Showing posts with label news article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news article. Show all posts

Friday, November 25, 2011

Wan Nur Arzrin “Alleged” She Was Assaulted By Her Uncle


First of all, I do not know her. I just picked up her name from Nov 21, 2011 Bernama news (and today is Nov 25!). [Bernama link broken, here's alternative news link]

Secondly, I intentionally bracket the word "alleged" because by definition (google: define allege) means: 1) Claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof that this is the case. 2) Suppose or affirm to be a case. Please note the bolded phrase.

No, I don’t mean to accuse Wan Nur Arzrin or something. See, at the second part, by definition (repeated), something was declared BUT not proven. And it has nothing wrong on Wan Nur Arzrin’s part at all.

She stated: “I'm disappointed that there has been no action taken on my reports, in Jakarta as well as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport police station on Nov 13. But I hope with Datuk Seri's (Mohamed Nazri) assurance, the matter will be attended to.”

The story:
On Nov 12, 2011: She "alleged" she was assaulted by her uncle due to a small misunderstanding, while the family was in a lift in Bogor, Indonesia. She claimed to have broken bones and injured nerve due to the assault.
Date?: She lodged a police report at Jakarta, Indonesia.
On Nov 13, 2011: She lodge another police report at KLIA police station.
On Nov 15, 2011: She twitted our PM Dato’ Seri Najib Razak for help [Source].
On Nov 21, 2011: She approached Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri (Minister in Prime Minister’s Department) during a public event for help regarding her prior "alleged" claim (and second claim that, uh, "no action taken on her reports?") [Source]. [Bernama link broken, here's alternative news link]

By the way, who is Wan Nur Arzrin? On googling, she is/was(?):
  1. Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Agro Biotechnology Technovation (M) Sdn Bhd (founded in 2008, entered the news in 2008 for its 900 million (dubbed largest) biodiesel plant in Kuala Lukut, Port Dickson and supposed to start producing biofuel since 2010);
  2. A graduate of Universiti Malaya; a holder of Bachelor of Science Biotechnology;
  3. A former student of Bukit Bintang Girls School (Class 5 Science 2 of 1999); also the President of Gymnastrada Club and Head of Shirtliff Cheerleading team (both 1999);
  4. A regular twitter;
  5. And, uh, rather pretty I say. :D
But still, I do not know how a small misunderstanding could lead to physical (and not to forget, emotional) assault (even though it was still an alleged claim) by a man to a woman. Even to the extend of breaking bones! To that ‘man’ if you really did as claimed, you can have my fist!

Hurting woman is one of my most hated crime

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sabah Position As No. 1 Oil Palm State in Malaysia In Jeopardy?

Stephanie Lee reported in the front page of Daily Express (Nov 21, 2011) titled "Sabah palm oil at risk":

"Kota Kinabalu: Members of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) who breach rules by developing oil palm in areas of high conservation value will not be issued with the RSPO certification - and this may jeopardise Sabah's position as the No. 1 oil palm State in Malaysia and hugely dependant on the commodity for revenue."

How so? "RSPO Malaysia Secretary-General Darrel Webber... (learned) that the Sabah Forestry Department was having a tough time cracking down on people who keep clearing Class One forest reserves to plant oil palm by claiming native customary rights." read on...


Points:
  1. Sabah is no. 1 (means biggest) palm oil state in Malaysia.
  2. Palm oil is one of the source of revenue. [Supporting Source: Insight Sabah: Sabah Budget 2011 - Spending Big For Growth (Roll down to paragraph 5)]
  3. Sabahan palm oil growers (dubbed "faux natives" meaning they claim to have NCR of the land they're clearing) have been allegedly clearing class 1 forest for palm oil planting (which gives hard time for the Sabah Forest Department to crack) so they;
  4. Breach (one or few of) RSPO rules (on restriction on not to develop palm oil industry in high conservation value areas e.g. Class 1 forest) and thus;
  5. RSPO would not issue RSPO certification(s) to the alleged parties (in other word they will be "greylisted", not "blacklisted" mind you) and thus;
  6. No sales/trades of palm oil and its products maybe conducted (between the "whitelisted" members of RSPO) and thus;
  7. Would generate less revenue and thus:
  8. Point No. 2 would be jeopardized because of it. Hey, how about point No. 1?
Have I listed all points from the two paragraphs above? I would like to think so. However, few things don't feel right. For example:
  1. Forest clearing (including clearing Class 1 forest for any purpose, and for palm oil planting/development for any other forest class) has been happening since 'eternally' but no action has been taken, or at least enforcement is inconsistent... [Sorry no source supplied.] Only now RSPO 'learned' or mention about it?
  2. RSPO certification is almost meaningless. Why? Even "certified" members can still breach (and sell palm oil product). [Source] Even "greylisted breachers" can still sell their products through (not-so-sincere) whitelisted members. [Hearsay, sorry no source]
  3. RSPO certification is for 'so supply chain can be traced on each level/facility that uses "certified oil"'. No system is foolproof, it can be fooled! [No source supplied]
  4. Ah, NCR (native customary rights) is a sensitive things to discuss here. But Sabahan knows better that some NCR rightful owners got "owned", some got their rightful NCR after sooooooo long (sorry can't help myself :)), some not-so-right NCR holder got their NCR somehow, some NCR got "cancelled" by government after introductions of some enactments. [Not related but still a Source]

RSPO is a not-for-profit (whatever it means) association that unites stakeholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry - oil palm producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs and social or developmental NGOs - to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil. [Source]

According to RSPO website, Malaysia has the highest number of members by country.


