Viagra Seized From Bangladeshi Haj Pilgrims

Customs officials at the Zia International Airport here have seized large quantities of Viagra, other banned drugs, pornographic material and precious stones that Haj pilgrims were trying to smuggle out of the country.

Reports of seizures and arrests have come even as authorities are struggling to send the pilgrims on the journey to Saudi Arabia amidst chaos caused by disruption of flight schedules of the ailing national carrier Bangladesh Biman International.

Long delays have led to angry demonstrations by the pilgrims, media reports said.

A joint task force of customs and the Bangladesh Air Force seized over 5,000 Viagra and Munish pills, prescription drugs used for treating male impotence, from the luggage of a Haj pilgrim on Nov 22. More than 6,000 precious stones were seized Tuesday from the luggage of another pilgrim, the Daily Star reported Wednesday.

In two separate drives Tuesday, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized illegal drugs worth about $320,000 and 50,000 CDs with pornographic movies.

Humayun Kabir, additional commissioner of customs at the international airport, said during luggage scanning the joint task force discovered large quantities of banned pharmaceutical drugs and 47 cans of zarda (chewing tobacco) inside the luggage of a man called Shahdur Rahman at a camp where pilgrims are housed before making the journey.

Rahman, however, managed to leave for Jeddah. The customs commissioner said he had asked the immigration officials here to arrest him on his return.

Humayun said they found the precious gems while scanning the luggage of another pilgrim, Ali Azam. The luggage had 696 rings studded with precious stones and 5,968 other gems hidden inside.

During interrogation, Azam confessed to smuggling out gems while in the guise of a pilgrim for the last four years. (DNA)
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God Help Us If This Woman Becomes Prime Minister

A Wanita Umno delegate from Kelantan said the uniforms of the female cabin crew of budget airline AirAsia are too short and “show too much skin.”

Kubang Kerian delegate Datuk Zaleha Hussin said the uniform was an embarrassment to women.

She called on the Government to compel the carrier to change the uniform of the stewardesses, which she felt was too revealing.

“Tell AirAsia to change their stewardess' uniform. We don’t want to see too much of their buttocks, thighs and legs,” she said, when debating the motion on religion and social issues yesterday.

Zaleha suggested that the uniform be changed to reflect Eastern and Islamic values.

At this juncture, Umno deputy permanent chairman Badruddin Amiruldin, who was presiding over the session, interjected:

“I think they don’t have enough cloth.”

To this Zaleha replied: “Cloth can be bought.” (The Star)

***** Imagine what will happen if the likes of Ustazah Zaleha Hussin, Pengerusi Biro Agama Wanita UMNO Malaysia, is given a Cabinet post and if she were one day to become the PM? 'Mak Leha' will turn this already shaky nation of ours upside down.

I'm sure that many of us would not like to see Mak Leha in an AirAsia stewardess uniform. The very thought will send shivers down the spine of most of us, including the 'emotionally abused' Malay Muslim men suffering sleepless nights and cannot pray properly.

On top of that she wants the uniform to reflect Eastern and Islamic values! Why? Aren't there enough Arab airlines flying around reflecting whatever she wants AirAsia to falsely represent? If Eastern values are genuinely to be reflected isn't it more appropriate for stewardesses to wear the saree or cheongsam/qipao? You can't get more Eastern than that.

It is half-blind ultra fanatics like Mak Leha who have dictated from on high on many things, which in the first place was none of their business, and in the process screwed up our national carrier, MAS. Not satisfied with that they have now turned their skewed focus on a successful example of a great way to fly. AirAsia should tell her and her kind to piss off.
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British Opposition Leader To Boycott Saudi King's Visit Due To Arms Deal Kickbacks Claims. How About Najib Then?

The acting leader of a British opposition party yesterday said he will boycott a state visit by Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to protest the handling of a British investigation into claims that members of the Saudi royal family received kickbacks as part of a massive arms deal.

Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats, Britain's second largest opposition party, said he also wants to protest Saudi Arabia's human rights record by turning down invitations to all the ceremonial events during the king's visit. It begins today and is to include a banquet held by Queen Elizabeth II in his honour at Buckingham Palace.

