Foreign Workers In Malaysia

Comment by PAKAC LUTEB

I have met exploited foreign workers at times, some afraid to be seen speaking to me but wanting to tell me their story. What i learned from them was their employer took advantage of the fact that the employment pass of the worker was tied to the employer. The worker was not free to go find a better employer.

The worker as you may know sends money home to their family, may have sold something in their country to pay an agent there and may still owe that agent money. thus, having the job is very important to the worker.

What needs to be done is have the employment pass tied to the worker, rather than the employer. Then if an employer is so bad, the worker can get a job elsewhere. That will force employers to behave better.

UNDERSTANDING HUDUD LAWS

Al-Shabab fighters (picture above) have won control of swaths of Somali territory in recent months [AFP]

The Hudud Laws issue has once again taken center stage with the Kuala Terengganu by Election round the corner. The ruckus started when PAS Husam Musa was challenged by Oxford Oxymoron to state PAS stand on Hudud Laws. Husam did mention that PAS would implement Hudud Laws once Pakatan Rakyat takes over the Federal Government. We now have MCA through their slime ball Ong Tee Keat trying to win over Chinese votes for Umno by challenging DAP to stay out of the by Election over the Hudud Laws issue. Then, we have political washout Samy Vellu and his deadwood MIC challenging Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to state his stand on the Hudud Laws issue.

However, it is easier said than done. The truth is PAS will never be able to form the Federal Government on its own. To be part of the Federal Government, PAS needs Pakatan Rakyat and there is no way DAP and PKR are going to go along with PAS plans for Hudud Laws. However, Hudud Laws stands a real chance of being implemented under the BN/Umno regime as BN Umno lap dog parties such as MCA, MIC. Gerakan, PPP, Upko, PBB, SUPP, PBRS, PBS etc will support anything implemented by Big Brother Umno.

UMNO has already called for the Hudud implementation and even Khairy was the one who preceded Husam in calling for its implementation, but BERNAMA chose otherwise in highlighting this matter and only focused on Husam's explanatory statement.

Fighters with Al-Shabab, an armed group that has taken control of the southern city of Kismayu, have told Al Jazeera they plan to impose Islamic law across Somalia.
Kismayu, Somalia's third biggest city, was once one of the most dangerous places in the south of the country.

Picture above shows a woman suffering a fate similar as the 13 year old rape victim by being stoned to death

The stoning to death of a 13 year old girl, who is a RAPE VICTIM... dispensation of justice under the Islam's huddud law:

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27484976/

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A 13-year-old girl who said she had been raped was stoned to death in Somalia after being accused of adultery by Islamic militants, a human rights group said.Dozens of men stoned Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow to death Oct. 27 in a stadium packed with 1,000 spectators in the southern port city of Kismayo, Amnesty International and Somali media reported, citing witnesses.

The Islamic militia in charge of Kismayo had accused her of adultery after she reported that three men had raped her, the rights group said.Her father told Amnesty International she was 13. Some of the Somali journalists who first reported the killing later told Amnesty International that they had reported she was 23 based upon her physical appearance."This child suffered a horrendous death at the behest of the armed opposition groups who currently control Kismayo," David Copeman, Amnesty International's Somalia campaigner, said in a statement Friday.


Read more on huddud law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudud


Quote:


"... Muslim reformers have argued that "these punishment were appropriate within the historical and social contexts in which they originated but are inappropriate today and that the underlying religious principles and values need to find new expression in modernizing societies."There is a movement among some modern liberal Muslims to "re-interpret Islamic verses about ancient punishments," in the words of Professor Ali A. Mazrui. He states that the punishments laid down fourteen centuries ago "had to be truly severe enough to be a deterrent" in their day, but "since then God has taught us more about crime, its causes, the methods of its investigation, the limits of guilt, and the much wider range of possible punishments."

KT Chinese Voters Must Not Sell Their Dignity to BN/Umno

With the Kuala Terengganu by Election around the corner, the Evil BN/Umno regime is up to its dirty tricks again. This time they are trying to win over the crucial 11% ethnic Chinese voters with money and other goodies. The Scribe sincerely hopes that the Chinese have more self worth in themselves rather than being allowed to be bought over by these racist Umnoputras and their pariah bedfellows MCA.

The Chinese must sent a clear message to the Evil BN/Umno regime that they are NOT FOR SALE! The Scribe want the Elections Commission and the ACA to show what they are made of by carrying out an investigation in what appears to be vote buying by BN/Umno. To the Chinese voters in KT, "kick BN/Umno out!" VOTE PAS!!!

Comment by ANONYMOUS

Do you really think that the BarisanNakal/ UnitedM... Do you really think that the BarisanNakal/ UnitedMunafiqNationalOrganization who neglected to obey the really important teachings of the Law, such as justice and mercy and honesty will eventually implement the hudud laws? I am very doubtful!!!Furthermore, if all the elected MPs of UMNO and PAS add together, they do not have 2/3 majority in the Parliament yet. Unless their MunafiqChineseAssociates and the MunafiqIndianCompatriotes also support the implementation of Hudud Laws.And if Hudud Laws were to be implemented, many of the munafiq/hypocrites in the BN will have their hands chopped off first as there are many of them have done things against the Laws,a good example is CORRUPTION!!!Please read the great book, the Bible, METTHEW 23 on how Jesus Warns against the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees.The script has clearly shown us the action of the hypocrites is for show only.By the way do you really know what hudud laws' real meaning?How about ISA? They implemented this ISA which is against Islamic teachings.The hypocrites are Abusive,Bullshitting and Corrupt!!!Now, they are afraid that Bible is translated into BM.Many years ago, they implemented BM as a compulsory subject. Now many of the people are reading BM especially the East Malaysian bumiputeri/a. The hypocrites want to stop them from knowing more about the WAY, the TRUTH and the ETERNITY, they prohibit the BM in Bible. They want student to learn Maths and Science by English when these people already learned BM well. I think they don't want the real BUMI to be smart and compete with them. The hypocrites sent their children to overseas. How long the Children of Malaysia have to suffer under this GERAKAN MUNAFIQ/HYPOCRITES' MOVEMENT!? I say change it, together "yes we can".

HUDUD LAWS WILL EVENTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED BY BN/UMNO

MCA leader Ong Tee Keat asked DAP to boycott the Kuala Terengganu by Election over fellow Pakatan Rakyat member PAS stand on Hudud Laws. If this is the case, MCA should also boycott the KT by Election for Umno's blatant declaration of Malaysia as an Islamic State. In fact, under BN/Umno's rule Islamization has crept into all aspects of public life. Go to any government department, public school, police station etc. you will see how much these institutions have been Islamized.