In the end, I ask myself, is Sabah Position As No. 1 Oil Palm State in Malaysia In Jeopardy? Not likely if we consider the "hugeness" of palm oil plantation. We still have big companies here "doing" palm oil as opposed to "NCR" claimers clearing forest for palm oil, but of course I'll defer to Stephanie can show me if the "NCR" claimers' lands are larger than the big boys' lands. Compared to revenue to Sabah from tax of crude palm oil (CPO). A "decertification" might affect revenue but not so much due to "resourceful" (would/might-be) greylisted members of RSPO...

Friday, November 18, 2011

Yoong Hero, oops, I mean Young Hero :D


Saw this on TV yesterday. Text modified from The Star:
Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah weighs only 28kg weigh and 1.24m tall... She is the youngest gold medalist in SEA Games since its inception in 1959. And, oh, she's only 8-year-and-4-month-old when she won the gold for WOMEN Waterski Tricks Event. (Bold and EMPHASIS is mine) ;)
The Yoong family certainly breeding heroes. :D So, congratulation to our young hero.;) Read her resume here (updated as of 31st July 2011).

[Added on 23 Nov 2011]

It seems that former F1 driver Alex Yoong and Philipa Yoong both won golds as well. Also congratulations for the not-so-young heroes. :) [Source]

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Rest in Peace, Yasmin Ahmad...

Yasmin Ahmad,an Internationally-acclaimed movie director, also renowned for her advertisements capturing the multiracial essence of Malaysia, dies...
Bernama news:
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 —Renowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad died here at about 11.25 pm last night.

Her death was confirmed by Media Prime Group Chief Operations Officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, who was at the Damansara Specialist Hospital, when contacted by Bernama.

Yasmin, 51, collapsed while presenting a working paper at Sri Pentas, the headquarters of the private television station TV3 on Thursday and was rushed to the Damnsara Specialists Hospital.

She was reported to have suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage.
I present here one of her truly touching advetistment which I like most...

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Murder-Raper to Hang, Don't Forget the Drug Dealers

Some time ago I posted about a trial about a man who raped and then stabbed a 9-year-old girl before left her to her death. Today, Daily Express published this story which excerpt I reproduce from [their website].
Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old unemployed local was sentenced to death by hanging here Friday for murdering a nine-year-old schoolgirl five years ago.

Jamaludin Saripudin was found guilty of killing Haserawati Sarioi @ Saridi between 7am and 8am on Jan 8, 2004 in the bushes on a hill slope near a road in Kampung Ratau, Tebobon, in Menggatal.

Jamaludin, who has four convictions for theft, is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence plus 24 strokes of the cane for raping the same girl at the same place and time.

In my previous post, he claimed he was under influence of drug. I commented that if the claim was true then all the drug dealers should be put to death. My feeling and thinking is still the same now.

I just read Clarice's post about people using rohypnol for date-rape crime. I commented the very same thing. Death sentence to the drug possessors (with ill intention) and the suppliers, or life prison if the possessors can supply information that may lead to the arrest of their supplier.

Ah, well, just ventilating my rage and most hated crime... You all (minus the drug dealers, murderers, rapers and other criminals) have a nice day.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

My Family Got Accident!

[Updated: 8 July]
70% damaged but thank God everybody elses are okay.


Thanks God everyone is fine. Thank you all for the prayer. I notice there's one thumb down in what do you think. So sorry to anyone who disprove of this post. I was worried and being stupid.

Mum discharged. Lil bro go to school. My bro & his wife back to work. I'll be back to Tawau tonight.

[Previous Post]
Daily Express excerpts:
Kota Kinabalu: A family of four had a shock when the four-wheel-drive they were travelling in skidded off the road and ended up in a drain near Taman Ira Manis in Kolombong, here, Saturday... (click on the excerpt to read more)
They were actually heading to do an errand for me (meeting my girlfriend). When my little brother called me, "Bro! We had accident! Mum fainted!" I was worried so much until I learned everybody was okay and my mum regained consciousness later.

My girlfriend cried and she blamed herself for the accident which I repeatedly told her it was not her fault. (But in my heart I felt it was my fault but then I know accidents can happen anywhere and anytime and to anybody.) I was able to forgive myself but not my girlfriend. She was overwhelmed with guilt and not picking up my phone calls.

Well, will see to that later. For now, my bro & his wife & my little bro are okay (received only outpatient treatment). My mum got hospitalised for suspected internal injury but otherwise conscious and talking and not to mention happy to see all her sons there. She had X-ray and ultrasound this morning. Oh, she was asked to fast and on drips. Just hope everything will be okay.

Will update later. Pix of accident is incoming maybe later tonight. Pray for me please. You all have a nice day.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Piggy Birdie Homo Flu?

