Get These Bastards!

I'm imagining that I was there when this despicable crime was committed, and I picked up the nearest "weapon" (anything) and bash and bash and bash these bastards.

Damn these bastards!

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26): Demi menyelamatkan maruah anak perempuannya berusia 12 tahun, seorang ibu terpaksa mengharungi detik hitam apabila diperkosa di depan gadis sunti itu oleh seorang daripada dua penjenayah yang memecah masuk rumah mereka di Kampung Melayu Subang, dekat sini.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira jam 4.30 pagi kelmarin, ibu muda itu yang diikat tangan sebelum itu diberi pilihan oleh penjenayah terbabit untuk menentukan siapa yang akan dirogol sama ada dia atau anak gadisnya.

Dalam keadaan terdesak, ibu berusia 34 tahun itu tiada pilihan melainkan membiarkan dirinya dirogol seorang daripada dua penyamun berusia lewat 20-an terbabit.

Menurut sumber polis, lebih menyayat hati ketika seorang daripada lelaki terbabit merogol mangsa, seorang lagi rakannya merakam perbuatan terkutuk itu menggunakan telefon bimbit.

“Sebelum itu, dua suspek terbabit yang memakai topeng memecah masuk rumah mangsa yang ketika itu tidur bersama anaknya dalam bilik utama manakala suaminya tiada di rumah kerana bekerja syif malam.

“Dua penjenayah terbabit mengikat dua beranak itu dan mengarahkan mereka mendiamkan diri sekiranya tidak mahu dicederakan,” katanya.

Sumber itu berkata, suspek menggeledah rumah berkenaan sebelum mengambil wang tunai dan barang kemas yang nilai keseluruhannya dianggarkan RM2,000.

“Sebaik selesai menggeledah rumah mangsa, seorang daripada suspek seolah-olah tidak puas hati dengan hasil rompakan mereka dan memberitahu mahu merogol seorang daripada dua beranak itu.

“Selepas rayuannya tidak diendahkan dan tidak mahu anaknya menjadi mangsa penjenayah itu, si ibu terpaksa merelakan dirinya dirogol seorang daripada suspek dan ketika dia dirogol seorang lagi suspek merakamnya menggunakan telefon bimbit,” katanya.

Menurutnya, kedua-dua penjenayah melarikan diri dan mangsa membuat laporan di Balai Polis Kampung Baru Subang.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Petaling Jaya, Asisten Komisioner Arjunaidi Mohamed ketika dihubungi, mengesahkan menerima laporan kejadian itu dan kes disiasat mengikut Seksyen 395 serta Seksyen 376 Kanun Keseksaan.

(SOURCE: Harian Metro)

Preserving and Perpetuating the Lies in History

George A Bush has taken writing non-fiction to a whole new level. Now you can publish lies, and pass them off as the truth.

We now know that "Decision Points" unashamedly displays plagiarism. No apologies. No shame. Lifting paragraphs and paragraphs from other authors -- including his advisers.

Far worse than that -- the lies.

I agree with NST contributor/columnist Umapagan Ampikaipakan in his article "Memoirs to safeguard one version of history". He wrote:

"For such similarities, such perfectly matching prose, seem more like something orchestrated. To protect one version of history. To ensure, by repetition, by reaffirmation, that it remains the only version of history".

Despicable, if you ask me!

Here's another take on the Bush's book of lies.

Wanna Go Dutch?

Women, in the Netherlands, it seems, work less, have lesser titles and a big gender pay gap. And they love it.

Jessica Olien who writes for Slate magazine, has been in the country for some three months.

She has found that Dutch women take a lackadaisical approach to their careers.

"They work half days, meet their friends for coffee at 2 p.m., and pity their male colleagues who are stuck in the office all day," Olien writes.

Here's an excerpt:

"Though the Netherlands is consistently ranked in the top five countries for women, less than 10 percent of women here are employed full-time. And they like it this way.

