One World One Fortune...

The Stock Market is Nothing More Than A Casino

2010-01-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

During my college days we were asked to write a critical essay on 'The Stock Market is Nothing More Than A Casino.'

It's astounding that this has become a reality across the Globe where investments are little valued on the dividend or net asset value models anymore and the underlying business itself is often totally disregarded since it's only share prices that are dealt with on a 'virtual' basis!

Instead, due to excessive leveraging, especially by banks and hedge funds, shares prices are manipulated (ramped up) by 'hot' money flows and then dumped to leave the smaller players and genuine investors with huge losses.

More than that, USA Congressional hearings day before yesterday in the USA have revealed that mega Investment Houses and Merchant Banks (in particular Goldman Sachs) who act as underwriters for huge share offers, placements and right issues, have been allowed to SHORT SELL investment they themselves recommend to their clients to BUY, thus standing on its head the principle that the buck stops with the Underwriters! This conflict of interest has huge ramifications in the financial world where it is now clear that all the risk is born by unsuspecting investors, and the fact that Govt Will bailout the big banks and financial houses has been factored in!!

Govts and Central Banks everywhere must set clear rules limiting Banks, Merchant Banks, Financial Houses and Hedge Funds from over-leveraging. My personal view is that Equity:Debt ratios should not exceed 2:1. This would allow for an element of speculation, but not an excessive one for investments in share markets. Speculation in futures and currencies should be totally banned, except for genuine producers, buyers and sellers who taking actual physical delivery of goods and services.

Such controls might reduce the huge volume of speculative trade that has unhealthily driven the USA and European economies, but that is infinitely preferable to the boom and bust economic cycles we are now struggling with that threatens to bankrupt the whole world every time it occurs!

If USA will not lead the way for a total revamp and reform of financial trading due to selfish interests, perhaps Asia and Malaysia can take the first steps!

Majority of non-bumi M’sians cannot afford private universities’ fees

2009-12-14T01:28:00.000-08:00

Written by Tan Keng Liang
Sunday, 13 December 2009 22:00

I refer to the statement by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the opportunities given to bumiputeras to enter public universities should not be disputed as a racist act that favours one race at the expense of the others. Our former prime minister was further reported to have stated that:-

1. The enrollment of bumiputeras in private institutions of higher learning (private universities) is low at only about 10% as the bumiputeras could not afford the fees;

2. If we conduct a census of the number of students in private universities, there are more non-bumiputera students in private universities. That’s why the government gives attention and more places to bumiputeras in public universities; and

3. The affirmative action policy of bringing bumiputeras into the mainstream of development in the country was not something extreme because although they made up about 60% of the population, the quota was only 30%.

With due respect to our former prime minister, I would like to state that:-
1. Majority of the non-bumiputeras Malaysian too cannot afford the fees of the private universities. A large number of non-bumiputera Malaysians have to take out loans to enter private universities and subsequently, they have to repay the large education loan (due to the higher education fees in private universities) upon graduation by instalments. This would be an extreme burden to the non-bumiputeras at a later part of their life. But what choice do these non-bumiputera Malaysians have if they persist in furthering their education?

2. As the number of places for non-bumiputera Malaysians in public universities is extremely limited, there are no other options for non-bumiputera Malaysians who wish to further their education in the country, except to enrol in local private universities. That’s the obvious and actual reason for the high rate of non-bumiputera Malaysians in private universities. On the contrary, it is cynical to state the existence of more non-bumiputera Malaysians in private universities would be a good reason for the government to give attention and more places to bumiputeras in public universities.

3. No doubt, Article 153 (8A) of the Federal Constitution permits the reservation of places for bumiputeras in public universities. However, I am doubtful of our former prime minister’s remarks that the bumiputera quota is only 30% for enrolment in public universities.

Tan Keng Liang
Kedah Gerakan Youth chief

Thaksin back in Cambodia as Thai "spy" to be freed

2009-12-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Cambodia on Sunday, a month after a visit that sparked a diplomatic row when the Cambodian government refused Bangkok's request to extradite him.
Thailand's fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (L) is embraced by a supporter as he greets red-shirted supporters at a hotel in Siem Reap November 12, 2009. (REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea/Files)

Thaksin came to Phnom Penh in November to take up a job as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, a move that fuelled fears of further political instability in Thailand since it gave him a base over the border for his campaign to unseat the Thai government.

The episode led to a Thai engineer working for Cambodian air traffic control being found guilty of spying for leaking Thaksin's flight details to the Thai embassy.

Siwarak Chutipongse, 31, was pardoned last week after a request to Cambodia's king from Thaksin and others, according to a Cambodian minister speaking at the time, and Thaksin went immediately to see Sirawak on his arrival on Sunday.

He travelled to the prison where Sirawak is being held, before his release on Monday, in a police-escorted convoy of 14 vehicles.

"I am very happy that Thaksin, who is economic adviser to the government, and Prime Minister Hun Sen, helped to release my client," Siwarak's lawyer, Khieu Sambo, told journalists outside the prison.

Thaksin was ousted by the military in 2006 and later sentenced to jail in absentia on conflict of interest charges.

HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said Siwarak would be officially freed on Monday at Hun Sen's residence.

He told Reuters that Thaksin had not had a direct role in Siwarak's release and that the billionaire former telecoms tycoon would hold economic seminars this week with Cambodian officials.

"He is going to be released because of humanitarian reasons and because his mother requested a royal pardon," Siphan said, adding this was a sign Cambodia's government wanted good relations with the Thai nation.

Last Tuesday a court had jailed Siwarak for seven years for breaching national security by passing on Thaksin's flight schedule to a Thai diplomat, who was subsequently expelled.

Siwarak's arrest last month prompted Cambodia to take temporary control of Thai-operated Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) and suspend Thai expatriates at the company.

The two countries were already at odds over an ancient temple on a disputed stretch of their border, the scene of deadly clashes over the past 18 months.

Critics have dismissed Thaksin's visit and his involvement in the pardon as publicity stunts to rile the Thai government.

Hun Sen has openly given his backing to the pro-Thaksin Puea Thai party in Thailand and calls Thaksin his "eternal friend", who he says is the victim of a vendetta by powerful opponents.

The extradition issue and Cambodia's offer of a home and a job to Thaksin led to the recall and expulsion of diplomats and the freezing of bilateral agreements, including a pact to jointly develop untapped energy reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.

Despite the pardon, there has been no move by either side to restore diplomatic relations.

(Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Charles Dick)

Merger of Pemuda and Beliawanis in Gerakan

2009-11-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

The merge of the Pemuda and Beliawanis is not a solution in achieving our struggles, it wont help in recruitment nor unity. We should look at the real problem that make us fail. I noticed that we were having too many 'fanatic" Chinese in the party that make public look down upon us, and our leaders dare not to stand tight on the party's struggle. Because afraid lost of support in the election, our leaders listen to the majority in the party, sacrifice the minority, which is majority in the nation( the Malays).

We must start changing from the youth. Youth head must play a very important role on the party's struggle. He must be brave and really fight for the people regardless of race or religion. He don't have to follow listen to those not with the party or any Chinese fanatic. The Chinese who fight only for the Chinese and not ready to be Bangsa Malaysia should stay in MCA but not Gerakan. This is the cancer within the party that will make the wrong person stay and the right person leave.

I notice that some members joined the party not because they have the same ideology with the party but for their personal agenda by using Gerakan as their jumping stone or as their platform. These people recruit those who having the same dream with them but not same dream with the party struggle.

People will not loyal to the party nor the leaders, people on loyal to the struggle. If the leaders of the party out of track, bringing the party and the members far away from the party struggles, the members with good mentality will definitely leave and only the party's loyalist or leader's loyalist will stay. These people who stayed have no awareness in the spirit of Bangsa Malaysia.

We want the govt to be fair to all of us regardless of race but we still thinking like a racist, this mean we are selfish. We only want to take but not willing to give.

The merger of Pemuda and Beliawanis really wont make any different if we never change our culture. We don't need the quantity but we want quality people to support our struggle, eventually will add value to our party's struggle.

Inilah PERPADUAN yang sebenar.

2009-11-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

Bukan sahaja kaum cina yang tak sanggup mengorbankan budaya, semua kaum pun tidak sanggup korban apa-apa untuk sesiapapun. Jangan kata negara lain yang bersekolah satu aliran, malah negara yang hanya ada satu kaum pun boleh berpecah ranah. Melayu dgn Melayu pun boleh berpecah, Cina dgn Cina, India dgn India, malah bukan setakat pecah tetapi yg hancur pun ada.

Saya rasa keadaan kita di Malaysia selama ini sebenarnya sudah baik sekali, jadi kita tidak perlu bising untuk kesamarataan kerana kita semua masing-masing tidak pernah ada keadilan di dalam diri. Setiap manusia nampaknya hanya pentingkan diri masing-masing. Hak orang lain kita nak, tapi hak kita tak sanggup korban, jadi lebih baik kita senyap sahaja. Jangan sampai orang nampak perut sangat.

Seperti yang selalu saya katakan, perpaduan seperti yang diimpi-impikan tidak akan berlaku walau apa pendekatan sekalipun. Perpaduan hanya akan berlaku apabila semua manusia dapat cari makan, apabila perut kenyang manusia secara automatik akan manjadi malas bising, atau lebih senang didengari adalah manusia yang mudah cari rezeki akan bersyukur.

Kita tidak pernah dengar rungutan rakyat Singapura malasah perpaduan sedangkan rakyat mereka terdiri drpd lebih banyak kaum lagi berbanding negara kita. Mana taknya, Bangla, Nepal, Burma dan lain-lain termasuk Malaysia, ramai rakyatnya sudah mendapat status penduduk tetap dan tidak kurang juga yang telah mendapat status kerakyatan sepenuhnya. Tidak ada masalah perpecahan walaupun tidak kedengaran tentang perpaduan.

Untuk apakah perpaduan? Ianya hanya satu angan-angan indah dan sesuatu yang tidak ada apa-apa, usaha yang sia-sia. Sedangkan sekeluarga yang sama kaum, sama agama, sama latar belakang pun boleh berpecah belah. Apakah puncanya? Jawapannya adalah masalah kewangan dan terlalu pentingkan kebendaan. Bagaimana untuk menyelesaikan masalah kewangan rakyat adalah dengan usaha pentadbiran ke arah pembangunan modal insan melalui pendidikan manakala jawapan kepada masalah rakyat yang mengutamakan kebendaan pula dgn meningkatkan kesedaran moral dan juga agama, sebab ramai yang sanggup menggadai harta agar diri berharga, sedangkan kita tidak perlu mencari penghormatan dgn menggunakan wang, penghormatan adalah datang daripada kemuliaan.

Inilah Perpaduan sebenar.

Perpaduan Dan Realiti

2009-10-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

Sememangnya perpaduan tidak akan wujud 1000% sekiranya hendak mengikut kata-kata rakyat yang berbilang kaum, berbilang agama, berbilang darjat, berbilang-bilang pandangan… Kita semua datangnya daripada pelbagai latar belakang, akan tetapi kita harus mempunyai hala tuju, cita-cita dan visi negara yang sama. Kita tidak boleh mengikut kehendak setiap orang untuk memperkasakan latar belakang atau budaya masing-masing dan membelakangi cita-cita negara, iaitu perpaduan.

Saya sendiri bekas pelajar sekolah aliran cina, dan memang mengakui ada nilai-nilai yang amat berguna dan tidak terdapat di mana-mana aliran kerana tamadun China yang telah melebihi 500 tahun. Kita juga dapat melihat ramai anak-anak bukan dari keturunan cina juga dihantar ke sekolah beraliran cina kerana ibu bapa yang prihatin dan sanggup mengorbankan latar belakang yang disayangi, agar anak-anak mereka juga dapat menimba ilmu yang telah lama tamadunnya. Tetapi apa yang kita dapat telah menjadi sebaliknya. Ramai kaum cina yang terlalu bangga dan angkuh dengan budaya dan tamadun nenek moyang mereka, mereka tidak belajar ilmu kaum lain, sebaliknya ilmu mereka sedang dibelajar dan diamalkan oleh kaum lain. Budak Melayu atau India yang bersekolah cina boleh menulis dan bertutur dalam bahasa cina dengan baik, pada masa yang sama tidak pernah kalah dalam bahasa ibunda masing-masing. Kaum cina pula yang kononnya memiliki nenek moyang yang hebat, hanya berjaya menguasai bahasa ibunda tetapi tidak pula bahasa tanah air di mana darah tertumpah. Tidak pelik sekiranya generasi tua kaum cina tidak petah berbahasa kebangsaan, tetapi ianya berjangkit sehingga ke generasi paling muda dan ianya akan berterusan sekiranya tiada perubahan dalam sistem pelajaran.

Memang tidak dinafikan, sekolah satu aliran bukannya jawapan kepada perpaduan, malah mungkin akan menjadikan keadaan lebih huru-hara. Baik buruk sesuatu tindakan sebenarnya berdasarkan kesedaran rakyat pelbagai kaum. Kesedaran tentang kepentingan perpaduan. Tidak ada gunanya sekiranya hanya Perdana Menteri yang beria-ia hendak mewujudkan perpaduan, sedangkan rakyat tidak inginpun bersatu atau berpadu dengan kaum bukan sejenis. Kaum dan agama yang sama pun banyak yang berpecah belah, manakan pula nak gabungkan semua. Rakyat negara Thailand yang satu kaum, satu agama, satu aliran sekolah pun boleh berpecah dan saling membunuh sesama sendiri.

Langkah pertama untuk mencapai perpaduan adalah menyemai kesedaran dan cita-cita yang sama kepada rakyat terutamanya generasi termuda. Pastikan kita semua memahami apakah erti sebenar perpaduan.

Tetapi bagi pendapat peribadi saya, semakin bertambah populasi manusia, semakin bertambah perpecahan, kerana setiap manusia masing-masing dikurniakan dengan sebiji otak yang tidak sama modelnya, ini menyebabkan pendirian manusia yang pelbagai, kreativiti manusia yang sentiasa baru, akhirnya manusia akan hidup keseorangan dengan cara dan budaya tersendiri, menjadikan semakin pelbagailah latar belakang setiap manusia di bumi ini.

PROF KHOO KAY KIM kata hanya sekolah satu aliran boleh capai matlamat 1Malaysia

2009-10-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

Oktober 22, 2009

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Sistem pendidikan negara perlu disusun semula termasuk melaksanakan sistem sekolah satu aliran bagi memastikan matlamat gagasan 1Malaysia tercapai, kata tokoh sejarah dan akademik Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim.

Beliau berkata, sistem pendidikan yang mengamalkan sekolah pelbagai aliran ketika ini tidak membantu rakyat menyelami makna sebenar gagasan itu.

Katanya, sejak dari kecil lagi rakyat sudah diasingkan mengikut aliran dan bahasa ibunda masing-masing dan apabila dewasa, semangat kerjasama dan persefahaman sukar untuk dijalinkan.

"Kita tidak perlu kepada sekolah yang banyak aliran, bahasa ibunda setiap kaum boleh diselitkan sebagai sebahagian daripada kurikulum di bilik darjah," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri program wacana "One Malaysia: Cabaran dan Harapan" sempena program semarak perpaduan dan patriotisme Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia peringkat kebangsaan di sini hari ini.

Namun begitu, beliau menjangkakan ada pihak yang akan membantah cadangan itu tetapi mereka yang berbuat demikian perlu menilai semula sejauh mana sistem pendidikan ketika ini boleh membantu mengukuhkan pembentukan sebuah negara bangsa. Mengimbau kembali sejarah terbentuknya sekolah pelbagai aliran di negara ini, Prof Khoo Kay Kim berkata, mengikut sejarah, British membenarkan penubuhan sekolah pelbagai bahasa di Tanah Melayu kerana kebanyakan pendatang ketika itu tidak mempunyai niat untuk menetap di negara ini.

"Jadi, British membenarkan mereka membuka sekolah menggunakan bahasa ibunda masing-masing supaya mereka dapat belajar mengenai negara sendiri. "Bagaimanapun, sistem ini tidak lagi perlu diteruskan sekarang kerana mereka sudah menjadi warga negara Malaysia dan perlu dididik supaya menerima negara ini dan masyarakat berbilang kaum yang ada di sini sebagai sebahagian daripada diri mereka," katanya lagi.

Khoo juga berkata, kebanyakan rakyat negara ini tidak tahu dan tidak memahami sejarah negara sehingga menyebabkan mereka berfikiran secara sempit.

Menurutnya, ada segelintir ahli politik yang lebih mengutamakan kepentingan diri dan agenda masing-masing berbanding matlamat utama negara bangsa.

"Ada ahli politik kita yang tidak mahu berintegrasi dan lebih suka kepada pemisahan, dan lihatlah bagaimana negara menjadi kucar-kacir kerana adanya ahli politik yang tidak mengutamakan negara bangsa tetapi lebih kepada agenda sendiri," katanya.

Pentadbiran Baru

2009-03-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Pakatan Rakyat sudah semakin menghampiri Putrajaya. Barisan Nasional pula masih tidak dapat menyesuaikan diri dalam keadaan sebegini. Umno sedang bergolak, parti-parti komponen BN pula semakin lemah, tidak biasa dengan situasi di mana sokongan tidak menyebelahi mereka. Hilangnya arah tuju dan hanya mengharapkan supaya keajaiban berlaku.

Barisan Nasional tidak arif dalam menyerang parti lawan kerana mereka biasanya diserang dan hanya pandai berlindung dan berselindung(menyembunyi kesalahan diri). Parti Pakatan Rakyat pula memang hebat mencari salah dan menyerang Barisan Nasional. Ada sahaja salah yang dibuat oleh wakil-wakil dari BN. Sehingga kini, apabila PR semakin dekat dengan kemenangan, sudah 5 negeri telah ditakluk oleh Pakatan Rakyat, sikap mereka masih tidak ubah seperti pembangkang yang hanya pandai membangkang. Adakah mereka mampu mentadbir? Adakah mereka sudah bersedia untuk mengambil alih barisan karbinet pentadbiran negara? Apakah perancangan PR apabila bergelar kerajaan persekutuan? Dari gabungan tiga parti yang berbeza arah tuju dan pendirian. Dapatkah mereka bersatu seperti parti-parti komponen BN? Parti-parti komponen BN memang sudah tidak menjadi pilihan rakyat yang selama ini rasa diri tertipu, tetapi BN tetap bersatu. Memang tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa BN dijangka akan kecundang pada pilihanraya yang akan datang, tetapi rakyat masih was-was dengan pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat. Rakyat telah nampak negeri Kelantan yang ditadbir oleh PAS selama ini tidak membawa pembangunan, kemiskinan yang tinggi, perancangan ekonomi yang lemah, tidak dapat mengurus sumber yang ada seperti tanah rata yang luas, paya dan kolam banyak terbiar, pinggiran pantai Laut Cina Selatan, sempadan antarabangsa, bilangan penduduk yang ramai. Tetapi ianya semakin mundur. Bagaimana pula dengan negeri-negeri lain yang juga ditadbir oleh PR? Ini adalah kerana tokoh-tokoh PR hanya dilatih untuk mencari salah pihak lawan tetapi tidak dilatih untuk mentadbir. Memang harapan PR adalah Anwar Ibrahim, tetapi bagaimana jika tiadanya Anwar Ibrahim?

Tokoh-tokoh BN yang dikatakan kuat rasuah memang harus melalui penderitaan kali ini. Mereka bukan sahaja akan kehilangan kuasa malah akan dikoreknya kesalahan yang dilakukan selama ini. Karma sedang menanti. PR yang bakal mengambil alih pentadbiran harus tumpukan sepenuh daya dan usaha dalam pentadbiran negara dengan cekap kerana nasib jutaan rakyat bergantung keatas keadilan yang dijanjikan selama ini. Mungkin pada PRU yang akan datang, PR akan mengambil alih pentadbiran sebuah negara yang sudah bankrup. Jadi kecekapan mentadbir dan mengurus adalah sangat penting dan kita harus berhenti berpolitik cara mengumpat dan mengata orang. Sesiapa sahaja boleh mengumpat tetapi tidak ramai yang mampu mengurus dengan bijak.

