Oh my God, a Tiramasu costs RM15!

Hantu Laut

What an idiotic comparisons with complete disregard for economic principles.Ignoring the "basket of consumer goods" that define CPI (Consumer Price Index).

Written by 3 musketeers. A layman's analysis fits for the rubbish bins.

What is the average cost of living of a person of the same criterion in Kuala Lumpur as compare to a person in New York? Without any doubt the guy in New York is better paid than the one in Kuala Lumpur but would the average living cost be the same?

Ask the Kadazan man in New York?

“Oh my God, a Tiramisu is RM15!”

Since when tiramisu has been in the basket of consumer goods? Surely, if you go to a gourmet shop they can charge you through your nose. Blame yourself if you want to show off but are impecunious.

Why not eat goreng pisang which probably more suited to your Asian palate and won't bleed your heart.

A tiramasu by Secret Recipe only costs RM7.50 in Kota Kinabalu.How could KL be more expensive? Calvin Lee, who ever the person is, must have expensive taste but a shallow pocket.

Anyone who earned less than 1,ooo pounds a month in London must have a miserable life and probably live out of a pigeon hole.The waiter who says he can buy all those luxury items he mentioned on a day's salary must have other side income or got his hand in the till.

“GBP100 can feed two apartments of students for a week,” ??

GBP100 would not be enough for my wife and me to have a decent Chinese dinner at a restaurant in London. Those two apartments (I am not sure which mathematical formula used this term) of students must be eating cockroaches for a week.

Let's ponder the statements below:

He gave the example of clothes where he said he can get a good quality shirt for about AUD100 but would need to spend about RM200 to get similar quality in KL.

At current exchange rate AUD100 = RM316 for the shirt means cheaper in KL.

Wong pointed out that even Asian food could be more affordable for those living in Sydney than KL.

“You pay RM15 for a bowl of soup noodles in KL shopping centres but only AUD10 in Sydney shopping centres,” he said.

At current exchange rate AUD10=RM31.60. KL is still cheaper.RM6.50 in Kota Kinabalu

I would not even want to broach the talk why Gucci, Christine Dior, Prada, Chopard, Piaget and all the haute couture for the haute-bourgeoisies and the highbrows are more expensive in KL.If you want to know ask Farah Khan.The business has made her a very rich lady.

Sabahans with money used those branded products some 40 years ago shopping in Singapore and Hong Kong before you KLites even got a sniff of it.They still do and get better deals.That's why you never get those haute couture shops in Sabah.They would close shop because Sabahans won't buy them.

Exactly, that's what they are, for the moneyed and the highbrows, not for people with shallow pockets who should stay away from those names.Try F.O.S. I shop a lot at F.O.S and never felt ashamed of it.

Why blame the government if you decide to live beyond your means.Why should you be buying branded goods if you can't afford it?

Why don't you just stick to shopping at Sungei Wang Plaza and Giant supermarkets where you can stretch your ringgit a long way and live happy ever after.

Is Malaysia's Consociationalism Under Threat ?

Hantu Laut

The results of the Sarawak state elections showed an emerging trend of racial and religious polarisation in the country.

The concerted effort of tenacious political forces on both sides of the political divide. Racial and religious acrimonious rows have been played out openly.This ethno-religious conflicts will have lethal consequence if allowed to continue.

Since after the 1969 red ink history of this nation the people have enjoyed racial and religious harmony without any interference to the beliefs and practices of each other religions.Although, Islam is the official religion freedom of worship of other religions is enshrined in the Constitution. There were mutual respects for each other religion then.

The Pak Lah's regime or Pak Lah himself should be taken to task for allowing religious bigots and political opportunists to trod on religious sensitivities and willed their ignorance on other religions.

It was the beginning of using religions as political opportunism for both sides of the playing fields.It is now water under the bridge and the damage is done.Mending the torn is now the hardened task of current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Of late we have seen trivial religious issues blown out of proportion for the sole purpose of angering the electorate of certain faith to vote against the government.In spite of the oppositions hard-nosed attempt to rile up the Christians in Sarawak they did not take the bait and bring the issue to boil as can be seen from the results of the recent state elections.

In spite of the the spiteful propaganda by the oppositions majority of Sarawkians have kept their heads squarely on their shoulders. The political skirmish has taken on a different face, if not more, just as dangerous, ethnocentrism and ethnic division of the races.

It is apparent that the Chinese have decided to move on as one unified body to chart their own political destiny under one political umbrella.The impetus to consolidate under one umbrella and create a political force to be reckoned with has been shimmering since the 12th General Elections and re-enforced at the recent Sarawak elections. The chosen vehicle has steadfastly held its ground and gaining more ground as the nation moves toward its 13th General Elections which could be called anytime now.

