Malay Supremacy?
Since the debate started many years ago, I still have not got the true meaning of such a claim.
Would people who are behind this claim feel proud and dignified over such a claim?
How do you measure supremacy of a race? Excellence in human achievements, intelligence and innovativeness; social behaviour, socio-economical achievements, academia and cultural influences etc.?
Or is it merely based on the capacity to hold on to political dominance, from the protection of the Constitution and by not protecting the rights of the other races as stipulated in the same Constitution particularly in the area of equal opportunities for education and public employment?
Is this a Supremacy through suppression or arrongantly holding on to the crutches?
How would this status of supremacy rank in the global communities and economies?
The "White Supremacy" (the last blantant suppression of the majority in terms of Apartheid in South Africa) has disappeared.
How long will this Malay Supremacy last?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Pope and The Queen
It is not out of disrespect that I ask myself these questions:
Why is that the two words that are often associated with the Pope in media reports always have been "controversies" and "security"?
Isn't he a holy man of God, with an earthly title of the highest order representing the Roman (Catholic) Church globally?
Why is that there are thousands who rush to greet him, as if they are worshipping him instead of worshipping the God he represents? Why is his security a major issue? Specially designed bullet proof motorcade guided by bodyguards?
The attention and honour given to this Catholic church leader far over-exceed the humble entry of our Lord Jesus into Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. What a difference.
The Pope, now without the political and secular authority of those glorious Roman Empire days and the Queen of England, too now hanging on to the title of the Head of the British Commonwealth (a loose organisation of ex British colonies), seem to be rather irrelevant in their roles in the 21st Century.
This entry is inspired by the recent visit by the Pope to Scotland and England. They both must be quite expensive to up keep for the followers.....
Why is that the two words that are often associated with the Pope in media reports always have been "controversies" and "security"?
Isn't he a holy man of God, with an earthly title of the highest order representing the Roman (Catholic) Church globally?
Why is that there are thousands who rush to greet him, as if they are worshipping him instead of worshipping the God he represents? Why is his security a major issue? Specially designed bullet proof motorcade guided by bodyguards?
The attention and honour given to this Catholic church leader far over-exceed the humble entry of our Lord Jesus into Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. What a difference.
The Pope, now without the political and secular authority of those glorious Roman Empire days and the Queen of England, too now hanging on to the title of the Head of the British Commonwealth (a loose organisation of ex British colonies), seem to be rather irrelevant in their roles in the 21st Century.
This entry is inspired by the recent visit by the Pope to Scotland and England. They both must be quite expensive to up keep for the followers.....
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Coffee News
It is simply a one-sheet A3 newsletter. It is free. It is weekly. It is easy reading yet informative. It is a joy and something to look forward to by many.
As a distributor of Coffee News since March 2010, the weekly routines have brought back some work satisfaction in terms of planning, execution and monitoring. It comes with some pocket money and it is sometimes hard work, particularly when the weather is challenging. However, the rewards are worth it, in seeing happy faces of those who receive it directly from me (in the so-called Business run delivery to all business outlets). The genuine "thank you"s from many recipients (Asians are typically not appreciative verbally though) would often make my day.
Display outlets are mainly confined to cafes, restaurants, retirement homes and sport complexes etc. The runs have taken me to many places I would normally would not have explored. The customer profiles in the various outlets are variable too and so are the receptiveness of such a light-reading newsletter. Weekly runs also give a sense of economic activities in and around the suburbs.... some outlets are thriving while some struggling and with some turnover of ownership along the way. Cafe business is very much weather-determined.... dry and sunny days, the coffee machines would be busy brewing away...
A cheerful deliverer often is rewarded with non-monetary appreciative gestures... that, would be sufficient motivation in themselves. It is also a chance to meet people without being intimidated and it is at my own choice and will. Wearing out my shoes faster than usual but that means the body has got some desirable exercises every week.
Run while I still can.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
New Villages 1Malaysia
"KUALA LUMPUR 8 Sept 2010: A gated neighbourhood can only be set up with the approval of 51% of the residents, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung."
Gated neighbourhood has been initiated since the last couple of years, particularly in the urban housing estates throughout Malaysia. There have been many debates on the legality and "environmental safety issues" and protests against this from certain quarters but mainly the residents are frustrated with the frequent occurrences of snatch thief and house break-in. Often these happened in broad day light.
