And My Vote Goes To....

If, if I'm able to cast more than two votes and no rule saying that I must be a registered voter in aparticular constituent, then, my vote will be going to these people.

Khairy Jamaluddin
In his early years in politics, this lad had been shadowed by his prime minister father in law, Tun Abdullah Badawi. Being labelled by some as a spoiled brat, Khairy climbed to the top of the political ladder rapidly, in less than 5 years (I think). To be frank, I'm not a fan of Khairy (heck, I'm not a fan of anyone), in his early days as a politician, but, in the past one year, I can see he had changed from a naive young politician to a more mature leader. One vote for you bro.

Fuziah Salleh
I'm not in the same boat as YB Fuziah when it came to the rare earth issue in Kuantan. But, other than that, I think Fuziah is the best candidate to be positioned by Pakatan in Kuantan. I've met YB Fuziah personally, and you know how? By sending her a tweet at about 1a.m, asking whether she'll be free or not at 9a.m on the very same day, she's agreed. I met her in Kuantan, when she had done visiting the seller and Kuantanese at one of the market there, looooooooooooooooong before the election to know the rakyats problems. And while we're having our breakfast there, passerby greeted just like how they will greet a friend, and not a parliamentarian. She's truly a pemimpin berjiwa rakyat.

Saifuddin Abdullah
Firstly, sorry for being a bit harsh, given the fact that most of our parliamentarians are robots programmed by their creators/leaders to just nod at everything told, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, is among a few that still have control of himself. Unlike others, if he thinks that what the government did is wrong, then, wrong it will be. It's true, being as bold as this when you're not yet the Prime Minister may jeopardize your chance of remaining in your seat, but at least, leader like this will keeps the rakyats faith in good governance alive.

Lim Guan Eng
 "Lim Guan Eng, who's that", is my first question in 2008. Labelled as a racist by the locals media, he had been discriminating the Muslims in Penang by giving them a special allocation for Sekolah Agama in the state, other than that, he's the one responsible to increase the allowance of imams and bilals in Penang.And , this anti-Islam/anti-Malay Chief Minister also rules the state guided by Amar Ma'aruf Nahi Munkar's way of governance. Portrayed by the local medias as not capable of running a state, Guan Eng had settled 95% of Penang's debts in less than four years in office.

and, lastly.......................





ABBY ABADI
Well, if California can have Arnold Schwarzenegger, why not us? And plus, I love Gerak Khas.

Why My Car Is REALLY Expensive?

First, just to be clear, as an environmentalist, I have no car. More cars on the road, means that more trees will be chopped down, so that we can have papers to print our money, so, no car for me. So, this writing ain't about me, it's about you, yes, you stolid people that had spent thousands of ringgit on buying a piece of moving metal. And of course, on top of your "investment" for that piece of junk, a part of your money was channeled to the government as a contribution from a devoted nation-loving citizen.

Before you move on to spend your time illicitly at work to read this, I would like you to know that this article has no moral value whatsoever, been written by a person that had just woke up from his sleep at 12 noon, wearing only boxer shorts while sipping green tea with his unbrush teeth.

So, now, the issue is... ha! before that, have a look here first.

This table is for illustration purpose only, it have no connection with  previous nor the paragraph after this (and frankly, I have no idea why I want it to be here). But, yes, this is the current price (±)

Okay, back to the issue, in the past few months, some party (read : people) had been asking the government to lower down all those taxes for vehicles so that Malaysian can cruise the road gracefully with imported cars rather than a proton with dysfunctional driver's power window and lock-from-the-inside central-locking system. But, despite the government's (Read : Barisan Nasional) unpredictable future either winning or changing their seats in the parliament after the next General Election, the motion had been rejected, though the fact is, by lowering the price of vehicles, at least, Barisan's popularity can increase by 50% (source: Political Analyst, Qusyairi Hashim).



So, what's with the high price? There's only one answer, PROTON. But before you started to say that it's selfish to increase the price on all vehicles just for one corporation, you need to realize that PROTON is no BMW, it's not owned nor founded privately, it's owned by you and me, it's our company.

