Nat Released and Public Forum

Yes! Nat is released! (here - subscription based, here, here)but the reason for his arrest is still not clear .. the police is unable to give a concrete reason under a democratic human rights aware rule of law - for arresting him. this is so bullshit. we are not a police state! we are not a mugabe country? or are we - now?

we must not allow the authority to abuse their position. they are here to serve not to intimidate. they are here to protect not to instill fear. they are here to uphold law and order not to break it.

come folks - let's make your voice here in this forum organised by Tony Pua

Theme: ' No to a Police State in Blogosphere'
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 19th July 2007 (Thursday)
Time: 7.30 pm
Admission is Free; Bring Friends

The panel of Distinguished Speakers include:

• Nathaniel Tan, Blogger & Aide to PKR Advisor*
• Jeff Ooi, Protem Vice-President, All Blogs Malaysia
• Harris Ibrahim, Lawyer & Founder of The People's Parliament
• Nurul Izzah Anwar, Special Assistant to PKR Advisor
• Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General of DAP
• Tony Pua, Economic Advisor to DAP Secretary-General

Chairperson: Soon Li Tsin, Journalist & Blogger

if we continue to be aphathetic just becos we do not know the person being detained without cause then here's 2 piece of advices from sages:

First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.

by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein

Nat arrested? Or just invited for coffee?

i read about Nat being "invited" to Bukit Aman from his blog and then from polytikus
site.

I am so distressed. angry. dissapointed. with all the rhetorics from the PM about "work with me" about asking the rakyat to work together to eradicate corruptions etc...

And on the same day that I read Jeff posting on Kofi Annan speech I quote from his site "Of course, protecting human rights and abiding by the rule of law is first and foremost a national responsibility," he said. "It is only when governments are grounded in the rule of law -- fairly and consistently applied -- that society can rest on a solid foundation."

WHAT is wrong with my beloved country? we have special forces killing and blowing up foreigners for only god knows why. We have high level minister being investigated for purported corruption, we have the top cop being accused of ties to the triads, we have allegations that a certain minister is using company funds to pay off personal debts, our crime level has reach such an extent that we need this public hearing on crime held by the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance --- all these issues are national issues as it affect our country integrity, it affects our livelihood, it affect our generations and the next, it affect our economy, it affects FDI and yet instead of focusing on resolving it and instead of rebuilding Malaysia reputation we have just added another black spot to our already tarnish repo in the international scene.

I hope the Ministry of Home Affair will do the right thing - release Nat. Now. or charge him and give him back his basic rights.
I also hope the Ministry of Home Affair will do the right thing by telling the police about Kofi Annan speech on "Responsibility to Protect".

Let's not waste the time of this former United Nations Secretary-General and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate effort for making his trip here.

Pray do the right thing, dear minister of the home affair who incidentally is also our PM wise this Khazanah Merdeka Series would be meaningless.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Jul 6, 07

Malaysiakini Vox Populi

On Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
(need subscription to read)

Brian Fong: The ‘stupid, stupid, stupid’ and ‘I am not convinced’ minister is now participating in public hearings on crime? He is someone who has consistently outdone himself in being deaf to logical reasoning (as proven in the call to review the 1988 judicial crisis when this minister keep on saying, ‘I am not convinced! I need new facts...’ when all the facts are laid bare before him).

Having such a character to solicit feedback... that is the biggest joke of the month and an insult to all victims of crime!

Wintess Protection Unit

Have you read the Malaysiakini piece on "Key witness: My life was threatened"

Yes. The SB and/or the police is at it again. Like what they did in the Anwar case.. giving promises, cajoling, threatening... just so the witness will break down and eventually submit to their psychological pressure and say things which are planted for them to say and not what is necessary the truth...

("Rohaniza told the court that she had given a different version of events to her earlier statement to the police because of pressure from the investigators. "I was under tremendous pressure. I said something but something else was recorded by investigators," she told Mohd Zaki.

"They wrote things I never said," added Rohaniza, who testified in her police uniform, with tears in her eyes. "While I was remanded, they tortured me," she said, referring to threats that she would be investigated for murder.)

Isnt there a life recording in the interrogation room? But then of course these bargers can switch it off anytime... but then if what Rohaniza said is true, then how can the prosecutor sought to impeach her?

