Cold Callers

Don't you just hate cold callers?

Yesterday, I got a call from this woman called Anisa (019-271 5214) of Iklisa Samudera Sdn Bhd inviting me to a business seminar at 7.30 pm today. Apparently, someone (I refrain from using the word "friend") who attended one of their previous seminars thought I was a petani and "kindly" gave them my handphone number.

Of course, I wasn't interested in wasting my time but I told her "Yes, I was coming," just to screw her up. Within 30 minutes a guy (probably her bloody upline) called up on a Private Number asking me to confirm my attendance. I just hate people calling from Private Numbers so I just kept quiet until he realised he was talking to himself and hung up. Then he and Anisa tried calling me umpteen times but I didn't pick up, I just let the phone ring.

In the meantime, Anisa sent an sms with their address and my "Pass Number." I suppose this was to ensure that the "friend" who referred me automatically becomes my "upline."

Today, another woman called Ida called up from 019-271 2790 asking me to confirm attendance for their taklimat bela ikan keli. I replied, "Oh, saya tak jadi lah."

She asked: "Kenapa?"

I replied: "Saya tersalah dengar. Ingatkan kursus cari bini. taklimat bela ikan keli saya tak minat, tapi kalau ada projek cari bini, saya tersangat minat."

She hung up.

I don't think I'll be hearing from those people at Iklisa Samudera Sdn Bhd of 303-3, 3rd floor, Jalan 14/22, Right Angle Park, Section 14, Petaling Jaya in a long while.

If you wanna give these cold callers a hard time, do ring them up and express an interest in attending their "taklimat projek cari bini."

Or, "projek cari laki," or even "projek ternakan bela babi" as the case may be.

Copyright 2003-2008 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Rice Update by FAO

Bumper rice harvest expected in 2008.

Strong signs of record rice production

But prices are expected to remain high in 2008 - Myanmar disaster could worsen outlook

12 May 2008, Rome - Rice production in Asia, Africa and Latin America is forecast to reach a new record level in 2008, FAO said today, warning that world rice prices could remain high in the short term, as much of the 2008 crops will only be harvested by the end of the year.

“World paddy production 2008 could grow by about 2.3 percent reaching a new record level of 666 million tonnes, according to our preliminary forecasts,” said FAO rice expert Concepcion Calpe.

Production growth could even be higher if recent appeals and incentives to grow more rice lead to a larger expansion of plantings, according to the Rice Market Monitor. “But the cyclone disaster in Myanmar could well worsen our forecast,” she added.

Myanmar
The destruction of Myanmar’s food basket may sharply decrease national rice production and impair access to food, according to first FAO estimates. The cyclone damage could worsen the current global rice production outlook. The cyclone struck when paddy farmers were harvesting their dry season crop accounting for 20 percent of annual production. Entire rice-growing areas are flooded and many roads and bridges are impassable. Several rice warehouses and stocks were destroyed. Rice prices in Rangoon have already surged by nearly 50 percent.

Myanmar may need to turn to neighbouring countries, such as Thailand and Viet Nam for rice imports. This could lead to further pressure on world prices.

Major gains
“For the first time, paddy production in Asia may surpass the 600 million tonne benchmark this year, amounting to 605 million tonnes,” Calpe said. “Major gains are expected all across the region. Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam could register the largest gains. Prospects are also buoyant for Indonesia and Sri Lanka, despite some recent flood-incurred losses,” Calpe said.

Assuming normal rains in the coming months, rice production in Africa is forecast to grow by 3.6 percent to 23.2 million tonnes in 2008, with large expansions anticipated in Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Nigeria. Paddy production in Latin America and the Carribbean is expected to rebound by 7.4 percent to 26.2 million tonnes in 2008. Production prospects, however, are negative for Australia, the United States and Europe.

Prices
Rice prices have skyrocketed by around 76 percent between December 2007 and April 2008, according to the FAO Rice Price Index. International rice prices are expected to remain at relatively high levels, as stocks held by exporters are expected to be reduced heavily. In addition, other large importers will probably return to the international market to buy rice, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Senegal. “Prices are expected to remain extremely firm, at least until the third quarter of 2008, unless restrictions on exports are eased in the coming months,” Calpe said.

In an attempt to avoid food scarcities in their own countries, major rice exporters have recently imposed export bans, taxes or minimum ceilings. “These measures further restricted the availability of rice supplies on international markets, triggering yet more price rises and tighter supply conditions. At the moment, only Thailand, Pakistan and the United States, among leading exporters, are exporting rice without any constraints,” Calpe added. Auctions by the Philippines to import massive volumes of rice have also contributed to record rice prices.

For prices to fall, favourable weather conditions must prevail in the coming months and governments relax rice export restrictions. Even then, rice prices are unlikely to return to the levels of 2007, as producers have to pay much more for their fertilizers, pesticides and fuel.

Export restrictions will influence trade in rice, estimated to reach 28.8 million tonnes in 2008, around 7 percent or 2.2 million tonnes lower than the 2007 record level.

Average world rice consumption per person is set to increase by 0.5 percent to 57.3 kilo per year, up from 57 kilo in 2007. Despite high rice prices, consumers seem to shift away from more expensive foods, in particular meat and meat products.

The sudden surge in world rice prices has shed some light on major medium term constraints that have been often ignored in the past two decades, such as low investment in agriculture, especially irrigation, reduced funding for agricultural research, environmental problems, stagnating productivity and migration from rural areas to the cities.

Food summit
Heads of State and Government will meet in Rome (3-5 June 2008) to discuss the impact of soaring food prices and how to improve world food security.

