DAULAT TUANKU!

HRH Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin this morning was installed as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia!

And JG wishes HRH a BLESSED REIGN AS MALAYSIA’s 13 King!

I am confident that HRH will being about many a proactive and progressive change in the country!

Among them, I am certain are various changes in the way Istana Negara deals with the people and Government.  

JG WISHES HRH A BLESSED REIGN!

DAULAT TUANKU!

A JG JOKE FOR A CHANGE UNDER ALL THESE TENSIONS - ENJOY!

With all the risng temperatures over by-elections and other rubbish statements that tests our intelligence let us unwind in a joke!

JOKE OF THE WEEK!

Rajesh and Sharmila were flying to Australia for a two-week vacation to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.

Suddenly, over the public address system, the Captain announces, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am afraid I have some very bad news. Our engines have ceased functioning and we will attempt an
emergency landing.

Luckily, I see an uncharted island below us and we should be able to land on the beach.

However, the odds are that we may never be rescued and will have to live on the island for the rest of our lives!”

Thanks to the skill of the flight crew, the plane
lands safely on the island.

An hour later Rajesh turns to his wife and asks, “Sharmila did we pay our Rs 5 lakh deposit cheque yet to Citi Bank?”

“No, sweetheart,” she responds.

Rajesh, still shaken from the crash landing, then asks, “Sharmila, did we pay our Citi Bank Master card yet?”

“Oh no! I’m sorry. I forgot to send the cheque,” she
says.

“One last thing, Sharmila.

Did you remember to send cheques for the car loan to them too this month?” he asks.

“Oh, forgive me, Rajesh,” begged Sharmila. “I didn’t send that one, either.”

Rajesh grabs her and gives her the biggest hug in
20 years. Sharmila pulls away and asks him:
“So, why did you hug me?”

Rajesh answers: “They’ll find us!” 

PUSAT ANAK PERMATA - A BRILLANT MOVE SAYS JG!

  ’Kak Rosmah, wife of the DPM very involved and passionate in childrens issues!

Kudos to the efforts of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of our beloved deputy premier, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Hj Razak, who stated that the day-care and early education centre, also known as `Pusat Anak Permata Negara’ was successfully implemented in a short period similar to the Children’s Excellence Centre in Corby, London.

According to Kak Rosmah, this positive reaction was obtained from two experts on day-care and children’s early education from the United Kingdom who were invited to observe two Anak Permata Negara centres at Putrajaya and Subang Jaya recently.

Kak Rosmah indicated that the experts were amazed at the commitment shown by all involved in the project.

That they gave a very positive view and believed it would succeed here in Malaysia!

Kak Rosmah, who is also chairman of Permata Negara Advisory Group, also added that the two experts also suggested that more local teaching materials should be made available and continuous training for the teachers to raise their level of skill.

This is certainly vital ‘to train the trainers’ as I have always indicated!

And I fully agree with kak Rosmah’s view that which reinterated that the teaching staff should be taught ways to teach the children to learn through mental stimulation and not only to focus on the teaching.

This is important and the tools needed for this must be made available immediately.

For the record, I am aware that in 2006 Kak Rosmah and other members of the Advisory Group made a study tour to the Pen Green centre to see how the programme (for children aged five years and below) could be started in Malaysia.

The children’s excellence centre, formed in 1997, specialised in six activities — high quality early education, family assistance service, community involvement, community health service, research and training.

Interestingly Kak Rosmah indicates that in Malaysia according to 2006 statistics, 3.08 million or 11 percent of Malaysians were aged four years and below and only 34,100 of them or one percent obtained early education at nurseries registered with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

I agree that this is sad and needs immediate attention.

And I am glad to hear from her that Permata’s aim is to provide education to children because studies showed that children given early education grew up to be emotionally stable, confident, more positive towards learning and less involved in social problems!

I will also do my part in this by urging all sectors of society, especially political leaders to cooperate and ensure the success of the pioneer project.

TOURISM MINISTERS STATEMENT ON MALAYSIAN TRAVELLERS AN ABURDITY!

TOURISM MINISTERS STATEMENT ON MALAYSIAN TRAVELLERS AN ABURDITY! 

