Aku Musafir lagi di Bumi Europah

Tanggal 30 April 2014 dengan menaiki pesawat AIRBUS 380 milik Syarikat Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) aku bersama dua lagi sahabat aku memulakan perjalanan untuk bermusafir di bumi Europah. Kapal terbang bertolak jam 11.40 malam dan terus ke CDG Airport, Paris.


Alhamdulillah, pesawat MAS AIRBUS 380 menyediakan ruang sembahyang di bahagain belakang kapal terbang.

Walaupun pesawat akan mendarat lebih kurang jam 6.30 pagi di Paris, memandangkan awal May biasanya akhir musim luruh, waktu subuh akan habis awal. Ruang sembahyang ini memudahkab penumpang muslim untuk mengerjakan sembahyang. Pesawat penuh dengan penumpang walaupun MAS baru sahaj mengalami tragedi kehilangan MH370.

Bersambung... untuk perjalanan musafir hamba Allah yang kerdil ini dari KLIA ke Paris - Mulhouse - Strasborg - Stuggart - Fussen - Innsbruck - Northern Italy- Dolomite Mountain - Verona - Lake Garda- Milan - Como - Switzerland - Alscae - Mulhouse - Istanbul - KLIA.

PLKN vs Pendidikan Tinggi Percuma

Kerajaan bercadang untuk mewajibkan semua lepasan SPM untuk mengikuti PLKN. Ini semua akan menyebabkab kos yang banyak kepada kerajaan. Langkah ini adalah langkah kebelakang dan sepatutnya kos yang akan digunakan untuk PLKN ini dapat digunakan untuk memberi pendidikan percuma kepada rakayat. Pendidikan percuma kepada rakyat dapat memberikan sijil kepada rakyat tapi mewajibkan kursus PLKN hanya akan menguntungkan kroni sahaja.

Interview With Tan Sri Aini Arope About The process of Awarding The IPP by TNB

Interview Antara Ani Arope dengan suratkhabar The Star mengenai paksaan ke atas TNB untuk membuat perjanjian berat sebelah dengan IPP:

WHEN the Government decided to approve the request from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to raise electricity tariffs, the plight of the national utility took centre-stage. Naturally, the knee-jerk reaction among consumers was not favourable. The 12% rise in tariffs appears to have re-ignited the debate on how good the going is for independent power producers (IPPs) at the cost of the national utility’s cashflow. The imbalance between the generation side of the business and that of transmission and distribution has put a strain on TNB. To understand the privatisation of the power generation sector, one needs to take a look back in history to understand that the country’s IPPs came about as a result of the Government’s effort to address the issue of stable power supply after the landmark 1992 blackout. Lending a historical perspective to the issue of IPPs is former TNB executive chairman Tan Sri Ani Arope, who headed the national utility from 1990 to 1996. It was during his tenure that the first generation IPPs were created. StarBiz deputy news editor JAGDEV SINGH SIDHU has the story.

STARBIZ: What happened after the first major blackout in 1992?

Ani: TNB had plans in place to pump out more energy by building plants in Pasir Gudang and Paka. Financing was no problem and our credit standing was very high. We had the land acquired and were ready to move in and plant up.
But we were told by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) that it had its own plans. We cautioned EPU that if those plants, which would take two years to complete, were not built, Malaysia would get another major blackout. When you have a place with 250 engineers, it does not make sense to say (the blackout) is because of poor planning. But the EPU said it had its own plans and we were told to surrender the land.
Then it surfaced that it wanted to privatise the power plants. I am not anti-IPPs per se. It is good to have other players but it has to be done fairly. It has to be fair to the consumers, not just TNB, which is a conduit. TNB, because of the electricity hike, has been treated as the whipping boy. The focus should be on the consumers.
When the generous terms were given to the IPPs, all my other peers around the world asked what was happening. They said they would like to have a share in the IPPs. They said (the contracts to IPPs) were “too darn generous.” (The terms) were grossly one sided.

How was the Malaysian model of IPPs created?

Ask our previous Prime Minister.

How was the process of negotiations with IPPs conducted?

There was no negotiation. Absolutely none. Instead of talking directly with the IPPs, TNB was sitting down with the EPU. And we were harassed, humiliated and talked down every time we went there. After that, my team was disappointed. The EPU just gave us the terms and asked us to agree. I said no way I would.

What about the pricing and terms of the contracts?

