最近大马的某大牌律师楼收到一个令他们头疼的委托信！他们漏夜开会怎样处理这件委托，可是还是不能决定。因为他们收到国内外的青蛙组织的委托去告大马的政治人物破坏他们的身誉，可是大马法律又没有哪个法令可以让他们代表动物去告人类！这次这间大牌的律师楼够尴尬了！可是我们的政治人物还不懂的惭愧呢，不信？去看看今天的政治新闻吧！
看来我们人类有的比禽兽都不如呢。我真的无言以对！
Showing posts with label people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label people. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The peole should be split for the betterment of the country?
I attended a political forum last night organized by the See Hua Daily news and the United Chinese Association. One of the speakers, Mr. Wong Chin Huat, a political activist, put across a very interesting view on how to serve the rakyat best, i.e. divided political parties and leaders serves the rakyat best.
His contention was backed by the political history of Malaysia from the 90s to post-308. Many were taken by his unconventional view but accepted his analysis. He stressed that during the 1990 general election, Umno was divided and suffered big set back while the MCA won handsomely because the Chinese thought they should not "hijack" the BN during UMNO's worst division but that did not do well for the Chinese community as UMNO became more radical and many Chinese interests were compromised in order for UMNO to regain its Malays' support. So the Malays gained while the Chinese suffered when the Malays were divided but the Chinese were united. That he says showed that the rakyat "gain" only when the political parties and politicians are divided.
If his political view is correct, his view that if the none bumis give 70-85 % support to the opposition and if 40% of the bumi were split from BN, then the Pakatan Rakyat would secure 106 out of the 165 parliamentary seats in west Malaysia and Sarawak and Sabah only need to give 9 more seats to the Pakatan Rakyat for it to enjoy the simple majority in the Parliament to rule.
But he stresses that if the Rule of Law is not observe, then the Perak's incident would be repeated because UMNO could seek to disregard the mandate of the people as it regards itself as the representative of the malays. He jokes that that is why he still wear black in defiance of the BN's coup in Perak.
I would have to agree that the BN has and will always call on the people to "unite" under it wings and threaten the people of the consequence of a divided UMNO or divided MCA or the divided SUPP. But as history has shown us, the more divided the politicians and political parties are, the more the people will gain/benefit as all will sought the support of the people as they will realize that they can't take the people for granted.
To support Mr. Wong Chin Huat's view, I would say that the check and balance in the political equation is the key to safe guard the interests of the rakyat and only with a 2-party or division of power would the check and balance be secured.
The Sarawak people should know that the SUPP has all these years threaten the Chinese community about the division of power which is actually to the contrary of the actual state of thing. The proof can be seen from the 1987 Ming court's affair that led to a snap election and while the Bumi votes were divided with the Permas winning 20 out of the 48 state seats and the balance of power hanging on the SUPP. What did the SUPP did with the Chinese community going behind them 100%? They did not bargain for the Chinese community but rather a few of its leaders sold off the support from the Chinese community in return for their own "interests". Issues such as the land issues, the mother tongue education, unfair allocation of government projects and intake of the Chinese in the state's departments and the oil and gas royalty should be on the bargaining table with the PBB but they were all forgotten and remained the central issues/ thorn in the fresh of the majority of the Chinese community.
I hope the above can bring awareness to the people, be them the Chinese, the Ibans, the Bidayuhs, the Penans or the Melanaus. The people should know how to capitalize or utilize the political parties to their interests and not let the political parties abuse and cone them into believing that a divided among the support would undermine the stability or security of the people and society.
My 2 sen worth but could it also be the "million ringgit answer" to the democracy of Malaysia? Let discuss further.
His contention was backed by the political history of Malaysia from the 90s to post-308. Many were taken by his unconventional view but accepted his analysis. He stressed that during the 1990 general election, Umno was divided and suffered big set back while the MCA won handsomely because the Chinese thought they should not "hijack" the BN during UMNO's worst division but that did not do well for the Chinese community as UMNO became more radical and many Chinese interests were compromised in order for UMNO to regain its Malays' support. So the Malays gained while the Chinese suffered when the Malays were divided but the Chinese were united. That he says showed that the rakyat "gain" only when the political parties and politicians are divided.
If his political view is correct, his view that if the none bumis give 70-85 % support to the opposition and if 40% of the bumi were split from BN, then the Pakatan Rakyat would secure 106 out of the 165 parliamentary seats in west Malaysia and Sarawak and Sabah only need to give 9 more seats to the Pakatan Rakyat for it to enjoy the simple majority in the Parliament to rule.
But he stresses that if the Rule of Law is not observe, then the Perak's incident would be repeated because UMNO could seek to disregard the mandate of the people as it regards itself as the representative of the malays. He jokes that that is why he still wear black in defiance of the BN's coup in Perak.
I would have to agree that the BN has and will always call on the people to "unite" under it wings and threaten the people of the consequence of a divided UMNO or divided MCA or the divided SUPP. But as history has shown us, the more divided the politicians and political parties are, the more the people will gain/benefit as all will sought the support of the people as they will realize that they can't take the people for granted.
