Where's Anwar ?

29.6.2008.

Poor Saiful, such a nice looking young man, and such a pretty fiancee. Maybe both should also follow Anwar's example and hide somewhere - perhaps in a different embassy. Nobody is saying that this latest episode is factual yet. What with RPK making that outlandish affidavit and other police reports flying about, we can't jump to conclusion. Even the PM is not averse to a little distortion of facts now and then. Above the smug smirks and muffled giggles everywhere just now, we must treat this matter before us with absolute seriousness. After all Anwar has big plans, and all of us are going to be affected by them, if they work out.

What struck me in 1998 was how gullible Malaysians were. And in a funny, distorted kind of way. I mean our parents and teachers tell us smoking is bad, but we won't believe them. Then came Anwar who claimed he was innocent of the sodomy charges against him, and all of us suddenly find it impossible not to believe him. Until today, 10 whole years later.

The thing is, we believe what we want, and we can't help that. You can dump all the evidence - like the poor man who was shown the body of his murdered daughter and refused to believe, even after DNA proof was produced - but accepting the truth that is not to our liking isn't happening.

God Works in mysterious ways. In Malay, as I have quoted often, there is a saying - "the mousedeer may forget the snare, but the snare never forgets the mousedeer". Tunku Abdul Rahman had a famous phrase he used, not original but apt in the case he was referring to, and apt in this case I'm referring to - "too clever by half". Maybe Anwar is the forgetful mousedeer who's too clever by half. We are what we are. We can't help it. If you like belacan, or cincaluk, or budu, you can't deny yourself of it. If Anwar likes something, he certainly will look for it the first chance he's got. He can't help it.

The current imperative is the dearth of leadership that is causing national concern. We would have thought that no candidates should be overlooked. They don't come easy, a dime-a-dozen. Certainly an Anwar that has been "recon" could perhaps offer something in the way of leadership, even if the current political mess the ruling party is in is not by his brilliant design. It's, however, equally imperative that we get a leader with unblemished character. We can help that. We have a choice. We cannot shortchange ourselves by picking anyone less than worthy, not perfect, but worthy.

We are realistic enough to know that there are no angels on earth. But we should at least expect someone somehow better than us, not worse. We don't want "a cockerel that crows and crows, but its tail is full of shit".

So it's time that we take stock. For those of us who think Anwar is our saviour, I urge that careful valuation is done. We don't want him to play our backside.

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HANK, and other names.

Friday 27th. June, 2008.

Born Hamzah Pilus. Calls himself "Hank". So, Hank - Williams, Marvin, whatever. It's just a handle. We all have them. Remember what Akbar ( A.K.Bear, Lumumba) called Halim ? - "Rock Foundation". Bear says he's "like cool, man !" A rock foundation.  

Then there was Badger, Spider, Matnor Gia, Mustapa Gajah, Zainudin Benjol, Saintis, Polar Bear, and Iron Man, all at the College. When AK Bear, Rock Foundation and I went for the NS Scholarship interview with Dr. Said, there was a fourth, a "Suharto", with us.  I think his name was Khalid.  Rock Foundation gave him that nickname because he talked  bombastic, like the Indon President.

In Kuala Pilah we had Nordin "Tadpole", Husin"Haji Ipap" (the late Mr. Ganesan called him that, after the late Undang Rembau), Kamaruddin "Ghenceh", Shaari "Mak Ayo"(his mother referred to herself as "Ayo"), Kong Foo "Kia"(last heard of somewhere in Australia), Hashim "Bulat", Nordin "Tempoyak", Lokman "G-man", Amat "Teleng", Amat "Bisu", Amat "Tikus", Amat "Panjang", Udin "Sekayo", Udin "Jahat", Udin "Andung", Udin "Terachi", Tapa "Tombuk", Sahak "Kati-kek"( he couldn't pronounce the talcum powder "Cutticura"), Shukur "Pak Itam", Timah "Dompong", Wan Senah "Latah", Ismail "Godang", Mail "Choot", Hassan "Tahu" (he knew everything), and many more. Even the teachers were given names  - "Goondook"(ironically because he called the students he was annoyed with "goondook"), "Pelanduk", "Poghut Mengoning"(because he had a large belly and said "G-o-o-d m-o-r-n-i-n-g" in his usual slow pronounciation), "Batak Lingam", Hassan "Taruk Minyak", Zainal "Katak" and many others.

