DAVID WONG'S BLOG

MOUTH PIECE 4 SARAWAKIAN

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

黄培根:公务员违背服务宗旨 人民受气 有口难言

黄培根:公务员违背服务宗旨 人民受气 有口难言
砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周三, 2009年 06月 24日 09:23
  (本报诗巫23日讯)砂行动党宣传秘书黄培根表示,公务员的数目与人口的比例,马来西亚是最高的国家,政府的原意是要有更多的公务员,为人民提供更好的服务,但是,公务员却违背了政府的意愿,来自民间对政府公务服务态度的投诉不胜枚举。
  他说,去到政府部门,人民受气,但却有口难言,许多年长者怪自己没有学问,没钱没势。
  他于今早举行的新闻发布会上说,这是错误的观念,公务员拿的是我们的钱。
  对于许长发日前被公务员动粗对待,他说,诗巫人民感同身受,这也意味着,人民遭到公务员不公平的对待时,不能投诉,也不能愤怒,否则会被打。
  在许长发事件上,他表示遗憾,除了行动党外,没有其他的政党替人民讲话。
  在这事件上,黄培根表示,王是盟县长也没有作出公平的交待,殴打许长发的公务员也没有表现出歉意。
  公务员就是代表政府,他相信,打着一个马来西亚口号的新任首相纳吉,也不要看到这样事件的发生。

人联党领袖失责,祸及后代


黄培根:寻求首相协助 应提高罗马安桥身
砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周三, 2009年 06月 24日 09:23
  (本报诗巫23日讯)罗马安大桥将于本月衔接,影响到高过廿公尺的货轮进入诗巫拉让海港局,行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根认为,这将影响到诗巫人民的生活,因此吁请马上停止衔接工程,并寻找解决方案,如提高桥身,以使大船能够进入诗巫。
  他说,我们可以等6个月、12个月,而不要往后影响诗巫几千年、几万年。
  他指出,诗巫的国阵领袖,包括黄顺舸与刘会洲,应该要立刻去会见首相纳吉,向首相解释,为何要提高桥身。

影响诗巫几千年

  他于今早举行的新闻发布会上说,既然这是联邦的计划,应该要给首相知道,他相信,首相将会协助解决这问题。
  黄培根表示,诗巫人民不管人联党领袖如何做,他们只要罗马安桥不会影响到他们的生活与诗巫的经济情况。
  他同时也吁请商会及公会,对此作出表态,关注这项对诗巫经济带来深远影响的工程,并通过集体的力量,向政府施压。

为何桥身仅廿公尺

  人联党领袖承认,廿公尺的桥身,大船将不能驶入诗巫,黄培根也感到不解,为何他们知道这问题,而没有做高桥身。
  他指出,这是在第八大马计划下申请,并在第九大马计划下批准的工程,旨在于加强中区与外界的联系,协助中区的经济发展,如今,却适得其反,大船不能进诗巫 ,严重的影响到诗巫的经济。

错误决定付出代价

  他表示,从6月30日起,中区的人民,子子孙孙,几千几万年都要为国阵的这项错误的决定付出惨重的代价,他问道,这是国阵帮助中区人民吗?
  他指出,在这事件上,出现一间公司安排转载货物,这是否是早已安排,使该间公司受惠,而这间造桥承包商,是否是免费服务,抑或是垄断的生意,任由出价。
  他也要诗巫的国阵领袖交待,这是否已有议程,即为了丹绒马尼而牺牲拉让海港局。
  他认为,若经过转载,舶来品的价格将会提高,届时将转嫁消费者,该党预测,从外输入货品的价格将会因此而提高10%。

图:起为卢增国、黄培根及刘会文指人联党领袖失责,祸及后代。

星洲日报新闻
羅馬安橋應停建
火箭吁社團施壓

updated:2009-06-24 05:30:04 MYT
(砂拉越•詩巫)民主行動黨呼籲本地社團組織和民間團體就羅馬安大橋“大船不過,商家恐慌”事件上,透過報章公開表態他們對這項不利于民政策的看法,向當局施壓。

行動黨砂州委員會宣傳秘書黃培根今日在新聞發佈會上強調,行動黨立場是羅馬安大橋必須立即停建。在不影響拉讓江船只川行為前提下,找出合適方案來解決橋身高度問題。

同時,行動黨認為人聯領袖應該即刻飛往西馬會見首相拿督斯里納吉,向首相闡明羅馬安大橋高度問題。相信這項聯邦工程將會引起首相關注,同時首相也有權利知道事情真相。相信在他倡導的“一個馬來西亞”理念下,將設法幫助砂中區人民解決難題。

黃培根相信,民眾寧可看到羅馬安大橋延遲完工,也不願意見到這座設計上帶有缺陷的大橋建竣,導致詩巫後代子孫需要承擔永遠的痛苦。

“詩巫人民只希望大橋工程的建竣,不會對他們生活構成影響就心滿意足了。所以,社團組織和民間團體應該挺身而出,為了全民利益透過報章表態立場,向當局施壓。”

禁大船川行羅馬安橋
火箭抨人聯領袖失責

updated:2009-06-24 05:29:50 MYT
(砂拉越•詩巫)針對羅馬安大橋將於7月1日禁止高過20公尺的大船途經該處前來詩巫一事,民主行動黨強烈抨擊人聯領袖失責,並挑戰他們應該集體辭職向人民謝罪。

行動黨砂州委員會宣傳秘書黃培根說,羅馬安大橋是在峇旺阿山州選區又是聯邦工程計劃,當地的州議員拿督斯里黃順舸和詩巫區國會議員拿督劉會洲不應將“高過20公尺大船無法駛進詩巫”的問題置之不理,直到詩巫中華工商總會代表要求解決問題時,才出面交代。因此,人聯黨對於本身領袖失責的問題是毫無妥協的餘地,應該呼籲他們辭去職位。

他指出,日前行動黨透過報章將有關事件公諸於世後,讓羅馬安大橋計劃的問題逐漸浮出台面。

“雖然商會代表昨日與當局對話尋求解決方案,但行動黨仍呼籲拉讓海港局主席吳春祥必須在這事件上負責並辭掉主席職位,以表現一名人民代議士該有的責任感。”

他說,當局針對有關問題所提出的“建用平底船”解決方案,意味著當局承認羅馬安大橋一旦建竣,高過20公尺的大船將不能駛過該處前往詩巫。

貨物轉運引通膨危機

對於當局獻議詩巫商家可用丹絨瑪尼綜合海港局作為貨物轉運站,黃培根認為這不僅無法推動中區經濟,也將扼殺詩巫的經濟發展,影響詩巫對外的競爭力。

他是今日在新聞發佈會上質問黃順舸,既然強調羅馬安大橋將為中區發展帶來正面效應,為何商家日前提出調整橋身高度至33公尺,方便大船駛入的要求,卻不作正面回應?

黃培根表示,據知詩巫商家若將貨物從丹絨瑪尼綜合海港局轉運詩巫,每個貨櫃(20尺大)就要支付1千500令吉的轉運費,導致詩巫將面對通貨膨脹的危機。

Monday, June 22, 2009

Rejang Port Authority, another scandal not smaller than PKFZ




Lat week I challenged RPA's Chairman, YB Vincent Goh, to resign from the Chair of the port because of his failure to protect the interest of the Port Authority and his failure to safeguard the interests of the people in central region of Sibu.

The height of the Lebaan bridge of 20 meters is insufficient to allow oil vessels and bigger container ships to dock at RPA.That means bigger vessels will instead be docking at Tg. Manis port and our goods will be directed to Tg. Manis before we use containers to ship them to Sibu. The cost of each container is reported at RM 1000.00 and without doubt that would be paid by the end consumer( people of Sibu, upper Rejang and smaller townships around Sibu.

If Vincent God feels that he can remain quite and let the matter dies down by itself then he can not be more wrong. Under the DAP's watch,the scandal will not be go unexposed. We will do every thing we can to bring the scandals to light as a lot of the people are being kept in the dark.

A few local newspapers did not publish the news last week due to pressure from certain quarters and that shows how cowardice is the BN and its controlled media. But we are ready to use other resources if the print media is not doing its parts in exposing the issues that affect everyone of us in sibu and other townships.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Alleged assault by government servant 领水患援助金 官员动粗



图:。在黄培根(右)的协助下,许长发向媒体显露了胸口的瘀伤。

领水患援助金 官员动粗伤许长发 砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周日, 2009年 06月 14日 06:15
(本报诗巫13日讯)诗巫一名57岁的市民许长发,投诉昨天前往诗巫县公署领取水患援助金的时候,遭到官员的粗暴对待,并在警员的护送下,由县公署前往中央警署报案,之后到医院验伤。
许长发今早在行动党总部向新闻界述说了整个事发过程。
在场者包括其夫人、兄弟、妻舅及行动党的黄培根。
他说,本月13日下午,他前往县公署查询名单,并发现他也是其中一名的援助金领取人,但当局告诉他当天下午没有发出援助金,要他次日再来。
本月12日上午9 时30分,许长发再度只身来到县公署,发现到查询处排了长龙,而且他亦已经证实了自己是合格者,故而不想再花时间去排队,就直接到柜台去领取号码。
双手揪衣领猛力推
当时,其中一名官员以不耐烦的态度就直接写了一张的字条给他,要他进入领取援助金。到了领取柜台,出了一名体格高大的官员,就很粗暴的抓住他的手。在越抓越紧之下,许长发要求他放手。
虽然是放了手,但他还是不罢休,用双手揪住许长发的衣领,一直把他推出了逾5 尺的距离。这时,县公署内有数名的官员见状即刻出来将这名动粗的官员劝阻。
许长发说,现场除了约10名的官员目睹情况外,还有逾10名的公众也目睹了整个事件的过程。
院方无发验伤报告
许长发表示,对这突如其来的动粗,他一时受到惊吓,就在现场拨电报警,以策人身的安全。
警员在较后时前来县公署了解情况,并护送许长发前往诗巫中央警署落案。
这时候,闻讯而来的行动党黄培根,也赶到警察局协助许长发报案。
到了警署,许长发仍然受突发事件而惊魂未定,到场见状的黄培根向警员作出要求,陪他去喝杯茶压压惊。
在落案后,许长发依据警方的指示,前往诗巫中央医院验伤。虽然院方没有发给许长发医药报告,但有告诉他在身体上发现外伤。
胸腰瘀伤饱受惊吓
许长发在记者会上,也出示了身上的伤痕,包括胸口和左腰部份有瘀血。
许长发表示希望警方能够尽快处理此案,并公平的去处理。
他也表示,虽然昨天已经成功的领到水患援助金,但仍然就此粗暴事件,保留起诉这名官员和政府部门的法律权利。
他说,到目前为止,他还没有接到任何方面就此事的电话和消息。