To support Mr. Wong Chin Huat's view, I would say that the check and balance in the political equation is the key to safe guard the interests of the rakyat and only with a 2-party or division of power would the check and balance be secured.
The Sarawak people should know that the SUPP has all these years threaten the Chinese community about the division of power which is actually to the contrary of the actual state of thing. The proof can be seen from the 1987 Ming court's affair that led to a snap election and while the Bumi votes were divided with the Permas winning 20 out of the 48 state seats and the balance of power hanging on the SUPP. What did the SUPP did with the Chinese community going behind them 100%? They did not bargain for the Chinese community but rather a few of its leaders sold off the support from the Chinese community in return for their own "interests". Issues such as the land issues, the mother tongue education, unfair allocation of government projects and intake of the Chinese in the state's departments and the oil and gas royalty should be on the bargaining table with the PBB but they were all forgotten and remained the central issues/ thorn in the fresh of the majority of the Chinese community.
I hope the above can bring awareness to the people, be them the Chinese, the Ibans, the Bidayuhs, the Penans or the Melanaus. The people should know how to capitalize or utilize the political parties to their interests and not let the political parties abuse and cone them into believing that a divided among the support would undermine the stability or security of the people and society.
My 2 sen worth but could it also be the "million ringgit answer" to the democracy of Malaysia? Let discuss further.
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。
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。
Friday, June 5, 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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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
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, August 16, 2008
愛－無怨無尤
〔爸 ?我要出去玩！給我兩千塊！〕我一邊看著電視一邊說著。〔昨天不是才給你了嗎？怎麼又花完了！〕我爸露出些許無奈的神情質問著我。〔你到底給不給嘛？你若是不給我的話，我就去偷去搶！〕我翹著二郎腿叼著根煙，一邊抖腿一邊說著。〔唉?〕我爸嘆了一口氣後，從口袋 ?拿出幾張佰元鈔票，準備數兩千塊給我，而我看見後迅速站起身來，將他手中的佰元鈔票全部拿走，頭也不回的離開家中，立即騎著我爸買給我的機車，準備去享受我的夜生活。
在撞球場和我朋友撞球時，我朋友突然問我：〔你爸是做什麼工作的啊？) 我聽到後有些羞愧的不敢回答，只因我爸是賣烤香腸的，而我以我爸的工作為恥，所以，我在我朋友面前絕不提起我爸，因為我並不把他當成爸爸。
不知不覺中，已經凌晨３點多了，於是我和我朋友準備離開撞球場，想繼續到KTV喝酒玩樂，可是當我們從2樓撞球場走到樓下時，卻聽到了吵鬧聲：〔你錢到底要不要拿出來，不拿出來我們就打給你死！〕而另一個聲音又傳了過來〔我錢是不會給你們的，這是我辛苦賺的血汗錢, 是要養我家人的，我是絕對不會給你們的，你們再不走，我就要報警了喔！〕突然間，樓下傳來了一聲怒喝：〔你去死！〕
當我和我朋友走到樓下時，發現4、 5個少年圍著一個中年男子拳打腳踢的，還有一個人拿著棍棒猛揮那個中年男子的身體，眼看著，那個中年男子倒在地上已經快不行了，可是他手中仍然緊握著，他今天賺的兩千多塊，不肯鬆手讓另一個少年搶走.
可是在我離開之前，我忍不住回頭看了那中年男子一眼，卻驚愕的發現，他竟然就是．．我爸！我愣在原地看著他們繼續毆打我爸的場景，與我爸緊握著鈔票不肯鬆手的畫面，又突然想到我爸平時都無怨無尤的給我兩、三千塊，而現在，他竟然可以為了兩千多塊，性命都可以不顧，再看到他賴以為生的香腸攤，已被敲毀散落滿地，頓時間，我不自覺的掉下一滴淚，大聲哭喊著〔爸！〕立即衝入人群中，用身體守護著我平時最看不起的爸爸，任由棒棍拳腳襲擊著我。 而我身上立即一點一滴的傳來我爸剛才所承受的痛楚，可是我卻感覺到我的心，比這些痛楚還要痛，因為，我對自己以前的不孝，真的感到無比的痛心啊！幸虧不久後，我朋友立即衝上來替我解圍，而警察在不久後也到了，可是我在細看我爸的傷勢時，竟然發現我爸頭上流著血，失去意識暈厥過去了，讓我急慌的哭喊著〔救護車！誰趕快叫救護車來啊！快 !我爸他．．嗚．．誰快來救我爸 ?〕在救護車來到之後，我立即跟我爸進入了救護車，而醫護人員卻發現我爸左手緊握著兩千塊，仍然沒有鬆手，於是我在一旁哭泣著：「神明啊！求你一定要讓我爸平安無事！求求你！要是我爸真的平安無事後，我一定會學好學乖的，絕對會好好的孝順他，不會再讓他生氣難過了，求求你，我知道以前我錯了，你要懲罰就懲罰我好了，我還年輕，你要我幾年壽命都沒關係，我只求你讓我爸平安無事就好，求求你！神明！求求你．．嗚．．〕
突然間，我爸呻吟了一聲，隨即微微的睜開雙眼，我驚喜般的看著他：〔爸！〕我爸仍有些意識不清：〔這 ?．．是哪裡？〕我喜出望外的對他說〔爸!我們在救護車裡面，你剛才暈了過去，害我好擔心你 ?〕我差點又哭了出來。他忽然微舉起左手，張開了緊握的兩千塊對我說〔啟明！這是爸今天賺的兩千塊，你拿去吧！等一下回家之後，你先買東西自己吃吧！爸還不餓！〕我聽到後立即紅了雙眼，緊抱著我爸大聲哭泣著，一直哭一直哭，淚水不自覺的濕透了我爸的衣衫，也濕透了一旁醫護人員的雙眼。
我們之中有些人總是有著有這父母的無微不置照顧，也總是沉溺在茶來伸手飯來張口的生活中。但我們都不知道!不了解 !被我們所花掉的錢，是父母花著自己的生命.青春 .體力 .汗水所換取來的。他們為了我們不惜一切讓我們快樂，滿足我們的需求,而我們呢 ?卻不知道，也不了解，只是一昧的玩樂，從不曾想過，也不曾體會......看完了這篇文章，在難心深處有沒有很深很深的感想呢 ?好好思考,你會明白的 ......