Incentives to nudge women into full-time work have consistently failed. Less than 4 percent of women wish they had more working hours or increased responsibility in the workplace, and most refuse extended hours even when the opportunity for advancement arises.

Some women cite the high cost of child care as a major factor in their shorter hours, but 62 percent of women working part time in the Netherlands don't have young children in the house, and mothers rarely increase their working hours even when their children leave home."

Continue reading the article HERE

A Man Called Zaid

If there's a word to describe Zaid Ibrahim -- lawyer, former Umno member, former Cabinet Minister, now former Parti Keadilan Rakyat member --it must surely be "enigma". Because Zaid is something of an enigma.

He is something of an enigma because his actions are -- at least they seem to be -- baffling.

I know they are baffling to a lot of people. He's been called a trouble-maker, Umno's trojan horse, Umno's mole, arrogant, conceited, flip-flop, selfish, opportunistic, power-crazy, ungrateful, tak malu, tak sedar diri....The list, I suspect, is growing.

The media has been describing him as "maverick", for want of a more apt description.

Zaid, I reckon, will deny all of the above -- except perhaps, arrogant (somewhat) and maverick.

I am not privy to the nature of the relationship between Zaid and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim - if there was a relationship to speak of, in the first place.

But Zaid leaving PKR the way he did tells a lot about the depth of his disappointment and disillusionment in PKR. I don't think there is any (hidden) agenda on Zaid's part. I think he is simply sick of the party and deeply disappointed in Anwar and disgusted with (the antics) of PKR vice-president Azmin Ali.

All must have become so clear to him when he joined in the contest for the deputy presidency in the party's elections.

So, he must have thought, this is PKR. Same old story.

Zaid is a lousy politician. If he was good, he'd be apple-polishing the right leaders and stabbing the back of the right people. Trying to be popular. Playing to the gallery sort of thing.

Let's face it. This guy does not hold back, speaks his mind and he doesn't care if you hate him for it.

Anwar loyalists hate him. As for PKR loyalists, I think some have mixed feelings. I'm sure Zaid has his supporters in PKR. How many, I don't know. Enough to split the party? I don't think so.

Now he has (finally) quit the party, and his resignation takes effect Dec 16. Why Dec 16? His cheeky response -- because Anwar likes Sept 16 (the date in 2008 that Anwar had set to get some 30 government backbenchers to defect in order to topple the BN government)

As for Anwar. I'm sure he's relieved he's got Zaid, the trouble maker, out of his hair. If Zaid who said last week that Anwar and Azmin should leave the party because they were the source of the party's problems (amboi!) -- had chosen to remain (as he had, after all, indicated that he was in the party for the long haul), he'd be sacked, sooner or later.

If I were the party leadership, of course, I'd have him sacked. This guy could cause some serious damage to PKR. Can't have the likes of him disrupting the party.

So, now, this guy intends to contest in the next general election-- either independently or on the ticket of a party he hopes to form.

I'm sure those following the political goings-on can't wait to see what happens next -- what this man called Zaid who is something of an enigma, has up his sleeve.

What Made Prince William Choose Kate?

...her good looks, personality and hey, they've been going together for so long -- nine years of courting.

If you think so, as I do, you are right. Of course you are.

Now...the British tabloids, as we all know, can be very very vicious. With Will's engagement to Kate already public knowledge and their wedding set for next year, the tabloids are fanatically trying to outdo each other with sensational royal tittle tattle.

Whatever they come up with will surely be sinfully readable.

Take this by the Daily Mail with the headline: "Revealed: How Prince William is following his father's footsteps and actually marrying his nanny."

Can you beat that?

"What made Prince William choose Kate Middleton to be his bride above all the other well-bred beauties who’ve crossed his path?

Some say it’s her pretty girl-next-door looks, others her down-to-earth nature, or her unwavering discretion.

But there is another, rather more intriguing theory — one which might also explain why William’s father Charles chose Camilla Parker Bowles over the luminous beauty of Diana."

