Backwards, backwards.

Though the decision has been announced and said to be final since last week, people still talk about it. Yes, I am talking about our government deciding for Mathematics and Science to be in Bahasa Malaysia, rather than the English language.

The decisions definitely shocked the people of Malaysia. I'll tell you who are these people of Malaysia.

-- The teachers that have been working so hard to cope with the English language in workshops and retaking their training exams in which if they failed - those who actually make an effort and not just sit back wailing and waiting in the government to make life easier for them.

-- The people that worked together and came up with the LCDs and programmed softwares to make English learning less tough.

-- Parents that relentlessly try helping their children, either by coaching them or sending them for expensive tuition classes despite the economic downturn as they have no choice because the school teachers may not be as resourceful.

-- And the most affected, the students. Imagine you've been trying, and finally, you did it. You managed to adjust to the system. Then, they strip everything off you, leaving you to start again.


And we all thought our children had hopes of doing better if they were to be sent abroad to study as their English would have been sharpened to a certain degree. How far can they go with BM? You talk about moving forward as a country, having the dreams of one day having to compete with countries like America, United Kingdom, Singapore. Well, I just don't see this particular move to be in consistent with that.

Yes, Bahasa Malaysia is to be protected and cherished as our national language. But doing that at a cost of the future of the next generation? Doesn't make sense to me.

I also can't help pointing out the fact that those higher in the royal hierarchy send their children abroad to the boarding schools there. Why? Obviously they do not trust our very own education system. So its alright for them to move forward and leave the other people behind? Their people behind?

Like I said in one of the previous post, its not the children that can't cope with English. Its the teachers. Children have young minds. They can be shaped. If the teachers can't or rather, would not try and help the people of tomorrow, why should the children be victims? Yes, there are some teachers who has genuinely tried. And I salute them for their initiative.

So they say, this move is somewhat catered for the people of rural areas. Then if I may highlight the obvious, the kampung people will and always remain kampung people.

Like Tun Dr Mahathir said, "Seems to me like the Government is not listening to the voice of the people'"

He recently published a poll on his blog having people to vote, and 86324 out of 100154 people voted that they did not agree with the government's decision. That's 86%.

What I think is that the government should collect votes from the students. Give them voices. After all, its them that is studying and will be taking the crucial exams. And the government's decision would affect their performances indefinitely.

So here we are, folks. Back to square one. More specific, backwards.

13 Hindraf detainees released.

Yes, I know. I have not been blogging. Mainly because I was just tired. Tired from the news on grafts and alleged corruptions in UMNO, from the childish yelling in Parliament that got him suspended, alleged dirty tactics in accordance with the upcoming by-election. (If I did blog on those issues, I might be found wrong, well at least under the Sedition Act with something called defamation. So I chose not to. And not to judge. There was really nothing to comment about. The issue itself is prima facie, and there were no two sides of the story to argue or comment about. No other good side.)

Topped with news on the trouble in relation to the G20 Summit, school assassinations, North Korea and their little missile test, and just few days ago, the appointment of Malaysia's new premier.

But just yesterday, he released 13 Hindraf detainees to their respective homes and families, which got the rakyat thinking.

Some said it was a populist move to win votes for tomorrow's upcoming by-election (in which BN would need a considerable percentage of Indian voters to take their side).

Then Najib himself countered this and said that if he did not release them, people would say the government is unfair and rigid. And he did released them and the people in turn said that is a populist move.

Then Karpal Singh from DAP commented that he should release all 65 (hopefully I got the number correct) of them, not just 13.

Lim Guan Eng also from DAP said it was an insincere move because he only released 13 out of the 65 to please the rakyat, or more so, the Indians. If he was sincere, he'd release all 65 of them.

However, Anwar, leader of PKR did highlight this move and appreciated it, but he said it was because of PKR's relentless fight against the government to uphold freedom and justice.

Aren't we all critics at the end of the day? What are your views on this?

One of my friend said he was quite thankful that Najib did release the Hindraf detainees as it was a huge relief to the families they had left behind when in prison. Which is true. Especially for those whom their husbands are sole bread winners.
When one of the wives being interviewed for the local news, all that was seen in her eyes were joy and a sense of burden lifted from her.

Najib said, just before his appointment as the 6th Prime Minister, to judge him on how he carries out his duty as a Prime Minister. Not on baseless accusations.
I'm not sure if he had gained the trust and revere of the rakyat. But its obvious that Najib has Tun Dr Mahathir' full support seen from him rejoining UMNO when Badawi gave his seat to Najib.

It is too soon to tell if he'd be a better Prime Minister from the last one. Or a good Prime Minister of Malaysia, generally. (Having a list of rumours of, well, not so pleasant things he had done, and a long line of critics having him under a magnifying glass, waiting for him to make a mistake.)

Like I said earlier, aren't we all critics? But I would love to see how he carries out his duties, having one of the top posts in Malaysia. I would most definetly love to wait and see.
Let us all not judge yet.

Welcome immigrants, not.

A couple of days back, the Home Minister decided to sign a permit, allowing 70,000 Bangladeshi workers to step into our country for employment. Fortunately, with many parties disagreeing to this, he retracted the permit.

With the RM 60 billion stimulus package, a large sum would go to the construction industry, as Malaysia is a developing country. So there would be an outflow of the money to the Bangladeshi workers, if they are permitted to be employed here, into their pockets and to their country.

And yes, more social problems. Crime rates would soar high. Theft and rape cases to high record levels. Many would say that it is not only the Bangladeshis that go around raping women. Our locals do contribute to the social problems too. But hello, would you want to add to the numbers and statistics yet by allowing more immigrants to be employed?

Our country is starting to feel the pinch of recession. Unemployment rates are rising. And yet, we are allowing the job opportunities to be obtained by our neighbours. However, this problem can't be rectified as we rely heavily on foreign workers in construction jobs and such. Why can't we be like countries like US and UK, where the locals are employed to work at construction sites?

But the Bangladeshi workers are humans too. Its not fair for them as they have paid the sum of money for the paper works for their employment in Malaysia and not being able to claim the refunds of it. Some of them might have been saving for a long time just to pay the employment fee. Struggling to make ends meet, hoping to get a job in Malaysia to feed their family back at home. And yes, lets be fair. Not all of them would contribute to social problems.
Employers of Bangladeshi workers state that they are hardworking and most importantly, are employed at a low cost.

English or Bahasa Malaysia?

Mathematics and Science in BM or English? The dilemma starts again.

Few years back, Tun Dr Mahathir's decision to change Maths and Science to be thought in English stirred up debates from various parties. Then, slowly, the issue was quietened down. People forgot about it, and adjusted to the norm of Math and Science in English.

Lately, the suggestion of reversing the language of the subjects taught back to Bahasa Malaysia caused upheavals, yet again, from the public, and some ministers. The issue that has been swept under the carpet, was now brought up again.

The argument was that teachers are having a difficult time teaching the subjects and students in rural areas cannot cope with the subject as they are not fluent in English.


Now, this is my argument. Who are we trying to benefit?
The teachers or the students? If the teachers can't teach the subject in English, retrain them. It can be done. Changing the subjects back to Bahasa Malaysia (just because the teachers are whining that English is hard) would absolutely be spoiling the teachers. Mind you, our education system should not adjust towards achieving comfort for the teachers. It is the teachers who work for our government that should adjust to the system for the benefit of the students.

And don't tell me rubbish like its the students that can't cope. They have young minds. And young minds can be shaped. So what if you're from the kampung? Doesn't make you any different. Its not like you're born with a smaller brain or anything like that. They can do it. And oh yes, the government would be spoiling them too, if they change the subjects back to BM. If they don't learn English and English in Science and Math, when are they going to learn? Competitions in the job markets are very high now. No doubt it would be higher for the generations to come. Do we want to see children grow up and not able to move forward into the tertiary sector but stay planting paddy fields in the kampung? Changing the language back to BM would just be a detrimental to them, in the long run.

Not only Math and Science but also other subjects like Accounting, Economics, History, Geography, etc is to be switched to English language. English is an international language. They will thank the government for the implementing of English in their subjects when they adapt well studying abroad, or even courses studied in local colleges, that are in English; work in a well renowned international company or engage in trade and business with other countries, in the future.

No doubt, BM is important. Those who study in government schools study Bahasa for 11 years. Sometimes up to 3 to 4 periods a day. But there's a line between putting our national language first and allowing the country to progress. This line has been blurred long enough.

