人民援助金有什么问题？

国阵政府宣布拨26亿令吉发给符合条件的家庭，而条件是：申请500令吉援助金的家庭，家庭总收入每月3千令吉或以下，而且只有主要收入者可以申请。申请人必须附上薪金证明，填表格。

以政府预计的26亿令吉来算，这份特别拨款，惠及大约5百20万家庭。

就是说：国阵政府认为有520万家庭需要经济援助。

让我们来算算看，520万家庭，到底占了全国工作人口的多少巴仙？

根据统计局的数据，2010年工作人口大约有1千1百50万人。以历年工作人口的成长率，2011年大约有1千1百70万。

如果受惠家庭只有一个成员有收入，就是说有520万，或超过44%的工作人口被认为需要援助；

如果平均每两个受惠家庭有3个人工作，就是说有780万，或超过66%工作人口需要经济援助；

如果每个受惠家庭有2个人工作，表示有高达1千零40万，或超过88%工作人口被政府非正式归纳为贫穷阶级，因此需要援助。

不管是以上那个可能性，它说明了如果不是执政者无能，不能有效提高工作群众的收入，那么，就可能是政府报大数。

如果申请被批准的少过预计的520万家庭，政府会不会公布真正的数据？还是公告说全数派完？因为是给现金，会不会到时有幽灵冒领？

算了工作人口，现在看看受惠家庭于全国人口的比例：

2011年马国人口大约有2千8百万人。

为了方便计算，姑且预测每个受惠家庭有4个成员。

520万家庭 = 5,200,000 X 4 = 20,800,000人

就是说，以每户平均4人计算，有2千零80万人口的家庭需要援助，占了全国人口的74%！

这是不是问题？

好好想一想。

临教和牛

临教，临时教师也。

临时，或者说暂时，就是说非正式。而非正式，又年年临教下去，多少临教打从入行到退休，永远不能扶正，就像宫里的宫女，说是宫女，偶尔得让皇帝老子抽水献身。

好命的，一朝得龙种，荣华富贵逼人来；不好命的，亏大了，还得忍受其他人冷言冷语，只能默默当个宫女，出头？对不起，等下一世吧！

临教本来就是天下间最荒谬的职业，

临教不能误人子弟，得把看家本领都使出来，才能继续当临教

而当临教，最了不起就是一朝登龙门，临教的龙门嘛，就是师训。

各位可以想像，临教，其实比那些封建时代的深宫宫女来的可怜。宫女，还有月俸，只要没出什么大事，月俸照拿，不需担心皇宫会不会不再续约而担心会不会失业。

临教嘛，除了学生、家长，还得应付校长、教育局官员。一个不小心，饭碗就砸了，那时，说什么百年树人，教育英才，统统都没了，没饭吃，还说什么理想？

说了临教，现在说牛。盖马国之牛，乃天下宝物，神户牛也没得比。话说马国之牛，神龙不见尾，牛的金身还没看到，就有人为牛买了全马国最贵的牛栏：马币9百万的豪华公寓，说是为牛而准备的，是政府贷款某裙带公司养牛计划的款项中挪出来“投资”的。

而养牛计划，八字没一撇，就得了马币2亿5千万“贷款”。裙带公司之前没有养牛经验，所以化了马币82万到澳洲取经。

所谓贷款，是必须偿还的，而一间没有养牛经验的公司主导的养牛计划，我们大概可以猜得出来，这笔贷款极大可能会就此消失，到最后无需偿还。

就是说，政府已经把2亿5千万化了，化得无影无踪。

另外一头，教育部副部长魏博士，因为政府缩减临教薪金，取消公积金共马币200零吉，一会说道：“减那区区2百零吉会死人不成？”；后来再说：“因为预算缩减，为了要确保临教不被裁退，不得已才削减月俸公积金。＂

所以你说，临教和牛，在政府的眼中，那一个比较重要？

Apple again, this time is my Macbook Pro charger

My Macbook Pro charger started to behave wiered few weeks ago. Sometime it works, and sometime not, until I later found out that the MagSafe connector seems to be the problem.

I then searched whether there are similar cases, and whether Apple allows replacement. OK, my macbook Pro warranty ended Sept 2011, by right I am no longer entitled for replacement charger but I wanted to give myself a try.

Search Apple Support site, found the following paragraph seems encouraging:

Additional Information

Whether your product is in or out of warranty, you can take your adapter to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation and replacement if necessary. Pending the results of the evaluation, you may or may not be eligible for a replacement adapter free of charge. Signs of accidental damage would negate any coverage. Be sure to bring in the computer used with the adapter; it is required to process potential adapter replacements.

Next step is: call Apple Support.

Why? This is always a good habit to lodge a case before sending the faulty unit to service centre, it will normally cut down unnecessary red tape especially dealing with authorized service centre or dealers.

Lodged the case, explained what I've got, then inform them that I will go to any one of the dealer/service center which is easier for me.

The same night, I went to 1 Utama. When I showed my charger to a guy appeared to be the store manager, he keeps saying: "Your unit already after warranty, and the cable at the charger end is the problem, not at the MagSafe connector, I don't think you are qualified for free replacement."

Well of course, I refused to buy a new charger simply because if Apple were to ask me to send the faulty charger for inspection, it is already a high chance that I will get a free replacement, what is needed for Apple is to have someone to confirm the issue.

I called Apple next day, telling them that I am not happy. They encouraged me to go to another service center of my choice. Besides, they took note on what 1U told me for their further investigation and to issue a warning. Why? It is simply not Apple's intention to get its customer to buy replacement unit if the fault is on Apple.

I then reconfirmed with my old friend that the company that he worked for is able to do the task. Appreciate, I made a trip to the Gardens.

Instead of him, a junior tech was serving me. He is careful, gentle, everything is good until he told me: "We need to keep your charger for max 2 weeks so that we can certify with Apple whether it is qualified for free replacement."

"2 weeks? I am using my MacBook Pro daily, charging it daily, and you want me to work without the charger for 2 weeks?"

"Sorry Sir, this is the turnaround time that we can provide as our response is largely depends on Apple's feedback. OK, what if I try to arrange a loan charger for the 2 weeks? Of course, subject to availability."

"I guess it is OK if I can continue to work."

"May I speak to my manager over the phone on your case, as well as the arrangement of loan charger?"

"Sure, please go ahead.".

After a while, he passed his phone to me, the other side is his manager.

This guy said "We can only promise that we will get back to you by 2 weeks time, as Apple may want us to do some tests. As for loan charger, we need a deposit if you want a loaner."

"Holy shit! Apple said what they need is someone like you to inspect the physical condition of the unit, take some photos, send to them, and get their response, for this you need 2 week?" I was pretty angry already, "Further, you offered a loan charger and now you want a deposit. What if you give me a near dead charger and I ended up have to pay?" I shouted, not realizing that everyone else was looking at me.

"You have a choice, sir" Said the manager.

"OK, my choice is : I don't need your service, I'll go somewhere else. And I don't like your attitude."

I left, angrily, and I text my friend : "I know it is not your fault but I have to tell you that I have never expected to be treated like this. The process cannot be longer than 30 minutes to determine if it is eligible for replacement, yet, your manager insisted 2 weeks, and offered me a loaner, then asked if I can place a deposit."

Friend called up shortly, I told him I have tried, but this is not the Apple experience that I am expecting, too bad.

Next morning, before I called Apple again to brief them what transpired, the MagSafe connector finally separated from the cord leading to the charger.

I told Apple that the second outlet is unacceptable, 2 weeks wait, and I need to fork out deposit for loaner that I cannot even be assured that it will work while in my possession.

So I told them, I am going to the next service center, and I reached there around 5pm.

At first, the tech told me that I am not qualified for replacement since my warranty is out. I told him that I have spoken to Apple, and if it is a straight forward case, they would have asked me to buy a new unit instead.

Interestingly, Apple commented my case as "Service Denied", the tech showed me.

"OK, I am going to call Apple now."

After a long wait, right before 6pm, Apple answered. I told him that I am extremely not satisfied as I was asked to send for physical inspection on one hand, and on the other hand, my case is marked as "Service Denied".

"No worry, I'll help you from here. ..."

Shortly after I described the issue again, he said he need to put me to senior support staff, which is based in Ireland.

"Can you hold while I am trying to put you through? "

"Sure"

10 minutes on hold, finally a voice from the other side "I am looking at your case now, by the way, can you do me a favor? Can you snap a few photos, one at the MagSafe connector, another at the charger end, and send via email to me?"

"Sure, I'll do it now."

"I'll call you in 20 minutes, after we inspect the photos."

Put down the phone, snap a few images, including the 2 above, sent via email.

Waited for 25 minutes, I sent a reminder that I am still in the service center, and it is about to close for the day.

That Ireland guy called me about 5 minutes later after I sent the second mail, and he wanted to speak to the tech guy.

in 5 minutes, the tech guy told me that it is confirmed that I can have a free replacement charger, but due to procedure, he can only release the replacement unit after receiving confirmation from US HQ. he then advised me to collect the replacement the next day.

OK, looks good.

There other minor issues the next day between Apple and the service center, but I got my stuff back finally.

I wrote this just to remind you that even it is after warranty, with Apple, you may have pleasent surprises.

So it is important to do your home work googling, and call Apple to lodge the case.

