What's In A Job?

So after sending out 40 resumes to prospective employers I got two replies. One from a direct sales company which I googled and found being bashed on this forum about how misleading their job advertisements are... so scratch that.

Number 2 was with a high society mag. I really liked the Editor, she seemed pretty down to earth and passionate, and seemed to understand where I was coming from when I said interviewing, let alone greeting the upper crust intimidated me to no end. I mean, I might actually have to learn this whole protocol thing. Die.

I think she liked me, I'm not really sure. But I wasn't very enthusiastic during the interview, I had the face of constipation on. I must say a high society magazine is not where I ever visualized myself, but nevertheless, it's all a learning experience and you're only better for it when you try new things, right? There are contacts to be made, and interesting story ideas to pitch. So we'll just wait till she calls me back.

I've sort of left the whole Shell thing alone for now, they're definitely not having interviews this year and I have to wait until 2007 for an appointment, so I'm going to need a job by January. Freelance or no freelance.

If you know of anyone who wants to hire a writer, both in Malaysia or overseas :) email me: meeshlet AT gmail DOT com. The advantages of being single abound! No one else to think of at this point besides me, and for the first time ever, that's really great.

Something to stop the job blues, and a very serious issue I believe and makes you really think:

Indian Scavengers

They stood in the black treacle of shit, piss and other assorted matter, using bamboo sticks as oars to move the sewage around, and then buckets to pass it out to be deposited on the street. A little later, they left the holes to wash their feet and hands with water from a white plastic container. One man gave me a big smile and said, “dirty,” in English.

Who's Behind Kampung Berembang?

Was clicking links all morning, so I don't remember how I got here, but it's very interesting information, and he did this all by himself! Way to go Nathaniel! Will definitely be keeping my eye on this blog and you should too.

Naming Names: Seeing whose money is behind the Kampung Berembang demolition.

Crash

Shelter, it's included in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and somehow the MPAJ doesn't seem to understand that. There are some people out there Malays and non-Malays alike that are playing the whole race saga right now, more so than before and I think personally, this is an instance where you need to look into what is really going on in the country.

It's really not about race anymore, and some people understand that and have capitalized on the usage to get what they can out of affirmative action policies like the NEP. If the NEP had been properly used instances like this would hardly be occurring and certain Klang local council people wouldn't be allowed to profit from building gigantic mansions on land meant for the lower income bracket.

It's a case of the poor still being poor, or God forbid, poorer... and the rich getting richer. I'm tired of the buffoons that spout this racial crap and sit in Parliament and debate ridiculous things and spend money on ridiculous things when the poor should be properly housed and educated, and not! driven off their land after 34 years of living there, with the bullsh*t excuse of offering to relocate them almost 20-30 kilometers from where they used to live, and quite possibly work!


If you can help, please do and tell your friends.



Email from malaysian-cinema Yahoo! group:

Date: November 22, 2006 2:51:57 PM GMT+08:00
To: "Joe Kidd"
Subject: SOLIDARITY FOR KAMPUNG BEREMBANG

SOLIDARITY FOR KAMPUNG BEREMBANG

The Kampung Berembang villagers really need our helps - tents,
food, clothing, pillows, blankets and so on.

Some of you may heard of the Kampung Berembang, Ampang incident
on the news. For whom haven't please read the article from
Bernama News attached below.

We're now organizing to gather canned foods, clothing, pillows,
blankets etc for the Kampung Berembang victims.

Any kinda help would be appreciated.

You could reach us at: propamedia@gmail.com or 013-2497199 (Kid)

From Bernama News:

MPAJ DEMOLISHES 51 HOMES, HOMELESS LEFT IN RAIN

Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The residents of Kampung Berembang, Ampang
could only stand in the rain with their crying children and watch
in despair as their homes of forty years were torn down by five
bulldozers on the order of the Selangor government. Their worldly
belongings were scattered in piles outside their wrecked homes,
drenched in the rain. Around them, hundreds of Ampang Jaya
Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement officers stood and watched.