Then I have a first cousin who studied in Germany with the name Hazarul Ariffin bin Jamaluddin. He must have put his name in some forms with the little boxes, and the Westerners being who they are, my poor cousin ended up being called "Bin"for the duration of his studies. 

Everyone in the family carries a name they weren't born with. There is Conen,  Mashitok, Din Pendek, Ati Kiok,  Ayam Itek, and to tick off this list, a "Calit" (tick off lah !). 

My own innocent children are given beautiful names from the kitabs. They end up "Banjat", "Celopet", "Memi" and "Dekna". The other 3 also call Memi "Jujai". Only I remain "Boss".  At home.

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HANK.

Friday 27th. June.

At last I've located my friend's blog. Quite good writing.

So

Ku Li's disappointing Seremban visit.

Wednesday, 25th. June, 2008.

I rode my motorbike in the very heavy afternoon downpour to the Chung Hwa School, Jalan Tun Ismail, Seremban at precisely 3 p.m. Aspan had called me several times the last two weeks about Ku Li's programme this afternoon, as part of his current campaign to contest the UMNO's President's post this December. As it turned out, it's not just the weather that was a wash-out - Ku Li's visit was,too. 

To start with, the original plan was to hold this gathering in Felda LBJ, but reportedly the MB put a stop to it by asking the Police to deny permission. Somehow or other Ku Li's people managed to get a permit for the Chung Hwa School venue.

Then came two forces, one divine and the other more mundane - the rain, and ( are we surprised ?) the Muhyiddin-announced gag on all campaigning. The rain didn't stop me and about 100 others, but the Party's order certainly stopped Ku Li from addressing the crowd, small as it was. When a member of Ku Li's entourage went up on the stage to announce Ku Li's decision not to speak so as not to run foul of the two-day old ruling for the time being, the crowd's disappointment was audible.

In my mind I immediately reacted "what a waste of time". The organizers turned the meeting into an informal get-to-know you event. As can be imagined the response was less than enthusiastic, though the small group of about 6-7 people immediately surrounding the prince were quite agitated in their exchange with him. The head of Dataran Senawang UMNO branch perhaps summed it all up for everyone present when he said to Ku Li "what is to become of UMNO now. We are not to talk to,  or give a treat to our family and friends as this would be deemed to be campaigning, so we should all become dumb - we might as well become Jakuns in the jungle. If we write in to complain to the Party's HQ they can easily deny the right of the Branch to hold elections and thus deny its right to participate in the choosing of the next Supreme Council members, leaving only complying Branches with their compliant voting".

At this point I haven't read nor do I know what exactly is the full instruction of the new "Code of Ethics" said to have been announced by Muhyiddin. Whatever it is, it is another blow for UMNO. If the practice of democracy isn't quite dead in UMNO now, this new order only further hasten its demise. 

How does the Supreme Council figure out how the Party members are going to assess their next leadership if no meetings and no campaigning is allowed. How much more ludicrous can these people get ? As someone said just now, even the Chinaman filling petrol into his tank is saying "this is all Dollah Badawi's fault". How much further is the end for UMNO ? Several ex-MPs and ADUNs were spotted just now, including a former Minister, and the son of a former DPM. If this cross section of a failed event is any indication, then UMNO incumbent leaders should start worrying about their precarious position. In spite of Muhyiddin's order, perhaps they should start campaigning.

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Mahathir : Samy's Folly

20.6.2008.

