Sex, offensive

Sex, offensive
March 23, 2011MARCH 23 — There is a video somewhere. Not many have seen it, but it seemingly exists. In the video, a man alleged to be a senior Malay politician from the opposition was filmed having sex with a woman, supposedly a prostitute.

That man is supposedly Anwar Ibrahim. The same Anwar Ibrahim who, lest we forget, is already in a trial for allegedly penetrating another man’s rectum six times. Or maybe more, maybe less.

This video is claimed to be in the possession of a man who prefers to only be known as Datuk T.

The video was taken from the output of four different cameras, most likely well-hidden in a hotel room. From what has been reported, it is safe to assume that the man in the video did not know he was being filmed.

The same cannot be said of the woman, since she apparently stole an Omega watch belonging to the man who she had just had sex with, and the very same watch was then displayed by Datuk T to his audience.

Ah yes, his audience.

He made a press conference to announce this, in fact. To announce that he has this video, and that he would send it to the politician in a week, after which he expects the politician and his wife to resign. One assumes the resignations are for all political posts that they hold. Or to just be resigned.

This Datuk T… is a nasty, nasty piece of work.

Now, in a reasonable world, Datuk T should already be in the slammer, or at the very least brought in for questioning. Regardless of whether the man in the video is Anwar Ibrahim, or some pot-bellied simile of him, Datuk T has confessed to being in possession of something that is in gross violation of a person’s privacy.

Irrespective of whether the intercourse was sinful or otherwise, the persons involved in recording the act should be considered, in a reasonable world, as the ones who are wronged first and foremost.

That is where the investigation should start. That is where the condemnation should begin from.

In a reasonable world, we shouldn’t have to check the hotel room we’re in for hidden cameras. There is already one hotel in Batu Pahat that we know we shouldn’t be going to. Now, there’s apparently another in a location as yet unspecified.

But it seems that we don’t live in a reasonable world. Or rather, not in a reasonable country. Because at the moment, Datuk T is still out and about. He’s also called for an “independent public commission” comprising of NGOs and members of the media, to do forensics on the video. This is to ostensibly to verify the authenticity and provenance of it.

Which particular NGOs were not mentioned, though one can assume it wouldn’t be the likes of Sisters In Islam, or the World Wildlife Fund.

Meanwhile, the authorities are not exactly doing anything to Datuk T. Not yet, anyway, though one hopes that they will soon.

Apparently, there will be a special police unit to investigate the claims made in a police report by Anwar, under section 292 of the Penal Code for possession and distribution of pornographic material.

But it’s not porn. It’s just someone who was engaged in a sexual activity with another person and didn’t know he was being filmed.

No, we don’t live in a reasonable country.

And that Datuk T… a nasty, nasty piece of work.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

CHILD ABUSE IN MALAYSIA

CHILD ABUSE IN MALAYSIA
Despite significant strides made by the Government in improving child protection measures in recent years, statistics from the Department of Social Welfare show a rise in reported child abuse cases in Malaysia. In 2008, child abuse reports rose to 2,780 from 2,279 in 2007 and 1,999 in 2006. Based on 2008 reported figures, neglect is the most common form of child abuse (952 cases), followed by physical abuse (863 cases). Sexual abuse accounted for 733 cases, of which 529 (72%) were incest. Failure to provide care and supervision has become the most frequent cause of death among children. In 2008, 58 cases of abandoned babies were also reported. Tragically, most child abusers of reported cases are parents, immediate family members, relatives or foster parents of the victims themselves. Child abuse is an offence in Malaysia, punishable under the Child Act (2001) and the Penal Code (revised 1997). Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of RM 50,000 or up to 20 years imprisonment, or both depending on the offence. Offenders may also be punished with whipping in addition to the fine and/or imprisonment.

GET ON BOARD CAMPAIGN
The 'Get on Board' Campaign is a two-month initiative by UNICEF and its partners to provide the Malaysian public with a platform to learn and respond to child abuse in the country. The digitally-driven Campaign, a first by UNICEF in the region, aims to strengthen public understanding of child abuse and neglect by providing information on the types of abuse, why it could happen and how to recognise symptoms in an abused child. It also hopes to empower the public to act on behalf of children by equipping them with protection solutions, parenting tips, action ideas and a directory of important resources. The Campaign will host a special “public” program on 20 November in conjunction with Universal Children’s Day and culminate on 10 December. The ‘Get on Board’ Exhibition at One Utama Shopping Mall - High Street (Ground Floor near Parkson) will remain open to the public from 7-10 October for visitors to learn more and register their support for the Campaign. Get on Board.