It was all fixed up. (They said) this is the price, this is the capacity charge and this is the number of years. They said you just take it and I refused to sign the contracts. And then, I was put out to pasture.

Why did you disagree with the terms?

It was grossly unfair. At 16 sen per unit (kWh) and with the take or pay situation, actually it was 23 sen per unit. With 23 sen, plus transmission and distribution costs, TNB would have had to charge the consumer no less than 30 sen per unit. If mixed with TNB’s cost, the cost would come down but that was at our expense because we were producing electricity at 8 sen a unit. We can deliver electricity at 17 sen per unit.
And then there is a capacity charge. Nobody produces excess electricity like Malaysia and it goes to waste because there are no batteries to store that power. TNB only needs a reserve of 15% to 20%.

TNB was producing electricity at 8 sen a unit. What should have been the right price for IPPs to sell to TNB?

Twelve sen. They could not beat our price as we had already amortised our assets. But for the new guys or even ourselves to come in then and (having) to meet interest charges and to make a small profit, it would cost 12 sen a unit.
This was what we told one IPP. The IPP agreed to it but the EPU said that unless the IPP raised its price, the contract would not be given to the IPP. So he got it for 14 sen per unit.
And then, there is the cost pass-through. If the price of fuel went up, the extra cost is passed through to us. And in other words, it is passed on to the consumer.

Under what terms would you have agreed to the IPPs being set up?

Have an independent buyer for the electricity and in one way, let TNB come in and bid for the plants. Get other people to come in. Get a commission to see (to) our needs and TNB can be one of the producers.
It is argued that the IPPs’ contracts are too lucrative but there are IPPs in other countries in Africa or Asia that have better terms.
There are IPPs charging 50 to 60 US cents per unit but they use diesel. Take our own situation and compare oranges with oranges. Then it is fair. Do whatever is fair.

How were you affected by the process of awarding the IPP contracts?

I felt sick. It was morally wrong and not fair. If it is legal and not fair, I will not do it. If it is fair and illegal, I still won’t do it. It has to be legal and fair.
We work for the consumers, workers and shareholders. TNB is morally obligated to these three, but the consumers come first, otherwise we won’t be around. It is then the workers and the shareholders.
When I said that, they said ‘Dia ingat bapak dia-punya’ (He thinks this is his father’s company). This job is an amanah (trust). You are entrusted with this responsibility and you carry it out to the best of your ability. I do not want somebody to come and urinate on my grave. In the Malay culture, that is about the worst insult they can do to a man.
Do you think you did the right thing by not signing the agreements?
Absolutely.

How should a contract with the IPPs work?

In Australia, they call the IPPs and ask “what is your price”. They will pay the IPP that offers the best price. What they could have done is to throw the net wider and ask everybody (if they) are good, it would be awarded to them. But in our case, the contracts were ready-made and we were asked to sign.

What is your view on the impending renegotiation with the IPPs?

It has to be legal and fair. If we were to negotiate unfairly and illegally, the whole world will be looking at us and they will say “don’t sign anything with Malaysia because if things go against the country, the Government will void the agreement”.
We have to look at this very carefully.
But what we can do now is to say, can we bring down the capacity charge. Anything above the 15% reserve margin, we will call for bids.
The second thing is that the IPPs would have by now paid up their whole capital investments in their plants and it is all gravy (or profit) from now. Could we not bring this down a bit? Instead of paying a small amount to (a special fund), why not increase the (payment) for future planting up? In that manner, we can control the price of electricity. Otherwise, it’s going to escalate.

Who in your opinion should get involved in the negotiations?

The consumers should be there. For me, you should get a very independent body. Then, you can bring in TNB, the IPPs, the consumers and Energy Commission. But these bodies and consumers should not make a judgment.

Don't Drinking Too Much Water?

Di dunia ini... segala apa yang kita buat hendaklah secara sederhana. Kalau makan hendaklah secara sederhana..begitu juga apabila kita hendak meminum air. Maka cara hidup Nabi Muhammad SAW adalah sebaik-baik ikutan...

Terkenang Semasa Dulu

Apabila membaca berita suratkhabar Penyebar Fikiran S&&%an mengenai konflik lantikan SS di sebuah negeri....menyebabkan aku terkenang semasa dulu....

