If Chukai has a snap election, there will be...

Chukai, 00/00/00 - The snap poll in Chukai has attracted many political party workers to come to the city. With an estimated population of 160, 000 people, it will be no different than Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections. 

That is a quote from the future edition of The Chukai Insider, a leading online portal in East Coast of Malaysia. Wouuu. Well, if you noticed  the newspaper this past week, Batu Sapi in Sabah and Galas in Kelantan will be having snap polls after their representatives passed away. Since March 2008, I cannot count how many elections there were..

I'm wondering what will happen to my town, Chukai if there is a snap election coming. Let me tell you what will happen in Chukai if there will be a snap poll.

1. Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers will come to Chukai via Kertih Airport or Kuantan Airport. Cannot go by car, sakit punggung. Then, Anwar Ibrahim, Haji Hadi Awang and Nurul Izzah also will come. They can fly using Malaysia Airlines or Firefly. Well, nak berkempen la katakan. They all will drive Perdana or Mercedes. I tell you, for some Chukai-ians, you will look poor in those cars. You see, most of them work in oil and gas industry, they have money to buy their own Mercedes. 

2. The next day, they all will come to your houses and greet you. Urm..selama ni I tak nampak pun muka you! You datang ni buat apa? So there will be chit chat. BN or PKR, they all are very kind at this time. 'Kita akan buat yang terbaik untuk Chukai!'. Nak terkentut I dengar!

3. Since the population of Chukai is quite large, they cannot go to every houses like they do in Galas. So, the massive Dewan Berlian and Dewan Sri Amar Diraja will be filled every time. Tak ketinggalan, Padang Astaka where  you can work out at the same time.

4. I don't know what they can promise to us as well. Since the population here is totally different than that of Galas and Batu Sapi, it will be hard for them. Like in Galas, you can offer Projek Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT), but here, orang miskin ada la seciput. Kentut sekali terus terbang. Kat sini miskin dia ada Astro, kereta Kancil and tak semestinya rumah kayu. So, what do want to give to them? Here, there are lots of Kampungs, but very weird kampungs. Kampung Mak Chili, Kampung Gong Limau, Kampung Mak Lagam, Kampung Tengah, Kampung Gong Pauh and many more. In Mak Chili, there are high-rise bungalows , I don't know la what you can promise to them. These kampungs are very connected to the world. In fact, they are not even kampungs. 

5. We all will be promised with lots of things. What do you want, you tell me. We want to win, so we give you everything. Najib will give you this, Anwar will give you that.

6. They all will promise to give you Wang Ehsan. Well, Terengganu citizens are very addicted to that.

7. Datuk Mohd Said, the Mentri Besar will promise to give you supermarkets, marina and many things la. Giant anyone?

8. Main roads will be upgraded. So, that will make the already massive traffic jam even worse! You know, if you want to go from Geliga to Bukit Kuang, it could take you 1 hour drive in the morning. 

9. Majlis Perbandaran Kemaman will put lots of flowers and bonsai. That's Chukai's trademark anyway. I wonder the million ringgit 'air pancut near Taman Chukai Utama' tu will be working or not. Or the massive Globe. Well, to Chukai outsiders, don't be surprise, we all have very canggih-canggih water fountain here. When, you come later on, they will switch it on. 

10. My father's shop will be visited by Prime Minister maybe. So can la take-take pictures and frame them. Maybe he can get haircut from my father too. Then my father will say " Bila jalan depan rumah saya nak diperbesar, kalu tak saya cukur sampai botak!"

11. Political parties that promise they will build an integrated shopping complex, they ate confirmed to win. You know, Chukai people like to shop so much. It's like not enough here you know. We all already have the 'dead' Center Point, the always-busy Yellow Town, the mysterious Casa Limbong, Nirwana, Pantai Selamat, Tunas Manja and many more la. Why you build Mesra Mall in Kerteh? That's too far. We want it in front of our house! Dekat Lot 144 ke..ni buat kat Kerteh.

12. If you build an integrated 'tudung megamall' also will win. 

13. If you build high-speed train to Kuantan also, you will confirm to win. Chukai-ians go to Kuantan like Kuantan is their home town. My mother sometimes even shop for groceries in Giant Kuantan. 

14. Many outsiders (the locals refer to you as 'orang luor') also will come to campaign. And so, kaya la the famous Hai Peng. Mak Cik berniaga kat pasar habis kuih. Habis la tudung in Center Point. These colours will be selling fast; pink for Puteri UMNO, green for PAS (saiz labuh la) ..

15. Hotels will be fully booked. The famous or high-ranked politicians will stay in Awana Kijal la. River Garden Hotel? Euww..

And there they are. After election, goodbye! Mana muka you I dah tak nampak dah. Hai Peng kembali sunyi. Mak cik-mak cik kembali sakit lutut and takde orang nak bawak pergi klinik. Shopping complex? Hmm, kat Kuantan kan ada.

They are true for both political parties. Whether you fight for Malay Agenda ke, or fight for Perjuangan Islam ke, we don't care. We want high-income jobs, shopping complex, marina ( I kan ada yacht ), new bridge in Bukit Kuang, and that's all. We don't give a damn about you rhetorical promises! 

*Chukai, also known by the name of Kemaman Town (est. pop. (2009): over 160,000)^[1] is the administrative seat of Kemaman District, in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia.

-The Chukai Insider

The Element!

Hi! Ain just bought me this book: The Element by Ken Robinson. The actual price is RM57.00 but in BookXcess, it's only RM 17.OO!!! Wooooo! Murah murah!!!

Yes, it's very philosophical and so me! Haha, most of you won't like reading this. I know Ainul doesn't like this kind of book.

Terima kasih, Ain! Ba bai!
-The Chukai Insider

Sejarah oh Sejarah...

For those of you who don't read newspaper because you were sick of the UMNO assembly, here's something new: Sejarah will be made a must-pass subject in three years time. Oo...

I don't question the rationale behind the decision of making it a compulsory subject to pass in SPM like Bahasa Melayu (or Malaysia? They change it all the time. Next minister come in, they'll change it again). What are the consequences? It's okay for the 90% maybe who will pass it, but for the rest? There will be another subject for them to worry about if they want to get their high school certificates.

Again, I don't question the rational. I don't want to question the content of our Sejarah syllabus as well as I'm not even an expert. Lots of discussions in newspapers however really delusion all of you guys with the fact that the columnists are all historians. So, be careful. 

What I want to bring as an issue is the methodology of teaching and assessment of Sejarah. Kesian for many of us who does not have the ability to grasp the subject and forced to do something they are not good at.

Teaching of Sejarah in schools normally would involve one-way communication. Teacher talks, you listen. You tak dengar, cikgu baling kapur, hahaha! Or marker! Better, group presentation. You talk, others listen. When exam is coming, wooosh! There comes the tonnes of past year papers! Woosh, answer that. Look in the textbook a little bit, and then tomorrow, you can answer the exam. That's  the case for the smart students. 

What's the purpose of Sejarah in school actually? Which one is better? You know all the facts, and then can put it in the essays or you have to analyse the Sejarah by knowing all the facts? That's the problem with Sejarah  lessons. You don't feel the Sejarah is alive. When talking about this, there's a report saying that the methods will change by putting more time on forums, discussions, debates and even drama and theatre! What? They are the activities the students are running away from! Malu la I nak berlakon jadi Sultan Melaka..sape jadi Hang Li Po..ouuu..

