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Malaysia
Malaysian Budget 2013 and Tourism
Sep 29th
The Malaysian Budget 2013 was tabled yesterday on 28th September 2012. I was so looking forward to more incentives for the tourism industry players.
The only pointers for tourism is just this:
Intensifying Tourism Sector
28. The tourism industry is one of the key economic growth sectors, contributing almost 12% to GDP. Total revenue generated from the tourism sector is estimated to increase to RM62 billion in 2012. In conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2013/2014, the Government has allocated RM358 million under development expenditure, an increase of 42%, to target 26.8 million tourist arrivals. In addition, for tour operators who bring in at least 750 foreign tourists or handle 1,500 local tourists a year, the Government proposes that the income tax exemption be extended for 3 years.
Last budget in 2012, there was two plans and they are:
- To promote tourism, the Langkawi Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan will be launched with an allocation of RM420mil
- The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council will be privatised to promote and develop Malaysia as a healthcare destination
Maybe this year’s focus was to benefit the small and medium income rakyats. But then again, tourism is a good industry to benefit the similar group of people! It is also sustainable in the long run if implemented correctly and effectively.
We keep on shouting out loud on tourist arrivals by the numbers and we know tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry where almost in every 12 jobs there is a tourism job. We should at least invest more now in tourism in terms of development not physical development but talents to bring tourism further.
Tourism is one of the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) and they only address issues and had plans for the projects here and there while destinations development is most of it.
I personally think incentives should be given to SMEs who is with brilliant ideas to bring Malaysia’s tourism up further and also the boost to grow the talents needed for the growth of the industry.
Great Grand Daughter of Tunku Abdul Rahman on Malaysian Unity
Sep 5th
I log in into my Facebook just a moment ago and I stumbled to a nice piece of article by the great grand daughter of our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Read on and be enlighten.
This is a very good article from a younger generation and a great granddaughter of Tunku Abdul Rahman. A very well expressed opinion of how all Malaysians should be treated.
IF THIS IS THE VOICE OF YOUR YOUNGER GENERATION IN MALAYSIA , YOU WILL BE BLESSED.
Sharyn completed her Diploma in Advertising from Taylor’s College, and then left motherland to pursue her BA degree majoring in Media Studies and Anthropology at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. While waiting for her graduation in May 08, she interned briefly at M&C Saatchi Wellington, a global advertising firm. Upon returning to Malaysia, jobless and relieved of rent payments, Sharyn stumbled upon Wild Asia through The Star which sparked her interest to learn more about nature and environmental causes. Armed with a communications background, Sharyn works on the Wild Asia website and editorial, translating geek terms into laymen language, easily accessed and understood by visitors regardless of their backgrounds, be it scientific, business, the arts or just plain interested.
By The Tunku’s Great GranddaughterThis is a great piece. She has all the qualities of her great grandfather. Tunku has reason to be proud of her!
Tunku Abdul Rahman’s great granddaughter
Sharyn Lisa Shufiyan, 24, Conservationist
Both my parents are Malay. My mum’s heritage includes Chinese, Thai and Arab, while my dad is Minangkabau. Due to my skin colour, I am often mistaken for a Chinese.
I’m happy that I don’t have the typical Malay look but I do get annoyed when people call me Ah Moi or ask me straight up “Are you Chinese or Malay”
Like, why does it matter? Before I used to answer “Malay” but now I’m trying to consciously answer Malaysian instead.
There’s this incident from primary school that I remember till today. Someone told me that I will be called last during Judgement Day because I don’t have a Muslim name. Of course, I was scared then but now that I’m older, I realise that a name is just a name. It doesn’t define you as a good or bad person and there is definitely no such thing as a Muslim name. You can be named Rashid or Ali and still be a Christian.
I’ve heard of the 1Malaysia concept, but I think we don’t need to be told to be united. We’ve come such a long way that it should already be embedded in our hearts and minds that we are united. Unfortunately, you can still see racial discrimination and polarisation. There is still this ethno-centric view that the Malays are the dominant group and their rights must be protected, and non Malays are forever the outsiders.
For the concept to succeed, I think the government should stop with the race politics. It’s tiring, really. We grew up with application forms asking us to tick our race. We should stop painting a negative image of the other races, stop thinking about ‘us’ and ‘them’ and focus on ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘Malaysians’.
No one should be made uncomfortable in their own home. A dear Chinese friend of mine said to me once, “I don’t feel patriotic because I am not made to feel like Malaysia is my home, and I don’t feel an affinity to China because I have never lived there.
I know some baby Nyonya friends who can trace their lineage back hundreds of years. I’m a fourth generation Malaysian. If I am Bumiputra, why can’t they be, too? Clearly I have issues with the term.
I think the main reason why we still can’t achieve total unity is because of this ‘Malay rights’ concept. I’d rather ‘Malay rights’ be replaced by human rights. So unless we get rid of this Bumiputra status, or reform our views and policies on rights, we will never achieve unity.
For my merdeka wish, I’d like for Malaysians to have more voice, to be respected and heard. I wish that the government would uphold the true essence of parliamentary democracy. I wish for the people to no longer fear and discriminate against each other, to see that we are one and the same.
I wish that Malaysia would truly live up to the tourism spin of Malaysia truly Asia. Malaysians to lead – whatever their ethnic background. Only ONE NATIONALITY MALAYSIAN. No Malays, No Chinese, No Indians – ONLY MALAYSIANS. Choose whatever religion one is comfortable with.
MERDEKA
MERDEKA
MERDEKAOriginally taken from Facebook
Petronas KLCC Twin Tower Night View
Jun 2nd
Just a little diversion from Jakarta – Bandung trip post. Saw this wonderful pic I took while editing my pics last night.
Took this some time ago after Tiger Launch Party from NZ Cafe beside Public Bank on Jalan Ampang.
I like this picture as it got the postcard feel… What do you think?
Who says you need a DSLR to take nice pics!? 
Ibrahim Ali “shits” Malaysian Second Class Citizen
Apr 21st
This YouTube video was found on tim thinks that***’s blog.
In this video below you will find the head of Perkasa, Ibrahim Ali shitting on the second class citizens of Malaysia. Seriously, I do not really know what and who actually qualifies for second class citizens aka the non-malays in Malaysia because I thought, we are all 1Malaysia. No?
Somebody please try to prove me wrong or me for being naive.
Minorities cry foul in Malaysia.
Oh wait… His Honorable Dato’ Paduka Ibrahim Ali just did…
… and how not the minorities cry foul in Malaysia after watching this video?
AlJazeeraEnglish — March 29, 2010 — Najib Abdul Razak, Malaysia’s prime minister, is set to present on Tuesday a new economic policy, a controversial socio-economic initiative that aims to give equal treatment to all ethnic groups in the country.
But for decades many ethnic Chinese and Indian groups have long grieved of institutionalised discrimination and alleged the country’s ethnic majority enjoy special advantages in housing, education and employment.
Waves of ethnic Chinese and Indians left the country between 2008 and 2009 to seek a better life abroad.
Although Najib is vowing equality for all, minority communities are pessimistic.
Laura Kyle reports from Kuala Lumpur.
[March 29, 2010]
All I can say is, please all of you, pray for the country for we have a bigger threat for the nation than terrorism itself. Maybe he doesn’t have any Weapon of Mass Destruction, but the words this “honorable” gentleman used can qualify as a nuclear weapon, in my own opinion.
Wonders what will our very beloved Prime Minister will do after he attended the nuclear summit to extract this “very dangerous weapon” in Malaysia. It could be a weapon for the other way round, no one knows. I’m just saying without fact, don’t sue me. One can always guess and I’m just doing that, guess.
Please don’t hold me against my view, because I love the country but not “some” really funny clowns people I always see in the Parliament YouTube video who likes to jester each other in whatever name they feel they like and the constant call for the other party to “take back their words” and so much more that I don’t think with one blog entry I can tell it all.
Wonders why Parliament consist of the word “Parlia”… Hmmm..
Federal Territories Minister Facebookin!
Jun 11th
Recently I found out that our Federal Territories Minister, YB Raja Nong Chik has got a Facebook fan page and even a blog. I was excited and jump on the chance to have a direct communication. As in pointing my views on the whole traffic and development issues in Kuala Lumpur.
Yesterday, I sent in my comments and also gave a link to this picture below and I got a reply already on the same day… Not bad huh?
YB Raja has pretty much allocated his own private time daily to reply Facebook comments and push it through to the relevant authorities.
This was his reply.
