THE BORNEO FUSILIERS

'Quay' The Urban Savvy?

2010-09-25T11:50:00.022+08:00

Hantu Laut

Rated by Tatler Travel Guide 2010 among the best 'Urban savvy"

I am not a reader of this crap society magazine, read it on the Internet.

My wife and I stayed at the hotel for one night to check out whether it lives up to its reputation.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this less is more place, they have rooms or suite rooms tastefully designed, clean, functional and a bathroom that bespeaks opulence that most ladies would go head over heels to have it in their homes.

This is not run of the mill room you find in many large hotels , it's trendy, it has all the trappings of luxury and comfort, big flat screen LCD TV, DVD player, double-glazed glass to keep the street noise out, motorised curtain, dimmer to all lights, remote controlled ceiling fan, huge writing table and a huge air-conditioner that can give you the Arctic cold and all for a steal.... US$130 and a give back of $30 which you can spend on food, booze or whatever you fancy in any FCC outlets.

If you are not familiar what FCC is, it's stands for Foreign Correspondents' Club and has a number of hotels and F&B outlets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.The Quay and another sister hotel the FCC Hotel are both owned by FCC.They also have affiliated clubs in Bangkok and Hong Kong.

The room we stayed has a small balcony that overlooks the Tonle Sap/Mekong River and bird eyes view of the Sisowath Quay Esplanade that brings daily hive of activity at dawn and dusk but would become completely empty during the day.

If you see rubbish in other parts of the city this place seemed to have been spared the squalor of a poverty stricken nation. More amazing the Tonle Sap which ebb and flow into the Mekong is so free of rubbish, flotsam and jetsom it makes KK waterfront looks like one big sewer's dump.

Back to the hotel, after all the veneer of refinements and good tastes, you wouldn't believe what we got to dry our bodies with.

The guy from Tatler must have either liked the worn-out frayed towel or he was given one of those voluptuously fluffed and expensive towel because the hotel probably got wind of what he is up to.

The towel reminds me of all the Sutera Harbour Hotels where the towels have seen better days, from the Magellan to Menukan and Kinabalu Park, you get a big 'Good Morning' (you know what I mean unless you are a Tatler fluff) towel as your bath towel.

These are small annoyances we can put up with.The bigger bombshell came later at night, noise of people chattering that seemed to come not from the street below but from the corridor outside our room.Annoyed, I went outside to check but could not see anyone but soon found the source.The hotel has a huge airwell running from the ground floor where the lobby and restaurant is right up to the 4th floor, the highest floor where our room is situated.

Another thing, none of the free Wi-Fi in the hotel work while we were there.

So much for being 'urban savvy'.

It would have been a very nice place if they can iron out these minor irritations.

I don't mind to come back one day.

Lest, I forget, they are also very thoughtful of your health and well being, they keep a stock of condom in the room which you can use but have to pay for it if you are a single man in need of companion to while away your night .

Hot and captivating, Phnom Penh is Graham Greene-ish, dissolute and beguiling. Away from the whirling ceiling fans, the deep-fried spiders and the honking mopeds is a new, simple, modern nook that’s absolutely charming. A sister to the famous Foreign Correspondents’ Club, it has just 16 carbon-friendly rooms, full of granite-edged tubs and Arne Jacobsen chairs. This is the place to be in the city of misfits (the capital of a country whose own King spent many years as a ballet dancer in Paris), overlooking the Mekong, the main artery of all Asia, and surrounded by street cafés bristling with baguettes and local spices. The bistro is fantastic – amazing hot lemongrassy soup – and there’s a great pool. The Quay is an immediate hub, the hot hangout.

Location:	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Website:	thequayhotel.com
Reservations:	Cleveland Collection (tel: 0845 450 5732
Rates:	Double, from £70, including breakfast.

Retracing the sailing bravado of Filipino ancestors

2010-08-23T19:42:00.003+08:00

Kota Kinabalu: They were the first Filipino group to climb Mt Everest from its north face and reach the top not just once but three times! Now they have decided to test their mettle on something equally extraordinary.

"Going to the sea in an ancient migratory barangay sail boat is more than coming down to earth," joked Art Valdez, 61, leader of "Voyage of The Barangay" which sailed into the beach off Kinabalu Yacht Club, Saturday.

Before breaking into international waters into Sabah on its way down to Singapore, then upwards to Vietnam and Shanghai, Valdez and his flotilla of three barangays had spent a year sailing around the Philippines, making 80 stops in all.

The international leg first took them to Sandakan, then up to Kudat, around the tip of Borneo to Kota Kinabalu. Everywhere they went, they were greeted with rousing welcome.

"We are out to show the young the sea is part of the natural environment and part of the natural highway for the peoples of the Philippines and Southeast Asia," said Valdez, a friend of Tengku Datuk Dr Adlin, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board.

"It unifies rather than divide us," Valdez added.

"What we are riding on is a closest possible replica of a boat dug up in coastal waters of Butuan City, Mindanao, which was carbon-dated to 320AD or the 4th Century," noted Valdez.

"Riding that now and purely powered by wind and sail gives the young confidence that we can do it again the way our forefathers did it."

The significance of the Butuan barangay rests on the fact that it was the first wood watercraft ever dug up in Southeast Asia. Hence the artifact is evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and their seamanship skills before the arrival of Spanish colonisers.

The barangay is believed to be the chief means by which the ancestors of Filipinos migrated to the country. "Its original builders are our nomadic seafarers - the people of Samar who are the Bajaus of the Philippines, similar to the Bajaus in Semporna. The Barangay is like your lepa but this is a big lepa - 61ft long, 11ft wide, 5ft tall while the second one is 81ft long and 14ft wide," Valdez said.

"The boats are built with no plan, no design, no measurement except on the head of the master builders and fastened with wood pegs and only two people can do it - the Samar people and one trip in northern Philippines," Valdez said.

Barangay is an Austronesian word meaning "sailboat" but when the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they found the Filipinos already had a civilisation of their own and living in well organised independent villages called barangay.

"Voyage of The Barangay's passage to Kota Kinabalu from the Philippines with Shanghai as their destination hopefully by October, is part of a yearning to trace the migration route of our forefathers.

Not just Filipinos but also the people of Southeast Asia, the people who live in the Pacific and even the Indian Ocean," Valdez explained.

"Our forefathers came from the southern coasts of mainland Asia, in Southern China, Vietnam and Cambodia," he said.

In the interest of safety, they hug the coast down Borneo and up Indochina rather than facing the big waves crossing the Bashi Channel going north to Taiwan from the Philippines.

"The barangay built to the original specifications using wooden pegs to hold things together is not structurally strong to stand up to very rough waves.

"In fact we experienced a scare in Mindanao where our boat almost got smashed," he said.

"The weather is the challenge but our biggest danger is the possibility of being hit by big ships because we are wooden and so we can't be seen on their radars," Valdez said.

To avoid this threat, a radar detector is fitted at the tip of the mast of one of the three baranays which together carry a total of 35 voyagers.

Tougher still is to comply with the legal requirements of the international stops which is riddled with bureaucracy, Valdez said.

The barangay will be opened for public viewing between 9-11 am and 3-5pm today (Sunday), to learn the purpose and history, said Ms Quek I-Gek, Sales and Marketing Director of Mountain T0RQ Sdn Bhd.

"One purpose is to raise funds to help cover the cost of completing several thousand nautical miles which needs quite a lot of money," said Ms Quek.

Their corporate sponsors include San Miguel Corporation, Tao Corporation, Holcim, Agatep Associates and Coleman. Ms Quek's contact is 019-8138162.

Daily Express

Nostalgia In Shit, The Hovel Of Kota Kinabalu

2010-08-22T08:58:00.003+08:00

Hantu Laut

The pictures below is a Malay kampong smacked right in the middle of the city centre of Kota Kinabalu.This is a ghetto of the highest order.

Click to enlarge

I used to live in this kampong some 45 years ago.

Kg Sembulan, is now an indescribable hovel and a horrifying sight and smell.Your eyes and nose behold!

Why has this kampong become such a squalor?

Ask the shameless and apathetic state leaders that have come and go under the BN flag.Ask UMNO leaders what have they done to the NEP? To help the bumiputras or to help themselves.

This kampong is now known as the black area of KK where drugs of all kinds can be found and a hideout and shelter for criminals and illegal immigrants.

No UMNO leaders have made any attempt to redevelop the area or resettle the villagers because they were afraid to upset them that may cost them a few thousands votes.They prefer to let the villagers continue living in the shit-hole to perpetuate their own self-preservation.

Below are the palatial homes of some UMNO leaders.

The palace of an UMNO Sabah minister

The mansion of a youth head of the party

Now, you know where the NEP help goes to.

Can you blame Nazir Razak for saying the NEP was bastardised?

Anwar's Letter To Supporters

2010-04-27T09:19:00.001+08:00

Dear Supporter,

I thank the workers and volunteers from Pakatan Rakyat including our friends in DAP and PAS who supported our candidate in Hulu Selangor, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Tens of thousands of Malaysians joined us to show the people of Hulu Selangor that Pakatan Rakyat is committed to a Malaysia where all of its citizens have the right to peace, justice, and prosperity. I am thankful for the tremendous support you have shown. Your commitment to change is commendable.

One setback shall not divert us from our goal. Any change worth making is hard and will be fought at every turn. While it doesn't take away the sting of this loss, there is no road to real change without setbacks along the way.

Over RM100 million was spent by BN to win a thin majority in Hulu Selangor: that amounts to RM65,000 per person. Dozens of ministers campaigned every day; the Election Commission appears guilty once again of violating its mandate to ensure fair elections; and the police intimidated our supporters and there are reports that they even prevented some voters from reaching the polling stations.

This means that Barisan Nasional has learned nothing since the March 2008 election. Character assassination, racism, bribery and brute force may help to win one or two by-elections. But the people of Malaysia will not be deceived.

Our country still faces the same challenges which cannot be resolved by dirty politics or a few catchy slogans. The economy is lagging, jobs are scarce and our education system remains mediocre at best. We must do more to address the plight of the poor and marginalised people throughout Malaysia. And we must bring credibility back to the Federal government as we have started to do in the Pakatan States.

We increased our popular support in Hulu Selangor. We know we have to do more to reach out to our supporters in the rural heartland, particularly the Felda settlements. I am committed to this challenge and my resolve is unwavering.

Let us look ahead to the next contest and work to bring change to Sarawak. Click here (http://bit.ly/d0YVol) to make a contribution to the May 16th by-election and help us to support the DAP candidate in Sibu.

Thank you,
Anwar

Petroleum Development Act

2010-02-27T12:18:00.002+08:00

PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT ACT 1974

ACT 144

Preamble

An Act to provide for exploration and exploitation of petroleum whether onshore or offshore by a Corporation in which will be vested the entire ownership in and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges in respect of the said petroleum, and to control the carrying on of downstream activities and development relating to petroleum and its products; to provide for the establishment of a Corporation under the Companies Act, 1965 or under the law relating to the incorporation of companies and for the powers of that Corporation; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

[Am. Act A613]

[1 October 1974]

BE IT ENACTED by the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the advice and consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. Short title and commencement.

This Act may be cited as the Petroleum Development Act, 1974, and shall come into force on such date as the Prime Minister may notify in the Gazette.

2. Ownership.

(1) The entire ownership in, and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges of exploring, exploiting, winning and obtaining petroleum whether onshore or offshore of Malaysia shall be vested in a Corporation to be incorporated under the Companies Act 1965, or under the law relating to incorporation of companies.

(2) The vesting of the ownership, rights, powers, liberties and privileges referred to in subsection (l) shall take effect on the execution of an instrument in the form contained in the Schedule to this Act.

(3) The ownership and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges so vested shall be irrevocable and shall enure for the benefit of the Corporation and its successor.

3. The Corporation.

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 22 of the Companies Act 1965, relating to the names of companies, the Corporation shall be styled as the Petroleum Nasional Berhad or in short form PETRONAS.

(2) The Corporation shall be subject to the control and direction of the Prime Minister who may from time to time issue such direction as he may deem fit.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Companies Act 1965, or any other written law to the contrary, the direction so issued shall be binding on the Corporation.

3A. Powers of the Corporation.

(1) In additional to all the powers of the Corporation as prescribed in its Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Corporation shall have the power to take over or acquire by agreement, assignment, purchase or by any other means the whole or any part of any commercial undertaking, business or enterprise of whatever form of any person or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate) and carry out or enter into any activity, whether mentioned in this Act or not, which prior to such taking over or acquisition was carried out by, and for the purpose of, that undertaking, business or enterprise.