在撞球場和我朋友撞球時，我朋友突然問我：〔你爸是做什麼工作的啊？) 我聽到後有些羞愧的不敢回答，只因我爸是賣烤香腸的，而我以我爸的工作為恥，所以，我在我朋友面前絕不提起我爸，因為我並不把他當成爸爸。
不知不覺中，已經凌晨３點多了，於是我和我朋友準備離開撞球場，想繼續到KTV喝酒玩樂，可是當我們從2樓撞球場走到樓下時，卻聽到了吵鬧聲：〔你錢到底要不要拿出來，不拿出來我們就打給你死！〕而另一個聲音又傳了過來〔我錢是不會給你們的，這是我辛苦賺的血汗錢, 是要養我家人的，我是絕對不會給你們的，你們再不走，我就要報警了喔！〕突然間，樓下傳來了一聲怒喝：〔你去死！〕
當我和我朋友走到樓下時，發現4、 5個少年圍著一個中年男子拳打腳踢的，還有一個人拿著棍棒猛揮那個中年男子的身體，眼看著，那個中年男子倒在地上已經快不行了，可是他手中仍然緊握著，他今天賺的兩千多塊，不肯鬆手讓另一個少年搶走.
可是在我離開之前，我忍不住回頭看了那中年男子一眼，卻驚愕的發現，他竟然就是．．我爸！我愣在原地看著他們繼續毆打我爸的場景，與我爸緊握著鈔票不肯鬆手的畫面，又突然想到我爸平時都無怨無尤的給我兩、三千塊，而現在，他竟然可以為了兩千多塊，性命都可以不顧，再看到他賴以為生的香腸攤，已被敲毀散落滿地，頓時間，我不自覺的掉下一滴淚，大聲哭喊著〔爸！〕立即衝入人群中，用身體守護著我平時最看不起的爸爸，任由棒棍拳腳襲擊著我。 而我身上立即一點一滴的傳來我爸剛才所承受的痛楚，可是我卻感覺到我的心，比這些痛楚還要痛，因為，我對自己以前的不孝，真的感到無比的痛心啊！幸虧不久後，我朋友立即衝上來替我解圍，而警察在不久後也到了，可是我在細看我爸的傷勢時，竟然發現我爸頭上流著血，失去意識暈厥過去了，讓我急慌的哭喊著〔救護車！誰趕快叫救護車來啊！快 !我爸他．．嗚．．誰快來救我爸 ?〕在救護車來到之後，我立即跟我爸進入了救護車，而醫護人員卻發現我爸左手緊握著兩千塊，仍然沒有鬆手，於是我在一旁哭泣著：「神明啊！求你一定要讓我爸平安無事！求求你！要是我爸真的平安無事後，我一定會學好學乖的，絕對會好好的孝順他，不會再讓他生氣難過了，求求你，我知道以前我錯了，你要懲罰就懲罰我好了，我還年輕，你要我幾年壽命都沒關係，我只求你讓我爸平安無事就好，求求你！神明！求求你．．嗚．．〕
突然間，我爸呻吟了一聲，隨即微微的睜開雙眼，我驚喜般的看著他：〔爸！〕我爸仍有些意識不清：〔這 ?．．是哪裡？〕我喜出望外的對他說〔爸!我們在救護車裡面，你剛才暈了過去，害我好擔心你 ?〕我差點又哭了出來。他忽然微舉起左手，張開了緊握的兩千塊對我說〔啟明！這是爸今天賺的兩千塊，你拿去吧！等一下回家之後，你先買東西自己吃吧！爸還不餓！〕我聽到後立即紅了雙眼，緊抱著我爸大聲哭泣著，一直哭一直哭，淚水不自覺的濕透了我爸的衣衫，也濕透了一旁醫護人員的雙眼。
我們之中有些人總是有著有這父母的無微不置照顧，也總是沉溺在茶來伸手飯來張口的生活中。但我們都不知道!不了解 !被我們所花掉的錢，是父母花著自己的生命.青春 .體力 .汗水所換取來的。他們為了我們不惜一切讓我們快樂，滿足我們的需求,而我們呢 ?卻不知道，也不了解，只是一昧的玩樂，從不曾想過，也不曾體會......看完了這篇文章，在難心深處有沒有很深很深的感想呢 ?好好思考,你會明白的 ......