Let’s hope there is an improvement over time. I will send in more and more pictures. When I have the time lah to snap and edit it then send to the Flickr and then post the link to YB’s fans page.
Now, you can head over to YB Raja’s Fan Page or read his blog and start harassing YB Raja in a very polite way in order to solve the issues pertaining to Federal Territories. Heck you can even follow him on Twitter.
Talk about using techonolgy…
BLOOD: The Last Vampire + Drama + Rant
Jun 11th
I was at Nuffnang’s Party & Premiere Screening of BLOOD: The Last Vampire.
I went there late as there was a big big “drama” before that. Friend called for emergency as he has won something. He needs me to be there because him, being the staff there can’t claim the prize. The prize comes in four digits and it’s in cold hard cash. So, I’m just the dummy. I don’t get a cut so, don’t ask. Well actually, I haven’t even ask about my cut. He needs the money badly lah, so consider him luck then.
I was running late. I made it to Cineleisure in 15 minutes from KL. To make things more dramatic, my petrol light was blinking and it has been blinking since evening when I came back from Palace of the Golden Horses. I drove in “high speed” from Jalan Sultan Ismail to Cineleisure to make sure I make it in time. Lagi worst, my guest was there already! Anyways, all is cool. I made my “grand” entrance into the cinema and found myself a seat in third row from the screen. Sadness.
Back to this movie…
I think, the movie is good. Not too bad. Reason why is because I didn’t anticipate much on the outcome but rather anticipated a rather ok or good movie. I did not read the or watch the anime version of it so I rather not comment further. But basically, I like the fighting scenes lah. I actually do like it until I see a lot of censorship. Which, pretty much killed the whole anticipating of watching a good movie. So yeah…
In my own personal point of view. When you rate 18SG. You freaking NOT CENSOR it. Why? you stupid censorship board is undermining our age is it? Why even rate 18SG when you can’t think logically that those who are watching this movie is going to be a mature crowd.
The whole gist of this movie and why people watch it is because of the sword fighting scene. People like me watch this because of the “body chopping” scene! When you censor it, it is more or less like cheating our money and I feel that we as cinema goers should ask for refund then. Because, what I am paying is for a full movie, but you people in the “you know where you are” have to come up with some rather nonsensical ruling of censoring certain parts of the movie.
Pardon me, but HOW STEWPID lah!
I wouldn’t blame Columbia Pictures or the director and what not lah because my sentiment is not towards this movie BLOOD: The Last Vampire, but other movies as well lah. I feel the makers for this movie has done a great job.
That is why when these kinda censorship happens, we go all out to buy pirated DVDs to watch. Myself, I rather just wait another month and download it off Torrent rather than contributing to Malaysian economy which doesn’t even justify the purpose and final outcome.
Oh wells, you can watch the trailer here embedded from YouTube.
Okay… enough of ranting… Go watch this movie while you can, wherever it might me.
Malaysian Police Asking For Bribe, Indirectly!!!
Apr 2nd
It was after a night dealing with Mr. Freako I was driving back along the Jalan Sungai Besi linking federal highway. I don’t know what road is that. I’m thinking that’s the road that comes from Cheras exiting Mid Valley. Bah.. Nevermind!. That’s not my main point of this post. This post is about our very clever Malaysian traffic police.
I can’t remember how fast I was driving, but I was driving fast. I think I can join F1 already that kinda of fast?
So I saw some blinking lights ahead and I see some police cars on the side.
In my mind, “OKay! The beer was like an hour ago. Shouldn’t be a problem mah”
I reach to the checkpoint, I was directed to the side.
One police officer came walking to my car. I locked my car door and wind down my window to a quarter opening so that we can talk and hand him my driving license. I recommend all of you to do this. Because it is safer and you have your right to stay in your car until you are proven you are guilty and asked to step out of your car.
So, he came to me, and talk to me through the small opening of my window.
Officer: “Berapa laju you pandu?” (How fast you drove?)
Me: *ignores him while taking out my driving license*
Officer: “You pandu banyak laju ah tadi. Lesen!” (You drove very fast! License!)
Me: *hands him my driving license. Took out my camera*
Officer: “Saya tulis saman ya?” (I will write you a ticket okay?)
Me: “Huh?”
Officer: “Saya cakap, saya tulis you saman ya!! (I said, I write you a ticket! Okay?)
