masterwordsmith-unplugged

The Guardian carried a report AT THIS LINK about some shocking news.

CLARISSA, Minn. (AP) — In 2006, an 18-year-old Minnesota man legally changed his name to Michael Jeff Landers. Six years later, authorities determined Landers was really the Indiana child who had been abducted by his paternal grandparents in 1994.

Richard Wayne Landers Jr., was reportedly abducted when he was 5 years old. The 24-year-old Michael Landers now lives in the small central Minnesota town of Browerville, the Todd County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

Sheriff Peter Mikkelson said the investigation is ongoing and the case will be forwarded to federal authorities for possible charges.

It's unclear what Landers knew about his history, but authorities said he had lived with his grandparents since birth.

According to court records, Landers applied for the name change himself in November 2006, just a couple weeks after he turned 18. The application doesn't say why he requested the change, and it wasn't immediately clear how long he had used the name Michael.

A home phone number for Landers could not be found, and he and his wife didn't respond to multiple messages sent through social networking sites.

But a posting from his Facebook account appeared Friday night on the Minneapolis television station KARE's Facebook page, saying: "For you people who jump to conclusions you should find out the whole story I was where I needed to be. My 'grandparents' were in the the right I dont care what anyone else thinks."

Landers didn't immediately respond to a follow-up message from The Associated Press seeking confirmation it was his statement. AP believes the Facebook account to be Landers' based on multiple links between it and confirmed friends and relatives.

His grandparents fled during a custody dispute with Landers' mother in July 1994 from Wolcottville, Ind., about 50 miles southeast of South Bend.

The mother and stepfather were unemployed and lived in a car, recalled John R. Russell, who spent several months investigating the disappearance with the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department in Indiana.

"These people (the grandparents) were nice people. It was wrong for them to do it, but I can understand why," Russell said. "But I also didn't think the child would be in any danger at all with them."

But an attorney for Landers' mother refuted claims that she was homeless at the time. Attorney Richard Muntz said Landers' mother, Lisa Harter, spent only three days living in a car and it was with Landers' biological father.

She had divorced Landers' father by the time the grandparents obtained custody after Harter, who has mild developmental disabilities, moved into a group home that could not accommodate children, Muntz said.

After a while, she moved into an apartment and gained custody of her son on weekends, and she filed a petition to expand her custody rights when she remarried.

"The judge gave her custody on a trial basis, and before she could get him, that's when they left," Muntz told the AP late Friday.

He said the grandparents withdrew $5,000 out of a home equity line, went out for breakfast and left town.

"The trail on this case went cold the day they disappeared. There was no trace of them after they left the restaurant," he said.

The grandparents were charged with misdemeanor interference with custody, which was bumped up to a felony in 1999. But the charge was dismissed in 2008 after the case went cold.

READ MORE HERE.

The following report written by Nicholas Wong was first published in Malaysiakini at 9.58 p.m. I did not follow the debate and only came across this article at midnight.

Debate 2.0: Better, but much more of the same


Barely five months after what was probably the nation’s first ever political debate on live television, the Chua Soi Lek-Lim Guan Eng rematch in English has been the most anticipated face-off in recent times.

Kicking off at 2.30pm at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today, the duel saw Lim eagerly showing off Pakatan Rakyat’s achievements while Chua set his sights on discrediting the opposition coalition’s policies, taking an offensive stance while trumpeting MCA’s own previous achievements.

However it looked to be more of the same from the very start, with Chua indulging in his familiar ‘pitting the Chinese against the Chinese’ argument against DAP, while Lim relied on his well-worn blaring of Penang’s successes.

But the MCA chief and the Penang chief minister both eventually got around to offering a little more substance in terms of discussing ‘whose policies benefit the country more’, the title of the debate.

Despite this, the hour-and-a-half session was mostly rhetoric and political chest-thumping.

And while last week’s back-and-forth in the media between Chua and Lim on the latter’s alleged affair did not carry over into the debate, the heated exchanges today suggest the fight is not over.

Adding to this was the noisy audience, who were disappointingly rowdy at times. Thankfully, with no microphones near them and only written question from the floor accepted, no new Ms Tow Truck emerged.

What resulted was a debate that was a step up from the first round, but still some way off from showing Malaysia to be the truly mature democracy that it aspires to be.


Round 1: The kickoff

A coin-flip saw Lim taking the microphone first, where he launched right into political attack mode against MCA, calling them “unqualified” to debate on policies, as Umno is the party calling the shots.

Not one to lose out, Chua hit back citing MCA’s 60-year history of nation building, belittling DAP’s habit of sourcing public donations without offering accountability on how the money was spent, suggesting that they should use the funds to establish a kindergarten in Penang instead.

Round 2: Moderator reins in debate

Michael Yeo, chairperson of the event organisers Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) then took his turn to pose the duo questions.

Both were asked their parties’ efforts in expanding their traditional base; for the MCA it was the urban middle-class voters, and for the DAP the non-Chinese voters.

Rather than taking the opportunity to show off MCA’s present-day efforts, Chua chose to rely on the party’s past record, like the setting up of Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC).

Lim was little better at staying on topic, delighting in hitting back at Chua on the TARC issue after responding to Yeo’s other question as to whether DAP was truly multiracial.

It was akin to watching two opposing ceramahs in the same room. Both sides chose to throw verbal blows at each other rather than win over the other side or latch onto the topic of policies.

Round 3: The panel’s turn to ask

After a five-minute break, the panel comprising MCA vice-president Chor Chee Heung, Rocketkini’s chief editor Wan Hamidi Hamid and Asli representative James Chin of Monash University’s School of Social Sciences took their turns to pose questions.

Expectedly, Chua sidestepped Wan Hamidi’s question if MCA is afraid of standing up to Umno, instead turning it into an attack on Pakatan.

Lim was no better, evading Chor’s poser on Pakatan’s minimum income plan in favour of jumping on the latter’s question that mentioned the government’s RM26 billion in leakages.

"This is the first time I hear a minister admitting that corruption is costing the government RM26 billion," quipped Lim.

James Chin, the independent panellist, posed both speakers an excellent question on their parties’ approach to the contentious New Economic Policy (NEP).

Lim took the usual opposition line of blaming the policy as ineffective in uplifting the Malay community, but did not offer any concrete suggestions on a replacement policy.

Chua, on the other hand, interestingly admitted that the NEP has been “hijacked”, but failed to capitalise on a possible fresh talking point when he did not elaborate.

And while both speakers predictably sidestepped the questions from the partisan panellists, it was again disappointing to see them offer little to no substance on the NEP issue, especially considering the debate’s intended focus.

Round 4: Posers from the floor

Some respite from the rhetoric thankfully came when questions from the floor were fielded. Asked about education policies, Lim stressed an “equal opportunities” policy and zeroed in on English language standards, proposing that the subject be made a compulsory pass in SPM.

Chua offered no solutions either and turned the tables on the “brain drain” frequently cited by the opposition with a disingenuous reply calling it a testimony that Malaysians are marketable internationally.

The closing remarks round finally saw some debate on policy, with both sides trumpeting their respective policies and heaping scorn on the other. Chua touted Felda’s recent public listing being “the second largest in the world” as a sign of Malaysia’s robust economy, but his boast that all the ports in Malaysia have been privatised except for Penang Port probably will not win him points.

Predictably Chua took his last shot at DAP’s attitude towards dissent, succumbing to the temptation of working in Lim’s supposed affair.

“I heard from the press in Penang that you cannot mention one person’s name, or DAP leaders will threaten to sue,” he quipped.

Lim fired back rattling off another list of Penang’s successes, including its low cost housing project, its designation as the country’s most “liveable” city and its debt reduction under Pakatan.

In an attempt at sophistication he even quoted Thomas Jefferson: "When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

In all, the exchanges while characterised by the usual mudslinging from both sides, nevertheless did see the speakers highlighting and defending their parties’ policies.

The aftermath

However, this was with no thanks to the audience, who cheered and jeered liberally as the debaters either pandered to or angered them.

