SUNDAE INTER:LUDE
I must plead ignorance that when someone called another Chinese "You are a real banana -- yellow on the outside, white on the inside", it was usually a derogatory attack. Yes, one Chinoserie looking down on the Other because the Other only looked Chinese extrernally, but inside... Yes, the Banana spoke not the Chinese language. Knew little C culture, can't quote one line from Li Bai's pomes... (Unlike AM and Desi-lah!) What a blardy disgrace! (That's not Desi's opinion, I'm just reporting, okay, doing you a public service hear!)
My ignorance was dismissed just less than two years ago when one of my Esteemed Readers lamented she "was a banana, poor Me!" and then Desi realised a new term that had been around umpteen years among the teen crowd. Now you know I am no longer a teenager, but how about Tween? (aweOfHelen will explain to thee patiently, bye her 2007freelunch in eeeehPOH!)
I urge my fellow Malaysians of all ethnic origins, especially those with the "original" Chinese blood, to learn Mandarin -- the standard Chinese language that transcends all dialect groups, whether you are in mainland China or an overseas Chinoserie like Desi.
With a globalised world, you don't have a choice but to master an extra language if ytou know the trend -- mainland China just chalked up a new record last October, attaining foreign reserves of more than USD1 trillion! And its GDP is still roaring at 10% per annum. Your destination if you're lucky to land a job with an MNC could be Beijing or Shanghai on Kunming, China!
More on the subject to convince you, and it did not come from Desi with any loaded interest. Neither am I loaded in other ways except by gravitational pull, both vertically and equatorially. Don't laugh at my expanse. I know many of you (confess-lah, it's not a crime!) also ENJOY con BF, freelunch, freedinner and Lustsupper.
Mandarin learning soars outside China
Posted: 09:44 Jan-11-2007 Filed under: Foreign, Education
Story from BBC NEWS, Jan 9.2007
In just five years, the number of non-Chinese people learning Mandarin Chinese has soared to 30 million. What is fuelling this expansion, and will it change the status of English as a global language?
Shanghai-born lawyer Kailan Shu Lucas of Chinese Learning Centre organises lessons in Mandarin, the main Chinese language, for pupils in London - and she is very busy.
She now co-ordinates lessons for 12 London schools. She believes that in most cases, having their children study the language is a career calculation made by the parents.
“Parents nowadays think that in 10-20 years’ time, when their children are in adulthood, China will be even bigger - and so learning Chinese will be a very helpful tool,” she told BBC World Service’s Analysis programme.
“This will be a very useful, important language to learn.”
In London, the parents of most of the non-Chinese students studying Mandarin Chinese are from the finance industry.
“That influences the parents’ thoughts,” she added.
“They want their children to learn Chinese and be more versatile in terms of job prospects in the future.”
The belief is that China is not just a new rival, but a new provider, not just a UK phenomenon - in the US too, numbers of teenagers taking Chinese have rocketed.
In 1998, just 6,000 student enrolled in Mandarin programmes. That figure is now 50,000.
“Students want to sign up for it; parents are asking for it; communities are asking for it,” said Brett Lovejoy, of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
“It’s self-evident that children will be much better off economically and in job seeking if Chinese programmes are adopted.”
In the UK, the number of students at colleges and universities taking Chinese as their main subject doubled between 2002 and 2005. Similar increases are reported in most Western nations.
This has not happened without encouragement from Beijing, where the government is actively promoting the speaking of Mandarin abroad.
Hundreds of teachers have been sent to Africa, and since 2004, China has set up “Confucius Institutes” around the world, actively promoting Mandarin Chinese.
So far, they have signed contracts with 40 universities in 25 countries to establish these joint projects. Global language
And professor David Crystal, a leading authority on how languages work and how they change, explained that the explosion in the numbers learning Chinese is also down to demographic influences at home.
“In modern times, as cultures have changed - especially in Britain, the United States and Australia - as the countries have become increasingly multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, then the languages that come with those groups of immigrants become an increasingly important part of the culture,” he said.
“London is one of the multi-lingual centres of the world… the monolingual tradition of English in the past is changing very much, and I think Chinese is one of the important factors.
“People who used to be able to make their way in the world as monolingual English speakers are now finding that they’ve got to compete with people who are genuinely multilingual.”
Despite the big increase, most analysts agree Chinese is not about to replace English as the “global language” in the immediate future.
But professor Crystal added that this may not always be the case.
“It all depends on the power of the people who speak it - especially their economic power,” said professor Crystal.
“A thousand years ago, people would have said it would be absurd that Latin would not be spoken in 1,000 years’ time. But we know that has happened. It can only take 100 years or so for the language balance of power to shift.
“Money talks. Currently, the language money talks is the dollar. But it might not always be that way.”
Kailan said that in this industry, China is “a big thing.”
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Benchmark your discource internationally,
it helps to fertilise your brain cells. Helps a wee bit to progress the attainment of Developed nation status by NegaraKU in 2020. Okay, 2027 also can!
Well, a recipient being addressed as "DISTINGUIHSED JOURNALIST" feels flattered, to say the least, and so must react, yes?
To wit:
"Post a response.
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
--- Denise Lew wrote:
"Dear Distinguished Journalist,
Please see our new question. We would love to hear from you,
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/2007/01/18/bad_politics_good_economics/comments.php
"
Today I felt drained by Malaysia's goings-on, "Same same, so predictably negative".
So I responded to Blog.WashingtonPost.com's invitation to take part in its online debates, the current titled:
***
Politically, the world is a mess, but economically
it's growing faster than
ever.
- When, if ever, will political turmoil derail the
world economy? Give us evidence from where you live.
-David Ignatius
***
Posted at January 20, 2007 09:14 AM
ylchong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Permalink
The world's economy won't face a high probability of derailment as long as the sole superpower now, United States, and two emerging ones, namely China and India, don't go back to the olde days of seeking hegemony in their regions of economic spheres. The US need to pause and rein in its "War On Terror" and realise its resources diverted into wasting them on the Middle East for military objectives will add on to its economic costs. As it is, China last October has built up record-breaking foreign reserves exceeding USD1trillion, and its GDP growth, with that of India's, continues at about 10% per annum, a record any country in the rest of the world would envy.
My country, Malaysia, just north of the Singapore republic geographically, is losing out its manufacturing attractivess as well as recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), which has been slipping in recent years, with Vietnam and China being beneficiaries mainly because of their lower costs of production and labour. However, Malaysia's projection of GDP growth at 6 to 6.5% annually (targeted to help it achieve Developed nation status by 2020) only fell short by about 1 percentage point in recent years, chiefly buffered by high world oil prices, and new oilfields being productive now (RM44billion net profit FYE March 2006 by Petronas, the national oil corporation) so if anything, the only derailment here is shifting the 2020 year goal by some five to 10 years, maybe.
The main worry among local populace is the rising tide of Muslim fundamentalism, with sporadic outbreaks of demonstrations of less tolerance of other faiths, mainly instigated by political-religious fanatics keen on turning what had been constitutionally established as a "secular" State into an Islamic country. The US should be well advised no to "mitigate" such Islamist tendencies by its Middle-East policies being moderated in the longer term, and acting more with foresight to reclaim its economic clout via its traditional trade leadership with partner-nations, including Singapore down south, and Malaysia.
Economic derailment will be aided by selfish leadership of the majority of nations, so the United Nations Organisation must be given a higher status in the US hierarchy of international policies and interests, as compared with its over-ruling/derailing the UN General Assembly's consensus before US's adventurism into Iraq -- and now costing it dearly.
Will the US pause and reflect, and act more like an international statesman nation than a militaristic "big bully" as perceived by many Islamic countries? Small nations like Malaysia can only be spectators, okay, assisted by nightly prayers to the gods to be kind.
DESI: I also reproduced a fellow Commenter's (from India) to know a little from one source how a regional neighbour is faring.
Posted at January 20, 2007 05:00 AM
Anju Chandel, New Delhi, India. | Permalink
I am an Indian and we have a stable and thriving democracy. The political system is as diverse as our country's fabric: no one political party can claim to be the 'national' party. We keep witnessing political turmoil once in a while but none of them have been so grave to have derailed the economy.
India's economic success is a fascinating case study. Our country was put on the growth path by the liberalizing economic policies brought in 1991 by our current prime minister Manmohan Singh who was the finance minister then. Interestingly, since 1996 India is being governed by large coalitions, which are otherwise difficult to work cohesively and effectively. There were political upheavals, sometimes minor and sometimes major too, which almost looked like destabilizing the society and the governments. Nevertheless, each successive coalition government continued to pursue the progressive economic policies and as a result today we see India emerge as an economic superpower besides China.
Talking about the world, there are certain sectors in economy which hugely impact the world politics and vice-versa. Energy - both oil and nuclear - being one such arena. Similarly, there are certain economies which influence the world politics. Oil producing countries fall in the first category of the influencers - Middle East, Russia, certain Latin American states. In the latter section, we see countries like China, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt, and not to forget the resurging Japan. Also to include are the big stable economies - the major consumers - the US, Germany, to name a few. Any political turmoil in these countries has the potential to derail the world economy. And that is the reason why we see the entire world diplomacy and politics revolve around maintaining balance and stability in this sphere.
Not only this but we should also not ignore the weak economies of today as the emergence of them will only give more consumers and thus further boost the overall trade all across the world. Simply stated, political stability is essential for sustainable development and growth of the world economy.
Mr. George War Bush, are you listening??? "
DESI2:
This piece of nu'es from The Star, page 3, is consoling, to say the least:
Nation
Saturday January 20, 2007
PM: We are not borrowing foreign money to finance 9MP
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is not borrowing US$50bil (RM170bil) from overseas to finance the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP), said the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the country had enough money to fund its national development projects.
“I don’t remember making any such (US$50bil) loan, and I am the Finance Minister,” he said yesterday after the Sixth National Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council Meeting at Bank Negara.
“I know this question comes out because people are accusing us of not having enough money. We have enough money.”
Abdullah stressed that money had already been set aside for the 9MP.
To a question on whether it would be funded internally, Abdullah said: “Yes, yes.”
“Where do you hear such a tale from? Suka sangat dengar cerita ini. (People like listening to such tales),” he said dismissively.
Abdullah also denied that the economy was experiencing a downturn, saying: “I am confident that the economy will be growing even more rapidly.”
A blog ran an article “Malaysia was borrowing US$50bil without borrowing”.
It claimed that the money was purportedly procured from 25 prime banks and channelled through a private limited company which would act as a front for the Malaysian Government so that the country was not seen as borrowing from overseas.
DESI: "Hey, Editors of The Star, name the blog-lah!" I'd do you a favour for the omission -- is it a crime? It's malaysia-today.net,
run by Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who to my limited company knowledge, was once an Anwaristas, serving as Director, FAC, (yes, FOC too!); then became Dr Mahathir's fan, for some time, now he's writing *"Without fear or favour". I remember it was once a *TAGLINE in the olde The Star.
I and several ER were surprised that even our Opposition Leader "swallowed" the news about the USD50billion loands; as a former "newsman", he should have known better. Freelunch2020 did not swallow the "trap", but had freedinner at Desi's expense because I "stole" her 'rite. We had a steaming -- not steamy! -- time in a boat. Not a sampan in PD. Neither a yacht in where, a conundrome of a place Somewhere?
Fading. Fading. Gone?
Fat hopes, you sadists! Look at the Ads section, larger than the news. Nude?
It's Okay, as long as it brings in the Money, Honey!
Let's Eat, Drink and Be Merry!and the lust is not Desi's original slogan.:)
Lest I be accused of committing plagiarism agin!:(
I don't have 20million in my swissbank account, nyet. Swiss Rolls, anywan?
Well, a recipient being addressed as "DISTINGUIHSED JOURNALIST" feels flattered, to say the least, and so must react, yes?
To wit:
"Post a response.
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
--- Denise Lew
"Dear Distinguished Journalist,
Please see our new question. We would love to hear from you,
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/2007/01/18/bad_politics_good_economics/comments.php
"
Today I felt drained by Malaysia's goings-on, "Same same, so predictably negative".
So I responded to Blog.WashingtonPost.com's invitation to take part in its online debates, the current titled:
***
Politically, the world is a mess, but economically
it's growing faster than
ever.
- When, if ever, will political turmoil derail the
world economy? Give us evidence from where you live.
-David Ignatius
***
Posted at January 20, 2007 09:14 AM
ylchong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Permalink
The world's economy won't face a high probability of derailment as long as the sole superpower now, United States, and two emerging ones, namely China and India, don't go back to the olde days of seeking hegemony in their regions of economic spheres. The US need to pause and rein in its "War On Terror" and realise its resources diverted into wasting them on the Middle East for military objectives will add on to its economic costs. As it is, China last October has built up record-breaking foreign reserves exceeding USD1trillion, and its GDP growth, with that of India's, continues at about 10% per annum, a record any country in the rest of the world would envy.
My country, Malaysia, just north of the Singapore republic geographically, is losing out its manufacturing attractivess as well as recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), which has been slipping in recent years, with Vietnam and China being beneficiaries mainly because of their lower costs of production and labour. However, Malaysia's projection of GDP growth at 6 to 6.5% annually (targeted to help it achieve Developed nation status by 2020) only fell short by about 1 percentage point in recent years, chiefly buffered by high world oil prices, and new oilfields being productive now (RM44billion net profit FYE March 2006 by Petronas, the national oil corporation) so if anything, the only derailment here is shifting the 2020 year goal by some five to 10 years, maybe.
The main worry among local populace is the rising tide of Muslim fundamentalism, with sporadic outbreaks of demonstrations of less tolerance of other faiths, mainly instigated by political-religious fanatics keen on turning what had been constitutionally established as a "secular" State into an Islamic country. The US should be well advised no to "mitigate" such Islamist tendencies by its Middle-East policies being moderated in the longer term, and acting more with foresight to reclaim its economic clout via its traditional trade leadership with partner-nations, including Singapore down south, and Malaysia.
Economic derailment will be aided by selfish leadership of the majority of nations, so the United Nations Organisation must be given a higher status in the US hierarchy of international policies and interests, as compared with its over-ruling/derailing the UN General Assembly's consensus before US's adventurism into Iraq -- and now costing it dearly.
Will the US pause and reflect, and act more like an international statesman nation than a militaristic "big bully" as perceived by many Islamic countries? Small nations like Malaysia can only be spectators, okay, assisted by nightly prayers to the gods to be kind.
DESI: I also reproduced a fellow Commenter's (from India) to know a little from one source how a regional neighbour is faring.
Posted at January 20, 2007 05:00 AM
Anju Chandel, New Delhi, India. | Permalink
I am an Indian and we have a stable and thriving democracy. The political system is as diverse as our country's fabric: no one political party can claim to be the 'national' party. We keep witnessing political turmoil once in a while but none of them have been so grave to have derailed the economy.
India's economic success is a fascinating case study. Our country was put on the growth path by the liberalizing economic policies brought in 1991 by our current prime minister Manmohan Singh who was the finance minister then. Interestingly, since 1996 India is being governed by large coalitions, which are otherwise difficult to work cohesively and effectively. There were political upheavals, sometimes minor and sometimes major too, which almost looked like destabilizing the society and the governments. Nevertheless, each successive coalition government continued to pursue the progressive economic policies and as a result today we see India emerge as an economic superpower besides China.
Talking about the world, there are certain sectors in economy which hugely impact the world politics and vice-versa. Energy - both oil and nuclear - being one such arena. Similarly, there are certain economies which influence the world politics. Oil producing countries fall in the first category of the influencers - Middle East, Russia, certain Latin American states. In the latter section, we see countries like China, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt, and not to forget the resurging Japan. Also to include are the big stable economies - the major consumers - the US, Germany, to name a few. Any political turmoil in these countries has the potential to derail the world economy. And that is the reason why we see the entire world diplomacy and politics revolve around maintaining balance and stability in this sphere.
Not only this but we should also not ignore the weak economies of today as the emergence of them will only give more consumers and thus further boost the overall trade all across the world. Simply stated, political stability is essential for sustainable development and growth of the world economy.
Mr. George War Bush, are you listening??? "
DESI2:
This piece of nu'es from The Star, page 3, is consoling, to say the least:
Nation
Saturday January 20, 2007
PM: We are not borrowing foreign money to finance 9MP
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is not borrowing US$50bil (RM170bil) from overseas to finance the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP), said the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the country had enough money to fund its national development projects.
“I don’t remember making any such (US$50bil) loan, and I am the Finance Minister,” he said yesterday after the Sixth National Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council Meeting at Bank Negara.
“I know this question comes out because people are accusing us of not having enough money. We have enough money.”
Abdullah stressed that money had already been set aside for the 9MP.
To a question on whether it would be funded internally, Abdullah said: “Yes, yes.”
“Where do you hear such a tale from? Suka sangat dengar cerita ini. (People like listening to such tales),” he said dismissively.
Abdullah also denied that the economy was experiencing a downturn, saying: “I am confident that the economy will be growing even more rapidly.”
A blog ran an article “Malaysia was borrowing US$50bil without borrowing”.
It claimed that the money was purportedly procured from 25 prime banks and channelled through a private limited company which would act as a front for the Malaysian Government so that the country was not seen as borrowing from overseas.
DESI: "Hey, Editors of The Star, name the blog-lah!" I'd do you a favour for the omission -- is it a crime? It's malaysia-today.net,
run by Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who to my limited company knowledge, was once an Anwaristas, serving as Director, FAC, (yes, FOC too!); then became Dr Mahathir's fan, for some time, now he's writing *"Without fear or favour". I remember it was once a *TAGLINE in the olde The Star.
I and several ER were surprised that even our Opposition Leader "swallowed" the news about the USD50billion loands; as a former "newsman", he should have known better. Freelunch2020 did not swallow the "trap", but had freedinner at Desi's expense because I "stole" her 'rite. We had a steaming -- not steamy! -- time in a boat. Not a sampan in PD. Neither a yacht in where, a conundrome of a place Somewhere?
Fading. Fading. Gone?
Fat hopes, you sadists! Look at the Ads section, larger than the news. Nude?
It's Okay, as long as it brings in the Money, Honey!
Let's Eat, Drink and Be Merry!and the lust is not Desi's original slogan.:)
Lest I be accused of committing plagiarism agin!:(
I don't have 20million in my swissbank account, nyet. Swiss Rolls, anywan?
Friday, January 19, 2007
Meme, Mimi -- corky or ccok-eyed?
I felt mighty guilty (Yes, this blardy writer has a CONscience, now you know!) lust night as earlier in the day, I had brushed off a freelunch, in response to her:
"desi~~~~~you are tagged~~~6 weirdo thingz about u please....