Bersedialah Pakatan Rakyat dengan perancangan yang teliti dan bernas untuk memulihkan negara kita yang sudah nazak. Bangunkan minda rakyat yang selama ini tidak mampu berfikir. Tunjukkan ketelusan dan kebijaksanaan pentadbiran negara agar para cendikiawan dan profesional yang telah dan sedang berjasa di negara orang, kembali berbakti kepada anak-anak di negara sendiri. Pentingkan juga generasi pelapis yang bakal mengganti pentadbiran negara. Berikan ilmu yang betul dan tunjukkan contoh yang baik kepada mereka. Kita boleh menjadikan mereka bodoh supaya kedudukan kita tidak akan dipersoal, tetapi apa gunanya jika kita hanya pandai menipu yang bodoh? Adakah kita sanggup menjadi pandai di kalangan yang bodoh, atau bodoh di kalangan yang pandai? Apa yang rakyat perlukan adalah keyakinan dan keberanian. Berikanlah keyakinan dan keberanian kepada rakyat dan kita semua tidak lagi memperlekehkan 'Malaysia Boleh' seperti apa yang berlaku sekarang.

Musuh kita bukan pembangkang atau pentadbir. Musuh kita hanya satu iaitu kemiskinan. Kerana kemiskinan orang melanggar undang-undang dan moral. Kita hanya boleh menghapuskan kemiskinan dengan ilmu pengetahuan. Dengan ilmu pengetahuan rakyat mampu membangunkan diri-sendiri dan juga negara. Dengan ilmu pengetahuan rakyat akan merdeka. Merdeka bukan sahaja dalam segi kewangan, tetapi juga pemikiran. Inilah kemerdekaan yang rakyat idamkan.

Pengikut Yang Sesat

2009-02-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

Ke manakah arah tuju kita?
Kita membuat pilihan mengikut kehendak diri kita, kehendak majority, yang tidak menyusahkan orang lain. Kita memilih apa yang betul dan meniggalkan apa yang salah. Pilihan yang dibuat mesti mempunyai nilai moral dan rasional yang tinggi. Syaratnya memang kelihatan mudah, tetapi hakikatnya manusia melalui banyak masalah dalam dunia hanyalah kerana tidak jelas dengan pilihan yang dibuat atau membuat pilihan yang silap. Mengapakah seseorang dapat bangkitkan semangat orang ramai hanya dengan kata-katanya? Ini adalah kerana mereka ini amat jelas dengan pilihan dan arah tuju mereka. Dengan itu mereka juga berkongsi pilihan serta arah tuju mereka kepada semua agar dapat mencapai cita-cita bersama. Arah tuju yang jelas adalah amat penting untuk perjuangan dalam kehidupan, sekiranya kita tidak jelas dengan arah tuju diri kita sendiri, kita akan terus hidup dalam kegagalan.

Arah tuju Parti Gerakan
Kita tahu apa cita-cita kita tetapi tidak jelas kerana kita sesat dalam permainan politik harian. Demi untuk kepentingan rakan parti, demi untuk kepentingan peribadi, arah tuju telah diketepi. Sebagai seorang yang tiada apa-apa kepentingan dalam parti, saya ingin menyuarakan pendapat saya yang juga tidak terhad kepada apa-apa pun kepentingan, sekiranya benar tujuan kita untuk tubuhkan parti ini adalah untuk mencapai Bangsa Malaysia, maka Bangsa Malaysia ini lah yang harus kita tuju, tidak kira susah bagaimana sekalipun. Itulah cita-cita kita. Dengan cita-cita yang begitu indah, kita boleh melupakan kepentingan diri yang telah menjadi penghalang paling besar kepada kita. Kepentingan ini hanyalah kepada beberapa orang, tetapi pengikut yang ramai telah dilupakan. Kita takut kehilangan mereka yang berkepentingan dan tidak jujur, daripada mereka yang benar-benar mendukung cita-cita parti. Ini telah membuat ramai pengikut yang hampa secara senyap-senyap memilih arah tuju lain, kumpulan lain yang lebih jelas perjuangannya. Tetapi kita masih tidak dapat mengerti, kita tidak pernah mementingkan majority. Kita tidak belajar dari peristiwa, tidak tahu membuat penilaian. Masih lagi hendak berpolitik, sedangkan kita sudah tahu akibat yang akan menimpa. Janganlah kita hanya tahu berfikir cara kita sendiri, kita juga harus berfikir cara majority yang mempunyai kuasa untuk memilih. Inilah yang menyebabkan kita buntu, inilah yang menyebabkan kita hilang kepercayaan. Kepimpinan yang lemah. Terimalah kenyataan yang rakyat serta ahli-ahli parti tidak suka ahli politik, mereka memerlukan wakil atau peneraju yang mementingkan suara rakyat, tidak mementingkan diri sendiri, pemimpin yang tidak berpolitik, pemimpin yang berani, pemimpin yang mampu membawa semua ke arah yang lebih baik atau mencapai cita-cita parti serta rakyat.

Apabila anda dipilih sebagai Perdana Menteri.

2009-02-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Setelah pulang dari Kem Pemuda Gerakan Pusat yang telah diadakan di Cameron Highland 20hb-22hb febuari, banyak persoalan telah tiba-tiba menyerang minda. Di manakah saya berdiri sekarang? Adakah saya berada di landasan yang betul? Mengapakah saya berasa begitu lemah? Apabila ditelitikan soalan-soalan tersebut, saya bertanyakan kepada diri-sendiri, apakah perkara pertama yang akan saya buat sekiranya hari ini saya dipilih sebagai Perdana Menteri? Jawapan saya mungkin mudah, saya akan menyemak semula sistem pendidikan rendah dan menengah dan meningkatkan tahap minda dan mentaliti para pelajar. Pelajar tahun satu harus diberikan pengetahuan tentang hak asasi manusia, supaya setiap rakyat tidak akan dipergunakan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin tidak kira dalam bidang politik ataupun perniagaan. Sekiranya sistem pelajaran di negara kita dijalankan dengan lebih bertanggungjawab, kemungkinan besar negara kita telah diiktiraf sebagai negara maju, di mana rakyat mempunyai mentaliti yang tinggi, minda yang bijak dan pengetahuan yang lebih luas. Kerana pengetahuanlah yang menghasilkan sumber manusia yang berqualiti dan berdaya saing. Kita boleh lihat bahawa mereka yang mempunyai peluang untuk belajar di luar negara, adalah lebih bijak dan berfikiran luas. Ini tidak adil kepada golongan yang kurang mampu. Dengan sistem pendidikan sekarang kita dapat rumuskan bahawa ianya sedang memberi kesan negatif kepada rakyat yang telah mengharapkan masa depan anak-anak mereka. Kita telah nampak hasil dari sistem pendidikan di negara kita telah menyebabkan rakyat hilang keberanian dan tidak berani walaupun benar. Rakyat langsung tidak tahu mana yang betul mana yang salah. Pentadbiran yang menyalahgunakan sistem demokrasi. tetapi ada juga segelintir pelajar yang cemerlang tetapi mereka memilih untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara, bekerja di sana dan bermastautin di sana. Golongan berada juga ramai yang meminta status penduduk tetap di luar negara yang mentalitinya lebih jauh tinggi daripada rakyat Malaysia. Apa telah terjadi? Yang bijak semua sudah lari, tinggal hanyalah yang 'belum bijak', dan mereka yang 'belum bijak' ini juga akan pergi apabila mereka sudah bijak. Di manakah harapan kita yang kurang bijak ini?

Change And Opportunity

2009-02-18T03:40:00.000-08:00

It’s being the worst economic situation and many may not survive. The whole financial system in the world was failed, made by president of America; Richard Nixon when he withdraws the Gold Standard from central bank and let the currency of the US back by the economy. The credit crisis cause by sub-prime loan is another mistake from the people’s culture when they have to maintain their lifestyle. Most of them were from the middle class, when they have to stay in big house, drive big car, wear good cloths and eat good food, living in their dreams with comfortable life without proper planning and also sufficient cash flow. England is ranking world number one where the population has most debts just to maintain their lifestyle. It seem like the economy without fundamental as well as the world population who spent more than what they have, things not going well when time is come, nothing in the world could help, not even a god, it is the karma of the world’s economy. Some party may take advantage of the situation. Who will benefit from this? Of course those who were ready and prepared. The change will only benefit for those who were ready with good preparation. Anthony robin has said, luck is the combination of preparation and opportunity. What kind of preparation have we made before the change? Many of us never prepare for the worse but expect for the best. We should do thing right from the first time. For an example, many people rely on their education qualification and expect to get a good job that could secure their future, once they get the job they buy car and house with bank loan, expecting the company will give them secure income and future promotion. Most people never expect for the worse to come to them. They put their future and career relies on the company and the government without knowing how the administration is doing. They spent their future money and let the rich benefit it. When bad time comes, these people will be the victim of the crisis, instead of take the opportunity or advantage from it. For those people who prepare for it from earlier, save money and buy assets, avoid from debts and keep on feeding themselves with the knowledge and information, this is the time for them to rise up and take away the opportunities given by the victim who never prepare for the changes. Most people like to think positive but not realistic. We should understand the basic of economy first before we encounter the problem. By default, there will be only old economy will survive in crisis such as commodities industry. As a small investor, I never have interest on new economy even though it is booming. Only those commodities player which is under value will be my choice. So I don’t have to care how to change the market strategy when bad time is come because I had did my things right from the first time.

Our EPF Money At High Risk

2009-01-13T22:51:00.000-08:00

This is what our dearest government did to our retirement fund. To pay debt for those government link corporation. This is hopeless. EPF now holding 11% of stake in PLUS, which having over RM 8billion of debts. Theres alot of profit making companies in the market, why they don't choose it? - Click the picture to enlarge.

Pejam Mata Dan Lihat

2008-12-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

Sejauh manakah pengertian kita tentang kehidupan di dunia ini? Manusia hari ini tidak begitu berminat untuk mengenali kehidupan dan asal-usul diri sendiri. Mereka hanya mementingkan kerjaya, wang, nafsu, keinginan dan segala kebendaan, sehingga lupa keadaan sekeliling yang sebenar. Ada beberapa perkara yang selalu menjadi tanda tanya kepada diri saya adalah-hukum alam. Apakah hukum alam? Dalam beberapa ajaran agama ada menceritakan teori-teori hukum alam. Jika direnungkan dengan teliti, bagaimanakah kehidupan yang begitu komplek wujud di muka bumi? Bagaimana pula alam semesta wujud? Apakah ini semua? Bagaimana pula dengan alam ghaib(supernatural)? Sesuatu yang tidak dapat dilihat dengan mata kasar, tetapi dapat dikesan oleh para pendita atau pengamal meditasi. Mengapa ada orang yang dapat menduga apa yang akan berlaku pada masa akan datang dan juga dapat membaca sejarah seseorang? Walaupun telah dicemari oleh penipu-penipu yang bertujuan untuk mencari wang dengan cara mudah, tetapi pengamal-pengamal yang benar masih wujud. Ini telah menyebabkan ramai telah hilang kepercayaan mereka terhadap dunia ghaib. Kita boleh lihat sekarang bahawa orang-orang barat yang sebelum ini menganggap dunia ghaib adalah tahyol, tetapi telah mula nampak kekeliruan dan mula cuba untuk memasuki alam tersebut dengan belajar bermeditasi. Walaupun sains menjadi asas kepada dunia barat, tetapi tidak semua dapat dijawab dengan sains. Contohnya Segitiga Bermuda yang sehingga kini belum terjawab keajaibannya. Dengan mengamal meditasi, para pengamal ini telah terbukti dapat memahami kebenaran di sekeliling mereka, yang mungkin mustahil difahami oleh manusia biasa. Manusia sebenarnya mempunyai enam deria tetapi hanya 5 deria yang digunakan. Deria keenam dianggap tidak wujud oleh manusia biasa yang hanya mengejar kebendaan. Begitu juga dengan haiwan di dalam hutan, mereka dapat mengesan bencana alam yang bakal berlaku, tetapi manusia telah kehilangan deria keenam disebabkan pemikiran yang terlalu komplek dan mengaburi sensitif di dalam minda. Kebiasaannya deria keenam disabitkan dengan minda seseorang dan tahap pengetahuan mereka. Contohnya seorang ahli ekonomi profesional dapat menjangka apa akan berlaku kepada ekonomi dunia dan membuat persediaan awal dan mengambil kesempatan yang ada, semua ini bergantung pada pengetahuan yang ada pada diri dan minda yang tenang, sedangkan orang biasa hanya kais pagi makan pagi, kais malam makan malam, bukan setakat itu, dan juga mudah tertipu. Mengikut kajian ahli sains amerika, secara purata, manusia di dunia hanya mengguna 10% otaknya, dan 90% lagi tidak digunakan. Mengapakah manusia dicipta dengan dianugerahkan akal yang begitu berkuasa? Kebenaran alam ghaib tidak harus diperlekehkan, sebaliknya kita harus menelitinya dengan minda yang terbuka, dan mengguna sepenuhnya akal yang ada.

Kemerosotan Pulangan KWSP- Rakyat Tertipu Lagi

2008-12-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

Memang saya telah mendugai, wang KWSP para pekerja berada dalam keadaan risiko tinggi. Pulangan pelaburan telah merosot sebanyak 60 peratus, kononnya disebabkan oleh krisis ekonomi dunia. Beginilah cara orang dalam pentadbiran negara kita buat untuk menjadi kaya. Mereka terus memperdayakan para pekerja yang kurang arif tentang ekonomi dan pelaburan. Sebenarnya kebanyakan syarikat-syarikat yang sihat dan menunjukkan keuntungan tahunan yang tinggi tidak akan teragak-agak mengeluarkan dividen yang tinggi, walaupun harga saham menurun. Dividen yang ditetapkan adalah mengikut jumlah unit saham, bukan mengikut harga saham semasa. Contohnya 1unit saham yang menetapkan dividen sebanyak 10sen setahun, tidak kira harga saham tinggi atau rendah ia tetap memberi dividen yang sama. Ini bermakna pada harga saham yang rendah, dividen seharusnya meningkat. Kalau kita perhatikan dividen yang ditawarkan kini amat tinggi sekali, sehingga mencecah belasan peratus daripada harga saham semasa. Seharusnya KWSP tidak akan menghadapi masalah kemerosotan pulangan kecuali syarikat yang dilaburkan adalah syarikat GLC yang perniagaannya rugi ataupun ada kesilapan berlaku yang secara tidak sengaja mengkayakan kroni-kroni pentadbir. Wang RM 5 billion yag dikeluarkan untuk pelaburan oleh Najib telah membuktikan sesiapa sahaja dalam pentadbiran mempunyai kuasa untuk mengeluarkan wang simpanan pekerja tersebut, bagaimanakah mereka melaburkan wang milik pekerja-pekerja ini? Adakah ValueCap Sdn Bhd melutsinakan pelaburan wang KWSP tadi? Nampaknya rakyat Malaysia kena buat seperti Thailand, tetapi saya percaya rakyat Malaysia tidak sebodoh itu. Dengan ini, saya tidak lagi menaruh harapan ke atas simpanan hari tua saya melalui sistem KWSP yang merompak rakyat dengan mengeklpoitasikan para pekerja.

Satukan Sistem Persekolahan

2008-12-01T01:57:00.001-08:00

Satukan semua jenis sekolah kepada sekolah kebangsaan, inilah pandangan bernas Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir terhadap sistem persekolahan di negara kita. Satu-satunya cara untuk mencapai perpaduan negara, iaitu mengasuh anak-anak Malaysia daripada rebung supaya bersatu-padu. Saya percaya ini akan menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati di kalangan wira-wira perkauman. Setakat mana mentaliti masyarakat Malaysia dapat diuji di sini, satu pengorbanan yang besar demi pulangan yang tidak ternilai. Ianya bagaikan hadiah kepada anak-anak kita pada masa akan datang. Saya malas mengulas lanjut, bersama-samalah kita renungkan kebahagiaan anak-anak kita kelak yang jauh daripada isu perpecahan kaum. Isu perkauman hanya akan tinggal sebagai mitos bagi mereka pada masa itu. Saya sokong seratus peratus.

Formula RAHMAN Lengkap

2008-10-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

Tahniah kepada Perdana Menteri kita yang akhirnya membuat satu keputusan yang amat berani dengan tidak menandingi jawatan Presiden UMNO March ini. Beliau yang selama ini bertungkus lumus menyelamatkan UMNO dengan 'caranya yang tersendiri' akhirnya terpaksa menurut permintaan rakyat agar beliau membuka jalan kepada pemimpin baru. Dengan itu dapatlah parti-parti komponen BN mengukuhkan kembali kedudukan politik masing-masing. Akan tetapi, punca sebenar kejatuhan BN mungkin bukan kerana Perdana Menteri tetapi menantu beliau yang sentiasa mengawal tindak-tanduk Perdana Menteri, dengan itu rakyat masih tertanya-tanya bagaimana pula dengan 'Si Khairi'? Rakyat tidak memerlukan kehadiran atau kepimpinan Khairi dalam negara. Mimpi ngeri rakyat adalah sekiranya Khairi memenangi jawatan ketua pemuda UMNO. Bagaimana pula dengan strategi Anwar Ibrahim? Adakah rancangan beliau masih berjalan lancar? Adakah senarai nama ahli parlimen beliau masih di dalam tangan? Peluang Anwar masih kukuh kerana reputasi Najib juga tidak kurang daripada Pak Lah. Tetapi kita masih berpeluang melihat kebolehan Najib dalam menangani isu politik negara dan ekonomi dunia. Dalam keadaan kegawatan ekonomi yang serius ini, keputusan yang bijak amat penting supaya negara kita terselamat daripada tamparan krisis kewangan dunia. Beliau juga harus menerima nasihat Tun Dr Mahathir yang lebih berpengalaman dalam menangani isu krisis. Kita sama-sama lihat apa pula senario seterusnya.

Kisah Pak Lah Dengan Minyaknya

2008-09-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Krisis kenaikan harga minyak dunia telah memberi kesan yang buruk kepada dunia. Negara kita tidak terkecuali apabila Pak Lah mengumumkan kenaikan harga minyak di negara sebanyak 78sen petrol dan rm1 untuk diesel. Beliau memberi alasan bahawa ini adalah isu global, kita semua terpaksa menerima hakikat ini, jika dibandingkan harga minyak Singapura dan Thailand, harga minyak kita jauh lebih murah. Isu minyak ini telah menjadi buah mulut seluruh rakyat jelata yang terpaksa menanggung beban ini sehingga terjejasnya perbelanjaan bulanan yang lain. Pihak pembangkang juga telah berusaha habis-habisan untuk menurunkan harga minyak yang tinggi itu kerana beranggapan bahawa negara kita pengeluar minyak di mana kita seharusnya mendapat subsidi yang lebih kerana keuntungan yang diperolehi oleh kerajaan daripada isu kenaikan minyak tersebut. Hari ini, apabila harga minyak global telah menurun akibat pengeluaran yang terlebihan, seperti yang dijanjikan oleh Perdana Menteri kesayangan kita, jika harga minyak turun sehingga bawah USD100 setong, maka harga minyak negara kita pun akan turun. Tetapi sebaliknya Perdana Menteri kita berkata bahawa apabila harga minyak turun, keuntungan Petronas pun menurun menyebabkan keuntungan kerajaan juga berkurangan, jadi kerajaan tidak mampu memberi subsidi kepada rakyat. Sampai hari ini saya masih bingung dengan kenyataan beliau. Teringin saya pergi ke hospital psychiatry untuk membuat ujian kesihatan mental. Apa yang Pak Lah cakap nih? Saya kesian dengan Perdana Menteri kita yang seorang ini, dah nyanyok kot? Tolonglah sesiapa ambil alih tempat Pak Lah yang tersayang ini, biarlah beliau berehat sebelum apa-apa yang tidak diingini berlaku.

