RM1.8 million for six Facebook pages

While the deputy tourism minister justifies the exorbitant cost, a DAP MP, however, calls it ridiculous.

KUALA LUMPUR: Close to RM1.8 million has been spent to create six Tourism Malaysia Facebook applications, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said that each application cost RM293,072 to develop, or RM1,758,432 in full.

He said this in response to questions raised by DAP-Rasah MP Anthony Loke and Umno-Tangga Batu MP Idris Haji Haron, who asked why the ministry spent such a huge amount on its social media campaign.

Mamit identified these applications as:

a) Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia

b) Citrawarna 1Malaysia

c) Karnival Jualan Mega 1Malaysia and Karnival Jualan Akhir Tahun

d) Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1Malaysia

e) Kempen 1Malaysia Bersih, 1Malaysia

f) Fabulous Food 1Malaysia

He added that the Citrawarna 1Malaysia Facebook page attracted a total of 20,292 Facebook “likes” since its launch on May 21 this year.

Mamit said that the reason why each application cost so much was because of the tasks associated with them.

“These cover creative works, concepts and ideas, design, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching of application, system server development and maintenance, development of database from the contest, campaign management and monitoring as well as online advertisements and fan recruitment in Facebook and Google,” the deputy minister said.

‘DAP’s page did not cost a sen’

This reasoning, however, was rubbished by Loke, who called it “ridiculous”.

“These are just Facebook fan pages,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby later.

Showing reporters the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Facebook page on an Ipad, he added: “Anyone can do this. (…) Everyone knows that Facebook pages are free, and you don’t need servers or designs (for them).”

He also pointed to the Citrawarna 1Malaysia flash application, which was linked to a Facebook game.

FMT later opened the application, and found that it was a flash music rhythm game.

According to the application, players who attained high scores while playing Citrawarna 1Malaysia stood a chance to win an IPad 2.

Calling it a waste of public funds, Loke said DAP created similar Facebook fan pages and flash applications at no cost.

He said the Visit Penang Facebook page, designed by the Penang state government did not cost “a single sen”, and had gotten nearly 120,000 Facebook “likes” in the past two years.

ANTI-1.8Million-FB-Page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anti-RM18Million-FB-page/158216647580352?sk=wall

CURI-CURI-WANG-MALAYSIA
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Curi-curi-Wang-Malaysia/159764004089350



nuffnang_bid = "272dfcd6b634a8934319853fcada4fcc";

This MD doesn't need you to buy his products !!!!

FW: This MD doesn't need you to buy his products !!!!

Recently the MP for Titiwangsa Johari Bin Abdul Ghani  has made it clear that he does not need the Chinese and Indians to win the Titiwangsa seat. He did a mathematical calculation that all he need is the 32,000 Malay voters and that is all.   He made it very clear that the Chinese and Indians are a minority and they are nothing but *Customers*.   See here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lz0pZAKzH0 Now who is this Ybhg Datuk Johari Bin Abdul Ghani? Well he is the *Managing Director of CI Holdings Bhd* the owners of *Permanis Sdn. Bhd. *He came on the Board of this company on the 29th of November 2002. Well since we are nothing but mere *Customers*, and since he does not need the Chinese and the Indians, I suppose he also does not need our patronage on Permanis Sdn Bhd products. Permanis products are as follows and you may be familiar with some of them:- *SOFT DRINKS** : PEPSI, PEPSI MAX, PEPSI LIGHT, PEPSI TWIST, 7-UP, MIRINDA, FROST, EVERVESS, KICKAPOO, MOUNTAIN DEW, ISOTONIC DRINKS: REVIVE,REVIVE LIME BURST, EXCEL, GATORADE, GATORADE QUIET STORM; TEA: LIPTON ICE TEA, LIPTON GREEN TEA 9 COFFEE: BOSS ENERGY: STING * *ASIAN DRINKS**: CHILL JUICE: TROPICANA TWISTER, TROPICANA 100% , TROPICANA JUICE PLUS WATER: BLEU , SHOT *I trust you can spread this around and I suppose we know when we are not wanted and we also do not want their products.