Why must I either buy a new charger, or place deposit and wait for 2 weeks, where I can get it done in less than 48 hours.

Lynas and its impact on the Malaysia Economy

Many people voiced their concern over Lynas' intention of setting up its rare earth processing plant in Kuantan, almost all are looking from the environmental perspective. But I would like to see it from the economic perspective on how Lynas impact our economy.

The following facts were gathered from various online news sources, I must declare that I did not verify the accuracy of such information, neither do I have the ability to ensure that the fact is correct. I would assume that these facts are correct at the time of writing as there's no official clarification thus far.

building of the plant and land acquisition:

1. Leasehold land acquisition RM 97.5 million (from who ??) (source: Lynas Annual report 2010)

2. Plant construction (2007-2011) (includes machinery and equipment) : RM343 million (source: Lynas Annual report 2010)

3. Construction workers max at 2,500 (how many Malaysian, and how much are each workers getting?)

I would make an assumption of 70%/30% on item 2, plant construction, that 70% goes to plant equipment and machinery, and 30% goes to infrastructure cost needed, including building material, construction workers' pay, etc.

This means for RM343 million spent on the plant, only approx RM110 million contributes to domestic economy, i.e. building materials and construction workers.

The ratio of worker's renumeration vs building material can again be assumed at 70/30, where 70% goes to workers, and 30% goes to materials.

Means workers getting approx RM77 million and materials get the rest of RM33 million, over the 4 year period.

Assumed that all 2,500 workers in full force during the 4 year construction period, each worker gets RM641 per month, although not 2500 workers are presence for the entire 4 year period, we may want to assume that only 1250 workers at any one time, this brings the monthly income of the worker on average to RM1,282 per month, which is pretty realistic.

Then the composition of workers, how many are local work force, and how many are foreigners from Indonesia and Bangladesh?

From typical construction site, we can probably tell that there are almost 80% foreign workers, and 20% locals.

thus we further divide the RM77 million per 4 year to 80% goes to foreign worker, and 20% goes to locals.

of the 80% to foreign workers, i.e. RM61.6 million, 50% likely to remit out from the country, leaving 50% within the economy, i.e. RM30.8 million in 4 year period.

This is probably the contribution of Lynas for their plant construction to the economy, RM30.8 million + RM15.4 million to locals, and RM33 million on building materials and other related expenditures, i.e. RM79.2 million for the 4 year period.

So first contribution is land acquisition : RM97.5 million leasehold to unknown party,

second contribution is money channelling back to local economy, i.e. RM19.8 million per annum for the 4 year construction period.

Operations

1. Lynas enjoys tax holidays of 12 years; (NY Times 2011/03/09)

2. Expected output is RM5.1 billion per annum, at today's rare earth price; (NY Times 2011/03/09)

3. Corporate tax is assumed at 26% for the next 12 years;

4. No other tax element is included in this calculation such as export duty (if applicable), etc. Which I assumed is waived entirely.

5. Since Lynas is still reporting losses in their latest financial statements, it is difficult to ascertain their margin hence their profit from the production of rare earth, but I would estimate that the entire operation is with a margin of 30%, with a net profit of 10%.

6. Lynas will employ maximum of 450 workers, composition of nationality unknown (how many Australians, assuming that Aussie are going to hold high positions), and we assumed that average pay is RM6,000 per job, this will be a Rm32 million payroll per annum.

this means:

Malaysia is losing collectable tax of RM5.1 billion X 30% X 26% = RM397.8 million per annum.

for the next 12 years, total losses is RM397.8 million X 12 years = RM4.773 billion.

It is unlikely that Lynas will park its profit in Malaysia after the 12 years tax exemption, it is highly possible that the profit to be parked at offshore Labuan if Australian tax is not favorable, means Malaysia is still getting nothing after 12 years.

From the above calculation, which is primitive, Malaysia economy is gaining

Land acquisition, to unknown party RM97.5 million

Construction of plant from 2007 to 2011 RM79.2 million

Annual total payroll (assuming all channel back to local economy) RM32 million

What we are losing:

Potential tax collection of RM 397.8 million per annum for the next 12 years.

So the Government tells you we are gaining with Lynas in Kuantan.

You judge.

Abolishing ISA, real or stunt?

Ok, Najib announced that his administration will table a motion to abolish ISA, Emergency Ordinance, and amend Publishing and Printing Act in the next parliamentary session.

I personally do not think this is the true intention of Najib wanted to make Malaysia free from these unhumane laws.

The next parliamentary session will commence in October or November (I cannot remember off hand which month), means it is almost a month from now.

If Najib has the political ambition to mark his name in the history for political transformation, he would have called for a special session to get the parliament to endorse what he intended to.

Instead, he chose to wait for the scheduled session leave me wonder how since he is.

One may argue that he needs to get ready to get it done, but if he made a pledge, isn't this means he is ready? Or he is just teasing us out of the blue?

Proposing to amend Publishing and printing act by telexing the requirement to renew yearly permit does not seems to help the media. Permit is still required, permit is still revocable, permit is still almost impossible to obtain, and clauses in permits issued is not known to the general public, which can still be the same as before, or even worse. Thus, it means nothing to the media, and freedom of expression in general.

Lifting of three existing Emergency is late but a welcome move. Again, why not call for a special session for this but need to wait?

Introduction of 2 new laws to replace ISA and Emergency Ordinance does not look good, especially when the 2 drafts are not made known, makes me wonder these 2 bills are ISA + EO with new dress.

The root of the entire problem
Is that the Constituion allows laws against the spirit of Constitution to pass in the parliament. As long as this provision is not removed, no one can guarantee future administration, be it BN or PR or other ruling regime make use of this clause for their own political interest.

That is, Najib should amend this provision in the Constitution to show his sincerelity.

Besides, many of recent laws since the Mahathir era, after amending the Constitution, empowering the minister to decide on matters that minister's decision is final and cannot be challenge in courts.

This provision in the Consitution is already shaking the equilibrium of the 3 pillars, ie administration, parliament, and the judiciary. By allowing this, Parliament can pass laws allowing the minister not to be challenged in courts, means both the Administration and the Parliament is stepping into the territory of judiciary, and this must be rectify to ensure justice is done in the event minister made a mistake.

Bear in mind that ministers are politicians, they are not professional administrators like KSU etc. How on earth we can rely on a non pro minister to decide on matters that may affect us, and be protected by the laws not o be challenged in courts?

Of course there are many laws that needs review or abolish altogether, but without amendment to key provisions in the Constitution, and willingness from Najib to get it done soonest possible, I see this as another political show and will bring no change to this country.

If Najib has the will, he needs to do it now, else, this is another empty promise again.

Steve jobs and Apple

Although expected, but still shock when heard the news that Steve resigned as Apple CEO with immediate effect.

Many worry that Apple will never be the same in post Steve's era, I do not agree.

For the past years, Steve has implanted in Apple his design philosophy, it is a good corporate example how one can effectively mobilize everyone within the Apple eco system to think as one, be it the employees, the share holders, the suppliers, even the consumers.

Never in any corporate history that one CEO has far reaching influence as Steve, not even Bill Gates, that covers every aspect of the entire eco system.

Now Apple is moving forward without Steve, or Steve is already merged with Apple as one, regardless of whether he is physically capable of dealing with the day to day operation.

For me, Apple is Steve, and Steve is Apple, it can no longer be apart, no matter how.

Since when the State becomes the killing machine?

Many died, with no or funny reason beyond normal means.

Many who did not even have a chance to defend themselves, died in the custody.

Before and after Kugan, Teoh Beng Hock, and Sarbaini, the list goes on.

Some said they are fated, some ignored, some prayed that they are not the affected.

But still some who insisted justice must prevail.

Even if All Mighty were to take away a life, there's always a reason and justification.

But now, the State has acted as if it is above all, that stupid excuses given for precious life lost.

Oh yes! You can blame it to the system, but please, tell me, which section of the System allows life lost for no reason?

Some said because Teoh is working for the Oppositions. Tell me, is Sarbaini works for the oppositions? No! Sarbaini works for none other than the Royal Malaysia Custom.

Some said Kugan deserved it because he is a criminal. But wait, isn't it the jurisdiction of the courts and not the enforcement force to determine if one is criminal? Even if Kugan is a car thief, as claimed by the Police, is he deserved a death sentence with no legal proceeding from the enforcement and not judiciary ?

Think about it, think about if it happened to you. If you feel that I'm casting a curse so be it, but if it happened to you, I'm sorry, for we have not just doing enough to crush the killing machine.

I curse those who invoked in these killing and escaped or attempted to escape justice, one day you'll will have the same fate, and you would pay dearly for what you have done.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Biometrics voter verification - myth and reality

First of all, this is not a scientific discussion as most facts are based on assumption. Why I carried on with this post is simple:

Unless it is proven me wrong otherwise, else I still have doubt over feasibility of implement biometrics (fingerprint) verifications during the elections.

The Elections Commissions (EC) announced that they will implement biometrics voter verification system to counter possible phantom voters. This announcement is echo by the Government that biometrics verification is the best way to determine validity of voters.

One of the Bersih 2.0's 8 demands is to deploy indelible ink during the voting process to eliminate possible multi voting by a physical person.

It seems EC has countered Bersih 2.0's demand on the use of indelible ink but the two are coming from the same source, i.e. voter with valid documentation (MyKad), but addressing different issue.