There is even concrete evidence stating that students prefer English in Science and Math. The SPM and STPM papers were prepared in both languages, BM and English. A whooping majority of students answered the papers in the latter, clearly stating which they preferred. So what is still there to be discussed about?

They always say that our children would shape our future. Well, in this case, the government's decision would shape our children's future, and that would shape our future.

Parliament: 100 000 jobless by end of year.

Above: Picture taken last year on a trip to the Parliament with the Taylor's Model United Nations.

Couple of days back, flashing below the screen of the local news was the exact words (in small prints) 'Parliament: 100 000 jobless by end of year'.

But I recalled our Finance Minister announcing that Malaysia would not be affected by the global recession, months back. Either there was an honest miscalculation or he did not take into account the concept of being prudent. Hello, this is not the time to be optimistic and making use of the people's imperfect knowledge.

People who believed in that statement and thus did not prepare for this recession had to face the aftermath.
So sad.


When your neighbour looses his job, it is called recession. When you loose your job, it is called depression. - 33rd President of the US.

Do not fret Eli. The people have your back.

Recently, the Sultan of Selangor expressed that he was upset with the way some of us are handling Elizabeth Wong's case. He said it was not to be of his personal interest and will leave it to the authorities to decide on her case.

Indeed, it is an issue of her personal affair. Who are you to judge her? According to the law, unless prohibited by a statute and otherwise immoral, any consensual sexual relations between adults would not constitute to an offense. Such conduct in personal life have absolutely no relevance to the ability of a person to perform her public duties, and perform it well.

People of her constitution have appealed and hoped that her letter of resignation would not be accepted as they still want her as their assemblywoman. They said she has an excellent track record and has carried out her duties well. This incident should not be a setback and should be overlooked. Her people are merely shouting out to her "no one can replace you, Eli".

I hope no one does.

(Source: Articles of Law, The Star)

Why Malaysia can never catch up with the economic efficiency of Singapore, etc.

Unlike the Singapore government and many other economically developed countries, Malaysia lacks a policy that should have been implemented by the government a long long time ago - whether its is to cure inflation or recession or unemployment, to stimulate growth in the economy, improve the Balance of Payment's deficit and stabilizing the currency.

Many would agree with me that inflation could never be cured without the side effects of rising unemployment. Theoratically speaking, when there is inflation, the government would adopt the Contractionary Fiscal Policy, deliberately reducing government spending (like subsidies) and increasing tax rates so aggregate demand and spending would reduce, together with the Contractionary Monetary Policy by increasing interest rates. Thus eliminating the seriousness of inflation in our country by the lowering of aggregate demand. However, when spending is reduced, businesses would in turn cut down their production and output thus leading to unemployment.

Inversely, when unemployment is to be cured the government would adopt the Expansionary Fiscal Policy by increasing government expenditure and reducing tax together with the Expansionary Monetary Policy by reducing interest rates to encourage spending in the economy. Yes, recession and unemployment will be curbed. But the problem of inflation now surfaces as demand exceeds supply.

What the government should be implementing is the Supply Side Policy, having the ratio of Supply Side Policy exceeding the Fiscal and Monetary Policy. The aim of the Supply Side Policy is to increase aggregate supply by increasing productivity in the economy, long term. That would simply mean, in layman's terms, a call to WORK HARDER. (Which Malaysia might have failed, not all, but in certain areas.)

Fortunately, in the labour market, this policy has been implemented via not allowing for unemployment benefits (like in the UK, where citizens choose to stay at home and feed on the unemployment benefits, thus reducing productivity in the economy).
Tun Dr Mahathir has also banned strikes to be carried out by trade unions. Yes, he was quite a dictator in allowing little or no freedom of speech. But I would have to admit this banning of strike is beneficial to our economy because strikes deter productivity, which is linked to the degree and quantity of investments in Malaysia.
Minimum wage is also not allowed as it would create unemployment and thus leading to the reduction in investments.

However, it is not likewise for the capital market. The government has failed in applying this Supply Side Policy here.
In the capital market, government red tape should be reduced. Did u know it takes approximately 3 months for an investor from abroad to get permission from the government department, just to invest? Whereas in Singapore, it only takes 3 hours.
The government should also encourage big firms to provide loans for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which would allow for their growth and coherently contributing to our economy. (This is because banks would not be likely to provide loans for fresh and new businesses as they are aware it is a huge risk to take. Banks, being prudent, would rather borrow to households who buy assets. eg: cars, houses, shop lots. Whether it is for speculation or other personal interests, the banks would gladly lend their money because if the respective parties are not unable to pay interests or down payments, the banks can seize the property, sell it off and obtain their money back.)

