Doctors & Pharmacists....

..and to whom should you go to get your medicine?

There is an ongoing debate on this issue following the statement last week by the Health Ministry's director-general Dr Ismail Merican that soon, doctors would only be allowed to issue prescriptions but patients needed to obtain their medication from pharmacies.

Currently, doctors especially at private clinics diagnose diseases, prescribe medicines and dispense them to patients.

That is about to change.

I think I am comfortable with the current arrangement -- visiting my doctor and getting the medicine from him (at his attached dispensary). So easy and convenient. No hassle.

Doctors and pharmacists, of course, have differing views on this. Read this and this.

In arguing the case, the point on profit-making by either side has been made.

As far as I, the consumer, am concerned -- it should be about my convenience.

If patients have to get their medicine from pharmacies, make sure that the pharmacies are located near clinics and that pharmacies and clinics have the same operating hours.

I remember that some time ago, I needed to get a particular medicine after 6pm at a particular pharmacy but I was told that the pharmacist was working from 10am to 6pm.

So, my point is that any change to the present arrangement should only be effected when everything is in place.

You know how we are so good at introducing changes and these changes fail to meet the desired results because of poor management and administration and because not everything is in place.

Dr Ismail said "soon" we, the consumers, will have to do two things in order to get better -- 1. to have our condition diagnosed by a doctor who will prescribe the medication and 2. head to a pharmacy to get our medication.

Let's hope by the time that "soon" takes place, consumers will not be burdened.

Doctors and pharmacists can argue till kingdom come about the merits and demerits of the issue but ultimately, it is the interest, well-being and welfare of patients that are paramount.

By the way, this proposal is not new.

Bad Blogging and A Legal Suit

NST published 2 letters today. And they're both about blogging and the bad side of blogging.

Here they are:

Use of Internet: Unfair Blogging

I REFER to your report "Raja Petra ordered to pay RM4m in damages" (NST, March 27).

I agree with the judgment of the Alor Star High Court which ordered Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin to pay RM2 million in general damages to Universiti Utara Malaysia vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi and RM2 million to the university over an article which he posted on his Malaysia Today website two years ago.

This should be a lesson to all bloggers that they cannot write or post articles on their website without considering the implications of their act.

I think other people affected by unfair blogging should consider taking similar action against bloggers.

By Ahmad Zazli Hamid, Ampang, Selangor

Spreading Rumours

MALAYSIANS must be more responsible in their use of alternative media like the Internet and blogs, which can be turned into gossip machines to spread unsavoury stories about everything and everybody.

This is becoming an unhealthy practice among the younger generation.
They give vent to their frustrations by posting rude and vulgar comments on blogs.

Some of the things being discussed have no factual basis and are spread as though they are the truth.

The danger is that people believe them and form judgments based on untruths and half-truths.

If this practice persists, it threatens to turn Malaysians into a nation of rumour-mongers.

By BULBIR SINGH, Seremban

I'm beginning to be very suspicious of NST's intention. I know that there is an ongoing defamation suit (it has) against bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan.

It looks like these letters are published to further demonise bloggers.

I'm not saying that NST or any other newspaper should publish only positive stories about blogging and bloggers.

NST's publication of the two letters further demonstrates its stance on bloggers, of which I am very aware. When I say NST, I don't mean the individual editors there. Oh, you know what and who I mean.

The NST's stance on bloggers is -- well, for very obvious reason(s).

I'm saying that NST has, more often than not, published articles that are aimed at discrediting bloggers.

I believe there is a "gentleman's" agreement or understanding between the two parties that no articles should be published that can be deemed subjudice in the court case.

Samy Vellu Calls For Release of 5 Hindraf Leaders

MIC president S. Samy Vellu today asked the government to release the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders under detention.

He said two of them should be freed sooner because one was ill and the other was now an elected representative.

