Careful With Information Sourced From Blogs, Says Ahmad Zahid

Malaysians abroad, including students, have been advised to be careful and not to be easily influenced by what is being written in blogs about the political development back home.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said many of the blog contents were mere allegations.

He said reading blogs just for the sake of obtaining information not reported by the mainstream media, could poison the mind as the many of the contents were not based on facts.

"They should also balance things out by reading websites of the mainstream media like Bernama and Utusan Malaysia which are reporting issues based on ethical writing," he said at a meeting with staff of the Malaysian embassy here on Friday.

Zahid said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had accepted the fact that it only managed to secure 140 seats in parliament in the 12th general election and acknowledged the achievement by opposition parties in controlling the other 82 seats.

On the same note, he said, the opposition should also recognise the BN government and acknowledge that even though the coalition only manage a simple majority, it was still a government elected by the people.

"But the opposition has been playing with politics since day one after the election. They want Malaysia to become a country with daily politicking so much so that the government's efforts to develop the country and to care for the people's well-being appear to have been affected," he said.

He also said the opposition was only interested in finding faults with the government.

A certain individual, whose ambition was to become the prime minister at all costs, including seeking support from United States, had been masterminding the attempts to run down the government, he said. (Bernama)

***** Does Zahid truly believe that such a simplistic appeal to the students along with his dismissal of blog posts as 'mere allegations' will do the trick? So the audience out of politeness might have nodded their head and applauded. But after the minister leaves do you really think that they'd go to Bernama for really up-to-date and accurate information?

Blogs for quite some time now have achieved credibility and started to fill the space which government inspired fiction and half-lies have long ignored; the harsh truth. Now good old Zahid comes along and says careful brudder these fellows will poison your mind! The litmus test is how much that gets published in the blogs is finally proven true and in the same vein how much the mainstream media is forced to omit or prefers to leave out in the name of self-censorship. Ultimately it is you who decides, not Zahid.

Bernama Disseminates News And Information 'Accurately', Says Najib

The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) plays a very important role in disseminating accurate news and official information, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Sunday.

He said Bernama could take pride in its achievement.

"Most importantly, the information is conveyed accurately to the people in and outside the country," he told reporters when asked to comment on the 40th Bernama anniversary on May 20.

Najib will be the guest-of-honour at a dinner tomorrow in conjunction with the anniversary celebrations.

He hoped Bernama would continue to strive to enhance its commitment to be more successful in the years ahead.

"I wish Bernama a happy 40th anniversary," he added.

Bernama was set up under an Act of Parliament on May 20 1968.

Earlier, Najib launched the national-level Unity Month at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. (Bernama)

***** When the now consigned-to-oblivion info-dictator Zainuddin Maidin was in power at the Information Ministry, no none trusted any report that came from Bernama. However the current head honcho Shaberry Cheek seems to be making the right noises off and on although he appeared to be a little intolerant on the issue of 'live' telecast of Parliament's proceedings. Only time will tell if Bernama is indeed disseminating 'accurate news and official information'. But I won't place my bets on this happening in the near future.

'Legalise Use Of Parabolic Discs' Call

Tawau MP, Datuk Chua Soon Bui has called for the legalisation of the parabolic disc, as an alternative communication service to the public, as well as a long-term solution to the issue of illegal installation of parabolic disc in the country, including Sabah.

"If there is a high demand for parabolic disc in all the states in Malaysia, and not just in Sabah, then perhaps the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication should consider legalising the use of the parabolic disc.

The open competition should be seen as an improvement to the communication industry," she said.

She contended that if AirAsia is allowed to operate in Malaysia as an alternative to the national airlines, Malaysian Airlines, there shouldn't be any problem to allow for the installation of parabolic discs as an alternative service.

She said this in a statement here Friday in response to the announcement by the State Customs Director, Datuk Mohd Yusop Mansur on April 9, giving two-week grace period to those who have installed the parabolic discs illegally to remove them voluntarily.

Those who fail to do so after the deadline will face action under Section 135 of the Customs Act.

Chua said while it was the duty of the Customs and Excise Department to act against any smuggled items without paying tax duty or without the Sirim certificates, she nevertheless felt that majority of the parabolic disc users might not fully understand or accept the rationale behind such operations.

She suggested that perhaps the Department should consider putting on hold its imminent enforcement until there is a joint clarification from Sirim and the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication.

She also fears that the action of raiding the people's home might later backfire and causes the people to lose confidence in the government.

Besides this, she also claimed to have received many complaints from the public following the announcement by the department recently, questioning why such action seems to be only targeting at Sabah.

"They argued that if it's a matter of national concern, the enforcement should be conducted throughout the country, and not just in Sabah alone," she said.

