Happy Almost New Year!
Weww, this being my blog and all, I can’t help but make this my last post of a good, good year :D -
Weww, this being my blog and all, I can’t help but make this my last post of a good, good year :D -
Selamat Hari Raya al-Adha!!
Sorry for the late greeting, hope it’s turning out well for all!
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Guess it’s a tough one for flood victims though :(
I think at this point, I will discontinue updating my original flood post, and try to blog about developments as they occur.
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It’s not every day you’ll hear me urging you to get a copy of the NST, and again this comes late, but I was fairly impressed by the content today - primarily by the features of people doing good in Malaysia (also good pics but unfortunately, the online versions do not seem readily available). Lots of little private, local initiatives, working with children from troubled homes, sex workers, and other under-served segments of society.
I am always heartened by such stories and only disappointed that I know so little about them (anyone want to bankroll my private research / investigative journalism outfit?! :P :)
But really, all those people are doing great work - keep it up!! and do have a read!
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Still a few more days at least before going back to regular blogging - sorry!
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Also featured in today’s NST is my Taman’s namesake - Tun Dr. Ismail. Here’s an interesting quote from his uncompleted autobiography (italics) and the new book about him:
Tags-History, little points, Malaysian PoliticsThe Special Position of the Malays proved a less intractable problem because the leaders of the Alliance realised the practical necessity of giving the Malays a handicap if they were to compete on equal terms with the other races.
The only point of controversy was the duration of the ‘special position’ — should there be a time limit or should it be permanent?
I made a suggestion which was accepted, that the question be left to the Malays themselves because I felt that as more and more Malays became educated and gained self-confidence, they themselves would do away with this ‘special position’.
In itself, this ‘special position’ is a slur on the ability of the Malays and only to be tolerated because it is necessary as a temporary measure to ensure their survival in the modern competitive world: a world to which only those in the urban areas had been exposed.
This analysis provides insight into how Dr Ismail perceived the Malayan situation.What is striking is Dr Ismail’s belief that the Malays would do the right thing in the long run, as well as his faith in the Alliance as a model of government capable of meeting these challenges taken as a whole.
So Christmas was great! :)
And now it’s time to hunker down and plan for the new year. Been fortunate enough to have some good possibilities on the menu, but lotsa work needs to be done in the next couple of days/weeks. So, hope you don’t mind - I’ll be taking a break to concentrate on that, at least till ‘07 I reckon.
Hopefully nothing too scandalous will happen in that time :)
Also: I’ll try to continue updating the flood information post, so check back!
Have a great end of the year all!!
Tags-little pointsMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays one and all! :)
It’s probably not the merriest holiday for all, so I’m still updating a messy, but hopefully functional, list of activities I’ve learned about online through this post. Please help point to any other info regarding flood coverage and flood relief!
Tags-little pointsPetronas is behind the rape, starvation and massacre of millions of people.
Over-dramatic? Read a little about what is going on in Darfur, Sudan - and what a government is doing to its people. Government’s can only do this when they have big money. Big money comes from companies like Petronas who do big business in Sudan - they make money for themselves and for the Sudanese government, and the Sudanese government uses it to brutalise Sudanese people on an unimaginably violent scale:
Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter.
The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militias are responsible for the burning and destruction of hundreds of rural villages, the killing of tens of thousands of people and rape and assault of thousands of women and girls.
The LRC posted a statement on Petronas and Darfur which was run by Malaysiakini. I’ve asked for the original statement and hope to get it soon. More information on Darfur on the ICG campagin page.
Don’t forget Burma, Petronas’ other torturer business chum.
Anyone catch Lord of War which showed on Astro not so long ago? This is a very similiar way in which money fuels brutal mass murder :(
Tags-Government Negligence, International, Malaysian PoliticsTan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, recently described by his ex-employees as a bad and heartless man, had an interesting angle to the plantations merger. He opines that it is first and foremost a land development merger, where the combined land resources of the 3 companies will create a massive land bank which can be sold bit by bit to developers or developed by the conglomerates themselves for massive profits, while they shift their plantation operations to places where land is cheaper - read: Indonesia.
Tan Sri Khalid was speaking at a forum where the effects of this merger was described as being detrimental to the NEP (not a big fan of this vaguely articulated angle), and destined to be problematic due to chronic Malaysian mismanagement.
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Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin highlighted a rumour that Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan of Hong Leong fame may acquire a big stake in Kencana Petroleum Bhd.
This was the first I had learnt of Kencana, a relatively new oil and gas company set up, owned and run by Dtk Mokhzani (more famously bin) Mahathir - interesting of course because it may be a rival to Kamaluddin (more famously bin) Abdullah’s Scomi Group of oil and gas companies.
Dynastic bigwigs fighting on multiple levels? We’ll see.
Tags-Economy, Government Appropriation, Kamaluddin Abdullah, Kencana, mahathir v. pak lah, Malaysian Politics, mergers, Scomi31/12 - I guess it’s no longer really feasible to keep updating this post. I’ll try to blog on developments as they occur. Sorry this wasn’t super comprehensive - I hope it was of some little help!
