Category: Sosial

Goh Meng Seng: Government Sector Must Stop “Old Method Using New Technology” Stupidity

I was driving a friend’s car the other day and found the car braked suddenly while I was cruising, my foot wasn’t pressing on any pedal. It nearly gave me a heart attack and a RED LED indicator popped up CTBA… and I got worried when the “Temperature indicator” jumped from the usual 34 degree to 37.

I asked my friend why was this so, was the car having some problem. I got a smacking that I am just too OLD generation and didn’t know “NEW (CAR) Technology” at all. I was using “old driving method” to drive a NEW HIGH Tech car!

Cruising is a method I learned from my late father to save petrol and this works especially well for manual gear car.

But I learn from Google (yes, please check Google before asking “High Tech” question, else, will get another suaning… 😀 ) that the “High Tech Car” nowadays will put brake on if it detected no contact of either the brake or accelerator pedal! Or that when the car was travelling at low speed and there is potential accident, it will apply brake on its own! This is to prevent drivers who are too tired from getting accident when they fall asleep with their feet off the pedal!

Wah, I say… but seriously, that’s too “intrusive” for my “Old Method – Petrol saving driving”! And that temperature indicator is not about the car temperature but the surrounding temperature! Well, I told my friend I didn’t know the street temperature can get as high as 37 and why do we need to know the “outside temperature” when we should be more concerned about the overheating of the car itself?

My friend scolded me, don’t use “Old Method” to deal with “New Technology”!

Actually, this makes me thinking for the day. My friend has a point. When New Technology is evolving, we should be mindful to use new methods of operation to deal with it.

One fine example was the bloody redundancy of “Cash Card” and “Ez-link” card. Why would we need TWO cards when we actually could combine them into one-for-all usage Cashless card?

Cash card can be used for purchases but very few people use it because it was cumbersome. It came up with two types, one with Sim the other “Flash” card.. But some carpark can only use one of them! Such redundancy is caused by the “Old Method Mindset” using “New Technology”!

On the other hand, we have a handy EZ-Link card which we could just Tap away but it could not be used for purchases at 7 Eleven or supermarket! And it can only be topped up at the MRT/Bus stations or ATM machines.

Same for Cash Card. When you go to petrol station, they can’t just top up the cash card for you but required you to top up at the ATM machine!

What the Heck! What’s wrong with these people at LTA and those in charge of “Cashless cards”?

In Hong Kong, one Octopus Card, can do it all! Carparks, Supermarkets, 7 Eleven, Bakery Shops, Bus, MTR… and you can top it up at any 7 eleven shops or OK shops!

Apparently, these High End Natural Aristocrat Scholars sitting up there are only concerned about their “turf” instead of consumers’ convenience and services! In fact, both cards evolved because of transportation needs, be it ERP gantries or public transport. LTA should have combined them all in the first place by setting the protocol and standards!

This is the “Old Methods” using “New Technology” stupidity we are seeing in Singapore… and we still want to pride ourselves as “First World High Tech Cashless City”?

Source: Goh Meng Seng

December 16, 2016
International Crisis Group: Rohingyas Involved In Attack On Border Guards Headed With People With Links To Pakistan And Saudi Arabia

A group of Rohingya Muslims that attacked Myanmar border guards in October is headed by people with links to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said on Thursday, citing members of the group.

The coordinated attacks on Oct. 9 killed nine policemen and sparked a crackdown by security forces in the Muslim-majority northern sector of Rakhine State in the country’s northwest.

At least 86 people have been killed, according to state media, and the United Nations has estimated 27,000 members of the largely stateless Rohingya minority have fled across the border to Bangladesh.

Predominantly Buddhist Myanmar’s government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, blamed Rohingyas supported by foreign militants for the Oct. 9 attacks, but has issued scant additional information about the assailants it called “terrorists.”

A group calling itself Harakah al-Yakin claimed responsibility for the attacks in video statements and the Brussels-based ICG said it had interviewed four members of the group in Rakhine State and two outside Myanmar, as well as individuals in contact with members via messaging apps.

The Harakah al-Yakin, or Faith Movement, was formed after communal violence in 2012 in which more than 100 people were killed and about 140,000 displaced in Rakhine State, most of them Rohingya, the group said.

Rohingya who have fought in other conflicts, as well as Pakistanis or Afghans, gave clandestine training to villagers in northern Rakhine over two years ahead of the attacks, it said.

“It included weapons use, guerrilla tactics and, HaY members and trainees report, a particular focus on explosives and IEDs,” the group said, referring to improvised explosive devices.

It identified Harakah al-Yakin’s leader, who has appeared prominently in a series of nine videos posted online, as Ata Ullah, born in Karachi, Pakistan, to a Rohingya migrant father before moving as a child to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

“Though not confirmed, there are indications he went to Pakistan and possibly elsewhere, and that he received practical training in modern guerrilla warfare,” the group said. It noted that Ata Ullah was one of 20 Rohingya from Saudi Arabia leading the group’s operations in Rakhine State.

Separately, a committee of 20 senior Rohingya emigres oversees the group, which has headquarters in Mecca, the ICG said.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a news briefing on Thursday that the United States was aware of the report and reviewing it, but declined to comment further.

Groups like Islamic State and al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent have referred to the plight of the Rohingya in their material, and the battlefield experience of at least some of the Rohingya fighters implied links to international militants, the ICG said.

However, ICG said the group has notably not engaged in attacks on the civilian Buddhist population in Rakhine. Harakah al-Yakin’s statements to date indicate its main goals are to end the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar and secure the minority’s citizenship status.