Open Letter From "Ice Cream Seller"

> Subject: Fwd: FW: Open Letter From "Ice Cream Seller"

> Note: Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah today criticised Malaysians who
> have emigrated, saying it was “wrong” and insinuating that they were
> betraying the sacrifices of their forefathers.
>
> Husni, who is second finance minister, explained that “our
> forefathers” settled here because they believed that their children
> would have a future in Malaysia .
>
>
>
> Open Letter From "Ice Cream Seller" to Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni
Hanadzlah, Deputy Minister of Finance , Malaysia
>
> Dear Deputy Minister Husni
>
> A story (true) in response to your statement about emigration by ingrates.
>
> Sometime in 1980, when I was a final year student in London , I had a
> very short tele-conversation with my father. In those days, there were
> no call cards, Skype or the like and calls were expensive. He had a
> very simple message - "Don't come home, Son".
>
> Now almost 30 years on, I see where he was coming from.
>
> He advised me to stay on in the UK or if I found the weather not to my
> liking, told me to go to Australia - even if it meant that I may
> eventually marry a "white girl" as he put it. I was 23 and marriage
> was certainly not on my mind.
>
> He was a 'pendatang'. This pendatang however secured a scholarship to
> study in Raffles College (the pre-cursor to the University of Malaya)
> and served some 30-odd years in various senior teaching positions
> culminating with the last few years in the Malay College (Kuala
> Kangsar, MCKK) .
>
> Amongst his students - a list of past and present ministers and
> opposition figures.
>
> I didn't heed his advice till last year and spent the last 28 years in
> Malaysia . However, it became increasingly untenable to work here
> without compromising my values, integrity and conscience.
>
> Why did he advise me such? With hindsight, I saw his foresight.
>
> As an educationist, he saw we were heading to be another Ceylon (from
> where he was sent when orphaned), Burma , Philippines and in today's
> scenario, Zimbabwe .
> He saw what the outcome would be when we mess up education with politics.
> He saw that religion would be a divisive factor in years to come (he
> even encouraged me to learn Jawi as a 9 year old).
> He believed that in a country like this, mixed marriages would help
> cement society.
>
> He saw in some of our leaders of yesterday that even in their youth,
> they had unbridled cunning and only needed an opening to exploit that
> trait.
> He saw in some of his students potential to be PM but said that would
> never be because they were "too smart for UMNO's liking".
> He saw that given our racial demographics, religion would be used as a
> means to ensure the survival of a particular group.
> He believed that eventually, the Malays would have a class war amongst
> themselves.
> He said that even amongst the Malays, many of the English educated
> would opt to live away from Malaysia .
> He told me promotions won't necessarily be given for competence. These
> are usually won in the Clubs (read political party today) and over a
> few drinks. Being a bit of an introvert myself, he encouraged me to
> join clubs, associations and play sports and travel.
> He said honesty doesn't necessarily pay in this world but still better
> to be honest and live with dignity.
>
> Our home was (at different times) home to 3 delinquent Chinese boys -
> sent by the Juvenile court. He volunteered to take them in. Add to
> that a few other Indian boys.
>
> Though not my mother tongue, I spoke to my parents in Malay till I was
> about 10. We took in a Chinese lady injured during the war and she
> lived with us for about 40 years till she died. My father referred to
> her as his mother in law. I thought she was my grandmother even though
> my mother was not Chinese!!
>
> By the late 70s and early 80s, he saw that this scenario would not
> likely repeat in the years to come.
>
> When he died in 1982, we were pleasantly surprised to see some of his
> students (by then in their 50s) come from different states for his
> funeral.
>
> One told me that it was my father that made sure he spoke flawless
> English and another told me how my father would bring the 6th Formers
> home from the hostel and used our home for dinner and to teach them
> social graces - including dancing (taught by my mother). Partners were
> arranged from the convent school with the blessings of the
> headmistress!!!
>
> 29 years on, I view his foresight through the same prism and now
> agonise as to whether I should tell my children the same.
>
> For now, I am allowing my eldest to pursue his tertiary education overseas.
>
> Maybe when he finishes, he may not be as shortsighted as I was. Pray
> God grant him wisdom and vision.
>
> Last year, I resigned from my job, returned the company car and
> driver, said goodbye to my executive package and moved to Australia
> where I now live with no maid, no driver, no Audi 2.8, no golf, no teh
> tarik sessions, no bonus etc but am rediscovering humanity running a
> humble ice cream shop.
>
> Sometimes we learn very late.
>
> An ice-cream seller
>
>
>LETTER 2:
>
> A Malay but no longer Malaysian
>
> by H. Batson
>
> I am a Malay who has given up my Malaysian citizenship to live in
> another country. I have never been discriminated as a citizen of this
> foreign counry when it comes to job opportunities (promotions). I got
> to where I am not because I am a Malay but because I am good at what I
> do.
>
> Prior to issuing me a certificate of good character (one of the
> requirements to become a citizen), I was interviewed by the Asst High
> Commissioner of Malaysia .
>
> He was a nice man. He asked me this question:
>
> Asst High Commissioner:
>
> “Are you sure this is what you want to do?
>
> Because it is such a shame that Malaysia will lose a professional like you.”
>
> My reply:
>
> "I would love to contribute to my beloved country.
>
> However, my husband is an “orang puteh” and although he is a
> professional, it was impossible for him to get permanent residence in
> Malaysia .
>
> You don’t make it easy for us, what more I am a woman. My husband will
> never get citizenship."
>
> Asst High Commissioner:
>
> "Yes I agree, we don’t make it easy that is why we lose so many professionals."
>
> What more can I say.