EC mentioned that its biometrics verification is based on information stored in MyKad, i.e. voter's MyKad number and his/her fingerprint. If the verification device matches fingerprint stored in MyKad against the physical voter presence with his/hers physical fingerprint via the fingerprint reader, then it should be a valid voter, if the voter is designated to vote at the said polling station. There is no verification against authenticated hosts, i.e. National Registration Department's (NRD) servers, which can be very costly and challenging for polling station that may not have proper network access to the NRD hosts.

Let's start with use of indelible ink. Indelible ink provide quick and easy way to identify whether the voter indeed voted, without the need of equipment. This prevents one person from voting more than once in the elections, and effectively prevent both phantom voters, and voters who have been found appeared in the electoral roll more than once.

However, for biometrics verification, based on information released from the EC, is only good to deter possible phantom voters who should not exist in the first place. It does not address one voter with multiple votes, here is why:

If the electoral roll contains a voter appeared in different poling stations, using biometrics verification does not help since electoral roll allows the said voter to vote in more than one polling station. It is in effect legitimate the said multiple vote casting instead of invalidating or deterring.

There is no way for one to verify voter based on visual contact except via biometrics devices, and biometrics devices are in turn based on information stored on MyKad, and software application installed on the computer where verification device is attached to.

The above assumes that electoral roll is tainted, both Bersih 2.0 and the Oppositions have raised doubt over accuracy of the electoral roll with evidence in the past, yet it is still not rectified.

Second, biometrics verification has its own flaw, thus, it is always coupled with other method of verification should fingerprint matching failed:

1. Women during their periods, may find their fingerprint less clear thus may have difficulty picking up by biometrics sensor to effectively match with record stored in MyKad;

2. For some reason, fingerprint was distorted due to injury, verification can be difficult as the source is damaged;

3. Damaged MyKad. No one will notice their MyKad is faulty until they use it, since it is not meant for daily use, it is hard for one to confirm that their MyKad is effective;

The above may have invalidate valid voters from exercising their duty, unless EC does have contingency for voters in the above categories. EC has thus far never address this issue. Even if EC has alternatives to address the above, does it means it is possible to manipulate by damaging MyKad, for example, and avoid the biometrics verification?

If I let my imagination runs, concur with the above, extending the damaged MyKad scenario:

Throughout the years, there have been many incidents that MyKad faulty at some point, thus when MyKad holder found out, they have to get their replacement MyKad from NRD.

The question now: what is the treatment of the faulty MyKad? If it is supposed to destroy, how? Will it be possible that these damaged MyKad falls to unauthorized hands? We do not know.

If this is possible, then the damaged MyKad point raised above allows these MyKad holder to avoid biometrics verification, and if the name appeared in the electoral roll, and EC allows alternatives to verify without biometrics, isn't this defeat the purpose of biometrics verification all together?

The list can go on with wild assumptions, that I will not want to speculate further.

Conclusion: the use of biometrics verification, set aside implementation cost involved, has serious flaws to address, and addressing such flaws requires transparency of the entire process, not just voting process, but issuance of MyKad, and treatment of faulty MyKad, which is too big the task for all to appropriately address for all concerned.

In addition, it does not prevent multiple voting if there's no central servers to store up to date information, i.e. whether the same MyKad is already used in one polling station and try on another, which electoral roll has such duplications.

Even if the error is minimal, it may indeed influence the elections result and may not reflect the true will of the majority.

新闻解读：首相评赵明福皇委会报告

本解读纯粹是天马行空，看官若要对号入座，后果自负！！

政府需调查才能对付违规官员　首相促民众莫质疑皇委会报告 - 當今大馬

告诉你们，我们政府其实对皇委会有关反贪官员违规一事非常不满意！他们这么可以这么说？不过，我们是政府，我们可以重新调查，而你们，哼！门都没有！

首相纳吉今日敦促人民不要质疑皇家委员会就赵明福死因所作出的调查结果。

就是叫你们不要呱呱叫，不然。。。。。

他说，由国家元首陛下御准成立的皇委会是一个独立、公正及拥有诚信的机构，并根据事实下定论。

虽然大家都知道皇委会的成员都是首相“建议”最高元首委任，不是最高元首自己做主。这句话的意思是：如果万一皇委会被揭发是一个不独立、不公正、没有诚信的机构，你们找最高元首去，不要再来烦我。

还有，我说这是事实，就是事实，你们不要在吵吵闹闹！

他质问，若人民继续质疑皇委会的结论，那还有其他替代方案可彻查赵明福的死因？

意思就是说：结论不可以被推翻，因为我不会再花时间跟你们玩这游戏，认输吧！

“不要质疑（皇委会的）结论，因为它将违背成立调委会的目的。”

如果还是执迷不悟，社会主义党的那6只，就是你们的榜样！

纳吉于今早抵达玻璃市展开一天的访问。他今日主持玻州国阵会议后，在记者会上受询时这么说。

。。。。。。。。

又是媒体

偶尔路过，读到这篇，又有感而发。。。

張立德

換作是你，會怎麼做？

Created 07/13/2011 - 19:05

同事曾毓林在面子書上針對一些別有用心的人對星洲日報有關709集會的報導羅織了一些莫須有的罪名，與一班面友做了相當深刻的交流。

毓林是以一名報社員工的身份與網友們坦誠的交流。這說明了，我們報社員工樂意與讀者／非讀者交流，只要是抱著誠懇和理性的態度，我們願意和大家做最“親密”的接觸。

我和毓林一樣對目前一些網民對星洲日報和其他華文報“喊打喊殺”的惡言相向，無不感慨――幾乎每一場重大事件，總有人把焦點牽引到華文報，尤其是《星洲日報》身上。

这点我同意，应该论证而不是恶言相向。可是对于提出疑点的读者，媒体又如何应对？是不是也一样喊打喊杀？

沒錯，每個人都有發言的權利，能夠自由表達本身的立場，可以選擇抵制、抗議某一個人和某一件事，但是在行使權利之前，必須先做具體分析，不能盲目的人雲亦雲生搬硬套就給對方加上一個罪名，亂貼標籤。

这点我也同意。对于邓议长、和对付敌对媒体的动作，是否又是乱贴标签呢？

有一位網友就說得好，淨選盟的8大訴求中，其中一項就是自由與公平使用媒體，支持709集會卻動輒打壓媒體，不禁令人質疑其動機。

这个，我不同意。媒体若无犯错，又何必计较追风补影之说？

這裡我想到“理想、理解、理性”3個層面。

言論自由應是每一位公民的理想。唯言論自由，是互相尊重的過程，在爭取的當兒，更要學會施予。新聞自由，是言論自由最重要的部份。在爭取新聞自由的路上，媒體工作者有所堅持，不輕言放棄，不自我設限，這是許多媒體工作者的理念。但是爭取新聞自由的責任不只是落在媒體身上，每一位公民也要扮演好角色，做媒體的後盾，一同達致理想。

我們媒體工作者對本身的處境有深刻的理解，政治風險與經濟風險的雙重壓力，令媒體人天天如履薄冰，戰戰兢兢。然而，民眾對媒體，尤其是華文報面對的種種限制和壓力又理解多少？

天啊！又回到惯常的措词。新闻工作者若以言论自由、新闻自由为理念，当有百川会海之胸襟，无理谩骂的，可以一笑置之。

若媒体不愿投资在教育和解说当今媒体的困境，又如何期望读者理解所谓的限制和压力？

就算读者理解当今媒体的困境，却不代表媒体可以在处理新闻时指鹿为马。

而所谓的经济风险，就是一般说的员工饭碗问题。是不是表示说如果有任何重大事件因为某些压力而媒体可以弯腰？而弯腰的原因是为了饭碗？

媒体可以为了饭碗而弯腰，读者也可以因为媒体弯腰而批之。当然我不赞同疯狗似的批评，但却认为此类批评大可不理，而不是试图封杀。

某些已有預設立場的網民亂貼標籤，把華文報的員工都描繪成“十惡不赦”的罪人。如果網民能夠做換位思考，今天換作是自己，處於當前的處境，面對各種的限制和障礙，自己又會怎麼做？

简单的说，如果你刚好目睹事件的经过而媒体的报道不确实，你会怎么做？善言之？若媒体不听，如何？再善言？若媒体请你不要搞砸员工饭碗，你会如何？放弃？还是再三言之？若媒体一再诉说苦衷，你又会如何？抵制？那不是砸了员工的饭碗吗？不抵制？为何要花钱读自己不能确定对不对的报道？

有一位同事曾說過：“我所期望的‘新聞自由’結合下列理念：具建設性的評論、可改善現狀的揭發性調查、可以協助解決問題的報導以及新聞工作者不受恐嚇和壓制。”

当今新闻工作者受到最大的压制和恐吓是从哪儿来的？读者？当局？媒体本身？如果是读者，这样的读者并非对象，不要也罢；如果是当局，为何数十年来受到恶法压制，媒体本身毫无完整策略如何消灭恶法；媒体本身，那不是要来个自我检讨？

這正是我們要一同追求和達成的理想，然而若不能得到客觀理解以及理性對待，一切終歸泡沫。

（补上在面书的感想）

当媒体自觉受到他人误解而感到委屈和愤怒时，可曾检讨为何如此，​还是只会一味的指责他人抹煞媒体的苦心？丰田的车子有问题而被逼​回收，丰田是否应该指责消费人不应该把事件放大，逼使丰田回收，​影响丰田数十年所建立起来的声誉？还是将错误改正，继续上路？

