When I downgraded Pak Lah's performance a few months ago from Passeable (Spellcheck, Freelunch: is there an "e"?)to Below Par, it was due to two main turning points.
Number 1. Despte the clear-cut miscreance, misconduct, and outright flouting of the law by a State Assemblyman Zakaria Mat Deros in the royal city of Port Klang, as UMNO President, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi failed to act against the offender, merely some verbal gymnastics handed out sandiwara via his God-lipped mouth and the megaphoine of the Selangor Menteri Besar Khir Toyo (who himself has several cases to answer, bt that's another storey for Citizen Nadeswaran to handle, for Desi's tired.)
Number 2. The case that broke the camel's back for Desi -- the UMNO President dished out a bous of RM600milllion to be used up in double quick time via the 200-odd UMNO division chefs, each receiving RM3million as Christmas angpow. A clear-cut case of going against his call, as the coutry's PM, to fight Corruption as high priority. MONEY POLITICS is re-defined by UMNNOputras to be in the rarefied strata beyond the normal surveillance of Anti-Corruption Agency. In which case, derobed Mohd Isa Samad has a strong case to be reinstated to his throne as senior-most UMNO Vice-President. No, Desi does NOT get any 30% conMISSion fighting for that idiot; I'm just saying What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
But these past few weeks I have done a re-rating of Pak Lah, and I'm giving him back his Passeable grade.
WHY?
I think he was able to "finally" dismiss his predecessor's, plus cronies', which count among the coterie several Bloggers too!) incessant attempts at derailment of the country's economic and socio-civil agendas. The last "nail" to the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's surrender -- knowingly or unwitingly? -- is his much-publicised initiative -- the Congresss to Crimilase War. Culmination in the much lauded (by cronies and several prominent Bloggers included) War Cimes Commission and Tribunal.
Lawyer P. Cumaraswamy gave a reeasoned rebuttal to the former PM's case, and I reproduce here only the core paragraphs featured in theSun, Feb 13, 2007, with Extract following:
Proposed war crimes tribunal a farce: Param
The proposed Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal is a farce and will make Malaysia an international laughing stock, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy said.
The former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers noted that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to try war crimes and genocide was agreed to by UN member states in 1998 during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's premiership.
"If he was genuinely concerned about justice to victims of war and bringing war criminals to trial, he should have got the government to sign the Statute then. He never bothered. The government to date is not a signatory to the Statute," Param said in a statement to theSun.
He was responding to reports last week that Mahathir had mooted the formation of a war crimes tribunal at a Perdana Global Peace Organisation conference in his capacity as Perdana Leadership Foundation chairman.
Mahathir had named US President George Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Australian premier John Howard as those who should be tried for war crimes, even if the accused are not present."
___________________________________________________
Note that Desi has in a Post dated Feb 3, 2007 titled "Din Merican on his Mnetor: DR MAHATHIR", and I reprise the relevant point:
++++Why should we impeach Tun Dr. Mahathir? On what grounds? He always sought parliamentary approval and those of his Cabinet colleagues for his proposals. We, as citizens and voters, too went along with him and kept him in office for 22 years. Most sought to curry his favour while others were indifferent, or did not dare to challenge his ideas. The minority who disagreed with him felt the heat of his high office. That is politics.(Desi: This is from Din Merican's thoughts...)
Desi thinks there is ONE case which warrants Dr Mahathir's "impeachment" -- that of the Sacking of Lord President Salleh Abas and several fellow senior judges in 1988. Recently, there has been calls, especially by the Bar Council, to "review" the Case, perhaps with the establishment of a Royal Commission to thoroughly examine the Case.
I reiterate here the same call for the formation of such a Royal Commission. The panel which reviewed the Bank Bumiputra Finance debacle is a good example to emulate.
PS: I remember a three-man panel was set up to report of the BMF incident in which one Malaysian paid with his life, and most Malaysians saluted the fantastic work done by the three EMINENT MALAYSIANS, I believe we still have many such Good Men in NegaraKu.
Now to the latest confession, which can come only from a God-fearing leader, and I give credit to Pak Lah as "heading in the right direction":
From malaysia-today.net,with the highlights being Desi's, but please read also my Post Yesterday, Compare&Contrast to see if some UMNOputras are sabotaging their chief's expressed agenda and efforts.
14/02: Study shows 85% of Bumi contracts are 'Ali Baba'
(Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said tonight a study by the Works Ministry last year shows that on the average 85.37 per cent of projects secured by Bumiputera contractors goes to the other communities.
Lamenting the outcome of the study, conducted by the ministry's Entrepreneur Development Division, the prime minister said this not only foiled the government's desire to empower Bumiputera contractors but also, in a wider context, undermined the more important Bumiputera agenda to ensure the country achieved progress and stability in the long term.
"They do not want to work; do not want to learn, and give little importance to the opportunities provided by the government," he said in his speech at a dinner of the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, here.
The text of Abdullah's speech was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Abdullah said a community that lags behind must foster the realisation to change and learn to improve itself.
Abdullah said the subsidy assistance to the needy groups, whilst fulfilling the moral demands on the government, was insufficient for survival on a global level.
"This approach will only make us hope and wait for aid and subsidies. Such a mentality thrives among the people, including Bumiputera petty traders and contractors," he said.
Abdullah said the government, as a responsible one, realised that this was detrimental in terms of competition and would not empower the nation in the long term.
The prime minister said the government had to consider now how to facilitate the people who required assistance so that they could generate wealth exponentially and widely.
"Many people say that there is no shortcut to progress but I believe that is the old way of thinking. If we have to run and not walk, then we must be prepared to run.
"If we have to leap and not stride, then we must be prepared to leap provided we succeed and succeed fast," he said.
Referring to the government's move to make 2007 the year of implementation, he said that while some quarters doubted the capability of the administration he saw the government machinery being more than able to implement the programmes successfully.
He cited the implementation performance of 2006, the first year of the Ninth Malaysia Plan period, and said 90.2 per cent of the RM39.79 billion allocation had been expended.
Nevertheless, he promised that the government machinery would continue to be streamlined to ensure further improvement to the public service delivery system.
Commenting on the nation's volume of trade last year that touched RM1.069 trillion, Abdullah said it went to show that the country was moving in the right direction.
"To ensure that we do not deviate from our goal, we have to develop the sources of our strength in various spheres -- the public service delivery system, a vibrant and efficient private sector that can secure opportunities within and outside the country, and develop human capital particularly in terms of our capability and capacity," he said.
Abdullah also emphasised the importance of the Implementation Coordination Unit streamlining its strategies in monitoring the implementation of development projects to ensure that they were carried out according to plans and fulfilled the people's aspirations.
The unit should be the supervisor of all ministries and, to bring about such a situation, Abdullah said, civil service officers and staff should instil the God-fearing culture in their respective organisations.
The God-fearing culture will instil a sense of fear and caution in the government machinery, he added.
Abdullah said it was such a culture that would ensure government employees remained on the right path.
"In this extraordinary world, we want to be part of the extraordinary countries. Therefore we, as extraordinary leaders, need an extraordinary team like all of you to accomplish the tasks extraordinarily," he said.
DESI: I will still give Pak Lah the support when he is moving in the right direction, DOING THE RIGHT THING BY NEGARAKU.
I sincerely believe he's a God-fearing leader, and I take HIS WORD as a matter of trust, ala A MAN'S WORD IS HIS BOND.
I:
S:
A:men
that God bless his professed aims and objectives that they be realised.
If not, God save Malaysians from their own folly.
I just pray before the next decade is over, our masochistic tendencies have ameliorated.
The God-fearing culture will instil a sense of fear and caution in the government machinery, he added.
Abdullah said it was such a culture that would ensure government employees remained on the right path.
PS: I may even ungrade Pak Lah's performance to Good if he rises to three immediate challenges:
(1) To set up a Royal Enquiry into the Sacking of Salleh Abas and fellow judges in 1988; see if there is a case of actionale remedy against theses victims and the Perpetrator, former PM Mahathir.
(2) To refer Musa Aman's alleged corrupt acts (as documented by Raja Petra @malaysia-today.net) to the Anbti-Corruption Agency, pronto.
(3) To stop immediately such nonSENse as depicted in the following, to prevent the Bursa Malaysia being made a "laughing stock" in the world.
UMNO TO BUY INTO PECD TO OVERCOME MONEY CLAIMS PROBLEMS WITH GOVERNMNENT-LINKED PARTIES. We have enough of Bail-Outs in the 22 years before Nov 1, 2003. Can we stop the rot starting with these idiots at UMNO-PECD?
As I blogged Yesterday, from www.nst.com.my, the online edition of the New Straits Times:
"Umno set to surface in PECD.
THE United Malays National Organisation (Umno) is set to emerge as a substantial shareholder in construction firm PECD Bhd, a source said.
Umno will buy 25 per cent of PECD, a loss-making firm with a RM1.4 billion order book, a move that could help the company settle its disputes with government-related bodies."
Coincidently, JeffOoi also highlighted the above, and I had left my footprint at screenshots.com as tracked:
"jeff: I am concerned as more and more entrenchment of partisan politics with listed copanies will further erode foreigners' participation in the local bourse. The present "bullish mode" of Bursa Malaysia, even if anchored by foreign funds entry, may not be helped by such occurences of "political" linkages to smoothen any listed entity's problem resolution.
When I first read the news item, I shook my head. You mean to tell the whole wide world that UMNO's patronage, a listed Company would enjoy special preferential treatment? Isn't NEP bad enough. and now UMNO's admission to all and sundry that its patrticipation is a special ointment to oil government bureacracy and government-linked companies' bureaucrazy?
Posted by: desiderata | February 14, 2007 05:58 PM "
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
UMNO to oil Govt business links?
When Desi looked at this business news item this moUrning, he shook his head. THINKING ALLOWED, THINKING LOUDER THAN USUAL -- you mean to say with UMNO's entry into a listed company, any problems with the Government would be smoothened and solved promto? Are you telling the whole wide world -- yes, www! -- that's how Malaysian BIG business is done?
Okay, we know that UMNO is the BIG brother in Malaysian politics, but you wat to push this factor of its intrusion onto the business radar screens of international investors.
Okay, maybe the BIG business boys are trying to be as transparent and forthright as possible.
Or maybe Malaysians have a weird SENse of humour.
I hope The Prime Minister looked into Raja Petra's expose of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's shenanigans in his current visit to the once pristine state oft-forgotten by Federal leaders. Sarawak too -- who did not get any of that RM600million generous handout at the last UMNO GEneral Assembly because UMNO does not have any branches in Sarawak. Poor cousins indeed. IF I were a Sarawkian, I think I'm an orphan if that's how the allocation of Federal development funds are being parcelled out.
Maybe UMMNO should re-register itself as a Company instead of a political party?
Then I think Desi will fill up a membership form. I think I'd like to be a guest at Sabah House -- or is there one or cashed out?
From www.nst.com.my, the online edition of the New Straits Times:
February 14 2007
Umno set to surface in PECD
THE United Malays National Organisation (Umno) is set to emerge as a substantial shareholder in construction firm PECD Bhd, a source said.
Umno will buy 25 per cent of PECD, a loss-making firm with a RM1.4 billion order book, a move that could help the company settle its disputes with government-related bodies.
"Umno will buy the shares from existing shareholders, and an announcement could be made as early as today," said the source.
The existing major shareholders of PECD include Tan Sri Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman, Nik Sufian Mohd Zain and Datuk Othman Hashim with a collective 32.18 per cent, its 2005 annual report showed.
Peremba PJ Holdings Sdn Bhd also holds another 26.11 per cent.
PECD shares closed 3 per cent down to 32.5 sen yesterday. A quarter of the company would cost some RM24.4 million based on the closing price.
PECD swung to a third-quarter net loss of RM34.4 million as at September 30 2006 versus a net profit of RM6.3 million in the same period a year earlier.
The loss was due mainly to slow progress of works from ongoing projects, reversal of profits recognised from certain completed projects and non-recognition of profits from its Sudan marine terminal project.
Umno is likely to lend support to PECD's effort to resolve differences with state oil and gas firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and state-owned property developer Putrajaya Holdings (PJH).
PECD is claiming some US$200 million (RM700 million) in cost overruns for a project to build a marine terminal in Sudan. The project, to build oil storage tanks and fuel tanks among others, was awarded by a group of oil companies led by Petronas.
PECD is also claiming RM178 million from PJH after the latter issued a termination notice for PECD to stop work on a government quarters project in Putrajaya.
DESI: The highlights (THUS BOLDED) are Desi's, not done by the NST or at the instruction of UMNO or any Barisan Nasional component parties.
Okay, we know that UMNO is the BIG brother in Malaysian politics, but you wat to push this factor of its intrusion onto the business radar screens of international investors.
Okay, maybe the BIG business boys are trying to be as transparent and forthright as possible.
Or maybe Malaysians have a weird SENse of humour.
I hope The Prime Minister looked into Raja Petra's expose of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's shenanigans in his current visit to the once pristine state oft-forgotten by Federal leaders. Sarawak too -- who did not get any of that RM600million generous handout at the last UMNO GEneral Assembly because UMNO does not have any branches in Sarawak. Poor cousins indeed. IF I were a Sarawkian, I think I'm an orphan if that's how the allocation of Federal development funds are being parcelled out.
Maybe UMMNO should re-register itself as a Company instead of a political party?
Then I think Desi will fill up a membership form. I think I'd like to be a guest at Sabah House -- or is there one or cashed out?
From www.nst.com.my, the online edition of the New Straits Times:
February 14 2007
Umno set to surface in PECD
THE United Malays National Organisation (Umno) is set to emerge as a substantial shareholder in construction firm PECD Bhd, a source said.
Umno will buy 25 per cent of PECD, a loss-making firm with a RM1.4 billion order book, a move that could help the company settle its disputes with government-related bodies.
"Umno will buy the shares from existing shareholders, and an announcement could be made as early as today," said the source.
The existing major shareholders of PECD include Tan Sri Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman, Nik Sufian Mohd Zain and Datuk Othman Hashim with a collective 32.18 per cent, its 2005 annual report showed.
Peremba PJ Holdings Sdn Bhd also holds another 26.11 per cent.
PECD shares closed 3 per cent down to 32.5 sen yesterday. A quarter of the company would cost some RM24.4 million based on the closing price.
PECD swung to a third-quarter net loss of RM34.4 million as at September 30 2006 versus a net profit of RM6.3 million in the same period a year earlier.
The loss was due mainly to slow progress of works from ongoing projects, reversal of profits recognised from certain completed projects and non-recognition of profits from its Sudan marine terminal project.
Umno is likely to lend support to PECD's effort to resolve differences with state oil and gas firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and state-owned property developer Putrajaya Holdings (PJH).
PECD is claiming some US$200 million (RM700 million) in cost overruns for a project to build a marine terminal in Sudan. The project, to build oil storage tanks and fuel tanks among others, was awarded by a group of oil companies led by Petronas.
PECD is also claiming RM178 million from PJH after the latter issued a termination notice for PECD to stop work on a government quarters project in Putrajaya.
DESI: The highlights (THUS BOLDED) are Desi's, not done by the NST or at the instruction of UMNO or any Barisan Nasional component parties.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Public Service Directive on...RAPE
Beforer Desi takes his infamous leave for CNY cowboy poker sojourn at the KaraeOK Korral, he would like to instruct all obedient ER to surf over to malaysia-today.net and witness the unfolding of a scandalous massive rape in Sabah, in the brigt light of the day and we wonder what the Prime Minister and his Corruption-busters have to say.
I'll just serve thee the opening entree...
12/02: The Musa Aman silap mata
Category: General
Posted by: Raja Petra
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
‘Silap mata’ translates literally to ‘error of the eye’ but would more accurately mean ‘sleight of hand’. According to the Thesaurus, ‘sleight of hand’ means ‘artful deception’ or ‘smoke and mirrors’. Only very clever people can be artful in their deception. Stupid people get caught. No doubt the hand is faster than the eye, but the hand must be very fast and skillful to be able to fool the eye. Nevertheless, there is another Malay saying: pandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah. Loosely translated, this means: however clever the squirrel may be at jumping from tree to tree, in the end it will still fall to earth.
I'll just serve thee the opening entree...
12/02: The Musa Aman silap mata
Category: General
Posted by: Raja Petra
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
‘Silap mata’ translates literally to ‘error of the eye’ but would more accurately mean ‘sleight of hand’. According to the Thesaurus, ‘sleight of hand’ means ‘artful deception’ or ‘smoke and mirrors’. Only very clever people can be artful in their deception. Stupid people get caught. No doubt the hand is faster than the eye, but the hand must be very fast and skillful to be able to fool the eye. Nevertheless, there is another Malay saying: pandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah. Loosely translated, this means: however clever the squirrel may be at jumping from tree to tree, in the end it will still fall to earth.
Don’t sit too long on the throne
When Desi in half-asleep mode turned to the news after being seduced by the HEADLINE, it was such a letdown.
I was expecting a dig into sych long sitters like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chandra Muzaffar, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Keng Yaik, and ah, Lee Lam Thye, and ah, the everlasting SM Idris,
No doubt the good dcotor stepped down after a 22-year reign as Prime Minister on Oct 30, 2003, but the impression the average Malaysian gets is that he's still helming the country. Judging by his high profile presence on the Malaysian stage...if you ask the Western journalists, he makes beter coffee -- Ooops, copy! Breakfast is sttealing on my mind! -- than present doe-eyed Sleeping Beauty replacement. Many funnies here would rather call him a Beast, to Desi that's just not fair. Maybe I left out a comma somewhere?
Chandra Muzaffar -- oh, yes, his throne was ALIRAN, so much so when one mentioned Aliran, it was equated to Chandara, and Chandra was Aliran. Is he going to perpetuate the crown at JUST? I think again it is just not fair.