Sunday, August 10, 2008
“Do you know any Loan Shark? I need some money.”
I was sitting in my vehicle while waiting for my wife outside a local bank in Sibu last Friday when a woman in her 20s approached me. “Mr., do you know where I can get some “tiger money?” she asked me in Foochow dialect.
I took a good look at her as it puzzled me that a stranger would approach me with that kind of question. I tried to figure out whether she is sane or was it the way I carry myself that she mistook me as a loan shark. She was quite the ordinary young housewife that you would meet in a supermarket and she did not look strange or scare at all.
I took out my reading glasses and asked her whether I heard it wrong. She told me that she needs some urgent money and thus she wants me to introduce her to the loan shark if I know any. I asked her whether she understands how the loan sharks work and how much interest they charge. She kept quite as I told her “to borrow the “tiger money” is like digging your own grave.” She asked me “how do you know?” I told her that she must have come across news about how the loan sharks works and how savage they can be.
I further probed why she needs the money and she told me that her husband gave the money for save keeping and that money was meant to be part of the handling fees for the purchase of a house. She was supposed to take out the money from the bank for the said purpose but the problem is she did not have sufficient in her bank account to draw out.
I told her to go back to her husband and tell him the truth. “He would be mad”, she said. I told her that if she wants to borrow from the loan shark, it would be better to face her husband now or there is no point for her husband to purchase the house anyway. I told her that her husband would appreciate it if she is to tell the truth instead of going down a path of no return.
She seemed lost and the asked me “can you lend me RM3000?” I told her that I would not as she has to solve it her own way and that is to go back to her family. I told her “you can’t dig a hole to cover up the other hole.”
Just then my wife came out from the bank and she said bye and thanks. I do not know the latter development of the young housewife but I hope she will follow the advice and I hope that she will not be the victim and prey of the “Tiger” or loan shark.
I guess there are many out there who are lost and face the similar circumstances like the character here. We can’t save them all from their own acts but we should have more forums to discuss the ills of the societies and we need more organizations to provide support to the poor victims.
David Wong
10-08-2008
I took a good look at her as it puzzled me that a stranger would approach me with that kind of question. I tried to figure out whether she is sane or was it the way I carry myself that she mistook me as a loan shark. She was quite the ordinary young housewife that you would meet in a supermarket and she did not look strange or scare at all.
I took out my reading glasses and asked her whether I heard it wrong. She told me that she needs some urgent money and thus she wants me to introduce her to the loan shark if I know any. I asked her whether she understands how the loan sharks work and how much interest they charge. She kept quite as I told her “to borrow the “tiger money” is like digging your own grave.” She asked me “how do you know?” I told her that she must have come across news about how the loan sharks works and how savage they can be.
I further probed why she needs the money and she told me that her husband gave the money for save keeping and that money was meant to be part of the handling fees for the purchase of a house. She was supposed to take out the money from the bank for the said purpose but the problem is she did not have sufficient in her bank account to draw out.
I told her to go back to her husband and tell him the truth. “He would be mad”, she said. I told her that if she wants to borrow from the loan shark, it would be better to face her husband now or there is no point for her husband to purchase the house anyway. I told her that her husband would appreciate it if she is to tell the truth instead of going down a path of no return.
She seemed lost and the asked me “can you lend me RM3000?” I told her that I would not as she has to solve it her own way and that is to go back to her family. I told her “you can’t dig a hole to cover up the other hole.”
Just then my wife came out from the bank and she said bye and thanks. I do not know the latter development of the young housewife but I hope she will follow the advice and I hope that she will not be the victim and prey of the “Tiger” or loan shark.
I guess there are many out there who are lost and face the similar circumstances like the character here. We can’t save them all from their own acts but we should have more forums to discuss the ills of the societies and we need more organizations to provide support to the poor victims.
David Wong
10-08-2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
How many days does an average man live?
How many days does an average man live?
Many would have given the answer using the average life span of Malaysian (either man or woman) multiply by 360 days a year; say an average Malaysian male would be 71 years multiplies by 360 day or in the case of a woman, 73 years times 360 days. That means we should have some 25,000 days to spare before death and that is really a long time, so what is the hurry to fulfill our lifetime dream, there is always a tomorrow waiting for us anyway.