---

Contact:
Erwin Northoff
Media Relations, FAO
erwin.northoff@fao.org
(+39) 06 570 53105
(+39) 348 252 3616

Copyright 2003-2008 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

American Child-Fucker Caught

A man suspected of sexually abusing boys in Thailand has appeared before a US court just hours after his arrest in the state of New Jersey.

Police arrested Wayne Nelson Corliss two days after Interpol released his picture appealing for public help in identifying the suspected paedophile.

Police in Norway had found images which allegedly show him abusing at least three boys aged six to 10. Three people in the US identified Mr Corliss to Interpol as the suspect.

The 58-year-old is an actor who played Santa Claus and painted children's faces, the manager of the apartment building where he lived told the Associated Press news agency.

He was arrested at his home in Union City, New Jersey, and charged with producing and distributing child pornography, officials said.

At his hearing on Thursday, Assistant US Attorney Lee Vartan said Mr Corliss had told the customs agents who arrested him that he had had sex with three boys over three nights in Thailand in 2002.

"He described it as 'euphoria' to the agents," Mr Vartan added.

Rare public appeal
Interpol said its unusual public appeal had led to more than 200 leads in the first 24 hours.

"The arrest of the suspected child sex abuser... came about as a result of independent tips provided via the internet to Interpol's headquarters in Lyon by three individuals living in the United States," Interpol said.

"Two days ago, this man's nationality, identity and location were totally unknown," said Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble.

"All we had to go by were a series of graphic photographs in which the suspect was seen sexually abusing young children".

Police first became aware of the suspect two years ago from photos of him found on the computer hard-drive of a man arrested in Norway and later convicted on paedophilia-related charges, Interpol said.

The pictures showed a grey-haired white man wearing glasses with no attempt to hide his features.

The photos were checked against Interpol's vast database of child abuse images but he could not be identified, so Interpol published the pictures on their website.

'Santa Claus'
Mr Corliss was described by Raven Squire, the superintendent of the apartment building where he lived, as a stable man who always paid his rent on time.

Judy Stone, a neighbour who worked with him as an entertainer, said he was "the best Santa Claus anyone has ever seen".

Customs agents found about 1,000 images of child pornography on computer hard drives in the apartment, Assistant US Attorney Lee Vartan said.

They also found several pairs of boys' underwear, including one that Mr Corliss said he had brought back from Thailand as a souvenir, the prosecutor added.

Copyright 2003-2008 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice

Royal Commission of Inquiry on VK Lingam Video

On the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the video clip showing lawyer VK Lingam talking on the phone about judicial appointments, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the Cabinet would decide whether the report would be made public.

The commission comprises Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor as chairman, Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong, Datuk Mahadev Shankar, Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim.

The 17-day inquiry began on Jan 14 and saw 21 witnesses taking the stand including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and three former chief justices.

The commission is expected to hand over its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow.

Asked whether the report contained recommendations for action to be taken on certain people, Zaid said: "Let us get the report first. I can only make comments after studying it." — Bernama

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May 09, 2008 21:55 PM
PM Yet To Look At Commission's Report On Lingam's Video Clip

Kuala Lumpur, May 9 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday he will study the report by the Royal Commission on the V.K. Lingam video clip before deciding whether it will be made public or otherwise.

"I haven't seen it yet. Let me look at what is being said. Before looking at it, you (the media) have asked me to make a decision.

"I want to see the contents, what is being said, then we will decide," he told reporters after chairing a special meeting of the Umno Supreme Council at Menara Datuk Onn, here Friday.

The Royal Commission on the V.K. Lingam video clip had submitted its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Friday.

When asked whether he had received a copy of the report, Abdullah said he had not seen the report.

"If it had been submitted to the Prime Minister's Department, it must have been at the time when we were having the cabinet meeting.

"After the cabinet meeting, we adjourned for Friday prayer. Later we came here for the UMNO meeting. I haven't seen it yet. I heard from you (media) that this has been sent to my office," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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Lingam Video Clip Inquiry Report Should Be Made Public, Says Haidar

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- The Lingam video clip inquiry report should be made public, Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor, Chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 14-minute controversial V.K. Lingam Video Clip, said Friday.

He, however, said it was up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to decide whether the contents of the report be revealed to the public or otherwise.

"Personally, I think the report should go to the public, but it is up to the Prime Minister," he told Bernama after handing the four volume 186-page report to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.

The former Chief Judge of Malaya said he was satisfied with the findings of the 17-day inquiry which started on Jan 14.

Haidar said the five-member commission could not divulge the contents of the report but would recommend to the Prime Minister for the report to be made public.

"We also cannot reveal the four recommendations the commission had made in the report," he said when asked whether the commission would disclose its recommendations to the public.

He said commission secretary Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, who is also Director-General of the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister's Department, would submit the report to the prime minister.

To a question that one of the commission's recommendations was to charge a few individuals in court, Haidar said it was not true.

Asked on why the commission had sought two extensions to submit the inquiry report to Tuanku Mizan, he said the commission needed more time to scrutinise the report as there were over 1,000 evidence to go through.

The commission had earlier fixed March 11 to submit the report to the King but later sought two one-month extensions which end tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Sani said in a statement that Haidar submitted the report at 9.30am in the presence of four other commission members.

They are retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar, former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong, former Solicitor-General Datuk Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and historian Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim.

The commission was set up in late 2007 to ascertain the authenticity of the video clip featuring senior lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam brokering judges' appointments over the handphone.

Twenty-one witnesses testified in the inquiry including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and three former chief judges. -- BERNAMA

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If the Prime Minister doesn't make the report and its recommendations public, he will lose what remaining shreds of credibility he still possesses.

Copyright 2003-2008 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice