Gears and Bottles is an online store which sells exclusively Karrimor and Osprey Packs backpacks. These well-known backpack brands have been around for ages and have their fair share of loyal customers. If you are looking for a new backpack, why don’t you hop over and check out the latest Karrimor backpacks as well as Osprey Packs. All backpacks sold are new and authentic and backed by warranty.

Apart from Karrimor and Osprey Packs products, I have also included a small assortment of Deuter camping / trekking accessories and Sigg bottles to increase the variety of products for customers.

Hence, I’ve just ventured into retailing backpacks online. Recently, I was in the market for a good daypack, something which would fit a day or two’s clothings and toiletries for the odd day trips. I was browsing a store in Kuala Lumpur when I chanced upon the Deuter brand of backpacks. The variety of designs and colours were simply amazing, I must say and I ended up buying the Deuter Giga daypack which you can see above. With sturdy backstraps and the airstripes system, my shoulder does not have the aching feeling carrying a fully-loaded bag and my back feels cool.

As a satisfied customer, I’ve decided to now venture into promoting and retailing it to people in Malaysia. I understand that it is quite a famous brand of backpack and is highly sought after by enthusiasts as well as people who demand a good quality backpack which gives comfort and will last a long time. So, head on over to Deuter Online Store for the best deals in town.

• Several PPP projects identified under the 10MP will be implemented in 2011 through private investment of RM12.5bn
• PPP project: Construction of highways such as the Ampang-Cheras-Pandan Elevated Highway
• PPP project: Construction of a 300-megawatt Combined-Cycle Gas Power Plant in Kimanis, Sabah
• PPP project: Development of International Islamic University Malaysia Teaching Hospital in Kuantan; Women + Children’s Hospital
• Another PPP project identified is the Academic Medical Centre. This project involves private investment of RM2 billion
• Greater KL MRT to be implemented from 2011. When completed, public transport utilisation rate is expected to rise to at least 40%
• Another major project is the development of the Malaysian Rubber Board land in Sungai Buloh covering an area of 2,680 acres
• A new landmark, Warisan Merdeka, is expected to be completed in 2020. It will include a 100-storey tower, the tallest in Malaysia
• The Government will implement bold measures to revitalise the domestic capital market;
• Efforts will be taken to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a premier Islamic capital market
• The Govt will provide Entrepreneurship Enhancement Training Programme to train 500 technopreneurs and attract more angel investors
• The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation will be provided a startup fund amounting to RM100m to provide soft loans
• To revitalise capital market activities, the Govt will launch a Private Pension Fund in 2011
• Existing income tax relief of up to RM6k for employees contributions to EPF will extend to Private Pension Fund contributions
• A sum of RM857 million is allocated for local E&E companies to compete at the international level
• The Govt will allocate RM146 million to support the oil, gas and energy industry
• The Govt is committed to develop green technology to ensure sustainable development
• Pioneer Status, Investment Tax Allowance for energy generation from renewable sources + energy efficiency activities extended til 31-12-2015
• To further encourage ownership of hybrid cars, import duty and excise duty exemption will be extended until 31 December 2011
• Tax exemption on income from trading of Certified Emission Reductions certificate to extend until year of assessment 2012.
• The Govt will implement the Programme on Blending of Biofuels with Petroleum Diesel (B5 Programme) in June 2011
• The Government allocates RM3.8bn in 2011 to increase productivity and generate higher returns in the agriculture sector
• Infrastructure facilities to be allocated RM85 million to facilitate construction of hotels and resorts in remote areas
• RM3 billion eco-nature resort Nexus Karambunai, Sabah, to commence 2011
• To support the tourism industry, the Government will allocate RM100 million
• The Govt proposes that import duty on approximately 300 goods preferred by tourists and locals, at 5% to 30% be abolished.
• In efforts to propel the palm oil and related products industry, several measures will be implemented
• Measures include encouraging replanting activity to replace aged trees with high quality new clones through RM297 million
• RM127m to be allocated to support domestic oleo derivatives companies plus RM23.3m to expand downstream palm oil industries
• Multimedia Development Corridor programme is allocated RM119 million. Focus is on creating an innovative digital economy
• Import duty and sales tax exemption on broadband equipment are also extended for two years until 2012
• The Government proposes that sales tax be exempted on all types of mobile phones
• Corridor and regional development will be accelerated. The Government allocates RM850m for infrastructure support
• For Iskandar Malaysia, a sum of RM339 million is allocated. The Northern Corridor Economic Region is allocated RM133 million. East Coast Economic Region is allocated RM178 million for projects. For Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy, RM93 million is allocated for facilities
• A sum of RM411 million is allocated in 2011 for R&D&C activities
• For 2011, a sum of RM71 million is allocated for Special Innovation Unit UNIK
• A sum of RM200m is allocated to purchase creative products such as high quality locally-produced films, dramas and documentaries
• The Government proposes that the rate of service tax be increased from 5% to 6% (Ouch!!)
• RM29.3bn allocated for Ministry of Education, RM10.2bn for Ministry of Higher Education + RM627m for Ministry of Human Resource
• Government will establish a Talent Corporation under the Prime Minister’s Office in early 2011
• RM6.4 billion is allocated for development expenditure to build and upgrade schools, hostels, facilities and equipment
• RM213 million is allocated to reward high-performance schools
• Government will increase pre-school enrolment rate to a targeted 72% by end-2011 through an additional 1,700 classes
• The Government will also strengthen the curriculum and appoint 800 pre-school graduate teachers
• RM250m allocated for development expenditure to schools: religious, Chinese-type, Tamil national, missionary, Government-assisted
• RM576m allocated in the form of scholarships for those wishing to further their studies
• RM213m allocated to enhance proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, strengthen the English Language
• RM20m allocated to increase PhD qualified academic staff to 75% in research unis plus to 60% in other higher learning institutions
• RM60m allocated to further intensify the Industrial Skill Enhancement Programme in State Skills Development Training Centres
• Government will also allocate RM50m to Multimedia Development Corporation to train graduates in ICT
• RM474m provided to enhance productivity and skills of non-graduates
• 1Malaysia Training Programme will commence in January 2011 with an allocation of RM500m
• RM200m allocated to conduct part-time training in the evenings and weekends in selected training centres nationwide
• RM200m from the Human Resource Development Fund to be used by companies to fund specific training programmes for their employees
• Government will enforce basic minimum wages for security guards, to between RM500 and RM700 a month depending on location
• RM30m allocated to introduce the Single Mother Skill Incubator Programme and the Prime Entrepreneur and Women Activist
• Government will provide 40 1Malaysia TASKA to assist women to obtain quality childcare and early education for their children
• Government will allow flexibility to self-determine fully-paid maternity leave, not exceeding 90 days from the current 60 days
• For sports development and management, a sum of RM365m is allocated to the Ministry of Youth and Sports
• To develop football, the Govt will establish a Football Academy in Pahang with RM20m to produce quality football players
• In 2011, the Government will allocate RM1.2 billion to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
• Government will launch assistance programme to benefit 80,000 disabled individuals with an allocation of RM218 million