And while both leaders commendably avoided dragging their recent spat over the ‘other woman’ into the fray, their supporters were not as kind, with MCA’s camp (right) chanting “Xiao Hong” (the name of the lady involved in the rumour) and “CD” (in reference to Chua’s sex video scandal) marring the end of the debate.

Both sides were guilty of misbehaviour, with random supporters from either side jeering loudly at times before being told off by officials on the floor.

In closing the event, Yeo thanked both speakers for being “eloquent” in the debate; and while he may be correct, the same sadly cannot be said for the sharply partisan crowd.

The following article is by Nigel Aw of Malaysiakini.

Photos are by King Chai of Loyar Burok.

A Twitter dare turned into a vibrant debate session on the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 between Kedah Gerakan youth chief Tan Keng Liang and prominent human rights lawyer Edmund Bon.

Held at the Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur before a packed audience of about 100, Tan faced an audience mostly ‘hostile’ to his points defending the Bill.


Tan feels it is alright for the government to ban street protests, but this must come with a proper definition of designated protest areas.

"The view from Gerakan is to fight for more designated areas, this is something the government has not announced yet.

"I believe we can work together on this to request more places in every state including Putrajaya; why can't we have it in Putrajaya? This is the centre of power," he said.

Pointing out that no police permit was required at designated areas, he added his view that this is a better alternative as street protests were no longer "viable" in a civilised society with the advent of Facebook and Twitter.

"In the 60s and 70s, there was no other way to bring out people's views; going to a street protest was the best option at that time but we have evolved, now is the age of technology,” he said.

Tan was rebutting an earlier point made by Bon who explained that street protests was a necessary instrument for democracy, citing how Onn Jaafar had led 15,000 people to demonstrate against the Malayan Union before Independence.

Sabotuers vs the 99 percent

While acknowledging that Malaysians have generally been well behaved in street protests, Tan adds that there has always been the possibility protestors may take advantage of the demonstration to cause problems.

"I trust Bon, I believe he will be well behaved in a street demonstration, but you don't know if anyone will try to take advantage of him," he quipped.

He stressed that it only takes one percent of bad hats in a protest to cause things to go awry. Therefore, he said the ban on street protests was justified, based on the interest of non-protesters

However, Bon replied pointing out that the 99 percent others need not be dictated by the one percent as there are several existing laws to deal with the scenario, including the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

"But if the government and police refuse to do their job and are politically partisan, what can we do?

"We can just be peaceful... It is the clampdown by the institutions that make our peaceful assembly violent."

Street protests, Bon adds, is more effective in creating exposure about a cause, such as an anti-domestic abuse march or cancer awareness march, than a static rally.

'BN ignored us, Pakatan walked out'



The debate today was moderated by Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan and is a culmination of exchanges on Twitter over the Bill.

While Tan and Bon were at odds over the legislation, they agreed that the MPs had let the rakyat down.

"We have 222 MPs in Parliament but they do not listen to you, some of the MPs just walked out, and the other MPs totally ignored the alternative bill (proposed by the Bar Council).

"We need to start making the roles of politicians extinct as mere administrators, (in that) for every law (they propose) they must come back and consult the people. That is people power," said Bon.

"I have said certain things that may be sensitive but he (Bon) did not stage a walkout," quipped Tan.

None of them is explained yet, here are some facts about each of them. Thanks oo Angela who sent me this post.

1. The mighty Incan Empire of South America

The mighty Incan Empire of South America flourished between 1200 and 1535 AD. They developed drainage systems and canals to expand their crops, and built stone cities atop steep mountains — such as Machu Picchu (above) — without ever inventing the wheel. Despite their vast achievements, the Incan Empire with its 40,000 manned army was no match for 180 Spanish conquistadors armed with advanced weapons and smallpox.


2. Ancient Pyramids in Giza , Egypt

Khafre (l.) and Khufu (r.) are two of the three ancient Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. Khufu is the biggest, consisting of more than 2 million stones with some weighing 9 tons. The Pyramids, built as elaborate tombs for divine kings, date back to 2,550 BC. Modern Egyptologists believe that the Pyramids are made from stones dragged from quarries and, despite ancient Greek testimony, were built predominantly by skilled craftsmen rather than slave labor.


3. The Mayan Temple

According to the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar, made famous by the ancient Mayan people, December 2012 marks the ending of the current baktun cycle. This little bit of information has many archeologists spooked. Some believe the Mayans were warning of a coming apocalypse, while others insist it’s simply a mathematical misconception.


4. The Legend of El Dorado

The Legend of El Dorado originates from the Muisca, who lived in the modern country of Colombia from 1000 to 1538 AD. In a ritual ceremony for their goddess, the tribal chief would cover himself in gold dust and jump into a lake as an offering. This spawned the legend of a lost golden city, which led Spanish conquistadors on a wild goose chase to nowhere.


5. Easter Island

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is remotely located 2,000 miles off the coast of Tahiti . The original settlers of the island were Polynesians who migrated to the far-off land between 400 and 600 BC. They built many shrines and statues, called moai, from stones quarried throughout the island including a volcano site. Researchers still question exactly how the large stones were moved.


6. The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle — located in the Atlantic between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico — is a thief, stealing planes and boats right out of existence. The area got its name after Sgt. Howell Thompson (l.), along with 27 Navy airmen, vanished from the devilish spot during a routine flight in 1945. Rumors persist on a supernatural explanation, but many specialists blame hurricanes, a heavy Gulf Stream and human error.


7. The Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines cover more than 190 square miles in the southern deserts of Peru. The mysterious shapes etched into the land rival football fields and predate the Incan Empire. The ‘Las Manos’ figure (above) is 2,000 years old. Little is know about why the Nazca people constructed such vast pieces of sand art, some believe they are extraterrestrial in nature, while others claim they may have carried and pointed to sources of water.


8. Aliens
Area 51, located on Groom Lake in southern Nevada (c.), was founded in 1955 by the U.S. Air Force to develop and test new aircrafts – such as the U-2 Spy Plane, A-12 Blackbird and F-117 Stealth Fighter. The secretive nature of the military base, combined with its classified aircraft research, helped conspiracy theorists imagine an installation filled with time-travel experimentation, UFO coverups and alien autopsies.


9. Sphinx of Giza, Egypt
Another Egyptian wonder, the Sphinx of Giza has the body of a lion and the head of a Pharaoh, believed by most to be that of king Khafre. It was carved from soft limestone, and has been slowly falling apart over the years. A popular theory of the missing nose claims Napoleon’s soldiers shot it off with a cannon in 1798, but early sketches discovered of the Sphinx without a nose predate Napoleon’s rampage.

10. The Loch Ness Monster
According to Scottish folklore, a mystical creature called a water horse lures small children to a watery grave by tricking them to ride on its sticky back. The Loch Ness Monster became an English wonder in 1933, after witness accounts made newspaper headlines. No hard evidence of the creature has ever been recorded with several pictures, including the one above, being proven as hoaxes.



11. The Fountain of Youth
Don Juan Ponce de Leon completed Spain’s claim on America in 1509, and soon after was made governor of Puerto Rico. Six years later, following Indian rumors, he traveled north to the island of Bimini in search of the Fountain of Youth. Bimini turned out to be the peninsula of Florida, and the fountain remained hidden until July 2006, when famed magician David Copperfield claimed the waters on his $50 million Exumas Island (c.) had healing properties.


12. Chupacabra
Phylis Canion holds the head of what she is calling a Chupacabra at her home in Cuero, Tex. The strange-looking animal, first reported in Puerto Rico in 1995, apparently has a taste for chicken and goat blood. Although many pictures like the above might prove its existence, biologists assure no such creature exists.



13. The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as a wooden casket, gold plated, made for carrying the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The casket was carried throughout the desert and remained in the Israelite Temple until its destruction by the hand of the Babylonian Empire. Its whereabouts are still unknown, but Hollywood made its own version for ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark. ’



14. The Stonehenge
The Stonehenge landscape of Salisbury Plain, England, has become a tourist hotspot. But before foreigners with windbreakers and cameras showed up, the area may have been a burial ground and ceremonial den dating back 5,000 years.


