Author Topic: Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide (Read 825 times)

HIDDEN · « **on:** August 08, 2009, 12:17:18 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on August 08, 2009, 12:05:10 PM

I have friends in Dubai (UAE) who are also subjected to many forms of internet censorship, the filtering is so bad for them that they cannot even download and use Skype!!

If the government ever wants to make me leave Malaysia - ban the usage of Skype and I'll be off!

Interesting idea brought up by corporateangel: Where to go if things go bad. Not back to Holland for me that's for sure. Maybe Indonesia, Bali. Definitely not Thailand at the moment.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2009, 02:22:46 PM »

We have had some internet censorship in Thailand but it doesn't seem to affect the stuff I look at. The TV censorship is hilarious. They clearly don't like smoking but violence seems to be okay <go figure>. We were watching a film the other night and all the people with ciggies in their mouth had this fuzzy cloud on their faces

So silly.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2009, 03:22:11 PM »

Hi

Just while we are on the subject of censorship, I cannot make heads or tails about the Malaysian film censorship rules, for example.

We watched a Harry Potter movie a couple of weeks ago and it was rated 18, we watched a film called PU239 a week later (pretty gritty and violent) and that was given a 'U' - there are many more examples, that I'm sure you've all noticed.

Harry Potter was shown at 10:00 and PU239 started at 11:00 in the evening

Whats that all about??!

Anyway in response to Pauls original post - if I really had to go elsewhere then I would consider NZ, Panama or maybe Gibralter

HIDDEN · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2009, 03:32:23 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on August 08, 2009, 03:22:11 PM

We watched a Harry Potter movie a couple of weeks ago and it was rated 18, we watched a film called PU239 a week later (pretty gritty and violent) and that was given a 'U'

I think it's quite simple nipples are forbidden. Splashing somebodies brain over the screen not.

On second thoughts nipples in a Harry Potter movie...

We saw a James Bond a while ago as you know these are famous for the title sequence whit scarcely dressed girls. It was much shorter then we where used to and half the actors didn't get credit. Also the adventures of James with the girls where a bit different. One shot he goes trough the door next shot he is out again. Must have been a quicky

HIDDEN · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2009, 03:50:55 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on August 08, 2009, 03:22:11 PM

if I really had to go elsewhere then I would consider NZ, Panama or maybe Gibralter[/b]

I don't think NZ is so easy to get into - certainly last time I checked it didn't have a retirement visa.

Stuurman's question? As we're going (hopefully) in the direction Phuket-Penang, I suppose it would be back to Thailand though probably not Phuket. Going back to UK not very likely. But hey this is a bit gloomy.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2009, 08:48:29 PM »

Hi papaya,

There is a thread (well a bit of info) on NZ HERE

Not easy to Find. Maybe Scott can start a new main thread about the various country alternatives as they are currently buried under a MM2H heading.

I believe most of the info on the thread is still current, especially the bit about the sheep

HIDDEN · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2009, 09:33:29 PM »

hi,

My experience is that Malaysia deletes the physical bits (sexual) whereas Singapore deletes the physical bits (blood, guts, limbs) so that when the respective TV companies pass films, TV series etc. to each other there's very little left.

And with the bleeping out of vulgarities (so in Eddie Murphy films there's no dialogue left which is no bad thing) it means that TV viewing is dismal, except for Ninja Warrioooooooooooooooour.

I'll stay here in Malaysia

.

At least it's very unlikely that here in Malaysia, the US Government will decide to bring peace, freedom and democracy to my end of the street. Especially so now that Obama's the boss. But who know in the future. Has Bush, the son, got a son? What if someone clones Bush, Rumsfield, Cheney, and the guy who took over the World Bank but got the push for getting his partner a cracking deal.

Pirated DVD's that the answer.

It's a slow weekend.

PS : Wolfenson (?)

HIDDEN · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2009, 10:36:51 PM »

By the sounds of it you must have a very slow weekend!