Britain's Serious Fraud Office had been investigating allegations that members of the Saudi royal family received kickbacks as part of the £43-billion (Dh324 billion) Al Yamamah arms deal negotiated in the 1980s with the UK-based company BAE Systems PLC. (Gulf News)

***** Interestingly our DPM goes in and out of London the way he does from Pekan to Putrajaya. If "receiving kickbacks as part of a massive arms deal" is a criterion which is uniformly and strictly applied by the British opposition then in future the likes of Najib should see his itinerary in the UK being drastically curtailed. Perhaps the hon. Dr Vincent Cable hasn't heard of Najib Tun Razak. But then again Najib isn't exactly in the same league as the Saudi King is he?
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Boeing Unveils 'Green' 787 Dreamliner

Boeing company Sunday unveiled the 787 Dreamliner, its first new jet since the launching of 777 in 1994, at the company's vast factory in Everett, near Seattle.

The mid-sized jet will satisfy passengers by its bigger windows, wider seats and more pleasant air than those in current airliners. The company has great confidence that it will open a new age of aviation.

Being made from light carbon fiber-reinforced plastic instead of heavier aluminum, the 787 is called as a "greener" airline because it would use 20 percent less fuel, make less noise and pollution than other equivalent-sized jets and require 30 percent less maintenance than its predecessors.

"It will be revolutionary," Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst, said. "It will represent a major technological shift in the way a plane is made and in the way it operates."

Although it will make its debut in September and enter service next May, it has already become the fastest-selling passenger plane in history. The Boeing company has received more than 677 orders from 47 customers for more than 100 billion U.S. dollars. Qantas, the Australian airline alone, has ordered 115. (Source - Agencies)

Perak MB Flogging A Dead Airport?

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali has been for a long while screaming and crying like a small child demanding that the landing strip at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (LTSAS) be extended. It looks like that he's finally got his wish when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said that the government would expand the LTSAS airport.

Currently, the LTSAS is used only by two Indonesian airlines, Merpati and Jentayu, for flights to Medan. MAS and AirAsia had ceased their operations some time ago as the routes from there were simply not profitable.

The expansion of the LTSAS, which would include extension of the landing strip, is expected to cost RM40 million. After splurging all that money what is the MB going to do to justify the extension? No problem. He has appealed to Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Firefly and AirAsia on grounds of social responsibility by saying, "they should not only think of making quick profits but also as a social project for the people in Perak." What rubbish! This is the type of meddlesome political interference which was partly responsible for MAS going under earlier.

For whatever reason, the routes from out of Ipoh apparently are not profitable and commonsense will tell that it is better to let sleeping dogs/airports lie rather than spending millions of taxpayers' money just because one pemimpin finds it difficult to drive now and then for Umno Supreme Council meetings in KL.

If the Perak MB was hell bent on getting flights from Ipoh to KL and other places, he should have used his influence and got permission for landing rights for the two Indon airlines, Merpati and Jentayu to do so. But will Tajol Rosli dare to fly in one of their planes?
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EU Bans All Indonesian Airlines From Its Airspace

All Indonesian airlines including national carrier Garuda will be banned from flying to the European Union within a week, the European Commission said on Thursday, updating a "blacklist" of carriers deemed unsafe.

Indonesian carriers do not currently fly to Europe so the ban is also a warning to the 27-nation EU's consumers and travel agencies not to use the country's airlines, an EU official said.

"European citizens should avoid flying with these carriers," the official said. "They are really unsafe."

Angola's TAAG Angolan Airlines and Volare Aviation Enterprise of Ukraine would also be banned, the EU executive said. Ten Russian airlines, six from EU member Bulgaria and eight from Moldova will cease operations within the bloc.

***** Given Indonesia's dismal aviation record, I don't think that even the Indons would be surprised by this EU move. A ban like this has far reaching consequences beyond the borders of the European Union. I don't envisage many South-East Asians, including Malaysians and Singaporeans flying even Garuda anymore if they can help it.

This is the price they have to pay for poor staffing, recruitment of incompetents, atrocious maintenance and irresponsible lack of accountability. It would take a miracle for any Indonesian airline to regain the confidence of the average international traveler. Somewhere in this episode lies a very pertinent lesson for Malaysia.

Read the entire report HERE.
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Malacca State Government's Worthless Junket

Our state governments must be the most inexperienced in the world. They are led by very slow learners who have to make several trips a year to faraway, exotic locations in order to study 'close up' the different models of managing the state machinery. But despite their lack of intelligence and slow grasping power, one must appreciate their undiminished enthusiasm. You see, despite not having made any significant and meaningful change thus far to the way the kerajaan is run, they keep going again and again to more and more foreign destinations, determined to study and learn as much as they can. Such unwavering resoluteness must be applauded by all loyal citizens. So what if it costs a fortune? It is after all a sacrifice by our pemimpin for good, efficient government.