MCA like their other non Malay BN component party members are just hypocrates who over the years have tacitly given their blessings to Umno's Islamization policies. For Umno, Islam and Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) is invoked to ensure that the Malay support is solidly behind Umno. Don't believe for a moment that these Umno goons are really sincere about Islam. They are just using Islam to win support from the Malays. MCA. MIC, Gerakan and the other bunch of losers in BN only make noise when they see that their support from the non Malays began to erode. People like Ong Tee Keat, Samy Vellu, Kayveas, Koh Tsu Koon, Alfred Jabu, Joseph Pairin et al are all putting on a charade as though that they are concerned about non Malay and non Muslim rights.

The truth is these crooks and liars are in politics (especially in BN) for the money and power they get to enjoy. A decent politician would have left BN long ago. The sad thing is these idiotic component parties claim to represent the non Malays and non Muslims. That's why, the Evil BN/Umno regime can claim that the non Malays/Muslim support the Islamization policies just because these traitors do not oppose such policies. The actual truth is non Malays/Muslim want Malaysia to be a Secular State and not an Islamic State.

In the end of the day, Malaysia will eventually have Hudud Laws implemented by the Evil BN/Umno regime because MCA, MIC Gerakan, PPP, PBS, SUPP, PBRS etc. would not oppose such a move. However, even if Hudud laws is much on PAS agenda, it will never happen as DAP, PKR and even elements within PAS will oppose such a move.

IRB MOVE FOR MONTHLY STATEMENTS OPEN TO ABUSE BY EMPLOYERS

Comment by PAKAC LUTEB

The move by the IRB to require monthly statements will burden employers at a time when they don't need any more problems. It will also burden employees and violate employee's privacy. That is because employees should communicate their tax exemptions and other tax matters confidentially to the IRB. That is why the IRB's online tax forms are encrypted.

Having employees communicate exemptions and other tax matters to employers will jeopardise the jobs of the employees. Employers who learn for example that an employee is caring for a family member with a genetic disease may decide to sack the employee, before they too become sick with the disease.

An employer who learns that an employee is stretched to the limit financially, for example by having 3 children, caring for ageing parents and caring for a family member with Down Syndrome, may decide to exploit the employee, demanding that they work extra hours and extra duties, all without compensation, confident that the employee is so desperate for their pay-packet that they won't protest or resign.

Such scenario is made even more likely during a downturn in the economy, when employers will seek any means, fair or foul, to save money. The IRB plan should not be permitted, it is altogether the wrong medicine for the disease of over-deduction.

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

The birth of Jesus Christ is in direct fulfillment of many Bible prophecies, Isaiah 7:14 of the virgin birth; Gen 3:15 that he was born of the seed of woman, Isaiah 11:1 that he would descend from the line of Jesse (king David); Micah 5:2 that he would be born in Bethlehem; Matthew 2:18 + Jeremiah 31:15 that Herod would slaughter all the children in an attempt for the Devil to kill the Christ child. All these prophecies were made at least 500 years before Jesus was born. They stand as an irrefutable monument to the inspiration of the Bible and prove that God revealed himself through his messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

By ST. LUKE

Angel Appears to Mary

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34″How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.”

38″I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8-17 (NIV)

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14″Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

MarGeeMar The Scribe Wishes Everyone A Blessed Christmas & A Peaceful New Year!

Enjoy this Christmas Video clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDV7AHrYsB4

AIDS, Ingat Sebelum Kena !

Komen dan analisis oleh KAY TOYA

UJIAN HIV SEBAGAIMANA DISYORKAN ITU AMAT DI ALU2KAN ... MALAH DISYORKAN BEBERAPA LAGI UJIAN2 SARINGAN HIV DAN JUGA DADAH PATUT DI WAJIBKAN PADA SENARAI MEREKA2 YG DI CALUNKAN DAN DISENARAI-PENDEKKAN UNTUK MENERIMA ANUGERAH DIRAJA (DARJAH KEBESARAN SEPERTI DATUKSHIP, TAN SRISHIP, TUNSHIP DAN LAIN2). APA KATA?

Bersabit dengan cadangan dari TPM Datuk Najib tentang mengcompulsorykan ujian HIV seperti keratan2 berita :

Saringan HIV untuk semua bakal pengantin Islam - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR 18 Dis. - Mulai tahun depan, semua bakal pengantin beragama Islam akan diwajibkan menjalani ujian saringan HIV bagi mengelak jangkitan itu merebak kepada pasangan dan anak-anak, kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Saringan HIV pengantin bukan Islam dikaji - Najib

PEKAN 20 Dis. - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, kerajaan akan mengkaji sama ada bakal pengantin bukan Islam turut diwajibkan menjalani ujian saringan HIV bagi mengelak penyakit itu merebak kepada pasangan dan anak-anak.

Kalau dah bakal calun2 pengantin yang hendak menjalani perkahwinan pun digalakkan untuk menjalani ujian saringan HIV, apa kata pihak berkuasa (pihak kerajaan dan badan2 yang berkenaan) juga meng'extend'kan ujian saringan HIV ini untuk para calun2 yang di senaraikan untuk menerima anugerah Darjah Kebesaran Diraja seperti datukship, tansriship, tunship dsbnya) juga dimestikan (di-compulsory-kan) bagi mereka menjalani ujian2 tersebut. Sekurang2nya sebelum si anu si anu dikurniakan datukship, tansriship atau sebagainya - pihak yang menganugerah Darjah Kebesaran itu (iaitu pihak Tuanku Sultan2 dan Raja2 Melayu dan YDP Agong) akan mengetahui akan keadaan seseorang individu yang bakal dikurniakan Darjah2 Kebesaran Diraja itu, sama ada bersih dari sebarang penyakit yang boleh menjadikan kontroversi yang boleh mendatangkan kesangsian dan kecurigaan terhadap khalayak umum.

Ini kerana penyakit HIV/AIDS ini amat memberi gambaran negatif kerana disebabkan punca dan akibatnya boleh memberi ke'aiban kepada pihak diri individu itu sendiri serta kaum keluarganya. Tambah lagi bila diri individu itu pula diangkat mertabatnya oleh pihak istana dengan pangkat Darjah Kebesaran Diraja dengan gelaran2 yang tertentu. Jika ini melibatkan diri si individu itu sebelum menerima gelaran Darjah Kebesaran Diraja sudah terpalit dengan gejala penyakit yang angkara sabit perlakuan sex rambang atau persundalan di sarang pelacuran - maka pihak2 berkenaan boleh membuat tapisan sebelum perkara ini sudah terlambat - sebelum nasi menjadi bubur - sebelum malu terpalit kemuka - sebelum maruah dan mertabat anugerah2 Darjah Kebesaran Diraja tercemar.