Samy Vellu said R. Kenghadaran, 40, “is very sick” and M. Manoharan, 46, is now a Selangor State assemblymen, having won the Kota Alam Shah seat on a DAP ticket in the recent elections.

He also also said that V. Ganabatirau, 34, and K. Vasantha Kumar, 34, had not been very much involved in the massive rally organised by the unregistered Hindraf in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year, which was a reason for the five to be detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The fifth Hindraf leader under detention is P. Uthayakumar.

The MIC president said this at a news conference after opening a workshop on “Rebranding the MIC” attended by the party’s 150 divisional leaders, here.

He said Ganabatirau, and Vasantha Kumar were “not very much involved (in the rally), so the government has to make a decision.”

In case, you are doubting his motive for asking the government to release the Hindraf 5,
Samy Vellu said he was doing so not for publicity or a move to win back Indian support for the party.

(MIC is the largest Indian-based political party in the country.)

“This is done in fairness, sympathy and, also, we feel that we as Indians have to do something about it. It is not a publicity stunt,” Samy Vellu said.

(Source: NST online. The rest of the story here.)

I'd like to record my support for Samy Vellu's call although if I were Samy Vellu I would have pressed for their release earlier. Much, much earlier.
In fact, I would have protested their detention under the ISA. If the government was so sure that the 5 Hindraf leaders had breached any law of the land, then the 5 should have been subjected to the processes of law.
Detention under the ISA is not a due process of law. It is unjust.

So, Uncle Samy -- do more than just call for their release. Make sure they are released. Press, press, press....

No No-Confidence Motion Against Ahmad Said...

This was an assurance by Ajil assemblyman Rosol Wahid today.

He said when the state assembly convenes, the Terengganu BN assemblymen will not move a no-confidence motion against Ahmad who was sworn in this morning as the new Menteri Besar.

Rosol said the crisis over Ahmad’s appointment did not do any good for the people of Terengganu and that it was best the state moved on.

“It is not in anybody’s interest to be revisiting it (crisis),” he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of duties between former MB Idris Jusoh and Ahmad at Wisma Darul Aman in Kuala Terengganu today.

Rosol, who is also Terengganu Umno liaision secretary, said all the 22 BN assemblymen who had earlier supported Idris now fully back Ahmad in administering the state.

Earlier, Ahmad, 51, took his oath of office before the Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, at the Balairong Seri (Throne Room) of Istana Maziah.
After taking his oath, Ahmad signed the letter of appointment.

Ahmad, clad in black traditional Malay attire, was composed throughout the ceremony.

The ceremony was also witnessed by the President of the Regency Advisory Council, Tengku Sri Panglima Raja Tengku Baderulzaman, and the two members of the council, Tengku Sri Laksamana Raja Tengku Sulaiman Sultan Ismail and former Federal Court judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman.

All the Terengganu state assemblymen attended the ceremony, including Idris who is Jertih assemblyman, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang who is Rhu Rendang assemblyman.
Before leaving after the function, Ahmad shook hands with Idris and hugged his predecessor.

(source: NST online here.)

Sometimes you wonder what all that that rigmarole, hullaballoo and drama were all about, were all for....

All's Well That Ends Well.....

Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said will be sworn-in as the new Menteri Besar of Terengganu before its Regent, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, at Istana Maziah in Kuala Terengganu at 9am tomorrow.

Bernama quoted Comptroller of the Terengganu Royal Household Mohd Yasim Awang as saying that the ceremony would only involve the menteri besar’s post.

Mohd Yasim also said that all the assemblymen (including from Pas) and heads of government departments had been invited to attend the ceremony.

Ahmad, 51, was to have been sworn in on March 23 but he only received a letter of appointment from the State Regency Advisory Council.

Dispute and controversy surrounded the appointment of the Terengganu Menteri Besar because Jerteh assemblyman Idris Jusoh was re-appointed to the post by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi while Ahmad was the Terengganu Sultan's choice.

