A Bridge Too Far?

Not at all, according to Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam.

They are going to build that RM44 billion 37km (37 km!) bridge linking Malacca’s Telok Gong in Alor Gajah to Sumatra’s Pulau Rupat, Dumai and Pekan Baru.

At the risk of sounding vision-less, I will have to say that this is one super mega project that we can do without. Ok. So I am vision-less.

Ali believes that we need the bridge. Read THIS.

He said the project would be a private initiative between China’s Axim Bank and local consortium Malacca Straits Development.

The bank has agreed to finance up to 85% of the construction of the US$13bil (RM44.2bil) bridge with the local company having to bear the remaining 15% of the cost.

Ali said the bridge would not only spur economic growth between the two countries but also strengthen relations.

He added that the use of modern technology has made construction of large bridges common around the world despite challenges posed by natural threats.

Adoi!

Bringing Back Ferris....

I'm glad that something is being done to help Elis Syuhaila Mokhtar bring back her five-year-old son, Ferris who was "abducted" by her ex-husband, to Belgium.

Forty-year-old Frank Theodorus Van De Ven @ Fridaus, with whom she shared custody of Ferris after their divorce, took the child away on the pretext of taking him for a holiday in Penang nine months ago.
That was the last time Elis saw her son.

Elis, 34, immediately sought recourse in the Syariah High Court to gain full custody of Ferris. Yesterday, the court awarded her custody.

She has got custody but, really, what's the use when the child is in another country.

What can she do?

I felt for Elis. I can only imagine her pain. She must have been utterly bereft. So helpless at what seems to be such hopelessness.

Thankfully, our Foreign Ministry has been on the case. The ministry and the Belgian Government have tracked down Ferris and will work to bring him back.

Wisma Putra, according to the NST, is now in the midst of discussing his return with the Belgian authorities.

Foreign Ministry consular division under-secretary Ayauf Bachi said five Malaysian missions, including those from Thailand and Netherlands, started searching for Van De Ven following Ferris' disappearance.

Ferris is Malaysian. He was taken abroad without his passport which is with Elis.

The Belgian authorities finally notified the Malaysian mission in Brussels of Frank's whereabouts in September.

The Belgian Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Aid Ministry had served a summon and a warrant of arrest issued by the Selangor Syariah Judiciary Department to Frank on Oct 16.

I'm not sure how this will turn out. I hope for a happy ending. But, well, we know, in these sort of situations, there is never a happy ending, because someone will be hurt.

Here's the NST report.

Photo of Elis and Ferris -- courtesy NST.

Awang Goneng In New Sunday Times

I'm happy to report that Awang Goneng AKA Wan Hulaimi is writing for the New Sunday Times.

This Sunday's will be his third contribution.

Wan Hulaimi -- writer, blogger -- lives in London with his wife, Zaharah Othman AKA Kak Teh and their four children.

Zaharah also writes for the NST.

Wan Hulaimi was a journalist with the NST, and was its London Correspondent nearly 30 years ago, during the time Zaharah and I started our career with the newspaper.

They have been living in London in all that time and raised their brood -- Hafiz, Rehana, Norhana and Taufiq.

Check out Hulaimi's columns : on History Resides Forever Between Pages Of Old Books and on The Travels Of Uncle Salim

Johor Bahru's Ninja Squad...

Johor Bahru's Ninja Squad, formed about three months ago, is said to have been very effective in curbing crimes like wayward robberies and snatch thefts, in the city.

The 16-man squad "patrol" JB's crime hotspots on their Kawasaki KLX250.

They got the name "Ninja" squad from members of the public, perhaps because they wear full-faced helmets as they go on their rounds.

Read the Star report HERE.

Well, we sure could do with a Ninja Squad in KL and PJ.

And perhaps, also give the Mat Rempits a real scare.

Bathe Together, Use Sensuous Fragrances And Wear Sexy Pyjamas...

...to spice up your sex life with your spouse. In Terengganu, that is.

I mean...really!?

Oh. dear. A state crisis. Anyway, here's a news report about why some marriages in Terengganu have turned, er , bad and boring ... yawn..... And, yes - the State government has found it important enough to help married couples find that oomph in their sex life and that elusive sweet bliss in their marriage. (source: the Star)