Bukan sekadar ujian HIV saja - malah ujian najis salahguna dadah pun harus dikuatkuasakan. Memandangkan ini adalah sesuatu yang amat serius - kerana sejak kebelakangan ini, penganugerahan Darjah Kebesaran Diraja (amat popular sekarang 'datukship' lah) kepada kalangan artis2 hiburan yang semakin rancak, dan nampak seperti masing2 berlumba2 untuk melobi2 untuk mendapatkannya.

Apa tidaknya? kerana ini adalah satu2nya penghargaan yang diiktiraf oleh pihak Sultan dan Raja2 Melayu dan YDP Agong - dan seterusnya tentulah paling amat tinggi darjatnya dan sudah tentu amat dihargai dan dibanggakan oleh sipenerimanya. Namun kita harus juga menjaga kedudukan, mertabat dan maruah si pemberinya - yakni yang memberi anugerah - iaitu pihak Tuanku Sultan2, Raja2 dan YDP Agong sendiri. Sudah tentu sesiapa yang memberi mengharapkan akan menganugerahkan kepada penerima yang betul2 bersih dari gejala negatif seperti mengamal penagihan najis dadah (salahguna dadah) dan mengalami penyakit2 yang boleh membangkitkan kontroversi. Jenis2 penyakit dan amalan2 buruk seperti ini tidak sepatutnya di hidapi dan di amalkan oleh penyandang Darjah2 Kebesaran Diraja - kelak akan mencemarkan kedaulatan raja2 akhirnya.

Sebab itulah ujian2 mengesan dan pengesahan najis dadah terhadap puak2 artis juga (yang nyata ramai terlibat dgn najis dadah) harus di perkuatkuasakan. Umum mengetahui ramai puak2 kalangan artis (lelaki dan juga perempuan) yang terlibat dengan najis dadah secara sembunyi2/secara sulit/secara rahsia (terutama penyanyi2 rock & juga composer2 lagu2 rock/balada dsbnya). Takkan lah nak anugerah Darjah Kebesaran Diraja seperti 'datuk' kepada kaki2 penagih dadah - kutu2 jalanan dengan rambut panjang bermisai berjanggut tak terurus - dari kalangan artis kut? Bayangkanlah jika seorang penyanyi atau pencipta lagu2 rock dgn rambut janggut misai panjang2 tak terurus (lagak macam kutu jalanan saja) tiba2 digelar 'Datuk' so and so .... bayangkan.

Sekiranya persiapan dari awal tidak diambil ....iaitu "precautionary measures" seperti yang dimaksudkan.... Ini akan menjatuhkan mertabat "Darjah Kebesaran Diraja" (kurniaan dari baginda Sultan2 dan YDP Agong) itu sendiri ....... misalnya: jika sekiranya penyandang yang bergelar 'Datuk' tu didapati terlibat dan terjebak sebagai "hard-core" taik dadah - penagih yang tegar - apa akan jadi?

Oleh itu, untuk mendapat kepastian yang jelas dan nyata - (apa pun - kalau hendak seribu daya beb) - iaitu pihak2 yang berkenaan dan yang bertanggungjawab seharusnya dalam memilih dan mempertimbangkan dan mencalunkan mereka2 yang tersenarai untuk dipersembahkan kebawah duli2 Tuanku untuk diperkenankan baginda sebagai senarai muktamad - diharap sila buat pemeriksaan dahulu sebelum memutuskan untuk memberi anugerah "Kurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Diraja" kepada puak2 dari kalangan artis2 hiburan terutamanya. Ini sudah termaklum yang puak2 artis memang cukup ramai terlibat dengan kegiatan menagih dadah. Peringatan ini hanya sekadar peringatan sahaja - agar sebelum nasi menjadi bubur - bukan nya sesudah 'nasi sudah jadi bubur'.

Kita tidak mahu dengar nanti ada kalangan Datuk2 atau TanSri2 mengidap penyakit HIV/AIDS disebabkan kegiatan2 sumbang dan songsang ataupun Datuk2 artis2 hiburan yang terlibat dan tertangkap dalam kegiatan najis dadah. Datuk2 dari kalangan penagih dadah yang mungkin pula mendapat "anugerah tambahan" dari peminat2 dan media2 hiburan dengan jolokan "Datuk Laluk" atau "Datuk Gian" pula semasa membuat persembahan diatas pentas konsert hiburan kelak. Gelaran "Datuk" untuk artis2 hiburan ini nanti jadi bahan gelak ketawa pulak jadinya.

Ingat sebelum kena.

DON'T BUY BN'S HUDUD SPIN

Malaysiakini reports Utusan ordered to pay RM120,000 to Mahfuz. The Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia daily has lost a lawsuit by PAS information chief YB Mahfuz Omar over an article which suggested that he backed the violent overthrow of government.

Utusan Malaysia like the other BN/Umno owned Mainstream Media like The Star and TV3 have been spewing hatred and lies about PAKATAN RAKYAT to deceive and distract the Rakyat (People) from the wrong doings of the Evil BN/Umno regime.

The latest episode about PAS intention to implement Hudud Laws is one good example. That slimeball SIL of the PM put Husam Musa in a spot by challenging PAS to implement Hudud Laws. In all fairness, Husam and PAS was honest in stating their aim. However, one needs to realize that the realities on the ground is that Hudud Laws will be difficult to implement because of the structure of the Constitution, the multiracial composition of the population and motre importantly, not every Malay/Muslim would support such laws. Further to this, PAS as a Coalition member of Pakatan Rakyat has a consensus on this issue with their Partners in PR, namely DAP and PKR. The mainstream media would definitely do a spin on this. That thick skinned idiot who blogs as The Writer is already doing his spin.

The real danger is that the longer Umno is allowed to stay in power, there will be a greater risk of Hudud Laws being implemented discreetly with the tacit approval of the BN lap dogs such as MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, PBS, PBB, SUPP, PBRS etc. Umno is fast loosing its grip on power. It will do everything it can including subtly implementing Hudud Laws to cling on to power. Don't believe liars and crooks like Ong Tee Keat, Samy Vellu, Pairin Kitingan, Koh Tsu Koon, James Masing, Alfred Jabu, George Chan et al. They are in for the money and power. They have already sold their souls to the Devil. Don't let them sell ours as well. Time to kick out BN/Umno once and for all. Let's start with Kuala Terengganu!

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE PAULA !

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”

2 Cor. 12:9 - 10

By PAULA KHOO @ MASTERWORDSMITH

Thank you so much for your Christmas bouquet...I am deeply touched by your kindness and warm gesture ...In this Christmas season of love and giving, I am really touched that you remember me...I have gone through a lot since the arrest and honestly have learnt a lot about myself, people, idealism, the cause and what is the meaning of suffering.

