Companion For Life

The tests came back positive for canine distemper, and chances of recovery is slim.

Wong U Ginn is seen here comforting the Rottweiler at the clinic. The dog is hardly moving. 

The 19-year-old lives next door to the Rottweiler's owner. He said the dog would wag its tail and appeared very happy whenever its owner came home from work everyday,  but the heartless owner would never bother to look at the dog.

Sometimes the man and his wife even forgot to feed their pet, according to U Ginn. The couple also did not come and visit the dog at the clinic.

Why keep a pet when you can't spare some time and some love for it? 

A sad sad day ...

Dogs are meant to be loved. All breeds, and not only when they are cute and cuddly like Micky here. 

We picked her up at an abandoned house, and Mary has adopted her. See how comfy she looks in the arms of Mary in this picture taken on July 13.

In the latest pictures, Micky's grown quite a bit. She's playful and so eager to explore her new world. 

Pray For This Rottweiler

Last December, I highlighted the plight of this dog

My Christmas Wish

The Rottweiler's story also came out in the Johor Streets, a pullout of the New Straits Times.

Today I received news that the dog may be suffering from distemper. The dog was also dehydrated, underfed and has maggots around its anus.

Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) deputy chairman Dr Edwin Singam is seen here treating the dog at his clinic.  It could only be confirmed tomorrow by the good doctor (I'm saying this with sincerity) whether it is distemper, a serious viral illness.

Enforcement officers from the Johor Veterinary Department ordered the Rottweiler's owner to surrender the dog to them today.  After that, the dog  was handed over to the SPCA, and a dog lover named Harvey has offered to pay the medical bill.

Another SPCA member had, a few months ago, gone to the house and spoken to the owner.  The owner said he loved the dog, but his wife wanted the dog to be chained up all the time.  And since the dog had a home unlike some homeless dogs, we thought the dog would be okay.

I wish I had done more for this dog before it came to this.

Kudos to Dr Edwin Singam and Harvey and the enforcement team from the State Veterinary Department.  At least, the dog had been rescued.  Now, let's pray that the dog will be able to get through this.

If you notice any form of animal cruelty, do not keep quiet.  Act swiftly.

But no cruelty can beat this kind of cruelty "Chinese police beat stray dog to death in front of its owner" A barbaric and uncivilised group of lunatics. The human race is becoming a disgrace.  Please don't be like them.

Don't be like me either, "all talk and no action".

Be like Dr Edwin Singam, Harvey and all those who actively took part in the rescue of the Rottweiler.

Toll hike detrimental to Johor

Former state executive councillor Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong, 72, who held numerous portfolios such as tourism and local government, shares his views on the toll hike.

He is now the president of the  Kluang Chinese Association and chairman of the Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (Jaro).

THE toll hike at the Causeway has brought back a flood of memories of the good old days for me.

  In 1984, both the toll plazas at the Senai highway and the Causeway were put up at the same time for northbound and southbound traffic respectively.

  In March 2004, the Senai toll was abolished by the Federal Government.

  The question is how much money has been collected through the toll and how little upgrading have road users seen over the past decade?

  When I was the state executive councillor helming the public works portfolio, I was always at loggerheads with the then Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu over the toll issue.

  Singapore has announced that it would also be coming up with new rates in the next few weeks.

  This is in line with the republic's long-standing policy of matching its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia.

  My suggestion is for the toll booth to be moved away  from the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.  

  This will save Singapore the trouble of having to implement revised toll charges.

  If the government wants to collect tolls for the 8.1km Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), then impose a toll fee on all the 180,000 to 220,000 motorists who ply it daily, instead of only the 60,000 who use it to get into Singapore.

  Collecting RM3 each from 200,000 cars would amount to a bigger collection than collecting RM16.50 from 60,000 motorists.

  But of course, the better solution would be to just do away with the toll at the CIQ and concentrate only on imposing the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee for Singapore-registered cars.

  When I was in office for more than two decades, the Federal Government had twice proposed that a  VEP be implemented but the proposals were rejected by the state government.

. This time it was the state government that had asked for it, and our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gladly agreed to it on July 16 when he was in Johor Baru.

  Do you all still remember the three-quarter petrol tank ruling which Singapore had imposed on Singapore-registered cars, and how the republic had fervently highlighted all the crimes in Johor Baru?  Do you know why Singapore had to resort to this?

  Because Singaporeans were flocking to Johor for everything from food to Brylcreem.  Need I even say more?

  And Johor welcomes this tourist influx from across the Causeway.

  I remembered how Johor, with the help of former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, had set up green lanes to make it convenient for the tourists to come here.

  This new toll hike, in my opinion, is going to bring short-term detriment to Singapore.  But in the long-term, it is the Johor economy that will bear the brunt.

  In the past few days, traffic flow across the Causeway has been smooth.  It is not the toll hike that is scaring the Singaporeans away.  I have friends who tell me they are fearful of another strike at the Causeway like the one that occurred on Aug 1.

  In fact, some Singaporeans who have come here in the last few days have said that they don't mind the toll hike and were happy because the smooth ride has enabled them to save time and petrol.

