Archive for August, 2008

Grilles by expert?

August 27th, 2008
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Last few days have been very taxing. And the condition of my house grilles didn’t help in any way.

 

 

I have grilles with gaps, bolts and plastic jutting out, incomplete soldering that leaves the inside of the bars exposed (they only solder on one said, the contractor claims).

Due to wrong measurements, now I have 3 places without grilles, so who is going to guarantee the safety of people and things in the house?

Aren’t renovation contractors supposed to advise us on the pros and cons of doing things? Or do they just make a quick buck and move on the next project?

Granted that houses nowadays are not perfectly built. The windows can be misaligned. But if contractors explain things properly and give us few options, it will have avoided the headache above.

And I think some of the exterior work on the house actually devalues it instead of enhancing the value. Probably have to demolish and reconstruct certain areas.

Advice to houseowners

– please ensure your supervisor is not a foreigner, but the contractor himself stays there and supervises the work everyday. Don’t take people who have three or more projects at hand.

– be prepared to take leave and time off so that the workers don’t do things wrongly.

And Then says – don’t trust people who wear the vibuthi and look/talk piously. Wonder where she heard that from!

Consumer Tribunal beckons if things doesn’t work out.

And guess what, I can buy tiles cheaper than the contractor 🙂 I got it at RM3.25 while he said it costs RM3.50! Is that a crime?

Well, I guess my house won’t be in his portfolio.

OK, life goes on. I’m still smiling. Sometimes I laugh to myself seeing how people behave.

Permatang Pauh by-election

August 26th, 2008
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 9.50pm: Final official EC tally – Anwar got 31,195 votes, Arif Shah, 15,524, Hanafi, 92. Anwar won with a majority of 15,671.

Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, won the seat with a 13,388 majority at the March 8 general elections. – Malaysiakini.

9.47PM: Anwar received total majority of 15,671 votes to beat BN’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.
The results at the final tally are:

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim: 31,195 votes
Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah: 15,524 votes
Hanafi Hamat: 92 votes
Majority: 15,671 votes
Turnout: 65.25%

NST

9.25pm: Official EC results: With final five ballot boxes to go, Anwar has bagged 29,526 votes, Arif Shah (14,444) and Hanafi (89). Majority so far: 15,082. – Malaysiakini.

9.13PM: Anwar Ibrahim – 27,977 and Arif Shah 13,426 with 14,551 majority – Astro Bernama. – Note that the total for both candidates more than total number of estimated voter turnout!!!

9.12pm: Official EC results: With 11 more boxes to go, Anwar has won the by-election with a 14,551 majority. He garnered 27,977 votes while BN’s Arif Shah obtained 13,426 while Akim’s Hanafi Hamat got 85. – Malaysiakini.

9.00PM: Arif Shah got 10,436 votes and Anwar Ibrahim 22k – Reuters.

8.55PM: Anwar Ibrahim 22k+ votes, Arif Shah 10k, with balance of about 5k votes left – Astro Bernama.

8.49PM: PKR announces Anwar wins with 17,652 majority – Star Online

8.35PM: After the counting of ballot papers of 65 polling streams, the EC has announced that PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is leading with 18,671 votes. BN’s Datuk Ariff Shah Omar Shah has garnered 8,379 votes while AKIM’s Hanafi Hamat only managed 51. Only results from 45 streams have yet to be counted. NST

8.13PM: Anwar’s party, the Keadilan, or People’s Justice, said on Tuesday that he is expected to win at least 70 per cent of the vote for the Permatang Pauh constituency in the state of Penang, just hours after polling closed – Al-Jazeera.

8.00PM: Anwar Ibrahim wins with a majority of 16,210 votes. He garnered 26,646 votes while Arif Shah Omar Shah got 10,436. Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, won the seat with a 13,388 majority at the March 8 general elections – Malaysiakini

6.30PM: A total of 38,144 voters cast their ballots in the by-election, representing 65.25% of the total number of registered voters for the constituency (Unofficial EC count).

Racist teacher transferred out of state while police is powerless

August 24th, 2008
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Earlier, we had the community fuming at the lackadaisical attitude shown by those responsible in punishing the teacher who insulted the Indian community. Only a warning letter was issued But today, the Star reported Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong saying that the teacher will be transferred out of Selangor next week (when school reopens).