I've made comments elswhere about Samy being a "goner" and won't repeat them here. This is to respond further,since Samy's men are beginning to come out from under the dead woods, swinging out belated grievences, real or imagined. I say this because these people were around Mahathir when they were all serving together, and many of the so-called grievences were, by their own account today, existing then. So why didn't they speak up at that time ? Were they busy polishing apples? Now that Samy and his cohorts have been chucked, and their thunder stolen by the likes of Hindraf, they're all venting their frustrations on the ex-PM ? Asking him to look at his roots ? Another cheap shot ? Look forward, man.

That's what all this is about.  Mahathir isn't coming back as the PM. Samy certainly isn't coming back, period. This is about making the changes necessary to move on. Like it or not, admit that some good has been done during the last PM's tenure. Samy should be the first one to do so, if only because he was retained all this time in spite of his big mouth. 

Now the present PM is obviously out of his depth, although he won't admit it, or worse, don't realise it. This is why  Mahathir is getting all the support that everyone not blinded by their own little agenda can see. The economic ills plaguing almost the entire world is already here with us.

Is Dollah  the leader that the country can now afford to have, because certainly we cannot afford a mistake like that if he isn't. Just look at his decision-making process. Or just look at his decisions, for goodness sake. Things must change. Together all of us can make the change. Otherwise we'll all be short-changed, and become small change, like our 1 sen coin, and cast out.

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Mahathir : Ian Chin’s Great Revelation

18.6.2008.

Mahathir said Ian Chin absconded from the "Tata Negara" course he attended because persumably he didn't like to wash his dirty dishes. Now it seems he doesn't mind washing his dirty linen in public. What about the Police report on him concealing certain facts of a Court case? I urge Mahathir to respond aggressively to these theatrics and publish to the public all the facts available so that we can all make a fairer conclusion as to where matters stand. 

I don't know Ian Chin and I don't know his motive for making such serious allegations long after the event. I used to meet Zaid Ibrahim at the Saujana Golf Resort maybe 20 years ago, but doubt he'll remember. Between the two and their recent public utterances, I suspect whatever their intentions are, they are not honourable ones.

I'm not a lawyer, but my youngest daughter is a final-year law student who often talks to me about her studies. I'm given the impression that Judges are not supposed to make public statements lest they get embroiled in public controversy. She says this convention is very strictly adhered to in England. I think Chin would have been better advised to have resisted whatever demons were in his head, or whatever devils were in his company, and not make his scandulous statement. Now that Mahathir had upped the ante, I suggest Chin get good legal counsel (not the de facto Law Minister, for heavens sake) and come out and repudiate. I also suggest that he doesn't take another 11 years to do it.

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FROM SIME TO SLIME

16.6.2008.

This should be interesting reading. I knew (very casually) one of the 3 CEOs before the merger. At that time there were already negative mumblings about the pros & cons of the huge exercise, the most common criticism being the displacement of a lot of senior staff. With Musa Hitam as Chairman I think the way that this conglomorate extricates itself out of the present growing mess would be interesting, to say the least. Musa Hitam is not known for his intellect, though he has always regarded himself rather highly. His political adventures speak for themselves. I hope the blogger lets us in on his inside story, yum,yum.

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RM1.4 billion handed over to Badawi, says M

Why stop at RM1.4 billion ? The whole country was handed over to Dollah Badawi ! Where is the country heading now ? Wisdom after the event says of all the unwise acts that Mahathir committed, none will ever top the choice of Dollah  as his successor. We should all of us regret the day. Almost 5 years have passed since, and with the latest turn of events, we're fast spiraling into deep shit. The actions, or more often than not the non-actions by the incumbent confused government boggles the mind for stupidity. To make things worse, the words coming out of the Ministers have been not only incoherent but absolutely valueless as model utterances that the young can pick up to learn about good language and "ministerial" behaviour. If they have nothing worthwhile to say they should all shut up and not make the rakyat more nauseated than they already are. Shouldn't we all be looking forward and improve our lot from today ? Instead our half-past-six government is busy spinning bullshit about past "wrongdoings" that will not bring back the dead.