15. The Iron Pillar of Delhi
The Iron Pillar of Delhi is a 1,600-year-old, 22 feet high pillar located in the Qutb complex in India. The pillar, made from 98% wrought iron, has been astounding scientists by its ability to resist corrosion after all these years.


16. Stone Spheres in Costa Rica
Discovered in the early 1940s in Costa Rica during excavations by the United Fruit Company, these perfectly formed stone spheres date from 600 AD to the 16th century. Their makers and purpose still unconfirmed, many believe them to be some religious effigy made to worship the sun.



17. Mothman
A humanoid with insect wings and crimson eyes, known as the Mothman, terrorized Point Pleasant, W.Va., during the late 1960s. No solid evidence exists of the creature, except for a handful of witness reports documented in paranormal-journalist John A Keel’s ‘Mothman Prophecies’.


18. Jersey Devil
According to legend, 250 years ago a Jersey woman by the name of Mrs. Leeds cried out in despair during her 13th pregnancy, ‘Let it be the Devil!’ After childbirth, the baby was revealed to be a kangaroo-like creature with wings, and flew away to cause all sorts of Jersey Devil mischief. Today the Jersey Devil can be seen getting fans riled up during local hockey games.



19. The Tunguska Explosion of Russia
The Tunguska Explosion in Russia occurred around 7:14 a.m. on June 30, 1908. To this date, the exact cause of the explosion – which leveled 80 million trees over 830 square miles – remains a heated debate. Most believe it to be caused by a meteoroid fragment, others insist either a black hole or UFO origin.


20. The Lost City of Atlantis
The Lost City of Atlantis was introduced to the West 2,400 years ago by Plato, who claimed it to be the island home of an advanced society. Legend says it was sunk by an earthquake, with later interpretations as an underwater kingdom protected by mermaids. It's whereabouts still a mystery, recent underwater evidence suggests it was once apart of a larger landmass in Cyprus off the Mediterranean (c.), but the only true Atlantis exists in the Bahamas as a grand casino and resort hotel.

An article in The Star by Seah Chiang Nee (whose column I have been faithfully following for many years) wrote:

MANY years ago when the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was on a visit to a developing Asian country, he received a last hour request for a meeting with the host leader.


As an accompanying journalist, I was alerted to it by the screaming police sirens when Lee returned an hour later.

This was in the 70s.


I asked the PM later what that was about, and he said, off the record, that the host PM had wanted to hear first-hand how Singapore – the world’s new nation – had organised itself from scratch.


Lee had told him that a nation of three million people would need at least seven or eight like-minded capable leaders for the Cabinet.


And it had to be supported by an outer ring of at least 20 or 30 top civil servants who were dedicated and corruption-free, such as permanent secretaries, police chief, etc, Lee added.


Since then, he seldom stopped talking about good leaders....

 .....

Between now and 2016 (and beyond) if the PAP fails to gather people more capable and passionate than its rivals, it will be eventually replaced.

In recent times, Singaporeans have regularly lamented that the quality of political leadership since Lee’s generation has declined – despite higher education and richer rewards.

Would Singapore have a better standard of living today if it were governed by the first generation leaders? CLICK HERE for the rest of the article.

Another article in The Malaysian Insider said:

Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, 87, and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, 69, announced today their decision to retire from the Cabinet and leave government entirely to the younger generation of ministers.

Lee, who has been part of Singapore’s government since 1965, and Goh, who succeeded him as prime minister in 1990, announced in a joint statement that they were opting out of government since last week’s general election signalled the emergence of a new generation.

Both men were returned to parliament in the poll. CLICK HERE for the unexpected joint press statement.

Wow!



In Malaysia, some who have SUPPOSEDLY retired, are even more active, influential and vocal than when they were in office! When will they REALLY retire and ride into the sunset to enjoy their twilight years?

Food for thought.

My good friend, Freddie, just sent me the following post via email which I would like to share with you. I am not sure with regards to its authenticity but I can imagine the trauma that Nathan must have experienced! Take care and have a nice day!

When southern Florida resident Nathan Radlich's house was burglarized recently, thieves ignored his wide screen plasma TV, his VCR, and even left his Rolex watch. What they did take, however, was a generic white cardboard box filled with a greyish-white powder.

(That's the way the police report described it.)

A spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale police said that it looked similar to high-grade cocaine and they'd probably thought they'd hit the big time.

Later, Nathan stood in front of numerous TV cameras and pleaded with the burglars, "Please return the cremated remains of my sister, Gertrude. She died three years ago."



The next morning, the bullet-riddled corpse of a local drug dealer known as Hoochie Pevens was found on Nathan' doorstep. The cardboard box was there too; about half of Gertrude's ashes remained.

Scotch-taped to the box was this note which said: "Hoochie sold us the bogus blow, so we wasted Hoochie. Sorry we snorted your sister. No hard feelings. Have a nice day."

And you thought California was the land of fruits, flakes and nuts!

Last night, Bloomberg reported HERE that an Indonesian terrorist killed last week was planning to attack a train station in Singapore’s main shopping district, the Straits Times reported, citing a senior Indonesian police investigator familiar with the matter.

The report said:

Singapore’s Orchard train station was circled on a map of the city-state’s rail network found at the home of Ahmad Sayid Maulana, who was shot during a raid in East Jakarta on May 12, the newspaper said, citing the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Singapore’s Internal Security Department sent a team to Jakarta to discuss the findings with Indonesia’s police, the nation’s Home Affairs Ministry said in an e-mailed statement.

“We are aware of the items recovered and the speculations and possibilities that the terrorists could have been planning an attack against Singapore, and we are investigating,” the ministry said. “We should also keep in mind that Singapore has been and remains a target for terrorists and we must always maintain our vigilance.”

Police also found a map of the General Santos International Airport in Mindanao, southern Philippines, and 11,517 Malaysian ringgit ($3,550) at Maulana’s house, the report said.

In sharp contrast, The Star reported HERE today:

Three suspected Islamic militants were arrested Thursday as Indonesian counterterrorism police continued raids against alleged members of a new terrorist group.

National police spokesman Brig. Gen. Zainuri Lubis said the men arrested Thursday in the Central Java town of Sukoharjo are suspected of belonging to al-Qaida in Aceh, a terrorist group whose training camp was raided in February.

"We suspect that they are linked to several bombings in Indonesia," Lubis said.

The men were flown to the national police detention center in the capital, Jakarta, for further investigation.

Police seized two assault rifles, a revolver, a pistol disguised as a pen, thousands of bullets, bulletproof vests and several books about jihad from their home.

At least 19 suspects have been arrested in the last week in an anti-terrorism crackdown that comes ahead of the anticipated June visit by President Barack Obama.

Those killed Wednesday included Saptono, who goes by a single name, a suspect in the 2004 attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, and Ahmad Maulana, who is said to have received militant training in the southern Philippines.

Police are still identifying the three others.

Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, has been engaged in a long battle against militant extremist groups.

In February it broke up a paramilitary training camp in western Indonesia run by the previously unknown al-Qaida in Aceh, a splinter of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian terror group blamed for deadly bombings here in recent years.

Read both reports carefully (or even the many other reports HERE or even the TAIPEH TIMES or AFP report HERE) and you may notice a startling fact.

I find the news very disturbing and pray that peace will prevail and that there will be no more terrorist attacks anywhere.

I called my former student in Bangkok last night and she was in tears as she told me what she saw and how she escaped safely. I pray that Thais will be able to find a peaceful solution to their conflict.

May we always treasure peace, safety and security in our nation and may we work towards bridging the divide and not worsening it.

If you feel that life has been too good to you and you want to get a dose of depression, all you have to do is to click onto any independent online news portal and your bubble of joy can burst quite easily. Life is not all hunky dory in this land, not when the status quo still has its roots deep in the ground.