当丰田被逼回收它的产品时，媒体有没有挺身而出的为丰田的员工，​丰田的供应商和员工说话？还是媒体和汽车制造商不同，媒体可以影​响读者做出错误，可能是遗憾终身的判断而不需负责，还要读者“理​解”媒体的“苦衷”？为何没人尝试“理解”丰田的“苦衷”？

媒体最大的悲哀，是失去公信力，而公信力，不是任何人可以瓦解，不是泼妇骂街式的攻击可以将媒体击败，也不是当权的利用恶法和武力可以注销媒体的公信力。可是公信力，却可以因为媒体本身的政策和决策方向而被侵蚀。

Source URL: http://opinions.sinchew-i.com/node/20098

唇论舌战说媒体

先说背景：（人老了，年代也记不清了，现在更正）

我和中文媒体的渊源始于中国报。1991(应该是1992)年，我为中国报做了一项科技项目，因此认识了一些媒体人。

同年，接管光明的松坚先生让我替光明处理与科技有关的作业，当时也认识了一些现在还在世华的媒体人。

1993(应该是1994)年，我为当时的话MegaTV发展一项科技项目，由于MegaTV是否TV3的子公司，让我也学习了电子媒体的作业流程。

1996年，我向现在世华董事经理的鉴权先生求职，获聘为电子出版顾问。

2001(应该是2000)年，星洲成立星洲互动，我被委任为营运总监。

2002年，我参与起草在多媒体法令下的电子媒体内容准则，为政府下放管制铺路。

期间，我经历了南洋被收购，东方开始出版。

这回答了我是否曾经办过报，也回答了我对媒体作业的理解。

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昨天在Echo FB看到她的贴文，＂有感而发＂的写了＂一堆＂文字而引来＂一些＂回应。为了不干扰Echo其他对此项目没兴趣的FB友，就把我的回应贴在这里。先由我的开始：

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媒体有精力和对手对着干，有精力走钢线，却没有把精力投​放在一劳永逸的将威胁媒体的出版与印刷法令消灭，这是我​一直都不能明白的。

我总是觉得媒体在逃避，但却因为一些残余的使命感作祟，​令他们觉得难。难，是难在如何平衡，而从来没有认真思考​如何冲破恶法的缚束，久而久之，”走钢线“就成了他们的​借口。

在面对同行时，媒体突然胆子大了，封杀、促销、优惠，无​所不极，不怕死，也不怕被人骂。这样的斗鸡精神，若用在​对付恶法上，恶法如何不被完（更正：玩）死？

再说，媒体一再的强调读者人数，强调自己的影响力，可是​心底下对这些数据总是表现的不太有信心。若以最新的数据​，世华旗下的日报控制了60%市场。以一个简单的假设来​计算，就是说马来西亚共有650万华人，50%阅读中文​日报，既是说世华旗下的日报可以影响接近2百万人。如果​60％读者超过21岁，那就有100万人。

全国合格选民有大约1千2百万人，世华的读者几乎占了1​0%。如果能不间断的教育读者有关印刷及出版法令对他们​的负面影响，这10%的选票，足以令当权者倒台。媒体要​去掉恶法的方法，就是动员读者向当权者施加压力，而不是​妥协。以世华的规模，当权者是不可能，也不会将全部日报​关闭。如果加上光华、东方、还有东马的媒体，最保守估计​是大约150万到180万适龄选民，几乎占了15%强。

抛开历史的包袱，如果中文媒体能够步伐一致，恶法就不会​有今天，而媒体也不必天天挨骂，还要常常哭诉如何如何的​委屈。

恶法之所以还存在，还在张牙舞爪的威胁媒体，是媒体本身​没有好好利用自己的强项来解除威胁，而副作用就是读者的​知情权被剥夺。

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回应贴了出去后，就得到了一下（“以下”，是iPad替我选的词，不关我事）的回文：

Agnes Chung 樓上的講得頭頭是道，請問你辦那一份報紙？可以具體說明​報紙可以怎樣利用自己的強項解除威脅嗎？謝謝。

Chia Chin Yau 没办过报，因为没钱。:) 方法我提了，重点在于团结则强，涣散则弱。

（在这里加料）

Agnes，的确我是没办过报，在开头的叙述交代了我的背景供参考。

在说媒体的强项之前，先说媒体存在的必须元素：

媒体，必须依赖读者才能继续生存，这点我不说你也应该明白。

要建立读者群众，就必须要有公信力。而公信力，是基于处理新闻时不偏不倚（这是当年中国报的通光先生和星洲的庆曾先生先后不约而同的向我解析处理新闻的准则。）

媒体可以有立场，不管是偏向任何一方都不是问题，但是立场是通过评论而不是新闻本身说明，就是说：

假设当局要实施某项措施，引起在野党的抨击。新闻的处理，应该是向读者交代双方的说辞而不是一面倒倾向某方。

在评论此事时，媒体可以以本身的立场向读者阐述媒体对事件的看法。

如果Agnes同意以上说法，那我们继续，若不同意，读到这里就可以停止了。

所谓的处理新闻没立场，就是以叙事方式，不添加删减，让事实还原，那读者才会相信你。就像是你对我是否了解媒体作业方式有疑问，基本上是基于我的论点你可能不苟同，才会有＂你办过报吗？＂的疑问，因为我没有公信力，或者说你不认得我。

当然，就算是我曾经办过媒体（严格来说我没有，因为我不是总编辑，也不是老板），你也可能不同意我的说法。这里的＂同意＂包含了＂认同＂之意，而我贴回应时从来没有要读的人认同或同意，我只是把我所想的写出来。

在任何对抗行动中，唯一能够取胜的方式是展示力量。集会，是展示力量；读者人数，同样的也是展示力量的一种。

媒体以经营多年而累积的读者人数，就是展示力量的最有力证据。而如何能让读者为自己心仪的媒体出力，就要从教育着手。

但是媒体同行之间如何能达致协议，以前，我觉得难，但是并非不可能，虽然同行如敌国，尤其是在不同老板旗下。可是现在世华的媒体占了60%强的市场，达致协议基本上已经不需要，需要的，是最高领导的决心。

可是，世华的媒体，有没有如此规划来教育它的读者有关钳制媒体的恶法？如果有，同行是否可以在这事项尽量和世华配合？还是会来个小报告让世华尝尝内政部的咖啡?

就算是没有其它援手，媒体是不是应该尽其所能去让读者加入消灭恶法，让读者自动的站在媒体一边？

而媒体现在做的，只是在某些特定的纪念日如国际新闻自由日、或在同行接到当局警告时候，略略提起印刷及出版法令的威力和对新闻自由的杀伤力，这样的做法够不够？

这里想说的，是媒体在受到威胁时，只会呻吟，而不思反击，或者说媒体更乐意的有意无意利用恶法成为挡箭牌，而不想一劳永逸有一个妥善的策略废除恶法。

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Sean Chua 吊销执照就全部玩完……

Sean Chua 你的方法都蛮刺激地，请问是否能更具体地说出一些计划和​策略？还有如何应对被吊销执照后的窘境？如何安置被遣散​的报馆员工？他们是否会被恶法秋后算账？

没理由你告诉我去抢银行可以发达，我就傻傻拿之机关枪去​做世界滴……

Sean Chua 你说了一大堆说抢银行可以发达的方法，最后你却告诉我你​没抢过银行……结果还不是得个讲字？

回应：

Sean在这里把废除恶法和打枪银行扯在一起，多少令我对前线媒体人的原本的看法摇动。废除恶法是不是犯法？是不是不道德？如果是犯法或不道德，那我对Sean无话可说。如果不是，为何引用如此例子，还理直气壮？这恰恰说明或者媒体的自我催眠是多么的可怕，因为媒体人对废除恶法的认知如此，那又为何在受到恶法对付时才象小媳妇那样向读者哭诉？而且一定要读者理解媒体的＂委屈＂？

如果连教育读者有关恶法对媒体作业的威胁和干扰都属犯法，请问每年新闻自由日总会刊登的恶法和它对新闻自由的影响力，或类似文章，不就已经犯法了吗？为何媒体认为犯法却不管而照登？

和如此对象交流，岂不是缘木求鱼？

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Agnes Chung 先不提出版法令，我只問幾個問題：報社老闆是誰？他們怎​樣獲得准證？他們的核心業務是報社還是其他projec​t？總編輯是怎樣一步步升上去的？你認為可以可以做到老​總是因為他最會寫？報道最中立？

Agnes Chung 還有

回应：

Agnes，先说老板。老板有几种，一种要回馈社会，一种要名，一种要利，一种要名利双收。

回馈社会的，应该都入土为安了，不说也罢。

要名的，不管你如何舞，记得将他老人家的活动摆显眼的版位就行了。这种老板就怕死，遇到如此媒体老板，你能呆下去也算是一号人物了。

要利的话，一般不会办报，办报问题多，收益未必成比例，他宁可做别的生意也不会淌这浑水。

现在的老板，都想名利双收，媒体对他们来说是生意也是维持知名度的管道，不是慈善，也不是回馈社会。而这类老板，算盘精，会看长远，媒体人若能面陈方略，只要是有长远利益，他们都会愿意尝试。而媒体人的最大问题，是高层不让老板和你单独面陈。如何突破高层的封锁，又是一番学问。

