2. What does this mean to the people? It should result in imports becoming cheaper if not by 20 per cent at least by some percentage below that.
3. But I don’t think Malaysian imports paid for in US Dollars is noticeably cheaper in Ringgit. Why is this so?
2. As a nationalist, as a friend, as a compatriot, I feel saddened by the passage from this life of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.
3. Except for Tun Razak, Tun Lim contributed most to the formation of the National Front, the coalition which succeeded the Alliance, ruled and developed Malaysia until today. He responded postively to the proposal by Tun Razak to rejoin the coalition for the good of Malaysia. He rose above many of the grievances which had led him to leave the MCA, to become a junior partner even though he had been victorious. He was content to be just a Chief Minister of Penang.
The Nation newspaper reported on October 18th that the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Markel, said “Multikulti (Multicultural) in Germany has not worked” (read here).
Her remarks were prompted by the unwillingness of Germany’s non-German population of 16 million, including Turks and Jews to “integrate” with the natives of Germany i.e. the ethnic Germans.
For the Muslim Turks integration means curbs on their religion. Whether the Jews also should have their religion curbed is not mentioned.
I think Malaysia can be regarded as being more successful with multi-culturalism. We are more tolerant of the differences between our racial origins, our religions, our languages and our cultures.
I think Germany and Chancellor Merkel can learn something from Malaysia about multi-culturalism.
2. Some people believe that the rise of the KLCI is an indicator of the healthy state of the Malaysian economy. This may be true but let me throw some cold water in the belief that the index indicates that the economy is doing very well.
3. It is doing fairly well, no doubt, but that is not enough to push the KLCI to record highs. What is happening is that a lot of foreign money is coming in to buy Malaysian stocks.
2. But are we doing well? Is it the Ringgit which is appreciating or is it the US Dollar which is devaluing?
3. Actually it is the US Dollar which is devaluing. It is devaluing against most other currencies, especially against China’s currency.
4. Why is the dollar devaluing? Could it be due to the currency traders selling dollars? Could it be because the balance of payment is not in US favour?
2. I am glad to see obvious development everywhere. The old wood and zinc sheds have been largely replaced by new brick and mortar houses of pleasing designs. The roads are well paved. The kampung roads have been concretised. New buildings and shop houses are going up everywhere.
3. YB Dato Yusof Haji Mahal (MP for Labuan) rode with me around the island pointing out proudly to the concrete walkways in the water villages, the Direct Reduction Iron plant, the oil supply base and the big Petronas Methanol plants.
2. I understand Johore is still buying treated water from Singapore for 50 sen per 1,000 gallons. The amount purchased should not exceed 12 per cent of the raw water bought by Singapore.
3. The agreement also stipulates that the price of raw water and treated water can be renegotiated and changed if both parties agree. Should the raw water price be revised upwards Singapore would be entitled to revise the price of treated water.
2. Hampir semua syarikat-syarikat otomobil di dunia telah mengambil bahagian dalam pertandingan ini dengan kereta elektrik dan hybrid ciptaan mereka untuk masa depan (future). Kereta-kereta ini dikehendaki berjalan dari Brighton ke London, perjalanan sejauh lebih kurang 60 batu (miles).
3. Diantara jenama yang terkenal yang mengambil bahagian ialah Toyota (Jepun), Volkswagen (Jerman) dan General Motors (Amerika Syarikat). Ada yang mengambil bahagian dengan kereta yang sudah dipasarkan dan ada yang belum dipasarkan.
2. Demikian apabila agama Islam dijadikan agama rasmi negara Malaysia, susulan daripada itu perlembagaan memperuntukkan bahawa agama-agama lain boleh dianuti dan dipraktik oleh penganut-penganut agama berkenaan tanpa gangguan.
3. Apabila bahasa Melayu diterima sebagai bahasa rasmi negara, tetapi bahasa-bahasa lain boleh digunakan sebagai bahasa ibunda dan bahasa pengantar di sekolah-sekolah.
2. Extremists among the Chinese and Indians felt they could safely challenge the Government, particularly over racial issues. They demanded that provisions in the Constitution favouring the Malays and the NEP quotas be removed. Even Barisan Nasional partners took up the call.
3. Normally UMNO leaders and UMNO generally would take up the defence of the Malays. But Abdullah as UMNO President and PM was silent (elegant silence) causing the other leaders and members of UMNO to become silent also.