BolehTalk® ... Speak Your Mind!

I am over at ktemoc konsiders!

2008-12-25T20:30:00.006+08:00

Hi, I am still blogging but over at my other blog, ktemoc konsiders. Please visit me over there.

Malaysiakini's Great Helmsman

2008-10-04T15:45:00.003+08:00

For today’s musing, I’m going to pick on one of my bêtes noires, namely a certain word used by the media.

As some of you would be already aware, I dislike immensely the word ‘helm’ used in a specific context, as in 'head' a project or hold a 'leadership' position or 'manage' a task.

But my dislike for it has been only because it has been overused to death by Malaysiakini. The online portal's continuous employment of the 'helm's word, as if there is no other English word to use, has been blooming grating on my nerves.

Why can’t Malaysiakini journalist or editors, even if they still insist on a nautical flavour, use words like:

‘skipper’ as in ‘she was selected to skipper the team’;

‘steer’ – 'he steered the scheme to its successful achievement';

‘pilot’ – 'she piloted the project brilliantly through the bureaucratic hurdles';

… or even better, ‘captain’, ‘command’, etc.

Of course those ‘sailors’ at Malaysiakini couldn’t use ‘head’, because in naval terms, 'head' is a toilet wakakaka.

Then there are of course the general (non-nautical) words like ‘head’ (hello there, anyone inside? wakakaka but it’s okay as this is the landlubber section), ‘lead’, ‘direct’, ‘overseer’, ‘run’, ‘manage’, etc.

Just to show you how Malaysiakini has lost the plot with this ‘helm’ word in its article Is Zahid a check on Muhyiddin?, which discussed Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s unexpected intention to stand for the Umno party’s deputy president’s post when he is only a supreme council member, it wrote:

His announcement came as a surprise to many as it is rare for a relatively [juniour] leader to contest the deputy presidency and come out victorious.

Under convention, the post is usually be helmed by one of the three elected vice-presidents - the number 3 in the party’s hierarchical ladder.

Now, apart from the poor spelling (juniour?) and grammar (‘the post is usually be helmed by’ – puhleeeze lah!), what the hell did the journalist mean by ‘helmed’?

Or, perhaps I should direct the query to the editors, as I was informed by a sweetie that those editors have an annoying habit of changing the journalists’ or columnists words to the extent of mauling, mutilating and masking the original meaning?

Now, had she meant that ‘Under convention, the post is usually [be?] ascended to (or, contested') by one of the three elected vice-presidents …’?

… or …

Did she imply that ‘Under convention, the post is usually [be?] steered/manipulated by one of the three elected vice-presidents …’?

Use of the 'helm' word in the former is totally out of context, whilst I concede that the latter would be true to the (sinister practice but) convention of UMNO wakakaka.

But leaving speculations or logical extrapolation aside, I would be utterly clueless as to what had been meant by 'Under convention, the post is usually be helmed by one of the three elected vice-presidents ...'!

Then, much to my disappointment, disgust and dread, I see the use of ‘helm’ also creeping into the MSM like the Star Online. Darn!

Back to Malaysiakini, on second thoughts, maybe I could be wrong in suspecting the nautical proclivity of those landlubbers at Malaysiakini as the cause behind the virtually continuous employment of ‘helm’.

Perhaps the editors and journalists at Malaysiakini have been inspired by another source, namely the Great Helmsman and his leadership style - wakakaka ...

... that they feel our numerous Malaysian Titanic’s and Exxon Valdez’s could be jambi-ed (protected by magical incantations) from their usual disasters, if those heads of ministries, public service positions, government projects or commissions, etc, are conferred the title of 'helmsman' or associated with the verb 'helm' - wakakaka.

But as for the ‘Great Helmsman’ … sheeesh, he was a bloody disaster!

Another 'Great Helmsman' ;-)

MasWings Aeroplane overshot or undershot Ba’Kelalan airstrip?

2008-09-14T20:36:00.006+08:00

The Star reported that a MasWings Twin-Otter aircraft overshot the rural airstrip in Ba’Kelalan, about 350 km inland from Miri.

Fortunately 14 people on board survived when the plane ended up in a padi field.

Then the reporter (Stephen Then) wrote that State assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan Nelson Balang Rining, claiming that the aircraft shot off the airstrip, also said: “... The report I obtained indicated that the pilot approached the airstrip too low.”

I am glad that no one was killed but let me question the reporter or his editor on two statements made in that report:

(1) first, on “…overshot the rural airstrip in Ba’Kelalan, about 350 km inland from Miri.”

Miri is virtually on the coast of Sarawak, so why shouldn’t a rural strip 350 km from the coast by ‘inland’? Would it be possible to have that rural strip seawards?

(2) If Ba’Kelalan ADUN Nelson Balang Rining had claimed he heard the pilot approached the airstrip too low, then the accident should have been the aircraft UNDERshooting rather than overshooting the airstrip.

Overshooting would usually be a case of higher than normal speed in the approach or a high approach (rather than low approach) or both, a bad bad combination of high speed high approach.

In such a badly flown approach situation the pilot should have conducted what is known as a 'misapproach', that is, to abandon the approach landing, overshoot to a safe altitude and try the landing again.

Such a rotten approach was what a Garuda pilot had flown and persisted in a fatal landing at Jogjakarta despite his copilot pleading with him to overshoot. He destroyed the B737 and killed dozens of his passengers.

While the Star reporter had no doubt reported what he heard, he or his editor should have been more careful in cross-checking the plausibility of the feedback, or at least the correct use of aviation terms.

Ibrahim Ali - Malay leaders not good enough, must be Malay parties to lead

2008-08-31T19:08:00.003+08:00

Do you remember Ibrahim Ali, the former UMNO bloke who told us that: “… there would be fewer marital problems and a lower divorce rate if Muslim women were taught to accept polygamy” – see my post Ibrahim Ali said 50-year old women no longer fun.

I recommend he reads my Lustful fantasies - wakakaka!

I came across his name in the Star Online when I read Ibrahim: PAS should lead Pakatan Rakyat.

For an ex-UMNO bloke who still wishes to get back in (they all do, because that’s where the gravy train is) he couldn’t mind his UMNO business to say that the Pakatan Rakyat should be led by PAS instead of PKR.

Well, for a start, the PR is not led by PKR but rather Anwar Ibrahim – there’s a huge difference in these two.

But allowing for his mistake, why has this busybody, who thinks 50 year old women are no longer fun, believed that PR should be led by PAS rather than PKR?

Because he is nothing more than a ketuanan Melayu bigot ... he said PAS has a greater Malay membership, whereas PKR, although led by a Malay and has more MPs in Parliament, is seen by many to be a multi-ethnic party, similar to DAP.

Though he was more concerned about the purity of a political party’s membership by its ethnic percentage, he at least acknowledges that the DAP is a multi-ethnic party – I strongly recommend that the DAP records this down for future campaign use.

Ibrahim lent us his bigoted wisdom: “This does not fit in well with the Malay psyche. To balance insecurities and fears, PAS should be appointed to lead the Pakatan.”

Well, we know Ibrahim Ali's psyche, don't we ;-) - no one above 49 years old for him please - wakakaka.

No doubt he was char koay teow-ing (stirring up, instigating) PAS’ leader Hadi Awang to challenge Anwar for the leadership position of PR, so as to cause dissent among PR member parties, but I sense Ibrahim Ali would have a strong belief in his racially oriented pronouncements.

Dirgahayu Malaysia!

Rule of law by a lawless ruler?

2008-08-02T15:08:00.005+08:00

Malaysiakini reported Blair: M'sia has good interfaith cooperation

This was in conjunction with fomer British PM Tony Blair’s visit to our country to deliver a lecture on the rule of law at the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Shah Law Lecture yesterday, organised by Universiti Malaya.

Tony Blair and ‘rule of law’?

What f* bullsh*t!

This man had cooked up, or approved the cooking up of a lie that Iraq could send a WMD missile to London in 45 minutes.

That lie paved the way for his ally George Bush as well as the usual American kutus like Blair and John Howard of Australia to order their armed forces to illegally invade Iraq, against UNSC Resolution 1441 and the decisions of the majority of Europe and the World.

In the process they killed many thousands of Iraqi innocents and destroyed Iraq's infrastructure and civil administration beyond redemption. Millions of Iraqis continue to suffer because of this man’s hubris and monumental lies.

Many millions more, especially Iraqi infants and children, had earlier died or suffered terribly under the Anglo-American sanction of Iraq.

Blair became known as B-liar.

How the f* was he even invited? And to a lecture on the rule of law?

This is disgraceful, obscene, scandalous, and morally blasphemous!

He, George Bush and John Howard should instead be tried as war criminals like the late Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic and (the attempt by the ICC to indict) Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir.

George Bush and Tony Blair (John Howard was just Bush’s poodle) have collectively been responsible for the killing of more innocent people than the above three non-Anglo-Saxons.

Whoever invited B-liar should hang his head in shame.

Related:
(1) The Vanities of Tony Blair
(2) Tony Blair - Power Crazy War Criminal?
(3) Blair & Bush War Criminals?

4 wives super-hero

2008-06-09T20:30:00.000+08:00

This news article from The Star Online amazes me.

54-year old Abu Bakar Embong, a property negotiator, has not only received the approval of the Syariah High Court to wed 25-year old Suhaili Alias, but also the blessings of his three wives.

Good olde Abu Bakar had fathered 11 boys and 14 girls from his three marriages, ranging in age from 25 (as old as his new wife) to four months. He also has three grandchildren.

I wonder what he imbibes? Ginseng, jamu Mak Rima, or budu?

The judge, Shaikh Ahmad, advised Abu Bakar to be fair to all his wives, tend to the religious needs of his children, and take his three wives on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hmmm, why only 3 and not all four wives?

But 57-year old Mohamed Nor Awang, a lorry driver, wasn’t so lucky in the love game as the same court had deferred its decision on his application to marry 34-year old Suzi Sulong, a clerk. This would have been his fourth marriage. The court feared he could not financially support another wife. But Mohamed had actually received OK’s from his three wives.

I am not sure whether to admire or pity these two blokes or men like them. I suppose I have to kowtow to their superhero abilities.

The thought of supporting just one would be just too scary for me – and what if she demands that I stop blogging, or is an anwarista? Aiyoyo, I may well be in need of a Samy Vellu wig after my hair all drop off in traumatic shock!

… let alone a frightful four! Oh, please give me an 'aw-kau' (Guiness Stout) with 2 raw eggs in it please ;-)

Penangites' kiasu led to midnight rush for fuel

2008-06-05T18:26:00.001+08:00

Malaysiakini published Night rush in Penang too, where it talks about some people’s (unfortunaely most were Penangites) idiotic mad rush for fuel before midnight, when the price of fuel per litre would then rise by 78 sen. A filled up 50-litre tank could theoretically save almost RM 40.00.

My thoughts on their belief:

One - I just wonder how much fuel those people burnt unnecessarily while stuck in the kilometres long queue. I have long ignored such panic buying, because any advantage or savings derived would be minimal and only a temporary relief.

Two - then, very few of those drivers had completely empty tanks unless of course, while queuing up, they burnt off whatever fuel they already had in their tanks prior to the mad rush to a petrol station. So really, how much did they benefit from that silly midnight queuing and refuelling?

Three- what about their precious invaluable time? They must have waited at least a couple of hours, when they should have been with their families or sweeties.

Four- their tempers? The frustration of the prolonged queuing no doubt would have done wonders for their stress and hypertension.

Five – engine wear and tear? The invisible cost! What about the odd bumper to bumper accidents?

It’s not as if we are in Iraq where generally there’s no fuel unless the typical Iraqi civilian waits for hours if not days in the long queue at the local petrol station, whilst he witnesses humongous American military tanks, trucks and humvees, all great guzzlers, charging around belching out poisonous carbon monoxide as the soldiers go around deciding which Iraqi to kill next.

And this is a country with the world’s second largest known oil reserves. It’s what happens when your country is under foreign occupation and your national assets mercilessly exploited if not raped.

Anyway, back to Penang - I am afraid I have to attribute this silliness to typical Penang kiasu mentality. It reminds me of my aunt who rushed out one day (many many years ago) to buy up dozens and dozens of eggs because the price of eggs was about to go up (due to Chinese New Year or Hari Raya?). She ended up with dozens and dozens of eggs, literally in her face as she finally realized she couldn’t consume what she had stupidly bought in a moment of kiasu greed.

Walk for Media Freedom

2008-05-25T21:53:00.006+08:00

Walk for Media Freedom

Date: 1 June 2008
Time: 9.00am
Place: Dataran Merdeka to National Press Club (NPC)

Democracy in Malaysia is evolving and maturing.

Growth means change and growth often calls for one to leave behind zones of comfort and venture into unknown places. While some changes are slower to materialise, other changes that we can observe already taking place are truly refreshing.

One of those changes which will profoundly and positively impact democratic growth is the move towards Information Freedom.

From 9 am on Sunday the 1st of June 2008, Malaysian journalists and their fellow citizens will, together, demonstrate their keen desire for Media Freedom by taking a symbolic Walk at Dataran Merdeka.

To avoid problems with security laws, there will be NO PUBLIC GATHERING. Instead, participants are being asked to arrive on their own in ones and twos, show their respect to the National Flag at the Dataran, and then proceed immediately to the National Press Club which is just around the corner (location map and suggested walking route to be provided).

Those who wish to do so are invited to wear something yellow, a reflection that this is a People's Activity.

Underlining the importance of this initiative, YB Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has kindly consented to deliver the keynote address, explaining his views about the road to Media Freedom. Datuk Zaid is a Minister in the PM's Department and the de facto Law Minister. From practically the first day of his appointment, he has said and done things that have pleased the people, especially the legal community, and has conveyed a very positive feeling about what he intends to accomplish.

Datuk Zaid has two requests - that journalists turn up in large numbers and that this program calls for ethics and accountability as much as it calls for freedom. Since this is the very thrust of this campaign and exactly what we are calling upon the writer community to deliver, it looks like we are very much in sync.

While we, the organisers, can direct the theme and thrust of the event, journalist participation will be determined by organisations such as the NUJ, the NPC and the various media groups. We look forward to strong support from them. This is an opportunity that they should not miss out on.

Please pass the word around and tell every journalist whom you know about this event.

As to ordinary citizens and bloggers, here is your opportunity to show that you desire Media Freedom. Come and take the Walk with your journalist brethren and show your solidarity with them. We, as a people, can help to move our nation forward on the road to civil liberties.

See you there on Sunday 1st June 2008

Benar blog: http://benarffm.wordpress.com/

Malaysian 'religious' frog dance

2008-05-24T15:24:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time, in Laos, the people could go and speak directly with God, whom they call Thaen. "Hi there, Uncle Thaen", they would say (or words like so in Laotian).

According to a Star Online article, Getting God’s attention (by Liz Price), the legend of Thaen ….. is said to have existed for more than 4,000 years. Liz Price wrote:

In the beginning, Thaen sent his people to populate the empty Earth. They had to change their god bodies into the human form, with four minerals, five senses, and six touches (ears, eyes, nose, tongue, body and heart).

These humans followed the laws of nature in that they experienced birth, aging, sickness and death. After death, those who had done good deeds would go to heaven. But those who had done no good or had led bad lives would be reincarnated in the human world for as many cycles as it took them to do enough good deeds to enter heaven.

Now, this is the interesting part:

There used to be communication between Thaen and humans. When the king first sent his people to Earth, there were Kheua Kaukad wire trees linking the human world to the heavens.

When people faced troubles, such as floods, natural disasters, or shortage of food, they sent two persons to climb up to the sky to ask for their god’s help. They would ask him to chase away the badness or to send rain and an abundance of rice and fish.

In this way, the god of Thaen enabled the people to have enough rice to last till the new rice season.

The god was a sympathetic one. However, he later saw that some people were lazy and did not want to work. Instead, they grew accustomed to complaining to him that they had no rice and requesting rice from him. This made the god angry, and he sent them away.

In order to ban them from Thaen, he cut down the Kheua Kaukad trees.

… not unlike the gods of other religions, when came a time God stopped coming to the local kopitiam. Prior to severing direct communication, He would drop in ocassionally for a kopi-O-peng and casually say things like, "Moses matey, got an errant for you boy, pop over to Egypt, will you (and do this and that)?" which of course poor olde Moses didn’t dare refuse.

But as I mentioned, since eons ago, the Judean God too cut down the Kheua Kaukad trees.

I reckon that was a bad mistake by God because after that, charlatans came on the scene and everyone jack man of them claimed to be speaking on behalf of, or for God. Yes, you get blokes like Pat Robertson. Now here’s a snap shot of a man who claims to be a modern Prophet, or rather the ratings of his credibility, where Wikipedia tells us:

In January 1951, Robertson served four months in Japan, "doing rehabilitation training for Marines wounded in Korea".

In his words, "We did long, grueling marches to toughen the men, plus refresher training in firearms and bayonet combat." In the same year, he transferred to Korea, "I ended up at the headquarters command of the First Marine Division," says Robertson. "The Division was in combat in the hot and dusty, then bitterly cold portion of North Korea just above the 38th Parallel later identified as the 'Punchbowl' and 'Heartbreak Ridge.' For that service in the Korean War, the Marine Corps awarded me three battle stars for 'action against the enemy.'

However, former Republican Congressman Paul "Pete" McCloskey, Jr., who served with Robertson in Korea, claimed that Robertson was actually spared combat duty when his powerful father, a U.S. Senator, intervened on his behalf, claiming that instead Robertson spent most of his time in an office in Japan. According to McCloskey, his time in the service was not in combat but as the "liquor officer" responsible for keeping the officers' clubs supplied with liquor.

This was confirmed by others during his GOP presidential campaign against George Bush Senior. Other Marines in his battalion contradicted his claim of combat duty, stating that he had never spent a day in a combat environment.

Well, we can see how such a bloke could claim God spoke to him. There are others like him, in Israel, Iran, and even in Malaysia, who asserted personal contact with the Almighty.

Even low brow George Bush Junior recently made a tentative claim to this prophetic ability.

OK, so we are informed that since the chopping down of the Kheua Kaukad trees, thus denying direct communication between humans and Thaen, the only recourse left for people was indirect worshipping called Thaen worship. Yes, the Laotian (prior to the majority becoming Buddhists) performed this to ask for protection from bad things and natural disasters.

Liz Price wrote: To do this, people perform the frog dance ceremony to make the god of Thaen look down and see who the good people are. This ceremonial rite is performed once a year, usually at the end of the dry season, although it can be performed at any time, especially if there is no rain.

To pray means to dance. People paint their faces to look like frogs, and perform the frog dance and bang the Kong Bang frog drums to make a noise like frogs singing. The bronze drums are decorated with carvings of frogs.

In Malaysia, we do it once every 5 years (more or less – in the current case it has definitely been less), and usually after a general election. Yes, I was referring to some Malaysians performing the frog dance ceremony to make the god of Thaen look down and see who the good people are.

I get the feeling Thaen may not want to look, but I would implore Him tonight to do so, because if he doesn’t, we may get our local version of 'Pat Robertson', someone who would shamelessly claim he was "in a combat zone in Korea when he was actually the wines officer in the Officers Club in cozy Japan, a zillion miles safely away from the hostile front."

Oh, excuse me, I have seen in Malaysiakini this important news, that Anwar says it again: We have the numbers.

........ ribbet ribbet ribbet ribbet ribbet ........

Babe blasted bloody belukar burners

2008-05-17T12:45:00.001+08:00

Wow, sweetie Elizabeth Wong (PKR), the Selangor state environment chairman, has identified around 200 illegal immigrants as the major culprits who have been carrying out open burning on the 350 acre forest area in Johan Setia, Klang for agricultural purposes.

She didn’t mention whether the burning had been for their own agricultural requirements or they were (illegal) employees of some naughty plantation owners, but from known Malaysian stories we may, I suppose, assume the latter.

Whichever, the open burning has of course polluted the air in the area. And that's pissing off the locals.

Elizabeth Wong said enforcement officers from the immigrations and the Department of Environment (DOE) have been trying to catch the culprits but alas, no joy. Hmmm, I wonder where they could have disappeared to, or have the officers been trying hard enough? Tired perhaps? Maybe a bit of commando training for them ;-)

Elizabeth said that 11 offenders were issued compounds up to a maximum of RM2,000 each, with one case still awaiting court hearing.

I find the Star Online report to be bloody puzzling because if those illegal immigrants couldn’t be nabbed, how could they be fined or be facing court hearings? And shouldn’t illegal immigrants be deported?

And on whose lands were they clearing the belukar (secondary jungle or bush)?

Then Elizabeth said that the State would prosecute the owners of land where open burning was conducted. That’s more like it, sweetie!

ooooOOOOOOoooo, gasp, gawd, omigosh, I have to confess, I find my knees wobbling at the thought of a strong firm decisive woman at the … er … (pssst, is any Malaysiakini reporter reading this?) .. helm ;-)

Yes, I have a fond weakness for strong sweetie pollies. For a historical explanation of this weakness, please see my Lustful fantasies at my other blog ktemoc kongsamkok

1st class CM travels by economy class

2008-05-04T19:50:00.005+08:00

Star Online report:

PENANG: Some things have not changed with Lim Guan Eng, although he is now the Penang Chief Minister.

And among that is his penchant for economy class air travel.
As the chief executive of Penang, Lim is entitled to a business class seat but he is having none of it.

Ning & Lim at KLIA on Wednesday - photo taken from Jolly's blog

As travellers queued to get into the airplane, many are surprised to see Lim standing in line with them, just like in the days before the DAP wrested Penang from the Barisan Nasional in the March general election.

Among those who were surprised to see the Penang CM in economy class were songbird Ning Baizura and her manager Vernon Kedit Jolly, who were at KL International Airport last Wednesday.

Jolly was so moved that he wrote about it on his blog, which spurned off reactions among other bloggers.

Lim, who has adopted a “no formalities” approach since assuming the CM’s post, said he said he had told his staff to book him economy class tickets whenever he needed to fly.

“I hope to lead by example. If I can reach my destination and save some money at the same time, why not?” he asked.