官员对市民动粗 巫县公署受促交待
砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周日, 2009年 06月 14日 02:26
(本报诗巫13日讯)民主行动党,就市民许长发在县公署领取水患援助金时,受到官员动粗一事,认为该部门应该给人民一个交待。
该党砂州宣传主任黄培根说,当政府公务员可以在办公时间,在政府办公室内以暴力行为来对待任何一个大马公民,试想我们的国家,是一个怎样的国家。


他说,市民在政府部门办公室内受到暴力对待,却无法受到安全的保障,这是很危险的,也毁了政府部门的形象。
他说,更严重的是此举已直接的挑战了警方的威严。
黄培根今早在行动党总部,向新闻界发表这项谈话。
中止动粗官员职务
他说,行动党要求县公署应该即刻中止这名被指动粗官员的职务,直到警方的报告出炉为止。
他说,行动党也要求砂州务秘书本身,应该介入内部调查,到底砂州有多少这类暴力倾向的公务员。
同时,行动党认为诗巫县长王是盟,应该公布整个事件的真相。
他说,许长发经声明保留起诉这名官员和部门的法律权利,因为这已经造成了他的身体和心理上的伤害。
保留起诉法律权利
黄培根也说,他不知道当时的情况是怎样发生的,但是没有人可以动粗。假如警方不处理的话,他将会把事件带到武吉安曼警察总部去。
他说,行动党严正看待此事,绝不让此事发生。
他说,许长发将会等待警方的报告出炉之后,若是有证据,将采行法律行动。*


水患援助金欠透明 火箭频接市民投诉

砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周日, 2009年 06月 14日 02:25
(本报诗巫13日讯)民主行动党砂州宣传主任黄培根说,就诗巫水患援助金的处理与发放,行动党接获了许多的投诉,认为整个计划没有透明度,从第一次报名申请到领到钱,市民最少需要跑4 次。
他说,领取援助金不应该大排长龙或是在台上拍照亮相。


他说,整个过程没有一个透明度,既然这是以纳税人的钱来发给,就应该在网络上公布完整的受益者名单,让每一个人都可以上网查询,或是在各大媒体上公布,人民根本就不用去排队。
黄培根今早在行动党总部,向新闻界发表这项谈话。
发现金易遭冒领
他说,政府赔给人民的钱,应该通过政府的支票支出,而不是现金,因为在过程中将免不了会有混水摸鱼的情况产生,有遭人冒领的风险。
他说,行动党要呼吁县公署,第二期的援助金受益者名单,应该更具透明度,并通过网络和媒体公布,并以支票付出。
黄培根也表示希望拿督斯里黄顺舸介入,将事件透明化、简化及合法化。

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sibu is without High court judge?

I was told this afternoon that Sibu is currently awaiting a high Court Judge as the previous Judicial commissioner, has been transferred away. In the mean time, all cases that await High Court decision will have to wait.

We are not in the legal fraternity but we all know that a High Court without judge create unnecessary delay and problems for businesses as well as the society at large.May be the Bar Council should address this issue with the judiciary to come up with a speedy solution.

The new PM should address this issue as his department and the AG and the CJ are responsible to see that Malaysian are not been deprived of the basic in a democracy,i.e an efficient judiciary.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Album for the Gawai Dayak celebration 2009




























Monday, May 18, 2009

Party hopping in Malaysia(Mandarin text)

A good article about political frogging in Mandarin which is worth reading.

在308我们目睹了执政党在一夜之间丧失半壁江山、五州政权易手的惊人事实。不到一年的时间,我们看到霹雳州政权的戏剧性变化。206和506在我国政治史上堪称最重要的分水岭。个中发生的政治事件牵连了执政党、反对党、司法、行政(公务员、警方)和立法权的斗争,但是如果把事情简单化,整个事件的起因,就是——跳槽!

历来我国西马政治人物不乏跳槽举动。举例几个比较著名的,包括行动党的何文翰跳槽至马华,官至内阁部长,曾永森马华至民政再回到马华的草裙舞,沙巴团结党议员跳巢导致该党主政的州政府垮台等,以及牵连最广的霹雳州三剑客退出民联,成为亲国阵独立人士的跳槽事件。

纵观国内政治跳槽事件,绝大多数都是从反对党跳槽至执政党,或者在执政联盟内部更换政党。记忆中,国内只有一次显著的从执政党跳槽至反对党的现象,那就是安华在1998遭马哈迪革职后,安华的亲信和巫统党员大举退出巫统加入公正党或回教党的浪潮。从西马个别或集体跳槽原因加以分析,就会发觉起因总是围绕在几个主要的因素:不受主流派系接受而成为党内政治斗争的失败者,或者是以跳槽换取更好的政治权利。而且青蛙们对政治气候预测很有一手,选择跳槽的时机,都是风起云涌的政治环境,他们往往在那个时候是奇货,可以待价而沽。这样我们得出一个小总结,跳槽无关政治理念,而是利益关乎。

历来从行动党跳槽至马华的,不乏国会议员、州议员。他们都是有了一定党龄的行动党党员,也绝对不是政治初哥。不过,他们跳槽时往往忘记了行动党和马华在理念上有本质上很大的分别。行动党一路来的政治理念,莫过于贯彻“马来西亚人的马来西亚”,和马华党章“确保马来西亚宪法内华裔之合法权益和利益”何止南辕北辙。加盟马华无异典当一向来持有的政治理念,昔日在敌对政党争锋相对,不过加盟时却可以互相拥抱一笑泯恩仇。这个现实其实提醒我们,道德常常都必须让位于利益。

环顾国内政党,我们不得不对回教党的政治教育工作刮目相看。回教党是最为鲜少发生跳槽事件的西马国会反对党,党员拥有很强的向心力。我们尝试把这个现象分为两个阶段来解释。1980年代至2004年安华事件发生前后,回教党诉诸宗教意识来贯彻党内的政治教育以凝聚党员,结果回教党呈现给群众的是保守、宗教极端的面貌。2004年回教党在全国大选大败,掀起改革风,多名专业领袖打入领导层,取代以宗教师为班底而逐渐把回教党带入另一个新面貌——以回教为基础的中间温和路线——所谓的“埃尔多安集团”。回教党在308大选过后爆发党内路线之争,党主席哈迪倾向和巫统合作,欲走回马来民粹和宗教路线,不过立刻引来大多数党员的抨击而作罢。相比其他政党纯粹为了个人利益的斗争,回教党的路线之争相对就比较有建设性。我们看当回教党一党之首在欲脱离轨道与巫统合作时立刻受到党内的讨伐,相比之下,马华在蔡细历呛声跳槽时的处理方式就显得窝囊许多。平心而论,蔡细历采取的手段无异政治勒索,除了出发点是为了自己的政治前景,还绑架其他追随他的基层,以及把儿子押上作为政治赌注。这是一种很不负责任的行为。马华并没有勇气采取果断的手段来解决,反而劳烦巫统领导层开声理清蔡细历刻有的政治立场。华裔选民听在耳里,看在眼里,马华的软弱再一次展露无遗。曾经我对彭亨州马华坚持,就算少一个州议席也不重新接纳(或何启文所谓的“解冻”)丹那拉打州議員何业嘉成为马华议员的立场感到鼓舞。这种不畏的立场,才显得马华是一个重纪律、显党纲的政治平台。不过这个印象过后就因为蔡细历的草裙舞蒙上了阴影,严重破坏了马华的形象,如果马华会长理事会或纪律委员会不采取果断的决定,让事情得出一个结论,以后定然还有更多类似恐吓跳槽的勒索事件,马华的内讧只会无日无夜的延续下去。

我们看到历史上也不乏跳槽的著名人物。但是真正跳槽的并不是他们的躯体,而是跟随他们的政治理念和思想学说。他们寻求发挥他们学说的平台。把秦国改造为战国时代超级强国的公孙鞅,出生于卫国,前期在魏国从事政治工作,但是真正重用他的是秦国君主嬴渠梁。苏秦,合纵对抗政策的提倡者,在燕国获得重用,他本身是周王国人。范惟,秦国远交近攻外交策略的发明人,曾经是魏国的低级官员。还有很多诸如张仪、乐毅、吴起、孙膑等都是带着他们的政治理念投奔他国,而不是以宰相的宝座为他们的目标。他们当中很多也不是宰相甚至政府高级官员,只是君主的客卿(类似幕僚)。

比较和今日的政治青蛙,其中有认为副议长的职位不到喉而跳槽寻求更上一层楼、有些则认为没有部长职就不足以发挥作用。他们说出以上谬论作为跳槽的凭借,证明他们忽略历史、欺骗民众。用意就是为了掩盖贪婪的欲望。

我国两线制正处在酝酿的关头,此时此刻政治立场在权位、利益前面显得多么的无力。为杜绝青蛙政治,各个政党是时候重审个别的政治理念和路线。52年过去,无论执政党或反对党都没有重新审核创党至今的宗旨和目标,它们是否仍符合现今人民的物质和精神要求?是否仍然和现有的国际时势接轨?现在是时候开启引擎来反思。正确的政治路线辅以适当的政治教育是杜绝贪婪的青蛙最有效的方法。严明的党纪、严谨的党员招收将有助减少跳槽事件的发生。政党应该重质不重量,政党从权威政治体制转换为理念路线体制已经是一个无可逆转的步伐,越早转型可以帮助政党取得制高点,更容易获得人民的信任。

让我们拒绝跳槽,拒绝青蛙!

注:作者部落格http://thooi.blogspot.com/

Friday, May 15, 2009

JPA 奖学金的问题年复一年

As the table left clearly shows, JPA has made it a specific point to award 80% of overseas scholarships to bumiputera students and the balance 20% to non-bumiputera students every years since 2000. Nothing was disclosed prior to that year.