Sesungguhnya bumi ini berputar...dan tetap akan berputar sehingga hari kiamat. Dulu semasa berlaku krisis perlembagaan di antara kerajaan dan raja....aku dengan sahabatku di UTM KL setiap malam minggu akan ke Taman Melewar untuk mendengar ceramah-ceramah terkini. Menaiki motor bersama Firdaus menyusuri lorong-lorong Kg Sungai Balang untuk mengelakan jammed. Susahnya nak mencari tempat parking dan tempat duduk sebab tempat duduk dalam dewan terhad.

Sekarang ni... apabila dah bekerja.. payah sungguh nak pergi dengar ceramah... Disebabkan isu SS ni... pada 9 Januari 2011 ini akan diadakan Ceramah Perdana di Shah Alam. Zaman berubah... ceramah akan diadakan di Stadium. Ada penghawa dingin lagi. Jom ke sana untuk mengembalikan nostalgia lama. Tapi Firdaus di Qatar..tengok youtube aje la...Masa berubah..zaman berubah. Terkenang semasa dulu...

How To Travel To Tokyo On Budget

TOKYO, JAPAN. It may be one of the most expensive cities to live in the world, but that doesn't mean visiting it has to be. The words 'frugal' and Tokyo are hardly ever uttered in the same phrase. While it is true that most things in Japan's capital can be pricey, it doesn't mean that those on a slimmer budget should be denied a visit. The key to doing Tokyo on a budget is to a little ingenuity and finding bargains hidden in the smaller nooks around the city.

Places to Visit:

1. Imperial Palace

Home of the rarely seen Imperial Family of Japan, the 400 year old castle is a magnificent site. After surviving WWII, it was rebuilt in the exact same design. Must see at the Palace are the Nijubashi, two bridges that form the entrance to the inner palace grounds. Also not to be missed is the beautifully manicured Imperial Palace East Gardens, which are open throughout the year (except Mondays, Fridays and special occasions).

Cost: Free

Nearest station: Otemachi Station

2. Akihabara

Also known to locals as Akiba, this section of Tokyo is where you'll find all things electronic, both new and used, at an absolute steal. It is also where you'll find anime and Japanese collectibles (known as 'otaku'). Try Chuodori for new items and the back streets of Soto Kanda 3-chome for used items. Micro-sized cameras and similar gadgets can be found near Soto Kanda 1-chome. Most visitors like to peruse the stuff at Laox, but the best bargains and bigger varieties are found slightly further down the same stretch. Nearest station: JR Akihabara Station and Subway Akihabara Station

3. Daiso

If it's a bargain you're after, there's no place like Daiso. One of the most popular chain stores in the county, its biggest outlet is in Harajuku and it sells everything from tubes of wasabi to candy, kitchen utensils and quaint household necessities.

Cost: Between 80 ¥ and 1000¥ (about RM3 and RM36)Nearest station: Harakuju Station, Takeshita exit

4. Yoshinoya

Though also available in Malaysia, there is nothing like the original. Established since 1899, this chain of Japanese cuisine fast food chain is a simple, cost efficient way to enjoy local delicacy and is a favourite even among locals. Most popular here are the Japanese curry dishes.

Cost: Between 280¥ and 500¥ (about RM10 and RM18) per meal

5. Ueno Park

On the beautiful premises of Ueno Park are museums, art galleries, shopping stalls and street markets selling traditional Japanese souvenirs. But what this park is most renowned for, and for which everyone local and visiting, flock to the area for, is the cherry blossom festival. When the more than 1000 blossom trees are in full bloom (usually around April), joyous picnickers flock to the park to enjoy the magnificent sight.

Cost: FreeNearest station: Keisei Ueno Station and Ueno Station on JR and SubwayGinza Line

6. Tokyo Tower

Taking its inspiration from the Paris' Eiffel Tower, this Japanese version stands at more than 1000 feet tall. Located at Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, it has two vantage points - at 150 feet and 250 feet above ground, offering two spectacular views of the city.

Cost: 600¥ (about RM22) for the 250 feet level, 800¥ (about RM30) for the 150 feet levelNearest station: Akabanebashi Station, Akabanebashi Gate

For more infomation, please read www.mastraveller.com

Safety Alert - Letupan Habuk Aluminium

Letupan Habuk Mudah Terbakar Di Kilang Membuat Rim Motorsikal

Satu kejadian letupan habuk aluminium yang berlaku di sebuah kilang membuat rim motorsikal pada awal bulan November 2010 yang lalu. Lapan(8) orang pekerja telah tercedera akibat daripada letupan habuk tersebut dan 2 orang daripadanya mendapat kecederaan parah. Letupan habuk ini juga menyebabkan kerosakan pada bangunan dan loji pembuatan kilang tersebut, kemusnahan sistem dust collector dan juga memecahkan cermin kilang-kilang berhampiran.

