Archive for Local News

I previously blogged about Karamjit Singh’s plight here. Here is a quote from that blog.

Karamjit will not be participating in the current round, Round 3, which is in Rotorua, New Zealand on the 17th and 19th. Round 4 would be in Hokkaido Japan. But guess where is Round 5s venue? No where else but MALAYSIA! (19-21 August 2005) It would be a shame to see that our own Flying Sikh (Karamjits nickname) cannot even compete in his home grounds because he could not secure sponsorship!

That was back in June. Two months has passed and he still has not been able to get sponsorship for the Malaysian leg of the championship.

Click here to read the rest of Karamjit will not be able to defend APRC title

To me, the entire AP system should be abolished. It goes against the World Trade Organisation agreement. This is my personal opinion although others may not agree with me.

These were Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz’s words she gave at the opening of a seminar organised by the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Over 300 businessmen attending the seminar clapped hands when they heard that.

Not sure whether she means APs should be abolished, or giving out free APs should be replaced with a bid and pay system. This doesn’t sound like her at all. Before this she was defending the recipients so furiously… and now she’s saying this?

Meanshile, the Anti-Corruption Agency has been reported to have carted away several boxes of files from the MITI regarding the investigation of the AP issue. This was ACA’s 2nd visit to MITI.

There were also rumours of Rafidah’s resignation but the PM had denied it.

Source: New Straits Times, The Star

The government has declared a state of emergency for the entire Klang Valley area. What does it mean? I’m still in the office working.

So what does it really mean?

Click here to read the rest of Klang Valley State of Emergency

Unrelated to cars… but I’d just like to share. You can click for an an enlarged version of it. Source is from NASA’s Earth Observatory Newsroom.

This photo was taken back on 25th June 2005. I guess the white smog that was previously over the ocean is now right over Malaysia.

Click here to read the rest of Sumatra Fire Satellite Photo

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said today that Malaysia’s diesel will be blended with 5% palm oil before it is sold to consumers. This is part of a new fuel policy to be announced soon.

Click here to read the rest of Malaysian Diesel to be blended with Palm Oil soon

The government has lifted the 8 year ban on Air Pollutant Index figures today.

Click here to read the rest of Kuala Lumpur Air Pollutant Index

Three top Proton executives have quit. The executives are head of group finance Tan Seng Lee, head of internal audit, Colin Low, and head of public relations, Fauziyah Abu Hassan.

Click here to read the rest of Proton Loses Top Executives

Proton Holdings Bhd might be spending another RM40 million ringgit to build another plant near it’s existing Shah Alam plant. The new plant is intended to be used as the main base for manufacturing Volkswagen’s cars.

It’s existing Shah Alam facility has a manufacturing output capacity of 230,000 cars a year while it’s Proton City in Tanjung Malim can make a million cars a year.

Does anyone know the current output of the current plants? Do they really need another one?

Source: The Malay Mail

Rafidah is supposed to explain all the controversial issues regarding the AP system today. I don’t think she can skip the meeting again.

Among matters to be explained are what are the criteria of giving out APs, and why are there as many as 6 types of APS:

• open APs
• franchise APs
• tuner APs
• student APs
• diplomatic APs
• “Member of Parliament APs”.

Will we see another advertisement for no more tears shampoo?

Khairuddin Mohd Khir received about 10 APs a month in the 1980s but failed to secure any over the past 15 years.

Click here to read the rest of Bumi Trader reveals loophole in AP system