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By David Lang
The following stories may fire your imagination, pique your interest. Some say 1MDB is Malaysia's Sovereign Wealth fund; to others they asked what wealth fund when its total capitalization is just One million ringgit? But, then again, if you think you can look down on the pet idea of the Malaysian prime minister, think again. His idea has the potential of turning the now world famous - or shall we say, infamous - 1Malaysia Development Berhad into a giant corporation you can ever imagine - even bigger than Bill Gate's Microsoft! At least, it could be, if the original course is stayed. It was supposed to inspire Malaysians to think big besides advance growth, according to its slogans screaming out of giant bill boards throughout the country. 'Backed' by the finance ministry who owns it - which means money will never be the problem - it can only succeed. But..it didn't. It failed! That's why it may have piqued many people's curiosity. How can a company flush with cash and can borrow any amount (billions) anytime could fail? Well, this may be in line with your thinking. People have seen since its inception - I mean after its name was changed in 1999 from Trengganu Investment Authority (TIA) to the present - it hasn't done any business! I have used present tense deliberately. It hasn't done any business yet. I mean if you are in business you need to make profit or find ways to make profit. Or close shop. Oh, I had heard about their filings of tax returns and hiring of a couple of internationally known auditors to sign off on their balance sheets; but these concerned only the company's borrowings and interests to be paid. Two massive bonds were issued to the tune of $7 billions. To buy up power plants. Again I want to say if you are in business to make money even investing in independent Power Plants, it should be done with the view to making a profit. The decision may be long term or short term, it doesn't matter, it has to make money, or no deal. May be they have done the right thing. Maybe luck was not on their side. Still, the amount is staggering. I didn't know having or managing so much money can be a problem! But many - especially the Malays - have not given up hope yet. Yes, may be the durians are just ripening; may be they need time and may fall soon!
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!>The DRL Blog > News>Malaysia>opinion
Malaysia's Vision 2020
By:David Lang
Malaysia is supposed to be on its way to becoming a developed nation, by the year 2020. Will she make it (in less than five years -tick-tuck, tick-tuck)? There is no doubt the year 2020 is coming whether the country is ready or not, and if that will be the only requirement then Malaysia will attain that developed nation status on schedule. There is a question, though, Will Malaysia, or Malaysians, for that matter, be ready for that status as far as their affluence, quality of life's concern? Currently Malaysia's GNI per capita stood at US$10060. According to the World Bank high income economies are those with GNI per capita of US$12,745. And until Malaysians earn much more to be there, the developed nation status may not be achieved even by the year 2020. The futility of declaring a country a high income country when it's not, achieves nothing. May be even counter-productive; it lulls the country into false sense of success and premature celebration. Don't forget China reportedly overtook Japan as the world's second largest economy, but in actual fact China's citizens' ca pita income is a fraction of the incomes of the Japanese who earn $37,000. Chinese incomes range from $13,000. China's gross domestic product, taken as a whole, may beat Japan's, but in term of quality of life, and GNI per capita income, the criteria for a developed nation status, China still has a lot of catching up to do. That's why China still qualifies as recipient of Japan's economic aid meant for developing countries. Comparing with the Chinese per capita domestic product, Malaysia is even worse off. Unless the government bucks up and rushes to create more wealth for its citizens, the Vision 2020 dream may remain just that ..a dream.