We, students want to watch movies! We want to go jalan-jalan. So, bring us to historical sites! We want to get marks for that! We will remember the significance of the A'Famosa better if we go there and not just look at the pictures in the full-of-words-with-no-interesting-pictures-at-all textbook. 

Thinking about thinking in Sejarah? Look at the questions. The only thinking question is when it come to the "Apakah pengajaran daripada peristiwa ini?". Nearly all of the students can answer pengajaran questions...duh..

I guess (because I'm not an educationist) it is better if the question goes like this: Bagaimanakah kejatuhan kerajaan Melaka membawa kesan kepada empayar di bawah kekuasaannya? Cewah, wat poyo skit. You have to think to answer it (think). You have to know which states were in the empire (facts). You have to predict because I don't happen to remember this fact is in the textbook (analyse). It's like you are playing with your minds to imagine what will happen to those states under the empire. Don't just put you-know-or-you-don't-know questions like this: Apakah sumbangan kerajaan Agraria? You know, you get full marks. You don't know, urmm padan muka. 

We are talking about the larger masses of students here. Those who don't want to be historians. I lauded the move to make it must-pass subject, but change the method of teaching and assessment. 

ps: there's no interesting history movies like how good Upin and Ipin is..

-The Chukai Insider

Malaysia wants doctors, scientists and professors only.

I had mentioned before that the software and hardware should be developed in the country at the very same pace. One must not lead the other. And software cannot survive without hardware and vice versa. Although I am totally lauded the mega physical developments here in Malaysia, I never say we should have been neglected other stuffs. I know most of you who have read my blog would think that I go for the physical development only.  I wrote these before:Obsession with ranking 2, Obsession with ranking 2 and Malaysian schools are killing creativity.

Okay, straight to the point. These are the problems in Malaysian education system

1. Students are treated like lab rats.
2. No firm stand on education
3. Bias towards those who have higher cognitive abilities
4. Bias towards rote learners
5. Sports? Where? Di tanah sekangkang kera tu? No wonder I don't know how to play football (Alasan, hehehe!).
6. An A in English is far better than the ability to communicate in the language
7. Discrimination against low performing schools
8. Discrimination against low performing students

1. Students are treated like lab rats

• PPSMI and then MBMMBI and whatever acronyms la..
• I want PPSMI so it will at least our village people get exposure in speaking English
• You know, in major cities you have lots of exposure in English, for the rural students?
• That's why PPSMI was in place
• If you blame the students could not grasp the Science and Mathematics, they could not do so in Bahasa as well because the bottom line is their attitudes

2.No firm stand on education

• PPSMI again
• Why students cannot have the atmosphere to learn in English like rich students in international schools learn?
• Are you trying to widen the gap between the rich and the poor even further in Malaysia?

1. 3.Bias towards those who have higher cognitive abilities

• This is a very good complaint made by teacher. Read this:Pendandan rambut juga pandai
• If you look at the trend, we all want to make all students become doctors, lawyers, scientists, geologists, biotechnologists..how about those who wants to become a chef? Top Chef anyone?
• more on this later on
• 
  
• 4.Bias towards rote learners

• If any of you who doesn't know, beginning 2014 History is a must-pass subject in SPM like Bahasa Melayu.
• With what I learnt in school, I guess they must pass the memorising test. Why? History lesson should make us think from the facts we are given. So, there should be research and analysis. But SPM focuses on the facts part only.

5.Sports?

• I don't want to get poyo, but I've been to an international school before and to a national school as well.
• Sports facilities? If the government can provide what my private school can provide, we will have more Nicol Davids and Lee Chong Weis.
• Even I get intrigued to join the sports with the facilities provided. The facilities seduced me..

6. An A in English is far better than the ability to communicate in the language

• It's okay to focus on the As, but make sure we can talk in the language too.
• How do we want to talk in English if we have limited opportunities to talk in the language. 

7.Discrimination against low performing school

• Instead of giving assistance to needy schools, it is always the top performers which get incentives, status of cluster schools while the gap between the best schools and the worst schools widens

8.Discrimination against low performing students

• Many students who spend 11 years in school end up nothing. I dare say majority students who finished form five is the same student they were in form one except some experience in monkey love. Ooou... With the syllabus that focus more on whats rather than hows, it's not a surprise. Instead of teaching them economics or perdagangan or mathematics, may be you can give them skills like entrepreneurship, car repair, kelas menjahit and bakery. Not just that, inspire them to become great in whatever they do. If there is a great doctor, why don't we have great cooks, great artists and great mechanics as well? 

Should we have physical developments? Yeah, very much. Do we need soft development? Yeah, very much. Both complements each other. We need towers and towering humans. 

Now, I am waiting for mega-project in education.

-The Chukai Insider

The Mega-phobia in Malaysia

The accumulative negative perception with regards to many projects and programs made by the ruling party in Malaysia leads to the mega-phobia in Malaysia. What I define as mega-phobia is the resistance by the public for any large projects or programs when they heard it for the first time. It is solely based upon the first response that is embedded in many minds that large projects never bring benefits but instead act like a source of waste and leakages. It is like a knee-jerk reaction; when they heard anything big, they will say 'kita tak boleh buat apa-apa pun projek besar-besar, membazir je'.

Seriously, I may agree with this notion or even a dogma I would say, but with the static development during Pak Lah's era, I don't see any major changes because there was no significant mega projects. The era brought to us the ideas of economic corridors; that cheered me up for sometimes until I further notice that no major changes are happening. That makes me agree totally with Mahathir's approach to spend and from there, multiple effects occur at the same time. You may say that the investment in software (human capital, education) is much more important than hardware (physical infrastructure, buildings, transport system), but the underlying principle is that you cannot move forward without providing the ecosystem that has both of them. Both investments should be coherent in its goals and move at the same pace. 

The recent Budget announced brought this large wave of phobia to Malaysians. Like many times before, there is no focused arguments. What I meant by this is that no arguments that really hit on the points. Macam dia bangkang tapi dengan alasan entah apa-apa. I call this deviation of arguments. Why is it deviating? The reasons come in the form of deviations like bringing us to another issues which have no relationship with that particular things whatsoever. Example, with the massive amount of money, why not build schools, help the poor etc. It doesn't hit the point. Instead of asking why, many weak arguments will respond with " why not..."s. It happens all the time. Period.

The Warisan Merdeka project has actually overshadowed many other more mega projects. I see a higher return of investment in the tower rather than the RM40 billion MRT project. In property market, the tower obviously will increase the prices of land. It costs 1/8 of the total cost of MRT. There is no MRT project in the world that brings large profits. In fact, in many countries, they cost of running it is shared with other sources of income even in our neighbouring country. Logically if I would want to protest, I'd rather protest the MRT project because first, the RM40 billion, second, the involved companies have never mentioned the prospect of getting the funds and no concrete confidence. However, when PNB says it has enough money already then you want to protest. This is the kind of private investments that we really need, but what the hell, the mega-phobia is still there. Tak faham la. With the track record of MRT projects around the world, ours has much potential to become 'gajah putih' compared to the tower. It is not that I'm saying that I oppose this project, but the SELECTION OF PRIORITY TO PROTEST MEGA PROJECTS is not right. What it means is that many who protest, don't even know what to protest and don't even have hard facts for their reasons. I think it is a political play and others just follow. Wooo...