Many call him "Uncle Kit", but to me observing politics of NegaraKu -- government and Opposition benches -- nobody represents the face of the Pembangkang as much as "Saudara Kit", the term of endearment from party cadres. Replace "Cadre" with DAP card-holders, for the former is a label quite easily aligned with the Communist Party, which can be fatal in NegaraKu. DEsi, a declared "Socialist" for six out of SE7EN days a week has been labelled a Commie too, but blardy hell, do I care? (THat's why Parti Socialist Rakyat Malaysia died an unmarked death -- it was so easy meat minced by UMNO and their putra and pouteri. Butt that's another storey for another die!)
As for the Gerakan chief, until coming June when he maekth way for young Koh Tsu Koon, you woud think he's indispensable to the Penang party. Like a former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, all the "three LIN" clansmen (LIN is as should be in Mandarin script) at one time simultaneously were each heading a majority-Chinese party, leading many Chinese Malaysians to wander if the surname LIN was descended from royalty, or wooden subsitute from the Oak tree family, or Meranti, or whatever.
And where does Lee Lam Thye fit in?
Well, he is numero uno as SOCIAL ACTIVIST, after breathing down the neck of Emperor taiko at DAP but knowing he's getting nowhere. Might as well try an Establishment alley, Yes/No/Not sure?
As for the last mentioned, do I need to tell YOU -- well-informed Person of the Year elected by Time, everlasting, perrenial as the Green, Green Grass of Home.
Okay, the throne is everlustingly his:
SM Idris is CAP, CAP is SM Idris.
To some of my Young&Articulate readers who I am proud to mentor: Now you have a hint as to why Malaysian politics and civil society is heading nowhere?
Because most of the kings and king-makers don't heed this advice:
Don’t sit too long on the throne
Don’t sit too long on the throne
DON'T SIT TOO LONG ON THE THRONE!
12 Feb 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPOH: Spending long periods reading the newspaper while sitting on the toilet seat in the morning could lead to piles, said a colorectal surgery consultant.
"Instead of doing what usually takes three minutes to complete, you are spending 15 minutes," said Dr M. Sarkunnathas of a private hospital here.
(DESI's interruptus cant!: Some sit on the throne like forever and a day...)
While the causes of haemorrhoids, or swelling near the anus commonly known as "piles", are uncertain, toilet habits might be a factor.
"Squatting is good for the knees but sitting on the toilet is good for (not developing) piles. You take your pick," he said during a recent talk to raise awareness of the medical condition.
However, sitting too long was harmful if one were engrossed with reading and forgot one’s mission in the toilet, he added.
According to statistics, one of every two people or half a population would have piles to a certain degree at some stage of their life.
There were no differences among races or gender.
Due to embarrassment, many would diagnose the problem and find the solution themselves, allowing the condition to worsen to the point of needing surgery.
In the worst-case scenario, bleeding from the anus — a symptom associated with piles — might spark a belief it is cancer.
Thanks to technological advances, specifically a "circular stapler" invented by Italian surgeon Dr Antonio Longo, surgery is now a 15-minute procedure, which allows a patient to be on the feet and sitting comfortably the next day.
Over a million people underwent the Longo stapled haemorrhoidectomy or procedure for prolapse and haemorrhoids since its introduction in 1998, including some 12,000 Malaysians.
The procedure, using a non-recyclable stapler and titanium staples, cuts a circumferential core of the rectal wall and immediately staples the wall, causing minimal pain and leaving no wounds.
I was expecting a dig into sych long sitters like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chandra Muzaffar, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Keng Yaik, and ah, Lee Lam Thye, and ah, the everlasting SM Idris,
No doubt the good dcotor stepped down after a 22-year reign as Prime Minister on Oct 30, 2003, but the impression the average Malaysian gets is that he's still helming the country. Judging by his high profile presence on the Malaysian stage...if you ask the Western journalists, he makes beter coffee -- Ooops, copy! Breakfast is sttealing on my mind! -- than present doe-eyed Sleeping Beauty replacement. Many funnies here would rather call him a Beast, to Desi that's just not fair. Maybe I left out a comma somewhere?
Chandra Muzaffar -- oh, yes, his throne was ALIRAN, so much so when one mentioned Aliran, it was equated to Chandara, and Chandra was Aliran. Is he going to perpetuate the crown at JUST? I think again it is just not fair.
Many call him "Uncle Kit", but to me observing politics of NegaraKu -- government and Opposition benches -- nobody represents the face of the Pembangkang as much as "Saudara Kit", the term of endearment from party cadres. Replace "Cadre" with DAP card-holders, for the former is a label quite easily aligned with the Communist Party, which can be fatal in NegaraKu. DEsi, a declared "Socialist" for six out of SE7EN days a week has been labelled a Commie too, but blardy hell, do I care? (THat's why Parti Socialist Rakyat Malaysia died an unmarked death -- it was so easy meat minced by UMNO and their putra and pouteri. Butt that's another storey for another die!)
As for the Gerakan chief, until coming June when he maekth way for young Koh Tsu Koon, you woud think he's indispensable to the Penang party. Like a former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, all the "three LIN" clansmen (LIN is as should be in Mandarin script) at one time simultaneously were each heading a majority-Chinese party, leading many Chinese Malaysians to wander if the surname LIN was descended from royalty, or wooden subsitute from the Oak tree family, or Meranti, or whatever.
And where does Lee Lam Thye fit in?
Well, he is numero uno as SOCIAL ACTIVIST, after breathing down the neck of Emperor taiko at DAP but knowing he's getting nowhere. Might as well try an Establishment alley, Yes/No/Not sure?
As for the last mentioned, do I need to tell YOU -- well-informed Person of the Year elected by Time, everlasting, perrenial as the Green, Green Grass of Home.
Okay, the throne is everlustingly his:
SM Idris is CAP, CAP is SM Idris.
To some of my Young&Articulate readers who I am proud to mentor: Now you have a hint as to why Malaysian politics and civil society is heading nowhere?
Because most of the kings and king-makers don't heed this advice:
Don’t sit too long on the throne
Don’t sit too long on the throne
DON'T SIT TOO LONG ON THE THRONE!
12 Feb 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPOH: Spending long periods reading the newspaper while sitting on the toilet seat in the morning could lead to piles, said a colorectal surgery consultant.
"Instead of doing what usually takes three minutes to complete, you are spending 15 minutes," said Dr M. Sarkunnathas of a private hospital here.
(DESI's interruptus cant!: Some sit on the throne like forever and a day...)
While the causes of haemorrhoids, or swelling near the anus commonly known as "piles", are uncertain, toilet habits might be a factor.
"Squatting is good for the knees but sitting on the toilet is good for (not developing) piles. You take your pick," he said during a recent talk to raise awareness of the medical condition.
However, sitting too long was harmful if one were engrossed with reading and forgot one’s mission in the toilet, he added.
According to statistics, one of every two people or half a population would have piles to a certain degree at some stage of their life.
There were no differences among races or gender.
Due to embarrassment, many would diagnose the problem and find the solution themselves, allowing the condition to worsen to the point of needing surgery.
In the worst-case scenario, bleeding from the anus — a symptom associated with piles — might spark a belief it is cancer.
Thanks to technological advances, specifically a "circular stapler" invented by Italian surgeon Dr Antonio Longo, surgery is now a 15-minute procedure, which allows a patient to be on the feet and sitting comfortably the next day.
Over a million people underwent the Longo stapled haemorrhoidectomy or procedure for prolapse and haemorrhoids since its introduction in 1998, including some 12,000 Malaysians.
The procedure, using a non-recyclable stapler and titanium staples, cuts a circumferential core of the rectal wall and immediately staples the wall, causing minimal pain and leaving no wounds.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Life is precious
But some allow Death to visit early, and darkly.
"Early" is of course a subjective term. For a housewife used to greet the sunrise at 5.00am, waking up at 6.00am is "late".
To a lazybummer like Desi used to late night 'rites, writes, writHings, waking up by 9.00am is "too early". In recent times, to scrimp on harder times, I combine BF with lunch, so starting with brunch at about 10.30-11.00am is just nice, "not too early".
"Don't set the alarm clock at 5.30AM for Desi," would be my refrain to the receptionist if I'm rooming at a downtown hotel on some lucky assignments paid for by the client. I prefer my appointment to start at 2.oopm -- I am a freelance journalist, remember? A dinner working appoitent would be heavenly, especially if the Other party also picks up the tabs. ("Tabs" I understand is slang for "bill" though I don't know its root word, or is it the short for tabulations? I'm THINKING ALOUD, something I do often nowadays since *JeffOoi's name is constantly flashed everyday.)
*If you have to ask who's Jeff, you'd better get out of hear! before I yell out: Get the hell out of here!See, Desi's not totally averse to swearing as I said Yesterday, when all my troubles...
Thank God for whoever invented the air-conditioner and the computer. My Olivetti lettera 32 is now a collectible, opening bid is 2million if there are any interested parties out dare. Moo_t, how art thee progressing in helping Desi get to that 20million?
Okay, Monday being a day of blues, I'm reacting with a C&W song which bewitched many YoungOnes, and I hope they do pause and ponder and not allow despair to overcome them. Seek out a best friend in times of trouble. Seek out a partner with soulmateship with thee. Seek out the chuirch, temple or masjid priest. If everyone fails thee, SEEK OUT THE BEFRIENDERS in the neighbourhood.
My Elusive Dreams
Artist: Skeeter Davis & Bobby Bare
----------------------------------------------
[ skeeter ]
I followed you to Texas I followed you to Utah
[ bobby ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
[ skeeter ]
I followed you to Alabam things look good in Birmingham
[ bobby ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
[ both ]
I know you're tired of following my elusive dreams and schemes
For they're only fleeting things my elusive dreams
[ skeeter ]
I had your child in Memphis you heard of work in Nashville
[ bobby ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
To a small farm in Nebraska to a gold mine in Alaska
[ skeeter ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
[ bobby ]
Now we've left Alaska because there was no gold mine
[ skeeter ]
But this time only two of us moved on
And now all we have is each other
and a little mem'ry that we could to cling to
[ bobby ]
But still you won't let me go on alone
[ both ]
I know you're tired of following my elusive dreams and schemes
For they're only fleeting things my elusive dreams
For they're only fleeting things my elusive dreams
__________________________________________________
Yes, we all have our dreams -- Child, Young, Old and growing still.
Life takes its toll on everyone -- age is no more a barrier, for 21st century life brings along more and greater stresses akong with its conveniences and gadgets because very often, the currency to these gadgets and conveniences is Money. And the lack of money drives many to the edge.
Of course, to many in the field of entertainment, the other pressure in Fame.
Success does not come easy. Yes, the goal in the far horizon -- money or fame --seems so elusive.
And maybe that's what South Korean actress-star JEONG DA-BIN was seeking too. Her elusive dreams. But at the tender age of 27, she just allowed depression to swarm all over her being, and she felt she had to seek a final resolution ....
She couldn't fulfill her dreams. She just ended it -- by hanging herself last Saturday.
An AFP report quoting the police said that Jeong, 27, had been found dead, with a towel around her neck, in the bathroom of her boyfriend's apartment in Seoul, hsving sppsrently succumbed to a bout of depression over arecent shortage of work.
Jeong, who also became a Korean pop culture star in Taiwan in 2005, acted in television dramas and movies.
Jeong's death , following that of pop singer YUNI, who was found hanged in her hiome in Incheon City on Jan 21, pending the relaese of her third album, has sparked concern in South Korea, which has the highest suicide rate of all Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members.
The AFP report quoted NA SUN-YOUNG of Lifeline Korea, which provides a telephone counselling service aimed at preventing suicides, as saying: "I am worried that a wave of copycat suicides might follow among youths."
"Following the death of Yuni, I received many calls from young people who said they themselves were thinking about committing suicide.
"They were saying they had to die because even someone as beautiful as Yuni could not stand it and committed suicide," Na said.
_________________________________________________________
DESIDERATA:
While Chinese New Year is just six days away, I hope this Post won't be a mood-spoiler.No doubt, this is sombre news to chew over, but the reality is that there are some lonely and depressed people out there who would not be able to celebrate,for reasons beyong their control.
I'm pausing, and pondering, while we chase our own individual "Elusive Dreams",
have we questioned ourselves:
Are our dreams based on reality?
Are we placing our priorities right?
IF the answer is "YES" to the above two questions, you'll be alright. God bless you. You are indeed lucky.
If the truthful response is "No", then it's Time to make new Dreams.
Make? you may ask. Yes, we make dreams just as we have a choice whether to wake up Early or Late to greet the sun each day.
So also we make the kind of Dreams we wish to pursue.
Know Thyself, that's wisdom in philosophers' teachings since the days of SOCRATES.My fave poet Max Ehrmann reiterates that credo too.
I know many things.
I write aboiut many things.
But do I know myself?
I have to think more about the last question myself.
"Early" is of course a subjective term. For a housewife used to greet the sunrise at 5.00am, waking up at 6.00am is "late".
To a lazybummer like Desi used to late night 'rites, writes, writHings, waking up by 9.00am is "too early". In recent times, to scrimp on harder times, I combine BF with lunch, so starting with brunch at about 10.30-11.00am is just nice, "not too early".
"Don't set the alarm clock at 5.30AM for Desi," would be my refrain to the receptionist if I'm rooming at a downtown hotel on some lucky assignments paid for by the client. I prefer my appointment to start at 2.oopm -- I am a freelance journalist, remember? A dinner working appoitent would be heavenly, especially if the Other party also picks up the tabs. ("Tabs" I understand is slang for "bill" though I don't know its root word, or is it the short for tabulations? I'm THINKING ALOUD, something I do often nowadays since *JeffOoi's name is constantly flashed everyday.)
*If you have to ask who's Jeff, you'd better get out of hear! before I yell out: Get the hell out of here!See, Desi's not totally averse to swearing as I said Yesterday, when all my troubles...
Thank God for whoever invented the air-conditioner and the computer. My Olivetti lettera 32 is now a collectible, opening bid is 2million if there are any interested parties out dare. Moo_t, how art thee progressing in helping Desi get to that 20million?
Okay, Monday being a day of blues, I'm reacting with a C&W song which bewitched many YoungOnes, and I hope they do pause and ponder and not allow despair to overcome them. Seek out a best friend in times of trouble. Seek out a partner with soulmateship with thee. Seek out the chuirch, temple or masjid priest. If everyone fails thee, SEEK OUT THE BEFRIENDERS in the neighbourhood.
My Elusive Dreams
Artist: Skeeter Davis & Bobby Bare
----------------------------------------------
[ skeeter ]
I followed you to Texas I followed you to Utah
[ bobby ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
[ skeeter ]
I followed you to Alabam things look good in Birmingham
[ bobby ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
[ both ]
I know you're tired of following my elusive dreams and schemes
For they're only fleeting things my elusive dreams
[ skeeter ]
I had your child in Memphis you heard of work in Nashville
[ bobby ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
To a small farm in Nebraska to a gold mine in Alaska
[ skeeter ]
We didn't find it there so we moved on
[ bobby ]
Now we've left Alaska because there was no gold mine
[ skeeter ]
But this time only two of us moved on
And now all we have is each other
and a little mem'ry that we could to cling to
[ bobby ]
But still you won't let me go on alone
[ both ]
I know you're tired of following my elusive dreams and schemes
For they're only fleeting things my elusive dreams
For they're only fleeting things my elusive dreams
__________________________________________________
Yes, we all have our dreams -- Child, Young, Old and growing still.
Life takes its toll on everyone -- age is no more a barrier, for 21st century life brings along more and greater stresses akong with its conveniences and gadgets because very often, the currency to these gadgets and conveniences is Money. And the lack of money drives many to the edge.
Of course, to many in the field of entertainment, the other pressure in Fame.
Success does not come easy. Yes, the goal in the far horizon -- money or fame --seems so elusive.
And maybe that's what South Korean actress-star JEONG DA-BIN was seeking too. Her elusive dreams. But at the tender age of 27, she just allowed depression to swarm all over her being, and she felt she had to seek a final resolution ....
She couldn't fulfill her dreams. She just ended it -- by hanging herself last Saturday.
An AFP report quoting the police said that Jeong, 27, had been found dead, with a towel around her neck, in the bathroom of her boyfriend's apartment in Seoul, hsving sppsrently succumbed to a bout of depression over arecent shortage of work.
Jeong, who also became a Korean pop culture star in Taiwan in 2005, acted in television dramas and movies.
Jeong's death , following that of pop singer YUNI, who was found hanged in her hiome in Incheon City on Jan 21, pending the relaese of her third album, has sparked concern in South Korea, which has the highest suicide rate of all Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members.
The AFP report quoted NA SUN-YOUNG of Lifeline Korea, which provides a telephone counselling service aimed at preventing suicides, as saying: "I am worried that a wave of copycat suicides might follow among youths."
"Following the death of Yuni, I received many calls from young people who said they themselves were thinking about committing suicide.
"They were saying they had to die because even someone as beautiful as Yuni could not stand it and committed suicide," Na said.
_________________________________________________________
DESIDERATA:
While Chinese New Year is just six days away, I hope this Post won't be a mood-spoiler.No doubt, this is sombre news to chew over, but the reality is that there are some lonely and depressed people out there who would not be able to celebrate,for reasons beyong their control.
I'm pausing, and pondering, while we chase our own individual "Elusive Dreams",
have we questioned ourselves:
Are our dreams based on reality?
Are we placing our priorities right?
IF the answer is "YES" to the above two questions, you'll be alright. God bless you. You are indeed lucky.
If the truthful response is "No", then it's Time to make new Dreams.
Make? you may ask. Yes, we make dreams just as we have a choice whether to wake up Early or Late to greet the sun each day.
