to the possible crash site. Vietnamese search teams reportedly spotted what could be fragments of the missing plane a short while ago. However efforts to verify this could be hampered as the local time in Vietnam is now 10.45pm so rescuers will be searching in darkness.

• The agency confirmed today "at least" two passports recorded as lost or stolen in its database were used by passengers on board a missing Malaysia Airlines flight and said it was checking for other suspect passports.

• Interpol said no checks of its database had been made by any country on an Austrian and an Italian passport between the time that they were stolen and the departure of the flight.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-live-3219331#ixzz2vUVNo3LH

Malaysian plane presumed crashed; questions over false IDs

•  There were no indications of sabotage nor claims of a terrorist attack. But the passenger manifest issued by the airline included the names of two Europeans - Austrian Christian Kozel and Italian Luigi Maraldi - who, according to their foreign ministries, were not in fact on the plane.
• The 11-year-old Boeing, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines, took off at 12:40 a.m. (1640 GMT Friday) from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and was apparently flying in good weather conditions when it went missing without a distress call.
• Paul Hayes, director of safety at Flightglobal Ascend aviation consultancy, said the flight would normally have been at a routine stage, having reached initial cruise altitude.
  "Such a sudden disappearance would suggest either that something is happening so quickly that there is no opportunity to put out a mayday, in which case a deliberate act is one possibility to consider, or that the crew is busy coping with what whatever has taken place," he told Reuters.

• Vietnam said its rescue planes had spotted two large oil slicks, about 15 km (9 miles) long, and a column of smoke off its coastline, but it was not clear if they were connected to the missing plane.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/08/us-malaysiaairlines-flight-idUSBREA2701720140308

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Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is feared to have crashed somewhere in the Gulf of Thailand. Search & rescue efforts are underway.

The B777-200 aircraft had left Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am and was scheduled to land in Beijing at 6.30am.

It lost contact with the Subang air traffic control at 2.40am.  The 239 passengers and crew onboard the missing MH370 bound for Beijing this morning were from 14 different countries, including the United States, Canada, France and Malaysia.

Condolences goes out to the families & loved ones of the missing.

Supposedly the most recent photo of the actual plane (9M-MRO) that went missing today. - Source

Flight path and last known location

Search area allocations. The hatched area was the responsibility of Vietnam, light green Malaysia and darker green Singapore.

Sightings by Vietnam's search & rescue team.

Malaysia Airlines flight to Beijing vanishes

...South-east Asian states have joined forces to search waters between Malaysia and Vietnam after a Malaysia Airlines plane vanished on a flight to Beijing, with 239 people on board...

...Malaysia Airlines said in a statement that flight MH370 had disappeared at 02:40 local time on Saturday (18:40 GMT on Friday) after leaving Kuala Lumpur.

It had been expected to land in Beijing at 06:30 (22:30 GMT)....

 ...The pilot was Capt Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, who joined Malaysia Airlines in 1981...

...A Vietnamese navy official told the BBC the plane had gone missing within Malaysian maritime territory....

Vietnam confirms MAS flight crashed into sea off Tho Chu island

...The Vietnamese navy had earlier confirmed that Kuala Lumpur-Beijing bound Flight MH370 had crashed into the sea off Tho Chu island.

Tuoi Tre quoted Navy Admiral Ngo Van Phat, Commander of Region 5, as saying that military radar reported that the plane crashed into the sea at a location 246km south of Phu Quoc island....

Two passengers on MH370 using stolen passports, say reports

Austria’s foreign ministry spokesman, Martin Weiss, told media outlets that the citizen, who he did not name, was safely living in Austria and had his passport stolen two years ago during a visit to Thailand.

Apart from Italian Luigi Maraldi who is alive in Thailand, Austria has now said that one of its citizens on the passenger list was not on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 which went missing this morning.

Austria’s foreign ministry spokesman, Martin Weiss, told media outlets that the citizen, who he did not name, was safely living in Austria and had his passport stolen two years ago during a visit to Thailand.

There is only one Austrian on the passenger list, Christian Kozel, aged 30, The Guardian reported today.

Details are sketchy at the moment. Below are some current discussions online...

https://www.facebook.com/MissingMalaysiaAirlines
http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/535538-mh370-contact-lost-20.html
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/6014316

List of passengers & flight crew.

Relatives gathered at Beijing International Airport fearing the worst - SOURCE

Relatives of passengers also waited for news at the plane's departure airport in Kuala Lumpur - SOURCE

Hudud in Malaysia

The Hudud issue has been making it's rounds online and in the MSM recently, from supporters and detractors alike. You know what they say about opinions, that everyone has one. But most of them are really making noises without saying anything. It's the same with other issues raised by them, the politicians mostly, where they will debate and make noise for some time and in the end, nothing much comes out of it.

Anyway, since everyone's so hung up on this issue, I thought that I would add my 2 cents' worth...

Firstly, although I'm not a Muslim and do not wish to be subjected to religious law, I will still accept it if Hudud is implemented in Malaysia, or in certain states for that matter. It doesn't mean I agree to it. If Parliament passes it and changes allows it, then we will have to accept it. We were the ones who voted for the MPs didn't we? So, live with it.

