Taking a leaf from Tony...

Arriving in a hotel in KL Sentral he went to the bar and asked for a pint of draught Guinness. The barman nodded and said, "That will be RM1 please, Uncle Tony."
 
Somewhat taken aback, Uncle Tony replied, "That's very cheap," and handed over his money.
 
"Well, we try to stay ahead of the competition", said the barman. "And we are serving free pints every Wednesday evening from 6 until 8. We have the cheapest draught in Asia. Now Everyone Can Drink!"
 
"That is admirable and your drink a remarkable value", Uncle Tony comments, smiling delightedly.
 
"I see you don't seem to have a glass, so you'll probably need one of ours. That will be RM3 please."
 
Uncle Tony scowled, but paid up. He took his drink and walked towards a seat.
 
"Ah, you want to sit down?" asked the barman. "That'll be an extra RM2. You could have pre-book the seat and it would have only cost you a Ringgit."
 
"I think you may to be too big for the seat Sir. Could you sit in this one please?"
 
Uncle Tony attempts to sit down but the seat is also too small and when he can't squeeze in he grumpily complains "Nobody would fit in that little seat!"
 
"I'm afraid if you can't fit in the seats we have you'll have to pay an extra surcharge of RM4 to sit in one of our adjustable luxury hotseats, Sir."
 
Tony swore under his breath, but paid up.
 
"I see that you have brought your laptop with you" added the barman. "And since that wasn't pre-booked either, that will be another RM3."
 
Uncle Tony was so annoyed that he walked back to the bar, slammed his drink on the counter, and yelled, "This is ridiculous, I want to speak to the manager!"
 
"Ah, I see you want to use the counter," says the barman, "that will be RM2 please."
 
Uncle T's face was red with rage.
 
"Do you know who I am?"

"Of course I do. You are Mr Fernandes.”
 
"I've had enough. What sort of hotel and bar is this? I come in for a quiet drink and you treat me like this. I insist on speaking to your manager!"

"Here is his e-mail address, or if you wish, you can contact him between 9 and 9.10 every morning, Monday to Tuesday at this free phone number. Calls are free, until they are answered. Then there is a talking charge of only 10 sen per second provided you use our Hotel Tunes Talk. Using any other mobile carriers would incur our normal charges of 30 sen per second.
 
"That’s preposterous! It’s impossible to even complain like this! I will never use this bar again."

"OK Uncle, it’s up to you. You are free to use or not to use this bar. But remember, we are the only bar in Asia selling pints for RM1. Now Everyone Can Drink!" 

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A bit on understanding the Chinese

Chinese people, in general, have been described as inscrutable, selfish, self-centred, 'kiasu' (afraid to lose out on anything), and so on, and especially in Malaysia, racists. 'How can we not be racist in Malaysia?', my wife used to comment, 'when everything has to do with race?'

Before others condemned the Chinese for being racists and keeping to themselves, they must also find out why. It has more to do with reacting to our government policies which openly discriminate according to race: from education, employment and promotion, to business opportunities. Therefore it was more a reaction to government actions which created this sense of hopelessness and resignation, and which led to their instinctive self reliance.

KTemoc sums up in his critique on Chandra Muzzafar's statement on Chinese education as...

My point is that if the quest or objective is for national unity then we should not just assess the Chinese educational push in isolation. The Chinese wish for mother tongue education has been the consequence of a combination of inter-related factors, namely (just some examples):

(a) the Chinese socio-cultural reverence for education for more than 2000 years because it represents hope for their children’s future,

(b) UMNO bastardization of educational standards leading to Chinese abandonment of a pathetic system,

(c) Chinese perception of marginalization by the UMNO-led government in virtually all aspects of Malaysian life which has convinced the community to go it alone, etc.

We have to deal with all these and not just the Chinese vernacular educational wish alone, and unless we do so, no Chinese parent will ever see Dr Muzzafar’s point, nor will Dr Muzzafar’s wish for national unity be ever achieved with just a good national type education system when the so-called Malaysian society is not Malaysian at all but Muhyiddin’s ‘Malay UMNO First’.