Me: “OK. Tulis lah.” (Okay, Go ahead)
Officer: *looks at me dumbfounded. hands me back my license* “Jalan” (You are good to go)
I was like… WHOA! It works!! I remember reading it on YeeHou’s Blog. The trick to avoid getting a ticket. Well not trick lah, but rather the whole not bribing the policeman thingy. Go read his blog.
See, when you ask to be given a ticket, that policeman doesn’t even care and just flag you off to go. The whole purpose of them setting up that roadblock is to get some bribe money of you, I guess. I’m sure with the speed I was driving, I could have been given a ticket without any excuse. The road limit was 80kmph and who in their right mind would drive that slow? Okay lah.. there are others will lah, but heh.. not me at that kinda hour when there are no cars around
The voice blaring out from his walkie-talkie is another policeman, watching somewhere along the bush by the highway along that road, reading out car numbers and their speed. Then, his hand was holding the summon book and I can nicely see that when he ask for my license, there is a sheet of paper on top of the summon book where that policeman will write down all the numbers of the cars that was being stopped or rather that he attended to. Beside the car number was like amount written on it.
It is like a notepad for him to note down the total of “earnings” of the night. More like a “kertas tiga lima” to him I guess…
XXX 1234 – 50
JHG 7654
KJH 8888 – 200
the list goes on and on…
You tell me… if this is not asking for bribe, INDIRECTLY, what else could it be right? If the policeman was ethical enough and is a so call law enforcer, I should be given a ticket. Right? Why flag me away?
So yeah, contribute to the economy a little bit for goodness sake you all. Don’t bribe the police and make them fat. They are all already fat enough and not really efficient with their work. Why pay those lazy policeman when you can just pay the government and help with the economy. Furthermore, you are bound to get some discounts from the traffic police department at random times for you to pay up.
I have to put in a disclaimer here. Not many times this will work. Asking them to write you a ticket just like I do will not get you away. I was just pushing my luck by not bribing him. It works with different police officers with their own personal work ethics. So be warned of this highly unpredictable ‘trick’. 
Malaysia Boleh!!
Stupidest Developer and Local Council Ever!!!
Mar 16th
If I know exactly where is this place, I would have told you by now.
But now, I don’t really know this place well, yet.
If this country’s law is as liberal as any western country out there, someone will get hurt on this road and the government or local council will be sued till they fu lat…
How dumb can some local council approve a road construction that goes around a water pipe? Why can’t they relocate the water pipe then only get the road done?
What a waste of public funds when they need to dig out, relocate and resurface.
If the road is built, I’m sure someone would have approved it. That person has got to be awarded a medal. Because, this gotta be the biggest joke for the country!…
Sigh… Malaysia Boleh-lah!!!
Screw American Idol, Let’s Watch Politician Idol!!!
Mar 3rd
It has been quite a while since I wrote about our very own Malaysian politics and it has also been a while since I last checked into Malaysiakini. Today has been a very dramatic day in Perak. Even my contractor also call me to talked about it and started cursing at our politicians.
Words like…
“Niamah… under the tree also can have assembly meeting. It’s like, you can use hand while playing soccer now!!” He said it in Cantonese, which was a lot funnier.
Anyways… So I’ve read all about it in Malaysiakini.
High drama, violence & ‘pokok demokrasi’
Andrew Ong | Mar 3, 09 4:35pmThe vicinity of the Perak state secretariat building today was gripped with high drama for about four hours as Pakatan Rakyat tried to convene an emergency state assembly sitting.
MCPXperak state govt crisis state adun assemble under the rain tree 030309From the wee hours, police have been manning roadblocks leading to both the front and rear entrance to the building, where the state assembly is housed.
Rush hour traffic was brought to a crawl and students were seen running to a nearby school as their parents could only drop them at a roadblock.
Other than the heavy police presence, little was out of the ordinary until a group of some 30 burly men started to shout profanities at some 100 Pakatan supporters gathered near the state secretariat building.
The Pakatan supporters backed off slightly, but that didn’t stop the group of aggressive men, though vastly outnumbered, from shouting profanities. (more in Malaysiakini)
I’m sorry to say that Zubedy’s open letter has eventually fallen into the deaf ears. Maybe, someone needs to come up with an open letter to our Malaysian political clowns so that it hits them right into their brain. Most of those clown’s skin are too thick to take simple and humble words of Zubedy. Like seriously.
