Old Irish Tradition on New Year's Eve

Heck, I'll do it!

The United Kingdom exits the European Union's orbit today, turning its back on a tempestuous 48-year liaison with the European project for an uncertain Brexit future that will shape the fortunes of its people for generations to come. 

Brexit, in essence, takes place at the strike of midnight in Brussels, or 2300 London time GMT, when UK leaves de-facto membership that continued after it formally left the bloc on January 31. 

And support for Scottish independence has risen, partly due to Brexit and partly due to Covid-19, threatening the 300-year-old political union between England and Scotland. 

#independence4scotland

Manager Neil Lennon praised "class act" David Turnbull as resurgent Celtic prepare for Saturday's Old Firm derby after yesterday’s convincing Scottish Premiership 3-0 win over Dundee United. 

Ismaila Soro delivered an unlikely opener in the twenty-third minute with a swerving 25-yard drive into the top corner – a moment to savour for the Ivorian because it was his first Celtic goal. 

And Turnbull – a £3 million summer signing from Motherwell – created space 25 yards out and smashed home Celtic's second in the fortieth minute for his fourth goal in six games. 

Then the strike pair of Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard combined to craft a sublime third – the former’s lofted pass split the defense and the latter deftly lobbed the keeper to seal a sixth straight win.

83 Million Cases and Pervasive Poaching

Yet another hefty increase in infections – and it has now reached 83 million cases and 1.8 million deaths. 

I think we're becoming desensitized to the pandemic and I can understand why. Life has to go on, like it or not.

Bernama News reported yesterday that Malaysian police have seized the carcasses of a tiger and a black panther as well as ten elephant tusks estimated to be worth RM500,000, all of which are believed to meant for the black market. 

Kelantan police chief Shafien Mamat said the seizure through Op Khazanah was carried out at an abode in Kampung Bukit Tok Che Dol, near Tanah Merah, at about 07:40 AM on December 30, 2020. 

Police arrested a 25-year-old male suspect believed to have been involved in the illegal poaching syndicate that has been active for more than a year. On the syndicate’s modus operandi, Shafien said according to the Kelantan Perhilitan investigation, illegal poachers used iron wire snares to trap before shooting the protected animals. 

Indeed, poaching is the greatest threat to wildlife conservation in Malaysia – besides, forest fragmentation and degradation, and habitat loss. 

Roughly one of every five animals that walks the land or plies the skies is traded internationally, according to a 2019 research published in the journal Science. We’re talking about thousands of species that are being taken from the wild and sold as food, pets, or products in legal and illegal markets around the world, with little consideration for the ability of the species to survive in the long term. 

And according to the wildlife trade monitoring network, Traffic’s latest report, the scale of wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia is incredible and Malaysia is very much a part of it. After all, poaching is big business.

Malaysia is one of the most mega diverse countries in the world. It ranks 12th globally, with more than 15,000 species of vascular plants and 152,000 species of animal life. Yet its rich biodiversity has turned the country into a hotbed for poaching, wildlife trafficking and even worse, a hub for international trade. 

Malaysia, says Kanitha Krishnasamy (left), director for Traffic in Southeast Asia., ticks off the boxes as being an important source of wildlife, an important consumer country as well as an important transit for international wildlife trade. 

We should be thankful for Malaysia's rich biodiversity and her rich and varied forms of wildlife – but the country must step up the fight even more against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts. Certainly, much more can be done!

WSD 2021 Event #5

We have secured our second WSD 2021 venue – thanks to Samuel Sham and Patrick Michael. 

Meaning, we are collaborating with YMCAKL Toastmasters Club to host the public speaking event at their premise, the YMCA Kuala Lumpur in Brickfields, KL. 

#unexpectedvoices #worldspeechday

I was hoping Liverpool would finish 2020 in style, worthy of the champions they are – but sadly, they didn’t rise up to the occasion. 

Yesterday’s match was another disappointment – they drew 0-0 against Newcastle United. The Reds were devoid of creativity, their finishing poor and their attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino looked out of sorts in the game. 

Jurgen Klopp said his side's position in the table is "the last thing" he is thinking about – but he is wrong! THAT IS THE REASON! 

Liverpool are not on the pitch to merely play football but to win games! 