Earlier in the afternoon, two of the houses were mysteriously
razed in a fire. It is learned that 21 residents and activists
have been detained so far for hampering demolition efforts. This
was a surprising turn of events considering that earlier this
morning, the Prime Minister's Department had issued a letter
addressed to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir
Toyo asking to defer the demolition of the houses to April 30,
next year.

Along with representatives from some non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), the residents had assembled in front of a
half-completed structure which was to be the management office
of a project to be undertaken there, located beside their
village, as early as 8am. They had also formed a barricade of
cars and wooden planks in front of their houses to prevent the
bulldozers from ripping into their homes, which they claimed
were built since the 1960s, when the place was still a mining
area and a mini-jungle.

However, things got ugly when several of the MPAJ officers tried
to force their way through and performed citizen's arrest on
eight people, including two women. "We're afraid they might pull
another "guerilla" tactic on us" said a resident, Norhayati Aini
Mohd Yusof, 49. She said that on Friday, bulldozers unexpectedly
turned up and tore down four houses in the village while
everyone was away at work.

By noon, the NGOs and resident representatives had managed to get
a letter from the Prime Minister's Department to stop the
demolition, but the residents said they would not be placated
until the bulldozers and MPAJ officers left. It seemed that they
were right in being suspicious because barely an hour after the
letter was issued, a melee broke out and truckloads of Federal
Reserve Unit Police had to be deployed to the site.

A fire broke out in one of the houses soon after and the
bulldozers made their way into the village, flattening down
houses. According to a NGO representative Y. Kohila, the houses,
totalling 51 in all, were to be demolished to make way for a
mega development project by the Acmar Group of Companies, to be
completed by 2010.

"I, like many others, have lived here since 1964. Now that we
have made the place livable and valuable, they (the state
government) want to take it away from us," a resident Noralizan
Ali, 43, told Bernama. "We have seen the title deed to this
land. It belongs to several individuals, not the state
government," he added, but refused to name the owners. MPAJ,
however, maintained that it was a squatter area and that the
government had a right to evict the squatters there.

There were initially 1,085 squatter homes in the Ampang district,
and the council had managed to relocate all but the 51 homes in
Kampung Berembang, said the MPAJ Town Planning Director Awang
Mustapha Md Yunus. The residents had filed for an injunction
against MPAJ on March 6 this year to prevent it from taking any
action against them, but another court ruling later overruled it.

When asked why MPAJ went ahead with the demolition despite the
letter from the Prime Minister's Department, Awang Mustapha said
that they had referred back to the state government who gave them
the green light. On the fate of the families from the 51 homes,
he said: "We have given them ample notice, and offered to
rehouse them in Kampung Muhibbah, Puchong, but they refused.
"And when they filed the injunction against us, they
automatically absolved their right towards any kind of
compensation. We are no longer obliged to rehouse or compensate
them."
(Bernama News)

More informations on Kampung Berembang incident:


http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/59798 or

http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?p=104

What YOU can do about it:

Those who would like to show their solidarity with these
villagers who were forced into homelessnes by man-made tsunamis
may provide material support - especially tents, food and
clothing - by contacting coordinator Encik Hamzah at 019 249 2065.

Singapura, Oh Singapura!

Singapore was bloody hot. Much hotter than here. The ride down on the Aeroline would have been pleasant if it wasn't for the constant ringing of phones, loud Cantonese, highly accented Bahasa Melayu, and immense heat.

My cabbie was a Chinese uncle. Always lovingly hostile to Singapore they are. I kid you not, this has happened so many times. They always bitch about Singapore to me ("Here ah, everything also got saman one.."). Told me to get married, while chomping on his siew pau, said girls should get married. Told me anything after 27 was too old. Help my mother. Stay in skool!

Najah's place amazes me. It's pink, and I hear Jikon has already commented, so I saved it. Idris is so freaking active. Now I know why moms are tired. He's like a wiggly ulat, and he does a lovely helicopter whirl... and he laughs. A lot. Among other things :)

Najah and Abang fed me 'til I had food coming out of every orifice. Okay, I exaggerate. But seriously.