KUALA TERENGGANU: Body odour, humdrum sex and boring pyjamas have been blamed for the high divorce rate in Terengganu and the state government is coming up with innovative ways to improve sexual relations, especially among newly-weds.
Top on its list is to invite cosmetic firms to introduce exotic and sensuous fragrances that can arouse sexual desire.
And husbands and wives are being encouraged to bathe together.
State Religious and Information Committee deputy chairman Muhammad Ramli Nuh believes that these moves can curb the divorce rates among young couples.
He told The Star yesterday that at least three in every 10 marriages in the state end in divorce, adding that separation was now the prevalent trend among couples aged between 25 and 30 years.
Muhammad Ramli said couples who had been married for less than five years and were on the verge of separation had told counsellors that routine sex and body odour were the main reasons for them to want to break up.
He said he was bewildered that some of these couples said their spouses’ old-fashioned pyjamas – sarong and t-shirt – and bad smell during intimate moments made their sex life monotonous or turned them off completely.
“I know of one case where a separation was triggered just because the spouse smelled of fish crackers,” he said.
As such, he said the state government – through state Family Development Board – was asking cosmetic firms to introduce special perfumes for the couples so they could “sustain their relationships, hopefully for eternity.”
Muhammad Ramli said married couples should bathe together to make their relationship more exciting.
“I met this elderly couple in Kelantan, they bathe together although they are grandparents; they enjoy a blissful marriage, this is when I mooted the idea where this method could be introduced as part of the pre-marital courses conducted in the state,” he said.
Muhammad Ramli said the state government was also sourcing for consultants to provide grooming workshops.
“This workshop is not only meant for the wives but also to provide men with tips on how to be attractive to their spouse at all times,” he said.
He said these consultants could also suggest the right lingerie to be worn.
Muhammad Ramli added that the state government had engaged marriage consultants to mediate between feuding couples.

*********************

I hear you out there. You could've told them the same thing on how to...

So, go offer your consultancy services....

Malaysia Is Among the World's Best- Value Destinations

This is according to the travel guide firm, Lonely Planet.

The British-based company, in its Best In Travel 2010 guide, said Malaysia “is a clever choice for travellers on the lookout for a bargain”.

Thanks to the economic crisis, Iceland and London were also among the top 10 destinations, which included Thailand, South Africa, India, Mexico, Bulgaria, Kenya and Las Vegas,

The annual snapshot book captures “the world’s hottest travel trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead”, Lonely Planet said yesterday.

The economic collapse in Iceland meant the island was no longer punitively expensive, said the guide, putting the beleaguered country at the top of its best-value list.

Thailand, at number two, remained “perennially good value”, said the book.

Meanwhile, London’s days as a costly destination were now over, Lonely Planet said, thanks to the exchange rate which made it “much more affordable for visitors from abroad”.

The top 10 countries overall for travellers were El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname and the United States.

The top 10 cities were Abu Dhabi, Charleston (South Carolina), Cork (Ireland), Cuenca (Ecuador), Istanbul, Kyoto (Japan), Lecce (Italy), Sarajevo, Singapore and Vancouver (Canada).

Bali (Indonesia), Goa (India), Koh Kong (Cambodia), Southern Africa and southwest Western Australia featured among the top 10 regions. — AFP

Wayang MCA...

It is doubtful that the MCA leadership can resolve the crisis anytime soon. The greater unity plan remains so elusive. It seems to be one thing after another.

That said, there is some hope, a glimmer, and only if there is a strong partnership (at least, seeming) between party president and his re-instated deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek, to right things.

Everyone is asking -- what now? Given that Liow Tiong Lai is already in the seat -- has been since Oct 15, voted by the party's central committee.

So, how can things get better when Liow who is not at all amused by this development, is challenging the ROS' decision in declaring that Dr Chua remains deputy president.
The crisis, as they say, deepens.

Yet, at the same time, Ong is acting to get things off the ground to effect the greater unity plan. Yesterday, he sacked four appointed central committee members, replacing them with four others including Dr Chua's son, Tee Yong.

Now, that (Tee Yong's appointment) says something. Smacks of goodwill.

The four whom Ong had sacked were among the 16 CC members who signed a requisition to call for an EGM to decide if the party should hold a fresh election.
Can't blame him, can we? You trust people and they stab you in the back.

I suppose Ong has got to be an SOB to get things done. No mercy!

So, back to everyone's question -- How much longer will this wayang go on?

(Do read the Star reports here here and here, and the NST here and here )

Bridge Tragedy: 22 Children Feared Perished

This is really so sad. I feel so sad.

And angry...

How could this have happened?

My prayers for them all.....

UPDATE - Thursday Oct 29 2009

The bodies of the 2 missing girls have been found.
M. Devatharshini’s body was found by a search and rescue team from Rela at about 11.30pm on Wednesday (Oct 28) , the body of V. Divyashree, 12, was recovered at about 9.25am the following day (Oct 29) by a team from the army.

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the three children who perished in the tragedy.

UPDATE:

19 alive, one died and 2 missing.

Please God...let them be ok.

ORIGINAL POSTING :

Twenty two pupils, aged between 10 and 12, were believed to have drowned after they were swept away by strong currents when they fell into the Kampar river in Perak (Monday) last night. As of 5am this morning, none of them have been found.

They were among 298 other pupils who were part of a four-day motivational programme comprising 60 schools from the Kinta Selatan district.

The children were in the midst of crossing a 30m hanging bridge, to get across Sungai Kampar, when the bridge suddenly collapsed.

Thirty of the pupils were crossing the bridge when it gave way and 22 of them plunged into the river, while the rest managed to escape to safety.

Continue reading here...