For more information, please contact:

Indra Kumari Nadchatram
UNICEF Media Malaysia
Tel +6012 292 6872, inadchatram@unicef.org

Juana Jaafar
UNICEF Media Malaysia
Tel + 6012 530 9693, jjmanap@unicef.org

Ah Lian ask shopkeeper

Ah Lian ask shopkeeper: Eh Ah chek, u got sell stocking up to knee, boh?
Ah Chek : Lu siao ah! stocking wear up to 'yeo'
(waist) only, where got up to the 'nee'(breast) one.

Chinese, Malay & Indian are at the army supply base to collect underwear.

3 recruits - Chinese, Malay & Indian are at the army supply base to collect underwear. The sergeant was there to aid the supplies.
Sergeant: Hei Ah Beng! How many underwear you need ah?
Ah Beng: (thinks a while) 7 sasen(sergeant)!
Sergeant: (puzzled) How come so many?
Ah! Beng: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun. One day one.
Sergeant: (Malay recruit) Eh Mat! How many underwear?
Mat: (without hesitation) 6 sargen!
Sergeant: (curious) How come six?
Mat: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun. Friday I wear sarong.
Sergeant: (Indian recruit) Dei Tambi. How many underwears dah dei?
Tambi: (very confidently) 12 Sarjen !!!!
Sergeant: (shocked & fell to the ground) Why you need so many for?
Tambi: January, February, March.....One month one.

Prempuan Hina Johor dalam FACEBOOK

Prempuan Hina Johor dalam FACEBOOK

Koon's RM30mil offer: MCA protecting rental income of cronies?

Koon's RM30mil offer: MCA protecting rental income of cronies?
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Report by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

The ongoing saga about the MCA and Utar shocking decision to reject a RM30 million donation to build hostels that provide students with affordable accommodation took a fresh twist with revelations of a real estate scam by investors alleged to have links to MCA leaders including Kampar MP Lee Chee Leong and his predecessor Hew See Tong.

It is an open secret that almost all the terrace houses, the semi-Ds, bungalows and shop-houses around the Utar campus were developed by towkays with connections to MCA strongmen. Apparently, MCA wants to brand Kampar as an MCA township,former mentri besar Nizar Jamaluddin told Malaysia Chronicle.

No-entry

Malaysia Chronicle was not able to contact either Lee or Hew for their comments. But a check with people familiar with the area revealed that rentals are going for between RM2,000 and RM4,000 per month, which are exorbitant given that Kampar is a small town and the consumers are students, and whose parents are mostly from the middle to lower income groups.

Amid such roaring business, it is unsurprisingly that MCA – which controls Utar – has hung up a no-entry sign to investors such as philanthropist Koon Yew Yin. In August 2009, Koon had offered a RM30 million donation to build proper hostels with recreational facilities.

In December that same year, Utar rejected his offer. Shocked at the way the university had failed to take into consideration the advantages of such an offer to the students and their parents, Koon gave it another go in March 2010.

Not only was it rejected again, Ipoh MCA politician Thong Fah Chong earlier this month alleged that Koon wanted a seat on the Utar council for his philantrophy. On September 13, Utar followed up with a press statement that Koon had imposed “many conditions such as the setting-up of a foundation where he will be the Chairman and be in full control†.

Koon has denied the allegations from both Thong and Utar. He has also provided copies of letters detailing his proposal dated November 18, 2009 and March 1, 2010 for public scrutiny.

Utar's refusal to accept my RM30 million donation for building hostels within the University campus is ridiculous. As a result, thousands of students and parents will suffer and they will not forget that the MCA controls Utar, Koon told a press conference last week.

The Perak Government gave 1,300 acres of land to develop Utar in Kampar and up till now only about 200 acres have been used. The public must ask for Utar development plan and ask to know when they will begin their hostel construction.

Betrayal

There is also speculation that Utar staff had suggested that instead of spending the RM30 million on building new hostels, the money should go towards paying student's rentals over the next 10 to 15 years. This would protect the rental income of the owners of the real estate surrounding Utar that the students currently have no choice but to rent.

This is a sheer betrayal by the MCA of the students and their parents who are already stretching their ringgit to the maximum to get their children the best education they can afford. The MCA has turned down a very generous offer to build conducive and cheap accommodation. And for no apparent reason other than to protect their cronies it appears,said Nizar.

We urge the BN government and the Education ministry to do a though investigation and come down hard on wrongdoers. For the sake of selfish, vested interests MCA is not only betraying the Chinese community, it is betraying our national agenda to give the best educational opportunities and facilities that we can to our young.

Malaysia: Tax policy plays major role in fiscal stimulus

Study: Tax measures represent 56% of the net effect

GOVERNMENTS around the world have introduced fiscal stimulus to counter the worldwide slowdown in growth.