(2) The powers conferred on the Corporation under subsection (1) shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any of the rights, powers, liberties, privileges and benefits conferred on the Corporation by this Act or any other written law.

(3A) Subsection (3) shall not apply to any person who is licensed under the Gas Supply Act, 1993 to supply gas to consumers through pipelines.

[Ins. Act A842]

(3B) For the purpose of subsection (3A), the terms "gas","consumers" and "pipelines" shall have the same meaning assigned to them respectively by the Gas Supply Act 1993.

[Ins. Act A613]

4. Cash payment by the Corporation.

In return for the ownership and the rights, powers, liberties and privileges vested in it by virtue of this Act, the Corporation shall make to the Government of the Federation and the Government of any relevant State such cash payment as may be agreed between the parties concerned.

5. National Petroleum Advisory Council.

(1) There shall be established a Council to be known as the National Petroleum Advisory Council consisting of such persons including those from the relevant States as the Prime Minister may appoint.

(2) It shall be the duty of the National Petroleum Advisory Council to advise the Prime Minister on national policy, interests and matters pertaining to petroleum, petroleum industries, energy resources and their utilization.

6. Prime Minister's permission required for downstream operations.

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law, no business of processing or refining of petroleum or manufacturing of petro-chemical products from petroleum, may be carried out by any person other than PETRONAS unless there is in respect of any such business a permission given by the Prime Minister.

[Am. Act A290]

(2) Any person who on the commencement of this Act is carrying on any business referred to in subsection (1) may continue to do so but shall, not later than six months from the date of the commencement of this Act, apply in writing to the Prime Minister for his permission referred to in subsection (1).

(3) Subsection (1) shall apply to any business of marketing or distributing of petroleum or petro-chemical products; and any person who on the commencement of this subsection is carrying on any such business may continue to do so but shall, not later than six months from the date of commencement of this subsection, apply in writing to the Prime Minister for his permission referred to in subsection (1).

(3A) Subsection (3) shall not apply to any person who is licensed under the Gas Supply Act 1993 to supply gas to consumers through pipelines.

(3B) For the purpose of subsection (3A), the terms "gas", "consumers" and "pipelines" shall have the same meaning assigned to them respectively by the Gas Supply Act 1993.

(4) Where the Prime Minister grants his permission under this section he may, at his discretion, impose such terms and conditions as he may deem fit.

(5) Any person who acts in contravention of this section or fails to comply with any term or condition of any permission granted under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one million ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both, and in the case of a continuing offence he shall be liable to a further fine not exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit for each day or part of a day during which the offence continues after the first day in respect of which the conviction is recorded; and all machinery, tools, plant, buildings and other property or thing used or intended to be used in the commission of the offence and any petroleum or its products thereby obtained shall be liable to forfeiture.

(6) The Prime Minister may by notification in the Gazette exempt any business referred to in subsections (1) and (3) or any company or class of company carrying on any such business from the provisions of this section.

[Ins. Act A382]

6A. (Repealed by Act A382).

7. Power to make regulations.

The Prime Minister may make regulations for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the Act and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may, in particular, provide for -

(a) the conduct of or the carrying on of -

(i) any business or service relating to the exploration, exploitation, winning or obtaining of petroleum;

(ii) any business involving the manufacture and supply of equipment used in the petroleum industry;

(iii) downstream activities and development relating to petroleum;

(b) the marketing and distribution of petroleum and its products;

(c) penalties in the form of a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both such fine and imprisonment for breach of any of the regulations and for non-compliance with any term or condition of any licence, permission or approval issued or granted under the regulations;

(d) the forfeiture of anything used or intended to be used in the commission of any such breach or non-compliance.

[Am. Act A290]

7A Delegation.

The Prime Minister may; by notification in the Gazette, delegate, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed in such notification, the exercise of any of his powers or the performance of any of his duties under this Act, other than his powers and duties under sections 3(2), 5(1) and 7, to any person described by name or office.

[Ins. Act A290]

7B. Offences by bodies of persons and by servants and agents.

(1) Where an offence against this Act or any regulations made thereunder has been committed by any company, firm, society or other body of persons, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager or other similar officer or a partner of the company, firm, society or other body of persons or was purporting to act in such capacity shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence.

(2) Whenever it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that a contravention of the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder has been committed by any clerk, servant or agent when acting in the course of his employment the principal shall also be liable for such contravention and to the penalty provided therefor:

Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to exempt the liability of the clerk, servant or agent in respect of any penalty provided by this Act or any regulations made thereunder for any contravention proved to have been committed by him.

[Ins. Act A290]

7C. Jurisdiction of courts.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other written law to the contrary, a Sessions Court or, in Sabah and Sarawak, a Court of a Magistrate of the First Class, shall have jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder and on conviction to impose the full penalty therefor.

[Ins. Act A290]

8. Saving.

(1) Save for section 14 thereof, the Petroleum Mining Act 1966 shall not apply to the Corporation.

(2) In the application of section 14 of that Act to the Corporation, any reference to the licensee shall be construed as a reference to the Corporation, and any reference to the exercising of any rights contained in the licence shall be construed as a reference to the exercising of the rights, powers, liberties and privileges vested in the Corporation by virtue of section 2 (1) of this Act.

[Am. Act A290]

9. Transitional.

(1) Any exploration licences issued and any petroleum agreements entered into pursuant to the Petroleum Mining Act 1966, and any licences, leases and agreements issued or made under any written law in force relating to prospecting, exploration or mining for petroleum shall continue to be in force for a period of six months from the date of the coming into force of this Act or for such extended period as the Prime Minister may allow.

(2) Where the six months' period has elapsed and no extension thereto under subsection (1) is allowed, the licences, leases or agreements mentioned in that subsection shall determine or cease to have effect and there shall be paid to the person whose rights under the licence, lease or agreement have been so determined, adequate compensation which may be in the form of a single sum or in the form of periodical payments of money or in such other form as may be determined by the Federal Government or under any arrangement agreed upon between such person and other person designated by the Federal Government.

[Am. Act A290]

10. DEFINITION.

For the Purpose of this Act, the expression "petroleum" means any mineral oil or relative hydrocarbon and natural gas existing in its natural condition and casinghead petroleum spirit including bituminous shales and other stratified deposits from which oil can be extracted.

[Ins Act A382]

SCHEDULE

(Section 2 (2))

GRANT OF RIGHTS, POWERS, LIBERTIES AND PRIVILEGES IN RESPECT OF PETROLEUM

I,............................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................... on behalf of the Government of.............................................. on this..........day of...........................................197.........., hereby grant in perpetuity and convey to and vest in PETRONAS the ownership in and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges of exploring, exploiting winning and obtaining petroleum whether lying onshore or offshore of Malaysia. The grant, conveyance and vesting made hereunder shall be irrevocable and shall enure for the benefit of PETRONAS and its successor.

IN WITNESS whereof I on behalf of the Government of .......................................................hereunto set my hand the day and year first herein above written.

............................................ ............................................

on behalf of the Government of ............................................

Witness's signature:

............................................ ..............................................

I,..................................................................................................... on behalf of PETRONAS hereby accept the grant, conveyance and the vesting made above.

............................................. ............................................ ............................................

Witness's signature:

........................................... ............................................

Done at .....................................................this ............................... day of ............................... 197 ..........

Malaysia's Brain Drain

2010-02-19T08:55:00.001+08:00

Written by Mariam Mokhtar
Thursday, 18 February 2010 It's Not Just Politics and Racial Discrimination.

Malaysia's brain drain appears to be picking up speed. According to a recent parliamentary report, 140,000 left the country, probably for good, in 2007. Between March 2008 and August 2009, that figure more than doubled to 305,000 as talented people pulled up stakes, apparently disillusioned by rising crime, a tainted judiciary, human rights abuses, an outmoded education system and other concerns.

The general assumption is that Chinese and Indians form the majority of those abandoning the country of their birth because ethnic Malays consider them pendatang – aliens in a Malay land, regardless of how long they have been in the country. However, increasing numbers of Malays have already emigrated as well, or are seriously thinking it, dismayed by corrupt practices as well as the rigid confines of Islam and the rise of fundamentalism embodied in the revelation on Wednesday by Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein that three women had been caned in Kajang Prison in Selangor on Feb. 9 for having had illicit sex under shariah law.

In 2000, according to figures compiled in 2007, 40 percent of Malaysian emigrants headed for Singapore – at the same time Singaporeans are headed somewhere else. By one estimate, (Singaporeans Seek Asylum Elsewhere, Asia Sentinel, Jan. 7) the number who put the Lion City behind them is as high as 15 percent of annual births. In 2006, the Transport Minister, Raymond Lim, expressed concern that 53 percent of Singaporean teens would consider emigration. One website survey put Singapore's average outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens, the second highest in the world - next only to East Timor (51.07).

Of the other émigrés, 30 percent go to OECD countries (Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and Britain) 20 percent to Asian countries (Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia) and the rest of the world (10 percent). Malaysian Employers Federation executive director, Shamsuddin Bardan, said in an interview that 785,000 Malaysians are working overseas. Unofficially, the figure is well over 1 million.

Nor are people all that is leaving. Asia Sentinel reported on Jan.11 (Malaysia's Disastrous Capital Flight) that there has been an exodus of money from Malaysia on a scale which surpasses that which occurred during the Asian crisis. The decline is also reflected in a sudden decline in base money supply – even while, thanks to Bank Negara, broader M2 has continued to grow modestly.

A major problem is the flight of graduates. As early as 2004, former Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was becoming concerned, pointing out that as many as many as 30,000 thought to be working in foreign countries, many of whom had held scholarships in top universities from the Malaysian government but chose to stay overseas at the end of their studies. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad demanded that other countries pay Malaysia for having seduced them to stay, " since, by right, the graduates' training and knowledge should be called intellectual property."

The typical reasons are well-documented: improved employment and business prospects, higher salaries, better working environments, greater chances of promotion and a relatively superior quality of life.

Three Malay women put a personal face on statistics in conversation with Asia Sentinel, sharing their decisions to emigrate. Two are graduates of overseas universities, the third is from a local school. Their decisions to leave were made, they say, after a lot of soul searching. But for these women, money and economic incentives were not the end-all. Their names have been changed to protect them.Read more.

Shame On You

2010-01-18T19:51:00.002+08:00

About my brother judge Augustine Paul

When the infamous Judge Jeffreys died ignominiously in 1689 at the age of 41 in the Tower of London where he was imprisoned, no one in freedom loving England mourned his death.

Judge Jeffreys died in obscurity as a judge. But his name will forever be remembered in infamy for his part as the judge in the Bloody Assize. Likewise, the name of judge Augustine Paul (left) will remain in obscurity as a judge, but his name will be remembered as a bad and evil judge because of his monstrous behaviour on the bench when he tried former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

This obnoxious man never gave Anwar a fair trial. William Shakespeare once wrote in one of his plays, "The evil that men do lives after them": Julius Caesar, Act 3, scene 2.

There is another quotation which tells us that an unjust judge is unfit to be called a judge. The quotation fits Augustine to a T. It reads, "When the judge is unjust, he is no longer a judge but a transgressor": Giosue` Borsi in 'A Soldier's Confidence with God', The Macmillan Treasury of Relevant Quotations.

I remember that when Augustine tried Anwar in the infamous "mattress" case - up to this day, we still do not understand why the mattress was carried in and out of court daily during the long trial - the judge was surrounded by bodyguards. He must have known that he had done wrong for him to fear for his life.

During the days of the Emergency - I was a schoolboy then - many communists were tried before stern but fair-minded colonial judges for armed insurgency and they dealt out the death sentence to those whom they convicted almost routinely. Yet the judges were not protected. The judges had no bodyguards and their home and family were unprotected..

The communists killed Sir Henry Gurney and many expatriate police officers. But they never touched a single judge. No judge was ever threatened nor harmed by the insurgents. But a coward like Augustine needed protection.

There was a time when Sheikh Daud Ismail and I were the High Court judges who were hearing criminal cases in Kuala Lumpur . One morning, the late Mohtar Abdullah, who was then the head of criminal prosecutions in the Attorney-General's Chambers, telephoned me to offer me a police bodyguard for my protection because two prisoners who had been severely punished by me for armed robbery had escaped from prison and he had reason to believe that one of them was looking for me.

I turned down the offer because I have never acted unjustly or unfairly as a judge so that there was no reason for me to fear reprisal from those who had been punished by me. In my 21 years as a judge until I retired in the year 2000, I was never harmed nor threatened by those criminals who had received harsh sentences from me.