By freelunch2020, at 11:18 AM
"The lust time I rode on a Meme or in french, Mimi gifted by Housey in gay Paree, I swore minus the five holy buku that it would be my LAST supper, Yes, it was approaching midnight, so it couldn't be CON BF, freelunch, or SBrunch!"Words to this effect-lah, for in my lust UPDATE, I sent off her comment and my response into orbit. Literarily after pressing "DELETE".
I sounded a li'l disMISSive on a-Miss which is knot prim and proper, so now I resort to damage control now, an art I learnt slightly from UMNO-MCA cahoots writHing about/with them, outside PTWC and Wisma MAC.
Because of too much messing with this Mouse, often I get letters tarnspsoed (SAMPLE preceding!)-- it's not like some half-past-six Engrish afficionadoes or donuts who actually spell "Believe" and "Conceive" as "beleive" and "concieve" respectedly. Yeah, wlong word as sharp not cocky-eyed johnleemk would yell: Daisy, it should raed: respectively.
So the blardy CEO who named his company FCUK must have been wantonly swearing lots when his sexcretary arsed what she should type out in the form under Co.'s name: "What the F***s you ask me for on such mundane matters? Just pick the first common name that comes to mine!" he roared, not like a mouse.
So she typed it out slowly, obediently like a mouse, cursing at the Rat! but being ccok-eyed like Desi, she entered F*C*U*K.Luckily the Registrar at the Malaysian Companies CONmission did not know the difference for the life , or death, of him, between CU and UC!"Jumpa u, and Tahu tak?" 4 See you and You See, in blockheadspiak, indeed.
You ask me how to PRO-npounce it? Why don't you arsek Ambling Cha-cha-ha? I don't give flee Engrish tiution okay, and todie is not Sundae, summore.
Tokking about aMORE, I sudedely realise Flydae is a day for l'ving and gif'ing, so to atone for my SIN, though I don't intend to be a PR in the southern neighbour, I dedicate this part Meme participation as a john(NY)cumLadily ~~
She accused Desi of being a johnleemk's syncophant. Hey lady, I see so much of me in thy eyes, but it doesn't mean I have to oblige, KO? It's rehorical Q, don't you answer back. If you are a gentleman, see me upFRONT!
So let's start now, the game is State 6 features that qualify YOU -- Time's Pick or Pickle of Person of The Year! Hear, here! -- as "wierd".
I said "wierd" was not found in DICKmy, which, for the uninitiated, stands for dictionary.malaysia online. Compared with the less used "freedictionary.com" that mGf in lundun Hopusey often t=resorts to as self-defence when he knows the thing won't stand up in court. Likely will stand down but you're not supposed to peek/peep, you no. But you can peel. But that's off-scene.
Now, where was eye?
Yes, definitions!
As I was saying, I looked at FL's challenge again after two hours sweating out awe the words under "Ass" in dickMY, it dawned on me actually the "e" and "i" had been transposed in my brain, if I had any the day before yesterday.
Now I steal from howsy.blogspot.com~~
"
First things first, let's get the definition of weird from thefreedictionary:
weird (wîrd)
adj. weird·er, weird·est
1. Of, relating to, or suggestive of the preternatural or supernatural.
2. Of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange.
3. Archaic Of or relating to fate or the Fates.
n.
1.
a. Fate; destiny.
b. One's assigned lot or fortune, especially when evil.
2. often Weird Greek & Roman Mythology One of the Fates.
Well, I'm not going to brag about myself here, so why not let's have a gameshow- Who's Weird?
Round one- let this be a very easy (and lame) one:
1. He seems to like durian.
2. He loves boats. A lot.
3. He serves durians in boats.
4. He doesn't know.
5. He likes to write in a black book.
6. He doesn't know.
Who is he? Shhh....don't have to tell out loud. I know, you know, enough lar.
Who am I tagging? No need lar...any volunteers?"
Now steal2 from my fave Y&A because I also "see so much of me in thy I-I-I" ~~
"I read on average about six books a month. (In other words, I read 72 times more than the typical Malaysian.)...
Hey, I beat you on this one -- at your olde age, I read avearge of TWO books any wickedend pllus tonnes of comics, some picked up ("stole" at that AGE was a prohibition!) without the lender's noledge.
Another weird one-UP on johnleemk, whose link for the life, or death of me I can't remember, is that at 13, my classmates had the audacity to arse of meME: "Desi, who's this DH Lawrence? And his Lady Chattering's Liver?"
Yes, I pleaded guilty to devouring the Lady. In the steel of the knight.
I replied: "You guys/gays don't know? Heard of Laurence Olivier? Lawrence of Arabia? They were his brothers!"
But I envied damn having Playboy mag under the "Atlas of the World" covers. Some of them became millionaires playing with their mates w'ile Desi became a struggling writHer indulging meme/mimi/mimicry. Freelunch, accuse me of Plagiarism, even on a MeMi!
I better flee. Catch me if you can, I'd buy thee SBrunch at peAce hill, brokeback mount, oso cun.
Now I go Steal3 from
SOMEWHERE, beyond the see
Someone dare waiting for meME.
"desi~~~~~you are tagged~~~6 weirdo thingz about u please....
By freelunch2020, at 11:18 AM
"The lust time I rode on a Meme or in french, Mimi gifted by Housey in gay Paree, I swore minus the five holy buku that it would be my LAST supper, Yes, it was approaching midnight, so it couldn't be CON BF, freelunch, or SBrunch!"Words to this effect-lah, for in my lust UPDATE, I sent off her comment and my response into orbit. Literarily after pressing "DELETE".
I sounded a li'l disMISSive on a-Miss which is knot prim and proper, so now I resort to damage control now, an art I learnt slightly from UMNO-MCA cahoots writHing about/with them, outside PTWC and Wisma MAC.
Because of too much messing with this Mouse, often I get letters tarnspsoed (SAMPLE preceding!)-- it's not like some half-past-six Engrish afficionadoes or donuts who actually spell "Believe" and "Conceive" as "beleive" and "concieve" respectedly. Yeah, wlong word as sharp not cocky-eyed johnleemk would yell: Daisy, it should raed: respectively.
So the blardy CEO who named his company FCUK must have been wantonly swearing lots when his sexcretary arsed what she should type out in the form under Co.'s name: "What the F***s you ask me for on such mundane matters? Just pick the first common name that comes to mine!" he roared, not like a mouse.
So she typed it out slowly, obediently like a mouse, cursing at the Rat! but being ccok-eyed like Desi, she entered F*C*U*K.Luckily the Registrar at the Malaysian Companies CONmission did not know the difference for the life , or death, of him, between CU and UC!"Jumpa u, and Tahu tak?" 4 See you and You See, in blockheadspiak, indeed.
You ask me how to PRO-npounce it? Why don't you arsek Ambling Cha-cha-ha? I don't give flee Engrish tiution okay, and todie is not Sundae, summore.
Tokking about aMORE, I sudedely realise Flydae is a day for l'ving and gif'ing, so to atone for my SIN, though I don't intend to be a PR in the southern neighbour, I dedicate this part Meme participation as a john(NY)cumLadily ~~
She accused Desi of being a johnleemk's syncophant. Hey lady, I see so much of me in thy eyes, but it doesn't mean I have to oblige, KO? It's rehorical Q, don't you answer back. If you are a gentleman, see me upFRONT!
So let's start now, the game is State 6 features that qualify YOU -- Time's Pick or Pickle of Person of The Year! Hear, here! -- as "wierd".
I said "wierd" was not found in DICKmy, which, for the uninitiated, stands for dictionary.malaysia online. Compared with the less used "freedictionary.com" that mGf in lundun Hopusey often t=resorts to as self-defence when he knows the thing won't stand up in court. Likely will stand down but you're not supposed to peek/peep, you no. But you can peel. But that's off-scene.
Now, where was eye?
Yes, definitions!
As I was saying, I looked at FL's challenge again after two hours sweating out awe the words under "Ass" in dickMY, it dawned on me actually the "e" and "i" had been transposed in my brain, if I had any the day before yesterday.
Now I steal from howsy.blogspot.com~~
"
First things first, let's get the definition of weird from thefreedictionary:
weird (wîrd)
adj. weird·er, weird·est
1. Of, relating to, or suggestive of the preternatural or supernatural.
2. Of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange.
3. Archaic Of or relating to fate or the Fates.
n.
1.
a. Fate; destiny.
b. One's assigned lot or fortune, especially when evil.
2. often Weird Greek & Roman Mythology One of the Fates.
Well, I'm not going to brag about myself here, so why not let's have a gameshow- Who's Weird?
Round one- let this be a very easy (and lame) one:
1. He seems to like durian.
2. He loves boats. A lot.
3. He serves durians in boats.
4. He doesn't know.
5. He likes to write in a black book.
6. He doesn't know.
Who is he? Shhh....don't have to tell out loud. I know, you know, enough lar.
Who am I tagging? No need lar...any volunteers?"
Now steal2 from my fave Y&A because I also "see so much of me in thy I-I-I" ~~
"I read on average about six books a month. (In other words, I read 72 times more than the typical Malaysian.)...
Hey, I beat you on this one -- at your olde age, I read avearge of TWO books any wickedend pllus tonnes of comics, some picked up ("stole" at that AGE was a prohibition!) without the lender's noledge.
Another weird one-UP on johnleemk, whose link for the life, or death of me I can't remember, is that at 13, my classmates had the audacity to arse of meME: "Desi, who's this DH Lawrence? And his Lady Chattering's Liver?"
Yes, I pleaded guilty to devouring the Lady. In the steel of the knight.
I replied: "You guys/gays don't know? Heard of Laurence Olivier? Lawrence of Arabia? They were his brothers!"
But I envied damn having Playboy mag under the "Atlas of the World" covers. Some of them became millionaires playing with their mates w'ile Desi became a struggling writHer indulging meme/mimi/mimicry. Freelunch, accuse me of Plagiarism, even on a MeMi!
I better flee. Catch me if you can, I'd buy thee SBrunch at peAce hill, brokeback mount, oso cun.
Now I go Steal3 from
SOMEWHERE, beyond the see
Someone dare waiting for meME.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
NegaraKu is getting more litigious: UPDATE
UPDATEd @10.30PM:
International wires Reuters and Associated Press have picked up the story -- so it's Malaysian Bloggers making a worldwide debut on the legal front. Yes, solidarity in unity is the clarion call but Desi's simple experiential lesson tells me not to harbour high hopes nowadays -- for there are so Few Good Men left Standing, as proven by the Prof Lim Teck Ghee's episode involving his academic findings on bumi equity ownership figures with regard to the New Economic Policy, or have most of us forgotten? I'd like to be proven wrong.
Meanwhile, here's what The International Herald Tribune carried, based on AP file:
Malaysia's pro-government newspaper sues two bloggers for defamation
The Associated Press
Published: January 18, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A pro-government Malaysian daily has sued two popular Internet bloggers for defamation in what a critic said Thursday would have a "chilling effect" on freedom of speech.
The lawsuits by English-language New Straits Times marked the first time Malaysian bloggers have been taken to court for publishing comments on the Internet in a country where much of the traditional media are controlled by political parties or the government.
The first suit was filed on Jan. 11 against Jeff Ooi, whose "Screenshots" blogs carry daily commentaries on the political situation in the country. The blog is widely read by Malaysians.
His case will be heard on Jan. 30. The other suit is against Ahiruddin Attan, filed on Tuesday, which will be heard on Jan. 25. Both bloggers disclosed on their Web sites Thursday that they had been sued for defamation.
A spokesman of the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd. group, which owns the newspaper, confirmed that the lawsuits were filed.
He did not elaborate further.
Ooi did not return a call for further comment, and Ahiruddin, who operates the blog "Rocky's Bru," couldn't immediately be reached.
The plaintiffs are the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd. group, the group's chief executive Syed Faisal Albar, former group editor-in-chief Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan, current group editor-in-chief Hishamuddin Aun and former Times editor Brendan Pereira.
Neither the plaintiffs nor the defendants elaborated on what invited the defamation lawsuits. But the Times is believed to have been angered by a series of articles since the middle of last year, alleging Kalimullah and Pereira were agents of neighboring Singapore.
The two countries share uneasy relations and being branded a Singapore agent is considered a serious insult in Malaysia. Details of the articles cannot be reproduced because of their allegedly defamatory character.
Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang slammed the New Straits Times for the lawsuit, calling them a "grave development in the defense of the legal rights of bloggers and citizen journalists in Malaysia to break the stifling monopoly of the mainstream media."
He said the suits will have a "chilling effect on freedom of bloggers" because the high cost of litigation would "cripple and paralyze the individual blogger."
The amount of damages sought by the New Straits Times was not known.
NB: The highlights (THUS BOLDED) are Desi's.
DESI: While I welcome Readers' comments, I urge great care and restraint because these are matters subject to law suits. Don't anyone try to be a "hero" as the hoRst of this Blog won't hesitate to remove any comments resembling "adventurism". This is NOT a fictional event -- so don't play Loyar Buruk on this issue! It's reality legal happenings, and any event involving the courts incur heavy costs and time and other resources.
I'm no legal expert, so my thinking aloud is that indeed, the words of Parliamentray Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang that -- the suits will have a "chilling effect on freedom of bloggers" because the high cost of litigation would "cripple and paralyze the individual blogger" -- would continue to haunt Bloggers' journey in the days, month, or even yaers, ahead.
These are challenging times. I wish upon the ill-minded parties that they have in "interesting times" ahead. The bells nowadays are not chiming much with such Playerson the Malaysian Stage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following was filed in the morning ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just finished my maiden piece on "Times and Chimes" for TheSundayPost; it's titled "I would trade my world to be a Lawyer!".
Minutes later, I surfed to jeffooi.com and I was greeted by this dismay-ing Post~~:( which I am rerproducing in FULL, for the widest circulation as possible in blogosphere, for WE HAVE A COMMON CAUSE to have cause for CONCERN.
"Bloggers sued in Malaysia
The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad,
Kalimullah bin Masheerul Hassan, Hishamuddin
bin Aun and Brendan John a/l John Pereira have
jointly taken an order, via an ex-parte injunction
obtained in the High Court of Malaya Kuala
Lumpur (Civil Suit No. S6-23-3-2007) on January
11, 2007, against this blogger.
The abovementioned parties' application for an
injunction has been fixed for a hearing at the
same court on January 30, 2007 at 9.00am.
My lawyers are now taking care of it
Meanwhile, Screenshots was informed that
journo-blogger Ahiruddin Attan (Rocky's Bru)
has been served January 16 a Writ of Summons
and Statement of Claim by the New Straits Times
Press (Malaysia) Berhad and four others, dated
January 11.
The parties' application for an injunction against
Rocky has been fixed for a hearing on January
25, 2007. "
DESI: No comments on the above for the moment.
Calls on ER to lend support to fellow Bloggers in whatever way deemed appropriate and within their means.
As for my TheBP article, please exercise Patience. Miss Virtuous will reward thee cometh Sunday Jan 21, 2007.
PS @11.40PM: I surfed to asylum60.blogspot.com at Leisure and left this footprint~~
"
desiderata said...
First it's Big Brother watching.
Then the MSM steps up.
Which Agency will surface, out of the blue, sext?
Finally, paranoia will ring the curtains down and we re-enter the Dark Ages, prefaced by the "keris" on the PWTC Stage.
I:
S:
A:... "
International wires Reuters and Associated Press have picked up the story -- so it's Malaysian Bloggers making a worldwide debut on the legal front. Yes, solidarity in unity is the clarion call but Desi's simple experiential lesson tells me not to harbour high hopes nowadays -- for there are so Few Good Men left Standing, as proven by the Prof Lim Teck Ghee's episode involving his academic findings on bumi equity ownership figures with regard to the New Economic Policy, or have most of us forgotten? I'd like to be proven wrong.
Meanwhile, here's what The International Herald Tribune carried, based on AP file:
Malaysia's pro-government newspaper sues two bloggers for defamation
The Associated Press
Published: January 18, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A pro-government Malaysian daily has sued two popular Internet bloggers for defamation in what a critic said Thursday would have a "chilling effect" on freedom of speech.
The lawsuits by English-language New Straits Times marked the first time Malaysian bloggers have been taken to court for publishing comments on the Internet in a country where much of the traditional media are controlled by political parties or the government.
The first suit was filed on Jan. 11 against Jeff Ooi, whose "Screenshots" blogs carry daily commentaries on the political situation in the country. The blog is widely read by Malaysians.
His case will be heard on Jan. 30. The other suit is against Ahiruddin Attan, filed on Tuesday, which will be heard on Jan. 25. Both bloggers disclosed on their Web sites Thursday that they had been sued for defamation.
A spokesman of the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd. group, which owns the newspaper, confirmed that the lawsuits were filed.
He did not elaborate further.
Ooi did not return a call for further comment, and Ahiruddin, who operates the blog "Rocky's Bru," couldn't immediately be reached.
The plaintiffs are the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd. group, the group's chief executive Syed Faisal Albar, former group editor-in-chief Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan, current group editor-in-chief Hishamuddin Aun and former Times editor Brendan Pereira.
Neither the plaintiffs nor the defendants elaborated on what invited the defamation lawsuits. But the Times is believed to have been angered by a series of articles since the middle of last year, alleging Kalimullah and Pereira were agents of neighboring Singapore.
The two countries share uneasy relations and being branded a Singapore agent is considered a serious insult in Malaysia. Details of the articles cannot be reproduced because of their allegedly defamatory character.
Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang slammed the New Straits Times for the lawsuit, calling them a "grave development in the defense of the legal rights of bloggers and citizen journalists in Malaysia to break the stifling monopoly of the mainstream media."
He said the suits will have a "chilling effect on freedom of bloggers" because the high cost of litigation would "cripple and paralyze the individual blogger."
The amount of damages sought by the New Straits Times was not known.
NB: The highlights (THUS BOLDED) are Desi's.
DESI: While I welcome Readers' comments, I urge great care and restraint because these are matters subject to law suits. Don't anyone try to be a "hero" as the hoRst of this Blog won't hesitate to remove any comments resembling "adventurism". This is NOT a fictional event -- so don't play Loyar Buruk on this issue! It's reality legal happenings, and any event involving the courts incur heavy costs and time and other resources.
I'm no legal expert, so my thinking aloud is that indeed, the words of Parliamentray Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang that -- the suits will have a "chilling effect on freedom of bloggers" because the high cost of litigation would "cripple and paralyze the individual blogger" -- would continue to haunt Bloggers' journey in the days, month, or even yaers, ahead.