Jun 29, 2013
'MCA go home' vs 'Where was DAP 13 years ago?' at Jonker Walk
What?! Gan qualified his being there as a survey, not to protest? Let alone to lead the protest? Did Mr. Gan Tian Loo realize that the MCA protest carries more weight than DAP protest many times over. The state government, being UMNO-led government, considers the DAP as the opposition working hand-in-hand with PAS and PKR to oust UMNO from power, rescinding the directive on the request from DAP leaders will make the party even more popular. I thought, at first, here come the MCA, finally to do what it's supposed to do. Then the expected happened. He got cold feet. The reporter who covered the protest reported Gan was suddenly cautious . He was like ..."I'm here to lend my support to..the .. no, wait! I am not here to support the traders - but just to do a quick survey! But I am glad to be standing here with the protesters but reporters, please put it down in black and white I am not, I repeat, am not here as part of the protest. This is the reason the MCA was shunned, I mean has been shunned by the Chinese. They do not represent the Chinese anymore. They cannot get things done anymore unlike in the old days. Gan admitted his meeting with the chief minister was fruitless, but would keep trying. Keep trying for what? He should stop embarrassing the MCA and reducing its credibility further by continuing to beg despite being rebuffed earlier. Again, this proved that the Malaysian Chinese Association has really completely lost its usefulness. If a small matter like Jonker Walk closure was beyond its power then, that 's it.
Jun 22, 2013
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Feb 15, 2013
How To Repair Your Own Refrigerator And Save A Bundle
The Free Gazette › News›opinion
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Sep 13, 2012
Why NASA skipped the moon?
The Free Gazette › News›opinion
This article was recently published on MSNBC Newsvine.com
It is indeed encouraging that NASA (who else in this matter?) has found some, albeit (very) insignificant success in its endeavor to explore and 'conquer' this baffling but captivating planet: Mars.
Sep 11, 2012
Originally published in MSNBC Newsvine.com
The Free Gazette › News›opinion
Originally published on MSNBC Newsvine
Ross-517902 They are still going to kill the pigs. Doesn't seem to friendly to me. Makes for good propaganda though. 8!#6 - Thu May 31, 2012 9:14 PM EDT SyriaInTurmoil Ross, I agree they are still going to kill the pigs. But I like what McDonald plans to do. !doctype>Sep 8, 2012
What You Should Know About Islam
The Write-Way Gazette › Opinion
This article was originally published on MSNBC Newsvine.com
Mon Apr 30, 2912 7:02 AM EDT.By SyriaInTurmoil
Islam, mind you, is like a "One-way Street or "No-through Road."
If you are not blind or illiterate, you you know that these street and road lead to
nowhere, but people won't listen! They, for instance, have to convert to Islam if they want to tie the knots with their Muslim girlfriends, and yet go ahead.
Sep 2, 2012
How a puppy made a difference
In my younger days I repaired refrigerators and air conditioners for a living. As I was doing well I became visible as a well-to-do man. Although I was proud of my achievement, I became the targets of charity seekers, who would come to my shop with their motorbikes' fuel tank covers ready open (purportedly to ask for money to buy petrole for their motorbikes, for instance), and expecting me to do the needful. I never failed to oblige, though. Back then, unlike now, I could afford to be generous.
However, among those who "noticed" my said visibility, was a Malay man, the only Malay man while the rest were mostly Chinese, and a few Indians.
This (Malay) man unlike other donation seekers came in a car (no wonder he didn't ask for anything) with a dog, a bit grown puppy, to ask me to adopt.
I was taken aback to see a Malay man wearing a songkok handling a dog without any qualm.
In Malaysia, Malay Muslims are not supposed to touch or rear dogs, though some do.The man commented that he had been watching me for some time and thought I looked like I could take care of a dog. He went on the assure me all the necessary vaccinations have been carried out -- all I have to do was give him food and water he said.
Again I looked at the dog; I told him if I agreed to take him in it was definitely not because the dog was cute!
I thought of telling him if he wanted to give me a dog there were lots of puppies people abandoned at his pound. He said he "met" me when I went to fix some refrigerators at his clinic. When I asked him why he didn't bring me a nice dog instead of an ugly one like that, he said he somehow pitied this boy (turning to look at the now eve ready-to-wag-his-tail puppy) and just wanted to help him. So did I! So did I!
After his master left the boy which I later name Wolf, suddenly ran in and ran out as if he had been there all his life. He literally kept tracks of my every move; his eyes full of love and gratitude were only for me. I became the world for him, as he for me.