Once in a while, those who had been punished by me have accosted me. They meant me no harm. They just wanted to tell me that they have served their term and to shake my hand. They wanted to show to their family members that they could approach a judge to speak to him cordially.

I could not recognise any of them, of course - so many had passed through my hand. But the ex-convicts bore no grudge against me even though I had imposed the harshest sentences on them because they knew that they had been given a fair hearing.

Now you know that an unjust judge is not a judge but a transgressor. Augustine was a transgressor and so was Judge Jeffreys before him. This is what I wrote in the Preface to the second edition of my book, 'How to Judge the Judges':

"The epitome of justice is a fair trial and for the presiding judge to do justice according to law. These are the twin pillars of justice. One would never tire of stressing this point; this is what the rule of law is all about.

For there to be a fair trial the presiding judge must be fair-minded and he must administer justice according to law. If the judge does not do that, then justice has failed. There will be injustice. The judge must be impartial himself and in his court he must manifest an appearance of impartiality - for justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done."

With that definition of justice, the common man can judge the judges. It is so easy to be a judge. All that you need to be one is to be fair-minded yourself and to show by your conduct and behaviour in court that you deal out impartial justice - for justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. The other attribute of a judge is to administer justice according to law.

It is so easy to be a judge, yet this country, since chief justice Abdul Hamid Omar, has not been able to appoint judges with such simple attributes. There are exceptions, of course - there are a few good judges left but they are few and far between as can be seen by the antics of the main body of judges in the cases of the Perak crisis.

Like two peas in a pod

At page 8 of my book, ibid, I wrote:

"The first Anwar Ibrahim trial (Public Prosecutor v Anwar bin Ibrahim [1999] 2 AMR 2017): the so-called "corruption trial" had attracted much adverse worldwide attention. It was not the judgment that was criticised (it could even be impeccable) but the way the trial was conducted which attracted so much adverse comment and disapproval from television broadcast abroad and from the international press.

The remarks and behaviour from the bench: like when the lawyers for the defence were threatened with contempt of court, in fact one of the defence lawyers was actually charged with the offence, and with the judge being difficult with the witnesses and counsel for the defence at almost every turn of the trial, gave the impression to the media and to those who were there that the judge was one-sided. It did not matter that the judge thought he was not.

As Lord Devlin observed, "The judge who gives the right judgment while appearing not to do so may be thrice blessed in heaven, but on earth he is no use at all" Patrick Devlin, The Judge, p 3). Mr Justice Augustine Paul, like the infamous Judge Jeffreys before him, by the manner in which he had conducted the trial and his behaviour on the bench, brought ignominy and embarrassment to the reputation of the courts of this country. The decision could be set aside for apparent bias: see Ex parte Pinochet Ugarte (No 2) [1999] 1 All ER 577 (HL(E))."

The perpetuation of injustice by him while on the bench was Augustine's besetting sin. This is how I put it at page 7 of my book:

"The judge who does not appear to be fair; who does not appear to be impartial, is useless to the judicial process. Even though he has given the right judgment, the judge who does not appear to be fair at the hearing leaves behind a sense of injustice to the losing party who will feel that he has been singled out by the judge's show of partiality. Such a judge is useless to the judicial process and gives a bad name to the courts of his country."

Like two peas in a pod, Augustine's reflection - his mirror image - was the infamous Judge Jeffreys before him. Both men were unjust and their besetting sin was the perpetration of injustice.

The nemesis of Judge Jeffreys was the trial of Alice Lisle. Just as the nemesis of judge Augustine was the trial of Anwar. On page 10 of my book, I wrote, "...the trial of Dame Alice Lisle and Judge Jeffreys' infamous conduct of pressuring an unwilling jury to convict her brought infamy to his name down through the centuries to this day."

In the book 'What Next in the Law', Butterworths, London , 1982, pp. 40, 41, Lord Denning tells this story:

"I was surprised to find how few, even in my county of Hampshire , had heard of Alice Lisle. Everyone has heard of Judge Jeffreys and the Bloody Assize. But they seem to be unaware of the way in which he browbeat the jury consisting, we are told, of the "best quality of the country".

All that the little old lady had done was to let a man called Hicks - a non-conformist minister - have a night's lodging in her house near Fordingbridge. She did not know that he had been in the rebellion on the side of the Duke of Monmouth. He only stayed one night and left the next day. But she was charged with high treason.

Now there was in law no case against her. And Jeffreys should have known it: because Hicks had not been tried, nor had he been convicted of treason. She took the legal objection herself that the principal traitor ought first to have been convicted "because, peradventure, he might afterwards be acquitted as innocent after she had been condemned for harbouring him."

But Jeffreys would have none of it. He summed up furiously against her. The jury retired. It is said by almost all the contemporary authorities that:

"Thrice did the jury refuse to find a verdict of guilty and thrice did Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys send them back to reconsider their verdict."

The jury remained long in consultation. He then sent a messenger to tell them that, if they did not instantly return, he would adjourn the court and lock them up all night. So they came back. But not to find Alice Lisle guilty. They said that they doubted whether the charge was made out. Then Jeffreys said:

Jeffreys: The circumstances and management of the thing is as full proof as can be. I wonder what it is you doubt of.

Lisle: My Lord, I hope...

Jeffreys: You must not speak now.

So she was not allowed to speak anymore. The jury laid their heads together for near a quarter of an hour. I am sorry to say that they gave in. They did not hold out as good men of Hampshire should have done. They found her guilty. Trial by jury had failed because of an unjust judge. Jeffreys then pronounced sentence on her that she be burnt alive."

According to 'Macaulay History of England ', Vol 1, p 314, the clergy of Winchester Cathedral remonstrated with the chief justice and her sentence was commuted. She was put to death on a scaffold.

NH CHAN is a former Court of Appeal judge famous for his 'All is not well in the House of Denmark ' comment regarding judicial corruption. He was referring to the Kuala Lumpur High Court's commercial division located in Wisma Denmark . The quote is based on Shakespeare's 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark '. He now lives in Ipoh . This is an edited version of his article.

Britons among the ugliest people

2009-11-13T16:48:00.001+08:00

Britons among the "ugliest people", dating site says

Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:49pm GMT

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LONDON (Reuters) - Britons are among the ugliest people in the world, according to a dating website that says it only allows "beautiful people" to join.

Fewer than one in eight British men and just three in 20 women who have applied to BeautifulPeople.com have been accepted, an emailed statement from the website showed.

Existing members of the "elite dating site" rate how attractive potential members are over a 48 hour period, after applicants upload a recent photo and personal profile.

Swedish men have proved the most successful, with 65 percent being accepted, while Norwegian women are considered the most beautiful with 76 percent accepted, the website said.

The way that BeautifulPeople.com accepts new members is simple. A potential member applies with a photo and a brief profile. Over 48 hours, existing members of the opposite sex vote whether or not to admit them, the site said.

Options are: "Yes definitely," "Hmm yes, O.K," "Hmm no, not really" and "No definitely not."

The site was founded in 2002 in Denmark and went live across the globe last month. Since then, the site has rejected nearly 1.8 million people from 190 countries, admitting just 360,000 new members.

"I would say Britain is stumbling because they don't spend as much time polishing up their appearance and they are letting themselves down on physical fitness," Beautiful People managing director Greg Hodge said. "Next to Brazilian and Scandinavian beauties, British people just aren't as toned or glamorous."

Only the male Russian and Polish applicants fared worse than British men, although Russian women had a 44 percent acceptance rate. Polish women did not appear in the table. Continued...

Tuel Sleng Genocide Museum

2009-11-02T15:16:00.001+08:00

Click on photo to enlarge

A torture using water tank

Khmer Rogue's Ten Commandments (torture manual for prisoners)

Cell for prisoners awaiting torture

Whipping

Hanging and immersing head in water

Torture implement

Water tank for torture purposes.

American Hypocrisy:Come Hell Or High Water

2009-09-29T07:25:00.003+08:00

Roman Polanski's Arrest: Why the French Are Outraged

By BRUCE CRUMLEY / PARIS Bruce Crumley / Paris – 2 hrs 28 mins ago

Although the cultural divide between Europe and the U.S. has narrowed over the years, the legal fate of director Roman Polanski shows there are still major differences. Polanski's arrest in Switzerland on Sept. 26 was greeted with satisfaction in the U.S., where authorities hope he will face sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Europeans, meanwhile, are shocked and dismayed that an internationally acclaimed artist could be jailed for such an old offense.

"To see him thrown to the lions and put in prison because of ancient history - and as he was traveling to an event honoring him - is absolutely horrifying," French Culture Minister FrÉdÉric Mitterrand said after Polanski was arrested upon arrival in Switzerland to attend the Zurich Film Festival, where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award. "There's an America we love and an America that scares us, and it's that latter America that has just shown us its face." In comments that appeared to be directed at Swiss and American authorities to free Polanski, Mitterrand added that both he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy hoped for a "rapid resolution to the situation which would allow Roman Polanski to rejoin his family as quickly as possible." (See the top 25 crimes of the century.)

Polanski, who won an Academy Award in 2003 for directing The Pianist, admitted to having unlawful sexual intercourse with 13-year-old Samantha Geimer as part of a plea bargain in which other charges - including drugging and raping the girl - were dropped. However, fearful that the Los Angeles judge in the case was about to renege on the deal and slap him with a long prison sentence, Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978 and never returned. He has spent the past 30 years in France, where he has raised a family and continued his career unhindered. That is, until Saturday. Swiss police seized Polanski on an international warrant issued by U.S. authorities in 2005 and, under bilateral treaties, will now extradite him to the U.S. unless barred from doing so by Swiss courts. (Read "Redeeming Roman Polanski.")

France never complied with the arrest warrant because its laws prohibit the extradition of its citizens to other countries. At the same time, many people in France have over the years downplayed the gravity of Polanski's crime because of his immense talent and artistry as a director. The 76-year-old, who was born in France, has increasingly been seen as the victim of an obsessive U.S. justice system that is ready to pluck him up and drag him off to prison at any moment. Those feelings were reinforced by the 2008 documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, in which filmmaker Marina Zenovich argues that the judge and prosecutor in the case may have engaged in legal misconduct in obtaining Polanski's guilty plea. The film also contains an appeal by Geimer, the victim, for Polanski to be pardoned - leaving his European supporters perplexed as to why U.S. officials wouldn't finally close the book on him. (Read "More Sex, Please, We're French.")

My story, by the mistress of Bernard Madoff

2009-08-25T08:38:00.003+08:00

Sheryl Weinstein gave her life savings and her love to disgraced financier without realising he was world’s biggest swindl

Sheryl Weinstein

For almost three months after Bernie Madoff was arrested, I wandered through life in a mental fog. Day after day, I awoke with a weight on me; this total feeling of dread. Not only do I feel like Bernie stole our money, but he also stole our future dreams, a part of my son’s future, the little money my parents had left me, and the money my 88-year-old mother-in-law had given to us to invest for her.

In those early days, my dark, ironic humour took hold. One night as I sat in my bedroom, unable to comprehend all that had happened, a thought entered my mind: I am probably the only person in the world who has been screwed twice by Bernie Madoff.

Ronnie, my husband, wasn’t aware of my entire story. I decided it was best to tell him before he found out. I had faith that his reaction would be all right. I felt comfortable being truthful with him. I wasn’t proud of what I had done, but we had been married for almost 37 years, and this was the extent of my unfaithfulness.

We sat down after dinner one night. I told him that I had something to share with him. Before he could say anything, I plunged in. “I had an affair 15 years ago.”

He didn’t appear shocked or angry, but he asked: “With whom?”

This was the hard part. “With Bernie,” I said.

“You’re kidding!” He almost laughed. “With Bernie? Him? What about Joey?”

Joey was my college boyfriend, whom I’d stayed in touch with over the years. “I thought if you were going to have an affair with anyone it would be him,” Ronnie said.

“No, it was Bernie.”

In order to move forward, I have decided to tell my story. I truly hope Ronnie will be able to forgive me for sharing these private moments in our lives.

It was 9am on February 25, 1988 when I entered New York’s Lipstick Building, the red-enamelled skyscraper on Third Avenue. As chief financial officer of Hadassah, a Jewish charitable organisation of 350,000-plus women, I’d been asked to a meeting to discuss a $7m donation, the largest we had received from a single benefactor.

The donor, an elderly man named Albert, lived in France. He wanted to remain anonymous, and he stipulated that a New York broker named Bernard Madoff should manage the funds. So here we were — Ruth, the Hadassah president, two other executives and me — at the Lipstick Building to meet Madoff

I didn’t see him when he first entered the room, but I watched as Ruth’s eyes widened, her thin lips parting in a contented grin. Turning to look, I saw that he was wearing a cardigan. His casual attire seemed contrived in its subtlety, as if to say, I’m relaxed and in control; trust me! It was one of the only times I would ever see him so casually dressed.

