It's raining again this morning. I have to drive to work in the rain. I always feel very happy whenever I use my car wiper. The silicon wiper that I installed 3 years ago always impress me. I told myself that I have to write to tell everyone in my blog regarding this wonderful product.
This silicon wiper has a lifetime warranty. My wife's car has been using it for 5 years already and the wiper is still very good. The silicon wiper do not require any added screen cleaning detergent. After using the silicon wiper for the first few times, you will notice that the car screen become very smooth and the rain water will form into small droplets on the screen.
The wiper will accumulate a lot of dust on the blade after using and you need to use a cloth or paper to wipe the blade clean once a month.
While most drivers have to turn their wipers to high speed during heavy rain, I could still turn to low speed and the vision is great.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Monday, 2 March 2009
Rohingya Refugees
Rohingya refugees issue was discussed at the 14th Asean Summit just completed in Hua Hin, Thailand. These regional leaders decided to treat them as just one of the migrant groups in the Indian Ocean.
Wikipedia described Rohingya as “The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group of the Northern Rakhine State of Western Burma (nowadays called Myanmar). The Rohingya population is mostly concentrated in five townships namely Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Akyab, Kyaunktaw and Rathidaung in the northern Rakhine State (formerly known as Arakan).”
There were many Rohingya refugees running away form their country seeking refuge in other countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. They are coming by boats to the Asean countries but they are often rejected as refugees.
Refugees are considered asylum seekers running away from their country due to war or violence in their home country. The receiving country must provide refugees with proper protection and treatment as determine in the international law. However, by treating the Rohingya as migrant group, the receiving countries have the right to reject them and sent them back to their home country.
There were a few cases where the Thai Navy towing the boats loaded with Rohingya back to the open sea resulting some of the boats capsized and many people drown.
Reading the news about Rohingya refugees make me think of the Vietnam refugees in Malaysia many years ago. I was still very young at that time. I can still recall there were many boat people coming from Vietnam. There came because of war in Vietnam and these people are considered as refugees. There was a very big refugee camp in Sungai Besi (near the current Bukit Jalil stadium site with thousands of Vietnam refugees. Every time when my father drove me pass the camp I will look inside the camp curiously. I saw many adults and children seating in the wooden long house waiting for time to pass. They were waiting for a chance to be adopted by another country. Some lucky ones were sent to countries like Canada, USA and other western countries to start a new life.
Many years later when I was studying in the USA, I met a Vietnamese student. She told me she had been to Malaysia. I asked her why she was there and she told me that she was one of the refugees in the Sungai Besi camp. I was surprised that many of the Vietnam refugees in USA are doing very well. Like most Asian people, they are very hard working and willing to learn. After a few years, they managed to live comfortably in their adopted country. But most important of all, they were given a second chance.
Why don’t we give the Rohingya refugees a chance? They ran away from their country without knowing what is ahead of them. Many of them will die along the way. But why do they take the risk if they are not facing great violence and lift threatening situation at home?
There was report as stated in Wikipedia that “widespread forced labour, as well as summary executions, torture, and rape. Rohingyas were forced to work without pay by the Myanmar army on infrastructure and economic projects, often under harsh conditions. Many other human rights violations occurred in the context of forced labour of Rohingya civilians by the security forces.”
Asean countries together with international organizations should treat the Rohingya as refugees and operate refugee camps to help them and at the same time put pressure on Myanmar government to treat their minorities within the context of human rights.
Wikipedia described Rohingya as “The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group of the Northern Rakhine State of Western Burma (nowadays called Myanmar). The Rohingya population is mostly concentrated in five townships namely Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Akyab, Kyaunktaw and Rathidaung in the northern Rakhine State (formerly known as Arakan).”
There were many Rohingya refugees running away form their country seeking refuge in other countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. They are coming by boats to the Asean countries but they are often rejected as refugees.
Refugees are considered asylum seekers running away from their country due to war or violence in their home country. The receiving country must provide refugees with proper protection and treatment as determine in the international law. However, by treating the Rohingya as migrant group, the receiving countries have the right to reject them and sent them back to their home country.
There were a few cases where the Thai Navy towing the boats loaded with Rohingya back to the open sea resulting some of the boats capsized and many people drown.