More:
Chandra Muzzafar's silos
http://ktemoc.blogspot.com/2012/06/chandra-muzzafars-silos.html

Raja Petra in his post, The Silent racist, condemned the Chinese for being selective in their criticisms...
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/50113-the-silent-racist

During breakfast, I used to joke about two friends who I nickname as 'Knows All' and 'Knows Better', and when they meet, we are guaranteed endless arguments over any topic of the day. Surprisingly, one of them will give up soon after! I would classify Raja Petra as a combination of 'Knows all and Knows better' and since I know only a bit, I rather not challenge him!

I would just like to point out to him that until recently, the Chinese in Malaysia have always been careful in what they say for fear of being arrested. We try our best to avoid race (if at all possible!), religion (cannot comment since we are not Muslims), and of course, royalty (just a tweet could land Nizar in big trouble!).

Raja Petra himself is a Malay and a member of Selangor's extended royal family, so what he could criticize we could only applaud if it touched on sensitive matters and we happen to agree on. It is better for Malays themselves to criticize their own race or religious practices. We criticize on incidents of large scale corruption because they involved public funds, and chances are higher that these involved Malays. We also criticize MCA and Gerakan leaders for being involved either directly or indirectly, and their loss of support in the last general election was clear enough.

He complained about cases which he mentioned but not followed up by others. How are we to comment if we know next to nothing about them? We have seen how he himself got into trouble for biting off more than he could chew. We have seen affidavits could be changed the following day. Can we trust what we read anymore? We have seen how even senior police officers themselves got into trouble for speaking out. Are we expected to get involved when we know those with the real authority are behind efforts to cover up? We appreciate the exposes by Raja Petra, but what more are we expected to do?
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Rm3 Billion Trial by MSM: Anwar seems guilty already

Just take something that happened 13 years ago which did not find Anwar guilty, ask the accuser again...

Murad to help in probe
http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/murad-to-help-in-probe-1.95950#

Then you give some publicity to some mercenary so-called NGOs who are ever ready to serve BN, who seemed indignant over the matter and decided to report to the police. Never mind they always overlook bigger issues by BN, but with the opposition leaders, there is no compromise.

Have a quick interview with Senator Ezam (he was in dire straits until he found his saviour), who would claim that he knew Anwar very well before and therefore privy to all his financial matters, and televise it on national channels, and the public would think Anwar was guilty of all the allegations.

People like Ezam and other similar turncoats like Nalla, are giving the term 'Senator' a bad name. Senator is universally recognized because of much publicity in USA given to well known senators like Edward Kennedy. Some Malaysians would even describe their occupation in their passport as a senator because of its prestige. But in Malaysia, it used to be a reward for those retiring politicians and high ranking civil servants which earn them the less savoury description as 'deadwood'. But lately, one can easily become a senator if you had close connection with Anwar before and is willing to spill some beans, preferably with added 'salt and vinegar' as the Chinese would say.

If principles are not holding you back, Malaysia is a paradise to raise our standards of living.

Update:

Najib VENDETTA against Anwar: RM3bil allegation baseless, unsupported by evidence

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=35309:najib-vendetta-against-anwar-rm3bil-allegation-baseless-unsupported-by-evidence&Itemid=2
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Foregone conclusion by PSC on Lynas

"KUALA LUMPUR: Australia’s Lynas Corp  is set to clear the final hurdle for its delayed $800 million rare earths plant after Malaysian lawmakers asked the government to issue the miner a temporary operating license despite community safety concerns.

   

The recommendations of a six-member parliamentary committee will be debated later on Tuesday.

 

This will clear the way for Lynas to operate the plant in east Malaysia that is seen as key to breaking China’s grip on rare earths used in products ranging from Apple Inc’s  smartphones to Honda Motors’ hybrid cars.

 

The decision by the committee came after Malaysia last week dismissed an appeal by residents to scrap the plant on concerns of radiation leakage..."