Selamatkan Diri Daripada Krisis

2008-09-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Mengapa krisis kewangan global berlaku serentak dengan krisis politik negara? Krisis yang sama juga telah berlaku di Thailand. Ini telah menyebabkan panik di antara rakyat dan juga pelabur asing. Setiap hari akhbar menyiarkan berita yang membimbangkan dan ianya telah memberi banyak tanda tanya sama ada apa akan berlaku seterusnya? Adakah ini akan memberi kesan kepada kehidupan harian kita semua? Adakah kesan itu dapat dibendung atau dielak?

Pada pendapat saya, negara kita akan mengalami tamparan yang sangat kuat berdasarkan keadaan pentadbiran kita hari ini. Jika dibandingkan dengan Singapura, walaupun mereka kerugian beratus billion dolar tetapi dengan pentadbiran yang kukuh besertakan dengan kekayaan mereka, negara cili padi itu masih kuat dan boleh bertahan. Tidak seperti negara kita yang masing-masing ahli politik mementingkan kepentingan peribadi tanpa mengambil endah kestabilan ekonomi negara dan keadaan rakyat. Keangkuhan sehinggakan sanggup menggunakan apa jua kuasa yang diamanahkan oleh rakyat tanpa menjaga perasaan akar umbi.

Biarlah apa yang akan berlaku pada politik negara, ianya tidak penting lagi, yang penting adalah kita semua harus berdikari dan menjaga ekonomi masing-masing tanpa mengharapkan sesiapa terutama pentadbir negara. Keadaan krisis kewangan dunia tidak dapat dielak oleh sesiapa pun walaupun negara yang berkuasa. Keadaan ini akan berterusan sehingga segala-galanya musnah. Krisis ini hanya akan pulih setelah permintaan dan bekalan komoditi dunia seimbang. Sekurang-kurangnya sepuluh tahun. Kita akan mendapati tahap pengangguran meningkat dan menyebabkan kuasa pengguna menurun, permintaan keatas barangan bukan komoditi akan menurun dan akhirnya menyebabkan pengangguran terus meningkat.

Keadaan sebegini akan memberi peluang kepada mereka yang kaya terus menjadi lebih kaya dan yang miskin akan semakin miskin. Inflasi terus meningkat dan akhirnya negara akan muflis jika politik tidak dipulihkan dengan segera. Politik hanya akan pulih apabila para pentadbir bersepakat dan memegang amanah dengan penuh tanggungjawab. Amanah yang diberi oleh rakyat dan juga pengetahuan adalah penentu masa depan negara. Kebijaksanaan Tun Dr Mahathir pada krisis kewangan yang lalu pada tahun 1997 dan 1998 telah terbukti bahawa beliau dapat menangani isu global dengan matang sekali. Begitu juga dengan bekas perdana menteri Thailan Thaksin yang telah menyelamatkan Thailand daripada IMF. Tetapi ini semua tidak diendahkan oleh rakyat ataupun pemimpin sekarang. Sejarah akan terus berulang dan sekiranya kita tiada kesedaran, sejarah baru akan berlaku apabila keadaan menjadi seperti Myanmar. Bersiap sedialah kita menghadapi apa sahaja kemungkinan yang akan berlaku.

Reformasi

2008-08-27T00:16:00.001-07:00

Rakyat memang hauskan perubahan. Terutama mereka yang terasa diri sendiri bagaikan rakyat kelas kedua. Kepada mereka yang terasa diri sendiri tertindas oleh warga sendiri akan melakukan apa sahaja agar segala-galanya berubah, termasuklah mengubah pentadbiran sekiranya diberi peluang. Kepada mana-mana pemimpin yang sanggup untuk membawa kepada keadilan, rakyat tetap akan menyokong.

"Ketuanan Rakyat" menjadi bara kepada mereka yang tertidas. Rakyat tidak mahu lagi pentadbiran yang ditadbir oleh parti berasaskan perkauman. Rakyat akan menjadi berani sekiranya mereka terasa hak mereka dirampas. Biar apa pun terjadi, asalkan perubahan berlaku, peluang baru muncul. Sekiranya dibiarkan pentadbiran UMNO diteruskan, golongan tersisih akan tersisih selama-lamanya.

Tiada lagi ruang bagi 'opportunis politik' yang berlompat-lompat parti. Para jutawan UMNO akan menghadapi kesukaran mengharungi kehidupan melainkan berlompat pula ke parti lawan. Tetapi ini tidak sepatutnya berlaku mengikut amalan meritokrasi. Revolusi akan menandingi evolusi yang selama ini berlaku dalam BN. Tetapi cita-cita politik parti-parti lawan juga akan menjadikan keadaan tidak menentu. Ianya terletak di atas tangan PM baru bagaimana menangani keadaan sebegini kerana Pakatan Rakyat belum menunjukkan kematangan dalam pentadbiran.

Apabila Pakatan Rakyat berkuasa, ekonomi negara akan berubah, perubahan yang merunsingkan kerana politik dalam Pakatan Rakyat akan berlaku menyebabkan pelabur berasa tidak selamat. Polisi-polisi institusi kewangan akan berubah. Organisasi syarikat-syarikat GLC juga akan berubah, menyebabkan banyak isu peralihan kuasa akan berlaku. Ini akan menjejaskan dunia koporat dan secara langsung ekonomi akan bergolak.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim harus meneliti setiap aspek ini sebelum menubuhkan pentadbiran. Persediaan awal amat penting agar keadaan buruk tidak akan memburukkan rakyat yang tidak bersalah. Jangan hanya mementingkan jawatan sehingga sanggup berjanji apa sahaja kepada sesiapa. Biarlah perubahan yang berlaku akan memberi keuntungan kepada semua, bukan kepada sebilangan orang yang berkepentingan sahaja. Jangan lupa rakyat yang memberi sokongan itu mengharapkan keadilan yang betul-betul adil.

Apa Akan Berlaku Sekiranya Perpaduan Kaum Terus Dibantah?

2008-08-21T04:20:00.000-07:00

Apabila kaum bukan Melayu menuntut untuk disatukan kaum-kaum yang pelbagai kepada Bangsa Malaysia, orang Melayu bantah habis-habisan kerana tidak ingin membahagikan hak mereka sama rata. Pelbagai alasan diberi termasuklah menuduh kaum lain sebagai pengemis, pendatang dan banyak lagi. Tetapi apakah kesan jangka masa panjang yang akan berlaku sekiranya Bangsa Malaysia tidak berjaya diwujudkan atau jika keistimewaan Kaum Melayu terus dipertahankan?

Kita boleh melihat sendiri sekarang bahawa ramai orang cerdik pandai telah meninggalkan negara kita dan bermastautin di negara-negara di mana isu perkauman tidak wujud. Tetapi perkara sebegini tidak diambil berat oleh mana-mana pihak pun. Kebanyakannya terdiri daripada kaum-kaum bukan Melayu. Begitu juga pelabur-pelabur atau ahli perniagaan yang berjaya, akhirnya akan berhijrah ke tempat lain yang taraf hidupnya lebih tinggi. Begitu juga dengan Kaum Melayu sendiri, mereka juga memilih untuk meninggalkan negara ini apabila dirasakan negara kita tidak sesuai dengan mentaliti mereka.

Jikalau ini terus berlaku, negara kita akan ketandusan pemimpin, ketandusan modal insan yang berkualiti. Akhirnya Malaysia hanya didiami oleh Kaum-kaum Melayu yang masih ketinggalan zaman. Kemiskinan juga akan terus meningkat kerana tiadanya memangkin ekonomi, tiadanya ahli perniagaan yang menjana pendapatan kepada Kaum-kaum Melayu sendiri. Ini telah terbukti kerana sememangnya wang yang kerajaan sedang gunakan untuk memelihara Kaum melayu itu kebanyakan adalah daripada pembayar cukai bukan Melayu. Sekiranya kaum-kaum bukan Melayu terus ditindas, mereka akan meninggalkan negara ini( di mana orang Melayu suka) dan menabur benih di negara lain. Maka tiada lagi wang untuk memelihara Kaum Melayu dan Melayu sendiri akan mula berpecah dan bertengkar sesama sendiri kerana sememangnya beginilah cara orang Melayu menghadapi masalah.

Kaum Melayu suka menuduh kaum bukan Melayu datang ke Malaysia untuk 'cari makan' di sini, tetapi jangan lupa bahawa orang bukan Melayulah yang sedang memberi makan kepada Melayu hari ini. Sebab itulah Tun Dr. Mahathir dahulu amat mementingkan dan mempertahankan hak-hak kaum bukan Melayu, kerana beliau memahami kepentingan mereka di Malaysia. Pada masa itu tiadapun sesiapa yang memekik perkataan 'Ketuanan Melayu', ianya hanya mula dipekikkan oleh orang Melayu pada pentadbiran Paklah, kerana dirasakan perpecahan Kaum Melayu sendiri yang bermula daripada UMNO.

Mengapa Paklah tidak mampu mempertahankan pentadbiran yang sebelum ini agak stabil? Ini adalah kerana Paklah tidak mempunyai pendirian yang teguh, beliau hanya mengikut kepada suara ramai. Kalau diikut suara ramai, memanglah Kaum Melayu yang paling ramai dan ini akan mengecewakan kaum bukan Melayu, justeru itu apabila kaum bukan Melayu mula tidak memberi kerjasama kepada beliau, orang Melayu mula longgar. Itulah yang menyebabkan Melayu berpecah sekarang, kerana kaum bukan Melayu dipinggirkan dan diselekehkan. Tetapi kesilapan ini tidak ditelitikan oleh sesiapapun. Dan selagi itu keadaan akan menjadi semakin kritikal.

Kehancuran yang besar akan berlaku, perubahan atau tsunami yang lebih hebat akan berlaku dalam politik negara. Kesedaran di antara kaum bukan Melayu akan semakin tinggi, mereka akan bersatu dalam bentuk yang lebih gagah. Ini juga akan disertakan dengan Kaum Melayu yang berfikiran terbuka. Sekiranya Kaum Melayu terus memendamkan diri dalam tempurung, selagi itu generasi baru mereka akan hidup dalam negara yang miskin seperti Burma, Vietnam atau Kemboja.

Rumusan Perdebatan YAB LIM Dan Tan Sri Dr Koh

2008-08-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Perdebatan di antara dua tokoh Pulau Pinang baru berlangsung. Telah jelas kita nampak kemantapan butir-butir yang diberi oleh Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon. Setiap soalan atau tuduhan yang dituju oleh YAB Lim Guan Eng dijawab dengan tepat dan bernas, terbuktinya kematangan politik Koh dalam mengendali pentadbiran. Sebaliknya Lim yang baru memegang jawatan nombor satu di Pulau Pinang nampaknya kuat berputar belit tanpa fakta yang kukuh dan ketandusan modal. Setiap isu yang diutarakan sekadar untuk menarik minat penduduk pulau tersebut. Petah YAB Lim berbalik cerita yang sama. Sepatutnya beliau harus memperkukuhkan lagi fakta sebelum membuat perbahasan terbuka. Apabila beliau mengatakan yang beliau telah mengajak Dr Koh untuk berjumpa di pejabat atau di rumah seolah-olah beliau ingin membincangkan sesuatu secara rahsia. Kelutsinaran dan kebijaksanaan pentadbiran yang lalu harus ditelitikan, rakyat berbalik kepada pembangkang bukan kerana pentadbiran Pulau Pinang yang lalu tidak bagus tetapi pentadbiran persekutuan yang telah mencemarkan keadaan, sekaligus membuka peluang kepada parti pembangkang tidak kira parti mana calon mana. Kemenangan DAP di Pulau Pinang belum stabil kerana rakyat masih ragu-ragu dengan pentadbiran pemimpin baru yang kurang berpengalaman. Daripada perdebatan dua tokoh tersebut telah menampakkan bahawa Lim sekadar ingin mencari salah lawan untuk menyelamatkan jawatannya dan bukan demi kebaikan rakyat kerana tuduhan beliau langsung tidak berasas. Tetapi beliau mengatakan bahawa keputusan rakyat pada pilihan raya yang lepas telah membuktikan siapa betul dan siapa salah, ini sebenarnya tidak tepat sama sekali kerana rakyat hanya menunaikan hak mereka untuk memilih dan bukannya menunjukkan kebenaran. Manalah tahu penggal depan Koh pula yang menjadi pilihan rakyat, adakah masa itu terbukti pula DAP bersalah? Lim juga ada menyatakan bahawa beliau akan menghapuskan kemiskinan di Pulau Pinang dalam masa setahun, adakah ini akan menjadi kenyataan? Atau sekadar menanam tebu di bibir? Setahun amatlah singkat, sekiranya beliau betul-betul berjaya mensifarkan kemiskinan dalam jangka masa satu tahun di Pulau Pinang, kami rakyat miskin di seluruh negara akan berhijrah dan bermastautin di Pulau Mutiara tersebut, dan pastikan kemiskinan tetap sifar. Adakah ini logik? Sedangkan Amerika Syarikat, Jepun dan Eropah pun masih tinggi kemiskinan. Menghapuskan kemiskinan memerlukan perancangan ekonomi jangka masa panjang, kemiskinan hanya dapat dihapuskan dengan ilmu, rakyat harus berilmu baru kemiskinan dapat diatasi. Kita harus menanam ilmu kepada generasi baru dan generasi inilah yang akan menghapuskan kemiskinan kelak. Rakyat kita sekarang bukanny tidak berilmu tetapi sistem pelajaran di negara kita masih lemah. Menyebabkan angka buta huruf masih tinggi, dan mereka yang boleh membaca pun kurang pendedahan ilmu luar. Inilah yang mengehadkan ilmu pengetahuan di negara kita. Inilah yang dikatakan janji-janji politik, kata senang, kotakanlah. Jadi sama-samalah kita buat penilaian dengan bijak yang mana putih dan yang mana hitam, tidak kira siapa juga yang menang, yang penting siapa yang bersih dalam memegang amanah rakyat.

Debat: Lim Guan Eng VS Koh Tsu Koon

2008-08-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

Kedua-duanya amat dihormati oleh ahli dalam parti masing-masing. Walaupun Koh telah kalah pada PRU yang lepas, tetapi jangan dipandang rendah kebolehan beliau yang telah terbukti dari kejayaan Negeri Pulau Pinang yang maju dan menjadi pilihan pelabur asing selama ini. Lim pula walaupun baru mentadbir tetapi ketabahan beliau yang tidak pernah putus asa menentang pentadbiran BN, telah memenangi kerusi Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang. Alangkah baiknya jikalau kedua-dua mereka bekerjasama menggunakan kebijaksanaan masing-masing untuk membantu rakyat. Mereka mempunyai persamaan di mana kedua-dua mereka adalah berjiwa rakyat dan betul-betul bekerja keras untuk kebaikan rakyat. Tetapi kerana kesilapan percaturan politik negara, DAP dan Gerakan menjadi lawan. Apa gunanya kita berlawan sesama sendiri? Sedangkan musuh kita hanyalah satu iaitu KEMISKINAN.

Kemusnahan Politik Kerana Tradisi Yang Salah

2008-08-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

UMNO memang sedang berdepan dengan ajal. Mungkin kerana Allah menyayanginya. Sikap pemimpin-pemimpin dan ahli-ahli UMNO yang telah menjadi tradisi kekal dan tidak dapat diubah. Mereka masih tidak mengenal erti logik. Mereka masih percaya cerita kolot Paklah. Sebenarnya saya percaya tiada guna lagi siapa yang akan menjadi president UMNO, organisasi yang sudah tiada harapan. Begitu juga dengan parti komponen BN yang masih tidak sanggup menerima kenyataan. Kepada mereka yang kalah teruk memang telah menerima kenyataan. Pihak pembangkang yang merupakan opportunis akan mendapat peluang yang besar untuk memenangi kerusi pentadbiran. Apa akan berlaku sekiranya Anwar Ibrahim menjadi PM? Adakah beliau betul-betul berpegang pada prinsip meritocracy? Adakah beliau betul-betul mampu memimpin? Mengapa pula beliau cuba membawa Malaysia ke kancah hutang IMF/World Bank pada tahun 1998? Boleh harap ke nih? Saya tidak peduli apa yang beliau buat peribadi(sodomi ke, disodomi ke...), kerana perkara itu tidak akan menjejaskan economi negara. Pemimpin-pemimpin lain juga tiada bezanya, kalau tak liwat pun mesti ada perangai buruk masing-masing, tidak perlu tuduh-menuduh, semua sama-sama manusia. Yang penting rakyat hidup selesa, setiap sen yang dibayar oleh pembayar cukai dapat dinikmati oleh semua sama rata. Rakyat inginkan pentadbiran yang lutsinar, tetapi rakyat tidak akan meminta supaya perkara peribadi pentadbir dilutsinarkan, tiada faedahnya. UMNO terlalu keruh, pembangkang pula terlalu lutsinar sampai projek peribadi pemimpin pembangkang pun dilutsinarkan. Tiada satu pun yang boleh diharap oleh pembayar cukai. Apatah lagi pelabur, sekiranya mereka tiada apa-apa terikat di negara kita, masakan mereka akan terus melabur? Tetapi ada bagusnya UMNO begini, bukan setakat pemimpinnya, tetapi ahli-ahlinya juga memerlukan pengajaran. Sifat-sifat pemimpin yang kuat rasuah, kronisme, salahguna kuasa, sifat-sifat ahlinya pula yang kuat membodek, penakut, pak turut, tidak pandai berfikir dan menilai dengan minda sendiri, senang dibeli dengan harga murah... Siapakah yang menanam sikap ini di dalam UMNO? Pemimpin-pemimpin yang terdahulu juga. Mengikut hukum alam, setiap perkara yang terjadi akan ada karma di sebaliknya. UMNO sedang mengalami krisis yang memecah-belahkan kaum kesayangan sendiri. Memang inilah yang dinanti-nantikan oleh musuh-musuh UMNO. Seperti apa yang Khairi sebut, dia akan menghapuskan semua pembangkang. Sekarang senjata sudah makan tuan, kerana mulut jawatan binasa. Sebenarnya kita tidak perlu bermusuh dengan sesiapapun, kerana musuh utama kita semua hanyalah satu, kemiskinan.

Liabilities

2008-08-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

There is few weaknesses in some developing countries. The wrong economic strategies. The government that promote bank's product- debt. Healthy debt could help in economic growth but whats mean by healthy debt? It must be prime debt but not sub prime. But poor government is promoting sub prime loan to the poor or medium income, which is out of their capability. Why the government promote it? It is because they are trying to promote another liability for the nation- Car(such as Proton). Most counties which having too many cars will cause trafic jam, which will lead to the developement of another liability- Road/ Highway(which need highly cost maintenance). Trafic jam will be inefficient for an economic growth. Most developed countries doesn't have much cars, but the government is promoting public transport instead, this will make the economy more efficient in long run. This also will help in developing real estate industry when the people can easily own a property without being stress by car loan. Developed counties usually less in cars but their real estate industry is growing perfectly. This practice will lead to long term economic growth. When not much car on the road, it will reduce cost of maintenance, indirectly reduce chances for corruptions. We don't have to waste our people in doing inefficient job. Why not government invest in education? with educated population, government don't have to worry about infrastructure developement, the people will has ability to earn more money and pay more tax so that the government will has more to develop no matter in infrastructure or education. Invest in education and the country will has more assets- Human capital. This will generate economy for the country and raise the standard of living. If the government couldn't see this through and not willing to change, the country will keep on falling and it will lead to serious inflation, it will be a gab between educated and rich; poor and not educated. Poor and not educated people will be number one liability for the nation. The government must stop playing game, risk is taking by the people, by the next generation. Seem like these administration are not well educated too, that cause the result as today.

Encounter Shortage Of Food

2008-08-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

Long-term action is required to raise agricultural production in developing countries. This would boost rural incomes, benefiting the majority of the world's hungry who live in rural areas, they would have more money with which to buy food. It would also help keep food prices low. Public investment in infrastructure, agriculture research, education and extension in vital, the state has a key role to play. Technology is critical, it should be adapted to local conditions and meet the needs of small farmers. Better farming should be part of an holistic approach to development, guided by the 'triple bottom line' of economic, social and environmental sustainability. Better-educated woman have a key role, they tend to have fewer children, and those children themselves are better educated. Woman play a vital part in agriculture in poor countries, so improving their education will make it easier for them to learn better husbandry.