所以说，障碍不是前线媒体人，不是一般媒体人，不是老板，而是卡在老板和员工之间的高层。

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Sean Chua 星期六一早在FB上吹水，都几没有建设性……

回应：

总还是有建设性过那些连想个法子都不愿意，而不能平心看待大问题的媒体人强得多。

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Agnes Chung 什麼是報道中立？我認為自己中立，這中立平身中不中立？​所謂的電子報就中立嗎？外國沒有種種法令限制，就中立了​嗎？我完全同意你說的團結就可以什麼什麼，但那好像是理​論呢。。。

回应：

Agnes，是你说中立，我并没要求媒体中立没立场，我只是要求媒体做份内事，就是报道事实，要求媒体不应只是怪罪恶法，读者，和街边放屁的所谓＂评论员＂。媒体报道事实，就如嘴巴是用来吃的事实一样。这里再重复：媒体可以有立场，可是不代表媒体可以自我提升到赵高指鹿为马的境界，毕竟付费的读者应该有知情权。

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Echo 许慧珊 我也不知道。这次709给我很大的冲击，我也在衡量，宏​祥兄说的，对我来说是一个全新的角度来看这件事情，所以​才回出来。

时代几乎来到了一个转弯的地方，是一个历史的分界线，接​下来会怎样，我也不知道。因为没有身在其中，只能旁观者​。看着这样的变化很有趣。有个感觉，要翻这底牌，应该不​会超过五年。可能三年就露出了。

回应：

主流媒体的最大障碍是高层，和受到他们影响的媒体人的心态：执着于之前的成功模式，未必能确保将来一样成功。只有突破不合理的限制性，才是媒体新的一片天。

有兴趣的应该参考为何NOKIA在短短的4年内兵败如山倒。

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Agnes Chung Echo終於出來講話了。。。其實我問ccy辦那一份報​紙，只是想了解他對報界的認識有多深。平面媒體的操作，​是一層層上去的，當大家批判媒體這個那個時，我覺得有必​要從根本去探討，即幕後老板是誰，有那一個老板會允許僱​主或老總拿石頭砸自己的腳？如果報館依舊由“老板”操縱​，只靠下面的人如記者去衝，是不實際的。。。每年有多少​有“志氣”，頂不順這種作業方式的媒體人離開，轉行，就​是因為改變不了現狀。

回应：

我同意Agnes的说法，这就是为何我说必须要有办法直接面对老板。对抗恶法对媒体事业来说，不是用石头砸自己的脚，而是利用现有的一切有利因素来为这个投资的回馈最大化。我没说媒体一定要冲撞恶法，而是说是否可以融合读者的力量推倒恶法。

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Agnes Chung 至於林宏祥講的，我贊成，也在思考。。。我覺得公眾不能​太過依賴媒體，凡事要求證和思考。今天我告訴你警察是好​人，保護良民，你要自己去想這句話是否可以全盤接收。

回应：

当主流媒体仍然是公众的消息来源，而很多时候是唯一的消息来源时，基本上公众应该再向那方面求证？如果主流媒体不是大多数的主要消息来源，它已经不再是主流媒体。

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Echo 许慧珊 我今天忙到现在才有时间坐下来。。。

如果我没弄错的话，CCY曾经为媒体服务。

15 hours ago · Like

Echo 许慧珊 现在依赖媒体的群体，仍然很多，十年后应该变成少数。

这十年是关键，媒体要怎样转弯？变得特别重要。

15 hours ago · Like

Agnes Chung 主流媒體最終會像新加坡報紙一樣，寫跳樓新聞、報導社團​糾紛、罵罵地方政府、採訪一些好人好事，還有看下那裡大​減價 。。。一塊兩毛錢的報紙，你還想看什麼？呵呵！

回应：

如果主流媒体安于这样的发展，其实就标榜着它已经不再是媒体，其它媒介的媒体会因此获利，到时候，因为要保障员工有饭吃的媒体管理层，反而将媒体本身打入万劫不复的深崖。

中国报，应该道歉吗？

一家媒体，如果刊登了误导性报道，是不是有义务公开道歉？

说是记者太嫩，不知如何拿捏，或者说编辑时间太赶，匆匆下了个误导性的头条标题，又或者是太上皇请喝茶，要媒体如何如何处理净选盟新闻等等，刊了出来，有误导之嫌，公开道歉很难吗？

如果坚持没误导，那么为何夜报头条标题和日报头条标题意思完全不一样？

夜报头条：说好的和平呢？示威乱隆市，近千人被捕

日报头条：净选盟上街 1667人被捕

夜报标题，似乎给人一种印象，就是净选盟作乱，说和平游行变成暴动。

请问，当天的游行，净选盟有没有挑衅警方？若有，证据在哪？

若没有，那净选盟游行是不是和平的进行？或者说净选盟没意愿，也不曾有“不和平”的想法。若如此，为何质问“说好的和平呢？”

当然你可以说，净选盟和警方冲突，游行变成了噩梦。如此说法，就是说是警方先挑衅，才变得不和平，而且将吉隆坡变成战场？

如果肯定，标题大可有用类似“警方先动手，隆市大乱”，又或者是“和平请愿，镇压收场”之类的，不是清楚明确吗？何必用夜报那个头条。

或许邓议长说得没错，是记者／编辑素质不好吧？

如果不觉得有错，为何必须在日报该完头条字眼，而把夜报更有爆炸力的标题改为平淡的“净选盟上街 1667人被捕”呢？

如果因为发觉误导而改，那么是不是应该为误导的标题向净选盟或读者公开道歉呢？

The "PIMP KING" thought he is really the KING

Read HERE

Self implied "Pimp King" of Malaysia said:

“His Majesty should not be receiving people like that. We know Ambiga represents an illegal organisation.”

He is teaching the King how to be a "King"

“She should be arrested under the ISA or the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and not being invited to the palace,

He is teaching the Police how to treat the situation

“Who does she think she is?” he asked. “Ambiga is behaving like she is the police chief. Like this is her father’s country. She’s not even running in the next general election so why is she poking her nose into the electoral system with all these demands?”

Wow! He is really the KING, the greatest "PIMP KING", talk like he rules the country!

“We hope that we will also be received in the same manner that the King received the organiser of an illegal rally,” he said. “If the people can extend favourable treatment to an illegal organisation that is already causing chaos in the country, then they should also extend the same treatment to us.”

He refers to the King granted audience to Dato' Ambiga, and called the King "the people".

Deep in his heart, he really think that he is the KING, PIMP KING

---------

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih chairman S Ambiga should be arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) instead of being invited to the palace, Perkasa said today.

“We were shocked that Ambiga was granted an audience,” Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali told a press conference here. “His Majesty should not be receiving people like that. We know Ambiga represents an illegal organisation.”

“She should be arrested under the ISA or the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and not being invited to the palace,” he said.

Nevertheless, Ibrahim said Perkasa respected the decision of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin to grant Ambiga a royal audience.

He added that the move reflected a benevolent King who cared for his country and people.

“The King’s willingness shows his concern for the safety of his people.”

Perkasa will also submit a letter requesting an audience with the King before this Saturday to voice its intentions for holding its own rally to counter the Bersih gathering.

The Malay right-wing group was reported to have been turned away by the palace when it attempted to submit the letter this morning. Ibrahim, however, denied this allegation.

“We hope that we will also be received in the same manner that the King received the organiser of an illegal rally,” he said. “If the people can extend favourable treatment to an illegal organisation that is already causing chaos in the country, then they should also extend the same treatment to us.”

A disgruntled Ibrahim then took potshots at Ambiga, beginning with her demand for the immediate release of the six Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) members detained under the EO.

“Who does she think she is?” he asked. “Ambiga is behaving like she is the police chief. Like this is her father’s country. She’s not even running in the next general election so why is she poking her nose into the electoral system with all these demands?”

Strong doubts

Ibrahiim also expressed strong doubts over Bersih’s assurances that the rally would be peaceful as he believed that crowd control would be a serious problem.

“You cannot make such guarantees even if the rally is being held in a stadium,” he said. “Anything can happen with people moving in and out. There are huge groups of illegal immigrants living in the city who could also incite violence.”

“A Chinese shop gets broken into and a Malay is accused or vice-versa. And then the whole country erupts into chaos. This is what I’m worried about. The government also keeps flip-flopping on whether it will allow the rally to go on or not. It needs to rule with a firmer hand!”

On the contrary, he said Perkasa could guarantee peace because he was the only firebrand in the group and if anyone were to be arrested, it would be him.

“But I should be given an award for fighting to preserve the nation’s peace instead of being arrested,” he said. “This is what I want to tell the people. Don’t think that the country will only be right if (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim becomes prime minister.”

“Anwar isn’t the only person who is qualified to be prime minister. I am also qualified. In fact, I am more popular than Anwar with his sodomy case and sex video clip. I am known for my so-called racist statements in defending the Malays. I feel great!”

Ibrahim also warned the online media not to distort their reports of the rallies this Saturday by under-reporting Perkasa’s crowd size and exaggerating that of Bersih’s.