Twice, they wasted their chances to move way ahead of the pack – instead, they are only three points clear at the top of the Premier League as they usher in 2021. West Brom and Newcastle showed the Reds that they’re not playing well enough!

82 Million Cases and Potholes on Malaysian Roads

Another hefty rise of one million infections – it’s now 82 million cases. 

Today’s post on “Pothole Dangers” refers. 

I read that Ketari assemblyperson Young Syefura Othman (right) had apparently offered to tumble over damaged roads in a bid to expedite road repairs. 

In a series of tweets, she bemoaned that the roads around Bukit Tinggi in Bentong district, Pahang as an example of paved routes that have fallen into disrepair for a prolonged period of time. She showed pictures of damaged drain covers on one road, and a tunnel covered with multiple potholes. Another photo depicted vegetation penetrating the drain cover from below. 

“The road in Bukit Tinggi is among those frequented by surrounding residents. Are they waiting for something bad to happen before springing into action? If that is the case, I’m willing to tumble over (“jatuh tergolek”) if immediate action can be taken afterwards”, she said, alluding to a minister’s escapade with a Banting pothole. 

The DAP assemblywoman added that she had tried to pressure JKR to make the repairs through many channels, including through official letters, WhatsApp, and meetings – but to no avail. 

That's unfortunately nothing new coming from the authorities. It is a very typical response – or should I say, non-response?! 

In fact, a study by a local university on causes of road accidents in Malaysia had shown that 11.25% of the total road traffic deaths are related to road defects. This does not include those maimed. Of these, about 49% are associated with lack of street lighting provision, while potholes contribute 15.4%. 

These statistics will undoubtedly relive the painful memories for families of victims – and we know they are mostly from the lower income category which depends on motorcycles and bicycles for commuting to work and/or school. 

Someone has to answer or pay for all the deaths and injuries caused by negligence, poor workmanship and even corruption that have caused accidents of this nature on our roads. 

Then again, this is Malaysia, where officialdom doesn’t care. Unless you hold the reins of power or you belong to the wealthy elite class. As with the privileged Khairy Jamaluddin.

Pothole Dangers

On November 07, 2020, a tragedy unfolded when a corporal with the Royal Malaysian Air Force who was travelling to work on a rainy morning hit a pothole filled with water as he could not see it. 

The 28-year-old Mohd Husaini Mohd Nasir lost control of his motorcycle and fell off his machine before being run over by a lorry. Unfortunately, the airman died at the scene from major head injuries. Police said then that the accident was being investigated for causing death by driving recklessly. 

JKR (Public Works Department) were silent, so were DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall). No one was outraged nor did anyone apologize for the death which could have been avoided if the authorities had acted promptly to patch the pothole. 

Fast forward to December 27, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was riding his racing bicycle along Jalan Kampung Sri Cheeding in Banting, Selangor. He hit a pothole, fell off the bicycle and suffered injuries as a result. 

In a Twitter post following the incident, Khairy said: “Pothole, ditch, KJ. 2020 keeps giving”. 

The 03:23 PM post showed photographs of the hollow on a road surface and a bicycle at a nearby watercourse. 

He also shared a picture of his contusions which showed bruises on his left forehead, nose and mouth. 

At 08:42 PM, Khairy’s guardian angel magically appeared on Twitter – in the form of the Kuala Langat JKR – and which then apologized for the incident! Even better, they went out of their way to patch up the offending pothole! [Note: Banting falls under the jurisdiction of the Kuala Langat district]. 

However, the episode was greeted with anger by netizens, many who scorned JKR’s supposed inaction even when potholes have caused fatal accidents and serious injuries. Many stories are being shared on social media. It's simply a case of double standards. 

One Twitter user with the handle @theahmadridhuan urged JKR to apologize to the people as well. 

“Because it was KJ, you apologized profusely. If that is the case, we need more ministers, MPs and assemblypersons to become victims of bad roads so actions will be taken swiftly to repair them”, he said. 

“My father had an accident after hitting a pothole while riding a motorcycle and had broken three ribs because of that hole. Those idiots still haven’t repair that tarred road. This person fell off a bicycle and JKR scrambled to cover the road”, Twitter user @sarahisthatyouu said. 