以下的一篇新闻报告是2008年5月29日新洲日报刊登的,过了一年同样的优异生的不到奖学金的问题又重复。现在政府要把JPA奖学金交给内阁去决定,表面上是为了公平和透明,事实是我国的政府没有办法和能力去公平的对待各人民族。

政府的政策应该透明和要不分种族的培养国家人才。就好像首相说“1个马来西亚”,政府应该言而有信的推行任何利国的政策而不应用固打制来制造有损国民团结和国家繁荣的政策。

依斯邁阿當:提高透明度‧或公佈獎學金得主名單
依斯邁:考慮向學生說明失敗的原因

(布城)公共服務局總監丹斯里依斯邁阿當說,公共服務局將考慮為無法成功申請公共服務局獎學金的優異生說明失敗的原因,並交由政府決定是否公開展示成功申請者的名單,以提高透明度。
他說,公共服務局目是通知學生申請結果而已,但並未說明原因,但緊隨各方的質疑,公共服務局將探討其可行性。

他說,政府在今年將撥款17億令吉來資助2000名優異生到海外留學,另外撥出5億1800萬令吉給在國內就讀的優異生 。
他週三(28日)在公共服務局召開聞發佈會,針對公共服務局(JPA)獎學金缺乏透明度和不公平的問題,作出澄清和解釋。
国内1万个奖学金
他也促請那些無法成功申請海外獎學金的優異生不,他們還可在6份開始申請政府所提供的1萬個國內獎學金。
他說,優異生只要考至少9個2A(6個必修3個選擇科)就能申請由大學先修班至考取等學位的津貼,大學的津貼一般是每月700令吉,而先修班預料可獲每月200令吉的津貼。
他說,扣除了2000名成功申請海外獎學金的優異生,共有4262名學生可申請上述額外的贊助。
他說,政府每年預料會撥出4000萬令吉來資助這項計劃,而整個計劃則須花費1億2000萬令吉。
他否認公共服務局在配獎學金方面缺乏透明度,一般上,來自富裕家庭,或在面試時表現欠佳的學生,自己心裡有數。
不排除有優異生被遺漏
他不排除可能有一些很優越的學生被遺漏,因此,當局讓學生上訴,以便將遺漏者重新歸納。
他也說,當局也有管道或促申請者提供家庭收入的證據,避免學生刻意隱瞞真實狀況。
依斯邁也說,當局在保送學生到海外醫學方面也面對一些限制,不能把學生送到不受大馬醫藥理事會承認的國家如美國、日本等兩大國留學,而一些大學也設有海外學生固打。
他也說,儘管這次有55%的土著學生獲獎學金,但他否認設有土著固打,因為土著學生也包括東馬的土著,而且成績也很優越。星洲日報‧2008.05.29

Friday, April 24, 2009

"Malaysia Zero-burning policy." Peter Chin on 15th August 2006








Above are some of the photos taken yesterday by us and NGO to show the effect of open-burning.
"For years, fires ignited by palm oil plantation workers in Indonesia to get rid of oil palm wastes had contributed to the spread of cross-boundary haze. Malaysia, a few years ago, banned these burnings in its plantations."
15 August 2006
Peter Chin-Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities
Sibu peoples have every right to be angry that the Natural Resources and Environment Board had issued permits for the open-burning in Sibu in defiance of the ban imposed by the federal government. The air quality must has reached a hazardous level yesterday as the photos above show.
We have had a press conference today urging the state government to immediately put a ban on any open-burning for the plantation industry. There simply isn't any "acceptable" standard when it comes to open burning, it causes health hazards as well as environmental destruction that is far beyond the extra cost of using other methods of handling the plantation waste.
Look at the open-burning in Sibu Yesterday by some plantations and we will get a feel of the truthfulness of the above statement by the government. Unless of course Peter Chin can come out to clarify that Sarawak is exempted from the above "Zero open-burning" policy and that the SUPP is in support of the open-burning policy.
David Wong
04-04-2009

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Batang Ai, no surprise at all





DAP Sarawak leaders were in Batang Ai yesterday to show our support for the PKR on polling day. We went day before dawn in order to reach Batang Ai early. Sibu team reached there earlier , at around 9:40 am and we went straight to one of the polling station which was a few kilometer from Lubok Antu town. We saw long queue waiting outside the polling centre which was quite abnormal. We talked to a few voters who told us that they have voted already and when asked which party did they choose, they answer without hesitation "memang BN".

We then asked them "ada duit kah?". Some turned away while one woman told me "ngadai duit" but her companion gave her away saying "sepulu aja untuk belanja". I told them that that can not be true because money seems to flow freely in this by election but they kept their mouth shut then.

I told Law Hui Ung, the special assistance to Wong Ho Leng, that the majority would at least be 1000 and above which he agrees readily. He told me that the people gathered there were very suspicious of our group of outsiders and some of them were taking our photos as well.

Our state chairman, who lined up with the other voters jokingly told us he wanted to vote as well. But he and 2 other guys presence were immediately been noticed by some of the voters there and told them " Are you guys making a mistake? You guys are not suppose to vote here." Ho Leng then told me "David, your rocket t-shit is selling our identity away." But I knew that the BN's guys there already notice us before we enter the compound and they do know the outsiders from the locals.

Anyway, we did meet up with our Kuching comrades who were led by our state secretary in Lubok Antu town and we proceed to visit a few other polling centres around Lubok Antu town. At SMK Batang Ai, we were told that 70% of the voters had voted although it was only 12:45pm. That reinforced my believe that the BN 3M (machinery, man power and money) are running smoothly and that the margin of BN's victory would further be increased.

Something note mentioning here is that a few PKR's MPs were at Lubok Antu and joined us in our ride to the polling centres. But not many Batang Ai folks even recognise them at all and they presence were most obviously been ignored by the BN campaigners. But they were the darling of the local media though who surrounded them for their views about the by election in Batang Ai. They were quick to respond that the circumstances and political landscape here is totally different from the peninsular Malaysia.

We then went back to the sleepy town of Lubok Antu at around 1:30pm as the heat, thirst and hunger were catching up on us. There we met James Masing, the chairman of Party Rakyat Malaysia, whose gang of around 12-15 were at the same food stall which we intended to visit. James Masing seen relax and they were still there after we left which shows that they were in no hurry and must be confidence of a victory.

The outcomes of the Batang Ai election did not surprise us at all. Like i said in my last posting here, the results are expected and the people have made their decision. It is their chioce (under any undue influence?) and that was what matter in Batang Ai. The rest of Sarawakians have to come to their sense that "money does matter" and it is money that makes the BN in Sarawak.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Great Expectations by Batang Ai folks?




Great Expectations by Charles Dickens must be quite fitting a play to account for the lives of the people living in the sleepy border town of Batang Ai. Many might not have really cared for the Great Expectations as the plot is not only complicated and winding but down to earth boring. Although those well articulated in the English language might be able to find the moral themes of affection, loyalty, self-improvement and ambition.

Batang Ai the modern replica of the Great Expectation? Many would say “You must be out of your mind.” But if one is to go to Batang Ai and look at the living conditions of the folks there one would really feel that the “class” differences between the people there and those living in the modern era. 90% of the people in Batang Ai do not have the basic infrastructures such as piped water, electricity, medical facilities, fire station and sewage system just to mentioned a few. They have been deprived of the developments and they have always been the forgotten ones except during this by election. But because of their simple and innocent nature, they are yet ready to fight for what are rightfully theirs.

So, what are the expectations of the people in Batang Ai? Do they have the same expectations of the people living in KL or Kuching or Penang? The answer to the questions would tell us the results of the 407 by election, no more and no less!

Many Sarawakians (not the local folks) have a lot of expectation for the Batang Ai by election. Many who met me in Sibu would ask questions such as How id Batang Ai? Are you going there? Why are you not there?

They are sending us a very clear message that they want change and they are hanging their hopes on the voters of Batang Ai. Many would regard the 407 by election as a referendum on “Change” and hoping that the Dayak community in Batang Ai would take the lead in Sarawak. They all know that if Sarawak is to change, we can not do it without the participation of the Dayak communities.

Many cynics would say “Do you really think that the rural folks are ready for change? How many voters can resist the temptation of money politics? The natives can not be trusted as they are cheaper to buy than Belacan (shrimp paste). These are insults to the natives here as they deserve better than the BN government and we are all responsible to the state of their affairs. They need our guidance and counseling as how they may empower themselves to be the agent for change and they can make a difference for themselves.

Do we all not have our great expectations? We all have our own dream, dream for better things in lives such as self improvement and ambition to achieve success, demanding good governance and justice for all. The problem is the conflict of our short term needs with our dream. Sometimes although we are know that we must do something for our future but our present circumstances demand that we have to do certain things in conflict with our long term goals. That is the problem faced by our fellow Sarawakians in Batang Ai, they have a lot of frustration and disappointment with the BN government but they simply have to accept the fact that the BN is the keeper of the resources that they are so in need that they can’t afford to offend.

On this note, I am to condemn the BN for the state of backwardness of Batang Ai as they are fully responsible as the only state government since we are part of Malaysia. They have the thick cheeks to come to Batang Ai and tell the folks that only the BN can bring development to them when the area is as developed as the undeveloped African nation.

If you ask me “Who is going to win in Batang Ai?”, then the above should give a good indication of the outcomes of the election tomorrow. Let the Batang Ai folks prove me wrong tomorrow.

In any event, the by election and the strong opposition challenge have made the poor folks in Batang Ai the real winners as the area has not seen such development candies for the past 45 years. But democracy and the dream of good governance would take the back seat if the voters are willing to trade long term prosperity with election candies. May be Charles Dickens would will able to write another great play out of the Batang Ai if he is alive today.

David Wong
6-4-2009

Monday, March 30, 2009







Batang Ai, a 1st in many ways

DAP branches in Sibu sent a delegation of around 60 people to Batang Ai yesterday in support of the PKR for the Batang Ai (N. 29) by election. We went there in a bus and several 4WDs and left at 4.00 am sharp in order to be in time for the nomination which was set at 9:00 am.

We reached there at around 8:10am and the road leading to the nomination centre was packed with vehicles and we have to alight from the bus and marched to the nomination centre. I called up a comrade who reached there earlier and could heard the shouting of slogan in the phone and he told me that the supporters from the PKR out strength the BN. We were a group of 37 and we held our Rocket flags high walking into the stadium and the BN’s supporters and were booed by the large BN crowd. I waved back to them in contempt and our group held and waved our flags even higher and the PKR’s lead contingent welcome us with shout of approval. The tension ran high as both camps shouted at each other but the riot police and the steel barricades separated the two.

