BENAZIR BHUTTO MURDERED BY MADMEN!

 ’she leaves a lasting impression on anyone she meets as I found out as I read law in Buckingham, England!’

WHOSE INTEREST, OBSESSION AND GOAL MET IN BENAZIR BHUTTO’S BLATANT AND COLD BLOODED MURDER!

It is really sad to hear that Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack.

If you remember she was and will be the only woman PM in an Islamic state to date.And true to plot killed while leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi when a gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb.

Very convenient!

According to other sources who kept me in the loop I was told the area was immediately also hosed up with water and I find this rather strange as the area was a crime scene and it should be preserved for independent probe and analysis!

Perhaps, someone did not want that – an independent probe by an UN appointed task force of experts!

It is rather sad that at least 20 other people died in the attack and several more were injured.

President Pervez Musharraf has urged people to remain calm but angry protests have gripped some cities, with at least 11 deaths reported.

Security forces have been placed on a state of “red alert” nationwide with ‘shot orders’ at those rioters.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. However, many believe Islamist militants to be the most likely group behind it but there has been media spins, third hand manipulations of news and allegations!

For the record, Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), had served as prime minister from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, and she had been campaigning ahead of elections due on 8 January.

It was the second suicide attack against her in recent months and came amid a wave of bombings targeting security and government officials.

I am certain now in this political climate free and fair elections were not possible!

I am deeply happy to note that the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session and later said it “unanimously condemned” the assassination!

This again underscores the new element in International law - of direct involvement of the international community in a nation’s domestic areas (as considered by dictators!)  where conflicts, marginalization, human rights violations, ethic cleansing, religious and other cultural deprivations and birth rights are taking place or committed against unarmed and defenceless people!

As for Ms Bhutto like her father before her, she will be buried in the Sindh province at her home town, Larkana.

Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari and son arrived in Pakistan from Dubai to escort the coffin to its final resting-place.

The young lad spoke but he was in a state of sadness, grief, shock and anguish!We may not have seen the last of this lad!

Believe me!

It is reported that this attack occurred close to an entrance gate of the city park where Benazir Bhutto had been speaking.

It is believed that she was shot in the neck and chest before the fanatic gunman blew himself up.

Benazir Bhutto a hero and also another child of GOD ALMIGHTY died at 1816 (GMT). 

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM JG!

WISHING ALL OF YOU A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR 2008!

LET US ADDRESS CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF POWER, INJUSTICES, DOUBLE TALK AND HYPOCRISY IN OUR MIDST WITHOUT FEAR NOR FAVOR!

LET US BE CHAMPIONS OF TRUTH AND ALL THINGS DECENT!

GOD PLEASE HELP MALAYSIA!

UN CONFERENCE IN BALI - WHAT A ABOUT-TURN!

‘dark clouds are bad news for us all!’ 

THANK YOU PAPUA NEW GUINEA!

WORLD 1  USA 0

If you thought that the ‘big and mighty’ among the environmental policy makers, draftsmen, negotiators and analysts of the developed or developing nations will make that crucial difference in the BALI CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE – YOU WERE DEAD WRONG!

That brilliant position goes to - the delegate from Papua New Guinea, Kevin Conrad, who calmly leaned into his microphone and said coolly but with commitment and drive to the most powerful country in the world the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

“We seek your leadership,”  ”But if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way.”

The result the said U.N. climate conference exploded with applause, the U.S. delegation backed down, and the way was cleared Saturday for adoption of the “Bali Roadmap.”

That was for me the hallmark of the 2 weeks of international climate talks marked by bitter disagreements and angry accusations which culminated yesterday in a last-minute U.S. compromise and an agreement to adopt a blueprint for fighting global warming by 2009.

Now comes the real hard part.

Delegates from about nearly 190 nations will have to get their ‘act together in one mind and course’ fixing goals for industrialized nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions while helping developing countries cut their own emissions and adapt to rising temperatures.

The said negotiators need to consider ways to encourage developing countries to protect their rapidly dwindling forests — which absorb carbon dioxide.

As far as I am concerned it is going to be - complex, long and difficult negotiations!

For the record – those who were here had gathered on the resort island of Bali to launch negotiations to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

But what they decide in the next two years will help determine how much the world warms in the decades to come.

It is a fact that without sharp cutbacks in emissions of the industrial, transportation and agricultural gases we are set for an environmental nightmare!

Among the severe consequences — from rising seas, droughts, severe weather, species extinction and other effects!

I am advised that to avoid the worst case scenario present emissions should be reduced by 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

And Greenhouse and other heat-trapping gases should be reduced at least by half by 2050!

Thank you Papua New Guinea and Kevin Conrad!

That’s the kind of leadership we want not spins, fabrication, distortions, half truths, lies, blatant lies, statistics and an absolute abuse of the power of the state!

Papua New Guinea had walked the talk!

There are ‘lessons to be learnt here too’ for Malaysian politicians and policymakers!