These are challenging times. I wish upon the ill-minded parties that they have in "interesting times" ahead. The bells nowadays are not chiming much with such Playerson the Malaysian Stage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following was filed in the morning ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just finished my maiden piece on "Times and Chimes" for TheSundayPost; it's titled "I would trade my world to be a Lawyer!".
Minutes later, I surfed to jeffooi.com and I was greeted by this dismay-ing Post~~:( which I am rerproducing in FULL, for the widest circulation as possible in blogosphere, for WE HAVE A COMMON CAUSE to have cause for CONCERN.
"Bloggers sued in Malaysia
The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad,
Kalimullah bin Masheerul Hassan, Hishamuddin
bin Aun and Brendan John a/l John Pereira have
jointly taken an order, via an ex-parte injunction
obtained in the High Court of Malaya Kuala
Lumpur (Civil Suit No. S6-23-3-2007) on January
11, 2007, against this blogger.
The abovementioned parties' application for an
injunction has been fixed for a hearing at the
same court on January 30, 2007 at 9.00am.
My lawyers are now taking care of it
Meanwhile, Screenshots was informed that
journo-blogger Ahiruddin Attan (Rocky's Bru)
has been served January 16 a Writ of Summons
and Statement of Claim by the New Straits Times
Press (Malaysia) Berhad and four others, dated
January 11.
The parties' application for an injunction against
Rocky has been fixed for a hearing on January
25, 2007. "
DESI: No comments on the above for the moment.
Calls on ER to lend support to fellow Bloggers in whatever way deemed appropriate and within their means.
As for my TheBP article, please exercise Patience. Miss Virtuous will reward thee cometh Sunday Jan 21, 2007.
PS @11.40PM: I surfed to asylum60.blogspot.com at Leisure and left this footprint~~
"
desiderata said...
First it's Big Brother watching.
Then the MSM steps up.
Which Agency will surface, out of the blue, sext?
Finally, paranoia will ring the curtains down and we re-enter the Dark Ages, prefaced by the "keris" on the PWTC Stage.
I:
S:
A:... "
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Did April 1 cometh a little Early in 2007?
If there is an offence I must plead guilty to -- often enough to be goaled? Ooops, transposition, which is another offence in wordsmithry! read: gaoled -- is thievery of my frends' Posts. Today it's an repeat offence -- "an" because it qualifies "offence! a, e, i, o, u, remember the particular qualifier must not be "a" but an "an"? -- from 2020freelunch.blogspot.com who plays Mentor role todie. I had preached to her that DEsi'd rather be a mentee most times.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
USD50billion LOAN: A fishy official letter
My reply to Raising USD50 billion for 9MP projects through two dubious companies? on Lim Kit Siang's blog.
Fascinating stuff.
You know the cliche: If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
And this SCAM is too good be true.
I agree with jeffrey (another commentator). With stories this size, proper verification should be sought. Or at least cross-checked with others in the know.
USD50billion is a lot of money. Looking at the documents, I wouldn’t jump the gun.
The first question would be to ask the PM: Are these letters genuine?
Forging letters is easy. Pay a clerk. Signature also no problem la.
There is something fishy about this official letter by Reezal (Page 1, 2).
Normally at the bottom right…they have markings like these (.../2) to indicate another page? I dunno.
Also the HEADER reads funny, the language is also a bit out…
Also why is the IMPORTANT LETTER received by the JABATAN KESELAMATAN, you mean it was passed to security at reception? Aren’t they usually HAND-DELIVERED to the Deputy Governor’s office?
Also, his stamp…there is something funny about his stamp.
It just looks like a FISHY OFFICIAL LETTER.
Where is the lampiran with the PM’s handwriting?
Also contrary to what RPK claims “And the letter refers to the USD50 billion funding requirement to finance the RM200 billion Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9) or Ninth Malaysian Plan.” The letter only refers that the notes will be issued FOR NATIONAL development NOT the 9th PLAN specifically. It’s a different matter in COURT.
Also, it DOESN'T MAKE SENSE for MALAYSIA TO BORROW LIKE THIS, NOT USD50bil. IT CAN ALWAYS ISSUE TREASURY BILLS. I believe our sovereign ranking is quite high…we have so much resources.
It’s fishy.
I think we should verify it via the proper channels first.
For the original article on Malaysia Today, click here.
Labels: badawi, bnm, economy, fishy stories, pak lah, scandal
posted by freelunch2020 at 2:42 PM | 0 Comments
DESIDERATA:
I first sighted this gargantuan scandal2B at malaysia-today.net in Raja Petra's "Corrdiors of Power" (No, not NO HOLDS BARRED column as I first attributed! To err is human, especially when 'er'ata' is partly in my name:). I often read his writes with a critical mind, after all I'm used to be a fan to his fantasy Chronicles where sometimes facts are so interwomen with fantsay a Reader would be hardpressed to sieve Arabian Nights 1,001 from CommonSENse101.
And at first reading, I though to meself: Ah, April 1 arrived a li'l EARLY in 20h0hSE7EN; most likely David Craig's special agency rubs off easily on consumers worldwide who need escapism from ondance reallife so much so they prefer to watch TV Reality shows (LOST, mGf?) than to LIVE LIFE. There has been anews report some sections of consumers have got mighty exhasuted with TV Reality shows, and if RPK coninues with this vein of story telling, I might reach a point when I must raise the alarm as was well put by Jeffrey at blog.limkitsiang.com's as commenter on the same subject.
I feel most at home with freelunch's Post as I know she's a fellow journalist (have I let the kitten out of the doggie bag? Ah, also she's fe-mail -- not that I'm gender-biased in interaction with conversationists in Blogsworld. Yesterday I was intimated by SecondO, or ThirdO, that I might be in homosexual ring not that like him/her I have any prooblems with such a group, but I must state clearly, audibly, and visually I am NOT wan (YOU, Time's Person Of the Year, have some imAgination lah! Even in Cinemascope and Kofakcolour for awe I care-esxz.
I'm digressing lots today because I'm building up with a "warning". I extarct about 3.003 percent of what Jeffrey had writ at Kit's blog, so you are adised to visit dare to hear the full account from the horses' mouths. (I put the plural forms in both the nouns precedent because I meant more than one writer, but I ain't sure it should be singular "mouth" as the animal indidually should have just wan/one. Ahyway I'm intruding into Desiderata.English; if thou art not knwoing what this is all about, don't worry. The delusion is one this hoRst!:)
Okay, Da Warning:
"Your lawyers will advise you that under the Companies Act, an insolvent company like Asasatu, in the process of winding up, cannot legally enter into borrowing arrangements and if these banks are worth their salt as “top prime bank or local prime banks”, they cannot and will not lend because to do so the borrowing arrangement is void, and they cannot recover a cent of the US$50 billion. How can Bank Negara direct banks to lend to a company in process of winding up and yet call itself a regulator of banking propriety?
Even if Bank Negara does so direct, the Banks simply won’t do it – they have internal and external auditors and have account to shareholders. You think they will agree? For what would they agree? Because the 4th Floors’ Boys scheme and require it? Come on’ be real! If you say the government requires it – it is for financing the 9MP and national interest – then ask the government of Malaysia to either directly borrow or guarantee the Loan (which of course if it does, there’s no need for this roundabout arrangement).
If I have got US$50 Billion, it must be assumed in my favour that I cannot be commercially stupid. If I were to lend US$50 Billion to the United State Government via subscription of their very secure Treasury Bills, I get a yield of some 4.6 to 4.8%, so why should I lend to a winding up company Asasatu – as proxy even for the Malaysian government – a loan which yield is only “2.88% to 3.5%” ?
Unless I were (say) the government of Singapore for which the front/proxy is Project Equity Services Group. Even then I’d be worried. We are talking of US$50 billion, maybe a quarter of my total reserves, if this were the case I would have to take a mortgage and charge over the whole of Johore especially the Southern Corridor! (Just a joke. )
But think about it. Don’t be naïve to think that everything we hear is true.
A trap may be set for those who disseminate this information if eventually proven to be totally without foundation, and the accusation will be this: why do you disseminate the information through the Internet without verifying and checking? What will be your defence – because you guys always have cover ups and getting commissions all over the place? Is that a credible defence? "
DESIDERATA: By now, you would know I am an Arthur Conan Doyle's and Agatha Christie's fan. Theirr tales od detection helped/have helped/help Desi mould his critical and analytical mind. God gave us each a unique mind, and I hope everyone uses his/hers to its best potential and not waste in wantonly on unproductive ventures, though I recommend adventurism of the literary kind.
I find Jeffrey's writings, several and properly and logically argued with, well, "rational" rationales -- and you are allowed to flame me for poor English, not aloud though, please, I don't want your shouts to wake up the neighbours who sleep in late, verily I say, very late!) -- along the path of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, and I remain an ardent fan.
Let me part with my own WARNING. I have been intimating to my EsteemedReaders about my phobia of some visitors to Desi's Place, Yes, in da steal of the night, as an AP.But i have great resilience -- Note that I had NOT activated WORD VERIFICATION despite many Thinkings Aloud.
An AP not of the money-making sort from MITI with its crying out loud Queen bee. Oh, no, It's a far more dangerous species. It comes with a smiling face, in barnded suit like The Devil Wears Prada?; sometimes he/she befreinds and teases thee with a striptease even and hotblooded writHers like Desi let more than his guards down. (Winks, winks, NOT forty or 80 -- that's the PM's prerogative, and Desi's not even a Minister!)
This AP slyly then lays a trap, and YOU, like some nocturnal insects attracted to the fluorescent light, nears the LIGHT. You are TRAPPED by the warmth of the caress, drunk on the honeyed words, and before you know it, you are ENTANGLED IN THE www TRAP. And THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM claims another victim. You have kissed the mystic scent of death of Da Agent Provocateur.
R.......I.......P!
With Desi's Kiss Of Life he learnt as a Boy Scout or Scoundrel, thy pick or pickle:
Rise If Possible, my Girl Sext Door?
mGf, where you may be;
Be Thou My Guide?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
USD50billion LOAN: A fishy official letter
My reply to Raising USD50 billion for 9MP projects through two dubious companies? on Lim Kit Siang's blog.
Fascinating stuff.
You know the cliche: If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
And this SCAM is too good be true.
I agree with jeffrey (another commentator). With stories this size, proper verification should be sought. Or at least cross-checked with others in the know.
USD50billion is a lot of money. Looking at the documents, I wouldn’t jump the gun.
The first question would be to ask the PM: Are these letters genuine?
Forging letters is easy. Pay a clerk. Signature also no problem la.
There is something fishy about this official letter by Reezal (Page 1, 2).
Normally at the bottom right…they have markings like these (.../2) to indicate another page? I dunno.
Also the HEADER reads funny, the language is also a bit out…
Also why is the IMPORTANT LETTER received by the JABATAN KESELAMATAN, you mean it was passed to security at reception? Aren’t they usually HAND-DELIVERED to the Deputy Governor’s office?
Also, his stamp…there is something funny about his stamp.
It just looks like a FISHY OFFICIAL LETTER.
Where is the lampiran with the PM’s handwriting?
Also contrary to what RPK claims “And the letter refers to the USD50 billion funding requirement to finance the RM200 billion Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9) or Ninth Malaysian Plan.” The letter only refers that the notes will be issued FOR NATIONAL development NOT the 9th PLAN specifically. It’s a different matter in COURT.
Also, it DOESN'T MAKE SENSE for MALAYSIA TO BORROW LIKE THIS, NOT USD50bil. IT CAN ALWAYS ISSUE TREASURY BILLS. I believe our sovereign ranking is quite high…we have so much resources.
It’s fishy.
I think we should verify it via the proper channels first.
For the original article on Malaysia Today, click here.
Labels: badawi, bnm, economy, fishy stories, pak lah, scandal
posted by freelunch2020 at 2:42 PM | 0 Comments
DESIDERATA:
I first sighted this gargantuan scandal2B at malaysia-today.net in Raja Petra's "Corrdiors of Power" (No, not NO HOLDS BARRED column as I first attributed! To err is human, especially when 'er'ata' is partly in my name:). I often read his writes with a critical mind, after all I'm used to be a fan to his fantasy Chronicles where sometimes facts are so interwomen with fantsay a Reader would be hardpressed to sieve Arabian Nights 1,001 from CommonSENse101.
And at first reading, I though to meself: Ah, April 1 arrived a li'l EARLY in 20h0hSE7EN; most likely David Craig's special agency rubs off easily on consumers worldwide who need escapism from ondance reallife so much so they prefer to watch TV Reality shows (LOST, mGf?) than to LIVE LIFE. There has been anews report some sections of consumers have got mighty exhasuted with TV Reality shows, and if RPK coninues with this vein of story telling, I might reach a point when I must raise the alarm as was well put by Jeffrey at blog.limkitsiang.com's as commenter on the same subject.
I feel most at home with freelunch's Post as I know she's a fellow journalist (have I let the kitten out of the doggie bag? Ah, also she's fe-mail -- not that I'm gender-biased in interaction with conversationists in Blogsworld. Yesterday I was intimated by SecondO, or ThirdO, that I might be in homosexual ring not that like him/her I have any prooblems with such a group, but I must state clearly, audibly, and visually I am NOT wan (YOU, Time's Person Of the Year, have some imAgination lah! Even in Cinemascope and Kofakcolour for awe I care-esxz.
I'm digressing lots today because I'm building up with a "warning". I extarct about 3.003 percent of what Jeffrey had writ at Kit's blog, so you are adised to visit dare to hear the full account from the horses' mouths. (I put the plural forms in both the nouns precedent because I meant more than one writer, but I ain't sure it should be singular "mouth" as the animal indidually should have just wan/one. Ahyway I'm intruding into Desiderata.English; if thou art not knwoing what this is all about, don't worry. The delusion is one this hoRst!:)
Okay, Da Warning:
"Your lawyers will advise you that under the Companies Act, an insolvent company like Asasatu, in the process of winding up, cannot legally enter into borrowing arrangements and if these banks are worth their salt as “top prime bank or local prime banks”, they cannot and will not lend because to do so the borrowing arrangement is void, and they cannot recover a cent of the US$50 billion. How can Bank Negara direct banks to lend to a company in process of winding up and yet call itself a regulator of banking propriety?
Even if Bank Negara does so direct, the Banks simply won’t do it – they have internal and external auditors and have account to shareholders. You think they will agree? For what would they agree? Because the 4th Floors’ Boys scheme and require it? Come on’ be real! If you say the government requires it – it is for financing the 9MP and national interest – then ask the government of Malaysia to either directly borrow or guarantee the Loan (which of course if it does, there’s no need for this roundabout arrangement).
If I have got US$50 Billion, it must be assumed in my favour that I cannot be commercially stupid. If I were to lend US$50 Billion to the United State Government via subscription of their very secure Treasury Bills, I get a yield of some 4.6 to 4.8%, so why should I lend to a winding up company Asasatu – as proxy even for the Malaysian government – a loan which yield is only “2.88% to 3.5%” ?
Unless I were (say) the government of Singapore for which the front/proxy is Project Equity Services Group. Even then I’d be worried. We are talking of US$50 billion, maybe a quarter of my total reserves, if this were the case I would have to take a mortgage and charge over the whole of Johore especially the Southern Corridor! (Just a joke. )
But think about it. Don’t be naïve to think that everything we hear is true.
A trap may be set for those who disseminate this information if eventually proven to be totally without foundation, and the accusation will be this: why do you disseminate the information through the Internet without verifying and checking? What will be your defence – because you guys always have cover ups and getting commissions all over the place? Is that a credible defence? "
DESIDERATA: By now, you would know I am an Arthur Conan Doyle's and Agatha Christie's fan. Theirr tales od detection helped/have helped/help Desi mould his critical and analytical mind. God gave us each a unique mind, and I hope everyone uses his/hers to its best potential and not waste in wantonly on unproductive ventures, though I recommend adventurism of the literary kind.
I find Jeffrey's writings, several and properly and logically argued with, well, "rational" rationales -- and you are allowed to flame me for poor English, not aloud though, please, I don't want your shouts to wake up the neighbours who sleep in late, verily I say, very late!) -- along the path of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, and I remain an ardent fan.
Let me part with my own WARNING. I have been intimating to my EsteemedReaders about my phobia of some visitors to Desi's Place, Yes, in da steal of the night, as an AP.But i have great resilience -- Note that I had NOT activated WORD VERIFICATION despite many Thinkings Aloud.
An AP not of the money-making sort from MITI with its crying out loud Queen bee. Oh, no, It's a far more dangerous species. It comes with a smiling face, in barnded suit like The Devil Wears Prada?; sometimes he/she befreinds and teases thee with a striptease even and hotblooded writHers like Desi let more than his guards down. (Winks, winks, NOT forty or 80 -- that's the PM's prerogative, and Desi's not even a Minister!)
This AP slyly then lays a trap, and YOU, like some nocturnal insects attracted to the fluorescent light, nears the LIGHT. You are TRAPPED by the warmth of the caress, drunk on the honeyed words, and before you know it, you are ENTANGLED IN THE www TRAP. And THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM claims another victim. You have kissed the mystic scent of death of Da Agent Provocateur.
R.......I.......P!
With Desi's Kiss Of Life he learnt as a Boy Scout or Scoundrel, thy pick or pickle:
Rise If Possible, my Girl Sext Door?
mGf, where you may be;
Be Thou My Guide?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
I suspect he's an HR mAnAgAr!
Yes, three A* HR chief, alike, my Three PR mAnAgArs who have not delivered. I set them a mission to get Desi that 20million on eBoy! and to date, it's total silence. Elegent.Yes, that was how a"small" motor company seplt IT in an advert copy ~~ Is that french? : this is addressed to mGf based in Lundun Housey?
Okay, my suspicion story is traced back to my writing to a fellow Blogger whose conversations here and over at his (I assume-lah it's a mail! -- await to be proven wrong as in the case of frelunch!:) place have proven engaging. Yes, even a male can be engaging, so Desi is NOT gender-biased. I wrote him not out of altruism but wanting someone to join me as contributor to newly-started column called "Times and Chimes" as I can have a buffer in case I am struck dumb by Writer's Block/blog. Like in the olde days of The Thre Musketeers when after a drink too many, you insult a fellow drunk and land up with a duel in the sun -- reluctant second in tow.
I shall not reveal his ID, so from now I'll just say Desi's Second in revealing the email exchanges which is my lazy way of a Post this moUrnAll typos are taken care of, and funny Engrish rendered prim and proper so my EsteemedReAders won't get steAmed reading *funnies.