Another netizen retorted: “You have just validly proven that it takes a VIP to suffer for the government to take fast, efficient action. 

“This apology is not necessary. Why apologize if you’ve never apologized before? Is his life more valuable than ordinary people?” asked Twitter user @SyuhadaShud. 

Must Malaysians wish more VIPs will hit potholes and fall off their machines – just so, our roads can be made better and safer?

CMCO Extended Again for Selangor-KL

Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases are still stuck in the four-digit zone – for the twentieth day in a row. 

Yesterday, a government minister announced that the Conditional Movement Control Order will be extended in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah until January 14 next year due to the high number of cases in these areas. The extension also covers Johor Bahru and Batu Pahat in Johor; Seremban in Negri Sembilan; and two areas in Penang – Mukim 12 in the state’s south-west and Mukim 13 in its north-east. 

Let’s dive into the specifics – of the five new Covid-19 clusters detected on Monday in KL, Putrajaya, Perak, Johor and Kelantan – four were workplace clusters. And today, it was reported that 63.7% or 625 of the cases in Selangor came from active clusters. Therefore, the claim that community spread is generally controlled is valid.

Also yesterday, in a separate briefing, the Health Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (left) trumpeted that the CMCO has successfully curbed the spread of Covid-19 in the country. 

He appeared adamant that four million Malaysians would have been infected with the virus if not for the CMCO. 

And of course, he repeated that familiar refrain that he was confident that if Malaysians remain compliant to the SOPs, the number of daily positive cases in the country could be reduced. This time around, he gave it three weeks. Hmmm… 

Now that we have a backdoor federal government, Pakatan Harapan-led Penang which are from the Opposition, is really getting screwed!

Jiayou, Penang!

About Halal Cake Shops

I had a good chortle when I read this tweet from Zaid Ibrahim, Malaysian politician, lawyer and former government minister:

The reference to halal cake shops came about when MalaysiaNow had reported December 24, 2020 that a local bakery could not fulfil a customer’s request for “Merry Christmas” to be written on a cake he had ordered for delivery to a friend. Instead the cake was delivered with the words “Happy Holidays”. 

Apparently the bakery’s reason for the politically correct cake was to faithfully follow the terms and conditions set by JAKIM (Malaysia Islamic Development Department) halal certification process. 

Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri had to clarify that halal-certified shops are allowed to have products with festive greetings as long as it is not meant for display or on products with the halal logo. 

Of course, Malaysians become confused. One netizen @Magicmush7 asked: “How about Starbucks? Starbucks is halal certified too. Can Starbucks use cups that have Merry Christmas wording? Can the employees wear Santa hats? The hoops to jump through have no end in sight”. 

If you inspect the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020 – a manual for companies to follow to receive and keep their JAKIM halal certification – reveals no specific requirements for festive or religious-themed greetings on products and advertisements. 

However, it does contain provisions against having immoral and obscene product packaging, labeling and advertising as well as displaying illustrations with animals deemed as “najis mughallazah” or impure by Islam, like pigs and dogs. 

It also provides a long list of names and terms that cannot be used by halal-certified companies for their brands such as ham, bacon, beer, dog or bak kut teh because of their association with non-halal products: 

Source: Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020 

The manual also prohibits the use of packaging, labels and advertising that contain statements, symbols, terms or references to the name of God or other religious deities. 

There’s no need to comment because it’s plainly obvious that we are an insecure society where our faith is oh so fragile. 

Liverpool squandered three points when they managed only a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. And it is a result that sure feels like a defeat. 

In fact, this is the first time Liverpool failed to win a Premier League home game against a side starting the day in the relegation zone – despite taking the lead – since a 2-2 draw with Slaven Bilic's West Ham in December 2016. 

Sadio Mane chested down Joel Matip's long ball forward and fired past Baggies’ goalkeeper in the twelfth minute. And then in the eighty-third minute, West Brom equalized. 

‘Twas a dreadful performance because the Reds enjoyed 78% possession – but only had two shots on target all game!

WSD 2021 Videos on YouTube Update 2

Recognition for the Top 6 videos from the “WSD with CV Plus” channel on YouTube – yes, all six are WSD 2021 promo clips. 

This post is published one week after my last update on December 21 – and this is my third and final progress report, if you will. 