It is my personal prayer that the ISA will one day be repealed and innocent detainees will be released unconditionally. Of course, I also pray that my case will be dropped.Actually, on 28th January, I am supposed to report at the police station.

Dang! It happens to be the THIRD day of Chinese New Year..I do not know whether I am going to face trial, be fined or whether the case will be dropped but I should know by then.Indeed I do covet your prayers that I will come out of this victorious. It has been an eye-opening and harrowing journey but in the process, I discovered new friends especially in the cyber world such as MarGeeMar, blog readers and other strangers who stepped forward to show their solidarity and support in my blogs or even in emails and these have been most enriching in my life and have gone a long way in helping me to recover.

You are right in what you said in the post. I could have backed out and sat at home in the comfort of my home reading my favorite novel or blogging but I took a bold step forward and the rest is history. I did not do it for fame or glory but with a sincere heart for the cause and it was only after the encounter that I had a better idea of what ISA detainees go through.Suffice to say it is not an easy road to travel, but it is made easier because of friends and fellow citizens who care.

It has been over a month now and I am stronger and not the broken, emo woman that I was at the early post-arrest period.All I can say is thank you Lord for your strength and for sending people to guide, encourage and to help me. Thank you MarGeeMar for being always so steadfast and sincere in your posts and beliefs. I am blessed to know you in cyber world.

I don't know anything about you except for your pen name and yet, you care enough to write this post for me. I am really really touched by your gesture of appreciation, support, kindness and agape love in action.God bless you and all blog readers and may you and your family have a blessed Christmas and happy new year.

Education Ministry Initiative

By PAKAC LUTEB

The education ministry announced it would consider rehiring retired academicians.
That's a good thing, some good academicians have been forced to retire while they are still able to contribute to their field, because of a low mandatory retirement age.

The education ministry also said it would try to woo back retrenched academicians overseas.
what the education ministry does not understand is not only do academicians dislike the restrictions they face in Malaysia, few if any academicians will be retrenched overseas.
in fact, the poor economic situation will be a boost to colleges and universities overseas. Those institutions overseas will find themselves understaffed and will be actively recruiting academicians.

People overseas will be retrenched from jobs in manufacturing, for example. to get a new job, the retrenched worker may need to learn new skills. Also, the job market will become more competitive, employers will look more closely at academic qualifications.

How can retrenched workers afford college or university? They really have no choice. They have plenty of time on their hands when jobless. They just have to dig into their savings for the fees.
Industry, banks, educational institutions and the government can help,by providing loans for people to become students again to learn new skills.

That would be a way of investing in the future of the country.

A CHRISTMAS BOUQUET FOR PAULA KHOO @ MASTERWORDSMITH

The Scribe is well aware that everyone who is celebrating the birth of Jesus will be busy with their final preparations for the Big Day. Like always as in all celebrations, we are reminded of the less fortunate, the poor, the sick and the homeless.

Let us also not forget those who are imprisoned especially those who are unjustly detained under the Evil ISA. The Scribe especially is thinking of our Sister Paula Khoo @ Masterwordsmith (picture above) who will be facing trial next month.

Paula could have been like many others and have a 'tak mahu tahu, tak mahu ambil kira' attitude and could have been at home reading her favorite novel but she did not do that. In the end, what she got for peacefully standing up for those who are imprisoned is the possibility of imprisonement for herself.

God's favor is with Paula. What she did was and can only be explained by the prompting of God's Spirit. No matter what the Demon possesed Police of the Evil BN/Umno regime throws at Paula, she will come out victorious!

We, owe it to Paula and her family this Christmas to lift them up in our prayers. Send Paula your Christmas greetings by email to masterword2@gmail.com or send in your Christmas wishes to her Blog http://masterwordsmith-unplugged.blogspot.com/ . Show Paula and her family that we appreciate what she is doing and that we, the Rakyat (People) are behind her.

THE MUNAFIK & PHARISEE IN UMNO

Comment by ANONYMOUS

What do you expect a BarisanNakal of UnitedMunafiq... What do you expect a BarisanNakal of UnitedMunafiqNationalOrganization + its MunafiqChineseAssociation + its MunafiqIndianCompatriot do?It is a Gerakan Munafiq/Hypocrite Movement, of course. The other parties should leave the BN ASAP before it is too late.

S$ 1.00 = RM 2.42 already, we are already too far behind.

CHANGE by using the votes in your hands. Yes we can!!!

If you have the Bible, see MATTHEW 23.1-39.eg:1

Then JESUS spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. 2"The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses' Law. 3 So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don't practise what they preach......... .......... 13 "How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites/munafiq! You lock the door to the Kingdom of heaven in people's faces, and you yourselves don't go in, nor do you allow in those who are trying to enter!" .....................23 "How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites/munafiq! You give to God a tenth even of the seasoning herbs, such as mint, dill, and cumin, but you neglect to obey the really important teachings of the Law, such as justice and mercy and honesty. These you should practise, without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain a fly out of your drink, but swallow a camel!".............37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times have I wanted to put my arms round all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!...............

TIADA JALAN PINTAS UNTUK KAYA?

Komen dari MackAlistar.

TIADA JALAN PINTAS UNTUK KAYA?

ITULAH TAJUK YANG DI PERKATAKAN DAN DI ANALISIS OLEH PIHAK RTM1.

KATANYA "TIADA JALAN PINTAS UNTUK KAYA".

IYA KE? TIADA JALAN PINTAS?

MANA BOLEH TIADA? DI MALAYSIA ADA! ... SEMEMANGNYA ADA! ....DAN ... DI MALAYSIA MACAM2 ADAAAAA ........TAK NAMPAK KA? ATAU SENGAJA BUAT-BUAT TAK NAMPAK?

YANG RAMAI OKB - ORANG2 KAYA BARU ... YANG DGN TIBA2 KAYA TU GIMANO?TANG TIBA2 MUNCUL INSTANT MILLIONAIRES a.k.a. JUTAWAN SEGERA (OUT OF THE BLUES) TU CAMNO PLAK?

ITU LAAAA .... JANGAN PIKIAQ SEGALA TINDAK TANDOK PENYELEWENGAN & SALAHGUNA KUASA DI PIHAK BERKUASA - PUAK2 MENTERI - PUAK2 AHLI POLITIK YG TIDAK AMANAH & TIDAK BERTANGGUNGJAWAB - SEGALA KERJA JAHAT DARI TANGAN2 DURJANA MEREKA ..... RAKYAT TIDAK MENYEDARI?