As I said, there were many 1st for today nomination; 1st, the small and sleepy town of Lubok Antu was made known to many Malaysian for the first time as RTM and many national media were there to broadcast the nomination LIVE, 2nd, 800 strong police force was dispatched to Batang Ai, which means 1 police officer for every 10 eligible voters and many observers think it is a waste of resources which could be better utilize to fight rising crimes in the state, 3rd, this is the first time the DAP sent a full force of state leaders and supporters in support of the PKR which shows the bonding of the opposition in the state, 4th, this is also the first time that the businesses in Lubok Antu are overwhelmed by bustling visitors especially from all over the country.

But I hope the most important and crucial 1st will be made on 407, that is the first time that the people of Batang Ai shall reject the BN. Sarawakian are all eyeing Batang Ai as the crucial test before the coming state election. Many Chinese are skeptical about the PKT chance as money politics and development promises are flying all over the place and they feel that the result is a forgone conclusion.

But lets there be hope that the people are seeking for change, after all after 45 years under the BN the people are still been depriving of the basic facilities such as clean pipe water and electricity and healthcare facility. Change is coming and the people of Batang Ai shall decide for themselves on 407!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Selangau-Mukah road is full of deathtraps




The Selangau-mukah road is a major trunk road linking Mukah, Oya, Dalat and Balingian to the outside world. The road is the only access to the outside world apart from a few flights a week from Mukah. Mukah is a fast growing town which plays a central role in the BN government's SCORE(Sarawak corridor of renewable energy) which the government is said to invest some RM 30 billion in the next few years.

However, the trunk road in question would reveal how much the government is committed to either the safety of the road users and the RM 30 billions SCORE project. The 68 km stretch of road, if i may call it a road, is not only full of potholes and you can see any lamp post at all along the road. There are many death traps along the road which would cause fatal accidents and yet nothing had been done to address the issue.

Most ironiclly, Balingian, the state constituency whose elected state assembly man is none other than the CM of Sarawak, is within the area while Mukah is the birth place of the CM. The CM has frequent visit to Mukah and yet it seems that he has no knowledge of the road's conditions. Or does he not know????

I had a press release of the issue and i urged the CM to travel by road the next time he visit either Mukah or Balingian. Sadly, the media refuse to publish my call for the CM to make it his personal agenda to find out the truth.

Many Mukah's folks who met me during my trip there request DAP to publicise the matter so that the BN's top leadership would be aware of the grivances of the people. My personal remark, sarcastic, if i may ,was “too bad there is no by election in Balingian or Muakh or else the issue would be addresses very soon". Was i wrong, just take a look at the Batang Ai!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Parenting and growing up

It was 12:55pm yesterday as I drove to SMK Bandar Sibu to pick up my second son from school. It was a routine job for me although many would say that we pamper our kids too much nowadays as the school is only a 10-15 minutes walk away from home. Today’s experience reinforced our believe that what we did all these while was well worth it. We shall continue to do so in the near future!

What happened? My wife saw a young boy walking under the hot sun and he was wavering and stumbling along the way and looked like he was going to collapse anytime. She stopped me and told me whether the boy looks alright. I took a good look at the boy andI felt that his conditions warrant my assistance. I parked my vehicle and walked across the road divider to examine him. He looked pale and visibly shaken as I approached him but told me that he is “ok”!

I told him that he is not “ok” and offered to give him a lift. He told me that he has gotten use to it already (我已经习惯了)。I wonder what he meant by that, so I probed further. He got a bit uncomfortable and refused my help. I was wondering whether I should let it go but my conscience told me that I have to do something about it. He then told me that he can not accept my help because he was not sure of my intention. I told him that my kids are his schoolmates and there is no reason why he can’t trust me. I even told him about my kids’ names to put him at ease.

Before we came to an agreement, a pick-up truck stopped by us and the boy entered the vehicle. I opened the door and saw the woman driver who was visibly disturbed by my probing. She asked me what was wrong and I introduced myself and told her what happened, She asked me “Is he not feeling well?” and then turned to the boy to ask the same question which he did not reply. She sounded annoyed as if the kid is causing unnecessary trouble or wny this stranger is probing so much.

I walked back to my vehicle and told my wife the whole thing and she agreed that there something isn’t quite right. First, there is the question of why the boy was walking home if the mother is picking him up in the first place? Secondly, why didn’t he just tell me that his mother will pick him up? Thirdly, he said he lives in Rejang Park which is at least 1.5 km away and was he telling me that he used to walk home by foot? Fourthly, why was he so suspicious of my assistance, I am sure I do not look like a rogue. Lastly,why was he pretending that he is fine when he couldn’t even walk straight?

Never mind the above, I did what I have to do and I am sure many of us would have done the same. I put this on the blog to tell the parents out there that there might be a lot about our kids that we do not know as they might not tell us everything. We need to spend time with them and pay more attention to them as we do not want to regret latter on. Our kids deserve our attention and love which can not be compensated by any other means. Parenting is never easy but so is growing up for the kids!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Run up to the 307 Debate-Hot!


. 庆信培根《307辩论会》 胡逸山教授将担任主持人
(新闻/中砂)
(本报民都鲁28日讯)民都鲁区国会议员拿督斯里张庆信太平局绅与民行党砂州宣传主任黄培根之《307辩论会》主持人已经初步鉴定,由国内著名时评家兼教育家胡逸山教授担任。 允许担任主持人 据拿督斯里张庆信人民服务中心发言人披露,胡逸山教授已经允许担任当天的辩论会主持人,但也希望黄培根会满意由胡逸山教授来主持当天的辩论会。 如果黄培根有更好的人选,请尽早提出来,以便做出安排。 有关胡逸山教授的学历背景,他是在美国加里福尼亚大学毕业,分别考获法学博士、工学博士、国际工商管理硕士、机械工学学士、航空工学学士,以及德国文学学士。 ...

2. 双雄会砂州史无前例 陈则敏:好的开始
(新闻/南砂)
(本报诗巫25日讯)对于民进党拿督斯里张庆信与行动党黄培根即将展开的一场“华山论剑”,公正党诗巫区部副主席陈则敏博士认为此乃政坛好的开始。   他今午接受电话访问时,发表个人看法。   他说,无论这场辩论会的结局由谁胜出,或没有输赢之分,至少这是政界新开端。执政党勇于接受在野党的挑战应邀出席辩论会在砂州而言是史无前例。   “基此,我个人非常欣赏张庆信敢于站出来接受行动党的挑战。”   陈则敏博士指出,在野党从来都是打先锋挑战执政党,其个人认为黄培根有大将之风,毕竟没有临阵逃脱,反而积极备战。 ...

3. 与张庆信辩论 黄培根:已准备就绪
(新闻/南砂)
(本报诗巫25日讯)砂行动党宣传秘书黄培根说:“我已准备就绪,会依时出席辩论会。”   黄培根今早接受《联合日报》询问时表示,他已做好功课,从多方面做足功夫,以赴一场华山论剑   他表示,至目前为止,拿督张庆信邀请他前往民都鲁,张氏选择在民都鲁举办辩论会,他接受,毕竟民都鲁是张氏居住的地区。不过,他吁请张庆信必须尽速推选一个具有中立立场的主持人,因为时间仅剩10天,一旦主持人名单出炉,就必须着手筹办辩论内容与方式。 ...

4. 与张庆信辩论 黄培根:已准备就绪
(新闻/中砂)
(本报诗巫25日讯)砂行动党宣传秘书黄培根说:“我已准备就绪,会依时出席辩论会。” 黄培根今早接受《联合日报》询问时表示,他已做好功课,从多方面做足功夫,以赴一场华山论剑。 吁速推选中立主持人 他表示,至目前为止,拿督张庆信邀请他前往民都鲁,张氏选择在民都鲁举办辩论会,他接受,毕竟民都鲁是张氏居住的地区。不过,他吁请张庆信必须尽速推选一个具有中立立场的主持人,因为时间仅剩10天,一旦主持人名单出炉,就必须着手筹办辩论内容与方式。 ...




The historic debate-the first of its kind in the history of Sarawak-the press labeled it as 307 Debate-between the MP for Bintulu and the Chairman of the BN Backbenchers' Club, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing and the publicity secretary of DAP Sarawak, Mr. David Wong, was held on the 7th of March 2009 at the Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

In the run up to the debate, there was much anticipation by the general public as well as the politicians from the political divide. The Chinese Print media were more than helpful in publicizing the event with much front page coverage and even with details of the two debaters were not left uncovered.

The whole thing started with the political crisis in the state of Perak where the BN wrest away the duly elected PR government by using what we called the "political frogs" (defectors from the PR) on the 4th of Feb. 2009. That was actually just after the Chinese Lunar New Year and the self-proclaimed government by the BN took control of the state of Perak when the deputy PM, Dato Seri Najib, took the defectors from the PR to have an audience with the sultan of Perak. The Sultan of Perak refused the request of the Menteri Besar(Chief Minister)to dissolved the state assembly of Perak to pave way for fresh election to solve the political crisis based on his "interview" with the 3 defected PR's state assembly members.

Then in the central region of Sarawak, a town called Bintulu, its MP at the dinner function of one of the Chinese Association's dinner on the 8th 0f Feb., launched an attack on the DAP and the PR for what he said was "double standard" in dealing with the handicapped persons (oh, by the way, one of the defectors, Mdm Hee-DAP suffers from Polio)。He said that while the PR has always self-proclaimed to be the guidance of the less fortunate in the Parliament, their actions are a far cry when it comes to Mdm Hee.

I responded to his allegation in a press conference in Sibu and told him that he has twisted the whole thing around as it was Mdm Hee who have acted against the wishes of the Perakian as they voted (54%) for the PR and entrusted their mandate on the PR government. Furthermore, the pR government has implemented the policies in their election pledges such as the allocation of 1000 hectares of state land to the Chinese Independence Schools, the issuing of perpetual land titles, the granting of state land to the less fortunate in the state etc etc. I questioned Dato Seri Tiong on his stand on morality and democracy and told him that the BN has lost its basic integrity by robbing the people of Perak their constitutional right to choose their own government.

Then there were a daily crash on the Chinese print media between Dato Seri Tiong and myself until I challenged him foe a debate. It was almost forgone conclusion that Dato Seri Tiong would decline my challenge as the BN in Sarawak has always refused to face the opposition on matters that really matter to the people. But everyone was surprised when Dato Seri Tiong accepted my invitation for an open debate. He asked me to go to Bintulu while leaving the date of the debate to me. I responded that 307 (the eve of the political tsunami in 2008) and then the rest would be arranged by Dato Seri.

