Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Home For This Abandoned Baby..

I feel so so helpless.

It's like a plague, these wanton cases of abandoning newborns.

Thankfully, the little baby was alive when she was found, but oh, the foetus in the plastic jar ....


UPDATE
======

And Masya Qurniea now has an adoptive mom and a lovely home...

I am happy the state executive councillor has successfully -- with the help of the welfare department -- adopted the baby. That is a real privilege!

Well and good for the baby!

Can other childless couples be granted the same processes the good politician was offered?

We all know the processes and procedures are all in the interest of these children. But, how old are these procedures? have they been overhauled, streamlined and updated to meet changing times?

MCA Must Move On...

I'd like to confess that I have no interest at all in political parties -- this side of the fence or that side or anywhere.
But I would be lying if I did so. I do have interest -- not vested -- but in their goings-on.

Couldn't resist commenting on the outcome of the MCA elections. So here's a short take:

Now that Dr Chua Soi Lek has taken over the MCA as its president, I'd really like to see what he'll do to the party. Or, for the party.
Can he lead MCA through these troubled and wretched times? Is he capable of reunifying the fractured party?
The election of Dr Chua says a lot about the MCA (delegates). A mixed bag of things actually.

One thing I see is that they don't give a damn. Pretty bold to elect Dr Chua who had to resign because of a DVD (sex) scandal. Or pretty damn wreckless, some would say.

Is that (not giving a damn) good or bad? I really don't know.

I can only assume that the delegates must have seen him past that scandal.
The delegates couldn't be giving "protest" votes, or, could they?

Or that they see him as the one to bring the different factions together. The one to reunify the party.

It remains to be seen if the delegates had made the right choice in the MCA presidency. Mistakes are costly at this point in time.

What is clear is the MCA has to move on, past its baggage of intense factionalism and disarray, if it is intent on emerging unified and strong to win back the Chinese votes for the BN.

Otherwise, it can remain a party to serve the towkays and the elite class of the Chinese community. And forever stay detached....

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Tee Keat Claims Conspiracy To Oust Him...

I did smell a rat when the the frontliners began to take shape.

Here's from The Star online:

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat on Friday claimed that an internal conspiracy was hatched to oust him as party president following MCA’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10 last year.

Suffice for me to say that although I had been very inclusive since elected as MCA president, a well-planned conspiracy was hatched to get rid of me after MCA’s EGM on Oct 10 last year,” he told reporters after meeting up with Penang MCA delegates here.

Aah..conspiracies and conspirators never cease to abound...

What was it they say about politics -- in the realm of politics, you're either a hero or a villain. Nothing in between.

Earth Hour From 8.30 Tonight

Some people are cynical about this gesture to save the planet. Some people are cynical about everything and anything.

If you're okay about doing something that doesn't kill you - and really, no sweat - switch off your lights for an hour tonight from 8.30pm.

Malaysia participated for the first time last year and 550 megawatts of electricity was saved -- enough to power 170,000 homes.

In that one hour of darkness, you can still have loads of fun at home or outside.

Well -- see you tonight, so to speak...:-)

Read THIS and THIS.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Oh...Politics Everywhere...

Eyes on the Royal House Of Kelantan.....HERE.

This turn of events followed yesterday's announcements on the regent's position. HERE.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Takziah & Condolences..

...to Manja Ismail and Noorzita Samad for the loss of their beloved son, Ashraf yesterday.

Ashraf, 18, was their youngest child. Their older children are Shah and Alia, both college students.

Ashraf who studied at MCKK, had just been enrolled in Sunway College to begin his A-levels programme, to begin a new phase in his life, but that was not meant to be.
He was killed in an accident in Subang Jaya early yesterday morning.

You hear of kids being killed in accidents and you feel for their parents. You wish they are people you don't know because you want to be spared of the pain.

When I was told of his death yesterday morning by Ahmad Talib, I couldn't make out who had died. I had to read the message a few times before it sank in -- that it was Noorzita's little boy. I must have gone into shock because I felt my brain momentarily numbed. I was disoriented. Then quickly, I texted Noorzita, asking if the news were true (how silly of me) and that I wished it not to be true but if it were, please please accept my deepest condolences.
Noorzita's prompt reply was that, yes Ena, I lost my youngest son this morning.
I silently wept.
I felt that I had lost a child.

Manja (Media Prima group editor of TV7,8 and 9) and Noorzita (a senior executive with Petronas and former business journalist with NST) were comforted by family and friends at the Al-Falah Mosque in USJ9 where Ashraf's remains were brought.

He was buried at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery after Zuhur prayers.

Dear Manja and Noorzita, I feel your aching loss. No words, no matter how comforting, can ease the pain of losing your child. Of seeing your child go before you.

I lost two sisters. My late father could not bring himself to go to their burial.

"How can I bury my child?," he asked both times. That was the depth of his pain, his grief.

Ashraf was Shaira's age. Adel is just a couple of years older.
How can I not feel your pain as all of us, there with you yesterday, could feel your tragic loss.

And to Shah and Alia -- the pain will heal with time.

Al-Fatihah.

