Bloggers should always write the truth

The Star

Thursday April 19, 2007

Dr M: Bloggers should always write the truth

PUTRAJAYA: Blogs are relevant because they are another source of information and different from that provided by the mainstream media, but bloggers should be responsible on what they highlight, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said bloggers should not tell lies and untruths, and because there were no laws governing them, their freedom to write anything could negatively affect the development of the country.

“Although bloggers are not subject to the same laws governing the mainstream media, they should write the truth all the same.

“I believe there should be press freedom but there should be a certain amount of limit to ensure that the information provided does not destroy the country,” he told reporters here after opening the Perdana Leadership Foundation's sixth discourse series titled “Media and National Development” yesterday.

On the planned registration of bloggers by the Government, Dr Mahathir said it was similar to licensing of the mainstream media.

He said it was good, provided it is not used to threaten bloggers when they write the truth.

Dr Mahathir also apologised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for accusing him of owning a house in Perth, Australia.

He said he got carried away when he mentioned it at a talk in Kulai, Johor, on March 29 recently and added it was based on a rumour.

He was responding after web portal Malaysia Today's Raja Petra Kamaruddin pointed out to him at yesterday's press conference that through an independent search, it was discovered that the house belonged to the wife of a prominent Malaysian businessman.

Inflation!!! Price Up!!!

Inflation..

According to Wikipedia, 'the word “inflation” refers to a general rise in prices measured against a standard level of purchasing power...(and)...Inflation is measured by comparing two sets of goods at two points in time, and computing the increase in cost not reflected by an increase in quality.'

Here goes.. Petrol price up.. Cement price up.. and now it's the price for steel is going up as well as other stuff that will/might go shooting up as a result (consequence) of these price height.

What has our country become in these few years? You and I hear from here and there that prices are going up. Needless to say, you do understand what I am talking about.

We have been living here earning our meager salary and trying to cope with all the things that are "price height". Not to think of buying a house. Even considering buying a car will post a headache to us with the salary that we are earning every month.

Now, with this price increase in everything around us, how are we to even think of buying things for ourselves, even shoes, shirts, shampoo, etc.

Can we demand that our bosses to give us a pay raise? (Dream On, Babe)

If not, then what were we to do to cope with the price increase, and any other "upcoming price increase" that will definitely be welcomed by those manufacturers.

What are we, as an ordinary (and I emphasize "Low Pay") citizen, to do with these? So, now, I need to strike out some of the items in my 'to-be purchased' list.

Ok, better do it now before I forget.. hahahahaha

Why Do I Blog?

Been thinking this for a while lately.. Though just a while, but I think it's worth writing this down since our learned (and unfortunately 'blogosphobic') ministers been harping on this "bloggers" thing lately.

No need to say or attach any link here, and all of you will know what I am talking about..

So.. Back to the main topic here. Why I start blogging?

Is it because I want to be famous? No. Is it that I want to make more friends? No (though I don't have many). Is it that I want to make money through blogging? No (and I don't even know how even if there is such a possibility).

It has been raining here since 5pm. Not heavy, though. But sufficient to cause some traffic jam around here in town. Wonder why or what or how rain can cause traffic jam.?

The rain is not to be blamed. It could be our country's drainage system is not good enough to make sure that the rain has sufficient 'exit'.

There is another thing that perplexes me here. It's the jam that caused by accidents.

Hey..traffic jam can happen even though the accident occurred on the opposite side of the road. What on earth are these people here thinking of? Are they so courteous that they slowed down to pay 'respect' to the victim of the incident? Or is it because the accident has blocked the highway, which I doubt most of the time..

Why on earth those people slowed down and "watch" the aftermath of the accident where in fact they can't, or won't, offer any help? Some even stopped in the middle of the road, for a few seconds, just to watch and see the wreckage and then continues his/her journey.