[UPDATED: 01 July 2009]
Well, it seems that the international medias (including AFP and Reuters) are against WHO's 2009 April, 30 "plea" (and a second repeated "plea") not to use the term Swine Flu. The pix was taken from CDC's H1N1 site. Does anyone know what is happening? It's like a big conspiracy where FAO/WHO/OIE/WTO/CDC and the Name Callers are wedging war for the "right of name/s"!

Oh, about the title, read the excerpt:
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus. [Source]

Perhaps the "tug of naming war" is related with [this] news piece?
Excerpts:
This outbreak (sometime in Jan 1976) affected 230 military personnel, killing one person, but it was successfully contained and was almost certainly caused by the direct transmission of swine flu from pigs. [Source]

My Related Post: Piggy Flu

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Piggy Flu


Few days ago Art Minister asked the media to use the term swine flu (only?) to describe the "Mexican 2009 flu", the MoH responded by explaining why they stick to Influenza A(H1N1). The Art Minister then amended his suggestion to use BOTH swine flu AND A(H1N1) thus becoming Selsema Babi A(H1N1) (A(H1N1) swine flu).

I notice that RTM, TV3 and Astro Awani all take the Minister's suggestion. Haven't checked the Bernama TV yet but Bernama seems to stick with MoH. BTW, I checked all the "references" given by the Minister above and I notice their media too uses swine flu but not the health people. *shrug* Same here I think. *shrug* It's up to the media to take the suggestion or not.

Cheers! ;)

P/S: Rest in peace, Michael Jackson @ Mikail. I grew up listening to his song...

Friday, June 12, 2009

The "Safest" and Mildest Pandemic Ever?

Yesterday (or is it today?), WHO raised the pandemic level of Influenza A(H1N1) to maximum level 6 (meaning full blown pandemic). [Source] With confirmed cases reach 29,669 including 145 deaths over 74 countries, the mortality rate is "still" less than 1%. [Source]

And the symptoms are "only" flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, mostly mild. [Source]

So, do we have the "safest" and "mildest" pandemic ever? Well, I don’t think so. Had the WHO not raised the pandemic level to level 5 in earlier date:
  • many would have died because they were not managed (quarantine and/or hospitalised) properly and swiftly;
  • and the spread would be too hard to control;
  • and with more spreading, mutation from the "mild" influenza may become more rapidly developed and probably deadlier;
  • besides, we do have mortality eventhough it is lesser than 1%, but death is still an unwelcomed result.
So, bravo to WHO for their fast action. But still, we always want to ask them to be faster than "most" fastest. :D

Primal-ry Fight?

Politic is not healthy for school especially for the primary school children.

According to Daily Express [sorry no link], two disputing
parties of a primary school management board were having discord over "power claim" causing havoc to school management and distress to school children and their parents.

Read the alternate site [news].

My thought is, sounds like two groups of primates fighting over “territorial control”. *shrug*

Wei! kasian lah (pity) those children and parents!

Stashed Cash Trashed!


Source: Reuters

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Legal Illegals?

[Warning: Damn Long Post!]

Home Minister on Sunday (June 7) announced the registration of illegal immigrants (workers and their families?) in Sabah to be extended until October 31. Not only that, he also announced the foreign workers levy to be halved starting July 1, 2009. He added the employers MUST take this chance. [Source]

Yesterday, he said employers who failed to register their undocumented foreign workers would be named and shamed. [Source]

A brief anecdots (tuned to my taste):- :P

August to October 2008:
Immigration Department in Sabah received 312,837 applications from a total of 22,862 employers to register their “undocumented” foreign workers & their families. [Source]

April 2009 (Rumour but based on the then DPM – now PM – mini budget talk):
Foreign Workers Levy to be doubled effective May 1, 2009. [My related post]

April 31, 2009:
Human Resource Minister announced the Govt had postponed levy increase/double until the economy became okay. [Source]

May 2009:
Sabah State Secretary announced a total of 389,129 illegal immigrants were arrested between 1990 and 2008 (roughly 19 years, translated to 20,480 per year, or slightly more than 5,120 per three months, please compare the Aug to Oct 2008 number above.) and 80% or 315,752 were deported back to their countries of origin. [Source]

