The debate is still ongoing between those who believe that a mastery of English is needed for Malaysia to become a so-called ‘knowledge economy’ and those who believe that the quality of education is more important than the medium of instruction.
See this Insider article. Both sides may have a point in some of their arguments.
Whoever is arranging Najib’s schedule these days has been busy. This time the PM has managed to get a chance to thump the mallet at the New York Stock Exchange and ring the closing bell on Monday. Najib striking the mallet at NYSE - Photo courtesy of Bernama
Has Tengku Razaleigh been put in a spot?The BN MP or Umno division head for the area would ordinarily be expected to play a pivotal role in his party’s campaign.
The Kelantan state assembly seat of Galas falls smack within his Gua Musang parliamentary constituency. But Ku Li is no ordinary MP. He has been one of Umno’s most vocal internal critics.
A Jewish peace ship heading for Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli navy today and towed to Ashdod, a cargo port in Israel 40km south of Tel Aviv.
The London-based Jews for Justice for Palestinians had organised the aid voyage. Among those on board were Holocaust survivor Reuven Moskovitz, 82, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli whose daughter was killed in a suicide attack by a Palestinian in 1997. Also on board were American and British peace activists.
The Israeli peace group Gush Shalom reports on a demonstration by peace activists at Ashdod Port to protest the capture of the ship:
Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd has a 25-year concession to operate and maintain the Penang Bridge which expires on 31 May 2018. What happens next?
It is important for the bridge to be returned to the Penang government after that – or even earlier if possible – as part of an overall restructuring of transport in Penang, in line with the principle of subsidiarity (local affairs managed by local government).
PBSB now comes under UEM Group Bhd, which is wholly owned by the Finance Ministry’s Khazanah. PBSB has probably collected many times the original RM800 million cost of the bridge.
The Penang Water Authority (PBAPP), the most efficient water authority in the country, has decided to impose a ‘conservation’ surcharge of 24 sen per 1,000 liters on domestic consumers using more than 35,000 litres of water per month.
First let me say, the publicly owned PBA has done a brilliant job in keeping non-revenue water low at around 19 per cent. Its efficient management has put private water utility firms elsewhere in the country to shame. Despite low water tariffs, its efficiency has allowed it to make a profit before tax of RM16 million for 2009 (RM28 million in 2008) on the back of RM185 million (RM188 million in 2008).
And yes, there is a pressing need to conserve water as consumption per capita in Penang is higher than acceptable. The surcharge-free 35,000-litre threshold is based on the basic needs of a household of five. This move could curb wastage but a few critics have contended that such a surcharge could burden low-income households with large families. Conversely, excessive consumers in smaller households will be spared the surcharge. What are your views on this? Perhaps large low-income households could be exempted from the surcharge or the threshold for exemption could be raised for such households?
1914: What better way to end this post than with a cartoon, this one from Hisham Rais’ blog about Zunar’s six stops at various police stations within seven hours yesterday. Go here.
1836: On the line with Zunar. Yes, indeed he is in high spirits, especially when he hears about the tremendous support he has received. “Please say thank you to all my supporters,” he says, truly humbled. He breaks out in that trademark hearty infectious laugh of his when I mention that someone has suggested over Twitter that he should come up with a lock-up cartoon series! “Now, that’s an idea.”
1630: Zunar will know in two weeks if the authorities want to press charges, says his other lawyer Fadiah. For now, it’s celebration time!
First, a book launch last night without the author, cartoonist Zunar, who was arrested. Now a remand hearing without his lawyers.
Zunar’s lawyer Latheefa Koya lamented that the remand hearing this morning at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court was held despite the magistrate having been informed that the lawyers were on their way to the court, according to Malaysiakini. She later tweeted: “io informed Fadiah will only take stmt frm zunar after bringing him around 2 “crimescenes” etc -too funnylah! when no one disputing d comic.” He is expected to be taken to the Malaysiakini office early this evening.
Zunar has been remanded for one day, even as Malaysians continue to express shock and outrage over the popular cartoonist’s detention: “Free Zunar now!”
Read Aliran Monthly’s interview with ‘Zunar, the multifaceted cartoonist’ and Charter 2000-Aliran’s statement ‘Zunar’s arrest no laughing matter’.