The dispute over the appointment heightened with Abdullah declaring that Ahmad's appointment was "unconstitutional" and 22 state assemblymen threatening to resign if Ahmad was sworn in as MB.

The PM brought himself to be pitted against the Sultan who is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Ahmad was also threatened with disciplinary action for "disobeying the party leadership" in accepting the appointment from the Sultan.

Abdullah had also sought an audience with Sultan Mizan. They met but their meeting was hushed-up and went unreported.

And before we knew it, everything was "kow-tim". Ahmad Said, the "unconstitutionally appointed" MB is Menteri Besar, after all.

Meanwhile, it was reported (by the Star) that some 25,000 people gathered outside the Sultan Mahmod airport this morning, and on the road leading to the airport, to welcome the Sultan.

Here's the report:

He arrived at the airport at about 10am. He was greeted with shouts of “Daulat Tuanku” (long live the king) and some among the crowd donned yellow attire and tied ribbons of the same colour on their vehicles in support of the King.

Tuanku Mizan waved to his subjects while making his way from the airport to Istana Maziah with the Regent of Terengganu.

The huge crowd also caused a bottleneck at the city's major bridge leading to the city centre which was choked with vehicles heading towards the palace.

Among those who gathered to greet the King were the 22 assemblymen who were earlier embroiled in the Terengganu Mentri Besar crisis.

State Umno Liaison committee secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid when met said all 22 Barisan assemblymen will be present at the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Maziah, on Sunday.

“We respect our Ruler and will be at the palace tomorrow,” he said.

Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was not present at the airport and it is learnt that the Jertih assemblyman's home in Kampung Tok Has, Besut, was swarming with thousands of supporters who had been camped there since Friday.

An aide said Idris is still resting at his home and will not make any comments for now.

All's well that ends well?

You think the 22 assemblymen will say sorry?

Al Fatihah...

Sheih of Kickdefella lost his beloved mother today.

My heart goes out to him and his family.

I understand that he is in Pulau Redang and is only able to leave the island tomorrow morning.

He has told Rocky that his late mum will be buried at 11am tomorrow at the Muslim Cemetery in Section 26, Shah Alam.

May Allah bless her dear soul.

Al Fatihah.

.

Borrowed Time

Never has the leadership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi been so openly under siege in the last few weeks.

It does look like our embattled Prime Minister does not have much going for him following the BN's worst election performance.

The dispute over the appointment of the Terengganu Menteri Besar leading to his face-off with the Terengganu Sultan, was yet another episode that had only served to further magnify Abdullah's ineptness at handling what many described as a simple & straightforward problem.

Until today, no one outside the political circles in Putrajaya and Terengganu know exactly why Abdullah was insistent on having Idris Jusoh re-appointed as Menteri Besar.

The rest of the world can only guess. But guessing with many stories -- some fact, some fiction -- as background.

In the last 48 hours, the burning question was whether Abdullah had offered to step down during the Umno supreme council meeting.

It seemed "everyone" was interested in the outcome of yesterday's Umno supreme council meeting.

Abdullah did not make that offer.

"Perhaps in December, the date the council fixed for party elections?", someone asked me in an SMS.

At this point, anything is possible.

What is certain is that Abdullah is on borrowed time. Of course, anything can happen from now until December.

A miracle of God may help strengthen his position or popularise his image. Who knows.

Perhaps he may decide to sack those people around him who've been masquerading as advisers.

Too little too late?

Abdullah can only hope to not continue digging his own grave with further display of his weak leadership, and and making inept decisions.

If that persists, then more and more people will press him to step down.

And they will come from within Umno's ranks.

Dr M Speaks Out....

On Rulers and Politicians.

This is on the front page of the Sun today.

I'll give you just a few paragraphs from the whole article and you can read the rest here.

"The Prime Minister, as Prime Minister, has no role in the choice of the State Mentri Besar or Ketua Menteri. His naming of candidate who should be the Mentri Besar is purely a party matter. Obviously, if the State is captured by the Opposition Party, he cannot name the candidate.