My thought:
1. Wow! The employers must be very happy for the second chance.
2. The existing and/or elusive illegals don’t need to hide anymore now that they have second chance to be “legalised”.
3. The (unscrupulous) employers/agents say, “Welcome, please enter illegally and en mass, we’ll legalised (all of) you (for a “small” fee).”
4. The criminal illegals also get a second chance (based on last year experience) now that they can change they identities. And I’m accusing the Consulate of DOESN’T-CARE-LESS attitude. Read their previous assertion [Click on the pix to know more] (DUH! Cakap tidak serupa bikin!).
5. The Job Agencies must be very happy for durian runtuh (fortune) of getting businesses from employers.
6. “Deported? No problem! Just come in (legally or illegally) (again), we’ll legalised you (with new identity if possible) (again).”
7. This means more “income” for certain (dodgy) enforcers/officers during their “impromptu” and (questionable) “routine” rounds.
8. Has mine ears heard (or eyes seen) wrong? Within 3 months we get 312,837 “LEGAL illegals” vs 389,129 “ILLEGAL illegals” over TWO DECADES.
9. What with the fluctuating levy???
10. What about our own (scarce) good quality local human resource (but underpaid, just because foreigners are cheaper labour)?
11. The papers failed to mention that employers are not only companies, factories, construction contractor etc., all that may have more than one top executives (few individuals as boss), but also individual bosses e.g. landowners (usually agricultural), housewives who hire maid/s. The point is, 22,862 employers who registered the illegals are ONLY a fraction of total number of all the employers in Sabah. Yes, only 22,862 employers registered their legal illegals during Aug to Oct 2008 “Amnesty” program in the WHOLE of Sabah!
12. Not only that, there are still MANY employers who employ illegal illegals (as opposed to legal illegals registered by the 22,862). Of course I don’t have the prove, yet. However, try to ask (discreetly please) the job agencies about last minute frantic employers trying to register their “unlegalisible” illegals (because registration date was closed). You’ll find MANY of them there are still employing those “poor souls” because they couldn’t register their workers. *shrug*
13. And now, the Home Minister wanted to name and shame them. Wah! Very kaya ah the Ministry?
14. Where to to put the names? Newspapers? Have to print very small lah, who wants to read small font and boring lists? TV? Impossible task and wastage of rakyat money! Well, perhaps some “object learnings” where you prosecute only a few of those employers, save money and instill fear (duh!)? But fair or not? You tell me!
15. Ah, I forgot about internet. Who give a damn about some lists in the internet? Well, except you also forward their names to the bank or IRB (loan blacklisting) or Immigration Department (travel ban) or perhaps the police can arrest them all and/or prosecute them (someone asked me, “Wah, so free ah the police? No crime to solve/prevent?”)??? Or... or...
16. Someone tell me, “Need to survive mah.” Yeah right!
17. Oh, I have almost forgotten about the NON-compulsory preliminary medical checkup for legal illegals like last year. So, to all those who have INFECTIOUS and NOTIFIABLE diseases, you don’t need to worry because:
  1. The first year is exempted from checkups and the year after, you just need to find OTHER’s blood/body for checking (can use this for first years too);
  2. The “qualified health officers/staffs” are “susceptible” to being “ignorant” or easily “deceived” by the “evasive” foreign patients’ “tricks” in supplying health information or simply “equivocal” about how the health procedures are supposed to be conducted in TRANSPARENT and ETHICAL manners.
  3. Growarisan not yet (or won’t be?) exercising the new foreign workers quarantine procedures. Why? You go ask them!

Did someone just accuse me of lying about the claims above. I say, bring it on! And please, please be a RESPONSIBLE Malaysian and Blogger!

As much as I like to “vent” my thought, I think I must give constructive ideas as well. However, many people had voiced their proposals way better than what I would have given. So, I’ll just put few good links below: ;)
1. Set up Royal Commission on Inquiry [Related news]
2. Step up enforcement [Related news]

Disclaimer: No offense to the kind, incorruptible, hardworking and dedicated officers, enforcers, employers, job agencies and staffs, local civilians, tourists, and legal foreign immigrants (workers), and all their families. Oh, also to those innocent men, women, children and bystanders. :D

Cheers and have a nice and happy days. ;)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

(Un-)1(-ted-by-)University, People's (students & parents) Fists, Performance Blunder



Feeling rejected: Several of the 4,574 students who had applied to the apex-status Universiti Sains Malaysia holding up acceptance letters that were downloaded online at the university in Penang yesterday.



Unhappy lot: Some 200 irate parents and students gathering at the university’s registrar’s office to complain about the technical blunder.


Read the [news].
reanaclaire said: such a big disappointment, i tell u,.. pity the students and the parents,... how can such thing happen.. if i were the parent, i surely feel sad for my kid...

KY replied: Me too. If I had a kid lah. ;)
MariaFaizal said: So much for the 'world' class university.USM-Apex can't even handle the application level :(

KY replied: It was human error they said... If they could shortlist those student, it means they were good but not good enough, qualified but not not qualified enough, ...
D.L Sumunie said: Kasian the parents and students...:<

KY relied: I wonder how the U would compensate their trouble getting there... The tambang, the duit minyak, the makan minum, the penat lelah, the hancur luluh (dashed) hopes...
DeePo said something. :)

KY replied: Totally understood. ;) :D

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A Helping Hand? Don't Think So.

Excerpt from Reuters

BEIJING - A Chinese man was pushed off a bridge by an angry passer-by after his threat to commit suicide held up traffic for five hours, Chinese media reported on Saturday.

Retired soldier Lian Jiansheng, 66, broke through a police cordon and reached out to shake the hand of would-be jumper Chen Fuchao before shoving him off the bridge.

Read more [here].

My thinking:
1. Wow! The would-be "suicider" accepted handshake from "fans"! Is that for real???
2. If a "suicider" needed pushing it means that he was not really into suicide.
3. Why after FIVE HOURS no angry passer-by cheer, "Woi! Why don't you jump ahead and "ease" your life (and ours)!"?
4. Oh, ya. The title is inspired from the same news, at the end, (I misquoted) "Lian gave Chen a helping hand".

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Beauty is in the Eye of Beholder

Promised to write a post about beauty but never got quality time to draft. (Alasan!) ;) Presenting you this video, old news but always refreshing to watch.



