Eyes Wide Shut

Hantu Laut

I have not cared to comment on the NEM (New Economic Model) since it was first announced as I feel it would be a waste of time as I do not have much faith that the government going to implement it as it is.

As it is they say "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." Najib may have the best of intentions but he would not be able to deliver what he promised. The pressure from inside UMNO would be too high and too risky for him to discontinue the traditional politics of patronage.

Many bloggers have put forward their views on the subject including our prolix and prolific blogger SakMongkol47 who has written a number of articles on the subject.One that draws my attention is his "Conspiracy of the rich"

Malaysian politics is all about money.Without money the BN would have done even worse in the March 2008 General Elections.What SakMongol47 wrote of the big projects becoming preserve of the big guns is not far from the truth.I can't see any semblance of serious economic reforms in the 10 MP. Najib will be under pressure to keep rewarding the warlords in UMNO and other component parties.The money train, pardon me, the gravy train must continue to run along the same track.

The only way Najib can succeed is, if he is not afraid of losing his job and to be cruel to be kind.Nip in the butt any opposition from within the party before it become widespread.The success much depend on how unwavering is Najib in pushing forward his plans to change the fate of this nation.

Vision 2020 is less than 10 years away.Many things can happen or not happen.We can join the high income community or erode back to the low income.The ball is in the government's court, whosoever it is the next 10 years.

Do not ridicule Idris Jala. He was not wrong to warn Malaysians the consequence of an all encompassing subsidy mentality.Nations can and have slided back to poverty due to corruptions and poor financial management.Think of the Philippines, think of Argentina, think of all the African countries that have gone to the dogs and lately think of Greece and the other European PIGS.If it can happen to them it can happen to us.

The problem with Malaysians they do not want to hear the bad news preferring euphony even if it is far from the truth.They have now taken subsidy as of rights not as a privilege.

The right thing to do is to bring this nation to a higher income level to increase productivity that can boost our growth rate and GDP.Subsidies should only be temporaries.

I support removal of all subsidies.

Will Najib have the balls to do so? Not likely. Certainly not in the near future.Doing so will cost him the government.We have become a nation of blackmailers.

We much pretty screw ourselves up the past 50 years where those behind us have overtaken us.I will not mention Singapore as it is sensitive and taboo to some Malaysians when making comparison.Taiwan and South Korea are two countries that I can confidently quote as examples of what we could have been or better.I will not give facts and figures at this juncture for comparison purposes.I have one nation which is closer in comparison.

Do you know that in the seventies Malaysian and Singaporean men go to Taiwan and South Korean for sex holidays? Today, the situation is reversed, they are coming over here for cheap sex.If that is not telling of how far we have progressed what does? Malaysia has also been quoted as one of the busiest human trafficking transit point and destination.Not something we should be proud of.

My recent visit to Australia was an eye opener and realised how pretty screwed up we have been, not because nature has been unkind to us, because we have been unkind to ourselves.By right, we should have been better than the bloody Aussies.

Sorry mate!It's fair dinkum!

Let's begin with my internal flight in Australia which may not be the barometer for everything good about the Aussie, but it's a start.

I took a Virgin Blue flight from Brisbane to Perth with checked in baggage.Surprise, surprise! when I arrived, even without going through immigration, there weren't any, anyway, it's a domestic flight, I was amazed my bags were there waiting for me.It reminded me of Changi 25 years ago when I lived in Singapore, they were already delivering baggage ahead of passengers.

I have passed through KLIA six times the last eight months, both through the main and the cheapo terminals. I have to wait between 15 to 30 minutes before I can see my bags on the carousel.

My return from Perth was on Air Asia X.Bags took almost 30 minutes to clear and the terminal was jam-packed to bursting point.The air-conditioned was struggling to keep the terminal cool but failed miserably with the amount of heat generated from those human bodies.Restaurants filled to the brinks and me losing my mind.

I now agree with Tony Fernandez that MAB are run by morons who can't foresee what's coming.This is one airline terminal and yet busier than than the main under utilised terminal.If they have allowed him to build his own airport it would be on the way to completion now and cost a fraction of what the government's costing would be.

Australia has less population than Malaysia and a territory 23 times bigger.

Some Malaysians always have the strange habit of arguing that the reason Singapore is successful is because it is small and easier to manage and control which I find.....what can I say... ignorance, foolish or just plain stupid.