If these prosecutors are professionals who are serious about their work of upholding justice and be seen to possess integrity they should instead initiate an investigation into the allegations raised by Rohaniza.

Who interrogated her? Is the camera and recording on during the whole interrogations? Rohaniza also said the following:

Rohaniza told the court that before her cautioned statement was taken, a police officer from the Serious Crime Unit offered to free her and Azilah from the charge of murdering Altantuya. - Isnt this an interference to the course of justice? And who is this police officer to have the power to absolve someone from a criminal charge - (that is if both of them are found guilty) He must've greater power that the Judge, the PM, the DPM and the whole lot sitting in the Parliament put together.

Shouldn't the Hon Judge and the sworn to uphold justice, truth and the law of the country Prosecutor be more interested to find out who this omnipotent police officer is?

She added that the officer who took her cautioned statement also promised to shorten her remand period. As such, she said, she agreed with whatever was stated in the cautioned statement made under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Nov 16, 2006 - Isnt there a law governing how long a suspect could be remanded for investigation? By offering a suspect to shorten the remand period in return for a cautioned statement is like saying if you listen to me then I will consider doing this for you ... shouldnt this be a contention point to be highlighted? Can any right minded people with integrity believe that under such condition the cautioned statement make is make without duress and is true?

Rohaniza could not remember the name of the officer. She also said that the same promises were made to her by a number of officers from the Technical Assistance Unit while she was under the 14-day remand. "I was kept isolated in a hotel room... before giving the statement. I was under tremendous pressure. They pressured me, saying I could not go home and would be locked up again." - They pressured me --- man, this statement alone is enuf for the sworn to uphold justice, truth and the law of the country Prosecutor to initiate an investigation on what really happened during the interrogation!

Since Rphaniza has brought up all these irregularities happening in the police station as well as the threat on her life - I think the relevant authority should put her in a Witness Protection Unit and instead of putting her as the Key Prosecution Witness should be the Key Defending Witness or the Key Witness to the Truth .. whatever-la... and her statement must be taken in a transparent way with the observation from representative either from Suhakam, Gerak or TI-M.

Democracy, Freedom of Speech and Wealth

Found this 2 pieces of timeless words from Louis Brandeis, US Supreme Court Justice

On Democracy and Wealth
"We can have a democratic society or we can have great concentrated wealth in the hands of a few. We cannot have both"

On Freedom of Speech

"Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the state was to make men free to develop their faculties, and that in its government the deliberative forces should prevail over the arbitrary.

They valued liberty both as an end and as a means.

They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.

They believed that freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government.

- Louis Brandeis, US Supreme Court Justice, 1927

The Singapore factor..and our Police

The Singapore factor..

After years of indonesia illegals committing crime bashing the PDRM is changing its tune now to Singaporean triads bashing!

To be honest, I think there are some truth in the statement given the proximity of Spore to JB and given the superb intelligence (well informed network) and efficiency reputation of the Spore police force, anti-triads agency, SB collectively that any triads that is serious about surviving must have layers and layers of camouflage applied to their operations. For them, making a living as a triad in Spore must be tough...so tough that setting up operations in the nearby JB must've seemed like a breeze.

If that is true than it say a lot about our police efficiency and effectiveness(E&E) in dealing with cross border crime or in curtailing international crime-syndicate from setting foot in Malaysia.

Looking on the bright side, i would prefer that our police to be in-efficient and in-effective rather than the reverse otherwise how can they explain away the increasing crime rate and how do they explain that crime syndicate from foreign country actually set themselves up in Malaysia? (The Star Online- Friday June 29, 2007 - Underworld may be backing triads
Federal police have not ruled out the probability that Singaporean triads terrorising Johor are being backed by the local underworld. ) and
( The Star Online - Sunday July 1, 2007 - IGP: Johor a magnet for overseas gangsters )

If our police force is superb E&E and yet the crime rate goes up with the setting up shops of foreign crime syndicates, then something is very wrong ...internally with the police force.

So it doesnt help much when the IGP call the Malaysian-today Article a slander but is not considering taking any action.

Is his hesitancy in pursuing the matter from a legal perspective a tacit acknowledgment that the MT article carries at least a grain of truth in it?

