Having Children

I wonder what type of preparation for marriage do Malaysians undergo. For Catholics there is a program where couples who plan to marry must undergo a marriage course that spans a few months.

I don’t know what they teach there for when I got married many years ago there was no such requirement. I would guess the course would cover the sanctity of marriage and how children play a role in enriching a marriage.

It seems that we have many problems of delinquent children and the authorities want to make parents responsible for wayward children and some parents really agonize about their children not practicing the religion they were born into.
It is a problem for many Malaysians, as sometimes the original religion may not appeal to your children.

But I don’t think the government is the best agency to deal with children who do not want to practise your religion.

My opinion is that parents must plan to have the number of children that they, and not the government, are able to nurture and nourish.
Not only in feeding them and clothing them and providing shelter but also to be able to spend time with them and to provide proper guidance.

I suggest a modern family where both husband and wife work, with no family member but the maid at home, two to three children should be sufficient unless you want some children to join the non-graduate work force.

Nothing wrong with that as with too many children and both parents working, you will simply be unable to provide proper child-rearing capabilities or both of you will suffer from burnout. I think the advice to Malaysians to have many children to support the 70m-population target in the 70s was really misguided.

Perhaps this is one reason many Malaysian marriages end in divorce and that puts even more stress on the children as a broken home means more will seek solace and distraction in other activities like drugs and vice and even another religion.

Many cases have also been reported about crimes committed within the family and there is an article here

My wife and I have four children and during the earlier years, my mother stayed with us and provided much support for the children. My youngest is now nineteen and we are happy that he has been accepted into a good university and so should join his graduate siblings in three years.

I write this not to boast about my children – for sure we are not perfect parents nor are they perfect children. It is to advise younger readers to make sure you are able to nurture your children well if you want them to grow into responsible citizens.

Wasting Everyone’s Time

Is this a comedy of errors?
How can such tangible evidence go missing unless someone screwed up or simply went on a buying spree.

If the ACA’s procedures did not conform to laws it says much about the competency of the agency.

We should be concerned as a matter of principle here.
If evidence like supposedly hard cash can simply disappear it is no wonder that the ACA has made little progress on cases where millions of ringgit are involved.

I suggest we have a system of recovering costs for time wastage. Perhaps the courts should bill RM5000 to the ACA so that such matters do not come up for trial with any proper evidence and non-adherence to laws.

Why Did the Police Offer a Permit for the Demonstrators?

We seem to be running the country in a strange fashion here when organisers of a planned demonstration are called by the police and offered a permit.

Everyone else had to run the gauntlet of water canon; tear gas and baton charge and face the prospect of getting beaten up during the demonstration.

What was the purpose of the demo?
Looking at the raving crowd it looked like a cheap publicity stunt for some people who would otherwise have been ignored by most people.

It was not really a peaceful gathering and the police were seen having to shove back the mob in order to maintain security.
In Malaysia it appears that a street demo is the preferred means to communicate rather than a peaceful and open forum where people can exchange ideas and foster greater understanding.
I would bet that 95% of those protesting do not even know the history of Hizballah

What if the police cordon had broken and the mob managed to enter the conference area? Most likely they would have had to use their weapons and some people could have even been killed.

I saw some other demos on CNN and in India or Pakistan, it was a peaceful scene. They simply placed an Israeli flagged on the steps of a mosque and those going for prayers just stepped on the flag.

But in KL they had to resort to burning flags and I expect traffic must have been diverted and motorists inconvenienced.

So are the police gearing up to handle more demonstrations? That seems to be the preferred way of voicing emotions.
I am not against demonstrations if they are well organised, peaceful and do not interfere with the rest of the population.
With those conditions, the police should approve permits in most cases and also collect some kind of security deposit as a good behaviour bond.

Maybe we can even turn KL into the Demonstration Capital of the world by having a weekly demo at all the underused stadia in Bukit Jalil.

We can start by offering Singapore a venue for demos for the forthcoming World Bank talks in September 2006. All we need is to arrange live broadcasts to Singapore.

Photo: malaysiakini

MalaysiaWatch Polls 5

Polls 5 is about whether we should be allowed to discuss the Constitution.
Do take 15 seconds and make a choice. Have a Good Week-end!

MalaysiaWatch Polls 3 and 4

Poll 3: What Follow-up Action Would You Support for the RM490m Budget?
This poll was a little difficult as people had to make a choice of differing items but 64 readers make a decision and these are the results:

57% or 36 readers felt that action should be taken against the minister as follows:

 28 readers or 44% chose “No Minister Please Resign or Be Sacked”

 8 readers or 13% chose “Ask the ACA to Probe”

11% or 7 readers asked for “Better maintained Playgrounds and Fields”

9% or 6 readers wanted “More Concrete Measures to Reduce Corruption”

8% or 5 readers chose “Boost Public Safety and Security”

8% or 5 readers chose “Improving Racial & Religious Harmony”

5% or 3 readers wanted “Easier Access for Public to Sports Hall and Stadium”

2% or 1 reader asked for “Increase Professionalism of the Police”

2% or 1 reader wanted to just “Let the Minister Carry On”

0% or no one wanted to “Strengthen Independence of Judiciary”.


Poll No 4 was about the Traffic Offences of the Ministers and the choices were easier to decide.

Surprisingly there were fewer respondents to this poll. Perhaps since many readers also have traffic summons they feel sorry for the ministers?

Poll4: “ What Action Would You Like to See the IGP Take for Ministers who Have Not Paid Long Overdue Traffic Fines?”
There were 31 respondents with the following breakdown:

58% or 18 persons chose the strongest option “Issue Warrants of Arrest for Ministers”

29% or 9 readers chose “Discounts Withdrawn and Prepare Court Orders”

10% or 3 readers picked “Give 48hours Grace to Pay Discounted Fines”

3% or 1 reader wanted to “Issue 2 Warrants of Arrests for Ministers with Most Fines”

0% or no one chose “Nothing Let the Matter Die Quietly”

Will Malaysia Be a Hypocrite in the UNHRC?

This letter shows that there are some Muslims in Malaysia who are capable of a civilised discourse and whose actions are not confined to burning objects and street demonstrations.

As Malaysia is going to be part of the UNHRC in 2007, we should really check out if our practices conform to the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 18 of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance’.

