HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007

I hope everyone had a satisfactory new year's countdown. The Thais sure did a 'bang up' job [pun intended] preparing for it... with 2 dead, many more injured. Anyway, it's my birthday today, errr... yesterday... [yes, on 31st December]..., and I'm not getting any younger. So please bear with me if I don't sound very chipper about this whole new year thing.

It's been a so-so year for me and the people important to me. Health has been an issue in 2006, and is something I pray improves next year.

Money has been okay.. economy's good this year, but there is [of course] much room to improve for a salary slave like me. I still can't afford a dang car in this ridiculous car-hating country.

And lastly, romance... sigh... I guess you'll know it's looking up when you notice this blog being updated less and less. Judging from the large number of posts this month (Dec 06), don't hold your breath, but here's to hoping ;p

So, to another year of blogging, calling a spade a spade, and using the damn thing to dig between the lines.

Cheers. Have a good holiday.

Filtering the Asian Internet

Here's an interesting article from the Far Eastern Economic Review about the activities of various Asian govts trying to fiddle with the free flow of internet information.

Perhaps the best window on the dark underbelly of the Internet comes from the research of a project I direct: the OpenNet Initiative (ONI)—a collaboration among the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, the Cambridge Security Programme, the Oxford Internet Institute, and partner NGOs worldwide. The aim of the ONI is to document empirically patterns of Internet censorship and surveillance worldwide using sophisticated means of technically interrogating the Internet directly.

When the ONI was formed in 2002, only a handful of countries were known to engage in Internet content filtering, most prominently China, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Now more than four years later, the ONI is presently testing in more than 40 countries worldwide.

However, China is not alone. Among countries that the ONI has researched in Asia, we have technically confirmed Internet content filtering in Burma, Vietnam, the Maldives, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Pakistan and India. Although we have not yet conducted tests in North Korea, it is well known that what little Internet exists in the country is heavily filtered. Likewise, Australia filters Web content through official takedown notices issued to ISPs by the government. In Central Asia, we have also identified extensive Internet censorship practices in Uzbekistan, and intermittent or targeted filtering in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Hah... Malaysia not on the list??? Semua OK?

Lorrymen to pass on higher toll rates to clients

According to theStar:

Heavy vehicles entering Singapore will have to bear the higher toll rates charged at the Second Link when they are restricted from using the Causeway from March 2008. Lorries weighing more than 16 tonnes will have to pay RM160 for a return trip, which is a more than a 600% increase compared with the RM22 paid by lorries for a return trip via the Causeway.

To cope with the higher toll, lorry operators said they would pass on the extra costs to customers although lorries are only compelled to use the second link for six months from March 2008 until the permanent link to the new CIQ complex is ready.
When contacted, Pan Malaysian Lorry Operators Association president Er Sui See said he was not too concerned about having to pay higher toll charges.

“Yes, the toll at the Second Link is very high. And you have to consider the extra 50km, as it is further away from the Causeway.”But nothing to worry about. We will just pass the costs onto the customers,” he said.

About 2,000 lorries, each carrying 20 tonnes, ply the Singapore route daily, and Er said they are fed-up with having to ask for toll reductions.

Let me see, that 2000 lorries * (RM160-22) = Rm276,000 per day in additional tolls.

Over the period of 6 months, an additional RM50,370,000 of tolls would have been collected. This is simply by forcing lorries to use the 2nd Link, instead of the Causeway. There is naught increase in productivity nor services, and to rub urine into the eyes of efficiency, travel time & distance is increased by 50kms. Therefore this is a BUTA-BUTA price increase that's going into the govt's coffers.

And that's before the additional diesel that would have been burnt and paid for ie. 2000 lorries * 50km * 6 months = 18,250,000kms of fully laden lorry diesel consumption. That's a helluva lot of diesel. And this, again, would be a BUTA-BUTA cost increase that brings zero value.

Errr... so tell me... what's the new CIQ supposed to improve again? It's certainly not improving our quality of life at the moment.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has dismissed requests for toll rates to be lowered.

He said the public did not realise or believe that the rates had already been subsidised by the Government, as it was “invisible help”.

“I suggested to the Government that we stand by the toll gate and give people 50 sen each time they pass, then they will think that we are a good government,” he said.

NO. A good govt would have given the 2nd Link construction project and toll concession to a qualified and dependable company (instead of a cronie) who would have kept construction and maintenance costs down. If the construction and concession agreements were at arm's length and economically reasonable, high tolls and subsidies (or is it payouts to cronies?) would not be necessary in the first place.

Grand mufti idea not viable, say Najib and State Muftis

According the NSTOnline on 30 Dec 2006, [the] Grand mufti idea [is] not viable, says Najib.

Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) director-general, Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas, was reported on Thursday in an English daily to have said Malaysia needed a grand mufti to prevent the teachings of the religion from being distorted. The person could be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is the head of Islam in the country.

An authoritative figure was needed to unite differing views among religious scholars on certain issues which caused confusion among believers, he added. A grand mufti would also ensure that religious enforcement agencies played a proper role in developing the faith of believers.

Sounds like a good idea, yes? It would get rid of all those disparate, local interpretations of religion & morality by the state authorities, local councils etc. Things might not necessarily liberalise if a Grand Mufti was appointed, on the contrary it might just get a lot worse. But at least, it would be a result of a consistent, nation-wide policy. At least the govt will no longer be able to use the "one bad apple doesn't mean the whole cart stinks" and "this independent action does not reflect the policy of the govt" excuses every time JAIS or MAIS or a far-flung Mufti or some local council suddenly goes Taliban.

"It will be difficult. It won’t be possible to implement this suggestion, based on what we have in our Constitution. The exclusive right to decide on Islam is with the ruler of each state," Najib said when asked to comment on the proposal for a grand mufti...

Malaysia cannot have a grand mufti as the Federal Constitution does not allow for one, the deputy prime minister said.

Well, we used to think the same thing about a couple of other things enshrined in the Federal Constitution, but the govt had no trouble changing it, even though the Constitution certainly did not allow for it.

For instance, how the explicit pre-eminence of the Civil Court was supplanted overnight by the raising of a religious court's stature. And how the protection of the special rights of bumiputeras and the status of Islam as the religion of the country, has been transmogrified to erode the basic Constitutional guarantee to freedom from discrimination based on race or religion.

So, don't tell us that the Federal Constitution is immutable or that it does not close one eye.

The proposal has so far drawn flak from Perak mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria, who felt that a grand mufti would challenge the powers of state rulers in deciding matters of religion.

Ah.... the veritable Perak mufti again. Why did I get the feeling he would pop up somewhere in this whole issue?

Uncle, the grand mufti challenges the powers of the state muftis [ie. YOU lah], not the rulers.

State rulers don't usually go around making religious proclamations that are at odds with those of their brother rulers in other states nor with those of the King in the Federal Territories. To date, that's solely the purview of over-zealous state bureaucrats, not unlike yourself. In fact, I think the rulers see the value of streamlining religious affairs across the nation.

The grand mufti can be appointed by the King and directed by the Conference of Rulers, where all state rulers sit as equals. And each state will be in a position to appoint the grand mufti as they ascend the throne of the Yang DiPertuan Agung in turn. In fact, any permutation of arrangements can be designed to ensure that the state rulers lose none of their power and gain prestige as their wisdom in supporting the national streamlining of religious administration becomes apparent. The dignity and influence of the state rulers are not necessarily incompatible with better national religious management.

Any arrangement of a grand mufti however, is greatly incompatible with the continued power and influence of state muftis. The role and powers of the state mufti will diminish considerably as they become implementors of national policy, rather than promulgators of state policy.

So, might it be your powers as state mufti that you're worried about, rather than the powers of the state rulers?

UPDATE:

Have a read of Marina Mahathir's view on this grand mufti proposal. She highlights some points which I completely overlooked, like how the most senior state mufti ie. mufti of Perak, whom I just bashed a 'lil bit in the preceding paragraphs, will most probably be named the first grand mufti if that eventuates.

A good viewpoint on how an all powerful grand mufti might actually serve to consolidate religious conservatism and be too powerful for the secular govt to comfortably cross swords with - although it doesn't seem too likely to me, that the govt will allow an uncooperative grand mufti to come about.

Hmmmm, stepping back on hindsight, sounds like it might be better to divide and conquer than to have them unite under a single banner.

Small Cars Come Up Short in Crash-Test Safety Study

Small Cars Come Up Short in Crash-Test Safety Study
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
By NICK BUNKLEY
Published: December 19, 2006

DETROIT, Dec. 18 — Small cars are back in vogue because of high gasoline prices but most fail to provide the same safety protection that buyers find in bigger vehicles, according to the results of new tests simulating crashes with sport utility vehicles or pickup trucks.

All eight models of small cars tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety received passing scores in head-on crash tests, but only one, the Nissan Versa, received high marks in both side- and rear-crash tests. The Versa is several hundred pounds heavier than competing models and therefore was better able to withstand the test impact.

Three other models — Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Mini Cooper from BMW — scored well in side tests but received low ratings in rear tests.

[The Hyundai Accent (picture), was near the bottom among subcompact cars in simulated test crashes with sport utilities and pickup trucks.]