From NST,

The KLCC had cost RM1.2 billion, in 2004 the Twin Towers worth RM4.5 billion and Suria KLCC at RM1.5 billion. We get 5.7 from 1.2. Mind you, it it its value, not hard cash. Kang nanti cakap 'dah untung tu kenapa ada lagi orang miskin, tak boleh pergi hospital'. 

Penang Bridge, needless to say is very important huh, until you all cannot wait for the second one to be completed.

'Some' Politicians want to sell Sepang International Circuit for RM 300 million in 1999. Well, you know.. they all say it's wasteful and and useless. Yet a University Malaya study suggested that the first race brought in about RM500 million to Malaysia in tourism receipts, publicity and business opportunities. (NST October 24, 2010).

How does these mega projects affect the average Awangs, Farhans, Ains, Yongs and Rajs on the street? 

Awang, SPM holder

- If he is very hardworking and willing to work in constructions, of course the employment is there to build all of the towers, rails and buildings in KLFID.

The problem is that many does not want this because they are lazy or maybe the salary is too low. The latter problem should be addressed by the government, but the first one, I think that is the reason why we have to bring in so many hardworking Nepalese or Bangladeshi in construction. So, employment opportunity.

Farhan, trained economist, business graduates, and related courses la..

- There is KLFID in which we want to make it an Islamic Financial hub, so employment huh?

Ain, housewife

-Hmm..well, we have MRT so easy to shopping2 every morning. Cheap tickets, no need to isi minyak..so jimat la. I

If a housewife in kampung, boleh naik basikal. Takkan nak MRT gak kot..

Yong, engineer

-If he's in any big company, of  course his company will bid for those projects or even buy lands around the proposed sites and develop their properties. Wealthier, huh?

Raj, small contractor

-In building the mega-projects, of course we need the landscape, the sidewalks, the drains...so small contractors got many projects. If ali baba, their own fault la. Government gives opportunity, they destroy it.

If they do nothing at all, how do we develop ourselves? The projects give you opportunities for you to grow. We don't simply give RM5 billion to companies so they raise the salaries of Malaysian worker or to food companies so they reduce the market prices of food. It has to be through these ways; through opportunities. Okay, I give you a situation. There's a very  poor family in front of your house and you happen to be rich. You have cash in your savings. In the first week, you give the family rice, clothes and many more stuffs because of empathy. Then, next week, the poor family has no more rice. Habis la kan? Would you give more rice? Or would you hire one of the family members to clean your house everyday and give him/her salaries enough to buy food every month? You give the opportunity to this family to get income, but what if the family says no? The same thing happens to many people, they don't grab the opportunities. Bulan tak akan jatuh ke riba, kita kena buat kapal angkasa nak pergi ke sana!

*names given are for narrative purpose only

I quote Zainul Arifin of NST 

Social convention suggests that when we have nothing good to say, it's best to keep quiet; and if we want to say something negative, to make sure we get our facts right.

Bye.

ps: Hope the Malaysian team will get first place in The Amazing Race Asia again next week. Yeah, Malaysia Boleh!

-The Chukai Insider

Warisan Merdeka - Part Two

I know unlike the previous entry about Warisan Merdeka that I wrote with so much gedixness, this one has to be more serious about what am I trying to say because of the larger audience that I cater for unlike all of the previous entries. I never expected the last post that I purposely dedicated to two of my friends received lots of attention even in Egypt where some Malaysian students were having debate and discussion using my points without my acknowledgement. I am kind of scared actually, but being a staunch supporter of what I think beneficial, I think I should write another one.

As I said before, this post will be serious in putting forward my thoughts based on my research and my own analysis with several ideas come from various columnists from different views and parties.

Even in the last post, I already said some of my things that are very clear and with the responses I get from e-mails, SMSes and Facebook, many did not understand and deviate from the argument that I give.

Before that, let me clarify my use of terms as not to be confused when you read this because from the many responses that I received from the last Warisan Merdeka post, there were a lot of confusion. Let me explain the terms that I use so as not to be mistaken by anyone.

• opposition- if without the capital letter of 'o', I'm referring to those who against the building of the tower because those who oppose this project comes from those who support Government as well.
• Opposition- the national-level Opposition party
• Government- the ruling party

I will try to refrain myself to involve my arguments with any political parties. It is to be remembered as well that I am answering your questions and replying your arguments towards my thoughts before and they are only my thoughts. Period. Some have gone too far when they replied to me. How far is too far? Very.

1. Cmonla chukai insider, the government can release any statement that they want. Just because they r the government. Democracy is just a word.  GLC stand for government license company. Profit is shared with the government.How about the budget for Warisan Merdeka tower we give to build the fastest rail line in the world or the safest bus route in the world.

 Or improve our public health care and family health insurance.

Cmonla chukai insider, the government can release any statement that they want. Just because they r the government. Democracy is just a word

 Ok, what's the diff building u so called Malay tower and building the fastest rail line by Malay. Which will bring more comfort?

 Yes I'm with UMNO but I don't want any project that will give benefits only to the crony. We r a nation. Public right must be first.

There is a thing in this world called PRIORITY.

First of all, thank you for taking interest with what I wrote. Second, GLC does not stand for Government-Licensed Company, it stands for Government-Linked Company. What I understand also is that the writer is trying to say that since the government owns the PNB, they have full authority on what PNB is doing, so they can corrupt the process at any level. 

By two definitions, GLC is :

1. A government-owned corporation, state-owned enterprise, state enterprise, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government.Source: Wikipedia

2.GLICs are defined as Federal Government linked investment companies that allocate some or all of their funds to GLC investments. Defined by the influence of the Federal Government in: appointing/approving Board members and senior management, and having these individuals report directly to the Government, as well as, in providing funds for operations and/or guaranteeing capital (and some income) placed by unit holders. The definition currently includes seven GLICs: EPF, Khazanah, KWAP, LTAT, LTH, MKD and PNB.

The category of GLCs comprises companies that are controlled by the respective State Governments and State-level agencies. This includes companies that the Government of Malaysia controls directly as its agencies such as Khazanah Nasional, MOF Inc., KWSP and Bank Negara Malaysia. Includes companies where GLCs themselves have a controlling stake, i.e. subsidiaries and affiliates of GLCs.Source:Khazanah

So, the profit/loss of the GLCs will be the stake that the Government put into its investment arms. So, we have our stakes in GLCs, is that what you are trying to say. As we want it, we can have our own Malay-built rail line for our comfort. 

This is the kind of argument that you put your **** on top of your hand. Do you know how much it cost to build rail line only? Not including the train. Even the MRT project alone that covers KL only costs around RM40 billions. So, why does PNB not invest in this kind of thing or healthcare as well? You know, since many people can't afford to go to hospitals nowadays (which place exactly, because what the hell the rural people in my place can have surgeries for free in public hospitals? So, where do you live exactly? ). PNB is an investment company, if you are the CEO, which one that you want, building RM 5 billion tower, which is a property investment that gives direct high return, OR you want to build the hospitals or even the rail line, when they are supposedly provided by the Government. PNB wants to maximise profit, isn't it? Will the company build railway lines that give very low returns or building hospitals that are expensive for the public to pay? The CEO of PNB said, the company will not use investor's money. 

Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) will not use funds from unit trust investors or the Government to develop the Warisan Merdeka project which will incorporate a 100-storey building.

Its chief executive officer and president Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said PNB, was also a big holding company with interests in several listed companies like Sime Darby, UMW and Island & Peninsular, besides being a unit trust manager for various government funds.

“We have more than enough money to finance the entire RM5bil project on our own if need be,” he told a special briefing for media editors here yesterday.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/21/nation/7270499&sec=nation, http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1021&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_04.htm&arc=hive.

So, with higher returns in property sector, you will get more maximise return when in unit trusts. Since they are many more Malays in unit trust fund than those who able to build railway line, many more will get the profit. Period. 

2.tentang cadangan mega project 5 Billion Warisan Tower? I disagree! Taxpayers feel cheated!

Can I say this is one of the without-research-at-all argument? Taxpayers? Seriously? How dumb are you? Bila exactly nak guna duit taxpayers to fund for this project? If it is so, I will be the one who open the group to reject the project. 

3.Your  1^st point :  You said that ‘jangan jaga tepi kain org’ .

For your information, kalau benda remeh temeh lah kan sperti hal rumah tangga org, gossip2 artis hal individu yang tak melibatkan rakyat itu barulah aku setuju kalau kau kata itu adalah konsep ‘jaga tepi kain orang’ tapi  regarding this matter ‘MEGA TOWER’  I STRONGLY feel that what you have said as ‘jaga tepi kain orang’  is NOT SUITABLE at all. HELLO you seriously think planning to build 100 stories MEGA TOWER  in MALAYSIA costs RM5BILLION  (or I have read that they made correction saying that actually the project costs RM3 billion. Which I think they are covering it up) is a SMALL  MATTER???  So maknanya kalau jaga tepi kain org, kita jangan lah bother pasal Malaysia ni. Semua org jadi lah passive dan jadi pak turut lah mcm tuh.

Ok I give you examples… firstly in Sweden, as you know… Sweden is not a Muslim country…  there is a private company owned by muslim people, they had this proposal given to d govermnet and  wanted to build a mosque which has a very tall minaret.  So diorg bg lah proposal diorg dkat kerajaan. So the sweedish government think it is better to decide this matter  bila kita mengambil kira PENDAPAT RAKYAT. This is because, the people r the ones yg dealing with this real situation. They r d one yang akan face d consequences or benefits once d project dah disiapkan. Ok in dis case…  after having musyawarah, they decided it is not suitable to build  tall minaret instead they built a masjid with medium sized minaret. Inilah bila kita ckp hak rakyat. Majority ikut suara rakyat. Maka ini bermaksud MALAYSIA BUKAN UNTUK MALAYSIA MALAH MALAYSIA ADALAH UNTUK MALAYSIANS. :D I hope you get what I mean.

Your hope is granted! I really do get what you mean. Okay, my dear..with regards to 'jaga tepi kain orang' you don't get what I meant actually. I use that term because PNB is using their own money from their own profits, so why they cannot use their money. Where is the democracy if I have my own profit but I can't invest it? Well, if you are talking about majority, that means we SHOULD not build the tower, and instead give very low food prices, very high wages and you know how? Government subsidy la. Isn't that what the majority wants? 

Frankly speaking, I grew up with Mahathir's leadership and with full admiration of Lee Kuan Yew's policies. I have read most of their books, so my thoughts are moulded that way. The two leaders agree, the voice of majority is not always right. Some more, you are talking about the investment from a company for their own. The mosque in Sweden involves socio-political with very strong religious issue, which is very sensitive. I don't know why the tower is very sensitive towards any people? What does the tower will represent as significant as the minaret in Sweden? Anyway, they are my thoughts. Will there be any killings or extreme religious act after we build the tower?

4.Another one example..kau ada ckp. Quoted from you ‘Ada orang bangkang ke you all nak buat rumah kalau ada duit banyak dengan duit you sendiri??Gila bangang. Bukan duit kerajaan, tapi duit PNB’ have you heard about project Damansara 21??? Aku rasa kau tak pernah dgr kot since kau ckp ada ke orang bangkang nak buat rumah kalau kita ada duit banyak. Well. Itu adalah salah sama sekali. Yes ada org bangkang.in fact ramai…. (aku adalah penduduk2 di sini. So aku boleh ckp hamper semua tidak setuju) Actually the initial plan oleh the developer  which is SDB Properties Sdn Bhd, they wanted to make 21 bungalows worth RM14-15 million each. They are a private company. Regarding on this bungalows project… do you knw that the residents in damansara heights  protest on this project? Kenapa org protest, ok aku rasa kau pun tahulah kan kenapa. Kalau kau duduk kat area2 ni, kau pun akan protest jugak. Dgn massive traffic jam lah dan juga bencana alam oleh sebab perasaan tamak haloba manusia sendiri. Dengan kekusasaan Allah, maka berlakulah massive landslide dekat bukit antarabangsa few years back after the project has been proposed,  Bcoz of that barulah project ini tergendala sebentar. Oleh sbb rmai sgt org protest, kerajaan pun kenalah masuk campur kan. (apa gunanya kerajaan kalau x hiraukan walaupun itu bukan duit diorg. Bangang lah kerajaan kalau x perlu ambil kisah atas plan2/ project 2 yg besar di Malaysia kan. Ok so bck to d story, after dah bincang2.. the cabinet agreed to  proceed d project but , is to be scaled down to only 16 bungalows from the 21 units originally planned. So conclusion nyer di sini, bila kau ckp it is not your money, my money, or government money… tapi bila pembangunan begini akan memberi impact dan kesan kepada rakyat adakah anda bermaksud kita tak perlu SIBUK/BUSYBODY/JAGA TEPI KAN ORANG??? mcm lantak korg lah…. Apa nak jadi jadi laah?? Adakah amalan seperti berikut harus ada pada setiap warganegara Malaysia?

Ok aku nk Tanya besides point yg kau ckp “sukahati PNB lah itu duit diorg’ ada kau terfikir apakah benefit2 yg akan dapat dgn buat bangunan tinggi??? Kalau nak ckp tertinggi mmg taklah.. burj khalifa, shanghai world financial center, international commerce centre.. smua adalah jauh lebih tinggi drpd ‘mega tower’ ni… kalau nak berlumba2 ni mmg xkan habis la.. nanti 50 tahun akan dtg.. tenggelam lah’mega tower’ ini… so bak kata PM alasan nyer bila ada tower2 ni.. ia adalah sebagai mercu Negara modern??? Investor byk masuk… ?? bcoz of that sahaja????????  Nak bangga buat apa.. smua engineers2 smua tuh diimpotrt la.. Basically kita guna smua org luar pastuh nnt kita bangga? What is the point? Seriously aku mmg x NAMPAK LANGSUNG  APA FAEDAH NYA. Klcc x cukup bagus ke? Out of date yer? Separuh tower tuh pun x penuh. Ni nak tambah lagi. Aku bukanlah nak blame kan kerajaan sgt… tapi kan faidhi… kenapa benda2 mcm ni dia x boleh nak bersuara untuk stopkan project2 mcm ni? He has d power. He has d rights to say NO when majority of d rakyat did not agree on this matter.  Oh ya mmg la takpe nanti keuntungan  dari project tuh masuk lah sikit kat dlm pocket dia dan isteri tercinta ya dan kroni2 nyer.. 

