Taken for a ride? I really don't kNOw anymore...

Recently I greeted a Blogger-Friend who droppped by after some hiatus:

desiderata said...
"Hi h j angus:

Long time no see, how's the going so far?

I hope you are enjoying the ride, I do, tho I sometimes get overwhelmed by the "bad" vibes shooting at JoePublic from all directions.

We "seniors" just have to try seeing as many Rainbows from among the clouds, eh?"


And this was exerpted from his reply:

H J Angus said...
*"...Blogging is OK so far but appear to be running out of issues as most are the same old ones. ..."*

I can emphatise with H J Angus -- I had the same feeling for the past few months, yet the reality is that for most Malaysians, life goes on us usual.

Can any individual make a difference? I often ponder over this at night before I catch more than 40 winks.
Don't lose sleep over it, H J, you are not the only lONEly one feeling such "resignation" ... sometimes we become "tired of being tired..."

WHY? WHY? WHY?

Let's see, I recap some news headlinesin recent days which Desi was too tired" to comment on, because in H J Angus' words ..."...as most are the same old ones. ..."*

RM5m farewell parties for D-G

The NST September 15, 2005 Page 6 report says "Lavish farewell parties costing more than RM5million are being organised by a goevrnment department for its retiring director-general.
Departmetal sources said the functions, like roadshows, were being held in almost all States for the officer who would be retiring next month."

Next headline: UPSR English paper may have been leaked

The NST same date Page 4 report says "The faith of Malaysians in the confidentiality of the public examination system is being tested yet again, afteer the exam paper leaks of recent years.
This time the alleged leakinvolves English Paper 2 in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah held on Sept 7."


Next headline: Najib: We need details to prove graft

Again, the NST September 16 Page 6 report says "Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has asked for more details on allegations of corruption in the construction sector.
"It is hard to act on a general statement," he said, commenting on yesterday's (Sept 14's) allegation of rampant corruption in the indsutry by Malay Contractors Association president Datuk Roslan Awang Chik.
"Roslan had, among others, alleged that contractors forced to bribe officials for projects would not report the matter for fear of being blacklisted."


As far as DESIDERATA has on record, it's the same old record being played out, again and again, except the background details vary. It's a case of everyone knows it's happening, except for the gatekeeper and wardens to the palatial grounds and safe-deposit boxes.

Desi, like H J and Mito-C, sometimes sighs: I don't really kNOw anymore!

Compare this with an analogous scene at the Technosphere:
a news item I sighted as reported by
Asia Business Consulting

I simply don't know

"With all the talks about 3G, CDMA, faster internet, VoIP, broadband, and so on, people get confused, for sure. It is like coming to a new country or working in a new company.

It is lingo, not understandable by those who are not very familiar with this terminology. As a company, you need to understand how the consumer thinks, and not create a language that actually puts a barrier between you and the consumer. A survey in Australia by IDC has now found that that Australians are clueless about 3G mobile technology, even so it has been around in Australia for the past 2 years."

Only in Australia? I guess it is a global phenomena. And I believe that only when language gets easier and people start to understand, 3G and related content will become more widespread.

Desi won't elaborate, except he hopes EsteemedReaders can see some connectivity with the contents of the AsiaBusinessConsulting report and the National News as highlighted with those headlines that say it all.

Now I touch yet again on another matter that Desi has constantly harped on: PETRONAS and OUR COUNTRY's oil resource. If I sound like an old granny, I don't apologise, because our country's future -- yours and mine too -- hangs in the balance.

A Sept 5, 2005 news agency report said that oil prices are set to crash from the previous week's record highs as a speculative market bubble bursts with an impact that could make the hi-tech bust of 2000 "look like a picnic", business publisher Steve Forbes has predicted.
Forbes said the high oil prices currently dampening the US economy, which peaked at more than US$70 barrel (since fallen back a little) as Hurricane Katrina headed for the US Gulf Coast, would fall to USD30-35 a barrel within a year.
"I'll make a bold prediction... in 12 months, you're going to see oil down to USD35-40 barrel," he said, according to Agence France-Presse.
"It's a huge bubble, I don't know what's going to pop it but eventually it will pop - you cannot go against supply and demand, you cannot go against the fundamentals forever."

DESIDERATA: I hope that Forbes is right in his prediction, then it gives a chance to prove that the Government has been taking us for a ride.

Background: The Government said whenever the world oil price goes up. Malaysia has NO CHOICE but to raise the pump prices. Every time this happens, of course it leads to INFLATION, as every business would be affected in some way by the increased transportation chages.
In the last eight months, the pump prices had been raised FOUR TIMES, as the world oil prices rose.
But when the world oil price comes down, do you think the Government will lower the pump prices.

DESIDERATA's prediction: Should Forbes prediction come true, i.e. world oil prices plummet to about half the present levels, the Government will still maintain the pump prices. Pump prices, once raised, will never go down. Let's be patient and see what happens come December...

DESIDERATA has been consistently arguing that we have been taken for a ride because it's always a case of Heads the Government&Petronas win, Tails the People lose.

CONCLUSION: I really don't kNOw anymore What the F...s (no, cesnor that!); What the Hell is going on in my country!

FOR THE RECORD:


Another report from The NST,


Chief Secretary orders probe into ‘absurd’ splurge


PUTRAJAYA, Sept 15:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What! RM5 million?"
Chief Secretary Tan Sri Samsudin Osman’s reaction was enough to describe his feelings about the humongous bill for farewell parties being held for a retiring director-general.
"This cannot be left unchecked. I am going to raise the matter with the minister responsible for the department," he said.
Samsudin has also directed Public Service Department director-general Datuk Ismail Adam Samsudin to investigate the matter.
He said ministries should justify expenditure for such events, adding that it was "absurd" to splurge on farewells for any retiring civil servant.
"If this is truly the case, it is worrying. Government earnings from consolidated funds should only be used by agencies for beneficial purposes."