Links - 11th October 2019 (1)

The Trouble With Day Care - "kids who spend long hours in day care have behavior problems that persist well into elementary school. About 26 percent of children who spend more than 45 hours per week in day care go on to have serious behavior problems at kindergarten age. In contrast, only 10 percent of kids who spend less than 10 hours per week have equivalent problems. Developmental psychologists are sweeping this information under the rug, hoping studies will churn out better data soon, argues Jay Belsky, a child development researcher at London's Birbeck College and a longtime critic of his fellow scientists. He contends that the field of developmental psychology is monopolized by women with a "liberal progressive feminist" bias. "Their concern is to not make mothers feel bad," he says... Children in full-time day care were close to three times more likely to show behavior problems than those cared for by their mothers at home... Belsky has been outspoken on the issue for decades. In the 1980s, his studies showed that children spending long hours in day care had higher levels of aggression than those raised by their mothers. Detractors excoriated him then for using bad science to criticize working women... Data from a government study show a strong link between the total hours per week a child spends in day care and behavior problems at age 5. The 113 behaviors surveyed include frequent arguing, temper tantrums, lying, hitting and unpredictable conduct."

Long-term relationships may reduce women's sex drive - "The study found that women who had stayed in the same monogamous relationship over the entire 7-year observation period experienced the greatest decrease in sexual desire.By contrast, women who had found a new partner over the study duration experienced lower decreases in sexual desire.Women who were single at the end of the observation period reported stable sexual desire."

The Big Read: Unable to make ends meet on their own, low-income households find ways to get by - "On average, the bottom 20 per cent of households are each spending S$2,570 a month while having a monthly income of S$2,235, which include regular government transfers such as Workfare. This  means a shortfall of S$335 on average each month. This was the only income group whose income was lower than their expenditure, according to the survey conducted by the Department of Statistics (Singstat) from October 2017 to September last year. Nevertheless, such a situation has persisted for at least the past decade... the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) noted that a number of households in the bottom 20 per cent  “may be semi-retired households who are able to tap on other sources of income” — for example, savings, allowances from children, and Central Provident Fund payouts — for their household expenses.The ministry added that in its Household Income Trends report last year, Singstat noted that about 45 per cent of resident employed households in the bottom decile were headed by persons aged 60 years and above, while some owned a car, employed a maid, or lived in private property... some resort to borrowing from friends and relatives — and end up in a spiral of debt... Asked if he had tried seeking financial assistance, he said that he can still manage for the time being. His neighbours had suggested to him to go to speak with his MP, but he said: “I don't intend to do that, not now. Now still okay.”... Today, a can of milk powder can cost under S$30 and there is a wider range of options compared with two years ago... Freelance dishwasher Rajasheker Narayanasamy, 58, said he spends almost S$1,500 on alcohol and cigarettes each month. This is two-thirds of his S$2,000 wage, which fluctuates because a problematic knee cap leaves him unable to work at times.“I drink so that I can go to sleep at night. Otherwise, the pains in my body will cause me to lose sleep”... the proportions of low-income households and those living in one- and two-room public flats who have creature comforts — namely air-conditioners and Internet subscriptions — have increased significantly compared with five years ago"