It’s ‘final’ because I won’t be giving any more updates after this. After all, methinks we have achieved what we had set out to do. 

This time, a dozen speakers have obtained 300+ views and as I’ve previously said, that is amazing because the micro videos are just promo clips and nothing more than that!

The Top 20 videos as at today, 10:40 AM are detailed below: 

• Stancylyn Tani Nila – 426 views (395) 
• Karyn Yadlyn – 412 views (337) 
• Abegail LeeAnn – 407 views (336) 
• Robyn Grace Leo – 401 views (298) 
• Zahra Moharrer – 395 views (293) 
• Christal Wong – 393 views (296) 
• Safura Atan – 329 views (297) 
• Ken Chan – 323 views (286) 
• Sumithra Devi – 321 views (295) 
• Lee Chin Yee – 310 views (301) 
• Samuel Sham – 306 views (265) 
• Raihana Mohd Ghaus – 302 views (262) 
• Fazlina Fadzil – 284 views (262) 
• A Suriakumar – 282 views (254) 
• Rohijas Md Sharif – 278 views (260) 
• Mathew Philippose – 268 views (251) 
• Buddhika Laknath Ranasingha – 261 views (246) 
• Mohd Farhan Abd Latib – 252 views (237) 
• Julia Taha – 251 views (236) 
• Alan Chew – 250 views (239) 

[Note: The figures in parentheses indicate the number of views from the last report published December 21, 2020]. 

And a little reminder: If you’ve not subscribed to the said channel, please do so because you’ll be showing your support for CV+ and World Speech Day! 

Thanks, everybody!

81 Million Cases and Climate Change Impacts

Coronavirus are still on a rampage all around the globe – and its caseload is now past 81 million infections. 

And South Africa becomes country #18, having diligently amassed one million cases. 

While the world struggles to get to grips with the pandemic, millions of people have also had to cope with the impacts of climate change. 

According to a report from UK charity Christian Aid that works in 29 countries to fight global poverty, the world is paying a very high price for extreme weather in 2020. 

In the US, record hurricanes and wildfires caused some $60 billion in losses.

Floods in India and China did more than $40 billion damage. An unusually rainy monsoon season was associated with some of the most damaging storms in Asia, where some of the biggest losses were. 

Over a period of months, heavy flooding in India saw more than 2,000 deaths with millions of people displaced from their homes. China suffered even greater financial damage from flooding, running to around $32 billion between June and October this year. The loss of life from these events, however, was much smaller than in India.

Africa witnessed massive locust attacks devouring crops and vegetation to the tune of $8.5 billion. The UN have linked these swarms to climate change, with unusually heavy rains in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa in recent years contributing to the locust outbreaks.

It is pertinent to mention that financial losses don't convey the full impact of these disastrous events. While South Sudan's floods weren't among the costliest in dollar terms, they have had a huge impact, killing 138 people and wiping out this year's crops. 

Unfortunately, we can expect more years to look like 2020 and worse. 

What the world needs urgently is unified political will. 

Celtic maintained their revival as they powered past Scottish Premiership strugglers Hamilton Academical for a 3-0 win on Saturday. 

A foul on Odsonne Edouard, rewarded him with a penalty that he slammed into the net in the forty-ninth minute. Then he linked up with his strike partner to put the game beyond the Accies, laying the ball off for Leigh Griffiths to fire home from the edge of the box five minutes later. And finally, a deserved third arrived in the seventy-fourth minute when David Turnbull pounced to convert the rebound after Edouard's header from a Callum McGregor cross rebounded off a post. 

The victory keeps Neil Lennon's side 16 points behind Rangers – who they face this Saturday – with three games in hand. But before that, Celtic will meet Dundee United on Wednesday.

Humorously Speaking

I’m fulfilling a commitment I made at our maiden World Speakers’ Coalition meeting on September 23, 2020, where I had said I would make notes on the topics and techniques we'll be covering in our meetings.

And so, herewith my jottings on the subject of Humorously Speaking, which was our focus at last Wednesday’s meeting. 

Public speaking wickedly provokes panic, if not fear in many speakers. But knowing that you have a humorous speech to deliver can go a long way toward alleviating speaking anxiety.