Thus it seems that the Malaysian Constitution may need to be revisited in order to be consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It is interesting to note that the UDHR was proclaimed in 1948 and many articles our Constitution appear to be taken from it.

Graphics: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/amnesty.london/images/gusu.gif

School on a Hill?

I was thinking of the famous Beetles song “Fool on a Hill” but have no inspiration to write any verse to suit a change of theme.

But this sorry school is no laughing matter. Just imagine spending RM48m on a brand new school and within 2 years it has become a dangerous building.

It is also surprising that the consultant decided to use gravity feed for the water supply to a school which houses 300 students.

For the RM48m project it should have included a budget for a proper water pump driven by electric motors rather than the crude gravity system that has proved unreliable.

Whom can we hold responsible for such incompetence?
I wonder what type of foundations were laid and how is the drainage surrounding the school? Maybe there was no fool on the hill but someone who got very wealthy instead.

At this rate, our friends in East Malaysia will think that we are delaying their progress to a modern society.

Building schools seems take on the nature of rocket science only in Malaysia. Maybe we should include in the MGBoR categories for the following:

Schools that:

1. collapsed the fastest after completion

2. deemed unfit soonest after occupancy

3. most expensive per built-up area

4. worst designed layout

Any other category you want to include?

Photo: http://www.hbp.usm.my/conservation/imagesJPG/images10/stmiciph.jpg ( my Alma Mater is almost 100 years old)

Words that Can Inspire Us

John Kennedy is my all-time favourite US President.

Maybe I’m biased as I was a Form3 student when the Cuban missile crisis happened and we had a la Salle brother as the form teacher and he kind of told us what was happening.

At the time it seemed that a nuclear confrontation was inevitable with Kruschev testing out the young President by building missile silos in Cuba. There was a naval blockade and the Soviets blinked.
You can even listen to meetings held during that dangerous period here as there is the Freedom of Information Act in the USA.

Kennedy had a fantastic speechwriter in Pierre Salinger
and these are some of the phrases we should ponder.

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction”

“All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
If you like to read more inspiring quotes of John Kennedy please visit this site

photo: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/u2.jpg

Operating a Nuclear Power Station in Malaysia

Suppose there was a nuclear power plant in Malaysia as the price of oil had shot up to US$150 a barrel and the energy hungry Malaysians had even lodged nation wide protests to persuade the government to build the first privatised power plant. The plant is located somewhere in Pahang as it was a central location. It is called an Independent Nuclear Plant (INP)

The foreign consultants have gone home as the plant has been properly commissioned and the equipment is running smoothly.

Twenty years on, there is some wear and tear on the plant and buildings and the plant management has become a little slack as no incidents have occurred. Or rather the small incidents were never reported and were all quietly hushed up as the procedures for reporting and investigating were tedious and long.

The people in charge of safety and security grew lazy and many security breaches occurred. However the police did manage to catch a thief who wanted to blow up a building with the radioactive material.

The project consultants now return and advise there is a serious problem in the design and operating manual. There is some possibility that a serious mishap will occur if the operating procedure is not corrected and a minor component needs to be recalled for recalibration to enhance safety.

But the plant owners refuse to meet with the consultants and impose a gag order on all those working in the nuclear plant. There is to be no discussion on the safety concerns and no changes will be made to the operating procedures.

What do you think of this scenario? Can you relate this to current events in Malaysia?

photo: USA government. DOE

Sending the Wrong Message

I am disappointed to read in the Star that it is wrong to discuss Article 11 of the Constitution.

Has any minister or Muslim religious leader even attended a forum before deciding that it was causing any tension?

As for the raising of religious unrest who is more culpable; those who sit down in a peaceful manner to discuss issues or those who demonstrate without a permit in open defiance of the law?

If a legitimate forum to discuss matters that have impacted the live of ordinary Malaysians cannot be held, what does it say about the lack of care and consideration that all Malaysians should have for each other?

I attended the forum in JB and there were a few Muslims present and they gave very constructive feedback. There is a feeling that politicians are making use of the religious issues.

I believe the consensus was that there should be more dialogue between religions so that mutual misgivings and hurts can be discussed and more understanding created for a better Malaysia.

I am sure that most Malaysians are concerned about religious harmony but the authorities must allow all citizens the freedom and space to discuss important issues.

Women of Malaysia, UNITE!

You have nothing to lose but your unreasonableness.

That seems to be the message of the Pahang MB when he told a gathering of women that it was not time yet for a woman to become a Prime Minister as reported yesterday in malaysiakini.

I suggest to women in Malaysia to form a new independent party to prove that not only can a woman become the Prime Minister but that she will probably be a better PM than the ones we have had since independence.

If you listen to people like the Pahang MB you will forever be subservient to such leaders who do not realise that women power is real.

Women are already working in all careers that men do but the only area that they lag behind is political but don't you women think you can produce a much better candidate rather than listen to such a put-down?

I wonder what was the reaction of the women when they heard such a sexist remark. Was there a collective gasp of shock? I think I would have booed or walked out the door.

What’s wrong with a woman being a Prime Minister?

The list of women leaders is long and growing – at present with Arroyo in the Philippines and the first woman PM I can recall is Golda Meier of Israel, a very democratic nation and most readers will remember Margaret Thatcher of the UK.
You can see a list of pioneer women here.

To me the reason that Malaysia is not ready to have a woman Prime Minister is that the women themselves have not made up their collective minds to get stuck in the muck and mire of politics that is considered a dirty game.

This means that many people in political leadership at present have dirty minds and we need more honest people in government to help Malaysia progress further.

Come on gals, go for it.

Recalcitrant Ministers' Traffic Fines

Please advise the IGP what action you consider is appropriate to solve the matter via MalaysiaWatch Poll 4

MALAYSIAWATCH POLLS 3

Here is a brief analysis of the polls that were conducted over the past two weeks.
Only 99 responded to the polls and it only shows how reluctant people are to even express an opinion on matters that will affect them.

I hope Malaysians will take a more active roll in these polls as it does provide a simple feedback to show what we think and care about.

1. “We should spend the money in more critical areas” selected by 33 respondents or 33%

2. “Appears to be a “get rich” scheme for a few” selected by 32 respondents or 32%

3. “Improve local facilities to promote healthy living” selected by 17 respondents or 17%

4. “Cost benefits balance very questionable” selected by 11 respondents or 11%

5. “Proposed without Proper Planning and Consultation” selected by 4 respondents or 4%

6. “But I Support this Complex” selected by 2 respondents or 2%

The first 3 answers account for 82% of the respondents and so the follow-up poll is designed on what action do you think is appropriate based on these 3 categories only.