If the MT report is true and going by the recent announcement in the paper(The Star Paper) by the IGP and his CID Chief such as this - "Underworld may be backing triads" "IGP: Johor a magnet for overseas gangsters" "IGP: Seven gang leaders in JB identified" "Top anti-vice cops moved out" :- what does it sound to you?

Cant blame me for conjuring fishy images, but based on the MT article (if it is true) - then it really sounds like criminals and/or the IGP or his team or whoever the invicible hand maybe, maybe using this crime hoo-haa to consolidate their power base in JB by high-lighting the other crime leaders who are not "aligned" and taking out their ops altogether and ALL done Legitly!
dont you think it is smooth?

On the other hand, if the MT article is not true then the IGP owed the rakyat he served an explanation on:-

1: when did he found out about JB being the fav of overseas crime syndicate? what is so enticing about JB that it can serve as a magnet for them? Is it becos JB seem like the Gotham City of Msia?

2: when did he found out about the 7 gangleaders? what took him so long to find out or did this gangleaders just pop up like mushroom overnite? (oh sure....)

3: what has organised crime got to do with snatch thieves, rapes and house break-ins? Has he been able to tie up the current crime spates to any organised crime network?

Man.. the more I ask the more I wanted to ask..... but enuf for the time being...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Star Online > Nation
Friday June 29, 2007

Underworld may be backing triads

KUALA LUMPUR: Federal police have not ruled out the probability that Singaporean triads terrorising Johor are being backed by the local underworld. As such, Johor police, with added muscle from their Singaporean counterparts, are set to wipe out the triads.

CID Director Comm Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee said that currently Johor police were gathering intelligence on the Singaporean triads to ascertain their local links and the extent of their network. Among others, the Singaporean triads are believed to have committed murders, rapes, and gangsterism.

Comm Wan said the police were aware there were numerous Singaporean triad members in Johor and added that police had not ruled out the probability that Johor’s underworld could be
offering support to the triads. “They are now under our surveillance and we are just waiting for the right time to strike (at them),” he told a press conference.

On Tuesday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police had identified seven gang leaders who have been terrorising Johor with the help of influential people. – Bernama
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Star Online > Nation - Tuesday June 26, 2007

IGP: I’m not bothered by Malaysia Today article

By MARC LOURDES

KUALA LUMPUR: “It’s all slander. It doesn’t bother me as all I am interested in is doing my job.”

That, in a nutshell, was Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s response to a recent post on the Malaysia Today website accusing him of graft, corruption and being in cahoots with several underworld figures.

Musa, who was speaking at the handing-over ceremony of Comm Datuk Ismail Omar as the new
police management director, said it was up to the public to decide for themselves on the website’s allegations.

“I don’t need to comment on these things. After all, there are so many websites saying these kinds of things. My job is to improve the force,” he said. When asked if the article, written by Raja Petra Kamarudin, would jeopardise his efforts to revamp the force by undermining public confidence in him, Musa appeared unruffled.

However, when asked if he was going to take any legal action against the website or the author of the article, Musa declined to comment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nation Sunday July 1, 2007

IGP: Johor a magnet for overseas gangsters

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor is a magnet not only for Singaporean gangsters but also Indonesian and
Taiwanese mobs, all of which are heavily involved in organised crime.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the gangs were believed to be linked to local syndicates and involved in activities ranging from drug distribution and prostitution to illegal gaming.

“They are cooperating with local syndicates who are giving them protection to conduct illegal activities in the country,” he told a press conference after launching the Rakan Cop programme in Taman Melawati.

Musa declined to reveal the number of gangsters in the state but said the police were capable of reining them in. “We have identified the gangs and are gathering intelligence,” he added.

On June 26, Musa revealed that Singaporean gangs were involved in Johor's organised crime.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nation - Wednesday June 27, 2007

IGP: Seven gang leaders in JB identified

By LOURDES CHARLES and NELSON BENJAMIN

JOHOR BARU: Police have identified seven gang leaders who have been terrorising the state
with the help of influential people.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police were in the process of gathering intelligence to either take action against these leaders under the preventive laws or to charge them in court.

“Many crime heads are from the state. Not only are locals involved but Singaporeans also control certain areas,” he said, admitting that there was a lot of illegal activity in the state which needed to be cleaned up.

