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Technology Stocks : Creative Labs (CREAF) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Douglas V. Fant who wrote (7558)	12/24/1997 9:27:00 PM
From: JP Sullivan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 13925

>>Re: Malaysia to top it off, its Parliament is now considering passing a law that makes it apostasy (i.e., heresy) not to be a Muslim.<< Doug, Where did you learn about this? I'd be interested in locating the source. It's the first I've heard about the issue. I know that for a Muslim to renounce his religion (apostasy) is a big no-no (I don't know that it's illegal, though; maybe it is, or the powers that be are making it so). But it's okay NOT to be a Muslim if you didn't start out as one. There are lots of Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus, Sikhs, etc. around, and no one's been arrested for their religious beliefs. I figure there are also a number of Jews in the country, although there are no synagogues that I know of. And earlier in the year, a hockey team from Isreal (first time in the country's history and to the dismay of some holdout Muslim fundamentalists) arrived to play a friendly match. This was a government endorsed event. Then there was a movie on TV Tuesday night that I found reassuring in a strange kind of a way. I don't know if you have seen it, but "A Stranger Among Us" is about a NYC policewoman who goes to live among the Hassidic Jews to solve a murder. Nice movie starring Meredith Griffith and--here's the interesting part--showing much of the rich culture of the Hassids, which is centered around their religious practices. Lots of Yiddish dialogue and not a few quotes from the Kaballah (sp?). So, unless the screening of that movie on a national government channel !no less! was a big oversight by some ignorant, soon-to-be-unemployed burueacrat (NOT!), I have to believe that there is a high degree of religious tolerance in the government. Furthermore, at this time when the country is in deep financial doo-doo, the government is relying on the people to pull together to ride out the mess. I doubt if it is going to do anything so stupid as to pass a law that will alienate the 40% of the population that is non-muslim. Even the opposition parties--who usually live up to their name--are calling for unity in overcoming the economic crisis. The last thing anyone wants is a split in the populace. BTW, I had a great Christmas-eve dinner with my wife, my folks and an aunt from Australia last night. We had tried getting to church earlier, but gave up on account of the horrible KL traffic (roads being dug up to construct a monorail); my folks are going to try again this Christmas morning. As for my wife and me, we're just going to putter around the house and visit a friend later in the day. I hope you and everyone else on this thread are having a good and safe holiday. Season's Greetings, and may the New Year bring much $$$ cheer to all CREAF-ers! :) Winston

To: Douglas V. Fant who wrote (7558)	12/28/1997 4:33:00 AM
From: Alan Chan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 13925

DRRISK is right about Korea and Japan. Things are really bad in North-East Asia. The US, Europe and Japan are meeting in Korea tomorrow to iron out the problems before it becomes a world problem (I doubt very much that they will be able to do it. Every country is there for their own selfish reasons!). I hope Bill will be nice to the Japanese PM (short of kissing his feet) lest the Japanese should decide to dump all their US treasuries (some $380b worth). The Japanese economy is sick - official bad debts - US$280b, market estimated bad debts - US$800b. South Korea had everybody (including the IMF) believed that they are saddled with a US$100b foreign debt - the figure is now US$200b. (ditto for Indonesia). Latest ratings given to the countries in Asia: Japan - Aaa Singapore - Aa Malaysia - A2 Hong Kong - A3 Korea, Thailand, Indonesia - B? - junk bond status. As for CREAF, I do believe that it would stage a run-up till the next earnings report - the reason why I am still long - though I believe that it is very risky to hold on to any equities, including CREAF. Look for at least a couple of years of world financial turmoil! As for your 'rumours' on Malaysia, I wonder where you heard it. :) There is more race and religious tolerance in Malaysia than in the US!! Happy New Year to all!!! Happy investing but be cautious.