Some of it has been answered above. Okay, I'll play some linguistic game so it can answer that part. Is tinggi the same as tertinggi? This may sound, what a stupid answer, but my stupid answer is to answer stupid question. Are we competing with the rest of the world? PNB says no. If not, they can build talller and taller tower. But they don't, why? The CEO answers:

“PNB’s existing headquarters, Menara PNB will be 30 years old by the time the new tower is completed. We are looking for strategic positioning for the future and will need new office space for the expanding PNB group of companies. The Warisan Merdeka tower will become the new PNB headquarters while Menara PNB will be upgraded and leased out for recurring income,” Hamad added.

He said PNB had the capability to finance the project through internally generated funds but he did not discount resorting to borrowings “if the interest rates are attractive.”

Source:http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/21/business/7267251&sec=business

5. And oh ya.. balik kepada point kau pasal Mah Sing group , sunway group.. or whatsoever..  tolonglah aku percaya  kalau mana-mana parti pun yang propose nak buat bangunan tinggi2 ni. MAJORITY mmg X AKAN SETUJU.  Sedangkan banyak lagi benda yang perlu diperbaiki oleh Negara kita. Kalau negara2 yang dah maju nak buat lain cerita lah. At least kalau Singapore tuh nak buat ok lah lagi. They have achieved more than us.  Universities dia adalah tersenarai top in d world..  in term of corruption pun tak tinggi.  Diorg ranking 3^rd in d world. Malaysia?????? 57?? What a shame !!! pastuh nak bermegah2 dgn bangunan tinggi???? Padahal byk yg perlu diperbaiki..

Oh wow faidhi.. why aren’t you support the concept of 1MALAYSIA that has been proposed by d government? From what you have written.. . I can see that you are being racist.. nak segregate kan cina ngan melayu. You sendiri ckp ‘WE MALAYS HAVE TO WORK HARD, NOT COMPLAINING’… why do we need us to choose between “100 story tower with many malays share in it/ sunway build condos around KLCC? ‘ kenapa perlu ada special treatment kepada org2 melayu? Bukankan kita perlu compete dgn mereka bersama2? Adakah ini bermaksud  melayu adalah bangsa yg lemah sehinggakan kena bagi special treatment?And you are comparing condos and 100 stories tower.. condos are meant for individual.. that 100 stories tower are meant for company and share holder… yg 100 stories tower tuh adalah company2 yg sewa. You seriously think org2 biasa MELAYU mampu membeli lot2 kat 100 stories mega tower tuh but not d condos?? How do you know my dear? DUIT PNB buat nak bagi kita share dekat tower tuh? Amboi mana hang tahu? Nanti kalau u dpt duk sana, g taw I k.. or maybe kalau I dpt satu lot kat sana.. I AKAN BAGI TAHU you.(berzaman mmg x kan dapat merasa juga encik faidhi..)  And you said that Malays who oppose this are stupid???? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  I think it is more stupid those who agree with this project. And yes.. I do want you to list reasonssssssss kenapa kita  TAK perlu oppose bangunan tinggi ? kami yg oppose ni adalah sangat STUPID  smpai x tahu apa KEBAIKAN /ADVANTAGES dengan BANGUNAN TINGGI INI. 

All the changes that you said above have to do with people. Not PNB RM5 billion money. The Mah Sing and  all the Sunway Group that I said, of course was an example. I can't play rhetorical, aren't I? Or even metaphorical. Okay, the situation is this. Why exactly the people in Kampung Baru do not want to sell their land before this? If you do research and can answer this, you probably will understand why I said such matter. I know you will not, so let it be because I know I'm a hard-headed as well,  the problem in Palestin begun with this such thing as well. 

Okay, you want the list right? Here they are. Nothing to do with race at all.

1.First, the tower is environmentally sound because it brings density, more people into a smaller footprint, eliminating the long hallways a shorter building of the same square footage would require. Smaller footprint enables systems to be delivered more efficiently than in a shorter building with the same square footage, thus saving energy. And then less subsidies from government to pay electricity.

2.Tall buildings give buzz to the surrounding area. This will put the buildings and property surrounding it with higher prices. Is a 20-storey tower give the surrounding an increase in property prices? Yes, if it is in Mak Chili, Kemaman. In KL,  you know it doesn't.

3. You know what, with the free publicity that many already give to this tower, the property prices will soar high. So, thank you.

4. You know what is the purpose of PNB when it was set up? Incorporated on March 17, 1978, PNB was conceived as a pivotal instrument of the Government's New Economic Policy to promote share ownership in the corporate sector among the Bumiputera, and develop opportunities for suitable Bumiputera professionals to participate in the creation and management of wealth.Source:http://www.pnb.com.my/about/about_us.cfm?cat=1&subcat=1

So, this tall building will serve the purpose of PNB expansion plan that I said earlier while at the same time, fulfil its goal stated above. Well, have you ever heard of REITs? Well if you do, you know that's how I will have my share in the tower. Btw, the share doesn't mean in physical cash only, but in your heart as well, if you want to la..

6.There are lots more, but seriously I'm very tired of having answered question with the same answer..PNB's money, PNB's money, PNB's own money..

7. There are comments below from my dearly beloved friend. You know I can't answer you well if you are not in front of me and some more are much a better debater than me and I hope you will want to drink with me at Sonstar again next year. We do agree on the name though. Answer for all of the issues stated by you, they are Government's responsibilities, not PNB. Actually, I want to answer more, but later, sakit jari. And lapar, nak makan. Ada mood, ada la part three. 

8. Supposedly, if you do well -researched facts, you will come across one thing that I kind of agree. It is called property glut. None of you said that. Vacancy tu a different story for PNB because they are expanding.  No one even mention property bubble. If you mention this, I will probably agree, but none of you did. That means most of you main cakap je.

Overall, I do appreciate the comments and support even most of you are very far away from me. What I intended to answer one person becomes a very serious issue. Ooo...my thoughts okay. 

ps: lots of you don't do research and xde concrete facts and arguments ya...

-The Chukai Insider

Why are there poor people in Malaysia, still? (Serious stuff, don't read if you are not into politics)

Hi! I live in rural area with very much exposure to urban life. How is that so? Okay, I live in Kampung Mak Chili, I went to a secondary school which is just 3 minute drive from my house. The school is in the town/city. What is Chukai exactly? In Malay, Bandar Kemaman la. But I live in Kampung Mak Chili. Every month, my family will go to Kuantan at least once. I went to KL many times just for fun. So I see lots of different things. Remember my background that I come from a relatively middle income family in a kampung. 

My father is a barber for the last 25 years, I guess. He has a bungalow, three cars and four children. If you come to my house, you will not stop eating because there is so much food. If you don't believe me, ask my friend Aiman and Haziq who went to my house before. Why am I telling you this? Let's consider a barber's income. Unlike in large cities like KL, customers only have to pay RM7 for my father's service. Let's say he has 20 customers per day, that will make RM140 per day. For 25 days of work, he will get RM 2500 per month. Is that enough to pay for shop rent, his bungalow, three cars and food to make his children fat fat and gebu gebu?

Or is my father receiving help from the Government to feed me? Oh no! What else that he does for living? Is he in some kind of Program Kemiskinan Rakyat or something? Will the Government help our family who live in bungalow like this? But my father is only a barber.

If you can answer that question, you will answer the question above: why there are still poor people in Malaysia. If I ask you, who are these poor people? Are they Ah Chong or the Lingam who sells The Star in front of Pejabat Persekutuan? Are they Mak Limahs, Pak Longs and Awangs? Yes!

Well, let's say Awang is a poor guy. What makes him different from my father? Okay, I give him the lowest paid job (RM 400), 10 children, no bungalow and bla bla bla.. Does he receive any help from the government? Of course he does! What does he do? How is his children performing in school? What does he do to make more money? Is he comfortable with his current situation?

Wow, it looks like barber is a high-income job heh? No! 

My father works from 9 am until 7 pm. 10 hours? Yeah! In Ramadhan, due to many requests, continue until 10 pm. Will he get only 20 customers per day in that 10 hours? He keep the record of all his daily income in a book, and surprisingly a barber IS a high-income job  IF you do it well. Which barber works for 10 hours a day? My father. 

So, who are these poor people actually. Are they barbers? Are they farmers? Are they construction workers?

My father can be very poor too if he wants, isn't it? He could not have worked until late night. My answer to those questions is Malay's lazy attitude plus with lack of thinking. 

My father is extremely hardworking. My father innovates with his barber shop; you will not just get haircut, those lazy uncle can put henna on their hair plus with other stuffs..who say men don't like to be pampered. You want extra, you pay la..That's how a business grow..For future income, he has his children as his asset, so he puts lots lots of effort and money to our education. 

Why Malays still poor? They keep complaining. When they don't know what else to complain, they blame the Government like the Kerajaan suppose to give beras to them everyday. I know one uncle from Siam who came here with nothing. He doesn't know how to read. He was extremely poor, and he has very large families. Well, fast forward, he still can't read but for sure he has lots of money enough for him to enjoy sometimes. How he did it? He worked all day long, from morning till night. Yeah, I know this because he's the one who keeps my yard clean and the grass to be cut very month. He work till night! It's not just for my house, for other houses as well. 

When we see people work so hard, we give them more money, isn't it? 

But if you look at most Malays who are poor, I'm not blaming them for being poor, BUT when you help yourself, others will help you. Macam pakcik tu, kita tengok dia rajin macam entah ape, so kita pun bagi dia duit lebih. Ni tak, kerja contractor Melayu datang kerja pukul 10, makan pagi sembang kedai kopi dulu, pastu wat kerje. TAK SAMPAI SETENGAH JAM, HISAP ROKOK SEBATANG. Mana boleh jadi kaya..

Kesimpulannya, buat la projek basmi kemiskinan macam mana pun, kalau diri sendiri tak jadi rajin and ada the right attitude, tak jadi. Takkan orang nak tunggu kita kaya baru nak buat 100-storey tower untuk kita beli? We are not a welfare nation.

Warisan Merdeka

To Farrah DN and Ain Z

for making this entry an accomplished 

distillation of thoughts...

There's a friend of mine in Canada who wants to hear what are my thoughts regarding the PNB new iconic project, Warisan Merdeka which includes the construction of a 100-storey tower. Another friend of mine in India said the name 'Warisan Merdeka' is 'sedap' while my friend in Poland and me agreed it is kind of ' so kampung' but that is just typical me, gedix skit. 

So anyway, one thing that I think wrong made by Najib is that he announced this in the Budget 2011 while I was made understood by various sources of news that the project is privately funded by PNB. I am not in the Government nor am a lawmaker, so I am not sure whether our annual budget should contain Government spending only or involved private funding as well. Furthermore, it is a PNB project, a government-linked company, maybe it is a Government project but it is not funded by Government. Ala, private with Government influence, you get me? Overall, that's the only bad thing about this project; the place it was announced. Other than that, economically and socially, I lauded the new project! 

The brouhaha (best guna perkataan ni) made by the Opposition will never end. Why I support this project? I don't want to use the same reason that others use; the typical 'tengokla Mahathir masa dia nak buat KLCC dulu, ramai je yang bangkang'. I'm not going to use this because if you succumb this to those who oppose anything the Government make, ugh..selamat berjaya la yek.

Okay, first of all, you all ingat tak pepatah jaga tepi kain orang, kain sendiri tak jaga. Kain I, ikut pandai I la. I beli dengan duit I sendiri. The same thing goes to this tower. The owner has its own money (the market capitalisation of PNB can build 20 more 100-storey tower,seriously check the Bursa Saham) to build this building, it is not money from the Government. Ada orang bangkang you all nak buat rumah kalau ada duit banyak dengan duit you sendiri? Gila bangang! Bukan duit kerajaan, tapi duit PNB. 

Okay, if you say PNB has our money to build the tower, because we invest in ASB, ASN, ASW2020 and so on so on la. You feel risky if they use your money to build the tower, isn't it? Have you listened to comments made by the economists or investors about this project? Hey mister, the RM5 billion fund is from the private saving of PNB, the company itself! It is not from your money! If you study how a trust fund is managed, they take your money and invest in profitable companies and then, the dividend made is paid to you. Tu la yang you dapat kot dividend ASB tiap-tiap tahun tu. But, this RM5 billion is the company's money that they own themselves and invest it for their own profit! Kalu tak faham lagi, dia macam ni. Aku ada syarikat nak buat trust fund. So, aku kena jugak ada startup duit nak bukak company tu. So, let's say dah ada duit tu. For PNB, modal dia Government bagi dulu. So, aku you all sume bagi la duit kat aku and I ambil semua duit you and letak kat dalam company yang untung-untung. Tapi startup modal tadi tu? Aku invest la untuk company aku sendiri. Ada aku ambil duit you all nak bagi untung kat aku? Modal tu la yang PNB invest kat company lain and diorang buat profit dia sendiri! Actually, we have to be proud with PNB as they are able to have that much profit for themselves while at the same time our money also grow in our trust fund. Tu la, jangan dengar comment made by those who read Malay Studies, but from business perspective. Inilah yang dimaksudkan itu duit keuntungan company tu sendiri, bukan duit I, not your money either! 

I know why this is such a big matter if we want to build something big. Let's say Mah Sing Group ke, Sunway Group ke or even SP Setia want to build 500-storey tower right in front KLCC, it's okay. Takde bising-bising ni. The project get support from Lim Kit Siang, Anwar sekalipun. Why? You like it or not, nearly all investors in PNB are Malay so when they build it, ugh mana jadi ni. Which one is better, PNB built 100-storey tower with many Malay share in it or Sunway build condos around KLCC that no Malays can buy even a square-feet of them? Jawabla. You nak beli sekaki pun  tak mampu. So, when they have PNB, I invest in the funds, the money grows and able to have my equity share in the tower, although it is very little. But, is it much better than all of the condos that only super-rich can buy? Dia PNB buat ni nak suruh kita rasa ada jugak share dekat tower tu. If I know this reason is right and absolutely true, I dare say Malays who oppose this are stupid then. It may sound harsh, but are you freaking kidding me? Unless you don't have investment in PNB-related funds. Sapa tak suruh menabung? Padan muka. Look at KLCC, who owns the stores and retails? Pak sedara Najib ke, ayah aku ke? Ke Siti Hasmah punya Zara ke tu? They all owned by the private investors who are not ....Malay! Or those who oppose ni jealous sebab dia nanti takde share dalam bangunan tu? Is saying that my race doesn't own the shops in KLCC racist? 