May Allah SWT bless your soul, dear Ashraf.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Playmate....

Here's an AFP report about young viewers of children's television programs in North Carolina (USA) getting far more risque than their favorite cartoons -- two hours of the Playboy channel, courtesy of a cable glitch.

"Due to a technical malfunction, some adult programs had been diverted on children's networks," Time Warner Cable vice president of public relations Alex Dudley told AFP.

"We sincerely apologize."

The equipment failure, which took place between 6:15 and 8:15 am on Tuesday, beamed previews of adult shows with scantily clad women striking suggestive poses and talking dirty into a portion of the Kids on Demand and Preschool on Demand channels, local media reported.

The cable operator reportedly learned of the glitch when worried parents alerted them to the problem.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Why Is Ka Ting Really In The Contest?

Forget the greater peace/unity plan. It was battered before it even began.

I'm more convinced than ever that the MCA wayang is more thrilling than any political wayang I've witnessed in a long time.

Ong Ka Ting, former MCA president, is coming back to challenge his successor Ong Tee Keat, for the presidency.

Ka Ting, who is MP for Kulai said that he is in the running to “restore stability, credibility and rule of law to the party”.

How is that for irony? According to his older brother, Ka Chuan, Ka Ting's "return" will be good for the party.

That, of course, remains to be seen.

I would imagine that Ka Ting's entry would make the party more divided.

Right now, I'm not sure if the MCA situation is getting better or worse.

But, for better or worse, I'm seeing a concerted effort to shove Tee Keat out.

What a wayang!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

This "Sudin Ajaib" Is A...

pedophile!

If it's true that he likes children -- and not in a nice way -- then he is nothing more than a pervert.

Read THIS.

Sisters In Islam calls for an end to child marriages as it is an unacceptable practice. Read Marina Mahathir's letter on behalf of SIS to the New Straits Times (Tuesday, March 16 2010).

Also read the NST editorial "Paedophilia By Another Name" (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)

I couldn't have said it better.

Al Fatihah -- Ruby Ahmad

It was an early morning call from my dear old friend, Zaharah Othman (Kak Teh) in London that got me texting friends. An sms from Dr Kamsiah Haider further intensified my queries about Ruby Ahmad. Had she passed away the night before?

It was swiftly confirmed. Shocking news. Zaharah was choked with emotions as she spoke to me. She posted a tribute to Ruby in her blog.
Kamsiah wrote a sad note in her facebook.

I cannot claim to have ever known Ruby intimately. But in cyberspace, it was easy to be close and friendly.

I got to know her when she came into my blog four years ago. The name was vaguely familiar. Then I clicked into her blog. Indeed, we had met years ago at the Umno general assembly. I remembered her as one of the young members of an association of Malay women entrepreneurs.

We met on occasions at the annual assembly but never struck a friendship, until I began blogging. And then Facebook and Twitter came along.

We got friendly and chatted in cyberspace, though not often. She was a warm person. We had a private greeting. Whenever she texted or called me, she'd greet me with "Hello, Sophia Loren," and I'd reply, with "and is that Raquel Welch?". And we'd laugh. So funny.

Speaks volumes of the generation to which we belong, doesn't it? But, Ruby was so young at heart. So energetic. So active socially and in charity activities too.

The last time we met and chatted was at a bloggers' do last year at Restoran Melayu in Kuala Lumpur.

Ruby...I will surely miss you. You are truly our rakan "seperjuangan". I know you have left behind many, many friends.

Al Fatihah.

Do read what Marina has written about Ruby whom she had known since her school days.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Syariah Court To Decide On Underaged Girl's Marriage Status...

And I hope the Kelantan syariah court will make the right decision.

It should nullify the marriage. I'm no syariah expert but isn't it plain to see? Whether it is the syariah or secular law -- the 11 year-old girl was literally forced into marriage, in a pretty much unlawful ceremony.

Unlawful and illegal child marriages are an area our ulamaks and religious authorities should be concerned with, now that one case has been reported.

Here's the Bernama story.

KOTA BARU: The marriage status of an underage girl to a 41-year-old man who was alleged to have abducted her can only be determined by the Syariah Court, Kelantan Syarie chief judge Datuk Daud Mohamad said.
He said the girl, her father and the man who allegedly married her had to be brought to court to be charged first before the status of their marriage could be determined.

"The assumption made by the public on the case cannot be taken as grounds to determine their marriage status," he told Bernama here today.

Daud, who was involved in the formulation of the Kelantan Muslim Family Enactment 1983, said this when asked on the status of the 11-year-old girl who was said to be married off to the man by a tabligh sect in Kuala Krai, recently.

The girl, who was allegedly abducted by her "husband" was found at a mosque near Batu Caves in Selangor, two days ago.

Daud said those involved in the child's marriage could be charged as it was an offence under the Kelantan Muslim Family Enactment for a female below the age of 16 to marry without a written permission from the court.
Those found guilty of the offence could be fined up to RM1,000 or six months jail or both, he added. - Bernama

Tahniah Chong Wei! Taniah Malaysia!


