Categories
Conflict & disaster Economics Environment

[641] Of Malaysian poultry market and bird flu

Bird flu () has now reached Europe. Less than 72 hours ago, British authority has confirmed that the parrot that died in quarantine was infected by the same bird flu that is affecting many birds in a number of countries. Closer to home, another person dies in Indonesia due to the flu. Thailand also has another confirmed death less than 24 hours ago. Malaysia () on the other hand has yet to report any death notwithstanding an earlier quarantine and culling of poultry carried out near the Malaysian-Thai border.

The thing is, in Malaysia, people are preparing for two major celebrations – Eid ul-Fitr and Deepavali. This pushes demand for poultry and chicken up and hence, the high price. What I find surprising however is that, in the light for an expected flu pandemic, prices have yet to fall. At my place near Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, prices are stuck at its ceiling, RM6 per kilogram; a dollar is currently about 3.77 ringgit. Eggs on the other hand are sold at about 26 sen (not cent!) each; I’m unaware of its ceiling though.

The ceilings are set nationwide by the Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. Some states like Sabah and Sawarak may have different ceilings. Some kind of implicit agreement between traders to not undercut each other is also apparent. However, that’s another story which I’m uninterested this time and unable to talk further given that I don’t know costs faced by chicken traders.

Back to the issue at hand, I’d expect consumers to scale back demand and hence forcing traders to lower their prices. Reason is, consumers should be worried with development surrounding bird flu worldwide and more importantly, regionally. And when consumers have certain concerns on bird flu, they’d be a bit conservative in chicken consumption. Yet, prices haven’t budged by one bit due to bird flu.

I can only think three reasons why prices have gone down yet.

One, the people have full confidence in the government. The Malaysian government has so far done a good job regarding bird flu. They were fast and decisive in that case in the state of Kelantan and this builds up credibility. Even more so when SARS and Nipah virus were successfully handled with aid from the US CDC.

Reason number two is ignorance. Ignorance, as some would say, is bliss. Some people, as unbelievable as it may seem, just couldn’t be bothered to read. Some even can’t differentiate SARS from bird flu and I suspect, many others don’t even know what the hell H5N1 is.

The third is the couldn’t care less attitude. I bet that this is the most probable case for most locals. If this is actually the case, who could blame them. Despite all the developments and the consumption level, Malaysia has yet to encounter a human case unlike Indonesia and Thailand.

Regardless, it would be very interesting to see how price and demand for chicken and other domestic fowls will react in the next few months or even years. If prices are still persistent at ceilings after a full outbreak occurs, Malaysia poises to become a few millions fewer. Needless to say, bad for the labor market but hey, who cares for the labor market, right?

p/s – read this Scientific American’s article on bird flu while you sit quietly at a corner, waiting to ride this expected pandemic out.

pp/s – just found out that there is a Bird Flu Monitor blog.

Categories
Books, essays and others History & heritage Sports

[640] Of Burgess taught at the Malay College

I just found out that Anthony Burgess (), the great Anthony Burgess, taught at the Malay College during the 1950s. For those that don’t recognize Burgess, he wrote A Clockwork Orange. For those that have no idea what A Clockwork Orange is about, go read the book or watch Kubrick’s adaptation of it. If you don’t plan to read or watch it, boy, you’ll be missing something in your life.

History never fails to amaze me. The more one delves into piles of bits and bytes, more one realizes the grandeur of life and one’s relationship with it.

And suddenly, I feel the urge to read more Burgess’. What a good timing it is since I’m almost done with Lee Kuan Yew’ The Singapore Story (shamefully the abridged edition) while my Crichton’s Prey is probably lost somewhere in the Pacific. I need a something new to read and hey, there’s nothing wrong with another Burgess.

I think I’m going to read The Long Day Wanes which comprises of three parts – Time for a Tiger, The Enemy in the Blanket and Beds in the East. It appears that the trilogy is set in Malaya.

After reading it, I then may claim another page or three at Wikipedia by writing a review or three. Hah!

p/s – a tribute to Rosa Park. Her courage brought us a fairer world.

pp/s – Michigan haters, rejoice! Darn…

Categories
Economics Politics & government Society

[639] Of overheard in Ann Arbor

I found Overheard in Ann Arbor via Ann Arbor is Overrated and I’m lovin’ it. And wow, OIAA via AAIO. Talk about coincidence.

Somehow, that site makes me miss Ann Arbor and undergrad life even more. I’m reserving a spot for OIAA in my blogroll. It, together with AAIO, is now immortalized. Sort of. And McDonald’s sucks.

Also, this might be old but Berkeley is trying to tell Ann Arbor something…

Anyway, for the sake of making the bear happy, I am neutral on the Miers nomination.

p/s – Ben Bernanke is the next Fed chairman. Who’s Bernanke? Don’t ask me.

