Sunday, April 3, 2011

Nuclear energy – a no go for malaysia

In thestar 19.03.11 article ‘time for nuclear review’, I noted there are some points pointed out by the Pemandu that nuclear plan is in fact more beneficial than harmful. However I’m quite sceptical on this as Pemandu says that Malaysia is not in an earthquake belt so housing a nuclear reactor in not problem. I would like to link this situation in Thailand as the country was not located on the earthquake belt but its island – Phuket was hit by tsunami in 2004. So it’s quite irrelevant so say that Malaysis is a safe country, not affected by earthquake or tsunami. But bear in mind that coastal areas are most vulnerable if the earthquake or tsunami strikes. Besides, the nuclear reactor needs a lot of water for its cooling system and the nuclear plant has to be stationed near the coastline which has abundant of water. Apart from location, there are external forces that might disrupt the electricity supply by the nuclear plant like flood, earthquake, or even tsunami. One of the examples is the back-up generator to the water pump in Fukushima Daiichi plant damaged by tsunami, causing the nuclear reactor to overheat, forcing the engineers to vent the nuclear core, thus releasing radioactive into the air. Besides, the crops surrounding the plant have also been exposed to radiation, not fit for human consumption. Furthermore, our land is fertile and we just can’t afford to allow any radioactive contamination on our soil as it would cause harm to our plantation and forest. So there is too much uncertainty on the safety of the nuclear plant even if all the security measures are taken into consideration in constructing and operating the nuclear site.

Another comment by pemandu is that renewable energy is not always available and is constrain by natural forces like solar is only available on daytime. However there is one article on wikepedia which states that there in fact storage for electricity like molten salt which is low cost and can deliver heat at temperatures compatible with conventional power systems. Another alternative is storing excess electricity generated from the solar in rechargeable battery for off-grid photovoltaics (PV) or to transmission grid for grid-tied systems just like our electricity transmission grid.

Besides I would like the government explore more avenue to generate electricity using natural gas. As we know our country has abundant gas reserve – 2.35 trillion cu m compared to oil reserve of 2.9 billion bbl. Why not more gas-powered plant being built to utilise the abundant gas reserve we have had rather than exporting the gas for higher profit margin.

Besides I noted oil palm residue like empty fruit bunch or tree trunk could be used for biomass. The government should give incentives in the form of grant to get the biomass power plant going. Besides this is one of the ways to cut carbon emission rather than letting the residue emitting the greenhouse gas to the environment. This measure is in-line with the government’s economy transformation programme (ETP) and the government have to allocate more funds rather than private funding by the independent millers and plantation companies.

Sex Tape Anwar's Defence against Sodomy Charge?

Once more PKR and their allies have failed to show any sense of leadership or resourcefulness in the face of allegations that a tape purportedly showing Anwar having sex with a woman is in fact Anwar.

If this tape purportedly showing Anwar Ibrahim having sex with a woman (a foreign prostitute as the article in the Star Malaysia claims her to be) then there are two scenarios the first of which would go in favour of Anwar in his trial on the charge of sodomy.

If Anwar is a closet homosexual then surely any half baked psychiatrist will tell you that his propensity to willingly perform a sexual act with a woman prostitute or otherwise would be next to nil.

In this video the report claims he was engaging in sex in various positions for a considerable period of time. If that were the case it would further go to show he was actually enjoying the encounter which would be repulsive to a homosexual or someone with the propentsity to engage in anal sex with males.

Anwar's defence though may not succeed in having this tape admitted into evidence in the sodomy trial for the simple fact they have allowed themselves in their vanity to walk into a trap of their own making.

By opposing the admissibility of more cogent and real evidence in the DNA which they claim was improperly obtained (and perhaps so) they now cannot seek in their client's defence against the charge of sodomy to admit evidence favourable to his case because it is also improperly obtained.

Herein lies the problem of Malaysia's opposition. None of Anwar's lawyers have demonstrated to date the requisite skills for good robust litigation.

In the end Anwar iss the victim of the vanity of those around him. And in truth that is perhaps also the case of "Birds of a feather". A sorry sage in Malaysia's political history.