Malaysiakini announced HERE that Padang Serai parliamentarian N Gobalakrishnan was has been found guilty of obstructing the police in an incident that occured more than eight years ago - in January, 2002. After he was charged at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court in Penang, he was handed down a fine of RM3,000, or in default, a six- month jail term.

According to Malaysiakini:

There is some concern that if he pays the fine without getting a stay of execution first, he could be disqualified as MP and the Election Commission could declare his seat vacant, paving the way for another by-election.

Elected MP two years ago

Gobalakrishnan, a member of PKR's supreme council, said he would nevertheless appeal the decision to the higher courts.

On Jan 29, 2002, he was arrested after questioning the actions of the police in preventing 30 Keadilan (now PKR) supporters from dancing during a Thaipusam celebration in Georgetown.

The police said he had obstructed the police officers concerned from discharging their duties.

Gobalakrishnan was elected MP for Padang Serai in Kedah in 2008 general election.

He was barred from entering Sarawak on Wednesday where he was to help opposition Pakatan Rakyat in the Sibu by-election campaign.

Known as a firebrand and no stranger to controversy, Gobalakrishnan has a number of court cases pending, mostly for alleged illegal assembly.

Let's consider what Gobalakrishnan's offence. He was charged because he questioned the police in preventing 30 Keadilan (now PKR) supporters from dancing during a Thaipusam celebration in Georgetown. So one can get fined for questioning the police and for obstructing them from carrying out their duties. Is such an act considered an offence that merits a RM3000 fine? For any minor offence,the fine should be only RM 300.

Considering the fact that the offence took place in 2002, it has taken the courts eight years to make a decision about the case. And why the delayed response?

One by one PKR MPs seem to be falling down in a precipitated motion like the Domino effect. The grip of the enemy is tightening while PKR's hold on its seats is loosening.

What may happen next?

The Malay Mail reported HERE that Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament, Wee Choo Keong is set to quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat. He has been vocal against Pakatan Rakyat leadership and embroiled in major criticisms against the party's motives and reportedly said that he felt compelled because of principles.

One by one they are falling and it seems that such developments have a tendency to happen just before a by-election polling day. And why?

So, who's next to walk to the exit?

As for the rest of us, I reckon we have been so numbed by such developments that we are either in stupor or busy griping away. Whatever it is, I have blogged many times about the need for PKR to get its house in order. And it had better do so before everything comes a-tumbling down.

When I first heard the news about the double page NYT advertisement featuring the PM's wife, I thought that private individuals or companies had paid for it because it seemed ridiculous that any government would use public funds for an advertisement that would easily run over RM1 million! Imagine my horror when I came across this report in THE NUT GRAPH that confirmed that the recent two-page spread, was placed on behalf of the Malaysian government!!! Yes, you read me loud and clear. It was spent using your money, my money - The RAKYAT'S MONEY!!

According to The Nut Graph:

In an e-mail response to questions from The Nut Graph, the New York Times said: "The advertisement was placed by an ad agency on behalf of the Malaysian government."

The response from New York Times executive director of community affairs and media relations, Diane McNulty, reveals that the ad was not placed by private individuals, as suggested by the last line in the ad's congratulatory message.

McNulty, however, declined to disclose how much the ad cost, saying the company never discusses the cost of an individual ad as there are many variables and rates involved. These include the kind of schedule the ad purchaser has with the company, as well as the advertising category it falls within.

However, research on previous full-page ads taken out in the New York Times suggests that the cost of such advertisements ranges from US$180,000 to US$230,000. This amounts to between RM580,000 and RM740,000 for a one-page ad.

A two-page colour spread such as the one featuring Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor is expected to cost far more. CLICK HERE for more.

In this information era, there is rapid, global diffusion of information, ideas and practices that empower us to demand higher standards of ethics, transparency and accountability in the public sector. The rakyat work hard to earn a living and we pay our taxes with the hope that tax revenue is used for public goods for the greater good of the nation - NOT FOR DOUBLE PAGE ADVERTISEMENTS elevating ONE PERSON for reasons unknown to the rakyat and for benefits that do not reach them either!

Is it justified that such an outrageous sum of money was spent this way? Think of what could have been done for the rakyat with that sum of money including hospitals, roads, supply of basic amenities, scholarships for deserving scholars, improvements to schools, research, housing for the poor and needy and so much more!!! My heart breaks at the thought of the opportunity cost of that decision to spend THAT OBSCENE sum on what? A double-paged advertisement in New York Times. That is an INSANE LEAKAGE from our circular flow of income. And the government has the audacity to tell us that they are going to impose the GST soon!!! Why spend so much and then tax the rakyat MORE???? Tell me! Is this fair? Is it justified? And they talk about KPI.

All we are asking for when we cast our vote in the ballot box is GOOD GOVERNANCE and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT via responsible public policy, responsible public expenditure not forgetting integrity, transparency and accountability in the public sector performance. The lack of accountability in the use of public funds impedes economic development, undermines stability and erodes trust in public institutions. And who pays the price? All these are borne by those the least able to do so: the poor (because they will not be getting the social goods that could have been disbursed to them) and the tax payers who are the ones paying taxes - in short - every single one of us!!!

The rakyat must demand a public service that is accountable, responsive, service-oriented and free of corruption in our quest for good governance. The government has a moral responsibility to explain:

• WHY this amount was spent
• WHO gave permission for this obscene amount of public funds to be spent this way
• WHICH department disbursed the income

More than ever, Malaysia desperately needs a code of ethics and disciplinary procedures that can set the framework for an honest, responsible public service . The time has come for our MPs to fight for the implementation of legislation and regulations that will clarify public servants’ rights and duties and create a strong integrity framework, prohibiting any form of such absurd expenditure, the receipt of gifts and defining the limits of acceptable political activity.

Equally important would be our civil servants who MUST be imbued with an esprit de corps, who are committed to serve the public interest responsibly, diligently and fearlessly! We need indicators and safeguards for stronger performance and accountability. We need to define benchmarks and indicators of results against which public service and staff at all levels can be held accountable for any misappropriation of funds. Think of the Auditor-General's Report and the damning revelations that are announced each year. What happens after that????

We need indicators and safeguards for stronger performance and accountability. We need to define benchmarks and indicators of results against which public service and staff at all levels can be held accountable for any misappropriation of funds. Think of the Auditor-General's Report and the damning revelations that are announced each year. What happens after that????

Let's face it. When public funds are misspent, it is the rakyat who have the most to lose through the deterioration of public services and detrimental effects on economic growth.

The rot has to stop here!!!! Someone and not the rakyat has to foot this bill!!! Rakyat, PLEASE SPEAK UP!!! Speak to your MPs, ADUNs and voice your feelings via legitimate means.

The government has a moral responsibility to publish and disseminate information to foster accountability in the public service and they can begin with a disclosure about this advertisement to confirm if indeed this is true or not. A better informed public can be more confident in the government if they know what is being done in their name and with their resources.

NGOs and independent bodies must conduct Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys to know how our money is being spent. Audits must be done on a quarterly basis and not annually! I propose that Budget Books, Quarterly Budget Execution Reports and other accounting information should be made available to lawmakers who can then disseminate information to the rakyat upon request.

I am no financial expert but a plain and simple housewife who hopes and dreams of a better nation for you, me, my family and my descendants. My heart bleeds today. I am hurting. I cry for the poor, the elderly, single parents, the handicapped and those who need financial assistance. Imagine what they could have done with the money that was allegedly spent...the money that was your money, my money - the rakyat's money!!

Please leave a comment to share your thoughts/views on this matter. Do give some suggestions and hopefully, there can be a group that can take this up and draft some proposals for the government. I know it is a very remote possibility that they can act on our suggestions but we have to be pro-active and think of ways to combat this cancer. Lambasting is only a temporary release of our frustration. We need to go beyond that and think of constructive ways to monitor public expenditure.

The rot has to stop NOW!!!

Thanks for reading. Take care and have a great day!

Just after 3p.m. this afternoon, Syed Jaymal Zahiid of The Malaysian Insider reported that Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali claimed Datuk Seri Najib Razak has agreed to attend a Bumiputera economic congress organised by the conservative Malay Consultative Council (MPM).

According to that report:

The independent Pasir Mas MP said the prime minister will also accept the resolutions of the congress which among others, will address the concerns of Bumiputera businesses under his neo-liberal New Economic Model (NEM).

Najib’s attendance will be made just a few weeks ahead of the much anticipated full NEM report release under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

The new model aims to open up the market from the Bumiputera quota system which economists say is much to blame for nation’s ailing economy.

The MPM is an umbrella group of some 80 organisations pressing for Najib to stick to Malay rights that they feel are guaranteed under the Federal Constitution. The prime minister has said those rights will not be affected by the NEM which aims for a high-income nation.

More to follow

Well, this is certainly a very interesting development. Let us not forget that Perkasa was founded by independent Pasir Mas, MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali, to ensure that Malay rights are not sidelined in an NEM which promotes meritocracy and free markets. The NGO claims to have attracted thousands of members, though largely from Umno.

An earlier report by Shazwan Mustafa Kamal said that Perkasa's economic bureau chief, Dr Zubir Harun noted the Malays would still require help from the government under the NEM to ensure their success. Perkasa intends to send a list of proposed amendments and considerations for the NEM to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the end of this month. It was reported then that Perkasa was putting pressure on the Najib administration to include affirmative action in the New Economic Model (NEM), in the form of a “blue ocean strategy” for Malays, to even out the economic disparity between them and other races.

So what's cooking in the cauldron of complex conundrums in the form of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HIDE kind of symbiotic relationship?

I don't know about you but I am quite tired of sandiwara or modern comedic tragedies. Let's hope our MPs will respond accordingly to whatever is dished out in the near future.

What's up, pussy cat? Well, we know that Perkasa and Datuk Ibrahim Ali are no pussy cats! In another report by Malaysiakini HERE which was posted at 3.54pm, Datuk Ibrahim Ali 'suggested that the parliamentary immunity in the Dewan Rakyat to be revoked so that all elected representatives will be more responsible in their speeches especially when making accusations against others. This statement was made in response to accusations by opposition MP Saifuddin Nasution (Machang) that he owned shares in gambling business. The report said that Ibrahim sent a legal letter to Saifuddin yesterday asking him to withdraw the accusations made in Parliament or face a legal action.

With such developments, pne can speculate and wonder while others may already know what's in the pipeline. CLICK HERE to enjoy Tom Jones' rendition of WHAT'S UP, PUSSY CAT?

Do leave a comment to share your thoughts/views. Thanks! Have a great day!

The following article was sent to me via email and is extracted from THIS LINK. Please watch THIS EXCELLENT VIDEO CLIP. Think about the deep implications of this revelation and leave a comment to share your thought/views. Thanks.

How queen gets last word on UK election

After an election that left no party with a clear majority, the final decision over who becomes Britain's next prime minister could lie in the hands of one woman who never votes: The queen.

As a head of state, Queen Elizabeth has numerous traditional roles when it comes to elections and government, yet these are usually no more than ceremonial.

However, as with Thursday's vote that saw the opposition Conservatives secure more seats than Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party but not enough to form a working government, the queen's position becomes more complicated.

The queen is the embodiment of Britain's constitutional monarchy and everything is done in her name. No laws can be passed nor parliaments opened or dissolved without her approval.

Such strict protocols bind all stages of the process to install a new prime minister -- often with a pomp and grandeur far removed from the boisterous world of British politics.

The 2006 film "The Queen" offered insight into this when Helen Mirren, playing the monarch, invites a nervous and kneeling Tony Blair to become prime minister after his 1997 landslide victory.

In her six decade reign, Queen Elizabeth has dealt with 11 prime ministers, including Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, who reputedly had a tense relationship with the monarch during the weekly audiences that are also a traditional necessity.

Typically, although it is her role to anoint prime ministers, the queen does not get involved in the political process, remaining above the fray.

After an election, the queen will wait to see if the current prime minister gets a majority or assembles a coalition before inviting them to form a government. Only if they admit defeat and resign can she start to look elsewhere.

As negotiations to form a coalition progress, the queen will be kept informed from a distance, avoiding any direct involvement in the decision.

A high level group including her private secretary and the Cabinet secretary will brief her, but she will not be drawn into controversy.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the entry. Thanks!

At 2.34pm, theStar reported HERE that a tsunami alert was issued by Indonesian authorities, after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded near Aceh province in northern Sumatra on Sunday afternoon.

The Malaysian authorities have not issues any statement yet but I guess Penangites and those living in the coastal area had better take note and stay away from the beach.

According to Damien Pearse of Skyline News Online:

The quake struck at a depth of 18 miles, southwest of Meulaboh district at just before 6am (GMT), according to the local Meteorological and Geophysics agency.

"A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," a spokesman for the United States Geological Survey said.

"However there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a hundred kilometers from the earthquake epicentre."

The Star online will update when they get news and I will update here as well. In the mean time, stay safe! Have a nice day!

Thanks to Wits0, I was alerted to this article written by Manirajan Ramasamy and Barry Porter at THIS LINK about how Malaysia may sell 10-year dollar denominated bonds in June, its first overseas debt offering in almost eight year. The information was disclosed by a finance ministry official with knowledge of the plan.

The article said:

The amount of notes to be offered will be in the region of “billions” of dollars, said the official, who declined to be identified because the deal is still being finalized. Europe’s debt crisis isn’t a concern to the Malaysian government, he said.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said April 6 that Malaysia may sell Islamic bonds, securities that comply with the religion’s ban on paying or receiving interest, in the U.S. currency. The official commenting today didn’t disclose if the sale will be of the sukuk type.

Malaysia last sold overseas notes in July 2002, issuing $600 million of five-year sukuk bonds. A new sovereign will provide a new benchmark for pricing international debt in Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy as the nation diversifies sourcing to finance a budget deficit that was 7 percent of gross domestic product in 2009, the widest in 22 years. CLICK HERE for more.

I am very surprised at the many sudden developments. Just two days ago, the government indicated it plans to go ahead with the eventual introduction of the unpopular Goods and Services Tax (GST). I blogged about that HERE.

Today, Malaysian Insider reported HERE that the government confirmed yesterday that it was considering awarding a licence for sports betting ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in June, in what is seen as a move to boost flagging revenues.

And now, Bloomberg has released this report about the proposed sale of 10-year dollar denominated bonds. My question is - are we in such dire straits that the authorities have to resort to such measures to fill the coffers? If indeed we ware scrapping the bottom, then why did they go footloose and fancy free during the HS by-election? Will the same pattern of disbursing millions occur at the forthcoming by-election and will the rakyat be the ones to pay for it through our noses?

Will there come a time when our wallets are so light that we can practically see it floating away from our pockets before our very eyes ?

Note that there is absolutely no mention of the objective of the proposed sale of these bonds in the article.

If indeed Malaysia’s "economic indicators are very strong now" (as stated in the report), what is the real and genuine purpose of the sale of these bonds? Do they expect us to believe this blinkered view and hope that the public will buy this story to help THEM to raise $$$$ and then to give them the license to blow it away at by-election after by-election?

WOULD YOU BUY THIS BOND????

So do you think we are in dire straits? When will our leaders face reality and tell us the truth?

Or is it such a painful disclosure that they would rather avoid?

In 2001, one of the essay questions that my A-Level students had to debate during my General Paper classes was whether lotteries should be legalized. Then, the only one who supported the motion was a Singaporean (who went on to study law at King's College). Nine years later, I cannot believe that this topic is a national issue as reported HERE by Malaysian Insider:

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have slammed a proposal to legalise sports betting, accusing the government of prioritising profit over social well-being.

The government confirmed yesterday that it was considering awarding a licence for sports betting ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in June, in what is seen as a move to boost flagging revenues.