So also we make the kind of Dreams we wish to pursue.
Know Thyself, that's wisdom in philosophers' teachings since the days of SOCRATES.My fave poet Max Ehrmann reiterates that credo too.
I know many things.
I write aboiut many things.
But do I know myself?
I have to think more about the last question myself.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
mGf sends me Oscar Wilde's wondering aloud
I'm still pondering. This friend says she took two days copying the story down in longhand -- I'd better offer her a goblet of tehtarik, and a goblet of self-rub massage oil to restore her over-worked wrists to their original velvety state.
Desi meanhwile pauses and ponders: what's the message in Oscar Wilde's www story for me? Am I surrounded by water-rats or am I into much H2O this Year of the Golden Pig (Correction: reading today's papers late Sunday maketh me realise I have made a mistake -- not fatal-lah! -- it should read as Year of the Fire Boar! -- that I don't have to go after some rats for monies owed, minus interests notwithstanding, or sitting.
Now you see why I having been having
l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g
P
A
U
S
E
S
recently. Pondering, wandering, wondering.
Whatever, I believe in SE7EN days' time, the Napoleons and Snowballs (ANIMAL FARM, rmmember? by George All's well!)that wander in my Serembanscape would bring me smiles that Oscar Wilde has been quietly throwing on my face. Or should it be "onto" my face? I leave exquite English to my readers, who I understand, are rising to the occasion of speaking Queen's Englsih again if Amber Chia can taeche thee as well as she does cha-cha-cha. Me? I do the rock&roll with Elvis, who -- whispering hear! -- was reportedly sighted in the neighbourhood of *Rasah New Village near the gravesides consoling a lot of midnight visitors praying for "Ang Kong zi". Poor Desi's translation: Prosperous 4-D numbers! YOU smoke Lucky Strike?
mGf moo-t, the Chinese sexpert, may give thee a better Chinoserie cultural idiom.
*Need direction dare at midnight, seek out Anak Merdeka, mGf in Furong, hyde-ing somewhere in the Maze.
MEANw'ile, (yes, a "combo" or compound-word, of mean and wile!:) ENJOY mei's two days' of labour of love to share with awe GOoD fRiends in blogosphere or square:
"The Devoted Friend",
written by Oscar Wilde.
I.
One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole.
He had bright little eyes and a long black tail. The little yellow ducks were swimming about in the pond, and their mother, who was white with real red legs, as trying to teach them how to stand on their heads in the water.
“You will never be among the top people unless you can stand on your heads,” she kept saying to them; and every now and then she showed them how to do it. But the little ducks paid no attention to her. They were too young. It is a great advantage to be among the top people, but the little ducks were too young to know that.
“What bad children!” cried the old Water-rat.
“Not at all”, answered the Duck. “Everyone must make a beginning. Children need plenty of time to learn. Every parents know that.”
“Ah! I know nothing about the feelings of parents,” said the Water-rat; “I am not a family man. In fact, I have never been married, and I never want to be. Love is very good, in a way, but friendship is much higher. There is nothing in the world that is more beautiful than a devoted friendship.”
“And what, sir, is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend?” asked a Green Linnet. The little bird was sitting in a tree by the pond, and he had heard the Duck and the Water-rat talking.
“Yes, that is just what I want to know,” said the Duck. Then she swam away to the end of the pond, and stood upon her head, in order to give her children a good example.
“What a silly question!” cried the Water-rat. “I should expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course.”
“And what would you do in return?” said the little bird, standing upon a silver branch, and moving his wings up and down.
“I don’t understand you,” answered the Water-rat.
“Let me tell you a story on the subject,” said the Linnet.
“Is the story about me?” asked the Water-rat. “If so, I will listen to it, for I like stories that are not really true.”
“It is not about you, but it has something to do with you,” answered the Linnet; and he flew down and, landing by the side of the pond, he told the story of The Devoted Friend.
***
“Once upon a time,” said the Linnet, “there was a pleasant little fellow named Hans. He never stole, and never told a lie.”
“Was he a high-class man?” asked the Water-rat.
“No,” answered the Linnet. “I don’t think he was high-class at all, but he had a kind heart, and a funny round smiling face. He lived in a little house all by himself and everyday he worked in his garden. In all the country-side there was no garden so lovely as his. Every kind of flower grew in it, month by month, one flower taking another flower’s place, so that there were always beautiful things to look at, and pleasant flowers to smell.
“Little Hans had a great many friends, but the most devoted friend of all was big Hugh the Miller. Indeed, he was so devoted to Hans that every time he passed his garden he wound lean over the wall into the garden. While doing so, he would pick several flowers, or fill his pockets with fruit if it was the right time of year.
“Real friends should share everything between them,” the Miller used to say. Then little Hans smiled in agreement, and felt very pleased to have a friend with such fine ideas.
“Sometimes, the neighbours thought the friendship a little strange. This was because the rich Miller never gave little Hans anything in return, though he had a hundred sacks of flour stored away in his windmill, and six fine brown cows, and fifty large white sheep. But Hans never troubled his head about these things. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to the Miller as he spoke about friendship. The Miller used to say wonderful things about the unselfishness of true friendship.”
“So little Hans worked away in his garden,” continued the Linnet. “During the spring, the summer, and the autumn he was very happy, but then the winter came. In the winter, when he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market, he suffered a good deal from cold and hunger. He often had to go to bed without eating anything but a few pieces of dried fruit. In the winter, also, he was very lonely, as the Miller never came to see him then.
“There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the snow lasts,” the Miller used to say to his wife. “When people are in trouble they should be left alone. It is not right for visitors to come and take up their time. That at least is my idea about friendship, and I am sure I am right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, and then I shall pay little Hans a visit. He will be able to give a large basket of primroses (a yellow spring flower), and that will make him so happy.”
“You are certainly very thoughtful about others,” answered the wife, as she sat in her large warm chair by the big hot fire; “very thought indeed. It is very pleasant to hear you talk about friendship. The clergyman himself could not say such beautiful things as you do, though he does live in a fine big house, and wear a gold ring on his little finger.”
“But could we not ask little Hans up here?” said the Miller’s youngest son. “If poor Hans is in trouble I will give him half my breakfast, and show him my black and white cat.”
“What a silly boy you are!” cried the Miller. “What is the use of sending you to school?” you seem not to learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up here, and saw our warm fire, and our good breakfast, and all our red wine, he might start wanting such things for himself; and that is a most terrible thing in a man, and would make his nature unfriendly. I certainly will not allow Han’s nature to become unfriendly. I am his best friend, and I will always watch over him. Besides, if Hans came here, he might want to have some flour and pay for it later, and that I could not allow. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another. The two words are quite different, and they mean quite different things. Everybody can see that.”
“How well you talk!” said the Miller’s wife, taking up a large glass of warm beer. “Really I feel quite sleepy. It is just like being in church.”
“Lots of people act well,” answered the Miller; “but very few people talk well. So we can see that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two, and much the finer thing also.” Then he made a very serious face, and looked across the table at his little son. At that, the boy hung his head down, and grew quite red in the face, and began to cry into his tea. However, he was very young, so that was quite natural.”
***
“Is that the end of the story?” asked the Water-rat.
“Certainly not,” answered the Linnet. “That is the beginning.”
“Then you are quite behind the age,” said the Water-rat. “Every good storyteller nowadays starts with the end, and then goes on to the beginning, and finishes with the middle. That is the new method. I heard all about it the other day from a critic who was walking round the pond with a young man. He spoke of the matter at great length. He must have been right, for he looked very clever, and whenever the young man made any remark, he always answered “Nonsense!” But please go on with your story. I like the Miller very much indeed. I have all kinds of beautiful thoughts myself, so he and I are very much alike.”
II.
“Well,” said the Linnet, standing now on one leg and now on the other. “I shall continue the story. As soon as the winter was over, and the primroses began to open their pale yellow stars, the Miller spoke to his wife. “I shall go down and see little Hans,” he said.
“Why, what a good heart you have!” cried his Wife. “You are always thinking of others. And remember to take the big basket with you for the flowers.”
“So the Miller tried the sails of the windmill together, and went down the hill with the basket on his arm. When he arrived, Hans was working in his garden.
“Good morning, little Hans,” said the Miller.
“Good morning,” said Hans, looking up from his work, and smiling from ear to ear.
“And how have you been all the winter?” said the Miller.
“Well, really,” cried Hans. “It is very good of you to ask, very good indeed. I am afraid I had rather a hard time of it, but now the spring has come, and I am quite happy, and all my flowers are doing well.”
“We often talked of you during the winter, Hans,” said the Miller, “and wondered how you were getting on.”
“That was kind of you,” said Hans; “I was half afraid you had forgotten me.”
“Hans, I am surprised at you,” said the Miller; “Friendship never forgets. That is the wonderful thing about the full beauty of life. How lovely your primroses are looking, by the way!”
“They are certainly very lovely,” said Hans. “and I am very lucky to have so many. I am going to bring them into the market and sell them to the Mayor’s daughter, and buy back my wheelbarrow with the money.”
“Buy back your wheelbarrow? Have you sold it? What a very silly thing to do!”
“Well,” said Hans, “I had to sell it. You see, the winter was a very bad time for me, and I really had no money at all to buy bread with. So I first sold my Sunday coat, and then I sold my smallest chair, and then I sold my big pipe, and in the end I sold my wheelbarrow. But I am going to buy them all back again now.”
***
“Hans,” said the Miller, “I will give you my wheelbarrow. It is rather old; indeed, one side is gone, and there is something wrong with the wheel; but in spite of that I will give it to you. I know it is very kind of me. A great many people would think me very foolish of giving it away, but I am not like the rest of the world. I think that kindness is the most important part of friendship, and besides, I have got a new wheelbarrow for myself. Yes, you may set your mind at rest, I will give you my wheelbarrow.”
“Well, really, that is kind of you,” said little Hans, and his funny round face shone all over the pleasure. “I can make it as good as new, as I have a plank of wood in the house.”
“A plank of wood!” said the Miller; “why, that is just what I want for my mill-roof. There is a very large hole in the roof, and I must mend it. How lucky you mentioned your plank! It is quite wonderful how one good action always leads to another. I have given you my wheelbarrow, and now you are going to give me your plank. Of course, the wheelbarrow is worth far more than the plank, but true friendship never notices things like that. Please get the plank at once, and I will set to work on my roof this very day.”
“Certainly,” cried little Hans, and he ran into the house and pulled the plank out.
“It is not a very big plank,” said the Miller, looking at it. “After I have mended my roof there won’t be any left for you to use for the wheelbarrow; but of course, I can’t help that. And now, as I have given you my wheelbarrow, you will of course want to give me some flowers in return. Here is the basket, and make sure you fill it quite full.”
“Quite full?” said little Hans, rather sadly, for it was really a very big basket. If he filled it, he saw, he would have no flowers left for the market; and he very much wanted to have his Sunday coat back.
“Well, really!” answered the Miller. “As I have given you my wheelbarrow, it is surely not much to ask you for a few flowers. I may be wrong, but surely friendship, true friendship, is quite free from selfishness of any kind.”
“My dear friend, my best friend,” cried little Hans, “You are welcome to all the flowers in my garden. I would much rather have your good opinion than my Sunday coat, any day;” and he ran and picked all his pretty primroses, and filled the Miller’s basket.
“Goodbye, little Hans,” said the Miller, as he went up the hill with the plank on his shoulder, and the big basket in his hand.
“Goodbye,” said little Hans, and he began to dig away quite happily, he was so pleased about the wheelbarrow.
***
“The next day,” continued the Linnet, “Little Hans was nailing up some tall flowers against the front of the house, when he heard the Miller’s voice calling to him from the road. So he jumped down from the house, and ran down the garden, and looked over the wall.
“There was the Miller with a large sack of flour on his back.
“Dear little Hans,” said the Miller. “Would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to market?”
“Oh, I am so sorry,” said Hans, “but I am really very busy today. I have got all these tall flowers to nail up, and all my other flowers to water, and all my grass to roll.”
“Well, really!” said the Miller, “I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, and now you refuse to go to market for you. That seems rather unfriendly.”
“Oh, don’t say that,” cried little Hans, “I never want to be unfriendly to you;” and he ran in for his hat, and walked tiredly off with the big sack on his shoulders.
“It was a very hot day, and the road was terribly hot and dray. Before Hans had walked for two hours he was so tired that he had to sit down and rest. However, he got up and went on again, and at last he reached the market. After he had waited there some time, he sold the sack of flour for a very good price, and then he returned home at once with the money.
“It has certainly been a hard day,” said little Hans to himself as he was going to bed; “but I helped the Miller, and I am glad of that, for he is my best friend. Besides, he is going to give me his wheelbarrow.”
III.
“Early the next morning,” the Linnet continued, “the Miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed.
“Well, really!” said the Miller. “Still in bed! I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, which is very kind of me; and I think you should work harder because of it. I certainly don’t like it when my friends lie in their beds instead of working. You must not mind my speaking quite openly to you. Of course, I only speak openly because I am your friend. What is the good of friendship if one cannot speak openly? Anybody can say nice things and try to please, but a true friend always says unpleasant things, and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is a really true friend he tries to give pain. To give pain is to do good.”
“I am very sorry,” said little Hans, trying to keep his eyes open and sitting up in bed, “I was so tired that I wanted to lie in bed for a little time, and listen to the birds singing. I always work better after hearing the birds sing, did you know that?”
“Well, I am glad of that,” said the Miller, laying his hand on little Hans’s shoulder, “for I want you to come and help me now. Come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed, and mend my roof for me.”
“Poor little Hans very much wanted to go and work in his garden, for he had not watered his flowers for two days; but he did not like to refuse the Miller, as he as such a good friend to him.
“I really am very busy today; does that sound very unfriendly?” he asked very quietly.
“Well, really!” answered the Miller. “It is not much to ask of you. Remember, I am going to give you my wheelbarrow; but of course if you refuse to help me, I will go and do the work myself.”
“Oh! I can’t allow that,” cried little Hans; and he jumped out of bed, and dressed himself, and went up to the Miller’s.
“He worked there all day long, till sunset, and at sunset the Miller came to see how he was getting on.
“Have you mended the hole in the roof yet, little Hans?” cried the Miller with a friendly laugh.
“It is quite mended,” answered little Hans, coming down from the roof.
“Ah!” said the Miller, “There is no work so delightful as the work one does for others.”
“I am certainly very lucky to hear you talk,” answered little Hans, sitting down on a stone. “I am very lucky indeed. But I am afraid I shall never have such beautiful ideas as you have.”
“Oh! Ideas will come to you,” said the Miller, “but you must work harder at it. At present you have only the practise of friendship; some day you will have the theory also.”
“Do you really think I shall?” asked little Hans.
“I have no doubt of it,” answered the Miller; “but now that you have mended the roof, you had better go home and rest. You must rest now, for I want you to drive my sheep to the mountain tomorrow.”
***
“Poor little Hans was afraid to say anything to this. Early the next morning the Miller brought his sheep round to the little house, and Hans started off with them to the mountain. It took him the whole day to get there and back; and when he returned he was so tired that he went off to sleep in his chair, and did not wake up till it was broad daylight.
“What a delightful time I shall have in my garden,” he said, and he went to work at once.
“But somehow he was never able to look after his flowers at all, for his friend the Miller was always coming round and sending him off the market or the mountain, or getting him to help the mill. Little Hans felt very worried about this at times. His flowers, he felt, would think he had forgotten them. However, he felt better when he remembered that the Miller was his best friend. “Besides,” little Hans used to say to himself, “he is going to give me his wheelbarrow, and that is an act of great kindness.”
“So little Hans worked away for the Miller, and the Miller said all kinds of beautiful things about friendship. Hans wrote these things down in a notebook. Then he used to read the notes at night, for he was very good at reading and learning.”
***
“Now it happened,” the Linnet continued, “that one evening little Hans was sitting by his fireside when a loud knock came at the door. It was a very wild night, and the wind was blowing and roaring terribly round the house. It was blowing and roaring so terribly that at first he thought the knock at the door was only the storm. But a second knock came, and then a third, louder than either of the others.
“It is some poor traveller,” said little Hans to himself, and he ran to the door.
“There stood the Miller with a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other.
“Dear little Hans,” cried the Miller. “I am in great trouble. My little boy has fallen off a wall and hurt himself, and I am going for the Doctor. But the Doctor lives far away, and it is a very bad night. It would be much better, I think, if you went instead of me. After all, I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, and so it is only fair that you should do something for me in return.”
“Certainly,” cried little Hans. “I am very glad that you came, and I will start off at once. But you must let me have your lantern, as the night is so dark. I am afraid I might lose my way in the darkness, and leave the road by mistake.”
“I am very sorry,” answered the Miller, “but it is my new lantern. It would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it.”
“Well, never mind, I will do without it,” cried little Hans. He took down his thick winter coat, and his warm hat, and started off.
“What a terrible storm it was. The night was black. It was so black that little Hans could hardly see, and the wind was so strong that he could scarely stand. However, he never lost heart. After he had been walking for about three hours, he arrived at the Doctor’s house, and knocked at the door.
“Who is there?” cried the Doctor, putting his head out of his bedroom window.
“Little Hans, Doctor.”
“What do you want, little Hans?”
“The Miller’s son has fallen off a wall, and has hurt himself, and the Miller wants you to come at once.”
“All right!” said the Doctor; and he ordered his horse, and his coat and hat, and his lantern. Then he came downstairs, and rode off in the direction of the Miller’s house, little Hans walking tiredly behind him.”
***
“But the storm grew worse and worse, and the rain faster and faster, and little Hans could not see where he was going, or keep up with the horse. In the end he lost his way, and the road by mistake. He was now in a wild, open place which was very dangerous, as it was full of deep holes. And into one of these great holes, as full of water, little Hans fell. The next day, poor little Hans’s dead body was found by some men. They pulled the body out of the great hole full of water where it lay, and they carried it back to the little house.