We were inseparable except when I went out to repair fridges.
Since Wolf came into my life I couldn't be happier. If I turned him down that day I know I would never know the love that he showered on me so unreservedly during his short time with me. I would never forgive myself
When he grew up he looked more like a wolf; hence the name. But alas, he started having skin disease called maize. I took him to many vets but to no avail. I spared no effort or money to help him as I loved him so much.
In fact, I loved so much that I betrayed my myself to some unscrupulous doctors (I was visible to them as a fool who loved his pet too much). Some tried to cash in on my dog's misery and my vulnerable state of mind. One doctor -- with whom I had left my dog earlier in the day -- I can recall vividly, telephoned me after midnight that very night to discuss about my dog's condition.
When I asked could we do this tomorrow as I was coming to visit my dog first thing in the morning? The vet insisted I hear him out. He asked if I loved my dog (isn't that obvious)? Without waiting for my answer the fellow blurted out: "If you love your dog (and didn't want him to die) you should be prepared to fork out 4 to 5,000 dollars for an operation. He asked if my dog had been knocked down by car; I said no. He said something about the canine's heart (organ) had shifted from the front to the back of his body. "How come? was my only response.
I was of course skeptical with the whole conversation, but I kept my feeling to myself. I couldn't wait to go and fetch back my dog.
Before hanging up, I asked the doctor if, say, I have that kind of money and was prepared to pay, could he guarantee my dog would recover after the surgery, he was evasive, kept saying all surgeries come with risks.
I was about to blurt out: "They do? So, even if I want to spend the four or five thousands the dog still may die?" But I checked myself, instead I said: "Okay, Doc, I will come to see you tomorrow. Thank you for your concern."
When at his office the next day, I announced I wanted to collect my dog, and asked for a bill. I was charged three hundreds and fifty dollars. I was told $270 was for treatment the rest for bedding. So leaving my dog in his cage cost $80 per night. On second thought, I, too, would like to be a vet; so that I could make easy money like him. What a lucrative job being an animal doctor.
I paid up and then went to see the man who was in charge of the cages and who also happened to be my customer once. I recalled charging him very reasonable for fixing his refrigerator at his home once. I knew I had made a friend, then.
Selvam was his name. He told me what the doctor told me was a lie after I told him the Doctor said he took good care of my dog; if,say, my dog did not want to eat he would force-feed the animal. Selvam told me if there was to be any force-feeding he should know s he was the only one to do it.
When Selvam led (took) the dog to the doctor to hand over to me in his presence, the doctor exclaimed: "Hey, David, somehow your dog's condition was on the mend already. I want you to leave him here for a few days more to make sure he is okay." "Yeah, why not leave him here for a month, so that you could make $2,400! But I didn't say it. Instead, I insisted I wanted to take my boy home. I almost blurted out: At first, you said unless I pay for his surgery the dog would die; then you pronounced my dog had recovered, and yet you wanted to keep here for another few days -- to make sure he's dead?!
From what I observed as a lay person, the dog was in so bad shape that he couldn't stand for long, he was going to die. So the money spent was wasted, gone down the drain.
I was right another doctor told me the dog would soon die, so he told me to leave it there and then and go home, they would send him for incineration and asked me to pay only $10 instead of $50 as it was government clinic.
I went home as told, but..not so fast! Upon realizing Wolf could be out of my life forever, I was overcome with grief. I was beside myself with love and grief for him. I rushed back to the clinic to collect him, never mind the $10 I just paid. I pleaded with the doctor I would care for him until he died. But the doctor said the dog had died soon after I left and had already been sent away. I begged the doctor to go and recheck if the carcass was still there I wanted to take a photograph of his face for memorial sake, but it was too late. I went home with a void in my heart. I was determined to find some photograph of other dogs which might resemble him. I couldn't find one. I and my sister (who was also very attached to Wolf) cried for many days for our loss.