Reading the news about Rohingya refugees make me think of the Vietnam refugees in Malaysia many years ago. I was still very young at that time. I can still recall there were many boat people coming from Vietnam. There came because of war in Vietnam and these people are considered as refugees. There was a very big refugee camp in Sungai Besi (near the current Bukit Jalil stadium site with thousands of Vietnam refugees. Every time when my father drove me pass the camp I will look inside the camp curiously. I saw many adults and children seating in the wooden long house waiting for time to pass. They were waiting for a chance to be adopted by another country. Some lucky ones were sent to countries like Canada, USA and other western countries to start a new life.
Many years later when I was studying in the USA, I met a Vietnamese student. She told me she had been to Malaysia. I asked her why she was there and she told me that she was one of the refugees in the Sungai Besi camp. I was surprised that many of the Vietnam refugees in USA are doing very well. Like most Asian people, they are very hard working and willing to learn. After a few years, they managed to live comfortably in their adopted country. But most important of all, they were given a second chance.
Why don’t we give the Rohingya refugees a chance? They ran away from their country without knowing what is ahead of them. Many of them will die along the way. But why do they take the risk if they are not facing great violence and lift threatening situation at home?
There was report as stated in Wikipedia that “widespread forced labour, as well as summary executions, torture, and rape. Rohingyas were forced to work without pay by the Myanmar army on infrastructure and economic projects, often under harsh conditions. Many other human rights violations occurred in the context of forced labour of Rohingya civilians by the security forces.”
Asean countries together with international organizations should treat the Rohingya as refugees and operate refugee camps to help them and at the same time put pressure on Myanmar government to treat their minorities within the context of human rights.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Focus on Economy not Politic
A businessman Anas Zubedy has taken a full-page advertisement in Star paper yesterday asking Malaysian political parties to call a truce and focus on the shaky economy and jobs.
He paid more than RM36,000 for the advertisement in the newspaper.
“Whether (the governing) Barisan Nasional or (opposition) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leads is meaningless . . . if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table,” he wrote.
“Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and just let go. The nation can wait until the next general election if they want change.”
“Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR lawmakers. You have proved your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general election if they want your party.”
“Someone has to give in. Take the nation to heart. That's why you are in politics in the first place. Focus on the people. Focus on the economy.”
Many of us agreed to what Anas said. There are just too much politic after the March 08 election. What is BN going to prove by taking over Perak? It just created more problems for the people in the state.
Since each party has their own states, they should try to do their best to make the people in the states proud of them and will continue to elect them in the next election.
The worse thing in this country right now is that the politicians are busy fighting inside and outside the party. The police and MACC are very busy taking down reports made by politicians against each other. Can you imagine more than 20 reports just for a same incidence? How are they going to investigate all the case? Is that why they start out with the easy job first but investigate the car and cows case.
Our leaders should concentrate more toward the economy of the country as we are heading into a recession. When the economy is good and the people in the country are wealthy, they will naturally support the ruling party.
I remember many years ago when Tiger Woods wasn’t world number one yet and someone asked him if he is aiming to be number one in the world. Tiger just said that he never think about it. He just plays well every time and things (ranking) will take care of itself. Politicians don’t have to make headline, create scene and bad mouth others, they just need to work hard and serve the people well and sure to be elected in every election.
He paid more than RM36,000 for the advertisement in the newspaper.
“Whether (the governing) Barisan Nasional or (opposition) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leads is meaningless . . . if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table,” he wrote.
“Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and just let go. The nation can wait until the next general election if they want change.”
“Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR lawmakers. You have proved your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general election if they want your party.”
“Someone has to give in. Take the nation to heart. That's why you are in politics in the first place. Focus on the people. Focus on the economy.”
Many of us agreed to what Anas said. There are just too much politic after the March 08 election. What is BN going to prove by taking over Perak? It just created more problems for the people in the state.
Since each party has their own states, they should try to do their best to make the people in the states proud of them and will continue to elect them in the next election.
The worse thing in this country right now is that the politicians are busy fighting inside and outside the party. The police and MACC are very busy taking down reports made by politicians against each other. Can you imagine more than 20 reports just for a same incidence? How are they going to investigate all the case? Is that why they start out with the easy job first but investigate the car and cows case.