Remember hearing from my parents when I was a kid, that people here tend to slow down on the scene of accident "to take number". I didn't believed this and dismissed it as silly, until I see it myself where this driver literally stopped his car to look at the front of the wreck of the accident. What else that guy could have been doing besides taking down the "number".

Is it a pleasure by slowing down and looking at people at the scene of accident, and then drove away not offering any help?

Come on everyone!! Be more courteous and drive; and not to cause a massive traffic jam just because of a small accident and you want to 'take down the number plate'.

I belief all Malaysian drivers do encounter with such situation, and it seems that this is a tolerated "value" here.

Alright, a little side tracking here. Now, now.. I know why I started blogging. I don't want to be famous. Ok, I want to make more friends but don't know how. And obviously everyone wants to make more money too. But making money while blogging? Sorry, I don't know how, too.

I started blogging is because my interest in writing. Since I was very young, I was, and still is, facinated by authors of books, magazines, journals and articles who can write with such fluency, beautifully put and grammatically perfect.

So I has been writing short (and I mean real short) articles in my school, but never get published anywhere because my 'half past six' command in English. I was particularly happy when my teacher assigned us with essay writing. I could think of a story out of no where but not able to put it into words since I didn't know where or how to word them. Then this 'wierd' interest of mine was dropped after I went into college, as I need to complete assignments and more assignments.

So, before the end of year 2006, I made myself a resolution. That is to start a blog. A blog of my own where I can write whatever I want and like. About my life. My daily events and happenings. And more. I don't side any of the political parties. I am not a politician. Just wanting to write my thoughts and comments.. (and hope I don't get sued for my own thoughts)

And, it has been 3 months since I started blogging here in January 2007.

From what I have written here, looking back, I have not done much writing, though. Looks like I have been reading and reading and putting up articles here without writing anything of which associated to why I started this blog.

I think this article will be the first ever that I have properly written here. Hope that I can give my readers more interesting things to read, rather than some boring newspaper write-up.

Crime Rate Increase

You and I can hear this from the national radio stations and also read this from the media on the increase of crime rate in our country. This state increases by 118%, that state increases by 41.1%, and so forth.

Reading this has ticked my mind. Is that an explanation or merely an excuse made by the Federal CID director Comm Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee.

Yes. You can say that public’s confidence in the police is one of the reasons for the increase in the crime index. However, what we, the citizens, wish to see is that the criminal conducts be reduced as we get news everywhere that snatch theft is still rampant in this and that township, etc..

So, please our trusted police do to reduce the criminal conducts so as to make this country for us to live in.

The Sun

Believe it or not? MyKad not recognised by govt departments!

R.Manirajan

April 9, 2007: Getting the National Registration Department's nod for a name change in your MyKad doesn't make it any easier to do the same for your driving licence and passport.

A Muslim convert who tried to do this recently has uncovered yet another example of poor public service delivery, with government agencies sticking to their own rules, no matter what the NRD has approved.

The convert, a Singhalese, had converted to Islam in 2003 and recently asked the NRD change the name on his MyKad.

The applicant wanted to remove his "anak lelaki" and his grandfather's name from his name. At the same time, he opted not to have "bin Abdullah" after his name as was normally done by other converts.

As required, he submitted his original birth certificate, photocopies of his conversion cards from the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim) and Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) and a commissioner of oath affidavit declaring his conversion to Islam.

The department approved his application in one week and he got his MyKad with the new name he wanted.

Next on his "to do" list was to change his name in his passport and driving licence. That was where his frustration started.

At the Immigration Department in Putrajaya, he was told by a counter staff to bring certified copies of his new MyKad with the NRD approval letter, conversion cards from Perkim and Jawi, birth certificate and another commissioner of oath affidavit declaring his new religious status.

"I asked the staff why I needed to bring all these documents again when NRD had already approved the name change?

"She said it was their rule as Immigration needed to make its own verification with the religious departments and other agencies before approving the name change in my passport," said the applicant who spoke to theSun on condition of anonymity.