Now, let see what they have to say about Australia, which is 23 times bigger than Malaysia.Some, even called the Aussies lazy.Let see who is actually the lazy one.

There is a difference between working smart and working late.Putting too much time into your work can also mean two things....inefficiency and incompetency.You either do not know your job well or you are just a slow coach which, unfortunately, increases your unproductiveness.If you live in KL the situation is even worse, your productivity and quality of life goes out the window.You have to spend average 2 hours caught in traffic snarl unless you are very well-off and can afford those million dollar condo nearby.

The hotel I stayed in Perth has 123 rooms, has only 1 receptionist (she is also the cashier,the front desk manager and the concierge).The restaurant has 4 workers, 1 receptionist/cashier and three waiters.I still checked in without hassle and get my food and drinks on time.

OK, let's get to the nitty-gritty.

Country Land Mass Pop GDP(2009) GDP (Per Capita)

Malaysia 328,867 sq.km 26 mil $381 bil $14,800

Australia 7,682,300 22 $824 $38,800

You can tell when a country is rich and the people is well-off, not by the number of posh cars on the streets but by the number of mariners and the number of luxury boats in them.Even the smallest mariner here is bigger than the biggest we have in Malaysia and they are dotted all over the country.

Now, Australia 23 times bigger (75% desert), population slightly smaller, GDP 2 1/2 bigger and is almost 3 times richer than us.

Hello! Anybody out there? Can you hear me? Why? Why is Australia doing better than us?

When you travel keep your eyes wide open.

I am beginning to like this man.

(The title is taken from the 1999 movie 'Eyes Wide Shut' starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise)

Tian Chua A Goner

Hantu Laut

Fine reduced from RM3000 to RM2000 for Tian Chua.Is that the minimum the judge can impose on the criminal act of Tian Chua?

The law says fine of no less than RM2000 or not less than a year's jail will disqualify an elected representative from his post.

I agree with Karpal Singh that Tian Chua is doomed as an MP unless of course the Election Commission construe it differently to avoid another by-election.

Looks like Tian Chua jumped the gun by agreeing to transfer the bail money as payment of the fine.Whether he still can appeal after paying the fine I am not sure as Article 48 is silent.

The law is very clear RM2000 or not less than a year's jail.If you are fined RM500 and given a year's jail you are still a goner.Either way you are a goner.

I'll be most surprise if the Election Commission does not call for a by-election.

PR may not be worried of not winning in the area.

Sungei Orchard

Hantu Laut

Ask any Singaporean would they imagine flooding at Orchard Road before the mighty rainfall submerged Singapore's most famous street yesterday.




I lived in Singapore for 10 years at Cairnhill Road, a stone throw away from Orchard Road and I would have sworn to anyone who asked me that Orchard Road would never flood.The only place that I can remember get flooded after torrential rain coupled by high tide was along Bukit Timah Road.Otherwise, most parts of Singapore are high and dry.

Adjacent areas, Scotts Road, Cairn Hill Road, Cairnhill Circus and Mt Elizabeth must have been spared being on higher ground.



Most efficient and capable Singapore got caught out by "act of God"



As they say "God's mill grind slow but sure" and "man proposes, God disposes"

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE:

Will heads at PUB roll for this most unexpected natural disaster.

DAP Gone Mad

Hantu Laut

So, it looks like not a cabinet's decision yet or is Najib making a 360-degree round turn on the issue of overseas scholarship for Malaysian students.At least, he is listening to the rumble on the ground.He says student's aid to continue here.

Meanwhile, DAP has gone really berserk here.

This is the first time in the history of this country's politics or for that matter anywhere else in the world I have ever heard of such ridiculous practice.Maybe, DAP should learn to spell D E M O C R A C Y and learn the actual meaning of the word and take a closer look at our Constitution and our political system.

Who is the elected representative, the individual or the party? There is no doubt he was elected on DAP ticket but our Constitution only recognise the individual not the party as the elected entity.

I am against party hopping but if such person refused to resign there is nothing the party can do except wait till the next elections to let the people decide.

Resigned and pay RM5 million for any elected representative leaving the party. Can such contract stand in a court of law?

Hee Yit Foong left over a year ago why was there no disclosure that she has signed such an agreement then?

Maybe, former judge NH Chan can help with some legal advice.