I regretted not taking Wolf home to die and then bury him in my back garden; so that we could continue to be together. But my sister told me to pull myself together and force myself to forget Wolf and move on. If I were to bury him in my garden, then it's possible that I would keep crying until... she said.
My sister, who worked as my clerk-cum- cashier, advised me to find another dog instead, to fill the void in my aching heart. I one day found a puppy wandering along Perak Road, about a mile from where I operated my fridge business, and took her home.
Soon my shop was full of adorable bubbly puppies who climbed all over me! They helped cure my pain like magic. By then pining for Wolf had been replaced by my respect and love for him.
He was my first pet; he had planted in me a seed of love and respect for animals, especially dogs and cats, and will never forget his love in his eyes for me. He had made a difference to me
Because of him, I now take care of about 70 cats. To know more, please visit Dogs & Cats
Aug 21, 2012
Karma as defined by Buddhists
The Write-Way Gazette › Buddhists believe our karma determine our happiness or sufferings
Yes, wonderful9845, you are right according to Buddhist teaching you will get what you deserve. And the Chinese government, especially the Communist Party that controls it, are laden with bad karma, yes, for oppressing the innocent and pious Buddhist Tibet, and pay in full for their sins in due course. They thought because they are atheist they can escape punishment? The order of the universe is, and always will be, you harvest what you sow.
Because of their crime, China will experience a severe convulsion and natural disaster, during which those laden with guilt will be purged and destroyed.
China will be there; but new leaders will emerge and will make peace with the Dalai Lama's Tibet, and after some negotiation over defense matters and agreements signed, Tibet will be set free. Out of gratitude, the Dalai Lama will pledge to remain close with China.
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Julian Assange became too famous for his own good
Julian Assange became too famous for his own good
I have said many times and I want to say again, the two Julian Assange's sexual misconduct accusers actually framed their accusations on the fly.
They did not do it out of anger for having lost their virginity to him, after he failed to keep his promises; or because he helped himself to more intercourse than originally agreed; or that, after they resisted the second or third attempt at sexual intercourse, he used forced on them.
!doctype>Aug 20, 2012
What About Kratom Leaves
Kratom leaves or juice is no more dangerous or addictive than beer or booze; it cannot be compared to heroin as it has only mild form of opiate which can do you more good than harm.
The case cited in emergecy room mentioned in the article was laughable. From what I gathered the guy could even suffer a withdrawl from drinking Swiss Nescafe.
The writer must be needing to write this article bad, so he had no choice but to create his own case histories and was lucky the mentioned doctors were forthcoming enough.
Anyway the insinuation that 'Kratom' leaves or its juice is dangerous remains laughable.
After the article appeared I went to meet a few old men in a village in Kedah, Malaysia, and this was what I gathered: "What, Kratom leave dangerous? Then we would have been dead long ago," was one man's indignant reply. Another old long-time user concurred, "After I chewed Kratom I could work longer and carry heavier loads without feeling any effect at all. How can that be bad?" All the senior citizens admitted they have been using Kratom leaves for years without any side effects.They even cheekily recommended that I should try it. Which I did, but not there and then.
It was not easy to get yourself hooked on Kratom leaves because they taste awful, very unpleasant I should add, at first. But if you are friendly with regular users like the old guys I mentioned earlier, then with their help
your initiation could be less nauseating somewhat.
That said, I think the nauseating taste could help prevent many people, especially the young, from coming to use this wonderful leave. And that should be welcome by parents who worry about their children stumbling on Kratom leaves. They will assure you the nauseating is for a brief period only (momentarily), which for goodness' sake should remain a secret; after that joy, nothing but joy.
As for the warning that though Kratom leave has never killed anybody it is still considered a drug, hence should handle it with extreme caution, it is okay to err on the side of safety, and I will leave it at that.