That is not all. The Chief Minister also does not check into luxury-class rooms in hotels.

I usually request for a room that is at least one level down from what I am accorded,” Lim said.

Jolly, who flew in First Class with Ning on that flight to Penang, said Lim had earned their deepest respects.

Malaysian Orgasms not very Boleh

2008-05-03T12:50:00.010+08:00

It’s worrying for our nation, that when a highly important issue of grave national interest is confronting us, our politicians have been wasting time howling themselves hoarse over mundane issues like party hoppers and dog-(or bitch)-in-the-manger conduct of politico-spouse-social funds.

The Star Online has just published a frightening article about Malaysians not getting off enough. It's about a sex survey’s finding of our low-grade lackadaisical lust-lacking orgasmic achievements.

Jeez man, to me if this finding is not of life-and-death threatening national importance I don't know what is. Thus I have been dismayed by our politicians' low-grade lackadaisical lust-lacking priorities.

But I do wonder why journalist Royce Cheah had to include the word ‘off’ as in the article's headline ‘... not getting off enough’, unless by 'off' he means ... er ... never mind.

Perhaps he was implying that with such a pathetic state of attainment, the King or ... more likely ... the Queen would have said “Off with his head” - and please don’t ask me to elaborate any further, as there may be children around.

To put it bluntly, the Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey said that Malaysians do not have enough orgasms. NOOO!

It seems that only less than half of those who … er … 'exercised' did manage to achieve nirvana, hallelujah or yahoo - sob ... only a sad … sob … 44% of us, and that's the average for both genders.

However, we are ahead of kiasu-nation whose high browed 4-eyed citizens registered only a comparative 36% in the field of ... 'getting off’.

Then, getting into more details (but not the type you might have wish to know), 62% Malaysian men reached the heights of Qomolangma while by contrast, the poor dears get what Royce Cheah described as ‘a raw deal’ (don't read too much into this term) - where only 25% of sweeties could scale the lofty altitude of Sagarmatha. That explains the average of 44%.

Now, Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans and South Africans are either the Rothmans Pall Mall type (full satisfaction with each ... er ... puff) or the world’s greatest liars when it comes to sex surveys, because 66% of them claimed to have, in Royce’s words, ‘hit the sweet spot’ each time. And we are talking again about the average for both genders - a wow or bullsh*t stats!

The survey said that at the other end of the scale are mainland Chinese and people from Hong Kong (both 24%), followed closely by the Japanese (27%). Either they were too shy to ‘expose’ their private experiences or they were waiting for orders from Beijing and Tokyo respectively on what answers they should provide.

Strangely, Koreans were not mentioned. I am sure if North Koreans were polled, by fiat of their glorious Chairman Kim, they would declare 100% satisfaction, a la Nescafe, down to the last drop.

Our local reproductive and sexual health expert, Dr Mohd Ismail Mohd Tambi, was reported by the Star to have said that "while orgasms are not the be all and end all of sex ……" –yeah, bet he was thinking of blogging … ;-)

Continuing his words: "… regularly achieving orgasms improves emotional and overall well-being."

On those wise words, I recommend henceforth that all political candidates must submit to the EC during nomination days, in addition to all the bullshit regarding stamped certification, an additional (stamped?) certificate declaring they have achieved orgasm in at least 75% of their ... er ... 'engagements'. Then, we’ll have less feral and unscrupulous political candidates.

Dr Mohd Ismail said that prior to commencing the 'engagements' ;-) please leave work worries outside the bedroom, and ensure you have protected and uninterrupted time. In other words, do switch off your blackberries and no laptop on top of your laps ;-)

But it looks like we aren’t … er … Towering Malaysians after all

Now, a word from the survey's sponsor ...

Now, did you get Durex brilliant message from this ad?

No? Never mind, see the following then ...

Sorry for the keris waving, but I may do it again

2008-04-25T20:11:00.005+08:00

Malaysiakini reported Hisham apologises for keris act.

Well, Hishammuddin Hussein today apologised for raising the keris “if it had affected the non-Malays”.

Of course it did. A keris is a martial weapon, one of battle and killing - WTF did he expect non-Malays to feel when he waved the weapon in conjunction with his claim that it symbolised Malay supremacy and UMNO’s role in defending the supremacy of his ethnic group?

He said that he took full responsibility for his actions but gave no guarantee that he would not repeat the keris-waving during this year’s UMNO annual general assembly.

Sheesh, thanks a lot for the assurance.

Now, this is the 'best' part. Apart from apologising to the non-Malays, he said: "I would also like to apologise to the Malays over my failure to uphold the Malay symbol (keris)."

Apologise to Malays? ... over his failure to uphold the keris? Huh?

It would have been better if he had just shut up instead of showing he isn't sorry at all.

Deadly star fruit in China

2008-04-21T20:46:00.004+08:00

What! How could this be?

Star Online reported that a 66-year-old Malaysian is among more than a dozen people who are in a coma after eating star fruits in Shenzhen province in China.

Worse, 2 others have died at the same hospital after eating the fruit.

The unfortunate person who’s now in a coma is Tang Gon Seang, a retired assistant headmaster of SRJK (C) Kwang Hwa in Butterworth.

He and his wife went to China to visit their engineer son in Shenzhen two months ago. Last month he ate the fruit and has remained in a coma since.

Though around a dozen people have been hospitalized after falling into a coma from eating the star fruits, the Shenzhen General Hospital hasn’t disclosed why the victims had suffered such a drastic effect from eating the fruit.

Star fruit is also known as carambola, or belimbing in Bahasa. In Penang Hokkien it's called yeo thoe (the yeo should be pronounced with a slight nasal sound).

I personally can’t believe it’s the fruits per se as I have been eating star fruits all my life – fresh (green and ripe), with rojak, pickled, dried and sugared, with salt, you name it and I have eaten the belimbing in all forms and in many countries.

... in our homeland, Thailand (called ma fueang), Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam (khe), India, Australia (the price here frightens the sh*t out of me but fortunately for cheap skate me, I had mine free at a party) and French New Caledonia (I know a French family who has two glorious trees in their garden and didn't know the delights of carambolier).

Look, I haven’t suffered any ill effects whatsoever, except once as a kid when I fell off a star fruit tree trying to get away from the owner who came out with a broom. She was so sympathetic with my mishaps that she even patched me up instead of whacking me.

I have a feeling it could be some nasty pesticide that was sprayed on the fruits (or their trees), which had been ingested by poor Tang.

But then I just found out that like grapefruits, carambola can significantly increase the effective dosage of certain medications within the body. Apparently in some cases, the interactions of star fruit or star fruit juice with, for example, atorvastatin can be fatal. But a dozen people ...?

Wow, gasp, gawd, omigosh, gulp!

Mike Tyson said something right

2008-04-13T19:22:00.003+08:00

Stranger things have happened. I was surprised, pleasantly surprised to read Mike Tyson coming out with a frank and bold admittance as to why UMNO-BN had lost badly.

Mind you, he was reported as having said such by the Star Online in Wrong message sent out, says Mat Taib, and we all know that we need to read the Star with a grain of salt - BIG grain! Nonetheless, even if not wholly true, it's quite refreshing to read an UMNO leader saying a factual political truth. Read on ...

********

The arrogance and complacency of some Umno leaders after Barisan Nasional’s landslide victory in the 2004 polls sent the wrong message to the other races in the country.

And that was among the reasons Barisan lost votes to Pakatan Rakyat in last month’s general election, said Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

“Knowingly or unknowingly, some of the decisions by Umno leaders hurt the feelings of other races, especially the Chinese and Indians, in peninsular Malaysia."

“Some of our Umno leaders ... when they speak ... here Malay ... there Malay ... tenders for Malays, hoisting and kissing the keris (Malay dagger). Out there, when they (other races) see our leaders speak, they get scared."

“We appear arrogant to them,” he said when speaking at an information and dialogue session with Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno division members here on Friday night.

********

Compare Mike's admittance with as Kelantan Crown Prince 'slapped' non-Malays in face! which I blogged in my other blog KTemoc Konsiders based on a Malaysiakini news article.

Uni graduate punished for politics

2008-04-06T14:52:00.006+08:00

From Malaysiakini: UIA student charged for involvement in general election!

This is the sort of ‘police state’ bullsh*t that denies our nation of future thinkers, leaders, intellectuals and politicians of good knowledge of democratic process and election procedures, and instead burden us with a system that produces one-eyed chowkana version which, if they have any iota of human intelligence in the first place, would have already been bocor-ed out of their skulls.

Malaysiakini tells us of the sorry case affecting Meor Isfandy Meor Azman of International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA). Poor bloke has been charged for breaching the university regulations for his involvement in a political party in the just-concluded general election.

… and that was way after he had taken his final exams.

He completed his degree studies in Islamic Studies and Political Science last November. He participated in politics in March 2008, yet he has been penalised for involvement in a GE about 5 months after he had completed his undergraduate studies.

WTF!

I suppose if he had been an UMNO acolyte he would be alright?

The UIA has sent him an official letter pressing charges for his involvement with Parti Mahasiswa Negara (PMN). And I am not sure whether it is sheer vindictiveness or idiotic bureaucracy that UIA is preventing him from receiving his full transcript as well as stopping him from receiving his final semester’s National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan, even before his charges can be proven!

Now, here’s the university’s bloody moronic actions:

Meor tells us that by stopping him from receiving his final semester’s National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan, he is prevented from paying his final tuition fees and resolving other financial matters. Then, all information on him in the university system has been erased or blocked.

Because of his inability to pay off the final tuition fees, he might be barred from the convocation due to his inability to settle his final semester’s tuition fees.

Worse, he can’t apply for a job because he doesn’t have the final transcripts.

The justice of Islam Hadhari?

AAB's sweet NOTHING

2008-03-30T17:25:00.000+08:00

“I have heard many statements and reports. This all sounds very good and fair and is also very nice to hear. But please remember that equality does not always mean fairness.

“Equal distribution is not necessarily fair if the fate of the underprivileged is not taken care of and their rights not defended.

“I am not just talking about bumiputras. I am also referring to the Chinese and Indian communities.”

Guess who said those words?

Lim Kit Siang? Nik Aziz?

Nah, it was none other than UMNO Pak Lah.

Can you beat it - AAB said ensuring equality in administering Penang would not mean fairness if only the rich continued to benefit. This coming from UMNO? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Yes, he had to take an obligatory swipe at the DAP-led Penang Government which has pledged to be transparent and implement an open tender system.

But what credibility does he have other than making sweet music to the already converted. Even the Muslim traders of Penang support LIM GE’s policies.

KL vindictive Li'l Napoleons

2008-03-26T19:17:00.004+08:00

Malaysiakini reported that "Ten of the 11 Kuala Lumpur members of Parliament have launched a scathing attack against City Hall (DBKL) for ‘victimising’ hawkers and petty traders through 'selective' enforcement action in the immediate post-election period."

Those ten Opp MPs said jointly: “Two months leading to the 12th general election, we noted that DBKL was very relaxed in taking action against hawkers, petty traders, DBKL tenants and others,” their statement reads.

“However, immediately after the election, (which resulted) in clear rejection of Barisan Nasional by KL residents, DBKL swung into action to punish hawkers and DBKL tenants in the opposition-held constituencies.”

“As such, we strongly condemn DBKL for involving itself in politics and taking such concerted actions to victimise and punish hawkers, petty traders and DBKL tenants for exercising their democratic rights. We call on the KL mayor to immediately stop such political actions aimed at punishing the KL people.”

Vindictive li'l Napoleons! That's the outcome of a non-democratic unelected unrepresentative swill running the capital city of a nation.

Bloggers' hypocrisy about biadap-ness

2008-03-24T15:08:00.006+08:00

I recall that (in a Malaysiakini report) Lim Kit Siang was bashed by many bloggers, including supposedly (federal) opposition bloggers, for his so-called biadap attitude when he voiced his initial refusal to let DAP ADUNs attend the swearing in of a PAS ADUN as the Perak MB.

At least Lim has the graciousness and dignified humility to subsequently apologise to the Perak Regent for his momentary faux pas.

[BTW, Lim Kit Siang and DAP are being deliberately targeted by so-called ‘friendlies’ who have a strategic objective to destroy the DAP – will blog on that soon]

Yet when the 22 UMNO ADUNs in Terengganu boycotted the swearing in of Ahmad Said as the MB selected by the Terengganu palace, there was no such accusation of biadap. Maybe only DAP MPs and ADUNs ~~are~~ can be biadap?

Not that I don’t support the rejection of the palace interference with democratic processes, but surely there should be consistency in apportioning that most terrible of Malay tongue-lashing, biadap to politicians. Why only demonise the DAP leader? And my query is not just directed at pro-UMNO bloggers.

Yes, what happened to those so-called (federal) opposition bloggers who were so enthusiastic about tearing into Lim Kit Siang - cat got your browser tongue? Or, did a frog jump into your throat?

Tee Choon Shai rising like a lotus bloom

2008-03-23T17:44:00.006+08:00

This is the commendable and proud story of a pasar malam girl who proved her detractors wrong.

Tee Choon Shai who helped her parents run a fruit business at a night market in Malacca was sneered at by her customers for what she has been, a mere pasar malam girl who would not amount to anything.

She proved them wrong, and not only by graduating from UTM as a Bachelor of Quantity Surveying, but winning the university’s vice-chancellor award for excellence in her programme.

I salute Tee for her diligent study, excellent achievements and awards but most of all her filial piety in helping her parents. Tee, lu chin chnea oo hau.

Tee with proud mum admiring the VC award

It seems strange that her customers, apart from being cruel, could be so arrogant and snobbish as to believe that children of tradesmen couldn't study and succeed.

kaytee was brought up on stories of poor Penangites, who were children of hawkers and various other poor tradesmen, who studied by the street lamps and made it good by becoming scholars, doctors, engineers, etc.

Maybe it’s different in Penang where we have a traditional culture of scholarship. Our parents, relatives, school principals and teachers would keep reminding us of examples (Penangites of course) of such endeavours and achievements, and for us to emulate our exemplary predecessors.

Mukhriz Mahathir - too hot to handle

2008-03-18T21:05:00.001+08:00

From Malaysiakini:

Umno Youth: No action against Mukhriz

Mukhriz Mahathir told AAB to resign for good of party.

AAB would have been better off if he had kept silent and pretended to ignore Mukhriz, because when he consigned the young man to UMNO Youth for disciplinary action (for saying out loud what everyone in UMNO except KJ was quietly saying?), the UMNO Youth executive council passed the buck back to AAB.

Keris waver Hishammuddin Hussein said no action will be taken against Mukhriz for writing a letter to Abdullah asking him to step down following the March 8 polls. UMNO Youth said it was for the party president to decide.

The power play in UMNO is currently so fluid that no one dares offend anyone.

Sharks closing in on a mortally wounded AAB

2008-03-16T19:43:00.006+08:00

Denizens of the jungles or seas know when to zoom in on a prey. The popular example would be that of sharks smelling or sensing blood and moving swiftly towards their victims. An injured prey is of course better - easy food!

So Malaysiakini tells us in Pak Lah's days as PM are numbered, in a piece that illustrates the wounded AAB being circled by his cannabilistic UMNO compatriots for the kill:

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has defiantly claimed a mandate to rule despite unprecedented election losses, but observers say he is on borrowed time as calls for his resignation persist.
[…]

Just before Friday's address, the son of former premier Mahathir Mohamad wrote to Abdullah calling on him to quit, in the first open sign of revolt from within Umno.
[…]

Pressure on the premier is also coming from Umno's rank-and-file who have signed up to a petition for him to quit posted on a pro-Mahathir website.

Analysts said Abdullah's days as prime minister are numbered and that if he refused to step down he would likely be challenged at Umno's internal elections later this year.

"He's a lame duck prime minister," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert from Johns Hopkins University who observed the elections.

"The reality is the business community is looking at him and thinking, how long will he stay there, and the longer he stays it's going to introduce more uncertainty."

Even some royalty are bucking constitutional processes in the appointments of States’ MBs, a clear sign that the people’s top representative is being ignored.

Well, let’s see how those 4th Floor geniuses cope with this clear & present danger for AAB.

Dead men walking

2008-03-11T19:48:00.002+08:00

The Star Online flashed Barisan to conduct post-mortem!

;-) how appropriate – the title I mean, because 'post-mortem' is defined as:

1. Occurring or done after death.
2. Of or relating to a medical examination of a dead body.

No doubt the autopsy (inspection and dissection of a body after death, as for determination of the cause of death; post-mortem examination) will reveal that the patient expired ;-) due to deafness, blindness and excessive gluttony!

But AAB needs to be aware there are some zombies, rumoured to be in Soongkay Seepoot and Kookoolai, who refused to lie down like the ~~mayat~~ bangkai (corpses) they have become.

Incidentally Malaysiakini has reported the sad demise of a Port Klang ‘royalty’.

Perhaps AAB may wish to consider a wake jointly for them, assuming he can stay awake.

They hail me as one living,
But don’t they know
That I have died of late years,
Untombed although?

I am but a shape that stands here,
A pulseless mould,
A pale past picture,
screening Ashes gone cold.

[...]

- Thomas Hardy

EC reneges on indelible ink promise

2008-03-04T21:13:00.001+08:00

Extracts from Malaysiakini news article EC U-turn on use of indelible ink:

***

PKR’s deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali did not mince his words when he charged that the [EC’s] cancellation of the use of indelible ink was clear proof that the “EC is colluding with BN to allow cheating in the coming general elections”.

“Despite all assurances and false gestures, it is now clear the (EC chairperson) Abdul Rashid (Abdul Rahman) is content to conduct the 12th general election in an atmosphere completely bereft of integrity,” he said in a statement.

“Citing 'public order' and 'security' is also nonsensical reasoning that is perfectly consistent with the language of forces around the world who seek to suppress democratic freedoms,” he added.

[…]

He also said that candidates have observed irregularities in postal voting, and revealed "hundreds and thousands" of false addresses, dead individuals and voters over 100 years old in the electoral rolls.

[…]

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also said that the decision today would only benefit BN as it amounted to the EC sanctioning the ruling party’s "cheating and abuses" in the election.

He said that the EC must also explain as to how the use of indelible ink can threaten public order and security issues.

“It is ridiculous that the use of indelible ink can put the whole country into chaos and ruination,” he said.

He also said that the decision to cancel the use of indelible ink meant that the EC was wasting the RM2 million spent on buying 47,000 bottles of indelible ink.

“The EC has also destroyed its credibility, integrity and independence by cancelling the use at the last minute when it had earlier touted the use of indelible ink as a sign of its commitment towards ensuring free, fair, clean elections,” he said.

[…]

PKR vice-president R Sivarasa, who is also the candidate for Selangor's Subang parliamentary seat, matched the indignation unleashed by Dzulkifli.

"I am completely shocked by this decision. It is tantamount to perpetuating a fraud on the elections," he said.

"From last July to just recently they told the Malaysian public that they were using indelible ink. And the reasons they give for cancelling the ink are nonsensical. How can marking someone's finger have anything to do with national security?" he asked

Rumble in Rembau

2008-02-29T19:36:00.001+08:00

Malaysiakini report on Election 2008:

PKR alleges BN hooliganism in Rembau!

Aiyoh, Rembau kah?

PKR candidate in Rembau, Badrul Hisham Shaharin has accused BN of using ‘hooligan tactics’ in the fight (excuse the deliberate pun) to win the parliamentary seat. He claimed that PKR’s campaign posters were ripped off. Then in Rantau, BN supporters had aggressively stopped his supporters from putting up the party’s campaign posters.

Were there motorcycle sounds nearby? You know, those Rembau Rempits?

According to Badrul, his BN opponent, none other than AAB’s SIL, has been severely rattled by PKR’s posters and leaflets that exposed the ECM Libra-Avenue merger scandal involving SIL.

As Malaysiakini explained, the ECM Libra-Avenue merger had raised eyebrows when the deal was approved by AAB shortly after Khairy had bought a RM9.2 million worth of direct stake in ECM Libra. This led to wide criticisms of cronyism as AAB was overseeing government-linked companies (GLCs) in his capacity as finance minister.

The family that stays together ‘shares’ together – an Islam Hadhari dictum?

Humpty Dumpty declared war on PKR, well ... sort of

2008-02-27T20:31:00.003+08:00

Headlines from the Star Online:

48 illegal immigrants nabbed in Ops Jaja
The Ops Jaja conducted by the Immigration Department to nab illegal immigrants in Kuala Lumpur started off on a successful note with the arrest of 48 nationals from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Vietnam.

Cops seize RM300,000 worth of PC parts
Police seized RM300,000 worth of computer hardware believed to be linked to illegal gambling syndicates during a mid-afternoon raid on Monday.

Monday shootout included Mamak gang member
One of the three men who were killed in a shootout on Monday is a member of the notorious Mamak Gang.

Wah, the BN government has solved all crimes in a flurry of activities one week before Election 2008. I have been reading the amazing police success day after day ... er ... in the Star Online.

Phew, we voters can now sleep peacefully with our wonderful police finally back in charge of security again, thanks to information from the Star Online.

Oh, maybe not everything is swell as Malaysiakini tells that Humpty Dumpty has accused PKR 'samseng' behind demos involving the Indian community.

He declared: “People who bunyi-bunyi di jalan raya (make noise on the streets) are all from the opposition. They are using the name of Hindraf. But they are not Hindraf. They are all samseng Keadilan (PKR thugs). They are causing fear amongst the public."

"Opposition parties give liquor to people to cause trouble. This is the new technique of the new century."

Sh*t, why didn’t anyone tell me about this ... er ... 'new technique' earlier ;-) I could have gotten a few free drinks

Humpty Dumpty then boasted his party was capable of retaliation against the PKR ‘war’, declaring: "We can do that too. If they really want to have war, we can show them war (to show our strength). We have thousands of MIC Youth (members). But they follow the law."

Well, he better make up his mind whether he wants to fight or obey the law.

Meanwhile my blogging mate Lucia Lai of Mental Jog tells us of dirty tricks in Sungai Siput where the police and its light force team barged into Dr Jeyakumar’s ceramah while it was halfway on and force them to stop.

