As petrol pump prices rise steadily (another increase in RON 97 price has just been reported), here’s a less well known trend: Malaysian oil production has been gradually falling since peaking in 2004.
This graph should be of concern to all Malaysians. Notice the production-consumption gap narrowing.
That’s why they are dishing out contracts for ‘enhanced’ oil recovery.
BN has defeated Pas in the Tenang by-election with a larger majority of 3,707. Voter turnout was revised downwards to 67 per cent. Live updates and discussion of the Tenang by-election outcome.
Tonight is the final night of campaigning for the Tenang by-election tomorrow.
Another by-election, another ‘bombshell’ (well, not quite as we already saw it coming). This time in the form of another PKR MP ‘seeing the light’ on the eve of polling for the Tenang by-election.
N Gobalakrishnan, a former MIC Youth secretary general (1993-1999) who joined Keadilan in April 1999, is the sixth PKR MP to quit the party since the 2008 general election. How times have changed. He was detained under the ISA for his role in the reformasi movement. See Aliran – ‘Why has Appa been arrested?’ And in this interview with Aliran after his release, Gobala insisted “Reformasi will never die”:
Reformasi can never die. A person can die, but reformasi will never die because reformation will be talked and talked about every day. Every individual will want to bring about reformation. If there’s a person who says that he doesn’t want to bring about reformation, that means the man is brain-dead… They can put down the organisation, they can put down the gathering of the reformists, but reformation (itself) can never die, and the government can never kill reformation.
We tend to be obsessed with FDI and economic growth rates. Many of us overlook the bits we don’t see – like the depletion of natural resources, the toxic chemicals used, and the waste the corporations and consumers discard.
We fail to see the hidden costs in the overall economy and how corporate interests have overwhelmed the interests of ordinary people.
And often, we also do not see the alienation of the human being – from our own selves, from our fellow human beings, from nature – leading to an overall spiritual alienation or disconnect.
I spoke to a couple of people on Tenang to find out what they thought of the way the by-election campaign was going.
Before that, a little poll:
[poll id=”61″]
The first, a political scientist now visiting Tenang, told me that it’s not looking great for Pas there. Another political analyst accompanying him, however, chipped in, “But it’s not all that bad either for Pas.”
The BN looks solid especially in the Felda areas where a sizeable bloc of voters reside and have profited in recent times, said the political scientist.
The only cop charged with causing ‘grievous hurt’ in the case of Kugan’s death in police custody has been freed.
Which raises the question, how did Kugan die? A post-mortem report showed that Kugan had suffered severe beatings and was starved during his detention.
Pedal power could be making a comeback in George Town.
According to George Town World Heritage Inc general manager Maimunah Mohd Sharif, greening in Penang will not be limited to trees. “We want to do something with George Town’s back lanes so cyclists can use them,” she told The Edge. “Cycling is coming back to the city. The back lanes will definitely be of use to them, so this is greening George Town in another way to reduce carbon emissions.”
Well said and worthy of support! I hope such plans will be extended throughout the state, not just George Town.
As for the planting of trees, the GTWHI is also looking at Jalan Kampung Kolam, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street), Jalan Padang Kota Lama and open spaces like that at the end of Armenian Street.
While we celebrate the New Year, spare a thought for Yong Vui Kong, a young Malaysian convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in Singapore.
Pray for a miracle, that he be given a second chance.