What! Utar turns down RM30m donation?

Subject: Fw: What! Utar turns down RM30m

Why would UTAR's Board of Trustee turn down the RM30 million offered by the philanthropist to build hostels for the under-graduates? Simple, first, they don't get the chance to "manage" the expenditure of the RM30 million. Second, many, if not all Board members own properties around the campus. Who on earth would like to see the rental income from their properties to go down instead of up every year? Conflict of interest, self-interest, all kinds of interests!!!!!!

What! Utar turns down RM30m

Monday, 21 December 2009 01:18

KUALA LUMPUR – Plans by renowned philanthropist Koon Yew Yin, who has offered scholarships to Utar students to further alleviate their problems have hit a caveat.  Koon made a RM30mil donation offer in August this year to build hostels at the Utar Kampar campus to help students “because all the poor students who have taken my scholarships have been complaining that their room rental keeps going up and up.” According to Koon, there are about 10,000 students in Utar Kampar and the university has no plan to build any accommodation for students. In a letter to the media, Koon vented his frustration saying the Utar  “was not willing to accept my RM30mil donation and to allow me to have control of a task force to oversee the spending of my money for building hostels within the Utar campus.” “The housing developers are making hay while the sun shines. They just cannot build fast enough to meet the rapid increase of about 2,000 students per year,” said Koon.   As a result, room rentals in the campus town are going up with a twin sharing room going at RM420 a month, he claimed. Koon who met MCA president Ong Tee Keat during a meeting earlier, said that the MCA leader was shocked that Utar was not willing to accept his RM30mil donation and to allow him to have control of the task force. Koon said that Utar has 1,300 acres of land and he only requires 30 acres to build the hostels. He alleged that Utar had insisted that he could build hostels to accommodate only 5,000 students so as not to “upset the current property rental market outside the campus.”  All terms agreed   Koon also said that he had accepted all terms by Utar, including donating the money directly to the university account. However, Koon said in his letter that now, the Utar board of trustees chairman, Lau Yin Pin has written to him saying that they were willing to forego my RM30mil if he (Koon) insists on having control over the task force to manage the money he has donated.  “Their letter of rejection is disingenuous to say the least. In the first place, they are willing to accept my proposed donation (according to all except one) on the basis of the conditions that I have set out,” he said. Koon said that the letter to him states that “the Trustees and the Council will ensure that your donation will be utilised specifically for the purpose stated by [me]” and “the returns from the hostel will also be utilised according to [my] wishes. Koon wants 50 % of the returns to go to the Koon Yew Yin Scholarship and Loan Fund to be managed by Utar and the balance 50% of the returns for new hostel construction at Utar.  “However, in the same letter they state that ‘from the date of its inception on Aug 13, 2002, Utar has been receiving donations from various people and organisations including a launching grant of RM50mil from the Federal Government. None of these donors have imposed any terms or conditions on Utar," said Koon. Koon said that just because past donors have not insisted on conditions on their donations should not be used to reject his offer.  “This so-called tradition is being used to reject my condition for control of the task force and is quite frankly, absurd and unacceptable. It is clear to any observer that if the Utar management agrees to the other conditions I have set out, they are already breaking the so-called “practice and tradition” of unconditional donations.”  