Dr Jeya just so happens to be (coincidentally of course), the PSM candidate contesting against Humpty Dumpty.

'Loh' blows?

2008-02-22T19:24:00.001+08:00

From Malaysiakini:

Loh Gwo Burne, the bloke responsible for recording the controversial phone conversation of VK Lingam, will be contesting in the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat on a PKR ticket.

Well done, Loh. You have been handsomely rewarded. Hey you might even win the seat, which is currently held by another Loh (Seng Kok) who had the temerity to criticise the ketuanan Melayu creative idea of Malaysian history.

The MCA’s Loh is not nominated for this election, presumably to appease UMNO wrath, because he was warned not only by UMNO but by PAS also!

Also read 50 UMNO Youths Threatened MCA MP!

Return of the Malaccan Scary Kid?

2008-02-17T17:54:00.002+08:00

Star Online reports Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik announced I am ready to make a comeback. It wrote:

Umno supreme council member and former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik is prepared to make a comeback and contest in the general election should the party decide to field him.

“I can contribute to the nation’s progress. If the party decides I should stand for election, I will,” he said.

Jeez, what a frightening thought!

I am going to lock up my young 15-year old niece, and that’s because this bloke had ... er ... recently threatened racial violence when he declared:

“The Malays have never taken the street so do not force us to do so as we will draw our parang (machete) to defend the Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) in this country.”

Read my post Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik's Ketuanan Melayu via machete - case of 'inexperience'?

No sirree, I don’t want my young underage sweet looking niece wondering around when such an ‘immature’ bloke may possibly behave like an ‘underage’ kid. And he's a Tan Sri!!!

Scary lah!

CSL still in firm control of Johore MCA

2008-02-10T13:38:00.001+08:00

It seems that former Health Minister Chua Soi Lek is still, to borrow a Malaysiakini favourite word, 'helming' ;-) the MCA in Johore, even though Tan Kok Hong is officially the State (acting) Chairman.

'Unusually' the Star Online povided this news item on CSL who's not in OKT's camp:

LABIS: MCA elected representatives who are prepared to give way to new faces must be commended, said former party leader Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“We want to see the party go through a process of self renewal when people who have served long leave and give the opportunity to the younger people to take over,” he said at a Chinese New Year open house here yesterday.

Three MCA leaders in the state have indicated that they are willing to step down to give way to new candidates. They are Richard Low (Bentayan), Chong Ah Onn (Paloh) and Datuk Yap Chik Dong (Tangkak).

Dr Chua said that most of the first-term candidates in the state would be retained in the coming elections.

On speculation that Bekok assemblyman Tan Kok Hong may move to the Labis parliamentary seat to succeed him, Dr Chua said that it was unlikely as Tan was still needed to serve in the state.

MCA has eight parliamentary and 15 state seats. Twelve candidates contested for the first time in 2004.

But what about Chan Kong Choy's recent comment that there is no such thing as a limit of 3 terms for MPs or MLA (in other words challenging party president OKT's policy)?

Anwarista from Ga-Ga Land

2008-02-06T23:04:00.000+08:00

This bloke who wrote to Malaysiakini about Seat talks: Show courage DAP, PAS lives in ga-ga-land.

He’s virtually asking PAS and DAP to self destruct so that PKR can waltz through like a virgin princess.

For example he wrote:

It is easy to blame the simple-minded voters as being very easily manipulated. Sure, the ordinary voter is quite simple-minded. That is exactly why the country needs enlightened opposition leaders to show the way to overcome a stacked deck, instead of perpetuating the status quo by playing to the galleries and looking for immediate gratification.

Should DAP and PAS continue to think of themselves as just the opposition, then the opposition they will always be. The BN will always prevail if the present mindset of PAS and DAP leaders remains a leftover from the sixties.

So?

But for the sake of our future generations, I urge that DAP and PAS leaders lead by example and show enough courage to go off the beaten track and allow PKR the leeway it needs. This is necessary, if only to test whether or not Malaysians are so hard-wired into racial politics that they are beyond redemption.

This is not really a plea. It is an advisory that should progressive forces abandon the present attempt at moulding the opposition into a cohesive force, DAP and PAS could very well be the first victims of an offensive towards a two-party system. It will be a longer and tougher route, but I have not heard of anyone crying for the dinosaurs.

“…I have not heard of anyone crying for the dinosaurs.”

Thanks a zillion, my dear chap, your PKR is nothing more than a convenient platform for Anwar to get back into UMNO, so why the hell would two long standing parties give way to him?

And read Proarte's letter to Malaysiakini on Anwar Ibrahim to know something about your idol.

IGP on defensive in Sharlinie's search

2008-02-03T19:26:00.000+08:00

Much as I suspect the recent government beat up about deploying zillions of soldiers and an armada of helicopters to search for missing five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar was politically driven, as a PR/damage control exercise to show the rakyat that the UMNO-led government cares, I too pray the search would be successful.

As if to support my cynical take of the government’s belated massive hunt, the Petaling Jaya Puteri Umno also participated in the search for Sharlinie. The grossly ambitious chief of Puteri Umno is Noraini Ahmad – remember her? At the last Umno general assembly she resurrected the Namawee episode long after it was dead and already forgotten merely to score a heroic ethnic point, by declaring that Puteri UMNO won’t accept the Namewee’s apology.

Her archaeological attempt to dig up dead issues as an ethnic fishing trip caught many by surprise so much so that they expelled a rather startled 'Huh?'.

I blogged on that in Malay 'sacrifice', Chinese 'sacrifice'.

Now she has launched the Searching for Sharlinie Road Trip at Lake Titiwangsa. The aim is to hand out 20,000 posters at various stops from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca.

OK, maybe it’s not a bad thing for poor wee Sharlinie, but I am sceptical of Umno’s recent interest in a missing girl when its record hasn’t shown that sort of dedicated attentiveness to missing little girls.

But the pits was when our world renown IGP excused his police force’s lack of success in locating Sharlinie after the massive search, by blaming the parents. He went into defensive mode when parties began questioning the police effectiveness, especially in real police work that are unrelated to corruption or ‘crowd control’.

When someone raised the disappearance of another child going in the same area as Sharlinie a day before she (Sharlinie) went missing, he said defensively but insensitively that if parents had taken care of their children in the first place, it would not have happened.

Ain’t that a f*-wonderful motherhood statement, but how the f* is that going to bring back Sharlinie and the other girl?

Then he mumbled: “We have received a lot of information but none of it is accurate. If there is any hope of finding her, accurate information must be given.”

Wonderful illuminating police information, ain't it! In other words, according to the amazing IGP, as the police had received 'inaccurate' information, Sharlinie's parents might as well give up hope of the police ever finding her.

Please read my earlier post Crime solved, no thanks to police to learn that we cannot depend on the police to do much for the rakyat, especially under the current IGP.

Then I had blogged on how Saidin Rashid and his brother, on their own initiative and investigation, no f*-thanks to the police, traced Saidin’s missing (kidnapped) daughter all the way to a remote village in Sulawesi, Indonesia, after police had done f*-all.

I commented: 'Aha, our intrepid men in blue have been so busy buggering legitimate protestors and harassing opposition politicians and their followers, that they had to leave the solving of the kidnapping to a couple of amateurs, who did it out of family love!'

'If not for the drive and strength of their family love and their initiative, and the matter left to the incompetent police, Maslina would today be the child bride if not sex slave of an Indonesian man somewhere in the middle of nowhere.'

Ipoh's floods washed up 'unrepresentative swill'

2008-01-31T17:20:00.000+08:00

Extracts from the Star Online news article on Ipoh floods: Residents file report against mayor.

********

After suffering from more than 30 flooding incidents for the past 40 years, residents from Taman Merdeka here are fed-up. A group of them, representing 360 residents from 50 homes on Jalan Sungai and Jalan Merdeka lodged a police report against the mayor at the district police station here on Wednesday.

Retired Public Works Department technician M. Bala, 59, said that the report stated that the mayor had always treated the flood problems lightly and had never taken any mitigating measures.

"Each flood costs a family at least RM3,000 in losses. That means annually, all the families lose over RM100,000 to the floods. Besides that, many of us have gotten sick because we have had to lug around our possessions in the rain. In all this, no one has taken pains to either come to our aid or take remedial action," he said on Thursday.”

[…]

Bala said that at least 30 letters of appeal and complaint had been sent to the mayor's office over the past few years, asking for mitigation works to be done like improving the current infrastructure and drainage system in order to prevent flooding in the future.

Ipoh Datuk Bandar Datuk Mohamad Rafiai Moktar said that the council was aware of the flood problems in the city. "We are trying our best to come up with solutions," he said.

He added that the floodgates at Sungai Pari in Taman Merdeka had been stolen a few months ago. "I have asked the Drainage and Irrigation Department to replace the floodgates. I will also ask them to conduct a thorough study of the area. We will do what we can," he said.

********

Hmmm, so for the past few years, the floodgates at Sungai Pari in Taman Merdeka were stolen annually?

And bullsh*t to his "... We will do what we can ..." because obviously he hasn't done as much as he could have, when public members had been complaining in vain for the past few years..

This is an inevitable problem with an unelected major, an appointment, to borrow the succinct words of a former PM of another country, that is of ‘unrepresentative swill’.

The reality is that the bloke isn’t, and of course doesn't bother to be, answerable to the public. He gets appointed by his UMNO boss. He is f*-safe from public complaints or anger.

Malaysia Boleh!

Crime solved, no thanks to police

2008-01-27T13:40:00.000+08:00

The following post is based on a report by the Star Online.

12-year old Maslina Siadin was kidnapped by an Indonesian who was infatuated with her. He took her all the way back to Ramaraja, a village in south-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia, with the intention to marry her.

If you know Indonesia, you would then realise how difficult it would have been for anyone, especially a foreigner, to trace Maslina to that remote location, apart from the complexities of international boundaries and the multi-fold layers of a difficult and corrupt Indonesian bureacracy.

But her father, Siadin Rashid, a farmer in Balik Pulau did just that! Bravo, you jaguh lah, my man!

With the help of his brother, Jalil Rashid, who is an immigration officer at the Penang International Airport, they finally managed to trace her whereabouts and found out about her location through their own sources.

Huh? They traced the whereabouts of Maslina on their own initiative and through their own sources? Mana police then?

Aha, our intrepid men in blue have been so busy buggering legitimate protestors and harassing opposition politicians and their followers, that they had to leave the solving of the kidnapping to a couple of amateurs, who did it out of family love!

If not for the drive and strength of their family love and their initiative, and the matter left to the incompetent police, Maslina would today be the child bride if not sex slave of an Indonesian man somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

The Star reported:

Siadin and Jalil both left for Indonesia on Jan 17 to find Maslina. They were first reunited with her on Jan 20 at the southeast Sulawesi district police station.

“The man suspected of abducting Maslina was arrested. We believe he took her because he wanted to marry her. After all the paperwork was completed, Maslina was finally sent back to Malaysia on Jan 22,” Jalil said …….. […]

Balik Pulau MP and Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, who was also present, commended Siadin and Jalil for their efforts in searching for Maslina.

“I hope other parents will also learn from this incident,” he said.

Pity he didn’t blast the police who had failed miserably to do what two amateurs have achieved, namely, investigated and solved a kidnapping case successfully. No wonder our crime rates have gone ballistic.

But when he said he hoped that other parents would learn from the incident, did he mean that the public can no longer expect the police to deliver, but they should instead depend on their own initiatives?

Mind you, I wouldn't be at all surprised! But I would recommend to the Royal Malaysian Police to seek consultant advice on crime from the Rashid brothers lah!

Look out for missing Sharlinie

2008-01-27T06:15:00.000+08:00

As thousands of police and soldiers are currently looking for Sharlinie, I feel I would let this post take its place with the rest of my posts from today, Sunday 27 January 2008. My prayers continue to be for her safe return.

MIC in action, but does Indian community supports this action?

2008-01-26T08:19:00.000+08:00

A report from Malaysiakini:

A MIC branch leader with strong links to the party leadership has been accused of using his position as the head of the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) to create a culture of fear in an elite Tamil school in Subang Jaya.

Parents and teachers at the SRJK (T) Tun Sambanthan in USJ15 - the first Tamil smart school - are complaining that the man, S Murali, is using his PIBG position to strengthen his political base, a charge denied by the businessman.

To date, the teachers alone have lodged nine police reports on Murali’s various acts, including instances of issuing threats, harassment and violent conduct.

Parents also lodged three separate reports and they had sought the intervention of the Education Ministry, state education department, district education office and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

“However, we have not heard anything from any of them. He is still ‘ruling’ the school, in disregard of the school headmaster and teachers and by ignoring the wishes of the parents,” a parent complained to Malaysiakini today.

The latest police report against Murali was lodged by a teacher in the school on Jan 14, claiming that the PIBG chairperson has issued a death threat to her. She had previously lodged another report on Jan 26, 2006 stating that she was worried of her safety after being threatened by Murali.

“All the teachers are in fear of him. He would just enter a classroom and start questioning the teachers on unrelated matters,” said KS Selva, whose two children are studying in the school.

Selva added that complaints made by the teachers to their headmaster too had fallen on deaf ears. In fact, he added, a headmaster and two senior assistants have been transferred out following their continuous complaints against Murali.

“Murali openly claims that he has the right connection in the ministry and the MIC. He uses this school as a place for him to build his political base,” added another parent A Chandramohan.

Bad for students, school

Chandramohan said the school has a bright future but now risk being an average school due to the high-handed attitude of Murali.

“If this continues, more teachers will leave the school. Parents too are going to take their children out. He has to be stopped,” added Chandramohan who has two daughters studying in the school.

Another parent, P Vijayakumar said that he had transferred his daughter out of the school after seeing Murali’s destructive role in the PIBG.

“He is not helping the school at all. He is a politician who wants to control the school. He wants to show that he is actually running the school and in doing so, he is destroying this educational institution,” he added.

“As PIBG chairperson, Murali has no right to interfere in the administration of the school. He has no right to question or scold the teachers. He should just be helping the school in non-administrative matters,” said Vijayakumar.

Murali has been the PIBG chairperson since 2004 and in the past four years, complaints of various nature have been made against him - ranging from harassment to abuse of PIBG funds, according to several other parents who spoke to Malaysiakini.

The parents are at their tether’s end on how to ensure that their children could study in a more conducive environment.

“The students are directly seeing Murali’s robust actions on a regular basis. They see their teachers being warned and threatened. They are scared and this is affecting their studies,” said Vijayakumar.

“On the other hand, teachers are also getting fed up with Murali’s actions. If this continues, they might just seek a transfer. The school and students will end up losers,” he said.

The parents recently submitted a memorandum to Suhakam, asking the rights body to intervene in ensuring that their rights are protected.

They are also disappointed that the Education Ministry has not acted on their numerous complaints.

“We were told that he has the support of some top level MIC leaders who continue to back him,” added another parent.

Why I want to go into advertising!

2008-01-22T18:35:00.000+08:00

Letter to Malaysiakini - Korean scandal only a drop in the ocean.

********

I refer to the Malaysiakini report 'Korean scandal': Tourism DG vows to act.

I sniggered with amusement when I read that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor to deal with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) regarding the ‘Korean scandal’. Isn’t that like asking the wolf to deal with the farmers on why so many goats have been missing from the farm?

The PM might as well have come out openly and said that he wants the matter closed for good as it is damaging our nation’s image. That would have been a quicker option, but then again, elections are around the corner and so diplomacy has to take centre stage and a cover-up has to look at least semi-authentic.

Everyone in the industry knows that mega-bucks spent on advertising campaigns have long been a ‘modus operandi’ of the corrupt to siphon funds into personal accounts. This has been happening for a long time both in the private and government sectors. The bigger the advertising budget, the greater the hanky-panky.

No prizes for guessing the size of the annual advertising budget of our Tourism Ministry. Guess what was the budget for the recent Visit Malaysia campaign? Many can’t even count that high but just take a look at the poor quality of the advertising campaigns.

Two companies that come to mind for mega-advertising budgets are Malaysia Airlines (during the former management) and Telekom Malaysia, the later which recently undertook a full-scale brand/ advertising campaign. Basically, TM spent hundreds of millions of ringgit to change their corporate colour from blue to orange. Of course, senior management was very pleased with the colour change.

Corruption is at the core of every aspect of Malaysian life. Corruption in advertising and promotions runs into the hundreds of millions each year. The Korean scandal is only a drop in the ocean.

Over the last few weeks, the Tourism Ministry awarded more Advertising & Promotion contracts to some advertising companies for exorbitant amounts. Many of these companies are unknown in the advertising fraternity and would not be able to secure any contracts in an ethical society. Mr Prime Minister, maybe we can put another wolf to check on these contracts awarded?

Raja Bodek's promise to Indians - all hot air

2008-01-14T15:30:00.000+08:00

Malaysiakini today published what many people already know, that Raja Bodek has done diddly squat for the Penang Indians. Its headlines asked Is Koh 'sincere and honest' about helping Indians?

;-) well, you judge from the following extracts (in italised blue highlights):

In 50 years of independence, this is the first time a chief minister has held a dialogue session with Indian NGOs and temple committees.

Let’s be fair – he wasn’t the CM for the last fifty years but the Gerakan Party provided the CM since 1969, though everyone knows the current Deputy CM Abdul Rashid Abdullah of UMNO is the de facto CM.

But it does prove that the Perikatan-Gerakan-BN, each in turn has been taking the poor Indians for granted, like vassals to be summoned to cast their votes for Sahib once every five years. Dei, mama, auntie, aneh, aka, tambee and tangachee, time to flex your H-power - vote wisely.

Malaysiakini photo - some Penang sweeties

However only NGOs, temple committees and local community leaders who are presumed as Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters were invited to the meeting.

Raja Bodek claimed: "I can ensure you that the state government will (do everything in) its power to address all issues pertaining to Indian affairs" yet he’s marginalising non-BN Indian supporters. Where's the sincerity?

"If Koh and his government are serious, he would have unveiled a blueprint by now on current and future plans to improve the standard of living of the Indian community," said a delegate.

Too right mate, Raja is all talk only. But then for you from the BN to say this must surely reflect on the wisdom of your political allegiance.

Although delegates raised various questions touching on housing, temples, Tamil schools and economic opportunities, Koh could not produce any concrete plans to allay fears of continued hardship for those in the community.

Hahahahahahahhahahaha – what can be worse than the BN for Indians?

Answer = Raja Bodek for Indians.

Dei Police, lu wrong direction liao

2008-01-10T04:49:00.000+08:00

Crime rates are soaring and what do the police do?

They chase after some imaginary (or fabricated) terrorists. Hmmm, maybe they like to play ‘cops and ~~robb…~~ terrorists’?

Malaysiakini published news articles 13% spike in violent crimes: police and then a day later Cops go after Hindraf donors.

In the latter, according to one source, who wisely chose to remain unnamed, the police involved in the ‘interrogation’ has been the Commercial Crimes Department. It was revealed that during the questioning, the mata mata made no reference to the terrorist offences. Instead they averred the donor, a company, could be charged for impropriety in soliciting donations and funds.

kaytee believes it might be just the usual pre-election bullsh*t, to keep the ‘heartland’ concerned against ‘terrorists’ where only UMNO can protect them. Keep the rage up!

We can see why it’s hardly surprising that crime rates have shot through the ceiling, more so when the IGP is also ‘up there’ with his helicopter.

Aiyah, Malaysia Boleh, tetapi Police lebih Boleh lah!

PM woos civil servants

2008-01-08T16:09:00.000+08:00

If the following report by the Star Online isn't positive indication of pre-election campaigning, I don't what is. But will the majority of civil servants vote for UMNO?

***

Pat on back for civil servants

PUTRAJAYA: The various measures taken to improve the government's delivery system have been fruitful, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The measures included the establishment of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah), a joint initiative by the Government and private sector to improve the delivery system and simplify business operations.

The Prime Minister said: “The complaints which were sometimes humiliating are no longer heard. There has been much improvement and it's true that efforts to provide service had improved last year.

“Thank you and congratulations to all of you. But we can't be complacent, because such an attitude will not be able to add value to the efforts that we have put in,” he said at the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister's Department yesterday.

Abdullah called on civil servants to improve performance, efficiency, productivity and diligence in discharging their responsibilities as part of their new year's resolution.

“Hopefully, such determination will bring about results as aspired by the people,” he said.
He said civil servants should also be proud of the achievements in the past year and strive to further improve this year.

“Equip yourself with the latest knowledge to improve quality and achieve excellence,” he said.

Govt's restriction on purchase of cooking oil due to health reason?

2008-01-06T07:39:00.000+08:00

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche (Let them eat cake)

- Marie Antoinette (alleged by, not not true)

Remember Maamor Osman and the Muslim Consumers Association?

I touched on them in a previous posting Is God humorous? Then I had written:

“Predictably, the secretary-general of the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia, Maamor Osman, asked for Evan Almighty to be banned because he considered it as an insult to Islam. It’s a comedy so of course it’s scripted to be funny, but Maamor alleged the film pokes fun at God and the Prophet Noah.”

“As they say, one man’s humour is another’s bellyache. But surely one's faith must be strong enough to tolerate a bit of laughter. After all, aren't we creations of God? If we like to laugh at humour, surely that's God's will, and who is Maamor to speak against HIS will.”

In that post I was also informed by notable blogger Marina Mahathir that “…the Muslim Consumers Association has a history of trying to stir up things. For example, they were the ones who complained about the ice cream cookies which purportedly had a cross on them. The guy's trying to make a name for himself with this sort of publicity.”

Indeed.

Well, he’s back for another stab at making a ‘name’ for himself.

Yesterday I had blogged over at KTemoc Konsiders about the current acute shortfall of cooking oil being the failure of the government, especially more so for a nation that’s a leading producer of palm oil.

When Malaysiakini reported that DPM Najib had to come out to urge the people not to panic over the disgraceful shortage, dear Maamor Osman of course chipped in to endow us with his ‘wisdom’, that the government imposed purchase limit of 5 kg of cooking oil “was to encourage Malaysian consumers to lead a healthy lifestyle.”