Musa explained that the police would have to weed out gangsterism, clamp down on VCD pirates, loan sharks and those involved in prostitution.

“We must take action against the leaders and not just target VCD sellers,” he said. Musa was in Johor on a one-day working visit to discuss the crime situation with his men and also to brief Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman on police plans to curb the problem.

Asked whether officers carrying out their duties might fear reprisal or transfers because of these influential people, Musa replied: “My men need not worry about getting transferred if they are doing a good job. Just do not victimise anyone.”

Musa, who was satisfied with the efforts taken by the local police to tackle crime in the state, said there was no need for a special task force from Bukit Aman to be sent to Johor as had been done in Sarawak.

“They (Johor police) have their own task force. The situation in Sarawak is different as they (the gangsters) were too much,” he said. “The situation in Johor is under control but can be improved.”

On gangsterism, Musa said nobody wanted to come forward to give evidence and, as such, the police would have to use preventive laws against the suspects.

“If the gangster comes out from detention within three months, what are we to do?” he asked.

Musa also took local councils to task for approving entertainment licences everywhere, which made policing difficult. “Even in villages there are entertainment outlets,” he said, adding that fights usually broke out at pubs and clubs.

Quotes

from my collection shelved somewhere....

Men are ruled, at this minute, by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern, and therefore wish to enslave - G. K. Chesterton

Great people have a way of understanding and stating perennial truth long after they are no longer around.

IGP: Seven gang leaders in JB identified

Letter to the Editor of the Star (never got publish-le..)

Dear sir,

In ref to your headline "IGP: Seven gang leaders in JB identified" I have several question for the IGP.

1: What takes him so long to know that there are 7 Gang leaders with the help of influential people in JB?

2: Based on what empirical studies that, I am assuming the PDRM have done, the PDRM is so sure that these gang leaders and gangesterism is the root cause of ALL the crimes in JB?

3: Is the IGP therefore able to confidently conclude that once these 7 Gangleaders are put in detention there will be no more snatch thieves, rapist and robbers terrorizing the people of JB?

4: Following the above assumption, is the IGP telling the people of JB that all these crimes, like snatch thieves, robberies, rapist, car jacking etc are being committed by criminals or gangster connected to or aligned with the 7 Gang Leaders?

Instead of grandstanding about his knowledge on how many gang leaders there are operating in JB he should try to take a page from William Bratton the former Commissioner of the New York City Police Department on how he reduce crime by 10% per year since he took over the position.

Talk is cheap and maybe 10% is too high a standard - what about at least 5%?


IGP: Seven gang leaders in JB identified
Nation
Wednesday June 27, 2007

By LOURDES CHARLES and NELSON BENJAMIN

JOHOR BARU: Police have identified seven gang leaders who have been terrorising the state with the help of influential people.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police were in the process of gathering intelligence to either take action against these leaders under the preventive laws or to charge them in court.

“Many crime heads are from the state. Not only are locals involved but Singaporeans also control certain areas,” he said, admitting that there was a lot of illegal activity in the state which needed to be cleaned up.

Musa explained that the police would have to weed out gangsterism, clamp down on VCD pirates, loan sharks and those involved in prostitution.

“We must take action against the leaders and not just target VCD sellers,” he said.

Musa was in Johor on a one-day working visit to discuss the crime situation with his men and also to brief Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman on police plans to curb the problem.

Asked whether officers carrying out their duties might fear reprisal or transfers because of these influential people, Musa replied: “My men need not worry about getting transferred if they are doing a good job. Just do not victimise anyone.”

Musa, who was satisfied with the efforts taken by the local police to tackle crime in the state, said there was no need for a special task force from Bukit Aman to be sent to Johor as had been done in Sarawak.

“They (Johor police) have their own task force. The situation in Sarawak is different as they (the gangsters) were too much,” he said.

“The situation in Johor is under control but can be improved.”

On gangsterism, Musa said nobody wanted to come forward to give evidence and, as such, the police would have to use preventive laws against the suspects.

“If the gangster comes out from detention within three months, what are we to do?” he asked.

Musa also took local councils to task for approving entertainment licences everywhere, which made policing difficult.

“Even in villages there are entertainment outlets,” he said, adding that fights usually broke out at pubs and clubs.