SUDAH TERANG JELAS LAGI MENYERLAH - TERPAMPANG DIDEPAN MATA.DENGAN CARA & GAYA HIDUP MEWAH DGN SERBA SERBI MEWAH SUDAH CUKUP JELAS DAN NYATA MEMBERI GAMBARAN CORAK DAN GAYA HIDUP ORANG KAYA SEGERA DGN SERBA MACAM TEKA-TEKI DGN PENUH CURIGA DAN SYAK WASANGKA SERTA PELBAGAI MCM KESANGSIAN BERMAIN DI PEMIKIRAN RAKYAT.

SELALUNYA ISU 'PEMBANGUNAN' LAH DI AMBIL SEBAGAI 'MODAL PROPOSAL' UNTUK KEPENTINGAN SESAMA MEREKA. INI ADALAH DISEBABKAN KERANA INGINKAN PEMBANGUNAN BAGI SEMUA PIHAK LAH - MAKA ISU 'PEMBANGUNAN' MUDAH DIAORANG PERGUNAKAN UNTUK DI MANIPULASIKAN. ISU 'PEMBANGUNAN' CUKUP KETARA BAGI MEREKA2 YG INGIN MEMANIPULASIKANNYA.

CONTOH PALING KETARA IALAH KES TANAH RUNTUH DEMI BERULANG2KALI BERLAKU (SEPERTI APA YG TERJADI DI BUKIT ANTARABANGSA).... INILAH SEBAB MUSABAB KEGHAIRAHAN UNTUK MEMBANGUN .... IAITU UNTUK MELIHAT 'PEMBANGUNAN' MENJADI KENYATAAN. FIKIR SENDIRILAH - DALAM SEGI INI - SIAPA YANG UNTUNG? SIAPA YANG RUGI?PIHAK2 MANA YANG MANFAAT? PIHAK MANA YANG TERIMA PADAH? KALAU TIDAK DENGAN KEGIATAN RASUAH & PENYELEWENGAN WANG RAKYAT - MASAKAN DENGAN SENANG2 DAN BEGITU MUDAH DAN BEGITU SEGERA DALAM MASA YANG SINGKAT DAPAT MENGECAPI KEKAYAAN DAN KEMEWAHAN YANG MELEBIHI HAD?

PERBINCANGAN DAN ANALISIS DARI PIHAK RTM1 DGN MEMBERI TAJUK SEPERTI DIATAS ADALAH TIDAK BETUL SAMA SEKALI DAN TIDAK MENEPATI KEADAAN DGN APA YANG DAH DAN SEDANG BERLAKU DGN MENJADI2 SEKARANG..... IAITU GEJALA RASUAH ... DAN PENYELEWENGAN WANG RAKYAT DAN SALAHGUNA KUASA YG SEMAKIN MENULAR DGN AMAT KETARA SEKALI.

CONTOH2 KALAU HENDAK DI SENARAIKAN .... AMATLAH PANJANG BERJELA2 SENARAINYA..... INFACT SEMUA ORANG TAHU. NAMUN - FAKTOR 'AMANAH' YG TIDAK DI PEGANG DAN DI SERAH PADA ORANG2 YG TIDAK JUJUR ... MAKA MUNCULLAH MEREKA2 YG TIDAK BERAMANAH - DAN DENGAN ITU - MEMBIAKLAH MEREKA2 YG TAK BERTANGGUNG-JAWAB, TAK BERETIKA, TAK BERPERIKEMANUSIAAN, TAMAK HALOBA, PENTINGKAN DIRI SENDIRI, KAUM KELUARGA & SANAK SAUDARA, KRONI2 DAN PROXI2, DAN DGN SESIAPA SAJA YG SANGGUP BERKOMPROMI. JADI, MEMANG ADA JALAN PINTAS UNTUK KAYA DGN SEKELIP MATA - SEMEMANGNYA ADA - IAITU DGN MENGAMALKAN KEGIATAN RASUAH - MENYELEWENG WANG RAKYAT & SALAHGUNA KUASA (POWER-ABUSE). SIAPA KAH YG BOLEH MENGAMALKAN KEGIATAN2 KOTOR & JIJIK SEPERTI INI?SIAPA LAGI?

KALAU BUKAN MEREKA2 YG MEMPUNYAI KUASA - YANG BOLEH SENGAJA MEMANIPULASIKAN SESUATU DALAM BIDANG KUASA MEREKA SEMATA2 UNTUK KEPENTINGAN BERSAMA (WIN-WIN SITUATION ANTARA SESAMA MEREKA). ITU SEBAB PENDAPAT DAN PANDANGAN KEMENTERIAN PENERANGAN (MELALUI MEDIA PENYEBARAN 'AM NYA - RTM) TIDAK BOLEH DITERIMA BULAT2 - BUKAN MAKNA SEGALA APA YANG MEREKA SALURKAN ADA LAH TEPAT ATAU BERTEPATAN DGN KENYATAAN DAN REALITI KEHIDUPAN.

SLOGAN LAUNGAN YG SENTIASA DIWAR-WARKAN OLEH RTM "RINGKAS, TEPAT, PADAT & MUTAKHIR" ITU HANYALAH RHETORIK DAN PALSU SEMATA. NAMPAK SANGAT RTM HANYA MAMPU CAKAP BERDEGAR2.BAGAIMANA ORANG MAHU RESPEK SAMA RTM? KEMENTERIAN PENERANGAN? MENTERI PENERANGAN?

Sementara itu, nampaknya Umno begitu ghairah untuk mendapat sokongan orang Melayu sehingga mereka berkomplot dan bersubahat dengan rakan-rakan mereka dari MCA dan MIC untuk mencetuskan perbalahan antara kaum untuk menjadi hero untuk kaum masing-masing. Apa yang saya maksudkan disini adalah insiden dimana kepala dan bangkai khinzir dibuang di tempat orang Melayu. Agen provokasi Umno iaitu PEWARIS pula menerajui kempen untuk menyemarakkan api kemarahan dikalangan orang Melayu. Objektif mereka adalah dua sahaja. Satu, untuk rejim syaitan BN/Umno mencari alasan untuk menahan sebanyak mungkin pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat dalam ISA dan kedua untuk memberi peluang khususnya kepada UMNO, MCA dan MIC untuk dilihat sebagai penyelamat untuk kaum masing-masing.

WAHAI SAUDARA-SAUDARIKU DI KUALA TERENGGANU, PASTIKAN REJIM SYAITAN BN/UMNO DIMASUKKAN KE DALAM LIANG LAHAT DALAM PILIHANRAYA KECIL KUALA TERENGGANU. PASTIKAN KEMENANGAN PAKATAN RAKYAT/PAS DEMI KEHARMONIAN DAN KESEJAHTERAAN BANGSA MALAYSIA !!!

16/12 Abolish ISA Hunger Strike

By Malaysia Hindu Voice

16.12.2008

Our spirit is high and hope that the UMNO regime will listen to our demand to abolished ISA, shut down KEMTA, release HINDRAF Lawyers who fought against discremination, colonialization, marginalization and oppression by UMNO regime, release all ISA detainees and we also demand that UMNO regime accept our 18 point demand and allow our Chairman, P. Waytha Moorthy to return to Malaysia unconditionally. The medical group visited us and ran a check up on us. Two of the participants S.Jayathas and V.Shanti were adviced to abort the hunger strike as they were found to be unfit to fast. However, both of them are determined to continue with the hunger strike. Justice For all Malaysians.Release all ISA Prisoners

Makkal Sakthi

S.JAYATHAS

0126362287

Hindraf coordinator S Jayathas who has been on a hunger strike with 14 others to protest the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) was admitted to hospital today, organisers said.

MCPX

P.Waytha Nayagi, another participant in the hunger strike which began on Sunday, said Jayathas was taken by ambulance to hospital.She said that Jayathas, 41, collapsed while performing a special 24-hours prayer or yagam which started at 8.30am today. The hunger strike is being staged at a small Hindu temple in Seri Gombak. Participants are consuming only water. "Jayathas became weak after four days. He also missed two rounds of dialysis treatment. He is a kidney patient," Waytha Nayagi said."He missed his treatment on Monday and today... his last dialysis was on Friday and he was very weak," she added.

She said that Jayathas avoided his dialysis treatment as he would have to consume food after undergoing the treatment.

She also told Malaysiakini that Jayathas had initially refused medical care because he wanted to continue with the strike but the others had convinced him to change his mind. Undergoing dialysis

When contacted at about 4pm, Jayathas told malaysiakini that he was being treated at the emergency ward in Selayang Hospital.
"I'm feeling much better now and I will be undergoing dialysis in a while," he said.
Explaining his earlier condition, Jayathas said that he first felt giddy while performing the prayers and that his legs began to cramp.
"My blood had become toxic because I had avoided the (dialysis) treatment," he said.

Nevertheless, he is determined to continue the strike once he is well enough to return to the temple.

The strike began on Sunday at the Sri Maha Kaliamman Temple in Seri Gombak to commemorate the first anniversary of the detention of five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders under the ISA. Waytha Nayagi is the sister of P Uthayakumar, one of Hindraf 5, who are being detained without trial.The five, one of whom is a state lawmaker, were arrested last December after enraging the government by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination against Indian Malaysians.Ending the fast tomorrow.

Waytha Nayagi said the group would end their hunger strike tomorrow. "But we will continue our struggle in other forms until the ISA is abolished and all detainees are freed," she said.The strike was initially planned to take place in Shah Alam but the organisers failed to secure the location.

Waytha Nayagi explained that they had also approached over 30 temples in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor but were denied permission.
"They were afraid and some of them were threatened by the police...when they (temples) face demolition, makkal sakthi (people power) is always there... that's the irony of this, you see," she added.

The yagam is being held for "divine intervention in securing our goals", said Waytha Nayagi. Indians make up less than eight percent of the population of 27 million.The ISA, a relic of the British colonial era when it was used to fight a communist insurgency, allows for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial.The government says it is a vital tool to fight terrorism, but rights groups say the law has been improperly used to silence government critics, and that detainees are mentally and physically tortured.Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said last week that since he took over the portfolio in March, the number of ISA detainees - most of them alleged Islamic militants - had been reduced from 70 to 67.

Remembering JBJ

By JEFF GOH

This year, for the first time in Singapore's history, The Singapore Democratic Party, is organising a New Year's Eve Countdown at Hong Lim Park

* Reflect N Share what went on this year and what's in store the next.

* New Year's Wish Board..We sure will need it next year.

* Freedom songs...never done before..Lets sing together * Candlelight display..Lets build one together...

* A simple dinner of hot dogs and chips..enjoy this simple meal together with those who care and will share..

REMEMBER JBJ....

* Remember JBJ ..everything he has done for Singapore.

* His legacy and help make it grow.

* Speakers will pay tribute to the man

* An "open-mic" for those who wish to pay tributes to him.

* Songs of tribute to JBJ....lets sing together.

Countdown ourselves to 2009 and usher in the New Year Bring your family and friends. Let us make this a truly memorable and meaningful evening.

Hong Lim Park start at 6 pm on 31 Dec 2008 all the way into the 2009.

Tell everyone!

LETS HARTAL AGAINST THE POLICE !

Selangor Chief Police Officer Khalid Abu Bakar (picture left) has yet again proven that he is not fit to wear his Uniform especially after the manner in which he has handled the JERIT cyclists. This oxymoron who is nothing but a BN/Umno stooge is so brainless that he accused the MP of Sungai Siput of organizing the event even though that was not the case. This imbecile also accused JERIT of exploiting minors when the fact was the children were actually there to support their parents.

CPO Khalid also has to answer as to how belongings of Bukit Antarabangsa victims were looted under his watch. This Thug in Uniform better remember that the BN/Umno regime is not going to be around forever. The day will come when the likes of Khalid, his Boss IGP Musa Hassan and all the other goons in Uniform that call themselves PDRM will have to answer to the Rakyat (People) for Crimes Against the Rakyat.

The Rakyat has had enough of the Police being the lap dogs of the BN/Umno regime. The Police can't even solve the rising crime in the country let alone protect the Rakyat. It appears the Rakyat needs protection from the Police instead. SUARAM reports that about 11.15am one of the JERIT cyclists - Tamilchelvan A/L Masilamani (in his early forties) ) was arrested by the police. The offence against him was obstructing police duty. He was accused of blaming the police personnel for stealing their bicycles, although he had only stated that their bicycles were lost.

According to Tamilchelvan who still detained at IPD Dang Wangi, he was beaten up by about 10-15 police personnel during the arrest. He was then bleeding and has not been able to access medical treatment until now. If this is true, the Police have really gone overboard. Enough is enough! WE THE RAKYAT ARE NOT AFRAID OF YOU, YOUR DOGS, YOUR WATER CANNONS, YOUR BATONS AND YOUR GUNS. WE HAVE NO RESPECT FOR YOU ANYMORE PDRM !!! LET'S HARTAL AGAINST THE POLICE AND SHOW THEM WE, THE RAKYAT AND NOT THE EVIL BN/UMNO REGIME ARE THEIR BOSS.

The Scribe also encourages all Patriotic Citizens to check out Teater Bilik Sulit. Bilik Sulit is a play that features the untold true accounts of the nature of Police interrogation of the ISA detainees which are based on testimonials of those who used to be detained under the ISA.

In conjunction with the International Human Rights Day, The Bar Council in collaboration with Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) would like to extend an invitation to all of you ladies and gentlemen to Teater Bilik Sulit which is going to be held on these dates :

20/12/2008 (Saturday)21/12/2008(Sunday)22/12/2008(Monday)23/12/2008(Tuesday)
Venue : Bar Council Auditorium, Level 1
Time : 8.30pm
Space is limited, kindly RSVP.
For more info kindly contact 012-4651671 @ fadiahnadwa9@ yahoo.com

STOP THE RAPE OF MYANMAR!

The Military Junta that rules Myanmar (Burma) has been committing human rights abuses and genocide against it's owm people. While the World is quick to point it's accusing finger at the United States and the West, it does little to address the fact that ASEAN, China and India are actually propping this Evil Regime all for the sake of exploiting Burma's rich natural resources.

After all, the corrupt regimes that rule ASEAN and especially China themselves are committing gross human rights abuses against it's own citizens. China's top oil producer China National Petroleum Corporation are among companies giving much-needed income to Myanmar, defying activists' calls to pull out. "China and Thailand are the major buyers of teak and jade. They just want short-term business interests. They don't care about the lives of Burmese people," said Aung Thu Nyein, a Thai-based Myanmar analyst. Japan's Nippon Oil Corp., South Korean's Daewoo International, Malaysia's state-run energy firm Petronas, as well as two Indian power giants, Gail India and Oil and Natural Gas Corp., are also jockeying for billion-dollar contracts.

According to JEFF GOH corrupt ruling generals in Burma are also suspected to be stashing their assets in Singapore, leading many to criticise the PAP Government following the Burmese regime's crackdown on monks and civilian protesters in 2007. In a report in 2000, the United States State Department pointed out that the system in Singapore "provided opportunities for money launderers to conduct a wide range of illicit transactions."

Since August 19, 2007 there has been a series of peaceful protests across Burma as monks, activists and ordinary citizens challenge misrule and repression. On September 26, the Burmese military government responded with violence. Thousands of protestors have been seized and taken away.

Meanwhile, in eastern Burma, a 45-year catastrophe has reached one of its worst moments, as the country's military junta escalates its attacks against the area's ethnic minorities. The government's efforts to assert control over ethnic border areas have emptied over 3,000 villages in a decade, an average of almost one village each day over the past ten years. The forces of Burma's military junta, the State Peace & Development Council (SPDC), are mortaring villages, looting and burning homes to the ground, and destroying crops in an effort to obliterate the livelihoods of rural communities. Burmese soldiers are ordered to shoot civilians on sight.

Over 500,000 displaced people live in constant insecurity in eastern Burma, and over 30,000 more have been displaced because of this most recent offensive. Those who are captured by the Burmese army face forced labor, conscription, torture, rape and even execution. The rest are unable to return to their homes for fear of stepping on landmines laid after their escape. Instead, the displaced live in makeshift camps in the jungle, enduring some of the worst health conditions in any world crisis today.As this crisis escalates, it threatens to destabilize not only Burma but the region at large. The increasing refugee exodus places a burden on neighboring states, and regional politicians are concerned that epidemics of HIV/AIDS and other diseases will spill over into their own communities. Only broader international consensus and diplomatic pressure will bring an end to these human rights abuses, allow entry of adequate amounts of humanitarian aid, and provide a political solution and a transition to democracy for ethnic minorities and the broader population in Burma.

Watch "Shoot on Sight" here (www.witness.org/shootonsight) and on YouTube and contact Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon to demand UN Security Council action on Eastern Burma and to exert immediate pressure on the military junta in Burma to stop violence and enter dialogue throughout the country.

Source: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/perspective/special-feature/1513-singapores-future-as-a-financial-centre-part-i

Don't Allow Wal-mart To Exploit Malaysians !

Comment by PAKAC LUTEB.

Wal-mart exploits it's workers, Malaysians do not need Wal-mart to exploit them. They are already exploited enough by other Malaysians! Ban wal-mart from Malaysia!
An example of responsible retailing is Costco:

Founded by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman, Costco opened its first warehouse in Seattle, Washington, on September 15, 1983.[5] Sinegal had started in retailing by working for Sol Price at both FedMart and Price Club. Brotman, an attorney from an old Seattle retailing family, had also been involved in retailing from an early age.

In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club (called Club Price in the Canadian province of Quebec). Costco’s business model and size were similar to those of Price Club, which was founded by Sol and Robert Price in 1976 in San Diego, California.[6] Thus, the combined company, PriceCostco, was effectively double the size of each of its parents. Just after the merger, PriceCostco had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales. PriceCostco was initially led by executives from both companies, but then Sol and his son Robert Price founded Price Enterprises and left in 1994.

Prior to the 1993 Price merger, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton wanted to merge Sam's Club with Price Club.[7]

The very first Price Club location was an old airplane hangar, previously owned by Howard Hughes, and is still in operation today (Warehouse #401 San Diego).
In 1997, the company changed its name to Costco Wholesale.[8]

Costco focuses on selling products at low prices, often at very high volume. These goods are usually bulk-packaged and marketed primarily to large families and businesses. Furthermore, Costco does not carry multiple brands or varieties where the item is essentially the same except when it has a house brand to sell, typically under the Kirkland Signature label. This results in high volume of sales from single vendor, allowing further reduction in price, and reducing marketing costs. Costco also saves money by not stocking extra bags or packing materials; to carry out their goods, customers must bring their own bags or use the merchandise shipping boxes from the company's outside vendors.

Currently membership fees at Costco are $50 per year for Goldstar and Business Memberships, which can be upgraded to Executive membership for an additional $50 per year. Along with the additional benefits the executive membership has (e.g. car purchasing savings, home loans, car insurance, check printing services) executive members also receive an annual "2% Rewards Check" of up to $500.00 from Costco on all purchases made (excluding select items such as gasoline, alcohol, and tobacco).

Costco is only open to members and their guests, except for purchases of liquor and gasoline in some U.S. states due to state law; and prescription drugs due to federal law. Memberships must be purchased in advance for one year (as of May 5, 2007).[11] Purchases made at Costco's website do not require a membership; however, a 5% surcharge is added to purchases made by non-members. Purchases made with Costco Cash Cards also do not require a membership, and there is no surcharge. Canadian and United States Costco locations only accept American Express (not in the UK), PIN-based debit cards (Interac in Canada), cash, and checks. Guests of members are not allowed to write checks. American Express is the only accepted credit card (in the United States and Canada) because they do not charge Costco retailer fees (a percentage of revenue from total sales made). As Costco's margins are low in comparison to other retailers[citation needed], they cannot accept the fee without raising prices. This is an unusual relationship for American Express, which typically charges higher fees to retailers than MasterCard or Visa.