He clarified that this was past of the disciplinary measures decided upon completion of the investigation. One then has to wonder why this punishment was not revealed earlier together with the warning letter.

The teacher, who is currently suspended from school and doing
clerical work in the Selangor Education Department, has been undergoing
two-week counselling. She has been reprimanded and given a stern warning. The teacher has promised that the incident will not recur.

Not sure if this the “we will do it our way” outcome of MIC.

Meanwhile, the police admitted that they cannot act against teachers like Ms Rusitah who go about insulting the Indian community, unless they physically harmed the students.

District criminal investigations department chief Deputy Superintendent
Roslan Ibrahim said no action could be taken against a teacher accused
of verbal abuse.

“When such cases (verbal abuse) are reported, we can only forward it to the Education Department for further action,” he said.

On racial slurs, Roslan said it could be categorised as mental abuse.

“However it would be difficult to charge a teacher suspected of
racially abusing a student unless there is strong supporting evidence
and witnesses who are willing to testify in court,” he said.

Hindraf coordinators arrested as PM visits prayer event

August 23rd, 2008
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Hindraf is rocked by more arrests and revelation by its leader Waytha that 3 of its main personalities are recruited by Special Branch.

The email from Waytha as below:

HINDRAF
135-3 JALAN TOMAN 7
KEMAYAN SQUARE
70200 SEREMBAN

BRIEF PRESS STATEMENT 23RD AUGUST 2008-08
RE: ISA DETAINEE VASANTHAKUMAR A SPECIAL BRANCH PLANT
RAMACHANDRAN MEYAPPAN & V.K.REGU HAVE BEEN RECRUITED AS GOVERNMENT AGENTS TO BETRAY HINDRAF CAUSE.

ISA detainee Vasanthakumar had volunteered to join HINDRAF in September 2007 and according to him at that time he was waiting for someone to do something drastic and the fact that I had filed an action against the UK Government attracted him to join HINDRAF. He had then served as a volunteer and I offered him to undertake the post of pro tem treasurer.

It came to my attention in January 2008 that Vasanthakumar has been planted by the Police Special Branch to infiltrate HINDRAF and upon further investigations the fact became apparent.

In March 2008 I was informed by two top Government officers on separate occasions confirming Vasanthakumar was assigned to break up HINDRAF lawyers in detention and the organisation from his detention. He had since met with various people from within HINDRAF to break the organization.

V.K.Regu though was a Pro tem Secretary of HINDRAF but was removed personally by me in October 2008 for undertaking activities against the interests of HINDRAF.

Upon the arrest of the 5 I had appointed a 10 member interim committee of which Tanendran was made the National Co-ordinator and Ramachandran Meyappan alias Ramaji was made the Spiritual Advisor of HINDRAF.

Recent events have shown that Ramaji and Regu had made frequent visits to KEMTA prison to meet Vasanthakumar secretly and they had colluded to break up HINDRAF and take over the registration of HINDRAFas an organization.

Ramaji and Regu had various secret and unauthorised meetings with the Prime Ministers Department, the PM’s Private Secretary and top MIC leaders over the last 5 months and I have evidence of this. It is now clear that all their activities thus far is to break up HINDRAF and take over the leadership of HINDRAF together with Vasanthakumar upon his release from ISA.

It wouldn’t be a surprise that the Government would approve the registration of HINDRAF as a legitimate organisation but the approval would be handed over to Regu Ramaji and Vasanthakumar and other MIC proxies so that the unity and power that HINDRAF has displayed under the MAKKAL SAKTI would be permanently be damaged and shattered.

I apologize to all HINDRAF supporters for concealing these crucial facts all these while. I did this solely to protect the unity and integrity of HINDRAF and to avoid the breakup of HINDRAF. I sincerely believed that the release of the 5 including Vasanthakumar is of utmost importance for the sake of HINDRAF’S struggle.

What transpired today at Butterworth is a blatant insult to the intelligence of all HINDRAF supporters. Ramaji and Regu had placed various advertisements and news in the local tamil daily over the last few days about gathering 20 000 people for a Yaagam for the release of the 5 HINDRAF and for the promotion of the 18 demands submitted by HINDRAF in August 2007 under their organisations ie HSS (Hindu Sevai Sangam) and an organisation loosely named Makkal Sakti. This event that was organised deliberately in the Permatang Pauh Constituency where there the Ex deputy Prime Minister is contesting in a by-election next Tuesday. By using the name Makkal sakti both ramaji and Regu had expected a huge crowd to bolster their grip on HINDRAF by the Prime Minister personally attending their Maha Yagam which was organised in a Chinese Temple (1st time of its kind) and entertained by a local famous pop band group.