That's the hidden agenda from those who oppose. Melayu yang tak tahu apa-apa ni, ikutla sekali oppose biar orang nak bagi dia senang sekali pun. 

I heard these reasons/comments as well:

1. Kenapa nak membazir lagi, buat la sekolah ke, hospital ke?

2. Kenapa tak tolong pesakit kronik ke, nak buat appendix costs thousands kot!

3. Healthcare sytem pun mahal.

4. Barang-barang mahal.

Jawapan: Semua benda kat atas tu semua betul, tapi semua tak kena tempat nak jawab dengan duit tower ni. Duit RM5 billion tu sekali lagi nak diulang: BUKAN DUIT KERAJAAN! Sape yang kena buat semua kat atas tu? KERAJAAN! PNB tu KERAJAAN ke? Dia syarikat nak buat untung. Untung dia pun kita jugak yang rasa, kalau you invest la. 

Questions just out of curiosity:

1. Is Malaysia a welfare society that we need to pay for all things including those who go to private hospitals? 

2. Is Petronas money need to be used to cut subsidies only so that you can pay for cheaper goods? 

3. Are you freaking taknak berusaha and complaint je all the time although benda tu tak kan guna duit you?

4. Do you want PNB to use the RM5 billion to give to the Chinese-owned sugar companies (richest in Malaysia btw) so that we pay RM0.50 je for sugars and so we will eat more sugars and get diabetes and then we don't have money to go to Petronas-owned Prince Court Hospital, so end up in public hospital and then keep complaining? 

5. Do you want the RM5 billion spent to political drama in the party's election fiasco?

Tu je. Bye. 

-The Chukai Insider

ps: I feel more patriotic watching The Amazing Race Asia compared to any other stuffs (don't know la other stuffs).

Are books in Malaysia suppose to be expensive?

I think this is another conspiracy made by the rich in Malaysia so that the poor cannot afford to buy books. You see, if they want the poor to become poorer, they should not let any sources of knowledge to go to us. If we become more able than them in any sector, they will feel threatened. Alhamdulillah, they let us have internet although it is at freaking expensive price compared to other developed countries.

Okay, books are expensive. I don't know why is that so in Malaysia, but there are many campaigns to encourage reading in Malaysia. Well, why cannot all books sold in MPH or Kinokuniya or Popular be as cheap as those in Bookxcess. If you look at the prices of books sold in Bookxcess, you will be surprised that even at the lowest price, they still can get profits. Hey the riches of Malaysia, is it because reading is an elitist  hobby? Is reading for rich politicians to read Machiavelli's or Tsun Zu's only? Well, of not do something about it? Poor people like me cannot buy so many books. Imagine a 400 pages novel costs about RM34.90, can a student buy this if he/she has RM500 per month? Seriously, like those Malay students from rural areas  or even urban poor, RM500 are used by them to survive every month. Do you think there is any space for them to allocate RM34.90 to buy book?

Datuk Seri Najib, I know you're a book fan as well, please do something to reduce the book prices in the market. Please...
-The Chukai Insider

Budget oh Budget...

If you are in Malaysia, and if you fond of reading newspapers and online news portal, you will experience the sickness that I am having right now. Trust me, if you really read into all of the politics, economics, social welfare and the articles, you will want to see each of them and kick their asses. One by one.

What's really happening exactly? First, there is the UMNO General Assembly, the PKR Election, small elections in Kelantan and Sarawak, never-ending race debates, education standard, orang miskin and bla bla blah...

Budget 2011 which has just been announced by Prime Minister received many attentions from the public. Other topics kat atas tu..ugh, susah nak selesai. So, kalau Najib Razak baca ni, I nak bagitau perasaan I dekat Budget 2011 ni.

Benda yang I happy dalam Budget 2011:
1. Of course, being a mega-project minded person, I really really welcome the PNB Warisan Merdeka Project, the MRT Project and all of the highways. There is a lot of brouhaha about the 100-storey tower to be build, but I say go for it. Frankly speaking, the positive impacts are much better than all of the concerns that oppositions said. They all said this is like Mahathir la, they all jealous actually. My only concern is property glut, but if the ETP work out, many foreigners will come and occupy the spaces in KL. So, I pray for that.

2.The allowance of KAFA teachers, imams and JKKK all are increased. KAFA ustazahs semua dah dapat RM800, imams dapat RM750, and JKKK dapat RM800 jugak. JKKK tu yang sign borang-borang kita tu..
Bagusla bagi motivasi sikit, kita kan nak jadi high-income nation. Tapi kalu orang tu Imam and JKKK sekali macam mana? Kualiti JKKK tu kena pertingkatkan lagil biar nampak profesional, macam university graduates ke lantik la..

Yang I sangat x happy!
1. This is what I listened in UMNO General Assembly last night, ada mak cik dari Pahang ni cakap " Ingat la, UMNO ni menang banyak kat luar bandar, kat bandar kalah!". Nothing could be further from the truth. Tengok Budget ada tak specific allocations for Terengganu. What, the ECER allocations that we have to share with other states? Ugh, banyak la sangat. We, Terengganu people demand that Kerteh to be the largest oil hub in SEA! Minyak ada kat sini, dia buka terminal kat Melaka la, Port Dickson la..Kerteh? No major mega developments in Terengganu at all! Jaga-jaga next election! Kat Iskandar Johor tu macam-macam boleh buat, ni kat Terengganu amende ada? Projects tak menarik langsung!

My advice, you'd better take care of us in Terengganu really well, you don't want the 1999 episode to be back again...

-The Chukai Insider

Turkey oh Turkey...

I know you would probably have some places that you really want to go. Orang Gong Limau tu nak pergi New York, dia dah pergi dah..Orang Lot 144 tu nak pergi Niagara Falls rasanye.. Yang lain, I don't know la.

I want to go to Turkey. I don't know if it is because I am in Orhan Pamuk's dreams right now or because the place is just too beautiful; physically, historically, culturally..orang nye pun lawa, boleh buat bini.

Have you read into a book so much until you get carried away and dreamt about it in your sleep? Scary kan? Eeee, lagi-lagi masa bunuh-bunuh. Maybe because my mind has no urge to be filled with academic stuffs right now, that is why it is filled with imaginations about Turkey, particularly in Istanbul.

To my future wife, if Allah permits, and I have enough money, I want to bring you to Istanbul for honeymoon. We'll go to Hagia Sophia, the blue mosque and take lots of photos..

And of course, shopping. 

Psycho kan aku? Ni la kalu lonely, fikir nak cari bini. Moralnya, beranganla sebab tu akan membuat anda kerja keras nak capai impian anda.. Kalu minat nak pergi Turkey dengan free, bagi la proposal nak meminang. Or sebab orang Turkey lawa, aku pergi je Istanbul buat balik sorang?