Lighting costs are reduced on sunny days, as most Costco locations have several skylights. During the day, electronic light meters measure how much light is coming in the skylights and turn off an appropriate percentage of the interior lights. During a typical sunny day, it is very common for the center section of the warehouse to have no interior lights powered on.
Most products are delivered to the store on shipping pallets and these pallets are used to display products for sale on the retail floor. This contrasts with other retailers that break down pallets and stock individual products on shelves. Costco caps its profit margin on most products at 14% or 15%, but generally limits price markup on products from 8%-10%.

While some former Price Club locations in California and the northeastern United States are staffed by Teamsters, the majority of Costco locations are not unionized. The non-union locations have revisions to their Costco Employee Agreement every three years concurrent with union contract ratifications in locations with collective bargaining agreements. Similar to a union contract, the Employee Agreement sets forth such things as benefits, compensations, wages, disciplinary procedures, paid holidays, bonuses, and seniority. As of March 2008, non-supervisory hourly wages range from $11.00 to $19.75 in the United States, $11.00 to $21.85 in Canada and £6.28 to £10.00 in the United Kingdom.

Product-demonstration (e.g., food samples) employees are employed by an outside company. In the western USA, the company is called Warehouse Demo Services, Kirkland, Washington.[18] Costco also uses Club Demonstration Services, based in San Diego, California.[19

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html?pagewanted=allhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco

A public enemy in Singapore

Contributed by JEFF GOH

Chee Soon Juan spent much of Friday in court. Nothing unusual in that. An opposition leader in Singapore, Chee spends quite a few days in prison and, when he's not in prison, quite a few more in court, as a defendant.

Singapore's ruling party has been in charge for a half-century -- since self-rule began in 1959 -- and the opposition Singapore Democratic Party has never mustered more than three seats in Parliament.

This may be because everyone in Singapore is happy with life. It might also have something to do with the fact that few people would want to live the life of Chee Soon Juan, the SDP's secretary general.

Chee returned to Singapore in 1990 after earning a PhD in neuropsychology at the University of Georgia. Two years later, he lost a bid for Parliament as a member of the SDP. No big deal, you might think, in a country that calls itself a democracy. But he was promptly fired from his university post, ostensibly for misappropriating postage stamps -- and that was just the beginning.

A timeline assembled by Canadian lawyer Robert Amsterdam, who is assisting Chee, suffers from a certain monotony. An excerpt: "1999: Jailed for speaking in public without a permit. 1999: Jailed for speaking in public without a permit. 1999: Fined for selling books without a permit. 2002: Fined for speaking about the ban on Muslim girls' wearing headscarves. 2002: Jailed for holding a May Day rally. 2006: Jailed for saying that the judiciary is not independent. 2006: Jailed for speaking in public without a permit. 2006: Jailed for attempting to leave Singapore without a permit. 2008: Jailed for saying that the judiciary is not independent."

That is a partial list just of the criminal charges. Chee also has been sued for defamation, most recently this year by Singapore's longtime leader -- now "Minister Mentor" -- Lee Kuan Yew and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The Lees objected to an article in the SDP newsletter comparing their government to a charity that had been enmeshed in scandal. A judge ordered Chee to pay them the equivalent of about $400,000.

Chee already had been bankrupted by earlier defamation suits. "I told them to put it on my tab," he joked bleakly to me in a phone conversation Friday. But legal bankruptcy is no joke: It means he cannot run for political office nor leave the country without permission. He has asked for permission 20 times since 2006, he told me, and been turned down each time.

Singapore's ambassador to the United States, Chan Heng Chee, told me that her leaders go to court when their reputation is unfairly sullied because maintaining the trust of the people is so important. Human Rights Watch says that Singapore is "using defamation laws to silence peaceful political speech," which, according to the group's deputy Asia director, Elaine Pearson, "makes a mockery of Singapore's claim to be a model democracy." It also makes it difficult for Chee and his wife to feed their children, ages 9, 6 and 4.

Friday, Chee spent the day defending himself against the charge of "attempting to participate in a procession." (Singaporean lawyers are not eager to take his case, he said.) It is one of about nine charges he faces, two relating to his failed effort to hold a protest when World Bank and International Monetary Fund officials were in town in 2006, others related to his efforts to speak out during a 2006 political campaign. Officials say that he has a conscientious-objector strategy of wanting to break laws; he says that, since his applications for permits are always denied, he has no choice if he wants to exercise his right, under Singapore's constitution, to freedom of speech and assembly.

I asked why he persists, against such odds, and he spoke of the importance of democracy and human rights and openness in government. Then he turned the question around: Why, he asked, do the Lees persist?

"If the government here is doing so well, why is it so afraid to say, 'We'll just ask for a mandate from the people, and we'll get it?' " Chee said. "Why go to such extent to stifle free opinion and dissent?"

Singapore is, by many standards, doing remarkably well. Economic output per person is more than $27,000, 31st in the world and way ahead of its neighbors, according to the Economist. In China's elite Communist Party school, Singapore is cited as a model of how to maintain one-party rule while growing economically -- and not having to keep too many people in jail.
Ambassador Chan says that her country must have a "tighter democracy" than America's, because it is a small, multiethnic city-state in a challenging region -- a rowboat next to America's aircraft carrier.

"In an aircraft carrier, you can be playing soccer in one corner and have jets taking off in another, and the carrier remains stable," she told me. "In a rowboat, it makes sense for everyone to row in the same direction."

Amsterdam says that in his experience, which includes representing persecuted clients in Russia and elsewhere, governments do not go to great lengths to monopolize the media and control speech unless there is something they would rather their people not know. If he is right, Chee Soon Juan's rap sheet would indicate there is much this government would rather not share with its public.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/07/AR2008120701924.html?sub=new

EVIL BN/UMNO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HUMAN RIGHTS!

In a poll carried out by The Scribe, 98% out of 160 people polled felt that a Fatwa must be made against the Internal Security Act as it is an Evil Act that goes against the teachings of Islam.

The Scribe hopes here that the National Fatwa Council will find the strength given to them by Allah SWT to come out with a Fatwa making the ISA Haram.

The Scribe knows that the Evil BN/Umno regime will not stand for any such Fatwa but the Will of Allah SWT shall prevail in the end and the captives shall be set free and Truth and Justice shall triumph in this blessed land of Malaysia.

It is also appropriate to visit the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which ironically celebrated it's 60th Anniversary. This was contributed by JEFF GOH.

THE DECLARATION

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore,

The General Assembly,
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Note: When we have Satan inspired individuals like Najib, Badawi, Albar, Nazri et al who themselves are moronic by birth and running the government, one can't expect such Evil Souls to understand the Spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let's just hartal! Let's go for regime change! Let's start with Kuala Terengganu!