Salmah a.k.a. Dekma.

13.6.2008.

Salmah, or Dekma, my recently turned 53-year-old sister (Happy Birthday to You !) has only recently started to visit my blogs, and as expected, given her unsolicited comments. I have accordingly responded. Actually we could have called her Saloma. All my other sisters were given beautiful names starting with "Nor" by my late father. But as was common in those days, my father sent my mother back to the kampong to give birth to Salmah. We were in Tanjong Malim where my father taught at the Sultan Idris Training College (now UPSI). The only means of communication for us from Tanjung Malim to the kampong then was by post. We didn't have any telephones. So when news of Salmah's arrival in this world was received, my father quickly posted a letter giving the exquisite name "Nor Ashikin".

Unfortunately the post in those days were as bad as nowadays. Before the letter arrived my quick-thinking late grandmother had already given the name Salmah, after, would you believe it, the  singer Salmah Ismail. The singer, as we know, was more popularly known as "Saloma". Unfortunately my sister did not take after the singer in as far as singing is concerned. Come to think of it, I've never heard her sing. Fortunately. 

 As she grew we simplified the already simple name to Dek Mah, short for adik Salmah, and through usage became Dek Ma, and eventually Dekma. Naturally she calls herself Adik, or Dek, even though now she's a very old adik indeed ! Ha, ha. 

In her studies Dekma was more successful, nevertheless. She went to Tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban, was sent by MARA to do her "A" levels at Sheffield, England and later to Coventry University, England and graduated in Botany or something. I might add, besides acquiring a degree she also acquired a husband while in England. Neat. 

My parents somehow managed to visit her in England before her marriage. But when Dekma returned with Kamar, a civil engineer from Rantau, my mother held a second ceremony at home, complete with wedding dress and everything.

Dekma later got her Masters in Education here in Malaysia and as far as I know is still teaching in a private institution in KL. 

Four beautiful and very bright daughters were bestowed upon her in the marriage. Dahlia is an Accounts graduate, Aishah is in Vancouver, Nora a medical student, and Sabrina ( I call her Ribena ) is pursuing pre-u studies. The girls are very sharp and, especially Nora, very independent. I have no reason to doubt they would do well in life. 

I've told Dekma to let Aishah get a PR in Canada so we can spread our family wings, and later also visit. I already have one nephew working in London, and one neice working in Perth, Australia.

 So, Dekma, when you read this you will know how you got a totally out of tune name, although your namesake could more than carry a tune. It's not too late to try and learn how to sing. Ask Kamar to buy some cds and play them on your pc. I doubt you'll make it to AF 7, though. Or 8, or 9, or 25.

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rocky's bru: When?

13.6.2008.

rocky's bru: When? Follow Elvis Presley - "It's now or never..." It must be obvious to all of us, however thick some of us are, that this fellow is totally lost. In management there was once a popular theory that one gets promoted to his point of incompetence. This is a classic case. And because of his own predicament, this chap is the last person on this globe who will realise this. So we are all equally stupid to think and hope that he would willingly do the one right thing in the last 5 years that he can do - leave. In the meantime the poor bugger is wandering around pretending to be in charge and making increasingly idiotic decisions, or rather non-decisions, Regardless of our political belief, creed or religion, all of us must accept the undeniable fact that this man is a menace.If we love our stricken Malaysia as much as we all claim, we must do all we can to dump this guy. Obviously his rapidly deteriorating party is unable or unwilling to do it. Obviously the disorganized "opposition" parties by themselves can't do it. Obviously individually the rest of us can't do it. So we must all join together and do something to get rid of this miscreant. We can't believe this guy anymore, we know that already. We can't wait for Najib anymore, we know that also.