Categories
Society Sports

[638] Of Jamban Revolution

When I was attending Malaysia Forum at Stanford last May, there was this out worldly project dubbed the Jamban Revolution. Jamban is a crude Malay word for washroom. Capital or little ‘j’, it doesn’t matter but it was about an ideal; worthy, if I might add, of consideration. The revolution aimed to rally the masses to push for more hygienic Malaysian public washrooms. “Three cheers for an admirable cause”. I had yelled inside my head but I had serious doubt whether the project would take off. And indeed, it didn’t. However, I think first step towards the J-Revolution is a dry washroom.

Malaysians are used to wet lavatories and typical Malaysians usually have problem with it. Splashed water here and there, not swept, untaken care of – one could only wonder what one could step on on a bad hair day inside a Malaysian public washroom.

Worse, no amount of campaigns to raise civic consciousness may help improve Malaysian jamban scene. Nope. I’m convinced. Hell, if even the state of our jambans in our Parliament is not spared from the neglect, it will take more than a jamban ministry to take care of our washrooms. No matter how highly maintained a washroom might be, the atmosphere inside it will degrade exponentially. Almost uniquely Malaysians!

Hence, enter the dry regime!

The dry regime, the Jamban Revolution will bring on a new order in Malaysian jambans. A new order where the floor is clean, recycled paper towel hangs on a side waiting to be reap or even electronic dryers powered by green energy to save the trees!

Imagine the would-be outcomes of this glorious revolution, comrades!

Down with wet regime. They are nothing but mere impedance to our march towards a better society. A society which we may sit on a bowel and answer nature’s call without worries. A society which suspicious water patches are things of the past. A society free from fear.

Comrades! For Motherland, we must overthrow the dirty wet regime. Unite friends, brothers! For Motherland, comrades! We must unite! March forward to a greener pasture and shout it out loud brothers!

What do we want? Better jambans!

When do we want it? Now!

What do we want? Better jambans!

When do we want it? Now!

Viva la revolucion!

Alright. I think I’m getting too excited.

p/s – pee ass V was lucky.

Categories
ASEAN Conflict & disaster

[637] Of ASEAN and foreign powers

While I was scouring the internet for the latest development on a possible new bridge to link Malaysia and Singapore together, I came across an Asia Times’ article that touches on India’s ambition in the Andaman Sea. I find the article a tad disturbing and it changes my perspective towards Malaysian and ASEAN’s defense and security. This might be a knee-jerk reaction but it convinces me of the need for Malaysia and ASEAN to strengthen its military forces.

The article highlights Indian motivation of establishing a major naval base near the Andaman Sea, a body of water located at the northern mouth of Strait of Malacca. Among the main reasons for such move are increasing Chinese influence in Myanmar, piracy in Straits of Malacca and trade. Concurrently, these three factors more or less concern ASEAN and Malaysia.

The author of the article states that China is controlling several ports in Myanmar and Chinese influence in the Andaman Sea is extraordinary considering the area is actually part of the Indian Ocean instead of the Pacific. Slowly, it seems that Myanmar is becoming a Chinse forward base. This is even more so when China and Myanmar agree to have better land links between themselves. This grants China access to the Indian Ocean.

In event of a confrontation between People’s Republic of China and Republic of China, the conflict might even affect Malaysia and ASEAN disproportionately badly. This is because if the conflict escalates to a stage that includes more than one large power, trade might be severely affected since China will be able to flex its muscle in both the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea. Both seas are important gateways to ASEAN.

Even if the fear of China controlling both seas is unfounded, piracy and the threat of terrorism by themselves should be enough to convince Malaysia to have a stronger military. Already Malaysia and Indonesia have been criticized for security lax in the Strait of Malacca and this has attracted eyes towards the region. Other than the United States that has been rebuffed by both Malaysia and Indonesia, India too is quietly observing the situation in the strait. The article further states that it seems that the US has given its “tacit approval of India’s assertion of naval control over the Andaman Sea”. All these might be steps taken to implicitly tackle piracy and terrorism.

If piracy and terrorism are indeed the case for the renewed militaristic attention on Southeast Asia, it would be wise for Malaysia and its neighbors to quickly build up their naval prowess. Stronger naval capabilities may bring about greater security and less piracy. More importantly, it would take away a reason for foreign military attention on Southeast Asia.

A Malaysian military buildup might invoke a Southeast Asian arms race. The last time such a thing seriously happened was back in the 1990s when Malaysia added a fleet of jet fighters and frigates under its command. If I remember correctly, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand themselves found themselves in the sedated fray.

In my opinion, an arms race might be the one thing ASEAN needs right now. An arms race will bring a net benefit to ASEAN members by discouraging any foreign power from exercising excessive influence on ASEAN borders.