But you have to select only one answer that you feel strongly about. It is a 5-3-2 format not football but the answer category.

There will be 5 suggestions based on “critical areas”, 3 remedies for a flawed proposal and 2 for improved facilities.

Please consider all the proposals and pick one that you feel strongly about.
If you would like the code to include this code on your site, please drop me a line.

PS. Between the time the poll was coded and this message posted, the respondents had increased to 104 and the “get rich” scheme had become the most popular choice.

We Should be Disappointed with the Johor Menteri Besar

It was reported in the Star that the Johor MB was disappointed that the forum to discuss Article 11 was held.

We should be equally disappointed when a leader disapproves of a legitimate forum to discuss the Constitution that was conducted in a professional and mature manner.

If citizens cannot discuss in a rational manner matters that impinge and affect all aspects of our lives, are we to entrust this important issue to politicians?

Going by his irresponsible remark it is imperative that more ordinary citizens should get involved is such matters as we really need to take care of our own interests.

It would have been more productive for the MB to have attended the forum to see for himself what the fuss was about. If anything, he should have been present to double check that all the necessary security measures were satisfactory.

It appears he only bothered about the well-being of only a certain portion of Johor residents.
Photo: Anti-Forum posters in front of venue

Forum on Article 11 of the Constitution

I have just returned from the forum held in Johor Baru and it was good that the police did a professional job of keeping the peace. At first I had some hesitation but decided that as a concerned citizen I should learn more about the Malaysian Constitution that is the supreme law of the nation.

I estimate there were about 120 odd persons in the audience and quite a few more demonstrators that I did not want to get too close although I think they just wanted to make their voices heard.

According to the Star, the police had given its approval for the forum and also advised those protestors not to engage in an illegal assembly. It was a difficult position for the police but they handled it well.

Scores of police separated the two groups so that there was safe passage to the hotel car park, the lifts, the hotel exits and even after the forum was over, the audience were advised to wait a few minutes to ensure safety in leaving the venue.

I guess the law on illegal assembly is being tested nowadays seeing the anti-US protest in Kuala Lumpur led by UMNO Youth or did the police give them a permit?
For a nation like Malaysia that needs FDI , we should grant permits for such large assemblies only in public stadia where traffic is not disrupted and people are not inconvenienced. Perhaps a protest march should be restricted to not more than 100 persons with police approval.

What about the forum?
I learned the following:

 The basic point is that the Constitution is the supreme basis of the law and Islam is a protected religion according the Constitution except that any laws created like Syariah has to fall within the Constitutional framework.

 Judges and political leaders should not allow their religious background to cloud decisions that should be made according to constitutional laws.

 Most Malaysians are still too “tiadapathetic” and have allowed politicians and religious leaders to exploit the situation so that even an educational forum can be opposed with such venom.

 There are many cases where Malaysians cannot find justice as their situation falls between the civil and syariah courts and these Malaysians have to suffer.

 More people realise the need for dialogue so that we can create better understanding for the future of Malaysia.


Photo: Bird-eye view of protestors from the 9th Floor.

So Does the Grass Grow Under Your Feet?

That's a sure sign of procrastination or putting something off many times instead of taking firm action.

If you Google the word, you will learn that the "P" word actually cost you much more than you know.

I am sure many of you have seen the polls on this site and may have thought about it.
Using the slogan of Nike I urge you to "Just Do It!"

This will help me to write about the findings next week and begin a new poll.

Photo: MBJB's expensive street lamp

The Long and Winding Road....

I think the PM is handling the criticism of his ex-boss with some grace.
The swiftness with which the course on Ethnic Relations was withdrawn is also commendable but perhaps it would have been better if some oversight had been in place for sensitive issues.

Most people are a little disappointed that he has moved so slowly to solve our major concerns but I believe we should at least let him finish what he set out to do.

The 9MP appears to be more transparent with the promise of open tenders so let us see what happens.

Our previous fiscal policy was to simply spend on mega-projects some of dubious reasoning like the Crooked Bridge and it is now like having to start a healthy diet after being fed many sumptious buffets where much food was wasted and not everyone was invited.

I think a government has to budget like an ordinary household - it needs to have a balanced budget or future generations will suffer.

Of course the USA is a bad example but their day of reckoning is delayed because foreigners buy US currency for various reasons.
But Malaysia? We can become the basket-case of Asean if we are not prudent.
As for not being the first choice, that often happens in real life so there must have been strong resistance to the ex-PM's first choice anyway.

A Touching Story but Why is the System Also Blind?

It is always heartening to hear of students who struggle hard to gain entrance into universities.

However this story indicates that our university entrance procedure needs to be fine-tuned so that people like Gomathi do not have to undergo the extra hassle to qualify.

Being blind, she must find it hard to cope with normal studies and so penalising her for not having any points for co-curricular activities seems to be rather callous of our university system.

Maybe the authorities are also blind to her difficulties. Let us hope that all certified handicapped students are automatically given the points for their handicap instead of having to earn co-curricular marks. This type of hardship case should not need a report except when the girl enters university or graduates. Thanks to NST for an inspiring story.


Such students can be an inspiration to normal people as it proves with true grit and determination; everyone can achieve success in life.

Congratulations Sumathi! I wish you a fulfilling career when you graduate.

Photo: New Straits Times

Why Malaysia Must Never Use Nuclear Power

Question: How are government departments similar to some cheap toys?
Answer: They both need to hit a brick wall before they can change direction

Sometime during the past few weeks a minister mentioned that the government had not ruled out the use of nuclear power as the price of oil remains set near the US$70 per barrel mark. I don’t have the exact article but this is related to the topic.

I urge all Malaysians to appeal to the government not to even think about nuclear power unless we can do some mundane things efficiently and effectively.

Just consider a few incidents of the past months where a breakdown in maintenance and safety precautions has caused untold misery to thousands.

 The frequent flooding in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley

 Water contamination in Selangor

It seems we cannot even run simple operations properly let alone a nuclear power plant where a tragedy will last generations as seen in Chernobyl.
Even the most advanced nation almost had a major disaster at Three Mile Island so we have to assume that nuclear energy is a dangerous option.