Ayam penyet (don't ask), lontong, sambal goreng, rendang, sayur lemak, PRAWNS THE SIZE OF YOUR HEAD, gigantic crab with man tou bread, tagliatelle (sp?) with beef bacon and mushrooms in cream sauce, juicy steak with mashed potatoes and sauteed asparagus and mushrooms, a divine lunch at Michaelangelo's in Holland Village, sinful chocs from Sins, ikan bakar at Addams Road (where Huzir Sulaiman sat with his two-toned beard and ate satay, very politely), sup lidah/tongue (I know, but it tasted dead good!)

The shopping, don't get me started... but god, yes, yes, yes! I couldn't buy anything, 'cos I'm unemployed, hehe.

To conclude, it's looking like a good place to stay for awhile. I haven't decided, but if any of you know of a place that needs a writer, media person, whatever... I'm in! I haven't made up my mind about the place... there was a lot of discussion this past week about Malaysia and how we compare to our Southern neighbours... there are some obvious differences, like how Malays are so the minority it's not even funny... how polished everything and everyone is... I asked if there were poor people there, 'cos I saw none (there are, but they're called 'lower income'). I've always likened the place to Sim City, where everything looked great and amazing, and it still does, but this time around.... Singapore had soul.

It had soul in Mak Besah, it had soul in Tekka market, in Arab Street at Zam Zam and all the little shops, it had soul on the PIE, in Holland Village (like Bangsar minus the hip-hoppin Klang macha wannabes), but most of all, it had soul in Naj, Abang and Idris.


So here's hoping for things to work out. Somehow.

Sakitnya Hati

Siape makan cili, die la pedas kan?

Never been truer. Oh, veritas is paralysing! When I first read it, I kid you not, I was met with searing pain... 'cos it's just so true and I hated the fact that he was right. And he called us bodoh. Bloody hell, Aussie telling us how stupid we are :P

Read it. NOW. OH and I'm pretty sure the guy is going to kena flame like mad, he's got his email and all there already. I agree with him though, all the way.

While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry

MALAYSIA'S been at it again, arguing about what proportion of the economy each of its two main races — the Malays and the Chinese — owns. It's an argument that's been running for 40 years. That wealth and race are not synonymous is important for national cohesion, but really it's time Malaysia grew up.

It's a tough world out there and there can be little sympathy for a country that prefers to argue about how to divide wealth rather than get on with the job of creating it.

The long-held aim is for 30 per cent of corporate equity to be in Malay hands, but the figure that the Government uses to justify handing over huge swathes of public companies to Malays but not to other races is absurd. It bases its figure on equity valued, not at market value, but at par value.

Many shares have a par value of say $1 but a market value of $12. And so the Government figure (18.9 per cent is the most recent figure) is a gross underestimate. Last month a paper by a researcher at a local think-tank came up with a figure of 45 per cent based on actual stock prices. All hell broke loose. The paper was withdrawn and the researcher resigned in protest. Part of the problem is that he is Chinese.

"Malaysia boleh!" is Malaysia's national catch cry. It translates to "Malaysia can!" and Malaysia certainly can. Few countries are as good at wasting money. It is richly endowed with natural resources and the national obsession seems to be to extract these, sell them off and then collectively spray the proceeds up against the wall.

This all happens in the context of Malaysia's grossly inflated sense of its place in the world.

Most Malaysians are convinced that the eyes of the world are on their country and that their leaders are world figures. This is thanks to Malaysia's tame media and the bravado of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The truth is, few people on the streets of London or New York could point to Malaysia on a map much less name its prime minister or capital city.

As if to make this point, a recent episode of The Simpsons features a newsreader trying to announce that a tidal wave had hit some place called Kuala Lumpur. He couldn't pronounce the city's name and so made up one, as if no-one cared anyway. But the joke was on the script writers — Kuala Lumpur is inland.

Petronas, the national oil company is well run, particularly when compared to the disaster that passes for a national oil company in neighbouring Indonesia. But in some respects, this is Malaysia's problem. The very success of Petronas means that it is used to underwrite all manner of excess.