Check her full singing [here]. (More than 59 million views)

Latest news: ['Britain's Got Talent' starts semi-finals with Susan Boyle leading the pack]

Interesting news excerpt: "By Douglas Wight, 10/05/2009
SUSAN Boyle turned down the chance of a dream dinner date with President Barack Obama in Washington . . . to stay at home and wash her hair, we can reveal." Read more [here].

Beauty is everywhere. You only have to look for it. Cheers! ;)

Friday, May 22, 2009

Instant Millionaire, Instant Criminal


Read the news [Police hunt couple fleeing bank error].

Excerpt: "SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand police have launched an international search for a couple who fled with millions of dollars after NZ$10 million (US$6.05 million) was accidentally deposited into their bank account."

My reaction:
1. How could you accidentally give someone NZ$10 million?
2. How could a highly secured and advanced banking system "make" a mistake?
3. The couple must be very quick on their foot (to flee) and mind (to take advantage). :D
4. Wow! They have become instant millionaire!
5. Wow! Now they become criminal (instantly after become millionaire). :D


[UPDATE]

The bank says the mistake was the result of human error and not a systems problem. It is pursuing criminal and civil action to recover the money and reviewing procedures.

Earlier this year a Pennsylvania couple withdrew more than $175,000 that had been mistakenly placed in their account after a bank error.

Randy Pratt, 50, and wife Melissa, 36, withdrew the money, quit their jobs and ran off to Florida before being caught. Randy said he thought the money was "a gift from God".

Westpac says the account holder tried to transfer about NZ$6.7 million out of the account but NZ$2.8 million was recovered, leaving the thieves with NZ$3.8 million.

Meanwhile, police say "two individuals of interest to the inquiry have left New Zealand and are believed to have travelled to Hong Kong. Enquiries to locate those individuals are continuing through Interpol in Hong Kong and official channels in Beijing."

Monday, May 18, 2009

WHO needs time... Who? WHO. Who?


Like the AFP news topic. :D Read the [news].

Monday, May 11, 2009

Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant) at Wisma Merdeka

"Unduk Ngadau is a beauty pageant held during Kaamatan in Sabah, Malaysia.
The Unduk Ngadau, or Harvest Festival queen, symbolizes Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of Kinorohingan.
The pageant was formerly known as Miss Kadazan (1960-1970), Miss Harvest Festival (1971-1980), Ratu Kaamatan (1981-1990). The current Unduk Ngadau title has been in place since 1991."

Source: Wikipedia


BTW, this is not an essay about Unduk Ngadau. :D Saw an advertisement from Daily Express on May 8, 09, about WISMA MERDEKA UNDUK NGADAU CONTEST, and this pix:


The text reads:

Ms Clarice Tony Winner of
Wisma Merdeka Unduk Ngadau 2007
(The actual year Ms Tony won was 2006.
She herself affirms it. Thanks Clarice!)


Asked Ms Clarice Cassandra Tony if it was her, said she was. And I was like, "Wow! I 'know' a beauty pageant!" :D Here is the link to her [post]. And here the colour pix of her.

Alang-alang post about this already. Why don't I just reproduce the whole ad. :D

WISMA MERDEKA UNDUK NGADAU CONTEST
16th May 2009 (Saturday)
12 Noon - 2 PM

Attention to all single girls (meaning you can lie, like I'm married but single, no?) :D aged 18-25! Do not miss the opportunity to enter the following contest. Hurry, only the first 15 contestants will be entertained. (Meaning what? They have ONLY 15 entry forms?)

This contest is open to all Malaysian citizen age 18 to 25. Those interested can obtain the entry form (free of charge (but limited?)) from our Information Counter at Ground Floor, Phase 1, Wisma Merdeka, (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, just in case someone from Perlis or Johor or Sarawak or all other non-Sabahans asking about WHERE THE HELL IS WISMA MERDEKA? They did say all Malaysian, didn't they?). :D For further information, please call Chris or Susan at 088-232763.
Closing Date: 14th May 2009 (or at the earliest entry form is out of stock, and at the latest 2 days before contest!)


No offense guys. :D

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Not a Perakian but...

Watched NTV7 7PM news the other day about Courtroom bickering regarding who the "real" Perak's Menteri Besar should be. NTV news gave these two lists (provided by the respective counsel) for comparison:

NTV7: On why DS Nizar should be MB?
  1. DUN not yet dissolved.
  2. He has not resigned yet.
  3. No vote of "unconfidence" made towards him.
NTV7: On why DDr Zambry should be MB?
  1. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
  2. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
  3. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
Basically, what NTV7 news tried to explain, I think, was (from various other sources):
  1. PR had 28 ADUNs, BN had 28 ADUNs, the 3 Bebas were “partiless” BN supporters.
  2. DS Nizar didn't gain the confidence of the majority, because [repeat no. 1].
  3. The Sultan "expected" DS Nizar to resign, because [repeat no. 2].
  4. The Sultan had chosen another to be MB, so [repeat no. 3].
  5. It was considered disloyalty not to resign because [repeat no. 4].
Why can't NTV7 make simple person like me to understand? :D Ah, perhaps I'm plain stupid, not to mention demented! Of course, how could I NOT realize that?! ;)

BTW, where's the “Against the Constitution” part? *blur* :S Ah, perhaps it was hidden in the “forgotten” part...
Probably unrelated news:
Perak’s day of infamy and bedlam
Nizar claim today's sitting 'null and void'
What does the standoff in Perak mean?