History has shown that the needs of the Malays and Muslims must reign supreme to preserve the peace in the country. 

Some may argue that Islamic laws are fair. Well, it is only fair to those who subscribe to that particular religion. Take Islam & Christianity for example - how do they view those who do not profess their faiths? To Muslims & Christians, all non-belivers are condemned to suffer in hell for eternity. So, would non-belivers be able to get a fair trial? Do the words of a non-Muslim carry the same weightage as a Muslim in an Islamic Court system?

Let's look at the number of Muslim majority countries. The common factor is that none of these countries belong to the category of developed nations.

http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/places/top_50.htm

Next, let's compare the level of Sharia application in these countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_of_sharia_law_by_country

I'm not certain of the accuracy, but from a cursory look, we can see that in the Muslim countries, Sharia is implement although the scope varies. That is a fact. Malaysia is no exception.

Malaysia without non-Malays/Muslims...

Before colonialism & the arrival of immigrants, the Malay Muslims were the absolute majority. Malaya would most probably have become an Islamic country if not for the influx of non-Muslim immigrants (from China & India) which greatly changed the demographics of Malaya then. Later, with the formation of Malaysia, we changed into a multi-racial secular country. Since then, the other races are seen as a stumbling block on the implementation of an Islamic State. I think, if not for the British and the other races, Malaysia would already be an Islamic State, or a republic... of Indonesia that is...

If we were to take Brunei as an example, I think what we see there is quite an accurate picture of how the Malay states in Malaysia will become. Independent Islamic states ruled by Sultans.

Under the British, a segment of Malaysians, Malays included, underwent a cultural shift and were somewhat westernised. Even the romanisation of the Jawi script faced strong resistance in Malay society back in the days. For the last 50 years, the Malays were pushed, or forced to modernise.

Since independence, we have seen Islamisation taking place. Islamic culture and values assimilated into malay culture. Those who say otherwise is clearly in denial. Today, we have arrived at the crossroad. Staying put will not be an option anymore. We have to decide.

There is no such thing as "moderates" or "liberals" when it comes to religion. One might think of oneself as a liberal, but considered as fundamental or even fanatical in the eyes of others. Sometimes, the behaviour of these so-called "liberals" or "moderates" are even more radical than the others.

Some Malay Muslims want Hudud, Some don't. The non-Muslims certainly don't, understandably so.

Muslims vs Non-Muslims

But as usual, if it fails to be implemented, you can bet that it will be the non-Muslims who will be blamed and made the scapegoat. Well, the Chinese will definitely get the blame aka "Apa Lagi Cina Mahu?". And the Christians as well, "Christian State of Malaysia?". Maybe Indians too, "Maakal Sakti?". Except for a handful vocal ones from supporters and non-supporters, the majority of Malays will not have the gumption to publicly voice their stand on this issue.

When a religion is institutionalised, Islam in Malaysia's case, there is only one way to go... which is all the way. There's no such thing as half way or the moderate way, or liberal way.

If we observe the arguments and opinions from both groups of Muslims, those who support Hudud, tend to take the moral highground, labelling the non-supporters as "deviants" and kafirs! While those who do not support the implementation of Hudud tries to argue their case "intellectually based on evidence and facts".  I think both are hypocrites and a waste of time.

For example:

Present day Hudud and Mary in the Quran: One BIG Question

According to present day Hudud laws as proposed by PAS,
1. Zina is punishable upon conviction by stoning to death for a married person.
2. Whipping of 100 lashes plus one year imprisonment for the unmarried.
3. Four eye-witnesses will be required to prove the act. Each witness must be an adult (akil baligh) Muslim male of just character.
4. Pregnancy on the part of an unmarried woman or when she delivers a child shall be evidence of zina of which would make her liable to the prescribed punishment unless she can proof the contrary – i.e. to bring 4 male Muslim witnesses of just character if she was raped.

Traditional Islam interprets Quranic verses about Mary, mother of Jesus as a woman who had a virgin birth (refer for example Quran 19:20 -22, 66:12). When Mary brought baby Jesus to the temple, she was insulted and mocked by all the men (except Zechariah) questioning how she came to be with a child as she was still single. According to the Quran, Jesus began to speak in the cradle to defend her mother (Refer Quran 19: 27-33)
The question.

How would modern day Hudud deal with Mary (the most exalted woman in the Quran, Quran 3:42) as she could not show 4 akil baligh male Muslim witnesses of just character?

Note: as an infant, Jesus was not akil baligh.

- http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/present-day-hudud-and-mary-in-quran-one.html

We see this very often online. A passage is used to support their arguments. In the example above, the writer, at the end of his article, postulates why Hudud will not be suitable in modern society. I don't claim to speak for others, but I would be more than curious about the talking baby in the cradle!

It is impossible to debate on matters of faith, such as religion.

Anyway, there are only 2 questions that the Malay Muslims need to ask themselves:
1. Will the country be better off with Hudud?
2. Is it what the Malay Muslims want?