But one American guru, a doctorate motivational speaker, has it another way. He reasoned that there are only a few words to describe the “days” in our lives, such as YESTERDAY, TODAY and The NEXT DAY. So, we can only find 3 different days in the dictionaries and thus we only live for 3 days in our life time.
Many would have thought “what is wrong with this Doc.?” Or “Are you nuts?” Like I said, the guru is a motivation guru who urges us to live “a purpose driven life”. Since there are only 3 days to live, it is imperative that we live to our fullest and live a meaningful life.
“Yesterday” has been forgone, and then we should live on “Today” and plan carefully for “Tomorrow”. Many of us live a life without purpose and thought there is always a tomorrow, but sometimes tomorrow never comes. We have seen many friends and love ones who left us without any warning at all and some are so young that we often thought to ourselves “what a pity, he has yet to live and enjoy his life.”
Many of us wasted our youth and spent our adulthood wondering what to do in life, what kind of man or woman we should spend our lives with, what kind of job we should pursue, and what kind of holidays to take, what kind of house to buy, what kind of car to lease, and of course what kind of club to join to boost our standing in life without really taking a moment to pause and think “what kind of good deed we should do or what kind of service we have provided for our society and what kind of world and society we want our future generation to inherit”.
One supporter once sms me with the following kind words “Thanks for what you have done, never mind that sometimes you are not been appreciated. At least you have tried and your life has been “beautified and blessed.” A very thoughtful and encouraging comment which I shall always kept in mind in what ever undertaking I shall pursue.
David Wong
05-08-2008
Many would have given the answer using the average life span of Malaysian (either man or woman) multiply by 360 days a year; say an average Malaysian male would be 71 years multiplies by 360 day or in the case of a woman, 73 years times 360 days. That means we should have some 25,000 days to spare before death and that is really a long time, so what is the hurry to fulfill our lifetime dream, there is always a tomorrow waiting for us anyway.
But one American guru, a doctorate motivational speaker, has it another way. He reasoned that there are only a few words to describe the “days” in our lives, such as YESTERDAY, TODAY and The NEXT DAY. So, we can only find 3 different days in the dictionaries and thus we only live for 3 days in our life time.
Many would have thought “what is wrong with this Doc.?” Or “Are you nuts?” Like I said, the guru is a motivation guru who urges us to live “a purpose driven life”. Since there are only 3 days to live, it is imperative that we live to our fullest and live a meaningful life.
“Yesterday” has been forgone, and then we should live on “Today” and plan carefully for “Tomorrow”. Many of us live a life without purpose and thought there is always a tomorrow, but sometimes tomorrow never comes. We have seen many friends and love ones who left us without any warning at all and some are so young that we often thought to ourselves “what a pity, he has yet to live and enjoy his life.”
Many of us wasted our youth and spent our adulthood wondering what to do in life, what kind of man or woman we should spend our lives with, what kind of job we should pursue, and what kind of holidays to take, what kind of house to buy, what kind of car to lease, and of course what kind of club to join to boost our standing in life without really taking a moment to pause and think “what kind of good deed we should do or what kind of service we have provided for our society and what kind of world and society we want our future generation to inherit”.
One supporter once sms me with the following kind words “Thanks for what you have done, never mind that sometimes you are not been appreciated. At least you have tried and your life has been “beautified and blessed.” A very thoughtful and encouraging comment which I shall always kept in mind in what ever undertaking I shall pursue.
David Wong
05-08-2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Happy 80th birthday!
My mum turns 80 years old on this month and all my siblings came back for the special occasion. I had to arrange it on the Saturday to fit every one's schedule. Thus, i had to forgo the DAP's Penang trip on the 17th although the air ticket had been purchased earlier.
My mum did not want to celebrate it so we did not invite anyone else and told her that it was only for the immediate family members. Anyway, we have a heart warming gathering at my home and enjoyed the family reunion which usually happens only on Chinese New Year.
We wish our mum good health and hoping that we shall have many more of this occasion in the years to come. Happy Birthday, mum.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Beware of conmen among our circles of friends & relatives & associates, ranks and files
Everyday, news about con jobs and victims appears on the papers, but the same stories appear again the next day. Why and how?
To many these are more unbelievable as why there are so many victims when the news reminds us almost daily about the con jobs. But what if the conman is one among our trusted circle of friends and associates?
The con men prey with the following characteristics:
1) They are all well armed with some knowledge and skills and can sweet talk a lot, they are never the shy ones or introvert,
2) They only prey on those they are well acquainted especially their friends and relatives,
3)They joint a lot of associations and are members of political parties to build up their bases,
4)Some of them are well known personalities in town such as part time MC ,Feng Shui master and best man,
5)They almost certainly dressed well and presentable,
6)They always tell you a lot of stories about how they have helped the others to build up your trust,
7)Of course, they will sweet talk you into some sorts of investment schemes and promise you the good returns,
8)They also could guarantee anything under the sky,
9)They like the kind hearted preys whom they can laid their eyes on, and
10)They are worst than the snakes as they are full of greed and Vernon.