Globalization Is Failing

2008-07-24T00:23:00.000-07:00

After few years of WTO (World Trade Organization), the government of developing countries had expected some benefits but they were disappointed because the benefits did not occur. Many of agreements also have a transition period of five years before implementation, so the worst aspects are yet to come. Even so, developing countries are beginning to feel the pinch. As they formulate new national laws to take into account the Uruguay Round Agreements, they are coming to realize that the agreements contain many imbalances that harm them.
Developing countries have had to reduce their import duties after a grace period. Governments will be more and more prohibited from giving domestic and export subsidies to farmers.
In many countries, NGOs and farmers have expressed great concern that if the import duties have to go down progressively, while at the same time Europe and the US continue to heavily subsidize their exports, then the farmers in developing countries will face great competition from imports and their livelihoods will be threatened. Studies in the Philippines already show how cheaper imports due to liberalization are causing grave problems for Filipino farmers. The situation will get worse in the next five to ten years.

Nikmati Cita-cita Rukun Negara

2008-07-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

BAHAWASANYA NEGARA KITA MALAYSIA mendukung cita-cita hendak :

-mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya ;
-memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik ;
-mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama ;
-menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak ; dan
-membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.

MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :

KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN

Ekonomi Yang Menguasai DEB/ NEP

2008-07-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Cuba kita perluaskan lagi pandangan kita pada tahap global. Ia telah semulajadi dan tiada sesiapa boleh nafikan bahawa kekuatan ekonomi atau lebih terus-terang iaitu kuasa kewangan, dapat menembusi segala polisi dan juga undang-undang dunia. Cuba perhatikan kaum Yahudi yang menguasai ekonomi dunia terus menguasai dunia dan dalam senyap-senyap kekayaan mereka sentiasa meningkat dengan begitu laju sekali. Adakah kaum Yahudi ini dibantu oleh kerajaan atau mana-mana parti politik? Tidak, kekuatan mereka adalah bepunca dari kegigihan dan ketekunan diri sendiri. Begitu juga dengan kaum Cina yang merupakan salah satu penjana ekonomi dunia. Kegigihan ini berpunca daripada kesusahan mereka terpaksa ditanggung oleh diri-sendiri tanpa bantuan sesiapa, kaum ini tidak mengenali sesiapa dalam usaha menjayakan diri dalam ekonomi walaupun kaum sama sendiri. Siapa cepat dia dapat, yang menang akan ke hadapan manakala yang kalah perlu memulihkan kelemahan diri-sendiri, tiada guna menyalahkan orang yang menang kerana dengan cara ini akan melambatkan process pemulihan daripada kekalahan.

Beginilah konsep ekonomi secara semulajadi, 'only the fit will survive". Apabila kekuatan ekonomi dapat menentukan masa depan sesebuah negara, ini bermakna pentadbiran negara haruslah menguasai kekuatan ekonomi tersebut supaya pentadbir tidak akan dipengaruhi oleh kuasa ekonomi lain iaitu para kapitalis di dalam atau di luar negeri yang kebanyakannya berketurunan Cina.

Contohnya Singapura, kementerian kewangan memiliki sebuah firma pelaburan yang bertaraf dunia iaitu Temasek yang percaturannya dalam strategi pelaburan amat digeruni. Maka pentadbiran Singapura amat jelas membuktikan polisi dan undang-undang negara tersebut tidak dicemari atau disalahgunakan.

Dengan itu, tidak perlu disalahkan siapa yang memboikot Dasar Ekonomi Baru di Malaysia sekiranya pentadbirnya lemah dalam pengurusan kewangan yang menjadikan pentadbiran dikuasai secara tidak langsung oleh kuasa ekonomi luar yang bukan dari pihak pentadbiran atau kerajaan.

Rahsia kejayaan kaum Cina dalam ekonomi sebenarnya amatlah mudah iaitu mereka pantang berhutang, mereka tidak suka menjadi produk kepada institusi kewangan sebaliknya mereka ingin memiliki institusi kewangan dan biar orang lain yang menjadi produk mereka. Mereka juga dilatih agar mengenepikan nafsu pembaziran dan mereka sanggup hidup susah demi untuk menyimpan untuk masa depan tanpa berhutang. Kaum Melayu pula apabila terlalu dimanjakan oleh DEP begitu ghairah menghayati hutang-hutang yang dialu-alukan oleh kerajaan. DEB nampaknya tidak menolong sebaliknya merosakkan potensi dan kaumnya sendiri. Konsep DEB ini memang bertentangan dengan konsep kaum Cina dan juga Kaum Yahudi kerana mereka ini menganggap bahawa hutang itulah yang menjadi kelemahan paling utama dalam ekonomi. Malah kelemahan inilah yang membocorkan ekonomi dan menjadi sasaran para kapitalis untuk menyemai benih mengorek peluang keuntungan.

Maka dengan ini memang saya setuju bahawa DEB ini telah diboikot tetapi bukan oleh kaum Cina sahaja malah kaum Melayu sendiri yang lemah dan tidak pandai berusaha, dan mencetuskan peluang kepada kaum lain. Pendek kata polisi yang dibuat mestilah dikukuhkan dengan ekonomi, kalau tidak polisi tersebut akan dipergunakan oleh ekonomi yang lain.

No Perpaduan No Perpecahan

2008-07-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

I think we should stop talking about perpaduan, the more we discuss about the matter the more we getting far from perpaduan. Before Malaysia Independent, no such thing as perpaduan or perpecahan but we all bersatu. Today when we discuss about perpaduan, it seems like the country getting more perpecahan. When we talk about perpaduan kaum, each kaum will break, when we talk about perpaduan Melayu, Melayu will break too as well as other races.

Why people like to talk about perpaduan? Because they were trying to be a heros of their people and eventually will get more enermies as well. But if we stop thinking of being a hero of a small group but be a hero to the world, it will be spechless and unlimited value.

Upgrade our mentality and open our mind to look at the world from different angles. Don't let other people look at us like a fool and uncivilized.

Saya Anak Malaysia, Saya Bangsa Malaysia

2008-06-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hai rakan-rakan senegara,

Di sini saya ingin berkongsi dengan semua yang tidak puas hati dengan rakyat bukan Melayu. Bapa saya berketurunan Cina generasi yang ke-6 di Kelantan dan kami dikategorikan sebagai Cina peranakan. Ibu saya berketurunan Siam yang sememangnya dikategorikan sebagai bumiputera kerana memang dalam sejarah, Kelantan suatu masa dahulu dimiliki oleh kerajaan Siam, dan dihadiahkan oleh Raja Chulalongkorn kepada British yang menjajah Tanah Melayu bersama dengan Pulau Pinang, Terengganu, Kedah dan juga Perlis sebagai tanda persahabatan. Bermakna memang tanah tumpah darah kaum Siam lah negeri Kelantan nih. Di Kelantan, Cina peranakan memang memilih loghat Kelantan sebagai bahasa perantaraan dan kami semua berkawan dengan kaum Melayu dan membesar di perkampungan Melayu. Malah sehingga sekarang saya merantau ke negeri orang, bersama rakan-rakan Melayu dan Cina peranakan, kami hidup susah senang bersama seperti adik-beradik. Malah di Kelantan ayah-ayah kami juga adalah rakan karib, pendek kata persahabatan kami telah akrab dari generasi sebelumnya.

Musim perayaan kaum Cina pula kami sediakan makanan tempatan seperti nasi dagang, gulai kawah yang dimasak oleh orang Melayu dan pengunjung pula kebanyakannya rakan-rakan Melayu dari merata tempat. Cina peranakan Kelantan memang seronok menghayati makanan tempatan seperti budu, ulam dan ikan bakar, terasa asyik pula dengan bahasa Melayu loghat kelantan, malah ada di kalangan kami yang memang tidak tahu berbahasa Cina kerana dari kecil berbahasa Melayu seperti bapa saya sendiri. Kami seolah-olah telah lupa yang nenek moyang kami datangnya dari tanah besar cina disebabkan diri saya dah pun keturunan yang ke-7.

Maka bolehkah saya ini dikira bumiputera? sedangkan sesetengah orang Melayu yang baru datang dari indonesia dua tiga generasi telah dikira bumiputera. Saya bukannya hendak menuntut untuk menjadi bumiputera seperti kaum Melayu, tetapi saya hanya ingin berkongsi situasi saya kerana ramai yang kurang memahami keadaan sebenar di negara kita ini. Bukan semua kaum Cina baru berlabuh kat Malaysia. Sebab nenek moyang saya datang sebelum Laksamana Cheng Ho yang berlabuh di Melaka, malah sebelum Laksamana Cheng Ho berlabuh di Melaka, beliau telah singgah di pantai Bachok, kerana beliau dapat tahu bahawa ada kaum Cina yang telah lama menetap di sana.

Mengikut sejarah, kaum Cina juga bukannya datang selepas perjuangan kaum Melayu, tetapi kaum Cina telah berjuang bersama kaum Melayu menentang Jepun ketika perang dunia ke-2. Kaum Cina juga menentang British, dan sama-sama menuntut kemerdekaan pada tahun 1957. Sebab itulah kaum bukan Melayu tetap diterima oleh Melayu pada masa itu.

Memang tidak dinafikan ada segelintir kaum Cina yang extream, terlalu taksuk dengan kecinaan mereka itu dan bersungguh-sungguh mempertahankan sekolah Cina mereka. Dari sini terlintas pula tanda tanya mengapakah sekolah Cina dan Tamil dibuka? Ianya buah fikiran British supaya adanya sekolah cina, melayu dan india supaya kita tidak bersatu. Dan hasilnya seperti hari ini, terbahaginya kaum Melayu, Cina dan India. Apabila di sekolah rendah, guru masing-masing mengajar anak murid masing-masing pro kaum masing-masing. Anak-anak dari kecil tidak dibenarkan bergaul dengan kaum lain. Sehingga terjadilah perpecahan kaum di negara. Mengapa pula buah fikiran British ini masih diamal sedangkan British telahpun balik ke kampung asal mereka? Inilah yang UMNO sedang gunakan iaitu dasar pecah dan perintah yang telah membolehkan UMNO berkuasa selama ini.

Apabila telah biasa diajar supaya pro perkauman, memang tidak akan wujudlah perpaduan antara kaum sedangkan jika dididik semenjak di bangku sekolah, memang anak-anak Malaysia akan jadi akrab antara satu sama lain. Seperti di negara dunia pertama, mana ada perpecahan kaum ataupun sekolah Cina, sekolah afrika, sekolah orang putih? Di Thailand pula mana ada orang Thai yang berketurunan Cina mengaku dirinya Cina? Bagi mereka diri mereka ialah Thai, jika mereka digelar Cina bermakna mereka rakyat negeri Cina. Begitu juga di Malaysia, saya tidak ingin digelar Cina sebab jikalau saya pergi ke negeri Cina pun orang sana bukanya menerima saya sebagai saudaranya, mereka akan memanggil saya orang MALAY. Sebab dari Malaysia. Kami berharap sangat dapat menjadi Bangsa Malaysia sepenuhnya dan bukannya harap sangat nak merebut hak orang Melayu nih walaupun kami membayar cukai yang sama malah lebih banyak dari orang melayu. Memang kami amat bersyukur dapat menetap di bumi ini tetapi tidak perlu diulang kata-kata yang kami ini datang untuk mengemis kerana ramai lagi Melayu juga pendatang yang lebih lewat daripada kami.

Ini bukan topik perkauman, tetapi saya ingin menghalusi setiap aspek negatif perkauman agar boleh difahami dan dikongsi bersama. Kalau tak percaya tanyalah saudara-saudara Melayu saya ini...(cuba teliti bahasa saya tidak kurang pun dengan orang Melayu sendiri)

Sekian terima kasih

PAS tidak akan kekal

2008-06-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

Sememangnya benar bahawa UMNO tidak layak untuk mentadbir negara. Tetapi rakyat juga kurang yakin dengan kemampuan Pakatan Rakyat kerana berlaku banyak percanggahan idea antara parti komponennya. PAS ialah sebuah parti yang berasaskan agama Islam, sedangkan ramai lagi rakyat yang bukan Islam. Memang mustahil bagi PAS untuk menguasai negara, ianya bercanggah dengan kedudukan negara yang pelbagai kaum dan agama. Begitu juga dengan UMNO yang berunsurkan kaum Melayu. Parti yang akan mentadbir pada masa akan datang hanyalah parti pelbagai kaum dan bukannya parti yang berfikiran sempit. Pemimpin-pemimpin parti haruslah berfikiran terbuka, pandanglah setiap aspek dalam negara, bukan sekadar melihat kepentingan pada diri sendiri. Parti yang berunsur perkauman dan agama adalah parti yang mementingkan diri-sendiri. Parti sebegini hanya mementingkan kaum dan agama mereka sendiri tanpa mengambil kira kaum dan agama yang lain. Sebaliknya mereka menganggap kaum lain hanya datang menumpang di bumi mereka. Agama Islam juga datangnya dari tempat lain, orang Melayu juga datangnya dari tempat lain, jadi tiada bezanya semua rakyat Malaysia. Ada pula mereka yang dengki dengan pencapaian kaum lain di negara ini dengan menganggap kaum lain itu hanya mengemis di bumi ini, mungkin mereka ini terlalu pentingkan diri sehingga kebuntuan, mereka tidak tahu dari mana economi negara dijanakan, mereka tidak memahami mengapa kaum lain ditawarkan kerakyatan pada tahun 1957, sekiranya kaum lain itu tidak ada kepentingan, masakan pemimpin masa itu memberikan tawaran tersebut? Itulah yang seharusnya difahami dan semua rakyat adalah Bangsa Malaysia. Selagi perkara ini masih belum difahami oleh rakyat maka masih jauh lagilah perjuangan kita.

Corrupted country

2008-06-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

What is the weakness of the people? They are weak because they don’t have knowledge, and don’t even know their rights. What about our country’s intelligent and the genius? They all migrated to overseas and serve other country. Who cares? Malaysia don’t even appreciate their existence, because the ruling party only appreciate their race and always support them with the money of the tax payers which is 90% paid by other races. The country not only lost their quality human capital but also promote nepotism. This practice will cause inefficiency on our country’s economy and also will affect the future of the people. Some people said if somebody going to offer a million of cash to you just to support our existing PM and his son in law, you will also be the same as them. But I still wonder why first world country doesn’t be the same? Why Singapore can be corruption free? If our country administration does not aware of corruption, what if suddenly any tycoon in the world buys over our administrators and makes Malaysia as their private property? It will definitely happen if our existing administration keeps on so called “duties”. Even the next generation of KJ and AAB will be the victim like the people of the corrupted country. This is not the mistake of the people who choose the ruling party because they were force to do so as there is not much option in General Election. Both option were corrupted, can’t be trusted. Our country need a new party with a good leader, good vision and sincere in handling people's fund.

Start Saving For Your Future

2008-06-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

SET aside some money for yourself first when you get your pay cheque, that is the advice given by a chartered financial consultant so that you can retire as a millionaire.

K.H. Tan said the idea of “paying yourself first” was good and should start early in one's working life.

“Paying yourself first means before you settle the bills or spoil yourself on designer coffees, you set money aside for yourself. Now this isn't cash to splurge but cash to save for the future,” he said.

Tan, 38, added that many young executives who had attended his financial seminars felt it difficult to set money aside for themselves.

“Salary adjustments, increments and bonuses are earned. No matter how much you earn, you must force yourself to set aside an amount for retirement. If you don't do it, nobody else will,” he said at his recent I Can Be a Millionaire seminar.

However, Tan said: “Human nature makes it difficult as people think they don't have enough to pay themselves first because there's always something to spend the annual salary increase on.

“We advice many to start on a small sum instead of a ambitious sum.

“As income grows, increase the savings and to make the pay your self first effective, the process has to be automatic. Apply for an automatic bank transfer to take effect each time your income is credited to your account,” he added.

Tan's business partner P. Utama Raj strongly believes in the pay yourself idea and suggest that young executives request their employers transfer a fixed percentage of their income from their monthly pay to an investment portfolio.

“By doing so, the process becomes automatic and it makes it easier to hit that million ringgit mark due to the consistent monthly deposits and power of compounding interest,” he said.

Raj, 35, added that young executives must avoid incurring credit- card debts and spend wisely.

“One good approach to spend wisely is to use cash whenever possible.

“Being discipline does not mean a lack of a social life or depriving oneself of every shopping urge.

“We must keep our spending habits within reason thus exercising delayed gratification,” he said.-EDWARD RAJENDRA

Siapakah PM Baru?

2008-06-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Saya percaya suatu perubahan yang mendadak akan berlaku dalam dunia politik negara pada masa yang singkat ini sekiranya Abdullah terus dengan cita-citanya. Perubahan tersebut sedang berlaku di bawah selimut, dan akhirnya BN akan hancur. Perubahan yang bukan disebabkan oleh pembangkang, sebaliknya daripada mereka yang selama ini terpendam, tidak bersuara tetapi bersemangat. Semangat mereka ini malah melebihi pembangkang dan lebih ikhlas. Mungkin anda mengenali mereka-mereka ini. Sekiranya Tun dapat bekerjasama dengan mereka-mereka ini, Abdullah akan mengalah dengan sendirinya. Saya kurang pasti samada siapakah yang layak menjadi PM selain Tun, tetapi sekiranya UMNO masih bersikap seperti hari ini, maka tiada seorang pun yang layak. Mungkinkah PM yang akan datang bukan dari UMNO? Mungkinkah PM yang akan datang bukan Melayu? Saya percaya sekiranya ia menjadi kenyataan, ini akan menjadi mimpi ngeri kepada kaum Melayu, kerana minda Melayu belum cukup bersedia menghadapi kebenaran dan persaingan. Disember ini yang dinanti-nantikan oleh rakyat jelata, agar dapat mengenali presiden baru UMNO atau PM baru kita, mungkin akan mengecewakan kerana Abdullah tetap akan menang. Tidak mustahil, walaupun rakyat tidak menerima pemimpin ini, tetapi para perwakilan tetap sayang kepada Abdullah kerana beliau tidak sebodoh babi. Abdullah tidak akan berdiam tunggu masa untuk disembelih. Senang sahaje, sekadar pendamkan nafsu tamak dalam kepala mereka, beliau hanya perlu menabur janji untuk memberi projek kepada para perwakilaan dan sekaligus amanah rakyat telah dibeli atau ditipu. Orang tamak selalu akan rugi, cita-cita nak 10juta, masa depan anak-anak menjadi taruhan. Inilah sikap orang kita.

Malaysia Yang Akan Datang

2008-06-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

1) Tiada perpecahan kaum, hanya bangsa Malaysia tetapi dengan agama dan tradisi asal yang unik. Bebas beragama, bebas bertutur.

2) Hanya satu jenis sekolah iaitu sekolah kebangsaan, tetapi pelajar bebas untuk memilih pelajaran bahasa masing-masing. Para pelajar semua adalah anak Malaysia.

3) Rakyat Malaysia bebas berbahasa.

4) Tiada polisi bumiputera atau non-bumiputera, setiap rakyat yang dilahirkan di Malaysia ialah anak Malaysia. Bukan anak Cina, bukan anak India, bukan anak Melayu dan bukan anak asli. Generasi kita yang lepas telah banyak berjasa kepada negara dan jasa mereka tidak dapat diukur, tiada yang lebih tiada yang kurang. Pulangan daripada jasa mereka harus dibahagikan sama rata.

5) Peluang pembelajaran yang lebih terbuka. Tidak terkongkong dengan agenda politik. Peluang pembelajaran yang tidak terhad.

6) Menjadi negara yang mesra pelabur. Pelabur tidak terkongkong dengan polisi yang tidak berasas, yang tidak stabil disebabkan ketidakstabilan politik (politik yang tidak matang) negara. Dengan itu peluang pekerjaan juga bertambah, peluang perniagaan turut meningkat. Kewangan juga akan kukuh.