He pontificated: "There are many other ways consumers can cook ... not necessarily only by using cooking oil. They can also steam vegetables if they want."

Yes, my grandfather did even better. He ate raw ubi kayu (tapioca) during the Japanese Occupation, so I dare say that 'steaming' may still be too extravagant a method of cooking as it's rather wasteful of a rapidly decreasing commodity, fuel ... unless of course Maamor Osman will be suggesting we ‘grill’ the ubi kayu in fierce sunlight which we have plenty of ... except on rainy days during the current northeast monsoon ...

Maybe Maamor Osman has more healthy lifestyle tips for us, like, for a good start, not eating the government bullsh*t that’s being peddled to hide the incompetency of our officials and the inefficiency of their policies and administration.

Silent epidemic of Chinese community

2007-12-15T22:48:00.000+08:00

Star Online reported that an annual average of 122,500 Chinese students are dropping out of school.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai called it a ‘silent epidemic’.

He claimed that Chinese students aged between 15 and 17 were opting out of secondary schools to work as mechanics (not too bad, not everyone can be a profesor of microbiology or nuclear medicine), CD sellers (OK provided they are legal), and probably even as machais of the likes of Ah Longs (oh oh oh!).

I believe this machai worry is true because a neighbour’s 16 year old son is doing just that, associating with what Penang Lang (Penangites) would describe as ‘mmm snar mmm see’ (dodgy people).

Obviously those youngsters aren’t doing well in their academic endeavours. Liow claims that loss of interest in studies and broken homes are the root causes of this epidemic. I have something to say about 'broken homes'.

He said: “Other races record an annual dropout rate of 10.3%, but the Chinese student situation is alarming. It needs to be tackled immediately.”

Does this statement make him a racist like those Hindraf leaders?

But Liow, who’s the MCA Youth Chief, said the party was making every effort to train the dropouts in courses like plumbing, air-condition repairs and maintenance, batik printing, marine engineering and automobile engineering.

He said: “Most of these dropouts are not keen to go back to their books but possess an ability to work with their hands.”

All 122,500 of them? Hey, is there an adverse relationship between academic performance and skilful hands?

United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon said the reasons why students chose to drop out were becoming better known.

Would the findings show that these reasons are the same as Liow’s claim of ‘loss of interest in studies and broken homes’?

He said the problem could not be resolved by schools alone, and the cooperation of parents and the community was also needed.

Indeed!

I personally believe that in the general case, parents have been the bloody culprits in this sorry issue, and in most cases it has nothing to do with 'broken homes'. Yes, there are some kids who can't make the academic grades (always have been) and I am not talking about them.

I note that many parents of today have over pampered their children into laziness and a loss of strategic outlook. Based on my neighbours and their children, those children have been brought up with hedonistic appetite and self-centred attitude rather than with the traditional Confucian discipline, competitive habits and strategic concerns for the future.

One spoilt brat was even supplied by his parents with three mobiles, 2 laptops and god knows what else - WTF, if that's not gross pampering, what was it then? His parents always boast that he knows what he wants to be - jeez, and let me tell you that boy ended up an abject failure in school.

Then he bull-ed his parents that he would study at some fancy (private and expensive) college but after enrolling, he spent his time with chicks and some 'mmm snar mmm see' people. I warned his parents about those dodgy people who could well be sizing their beloved son up for a nasty job, maybe even as a 'mule' (drug runner but staged for arrest as a statistic to please/accommodate 'friendlies') but my warnings weren't welcome as they rebuked me that their dearest darling son wasn't that sort of person.

Aiyoh, evolution for the worse!

Turquoise baju kurung again?

2007-12-13T05:18:00.000+08:00

Isn’t it wonderful that HRH the Sultan of Selangor has honoured Jeanne Abdullah with the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) which comes with the title Datin Paduka Seri.

Jeanne Abdullah heads this year’s awards list. I had hope for Malaysiakini to cover this important event, where no doubt a beaming Selangor MB Dr Mohd Khir Toyo would have stood by the side of Jeanne’s proud hubby, our indefatigable PM AAB, who was reported to be ‘looking’ and ‘listening’ attentively.

I had hope for poor Malaysiakini to be there, especially for the photo ops because I wanted to ascertain whether it was true that Jeanne has only one baju kurung, that's turquoise coloured, in which of course she always looks resplendent.

I noted that was the case in Elegant Smile - Elegant Title - Elegant Hopes? and then again in Star & Jeanne Abdullah - words words everywhere, but ....

Kayveas - screwed in every turn

2007-12-11T04:38:00.000+08:00

Malaysiakini reported the following:

........ Najib said PPP president M Kayveas will be asked to explain his statement to the press concerning the Hindraf rally.

In a report published by the Star today, Kayveas, who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the Indian community had protested against MIC and not the government.

“This is Kayveas’ view which was published in the daily, I will ask him to explain,” said the deputy premier.

In the report, Kayveas, who has been crossing swords with MIC leaders of late, was also quoted as saying, “Has the government done enough for the community? Some will say yes, some will say no. But MIC is answerable to both these groups.”

It’s funny because Kayveas was saying basically what other UMNO leaders/ministers and a few Malay commentators have been urging the Indian Malaysian Hindraf protestors to do – speak to MIC rather than protest.

Thus Kayveas has been absolutely correct in stating that MIC should answer whether the government has done enough for the Indian community.

So why should Najib show his displeasure at Kayveas ….. unless of course Humpty Dumpty has been poking fire ;-)

Poor Kayveas, screwed every turn of the way, on his way out of BN, and if he's lucky and behave like a good boy, probably an ambassador's post to say, Sri Lanka or Fiji?

The Dream Team in the Judiciary

2007-12-05T18:15:00.000+08:00

Extracts (in blue highlights and numbered 1 to 5) from Malaysiakini news item titled Abdul Hamid is new CJ, Zaki is judiciary's No 2 - kaytee performed some minor touchups to the extracts to give context and easier reference to the reading but didn’t change any reporting facts or meaning – the associated comments are solely mine:

(1) Court of Appeal president Abdul Hamid Mohamad has been today appointed as the new chief justice, which is the judiciary's most powerful post.

(2) Zaki Azmi - who has parachuted into the Federal Court three months ago - has been appointed Court of Appeal president, taking over Abdul Hamid’s former post. Zaki's lightning-fast promotion to the judiciary's No 2 post is unprecedented and is expected to raise eyebrows.

Comment No 1: Effectively this means Zaki Azmi is deputy to Abdul Hamid Mohamad, and baring the unforeseen, will be Chief Justice when the latter retires or resigns.

(3) Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad has a year of service left before reaching the age of compulsory retirement.

Comment No 2: See above Comment No 1

(4) Zaki Azmi previously served as Umno’s legal adviser and disciplinary committee chairperson. He was also the party’s selection committee secretary and deputy chairperson of the disciplinary board appeal panel.

Comment No 3: No comment!

(5) The King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, has consented to the appointment of the duo on the advice of the prime minister and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.

Comment No 4: Daulat Tuanku. Daulat Tuanku?

MCA in damage control spin over SJK (C)

2007-12-01T21:26:00.000+08:00

An extract from a Star news item titled PM - saviour of Chinese schools:

***

SUBANG JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is the “saviour” of Chinese schools, who has stopped the “micro” ones from being closed, said MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

He said that after former Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohamad suggested the closing of primary schools with fewer than 10 pupils in January 2004, the Prime Minister had immediately assured that these schools would not be closed but instead be allowed to be relocated.

“One of them is the SJK (C) Ladang Harcroft (which was previously located near Ayer Tawar, Perak),” he said here yesterday at the opening of the school that had been relocated to Puchong.

He said the school was moved to its current premises because there was increasing demand from residents in the Puchong area for a Chinese school.

“Puchong MP Lau Yeng Pheng and Kinrara assemblyman Dr Kow Cheong Wei had voiced out the wish of the residents in 2004 and by relocating the school, we killed two birds with one stone,” he said.

Ong said Abdullah also allocated RM200,000 for the school.

[...]

Ong also revealed that he often talked to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein before every Cabinet meeting.

“We discussed how to get the licence for the school to move from Perak to Selangor and it was the spirit of cooperation that helped us sort out the problem,” he said.

He said the MCA would always solve problems through mainstream channels in accordance with the Barisan Nasional spirit.

Acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said it was the Barisan Nasional spirit that had made the relocation of the school a reality.

“All parties collaborated in the relocation of the school as both the Gerakan and MCA presidents supported the relocation while Hishammuddin helped to get the licence for the cross-state move,” he said.

He said Abdullah’s attendance at the function also showed that he loved people from all races and that he had been very committed to education and human capital development.

***

Leave the MCA spinning sly semantics aside, the school in Perak was closed, period! The people in Ayer Tawar now don't have a SJK (C) to send their children to.

If the people in Puchong need one and there is one built, well and good, but why remove/steal one from Ayer Tawar, Perak? Puchong is virtually a world away for parents of Ayer Tawar and their children's schooling needs.

And let's not bull much ado about transferring a school licence from Perak to Selangor, as if the Education Minister had to fight hard when 'applying' to some higher eduucational/schooling authority for that 'transfer'.

And trust Raja Bodek to squeeze in a bodek ampu in an MCA salvage spinning show.

Singapore 'Homer' nodded

2007-11-22T20:25:00.000+08:00

From the Star Online:

Singapore officials were caught red-faced again Wednesday after the official car Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was travelling in punctured on the way to the airport.

The tyre puncture occurred just a few kilometres away from the Changi Airport as Abdullah was departing home after attending the Asean summit and the East Asian summit here since Monday.

According to officials when the BMW 7 series car had to stop along the highway, Abdulah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, had to hop into a security car since there was no other official car available.

The embarrassing incident happened on the heels of a boo-boo by the host broadcaster Monday night when the closed door informal dinner was shown live and the media had a peek at what was discussed by the leaders on the hot issue of the day - Myanmar.

Seems the perfect Singaporeans are not all that perfect afterall ;-) Yes, as they say, even Homer did nod.

Folly of Siva Subramaniam, Fury of Teresa Kok

2007-11-13T18:55:00.000+08:00

Sweetie pollie, Teresa Kok (DAP MP for Seputeh), whom I adore, suggested that Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam should resign el pronto for defending the police attack on a peaceful Bersih crowd in the Masjid Jamek vicinity.

She was gobsmacked that a Suhakam commissioner could defend the police violation of human rights in a mass gathering.

Malaysiakini reported her saying in sheer outrage: "More shocking is that Siva had told New Straits Times yesterday that the police did not use violence to control the crowd and that they have acted professionally on the matter."

Then she showed there’s steel beneath her sweet self: "Siva is either completely incompetent or utterly dishonest to make such a statement. He has brought further shame to Suhakam which has failed to investigate the police shooting in the gathering at Batu Buruk in Terengganu."

‘Siva is either completely incompetent or utterly dishonest ...’

Aiyoyo, I don’t know where Siva should bury his face.

But maybe he is in competition with Samy Vellu for the title of ........ ;-)

May be related ;-)
Deepavali Open House & MIC - Must I Cancel?

Hishamuddin Hussein rendered much 'weeping & gnashing of teeth'

2007-11-06T18:35:00.000+08:00

According to an article by Malaysiakini titled Umno’s keris is here to stay, UMNO Youth leader, Hishamuddin Hussein has virtually told MCA and the Gerakan Party, two of the non-Malay BN component parties to stick his keris up their you-know-what.

As far as he is 'concerned', UMNO Youth will continue to wave the keris – and given that we know he is ‘concerned’ about his position in UMNO, what with SIL breathing down his neck, we know why he has been obdurately insistent on waving a fighting/killing instrument in Malaysia's internal politics.

Malaysiakini photo

But that doesn’t mean we support or sympathize with his predication, on two counts.

Firstly, regardless of his attempt to euphemize (bullsh*t) away his act of grandstanding aggression, he was obviously playing to an ethno-centric gallery. We 'understand' only in the sense we know why, but as I mentioned, we cannot in all conscience ever support such blatant misuse of a warring instrument to emphasize his divisive and parochial polemics for what only must be for his own party credentials ..

... because it's blooming obvious that there is no sinister threat within the nation that is not of UMNO's making.

Secondly, by such polemical grandstanding, he further fertilizes and thus propagates the UMNO Youth’s belief in the supremacist concept of ketuanan Melayu, a 'pivotal' position ensured through the willing and ready use of illegal force.

Ironically, Hishamuddin is the son of our illustrious former PM Hussein Oon and grandson of the even more illustrious Oon Jaafar.

Now, remember when I wrote the other day about Sultan Azlan Shah and his impressive offspring, I mentioned the acorn not falling far from the oak tree. In Hishamuddin’s case, based on his lamentable conduct as UMNO Youth leader, he’s more like an exploding cotton pod that not flings the seed far away but also sees the wind aerial-spreading* him even further from the immediate surroundings of the redoubtable 'Oon' tree.

*hope my sweet biology teacher, Miss Toh, is not reading this – I can visualize her sweet frown at kaytee’s dodgy recollection of her wonderful lessons, while she would still have vivid recollection of my eating the papaya meant for class dissection

As a function of his ‘worried-about-my-position-in-UMNO’ factor, Hishammuddin went on a Tuah-ish offensive, whacking his so-called non-UMNO BN pals, not only in telling them to stuff his keris up their anal canals (er ... correct biological description, Miss Toh?), but also accusing them of being the real racists.

Now, that’s K~~eris~~onfidence with a capital ‘K’.

Borrowing and then modifying a recent line from AAB, he pontificated: “Do not create an enemy that is not there, and do not fear your own shadows.”

Then he employed that favourite UMNO leitmotif (no, not the Teflon-ising slogan but), the 'Malay sacrifice’ - he warned:

“Don’t get carried away by blunt racial sentiments until you lose the respect built upon years of sacrifices made by the Malays.”

Hmmm, do you see those UMNO people any worse off for all their so-called 'sacrifices'?

But I have to concede he did try for a wee while to inject some spin into the keris as a unifying factor, quoting the metallic alloy in the royal keris (conveniently omitting the fact of its political significance rather than that for ethnic unity), but then without Raja Bodek to support him, the unfamiliar effort was obviously far too great to conquer because he very rapidly plateau-ed on to his usual ‘zone of comfort’, by stating ominously:

“We the Youth wing, as the right-hand men of the party, have been entrusted to defend the principal foundations of Umno and we will do so to the last drop of blood we have left.”

It's a bloody (pun not intended) wonder UMNO Youth members don't suffer from anemia. Anyway, with that last drop of ~~blood~~ declaration, he was rewarded for his efforts with a rousing roar of approval from the congregation. I think he’ll be quite safe in the party’s election.

Meanwhile, in the Land of the ‘nons’, there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. The entire New Testament has only 7 mentions of weeping and gnashing of teeth, but I have lost count of the number of times the ‘nons’ in the BN had undergone the terrible experience.

In a recent voters’ opinion poll as to why the Chinese community were more likely to vote for the opposition in the coming general election, one reason given had been the frightening spectre of UMNO leaders waving the keris in threatening mode.

... which explains the weeping and gnashing of teeth by the MCA and Gerakan, the so-called coalition partners of UMNO. Both parties had previously lambasted Hishamuddin for being insensitive towards the feelings of other races, but their traditional supporters obviously must have felt that’s not good enough.

But kaytee believes the collateral punishment for the two BN component parties will be more at the Federal level (rather than in State seats) where the main beneficiary will be the DAP - Smile Teresa ;-)

Star & Jeanne Abdullah - words words everywhere, but ...

2007-11-03T19:25:00.000+08:00

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

- Samuel Taylor Coleridge in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner

While I had accused Malaysiakini of being guilty of over-murdering the word ‘helm’ ;-) I want to point out that the Star Online in its over-effusive praise of of the PM’s new wife has been equally guilty of the same crime with the words ‘resplendent’ and 'calm'.

Reporter Mazwin Nik Anis was full of superlatives in her news item on Jeanne Abdullah, who by the way, my dear Mazwin, carries the Malacca honour of Datuk Seri Utama and not Datin Seri as Mazwin had mistakenly written.

Yes, Ali Rustam held an award ceremony solely for her to receive the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka, which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama, so she’s a Datuk in her own rights and not a mere spouse of another Datuk.

Words that were used to described her were:

“... that's most outstanding about Datin Seri, it is her simplicity ...”

“She exudes elegance and grace but it is her simplicity that endears her to the people she meets.”

Maybe I better accuse Star Online of overusing ‘simplicity’ as well ;-)

Then that word again, “Jeanne keeps it simple, be it in her choice of words, dressing or food.”

Now the following is really interesting, a paragraph that the Star Online pushed out today:

"Looking resplendent in her turquoise and orange batik baju kurung with matching turquoise jewellery, Jeanne was calm when taking the barrage of questions fielded by eager journalists who had waited for months for this opportunity ..."

My previous post Elegant Smile - Elegant Title - Elegant Hopes? published on 01st July this year had the Star Online reporting:

“Looking resplendent in a turquoise baju kurung with matching bead earrings and necklace, Jeanne looked calm and poised as she received the title from Mohd Khalil.”

;-) So you have “Looking resplendent in a turquoise baju kurung ...” as well as “Jeanne looked calm ...”

Don’t you think the Star Online could be a bit creative in describing her, unless the Datuk Seri Utama only has one baju kurung and always look ‘calm’, or a template has been sent down from the Propaganda Ministry?

Politicians' Mach 3.0 mouths

2007-10-28T18:47:00.000+08:00

On Thursday I posted Badruddin Amiruldin insulted God! after I read a news article in Malaysiakini, which told us of a DAP member complaining about MPs making unparliamentary language and getting scot-free away with those abuses, and also of the UMNO tebuan keeper who shouted abusively at the DAP member.

"I used the foul word because I was defending my race and country. You were attacking my race and that's why God has taught you a good lesson by putting you in a wheelchair."

I commented with disgust at that UMNO MP predictably resorting to UMNO's favourite trifactor of Bangsa, Negara dan Agama, which automatically teflon-ised UMNO hoodlums to say anything and get away with it, eg. unbelievable cruel words against a wheelchair-bound parliamentarian.

Today Wong Chun Wai, the Star acting GEIC, wrote Politicians, think before you speak in his weekly column ‘On The Beat’.

A countryman of mine from the lovely paradise of Penang*, he took the high moral ground in his latest article and took three bites of the opposition cherry in one go, by castigating three baboons, one lion and a budu eater, and not for the RSPCA too.

* Eden until Koh Tsu Khoon ate the damn apple, or was it buah lam ... er ... leh - hope you weren’t thinking I was gonna use the p-- word

Wong lamented the improper use of obscene and insensitive language in Parliament. He printed some truths, as follows:

"They are an embarrassment to the Barisan Nasional and the Government. They may make headlines but Malaysians expect better quality debate from our legislators. To put it bluntly, they are making a fool of themselves and, as taxpayers, we are not amused that we are paying their allowances."

And what does PM AAB or DPM Najib do? The former remained in elegant silence whilst the latter dived away in his French-made submarine.

However, Wong claimed bloke who showed his despise for the physically disadvantaged had apologize though I recall, as I had read in Malaysiakini, the so-called apology was not made to the person offended.

The pseudo-apology was a classic example in applying the same evasive ungracious and cowardly formula of refusing to take full responsibility for an unmitigated wrong, which the two Bocor-ites used earlier by apologizing to women in general but not to the DAP lady MP offended. So, what good is an apology if it was not given graciously? Those so-called anak jantan lacked the real gonads to stand up for their errors and be counted as real men.

Then Wong also lambasted the budu eater for saying “that women divorcees were gatal (randy), saying he noticed that single mothers did not look like they were sad about their divorce. He said this was based on his observation at gatherings and parties, adding that these women seemed to be gatal.”

If I recall, the offender also didn’t apologise (probably because his mouth was full of budu) though the PAS leadership did disown his disgraceful misogynist comments, but failed abysmally to make him apologise - on second thoughts, perhaps the budu eater's mouth could have been full holding his missing gonads.

The lion was also shorn of his mane with Wong criticizing him for calling “the kettle black because the veteran politician also has a record of name-calling.”

Bloke had “used words like bodoh (stupid) and lembu (cow) on his fellow MPs.”

Wong said bloke has been known “not [to] do much research on his speeches but he makes the news because of his rhetoric in the Dewan Rakyat. Not to forget his suspensions and walkouts.”

Wong then climbed even higher on the moral grounds he had already positioned himself, by stating:

“... some of these MPs from rural and semi-rural constituencies are not the least worried about being criticised by the English press or bloggers. Their supporters reason that they have a grip on their rural voters and that their rhetoric has no political backlash at all as such news do not reach their voters.”

“If this is the reasoning, this assumption is certainly an insult to their electorate because we would like to believe that the voters would also judge them on their parliamentary performance and not merely be grateful for their contributions to the village functions.”

Hmmm - maybe Wong is too idealistic!

Then Wong said what I had said earlier in Badruddin Amiruldin insulted God!

"Malaysian voters are also tired of MPs who give the excuse that when they argue aggressively in the Dewan Rakyat, they are doing so to defend their race and religion. Such justification, to intimidate opponents, is unwarranted."

He concluded: "As Malaysians, we have a reminder for our politicians – think before you speak. Use your head because utterances which smack of insensitivity and ignorance can be used against you during the polls."

Oh, did I incidentally mention that Wong's The Star is linked to the MCA? Regardless, I do believe that the message Wong has published is exactly what most of us feel ought to be stated.

Will Zam praise Abdul Hadi Awang too?

2007-10-23T22:12:00.000+08:00

Three days ago Malaysiakini informed us that Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin applauded the court victory of Singapore former PM Lee Kuan Yew in his defamation win against the London Financial Times as a victory over the "Western values of press freedom."

The FT had to apologise to Lee and other members of his family and agreed to pay damages for false allegations contained in an article which dealt with political influence.

Zam said: "For me, the only language understood by the Western media is when their pockets are hit. The freedom preached by them is only rhetoric and their real value is money and for me the only way to fight the Western values of press freedom is by emulating Lee Kuan Yew's way."