I know of one such con men in Sibu whom many have been victimised and i have the intention of exposing him when his victims are willing to supply me more evidence. I am sorry to say that this conman could have been seen by the public as one DAP supporter although this could be his camouflage only to suits his "profession".
David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
7-7-2008
To many these are more unbelievable as why there are so many victims when the news reminds us almost daily about the con jobs. But what if the conman is one among our trusted circle of friends and associates?
The con men prey with the following characteristics:
1) They are all well armed with some knowledge and skills and can sweet talk a lot, they are never the shy ones or introvert,
2) They only prey on those they are well acquainted especially their friends and relatives,
3)They joint a lot of associations and are members of political parties to build up their bases,
4)Some of them are well known personalities in town such as part time MC ,Feng Shui master and best man,
5)They almost certainly dressed well and presentable,
6)They always tell you a lot of stories about how they have helped the others to build up your trust,
7)Of course, they will sweet talk you into some sorts of investment schemes and promise you the good returns,
8)They also could guarantee anything under the sky,
9)They like the kind hearted preys whom they can laid their eyes on, and
10)They are worst than the snakes as they are full of greed and Vernon.
I know of one such con men in Sibu whom many have been victimised and i have the intention of exposing him when his victims are willing to supply me more evidence. I am sorry to say that this conman could have been seen by the public as one DAP supporter although this could be his camouflage only to suits his "profession".
David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
7-7-2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sibu protests fuel prices hike
Protest Against the 4th June 2008 fuel price hike
Democratic Action Party Sarawak and the people of Sarawak strongly oppose to the fuel price hike announced by the Government on 4th June, 2008. By the announcement, the petrol price was increased by RM 0.78 to RM2.69 per litre (in Sarawak) while diesel price was increased by RM1.00 to RM2.58 per litre (in Sarawak).
The reasons for the objection to the domestic fuel prices hike are as follows:
1. This is by far the largest single fuel price increment in the history of Malaysia, 40% increase in petrol price and 63% increase in diesel price. The People find it extremely difficult to adjust to such a sudden and steep increase in fuel prices and the inflation spirals resulting from such hike.
2. Petrol and diesel are derived from crude oil, our country’s most valued natural resources. Oil belongs to the People the profit earned from the production and sale of crude oil ought to be utilized for the benefits of the People and , one of which is affordable petrol and diesel. But Petronas did not even made public its details account as if it was a “secret” enterprise.
3. The Government claims that the petrol and diesel sold in petrol stations are subsidized by the Government. This is the biggest FALLACY.
When a Malaysian purchases a car, he has to pay the Government heavy import tariffs. For example, a Toyota Vios in Thailand is only sold at approximately RM50, 000.00 but is sold at R80, 000.00 in Malaysia. Even with an average high petrol consumption of RM500.00 per month, this RM30, 000.00 tariff paid to the Government is equivalent to free petrol for 5 years (RM500 X 60 months)
4. We are a net oil exporting country. Our country actually benefits from the increase in international Crude Oil Prices (COP). Compared with other oil-exporting countries, our domestic petrol and diesel prices are by far the highest. The following are some of the petrol prices in these oil-exporting countries:Price of Petrol in Oil-exporting Countries (per litre)· UEA — RM1.19· Egypt — RM1.03· Bahrain — RM0.87· Qatar — RM0.68· Kuwait — RM0.67· Saudi Arabia — RM0.38· Iran — RM0.35· Nigeria — RM0.32· Turkmenistan — RM0.25· Venezuela — RM0.16· Brunei — RM1.26
The Government should compare our petrol and diesel prices with these oil-exporting countries and not pride itself for having cheaper petrol prices than the oil-importing countries. Further more, those oil importing nations have better social welfare blankets and cheaper cars in the first place as mentioned above (3).
5. Despite the so-called “subsidy”, the Government’s net income from production of oil after deducting the so-called “subsidy” on petrol and diesel is on the increase.
These figures were obtained by the Member of Parliament (DAP) for Bandar Kuching in Parliament.
This is further confirmed by the statement of the former Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Muhamad Yacop on 2-11-2007 that:“ the country gained about RM250 million for every US$1 increase in the price of crude oil and that amount was after paying subsidies to maintain the price of energy in the country.”
6. Petronas profit has been increasing over the last few years and it is mainly attributable to the increase in the international COP.
7. The impact on the economy since the announcement of the fuel prices hike has been felt across all sectors of the local economy. Retailers and businesses have complaint that their businesses have been adversely reduced by some 30%. Imagine the long term developments as many will only feel the impact in 3-6 months time. Banks will see higher Non-Performing loans and thus will increase the lending rates which will put pressure on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and then the ensuring layoffs will make many family bread earners losing their jobs.
8. The government continues to subsidies tens of billions to the Independent power Producers and yet it can’t afford to subsidies fuels to the poor Malaysian in general.
It should take war on corruption which Morgan Stanley Singapore estimated at RM 380 billions (up to 2004) under the privatization policies implemented. That should be the main concern for the government and yet we do not see any concrete action by the BN government to take corruption seriously.