Security is a paramount concern and the residents are desperate for measures to protect their properties and personal safety. Thus, a trend for local resident initiatives to set up their own vigilant committee to build fences and road blocks and guarded security gates, funded by the communities. Of course some are not willing to pay for this extra expenditure for whatever reasons, and so there are protest voices.
This Government response is after years of complaints from residents, who are now turning all the urban housing estates to modern day "New Villages" as they were set up by the British during the Malayan Emergency period in the mid-1950, to prevent insurgence from the communists and support of them from the communities, mainly Chinese.
It ironic that those 450 New Villages of those days (with about 500,ooo people) have now removed their gates and expanded to modern living towns of over 1.2m people, we are seeing the growth of more modern New Villages in the major towns and cities in Bolehland.
With the new IGP being in place from 13 Sept 2010, would the security of the population be improved?
Gated neighbourhood has been initiated since the last couple of years, particularly in the urban housing estates throughout Malaysia. There have been many debates on the legality and "environmental safety issues" and protests against this from certain quarters but mainly the residents are frustrated with the frequent occurrences of snatch thief and house break-in. Often these happened in broad day light.
Security is a paramount concern and the residents are desperate for measures to protect their properties and personal safety. Thus, a trend for local resident initiatives to set up their own vigilant committee to build fences and road blocks and guarded security gates, funded by the communities. Of course some are not willing to pay for this extra expenditure for whatever reasons, and so there are protest voices.
This Government response is after years of complaints from residents, who are now turning all the urban housing estates to modern day "New Villages" as they were set up by the British during the Malayan Emergency period in the mid-1950, to prevent insurgence from the communists and support of them from the communities, mainly Chinese.
It ironic that those 450 New Villages of those days (with about 500,ooo people) have now removed their gates and expanded to modern living towns of over 1.2m people, we are seeing the growth of more modern New Villages in the major towns and cities in Bolehland.
With the new IGP being in place from 13 Sept 2010, would the security of the population be improved?
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Land of Milk and Honey
The term "Land flowing with milk and honey" was first promised by God and mentioned by Moses in the Bible (Exodus 3:8). This land refers to Israel.
Today there are many lands with plenty of milk and honey... one of them is NZ.. however their milk and honey are expensive comparably. Milk at $4.59/2L is more expensive than in the US at $2.84/2L as the Weekend Herald survey shows. It is also more expensive than Australia and Britain. And NZ is reputed to be the biggest dairy products exporter in the world and Fonterra of NZ is the 5th largest dairy company in the world.
In terms of milk and dairy production, NZ annual production is around 17 m tonnes, compared to India (world largest producer) with 114 m tonnes but the Western World would specifically mention that the European Union as a unit is the world biggest producer with a combined 143m tonnes.
China's annual dairy production is currently in the region of 33m tonnes but it is the largest honey producer in the world with an annual tonnage of 298,000 or 21.5% of the gobal honey. New Zealand, known for its expensive manuka honey, manages an annual production figure of about 10,000 tes.
The emerging new Land of Milk and Honey is going to be China. No wonder when the Chinese seek to buy up 16 Crafar dairy farms (totalling about 8000 ha), which are under receivership, there has been a nation-wide protest from the Kiwis against such foreign ownership of their dairy land, saying New Zealanders would not like to be tenants in their own land. This 8000 ha represents about 0.5% of the total 1.52m ha of dairy farmland in the country. The NZ Minister of Land Information Mr Maurice Williamson recently highlighted this fact that if the potential buyers for Crafar farms are from Scotland, then there are not "foreigners" as "they do not look different from us", He was accused of being a racist!
Also, the total area of Crafar farmland is but a fraction of the 24,700 ha of farmland in Wanaka (South Island) bought up by Ms Shania Twain, the pop star from Canada in 2004. Canadians were not considered as "foreigners"?
An extract from the leading newspaper in New Zealand, NZ Herald, in an editorial of 7th September, 2010:
"The issue has stirred up a wave of xenophobic scaremongering over China's intentions for the dairying industry. Among other things, a group called Save the Farms has sprung into being. It wants the Government to stop any sales until the country has had a robust public debate.