Being founded in 1983 with its first model, the Proton Saga (1985), PROTON aims to ensure that each and every Malaysian  can afford the luxury of having their own car. So, what will happen if the taxes on imported cars lifted?

Before that, referring to the list of Camry's prices above, please don't ask our government to offer prices like those in US or Saudi. In the US, their population is 315 millions, so, the market is wide, more cars produced, price lower, basic microeconomics. And in Saudi, well, they're effing rich with gas, so, its a different story.

So, let's compare the price with Japan, referring to the price list above, a Camry in Japan will cost about 40K cheaper compared to Malaysia. And let's ignore the fact that they're the one that produced the car, let say they don't (just for the sake of the discussion). Ha, one more, before someone ask me why in United States, the price is far cheaper than Japan, this is because, 50% of Camry were sold in US whereas, the Japanese market only contributed 1% of it.

Okay, now directly to the issue, no more diversion, let say, our price is the same as in Japan, for sure people will opted for the Camry rather than a Perdana nor a High-Line Inspira (on which, the cars have almost the same price). What will happen with PROTON then? Less sales means that lesser profit, lesser profit will bring to lesser capital funds, lesser capital funds will cause lesser R&D allocation, lesser R&D allocation will cause lesser R&D (for sure, right?), lesser R&D will cause lesser development, lesser development will cause PROTON unable to have a research on a more economical yet powerful car, thus, will bring to the shutting down of PROTON.

Companies goes bankrupt everyday, so what is the big deal, PROTON closed, we say bye-bye to them, and off we go to the nearest Honda, Toyota or Mercedez dealers to get our new car, its a non-issue....on the surface.

But try to look deeply,  if PROTON failed, (let say before 2012), Khazanah Nasional will be losing a lot of money, and we need to remember, Khazanah Nasional is not owned by Warren Buffett, instead, it is an investment company owned by the government, any losses incurred by the company will hit our industries and us as the citizens. And even after Khazanah Nasional sells its shares to DRB-Hicom, you need to remember, that Khazanah Nasional also holds shares in DRB-Hicom. So, it's a chain reaction, PROTON falls, Khazanah affected, Khazanah can't be investing in a promising area, and before you knew it, we're just like our neighbors in Cambodia, flocks of foreigners coming in, bossing us around in our own country, and us being paid with money that will be enough for us to have foods on our table only.

That is one thing, the other thing is, if, we no longer have PROTON, then, I can say, the cheapest car on the market will be the Toyota Vios, on which, in Japan, will cause you around RM 50K. Yes, 50K is not really expensive for you if you're a working executive that have monthly salary of RM 2500 and living alone. But, how about the ones getting lesser, with family to take care off? Inevitably, you'll be seeing elders that can hardly walk, waiting at the bus station with their son, to go to the nearest clinic for their insulin injection. Remember, not everyone is as rich as you are, or even as fortunate as you are to be getting a formal tertiary education that can guarantee their life.

And, above all reason, here comes the cliche (not related to PROTON), without the taxes, our country will go bankrupt. Of course la, here you're asking for the reduction of cars' prices (government's money - Out) then, you asked to increase the subsidy for gas (government's money - out), and when big corporation such as the gold processing in Raub or even Lynas want to operate in Malaysia (okay,this starting to get a bit politically-inclined), you asked them to go out also (government's money - not increasing), and not to forget, the free education (government's money - out) for our students (actually, the total cost of a degree in the US can reach to USD 500,00, but in Malaysia, you can get a law degree in IPTA just by paying 28,000 to PTPTN). So, in a nutshell, asking for cheaper cars, free education, becoming paranoid over an environment disaster that almost impossible to happen (refer here), is an act of selfishness. Yes, we might be happy for a couple of years, but think about our next generation, where our beloved maggi-mee will be made by Americans, our Bata shoes crafted by the Chinese and Yusmira Pati Halia replaced with Alex Hughes Magic Ginger Cream. This is not over-reacting, but such manifestos and ideas can put Malaysia in the same level as Rome, not the one that people are afraid of, but the one that people remembered as a place with the destroyed Colosseum.