Pembakaran Dan Letupan Habuk
Sepertimana juga untuk semua teori pembakaran, pembakaran habuk terjadi bila bahan api (iaitu habuk mudah terbakar) terdedah kepada haba ( seperti sumber penyalaan) dengan kehadiran oksigen. Tetapi, untuk menyebabkan penghasilan satu letupan habuk mudah terbakar pula, ianya memerlukan kehadiran secara serentak(simultaneous) 2 elemen yang lain pulak iaitu habuk terampai dan keadaan ruang yang terhad(confinement) seperti mana yang ditunjukkan di Pentagon Letupan Habuk.
Gambarajah: Pentagon Letupan Habuk

Habuk-habuk yang mudah terampai akan terbakar dengan sangat cepat dan ruang yang terhad(confinement) akan menyebabkan penghasilan satu tekanan yang amat tinggi dalam tempoh masa yang tersingkat. Jika ketiadaan elemen samaada habuk-habuk yang terampai atau ruang yang terhad (confinement), ianya akan mengelakkan berlakunya letupan TETAPI kebakaran masih tetap boleh berlaku.

Langkah-Langkah Kawalan Untuk Mengelakkan Berlakunya Letupan Habuk

Untuk mengelakkan berlakunya habuk letupan, langkah kawalan berikut hendaklah dilakukan iaitu:
· Kawalan terhadap habuk – kekemasan tempat kerja dan loji hendaklah diselenggara dengan baik dan pemasangan sistem gantian udara{LEV} yang sesuai dan menepati kepada standard kejuruteraan antarabangsa.
· Kawalan terhadap sumber penyalaan - sumber-sumber penyalaan ialah seperti pembebasan arus elektrostatik, geseran, tindak balas kimia, permukaan panas dan juga kerja-kerja panas(hot work) di tempat kerja hendaklah dikenal pasti dan dielakkan daripada wujud di kawasan tempat kerja yang terlibat dengan habuk yang mudah terbakar.
· Kawalan kerosakan akibat berlakunya letupan (damage control) – seperti memasang “explosion relief openings’ pada mesin dan LEV.

Maklumat-Maklumat Lain Dan Panduan-Panduan Yang boleh Dirujuk:
1. Dust Explosions in Factories, Precautions Required With Combustible Dusts, Department Of Labour, 1985, New Zealand.
2. A Comprehensive Guideline to Industrial Explosion Protection Including Scientific Basics, Case Studies about Incidents, Prevention Methods and Constructive Protection Measures, REMBE’s Booklet Of safety And Security (BOSS)
3. U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, Combustible Dust Hazard Study.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Was King Ludwig II a madman or a genius? Think about it for a second. On one hand, the King spent all his fortune and then some to build fairy-tale castles for his personal pleasure. On the other hand, Bavaria is now the top tourist destination in Germany, thanks, in large part to...well, you know, the same guy.
Now, more than 130 years after the foundation of Neuschwanstein had been laid, it has become one of the most photographed, most famous, and most talked about castles in the world.

This is the photo from the Tegelberg mountain--about 20 minutes hike from the castleMany people are familiar with Neuschwanstein without even knowing it. What do you think the sleeping beauty castle in Disneyland was modeled after?
Neuschwanstein ("New swan's stone") was created by King Ludwig II with the help of a theatrical designer. Despite its medieval looks, the castle is about as old as the Coney Island Cyclone. The construction started in 1869 and was never fully completed. The King died in 1886 under very mysterious circumstances. He was found dead in the lake. Prior to his death, Ludwig II was declared insane by a medical commission. The validity of the diagnosis is still disputed today.
Neuschwanstein is an easy day trip from Munich. Many guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet, which I used, recommend getting to the castle as early as possible "to avoid the massive crowds." In reality, I think, getting to the castle in the afternoon is not a big deal, unless you want to visit more than one castle in the region in the same day.
I visited Neuschwanstein on June 26th, 2000. I took an 8:51 train from Munich and arrived in Fussen at 10:57 (German rail system is perhaps only second to Swiss when it comes to on-time departures/arrivals). From Fussen train station one has two choices: a) walk 5 kilometers, b) take a bus for a few DM (Actually the third option is taxi, but come on, we're all on the budget here). I took the bus, and in about 5 minutes I arrived in Shwangau-a tiny village at the bottom of the hill from where I could see the castle in the distance.

