DEHP-tainted food shipped to 15 regions: Taiwan government

Kuching
Saturday, 4th June 2011


According to Taiwan government, the food tainted with DEHP have been exported to 15 countries inclusive Malaysia.

Taiwan's Department of Health confirmed that food products made in the country containing DEHP were exported to 15 other countries or regions. 

Taiwan's Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that food made in Taiwan containing the plasticizer DEHP (di-ethyl hexyl phthalate), which can cause hormone malfunctions in children, was exported to 15 countries or regions including the US, mainland China, the European Union, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Macau.

The department said it has informed the authorities of these countries and reported to World Health Organization (WHO).

China and South Korea have banned imports of certain food and drinks from Taiwan which may be contaminated, while Canada is investigating food imported from Taiwan. California supermarkets have also removed contaminated food from selves.

The toxic food additive scandal broke out early last week in Taiwan after an investigator from the Department of Health discovered food and beverage products containing the agent that is normally only used to make plastics. The discovery triggered a public panic nationwide in Taiwan and the government launched a comprehensive food check.

Beijing banned imports of Taiwan-made sports drinks, fruit juices and jams that Taipei had said could contain excessive levels of DEHP. Beijing also published a list of companies from the island whose imports were banned. South Korea's Food and Drug Administration also implemented a series of bans.

The Philippines have also limited food imports from Taiwan. More than one hundred thousand Taiwan-made food products were recalled by the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday (June 1).

Some 165,505 variants of food and drink products from Taiwan are believed to be contaminated with DEHP and should be recalled, the Philippines FDA said.

The list includes some 200 types of product such as fruit juices, tea, sports drink, fruit concentrate, candies, fruit capsules and tablets, honey, fruit bars, fruit pastes and jams.

Affected products include sports drinks manufactured by Hyatt Brand Food Co and Bao Jian; fruit juice concentrates made by Bosi US International Industrial Co and Sun Biotech; teas by Fresh Tea; fruit juices by Kagawa Industrial Co and Jin Wang Food Co; fruit syrups by Lin International Trading Co and fruit juice powders by Wang Chun Industrial Corp, Chang Gung Biotechnology Co and Hip Shing Chemical Co.

These products were recalled since the agency is under the impression that DEHP was "illegally added to a food product as a clouding agent to improve emulsification of the product," Philippine FDA director Suzette Lazo said.

Hong Kong also banned two Taiwanese drinks on Tuesday (May 31) and Wednesday said it was recalling the stomach medicine Well Tab after its own tests found DEHP in the product.

An alert from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday that affected juices, syrups and jams may be in the Canadian market and contain DEHP.

"We've identified so far 25 different products that we know have been imported into Canada and we put out the recall notice on those," said Tim O'Connor, a spokesperson for the agency. The recalled products include mango, lychee and passion fruit juice.

Contaminated beverages from Taiwan have been removed from shelves at the California-based 99 Ranch Market, one of the largest Asian grocery chains in the US, company spokesperson Jennifer Tsao said Monday (May 30).

"Two kinds of Taiwanese beverages have been taken off shelves and we are still trying to know more about the whole situation, "she told Taiwan's Central News Agency.

99 Ranch Market, run by Tawa Supermarket Inc, has 35 stores in the US, 29 of which are in California. The chain is considered a Taiwanese-American supermarket because it has a considerable amount of products imported from Taiwan.

The Taiwan government has proposed dramatically tougher penalties for tainting food items with banned substances, planning a 33-fold increase in the maximum fine in a bid to prevent contaminated foods being sold.

Mupok Aku

This article is taken from Want China Time.Com

Four Muslims Jail For Attacking RE Teacher In London

Kuching
Friday, 27th May 2011

He was an ‘able, enthusiastic and popular’ religious education teacher who loved his job at an inner-city girls’ school.

Judge: 'Your belief is that you carried out a duty to your God and you did so with no mercy'

Gang to get at least 19 years behind bars for grievous bodily harm with intent 

Jihadi fanatics thought they had got away with it but were caught following suspicions of terrorist plot 

But when a gang of Islamic extremists decided his lessons for Muslim girls were ‘mocking Islam’, they unleashed a sickening attack on Gary Smith, slashing his face and battering him with such force that his own mother didn’t even recognise him.

Akmol Hussain, 26, Sheikh Rashid, 27, Azad Hussein, 26, and Simon Alam, 19, ambushed the 38-year-old as he walked to work because they did not approve of a non-Muslim teacher giving lessons on religion to Hussain’s niece.

