More to it than mountain climbing

That is the sort of scene one would expect to see on the way up to the peak of Mount Kinabalu. However, it didn't happen. Not this time. Maybe next time.

That next time would mean undergoing massive shedding of those "spare tyres", marked improvement in health and stamina, and lots of viagra to pump more hormonal excitement in life.

Do be careful with those viagra. Over heard here the political grapevine that one politician in Sandakan had a bit too much viagra and experienced heart attack twice in recent times.

That is strange.

Viagra is supposed to help one's heart problem. Perhaps, strange things do happen with a little too much excitement with glamour and someone outside one's age group.

Amidst the surreal and mystical surrounding near Mount Kinabalu, there are quite few viagras to invigorate one's soul and spirit without the suicidal attempt to the peak before reaching the right fitness.

There is nature, culture and history.

In the heaven's of Kinabaloe

It is not our first time to Kinabaloe (or Mount Kinabalu) foothill in Ranau and Kundasang.

The last time we were here was in Kundasang last year to deliver a talk. It was cold and raining at night with the blowing wind giving an eerie sound.

After the talk and dinner, we wasted time with poker into the early morning. The weather was fine the next morning but we could only savour the clear sight of Mount Kinabalu for a short while before leaving home.

This time we have more time to enjoy and appreciate the awesome scenery and visit the attractions albeit at leisurely pace without any targeted schedule.

Kudat: God's secret hideaway

Finally there is Internet access in Ranau for us to do our better late than never update. No politics yet, only the travel.

We were up early Wednesday morning. A normal early day in Sabah is around 5 AM.

Had a simple spartan breakfast of hot drinks, bread, and spread. Packed our stuff into the vans and off we left the homestay apartment for Kudat.

The homestay is owned by a gentlemen from Pasir Mas, Kelantan. Yes, another Semananjung smitten by peaceful Sabah.

Kudat is not that far and within two to three hours from Kota Kinabalu. However, we have to allocate time for sightseeing and schedule swimming for the kids in the evening.

Kami di Sabah, bah!

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah state capital

Heard the Prime Minister will be off for his vacation. So that rules out any chance for general election soon.

With a Deepavali and Maal Hijrah holidays close to each other and school is out, the best thing to do is to take a break from current affair of the world and take that long needed holiday. So off we go for Sabah last Tuesday.

The choice for Sabah is simple. Putting the fluid and unstable politics aside, Sabah is a lovely state to go. People are nice and friendly. It's cohesiveness as a society with many races and 'tribes' is amazing. The true 1Malaysia. 

It served our purpose of visiting our old Rengus friend in Kudat of 40 years and friends and family spread all over Sabah.

Salam Maal Hijrah 1434

To mark the occasion, Muslims are recommended to end the past year and begin the new year with the following  dua':

No Diwali wishes for Tony F

First things first.

Happy Diwali to all my Hindu Malaysian brothers and sisters.

May the lights of Diwali strengthen our resolve to let good triumph over evil, right triumph over wrong, truth over lies and slanders, charity over greed, and peace and serenity over loud and chaos.

The last three are not usual Hindu wishes for Diwali. It is just us adding our own wishes to save the soul of  Tony F. We would have wanted to wish him Diwali but a commentator told us that Tony F hate to be wished Diwali.

Some commentators viewed our bitching of Tony F as racism against Indians. Do perish such thoughts.

He may gained the help of tycoon Ananda Krishan to get the appointment with Tun Dr Mahathir to sell the idea of them buying Air Asia from Hicom in those days. But it has nothing to do with his Indian blood or contributing to the cause of the Indian community.

Tony F is British and a Christian. Can't you notice his English accent?

"We don't need no education ... "

Believe me, it has to be an MRSMer to think of something this out of the ordinary and out of place.

As we entered the ballroom of Allson Kelana Resort, Seremban, playing in the background was Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) ....

We don't need no education.
We don't need no thought control.
No dark sarcasm in the classroom.
Teacher, leave those kids alone.
Hey, Teacher, leave those kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall. ...

To an outsider, it would have been the most in appropriate homecoming song for returning former students.

Taking 40 years off my age

It's been a while since we've visited our old Alma Matter, MRSM Seremban. That's the hotel nearby, not the school. With bikini-clad girl student in pool, how we wish.

So today, having missed too many class gatherings, we are making a trip to Allson Klana, Seremban this afternoon to attend the 40th Anniversary Dinner of MRSM Seremban. Been too busy and engrossed to get together with them.

The dinner also commemurate the institution of MRSM. As the first MRSM of the 47 MRSMs in existence today, our anniversary is the institition's anniversary.

The dinner will also be a time to get re-acquinted with lost friends and do some re-bonding with those still closely in touch. Naturally, many will be lost in their reminiscence of old times.

That's taking off 40 years of our age.

Musa, Anwar and other politico-corporate development

In case readers did not notice, Musa the Fox campaign picture was removed from this blog this morning. It is officially lifted.

