An In Depth Glimpse of Malaysia's Brain Drain

JULY 11 - There is a boy I know who scored 10 A1s. His mother is a

primary school teacher and Andrew has two younger brothers. His

father, a civil servant, had already passed on by the time the son sat

SPM in 2006.

 

Armed with his excellent result, Andrew applied for a scholarship to

study mechanical engineering. The government rejected his application.

Petronas rejected his application too. Can you imagine how

disappointed and frustrated he was?

 

As soon as I learned of Andrew's difficulty, I offered him financial

assistance to do accountancy in Utar. He has been scoring top marks in

every exam to earn a scholarship from the university. Although Andrew

is now exempted from paying fees, I still bank him RM400 a month to

cover cost of living.

 

I have given assistance and allowances to more than 40 poor students

to study in Utar in Kampar, Perak. Andrew is typical of their calibre;

he prefers to get what is his due on merit, and his university has

seen fit to waive his fees.

 

On my part, I expect nothing from those that I've supported except for

them in future to help young people in similar circumstances, and to

hope that they will all stay back in Malaysia so that they can lend

their talents to building up our nation.

 

There are others with deeper pockets who have extended a helping hand

to our youngsters. One of them offers the cost of school and exam

fees, hostel accommodation, RM5,800 a year for expenses, RM1,200

settling-in allowance, and transport/air ticket. Furthermore, the

recipient is not bonded. In other words, the giver asks for nothing

back.

 

I'm talking about the pre-university Asean scholarship extended to

Malaysians by 'the little red dot' Singapore.

 

Of course, Singapore is not doing it for purely altruistic reasons.

The country is giving these much coveted Asean scholarships to build

up her national bank of talent.

 

Some Malaysians accuse them of 'poaching' the creme de la creme of our

youngsters. I don't look at it as poaching. Their far-sighted

government is doing it in their national interest.

 

And why not? Singapore can afford it. It has three times our GDP per

capita. On another comparative note, the GDP per capita of Taiwan and

South Korea are 2.5 times and double ours respectively. Before the

NEP's introduction in 1970, the four countries were at parity.

The big question is why are we surrendering our assets which Malaysian

parents have nurtured but the state neglected?

 

Tens of thousands of young Malaysians have left our shores on the

Asean scholarship. I am not sure if Singapore is willing to give out

the figure.

 

But I am pretty sure the Malaysian authorities do not give two hoots

about this, whatever number they may have arrived at. If they do,

there seems to be no policy change to stem the outflow.

 

Malaysia is optimistically indifferent to the continuous brain drain,

little caring that it is detrimental to our aspiration of becoming a

developed country (I hate to say this) like Singapore.

 

Behaving like a failed state

Consider this startling statistic: There are more Sierra Leonean

doctors working in hospitals in the city of Chicago than in their own

homeland. More Malawian nurses in Manchester than in Malawi. Africa's

most significant export to Europe and the United States is trained

professionals, not petroleum, gold and diamond.

 

The educated African migration is definitely retarding the progress of

every country in Africa. Today, one in three African university

graduates, and 50,000 doctoral holders now live and work outside

Africa. Sixty-four per cent of Nigerians in the USA has one or more

university degrees.

 

If we carry out a study, we are likely to find a very large number of

non-Malay graduates emigrating to Singapore, Australia and other

countries that is proportionately similar to the African exodus.

However the compulsion is different, seeing as how some African

countries are war-torn and famished, which is certainly not the case

with Malaysia.

 

The push factors for our own brain drain lie in NEP policy and this

needs to be addressed with urgency.

 

State Ideology: Be grateful you're Malaysian

Try putting yourself in the shoes of an 18-year-old. This young

Malaysian born in 1991 is told that Umno was very generous in granting

citizenship to his non-Malay forefathers in 1957. Thus as a descendant

of an immigrant community - one should be forever grateful and respect

the "social contract".

 

Gratitude is demanded by the state while little is reciprocated. Under

the NEP - and some say this policy represents the de facto social

contract - every single Vice Chancellor of every single Malaysian

public university is Malay.

 

Promotion prospects for non-Malay lecturers to full professorship or

head of department are very dim, hence we have the dichotomy of

non-Malays predominant in private colleges while correspondingly, the

academic staff of public institutions proliferate with Malays.

The civil service is staffed predominantly by Malays, too, and

overwhelmingly in the top echelons. The government-linked corporations

have been turned into a single race monopoly.

 

Hence is it any surprise that almost all the scholarships offered by

government and GLCs seem to be reserved for Malays?

 

Youngsters from the minority communities see that Malays are the

chosen ones regardless of their scholastic achievement and financial

position. Some are offered to do a Master although they did not even

apply (but the quota is there to be filled, so these disinterested

Malays are approached).

 

Our lesson today is ...

How the government apparatus conducts itself and the consequences of

its policy implementation will upset an individual's innate sense of

justice.

 

The government pays about RM1.8 billion in annual salaries to

teachers. A child is taught moral studies in class but he learns in

life that adults condone and conspire to immorality by perpetuating

the unfairness and injustice which impacts on Malaysia's young.

On the other hand, the favoured group is given more than their just

desserts without either merit or need. When one is bred to think that

privilege is only his rightful entitlement, we would not expect this

young person to pay back to society in return.

 

Our Malaysian education system has been flip-flopped, pushed and

pulled this way and that until standards dropped to alarming levels.

The passing mark for subjects in public exams have fallen notoriously

low while the increasing number of distinctions have risen fatuously

high with SPM students notching 14As, 17As and 21As.

 

With top scorers aplenty, there will not be enough scholarships to go

around now that the Education Ministry has decided to put a cap on the

SPM, limiting takers to 10 subjects.