“Everybody went to little Hans’s funeral, as they all loved him, and the Miller was the most important person there.
“As I was his best friend,” said the Miller. “It is only fair that I should have the best place.” So he walked ahead of all the other people in a long black coat, and every now and then he put a big pocket-handkerchief to his eyes.
“Little Hans is certainly a great loss to everyone,” said one of the men, when the funeral was over, and they were all sitting round the table, drinking hot wine and eating sweet cakes.
“A great loss to me at any rate,” answered the Miller. “Why, I was going to give him my wheelbarrow, and now I really don’t know what to do with it. It is very much in my way at home, and it is so old that I cannot even sell it. I will certainly take care not to give away anything again. One always suffers for being kind.”
***
“Well?” said the Water-rat, after a long silence.
“Well, that is the end,” said the Linnet.
“But what became of the Miller?” asked the Water-rat.
“Oh! I really don’t know,” replied the Linnet; “and I am sure that I don’t care.”
“Well, one thing is certain,” said the Water-rat; “you yourself never feel sorry for anyone.”
“I am afraid you don’t quite see the moral of the story,” remarked the Linnet.
“The what?” cried the Water-rat.
“The moral.”
“So the story has a moral?”
“Certainly,” said the Linnet.
“Well, really!” said the Water-rat, in a very angry manner. “You should have told me that before you began. Then I need not have listened to you. In fact, I should have said “Nonsense,” like the critic. However, I can say it now.”
So he shouted out “Nonsense” at the top of his voice, waved his black tail twice, and went back into his hole.
“And how do you like the Water-rat?” asked the Duck, who came swimming up some minutes afterwards. “He has a great many good points, but for my own part I have a mother’s feelings. When I see a man who is still not married, the tears come into my eyes.”
“I am rather afraid that I have made the Water-rat angry,” answered the Linnet. “The fact is, that I told him a story with a moral.”
“Ah! That is always a very dangerous thing to do,” said the Duck.
And I quite agree with her.
**********************************
Mei: I tend to be selective and stay with friends whose friendship is proven during hard times. I am gentle and polite, but I am brutally honest most of the time to some people who claim they are my friends: "Excuse me, I don't think you see me as a friend"; or, "I am afraid your perception of friendship is different from mine! Thus, I would prefer to be left on my own as i don't feel comfortable interacting with you as a friend."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DEsi:
For most of my EsteemedReaders, and the occasional viositors sho stumble half-drubkj here from other Blogs where four letter words like F***, S+++. H*** are the norm in their limited vocab, not that Desi is totally averse to swearing, but do it with finesse-lah! so if you wanna educate yourself into swearing in Victorian HI-society, here's some witticism from Oscar himself.
More from
"THE LITTLE BOOK
of
Famous Insults"
Edited by
BETTY JO RAMSY
with illustrations by
FRITZ KREDEL
____________________________________
My copy (please don't steal IT!)
is doggone-eared
and was published by
TOPPAN COMPANY, LIMITED
Tokyo, Japan
PETER PAUPER PRESS, INC.
New York, U.S.A.
____________________________________
"M. Zola is determined to show that, if he has
not got genius, he can at least be dull."
"There are two ways of disliking poetry, one
way is to dislike it, the other is to read Pope."
"(Bernard Shaw) hasn't an enemy in the
world, and none of his friends like him."
"Mr. Hall Caine, it is true, aims at the grandi-
ose, but then he writes at the top of his voice.
He is so loud that one cannt hear what he
says."
"Mr. James Payn is an adept in the art of con-
cealing what is not worth finding."
"The first rule for a young playwright to fol-
low is not to write like Henry Arthur Jones ....
The second and third rules are the same."
"Mr. Henry James writes fiction as if it were
a painful duty."
"George Moore wrote brilliant English until
he discovered grammar."
On George Moore: "He leads his readers to
the latrine and locks them in."
___________________________________________
"If you can't enjoy wit, then toy it."
The lust one cometh from an Oscar imitator, YL Chong,
11.08AM, February 10, 200SE7EN
your hamba-lest of thy handmadiens or maidservants.
Desi meanhwile pauses and ponders: what's the message in Oscar Wilde's www story for me? Am I surrounded by water-rats or am I into much H2O this Year of the Golden Pig (Correction: reading today's papers late Sunday maketh me realise I have made a mistake -- not fatal-lah! -- it should read as Year of the Fire Boar! -- that I don't have to go after some rats for monies owed, minus interests notwithstanding, or sitting.
Now you see why I having been having
l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g
P
A
U
S
E
S
recently. Pondering, wandering, wondering.
Whatever, I believe in SE7EN days' time, the Napoleons and Snowballs (ANIMAL FARM, rmmember? by George All's well!)that wander in my Serembanscape would bring me smiles that Oscar Wilde has been quietly throwing on my face. Or should it be "onto" my face? I leave exquite English to my readers, who I understand, are rising to the occasion of speaking Queen's Englsih again if Amber Chia can taeche thee as well as she does cha-cha-cha. Me? I do the rock&roll with Elvis, who -- whispering hear! -- was reportedly sighted in the neighbourhood of *Rasah New Village near the gravesides consoling a lot of midnight visitors praying for "Ang Kong zi". Poor Desi's translation: Prosperous 4-D numbers! YOU smoke Lucky Strike?
mGf moo-t, the Chinese sexpert, may give thee a better Chinoserie cultural idiom.
*Need direction dare at midnight, seek out Anak Merdeka, mGf in Furong, hyde-ing somewhere in the Maze.
MEANw'ile, (yes, a "combo" or compound-word, of mean and wile!:) ENJOY mei's two days' of labour of love to share with awe GOoD fRiends in blogosphere or square:
"The Devoted Friend",
written by Oscar Wilde.
I.
One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole.
He had bright little eyes and a long black tail. The little yellow ducks were swimming about in the pond, and their mother, who was white with real red legs, as trying to teach them how to stand on their heads in the water.
“You will never be among the top people unless you can stand on your heads,” she kept saying to them; and every now and then she showed them how to do it. But the little ducks paid no attention to her. They were too young. It is a great advantage to be among the top people, but the little ducks were too young to know that.
“What bad children!” cried the old Water-rat.
“Not at all”, answered the Duck. “Everyone must make a beginning. Children need plenty of time to learn. Every parents know that.”
“Ah! I know nothing about the feelings of parents,” said the Water-rat; “I am not a family man. In fact, I have never been married, and I never want to be. Love is very good, in a way, but friendship is much higher. There is nothing in the world that is more beautiful than a devoted friendship.”
“And what, sir, is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend?” asked a Green Linnet. The little bird was sitting in a tree by the pond, and he had heard the Duck and the Water-rat talking.
“Yes, that is just what I want to know,” said the Duck. Then she swam away to the end of the pond, and stood upon her head, in order to give her children a good example.
“What a silly question!” cried the Water-rat. “I should expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course.”
“And what would you do in return?” said the little bird, standing upon a silver branch, and moving his wings up and down.
“I don’t understand you,” answered the Water-rat.
“Let me tell you a story on the subject,” said the Linnet.
“Is the story about me?” asked the Water-rat. “If so, I will listen to it, for I like stories that are not really true.”
“It is not about you, but it has something to do with you,” answered the Linnet; and he flew down and, landing by the side of the pond, he told the story of The Devoted Friend.
***
“Once upon a time,” said the Linnet, “there was a pleasant little fellow named Hans. He never stole, and never told a lie.”
“Was he a high-class man?” asked the Water-rat.
“No,” answered the Linnet. “I don’t think he was high-class at all, but he had a kind heart, and a funny round smiling face. He lived in a little house all by himself and everyday he worked in his garden. In all the country-side there was no garden so lovely as his. Every kind of flower grew in it, month by month, one flower taking another flower’s place, so that there were always beautiful things to look at, and pleasant flowers to smell.
“Little Hans had a great many friends, but the most devoted friend of all was big Hugh the Miller. Indeed, he was so devoted to Hans that every time he passed his garden he wound lean over the wall into the garden. While doing so, he would pick several flowers, or fill his pockets with fruit if it was the right time of year.
“Real friends should share everything between them,” the Miller used to say. Then little Hans smiled in agreement, and felt very pleased to have a friend with such fine ideas.
“Sometimes, the neighbours thought the friendship a little strange. This was because the rich Miller never gave little Hans anything in return, though he had a hundred sacks of flour stored away in his windmill, and six fine brown cows, and fifty large white sheep. But Hans never troubled his head about these things. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to the Miller as he spoke about friendship. The Miller used to say wonderful things about the unselfishness of true friendship.”
“So little Hans worked away in his garden,” continued the Linnet. “During the spring, the summer, and the autumn he was very happy, but then the winter came. In the winter, when he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market, he suffered a good deal from cold and hunger. He often had to go to bed without eating anything but a few pieces of dried fruit. In the winter, also, he was very lonely, as the Miller never came to see him then.
“There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the snow lasts,” the Miller used to say to his wife. “When people are in trouble they should be left alone. It is not right for visitors to come and take up their time. That at least is my idea about friendship, and I am sure I am right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, and then I shall pay little Hans a visit. He will be able to give a large basket of primroses (a yellow spring flower), and that will make him so happy.”
“You are certainly very thoughtful about others,” answered the wife, as she sat in her large warm chair by the big hot fire; “very thought indeed. It is very pleasant to hear you talk about friendship. The clergyman himself could not say such beautiful things as you do, though he does live in a fine big house, and wear a gold ring on his little finger.”
“But could we not ask little Hans up here?” said the Miller’s youngest son. “If poor Hans is in trouble I will give him half my breakfast, and show him my black and white cat.”
“What a silly boy you are!” cried the Miller. “What is the use of sending you to school?” you seem not to learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up here, and saw our warm fire, and our good breakfast, and all our red wine, he might start wanting such things for himself; and that is a most terrible thing in a man, and would make his nature unfriendly. I certainly will not allow Han’s nature to become unfriendly. I am his best friend, and I will always watch over him. Besides, if Hans came here, he might want to have some flour and pay for it later, and that I could not allow. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another. The two words are quite different, and they mean quite different things. Everybody can see that.”
“How well you talk!” said the Miller’s wife, taking up a large glass of warm beer. “Really I feel quite sleepy. It is just like being in church.”
“Lots of people act well,” answered the Miller; “but very few people talk well. So we can see that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two, and much the finer thing also.” Then he made a very serious face, and looked across the table at his little son. At that, the boy hung his head down, and grew quite red in the face, and began to cry into his tea. However, he was very young, so that was quite natural.”
***
“Is that the end of the story?” asked the Water-rat.
“Certainly not,” answered the Linnet. “That is the beginning.”
“Then you are quite behind the age,” said the Water-rat. “Every good storyteller nowadays starts with the end, and then goes on to the beginning, and finishes with the middle. That is the new method. I heard all about it the other day from a critic who was walking round the pond with a young man. He spoke of the matter at great length. He must have been right, for he looked very clever, and whenever the young man made any remark, he always answered “Nonsense!” But please go on with your story. I like the Miller very much indeed. I have all kinds of beautiful thoughts myself, so he and I are very much alike.”
II.
“Well,” said the Linnet, standing now on one leg and now on the other. “I shall continue the story. As soon as the winter was over, and the primroses began to open their pale yellow stars, the Miller spoke to his wife. “I shall go down and see little Hans,” he said.
“Why, what a good heart you have!” cried his Wife. “You are always thinking of others. And remember to take the big basket with you for the flowers.”
“So the Miller tried the sails of the windmill together, and went down the hill with the basket on his arm. When he arrived, Hans was working in his garden.
“Good morning, little Hans,” said the Miller.
“Good morning,” said Hans, looking up from his work, and smiling from ear to ear.
“And how have you been all the winter?” said the Miller.
“Well, really,” cried Hans. “It is very good of you to ask, very good indeed. I am afraid I had rather a hard time of it, but now the spring has come, and I am quite happy, and all my flowers are doing well.”
“We often talked of you during the winter, Hans,” said the Miller, “and wondered how you were getting on.”
“That was kind of you,” said Hans; “I was half afraid you had forgotten me.”
“Hans, I am surprised at you,” said the Miller; “Friendship never forgets. That is the wonderful thing about the full beauty of life. How lovely your primroses are looking, by the way!”
“They are certainly very lovely,” said Hans. “and I am very lucky to have so many. I am going to bring them into the market and sell them to the Mayor’s daughter, and buy back my wheelbarrow with the money.”
“Buy back your wheelbarrow? Have you sold it? What a very silly thing to do!”
“Well,” said Hans, “I had to sell it. You see, the winter was a very bad time for me, and I really had no money at all to buy bread with. So I first sold my Sunday coat, and then I sold my smallest chair, and then I sold my big pipe, and in the end I sold my wheelbarrow. But I am going to buy them all back again now.”
***
“Hans,” said the Miller, “I will give you my wheelbarrow. It is rather old; indeed, one side is gone, and there is something wrong with the wheel; but in spite of that I will give it to you. I know it is very kind of me. A great many people would think me very foolish of giving it away, but I am not like the rest of the world. I think that kindness is the most important part of friendship, and besides, I have got a new wheelbarrow for myself. Yes, you may set your mind at rest, I will give you my wheelbarrow.”
“Well, really, that is kind of you,” said little Hans, and his funny round face shone all over the pleasure. “I can make it as good as new, as I have a plank of wood in the house.”
“A plank of wood!” said the Miller; “why, that is just what I want for my mill-roof. There is a very large hole in the roof, and I must mend it. How lucky you mentioned your plank! It is quite wonderful how one good action always leads to another. I have given you my wheelbarrow, and now you are going to give me your plank. Of course, the wheelbarrow is worth far more than the plank, but true friendship never notices things like that. Please get the plank at once, and I will set to work on my roof this very day.”
“Certainly,” cried little Hans, and he ran into the house and pulled the plank out.
“It is not a very big plank,” said the Miller, looking at it. “After I have mended my roof there won’t be any left for you to use for the wheelbarrow; but of course, I can’t help that. And now, as I have given you my wheelbarrow, you will of course want to give me some flowers in return. Here is the basket, and make sure you fill it quite full.”
“Quite full?” said little Hans, rather sadly, for it was really a very big basket. If he filled it, he saw, he would have no flowers left for the market; and he very much wanted to have his Sunday coat back.
“Well, really!” answered the Miller. “As I have given you my wheelbarrow, it is surely not much to ask you for a few flowers. I may be wrong, but surely friendship, true friendship, is quite free from selfishness of any kind.”
“My dear friend, my best friend,” cried little Hans, “You are welcome to all the flowers in my garden. I would much rather have your good opinion than my Sunday coat, any day;” and he ran and picked all his pretty primroses, and filled the Miller’s basket.
“Goodbye, little Hans,” said the Miller, as he went up the hill with the plank on his shoulder, and the big basket in his hand.
“Goodbye,” said little Hans, and he began to dig away quite happily, he was so pleased about the wheelbarrow.
***
“The next day,” continued the Linnet, “Little Hans was nailing up some tall flowers against the front of the house, when he heard the Miller’s voice calling to him from the road. So he jumped down from the house, and ran down the garden, and looked over the wall.
“There was the Miller with a large sack of flour on his back.
“Dear little Hans,” said the Miller. “Would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to market?”
“Oh, I am so sorry,” said Hans, “but I am really very busy today. I have got all these tall flowers to nail up, and all my other flowers to water, and all my grass to roll.”
“Well, really!” said the Miller, “I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, and now you refuse to go to market for you. That seems rather unfriendly.”
“Oh, don’t say that,” cried little Hans, “I never want to be unfriendly to you;” and he ran in for his hat, and walked tiredly off with the big sack on his shoulders.
“It was a very hot day, and the road was terribly hot and dray. Before Hans had walked for two hours he was so tired that he had to sit down and rest. However, he got up and went on again, and at last he reached the market. After he had waited there some time, he sold the sack of flour for a very good price, and then he returned home at once with the money.
“It has certainly been a hard day,” said little Hans to himself as he was going to bed; “but I helped the Miller, and I am glad of that, for he is my best friend. Besides, he is going to give me his wheelbarrow.”
III.
“Early the next morning,” the Linnet continued, “the Miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed.
“Well, really!” said the Miller. “Still in bed! I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, which is very kind of me; and I think you should work harder because of it. I certainly don’t like it when my friends lie in their beds instead of working. You must not mind my speaking quite openly to you. Of course, I only speak openly because I am your friend. What is the good of friendship if one cannot speak openly? Anybody can say nice things and try to please, but a true friend always says unpleasant things, and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is a really true friend he tries to give pain. To give pain is to do good.”
“I am very sorry,” said little Hans, trying to keep his eyes open and sitting up in bed, “I was so tired that I wanted to lie in bed for a little time, and listen to the birds singing. I always work better after hearing the birds sing, did you know that?”
“Well, I am glad of that,” said the Miller, laying his hand on little Hans’s shoulder, “for I want you to come and help me now. Come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed, and mend my roof for me.”
“Poor little Hans very much wanted to go and work in his garden, for he had not watered his flowers for two days; but he did not like to refuse the Miller, as he as such a good friend to him.
“I really am very busy today; does that sound very unfriendly?” he asked very quietly.
“Well, really!” answered the Miller. “It is not much to ask of you. Remember, I am going to give you my wheelbarrow; but of course if you refuse to help me, I will go and do the work myself.”
“Oh! I can’t allow that,” cried little Hans; and he jumped out of bed, and dressed himself, and went up to the Miller’s.
“He worked there all day long, till sunset, and at sunset the Miller came to see how he was getting on.