The group says it is "not a xenophobic organisation". If so, why was it silent last week when an American billionaire, William P. Foley II, was cleared by the Overseas Investment Office to buy Wharekauhau, an exclusive 2023ha Wairarapa country estate and farming business?
And why did its organisers say nothing as Britons, Italians, Americans, Israelis and Australians bought the bulk of more than 150,000 hectares of New Zealand farm land - almost the size of Stewart Island - over the past five years? During that period, China hardly registered as a source of foreign investment.
Now, however, its first major foray has hit a wave of resistance.
Those who have been buying the vast majority of New Zealand's farm land are distinguished by two characteristics. They are English-speaking and they are non-Asian. As Mr Williamson noted, "if you look different, you're a foreigner but if you come from the other side of the world, from Scotland, then you're not".
The sale of the Crafar farms to the Chinese investors is still pending official approval by the Overseas Investment Office. Local corporations have tried to outbid the Chinese but lack the financial ability to do so.
The Crafar dairy farms sale, if it materialises, is not going to turn China into the biggest land of Milk and Honey, overnight, but it certainly is a start.
Today there are many lands with plenty of milk and honey... one of them is NZ.. however their milk and honey are expensive comparably. Milk at $4.59/2L is more expensive than in the US at $2.84/2L as the Weekend Herald survey shows. It is also more expensive than Australia and Britain. And NZ is reputed to be the biggest dairy products exporter in the world and Fonterra of NZ is the 5th largest dairy company in the world.
In terms of milk and dairy production, NZ annual production is around 17 m tonnes, compared to India (world largest producer) with 114 m tonnes but the Western World would specifically mention that the European Union as a unit is the world biggest producer with a combined 143m tonnes.
China's annual dairy production is currently in the region of 33m tonnes but it is the largest honey producer in the world with an annual tonnage of 298,000 or 21.5% of the gobal honey. New Zealand, known for its expensive manuka honey, manages an annual production figure of about 10,000 tes.
The emerging new Land of Milk and Honey is going to be China. No wonder when the Chinese seek to buy up 16 Crafar dairy farms (totalling about 8000 ha), which are under receivership, there has been a nation-wide protest from the Kiwis against such foreign ownership of their dairy land, saying New Zealanders would not like to be tenants in their own land. This 8000 ha represents about 0.5% of the total 1.52m ha of dairy farmland in the country. The NZ Minister of Land Information Mr Maurice Williamson recently highlighted this fact that if the potential buyers for Crafar farms are from Scotland, then there are not "foreigners" as "they do not look different from us", He was accused of being a racist!
Also, the total area of Crafar farmland is but a fraction of the 24,700 ha of farmland in Wanaka (South Island) bought up by Ms Shania Twain, the pop star from Canada in 2004. Canadians were not considered as "foreigners"?
An extract from the leading newspaper in New Zealand, NZ Herald, in an editorial of 7th September, 2010:
"The issue has stirred up a wave of xenophobic scaremongering over China's intentions for the dairying industry. Among other things, a group called Save the Farms has sprung into being. It wants the Government to stop any sales until the country has had a robust public debate.
The group says it is "not a xenophobic organisation". If so, why was it silent last week when an American billionaire, William P. Foley II, was cleared by the Overseas Investment Office to buy Wharekauhau, an exclusive 2023ha Wairarapa country estate and farming business?
And why did its organisers say nothing as Britons, Italians, Americans, Israelis and Australians bought the bulk of more than 150,000 hectares of New Zealand farm land - almost the size of Stewart Island - over the past five years? During that period, China hardly registered as a source of foreign investment.
Now, however, its first major foray has hit a wave of resistance.
Those who have been buying the vast majority of New Zealand's farm land are distinguished by two characteristics. They are English-speaking and they are non-Asian. As Mr Williamson noted, "if you look different, you're a foreigner but if you come from the other side of the world, from Scotland, then you're not".
The sale of the Crafar farms to the Chinese investors is still pending official approval by the Overseas Investment Office. Local corporations have tried to outbid the Chinese but lack the financial ability to do so.
The Crafar dairy farms sale, if it materialises, is not going to turn China into the biggest land of Milk and Honey, overnight, but it certainly is a start.
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