In a ten-minute attack, the fundamentalist mob smashed him over the head with a concrete block and iron rod and slashed his face from the corner of his mouth to his right ear with a Stanley knife. They punched and kicked him in the stomach, head and face, before driving away ‘praising Allah’ as they left their victim covered in blood and unconscious with a fractured skull and shattered jaw.

The Jihadi fanatics thought they had got away with it. But, following suspicions of a terrorist plot, the security services had planted a bug in their car that recorded them snarling: ‘This is the dog we want to hit, to strike, to kill.’

Despite the ferocity of the attack, Mr Smith was back in the classroom yesterday as his attackers were given an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

Sentencing the gang at Snaresbrook Crown Court to at least 19 years behind bars for grievous bodily harm with intent, Judge John Hand QC told them: ‘If you think that people around you in society present an insult or threat to God then you will not hesitate in attacking again.’

MI5 considered the gang such a threat to national security that they asked the Home Secretary for permission to plant a covert recording device in Hussain’s car. But it wasn’t until detectives listened to the tapes after the assault in July last year that they were arrested.

In a recording played to the court, Hussain was heard plotting the attack outside Central Foundation Girls’ School in Bow, East London, where Mr Smith worked as head of religious education.Hussein said: ‘He’s mocking Islam and he’s putting doubts in people’s minds. How can somebody take a job to teach Islam when they’re not even a Muslim themselves?’ Just moments before the gang struck at 8am on July 12 last year, Hussain told the others as they donned gloves and black bandanas: ‘Does everyone remember the drill? One time, bang, bang, bang, bang.The recording then fell silent for ten minutes while the attack took place. The gang  later fled in a car boasting of their success. Hussain could be heard saying: ‘Praise to Allah. I turned and hit him on the face with the rod and he went flying and fell on his stomach.’

Mr Smith taught topics such as abortion, euthanasia and the role of women at the high-performing specialist state school, which has a high proportion of Bangladeshi students who do not speak English as their first language.

Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse said: ‘He was targeted as the victim of this attack quite simply because of his position as head of religious studies at the school.’

Mr Smith did not regain consciousness for two days. He underwent emergency surgery to treat bleeding on the brain, leg injuries and nerve damage.

He also had three operations to repair his face, but was left with a four-inch scar, memory loss and back pain.  His mother, Heather, 75, said: ‘His injuries were so bad I didn’t recognise him. It was a horrific and evil attack.

Mr Smith said: ‘They were all armed with knives. I tried to defend myself and run away but they all jumped me and that’s the last thing I remember.

In the victim impact statement,  he added that he has grown a beard in an attempt to conceal the scar. He can only do 75 per cent of his previous working hours and can no longer ride his motorbike or practise martial arts.

The judge said: ‘He enjoyed living in Tower Hamlets where he had lived alone for a number of years, but now is anxious about being alone and has gone back to live with his mother. He lives in constant fear of being attacked again.

‘He forgets about meetings and students’ names, something he never did before the attack.’

The four gang members appeared at court wearing traditional Islamic robes. Their wives and mothers dressed, in full burkas, wept as they were sentenced after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The defendants claimed they had heard rumours that the teacher raped a girl at the school, but this was unfounded.

Hussain and Hussein were given an indeterminate sentence but told they would serve a minimum of five years. Alam was told he would remain in a Young Offenders’ Institute for at least five years, before being released on a five-year licence.

Rashid was told he would be eligible for release after four years, when he too would be subjected to a five year licence.

A fifth man, Badruzzuha Uddin, 24, a mechanic who admitted helping the thugs by hiding blood-stained clothing, was jailed for two years.

Alam, who was born in Germany, faces deportation.

Mupok Aku

William Mawan Lost Command to Non-Iban SPDP 5

Kuching
Thursday, 26th May 2010


William Mawan should expel the SPDP 5 - Paulus, Nansian, Entrie and Rosey from the party before the recent State Election because by not doing so, yesterday the 5 leaders made a press conference and condemned Mawan for Keeping quiet and taking the defensive approach over the party two defeats in the state election. By looking at the composition of SPDP 5, Mawan and the Iban leaders in the SPDP seem to be already lost command to the non-Iban leaders. If Mawan want to mentain SPDP as the Iban majority party he must expel the SPDP 5 members from the party!