“Have you mended the hole in the roof yet, little Hans?” cried the Miller with a friendly laugh.
“It is quite mended,” answered little Hans, coming down from the roof.
“Ah!” said the Miller, “There is no work so delightful as the work one does for others.”
“I am certainly very lucky to hear you talk,” answered little Hans, sitting down on a stone. “I am very lucky indeed. But I am afraid I shall never have such beautiful ideas as you have.”
“Oh! Ideas will come to you,” said the Miller, “but you must work harder at it. At present you have only the practise of friendship; some day you will have the theory also.”
“Do you really think I shall?” asked little Hans.
“I have no doubt of it,” answered the Miller; “but now that you have mended the roof, you had better go home and rest. You must rest now, for I want you to drive my sheep to the mountain tomorrow.”
***
“Poor little Hans was afraid to say anything to this. Early the next morning the Miller brought his sheep round to the little house, and Hans started off with them to the mountain. It took him the whole day to get there and back; and when he returned he was so tired that he went off to sleep in his chair, and did not wake up till it was broad daylight.
“What a delightful time I shall have in my garden,” he said, and he went to work at once.
“But somehow he was never able to look after his flowers at all, for his friend the Miller was always coming round and sending him off the market or the mountain, or getting him to help the mill. Little Hans felt very worried about this at times. His flowers, he felt, would think he had forgotten them. However, he felt better when he remembered that the Miller was his best friend. “Besides,” little Hans used to say to himself, “he is going to give me his wheelbarrow, and that is an act of great kindness.”
“So little Hans worked away for the Miller, and the Miller said all kinds of beautiful things about friendship. Hans wrote these things down in a notebook. Then he used to read the notes at night, for he was very good at reading and learning.”
***
“Now it happened,” the Linnet continued, “that one evening little Hans was sitting by his fireside when a loud knock came at the door. It was a very wild night, and the wind was blowing and roaring terribly round the house. It was blowing and roaring so terribly that at first he thought the knock at the door was only the storm. But a second knock came, and then a third, louder than either of the others.
“It is some poor traveller,” said little Hans to himself, and he ran to the door.
“There stood the Miller with a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other.
“Dear little Hans,” cried the Miller. “I am in great trouble. My little boy has fallen off a wall and hurt himself, and I am going for the Doctor. But the Doctor lives far away, and it is a very bad night. It would be much better, I think, if you went instead of me. After all, I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, and so it is only fair that you should do something for me in return.”
“Certainly,” cried little Hans. “I am very glad that you came, and I will start off at once. But you must let me have your lantern, as the night is so dark. I am afraid I might lose my way in the darkness, and leave the road by mistake.”
“I am very sorry,” answered the Miller, “but it is my new lantern. It would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it.”
“Well, never mind, I will do without it,” cried little Hans. He took down his thick winter coat, and his warm hat, and started off.
“What a terrible storm it was. The night was black. It was so black that little Hans could hardly see, and the wind was so strong that he could scarely stand. However, he never lost heart. After he had been walking for about three hours, he arrived at the Doctor’s house, and knocked at the door.
“Who is there?” cried the Doctor, putting his head out of his bedroom window.
“Little Hans, Doctor.”
“What do you want, little Hans?”
“The Miller’s son has fallen off a wall, and has hurt himself, and the Miller wants you to come at once.”
“All right!” said the Doctor; and he ordered his horse, and his coat and hat, and his lantern. Then he came downstairs, and rode off in the direction of the Miller’s house, little Hans walking tiredly behind him.”
***
“But the storm grew worse and worse, and the rain faster and faster, and little Hans could not see where he was going, or keep up with the horse. In the end he lost his way, and the road by mistake. He was now in a wild, open place which was very dangerous, as it was full of deep holes. And into one of these great holes, as full of water, little Hans fell. The next day, poor little Hans’s dead body was found by some men. They pulled the body out of the great hole full of water where it lay, and they carried it back to the little house.
“Everybody went to little Hans’s funeral, as they all loved him, and the Miller was the most important person there.
“As I was his best friend,” said the Miller. “It is only fair that I should have the best place.” So he walked ahead of all the other people in a long black coat, and every now and then he put a big pocket-handkerchief to his eyes.
“Little Hans is certainly a great loss to everyone,” said one of the men, when the funeral was over, and they were all sitting round the table, drinking hot wine and eating sweet cakes.
“A great loss to me at any rate,” answered the Miller. “Why, I was going to give him my wheelbarrow, and now I really don’t know what to do with it. It is very much in my way at home, and it is so old that I cannot even sell it. I will certainly take care not to give away anything again. One always suffers for being kind.”
***
“Well?” said the Water-rat, after a long silence.
“Well, that is the end,” said the Linnet.
“But what became of the Miller?” asked the Water-rat.
“Oh! I really don’t know,” replied the Linnet; “and I am sure that I don’t care.”
“Well, one thing is certain,” said the Water-rat; “you yourself never feel sorry for anyone.”
“I am afraid you don’t quite see the moral of the story,” remarked the Linnet.
“The what?” cried the Water-rat.
“The moral.”
“So the story has a moral?”
“Certainly,” said the Linnet.
“Well, really!” said the Water-rat, in a very angry manner. “You should have told me that before you began. Then I need not have listened to you. In fact, I should have said “Nonsense,” like the critic. However, I can say it now.”
So he shouted out “Nonsense” at the top of his voice, waved his black tail twice, and went back into his hole.
“And how do you like the Water-rat?” asked the Duck, who came swimming up some minutes afterwards. “He has a great many good points, but for my own part I have a mother’s feelings. When I see a man who is still not married, the tears come into my eyes.”
“I am rather afraid that I have made the Water-rat angry,” answered the Linnet. “The fact is, that I told him a story with a moral.”
“Ah! That is always a very dangerous thing to do,” said the Duck.
And I quite agree with her.
**********************************
Mei: I tend to be selective and stay with friends whose friendship is proven during hard times. I am gentle and polite, but I am brutally honest most of the time to some people who claim they are my friends: "Excuse me, I don't think you see me as a friend"; or, "I am afraid your perception of friendship is different from mine! Thus, I would prefer to be left on my own as i don't feel comfortable interacting with you as a friend."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DEsi:
For most of my EsteemedReaders, and the occasional viositors sho stumble half-drubkj here from other Blogs where four letter words like F***, S+++. H*** are the norm in their limited vocab, not that Desi is totally averse to swearing, but do it with finesse-lah! so if you wanna educate yourself into swearing in Victorian HI-society, here's some witticism from Oscar himself.
More from
"THE LITTLE BOOK
of
Famous Insults"
Edited by
BETTY JO RAMSY
with illustrations by
FRITZ KREDEL
____________________________________
My copy (please don't steal IT!)
is doggone-eared
and was published by
TOPPAN COMPANY, LIMITED
Tokyo, Japan
PETER PAUPER PRESS, INC.
New York, U.S.A.
____________________________________
"M. Zola is determined to show that, if he has
not got genius, he can at least be dull."
"There are two ways of disliking poetry, one
way is to dislike it, the other is to read Pope."
"(Bernard Shaw) hasn't an enemy in the
world, and none of his friends like him."
"Mr. Hall Caine, it is true, aims at the grandi-
ose, but then he writes at the top of his voice.
He is so loud that one cannt hear what he
says."
"Mr. James Payn is an adept in the art of con-
cealing what is not worth finding."
"The first rule for a young playwright to fol-
low is not to write like Henry Arthur Jones ....
The second and third rules are the same."
"Mr. Henry James writes fiction as if it were
a painful duty."
"George Moore wrote brilliant English until
he discovered grammar."
On George Moore: "He leads his readers to
the latrine and locks them in."
___________________________________________
"If you can't enjoy wit, then toy it."
The lust one cometh from an Oscar imitator, YL Chong,
11.08AM, February 10, 200SE7EN
your hamba-lest of thy handmadiens or maidservants.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
I'm tired, so I pause
mGf joepsc has a discerning quote I sighted at another mGf's blog nigh Catsville:
Extracts from:
Yan’s Corner - In Touch
Posted by Yan under Soul Tapestry:
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
(Eccl. 3:1-8)
It has been a long silence in my blog. I have been through this “A Time for Everything”. Today, in a much better shape and spirit, I describe what I have been through, what I am still going through, and what I am to face for how long that I don’t know - a time for everything.
Yes, the menopausal time. It’s about body, soul and spirit! And how aptly the Searcher gave me insights today."
:
:
"Never grow old, never grow old
In the land where we’ll never grow old
Never grow old, never grow old
In the land where we’ll never grow old."
_____________ Ends extract ____________________
..Responses to “A Time for Everything”
ylchong Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I also pause, now for men.
I pause for myself,
Wandering, wondering.
I also pause for some “fRiends”,
I thought I had garduated to counting the Toes.
No, I pause, crossed out some “R”,
And I’m back to counting the F(I)ngers.
I pause often nowadays
Cos humans are born human
After all
They slip, stumble and fall.
Guess
I’d be still
wondering
wandering
pausing
for women,
also for men
after awe.
JOEPSC Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I think it’ll do good to have a pause, all part of nature’s plan for man.
Albert Einstein said “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”
Earlier, I had writ:
I'm Tired
of all the sound and fury
especially the sound of Walk With Me
We Will Walk and Talk To Me too
We will be angry
We will be enraged
we will show our righteous fury
At the underlings who do not perform
But let's give them another day
Now let's go back to
40
winks
Plus another 40 winks
just for olde times' sake
Or to live up to our claim to historical fame
Rip van Winkle is my name!
DESIDERATA: Cliche it may be, it's good to occasionally heed the advise: Take time to pause from the hustle-bustle of Life, to SMELL THE ROSES.
Raeding one MSM the past few days consecutively, the headlines have been telling us the Good News --- THE GOOD TIMES ARE BACK AGAIN!
The stock market is on a bull run!
The trade volumn-value has passed the RM1 trillion mark in 2006!
Inflation will be less than 3.00 percent this year!
The Government says so!
ASLI also says so!
Desi pauses and reprises a message from Yesterday, bear with me, okay!:)
"IF whatever is published on the frontpage of the New Straits Times is true, proud Malaysians like me believe IT should signal "prosperous" times ahead for the Year of the Pig.
But trained as a newshound -- Doggone year's still hounding Desi! just eight more days, Doggie, ENJOY w'ile you can still lick IT! -- I sense that reality on the ground doesn't seem to reflect those data -- just as when ASLI's thinktank released its research findings on the Bumiputra equity stakes in the nation's wealth, many would contest such euphoria.
I rely on the feeling on the ground -- that's where the kopitiam and mamak stall economists -- and laymen like Desi -- gather and compare notes.
I also reprise the famous saying, rightly or wrongly attributed to Benjamin Disraeli or Mark Twain: "There are three kinds of lies -- Lies,, damn lies, and statistics."
Yes, ASLI top executives were swift in dissociating (NOT disassociating, I know it's not Sundae's Desiderata.English, but mind-bending can take place any day, Yes?) themselves from its thinktank head DR Lim Teck Ghee's findings recently that the Bumiputra equity stakes in the nation's wealth has far exceeded the 30% target, but it was most swift in endorsing the Government's projection that the inflation figures are hovering at 3%...
DO YOU GUYS BELIEVE IT?
Desi for one, DON'T!
WHY?
Go to the pertrol pump to top up your tank, the fuel price has gone up not less than four times the past two yaers, followed by a train of prices rising in almost all sectors as TRANSPORT is a key component in all factors of proc=uction of goods and services.
Your noodle at the pasar has gone up from RM2.00 to RM2.50 or a plate of nasi campur has gone up from RM3.50 to RM5.00, and of course, the tolled highway fees, especially on Plus hightways, and those in the Klang Valley have gone up by ..... YOU -- Time's Person Of The Year 2006! -- fill in the blanks)
Once the Rakyat has LOST confidence in the data and statistics given out by the Government and sycop[hantic so-called independent research houses, the country has to resort to their own sources of information.
So do you blame the Rakyat for believing in Raja Petra Kamaruddin's malaysia-today.net more than the MSM. Not that I believe all MT writes, but it's a source of insider information, like all those bigwigs of listed companies use to make a "killing" at the market.
In the curent "bull" run, "You poor retail investors, please Takke the profits NOW before a crash cometh!" -- Desi's 23sen worth of hardearned experienced advice. Give me 30% if it works out wella!
Rumours, especially about the stock market's listed companies' shenanigans! -- often proven to be true after awe! With the passage of TIME.
And TIME has honoured you people -- PERSON OF THE YEAR, 2007 too?
Extracts from:
Yan’s Corner - In Touch
Posted by Yan under Soul Tapestry:
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
(Eccl. 3:1-8)
It has been a long silence in my blog. I have been through this “A Time for Everything”. Today, in a much better shape and spirit, I describe what I have been through, what I am still going through, and what I am to face for how long that I don’t know - a time for everything.
Yes, the menopausal time. It’s about body, soul and spirit! And how aptly the Searcher gave me insights today."
:
:
"Never grow old, never grow old
In the land where we’ll never grow old
Never grow old, never grow old
In the land where we’ll never grow old."
_____________ Ends extract ____________________
..Responses to “A Time for Everything”
ylchong Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I also pause, now for men.
I pause for myself,
Wandering, wondering.
I also pause for some “fRiends”,
I thought I had garduated to counting the Toes.
No, I pause, crossed out some “R”,
And I’m back to counting the F(I)ngers.
I pause often nowadays
Cos humans are born human
After all
They slip, stumble and fall.
Guess
I’d be still
wondering
wandering
pausing
for women,
also for men
after awe.
JOEPSC Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I think it’ll do good to have a pause, all part of nature’s plan for man.
Albert Einstein said “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”
Earlier, I had writ:
I'm Tired
of all the sound and fury
especially the sound of Walk With Me
We Will Walk and Talk To Me too
We will be angry
We will be enraged
we will show our righteous fury
At the underlings who do not perform
But let's give them another day
Now let's go back to
40
winks
Plus another 40 winks
just for olde times' sake
Or to live up to our claim to historical fame
Rip van Winkle is my name!
DESIDERATA: Cliche it may be, it's good to occasionally heed the advise: Take time to pause from the hustle-bustle of Life, to SMELL THE ROSES.
Raeding one MSM the past few days consecutively, the headlines have been telling us the Good News --- THE GOOD TIMES ARE BACK AGAIN!
The stock market is on a bull run!
The trade volumn-value has passed the RM1 trillion mark in 2006!
Inflation will be less than 3.00 percent this year!
The Government says so!
ASLI also says so!
Desi pauses and reprises a message from Yesterday, bear with me, okay!:)
"IF whatever is published on the frontpage of the New Straits Times is true, proud Malaysians like me believe IT should signal "prosperous" times ahead for the Year of the Pig.
But trained as a newshound -- Doggone year's still hounding Desi! just eight more days, Doggie, ENJOY w'ile you can still lick IT! -- I sense that reality on the ground doesn't seem to reflect those data -- just as when ASLI's thinktank released its research findings on the Bumiputra equity stakes in the nation's wealth, many would contest such euphoria.
I rely on the feeling on the ground -- that's where the kopitiam and mamak stall economists -- and laymen like Desi -- gather and compare notes.
I also reprise the famous saying, rightly or wrongly attributed to Benjamin Disraeli or Mark Twain: "There are three kinds of lies -- Lies,, damn lies, and statistics."
Yes, ASLI top executives were swift in dissociating (NOT disassociating, I know it's not Sundae's Desiderata.English, but mind-bending can take place any day, Yes?) themselves from its thinktank head DR Lim Teck Ghee's findings recently that the Bumiputra equity stakes in the nation's wealth has far exceeded the 30% target, but it was most swift in endorsing the Government's projection that the inflation figures are hovering at 3%...
DO YOU GUYS BELIEVE IT?
Desi for one, DON'T!
WHY?
Go to the pertrol pump to top up your tank, the fuel price has gone up not less than four times the past two yaers, followed by a train of prices rising in almost all sectors as TRANSPORT is a key component in all factors of proc=uction of goods and services.
Your noodle at the pasar has gone up from RM2.00 to RM2.50 or a plate of nasi campur has gone up from RM3.50 to RM5.00, and of course, the tolled highway fees, especially on Plus hightways, and those in the Klang Valley have gone up by ..... YOU -- Time's Person Of The Year 2006! -- fill in the blanks)
Once the Rakyat has LOST confidence in the data and statistics given out by the Government and sycop[hantic so-called independent research houses, the country has to resort to their own sources of information.
So do you blame the Rakyat for believing in Raja Petra Kamaruddin's malaysia-today.net more than the MSM. Not that I believe all MT writes, but it's a source of insider information, like all those bigwigs of listed companies use to make a "killing" at the market.
In the curent "bull" run, "You poor retail investors, please Takke the profits NOW before a crash cometh!" -- Desi's 23sen worth of hardearned experienced advice. Give me 30% if it works out wella!
Rumours, especially about the stock market's listed companies' shenanigans! -- often proven to be true after awe! With the passage of TIME.
And TIME has honoured you people -- PERSON OF THE YEAR, 2007 too?
Friday, February 09, 2007
Let's give the Prime Minister his credit...
IF whatever is published on the frontpage of the New Straits Times is true and proud Malaysians like me believe IT should signal "prosperous" times ahead for the Year of the Pig.
But trained as a newshound -- Doggone year's still hounding Desi! just eight more days, Doggie, ENJOY w'ile you can still lick IT! -- I sense that reality on the ground doesn't seem to reflect those data -- just as when ASLI's thinktank released its research findings on the Bumiputra equity stakes in the nation's wealth, many would contest such euphoria.
I rely on the feeling on the ground -- that's where the kopitiam and mamak stall economists -- and laymen like Desi -- gather and compare notes.