“You watch and see,” he said.”If 2,000 turn up at Perkasa’s rally the online news will report it as 200. But if 500 turn up at Bersih’s rally, it will be reported as 5,000 and the portals will say that the people are rejecting Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s rule.”

BERSIH 2.0 - Back to basics

With disappoint and anger razed across my facabook friends, who wanted to stage on the street come 709, further, accusing Bersih 2.0 chair Dato' Ambiga for her latest decision to call off the walk.

Shall we go back to the basics and re-examine the objective of Bersih 2.0?

Clean and fair election

Right?

Is the walk the objective?

No! the walk is just a mean to achieve the objective.

What is the purpose of the walk?

When all avenue exhausted, and there's no other way other than walking on the street to voice out, thus the walk.

And you stage a walk when you wanted media spotlight, and create awareness for those who may not even know what Bersih 2.0 is all about, thus the walk.

Just like handing the electoral reform memorandum to the King, what does it signify? It is a mean to achieve the objective, i.e. Clean and fair elections, again, sending the memorandum is not the objective, it is a mean to achieve the objective.

So, what is the best way to achieve the objective at this juncture? OK, you may still insist walking on the street, saying that Bersih 2.0, especially Dato' Ambiga, has betrayed those who trusted her. That's your view, but is the walk the objective or just a mean to achieve the objective? Ask yourself.

I've walked for Anwar back 1998, walked for No ISA vigil 2008 , I took part in the Bersih/Anti ISA vigil 2008. I walked because there's no other avenue to voice our concern, thus I walk.

We went to PJ court to show support to RPK back then, where we witnessed those who shouted most in Malaysia Today ended up no show.

We went to Sentul Police Station to support RPK for his criminal defamation charge, it was less than 20 person there, Where were all of you who cried that you will support RPK for his sacrifices?

I voiced my concern, with my legs. I walk, when there's no other means to voice out.

Back to Bersih 2.0. If the government did not soften its tune to agree with gathering in a stadium after declaring Bersih 2.0 as illegal, I'll walk, and we shall walk.

Now, the Najib Administration, on one hand still label Bersih 2.0 as illegal, has to extend olive branch to accommodate, isn't this an achievement instead of setback?

I agreed, if the government did not soften their stand, we shall walk, walk to achieve our objective.

But if the government has accepted the fact that it has to deal with Bersih 2.0 in a civilized manner, be it willingly or not, are we moving one step towards the objective? I do think so.

If the government then reacted as before, giving all sorts of reason trying to derail Bersih 2.0 even it has agreed to hold the gathering in a stadium, of which the offer was made by non other than the Prime Minister, then you should walk.

Else, why should people, who may not even have the guts to walk, to accuse Dato' Ambiga for accepting the stadium's offer, and some even blamed her for scarifying those arrested by Police due to Bersih 2.0?

Why should you make a pre-judgement that Bersih 2.0/Dato' Ambiga has betrayed the trust on them? Isn't this the same attitude that Perkasa is adopting? That you are now behaving like Perkasa unconsciously?

Will all these blame and criticisms achieve our objective?

Or do they have their own objective instead?

净选盟三宗罪

一）净选盟2.0积极活动，引发我国多元种族社会的不安和担忧。

土权和巫统不算

二）通过发传单等，传播煽动民众的意识形态，以图推翻政府

干净公平的选举是要推翻政府

三）净选盟2.0的活动已对我国形象造成负面影响，更可能威胁和动摇社会和平与安全、经济繁荣以及国家主权，同时影响多元种族社会的和谐生活。

贪污滥权滥杀种族主义是正面的

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回钦亮先生贴文

钦亮先生，

当你说你身边的人对于净选盟游行一事的看法，我觉得纳闷。

上街，是当所有管道都被封闭时，唯一可做的事

远如秦代张胜、陈广揭竿而起，到最近的＂茉莉花革命＂，都是在忍无可忍的情况下催生。倘若当权者愿意对话改进，旋风无论如何也刮不起。

而净选盟游行，不过是在没有其他选择的情形下的唯一选择。

先说净选盟的要求是不是过份：

简单地说，是要求一个公平的选举。

钦亮先生，不知此要求是否过份？

若要求不过份，但当权者却以种种理由推搪，甚至说道若选举有弊，在野党如何能在308取得好成绩？

不知钦亮先生是否认同当权者的说法？

而一个民间组织（后面我们再论是否它是一个超越政党，或是被政党操纵的组织）发起针对选举弊端而提出的要求，是不是过份，是不是骑劫民意？

民意到底是什么东东，钦亮先生应该明白，而净选盟是否代表全民之欲，就要看当天出来的多不多。

当然钦亮先生可能会说：才那几十万人，怎么能代表全民？

这里，就跟钦亮先生分享当年我在报馆时的一件事，恰恰就解释了民意到底是什么：

话说在一天的新闻会议上，提到有些读者对新闻的处理不满，而向报馆提出看法。当权者说：＂只是几个读者叫嚣找渣子，怎么能够代表所有读者？＂说毕，被提出的意见就此不见天日。

另一天，同样的新闻会议，秘书小姐报告说有一些读者来电赞扬说新闻处理得好。当权者这时换了副面孔：＂你们看，大家都说我们最好。＂

不知道钦亮先生是否经历类似事件？

所以说，民意，是看你如何解读，民调，也看你如何分析。

钦亮先生可能会说：沉默的大多数没表态，所以净选盟的诉求不是全民所欲，即不是全民所欲，就不能说有民意。

请问钦亮先生，我们的领导引以为荣的＂对抗英殖民政府成立马来亚联邦＂的运动阁下是否认同？

若认同，请问阁下是否能确定对抗英殖民政府是全民所欲？

当英殖民政府俯顺民意而将马来亚联邦改为马来亚联合邦时，所谓的民意是否是全民之欲？

孙文先生号召推翻满清政府，经历了无数次的尝试才成功。请问当年孙先生有没有要求全中国人公开表态是否支持推翻满清？

那么，自称争取到英殖民政府放弃权马来亚联邦的巫统，和一样没有任何证据显示孙先生的中华民国，因为没有全民民意为基础，而被钦亮先生归类为＂强奸民意＂？


净选盟争取的，不是推翻政府，而是要选举公平，因而达致政权和平轮替，如果现有执政党在来届大选丧失政权的话。

净选盟的诉求，关键在于诉求是否正确合理，而不是一昧的以全民所欲浑淆是非，而当权者的态度，也应该检验，而不是上街不合法、会导致骚乱等等借口。

再回头看你身边的人的反应，问问你自己，到底是谁发出恐吓？为何当局没迅速根据现有法律采取行动（虽然我不认同动用煽动法令或内安法令）？为何当局要妖魔化净选盟，一昧配合媒体抹黑净选盟？

若净选盟如当权者所说有隐议程、有黑手，或有国外特务撑腰，为何不马上采取行动以免形势恶化？然后迅速的控上法庭，让我们知道的确有其事。当然，人们相不相信司法这一环节就得看当局是否秉公处理。

最后，对于先生的最后一段文字，觉得先生的恐吓意味太重：当先生说不管在朝在野，若净选盟＂得逞＂的话，谁输了都不会甘心而会继续搞是非。

这段文字，恰恰就是当权者所要带出的讯息。

先生保重。



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种族

对最近闹得热腾腾的杨巧双女儿应该列为什么种族的事，个人认为，那些认为她不应该在女儿报生纸的种族一栏尝试填上“马来西亚”族，也不认同她被逼填上“华人”的述论者，应该好好的做科学考据，才发表意见。

想要知道到底种族是什么东东，可以从维基百科开始。

只是想问问那些自认炎黄子孙的“华人”，

是否可以用科学角度来说明他们如何肯定他们是“华人”；

是否可以鉴定他们流着的血是纯“华人”的血；

是否可以确定他们不是“汉人”、“唐人”，而是“华人”。

而“华人”这一名称，是不是自黄帝时代就这么称呼？

望各位有学之士多多指教。

你要自救，还是还在等着救世主？

读了一些FB贴文，说道“很多人”因为最近的事件，如旅游部的180万面子书网页，纷纷怒骂政府滥用公款，有感而发：

如果要求这些人走上街头，他们是否愿意？又或者说要他们在同一时间在各自家门前点起蜡烛，他们会不会做？

当权的就是因为我们不一定会诉诸于实际行动，才会毫无顾忌的横行。对他们来说，网上的反对声音充其量只会让当权者没面子，而不会因此而反省。

而我们是不是满足于羞辱当权者，但却没有意愿将他们撤换？我们是否愿意承担实际行动可能带来的负面后果？

当权者之所以敢如此横行，也是因为看准了我们不过是泥菩萨，纸老虎。所以他们最多让些步，说几句好听的话，之后又回到原点。

个人认为，非常不幸的是，我们自己一手造就了今天的局面，除了破口大骂，就没有更好的解决方案。

大家应该扪心自问：我们为我们自己做得够不够？还是我们其实都在等着救世主（从另一个角度来说，我们是不是在等着一个开荒牛、冤大头）？

不说拯救国家于水火之中，只说拯救自己免得将来自己受苦，我们愿不愿意？做不做？

Tourism Malaysia's online initiative fiasco

It was brought up by MP of the Opposition that Tourism ministry spent some RM1.8million on its online initiative, particularly on social media such as Facebook.

I have no idea what is the detailed plan going social media, and whether the amount is justifiable for such initiative, but I do know the government seems to be disconnected within itself, and does not orchestrate concrete strategy for whatever implementation.