Has  Mawan "Lost Command"  to SPDP 5 Who are Non-Iban ? ( Enteri is not Iban due to his conversion status)

A group of SPDP members, including the ‘Group of Five’ members, is concerned about the party’s future and the “deafening silence” of their party president after the April 16 polls.

They are concerned because in the 10th state election, SPDP lost two seats — Krian and Ba’ Kelalan.

The party’s number two Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie lost in Krian while the other casualty was its candidate for Ba’ Kelalan who replaced the party’s secretary-general Nelson Balang Rining .

In a statement obtained by The Borneo Post yesterday, the group said they were puzzled by the continued silence of their leader because all other parties, including the opposition, had commented on their respective performances and some even laid bare their future plans.

“Almost six weeks have passed by since the April state election. All parties, Barisan National as well as the opposition, have commented on their victories and losses and their way forward, except SPDP.

“The silence is deafening,” they said. Ironically, the state assemblymen among the “rebel” group (SPDP 5) were re-elected with handsome winning margins. Members of the group are Marudi assemblyman Sylvester Entrie Muran, Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru), Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Rosey Yunus (Bekenu).

The fifth member is Mas Gading MP Dr Tiki Lafe. Branded as SPDP’s “Group of Five” after they protested a decision made by the president in their last Triennial General Assembly (TGA), both camps patched up before the recent state election.

The group met in Kuching yesterday to review the performance of the party in the election and to share their postmortem findings. They also wanted to know the direction of the party and its preparations for the coming general election.

“For example, has the party election machinery been properly mobilised to ensure a clean sweep in the state election? Were the political secretaries, senator, Wanita, Puteri and Pemuda Wings mobilised in the last state election and for the coming parliamentary election?” the group asked.

But their key concern was on the loss of Ba Kelalan and Krian.

“In Ba Kelalan, the loss has been attributed to a new face, a novice. Such an explanation is acceptable. However, the same excuse would seem rather lame when applied to Krian, an SPDP stronghold in the Sarawak hinterland.

It is a safe seat held by a veteran, who is also the deputy president of SPDP, who lost miserably by over 2,000 votes to a PKR candidate,” it said.

The group also pointed to the SUPP leadership, which had expressed their willingness to take full responsibility for their humiliating losses and to chart a new course of action for the party, and compared it to the silence in their own party.

SPDP president Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom retained Pakan but his seat was also the only one in which the SNAP candidate did not lose his deposit.

SNAP contested in 26 seats but 25 of their candidates lost their deposits.

Mupok Aku

James Masing Warns Ibrahim Ali Not To Anger the Dayak Christians Or Risk Losing His "Head"!

Kuching

Thursday, 26th May 2011

James Masing..Keep It Up. Let's "Pumpong Pala" Ibrahim Ali!

The real James Masing the Dayak Aspirant Leader During Ming Court Prevails By his stern Warning to Ibrahim Ali the Malay Extremist group President. Keep it up Masing. Duku Ilang is always greater than Keris!

Angry with Ibrahim Ali the PERKASA President For declaring "crusade war" against Christians, James Masing warned Ibrahim Ali to mind his language so as not to offend fellow Malaysians from other faiths especially the Christians.

Borneo Post reports James Masing described Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s call for Muslims to declare a “crusade against ungrateful Christians” as extreme :-

“Ibrahim Ali’s view is an extremist view by Perkasa. It is very unhealthy as it is against the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia concept,” said Masing.

James Masing also warned Ibrahim Ali that his statement has angered the Iban which majority are christian.

“I must warn him that the Dayak community in Sarawak also has certain phrases such as ‘Pumpung pala’ (chopping the heads of the enemies) to use against someone they don’t like " said Masing, who is an anthropologist by training.

Iban is the majority group in Sarawak but despite being majority the Iban is the most less developed race in Malaysia. This is mainly due to Taib Mahmud  politic of discrimination against the Iban. Under the constitution the Iban being the native our interest should be protected by the King and should be given special   status as the Malay. But why now Iban is remained one of the less developed race in Malaysia. Despite that we never offend our fellow Malaysians. To Ibrahim Ali please stop you irresponsible act and help in building  this nation. Your rhetoric will not help this nation. By looking at your action lately under PERKASA you should be stripped-off your datukship. People like Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Lim Guan Eng is more fit to be bestowed with DATUK title if compare with you.