Our leaders should concentrate more toward the economy of the country as we are heading into a recession. When the economy is good and the people in the country are wealthy, they will naturally support the ruling party.
I remember many years ago when Tiger Woods wasn’t world number one yet and someone asked him if he is aiming to be number one in the world. Tiger just said that he never think about it. He just plays well every time and things (ranking) will take care of itself. Politicians don’t have to make headline, create scene and bad mouth others, they just need to work hard and serve the people well and sure to be elected in every election.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Impartiality
Read the newspaper this morning. There was a news regarding Sin Ming Chinese school in Puchong invited Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to a new classroom block opening ceremony yesterday. Due to the attendance of people from Pakatan, the education department has instructed the school headmaster and teachers not to attend the ceremony.
After the 12th general election, there are a few states control by the Pakatan. The Barisan government has instructed government servants not to follow the instruction of the Pakatan government. They are also not allow to attend any functions organize or participate by the Pakatan. This instruction has created a lot of problems for the government servants.
There are also similar problem with the Pakatan ruled states where they have taken control of the community halls in the kampongs and don’t allow Barisan members to use the community halls.
Since late January, there are two Menteri Besar in Perak, so whose instruction shall the government servants listen to? Since the case is still in the court, shall the government servants use their own judgement to serve the right Menteri Besar? If the lawyers and the judges are still debating on the issue how do you expect the government servants to make a right decision on their own?
We can expect problems with changing state government or maybe ruling government in the near future. The country is going through a political turbulence. The government may flip-flop between 2 parties like what happen to other develop countries. It is time for the government servants to remain impartial between the 2 parties.
Wikipedia wrotes “Impartiality is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons”.
Government servants shall execute their jobs professionally based on objective criteria regardless of who rules the government. Their service is for the people of Malaysia.
Schools should be free from political influence. Community hall should be open and use for the community and not by certain parties. Police should hold the principle of justice and act base on the decision by the courts.
When all the government servants can practice impartiality only then can we consider our country as a democratic country.
After the 12th general election, there are a few states control by the Pakatan. The Barisan government has instructed government servants not to follow the instruction of the Pakatan government. They are also not allow to attend any functions organize or participate by the Pakatan. This instruction has created a lot of problems for the government servants.
There are also similar problem with the Pakatan ruled states where they have taken control of the community halls in the kampongs and don’t allow Barisan members to use the community halls.
Since late January, there are two Menteri Besar in Perak, so whose instruction shall the government servants listen to? Since the case is still in the court, shall the government servants use their own judgement to serve the right Menteri Besar? If the lawyers and the judges are still debating on the issue how do you expect the government servants to make a right decision on their own?
We can expect problems with changing state government or maybe ruling government in the near future. The country is going through a political turbulence. The government may flip-flop between 2 parties like what happen to other develop countries. It is time for the government servants to remain impartial between the 2 parties.
Wikipedia wrotes “Impartiality is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons”.
Government servants shall execute their jobs professionally based on objective criteria regardless of who rules the government. Their service is for the people of Malaysia.
Schools should be free from political influence. Community hall should be open and use for the community and not by certain parties. Police should hold the principle of justice and act base on the decision by the courts.
When all the government servants can practice impartiality only then can we consider our country as a democratic country.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Why layoff workers when company still make profit?
The global economic tsunami which has started since last year has caused many companies to go bankrupt. Many companies are unable to keep operation running without incurring heavy losses. The only option they have is to close down their companies and layoff all the workers.
However, there are some companies that are still making money but not as much as the previous years. Their annual profit may have drop less than 25% but these companies are layoff workers too. Their excuse is to trim the work force so that their company can make more money in the future. Many big American companies just made less profit than the previous years but have started laying off thousand of workers.
If companies are still making profit at this current financial crisis, why must they layoff the workers? To the top management, they just look at their account books and statistic reports trying to make more money to please their shareholders. With a stroke of pen they layoff thousand of workers here and there.
The workers that are layoff will not be able to find another job easily. They have to feed their children, pay the house mortgage and they health care. Where are they going to get the money?