7) Kehakiman yang tidak diragui. Keadilan yang tidak mengenali kedudukan dan kuasa.

8) System percukaian yang berpatutan dengan pendapatan rakyat yang lumayan. Taraf hidup yang memuaskan.

9) Jalanraya yang bebas tol, bebas cukai jalan dan bebas rasuah.

10) Pentadbiran yang matang, kukuh, berdaya saing dan amanah.

Perkauman Tidak Akan Kekal

2008-06-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

Saya mewakili rakyat pelbagai kaum, bangsa Malaysia. Kami tidak suka mendengar kata-kata yang berbaur perkauman, di mana beberapa parti politik amat gemar sekali menggunakan isu perkauman untuk menyelesaikan masalah kaum tertentu. Bersatu atau berpecah bukan sahaja pada sesuatu kaum, malah ianya harus dibincang dalam bentuk menyeluruh. Ianya merangkumi seluruh bangsa Malaysia. Isu perkauman tidak popular lagi pada masa akan datang, pendek kata parti politik yang berasaskan perkauman tidak akan bertahan lagi pada masa yang singkat. Ini adalah kerana dasar pecah dan perintah yang diamalkan oleh UMNO dulu tidak lagi menjadi apabila rakyat semakin sedar dan berani.

Kesedaran rakyat tentang permuafakatan antara kaum semakin tinggi. Suatu hari nanti, hanya 2 parti politik yang tinggal, iaitu parti yang mentadbir dan parti yang membangkang. Tiada lagi parti Melayu, parti Cina, parti India atau parti agama. Ini adalah kerana rakyat yang dikategorikan sebagai Non-Bumi juga ada hak yang sama dengan yang Bumi di mana nilai undi mereka adalah sama. Malah perbezaan antara Bumi dan Non-Bumi juga sentiasa menjadi tanda soal, kerana polisinya telah meenimbulkan keraguan.

Saya sebagai keturunan yang ke tujuh semenjak moyang saya dari China, tetap dikategorikan sebagai non-Bumi, sebaliknya Melayu yang menjadi keturunan yang ke dua atau ke tiga telah menjadi Bumiputera sepenuhnya dan menikmati pelbagai kelebihan dalam negara yang didiami lebih pendek daripada keluarga saya. Ini tidak akan menjadi masalah kepada kita kerana keluarga kita telah dilatih supaya sentiasa tabah dan berani. Kita akan bangkit tidak kira di mana jua, dan usaha kita tidak akan sia-sia.

Saya percaya bahawa perubahan akan berlaku ketika perpecahan sedang berlaku, tidak harus disatukan benda yang telah pecah, mereka telah tidak mempercayai satu sama lain, ini lah proses penyatu-paduan negara yang sedang berlaku secara besar-besaran. Ia mungkin akan menyakiti sesuatu kaum, tetapi kebaikan yang akan berlaku itu akan berkekalan. Jadi tidak perlu lagi kita sebutkan isu perpecahan kaum, kerana setelah ianya berpecah baru lah ia akan bersatu semula dengan bangsa yang baru iaitu bangsa Malaysia.

For Our Knowledge

2008-06-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

Today Tenaga stock rose by about MYR1.00. Volume traded in excess of 35million units.Yesterday Tenaga stock was suspended.

Put these points together.

1. If you know that an announcement would be made on Wednesday that TNB
rates will be revised upwards you would surely buy Tenaga shares on
Tuesday.

2. If you own an investment bank or have sufficient credit line with an
Investment Bank you would have bought as much as you could knowing that
the price will surely go up.
3. Since you have to pay within 3 days (T+3 rule), you would have
planned to sell on Friday. Â So you could have bought 1Million Tenaga
shares on Tuesday and sold it today for a cool MYR1Million profit
without paying any money (perhaps some borrowing costs for 2-3 days).
4. Of course none of us are privy to the announcement of the fuel hike,
but the family of the PM are privy to it.
5. Of course none of us have a large credit line with an Investment Bank
but the family of the PM owns an investment bank.
6. Why the surprise announcement on 05 June when the PM has said that it
would be in August ? Well you can only make a big and quick profit if
you control the timings and surprise others.
7. For those in the know (the powers that be and their cronies) this has
been one hugely profitable week buying and shorting the related shares.
The poor rakyat had to queue just to fill up their tanks and perhaps
save between MYR20-MYR100.

Now read below..... Need those in know of the basic economics of crude,
fuel etc to comment.

WHAT IS NEVER MENTIONED IN Mainstream Media like NST/ TheStar/ Utusan/BH
are these facts....

Malaysian PerCapita Income USD 5000 VS
Singaporean PerCapita Income USD 25000

Further The Star made a comparison of prices in Thailand, Singapore and
Indonesia .
For Thailand it is quoted at RM3.90/liter, however are they aware that
in Thailand new cars are cheaper than Malaysia by RM10,000? They pay
only one life time for their driving license? No renewal fee after that?
Also that goes for road tax as well? And do TheStar also aware that you
can drive all the way from Hadtyai to Bangkok on a six lane highway
without paying any Tolls ??!!

Whereas here in Malaysia you have to pay yearly renewal for road tax ,
driving license and TOLLS, TOLLS, TOLLS!!!

For Singapore how can you quote RM 5.20 ? Please quote in Singapore
Dollars because they are earning in Sing Dollars. You might as well say
Europeans are paying RM10/liter. RM5.20/liter = Sing $ 2.20/liter, still
cheaper than Malaysia in view of fact that Singapore is not a crude oil
exporter. Are you saying that you fill up petrol in Singapore by paying
Ringgit?

In economy, dollar to dollar must be compared as apple to apple. Not
comparing like durian in M'sia is much cheaper than durian in Japan!! Of
course-lah, Japan is not durian producer!!! Comparing Malaysian durian
with Thailand durian make more sense!!

For Indonesia we might say is cheaper there at RM2.07/liter but compare
that to their level of income!

Now, let us compare the price with OIL PRODUCING countries:

UAE RM1.19/litre
Eygpt RM1.03/litre
Bahrain RM0.87/litre
Qatar RM0.68/litre
Kuwait RM0.67/litre
Saudi Arabia RM0.38/litre
IranRM0.35/litre
Nigeria RM0.32/litre
Turkmenistan RM0.25/litre
Venezuela RM0.16/litre
MALAYSIA RM2.70/litre

RM 2.70!!! Individual perspective:

As of last month a Toyota Vios would 'cause a damage' of about RM
89,000.
In the international market, a Toyota Vios is about USD 19,000 USD
19,000 = RM 62,700 (using the indicative rates of USD 1 = RM 3.30) That
makes Malaysian Vios owners pay an extra RM 26,300.

This RM 26,300 should be cost of operations, profit and tax because the
transportation costs have been factored in to the USD 19,000.

RM 26,300/ RM625 petrol rebate per year translates to a Vios being used
for
42.08 years.

I do understand that the RM 625 is a rebate given by the government, but
it also means that one has to use the Vios for 42.08 years just to make
back the amount paid in taxes for the usage of a foreign car. Would
anyone use any kind of car for that long?

Now with these numbers in front of us, does the subsidy sound like a
subsidy or does it sound like a penalty? This just seems to be a heavy
increment in our daily cost of living as we are not only charged with
high car taxes but also with a drastic increase in fuel price.

With all the numbers listed out, I urge all Malaysians to join me in
analyzing the situation further.

Car taxation is government profit, fuel sales is Petronas' (GLC) profit
which also translates into government profit. The government may
ridicule us Malaysians by saying look at the world market and fuel price
world wide.
Please, we are Malaysians, we fought of the British, had a international
port in the early centuries (Malacca), home to a racially mixed nation
and WE ARE NOT STUPID!!!

We know the international rates are above the USD 130/barrel. We
understand the fact that the fuel prices are increasing worldwide and we
also know that major scientist are still contradicting on why this
phenomenon is happening.
Some blame Bush and his plunders around the world and some blame climate
change and there are others which say petroleum 'wells' are getting
scarce.

Again we go back to numbers to be more straight fwd

1 barrel = 159 liters x RM2.70/liter = RM 429 or USD 134

On 1 hand, we are paying the full cost of 1 barrel of crude oil with
RM2.70 per liter but on the other hand the crude oil only produces 46%
of fuel.

Msia sells crude oil per barrel at USD130 buys back Fuel per barrel at
USD134. And not forgetting, every barrel of fuel is produced with 2
barrels of crude oil.

1 barrel crude oil = produce 46% fuel (or half of crude oil), therefore
2 barrel crude oil = approximately 1 barrel fuel In other words, each
time we sell 2 barrels of crude oil, equivalently we will buy back 1
barrel of fuel.

Financially,
Malaysiasell 2 barrel crude oil @ USD 130/barrel = USD 260 = RM 858
then, Malaysia will buy back fuel @ USD 134/barrel = RM 442/barrel Thus,
Malaysia earn net extra USD 126 = RM 416 for each 2 barrel of crude
sold/exported vs imported 1 barrel of fuel !!!
(USD 260-134 = USD 126 = RM416)

So where this extra USD 126/barrel income is channeled to by Malaysian
Govt???????? ?

Another analysis:

1 barrel crude oil = 159 liters.
46-47% of a barrel of crude oil = fuel that we use in our vehicles.
46% of 159 = 73.14 liters.
@ RM 2.70/liter x 73.14 liter = RM197.48 of fuel per barrel of crude
oil.
This is only 46% of the barrel, mind you. Using RM 3.30 = USD 1, we get
that a barrel of crude oil produces USD 59.84 worth of petrol fuel (46%
of 1barrel).
USD 59.84 of USD 130/barrel turns out to be 46% of a barrel as well.

Another 54% = bitumen, kerosene, and natural gases and so many more.
And this makes a balance of USD 70.16 that has not been accounted for.

So this is where I got curious. Where is the subsidy if we are paying
46% of the price of a barrel of crude oil when the production of
petrol/barrel of crude oil is still only 46%?

In actual fact, we still pay for this as they are charged in the forms
of fuel surcharge by airlines and road taxes for the building of road
(because they use the tar/bitumen) and many more excuse charging us but
let us just leave all that out of our calculations.

As far as I know, only the politicians who live in Putrajaya and come
for their Parliament meetings in Kuala Lumpur (approximately 60+ km) are
the ones to gain as they claim their fuel and toll charges from the
money of the RAKYAT's TAX.

It is so disappointing to see this happen time and time again to the
Malaysian public, where they are deceived by the propaganda held by the
politicians and the controls they have over the press.

Which stupid idiot economist equates rebates for rich or poor with the
cc of the vehicles? An average office clerk may own a second hand 1300cc
proton Iswara costing $7,000 (rebate = $625) while the Datuk's children
can own a fleet of 10 new cars of BMW, Audi and Volvo all less than
2000cc costing $2 millions and get a total rebate of $625 x 10 = $6,250!
Wow what kind of economists we are keeping in Malaysia...wonder which
phD certificate that they bought from...

Misleading concept of Subsidy:

The word "subsidy" has been brandished by the BN government as if it has
so generously helped the rakyat and in doing so incurred losses. This
simple example will help to explain the fallacy:

Example:
Ahmad is a fisherman. He sells a fish to you at $10 which is below the
market value of $15. Let's assume that he caught the fish from the
abundance of the sea at little or no cost. Ahmad claims that since the
market value of the fish is $15 and he sold you the fish for $10, he had
subsidised you $5 and therefore made a loss of $5.

Question : Did Ahmad actually make a profit of $10 or loss of $5 which
he claimed is the subsidy?

Answer:
Ahmad makes a profit of $10 which is the difference of the selling price
($10) minus the cost price ($0 since the fish was caught from the
abundance of the sea). There is no subsidy as claimed by Ahmad.

The BN government claims that it is a subsidy because the oil is kept
and treated as somebody else's property (you know who). By right, the
oil belongs to all citizens of the country and the government is a
trustee for the citizens. So as in the above simple example, the BN
government cannot claim that it has subsidised the citizen! - Amazing Homework.

Safe Our Country Against Economic And Food Crisis

2008-06-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

1. Government encourage people to use NGV. Some Petronas retail station may face some losses but it will save million of people. Existing Malasian consumption of crude oil can be export with current world's prices, country can earn more, govt no need to give subsidy.

2. Upgrade our county's public transport such as KOMUTER in all state instead of upgrade our highway with high tol charges, by using money earned from crude oil export.

3. Encourage unemployed people to learn agriculture, aquaculture and plantation skill. Our country has plenty of empty land suitable for food production. Higher food production, lower unemployment rate. Perhaps we can export food instead of import it with international market prices. Very expensive. We should look at other country that produce food and they now facing natural disaster that cause shortage of food. But our country is safe from natural disaster, and our land is big enough for the operation, just fully utilise the land.

4. Encourage people to plant vegetable and fruit as past time for own consumption, for those who live in landed properties. This will help those who living in the appartment getting lower prices of food.

5. Promote work from home for those who want to save on travelling cost. Communication cost is much more cheaper. No matter in what nature of business, some job is can be done from home without travelling. This also will increase efficiency.

6. Proper planning on each travelling because it is very costly.

7. Make sure people can secure their income so that they can afford to pay their bank loan, otherwise inflation will rise as well as interest rate. This mean government need to monitor on every industries make sure most of them are making profit, otherwise they will cut their cost by sacking employees, or turn off their operation. This is not good as unemployment rate will increase.

Pemimpin hari ini

2008-06-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

Bagi saya, Pak Lah dan Najib memang ada sesuatu yang lebih mendalam sehingga ia mengaburi rakyat. Begitu juga kisah-kisah politik negara hari ini, tidak kira apa parti sekalipun, apa yang kita nampak hanyalah satu lakonan. Tetapi apa yang penting sekarang adalah pemimpin manakah yang akan muncul selepas ini? Mungkin bukan dari UMNO lagi. Sekiranya UMNO meneruskan sandiwara yang tidak menjadi itu tanpa sedar, pihak lain akan memusnahkan UMNO dengan amat mudah sekali. Mungkin PM belum sedar apa yang sedang berlaku, beliau masih percaya bahawa beliau masih berkuasa, tanpa terlintas bahawa rakyat sedang melakukan sesuatu untuk menjatuhkan UMNO yang sememangnya telah kehabisan pemimpin yang berakal dan berwawasan. Tidak semestinya pembangkang sahaja yang mampu menjatuhkan UMNO, sebaliknya rakyat biasa yang tidak kelihatan, mereka semakin berakal, ilmu mereka tidak diketahui, pakatan mereka tidak dapat dihidu atau didengari. Kini pegetahuan rakyat bukan lagi berasaskan pendidikan dari sekolah, sebaliknya pendidikan yang tidak formal, lebih tepat dan lebih meluas. UMNO masih ingat yang mereka sentiasa menerajui politik negara, tanpa diketahui bahawa tindak-tanduk mereka yang angkuh dan tidak adil itu akan termakan diri-sendiri. Kita rakyat bukan bodoh, tetapi tidak mahu menentang, tetapi apabila dihimpit kuat-kuat, sehingga lemas, masakan anjing akan gigit tuan. Renung-renungkanlah.

Oil Price

2008-06-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

The price of crude oil has increased by 400 percent in the last three years. It follows that the price of products must increase, sooner or later. In other countries petrol prices had already increased. In the United Kingdom one litre of petrol sells for more than one pound sterling or RM7. In the United States it is about RM5.

That the price in neighbouring countries has gone up is shown by the rush to fill up by Thai and to a lesser extent Singapore vehicles.

The Government has now announced an increase in petrol price by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre, an increase of more than 40 per cent.

I may be mistaken but there seems to be less vehicles on the road today. But obviously that is not all that will happen. All other consumer goods, services and luxury goods would increase in price.

The cost of living must go up. Put another way there will be inflation and the standard of living will go down.

Obviously our increase in petrol price is far less than in the United Kingdom or the United States. But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms our increase is more than in the UK or the US.

The increase hurts but the pain is greater not just because of the increase percentage-wise is higher than in developed countries but because of the manner the increase is made.

A few days ago the Government decided to ban sale of petrol to foreign cars. It flipped. Now foreign cars can buy again. Flopped.

Knowing that in a few days it was going to raise the price and foreigners would be allowed to buy, why cannot the Government just wait instead of banning and unbanning.

But be that as it may what could the Government have done to lessen the burden on the people that results from the increase in petrol price.

In the first place the Government should not have floated the Ringgit. A floating rate creates uncertainties and we cannot gain anything from the strengthened Ringgit. Certainly the people have not experienced any increase in their purchasing power because of the appreciation in the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Ringgit.

Actually the Ringgit has increased by about 80 sen (from RM3.80 to RM3.08 to 1 US Dollar) per US Dollar, i.e. by more than 20 per cent. Had the Government retained the fixed rate system and increased the value of the Ringgit, say 10 per cent at a time, the cost of imports, in Ringgit terms can be monitored and reduced by 10 per cent. At 20 per cent appreciation the cost of imports should decrease by 20 per cent. But we know the prices of imported goods or services have not decreased at all. This means we are paying 20 per cent higher for our imports including the raw material and components for our industries.

Since oil prices are fixed in US Dollar, the increase in US Dollar prices of oil should also be mitigated by 20 per cent in Malaysian Ringgit.

But the Government wants to please the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and decided to float the Ringgit. As a result the strengthening of the Ringgit merely increased our cost of exports without giving our people the benefit of lower cost of imports.

This is not wisdom after the event. I had actually told a Government Minister not to float the Ringgit three years ago. But of course I am not an expert, certainly I know little about the international financial regimes.

I believe the people expect the increase of petrol price. But what they are angry about is the quantum and the suddenness. The Prime Minister was hinting at August but suddenly it came two months earlier, just after the ban on sale of petrol to foreigners.

If the increase had been more gradual, the people would not feel it so much. But of course this means that the Government would have to subsidise, though to a decreasing extent.

Can the Government subsidise? I am the “adviser” to Petronas but I know very little about it beyond what is published in its accounts. What I do know may not be very accurate but should be sufficient for me to draw certain conclusions.

Roughly Malaysia produces 650,000 barrels of crude per day. We consume 400,000 barrels leaving 250,000 barrels to be exported.

Three years ago the selling price of crude was about USD30 per barrel. Today it is USD130 – an increase of USD100. There is hardly any increase in the production cost so that the extra USD100 can be considered as pure profit.

Our 250,000 barrels of export should earn us 250,000 x 100 x 365 x 3 = RM27,375,000,000 (twenty seven billion Ringgit).

But Petronas made a profit of well over RM70 billion, all of which belong to the Government.

By all accounts the Government is flushed with money.

But besides petrol the prices of palm oil, rubber and tin have also increased by about 400 per cent. Plantation companies and banks now earn as much as RM3 billion in profits each. Taxes paid by them must have also increased greatly.

I feel sure that maintaining the subsidy and gradually decreasing it would not hurt the Government finances.

In the medium term ways and means must be found to reduce wasteful consumption and increase income. We may not be able to fix the minimum wage at a high level but certainly we can improve the minimum wage.

Actually our wages are high compared to some of our neighbours. The investors who come here are attracted not by cheap labour but by other factors, among which is the attitude of the Government towards the business community and the investors in particular.

From what I hear business friendliness is wanting in the present Government – so much so that even Malaysians are investing in other countries. There are rumblings about political affiliations influencing decisions. Generally Government politicians are said to be arrogant.

Malaysia is short of manpower. The labour intensive industries are not benefiting Malaysians. Foreign workers are remitting huge sums of money home.

The industrial policy must change so that high tech is promoted in order to give Malaysians higher wages to cope with rising costs of living.

The world is facing economic turmoil due to the depreciation of the US Dollar, the sub-prime loan crisis, rising oil and raw material prices, food shortages and the continued activities of the greedy hedge funds. The possibility of a US recession is real. In a way the US is already in recession. The world economy will be dragged down by it.

Malaysia will be affected by all these problems. I wonder whether the Government is prepared for this.