Lee Chong Wei beat Kenichi Tago (Japan) -- 21-19, 21-19, -- to clinch the All-England title.

He became the third Malaysian in 44 years to win the All England men’s singles title.

In 1966 Tan Aik Huang defeated a Japanese player H. Akiyama to capture the title and 7 years ago, Hafiz Hashim won the coveted title.

And to top it all -- Chong Wei is the 100th champion of the world's oldest badminton tournament. never mind if it was his 7th attempt. He never gave up. We're so damn proud of him!

read HERE and HERE

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Ayah Pin On Facebook?

Someone by the name of Arifin Muhamad has a Facebook account that promotes the teachings of the Sky Kingdom cult leader.

the account may or may not be that of Ariffin Mohamed, or popularly known as Ayah Pin.

Arifin Muhamad has written his addres to be in Sungai Padi, Thailand.

His political views were stated as "kingdom of heaven" and his religious views "very liberal".

Among his activities were giving sermons and his favourite quotation was "Why Muslims must believe in a prophet named Muhammad".

To date, the profile has gained 61 friends.

Read more here.

Friday, March 12, 2010

This Is Criminal...

I read with disgust and horror about an 11 year-old girl who was married off to a 40 year-old man in Jeli, Kelantan.

I don't think I was the only one who felt that way.

Remember how horrified we were when we were told that our grandmothers were married off at 13?

But we accepted that that was how things were a millennium ago.

Not today. Not now.

Anyway, Bernama quoted remarks by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Jamil Khir Baharom who said that the marriage was based on lust than religion.

Say what?

Well, duuh!

Jamil said "Islamic enactments in Malaysia" clearly spelt out the minimum marrying age for men was 18 and for girls, 16.

I'm not even thinking about the religious part of it. But now that Johari has mentioned it, well and good.

This randy 40 year-old and the girl's parents as well as the juru-nikah are all culpable. they have violated the Shariah and the laws of the land.

According to news reports on the marriage, the "nikah" took place in a moving car in which there were two other people.

If you ask me about this whole thing -- it is criminal!


Monday, March 08, 2010

Next Change ....

...just follow the trailer(s) for the MCA showdown.

wonderful thing - Malaysian politics.

**Oh Yes, before I forget...Happy International Women's Day, y'all!

** Also..I'm remembering my later sister, Kak Eda (Noraida) who passed away on this day three years ago. Al-Fatihah.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

No Surprise : PKR Sacks Pain In The B*** Zulkifli Noordin

It was a foregone conclusion, wasn't it, that PKR was going to give the Kulim Bandar Baru MP the boot.

The way this controversial PKR elected representative was going on and on and on...about PKR, Lim Guan Eng, those "little pharaohs"...

Anyway, today the party's supreme council unanimously decided to sack him.

PKR has also asked that he vacate his Kulim-Bandar Baru seat in 'good faith' as he won the seat under the PKR banner.

Party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said Zulkifli has 14 days to appeal the decision.

On Thursday, Zulkifli had walked out of the party's disciplinary board hearing after he refused to recognize the board which he said should be made up only of Muslims.

Zulkifli was hauled up over his police report against PAS Khalid Samad who had said it was all right for non-Muslims to use the word “Allah” and his public criticisms of Guan Eng.

Saifuddin said the party rejected Zulkifli’s request for an all-Muslim panel since it was a disciplinary matter.

Well. I'm sure YB Zul was prepared for this.

Apa macam, YB? Apa cerita?

Looks like Saudara Zul has a lot to say, and holding back some. Read HERE.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Child Abuse : One Too Many Cases...

It is so discomforting to be reading reports of child abuse : one after another. One too many within a short period.

Just as you are getting over the horror of one case, another is reported.

Something is really so skewed in our society.

MCA Elections On March 28

This was decided today by the party's Central Committee (CC).

Nothing is certain as to who are going for the presidency. But your guess is as good as mine.

Anyway, just get your updates from whatever you can get your hands on.

Have a good weekend!

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Fresh Elections For MCA

That's the only way for the party to go with the resignations today of Dr Chua Soi Lek as deputy president and central committee member and seven other CC members.

The others: MCA vice-president Kong Cho Ha and elected CC members Gan Tian Loo, Dr Por Choo Chor, Tan Chai Ho, Chong Itt Chew, Tee Siew Keong and Loh Seng Kok.

Their resignations are in addition to the 13 CC members including vice-president Liow Tiong Lai who submitted their resignation letters dated March 3.

This group had earlier given their undated resignation letters to the party secretary-general Senator Wong Foon Meng on Dec 15 last year.

The other 12 are Tan Kok Hong, Lee Wei Kiat, Dr Hou Kok Chung, Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Wee Jeck Seng, Senator Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Hoh Khai Mun, Liew Yuen Keong, Wong Mook Leong, Edward Khoo Keok Hai and Senator Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

Read it HERE and HERE.

So, the next question is : How many will challenge incumbent Ong Tee Keat for the presidency?

And, post-(fresh) elections, MCA will be one and united?

I have to say this, though : Dr Chua -- you da man. You sure know how to main politik!