by ParisB on July 5, 2011
That was the slogan coined by the government during Dr. M’s time at the helm, sometime in the 80′s. If you don’t remember it, you are too young, too innocent and too naive.
Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah.
While possibly in a slightly different context, I would like to see the police or the Government get up in arms over anyone calling for the Government to be “Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah”.
Dr. M, I may not agree with everything you have said or done but in this regard, I think the clarion call should not be just “Bersih” but “Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah” don’t ya think?
by ParisB on June 28, 2011
Whenever I go to Singapore …
… I’m impressed by the efficiency of the MRT system…
… BUT I’m thankful that I don’t have to take the public transport. We were stuck on the last train and it chose to delay so by the time we got back it was so late.
… I’m impressed that the food prices at hawker stalls or food courts look affordable…
… BUT I’m not impressed by how tasteless the food is. How anyone can make a tasteless rice wine mee suah is beyond me but they did it in Singapore.
… I’m impressed at how affordable designer goods are …
… BUT I’m not impressed by how the snooty sales staff only have eyes for PRC Chinese.
… I’m impressed at how many people speak English …
… BUT I’m not impressed that most of the people on the street (including taxi drivers) don’t.
… I’m impressed at how rich the people are…
… BUT I’m not impressed at seeing old men and women who should be retired and living their Golden Age in comfort, cleaning tables in food courts just so they can continue to afford to live there.
Like this old woman I’ve seen a few times so far on Orchard Road. Right on the busy sidewalk, she sets up on the floor a strange assortment of things – a few packs of instant noodles, a soft toy, some clothes on a hanger, a tin of sardines… A young man stopped to drop her some money and she asked him to “buy” one of her things. She doesn’t want to be seen to be begging. Perhaps selling something makes her feel better. For the most part, people just walked by in their designer handbags and clothes, carrying their shopping bags, barely sparing her a glance.
Scenes like this stand out far clearer in my mind than any swanky new hotel or iconic casino landmark. I guess its only paradise when you are young and able to contribute. When that time passes, so does your usefulness. I’m not sure that makes it paradise.
by ParisB on June 15, 2011
Came across someone who was very vehement that their blog is a ‘consumer blog’. Well arent all of ours? unless we’re being paid to blog or accept paid posts or are professional bloggers, we are all consumer bloggers. We Consume And we blog .
Was that a swipe at people who work with brands? Well i personally do not see that turning a consumer blog into a professional blog. So long as everything is kept personal and personal integrity is kept intact i do not see how that makes my blog any less worthy or theirs more noble.
Honestly, some of these things really make me so sick of the whole thing.
by ParisB on May 23, 2011
I read with amusement that Malaysia is ranked 10th in the World for alcohol consumption (source). Not bad eh? At least we’re ranking in the top 10 for something other than corruption!
The official numbers are:-
Statistics by the international body this year also showed that Malaysians spent over US$500mil (RM1.5bil) on alcohol with a per capita consumption of seven litres.
Beer consumption in Malaysia is 11 litres per capita.
I’m not sure if they counted the per capita across the board but lets assume they did. That means I should have consumed 18 litres of alcohol and beer this year. Man, do I have some catching up to do!
If we break it down further, the numbers get even bigger.
With 70% of the country’s population officially taken out of the equation for being Malay and Muslim and therefore prohibited from consuming alcohol, that effectively leaves the rest of us who make up the balance 30% to push us to that No. 10 spot. Reassessing that per capita calculation, we are therefore looking at way over 30 litres of alcohol per person of non-Muslim persuasion!
Which means that looking at the stats, we’re all drunkards.
Hic!
by ParisB on May 23, 2011
Our latest PM (I use the word latest because I don’t know if there’ll be another soon!) Najib Razak was in the USA the whole of last week ostensibly to sell Malaysia and to encourage trade and US companies to invest here.
Today, the nefarious other reason for his visit becomes clear as news of his daughter’s graduation in Washington makes the news (source)
This is such a lightbulb moment. Mr. PM times his trip to the USA (on taxpayer’s money), gives a few speeches, meets a few captains of the industry, shakes a few hands…. and then attends his daughter’s graduation. Multitasking yo!
Pure coincidence? I think not. Mr. PM, you shame me. How can you abuse my hard earned tax money by going off on your own personal jaunt? Could you not afford to PAY for your own trip to go for your daughter’s graduation? How is her graduation relevant to the country to justify using taxpayer’s money to fund your trip? Care to answer that Mr. Prime Minister?