When his gaze fell on me, he blinked and looked a bit surprised. At 39, I was younger than my colleagues by more than two decades. He gave me a welcoming smile. It wasn’t lewd and lascivious, but slightly seductive and almost happy. I knew instantly that he was attracted to me.

Though I’d felt a surge of connection, I wasn’t particularly attracted to him — he didn’t have the pretty-boy features I preferred. Still, there was something in him that piqued my interest. My female intuition was telling me there was something else going on with this man; there was an intrinsic sensuality about him that was both attractive and alluring. Yet there was also an oily slickness that I found disconcerting. Bernie kept catching my eye in a way that was different from how he looked at the other women in the room. And when he wasn’t looking at me, I found myself admiring his distinctive profile.

Before the end of our first meeting, Bernie and I had exchanged business cards. As the caretaker of Hadassah’s finances, I would have to speak with him occasionally. But I also knew Bernie would be calling me regardless. So I wasn’t surprised when a few days later he phoned my office.

“Would you like to get together and discuss investment strategies?” he asked.

“Of course,” I replied.

He invited me to lunch at his office where, as I waited for him, I thought about how nice it felt to be noticed by a man, especially one as influential and successful as Bernie. I’d been married for 16 years, and still I’d felt alone a long time. Ronnie could be a difficult man. Things have changed since, but back then he had a temper and suffered from significant mood swings.

I jumped when I heard Bernie’s voice behind me.

“Hi, Sheryl,” he said in a low, husky tone.

That same wide, desire-filled smile spread across his face, and an air of excitement saturated the room. This time, he was wearing a navy suit with a light blue shirt that made his grey-blue eyes more alluring than I remembered. He took my hand and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “So glad you could come today.”

We discussed very little business. Bernie talked a lot about his family. He grew up in Queens and met Ruth, his wife, when she was 13 and he was 16. By the time he and I met, the high-school sweethearts had been married for almost 30 years. Bernie was approaching his 50th birthday. He explained that Ruth, his brother, Peter, and his older son, Mark, were in business with him. His younger son, Andrew, would be graduating soon and was expected to join the firm.

I remember laughing a lot with Bernie that day. The one bit of business we discussed was whether he’d be willing to invest some of Hadassah’s money in addition to Albert’s donation. Bernie agreed that it would be a possibility, and I told him I’d run the idea by our volunteers.

He had several stipulations. He would invest Hadassah’s money but would be unavailable to answer questions from anyone on our finance advisory board. When I asked him why, he told me the investment advisory side of his company was small, and he implied that he was doing this as an accommodation and didn’t want to be bothered by people asking him a lot of questions.

We decided to invest a few million dollars and see how it went. We all felt confident. After all, a donor with a good reputation had referred us to Bernie, and Bernie had been in business since 1960.

Bernie and I started making lunch a regular thing. I quickly realised he was a total narcissist, completely self-absorbed. By the time we’d been seeing each other six months, I’d picked up on a few of his eccentricities. In the middle of a conversation, he’d start blinking uncontrollably. He was constantly clearing his throat. I am convinced he suffers from Tourette’s syndrome — a neurological disorder characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalisations called tics — or some other undiagnosed illness such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Bernie’s constant blinking prompted me to give him the nickname “Winky Dink”. He blinked all the time when he was with me, and not so noticeably when others were around.

One of his obsessive tendencies centred on his wardrobe. He had custom-tailored suits from Kilgour of Savile Row, London; 25 blue and 25 grey lined up in his closet on East 64th Street. They were identical and numbered so that he could match the trousers to the jackets. I found that very peculiar.

When Bernie described his sons, they sounded spoilt and obnoxious. It annoyed Bernie that Mark and Andrew insisted on flying every time they wanted to go to the family’s waterfront home at Montauk on Long Island’s East End. It was a 2½-hour drive from Manhattan — three in summer traffic — but the boys didn’t care to spend their precious time in the car.

Summer was nearly over when, as I arrived for lunch with him at the Four Seasons, Bernie looked up and down the length of my body. “Sheryl, do you know how incredibly sexy you are?”

I smiled. How can a woman answer a question like that? Bernie seemed enchanted by my sexuality. After we’d ordered our meal, he suddenly leant in towards me as if he was going to share a secret. “How about the two of us going off together somewhere?”

I was totally taken aback. The thought of taking our friendship beyond flirtation frightened me. I looked at him and started laughing. “I don’t think so. Adultery is not my thing. It’s not what I’m about. I’ve only been with two men in my life, my husband and my college boyfriend. I don’t know what you must be thinking of me, Bernie.”

“Well, that takes the pressure off,” he said, sitting back in his chair. He looked enormously relieved. Obviously, he thought I was expecting a proposition and didn’t want to disappoint me. Now we could relax and be ourselves — which we did for the next several years before our friendship took a much more intimate turn.

Bernie had been earning consistent returns of between 18% and 20% for Hadassah — nice, steady returns. I began to think about personally investing with him. Mom wanted to transfer her money, too. In March 1993, while Bernie and I were having drinks at the St Regis hotel, I bit the bullet and asked him if he’d be willing to handle my personal funds.

“It’s not much,” I said. “We only started saving money when I joined Hadassah. I’m afraid what we have will be well below your minimum.”

Whale Shark Butchered And Sold At Kota Kinabalu Fish Market

2009-07-12T17:00:00.006+08:00

Hantu Laut

Openly displayed on the table at the Central Fish Market at Kota Kinabalu.Killed, either out of ignorance or typical don't care attitude.

I was shocked what befalls my eyes when I went to the fish market this morning.There right in front of me were parts of a baby whale shark for sale.The juvenile was probably just a few years old.When I asked the fish monger where she got the fish from she said she bought it from a fisherman.When I told her it is illegal to kill this type of fish she just gave me a blank look and shrugged her shoulder, meaning she doesn't know or doesn't care.

It's a terrible sight just to see this gentle giant being slaughtered.It has very little commercial value here.This specie is protected in many countries in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific where they are mainly concentrated.They are also protected in Sabah waters but little have been done to educate the fishing community not to kill the specie.

Whale shark is placed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).It is also on Appendix II of CMS (Convention on Migratory Species also known as the Bonn Convention).Listing on CITES require member nations to monitor the international trade in whale shark product and to ensure it does not threaten survival of the specie.

Our Fisheries Department has done nothing in term of monitoring and enforcement.The whole fishing industry here is topsy-turvy and mired in all kind of illegal activities.Typical civil servants who sit on their arses and take no pride in their jobs.Fish bombing, using cynide and preserving fish using formalin are rampant practices here, endangering the people's health and the health of the ocean.

Next time you go to the fish market beware of those fresh looking fish where even the flies don't dare to go near, it could be laced with formalin (formaldehyde).

Najib's Popularity Soars

2009-07-08T11:23:00.002+08:00

Najib scores a pass with 65pc

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 – When he entered office in early April, he owned one of the lowest approval ratings of any incoming Malaysian Prime Minister.

One hundred days later and after a slew of measures to reform the economy, Malaysians appear to be warming up to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, a latest survey by an independent polling house shows.

The poll by the Merdeka Centre shows that his approval rating is 65 per cent, a spike from the tepid 46 per cent in mid-May and 42 per cent just before he became the country’s sixth leader.

Twenty-two per cent are dissatisfied with his performance while 13 per cent were undecided.

The survey findings will present further evidence to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that the days of it contending with a weak and unsure leader in Putrajaya are over.

Ibrahim Suffian, head of the polling institute, said: “Quite clearly, a growing number of Malaysians like some of the policy initiatives of the PM and his inclusive message.

“Some have begun to trust his leadership and some are giving him the benefit of doubt. This has translated into a higher approval rating.”

Some 1,060 selected registered voters were surveyed between June 19 and July 1.

They were asked a range of questions to gauge the PM’s performance, sentiment on the country and economy and measures to liberalise the economy.

The margin of error is about +/- 3 per cent. The survey was jointly commissioned by Merdeka Centre and a research house.Read more....

Malaysia, Decades Behind Hong Kong

2009-07-08T10:37:00.002+08:00

By Simon Templer

I was away to Hong Kong recently. This was not my 1st trip there but this little island of nothing never fail to amaze me. Hong Kong is actually pretty much like Singapore, but Malaysians have this 'thing' against Singapore. So anything said in comparison to Singapore will not be taken seriously.

Hong Kong used to be known as a country of rude people. If you had gone shopping there years ago, browsing and flipping through items have better led to a purchase. Or else you are gonna kena from the auntie manning the store. Waiters and waitresses were infamous for throwing dishes around the table. And talking very loudly too as well. But Hong Kong today has left behind their arrogance and poor manners. The people of Hong Kong have changed to survive.

Many attributed this character change to the 1997 crisis. Hong Kong was hit really badly then. They are a global financial hub and a financial crisis will undoubtedly hit them hard. Property prices came tumbling down. Tourism also took a hard hit. Businesses everywhere were failing and it woke the Hong Kong people up. A very drastic attitude change was required to revive the little island of dim sums. I don't know how the government pulled it off but in a very short time span, Hong Kong took a very sharp turn in the attitude of their people.

Today, walk into any retail outlet and you will be greeted with a big welcome - foon ying kong lam, chui pin thai ha la... That translates to 'Welcome. Please browse around.'. And all said with some spirit and a smile. All their sales people are trained to do that - regardless of if it is a designer boutique or plain street wear store. You may even get greeted a few times in a single store. And the service is excellent. The sales personnel go all out to make sure that you get your size. And they are more than happy to remind you that so and so items are on discount. And if you purchase so and so number of items, you get additional discounts. And when you walk out, you get thanked in abundance. And it doesn't matter if you had bought anything at all. As a consumer from Malaysia, this is indeed a very pleasant experience.

Here in KL, we get uptight sales personnel at designer boutiques who think that they are some god sent angel simply because they have on them an Armani uniform. Or when you walk into a more humanly affordable store, you get poor service, or sometimes no service, because you are a cheapo who should scramble through a pile of clothes to find that medium size t-shirt. Apparently we consumers in Malaysia owe these stores a living. Of course you stumble upon some nice helpful sales personnel but that's because your stars and planets have lined in the correct position on that lucky day.

How often have you waved your hands to attract the attention of the waiters to fill up your glass of water? I had in many occasions walked to the serving counter to serve myself. There is only so long that my right arm can hang in mid air. Not in Hong Kong. You will be surprised at how quick service is offered. There is a simple reason to that - the waiting staffs are attentive. They are on constant look out for what the customers require. And food is of good quality too. In Hong Kong where rental and wages are crazy high, it is not easy to do business. I think the restaurant owners in Hong Kong must have found the right formula to success - serving quality food. In a competitive environment, quality is critical to success. Yes, it is true that the prices of food is expensive but that's because our Malaysian Ringgit has low purchasing power. I have travelled quite a fair bit and I dare say that at parity purchasing power, Hong Kong offers excellent food quality at their prices. In Malaysia, we have to pay through our sorry arse to sample some not notch food at some fancy restaurants. And most often than not, even with your blood drained and after losing a couple of limbs, the food is still below acceptable level. You see, in Malaysia, we owe the business operators a living.Read more......

Briton wins dream job

2009-05-07T07:38:00.002+08:00

Briton wins dream job in £50m PR coup for Australian tourism

• Ex-tour guide, 34, beats 35,000 others worldwide
• Competition hailed as great publicity stunt

It was billed as the world's greatest job, a chance to relax in one of the planet's most beautiful places for six months and be paid £73,000 for the privilege. But as a 34-year-old Briton won a competition to be appointed "caretaker" of a remote Australian island yesterday, the real winner was the Queensland tourism board, which has pulled off a great PR stunt by generating well over £50m of free publicity.

News that Ben Southall, an ostrich riding, bungee jumping charity worker from Petersfield, Hampshire, had beaten almost 35,000 hopefuls to be put in notional charge of Hamilton island on the Great Barrier Reef was gazetted around the world. By lunchtime, almost 1,000 articles on his appointment were accessible via Google News, with media organisations in China, Canada, the US, Germany, Russia and Indonesia running the story.

Southall, a former tour guide, starts "work" on 1 July and will live for free in a three-bedroom oceanfront villa with a pool and sweeping views. He is contracted to work only 12 hours a month and has duties as arduous as snorkelling and feeding the fish. But his main job is as an ambassador, writing blogs and raising awareness of the island.