After getting all the documentation done, he went back to Immigration, but this time, another counter staff said they could not accept his application in Putrajaya as the headquarters only issued approval and did not handle applications. He was told to go to the nearest immigration branch and it would take about two weeks to get approval from the headquarters.

"The NRD is a government department that gives Malaysians their identity card and even citizenship status. How come such an important document like this is not recognised by other government departments?" he asked.

The applicant faces the same problem with the Road Transport Department.

"Isn't there supposed to be a standing operating procedure and shouldn't there be greater respect for the MyKad?" he said.

Spokesmen for both the Immigration Department and the Road Transport Department confirmed the procedure of asking the applicant to bring all the relevant documents, saying it was a standard operating procedure.

They said documents could be forged and therefore thorough checking was required.

Asked why certified documents from the NRD were needed when the departments could verify the applicant's information by making a phone call to the NRD and citing the reference number given, they said this was being done but the applicant still needed to produce photocopies of the documents required.

--- end ---

With the advent of this technology era of our world,
you really don't know what is to be expected with
the things done in our government departments..

Preserve Unique Identity, Rich Cultural Heritage

BERNAMA

Preserve Unique Identity, Rich Cultural Heritage, M'sians Told

April 09, 2007 - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Monday reminded Malaysians to preserve their unique identity and rich cultural heritage from being swept away in the global changes brought about by globalisation.

"If we are not careful, we may probably lose our identity as a Malaysian. So be wary not to be swept away by the cultural wave sweeping through the globe.

"We must be firm in protecting our national identity and culture no matter how powerful is the sweeping changes," he said when opening the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) campus, here Monday.

Abdullah said the government's human capital development policy was not merely to acquire knowledge in science and technology but also to create a vibrant and dynamic Malaysian society, preserving the Malaysian identity and its rich cultural heritage and values.

He said moulding a true Malaysian society by upholding the culture, arts and heritage must not be ignored as they are the pillars for the future generation to cherish.

"These are our features and values that will be followed by our children and grandchildren later," he said.

In the race for materialistic wealth, he said concerted efforts must be made to ensure the Malaysian race prospered in their own mould, maintaining their own identity "in soul and spirit".

"A race is identified by its culture and tradition...this is the features that must prevail. There must be something unique to be identified," he said.

Speaking to reporters later, Abdullah stressed that culture, arts and heritage must be nurtured at all times.

"In our pursuit to acquire wealth and knowledge, we must not forget our cultural heritage. We don't want to fade away in the western cultural wave sweeping through the globe now," he said.

The prime minister said some teenagers in Malaysia were aping the West in the way they dressed to the extent of their shirts and pants bearing pictures of flags of certain foreign countries.

He also said Malaysians should not only be fluent in the national language but also in its correct usage.

Abdullah hoped ASWARA would become an agency of excellence by forging academic collaborations with various parties overseas.

ASWARA is a public tertiary learning institution established for the learning and teaching, doing research, publishing academic materials and providing professional advisory services in culture, arts and heritage.

It offers courses and programmes at certificate, diploma, degree and post-degree levels in the three fields.


Quoting our PM "We must be firm in protecting our national identity and culture...", I am concern about the current issue that is prevailing in our country. Needless to say, it's the racial differences, or should I say racial misunderstanding.

One must bear in mind that our country is made up of different races and cultures, and one should respect each others' culture so as to make this land of Malaysia a prosperous and wealthy country.

It will definitely not be a win-win situation should there be any racial 'misunderstanding' amongst us all here.. We have been brought up here. We love this land.

No Plan To Compel Bloggers To Register

This is a more sensible after the remark made by the learned Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, when PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that the Government has no plan to make it mandatory for bloggers to register

BERNAMA

April 09, 2007 -- The Government has no plan to make it mandatory for bloggers to register, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday.

He said existing laws and regulations were adequate to take action against bloggers who crossed the limits.