*defined as describing a four-storey mansion akin to a palace
as a "small" house.
--- Second wrote:
Hi there!!
(You know, your writing style is very effective in
making people excited -- or is it just me? haha)
SecondO - actually i wanted to get second@ or second1@,
but all taken. so, i thought zero would be even
cooler.
that's why... :)
About "highly literary and hence well qualified to
...become a regular contributor to Borneo Post's new
column", that's highly flattering, but also a GROSS
exaggeration.
Honestly, i think you might have been mistaken... i
mean, yes, i love to read, believe in creative and
(left blank deliberately...you know why, to keep the kitten in the bag!),
but i'm really not a 'word-person'. i'm
more used to numbers, that's y i'm not that used to
writing regularly (i mean, reasonably long articles)
n
coherently.
if at all a 'writer', i'm more a '1-issue' writer,
have strong feelings about certain issues, but not
the
type who can formulate a comprehensive system of
thinking about 'everything'.
which also means that i'm more a CRITICAL writer
than
an 'entertaining' literary person like yourself. the
way i read it, it's a column about personal stories.
well, the thing is, when i write, i write to ANNOY,
to
PROVOKE, to STING, seldom if ever to please or
entertain... not that i don't want to, just that i'm
not good in doing that... especially if u want me to
make a periodical commitment, i'm sure to disappoint
u.
so, i don't think i'm the right person for that
invitation, regardless of how flattered i m... but
i'm
really tempted by the opportunity...
y don't i just 'promise' u to pass something for u
to
consider (can be published as 'guest writer') if i
ever get time to write anything? when the
inspiration
comes, n when i'm really in the mood of writing,
i'll
write something. bcos i've got 'commitment phobia'
lah... ;P
Borneo Post - i heard it's an east malaysian
newspaper. i've never read it myself, but i guess i
could get copies from some relatives living over
there.
as to 'remuneration' - well, that's not such an
important consideration for me. i guess if n when i
get paid, i'll have to trouble u to donate to some
schools or temples for me. but it's premature to
talk
about it now.
anyway, THANKS for the invitation. believe me, it's
the FIRST time someone (in the journalism business,
ie. those who KNOW what they r talking about) has
invited me to do this... hahahaa... u made my week!!
;P
until next time...
SecondO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Desi's reply, very officious!)~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi second):
Seriously today (see no (to)die!
First time too I get a "rejection" so well preambled.
Okay, I got your point that such creative writes
(time-consuming, take my word for it!)
aren't your "take" yet, but I know tIme is the main
constraint, reading about your work schedule a little,
not John's.
But jest (ah, first DDC since I'm curfewing myself!)
not to waste such good arguments built to a crescendo
like a swansong, I'm using this exchange in my Blog as
a sort of intimate conversation with a potential bud
who refuses to drink the water to grow. I've often
preached the credo that Miss Patience is also
Virtuous, so I must bide.
Cheers, till the 'rite day cometh,
Adieu, and not good buy!
YL Chong, Desi
7.50pm, Jan 15, 2007
PS: If you still don't get it WHY I titled the Post thus, let me explain. It's an excellent HR manager who would gho to great length to "soften the blow" when informing a job applicant that he/she has been rejected.
SecondO's long (living up to Desi's nama eh?) PREAMBLE, see?
Okay, my suspicion story is traced back to my writing to a fellow Blogger whose conversations here and over at his (I assume-lah it's a mail! -- await to be proven wrong as in the case of frelunch!:) place have proven engaging. Yes, even a male can be engaging, so Desi is NOT gender-biased. I wrote him not out of altruism but wanting someone to join me as contributor to newly-started column called "Times and Chimes" as I can have a buffer in case I am struck dumb by Writer's Block/blog. Like in the olde days of The Thre Musketeers when after a drink too many, you insult a fellow drunk and land up with a duel in the sun -- reluctant second in tow.
I shall not reveal his ID, so from now I'll just say Desi's Second in revealing the email exchanges which is my lazy way of a Post this moUrnAll typos are taken care of, and funny Engrish rendered prim and proper so my EsteemedReAders won't get steAmed reading *funnies.
*defined as describing a four-storey mansion akin to a palace
as a "small" house.
--- Second wrote:
Hi there!!
(You know, your writing style is very effective in
making people excited -- or is it just me? haha)
SecondO - actually i wanted to get second@ or second1@,
but all taken. so, i thought zero would be even
cooler.
that's why... :)
About "highly literary and hence well qualified to
...become a regular contributor to Borneo Post's new
column", that's highly flattering, but also a GROSS
exaggeration.
Honestly, i think you might have been mistaken... i
mean, yes, i love to read, believe in creative and
(left blank deliberately...you know why, to keep the kitten in the bag!),
but i'm really not a 'word-person'. i'm
more used to numbers, that's y i'm not that used to
writing regularly (i mean, reasonably long articles)
n
coherently.
if at all a 'writer', i'm more a '1-issue' writer,
have strong feelings about certain issues, but not
the
type who can formulate a comprehensive system of
thinking about 'everything'.
which also means that i'm more a CRITICAL writer
than
an 'entertaining' literary person like yourself. the
way i read it, it's a column about personal stories.
well, the thing is, when i write, i write to ANNOY,
to
PROVOKE, to STING, seldom if ever to please or
entertain... not that i don't want to, just that i'm
not good in doing that... especially if u want me to
make a periodical commitment, i'm sure to disappoint
u.
so, i don't think i'm the right person for that
invitation, regardless of how flattered i m... but
i'm
really tempted by the opportunity...
y don't i just 'promise' u to pass something for u
to
consider (can be published as 'guest writer') if i
ever get time to write anything? when the
inspiration
comes, n when i'm really in the mood of writing,
i'll
write something. bcos i've got 'commitment phobia'
lah... ;P
Borneo Post - i heard it's an east malaysian
newspaper. i've never read it myself, but i guess i
could get copies from some relatives living over
there.
as to 'remuneration' - well, that's not such an
important consideration for me. i guess if n when i
get paid, i'll have to trouble u to donate to some
schools or temples for me. but it's premature to
talk
about it now.
anyway, THANKS for the invitation. believe me, it's
the FIRST time someone (in the journalism business,
ie. those who KNOW what they r talking about) has
invited me to do this... hahahaa... u made my week!!
;P
until next time...
SecondO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Desi's reply, very officious!)~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi second):
Seriously today (see no (to)die!
First time too I get a "rejection" so well preambled.
Okay, I got your point that such creative writes
(time-consuming, take my word for it!)
aren't your "take" yet, but I know tIme is the main
constraint, reading about your work schedule a little,
not John's.
But jest (ah, first DDC since I'm curfewing myself!)
not to waste such good arguments built to a crescendo
like a swansong, I'm using this exchange in my Blog as
a sort of intimate conversation with a potential bud
who refuses to drink the water to grow. I've often
preached the credo that Miss Patience is also
Virtuous, so I must bide.
Cheers, till the 'rite day cometh,
Adieu, and not good buy!
YL Chong, Desi
7.50pm, Jan 15, 2007
PS: If you still don't get it WHY I titled the Post thus, let me explain. It's an excellent HR manager who would gho to great length to "soften the blow" when informing a job applicant that he/she has been rejected.
SecondO's long (living up to Desi's nama eh?) PREAMBLE, see?
Monday, January 15, 2007
DAP and its Suicidal Tendencies
I had lamented that a great section of Malaysian populace has suicidal tendencies, like Bush and his band of war-mongers, still rushing soldiers into territory of no return.
Some local political parties also suffer such tendencies -- no wonder after five decades, the electorate has no viable alternative option to the Alliance/Barisan Nasional and their racist tendencies. Both tendencies lead us towards the same Abyss.
Just after GE20054, the then Secretary-General of the Rocket Party Kerk Kim Hock was quoted by MSM on rumours that he lost Kota Melaka narrowly because of "internal sabotage". He nodded his head to the press. And the factional fight for the Stae control continued, and my EsteemedReaders all read in between the lines and make their educated guesses as to who's who as protagonists/antogonists.
My sad conclusion is: SELF-DESTRUCTION or SUICIDE BECKONS OVER THE CLIFF.
Then there was fractious fighting -- pre-2004 GE -- in Negri Sembilan DAP, reqiring the party Organising Secretary to rush in to act as Interim Chairman of the "nine states". And recently, DAP vice-chairman LIM FUI MING threw in the tower, and this scribe had given his 3sen's worth, aided by Y&A johnleemk, in assessing the insider picture as to What Ails The Party?
Today's The Star page N22 confirms what I recall yesterday -- MORE OF THE SAME, be it 2005, 2006 or 2007 in national affairs, including in some of the Opposition parties.
Monday January 15, 2007
SELANGOR DAP
IN CRISIS MODE
Chairman says his ousting is illegal
KAJANG: A major crisis is brewing in the Selangor DAP following a leadership tussle.
State party chairman Ong Chee Keng was ousted through a vote of no confidence by 14 state committee members and was replaced by its secretary Ean Yong Hian Wah during an emergency meeting last Friday.
Ong, however, declared yesterday that he was still the legally elected state chairman and claimed that both the emergency meeting and decision to sack him were null and void.
He said he received a letter via fax from Ean Yong on Jan 11 stating that 14 state committee members had instructed him to call for an emergency meeting.
“The emergency meeting is null and void and its decision is not valid. It is against the party rules and unfair to the state chairman. He (Ean Yong) only has the right to exercise his duty as a state secretary,” Ong told a press conference at the DAP office here yesterday.
He said Ean Yong had cited his (Ong) decision to appoint Sungai Pinang state assemblyman Teng Chang Khim as the state DAP preparatory committee for the general election – a powerful post that proposes its candidates – without the approval of the state committee as the reason to the problem.
Ong said he and leaders of seven DAP branches would forward a letter of complaint against Ean Yong for holding an illegal emergency meeting to the DAP central executive committee and refer the matter to party chairman Karpal Singh.
Asked whether he would meet DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on the matter, he said: “I will consider doing that.”
Ong said the problem started due to suggestions that Lim should take over the state leadership.
On Dec 9 last year, Selangor publicity secretary Lau Weng San and its political and education director Lee Kee Hiong had approached and allegedly told Ong that half of the state committee members supported a motion of vote of no confidence against him for being unable to lead the state and rejecting Lim's suggestion.
A few days later on Dec 14, Ong said he received an SMS informing him that Lau and Lee claimed that they met with Lim who agreed to take over the state leadership if he received unanimous support from the state committee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DESI: I had narrated in my earlier pieces on DAP that often its elected representatives suffer/ed from the same mindset of self-interests like MCA and MIC lackeys. I cited the examples of Kuppusamy, Tiger Lee and Khoo Seng Hock; johnlee may be able to add Others from other States (as my citation is from NS -- ah, another "NS" great ex-DAP Lee LT, now Tan Si! is a great SOUL'D OUT, or isit Sold Out?
RM4million, see-liau-liau! "Copulation" in the BN-UMNO politicisation process of its Oppo rivals, I said.)
DEsi's head's prize is 20million, going up in view of rising tides of inflation and floodwaters...
(any Offerer? -- please see my 3A* PR mAnAgArs, The Unsinkable aweofhelen et al...)
DESI's RECOMMENDATION:
DAP should just Close Shop and merge with Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Since Kit and Anwar are the best of pals, atosee of the coin
can decide who leads the nu'e merged entity.
Can I be Da Paid Referee, 3sen only cun!? Is dare such a party Post?
No, we can start somewhere, can't we?
*** INNOVATION ensures survival of the second fittest.****
Some local political parties also suffer such tendencies -- no wonder after five decades, the electorate has no viable alternative option to the Alliance/Barisan Nasional and their racist tendencies. Both tendencies lead us towards the same Abyss.
Just after GE20054, the then Secretary-General of the Rocket Party Kerk Kim Hock was quoted by MSM on rumours that he lost Kota Melaka narrowly because of "internal sabotage". He nodded his head to the press. And the factional fight for the Stae control continued, and my EsteemedReaders all read in between the lines and make their educated guesses as to who's who as protagonists/antogonists.
My sad conclusion is: SELF-DESTRUCTION or SUICIDE BECKONS OVER THE CLIFF.
Then there was fractious fighting -- pre-2004 GE -- in Negri Sembilan DAP, reqiring the party Organising Secretary to rush in to act as Interim Chairman of the "nine states". And recently, DAP vice-chairman LIM FUI MING threw in the tower, and this scribe had given his 3sen's worth, aided by Y&A johnleemk, in assessing the insider picture as to What Ails The Party?
Today's The Star page N22 confirms what I recall yesterday -- MORE OF THE SAME, be it 2005, 2006 or 2007 in national affairs, including in some of the Opposition parties.
Monday January 15, 2007
SELANGOR DAP
IN CRISIS MODE
Chairman says his ousting is illegal
KAJANG: A major crisis is brewing in the Selangor DAP following a leadership tussle.
State party chairman Ong Chee Keng was ousted through a vote of no confidence by 14 state committee members and was replaced by its secretary Ean Yong Hian Wah during an emergency meeting last Friday.
Ong, however, declared yesterday that he was still the legally elected state chairman and claimed that both the emergency meeting and decision to sack him were null and void.
He said he received a letter via fax from Ean Yong on Jan 11 stating that 14 state committee members had instructed him to call for an emergency meeting.
“The emergency meeting is null and void and its decision is not valid. It is against the party rules and unfair to the state chairman. He (Ean Yong) only has the right to exercise his duty as a state secretary,” Ong told a press conference at the DAP office here yesterday.
He said Ean Yong had cited his (Ong) decision to appoint Sungai Pinang state assemblyman Teng Chang Khim as the state DAP preparatory committee for the general election – a powerful post that proposes its candidates – without the approval of the state committee as the reason to the problem.
Ong said he and leaders of seven DAP branches would forward a letter of complaint against Ean Yong for holding an illegal emergency meeting to the DAP central executive committee and refer the matter to party chairman Karpal Singh.
Asked whether he would meet DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on the matter, he said: “I will consider doing that.”
Ong said the problem started due to suggestions that Lim should take over the state leadership.
On Dec 9 last year, Selangor publicity secretary Lau Weng San and its political and education director Lee Kee Hiong had approached and allegedly told Ong that half of the state committee members supported a motion of vote of no confidence against him for being unable to lead the state and rejecting Lim's suggestion.
A few days later on Dec 14, Ong said he received an SMS informing him that Lau and Lee claimed that they met with Lim who agreed to take over the state leadership if he received unanimous support from the state committee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DESI: I had narrated in my earlier pieces on DAP that often its elected representatives suffer/ed from the same mindset of self-interests like MCA and MIC lackeys. I cited the examples of Kuppusamy, Tiger Lee and Khoo Seng Hock; johnlee may be able to add Others from other States (as my citation is from NS -- ah, another "NS" great ex-DAP Lee LT, now Tan Si! is a great SOUL'D OUT, or isit Sold Out?
RM4million, see-liau-liau! "Copulation" in the BN-UMNO politicisation process of its Oppo rivals, I said.)
DEsi's head's prize is 20million, going up in view of rising tides of inflation and floodwaters...
(any Offerer? -- please see my 3A* PR mAnAgArs, The Unsinkable aweofhelen et al...)
DESI's RECOMMENDATION:
DAP should just Close Shop and merge with Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Since Kit and Anwar are the best of pals, atosee of the coin
can decide who leads the nu'e merged entity.
Can I be Da Paid Referee, 3sen only cun!? Is dare such a party Post?
No, we can start somewhere, can't we?
*** INNOVATION ensures survival of the second fittest.****
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia's getting overly litigious!
It's okay if NegaraKu gets more Amore with second weddings on a sultanah's scale and the bride, even a second-time around, wears a virginal-white gown that trails from the mosque to neighbouring temple or church -- spreading muhibbah around. They should do this aMORE often around this BAH season -- freelunch, freedinner and for desperate writHers, fleesupper3!
But another world of multi-million exchanges is less winsome or tasty -- when a lawyer's letter arrives informing the respondent he's being sued for millions for libel or defamation. A decade or two ago the frequency of such high-mneyed suits moved then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to lament that NegaraKU was becoming -- like in United Kingdom and the United States -- an overly litigious society.
I agree with the wise doctor 100% on this -- See, a pro-Opposition writer shares common ground with an Establishment figure, so I am not totally blinded by educated views. Progressive too.
Before I plead guilty to committing second-hand theft, I shall reprise one of my fave Loyar Buluk stories.
An ageing billionaire oin his deathbed summoned his lawyer, who ran to his beside well nigh doing the 100-metre Olympics sprint. Can you visualise, suited with coat and a necktie almost tied like a hangman's noose, the obedient lawyer arrived panting, still having the energy to say: "Yes, sir! What's your bidding?"
The following is the conversation between hardly perspiring nonagenarian Tycoon and the profusely perspiring Lawyer.
Tycoon: I wish you to get me a Law degree promto. If you must, make a generous donation of a few million pound to get me the scroll, NOW!
Lawyer: "Yes, sir! Your wish is my command!" (Here's my chance to up the prize by a few million, the very thought dries up the sweat on his fast balding forehead, at age 30, pretty fast.)
Armed with the cheque, the Lawyer dashed another 1,500 metres to the accredited body that handles such fast-track express degree awards, mainly to charitable VIPs who are expected to behave like a philantropist-cum-philosopher. An hour later, the Lawyer re-appeared, a scroll in hand.
The Tycoon's face lighed up as he embraced the scroll like he would a grandchild, ecept in his case, he did not have one as all his seven children were important-and-impotent members of the community.
Lawyer, like a Curiosity Cat, bent over and whispered to the dying Tycoon:
"Why Master, do you wish to part with five million just to hold a scroll in thy hands?"
The Tycoon replied: "I know you got the scroll for three, but you upped the prize to five, didn't you?" with a sly smile sliding slowly across his face.
"Well, if you must know....It gives me a high knwoing that when I braethe my last, there will be less one lawyer in this world."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now you undersatnd why it is so important that you know some basic law, okay! That's rhetorical, so I don't wish to hear from you, my dear ER, for Time's pretty precious to a writer on the run! Just like a Lawyer-lah!
From 2020freelunch, I stole this gem fearful of a lesser charge while she had obtained permission from the original holder (for one month only! So FL, do you erase thy Post after 30 days and I after 27?) I believe she did it out of a sense of duty to Fellow Bloggers after hearing reliable rumours that two femes ones were served a Lawyer's letter each for some Post speaking of funny death at a newsroom.