Continue reading the article HERE

Najib Says No Need To Commemorate May 13

"We should regard it (May 13) as an event in the annals of history from which we can learn ... as a demarcation for us so that it will not recur," The Prime Minister said.

Najib was speaking to reporters after a video conference with members of the Malaysian community and students in six countries in conjunction with Aidiladha, at the prime minister's official residence Seri Perdana in Putra Jaya today.

He was asked to comment on a proposal in the 'Cuit' column of Utusan Malaysia for May 13 to be commemorated, just like Singapore's "Racial Harmony Day" which commemorates the racial riot of July 21 1964.

Columnist Zaini Hassan had made the suggestion after Penang Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim was suspended on Nov 1 for six months for having allegedly made "May 13" threats in the state assembly sitting.

For the past week, Utusan Malaysia was whacked by people -- mostly Opposition members and supporters.

People did not take too kindly to his remarks which they said were seditious.
Among the contentious parts for them was Zaini saying that May 13 was a "blessing in disguise" because:
" jika tidak kerana nya, orang Melayu, Cina, India dan lain2 pribumi akan terus dijurangkan oleh golongan peniaga yang kaya-raya, golongan profesional yang dikuasai oleh sesuatu kaum sahaja. Dan golongan majoriti miskin itu hanya akan terus menjadi petani, buruh kasar, kerani, drebar dan peon."

In fact, several opposition MPs lodged a police report against the article.

But, there are as many people who support his idea to have May 13 be commemorated because they say it is a positive move and can further strengthen unity.

May 13, they believe, should not be forgotten as it has brought the nation together and changed the country.

Me? I remember May 13.

"Racial Slurs Are Stupid Not Seditious"...

...writes NST senior specialist writer Azmi Anshar in the NST today.

"If Malaysians were intrinsically racist, then the iconic Malaysian institutions revered and celebrated for its accommodation and inclusiveness would have crumbled in odious desperation. It's a good thing the menace went out of style with the rotary telephones, mini-buses and cassette/video tapes," Azmi writes.

The rest of his article HERE.

Selamat Hari Raya Qurban!

Have a blessed Aidil Adha!

If you're among the "balik kampung" crowd, have a safe journey!

Why Newspapers (in the US) Are Not Doing Too Good

Rick Edmonds cites 7 reasons newspapers are not rebounding financially. He's talking, of course about the American experience. But yeah, the newspaper business in this country can relate to that too.
Here are Edmonds' 7:
1. Advertising revenues are still falling.
2. Online and other digital growth doesn't take up the slack.
3. Newsprint prices are rising again.
4. Other cost reductions are cycling through.
5. Circulation revenues have gone flat.
6. The "death spiral" cycle continues.
7. Debt continues to be problematic.

The article HERE.

Update: Zaid Is Not Quitting ...yet

Update:

From Zaid's blog :
"I refer to today's headline by The Star newspaper. It is true that I will be quitting the party but I have yet to submit my formal resignation from the party. All will be clarified via a press release this Friday 19th November, 2010."

Earlier posting:

NST online:

Zaid Ibrahim has not quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat but said he will announce on leaving “very soon”.

In a short SMS to the New Straits Times today, Zaid said he was currently out of town but was planning to leave the party.

A source close to Zaid also confirmed this, saying that Zaid “is contemplating to quit.”

Continue reading HERE.

"Contemplating", "announcing very soon" yadayada...No difference. The point is, he is quitting. He ain't staying....

Zaid Quits PKR

...and will most probably form his own party...

He told the Star that he has had enough of the party and its "sick leaders". He wants to disassociate himself from the liars and cheats...

Read it HERE

Zaid must really be so p-ssed off with that's going on. Just last week he said he was in it for the long haul. Looks like he's thrown in the towel (with PKR).

It does take a lot of stamina to be doing what politicians do...

I'm just waiting to know when Zaid is going to form his party.

The Lady Tells Her People Not To Lose Heart

Afte years of house arrest, Nobel laureate and Burma's main Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed late yesterday.