 

The human factor

It's unrealistic that the education system can be effectively

overhauled. Even tweaking one aspect of it, such as the language

switch for Math and English, created havoc.

 

It's not that our educational framework is so bad as, after all, a lot

of study and planning did go into it.

 

It's only when the politicians dictate from on high and overrule the

better judgment of the educationists - Dr Mahathir Mohamad being case

in point - that we slide deeper into the doldrums.

 

The politicisation of education and the hijacking of the country's

educational agenda has clearly cost us heavily in terms of policy

flip-flops and plummeting standards, and the loss of a good part of

our young and talented human resources.

 

Matters become worse when Little Napoleons too take it upon themselves

to interfere with teachers. For instance, the serial number assigned

candidates when they sit public exams. Why is a student's race encoded

in the number? What does his ethnicity have to do with his answer

script?

 

There is further suspicion that the stacks of SPM papers are not

distributed to examiners entirely at random (meaning ideally examiners

should be blind to which exam centres the scripts they're marking have

originated from).

 

A longstanding complaint from lecturers is that they are pressured to

pass undergrads who are not up to the mark, and having to put up with

mediocre ones who believe they are 'A' material after being spoilt in

mono-racial schools.

 

Letting teachers do their job properly and allowing them to grade

their students honestly would arrest the steep erosion of standards.

And, unless we are willing to be honest brokers in seeking a

compromise and adjustment, the renewed demonising of vernacular

schools is merely mischievous.

 

Either accept their existence or integrate the various types of schools.

But are UiTM and its many branch campuses throughout the length and

breadth of the country, Mara Junior Science Colleges and the

residential schools willing to open their doors to all on the basis of

meritocracy if Chinese, Tamil, and not forgetting religious schools,

were abolished? Not open to a token few non-Bumiputera but genuinely

open up and with the admission numbers posted in a transparent manner.

 

Finally, there are teachers genuinely passionate about their

profession. There are promising teachers fresh out of training college

who are creative and capable of inspiring their students. It's not

only Form 5 students who have been demoralised. Teachers are human

capital that we seem to have overlooked in the present controversy.

 

Conclusion: Ensuring fairness for the future well-being of our young

A segment of Johoreans cross the Causeway daily to attend school in

Singapore. Many continue their tertiary education in Singapore which

has among the top universities in the world. Eventually, they work in

Singapore and benefit Singapore.

 

Ask around among your friends and see who hasn't got a child or a

sibling who is now living abroad as a permanent resident. I can't

really blame them for packing up and packing it in, can you?

It's simply critical at this juncture that we don't let our kids lose

hope and throw in the towel.

 

The system might be slow to reform but mindsets at least can be changed

easier.

 

It starts with the teachers, the educationists and the people running

the education departments and implementing the policies.

Please help Malaysian youngsters realise their full potential. Just

try a little fairness first. - cpiasia.net

 

 

 

 

A Long Malaysian Story of Contractors

This article is too important not to be read by more people. It is

written by Koon Yew Yin. Who??? Well, if you like Mudajaya, IJM or

Gamuda, Mr. Koon was one of the founders for all three companies. We

certainly do not need more contractors - we must ensure that our

resources are put into creating value to industry and economy, not

creating layers after layers of profits being hived off.

The article was taken from Center For Policy Initiatives:

http://english.cpiasia.net/Article by Mr. Koon can be linked to:

http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1783

:bumiputera-contractors-a-wasteful-national-mission-to-date-&catid=211:koon-

yew-yin&Itemid=156

Note on the Author

I am a 76-year-old chartered civil engineer and one of the founders of

the three larger construction companies listed in Bursa Malaysia.

These are Gamuda Bhd, Mudajaya Group Bhd, and IJM Corporation Bhd.

I was a member of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia for three terms. I

was also on the Sirim Board responsible in writing the Malaysian

standard specifications for cement and concrete. In addition, I was

the Secretary General of Master Builders Association, Malaysia for

nine years.

These days, I am completely retired. My intention in writing this

article is honourable. Many people may not like reading what I have

written and the truth may be difficult to accept. Nevertheless, this

is my considered analysis for the benefit of my country, the

Bumiputera contractors and the construction industry.

-------------------------------------

Written by Koon Yew Yin

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

It is an indictment of our system that IJM is able to compete

internationally for contracts but yet is required to work as a

sub-contractor to Bumiputera companies on the North-South Highway in

Malaysia.

On Oct 25, 2009 our Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Mohamad

Hanadzlah said that government has vowed to cut down on wasteful

spending to lower its budget deficit and all major public projects

must go through the open tender system.

Earlier, the Auditor-General's report for 2008 revealed continuing

financial management weaknesses at every level of the government.

Delays in project completion seem to be a perennial problem and the

lack of oversight by various ministries and departments in the

procurement of goods and services continue to cost the government

hundreds of millions of ringgit.

These statements indicate perhaps that our Prime Minister Najib Razak

may want to reverse his announcement on January 9 in Kuala Teregganu

that the government would always look after Class F contractors. (Non-

Bumiputeras cannot register as a Class F contractor).

The government had in fact already set aside RM900 million, which was

RM300 million more than last year, for works to be undertaken by Class

F contractors this year.

Producing competitive Bumiputera contractors

As reported on May 1, 2005, Malaysia had one contractor for every 614

persons. Most likely there are more contractors by now. This ratio is

again likely to be amongst the highest in the world and is obviously

costing the public a significant amount of money besides affecting our

overall economic performance.

I would like to pose a few questions which may appear unkind or

insensitive but nonetheless need to be asked.