Desi believes it's timely/dimely that my ER, especially writHers like Desi, read this refresher piece; failure to do this may cost thee handsomely!~~
How to avoid libel and defamation
1. What are defamation and libel?
Defamation is any published material that damages the reputation of an individual or an organisation. This covers material on the internet as well as radio and television broadcasts - so even drama and fiction can be defamatory if they damage someone’s reputation. You can only publish defamatory material if it comes within one of the recognised legal defences. If it doesn’t, the publication will amount to libel and you may have to pay substantial damages.
Libel and slander both require publication. The fundamental distinction between libel and slander lies solely in the form in which the defamatory matter is published. If the offending material is published in some fleeting form, as by spoken words or sounds, sign language, gestures and the like, then this is slander. If it is published in more durable form, for example in written words, film, compact disc and the like, then it is considered libel. (Wikipedia)
The purpose of libel law
Libel law protects individuals or organisations from unwarranted, mistaken or untruthful attacks on their reputation. A person is libelled if a publication:
• Exposes them to hatred, ridicule or contempt
• Causes them to be shunned or avoided
• Discredits them in their trade, business or profession
• Generally lowers them in the eyes of right thinking members of society
2. Get your facts right
The most important point is to make absolutely sure that what you are printing or writing is true. Do not make claims or accusations that you cannot prove. Even if you think you can do this, be cautious. Proving things in court can be very difficult.
The test of what the words mean is what a reasonable reader is likely to take as their natural and ordinary meaning, in their full context - what you intended as the author or publisher is irrelevant.
The burden of proof lies with the defendant
Almost uniquely in English law, in libel cases the burden of proof lies with the author / publisher and not the complainant. In other words, you have to prove that what you write is true. The person you’ve targeted does not have to prove that you’re wrong.
McLibel
In 1990 McDonalds served a libel writ on several members of a campaigning organisation over the production and distribution of the ‘What’s Wrong with McDonalds?’ leaflet. The legal battle between Helen Steel and David Morris, a gardener and a postman, and the McDonalds corporation became one of the most famous cases in British legal history, not least because it became the longest running British trial.
To win the case, the pair would have to prove from primary sources the truth of their allegations about McDonalds. After hearing all the evidence, the judge (who did find that some of the allegations were true) ruled that the pair had libelled McDonalds because the evidence they called was not enough to prove the majority of their statements. They were ordered to pay damages of £60, 000. The trial was estimated to have cost millions of pounds in legal fees.
3. Three tips for writing
Don’t rely on the literal meaning
You cannot solely rely on proving that your statements were literally true if, when they’re taken as a whole, they have an extended, more damaging meaning. Also, for example, if somebody was guilty of fraud once, calling him a fraudster in a way which might suggest he’s still doing the same may well give rise to a libel which can’t be defended. Be especially wary when referring to events in the past.
Don’t exaggerate in your claims or language
For example, a company may run a factory which produces certain chemicals. For you to suggest that babies will be born deformed as a result may get you into libel trouble.
Innuendo can catch you out
Your comments may not appear particularly defamatory taken at face value, but greater knowledge of a person or situation may make it problematic because of the innuendo. To say Mr Jones doesn’t recycle his waste paper may sound harmless enough. But to people who know that Mr Jones is a Green Party activist, the innuendo of the statement is that he is hypocritical in his politics.
4. Common mistakes and assumptions
Repeating rumours
It is inadvisable to repeat a defamatory rumour unless you are in a position to prove it’s true. Even if you are contradicting the rumour you should not repeat it. And adding ‘allegedly’ is not enough to get you out of libel difficulties.
Quoting others
If you publish defamatory remarks about people or organisations made by other people you will be just as liable to be sued as they are. So if you can’t prove the truth of their statements, don’t repeat them.
Drawing unprovable conclusions
It is a common mistake to draw unverifiable conclusions from the basic facts. For example, if Mr Brown is seen going into a hotel room with a call-girl, this does not necessarily mean he enjoyed a ‘night of passion’, and will certainly not prove that he did.
Irresponsible adjectives
Be very careful about the adjectives you use. A misplaced word can result in costly action. If you are campaigning about a factory that releases chemicals into the atmosphere, referring to the factory as ‘poisoning the atmosphere’ is inadvisable!
Representing all sides
Presenting all sides of an argument is often good practice, but is not a defence against publishing defamatory remarks made by or about those involved.
5. Defences against libel
The law lays down a number of ways in which defamatory publications may be defended. If the defences succeed, the publisher wins. But if they don’t succeed, the publisher loses: the complainant will have been libelled and will therefore be entitled to be paid damages and their legal costs. The defences are listed below.
Justification
The most usual defence against libel is to prove that the information published is true. But this can be a dangerous route because an unsuccessful plea could increase the damages against you because you will have increased the harm to the complainant. And remember, you must be able to deal with every libellous possibility, such as inference and innuendo. If your statement infers something greater, it is not enough to prove that the statement is just literally true. Merely asserting something will not be sufficient to prove that it’s true - you will need witnesses and documents to back up assertions (whether they’re yours or someone you’re quoting).
Fair comment
Fair comment covers content, mainly opinion, that cannot by its very nature be true or false. To be properly defensible, these comments must be:
• Based on fact
• Made in good faith
• Published without malice
• On a matter of public interest
In 2001, the Daily Mail lost a libel action brought by the former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Alan Sugar over the remark that he was a "miser" when he ran the club because he didn’t give his manager enough money to buy top class players. The jury were not sufficiently persuaded that there was any factual basis for making this comment. They didn’t deem it fair comment. He was awarded £100,000.
Privilege
Privilege is the defence where the law recognises that individuals should be free to speak their minds (and others to report what they say) without fear of being sued even if they get their facts wrong. It allows people to speak freely in court proceedings and debates in Parliament, and allows for such proceedings to be reported, so long as the reports are both fair and accurate.
____________________________________________________
"How to avoid libel and defamation" - first published on Apr 23, 2004 in www.bbc.co.uk.
Republished with permission from BBC Action
Network (obtained by freelunchand I'm taking
her word for it, though she did not
take an Oath before five wholly/holy books.)
FREELUNCH: Our legal system is based on the British's. So most of these applies and are best journalistic practices. Let's bring ourselves closer to a civil society, and stop behaving like monkeys living on treetops.
Labels: civil society, come on man, defamation, law, libel
posted by freelunch2020 at 12:35 AMat 2020freelunch.blogspot.com |
DESI:I Lost the date in the rush,
as is common among Journalists on the run; will ask her for another date
with ER's courtly permission.)
But another world of multi-million exchanges is less winsome or tasty -- when a lawyer's letter arrives informing the respondent he's being sued for millions for libel or defamation. A decade or two ago the frequency of such high-mneyed suits moved then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to lament that NegaraKU was becoming -- like in United Kingdom and the United States -- an overly litigious society.
I agree with the wise doctor 100% on this -- See, a pro-Opposition writer shares common ground with an Establishment figure, so I am not totally blinded by educated views. Progressive too.
Before I plead guilty to committing second-hand theft, I shall reprise one of my fave Loyar Buluk stories.
An ageing billionaire oin his deathbed summoned his lawyer, who ran to his beside well nigh doing the 100-metre Olympics sprint. Can you visualise, suited with coat and a necktie almost tied like a hangman's noose, the obedient lawyer arrived panting, still having the energy to say: "Yes, sir! What's your bidding?"
The following is the conversation between hardly perspiring nonagenarian Tycoon and the profusely perspiring Lawyer.
Tycoon: I wish you to get me a Law degree promto. If you must, make a generous donation of a few million pound to get me the scroll, NOW!
Lawyer: "Yes, sir! Your wish is my command!" (Here's my chance to up the prize by a few million, the very thought dries up the sweat on his fast balding forehead, at age 30, pretty fast.)
Armed with the cheque, the Lawyer dashed another 1,500 metres to the accredited body that handles such fast-track express degree awards, mainly to charitable VIPs who are expected to behave like a philantropist-cum-philosopher. An hour later, the Lawyer re-appeared, a scroll in hand.
The Tycoon's face lighed up as he embraced the scroll like he would a grandchild, ecept in his case, he did not have one as all his seven children were important-and-impotent members of the community.
Lawyer, like a Curiosity Cat, bent over and whispered to the dying Tycoon:
"Why Master, do you wish to part with five million just to hold a scroll in thy hands?"
The Tycoon replied: "I know you got the scroll for three, but you upped the prize to five, didn't you?" with a sly smile sliding slowly across his face.
"Well, if you must know....It gives me a high knwoing that when I braethe my last, there will be less one lawyer in this world."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now you undersatnd why it is so important that you know some basic law, okay! That's rhetorical, so I don't wish to hear from you, my dear ER, for Time's pretty precious to a writer on the run! Just like a Lawyer-lah!
From 2020freelunch, I stole this gem fearful of a lesser charge while she had obtained permission from the original holder (for one month only! So FL, do you erase thy Post after 30 days and I after 27?) I believe she did it out of a sense of duty to Fellow Bloggers after hearing reliable rumours that two femes ones were served a Lawyer's letter each for some Post speaking of funny death at a newsroom.
Desi believes it's timely/dimely that my ER, especially writHers like Desi, read this refresher piece; failure to do this may cost thee handsomely!~~
How to avoid libel and defamation
1. What are defamation and libel?
Defamation is any published material that damages the reputation of an individual or an organisation. This covers material on the internet as well as radio and television broadcasts - so even drama and fiction can be defamatory if they damage someone’s reputation. You can only publish defamatory material if it comes within one of the recognised legal defences. If it doesn’t, the publication will amount to libel and you may have to pay substantial damages.
Libel and slander both require publication. The fundamental distinction between libel and slander lies solely in the form in which the defamatory matter is published. If the offending material is published in some fleeting form, as by spoken words or sounds, sign language, gestures and the like, then this is slander. If it is published in more durable form, for example in written words, film, compact disc and the like, then it is considered libel. (Wikipedia)
The purpose of libel law
Libel law protects individuals or organisations from unwarranted, mistaken or untruthful attacks on their reputation. A person is libelled if a publication:
• Exposes them to hatred, ridicule or contempt
• Causes them to be shunned or avoided
• Discredits them in their trade, business or profession
• Generally lowers them in the eyes of right thinking members of society
2. Get your facts right
The most important point is to make absolutely sure that what you are printing or writing is true. Do not make claims or accusations that you cannot prove. Even if you think you can do this, be cautious. Proving things in court can be very difficult.
The test of what the words mean is what a reasonable reader is likely to take as their natural and ordinary meaning, in their full context - what you intended as the author or publisher is irrelevant.
The burden of proof lies with the defendant
Almost uniquely in English law, in libel cases the burden of proof lies with the author / publisher and not the complainant. In other words, you have to prove that what you write is true. The person you’ve targeted does not have to prove that you’re wrong.
McLibel
In 1990 McDonalds served a libel writ on several members of a campaigning organisation over the production and distribution of the ‘What’s Wrong with McDonalds?’ leaflet. The legal battle between Helen Steel and David Morris, a gardener and a postman, and the McDonalds corporation became one of the most famous cases in British legal history, not least because it became the longest running British trial.
To win the case, the pair would have to prove from primary sources the truth of their allegations about McDonalds. After hearing all the evidence, the judge (who did find that some of the allegations were true) ruled that the pair had libelled McDonalds because the evidence they called was not enough to prove the majority of their statements. They were ordered to pay damages of £60, 000. The trial was estimated to have cost millions of pounds in legal fees.
3. Three tips for writing
Don’t rely on the literal meaning
You cannot solely rely on proving that your statements were literally true if, when they’re taken as a whole, they have an extended, more damaging meaning. Also, for example, if somebody was guilty of fraud once, calling him a fraudster in a way which might suggest he’s still doing the same may well give rise to a libel which can’t be defended. Be especially wary when referring to events in the past.
Don’t exaggerate in your claims or language
For example, a company may run a factory which produces certain chemicals. For you to suggest that babies will be born deformed as a result may get you into libel trouble.
Innuendo can catch you out
Your comments may not appear particularly defamatory taken at face value, but greater knowledge of a person or situation may make it problematic because of the innuendo. To say Mr Jones doesn’t recycle his waste paper may sound harmless enough. But to people who know that Mr Jones is a Green Party activist, the innuendo of the statement is that he is hypocritical in his politics.
4. Common mistakes and assumptions
Repeating rumours
It is inadvisable to repeat a defamatory rumour unless you are in a position to prove it’s true. Even if you are contradicting the rumour you should not repeat it. And adding ‘allegedly’ is not enough to get you out of libel difficulties.
Quoting others
If you publish defamatory remarks about people or organisations made by other people you will be just as liable to be sued as they are. So if you can’t prove the truth of their statements, don’t repeat them.
Drawing unprovable conclusions
It is a common mistake to draw unverifiable conclusions from the basic facts. For example, if Mr Brown is seen going into a hotel room with a call-girl, this does not necessarily mean he enjoyed a ‘night of passion’, and will certainly not prove that he did.
Irresponsible adjectives
Be very careful about the adjectives you use. A misplaced word can result in costly action. If you are campaigning about a factory that releases chemicals into the atmosphere, referring to the factory as ‘poisoning the atmosphere’ is inadvisable!
Representing all sides
Presenting all sides of an argument is often good practice, but is not a defence against publishing defamatory remarks made by or about those involved.
5. Defences against libel
The law lays down a number of ways in which defamatory publications may be defended. If the defences succeed, the publisher wins. But if they don’t succeed, the publisher loses: the complainant will have been libelled and will therefore be entitled to be paid damages and their legal costs. The defences are listed below.
Justification
The most usual defence against libel is to prove that the information published is true. But this can be a dangerous route because an unsuccessful plea could increase the damages against you because you will have increased the harm to the complainant. And remember, you must be able to deal with every libellous possibility, such as inference and innuendo. If your statement infers something greater, it is not enough to prove that the statement is just literally true. Merely asserting something will not be sufficient to prove that it’s true - you will need witnesses and documents to back up assertions (whether they’re yours or someone you’re quoting).
Fair comment
Fair comment covers content, mainly opinion, that cannot by its very nature be true or false. To be properly defensible, these comments must be:
• Based on fact
• Made in good faith
• Published without malice
• On a matter of public interest
In 2001, the Daily Mail lost a libel action brought by the former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Alan Sugar over the remark that he was a "miser" when he ran the club because he didn’t give his manager enough money to buy top class players. The jury were not sufficiently persuaded that there was any factual basis for making this comment. They didn’t deem it fair comment. He was awarded £100,000.
Privilege
Privilege is the defence where the law recognises that individuals should be free to speak their minds (and others to report what they say) without fear of being sued even if they get their facts wrong. It allows people to speak freely in court proceedings and debates in Parliament, and allows for such proceedings to be reported, so long as the reports are both fair and accurate.
____________________________________________________
"How to avoid libel and defamation" - first published on Apr 23, 2004 in www.bbc.co.uk.
Republished with permission from BBC Action
Network (obtained by freelunchand I'm taking
her word for it, though she did not
take an Oath before five wholly/holy books.)
FREELUNCH: Our legal system is based on the British's. So most of these applies and are best journalistic practices. Let's bring ourselves closer to a civil society, and stop behaving like monkeys living on treetops.
Labels: civil society, come on man, defamation, law, libel
posted by freelunch2020 at 12:35 AMat 2020freelunch.blogspot.com |
DESI:I Lost the date in the rush,
as is common among Journalists on the run; will ask her for another date
with ER's courtly permission.)
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Please Bookmark a Landmark Oasis
mGf Yan must be pretty proud this morning as Jan 14, 2007 marks the new/s destination of the Borneo Post on Sunday as The Sunday Post, with the Sarawak Chief Minister doing the honours at its official launch. Yes, you are advised to bookmark www.theborneopost.com but Desi declares this promo is not compleatly done out of altruistic motivation.
Besides, national interest compels us from the Peninsula to know more of what's happening in Sarawak and Sabah -- these two States "seem" like distant cousins to us escounced in a continent more twinned with Singapore than what were formerly the exotic Borneo territories romantically famed through Raja Brooke, et al (Remember a bugger hyde-ing out @kennysia.com? and yes, the headhunters. I confess I find some aspects of S&S intriguing, and the tongues and nuances of Sarawkians and Sabahans mystique, akin to the belly dancers of Egypt and the cowboys&shepherdgals and moonshiners of the www, though I believe the residents dare would like to throw some pies, or hambuggers, at my face for such metaphors.
Okay, they sometimes look regal and relaxed to the point of sporting heavenly s-miles on their childlike faces. Is this goode recompense, my dears? Putera dan Puteri of The Land Below the Wind, Where the deer and the antelope steal play...
Today it's also my pleasure to report that Three Buggers, Ooops, Bloggers! -- Warren Lau, Phyllis Wong and YL Chong, aka or flamed as fishtail, yan and desi, the hoRsts respectively @julyfishtail.blogspot.com, yantouch.wordpress.com and ah, the lust you have to seek it ooouch!:) -- are also launching a Leisure page at that recommended destination.
The column is titled "Times and Chimes"; I give my ER the Rationale (Jest as I often demand of my readers, mousey wan oso cun, remember!) , but I await the maiden piece from mGf, and I think she's tied up Somewhere, beyond the South China Sea.
~~~~~~~~~
Why Times and Chimes?
When Sunday Post co-writers Phyllis Wong, Warren Lau
and I were teamed to start a new Leisure page, I put
on my thinking cap to arrive at two names in the final
shortlist. It's either "Times Wordwhile" or "Times and
Chimes".
I conducted a straw poll among several buddies and
concensus was for "Times and Chimes", chiefly because
there is Rhyme, and also the alternative was quite a
mouthful in contrast.
My case for "Times Wordwhile" was centred on the play
on words -- "worthwhile" and for the literary-minded,
(William) "Wordsworth" who is among my favourite
poets. But some critics counter that it's "elitist"
and may not go down well with newspaper readers,
though this point goes against my inclination as a
writer towards "adventurism".
The final settlement on "Times and Chimes", besides
its poetic sound winning it instant premium, is also
anchored on telling what this new column is all about
succinctly.
It's about any individual's life worth puttig down in
words -- with its ups and downs. We cherish the high
moments in our life's journeys, and such episodes are
easily shared with fellow humankind as joy is a good
currency to spread around. But life is never a
complete joyride, so many of us have hit certain low
points -- even suicidal moments! -- we would rather
forget and keep private. But sometimes it does the
individual a lot of good to share his/her down times
too, for unburdening the grief into the public domain
is also therapeutic, and burden shared is burden
lessened.