The job is part of a A$1.7m (£840,000) tourism campaign to publicise northeastern Queensland and officials say it has already generated more than A$110m (£50m) worth of publicity. Yesterday Queensland's premier, Anna Bligh, called the contest "the most successful tourism marketing campaign in history".Read more.......

My Favourite Mufti

2009-05-01T08:37:00.002+08:00

Hantu Laut

Asri was mufti for two years before quitting the position to move to Wales last December to research on Islam. — Picture by Jeremiah Mahadevan

If we have more mufti like him than Malaysia would not have so much inter-religious problems.

Mohamad Asri Zainul is the most dogmatic and progressive mufti in the country because I believe he has the true interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence.It is sad that he has to leave his job to further his study in Islamic theology.

I hope one day he would be made the Grand Mufti of Malaysia.

Read his latest comment on the government intervention on raising children with parents of different faiths here.

See It !

2009-01-22T17:19:00.005+08:00

Hantu Laut

Caution !

Not for those under 18 years of age.If you are below 18, please do not proceed any further.

Click on here to go to gory photos

Pictures Of The Year

2008-12-31T06:38:00.001+08:00

The Year in Pictures

A look back at 2008, with commentary by Times photo-
graphers.

Photos

Israel's Deadly Assault on Gaza

Compelling images from 2008, as published in The Sunday Times Magazine

World in 2008

Dangerous times

Simon Tisdall: It was a year in which we moved closer to the abyss

Malaysia's International Business Environment 1984

2008-12-03T02:22:00.000+08:00

Hantu Laut

Assessments and predictions of Malaysia's political climate made at conference of "International Business Environment" in April 1984 at Magdalen College,Oxford University.

Malaysia:

Malaysia must still be regarded as one of the more stable members of ASEAN.It is prosperous and, despite the effects of the global recession, is likely to become more so in the later 1980s and 1990s.

Nevertheless there are constitutional, religious and socio-economic problems to face.None pose an immediate threat to the country's relative stability; but, as with any multi-racial, multi-lingual and predominantly Islamic nation with a wide gulf between rich and poor, conditions exist for long term tension.

The country's medium term outlook is dominated by three major concerns:

--firstly, the delicate constitutional balance between elected politicians and the Sultans.There are likely to be continuing conflicts between progressive democrats and those who believe that certain powers should remain with the traditional rulers;

--secondly, the recent rapid growth in the influence of Islam overlaps the constitutional struggles.The Islamic movement is notionally headed by the Sultans and other traditional rulers.Decisions which cause affront to the Sultans could inflame Islamic passions already smouldering under the influence of global Islamic revival.

--thirdly, there is a long term threat to Malaysia's comparative serenity stemming from the complex and ambitious economic reorganization launched in 1971, the New Economic Policy.The NEP has its main target a massive increase in public ownership by the Malay (or bumiputra) community.By 1990, the NEP architects say, bumiputra participation in the economy should be at least 30%--a target which non-Malay critics say is too high.But the firm implementation of the policy suggests that some of the targets will be realized.After 1990, though, any further favouring of the bumiputras might exacerbate tensions between the racial groups--a spectre which, since the 1969 race riots in Kuala Lumpur, remains at the back of all Malaysian ruler's mind.

Cut the theatrics,Anwar,and let Malaysians get on with their live.

2008-09-15T10:09:00.000+08:00

Cut the theatrics, Anwar, and let Malaysians get on with their live

By : Tunku Abdul Aziz

IT seems to me that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is suffering from paranoid delusions. His preoccupation with what he sees as political conspiracy against him is doing his reputation and credibility, such as it is, enormous damage.

To compound the growing cynicism about his version of events, he has not, to date, been able to produce any verifiable evidence to support his contention.

As far as I am concerned, and for all practical purposes, his claim of victimisation at the evil hands of the authorities is just so much political posturing, and has to be viewed, sadly, as a ploy to gain sympathy for his cause and confuse the gullible in our midst.

And there are many who see a conspirator in every nook and corner, in much the same way that Americans, at the height of McCarthyism, looked under the bed before retiring for the night, half expecting to find a communist lurking there.

While Anwar expects the highest standards of proof in others, he is somehow both careless and cavalier about his own. He has made the preposterous accusation that the charge of sodomy brought against him by his former aide is part of a diabolically clever plot to stop his prime ministerial ambitions dead in their tracks.
That, too, must remain a matter for conjecture unless it can be proved otherwise. Many Malaysians await Anwar’s irrefutable evidence with bated breath.

Does he not realise that many people can, and will, draw their own conclusions about the real reason behind his persistent refusal to give his blood for the purpose of a DNA test?

Let us get that over and done with so that the police can make a quick determination as to whether or not he had been maliciously accused of something he is innocent of.

Readers will no doubt recall that when he was in custody 10 years ago, he accused the authorities of administering arsenic to poison him.

All very dramatic, and the world was understandably aghast and shocked by that revelation.

Independent tests done in Australia, however, proved negative. Anwar showed absolutely no remorse about his having blackened his country’s good name and reputation.

On the premise that there is one law for all, no one should reasonably expect normal police criminal investigation procedures to be set aside or compromised on the spurious ground of a lack of trust in the police. What is the evidence for this?

Anwar, for all his political savvy, now runs the risk of being likened to “the boy who cried wolf” — once too often.

He should submit himself voluntarily to the DNA test, and if need be, under an independent expert observer group if this would help.

The police have been more accommodating in his case than I have seen in some others. And if he is innocent of the charge against him, there is “nothing to fear, but fear itself”.

Conspiracy or no, even Anwar must know that the devil is in the detail: how does he propose to seize power except by resorting to unprincipled political machinations and manipulations?

He has to show that he has not totally abandoned his moral and ethical principles and this is the only way that he will ever recover the moral and intellectual high ground that he once occupied.

The moral support of right thinking people everywhere that he could at one time take for granted is beginning to wear thin.

What has happened to the mass exodus to his camp of ethically deficient political malcontents from The Land Below The Wind, across the South China Sea, that he predicted with an almost messianic zeal and prophetic certainty to help him topple the government and transform the nation?

He has done our Sabah politicians grave injury to their reputation. They have proved that they stand by certain personal values and standards of ethical behaviour.

I cannot imagine anything baser and more grotesque than attempting to corrupt and seduce perfectly decent and honourable parliamentarians to betray the trust of the voters who had put them there in the first place to represent them in their constituencies.

What kind of message is Anwar sending to the people of this country, and in particular to the young people now beginning to take an interest in political issues?

Dislodge the government by all means, if this is your purpose in life, but there is a time and place as provided under our electoral process.

The place is the ballot box, and the time is the 13th general election.

This is all part of our democratic system and what business have any of us to bring about a change of administration outside of the legal electoral framework?

I am well aware of the opposition song-and-dance about what they claim to be a defective electoral system before every election. But this constant refrain about the unfairness of it all is muted, now that the same defective process that they used to vent their spleen on with demonic vehemence has catapulted them into power in five states.

I suppose even they must now admit that it has not been that bad, after all, for those who were not expected to pick more than a few crumbs off the floor.

Anwar has made great play of his having to remove his clothes for his medical examination and implied that he was being singled out for special treatment.

I am assured by my doctor friends that it is normal procedure for certain types of examination. Many of us have been through this and we were none the worse for wear.

In my own case, on my visit to Israel two years ago, I was asked very politely to remove all my clothes by airport security.

More than at any time in my entire life, faced with the prospect of having to bare all, and not even paid for it in front of total strangers, I remembered my mother, thinking how right she had been to remind my brother and I always to wear clean underpants!

Like Anwar, I did not like the strip act one little bit, but unlike him, I did not kick up a fuss and neither did I call a press conference to denounce this “barbaric” practice against a senior United Nations official which was what I was at the time.

If I had been gripped by paranoia, I suppose I would have seen the whole exercise as being specially devised to humiliate me, a Muslim.

It was a security requirement and I respected their right to do everything possible in the interests of their country’s security.

Anwar should desist from involving the international community in what is essentially a simple case. He somehow feels that the United States, the European Union and Japan should fight a proxy war against his country to shield him from the due process of law of his country.

I do not claim, naturally, to speak for other Malaysians, but there are people I know personally who are beginning to suspect his motives. It is poetic justice.

We must all take responsibility for our actions, and if we feel that we have been defamed or otherwise unfairly accused, we should place ourselves in the hands and at the mercy of the courts.

Anwar should submit himself to the country’s criminal justice system like the rest of his fellow Malaysians and lead by example.

He is, after all, according to his supporters, a prime minister-in-waiting. I hope they are not holding their breath.

We are all getting a little sick and tired of the “Anwar factor” that is turning out to be an absolutely unnecessary distraction at a time when we need to get on with our lives

My Images

2008-09-04T09:11:00.001+08:00

Hantu Laut

Click To Enlarge

UMNO:A Ship Without Rudder

2008-08-06T14:47:00.000+08:00

Hantu Laut

Is UMNO a political party or a family business or some kind of monarchy system where retiring leaders can appoint their own successors to take over their positions.

Why not abolish the party elections and let the new system takes over and allow everyone from the President down the line to branch chief to nominate their own successors.IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE PARTY as there is no need to have an AGM and waste money time and again to conduct its annual affair.

First to the fore was the Prime Minister and President of the party who named his deputy Najib Tun Razak as his successor but needs 2 years for Najib to understudy him before he can confidentally hands over the baton to him.Najib has yet to reach a level of competency to be prime minister.

Than something even more absurd came out of the coconut shell a couple of days ago.Former Minister of Trade and Industry and Wanita Chief of the party Rafidah Aziz announced that her successor is Sharizat Abdul Jalil and that she would be handing over to her in mid 2009, but first, following in the footsteps of the Prime Minister, she must contest in the party elections in December, just six months before she hands over the job. It shows that Sharizat is wee bit smarter than Najib, needs only six months to understudy her boss.

Well, they say great minds think alike, only fools differ.I am not sure whether this is still applicable in today's modern and technological era.It is probably redundant because as we all know the world has progressed much due to people wanting to be different.The scientists,engineers,doctors and most every profession in this world have people that necessitate them to be different from his fellow men to achieve greater height in new discoveries and inventions.

It appears that UMNO has become directionless.It is unable to reinvent itself or make sacrifices for salient changes.It's like a ship that has a captain and a compass but lost its rudder in a storm and drifting aimlessly towards no known direction.

Do you really need to stand for an election just to hold the position for six months? The great minds that think alike didn't see that the fools that differ can read the minds of insincerity and self-servitude. How can the rank and file in the party be enlightened to be servile to party principles and democratic process when the heads apathetically show total disregard for its compliance.

The use of thuggery and violence in jockeying for position has become appallingly vicious.

In Perak a branch committee member was clobbered with a golf club by a fellow committee member upon discovering that his elder brother was not nominated to stand as deputy chairman of the Gopeng UMNO division.In Batu Manikar Labuan police were called in to restore calm and order when a fight almost broke out at the branch meeting.In Sabak Bernam Selangor former Menteri Besar Khir Toyo and his only challenger for the divisional head post are both claiming to have asked ACA to investigate money politics.

All these are not for God and country but for a ride on the gravy train, the exclusive domain of the chosen few.

The one that takes the cake is the report to ACA against the President Abdullah Badawi and Deputy President Najib Tun Razak for alleged abuse of power.The report was lodged by former Youth exco member Datuk Mazlan Harun.Some are probably making trouble for the President to be used as excuses to jump ship when time is opportune to do so.

The party seems to be riotously out of control and Abdullah appears powerless to deal with the thugs, goons and bullies in the party.

Please leave comments on main page.

Snitching and Sodomizing

2008-07-27T09:37:00.000+08:00

The Anwar Case

Snitching and Sodomizing

By BINOY KAMPMARK

We are watching re-runs from Kuala Lumpur. It’s 1998 again. Then, Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, was catapulted from office to prison on sodomy and treason charges. The instigator then was the mercurial colossus of Southeast Asian politics, Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad. Having initially welcomed Anwar as the prodigal son of Malaysian politics, he debunked him in a most conscious act of Saturnalia.

In the theatre of Malaysian politics, buggery is almost as serious as the charge of deviationism in Mao’s China. The statute books permit imprisonment for up to twenty years. Dr. Wan Aziza Wan Ismail, Anwar’s wife, could only respond with characteristic stoicism as Anwar was not merely incarcerated but neutralised in Malaysian politics.

The vicious all-consuming father of Malaysian politics retired in 2003, aged 78. With Mahathir gone, Anwar could return. Released in 2004, the former deputy was still on ice, and could only run for office after five or so years.