Don’t question Pak Lah’s battle against graft

I am getting real sick and tired of this Nazri character which is so typcial of the majority of our clueless MPs.

A report in Malaysiakini headline "Don’t question Pak Lah’s battle against graft"( 10 April 2007 subscriptions required) - Nazri says "“We hope everyone, including the opposition front, do not use graft issues against the government as this will only strengthen the wrong perceptions others have on our country,” - “It will also affect the flow of foreign investors to our country,” he added.

What do you think of statement like this?

Makes you want to cry - at his naivety? - that as long as an issue is not discuss, swept under the carpet and it is blue skies everything nice?

Yeah, come to think of it - that has always been the way the government operates even during TDM time. If it is not in the local paper headline then it is not an issue. Yeah, corruption never happens "if" everyone dont talk about it, "if" the local paper didnt write about and "if" all our MPs never discuss it in parliament. How dandy..

So instead of "close one eye" Nazri is essentially suggesting that everyone should close both eyes and shut up as well...

sure dude...you and your kind can close all your eyes and shut the f* up for all I care because after all I dont understand moron speaks but you sure cant compel the rakyats to be as irresponsible as you guys are. And if you think by not talking about it can increase the government standing in the TI Corruption Perception Index or that tomorrow FDI will start flowing in again then it is about time you sign up for a communication course 101 to understand what it responsbile communications means.

For more information please visit: [B.U.M. 2007]

Wage War on Crime

"Wage war on crime" so the Star Paper headline scream.

"Taking the cue from the Prime Minister, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the police would go all out to stop those involved in gangsterism in Sarawak, even if "influential" people were involved. "

Yes gangsterism in Sarawak but why only focus there?

What about those "licensed" gangster in KL?

- Toll Hike Protest
- Bloody Sunday

What is the difference between this "licensed" gangster and the so call HK link gangster?

Wonder .. wonder

Cops need public help to serve better?

In reference to "Cops need public help to serve better" by RAMLI BIN DIN, Deputy Officer In Charge Of Criminal Investigation - I would like to assure En Ramli that as a law abiding citizen I am always ready to offer my assistance where needed.

However, what I would like to know is what safe-guard does the police have in ensuring the safety of the witness from being harm by the criminals as a form of revenge?

Secondly, what guaranttee does a common law abiding citizen has that the police would not lock him or her up when he or she is filing a police report - as was the case reported recently in the media. (where a sales girl reporting a crime was put in the lock up instead.)

Quoting statistics to show a decrease in one particular crime alone is not that reassuring, especially to victims of crimes, some of whom can never see their loved ones again.

Instead, the police should be proactively employing new methodology and technology as crime prevention tool.

For example, does PDRM have crime fighting software or systems akin to the "compstat" the NY City police uses, where crime stats can be churned out so that PDRM knows which area are crime proned hotspots, what type of crime is mostly committed in that area, what type of individuals commit those crime etc?

In the case of the TAR student, it was reported in the newspaper that police report have been make and when the media interviewed the campus students they voiced their concern about the criminal activities surrounding that area - shouldnt this basic information be already in the police database?

And with this basic information, shouldnt the police have proactively patrol this crime prone area employing plainclothes police as well as the regular patrol to "prevent" and "deter" criminals from terrorizing the students?

Why does the police have to wait for a national tragedy to happen before it can take action?

sent to the Star paper

Religious Man = Crime ? Yes? No?

I read with interest the report in NST Nov 8th 2004 pertain a supposedly ground-breaking study of incest offender in Msia.

While I have no professional opinion to offer for the methodology used and the results of the studies I do have a question towards the statement of the Associate Professor who says:

"This phenomenon illustrates that lack of religious beliefs would make an individual prone to be engaged in this immoral behaviour.

The learned Proffessor, by virtue of the professorship, is a man of science, therefore, his statement attributing or acquainting immoral behaviour as a lack of religious belief just doesnt jive.

Here he is, using a scientific methodology (my assumption) to do a research is suggesting that an individual who has committed such heinous crime as forcing their own daugther(s) or niece(s) to submit, would not have done so if only they are more religious???

MAybe the learned prof have not been reading the news for awhile, for only very recently during the Australian Authority crackdown on child phonography code-named Operation Auxin roped in not only your average joe but the offender includes Priests as well as the various uniform bodies which is sworn to protect the public.