I also reprise the famous saying, rightly or wrongly attributed to Benjamin Disraeli or Mark Twain: "There are three kinds of lies -- Lies,, damn lies, and statistics."
NOTE: China's foreign exchange reserves breached USD1,000,000,000,000 in October, 2006.:)
WHY does Desi put up that figure?
Frankly I myself plead ignorance. And someyimes Miss Ignorance is also blissfully unaware. Got beauty, no brain.
Now, after doing this national service scribing to pep everyone UP,
can I go back, or Down Under, to forty winks again?
RM1,069,000,000,000
Malaysia's annual total trade breaks RM1 trillion mark for the first time
09 Feb 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia took a giant leap as a trading nation when its trade registered a historically unprecedented volume: breaching RM1 trillion for 2006.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said Malaysia’s trade totalled RM1.069 trillion — a 10.5 per cent growth over the previous year.
This, he said, surpassed by 50 per cent the estimated seven per cent global growth projected by the World Trade Organisation for last year.
Exports expanded by 10.3 per cent to RM588.95 billion while imports grew by 10.7 per cent to RM480.49 billion.
In a statement issued by his office, the prime minister was exultant, saying: "It is an inspiring achievement.
"Although our country has faced numerous challenges, in particular the financial crisis in 1997 and a global economic downturn in 2001 and 2002, we have successfully coped with these upheavals and continued to perform well."
The facts:
• The highest ever trade surplus registered — RM108.46 billion — making it the 110th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997;
• Exports grew by 10.3 per cent to RM588.95 billion in all the major sectors — manufacturing, agriculture, minerals and fuel; and
• Imports grew by 10.7 per cent to RM480.49 billion, reflecting the demand by a strong manufacturing sector.
Abdullah said a breakdown of the figures showed that the trade profile had undergone significant changes in the last two decades.
• In 1987, more than half — or 53.4 per cent — of total trade came from commodities such as crude oil, timber, palm oil and rubber and manufactured goods accounted for 14 per cent of total exports.
One decade later — in 1997 — the profile changed again.
Commodities contributed only 17 per cent while manufacturing became the mainstay, contributing to 78.5 per cent of total trade.
"This reflects Malaysia’s industrial development and emphasises the strength of the manufacturing sector in enhancing the country’s exports," Abdullah said.
The other significant profile change has been in Malaysia’s trading partners, he said.
In 1987, Malaysia’s trade was largely confined to advanced economies such as Japan, the United States and Europe.
Ten years ago, while still maintaining the important trade ties with the advanced economies, Malaysia widened its portfolio to grow trade with Asean countries, West Asia and China.
It also expanded trade with developing economies in Latin America, South Asia and Eastern Europe.
The result — sustained trade growth — averaging 10.8 per cent on an annualised basis between 1997 and 2006.
The record trade growth comes on the back of increasingly positive economic data in recent months which, coupled with more business-friendly policies and development plans, has attracted foreign investors in droves to Malaysia.
The stock market has made a significant leap since the 1998 regional economic crisis with the benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) closing at 1,245.36 points yesterday against 262.7 points on Jan 9, 1998.
Gross Domestic Product is estimated at RM277.2 billion last year against RM182.2 billion in 1998 while foreign direct investments reached RM17.88 billion in 2005 from RM13.06 billion in 1998.
Yesterday, Deutsche Bank head of equities research Teoh Su Yin briefed newsmen in Kuala Lumpur, saying although the KLCI has risen by some 27 per cent since November last year, the market still has room for expansion.
____________________________________________________
DEsi: Just to add the right flavour
to the dawn of another Chinoseerrie year,
here's what a BACHELOR BOY has to say:
Cliff Richard & THE SHADOWS
03/01/1963 - 3 weeks at #1 - 18 weeks on chart
When I was young my father said
Son I have something to say
And what he told me I'll never forget
Until my dying day
He said son you are a bachelor boy
And that's the way to stay
Son you'll be a bachelor boy
Until your dying day
When I was 16 I fell in love
With a girl as sweet as can be
But I remembered just in time
What my daddy said to me
He said son you are a bachelor boy
And that's the way to stay
Son you'll be a bachelor boy
Until your dying day
As time goes by I probably will
Meet a girl and fall in love
Then I'll get married have a wife and a child
And they'll be my turtle doves
But until then I'll be a bachelor boy
And that's the way I'll stay
Happy to be a bachelor boy
Until my dying day
Yeah, I'll be a bachelor boy
And that's the way I'll stay
Happy to be a bachelor boy
Until my dying day
But trained as a newshound -- Doggone year's still hounding Desi! just eight more days, Doggie, ENJOY w'ile you can still lick IT! -- I sense that reality on the ground doesn't seem to reflect those data -- just as when ASLI's thinktank released its research findings on the Bumiputra equity stakes in the nation's wealth, many would contest such euphoria.
I rely on the feeling on the ground -- that's where the kopitiam and mamak stall economists -- and laymen like Desi -- gather and compare notes.
I also reprise the famous saying, rightly or wrongly attributed to Benjamin Disraeli or Mark Twain: "There are three kinds of lies -- Lies,, damn lies, and statistics."
NOTE: China's foreign exchange reserves breached USD1,000,000,000,000 in October, 2006.:)
WHY does Desi put up that figure?
Frankly I myself plead ignorance. And someyimes Miss Ignorance is also blissfully unaware. Got beauty, no brain.
Now, after doing this national service scribing to pep everyone UP,
can I go back, or Down Under, to forty winks again?
RM1,069,000,000,000
Malaysia's annual total trade breaks RM1 trillion mark for the first time
09 Feb 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia took a giant leap as a trading nation when its trade registered a historically unprecedented volume: breaching RM1 trillion for 2006.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said Malaysia’s trade totalled RM1.069 trillion — a 10.5 per cent growth over the previous year.
This, he said, surpassed by 50 per cent the estimated seven per cent global growth projected by the World Trade Organisation for last year.
Exports expanded by 10.3 per cent to RM588.95 billion while imports grew by 10.7 per cent to RM480.49 billion.
In a statement issued by his office, the prime minister was exultant, saying: "It is an inspiring achievement.
"Although our country has faced numerous challenges, in particular the financial crisis in 1997 and a global economic downturn in 2001 and 2002, we have successfully coped with these upheavals and continued to perform well."
The facts:
• The highest ever trade surplus registered — RM108.46 billion — making it the 110th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997;
• Exports grew by 10.3 per cent to RM588.95 billion in all the major sectors — manufacturing, agriculture, minerals and fuel; and
• Imports grew by 10.7 per cent to RM480.49 billion, reflecting the demand by a strong manufacturing sector.
Abdullah said a breakdown of the figures showed that the trade profile had undergone significant changes in the last two decades.
• In 1987, more than half — or 53.4 per cent — of total trade came from commodities such as crude oil, timber, palm oil and rubber and manufactured goods accounted for 14 per cent of total exports.
One decade later — in 1997 — the profile changed again.
Commodities contributed only 17 per cent while manufacturing became the mainstay, contributing to 78.5 per cent of total trade.
"This reflects Malaysia’s industrial development and emphasises the strength of the manufacturing sector in enhancing the country’s exports," Abdullah said.
The other significant profile change has been in Malaysia’s trading partners, he said.
In 1987, Malaysia’s trade was largely confined to advanced economies such as Japan, the United States and Europe.
Ten years ago, while still maintaining the important trade ties with the advanced economies, Malaysia widened its portfolio to grow trade with Asean countries, West Asia and China.
It also expanded trade with developing economies in Latin America, South Asia and Eastern Europe.
The result — sustained trade growth — averaging 10.8 per cent on an annualised basis between 1997 and 2006.
The record trade growth comes on the back of increasingly positive economic data in recent months which, coupled with more business-friendly policies and development plans, has attracted foreign investors in droves to Malaysia.
The stock market has made a significant leap since the 1998 regional economic crisis with the benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) closing at 1,245.36 points yesterday against 262.7 points on Jan 9, 1998.
Gross Domestic Product is estimated at RM277.2 billion last year against RM182.2 billion in 1998 while foreign direct investments reached RM17.88 billion in 2005 from RM13.06 billion in 1998.
Yesterday, Deutsche Bank head of equities research Teoh Su Yin briefed newsmen in Kuala Lumpur, saying although the KLCI has risen by some 27 per cent since November last year, the market still has room for expansion.
____________________________________________________
DEsi: Just to add the right flavour
to the dawn of another Chinoseerrie year,
here's what a BACHELOR BOY has to say:
Cliff Richard & THE SHADOWS
03/01/1963 - 3 weeks at #1 - 18 weeks on chart
When I was young my father said
Son I have something to say
And what he told me I'll never forget
Until my dying day
He said son you are a bachelor boy
And that's the way to stay
Son you'll be a bachelor boy
Until your dying day
When I was 16 I fell in love
With a girl as sweet as can be
But I remembered just in time
What my daddy said to me
He said son you are a bachelor boy
And that's the way to stay
Son you'll be a bachelor boy
Until your dying day
As time goes by I probably will
Meet a girl and fall in love
Then I'll get married have a wife and a child
And they'll be my turtle doves
But until then I'll be a bachelor boy
And that's the way I'll stay
Happy to be a bachelor boy
Until my dying day
Yeah, I'll be a bachelor boy
And that's the way I'll stay
Happy to be a bachelor boy
Until my dying day
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Walk The Talk, Mr PM, Talk Time Is Over!
myGOoDfriends Howsy and Maverick have kept a watchdog record -- in gold colour summore! -- of the TIMES the Prime Minister has been urging his Under-lings and the public servants to WALK THE TALK. Go see it at howsy.blogspot.com
(Cut Red Tape, Walk The Talk, Work With Me...Haven't We Had Enough of These Already?
He wants to cut...")
and also link to maverickysm.blogspot.com.
Three years and three months into the premiership, Pak Lah has finally set up another TASK FORCE to speed things up, especially in the delivery systems. And take good care of the country's economy -- which is healthy, dead, or dying, depending on who's talking.
It can't be healthy IF it's dead or dying.
It can't be dead if it's healthy.
It may be dying then if it's not healthy or dead.
So Desi'll go for "dying" as the most plausible, independent view of our country's present state of affairs. The booming stock market in the past two weeks notwithstanding.
DOING A STRAW POLL, and you're likelyt to find:
Ask the pensioners. They can't cope with rising costs and inflation on stagnant take- home pensions.
Ask the unemployed/underemployed graduates. They can't get a decent job wth a decent pay. Many then opt to go overseas to try their luck.
Ask the employed graduates. They are being paid peanuts compared with Singapore's counterparts. Absolute salaries in the island republic are at least two times higher in comparable jobs, without the currency conversion, but note that one SG$ is worth 2.5 times the RM.
Ask the unemployed, the housewives and the rural and suburban children. They are left to "fend for themslves" -- SOON THE COUNTRY'S CRIME SCENE WILL BECOME MORE PROBLEMATIC, AND SOCIAL ILLS WILL JUMP.
ASK THE Ah Long: BUSINESS IS NEVER SO GOOD. BUT COLLECTION IS A BIG AND GROWING PROBLEM, SO WE HAVE TO RESORT TO VIOLENCE!
DEsi's advice to fellow Malaysians: Sit tight for five years and Let Pak Lah continue Talking. You are so masochistic you will still give hime 80% of the mandate by voting BN again come the next General Elections.
Meanwhie, look at that sole GEM among the appointees to the PM's latest initiative to move the quite immovable government machinery unless you oil it with the right type of grease, or izit currency?
The NST frontpage
Delivery time:
Task force to speed up reform, boost growth
08 Feb 2007
After months of expressing frustration at the lethargic pace of reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday named a high-powered 23-member task force to promote faster reform in the delivery system.
THE TASK: Overhaul archaic procedures and unnecessary bureaucratic red-tape.
THE OBJECTIVE: Enhance economic activity.
KUALA LUMPUR: A high-powered 23-member task force, handpicked from the public and private sectors, was set up yesterday to promote faster reform in the country’s delivery system and enhance economic activity.
After months of expressing frustration at the lethargic pace of reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday named the task force — which reports directly to him — to facilitate business and overhaul archaic and unnecessary licensing and bureaucratic procedures.
The task force will be jointly headed by chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and, from the private sector, by Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president, Datuk Yong Poh Kon.
The other members are 12 top civil servants from ministries engaged in dealing with businesses and the public, and nine leading private sector individuals.
:
:
The task force will be called Pemudah, the Bahasa Malaysia acronym for Special Task Force To Facilitate Business.
:
:
:
DESIDERATA: My dear EsteemedReaders, why do I term CHUA TIA GUAN, Economic Survey Unit Head, ASSOCIATED CHINESE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF MALYSIA, a GEM?
KLUE: Thorn among the roses...
Let's wish him luck. He represents the common man, but methinks CHUA TIA GUAN's WILL BE A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.
THree years from now, they will consider setting upa Special Committeee to study the TASK FORCES established to date. Maybe Citizen Nades has got a list?
OR brother Howsy and Mave, not YOU again! :):)
I'll take leave now and go check if Rip van Winkle is ready for a joint CON BF with Desi!:)
I'M TIRED
Verily, verily I say again
I'm very tired:
of all the sound and fury
especially the sound of Walk With Me
We Will Walk, and YOU can Talk To Me too
We will be angry
We will be enraged
we will show our righteous fury
At the underlings who do not perform
Call up that Close-One-Eyed fellow
Call up that Datuk Zakaria
Give them sa shelling, Mr Deputy PM,
Mr Menteri Besar, will you!
But also give them another chance-lah
But let's give them another day
to buck up
But the buck stops near here
Now let's go back to
40
winks
Plus another 40 winks
just for olde times' sake.
(Cut Red Tape, Walk The Talk, Work With Me...Haven't We Had Enough of These Already?
He wants to cut...")
and also link to maverickysm.blogspot.com.
Three years and three months into the premiership, Pak Lah has finally set up another TASK FORCE to speed things up, especially in the delivery systems. And take good care of the country's economy -- which is healthy, dead, or dying, depending on who's talking.
It can't be healthy IF it's dead or dying.
It can't be dead if it's healthy.
It may be dying then if it's not healthy or dead.
So Desi'll go for "dying" as the most plausible, independent view of our country's present state of affairs. The booming stock market in the past two weeks notwithstanding.
DOING A STRAW POLL, and you're likelyt to find:
Ask the pensioners. They can't cope with rising costs and inflation on stagnant take- home pensions.
Ask the unemployed/underemployed graduates. They can't get a decent job wth a decent pay. Many then opt to go overseas to try their luck.
Ask the employed graduates. They are being paid peanuts compared with Singapore's counterparts. Absolute salaries in the island republic are at least two times higher in comparable jobs, without the currency conversion, but note that one SG$ is worth 2.5 times the RM.
Ask the unemployed, the housewives and the rural and suburban children. They are left to "fend for themslves" -- SOON THE COUNTRY'S CRIME SCENE WILL BECOME MORE PROBLEMATIC, AND SOCIAL ILLS WILL JUMP.
ASK THE Ah Long: BUSINESS IS NEVER SO GOOD. BUT COLLECTION IS A BIG AND GROWING PROBLEM, SO WE HAVE TO RESORT TO VIOLENCE!
DEsi's advice to fellow Malaysians: Sit tight for five years and Let Pak Lah continue Talking. You are so masochistic you will still give hime 80% of the mandate by voting BN again come the next General Elections.
Meanwhie, look at that sole GEM among the appointees to the PM's latest initiative to move the quite immovable government machinery unless you oil it with the right type of grease, or izit currency?
The NST frontpage
Delivery time:
Task force to speed up reform, boost growth
08 Feb 2007
After months of expressing frustration at the lethargic pace of reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday named a high-powered 23-member task force to promote faster reform in the delivery system.
THE TASK: Overhaul archaic procedures and unnecessary bureaucratic red-tape.
THE OBJECTIVE: Enhance economic activity.
KUALA LUMPUR: A high-powered 23-member task force, handpicked from the public and private sectors, was set up yesterday to promote faster reform in the country’s delivery system and enhance economic activity.
After months of expressing frustration at the lethargic pace of reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday named the task force — which reports directly to him — to facilitate business and overhaul archaic and unnecessary licensing and bureaucratic procedures.
The task force will be jointly headed by chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and, from the private sector, by Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president, Datuk Yong Poh Kon.
The other members are 12 top civil servants from ministries engaged in dealing with businesses and the public, and nine leading private sector individuals.
:
:
The task force will be called Pemudah, the Bahasa Malaysia acronym for Special Task Force To Facilitate Business.
:
:
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DESIDERATA: My dear EsteemedReaders, why do I term CHUA TIA GUAN, Economic Survey Unit Head, ASSOCIATED CHINESE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF MALYSIA, a GEM?
KLUE: Thorn among the roses...
Let's wish him luck. He represents the common man, but methinks CHUA TIA GUAN's WILL BE A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.
THree years from now, they will consider setting upa Special Committeee to study the TASK FORCES established to date. Maybe Citizen Nades has got a list?
OR brother Howsy and Mave, not YOU again! :):)
I'll take leave now and go check if Rip van Winkle is ready for a joint CON BF with Desi!:)
I'M TIRED
Verily, verily I say again
I'm very tired:
of all the sound and fury
especially the sound of Walk With Me
We Will Walk, and YOU can Talk To Me too
We will be angry
We will be enraged
we will show our righteous fury
At the underlings who do not perform
Call up that Close-One-Eyed fellow
Call up that Datuk Zakaria
Give them sa shelling, Mr Deputy PM,
Mr Menteri Besar, will you!