Well, it seems that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has too won a libel suit against the Daily Mirror after the London-based newspaper mistakenly described him as an al-Qaeda leader, and even claiming poor Hadi Awang as being held at Guantanamo Bay.

Well, the Daily Mirror had to apologise to Hadi Awang and pay him compensation amounting to half a million ringgit.

I wonder whether Zam will now applaud Hadi Awang for ‘hitting the pockets of the Western media’, like he did Lee Kuan Yew.

Will Zam now say “the only way to fight the Western values of press freedom is by emulating Abdul Hadi Awang's way”?

Afterall, Hadi Awang is Malaysian while Lee isn't, and didn't DPM Najib say that with an achievement by a Malaysian, we all walk taller?

Malaysian's Faustian Pact with US Devil

2007-10-20T11:36:00.000+08:00

Malaysiakini has just published an interesting article Iraq: M'sian-born US soldier files lawsuit

It’s the dilemma of a Malaysian-born US Army soldier who joined the US Army but has now launched a legal bid to prevent the Army from sending him to Iraq, claiming deployment to the warzone would conflict with his religious beliefs.

Calvin Lee Chee Keong is a Buddhist as well as a PR in the USA.

He is 26-year-old but claims he had been duped by the US Army recruiters into joining the military in 2004 on the ‘assurance’ he would never have to leave the US during his three years military service or go to war.

Well, the US Army did keep that promise and didn't send him overseas in the 3-years he was on contract. However, Lee discovered to his horrors that his service has been extended and his unit would be deployed to Iraq. He sought conscientious objector status.

He claimed: "Every action of killing is so evil and wrong, I don't want to do any evil things and see any suffering happening right in front of my eyes."

Malaysiakini said that the Department of the Army rejected his conscientious objector application without explanation, despite recommendations for his release by a couple of Army officers, a chaplain and a mental health specialist.

Kaytee’s explanation on behalf of the US Army is that approving his application would set a ‘bad’ (to the US Army) precedence, especially during this period when the smell of Iraq is also the smell of Death. Other soldiers would then apply as conscientious objectors too. The up side is there will be a leap in American ‘belief’ in Buddhism and other anti-war religion like Jehovah Witnesses, etc.

In fact the American Civil Liberties Union revealed that in November (presumably last year), Lee had applied to a Malaysian temple to live as a monk after the end of his Army service, which was originally scheduled for September this year. But the following month, in December 2006, the Army informed Lee that his term of service was being extended and his unit would be deployed to Iraq.

From Day 1 (when I started blogging here at BolehTalk, way before I created KTemoc Konsiders) I have been anti-war and anti the American illegal and brutal invasion of Iraq and its avaricious interference in Iraqi affairs.

But I find it damn hard to believe in Calvin Lee’s explanation.

Lee is 26 years old, and only a PR of a foreign country (not a citizen), yet he joined the US Army, presumably in September 2004 (for the 3-year contract to end in September 2007) when the USA was already in Iraq since March 2003 – of course then it wasn’t all that bloody (not meant as an expletive here) bad for the Americans.

But anyway, I wish him well in his application, or as a perceived trouble maker I fear he’ll be sent by the US Army to places like the Ghazaliyah and Amariyah neighbourhoods of Baghdad or Fallujah. But this is a lesson that, when you deal with the Devil and enjoy his benefits, you have already sold your soul to him.

Malacca - truly Hang Tuah-ish Boleh!

2007-10-14T12:25:00.000+08:00

This is not the sort of stuff that will make it into Malaysiakini, not when you have news of the ACA threatening the people who reported the Lingam videotape with detention if those whistleblowers don’t reveal their sources, or the Malaysian Yusuf Goebbels qualifying AAB’s remarks for anyone to tell him (AAB) the ‘truth’ even if the ‘truth’ may be painful.

It seems, according to Yusuf Goebbels, that telling AAB the painful truth doesn’t apply to mainstream (BN controlled) press; in other words, he (AAB) doesn't want to hear it from the big ones (business of 'elegant silence' to continue as usual) but only from those who are going to tell it anyway.

Anyway, here's that news which didn't make it into Malaysiakini - Isn’t it wonderful that the great State of Malacca has, on the occasion of the 69th birthday of Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, its Yang di-Pertua Negeri, come out with its State awards, where the DPM, Najib Tun Razak, heads the list of honoured recipients. Hmmm, at least with the Star Online report, we read of Najib ‘heading’ the list and are spared Malaysiakini’s favourite word of ‘helm’ ;-).

And isn’t it great that this is just shortly after AAB’s new wife, Jeanne Abdullah was similarly honoured two months ago in a special ceremony held solely for her – see my post Elegant Smile - Elegant Title - Elegant Hopes?

Then I posted: Jeanne Abdullah has been conferred the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka by Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

The honour from the state of Hang Tuah carries the title Datuk Seri Utama. Jeanne was awarded the title in a ceremony at Seri Negeri yesterday. There were more than 500 (presumably adoring oo-ing and ah-ing) dignitaries, including CM Mohd Ali Rustam and his wife Asmah Abdul Rahman at the ceremony. Hmmm, someone still (elegantly) hopes to be the come-back kid ... eh?

Apart from being the home state of the legendary Hang Tuah (the No 1 Malay hero-warrior or the No 1 court sycophant, depending on your views), Malacca is probably holding the productivity record for dispensing State awards. Apparently no other State is as boleh (can do) as a Malacca under the highly productive management (in giving out State awards) of CM Mohd Ali Rustam.

We are naturally ‘delighted’ to see that apart from Najib Tun Razak the list of honoured recipient didn’t miss Toh Puan Zurina Kassim, the wife of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca himself. How sweet and thoughtful of the CM.

Further wonderful news - three ministers, namely Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (International Trade and Industry), Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Foreign) and Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid (Natural Resources and Environment), will receive the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka, which carries the title Datuk Seri. How very gemilang (resplendant or dazzling)!

Then, five people receive the Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka, which carries the title Datuk Wira. They are Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin, State Rural Development and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Hamdin Abdollah, Kelab Veteran Umno Malaysia vice-chairman Datuk Jaafar Hamzah, Tenaga Nasional’s senior vice president Datuk Md Sidek Ahmad and High Court judge Datuk Mohtarudin Baki.

And that wasn't all in that inexhaustible supply of Datukship goodies because eight-five other recipients received that as well.

No, neither DAP Lim Guan Eng and his dad were among them ;-)

So what if he defended the honour of a young underage Malay girl (from that great State of Malacca) and on principles of law – hey, he went to jail for that, didn't he?

You really can’t expect a former jailbird to be so honoured, and I don’t want to hear any hair-splitting in defence of Lim by raising the fact of some people (at least three including a murderer) going into and coming out of jails with their Datukship’s intact, as if those were tattooed on to their foreheads.

Benefits of plastic surgery ... for everyone

2007-10-09T06:06:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I posted Lingam tape - plastic surgery offer for whistleblower, a piece regarding cabinet minister Nazri Abdul Aziz promise on behalf of the government to offer plastic surgery and a new identity as part of the (non-existent) witness protection program to protect the Lingam tape whistleblower(s) should he, she or they be afraid of doing so for fear of his, her of their personal safety.

I did a bit of ‘serious’ research on plastic surgery and came across this item which I posted in my other blog KTemoc Kachinates as Sponsored by McDonald.

I am posting it here as well as a public service so that the whistleblower or anyone who wants to be a whistleblower may consider the possible benefits of plastic surgery.

Lingam tape - plastic surgery offer for whistleblower

2007-10-08T19:36:00.000+08:00

Now this is interesting, particularly for me.

Regarding the authority's call for the whistleblower(s), who handed Anwar Ibrahim the Lingam videotape, to come out to verify the authenticity of the tape, Malaysiakini said that the government has offered plastic surgery and a new identity to protect the person(s) should he, she or they be afraid of doing so for fear of his, her of their personal safety.

Hmmm, I wonder cabinet minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has considered that the whistleblower(s) fear(s) the government ;-)

Nazri said it’s crucial the whistleblower(s) come(s) forward to verify the tape’s authenticity or the whole investigation will come to nothing. He assured everyone who wants to listen that the whistleblower(s) would receive full witness protection program.

He said: “They will not only be protected but can also undergo surgery to change their look."

C’mon, Nazri, you’re over dramatic. I am still guffawing over the offer of plastic surgery. Besides Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang lambasted Nazri for bullsh*tting about the non-existent witness protection program, stating: “It is the height of irresponsibility for Nazri to give assurance of protection under a law which does not exist ...”

Nazri also tried a bit of reverse psychology by saying that if the witness(es) fail(s) to come forward, the government would conclude that he, she or they has/have been lying.

I am quite tempted to pretend to be the whistleblower, if only just to get the free plastic surgery. I am rather keen because a sweetie told me ... sob sob ... I am a fairly dull bloke, even more dull than a certain someone I dislike – she knew who I dislike so she cruelly compared me to that person, oh how she has crushed my morale when she should be crushing to bits any of my morals ;-)

I know she didn’t say I ‘look’ dull but to her, but that my cautious nature makes me dull ... in a general dullish way ... to her. I wonder whether plastic surgery can also imbue in me a fiery personality with top bullsh*tting capability, like someone? Er ... no, not just Nazri ;-)

Anyway, I urge Minister Nazri to consider the possibility that the whistleblower is indeed scared, but scared of the government and especially of bullsh*tting ;-)

Of course there’s then one of Dr Bakri Musa’s suggestions, the possibility of a 'pretend' telephone conversation, a monologue performed to indicate (and videotape) Lingam was talking to ‘someone’ at the end of an inoperative phone.

Hey, I could quietly slip into the role of that ‘nobody there at the other end’, rush back to the other end to be the whistleblower and after receiving the free plastic surgery, emerge as an exciting fiery (bullsh*tting) personality.

Nalla serves a spin in new political court

2007-10-06T19:15:00.000+08:00

‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’, so the old misogynist saying went!

But what do I know, having had no such opportunity to ‘get some’ let alone ‘scorn’ any woman.

But what about, ‘Hell hath no fury like a buddy scorned’?

It seems someone’s once-tennis partner and once-political buddy has gone and formed himself a new political party. But what has been significant has been another former-close buddy of that ‘someone’ also went along to lend support to the former tennis partner.

Malaysiakini informs us that Ex-Anwar's buddy Nalla forms new Indian party, and Ezam Mohd Noor was present at Nalla’s press conference. Ezam said he was there to lend support to Nallakarupan as an friend.

Malaysiakini photo

Nalla’s party is called the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), currently with a strength of 100 members. When asked of the Indian community’s support for MIUP, he replied in the affirmative. He bravely declared: "They will definitely back me. If I could bring in 10,000 members into PKR after I joined the party, I would be able to do the same now."

He said that he will travel across the country after Hari Raya to recruit members. Will those new, possibly 10,000, MIUP members be from PKR?

Patent rights - Indons on slippery slopes themselves

2007-10-02T19:33:00.000+08:00

Well, believe it or not, Malaysiakini just told us that an Indon parliamentarian Hakam Naja wants the Indonesian government to sue Malaysia for using the traditional Indonesian song Rasa Sayange in its ‘Truly Asia’ tourism campaign.

Hakam said if the Indon government could prove the song belonged to Indonesia, it should sue the Malaysian government.

And while he was on a roll, Hakam decided that, apart from Rasa Sayange, the Indon government should also look into the contentious issue of a sneaky Malaysia claiming ownership of traditional Indonesian handicrafts such as batik and wayang puppets.

He grumbled possessively: "Such claims are made because of lack of action by the Indonesian government to copyright or patent the nation's heritage. In order to avoid one-sided claims, the government should patent the song immediately."

'Such claims are made ...'?

Then he went logistically proactive, calling for an immediate inventory of the country's culture to help protect Indonesia's heritage through patents or copyrights, declaring: "So if someone wants to use cultural elements of Indonesia, there should be compensation for the government, otherwise, other countries will keep trying to undermine us."

Malaysia ‘... trying to undermine ...’ Indonesia because the former sings Rasa Sayange, prints batik and has the wayang kulit?

Hey, Pak Hakam, why bloody stop there – why not patent satay as well if it can be proven this originated in Indonesia (Madura?). Then there is terasi or as we sly shifty cunning Malaysians have renamed it, belacan.

Oh oh, don’t forget the Malaysian Rukun Negera which was structurally copied from Indonesia’s Pancasila. And then that most prized kahuna of all Malay (or is it now Indonesian?) treasures, the Taming Sari.

Yes, Taming Sari actually belonged originally to a Majapahit (Javanese) warrior by the name of, guess .... yes, ... Bapak Taming Sari!

Mr Taming Sari was a warrior engaged by a Javanese court official, Pateh Gajah Mada, to kill Hang Tuah. But that damn Malaysian Hang Tuah had the bloody cheek not only to kill Pak Taming Sari but to take (sorry, steal) his precious keris, taking same back to Malaysia.

I am afraid to add that 'twas the superiority of Kelantanese sexy budu over Javanese pathetic tempeh - superior nutrition made for superior warriors!

Come to think of it, just how powerful or magical or bull is this Taming Sari when its original owner, Bapak Taming Sari, despite owning the magic keris, could be killed by a Malaysian Mat Rempit-ish character. Of course poor olde Hang Jebat also encountered a similar drastic fate when he was supposed to be endowed with invincibility by virtue of possessing the magic keris.

BTW, kaytee heard India is going to sue Indonesia (especially the Javanese) for stealing its Ramayana and Mahabharata stuff which have been copied wholesale by the shameless Indonesians when they made their ancient cultureless society cultural - and of course don’t forget that the Pancasila (Five Precepts) is a copyright term pilfered by the Indons from Indian Buddhists.

Additionally, many Indonesian words like samudera (ocean), yudha (war) and bimasakti (the Milky Way) were illegally taken from Indian Sanskrit - I dread for the Indons at the unending list of its looting from the Sanskrit lexicon.

Hmmm, I might go act for the Indians - there could be a many rupee, rupiah or returns there.

Lim Kit Siang joked, Nazri a joke!

2007-09-27T19:52:00.000+08:00

On Monday I posted Law Minister drove Lim Kit Siang into making a joke.

I commented that Lim Kit Siang or the top leaders of DAP are very serious people not easily given to frivolous joking or meaningless talk. I believe the latter 'meaningless talk' is termed by the Indonesians as ‘omong kosong’. Yessirree, the DAP sure as hell doesn't indulge in 'omong kosong'.

But a watershed event for Lim or even the DAP occurred after Law Minister Nazri made his infamous “I am his [the Chief Justice] minister. I am the minister in charge of legal affairs. He is clever enough to know that the reporters will ask me for a response”.

No doubt by his intemperate comments, Nazri drove the final nail into coffin of judiciary's independence but he had at the same time motivated Lim to step into the world of humour when he told the media that the still-in-hibernation CJ Ahmad Fairuz had contacted him (Nazri) to deny that he was the other party in the Lingam video-taped telephone conversation.

The opportunity for sarcastic hilarity was there to be seized and Lim did just that. Lim Kit Siang actually joked: “How is Nazri sure that it was Ahmad Fairuz who had spoken to him by phone and not an impersonator?”

That would have annoyed Nazri, a very combative and presumably competitive bloke. He must have mulled over the incident wondering how he could get back at Lim and his joke.

Well, he thought his moment came when he was asked about the current judicial crisis. He replied in typical dunno fashion, saying: “No crisis, no problems. I don't see any scandal. These are all efforts by the opposition to create distrust and erode public confidence in the judiciary.”

Then, he did it, made the 'joke', I mean.

Malaysiakini reported him saying that Parliament was not the place to question or debate the conduct of judges as this would violate the independence of the judiciary.

Nazri and him declaring himself as the 'CJ’s minister' and now his argument that any debating in Parliament on the conduct of judges would violate the independence of the judiciary.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha

What a joke ... hahaha ... Nazri has been!

Police Cold Files

2007-09-26T19:37:00.000+08:00

Wong Chun Wai of the Star Online wrote a chilling yet frustrating article where many murder cases yet to be solved. We have read, often through thrillers based on police facts, that murder cases not solved within 48 hours are unlikely to be solved.

Wong called them the ‘Cold Files’.

He wrote: “There’s more where unresolved murder cases, or ‘Cold Files’, are concerned. What has happened to the cases of Sabah politician Datuk Norjan Khan Bahadar, marketing executive Noritta Samsudin, IBM executive Patricia Wong Bao Bao and the rape-murder of 17-year-old Chinese student Li Mingqian whose naked body was found in a ditch in Banting in 2005?”

And how about that sweet girl in Kedah who went for a jog and was found murdered and violated?

Of course very recently there was the tragedy of Nurin.

photo credit - Star Online

All about cockiness

2007-09-25T19:25:00.000+08:00

This man was far too cocky!

And I am not talking about Law Minister Nazri whom Malaysiakini reported as arrogantly claiming he was the Chief Justice’s minister.

Cocky bloke is a 43-year-old Indonesian worker in southern Johor state. Look, he just going too far doing what he did.

Can you just imagine a bloke with two wives (mind you, he is just using only half his permissible quota), lying in bed with his 1st wife, a 48-year-old, and taunting the poor woman with the sexual prowess or attributes of his newly-acquired 30-year old 2nd wife.

Hmmm, apparently the bloke recklessly compared No 1 wife’s sex skills with those of his younger No 2 wife, driving Tai Tai into deep rage where she couldn’t take his cockiness anymore.

So not tolerating his cockiness she chopped off his cock with a kitchen knife. Ouch and double, triple ouch!

She exclaimed: “Now, go ahead and be cocky – nah nah nah, if you can!”

OK, I admit she didn’t say that. ‘Twas just kaytee’s imagination.

Mind you, being the cocky chap he is, he was still a real jaguh, because despite his shock and pain, he picked up his penis, popped same into his shirt left pocket (OK OK OK, I am making up the extra details as I go along the main storyline, but what follows was actually reported) and even managed to pull on his trousers before riding his motorcycle to a nearby hospital – I wonder whether he was sitting comfortably.

Ah, modern medicine - the doctors did a few stitches, 11 to be precise, to reattach the organ.

Being particularly creative today, may kaytee add that much later he bemoaned the fact he missed the opportunity to ask the doctor to lengthen his lingam.

I would imagine him saying: “Sh*t, I could have been far more cocky lah!”

More pork barrelling for November 2007 general election

2007-09-23T12:44:00.000+08:00

More reports of pork barrelling from The Star Online (relevant extracts):

Felda settlers will be getting an additional monthly income of between RM1,500 and RM2,000 under a new payment scheme effective July.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced this before presenting land titles to 338 settlers in Felda Chini 3 here yesterday.

Najib, Felda chairman Tan Sri Dr Yusof Noor and Chini assemblyman Abu Bakar Harun later broke fast with the settlers and performed terawih prayers at Felda Chini Dua.

Najib, who is Pekan MP, also presented awards from Felda to 16 families whose children had made it to university.

He also gave away food hampers to single mothers and senior citizens, as well as an RM86,000 van for funeral services contributed by Yayasan Rahah.

Najib, who is also in charge of Felda affairs and development, announced a Hari Raya bonus totalling RM39,442,250 for 112,635 settlers nationwide, with each family receiving RM350.

Payments will be made on Oct 1.

Speaking to reporters later, Najib said the new payment scheme took into consideration the current high price of oil palm.

“As such, it is only fair that those involved in the replanting programme, which is already into its second year, enjoy the benefits. They deserve the windfall. He added that payments had already been given out since July.

Najib also said that 39 land schemes with 9,500 settlers nationwide would benefit from the new payment system and that they would get more if the price went higher. On the inclusion of the name of the settler’s wife in land titles, Najib said it was a recognition and a fair consideration made to the spouses.

Expect general election in mid November 2007!

VC of University of Great Shame at it again

2007-09-20T21:30:00.000+08:00

I wasn’t surprised that Malaysiakini reported UPM student Yee Yang Yang repudiating the accusations made by UPM vice-chancellor Nik Mustapha R Abdullah that he (Yee) had pornographic material in his laptop.

When I read the VC's accusation yesterday, I had in fact considered the possibility of some 'naughty bloke' loading the porno-material, after the laptop was seized, to fix Yee up. But I was wrong - I gave them too much credit. The accusation of the university people proved to be far more stupid.

Yee wrote a memorandum to the Bar Council human rights committee yesterday, in which he highlighted the UPM VC’s nonsensical accusations.

Lee Song Yong, the UPM Progressive Students’ Movement (GMM) external coordinator, supported Yee.

Lee said the VP’s accusation that pornographic material were found in Yee’s laptop was rubbish because without a password, the university people wouldn’t be able to access the confiscated laptop.

After seizing the laptop (illegally, if we may guess), the UPM’s security director had demanded the password from Yee, who wisely refused to reveal it.

Lee said: “Without the password, one cannot access the laptop and if you can't access it, how do you know there is pornographic material in there?”

Then Lee revealed something really disgusting and downright criminal - two days before the meeting with the security director, a security officer had warned Yee to stop making a fuss or he will be penalised for being in possession of pornographic material.

In other words, Yee was threatened with blackmail where he (Yee) would have his reputation blackened with accusations of owning pornographic material.

And the UPM vice-chancellor Nik Mustapha R Abdullah had voiced that same accusation.

If indeed there was no such pornographic material, then the VC of a university had lied to the press by making a unfounded accusation in his media statement. And let's not forget that blackmailing threat by a university security officer - a criminal offence.

Whether the VC was told that by his security people is irrelevant. As the VC he has to be responsible for his statements.

Sometimes I can only wish (for one reason only) that we live in Japan and are all Japanese, so that the VC would at least resign, if not do the honourable Japanese thingy of the ultimate act of honour.

But I won’t hold my breath.

But far more important than honour, which our bureaucracy and ministers anyway have little or none of, has been how fast Yee has proven the VC’s accusations false or implausible.

Now, this is real unmitigated shame for the VC of a university to be challenged as making false accusations by a mere undergraduate, in just one short day!

Aiyoyo, Malaysia Ta'Boleh lah!