Out of hundreds of high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur does anyone

know of any Bumiputera contractor who has won any of the building

contracts through an open competitive tender process? Out of hundreds

of kilometers of highway in Malaysia, can any Bumiputera contractor

who won any part of the highway contracts through open tender be

identified?

The answer to the above questions unfortunately is in the negative.

The evidence is that all the government's well-intentioned efforts in

trying to produce competitive Bumiputera contractors since 1957 have

failed.

Why this has happened needs to be openly discussed rather than swept

under the carpet. In this note, I share my experiences as a contractor

and my knowledge of why Bumiputera contractors have failed in the past

and what needs to be done by the government to correct this unhealthy

situation.

Facts of life in the contracting business

Contracting is a very difficult business yet it is so easy to register

as a contractor.

To register as a Class F contractor one has only to show that he has

RM5,000. He does not even require a pass in Lower Certificate of

Education (LCE). But it will take at least 10 years to learn how to

overcome all the inherent difficulties and become competitive and

efficient. Continuously giving out lucrative and over-priced contracts

without open tenders will only make the recipients less competitive.

Secondly, studies have shown that there are more failures and

bankruptcies in contracting than in any other business, and also

almost all construction projects are NOT completed within the original

scheduled time.

The delay will cost the contractor more and that is why you can often

see uncompleted buildings and abandoned projects which have been

undertaken by inefficient contractors. There are many reasons for this

peculiar phenomenon.

1. Open tender system

Although this system is the best way to ensure completion of any

project/contract at the lowest price, it is the most difficult

obstacle any contractor has to face in the real competitive world. He

must know his business very well and be efficient to face the open

competition all the time. Like a good athlete, he has to keep fit and

constantly be aware of the market conditions and his competitors.

There is a classic saying, 'a cheap thing is not good and a good thing

is not cheap'. But contractors always have to produce good work at the

cheapest price.

In order to submit the cheapest tender, the contractor must be very

optimistic in all his assumptions to get the cheapest rates. He must

assume that he will not encounter any cash flow difficulties and that

he will always get his progress payments on time to pay his creditors.

He must also assume that he will not encounter any difficulty in

getting all the required materials on time to avoid any delay and also

that there are ample workers for him to pick and choose from.

Furthermore, he must also assume that the heavens will be kind to him

and he will not meet any inclement weather during construction.

Invariably, many of these assumptions are proven wrong and thus

completion delayed, and the infrastructure will cost more to complete

than provided for in the contract.

2. The importance of teamwork

Teamwork is important in all business endeavours. It is more so in the

contracting business. Every contractor must realise that his success

is not going to be determined by his own knowledge, talent or

abilities. It is going to be determined by his ability to develop a

great team. Those who are closest to him will help determine the level

of his success.

Every efficient contractor must have a reliable team comprising

managers, sub-contractors, material suppliers, foremen and skilled

workers. All the team players must cooperate with one another, bearing

in mind that the main contractor's survival depends on their

contribution. Their main goal must be saving cost. If they cannot

complete the contract within the tender price, all of them will also

be affected.

3. Construction material pricing

There was no material price escalation clause in the conditions of

contract before I became the Secretary General of the Master Builders

Association. During the unprecedented oil crisis, building material

prices shot through the roof. As a result, many contractors could not

complete their contracts for schools and other projects. After several

appeals the Public Works Department (PWD), now known as Jabatan Kerja

Raya (JKR), eventually allowed only cement and steel for price

variation reimbursement.

This was only a partial solution as hundreds of other items were excluded.

Without a protective price fluctuation clause for the other items,

contractors are exposed to risk. At the same time, knowing that they

have to undercut their competitors during the tender process,

contractors would normally under-price to achieve the lowest tender.

Invariably, most materials would increase in price due to inflation

and other reasons. Contractors require many years of experience to be

able to anticipate such price changes and to make adequate provisions

for them whilst at the same time not overpricing their tenders and

losing the bid.

4. No contract is exactly the same

No two high-rise buildings in KL are the same.

Construction of a building, a bridge or a stadium is always akin to

making a prototype. The process is much more difficult than

manufacturing any product where there is repetition. For example in

making cars, the first prototype and the initial few cars may be more

difficult to make but once everyone gets used to the routine, the

manufacturing process will normally proceed smoothly.

However, in the construction of buildings or any civil engineering

works, there is very little repetitive work. Every construction site

is different and most of the people involved have never worked

together before.

On top of this, there may also be inexperienced supervisory staff that

can create a lot of difficulties for the contractors. Invariably, by

the time all parties get used to the routine, the scheduled time is

over.

5. Financing

Most contractors do not have sufficient capital to finance their

undertakings.

Contractors generally do not have fixed assets like most

manufacturers. They usually do not have land and buildings but,

instead, they have construction equipment. Unfortunately, banks do not

accept these moving assets as collateral for a loan. Without bank

financing, contractors will obviously find it more difficult to

undertake their business.

Beginning at the bottom: The key to success

I have provided some insight into why contracting is not a business

that is as easy or profitable as it is commonly perceived to be.

There are other factors explaining why or how some of the most

successful tycoons associated with the building or construction

industry have managed to get where they are.

Firstly, it should be noted that the majority of listed companies were

started by Chinese merchants most of whom incidentally did not have

tertiary education. For example, Lim Goh Tong of Genting began his

working career as a scrap iron dealer and a contractor; and Yeoh Tiong

Lay of YTL Corp. started off as a small contractor.

Generally, Bumiputeras are not interested in working long hours in

managing small businesses earning marginal profit. Because of the NEP,

many have hopes of securing permits or concessions for big deals so

that they can become instant millionaires. There are relatively few

Bumiputeras involved in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

More Bumiputeras should follow the humble footsteps of the Chinese to

become traders and merchants for building materials and similar goods.