It’s fine in Malaysian politics to talk about reform as long as a sense of inertia is maintained above the chatter of promised change. Splendid inactivity – one observes Malaysia’s current Prime Minister, the staid, dull Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a case in point – suggests continuity. Change, marked by the dangerous word reform, suggests chaos, the disruption of gravy trains and networks of graft. Anwar’s mistake then and now was to violate the canon of inertia.

The ruling National Front (Barisan Nasional) was shaken by recent political showings by Anwar’s opposition alliance, the PKR. On 8 March, their hold on power suddenly loosened. The opposition alliance had broken through a barrier that seemed untouchable: reducing the sacred two-thirds majority held by the National Front in Parliament since 1957. Five of the twelve state legislatures were lost. The PKR then came up with a bold policy – to form a new Federal Government by 16 September.

Enter (some argue literally), the 23 year-old man who volunteered to work for the opposition during the tumultuous election earlier this year. He had been Anwar’s aide, and duly fronted with accusations of sodomy at the end of June. The charges were made public by Bakri Zinin, the federal police chief for criminal investigations.

Having seen it all before, Anwar fled to the Turkish Embassy, citing assassination fears. ‘I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to subvert the people’s will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia.’ Istanbul, then accused of undue interference in Malaysian politics, hastily ejected the accused.

These political re-runs take place because the main party of Malaysian politics, UMNO (United Malays National Organisation), has run out of ideas. It’s a despotism that has run dry of creativity, not merely in policy, but in dealing with rivals.

UMNO is naturally following the script: its members had nothing to do with it. That is the line peddled by Kelantan UMNO information chief, Alwi Che Ahmad: ‘Nobody from UMNO has anything to gain from trying to fabricate (accusations against) Anwar especially in the current political landscape.’ The only flaw in this statement is that UMNO has everything to gain by Anwar’s demise.

That was evident in 1998 itself when Anwar was declared, not merely to be a rampant sodomite with a penchant for chauffeurs, but a masochist: he had, for instance, mysteriously punched himself. Torture was vigorously denied: the Malaysian police has scrupulously ‘observed’ his rights in detention, but in truth had tried beating the suspect to a pulp.

Added to the mix now by his opponents is the suggestion that Anwar is America’s snitch. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar recently gave a sense of how ‘impartial’ the government is on the subject of Anwar’s innocence: ‘Anwar is a snitch for America. Every time anything happens, he reports back to America.’ A character portrait of Anwar according to Barisan Nasional: a sodomizing snitch with masochistic tendencies.

The Malaysian authorities have run out of talented conspiracy scriptwriters – they can only revert to programs that were used during Mahathir’s time. The opposition are even mimicking them, accusing current Deputy Premier Najib Razak of having an affair with a woman before she was killed two years ago. Najib palmed it off: this was merely a sodomy diversion. Anwar remained the true star of the show. Malaysian politics has not merely run out of steam – it has run out of imagination.

Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. He can be reached atbkampmark@gmail.com.

Proton Perdana And Harley-Davidson

2008-07-26T17:01:00.000+08:00

Hantu Laut

I was right in my condemnation of the quality of Proton cars.The MB of Pahang and Kelantan had also come out and said their Perdanas incur high maintenance costs.

The high costs in Trengganu were not merely because of Proton poor quality, there must be some element of hanky-panky, those individuals in charge of sending the cars for service and maintenance must be in cahoots with the dealers.

Federal and all state departments should also stop buying Proton cars to send a clear message to those in Proton to pull up their socks to improve the quality of their cars.Those guys are resting on their laurels and are quite happy to produce crappy machines.

If Proton wish to continue producing low quality cars and expect to sell well I suggest they send their marketing boys to Harley-Davidson to learn all about marketing hype.How to sell crappy machines at premium prices.

Harley-Davidson image marketing was so good it managed to fool the whole world big bike lovers to buy their crappy over-sized and under-powered machines at mind-boggling prices.It's an image that comes with a big noise of broken tail pipe,masochistic apparels,swollen balls and wannabe Hells Angels. Exhibitionist of the first order on glorified two-wheelers.

Real bike enthusiasts don't buy Harley, they buy other high-end bikes, Japanese or European.

Harley recently bought over M.V.Augusta, one of the finest and highly regarded high-end bike manufacturers dumped by those myopic men in dark suits at Proton a year ago.

Let's hope Harley don't introduce their crappy engineering to those superb machines.

Lastly, the purchase of those Mercedes Benz cars by Trengganu is now a fait accompli and the Prime Minister, if he can't remove the MB, should let it be and allow those cars to be used by the assemblymen.

Sometimes, favours don't come free, you have to buy them.Maybe, the Menteri Besar of Trengganu should enlighten the Prime Minister why he was so generous to the councillars even in time of economic downturn when government should be tightening its belt.

One thing for sure, he knows the Prime Minister can't remove him, he was appointed by the Sultan.

Virgins from the Philipines at Labuan

2008-06-11T10:42:00.000+08:00

Virgins from the Philippines at Labuan

Joe Fernandez | Jun 10, 08 4:07pm

All the banks have only one desk in Labuan
which is touted as an International Offshore
Financial Centre (IOFC). No work is
done in Labuan. All the work is done
in KL and elsewhere. Labuan is just
used as an IOFC address.

MCPX

IOFC is just a big scam to hoodwink
the country and the world.

If you go to Labuan, you will find no
development taking place despite the
newspaper articles written by journalists
in KL. The place is a lot cleaner than it was
many years ago, well landscaped, but that's
about it. The Labuan International Seasports
Centre etc etc, marina and similar developments
are all white elephants sitting in the
sun in eerie silence.

The new international airport is very quiet.
Two AirAsia flights a day from Labuan to KL.
Some other MAS flights, all rip-offs. There
are quite a number of international hotels
and cheaper hotels.

I told the Labuan Malaysian Airports
Berhad chap that I like Labuan Airport because
every time I am there, I have almost the
whole place to myself. Keep it that way,
I told them. It's like being in heaven.
Try the nasi lemak at the only restaurant
at the airport. Booze and chocolates are
cheap (buy in town) because of the free
port status and taxi drivers don't cheat.
Nothing else is cheap. But prices are not
higher than elsewhere.

I am happy for Labuan. No development.
I am anti-development. No crowds.
I am anti-crowds. The people and the
territory somehow manage, despite the
politicians. Now, the big thing is nightclubs
with virgins from the Philippines.
They have been mushrooming.

I think the patrons come from the offshore
oil rigs, Brunei, Miri and Kota Kinabalu (KK).
If you can get a zero airfare AirAsia flight to
Labuan from KL, try to visit the nightclubs.
I haven't been there myself because I don't
patronise such places. That doesn't mean
I am against people who patronise such places.

Labuan is a great place to retire. You have
direct flights to KL, KK, Bunei and Miri.
From KK, you can get direct flights to
many places in East Asia and Australia.
Labuan to KK is only 20 minutes by flight.

Better don't take MAS because it's a rip-off.
Take the ferry and bring your laptop and
some books along. Only RM36 first class to
KK but it takes three hours. Good chance
to catch up on many things. There's an
Atur system on board for telephone calls.

Don’t die without visiting Labuan and
seeing for yourself.

Source:Malaysiakini

Another Piece Of Artistic Nudity

2008-06-06T13:33:00.000+08:00

Brooke Burke, host of 'Wild On' in her classic nudity pose with a guy.

A Work Of Art

2008-04-14T04:54:00.000+08:00

Dr M:Blame the'Sultan' and the Kid

2008-04-02T10:46:00.000+08:00

Dr M: Blame the 'Sultan' and the Kid

Syed Jaymal Zahiid | Apr 1, 08 6:07pm

Umno was thrashed in the general election because of poor selection of candidates by ‘Sultan’ Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and ‘Kid’ Khairy Jamaluddin - so claimed former party boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In full cry this morning in Petaling Jaya, Mahathir amused some 1,000 party supporters with his caustic wit as he expanded on a pet theory - how Umno has been turned into a “family party” where power is concentrated in the hands of Abdullah and his son-in-law.

The event was organised by pro-Mahathir Umno supporters’ group MyKMU.Net, as a post-election forum.

The three-hour session first featured three speakers - former Umno Selangor chief Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, Umno Youth executive committee member Mukhriz Mahathir and Johor Umno information chief Dr Mohd Fuad Zarkashi - who analysed why the party had done badly in the March 8 polls.

Mahathir, who took the podium alone at the end, kept his audience captivated for about 30 minutes with his delivery entirely in Bahasa Malaysia.

“Of course, everyone knows that the list of candidates is chosen and submitted to 'Sultan' Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) by state leaders but once it reached to the party president, somebody else takes over,” he said.

“There is somebody in the ‘next office’ that has a say when choosing the candidates. This led to better and capable Umno candidates being dropped to make way for candidates that ended up losing.”

Saying that this nexus is destroying Umno, Mahathir told his audience with trademark sarcasm: “But this is just a rumour, don’t listen to my bad mouth!”

To thunderous applause, he continued the verbal offensive against Khairy (right), painting him as a power-broker in Umno and a significant influence on Abdullah’s every decision in politics and economics.

“The baffling thing is why Umno leaders so afraid of this kid. The ministers should have no problem to tenyeh (smash) this kid, but it seems that they are too afraid and I don’t know why,” Mahathir said.

Abdullah ‘shameless’

Predictably, Abdullah was pulled into the tirade for his weak leadership of the party and country.

“Crises in Umno are normal. When leaders at the time of each crisis could not handle it well, for the sake of the party, they resigned. This particular leader, however, has refused to do so.

“This leader is the country’s only prime minister to ever come from an opposition state (Penang)...,” said Mahathir.

Loud laughter prompted him to pause before he completed his statement to more laughter: “When I was prime minister, the state I come from (Kedah) belonged to BN. Has he (Abdullah) no shame?”

Mahathir said he believes that Abdullah has no option but to step down in order to save Umno from further humiliation and destruction.

In this respect, he expressed support for Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to be held immediately.

“Umno must conduct an immediate review of the party’s poor performance. The EGM must also discuss the possibility of amending the party constitution,” Mahathir said, explaining that this would enable other leaders to mount a serious challenge for the top post.

Umno rules stipulate that any candidate who wants to contest for the presidency must obtain 30 percent of the nominations (currently, 58 of the 193 divisions). The rule was introduced during Mahathir’s tenure “to ensure that only serious candidates” offer their candidacy.

However, he is now of the view that “times have changed” and that abolition of the quota system would not be detrimental to the party in any way.

“In my time, if anybody wanted to challenge me it was permissible to do so as long as (they had) sufficient support. I never stopped anybody from challenging me,” he said.

“But now the quota system has been abused to quell any challenges to the presidency post and this is not right. It must be changed.”

He also fielded questions at the end of his presentation, including:

Do you think that Najib Abdul Razak is still capable of becoming a good successor now that he seemed to be Pak Lah’s ‘yes’ man?

Mahathir: We cannot be exact any more about anything. That is why we need to amend the party constitution so that more capable candidates can challenge if the leadership is seen to be weak.

What is your reply to Zam (former information minister Zainuddin Maidin) who blamed you as a factor for BN’s poor performance in the polls?

(With a smirk) Yes, I admit this. I don’t want to be seen as supporting a weak leader. I will never support a weak leader. BN people voted against BN because of the party’s weak leadership so I don’t mind being blamed for it.

Later, when asked if he would lead a movement to reform Umno, he asked for stronger support for the suggestion, saying “we have to fight together”.

There was no doubt of his popularity in this quarter of the party. As he was escorted to his car, it was to shouts of Hidup Mahathir!

Source:Malaysiakini

PM has 'no shame' for refusing to quit

2008-04-02T10:20:00.000+08:00

PM has 'no shame' for refusing to quit

Apr 1, 08 5:14pm

Veteran ex-leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched his strongest ever attack against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today, and again called for his resignation following disastrous election results.

Abdullah, also president Umno, is facing increasing calls to quit from party leaders.

"I ask (Abdullah) to resign," the former prime minister, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, told a gathering of at least 1,000 Umno members.

The focus of the meeting was to analyse the March 8 election results but it turned out to be a platform to demand Abdullah's resignation.

Umno members criticised Abdullah and the alleged influence son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is a deputy leader of the powerful Umno youth wing, has over him in decision-making.

"Anyone else would have already resigned but (Abdullah) has no shame," Mahathir, who hand-picked Abdullah to succeed him in October 2003, told a cheering crowd.

Dr M: Stand by my side

Mahathir said Abdullah had ignored the will of the people, while the veteran's son, Mukhriz, a lawmaker, echoed the call for Abdullah to go.

"To bring about (reform), the top leadership has to be held responsible. The prime minister must gracefully withdraw," Mukhriz said.