The KLCC development in central Kuala Lumpur is an example. It includes the Twin Towers, the tallest buildings in the world when they were built, which was their point.

It certainly wasn't that there was an office shortage in Kuala Lumpur — there wasn't.

Malaysians are very proud of these towers. Goodness knows why. They had little to do with them. The money for them came out of the ground and the engineering was contracted out to South Korean companies.

They don't even run the shopping centre that's beneath them. That's handled by Australia's Westfield.

Next year, a Malaysian astronaut will go into space aboard a Russian rocket — the first Malay in space. And the cost? $RM95 million ($A34.3 million), to be footed by Malaysian taxpayers. The Science and Technology Minister has said that a moon landing in 2020 is the next target, aboard a US flight. There's no indication of what the Americans will charge for this, assuming there's even a chance that they will consider it. But what is Malaysia getting by using the space programs of others as a taxi service? There are no obvious technical benefits, but no doubt Malaysians will be told once again, that they are "boleh". The trouble is, they're not. It's not their space program.

Back in July, the Government announced that it would spend $RM490 million on a sports complex near the London Olympics site so that Malaysian athletes can train there and "get used to cold weather".

But the summer Olympics are held in the summer.

So what is the complex's real purpose? The dozens of goodwill missions by ministers and bureaucrats to London to check on the centre's construction and then on the athletes while they train might provide a clue.

Bank bale outs, a formula one racing track, an entire new capital city — Petronas has paid for them all. It's been an orgy of nonsense that Malaysia can ill afford.

Why? Because Malaysia's oil will run out in about 19 years. As it is, Malaysia will become a net oil importer in 2011 — that's just five years

away.

So it's in this context that the latest debate about race and wealth is so sad.

It is time to move on, time to prepare the economy for life after oil. But, like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the Malaysian Government is more interested in stunts like sending a Malaysian into space when Malaysia's inadequate schools could have done with the cash, and arguing about wealth distribution using transparently ridiculous statistics.

That's not Malaysia "boleh", that's Malaysia "bodoh" (stupid).

email: michaelbackman@yahoo.com

http://www.michaelbackman.com

Back and Antsy As Hell

Yeah, one bit of travel and that's it, it's all you wanna do, forever.

Nepal was great as expected. Yeah, I was really afraid, I'm not gonna lie. But everyone has their own coping mechanisms, and being afraid and expecting the worst is mine, I guess.

I will post up some pictures, once I've edited them and stuff. They aren't that great I must warn you, my fellow travel companions got better, definitely. Danny Lim wasn't called intrepid by Amir for no reason. Despite being tired and achy, he was the man, snapping everywhere.

My camera kept dying, if it wasn't for him volunteering his batteries, I wouldn't even have these pictures! The CF card has also gone missing, temporarily... I will find it and edit it, I promise. Other than that, I've been trying to get better, got a weird bout of food poisoning while I was there. I don't know where I got it from, but I suspect it was the mountain water. It sucked 'cos I wasn't able to do as much as I wanted, and I lost out on a whole lotta sleep when I was there 'cos I kept running to the bathroom, but it was still all worth it.

I guess it taught me a lot. I stayed back in the village on my own for a night while everyone went trekking to another village, Chomrong... but I had a great time on my own. I talked to people, hung out with the village women and picked rice with them, bonded with the kids, went on walks and took great pictures of the mountains and chronicled most of what I felt in my journal (very handy tip See Ming). I recorded prices and different things I saw, so that next year.... when I got back (!) I will have some knowledge of how things are done.

Oh, and I did everything. It was painful, but I did it all. Not on my own, but everyone I travelled with, Erik, Medaline, Josh and Danny, the porters and even the guides were great cheerleaders. I got taken care of very well. I was never alone on the trekking trails, even when we were trekking at night under the moonlit sky (so romantik). Nepal was inspiring in so many ways as to what the human spirit is capable of once you have the right frame of mind.

Updates soon, but I have a whole lotta crap I have to do right now and get better before I head down to Singapore to be with my surrogate family! See you soon Naj, Abang and Idris!