The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam Selangor (CASSA) Selangor is totally disillusioned and shocked at the statement by the Tourism Minister in an English tabloid that Malaysians traveling abroad speculated to be around 15 million must now fill a form to cite why they go overseas and what they do there before traveling.  

While many nations in this region and the Asia Pacific Zone are moving forward in a proactive manner, removing hurdles that impede or discomfort travelers, taking into cognizance and account public interest, the need for privacy and with a common segregation of what is personal, private and of national interest, Malaysia through the comments of the tourism minister are doing just the opposite! 

Perhaps, it is a sad reflection of the manner how certain government ministries are managed by ministers, politicians, secretary-generals and senior civil servants! 

One may not be wrong to say that some ministry’ are run as if they are the “private property” of those in that ministry! 

What is also absurd is that this ‘ministerial statement’ comes without any form of discussions or feedbacks from the civil society or the stakeholders! 

By his own statement the minister states that he is interested to know details on our activities whether for business, pleasure, study, visitation of relatives or other reasons! 

Is this not a violation by all international and humane standards of one’s privacy? 

Honestly, is it any business of his to know what I do while abroad as long as I do not break any laws in the country of visit and bring shame to Malaysia like many of our politically connected companies and their management are alleged to have done in the recent past in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, West Asia and several former states of Russian Republic, to cite a few? 

Have a form to receive voluntary feedbacks by all means, which may help the tourism ministry to evaluate how we compare with other nations on the quality of services offered and other comparative observations! 

Certainly, look at the high costs of accommodation, the cheating and short selling, the misrepresentation by those involved in the industry here on unsuspecting local and foreign tourists! 

Of course, with the feedbacks, take immediate action to right the wrongs and publish them so that those who provide the information will feel their comments were taken seriously through the punishment meted out to those who cheat tourists! 

But, please refrain from making statements that when circulated throughout the international news media brings ridicule, questions our intelligence and competence! 

It is hoped that in future there would be caution, a comprehensive study and discussions with all stakeholders initiated prior to such ‘ministerial wisdom are announced!’ 

THE LUST FOR HIGH RATINGS OVERTAKES COMMON SENSE AND DECENCY IN THE MEDIA DECISION IN SHOWING CHO SEUNG HUI HATRED?

‘ May They Rest In Peace!’ 

I have been flooded with e-mails from friends and consumers asking me whether broadcasters and the electronic and print media did right in transmitting the videos of this killer!

I think there was a need to be sensitive to the needs of the commuity and immediate family at a time of their grieving!

And secondly thoe who had the videos should have spoken to the police first to get their assessment of any investigatory, legal or public safety issues that they might be draw by such a screening!

By this certainly one is not handing editorial control to the police.

But perhaps, one needs to look at the bigger picture than ratings!

Was the reaction of the family and friends of the victim considered?

We already have a precedence where one can hold back “sensitive material” until families of victims have been informed.

In this case were the families informed prior to the screening of its violent and distasteful content?

Was it really in the public interest to show the killer’s state of mind and what we can learn about why such killings happen in such speed?

It is perhaps best to focus on the victims and their grieving families while in the background policy analyst and others in strategic planning, law and enforcement initiate a plan of action that this tragedy does not reoccur!

In the meantime, let us pray for those who lost their lives, speedy recovery for those injured and hurt and a peace of mind and GOD”S STRENGTH to the grieving families!

Ijok By-Election - Lets Not Get Personal Says JG!

 ‘I have full fate in the deputy premier’s credentials and honesty in all matters. And time will prove I am right!’ - Dr Jacob George

It is foolish to get ‘rowdy and personal’ with all kinds and shapes of baseless and wild allegations as if those making the allegations are themselves “pure in heart!”

And I am really glad to hear from deputy premier, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that he would reply, within the law, to all the allegations made against him by the opposition political parties, including the claims linking him to the case of a murdered Mongolian woman.

The operating words being - “within the law!”

One does not want to run foul of the rule of law, more so, to issues of sub-judice!

Of course, certain political adventurers really ‘wolves in sheeps clothing’ may not understand this!

They have a ‘political agenda and motive’ - nothing is going to stop them from carrying on and that is why they will be rejected again, by all right thinking people when the votes are counted at the Ijok by-election as was the case in Machap!

But being the proactive leader he is with nothing to fear - the deputy prime minister and defence minister has already gone on record denying the baseless accusations against him!