Sure, humor is a tricky thing. One person’s humor is another person’s “what were you thinking of?” 

But, if you can embed some humor into your speech that gets the audience laughing; something appropriate to your topic, and that doesn’t offend anyone – you can help the audience better remember that speech. After all, isn’t that the purpose of any speech?

Besides, we all know that humor in speeches put the audience at ease, make key points memorable, accord a better impression, create a connection and keep your listeners engaged. 

Start by intentionally wanting to be humorous! 

You can begin a speech with an anecdote that is spiced with whimsy wit; pepper the body of your speech with amusing stories; even throw in one-liners, incorporate jokes, and use exaggeration in words and/or in gestures to be funny; and for good measure, deliver a humorous spiel at the end of the speech. 

Keep in mind that self-deprecation has its place – so don’t be afraid to poke fun at yourself. Indeed, your own foibles are some of the strongest and most relatable building blocks in humor. People might be wary of revealing their own examples of foolishness outright, but it’s extremely cathartic for them to laugh at a speaker’s similar experience. 

Certainly, consider every angle of your speech as a potential comedic opportunity. The important rule is to insert humor in your speech wherever the speech lends itself to it. 

Some additional tips:

Don’t preview your humor by saying, “Let me tell you a funny story”. Let the audience decide for themselves. Look pleasant and smile as you launch into your funny line, but if no one laughs or even smiles, then just move on as though you meant for it to be serious. This approach takes the pressure off as you relate the humor. 

Remember that you are not a stand-up comedian; you are a serious speaker seeking to help the audience remember and pay attention by using humor as a tool. 

Make sure the humor relates to the point you are making. Do not use humor where the only purpose is to make the audience laugh; it should tie in with some aspect of your speech. Otherwise, the audience may like the humor but wonder what point you are attempting to make and get sidetracked from the real core of your presentation.

And above all, make sure your chosen humor is funny to you. If you don’t laugh or smile at the joke, pun, one-liner, story, or another form of humor – don’t expect an audience to do so. 

Remember: Anyone can use humor!

#publicspeaking
#theartandscienceofrhetoric 
#confidentcommunication 
#communicationinnovations 
#worldspeakerscoalition

80 Million Cases and the Hungry Bunny

Hitherto, 80 million coronavirus cases! 

Ukraine already registered one million cases, the seventeenth country to do so.

 

And Malaysia on Thursday achieved a milestone – we have joined the C100K club! We surpassed 100,000 cases todate, being ranked #75 in the world for the highest number of infections. 

All the seventy-five countries together contribute 97.3% and 97.7% of cases and deaths worldwide respectively. 

Hmm, I wonder what has the Malaysian Health Director-General got to say about the country's pitiful numbers?!

TheYouTube video of a bunny eating a snowman’s carrot nose has received nearly 90,000 views at the time of posting. Not to mention that it was also featured on CBC and NBC news.

 

Sheila Bryant from the Cambrian Heights suburb in Calgary, Canada had filmed the bunny with her phone after she saw it come near the snowman and stand on its back legs. And Hannah Bryant took a few pictures, meanwhile, as the family watched the magical scene take place in the snow outside their home.

 

This feels like something out of a comic strip or a cartoon. It's absolutely adorable!

Anyway, while the sight is incredibly wholesome, keep in mind that carrots shouldn’t be a rabbit or hare’s main source of food. The RSPCA explains that rabbits “don’t naturally eat root vegetables” or fruit. 

They’re full of sugar and should be treated like, well, treats and given only in small amounts as rewards. If you’ve got a bunny at home, opt for grass, hay, leafy greens, or some food pellets. Not necessarily served inside a snowman, of course.

Street Art that Expresses the World's Pain

Graffiti possesses an ephemeral quality, and an enduring power. 

Writing in the LA Times, academic and author Susan A Philips (whose books include The City Beneath: A Century of Los Angeles Graffiti) has argued: "Political graffiti is a critical intervention in urban space, especially as municipalities and police attempt to shut down the streets. Even after protests have dispersed, graffiti stands as a testament to the protestors' collective voice… The graffiti may soon be washed away, but not before it is documented, becoming part of history". 

In South Minneapolis, US, the Cup Foods convenience store, where a 911 call led to George Floyd's police killing on May 25, 2020 is now emblazoned with memorial art. 