If I’m the Sultan of Perak, I will immediately tell those jokers in the Perak State to pack up and go home and sleep. Stay home, indefinitely. When I say those jokers, I mean those jokers from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. If our politicians can’t act admirably, where you think the citizens learn their brutal acts from? The politician! Yes! You are correct!!!
So, why not, let me write an open letter here in my humble blog to our Malaysian politicians, with much lower fee for the world to see.
Dear Malaysian Politician Idol Contestants,
I have to add in “Idol Contestants” because, the show that you guys are putting up are much better than watching American Idol. If we were to make a film out of it, it will totally beat Slumdog Millionaire just like how David beats Goliath.
As a Malaysian citizen, I don’t understand why is there a need for power grab in Perak. Why is one seat in a state government makes you people fight like angry dogs who was thrown one huge bone. Pardon my words, but it’s just how I am feeling right now at this point of time. Angry!
Even, us citizens wants the best seats in the cinema also have to line up. First come first serve lah! Bloody hell. Simple logic also can’t understand and you want to lead the citizens? Pfft!!!
Excuse me, don’t throw all your political jargon to me now and just shut up and do your work. When I said, do your work I mean, go back to where it was and sit back, relax and serve us our tea. Yes, us, citizens whom you are suppose to serve. Not some party flag who tells you where you seat and what you do, what you talk.
If not for us, do you even think your party flag can even touch the flag pole? Pfftt!! You will be holding your party flag tightly in your arms or kept in your car boot instead.
I don’t know much about democracy, what I’ve known is demoCRAZY and I have to thank you ‘Politician Idols‘ for it. Because, I’ve not even seen much of a democracy in Perak or Malaysia for long now. All I kept listening and reading in the papers are drama this and that.
If you have been championing for a fair country, with equality in all aspects of living, why can’t Perak enjoy the same fate as Penang? I remember once I saw a video of Datuk Seri Najib doing all the “Yes, endorse me as your PM and you will enjoy living in Malaysia” kind of video. Bah! What happened to all the values he has mentioned in there?
How the whole drama and fun fare begins in Perak, everyone knows. I don’t have to explain it anymore.
If you think you are that good, prove us that you are. Why choose to seat somewhere where we the citizens don’t want you to sit? You don’t like Lim Ah Kau sitting in Bandar Longkau, that’s your problem! Citizens of Bandar Longkau likes Lim Ah Kau there. So, you Abu Bakar from Bandar Terbakar go back and do your homework! Gain our confidence again why you should be voted to seat at Bandar Longkau.
In this time of economy, yes, it’s good that you put up some drama to ease our sorrows because of the downturn. But, please lah, we already have so many dramas in Astro to watch. We don’t need to pay you to put up some drama for us AND we are already paying you to get your job done by making sure the environment we live in is conducive enough for us to enjoy our daily life. Enough already for the drama in the Parliament!
So, please stop all this Politician Idol chasing drama and work on improving our daily living conditions. You want to know what I face in my daily life?
The city is congested with so many buildings but not enough parkings!
The public transportation is like a the state of the art? Think again!
Where are the DBKLs, MPPJs and MBBSs when we need them to summon the errant drivers!
Why the toll rates going up again!? Why is there a toll system in the first place!
Why are the roads in such bad condition! Where are the road taxes going?I’ve got a longer list but, hey, have I not bore you enough? Now, get back to work!
A Malaysian Citizen,
YapThomas
You think I’m slamming BN in general? You bet you do. But, PKR is not any better either, as claimed. Because, remember, the problems I’m facing in my daily life above are all PKR’s. They are running Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and the mess are there.
Oh… ISA? So I’m a threat to the country eh? As far as I’ve learned, you are only a threat to national security if you try to take over the government. No?
I’ve said enough.
Your 2 cents?
You Dirty People!!!
Feb 18th
I just checked my blog and also my stats and I found that there were a huge jump in traffic surge.
I did a thorough check and I found that there were news about Elizabeth Wong’s nude pics circulating around the internet. People were searching about the pics and I got like some hits.
It all reaches this post of mine.
Gosh! See what other people will start doing when it comes to politics?
I wonder if when people start quoting a male’s nude picture, everyone will start searching for it also?
Sigh… You people can’t search about better things??
Okay… Time to run.
It’s Italian tonight!!
No Korean… 