He urged Umno members to speak out and not be intimidated.

"Be brave, if you love your country and speak out," he said. "We have been told to keep quiet but I ask you now to stand by my side."

Abdullah, 68, has claimed a mandate to rule despite unprecedented election losses, but observers say he is on borrowed time.

Senior lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had said he would challenge Abdullah's leadership if he received enough support.

VIDEOS

Dr M having second thoughts on Najib l 10 min
If you love your country, be brave: Mahathir l 9 min
Mukhriz: Something's wrong with Pak Lah l 7 min

Source:Malaysiakini

Mysterious Mengalum Anchor

2008-04-01T06:22:00.000+08:00

The Mysterious Mengalum Anchor

The mysterious Mengalum Anchor is located in Mengalum Island about four hours boat ride from Kota Kinabalu is a mystery, that is no one knows how and when it came to be lying on the island. It appears that its earliest recorded existance was by Captain Edward Belcher in H.M.S. Saracen's log in 1854. The wrought iron anchor is however believed to be a Richard Pering improved anchor or Admiralty (British) anchor, manufactured from ca. 1819 to 1845. Local reports of the anchor, as early as 1931 described it as a "keramat"; it is venerated by fisherfolk who assumed its supernatural powers and which cannot be removed from the island. Therefore, it is not unsual to see offering of rice, tobacco, eggs and other foods placed on the anchor.

Ahmad to start work as MB tomorrow

2008-03-25T12:27:00.000+08:00

Ahmad to start work as MB tomorrow

Mar 24, 08 4:46pm

Kijal state representative Ahmad Said, who has been appointed

by the Terengganu sultan as mentri besar against the wish
of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will start work tomorrow.

At a massive gathering at his
house in Teluk Kalong, Kemaman,
late this afternoon, Ahmad told his supporters that he would assume the post tomorrow.

Eyewitnesses say that several
hundred people had gathered to hear Ahmad speak.

“I never dreamt of being the menteri besar of Terengganu,”
he told his supporters.

“I will work hard,” he said, adding that he would be
“going to office tomorrow”.

However, it is still unclear when Ahmad would be
sworn in as MB.

Earlier today, he had an audience with Sultan Mizan
Zainal Abidin - who is also serving as the Agung -
in Kuala Lumpur.

On his way back to Terengganu, he was escorted by a
strong crowd of 2,000 from the Pahang border to his
house - a 10-kilometer long journey.

It is also learnt that he has managed to convince 13
out of the 22 BN state representatives to back him for the post.

Meanwhile, opposition party PAS today fully supported the
move by the Terengganu palace to appoint Ahmad as MB.

Hadi Awang: Respect palace's decision

Party president Abdul Hadi Awang said he believed the
decision by the palace was in accordance with the real wishes of the people of Terengganu.

“We are confident that the palace’s decision to appoint Ahmad
was based in the dissatisfaction of the palace and the people
of Terengganu against the former menteri besar,” he said in a
statement today.

He added that the people of Terengganu would definitely
understand and accept the appointment of Ahmad as it was
them who had to “suffer in the hands of the previous person’s ineffectiveness”.

“We urge the people of Terengganu to respect the wishes
of the palace for the sake of stability and prosperity in the
state,” he added.

The state of Terengganu is presently in a
constitutional turmoil following the appointment
of the palace-backed Ahmad over the previous menteri
besar Idris Jusoh, who has the support of Prime Minister
Abdullah and the 22 BN state representatives in the state.

In the general election, Idris-led BN retained the retained
the state comfortably by winning 24 out of 32 state seats.
PAS won the rest. He was then given the assurance by
the prime minister that he would be reappointed
as the menteri besar.

However, the sultan is not in favour of Idris and has chosen
Ahmad to lead the state. Ahmad is believed to have the
support of the grassroots Umno members and leaders.

PKR: Don’t be provocative

Ahmad, also the Kemaman Umno division chief, received
his appointment letter from the Regency Advisory
Council yesterday morning, almost at the same time
when the 22 BN state representatives submitted
a protest letter to the palace against the appointment
of Ahmad.

Idris and the 22 state representatives also met up
with Abdullah last night to discuss the matter.

Umno too has decided to take action against Ahmad
for disobeying the party line in accepting the palace’s
appointment. He is expected to be sacked the moment
he participates in the swearing-in ceremony,
to be held on Wednesday.

Ahmad however is confident that he has the necessary
support of the state representatives to form a state
government. He has asked for two to three days to
name his exco line-up.

Meanwhile PKR Terengganu today expressed its
disappointment in the crisis over the appointment
of the menteri besar.

The opposition party also urged Umno to respect the
wishes of the palace in the appointment of Ahmad.

“Even if they disagree to that appointment, they
should not be issuing provocative or insulting
statements against the palace,” said the state PKR
secretary Razali Alias in a statement today.

He added that all Terengganu citizens must firmly
stand behind the decision made by the sultan,
who is also the present agong.

Source:Malaysiakini

MB crisis deepens in Terengganu

2008-03-24T06:29:00.000+08:00

MB crisis deepens in Terengganu

K Kabilan | Mar 23, 08 10:45am

Kijal assemblyperson Ahmad Said this morning officially received his appointment letter as the Terengganu menteri besar but a constitutional crisis looms as he was sacked from Umno.

The head of the Regency Advisory Council Raja Tengku Baderulzaman gave Ahmad his appointment letter in a ceremony at Istana Terengganu at 8.30am today. None of the other 22 BN state representatives were present at the ceremony.

However, Ahmad (left) has not been sworn-in yet with the palace expected to fix Wednesday for that ceremony.

According to observers the swearing-in ceremony now looks remote after Umno earlier today sacked Ahmad from the party for disobeying party leadership.

The state’s party leadership decided at a meeting last night to strip Ahmad of his membership after he defied the party leadership by agreeing to take up the post.

Umno president and prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had backed former menteri besar Idris Jusoh to retain the menteri besar post. Idris also had the support of all the 22 BN assemblypersons, excluding Ahmad.

A fallout with the sultan

However Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu - who is also the present king - preferred Ahmad to take over as the state’s menteri besar. Idris is believed to have had a fallout with the sultan over several issues.

It is learnt that Ahmad also had the support of the grassroots Umno leaders and members. Sources say that he had the support of seven out of eight Umno divisions in Terengganu.

Yesterday the sultan’s office announced that Ahmad, also the Kemaman Umno division chief, would be the new menteri besar, finally putting to an end to a 14-day wait for a person to be named for the post. Terengganu was the only state not to have a menteri besar after the March 8 polls.

In the general election, Idris-led BN retained the retained the state comfortably by winning 24 out of 32 state seats. PAS won the rest.

Immediately after the palace’s announcement, the state Umno went into a frenzy as it has been rooting for the re-appointment of Idris, who is also the state Umno chief.

Twenty-two BN state representatives immediately announced that they were boycotting the swearing-in ceremony today to object to the appointment of Ahmad.

Federal Umno leadership also issued a warning to Ahmad not to accept the post, threatening to sack him from the party. That threat materialised last night when the state Umno leadership decided to act against the maverick assemblyperson.

Also this morning, state Umno secretary Rosol Wahid handed over to a palace official a letter signed by the 22 Umno assemblypersons protesting Ahmad’s appointment. The letter also insisted that Idris should be sworn in as the rightful menteri besar.

A snap poll soon?

Constitution expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari pointed out that under the present situation, it would be difficult for the party-less Ahmad to assume the post.

He said that even if Ahmad is sworn-in, the BN state representatives can call for a vote of no confidence against him.

“In such circumstance, the sultan would then have to name another person who enjoys the support of the majority of the elected representatives or call for a snap state election,” he said.

He said that there was also another precedent to this in Malaysia, going back to the situation in Kelantan in 1977.

“In Kelantan, the PAS assemblypersons - the majority in the house - passed a motion of no confidence against their own menteri besar Mohamed Nasir.

“As it happened however he refused to resign and this gave the federal government an opportunity to declare emergency on the state and eventually called a snap election - and won the state - in 1978,” he added.

Source:Malaysiakini

Another BN MP ready to jump ship?

2008-03-22T22:10:00.000+08:00

Another BN MP ready to jump ship?

Tony Thien | Mar 21, 08 1:12pm

BN-SPDP's Mas Gading MP Dr Tiki Lafe, dropped from his deputy minister’s post, has neither denied nor confirmed speculations that he is quitting his party to join the opposition when contacted today.

Asked on the rumours over the phone this morning, the Bidayuh 'ear, nose and throat' specialist-turned-politician would only say, "I am on holiday with my family."

Pressed further on the matter, he added, "I am not saying anything."

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), one of four components in the Sarawak BN, has four MPs, including Tiki who was not re-appointed deputy minister on Tuesday.

Instead, the party has two new faces as deputy ministers - Jelaing Mersat, an Iban and Saratok MP, and Jacob Sagan, a Kenyah and Baram MP.

Tiki first contested Mas Gading in the 1999 general election, defeating incumbent and State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Patau Rubis.

Immediately after his victory, Tiki’s then party, Snap, nominated him to replace party veteran Peter Tinggom as deputy minister in the federal cabinet.

When SPDP was formed following the Snap crisis in 2002, Tiki joined the new party and continued as deputy minister in Kuala Lumpur after the 2004 general election.

In the May 8 polls, Tiki defeated Patau and two other independents to win Mas Gading for the third time.

Interestingly, it is learnt that there was a lot of lobbying within SPDP for Tiki to be replaced as candidate for the just-concluded election but last-minute intervention from a third party saw his name back on the candidate’s list.

Meanwhile, Tiki is said to have replied to a Sarawak journalist via SMS today that ‘I am still in KL and due to leave for overseas later."

Richard changes his mind

In another development BN-SUPP's Serian MP Richard Riot, who was reported to have quit his party yesterday, has a change of mind today - he has decided to stay.

However, the denial did not come from him directly.

Supp publicity chief Alfred Yap said in a press statement after meeting Serian Supp branch leaders this afternoon that party president Dr George Chan has spoken to Richard today, adding that the MP was upset by newspaper reports about him quitting the party.

Yap said Richard pledged full support for Supp and loyalty to the BN under the leadership of the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He added that the MP, who is a party's vice-president, is now in Kuala Lumpur to meet Abdullah to clarify his position.

Yap did not say when Richard would be returning to Kuching or when he would issue a statement to the media.

Attempts by Malaysiakini to contact him on his mobile today were unsuccessful.

Source:Malaysiakini

T'ganu Umno rejects Ku Li's offer

2008-03-22T08:16:00.000+08:00

T'ganu Umno rejects Ku Li's offer

Mar 21, 08 2:43pm

Veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s offer to take over the party presidency today received a massive blow when the party leadership in Terengganu refused to back him.

Terengganu Umno state chief Idris Jusoh said that there was no need for a change of leadership in Umno as the present leaders were capable of helming the party and country.

“Let us wait for the Umno general assembly. I believe that with the confidence placed in the prime minister by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak, there will be no tussle for power in Umno," Idris told reporters after a function in Marang, Terengganu.

He said he believed that the next Umno general assembly - to be held in June - would endorse Abdullah's leadership.

He also said that Terengganu Umno would continue to back the prime minister.

Idris, the menteri besar before the state assembly was dissolved for the recently held general election, said that though the BN was only eight seats short of a two-thirds majority in the Parliament, the people nevertheless had given their mandate to the coalition and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"The cabinet line-up named by Pak Lah (Abdullah) is cohesive and he has laid out a good plan of action (to restore the people's confidence in BN) and I do not see why we need any change,” he said.

Calling for EGM

Earlier this week, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh said he was willing to take over the leadership of the party in order to heal the party in the face of its disastrous defeat in the polls.

"Haven't Umno members realised we've lost five states? Are they still sleeping?" asked the 71-year-old former finance minister.

His Gua Musang division would be holding a special meeting on April 4 to discuss the party and BN's showing in the general election.

Tengku Razaleigh, a Kelantan prince, is also calling for a special Umno general assembly on May 11, when the party celebrates its anniversary, to discuss Umno's showing in the recent polls.

Under the party's constitution, at least 50 per cent of Umno's divisions must agree to such an assembly before it can be called.

Idris’ own position to retain his menteri besar post is still unclear even though it has been 13 days since the election.

It is believed that while he enjoys the support of the BN state representatives, the Sultan of Terengganu is however rooting for another candidate.

Source:Malaysiakini

Anwar says BN MPs mull defection

2008-03-18T20:59:00.000+08:00

Anwar says BN MPs mull defection

Mar 17, 08 7:01pm

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today said he had held talks with a number of ruling coalition members of parliament interested in defecting after this month's landmark elections.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, helms a three-party alliance that made unprecedented gains in March 8 polls against the Barisan Nasional coalition which has ruled for half a century.