Media Saka Bangsa: Laporan media mengenai Luncheon "Sembang Media"

Media Saka Bangsa: Laporan media mengenai Luncheon "Sembang Media" 

11/6/2008

Tahniah Pemuda UMNO menyertai dunia blog. Mungkin ini peluang terbaik untuk mereka terima / beri pendapat yang bolih memberi kesan kepada pemikiran dalam Pergerakan itu. 

Pemuda UMNO mesti lihat bagaimana PAS berjaya menarik minat ramai cendekiawan yang berwawasan, sementara UMNO leka berjinak dengan hartawan yang tunggu pampasan.

Bukankah Pemuda barisan hadapan UMNO yang "berani mati"? Kini Ketuanya minta maaf sana sini macam takut mati. Dulu Jaafar Albar di panggil "Singa", megaum. Lee Kuan Yew pun di selar tanpa segan. Cogan katanya ialah"Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata".

Kini baru sisergah kerana cabut keris dah megelabah. Macam anak kucing, mengiyau. Nak tegur anak Lee Kuan Yew pun takut. Mungkin cogan kata sekarang "biar putih mata macam Batu Putih".

Pemuda masa depan UMNO. Dari kalangannya akan lahir pemimpin Melayu masa depan. Buat keputusan SEKARANG pemimpin yang macam mana yang akan diketengahkan. Kalau ianya macam yang ada sekarang - yang memimpin dari belakang, yang leka mengorek tahi-tahi yang tertinggal dibelakang, yang menyental laba tak pikir orang belakang - tinggallah UMNO dibelakang.

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rocky's bru: Tan Sri for what?

9.6.2008.

rocky's bru: Tan Sri for what? I had commented almost immediately after rocky's bru posting, but the blog owner must have rejected my comments. I'm making fresh comments here, not in disappointment but to correct any wrong interpretation of my earlier comments. If you read through those earlier comments you will no doubt realize that they were oozing with cynicism. I was saying in effect that Dollah Badawi can nominate the National Honours to pretty much anyone he pleases without care for the slightest justification. In fact any undeserving receipient would be a desecration of nobility of the practice, an insult to conscience, and stupid to boot.

AMALINA - "harapan kami"

6.6.2008.

When our daughter was born in Assunta Hospital, 10.7.1984, I searched for a nice simple name that would start with an "A". All her three brothers were given names starting with an "A". The boys were all born 5 years apart. Amalina, the name I chose, meaning "our hope", was only 2 years younger than No. 3 Son. In a way that was also planned, too, because, having decided to perform my Hajj before the age of 40, I prayed in front of the Ka'ba that Allah grant us a good, filial first daughter. I returned from Jeddah and reached home on 1.10.1983. She was born nine-and-a-half months after my return.   We all call her Dek Na, Adik Amalina, soon shortened to Dekna.

Today, a good Friday 6th. June, 2008, or 2nd. of Jamadilakhir 1429, I wish to record a small milestone in our little family, and I thank Allah for His Blessings. I received news this afternoon that our little "Hope", Dekna, has finally succeeded in getting her very first university degree from UiTM Shah Alam. I might add, with understandable pride, she did it in an excellent manner, obtaining 3.93 for her final semester, and a CGPA of 3.59 for a First Class Honours Bachelor of Legal Studies. On July 2nd. she will register for 2 semesters of Ll.B.(Hon), also at the same university. God willing, if she succeeds it will mean a double degree in Law for our daughter.

Her pre-school and first three years of primary school were in Petaling Jaya. She was transferred to Seremban for her next three years of primary school when we moved there. Because she did well enough in her Standard 6 exams, she was offered a place at the Tunku Kurshiah College, where my younger sister and two neices also studied. TKC is rated probably the best girls' college in the country. 

After SPM she was offered matriculation for pre-medical studies, but  although she was in the science stream, she had already decided to study law. On my suggestion, she chose to go to UiTM for a Diploma of Public Administration, as a precursor to a law degree. The campus was in Alor Gajah, Melaka. She did very well and obtained her  DPA with the Vice Chancellor's Citation, the best student in her class. 

