36,000 Unemployed as At End of 2009.

ROMPIN, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Some 36,000 Malaysians were unemployed between October 2008 and December last year or 3.6 per cent of the total population, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said.

She said most of the unemployed were those being laid off from the manufacturing sector which was badly affected by the recession in the United States in 2008.

"Due to the economic crisis in the US, many workers were temporarily laid off. Companies in the manufacturing sector had to reduce their production due to the drop in demand," she told reporters after attending a Chap Goh Mei celebration here Saturday night.

However, Maznah said the number was still under control compared to the 84,000 laid offs during the Asian economic crisis in 1997.

She said the ministry managed to get some 29,000 of the laid off workers to be rehired while the rest were offered retraining.

Source : BERNAMA

It could be 36,000 or much more - until every one of the unemployed come forward and registered themselves with the authority, no one will be able to present the actual number.

Thai Government Seized Part of Thaksin's Assets.

BANGKOK, Feb 27 (Bernama) The Supreme Court Friday ruled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had abused his power during his term of office to favour the businesses of his companies and ordered 46.3 billion Baht (RM4.7 billion) of the 76.6 billion Baht (RM7.8 billion) frozen assets that belonged to him and his family be confiscated.

Read more ...

Source : Bernama.com

Wouldn't it be nice if our own courts could be as as independent and firm? I hope one day to see them doing the same here. Ah.., wishful thinking of course.

Study To Be Carried Out On Malaysians Reading Habit.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- The National Library will carry out a study on the reading habits among Malaysians, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.

Data obtained from the study would give a clearer picture on the reading habits among Malaysians, he told reporters when asked to comment on a report by Utusan Malaysia on Monday that Malaysians do not like to read books.

Rais said the ministry accepted the report but said that it was based on a random survey.

He said there were signs that the reading rates among students were increasing, from two books a year to seven or eight books a year.

"But this is also a random estimate. So the ministry has asked the National Library to carry out the study."

He said the National Library had also been asked to explain why there were little response to its rural library initiative.

Earlier Rais launched the "TMpoint on Wheels", a Telekom Malaysia mobile service, at Menara TM here.

Source : Bernama.com

The good Minister should on one fine day make it a point to pay a visit to the new Semporna Public Library where, he will be greatly disappointed indeed to find many of the books therein are still in excellent condition - no dog-eared on the edges, nothing and never once been borrowed although been on display on the for years. Another interesting piece of data to be incorporated in the proposed study to be made.

Action On Pirate Transport Operators.

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Bumiputera Bus Operators Association (PPBBS) is delighted that the Road Transport Department (RTD) has taken immediate steps to weed out pirate vehicles at Inanam.

PPBBS Information Chief Abdul Rahman Piut said the effort by the department especially at Jalan Kionsom, near Inanam town, will definitely help operators who earn a living legally through the bus industry.

Read more ...

Source : Daily Express

I was just wondering wheter they have checked the front parking area at the Giant Hypermarket building area in Kolombong which also situated quite close to Inanam town. There are a lot of them (pirate taxis) over there, especially in the evening looking for passengers.

Then I would like to see how the relevant authorities will solve a similar problem and already at critical stage here in Semporna town. My guess is that about 25% of the vehicles plying along the roads here are pirate taxis.

Daily Express Proven Right.

Kota Kinabalu: A Daily Express check in Kuala Lumpur confirmed many homeless and jobless Sabahans there. They are mostly from rural areas and depending on charitable organisations for survival.

This reporter met about 15 Sabahans and three Sarawakians who turned up at the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development (AHOD) at Jalan Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday.

AHOD, the official arm of the Catholic Church (in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur) is among non-governmental organisations providing free food for the homeless in the nation's capital.

Read more ...

Source : Daily Express

Robbery In Semporna.

The news about the robbery cum abduction incident at a seaweed farm in Semporna can be found here, here, here and here . While the Government had claimed it to be just another incident of robbery, we still have to be vigilant and not caught with our pants down again as in the past.

News about the incident in the local media had been kept to the bare minimum but was reported wide across the Internet. This could be to minimize the fall-out effect it would have on the local tourism industry which I doubt it would.

Life however, goes on as usual here while the tourists are still coming.

Perak Ex-MB Urged Supporters To Be Calm.

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who failed in his bid to get the Federal Court to declare him as the rightful Perak mentri besar, is urging Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters to be calm.

Read more ...

Source: The Malaysian Insider

A sound advice and which should be heeded by all his supporters. If indeed PR is still as popular as claimed, then they can reclaim the right to govern Perak in the next coming election.

The Star: Australia sets up border post in KL

Australia sets up border post in KL

PETALING JAYA: Australia has set up its Customs and Border Protection Service post in Kuala Lumpur to combat human smuggling activities in the region.

Australian High Commissioner Penny Williams, who opened the post yesterday, said the facility would further enhance her country’s ties with Malay­sia.

She added that the co-operation would also include common border security interests.

Source : The StarOnline

I don't know about you folks but to me this is like telling us directly in the face that we are actually a transit point or worse, the centre for human trafficking.

Short Note - Ugly Handwriting.

I wonder whether any of you folks out there realised it but our children handwriting are getting 'uglier' now - no thanks to the advent of personal computers and keyboards. I guess that's one of the negative side-effects this technology had to offer us.

I have tried on several several occasions in the past to change their style of witting but finally had to contend with myself that for as long that their handwriting still resemble the shapes and looks of the known alphabets, still legible, that they won't lose important marks in their exams - that's fine by me.

Update your Internet Explorer 6.

Below is the excerpt of an article about Internet Explorer 6:-

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), part of the Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory suggesting users review the recent Microsoft security patch and apply any updates which will improve security. That could be interpreted in two ways: patch IE6 immediately, or update to a later edition; the latter of course would make more sense.

(Source: msn.com)

I've been using Firefox or Opera all these while although IE 8 is quite good. It is a common perception that a popular web browser is more prone to cyber attacks. However I feel much safer and comfortable while either using Firefox or Opera. I guess each of us have their own favourite browser(s).