3 Countries, 300 Dollars

Looking at the time now (it's almost 3AM), so, I will make this post brief as I can't think straight right now, but still, my body won't allow me to sleep due to that metabolism booster drugs that I'd taken.

Let me be frank, if, IF, I'd followed the itinerary that I had planned, I will be spending lesser than RM 1000 ( ±330 USD) for the whole journey from Vietnam to Thailand (via Cambodia). But, as I haven't been on a holiday for the last 14 years (the last one being my visit to Langkawi when I was 8), so, I went off budget a bit (about RM 2000 for fancy dining and lots of souvenir).

So, in this travel log...sorta, I will show how to travel the three countries on a shoestring budget (p/s: I only followed my plan for transportation and accomodation).

Pre-Trip Prep:

I bought the ticket from KL to Phnom Penh nine months earlier for RM75.00 (my mistake, I should be getting ticket to Ho Chi Minh rather than to Phnom Penh, this stupidity had cost me an additional spending on accommodation and transportation, not  to mention time as we need to cross the Cambodian/Vietnam border twice!)

We arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport at about 8AM (local time) after two hours we departed from KL. The immigration clearance was fast, we spent less than 15 minutes at the airport. I had arranged an  airport transfer service beforehand to bring us to Sunday Guest House, I've been here before in 2010, the service was great, it cost us about USD 5 per night per person. 

We spent our first day at the Killing Field, Toul Seng Museum , and my most favorite place in Phnom Penh, the Sisowath Quay and we shoped at the Russian Market and the Central Market. We went to Sorya Mall for a while to get some cheap toiletries. We left for Ho Chi Minh on the second day of our trip.

Total Spending

- Accommodation  : USD 5

-Transportation    : Airport transfer ( USD 12), Tuk-tuk around town (USD 10)

-Ticket/Admission : Toul Seng (USD 2), Killing Field (USD 5, i think)

Okay, frankly, I don't really like HCM, it's busy, there're motorcycles everywhere, and for God sake, I was offered drugs in front of a masjid!

We started our journey in HCM with a bastard that had charged us RM 80 for a taxi ride that supposedly be less than RM5. As I had been scammed, I won't let you know which taxi should be taken and which should be avoided as seeing you being cheated, somehow, amuses me and made me feels less stupid for not taking the advise in TripAdvisor.

Actually, we just shop in HCM, I got my cheap Deuter and Boboy got his cheap Longines. Ha! presenting, my travel buddies;

From bottom : Boboy, Shu, Me and Daniel

Total Spending

Accommodation : Approx 25 USD

Transportation : Phnom Penh-HCM ( USD 10), Teksi Tipu (RM 80/ 10 USD per person), local transportation (USD 3)

Ticket/Admission : nil

The bus journey from HCM to Siem Reap took about 17 hours, from 7 AM till 11 PM, mainly because we'd stopped for about 4 hours in Phnom Penh before taking another bus to Siem Reap. We stayed at Angkor Wat Guesthouse ( booking done through Agoda).

The next day, we've visited the famous Angkor Wat, this is my second time here, but during my first time, I had only visited the main temple, so, this time, we've rented a tuktuk so that we're able to visit other temples as well. But, if you're planning to visit each and every temple in the area, one day won't be enough.

After a day in Angkor Wat, we head back to our hotel, rest, and spent our night at the Pub Street. This is also where I've gotten my foot massage, the massage was good, it would be great if the masseuse was a bit younger, perhaps, 20 years younger. 

And, on day 6, we headed to Poipet, to cross the border to Thailand

Total Spending

Accommodation : 8 USD per night per person

Transportation : 5 USD for a trip to Angkor Wat including the tour for one whole day (cheap isn't it?)

Tickets/Admission/others : 20 USD to enter Angkor Wat, 5 USD for a one hour massage.