Seriously, do we have so much money to allocate? Let’s continue with the Budget 2011 Malaysia:-

• Government will launch assistance programme to benefit 80,000 disabled individuals with an allocation of RM218 million
• Government will extend tax relief of up to RM5,000 to help parents with expenses such as daycare, caretakers & other daily needs (I wonder if this includes wages for maids?)
• First-time house buyers will be given stamp duty exemption of 50% on instruments of transfer on a house price not exceeding RM350k
• RM6.9bn allocated to implement basic infrastructure such as water and electricity supply as well as rural roads
• RM2.1bn allocated to build and upgrade rural roads in Sabah and Sarawak
• Build and upgrade rural roads in Sabah and Sarawak with an allocation of RM2.1 billion and RM696 million in Peninsular Malaysia
• RM974m allocated as price subsidy for paddy, fertilisers + paddy seeds. RM230m for production incentives, increasing padi yield
• Govt to establish a 1Malaysia Smart Consumer portal to help the rakyat keep abreast with price movements of retail goods.
• Effective January 2011, the monthly allowance of Imam will be increased from RM450 to RM750
• The monthly allowance for KAFA teachers will be increased to RM800, an increase from RM500, starting Jan 2011
• RM100m allocated to implement various programmes, including resolving Orang Asli land rights and border settlement issues
• Toll rates in four highways owned by PLUS Expressway Berhad will not be raised for the next five years, effective immediately
• RM15.2bn allocated to build new hospitals, increase the number of doctors, nurses, obtain supplies of medicines and equipment
• Since 2009, 51 1Malaysia Clinics are in operation. The Government will provide an additional 25 1Malaysia Clinics
• RM350m allocated to implement various programmes to combat crime, including burglary, motorcycle and car thefts
• RM70m allocated for programs with select NGOs to help Govt strengthen family institution and address social ills eg baby dumping
• RM1.9bn allocated to environmental preservation, including implementing the River of Life Programme and KL greening
• To assist children, particularly low-income, excel academically, the 1MDB will provide multi-vitamins for primary school pupils
• 1MDB will provide RM20m to the 1Malaysia Youth Fund. This fund will be utilised to instil the 1Malaysia spirit
• The Govt agrees to abolish the Competency Level Assessment/PTK and replace with a more suitable evaluation system by June 2011
• Civil servant burden in coping with schooling expenses to be reduced by providing a Special Financial Assistance of RM500
• RM212 billion allocated for Budget2011, which is 2.8% higher than the allocation for 2010
• RM45.6 billion will be allocated for Development Expenditure, RM15.5 billion for the social sector
• Government revenue collection is estimated to increase 2.3% to RM165.8 billion in 2011, up from RM162.1 billion in 2010
• The deficit for 2011 is expected to further decline to 5.4% of GDP, compared with 5.6% in 2010