We cannot avoid all the negative effects but there must be ways to mitigate against them and to lessen the burden that must be borne by all Malaysians. I am sure the Government will not just pass all these problems to the people as the review of oil prices every month seem to suggest.- Dr. Mahathir

Krisis negara kita bukan harga minyak tetapi pengetahuan

2008-06-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Keadaan Malaysia sekarang yang tidak menentu menjadikan negara kita sekarang menghadapi risiko ekonomi yang amat tinggi. Semenjak tahun lalu, apabila puak Hindraf cuba menghuru-harakan keadaan disebabkan ketidakpuashatian terhadap cara kerajaan melayani kaum India di negara kita. Seterusnya dibelenggu dengan isu kehakiman negara yang termunculnya keraguan apabila dicungkil oleh beberapa pihak. Disambung pula dengan perubahan pentadbiran akibat daripada pilihanraya yang menyebabkan BN kalah 5 negeri dan wilayah persekutuan. Dalam pada itu pula berlaku masalah pemilihan Menteri Besar di beberapa negeri sehingga membangkitkan kaum-kaum Di-Raja yang juga tidak melepaskan peluang dalam menegakkan keadilan. Sementara dunia menghadapi krisis kekurangan makanan yang juga sedikit sebanyak mempengaruhi negara kita, didatangi pula kenaikan harga minyak dunia yang memang menyakiti majoriti penduduk dunia, menyebabkan kenaikan harga barangan yang begitu mendadak sekali sekaligus mencacatkan keseluruhan ekonomi negara kita. Tetapi cedera ini belum betul-betul dirasai kerana banyak industri masih cuba dengan pelbagai cara untuk memastikan masing-masing terselamat daripada keadaan yang kritikal ini. Lazimnya tidak banyak industri yang akan terselamat dari bencana ini, kerana terlalu banyak faktor negatif yang tidak menyebelahi ekonomi Malaysia. Para pelabur yang kurang yakin dengan pentadbiran negara, akan cuba mencari jalan keluar atau pendek kata mereka cuba menyelamatkan wang dengan membawanya ke negara yang lebih kukuh dan stabil ekonominya. Pelabur tempatan juga tidak terkecuali, kita boleh dapati sekarang banyak syarikat-syarikat besar mula membuka kilang atau perniagaan di negara eropah yang akan menjadi laluan utama untuk mengeluarkan atau menyalurkan wang dalam negara ke tempat yang lebih selamat baginya. Memang ini tidak boleh dihentikan kerana wang-wang ini adalah milik pelabur dan mereka berhak berbuat apa sahaja dengan wang pelaburan mereka itu. Seterusnya akan menyebabkan ringgit semakin lemah dan inflasi semakin bermaharajalela. Yang menjadi mangsa ialah rakyat Malaysia yang berpendapatan sederhana dan ke bawah. Sebaliknya keadaan sebegini akan membuka peluang kepada golongan yang sangat berada, apabila rakyat biasa sedang dibelenggu krisis kewangan, mereka yang memiliki harta yang tak seberapa terpaksa menjual dengan harga yang amat rendah disebabkan inflasi yang tinggi dan permintaan yang rendah (kerana ramai lagi yang nak jual harta untuk membayar hutang), golongan kaya ini pula akan cuba menekan harga jualan daripada penjual serendah yang mungkin, sekaligus menjadikan mereka pemilik harta yang tinggi nilainya tetapi rendah harganya. Kita tidak boleh mengawal keadaan ini kerana ini adalah salah orang yang menjual sendiri, yang tidak menjangka keadaan seburuk ini akan berlaku. Orang kaya pula sebaliknya sentiasa menjangka keadaan yang buruk akan berlaku, menyebabkan mereka berwaspada menguruskan kewangan mereka serta berusaha membuat simpanan sebanyak yang mungkin ketika rakyat biasa sedang terbuai dalam kemewahan dan kesenangan sehingga lupa diri. Inilah masalah yang sedang berlaku, rakyat Malaysia masih mentah tentang pengurusan kewangan. Pengetahuan tentang pengurusan risiko juga amat penting bagi rakyat kerana sering tertipu oleh golongan yang bijak mencari peluang untuk mengaut keuntungan. Kelemahan ini harus ditangani secepat mungkin. Rakyat Malaysia seperti berada dalam air yang sedang dimasak, mereka berasa selesa berada di dalam air suam yang semakin panas dan tidak sanggup keluar, sehingga air tersebut mendidih, tiada lagi esok lusa bagimu. Kita rakyat Malaysia dahagakan pengetahuan, kita ingin mentaliti anak-anak kita agar seperingkat dengan mentaliti rakyat negara maju. Biar rakyat belajar berdikari, biar rakyat tahu tentang hak asasi mereka, biar rakyat bebas belajar dan berfikir, biar kita semua menjadi lebih berani, biar kita bangkit dari keselesaan yang tidak kekal dan bangun dari fantasi. Rakyat perlu melihat dari sudut realiti dan berusaha sendiri. Apabila rakyat mempunyai kesedaran, negara kita akan bersih dari gejala negatif. Yang penting rakyat akan lebih bijak memilih peneraju pentadbiran yang akan menjadi wira untuk rakyat. Tiada lagi masalah tiadanya pemimpin negara yang boleh diharap. Seperti yang berlaku di dalam negara kita sekarang, rakyat kehilangan pemimpin, pilih pentadbir pun tidak betul, pilih pembangkang pun ragu-ragu, ada yang membuat keputusan untuk tidak memilih. Bukan sahaja rakyat biasa yang kurang pengetahuan, begitu juga dengan pemimpin kita.

Bermulanya Keruntuhan Ekonomi

2008-06-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Berita kenaikan harga minyak telah menggemparkan Negara kita yang secara langsung memberi kesan yang amat ketara dalam setiap bidang. Apakah puncanya? Perdana menteri menyatakan bahawa subsidi minyak daripada kerajaan menjadi bebanan dan ingin mengagihkan subsidi kepada lain-lain pembangunan. Beliau juga selalu membandingkan harga minyak kita dengan Negara-negara yang bukan pengeluar minyak. Cuba kita gunakan akal kita dengan logik, sekiranya hendak dibandingkan harga minyak dengan Negara-negara lain, bandingkanlah juga lain-lain aspek seperti pendapatan penduduk, ekonomi, gaya hidup, kemudahan pengangkutan awam, tol, cukai dan lain-lain. Seperti di Thailand, walaupun harga minyak di sana sedikit lebih mahal daripada kita, akan tetapi harga kereta mereka jauh lebih murah daripada kita, dan mereka juga tiada masalah tol. Cuba lihat Negara kita, harga minyak naik, harga kereta mahal, tol mahal, semua barangan yang dikawal oleh kerajaan mahal, tetapi pendapatan rendah. Sebenarnya masalah yang dihadapi penduduk sekarang bukan disebabkan oleh kenaikan harga minyak dunia, sebaliknya disebabkan oleh kelemahan pentadbiran kerajaan. Kalau kita perhatikan Amerika Syarikat, mereka mengalami krisis minyak yang amat ketara tetapi disebabkan ekonomi mereka dan pendapatan mereka yang lumayan, penduduk masih mampu untuk menanggung krisis tersebut, manakala mereka yang tidak mampu masih ada alternative lain iaitu pengangkutan awam yang lengkap. Kesan daripada kelemahan pentabiran Negara yang membiarkan penduduk berpendapatan rendah menanggung beban kenaikan harga barangan akan mengundang kenaikan kadar kemiskinan. Pelabur-pelabur asing dan tempatan akan berpindah ke Negara yang kos barangan atau tenaganya lebih murah. Manakala pelabur-pelabur asing yang belum menjejak kaki ke Negara kita tidak akan berani menjejak ke mari. Ini akan menyebabkan peningkatan kadar pengangguran yang juga salah satu penyebab kemiskinan. Peniaga-peniaga kecil yang sebelum ini berniaga dengan keuntungan yang amat rendah terpaksa gulung tikar kerana tidak mampu menanggung rugi. Ada syarikat yang terpaksa membuang pekerja agar dapat mengurangkan kos operasi. Lebih ramai yang menganggur dan lebih ramai yang miskin, bukan setakat itu, kebanyakan penduduk Negara kita membuat pinjaman bank untuk membeli pengangkutan persendirian disebabkan pengankutan awam yang tidak efisyen( bukan setakat tak efisyen, dia kenakan pula tol yang mahal macam babi), membeli tempat berteduh atau menyewa, apakah yang akan terjadi kepada nasib mereka setelah kehilangan punca pendapatan sedangkan kos sara hidup semakin tinggi? Pentadbir Negara tidak memahami rakyat kerana kebanyakan pentadbir hidup dalam kemewahan, kenaikan harga barang tidak akan dirasai oleh mereka. Apa yang akan berlaku seterusnya? Institusi kewangan akan menghadapi masalah hutang tidak mampu dibayar oleh peminjam, seterusnya menyebabkan krisis kewangan yang akan membawa kepada kenaikan faedah pinjaman. Ini akan lebih membebankan lagi para peniaga kecil yang bergantung kepada institusi kewangan untuk berniaga. Begitu juga kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan yang akan membebankan penduduk. Kadar inflasi akan meningkat dengan mendadak. Kadar jenayah juga meningkat berpunca daripada pengangguran dan kemiskinan. Beginilah keadaan ekonomi Negara yang ditadbir oleh mereka yang lemah, rasuah, penting diri, gila kuasa dan tiada kesedaran. Kepada penduduk yang berada, mereka boleh memilih untuk berpindah ke Negara lain, apa pula dengan penduduk yang miskin? Mereka bagaikan kebuntuan jalan. Tiada esok bagimu. Beberapa cara mengatasi masalah telah dinasihatkan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin yang lain kepada perdana menteri tetapi belum tentu beliau akan dengar atau tidak. Yang pentingnya kita sebagai penduduk mesti menyelesaikan masalah masing-masing tanpa bergantung kepada pihak pentadbir yang sememangnya tidak boleh diharap. Di sini saya sertakan nasihat-nasihat kepada mereka yang berpendapatan rendah atau penganggur yang terpaksa berniaga kecil-kecilan untuk menyara hidup yang begitu pahit sekali. Walaupun perkara di atas belum lagi berlaku, tetapi ianya akan berlaku dalam jangka masa yang amat cepat. Sedialah payung sebelum ianya terjadi.

1) Jimat sebaik yang mungkin dan mulakan simpanan. Tidak berbelanja mengikut nafsu, beli hanya yang betul-betul perlu. Penampilan tidak diperlukan lagi, kerana kosnya terlalu tinggi. Wang simpanan ialah asas kehidupan. Kalau ada wang simpanan yang banyak, buat apa nak tunjuk kat orang? Senyap-senyap aje. Tak perlu penampilan.
2) Cuba hindari daripada berhutang dan sebaiknya selesaikan hutang yang sedia ada ataupun kurangkannya sebaik yang mungkin, kerana hutanglah satu-satunya kelemahan dalam bidang kewangan. Alasan anda hanya akan memudaratkan diri anda sendiri.
3) Sekiranya anda mempunyai pekerjaan, jangan berhenti atau cuba menukar ke syarikat yang lain. Seelok-eloknya kurangkan risiko anda berhubung dengan pendapatan. Begitu juga yang bekerja dan ingin menceburi bidang perniagaan, ini bukan masa yang sesuai untuk melabur atau berniaga, sekiranya perniagaan anda tidak menelan kos, mulakan secara sambilan, jangan berhenti daripada pekerjaan.
4) Berhenti tabiat merokok, minum arak, berjudi, berfoya-foya atau barangan yang mengkhayalkan. Sekiranya anda tidak mampu menanggung kos sara hidup, anda tidak layak menikmati nafsu-nafsu yang penghujungnya adalah maut. Biarlah orang kaya sahaja yang menikmatinya kerana susu dan pendidikan anak jauh lebih penting, anggaplah ini satu pengorbanan yang paling besar kepada orang yang tersayang. Hasilnya amat memuaskan.
5) Kepada mereka yang tidak bekerja dan ingin mulakan perniagaan dengan modal yang kecil, hindarkan daripada berhutang. Belajarlah cara pengurusan akaun yang bijak. Pastikan anda kenal apa itu asset dan liability. Buatlah perancangan yang elok dan tepat. Jangan terburu-buru. Planning without action is a day dreams, action without planning is a nightmare.
6) Jikalau anda ingin mulakan perniagaan, ingatlah bahawa Negara kita sedang dibelenggu krisis ekonomi, wang berbillion-billion telah dipindah keluar Negara, wang di dalam Negara kita semakin berkurangan. Pilihlah perniagaan yang berasaskan tunai, tanpa hutang daripada sesiapa. Seelok-eloknya perniagaan yang berasaskan komoditi, seperti makanan atau bahan asas kehidupan. Jangan sesekali mencuba nasib dengan barangan yang baru di dalam pasaran kerana ianya bukan keperluan asas hidup. Barangan baru hanya sesuai untuk Negara yang tinggi gaya hidup mereka, mereka mampu mencuba barangan baru yang kononnya boleh meningkatkan lagi nilai dalam kehidupan mereka.
7) Pertanian dan perladangan juga salah satu bidang yang rendah risiko serta tinggi pulangan dengan syarat ianya berasaskan komoditi, bukan produk baru seperti kenaf, jatropha dan buah naga. Adalah disyorkan anda menceburi bidang yang telah terbukti pulangannya, contohnya seperti getah, kelapa sawit, ternakan ikan, ayam, lembu atau kambing, bidang ini telah terbukti selama beratus-ratus tahun malah ada yang beribu-ribu tahun lamanya. Hanya cara mengendalikannya perlu diperhalusi. Tetapi ini semua hanya sesuai kepada mereka yang memiliki tanah atau kawasan sendiri. Ianya tidak sesuai sekiranya anda ingin menyewa tempat atau membeli tanah secara berhutang.
8) Perniagaan yang berasaskan export adalah satu idea yang bagus pada masa kini. Contohnya pengexportan makan ringan ke Negara China. Export barangan hasil atau buatan Negara kita Singapura. Yang penting perdagangan secara tunai.
9) Kepada mereka yang ada simpanan dan bekerja, adalah dinasihati agar anda mempelajari ilmu pelaburan saham. Pastikan anda mempelajari pelaburan syarikat yang berasaskan kewangan yang stabil. Produk syarikat dan pengurusan yang telah terbukti keberkesanannya. Jangan melabur mengikut kata orang. Pilihlah syarikat yang membayar dividend tinggi. Jangan membeli saham syarikat yang mahal, pilihlah yang harganya di bawah NTA( net-tangible asset). Pastikan anda arif sebelum membuat keputusan.
10) Tingkatkan pengetahuan kita dengan membaca. Lebihkan bacaan anda dalam bidang kewangan dan ekonomi. Walaupun kita bukan ahli ekonomi, tetapi secara tidak langsung kitalah yang menjana ekonomi dan kita juga akan menerima kesan daripada ekonomi. Ahli ekonomi hanya mengambil kesempatan ke atas mereka yang tidak tahu tentang ekonomi dan kewangan di musim ketegangan krisis. Maka sesiapa yang tidak mengambil tahu apa yang berlaku akan menjadi mangsa.

Inilah ringkasan daripada saya yang juga mangsa daripada kenaikan minyak. Alangkah baiknya kalau pentadbir Negara kita dipilih dengan lebih bijak oleh rakyat yang sentiasa menjadi alat kepada mereka.

Politik Kosong

2008-05-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Huru-hara yang sedang berlaku di dalam politik negara kian keruh. Dalam keadaan yang keruh sebegini menyebabkan ramai yang samar penglihatan, tak nampak masa depan, dan terpaksa keluar dari parti. Di dalam dewan parlimen pula isu politik menjadi raja. Bagaimana pula dengan rakyat jelata? Ekonomi semakin tidak seimbang, harga minyak yang melambung setinggi matahari menggegarkan ekonomi dunia yang berasaskan matawang Dolar Amerika. Keadaan semakin rumit apabila berlaku pula krisis makanan yang secara langsung melumpuhkan permintaan dunia. Pesan perdana menteri Thailand agar rakyat Thailand kurang makan nasi, bolehkah rakyat beliau melakukannya? Adakah beliau sendiri kurang makan nasi? Memang beliau kurang makan nasi kerana beliau mampu makan makanan barat yang berasaskan roti dan daging, ataupun makanan jepun yang mahal.
Kembali kepada kisah politik, apakah peranan ahli-ahli politik yang dipilih oleh rakyat? Adakah rakyat memilih mereka ini untuk berpolitik? Atau pun untuk menangani masalah yang dihadapi oleh rakyat? Kemiskinan, kenaikan harga barangan yang disebabkan oleh harga minyak dan kekurangan bekalan makanan, jenayah, hak asasi rakyat, pendidikan, infrastuktur... siapakah yang akan membela rakyat sekiranya semua wakil rakyat sibuk berbalah sesama sendiri, menuduh sesama sendiri, masuk parti keluar parti, tak habis-habis isu kekalahan dan kemenangan pilihanraya yang sudah berkarat, itu pula yang disibuk-sibukkan. Memang patut rakyat tidak berpuas hati dengan kerajaan yang para pentadbirnya begitu gila kuasa, begitu ego, begitu sibuk dengan kerusi masing-masing. Memang patut rakyat berpaling arah memberi peluang kepada yang lain, tetapi adakah pembangkang yang dipilih itu betul-betul memperkasakan rakyat seperti yang dijanji-janjikan? Politik yang mendefinasikan pelbagai makna nampaknya masih tebal kesahihannya. Ada yang menggesa dan mendesak supaya perdana menteri ditukar, perdana menteri pula sibuk mempertahankan kedudukan, begitu meriah sekali pentadbiran di negara kita, inikah kerja yang ditugaskan wakil rakyat yang bergaji basar? Rakyat jelata bertungkus-lumus menyediakan kemewahan kepada wakil-wakil rakyat agar mendirikan sebuah negara yang kemiskinan sifar, sebaliknya kemiskinan semakin menebal. Titik peluh rakyat bertukar menjadi air mata, dan air mata rakyat bertukar menjadi matawang wakil rakyat.
Wang ehsan Terengganu sudah separuh dibaham. Beginikah cara rakyat dilayan? Sekiranya ini diteruskan, negara kita sememangnya akan diakhiri dengan noktah muflis. Rakyat harus berani bangkit dari penindasan ini, jangan berpeluk tubuh berdiam diri. Ini semua hak kita, sedarlah. Jangan kerana kita tidak sukakan politik hari ini maka tidak berbuat apa-apa, hak kita sedang dirampas.
Pentadbiran kerajaan seharusnya lusinar, para pentadbir tiada hak untuk menyorok maklumat daripada pengetahuan rakyat kerana rakyat ialah tuan di negara demokrasi. Pentadbir hanya dipilih dan diupah untuk mengendalikan kerja-kerja pentadbiran serta menyumbang kepada rakyat.

Learn About Bond Fund Investing

2008-04-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Bond Fund Basics
To understand bond funds, or fixed income funds we need to first understand what bonds are. Bonds are simply a loan, but in the form of a security. "Who’s the borrower?" you may ask. In this case, it is usually the government (including state and local governments) or corporations like IBM or General Motors. By issuing bonds, these borrowers can raise money from the public.
Bonds are promises to pay back the original amount (the principal) plus interest--similar to mortgage or car loans, where you were the borrower. Bonds are considered less risky than stocks, but do carry their own risks (namely inflation, credit and prepayment risks).
A "bond fund" or "income fund" describes a mutual fund that invests primarily in bonds or other debt securities.
Bond funds are often used as a way to balance out a portfolio because the bond market behaves differently from the stock market. By diversifying between the two, the levels of risk you take goes down significantly. Bond funds are also used to create regular income--something that is important when you are in or close to retirement.
Bonds vs. Bond Funds
Bond funds are very popular because they are convenient and provide diversification. Bonds can be complex, so having a professional fund manager manage the portfolio and pay you on a regular basis (usually monthly) is very attractive. Bond funds can also have efficiencies and capabilities that would be nearly impossible for an individual to mimic (expect, maybe, a very wealthy individual). People also enjoy bond funds because they can be automatically reinvested if you want and some even carry check writing privileges.
What Kinds of Bond Funds Are There?
As mentioned in Different Kinds of Mutual Funds, bond funds are often categorized by as:
• Municipal Bond Funds -uses tax-exempt bonds issued by state and local governments (these funds are non-taxable).
• Corporate Bond Funds -uses the debt obligations of U.S. corporations.
• Mortgage-Backed Securities Funds - uses securities representing residential mortgages.
• U.S. Government Bond Funds -uses U.S. treasury or government securities.
Another way to categorize bond funds is by maturity date:
• Short-term Bond Funds –usually means the holdings have up to two years left to maturity. This includes bills, CDs, and commercial paper.
• Intermediate-term Bond Funds –usually means the holdings have between two years to ten years until maturity. This includes notes,
• Long-term Bond Funds –usually means the holdings have over ten years left to maturity.
Best Bond Uses
Portfolio Risk Reduction: As mentioned earlier, bonds are often a great way to balance out your stock or stock fund holdings.
Emergency Money: Short-term funds with check writing privileges can provide higher returns than money market funds.
Monthly Income: Bond funds often generate monthly income, which is very attractive to those in retirement. Similar to CDs, bond funds are great for the risk-averse, but don’t require you to be locked in like CDs.