  If lorry operators were to go on strike, Singapore can always get their vegetables and poultry from places such as Vietnam, Australia and Batam, Indonesia.

  Lorry operators may contemplate this move because they are imposed toll charges per trip, unlike the case of Singapore where they have to pay monthly toll charges, which enables them to come in and out as often as they like.

Doing Their Bit for Gaza

PASIR GUDANG: A total of RM4,225 has been collected by the Pasir Gudang Wanita Umno to ease the plight of the people of Gaza.

A pledge to hand over the collection was held during the Hari Raya open house gathering of Pasir Gudang member of parliament Normala Abdul Samad at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.

Normala is also the Pasir Gudang women wing's chief.

Mary and I represented Harian Metro and New Straits Times respectively.

The Tabung Kemanusiaan Palestin (Palestine Humanitarian Fund) Media Prima Bhd was launched a week before the gathering," said Normala.

A handshake with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who witnessed the pledge.

Media Prima Bhd launched the Palestine Humanitarian Fund in November 2012 with the collaboration of Mercy Malaysia.

Media Prima reactivated the fund on July 10, with the latest partner being the Perdana Global Peace Foundation.

"We appeal to caring Malaysians to help the people of Gaza in this trying time," Media Prima said in a statement.

For more info, go to  PALESTINE HUMANITARIAN FUND or TABUNG KEMANUSIAAN PALESTIN

Imperial Indulgence at Qing Palace

THE award-winning Qing Palace Chinese Restaurant at Pulai Springs Resort in Johor Bahru welcomes guests to its "Imperial Indulgence" promotion from now until next month.

Guests are assured of an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Meals from the Imperial Indulgence promotion can be savoured for both lunch and dinner.

Master chef Lim Ming Chong said there are over 80 authentic Szechuan main courses including rice, noodles, seafood as well as mouthwatering desserts.

The menu mixes classic Szechuan and signature flavours with some of the chef's latest creations.

Lim recommends his signature Szechuan hot and sour soup, sauteed diced chicken with dried chillies served in yam ring, Peking duck and his famous camphor and tea smoked duck.

Damage Done Even If Pakatan Survives Selangor Crisis

sourced from NST online

There is a general sense of foreboding among the Pakatan grassroots that the ongoing power struggle in Selangor may wreck the loose alliance.

Pas’ insistence on defending the position of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar against the wishes of PKR and DAP is indeed a threat to the almost eight-year-old alliance.

Pas, which itself was divided over the issue had tried to keep a lid on it with secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali issuing a gag order two days ago.

However, a lot of angry words had already been directed at Pas, especially by DAP leaders, with the most glaring being that by Tony Pua, the party’s Selangor chairman.

He had on Thursday predicted that Pas would be wiped out in the state if the party’s refusal to play ball on Khalid’s removal culminated with a snap election.

It reflects Pua’s apparent lack of regard for his party’s Islamist ally, a sentiment, which is likely shared among many DAP leaders.

Pas leaders, especially the younger conservatives, are not likely to take such insults lying down.

Many felt that their party had bent overly backwards to accommodate its Pakatan partners, to the extent of compromising its core principle of wanting Malaysia to be its version of an Islamic state.

Pas had even sacked and sidelined senior leaders such as former Selangor commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali and former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, who were perceived to be against the cooperation with PKR and DAP.

As it is, Pas is the Pakatan component party with the least number of seats in Parliament, with 21 as compared with PKR’s 30 and DAP’s 38.

Many in Pas wanted their leaders to change the perception that their party is merely DAP’s poodle and subservient to the whims and fancies of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It should be borne in mind that many Pas leaders have been unhappy from the start when Anwar initiated the Kajang Move, which led to the present impasse in Selangor.

Nonetheless, the spectre of another opposition coalition break-up is something which Pakatan leaders from all sides are at the moment trying to avoid.

The weakening of Barisan Alternative (BA) following DAP’s withdrawal in 2001 should not be far from their mind.

The outcome was a fragmented opposition being badly beaten by BN in the 2004 general election with the ruling coalition winning over 90 per cent of the parliamentary seats.

BA was disbanded after that.

Despite their open support for Khalid, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and the party’s spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had insisted that cooperation within Pakatan should continue.

The rumour mills may be going on an overdrive over the past weeks about the possibility of Pas joining forces with Umno in Selangor and ultimately at the national level, but such a scenario is for now still too far-fetched to be considered seriously.

Many Pas leaders, including Nik Aziz in particular, have always been abhorrent of such a cooperation and there has been nothing currently to indicate that they had changed their mind about it.

Nonetheless, how Hadi and Nik Aziz are going to get Pas to stand its ground on the Selangor crisis without causing the meltdown of Pakatan will be interesting to observe.

Even if they manage to do so, the hurt caused by the barbs already thrown by their Pakatan partners regarding this issue would be hard to heal.

It would be even worse if they have actually relented and let PKR and DAP have their way. The repercussions could be severe at the party’s grassroots level.

In all likelihood, the issue is almost certain to drag on even if PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should in the end be appointed as the new Selangor menteri besar.

At the end of it all, even if Pakatan survives the Selangor crisis, there would already have been so much bad blood between Pas and its allies that their ties would have turned truly toxic.