"Existing laws are sufficient to deal with them. The laws will be invoked when the need arises," he told reporters after opening the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) campus.

Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said he did not believe requiring bloggers to register would solve the problem of posting baseless information in their websites.

The prime minister said many people were unhappy and had voiced their displeasure over the bloggers posting unverified information in their websites.

"Even if they are ordered to register, some of them may not comply and resort to using other channels through foreign servers," he said.

Asked to comment on a foreign wire agency report on a timber transaction implicating Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Abdullah said he was not aware of the report.

A foreign wire agency reported on March 29 that Taib has been implicated in a 1.1 billion yen (RM32 million) timber export kickbacks.

It said nine Japanese shipping companies, which transported timber from Sarawak, had allegedly failed to report some 1.1 billion yen in income over a period of up to seven years.

The report claimed the money was paid as kickbacks to Sarawak officials via a Hong Kong agent linked to Taib and his family.

Bloggers may have to register..!!!?

The Star

Bloggers may have to register

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

BLOGGERS using locally hosted websites may be asked to register with the authorities, Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said.

He said registration was one of the measures the Government was considering to prevent the spread of negative or malicious content on the Internet.

Shaziman said this while winding up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address for his ministry.

He added that the ministry did not have any problem with bloggers who identified themselves, and he welcomed blogging activities.

However, he said there were about 50,000 websites registered under the .my suffix and there were a lot of avenues for anyone to host websites with malicious content which could harm the country’s security.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, who interjected when Shaziman was speaking, said the negative comments of several ministers about bloggers reflected their lack of understanding about information flow in cyberspace.

“They should be educated on the vast benefits of blogging, which will help them to interact more with the people. Many politicians overseas already have their own blogs,” he added.

Asked to comment on the matter, Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said bloggers were very aware of their own ethics and responsibility for content on their sites.

While agreeing that there were bloggers who had inflammatory content, he said unidentified bloggers could still be traced through their website addresses.

He added that the problem was also about inflammatory comments by unidentified visitors to the blogs.

Ahirudin Attan of Rocky's Bru said the move to compel local bloggers to register was effectively the Government trying to control what Malaysians were writing online.

“This violates the Government's no-censorship policy with regards to the Internet,” he said.

He added that the move would just create fear among the bloggers and would encourage them to host their blogs overseas.

Marina Mahathir, a blogger and activist, said the Government really should “get real.”

She said the move “is just going to make Malaysia look ridiculous in the eyes of the world.”

Blogger Jeff Ooi wondered why the Government was pursuing this course of action.

He said the Government had already set up the Content Forum to deliberate on complaints by any party.

Pit bull dog owner bites policeman

Damn.. I thought I read it wrongly.. (ok, here. Dog bites Policeman.. or Owner bites Policeman) hahahahaha

Reuters

Pit bull dog owner bites policeman
Tue Apr 3, 2007 10:02 AM BST

LISBON (Reuters) - The owner of a pit bull bit a policeman after his dog ran away during a confrontation with officers, daily Diario de Noticias reported on Tuesday.

Two policemen stopped the dog owner for walking the animal without a leash and a muzzle on Sunday in Cova da Moura -- a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Lisbon.

The man threatened the officers with his dog, but the animal bolted leaving the 35-year-old to grapple with both policemen. The owner bit one of the policemen on the wrist while the other suffered a broken finger in the scuffles, the newspaper reported.

The owner is under house arrest while police are still looking for the pit bull, according to the daily.

Portuguese authorities are cracking down on what they call "dangerous" dogs after four rottweilers mauled a 60-year-old woman to death last month.

While not necessarily dangerous, pit bulls are sometimes used by gang members to intimidate and in dog fights.

What on earth has happened to those people out there..!!?

Here we blame the owners when their dogs bit anyone. Now, now. Who should we blame when the owner in turn bitten someone here? (The Dog, of course..) hahahahahahaha