UN CLIMATE TALKS HEADING NO WHERE?

While a certain “consumer group or consumer pretenders” deal with things that are not under ‘consumer interests’ but rather “politics or racial politics in nature” and indulge in issues that would question their consumer orientation and literacy, more so when one looks at their website and see all those “endorsements” on products – something really smells! But never mind as I have stated quite often these days the ‘consumer platform’ is used by many as ‘a launching pad’ into active politics! Sad! Never mind let us deal with another issue more worthy of comment! I am referring to the disagreements over responsibility for tackling climate change remains much in evidence as UN climate negotiations enter their second week. The EU and developing countries want industrialized nations to start talks on a further set of emissions targets. But on the other end, this is being resisted by a number of parties led by Canada. For example, trade ministers, meeting for the first time at UN climate talks, advocated lowering trade barriers on low-carbon energy products. But this met with opposition from some development charities, which accused Western countries of “recycling failed WTO initiatives”. The two-week negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol are being held now at a beach resort of Nusa Dua in the Indonesian island of Bali. The backdrop to the summit is the comprehensive assessment of climate science, impacts and economics produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during the course of 2007. Its recommendation are that global greenhouse gas emissions should peak and then start falling within 10 to 15 years has been included in a draft text circulated to negotiators in Bali. The text also says that industrialized countries should cut their emissions by 25-40% by 2020. But I see these things had little chance of making it into the final agreement. Why? 1. The Bali meeting will not set national targets for reducing emissions beyond those contained in the Kyoto Protocol which expire in 2012. 2. And the EU and other pro-agreement parties want the meeting to conclude with a “Bali roadmap” for agreeing a set of targets by the end of 2009. 3. And already developed nations are all protecting their own turfs without taking a unified stand for the future of the planet! 4. Greed overrides all!

ON RENOVATIONS AND AGREEMENTS - OUR CALL FOR LONG HAS BEEN ANSWERED!

‘an agreement puts seal on protection and sets the pace for accountability and value for money service!’  

We had always advocated that consumers must have an agreement when they decide to invest in home renovations!

This is because we have long been subject to receiving feedbacks and public complaints on the bad quality and finishing of renovation works that can run into the hundreds of thousands of ringgit!

And as such, with the statement by the Minister on the same vein, we cannot but be grateful and happy - now hope the consumers will enforce this!

For the record, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal has rightly stated that most house owners did not sign the agreement because they regarded renovation as a small job.

He spoke to reporters after launching the Paragon 202 housing scheme in Seri Kembangan.

Earlier, in his speech at the event, Shafie did go on record that 177 complaints were received from house owners pertaining to poor house renovation and installation of built-in furniture between January and Oct 31 this year.

I believe this is only a tip of the iceberg of pending complaints!

But we are on the right track and - the advice is simply this!

If you are planning a renovation - no matter how low the cost - please make certain that you have drafted an agreement to protect your rights and interest in the matter!

MALAYSIAN NIGHTMARE - EXCALLATING COSTS!

‘troubled consumers!’

It is true that more and more lower, middle and upper income Malaysians cannot make ends meet and are seeking help.

Some ‘help’ causes them further distress ‘up the road’ - through bank actions, proceedings, Along, anxieties and tensions with the family n household.

Cost of living in Malaysia is increasing shockingly and what can we do?

What are the solutions as we all face a 2008 filled with various ‘forms and shapes’ of cost overruns and price excallations increasing our nightmare?

Your thoughts, comments and views will be highly appreciated as we tackle this issue in a feedback memorandum to the Malaysian government and in a policy discussion.

It is always good ‘to bounce off these issues’ with you good friends as your comments, thoughts and views are always helpful.

You are free to e-mail me at drjacob@pd.jaring.my

SCRATCH & WIN - BAN ABOUT TIME! WELL DONE!

‘Well done Minister Sir!’ 

So the much abused scratch-and-win contests, normally used by direct selling companies to deceive consumers into buying their goods, have been banned with immediate effect.

Well done!

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal announced the ban yesterday as the trade gimmick, which has spread to the rural areas, was banned because it was harmful to consumers, many of whom had been deceived into buying sub-standard goods.

The Minister maintained that a total of 6,903 cases were filed with the Consumer Claims Tribunal in the first 10 months of this year with the highest number — 1,393 cases — being related to scratch-and-win contests, followed by 529 cases involving vehicle purchases.

In addition - the licences of 20 direct selling companies were revoked between 2005 and October 2007 for organising such contests.

Among the action initiated are - the formation of a special task force to eliminate gimmicks such as scratch-and-win contests, get-rich-quick schemes and direct selling by companies intending to make quick profits.

The ministry will also step up consumerism campaigns!

For your information:

Complaints on unscrupulous trade practices could be forwarded to the ministry through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my, toll free number 1-800-886-800, SMS to 32255 or the ministry’s enforcement offices nationwide.