 There appears to be a lackadaisical attitude in many government departments where top civil servants treat their departments as their personal turf as seen in the Customs special sales of top range cars to privileged clients. Hopefully the measures proposed by the parliamentary committee will eliminate such a dubious scheme.

 The NRD for imposing a disproportionate penalty for a minor offence and also making life difficult for citizens by assuming the religion of clients without proper inquiry.

 University lecturers who write course content and weave a tale of lies and half-truths to create discord among our youth.

 There is a perennial surplus of teachers in towns and a scarcity in rural areas.

 An unauthorised activity in the Dewan Negara cannot be traced, as the cameras do not record “hantus”.

 The RM490m Sports Complex that materialised out of thin air and then disappeared again like a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) when many questioned the rationale for such a mega-project. Never mind that the matter was reported as an item in the Star of 11th July 2006 under the “At the Dewan Rakyat Yesterday”. So are those three reporters incompetent or lying or both?

I don’t want to sound like a broken record but we should say “Tak Nak” to nuclear power until there is enough evidence that we have more competent people in charge.

So far the evidence is solely lacking as we appear to be a nation guided like those cheap toys from China that knock into a wall before it changes direction.

Photo: http://www.timstoys.com/online-store/scstore/graphics/spbo76.jpg

This book is a big damn lie

Sorry for swearing but telling lies often is the way people in the propaganda business try to convince the readers.

Tell a lie often enough and the people will believe you. Just like somewhere in Iran(?) they are asking for the proof of the Holocaust.

What happened after May13 was that most citizens became traumatised and decided to leave politics to the politicians.
That was our biggest mistake.

The politicians became too powerful and we all just watched and waited while all our freedoms became more restricted like the “frogs in the slow-fire cooking pot”.

So the only way to save Malaysia from another May13 tragedy is to engage the politicians like what many are starting to do now.
Some say just talking is not good enough but talking is part of the process. Enough people must talk before actions can be taken.

The manner in which this guide has been introduced and the way that RM490m Complex has been foisted speaks volumes of the “Work with us” principle.

Graphics: http://www.alyon.org/generale/theatre/cinema/affiches_cinema/s/seu-smo/sex_lies_and_videotape.jpg

MalaysiaWatch is One Year Old Today

I guess it marks a milestone of sorts.
I would like to thank you for taking the time and trouble to visit and hope that my blog can contribute a little to making Malaysia a better place for all.

A special thanks to Malaysia Today and malaysiakini and the many fellow bloggers who have put my site on their blog. I am amazed at the speed at which the Internet has made the world a smaller place.

For the older readers writing to newspapers was an old pastime of mine and I remember getting published for criticising the “Marble Arch” that divides Selangor from KL when the FT was created and have had many letters printed by the Malay Malay with letters to SH Tan.

The publish rate was about 10% and so a little discouraging and I stopped writing to newspapers on a frequent basis somewhere in the 80s. I have always used “HJ Angus” as my signature and sometimes my full name, which is just an expansion of the HJ.

I believe somewhere in the archives of the NST and the Star if they keep records of letters received they will find my old letters. I remember being critical of the privatisation schemes of the 80s and coining the word “piratisation” back then.

It is gratifying to see this word in common use now although I do not know if I was the first Malaysian to use such a word to describe the schemes that robbed the poor and benefited the high and mighty.

Maybe I got tired with all the many issues as the press stopped printing letters that were considered too critical. Then I discovered blogging and I hope this avenue will be a useful means to air my views.

I have a Sixth Form magazine of my alma mater, St Michael’s Institution and my entry says, “USS Commentator who should be given a Trumpet!”
I guess someone must have thought I should up more, as I was the quiet one then.

Have a good day and do keep a watch out for Malaysia, will you?
My birthday wish is that you send the poll on the RM490m Sports Complex to 2 other Malaysians.
Photo: http://www.torso.org.uk/images/PlayersPics/steph_play_trumpet.jpg

Another View of Siti’s Marriage

I think enough has been written in the local media about Siti’s coming marriage.
Apart from the front page, the Star has another 4 pages on the grand occasion.

No doubt Siti is a rare talent. Not only is she beautiful but she can also sing well. Such a combination is the stuff of which Malaysia can be proud.

However to me her star quality has been tarnished as she has caused the breakup of a marriage of at least 19 years and caused a third party to have to leave her four children. Given that the eldest children are closer in age to their future stepmother than her husband, it could result in an unhealthy family environment.

It is simply too convenient to blame all our decisions on fate. If you step in front of an express train you cannot blame fate for your demise.
I hope the authorities will stop using Siti as a role model for our youth as this action shows that she is not the perfect role model for family values.

Now we can claim that Malaysia Boleh in the field of marriage go-rounds is on a level equal to the Hollywood circuit.

So Why Do You Object So Strongly to the RM490m Complex?

The poll results are not surprising.
Perhaps most readers here tend to be critical of government practices and policies.

I don't intend to have a poll every day; perhaps once a week as it provides very convenient feedback for readers.

So please tell the government what you think.
If you check the readership of this blog, NST and GITN do make regular visits.

What are Your Views?

Coming so soon after the Crooked Bridge fiasco, there is now a plan to improve Malaysia's standing in the field of sports by building a RM490m Sports Complex near London.

That figure is now being questioned but perhaps you may want to express your views on such a venture.

The poll is set to allow one IP and one computer to one vote. Please let the authorities know what you think.

Lighthearted Advice for the Perak Cycling Association

How can you depend on the PWD to ensure that your Velodrome is acceptable to the
International Cycling Union (ICU)?

Based on past experience like the MRR2, PWD works best when structures develop cracks and pose a danger to the public.

Besides that word "homogolated" is really confusing. A speed-reader will only catch part of the word and read as “homo” and all its sexual undertones.

It could have been a case of simple misunderstanding. You see PWD approve based only on final appearance, wear and tear is good as it means more maintenance contracts and that is where the gravy is.

You mention some guys ended up with splinters and having to undergo surgery? But the PWD thinks ICU means Intensive Care Unit and no one has ended up there yet so quit complaining.

My final advice? Please check the ICU specs carefully and get a good contractor that can deliver the service with a proper guarantee.