We can also find from the web many examples of individual of different faiths who have chosen to devote their life to their respective religion yet commit crimes of a sexual nature.

So, is it true that having a religious belief will automatically disqualified one from being a sexual perpetrator?

Unfortunately, the answer is not that clear cut becos humans have a complex and highly evolved brain which they used to the fullest be it to commit crime or to do good. And all this too, irregardless of whether one have undergone minimal or the highest education or no education at all!

For centuries psychologist and philosopher have tried to categorise man as, for example, an Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph or an Introvert or Extrovert and associate each category with a specific personality.

Today, in law enforcement agencies, the commonly terms being used are Profiling.

But where did all this categorising and profiling leads to? No where, it seemed.

Crime of all kind is on the increase instead of the other way round. We dont only have nuts who killed without provocation we also have nuts who kill because of religion.

So it would be a wonderful world to live in if only life is as straight forward and simplistic in nature as the learned professor seemed to propose.

Going by his learned theory then, we should be able to make Msia a crime free country in the world by inducing all criminals and potentials criminal of all kind into the world of religion! Voila! Problem solved! Case closed.

Flat Tyres n Good Service

I had a flat tyre on my way back from a shopping spree yesterday. Feeling lazy to change the tyre myself I called AAM for assistance.

After the usual Q&A by the lady on the other end, she finally ask for my membership number...erh....which I sort of didnt renew my membership since I think, about 6-7 years ago...

To which she replied: Sorry sir but we only serve members.

So I ask what is my alternative.

She says, either you renew on the spot which means RM150 cash or find other alternative.

Wow! That's d price to pay for not renewing my membership. While I respect their SOP for assisting only members I think it would make very good marketing sense for them to try to assist distress drivers who is by the way not having a breakdown in a remote jungle but is in the very middle of the town.

Instead of holding the distressed driver by the balls to squeeze out RM150 to change a flat or ask them to try surviving on their own by finding other alternative they could've check and see if their mechanics are having teh tarik somewhere and ask them to rush to the scene, help this poor bloke out for a reasonable fee, get him to sign up and in the process retaining a grateful and potential life long member of AAM.

But then again, as with most big companies in malaysia - individual customer or potentials meant little to them. Good services to the masses meant little more. CSR is an alien unheard of word. These big companies only focus is at the top 20% which they consider their a la creme - that gives their company the turnover needed. The rest can can go somewhere else for all they care.

By virtues of their size, the government lack of sympathy for poor folks plus impotent consumer associations, the consumer of Malaysia is frequently beaten to submission and have to continue to pay for the follies of a few "camouflaged" business people in position.

As consumers we should all stand together. Register our dissatisfaction no matter how insignificant we think it is. Do not, however, complaint for complaint sake becos we are hard to please.

Instead give constructive complaints based on service level expectation.

My friend once asked me, what do you get from complaining and do you think there'll be changes even if you complained?

Well, if we say nothing, nothing is definitely going to get changed - becos the clueless sitting up there will still very much be clueless - however, if we make a complaint, collectively, our voices may be loud enuf for even the deaf to hear.

We cant expect changes to happen overnite but like the chinese saying, if we have perseverance, slowly but surely even a piece of useless rusted metal can be turn into a beautiful shiny needle.

To my friends who says never mind to all the abuses heap on them by bullying big companies, I would like to quote Elie Weisel: to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all... neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victims..and silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

SPEAK UP! .... pleeeaasee....

Wisdom Quotes

George Orwell:
In our age there is no such thing as "keeping out of politics." All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.



So, for those who says, "aiyah, it's not my problem." - they should read Orwell.

Trader Got Robbed In Miri

Letter to the Star Editor

Refer to your report "Trader robbed of RM800,000 in gold" and The Starpaper comments "A businessman from Kuala Lumpur found out too late how foolish and costly it could be to walk in town alone" as well as the Police Chief remarks that the victim is careless and reckless.

Firstly I agree with the Police Chief in that the businessman should have a bodyguard when he carry so much valuable with him. As a matter of fact, a businessman or the general public should be discouraged from carrying large amount of cash or valuables with them whether in a big city or a dark alley.

