GLOBALISATION


1. The concept of globalisation; of a world without borders; of unrestricted movements of capital, goods and investments across borders was promoted during the late 80’s and early 90’s when the world economy seemed set to grow forever.

2. The growth would be even greater if the poor but resource-rich countries would abolish the restriction on the movement of foreign capital to exploit opportunities presented by them. In addition to the opportunities there was cheap labour to help reduce cost.

3. The poor countries would also gain from globalisation as foreign capital invested in the extraction of raw material and simple components manufacturing would create jobs and increase the income of the people and the revenues collected by Government. Globalisation would seem to benefit everyone, the rich foreign investors and traders and people in poor countries.

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PROTECTIONISM

1. Recently someone complained that Malaysians have to pay high prices for cars because the Government is protecting Proton.

2. Actually the high price for imported cars was fixed before Proton to reduce gas-guzzling cars from being imported. Thus cars with big engines are taxed (import duty) by 300%. Other cars are also heavily taxed to reduce import of petrol.

3. When Proton was introduced the price fixed was lower due to lower tax being charged. The buyers profited from the lower price so that those who could not buy a car before could now buy a Proton car.

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UNIVERSITY TOWNS

1. I had often wondered why university towns like Cambridge and Oxford do not develop in Malaysia after we build universities in places far from the towns.

2. After much study and thinking things over I have concluded that it is because universities, particularly Government universities, build all the shops within the campus and probably operate them as well. The residences for the students and staff are all built by the University.

3. Developers find no opportunity for developing the surrounding land through building shops and residences for staff and students. There will only be university campuses and no university towns.

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MELAYU OH MELAYU

1. Saya sedih. Saya amat sedih apabila mendengar seorang orang Melayu yang mendakwa dia kecewa kerana dianya dilahir berbangsa Melayu.

2. Kekecewaannya disebabkan dia tidak dilahir hanya sebagai orang Islam.

3. Sesungguhnya tidak ada manusia yang dilahir tidak berbangsa. Mungkin ada yang tidak bernegara (stateless) tetapi mereka juga mempunyai bangsa, walaupun tidak diiktiraf oleh negara mereka sendiri. Jika dianya daripada kaum pendatang maka dianya akan menjadi bangsa kaum pendatang.

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IRON ORE

1. I read an advertisement in a Malaysian paper by a Malaysian Steel mill wanting to buy iron ore. I also know of another steel mill importing iron ore.

2. I think this is very strange. It is known that iron ore is being mined in Terengganu and Pahang right now. I understand that the iron ore is being exported. Without being processed in any order to add value.

3. Why cannot the people mining for iron ore in Malaysia sell the ore to Malaysian mills. The ore they have to buy comes from Australia or even Latin America. The price must be higher because of transportation cost. If Malaysian ore is sold to Malaysian mills, the profit would be higher for the miners as the transportation cost would be lower.

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SEMENANJUNG TANAH MELAYU 2

1. Someone asked what about the “Orang Asli” literally the “Original People”. Weren’t they in the peninsular before the Malays?

2. They could be. So are the Red Indians, the Maoris, the aborigines of Australia, the many tribal people in many countries of the world.

3. If we consider that the Orang Asli have more rights to claim Malaysia as their own then we should acknowledge and respect the rights of the Red Indians, the Maoris, the Australian aborigines and all the other aborigines to be given back the land we now call America, Australia, New Zealand etc.

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CHANGING REGIME

1. The people of Tunisia and Egypt have overthrown their Governments. A number of people have been killed in the process. More will follow before the uprisings will be over. Now comes the problem of setting up new Governments which would make the struggle and the sacrifices worthwhile. If the new Governments fail then all the struggles and sacrifices would have been in vain.

2. I am sure that the people would want to see a democratic Government, a Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

3. This sounds great but Government by the people will not be so easy. You cannot have the people directly governing themselves. You will need to have a new constitution and political parties which will enable representatives of the people to form the Government. For this, elections will have to be held. Unfortunately elections can be manipulated.

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JAWAPAN KEPADA NIK AZIZ

1. Percubaan Dato Nik Aziz untuk memperingatkan saya bahawa saya akan berdiri dihadapan Allah s.w.t. satu masa nanti sedikit sebanyak membuktikan keangkuhannya seolah-olah saya tidak tahu akan agama saya. Saya juga beriman dengan hakikat bahawa setiap apa yang dipertuturkan dan diperbuat di dunia ini akan diadili di akhirat nanti.

2. Nik Aziz juga akan berdiri dihadapan Allah satu masa nanti dan segala yang dipertutur dan dilakukan olehnya di dunia ini akan diadili di akhirat nanti dan lidah, tangan dan kaki Nik Aziz akan jadi saksi. Bukan bagi Nik Aziz untuk mengadili saya atau sesiapa dan bukan Nik Aziz yang akan mengadili dirinya sendiri.

3. Sehingga kita diadili di akhirat kita tidak boleh dengan angkuhnya merasa kita tidak berdosa dan orang lain yang berdosa. Allah s.w.t. sahaja yang mengetahui segala dosa yang dilakukan oleh sesiapa, termasuk Nik Aziz. Dakwaan Nik Aziz yang dianya beriman, setelah mengkafir dan memecahbelah orang Islam, membuat berbagai-bagai tuduhan, akan ditentukan oleh Allah s.w.t. Tidak memadai dengan pengakuan Nik Aziz yang dianya beriman.

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