No vested interest Koon insisted that his main concern in asking for control of the task force is to protect both the interests of the students and Utar.   “As a result, more students will be attracted to Utar Kampar which will also benefit the various property owners that are currently enjoying the benefits of the abnormally high rental market in Kampar at the expense of the students. “ In his letter of appeal to the MCA president, he urged the party and leaders to share his concern and to oppose “Utar members who may not be so scrupulous on observing their basic fiduciary duty to protect the interests of the students and university.” In the mean time, I have to remind all the members of Utar Council and the Board of Trustees of their fiduciary duty. Koon lamented that to stop him from building hostels on the basis of a “weak, illogical and unjustifiable pretext is surely against the interest of thousands of students and the university institution.”  “I would like to stress that the net income from the rental of RM30mil invested in hostels and associated facilities will help thousands of students. You must not forget that the net income will be recurring which will help many more future students,” said Koon.

Racial remarks: Headmistress must be sacked

Racial remarks: Headmistress must be sacked

Friday, 20 August 2010 admin-s

We have this kind of people not only in schools - but those higher up are no better. The Director General of Education Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom did not do justice to himself or to his position when he referred to the offending alleged remarks made by Siti Inshah Mansor of Sekolah Menengah Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra as “just a misunderstanding.”

By P Ramakrishnan, President Aliran

It is difficult to reconcile how a principal of a secondary school could be so insensitive and dumb as to utter derogatory words to denigrate students under her care. She had shown utter contempt to the Chinese and Indians in this country.

It is unbelievable that she could have said, “Chinese students...can return to China.” It is amazing that she could have likened the prayer strings worn by Indians to a dog leash.

It is difficult to believe that she is a teacher and an educator. With this warped and distorted view of the Chinese and Indians, what kind of values can she impart to her students under her care? What kind of character can she inculcate among her students? She comes across as subhuman.

How she got promoted is a mystery. How she got selected to be a teacher is a wonder. Unfortunately, there are many of her ilk in the Teaching Service doing immense damage to this nation. Two years ago, we had one dumb discipline teacher in Anderson School who ordered Hindu students to remove their religious wristband and shave off their moustache and beards, which they had allowed to grow ahead of fulfilling their vows during Thaipusam

We have this kind of people not only in schools - but those higher up are no better. The Director General of Education Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom did not do justice to himself or to his position when he referred to the offending alleged remarks made by Siti Inshah Mansor of Sekolah Menengah Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra as “just a misunderstanding.”

It is extremely upsetting when he tries to trivialise a serious matter as trifle. Instead of viewing her remarks as something that can hurt the feelings and sensitivities of others to the extent of jeopardising our harmony and unity, he doesn’t seem capable of understanding what damage her remarks have caused to our frail unity. Her thoughtless, offending remarks have indeed further undermined the Prime Minister’s vision of 1Malaysia.

