Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email According to newsflash from NST, Raja Petra won his habeas corpus application and will be released from ISA detention latest by 4pm today. Unless of course, he is then arrested under another set of laws.
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email I was surprised to read in both Star and NST today that the 3% reduction in EPF contribution will be done automatically “for the ease of members and to facilitate implementation measures”. That means it is not an opt-in choice as implied by Deputy PM Najib, but its an OPT-OUT choice. Your contribution is reduced (means you get back more money) UNLESS you inform EPF. How to inform? Fill in the form KWSP 17A (AHL) and give it back to your EMPLOYERS. The form can be obtained from all EPF branches or download them from their website at www.kwsp.gov.my from Dec 1 onwards.
The reduction will run until end of December 2010, meaning two years.
Now, what would you do? Opt for the extra 3% cash in hand or choose not to reduce the contribution? Those who think cash in hand is better, can make use of the reduction and perhaps invest the money in other investment vehicles. Or you can use it to reduce yourloans. As long as the extra cash is not wasted on unwanted expenses. OR if you think that better to keep the money in EPF, then fill up the form and cancel your reduction.
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email What? Finish ready ah? Ehh..what happened? That kid-faced guy is the villain? That’s it? You mean that was the climax? Wei, sure this is James Bond movie ah? No kick at la.
Yup, that basically surmises the latest James Bond flick – Quantum of Solace, the second one starring Daniel Craig. The babes this time were Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton. The bad guy is Mathieu Amalric.
There were lots of hype and thumbs up for this movie which is a direct sequel to the previous movie, Casino Royale. The storyline starts with a car chase (in Italy) after which Bond brings a man to M. A traitor in M’s security team starts shooting and everyone either runs of gets killed. Bond chases the traitor and the guy dies.
The kidnapped fella mentioned something about a group that is everywhere and have their people in all kinds of places. That sets off the search. Bond thinks that the group was responsible for the death of Vesper, the Bond girl in Casino Royale, his lady love. Thus its a personal vendetta for Bond.
After briefing in UK, he moves to Haiti.
In Haiti, he finds out about Dominic Greene, of Green Planet, a philanthropist, environmentalist, and a bad guy with a hidden agenda. He also meets Camille (Olga) who is also trying to get to Greene. Greene reminds me of a grown up Ron Weasley (from Harry Potter movies).
Basically, Greene is hoarding a precious resource – water, and then charging countries in South America to provide water services. He manipulates changes in regimes and leaders to suit his business.
The Americans (CIA) seem to support Greene as long as they can get a favorable regime in place in those countries.
So, Bond is left on his own to clear his name, get his revenge, and save the world. The movie moves from Haiti to Austria, Italy, Bolivia.
In Bolivia he manages to get his ally (Mathis) and fellow agent (Gemma) killed by the bad guys. This makes Bond more angry. He gets information from CIA ally Felix that Greene is planning a meeting to pay off Bolivian leaders. So, off he goes.
The climax of the movie is set in a hotel which is actually a petroleum depot (?) in the middle of Bolivian desert. It was not spectacular like other Bond movies, nor did we realise that it was the climax.
The dialog between him and M was as usual very duelistic. Other plus points were the car chase at the beginning, the Italian opera scenes, and…hmmm…that’s about it. It didn’t have that feeling that we were watching James Bond. No gadgets, no romance, no Bond in tight situation (well, we can count the plane fight I guess). The villains died easily.
By the way, the movie is rated PG13, but I can swear that I saw two kids in the cinema. Also, there’s a bit of controversy brewing because some nudity were shown towards the end involving the assault victim at the hotel.
Conclusion: People will be disappointed that the Bond elements were not really visible in the movie. Craig looked the part of a hurt soul, but still able to be lethal. Bond girl Olga did her part reasonably well. And when the end comes, people will be left asking “that’s it?” Not sure if this is a Bond movie after all.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Gemma Arterton,
Genre: Drama
Acting : 6/10
Story : 5/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Overall Oomphness: 6/10
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email PM Badawi mentioned that “anyone” can become a leader of a country while congratulating Barack Obama on his presidential win:
It is possible for anyone from a minority group to be a nation’s leader, even in Malaysia, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.
“It is up to the people to decide, just as the Americans had done through the democratic process,” he said while extending his congratulations to Senator Barack Obama.
Reporters had asked him in the Parliament lobby yesterday if it were possible for a person from a minority group to become Prime Minister in Malaysia.
While we Malaysians rooted for Barack Obama to win (due to his manifesto and his minority background), we should not be misled that this kind of miracle only happens in USA. In fact, we in Malaysia are far better than USA! How you ask? Well, in its 232 years of independence, this is the first time an American of mixed parentage became the president. While in Malaysia, we have in our 50 years of independence, not one, not two, but all Prime Ministers who came from a mixed background!
OK, I’m kind of stretching it a bit, but still we have one half-Siamese, a quarter-Indian, and a quarter-Chinese as prime ministers. Not bad for a 51 year old country.
However, it wrong to say that just about anyone can be a Prime Minister in our country. the Prime Ministers is decided among the MPs (one who commands the support of the majority of the MPs). So, we elect MPs, who then in turn, choose the PM based on their coalition, principles, and so on. Its totally different from USA, where you know who are the candidates for presidency and can vote for or against him/her. In Malaysia, the candidate for PM has always been the president of UMNO, but only a selected few have the power to choose him – the UMNO delegates and division members. And, by virtue of being a party limited by race, only a person of that race can be the president, and subsequently the Prime Minister. Of course, “halfbreeds” and “quarterbreeds” are also accepted as in the case of our Prime Ministers. The only way I see a minority becoming a Prime Minister is by being a Muslim. That means a non-malay muslim who is a member of MCA/MIC/Gerakan/PPP or in DAP/PKR (if opposition becoming ruling coalition in the future). But I think a non-muslim will be a better Prime Minister since will not be pressured by the religious zealots in the country.
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email This is something different. Hmmmm…hope to get more details on this hostel idea.
SELANGOR executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the state will be building a hostel for Tamil school underachievers in the UPSR examination, reported Tamil Nesan.
The pupils would be given coaching to improve their academic performance, he said.
He said discussions would be held with the Tamil Schools Headmaster Council, teachers, parents and other Indian organisations to select 100 poor pupils for the extra coaching.
High achievers from poor families would also be assisted to encourage them to continue to do well in their studies and prepare them for secondary school, Dr Jayakumar told reporters after opening the state-organised Medical Health Camp at the Rinchang Estate Tamil School.
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