Only in Malaysia...

Only in Malaysia does the government, under Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, buy close to 1300 buses for RM93 million (USD28 million) and then scrap the buses two years later, citing the busses were deemed unit for operation. When the Malaysian public and foreign investors hear this, all their hearing is the sound of money going into someone elses pocket, which is a local Malay businessman. This is the typical hypocrasy in Malaysia that has caused the downfall of the ruling government, Barisan Nasional (BN). And yet, they refuse to learn their lesson. They forget that as more and more Malaysians get discriminated and marginalised, the more powerful the backlash will be. I really wonder how these ministers, and now lawyers and judges, can go about their daily lives knowing that nearly half the country thinks no higher of them than pieces of garbage. I guess they dont care as long their milknig money, thanks to Tun Mahathir who started rotting the country by making it dumber and dumber.

This is probably why, as other countries improve their economic and political situation, Malaysia is going backwards. Now with the trial of Anwar Ibrahim, we're becoming more and more like Mynmmar's millitary government. And all this is happening because the ruling government, under the leadership of Najib, is scared that its going to get heavily beaten in the next 2012 election.

Barisan Nasional is not going to let this happen. They will, through manipulation and severe intimidation, pull all stops in winning the next election. And the losers will be people like you and me. We're like fat toads in a boiling water. We're just waiting to be boiled to death. We will only make fuss and cry when we feel the water boiling but by then, the time is too late.

Can you see how corrupted our country has become. But the politicians try to hide all this from us by playing up racial conflicts. They do this because they know that Malaysians are a lazy and forgetful bunch. We're like little fat childen - we sit on our butts all day long as ong as someone feeds us sugar-coated crumbs. And we cuddle up in fear when they threaten us with a repeat of May 13.

When are we going to wake up and stop all this corruption. I dont mind the national policy of helping the unpreviledged races. There has to be a balance in everything. But when some people take more of their cut like certain former Menteri Besar's and flaunt their illgotten wealth in public, this is becoming ridiculous.

I am not asking you to do anything drastic. Check the online newspaper of Malaysiakini or other Malaysian political blogs like Crankshafted, Zorro Unmasked or Jelas and many others. Let them open your mind to what is really happening in our backyard.

Take a look at this short clip.

Beware of Fraudulent SMS and Telephone Calls Requesting Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions

Bank Negara Malaysia would like to caution members of the public to be vigilant when receiving any calls or SMS claiming that it is from Bank Negara Malaysia or any commercial banks.

The facts are:

There is no department called "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu" in Bank Negara Malaysia.

8659-XXXX is not a Bank Negara Malaysia telephone line.

Bank Negara Malaysia will NEVER request for personal banking information through SMS or telephone calls.

Based on recent complaints received by Bank Negara Malaysia , there has been an increase in incidents of fraudsters making such calls and sending SMS to unknowing members of the public in order to fraudulently obtain their personal banking information, with the aim of siphoning monies from one's account.

From Bank Negara Malaysia's investigations, the modus operandi of the scam is as follows:

Victim receives SMS or telephone call requesting victim to confirm a credit card transaction for the purchase of goods or services purportedly charged to the victim's credit card.

When victim calls the telephone number provided in the SMS, the fraudsters identify themselves as agents of a commercial bank, and again, ask the victim to confirm whether the credit card transaction had taken place.

When victim informs the fraudster that he has no such credit card or transaction, the fraudster will start to sound concerned and will advise victim to lodge a report with Bank Negara Malaysia 's "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu", or with the commercial bank's "credit card management department". The fraudster will provide the victim with the telephone number for the "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu".

When victim calls the telephone number provided, they are greeted by a automated voice message which identifies the company as Bank Negara Malaysia, and the call will then be answered by someone claiming to be a Bank Negara Malaysia officer. This officer will request for information relating to the victim's banking and credit card accounts under the pretense of lodging a complaint on behalf of the victim. The fraudsters now have sufficient information to illegally transfer funds out of the victim's bank account.

Members of the public are reminded not to disclose their personal banking information to any unknown party without verification.

For further information, enquiries or complaints, members of the public may contact or visit:

BNMTELELINK (Customer Contact Centre)
Tel: 1-300-88-5465
Fax: (03)2174 1515
Email: mailto:bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my

BNMLINK (Walk-in Customer Service Centre)
Block D, Bank Negara Malaysia
Jalan Dato' Onn
50480 Kuala Lumpur
(Business hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm)

ABMConnect (Hotline to Association of Banks in Malaysia )
Tel: 1-300-88-9980

Bank Negara Malaysia
7 April 2009

© Bank Negara Malaysia, 2009. All rights reserved.