PR leaders said they had long anticipated this move and had started an anti-gambling task force to pressure the government against legalising the vice.

They contend that legalising sports betting would have a negative social impact.

DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke said rumours the government was mulling the move had reached him a while back and this was raised in Parliament at the March sitting.

No answer was given then, said Loke, who leads the pact’s anti-gambling task force.

“This move shows that the government works in secrecy. There was never any consultation with the public and I am sure that the public would have a different opinion on the issue,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin told reporters in Parliament yesterday that legal football betting was being considered to contain the expected spread of illegal betting activities during the World Cup.

However, PR leaders have viewed the move as a means to replenish drying state coffers.

“The government is very desperate to raise its revenue to bridge the wide deficit gap,” Loke remarked.

“But what they are doing is encouraging gambling in society, especially among the young. More people will get into gambling, which will spill into more social problems like the spurring of loan sharks. It will tear apart the social fabric,” he added.

PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had compromised its own morality by agreeing to legalise sports betting.

“I question what is in the conscience of (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) and especially all the muftis who are backing the BN government.

“In one breath, he is portraying this virtuous image, but on the other, he is allowing what then-premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had to put on hold,” said Dzulkefly, who sits on the task force on behalf of PAS.

Najib has been tapping gaming companies to boost revenue for the government since before he became prime minister in April last year.

A month after Najib assumed the Finance Ministry portfolio in September 2008, the government stealthily awarded an additional 10 special draws a year to three gaming companies, in a move to boost flagging government revenues ahead of the economic slowdown.

The number forecast operators involved were Magnum, Tanjong and Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Sports Toto.

The Kuala Selangor MP said Najib risks staining the image of his own Umno party, which supposedly thrives on the “religion, race and country” motto, saying the new policy would “throw all that out the window”.

“It does not even meet the minimal aspects of morality let alone Islamic values,” said the PAS leader.

Dear rakyat of Malaysia, we have to take umbrage to any public policy issue that legalizes sports betting. As discussed in the MI report, those who espouse the legalization of sports better rest the bulk of their case on the economic benefits the state can experience.

Some may even have the cheek to assert that such a move is good as it can negatively impact illegal gambling. The ones who oppose legalization of sports betting such as amateur and professional sports leagues, the horse race industry, and legal bookmakers can attest to the fact that sports wagering is not very profitable and can be very risky for the operator.

Another point of consideration is that legal wagering will be unable to compete effectively with the price of illegal operations. If so, legalized sports betting can only entice more into the sin of gambling!!!

Does it make sense then to enact a law to legalize sports betting? If we want our citizens to live on a higher moral ground, will such a move put us in good stead to face the challenges in this world and to steer away from temptation? Any moralistic argument against gambling hold no sway if our government broadly legitimizes sports betting! Put simply, what is the point of promoting religion and moral behavior if the authorities fan the popularity and sin of the sport rests by legitimizing citizens' ability to bet all because they hope to raise revenue?

What is wrong with them? Is it always ringgit over rakyat????

Is the country so poor that we have to raise revenue via the regressive GST that penalizes the poor and via legalized sports betting that tears apart the already delicate moral fabric of society because of the shortage of moral leaders who lead exemplary lifestyles?

Consider the following arguments against sports betting.

1. Any form of gambling, including sports betting, is morally wrong because it goes against human nature and nobility. Any gambler would be violating his or her conscience if he or she succumbs to greed. Gambling promotes greed. Period.

The goal of any form of gambling is to get lots of money quickly! Those in this industry have the means to accomplish their goal effectively because gambling is a lucrative business.

2. The tendency to indulge in gambling becomes an irrational act to maximize chance against reason. Imagine what it can do to youth, the main group that indulges in sports betting. Sports betting also destroys the will, since intentionally maximizing risk "is the will to have no will."

3. Any legalization of sports betting or gambling of any nature would almost certainly lead to an increase in the number of people who lose money. Does it make sense that people lose money so that others earn money????

4. Any pro-gambling legalization can accent tension that comes when one exercises free choice in such a way that may lead to harm either to the individual or to society. Consistent with this stance, the pro-gambling forces would like government to enact policies that promote "greater freedom" for mature adults, but adds "tighter controls on the freedoms" of children and "vulnerable consumers."

5. Any government has to moral responsibility should respect the individual's right to behave as he or she wishes without affecting others.

6. How come the government suddenly regards gambling as a socially acceptable habit all in the name of containing "the expected spread of illegal betting activities during the World Cup"?

7. Who are the ones who will earn profits from such a law? Magnum, Tanjong and Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Sports Toto and others? How will it fill the government's coffers?

8. If the government wants to increase revenue, it can do so via legitimate channels such as progressive taxes which should encourage responsible citizenship. It should not legitimize sports betting or any form of gambling for moral and religious reasons!

There are far too many considerations against the legalization of sports betting to be listed here. At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves why there are so many leakages in our country's expenditure and yet, instead of arresting this trend, some prefer to tax the people unnecessarily instead of plugging these leaks.

Is there no end to such mindless pursuits?

Say 'NO' to legalized sports betting.

Please voice your opinion/thoughts/view on this issue by leaving a comment. Thanks! Have a nice day!

Did you know that in the interiors of East Malaysia, many still do not have piped water, electricity or a proper sewage disposal system? Even in the east coast of the peninsular, there are many who do not have piped water in their homes. In many inner city areas, the elderly are living below the poverty line. A great many do not own their own property and there is always a shortage of low cost housing for the poor. In spite of all these and other pressing needs in many other areas, our government can think of spending money to build A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BY 2021 as reported HERE. I am NOT joking.

The report said:

Malaysia has approved a proposal to set up a nuclear power plant which will start operating from 2021, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin announced today.

It is the first country in Southeast Asia to announce a nuclear power plant, a sensitive matter in the ASEAN grouping which has always espoused a nuclear-free zone.

Malaysia now relies on a combination of fossil fuels and hydro-power to generate electricity.

Chin said his ministry has been given the go-ahead by the Economic Council to start identifying suitable sites but declined to reveal possible sites or the total power to be delivered.

He only disclosed that the nuclear plant needed to be built in an area with high power demand, which could possibly mean in any of the industrialised states in the west coast.

“Building of the first plant needs a lead time of at least 10 years.

“We need to look at the safety aspects, human resources and the location,” he said, adding that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had the final say on whether the plant could be built.

Technology know-how and providers may possibly come from South Korea, China, France or Japan, the minister added.

Chin stressed that a nuclear plant was sorely needed to meet the country’s accelerating energy needs and ensured its energy security, an issue that is high on the agenda of most Asian nations now living with high oil prices.

“Nuclear energy is the only viable option toward our long term energy needs.

“Our energy mix is rather unhealthy. We are depending too much on coal and oil,” he told reporters after launching the first Carbon Neutral Conference on Sustainable Buildings South East Asia.

He also said despite nuclear energy’s astronomical start-up costs, it was more cost — and energy — efficient than dotting the country with coal-fired power plants.

The government would be ready to explain to the people the need for one to counter possible political and environmental fallout or uproar, he added.

Do we need a nuclear power plant? Does our country have the resources to make and manage a nuclear power plant? We already have far too many dams in the pipeline in East Malaysia and now they want to explore nuclear energy. Don't they remember that our country has huge gas reserves that have been untapped?

CLICK HERE to access 530 000 links about the dangers of nuclear plants. I wonder if
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin is aware of the dangers. I find his title quite an irony - note the bold fonts. Green technology but advocating nuclear energy. A different kind of oxymoron indeed! What is wrong with this world???

Consider the following information taken from HERE:

DANGERS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

There are many dangers in the use of nuclear power plants. The most prominent of these dangers include nuclear meltdowns; however, a variety of other problems can arise. There have been a number of situations in which these dangers have become real disasters, giving birth to safety and regulatory agencies.