Najib is reported to have stated:

“I will reply to the claims raised. I began to give my replies last night,” he said when asked by reporters about the personal verbal attacks allegedly made against him by the supporters of the opposition parties outside the Ijok state by-election nomination centre at the Batang Berjuntai Community Hall.

For the record - during the process of nomination, from 9 am to noon, supporters of the opposition political parties, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and the DAP, were heard shouting “Altantuya” and “Mongolia”.

It was indeed shameful to drag a matter that was already in court into a political arena and for political agenda!

For the record - Altantuya Shaaribuu is the name of the Mongolian woman who was murdered and her body blown to bits with explosives at a secondary forest near the Subang Dam in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam, last October.

Two policemen, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, have been charged with her murder while political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46, has been charged with abetment in the murder. The trial is set to begin on June 4.

Like  deputy premier Najib, when launching the Barisan Nasional (BN) election machinery for the by-election last night, had hit out at the attitude of the opposition parties who preferred to use the strategy of personal attacks and wild allegations, I personally ask all parties to confine the issues to who best serves the rights and interests of the Ijok community!

As far as I am concerned - the deputy premier has nothing to fear and in time this would be proved without an aiota of doubt!

But that of course will not stop these “rogue elements” in the furtherance of their baseless allegations!  

NEWS ON AUTO INDUSTRY DISTURBING TO CONSUMERS!

 ‘What future lies for the Auto Industry?”  

So the news that the automotive industry continues to face a difficult business condition, with little sign of recovery, according to a survey by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) was expected but equally disturbing to Malaysian consumers to say the least!

Yes, as expected by market conditions and sentiments with the low trade-in values, tighter loan requirements, and higher interest rates will continue to be negative factors affecting the industry as cited by the MIER report!

For the record, though the Automotive Industry Index turned around marginally in the first quarter of 2007 our observation is similar to the MIER report that it is still far below the threshold level of 100 points!

We feel that the worst is yet to come!”

We must remember that structurally, the increasing competition in the auto market has led to a faster depreciation rate for second-hand cars.

Look at the number of unsold cars all over!

As Malaysian consumers we must accept the fact that we will lose money replacing our cars for new ones.

So the sentiment is, we will have to keep our old cars, unless  the industry could tempt consumers by coming out with appealing new models at affordable and ‘value for money’ models!

JG SUPPORTS DEPUTY PREMIER NAJIB’S CALL FOR EDUCATION REVAMP!

 ‘the deputy premier right on track when he emphasied the need for trainers to be competent, dedicated and visionary!” 

I fully agree to the proposal that the Education Ministry should re-evaluate the examination-based national curriculum to ensure that it serves its purpose in producing thinkers!

That call was rightly made by our beloved deputy premier,  Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak!

The deputy prime minister had stated that it must not hesitate to revamp the curriculum if the main objectives were not met.

His concept and sightings that our curriculum should reflect our desire to produce thinkers, who are inquisitive and creative should be lauded!

That the education sytems and its efforts should incorporate the usage of ICT to harness the wealth of information available on the information superhighway.

That Malaysian students should be taught to master the English Language without losing emphasis on the national language!

These thoughts were shared by Najib in his keynote address at the Smart School International Conference Malaysia 2007 here.

In his speech he stressed on the importance of continuous training for the teachers - yes training the trainers which is vital as our government had established more than 5,000 computer labs in schools throughout the country, but for the smart schools to achieve their objective I fully agree with the deputy premier that the education staff and administrators must be ICT savvy.

If trainers are not dedicated, committed nor creative - all is lost!

JG fuly agrees with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on all counts!

TTDI JAYA FLOODS - PLEASE GOD SAVE US!

 

INSTEAD OF TRUTH WE GET LIES, MORE LIES AND BLATANT LIES! 

ALMIGHTY GOD TODAY WE CRY TO YOU TO INTERVENE AND SAVE US AND EXPOSE THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITED AND ARE BENEFITING FROM OUR SUFFERING AND POLITICALLY AND HUMANELY IRRESPONSIBLE AND INDECENT!

WE HAVE NO ONE ELSE BUT YOU GOD - PLEASE HEAR OUR HUMBLE CRY AND PUNISH THOSE WHO HAVE BROUGHT THIS UPON US!

AMEN!