Today she meets her supporters....

The latest HERE, and HERE

Keep up with the latest about this loved daughter of Burma - a democracy icon, an inspiration not only to her people but millions across the globe -- on the news websites and TV..

Many are hopeful that with her release, changes will be effected in the country, and more political prisoners will be freed....

What Zaid Thinks...

KUALA LUMPUR: Someone from the ranks of Pas should be the leader of Pakatan Rakyat, said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim whose exit from Parti Keadilan Rakyat looks inevitable.

He named in an interview Kelantan exco member Datuk Husam Musa and four Pas parliamentarians -- Dr Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai), Dr Mujahid Yusuf Rawa (Parit Buntar), Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) and Khalid Samad (Shah Alam) as prospective leaders.

Speaking of Pas and its personalities in general terms, Zaid said they would have to be more assertive, demonstrate greater confidence and step out of the shadows of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Continue reading the NST exclusive here..

Hail PKR! A Party That Has A High Tolerance For Dissent!

I must say I'm impressed with Parti Keadilan Rakyat for not buckling under any pressure to sack (its) enfant terrible Zaid Ibrahim who has called on party leader Anwar Ibrahim to leave the party and take along with him vice-president Azmin Ali. That is on top of all that he has said about Anwar, Azmin and PKR as well as his claims of fraud in the ongoing elections.

There have been rumbles by Anwar's supporters here and there and a whack by Anwar's former bff, and apparently a statement by the Federal Territories PKR leadership council (of which Zaid formerly led) expressing support for Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah Ismail -- but calling for even a push for disciplinary action against Zaid -- well there has been zilch.

Isn't that something? My kind of party....very very tolerant of dissent.

In fact, that's the way it should be. The less said by party leaders the better. Jangan keruhkan keadaan.

But, really -- Zaid has crossed the line. And he knows it. And he doesn't care. I'm sure he is also surprised why he has not been punished....

Or as far as PKR is concerned, Zaid (who has started a roadshow) has been given enough rope....

Choice Countries Of The Young And Educated

Looks like - surprise surprise -- Malaysia is not the choice of young educated people. Well, not yet.

The country is not attractive enough for the young and educated. They're opting for Japan, Singapore and other developed countries, a study showed.

Also, young people who have a lot to offer, are fed up with what's going on in their countries and prefer the cooler cooler climes -- try migrating to in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The sample size of youngsters in these countries, according to the study had dropped below 500.

Here's an AFP story:

If young people could move anywhere, they'd choose Japan, Singapore and other developed countries.

That would be good news for the two Asian countries, which have the fastest-aging populations and lowest fertility rates in the world, the Gallup polling agency, which conducted the study, said.

But most developed Asian countries would lose a significant portion of their most educated people in a brain-drain, said the study, which calculated countries' net migration indexes.

Gallup calculated indexes for the overall population, youth population and brain gain or drain by subtracting the number of people who said they would like to move out of a country from those who said they wanted to move in.

The indexes were based on polls conducted by Gallup of 350,000 adults in 148 countries.

Japan's population of educated people would decline by 13 percent if everyone who wanted to leave did; South Korea's and Hong Kong's brain drains would cut their population of educated people by nearly 30 percent, and Taiwan would lose a third of its brainy folk, the study found.

Just like last year, Singapore would buck the trend and see its overall population triple if everyone who wanted to move there were allowed to.

It would also see its population of educated people quadruple and the number of young people increase six-fold, the Gallup poll found.

But in the overall migration scheme of things, developed countries in Asia came out at the bottom of the scale in the index, with a net population gain of just one percent and a brain-drain of 16 percent.

Australia, New Zealand and Oceania came out tops. Their populations would more than double, their youth populations would nearly quadruple and the number of brainy people would increase by 186 percent.

The United States and Canada, both countries that many immigrants would like to settle in, would also see net population, brain and youth gains if everyone who wanted to move to the two North American countries could.