The business skill they can learn from these humble beginnings will

carry them a long way. I am very sure some of them will eventually

become good contractors and successful businessmen if they learn the

trade at the bottom and not try to parachute into the contracting

business.

The importance of skilled workers

Although there are already many Bumiputera engineers unable to find

employment, most of the universities are still producing more and more

engineers every year. But without a sufficiently skilled workforce,

all the engineers in the world would not be able to complete a single

project.

There are so few Bumiputera construction foremen, carpenters and other

skilled workers. If you were to go into any building construction

site, you would see the truth of what I am saying. How many Malay

carpenters have you seen in KL?

Without skilled Bumiputera workers, it would be more difficult for

Bumiputera contractors to succeed. In fact, most of the Chinese

contractors started as apprentices and rose from the bottom to become

successful contractors. More Bumiputeras should be encouraged to work

as apprentices in construction sites. This is a necessary good

practice to produce really good Bumiputera contractors.

The role of trade schools

There should be more trade schools and more Bumiputeras should be

encouraged to learn construction skills like carpentry, welding,

plumbing, bricklaying, etc. Very soon, skilled tradesmen will be able

to earn more than degree holders as is the case in Australia or

England.

The government should build more trade schools and not hesitate to

offer scholarships to Bumiputeras to be trained in these trade

schools. Presently, the construction industry is not short of

engineers but it is very short of skilled workers and supervisors. If

more Bumiputeras are properly trained in various crafts and blue

collar skills, some of them will go on to become good contractors.

Time and more time

They say Rome was not built in a day. It is easier to produce

engineers, doctors and other professionals than to produce efficient

and competitive contractors who do not need government financial aid.

Just giving out lucrative contracts to Bumiputeras is not the answer;

in fact it is counter-productive as it simply makes them more

inefficient and less competitive.

IJM Corporation Bhd has taken more than 40 years to attain a

competitive level of competence. The record shows that IJM has secured

on competitive tenders five toll road concessions in India. Three are

currently in operation and two are under construction. The total

length of the roads exceeds 1,000 kilometres, longer than our

North-South Highway.

In addition, IJM completed a toll bridge in Kolkata and sold its

interest for RM65 million profit after a short period of three years.

IJM is also a very reputable LRT builder, having to date completed

15km of the elevated sections of the New Delhi Metro and it was

recently awarded another 8km.

Based on open competitive tender, IJM won the contract to build the

tallest building, a prominent future landmark for the Delhi

Municipality, in New Delhi.

It is an indictment of our system that IJM is able to compete

internationally for contracts but yet is required to work as a

sub-contractor to Bumiputera companies on the North-South Highway in

our own country.

Conclusion: Half-baked contractors are not in our national interest

Contracting is one of the most, if not the most, difficult business

and it takes a very long time to produce competent contractors.

It is very dangerous to quickly produce half-baked ones as they will

soon find themselves in financial difficulties and require bailouts.

The bankruptcy record shows that a large number of debtors are

Bumiputera contractors with many of them unable to pay back the loans

given by government-controlled financial institutions.

The government must change its methods and policies which have proven

unworkable. There is no urgency in producing more Bumiputera

contractors as many of the key industries e.g. the banks, plantations,

motor vehicles, taxis, rice etc are already under the control of

Bumiputeras.

Our government must not be narrowly communalistic and should make use

of all the groups, irrespective of race, that are more efficient in

the contracting business.

Giving out contracts without a full tender process is akin to

corruption. I urge the government to stop this corrupt practice and to

utilize the savings from these enormous sums to implement the options

suggested above.

Malaysia Going Down the Drain?

Read both these excellent articles about Malaysia to know that its going backwards under the current governments ruling.

1. Beware of 'terrorist's Within by Marian Mahathir

2. Malaysia to Export Maids by Lee Wei Lian

Both articles highlight how the current government is struggling to manage the country as the Malaysian leaders focus on power and money. Ms. Lee is right on the dot when she said Malaysia produces less expats now that we did 30 years ago. 30 years ago we have professionals who could command a job any where in the world. 30 years later, only a tenth of those can do so. Doesn't it point out so clearly that since 1980, the Malaysian education system has been going down the drain. No wonder all our best students opt for Singapore and other counties who gladly provide Malaysian students with scholarships, which the Malaysian government refuses to do mainly because of racial preference.

Why Would Daul Kim Kill Herself?

How could someone, who has everything and so much more to come, take her own life at the tender age of 20?

Daul Kim, Korean supermodel at the age of 20, took her life at her Paris flat.

Apparently she had been feeling depressed and lonely.

What the hell - there are lots of people who are depressed and lonely in their lives - only the stupid give up and take their lives.

We're all in control of our lives. There is always a way out or a way to change the course of our lives.

Ending such a beautiful life is such a waste of talent and very hurtful to loved ones.

To end your life just because you're lonely - so pathetic  and shallow - I guess if you're that pathetic and shallow, then the loss of your life wouldnt mean a thing to the world. 

Enjoy.

Three Times in Bed And He Lost Everything

Steve Phillips did what all successful men would do, if they could. He slept with a young, beautiful play thing. And when he had enough, the dumped her. 

And then the phone calls to the wife started. 

Ouch.

And what did he end up losing - possibly his multi-million dollar house, half of his wealth, and of course, his marriage.

Read the story on ESPN.

 

Women Too Have Sex!

And who said only men enjoyed it, read the full article online (http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20091008/ts_usnews/whydowomenhavesex;_ylt=A0wNdPJssd5KgFIA8gmGOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTE1Z3RvcW5uBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bi1jaGFubmVsBHNsawN3aHlkb3dvbWVuaGE-)

or below: 

Why Do Women Have Sex?