This border can be said the hardest one to cross in our journey. First, we took a van to Poipet, upon arriving at Poipet Bus Station, we need to change our van, to bring us to the border. Here, we spent about 30 minutes to get our passports stamped. After that, we walked to the Thailand immigration post that located about 100 metres from the Cambodian's post. The Thailand's post is at a place called Aranyaprathet, here, we spent almost two hours to process our passports. From the border, we've taken a tuktuk to Aranyaprathet train station, and took the afternoon train to Bangkok (it's a 6 hours ride and cost us 40 baht/MYR 4)

Here, we've checked in at Sawasdee Welcome Hotel. The service was bad, the tranny  (yes, a tranny) that was on the front desk was grumpy, bedbugs everywhere, and I can't sleep at all in a hotel next to clubs and pubs.

Just a few jalan-jalan activities that we had done there, Siam Paragon, the mall next to Siam Paragon, the backpackers street were among the places visited. I also got my 20 ringgit H&M sweater at Siam Paragon. We stayed in Bangkok for a night, and took the overnight bus to Krabi at 6 PM on the 7th day.

Total Spending

Accommodation : 7.5 USD per person

Transportation : Siem Reap-Poipet (10 USD/MYR 30), Aran's Border to Aran's Train Station (25 baht/ MYR 2.5), Aran-Bangkok by train (40 baht/MYR 4). Local transportation (approx 7 USD)

We reached Krabi at about 7 AM after 12 hours journey by bus. The bus was really nice, it had cost us 600 Baht/MYR 60, they gave us breads and water before starting our journey, and also a nice orange blanket, in the middle of the journey, the bus stopped at their R&R perhaps, and all passenger got free meal there. The seats were spacious and there's even a lavatory in it! All for 600 baht.

We haven't been eating "freely" for the past few days because of the scarcity of halal foods in Bangkok,HCM, and Cambodia, but in Krabi, as the place is highly populated with muslims, we had tried almost all of the locals delicacies. Pulut ayam, pulut mangga, dildo-shaped ice cream, pancake, nasi ayam kari, nasi dagang and most importantly tomyam, you name it,  we tried it all!

We rented a bike here as the riders here are more "civilized" , so, for us, its safer. We went to Ao Nang Beach on our first day, and spent our second day at the Tiger's temple (on which we'd climbed a 600 metres hill!), and also the hotspring. During the night, its just makan-makan time at the town's night market.

We had ended our journey in Krabi, me, Shu and Boboy had taken a van back to Butterworth, while Daniel, headed directly to KL. 

Total Spending 

Accommodation : 15 USD

Tickets/Admission/Others : 50 baht for hot spring

Transportation : Bangkok-Krabi (600 baht/MYR 60), Krabi-Penang (600 baht/MYR 60), Motorcycle Rent (200 baht/ MYR 20), Petrol (200 baht/ MYR 20)

Below are few photos taken from the journey. (Credit to Boboy)

2012 Qusyairi Hashim

Seperti tahun-tahun sebelum ini, saya tahu, ramai yang berminat ingin mengetahui tentang kehidupan peribadi saya, maka, ini merupakan ringkasan tahun 2012 saya dari aspek Politik, Ekonomi dan Sosial.

Politik.

Dari segi politik kampus, saya telah melepaskan semua bentuk jawatan-jawatan politik (yang melalui pilihanraya mahupun tidak) pada awal tahun 2012. Ini termasuk sebagai Presiden Protem UNESCO, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengantarabangsaan Universiti serta jawatan-jawatan lain yang perlu dirahsiakan. Namun walaupun begitu, saya telah dilantik mengetuai Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Fakulti berdasarkan kepada tahap integriti saya yang tinggi.

Tinggal Kenangan

Dari segi politik luar pula, sehubungan dengan kenaikan usia 21 tahun, saya telah mendaftar sebagai pengundi sah di Negara ini. Dan, pada masa yang sama, dalam meraikan pindaan Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU), saya juga telah mendaftarkan diri sebagai ahli Pemuda UMNO pada Ramadhan yang penuh keberkatan lepas.