Chua also said that she had paid a courtesy call on Durahim B. Tutin, director of Tawau Customs Department, together with Councillors of Tawau Municipal Council, CK Yong, Wong Su Vui, Kapitan William Chiew and Lim Vin Fook to seek clarification on the imminent enforcement on the installation of illegal parabolic discs.

During the courtesy call, Durahim said that his Tawau office had received instruction from the headquarters to act on those parabolic discs that tax duties were not paid in accordance with the Customs Act.

The operation would be conducted in housing estates once the two weeks' grace period expires and those who have installed the parabolic disc will be required to show proof of purchase with Sirim certificate.

Any imported electrical items without Sirim certificates would be confiscated.

House owners with illegal parabolic disc were thus advised to dismantle them voluntarily before the said deadline. (Daily Express, Sabah)

***** With terrestrial TV unable to please all sections of society and Astro really ripping off subscribers by employing underhanded business tactics like rehashing programme packages and increasing charges, the legalisation of parabolic discs makes sense.

But I doubt that the government will be very enthusiastic over such a move. As it is they are pissed off that blogs have diminished the disinformation capacity of their TV channels and government owned print media. The last thing they need is another diversion from their propaganda machine. At least now there are some simple-minded, gullible people who still watch their programmes and believe their lies. Introducing parabolic discs would further reduce their dwindling clientèle.
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Dr Mahathir Set To Publish 'Thriller'

Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohammad has finished writing his memoirs and the book could become a "thriller" when it is published.

Mukhriz Mahathir, son of Malaysia's longest-serving leader, told Gulf News the book will cover both public and private sides of his father.

During his rule, the outspoken leader often riled major Western countries with his criticism of their policies and became known for his advocacy of Asian values.

Mahathir's comments were sometimes seen as controversial. He told a conference of Islamic leaders in 2003 that "Jews rule the world by proxy" and "get others to fight and die for them."

Bold reflection

The forthcoming memoirs are promised to be a bold reflection on his experience as prime minister for 22 years. "It will be published soon. It is going to be a thriller," Mukhriz said. There has been some delay in publication because when Mahathir reads his memoirs "he feels he wants to say some more."

Mahathir, born in 1925, underwent a second heart bypass surgery in September last year and has kept a low profile in public life since his retirement in 2003.

He oversaw Malaysia's transformation from a producer of primary commodities into a wealthy industrialised nation when he left the prime minister's office. Previous works by Mahathir have tackled political, economic and national issues. They include A New Deal for Asia, Terrorism and Real Issues, and Globalisation and the New Realities.

In the Malaysian Currency Crisis, Mahathir explained how Malaysia overcame the Asian currency crisis in 1998 which wounded what were then known as southeast Asia's "tiger" economies, including Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

In the controversial Malay Dilemma, written in 1970, he analyses Malaysian society in terms of race and criticises his own people for a lack of progress. (Gulf News)
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'Mr Bean' In Political Malaysia

You’d think that buying batteries would be a quick-and-easy transaction in any part of the world, but at a 7-11 store in Brickfields in central Kuala Lumpur last week, I ran into a rather curious, and comical, situation. For some unfathomable reason, the counter-clerk, a young Malay male, refused to acknowledge my request for batteries, and kept staring at me.

Diagnosing this as a 'communication gap' disorder, I pointed to the battery packs stacked right behind him, and threw in a few well-chosen Malay words to articulate my interest in procuring them. This time, he did respond, but only to hail his colleague, a girl barely in her teens, who rushed over excitedly — and joined him in gawking at me.

A rush of Malay words, and intermittent giggles, flew back and forth, while I stood around, feeling rather like an orang-utan at a zoo at showtime. The spell was broken only when the girl stopped giggling long enough to sputter: “You're Mr Bean!”

This isn’t the first time I’ve been mistaken for Rowen Atkinson, or rather for the bumbling character he so comically portrays. Last year, a linesman shunting engines on the train to Lhasa asked me if I was “the stupid Mr Bean” and had a photograph taken with me. And at the Hong Kong Sixes cricket tournament last month, kids waiting to get star cricketers' autographs abandoned their quest upon sighting Mr Bean and came squealing in hot pursuit of me. Ever gracious, I humoured them with my autograph!

I honestly don't know why this should be so: I don't think I bear even a faint facial or personality resemblance to Mr Bean. But since denials are disbelieved, I play along and savour my 15 minutes of look-alike fame.

My dashing good looks — ahem! — also led me to many interesting experiences in Malaysia, which are representative of popular responses to the colour of one's skin in large parts of East Asia. At a Sessions Court in Shah Alam, where 31 Hindraf supporters were being tried, the court security guard disallowed local Tamil-language journalists from entering the courtroom on the specious ground that the room was full. But when I showed up right behind them, I was admitted without even an identity card check, evidently in the belief that, being fair of skin, I represented a Western news organisation (and must therefore not be trifled with).