To Hishamuddin, if this one Ibrahim Ali is not charged for a crime that he committed, you risk losing this country and turn it into Pakistan or Afghanistan. But the choice is yours whether to keep this one person mouth  shut or risk losing this wonderful country to extremist like Ibrahim Ali.

Mupok Aku

PERKASA Involves In Datuk Seri Anwar Murder Bid

Kuching
Sunday, 22nd May 2011

From PERKASA to UMNO: An Indicator that PERKASA is Indeed A Proxy For UMNO!

Rowdy ultra Malay-rights group Perkasa has been linked to the sabotage of a car used by the wife of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, causing an accident that could have resulted in her death.

A police report has already been lodged on the incident, and pending investigations, PKR leaders have maintained an uneasy silence. But few have hesitated to call the accident a murder attempt - aimed more at Anwar than Wan Azizah, who is also their party president.

Pointing out the link is Anwar himself, who asked how it was that Perkasa had known and lodged a police report that his car - a Mercedes 350 - would be tampered with months before it occured.

“They need to be asked. Now that there is a real accident and a threat on Azizah's life, they have to explain. No, I'm not implying anything (but), how do you expect me to respond to rumours?” Malaysiakini reported Anwar as saying.

In February, Perkasa predicted the accident that would happen in April

The accident to Anwar's car happened on April 19. It was a serious one but Azizah and her travelling companion escaped harm. The mechanic's report showed that a caliper-guide bolt-pin that support the brake disc had been removed.

"I was told that it is impossible for the bolt to come off without someone removing it. Based on what the mechanic told me, there are also elements of sabotage, considering that the vehicle is regularly used by Anwar," his driver of 28 years had said. The 51-year old driver was the one who lodged the police report earlier this month.

But way in advance on February 11, Armand Azha Abu Hanifah, then the Perkasa Youth chief, had lodged his own police report claiming a plot by Anwar and PKR leaders to stage an accident so as to gain public sympathy.

Armand also said the real purpose of the ruse was to spirit Anwar out of the country to a place where he can seek political asylum.

“We feared that he would mobilise and cause chaos in Malaysia from overseas like (ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was said to have a hand in the bloody demonstrations in Bangkok last year),” said Armand.

How credible is Armand's explanation can only be decided by Malaysians themselves. The former Perkasa rabble-rouser is now the PJ Utara Umno youth information chief.

Deathly political game

Indeed, the links to Umno, or more specifically to the Umno elite and in particular Mahathir Mohamad who is also the Perkasa founder, cannot be denied.

There is a clear trend and design to shut out Anwar and his family from the Malaysian political scene. Malaysian politics is both simple and complex at the same time, hinging on the Malay community which forms 60 per cent of the 28 million population.

Whether Anwar is now on a politcal upswing or as the Umno insists on the downcycle, he is still the only Malay leader seen as capable of bridging the divide between the community and the other races.

Thanks to the policies practised since indepndence from colonial rule in 1957, and especially during the Mahathir era, there have been blatant efforts by the government to keep the races apart.

Divide-and-rule was Mahathir's chosen policy, and racial polarization under Prime Minister Najib Razak's watch is now at its worst. Some say that is because the chances are now very real that the Pakatan Rakyat coalition led by Anwar could topple Najib's BN in the coming election.

Anwar's daughter, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, has also received an SMS threat to kidnap her children if she did not persuade her father to quit politics.

Again, like the car sabotage, police reports have been lodged but little action taken by the authorities.

“If the allegations are anything that involves something criminal then the police must investigate, there should not be a cover-up,” complained Anwar.

“Now there is a semblance of a cover-up, for both cases - the accident and the threat to Izzah's daughter. This can be amplified by the manner the investigation is conducted and the statement by the minister of defence. I don't have any issues with Zahid Hamidi. You want to preserve your position in the party and be prepared to go to that extent, where people's lives are being threatened ...".

He was referring to Defense Minister Zahid Hamidi, who recently accused Izzah of trying to gain public sympathy. Zahid's callous accusations stirred up a storm of public outrage, but like his Umno colleagues, they conveniently see Anwar and his family as 'fair game'.

"This is now what Anwar's enemies are trying to do. To twist the truth and when it can't be twisted anymore, they even try to kill him off. I appeal to the BN or those extremists in BN to stop before we go past the point of no return. Please respect the people's wishes for a government of the people for the people by the people," Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham told Malaysia Chronicle.