HIDDEN · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2009, 10:12:29 AM »

Hi Scott

One other hillarious instance of Malaysian censorship that we found was watching some non-descript film that was set in a village in rural Ireland. Whenever the characters mentioned the word 'Fog' in an Irish accent they kept cutting the word out! - I can guess what they thought it was!

What about Ireland? property prices have almost halved in some places, astonishing countryside, it must be somewhere worth considering to be sure!

HIDDEN · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2009, 01:07:19 PM »

hi,

From Today's Sunday Star :
No need to Censor the Internet, says Dr M.
There is no need to censor political content on the Internet, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He said during his tenure as prime minister, he did not censure information from the Internet and hoped the present Government would keep the status quo.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/9/nation/4486504&sec=nation

Breathe easy. The capo di tutti capi has spoken. No problemo.

Ireland, isn't it somewhat wet. I don't mind being huddled down in the public bar looking out at the nice countryside as long as I don't have to leave. Rent a retirement room in a pub, now there's a lovely thought.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2009, 01:20:19 PM »

Wet n cold isn't it? Though, as you say, the pubs are supposed to be good I think.

NZ - thanks Fizzy - I read that thread a little while back and, even further back, looked at the NZ government website. Rules are tightening up everywhere, especially if you're getting on a bit. I've always thought NZ sounds lovely, never been there, though it has its problems like anywhere.

So many places it seems have this compulsory medical insurance thing with no opt-out (unlike Malaysia). Thailand BTW does not require medical insurance - so one little plus for Thailand. Anyway, Penang is top of the list currently if we get the visa

HIDDEN · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2009, 02:25:21 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on August 09, 2009, 10:12:29 AM

What about Ireland? property prices have almost halved in some places, astonishing countryside, it must be somewhere worth considering to be sure!

.

A lovely place to be sure, a very green and pleasant land as they say, but the weather really would be a big turn off for me.

When the sun is shining the scenery can be spectacular, (but not on a par with NZ in my book as the hills/mountain are not quite as high, and your rarely get good long hot summers or good long snowy winter for the skiing buffs). If you travel a lot then the international connections are not as great as being close to London or any other major city!

HIDDEN · « **Reply #12 on:** August 10, 2009, 11:53:27 AM »

Hi,

While I am a bit biased as we have just got our visas, Australia might be an alternative for some. Weather is great - depending where you settle of course as is the standard of living. There are a few options open for "retirees" all expensive though. If you want the straight retirement visa (405) which is the most commonly used one it costs AUD21k for the visa (for two), you must earn a minimum of AUD65k per annum, you must take out medical insurance and last but not least!! You have to "invest" in the state funds where you intend to live AUD750K which you get an interest payment yearly. The visa is for 4 years renewable.

We had planned our "retirement" very carefully, hoping to spend 6 months in Malaysia (under MM2H) and 6 months in Australia so as to avoid tax. However, for two reasons we decided to change our plans - (a) we were having difficulty getting in and out of Australia so regularly and (b) as I have said a few times before we were falling "out of love" with Malaysia. If we could have overcome the first problem we would have stayed on the MM2H and just moved around but we could not ( last time I came down I was warned that I was being "monitored" due to the number of times I was coming back and forth.) So we bit the bullet and have now become "tax" payers again. Are we happy with the decision? Yes we are. But I would have rather kept the to the original plan if we could have!

Cheers

Brian

HIDDEN · « **Reply #13 on:** August 10, 2009, 02:59:50 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on August 10, 2009, 11:53:27 AM

".......as I have said a few times before we were falling "out of love" with Malaysia....." Brian

I like that description Brian, and have had similar & possibly similar feeling along those lines myself in recent times....

Perhaps a new thread is in order...so we can share our reasons, and maybe the powers that be, migh see it and try to do something.........then again I might just wake up

HIDDEN · « **Reply #14 on:** August 10, 2009, 06:22:24 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on August 10, 2009, 11:53:27 AM

you must take out medical insurance

This is the bit that bothers me - do they have an opt-out clause like Malaysia? What happens when you get too old for medical insurance?

Congrats on the visa though

I understand it's quite a performance getting visas for Oz.

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