The Kafkaesque

Lately, Malaysians are swamped with the slogan “1Malaysia”. It is everywhere, as ubiquitous as Ah Long’s adverts on lamp posts. The television hosts relate every topic to 1Malaysia at given chance, the radio DJs play 1Malaysia songs every now and then, and not to mention newspaper adverts that present a big number “1” with Jalur Gemilang, symbolizing 1Malaysia (see picture). But, what is 1Malaysia in fact? Who wants 1Malaysia for real?

There isn’t any ‘official’ explanation for 1Malaysia, a term first coined by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak in his inaugural address to fellow Malaysians. However, according to 1Malaysia official website, “1Malaysia.com.my” is the personal website of Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak. Wait… 1Malaysia is the personal website of Prime Minister? 1Malaysia is just about Najib and Najib only, huh? All this while, I have an impression 1Malaysia is meant to describe how Malaysia should move forward, how rakyat living under one hood should help and grow together, basically all those best things about Malaysia. It should belong to all Malaysians! I am speechless, puzzled, lost… Probably everyone should not take 1Malaysia so seriously, after all it might be just another slogan. As usual, Malaysians love slogan…

Anyhow, everything on earth has a value by all means. Here are some practical usages of 1Malaysia.

Geography teacher: “Malaysia is formed of two parts, one is Peninsular Malaysia and another is East Malaysia. Correct or Wrong?”
Primary school student who reads Utusan Malaysia: “WRONG! Prime Minister says, there is only 1Malaysia!”

Reporter asked YB Dato’s Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, MCA Vice President whether she supports having MCA extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
YB: ” 1Malaysia…”

TV host A: ” What does Merdeka mean to you?”
Stranger A: “ Merdeka?... Err… 1Malaysia loh!” (smiling… )

TV host B: “What is your favorite food?“
Stranger B: “ Nasi lemak, satay, char koay teow, roti canai… a lot-lah…”
TV host B: “Why?”
Stranger B replied: “ 1Malaysia mah…”

Like it or not, I thought “Malaysia Boleh” is a much better slogan compared to “1Malaysia”.
Like it or not, 1Malaysia has let Malaysians' imagination flies. It can mean anything, everything…vice versa, it can mean nothing…
Like it or not, 1Malaysia will be the most chanted slogan in 2009. Don’t mind if you do not know what it means.

Last word, like one can choose not to borrow from an Ah Long, one can choose not to buy this "1Malaysia" too!

The world's top cellphone maker Nokia announced it would start to make small laptops, netbooks, entering a fiercely competitive, but fast growing market. The first netbook, Nokia Booklet 3G, will use Microsoft's Windows software and Intel's Atom processor -- offering up to 12 hours of battery life, and weighing 1.25 kilograms.

Nokia Booklet 3G, a mini-laptop (netbook) device, includes key features such as 3G/HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, HDMI port (for HD video out), 10" glass HD-ready display and integrated A-GPS. The Nokia Booklet weighs in at 1.2 kilograms and is 2cm thick.

Check out more technical details here.

How much would you pay for this 3G Booklet 3G?

特约冯久玲
8月23日
甲型H1N1流感肆虐: 我们不能沦为一个统计数据！

世界性的甲型H1N1流感警报一天比一天甚嚣尘上。世界各国政府都高度警惕着。最近一期的《时代》杂志在其封面上问道，“H1N1:到底会有多糟？”回答是，“逾二十亿人口将感染。数千所学校将被迫关闭。数百万人需要接种疫苗两次”。

文章同时还指出，目前全球制药公司的疫苗生产量仅为每年8亿剂，而世界上有着60亿人口。所以，甲流到了高峰期的后果会不堪设想。除此之外，接种疫苗要到今年10月份才能研发出来，而其真正防疫作用要在今年圣诞节时才能见效。那么，再此期间怎么办？会有多少人在此次全球性的流感大袭击中死亡？最后，是不是某些人只能变成世界流感历史的一个统计数据！你能做些什么？政府应怎么调整应对策略？

看起来，我们现在不能完全的依赖科学或是某社会体制来保护我们了。唯一可靠的就是我们自己身体的抗疫能力，人人必须自保。我们需要在各自的社区内实行自身 的有序的推广抗疫的工作； 如何联合起来，努力维护零感染的目标。不要恐慌； 提高警戒，加强监督。孩子们的学校、附近的医院诊所。怎样做到更有效的防御？

read more here ...

TheStar Online reported Penang will have an RM100mil eco-friendly world-class theme park in Teluk Bahang, if everything goes well.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that Sim Leisure, a Penang-based company that was involved in the design and construction of the Universal Studios Theme Park in Singapore, has submitted its proposal to the state government to set up an environmentally friendly “Ecofun Theme Park Resort.”