It's really high time we have a better VC for UPM - just read the related links on UPM or Universiti Paling Malu (University of Great Shame). How in the world did we end up with such a pathetic VC, and indeed the only word to describe him has to be 'pathetic'.

UPM's Chronicles of Shame:
(1) Zen & the Half-Past-Six University
(2) More Zen about Half-Past-Six University
(3) Suaram: "Sack UPM's Vice-Chancellor"
(4) Usaha Paling Malu (UPM)

Closing stable doors after ... lives have been lost

2007-09-16T19:51:00.000+08:00

We learnt the most amazing news from malaysiakini, which reported:

After borrowing paramedic teams from the Armed Forces, the National Service (NS) Department hopes to have three medical assistants and two nurses for 83 camps by next year.

It is part of a RM20 million allocation for the NS camps, which will include the equipment needed and 50 ambulances, that had been decided on in April, said NS Training Council chairperson Lee Lam Thye.

Lee said he had met with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to inform him and he was satisfied with the decisions made and was looking forward to the implementation, according to a Star report.

Of course we know there has been a number of deaths. But whatever the cause or causes, what left me gobsmacked have been two things - (1) why weren't these medical facilities provided in the first place, that was, planned for before the NS scheme got underway - do we need a few deaths before we kick in Ops Damage Control? and (2) are three medical assistants and two nurses adequate medical personnel for 83, yes, EIGHTY THREE camps?

Waiting for Sun to rise in West!

2007-09-14T19:17:00.000+08:00

A letter to malaysiakini by Hamdan Ibrahim tells us his feelings succinctly just by the title of that message, AG’s report: I’m seething with anger, which incidentally we share completely.

I had blogged on that over at my other blog, KTemoc Konsiders in AAB should revive Mahathir's 'Look East' policy.

My allusion to the Look East policy was more to focus on the concept of honour and shame, sadly lacking, or more correctly, totally missing in our ministers and officials.

A culture of thick-skinned shamelessness and impassable dishonor has seeped into their every pore to wrap itself around their avaricious soul.

I blogged on the unbelievable gall and unaccountability in Tsunami funds renovated MBs' residence.

One reader asked which MB had outrageously misused funds meant for tsunami victims? Well, the AG’s report put the MBs in the plural, meaning more than one MB enjoyed the public’s generous charity to tsunami victim.

One of my visitors left a comment on my post AAB should revive Mahathir's 'Look East' policy, saying:

“It is almost impossible for a person to be virtuous unless he/she is endowed with the twin factors of ‘Hiri & Ottapa’ i.e. moral shame and moral fear.”

“Moral shame is an inherent shame of doing something that is shameful in the eyes of the society that the person lives in. Moral fear is the dread of being found out if one commits a shameful deed.”

“If you test the leaders and YBs, how many of them have an iota of ‘Hiri & Ottapa’? Only persons who have a strong sense of these two factors will commit Sepukku or to a lesser extent, resign from their posts as most leaders in Japan and the Western Democracies do.”

Yes, the Japanese Sun rises in the East, for some of our leaders and officials to possess ‘Hiri & Ottapa’, the poor Sun will need to rise in the West!

Ah, so desu ne.

Don't burn national flag, burn one-eyed monkeys instead

2007-09-11T19:22:00.000+08:00

While I do not condone the burning of the national flag, and I may frown on one who does, I won’t get excited about such a torching. It only reflects on the silly perpetrator and not on the flag.

But it certainly annoys me more to hear morons in the Monkey House proposing that the citizenships of all such perpetrators be revoked, saying the country would not lose anything if they are kicked out.

Guess who said that?

Bloody ‘close-one-eye’ Cyclops. Now, this is one man who ought to be chucked out of the country which would see an immediately improvement to the nation as a whole.

Then to make matters worse, malaysiakini informed us that Cyclops’ terrible simian twin, the Yang BerBocor from Kinabatangan attempted to insert a racial issue into the debate by stating: ‘“Another Wee Meng Chee had been spawned. We must take action against this person. They are both traitors. If you burn the flag you are burning the country.”

Needless to say, that monkey-mesmerized-by-menstruation, who as an ape should have remained silent but didn’t, drew Lim KS’ wrath.

Lim countered that the Taiwan-based student had waved the national flag when he won a sports event. He averred that was hardly the case of Wee being another flag burner.

Lim chided the BN backbenchers for associating Wee with the flag-burning issue in Kuala Terengganu. But what can you do with two monkeys, one of whom still has unresolved matters with a dodgy issue with Customs, that PM AAB refused to investigate to its final finding.

Can you imagine that AAB was once touted by MCA as Judge Bao Gong – to express my opinion on this comparison I need to borrow Elizabeth Wong's wonderful expression of exasperation (modified by kaytee of course) of 'gasp gawd O my Tien Kong!'

Govt silent on bonus for civil servants, but no worries ...

2007-09-08T15:38:00.000+08:00

The Star Online reported that the only dampener for many civil servants has been the absence of an anticipated announcement of bonus for them.

Mind you, some are realistic enough to remember that they have just salary increments just a few months ago.

Well, some people aren’t ever satisfied, but hey, one must expect the max from a pre-election budget.

And what did I just tell you ….. because Health Ministry officer Zalekha Mohd Tahir, a typical civil servant with a typical expectation of a windfall from a typical pre-election budget, expressed that in so many words when she lamented that her family would have to adjust their spending for Hari Raya.

She said: “The increment was long overdue, but a bonus would have been extra.''

Don’t worry Zalekha, because the government was merely ‘silent’ on the bonus, and dear old DPM, Naib Razak said in a malaysiakini report that government is not required to announce everything in the budget.

In fact, he added: “The government can consider at anytime if necessary but don’t forget we have increased government expenditure by more than RM8 billion for the new salaries.”

* above underlining is mine

So ….. if the pre-election polls indicate trouble for the BN, no worries, bonus memang ada (definitely will be given) and will be announced … as a very necessary (pre-election) ~~bri..~~ surprise.

Yang Berbocor defending yang terbocor!

2007-09-05T10:28:00.000+08:00

Here’s an extract from Backbenchers defend RM4.6 bil PKFZ by malaysiakini:

A Barisan Nasional parliamentarian has accused the opposition of blowing the Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) issue out of proportion for their own political ends.

MP for Kinabatangan Bung Mokhtar Radin, who said that PKFZ will be successful in the long run, urged opposition members to stop their criticism towards the project.

Yes, it’s that dreaded Yang Berbocor!

The opposition has labelled the project - the cost of which has ballooned to RM4.6 billion - as a white elephant.

"When the government initiated the Penang bridge project, the opposition was the first to oppose the project. But the bridge is now a huge success and the same opposition is pressing for another bridge," he said.

"The opposition is only good at making a small issue big," he said.

Yang Berbocor is attempting to defend something that has in fact already terbocor, in fact by billions of ringgit!

At this juncture, Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) demanded Bung Mokhtar to explain more about the PKFZ - a project undertaken by the Port Klang Authority (PKA).

Chong Eng: What do you understand about PKFZ? Can you explain? You don't know what you are talking about.

Bung Mokhtar: I will not explain. This is my floor, and I will not give room for explanations. You can challenge me anytime, and you can choose the place.

Chong Eng: Explain it here. You have no clue what you are talking about.

Bung Mokhtar ignored Chong Eng and further stressed that PKFZ can generate more investments in the future.

Not ignored la, Yang Berbocor dunno la.

Yang Berbocor might have shown he's Yang Botak in his knowledge on parliamentray issues but he's certainly a member of the 'sokong-ites', the Yang Bodek.

Indians screwed as always!

2007-08-30T17:18:00.000+08:00

malaysiakini reported that former MIC deputy president Subramaniam was assaulted at the Maika AGM.

He wasn’t alone in suffering from thuggish intimidation. DAP MP Kulasegaran and a few other shareholders were also bashed by, according to malaysiakini, apparently blokes aligned to Humpty Dumpty.

I wonder whether those MIC members (doesn’t matter which side) indulged in their favourite past time at meetings, namely the hurling of chairs and tables.

Maika is of course Humpty Dumpty's grand economic strategy to lift the Indians out of their serf-like misery, with many poor Indians placing their meagre savings and unfortunately their trust in Samy Vellu’s son Vell Paari as the chief executive office of the SS Maika.

Bloke had sailed the Indian lifeboat into very shallow waters.

Decorated soldier living in squatter hut

2007-08-23T15:29:00.000+08:00

It's utterly disgraceful the way our government has neglected the welfare of some of our former servicemen. The following is an extract of The Star Online report - for the full Star article headlined 'Ex-servicemen found living in squalor', read here:

Many former servicemen in Sarawak are landless and living as squatters, surviving on pensions of as low as RM400 per month, according to the Rurum Kelabit Sarawak Association.

Most of these former soldiers and policemen also suffered from various ailments and had no special funds to depend on for financial assistance, said the association’s chairman for Miri, Dick Bala.

“We have come across many former soldiers and policemen who now live in squatter areas with no land title and no proper place to call home after serving the nation for so many years,” he said.

“They applied for land titles but the only thing they got were temporary occupation permits,” he said when interviewed yesterday.

“The Government should do something for these landless ex-servicemen.”

Bala was asked to comment on the plight of decorated soldier Ngalinuh Bala, 66, now semi-paralysed and living in a squatter area in Taman Tunku in the outskirts of Miri City.

Ngalinuh’s plight was highlighted in The Star last week. Since then, several other former policemen in Miri have also complained of having difficulties in getting a house after their retirement.

By contrast, look at former railway guard now UMNO untouchable-by-law with his illegally built palace in Klang. Then, there was the 32 year old who received an unsecure loan of RM9+ million! The obscene list of contrast goes on ...

It's sickening when a decorated soldier, unlike those protected wonders, has to slum it out in a squatter area.

So, should we celebrate Merdeka this year?

DAP Merdeka Dialogue 19 August 2007

2007-08-16T14:58:00.000+08:00

My citizen’s duty to give a fair plug for an opposition forum …

The DAP is holding a Dialogue in conjunction with the 50th Merdeka Anniversary celebrations this coming weekend.

Date: 19 August 2007 (Sunday)
Time: 2.00pm
Venue: Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya

The panel of distinguished speakers include:

Y Bhg Tunku Abdul Aziz, former President, Transparency International Malaysia

Datuk Param Cumuraswamy, former Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, United Nations

Mr Yeo Yang Poh, former Malaysian Bar Council Chairman

Following the session, a dialogue will be conducted with the participants hosted by another distinguished panel (subject to change) including:

M Manogaran, President, Malaysian Tamil Education & Research Foundation

Haris Ibrahim, Human Rights Lawyer

Jeff Ooi, Prominent Malaysian Blogger

Dr Oh Ei-Sun, East Malaysian Socio-Political Analyst

To ensure sufficient seats allocation, please register in advance with Lim Swee Kuan (03) 79578022 or via email at limsweekuan(at)gmail.com

For more information, visit Tony Pua's blogsite

Man threw wife out of 10th floor flat

2007-08-15T12:39:00.000+08:00

This is unbelievably horrible.

Bloke has 3 wives living all together in Kampung Baiduri.

He threw the oldest one, who was 41, out of a 10th-floor flat belonging to the woman’s granny.

What do you expect, the poor lady died on the spot.

Apparently the bloke was under the influence of alcohol when he did the unthinkable murderous act after a loud altercation between the two of them.

He not only killed her but the wife's 87-year-old grandmother as well. Granny was trying to stop the fight, alas, in vain. Pitiful granny died of a heart attack after seeing the horrible act.

Help - have you seen Madeleine McCann?

2007-08-03T19:10:00.000+08:00

The girl in the photo is Madeleine McCann. She is only 4 years old.

She was abducted on 3 May 2007 from her hotel in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

If you see her or have any information about her whereabouts, please contact the nearest police station, or alternatively the UK Crimestoppers on +441883731336 if you're outside UK.

For more information see Missing Madeleine, the official website to find her.

UPDATE on 03 August 2007:

In Britain thousands of yellow ribbons tied in the home village of Madeleine McCann have been taken down amid concerns they are attracting grief tourists.

Villagers say Rothley's main square has become a morbid visitor attraction since they made it the focal point for their collective fears for the little girl.

Now 13 weeks since her disappearance in Portugal residents of the Leicestershire community want to restore some degree of normality and the McCann family has agreed.

The world's media descended on the village after the four-year-old was abducted from her holiday home in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3.

The town square became the centre of attention with messages and cuddly toys left and ribbons of hope tied to railings around its war memorial.

I am going to let this post go from the top position as well; besides the evidence seems to point to Portugal and Northern Africa as the likely places for her recovery, if at all possible. My thoughts continue to be with her parents.

RMAF aircraft crash - all perished

2007-07-17T19:08:00.000+08:00

It's a sad ending for several Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM or RMAF) families.

All six on board the RMAF Nuri helicoper which was reported missing last Friday have been confirmed killed.

RMAF's public relations officer Mejar Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff said rescue teams found the helicopter at about 1.24 pm today.

The helicopter went missing at 9.35 am four days ago, on July 13, just 10 minutes after takeoff from the Sungai Besi airbase. It was on its way to the Gambang base in Pahang.

My deepest condolences to the bereaving families.

To PM AAB - please free Nathaniel Tan

2007-07-14T10:08:00.000+08:00

I have to break an earlier promise to keep the Madeleine McCann posting in No 1 position on my blog, as the arrest of blogger Nathaniel Tan requires urgent publicity to marshal support for his immediate release.

For latest information, please see postings by Elizabeth Wong. Elizabeth has been so stressed and frustrated by the police bull and heels dragging on the dodgy detention of a citizen that she (most unusally) blessed all readers with colourful exopressions. Thank you Elizabeth for expressing our similar feelings along as well.

There is also a malaysiakini video clip (7 minutes).

KTemoc supports and calls for the immediate release of Nathaniel Tan. The police action has thus far been unjustified by normal standards of democratic process or even national security considerations, and thus represents yet another case of oppressive repression of free speech and draconian persecution and intimidation of law abiding citizens.

poster by Mob1900 of Mob's Crib

However, I slightly disagree with Elizabeth that we should lodge our outrage at the unjustified persecution of Nat with the IGP and not the PM.

I believe (I love conspiracy theories) this bull (painful for Nat and family) could possibly be a result of the current acrimonious IGP-Johari Baharum confrontation - OK, it's just a suspicion.

Anyway, based on my suspicions I doubt the IGP will move a bloody finger. Thus, I prefer to call upon the PM concurrently the 'Police' minister to instruct police to release citizen Nathaniel Tan immediately.

If dear AAB is in elegant non-listening, can at least someone on the 4th Floor please act on behalf of daddy. KJ had, while lodging a complaint against Tian Chua with the media watchdog recently, claimed he wasn't against free speech especially on the Internet. So, c'mon KJ, do something and show you aren't with the dark side all the time.

UPdate: 17 July 2007 - Nathaniel Tan has been released!

UMNO Youth thinks Malaysia is more than 50 years old

2007-07-09T18:58:00.000+08:00

Tambun Umno Youth division chief Nasir Ismail is angry with the phrase The Birth of a Nation.

He reckoned that the phrase is misleading and would provide the false impression Malaysia was only born 50 years ago. In fact, it’s more than just ‘false impression’ because he believed that it would be an insult to the country as it portrayed the Malays as a race without a nation of their own.

I wonder whether he would be kind enough to enlighten us as to how old Malaysia is?

Elegant Smile - Elegant Title - Elegant Hopes?

2007-07-01T13:10:00.000+08:00

Pity malaysiakini didn't report this news - it needs to be shared widely. And I am, we are, you must be ... happy about this news as reported by the Star Online.

PM AAB’s wife Jeanne Abdullah has been conferred the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka by Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

The honour from the state of Hang Tuah carries the title Datuk Seri Utama. Jeanne was awarded the title in a ceremony at Seri Negeri yesterday. There were more than 500 (presumably adoring oo-ing and ah-ing) dignitaries, including CM Mohd Ali Rustam and his wife Asmah Abdul Rahman at the ceremony. Hmmm, someone still (elegantly) hopes to be the come-back kid ... eh?

The Star Online wasn't aloof from the oo-ings and ah-ings as well, reporting that Jeanne looks "resplendent (would that be a 3-syllable word? goodness!) in a turquoise baju kurung with matching bead earrings and necklace" - wow, such attention to details - (think?) would she have merited such dedicated observations 2 months ago?

Needless to say, the news reported that "Jeanne looked calm and poised as she received the title from Mohd Khalil".

Then this is the best part - "Her elegance (yes!) and radiant (wow) smile matched that of" hubby. Oooooooo-aaaaaaah, what an elegant couple!

And of course none of us were entirely surprised that the Star reported "Jeanne was in the spotlight of photographers at the Dewan Ketua Menteri where the ceremony was held. As the couple left the hall, hundreds of well-wishers gathered around, hoping to get a glimpse or shake hands with Jeanne, who was on her first visit to the state after marrying Abdullah early this month."

I wonder whether Raja Bodek was there? If he was, I bet he would have stumbled over stampeding (over women and children) to be in line for a handshake with elegant, radiant and not forgetting, resplendent Jeanne.

I know virtually nothing about Jeanne and her work, so would appreciate anyone providing some information on she had/has done to receive such a state honour?

Are some deserving?

2007-06-02T08:50:00.000+08:00

The King has given out the annual awards to the following people. I know he has done it on recommendation through a process, but please look at the list and tell me how many of those really deserve the honour.

This is becoming a bigger and bigger joke each year, and has unfairly involved His Majesty in the political give-aways to 'good boys'. It's also an insult to those deserving of the awards to be grouped together with the dodgy's.

What's going on in the TUDM?

2007-06-01T05:28:00.000+08:00

The Star Online reported that an air cadet has died during a physical training on Tuesday at the Air Force College in Kepala Batas.

Kepala Batas is wheret the National Defence University of Malaysia is.

The late Mohd Hafiz Md Darus, only 19 years old, died at 8.50 pm at the Alor Star Hospital. His cause has been attributed to rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue due to traumatic injury.

Mej Zulkiflee said a three-man panel has been set up to investigate the incident.

Shouldn’t this be a police case rather than an Air Force internal investigation?

There was another incident some 2 to 3 decades ago, when a young air force officer was bullied and kicked to death.

In the light of the recent incident where a young cadet was tortured by his seniors, it seems the air force college needs more supervision and perhaps even an overhaul of its culture and training officers.

Wanita MCA: 'No to Suzie Wongs'

2007-05-27T11:04:00.000+08:00

Whoa whoa whoa – if you’re thinking of employing maids from China.

Wanita MCA wants the Government to put on hold its plan to recruit Chinese nationals as domestic maids.

Our lady politicians (MCA of course) are worried about those Susie Wongs or Vampiras from China because their hubbies may not be able to resist the charms of the maids.

Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said: “Following intensive discussions, Wanita MCA is appealing to the Home Affairs Ministry to halt this plan for the moment. We do not want the problem of these 'little dragon ladies' to escalate.”

“These women are enticing local married men into having affairs with them and are causing family disharmony.”

She said, asserting that there's no disrespect to the lassies from China, that unless clear guidelines on the recruitment are laid out and the interests of local women protected, the political party wing is against the move.

What guidelines did she have in mind?

Maids must be ugly or have strong BO?

Whoi, pay for the books lah!

2007-05-17T22:58:00.000+08:00

We read The Star Online telling us that the Internal Security Ministry is studying the recently published book on May 13 to see if it violated the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984.

Deputy Minister Fu Ah Kiow confirmed that the book was not banned and that his officers were reading it to check whether it was prejudicial to public order, morality or security.

So why the hell did your officers seized 10 copies of the book from a bookstore in Mid-Valley Megamall here on Tuesday?

If the book is not banned, why resort to such drama? Why not just buy half a dozen or so?

Was the high drama to please some quarters?

However, there’s a silver lining in every cloud. Thanks to the unnecessary raid and seizure of the books by the ministry, other shops did a roaring trade as busybody Malaysians rushed pell-mell to purchase Dr Kua’s May 13 book. Most bookshops here sold out their copies.

Shop owners will be getting a fresh batch and has petitioned the ministry to conduct another commando style raid at Boundary book store ;-) – nah, just a wee creativity by KTemoc.

How the Chinese toppled Dr Mahathir

2007-05-07T20:51:00.000+08:00

The Star Online reported Dr Mahathir’s comments on Chinese Malaysian voters.

The Grand Ole Man (GOM) said that Chinese Malaysian voters are strategic-minded people, unlike the Malays who tended to vote along party lines and based on raw sentiment.

Mind you, another phrase for ‘strategic-minded’ is ‘calculating’ or ‘calculative’.

GOM then provided an example, citing his personal experience of suffering a loss in the dramatic 1969 general elections when the Chinese swung over to PAS to oust him from his South Kota Setar seat.

GOM admitted that he was then known as one of the young UMNO turks, an Ultra, and deeply feared by the Chinese..

He said: “I know the Chinese dislike PAS, especially with their political ideology of wanting an Islamic country and so on so forth. Still, the Chinese voted for it because they disliked my reputation as an ultra. It was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea and the Chinese made me the devil.”

This was a time when the opposition parties all agreed on a loose/informal alliance to thwart Tunku’s Perikatan (Alliance, the fore runner of Basisan Nasional). The Penang MCA hasn’t recovered till today from the drubbing the Gerakan Party gave it that year, which may explain why they hate each other more than the DAP.

Another molestation of a young girl

2007-04-29T18:41:00.000+08:00

Once again we learn that a person in a position of trust has molested a school student, a mere teenager who had sought his advice.

In Ipoh police has detained a 46-year-old counsellor after he was alleged to have molested a Form Three student during a counselling session in her school on April 25.

There have been teachers, both secular and religious, who had succumbed to their base instinct and violated their positions of trust.

Such criminal acts will continue unless very severe sentences are passed, apart from other commonsense precautions such as not having male counsellors for female students or allowing them (including teachers) to be alone with a single female student.

But regrettably, on the issue of protecting female teenagers or even very young children, the government has gone the opposite way, when last year parliament reduced the maximum sentence for acts of incest, usually that of fathers raping their underage daughters. Please see my KTemoc Konsiders' posting Parliament Reducing Sentence for Incest.