By Deborah Kotz

Why do women have sex? It's an intriguing question once you get beyond the obvious reasons: to perpetuate the species and because it feels good. Two University of Texas researchers wanted to dig deeper to find out what specifically drives women to go to bed with their partners. They conducted an online survey of more than 1,000 women ages 18 to 87 and found, to their surprise, that women aren't all that different from men. The survey asked women if they have ever had sex for one of the 237 reasons identified by the researchers in a previous study. If their response was yes, they would then be prompted to describe a specific sexual experience. The researchers Cindy Meston and David Buss incorporated the findings into a new book, Why Women Have Sex. Here are excerpts from my interview with Meston.

What are the biggest reasons women have sex?

The No. 1 reason is because they're attracted to their partner, followed by their seeking of physical gratification. Lower down on the list, the reasons were connected to love or emotional bonding. This sort of knocks down the stereotype that men have sex for pleasure while women have sex for love. Personally, for me--in my 17 years treating women who have sexual problems--it's reassuring to see that most of the women who participated in our survey are having sex for the pure physical pleasure of it.

Who are the women who participated in your survey? Is it possible those who take the time to fill out an online survey are more likely to seek out sex?

You bring up a good point. There's a natural selection bias in any sex research in that those who are more sexually liberal are more likely to take part in a study. We hope we eliminated that by keeping the answers confidential so people would be as honest as possible, but it's still hard to know if this is a representative sample. We did get a wide range of ages of women responding and had respondents from several other countries besides the U.S.

Did any of the motivations for sex surprise you?

While we expected a wide range of reasons, some specific stories really did surprise me. Many women said they had sex to bring them closer to God. And revenge sex was a big theme--getting back at partners who weren't faithful by having sex with someone else. Competition sex was also surprising: A bunch of friends go to a bar and see who can get the guy to have sex with them. Many young women wrote about having sex simply to get another notch on their belt, which we typically think of as something men do. Some women simply wanted to get rid of their virginity. Still other women engaged in "sympathy sex" because they felt sorry for their mate for any number of reasons, like he was too unattractive to get any dates. Women also admitted to having sex as an economic exchange to land a job or promotion or to get money or drugs. Some of the reasons made me laugh, and others were very sad.

Did women ever express regrets for acting on their impulses, like having a one-night stand?

Some did, while others didn't. For instance, one woman who had sex out of loneliness said a one-night stand helped her feel better and more connected afterward. Another woman, though, said it made her feel even lonelier. It's hard to say what drives this remorse; it's probably a complex mix of religious attitudes and values and what a woman deems to be appropriate behavior. Self-esteem also plays a role in the choices she makes and how she feels afterward.

Did you see any differences between men and women?

Yes. Based on our previous research and this new study, we see that men are still more likely to engage in uncommitted sex, like one-night stands, but that this gender gap has narrowed dramatically since the 1950s, when these [kind of] surveys were first conducted by [Alfred] Kinsey. More women still make the connection between love and sex. And overall, men are definitely more willing to have sex because of physical attraction, while women place less emphasis on physical attraction and more on a man's scent, personality, and breadwinning abilities.

Were there reasons women said they didn't have sex?

We didn't really explore that; it's really a separate study. The number of reasons is so vast, from not having a willing partner to having psychological or medical problems.

Oil Drilling in the Ice Caps?

With world oil supply dwindling, the big oil companies have started stamping their footprints in the ice caps regions of the world.  

Greenland is the latest outpost of the world under siege from the oil giants.

Drilling for oil involves a lot of crude technology. A lot of precious environment stands to be destroyed when these oil companies lay their pipelines on the seabed. If the seabed doesn't conform to their needs, they modify it, either by throwing large rocks onto the seabed to make a path for their pipeline, or, at times, blast a sand dune to make way for their pipelines. All these have repercussions to the natural environment. You lose the wild life, wild sauna, corals and much more.

Save our polar ice caps. 

Say NO to OIL DRILLING IN THE POLAR ICE CAPS!

Microsoft - The Founders

 

Next year, Microsoft will be 35 years old. It grew from a handful of smart people to a 90,000 smart people company today, with offices in 134 countries. Do you know who the founding people were?

Back row from left to right:

Steve Wood 

Steve Wood, 53, one of the first of the early employees to leave in 1980 after his wife Marla filed a sex discrimination lawsuit. Wood held a string of jobs before founding mobile messaging group Wireless Services Corporation in 1996. They live in Washington State, estimated to be worth $15m.

Bob Wallace 

Bob Wallace joined as a production manager and software designer in 1978. Quit in 1983 to start software company QuickSoft, which he later sold. Devoted much of his time and money to research in psychedelic drugs, partly through the Promind Foundation, which he founded in 1998. Died of pneumonia in 2002 age 53.

Jim Lane 

Project manager, he worked on software for Intel's microprocessors and developed the relationship between the two companies. Left in 1985 and was reported to say that Microsoft had "beat the enthusiasm out of me". He runs his own software company. Reported to be worth $20m.

Middle row from left to right:

Bob O'Rear 

One of the most experienced of the early employees, he had advanced degrees in mathematics and astrophysics and had been in the control room at NASA during the first Moon landing. He joined as chief mathematician in 1977. He left in 1993 and now runs a cattle ranch in Texas. Said to be worth around $100m.

Bob Greenberg 

He worked at Microsoft between 1977 and 1981, developing the BASIC programming language. Left to launch the Cabbage Patch Dolls, a huge craze in the 1980s. Today, he develops software for golf courses. Reported to be worth $20m. He was also responsible for organising the photo session. 

Marc McDonald 

The first employee hired in 1977 to work on BASIC, he left in 1984, expressing his frustration that the company had grown "too big". Rejoined in the late 1990s when Microsoft took over the company he was working for.