Sim Leisure managing director Sim Choo Kheng said the company has been involved in similar projects, many in Middle-East countries. He said the company designed, managed and set up theme parks like the Wahoo Waterpark in Bahrain, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and Desa Idaman and Hotspring Resort in Malaysia.

Sim said the company proposed having treetop cabins, campsites and caravan style accommodation, restaurants and a bar. “We also hope to create a water park inside the forest with wave pools, slides, a river and play area." He said the company also plans to have a farm in the park with domesticated animals such as chickens, cats and ducks to enable children to learn about farming.

“The first component will take about 18 months to be completed, while the complete project could take up to four years,” he said.

Watch this space for result of Kampung Buah Pala Village : ‘High Chaparral of Penang’ - Federal Court Case Appeal, Putrajaya, on 21st August, 2009.

Background of Kampung Buah Pala incident, here.

update: Kg Buah Pala residents have failed in their attempt to get the Federal Court to revise its earlier decision. They were unable to get a full trial, says one of the villagers.

Penang has been listed by CNBC as a highly recommended place to seek medical treatment not only because of its competitive price but also for its well educated community.

The hospitals are staffed with highly trained doctors and nurses as well as having excellent and modern facilities. For the families accompanying the patients, Penang has much to offer in term of temporary lodging, shopping and getting around.

Medical tourism has helped to push Penang to a more service-based economy. CNBC's Adam Bakhtiar reports on what's driving patients to Penang.

Visit Penang website

As reported in The MalaysianInsider, Muhyiddin Yassin, the DPM, hit out at the Bar Council for having an agenda against Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the by-election at Permatang Pasir, after it was revealed the Umno man was a disbarred lawyer.

The Bar Council also clarified that Rohaizat Othman had been found guilty of personal misconduct and had lost his appeal against the decision in the High Court only five days before Umno nominated him for the by-election. The Bar Council’s statement contradicts Rohaizat’s version of the events, who blames his partner in his law firm for committing the misconduct. But the Bar Council says it does not hold lawyers liable for the actions of their partners.

Muhyiddin was quoted of saying: “We don’t know what is the agenda of the Bar Council.” “It is as if they are on the side of certain quarters. I am sure they have some agenda.”

The DPM also likened the Bar Council fines to parking tickets.

I used to have some degree of respect towards Muhyiddin for his relative lack of racial and religious remarks, if you were to compare with his Umno peers. Ever since becoming the country DPM, he has been more vocal, but not in a good sense. It was so low has UMNO sunk that the party members have no qualms about fielding a candidate with public record of dishonesty, yet this whole episode of drama has been defended by DPM himself. Penang Umno’s leaders have been absolute fantastic script writers for the past few days, busy putting up script after script to defend their choice of candidate.

So sad to see, as Tengku Razaleigh has even commented: “Is Umno so short of people that we have to find a laywer disbarred for financial dishonesty to stand?"

So sad to see, HONESTY is such a lonely word, it is hardly ever heard…

I sought to listen Billy Joel’s Honesty for the answer…

潘永强
8月17日

我国自7月22日出现首宗H1N1流感死亡病例后，至今不到一个月，死亡人数已颷升超过60人，确诊病患也节节上升。

但是，在疫情恶化，死亡病例升幅惊人的急紧时刻，我们却看不到各级政府部门积极动员，卫生部看来更是慢条斯理、束手无策，任由病例每日以两百宗以上急速增加。如果相关单位还不严正面对流感恶化，我国很快将陷入卫生危机，影响国人生活。

事 实上，近期我国的流感死亡率，增幅有超出其它国家的趋势。一些国家虽然确诊病例较我国为高，但病情治疗得当，没有死亡记录，如德国（11493宗）、日本 （5023宗）。香港是航运中心，有6417宗病例，但只有四人死亡。甚至早前因严格隔离从墨西哥入境者，而被批为不尊重人权的中国，以其幅员之大，至今 也只录得2322宗病例，无人死亡。

可是，截至8月17日上午的数字，我国确诊病例却达到4225宗，死亡人数则上升至64人，死亡率为1.5%。

卫生部长成廖中莱的副业 ... continue reading at Malaysiakini

too subtle? listen to Yasmin Ahmad, on what she had to say...

WSJ reported Gates Foundation, the world's largest private philanthropy fund, has sold off most health care, biotechnology and pharmaceutical holdings. On the other hand, it was published in CNN Money that investor guru Warren Buffett has bought up million of health care and drug maker stocks in a filing with Security and Exchange Commission.

Two entirely opposite investment strategies by two large institutional investors, what are the messages? Let's have a close look on the stocks acquired and offloaded.

(drug & consumer product maker)
1. Johnson & Johnson Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) ADD Gates Foundation SOLD 2.5 million shares
(laboratory equipment)
2. Becton Dickinson & Co. BRK.A ADD
(health insurers)
3. United Health Group BRK.A SOLD
4. WellPoint BRK.A SOLD

... and Gates Foundation also sold off all the drug makers, including Schering-Plough, Eli Lilly & Co., Merch & Co. and Wyeth. Among the other health and life sciences-related investments the foundation liquidated are Allos Therapeutics Inc., InterMune Inc., Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. It only retains Seattle Genetics Inc.

From both Buffett and the foundation's investment decision, they possibly had considered the potential impact of the Obama administration's proposed overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, which could put pressure on prescription drug prices, and health insurers. However, Buffett's addition of Johnson & Johnson is another classic example of acquiring defensive stocks that would clearly benefit if the healthcare reform actually passes. Why Gates sold J&J? Well, I am short of ideas to rationalise the move...

Check out 15 short films made by 15 Malaysian filmakers, featuring socio-political affairs in Malaysia.
Enjoy ... http://15malaysia.com



... and, this is the making of Potong Saga

Statistics serves to enlighten and educate people, what's more if it comes with colorful yet visually attractive representation. This interactive graphics concept was first coined by Hans Rosling, a Swedish professor, through a non-profit organization called Gapminder Foundation. For your record, Gapminder has been acquired by Google since then. I know, good thing never slips out from Google scout team.

Using this interactive chart, hopefully public can come to know about the criticalness of A(H1N1) infection in Malaysia primarily. A few points for thought here:

1. The chart projected an exponential growth of A(H1N1) cases in past months and very likely it will continue its uptrend in the near term. Do general Malaysians are well informed of this progression?

2. If Malaysians are aware, yet how well do we comprehend our roles and responsibilities in fighting this highly contagious infection?

3. If one has no answer for the above questions. Do pay a visit to MOH Influenza A(H1N1) website at http://h1n1.moh.gov.my/ for more information.

And now, check out this enlightening data visualization through interactive chart provided by Chartle.net, using Google Chart API. Do play around the parameters and appreciate the brilliant idea! Enjoy...





** All data used are collected from http://www.flucount.org/ and h1n1.flu-virus.org

I work in a semiconductor firm. Last week, the company did an unanticipated 3% workforce reduction due to poor Q3 earnings forecast. In order to meet shareholders and business analysts' profit target, the top executives decided that slimming down the organization human resources is the right thing to do now. Many were shocked and upset with the action taken because predominantly the company has been perceived as one of the more stable yet profitable semiconductor players. Moreover, a few of the peer companies have revised upcoming earnings target, anticipating a positive trend in second half of the year.

Citing operating margin as the primary reason to reduce workforce, bottom performers, as well as, redundant job roles are easy targets to fill up the numbers. Many questioned these selection criteria and how the candidates were chosen. To most of the employees, the criteria are highly debatable, subjective and solely based on management description. Some argued that year of experience and amount of contribution should be the deciding factors. Newcomers who are inexperience and contribute little to the the growth of company can be sacrificed; old folks who are trained and have given help to the projects over the years must stay. Personally, I beg to differ. Although it seems cruel, in a corporate world, I agree with getting bottom performers out of the organization. They should move on to new endeavors which suit them more. In fact, it is not as cruel as it sounds. Often, those who are let go are able to succeed better in other industries or companies. Differentiation of top performers and the rest is a key element in a success organization. Management should cull the weak and cultivate the strong. If everyone is treated equally, companies suffer. To build a nimble and effective organization, tough and hard decisions need to be made and followed.

One might ask, is three percents adequate? If the magic number was chosen purely to answer the imminent quarterly report, I think the number probably should be bigger. One cannot undermine the impact of laying off tens of employees. Those left are gone, but those remain are equally disturbed by the layoff exercise. The relationship and trust built between employer and employee through years of hard work could easily tarnished if the employee cannot understand the criticalness of the exercise. And, not to mentioned some who have closer relationship with those left, this group of employees are likely more demotivated than the average. Hence, if the company expects gloomy economic environment to continue longer than expected and three percent is not the answer for the problem, I have to say a larger layoff should be done once and for all. Keeping employees in a demotivated working atmosphere, with fear and anxieties of loosing job certainly do not help the company to do well in the future.

Hopefully, things will turn better in the second half of the year. Wish those who have left good luck in their new career. :)