MCA Farce

My very dear friend, Kee Thuan Chye -- whom I have known since God-knows-when -- texted me this morning, reminding me to read his commentary in The Sun today about the crisis in the MCA.

I think I should reproduce it here -- without his permission. Thanks, TC....and hope you don't mind.

No cheers for Farce of the Year
Kee Thuan Chye

SURE, "politics is the art of the possible" – especially if it involves politicians who can change their tune overnight. That’s why it has been possible for Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to suddenly become friends again after a year of fierce animosity between them.

The art of the possible also works with politicians who can forget about scruples and put on a show. Nothing exhibits this more clearly than the outwardly awkward reconciliation between these enemies last Thursday. For added value, the would-be usurper of the presidency, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, was also dragged into the act, a seemingly reluctant performer at that. So too was Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who had until now kept a dignified low profile.

It was a show that could easily have given the Goons of that famous British TV comedy a run for their asininity. I laughed so much, I had to call it the Most Laughable Farce of the Year, and nominate Ong, Chua and the supporting players for Best Comic Ensemble.

Who in their right mind would give much credence to this quick-glue patch-up that is aimed at reunifying the MCA? From reports, Ong had to leave the press conference room for 10 minutes to bring Liow and Kong in. Scriptwriters would have their imagination fired up by what transpired in those 10 minutes. They would be wondering, too, about what might be simmering behind those counterfeit smiles flashed for the media cameras. The tears of a clown? The resentment of facing a checkmate?

Scriptwriters would also be wondering if there was an unseen hand behind this sudden volte-face on the part of Ong and Chua since both have said that the prime minister gave them his blessing to get back together. Was this an example of deus ex machina, a la Aristotle? Who is the deus ("god" in Latin)? Are these four men in actuality wayang kulit characters putting on a show at the command of their puppet-master?

Sorry, I got carried away with the dramatic possibilities. I actually meant to ask: Where is the concern for integrity in this latest episode of the MCA saga? At what level is the moral quotient of these men who purport to lead the MCA? How is the MCA going to be credible in the eyes of the Chinese community – let’s not even consider the wider Malaysian public – when what its leaders have done must force us to suspend our disbelief?

Besides, how workable is this hasty marriage of inconvenience between Ong and Chua likely to be?

CONTINUE READING HERE.....

Trouble In Paradise...

I meant -- Crisis in Pas.

Pas mursyidul am Nik Aziz Nik Mat has suggested that a special/extraordinary general meeting be held to "have a new mandate" for the party leadership.

The Tok Guru is basically unhappy with party president Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa as well Dr Hasan Ali and Mustafa Ali, for cavorting with Umno -- that very sinful party.

He wrote in his blog www.tokgurublog.com on the need for a such a meeting just like Umno and MCA had to resolve issues that needed to be decided, once and for all.

You sense his quiet desperation at the goings-on, and the shenanigans of Hadi and his circle of supporters in holding clandestine meetings with Umno sinners.

Hadi and gang are pro-Umno, to put it plainly. While Husam Musa is part of the Erdogan group who are pro-Anwar Ibrahim.

The Tok Guru was not amused, to put it mildly, when he got wind of the sinister "unity" talks between the Hadi team, and Umno leaders.

The Tok Guru considers them - Hadi and gang -- problematic leaders and thorns in the Pas' flesh, who will lead the party astray.

Some people say the Tok Guru himself is faced with opposition within Kelantan Pas, who want him to retire after 19 years as Kelantan menteri besar.

Nik Aziz said, in his blog, that there is a strong need for a change of the major players in the Pas leadership.

This can be a preparation for the next general election, he remarked.

" We must take steps similar to Umno and MCA to settle their internal problems. Our issue is with two or three problematic leaders."

Here's an excerpt from his posting:

"Tidak boleh jadi ni, kita duk “ghok-ghak” (kacau) begini. Orang boleh terima atau tak boleh terima, bawa ke Muktamar Khaslah; senang cerita.

Biar tentu sah, nak ikut yang mana. Kita nak kekal yang mana dan buang yang mana.

Dengan Muktamar Khas yang boleh menjelaskan dan memutuskan banyak perkara ini, puak-puak atas pagar yang membuat swing votes dan mempengaruhi keputusan pilihanraya juga akan berpuas hati samada nak swing atau tak nak swing lagi kerana mereka sudah dijelaskan oleh keputusan Muktamar Khas berkenaan.

Mereka jelas. Biarlah kita ambil mandat baru sekali lagi. Mesyuarat biar ringkas;ambil sehari penuh atau dua hari penuh misalnya tetapi prosesnya mesti ringkas, dan keputusannya adil, telus, tepat, terus dan jelas. Undi perlulah sulit dan dilakukan di atas kertas .

Untuk kali ini, saya dengan kuat merasakan bahawa perlu ada perubahan dalam pemain-pemain penting yang menduduki kerusi kepimpinan PAS diperingkat pusat. Kalau nak kata ini persiapan ke arah PRU ke 13 pun, kata gi lah. Dan memang betul begitulah.