Ekonomi

Dalam perbicaraan ekonomi, tiada apa-apa yang signifikan. Tahun 2012 menyaksikan rata-rata ekonomi saya dibiayai oleh PTPTN, wang elaun khas program serta saguhati pertandingan-pertandingan tertentu. Mungkin yang paling signifikan pun, adalah penstrukturan semula Inceptio Management. Namun, disebabkan penstrukturan yang agak lewat, maka, bilangan projek pada tahun ini sedikit lembap. 

Sosial

Mungkin aspek ini banyak perbicaraannya, pertama, 2012 telah menyaksikan perkahwinan pertama dalam kelompok sahabat handai saya iaitu Saudara 'Izzat Rafie dan pasangan.

Perkara lain yang saya kira antara yang signifikan juga adalah pertemua bersaam sahabat handai yang hampir empat tahun tidak ketemu. Antara yang dilakukan adalah aktiviti food hunt disekitar Pulau Pinang antara saya, Saudara Haidar Asyraf, Saudara Irwan Samsuddin, dan juga Rabbani Rafiuddin serta Saudara baru Ah Chai (Napizie). Antara lain, pertemuan juga dilakukan dengan bekas teman sebilik, Shafiq Aroi.

Cendol Chowrasta

Dari aspek perdebatan, tahun ini menyaksikan antara jumlah ketersangkutan di pusingan separuh akhir yang agak tinggi antaranya di Debat Alam Sekitar, Debat DiRaja, Debat Integriti dan Debat Kepenggunaan. Namun, rezeki hujung tahun, berjaya juga menjohani Pertandingan Debat Gender 2012 bersama rakan sepasukan selama empat tahun, Siti Aisyah Mustapha.

Keluarga Orator.

Dan jika untuk kejayaan Kelab Orator UMP pula, kemenangan di Pertandingan Debat Diraja untuk pasukan muda adalah pencapaian yang amat membanggakan.

Pelbagai

Antara lain yang berlaku pada tahun ini adalah saya berjaya mengurangkan berat badan dari 83KG ke 75KG sekaligus mengurangkan ukurlilit pinggang dari 36 ke 31.

Dari aspek pemakanan, saya telah mencuba dua  makanan urban baharu, iaitu Durian Crepe dan juga Pavlova. Ha, tidak ketinggalan, macaroon.

Pavlodean by Hafizzudin.

Dan, akhir sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua yang telah menceriakan 2012 saya. Inilah antara wajah-wajah mereka yang mewarnakan 2012 saya (gitew).

 

Know Your Jews

Meet the family of Glen and Gila Jasper. Both of them had been blessed with four cute and intelligent daughters. Both Glen and Gila have normal daytime jobs, and never took a single life.

This is a Jewish Baby that had was born about 10 months ago. His stroller was decorated with Israel's flag as a symbol of patriotism to his country. And, like the Jaspers, this baby never killed anyone.

This is the late Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, he was a scholar and a Lithuanian Orthodox Rabbi. He came to the United States in 1936. He had saved many lifes by opposing the idea of failed medical transplant. He's a peace lover and didn't support any act of violence.

This young man is a member of Israel Defense Force (IDF). He's mourning over the lost of a comrade in a battle in Lebanon. And just like you and me, he has feelings, and he can also shed a tear.

Benjamin Netanyahu is the first Prime Minister of Israel born in the State of Israel. He worked with the IDF before, and one of the main character that orchestrated the attack in Gaza.

This is a painting by Laurent De La Hire, of Abraham sacrificing his son. Abraham is the father of Israelite and also a prophet in Islam. 

In the war between Gaza and Tel Aviv, most Muslims around the world had boycotted the Jewish community, labeling them as terrorist and prayed for their destruction without realizing, that we came from the same place, and somehow connected with each other.

While rage take control of our mind, we labelled the good men and women of Israel as murderers, and hope that Allah will punish them for what had happened in Gaza. 

When people relate Muslims with terrorism, we always thought that the world was being unfair to us. But, try to think deeply, whether we are doing the same to our Jewish brothers and sisters by labeling them as murderers and worse, praying for their destruction.