Democratic Action Party Sarawak and the people of Sarawak strongly oppose to the fuel price hike announced by the Government on 4th June, 2008. By the announcement, the petrol price was increased by RM 0.78 to RM2.69 per litre (in Sarawak) while diesel price was increased by RM1.00 to RM2.58 per litre (in Sarawak).
The reasons for the objection to the domestic fuel prices hike are as follows:
1. This is by far the largest single fuel price increment in the history of Malaysia, 40% increase in petrol price and 63% increase in diesel price. The People find it extremely difficult to adjust to such a sudden and steep increase in fuel prices and the inflation spirals resulting from such hike.
2. Petrol and diesel are derived from crude oil, our country’s most valued natural resources. Oil belongs to the People the profit earned from the production and sale of crude oil ought to be utilized for the benefits of the People and , one of which is affordable petrol and diesel. But Petronas did not even made public its details account as if it was a “secret” enterprise.
3. The Government claims that the petrol and diesel sold in petrol stations are subsidized by the Government. This is the biggest FALLACY.
When a Malaysian purchases a car, he has to pay the Government heavy import tariffs. For example, a Toyota Vios in Thailand is only sold at approximately RM50, 000.00 but is sold at R80, 000.00 in Malaysia. Even with an average high petrol consumption of RM500.00 per month, this RM30, 000.00 tariff paid to the Government is equivalent to free petrol for 5 years (RM500 X 60 months)
4. We are a net oil exporting country. Our country actually benefits from the increase in international Crude Oil Prices (COP). Compared with other oil-exporting countries, our domestic petrol and diesel prices are by far the highest. The following are some of the petrol prices in these oil-exporting countries:Price of Petrol in Oil-exporting Countries (per litre)· UEA — RM1.19· Egypt — RM1.03· Bahrain — RM0.87· Qatar — RM0.68· Kuwait — RM0.67· Saudi Arabia — RM0.38· Iran — RM0.35· Nigeria — RM0.32· Turkmenistan — RM0.25· Venezuela — RM0.16· Brunei — RM1.26
The Government should compare our petrol and diesel prices with these oil-exporting countries and not pride itself for having cheaper petrol prices than the oil-importing countries. Further more, those oil importing nations have better social welfare blankets and cheaper cars in the first place as mentioned above (3).
5. Despite the so-called “subsidy”, the Government’s net income from production of oil after deducting the so-called “subsidy” on petrol and diesel is on the increase.
These figures were obtained by the Member of Parliament (DAP) for Bandar Kuching in Parliament.
This is further confirmed by the statement of the former Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Muhamad Yacop on 2-11-2007 that:“ the country gained about RM250 million for every US$1 increase in the price of crude oil and that amount was after paying subsidies to maintain the price of energy in the country.”
6. Petronas profit has been increasing over the last few years and it is mainly attributable to the increase in the international COP.
7. The impact on the economy since the announcement of the fuel prices hike has been felt across all sectors of the local economy. Retailers and businesses have complaint that their businesses have been adversely reduced by some 30%. Imagine the long term developments as many will only feel the impact in 3-6 months time. Banks will see higher Non-Performing loans and thus will increase the lending rates which will put pressure on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and then the ensuring layoffs will make many family bread earners losing their jobs.
8. The government continues to subsidies tens of billions to the Independent power Producers and yet it can’t afford to subsidies fuels to the poor Malaysian in general.
It should take war on corruption which Morgan Stanley Singapore estimated at RM 380 billions (up to 2004) under the privatization policies implemented. That should be the main concern for the government and yet we do not see any concrete action by the BN government to take corruption seriously.
We urge that the petrol and diesel prices be reduced to the pre-General Election level, i.e. Petrol at RM 1.92/Litre and Diesel at RM 1.578/Litre.
In the interest of the People, we hope the BN government will reverse its decision on the price hike immediately. The government must honor its proclamation of providing "security, peace and prosperity" as contained in its last election manifesto.
In the interest of the People, we hope the BN government will reverse its decision on the price hike immediately. The government must honor its proclamation of providing "security, peace and prosperity" as contained in its last election manifesto.
David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
27-06-20
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Another incident at the National Service Camp
I just received a call from one of the trainees from the Bumimas Camp of Khidmat Negara, he told me that he and his fellow trainees (10 of them)were physically abused by the local police after the camp trainer reported that they were involved in a fight in the camp last night.
According to the trainee, name withheld here until i met him, there was no such fight in the camp yesterday and they were innocent. I would not be able to prove it today as i can't bring in the reporters to hear their stories.
I told them to meet me tomorrow morning as they were allow to come out for the church service on Sunday and let see what the truth is. But the bottom line is, if the camp commandant can't handle such a minor incident without the police, how are we able to send our kids to the camp without having to worry about their well beings and safety?
My stand about the end to National Service remains and may be more so after incidents that happened these 2 days. We are wasting our limited resources on a ill-defined and hastily implemented project that is not achieving anything and that cost us RM 500 million per year and then more.