How can we then deter the beastly behaviour of potential molestors of children if our legislators send out a message of going easy on such animals?

Related:
Filthy slugs in our society

Tearing families apart in the name of religion

2007-04-21T20:19:00.000+08:00

It is mentioned in Tafseer Roohul Bayaan that Allaamah Sayyid Haqqi (RA) said that Allah Ta'ala has three thousand names. He revealed one thousand to the angels, one thousand to the ambiya (AS), three hundred are mentioned in the Toraah, three hundred in the Zaboor, three hundred in the Injeel, and ninety-nine in the Holy Qur'aan.

One Name He has kept to Himself; He revealed it to no one. Also, He has condensed all His names into the three names contained in Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem. They are Allah, Rahmaan and Raheem. Any person saying Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem; it is as though he has remembered Allah by all His names

Malaysian Islamic authorities have forcibly separated two families, regrettably in the name of a great religion. Unfortunately, neither God nor the religion had any say in the matter. Men made the policy and unconscionably enforced it, even if it meant separating a man from his wife and father from his children, twice over, in the name of God.

Case No 1- Revathi Masoosai, an ethnic Indian, though born to Muslim parents, is a practising Hindu. She was sent to 'rehabilitation' camp for 100 days in January by Islamic authorities in Malacca.

Apparently she must have refused to allow the Islamic authorities to ‘rehabilitate’ her, so her detention was extended by a syariah court by another 80 days.

Dear judges, 180 days would be six months, a cruel and terribly long time to separate a woman from a family (husband) she loves and willingly married.

Her hubby, Suresh Veerapan, also revealed that the Islamic authorities had taken the 16-month old baby from him to give to his Muslim in-laws. Islamic officials are now preventing him from visiting Revathi. He appealed to anyone for help to secure her release, saying: "We are treated like animals, not humans, the way they have separated me from my wife and baby."

Case No 2 - P Marimuthu said his wife Raimah Bibi Noordin and their five young Hindu children were forcibly taken from their home two weeks ago by religious officials, who said she was a Muslim. Raimah and the children are being held in a ethnic Malay Muslim village in Selangor.

Marimuthu said that Raimah, an ethnic Indian, was adopted by an Indian Muslim family, but is a practising Hindu. He cried out: "I just want to at least get my children back, I do not want them to be Muslims as they were brought up as Hindus."

What greater glory for Islam did the Malaysian Islamic authorities hope to achieve by tearing two families apart?

Did not the Prophet (pbuh) say: “Every important matter which is not begun with, ‘In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful’ is maimed.”

Should not then every action that has been made in the name of Allah (swt) be mindful that His Name is the Compassionate, the Merciful, or that action would be maimed?

Sabah saga - more than just Goddess of Mercy

2007-04-17T00:57:00.000+08:00

Arnold Puyok wrote a letter titled Sabah ministers too afraid to speak up to malaysiakini providing a glimpse of the probable cause behind the resignation of Chong Kah Kiat, Sabah’s Tourism Minister and a former Chief Minister.

He stated off by praising the good management and vigour of Chong’s leadership and principled ministerial administration - I have left this part out and provide the following extract of his letter:

********

The problem in the state cabinet now is that, under the pretext of peace and harmony, no one is brave enough to speak out and be critical to the leadership of Musa Aman and particularly to his much publicised policy known as ‘halatuju’ (direction).

The overused term ‘halatuju’, though it could be good to Sabah and its people if implemented scrupulously, has been swallowed rather uncritically by the cabinet ministers and has not been produced publicly for public debate. As some people in Sabah generally believe, the ‘halatuju’ policy is no more than just a paper document aiming at enriching Umno politicians with lucrative contracts. It might be too early to speculate on the reasons behind Chong’s resignation (especially its connection with Musa’s leadership).

But the indication is strong that Chong’s resignation has something to do with his dissatisfaction with the way Musa runs the state government. The perceived causes for the strained relationship between Musa and Chong can be traced back to not long ago when the latter refused to let the former develop the Sipadan Island due to environmental concerns.

The issue had also backfired on Musa when it caught the attention of the prime minister who ordered projects on the Sipadan Island be stopped indefinitely. The final straw that caused Chong to call it quits was when Musa had differences with him over the plan to build a statue of the Goddess of Mercy in Kudat.

However, what is saddening is the prime minister’s response that Chong’s resignation is ‘not a loss‘ to Sabah. For someone who has stood by his values and principles - a trait that not many politicians in Malaysia, let alone in Sabah, espouse - the prime minister should have been more measured in his evaluation.

Chong has once again shown that he is the kind of leader who is independent in thinking and who is unafraid to call a spade a spade. I am sure there are also leaders in the state cabinet who share the same personal traits as Chong’s but are afraid to act due to reasons best known to them.

I appeal to these leaders not to wait too long to act in line with the prime minister’s call to produce a transparent and democratic government. This is the time for you to prove your worth to the rakyat who had taken the pains to vote you as their representative.

********

Mr Eloquent Silence would sometimes be better off if he had exercised his well-known trait instead of blindly supporting his UMNO cohorts..

Sabah's blessing in disguise by Kuan Yin?

2007-04-15T08:42:00.000+08:00

We know that the resignation of the former deputy chief minister of Sabah, Chong Kah Kiat, had been due to a dispute with the UMNO Chief Minister, Musa Aman. Chong was also the state’s tourism, culture and environment minister.

The actual issue, or the final straw for Chong, was Musa’s rejection of his proposal to build a huge statue of the Goddess of Mercy in Kudat as a tourist attraction. That proposal has the same chance as a snowflake would enjoy in hell.

To add insult to injury, Musa told Chong that if he doesn’t like the rejection, tough luck, because as far as the mighty UMNO (Sabah) is concerned, Chong’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is nothing more than a mere ‘mosquito party’.

Basically what Musa had demonstrated has been that, as far as UMNO is concerned, the concept of political ‘coalition’ is only for show. Political ‘subordination’ (to UMNO) is the reality.

Let's be clear on one thing - what Musa said has been and is the truth, because in Semenanjung (Peninsula Malaysia), all non-UMNO component parties have never been or are 'partners' in a so-called ‘coalition’, but mere subordinates to the supremacist TaiKoh (Big Brother).

That’s right, UMNO is not just a mere primus inter pares (first among equals), because where UMNO is concerned there is no pares.

AAB indicated his agreement with Musa’s sentiment because he (AAB) said he did not think Chong's resignation was a loss and the Sabah government would not be weakened by Chong’s resignation.

Maybe he even agreed that Chong has been just a pesky mossie? Maybe he thinks Chinese support in Sabah is not crucial to his Barisan Nasional (read Barisan Nasional to mean UMNO) in 2008 (or earlier?).

Talking about the statue of Kuan Yin, the most beloved deity among the Chinese, there was a variation of a somewhat similar incident years ago.

According to Penang elders, there was a construction then in Ayer Itam, Penang, to erect a giant statue of Kuan Yin behind the Kek Lok Si Temple.

The usual suspects raised a humongous heated hullabaloo, objecting to a Buddhist icon standing in such prominence in a country with a majority Muslim population (even though Ayer Itam was then the biggest Chinese village in Malaysia).

The controversy ended up with (I was told) Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie, former Home Minister, proposing a compromise, where the giant statue was truncated (parts of body/legs chopped up to make it shorter) so that when erected, its prominence would not be so significant and provocative to the local Muslims.

As the foundation work was already carried out (there was official approval prior to the ruckus) the temple authorities had no choice but to accept – you know, the usual ‘half a loaf’ story.

What materialised eventually was a statue of Kuan Yin which was grotesque and out-of-proportion, basically a demeaning disgraceful disfigurement as a deformed dwarf.

I heard since then, the temple authorities worked hard to get rid of that Quasimodo-ish statue.

Maybe in Sabah’s case, it may be a blessing in disguise not to have build a non-Islamic religious icon at all than to have it subsequently insulted through well-meaning but grotesque disfigurement, or to have it smashed to smithereens by over-zealous and over-enthusiastic city/council enforcement agencies.

Machap - now & tomorrow

2007-04-13T05:53:00.000+08:00

‘Twas hardly surprising that the MCA candidate won Machap. No one, not even the DAP, guessed otherwise.

I had provided one reason why the DAP went for the Machap seat despite facing certain defeat in my posting over at KTemoc Konsiders titled DAP versus PKR in Machap.

The Penangites have a word for that – it’s called ‘jomp’ – I’m not sure of its origin (Malay or Malaysian Chinese) but it basically means ‘I’ve reserved it’ or a case of the DAP staking a claim to the constituency.

But looking at the election results, where the margin of win has remained the same as for the previous election, has the DAP’s venture been worth it?

Before answering the question, we need to be mindful of the fact that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had brought its entire machinery to bear on this small constituency which has, on paper, benefited financially and development-wise by the millions. The pork barrelling has been disgraceful and in some instances, illegal but nonetheless predictable and really, a norm for Malaysian election campaigning.

So, in a general election where the BN resources have to be spread over several hundreds of ‘Machaps’, will the DAP make any headway? I reckon it may chip off more of the MCA’s winning margin but I doubt it will win the seat.

How about PKR then, who has given in (ungraciously) to DAP this time but with a futuristic claim to the seat in the coming general election?

I think the PKR will fare better if the Malay block in Machap can be won over, and let’s acknowledge that PKR has a better prospect of doing so. However, the downside is that the DAP supporters may either abstain (voting is not compulsory in Malaysia) or switch to the MCA just to spite the PKR.

Why would that be so? The fact is many Chinese, especially the more conservative/older generation, are still unforgiving of Anwar Ibrahim.

It would appear that, unfortunately for democracy and a louder voice for the opposition, that Machap may yet continue to lie in the BN-MCA’s hands.

PAS not seeing wood for the trees?

2007-04-08T06:27:00.000+08:00

In PAS: Gerakan biadap I discussed PAS’ anger at the FT Gerakan’s resolution calling for HRH Sultan of Perak to sack Harussani Zakaria as the State Mufti for inciting religious agitation and hatred, with potential dire consequences.

PAS told Gerakan to stay clear of Islamic areas, the sole prerogative of Muslims.

I raised the query as to the total absence of any move by Muslim political groups, both in government or PAS, to call the seditious Mufti to account. The Mufti is a well-known for his extreme right wing views but his latest folly had been very dangerous to public security. He is a threat to society with his recklessness and irresponsibility.

And disgustingly, he didn’t even have the backbone of his religious conviction because when it was a case of accountability's push becoming shove, he blamed a woman to avoid answering for his own responsibility for the lie.

But the FT Gerakan has now back off from the resolution, claiming it was only a personal view of Gerakan FT chairperson Dr Tan Kee Kwong. The Star has also clarified that it carried an erroneous report. Obviously the Barisan Nasional has kicked into play Ops Retreat as Islamic issues could well be damaging to UMNO’s battle for the Malay heartland in the coming general election..

But PAS sensing it has a political winner intends to draw out the issue for as long as possible and for every sweet drop of political propaganda, calling for the FT Gerakan and Dr Tan to retract the resolution and issue an open apology.

So it's hardly surprising that PAS FT acting youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad said the party would still press for Tan to retract his remark despite the clarification by the Star.

He stated: “Whether or not the call came from a resolution or Tan is now irrelevant. The remark should not have been made. He has no entitlement to that remark.”

He also made a police report.

Now, this is where PAS showed its double standard, Kamaruzaman, with great irony that he obviously didn’t realise, remarked:

“This is a sensitive issue among Muslims that can stir discord among various groups.”

"... stir discord among various groups ..."?

Yes, but what about that Mufti who nearly caused a racial riot with his irresponsible rumour mongering?

Why shouldn’t he be sacked for seditious agitation? And why hasn't PAS initiate the demand for that to preserve the whole matter within the Muslim community?

In the end, PAS is no better than UMNO, exploiting religion for its own grubby political benefit instead of seeing to the justice that Allah (swt) intends for the Muslims to practice.

If I am kind, I would just say that PAS’ stand is a case of not seeing the wood for the trees. But if I want to be nasty, I would declare it as not unlike the moral in my poem Magic of the 100th name of God, where God is incidental, but Man’s interest reigns supreme.

PAS: Gerakan biadap

2007-04-05T20:08:00.000+08:00

PAS is pissed off with the FT Gerakan’s call for the Sultan of Perak to sack the Perak Mufti for misleading the Muslim community by spreading rumours about Christians mass-converting Malay Muslims.

How dare the non-Muslim Gerakan touched on Muslim affairs and the prerogative of HRH the Sultan.

It doesn’t matter that non-Muslims were affected (and could have been assaulted or killed) by the Mufti’s seditious rumour-mongering that spread anxiety fear, and hatred amongst Muslims towards Christians.

It doesn’t matter that the Mufti had been utterly reckless, irresponsible and in fact provocative, but non-Muslism should f**king stay out of Muslim affairs.

OK then, fair enough, but has any Muslim, say a PAS member, call for the Mufti’s sacking for irresponsible behaviour in his spreading of rumours of a mass baptism of Malay youths in a church?

Elegant Mansion in Oz

2007-04-04T04:31:00.000+08:00

dear SIL tells us that a RM60 million house in Perth is not dad's, but BIL's.

Dr M was the one who revealed that a Malaysian TOP politician has a mega-million ringgit mansion down south, where probably the world's most southern nasi kandar stall is.

Sil said he wasn't certain about the price of the sprawling mansion located in an elite suburb in Perth. He offered: “Maybe it (the price) does not reach RM60 million ... may be it is lower than that.”

Maybe ...

Secret war in Machap?

2007-03-28T20:23:00.000+08:00

One question:

Will the secret war behind the Machap by-election be one between the DAP and the Chinese element in the PKR, because of the old Chinese saying, that there can only be one opposition tiger on Gunung* Malaysia?

* mountain

I pause here as associated questions swirl furiously around my head ...

TAR College degrees substandard?

2007-03-25T15:02:00.000+08:00

Soo Pak Leong confessed he watched Jackie Chan’s Police Story movies, so he was carried away somewhat by his hero's actions, by a sense of wanting to fight crime, keeping the peace, rescuing fair damsels and saving the world from mad scientists or nasty neo-con agents who want to blow up the world.

Naturally he dreamed of and applied to be a police officer, so in 2004, armed with a BSc at 24 years of age, he tried for a cadet assistant superintendent of police. He application was rejected with no reason given.

Like Jackie Chan, he wasn't one to give up, so he tried again the following year, but alas, that time the police didn’t even have the courtesy to reply. Before Soo reached the ceiling age of 25, he tried one last time, but just for the lower post of an Inspector.

He was lucky in a perverted sense in that on his 3rd but futile attempt, Bukit Aman at least replied to say that his qualification was not recognised. Why? It was just a lousy BSc from the Tengku Abdul Rahman (TAR) College.

He checked with the PSD who confirmed that TARC degrees weren’t/aren’t recognised.

Hmm, haven’t the government and MCA been urging the Chinese to join the police force?

TARC was established in 1969 by the MCA. The Chinese-majority party partly funds the college. And everyone knows that TARC degrees are far more recognised in the private sector than those from government universities. So why is there a lack of recognition by the government?

The DAP blamed the MCA youth education bureau for not trying hard enough to get Soo into the police force. I have no doubt that the MCA would have lobbied for TARC degrees to be recognised but that means diddly squat for government agencies like the police or PSD where the MCA is concerned.

Soo has finally accepted he isn't Jackie Chan, and that it’s no use banging one’s head against the wall of city-hall. Goodness, he had even gone on radio to describe his difficulties earlier this year, but obviously no one in the government cared two hoots.

However he describes his current job, a network engineer, as good.

Soo, it may be a blessing in disguise for you.

Walking on waters of ignorance

2007-03-21T22:20:00.000+08:00

The battle over the copyright reserve of the word ‘Allah’ continues in malaysiakini – hmmm, I just wonder how many letters on the subject malaysiakini would have received to run the debate for weeks on end.

All sorts of intellectual, historical, philosophical, language, nationality, and even gender factors were raised, dissected and postulated as evident TRUTH of 'Allah' (swt) including the use of the word, according to the views of the respective proposer.

Even ridiculous hair-splitting nonsense such as the English spelling of ‘Alah’ (only one ‘L’) versus ‘Allah’ (2 x ‘L’s) were argued for the same evident TRUTH of the right of use by either Muslims or non-Muslims. I am still bowled over by such an idiotic argument over one missing (or added) English letter, but such has been the religious passion for proprietary rights of a Divinity's name.

But none mentioned anything about the words of ‘Allah’ (swt) as opposed to the word ‘Allah’. None discussed how Allah (swt) had instructed mankind to be compassionate, charitable and caring.

malaysiakini reader Teropong Negara instructed us why the word ‘Allah’ cannot be used in the general sense. He pronounced authoritatively, for our benefit of course, the difference between ‘Allah’ (swt) and ‘Tuhan’, the Malay word for ‘God’. He wrote:

The transcendent Divine spirit, Allah, is described as eternal, perennial, omnipresent, omnipotent and the esoteric, He is without beginning and without the end (ie. beyond the inscription of the web of time) etc. It is gender free.

* how can 'He' and 'Him' be considered gender free?

In simple language, He is beyond time and space and hence beyond existence and non-existence as understood by us. To identify or relate anything at all to Him is ‘syirik’ or a blasphemy of the highest order that would not be forgiven.

The word ‘Tuhan’ is used as a general term to refer to an entity that is worshiped and it is quite similar to the English word ‘God’. ‘Lord’ refers to an incarnate entity that is worshiped for whatever reason (eg. for his magical powers or supernatural power).

From the Islamic perspective, Jesus and Buddha, for instance, are appropriately referred to as Lords; but only Allah is Allah.

Well, Mr or Ms Teropong Negara, for your information (it’s just KTemoc being helpful), Buddha or, if you wish, Lord Buddha, was not the “incarnate entity that is worshiped for whatever reason (eg. for his magical powers or supernatural power)”.

To Buddhists, who don’t believe in God or gods, in case you weren't aware, Buddha was just the teacher who showed the way to self-help 'enlightenment'. I mentioned 'self-help' because no god can intercede on behalf of someone, for the reason Buddhist teachings say they just can't. I won’t go into Buddhist teaching – you have to find that out yourself.

Therefore the term ‘worship’ in the strictest sense may not be applicable in Buddhism; ‘respect’ would be a more appropriate word.

As for your attribution of “magical powers or supernatural power” to Buddha (thus making him a 'Lord' as you averred), that’s sheer nonsense, because I do know a little about Buddhism, being raised in a Buddhist family.

The Buddha frowned on hocus-pocus stuff, advising his followers not to fall prey to such useless stuff.

It was written that once Buddha (a man no less no more, but an ‘enlightened’ one) was accosted by a sadhu, an Indian ascetic or holy man, who challenged Buddha as to what ‘magical powers’ he possessed.

When the Buddha remained silent, the sadhu proudly demonstrated his ‘powers’ whence he walked on water across a nearby river.

Buddha then asked the sadhu how long he took to master the ‘magical ability’. The sadhu replied rather grandly that he meditated, fasted and practised austerity for more than 40 years to achieve that ‘power’.

Buddha informed the sadhu (perhaps with some compassion) that he had wasted 40 plus years of his life to gain something that could be easily achieved by taking a ferry that was operating within walking distance of where he was.

Yes, Mr/Ms Teropong Negara, sometimes before one boasts vainly of one’s own while disparaging others', it may be worthwhile to stroll a little down the river to catch the ferry of knowledge rather than attempt to walk across the waters of hubristic ignorance.

Bend the ethnic belief - Bin the 'bin Abdullah'

2007-03-19T09:40:00.001+08:00

I have been receiving emails, including one from Brunei, criticising Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, ever since he stated that non-Muslim converts who embrace Islam could retain their family name and need not adopt 'bin/binti Abdullah' to append to their personal name.

The appending of the 'bin/binti Abdullah' to a convert's personal name is commonly, and mistakenly (required to be), practised in Malaysia. I have also read a number of such letters in malaysiakini rejecting Dr Asri’s advice on this matter.

Related to this issue, please see my KTemoc Konsiders’ postings:
(1) ‘bin Abdullahs’ celebrating Chinese New Year!
(2) Being ‘bin Abdullahs’ is not enough

Can you imagine Kaytee bin Abdullah? Hmmm, maybe that’s why I stopped dating cute Saba … and sweet Kama ...! Subconsciously I must have dreaded that moment when I would be compelled to change my name (or, something more … er … painful?), … of course apart from one teeny weeny silly iota of insignificant inconvenient fact, that they both dumped me … sob sob sob!

Anyway, malaysiakini reader Mister Tambourine, wrote (extract) to criticise some (not all) PAS members as being hypocritical:

PAS members too have voiced out harsh criticisms against Dr Asri's move. What makes these criticisms seem hypocritical is that they fully support their Mursyidul Am Nik Aziz Nik Mat's similar stand with Dr Asri's regarding this issue all these years. Even party president Abdul Hadi Awang had given a similar advice to one of the party's Chinese convert not to change his surname.

All and sundry lauded it as a good move by their party guru's to educate new converts that surnames and family names should not be changed. But when the same sentiment is propagated by someone they have blacklisted for many reasons, they opposed it. And they talk of an Islamic state.

“…blacklisted for many reasons …” – poor Dr Asri. In bygone days, they would have burned you at the stake or beheaded you.

But there may be another reason why there seems be a reluctance in some quarters to discard the practice of labelling new converts with ‘bin/binte Abdullah’ .

In my KTemoc Konsiders’ posting Dr Mahathir: "No such thing as moderate Muslim" the Grand Ole Man demolished the Malay folkflore, still cherished by some Malays, that they had converted to Islam during the time of Prophet Mohamad, some 1400 years ago.

Fact - Malays only did so about 600 to 700 years back.

I wrote that the Malay claim of such an undiluted Islamic pedigree would not be unlike the attitude of some Chinese and Japanese martial art practitioners, who want (and invent) a lineage that traces the origin of their martial art to an old Taoist sage-hermit who sat meditating on Emei or Kunlun Mountains some thousand of years ago, and probably surviving on only kua-chee* and organic mountain-grown tea, or to the original Shaolin Temple with its 36 chambers of martial art challenges.