The results, which are being released Tuesday, show that some small cars offer significantly better protection than others, but experts caution that even the safest subcompact car cannot overcome its inherent size and weight disadvantage. On average, subcompacts weigh about 800 pounds less than midsize cars like the Toyota Camry and 4,000 pounds less than midsize S.U.V.’s like the Ford Explorer.

“A good-scoring small and lightweight car is not nearly as good as a good-scoring midsize car — that’s just the law of physics,” the insurance institute’s president, Adrian Lund, said. “If you’re really shopping for safety, then this probably isn’t your best choice.”

Small cars can be forced backward more easily in crashes with larger vehicles, and their crumple zones are less able to protect the passenger compartment.

As a result, fatality rates for drivers in multiple-vehicle crashes are higher for subcompacts than for every other vehicle category — 83 deaths per million registered vehicles, more than double the average for all sizes of cars and trucks.

Mr. Lund said he was particularly concerned that only the Versa performed well in rear-end crashes because that type of accident was common and can often lead to severe neck or head injuries, especially when the car is struck by a larger vehicle.

The tests show that as with other vehicle segments, air bags offer critical protection in a side-impact crash, the deadliest type of collision. The Yaris was rated “good” in side testing with its optional curtain and torso airbags but “poor” without them.

The size of subcompacts means that without the buffer a side air bag creates, the front end of a truck or S.U.V. could strike an occupant’s head. But dealers say their customers rarely are willing to pay more for side air bags or wait longer for a vehicle equipped with them.

Brett Younger, general manager at Champion Toyota in Philadelphia, said most shoppers wanted a Yaris “as inexpensive as we can get it in an automatic.” Parents buying the vehicle for a young driver child often request side air bags, which have been in short supply in parts of the United States since the Yaris went on sale, Mr. Younger said, but other buyers see the $650 add-on as unnecessary.

Although many consumers see subcompacts as a means of saving money on gas, Mr. Lund hopes the crash tests persuade them not to scrimp too much.

“It’s most important in this smallest class that you get all the safety features that you can,” he said.

Side air bags are not available on the Toyota Scion xB wagon, which was one of the lowest-rated subcompacts, with a score of “poor” in side testing and “marginal” in the rear.

The Chevrolet Aveo from General Motors, the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio also performed unacceptably in side-impact tests, even though side air bags are standard.

Related articles on this blog: Proton Waja crash test by Top Gear

KL - Singapore route to remain high cost only

Despite hints from AirAsia CEO, Tony Fernandez, that low cost airlines will be allowed to fly the KL-Sg route in early 2007, the latest comments from the govt seems to be quite negative.

More low-cost carriers may fly to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may allow more Asian low-cost airlines, including Singapore’s Tiger Airways and Thailand’s Bangkok Air, to fly to the country to boost Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Adnan Mansor said the government was in talks with Tiger Airways to fly to tourist destinations on the east coast of the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.

But Tiger Airways was unlikely to be allowed to fly the lucrative Kuala Lumpur - Singapore route, he said.

Read the rest of the story on NSTOnline.

Here's a short academic paper by academicians from University Malaya and NUS, summarising the economic & political dynamics of the KL-Sg route. It has some interesting comments on the "National Welfare" argument that Malaysia routinely uses to reject any liberalisation to the 1980 Air Services Agreement that governs the KL-Sg route.

Take the cover of KL-S'pore route (pdf file)

At the end of the day - just like with Proton - the govt is trying to protect MAS by limiting competition and therefore the alternatives available, so as to drive up prices (and therefore profits). All at the cost to the customer ie. you and me, especially me.

And the dangers to MAS (ie. lower profits per passenger and more competition to put bums in seats from the budget airlines) are not just limited to the KL-Sg route alone. A more frequent, faster and cheaper shuttle service will also draw passengers (flying to destinations other than Singapore), away from KLIA in favour of Changi.

This is because flights to many destinations, are cheaper flying out of Changi than out of KLIA. There are simply more airlines flying out of Changi, meaning more competition and lower prices naturally.

What's stopping outbound KL passengers from flying out of Singapore now - is the high cost of getting from Malaysia to Singapore (thanks to the RM700 / S$300 ticket prices for the shuttle service). They need to add that RM700 or S$300 on top of whatever fare they pay to fly from Singapore to their final destination. As a result, the total cost of flying from KL-London (for eg.) is still roughly competitive with the total cost of flying KL-Sg-London, simply because of the artificial added cost of the KL-Sg shuttle.

Any reduction in the KL-Sg shuttle fares will erode the artificial competitiveness of flights of out KL vs those out of Sg - meaning more headaches for MAS and Malaysia Airports Bhd.