When so much damage had been done by this insensitive head, it is troubling that the PM and the Education Minister have not uttered a word to reprimand this head. They have a duty to land hard on those who threaten our harmony and create disunity among us. When they hold their silence, it can be construed as not viewing seriously what has happened. It is this attitude that is causing a lot of problems in this country.

In Aliran’s view, this head should not continue to remain in the Teaching Service. She does not have the aptitude to be a head; she doesn’t understand the cultures of the various communities; she does not have commom sense to discern what is right and wrong; she does not respect the rights of citizens of this country as evident when she stupidly told the Chinese students to return to China.

She should be either sacked or pensioned off. Keeping her in service will be viewed as condoning her conduct. Keeping her in service by transferring her to another school or department is not acceptable. This kind of action only encourages others to be bold in acting irresponsibly.

At times we wonder whether the government is truly interested in reining in these unscrupulous elements in positions of authority and weeding them out of the national life to preserve our harmony and unity. We have to ask this question simply because we have had so many instances of questionable characters disparaging the non-Malay communities without being properly disciplined.

The manner the instructor in the BTN had blamed and shamed the non-Malays as a group, the manner Datuk Nasir Safar from the Prime Minister’s Department had displayed his ignorance of our history by ridiculously claiming that the “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially women came to sell their bodies” and got away scot-free without being severely punished - all of these have only encouraged others to go overboard with their insults.

Thinking Malaysians have a right to ask why the General Orders were not applied in these cases. Are they exempted from the provisions of the GO?

Source:

http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/33940-racial-remarks-headmistress-must-be-sacked

Punish ‘racist’ principal, not cover up, parents demand

By Debra Chong

August 19, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Denying that it was a “misunderstanding”, parents want the Education Ministry to take stern disciplinary action against the Johor school head accused of spouting racist slurs, claiming that it was not the first incident.

One parent even alleged the ministry was trying to “cover up” the case at SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Kulai.

“Parents are very unhappy that the authorities are citing misinformation and misunderstanding that the headmistress had made the remarks.

“It wasn’t a misunderstanding. Even the teachers have given their statement to the police. The teachers confirmed what has been reported by the students,” a parent told The Malaysian Insider, refuting Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom’s response yesterday that the case was just a misunderstanding and had been resolved.

“If it was, then why did the state Education Department tell her to make an open apology to the non-Malay students and teachers?” he asked, and related that principal Siti Inshah Mansor had been loudly booed by the student population in the attempt.

“The government is trying to cover it up,” claimed the 46-year-old business consultant, who asked not to be named, fearing repercussions to his job.

The father of two said parents were mulling setting up a formal parent action group to pressure Putrajaya into action.

“Some disciplinary action must be taken. Even if not dismissal, at least demote her. If just transfer her out, it won’t solve the problem.

“She has done in before. In her previous school, she called Indians Nigerians,” he said, claiming Siti Inshah, who was formerly the principal of SMK Kelapa Sawit — another school in the same Kulai district — had been transferred out following similar complaints.

The police are currently investigating the case under section 504 of the Penal Code for provocation which carries a maximum imprisonment of two years, a fine or both.

A total of 17 complaints have been lodged with the police against the principal so far.

A copy of one report made last week and recently put up on the Malaysia-Today website listed several racist and derogatory remarks allegedly made by Siti Inshah, including likening Indian students wearing prayer threads on their person to dogs and ordering dissatisfied ethnic Chinese and Indian students to “return to China or India”.

Part of the lengthy police report lodged by a 16-year-old student alleged: “She gave the example of owning a Proton Saga with two passengers who are Munusamy and Chong. Munusamy and Chong were only passengers. They cannot claim any right to the car. This is the same as Malaysia in which the non-Malay students are passengers.”

Similar “racist” allegations have been reported made by senior civil servants, most notably by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s then-political aide Datuk Nasir Safar in January this year at a 1 Malaysia event, and signal a rise in racial tensions among Malaysia’s multicultural society.

ALSO READ:

1) ‘Racist’ Headmistress in Johor issue a misunderstanding – Education DG

2) 'Racist' headmistress: DPM orders probe