Furthermore, if more people have no jobs, the purchasing power will start to reduce. Companies that produce goods will have less sales and they will start to layoff more workers. These things go in circle and will make the economic worst.
It is advisable for companies that are still making profit or have ample of reserve to cover their current losses not to layoff their workers. Keep their workers by reducing their pay or working days so that the workers could tighten their belt and hopefully work through the current financial crisis.
However, there are some companies that are still making money but not as much as the previous years. Their annual profit may have drop less than 25% but these companies are layoff workers too. Their excuse is to trim the work force so that their company can make more money in the future. Many big American companies just made less profit than the previous years but have started laying off thousand of workers.
If companies are still making profit at this current financial crisis, why must they layoff the workers? To the top management, they just look at their account books and statistic reports trying to make more money to please their shareholders. With a stroke of pen they layoff thousand of workers here and there.
The workers that are layoff will not be able to find another job easily. They have to feed their children, pay the house mortgage and they health care. Where are they going to get the money?
Furthermore, if more people have no jobs, the purchasing power will start to reduce. Companies that produce goods will have less sales and they will start to layoff more workers. These things go in circle and will make the economic worst.
It is advisable for companies that are still making profit or have ample of reserve to cover their current losses not to layoff their workers. Keep their workers by reducing their pay or working days so that the workers could tighten their belt and hopefully work through the current financial crisis.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Elizabeth Wong
Today the main storey in the newspaper is regarding our Selangor Exco Ms. Elizabeth Wong (many called her Ms. Eli) nude photographs circulating in the cyberspace.
She said she was unaware when the photos was taken. We don’t know how true it is but wait for the police to investigate.
Basically I can think of 5 types of different scenario of how nude photos are circulating in the cyberspace.
1. Photos taken without consent (unaware) and was not doing anything immoral. For example, spy camera in the public toilet or changing area. Like the current Elizabeth case.
2. Photos taken without consent (unaware) and was doing immoral act. For example, spy camera taken photos of people having affair and immoral act. Like the Mr. Chua case.
3. Photos taken with consent but not doing anything immoral and not intended for circulation. For example personal nude portrait. Like those exhibit in the art gallery.
4. Photos taken with consent doing immoral act but was not intended for circulation. For example sex photos or sex video for personal consumption. Like the MAS crew case.
5. Photos taken with consent doing immoral act and was intended for circulation. For example photo or sex video selling in the market. Don’t need to explain.
We have to treat different scenario with different types of punishment. As for the Elizabeth case, the person to be punished shall be the person who have taken the photos and circulate it. I can still remember the incident where a Malay lady found her tenant install a spy camera in her living room. The tenant was subsequently taken to court.
Police should quickly solve the Elizabeth case and bring the culprit to court. At the mean time Ms. Elizabeth Wong should not quit her post as the ADUN representative and exco member. Don’t bow to the bad guy and let them get what they wanted.
She said she was unaware when the photos was taken. We don’t know how true it is but wait for the police to investigate.
Basically I can think of 5 types of different scenario of how nude photos are circulating in the cyberspace.
1. Photos taken without consent (unaware) and was not doing anything immoral. For example, spy camera in the public toilet or changing area. Like the current Elizabeth case.
2. Photos taken without consent (unaware) and was doing immoral act. For example, spy camera taken photos of people having affair and immoral act. Like the Mr. Chua case.
3. Photos taken with consent but not doing anything immoral and not intended for circulation. For example personal nude portrait. Like those exhibit in the art gallery.
4. Photos taken with consent doing immoral act but was not intended for circulation. For example sex photos or sex video for personal consumption. Like the MAS crew case.
5. Photos taken with consent doing immoral act and was intended for circulation. For example photo or sex video selling in the market. Don’t need to explain.
We have to treat different scenario with different types of punishment. As for the Elizabeth case, the person to be punished shall be the person who have taken the photos and circulate it. I can still remember the incident where a Malay lady found her tenant install a spy camera in her living room. The tenant was subsequently taken to court.
Police should quickly solve the Elizabeth case and bring the culprit to court. At the mean time Ms. Elizabeth Wong should not quit her post as the ADUN representative and exco member. Don’t bow to the bad guy and let them get what they wanted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
