Ah Long! Ah Long! Everywhere

Many Malaysians become kaki tambaks to pay off Ah Long debts(either theirs or their family). Many kakitambak although earning SingDollar still fall into the loan shark strangle. Any visitors to JB in recent years, would marvel at the vibrant campaign of loan shark advertising here. Ah Long banners are so widespread to the extent of JB could possibly occupy the No 1 ranking city in this area.We may not beat KL or Penang, in terms of technological or scholarly achievements. But by the look on our street, JB could realistically come out tops in loan shark advertising. The loan sharks in JB is pretty invincible. A friend's friend who failed to pay his debt was beaten up by Ah Long. When he lodges a report at the police station, someone(possibly an officer) remarked that it would be a pity these runners will be caught and convicted to a few years jail for merely doing their job. It would ruined their future and create more social problem. The Ah Long sympathizer probably meant that a lot of Chinese Sabahan youths are working as runner for JB Ah Long bosses. Anyone who has been to Sabah will probably know that the wages there are quite low and basic stuff (like Milo, newspapers, cars etc) are more expensive over there. To sum it up BN government(federal and state) has screwed Sabah big time. Part of the prosperity that penisular Malaysia enjoyed are really from by plundering Sabah and Sarawak resources; making their lives difficult. So it is some sort of retribution really to see these Sabahan youths coming over to JB, harassing and beating up people all over our town. Thrashing our streets with colourful Ah Long banners. However rampant as the Ah Long syndicate presence are, no one has heard of any Ah Long or their runners convicted in JB. I am not saying there aren't, only that neither the people I know nor myself aren't aware of any. While we wait for some strong action from PDRM, some scenic advertising for you guys to enjoy: Typical Ah Long's morning toolbox meeting, at all major JB kopitiams. Complimentary Ah Long name cards cum calendar delivered to to your doorstep twice weekly. Come in XL sizes too. This way to your nearest Ah Long. A friendly reminder of Ah Longs' number at the payphone. Ah Long Stickers on rain gutters. Cap mohor (rubber stamping) on shophouses wall .

Spray painted as per JKR requirements

Ah Long banners at major street signboard.

At least they never covered up the no. '3' , so that people won't get lost. Making TNB more colourful?

Tambak Johor : Money Carriers

The recent Singapore’s Distinguished Service Order awarded to our IGP Musa Hassan for his “outstanding contribution in fostering excellent ties and cooperation” between the Malaysian police and the republic’s police force. It got me thinking what actually how does PDRM plays a part in cross-strait relationships. Somehow it only reminded me of rumours that had been circulating around JB for quite sometime. Its like already part of JB mythical folklore that no one can or is willing to verify. Before I begin, I iterate my stand of not dismissing this rumour as dongeng punya cerita(fairy tale) or justifying it as the truth. As I have no contacts in PDRM inner circle, there is no way I can verify the truth or falsity of such rumours. Rumour has it that, there are these runners who crosses the causeway to Singapore carrying certain corrupt PDRM officers dirty money. Once in SG, these runners will help deposit the monies them into the officers or the officers' families account. Based on hearsay, these runners may carriy around RM50k to RM150k per trip (not sure whether in RM or SGD). It is also rumoured that these runners are your normal looking Chinese uncle and that they enjoyed quite a comfortable living from their professions. In 2007, Singapore government imposed a mandatory declaration for those entering and leaving Singapore with more than SGD30k in cash. However this is not a restriction on the cash amount that you can carry into Singapore. So one can actually carry SGD 1million into Singapore, provided you declare it to SG government that it is for a legitimate purpose. Not sure whether the the above ruling affects these so called rumoured money carriers. They can probably carry a smaller amount and make more trip. Or they could use better ways to avoid detection at checkpoints. If these money carriers exists then I assume they too can regarded as kaki tambak (people who crosses the causeway on a regular basis for work). Albeit a very shadowy type. Most kaki tambaks will probably close one eye to these rumoured money carrier. If these money carriers existence are proven true, then the morale of us normal kaki tambak will take a bit hit. Imagined all our hard eanred SingDollar that we fight daily to bring back, being siphoned back to Singapore just like that. It is already quite sad thinking of this possibility let alone proving it. Regards, Kaki Tambak

Pakatan Rakyat Ceramah at Taman Universiti, Skuadai

Attended the last part of PR ceramah last night at Taman U. Due to the police blockade, I had to limped about 150 meters. Caught only the portion by YB Lim Kit Siang. He as usual got the crowd growing. Other than that, it was your usual PR ceramah

But I was very dissapointed with the attendance. Excluding parties workers, it was at most 400 people. The 50 or so police personnel were just lazily wandering around and spatting mosquitoes throughout the ceramah.

You might say it is JB mah, what do you expect. The only reason to think that it was a OK turnout is because BN is still colonizing the minds of JB people.

The question is not whether to align ourselves to Pakatan. Its about rakyat showing unity in numbers. The least we can do is to show BN,PDRM,MACC etc that we mean business and keep them on their toes.

Do we honestly think that our angry kopitiam talk will actually put pressure on BN to the right thing? That things will eventually work out. That the opposition will do the dirty job for us.

Think again. If Pakatan Ralyat alone can force BN to reform then Beng Hock will be still alive and well. Like it or not PDRM, MACC and all civil servants work for UMNO and not the rakyat. So UMNO can bulldozed over anyone they wish and now they are out of control. Including you JB people who willingly voted for BN.

Fellow JB residents, even the mighty Sing Dollar you earned every month cannot saved this country. No matter how many Sing Dollars you earned, UMNO machineries and crony corporations will suck every cents of it.

So stop hibernating. Learn from your friends and families in Penang,Ipoh,KL,Kelantan and Selangor. Unite in numbers and fight.

For a start, you can sign "Memorandum Rakyat Negeri Johor Menuntut Keadilan untuk TEOH BENG HOCK" address to PM Najib. This memorandum was initiated by Suaram,PKR Johor and a few concerned citizens. And was later endorsed by other parties and NGOs in Johor. The target is 10,000 signature.

I will post the link to the memorandum asap.

Ceramah last night at Taman U.

Come on JB. We can do better than just a few hundred people.