Once, while taking a taxi, I got talking to the driver, a Malay Muslim, about the ethnic Indians' situation. “You must be British,” he speculated, eyeing me in the rear-view mirror. “So you might know something about the Indians here. They are dirty, lazy, drunkards.” After letting him rant for a bit, I revealed to him that I was an Indian national of Tamil stock.

For the rest of the journey, the hitherto-garrulous driver confined himself to meditative monosyllables.

DNA gained two unlikely — and wholly unwelcome — ‘brand ambassadors’ last week in Malaysia: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz. Aziz, in fact, flaunted a copy of the November 28 edition of DNA at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur and ranted about a front-page report that quoted a poet who had spent 17 years in Malaysia as saying that the racial discrimination that ethnic Indians there face smacked of apartheid. Prime Minister Badawi followed up on that, denouncing the report as unrepresentative of the Malaysian situation.

However, the DNA report was picked up — and endorsed — in Malaysia’s vibrant blogosphere (check out http://tinyurl.com/3ddvpo, http://tinyurl.com/3xln6o for two representative blog-posts), but the poet herself was subjected to some scurrilous personal criticism.

Perhaps momentarily rattled by the bilious rage, she disassociated herself from the DNA article, but has since clarified that the article as published had her written approval.

In the interests of her safety and protecting her privacy, I’ll say no more on the subject… (By Venkatesan Vembu - DNA)
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Should You Trust Sell-by And Expiry Dates?

Most people are paranoid about sell-by dates and hence end up throwing foodstuffs which can be used well past their sell-by-dates. Some foods you should bin, with some you can afford to sin a little and others last for ages so you win all round.

Here’s a list of what foodstuffs you should keep and what you need to throw.

BIN
These are foods you shouldn't take risks with. They probably won't kill you, but you might end up with a tummy bug.

Shop-Bought Sandwiches: Only risk one day past the sell-by date.

Cooked Meats: Throw these out a day after their sell-by date, unless you re-cook thoroughly until piping hot.

Soft Cheeses: They can harbour a nasty bug called listeria, which is very dangerous to small children and pregnant women, so this is not worth the risk.

SIN
They won't be at their best but there's nothing wrong with these nutritionally or safety-wise for up to two weeks after the sell-by date.

Eggs: If they are stamped, they're from chickens inoculated against salmonella and will keep for weeks in the fridge. If there's no stamp, use within a week of the sell-by date.

Poultry: Chicken and other raw meat will be inedible long before it's dangerous. As long as you cook it until it's boiling hot, you're in no danger. Chicken can be kept a week or so after its sell-by date.

Milk: Even if opened, milk is often fine to drink three or four days after its use by date. Sour milk won't harm you - use it up in sauces and cooking.

Bread: Most breads have antifungal agents, so they'll last for days after the sell-by date. Scrape off any mould and toast it.

Soft Fruit: Berries, peaches and plums last a couple of weeks in the fridge. Even when they start to taste 'fermenty' they're still good for you.

Seafood: It smells and looks unpleasant well before it becomes unsafe.

WIN
These foods can last for months, even years, so don't throw them away unless they taste bad.

Apples: Last for months and there's no evidence that they're not nutritionally as good as when they're first picked.

Potatoes: They last for months in a cool place but if they grow shoots this indicates the presence of a chemical called solanine, which could make you ill, so chop green bits off before cooking.

Tins And Jars: Baked beans or tuna will last centuries - or until the tin becomes damaged or rusty. The flavour may go after 20 years, though. Jam, ketchup or curry pastes will last for years while sealed but once opened they'll only survive a few months.

Chocolate: This will last for ages. The fat may crystallise and turn white and the flavour fades but it's safe to eat.

Hard Cheese: Cheddar lasts for months as cheese making is a safe way of preserving milk. Just cut off any mould.

Frozen Food: As long as frozen meat, fish or vegetables are kept frozen they will last virtually for ever, although the flavour will deteriorate. Eat within a few days of defrosting.

Dry Foods: Crisps, biscuits, rice and pasta will last for years. Crisps and cakes will last for months but, once exposed to moisture in the air, they go rancid quite quickly and taste stale.


WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY MEAN?
In our rush to chuck things out we often confuse the terms "use by" and "best before". Follow our guide to what they really mean:

USE BY - These are the only dates to worry about and are found mainly on meat and sandwiches. These dates are pretty random. There's no exact science and manufacturers work in a margin of safety, so if you keep the food under perfect conditions, it's safer for longer.

BEST BEFORE - It is used on less perishable foods which only lose their eating quality. If it tastes fine, there's no reason to throw this food away on this date.

SELL BY OR DISPLAY UNTIL - This has no legal meaning and is only for the use of shelf-stacking staff. So, ignore it. (Mumbai Mirror)
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