Ketuanan Melayu yang hilang

2008-04-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

I’m disagreeing with racial or religious political parties. It will show to the world that our country’s politics is still 3rd world’s mentality politics. It’s a shame. Here i have something to share with everyone. I’m the 7th generation of Chinese in Kelantan, Malaysia. But what am I today compare to those came from Indonesia just 2nd or 3rd generation that insist with “Ketuanan Melayu”. We all peranakan cina in Kelantan proudly enjoy speaking local language ( Kelantan traditional malay langguage) to each other. I think this is an example of Bangsa Malaysia. But our state’s tengku mahkota said we dont have any rights to be equal to the Malay. Then what are them (Kelantan royal family)? They are from Pattani, Thailand. That’s mean we all (Malaysian) are exactly equal. Some of them seem like trying to cover the real fact that the Orang Asli is the only one who has the most rights on this land. But do you see any of Orang Asli come out and fight for their rights? Do they mention about ‘Ketuanan Orang Asli’? But why some of the Malays want it to be? When some Malays said that non-Malays just came to malaysia to “cari makan” at their land, do they ever think who is the investor that build up economy for the country? We need each other. The Malays still need non-Malays to stay and provide jobs, technology, knowledge, professional skills… We can see who is controlling commodities in the country, Chinese, Indian and some other races but not Malays. Have they ever considered all the aspects? How the country economy’s can survive? What if all non-Malays move out from Malaysia? So, “Ketuanan Melayu” is only applicable during the time of Hang Tuah. So don’t forget, peranakan cina Kelantan came to this land before most of the Malays (which was came from the Jawa Indonesia). They don’t have rights to be our “Tuan” and we never voice out that we are “Tuan” of them. Please be sure your knowledge been sharpened before talk. Think like first world mentality person. Don’t be emotional in racial issues and be real heroes to the nation, to the people, not only to your own species. It’s a shame. Cowards.

What Is Meditation?

2008-04-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

Meditation is a discipline in which the mind is focused on an object of thought or awareness. It usually involves turning attention to a single point of reference. The practice may engender a higher state of consciousness. Meditation is recognized as a component of almost all religions, and has been practiced for over 5,000 years. Meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual and/or psychophysical practices which can emphasize development of either a high degree of mental concentration, or the apparent converse, mental quiescence.

The word meditation comes from the Latin meditation, which originally indicated every type of physical or intellectual exercise, then later evolved into the more specific meaning "contemplation."

Eastern meditation techniques have been adapted and increasingly practiced in Western culture.
[edit] Forms of meditation

Bodhidharma practicing zazen.Meditation has been defined as: "self regulation of attention, in the service of self-inquiry, in the here and now."[5] The various techniques of meditation can be classified according to their focus. Some focus on the field or background perception and experience, also called "mindfulness;" others focus on a preselected specific object, and are called "concentrative" meditation. There are also techniques that shift between the field and the object.[6]

In mindfulness meditation, the meditator sits comfortably and silently, centering attention by focusing awareness on an object or process (either the breath, a sound: a mantra, koan or riddle evoking questions; a visualisation, or an exercise). The meditator is usually encouraged to maintain an open focus:

... shifting freely from one perception to the next clear your mind of all that bothers you no thoughts that can distract you from reality or your personal being... No thought, image or sensation is considered an intrusion. The meditator, with a 'no effort' attitude, is asked to remain in the here and now. Using the focus as an 'anchor'... brings the subject constantly back to the present, avoiding cognitive analysis or fantasy regarding the contents of awareness, and increasing tolerance and relaxation of secondary thought processes.[6]

Concentration meditation is used in most religions and spiritual practices. Whereas in mindfulness meditation there is an open focus, in concentration meditation the meditator holds attention on a particular object (e.g., a repetitive prayer) while minimizing distractions; bringing the mind back to concentrate on the chosen object.[7] In some traditions, such as Vipassana, mindfulness and concentration are combined.[8]

Meditation can be practiced while walking or doing simple repetitive tasks. Walking meditation helps to break down habitual automatic mental categories, "thus regaining the primary nature of perceptions and events, focusing attention on the process while disregarding its purpose or final outcome." In a form of meditation using visualization, such as Chinese Qi Gong, the practitioner concentrates on flows of energy (Qi) in the body, starting in the abdomen and then circulating through the body, until dispersed.[6] Some meditative traditions, such as yoga or tantra, are common to several religions[3] or occur outside religious contexts.

Hinduism
For more details on this topic, see Dhyana in Hinduism.
Meditation originated from Vedic Hinduism which is the oldest religion that professes meditation as a spiritual and religious practice.

Evidence of the origins of meditation extends back to a time before recorded history. Archaeologists tell us the practice may have existed among the first Indian civilisations. Indian scriptures dating back 5000 years describe meditation techniques. From its ancient beginnings and over thousands of years, meditation has developed into a structured practice used today by millions of people worldwide of differing nationalities and religious beliefs.[9]

Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, focusing on meditation. In India, Yoga is seen as a means to both physiological and spiritual mastery.

There are several types of meditation in Hinduism. Amongst these types are:

Vedanta, a form of Jnana Yoga.
Raja Yoga as outlined by Patanjali, which describes eight "limbs" of spiritual practices, half of which might be classified as meditation. Underlying them is the assumption that a yogi should still the fluctuations of his or her mind: Yoga cittavrrti nirodha.
Surat shabd yoga, or "sound and light meditation"
Japa Yoga, in which a mantra is repeated aloud or silently
Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of love and devotion, in which the seeker is focused on an object of devotion, eg Krishna
Hatha Yoga, in which postures and meditations are aimed at raising the spiritual energy, known as Kundalini, which rises through energy centres known as chakras
The objective of meditation is to reach a calm state of mind. Patanjali, in his Yoga Sutras, described five different states of mind: Ksipta, Mudha, Viksipta, Ekagra and Nirodha. Ksipta defines a very agitated mind, unable to think, listen or remain quiet. It is jumping from one thought to another. In Mudha no information seems to reach the brain; the person is absentminded. Viksipta is a higher state where the mind receives information but is not able to process it. It moves from one thought to another, in a confused inner speech. Ekagra is the state of a calm mind but not asleep. The person is focused and can pay attention. Lastly Nirodha, when the mind is not disturbed by erratic thoughts, it is completely focused, as when you are meditating or totally centered in what you are doing. The ultimate end of meditation according to Patanjali is the destruction of primal ignorance (avidya) and the realization of and establishment in the essential nature of the Self.

Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith teaches that meditation is necessary for spiritual growth, alongside obligatory prayer and fasting. `Abdu'l-Bahá is quoted as saying:

"Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries to your mind. In that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves."[10]

Although the Founder of the Faith, Bahá'u'lláh, never specified any particular forms of meditation, some Bahá'í practices are meditative. One of these is the daily repetition of the Arabic phrase Alláhu Abhá (Arabic: الله ابهى) (God is Most Glorious) 95 times preceded by ablutions. Abhá has the same root as Bahá' (Arabic: بهاء‎ "splendor" or "glory") which Bahá'ís consider to be the "Greatest Name of God".

Buddhism

Buddha in meditationMain article: Buddhist meditation
Meditation has always been central to Buddhism. The historical Buddha himself was said to have achieved enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree. Most forms of Buddhism distinguish between two classes of meditation practices, shamatha and vipassana, both of which are necessary for attaining enlightenment. The former consists of practices aimed at developing the ability to focus the attention single-pointedly; the latter includes practices aimed at developing insight and wisdom through seeing the true nature of reality. The differentiation between the two types of meditation practices is not always clear cut, which is made obvious when studying practices such as Anapanasati which could be said to start off as a shamatha practice but that goes through a number of stages and ends up as a vipassana practice.

Theravada Buddhism emphasizes the meditative development of mindfulness (sati, see for example the Satipatthana Sutta) and concentration (samadhi, see kammatthana), as part of the Noble Eightfold Path, in the pursuit of Nibbana (Nirvana). Traditional popular meditation subjects include the breath (anapana) and loving-kindness (mettā).

Zen Buddhist meditation or zazenIn Japanese Mahayana schools, Tendai (Tien-tai), concentration is cultivated through highly structured ritual. Especially in the Chinese Chán Buddhism school (which branched out into the Japanese Zen, and Korean Seon schools), ts'o ch'an meditation and koan meditation practices allow a practitioner to directly experience the true nature of reality (each of the names of these schools derives from the Sanskrit dhyana, and translates into "meditation" in their respective languages). The esoteric Shingon sect shares many features with Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana) emphasizes tantra for its senior practitioners; hence its alternate name of Tantrayana Buddhism. Many monks go through their day without "meditating" in a recognizable form, but are more likely to chant or participate in group liturgy. In this tradition, the purpose of meditation is to awaken the sky-like nature of mind, and to introduce practitioners to that which they really are: unchanging pure awareness, which underlies the whole of life and death.[11][12]

Meditation is the way to bring us back to ourselves, where we can really experience and taste our full being, beyond all habitual patterns. In the stillness and silence of meditation, we glimpse and return to that deep inner nature that we have so long ago lost sight of amid the business and distraction of our minds.

The gift of learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life. For it is only through meditation that you can undertake the journey to discover your true nature, and so find the stability and confidence you will need to live, and die, well. Meditation is the road to enlightenment.- Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying[11]

Most Buddhist traditions recognize that the path to Enlightenment entails three types of training: virtue (sīla); meditation (citta); and, wisdom (paññā).[13] Thus, meditative prowess alone is not sufficient; it is but one part of the path. In other words, in Buddhism, in tandem with mental cultivation, ethical development and wise understanding are also necessary for the attainment of the highest goal.[14]

Christianity
Main article: Christian meditation
Christian traditions have various practices which can be identified as forms of "meditation." Monastic traditions are the basis for many of these practices. Practices such as the rosary, the Adoration (focusing on the eucharist) in Catholicism or the hesychast tradition in Eastern Orthodoxy, may be compared to forms of Eastern meditation that focus on an individual object. Christian meditation is considered a form of prayer. Hesychastic practice, may involve recitation of the Jesus Prayer, thus "through the grace of God and one's own effort, to concentrate the nous in the heart."[15] Prayer as a form of meditation of the heart is described in the Philokalia—a practice that leads towards Theosis which ignores the senses and results in inner stillness.

In 1975, the Benedictine monk, John Main introduced a form of meditation based on recitation of a prayer-phrase. The World Community for Christian Meditation was founded in 1991 to continue Main's work, which the Community describes as: "teaching Christian meditation as part of the great work of our time of restoring the contemplative dimension of Christian faith in the life of the church."[16]

The Old Testament book of Joshua sets out a form of meditation based on scriptures: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it, then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8). This is one of the reasons why bible verse memory is a practice among many evangelical Christians.[17][18]

Islam
See also: Muraqaba
Meditation in Islam is the core of Muslim mystical traditions (in particular Sufism). Meditative quiescence is believed to have a quality of healing and creativity.[19] The Muslim prophet Muhammad, whose deeds devout Muslims follow, spent long periods in meditation and contemplation. It was during one such period of meditation that Muhammad began to receive revelations of the Qur'an.[20]

There are two concepts or schools of meditation in Islam:

Tafakkur and Tadabbur, literally meaning reflection upon the universe. Muslims feel this is a form of intellectual development which emanates from a higher level, i.e. from God. This intellectual process through the receiving of divine inspiration awakens and liberates the human mind, permitting man’s inner personality to develop and grow so that he may lead his life on a spiritual plane far above the mundane level. This is consistent with the global teachings of Islam, which views life as a test of our practice of submission to Allah, the one God.
The second form of meditation is the Sufi meditation, it is largely based on mystical exercises. However, this method is controversial among Muslim scholars. One group of Ulama, Al-Ghazzali, for instance, have accepted it, another group of Ulama, Ibn Taymiya, for instance, have rejected it as a bid'ah (Arabic: بدعة‎) (religious innovation).
Sufism relies on a practice similar to Buddhist meditation, known as Muraqaba or Tamarkoz which is taught in the Oveyssi-Shahmaghsoudi Sufi order. Tamarkoz is a Persian term that means ‘concentration,’ referring to the “concentration of abilities”. Consequently, the term concentration is synonymous to close attention, convergent, collection, compaction, and consolidation.

Muslims meditate during the second stage of Hajj at "Mount Mercy", from noon to sunset.[21]

Jainism

Jain sadhvis meditatingThe Jains use the word Samayika, a word in the Prakrit language derived from the word samay (time), to denote the practice of meditation. The aim of Samayika is to transcend the daily experiences of being a "constantly changing" human being, Jiva, and allow for the identification with the "changeless" reality in the practitioner, the Atma. The practice of Samayika begins by achieving a balance in time. If the present moment of time is taken to be a point between the past and the future, Samayika means being fully aware, alert and conscious in that very moment, experiencing one's true nature, Atma, which is considered common to all living beings. The Samayika takes on special significance during Paryushana, a special 8-day period practiced by the Jains.

Meditation techniques were available in ancient Jain scriptures that have been forgotten with time. A practice called preksha meditation is said to have been rediscovered by the 10th Head of Jain Swetamber Terapanth sect Acharya Mahaprajna,[22] and consists of the perception of the body, the psychic centres, breath and of contemplation processes which will initiate the process of personal transformation. It aims at reaching and purify the deeper levels of existence. Regular practice strengthens the immune system, builds up stamina to resist against aging process, pollution, chemical toxins, viruses, diseases, food adulteration etc. Jain Meditation is important to the daily lives of the religion's monks.[23]

Acharya Mahaprajna says:

Soul is my god. Renunciation is my prayer. Amity is my devotion. Self restraint is my strength. Non-violence is my religion.[24]

Judaism
Main article: Jewish meditation
There is evidence that Judaism has had meditative practices that go back thousands of years.[25] For instance, in the Torah, the patriarch Isaac is described as going "לשוח" (lasuach) in the field—a term understood by all commentators as some type of meditative practice (Genesis 24:63).

Similarly, there are indications throughout the Tanach (the Hebrew Bible) that meditation was central to the prophets.[25] In the Old Testament, there are two Hebrew words for meditation: hāgâ (Hebrew: הגה‎), which means to sigh or murmur, but also to meditate, and sîḥâ (Hebrew: שיחה‎), which means to muse, or rehearse in one's mind.

In modern Jewish practice, one of the best known meditative practices is called hitbodedut (התבודדות) or hisbodedus is explained in Kabbalah and Hassidic philosophy. The word hisbodedut, which derives from the Hebrew word "boded", בודד (a state of being alone) and said to be related to the sfirah of Binah (lit. book of understanding), means the process of making oneself understand a concept well through analytical study.

Kabbalah is inherently a meditative field of study. Kabbalistic meditative practices construct a supernal realm which the soul navigates through in order to achieve certain ends. One of the most well known types of meditation is Merkabah, from the root /R-K-B/ meaning "chariot"(of God).

New Age
Main article: New Age

Meditation workshop at 1979 Nambassa in New ZealandNew Age meditations are often influenced by Eastern philosophy and mysticism such as Yoga, Hinduism and Buddhism, yet may contain some degree of Western influence. In the west meditation found its mainstream roots through the hippie- counterculture social revolution of the 1960s and 1970s when many of the youth of the day rebelled against traditional belief systems. [26]

Sikhism
Main article: Nām Japō
In Sikhism, the practices of simran and Nām Japō encourage quiet meditation. This is focusing one's attention on the attributes of God. Sikhs believe that there are 10 'gates' to the body; 'gates' is another word for 'chakras' or energy centres. The top most energy level is the called the tenth gate or dasam dwar. It is said[attribution needed] that when one reaches this stage through continuous practice meditation becomes a habit that continues whilst walking, talking, eating, awake and even sleeping. There is a distinct taste or flavour when a meditator reaches this lofty stage of meditation, as one experiences absolute peace and tranquility inside and outside the body.

Followers of the Sikh religion also believe that love comes through meditation on the lord's name since meditation only conjures up positive emotions in oneself which are portrayed through our actions. The first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached the equality of all humankind and stressed the importance of living a householder's life instead of wandering around jungles meditating, the latter of which being a popular practice at the time. The Guru preached that we can obtain liberation from life and death by living a totally normal family life and by spreading love amongst every human being regardless of religion.

Taoism

"Gathering the Light", Taoist meditation from The Secret of the Golden FlowerMain article: Taoism
Taoism includes a number of meditative and contemplative traditions. Originally said to have their principles described in the I Ching, Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu and Tao Tsang among other texts; the multitude of schools relating to Qigong, Neigong, Daoyin and Zhan zhuang are a large, diverse array of breath training practises in aid of meditation with much influence from later Chinese Buddhism and with much influence on traditional Chinese medicine and the Chinese as well as some Japanese martial arts. The Chinese martial art T'ai Chi Ch'uan is named after the well-known focus for Taoist and Neo-Confucian meditation, the T'ai Chi T'u, and is often referred to as “meditation in motion”.

Often Taoist Internal martial arts, especially Tai Chi Chuan are thought of as moving meditation. A common phrase being, "movement in stillness" referring to energetic movement in passive Qigong and seated Taoist meditation; with the converse being "stillness in movement", a state of mental calm and meditation in the tai chi form.

Meditation according to Krishnamurti
J Krishnamurti used the word meditation to mean something entirely different from the practice of any system or method to control the mind. He said, “Man, in order to escape his conflicts, has invented many forms of meditation. These have been based on desire, will, and the urge for achievement, and imply conflict and a struggle to arrive. This conscious, deliberate striving is always within the limits of a conditioned mind, and in this there is no freedom. All effort to meditate is the denial of meditation. Meditation is the ending of thought. It is only then that there is a different dimension which is beyond time.” For Krishnamurti, meditation was choiceless awareness in the present. He said "..When you learn about yourself, watch yourself, watch the way you walk, how you eat, what you say, the gossip, the hate, the jealousy - if you are aware of all that in yourself, without any choice, that is part of meditation."[27]

Active/dynamic meditation
Dynamic Meditation is the name of one of Osho's popular Active Meditation techniques. However, in general active/dynamic meditation refers to any meditation technique which does not have one's body assuming a static posture. Such techniques are widely used in Karma Yoga.[citation needed] An example of such activity could be Natya Yoga or a Shamanistic dance, such as described by Carlos Castaneda or simple exercises that focus on certain parts of the body "to give you the power to profoundly affect your mental and physical state directly and quickly".[28]

Osho, earlier named Rajneesh, introduced the meditation techniques which he termed Active Meditations, which begin with a stage of activity — sometimes intense and physical — followed by a period of silence. He emphasized that meditation is not concentration. Dynamic Meditation involves a conscious catharsis where one can throw out all the repressions, express what is not easily expressible in society, and then easily go into silence. Some of his techniques also have a stage of spontaneous dance. He said that, "If people are innocent there is no need for Dynamic Meditation. But if people are repressed, psychologically are carrying a lot of burden, then they need catharsis. So Dynamic Meditation is just to help them clean the place. And then they can use any method ... It will not be difficult. If they, right now, directly try, they will fail." [29]

Sri Aurobindo used to meditate while walking.