* melon seeds

It could well be because of this claim of undiluted Islamic pedigree, they believe johnnies-come-lately should not be given automatic entry to the ‘established’ Muslim club until at least a new generation of Muslims have been born to the ‘bin Abdullah’ cadets. The darker reason could of course be that, despite the egalitarianism of Islam, non-Malay Muslims need to be identified in a category of their own.

Supporting this Malay myth, my posting, Are Chinese Malaysian Muslims 2nd class Muslims? discussed the controversy about allowing (or not allowing) Chinese Malaysian Muslims to build their own mosques and surau's - also see my KTemoc Konsiders’ posting Why Chinese Muslims should not have their mosques.

There was the refusal by the Malacca State government to allow Chinese Muslims their basic religious rights that brought into focus the uniquely Malay expectation of (or belief in) Islam being synonymous with Malay ethnicity, though with one exception*.

* The sole exception being the Arabs, a recognition flavoured perhaps by a local cultural-religious cringe towards those Middle-Eastern Muslims

The Perlis Mufti had succinctly said (but obviously still not heeded by some): "It's the faith that matters, not race".

Then, that’s where the Mufti dropped the cultural bombshell – which I mentioned, what Indonesians and other nations have actually been practising for eons - there isn’t any need for non-Malay converts to change their name or those cultural practices that are not against the teachings of Islam.

To support the Perlis mufti's advice, I brought out examples in Indonesia and China where Muslims in those countries don't even use Middle-Eastern names, least being tagged as 'bin Abdullahs', as would be the case in Malaysia for new Muslim converts.

I am sure all of us are aware that there are Javanese Muslims who call themselves Suharto, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati, etc.

And in China, the founder of a branch of the internal martial art Hsing Yi Chuan in Henan province was Ma Xueli (1714-1790). Ma was a Muslim, as were his family and all his students. They all had Chinese names, full stop!

Why then has there been a continuing reluctance and even objections to Dr Asri’s enlightened view, that raises Islam above the narrow sectarian ethno-centric manner in which it is currently being held by some Malaysians (and that little corner called Brunei)?

Related:
(1) There are Muslims and there are Muslims
(2) Bridge from Earth to the PAS' Moon

AAB govt adopting Soviet style control?

2007-03-17T19:15:00.000+08:00

malaysiakini reported that the Internal Security Ministry has warned mainstream newspapers in the country against quoting and publishing anti-government articles from online portals and blogs.

Gee, didn’t know we bloggers were so feared?

The ministry circular stated that the ministry wasn't happy that local newspapers tend to quote and publish articles from online portals and blogs as if those 'bloody lies' (by mainly unemployed women bloggers, as a Malaysian minister claimed) were true.

A Sarawak university don told malaysiakini today he likened the ministry's latest warning to local mainstream newspapers to a Soviet-style management of the media. Wrong f**king move, and you're off to ~~Siberia~~ Kem Kamunting.

The Malaysian government adopting Marxist-Leninist tactics?

And it has the bloody cheek to ban 'The Last Communist' and 'Apa Khabar Orang Kampung'? I sure would like to hear what Amir Muhamad has to say to this hypocritical double standards?

The uni don said that the government is sh*tting bricks at those damn bloggers' and online exposé of (alleged, of course) rampant corruption and abuse of power by officials in the Malaysian government.

If not for his elegant slow-motion, AAB should be convulsed by now with shame and fear and writhing inelegantly on the ground by expectation of nasty voters' reaction at the next poll. And he has only himself to blame when he chooses to sit on his bloody hands long after the Head of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has been accused of corruption and a sexual crime.

AAB’s non-action in this regard has been an unmitigated disgrace.

The Deputy Minister for the Internal Security Ministry being accused of receiving a RM5 million bribe for releasing notorious criminals is the sort of unwelcome news available online that AAB would prefer not to hear so close to the damn election.

And as far as he's concerned, f**k those bloody bloggers and malaysiakini - expect the latter to be taken off line soon; and bloggers to follow suit.

Worst Insult to Rafidah Aziz

2007-03-15T08:17:00.000+08:00

Former PAS leader Mahfuz Omar asked “Why is the cabinet so afraid of this woman? This woman who is acting for US interests?”

Mahfuz was of course referring to Mak Cik Rafidah Aziz, Minister of Trade & Industry, who is viewed as the person opening Malaysia's gate kangkang for the FTA.

PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli told anti-FTA protestors that the other members of the cabinet should not be cowed by Rafidah’s 26 years in office. Then he hurled the worst possible insult at Mak Cik. He said:

“She may be a senior minister, [but only] as senior as Samy Vellu …….. !”

Adoi, Mak Cik, to be compared to Humpty Dumpty …

Look, sayang, here’s the wall, go on, knock your head against it … and don’t hold back, we’ll understand because we realise you need to vent your frustrated ire at that worst possible insult.

ACA Head's corruption case - 3 Yg Berhormats not interested

2007-03-13T04:35:00.000+08:00

malaysiakini reported:

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity today voted against the chairperson’s move to call off a hearing involving Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) chief Zulkipli Mat Noor and whistleblower Mohamad Ramli Manan.

malaysiakini also informed that the vote went 8 - 3 against Chairperson Bernard Dompok (who didn't vote).

Below is a malaysiakini table showing members of the Select Committee. I wonder which 3 sokong-ites voted with the Chairperson to call off the hearing?

What's in a name?

2007-03-11T20:10:00.000+08:00

Scene: An overseas government welfare agency

Actors:
(1) Chinese Malaysian – Tan Ah Kow
(2) Welfare officer – Bob
(3) Welfare officer – John

Bob: “G'day mate, what’s your name?”

Tan: “Tan Ah Kow”.

Bob: “Please take a seat, Mr Kow”.

Tan {‘Mr Kow’ eh?} [slightly irritated]: “Thanks”.

Bob: “Now, Mr Kow, what was your first name again?”

Tan knew exactly what ‘first name’ meant, but given the disassociation with his Chinese name, pondered for a significant while before deciding to provide the equivalent to what Bob had in mind.

Tan [very reluctantly]: “Kow”.

Bob [slightly confused but pressed on bravely]: “Er … so your full name would be Kow Kow. or would that be Kow Ah Kow?”, remembering there was an 'AH' somewhere.

Tan felt his blood pressure rising steadily and pounding up a lovely Hiroshima-ish migraine, but he hung on.

Tan [with exasperated exaggerated emphasis]: “No! My full name is Tan Ah Kow!”

Not surprisingly, by now, Bob became even more confused but valiantly attempted to salvage control of the conversation.

Bob [with dazzling smile]: “Got you, Mr Kow, your first name is Tan.”

Bob was of course right in the sequence of Tan's name, but Tan knew that wasn't what Bob had meant. He almost went ballistic, but in resisting the countdown to zero, he grimaced, showing a pained look, raised clenched fists (not sure whether in prayer of desperation or angry threat), and in a losing battle to control his near hysterical hi-pitch voice, squeaked out a rejection of Bob’s mangling of his name:

“NO, NO, Noooo! My name is Tan Ah Kow; my surname is Tan, my personal name is Ah Kow or Kow!”

Tan silently cursed {karn neen nar, wa th’or hu-oih* lah, th’or hu-oih, th’or hu-oih!}

* vomit blood (meaning, in utter frustration)

Bob, by now alarmed by the near-amok bloody Asian, decided to abandon the Mother-Ship by the one-man escape-pod without warning the crew (Captain first, and women and children after me), replied swiftly:

“Yes sir, of course, I got you this time! Er … John, my colleague here, will attend to your registration. He’s the expert”.

And turning to John, who had been relaxing and drinking expresso café while casually listening to Bob’s struggle with Ah Kow’s moniker, said:

“Mate, help Mr … er … the nice gentleman … fill in the registration form”.

He slapped the form on John’s and immediately buried himself with 101% attention on a blank piece of paper, pretending it was the United Nation Security Council Resolution 1441 that needed his immediate translation from ancient Sumerian into very simplified American English for President Bush.

John, caught by Bob’s Pearl Harbour-ish sneak attack nearly choke on his café but sat up straight immediately while avoiding eye contact with a visibly annoyed Tan, and decided on the strategy of minimum dialogue interaction as the safest course.

John: “Mr … er … sir, just fill in those blank fields – here’s where you put your … er … first name, and here’s the space for your last name … er … and I’ll do the rest for you”.

Tan [with blistering look and voice dripping with sarcasm]: “You don’t want my address?”

John [embarrassed by his over-hasty omission – f**k!]: “That too of course, plus any personal details… (weak smile) … that’s standard.”

Tan debated with himself whether it would be worthwhile spending sometime explaining the structure of a Chinese name – surname, generation name and personal name – before proceeding with the form, but decided that would be too hard a task. He resigned himself to further sufferings.

On the other side, John noted very carefully that Tan had no problem filling in the 'last' name (‘TAN’) but hesitated for several seconds (maybe 20 seconds or more) before he penned it in (‘AH KOW’) as the 'first' name.

WTF, thought John, if he’s TAN AH KOW, as he bloody claimed, and KOW being the bloody obvious surname, why did he bloody put ‘TAN’ as his 'last' or family name? And why did he bloody hesitate when filling in the ‘first' name – well obviously it couldn’t be bloody ‘KOW’ (that’s’ his bloody family name), and what kind of bloody 'first' name was ‘AH’ anyway?

Hmmm, John thought: {Maybe those poor pathetic pitiful Chinese Malays (or should it be Malay Chinese? WTF!) don’t have 'first' names. Maybe they just have numbers like those poor Jews in the Nazi concentration camps – you know, 1234 Ching and 5678 Chong – Ching Chong, hehehe … whoops}

John thought: {if this bloke can read my thoughts I am deader than a Chinese roast dick … I mean … duck in a rancid laksa!} … struggling not to inadvertently express his humorous reverie in uncontrolled giggles in front of the client.

Tan [suddenly speaking up]: “What’s this 'mother’s maiden name'?”

John [startled from his day dreaming about Ching Chong and Suzy Wong]: “Er .. that’s your mother’s name before she married your … er … father”.

Tan [signed] thought {WTF is my double-first at Oxford of any use here?}: “I know what maiden name is! But why my mum’s and not my dad’s?”

This time it was John who debated with himself whether it would be worthwhile explaining to this Asian that dad’s name would be as bloody useless as an empty stubbie* on a Sunday bar-b-que because mums here change hubbies (and last names) faster than the colours on the side of a Rubic cube in the hands of an over-energetic primary school kid. The only name unlikely to change would be mum’s maiden name. Nah … no point.

* small (375 ml) bottle of beer

John: “Er … it’s the local culture … er … (weak grin) ... woman first and all that jazz”.

Tan didn’t believe a single word of what he said but decided WTF {I’ll just fill this form and get the f**k out of here}

Meanwhile, Bob seeing that Tan was quietly filling in the form, sneaked a peep at the name details entered, and smiled as he saw an opportunity to repair the initial ‘damage’ that had occurred.

Bob: “Hi, AH, hope you don’t mind me calling you by your first name. We are all mates down here in OZ, and everyone's usually on first name basis”.

Before Tan could recover from his shock at being addressed as ‘AH’, John chipped in.

John: “Yeah AH matey, none of those Pommie class conscious poppycock nonsense. Welcome to Oz, AH KOW TAN!”

By now, a bewildered frustrated exasperated Tan decided to do a Jap, namely, unconditional surrender to Aussie name structure.

Tan: “Thank you”

... handed the form over, shook their hands and hurried off before further mutilation of his name occurred.

Bob: "Phew, that was nicely handled by you, mate. What a cockup of a name – TAN AH KOW and he’s denying KOW's his family name, and wanting to claim TAN as that!"

"Language barrier, that's what it was, and John Howard certainly has a point in putting an English language test in the citizenship requirement”.

John: “Mate, I am not too sure by now. F**k if I am not confused. What shall I file AH KOW TAN’s form under?”

Bob: “Why, as 'TAN, AH KOW' of course! And anyway, that’s how his name will appear in the phone directory”.

Related:
(1) Who is an Asian?
(2) Does an Asian eat Asian food at home?

AAB ignores concept of 'Standing Aside'

2007-03-06T18:51:00.000+08:00

Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh has stepped aside while an inquiry is conducted into allegations that he benefited from the United Nations' oil-for-food programme for Iraq – ABC Radio Australia 08/11/2005, 20:36:24

CSIRO* chairman Peter Willcox has stood aside after being named as a defendant in legal action against James Hardie brought by Australia's corporate watchdog - Sydney Morning Herald 15 February 2007

*Australian Commonwealth Scientific & Research Organisation

Australian Governor General Peter Hollingworth has stood aside as the British queen's representative in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard announced Sunday.

Howard told a press conference in Sydney that Tasmania's governor, Guy Green, will stand in as governor general pending the outcome of a court case into rape allegations against Hollingworth being heard in the Victorian Supreme Court.

Howard, who had earlier said he would not sack Hollingworth, said he did not ask for Hollingworth's resignation.

Hollingworth has been under intense pressure to resign from his head-of-state position since an Anglican Church inquiry found he had allowed a known pedophile to continue working as a priest when he was archbishop of Brisbane 10 years ago - Asian Political News 13 May 2003

In Malaysia where Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum has been accused of allegedly accepting RM5 million for releasing three undesirable person detained under the Emergency Ordinance, and the Head of the Anti-Corruption Agency (yes, none other) has been accused of alleged corruption and an alleged sex offence, PM AAB has this to say:

“…civil servants who are being investigated for corruption, are not required to relinquish their posts. Just as in the past, we do not make them give up their positions."

AAB said as long as there was no concrete evidence to support the allegation, the civil servant being investigated, need not give up his position. And as for the deputy minister, AAB said action would only be taken if he was proven guilty.

Either the reporters have asked Dorothy Dixies, or AAb is pretending or has never heard of the propriety of ‘standing aside’.

A Dorothy Dixer is a question already known to the minister and even written by staff of the minister to enable the minister to respond eloquently (with prepared answer) and thus promote themselves or the work that the government is doing, or to shoot down the opposition party's policies, or to waste time during parliamentary questioning (to avoid being questioned by the opposition) or, as probably in our Malaysian case, to avoid tougher questions.

The ‘tougher question' that should have been asked of AAB ought to be “Why aren’t those two accused of corruption stood aside?

‘Standing aside’ is an expectation of public propriety, especially of a minister or senior public servant.

When a minister like Johari Baharum or a senior public servant like Zulkipli Mat Noor, Head of the ACA, has been accused of corruption, each should stand aside from his post/appointment temporarily, relieved of his duties, until he has been cleared of the charges.

They should continue to receive their salary until proven guilty, and needn’t necessarily resign or be sacked, until each has been proven guilty, but they MUST STAND ASIDE.

Is that too difficult for AAB to understand? He has make a mockery of his government.

The Last of King of Ipoh Impetuosity?

2007-03-04T17:35:00.000+08:00

The late D.R Seenivasegam, once referred to as the King of Ipoh, a politican as admired, adored, and invincible as Lee Lam Thye had been in the latter’s DAP heydays, must be rolling in his grave at how his once powerful PPP is being treated by the Barisan Nasional (BN).

D.R Seenivasegam’s once mighty party in Ipoh (and the urban parts of Perak) is in a moribund state, no thanks to its current poor leadership.

The late Tun Razak's brilliant strategy of neutralising potential political opponents by absorbing them into the Barisan Nasional also played a big part in enervating* the PPP.

* The equally once-powerful opposition Gerakan Party has also suffered severely from the late PM's brilliant manoeuvre, which I term the Razak Regressive Ruse, and is in almost similar dire straits to the PPP. But wait till Raja Bodek assumes the presidency to see just how Kayveas-ite it can go down to

I blogged on the PPP's woes last year in PPP – End of the Road?

I discussed how the other component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN) had ganged up on lonely marginalised unwanted Kayveas, president of the PPP.

First, they deliberately snubbed him by appointing Bukit Gantang MP Tan Lian Hoe as the coalition’s chairman in his (Kayveas) backyard. That was virtually saying (most insultingly) that the President of the PPP wasn't as good as an ordinary Gerakan Party MB.

Then, Gerakan Party’s Perak chief Chang Ko Youn voiced the need for the Taiping constituency, currently held by none other than Kayveas, to be returned to the Gerakan, based on a purported agreement at the last polls. Where will that leave Kayveas then?

In another posting Humpty Dumpty blasted King Sabo I wrote: “I dare say that PM Abdullah Badawi must be wishing secretly the PPP would do the obliging step and commit political seppuku or at least make itself disappear into thin air."

"In each pre-election, the PPP stood out like a sore thumb for AAB and previously, Mahathir, when it came to the difficult task of distributing the seats among the major players. They must have found that trying to factor in the PPP was an annoying nuisance. The last election saw Kayveas throwing a tantrum when he was thrown an iffy constituency."

Apart from the PPP now being virtually useless to the BN – and you know what that means in politics – Kayveas hasn’t helped his party by behaving in a intemperate manner, first attempting to sabotage the other non-Malay BN leaders, and then threatening to stand as an independent in Taiping - get real, who the hell would want to vote for him once he removes his BN tangkal (amulet)?

Late last year, from out of the blue, he publicly proposed a merger with the Gerakan Party in an ad hoc manner without any proper talks nor formal discussions with the latter, and probably, not even with his own members.

One of his Nemesis*, Lim Keng Yaik, shot his proposal to shreds. Lim' relentless disdain and rejection of Kayveas' political-amorous attempt to insert himself into the Gerakan top echelon (as a VP!) ended up in a puerile slanging match between the two.

* the other is Humpty Dumpty – as the Chinese say, there cannot be two Anehs on one BN mountain

Obviously Kayveas was desperately attempting to hang on to his Taiping seat, given that the Gerakan Party had moved, and is still moving against him. And he knows with his political shelf life running out, he won’t be provided another safe seat in 2008.

Kayveas is a man given to brash actions and decisions, apart from the fact he’s fighting desperately for his political survival. So he decided to launch a pre-emptive demand for the PPP’s allocation of parliamentary and state seats.

He wants the BN to return to the PPP its four parliamentary seats - Beruas, Sungai Siput, Ipoh Barat and Gopeng - along with 12 state seats that it held in 1972, before its representations were eroded away by the BN in the following 35 years.

Of course he knows he’s dreaming but it's his last ambit claim, He hopes such a demand, precisely because of its unrealistic scope, may somehow secure for himself one safe seat and a continued career as a Deputy Minister.

Needless to say, the other component parties leapt at his throat, mouthing bullsh*t party procedures, and meaningless-but-sounds-nice stuff like “The priority for all component parties is to work towards strengthening solidarity in BN and to get the people's support so that BN continues to get a big win in the next general election.”

Yeah ... but their real response?

“… f-off Kayveas, we don’t need you anymore!” in unequivocal terms.

In a way, I admire Kayveas for making a huge issue over this – it’s a case of do or die as his political future is already well and truly dead - a sepukku gesture but without entirely relinquishing hope yet. So here's a Japanese 15th Century 'goodbye' poem for him:
Nora ni saku
na wa kore made zo
kusa no hana

Flowers of
the grass
scarcely shown, and withered
name and all

- Ota Dokan

Afterall, what’s incorrect about him demanding for more seats through the media when Gerakan Party’s Perak chief Chang Ko Youn had done the same, by asking for the Taiping electoral constituency to be return to Gerakan.

But as he is basically looking after himself, maybe AAB may satisfy him by packing Mr Embarrassment off as Ambassador to Djibouti or Burkino Faso?

It'll a sad day for the memory of D.R Seenivasegam.

Related:
PPP = Pathetic Pitiful Party

AAB's anti-corruption drive or anti-corrupttion nose-dive

2007-03-04T10:46:00.000+08:00

... noui
consilia et ueteres quaecumque monetis amici,
"pone seram, cohibes." sed quis custodiat ipsos
custodes qui nunc lasciuae furta puellae
hac mercede silent? crimen commune tacetur

... I know
the plan that my friends always advise me to adopt:
"Bolt her in, constrain her!" But who can watch

the watchmen? They keep quiet about the girl's

secrets and get her as their payment; everyone hushes it up

- satires of Juvenal

So WTF!

As the old Romans said “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (who will guard the guards themselves).

Yes, who will monitor the potential for, or the real corruption of the people in the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA)?

The Police? Really?

... then we have a situation where the police watches the ACA who watches the police who watches ….....

You get the idea and the inevitable outcome of such an arrangement?

A man is of course innocent until proven guilty, but for such an important post as the nation’s No 1 Person leading the government's so-claimed fight against corruption, the incumbent should stand aside until he is cleared of the alleged corruption he has been accused of, or the government should make him stand aside.

ACA director-general Zulkipli Mat Noor is alleged to have amassed properties and wealth beyond the source of his known income. He is also said to have numerous business interests.

He has been additionally implicated in an alleged salacious affairs where a housewife has accused him of a sex crime and assault in 1997.

And who brought up these accusation – no, not those pesky bloggers but an ex-top ACA officer to the former inspector-general of police.

The accusations in the form of a report were also sent to AAB, the attorney-general, the auditor-general and the civil service director-general.

What happened to all these, malaysiakini writer Anand said, remains a mystery.

But when push comes to shove as the issue recently re-emerges, alas, the usual ‘hold the fort’ mentality sets in with the PM and his ministers. Deny, reject, prevaricate ... etc.

But even more importantly, as Anand asked, why did AAB extend the tenure of such a controversial person after so many allegations against the latter?

We have to ask - has AAB been dumb or deliberate in his re-appointment of Zulkipli Mat Noor? Either way, he is damned!

Anand said this is “unbecoming of a prime minister, who on numerous occasions, made it crystal clear that he has zero tolerance for corruption. In fact, this uncompromising stand was one of the key factors in securing an enviable victory for the ruling front in the 2001 polls.”

The ACA is supposedly a sacrosanct body and its chief must be immaculate with nothing short of a clean slate. Anything suggesting the contrary, would erode public confidence. So why reappoint such a bloke?

AAB has a bloody lot to answer for!