Read more: PSC gives nod to Lynas - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/psc-gives-nod-to-lynas-1.96021##ixzz1yDRknO3j

Flashback...
March 17, 2012: Nine member PSC panel for Lynas...
"The committee to be headed by Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin, would comprise four members of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), three from the opposition and one independent Member of Parliament..."
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/03/17/nine-member-psc-panel-for-lynas/

March 20, 2012: Pakatan Rakyat declines appointment...
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/headline/8958-pakatan-rakyat-tidak-akan-sertai-psc-lynas

At the time, I cannot help being prejudiced by the 5 BN out of 9 Members of Parliament to be appointed. Looking back, before they looked into the matter, the Chairman, Khaled Nordin had already spoke favourably for the project. Recently, his conduct as Higher Education Minister had been severely criticized for his unbecoming comment that those who were assaulted during their sit-in protest at Merdeka Square 'deserved it'; and for his role in denying PTPTN loans to Unisel students to hit back at Pakatan's proposal to have free higher education.

The sole so-called independent MP happens to be Zulkifli Nordin, who stood under PKR and now is chief critic of Anwar and his party. He is now into his last-ditch effort in scandalizing Anwar before his expiry date as an MP. That he would support Lynas was a given.

Personally, I think the matter is too important to be left to biased parliamentarians and Ministers. Why not have a referendum by those in and around Gebeng (including Kuantan), or even the whole of Pahang? This way, any future problems will be faced by those who opted for the project. For those who did not support, and if the referendum is for the project, then the most sensible thing to do is to move away from it.
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Malaysia... truly able... in its own way

Which country has had only one political party in government for more than half a century?

Which country allows the government to use public funds for political purposes?

Which country uses the Police to beat up peaceful protestors and corner them when they have already dispersed?

Which country has a Prime Minister linked to corruption and his colleagues don’t bother?

Which country uses Islam as a political tool to destroy other Muslims?

Which country practices racial discrimination in its policies like South Africa?

Which country gives money to the rich to buy houses cheaper because of their race?

Which country gives money to ministers so they get very rich while the poor suffer?

Which country punishes honest former top Custom and Police officers who whistleblow?

Which country allows its government to rob the poor and fill the pockets of the rich by unreasonable road tolls?

Which country bails out cronies in business with public money into billions of ringgit?

Which country forces religion down people’s throats while the political leaders live in sin?

Which country has an anti-corruption agency accused of murder?

Which country has a police system that sees so many Indian youths die in police lock-ups?

Which country denies the Opposition time to speak freely yet claims to be the world’s best democracy?

Which country allows dirty videos and other slanderous material to be published against others freely?

Which country has conspired against its Opposition leader in a sex scandal that we know is a conspiracy?

Which country has a Royal Commission  which exposes mismanagement and corruption in the Police force but nothing is done to correct the shortcomings?

Which country has a Royal Commission to expose judge  fixing and yet still no one is charged?

Which country has the NEP but sees many Malays denied of opportunities because they belong to the wrong political party?

Which country sees the non-Malays discriminated against and deprived of the constitutional rights  while the corrupt take the lion’s share of their prosperity?

Which country makes a car and sells it at a higher price in the country but charges less for it in other countries?

Which country sees the people divided into bumiputera and non-bumiputera and practises apartheid policies?

Which country has gone so backward in its political culture and stays in power by bribing others with money?

Which country has a farmers’ cooperative and short changes  its members not giving them their due money?

Which country has seen so many abuses of power and yet  the government can still stay in power because of electoral irregularities?

Which country has punished its honest citizens for calling for democracy and clean and fair elections?

Which country controls all the country’s mainstream media and spreads propaganda?

Which country punishes media producers who merely want to promote a free country, what’s wrong with that?

Which country spends money on 1Malaysia but promotes racial hatred and disharmony?

Which country allows a politician to spend public money to promote himself overseas?

Which country has been censured by the BBC for censoring their news we see?

More:
http://dinmerican.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/read-and-decide-for-our-countrys-future/
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