Also the Thai monk Luang Por Teean taught a (more conservative) form of active meditation which in Luang Por Teean's translated books is usually translated as 'Dynamic Meditation'. It involves the use of the hands and arms during sitting meditation. He also used walking meditation as a complementary method. His teaching was aimed at developing awareness of the movements of the arms, which are moved continuously in a certain pattern throughout the meditation. The awareness is, however, not limited to the arms but inclusive of the whole life-experience. This type of active meditation is a type of vipassana meditation, which originated in Burma, but is becoming more well known in the western countries, too.

Secular
Forms of meditation which are devoid of mystical content have been developed in the west as a way of promoting physical and mental well being.

Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation was developed by American physician Edmund Jacobson in the early 1920s. Jacobson argued that since muscular tension accompanies anxiety, one can reduce anxiety by learning how to relax the muscular tension.

Autogenic training was developed by the German psychiatrist Johannes Schultz in 1932. Schultz emphasized parallels to techniques in yoga and meditation; however, autogenic training is devoid of any mysticism.

Australian psychiatrist Dr Ainslie Meares published a groundbreaking work in the 1960's entitled Relief Without Drugs, in which he recommended some simple, secular relaxation techniques based on Hindu practices as a means of combating anxiety, stress and chronic physical pain.

Herbert Benson M.D., of Harvard Medical School, conducted a series of clinical tests on meditators from various disciplines - mainly Transcendental meditation and Tibetan Buddhism. He first described the results in his 1975 book The Relaxation Response where he outlined a secular approach to achieving similar results.

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche founded Shambhala Training in 1976, a secular program of meditation with a belief in basic goodness and teaching the path of bravery and gentleness. The 1984 book Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior contains student-edited versions of Trungpa's lectures and writings.

The book Sensual Meditation (1980) which was written by the founder of the Raëlian movement outlines a sequence of non-ascetic meditation exercises which emphasize a Sensual Meditation involving a physical and sensual awareness connected with current knowledge of how the body and mind are organized.

The 1999 book The Calm Technique: Meditation Without Magic or Mysticism by Paul Wilson has a discussion and instruction in a form of secular meditation.

Biofeedback has been tried by many researchers since the 1950s as a way to enter deeper states of mind.[30]

Primordial Sound Meditation is an ancient meditation technique with its origins in the Vedic tradition of India. It has been modernized and revitalized by Drs. Deepak Chopra and David Simon of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. It is a silent mantra meditation that uses primordial sounds (sounds of nature) that are linguistically structured and used to bring awareness to more and more subtle levels of thought.

Meditation using beads
Most religions have their own prayer beads or rosary. A rosary consists of pearls or beads linked together by a thread. Catholics use a string of beads containing five sets with ten small beads. Each set of ten is separated by another bead. The Hindu and Buddhist rosary has 108 beads and the Muslim rosary 99 beads. Prayers and specific meditations of each religion are different and there are theological reasons for the number of beads. Rosaries may come in different colors, sizes and designs. However, the central purpose, which is to pray repetitively and to meditate, is the same across all religions that use them as a prayer tool.[citation needed]

Acoustic and photic
Newer forms of meditation are based on the results of EEG (electro-encephalogram) work in long-term meditators. Studies have demonstrated the presence of a frequency-following response to auditory and visual stimuli. This EEG activity was termed "frequency-following response" because its period (cycles per second) corresponds to the fundamental frequency of the stimulus. Stated plainly, if the stimulus is 5 Hz the resulting measured EEG will show a 5 Hz frequency-following response using appropriate time-domain averaging protocols.[31][32] This is the justification behind such inventions as the Dreamachine and binaural beats.

Meditation in a Western context
"Meditation" in its modern sense refers to Yogic meditation that originated in India. In the late nineteenth century, Theosophists adopted the word "meditation" to refer to various spiritual practices drawn from Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other Eastern religions. Thus the English word "meditation" does not exclusively translate to any single term or concept, and can be used to translate words such as the Sanskrit dhyana, samadhi and bhavana.

Meditation may be for a religious purpose, but even before being brought to the West it was used in secular contexts, such as the martial arts. Beginning with the Theosophists, though, meditation has been employed in the West by a number of religious and spiritual movements, such as Yoga , New Age and the New Thought movement, as well as limited use in Christianity.

Meditation techniques have also been used by Western theories of counseling and psychotherapy. Relaxation training works toward achieving mental and muscle relaxation to reduce daily stresses. Jacobson is credited with developing the initial progressive relaxation procedure. These techniques are used in conjunction with other behavioral techniques. Originally used with systematic desensitization, relaxation techniques are now used with other clinical problems. Meditation, hypnosis and biofeedback-induced relaxation are a few of the techniques used with relaxation training. One of the eight essential phases of EMDR (developed by Shapiro), bringing adequate closure to the end of each session, also entails the use of relaxation techniques, including meditation. Multimodal therapy, a technically eclectic approach to behavioral therapy, also employs the use of meditation as a technique used in individual therapy. [33]

From the point of view of psychology and physiology, meditation can induce an altered state of consciousness, and its goals in that context have been stated to achieving spiritual enlightenment, to the transformation of attitudes, and to better cardiovascular health.

Physical postures
Main article: Asana

Half-lotus position.Different spiritual traditions, and different teachers within those traditions, prescribe or suggest different physical postures for meditation. Sitting, supine, and standing[34] postures are used. Most famous are the several cross-legged sitting postures, including the Lotus Position.

Spine
Many meditative traditions teach that the spine should be kept "straight" (i.e. that the meditator should not slouch). Often this is explained as a way of encouraging the circulation of what some call "spiritual energy," the "vital breath", the "life force" (Sanskrit prana, Chinese qi, Latin spiritus) or the Kundalini. In some traditions the meditator may sit on a chair, flat-footed (as in New Thought); sit on a stool (as in Orthodox Christianity); or walk in mindfulness (as in Theravada Buddhism). Some traditions suggest being barefoot, for comfort, for convenience, or for spiritual reasons.

Other traditions, such as those related to kundalini yoga, take a less formal approach. While the basic practice in these traditions is also to sit still quietly in a traditional posture, they emphasize the possibility of kriyas - spontaneous yogic postures, changes in breathing patterns or emotional states, or perhaps repetitive physical movements such as swaying, etc., which may naturally arise as the practitioner sits in meditation, and which should not be resisted but rather allowed to express themselves in order to enhance the natural flow of energy through the body. This is said to help purify the nadis and ultimately deepen one's meditative practice.

Mudra/Hand

Bas-relief in Sukhothai, Thailand depicting monks during walking meditation.Various hand-gestures or mudras may be prescribed. These can carry theological meaning or according to Yogic philosophy can actually affect consciousness. For example, a common Buddhist hand-position is with the right hand resting atop the left (like the Buddha's begging bowl), with the thumbs touching.

Eyes
In most meditative traditions, the eyes are closed. In some sects such as Zen, the eyes are half-closed, half open and looking slightly downward. In others such as Brahma Kumaris, the eyes are kept fully open.

Quiet is often held to be desirable, and some people use repetitive activities such as deep breathing, humming or chanting to help induce a meditative state.

In Sufism meditation (muraqaba) with eyes closed is called Varood while with open eyes is known as Shahood or Fa'tha.

Focus and Gaze
Often such details are shared by more than one religion, even in cases where mutual influence seems unlikely. One example would be "navel-gazing," which is apparently attested within Eastern Orthodoxy as well as Chinese qigong practice. Another would be the practice of focusing on the breath, which is found in Orthodox Christianity, Sufism, and numerous Indic traditions.

Cross-legged Sitting
Sitting cross-legged (or upon one's knees) for extended periods when one is not sufficiently limber, can result in a range of ergonomic complaints called "meditator's knee". Many meditative traditions do not require sitting cross legged.

Health applications and clinical studies of meditation
Main article: Health applications and clinical studies of meditation

Scenes of Inner Taksang, temple hall, built just above the cave where Padmasambhava meditatedIn their review of scientific studies of meditation, published in the International Journal of Psychotherapy, Perez-De-Albeniz and Holmes identified the following behavioral components of meditation:

relaxation,
concentration,
altered state of awareness,
suspension of logical thought processes, and
maintenance of self-observing attitude.
The medical community has studied the physiological effects of meditation. Many concepts of meditation have been applied to clinical settings in order to measure its effect on somatic motor function as well as cardiovascular and respiratory function. Also the hermeneutic and phenomenological aspects of meditation are areas of growing interest. Meditation has entered the mainstream of health care as a method of stress and pain reduction. In 1976, the Australian psychiatrist Ainslie Meares, reported in the Medical Journal of Australia, the regression of cancer following intensive meditation. Meares wrote a number of books on the subject, including his best-seller Relief without Drugs.

As a method of stress reduction, meditation is often used in hospitals in cases of chronic or terminal illness to reduce complications associated with increased stress including a depressed immune system. There is growing agreement in the medical community that mental factors such as stress significantly contribute to a lack of physical health, and there is a growing movement in mainstream science to fund research in this area (e.g. the establishment by the NIH in the U.S. of 5 research centers to research the mind-body aspects of disease.)

Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist at the University of Colorado, reported that Zen meditation rewires the circuitry of the brain in his landmark book Zen and the Brain (Austin, 1999). This has been confirmed using functional MRI imaging which examines the activity of the brain.

Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind-Body Medical Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard and several Boston hospitals, reports that meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the "relaxation response." The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and brain chemistry. Benson and his team have also done clinical studies at Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayan Mountains.

Other studies within this field include the research of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts who have studied the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress.

Potential hazards
There is anecdotal evidence that meditation can cause some people to experience psychotic episodes, particularly in those with a history of mental illness, or those who submit themselves to long meditation retreats without prior meditation experience.

Meditation in popular fiction
Main article: Meditation in popular fiction
Various forms of meditation have been described in popular culture sources. In particular, science fiction stories such as Frank Herbert's Dune, Star Trek, Star Wars, and Stargate SG-1 have featured characters who practice one form of meditation or another. Usually these practices are inspired by real-world meditation traditions, but sometimes they have very different methods and purposes.

Heroin

2008-04-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

Heroin is a highly addictive drug and is the most widely abused and most rapidly acting of the opiates. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants.
Pure heroin, which is a white powder with a bitter taste, is rarely sold on the streets. Most illicit heroin is a powder varying in color from white to dark brown. The differences in color are due to impurities left from the manufacturing process or the presence of additives. Another form of heroin, "black tar" heroin, is primarily available in the western and southwestern U.S. This heroin, which is produced in Mexico, may be sticky like roofing tar or hard like coal, with its color varying from dark brown to black.
Heroin can be injected, smoked, or sniffed/snorted. Injection is the most efficient way to administer low-purity heroin. The availability of high-purity heroin, however, and the fear of infection by sharing needles has made snorting and smoking the drug more common. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) researchers have confirmed that all forms of heroin administration are addictive.

Great power vs great responsibility

2008-04-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

Great power brings great responsibility. How much responsibility should I take? How much is great? Why is me to have great power? Or great responsibility brings great power? Which one comes first? But I think, it should be responsibility come first, then following by capability. When we realized our responsibility or commitment is ‘great’, we were trained under the fear, under the real pain, under the force, without mercy, in reality. We will become the product of the situation, the product of the environment. The quality of the product came from the quality of the situation and quality of the environment. It’s depending on the quality of our fear, pain and force. This will improve our power to be greater and greater, to overcome our fear and pain. The more we fear or pain then the greater we are.

Keris turns up at Gerakan Youth meeting too

2008-04-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

Keris turns up at Gerakan Youth meeting too
Saturday, 06 October 2007
Beh Lih Yi & Wong Teck Chi (Malaysiakini)

A Gerakan Youth delegate had his colleagues in stitches at the party's annual meeting when he wielded two keris in
parody of Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein.
Kedah’s Heah Tick Lai stunned the crowd halfway through his speech during the debate on the resolutions when
he took out two keris (traditional Malay dagger) made of styrofoam.
Waving them over his head, he however said his purpose of wielding the keris was different from Hishammuddin.
“I wave this pair of keris here not to fight or challenge anyone... I hope next time Hishammuddin will hold and shout
‘unity for all Malaysians’,” he said.
He also ‘warned’ the media not to misinterpret his move or remarks, prompting the laughter and applause
from the delegates.
Heah’s antic was clearly in parody of the Umno Youth chief, who had repeatedly brandished the keris at the
Umno Youth meets, which was criticised by various quarters as an attempt to play up racial sentiment.
It was also attributed as one of the reason in voters’ opinion poll as to why the Chinese community is likely to vote
for the opposition in the next general election - a claim that has been rejected by the Malay-based party.
There were 593 Youth delegates at the Gerakan national delegates’ conference today but only about 90 people
were around during the debate session.
Minister came under fire
Meanwhile, an emotional Negri Sembilan’s delegate Cheow Woon San accused Foreign Minister Syed Hamid
Albar as being the “liar” in a recent interview with BBC’s Hardtalk.
Cheow took exception to the minister’s remarks in the interview that include stating that non-bumiputeras
benefitted more than bumiputeras in terms of receiving government contracts and getting places in university.
“Please assess for yourselves on how true these statements are... our own leaders are liars,” he alleged.
Kelantan’s Lau Suraksakh meanwhile said corruption that occurred under the New Economic Policy was the
biggest reason behind the unresolved poverty problem.
Blaming this on government leaders, he said: “Our elected representatives are only interested in their personal
interest, they have no time to fulfill the people’s hope in them.”
At the end of the two-hour-long debate, seven resolutions ranging from calling for tough action against corruption and the
alarming crime rate were adopted.

High price of drugs in Malaysia excludes the poor

2008-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Many essential medicines are too expensive for the poor in Malaysia
Morguefile
Drugs essential to basic health care have been priced out of the reach of Malaysia's poor, highlighting the importance of mechanisms to prevent manufacturers from raising prices too high, say researchers.
Research published in PLoS Medicine this week (27 March) has implications for health policy in other parts of the developing world.
An international team of researchers looked at the cost of 48 key drugs in private and government-run pharmacies and dispensing doctor's surgeries in four regions of western Malaysia.
Twenty-eight of these drugs are on a core list of 'essential' drugs published by the World Health Organization, based on disease burden. The remaining 20 are important for health care needs specific to Malaysia.
Prices of patented and generic drugs were compared and average local wages assessed to calculate the affordability of drugs.
They found that the prices of both patented and generic drugs were on average 16 times higher than international reference prices, and that some dispensing doctors are selling generic drugs at 310 times their real cost.
Buying a month's supply of a commonly prescribed stomach ulcer pill in Malaysia would cost a low-paid government worker the equivalent of three days' wages, for example.
Malaysia allows market forces to determine drugs prices, and the study questions the government's failure to cushion the poorest of its people against the effects of its commitment to the free market under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) as part of the World Trade Organization.
This agreement allows countries to secure cheap drugs for themselves by allowing people to sell generic versions of the original patented drugs.
But the study points out that drug prices in Malaysia are much higher than in India and Sri Lanka, for example, where government measures make medicines more affordable.
Malaysia, wooed by United States, has entered into bilateral free trade agreements on drugs, which have been criticised for disabling the country's rights to procure cheaper drugs.
The authors call for more effective price-control policies to be put in place, and increased or better-targeted public spending on essential medicines.
In India ― also a signatory of TRIPS ― the multinational drug company Novartis has been claiming rights of exclusivity over newer versions of the leukaemia drug Gleevec, which costs 12 times more than its Indian generic version.
Meera Shiva, a health rights activist in India, said, "Drug prices in developing countries in the post TRIPS scenario reflect the reality of big firms seeking to monopolise drugs and keep out cheaper versions."
"[The issues in the study] are also about people having to pay for most of the drugs from their own pockets with little government aid. So keeping the drugs cheap is life-giving in a number of ways," she added.
Shiva gave the example of France, where more than 80 per cent of drugs are paid for by the health system, making prices less of a concern.
Suzanne Hill, clinical pharmacologist based in Ferney-Voltaire, France, advised caution about the results of the study. She said it is important not to over-interpret the results, as they are based on surveys of small samples of facilities, and may not be applicable to the entire country.

sembangmetro: Bersatu Hati

2008-04-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

sembangmetro: Bersatu Hati

Banks, piggy banks and the joy of capital markets

2008-04-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.'- Thomas Jefferson, letter to the US Secreatary of the treasury, 1802

There is, in tradition to oligopolistic licensses and concessions, a second recource which the south-east Asian godfather cannot do without: access to capital. In the post-colonial era, capital become readily available for the first time to local entrepreneurs because of three developments. The first was changes in the lending practices of existing banks. The second was the obtaining by well-connected tycoons of licenses to open their own banks, which typically became akin to personal piggy banks, albeit ones filled with other people's money. The third development was the growth of the region's capital markets.

Few things constrained local businessmen so much under colonial rule as the dificulty of obtaining loans at reasonable interest. Eoropean and american banks were little concerned with lending to Asian businesses- their preferred activity was financing international trade with letters of credit and other support- and when they did lend to locals their compradors were rapacios in demanding kickbacks. There was a number of small ethnic Chinese and Thai- controlled bank in the region, but they were extreamely conservative in their lending practices. Most local businessmen turned to the traditional Indian moneylenders with their punishing rates of interest. Starting in the 1950s, however, more aggressive, entrepreneurial management at two Asian-based banks began to change this situation. The banks in question were Bangkok Bank, headquatered in Thailand, and the Hongkong and Shanghai bank, based in Hong Kong.

The trail blazerr was Bangkok Bank, led by Chin Sophonpanich, son of Teochiu father and a thai mother. A skilled trader and wartime black marketeer, Chin was brought in at the end of the Second World War to what was a failing institution set up under the aegis of the Thai royal family; he was employed first as comprador and subsequently as general manager. In the years that followed, Chin built out the most strongly politically-connected business in post-war Thailand, with Bangkok Bank at its centre. After the military coup of 1947, he co-opted the leadership families of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan and police director-general Phao Siriyanon as shareholders and directors of his companies and restructured the bank to make the government its biggest shareholder. In return, he obtained a large injection of state capital, near-monopolies of gold and foreign exchange trading and the handling of overseas remittances by ethnic Chinese worker, protection from competition and an unrivalled client base. Like all the most successful godfathers, Chin also rose above the dialect differences of Chinese community, recruiting the cream of Thai-Chinese graduates (pure Thais almost always preferred civil service careers to business) from the elite Thammasat University. One of the most important was Boonchu Rojanasathien, a Hainanese, who saved Chin's bacon after Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat staged a coup in 1957. Chin quikly made Sarit an adviser and appointed his interior minister, Field Marshal Prapass Charusathiara, chairman of Bangkok Bank, but his links to the ousted Phin and Phao made him too nervous to remain personally in Bangkok. He went into exile in Hong Kong untill Sarit died in 1963. In his absence, Boonchu ran the bank, backed by the most adeptly chosen management cadre in Thailand. A sense of how effectively the executives straddled the worlds business and politics is given by the fact that, as of 1980, Bangkok Bank's board had produced three deputy premiers and two speakers of the Thai parliament. But the executives were also entrepreneurial businessmen; they introduced time deposits (long-term saving) and rural credit to Thailand.

Chin Sophonpanich created the largest bank in south-east Asia and one that was extremely profitable. A report by the International Moneytary Fund in 1973 claimed that Bangkok Bank's privileged position allowed it to make returns on its capital in excess of 100 per cent a year (a claim denounced by Chin's lieutenants). What was not in dispute was that the bank's bulging deposit base could not be lent 0ut at optimum rates in Thailand alone. This is where Chin revolutionised the south-east Asian banking scene. He personally travelled between Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, identifying and courting the new generation of putative post colonial tycoons. Onemultibillionaire remembers looking for money in late 1950s to fund an import subtitution deal for which he had obtained a licence. Having heard about Chin, he offered to come and see him. Chin's response was that there was no need- he would come to client. 'For the Chinese businessmen of south-east Asia there was a major moment with Chin Sophonpanich,' says the tycoon. 'He broke what was then the highly conservative, highly colonialistic banking system.'