-The Chukai Insider

Yong Chyn Wei, Congratulations!!!

If you are my KTJ friends, let me introduce you this young boy. His name is Yong Chyn Wei and he used to sit next to the next person to me in class. Faham  tak? Sebelah orang sebelah. Meja tu untuk 3 orang yang gila kuasa duduk kat depan kelas, Yong; Ketua ICT kot or Gossip Club; and then Amin Ketua Kelas; and then me the humblest of all..

So, this Yong got his article in NST. To all of  my friends dekat overseas tu, ni la online version Yong's article. Yang article birthday punye tak jumpe..sorry.

This Yong is very talented. Congratulations! Bangga I dengan orang Kemaman!

Btw, don't read this book. X best langsung!


-The Chukai Insider

Am I a Malay first or a Malaysian first? (Article ni tak serius, baca sampai bawah, tak serius!)

Malaysian media make brouhaha when our Deputy Prime Minister said he's a Malay first, Malaysian second. Another wave of brouhaha came when Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Aziz said this:

" I am a Malaysian first and Malay next. Does any bigot have a problem with that? "

Woo, slow down mister! Don't you see this as very interesting? If you part of my social circle, many of you would realise that I am inclined towards BN for most of time. I am still inclined towards BN/UMNO now even though I can't vote yet. However, when I felt was treated like a lab rat during PPSMI implementation, I think I have the right to tell them about my opinion. 

Hey Ministers, for so long the Governments in the world exist, they should not have differing views regarding any matter. Furthermore, this is about race you are talking about, and it's here in Malaysia. Let's say if you are Amin, Ain, Ainul, Apek, Farrah, Intan, Liyana and whoever you are in the streets who have no power at all, what would you answer to my question; Are you a Malay first or Malaysian first? Jawab jangan tak jawab.

You tanya pulak I ye? Ni I nak jawab.

1. My father is considered pure Malay from his physical look, but his family tree can be traced back to the people in Siam's Pattani.

2. My mother, who has her birth certificate saying she is a Malay, but physically she looks like a Hindustan actress! Her father came from Kerala, India( fyi, ni tempat datuk Dr.M juga ye!) and he was a Malayalam. Her mother came from Javanese island through Johor during Japanese occupation. So, I guess it became like this; Malayalam + Javanese = Melayu!

3.Ingat tak Datuk Sheikh Fadzir, yang jadi Menteri Pelancongan yang selalu ikat bow tie tak kira masa tu. You tengok muka dia macam muka orang apa? Dia Menteri UMNO. So, dia Melayu lah kan? Kalu Samy Vellu masuk Islam sebelum Merdeka dulu, mesti dia boleh masuk UMNO, tak de la tersekat jadi Works Minister lama-lama sangat! Does any bigot have a problem with that? Woo, takutnye..

4.Okay la, kalu macam tu I consider my parents are both Malay, so I'm supposedly a Malay la yek? If you look at my sisters and my brother, look at their faces. And then you go watch old P.Ramlee movies, you notice any similar faces with  my siblings. And then, you watch National Geographic documentary or Jejak Rasul ke, look at the Nepalese or the people in Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other -istans, and you can see my brother, Faizrul to be among them. Hahahaha! 

5. Let's see if I say I'm a Malaysian first, what that means? Bangsa Malaysia? Dulu belajar tapi dah tak ingat sebab our education system kan rote learning, so not my fault la. (Alasan!)

6. I speak Malay and English only..and Arabic tu kalu nak sembahyang, and banyak tak tahu maksud. So I ni Malay ke tak ni? If I am a Malaysian, I must speak rojak you know. Rojak English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. So Malaysian kan? But the Malay linguists marah you know!!! They all said ni merosakkan our Malay language!!! Tak boleh campur English dengan Melayu ni. Ma fan betul la diorang ni! Tapi kalu Waheeda nyanyi ' ma da ta gho, hakadawakada mafi aya diinaaa, tak kira masa..wasssini' tu takpe sebab dia cakap Arab.. Melayu ni kalu cakap Arab campur Melayu tu takpe. Ana anta tu tak sama ke dengan you and I? Wow, discrimination of language nampak. Ke you jealous orang boleh cakap campur English Melayu? Ke you tak nak orang Melayu cakap English sebab you nak suruh anak you all yang hantar kat International School tu je pandai cakap English biar diorang je dapat keje? Ala, takkan you tak sedar banyak anak menteri hantar luar negara biar tak pandai mana pun, asal boleh cakap English, yang bodoh kat kampung nak ajar Science and Maths dalam English tak boleh, dia tak kasi..nanti lagi pandai dari anak diorang pulak..

7. Banyak membebel kan I ni? Tu la salah satu characteristics orang Melayu, so I pun Melayu la..kan?

8. In Utusan Melayu, mufti Perak said from The Holy Al-Quran (al-Hujerat:13) that, we are all created into nations and tribes, so that we know each other. Pandai-pandaila fikir sendiri.

So, I am a Malay first and a Malaysian first too. Because without one of them, I would not be one of them.

By the way, you all dengar ke pembangkang cakap dia Malay ke Malaysian first? Orang UMNO je la yang diorang suruh cakap. Woo, panas panas kalau kita tanya Chinese, kang dia kata kita racist plak, dia tanya kita tak racist. Tanyala Ziao Dong ke Hindraf ke...

So, you Malay first, Chinese first, Indian first OR Malaysian first? Jawab jangan tak jawab!

-The Chukai Insider

Blog Layout

Since I'm in holiday mood all the time, I chose this blog template. To all of my friends, selamat study and have wonderful exam results!

To Intan, happy babysitting and we shall have good times these 4 months.

Bye bye.
-The Chukai Insider

Baca Baca Baca

Hi, lama tak jumpa...

Since I don't want to work, and my parents seem okay about that, I spend most of my time reading..Best giler!!!

This is my routine everyday:

Wake up at 9 or 10

Take shower, brush my teeth during shower and enjoying Shokubutsu's magic

Drive to Kedai Depan Pejabat Persekutuan ( I still call it Kedai Keling because the last owner was Indian and I don't really understand why the word 'keling' is very sensitive, can someone explain why???)

Buy The Star

Eat breakfast, drink Nescafe Gold while reading The Star. I tell you, I read all articles even the business section...Ekkk, wrong..ESPECIALLY the business section

Do committed reading (nampak serious sikit..).Hehehe..bestnye...

Well, that day I tried online shopping!!! I bought four books from Kinokuniya using my father's credit card. Since I use my father's credit card, Kino People contacted me and asked for approval from my father...
So, I pun create-la a Yahoo account for my father. Faidhi Yusoff a.k.a Yusoff Hasan pun hantarla email kat Kino People tu..saying that my son is allowed to use my credit card...The next day, a nice brown box arrived from... Cepat kan? Strongly recommended!!!! Tapi dalam 3 hari, dah habis 2 buku...Orhan Pamuk's..tinggal 2 lagi..

So, basically I am in a resort in Mak Chili...and I am served with great gourmet experience that increases my waistline to 33/34..

Baca Baca Baca! Buku ni best giler!!!

-The Chukai Insider