Today in the New Straits Times:
Ouch!
The Malay term itu banjir means “that is a flood”.
If the joke is lost on you, see an entry on Eye on Malaysia and another one on what the Prime Minister did during a national disaster for some background.
Heck. Just go and read Bakri Musa’s.
I was reading the Business Times and I saw this:
In 2007, Malaysia’s GDP is estimated to grow at more than 5.0 per cent. The two key drivers of demand will be higher government spending and an increase in private investments, particularly with the implementation of the 9th Malaysia Plan.
Quiz for students of macroeconomics: with ceteris paribus, what will happen to private investment when the government increases its spending?
Answer: See crowding out at Wikipedia.
Nearly four months ago, the Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister announced that his ministry planned to combat shortage with — drum roll please — price ceiling!
I am familiar with glacial retreat. To many, the most famous retreat is probably the one occurring at Mount Kilimanjaro of Kenya, Africa. On whether this is a proof of global warming, I will leave you to decide on it.
Kilimanjaro however is perhaps too far away for average Malaysians like me to relate to. Worry not however because there is a closer example of glacial retreat: Puncak Jaya. Puncak Jaya is the highest mountain in Indonesia with the height of 4,884 m. That means it is higher than Mount Kinabalu of Malaysia. It is located in West Papua.
Wikipedia has an animation that illustrates the glacial retreat at Puncak Jaya:
Nothing less than dramatic, yes?
The entire glacier is expected to melt by 2016, less than 10 years from now.
Where exactly is Puncak Jaya? Thanks to Google, here it is:
I hope the familiar features of Borneo and Australia is enough for many to recognize the location of the mountain.
For more similar animations, please visit the provided link to a page at Wikipedia, just before the animation.
If you are wondering what the hell is the hole in the middle of the 2003 picture, it is a copper mine.
Right after work yesterday, I gave Titiwangsa Lake Garden a visit. Though the place was still in a mess with a lot of work still needed to be done as of Friday’s evening, the place was a cool place for photography. Armed with my tiny camera, I set my eyes on the Eye on Malaysia.
From the other side of the lake, the ferris wheel looks impressive:
After spending RM 30 million, it better be.
On closer inspection:
From the side:
From the front:
And finally, inclusive of the city’s skyline:
There were many other like-minded persons patronizing the lake garden. Some of them have big ass cameras. All I could say is that, I am envious!
So, Happy Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
But this year, Malaysia is 44 years old, not 50.