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Original Post: I’m attempting to keep track of flood aid activities and other coverage. It’s pretty limited and scarce for now, but I’ll try to keep adding to this post as I find stuff, so check back. Would really appreciate any other leads or links!!
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Nabil Feisal at loudtalk.net proposes that bloggers set up a fund, and use income to provide direct aid. Planning to look into the details further, and am trying to get the donation link to work on my site.
This seems to be a well updated Chinese site (pointed from YB Teresa Kok) focusing on Segamat I guess, but I don’t read/understand Chinese: http://www.segamat.8talk.net/
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Groups I’ve seen online involved in aid:
- Mercy Malaysia ; donate here
- The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) is appealing to general public including private sectors, corporate, organisations for generous contributions towards the Malaysian Red Crescent Relief Fund set up to provide financial and relief assistance to people affected by the recent flood. All cash contributions are tax-exempted and are to be made payable to “Malaysian Red Crescent Society” or Maybank A/C No - 5144 2210 3788 or call Tel: +603 - 4257 8726, Fax: +603 - 4257 3537 (Operations Room in ) for details. Those who would like to have tax-exemption receipt must fax in your bank-in slip and details (name, address and contact no) to the fax stated. For a list of donatable items, see: http://www.redcrescent.org.my/
Marina Mahathir also writes: You can also send stuff to the Red Crescent. They have a Bilik Gerakan/ Flood Relief Centre at the Puteri Pacific Hotel, JB. Enquiries and donation Hotlines: 07-219-9995, 07-219-9996. They need foodstuff, foam mattresses, blankets, disposable nappies, women’s underwear, sanitary pads, also cheques and NEW clothes.
- Pemuda PAS Bukit Katil, Melaka
- From DAP Johor: DAP Johor has set up a humanitarian helpline. Those who are interested to render assistance in terms of material or financial support to the flood victims, please contact 012-737 1058／019-721 7256／07-512 7652／012-737 7654 for the further arrangements. We thank in advance for your kindness. Please forward. Ng Wei Aik, DAP HQ Secretariat, 03-79578022
- KeADILan Youth are providing aid at the state level: “pihak kami mengalu-alukan sebarang bentuk bantuan kewangan dan tenaga sukarelawan bagi membantu mangsa-mangsa banjir di pusat-pust penempatan banjir. Sebarang bantuan atau khidmat boleh disalurkan terus kepada Azizi (Negeri Sembilan) : 012-3696474, Yusof (Melaka) : 016-2462913, Nurin (Johor) : 012-7616421
- Pemuda PAS Bahagian Jasin: Sebarang sumbangan bolehlah disalurkan ke dalam akaun Bank Islam ( 04015010024074 ) atau hubungi terus ditalian 019-6823237.
- From Malaysia Today - There is a gross shortage of pillows, blankets, baby food, clothes, clean/new underwear, and more. In the spirit of Christmas cheer, this may be the best time to demonstrate love and goodwill towards fellow man. There are two collection points: Parliament House and Kontena Nasional. For more information you can contact YB Halimah Sadique at the following numbers: 07-772-1567, 012-718-0010, 019-774-3007
- From TKC Old Girl’s Blog - There is a donations collection centre at PUTERI UMNO Malaysia, HQ at Level 5, Menara Dato’ Onn, PWTC, there will be ladies on duty. Tel: +603- 40413900 (Rohani/Linda) WE NEED BLANKETS, TIKAR, DRY FOODS, CANNED FOODS (CAN OPENERS TOO), BISCUITS, CLEAN CLOTHES, UNDERGARMENTS AND MANY ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE PAMPERS, AND MORE..
- From NST - The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd has set up a fund to help flood victims in the southern peninsula. Donations via cheque, bank draft or postal order made out to ‘NSTP Flood Victims Assistance Fund’ (Tabung Bantuan Mangsa Banjir NSTP) can be sent to: The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, c/o Finance Department, 5th Floor, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur (Attention: Ms Aidah Nordin). Kindly write on the back of the cheque donor’s name, address and contact number. Donations to the fund can also be made at NSTP branches in Johor Baru, Klang, Alor Star, Batu Pahat, Ipoh, Kota Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kuching, Malacca, Muar, Penang and Seremban, or its regional printing plants in Shah Alam, Prai, Senai and Ajil.
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Other bits I've seen so far:
http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/12/floods_and_communication_break.php
http://myareaflood.blogspot.com/
http://xetajones.blogspot.com/2006/12/mercy-for-flood-victims-of-johor.html
Pics of Segamat: http://mymalaysia.wordpress.com/2006/12/22/segamat-the-aftermath/#more-507
http://amiruddin.blogspot.com/2006/12/flooded-with-many-reasons.html
http://www.kualalumpurishome.com/50/flood-hit-malaysias-southern-state-of-johor/
http://mjang2.blogspot.com/2006/12/banjir.html
http://pcbase.info/infobanjir.html
Tags-little points