The BN should focus on making the lives of the people better and not on unnecessary projects that made a few cronies rich, and i do mean filthy rich. The confidence level of the people on the BN is at historical low and incidence like this surely explains why. So, to the PM, i would like to ask "you want to hear the truth? It is on the newspapers everyday, look no further!"
David Wong
21-06-2008
According to the trainee, name withheld here until i met him, there was no such fight in the camp yesterday and they were innocent. I would not be able to prove it today as i can't bring in the reporters to hear their stories.
I told them to meet me tomorrow morning as they were allow to come out for the church service on Sunday and let see what the truth is. But the bottom line is, if the camp commandant can't handle such a minor incident without the police, how are we able to send our kids to the camp without having to worry about their well beings and safety?
My stand about the end to National Service remains and may be more so after incidents that happened these 2 days. We are wasting our limited resources on a ill-defined and hastily implemented project that is not achieving anything and that cost us RM 500 million per year and then more.
The BN should focus on making the lives of the people better and not on unnecessary projects that made a few cronies rich, and i do mean filthy rich. The confidence level of the people on the BN is at historical low and incidence like this surely explains why. So, to the PM, i would like to ask "you want to hear the truth? It is on the newspapers everyday, look no further!"
David Wong
21-06-2008
Praise the Lord, 5 new members join our family
Photos from top down
1)The mother holds the puppy in her arms,
2)5 bundles of joys line-up for milk and warmth
3)Beautiful, ain't they?
4)Closed-up of two of them
5)My boys became the early-bird because of the puppies
6)How sweet is the little one sleeping in her mother's arms?
Yesterday, 20Th June 2008, was a very special although hectic one for me. I had a busy day as it all started from 14oo hour as one(1) National Service trainee called me from the Bumimas camp in Sibu informing me that he had been asked to relocate to Bintulu. His case was handled by me as his father was very sick and i helped him to get the approval from Khidmat Negara HQ to be allowed to be stationed in Sibu Bumimas camp instead of Bintulu. We got the approval on the 2nd 0f June and the letter was faxed to me from KL. But this trainee was informed that he has to get his butts off Bumimas camp yesterday instead after being in the camp for the last 13 days.
I was puzzled as to why and how the local Camp commandant could able over-rule the decision of the administrative personnel of its HQ.Another thought went through my mind was my press statement the day before urging the government to scrap the National Service immediately. I rushed to the Bumimas Camp accompanied by my wife and after i showed them the letter and told them that the trainee stays or else they have to get their own butts out of the Camp. Finally everything was settled but that have shown us the quality of the Khidmat Negara's administration.
I reached home at around 1540 and it was pouring down heavily then. As i drove into the house compound, our pet dog, a bitch of around 7 years old, was actually howling which was unusual. My wife said she must be hungry and that our maid might have forgotten to feed her. I walked to her as she was lying at the car pouch and patted her head and then i brought some food for her and left her there. I was thinking to myself that the vet might have to be called as i look at her belly which was a bit swollen. 10 minutes after as i was sitting down at the computer table, our maid called us excitedly "dia beranak!" or she is giving birth in English. My wife and the kids all went Berserk and was in a frantic mood as they saw the first born puppy (in white and black spots).
Well i was excited too and wanted to have a look at the puppy but no, my wife would not let me near them! She told me that as i was born in the year of the tiger, it was taboo for me to face the newly born animals with unopened eyes. That i have heard since i was a kid as it was the Chinese belief that the mother would consume its own new born if they were being exposed to a person with the Tiger's Zodiac symbol.
Then my phone rang, it was from Law Hui Ung, the personal assistance to our state Chairman, Wong Ho Leng. He asked me whether i was free as our Chairman had called for a press conference and wanted me to join him. I asked him whether it was that important and urgent and he told me the topic of the PC is "RICE" which i was taken by many as the key man in a sense. But i knew that i need someone who knows better and i called up a rice whole seller to assist us.
I had to rush to our Chairman's office although my own pet is having the most important moment of her life. We had a press conference at 1645 and we shown to the press the unbelievable sample of 15% broken rice which Bernas has released to the rice whole sellers.There were rice mice in the sampled rice and the rice is very powdery. Our Chairman told the press that he will bring the sample rice to KL for the chemist to check whether it is consumable or whether it is fit for human consumption.
After the PC i rushed home to welcome the second puppy (brown with dark spot) and my wife told me that that should be it. But she can not be more wrong as our pet gave birth on interval until well over mid night. She gave us five (5) bundles of joys all with their own characteristics and different colours as well.
My kids have been quarreling over the rightful ownership of the puppies this morning and they begged their mother to keep all 5 of them. We haven't decided yet as it is simply irresponsible to keep all of them if we can't manage to provide well for them, imagine 6 adults dogs in a semi-detached house! Well, we just have to take good care of them and God will definitely shows us the way when the time comes.
Before we hit the bed, my wife commented how magnificent is "life" and i told her it was the gifts from God. Praise the Lord for my hectic and meaningful day and praise the Lord for everything he provides for our family.
David Wong
21-06-2008
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