Many people called and said that they do not believe the debate would be possible as even a moderator would not be easy to seek in such a highly charged debate between the BN and the DAP. But they were surprised once again when Dr. Oh Ei Sun, a well learnt (double PhD. degrees) and well respected educationist and current affair analyst accepted the challenge even though he has live TV shows lined up for him.

The Stage (photo above) was set, a small auditorium in the Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce that can housed 500 was chosen by Dato Seri. Although the general public urged the organizer to change the venue because of the anticipated turn ups on the day, it was not entertained by the organizer (representative of Dato Seri). Too bad, I have no say and have to go along with it.

With the approaching D-day, the debate became the centre of attention, coffee shops talks were are geared to it while the press and media gave it all they can to make it lives up to its expectation.

So, did the debate lives up to the expectation? Would it become a wrestling match between the supporters of both camps? Would there be personal attack by both debaters? Would there be any unexpected last minute bombshells revelation by any camp or both the camps? Would there be unexpected last minute cancellation? Who would win the historic debate?

I shall leave them all to my next posting.


More Chinese news for the 307 debate are attached herewith;
與張慶信舌戰
黃培根:絕不輕敵

updated:2009-02-23 05:16:15 MYT
(砂拉越•詩巫)雖然辯論會在即,強敵當前,但完全沒有辯論經驗的行動黨砂州委員會宣傳秘書黃培根,還是信心十足,因為他深信對的錯不了,錯的對不了!

黃培根曾於2001年州選、2004年國選、2006年州選、2008年國選披行動黨戰袍出戰。選舉前的選民集會,累積他豐富的演講經驗,不過,他卻不曾參加過辯論會。

3月7日首度踏上辯論會場,黃培根的對手是以敢怒敢言見稱的民都魯區國會議員拿督斯里張慶信。黃培根說,此次是他的處女辯論會。唯他並不因此緊張。反之,很高興張慶信的應邀。

“辯論是民主最基本東西,畢竟一些民生課題必須透過辯論,才能讓選民看得、聽得更清楚。因為在辯論會上,辯論者可以現場提出疑問,另一方需即時給予解答。”

目前修讀倫敦大學法律系的黃培根今早受詢時說,此次辯論非兒戲,他絕不輕敵。

認真看待此次辯論會的黃培根表示,除了心理準備,他已收集一些相關資料。“畢竟第一次辯論,我要做些準備。辯論與演講不同,辯論的時間有限,且胥視臨場反應。”

詢及收集甚麼資料時,黃培根說,此次辯論的是政治人物道德觀問題,為此,有關霹靂變天、政治家、專家、普羅大眾、政黨領袖的評論、言論都是資料,當中以各階層民意最重要。

黃培根指出,不論這場辯論誰勝誰負,或者最后分不出勝負,但至少讓選民看出真相。行動黨有許多人有意到民都魯出席是場辯論會,但基於時間、交通等問題,可能並不是所有支持者都會到場。若時間許可,該黨主席黃和聯應該會帶隊到民都魯。“我們不想勞民傷財,民都魯當地也有行動黨人。無論如何,主席說過,所有的行動黨黨員都是我的后盾。”



(星洲日報�砂勞越.2009/02/22

updated:2009-02-23 05:16:15 MYT


辯論會料熱爆
民眾應趁早入場

updated:2009-03-05 14:02:42 MYT
(砂拉越.民都魯)307辯論會讓民都魯熱到爆,本報頻接讀者詢問,是否可預先取得入場券。

民都魯區國會議員拿督斯里張慶信與行動黨黃培根的辯論會,比預料中更熾熱。距辯論會尚有3天,目前幾乎已成市民碰面的第一個見面話題,大家都說值得出席聆聽。

不過,許多民眾擔憂屆時太多人出席,現場過於擁擠,後來者將不得其門而入。

一些對政治感興趣的民眾表示,為了不錯過這場辯論會,他們將於當天提早2至3小時進入會場。

本報向負責現場安排工作的張慶信服務中心工作人員瞭解,現場容納500名觀眾已算滿座,目前他們正在考慮是否爆滿後就不再允許後來者進入,以免造成現場出現過於擁擠現象。



(星洲日報�砂勞越.2009/03/05)



不接受預定座位
場地可容納500人

updated:2009-03-05 14:02:28 MYT
(砂拉越.民都魯)307張黃辯論會現場只限500人入場,為公平起見,座位先到者先得,不接受預定也不特別保留給任何一政黨黨員。

民進黨基杜弄區部署理主席江紹輝受本報記者詢及時指出,堪稱砂州政壇一大突破的307張黃辯論會,顯然已成了中區人民的一大焦點。為確保辯論會進展順利,有關場地的各方面籌備工作已在進行。

“這次場地是由張慶信一方負責,場地將低調佈置,將會加強保安,嚴謹看待現場的治安和出席者安全。”

他披露,為迎接這場辯論會,工作隊伍的初步討論結果,限定場內只能容納500人進場,以免場面失控;座滿後禮堂大門將會關閉。

江紹輝說,為公平起見,將不接受預定位子的做法,除前兩排的位子預留予社會領袖外,其餘的坐位皆公開予公眾,先到先坐。此外,入場者不被允許攜帶食物、廣泉水及具危險的物品。

為防不愉快事件發生,辯論會當天除有警方和交警駐守在現場範圍維持秩序外,也將安排後備軍協助。

江紹輝也說,這次的辯論會必吸引雙方的支持者到來助陣,為避免發生不愉快事件,他勸請各造以和為貴,盡可能遵守現場的條規,辯論會上彼此不分輸贏,所以支持者也必須心平氣和地接受辯論結果。

他指出,只要有興趣的人士都可以入場,早到場的人士就能找到好位子。基於場地外的泊車位有限,他建議出席者共車到場。

有關進一步的詳情和規定,他預料總負責人包章文上議員將會在近日內做出公佈;他籲請欲出席者多關注。



(星洲日報�砂勞越.2009/03/05張慶信 黃培根辯論會
胡逸山任主持人

updated:2009-03-01 07:49:34 MYT
(民都魯、詩巫)備受矚目的307朝野辯論會,已敲定由著名學者,亦是大馬前神童胡逸山博士主持,為砂州難得一見的政治辯論會再添賣點!

負責物色主持人的上議員包章文今日受本報記者詢問時證實,在國內外頗具盛名的著名時評人胡逸山博士,已經應允為3月7日的辯論會任主持人。

他透露,辯論細則將由胡逸山向張黃兩人接洽后方決定,包括辯論的主題及辯論模式等。

包章文表示,為公平起見,在邀請主持人時,必須考慮到主持人的背景,即非政治人物,也沒有政黨背景,方能讓人民信服。為能物色到合適的主持人,包章文可說是絞盡腦汁,最終才找到去年馬華黨選期間,曾主持馬華前副總會長拿督林祥才和馬華現任署理總會長拿督斯里蔡細歷政治辯論會的胡逸山。

另一方面,黃培根今午受詢時表示,他尚未接獲主持人人選已敲定的正式通知,但他對張慶信邀請到胡逸山擔任主持人感到十分滿意。

“我很高興,也希望這場辯論會能順利進行。”



(星洲日報�砂勞越.2009/02/28)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

在警局的日历

今天下午收到一个我认识人的电话说她的儿子被警察拷留而警方还在她们家庭成员面前拷打她的儿子。

我在下午3点20分达到警局了解事件。可以说那个查案警官给我非常合理的理待和合作。我告诉他我不是要插手警方的查案工作,只要求警方用专业方式处理整个查案过程。我国的法律立场是一个人在法庭还没定罪前都是是无辜的(a man is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law).

有关查案警官承诺将以专业和合法的方式来处理整个过程。行动党很高兴我们能够跟警方合作和互相理解双方的立场。

黄培根
2009年正月20号

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Newspapers and the delivery man

Everyday we wake up to see the papers being delivered to our house or office without giving a second thought as how it reaches there. Often time, friends would complain about the late delivery as if it is a crime if they wake up without the papers being delivered to their very door. But i certainly have not heard of any praise for the good work done by the delivery man.

Yes, we all need information to survive and newspapers seem to be irreplaceable medium even as the electronic age and net-based media catch up. The papers in the hands is most convenient way for most of us, some bring them into the toilet while others consume the news together with their breakfasts.And many would found themselves lost if they found that there is no papers today as yesterday was a public holiday. Some publishers then use the catchy slogan like "365 days and not a day without newspapers!" to attract readers and subscribers.

Then why is the newspapers so important for us? Some would say it is simply a habit that can't be kick while others would argue that because it is food for thought for them more than simply news that they want to know.

And who are the persons behind the whole process so that we have papers in our hands everyday? Many would say "of course the reporters!" or else where got news to read and there are as many who would named the dailies and even the media Moguls as the persons behind the newspapers.Credits are given to those who are exposed to us just like the award-winning reporter or publisher for the good reporting.

Many never give a thought to the printing workers who work from 7:00 pm till past mid-night so that the papers are ready for delivery. But even less would say "it is the delivery men or women who made it possible!" To many among us, that is a low esteemed job that require no attention or mention at all.

My paper's delivery man delivers the papers to my doorsteps from around 2:00-3:00 am everyday and sometimes he was surprised to see me taking the papers from him at the wee hours of the day. Indeed, most would have slept deeply or consumed in their dreams at that time to even notice their presence.

How hard and difficult it must be to deliver the papers to hundreds of households and offices in a motorbike without break for 365 days a year? They have to deliver regardless of the weather conditions and the security conditions. They have to run into strayed dogs who chase after them as well as coming across some criminal elements day in day out but there is no escape for them unless they stop working.

So please spare them a thought the next time you pick up the newspapers or when you want to curse about the late delivery. Maybe he has met an accident before or after delivering the papers to your door steps or may be he has been admitted to the hospital for some unforeseen circumstances while trying to deliver the papers to one of us.

David Wong
10-01-2009

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Car pooling, ever heard about it?

Car pooling-the magic words at times of high fuels price and global warming?

People all over the world have been urged to pool their resources together to achieve maximum returns for their investments and also to save time and energy in the case of transportation. The metro transits and the aviation industry are the two most common examples of "pooling" and thus many developing countries including Malaysia are all eagle to invest heavily for the metro transits while the major airliners are demanding that the aircraft makers like Boeing and the Air Bus to come up with bigger and more efficient jumbo jets to cater for the "pooling" philosophy. But it seems that only the giant corporations and the government are taking the "pooling" seriously.