But an estimated 4 million Latino adults in the United States, or one in seven of the US Hispanic population, would leave the country permanently if they had the opportunity, Gallup said.

A slim majority said they would move to a Latin American country, and nearly a third said they would relocate to Mexico.

Meanwhile, as many as 35 million young people in Latin America said they wanted to emigrate. The preferred destination for young Latinos aged 15-29 is the United States.

Three European countries that are not members of the European Union -- Iceland, Norway and Switzerland -- would see their overall populations and the number of highly educated people more than double if would-be migrants could move anywhere they wanted.

The three countries could use an influx of young people, according to the study, which could not come up with a youth-migration score for them because the sample size of youngsters had dropped below 500.

Rising Crime In Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail can't wait for a police headquarters to be set up in the area by the end of the year. The police HQ will be known as IPD Kiara Mas.

Read it HERE.

Meanwhile, many residents are pretty distressed. So worried over their safety and the security of their homes because of a (recent) spate of crimes in the area.

I need to point out that residents have (collectively) employed security guards who are stationed in designated areas in TTDI. You'd think that prospective perpetrators are deterred. Apparently, not.

On Tuesday (Nov 2), a resident reported to the police about seeing a grey van along Jalan Athinahapan in the morning.
She said that she rushed home from running an errand upon being alerted by her neighbour about a suspicious-looking grey van "lurking" in front of her house.
She believed that it was the same van that she had earlier seen. Her neighbour, who was viewing the CCTV, was a little suspicious of the vehicle and its occupants, and called her.
When she arrived near her house, the van made a quick "exit".

She trailed the van until Medan Athinahapan 2. What she noticed was the van going around the neighbourhood -- as though the driver was "looking" for the perfect target.
She reported the matter to the police.
The police have advised residents to quickly call them in cases like this.

The telephone number of Balai Polis Taman Tun Dr Ismail is 77286222. You have to try to remember the plate number, type of car, the colour of the car, the number of people in the car and a description (if you can) of them

Check out the list from the residents' association:

28 Oct - BMW car smashed at Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi 2

28 Oct - attempted robbery at Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 4 (6.40am)

28 Oct - very suspicious Men in Black Toyota Camry at Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 1 (3pm)

28 Oct - House break in at Lorong Rahim Kajai 4 - breakin (1pm)

27 Oct - Teacher attacked at TTDI Community Hall (3pm)

27 Oct - Snatch theft at Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi

27 Oct - Boy's iPhone snatched at Jalan Athinahapan 1

19 Oct - House break in at Jalan Leong Yew Koh - (early morning)

17 Oct - Attempted house break in at Jalan Leong Yew Koh (around 2pm)

14 Oct - Car stolen at Jalan Leong Yew Koh

7 Oct - House Break in - Jalan Athinahapan 2 (afternoon)

Don't you think the number (of incidents) and the frequency are alarming?
These are just in October. There were house break-ins last year and early this year as well.

As a long-time resident of TTDI (since 1985), I am so concerned. My own house was broken into sometime in 1998 while I was away on holiday with my family.
My very alert neighbour spotted someone lurking around the front of my house and then trying to get into the front yard through the rubbish bin compartment. He quickly called the police who came fast enough to catch the culprit, along with some things from my house.
(My house was undergoing minor renovation. Perhaps, the workmen forgot to bolt the metal door of the compartment from the front yard side)

Over the years, there have been similar cases in the area. Police have been swift in their response. Residents, on their part have been vigilant and taken extra precautions and measures by installing security features such as home alarm systems, and, as I have mentioned, (since two years ago) hired the services of security guards on a collective basis.

But the recent cases of break-ins, burglary and snatch thefts have been too frequent. Therefore alarming. And they occur in the desolateness of the morning, or afternoon when most of the house owners/occupants are out. Parents at work and kids at school.
Apparently, the criminals check out the houses first before doing a hit to make sure no one's at home. They ring the doorbells long enough to know if anyone is at home. If there is a maid, they pretend to make inquiries about house tenancy and other "innocent" matters before leaving.