"People have come and approached me," Anwar said, adding that he had spoken with "quite a number" and told them their support would not be bought.

"If you want to surrender at a price, then you have chosen the wrong party," he told reporters, adding that they would be welcomed "if they accept our agenda".

Anwar confirmed he was canvassing support from coalition lawmakers in East Malaysia, which represents a power bloc that could unseat the government if it changed hands.

Barisan Nasional will have 140 lawmakers in the new 222-seat parliament, against 199 in the outgoing 219-seat parliament. The opposition alliance claimed 82 seats from just 20 previously, and four more states.

The opposition was today sworn into power in the last of the five states it now controls, including Kelantan which was already held by the Islamic party PAS, while Barisan Nasional was still trying to resolve its power struggles.

Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin from PAS was installed as chief minister in Perak, ending a public squabble among the three opposition parties who will rule there in coalition.

Fighting for political life

Abdullah is fighting for his own political life as he fends off calls for his resignation to take responsibility for the election debacle.

The premier has rejected the pressure to quit, and pushed ahead with the formation of his new administration, with a new slimline cabinet expected to be unveiled tomorrow.

Abdullah has promised "new faces" and observers said the line-up will indicate his appetite for reform after the polls, which have transformed Malaysia's political landscape.

The previous cabinet had a whopping 32 ministers, 39 deputy ministers and 20 parliamentary secretaries, with jobs handed out to many of the 14 race-based parties that make up the coalition.

The large cabinet had been criticised as unwieldy and wasteful, and there is speculation that some ministries could be merged in line with the smaller Barisan Nasional representation in parliament.

Source:Malaysiakini

Sultan Trengganu next to snub PM ?

2008-03-16T10:11:00.000+08:00

Sultan Terengganu next to snub PM?

K Kabilan | Mar 15, 08 12:31pm

Signs are emerging that the Terengganu royal household is also set to follow the heels of the Raja of Perlis in appointing a menteri besar who is not the Barisan Nasional's choice, paving the way for a possible direct confrontation between the royalty and the federal government.

This morning all 23 BN state assemblypersons from Terengganu were called up for a meeting with the state's Regency Advisory Council.

The council representsTerengganu's 11-year-old regent Tengku Muhammad Ismail, whose father Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin is the present Agong of Malaysia.

The incumbent menteri besar Idris Jusoh - who is also Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's choice to lead the state - was not invited for the meeting.

He was the only one not invited for the meeting scheduled to take place in Putrajaya.

Idris was also believed to be in Putrajaya to meet Abdullah.

In the aftermath of the general election, Idris led BN to a comfortable victory to retain the state by winning 24 of the 32 state seats. PAS won the remaining eight.

He was expected to be sworn in on March 9 but the ceremony was suddenly postponed.

According to an informed source, Idris had a massive fallout with Sultan Mizan. It is learnt that he has yet to have an audience with the king, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu.

The source said the sultan has been unhappy with Idris for sometime now and is seriously pondering to replace him with someone who can work with the Terengganu palace.

“The meeting involving the state representatives today is for the palace to put forward its candidate, seeking a total support for that candidate from the representatives,” said the source.

“The council will also tell the representative as to why the sultan disapproves Idris' candidacy as menteri besar,” he added.

Idris’ shortcomings

It is learnt that the palace was unhappy with the manner the police and the Idris-led state government had handled the Batu Buruk riot on Sept 8 last year.

“The sultan felt that the matter could have been handled in a better way, especially without any live bullets being fired,” added the source.

On that day, a ceramah by polls reform group Bersih which was forcibly dispersed by the police turned into a riot with scores injured, including two PAS supporters who were shot by a policeman. The police have since claimed that it was done in self defence.

"Similarly, the palace is also unhappy with the manner the police targeted PAS supporters on polling day in Rusila by firing teargas to disperse them. The palace feels that the state administration had influenced the police to act in such manner," he added.

He further said that the sultan was also unhappy with the “apparent cockiness” shown by Idris during his tenure as menteri besar.

“On several occasions, he acted as though he was the sultan, making decisions unilaterally and without giving consideration to the royal household.”

At the meeting today, the regency council is also expected to tap into the apparent unhappiness among the grassroots Umno leaders in the state towards Idris, especially over his choice of candidates for the elections.

Many claimed that BN lost some seats this time around due to boycott from Umno.

Several names are being bandied as a possible replacement for Idris, the more popular ones being Ajil assemblyman Rosol Wahid, Cukai assemblyman Mohamad Awang Tera, Telok Pasu state representative Abdul Rahin Mohd Said and Kijal assemblyperson Ahmad Said.

However, the palace is believed to be leaning towards Ahmad Said, who is also the Kemaman Umno division chief. A daily today called him a firebrand, but sources said that the palace has full confidence in him to lead the state .

Double blow for Pak Lah

It is uncertain as to how Abdullah would look into the role played by the palace in choosing a new menteri besar, especially with the rejection of his apparent choice.

If the Terengganu palace proceeds successfully in naming a new menteri besar, this will come as a second blow from the royalty to Abdullah’s administration.

Yesterday the Raja of Perlis, using the state consitution to his favour, named Bintong state representative Md Isa Sabu as the new menteri besar in place of Shahidan Kassim who was chosen by Abdullah to continue to be MB.

It is learnt that Abdullah is standing by his decision to reappoint Shahidan to the post and has sent his deputy Najib Abdul Razak to meet all Perlis BN state representatives to find a solution.

“Whatever happens in Perlis and Terengganu, one thing is certain. A constitutional crisis seems to be looming with the stand taken by the royalty against the expressed wishes of the prime minister,” said a constitutional expert.

Source:Malaysiakini

SLIPPER ORCHID Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

2007-06-17T09:41:00.000+08:00

Grow in cooler climate.Can only be found at lower slopes of Mount Kinabalu in three locations.Endemic to Sabah.Protected specie.Can be seen at Kinabalu Park.

WHALE SHARK Rhincodon typus

2007-06-16T14:49:00.000+08:00

World largest fish.Tropical and sub-tropical waters.Pelagic and filter feeder, consuming planktons,krills, and other small fishes.Seasonal visits between January to May and can be seen off Kota Kinabalu and Mengalum Island.

BORNEO PYGMY ELEPHANT Elephas maximus borneensis

2007-06-16T13:48:00.000+08:00

Only in Sabah and small number in northern Kalimantan.Smaller than most other Asian elephants.Grow to less than 2.5 meters height. Concentrated mainly in flood plains and tributaries.Herbivores, eating mostly palms,grasses and wild bananas. Can be encountered at Sukau,along the Kinabatangan river, and Danum valley.Highly endangered.Placed under Appendix I of CITES.

RAFFLESIA Rafflesia arnoldii

2007-06-16T07:43:00.000+08:00

The biggest flower in the world.Can grow to 100cm in diameter.It has no stem,leaves,and true roots.About 19 different species.Official state flower of Sabah. Seasonal. Can be seen,if in season, at Kg.Kokob,Ranau and Km 52 Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan Road.

SUMATRAN RHINO Dicerorhinos sumatrensis

2007-06-15T16:34:00.000+08:00

The only two-horned rhino. Habitat mostly in thick undergrowth of primary and secondary jungles. Body length of 8-8.5 ft and height of 4.5 ft and weighing between 2200 to 4400 pounds.Solitary and very elusive.Eat fruits, seeds,bamboo shoots and other plants.Only about 50 estimated left in Sabah forests.A few spotted at Tabin Wildlife Reserve.The chance of encountering one is very slim.Coming to extinction.Highly endangered.

PROBOSCIS MONKEY Nasalis larvatus

2007-06-15T14:36:00.000+08:00

It has large protruding nose and big belly.Male can grow to around to 75 cm and female to around 60 cm.Female prefer males with big nose.They live in mangrove swamps and along riverine forests.Feed on fruits,seeds,and leaves.Arboreal and amphibious.Can be seen at Sukau, Kinabatangan,and Klias river.Endangered.Placed under Appendix I of CITES list of endangered species

ORANGUTANS Pongo pygmaeus

2007-06-15T13:57:00.000+08:00

Endemic to Borneo and Sumatra, this animal is arboreal and adults are solitary.Female can grow to about 4.5 ft and male to about 6 ft.By far the most intelligent in the animalia kingdom.Young ones stay with the mothers until about 8 to 9 years old.They feed on fruits and leaves from certain trees.Can be seen at Sepilok . Endangered.Placed under Appendix I of CITES list of endangered species.

CLOWN TRIGGERFISH Balistoides conspicillum

2007-06-14T16:42:00.000+08:00

Usually in clear seaward reefs,drop offs, and coral terraces from 1 to 75 meter.Grow to 50 cm.Photo taken in Sipadan,Sabah,Malaysian Borneo.

BIG EYE TREVALLY Caranx sexfasciatus

2007-06-14T15:35:00.000+08:00

Widespread throughout most oceans.Found along lagoons,channels, and reef drop offs.In schools and grow up to 80 cm or about 4kg.Photo taken at Sipadan,Sabah,Malaysian Borneo.

EMPEROR NAUTILUS Nautilus pompilius

2007-06-14T11:30:00.000+08:00

Widespread in Indo-Pacific.Mostly on coral reef walls and drop offs and in deep water.Grow up to 17 cm.There are 6 known species.Photo taken at Kapalai,Sabah,Malaysian Borneo.

BLUELINED SNAPPER Lutjanus kasmira

2007-06-14T11:17:00.000+08:00

Mosly in tropical water in shallow sheltered reefs.Grow up to 35 cm.Very often in large schools around coral formation.Numerous similar species. Can be found up to a depth of 250 meter.Photo taken at Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

BARRACUDA Sphyraena

2007-06-14T08:01:00.000+08:00

Found in most tropical seas except Eastern Pacific.In schools or bigger ones solitary.Can grow up to 200 cm.Wide range of habitats from esturine to open water and to sheltered inner reefs. About 26 known species. Bigger ones are pelagic and can grow up to 50 kg or more.Photo taken at Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH Bolbometopon muricatum

2007-06-14T06:08:00.000+08:00

Found in many oceans from Red Sea, Taiwan to the Ryuk. Mostly in lagoons and typically in schools at depth of 1 to 30 meter.Grow to 130 cm, about 50 kg.Vulnerable to over fishing.Photo taken at Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

DURBAN HINGE-BEAK SHRIMP Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

2007-06-14T05:58:00.000+08:00

Found in abundance throughout Indo-Pacific from South Africa to Japan. Usually in large numbers inside crevices, holes, and overhangs.Very colourful and grow up to 4 cm. Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

SKUNK ANEMONEFISH Amphiprion sandaracinos

2007-06-13T22:27:00.000+08:00

Found in sheltered areas of coral reefs between 5 to 20 meters.Size up to 14 cm.Distributed in mostly tropical Pacific to western Australia.Size up to 12 cm.Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

NUDIBRANCH/SEA SLUG Chromodoris coi

2007-06-13T21:54:00.000+08:00

Soft bodied and size varies from 40 to 600mm.More than 3000 known species.Distributed worldwide and can be found down to 700 meter depth. Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS Hapalochlaena lunulata

2007-06-13T17:37:00.000+08:00

Found in mostly shallow water from 0 - 20 meter.Usually under jetties, bottom of coral reefs and rubble.At least four to five different species.Main distribution from eastern Borneo, Sulawesi to the Great Barrier Reef.Highly venomous and can carry enough poision to kill 26 adults in minutes. Size up to 10 cm.All blue-ringed are deadly and should never to be touched.Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

THE BORNEO FUSILIERS

'Quay' The Urban Savvy?

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SLIPPER ORCHID Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

WHALE SHARK Rhincodon typus

BORNEO PYGMY ELEPHANT Elephas maximus borneensis

RAFFLESIA Rafflesia arnoldii

SUMATRAN RHINO Dicerorhinos sumatrensis

PROBOSCIS MONKEY Nasalis larvatus

ORANGUTANS Pongo pygmaeus

CLOWN TRIGGERFISH Balistoides conspicillum

BIG EYE TREVALLY Caranx sexfasciatus

EMPEROR NAUTILUS Nautilus pompilius

BLUELINED SNAPPER Lutjanus kasmira

BARRACUDA Sphyraena

BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH Bolbometopon muricatum

DURBAN HINGE-BEAK SHRIMP Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

SKUNK ANEMONEFISH Amphiprion sandaracinos

NUDIBRANCH/SEA SLUG Chromodoris coi

BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS Hapalochlaena lunulata