Zunar’s book launch gets underway – even as the cartoonist is in detention. 2035: Special guest Nizar Jamaluddin has just arrived.
2030: “First time author not present at his own book launch!” tweets Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran.
2020: About 70 people plus media personnel are now at SCAH for the book launch.
2000: People are arriving for the launch of Zunar’s ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’ book at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. Special guest Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to turn up.
Update: Zunar arrested. But his book launch tonight will proceed as planned, according to Malaysiakini editor Steven Gan. See CartoonKafe.
A couple of days ago, I thought that would make a strange and ‘arresting’ headline.
Sad to say, reality can be real strange. Malaysiakini reports that half a dozen police personnel raided Zunar’s business premises and confiscated 66 copies of his latest cartoon book ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’, due to be launched tonight.
Remember how 8 March 2008 was seen as a watershed of sorts and people were said to be feeling more empowered after that? Now’s the real test. The Penang Local Plan will soon be put on public display for public comments.
The plan will show the detailed conditions for land use, planning and development in microscopic detail. This means you will be able to tell precisely what is allowed and not allowed in your neighbourhood.
But for the process to work, you need to take a good look at the draft when it is displayed and then submit your objections or views to the local government. Little point complaining later. So look out for the display soon.
I do wish the Penang state government leaders would declare their assets as a fine example of accountability and transparency for the federal government and other state governments to emulate.
This is yet another reminder.
The diabetes drug Avandia, which generated US$1.2 billion for GlaxoSmithKline last year, has been banned in Europe and restricted in the US.
It is yet another blow for Big Pharma. AFP reports that in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has severely restricted the drug after data suggested “an elevated risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in patients treated”.
Concern has been mounting over the drug’s active substance rosiglitazone. Sales of Glaxo’s other diabetes drugs Avandamet and Avaglim, which contain the substance, have also been halted in Europe.
The plan to introduce GM mosquitoes in Malaysia will not be implemented “at the moment”.
“Seemingly it is quite an interesting (solution) to deal with such a problem but I think… not until and unless every aspect of research being carried out is clinically tested and… environmental issues have been addressed,” AFP reported Muhyiddin as saying.
That is of course welcome news; good sense has prevailed. Now can we look into eliminating the breeding sites of the aedes mosquito? It was shocking to hear that a spot check for dengue breeding grounds by the authorities found the Penang Hospital compound teeming with aedes mosquitoes and larvae, as reported intheSun.
Are progressive reforms – real change – and social justice possible in Malaysia? Who says ‘No’? Your mission: Achieve the impossible.
That’s Korean acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Sungha Jung.
Along with Nazri’s straight talking to Utusan comes another pleasant surprise: Khairy Jamaluddin has called on the government to implement a minimum wage.
In an opinion piece in The Edge (20 September), the Umno Youth leader said a minimum wage has become a moral obligation that the government must fulfil immediately.
Khairy rightly pointed out that a third of the workers in the country earn less than RM700 a month – which is below the poverty line. And the average annual increase in wages was only 2.6 per cent over the last decade – below the global average of 3.2 per cent.
Nazri’s criticism of Umno-owned Utusan over its support for Perkasa reflects growing unease – even within Umno circles – of the paper’s leanings and a growing realisation that the right-wing group is going to cost BN plenty of votes.
Nazri has asked Utusan if its wants Mahathir to replace Najib. His outburst can be found here.
He has also taken on the Utusan columnist who goes by the pseudonym Awang Selamat and challenged him to reveal his identity: “I hope he can be a man like me and prove that he is not scared of criticism by coming out in the open and not hiding behind the pseudonym that he uses.”
The inquest into Teoh Beng Hock’s sudden death resumes at 9.30am. The investigating officer is expected to take the stand. The ‘suicide note’ may make an appearance as well.
Someone should carry out a global survey to rank countries by the number of ‘VIPs’ per capita. This is one survey we might rank right up there along with the most status-conscious countries.
In Malaysia, apart from all those with official honorifics (and there are quite a few of them), there are those wannabe VIPs who are actually willing to pay good money to acquire instant ‘titles’.
Why is it that many Malaysians crave for titles? Perhaps they think an honorific would draw fawning attention at various public events, denote status, and offer privileges (like at airports, whether local or foreign).