Photo: http://cycling.thenoisies.com/pics/2006-bvc-keirinsprint.jpg

When and Why Did We Unravel Good Systems?

It is good that the Education Ministry is taking steps to improve the student/teacher ratio in schools.
It must be a real headache for a teacher to manage classes of 40 plus students.
Even private schools should be required to fulfill the minimum ratios.

What is disconcerting is that they are only now going to impose bonds for teachers citing a mismatch between vacancies in states and teacher supply.

I find this rather strange. In the late 70s, teachers were trained mainly in colleges in Pantai and Penang and all those who passed expected to be posted anywhere for a few years. So when was this service requirement abolished?

The other news is the requirement to lodge a police report on the loss of MyKad before you could apply for a new one. I believe the law required you to apply for a temporary IC from the police as soon as you lose this security document. So why did someone approve this short cut of being able to apply for another MyKad without proper screening?

It seems that we have not progressed but regressed. We removed perfectly good procedures and adopted slack administration that has caused a security problem and thousands of teachers who are not going to be happy with rural postings.

The buck stops with the authorities responsible for the departments concerned.

Photo: Unending problems like the flow over Niagara Falls

No More Pussyfooting Please

It only happens in Bolehland.
Ministers getting away with not settling their traffic offences, some committed even in the last millenium.

Perhaps the old JPJ or police computers are still sorting out problems related to the new millenium. By not settling the fines promptly the police have given them a discount of almost 60%. Are they holding out for more?

Sometime last year, I was leaving JB in my wife’s car that has a Singapore plate. The police stopped me and told me there were 4 summons, all for speeding on the NSH. The total amount was about RM600 and I had to leave the car and come back with the money although the police were kind enough to tell me that they would accept settlement for half the summons. Not a discount but they would accept payment for at least two summons; the balance to be paid later.

Of course I am annoyed that the police have been so kind to discount the summons for ministers. This is a bad example and gives the impression that discounts are the discretion of the police officers. What message does it give? The more you owe and the longer you delay the more the police are prepared to discount your compound fines?

We should seek an explanation why action has been delayed for so long. Not weeks but years have passed for this travesty of justice.

By delaying the action against ministers, the police may have given some the impression that they are immune from the laws of the nation. If police cannot take action for a minor offence, how do they arrest a minister for serious ones?

Other countries are not so forgiving and even prominent people are hauled to court.

I suggest that to be fair to all ordinary citizens, the police should withdraw the discounts and give all these offenders a week to settle their fines or be arrested.

Graphics: http://www.malaysiakini.com/pages/ctf2/

Fine Your Language? Start with the Ministers

Wonders never cease. Perhaps some ministers feel left out of the limelight; what with the stories on the RM490 London sports complex, the Crooked Bridge saga and the MAS foreign currency minefield.

Maybe it is to provide some light relief to all the heavy drama that has been going on, a contrast so that we can really appreciate the commands of the Prime Minister when he returns.

Just watch any minister on TV even the Malay leaders and you will quickly discover that they cannot speak in one language for a minute and invariably lapse into “Manglish”.

Perhaps the DBP needs to reinvent itself to make Bahasa Malaysia more attractive as younger Malaysians will be using more English in the future.

How about setting up a watchdog on those who appear on TV for a start and spot all those ministers who mix up the languages and fine them RM1 for each deviation?

Just like paying up for traffic offences, our ministers should show a good example don’t you agree?
Oops I forget – many have not paid up for years and even after a discount.

One last idea – if the DBP cannot really craft methods to promote a beautiful language other than this fine method, perhaps we should relegate them to the National Museum and use their budget to train better language teachers who will make the language come to life again.

photo:http://thestar.com.my/archives/2005/9/30/budget2006/budget2006abdullahinparl.JPG

The Ghosts from BMF Still Haunt Malaysians

Currency speculation is best left to those with suicidal tendencies or deep pockets or both. We need to make a distinction between currency speculation or hedging that may be necessary if you have borrowed money in foreign currencies.

For a country, it may be prudent to hedge your loan repayments so that when the time comes to pay, your position has already been covered and there are no surprises.

Let’s take an example of a man who takes all his family’s savings, mortgages his house and then proceeds to take part in a game of shooting craps. Most of you will say, “He must be crazy!”
We all know that gambling is a high-risk adventure and most people who play the stock markets lose their money.

Currency speculation by a central bank should be a capital offence as it means a few people are betting away the nation’s reserves and no one knows about it until it is too late.

Unfortunately Malaysia appears to have been gambling on currency futures for many years and even after having lost billions no one has been arrested for jeopardising our future.

There is a good article on BNM’s forays in currency markets here.

It seems that the BMF scandal in the early 80s did not have any lessons for the Malaysian government and the lack of accountability seems to have only encouraged more reckless activities as mentioned in the MAS blowup.

Here are two interesting articles for those unfamiliar with the BMF scandal that catapulted Malaysia onto the world stage for the wrong reasons.

From the Asian Journal of Public Administration entitled:
“Levels of Corruption in Malaysia”


The second article is more from the human perspective on how Lorrain Osman was jailed in the UK for many years without trial as he fought extradition to HK to face trial over there.

If you are interested in more info, just google “Lorrain Osman”. Please share with us any other interesting details you discover.

Graphics: http://www.mpimages.net/mp/compressed/promotional/Haunted_Mansion-Ghosts.jpg

Sports Center or Holiday Base?

We all know London is a popular destination for many Malaysians.
We also realise that Malaysia has not fared well in sports events even at Asian games level except for a few sports like bowling, squash and badminton.

In the sixties our hockey team could compete among the best but now we are considered easy meat for the top teams. It seems that sports that require teamwork like soccer and hockey are down as team spirit is lacking.

Perhaps the problem lies not with Malaysian sportsmen but the team managers and coaches who do not instill discipline and the right attitude to training. There is also the patronage and political interference problems in sports bodies, many of which keep on the same officials even though the standards keep deteriorating.

Now we want to make a quantum leap to set up a RM490m sports center near London on land that was granted for Malaysia to do research for the RRI.

At first it seems a good idea to try and make good use of the land but using it for a sports center seems extravagant.
We already have the Bukit Jalil sports schools that have produced some good athletes. What we need are good trainers and you observed that during the World Cup even poorer African countries had foreign coaches.

