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!

TBH inquest: A Chinese Wedding Estimates for macc counsel abd razak

Reading the update on TBH inquest with the title DNA identified , where counsel Abd Razak representing macc was holding a watching brief , telling TBH's brother Meng Kee that the deceased earned RM1,800 per month and was in a rush to get married as his girlfriend ( wife to be ) was pregnant. He even goes to the length at suggesting that a Chinese wedding cost a lot of money and from this tone , I gather that he is trying to imply the state of how TBH was in before his death and probably hinting that the deceased is in a stressed mode and suicidal , thus suicide attempt is not only not a surprise but highly likely. Well , I am in no position to challenge that but what I want to enlighten counsel abd razak which he should know or may not know , being a malay , how a much a Chineses wedding cost.

Well , if I give the estimate of my own wedding , it may not apply as it is more than 20 years ago but I may quote my nephew's wedding which happened just a few months ago , somewhere in May 2009 and the function is held in JB , not a cheap and low cost city , mind you. He did not spend a single sen on Video because I did it for him for free , albeit with amateur standard but a professional standard do not cost more than RM2,000 on the average. Video is not a must but having it if can afford will leave sweet memories for the loving couple. Then comes to photography , my guess is that it will not cost more than RM5,000 with normal standard and all gowns and suits provided , one set for the wedding ceremony proper and two sets for dinner time. These adds up to RM7,000 now. Let's take a table of 8 course dinner to the estimate of RM500 per table and with the total of 20 tables , it will add upto RM1000 and now plus other monies for Ang Pow etc etc , it will add upto the estimates of RM20,000 , more or less as what was quoted by Meng Kee , TBH's brother.

For a malay like macc counsel abd razak , he do not know that Chinese wedding may cost a stake or fortune , but the payback is not little either , meaning when the host invites their friends and guest , Ang Pows collected can sometime payback all expenses incurred , at least for the course dinner , if not exceeding enough to cover other expenditures. If the guest or friends are "big kaki" , meaning some individual of public tanding and well known in society , the Ang Pow would be bigger and is usually in the denomination above RM100 to RM1,000. Taking the estimates of 70% show up , 20 tables with 8 to 10 sittings , each table will be able to collect the average return of at least RM400 to RM500 or more and this is more than enough to cover the course dinner for each table. When it comes to Chinese wedding , the guest are usually generous and with the habit of not wanting to be labelled as stingy , they will ensure that their Ang Pow is at least reasonable to cover a minimum of the cost it will incur for his fair bit of share and it is always the practise that they write their names on the Red Packet to inform the host who has given or not , unlike the other weddings. If the guess Ang Pow is big , the names written would be bigger.

For this , my dear counsel abd razak , if you attempt in any mean to say that TBH could be suicidal due to the stress on his financial situation and the urgent need to get married , YOU ARE WRONG and you have picked the wrong justification. Even if the total amount collected from the ANG POWs , which usually covers at least 50% ( being very conservative already ) and above , at worst , TBH would need to seek a fund of RM10,000 which he would not have any problem securing a personal loan from any institution , assuming he got no other source of fund and no savings. At most , he only got to pay the average of RM250 per month for say 5 to 6 years and that will easily take care of his so called "tight financial" situation that could be the argument of his suicidal trait. Now , counsel abd razak , please go find other argument that is more convincing to attempt any implication on the suicidal trait on the deceased side but not this costly Chinese Wedding arguments.

Why are Ah Longs still able to function

I read in today's Star Online that "Ah Long transactions in Penang rake in RM15m" (http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/nation/4830277&sec=nation)

As reported, "The amount was derived after a series of police raids at strategic outlets where RM15mil worth of transactions were traced."

It also mentioned that "About 1,700 debtors are involved and most of them are either factory or low-salaried employees.

“These people probably could not obtain loans from the bank with their low salaries and decided to seek help from loan sharks. We have yet to paralyse their activities; so we will continue with the fight,” he told a press conference."

In that one statement, it shows that:

1. enforcement or police action alone will not stop the Ah Longs
2. people in general mismanage their funds so that they live beyond their means
3. most people who live beyond their means prefer to borrow money rather than work harder to find other means of increasing their income
4. that banks are also a cause for directing business to the Ah Longs by not providing loans to low income earners

So the simple approach to most problems like this where the supply of undesirable products and services has become a social ill is to reduce or eliminate the demand. Simple economics, yes? Therefore, the steps that can be taken are:

1. continued police action
2. proper financial management education so that people will be able to manage their money better, take fewer or lower (or better still none at all) loans for houses and cars and definitely NOT for consumer items
3. provide opportunities for people to earn extra income (this of course is if the persons concerned are not too lazy to do so) and of course legally too
4. that banks provide micro personal loans like those that the Ah Longs provide for amounts like RM 500 and 1000.

Of course, many also argue that banks are also Ah Longs but with a banking license, nicer office clothes and nicer buildings.

More ideas welcomed.

Watching the media

IPOH: The Foreign Ministry is seeking more non-bumiputra citizens to join Wisma Putra, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/nation/20091002151319&sec=nation

Heard that a number of times. Non bumi applicants will be extreme lucky to be call up for interview. Stands a better chance being knock down by a motor bike.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has invited Malaysians to give ideas and suggestions for the 2010 Budget that he will table in parliament on Oct 23.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/nation/20091002134809&sec=nation

Oh my god, the BN/UMNO government ran out of ideas. They do not know what to do. They do not know where the country should be going. We are in deep trouble. I know where my vote will be going in the next election.

PEKAN: More than 50,000 people are expected to attend Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Dataran Pekan here tomorrow

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/nation/4829832&sec=nation

Somebody better check the numbers again. The open house according to The Star will be from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm which is 3 hours. If the 50,000 is correct, there will be 16,666 persons passing through the gates or 277 persons passing through the gates every second. I wonder if the price of rubber is getting a bit rubbery lately..

More On Vaccines

In relation to my previous post "WHY?? - Cervical cancer vaccinations for all girls" (http://blog.thestar.com.my/mystar/view.asp?id=26669), I just saw this on the Star Online "Parental consent needed for cervical cancer vaccination" (http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/nation/20091002133522&sec=nation)

In the article, it mentioned that parents would be required to sign a letter of consent before vaccinating schoolgirls against cervical cancer. It is a great move that consent (at least for the moment) is required before this dangerous vaccine can be given.

It also mentioned that "the Education Ministry had yet to receive any objection from parents on the vaccination exercise" So perhaps those who have children in school should your objections at your PTAs since the report stated that the Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said "Most parent teacher associations welcome the exercise" I guess they take silence as consent.

So for those who have 12-13 year old girls in school next year or will soon, and who believe that the HPV vaccination and probably many other vaccinations are unnecessary and dangerous, please MAKE noise NOW!

Your daughter may not (or may) experience any side effects but someone else's may and it could be a fatal like Natalie Morton (yes she does have a name as our MOH seems to leave out), the 14 year old UK girl who died after receiving the Cervarix HPV vaccine while several other of her classmates suffered side-effects such as dizziness and nausea. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6852858.ece)

In the spirit of 1Malaysia, lend your voice to this unnecessary risk. I belief that for the parents of Natalie Morton, the statistics that only ONE in several hundred thousand (or even millions) will have a serious or fatal adverse effect means nothing because their precious daughter was that ONE. So make sure that your daughter and potentially your son, is not that ONE and don't play RUSSIAN ROULETTE with our children