Bernama mentions one such 'working visit' by the Malacca state government bigwigs, including both the aging Governor and the wily Chief Minister whose only claim to fame thus far has been the awarding of nearly ninety datukships at one go. It is indeed a hectic trip. Ten days in Latin America followed by an arduous trans-Atlantic journey for another two more gruelling days of learning in Paris. And we had always thought that running a state government was easy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Our Malacca pemimpin for example must have spent many late hours poring over details, facts and raw data on what it takes to manage a state. OK, so some low level staff may have taken advantage and gone sightseeing, shopping, a little tequila on the side or even a spot of khalwat with a pretty señorita. Hey, after all it's kuffar country mate! (Perhaps this could be one reason why state Muftis are excluded from these 'study' trips and are sent on separate delegations to Saudi Arabia.)

You can read about the Malacca junket HERE.
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MAS To Launch A New Airline, "Firefly"

Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) will launch a new airline, Firefly, which will begin operation in early April, its managing director and chief executive officer Idris Jala said today.

For a start, Firefly will operate with two Fokker F50 aircraft and provide twice daily services out of Penang International Airport to Kota Bahru, Langkawi, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu, plus daily services to Phuket and Koh Samui in southern Thailand with one-way ticket price starting from RM9, he said.

These routes are currently not served by MAS or other airlines, he told a press conference at the Transport Ministry here.

Firefly's routes will complement MAS' network connectivity and broaden its reach. The venture is also expected to boost MAS' revenue and targets, he added.

Asked whether it is a low cost carrier, Jala said: "We would like to call it a community airline with a low cost base. It will be a profitable venture."

He expects Firely to break even in its first year of operation and start making a profit from next year. And there is no subsidy from the government, he said.

On suggestions that there are already a number of low cost airlines in the region, Jala said: "If you look at what is happening in Europe and the US (aviation markets) you will see there is still room for new entrants in Asia."

On investment in Firefly, he would only say: "It is a small amount of money."

In a circular to Bursa Malaysia earlier, MAS said Firefly will be run by wholly owned subsidiary Flyfirefly Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Kelas Services Sdn Bhd), which has been issued the Air Services Licence and Air Operator's Certificate by the Civil Aviation Department effective this Saturday. Firefly will be managed by a separate management team.

Jala, who declined to reveal much of the details, said there will be a separate managing director for Firefly and some MAS staff will be seconded for a start, but eventually the new company will recruit its own staff. (Bernama)

Doesn't The Malaysian Youth Council Have Anything Better To Do Than Be Envious Of Others?

Low budget airline AirAsia must 'project' the country’s culture so that foreigners can recognise it easily as a Malaysian concern. Thus spake Malaysian Youth Council president Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

"We are happy that AirAsia is able to provide cheap air tickets to travellers but its management must ensure that the airline projects the country’s identity and culture," the wise one added. " For example, the uniform of air stewardess did not project a Malaysian image."

When will these gentlemen who have no business acumen to speak of, stop their childish prattle and their attempts to find fault with a well run organisation? What they are basically trying to do is give vent to their deep envy of AirAsia and the fact that a non-Malay is running it far, far better than the dead-as-a-dodo MAS. The 'cultural', 'national identity' demand is just a cover, a stupid subterfuge.

MAS had the appropriate dress code and met every requirement in maintaining a Malaysian identity. Look what happened to it? It is not the blind acceptance of everything that smells of patriotism which decides the success or failure of any business concern but efficiency and the best possible service to the customer, irrespective of who they are or where they come from.

MAS failed because the government, blinded by racial fervour, went on appointing Bumi after Bumi who had precious little real experience in handling such a huge organisation. These 'tokoh korporat' bowed to many demands, unreasonable and ridiculous, from various quarters and the end result was a right-royally screwed MAS. This is the same thing that MYC's Shamsul is attempting to do here. Give in to a nobody like him now and AirAsia will have to pay the price later.

Ignore this and other idiotic attempts in the future to derail a profitable and popular venture. AirAsia as it is now has brought much fame and recognition to the nation which myopic people like Shamsul cannot clearly see. It is time that he and those of his mentality are advised to wake up and smell the kopi Tongkat Ali .
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Malaysia Voted Best Tourist Destination Of 2006 In Magazine Poll.

In what has come as a surprise to many in the US travel and tourism trade, Malaysia was voted the world's best tourism destination for 2006 by a prestigious US travel magazine.