[UPDATED May 11, 2009] High Court ruled DS Nizar was real MB but DDr Zambry could appeal.

[UPDATED May 12, 2009] DDr Zambry succeeded in appealing for a stay on the High Court rule in his favour. So DS Nizar may become unreal MB?

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Awang oh! Awang - Bukan Cerita Kanak-kanak

Wake up on boring Sunday. My first act was to check the news today from The Malaysia Insider. Stumbled upon this unlikely news. “Believe it! You moron!” I heard myself talking back to me. Since I have nothing better to do, I’ve decided to write this piece of crap. Not that anyone will read this junk I think. It may even be considered racist, I am actually hoping for the word “insignificant”. Ah well, why don’t I just go ahead and see for myself? ;)

Awang oh! Awang. He did it again (provoking other races’ intellect)! Said he wasn't surprised with their reaksi keterlaluan (excessive reaction?) of the headline story. Sure, only someone who was PREPARED to face such reaction would not be easily surprised, which means the person had DELIBERATELY done the very thing that led to the EXPECTED reaction.

Said the report was disalah tafsir (taken out of context?) and digambarkan seolah-olah satu provokasi kepada kaum lain (depicted as if it was a provocation to other races?). No comment there old boy. Whatever the front pager means was not CLEARLY stated in the front page headline. How can people know what was ACTUALLY MEANT when the front pager wrote something but it ACTUALLY MEANT something else?

Said the report was only as response to the various statements and demands by certain parties (whoever you mean) including akbar bahasa ibunda (non-Malay press?) and blogs. Claimed that the headline story (only?) encouraged Malays to be united in the context of “Malay Unity is the tonggak (foundation? pillar?) for Stability for All Races” in this country. (Running back to fetch the April 15 newspaper.)

Er, which paragraph did you say as your claim? There are only few statements that MAYBE says what you mean:

1. Ketua Pembangkang Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo berkata, hak orang Melayu tidak harus dilepaskan dalam usaha kerajaan memenuhi kehendak masyarakat pelbagai kaum. (Selangor DUN Opposition Leader, said, Malay’s rights should not be dilepaskan (sacrificed? “released” sounds very inappropriate.) in the efforts of government to fulfill the demands of multiracial community.) [Nah, I don’t think this is what you mean.]

2. Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad berkata, walaupun kerajaan mahu menekankan konsep Satu Malaysia yang menyatukan rakyat pelbagai kaum, langkah juga perlu dilakukan bagi mengembalikan keharmonian di kalangan orang Melayu sendiri. (Deputy President of GPMS said, even though government wants to stress the concept of One Malaysia that unites the multiracial rakyat, steps to return the harmony within Malays themselves need to be done.) [Nope! Don’t think this one either.]

3. [3 paragraphs in one] Ketua Umum Badan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM), Osman Abu Bakar yang sependapat dengan GPMS berkata, ... kerjasama antara dua parti politik itu bukan sahaja akan memberi faedah kepada orang Melayu sahaja tetapi juga kaum lain. Tambahnya, penyatuan UMNO dan Pas perlu menjadi batu loncatan untuk mengeratkan semua rakyat berbilang kaum di negara ini. (OAB (General Leader?) of BBPM said ... cooperation between the two parties (UMNO and PAS) will not only benefit the Malay but also other races. He added, the unity of UMNO and PAS needs to be the stepping stone to strengthen (the relation) of all races in this country.) [Ah, perhaps THIS is what you mean. But then why single out only TWO parties? What of Malays from OTHER parties? It must have hurt their feeling by leaving them out.]

He asked is it wrong if Malays are united and why gundah (feeling discomfort/disgruntled?) of Malay unity? No at all, old boy. ;) United THEY should (not you of course since you are already IN and not OUT), for the good of the country. People only gundah if you INCLUDE Malay Unity (although most of the time your newspaper articles stop at the word Malay, the unity thing only sometimes mentioned) and VERSES other races in the same sentence, or in the same context. Shall I quote from the headline story? Ah, I’m sure you know that already. ;)

[Skip 2 paragraphs] No comment on that. One Malaysia is a “new” concept proposed by PM. So everyone has his/her own interpretation, or misinterpretation (if others disagree with someone’s interpretation), of the concept. Can’t really blame Awang if he just senyum sambil geleng kepala (smiled while shaking his head), on top of feeling of menghairankan (flabbergasted/astonished?), of others’ evaluation and analysis and attempt to relate 1Malaysia concept and the report (he used mengaitkanNYA, not sure NYA means the report or something else).

Said he, the (sad) reality of today, Malay press seakan perlu tunduk kepada tekanan gerakan politik bukan Melayu (seemed they have to bow to the pressure of Non-Malay political movement). Not really. You have done everything in your power to continue publishing, er, “may be misinterpreted” to seditious and racist articles.