Another photo from the Tegelberg mountain. This hike is worth it!All I could say was, "Wow. How the hell did they build this in the 19th century?" The view was magnificent. And it was about to get only better.
From the bus stop it's about 25 or 40-minute walk up the hill to the castle, depending on which road you take--longer less inclined road or shorter but steeper road. It's a pretty decent hike, so if you know you have physical problems walking uphill I suggest you take a horse carriage for about $8.
When I got to the castle it was almost 1pm (I lingered in Shwangau a little). I went to the ticket booth, paid 12 DM (old college ID still does the trick, otherwise it's 15DM), and bought a 15:10 English tour of the castle (You cannot tour the castle on your own).

Hohenschwangau castle--about 20 minutes walk from Neuschwanstein. King Ludwig's childhood home.
I had about 2 hours before the start of my tour, but it wasn't like, "Oh God, now what? I have to wait here for two hours. I wish I had gotten here earlier." On the contrary, these two hours provided me with the opportunity to walk in the woods surrounding the castle and take great pictures of Neuschwanstein from different angles.
There is a great view of Neuschwanstein from Marie Bridge, which is built at a height of 91 meters over the waterfall. Many tourists take pictures from here. The views are awesome, no questions, but what many people don't realize is that one can take an even better photo shot if you walk to the other side of the bridge and climb up the Tegelberg mountain. The trail gets pretty rocky and steep, but if you are in average physical shape you should have no problem. About 10 minutes into the climb, you will notice a cross. Apparently, this is a monument to someone who jumped down to his death from there.

Hohenschwangau castle--up close and personal.From the cross, you'll notice a loose trail going up. A thin wire blocks this trail. I just stepped over it, and continued to climb. The higher I climbed, the better the views of the castle became. I took a few pictures from there and then just sat on the grass enjoying the magnificent view of the castle without the crowds of people. I probably sat there for ½ hour. It truly was a million dollar view.
The castle tour lasted only 35 minutes, and it wasn't anything special. Ludwig II was a big fan of Richard Wagner and he surrounded himself with paintings of characters and events from Wagner's operas. One room I found really impressive; between the living room and the study room, the King built an artificial cave! What a wild imagination!
King Ludwig II intended Neuschwanstein to be "one of the most beautiful [places] ever to be found." With all the modern publicity and fame, I had high expectations. And you know what, Neuschwanstein lived up to the hype.

My Trip To Banda Aceh, Indonesia after Tsunami

‘Dr Death’ surprised by call from Malaysia'

Read more, here

Ramadan Al-Mubarak

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al Mubarak.

Isu Royalti Petroleum Kelantan

Masalah royalti petroleum Kelantan boleh di baca di sini . Good article by national express.

How Kashmir Belongs To India

copy cat dari kosong blog,

How Kashmir Belongs To India

Apparently, at the United Nations Assembly:

A representative from India began:'Before beginning my talk, I want to tell you something about Rishi Kashyap of Kashmir, after whom Kashmir is named.

When he struck a rock and it brought forth water, he thought, "What a good opportunity to have a bath."

He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished.

A Pakistani had stolen them.The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and shouted, "What are you talking about?

The Pakistanis weren't there then.

"The Indian representative smiled and said, "And now that we have made that clear, I will begin my speech."And they say Kasmir belongs to them...

When Grandma Goes To Court

Barisan Kabinet Baru Datuk Seri Najib?

Barisan kabinet baru Datuk Seri najib dikatakan ada kejutan..... Mungkin kah berlaku

How A Bills Becomes Law

LAWS are said to be made to maintain a well-regulated society and a reflection of social mores and thinking.

As such, laws will change over time and must change to keep with changes. While Malaysian laws are generally made or amended based on local issues or problems, these days, changes to existing laws or pressure to make new law can be dictated by foreigners or because of what happens elsewhere.

The initiative for a new piece of legislation or amendment to an old law here can come from the Cabinet, the relevant Ministries, special interest groups, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the United Nations and foreign trade partners.

Some special interest groups that have been successful in getting new legislation passed, after years of research and lobbying, have been the trade unions (Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994), women’s groups (Domestic Violence Act 1994) and the arbitration community (Arbitration Act 2005).

