Nation

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Keng Yaik: No more water concessions will be given out
The privatisation of water supply has been put on hold and no more water concessions will be given out.

Accused fail to get evidence
Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and two other accused in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case failed to get access to all the witnesses' statements ahead of the trial scheduled for Monday.

Change of lawyers yet again in Altantuya murder trial
There was another change of lawyers in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial yesterday.

No flip-flop policies, assures Najib
The Malaysian Government is committed to ensuring the success of the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) and will not lose focus or have "flip-flop" policies.

Abdullah: Tap business potential of Gulf states
Kuwait and other Gulf states have great potential for business and local businessmen should explore them, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Effendi named Malaysia's rep
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi is Malaysia's lead representative in the special committee for Iskandar Development Region (IDR).

Eight killed in five-vehicle crash near toll plaza
Seven members of a family and another person were killed in a horrific accident near the Hutan Kampung toll plaza, near here, yesterday.

Tomyam last request to wife before fatal crash
Prepare tomyam for the children and grandchildren.

MCA picks new chairs for 5 states
The MCA has appointed five new chairmen to head its Selangor, Pahang, Kelantan, Malacca and Terengganu state liaison committees.

PM: Grab opportunity to improve yourselves
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urged Malaysian youths to constantly improve themselves, as they will make up a "gigantic workforce" by the year 2020.

Crucial decision in Lina Joy case
The Federal Court judgment today on the Lina Joy appeal will be a historic one with legal and social repercussions, whichever way the decision goes.

Media told not to speculate on events in woman's death
Police have appealed to the media to stop speculating on events leading to the death of 51-year-old Yek Yow Ngan who was said to have been pursued by a group of men with parangs and iron rods.

Woman's reunion with dad turns fatal
A man died after repeatedly stabbing himself in the abdomen when his daughter demanded to know why he had given her away for adoption 25 years ago.

Trader killed in robbery gone wrong
A garments trader was shot to death in a botched robbery attempt last night. The incident occurred outside his house in Kepong Baru at 10.30pm.

'Payment-no-receipt' Customs man moved
The Customs Department has transferred an officer implicated in a recent case at the Second Link here of accepting payment of duty without issuing a receipt.

World help to halve road deaths
The Government is getting international help in its aim to cut road deaths by half by participating in the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).

Court staff prefer van shuttle service to bus
Lawyers, court employees and the public would waste much time if they were to use RapidKL buses to get to and from the Jalan Duta court complex, according to the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee.

Choo: Vogue article was my ticket
Plenty of networking including having a close relationship with the media - that is the advice of number one shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo to Malaysian entrepreneurs who want to market their brands globally.

Use ICT, media urged
The media should make use of communications technology to change people's views on issues of global concern, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Media underused in AIDS/HIV fight
Information on AIDS and HIV must spread faster than the disease.

Very loud 'no' to China maids
The proposal to bring in domestic help from China has triggered strong opposition from women leaders of Chinese-based parties in the Barisan Nasional and the DAP who fear that Chinese nationals might wreck Malaysian families.

Royal lunch for 50 Merdeka 'babies'
Fifty lucky Merdeka "babies" will get a chance to have lunch with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on Aug 29.

MIC issues show-cause letters to 14 branch chiefs
The MIC has issued show-cause letters to 14 branch chairmen from the Kuala Selangor division for voicing their dissent against the Barisan Nasional's choice of candidate for the Ijok by-election last month.

Rakan Muda show fans riled by rowdies throwing bottles and cans
Bottles and cans flew across an outdoor arena when several youths got restless during an open-air show at the Bukit Kiara sports complex here.

Study on picking, promoting judges
Judicial experts have agreed to carry out a regional study to determine if a judicial commission on the appointment and promotion of judges would ensure the independence of the judiciary.

Plans for dialysis units in rural clinics
The Health Ministry will set up haemodialysis units in rural clinics where there is an extensive demand for such treatment.

Listen to the people, civil servants told
Civil servants must listen to the people's views on their service and serve with integrity, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said.

• • Doesn't he know people are willing to pay extra for amenities like listening, and integrity? What? That's now called bribery? What?!?!?

Two new Labs from Ireland will be trained to sniff out pirated discs
Lucky and Flo, the two expert sniffer dogs, which helped seize RM15mil worth of pirated optical discs cannot stay here for good.

• • Amazing the things they can train a dog to sniff for.... Maybe I should get a lost keys hound...