Said he, “Jika akhbar berbahasa ibunda menyiarkan laporan dan berita yang amat berbaur perkauman, ia hanya dianggap sebagai kebebasan media atas nama demokrasi. Tetapi jika akhbar Melayu melaporkan suara isi hati orang Melayu dan adakalanya menyanggah tuntutan keterlaluan kaum lain, ia dituduh rasis.

(If non-Malay press publishes SUPER RACIST (can’t help myself choosing this word LOL!) reports and news, it is considered freedom of press in the name of democracy. BUT if Malay press voices the isi hati (desire? thought? aspiration?) of the Malay which is sometimes menyanggah (contradictory? in disagreement? at odds?) with the UNREASONABLE demands of other races, we are accused of being racist.)

Fair argument Awang. Now you’re talking sense. Of course, we may disagree to the FINER POINTS of what UNREASONABLE DEMANDS you mean. For the sake of racial harmony, I’ll agree with you NO ONE should “play” at racism in the name of democracy and freedom of press. Yes, that’s including you and me and the others. ANYONE playing at racism should be PROSECUTED and not PROTECTED. So, you see, not all people are as UNREASONABLE as such the ones that you have met. Er, did you say there’re MILLIONS of them out there? ;)

He said we (I think he mean the ACCUSERS) should make our own research and assured us it will ABSOLUTELY surprise us. He related a friend’s statement, “Laporan mereka jauh lebih dahsyat seolah-olah Malaysia bukan negara pelbagai kaum.” (Their, meaning non-Malay’s, news report are more dahsyat (worse? slanderous? seditious? ULTRA RACIST?) as if (depicting) Malaysia is not multiracial country).

Again, fair argument Awang. No surprise though. We all know there are some IRRESPONSIBLE people out there writing/saying UNETHICAL and RACIST reports or remarks without REGARDS of social harmony. But then again, I hope you can treat this matter as a WHOLE. Not just NOT-UNETHICAL akbar Melayu verses UNETHICAL akbar bahasa ibunda. What about the seemingly disalah tafsir UNETHICAL akbar Melayu?

Said he, “Pada Awang, sebahagian media berkenaan memberikan banyak isyarat berbeza dan mengelirukan. Dalam mereka mendakwa mendokong kerajaan, ia tidak dicerminkan dengan laporan yang secara konsisten boleh dibaca membawa agenda berlainan. Pun begitu, tidak timbul desakan agar para pemimpin Cina mengawal akhbar mereka.”

(To Awang, SOME of those media gives contradictory and confusing indications. While they claim to be supporting the government, their reports are inconsistent (with their claim) and appear to have different agendas. Even then, there’s no insistence/pressure for the Chinese leaders to control their press.)

Ah, now Awang makes his point clearer. No just ANY non-Malay press but SPECIFICALLY the Chinese press, or rather, CHINESE-CONTROLLED PRESS. Why didn’t you say earlier, Awang oh! Awang? Are you playing teka-teki (guessing games) with the readers. You must have a very crooked sense of humor. ;) So, those presses are flip-flopping with their LOYALTY you said? To whom did you say again? Ah, to the government! Thank you for clearing up that one too. Nasib baik (fortunately) you didn’t say disloyalty to the King and Country. ;)

He questioned, “Persoalannya apakah perlu ada piawaian berbeza antara media Melayu dan bukan Melayu? Akhbar Melayu tidak boleh lantang sementara akhbar bukan Melayu mesti diberi lebih kebebasan?” (The question is, is there need to have different standard between Malay media and non-Malay media? So, Malay press cannot be lantang (critical? or loud?) while non-Malay press must be given more freedom?”)

Fair question, Awang. Had you not mentioned this I would NEVER have known there are already different standard between the two medias! Now I know that Malay press is suppressed while the non-Malay press is running amok of unrestricted freedom. Perhaps the government should fix that either by (1) giving both the SAME freedom of press or (2) SUPPRESS both seemingly “misinterpreted as” UNETHICAL and RACIST publications. What do you say in that? It is a very fair solution, right?

Said he, “Malah pada hari ini, semua orang tahu, akhbar bahasa ibunda jauh lebih bebas dan berani memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum mereka berbanding akhbar bahasa Melayu. Apakah kebebasan yang mereka nikmati itu mahu dibiarkan untuk melenyapkan akhbar bahasa Melayu?

(Even today, everybody knows non-Malay press has been far freer and bolder in fighting for the interest of their races COMPARED TO the Malay press. Does the freedom they enjoy mahu dibiarkan(can be allowed?) so that they can wipe out Malay press?)

(1) That everybody knows: true. (2) That non-Malay press is freer and bolder: true. (3) That COMPARED TO: true. (4) That Wipe out Malay press: Huh? Does he mean Non-Malay press’ “Freedom of Press” EQUALS Wiping Out of Malay press? You must have been withholding certain evidences that can unearth this Conspiracy to Wipe Out Malay press, or you’re just being over suspicious type, and blatantly accuse the non-Malay press of this.

Said he, “Sememangnya ada gerakan terancang terutama parti pembangkang tertentu untuk melemahkan akhbar Melayu khususnya Utusan atas muslihat politik. Ini kerana Utusan selama ini menjadi wadah mempertahankan kepentingan Islam dan Melayu atas rasa tanggungjawab untuk menjamin keharmonian pelbagai kaum.”

