50 Years

Malaysia Celebrates 50 Years



Though Malaysia was actually formed in 1963, I have to go with the official version here - we are set to celebrate our 50th Independence Day (Merdeka)this Year. Sarawak by the way will be 44 Years in Malaysia. Knowing a bit of history helps to explain to visitors how those numbers come about. Anyway, its a small matter if the federal Government helps the State fill that 6 Years gap with plenty of development funds and plans to catch up with the rest of the others more developed states. Its a give and take thing. The Economic Planning Unit in Kuala Lumpur are aware of the needs of the State as reported in their Eight Malaysia Plan and Ninth Malaysia Plan documents (which is downloadable from thier website). The role of the public officers in the State be they in the State or Federal Service agencies is to plan, evaluate and execute the National Mission.

Malaysia is not so bad

A colleague of mine, Mr. Andrew Tukau, who heads the Environment and Natural Resources Sector in my office shared this photo of his trip to Cambodia. The Killing Tree as it is popularly or unpopularly known. Mr. Andrew related to me that the Khmer Rogues at that time, in their inspired moments of trying to save Cambodia by eliminating the 'educated ones' (with bullets) and for the children and babies, they used this tree to smash them up so that they can save on using bullets. Such was the Economic Policy and Practice of the Khmer Rougues at that time.

Killing Tree in Sarawak - Soon maybe? But the thing is we are the ones killing the trees

I am glad that Malaysia's history does not have such horrid stories or history. The most that can happen would be that they will soon smash irresponsible bloggers on one of the many trees in Sarawak - maybe the one near Merdeka Palace. We still have many trees here so each Division will have their Blogger Killing Tree. So don't play play bloggers.

Soon....One of the feature attraction for Visit Malaysia Year 2020?

Let's hope we don't have to come to that stage. Sorry Mr. Andrew I just had to modify that photo a bit.

Congratulations Malaysia

Speaking of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, I have to congratulate the intensive promotion of Visit Malaysia Year 2007 which I believe reached its peak when Malaysia was featured twice in AXN's Amazing Race Asia. Kuching became the Final Leg some more. Malaysians win some more! Ladies team again some more creating another kind of history. To the organisers and maybe to those who managed to put Malaysia (and then Sarawak) on the map - it was a job well done. The the Malaysian All Ladies team, I am gonna say I Love You (not for the money) but for the coolness that you showed throughout. Its a big boost to the efforts by the Malaysian United Nation Development Program Resident Representative Dr. Richard Leete who has been championing gender equality and also to Datuk Shahrizat our current Minister for Woman's Affairs. For the other Malaysian team, Andrew and Syeon, I think one thing stood glaring about the final leg - if the tourism agencies involved realised how poor our road signs and map information in the State is - their over reliance on the map especially caused them the first spot.

Congrats Jo Jer & Zabrina!!

A World Champion Malaysia can be proud of. Waiting for a Sarawak Lady to do the same

Let's Get To Work

With all the adrenaline flowing from the achievements Malaysians made this year, though it won't wash away the pain of the losses to some Malaysians caused by the recent flood....

Well, the Civil Service started the year 2007 with a Video Conference meeting with the Prime Minister in early January. A lot of emphasis has been put regarding the Ninth Malaysia Plan and its successful implementation plus the usual call for our full commitment. No problem Pak Lah coz we are here to work with you. Just as long as the old practices in the Civil Service don't spoil the journey towards 2020. The new cream of top Civil Servants in the State administration are both Internet savvy and capable which I do welcome gladly. There's this joke that I found in the Internet which i would like to share with those who have not found it. I do not know who to give the credit to as it appeared in several blogs and sites but anyway - to the members of the State Civil Sevice, enjoy the joke as it may apply to our State Civil Service:

Public Servants have Big Brother in Pak Lah backing them

Malaysian Hell Joke

A Malaysian dies and goes to hell. There he finds that there is a different hell for each country. He goes first to the German hell and asks, “What do they do here?” He is told, “First they put you in an electric chair for an hour. Then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour. Then the German devil comes in and whips you for the rest of the day.”

The man does not like the sound of that at all, so he moves on. He checks out the USA hell as well as the Russian hell and many more. He discovers that they are all more or less the same as the German hell. Then he comes to the Malaysian hell and finds that there is a very long line of people waiting to get in. Amazed he asks, “What do they do here?”

He is told, “First they put you in an electric chair for an hour. Then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour. Then the Malaysian devil comes in and whips you for the rest of the day.” “But that is exactly the same as all the other hells - why are there so many people waiting to get in?”

“Because maintenance is so bad that the electric chair does not work, someone has stolen all the nails from the bed, and the devil is a former Government servant, so he comes in, signs the register and then goes to the canteen.

Hmmm...somehow I suspect this is aimed at the Civil Service. Thanks...to whoever made it...wherever you guys.... and gals are.