Gordon Letwin 

He stayed for longer than any of the original 11, apart from Gates. He left in 1993 to "kick back" with his wife. A software developer, he was chief architect of the OS/2 operating system. Said to be worth around $20m.

Front row from left to right:

Bill Gates 

Co-founder of the company alongside Paul Allen. He built Microsoft into the world's largest software company. Today he is the world's richest man, worth around $50bn. This week, he announced plans to give up the day-to-day running of the business by 2008 to focus on his family's charitable foundation, which combats diseases including polio, malaria and Aids. He will remain Microsoft's non-executive chairman

Andrea Lewis 

She was hired as the company's first technical writer. She left in 1983 and became a freelance journalist and fiction writer. She now lives in Seattle with her husband and two children. She is said to be worth around $2m

Marla Wood 

An administrative assistant and book-keeper, she worked at Microsoft until 1980. She and husband Steve Wood became the first of the core group to leave after she filed a sex discrimination suit, which was settled out of court. The Woods are said to be worth $15m.

Paul Allen 

He co-founded the company with Gates in 1975 and is today not far behind his former colleague on the annual Forbes rich list, ranked sixth last year with almost $23bn. He left his day job at Microsoft in 1983 to fight Hodgkins Disease but remained on the board until 2000. A canny investor, he built his wealth through investment vehicle Vulcan Ventures. He is chairman of cable TV company Charter Communications, and owns the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team and the Seattle Seahawks American football franchise.

Source: BBC and Guardian

Are Businesses Ultimately Responsible for Our Degrading Health?

When you're fat, is it the fault of the business person selling fatty foods to you or is it your fault for indulging in fatty foods?

When you get a tumour from the chemicals in the corn or vegetable that you constantly consume, is it the fault of the farmer who plants them with chemicals to get extra crops or your fauly for buying the vegetables?

But do you know that you and I are RESPONSIBLE or should I say AT FAULT in both cases.

If you buy stocks in a company, you're telling the company management that you believe in what they do and support them. The company management then tries its best to do enhance its business because if it doesnt, you sell its shares and invest in another company. So by investing in a company that produces crops, you're telling the company to do well. And company management puts pressure on farmers to have more yield. And farmers, for fear of being replaced by other farmers, start using chemicals to enhance their crop yield. And in the end, it is you and me who poisons you and me. We cant blame anyone else.

Will this make everyone invest in companies that only produce organice food.

NO.

People are greedy. Most of the people I speak to believe in living for today. Who cares about the future. Look at what the past left us, so why must we clean the mess? Let the future handle its own problems!

This is the mentality of the current herd of humans in this world. And this is why we will never grow to higher level as a species. 

There are a few among us who are trying to change the world. We can make a difference. 

Start investing in companies that do not destroy the future. Start by investing in companies that care about you and me. And do not be so gullible in believing advertisements. Companies advertise so that they can suck as much wealth from you to pay their shareholders, which could be yourself or even your neighbour. Dont be a fool so that your neighbour can be rich.

Think and invest in the future, in our future.

A Sign Malaysia Is Heading for Worst Racial Tensions

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804498185&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

When people outspokenly say they cannot stand the noise of another's religion, where is the tolerance in this?

Who makes the most sound during prayers - hint: which prayer building has loud speakers mounted on its exterior walls? And yet these same people say the other religions are noisier.

Sadly, the 1 Malaysia dream is getting further and further away.

Malaysia Muslims Burn Hindu Cow Head in Protest of Temple Construction!

The article below was take from The Associated Press. It is a clear picture on how racist the Malays in Malaysia has become. Tolerance between the Malays and other races is growing so thin. In Malaysia, it is all right for the Malays to take issue as and when they like but the other races cannot do so, for fear of being imprisoned under the draconian ISA law where one can be held under custody as long as the Malaysian Home Minister deems right. Read below the comment about how noises from the Hindu temple might disturb their neighbors. What about the loud prayers coming from mosques 5 times a day? Hmm, its so easy for him to see the speck in his neighbors eyes but he cant see the log lodged in his own. The sad thing is that the Malaysian government is actually afraid of these lowly morons and will probably not go ahead with the temple construction. Malaysia is going down the drains and it is time for the non-Muslims to bail out. If things are this bad in 2009, I cant imagine how bad life will be in 10 years time. Do not be surprised if Malaysia turns out to be the next Iran!

Malaysia Muslims protest proposed Hindu temple

By VIJAY JOSHI (AP) – 33 minutes ago

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Dozens of Malaysian Muslims paraded Friday with the head of a cow, a sacred animal in Hinduism, in a dramatic protest against the proposed construction of a Hindu temple in their neighborhood.

The unusual protest by some 50 people in Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor state, raises new fears of racial tensions in this multiethnic Muslim-majority country where Hindus comprise about 7 percent of the 27 million population.

The demonstrators who marched from a nearby mosque after Friday prayers dumped the cow head outside the gates of the state government headquarters. Selangor adjoins Kuala Lumpur.

Protesters stomped on the head and spat on it before leaving the site, Xavier Jeyakumar, a state government official in charge of non-Muslim affairs, told The Associated Press.

"This is a sign of disrespect, insensitivity and a huge insult to the Indian community," he said.

Such an overt display of religious discord is almost unheard of in Malaysia, which has carefully nurtured racial harmony among its three main ethnic groups, Malay Muslims, Chinese and Indians, since 1969 when the country suffered its worst racial riots.

The demonstrators said their neighborhood, Section 23, has a 90 percent Muslim population and building a Hindu temple there was inappropriate.