The A*team of this column hopes to welcome our
Esteemed Readers to contribute narratives of their
unique Times, especially sharing the ringing sounds of
the Chimes -- maybe with the arrival of a couple's
first baby, their recollection of First Date perhaps,
or the humble RM100-a-table wedding banquet as opposed
to high-media primed million-dollar dinners. Often the
rhythm of the heart must echo the sound of the chimes,
and the human spirit will hear, and listen,then soar
with contentment. ~~ Desiderata-YLChong
Besides, national interest compels us from the Peninsula to know more of what's happening in Sarawak and Sabah -- these two States "seem" like distant cousins to us escounced in a continent more twinned with Singapore than what were formerly the exotic Borneo territories romantically famed through Raja Brooke, et al (Remember a bugger hyde-ing out @kennysia.com? and yes, the headhunters. I confess I find some aspects of S&S intriguing, and the tongues and nuances of Sarawkians and Sabahans mystique, akin to the belly dancers of Egypt and the cowboys&shepherdgals and moonshiners of the www, though I believe the residents dare would like to throw some pies, or hambuggers, at my face for such metaphors.
Okay, they sometimes look regal and relaxed to the point of sporting heavenly s-miles on their childlike faces. Is this goode recompense, my dears? Putera dan Puteri of The Land Below the Wind, Where the deer and the antelope steal play...
Today it's also my pleasure to report that Three Buggers, Ooops, Bloggers! -- Warren Lau, Phyllis Wong and YL Chong, aka or flamed as fishtail, yan and desi, the hoRsts respectively @julyfishtail.blogspot.com, yantouch.wordpress.com and ah, the lust you have to seek it ooouch!:) -- are also launching a Leisure page at that recommended destination.
The column is titled "Times and Chimes"; I give my ER the Rationale (Jest as I often demand of my readers, mousey wan oso cun, remember!) , but I await the maiden piece from mGf, and I think she's tied up Somewhere, beyond the South China Sea.
~~~~~~~~~
Why Times and Chimes?
When Sunday Post co-writers Phyllis Wong, Warren Lau
and I were teamed to start a new Leisure page, I put
on my thinking cap to arrive at two names in the final
shortlist. It's either "Times Wordwhile" or "Times and
Chimes".
I conducted a straw poll among several buddies and
concensus was for "Times and Chimes", chiefly because
there is Rhyme, and also the alternative was quite a
mouthful in contrast.
My case for "Times Wordwhile" was centred on the play
on words -- "worthwhile" and for the literary-minded,
(William) "Wordsworth" who is among my favourite
poets. But some critics counter that it's "elitist"
and may not go down well with newspaper readers,
though this point goes against my inclination as a
writer towards "adventurism".
The final settlement on "Times and Chimes", besides
its poetic sound winning it instant premium, is also
anchored on telling what this new column is all about
succinctly.
It's about any individual's life worth puttig down in
words -- with its ups and downs. We cherish the high
moments in our life's journeys, and such episodes are
easily shared with fellow humankind as joy is a good
currency to spread around. But life is never a
complete joyride, so many of us have hit certain low
points -- even suicidal moments! -- we would rather
forget and keep private. But sometimes it does the
individual a lot of good to share his/her down times
too, for unburdening the grief into the public domain
is also therapeutic, and burden shared is burden
lessened.
The A*team of this column hopes to welcome our
Esteemed Readers to contribute narratives of their
unique Times, especially sharing the ringing sounds of
the Chimes -- maybe with the arrival of a couple's
first baby, their recollection of First Date perhaps,
or the humble RM100-a-table wedding banquet as opposed
to high-media primed million-dollar dinners. Often the
rhythm of the heart must echo the sound of the chimes,
and the human spirit will hear, and listen,then soar
with contentment. ~~ Desiderata-YLChong
Saturday, January 13, 2007
CHINA: No dragon slayers on the horizon
Dear EsteemedReaders -- I welcome my Guest Blogger PY CHIN again to share an article that should put Malaysians on alert that we, especially the leaders, cannot continue to wear blinkers on our eyes even as the Barbarians of Globalisation are at the gates. We shall have one forty winks too many at our own peril. Mr Prime Minister, please wake up. Then Malaysians may comfortably take an afternoon nap.
HARD TO TAME A DRAGON'S ECONOMY
China should have been left alone to continue with its
sleep. Now that it is awake, there's no stopping its
economy from growing. There is still room for it to
expand even bigger. And it will continue to play a
pivotal role in Asian economic growth. The problem
lies mainly with the US: how to accept China as its
equal, especially as a member of the exclusive Group
of Eight club.
By P.Y. Chin
Email: py1818@yahoo.com
The great 18th century French Emperor and military
leader Napolean Bonaparte was right when he predicted
that "when China awakes, the world will tremble". He
could have intimated that everyone should have left
the "dragon" alone -- let it continue with its deep
sleep. It would not be to anyone's advantage to wake
China up.
But China did wake up -- thanks to the
persistence efforts of the United States. In
furthering its strategy in a global geo-political map,
the US somehow pushed China into becoming a member of
World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001 -- that was
when the "dragon" decided to fully stay awake, and not
go back to slumber.
In reality, China had woken up since 1978 when
the country undertook radical reforms to turn itself
from a planned economy under the rule of communism
into a modernised, free-market capitalist economy
under a form of "restricted" democracy.
But the early stages of the transformation were
rather slow, and uncertain, as China grappled with
selecting the kind of free-market economy that would
be suitable for a country that contains one-fifth of
the world's population.
The rapid transformation of the Soviet Union
from a similarly planned economy into a free-market
capitalist economy, which eventually saw the collapse
of the Soviet political system, was no help to China's
economic planners and political masters. China did not
wish to follow the Soviet Union's way, which many
maintained was chiefly the handiwork of the Americans.
In the end China opted for a gradual
transformation, first changing the coastal cities'
economic landscape from north to south, without
disturbing the traditional economic fabric of the
rural interior, and then moving westwards into the
interior. It is today at the stage of starting to open
up the interior.
In moving into a free-market capitalist economy,
China has almost overnight become an economic
super-powerhouse, spreading a cloud of distrust and
fear across Asian, especially among Southeast Asian,
countries.
The initial fears were that China would become
so powerful a magnet that it would pull away almost
all foreign investments from developed countries
destined for South-east Asian countries. In this
context, China was undoubtedly looked upon as a
threat.
However, as ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad often advised local businessmen: "Consider
China not as a threat, but a land of opportunities".
This fear of a threat soon subsided to a belief that
co-operation as a partner would be the best means of
economic survival for the Southeast Asian states.
To this end, Southeast Asian as well as Asian
countries are re-defining their economic priorities
and redrawing their economic future. Many have opted
for joint ventures with Chinese businesses, putting
into practice the economic theory of international
comparative advantage.
Under the theory, these ventures producing
consumer products that would have been produced in the
home Southeast Asian countries are now done in China
due to lower labour and materials costs. The finished
goods are then exported back to the home Southeast
Asian countries.
In a sense, both the peoples of China and its
Southeast Asian partners prosper are putting into
practice the economic philosophy of "prosper thy
neighbour" well preached by Mahathir.
Indeed, after the 1997 financial crisis, China
became the world's largest factory, producing every
conceivable consumer product for its domestic, as well
as the export, markets.
The emergence of China has certainly created a
new economic landscape for Southeast Asian countries
-- one that they could benefit from, and not be made
victims of. The rest of the world, including the US
and European Community, also felt China's "economic
quake". The "dragon" has finally awakened. The whole
world trembled, as it was predicted by Napoleon, and
it is still trembling, more out of fear of not knowing
how to engage an economic super-powerhouse such as
China, where everything is so humongous and
overwhelming.
Its population base of 1.3 billion people -- the
largest from a single nation in the world -- is a
dream market for consumer products, although at
present selling a single product to 1.3 billion people
is by no means an easy task. The population is so
widespread that logistics of supply becomes a
nightmare.
Undeniably, the performance of the economy as a
whole has been nothhing less than "spectacular" for
China. It has been experiencing an economic boom ever
since it undertook market reforms in 1978.
Today, the economic engine is still booming --
and there seems to be no end in sight. According to US
investment bank Goldman Sachs Group, the boom "will
probably last at least another two years", making it
the longest and least volatile expansion in world
economic history.
From 1992 to 1996, economic growth was between
10% and 14.2% a year. In the beginning of this
millennium, growth was hovering at 10% a year -- 10%
in 2003, 10.1% in 2004, and 10.2% in 2005.
For this year, the World Bank has estimated the
China economy to grow at 10.4% -- the fastest pace
since 1995. Next year, Goldman Sachs sees the world's
fourth-largest economy growing at 9.8% and in 2008 at
10%.
In a span of 30 years (1978 to 2008), China's
economy will have grown to become the world's third
largest, estimated to be worth USD3trillion (RM11
trillion), overtaking Germany's, which was worth
USD2.5trillion (RM8.9trillion) last year.
This phenomenal economic growth is due largely
to the massive inflow of foreign direct investments.
From January to November, contractual foreign capital
totalled USD167.46bil (RM592bil), while the amount of
foreign capital actually used was USD54.26bill
(RM191.5bil).
On another front, the economic growth is also
the result of an explosion in foreign trade. In 2001
when China joined the WTO, its exports amounted to
only USD245bil (RM930bil). But this year, exports are
expected to leapfrog to USD963 billion
(RM3.4trillion), up 27%, while imports are expected to
be at USD795bil (RM2.8trillion), up 20%.
Total trade volume is expected to jump 24% to
hit USD1.758trillion (RM6.2trillion) this year, with
annual trade surplus set to reach USD157bil (RM554bil)
this year, expanding to USD180bil (RM635bil) by next
year. In due course, the balance-of-payment surpluses
are set to exceed 10% of the gross domestic product
(GDP).
The massive trade surpluses have brought about
another explosion that boggles the mind -- foreign
exchange reserves, which are set to hit the
USD1trillion (RM3.5trillion) mark this year. By
November 2006, China's reserves had reached
USD987.9bil (RM3.48trillion).
The reserves have always been an envy of some
western countries, to the point that they become a
bone of contention. China has been criticised for not
doing enough to cut its reserves.
Last month, the Governor of the People's Bank of
China, Zhou Xiaochuan, said that China was pursuing "a
policy of diversifying its reserves". Last week,
Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan announced that China planned
to use part of its reserves to expand its stocks of
strategic resources, such as oil, gas, coal, and
othher minerals.
China had not wasted any time in implementing
that policy. As far back as November 2004, China
already took the bold step to transform its economic
power into what was known as "a decisive shift in the
global political balance".
That month, Chinese President Hu Jintao toured
Latin America buying up as much iron ore, copper, tin,
bauxite and soyabeans as he could find. The next
month, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez visited
Beijing and signed a long-term oil deal, followed by
more such deals with African countries such as Sudan,
as well as with Iran.
In essence, analysts were saying that as the US
was focusing its sight on the "war on terror" in the
Middle East, China was "building alliances in
America's backyard and making friends of (President
Geroge W.) Bush's enemies".
Said Philip Stephens of The Financial Times last
year: "Only recently have the geostrategic
implications of China's economic power gained serious
attention beyond the think-tanks".
There were also suggestions that China should
follow the example of Singapore and Norway in setting
up a special vehicle to better manage the lion's share
of its reserves.
According to Jiang Dingzhi, Vice-chairman of the
China Banking Regulatory Commission, China's "pace of
growth in its reserves are considered excessive", and
that the country would need no more than USD700bil
(RM2.47trillion) in reserves, with the rest invested.
(The USD700bil figure takes into account import
payments, bond payments, and foreign firms'
un-repatriated profits).
However, many believe that China's foreign
exchange reserves would continue to swell over the
next few years, especially in view of the trade
surpluses, which Jiang said would also be expanding
due to China's advantage as a location for global
manufacturing.
"The quite large external trade surplus, as a
reflection of our country's characteristics at this
stage, may continue for quite some time. At the same
time, given the impact of a changing structure of
imports, the scope for accelerating and raising
imports is not large, and the trend of trade surpluses
will continue," he said.
Indeed, the rapid growth in foreign exchange
reserves and trade surpluses has put great pressures
on the value of the yuan. Jiang argued that world
economic development "shows that a rapidly growing,
low-inflation economy will inevitably experience a
rise in its currency".
But he added: "We must steadily strengthen
elasticity of the exchange rate while also preventing
and averting the economic turbulence brought about by
a major appreciation." China knows this far better
than any other country.
In July last year China re-valued the yuan by
2.1% to 8.11yuan to the US dollar, saying that this
was a one-off move that would not be repeated.
However, since then, the yuan through market forces
has moved up a further 3.7%, under the guidance of the
Beijing monetary authorities.
The pace has picked up in recent months. Today,
the yuan is reported to be rising at an annualised
rate of about 6%, double the rate since China
abandoned the fixed peg to the US dollar in July 2005.
Many see this rate as continuing till next year, which
would mean reaching an exchange rate of 7.5yuan to the
US dollar by the end of 2007.
The explosion in foreign exchange reserves has
also made it more difficult for China to manage its
internal monetary polices, as such huge reserves are
fuelling excessive credit growth domestically. China's
bank lending is expected to reach three trillion yuan
(USD383.6bil or RM1.35trillion) this year -- the
highest in the past four years.
Despite the official revaluation, and the market
appreciation, of the yuan, critics mainly from the US
feel the yuan is still "seriously undervalued",
judging from the 3.7% appreciation on the top of the
2.1% official revaluation.
Thus, more need to be done about its currency
value, which US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
called "greater exchange rate flexibility", as the
present undervaluation would provide China's exports
with an unfair advantage in pricing in global markets.
The yuan's exchange rate has been a sore thumb
in the ongoing US-China trade tussle for quite a long
while. The US tries to force China into adopting a
more "flexible exchange rate policy", but China has
been resisting such a move.
On the other hand, China has argued that the
bulk of its reserves are mainly in US bonds, which
means investing in US dollars -- reported to be some
US$340bil (RM1.3trillion) in American Treasury debt.
Jiang pointed out that although the liquidity in
US bonds is quite good, the rate of return is not
high. Worse still, he said: "The US dollar shows a
very clear long-term softening trend, and we face the
risk and pressure that the real value of the bonds we
hold will shrink".
In many ways, the US-China trade war boils down
to what many analysts feel is an issue of engagement.
They feel that the US does not understand how to deal
with China as a new economic super-powerhouse -- that
new kid on the block. A dismal learning curve as
America has been engaging the Chinese leadership for
almost three decades, since the late 1970s.
As Jeffrey E. Garten, Dean of the Yale School of
Management, said recently, "China's key position in
the world economy is increasingly obvious. A slew of
indicators, from car usage and steel output to
population size, shows that China cannot be ignored.
Americans and others should wake up to China's
importance for even their daily lives."
He argued that China's significant purchases of
American Treasury bonds have influenced mortgage rates
and stock prices in the US; China's low-wage workers
are driving down global prices of consumer goods and
increasing demand for Chinese goods; and Chinese
commodity importation is spurring renewed economic
growth in Latin American nations.
Yet, China is still not a member of the Group of
Eight, which comprises the world's top eight economies
-- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia -- which
together account for more than two-thirds of the
world's economic output.
In two to three years' time, China's economy
will be ranking as the world's third largest, and US
Congressmen have warned recently that by 2050, China's
economy will overtake the US's.
Thus, as Garten argued, "inviting China to join
the G-8 would grant it the recognition it deserves as
a modernising, expanding, and increasingly important
member of the global community".
Even more pertinent today is that while China's
economy has been blossoming on the back of rapid
foreign investments and an explosion in trade
surpluses, many are asking:
Can China's economy continue expanding its
export sector without expecting more protectionist
pressures and stiffer competition from its competing
nations in a world economy whose growth is expected to
slow in the years to come?
Economists have argued that China should develop
its domestic consumption to offset the heavy
dependence on foreign investments and trade surpluses
as factors of growth.
According to Tom Miller, deputy editor of the
China Economic Quarterly, "consumption figures show
that wealthy urbanites living on the east coast are
becoming enthusiastic shoppers". Consumption -- the
holy grail of the Chinese economy -- increased by
about 12% in real terms this year, up from 11% last
year, and should rise again slightly next year.
There is still plenty of city-folks with fat
wallets to ensure that China will be the world's
largest market for private cars. Car sales are
expected to reach 7mil units this year, and increase
by 15% next year to reach 8mil, making China the
world's third-largest car market after the United States and Japan. It is optimistically estimated that
in 2009, production and sales will surpass 10mil,
making China the world's largest car market by 2015.
According to China's Ministry of Commerce,
retail sales of consumer goods reached 6.21trillion
yuan in the first 10 months of this year, up 13.6%
over the same period last year -- the biggest
year-on-year increase since 1997. Retail sales next
year are predicted to surge 13% to hit 8.6trillion
yuan (USD1.075trillion or RM3.8trillion).
However, another article in the China Economic
Quarterly said recently: "The truth is that the retail
market in China is only about half as big as commonly
reported, and the so-called 'Chinese middle class' is
smaller, more scattered, and has far lower purchasing
power than many hopeful salesmen imagine. For the most
part, China remains what it has long been: a large
country, inhabited by many people, most of whom do not
have any money."
Miller argued that China's economy is growing
quickly, but not wildly, with inflation muted. Fears
of overheating have been said to be exaggerated, just
as fears of a hard landing had proven to be unfounded.
Much of the talk of overheating are focused on
fixed-asset investment, whose annual growth slowed to
26.6% in the first 11 months compared to 31.3% in the
first six months, following measures the central bank
undertook in late April 2006. These include raising
interest rates twice, and setting three times reserve
requirements for banks. Approval procedures for new
investment projects were also made stricter.
But over-investment is only a problem if there
is not enough demand to soak up supply. There is
little evidence that this is happening, as seen in the
robust property prices across the nation.
Jonathan Watts of The Guardian newspaper argued
that although the China economy was growing more than
twice as fast as Japan's did during its "bubble"
heydays in the late 1980s. Beijing's problem "is one
of balance more than speed".
Comparatively, the US economy industrialised
rapidly in the 19th century, but "suffered periodic,
painful and relatively short-lived boom-bust cycles as
investors speculated wildly on often uneconomic
projects".
Watts added that China is unusual in many ways:
It is the largest-ever developing country; it is the
largest country to make the transition from a planned
economy to a market economy. It is also ageing fast,
and it exports capital to the rest of the world rather
than importing it.
In a sense, Miller commented that the Chinese
"dragon" is a difficult beast to tame, though many
analysts have said that the trigger for a medium-term
economic decline in China could be a severe recession
in the US that put a stop to its spending spree. This
is expected to knock a point or two off China's GDP
growth.