She then moved to the Shah Alam UiTM campus after being admitted into the Law Faculty to do a Bachelor of Law Studies (Hon) degree. This is where we were just now. 

Being an only daughter, we treated her a little differently from the three boys, though all were given due attention and TLC. The age difference and the fact that she went to boarding school from age 12 meant that initially, as the children grew up, there was some distance between them, except for No. 3 Son. This was probably because the age difference was only two years.  He, too, went to a good boarding school for his 4th. and 5th. forms,  the MRSM at Jasin, also in Melaka. He did very well there, too, obtaining an aggreagate 10 for SPM, considered very good at the time.

In later years, especially after the first two boys got married, I see that they have, happily, become close. Still she seems closest with her third bachelor brother. 

At TKC Dekna was quite active, although by nature she is rather quiet. She was in the College Band which won the State School Bands Championship and once was third at the National Championship. She played the clarinet, and we saw her perform at Dataran Merdeka. We also saw her in the English play at one of the College's concerts. She also took part in the usual school extracurricular activities. We usually visited on Sundays, usually to fetch dirty laundry, but more importantly so that we won't miss her growing up. I told my wife that we have to take every opportunity to be with her, because after school she'd go to university, then work, get married and before you know it she's gone from our house. Even as I write this, alone in the house, I'm feeling a tinge of sadness, that this piece of happy news today marks yet another progression of time for our daughter to leave for the wide world, for our little bird to leave the nest.

My wife has gone to my cousin's house in Kuala Pilah, and will stay the night. Tomorrow is the engagement of Erin, our niece. I called her just now to convey the good news for which we're both very happy. Perhaps my wife, too, will feel what I'm feeling, perhaps more poignantly, because this morning before Dekna left for Shah Alam they were in a little teary argument about boyfriends and stuff. I went to her room and consoled Dekna,  and said just listen to your mother and don't answer back and make it worse. Just concentrate on finishing your LlB ( at this time we still didn't know her results mentioned above ). When it comes to marriage later, it's you getting married, not your mother. I'm on your side, that I promise. Then the tears stopped. But when she took leave from her mother later, my wife was cold. She must have regrets now. But this mother-daughter things happen and they will pass.

Dekna's  successes usually cost me money. Not the school fees and the rest. I'm lucky she received scholarships for her studies. When she was sitting for her DPA finals I promised her a car if she got the VC's Prize. She did, and I was 35 K poorer. Then this year I promised her an upgrade for her car if she obtains a First Class Honours. Just now on the phone she didn't forget and reminded me about it. I'll have to turn to the brothers. I'm strictly surviving on my small pension right now. Otherwise I'll have to think of some way out of the "upgrade" and hope that she won't pull the Law on me.

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Oil Price

5.6.2008.

The current petrol-diesel price hike was expected though the quantum and timing wasn't. As I said in my blog, being an oil producer ourselves, Petronas' accumulated reserves could have been used to lessen the impact and at the end of the day Petronas can still show a profit. 30% of all costs of goods is for transportation, so the effect of a higher fuel cost is plain to see. The inflationary effect is inevitable. The baht meltdown during your watch was a bigger threat to the economy, Tun. Your unorthodox but creative approach pulled us through. The bravery that you showed was eye-opening to the prevailing economic wisdom then. I wonder what sort of wisdom prevails in Putra Jaya now, if any.

Calit and sekolah kole.

5.6.2008.

We were at Indoyo's house since morning, helping prepare for Saturday's betrothal of Erin, her daughter. When I arrived Calit, Boy and Ghaffal were already almost finishing their hard work at the" kawah" stirring strenously at the fast thickening "penganan". I had parked my car at my mother's and walked the 100 meters here, but not before putting on Calit's new boots I found at the doorsteps. "Oi, tie the laces lah, they're getting in the mud !" Calit exclaimed, spotting them immediately. I thought he wouldn't notice. I took the wooden peddle from Calit and made a couple of twirl and passed it back. That was my contribution. When Neng had prepared the vessels with the banana leave lining, I took the first plate of very black, very hot, very sweet  "penganan" as it's commonly called here. In Tampin it's called gelamai, so also I found out in Sumatera Barat (Minang country, that is).