If the answer is yes, then it can and will be implemented in just 3 steps, regardless of objections from minorities.

1. Get the support of the Sultans.
2. Get the support of the Muslim lawmakers.
3. Implement it into the existing Syariah Laws.
or
4. Finally, get 2/3 votes in Parliament, change the constitution, and you have an Islamic State.

If the majority Malay Muslims want an Islamic State, do you seriously think that the others will have the power or clout to stop it? Let's be realistic. To me, I think it is not a question of "if". It's a question of "when".

1. Constitutionally, Islam is the religion of the country.
2. The Sultans are the head of Islam in their respective states.
3. Almost all Malays are Muslims.
4. Except for Penang, all the states in Semenanjung Malaysia are Malay Muslim majority.
5. Shariah is already implemented, although it only applies to Muslims.
6. Hudud is part of Syariah.
7. Then, Syariah can be adopted as the supreme law of Malaysia, hence an Islamic State (refer to Brunei).

So, for example, if a Muslim person is caught stealing, he will be tried in the Syariah courts. If found guilty, his hands might be amputated. For a non-Muslim, he will be tried in the common courts, and sentenced accordingly, usually with a jail term or fine. The crime is the same, but the punishment and process of law is different.

Even now, if a Muslim is caught for Khalwat which is an offence for Muslims but not for non-Muslims, they are charged and sentenced in the Shariah courts.

So, to those who are in support of Hudud, they are of the opinion that Hudud is part of Syariah and by including Hudud, they are completing the set of Syariah laws.

If based on the existing practice, that only Muslims are subjected to Syariah Laws including Hudud, the non-Muslims indeed do not have the right to voice their objection. That is why you do not hear any objections from non-Muslims regarding the current Syariah Laws.

But if we take into account the non-Muslims' worry that Malaysia might eventually become an Islamic State, then they do have a right to be concerned.

Reality check

The most important factor that determines the success or failure of a country is the economy. Without a healthy economy and an equitable distribution of wealth among its citizens, the country will bound to fail, regardless of the type of government or laws. Instability and conflict will occur, especially in democratic countries.

Many Malaysians, and foreigners as well, are silently observing the various developments happening in this country. The future does not look very promising. And many, especially the minorities, are not going to stick around to find out when the SHTF. Businesses will still continue as long as there is money to be made, but whether they will expand and flourish is another thing. The minorities will be able to adapt to their surroundings, but the future prospects of their future generations lies elsewhere.

The minorities will face backlash whenever they try to stake a claim in the country or if the majority are envious of the real (or perceived) wealth of the minorities. Minorities will be portrayed as trying to "take over" the country. Non-Muslims will be viewed as anti-Islam when they criticise or oppose Islamic Laws.

The truth is, this will not change anytime soon.

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Hudud impossible without Islamic revolution, civil rights group tells PAS

April 23, 2014

PAS will face too many legal and societal obstacles before it can bring hudud to Malaysia, civil rights group Lawyers for Liberty said, adding that without an Islamic revolution, the Islamist party’s plan would remain impossible.

Lawyers for Liberty Eric Paulsen pointed out that in order for the controversial Islamic law to be implemented, the Constitution, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, as well as all other structures and institutions that make up Malaysia would have to be reconstituted in accordance with Islam and the Quran.

“Needless to say, hudud is not a magic, cure-all panacea to all the wrongs in society; see for example the implementation of hudud in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and northern Nigeria that has not resolved anything.

“The total absence of the necessary context and conditions for the implementation of hudud, all raises doubt and therefore hudud ought not be implemented,” he said.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/hudud-impossible-without-islamic-revolution-civil-rights-group-tells-pas#sthash.YM8lEqgL.dpuf

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Hudud without Karpal — Zaid Ibrahim

April 23, 2014

APRIL 23 — Karpal Singh’s untimely death has robbed Malaysia of a vocal politician who consistently opposed the implementation of hudud law in the country. He will be rightly remembered as a top politician who was unafraid to openly defend the nation’s secular and democratic principles.

I know there are many defenders of our democratic system (who are not political leaders) who will continue to champion the basics of the Federal Constitution. They will be equally vociferous and strong in organising the democratic forces against the neo-fascists groups disguised as religious NGOs. When I first instituted my opposition to the hudud proposal by making a legal challenge in our courts 15 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised that so many lawyers and social activists supported this move. They were Malays too, and they knew that they would suffer the most if the politicians are left to do as they please.

I’m sure that lawyers like Malik Imtiaz, and the younger ones like Syahrezan Johan and Nizam Bashir, are brave Muslims who are prepared to continue speaking out against implementing hudud. They know that Muslims and other Malaysians are simply better off living under the present legal system.

At a time when the days of gentle democrats and religious neutrality are slowly disappearing, Malaysians will face a similarly tough choice in the next General Election. Perkasa will certainly emerge to become a dominant force here if we do not care enough about what’s happening in our country.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/hudud-without-karpal-zaid-ibrahim#sthash.RNnpkM6e.dpuf