This article was originally published by Malaysia Chronicles

Mupok Aku

Landslide in Hulu Langat Selangor : 5 killed, 10 still buried at orphanage

Kuching
Saturday, 21st May 2011

A landslide hit an orphanage Saturday afternoon killing five leaving 10 still buried, said Selangor CPO Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah at 8pm.

Firemen and villagers have managed to pull out nine alive, so far, from the Rumah Anak Yatim Hidayah, Madrasah Al-Takwa, Jalan Felcra Semungkus, 14th mile, Hulu Langat, near Kajang.

The dead and alive have been sent to the Ampang and Kajang Hospitals.

"Two landslides occurred simultaneously. All the victims did not have time to escape," he said at a press conference at 6.45pm.

He said all those affected were 20 students attending a motivational camp at the orphanage and four caretakers.

A total of 49 students and caretakers were there but 25 excaped unhurt.

He said the body of the first victim was pulled out from the debris at about 4.30pm while the second body was retrieved at 5pm and the third at 6.10pm. The other two were pulled out at about 7.40pm.

The orphanage was partially buried by the landslides at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Deputy IGP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said that rescuers were being hampered by wet soil that was still moving. It is raining.

He also appealed to the crowd of onlookers to stay back and allow the rescuers to do their work unimpeded.

Bernama reported that in ALOR GAJAH, Malacca, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil directed the Social Welfare Department and the 'Skuad Sayang' (Caring Squad) to provide immediate assistance to the orphans and family of the victims.

"I will get in touch with the police to obtain detailed information and the actual cause of the landslide so that my ministry can take follow-up action to assist the victms," she said.

- Bernama

Mupok Aku

Government Spends Nearly RM 10K Per Month For Senatak Ezam To Attack Anwar

Kuching
Thursday, 19th May 2011

Government Spends Nearly RM10k per month on this Senatak Just to Attack Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. PM Najib be warned. While with PKR he had 6 Boxes In His Posession which he claimed as BN Leaders Corruption Evidents. Sooner he will blackmail you with 12 Boxes of Evidents!

 Ordinary people need to serve the people and country for years before they can be appointed as a senator. But for Mohd Ezam aka Senatak or Senator Katak,he just need to attack his former boss in order to be appointed as senator.

Najib must be damned crazy for spending goverment  or tax payer monies amounting to RM100K per year just to pay this senatak whose main job is to attack Anwar. Remember this senatak while he was still with PKR? This was the same man who claimed that he has 6 boxes containing documents on BN leaders corruption practices in his posession. And today he is working for Najib. I am not surprised that one day once Pakatan Rakyat took over Putra Jaya from BN, he will change side and this time with 12 boxes of documents on BN leaders corruption practices????

Let's see what is his next moves. For me this Senatak credibility is no more there. And since appointed as senator on 3rd May 2010 whis is his main contribution? As far as I am concern his only contribution is by attacking Anwar...He is only good as Najib Dog!

Mupok Aku

Daylight Robbery By BN Government in Malaysia

Kuching
Thursday, 19th May 2011

I know you are all aware of the reasons why our car prices are artificially jacked up. This is just another reminder for you to share this article with as many as possible Malaysians to wake them up and also so that they all aware how dirty the BN's government is
Before reading the article further, please think about these fact :-

Toyota Camry 2.4L for RM69,396.00 (and not RM170,000.00)
Toyota Altis for RM46,000 (and not RM112,000.00)
Honda Jazz for RM36,000.00 (and not RM108,000)

Want more?
Read the following forwarded article.......by Syed Akbar Ali.
And know the actual prices of your dream car.

Car Prices In Malaysia

Digest this article, after that, you may need to vomit. What is the Malaysian Govt doing all these while. Ripping off our Rakyat for the last 30 yrs with APs designed to benefit a few well connected Bumis, the UMNO/BN have robbed millions of citizens in this fiasco, under the pretext of protecting our local industry. The Govt have forgotten we Malays are the largest customers in the country. What is the NEP policy doing ?? Ripping off the Malays (which forms 65% of the consumer base) to benefit a few UMNO politicians !!!

BMW 535i sells for RM178,000 in the US

In the United States of America (a developed country which we are also aspiring to become by the year 2020) a 2009 model BMW 535i Sedan is selling for about USD50,367.00. This is only RM178,000 - about the price of a Toyota Camry 2..4L here in Malaysia . The same BMW sells in Malaysia for about RM450,000.

