Is Vision 2020 achievable?

Vision 2020 - Will Malaysia achieve its target by the year 2020?

But, first of all, do you still remember what is this vision all about?

In 1991, our ex-PM outlined the following 9 challenges that Malaysia must overcome to achieve its target to become developed country, refer Here:

• Challenge 1: To form a nation that stands as one.
• Challenge 2: To produce a Malaysian community that has freedom, strength, and full of self confidence.
• Challenge 3: To develop a mature democratic community.
• Challenge 4: To form a community that has high morale, ethics and religious strength.
• Challenge 5: To cultivate a community that is matured and tolerant.
• Challenge 6: To form a progressive science community.
• Challenge 7: To cultivate a community rich in values and loving culture.
• Challenge 8: To ensure the formation of a community with a fair economy.
• Challenge 9: To cultivate a prosperous community.

However, the architect of this vision said unlikely to achieve in the recent forum due to Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, the current global economic turmoil and policies of the Abdullah administration.

But we noticed that above reasons are not able to damage a community financial foundation easily if the community is united, fair, understanding and able to work together. The main reasons that will hindrance the progressive is the mentality of the people, especially the leaders. If the country continue to practice racial-orientated politics, religious-sentiment based politics, money politics, "ketuanan" politics, etc., then the vision will end up as "mission impossible".

Bukit Antarabangsa Lanslide, a Disaster or a Carnival

Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, a disaster or a carnival?

Thanks to God, our country is free from natural disaster like earthquake. Unfortunately, He give us "man-made" disaster.

But, more unfortunately, the God also give us silly minister who said this is "Act of God" and also leaders who visited the tragedy area like attending the carnival. They come, listen to the brief, and go. The hawkers, the thieves, the reporters, the leaders, the irrelevant busy body, etc.....filled in the area.

Hardly heard any good news or motivation or touching stories from the area except complaints. These include ineffective rescue plans, the residents are going to sue the government, the victims reported that the rescue team refused to give helping hands, the current and the ex-government blamed each others, the lost of valuable items, the silly minister gave lecture of how to do the media reporting, the other silly minister said no clear evidence that the landslide was resulted by human negligence after the "visual" inspection.

But the most unfortunate one is those victims and residents affected that still worry about when they can go home.

And the most most unfortunate one is those "still unknown victims" (probably including us) at "still unknown location" (probably including our area) that waiting for another disaster to come by looking at our star leaders' attitude and administration, our prevention & precaution plans, our disaster rescue response plans, our "tak apa" policies, our "cepat lupa" policies, etc.

Penang Cultural Fest 2008

If you are in Penang or happen to visit Penang during 4~6 Dec, 2008.

Join the Penangkia at Penang Cultural Fest 2008.

Could UM back to its Glory?

Prof. Gauth Jasmon was appointed as new Vice Chancellor of University Malaya, the oldest university in Malaysia.

UM used to be one of the best university in Asia. However, the ranking dropped in these few years in THES Top University Ranking Table. UM was 169th in 2005, 192th in 2006, 246th in 2007 and 230th in 2008.

This became a hot issue and frequently criticised by many parties every year especially from the opposition parties. Thus, the main purpose of the appointment is clear - to improve the ranking of UM.

During the interview by Sin Chew Daily, Prof Gauth outlined his plans to improve the ranking. He aim to bring UM back to Top 200 in three years and Top 100 in six years. On of the major move is he will remove those lower quality and low performance lecturers. He welcome those first class graduates to continue their studies and research. He will instruct the academicians to submit a minimum numbers of their papers/thesis to the famous and well recognised research magazines. He believed that this will improve the overall quality of the university.

In short, he will run the university administration based on the merit.

However, he understand that he will not have the free hand as compared with what he had during his time with MMU. He brought MMU from zero to one the best university in the country in 12 years time.

We hope he keep firmly his original aim to bring back the glory of what UM was recognised in the old days and more importantly, the strong supports from the higher education ministry towards this aim must be consistent without influenced by those immature parties or policies.

To improve the university is not difficult, but to prevent interruption from "outsiders" is difficult.

As UM alumni and was a Prof Gauth's student, I wish professor every success and make UM back to its glory again.

Economic Tsunami

I think the economic tsunami getting nearer.

Khoo Kay Peng sent us more bad news when he first touched down in US yesterday to take part in the US Government IVLP on I-Vote 2008. The situation may be more serious than most of the Malaysian including our leaders is thinking.

Today, the market resumed sliding despite a few measures had been taken. Nikkei stock index falling to a 26-year low, Hong Kong's Han Seng Index tumbled 12.7 percent to 11,015.84, its lowest close in more than four years. In the Philippines, the key index plummeted 12.3 percent to 1,713.83 points, triggering a circuit-breaker that automatically halted trading for 15 minutes.

Our Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, should feel relax and no worries for his next promotion to be the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, after sweeping 100% nominations so far as UMNO Party President in next March.

Thus, he could now concentrate and put all his effort to work out measures to face the coming economic tsunami. He should temporary forget about his eurocopters, on-loan RM5 bil injection to the cronies stock market or others white elephant mega projects.

Work somethings smart and practical not like the young Level 4's 'ciku' previously. Do not forget we still have the alternative stand-by out there.

"Food Market" not "Share Market"

Ouiiiiiiii......please wake up, our most respectable, honours, smart & experience New Finance Minister and probably the PM in-waiting,

When we urged the government to assist the market to prevent potential economy turmoil, we were so thankful that the new Finance Minister listened and act immediately.......by announcing to inject RM5bil into the market, precisely the 'share market'.

Our honourable FM, I guess you and your beloved wife did not visit the real food market for quite a long time. What we mean is the market which served us daily food, and not the market which serves the greediness of rich people.

The other thing made us more worry is the money not come from the government pocket, instead is from our own pocket through EPF. As you know, we work so hard so far and earn only a little. Even this, we still have no regret to contribute fraction of our little income into our retirement fund, hoping that our basis livelihood is protected when we getting old.

Now, I am not sure whether you have rights to decide for us to give loan to a "SDN BHD" company to "invest" in "share market". Don't you know that the RM5bil could not even sufficient to contra the losses of one of the 10 richest man in Malaysia in share market.

We are not the economist, but i think we should agreed that RM5bil is too little for share market but means a lot for "food market".

Pleaselah, don't made us upset again. RM5bil is not sufficient and not the way to bring back the confidence of people to the share market.

MCA New Line Up

MCA members finally came to a decision of "dare dare choice".

Ong Tee Keat never been a mainstream list in the party or favorite leader. He had a very hard time along his political career in MCA, but considered fortunate as there are always members that supporting him so far to slot in someone contrary in the mainstream leadership in MCA.

Thus, he struggle but succeed to find a space as Youth President, Vice President and now finally, the Party President. So now, he is not 'lone ranger' and could not be 'lone ranger' anymore.

Dr Chua Soi Lek made a come back successfully despite of his sex scandal. After watching MCA debate, we could feel and should admit that he is serious, never give up and capable. He had a better track record and more outspoken as compared with more mainstream approach Ka Chuan.

Successful of other leaders like Yen Yen, Tiong Lai showing that the majority members' desperation and eagerness to reform the party by the new line up.

The members level had made the decision of "dare dare choice", now is the turn of new leaders to "dare dare act".