But how about car pooling in our everyday lives such as car pooling to go to work and sending kids to school? If we look around us, we can see that the idea of car pooling is really not a welcoming method for most of us. We see traffic been jammed up everyday around schools and cities and town centres because car pooling is not been recognised as an attractive way to travel. Although the people complaint about high fuels price, to them the inconvenience of car pooling is simply too much for them to bear and thus they seldom consider the car pooling as the alternative to save fuels and time and let alone the issues of Global Warming.

The governments had not done enough to promote car pooling as well. How much money and resources have been allocated to sell the idea,such as the number of awareness campaigns been spearheaded by the governments? The government must take the central roles in bringing awareness to the general public as to the advantages of car pooling from the economic view points to the environmental issues and of course to the issues about traffic jam that brings about wastage of fuels and time for everyone.

The ministry of transportation, the ministry of environment and the ministry of finance together with other NGOs should really look into the matter seriously. It should start with the government employees (almost a million of them) before the general public would rise to the challenge and make car pooling a way of life.

p/s I was deeply troubled by the ways the parents park their cars around the schools without due regards to the law and the convenient of other road users.These parents are setting bad example for their kids to follow and no wonder they become the "road bully" when they grow up!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas message

On behalf of DAP Sarawak, I would like to wish all Malaysian a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. As the year 2008 draws to its end, we need to pause and look back to the events that happened and history that has been made and hope that mistakes are avoided and triumphs be repeated in the New Year ahead.

Malaysia has seen the better days in the first half of 2008 as the world crude oil prices hit recorded high with its peak at USD 147 per barrel and Malaysia has seen the bountiful as well in the commodities prices of rubber and palm oil. But the October financial crisis in the US that spread like wild fire to the rest of the world had hit Malaysia like a curse as oil prices tumbled and commodities prices fell to recorded levels and we finally found ourselves in hot-water financially while the inflation that was triggered by the fuels price hike in June has yet been redressed.

2009 seems to be a year of uncertainty as many Malaysian are facing many huddles ahead with the BN government not doing anything to address the concern of the people as the biggest political party, UMNO, is too busy preparing for its March party's polls. So far it has only used the EPF money to inject RM 5 billion into Valued Cap Sdn. Bhd. as its only solution to the financial crisis facing the country and we do not even know whether it causes any ripple at all in the stock market.

More important to Malaysian would be the 916 effect on the mindset of Malaysian, the 916 has created a burning desire among the majority of Malaysian to see a change of the Guard. They were so intense in their desire that they cursed when the promise by Anwar to bring about the change of federal government did not materialize. But whet they did not know that without that promise, many Malaysian would never dream about the demise of the BN and the changing of the guard at the federal government.

So with the many set backs and triumphs behind us now, lets stand united as fellow Malaysian regardless of the color of our skin, the diversity of our cultures and the different faiths that we embraced, to face the challenge in the year ahead. The spirit of Christmas should lead us ahead in making a Malaysia for all Malaysian and a country that is equally shared by all Malaysian. After all, the spirit of sharing and giving is what X'mas is all about.

Marry Ximas & Happy New Year

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
24-12-2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Dad, my shoes have become smaller!

Last week, my youngest kid told me "Dad, my shoes have become smaller!" as we were getting ready to go out. My immediate respond was "It is not that they are getting smaller but rather because you are growing up fast!"

Then it hit me that they are growing up fast and i have taken it for granted that they will always be the kids that they are and i can compensate them for the lost chance/time whenever i feel like it as simple as a push on the time-machine button just like in the movie "Back to the future" by Micheal J Fox.

Then an idea came up as i have to attend the DAP state committee meeting as well as the annual convention on the 13rd and 14th of December to be held in Kuching, i asked them whether they would like to go to Kuching with me. The answer is of course a foregone conclusion as i am writing this in the house of my in-laws in Kuching.

Today,we visited the Muzium in Kuching and did some window shopping around Cat city. To our delight was we ran into the mascot of the KFC at the restaurant and my wife did not miss the opportunity to arrange the photo session and was happily clicking away. Fortunately the digital age save me a lot of money as we can appreciate the photos without having to develop the films and it is also more enviromental friendly as well.

I am glad that i have spent some quality time with them although most of the time they have to go their own way as i was too busy attending the DAP's meeting and convention. At least we can mix official businesses with family outings if we want to. At least the next time my kid tell me "Dad, my ..." i would know that it is another sign of time passing by fast but i do not have to have a sense of guilt.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

火箭吁人联党代声讨 二小事件扩至华小独中

新闻 08 12月 2008 20:53

(本报诗巫8日讯)砂民主行动党宣教秘书黄培根表示,行动党劝人联党把二小事件扩大到整个华小及独中的问题。 他说,行动党呼吁人联党在本月12日至14日的党代上,应该在党代上面声讨联邦国阵政府或州首长,为何使二小事件变成今日人联党之痛。

他续称,行动党也做出呼吁,如果人联党不能在这次的党代上解决二小事件,不能得到首长或者全国国阵主席(首相)的解决,那么人联党应该在党代上面检讨在国阵的地位。

“若人联党不能做到上述我们讲的话,那么在来届州选时,人民将会要人联党知道,他们已经不能为人民争取任何利益。” 他於今午的新闻发布会上表示,古晋二小的事件在今年选举中被人联党用来影响选民手中一票,人联党在选举中代表国阵,因此人联党的承诺就是国阵的承诺。

“砂人民可以看到,学校及学生都是国家的资源,既然抽税是政府的权力,我要问人联党,建校是谁的责任?” 黄培根认为,人联党已经失去了方向,他们现在把整个事件推给反对党。

他强调,全马人民包括砂州人民可以看到,在民联执政的几个州,民联政府在短短半年内已经做出了国阵政府43年执政以来所不能做的,那就是制度化地拨款给独中,或以地养校的方式来帮忙州内教育,几个州属已经做到了。

“如果今天砂州的政府是行动党组成的政府,那么古晋二小的事情不能得到解决的话,人联党才可以攻击行动党,问题是砂州政府是谁?”

他表示自己听说了首相将出席在人联党党代上,若人联党不趁这次机会把砂州的母语教育问题、独中拨款的问题提出,就不要在报章上作戏。 “只要首相在党代的一句话,就可以解决二小的事件。”


黄和联:人联无履行承诺 另一方面,砂民主行动党主席黄和联律师也针对二小事件表示,人联党的承诺就是要建中华二小,作为选举的承诺,没有履行的承诺,是为不该。 他强调,解铃人还须系铃人,系铃人就是人联党,不应该扯到行动党身上,作了承诺就该履行承诺,并表示人联党该醒觉,即刻要求联邦以及州政府公平对待各源流学校,包括常年系统化拨款。

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

培根:无暇顾及人民利益 内斗无法为民服务 Repost from United daily news

黄黄培根:无暇顾及人民利益 内斗无法为民服务
新闻 - 中砂
作者:iudneditor
周二, 25 11月 2008 18:23
(本报诗巫25日讯)国阵成员党的党内斗争,使国阵部长与代议士无暇顾及人民的利益,然而一个国家的政府操作,不应因为政党内部的斗争而遭瓦解。

砂行动党宣传秘书黄培根今日在该党每周新闻发布会上,对本地传媒如是声称。

他强调,马来西亚国阵政府目前处於近乎真空状态,完全未顾及人民的实际利益。

“当世界原油价格从140余美元大幅下跌,至现今的不及50美元,国阵政府根本无法给人民一个好的解释,为何我国目前的燃油价格甚至远较非产油国,如台湾等为高?”

黄培根感慨地说,我国政府仍以10仙或15仙的幅度在慢慢地调降燃油价格,为何并非一如今年6月初般,单次调涨幅度近1令吉?

“更令人遗憾的是,燃油价格虽逐步调降,然而国内食品与百货价格仍维持原有水平,而未获得适度下调,这充份显示,国阵政府并未顾及广大人民的利益。”

他指出,上月国家银行宣布我国通膨率介於7.6%,然而人民在选购消费品与生活必需品之际,却再再感受了通膨率不仅7.6%,而是高达了20%左右,这亦致使人民生活负担日益沉重。

“如今国阵成员党在党内斗争耗时耗力,尤其全国最大华基政党与土著政党皆然,这种情况在砂州亦不断上演。”

他表示,人民希望看到的是政治领袖为民解困,而非持续的党内斗争,而行动党亦呼吁人联党无论如何进行党内斗争,无论是谁担任党主席,最终应将人民权益放在第一位。

“我们认为,倘若人联党真能确定争取党内职位,即可纾缓人民的问题,那么我们希望人联党能告诉我们,并做出宣布,选出哪位领袖得以解决人民目前的困境?”

同时,黄培根重申,内斗并不能为人民提供服务,而人民不欲看到这样的党内斗争,而是看清时局并解决人民现在所面对的种种难题。

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Bank Negara is too slow and doing too little!

Bank Negara has announced that it will reduce its overnight interest rate by 0.25% with effect from 1st December. The current rate is 3.5% and the reduced rate would be 3.25%!How can the economy waits for the BNM to wake up?

The world economy is changing by the minute if not by the second and yet the Malaysian central bank makes an announcement to reduce the over night rates effective a full week after the decision has been made to reduce it!!

The FED in the US fixed the key rate at 1% in order to minimise the effect of the recession and to let the home owners and business a breathing space. Most economist would agree what the FED did was correct under the circumstance. Malaysia would not be able to be isolated itself from the world crisis and as far as we know, there are a lot of Sarawak companies asking employees to take a month leave until further notice. Some in the export-based companies are asking the employees to take a pay-cut to deal with the problems.

2009 will see much difficulties for the businesses as well as those in the employment sector. Many would face lay-off and salary reduction and many more would file for bankruptcy. And many have term loans or housing loan and business loan with the bank. Like the saying goes "the bank only offer the umbrella during the good time..", i guess that is very true. I was a banker once and i know how the banks operate during the bad time, they simply take away the umbrella from the small businesses and the consumers while trying to protect the giant corporations because of their high exposure.

We do not have the safety nets for the unemployed while the advance countries offer social welfare programs to their citizen. How are the average going to cope with high interest rates during the time of recession? The government is not offering much hope except to say that Malaysia would be able to handle the economy crisis because of our high Foreign Reserve, that is bull to the ordinary people on the street. It seems that the BN government is lost as what direction to take as it fumbles on many issues and notably among them is the ECONOMY!