Water spat with S'pore mirrors gov't treatment of minorities - "If Malaysia thinks the price of raw water sold to Singapore is too low, why did they not negotiate a higher price in 1987 and then in 1990? Crucially, why did they extend the expiration date to 2061?Whatever the dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, the latest agreement supersedes previous ones. By harping on the 1962 agreement, it gives the impression that Mahathir is trying to shirk his responsibilities.If Malaysians feel shortchanged now, they can only blame themselves. Or rather, they can blame Mahathir because he was the one who signed the agreement. It is rather disingenuous for Mahathir to come out now playing the role of the victim and saviour... The cost of raw water is zero. It literally falls from the sky. Even though Malaysia only gets RM0.03/thousand gallons, it is still pure profit. If not sold to Singapore, Malaysia would make zero ringgit on the water.Furthermore, Malaysia is paying RM0.47 (RM0.50 – RM0.03) for something that costs RM2.40 to purify. In essence, Singapore is effectively subsidising Malaysia to the tune of RM1.90/thousand gallons! As the exchange rate between the ringgit and the Singapore dollar widens over time, the subsidy to Johor will only grow. Furthermore, Malaysia, at times, drew more treated water than the 5 million gallons agreed upon. Singapore still charges Malaysia the RM0.50 price. If anyone should complain about being exploited, it should have been Singapore.If Malaysia can purify water at less than RM0.50, then it makes economic sense to do it themselves but it is unlikely they can do so, ever. Hence the decision to extend the 1962 arrangement until 2061... How the Malaysian government treats its smaller neighbour shows a similar pattern of behaviour with respect to the way it treats its minorities, and it offers insight on how the Malaysian government operates.First of all, they do not view an agreement or manifesto as sacrosanct. Making promises is only a matter of expediency. Shifting goal posts to benefit oneself is par for the course. It shows people they are untrustworthy, fickle partners. A government that is beset by trust deficiency is like a person with a low credit score. It increases the cost of conducting business with and by the government. The bill ultimately goes to the taxpayers... The minorities did the bulk of heavy lifting in developing this country. Without their effort, rain will simply seep into the soil, tin mines remain buried, rubber trees untapped, farms left barren, cities unfounded, schools not established. Today’s menial jobs that are often done by foreign labourers, not unlike the jobs done by the forefathers of the minorities before Independence.The Malay privileged class reaped tremendous benefits on the back and effort of the minorities, kept most of the profits while keeping their rural brethren poor and ignorant. But instead of being grateful, it is the benefactor that is hounded and reminded to be grateful for the “privilege” of creating wealth for the masses. This is a typical mafia, rent-seeking mindset. The recent resurfaced AP brouhaha is a classic example.The agencies created to benefit exclusively the Malays/Muslims like Mara, Felda, Tabung Haji, not to mention the GLCs like KTM, MAS etc, have to be repeatedly bailed out with tax monies. Untold billions syphoned out of the country or hidden in condominiums and bungalows. Yet, it is the minorities who get blamed for the backwardness of the majority.This is still how the Malaysian government operates. This is the Malaysian dilemma"

Malaysians Can Grow Their Own Marijuana with Permission from MOH - "Did you know you can actually grow marijuana in Malaysia for medical and research purposes? The only caveat here is that you need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Health first."

Malaysia’s Chinese independent schools face uphill climb in quest for qualification recognition - "There has been a trend of more non-Chinese sending their children to Chinese-medium schools. This year, close to 82,000 students are studying in Chinese independent schools nationwide. According to 2018 data, about 1.5 per cent of the student population in these schools are non-Chinese.Parents believe the Chinese schools have an edge... Mr Robert, a retired police officer, opined that UEC recognition would give all students a level playing field and have everyone compete fairly... Muslim Consumer Association of Malaysia chairman Nadzim Johan, who studied in a Chinese school, had all his children go through at least a Chinese primary school education. One of his daughters even attended the Confucian Private Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur.“Because we see the benefits from whatever was taught in Chinese culture, we need to take advantage of that to do well in life.“When I was sending my daughter to Confucian, I wasn’t looking at the recognition even,” said Mr Nadzim. “I want my kids to learn cultural traits such as work ethic.”Ms Syamimi Yahaya, 33, who graduated from Pay Fong Middle School in 2005, said her parents saw the value of mastering a second language. Two of her sisters also attended Pay Fong... Her six years in Pay Fong paid off eventually when she was entrusted with important responsibilities at work. She found employment in a shipping company after obtaining a diploma.“Since I have a UEC and I can speak and understand Mandarin, my boss asked me to handle the China accounts,” she said... others say that the UEC is a threat to national unity, while sidelining students that went through the national education system... In fact, the UEC students would be taking up places reserved for the Chinese students who sit for the STPM exams... Prof Teo opined that Chinese mother tongue education in Malaysia - be it the national Chinese primary schools or the Chinese independent schools - is indirectly a stumbling block to national unity.While the students are required to study English and Malay, they speak Mandarin, tend to read Chinese newspapers and watch Chinese television programmes, he observed.“They live a national life that is very much detached from other communities ... In short, living in the ‘Chinese world in Malaysia’ has made these Chinese less national or not national at all, and this is the very way that undermines the status of Malay as the national and official language of the country”... Dr Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow with Singapore Institute of International Affairs, begged to differ. Unity, he said, cannot come at a price of submission and assimilation.“Unity must be based on equality. We must have due respect for all the different cultures and races. Each must have equal standing. Unity at the price of sacrificing one’s own culture is unacceptable to many of us,” he said.Dr Oh, a UEC holder, said characterising Chinese independent schools as a threat to national unity is a biased approach.“Switzerland, for example, has four major languages - Swiss German, French, Italian and Romansh. The people speak their own mother tongue and come together as a country. It doesn't mean that if you have different languages, you are not one country," he said."That is racial supremacy. Students of Chinese independent schools refuse to accept this sort of inequality, this sort of racial, linguistic and cultural supremacy.”"
Apparently it's not unfair that there's a racial quota for STPM