Sometimes, numerous groups have worked in tandem or independently to bring about new law, such as women and human rights groups, Suhakam, Bar Council, AG’s Chambers, the United Nations and the US Government in bringing about the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 here.

Once the Cabinet approves the Bill, it is presented to the Cabinet and sent to Parliament for debate in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara where it has to be passed by a voice vote unless a member challenges the result and call for a division, whereby the votes are taken individually. In the case of a Constitution (Amendment) Bill, voting has to be by division and can only be passed if a two-third majority votes “Aye”.

MPs can also try to table a motion for a Private Members Bill but this has yet to happen here. The rules and conditions for such a bill are set out in the Parliament’s Standing Orders. The time taken to pass a Bill – from its tabling for first reading to the debate after its third reading – can take from a few days to several months. ....from Malaysiabar

Bila Anak Tak Mampu Sara Ayah Dan Ibu Lagi....

Benarlah kata pepatah orang tua " Ibu bapa boleh menjaga ramai anak tetapi anak-anak tidak boleh menjaga ibu bapa mereka". Di dunia akhir zaman ini banyak cerita pelik berlaku. Kisah ibu bapa menyaman anak jika ada berlaku mungkin di dunia barat, tetapi sekarang sudah merebak di Malaysia. Kisah lanjut di sini.

Hitler dan Yahudi

Bila kita mendengar kisah Hitler, kita mesti terkenang mengenai kisah cerita Combat. Askar Nazi German yang jahat melawan tentera Amerika . Hitler memang kejam, kekejamannya terhadap Yahudi menyebabkan British memberikan tanah Palestine kepada orang Yahudi untuk menjadi negara Israel. Kisah selanjutnya mengenai Hitler boleh dibaca di " Hitler Itu ada Benarnya" tulisan Dr. MAZA.

Airport Di Malaysia?

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed today added to concerns over the proposed low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Labu, Negeri Sembilan, insisting that the capacity at existing airports is sufficient.

"We have three airports in and around the capital city Kuala Lumpur, one in Sungai Besi, one in Subang and one in Sepang. Sepang was designed for 125 million passengers a year," he said referring to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Writing in his blog, Dr Mahathir alluded to the idea that news of a new LCCT less than two years after the one at KLIA was opened, was sheer madness by referring to "voices" he had been hearing.

"Right now the voices tell me we are handling only 25 million passengers. So we have capacity for another 100 million passengers more. But the voices said we will be building a new airport at Labu," he stated.

"After thinking up about raising buffalos in Langkawi, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must be congratulated for yet another great idea," he added to mock his successor.

He was referring to Buffalo Park Langkawi, said to be the current prime minister's brainchild.

The government yesterday gave government-linked company (GLC) Sime Darby the go ahead to develop the LCCT.

Sime Darby and local budget airline AirAsia Bhd had proposed to jointly develop and operate the RM1.6 billion LCCT which will be known as KLIA-East@Labu although this estimate does not include the 3,000-acre tract of land where it would be constructed.

Dr Mahathir sarcastically remarked that "the building of the airport should stimulate the economy. Somebody can make quite a bit selling land.

A GLC will get the job and contract it out to some lucky bloke. There will be a whole lot of other contracts to look forward to. It could even help with the coming recession."

Malaysia's fourth prime minister, whose 22 year administration saw vast development in the country, also made jibes at the location of the project.

Referring to the constant "free flights" promotion by AirAsia and the cost of getting to the airport, he said that "the distance to Kuala Lumpur would be longer but of course it would be nearer than Seremban and other parts in Negri Sembilan. But that's all right as you don't pay any fare for the flights, only for the fares to the airport."

"Maybe the Government can enlighten us why Sepang or even Subang is not suitable. Has the Sepang Formula One circuit taken up all the land so we cannot build any more facility in Sepang?" he said.( Malaysia Insider)

Manakala, di blog MP Wangsa Maju, 18 SOALAN MP PERLU DIJAWAP OLEH KERAJAAN:

1. Why the hurry to rush through the approval to build KLIA East @ Labu? Has it got anything to do with Abdullah Badawi’s term as the prime minister coming to an end in March 2009?

2. Is the construction of KLIA East @ Labu a purported attempt to shore up and safeguard the political future of a young and ambitious politician?

3. Why build KLIA East @ Labu when KLIA is still grossly under-utilised until today? (KLIA was originally designed to handle 125 million passengers a year but is now only handling about 25 million.)