This morning in my weekly press conference, i lash out at the BN for their failure to address the problems of the people while spending all their resources and energy on party's in-fighting. UMNO, MCA, SUPP and PKR are all having leadership struggles. I asked them to prove me wrong and i challenge them to tell the people what we have to gain from their internal strife. Instead of govern, the BN is wandering in the bush.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A mother's sorrow

I received a call from someone i know requesting to meet in person so as to listen to her grievances. As always, whenever the other party is a woman i made it a point and actually a rule that i shall not entertain her without the presence of another, just to be careful and avoid any untoward incident. That afternoon, my wife was with me when i met her in a Muslim cafe as i felt that we would not be overheard in our conversation for the sake of the woman who told me that it was a family type of problem that she wanted to talk.

We (with my wife) were there first at the cafe before she walked in with a small girl. As they sat down opposite us, i had a better look at both of them. The mother was in her 40s with a sad and heavy physical dispositions obviously from a hard and harsh life. Her hands tell of those who makes a living off the farm or labor-intensive work. The small girl looks the age of 7-8 most with a slim and frail skeleton but innocent-looking big eyes.

I asked them to order a drink just to ease their uneasiness as it must be so when one has to tell of her family problem to an outsider. The woman then thanked us for being there to listen which we politely brushed aside. She told us that the small girl is her youngest daughter and is helping her now because of the school holiday. She is running a mee stalk in one of the coffee shops in town and she doesn't employ anyone as the business is bad and she can't afford an assistant. To make ends meet she also help people to clear land for farming in th elate afternoon.

Then she told us of her real motive to meet, it was to seek the advise as what to do with her second daughter. "What should i do? Send her to the correction center or just treated her as non-existence?"she asked. She was crying then as she told us of the unfortunate family problem with a none committed husband who brought woman back to home and physically abused her and her financial problem in keeping with a daughter in local U and a young 8 years old. But to her sorrow, it was her second daughter who have left her who came back demanding RM65,000 to settle her debt to the loan shark!

"I don't have any money left as i have smashed my youngest daughter piggy bank to pay for my second daughter's debt" she wiped her tears away with her swollen hand as she told us of the heart wrenching story of how she paid some RM1700 plus to settle her daughter's debt. She continued " when i smashed my youngest daughter's piggy bank, i smashed out all the hope left of this family, my own hope and my youngest daughter's as well."
She told us that the 2ND daughter have not come back at all, not even for the Chinese New Year, for the past 3 years although she is in Sibu. The only time when she calls it was always about borrowing money from the mother. One time she called her mother to demand some money for lunch and the mother sent to her all she has left, RM30, and know what she told the mother "Is that all, RM30?" Not knowing to the young girl, her mother told us that on that day, she and her youngest daughter have not eaten themselves as the coffee shop that her stalk opens was closed for almost a week for reason which i didn't even bothered to listen.This time it was a RM65,000 debt that she wanted her mother to pay!

She further told us that because of her family problems lately, her head was so screw-up that on her way back one day, her motorbike was knocked down by a dog and she was hospitalised for a week. She said in her husky voice "what actually hurt was i survive! It would be better if i didn't."

Coming back to the question "what should I do?" I told her that she should just treat her as non-existence and just put her hope on the eldest daughter who should finish her study by next year and raising the youngest one. I told her not to pay a single sen to the loan shark and report to the police if she be harrased by them.

There wasn't any solution when it comes to family's problem. A dishonest husband who abandoned his family with a ungrateful daughter who keep on coming back for money from an uneducated and broke mother and a young 8 years old to raise, what a life that was!

Of course, my wife did offer her our token help which was out of context here to mention. But for us, me and my wife, maybe the encounter offered some sort of reminder that the family value is the key to educate our own children and we did tell our kids about the poor and sorrowful mother and her unfortunate fate.

P/s A mother's sorrow was chosen as the title because that was what hurt the poor woman most as she told us as we walked out of the cafe that she has treated her husband as "dead" already and she just hope that she can bring up her youngest daughter to adulthood before she breathes her last breath.

David Wong
November 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Bank Negara urged to lower interest rates and BLR

By Barbara Hagenbaugh and Sue Kirchhoff, USA TODAY


WASHINGTON — A deep rate cut from the Federal Reserve and other central banks Wednesday will have little immediate impact on consumer borrowing rates, but it sends a clear signal that central bankers are working together to quell an intensifying financial panic that threatens the world economy.
The Fed slashed its target for short-term rates a half-percentage point to 1.5%, the lowest in more than four years. Fed policymakers voted unanimously during an emergency meeting Tuesday night to approve the cut.
"The pace of economic activity has slowed markedly in recent months," the Fed said in a statement. "Moreover, the intensification of financial market turmoil is likely to exert additional restraint on spending, partly by further reducing the ability of households and businesses to obtain credit."

The Fed lowered its target for the federal funds rate, what banks charge each other for overnight loans. The rate is a benchmark used by lenders in setting rates for consumer and business loans.

The European Central Bank and central banks in Canada, England, Sweden and Switzerland also cut interest rates a half-percentage point. China's central bank also cut rates. It was the first such move by so many central banks in a single day.
Some economists said the Fed's move wasn't enough to rescue the USA from recession, but called it one in a series of drastic steps to prevent the downturn from becoming much more serious.
"The playbook to avoid depressions says rates need to be as close to zero as possible, banks have to be rescued, public spending has to rise," said Ian Shepherdson, economist at High Frequency Economics. "The U.S. is making progress on all fronts, though the economy is still condemned to immediate recession followed by a long period of slow growth."
In the short run, the Fed's action is expected to have only limited impact on borrowing costs, given that credit markets are constricted for even the worthiest of borrowers, no matter what the price.
Credit card rates are already hitting floors that are set in agreements with customers, and issuers are being cautious about who gets the benefit of the lower rates. Rates on home-equity lines of credit will fall, but many homeowners have had their credit lines frozen or reduced, so there won't be a big boost to consumer spending, Bankrate.com senior analyst Greg McBride says.
The move will likely not have an impact on fixed-rate mortgages and may not help those with adjustable-rate mortgages, depending how their rates are set, McBride says. Meanwhile, "Savers will be thrown further under the bus as their interest income declines," he says.
Fed policymakers prefer to cut rates at regular meetings, so the fact they didn't wait until their Oct. 28-29 meeting shows how serious they believe the situation is. UBS and Global Insight expect the Fed will lower rates to 1% by the end of the year.

Monday, November 17, 2008

RM 100 per signature?

There are rumor in town that certain activists are giving our cold cash of RM 100 to each applicant who joins a certain political party as instructed by them. The news was that the persons behind are actually some corporate figures who are trying to buy some "political insurance" in the wake of the political uncertainty in the country. I was not a bit surprise by the rumor as this is the norm rather than the exception in Malaysia. Many corporate figures are involved in politicking so as to protect their own interests as in a less than democratic society of ours, politics and business go hand in hand together. Many would say that is Asia, just look at Taiwan, the ex-president Chen is now in the lock up as the prosecutors dig out more evidents of corrupt practises, mis-appropriation of public funds and out-right abuses by Chen's families and cronies.

Certain leaders use the tactic of using the number game when they apply to join a new political party to show how much support and influence they have and how many followers they have.They came with a motive, a political motive that was not to serve but to lobby for a certain position or promises that are self-serving. They would deliver speeches, some less than compassionate, to the "recruited" members and the press, of course. Some well known politicians would be invited to grace the occasion and the highlight would of course be the handling over of the appication forms in the tens of thousand. In actual fact, these "recruited" members are paid to sign on the dotted line and were invited to dinner with pocket money to spend of course.

Looking at the UMNO assemblies in the run off to their general assembly in march 2009, the meetings are marred by physical violence's,money politics backstabbing and what not. The problem is Umno being the backbone of the Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition in Malaysia since the birth of Malaysia, the party's position is key to the government's position. Whoever elected as the President of Umno is automatically the PM of the country and the second man is also the deputy PM and so on. Thus, the jostling for position is not only normal, it is the survival game for many politicians and their cronies.

So coming back to the RM 100 per signature, how many are not willing to sign in exchange for the cold cash? They are playing along the political line just like the politicians and their cronies are, the only difference may be it is a token amount compared with the big guys in the big party. But in the end, everyone is content that they get what they want (or do they) and who cares what happen tomorrow, maybe and just maybe, there is another show that the poor guys would be invited to the dinner with some pocket money to spare, actually the more the merrier!

Happy dinner and happy "recruitment"!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Press statement about the august house


In the PC held yesterday (news in Mandarin,photo left), I called on the elected representatives not to treat the DUN as a circus to promote their political shows.
I also expressed the needs for the DUN's number of sitting to be increased from the current 16 days (the record was 21 days only) to at least 60 days in view of the problems faced by the state of Sarawak. I openly denounced the government for not having more sitting so that all the matters about the state development can be fully debated and the obsolete laws be amended, and i specifically mentioned the Sarawak Land Code,the high inflation rates in the state, floods problems in Sarawak .
Nobody can deny the fact that the state of Sarawak is at least 20 years behind those in the peninsular Malaysia, Ironically, isn't that equivalent to the number of years our current CM is heading the state BN government? Shouldn't the CM be blamed for the lack of development in Sarawak then? Yet i can not see what the CM is currently undertaking to turn around the situation!
This morning I received a SMS , "Ur press statement 2day seems very sour 2 d opposition members too!" I replied the sender with the following:
1)Politics should be used to advance the interests of the people,
2)The Dewan is not a circus and the Speaker should not be the circus master who dictates what "show" to put on, and it is certainly not a platform for child play either,
3)My advise transcends political boundaries as the call is for all the members to do the same so as to solve the problems encountered by the people and the state which is lacking since the BN governs the state.
4) Only those who fails the people need to be disturbed by my statement just like only someone who has anything to hide needs to be bothered by a simple English word camouflage as put forward in the Dewan by Wong Ho Leng (Bukit Assek-DAP).
In the PC yesterday,I also commented that we need a first-class Dewan in its members and not in its grand building (the new DUN building costs us nearly RM300 million) or infrastructure and it is regretful that is what i see (a third-class) in the performance of the DUN now. I elaborated that when the elected representatives care less about the problem of the people than their own stupid ego and pride, no one can say we have a first-class DUN.
David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
12-11-2008
12-11-2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

What happened?

Someone asked me yesterday "what happened to your blog?" I kept quiet and wondered to myself "when was the last time i post anything in my blog?" Something must have happened or else it was not quite like me to keep my blog a "web of spider" if you may.

Actually i did not know why i did not come to this site as this is supposed to me my personal site where i can put my thought at ease and speak out anything that bothers me or the ordinary people that i know of.