TTDI JAYA FLOODS - THANK YOU MALAY MAIL FOR THIS EXPOSURE!

SHAH ALAM FLOODS - Residents: `Late’ siren of no use’
by MOHD ISKANDAR IBRAHIM

This is what has got residents of Taman TTDI Jaya, Shah Alam, worked up.

They claimed that the flood warning siren at Sungai Damansara only went off hours after the neighbourhood was flooded over the weekend.

The flood-prone area, which experienced severe floods in February last year, was again hit on Sunday after heavy rain saw the water level rising at 10am.

The flood resulted in several roads being submerged in ankle-deep water.

However, TTDI Jaya resident Jacob George claimed that the flood warning siren went off at the wrong time.

“We didn’t hear the siren that morning. We only heard the siren being sounded repeatedly at 3pm.

“This defeats the purpose. By that time, the flood water had almost subsided,” said George, who is also president of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam.

“The authorities should look at this matter seriously,” he said.

“The siren is important as it warns us of an impending flood. It should give us enough time to prepare.”

When contacted, Shah Alam City Council maintained that the siren at Sungai Damansara went off twice.

Its public relations officer, Shahrin Ahmad, said residents may not have heard the siren as it only went off briefly.

“The first siren was sounded at 10.10am when the water level at Sungai Damansara rose to 6.5m,” he said.

“It went off again at 10.15am when the water level rose to 7m.”

Shahrin said the council is proposing to the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department to allow the siren to go on longer.

“Maybe if the siren went on longer, there is a greater chance for residents to be alerted, giving them ample time to take action before the floods hit their area,” he said. The siren is under the DID’s jurisdiction.

He said MBSA personnel arrived at the scene at 9.30am to monitor the area.

“They were on standby and were monitoring the situation as it was raining heavily,” he said.

Allegations were also made by State Infrastructure and Public Facilities Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar, who said that the flood was caused by excess reservoir water at the police’s weapons storage complex at TTDI Jaya.

Federal police public relations head Superintendent Rasdi Ramli declined comment.

My comment:

This evening between 4.30pm and 7pm fears of another flood was there to scare all of TTDI JAYA!

And as expected -tomorrow a certain television station will give ‘ample exposure’ for a ‘rubbish politician’ to blame others for the state’s incompetence in dealing with this flood situation!

The person all dresed in ‘work clothes and hat” with his boys from various agencies, which includes, the MBSA will speak and pretend to understand all things when in actual fact, he is an idiot of the highest order, which includes, the female television presenter, who is ‘his machai!’ there to make him look good? 

Who is this person?

Check out the television station news reports tomorow!

See for yourself how certain politicians with the help of ‘media journalists’ spin away at peoples’ expense thinking we are all idiots!

CASSA SLAMS SHAH ALAM CITY HALL FOR MISLEADING STATEMENT ON FLOOD SITUATION!

 ‘file picture of ttdi jaya floods’

CASSA SLAMS MBSA FOR MISLEADING STATEMENT ON FLOOD SITUATION! 

The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam Selangor (CASSA) Selangor, today slammed the statement of Shah Alam City Hall for claiming in a Bernama report that the TTDI Jaya ‘housing estate was not flooded and the situation was normal and that the Sungei Damansara was normal!’ 

MBSA’s statement is misleading, totally irresponsible, mischievous and slanted and cannot be allowed to stand. 

The fact was both the Sungei Kuning and Sungei Damasara that cuts through the Taman TTDI Jaya had overflowed. 

This resulted in several homes damaged by flood waters. 

Worst still roads leading into the said housing estate which includes portions of the NKVE and the

at Batu Tiga were also under more than 8 inches of flood waters causing huge jams. 

CASSA investigations on the ground found the water levels of both rivers at alarming heights that set the sirens off on numerous occasions and the available pumps placed at two points nor the claims of ongoing remedial work inadequate to deal with the deplorable situation as floods waters were simply too much to bear. 

Only proactive and quick thinking by residents saved most of their vehicles which were moved to higher ground. Questions are now raised if the two bridges leading into the housing estate are damaged as cracks were seen appearing on it! 

CASSA appeals to the federal government to set up an independent select committee to evaluate and audit present claims of remedial work and propose a comprehensive solution that would safeguard the rights and interests of residents in this area.