Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:26 AM PDT

RAYONG, Thailand (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says its Focus small car is on track to become the best-selling car in the world this year, trumping the Toyota Corolla.

Ford sold 489,616 Focus sedans and hatchbacks worldwide in the first half of 2012. That was almost 27,000 more than the perennial best-seller, the Toyota Corolla.

Ford made the announcement at its assembly plant in Rayong, which opened in May to build the Focus.

The Thailand plant, which is one of Ford's most advanced, has the capacity to produce 150,000 cars per year for sale in Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and other countries in the region.

Ford's recently revamped Focus is sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.

At the plant Friday, Ford executives were also celebrating the production of the 350 millionth vehicle Ford has made since its founding 109 years ago.

My comments : The latest Ford Focus sells for about USD16,200 in the US (about RM50,000). The car delivers about 40 miles per gallon or 7.1 Litre per 100 km. Anyone knows the price in Malaysia? I think it will be in excess of RM115,000.

It is interesting that after 109 years of existence, the Ford Motor Company will be producing its 350 millionth car in Thailand. It is not only a great success for Ford but it is also a great success for the Thai motor industry.

They began at around the same time that we did in the 1980s. In just 30 years Thailand has become the world's largest producer of 1 tonne pickup trucks. They also produce numerous car makes including Ford of course.

With our infrastructure, our comparatively large car market plus our location in this part of the world it will not be difficult to match the Thai motor industry. It is still not too late. Just follow the Thai model.

It is said that if we remove all the duties and taxes on cars then the Government will lose about RM8.0 billion in revenue. So because of this little fact, we will continue paying among the highest car prices in the world. So that the Government will not lose RM8.0 billion in revenue a year.

But if we remove all the unnecessary taxes and duties on cars and we build a motor industry like Thailand, the entire economy will earn much, much more than RM8.0 billion per year. The Government too will be able to recoup much more than RM8.0 billion from all the other economic activity, the spinoffs and a much bigger motor industry - all of which will generate earninsg and taxes.

Here is a question to ponder : dont you think that the Thai motor industry generates more than RM8.0 billion in annual revenues to the Thai Government from all the factories, the manufacturing jobs, the supplier chains, the steel mills and parts suppliers that have grown up to feed their motor industry?

Updated : The Majapahit Influence

Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:33 AM PDT

The Blog Ipoh Malay says that in Ipoh someone raised this flag. This is the old Sang Saka flag which was crafted by some 'pro - republic' groups before Independence. They wanted Malaysia to become a republic, like Indonesia. These would have been the proponents of 'Indonesia Raya' and such.

Sang Saka Flag

For your information, here is the flag of the Indonesian Republic the Sang Saka Merah Putih. You can see that it is almost identical.

Sang Saka Merah Putih Republik Indonesia

Here are some other flags that are also based on the Sang Saka Merah Putih. Firstly here is the flag of the Republic of Singapore. It is most certainly based on the Sang Saka Merah Putih.

Bendera Republik Singapura

The Indonesian Sang Saka Merah Putih itself has a very long history. It goes back to the time of the Javanese based Hindu Majapahits (1100 AD - 1500 AD), the East Javanese based Hindu Kediri (1100AD - 1200AD) and even to the earlier Sumatera based Sri Vijaya (600AD - 1000AD). Here is one version of the ancient Majapahit flag.

Umbul-Umbul Majapahit

The Majapahit flag also existed in just a "two stripe" merah putih. Here is a representation side by side.

Just like the Sri Vijayas before them, the Majapahits ruled over the entire Nusantara from South Thailand to present day Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Northern Australia. Here is a modern day composition of a Majapahit flag and a Majapahit Empire by an obviously wannabe Majapahit.

Here is another flag - this is the UMNO party flag. Again it is also based on the Majapahit Merah Putih. We can see that the people of this area, including the Singaporeans, have not forgotten the history of the region.

Finally here is our own flag, the Jalur Gemilang.

The Jalur Gemilang bears much resemblance to the American flag the "Stars & Stripes" which is also called 'The Old Glory' (Gemilang Lama??). You can see it here.