A question though that remains to be answered is this. How does anyone know such details of the woman on the tape having sex with the male purporting to be Anwar if the provenance of the tape is hiterhto unknown? Clearly someone knows more than is being admitted.

BENEFITS of Having a Nuclear Plant

What benefits can a normal citizen derive from nuclear power?

I know.

1. CHEAP Electricity....MY FOOT, Did anyone hear ANYONE said that? Can I be the First person to say this: Maybe 0.02 sen per MW/h?

2. CHEAPER PRODUCTS from factories due to LOWER Electricity COST... MY FOOT Again, solve Item 1 first before you can even talk about the word 'CHEAP'.

3. LESS BLACKOUTS....wah, I DARE NOT SAY. Maybe MORE.

4. LUCRATIVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES...Parents, Start sending your kids for Nuclear Education overseas, LOCAL education institutions also can, No Problem.

5. MORE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES...hey otyew, get ready for your burger stall. I want to sell minced meat too.

6. PLENTY OF JOB OPENINGS when Ground-breaking commences....Ya, BUT NOT for you locals. Contractors GO RECRUIT MORE FOREIGNERS FOR THE HARD LABOUR. NO NEED any resume at all. Filthily Handsome Profits.

7. CHEAP Bungalow land around NUKE vicinity. Where? HOW Cheap? Who want to buy?

8. DRIVE MORE LUXURIOUS HYBRID-CARS, because of lower electricity charges, EVERYONE CAN DRIVE. Back to Item 1.

9. NO FEAR OF NUKE DEPLETION.....ARE YOU SURE?. How do they dig for Uranium? Any different from China's coal mines? Imagine living on a piece of land burrowed by Uranium mine-channels.

10. WE NEED TO GO SOLAR. Dump all import duties on Solar products, I will be the FIRST one to disconnect from TNB's power grid (and greed). Next on the list, dozens of my friends and relatives.

Interlok

Interlok is not just any book...it has sparked so much of controversy and yet the government wants to continue publishing it. The opinions and the stand of the Indian community has been simply shoved aside; showing great disrespect to the community. I do not think this is how anyone would like to be treated. If there is going to be changes (which means reprinting), there is obviously no harm in getting another novel that does not have such controversies. Is there ulterior motives? Our country is a multiracial country and of different religion. We lived in harmony for so many years; why stir up racial sentiments now?! We are 1Malaysia...not 1Race!

RON97 up by 20 sen tomorrow to RM2.70 a litre

Well, according to a report, the pump price for RON97 petrol is to be hiked by 20 sen a litre effective midnight, bringing it back to the RM2.70 per litre mark.

This makes it the fourth increase in four months for RON97, which has its price determined by a market float, with the jump to RM2.30 on December 1 last year followed by a 10 sen increase to RM2.40 per litre on January 5 and another 10 sen to RM2.50 on February 1.

The report in The Malaysian Insider quotes that an industry source said that the confirmation notice was sent out this evening about the 20 sen rise. No surprise with the hike happening, given that the price of crude oil has rocketed of late.

Update: It’s confirmed that the pricing of RON95 will remain unchanged at RM1.90 per litre – RON95 and diesel were last hiked on December 4 last year.

New body proposed to monitor new drivers

What is the use of those 25-30 hours of classes before a person is given P license? Oh right, they allow us to do our own thing and even sleep in class. Now they want to spend more money? Why not evaluate the effectiveness of our current system and improve on that?

Mr Bung (BN-Kinabatangan), why not monitor the classes and the teachers 1st?

The extracted news this morning:-

KUALA LUMPUR: A lawmaker proposed that the government set up a special body to monitor newly licensed drivers over a certain period to ascertain whether they are competent and safe drivers.

Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said having such a body might help reduce fatalities from road accidents which were currently on the rise.

"Let them (new licensed drivers) know the responsibility of driving a vehicle, as our own family members, relatives or ourselves can be the victims of road accidents.

"But there is no monitoring, so when people get their licence, some think they are champions and drive any way they like.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

AirAsia chief conferred CBE

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes has added another feather to his cap – he received the Com­mander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) award from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

Congratulations Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes! Keep it up and may you be blessed with many more successes. Our country needs more people like you to show others that we too have such brilliant and capable entrepreneurs amongst us.