Daily Archives: July 23rd, 2008

Is Justice Being Done – Malaysiakini

The people are shouting hoarse  clamouring that “Justice must not only be done, it must also be seen to be done.

Karpal Singh wanted Najib and Balasubramaniam to testify, but Judge Mohd Zaki Yasin using court jargon says this will be done when the need rises. To prove his point further he says Karpal has no legal standing to make the application as he was not a party to the trial.

This is all correct, I believe, based on convention. But this is a murder case of the century, where a foreign national is involved, will not the world scream and caustically comment on the type of justice we have in this country.

Mongolian honorary consul Syed Abdul Rahman AlHabshi, who was present at Wednesday’s proceedings, said Altantuya’s father, Setev Shaariibuu, expressed his “frustration” over the way the trial was going.
“He is frustrated, he can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Where is justice?”

Meanwhile, reform movement Aliran today described the dismissal of Karpal’s application as a “great shock to all those praying for justice to prevail”.
Aliran president P Ramakrishnan said that Karpal, although not directly involved in the case, should be allowed to make the application in the interest of justice.
“Surely Karpal could be treated as a friend of the court and be allowed to make this application in the interest of justice,” he said.

“The deputy prime minister’s name for whatever reason keeps cropping up now and then in relation to this case and this would have provided him with a golden opportunity to vindicate himself and lay to rest whatever suspicion that may be lurking around,” said Ramakrishnan.
He also said that Balasubramaniam ought to have been recalled to ascertain the veracity of his statement as a witness.
“When these two crucial issues are hanging in the air begging for an answer, how can the court slam the door on this matter?”

So, it is where is justice, and the court slams the matter on this application. They are being polite to the Judge by virtue of his position. But for a man in the street who need not couch his explanation in such polite terms, says the Judge is wrong. Can the Chief Justice change the present Judge to satisfy the saying “Justice must not only be done, but it must also seen to be done”.

Inflation June 7.7 Percent – Malaysiakini

Malaysian inflation rate hits 7.7 percent for June, a 26 year high. The high rate is because of the fuel increase of 41%. But I thought the increased food prices also contributed to this high figure. Whatever it is the people must thank the Finance Minister, Badawi and of course Nor Mohamed Yakcop the second Finance Minister, for a performance well done.

It is here I miss the absence of Toyo the ex Menteri Besar of Selangor. He had a unique way to show appreciation of the work done and was happy to present the broom when it was deserved. He made a fanfare about the presentation, and this was duly noted in the annals of history.

We cannot treat economic experts like Badawi and Yakcob in the same way, where is our sense of fair play. They have, I am sure done their best.

All suggestions are welcome.

Incidentally can they bring back the RM 500 notes, RM 100 is getting smaller.

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Malaysia An Oasis – Malaysiakini

Whether material wealth, a peaceful country, a place for achieving what you want, and the thousand and one other needs one has, the grass over the fence is always better than the grass found in your yard. Human nature is quick to criticise what you have and look beyond and crave something foreign. It is a never ending process, because whatever you may not like in a place, or country, the same problems may exist elsewhere and in the end you regret moving and up rooting yourself.

This is what I felt reading the Iranian looking for greener pastures in Malaysia. He has already regretted missing his favourite breakfast of “kaleh pacheh” – a fatty traditional Iranian dish made from sheep’s head and trotters that most outsiders find utterly inedible. This is the beginning. As you get down to the nitty gritty of staying in Malaysia, there will be many more things you will miss.

He is talking of a brain drain in Iran, nothing is the opposite here, young Malaysians are willing to migrate overseas, grumbling the Government is not fair in education, scholarships, employment opportunities, children’s education, business opportunities and a plethora of other ills because not all races are not treated the same. The playing field is not even.

Thousands want to go away, and many have done that, and this country is the loser of many educated professionals who would have helped Malaysia to be even a better country.

Apparently there are about 15,000 to 20,000 Iranians in Malaysia and this could be true; have you noticed around Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur the shop/shops dealing with hookah pipes, to indicate the Arab influence. Surprisingly this hookah thing is catching up with our Malay youths in places like Nilai – a mamak eating shop caters for this.

One thing agreed, Malaysians are a friendly people but be aware of four groups of people, the Rela gangsters, the religious enforcers, the Immigration and the Police staff who treat foreigners as their patrons to exhort money, or else you face their wrath in an official capacity.

Whatever said and done, Malaysia is still a nice place to be enjoyed compared to Iran which gives me the creeps as I see young woman being stoned and murdered – I have personally seen some Youtube clips. We don’t do that yet in this country.

Karpal Singh’s Application Dismissed – Malaysiakini

Karpal Singh’s application to call Najib and Balasubramaniam was dismissed by Justice Mohd Zaki Yasin. With this goes the believe that Najib can extract himself from the allegations, innuendos, and murmurings that surround the Deputy Prime Minister, in the case of Altantuya’s murder. It is a wasted effort.