But also give them another chance-lah
But let's give them another day
to buck up
But the buck stops near here
Now let's go back to
40
winks
Plus another 40 winks
just for olde times' sake.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Anwar declares he won't rejoin UMNO
I'm reprising an item from Malaysia-Today run by Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and I like the spirit of the host's writing Without Fear Or Favour. I urge all Bloggers, and Commenters too, to emulate this example. Write in your own name or pseudonym linked to a persona with a webpage. Be proud of your ownership of your ideas -- your own intellectual property, Yes/No? Before I proceed to the former DPM's latest statement on his political moves, let me deal with an outstanding issue in Blogosphere I had "held in abeyance" for a few days.
It's "ABOUT US" in the relatively new "Walk Witn Us" weblog and I had visited them and commented there TWICE, and had thrown a challenge at the people beind this initiative. This weblog started as a direct response to the two defamation suits against JeffOoi of Screenshots and Ahiruddin Attan of Rockybru's.
Whe I logged onto to walkwithus.wordpress.com, I had expected to be acquainted with the NAMES OF PEOPLE behind the brave and bold act. ABOUT US? What about you?
When we wish to fight any battle, COME OUT IN THE OPEN. Don't be a guerilla, or terrorist. I believe Malaysia is still an infant democracy worth nursing, worth grooming, okay, WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
So, show your face and be responsible and accountable.
WWU, You sound the clarion call to line up and join the forces. Yes, I would like to join you too, officially, but while I reveal my true identity Desiderata-YL Chong (aka Chong Yen Long), you hide behind the clouds of anonymity.
Can I completely trust you in your Anonymity?
NO. I have had experienced several "AP" encounters -- Agent Provocateur -- visitors to my Blog, as well as detected at other Blogs, who subtly come into blogosphere to SUBVERT genuine discourse in democratic spirit. I reproduce your caution "Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”
AND I ACT IN FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF THY ADVICE. Hence, my challenge.
The challenge was thrown days ago, BUT TO DATE, NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN SIGHTED!
And I reproduce my first Comment there, with a PS, as it is self-explanatory:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two extracts at walkwithus.wordpress.com at its Maiden Post ABOUT US~~~~~~~~~~~~
ylchong Says:
January 26th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Desi is reproducing his humble Comment made yesterday (Jan 23, 2007) at the said referred site because I truly feel this subject is of utmost concern to ALL BLOGGERS — veteran, few years old like Desi, newbies alike — and I stress that my views are just One Concerned Blogger’s, and there is enough room for diversity and divergence of opinions. As I posted earlier: “Blogger’s Realm as Diverse as Journalists’”
ylchong Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Jeff Ooi and Ahiruddin Atan are actual persons who dare to reveal true IDs. Any initiative on their Cause also must reveal their true IDs, otherwise what standards are you following o=if not these TWO LEADERS?
You guys state as if we Bloggers in Malaysia are caught in a Cloak&Dagger situation, to wit:“Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”
Take a look in the mirror, you already have planted the seeds of fear and suspicion where in the first instance, there was NONE with me as a blogger who was inspired by Jeff and I started blogging 1-3/4years ago with my ID fully revealed.
I throw back this challenge to you: Show true grit, otherwise, cease and desisit because you can not rise to the clalenge (dilemma) faced by the owners of Screenshots (Jeff) and RockyBru.
PS: I’m RE-sending this (with original copy, typos and all!) as my first one did NOT appear since first posting. Hope I’m lucky second time around.~~ Desi
ylchong Says:
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:06 am
PPS:
I wil join the walk officially if the Movers behind this initiative today declare their identities.
DELETE this paragraph-lah: “This blogsite is set up by a group of Malaysians, scattered locally and globally, who are gravely concerned with the current state of affairs in Malaysia. However, due to occupational hazards and our job security, we have to remain anonymous to the public, but we will keep a small circle of selected bloggers informed of who we are, and what we do. This is our strategic option at the moment. Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.” from above Post as my Challenge! as we also follow Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s credo,
“Writing without Fear or Favour”!
PPS added: 2.06pm Ferb3, 2007
___________Ends two expracts of my Comments at "WalkWithUs"_____________
Okay, back to Anwar. Before you read the item, let me decalre: I AM A SUPPORTER OF Parti Keadilan Malaysia. Nothing to be shy about.
How about "ABOUT US" in WalkWithUs, coy and cowardly as handmaidens of some cloak-and-dagger operations? You advised me, and I reprise again: ""Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”~~~~~~~
And I'm doing JUST that, not trusting you fellows unless, and until, you reveal your true identities! ~~ Desi @chongyl2000@yahoo.com ; HP? 012-0702285.
____________________________________________
07/02: Malaysia's Anwar rules out rejoining ruling party
Category: General Posted by: Raja Petra
(Bloomberg) -- Anwar Ibrahim, a former Malaysian deputy premier planning a return to politics, ruled out rejoining the party he was once poised to lead, even as some analysts say that's his only viable route to power.
Anwar, the heir to former premier Mahathir Mohamad until the 1997 Asian financial crisis, said he plans to challenge the ruling United Malays National Organization rather than join the party from which he was ousted the following year.
"I am committed to a reform agenda, UMNO is not,'' he said in an interview from Bangkok today. "Why does one insist that I should rejoin UMNO purely for political expediency.''
Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who led a coalition of parties to victory in 2004, must call an election by early 2009. Anwar, who turns 60 this year, has insufficient public support to mount a challenge, according to political analyst Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.
"Deep down in his heart, he knows full well that given the situation of the opposition, they are not at all ready to give a formidable fight,'' said Ishak, a professor of politics at Universiti Utara Malaysia in the northern state of Kedah.
Anwar said he'll stand for a seat with his People's Justice Party, as part of what he called a "coalition of opposition.''
Anwar, who was finance minister between 1991 and 1998, is an adviser to the People's Justice Party. It is currently led by his wife and holds the seat of Permatang Pauh in Penang, western Malaysia.
Alternative Leader
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad recruited Anwar for UMNO in 1982 and groomed him to take over until the Asian financial crisis. Anwar, who called for reform then, was dismissed by his boss and imprisoned for almost six years on corruption and sodomy charges.
Malaysia's Federal Court, the highest court of appeal, quashed the sodomy conviction in 2004, although it upheld the corruption charge, which means Anwar cannot run for public office until 2008. Anwar has called the corruption and sodomy charges a conspiracy to destroy his political career.
Anwar, who described his relations with Abdullah as "cordial,'' declined to say whether his goal is to become Malaysia's prime minister.
"Whether we are going to make it, or win or not, whether we are going to contest, or anyone to be chosen as an alternative prime minister, that is not the issue at hand for the present,'' he said in the interview.
Some analysts aren't convinced. Anwar's return may yet see him stand for his wife's seat at the next election and switch to UMNO during the following five-year parliament, said Terence Chong, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.
"He'll try and find his way back to UMNO,'' Chong said. "If you're an Anwar supporter within UMNO, you're going to hold your cards close to your chest.''
DESI: That "Chong" quoted in the Bloomberg story is NOT related to YLChong!
It's "ABOUT US" in the relatively new "Walk Witn Us" weblog and I had visited them and commented there TWICE, and had thrown a challenge at the people beind this initiative. This weblog started as a direct response to the two defamation suits against JeffOoi of Screenshots and Ahiruddin Attan of Rockybru's.
Whe I logged onto to walkwithus.wordpress.com, I had expected to be acquainted with the NAMES OF PEOPLE behind the brave and bold act. ABOUT US? What about you?
When we wish to fight any battle, COME OUT IN THE OPEN. Don't be a guerilla, or terrorist. I believe Malaysia is still an infant democracy worth nursing, worth grooming, okay, WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
So, show your face and be responsible and accountable.
WWU, You sound the clarion call to line up and join the forces. Yes, I would like to join you too, officially, but while I reveal my true identity Desiderata-YL Chong (aka Chong Yen Long), you hide behind the clouds of anonymity.
Can I completely trust you in your Anonymity?
NO. I have had experienced several "AP" encounters -- Agent Provocateur -- visitors to my Blog, as well as detected at other Blogs, who subtly come into blogosphere to SUBVERT genuine discourse in democratic spirit. I reproduce your caution "Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”
AND I ACT IN FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF THY ADVICE. Hence, my challenge.
The challenge was thrown days ago, BUT TO DATE, NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN SIGHTED!
And I reproduce my first Comment there, with a PS, as it is self-explanatory:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two extracts at walkwithus.wordpress.com at its Maiden Post ABOUT US~~~~~~~~~~~~
ylchong Says:
January 26th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Desi is reproducing his humble Comment made yesterday (Jan 23, 2007) at the said referred site because I truly feel this subject is of utmost concern to ALL BLOGGERS — veteran, few years old like Desi, newbies alike — and I stress that my views are just One Concerned Blogger’s, and there is enough room for diversity and divergence of opinions. As I posted earlier: “Blogger’s Realm as Diverse as Journalists’”
ylchong Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Jeff Ooi and Ahiruddin Atan are actual persons who dare to reveal true IDs. Any initiative on their Cause also must reveal their true IDs, otherwise what standards are you following o=if not these TWO LEADERS?
You guys state as if we Bloggers in Malaysia are caught in a Cloak&Dagger situation, to wit:“Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”
Take a look in the mirror, you already have planted the seeds of fear and suspicion where in the first instance, there was NONE with me as a blogger who was inspired by Jeff and I started blogging 1-3/4years ago with my ID fully revealed.
I throw back this challenge to you: Show true grit, otherwise, cease and desisit because you can not rise to the clalenge (dilemma) faced by the owners of Screenshots (Jeff) and RockyBru.
PS: I’m RE-sending this (with original copy, typos and all!) as my first one did NOT appear since first posting. Hope I’m lucky second time around.~~ Desi
ylchong Says:
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:06 am
PPS:
I wil join the walk officially if the Movers behind this initiative today declare their identities.
DELETE this paragraph-lah: “This blogsite is set up by a group of Malaysians, scattered locally and globally, who are gravely concerned with the current state of affairs in Malaysia. However, due to occupational hazards and our job security, we have to remain anonymous to the public, but we will keep a small circle of selected bloggers informed of who we are, and what we do. This is our strategic option at the moment. Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.” from above Post as my Challenge! as we also follow Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s credo,
“Writing without Fear or Favour”!
PPS added: 2.06pm Ferb3, 2007
___________Ends two expracts of my Comments at "WalkWithUs"_____________
Okay, back to Anwar. Before you read the item, let me decalre: I AM A SUPPORTER OF Parti Keadilan Malaysia. Nothing to be shy about.
How about "ABOUT US" in WalkWithUs, coy and cowardly as handmaidens of some cloak-and-dagger operations? You advised me, and I reprise again: ""Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”~~~~~~~
And I'm doing JUST that, not trusting you fellows unless, and until, you reveal your true identities! ~~ Desi @chongyl2000@yahoo.com ; HP? 012-0702285.
____________________________________________
07/02: Malaysia's Anwar rules out rejoining ruling party
Category: General Posted by: Raja Petra
(Bloomberg) -- Anwar Ibrahim, a former Malaysian deputy premier planning a return to politics, ruled out rejoining the party he was once poised to lead, even as some analysts say that's his only viable route to power.
Anwar, the heir to former premier Mahathir Mohamad until the 1997 Asian financial crisis, said he plans to challenge the ruling United Malays National Organization rather than join the party from which he was ousted the following year.
"I am committed to a reform agenda, UMNO is not,'' he said in an interview from Bangkok today. "Why does one insist that I should rejoin UMNO purely for political expediency.''
Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who led a coalition of parties to victory in 2004, must call an election by early 2009. Anwar, who turns 60 this year, has insufficient public support to mount a challenge, according to political analyst Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.
"Deep down in his heart, he knows full well that given the situation of the opposition, they are not at all ready to give a formidable fight,'' said Ishak, a professor of politics at Universiti Utara Malaysia in the northern state of Kedah.
Anwar said he'll stand for a seat with his People's Justice Party, as part of what he called a "coalition of opposition.''
Anwar, who was finance minister between 1991 and 1998, is an adviser to the People's Justice Party. It is currently led by his wife and holds the seat of Permatang Pauh in Penang, western Malaysia.
Alternative Leader
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad recruited Anwar for UMNO in 1982 and groomed him to take over until the Asian financial crisis. Anwar, who called for reform then, was dismissed by his boss and imprisoned for almost six years on corruption and sodomy charges.
Malaysia's Federal Court, the highest court of appeal, quashed the sodomy conviction in 2004, although it upheld the corruption charge, which means Anwar cannot run for public office until 2008. Anwar has called the corruption and sodomy charges a conspiracy to destroy his political career.
Anwar, who described his relations with Abdullah as "cordial,'' declined to say whether his goal is to become Malaysia's prime minister.
"Whether we are going to make it, or win or not, whether we are going to contest, or anyone to be chosen as an alternative prime minister, that is not the issue at hand for the present,'' he said in the interview.
Some analysts aren't convinced. Anwar's return may yet see him stand for his wife's seat at the next election and switch to UMNO during the following five-year parliament, said Terence Chong, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.
"He'll try and find his way back to UMNO,'' Chong said. "If you're an Anwar supporter within UMNO, you're going to hold your cards close to your chest.''
DESI: That "Chong" quoted in the Bloomberg story is NOT related to YLChong!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Two local and one foreign and one Mine!
Start off with the most dear to you, can I presume, my deer?
If wronly assumed, I pray for thy forgetfulness, and my own forgiftnurse, no fear. Amen.
(PAUSE, thinking of awe the femail readers who follow my blockhead 'rites...) Ah-wo'men.
Tuesday's Child is full of grace
But one-none-too-shy TwistedHeels says she's not fool
Desi replies: 'tis Gracefool of thee telling in my face
I like it, forthright and frank, just as ranking
Amore than han Princess Grace, though God bless her soul
She's looking down as us mortals from H'aven smiling
Unlike my dies, nowadays Girls are so bold. Lol and B'hold!
~~ DEsi on inspiration statistically impoosibly short time
twist 11.38am-11.41am Feb 6, 2007
Local1:
Lies, damned lies, and statistics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This well-known saying is part of a phrase attributed to Benjamin Disraeli and popularized in the U.S. by Mark Twain:
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." The semi-ironic statement refers to the persuasive power of numbers, and succinctly describes how even accurate statistics can be used to bolster inaccurate arguments.
Recent research indicates that neither Disraeli nor Twain actually coined the phrase. DEsi: Amore later, okay!***
From the New Straits Times, frontpage:
State of the economy:
How healthy is it really?
THE STATISTICS
SHOW IT'S
STRONGER
THAN EVER...
>> P4/5
Economy now and more
resilient than ever
By Adeline Paul Raj and Rupa Damodaran
Malaysian firms
marching into
foreign markets
Surprise,
success
stories
of GLCs
EPF declares 5.15 per cent dividend
DESI: I won't reproduce the stories as I believe you should not scrimp (Is that the right word in your vocab, Mr Scrooge) on RM1.20. Forego one kopi or tehtarik -- like Teh=See! -- and you'd be healtheir for it! Your brain cells too. I speak from XXperience, as I'm no doc. Dog-gone year is almost gonna. Woof, woof. Reminds me of Secret Se&en, but why am I rambling. Digression is good for thy soul, Drs Desi says.
And what is "Drs" you may ask? OKay I tell you -- One famous Datuk Bandar had a Masters which entitles him a "Drs" but he conveniently droped the "ass", and hey, presto, he was quoted as a Dr for a decade or so. If ++Mark Twain was alive, he would have whispered. "What an "ass" the city major maketh of his major in masterly education." But that's atributed to YL Chong, for I am not the late Mark's tw'in... Oh, no, or he might sue me for raising his status to above six feet under-the-ground!
"Suing, my dear American mGf, is now a favourite Malaysian passe time.
No wonder the lawyers are all half-broke. Don't fix it yet!"
++By the way, Mark Twain also said this about AGE: "Age is a matter of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Okay, back to the NST frontpage, I reprise one statistic only and pose a question, can?
KLCI Index
9/1/98 262.7pts
>>>
YESTERDAY
1,225.73pts
QUESTION: Why pick 9/1/98 as base for comparison when the local bourse fell to its lowest level?
Why not pick Nov 1, 2003 -- The day Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister?
I now rest my case. Actually, mainly to rest my tired arms and fingers. I need to conserve the energy to count my Fingers for that number of fRiends, rising and falling likie ta stock market. But my range is small: 1 to 10 only. Maybe 11 to 20 when I graduate to counting the toes.
Oh, I forgot ~~ can I quote a second statistic?
EPF declares
5.15%
dividend
QUESTION: In the good years, I rmember EPF was declaring 6.5% to 7.5%, Yes/No?
I appeal to my older EsteemedReaders (Esteemed here doesn't refer to you being "more in age", I accord the same respect to Young and Old Articulates!) to tell me on this point, can?
If the memory recall is correct, then my sext Q: So what's the big deal of this latest dividend of 5.15%??
NOTE: (I normally advise my readers NOT to put two ? marks like this ??, but I make an exception because...) To be frank as TwistedHeels, my logic this mourn is also twisted, although my heels are healed. In fact, I just told a lie 'cos in the first place, my heels were not twisted. So how can a Drs become a Dr?
Local2:
I seldom blog on Business stories in my Comentaries, but this one is serious.
Digressing alittle, the Government has begun shutting citizens and the Opposition leaders up by using the official Secrets Act. As a result, NegaruKu relies on news on the grapevine -- yes, RUMOURS. Rumour has it that Malaysia thrives, even prospers on rumour-mongering, so much so INNOCENT, and NO-SO-INOCENT, parties are caught in its WEB. www is what? Wild Wild West in Desi's cowboy days, and aweOfHelen was a Cowgal. Who played RedIndianaJones here? Housey, Anak Merdeka and Mave, I hear?
From NST again,
Kurnia victim of
smear campaign, says MD
February 6 2007
KURNIA Asia Bhd, Malaysia largest general insurer, says it is the victim of an "organised" smear campaign that claims the firm is in trouble.