Function
1. While nuclear power plants offer a substantial source of power, there are a wide variety of dangers associated with the use of nuclear power. These dangers have created a general fear of nuclear power plants across the United States and much of the world. Nuclear power plants are dangerous from the initial mining operations to gather uranium all the way through the final stages of disposing the byproducts safely. Many scientists are attempting to address these dangers; however, the risks are still prevalent in the technology.

Significance
2. The greatest fear about nuclear power plants is a severe accident in the nuclear reactor. When the whole system or an individual component of a nuclear power plant causes the reactor core to malfunction, it is known as a nuclear meltdown. This occurs most commonly when the sealed nuclear fuel assemblies that house the radioactive materials begin to overheat and melt. If the meltdown becomes too severe, the radioactive elements within the core can be released into the atmosphere and around the area of the power plant. These radioactive materials are highly toxic to all organic life.

Because of the geometric design of the reactor cores, a nuclear explosion is impossible; however, smaller explosions such as the release of steam are possible.

History

3. Nuclear meltdowns or disasters have occurred at various levels since the creation of nuclear power.

The first known partial core meltdown occurred in Ontario, Canada, in 1952. Various disasters occurred in the following years, including the release of radioactive elements into the air on at least four occasions.

The most significant disasters took place at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979 and Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986. The Three Mile Island accident was a partial core meltdown of a pressurized water reactor. It resulted in the release of 43,000 curies of krypton and 20 curies of iodine-131 into the environment. The Chernobyl disaster reached a level 7 (major accident), according to the International Nuclear Event Scale. Following an initial steam explosion that killed two people, the reactor was destroyed and nuclear fallout was spread around the area. It was necessary to evacuate 600,000 people, and an estimated 4,000 died from radiation-induced cancers. CLICK HERE for more.

CLICK HERE for NUCLEAR ENERGY FACT SHEET.

CLICK HERE for THE PROBLEMS OF NUCLEAR POWER.

I am totally speechless, appalled, mortified and horrified at this revelation. Are they for real??? How can anyone be so absolutely detached from reality and rot in ignorance? How do you feel about this announcement?

Please leave a comment to share your thoughts/views. Thanks! Have a nice day!

This article HERE made me smile in wonder for many reasons. The report said:

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today suggested that Malay rights advocate Perkasa can be credited for the swing in Malay votes for Barisan Nasional during the Hulu Selangor by-election.

“Maybe it's because of Perkasa, (most) Malays voted for BN. We will never know. (In the past) there are so many Malays who won't support BN. If (BN does not support Perkasa), we may not get the Malay vote.

“And if we don't have the Chinese vote as well, the vote will go to Pakatan (Rakyat) lah,” he told a press conference after delivering a lecture titled Malaysia as a Maritime Nation - Are We There? at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

It almost seems as though PERKASA is the alter ego of UMNO and here, we have a case of a former PM validating PERKASA's so called 'deeds' and moral crusade which does not seem to have raised the eyebrows of the main players in UMNO.

While on one hand PERKASA has been criticizing UMNO for various reasons, they have not received any flak from our PM and instead, here we have a clear case of public validation of a by-election victory which presumably should be claimed by BN, especially by our PM who personally went down to the ground to lobby for votes.

Ironically, in BN, one quarter after another is trying to claim credit for the BN victory in HS whilst in PR, we have a witch-hunt going on to justify why Datuk Zaid lost.

As it stands, this case shows us a case of "I scratch my back while you scratch mine."

Hmm...I wonder what are the other benefits from such 'back-scratching' pursuits?

Do leave a comment to share your thoughts and views. Thanks. Have a lovely evening.

The recent BN win of the HS parliamentary seat with a 1725 vote majority has shown up many interesting points. Malaysian Insider HERE reported that the PM said that BN spent for the rakyat and not for the votes. Malaysiakini wrote about how BN continues to lose Chinese support HERE while at THIS LINK former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed claimed today that race politics played a major part in the Hulu Selangor by-election, as Barisan Nasional was denied a majority win due to the lack of Chinese support.

While heads are still reeling in shock, Malaysiakini reported HERE :

British forensic pathologist Prof Peter Vanezis has begun testifying at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest, saying that the DAP political aide was fully conscious when he fell to his death.

He tendered his post-mortem report, dated Dec 16 last year, also saying that the DAP political aide's injuries were consistent with a fall from height.

Vanezis said there is no doubt in his mind that Teoh was conscious when falling.

“The injuries show he tried to break his fall by landing on his feet first with the hands out...It is a primeval form of protecting oneself from the fall. The injuries to the body are consistent with falling from a high place,” he said.

Asked if Teoh's death was consistent with suicide, Venezis said studies have shown that suicide cases tend to have same injuries as those consistent with a fall from a high place.

However, he stopped short towards agreeing that the cause of death was suicide in Teoh's case.

.........

Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand (right), hired by the Selangor government, had earlier suggested the possibility that Teoh had been strangled before falling, in her analysis suggesting an “80 percent chance” that the cause of death was homicide. CLICK HERE for more.

This report is a reminder of reality for many Malaysians that we have to wake up to the fact that we have a huge battle ahead of us.

The heart of the matter is that while many may be lobbying against corruption, injustice, discrimination, rising costs of living, deterioration in education standards, poor health-care services, safety and security issues, GST, inflation, economic woes and so on, we have a very long way to go before we can convince the rest of the rakyat that change is not a choice but an imperative!

The towering personality of Datuk Zaid was simply not enough to win. What then caused the result?

The demography of the place shows that majority are older folks who would not have net access or information about the current state of affairs. They would more likely be voting based on emotions, conscience and for financial security and stability in their area.

The spate between who should represent BN worked to their advantage and the negative response towards Kamalanathan worked to his advantage and he won.

The fact is many do not see the bigger picture of how their choices affect the whole country. They compromise for immediate gratification and do not realize the long term suffering and humiliation we have to endure.

Who is the one paying for the goodies and freebies? Whose money is it? Who worked and shed blood, sweat and tears for their salaries to pay taxes to pay for this by-election and other submarines, tanks, helicopters, roofs of buildings that collapsed, court buildings that got flooded, shoes for the some running into millions and the endless list of ridiculous facts and figures?

When will people be told, be taught and be awakened?

I believe that the leaders must think seriously and come out with a long term plan and blue-print to finish the journey to Putrajaya instead of finding fault with BN. That alone is NOT enough. The rakyat have to be convinced. The campaigning has to go beyond words, blogs, news etc. They need more footsoldiers and foolproof strategy and there is so much work to be done.

Those with the know-how must offer their skills and expertise to the leaders for them to explore options. The current methodology is working, but is obviously, just not enough....There is hope for we can see cracks within the BN coalition despite this hollow victory.


THE MCA FACTOR

In Malaysiakini, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said:

MCA needed a paradigm shift in its approach towards the Chinese community as the community was not very concerned with basic needs and amenities.

"This paradigm shift must come from MCA leaders. Apart from that Hulu Selangor also has got its own internal problems. For me and other party leaders, there is a lot of work to do.

"This is another wake-up call. If they do not know how to put aside their differences then MCA would become a political dustbin or a political dinosaur.

While he expressed that MCA would be more vocal, the heart of the matter is that MCA has become irrelevant. The statement from TDM is clear evidence of this fact. As long as they sing to the tune of their puppet masters and do nothing to win the support of the Chinese community, they can never fulfil the original objectives of MCA so please get real.

"We have to re-look at ourselves, whether after 50 years concentrating at local community level, we have to look for more. You can be assured that we would be more vocal," he said.

THE GERAKAN FACTOR

Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon said HERE that while BN won, there were various issues that needed to be addressed (but what are they???) and solved including the lack of improvement in Chinese support. He said that at the start of the campaign, the level of support was just about 12 to 15 percent but improved to about 25 percent when the PM went to the ground.

Now such a statement also shows that Gerakan has outlived its usefulness and is living on borrowed life having passed its expiry date like MCA. Gerakan is not a Chinese party per se but is supposed to be a multi-racial political party. But is it?