The recent International Monetary Fund’s March 2009 World Economic Outlook (WEO) report has revised its projected world economic growth from 0.5% (January 2009 WEO update) to -1.3% for 2009, despite the determined and seemingly synchronised policy actions taken by governments around the world since the end of 2008.

In Malaysia, the Government has already announced two stimulus packages worth about RM67bil in November 2008 and in March 2009, on top of the National Budget 2009 allocation of RM206bil, announced in August 2008.

Most observers agree that these are not the last of the stimulus efforts that we will see before the global economy again finds firm footing.

Yet, many governments are already contending with increasing deficits as they launch these spending measures.

Inevitably governments will need to consider appropriate unwinding strategies to ensure a sustainable recovery over the long term.

It is therefore vital that businesses and tax functions actively assess and prepare for the changes that are taking place in these times.

As tax is one of the largest items on the income statement, stimulus policy measures or changes can present significant opportunities for cashflow improvement and enhanced earnings per share (EPS).

How well each company manages the challenges and opportunities in this volatile environment will undoubtedly shape its future direction and performance.

Ernst & Young recently completed a study entitled Worldwide fiscal stimulus – tax policy plays a major role: A guide to understanding opportunities and challenges in 24 key jurisdictions on the types of tax measures that have been implemented in 24 countries.

The study found strong emerging themes in the types of tax measures that have been used by various governments, for example there is an increasing use of accelerated tax depreciation programmes, carry-back provisions for losses, adjustments to tax rates, indirect tax changes and tax breaks for individuals. Tax measures play an important role in fiscal policies and, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Economic Outlook – Interim Report of March 31, 2009, tax measures represent 56% of the net effect fiscal stimulus on average among the OECD countries.

The recent tax measures, estimated at about RM3bil, adopted by the Malaysian Government under the second stimulus package, in March 2009 are consistent with this trend. The tax measures represented about 5% of the total RM60bil package, and included several non-conventional tax measures:

·The introduction of a broad-based carry-back of losses for 2009 and 2010, limited to RM100,000. This would potentially result in a reduced tax liability or a tax refund and would make cash available to businesses. This measure is appealing to governments because it focuses benefits on companies that have had a history of profitability.

· Accelerated capital allowance (full claim within two years) for plant and machinery and renovation and refurbishment expenditure incurred between March 10, 2009 and Dec 31, 2010. Although the renovation and refurbishment claim is capped at RM100,000, this is notable since such expenditure does not usually qualify.

· Double deduction for employers for remuneration paid to retrenched workers hired between March 10, 2009 and Dec 31, 2010, and limited to 12 months remuneration per employee.

· For individuals, a tax deduction on interest expenses on housing loans of up to RM10,000 for three years, and increasing the tax exemption on retrenchment benefits from RM6,000 to RM10,000 per year of service. These are in addition to the various tax reliefs for benefits-in-kind and perquisites promised in Budget 2009.

· Exemption of levy payments to the Human Resource Development Fund for six months for employers in the textile, electrical and electronics industries from Feb 1, 2009, and reduction of the levy payment rate from 1% to 0.5% for all employers for two years from April 1, 2009.

· Increase in the levy threshold of the windfall profit levy on oil palm fruit to RM2,500 per tonne for Peninsular Malaysia and RM3,000 per tonne for Sabah and Sarawak.

The Government also recently announced the deferral of the thin capitalisation rules which was introduced from Jan 1, 2009. This a positive move consistent with the trend of helping businesses ease their tax burden in these difficult times.

The Ernst & Young study found that governments use tax measures to benefit targeted groups. Likewise in Malaysia, the measures have targeted particular sectors, for example, housing, manufacturing and oil palm industries. The study also found that governments impose limitations in order to control the cost of the stimulus package, especially in the current environment of falling tax revenues. For example, in Britain, the carry-back period was extended from one year to three years but subject to a cap of £50,000, and in the United States and Japan the carry-back incentive was targeted at small and medium-scale enterprises. Similarly, the Malaysian measures also contain conditions.

Malaysia has not cut corporate tax rates, but perhaps this is understandable; rates have already dropped from 28% to 25% over the last three years. More importantly, there is a need to balance this with the Government’s ability to fund such a broad-based measure. It is estimated that a 1% reduction would cost about RM1bil, and unless the Government finds an alternative source of revenue, such as the goods and services tax at some appropriate time, the tax cut may not be entirely feasible.

Kenneth Lim

The writer is the National Director of Tax, Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn. Bhd. The views expressed above are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Ernst & Young.

Source: The Star Online June 24, 2009