BMW 328i sells for RM155,000 in the US

The 2009 model BMW 328i 2 door Convertible sells for USD44,014 or RM155,36900 in the US In Malaysia the same car sells for over
RM460,000. This is an untenable situation.

Audi A4 2.0T Cabriolet Convertible sells for RM142,000 in the US

The 2009 model Audi A4 2 Door 2.0T Cabriolet Convertible sells in the US for USD40,328.00 or RM142,357. In Malaysia the same car would sell for about RM265,000.

VW GTI 2.0T sells for RM85,000 in the US

In the US the 2009 model Volkswagen GTI 2.0T sells for USD 24,039 or RM85,000 only. In China the same car will cost around RM60,000. Over here the same VW car sells for about RM200,000.

And the 2010 model Toyota Camry 2.4L sells in the US for USD 19,659...00 or RM69,396 In Malaysia the 2008 Toyota Camry 2.4L sells for RM170,000. Toyota Camry 2.4L, 2010 model. RM69,000 in the US

Car prices in Malaysia are about three times higher than the prices in the United States We are a developing nation. Our land and labour costs are so much cheaper than the US Why are our cars so expensive? It does not make any sense. Tak masuk akal.

Then here are some car prices from our neighbour Indonesia .

The Toyota Altis sells in Indonesia for about RM46,000. The same car sells here for around RM 112,000.. Again we are three times more expensive than Indonesia

The Honda Jazz sells here for RM108,000... In Indonesia the Jazz sells for RM 36,000. Three times more expensive.

We are paying ridiculously high prices (and actually impoverishing the Malays - who are the largest buyers of cars in Malaysia ) to support an out of date, out of touch with reality motor car policy.

We are paying the highest car prices in the world to support the Proton and other locally made cars as well as support a mind boggling AP policy which only benefits a relatively few rich Malays. A disproportionately large number of Malays and other Malaysians are being impoverished to subsidise the wealth of a few inefficient rich.

26 million Malaysians have to pay three times more for their cars just to support Proton and 120,000 people who are directly and indirectly involved in the motor sector in Malaysia and the AP holders. That is a ratio of 216:1.

This ratio of 216:1 is too skewed. 26.0 million happier people can contribute many more votes than 120,000 members of an inefficient motor industry.. 26 million unhappy people can change a Government. (The maths is not really difficult here)

And this outdated policy is impoverishing the Malays more than anyone else.

Here is some news from our DPM Tan Sri Muhyudin Yassin about our car policy. This is truncated:

Muhyiddin assures govt support for automotive parts and component sector

1. KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 - The deputy prime minister said special focus will be given to "facilitate and encourage" the development of the automotive parts and component sector despite the current global and regional economic downturn.

2. "Under the CEPT and Asean Trade in Goods Agreements, Malaysia has agreed to eliminate import duties on all products in the Normal Track on January 1, 2010. This includes motor vehicles, auto parts and components," he said.

3. He pointed out that the motor vehicle sub sector in Malaysia will not be directly impacted because of its heavy dependence on the domestic market.

4. "The Malaysian government recognises the contribution of the domestic automotive industry towards the development of the country."

Para 2 sounds promising but then Para 3 and 4 basically says that the Malaysian motor car industry will continue to be protected. This means we will continue paying the highest car prices in the world for automobiles.

Cuba kita kira : kalau kereta Honda Jazz di jual dengan harga yang sebenarnya (lebih kurang RM36,000 saja) dan bukan pada harga sekarang (RM108,000) maksudnya bayaran bulanan pembeli kereta akan jadi kurang, mungkin sepertiga sahaja daripada bayaran bulanan sekarang.

Jika sekarang orang bayar RM1,500 sebulan untuk beli Honda Jazz, kalau harga kereta lebih menepati harga pasaran dunia, orang kita perlu bayar sekitar RM500 saja sebulan.

Maksudnya tanpa Kerajaan perlu membuat apa pun (merangsang ekonomi, belanja berpuluh billion Ringgit duit rakyat untuk stimulus dan sebagainya) setiap rakyat Malaysia yang membeli kereta yang seharga dengan Honda Jazz akan dapat menjimatkan sehingga RM1,000 sebulan daripada kos sara hidup bulanannya.

This is like giving the car buyer an RM1000 pay rise without incurring any extra costs for the taxpayer, the Government or the economy. It will greatly reduce the cost of living in Malaysia and spur greater economic growth too.