Malaysia's more than half a century consociationalism is under threat and the exponents would enforce their beliefs that allegiance to one race instead of the wider society is the recipe to political power.These are the very same people who thrashed Najib's 1 Malaysia and ridicule his attempt to unite Malaysians.The thought of Najib succeeding bothers them.The Sarawakians have given their blessings to Najib.

DAP is growing from strength to strength while PKR supposedly the leader of the pack is still in latent state.Its performance at the Sarawak elections, if anything, is an embarrassment and yet the party leaders seemed to rejoice over its pathetic windfall.It won less than 10% of the total seats contested.Another coalition partner PAS was completely decimated.Both are Malay based parties. The Malay support is dwindling day by day particularly for PKR.PAS may be relegated back to Kelantan.

The KDM leaders in Sabah would have by now learn from the Sarawak experience and knew which side of the field there should be come the general elections.Multi-racialism will be dead and gone from this country by the time the 13th GE is over.

Possible scenario, the 13th General Elections may see DAP sweeping almost all Chinese seats and massive Malay supports shifting to supporting Najib's leadership under UMNO to counter the Chinese new political force.The Chinese may end up with no representation in the government as the Malays votes with Sabah and Sarawak in the bags would be enough for the new BN to form the government, or.....

....the Chinese community wise up and divide its votes between DAP and BN and allow significant opposition in Parliment and yet be represented and play a role in governing the nation.

While the Chinese have consolidated their position the Malays are still thinking they are living in the land of Utopia.

The Indians, an important minority, would by then have returned to the BN' fold

The 13th General Elections could be the most exciting or the most depressing depending on which side of the field you are from.

Tipu !

Hantu Laut

My darts on the results of the Sarawak state elections was closed to the bull's-eye.My earlier prediction of Taib winning his seat and the BN retaining its two-thirds majority was not far-fetched either.

I expect SNAP to pick up 1 or 2 seats. Obviously, the party have lost all credibility with the electorate.Almost all its candidates have lost their deposits.

I gave DAP 8 to 10 seats but they did better than that, capturing 12 seats comfortably.The large crowds at its rally did translate into votes and is the only party among the coalition partners that have made significant inroads into Sarawak politics.

PAS, who do not know between East and West, got their heads in the mincer..... zero as predicted.

Worst of the lot was PKR.Greedy and zealously over estimated its own strength. Even with Anwar confidently saying that Pakatan led by PKR can pull it off and take over the state government, as in his usual body of lies, could only garner 3 seats and that's with the help of DAP. His party performance was shamefully dismal, winning only 3 seats out of 49 or so seats contested.

Taib has proven the doomsayers wrong.He may be the most corrupted chief minister but he has managed to wag the dog on the corruption issue and got himself re-elected with resounding majority.

Obviously, Anwar and Pakatan's dirty war against Taib failed miserably.

Now, the accusations of 'tipu' would commence shortly by Anwar and his gang with claims of vote rigging, votes buying and litany of other election misdemeanors by BN.But let us ask how could DAP have won so many seats if there were cheatings by the ruling coalition?

How Sarawakians Going To Vote Today

Hantu Laut

Can the BN retain its two-thirds majority or lose the government? It's a million dollar question with a simple answer.

Major swing to the opposition is expected in Chinese dominated areas.

Last night at a function a Chinese friend asked why are the Sarawakian Chinese against Taib Mahmud which he says he could not understand because Taib has favoured the Chinese all along giving them huge tracts of timberland and state projects and yet they wanted him out.I am afraid only the Chinese in Sarawak can answer his question.

The beneficiaries of Taib's largess could just be a small circle of Chinese towkeys, the larger Chinese population do not see the benefits going to the whole community. There certainly are economic spin-offs that filtered down to other Chinese- owned businesses but the Chinese chose to ignore it.

Taib's spoiled image are confined mainly in urban areas or wherever there are good Internet connectivity.The massive campaign against Taib were mostly Internet based.His image in rural areas have not been seriously shattered. In the rural areas the main source of news are still from government controlled TV networks.

There are about 15 Chinese dominated seats up for grab.As there is no certainty that Pakatan can capture the state to form the government the Chinese are not likely to hand over all 15 seats to DAP, there will be some areas left for the BN.

The likely scenario is that DAP may be able to pick up 8 to 10 seats.PKR and PAS, on the other hand, may have serious problem convincing Sarawakians to let them have a big say in state politics.

Sarawakians are still suspicious of giving full mandate to Peninsula based political parties.If they allow Pakatan to win and take over the state government they would be making the same mistake as Sabah.The state administration would practically be controlled from Kuala Lumpur and the chief minister would become a puppet on a string.

PKR may get some seats but not significant enough to put a dent in the BN's fortress.SNAP may take a few, but still not significant to combine with Pakatan to form a viable coalition.PAS will get nothing at all in view of its Islamic stanch.

Taib Mahmud has it all worked out that Sarawakians will only allow some oppositions but will not sell out the state wholesale to any Peninsula based party, be it Pakatan or UMNO.