Bid to admit foreign evidence
The prosecution in the criminal breach of trust trial of Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock will try to persuade the Sessions Court to admit evidence obtained overseas.

Raising the bar on teaching standard
In a bid to produce world-class teachers, the Education Ministry will introduce the Malaysian Teaching Standard (MTS) next month.

Deputy minister's kin tests positive for drugs
A brother of a federal deputy minister who was detained on May 20 tested positive for syabu in preliminary urine tests.

Ways to improve the protection of human rights
Improve the protection of human rights by doing away with the culture of impunity, religious intolerance and vigilantism, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has urged the Government.

Hypermarkets lead the way in lowering price of consumer goods
Consumers will have a reason to cheer as a price reduction campaign at hypermarkets could see consumer goods having significantly lower prices.

Many unaware of vacancies for teachers
United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) has refuted an Education Ministry claim that no Chinese applied for the position of temporary teacher at Chinese schools, reported China Press.

Still many abused women suffering silently
At least 38% of Indian women in the country have been affected by violence, Tamil Nesan reported.

Payslip perk for GROs in the capital
A number of girls, including those who are highly educated, are willing to work as guest relations officers (GROs) in posh karaoke centres in the capital because their employers are now issuing them with payslips.

Source

Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei
Simon Richmond

$23.99(USD)

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Discover Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei

Have your fortune told by a psychic parrot, then dig into dosa in Singapore’s Little India.
Trek in the footsteps of tribal war parties on the Headhunters’ Trail in Gunung Mulu National Park.
Travel the length of Peninsular Malaysia, through the world’s oldest rainforest, on the Jungle Railway.
Give the turtles plenty of space as they haul their 750kg-bodies up the beaches of Cherating.

In This Guide:

Top adventure activity coverage – the best hiking, snorkelling, caving, diving or bird-watching info.
Five authors and 2731 hours in-country researching this edition.
More listings of sustainable businesses, to help you make the right choices for the environment.
Find out how you can minimise your impact at lonelyplanet.com

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Rough Guide to the Music of Malaysia
Various Artists

$14.98(USD)

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Cultural Dimensions of Expatriate Life in Malaysia
Bill Drake

$5.95(USD)

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This book has been written for the traveler or expatriate who wants to understand more about the complex cultural melange of Malaysia than is available through conventional "Do's & Don'ts" travel books. Take, for example, the challenge of understanding the concept of Face.

Its difficult for Americans to understand the Asian concept of Face because we have no equivalent in our culture. The reason why a clear understanding of FACE is vital for American business people is because we don-t really have an equivalent concept, so it is difficult for us to understand what face even is, much less how to influence our Malaysian friends, neighbors and associates in positive ways using our knowledge of FACE.

-Faces- are, in fact, interdependent, with individuals enjoying -face- through association (whether within families, work groups or even national groups) with high status persons, gaining face when one group member gains it and losing it the same way. An individual-s loss of face can be the cut that unravels the complicated, carefully woven fabric of social relationships, the guanxi, upon which his success in society depends.

Unrestrained expressions of anger are rare in people of authority in Malaysia and they are excruciatingly embarrassing to the recipient of them. There is a popular Malaysian proverb about how something once said can never be retracted. Throwing a fit, making loud accusations or scolding someone in public could lose you the respect of your subordinates, colleagues or household help. Recipients of severe reprimands respond with expressions of embarrassment such as giggling, smiling nervously or averting the eyes which to the Westerner, unused to such behavior, might add insult to injury if the Westerner was wronged. Most Asians would rather let resentments fester than express their unhappiness publicly.

One of the most damaging reputations any person can have is that he BU GEI MIANZI (does not give -face-), i. e., embarrasses the people he deals with and causes them to lose-FACE.- Conversely, a person who is proficient in the art of -GIVING FACE- not only enhances his own -FACE- but ensures the most effective possible professional and personal relations with the Malaysian Chinese he deals with.

Losing FACE is much more intense than suffering embarrassment or shame. In extreme cases it can be like losing all the senses, losing one-s place in life. Complete loss of Face is like full exile. You become a non-person, even to family and close friends. You can-t speak or be spoken to; you can-t be heard or seen. You are just not present.

Keep in mind that gaining Face in among Chinese people wherever they live enhances what is most precious, the nurturing bonds which comprise one-s whole identity. When a person gains Face by the act of another, there is no gift more appreciated or significant. Keep in mind that regardless of the business or technical concerns of your Chinese and Malaysian associates and colleagues, it is very likely that on a deeply personal level nothing you can offer them is more important than for their FACE to be enhanced by the act of dealing with you.