4. Why build KLIA East @ Labu when the government has already built LCCT in Sepang and spent a total of almost RM244 million for the seeming exclusive use of AirAsia? (The sum includes the RM123.9 million used for its extension and upgrade as recently as 2008 last year.)

5. Why build KLIA East @ Labu when it will be a threat to public safety when its location is dangerously close to busy KLIA and LCCT in Sepang with a straight-line distance of only 10 km between them when ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) strictly recommends that the minimum distance between two airports should be at least 40 km?

6. Why build KLIA East @ Labu when it will be at a much further distance away from the Klang valley where far more passengers will hail from?

7. Why build KLIA East @ Labu at such great cost for the exclusive use of one airline - AirAsia?

8. After the construction of KLIA East @ Labu is completed, will LCCT in Sepang be abandoned?

9. What is the synergy between the businesses of Sime Darby (a GLC) and AirAsia (a private company) that makes good sense for both companies to consider coming together to build KLIA East @ Labu and hope to make a success of it?

10. Sime Darby does not own enough land in Negeri Sembilan for building KLIA East @ Labu which will require about 3,000 acres. So from whom will Sime Darby be buying land? Who are the owners of this land? Are they cronies, family members and/or people who are friendly and personally connected with Sime Darby and AirAsia?

11. If KLIA East @ Labu is apparently a joint-venture between Sime Darby and AirAsia, does AirAsia have the fund for this massive RM1.6 billion project when the company has suffered heavy losses for hedging aero fuel price and has to take delivery of 150 Airbus planes at an average of 1 plane per month?

12. Is it too far-fetched to consider that KLIA East @ Labu is perhaps built to help accommodate the parking need of AirAsia’s Airbus planes as they are delivered?

13. AirAsia sells air tickets in advance as far ahead as 1 to 2 years which is equivalent to deposit-taking. What will happen to this money which belongs to the public in the event AirAsia goes under because of its heavy commitment and undertaking in the construction of KLIA East @ Labu?

14. If AirAsia is purportedly doing well and has the fund to build KLIA East @ Labu, what are the reasons then behind all the foreign investors selling off their shares in AirAsia?

15. What is the reason for EPF to be the biggest investor of AirAsia, a JV partner in the construction of KLIA East @ Labu with Sime Darby, and why does EPF continue to buy shares in AirAsia when its share price continues to dip south?

16. Does Sime Darby and AirAsia have the fund to sustain the maintenance of KLIA East @ Labu when it will cost, on average, about RM40 million a year to maintain an airport?

17. Is the reason for EPF to be a major shareholder in AirAsia, which has entered into a JV with Sime Darby to build KLIA East @ Labu at great cost, so that when this massive project needs to be bailed out EPF will be there to do so with the rakyat’s money?

18. Even though the construction of KLIA East @ Labu is claimed to be a Privately Funded Investment venture, should the authority throw caution to the wind and compromise on public safety by giving its approval?

Despite the seemingly beneficial economic development it brings to Negeri Sembilan at first glance, should the authority in all honesty in the name of public safety, public convenience and public interest be conscionable to give its blessing and approval for the building of KLIA East @ Labu for some - if not all - of the questions asked above?

Inilah negaraku...

Calon PAS Mendahului di PRK Kuala Terengganu

Tidak pernah terjadi dalam mana-mana website online akhbar-akhbar arus perdana dinegara ini ada menyediakan poll online untuk pilihanraya. Begitu juga poll atau undi sms tidak disediakan di TV arus perdana di negara ini. Yang ada undi seperti " Adakah anda bersetuju Harga minyak dinaikan" ataupun poll yang semua orang sudah boleh memikirkan keputusannya.

Tidak seperti di negara jiran kita, Indonesia, poll online atau poll sms di TV sudah menjadi budaya di sana sejak tahun 2004 lagi. Semasa saya menonton TV di Padang, Sumatera Barat pada PRU 2004, poll sms di TV menunjukkan Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) mendahului undian sms di TV tetapi apabila keputusan PRU dikeluarkan mojoriti kerusi dimenangi oleh Partai Golongan Karyawan (GOLKAR).

Bila ditanya pada orang disana, jawapan mereka adalah undian sms hanya untuk orang yang kaya iaitu mereka yang ada TV dan handphone untuk mengundi sedangan majoriti pengundi duduk di kampung-kampung.

Bagaimana nasib calon PAS... Ikuti tinjauan m-Star disini