A virus is currently spreading via instant messaging systems. Just a moment ago, I received a message from a contact in my Windows Live Messenger that reads:

wtf?! its you on this photo (a malicious URL pointing to a Windows executable follows)

Please do NOT click on the URL if you received such a message or any other suspicious message. Clicking on it will cause the malicious program to be downloaded and installed on your computer. Once installed, the program will send the above message to all your contacts in your instant messaging software. And this explains how the virus continues to spread.

After news of the shocking robbery cum murder of a Tunku Abdul Rahman College (KTAR) student and various other robbery and snatch theft cases in Setapak some 3 months ago cooled down, now we have the latest incident involving the robbery and attack of another KTAR student some 500m away from the college campus.

At 8.15pm Friday, Cheah Mun King, 20, was walking back to his rented home after finishing his class when 2 men on a motorcycle came near him, grabbed his bag and demanded for his cash and mobile phone. When he refused, he was hit on the head with a parang, causing him to receive 3 stitches on the head.

The time has come to revive the practice of electing councilors for the city, municipal and district councils. With the very much publicized issues and controversies in the media lately pertaining to municipal councilors, in particular the Datuk Zakaria case, it is time to relook into the current practice of appointing councilors into all local authorities.

Many suggestions have been put forward, particularly in reviving elections and appointing professionals instead of politicians into the councils. In my opinion, it is best to combine the best of both the above suggestions. Have both elected and appointed councilors in. A municipal election can be conducted, say every three to five years to elect councilors from among political parties while at the same time, professionals and community leaders not belonged to any political parties may be appointed too.

Perhaps, we can start of with the city councils, namely Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Kuching North, Kuching South, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Shah Alam, Melaka, Alor Star, Miri and Petaling Jaya. After some fine tuning, we can then expand this practice to the municipal councils and finally the district councils. It is hoped that local governments can function more effectively if these proposals are implemented.