Sounds like a boring budget for the average income earner. No reduction in personal tax. Neither is there a reduction in company tax. Minimal reliefs given to cushion rising cost of living.

How will you be impacted by Budget 2011?

The debates on the usage of the word “Allah” have intensified following the High Court ruling on 31st December 09 which reversed the Home Ministry’s ban on The Herald and permitted the latter its Constitutional right to use the terminology “Allah” in its weekly publication. Predictably, the Home Ministry has filed an appeal as well as a stay of execution pending the appeal.

The Catholics (and Christians) have argued that they have referred to God as “Allah” in their worship service and communication where Bahasa Melayu / Malaysia is used. I know I have. And in those instances when I referred to God as “Allah”, it was within the confines of my church or in the midst of fellow believers. And we all know we were referring to our God. Uttering the word “Allah” in the company of fellow believers cannot be seen to be a work to confuse or threaten the belief of those in the Muslim faith. For the simple reason that Muslims are not, according to local laws, supposed to have anything to do with non-Muslim religious worship and the like. To refuse a licensing permit to the publishers of The Herald for the reason that the word “Allah” was used in the Bahasa Malaysia section is most confusing indeed. More so when the The Herald is a private publication and especially for non-Muslims only.

Anyway, if it were true that on this land called Malaysia, nobody can call their God as “Allah” unless they were Muslims, then can somebody please tell the hundreds, if not thousands of Indonesians who profess the Catholic / Christian faith currently working and / or living in Malaysia that they are also to stop doing so with immediate effect? My ex-maid was an Indonesian Christian. She reads her Bahasa Indonesia bible and refers to God as “Allah”. Jesus is “Yesus” and Lord is “Tuhan”. Holy Spirit is “Roh Kadus”. Are we also to tell them that in Malaysia, they may not utter “Allah” if they were not referring to the God whom the Muslims worship? What would they say in response?

Who are the police to kid this time around? When the media highlights the inhumane “canine” treatment Ah Longs gave to 3 borrowers recently, the police again came under pressure from the public and organisations to get their act together to stop the evils of illegal moneylending. This led to a laughable “24-hour ultimatum” to Ah Longs to surrender and upon expiry, “the circulating of their photos by the media and an all out exercise to apprehend the Ah Longs”.

Let’s be clear about one thing. Ah Longs have been operating in this country far longer than most living Malaysian citizens. I stand corrected as I do not have any facts to back what I just said but if anyone else can show me I am wrong, my belief stands. And what have the police been doing about this? Ah Longs are brazen enough to leave their calling cards in postboxes and advertise their quick-lending service through bold-looking A4-sized posters adorning the neighbourhood trees. What have the police been doing about these leads? Perhaps, just perhaps, they don’t have sufficient evidence to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt against these holders of phone numbers prominently displayed that they have been involved in illegal moneylending. But if nothing has been fruitful so far, what has tilted the tide in the police’s favour this time around?

Have the police been suddenly been flushed with irrefutable evidence that these individuals (whose face we might now see pasted all over the place in competition with Ah Long posters) have been involved in illegal moneylending that they are willing to subject themselves (and the media) for possible defamation suits in case they fail to secure a conviction against these individuals in court? And why would it be difficult for our Special Branch to sniff out these Ah Longs considering their ability to track Singapore’s infamous fugitive Mas Selamat to a small unknown kampung in Johor?

The 24-hour ultimatum for Ah Longs to surrender was already a laughable exercise as no Ah Long in their right frame of mind would volunteer walking to the police station to tell the police “Here I am. I am an Ah Long. Please arrest me and charge me. I am sorry“.  I just think the publishing of photographs of a few men (and possibly women?) alleged to be Ah Longs is a mere stinking publicity stunt by the police to satisfy the public’s once-again-outcry against the Ah Longs. “Show the public that we mean business“. Yeah, right!

The most watched news in Malaysia today is not whether the government is coming up with further strategies or actions to keep the country in good stead in the midst of the current economic crisis which is slowly paralysing the world. Rather, most eyes are tuned to whether the current Pakatan Rakyat state government in Perak is staying put or changing or to be refreshed.

I don’t know whether to be thankful to find that in Malaysia, or Perak at least, we have so many leaders who are so passionate to lead and govern the state for the welfare of the people. Some, having been sponsored by their party to contest at the General Election, decided to quit their party and become an “independent” giving the reason that they cannot see eye to eye with the leadership. “Thank you sir for your support and funding! Now I go my own way, you go your own way.” If frog-jumping is deemed immoral, maintaining the position as a State Assemblyman as an independant is no less immoral.

Assuming some of these new “independent” State Assemblymen suddenly, overnight, found that Barisan Nasional is a nice party after all, and decides to apply for membership in Barisan Nasional’s component parties resulting in Barisan Nasional having a slight edge in number of seats and thus, becoming the new government of the state of Perak, such an action or “victory” is nothing to shout about. In fact, becoming the government of the day is nothing to shout about because as elected leaders, your duty is to serve the people. After all, you claim that you are in that position because you want to serve the people.

Unfortunately, our leaders do not see that they are continuing to do a disservice to the people in their political powerplay. Instead of finding ways to improve the living standards of the people, they are busy manoeuvring to make frogs, catch frogs and cook frogs out of one another. They probably forget that the rakyat is watching and assessing their actions in this powerplay. They also probably forget that the rakyat is far smarter now to evaluate who is playing dirty and who is trying to be clean.

With the state government in a disarray, the only right thing to do is to dissolve the state assembly and call for fresh state elections. Then the rakyat will give their assessment of who has been playing dirty and who is trying to be clean. Even if a couple of frogs do land over to the coalition of scales, it is hard to imagine Perakians having their utmost confidence in the Barisan state government unless this is demonstrated through a State election. Would Barisan have the guts to invite Pakatan to call for State Elections? If Barisan feels that they are ready to take over the state government, why aren’t they calling out for State elections to show that the public is supporting their taking over? Their silence is deafening indeed.

Addendum:

When you have a State Assemblyman (woman) Hee Yit Fong, who was also the Deputy Speaker, giving a press conference on Sunday (that’s 3 days ago) saying “I have never had any intention of leaving the party (DAP) and would feel very heavy-hearted if I did“, and in an about turn, quit the party and was spotted at the office of the DPM this afternoon, that speaks volumes of her integrity as a leader of the people. Malaysia can do less with leaders like these.

Malaysians. A typical feel-good advert on the telly will feature 3 Malaysians of different ethnic origins – a Malay, an Indian and a Chinese. Funnily, the rest of the country are not usually featured. In case you are clueless, I am talking about the indigenous people – the Senois, the Negritos, the Ibans, the Dayaks, the Kayans, the Kenyahs, the Penans, the Orang Ulu, the Kadazans, the Bajaus and many others. Anyway, I am quite envious of the rest of the country.

Whereas those of the main ethnic groups are not just known as the Malay, the Chinese and the Indian, back in many homes and micro-society (if there is such a word), phrases like “lazy Malay”, “Chinese conmen” and “Indian liar” are used with impunity. Afterall, such phrases are almost exclusively used within a community of the same ethnicity in a hush-hushed tone unless one decides to make a grand shocker in public. It is puzzling indeed that people react with anger and revenge in mind when they hear such things called about their race or ethnicity. Perhaps, the amount and regularity of “Cina babi” and “Chinese conmen” levelled at my kind has made me numb so much so that it goes into one ear of mine and gets out in one breath. In a sense, it is a waste of time asking for apologies when my own kind also degrades others in a similar fashion. You can’t ask for an apology to a whole race when some within the race also does the same thing to others. Get it? Not unless you can prove that no individual within the whole race which was being ridiculed has never made a racist remark.