Why I said the plan is not carefully thought out even without details on the plan itself?

First, we were told in a big fanfare way that the Prime Minister's department held a huge gathering of 1 million youth in Putrajaya. For this event alone, some RM27million spent.

Then we have Tourism Malaysia putting up Facebook pages, online games, etc to fuel domestic travel industry.

Knowing the youth formed the largest component in online demography, the government would have take the opportunity of the 1 million youth gathering to call every participant to join the tourism Malaysia's online initiative.

My limited experience thru interaction with a handful of younger generation revealed that most of them have around 500 to 1000 facebook friends from all over the world, exlcuding other social media services like Twitter etc.

This number is certainly impressive and it can make any online social media event an immediate success in terms of number if the government were to leverage on them.

Instead of the Prime Minister shouted emotionally during his speech to the 1 million youth to defend Putrajaya at all cost (it sounds more like a political campaign than a gathering supposedly helping the youth in various area of their interest, ie further study, job opportunity, etc)

The Prime Minister, if he ever care of the Nation as a whole, would have take the opportunity seeking concensus among the audience, and mobilizing them to start sharing out Tourism Malaysia's Facebook page for example.

Imagine 1 million people with average of 500 online friends, we are talking about a 500 million audience's channel for the price of RM27 million + RM1.8million, which means we spend less than RM0.60 per potential fans and get them heard of what we have to offer in this part of the world.

Of course the number may not be as large, it is certainly an impressive number to leverage on for a start to promote Malaysia worldwide.

Tourism Malaysia issued a press statement to counter accusation from the public for mis-appropriation of public fund by spending RM1.8million, claiming that their target by end of 2011 is 120,000 fans, which is equivalent to RM15 per fan.

By comparison, 1 million youth immediately vs struggling 24000+ as of now; 500 million almost immediate vs expected 120,000 by end of 2011; and RM0.60 vs RM15 per fan, which is favorable and well spent is without question.

That's why I said even they have weekly cabinet meetings, they have inter ministerial communications, they have all the alphabet soup from the top notch brains in the government, but they have never take national
Interest seriously as they claimed they do.

Worse, they operate as within themselves not knowing how to leverage on each others' strength.

They would have first ask me, perhaps the situation won't be as sticky as now :)

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What are you waiting for?

Both Selangor and Penang PR Administrations have declared that they will not dissolve respective state assemblies simultaneously should BN dissolved Parliament for fresh election.

The explanation given was that PR state administration wanted to finished it's task before facing the election, and it is a strategy adopted by PR state governments to focus on Federal level, then dissolve the state assemblies after the Parliamentary election is over.

I figured that PR is not ready to open 2 battle fronts at the same time, given significantly less resources PR has in hand compare to the ruling regime.

Another consideration may be perhaps that PR has not get enough registered voters to secure they chances of wining, hence, instead of losing all at one go, they would expect that if the result is favorable to PR on federal level, it is natural that the states will still be in their hands.

Personally I do not think this is the best way to attack, fighting an uphill battle requires creative strategy than stick to what they have been using in the past, and only given then inch of advancement, but losing out more.

In short, this is not the best way to defense.

In my humble opinion, given sentiments on price hikes, abuse of power, corruption that have hit BN badly in the recent days, PR should be bold enough to seek for mandate before BN gets itself ready.

Why?

Whenever approaching election, it is customary within UMNO, if not BN as a whole, to fight for candidacy. The level of negotiations and power struggling within the ruling regime is intensified and often beyond imagination, of which PKR should know far better than other PR partners.

If the internal fighting cannot be resolved, either by way of compensation or suppression, Najib will not call for fresh election given the fact those who are not chosen to be candidate will sure to sabotage in one way or another if compensation is not agreed upon by other means. This is too dangerous for Najib to dissolve the Parliament even the result is favorable to BN, Najib will subsequently face music within UMNO, which can lead him to Timbaktu.

On the other side, PR is facing similar problem, but lesser scale as it involves state assemblies within their control, there are less problem to solve for PR as compare to BN.

So, when your enemy is trying to sort itself and forming the best strategy to win the war, I see no reason why PR just sit idle waiting for it's opponent to get ready and it is certainly far superior in terms of resources, if not quality of candidates themselves.

If PR wanted to win the war, and win Putrajaya, it cannot allow Najib to have the leisure of time to sort out internal issues, and prepared, then dance with Najib's music.

PR must be brave enough to take over the control on deciding when should be the election, and it should be far ahead instead of letting the opponent to have ammunition ready to fight.

PR must force Najib to decide whether the Federal to follow the state's decision, i.e.

If Najib have to rush to make sure that elections to be held simultaneously, he will not be able to please every warlords within UMNO, since election needs money, and these warlords need to find ways to get enough to fight the war, and time is not with them, it can be very frustrated experience, that ultimately leads to Najib's downfall if BN cannot perform well;

If Najib is not following for as settlement is not done within BN, how will BN face the smaller scale war to contest in the upcoming state elections, given that most of the PR held seats are in the expense of BN, how will BN field it's candidates even just for the state election will be a big headache especially this will disrupt Najib's plan of getting his line up properly without interference.

If you want to win the war, you must dictate the terms, and leave your opponent no choice but to follow you. But if you are forced to dance with your opponent's music, your days are numbered.

Thus, whoever strike first, will win the war, not just the 2 or 4 states, but Putrajaya.




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Downgrading iPad2 from iOS 5 beta 1 back to iOS 4.3.3

I like features in iOS 5 and can't wait to grab a copy from Apple Developer's site to have it installed both on my iPad 2 and iPhone 4.

It looks good, most of the new features are exactly what I have been waiting for, and all these features work as advertised.

But wait, there are some apps previously working well on iOS 4.3.3 are now exhibiting strange behavior, some apps can't even work at all.

Apps that I rely most are Numbers, Keynote, and Pages. While Pages works, Numbers and Keynote are not working.

It is very strange given Numbers and Keynote are both from Apple, and have just received updates a few days before iOS 5 beta 1 released.

In order to keep my iPad 2 going, I have to resort to downgrading the firmware back to iOS 4.3.3, at least until the newer beta out and problem solved.

I followed the steps here, except that I did not uninstall my iTunes 10.5 and put back iTunes 10.3 as mentioned. Let's see if it works.

Cross my finger

Numbers for iPad

I think I've underestimate the potential of what can be done on Numbers. It is absolutely amazing, and excellent in many areas compare to conventional spreadsheet apps like Microsoft Excel.

I agree that it lacks of enterprise features such as pulling data directly from data warehouse like Excel or even Open Office. But Number outshines all these conventional spreadsheet apps, which has not been much changed since the day of Lotus 123 and Multiplan.

But for me, I can always get live data by other means and feed it to Numbers, and let Numbers does the rest, including presentation which is an overkill for Excel.

When you start to dig further onto Numbers, you'll know that it is not just another spreadsheet, but spreadsheet with a new life.


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Rescuing top 10 best paid CEO?

Why should the govt lend RM6.5billion to an utility company that is guaranteed with handsome profit but run into financial trouble?

If the company is not guaranteed good profit, why should it pays its CEO perks amounting to RM5 million per annum?

If the CEO is doing a good job how can the company landed in troubled water?

If the govt lend the massive amount with no repayment schedules and interest announced, does it means the money may not pay back, with or without interest?

If it is a must do action, should the govt, the biggest creditor, dictate that the current CEO should be booted from his position for not doing his work?

What is the benefit for people outside Selangor with this sum of money lend out to a company operates only in Selangor?

Is this a notional interest to rescue the company or is it a state interest?

If it is not national interest but state interest why not let the Selangor govt deal with the matter instead of federal govt messing up everything yet big amount of money need to lens out to a single commercial entity?

If it is neither national or state interest, then on what ground should the federal govt pump in this amount of money when it keeps complaining that it can no longer sustain if subsidy not removed?

Tell us, will u?


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Petrol hike deferred

Is this a good news?

We were told many times that the hike is inevitable else the country will eventually bankrupt due to heavy subsidy and high international crude oil price.

Prominent economists are echoing the same tune and urge the government to withdraw petrol subsidy.

We were bombarded with the above since 2008 that we can no longer sustain if current subsidy continues.

And most of us somehow accept it as fact of life, even grumbling privately, we know the day is near.

Now the govt deferred decision on subsidy restructuring aka price hike, what does it really mean?

Does it mean that Malaysia found a sustainable new source of income that allows the govt to continue subsidizing petrol that it once claimed no longer affordable?

Or does it means that the govt did not paint the right picture all these while that in fact the govt can afford the subsidy, just that it wants to test how far we can stay afloat;

Or does it simply means that in order to win the upcoming election, the govt simply defer for the ruling regime's benefit?




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iPad with Apple Wireless Keyboard

I must confess that I cannot resist not using the wireless keyboard with iPad, it is so easy, so fast, and I feel at home with familiar key distance and location, it is identical across all Apple products, same keyboard layout, same size.

Copy, paste, select all, undo etc, all can be done with keyboard shortcuts as usual.

It is also very efficient when typing in Chinese, at least for me. I
am using PinYin, and it allows the entire sentence to form before putting it to my message.