But then, some argued that by spending more
themselves, China consumers might avert an economic
crash, and so keep their jobs intact. And these
analysts really do not know if an economic crash in
China will be an isolated event, or have consequences
that would reverberate around the globe.
One thing is certain: US investment bank
Standard and Poor's predicts that for next year, China
will continue to be "a key driver of regional growth"
in Asia, with the slowdown in the US dampening its
growth only marginally.
~~~~~~~ Dear ER, take a respite should you reach here on one reading ~~~~~~~~
HARD TO TAME A DRAGON'S ECONOMY
China should have been left alone to continue with its
sleep. Now that it is awake, there's no stopping its
economy from growing. There is still room for it to
expand even bigger. And it will continue to play a
pivotal role in Asian economic growth. The problem
lies mainly with the US: how to accept China as its
equal, especially as a member of the exclusive Group
of Eight club.
By P.Y. Chin
Email: py1818@yahoo.com
The great 18th century French Emperor and military
leader Napolean Bonaparte was right when he predicted
that "when China awakes, the world will tremble". He
could have intimated that everyone should have left
the "dragon" alone -- let it continue with its deep
sleep. It would not be to anyone's advantage to wake
China up.
But China did wake up -- thanks to the
persistence efforts of the United States. In
furthering its strategy in a global geo-political map,
the US somehow pushed China into becoming a member of
World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001 -- that was
when the "dragon" decided to fully stay awake, and not
go back to slumber.
In reality, China had woken up since 1978 when
the country undertook radical reforms to turn itself
from a planned economy under the rule of communism
into a modernised, free-market capitalist economy
under a form of "restricted" democracy.
But the early stages of the transformation were
rather slow, and uncertain, as China grappled with
selecting the kind of free-market economy that would
be suitable for a country that contains one-fifth of
the world's population.
The rapid transformation of the Soviet Union
from a similarly planned economy into a free-market
capitalist economy, which eventually saw the collapse
of the Soviet political system, was no help to China's
economic planners and political masters. China did not
wish to follow the Soviet Union's way, which many
maintained was chiefly the handiwork of the Americans.
In the end China opted for a gradual
transformation, first changing the coastal cities'
economic landscape from north to south, without
disturbing the traditional economic fabric of the
rural interior, and then moving westwards into the
interior. It is today at the stage of starting to open
up the interior.
In moving into a free-market capitalist economy,
China has almost overnight become an economic
super-powerhouse, spreading a cloud of distrust and
fear across Asian, especially among Southeast Asian,
countries.
The initial fears were that China would become
so powerful a magnet that it would pull away almost
all foreign investments from developed countries
destined for South-east Asian countries. In this
context, China was undoubtedly looked upon as a
threat.
However, as ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad often advised local businessmen: "Consider
China not as a threat, but a land of opportunities".
This fear of a threat soon subsided to a belief that
co-operation as a partner would be the best means of
economic survival for the Southeast Asian states.
To this end, Southeast Asian as well as Asian
countries are re-defining their economic priorities
and redrawing their economic future. Many have opted
for joint ventures with Chinese businesses, putting
into practice the economic theory of international
comparative advantage.
Under the theory, these ventures producing
consumer products that would have been produced in the
home Southeast Asian countries are now done in China
due to lower labour and materials costs. The finished
goods are then exported back to the home Southeast
Asian countries.
In a sense, both the peoples of China and its
Southeast Asian partners prosper are putting into
practice the economic philosophy of "prosper thy
neighbour" well preached by Mahathir.
Indeed, after the 1997 financial crisis, China
became the world's largest factory, producing every
conceivable consumer product for its domestic, as well
as the export, markets.
The emergence of China has certainly created a
new economic landscape for Southeast Asian countries
-- one that they could benefit from, and not be made
victims of. The rest of the world, including the US
and European Community, also felt China's "economic
quake". The "dragon" has finally awakened. The whole
world trembled, as it was predicted by Napoleon, and
it is still trembling, more out of fear of not knowing
how to engage an economic super-powerhouse such as
China, where everything is so humongous and
overwhelming.
Its population base of 1.3 billion people -- the
largest from a single nation in the world -- is a
dream market for consumer products, although at
present selling a single product to 1.3 billion people
is by no means an easy task. The population is so
widespread that logistics of supply becomes a
nightmare.
Undeniably, the performance of the economy as a
whole has been nothhing less than "spectacular" for
China. It has been experiencing an economic boom ever
since it undertook market reforms in 1978.
Today, the economic engine is still booming --
and there seems to be no end in sight. According to US
investment bank Goldman Sachs Group, the boom "will
probably last at least another two years", making it
the longest and least volatile expansion in world
economic history.
From 1992 to 1996, economic growth was between
10% and 14.2% a year. In the beginning of this
millennium, growth was hovering at 10% a year -- 10%
in 2003, 10.1% in 2004, and 10.2% in 2005.
For this year, the World Bank has estimated the
China economy to grow at 10.4% -- the fastest pace
since 1995. Next year, Goldman Sachs sees the world's
fourth-largest economy growing at 9.8% and in 2008 at
10%.
In a span of 30 years (1978 to 2008), China's
economy will have grown to become the world's third
largest, estimated to be worth USD3trillion (RM11
trillion), overtaking Germany's, which was worth
USD2.5trillion (RM8.9trillion) last year.
This phenomenal economic growth is due largely
to the massive inflow of foreign direct investments.
From January to November, contractual foreign capital
totalled USD167.46bil (RM592bil), while the amount of
foreign capital actually used was USD54.26bill
(RM191.5bil).
On another front, the economic growth is also
the result of an explosion in foreign trade. In 2001
when China joined the WTO, its exports amounted to
only USD245bil (RM930bil). But this year, exports are
expected to leapfrog to USD963 billion
(RM3.4trillion), up 27%, while imports are expected to
be at USD795bil (RM2.8trillion), up 20%.
Total trade volume is expected to jump 24% to
hit USD1.758trillion (RM6.2trillion) this year, with
annual trade surplus set to reach USD157bil (RM554bil)
this year, expanding to USD180bil (RM635bil) by next
year. In due course, the balance-of-payment surpluses
are set to exceed 10% of the gross domestic product
(GDP).
The massive trade surpluses have brought about
another explosion that boggles the mind -- foreign
exchange reserves, which are set to hit the
USD1trillion (RM3.5trillion) mark this year. By
November 2006, China's reserves had reached
USD987.9bil (RM3.48trillion).
The reserves have always been an envy of some
western countries, to the point that they become a
bone of contention. China has been criticised for not
doing enough to cut its reserves.
Last month, the Governor of the People's Bank of
China, Zhou Xiaochuan, said that China was pursuing "a
policy of diversifying its reserves". Last week,
Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan announced that China planned
to use part of its reserves to expand its stocks of
strategic resources, such as oil, gas, coal, and
othher minerals.
China had not wasted any time in implementing
that policy. As far back as November 2004, China
already took the bold step to transform its economic
power into what was known as "a decisive shift in the
global political balance".
That month, Chinese President Hu Jintao toured
Latin America buying up as much iron ore, copper, tin,
bauxite and soyabeans as he could find. The next
month, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez visited
Beijing and signed a long-term oil deal, followed by
more such deals with African countries such as Sudan,
as well as with Iran.
In essence, analysts were saying that as the US
was focusing its sight on the "war on terror" in the
Middle East, China was "building alliances in
America's backyard and making friends of (President
Geroge W.) Bush's enemies".
Said Philip Stephens of The Financial Times last
year: "Only recently have the geostrategic
implications of China's economic power gained serious
attention beyond the think-tanks".
There were also suggestions that China should
follow the example of Singapore and Norway in setting
up a special vehicle to better manage the lion's share
of its reserves.
According to Jiang Dingzhi, Vice-chairman of the
China Banking Regulatory Commission, China's "pace of
growth in its reserves are considered excessive", and
that the country would need no more than USD700bil
(RM2.47trillion) in reserves, with the rest invested.
(The USD700bil figure takes into account import
payments, bond payments, and foreign firms'
un-repatriated profits).
However, many believe that China's foreign
exchange reserves would continue to swell over the
next few years, especially in view of the trade
surpluses, which Jiang said would also be expanding
due to China's advantage as a location for global
manufacturing.
"The quite large external trade surplus, as a
reflection of our country's characteristics at this
stage, may continue for quite some time. At the same
time, given the impact of a changing structure of
imports, the scope for accelerating and raising
imports is not large, and the trend of trade surpluses
will continue," he said.
Indeed, the rapid growth in foreign exchange
reserves and trade surpluses has put great pressures
on the value of the yuan. Jiang argued that world
economic development "shows that a rapidly growing,
low-inflation economy will inevitably experience a
rise in its currency".
But he added: "We must steadily strengthen
elasticity of the exchange rate while also preventing
and averting the economic turbulence brought about by
a major appreciation." China knows this far better
than any other country.
In July last year China re-valued the yuan by
2.1% to 8.11yuan to the US dollar, saying that this
was a one-off move that would not be repeated.
However, since then, the yuan through market forces
has moved up a further 3.7%, under the guidance of the
Beijing monetary authorities.
The pace has picked up in recent months. Today,
the yuan is reported to be rising at an annualised
rate of about 6%, double the rate since China
abandoned the fixed peg to the US dollar in July 2005.
Many see this rate as continuing till next year, which
would mean reaching an exchange rate of 7.5yuan to the
US dollar by the end of 2007.
The explosion in foreign exchange reserves has
also made it more difficult for China to manage its
internal monetary polices, as such huge reserves are
fuelling excessive credit growth domestically. China's
bank lending is expected to reach three trillion yuan
(USD383.6bil or RM1.35trillion) this year -- the
highest in the past four years.
Despite the official revaluation, and the market
appreciation, of the yuan, critics mainly from the US
feel the yuan is still "seriously undervalued",
judging from the 3.7% appreciation on the top of the
2.1% official revaluation.
Thus, more need to be done about its currency
value, which US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
called "greater exchange rate flexibility", as the
present undervaluation would provide China's exports
with an unfair advantage in pricing in global markets.
The yuan's exchange rate has been a sore thumb
in the ongoing US-China trade tussle for quite a long
while. The US tries to force China into adopting a
more "flexible exchange rate policy", but China has
been resisting such a move.
On the other hand, China has argued that the
bulk of its reserves are mainly in US bonds, which
means investing in US dollars -- reported to be some
US$340bil (RM1.3trillion) in American Treasury debt.
Jiang pointed out that although the liquidity in
US bonds is quite good, the rate of return is not
high. Worse still, he said: "The US dollar shows a
very clear long-term softening trend, and we face the
risk and pressure that the real value of the bonds we
hold will shrink".
In many ways, the US-China trade war boils down
to what many analysts feel is an issue of engagement.
They feel that the US does not understand how to deal
with China as a new economic super-powerhouse -- that
new kid on the block. A dismal learning curve as
America has been engaging the Chinese leadership for
almost three decades, since the late 1970s.
As Jeffrey E. Garten, Dean of the Yale School of
Management, said recently, "China's key position in
the world economy is increasingly obvious. A slew of
indicators, from car usage and steel output to
population size, shows that China cannot be ignored.
Americans and others should wake up to China's
importance for even their daily lives."
He argued that China's significant purchases of
American Treasury bonds have influenced mortgage rates
and stock prices in the US; China's low-wage workers
are driving down global prices of consumer goods and
increasing demand for Chinese goods; and Chinese
commodity importation is spurring renewed economic
growth in Latin American nations.
Yet, China is still not a member of the Group of
Eight, which comprises the world's top eight economies
-- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia -- which
together account for more than two-thirds of the
world's economic output.
In two to three years' time, China's economy
will be ranking as the world's third largest, and US
Congressmen have warned recently that by 2050, China's
economy will overtake the US's.
Thus, as Garten argued, "inviting China to join
the G-8 would grant it the recognition it deserves as
a modernising, expanding, and increasingly important
member of the global community".
Even more pertinent today is that while China's
economy has been blossoming on the back of rapid
foreign investments and an explosion in trade
surpluses, many are asking:
Can China's economy continue expanding its
export sector without expecting more protectionist
pressures and stiffer competition from its competing
nations in a world economy whose growth is expected to
slow in the years to come?
Economists have argued that China should develop
its domestic consumption to offset the heavy
dependence on foreign investments and trade surpluses
as factors of growth.
According to Tom Miller, deputy editor of the
China Economic Quarterly, "consumption figures show
that wealthy urbanites living on the east coast are
becoming enthusiastic shoppers". Consumption -- the
holy grail of the Chinese economy -- increased by
about 12% in real terms this year, up from 11% last
year, and should rise again slightly next year.
There is still plenty of city-folks with fat
wallets to ensure that China will be the world's
largest market for private cars. Car sales are
expected to reach 7mil units this year, and increase
by 15% next year to reach 8mil, making China the
world's third-largest car market after the United States and Japan. It is optimistically estimated that
in 2009, production and sales will surpass 10mil,
making China the world's largest car market by 2015.
According to China's Ministry of Commerce,
retail sales of consumer goods reached 6.21trillion
yuan in the first 10 months of this year, up 13.6%
over the same period last year -- the biggest
year-on-year increase since 1997. Retail sales next
year are predicted to surge 13% to hit 8.6trillion
yuan (USD1.075trillion or RM3.8trillion).
However, another article in the China Economic
Quarterly said recently: "The truth is that the retail
market in China is only about half as big as commonly
reported, and the so-called 'Chinese middle class' is
smaller, more scattered, and has far lower purchasing
power than many hopeful salesmen imagine. For the most
part, China remains what it has long been: a large
country, inhabited by many people, most of whom do not
have any money."
Miller argued that China's economy is growing
quickly, but not wildly, with inflation muted. Fears
of overheating have been said to be exaggerated, just
as fears of a hard landing had proven to be unfounded.
Much of the talk of overheating are focused on
fixed-asset investment, whose annual growth slowed to
26.6% in the first 11 months compared to 31.3% in the
first six months, following measures the central bank
undertook in late April 2006. These include raising
interest rates twice, and setting three times reserve
requirements for banks. Approval procedures for new
investment projects were also made stricter.
But over-investment is only a problem if there
is not enough demand to soak up supply. There is
little evidence that this is happening, as seen in the
robust property prices across the nation.
Jonathan Watts of The Guardian newspaper argued
that although the China economy was growing more than
twice as fast as Japan's did during its "bubble"
heydays in the late 1980s. Beijing's problem "is one
of balance more than speed".
Comparatively, the US economy industrialised
rapidly in the 19th century, but "suffered periodic,
painful and relatively short-lived boom-bust cycles as
investors speculated wildly on often uneconomic
projects".
Watts added that China is unusual in many ways:
It is the largest-ever developing country; it is the
largest country to make the transition from a planned
economy to a market economy. It is also ageing fast,
and it exports capital to the rest of the world rather
than importing it.
In a sense, Miller commented that the Chinese
"dragon" is a difficult beast to tame, though many
analysts have said that the trigger for a medium-term
economic decline in China could be a severe recession
in the US that put a stop to its spending spree. This
is expected to knock a point or two off China's GDP
growth.
But then, some argued that by spending more
themselves, China consumers might avert an economic
crash, and so keep their jobs intact. And these
analysts really do not know if an economic crash in
China will be an isolated event, or have consequences
that would reverberate around the globe.
One thing is certain: US investment bank
Standard and Poor's predicts that for next year, China
will continue to be "a key driver of regional growth"
in Asia, with the slowdown in the US dampening its
growth only marginally.
~~~~~~~ Dear ER, take a respite should you reach here on one reading ~~~~~~~~
Saturday's Reverie in a Black Hole
Okay, slight qualification -- IN A NIGH BLACK HOLE. Of the State of Affairs in NegaraKu today.
Conversatioist Din Merican an I adjourned for HI-n-LO tea after I accomplished official deadlines matters/(mission?)with an hour to spare yesterday 1.05PM.
Black Hole is a hyperbole description but writherrrrrrrrrrs with errrrrrrrrrrring ways sometimes do exaggerate.
Din in a Nutshell said for the past three years we have been "moving on auto-pilot". Pak Lah started -- stratled Desi too -- on a HI-note promising transparency, acountability and Walking the Talk, especialy in the Fight Against Corruption. But after lots of reiteration and reasurances, nothing definitive or initiative has really moved forward.
In general, it's the same in 2005, in 2006 and soon in 2007. More of the same. Promises, more promises, yet ...(It's become boring, no wonder someone is touted as "Sleeping Beauty PM", or did I hear FreeLunch whisper: Rip van Winkle?
As a Blogger, who coopts Din sometimes as a Guest, I so agree (is this good English? Meaning I agree 100%. I listened at attention, elegantly silent too. Silence means general agreement though not in the fine points and nuances, lest I be labelled a bodeker, sycophant or worse... (like an UMNOputra or MCA-SuperBumi-lack-eye!)
Now where was eye?
Oh, in that Black hole called Bolehland with pride mainly, and with despise with certain unpariots. (PLease don't include Desi in eeether or ayether!)
Is I was saying, using Din's Nutshell, I could re-cycle from last year's Posts and in the main, the contents remain in tact. Unchanged. Black hole seems inpenetrable.
World petrol prices go up, our local pump prices go up.
Desi blogs about how when world prices come down, and with Petronas reporting indecently rising 40billion net profits, LOCAL PUMP PRICES DO NOT COME DOWN.
Some AP (agent provocateur rush/es into Desi's space and prefaces with condemnations that Malaysians should not expect prices to come down as Government is already generous in subsidising our petroleum prices to the tune of billions.
And about a year ago, the PM did a weeping act lamenting that he could not spy a single blade of grass while looking down from a helicopter directed by Selangor MB to overlook the Bukit Cerakah Seri Alam agircultural park whose greenery and logs had been raped and raptured by crony businessmen.
A few days ago, the same Bukit Cerakah has become a Bukit Celaka with property development sneaked in not in the steal of the night -- daylight thuggery. The Arrogance of Power. That was the title of an article I wrote about Malacca, but that's another 1,001 (k)nights fable bringing us back to 15th/16th century.
"SEMUANYA OKAY" will continue to ring in our years.
"WE -- servants of you common folks -- live in only 'small' houses!" will be the mantra of elevcted BN repre3sentatives taking the cue of Dauk Zakaria Mad Deros.
And UMNO Prez will continue to dole out 60million like Santa Chaos dealing with spoilt brats from awe the 200-odd UMNO divisions -- Sarawak, quickly join the bangwagon or you will miss out the gravy, candy and goodies handed ou to the baddies!