"If there is blood you (the government) will be responsible," Malaysiakini, an independent news Web site, quoted a protest leader Ibrahim Haji Sabri as saying.

"I challenge (Selangor government leaders) to go on with the temple construction. I guarantee bloodshed and racial tension," Ibrahim said amid chants of "Allahu Akbar," or God is great, the Malaysian Insider, another news Web site, reported.

Both sites posted pictures of the protest showing a bloodied cow head.

Muslim Malays and the Chinese and Indians — who are Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim — have generally been careful about not offending each others' religions.

But racial tensions have risen in recent years amid complaints by the minorities that their rights are being eroded along with the rising influence of Islamic hard-liners.

Human Resource Minister S. Subramaniam said the incident infuriated Prime Minister Najib Razak, who asked the national police chief to investigate. Witnesses said police stood by and did nothing to stop the protest.

The demonstration, which occurred days before Malaysia celebrates its independence day on Monday, comes amid a new campaign by Najib to promote national integration by emphasizing equality of all races.

"The prime minister said he was very upset over the incident and wants it to be nipped in the bud," Subramaniam said in a statement.

The protesters condemned Chief Minister Khalid Ibrahim of Selangor, one of four states controlled by a three-party opposition coalition that includes an Islamic party. The demonstrators described Khalid, a Muslim, as a traitor to Islam. It was not immediately clear if they were affiliated to any political group.

The Malaysian Insider quoted a protest leader, Mohammad Zurit Bin Ramli, as saying a temple would disturb Muslim practices.

"The temple will disrupt our daily activities like prayers. We cannot concentrate with the sounds coming from the temple," he said.

Associated Press writer Sean Yoong contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Worlds Most Powerful Women - Any Malaysians?

Forbes published its list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women and behold, not that I expected any, but there's an Indian and an Indonesian.

The highest ranking Asian women on the list is Singapore's Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek.

India comes in at number 13 and 20 with Sonia Gandhi and Chanda Kochhar respectively. Ms. Gandhi is the President of India's ruling part, the Indian National Congress Party while Ms. Kochhar is the CEO of ICICI Bank.

Indonesia comes in at number 72 with Sri Indrawati, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance and the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Hasina Wajed, comes in at number 79.

Forbes ranks these women in terms of influence. 

So I guess that explain why Queen Elizabeth II only came in at number 42, one spot behind Oprah Winfrey and two ahead of the Philippines President, Gloria Arroyo.

Any Malaysians?

WHAT DO THE JEWS BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS?

Introduction:

Craig is studying the teachings of different religions (to find 'common ground'/principles/ and as he learns from his research, is sharing these notes in an attempt to 'enlighten' (himself and perhaps others) regarding 'eternal and universal truths.' These notes form a background to Craig's new novel set in the Middle East, on which he's currently working , titled 'A New Dawn: Let the Journey Begin'. Hope this piece may be of interest to you too (as well as perhaps promoting more understanding of other religions).

To clarify the Jewish position, it is important to understand why Jews don't believe in Jesus. (And the more "info" that's available, the better-informed choices people can make about their spiritual path). 

For 2,000 years, Jews have rejected the Christian idea of Jesus as messiah. 

Why don't Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah?

Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah because:

1) JESUS DID NOT FULFILL THE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES

Like usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. 

As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4) 

Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming; but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright, and no concept of a second coming exists.

2) JESUS DID NOT EMBODY THE PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF MESSIAH

Jesus was not a prophet. Prophecy can only exist in Israel when the land is inhabited by a majority of world Jewry. Prophecy ended upon the death of the last prophets -- Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Jesus appeared on the scene approximately 350 years after prophecy had ended. 

3) BIBLICAL VERSES "REFERRING" TO JESUS ARE BELIEVED TO BE MIS-TRANSLATIONS

Biblical verses can only be understood by studying the original Hebrew text -- which reveals many discrepancies in the Christian translation (like the Virgin birth). Throughout the New Testament, Jesus contradicts the Torah and states that its commandments are no longer applicable

4) JEWISH BELIEF IS BASED SOLELY ON NATIONAL REVELATION 

(ie. God's message to the entire nation of Israel).

The Jews did not believe in Moses, because of the miracles he performed. Whenever anyone's belief is based on seeing miracles, he has lingering doubts, because it is possible the miracles were performed through magic or sorcery. All of the miracles performed by Moses in the desert were because they were necessary, and not as proof of his prophecy. 

Judaism is not miracles. It is the personal eyewitness experience of every man, woman and child, standing at Mount Sinai 3,300 years ago.

5) CHRISTIANITY CONTRADICTS JEWISH THEOLOGY

The following theological points apply primarily to the Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination.

A. GOD AS THREE?

The Catholic idea of Trinity breaks God into three separate beings: The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). 

In Jewish law, worship of a three-part god is considered idolatry -- one of the three cardinal sins that a Jew should rather give up his life than transgress. This explains why during the Inquisitions and throughout history, Jews gave up their lives rather than convert. 

B. MAN AS GOD?

Roman Catholics believe that God came down to earth in human form, as Jesus said: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). 

Judaism says that the Messiah will be born of human parents, and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, and will not possess supernatural qualities. In fact, an individual is alive in every generation with the capacity to step into the role of the Messiah.

C. INTERMEDIARY FOR PRAYER?

The Catholic belief is that prayer must be directed through an intermediary -- i.e. confessing one's sins to a priest. Jesus himself is an intermediary, as Jesus said: "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." 