This was the result of a poll conducted by Global Traveler magazine, a monthly published in Pennsylvania. The publication describes itself as a business travel magazine that "takes into account the sophisticated lifestyle interests of today's executive travelers". The magazine claims to have a paid circulation of 60,055.

The extensive poll, the third such annual survey conducted by Global Traveler magazine amongst its readers between Feb 1, 2006 and Aug 31, 2006, addressed open-ended questions for the best in 42 categories. A total of 13,653 completed questionnaires were received by the magazine from its readers. The questionnaires, stretching to a total of six pages, were made available as an insert in the subscriber copies of the magazine and online at the Global Traveler magazine's website.

A spokesperson of FXExpress, which publishes the magazine, told Bernama that only those questions where more than 50 per cent of the questions were completed were counted; those answering fewer than 50 per cent were rejected.

Responses were also screened to ensure that there was no duplication. Members of the travel industry and employees of FXExpress publications were not allowed to participate.

Survey respondents spent a mean number of 61 nights last year on international business trips and 76 nights on domestic business trips. They took an average of 18 international flights and 21 domestic flights per person during that period. Of all respondents, 76 per cent were male and 24 per cent were female, and average age was 45.

An elated Azizan Noordin, director (advertising) at the Tourism Malaysia headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, arrived here to receive the award which was given at the Jumeira Essex House in New York in the presence of a large gathering of airline representatives, tour and travel operators, tourism consultants and the media.

"Naturally, Tourism Malaysia is proud to receive the award which also confirms that our pre-publicity for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 had been a success," he said in an interview with Bernama. Azizan was presented with a crystal plaque with a citation. "This award coincides not only with the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 but also with the 50th anniversary of our independence," he said. He described the award coming from a US-based magazine as a "big achievement". "Our media and advertising efforts are paying dividends now. The award is also a testimonial that Malaysia is now making a mark in the international arena," he added.

At the end of the award ceremony, Azizan was mobbed by many among the audience who congratulated him and Tourism Malaysia for the "spectacular success", as some kept saying.

What has surprised many tourism experts is that Malaysia, which seems to be ranking low in the consciousness of many potential tourists in this country, should have been selected, particularly because Southeast Asia has generally been negatively portrayed in the local media.

The region was plagued by the tsunami in Thailand and Indonesia, the coup d'etat in Thailand, volcanic eruptions and fundamentalism in Indonesia, and the haze that hung over Malaysia resulting from the fires in Indonesia. "People generally associate the entire region with problems ... it is therefore all the more remarkable that Malaysia could achieve such a resounding success despite these problems and was voted the best tourist destination," exclaimed John McKintosh, a Pennsylvanian travel consultant.

Runners-up to Malaysia were Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia (Bali), Hawaii, Thailand (Phuket), South Africa, Fiji and Australia.

In what is being viewed by many as yet another "feather in Malaysia's cap" is the rating given to Kuala Lumpur by the global financial services company UBS which has been evaluating the costs incurred by business travellers in a number of cities around the globe.

The latest UBS report has judged Kuala Lumpur as the "best bargain" on the planet.

UBS said that a business traveller would pay an average of US$260 for a hotel room, meals, transportation and entertainment. In comparison, Tokyo is the most expensive city and would cost the traveller US$1,090 a day. (Manik Mehta, Bernama)
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AirAsia X London Flights From RM9.99?

When I read the above latest headline in TheStar it indeed took me by surprise! RM9.99 to London? Apparently we are in for some real rock bottom priced, ultra low budget no-frills travel in the near future. Read the report here ..........

........ Fly Asian Express (FAX) will fly its long-haul operations using the brand Air Asia X, under franchise from AirAsia, starting July.

The flights will have two classes - super economy and economy. In-flight entertainment and food will be available for purchase onboard.

Fares to London will start as low as RM9.99, excluding tax and surcharges.

FAX has been given rights to operate long-haul flights to destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe.

AirAsia CEO Datuk Tony Fernandes has a 50% stake in FAX. The other two FAX shareholders are AirAsia deputy chief executive Kamarudin Meranum (30%) and former AirAsia chief financial officer Raja Azmi Raja Razali (20%), who is also FAX CEO.

***** So after paying the tax and surcharge what other hidden costs do you expect there to be? What would be your conservative estimate of how much a round trip Kul-Lon-Kul ticket eventually cost, come July 2007?

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From Bernama: FAX Launches AirAsiaX