Residents, over the years, have learnt to deal with these sort of things. What choice do they have?

Which neighbourhood, really, is safe? It doesn't matter whether you live in upscale neighbourhoods like Bukit Tunku or your average taman such-and-such. Criminals rob people, places, either randomly or through thorough assessment of their targets.

That said, it does not mean that residents are resigned to all this. Or that they have accepted the rising cases of house break-ins and snatch thefts, daylight robberies as as part and parcel of life.
Yes, we have learnt to live with it because it is beyond us to keep away thieves and robbers, despite having installed home security features, employed security guards, erected security fences and so forth.

What we hope for is more POLICE PRESENCE because we feel that a very visible police presence will deter thieves and robbers.
This is perhaps lacking or absent in TTDI, although I have seen a police mobile unit on Sundays near the park -- Taman Lembah Kiara.
That's just it. The police mobile unit should also be seen in different areas on different days, in those quite hours of the afternoon....

Ask any resident in TTDI and he or she will readily tell you that regular patrolling (police patrol cars) is sorely needed.

So, let's hope the police will do just that!

(I hear that the crime rate -- used to be notoriously high - in SS2, Petaling Jaya, has dipped because the police have been patrolling regularly....)

HAPPY DEEPAVALI!

Warm Deepavali greetings and wishes to my Hindu friends.

Happy holiday to the rest of you. Have a good weekend.

As usual, here's my reminder: take care, drive safely on the road....

BN's Double Victory -- Galas and Batu Sapi

Something for the BN to really shout about.

A quick look:

Batu Sapi -- so expected. Linda Tsen was on her way to victory from the word "go".

Galas -- Tengku Razaleigh (Ku Li) was -- whether you want to admit it or not - decidedly THE factor in helping BN's victory. Also the Chinese factor. And that's also because of Ku Li. He crafted the campaign style and tactics (no big loud campaigns, no sudden projects seen, low-key affair, talk to the people).

A landslide win for BN's Linda Tsen in Batu Sapi. She got 6,359 votes over her nearest rival, PKR's Ansari Andullah.

Her margin was even bigger than her late husband Edmund Chong's in 2008 (3,708-vote majority).
Tsen obtained 9,773 votes while Ansari got 3,414. The other contender in the three-cornered fight was SAPP president Yong Teck Lee who obtained 2,031 votes . So much for earlier "victory" projections.
Voter turnout was 61 per cent.
In Galas, Abdul Aziz Yusoff helped BN recapture the PAS state seat with a majority of 1,190 votes.
He garnered 5,324 votes against his PAS rival Dr Zulkefli Mohamad who got 4,134
votes.
Voter turnout was 83 per cent

The results also indicate that the Chinese voters have returned to the BN since the 2008 general elections.

Only this for now...I'll give an analysis later.

But everyone's asking -- a general election soon?

She's A Muslim Now. Deal With It

Here's a story of an English woman who converted to Islam. No big deal, right? Wrong...it seems that Lauren Booth has been getting crap from her friends and other people since her conversion.

With all that we have in our borderless world today, you'd think that people will be a little more informed, educated and, well accepting.

Prejudice, bigotry and phobia transcend literacy and education. You can be the most educated person, but if you have prejudices, you will not be able to see, you will continue to be blind.

So, here's Lauren -- journalist, columnist, activist and now a Muslim - talking about what's it been like for her.

"It is five years since my first visit to Palestine. And when I arrived in the region, to work alongside charities in Gaza and the West Bank, I took with me the swagger of condescension that all white middle-class women (secretly or outwardly) hold towards poor Muslim women, women I presumed would be little more than black-robed blobs, silent in my peripheral vision. As a western woman with all my freedoms, I expected to deal professionally with men alone. After all, that's what the Muslim world is all about, right?

This week's screams of faux horror from fellow columnists on hearing of my conversion to Islam prove that this remains the stereotypical view regarding half a billion women currently practising Islam."

Continue reading HERE.