But having said that, we should also take into considerations the nature of the business involved, the time and the place the robbery took place in this case.

In the example of the goldsmith businessman who got robbed, the nature of his business dictates that he carry his wares as samples to show his clientele otherwise he may not be able to close the sales, secondly, he is walking in the middle of the main city near a busy supermarket at late noon when he was robbed.

Taking into consideration the place and time of the robbery it is logical to say that the businessman is not careless nor is he reckless because he is not meandering alone in the middle of the night or at a dark secluded alley. Thus the Starpaper comments that it is "foolish and costly for the businessman to walk around town alone with his gold" is grossly misleading because it will and can be miscontrued by foreigners as well as Malaysians who has never been to Miri that our Malaysian cities street is full of robbers and is not a safe place to walk alone!

Also, it is the basic right of every citizen to expect a certain level of peace and security when we conduct our daily businesses or just walk through the street anytime of the day, especially in the middle of a busy city without being robbed, threatened with bodily harm or fearing for our safety.

To this end, the police, instead of chastising the victim could have given assurance, not only to the immediate victim but to the general public and the local or foregin businessman, who frequent our cities that the police do have a strategic long term plans on crime prevention and that our Malaysian cities street are in actual fact a relatively safe and peaceful place where we can walk alone anytime of the day.

Nov 28th - D editor dont seemed to like my comment thus was not publish.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker

We all know, ever since the announcement from the BN government of their choice of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker that he is as good as confirmed.

Such is the state of our "people" representative that anything that was recommended from the top is as good as a command. Remember your favorite word to win your girl-friend heart? - Your wish is my command, dear....

What I dont understand though, is the nonchalant way our DPM put it that it was preferable that there was no contest as the person for the job should be accepted by all MPs.

Now, this is a mystery. Can any single politician can be accepted by the other politician - let alone 219 of them? And I thought we have a parlimentary democracy - one vote one person - ? hmmm....

TV Smith - Gold for Eight

From TV Smith:
15 ministers picked 8 sports headed by 6 datuks and 2 sultans for 1 gold medal.

Check out the full article at: TV Smith

Now we shall sit, wait and see whether our our performance will improve - since we have so many datuks, datuks and sultans in one place!!

JPJ Offline!

Jeez, it seemed like everytime I wanted to renew my license the Pos Office will tell me that "JPJ Offline-lah". This happened the last time I tried to renew my wife license.

Talk about being the ICT international hub!!! Out of frustration I sent an email to JPJ from their web site - I wonder if they care to reply! or maybe their web server is offline too???

Dear Sir,

I tried to renew my license at the Tmn Muda Pos Office but was unfortunately told that JPJ is offline.

This is not the first time I faced this problem. The last time I tried to renew my wife license I was told the same thing.

My friends told me they face the same problem.

I dont know whether the problem originates from JPJ HQ, your vendor or the Pos Office - what I know is I am rather disappoint that such issue can arise again and again.

Bearing in mind Malaysia goal of becoming an ICT hub of international recognition I do hope you guys would seriously look into this recurring "offline" problem so that we can leave up to expectation.

Beef up the enforcement too

IT IS that time of the year that road accidents are the issue of the day again. This time Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy have issued statements to the effect of tweaking and tightening the existing laws.

However, what our leaders have not touched on is the enforcement aspect.

No matter how good the law is, without a good enforcement unit, its purpose will be defeated.

This is shown in the increasing number of road accidents.

For enforcement of traffic laws we have the traffic police and the Road Transport Department but one can hardly see officers from these departments doing enforcement work at any time of the day.

Instead, enforcement occurs only when they set up roadblocks and create more traffic jams.

Why can't the enforcement officers station themselves at road junctions and summon motorists or motorcyclists who flout the law daily?

If law enforcement officers can be seen more regularly, I believe motorists and motorcyclists will think twice before speeding or beating traffic lights.

Other areas where law enforcement officers are seldom or never seen are the housing estates.

These are the areas that breed unethical drivers.

Here, you will find youngsters riding motorcycles and carrying pillion riders without wearing safety helmets, speeding and breaking all traffic rules and endangering themselves and others at the same time.

You will also find motorists who disregard all traffic rules by double parking and driving in the opposite direction along one-way streets.

Publish in The Star Leters to the Editor Nov 9th 2004