(There’s been a choreographed movement especially from certain opposition parties to weaken the Malay press and especially Utusan in their political maneuvering. This is because Utusan has been (forever) a vanguard to protect interest of Islam and Malays in the sense of responsibility to guarantee the multiracial harmony.)

I can’t disagree with you there’s probably movement to weaken Utusan (specifically) but Malay press as whole? *Shrug* So, you do feel responsible in guaranteeing multiracial harmony. It’s just you have been giving, quoting you, “isyarat berbeza dan mengelirukan” (confusing and contradictory gesture). What you did doesn’t reflect what you mean.

Said he, “Pendirian syarikat akhbar ini cukup jelas dan konsisten iaitu menolak ekstremisme kaum dan agama sepanjang 75 tahun sejarah penubuhannya. Sebab itu, Utusan mendokong Umno yang mengamalkan pendekatan kesederhanaan berbanding parti tertentu sebelum ini yang membawa aliran ekstrem.

(Our stand is very clear and consistent in rejecting racial and religious extremisms for the 75 years of its existence. That’s why Utusan supports UMNO who practices moderation approach compared to certain parties that previously brought extreme flow.)

Ah, you manage to raise my eyebrows. You support moderation you said? Should I say “No comment?” Senyum sambil geleng kepala.

Said he, “Dasar Umno itulah yang menjadi payung berlindung kepada masyarakat pelbagai kaum. Kepimpinan negara dan juga Umno mengambil pendirian yang berani dalam melawan ekstremisme biarpun terpaksa bertembung dengan sebahagian orang Melayu. Dalam hubungan ini, Umno yang memulakan perkongsian kuasa dengan kaum lain sehingga berdekad-dekad lamanya dituduh bekerjasama dengan golongan kafir.

(UMNO fundamental is the thing that protects multiracial community. The country leadership and UMNO take a bold stand to fight extremism even though they had to confront part of (other?) Malays. In this context, UMNO was the one who started the power sharing with other races and for decades she has been branded collaborating with the non-believers.)

Said he, “Umno juga berjaya menghalang kelompok pelampau yang mahu kekayaan negara dibolot oleh Melayu sebagai kaum teras di negara ini.” (UMNO also succeeded in preventing extremist groups that wanted to rob country riches for Malay as the core race in this country.)

He exclaimed, “Tetapi siapa peduli kepada hakikat sejarah itu termasuk sumbangan Utusan?” (But who cares about this historical fact and what Utusan has contributed?)

Not me. I certainly acknowledge UMNO’s contributions from before Independence until recently.

Said he, “Awang tidak berhajat untuk mengulas panjang kerana akur nasihat Najib agar semua pihak termasuk media tidak memainkan sentimen perkauman. Tiada siapa harus ambil mudah seruan beliau. Apa yang Awang nyatakan tadi sekadar luahan untuk renungan bersama.

(Awang doesn’t want to make long review because I listen to PM’s advice that all parties including the media not to play racial sentiments. No one should take his appeal lightly. What Awang said just now was only his thought expression for mutual reflection.)

Agree. We all should definitely listen to him. Let me rephrase that, we ALL (including you) should definitely listen to him. Expression of thought is okay, just try to be diplomatic sometimes, same to all the others of course. ;)

Said he, “Inilah masa untuk semua pihak memberikan sokongan padu kepada beliau bagi menangani pelbagai cabaran. Tetapi sokongan itu perlulah ikhlas, bukannya percaturan untuk menguntungkan kaum sendiri sahaja. Najib cukup komited untuk membawa keberhasilan kepada semua kaum menerusi Satu Malaysia.

(This is the time for all party to give support for him to face all challenges. However, the support must be sincere, not just some maneuver to enrich own race only. PM is very committed to bring keberhasilan (success?) to all races though One Malaysia.)

He concluded, “Bijaklah menghargainya.” (Be wise to appreciate it.)

Sure. We all should be wise to appreciate it. ;) BTW, there’s something about your title “Nasib Akbar Melayu” (The fate of Malay press).

Awang oh! Awang. Can Harakah and Suara Keadilan be considered akbar Melayu? I don't think so. Since the government won't give them permission to publish their "paper" daily.

I remember I used to subscribe to Harakah, back when it was allowed to be sold publicly, and they sold like goreng pisang. No, I am not an opposition voter. I just wanted to read what the non-mainstream media said.

Then suddenly, their permit revoked, er, I mean re-defined. From biweekly became bimonthly publication. I believe they were applying for daily publication at that time (so that their papers can be justified as akbar Melayu harian).

"Wow!" I said. That was sure a blow to the opposition (never mind their majority Malay members), in which the ruling government won landslide victory following that. So, I became non-subscriber, reading Harakah, or SK, only when I visited my opposition friends. Now, I haven't been reading Harakah as often since I left peninsular.

So, Awang oh! Awang, what has become of the nasib of akbar Melayu? Why don't you tell that to the publishers of Harakah and Suara keadilan?

Disclaimer: All interpretation/misinterpretation are written in English. Should any discrepancy found the BM version will always govern the meaning and interpretation. I’m sure Utusan people have superior BM than me. ;)

P/S: I should stop doing this. I’m getting tired of sticking my nose into other people’s bickering. ;)