I urge all HINDRAF supporters to remain calm during this crucial moment and urge all look out for news in our website www.hindraf.org and www.hindraf.co.uk for the latest news.

As the Chairman of this organisation I take full responsibility for the damage caused to the divine struggle of this organisation and extend my sincere apologies to all our supporters. Let us all unite to fight the betrayers within us who are up for selfish gain and to break the unity that never was seen prior to this within our community over the last 51 years. May the blessings of the almighty be showered upon us on this crucial period and I seek his guidance to take me in the right path.

P.Waytha Moorthy
HINDRAF
Currently in London

Looks like HINDRAF is in getting into a mess with many wanna-be splinters coming up.

The incident he was talking about is the yagam (prayer) organised by a Makkal Sakthi group in a Chinese temple in Penang. The event was attended by Prime Minister Badawi which itself is an impossible feat since he had declared that he will never meet any HINDRAF leaders (“who are they” comes to mind). Thus, its clear that another group had organised this yagam.

The Hindraf coordinators led by Thanenthiran protested outside the temple, and subsequently the police arrested them. 8 leaders arrested including two ladies. Report from Malaysiakini:

Eight Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders, including national co-ordinator TS Thanenthiran, were arrested this evening after staging a protest against a splinter group outside a Chinese temple in Seberang Jaya, Penang.

The protest began around 2pm, swelling to about 200 people by the time the arrests were made. The splinter group, which also claims to represent Hindraf, was carrying out a bonfire prayer at the temple.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in town to help campaign for his coalition in the Permatang Pauh by-election, dropped by to visit the temple around 5.30pm. He chatted briefly with members of the splinter group and shook hands with some of them before leaving.

Soon after that, the demonstration got out of hand and the arrests were made around 6.30pm.

Police said the eight people, including two women, were arrested for illegal demonstration.

Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy called Malaysiakini from London, saying that the splinter group did not represent Hindraf and the prayer ceremony was not sanctioned by the Indian rights group.

Bonfire organisers VK Regu had told reporters earlier that the event was organised by the Makkal Sakhti movement, which is sometimes used interchangeably with Hindraf, in collaboration with an NGO.

We want to seek divine intervention to secure the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act, he said, adding that the event was also to urge Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to fulfil Hindraf’s 18-point memorandum on Indian affairs submitted to Abdullah last year.

Shortly after, Regu was confronted by the 10 Hindraf activists and a shouting match erupted between the two groups before the protest began.

The Hindraf activist claimed that the bonfire organisers were out to confuse Indian voters in Permatang Pauh by engaging Abdullah at the event.

The demonstration began immediately after Abdullah left the event with protesters shouting reformasi and long live Anwar before they were dispersed by the police.

Petrol price down 15 sen as inflations hits 8.5 percent

August 23rd, 2008
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Came back and saw this on Malaysiakini: Gov’t slashes petrol price by 15 sen

Guess what, I just filled my tank with RM70++ worth of petrol 🙁 So stupid of me to trust the statement that said “no reduction in petrol price until 1st Sept”. If I just waited till tomorrow morning, could have saved a few dollars.

Anyway, I should have learned a lesson from the parliament dissolution fiasco months ago. This time, its seems the “The cabinet decided to bring forward the enforcement date for adjustment of the new petrol price,”.

Well, at least its a good news. Now, would ICI reduce their paint price in a month or two’s time. Their new price for paints was released on 18th August. What about other industries? Right, fat chance!

With inflation at an 27 year high (8.5%) in July 2008, this comes as a bit of good news, but not sure if the impact will trickle down. We never heard of prices of goods being reduced all this while. Will there be a difference this time?

Dept of Statistics said that :

…cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 11.2 percent in July compared to a year ago.

Among the contributing factors for (July’s inflation) were the substantial rise in the electricity tariff announced by the government… and the knock-on effect from the price increase of petrol and diesel,” it said in a statement.

The July data showed escalating prices in most categories, including transport which jumped 22.7 percent, and restaurants and hotels which rose 6.7 percent.