I told Din the vcoutry will go on like this because luckily we have built a machine that's reached AUTO-PILOT MODE>
Pak Lah will still lead the BN, with big brother UMNO leading docile MCA-Welfare Associiate, MIC-key mouse and other component band majors after the Golden Jubilee Merdeka celebrations to be followed by euphoric Genreal Elections. Two-thirds control of Parliment by default because the Opposition parties cannot seem to get their acts together.
So Malaysians in the main remain masochistic -- crossing againstthe Dacing symbol, yet again! then lamenting (barking up the wrong tree or Bush?) about all the shortcomings of the Admin led by the 80-Winks Sleeping Beauty. I sometimes wonder if Malaysians in a minor way suffer from suicidal tendencies like the Americans? My esteemedreaders -- those who are registered to vote -- (See, not in Caps!), you tell Desi because you are part of this set!
I don't see any glimmer of light entering the dark room. That light at the end of the tunnel remains distant and elusive until some outside forces bang hard enough to make a few chinks in the (k)night's armour of darkness. Till that fairytale breakthrough cometh, Malaysians are doomed to remain mediocre, and half-past six.
AND STUPID.
An economy that is sliding as our neighbours move forward.(A GUEST BLOGGER's piece on CHINA serves as Companion essay today.)
A Malaysian mindset that's generally regressing because on a leadership in wanting of vision that allows other nations to pinch our sides and our brighest talents because we don't make them feel at home.
The floods will make streams that receive our commoners' tears which can't reach the leaders' hearts, so Mother Nature opens up the heavens to show some signs. Omens. People, take heed. Return to a Boy Scout's humble credo at the individual: BE PREPARED.
The Malaysian Story remains a
What A Missed Opportunity or
A Nation That Could Have Been Great.
Instead of
The Coming Of Age of Malaysia as a Developed Nation or
Malaysia Produces Not One, but Two Nobel Laureates.
(In Memoriam: Chiang Ti Meng...)
Conversatioist Din Merican an I adjourned for HI-n-LO tea after I accomplished official deadlines matters/(mission?)with an hour to spare yesterday 1.05PM.
Black Hole is a hyperbole description but writherrrrrrrrrrs with errrrrrrrrrrring ways sometimes do exaggerate.
Din in a Nutshell said for the past three years we have been "moving on auto-pilot". Pak Lah started -- stratled Desi too -- on a HI-note promising transparency, acountability and Walking the Talk, especialy in the Fight Against Corruption. But after lots of reiteration and reasurances, nothing definitive or initiative has really moved forward.
In general, it's the same in 2005, in 2006 and soon in 2007. More of the same. Promises, more promises, yet ...(It's become boring, no wonder someone is touted as "Sleeping Beauty PM", or did I hear FreeLunch whisper: Rip van Winkle?
As a Blogger, who coopts Din sometimes as a Guest, I so agree (is this good English? Meaning I agree 100%. I listened at attention, elegantly silent too. Silence means general agreement though not in the fine points and nuances, lest I be labelled a bodeker, sycophant or worse... (like an UMNOputra or MCA-SuperBumi-lack-eye!)
Now where was eye?
Oh, in that Black hole called Bolehland with pride mainly, and with despise with certain unpariots. (PLease don't include Desi in eeether or ayether!)
Is I was saying, using Din's Nutshell, I could re-cycle from last year's Posts and in the main, the contents remain in tact. Unchanged. Black hole seems inpenetrable.
World petrol prices go up, our local pump prices go up.
Desi blogs about how when world prices come down, and with Petronas reporting indecently rising 40billion net profits, LOCAL PUMP PRICES DO NOT COME DOWN.
Some AP (agent provocateur rush/es into Desi's space and prefaces with condemnations that Malaysians should not expect prices to come down as Government is already generous in subsidising our petroleum prices to the tune of billions.
And about a year ago, the PM did a weeping act lamenting that he could not spy a single blade of grass while looking down from a helicopter directed by Selangor MB to overlook the Bukit Cerakah Seri Alam agircultural park whose greenery and logs had been raped and raptured by crony businessmen.
A few days ago, the same Bukit Cerakah has become a Bukit Celaka with property development sneaked in not in the steal of the night -- daylight thuggery. The Arrogance of Power. That was the title of an article I wrote about Malacca, but that's another 1,001 (k)nights fable bringing us back to 15th/16th century.
"SEMUANYA OKAY" will continue to ring in our years.
"WE -- servants of you common folks -- live in only 'small' houses!" will be the mantra of elevcted BN repre3sentatives taking the cue of Dauk Zakaria Mad Deros.
And UMNO Prez will continue to dole out 60million like Santa Chaos dealing with spoilt brats from awe the 200-odd UMNO divisions -- Sarawak, quickly join the bangwagon or you will miss out the gravy, candy and goodies handed ou to the baddies!
I told Din the vcoutry will go on like this because luckily we have built a machine that's reached AUTO-PILOT MODE>
Pak Lah will still lead the BN, with big brother UMNO leading docile MCA-Welfare Associiate, MIC-key mouse and other component band majors after the Golden Jubilee Merdeka celebrations to be followed by euphoric Genreal Elections. Two-thirds control of Parliment by default because the Opposition parties cannot seem to get their acts together.
So Malaysians in the main remain masochistic -- crossing againstthe Dacing symbol, yet again! then lamenting (barking up the wrong tree or Bush?) about all the shortcomings of the Admin led by the 80-Winks Sleeping Beauty. I sometimes wonder if Malaysians in a minor way suffer from suicidal tendencies like the Americans? My esteemedreaders -- those who are registered to vote -- (See, not in Caps!), you tell Desi because you are part of this set!
I don't see any glimmer of light entering the dark room. That light at the end of the tunnel remains distant and elusive until some outside forces bang hard enough to make a few chinks in the (k)night's armour of darkness. Till that fairytale breakthrough cometh, Malaysians are doomed to remain mediocre, and half-past six.
AND STUPID.
An economy that is sliding as our neighbours move forward.(A GUEST BLOGGER's piece on CHINA serves as Companion essay today.)
A Malaysian mindset that's generally regressing because on a leadership in wanting of vision that allows other nations to pinch our sides and our brighest talents because we don't make them feel at home.
The floods will make streams that receive our commoners' tears which can't reach the leaders' hearts, so Mother Nature opens up the heavens to show some signs. Omens. People, take heed. Return to a Boy Scout's humble credo at the individual: BE PREPARED.
The Malaysian Story remains a
What A Missed Opportunity or
A Nation That Could Have Been Great.
Instead of
The Coming Of Age of Malaysia as a Developed Nation or
Malaysia Produces Not One, but Two Nobel Laureates.
(In Memoriam: Chiang Ti Meng...)
Friday, January 12, 2007
Bush and some local politicians have a common trait
They have suicidal tendencies -- except often they also drag along Innocents with them as they drift towards the Abyss.
I seldom Blog on international politics, but sometimes the event and direction are blatantly clear to outsiders or spectators, so one wonders why the protagonists themselves don't see the Danger sign right in front of their eyes. Close two eyes? -- one ahead of the MP of Jasin.
From the Sun, page 12:
BUSH SENDING MORE
TROOPS TO IRAQ
WASHINGTON: President George W.
Bush told skeptical Americans on Wednesday he was
sending about 21,500 extra US troops to Iraq,
and in a rare admission, said he made a mistake
by not deploying more troops sooner.
"The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American
people, and it is unacceptable to me," Bush said in a
televised White House address.
.........
:
:
:
Page 15 has an aricle by ROBERT FISK
(from The Independent)
headed
BUSH AND THE MARCH OF FOLLY
SO into the graveyards of Iraq, George W.
Bush, their commander-in-chief, is to send
anorther 20,000 of his soldiers. The march
of folly is to continuue.
:
:
:
And on page 17 is another local march to FOLLY!
Housing project takes
off in Bkt Cerakah
Desi: No comment beyond one question ~~
Remember SEMUANYA OKAY?
(Is it Bukit Celaka?)
"God save us from these suicidal leaders;
Me and my foolish mates cry out:
do we weep in vain and in pain?"
Amen/Amin.-- Desi
I also engaged with Washington Post PostGlobal Conversations
on the current topic hotly debated in the US. maybe among its "War on Terror"
Allies' nationals too:
I had written much mush earlier about the entry of US troops
into Iraq, (Aweofhelen has an original! So you Others get jeles!:(
titled
"Theirs Is Not to Question Why"
About a year-an-a-half after the terrorist attacks
on World Trade Centre, New York, and the Pentagon,
Washington D.C., the United States and its chief ally,
Britain, led a 40-day war on Iraq based mainly on the
ground that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a threat
to the world, having in his possession "weapons of
mass destruction". As in any war, there would be
dissent and debate on whether the U.S. was right or
wrong or justified to go to war against the world
opinion expressed via the United Nations. But once a
government had decided to go to war, the army boys and
girls did not have any choice but proceed to the
battle-field.
This spirit of "do or die" was eloquently captured by
Lord Alfred Tennyson in "The Charge of the Light
Brigade", and since then, these lines have been carved
in our minds, and recalled instantly whenever a war
breaks out, as in the recently concluded US-led war in
Iraq. Following are the first two stanzas from the
immortal Charge:
"Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
:
:
Theirs was not to make reply,
Theirs was not to reason why,
Theirs was but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred..."
War sometimes has been overly romanticised, especially
in epic films coming out of Hollywood. But inevitably,
Death stares at the soldier, torturing him,
frightening him, sinking him into despair, and
sometimes, when night falls like an enveloping blanket
of temporary peace and relief, makes him ponder on the
meaning of war, maybe the futility of it all.
:
:
The trouble with modern warfare, starting with the US
war in Afghanistan early in the new millennium, we
were treated to what looked like our kids' play with
computer games as over CNN television news, the guided
missiles launched into Afghanistan from aircraft
carriers located thousand of miles way appeared merely
as beams of light in the night skylines. There were no
close-ups of bodies of the soldiers and civilians
killed, so much so that the viewers were "emotionally
detached". The raw smell and sight of corpses and
dying soldiers were not captured by such sanitised
warfare -- and the human race might just become
immune to the spectre of Death that must surely hang
over every war, whether fought in hand combat or by
manipulating guided missiles by remote computer
control!
Hence, poems such as the Charge of the Light Brigade
and remind us that war is, and will never be,
separated from the probability of Death and while the
theme of the triumphant Victor is sung and praised in
many war epics, the "Unsung Hero" remains a recurring
nightmare for war widows, orphans and family members
in all wars.
The lines from "Where have all the soldiers gone?/
Gone to graveyards ev'ry one" (Bob Dylan's
fans out dare, sing along with Desi?)
must surely strike a
chord of empathy in all grieving loved ones of war
victims, and also among thinking citizens the world
over. It is inevitable, for every bouquet handed out
to a surviving war hero, there are thousands upon
thousands of wreaths laid at the tombstones of the
Unknown Soldier.
During the US-led war on Iraq, many leaders in
Malaysia expressed their objections to the war, citing
many reasons, including that innocent people like
women, children and mainly civilians would be killed.
I just wonder if this wasn't true of all wars -- there
will always be innocent victims, though some
imaginative wordsmith coined a "lovely" term for it,
to make it less bloody maybe "collateral damage". Be
it a war using bows and arrows, hand combat, guns and
bullets, or bombs and grenades, and modern warfare
using precision and guided missiles and pilotless
planes loaded with bombs, the end result is the same:
loss of human lives.
In April/ May 2003 at the height of the US-led war on
Iraq, my thoughts went back to the 1960s-70s (I was a
teenager then), when the Vietnam War took a heavy toll
on both Americans and Vietnamese, and the rumination
inspired the following poem:
Warfront Faraway
The United States and allies have been
Raining missiles on Iraq for eight days now
Targetting a tyrant called Saddam Hussein
Soldiers, civilians have fallen dead
Iraqi more than American or British
But the blood that oozed was commonly red
Peoples across the nations protest
They clamour for a ceasefire
They do not understand, they ask:
"Mr President Bush, Why war?"
I too do not understand
Why they see the warfront far away
At home the destitute, the downtrodden,
Women and children are crying, dying
The citizens face daily war
Against hunger, discrimination, injustice
Who'd pause for these unprotesting victims?
Born of leaders who only see
The War on the far horizon.
mGf @howsy.blogspot.com based in London often astray in Paris or Stalkhome?, wrote about some Genies disappearing, a jinn out there in the most developed State in NegaraKu;
do you also see a Toyol?
Leading Selangor-ites to the edge of the Abyss.
Luckily I am from Furong of the Nine States.
If I don't like one, I have eight others to vanish to.
Anak Merdeka, where art thou hyde-ing?
I seldom Blog on international politics, but sometimes the event and direction are blatantly clear to outsiders or spectators, so one wonders why the protagonists themselves don't see the Danger sign right in front of their eyes. Close two eyes? -- one ahead of the MP of Jasin.
From the Sun, page 12:
BUSH SENDING MORE
TROOPS TO IRAQ
WASHINGTON: President George W.
Bush told skeptical Americans on Wednesday he was
sending about 21,500 extra US troops to Iraq,
and in a rare admission, said he made a mistake
by not deploying more troops sooner.
"The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American
people, and it is unacceptable to me," Bush said in a
televised White House address.
.........
:
:
:
Page 15 has an aricle by ROBERT FISK
(from The Independent)
headed
BUSH AND THE MARCH OF FOLLY
SO into the graveyards of Iraq, George W.
Bush, their commander-in-chief, is to send
anorther 20,000 of his soldiers. The march
of folly is to continuue.
:
:
:
And on page 17 is another local march to FOLLY!
Housing project takes
off in Bkt Cerakah
Desi: No comment beyond one question ~~
Remember SEMUANYA OKAY?
(Is it Bukit Celaka?)
"God save us from these suicidal leaders;
Me and my foolish mates cry out:
do we weep in vain and in pain?"
Amen/Amin.-- Desi
I also engaged with Washington Post PostGlobal Conversations
on the current topic hotly debated in the US. maybe among its "War on Terror"
Allies' nationals too:
I had written much mush earlier about the entry of US troops
into Iraq, (Aweofhelen has an original! So you Others get jeles!:(
titled
"Theirs Is Not to Question Why"
About a year-an-a-half after the terrorist attacks
on World Trade Centre, New York, and the Pentagon,
Washington D.C., the United States and its chief ally,
Britain, led a 40-day war on Iraq based mainly on the
ground that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a threat
to the world, having in his possession "weapons of
mass destruction". As in any war, there would be
dissent and debate on whether the U.S. was right or
wrong or justified to go to war against the world
opinion expressed via the United Nations. But once a
government had decided to go to war, the army boys and
girls did not have any choice but proceed to the
battle-field.
This spirit of "do or die" was eloquently captured by
Lord Alfred Tennyson in "The Charge of the Light
Brigade", and since then, these lines have been carved
in our minds, and recalled instantly whenever a war
breaks out, as in the recently concluded US-led war in
Iraq. Following are the first two stanzas from the
immortal Charge:
"Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
:
:
Theirs was not to make reply,
Theirs was not to reason why,
Theirs was but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred..."
War sometimes has been overly romanticised, especially
in epic films coming out of Hollywood. But inevitably,
Death stares at the soldier, torturing him,
frightening him, sinking him into despair, and
sometimes, when night falls like an enveloping blanket
of temporary peace and relief, makes him ponder on the
meaning of war, maybe the futility of it all.
:
:
The trouble with modern warfare, starting with the US
war in Afghanistan early in the new millennium, we
were treated to what looked like our kids' play with
computer games as over CNN television news, the guided
missiles launched into Afghanistan from aircraft
carriers located thousand of miles way appeared merely
as beams of light in the night skylines. There were no
close-ups of bodies of the soldiers and civilians
killed, so much so that the viewers were "emotionally
detached". The raw smell and sight of corpses and
dying soldiers were not captured by such sanitised
warfare -- and the human race might just become
immune to the spectre of Death that must surely hang
over every war, whether fought in hand combat or by
manipulating guided missiles by remote computer
control!
Hence, poems such as the Charge of the Light Brigade
and remind us that war is, and will never be,
separated from the probability of Death and while the
theme of the triumphant Victor is sung and praised in
many war epics, the "Unsung Hero" remains a recurring
nightmare for war widows, orphans and family members
in all wars.
The lines from "Where have all the soldiers gone?/
Gone to graveyards ev'ry one" (Bob Dylan's
fans out dare, sing along with Desi?)
must surely strike a
chord of empathy in all grieving loved ones of war
victims, and also among thinking citizens the world
over. It is inevitable, for every bouquet handed out
to a surviving war hero, there are thousands upon
thousands of wreaths laid at the tombstones of the
Unknown Soldier.
During the US-led war on Iraq, many leaders in
Malaysia expressed their objections to the war, citing
many reasons, including that innocent people like
women, children and mainly civilians would be killed.
I just wonder if this wasn't true of all wars -- there
will always be innocent victims, though some
imaginative wordsmith coined a "lovely" term for it,
to make it less bloody maybe "collateral damage". Be
it a war using bows and arrows, hand combat, guns and
bullets, or bombs and grenades, and modern warfare
using precision and guided missiles and pilotless
planes loaded with bombs, the end result is the same:
loss of human lives.
In April/ May 2003 at the height of the US-led war on
Iraq, my thoughts went back to the 1960s-70s (I was a
teenager then), when the Vietnam War took a heavy toll
on both Americans and Vietnamese, and the rumination
inspired the following poem:
Warfront Faraway
The United States and allies have been
Raining missiles on Iraq for eight days now
Targetting a tyrant called Saddam Hussein
Soldiers, civilians have fallen dead
Iraqi more than American or British
But the blood that oozed was commonly red
Peoples across the nations protest
They clamour for a ceasefire
They do not understand, they ask:
"Mr President Bush, Why war?"
I too do not understand
Why they see the warfront far away
At home the destitute, the downtrodden,
Women and children are crying, dying
The citizens face daily war
Against hunger, discrimination, injustice
Who'd pause for these unprotesting victims?
Born of leaders who only see
The War on the far horizon.
mGf @howsy.blogspot.com based in London often astray in Paris or Stalkhome?, wrote about some Genies disappearing, a jinn out there in the most developed State in NegaraKu;
do you also see a Toyol?
Leading Selangor-ites to the edge of the Abyss.
Luckily I am from Furong of the Nine States.
If I don't like one, I have eight others to vanish to.
Anak Merdeka, where art thou hyde-ing?
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