In the goods market, the government should also encourage privatization. This would increase competitiveness and thus improving the quality of their services. Yes, companies like TMnet are privatized already. Sadly, I can't brag about their efficiency here.
The government should also remove artificial legal barriers to entry, for investors to come in and plant their businesses. This is called deregulation. Lets take an example of Citibank and Maybank Berhad. Did you know, up till 2007, there were only 3 Citibanks allowed in Malaysia? Its just recently the government has allowed for another 3 branches to be opened. Well, simply because the turnover for 30 Maybanks is no match for the turnover of 3 Citibanks. Talk about being kiasu by eliminating the degree of competitiveness here. (Ps: Many Maybanks are owned by politicians in Malaysia.) Overseas branches of law firms are also not allowed to have their franchises here. The result, documents for sales and purchases of houses are inefficiently produced, as there is lack of competition. Fortunately, low cost airlines like the Air Asia are increasing competitions, forcing our local airline, MAS to reduce airfare tickets too. So now everyone can fly.

Lets all hope the government would stop their squabble over parliamentary seats, racial issues and look into matters like improving the growth of our economy. Things that actually matter.

(Source: Words of wisdom by an Economics lecturer)

Will money cloud your judgement and sensibility?

Yes, you've guessed it. I'll be addressing the Rm 20M scandal.

So, back to the question. Will you, allow for the issue of money to cloud your principles?

Certainly not, for DAP's Malim Nawar and PKR's Kuala Kurau righteous assemblymen who lodged a report to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commissioners (MACC) yesterday (which I absolutely salute). UMNO who allegedly said to have offered the undertable money of RM 20M for them to quit their respective parties and be independant was defensive and strongly disagreed to their claims.

But that's another issue. If it is true, its between them and God. Lets focus on the bright side. Its indeed encouraging to hear about people doing what is right and practice what they preach. Especially people of power. People who have the opportunity, or rather, like having juicy piece of meat dangling in front of you, luring and tempting you to sapu it without, a single detriment to be considered. In addition, reporting it to the MACC that would only cause brewing of anger at the other side of the 'pond', thus adding to the frictions that are already there.

So, putting yourself in their shoes; will you forgo 20 million ringgit to stand up for justice and the principals you believe in?

(Ps: In Singapore, anyone who is found involved in corruption, especially in governmental issues, that person will be hanged. Imagine if it was implemented in Malaysia. Hanging people would be an everyday thing.)

Analogy : Putting out fire by pouring gasoline?

So Bank Negara has decided to reduce the interest rate for savings to a benchmark of 2% and interest rates for borrowings to 4.5% to cure the recession in our country. (Mind you, decisions of the Central Bank often are greatly influenced by our Finance Minister)

Ah, yes. Low interest rates. Like the resounding chorus of Hallelujah to ears of the investors, households and many who speculate.

Low interest rates would cause savings to decrease. Thus consumption increases, leading to rise in aggregate demand. When aggregate demand (demand for goods and services) increases, there would be more job opportunities. Hence, income increases. Therefore, curbing recession in Malaysia.
Also, low interest rates would allow for increase in investments, as entrepreneurs can borrow at a low cost to invest. Thus stimulating the economy and bringing growth to our country in technology and productivity. Aggregate demand increases, unemployment decreases and income increases, curing the looming recession.


So then you ask, what flaw could there possibly be in reducing the interest rate?
Do allow me to enlighten you with what I have learn.

When interest rates are low, it might not encourage investors to loan from banks because they might speculate that they would not meet their break even point as profits would not be as high in times of recession.

Also, when the interest rates are reduced, savings might not reduce as household save in banks abroad which offers high interest rates. Thus, money for transactionary purposes would not increase as it is kept in the banks. So, the whole theory of consumption increasing, pushing up aggregate demand and increasing income will fail.