No, it is not nice to say such things especially to generalise one whole race with a stereotype behaviour or character. I don’t condone it. But equally, it is not so nice to react as if it is the first time you’ve heard such taunts in your whole life especially if you call yourself a Malaysian.  Let’s get real. Unpleasant racist taunts and ridiculing has been around our society for as long as I can remember. Or have I missed something? That the Malaysians that I know have suddenly woken up in solidarity against racist taunts and stereotyping and I have been sleeping all these while? Have we reached a truly Malaysian race where none of us – save for the individuals in the media limelight recently, and I mean absolutely none of us could be caught slacking off the other race with some slurs or even had momentary thoughts about it?

Pray tell.

I don’t know about you but I never felt that Raja Petra, Tan Hoon Cheng or Teresa Kok were a threat to security, peace and public order. Instead, news such as a maid being bundled into a car whilst walking along the road and gang-raped by 5 men and how 2 armed robbers staged a hostage drama in a new housing area resulting in the murder of the hostage evokes feelings of not being safe living in this country. As crime rate does not seem to reduce and as people choose to stay in gated and guarded communities for extra security if they could afford to do so, I do sense that the real threat to the nation’s security, peace and public order is not Raja Petra, Tan Hoon Cheng or Teresa Kok.

And now, it appears that signs of a crackdown by those with political powers have started – and warnings made that the crackdown is imminent, and has already started. It is not the time to retaliate and retaliation should not be considered in any way. It is time to stay cool and not be sucked into dangerous political games which some are trying to play. Rather, it is time to pray. A time to pray for God’s intervention for the sake of this country’s future.

Update (13.09.2008 @ 1231hours) :

I just popped into Teresa Kok’s blog and I saw this on the sidebar:-

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation – so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? (Psalm 27:1)

Indeed, it is no sheer coincidence that this verse appeared on the very night Teresa was arrested. God knows what is happening and by our prayers, He will shield all those who stand for justice and truth.

Stating the Obvious!

Latest news on Malaysiakini states that Ahmad Ismail’s supporters are shouting ‘Hidup Melayu‘ (Long Live the Malays) as Umno leaders arrived at the tower block which housed the party HQ. I don’t know about you but is it just me who notices only the Malays (or selected few Malays) shout “Hidup Melayu” during protests? I can’t seem to remember the Chinese shouting “Hua Ren Wan Sui” (love live the Chinese) or the Indians shouting likewise.

Somehow, I can’t help but be amused (rather than alarmed or feel threatened) by these expressions of longetivity being shouted by these small groups of people whenever they perceive that their race is being threatened. To me, such shouts are made when the demonstrators feel that there is a need to prove that their race is still strong and can withstand any onslaught. It’s my personal opinion anyway. But are they just stating the obvious?

The rights of the every citizen of Malaysia are enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the special privileges accorded to the Malays are also indicated there. So, I can’t keep wondering why there is a perception that a whole race is being threatened and there is a need to shout the obvious “Hidup Melayu”. The Melayus will always live and they will live long enough like everyone else. And unless there is ethnic cleansing, shouting “Hidup Melayu” is only stating the obvious and does nothing else.

It is quite obvious that these small band of people still could not shake their racial way of thinking – that the Malays are the superior race in this multi-racial country and that being superior gives them the right to trample and ridicule on others. Somehow, they fail to realise that their actions reflect back on themselves as so-called “defenders of Malays”. They fail to realise that by unashamedly declaring that they are voicing out on behalf of all Malays in this country, they are representing to the world how Malays act and react. Of course, to those who are more familiar with these actions and reactions, we will dismiss their theatrics as nothing but plain politics. To the outside world, however, such actions and reactions would be attributed as a characteristic of the Malay race. And really, is that the real character of a Malay or a person, for that matter? Is the Malay one who tears down the photo of someone he dislikes or one who barges into a peaceful meeting demanding an end to the meeting failing which there will be a storming in?

No. I don’t think the Malays are like what these small bands of demonstrators and I refuse to think that they are like these small bands of demonstrators who get heated up into a primal character whenever they are unable to have a civil discourse. I refuse to think that the Malays, who are Muslims – the people of the religion of peace, are unable to exercise restrain whenever they perceive that their rights are under threat.

It is quite obvious that there is a strong display of political power play as demonstrated in recent events and this is nothing more than a prelude to the UMNO General Elections which is looming near. It’s not really about “Hidup Melayu” for that is stating the obvious. It is about “Hidup Kuasa” and showing who is more powerful politically.

I am leaving early tomorrow morning and won’t be back until Saturday.

Can you guess where I am going?