Sime Darby's Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings yesterday went well. Resolutions tabled for the EGM approved. Mainstream paper reported of Dato Bakke Salleh expressed intention not to accept the scheme.

And Tun Musa Hitam did the gentleman thing to not seek re-election as Sime Darby Chairman.

However, it has got nothing to do with our previous posting calling for him not to seek re-election. [Read here.] He had planned for it and told shareholders at the AGM.

"I had intended to serve Sime Darby for three years from 2007. However, due to a number of reasons, that decision was delayed until now. I hand over the reins of this great company to the next generation of leaders. I do so with an easy heart.”

Here onward, let the issue lay.

While it is easy for Musa, it is not getting easier for Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Will Nurul accept her son and daughter's "right to apostacy"?

It is perhaps the politics of the time to push the envelope of freedom of expression and public discourse. The one bewildering question on YB Nurul Izzah is: Will she says those same words to her son and daughter?

For a while, let's not talk of theological and constitutional opinions on murtad or apostacy in reaction to Nurul's opinion on the rights of Muslim to select their religion. Many others have and will discuss, including the strain of Nurul's thinking that is part of Islam Liberal and Plural.

There will be more tonight at Perkasa's Forum at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman Hall in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur at 8:00 PM. Among others, one the speaker tonight is Dato Fuad Hasan, Director General of JASA.

He could explain and elaborate this new wave of liberal thinking that wants to allow for apostacy. He had spoken briefly before of a book, La Iqraha Fiddeen (No compulsion in Islam) by Sheikh Tahar Al Jabeer. Hopefully, he could give a background of the Sheikh and the links to Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Musa should not seek re-election ...

... and learn from Bakke's examplary leadership and classy gentleman act.

With regard to the performance-based employee share scheme announced in a circular by Bursa Malaysia dated October 16, this blog have given Sime Darby the right to reply, explained the reason behind the issue we raised, and lent a hand to re-presented the scheme.

On several occasions, we highlighted the "failure to communicate" on Sime Darby side. Despite the work and study behind scheme had started since 2007, the Chairman cum main spokesman of Sime Darby failed to communicate to the public.

The Board of Directors made a decision on October 8th, and announced an EGM for November 8th in a circular dated October 16th.

Though it is legal and in accordance with Bursa Malaysia rules, it leaves a perception that there is an attempt by company to silently bulldozed the proposed scheme over the shareholders and stakeholders.

Despite the assistance we lent to Sime Darby to clarify matter, there are other parties not convinced.

Continuing on discrimination or prejudice? Business or racism?

Was on the road while doing the earlier posting.

If the comments in this blog here, Rocky Bru here and Economics Malaysia here is indicative of the public reaction to the conclusion from the study, the effort and conclusion by the two researchers, one Chinese and another Malay may seemed in vain.

The general tendency of commentators was to get into political blame game and not towards acknowledgement of the problem so that we can move forward.

It is sad for anyone to be discriminated by virtue of their race at the start of their economic life and the basic human rights of employment. All our life we were advised to study hard in order to improve our life.

If the past excuse was that Malays were not capable, the study showed Chinese with lower grade and Chinese speaking fair higher chance of getting a callback. This is only a callback, not even past the obstacles of interview, job confirmation, salary increment, bonuses, incentives, promotions etc.

It is not even entrepreneurship, doing businesses, contracts, distributive trade, SME, etc.

Discrimination or prejudice? Business or racism?

It was clearly stated in the introduction of the seminar presentation that the study was about racial discriminatory practices in hiring workers in the private sector and not about racism, prejudices, and what not.

But some numb-nuts could not resist to give a generalisation that "Malaysian employers practise racial bigotry, study shows." However, the Bahasa Malaysia version was toned down as plain and in a matter of fact manner as  "Malaysian employer prefer to take Chinese worker over Malays."

At the end of the report by the Malaysian Insider's Debra Chong here and the BM version here, one can see the agenda emerging to promote an all sweeping removal of racial discrimination. One can sense any form of affirmative action, even if it is specific for the lower economic class is dubbed as racial discrimination.

How quick these left leaning media are in spinning anything resembling counter argument, though it is merely indicative and not confirmation, to their agenda and interest from a stated fact.

Does race matter in Malaysia?

In this era of national slogan for 1Malaysia and DAP-led agenda for Pakatan Rakyat (PR)'s of Malaysian Malaysia, many would like to believe that race should not matter any more.

The neo-liberals inside Barisan Nasional (BN) will try to keep the course in line with 1Malaysia idea of one Bangsa Malaysia although Bangsa means nation too.

The traditionalist are cautiously concern for the diminishing programs for Malays and their respective races but are aware of the need for restrain and patience.

PR will try to be oblivious to race despite the fact that DAP is 99.99% Chinese and PAS is 99.99% Malay. DAP is comfortable with Chinese competitive ability. PAS thinks there is no Malays but only Muslims in Malaysia.