A good example of the failure of reduction of interest rates, hoping to cure recession would be the Japan government's intervention of reducing interest rates to 0%. You are sorely mistaken if you think that would have stimulated the economy. No, investors did not borrow to invest. Households still kept their money in banks even when there would be zero returns. The economy continues to stagnate even when the cost of borrowing is zero. Why then, you might ask. Well, simply because the people of Japan figured there was something seriously wrong that the interest rates dropped to 0%, thus start feeding their savings account, afraid what they would be facing in the future, that interest rates dropped so severely.


The fall in interest rate might be one of the ways to curb recession. But it is not the best way. It might just be like pouring gasoline, thinking it would put out the fire.

So, lets wait and see if the pros outweighs the cons. Or vice versa. Hopefully it doesn't.


(Source : Words of wisdom by an Economics lecturer.)

Nets to prevent frogs leaping over to the other side of the pond?

Yes, its time to address the highly debated issue on the Anti-Hopping Law - whether it should be implemented, or not.


When I first heard of this Anti-Hopping Law idea, I immediately decided I would not be one of the supporters of it. My logic would be, why prevent an easily bribed assemblyman that wants to cross over? Why prevent someone who has been entrusted with powers as voted by the people to run the coalition, finally deciding not to serve the people anymore due to personal interests? Its like insisting on using a rotten egg to bake a cake. It defeats the quality of the cake.


Then, I realized, if this Anti-Hopping Law is implemented, There won't be anymore bribing or luring assemblymen or women to cross over as they, legally are unable to do so when the Law is implemented.


But, how if that politician is genuinely not happy with the party he is currently serving in? How if he wants to cross over not because the grass is greener on the other side, but because he's sick of all the scandals and dirty tricks his team members are playing? He is trapped unless he resigns, and that would be loosing his job. That would be a devastating impact on his family if he is the sole bread winner.

Conclusively speaking, I would say there are pros and cons to the implementation of this Anti-Hopping Law; vice versa if it is not implemented.


Well, at least that's what I think. What are your views on this?

Once upon a time there were three little frogs. So to speak.

So the controversy about the Perak crisis goes on. It all started from the three allegedly called 'frogs' jumped from the opposition coalition to supporting the government. I'm sure they had thought about it, once, maybe twice. But maybe not trice. I'm sure they did not foresee; in fact, no one did anticipate that three 'jumps' could cause the many fundamental changes that has spread like cancer.

Suddenly, like poisonous mushrooms popping out after a rainy day, problems start to emerge for the highly respected and looked up upon opposition coalition.

First, it was about the issue that whether they should dissolve and have a fresh by-election altogether to elect a new government and Menteri Besar or the Sultan decides on who would take over this political tsunami hit state. If you ask me, I think having an election would be recognising Malaysia, as a democratic country.

Then, it was the controversy about which MB should be in power when the PKR assemblyman loyally hung on to serve his people when simultaneously the new BN Menteri Besar was sworn in by the Sultan.

Later, Elizabeth Wong fled the country to be away from the press and pressure caused by the circulation of her nude photos, after stepping down with integrity from her party. (For goodness sake, leave her alone. Its her personal life. She did not contribute to anything rotten behind her people's back anyway. You have no right to judge her.)

Then, it was the MB of Selangor that made the first page of the papers, that allegedly misused funds for his personal interest. Was it a little over 10k or so? Then let me ask you, what about the millions that suddenly was available to lure frogs over to the other side? How did that money come about? Its funny how Khalid's issue of 10k got detected and little or no investigations was made how the millions appeared suddenly in thin air.

Whether Khalid did really misuse his funds, its really his responsibility. If he did, he's in the wrong, regardless 10 thousand or 10 million.

Whether if its true that they say UMNO was behind the circulation of Elizabeth Wong's photos, we do not know.

But its queer how things like these starts unfolding, shocking both our ears and eyes because we have looked at the opposition for hope and upholding justice since the election last year in March. Its queer how things unfold after the story of the three little frogs. Yes, the opposition are humans too. And humans are not perfect.

Its great though, that our country finally has a strong opposition(hopefully they remain strong through all this), minimising the chances the government misusing their powers under our noses. As the opposition have their eyes on the government's actions and plans, the government too have their eyes fixed on the opposition, not letting a flaw they find pass their way.

So what happens to the three little frogs story? Lets wait and see. But I have a hunch it would not be a happy ending story.

Perhaps the ending or conclusion of the story of our country's fate is up to us, ours to tell, to carve. So, how do you want it to end?