No antibiotics for sore throats and colds

This appeared in Daily Mail London. It may take a while before our Health authorities decide on this.

Doctors to be banned from dishing out antibiotics for sore throats and colds | Mail Online

Doctors to be banned from dishing out antibiotics for sore throats and colds

By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 2:35 AM on 23rd July 2008

doctor with patient

Doctors are to be told not to hand out antibiotics for coughs and colds under new guidelines. (Posed by models)

Doctors will be told not to hand out antibiotics for coughs, sore throats and colds under guidelines to be unveiled today.

GPs have been accused of wasting more than £100million on the drugs every year for patients with respiratory tract infections.

Rationing watchdog the National Institute for Clinical Excellence said today that the vast majority of cases would clear up on their own.

Adults should simply ‘take a rest’ while children should be offered ‘love and attention’.

And NICE warned that putting patients on antibiotics placed them at needless risk of side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Experts also believe that overuse of antibiotics could be a major factor behind the spread of superbugs such as MRSA because it prompts harmful bacteria to develop resistance, and could make it harder to treat serious conditions in the future.

In 2007, GPs wrote 38 prescriptions for antibiotics, costing the Health Service £175million.

NICE said 60 per cent of these were for patients with respiratory tract infections meaning around £105million was wasted.

Colds are caused by viruses, which means that antibiotics, which work only against bacteria, are useless.

Earlier this year, Britain’s chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said that between 25 and 35 per cent of treatments were unnecessary and did not cure common infections.

Around a quarter of the population visits the GP every year because of a respiratory tract infection.

Professor Paul Little, who drew up the guidelines, said: ‘Management of respiratory tract infections in the past concentrated on advising prompt antibiotic treatment.

‘However, as rates of major complications are much less common in modern developed countries, so the evidence of symptomatic benefit should be strong to justify prescribing antibiotics so that we are not needlessly exposing patients to side effects.’

Shahrir’s Gimmickery

Gimmickry is an art that you employ to cheat people. Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad is learning the ropes fast and does it well.

The latest is Growing Up Milk, which will be 30% cheaper. It will be produced by a government linked company of an unknown name anonymous because, the Datuk must come up with one. It will not be advertised, I suppose people will know it by the local grape vine or word of mouth.

But the mother of gimmickry is, this milk will be available only next year. He has identified the producer, but a programme has not been finalised for lack of time.

Come of it Minister, be truthful once, what is the name of the company, and who are the owners, and notwithstanding zero advertising cost, how is it possible to produce it at less 30%. The people will only believe something realistic and not fairy tales that may happen in a years time. Don’t make it a mystery. People just don’t believe pigs fly.

New ‘Growing Up’ Milk To Be 30 Per Cent Cheaper :: Bernama.com

New ‘Growing Up’ Milk To Be 30 Per Cent Cheaper

PENANG, July 22 (Bernama) — The government will next year announce a new ‘growing up’ milk product for children above two years of age, which is expected to be 30 per cent cheaper than the current milk price.

The product will be manufactured by a government-linked company whose name Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad declined to reveal.

He said the milk would not be advertised in any media. Instead, it will be directly put on sale in hypermarkets and shopping malls.

“The main reason for the price to be 30 per cent less is because the product will not carry any advertising cost,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysian Product Expo at Sunshine Square here Tuesday.

He said the ministry needed more time to prepare the programme, adding that the ministry had identified the producer.

Side effects of alcohol … and remedies!!!

From an e-mail

1. *Symptom*: Cold and humid feet.
*Cause*: Glass is being held at incorrect angle (You are pouring the Drink on your feet).
*Cure:* Manoeuvre glass until open end is facing upward

2. *Symptom*: The wall facing you is full of lights.
*Cause*: You’re lying on the floor.
*Cure:* Position your body at a 90-degree angle to the floor.

3. *Symptom *: The floor looks blurry.
*Cause*: You’re looking through an empty glass.
*Cure:* Quickly refill with your favourite beverage.

4. *Symptom*: The floor is moving.
*Cause*: You’re being dragged away.
*Cure:* At least ask where they’re taking you.

5. *Symptom*: You hear echoes every time someone speaks.
*Cause* : You have your glass on your ear.
*Cure:* Stop making a fool of yourself!

6. *Symptom*: The room is shaking a lot, everyone is dressed in white and
the music is very repetitive.
*Cause*: You’re in an ambulance.
*Cure:* Don’t move. Let the professionals do their job.

7. *Symptom *: Your dad and all your brothers are looking funny.
*Cause* : You’re in the wrong house.
*Cure:* Ask if they can point you to your house