Calit had written briefly in his Gentri post about himself, how he attended "sekolah kole"(kindergaten - because you carried your own mug or "kole" ), TMS, where he was fastest over the hurdles but slowest in between, Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he surprisingly got his first degree, and UKM,where he more suprisingly got his MBA. He didn't mention about his stint in MAS, where obviously didn't learn about check-in time, because Kasah Ahwal said he nearly missed his flight in LA and when he finally made it into the aircraft just as the doors were being shut, everyone in the plane applauded.

So after the penganan was safe and stored, Mat Cit, Calit, Boy and I jumped into Jingkong's old car with the broken a/c and went to see the famous sekolah kole. When we got there Calit and I got out and I started to take some pictures with my new camera-phone. I took some long shots, and then went very close to the school sign board and took some more pictures. "What are you up to ?" Calit is always suspicious of me. And I took some more pictures of the muddy puddles in the field. I've already got an idea about what to do with the pictures. 

Then I took some pictures of the government quarters opposite the sekolah kole - no. 420, Jalan Tengku Berhanuddin. We used to live here before building our own house where my mother is now. Once I get the hang of my new camera-phone I'll write a bit more on the sekolah kole and paste the appropriate photos with the appropriate captions. For the time being I'll say this about the signboard picture that I took. The colour is dark green. But I don't know if there's any mention of kole. It's all in Tamil.

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Fuel hike - inflationary signal ?

5.6.2008.

So, the much anticipated and feared increase in the price of petrol and diesel has happened. And to put salt to  wound, TNB also made an announcement on an increase in its tariff. Perfect timing. Are worse in store ? Is inflation around the corner ?

Everyone knows that sooner or later the price of petrol and diesel would go up. What's the oil price now? USD145 ? Everyone was also hoping that it won't come so soon, and it won't be so much. Fat hopes !

I went back to Kuala Pilah yesterday, and returned to Seremban at around 6 p.m. By that time I had already received an sms from my former staff from, of all places, Kuantan, saying petrol price would go up by 41% come midnight. I still had half a tank in my car, so I thought once I reach Seremban I'd fill up. Fat hopes again. Every petrol station I passed had vehicles queing right up to  the roadside, and many were double-parked. But one station near Paroi Jaya was deserted - I learned later that the owner claimed to be out of stock ! (clever fellow, that's a quick small fortune from his hidden stock).

I said "What ? How much can you take ? 40 litres at 75 sen, so that's about RM 30, and you're queing for two hours for that ? It's not the amount, I think. It's the idea that you're saving money . This is what I don't understand, this saving money concept. I mean, we are an oil exporting country, and our producer company is making record profits. Can't the government tweak the accounts and lessen the price hike and still leave a reasonable profits for the producer ? What's this obsession with the huge and obscene profits ? 

It's the same with TNB, Telekom and the big National banks. It's like a race for them, see who can come up with the biggest profits. What happened to national interest and charity ? The people, our citizens, are customers, too. You don't kill your customers. In the case of the banks, it's always better to reschedule and get your all your money than to liquidate and lose some money. The worst hit will be the transporters - the lorry operators, the shippers and the airlines. And 30% of the costs of everything is transport. See where this is taking us ? Higher transport cost, higher cost of goods and services, more pay demanded by workers, eventually more money doled out by employers, the same amount of goods changing hands, so more money for less goods and Pow! super inflation hits you right in the face. 

I don't know if Dollah received the right advice. I don't know if Dollah Badawi even realises the implications of such a drastic increase in the price of petrol and diesel. Through history governments all over the world have been toppled because of the increase in fuel price. Is his ill-fated government going to be added to that pile ? Not that it doesn't already deserve it.

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