Tapi sekarang, yang menjadi mangsa dulu dan yang menjadi miskin dulu orang Melayu juga. Orang Melayu yang paling ramai sekali menjadi pembeli kereta dalam negara kita. Orang Melayu kebanyakannya makan gaji - tiap bulan dapat gaji tetap. Bila harga kereta naik gila, yang menjadi miskin di saf depan sekali adalah orang Melayu juga.

In absolute numbers, the Malays are suffering the most because they are the most in number among the fixed income people who also buy cars.

Some folks said the other day that Proton has 150 major component suppliers, dealers, distributors and about 500 other parts suppliers too. Of the 150 major component suppliers, about 15 of them are listed companies. In total they employ about 120,000 people. The Proton supply chain is a mix of bumiputras and non bumiputras. But here is a sad fact : none of them are operating at their level best efficiency.

Our motor car policy is forcing Malaysians to subsidise Proton so that Proton can sustain major inefficiencies in the Malaysian economy.. This is not a good thing at all.

We have to unwind this situation.. Set a target of 18 months from now to unwind all protection for our motor industry. Remove the impoverishing AP policy also in 18 months. Let Malaysian car prices reflect world market prices for the same makes of cars.

If a BMW 535 sells for RM178,000 in America , it should sell for a little less here in Malaysia (our rentals and salaries are cheaper).

The Ministers continue making pronouncements about the car industry as though nothing has happened. I hope everyone will please wake up. The Government has a real chance of getting thrown out of office in about three years. The people will not accept inept answers anymore.

The ridiculous car prices in Malaysia is an issue that is just beginning to get more attention and publicity. It is going to become a really big issue in the near future. Be forewarned.

Let's UBAH!

Ibrahim Ali Saga: CIA should Interfere

Kuching
Wednesday, 18th May 2011



After reading Ibrahim Ali aka Ibrahim Katak text of speech about the jihad war against the Christians In Malaysia which was published in the Free Malaysiakini today, I pray to God so that one night CIA will storms into his house and do like what they did to Osama in Pakistan.

Please read the text of his speech which was published in Freemalaysiakini:-

Given the uproar over his call for jihad against the Christians, Malaysiakini uploads the full 45-minute video of his speech.Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali's call to wage a 'perang salib' or holy war has generated much revulsion among many Malaysians, but not apparently so from government leaders.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was quick to dismissed Ibrahim - his views do not represent all Muslims in Malaysia, he stressed.
The home minister, however, was conspicuously silent on whether the speech was seditious. Hishammuddin nevertheless took pains to point out that there too are extremists within the Chinese community, though he did not name them.
Meanwhile, his cabinet colleague, de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz went a step further. He told Malaysiakini yesterday that no action could be taken against Ibrahim as his remarks are now a Malaysian norm.
According to Nazri, no matter how unsettling such remarks are, Malaysians "need to live with" and "be mature" in dealing with such characters as Ibrahim.
At a 1Malaysia event last Saturday, Ibrahim, in railing against the alleged pledge by a group of Christian pastors to create a Christian state in Malaysia, blamed certain parties for undermining the "sovereignty" and "dignity" of Islam as the nation's official religion and Malays' special privileges.
He went as far as to accuse these parties of being agents of the banned Communist Party of Malaya, who are emboldened by support from PKR advisor and former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, Islamic party PAS and Malay liberals.
Some notable quotes