THE MIC FACTOR

MIC president S Samy Vellu said the party would need to double its effort to win back the Indian community totally. His deputy G Palanivel, who was former Hulu Selangor MP before his loss in the 2008 polls, said while the win was a good motivational boost for the BN, it needs to re-evaluate and remedy its weakness.

At the same time, THIS LINK reported:

The MIC information chief arrived at the former Felda settlement in Sungai Buaya here shortly before 1pm this afternoon to distribute the cash arrears of RM13.15 million owed to the remaining 263 settlers.

Each settler was to receive RM50,000 in bank draft as advance payment of arrears in compensation for land acquired from them over 15 years ago.

One hundred settlers had earlier received their payments from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last Friday, during the last leg of the campaign trail before yesterday’s polls.

THE HINDRAF FACTOR

Please read G. Krishnan's article HERE and also N. Ganesan's article HERE.

THE PERKASA FACTOR

Malaysian Insider reported:

Malay rights group Perkasa wants the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to review election pledges made in Chinese areas in Hulu Selangor because of the community’s poor support for the coalition.

Its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said despite BN’s success in winning the semi-rural seat from PKR, the Chinese voters had largely chosen to back the federal opposition.

“It is necessary for the government to delay any allocation and approval of projects for the Chinese community,” said Ibrahim in a statement responding to the by-election result.

Ibrahim added that the government should also ignore all the demands made by BN members, MCA and Gerakan, as the Chinese of Hulu Selangor had rejected the ruling coalition.

“They show no appreciation to BN government’s efforts, even though the BN government had to hurt the feelings of the Malays and the natives,” said Ibrahim.

“All their demands are fulfilled by the government but they do not know how to be grateful,” he added.

Ibrahim, an independent MP, had actively campaigned for BN during the campaign.

And MCA and Gerakan still want to win Chinese support? They must be hallucinating!

THE UMNO VIEW

Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil deemed the victory as a win for the prime minister and the people of Malaysia who prefer stability, peace and harmony.

Datuk Zaid's response can be read HERE.

So where do we go from here? Simple. Explore and come to terms with the heart of the matter and really work to achieve the aim. Finish the journey to Putrajaya, PR. You can do it.

In the mean time, we have to pray and hope that more will be awakened and that none will fall by the way side just when the battle is beginning to intensify. We cannot afford to lose any soldier. Not at this point of time.

Will you walk with them? Will you support them and try to reach out to as many? I hope so.
Take care and as always, please leave a comment to share your thoughts and views. Thanks! Have a pleasant evening.

Things are getting more exciting and for the first time this year, I have blogged five times in a day! About an hour ago, the ultimate ultimatum was given by a number of Hulu Selangor MIC local leaders to the BN leadership to field deputy president G Palanivel or they would shut down the party's branches in the constituency as reported HERE.This ultimatum was delivered just 24 hours ahead of the announcement of the candidate by BN deputy chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin.

Well, it appears that the tactic used by PR to announce their candidate way earlier has rattled the other side who seem to be in a state to put forward the candidate of their choice. Such a scenario certainly does not augur well for the BN despite the many goodies that they have been dishing out to the Hulu Selangor constituents. What a sharp contrast to the amicable and unanimous decision to let Zaid be the candidate for PR.

According to the report, about half of the branch chiefs, representing some 30 of the 72 branches in Hulu Selangor, went to the MIC division headquarters in Kuala Kubu Bharu this afternoon to express concern that Palanivel could be snubbed by top BN leaders. They argued that if Palanivel was not chosen as the BN candidate, it would be a blatant show of disrespect to MIC and its leadership.

According to the report:

"We will not go out to vote if it is not Palanivel," said grassroots leader K Alloo Pillai, suggesting that BN could be facing a boycott.

He's the chosen one.

Hulu Selangor MIC information chief Raily Muniandy has threatened that all MIC branches in the constituency would be closed.

hulu selangor 020410 hulu selangor mic information chief s muniandy alias raily muniandy"We fully support Palanivel because he has the calibre, a clean hand, and he is a resident here for almost 18 years," said Raily (left).

He explained that Palanivel, who hails from Penang, does not have to be born in the constituency to qualify as a local.

"He knows who is Ah Kaw, Ahmad and Ramasamy here because for 18 years he has been here," he said, stressing that Palanivel is the most suitable.

Asked if they would support any other MIC candidate, Raily said: "The MIC central working committee has decided Palanivel as the candidate for Hulu Selangor and that's final."

BN deputy chief Muhyiddin Yassin, who has been tasked to make the announcement of the BN candidate, has today rubbished claims that he was in favour of fielding MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan.

Another report released at 7.15pm HERE said that there will an emergency central working committee meeting at 10pm tonight at the MIC party headquarters. There were also rumours that Umno-favoured MIC candidate V Mugilan is meeting Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin this evening, arranged by BN secretary-general, Tengku Adnan who denied having arranged such a meeting. He also denied that there was a meeting between MIC president S Samy Vellu and Muhyiddin Yassin but pointed out that it is a norm for Samy to meet Muhyiddin.

Interestingly, Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein emphasized that they want a winning candidate, while BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has called for a youthful candidate to be fielded several days ago. For your information, Mugilan (the MIC deputy Youth chief) is 35 years old while Palanivel is 61.

So can we expect more fireworks? What is the impression that they are giving to the Hulu Langat constituents?

Your guess is as good as mine. Whatever they case, the constituents MUST come out to vote and VOTE WISELY!!!! It is crystal clear now which side they should support.

*By the way, I changed the blog template for my Writers.Inc blog at 6.45pm today. Do check it out if you have time. I would appreciate the feedback. I changed the template for Motion of My Thoughts last week too! I am keeping the template for unplugged because I changed it a few months ago :-). Before I forget, I would like to wish all Tamil readers a Happy Tamil New Year .Take care and have a lovely evening!

It was with a much saddened heart that I read the news in Malaysiakini on how 15 dead, hundreds injured in Bangkok clashes. Just last night, my former Thai student (who is in Hanoi attending the ASEAN summit) sent me a message in Facebook saying how much she missed me and I responded accordingly. I hope she will be able to get home safely.

According to the report:

Thai security forces fought street battles with protesters in the heart of Bangkok, leaving 15 dead and hundreds injured in the country's bloodiest political violence in almost two decades.

A Japanese cameraman with the Reuters news agency was among those killed as the army launched a crackdown on "Red Shirt" supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, following almost a month of mass demonstrations.

The Reds hurled rocks as troops tried to clear one of two protest sites in the capital with tear gas, while gunshots echoed around the city.

The dead included 11 civilians and four soldiers, emergency services said, adding that about 680 people had been hurt, some by rubber bullets.

It was the country's worst political clashes since 1992 as, in Washington, the White House called for "restraint by both protesters and security forces."

Riot shields and pools of blood were left scattered around the city's historic district near the Khao San Road backpacker district, while ambulances ferried away casualties and injured soldiers were loaded onto pick-up trucks.

"It's frightening. We heard explosions and people were running all around," said Sharon Aradbasson, a 34-year-old Israeli tourist.

Khao San Road resembled a war zone. Shop windows were shattered. Cars were smashed. Many people lay wounded on the street. Police told reporters some protesters had ignited cooking gas cylinders and rolled them into troops.

The army later retreated, calling for a truce with the demonstrators, who were holding five soldiers hostage, according to military spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

"If this continues, if the army responds to the Red Shirts, violence will expand," Sansern said.

He said soldiers had been pelted with petrol bombs and M79 grenades, and that some of the protesters were armed with guns.

I hope good sense will prevail and that there will be a peaceful solution to this crisis. At the same time, I hope that such a situation will not happen in our country and that peace, harmony and understanding will prevail in our own country. All must work diligently to preserve the delicate balance of harmony and understanding that we may live in a safe, secure and stable environment. As it stands, Thais who are generally mild-mannered, gentle and peaceful,have not only witnessed the loss of peace and harmony but have also lost lives, destruction and revenue running into millions due to the disruption. May there be a peaceful solution to the problem in Thailand as soon as possible.