Congratulations to Daniel on winning the Malaysian Idol Competition. I was initially very reluctant to write about Daniel's win as my favourite pick was disappointingly eliminated. However, the criticisms that ensued was unbearable. Some call him an unworthy winner. Someone even wrote in to The Sun lamenting that his supporters could be sending in hundreds of SMSes in support of his quest. Many try to reason out how a "little" man like Daniel could defeat a "giant" like Nita.

Indeed Daniel was not the strongest singer or even the best performer, but he had a heart and showed great resolve, qualities that makes him such a favourite among viewers of Malaysian Idol. This are the aspects that Malaysians desire in their Idol. Daniel overcame great adversity from his singing to his physical stature. He stood tall and made his mark with his gutsy display and spirit. He knew he was outsung on the final day of competition but I truly salute his courage in putting on such a resilient display.

I salute our new Malaysian Idol, Daniel. You truly deserve it!

It was not too long ago that the NST applauted itself for its commitment in educating students on the proper usage of English.

Career advancement opportunity for medical assistants M. Hamzah Jamaludin KUANTAN, Tues: FROM next year, more than 7,000 medical assistants (MAs) can advance their career in the hospital administration up to the director post The new career path is part of the Health Ministry's effort to acknowledge the role of the MAs. The ministry has last month announced similar opportunity for nurses who can move up to the U54 grade, which enables them to become a hospital director. Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said under the new scheme, MAs who obtained a related degree could remain in their line and move up to the U54 grade depending on their experience and qualification.

Unfortunately, the article above highlights the lack of proper grammar and sets a bad example to students visiting its online website. Some may argue that this is a newsbreaking story and thus its articles are not proofread. However, publishing this story illustrates a lack of quality control in selecting reporters with the authority to post online. Can you spot the number of grammatical errors?

From the NST,

Rulers’ institution ‘vital to democracy’ IPOH, PERAK, Sat. An institution of rulers which is non-partisan plays an important check and balance role in the practice of democracy in the country and in doing so, increases the people’s confidence in the Government. Perak Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah said the institution in the country’s make-up provided a continuation of the tradition of a monarchial government. Addressing more than 1,000 people at the Perak Symposium for Malay Culture at the State Secretariat building today, Raja Nazrin said the addition of the monarchy to the democratic system helped identify the country’s Malay heritage. "Maintaining the institution is not only to fulfil a sentimental and historical value. Its existence assists in the effectiveness of the check and balance mechanism, and hence strengthens the democratically created institutions." cont..

Perhaps I should not touch on this issue regarding our monarchy, considering the possibility that it be seen as libelous in the current wake of a possible crackdown on bloggers. However, I see the speech of Raja Nazrin as a possible attempt at defending the relevancy of the monarchy in modern times. Are they afraid that the monarchy will drift into obscurity during times when Malaysia is enjoying political stability?

Raja Nazrin claims that the monarchy helps in identification of the Malay heritage and serves as a check and balance mechanism, I presume, to the ruling Government. If so, they have failed. Wielding no political power, the monarchy can hardly be a strong check and balance mechanism. More so when many of the members of the monarchy may be politically naive.

The only role I can see the monarchy play is the symbol of unity for the Malay race in the face of political instability. Their influence on the non-malay races appear limited at best.

The monarchy needs to reinvent themselves if they are to remain relevant. Sapping precious and limited national resources to maintain the monarchies in Malaysia may one day be seen as a foolish act. Maintaining sentimental values may be the last thing Malaysians can afford to do in an increasingly competitive and unforgiving environment.

Alright I can be an Idol junkie. The thought of a television audience deciding the outcome of a major talent competition is just too enticing. Much of the publicity was through the American equivalent, for which an episode was hardly missed. Now we are down to 3 contestants. I thought Farah was the best singer on that night. We'll find out on Sunday if others think the same. Drawback is $0.50 per SMS !

From Bernama,

Scientist Says Malaysia Must Look At Nuclear Energy For Power PENANG, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) scientist says Malaysia must urgently consider nuclear energy as an alternative source of power as its crude oil reserves are forecast to run out in 19 more years. USM Centre for Education, Training and Research in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CETREE) director Prof Dr Kamarulazizi Ibrahim said the government should review the national nuclear policy and consider generating nuclear energy for the nation's needs. cont....

Is nuclear power the answer to Malaysia's energy needs in the future? It is my firm belief that there are alternatives to nuclear power. Generating nuclear energy requires expertise and a high standard of maintenance. It is also not friendly to the environment when another country has to harbour the nuclear waste. The effects of these waste products needs long term monitoring with many hidden dangers possibly still disguised. When countries inclined to preserve the environment are turning away from nuclear power to more sustainable sources, Malaysia would be foolish to embrace nuclear power.

There are many alternatives like hydroelectricity, solar energy or other possibly agricultural resources. We should not follow in the footsteps of current developed nations. We should take the initiative to find unchartered routes. A nuclear catastrophe will be disastrous for Malaysia and can annihilate our nation. No one can guarantee that nuclear power is safe, this when nuclear accidents have proven costly for nations like United States and Russia.

From BBC,

Pros # Nuclear power can generate large quantities of energy without releasing greenhouse gases # It does not depend on the weather # The UK's largest reactor generates the equivalent output of 1188 wind turbines. A nuclear fuel pellet, about half an inch long, provides the same amount of electricity as one and a half tonnes of coal. Cons # Spent fuel from nuclear power plants remains toxic for centuries and there is no safe permanent storage facility for it # Dismantling old reactors safely is highly expensive # Mining and enriching uranium also produces toxic waste # Uranium is a finite resource, although there are ways of recycling spent fuel # Fears of nuclear material stolen from power facilities being used by terrorists in a so-called "dirty bomb" have increased since the 11 September attacks # Nuclear power is currently generated from nuclear fission - splitting the nuclei of atoms. Nuclear fusion - combining atomic nuclei - is potentially cleaner because the fuels involved are different. But scientists have been trying to harness the energy from fusion for decades and some say a working fusion generator is still a lifetime away. # There is a close link betweeen civil and military uses of nuclear power

From the NST,

PROPOSALS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO...: Retire at 58 Sarban Singh Kuala Lumpur, Fri The retirement age for 850,000 civil servants may be increased to 58 years by next month. The move is to address a burgeoning pension bill. New civil servants may also have to contribute a percentage of their salary to a pension scheme with government input, similar to the Employees’ Provident Fund. The moves come as the Government mulls over the financial implications of a pension bill that has tripled over the last decade. It cost the Government RM4.96 billion last year, a RM3.36 billion increase over the allocation in 1994. cont...

It came as a big surprise to me that the Government is raising the age of retirement just because they cannot foot the bill for the rising number of pensioners. The first thing that struck me was, how can raising the age of retirement save money? After all, that does not change the number of civil servants. However, in actual fact it will result in further losses as those not in retirement actually command a higher figure. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

Unfortunately, the Government has decided that new civil servants will have to contribute to an EPF-like scheme so that it could offset their rising pension bills. I feel that the Government lacks foresight in their financial planning. Despite already passing on the costs to the public in many areas, they appear to still have great difficulties balancing their accounts. Policy makers are now implementing short term measures without much long term plan. Civil servants are suffering as a result of such incompetent management.

Perhaps it may be wise that the Government look into more pertinent areas where corruption takes root like contract giving etc. When it is well known that many government officers remain corrupt, little in the way of action is done. Perhaps it has been so ingrained in those in political positions that corruption is seen as a nuisance rather than a serious crime. Maybe money can be saved when such a menace is tackled.

It appears the state of the economy is not healthy. This when Proton has reported losses and now the inability of the Government to support its pensioners. I feel this is an embarassing moment for the Badawi administration, something that should be taken into account by voters in the next general election!

Despite all the technological advances and the luxury of a good weather service, Hurricane Katrina dealt a surprising blow to the Gulf regions of the United States. The situation on the ground mimicks those in Third World nations rather than that of a world superpower. The world watches and wonders how can such an incompetent management of a disaster be acceptable when there were ample advance warnings from weather services. The Hurricane was projected to hit New Orleans directly days before.

Perhaps the Bush administration will have to answer difficult questions when the situation on the ground stabilises and the Americans start evaluating what went wrong. It is not that Hurricanes are new to the US. They face several hurricanes a year. Their preparations should be rock solid.

Many are now wondering if the fact that New Orleans is a predominantly black neighbourhood with one of the highest rates of poverty by American standards, is the cause for such a laikadaisical attitude to this disaster.

Perhaps it is a humbling experience for US. Perhaps, there was negligence by the government administrators. Ultimately, much needs to be done to improve disaster response and relief efforts.

This reminds me of the haze situation in Malaysia where the recurrences of haze and the lack of co-ordinated efforts among countries have resulted in our inability to prevent hazardous haze from reaching our shores.