Word processing apps like Pages works well. But for some reason, Numbers, spreadsheet app from Apple, does not seems to work as expected.
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JQuery UI autocomplete with POST

jQuery UI is awesome, but some of the features are not as flexible as the framework itself, for example, I would prefer all http requests to use POST instead of GET, and I would prefer all data to be transferred using JSON instead of other data format.

jQuery's autocomplete is one of the widget that will work only with simple string or array, and by default it uses GET.

Below is my solution to autocomplete with POST, and accepting JSON response from the server:

I have added field as the search field, and filter as the filter to limit search range to the function and it is working well.

The JSON format returned is [{"name":"Kuala Lumpur"},{"name":"Kuala Tembeling"}] using PHP's json_encode function.

function autoComplete(node, model,field,filter){

var url="/test/"+model+"/autocomplete";

node.autocomplete({

source: function(request, response){

var inData=[];

inData.push({'name':'data[term]','value':request.term});

inData.push({'name':'data[field]','value':field});

inData.push({'name':'data[filter]','value':filter});

$.ajax({

"dataType": 'json',

"data": inData,

'async':true,

"type":"POST",

"url": url,

"success": function( data ) {

response( $.map( data, function( item ) {

return {

label: item.name,

value: item.name

}

}));

}

});

}

});

}

2 bullshits do not make a smart asshole

First, they announced the shadow cabinet with 16 shadow ministers, and the real cabinet is only with 9 ministers and 11 ministries.

What they are telling us is that they are keen on getting everyone on board to please these everyone, at our expense.

They should either mirror the existing ministry portfolios, or revamp to make it efficient than increasing the portfolios, for example, why not all land related matters taken care by one, instead of 2 or 3 ministers?

This is the first bullshit.

Second, they said that they have never been consulted, and the shadow cabinet must reflect racial composition.

I laughed to the floor as this statement came from a party leader whose leader claimed anak melayu anak saya, anak cina anak saya, anak India anak saya etc.

What do you mean by racial composition? Do you mean we are supporting a carbon copy of the Barisan Nasional? If so, why not we just vote BN and outcome is expected than voting you guys and see you guys playing music chair and uttering racial statements, worse, we cannot predict the outcome if we vote u in.

What say u, PR?

Another bullshit

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Goodwill from DiGi, sort of!!

I thought I have finally closed the DiGi chapter after moved on to Celcom since March, well it seems the story still continue.

First, there was a surprise bill in the month of April saying that my DiGi account still have an outstanding amount of RM38.69 as stated here http://chinyauchia.blogspot.com/2011/04/continuing-with-digi-saga.html

Then I received a reply from DiGi(mail header is printed to show that this is not a mock up):

ok, so far so good, I really thought that the book is closed.

Yesterday evening, I received the following SMS:

Need not to ask, it is sent from debt collector as the phone numbers are not DiGi's. Upon receiving this SMS, I called both numbers but no one is picking up the phone, yes no one. At first I thought I received SMS from hell, indeed it is hell for me.

I then called DiGi to find out what is going on, and was told that my account still having outstanding of RM38.69, and it is now in the hand of debt collector.

I told DiGi pointblank that they can proceed with legal action and summon me to court, and I shall defend my rights from being exploited, extorted, and sodomized (I learned this word from mainstream media, back in 1998).

What DiGi has done is a bad on me, they somehow find their way to keep humiliating their ex-client who left them, sort of punishment and indirectly telling me that:

LOOK! This is the price you pay for forcing us to let you go!

Oh! Boy! It was DiGi, not me, who defaulted our business agreement, here : http://chinyauchia.blogspot.com/2011/02/probably-my-last-letter-to-digi.html

It wasn't me, it was them. They screwed up, then they try to screw me, but got screwed, now they trying harder to harass me, and they are going to get bigger screw this time, I swear.

Now I know, these phone numbers belongs to debt collector. Then I told DiGi that I have already been ensured by DiGi that the amount is waived in "goodwill", if so, where this RM38.69 surfaced and haunt me again? DiGi cannot answer, but promised that they will check with the person who sent me the mail stating waiver.

I am just wondering how DiGi can waste their shareholders' money in this case, when the account supposed to closed with no outstanding has not been treated accordingly since April 2011 as per the above email.

I suspect that many DiGi customers may be in similar situation, and most people may just resort to settle the amount, after all, what is RM38.69?

But I am not going to let DiGi go now, it has made a relatively happy night into 13 Elms Street that I am going to have bad dream tonight, with their debt collector's "blessing" in disguise.

So tell me DiGi, what are you going to do next? How would you expect me to trust you yet again for your "goodwill" turned horror and extortion?

This is really hopeless and I now know why DiGi profit soared.

Wisdom

I am disturbed by reactions of "reform" or opposition supporters, when RPK appeared on TV3 telling that he did not believe that Rosmah was at crime scene when Altantuya was blown up.

Many of these "intellects" expressed their disappointments and anger on RPK, said that RPK has turncoat.

Many unfounded accusations that RPK reached agreement with Najib therefore appeared in TV3 shortly before the Sarawak State Election.

It is sad that these people, who may have been influenced by RPK seeking for justice, has released their anger on him without second thought.

And these are the very same people claiming that mainstream media is nothin but lies yet they get themselves believing what appeared on mainstream media. I am just wondering where their conscious is?

I am not defending RPK, whom I need not defend, but judging from emotional and sentimental postings from these "intellects" who claimed themselves been working towards a just world, their actions are beyond my imagination.

This reminds me that supporters of both sides of the fence are as emotional as they can be, and this is no good if we are working towards a better tomorrow.

Why not calm yourself down, give yourself a chance to go through the timeline of RPK, then make sensible conclusion?

This country cannot carry on with blinds trying to lead, neither this country will move forward with emotional steams, we need facts, foundation, and objective foresight to ensure success. Else what different dies it make whether PR or BN in power with their supporters like this?

Wisdom is all we need to determine the course, not anger nor emotion


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自己讲自己？

不写名字，算不算阳痿？






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1Malaysia email, the business proposal

Read the Malaysian Insider's article on the 1Malaysia email saga:

In short, the govt agencies using the service to deliver message will have to pay RM0.50 per message per email address.

Ok, let's do a hard calculation:

Assuming that there are 5 main govt agencies subscribed to the service,

1. EPF: now can give you monthly statement;

2. Income tax: now can give you monthly statement too;

3. Police: to tell you whether you got summons, monthly intervals;

4. RTD: to tell you whether you got summons, monthly intervals;

5. PM's deprtment: now can greet you every month with 1Malaysia newsletter and updates;

And we assumed that eventually 28million population will be on board (well, if you think you can escape, you're wrong. The govt can simply pass an bill on this requiring everyone to have an 1Malaysia email address, just like your MyKad).

Let's see how's the figures blown up:

RM0.50 X 5 agencies X 1 mail per month X 12 months

Is RM840million per year!

Assuming that the govt implicating to all banks, telcos, utility companies that they have to use this to communicate with their customers (very possible given utility companies are govt linked, telcos are either govt linked or heavily related to mainstream politicians, banks? Bank Negara can issue a directive, end of story)

Assuming that 1 bank, 1 telco, 1 water & 1 electricity company per head, we'll now have to pay:

RM0.50 X 9 X 1 mail per month X 12 months:

Gosh! It is RM1.5billion business!

Who said Malaysian got no brian?



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Continuing with DiGi Saga....

I thought I am out from DiGi's nightmare end February after wrestling with DiGi over poor voice service quality, and ending, though not completely satisfied, still better than stuck with DiGi for the next 18 months.

To know more about what's happening between DiGi and me, just click on the label DiGi at the end of this post.

Today, 2nd April 2011, I received a bill from DiGi with a bill amount of RM38.69 (as above).

Wait.... I recalled my 2nd last conversation with the Head of customer service is with the conclusion that DiGi will waive all charges. My argument was that DiGi terminated its service to me, right on the Chinese New Year eve, and lied to me that they have send out a replacement SIM of which they suspected that my existing SIM is having problem.

I am not going to repeat the whole story here, but I have stated my point:

1. DiGi abandoned me as their customer, not I initiated the termination.

2. DiGi's extremely slow response to settle the case, from the day I demanded them to resume their service which was terminated unlawfully, until the day I officially departed from DiGi, it took them a good 18 days just to get the case done.

3. I have mentioned many times that DiGi crawling response and action force me to continue using their service. I have been trying to contact them via emails and calling the customer service hoping to get the issue over before the next billing cycle, which I will be liable for new charges.

18 days to get the case closed is too expensive for both DiGi and me. I was stuck with no other choice but using a voice service that is almost guaranteed not reachable by incoming calls ( what's the point of having a phone when all you can do is Interneting?)

The promise that they have made to me that all charges will be waived, after all the mess, is again proven is nothing but blatant lies.

It is sad to see a supposedly customer oriented, mass consumer service provider does not even bother to honor their words.

Yes, I left a message with the customer service after contacted them on this matter, and yet they need to refer to their billing department which will probably responding in 2 days.

The message read: Please send me a demand letter indicating that DiGi will proceed with legal action against me to recover the "outstanding" amount of RM38.69, and I will choose to be in court.

I will not answer any calls from DiGi but I wanted black and white or email should they need to tell me their story. Want to explain to me why i need to pay for the amount? OK, why not see you in court, then you can tell not only me but the whole world what has transpired and how you swallowed your promise for no apparent reason.