So, what is the solution? Continued protection for an inefficient airline and badly run airport at the expense of the Malaysian consumer?

I say if we don't need a bad national car, we certainly don't need a lousy national airline.

Ejection of Chinese CEO of Penang GLC not political worrr...

Here's what happened. A Chinese CEO of a GLC (Govt Linked Company) in Penang - which is a very rare species indeed - had 'resigned' and was replaced by a Malay chap. Of course, the opposition swung into action in protest.

The Opposition has accused the Penang state government of bowing to Umno pressure in forcing PBA Holdings Bhd (PBAHB) chief executive officer Datuk Liew Chook San to resign.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, upset with the allegation, said Liew’s departure had nothing to do with politics. He said Liew, in charge of the state’s water supply corporation, left the company as he wanted to spend time with his family and to pursue personal interests.

He said the PBAHB board of directors had appointed Jaseni Maidinsa as the PBAHB acting CEO and PBAPP acting general manager. Koh said his appointment was based on merit and the assessment of his capability to fulfil the group’s corporate goals and social obligations.

Read the rest of the story on NSTOnline.

Well, it's just too much of a coincidence for me to buy Koh's denials. Just a month or so ago, Koh himself was called to relinquish his Chief Minister's job to someone from UMNO. He was also roundly accused of sidelining Malays in the development of Penang.

Is Datuk Liew the unfortunate sacrificial goat that's being thrown into the mouth of the UMNO volcano... to keep it from erupting further? Will more Chinese leaders and businesses in Penang be turned in to goats? Is Koh suffering from mad cow disease?

The day the govt fires one of the Malay CEOs of a major GLC like Maybank or Tenaga and replaces him with a Chinaman, is the day I agree that politics is not involved.

2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 will be 600 hp

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 will debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

The 8.4-liter V-10 engine will output 600 hp and 560 pounds-feet of torque. That's 90 more horses than the previous Viper.

Dodge says the 0-60 mph will be sub 4 seconds, very comparable to the fastest Italian exoticars.

Source: Automotive News (www.autonews.com)

Taxis turned dens of sin

Just what do university students get up to these days?

Anyway, I doubt Harian Metro's claims are true. Firstly, it is hardly a confidence inspiring broadpage. It more or less publishes our local versions of "Elvis abducted by aliens" stories.

Secondly, girls who don't mind going naked and doing the nasty in the presence of taxi drivers are usually porn actresses or girlfriends of taxi drivers, not tertiary students.

Thirdly, and most compellingly, RM100 will get you a decent hotel room for the night. Why bother flagging a taxi and giving the driver a free show? And there's no place to take a shower afterwards.

Taxis turned dens of sin

SOME students from institutions of higher learning are willing to pay taxi drivers a hefty sum to use the back seat of their vehicles for a bit of hanky-panky, Harian Metro reported. According to the paper, they are prepared to fork out RM100 for a half-hour ride.

The students appear unembarrassed to remove their clothing while engaging in sexual activity the back seat, seemingly oblivious to the presence of the driver in front. At times, they are willing to pay more to the drivers when their 30 minutes are up so that they can continue with their activities.

Read the rest of the story on staronline.

PAS 'ambassadors of love & relief' to help prostitutes

Another hairbrained idea, on par with the one to turn Mat Rempit into Mat Cermerlang.

Pas Youth has come up with an ambitious plan to persuade prostitutes throughout the country to leave their profession.

Pas Youth chief Salehuddin Ayub said the plan, called "ambassadors of love and relief", would bring volunteers among the party ranks to set up teams of counsellors for this purpose.

These counsellors will approach prostitutes and persuade them to stop providing sexual services to men and to return to the right path, he added.

Full article in theStar Online.

Hmmm... aren't they ignoring the other half of the problem? How come they are not trying to persuade men to stop demanding sexual services from women and return to the right path?

PAS seems to have a one track mind when it comes to social problems. It's never the man's fault. It's always a problem with women.

When women get raped, it's because she seduces and arouses men by dressing or behaving sexily. It's her fault for driving him out of control. Never mind the fact that men have the ultimate obligation to control themselves.

When there are too many single mothers, it's because she does not want to be married and have a husband. Never mind that many are single mothers only because they were cheated & abandoned by men. Do you see the men clamouring to take care and pay maintainance for those kids?

Now with prostitution, it's the woman's fault for wanting to be in this 'profession'. Do they really think that prostitutes want & prefer to do what they do? Do they think these women were once little girls who declared "prostitute" when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up? If they had good lives, enough money to support their families and no pimps to abuse & force them - would they be walking the streets?

The Chinese have a saying, "who would choose to have headsores, if they could instead choose to have hair?".
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