Among his more notable statements that night include:
"... Sebenarnya, darah saya sekarang ini tengah panas ni. Ini bukan main-main. Darah saya tengah panas, bulu roma saya sedang tegak ni... sebab majlis terakhir (saya) di Kelantan tadi, saya istihar, di hadapan polis, saya sebut kepada kakitangan keselamatan, kalau nak sampaikan ini ke Bukit Aman, silakan. Tolong tape apa yang saya cakap."
(... Actually, my blood is boiling now. I am not fooling around. My blood is boiling, and my hairs are standing on end... because at (my) last event in Kelantan, I declared, in front of the police, I told the security officials, if you want to inform Bukit Aman, be my guest. Please tape what I am saying.)
"Kalau ada pihak di Pulau Pinang, terutama diantara paderi Kristian, yang didokong oleh DAP Pulau Pinang, terus dengan agenda yang kita tahu, niat mereka ini, saya tawar... kalau nak perang salib boleh. Ini Salahuddin Ayyubi dari negara Malaysia," he said, comparing himself to legendary Muslim leader of the Crusades, Saladin.
(If there are those in Penang, especially among Christian priests, who are supported by DAP Penang, intending to continue with their agenda which we know, their intentions, this is my offer... we can have holy war. This is Salahuddin Ayyubi of Malaysia.)
"Sampai sekarang ini, usaha mencabar posisi, kedaulatan dan digniti kita umat Melayu Islam, terus menurus, dihayunkan di sana sini. Cabaran ke arah posisi kedaulatan digniti kita umat Melayu Islam, yang menjadi penduduk majoriti, yang menjadi penduduk dan ketuanan negara asal ini, mereka cabar terus menerus."
(Until now, efforts to challenge the position, sovereignty and dignity of Malay Muslims, continues, swung back and forth. The challenge directed at our sovereignty and dignity as Malay Muslims, who form the majority, who are the true sons of the soil, is relentless.)
"Bermula dengan isu-isu bangsa, sekarang berjangkit kepada isu-isu agama. Bila berjangkit kepada isu agama, ertinya jihad."
(Starting with race issues, it has spread to religious issues. When it spread to religious issues, it means 'jihad'.)
One version against many others
"Mula mula bila tercetus berita ini, keesokan hari semua nafi, dan seolah-olah tuduh pula Utusan (Malaysia) tidak bertanggungjawab. Tanya setiausaha agung Perkasa, tanya rakan-rakan Perkasa... saya salah seorang awal-awal lagi saya kata 'sah, benda ini betul'."
(When news of this first broke, the next day they all denied it, as if Utusan has been irresponsible. Ask Perkasa's secretary-general, ask Perkasa's friends... I am among the earliest to say 'confirmed, this is true'.)
This is despite denials from those who had attended the meeting of the pastors that no such pledge was made. Ibrahim however pointed to the police report made by a DAP member, Mohamed Razali, who was present at the event.
But while Mohamed said he had a different version, he did not reveal what exactly happened at the function.
Nevertheless, is Ibrahim's speech seditious? You be the judge. Hear for yourself what Ibrahim said in the full 45-minute video of his speech from that night here.

Mupok Aku

PBB Youth Reminds Not To Deceive Sarawakians

Kuching
Wednesday, 18th May 2011

PBB Youth...We all knew of your stupidity but please Keep it by yourself....

If  I was given the opportunity to choose the Chief Minister of this lovely land of the Hornbill, I am not going to choose Taib Mahmud. There are many reasons why I am not going to choose him. Among others are  because of his corruption and cronyism practices, and the most importantly of  his ill treatment towards the Iban. After more than 30 years under Taib Mahmud, Iban has became the poorest , the less developed among the natives of Sarawak and the worst thing, our NCR lands have been shrinking. 

Borneo Post today reports that a group of PBB youth led by Wan Hamzah Wan Paie yesterday lodged a police report against Francis Siah at Central Police station over MoCS’ alleged malicious activities. On top of that they also threaten MOC by given it seven days to retract a statement that it would initiate a street demonstration if Chief Minister Pehin Seri Abdul Mahmud does not step down on August 13 this year, failure which, they will seek legal action and meet Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to curb “those subversive elements”.

Being one of the victim of Taib ill treatment, I want PBB youth especially from PESAKA  wing to think carefully whether the should defending Taib Mahmud to remain as the CM of Sarawak. As to the Bumiputera wing, I urge all of you to revisited the just concluded  Sarawak State Election. 
Even thought BN managed to retain Sarawak with more than 2/3 majority but this did not mean that majority of  Sarawakians wanted Taib to stay on. During the campaign, Taib had promised to the voters that he will step down after the election. The pledge was made with the  presence of Najib Razak. And to reinforce this Najib Razak had made similar announcement that Taib will step down after the election. Therefore I have questions  for PBB youth. Question 1, what crime has Francis and MoC members committed by urging Taib Mahmud to step down before 13th August 2011, and my second question, why none of them dare to make report to MACC and the police for his corruption and abused of power practices? 

To the PBB youth I warns everyone of you to go to Kota Sentosa hospital to check your mental state. No normal Sarawakian  would like Taib Mahmud to still cling on to power except those like PBB youth members whose mind were retarded!

To the rest of Sarawakians especially the dayak, let's pray for Taib to step down and to face the law for his corruptions and cronyism practices.

Mupok Aku