In Judaism, prayer is a totally private matter, between each individual and God. As the Bible says: "God is near to all who call unto Him" (Psalms 145:18). Further, the Ten Commandments state: "You shall have no other gods BEFORE ME," meaning that it is forbidden to set up a mediator between God and man. (see Maimonides - Laws of Idolatry ch. 1) 

6) JEWS AND GENTILES

Judaism does not demand that everyone convert to the religion. The Torah of Moses is a truth for all humanity, whether Jewish or not. King Solomon asked God to heed the prayers of non-Jews who come to the Holy Temple (Kings I 8:41-43). The prophet Isaiah refers to the Temple as a "House for all nations." 

Jews have never actively sought converts to Judaism because the Torah prescribes a righteous path for gentiles to follow, known as the "Seven Laws of Noah." Maimonides explains that any human being who faithfully observes these basic moral laws earns a proper place in heaven. 

7) BRINGING THE MESSIAH

Judaism says that the Messiah will be born of human parents, and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, and will not possess supernatural qualities. In fact, an individual is alive in every generation with the capacity to step into the role of the Messiah. 

Maimonides states that the popularity of Christianity (and Islam) is part of God's plan to spread the ideals of Torah throughout the world. This moves society closer to a perfected state of morality and toward a greater understanding of God. All this is in preparation for the Messianic age.

Indeed, the world is in desperate need of Messianic redemption. War and pollution threaten our planet; ego and confusion erode family life. To the extent we are aware of the problems of society, is the extent we will yearn for redemption. As the Talmud says, one of the first questions a Jew is asked on Judgment Day is: "Did you yearn for the arrival of the Messiah?" 

How can we hasten the coming of the Messiah? The best way is to love all humanity generously, to keep the mitzvot of the Torah (as best we can), and to encourage others to do so as well. 

Despite the gloom, the world does seem headed toward redemption. One apparent sign is that the Jewish people have returned to the Land of Israel and made it bloom again. Additionally, a major movement is afoot of young Jews returning to Torah tradition. 

The Messiah can come at any moment, and it all depends on our actions. God is ready when we are. For as King David says: "Redemption will come today -- if you hearken to His voice." 

The Jewish View of Jesus

According to the New Testament and the Christian church, Jesus is divine, the son of God, the Messiah. In sharp contrast, Jews believe Jesus was a man! - 

Jesus - The Man:

Like other educated Jews in his day, he was faithful to the law of Moses, learned in Jewish scriptures and oral law, steeped in the spirit of the Pharisees (the leading religious teachers of his day), and expectant of the coming of the Messianic Era (which he called the "Kingdom of God"). In his day, many people called Jesus "rabbi." 

Like other religious, nationalistic Jews before and after him, Jesus angered the Roman government. 

The Romans considered the ideas preached by Jesus to be dangerous. As a result, the Romans arrested Jesus during his Passover trip to Jerusalem. Then the Romans, upon the order of the Roman procurator, executed Jesus. 

Jesus - The Messiah 

After Jesus' death, a group of simple fishermen and artisans, called "Nazarenes" after Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, became his followers. Jesus' brother James, headed the Nazarenes in Jerusalem for approximately thirty years, until 62 C.E. when he was also executed by the Romans. The Nazarenes observed Jewish laws, and they believed that Jesus would return soon to inaugurate God's kingdom on earth. Thus, Jesus was a founder of a religious movement, or more specifically of the sect of the Nazarenes within Judaism. 

The Jewish View of Jesus

Jews believe Jesus himself would have been shocked to know that many people today view him as the Messiah. According to Judaism, Jesus was a Jewish man who was executed and later given divine status by the Christian church. Christianity claimed Jesus as its founder and also as God incarnate.

* *

SUMMARY:

In brief: 

1. No Jew accepts Jesus as the Messiah. When someone makes that faith commitment, they become Christian. It is not possible for someone to be both Christian and Jewish. 

2. Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah because he didn't fulfill Jewish expectations of the Messiah. 

3. The Hebrew Bible (called the Old Testament by the non-Jewish world) is not proof for anything in the New Testament regarding a Messiah. 

The Hebrew Bible describes the Messiah as a national savior who would arrive at the time of the Babylonian exile (hundreds of years before Christianity) and restore the nation of Israel with a capital at Jerusalem. 

The original "messianic" aspirations of the Jewish People was to return from Exile and to restore the Jewish nation. 

# Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah because:

1) Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies.

2) Jesus did not embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah.

3) Biblical verses "referring" to Jesus are mistranslations.

4) Jewish belief is based on national revelation.

and

5) Christianity contradicts Jewish theology

Still Judaism says to love ALL humanity (in common with Christianity and Islam) 

The above information was sourced from the following web sites

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philosophy/Why_Dont_Jews_Believe_In_Jesus$.asp 

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/jewsandjesus.htm and

http://judaism.about.com/od/jewishviewofjesus/Jewish_View_of_Jesus.htm

Thank you. I hope that this information may be of interest to you, get you thinking, and perhaps even promote more understanding about other faiths... and that's my reason for passing it on. 

With UNDERSTANDING comes TOLERANCE

and

with TOLERANCE comes UNDERSTANDING.

What divides us is not nearly as important as what unites us - our common humanity.

God's greatest gift to us is the freedom to find, then so choose to follow our own truths.

Find, then walk your OWN path to Highest Truth ...

Live, love and be happy 

Craig Lock (Eagle Productions) 

"The greatest good we can do for others is reveal the rich treasure inside themselves; so shine your own bright light on an often darkened world... with the highest level of humanity ...and have great fun along the journey of life." 

"There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female,

Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity."

"Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become."

- craig

"God is leading us to the light. What we learn in the darkness, 

we are to share in the eternal light."

About the submitter: 

In his writings Craig strives little by little, one mind at a time, to break down and economic, social, cultural and religious barriers. Craig believes that whilst we should celebrate our differences, what we share in the form of our common humanity is way more important than what divides us.