Game over in Wall Street

The financial wizards and witches in Wall Street are running out of magic and tricks. All the derivatives, paper money, junk bonds etc that they have concocted to be exchanged for money are not working. By the stroke of mid night, they will be transformed back to their original forms, worthless papers. We have seen Merrill Lynch, Citibanks going down. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Lehmah. AIG barely breathing. Now who's next? Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sach? Is there anyone that would be spared? The game is over. But the wizards and witches are still very, very rich. It is the poor investors in America and the world over that have paid the price. Someone care to explain why these people are paid millions and millions when they are gambling with other people's money? And when the game is up, they just pack up and go. They only lose other people's money, not their own money.

Thumbs up for CPF staff

Nothing to do with the policies and the need for people to contribute till death do they part. Wondering why people who are economically active after 60 would still be needed to contribute to their CPF? Just a side track. I was at CPF the other day during lunch time and there were quite a lot of people waiting to be attended. Quite normal as lunch time is a good time for many employees to do their personal chores. What struck me was the attitude of the counter staff at the reception. There was a kind of purpose, enthusiasm and dedication to their job. They came across like self employed people running their own business and knowing that every customer counts and every second counts. They attended to their customers as quickly and attentively as they could. For those who needed to join the long queue, they were advised to go for lunch and return later after collecting the queue number. For those that could be attended to quickly, they did it immediately. I have never seen a govt dept or stats board that is so fired up. Whoever is motivating these staff to work that way deserves an award.

The immigrants of Malaysia

I have received the following note which I think is quite informative. *Mahathir's father who speak Malayalam came from Kerala, Southern India. Badawi's grandfather, Ha Su-chiang (also known as Hassan), was a Chinese Muslim who came from Sanya in Hainan, Southern China. Syed Hamid Albar's father is of Hadhrami Arab descent. Khir Toyo His father, Joyo Erodikromo, was an immigrant from Java, Indonesia. And even the current 'racist' Ahmad Ismail that went into hiding came from Sumatra. And all these people dare to call others squatters & immigrants in Malaysia?!

The official definition of what is political

What is political and what is not political were clearly spelt out by Ho Peng Kee in Parliament. He also explained what can cause people to debate with politicians in public events and cause security concerns and what cannot. The definitions were the most explicit that one can get and I don't think any political scientist or lawyer will be able to dispute it. The gem was not about what he said. I didn't pay any attention to them. What was impressionable was the seriousness in the way Ho Peng Keng explained his position. His face muscles were all taut and tense. And I think Parliament must be very silent with all the Parliamentarians listening intensely to what he had to say. He passed with flying colours for his no nonsense approach to an issue that is becoming a talking point in every gossip corner. It was a very brave delivery. The best gem was a little clip in the news that I caught a glimpse of. It was on Sylvia Lim listening to Ho Peng Kee's discourse on what is political and what is not. You should see the smile on her face. It was all lighten up. That was the most exquisite smile that I have ever seen. And it told so many things without her saying a single word. It would be good if the full clip can be made available in Youtube. I will call it the smile that says everything.

The Malaysian Revolution continues

Just a matter of a few months back you would not believe that it can happen. Two muslim groups and the Mufti of Perlis, Asri Zainul Abidin, are speaking out to defend the arrest of Chinese journalist and Chinese DAP parliamentarians under the ISA. The racial divide is breaking down and the different races are finding a common ground as Malaysians. This is impossible and unimaginable. And it is happening. The mindset of the Malaysians of all races are changing. The voodoo spell of UMNO has been cast away. Malaysians are uniting as one people for a new Malaysia. And all of a sudden UMNO is looking like a bankrupt political party, running out of ideas except threats of violence and the abuse of police authority.