The other day someone called me at 9:30 pm and the call was answered by my 12 year old daughter and she told the caller that her father went out without the handset. The caller managed to get the fixed line number of my wife's business office and she called asking for me. That call was answered by my wife's staff and the caller asked "would David entertain any business appointment (actually compliant) and asked for the "cost" for engaging me. Very refreshing and quite unnatural as everyone who asked for my personal assistance knows that it is FREE!

My wife then asked me "may i know if we have to make appointment with you if we want to keep you to ourselves at anytime?" I fell dead silent on that as i know that she and the kids have to be side-stepped most of the time when someone calls me for assistance. Was it fair that because they are closest to me, they have to "understand" and to take a back seat every time?

Many would say that that is the price to pay when one steps into the political arena as you have become a public property and thus your personal ones have to wait. But i found the answer on that particular night as i did not return the caller's call until the next morning. Now i have truly found the balancing act and i know for certain that there are priorities in life that however you rank them you can't please everyone.

Now to the question of "hat happened?" Actually nothing happened, just that sometimes it is better to step out of the "ring" or "arena" to get a breath of fresh air and idea. Everyone appreciates you more, even yourself.

David Wong
31/10/2008

Friday, October 10, 2008

Abdullah was forced to step down by his failure to underatnd the needs of the people

Abdullah was forced to step down by the ECONOMY!
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Oil prices plummeted to a one-year low below $83 a barrel Friday in Asia, as investor fears of a severe global economic downturn sparked a panicked sell-off of equities and crude.

Now that the oil prices have dropped from the peak price of $147 to only $83 per barrel, what is going to happen to the pumps' prices in Malaysia? What would happen to the economy of the country and how would it affects the lives of the Malaysian.

The Abdullah government has on 4th of June raised the pump prices of petrol and diesel by 78sen and RM 1 respectively when the international price of oil was at $ 105. The outcries by the general public and the peaceful demonstrations held against the said price hike fell on deaf ears of the BN, Police were asked not to issue permit to the rally organized by either the DAP or other opposition parties or even the NGOs.

Abdullah mistakenly believed that the mistake he made in raising the pump prices could be "un-done" by different measures such as the rebate to motor vehicles and the monthly price adjustment mechanism and even urged the Malaysian to install a fuel-saving gadget on their vehicles. But he did not take into account the inflation spiral that comes with the fuel prices hike. Malaysia recorded the highest inflation rate in 25 years in August and September, and that was something that we feared would happened.

The BN government treats the people like fool and thought that we are ignorant of the fact that the high oil price in the international market actually brought windfall to Malaysia as we are a net exporter of oil. Petronas profit hit the ceiling and in the 2007-2008 financial year, Petronas profit before taxation was some RM 80 billion or RM 80,000,000,000.00. That is a figure that most people can't even comprehend and know how to count. I would say if we can circle the whole world in Ringgit notes with left over!

Abdullah gambled and failed and now he is forced to hand over his power to Najib before the pre-arranged 2010 time table. He would be remembered as the PM who fails to achieve anything while he has the power to do so. He would not be so unpopular if not for the economy conditions of the country. He is the hated by most Malaysian for the failed economy of the country and the high fuels and foods' prices.

He fails to
1)abolish the ISA,
2)rid the corruption of the BN,
3)brings about judicial reforms,
4)increases Malaysian incomes
5)reforms the country's economic policies(NEP)
6)understands the needs and aspiration of Malaysian.

However, it is worrisome for most Malaysian that Najib would succeed him in March 2009 as Najib is seen as someone who would resorts to all means to achieve his dream as the PM. He is ruthless as can been seen from the Abdullah's experience and he has been linked by the RPK as the one who was connected to the Mongolian’s case. He is inexperience in economy matters and he is now taking over the divided and weakened UMNO and ANWAR is waiting in-line as well for the next PM-ship of the country.

David Wong
10-10-2008

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The con artist show of the ACA?

(砂拉越.詩巫)反貪污局查案官發現其中一個置放巨款的信封變輕,似乎有被開過的痕跡,並要求在眾人面前拆開信封後,揭發是起證物失竊案。

The ACA in Sibu found the evidences missing as monies turned into stacks of papers. The envelops containing large sum of monies seemed tampered and in one of the case the ACA investigating officer requested it to be opened in front of the magistrate and was shocked to see stacks of papers inside.

The above news has once and for all destroyed whatever credibility and integrity that was left of the ACA. The public has all the while doubted the ACA and labelled it as toothless tiger that only preys on the small fly and never dare to tackle the big fish and the VIP. Now this incident has pepped up the coffee shop 's grapevine telegraph.

The RM40,000 was gone as if this is a David Copperfield illusion show. But the disappearance of the RM 40,000 could mean that the investigation of the corruption cases come to a halt as evidence would be missing from trials.The judges would be hard pressed to decide if the defence attorneys challenge the "missing" evidence in the trials of the corruption cases.

We have frequently read news of con artists who preyed on the defenseless victims using the promise that they can help to "generate" or "produce" money with money. The victims would hand over the money to the con artists who will wrap up the money in used newspapers and waited overnight for the "new born monies" to be produced. Of course the end result is known to us all, the victims who cry their way to the police station and news reporters would again shake their heads when writing down the news report.

Now, many would say that the ACA itself is a con artist who performs and steals the second- rated show from the con artists. The severity of this case is beyond redemption for the ACA, at least until the whole case is solved and the culprit is brought to justice.

The ACA must act fast and cooperate with the police authority to solve the case without any reservation and let the truth be brought to light. That means the media should be given a green light to report the findings to the general public.

David Wong
27-09-2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

Why is the Ringgit so weak against all the major currencies?

From http://bbs.my45.net/
My posting "为 甚 么RINGGIT 不 值 钱?"

根据首相阿都拉所发布的声明表示,令吉与美元的汇率也贬值,因此根据政府所使用的计算方程式,最多只能降低油价10仙。

几 十 年 来 我 国 的 令 吉 对 世 界 主 要 钱 币 的 汇 率 都 贬 值, 如 下
1〕1980 年, 令 吉 对 新 币 和 汶 币 差 不 多是1 对1, 现 在 是 1 新 元 或 汶 币 对 2。4 马 币。
2〕1980 年, 令 吉 对 加 币 是1 加 币 对1。8 马 币,现 在 是 1 加 币 对 3。2 马 币。

政 府 因 该 解 释 为 甚 麽 我 国 的 令 吉 一 直 贬 值。 自 MERDEKA 以 来, 国 阵 一 直 掌 管 国 家, 他 们 因 该 为 我 国 的 经 济 问 题 负 责。

贪 污, 腐 败, 新 经 济 政 策, 拐 杖 政 策, 朋 党 主 义, 华 基 政 党 自 我 矮 化 和 UMNO 一 党 独 大 都 是 目 前 我 国 作 大 的 敌 人。

The following is the comment by one YP from my45.net:
如果你以令吉贬低来控诉政府,我认为你该保留和study清楚先。因为货币政策太复杂,每个时期世界环境不同,方向不同。
而且弱势马币可以吸引他国来投资,就以中国来说,前几年都是以1美元兑8.27人民币挂钩。这吸引了几百亿的FDI (FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT),这造就中国成为世界工厂,上亿人口有工作,然后带动经济。现在成为发展中国家最强的国家,其能力直逼美日德三大先进世界经济体。
反观强势,他有他的优点,美国在克林顿总统时代采取强势美元非常奏效,详细的政策不多说。
其他如 “贪 污, 腐 败, 新 经 济 政 策, 拐 杖 政 策, 朋 党 主 义, 华 基 政 党 自 我 矮 化 和 UMNO 一 党 独 大 都 是 目 前 我 国 作 大 的 敌 人。” 这个大家有目共睹,但你认为以令吉一直贬低的话题来攻执政党,必须三思。就以非常简单的例子来讲,新元非常强,这让新加坡人来马消费,使柔佛州州经济活跃。而因新元兑换率高,吸引大马人民去新工作,为国家赚外汇。
但这句“根据首相阿都拉所发布的声明表示,令吉与美元的汇率也贬值,因此根据政府所使用的计算方程式,最多只能降低油价10仙”的确有蒙骗人民的成份在内。如果你针对这statement控诉,这还可以说的通。

My response to YP's comment was as follow:
The actual fact is a country's currency and its value is measured against its economy performance. If the country is economically strong, then its currency would have a higher value than say an under developed nation.

To say that we would be able to attract foreign direct investment if our currency is weak is against the principle of basic economic. For example, Indonesia with a "banana" currency, is definitely a weak economy marred by wrong economy policies and corruptions and political instability. So how come Indonesia can not attract FDI? Why the Indonesian can't catch up with China with such a weak and volatile currency?

We can't use China as an example to say that a weak currency would benifit the country and the people of China is unique with a strong cultural presence and a large educated yet cheap work force. But the capital income of the Chinese is way below the G7 nation. The purchasing power of the people are weak and their standard of living is far below the G7 counterpart. China now faces a big social problem where the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger by the day, it doesn't have big middle class like the G7.

If Malaysia is well managed, we should have a currency as strong as the Singaporean as well as the per capital income of the Singaporean which is even above some of the G7 countries. So isn't that a criteria to appriase the performance of the government. Remember that Singapore was part of Malaysia before it got its own Independence in 1965. Its founding father, Mr. Lee KY in his book said that the Island state has nothing to fall back on and he was worried as how it can survive once seperated from Malaysia. He further said in 2007 that Malaysia would be more prosperous than Singapore if its government practises meritrocacy and treat all Malaysian equally and fairly in terms of educational and career opportunity.

The conclusion is obvious, the government must be blamed for the rot in the country where the per capital income is only USD6000 plus compared to USD 25,000 of our Singaporean counterparts! It is still standing in the circle of fiery political rhetoric.

David Wong
26-09-2008

Friday, September 19, 2008

Yellow ribbons round my45 (or my Sibu)

Repost from http://bbs.my45.net/

Yellow ribbons round my45
i saw many members here using the Yellow Ribbon to symbolise the call for the release of the detainees under the draconian ISA. The golden oldie that goes like "tie the yellow ribbon round the old oak trees.." surely comes to my mind. Although Teresa Kok has been released, the yellow ribbons should remain in this forum as there are still many freedom fighters such as the Raja Petra and the Hindrafff movement's leaders still under custody without any fair trial.So, tie the yellow ribbons round my45 and pray that the freedom fighters would be released soon and the draconian ISA be abolished.

David Wong
19-09-2008

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