Chinese Schools Actually Promotes Unity, Says Malay UEC Graduate - "The 29-year-old told FMT of her first-hand experience, relating how her primary and secondary school education in Chinese schools had taught her how to interact better with those of other races.
“In a way, it (Chinese school education) taught me the value of acceptance. Instead of demanding people respect and understand my needs, I learnt how to tolerate other people’s points of view as well.”
She also mentioned that her non-Malay friends were sensitive about the halal and haram aspect of her religion and even showed deep interest in the way Malays live... When asked about the common perception of Chinese school students only mingling among themselves, Farah said that it is not true, because everyone in her school mingled freely with those of different races...
“It’s the same as going to expensive international schools, right? Does that mean that international schools do not promote unity by segregating the rich from the poor?“And what proof do we have that national schools really promote unity among the races? “At Foon Yew (Chinese school), they preach the ‘Foon Yew people’ principle, where students are taught not to discriminate against those of other races. Everyone is equal.”"

Smile Makers Launched in Malaysia - "according to a “Malaysian Women Sexual Health and Well-being” survey, 79% of Malaysian women talk about sex in general as well as their own sex lives with their partners and friends...
  65% of Malaysian women are sexually satisfied.
73% of Malaysian women feel they are in control of their sexual satisfaction.
68% of Malaysian women feel sexual satisfaction is important.
9 out of 10 Malaysian women view women who own a vibrator positively and neutrally, thinking them to be open to new experiences and fun & spontaneous...
 58% of Malaysian women have used a personal lubricant, which is higher than other Asian countries.
Over half of women in Malaysia are more open to either using, or the idea of trying out a vibrator than many Asian and European counterparts."

20 Malaysian Sexual Facts Every Malaysian Should Know - "1.Malaysia is the leading producer of latex condoms.
The Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council said Malaysia has captured at least one-third of the world’s production, surpassing the one billion mark. . Malaysia is the world’s largest condom producing country and is also home to the biggest condom manufacturer.
2. THE AVERAGE MALAYSIAN LOSES THEIR VIRGINITY AT THE AGE OF 23
The average age of having sexual intercourse for the first time for Malaysians, 23, is among the highest around the world...
4. MALAYSIAN MEN ARE THE BIGGEST CONSUMERS OF VIAGRA
5. MALAYSIAN WOMEN ARE THE MOST UNFAITHFUL LOVERS IN THE WORLD
39% of Malaysian women confessed that they have cheated on their partners before in the poll which covered 29,000 in 36 countries.The Malaysian women came third behind Ghana (62 per cent) and Thailand (59 per cent) in the worldwide survey carried out by condom producer Durex. In fourth and fifth place were Russia (33 per cent) and Singapore (19 per cent) respectively.
6. ONLY 38% OF MALAYSIANS SAY THEY HAVE A SATISFACTORY SEX LIFE
... Malaysia ranks in the bottom eight countries of least sexually satisfied countries.
7. 74% of Malaysians are having sex at least once a week
Facts say that 74% of Malaysians are having sex at least once a week, putting our country in the Top 10 list compiled worldwide ranked according to percentage; to be more exact No. 7 after Greece , Brazil, Russia, China, Italy  and Poland...
10.MALAYSIA RANKED SECOND LOWEST IN SOUTH EAST ASIA FOR UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES
Among the Southeast Asia countries, Malaysia ranked the second lowest at 66.7%, after South Korea at 65.0%, where respondents said they had never experienced an unplanned pregnancy.
11. MALAYSIAN MEN’S AVERAGE PENIS SIZE : 4.5 INCHES
Global average: 5.5 inches
South East Asian average: 4.3 inches
Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore: 4.5 inches"
The penis size data seems (especially) dodgy

Penis size: the long and the short of it - "If you’re hung up on penis size, here’s the long and short of it: 13.1cm, or 5.2 inches. That’s the average length of an erect penis, according to a new study by researchers at King’s College London"

The Big P - Marie Claire Malaysia - "I have published a study in 1997 on the length of the penis of Malaysian men and found that the average length of the erect penis is 12.11cm (4.8 inches). Men with short penises would therefore be those of an erect length below 8.57cm"