The cost for a foreign coach to come here is the same as in Europe except you may need to pay extra for airfares and accommodation.
Perhaps the Sports Minister should make a more plausible explanation for the sports center than making use of an existing government asset?
The speed at reaching such a decision seems to be like the Crooked Bridge project.

It seems that Malaysia has not been making full use of this research facility as perhaps most plantation companies prefer to do their own research to gain a competitive edge.
I suggest we would benefit more if some money is invested to enhance the capability of this research facility; especially on palm oil and biodiesel technology and also bio-technology.

Such a facility may attract the thousands of government scholars that are refusing to come home and with this setup it will not be a total loss of our Malaysian talents.

graphics: http://www.utsa.edu/ofpd/1604%20master%20plan%20web%20site/illustrations/large/sports.jpg

When did the NRD Become Negligent?

About 16 years ago, my wife was a victim of a snatch thief who struck just as we were all getting out of the car. No one was hurt but she had to make a police report before she applied for the replacement IC.

The police were nonchalant and considered the case a really minor one, just “biasa-lah.”
So my wife applied for a replacement IC with the police report.

I was therefore quite surprised to learn today that the practice of making a police report had been discontinued and now the NRD has decided to require a police report again.

It seems that the NRD became complacent or negligent when the MyKad was introduced. Perhaps the vendors of the MK touted the security features too much and included the cost of police reports as one expense that could be reduced.

Now the authorities claim that 1000 MKs are reported missing to the NRD who also believe that many are simply selling the MK and applying for new ones. Syndicates have been able to alter all details on the MK except the chip.

When the MK was launched it was claimed that fake identities would be eliminated but it seems the technology of MK will be obsolete when syndicates are able to overcome the security of the chip. After all it is not worth more than RM20.

If we assume 1000 MKs being sold over 365 days in a year, there will be 365,000 illegal residents with fake identities. Considering the illegals problem in Sabah, it is quite possible for at least 10 state seats to have been padded with such people.

Were any NRD officers involved in this potential for election fraud? Since there is uncertainty about the electoral rolls especially in Sabah, the Elections Committee should recheck their names for fake MyKad holders.


photo: (What negligence can do)http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/images/dispix/gaisal990802_deacanherald.jpg

Of Super-heroes and Human Frailties

The World Cup has ended and all those who watched the match must be really shocked at the manner in which Zinedene Zidane was sacked for head butting an opponent.

It was a deliberate act, not something done immediately in reaction to a hard tackle but the replay showed the football maestro taking 3 or 4 steps before a strong head butt that floored the victim.

We may never know what transpired between the two men but it will go down as the one of the greatest fall from grace of a football super-hero.

Before the game with Italy that ended in the penalty shoot-out, we could see that the spirit of the French team was good and it was possible for them to win the World Cup for the second time.
Both teams were able to create scoring chances but neither was able to score the winning goal.

Perhaps we elevate our soccer heroes to too high a pedestal. We translate their prodigious talents into multi-million contracts and expect too much of them.

When things go wrong and the team loses, we should accept that football is only a game, albeit the beautiful game.

How do we relate the soccer stars with our own leaders? Our ministers are also human and sometimes we have to bear with their idiosyncrasies provided they take corrective measures when we make useful suggestions.

To Zidane I wish you Adieu and a happy retirement. I hope you will soon forget your moment of madness as you have contributed so much to soccer.

photo:http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/photos/index.html?i=102&d=1

All Roads Lead to Jail

That seems to be the message of the Home Ministry with the latest bombshell – they want to increase the fine for replacing the MyKad (or MK) from RM10 to RM100 even though the actual cost is RM24.

The words used are not reassuring, “we have to be cruel to be kind” to the hundreds of citizens who lose their MKs via theft and robbery.

Can we also collect RM100 compensation from the police each time we are robbed to defray such losses? After all a crime is a good indicator that the police have failed to protect us.

The present charge is RM30 for a first time replacement and it appears that the authorities just want to make life more difficult for ordinary citizens. Senior citizens and school children that tend to lose their MKs more often are going to bear the brunt of such unthinking officials.

It seems we are facing a double whammy here. First of all we are threatened with a RM3000 fine or jail if we do not carry the MK and now the latest squeeze.

It is a form of taxation that is repugnant just so to make life convenient for the authorities to check on the thousands of illegal residents many of whom have obtained MKs via dubious means.

One just wonders how they check illegals that have been given legitimate MKs by the authorities. Instead of jailing citizens we should be arresting those responsible for the security breach that has occurred through the connivance of NRD officials.
Here is a related story.

There were reports of some people being detained under the ISA but the public has not been informed how serious the matter really is and damage control may have been incomplete.

This type of uncaring enforcement is more disastrous than electricity and fuel price increases as you have little control over the status of the MK.
Prices are simply being increased on the whims and fancy of people that really do not appear to be capable of thinking

The rules being proposed remind me of the great Gandhi who lead India to independence through a non-violent movement with a protest against the British Salt Tax.
If enough people ignore and disobey repugnant rules, the government will have no choice but to change the rules.

The question is, “Do Malaysians believe the Rules are justified?”

Which do you prefer - Customs Syndicate or Private Syndicate?

Today’s news is quite interesting – some people have been conned into paying deposits for cars that they believe are for auction.

But we now know that the cream of the auction cars is reserved for preferred clients of the Customs department with all kinds of “close one eye” practices.

No wonder some gullible folks have lost their money to con men.

If you visit the Customs website,they do not have any information on cars to be auctioned in the various centers.

Considering the limited lack of information that caused an MP to feel left out of the goodies giveaway, it would be good for all taxpayers to know when and where such auctions are being held.
To reduce costs it is not necessary to give all the details of all the items but just an overall description like:

Johor Baru Customs Auction on (date) at 9am

Seized cars 20
Seized motorbikes 10
Sugar 30 tons
Rice 20 tons
Alcohol 50 cases

Intending bidders are invited to inspect goods daily from 2pm to 4 pm at (location) and also check terms of the auction such as duties to be paid and reserve prices.
Intending bidders must purchase an information package costing RM10 each.
Full descriptions of all items are available on the Customs web-site.

It is really astonishing that even in 2006 we do not proper systems to ensure that the Treasury maximises the returns on good seized.

If the Customs cannot do the necessary, it may be more profitable for the government if all seized goods are managed and auctioned by a private company that is allowed to retain say 15% of the proceeds or RM10m per year whichever is less.

Photo: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/operations/BaitCar/images/ParkingLot.jpg

The Law is an Ass or Are We Asses to Make Such Laws?

So the NRD wants to make headlines by warning Malaysians to carry MyKad.
RM20,000 fine or 3 years jail?

It sounds really harsh for such a minor offence. Perhaps the NRD is working overtime to try and catch all those illegals who were issued Malaysian ICs through various syndicates, possibly even with some inside collusion.

Do ordinary folks have to stomach this type of attitude? Surely the police and Rela have better things to do like catching those gang robbers.

Malaysians should protest against this harsh penalty as it seems excessive. After all we did agree to having ICs unlike the USA and the UK where it is deemed an invasion of privacy though they are considering such a security document now.

Many ICs are lost on account of snatch theft and robbery and the replacement is not free. So many Malaysians keep the IC in a safe place unless they really need to prove their identity.

I would suggest the following would be a more practical arrangement that will be accepted by most law-abiding citizens:

1. You need to carry your IC if travelling outstation or more than 30 km from where it is kept.
2. If you are caught without IC, the police will take you home to get the IC and also charge you RM20 to RM50 for the service.
3. You may be required to wait at the police station until the official transport has the minimum number of passengers.

I always carry the MyKad as it contains only the minimum details. BTW if you have Astro you can check the details in your MyKad.


Graphics: http://www.amren.com/0103issue/PRISONERsml.JPG

Changing the Government

There had been a General Election and the ruling party lost.

The television footage showed the Prime Minister packing his briefcase and then he waved to the cameras and left his official residence.

Outside all was calm. The stock market had not crashed and no one was rioting in the streets. It was like any normal day and it was “business as usual” for everyone.

I was in the UK as a student in 1970 and it was simply amazing how simple and uncomplicated the process of changing the government had been. Even after 36 years the memory is still vivid.

Changing a government is something the citizens of the country have to decide. And many countries in Asia where parties ruled for decades have changed their governments like Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

Often the voters got fed up with corrupt leaders or the lack of reforms. Of course it is the function of political leaders to remain as long as possible and we cannot deny them that endeavour.

But as responsible voters we need to make sure that our country is managed so that there is a proper accounting of resources and wastage is kept low. Our leaders operate on the basis that we have put our trust in them as a stewardship and they need to show us that our trust has not been misplaced.

For Malaysia to succeed in whatever vision there needs to be proper disclosure and more transparency. Our nation cannot be operated on the basis of private deals and secret agreements. The road to financial ruin is paved with nefarious activities.

Photo: Fremantle Prison – end of the line

Local Councils – Authority without Responsibilities?

Much has been reported about problems in various city councils from corrupt practices to poor hygiene, from parking problems to billboards, from bad roads to inadequate public transport.

It seems that the public cannot help to improve things in their own cities except to complain to the press or the Public Complaints Bureau.

So it comes as no surprise to learn that councils appear to be some kind of independent body that is not under the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

I remember as a youth in the 60s when Ipoh was considered one of the cleanest cities and it was under the rule of the People’s Progressive Party that was in opposition then.

The abolition of local elections has removed one process of a vibrant democracy as we now have officials who are not beholden to the people they are supposed to serve, i.e. the local ratepayers.

That is the basic reason we continue to read of abuse and only a few corrective measures. It is time to give back ratepayers their basic rights. Let us abolish this scheme of “taxation without representation.”

Having a few towns run by the opposition need not be all bad, as both sides will need to improve their communication skills.

Photo: A road scene in JB soon after leaving the Causeway.

Dalhousie – Hail to the Class of 2006!

My daughter’s convocation was both simple and dignified. There was also a very human touch as some graduates brought their small children on stage and some had to be carried in arms. There is no excuse not to graduate, even from medical school!

The dean who conferred the degree was Dr Harold Cook, a world famous pediatrician and my daughter said they were really honoured that he was the person to officiate at their graduation.

I have been to two other convocations in Singapore for my daughters but both seemed quite sterile and just efficient. At Dalhousie, each graduate had a brief exchange of less than a minute with the dean and even the children were not left out. He gave them a High Five and even capped a few of them.

In the USA and Canada, students enter medical school only after a first degree unlike the practice in Singapore and Malaysia and so my daughter and her friends from IMU were at least 4 or 5 years younger than the locals.

If you look closely at the photo you will note that the gals outnumber the guys and so the phenomenon of more girls in university also occurs elsewhere.
There were about eight awards for top students and I think six were won by the girls but one was one by a guy who also won the prize for best student overall.

Security was rather lax and there was not even any checking of bags before we could enter the convocation hall – quite unlike the situation in the USA just across the border. However things may change as they arrested some terrorist suspects on the day we left Canada.

The World Cup and Malaysia

No this is not an article on how Malaysia can enter the World Cup apart from offering to play joint host with Singapore. Not possible for a JV as they do not know to build crooked stadia!

Some say that football should adopt modern technology to check infringements so that the human factor is minimised and the referees’ errors are eliminated. Looking at the football scandal in Italy, it shows that the beautiful game can turn ugly.

Others claim that if we introduce too much technology, the very soul and character of the beautiful game will be lost. Here we have a level playing field with 22 men, some of them earning more than 50,000 pounds a week obeying the direction and orders of the referee who receives no salary except match expenses.

Just observe the theatrics when a player is sent off for fouls or is replaced by the coach. Some of them take it well but others scowl and fume all the way to the dressing room. They cannot take part in the outcome that is left to the remaining players on the field.

Once you leave the action, you can only be a spectator but of course you are free to give your views on how the team is performing.

A good example of the team dynamics is the England team where Eriksson had his successor Maclaren with him for a few months so that a smooth transition was ensured. England did not get into the semi-finals and so Erikkson leaves without fulfilling England’s dream of winning the World Cup.

I think we can use this football analogy to evaluate the problems between the past Prime Minister and the current incumbent. Dr M has left office but is now very critical of his successor who was supposed to follow some undisclosed agreement.

This is a dangerous precedent as it implies that a resigning leader can make a successor beholden to him or her. Malaysia is a sovereign nation with duly elected leaders and based on the rule of law. We must all be vigilant to ensure that power is not concentrated in a handful of citizens who may not have our best interests at heart.

After leaving the field, the replaced coach or player cannot interfere with the play and has to leave the area.

Malaysia can adopt the following practices to ensure that we get the best leaders:

1. Political parties should discourage “no contest” elections for the top spots.
2. Party leaders should be selected from the grassroots and not just designated heads.
3. National leaders should be chosen during the general elections and not just selected from one party.
4. The PM’s post should be limited to two terms or age 65 whichever comes first.

As for the present problem, we should accept it as part of the development process. We have overcome the Emergency and Confrontation – this is really a minor hiccup.

Photo: http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/DD723575-599C-483A-9568-C5DD0549BC78/65565/Sven_Belfast_L.jpg

Financing Football in Malaysia

Football can be a beautiful game but human weakness is apparent as seen in the Portugal-England and Portugal-Holland matches.

In some games, country rivals who belong to the same club displayed great sportsmanship but in other games players simply became too aggressive when their teams played badly.

Could it be that the football-millionaires could not accept losing as their own net worth could be diminished?
The Portugal-Holland match was extremely violent and ugly and a good example of bad sportsmen. It was as if the players were on the battlefield with no quarter asked or given. Maybe some researcher will discover that some of those players had ancestors who fought in Malacca centuries ago?

Back to the football scene in Malaysia. Today’s Star has a report about how MBPJ has a slush or secret fund to finance football but surprisingly the RoS has no record of MBJB Football Club.

What does the FAS have to say about this?

If there are no accounts to be checked on how taxpayers’ monies are utilised, how do we ensure that the money is used properly?

I have a beef about foreign players being allowed to play in Malaysia, as their involvement has not really improved the standard of our local players over the years.

Instead of paying a foreign player say RM10, 000 a month plus bonuses, we should use the money to engage good coaches who can train our youth proper techniques. The millions spent to pay foreign players would be better spent on football academies to train the youth.

Maybe we should also ask Proton how much they pay Portsmouth Football Club for their logo on the club website and jerseys. Apart from getting some season tickets, how many Proton cars have been effectively sold?

Proton is not the only company involved in football.
I attended the Kulim AGM recently and asked why the company donated RM3.15 million to the Johor Football Association in 2005.

In 2004 they donated RM3.025m but in 2003 the amount was RM1.976m
Even after a 50% increase in 2004, they decided to be more generous in 2005.

It was explained that RM3.15m was part of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program but on checking the amount spent on CSR amounting to RM3.3413m, the donation to football was 94% of the funds. Footballers got chicken while the rest got chicken feed!

I guess it is easy to donate other people’s money. Meanwhile a net dividend of RM14.157m was paid to 8492 shareholders.

The RM3.15m donation to JFA benefited perhaps 100 players, staff and officials so it seems being involved in football is more profitable then being a Kulim shareholder as there is no risk of losing money.

If a major shareholder like Johor Corporation wants to promote football, it should donate its own dividend instead of penalising minority shareholders.
The donation is about 22% of the net dividends paid.

Public companies that donate to various causes can adopt a clear policy on how payments are made like:

1. Donation pegged to a max of 10% of net dividends paid to shareholders.
2. Amount is on year to year basis and depends on profits.
3. No increase in donation unless dividends also increased.
4. Report made on how donation is utilised.

Other countries in Asia have made great progress in soccer, notably Japan and South Korea but Malaysians are still waiting for things to happen. But I won’t be holding my breath!

Photo: http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/grant_wahl/06/21/us.ghana/t1_0621_donovan_getty.jpg

Looks like Inflation in Malaysia is about 360%

Remember the Latin America of the 60s?
In those days inflation was rampant in places like Argentina where a sack of sugar in the morning would double in price if you decided to buy it in the evening.

Malaysians too are experiencing inflation with most uncontrolled items going up by 20% if you go by your plate of chicken rice or fried noodles that has gone up by RM0.50 in the past month from RM3.00.

So what 360% am I complaining about? A few months ago, our famous crooked bridge project was cancelled and it was reported that the compensation was estimated at RM100 million.

However today’s report indicates that the contract may have included an inflation clause based on some commodity like steel prices.

So the Works Minister is upset that the contractor is claiming much more than the contract. Maybe we should ask the minister who approved this contractor for the crooked contract?

If his own numbers are correct, why does he have to wait for Cabinet approval to release the official findings so that taxpayers are not taken for another expensive ride?

We hope the PAC will have a good look at the contract to ensure we put a stop to spurious claims by anyone.

Is there not a law to deter cheats?

graphics: http://constitucion.redliberal.com/Inflation-70s.gif

It’s Nice to Receive Letters.....

........Especially if they offer you special deals.

Everyone loves to recive letters provided it is not a demand payment from the credit card company or the IRD.

It seems that the Customs officers have been operating a special deals program for selected people who are able to take part in special offers.

All very nice for the selected few but not good for the government coffers as the seized goods could have fetched more if all Malaysians are invited to participate

We all know the saying ”Less men, more share” and it appears the Customs were guilty of sharing their spoils with preferred clients.

Do you know how to get your name on their mailing list?
Would a proper audit be beneficial on what safeguards are in place to secure the millions of ringgit that is under their control?

If cars can be so easily disposed to their preferred clients, what about more marketable goods like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs?

photo: http://thestranger.com/binary/15/letters.jpg

Is the EPF Competent Enough to Run Banks?

The EPF as the most strategic fund manager is ill advised to consider taking a controlling stake in a local bank.

Let us not forget the Sime Darby story where one of Malaysia’s leading companies took over a local bank and then found it really caused them massive losses.

Compared to the recent Southern Bank saga where the bank was practically forced onto the merger bed, it seems the authorities have now adopted a "can do" attitude with these two parties.

As a fund manager, the EPF should focus on the deployment of funds and getting the optimum returns for its stakeholders. It should not be operating companies, as I do not think they have the expertise and experience to do so.

I understand that most mutual funds do not invest in more than 10% of any company to reduce risk and it comes as a surprise that the EPF wants to control RHB Bank

The role of EPF in this instance could be to loan funds to other companies that may want to take over this bank.

I am just glad they do not have any more of my money.
But if they still have your money, it would be wise to find out what type of due diligence is done and how the stake is evaluated.

photo: http://www.theepochtimes.com/news_images/2005-7-1-malaysia-stocks.jpg

PS. While searching "banks" this picture turned up so I would like you to share the view.





photo: http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/Tyra_Banks_Biography.jpg