Its managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Loh Heong Chow has denied the allegations and it has filed reports with the authorities, including the police.
In recent weeks, certain parties had been distributing flyers and sending anonymous short text messages (SMS), telling Kurnia's agents, customers and the public to cancel their existing policies with the insurer.
"We have lodged police reports regarding this matter and we have also reported the matter to the relevant authorities such as Bank Negara Malaysia which is the regulator of the industry and the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM)," Loh said.
The company came to know of the campaign about two or three weeks ago when its agents received the SMS and flyers.
The contents in the flyer and the SMS claimed that Kurnia was facing "problems" and warned that failure to terminate would lead to unsuccessful insurance claims.
Kurnia has lodged four separate police reports in Ipoh, Kuantan, Kota Baru and Kuala Terengganu.
Loh said he had been told the police are currently investigating the matter.
However, he added that the smear campaign had no direct impact on Kurnia's business. "Its business as usual," said Loh.
Kurnia is Malaysia's and South-East Asia's largest general insurer with premiums exceeding RM1 billion.
Loh said Kurnia is in a strong financial position with an asset base of RM2 billion.
He urged the public to ignore such messages and flyers and said Kurnia's policyholders should call its 24-hour Kurnia Auto Assist hotline should they encounter any problems.
Kurnia will start a series of advertisements soon to provide the public with better information on the company as well as to reassure its 3.5 million policyholders.
DESIDERATA: I won't comment anything but advise my ER: Please refrain from spreading rumours. If you are bold, do a Raja Petra Kamaruddin, post them up in a Blog, and be answerable and accountable. OtherVice, Cease and Desist.
I'm beginning to sound like a Lawyer, but that's Maverick's terrotry. My forte is in writHing, just as one Freeluncher, who adred to cover "Crimilising WAr" while I advocated "Crimilising Sex" and Mave took Desi seriously.
Hey, what's this life IF, full of care,
We have not time to stand and stare.
TO watch preety lasses go by,
And say: HI! and with a sigh
Come into my chamber, if you dare!
NB:
Lest someone wanna take Desi to court fro Plagiarism
Which is becoming a pasttime in Malaysian folklorism
That four lines above are influenced by WH DAVIES
who was authoring too much Leisure
under the swaying coconut tree
And Rumour has it he was thinking about Gravity
how come poets say: Til rivers flow upstream
and lovers can cease to dream?
(Challenging Einstein's, NO, it's Newton's, yeled THeels,
laws of Gravity, so gravely, gravelly. Bravely.
Foreign1:
On his first job as a newspaper reporter, Mark
Twain was told by his editor never to state
anything as fact thathe couldn't verify by per-
sonal knowledge. Twain hen went out to
cover a small-town social event and tunred in
the following story: "A woman giving the
name of Mrs. James Jones, who is reported to
be one of the society leaders of the city, is said
to have given what purported to be a party
yesterday to a number of alleged ladies. The
hostess claims to be the wife of a reputed at-
torney."
PS: Don't take me to court for 2Plagiarism,
I need the measly reporter's pay to get my daily hi and low.
But if you ask Desi what source to quote the above Twainism,
I must submit it's from author unkwoen, perhaps a Desi-Puaper?
It's from Page 19, THE LITTLE BOOK OF FAMOUS INSULTS,
TOPPAN/PETER PAUPER TIE 1084
If wronly assumed, I pray for thy forgetfulness, and my own forgiftnurse, no fear. Amen.
(PAUSE, thinking of awe the femail readers who follow my blockhead 'rites...) Ah-wo'men.
Tuesday's Child is full of grace
But one-none-too-shy TwistedHeels says she's not fool
Desi replies: 'tis Gracefool of thee telling in my face
I like it, forthright and frank, just as ranking
Amore than han Princess Grace, though God bless her soul
She's looking down as us mortals from H'aven smiling
Unlike my dies, nowadays Girls are so bold. Lol and B'hold!
~~ DEsi on inspiration statistically impoosibly short time
twist 11.38am-11.41am Feb 6, 2007
Local1:
Lies, damned lies, and statistics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This well-known saying is part of a phrase attributed to Benjamin Disraeli and popularized in the U.S. by Mark Twain:
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." The semi-ironic statement refers to the persuasive power of numbers, and succinctly describes how even accurate statistics can be used to bolster inaccurate arguments.
Recent research indicates that neither Disraeli nor Twain actually coined the phrase. DEsi: Amore later, okay!***
From the New Straits Times, frontpage:
State of the economy:
How healthy is it really?
THE STATISTICS
SHOW IT'S
STRONGER
THAN EVER...
>> P4/5
Economy now and more
resilient than ever
By Adeline Paul Raj and Rupa Damodaran
Malaysian firms
marching into
foreign markets
Surprise,
success
stories
of GLCs
EPF declares 5.15 per cent dividend
DESI: I won't reproduce the stories as I believe you should not scrimp (Is that the right word in your vocab, Mr Scrooge) on RM1.20. Forego one kopi or tehtarik -- like Teh=See! -- and you'd be healtheir for it! Your brain cells too. I speak from XXperience, as I'm no doc. Dog-gone year is almost gonna. Woof, woof. Reminds me of Secret Se&en, but why am I rambling. Digression is good for thy soul, Drs Desi says.
And what is "Drs" you may ask? OKay I tell you -- One famous Datuk Bandar had a Masters which entitles him a "Drs" but he conveniently droped the "ass", and hey, presto, he was quoted as a Dr for a decade or so. If ++Mark Twain was alive, he would have whispered. "What an "ass" the city major maketh of his major in masterly education." But that's atributed to YL Chong, for I am not the late Mark's tw'in... Oh, no, or he might sue me for raising his status to above six feet under-the-ground!
"Suing, my dear American mGf, is now a favourite Malaysian passe time.
No wonder the lawyers are all half-broke. Don't fix it yet!"
++By the way, Mark Twain also said this about AGE: "Age is a matter of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Okay, back to the NST frontpage, I reprise one statistic only and pose a question, can?
KLCI Index
9/1/98 262.7pts
>>>
YESTERDAY
1,225.73pts
QUESTION: Why pick 9/1/98 as base for comparison when the local bourse fell to its lowest level?
Why not pick Nov 1, 2003 -- The day Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister?
I now rest my case. Actually, mainly to rest my tired arms and fingers. I need to conserve the energy to count my Fingers for that number of fRiends, rising and falling likie ta stock market. But my range is small: 1 to 10 only. Maybe 11 to 20 when I graduate to counting the toes.
Oh, I forgot ~~ can I quote a second statistic?
EPF declares
5.15%
dividend
QUESTION: In the good years, I rmember EPF was declaring 6.5% to 7.5%, Yes/No?
I appeal to my older EsteemedReaders (Esteemed here doesn't refer to you being "more in age", I accord the same respect to Young and Old Articulates!) to tell me on this point, can?
If the memory recall is correct, then my sext Q: So what's the big deal of this latest dividend of 5.15%??
NOTE: (I normally advise my readers NOT to put two ? marks like this ??, but I make an exception because...) To be frank as TwistedHeels, my logic this mourn is also twisted, although my heels are healed. In fact, I just told a lie 'cos in the first place, my heels were not twisted. So how can a Drs become a Dr?
Local2:
I seldom blog on Business stories in my Comentaries, but this one is serious.
Digressing alittle, the Government has begun shutting citizens and the Opposition leaders up by using the official Secrets Act. As a result, NegaruKu relies on news on the grapevine -- yes, RUMOURS. Rumour has it that Malaysia thrives, even prospers on rumour-mongering, so much so INNOCENT, and NO-SO-INOCENT, parties are caught in its WEB. www is what? Wild Wild West in Desi's cowboy days, and aweOfHelen was a Cowgal. Who played RedIndianaJones here? Housey, Anak Merdeka and Mave, I hear?
From NST again,
Kurnia victim of
smear campaign, says MD
February 6 2007
KURNIA Asia Bhd, Malaysia largest general insurer, says it is the victim of an "organised" smear campaign that claims the firm is in trouble.
Its managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Loh Heong Chow has denied the allegations and it has filed reports with the authorities, including the police.
In recent weeks, certain parties had been distributing flyers and sending anonymous short text messages (SMS), telling Kurnia's agents, customers and the public to cancel their existing policies with the insurer.
"We have lodged police reports regarding this matter and we have also reported the matter to the relevant authorities such as Bank Negara Malaysia which is the regulator of the industry and the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM)," Loh said.
The company came to know of the campaign about two or three weeks ago when its agents received the SMS and flyers.
The contents in the flyer and the SMS claimed that Kurnia was facing "problems" and warned that failure to terminate would lead to unsuccessful insurance claims.
Kurnia has lodged four separate police reports in Ipoh, Kuantan, Kota Baru and Kuala Terengganu.
Loh said he had been told the police are currently investigating the matter.
However, he added that the smear campaign had no direct impact on Kurnia's business. "Its business as usual," said Loh.
Kurnia is Malaysia's and South-East Asia's largest general insurer with premiums exceeding RM1 billion.
Loh said Kurnia is in a strong financial position with an asset base of RM2 billion.
He urged the public to ignore such messages and flyers and said Kurnia's policyholders should call its 24-hour Kurnia Auto Assist hotline should they encounter any problems.
Kurnia will start a series of advertisements soon to provide the public with better information on the company as well as to reassure its 3.5 million policyholders.
DESIDERATA: I won't comment anything but advise my ER: Please refrain from spreading rumours. If you are bold, do a Raja Petra Kamaruddin, post them up in a Blog, and be answerable and accountable. OtherVice, Cease and Desist.
I'm beginning to sound like a Lawyer, but that's Maverick's terrotry. My forte is in writHing, just as one Freeluncher, who adred to cover "Crimilising WAr" while I advocated "Crimilising Sex" and Mave took Desi seriously.
Hey, what's this life IF, full of care,
We have not time to stand and stare.
TO watch preety lasses go by,
And say: HI! and with a sigh
Come into my chamber, if you dare!
NB:
Lest someone wanna take Desi to court fro Plagiarism
Which is becoming a pasttime in Malaysian folklorism
That four lines above are influenced by WH DAVIES
who was authoring too much Leisure
under the swaying coconut tree
And Rumour has it he was thinking about Gravity
how come poets say: Til rivers flow upstream
and lovers can cease to dream?
(Challenging Einstein's, NO, it's Newton's, yeled THeels,
laws of Gravity, so gravely, gravelly. Bravely.
Foreign1:
On his first job as a newspaper reporter, Mark
Twain was told by his editor never to state
anything as fact thathe couldn't verify by per-
sonal knowledge. Twain hen went out to
cover a small-town social event and tunred in
the following story: "A woman giving the
name of Mrs. James Jones, who is reported to
be one of the society leaders of the city, is said
to have given what purported to be a party
yesterday to a number of alleged ladies. The
hostess claims to be the wife of a reputed at-
torney."
PS: Don't take me to court for 2Plagiarism,
I need the measly reporter's pay to get my daily hi and low.
But if you ask Desi what source to quote the above Twainism,
I must submit it's from author unkwoen, perhaps a Desi-Puaper?
It's from Page 19, THE LITTLE BOOK OF FAMOUS INSULTS,
TOPPAN/PETER PAUPER TIE 1084
Monday, February 05, 2007
2 salutes and 1 downer
SALUTE1:
The New Straits Times, Feb 5, 2007 Frontpage:
SUBANG PARADE HEIST:
Suspects nabbed, jewellery recovered
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan looking at the weapons and jewellery seized yesterday from the suspects of Saturday's goldsmith shop heist at Subang Parade which resulted in the death of two guards and one of the robbers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi commended the police on their quick action in nabbing the gang, suspected of being responsible for several robberies and murders in the Klang Valley. ***Full Story
(DESI: Go pay ***RM1.20 for a copy, sacrifice the Kopi or tehtarik for some education. I know some of you preach a boycott, or girlcott, but it's FREE CHOICE that Desi believes in and promotes. Don't embrace me if you disagree. Or miss-agree. Hey, Malaysia is steal a Free World.
BLOGGERS MAY UNITE, BUT NOT AT THE ALTAR OF ANARCHY.
If you don't understand what Desi's talking, go read my Poem on "The Face of a Tiger". Lost in the forest of words at Desi's Place; maybe at Blake's?
Downer1:
Yes, NST again, page 1:
Incompetent contractors, delays, cost overruns, failed projects:
Lessons learnt
PUTRAJAYA: The government has put in place mechanisms to avoid delays in project completion and ensure cost effectiveness. Referring to the New Sunday Times report yesterday on cost overruns in projects due to the incompetence of contractors and consultants, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi said the mechanisms would ensure only competent contractors were given government jobs.
DESI: This Minister should listen to the next guy, whom I had covered as MSM journalist a decade (?) ago when he was head of a Malay Chamber or branch of a Malay Chamber of Trade and Industry.
SALUTE2:
Yes, NST Page 6, last call:
Consultants ‘the cause of project delays’05 Feb 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Malay Businessmen and Industrialists’ Association today blamed consultants for delays and cost overruns in government projects.
Its president, Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir, claimed these consultants applied "suspicious standards" and favoured suppliers with whom they "are in cahoots with".
"These people are not incompetent. They are just plain corrupt," he said.
However, he did admit that there were cases of new contractors with no experience or funds being awarded contracts.
Referring to a New Sunday Times report on errant contractors and cost overruns yesterday, Moehamad Izat said: "I applaud the government for highlighting this. I hope that the errant ones take this as a warning by the government."
Meanwhile, the Master Builders Association of Malaysia said unqualified contractors sometimes won contracts.
"These people are giving the entire profession a bad name," its president Patrick Wong said.
Malay Contractors’ Association president Senator Datuk Roslan Awang Chik said out of the 38,000 Class F contractors, 18,000 were genuine.
He said there were already mechanisms implemented to detect the non-performing contractors who still accepted tenders.
"There has been a study conducted and, hopefully, we will try to reduce the number to less than 25,000 contractors by 2009."
DESIDERATA:
Giving credit where credit is due, the FIRST SALUTE is accorded to the IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, and his crimebusters, especially Federal CID Chief.
A Downer is given -- how I wsih I did not have to! -- the Minister for sounding like old old record, Same old sad refrain heard from decades ago from ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's regime.
SECOND SALUTE, given to someone who had also operated as a businessman plus corporate leader of his Association of brothers and sisters in trade and industry, harking back to again Dr Mahathir's regime, sharing a HOME TRUTH. Syabas to Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir for speaking out. Thinking Allowed. Speaking Aloud.
The New Straits Times, Feb 5, 2007 Frontpage:
SUBANG PARADE HEIST:
Suspects nabbed, jewellery recovered
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan looking at the weapons and jewellery seized yesterday from the suspects of Saturday's goldsmith shop heist at Subang Parade which resulted in the death of two guards and one of the robbers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi commended the police on their quick action in nabbing the gang, suspected of being responsible for several robberies and murders in the Klang Valley. ***Full Story
(DESI: Go pay ***RM1.20 for a copy, sacrifice the Kopi or tehtarik for some education. I know some of you preach a boycott, or girlcott, but it's FREE CHOICE that Desi believes in and promotes. Don't embrace me if you disagree. Or miss-agree. Hey, Malaysia is steal a Free World.
BLOGGERS MAY UNITE, BUT NOT AT THE ALTAR OF ANARCHY.
If you don't understand what Desi's talking, go read my Poem on "The Face of a Tiger". Lost in the forest of words at Desi's Place; maybe at Blake's?
Downer1:
Yes, NST again, page 1:
Incompetent contractors, delays, cost overruns, failed projects:
Lessons learnt
PUTRAJAYA: The government has put in place mechanisms to avoid delays in project completion and ensure cost effectiveness. Referring to the New Sunday Times report yesterday on cost overruns in projects due to the incompetence of contractors and consultants, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi said the mechanisms would ensure only competent contractors were given government jobs.
DESI: This Minister should listen to the next guy, whom I had covered as MSM journalist a decade (?) ago when he was head of a Malay Chamber or branch of a Malay Chamber of Trade and Industry.
SALUTE2:
Yes, NST Page 6, last call:
Consultants ‘the cause of project delays’05 Feb 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Malay Businessmen and Industrialists’ Association today blamed consultants for delays and cost overruns in government projects.
Its president, Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir, claimed these consultants applied "suspicious standards" and favoured suppliers with whom they "are in cahoots with".
"These people are not incompetent. They are just plain corrupt," he said.
However, he did admit that there were cases of new contractors with no experience or funds being awarded contracts.
Referring to a New Sunday Times report on errant contractors and cost overruns yesterday, Moehamad Izat said: "I applaud the government for highlighting this. I hope that the errant ones take this as a warning by the government."
Meanwhile, the Master Builders Association of Malaysia said unqualified contractors sometimes won contracts.
"These people are giving the entire profession a bad name," its president Patrick Wong said.
Malay Contractors’ Association president Senator Datuk Roslan Awang Chik said out of the 38,000 Class F contractors, 18,000 were genuine.
He said there were already mechanisms implemented to detect the non-performing contractors who still accepted tenders.
"There has been a study conducted and, hopefully, we will try to reduce the number to less than 25,000 contractors by 2009."
DESIDERATA:
Giving credit where credit is due, the FIRST SALUTE is accorded to the IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, and his crimebusters, especially Federal CID Chief.
A Downer is given -- how I wsih I did not have to! -- the Minister for sounding like old old record, Same old sad refrain heard from decades ago from ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's regime.
SECOND SALUTE, given to someone who had also operated as a businessman plus corporate leader of his Association of brothers and sisters in trade and industry, harking back to again Dr Mahathir's regime, sharing a HOME TRUTH. Syabas to Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir for speaking out. Thinking Allowed. Speaking Aloud.
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