For an American to say or do anything which separates a Malaysian Chinese counterpart from this source of personal identity is painful and frightening in ways which as a westerner you can never fully comprehend. Nevertheless developing an appreciation of the importance of Face, and avoiding trivializing it by making inappropriate comparisons with western ego-centered concepts, will be one of the most important things you can do to make your stay in Malaysia a success.

 

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Malaysia and Singapore (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
DK Publishing

$25.00(USD)

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Malaysia Flag Polyester 3 ft. x 5 ft.

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3 x 5 ft Polyester flag with 2 brass grommets. These polyester flags not recommended for prolonged outdoor use. For outdoor use, we recommend our nylon flags. This flag is double sided.

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The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
Rough Guides

$21.99(USD)

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The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei is the definitive guide to these three fascinating Southeast Asian countries. There’s detailed coverage of Malaysia’s superb natural attractions, including Taman Negara – the Peninsula’s main national park, with its four gateways – and, in Sabah and Sarawak, Mount Kinabalu and the limestone pinnacles at Mulu. Great beaches and islands also get full attention, including the islands of Langkawi, the Perhentians and the dive mecca of Sipidan. There’s plenty on the indigenous tribes of Borneo too, including how to make upriver trips to traditional longhouses. The book also provides the lowdown on Singapore’s burgeoning entertainment scene – from alternative gigs to cutting-edge theatre – and uncovers the secret charms of secluded Brunei. All the background you need to get the best out of these multicultural nations is here, including a food vocabulary to help you order the best Malay, Chinese and Indian fare, and insights into local etiquette.

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Malaysia

$19.95(USD)

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We open the show in Kuala Lumpur for the Merdeka Day Celebration. The color, the culture is on parade for their Independence Day. Then we tour Sungai Dusun Rhinoceros Reserve, Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, Taman Negara (national park) and more. . . This is truly a tour of Malaysia.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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Guide to Insurance Buying in Malaysia
Pee Che Yong

$4.99(USD)

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This unique Guide is a simplified and user-friendly insurance planning tool designed and constructed by a group of specialists. It guides you step-by-step through the phases of calculating, selecting, managing and planning your own insurance affairs.

Additionally, this Guide contains well-structured worksheets to make your insurance planning easier. Each worksheet consists of easy-to-understand questions, along with sample answers for your reference. They are your step-by-step guide to calculating and determining your insurance needs. Worksheets for life insurance, disability insurance and critical diseases insurance requirements are included.

There is also a section on 'Things to watch out for when purchasing/renewing a medical card insurance'. This section will teach you the things you should look at carefully before committing to this type of insurance.

In the section on 'Myths and facts about life insurance', we tell you what these myths and facts are and help you clear up the confusion and misunderstanding you may have picked up over the years.

Furthermore, the Guide covers correspondence addresses of various organisations with which you can lodge an insurance complaint. A sample letter is there to help you write an effective complaint when needed.

And much more...

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Voyager Series: Malaysia - Ghazal
Various Artists

$8.98(USD)

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Ghazal is just one of many forms of music found in Malaysia that comes from a variety of sources. Strong Middle Eastern tones and rhythms played on a variety of instruments highlight the sounds of a diverse multicultural nation.

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A Short History of Malaysia: Linking East and West (Short History of Asia series, A)
Virginia Matheson Hooker

$16.95(USD)

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One of the last British colonies to achieve independence, Malaysia has been developed by its leaders as a model of rapid modernization. From an earlier image as a romantic tropical backwater, it is now a self-conscious, rapidly developing, hi-tech nation-state, stretching from Thailand to the sea boundaries of the Philippines. But the past remains a crucial part of Malaysia's present. In this concise history, Virginia Matheson Hooker takes the lives of individuals as examples of their times and describes how the peoples of Malaysia became masters of their extremely varied environments - not only by exploiting the rich natural advantages, but by linking into the complex patterns of trade in the region. Many of the skills of diplomacy, alliance and adaptation Malaysians developed over the centuries are used today as the country embraces globalization while still participating in international life in distinctly Malaysian ways. From the origins of its aboriginal peoples, through the years of Western domination, to the forceful culture politics of Dr Mahathir, this is a lively and informative account of Malaysia's past and the major trends in its contemporary political life and the challenges it faces in the 21st century.

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(Typos:Malasian)