“It is possible, however, that its objectives could evolve, given its appeals to religious legitimacy and links to international jihadist groups, so it is essential that government efforts do not focus only or primarily on military approaches, but also address underlying community grievances and suffering,” the ICG said.

Source: www.reuters.com

December 16, 2016
Singaporean Cook Attacked Near KSL Mall In Johor

A 44 year-old man was left lying bleeding and dying along Jalan Sutera Road, near Johor’s famous KSL mall.

The incident happened at about 7.30AM today.

According to Johor Police, police received an emergency despatch at 7.30AM about a fight at the scene of the crime, and sent a team to investigate.

When they arrived, they found the 44 year-old Singaporean, who works as a cook, lying on the ground with severe head injuries. He was sent to a hospital immediately and is in stable condition.

Eye witnesses said when the incident happened, 3 men armed with baseball bats surrounded the man and hit him repeatedly.

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

December 16, 2016
Woman Signed-Off As “Babi” In Traffic Summons Arrested, To Be Charged In Court

PETALING JAYA: A woman has been arrested for writing the word “babi” (pig) on a summons issued to her by a Johor Bahru traffic policeman.

According to Johor Bahru Selatan police chief ACP Sulaiman Salleh, the incident took place at 8.50pm yesterday when the 53-year-old woman parked her Mercedes-Benz in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak.

A traffic policeman saw that the car was obstructing traffic and told the woman to park elsewhere, but she refused to budge.

He then issued her a summons for obstructing traffic, ignoring traffic signs and for parking her car along a double line.

“Instead, the suspect wrote the word ‘babi’ when she signed her name (on the summons) and shouted at the officer, saying her name was ‘babi’,” said Sulaiman when contacted by FMT.

“We believe she did that with the intention of insulting the officer.”

The officer, with the help of a surveillance unit, arrested her on the spot.

“She is currently in police custody and will be charged in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court at 9am tomorrow. If found guilty, she can be fined up to RM100 for insulting a policeman.”

He advised the public not to insult or use inappropriate words against policemen carrying out their duties to maintain public order.

Last month, a married couple was found guilty of harassing a female Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) enforcement officer for issuing them a parking ticket.

They were jailed two weeks and fined RM3,000 each but have appealed against the sentence.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com

December 15, 2016
Hariss Harun To Leave JDT For Loan-Stint In Portugal Or Japan

Singapore national football star Hariss Harun is set for a loan-stint to Portugal or Japan, it was revealed on Wednesday (Dec 14).

In a move that is aimed at developing the talented 26-year-old midfielder, Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) revealed in a Facebook post that sending the Lions vice-captain abroad “is the best arrangement for the club”.

“Hariss Harun is a good and disciplined player. He means a lot to the club and we will send him out to a Portuguese or Japanese club on a year-long loan,” said JDT’s head coach Mario Gomez. “I’m sure at his current age, his playing ability will improve if he’s given a chance to play at a higher level.”

The Argentinian tactician added: “He will be a valuable asset for the club in the future when he returns from the overseas club.”

Hariss, 26, is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the region. A tireless box-to-box player who is tough in the tackle and a fine passer, he is the youngest ever in Singapore history to make his full national team debut in 2007 at the age of 16 years and 217 days.

One of JDT’s highest-paid players with a reported salary of US$30,000 (S$42,700) a month, his two-year contract ends next year.

Hariss has enjoyed great success since joining JDT on November 2013, quickly becoming a fan favourite with his tireless running and wholehearted performances.

He helped JDT win three league titles on the trot (2014 to 2016), the Malaysian FA Cup the past season, as well as the prestigious AFC Cup last year. In 2013, he had also won the Malaysian Super League with the now defunct Singapore side LionsXII.

However, he could not replicate his club form for the Singapore national team, as the Lions failed to qualify for the knockout rounds of the past two editions of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

Before he joined JDT, Hariss was on the verge of accepting a contract offer from Portuguese Primeira Liga side, Rio Ave in July 2013.

The deal was brokered by renowned agent Jorge Mendes – the representative of four-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo – and supported by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim. However, talks broke down reportedly over Hariss’ National Service commitments and salary issues.

If Hariss moves to Portugal, he will be following the likes of Fandi Ahmad, V Sundramoorthy and Daniel Bennett as Lions who played professional football in Europe.

Former Singapore international R. Sasikumar reckons that Hariss is now in “the best situation” to play overseas, and described the move as “win-win” for the midfielder.

“JDT is sending him out on loan, so that means that he still has a club to return to when his loan ends,” explained the registered player agent who helped to bring former English Premier League player Jermaine Pennant to S.League club Tampines Rovers this year.

“So Hariss is not taking a huge risk and throwing everything out of the window in going overseas to play.

“He will go there with peace of mind, and can focus fully on making the most of this opportunty, improving as a player. trying to get into the squad, and then into the first team. And then he will return to JDT a much better player. It’s a dream move, a win-win for everyone.”

Sasikumar also believes that Hariss will do well in Portugal if that is where he is heading.

“The Portuguese league is not the Premier League, or La Liga or the Bundesliga, and I think Hariss is not far off the standard of play in Portugal. If Frederic Mendy can score goals regularly there, then Hariss can definitely play there.”

Mendy was a former striker for Etoile FC and Home United in the S.League, scoring 62 goals in 87 games in his two seasons in Singapore before moving to Portugal to play for clubs like Estoril, Moreirense and Uniao Medeira.

“Hariss is a good pro and his head is screwed on right,” said Sasikumar. “He’s a bit more experienced now, he has tasted what it is like to be a professional player playing in a foreign club with his stint at JDT, and now he is getting a possible second shot at playing in a higher league, either in Portugal or Japan.

“He’s going to make the most of it.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

December 15, 2016