One particularly moving piece was created by local illustrator, muralist and teacher Melodee Strong; entitled Mama after Floyd's dying plea, it depicts grieving black mothers, against a backdrop of the US flag. (See above photo). 

"I am a mother, and when George cried out for his 'mama' as he was taking his last breaths, I also cried", Strong tells BBC. 

"That's what we do when we are in trouble or scared, we cry out for God or our mothers. My son has been harassed and mistreated by the police. I have witnessed numerous times how the people I love have been abused by police. The anguish we feel from the fear and the experiences of those too many incidences is what I feel in the faces I painted… Even though this piece is about George Floyd, it's more a dedication to all the mothers that have lost their child to police violence". 

Mind you, it’s not only in the US – graffiti tributes to Floyd were featured in cities in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe.

 

In Karachi, Pakistan, truck artist Haider Ali painted a portrait inscribed with English tags ('#blacklivesmatter') and Urdu song lyrics ("This world doesn't belong to white or black people, it belongs to the ones with heart"). 

In Idlib, Syria, Floyd appeared among the war-ravaged ruins. 

In Nairobi, Kenya, he was depicted alongside the Swahili word "haki", meaning 'justice' (in a work by local artist Allan Mwangi, aka Mr Detail Seven). 

Palestinian artist Walid Ayyoub painted Floyd wearing a kufiya, a traditional Arabian headdress worn throughout the Middle East region that is also seem as a symbol of Palestinian resistance and solidarity. And behind Floyd is the Palestinian flag, which the artist used to draw a correlation between the Palestinian struggle against occupying Israel and the systematic racism and police brutality that African Americans have endured for years and years. 

And in Berlin's Mauerpark in Germany, Floyd was portrayed on the wall by Dominican-born artist Eme Freethinker, alongside an array of iconic black US figures: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Jean-Michel Basquiat and the musician Prince. 

These portraits are a testimony to human empathy, and the reach of the massive, multi-stranded Black Lives Matter movement. Graffiti is both an ancient form (traced back to writing on the wall in Ancient Greece and Rome) – and even today, perhaps more so, it remains a cogent contemporary statement about society.

When Halal Beef is Not Halal

On Monday, New Straits Times exposed the shenanigans of senior staff from no fewer than four government agencies which are believed to be working hand-in-glove with a cartel specializing in bringing non-certified meat into Malaysia and passing it off as halal-certified products. 

They are high-ranking officers entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that halal standards are upheld – but instead they received payoffs, and in some cases even women for sex, as bribes in order to turn a blind eye to the cartel's operations and ensure that the its activities go undetected. This has been going on for more than 40 years. 

It is believed the syndicate imports meat from non-halal-certified slaughterhouses in a number of countries, such as Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Mexico and Spain. 

In another report by the same Malaysian newspaper the following day, it is claimed that the frozen meat imported by the cartel from these countries is not limited to beef, but also includes horse meat and kangaroo meat. I’m surprised no mention was made of pork. 

And it is also alleged that the beef is from animals of poor quality or even diseased – and so it fetches lower prices and which allows the racketeers to haul in even bigger profits. These items would, upon arrival in Malaysia, be mixed with beef in warehouses nationwide run by the syndicate before being sold to unknowing suppliers. 

The newspaper highlighted that only countries that have been certified by the Malaysian authorities for the import of halal meat are Australia, Argentina, Brazil, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, with imports handled by JAKIM (Malaysia Islamic Development Department) and Veterinary Services Department. 

The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department, Customs Department and port police, meanwhile, are in charge of managing the supplies once they enter Malaysian ports. 

So now we know the government agencies which uphold fraud and promote the taking of kickbacks! Forty years. That’s a long time and it must have taken a lot of people and a lot of bribes, to stay under the radar! 

And for so long, Malaysian Muslims have been unwittingly consuming non-halal meat! 

What is really troubling is that it demonstrates just how endemic corruption is in Malaysia. It is therefore, interesting that one Malay Mail columnist wrote that “the notion of dirty money is alien to Malaysia – “Dirty” money can instead be explained away as "rezeki" (providence). 

Corruption is truly well-entrenched in the country! Sad but that's a fact!