However, if the Ruler chooses someone who does not enjoy majority support, he could be deposed at a sitting of the legislative body through a vote of "no confidence".

After that, another member can be appointed by the Ruler to take his place. But if for some reason, there is no other candidate or the candidate with majority support is considered unsuitable by the Ruler, a new Government cannot be formed. The Ruler may then dissolve the legislative body and a new election may be held.

This new election may lead to the same impasse. The Ruler may not like the member with majority support.

However, it should be noted that this kind of thing had never happened during the premiership of the four previous Prime Ministers. Concerned Malaysians should wonder why.

Is it just that the particular Ruler is being difficult, unwilling to accept the principles of democracy, wanting to return to feudalism and the absolute authority of the monarch?

I do not think so. There must be a reason why the Ruler refuses to accept the candidate named by the party. But the Ruler chooses not to reveal the reasons and indulge in public debates. He merely expresses his displeasure by refusing to do what normally the Rulers would do.

Concerned Malaysians must ask what has the particular candidate done which is so wrong that it incurs the displeasure of the Ruler.

There are lots of talks in the town. Terengganu is blessed with petroleum deposits. It should get 5% of the total earning from oil production. The Federal Government; fearing the previous PAS government might use this money wrongly had withheld payment.

But when the Barisan Nasional (BN) regained Terengganu the money, now called "Wang Ehsan", was lavishly spent by the Federal Government on Terengganu. It is not a small sum. Over these years "Wang Ehsan" totalled several billion."

and then...

"Now my detractors are going to say I did worse things when I was Prime Minister. Well, if that is so, let us have the foreign agencies investigate me also. I am aware that people are looking into possible misdeeds by me during my 22 years so as to threaten me and ask me to shut up. So far they have not found anything.

Not only have I not taken anything that was not due to me while I was Prime Minister but I have given back to the Government and the people everything that I had received as gifts during my tenure of office.

The Government had offered me land in Kedah and Langkawi and I had refused to accept. I have a 5-acre plot in Putrajaya which I paid for even though the Government was offering it to me free.

Unless there is a frame-up, I think there should be nothing to pin on me. Even other accusations against me, including the dismissal of judges, were not my doing and I do not feel obliged to apologise. Ask the Tribunal to apologise.

The person asking that the Government should apologise for what happened to Tun Salleh Abbas may have forgotten that as President of the Muslim Lawyers Association, he fully supported the action that was taken. He castigated the Bar Council for condemning Tun Hamid Omar over the dismissal of judges. Now he wants to be more correct than correct. I wonder why."

Anwar Ibrahim..

The man has as many supporters as he has enemies.

In the Sun's issue yesterday, journalists R. Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez spoke to Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

I'd just like to lift a few excerpts from the Q&A.

On Utusan Malaysia portraying him negatively:

"They were demonising us, saying that we are traitors to the Malays.
That's interesting. 'I am a traitor to the Malays'. I have not taken one share, no taxi permit, no contract in the name of bumiputra and all those so-called champions of Malays have taken hundreds of taxi permits, APs and contracts by the hundreds of millions of ringgit."

On what can be expected from the new Selangor government:

"First, its governance. There was so much of wastage,corruption, leakages and alienation of land. According to the reports I have, hundreds of millions of ringgit are literally down the drain. But we have to be careful. We cannot create the impression that we are going
to dismantle everything, because we will lose investor confidence. People want stability and continuity. The only major issue we accept is the mentri besar’s recommendation to review
the water agreement. The water agreement is virtually scandalous! And it is a burden
to consumers."

On media organisations who wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole but are now wanting to court him:

"I have no malice. You know, sometimes I laugh at these people. This is the quality of people and they think they are great. I have no personal agenda. They have. Some of them are scared. Dead scared! They came to see me saying we are sorry, but were forced to do this and do that. In a way it is good - not that it is fair for them to put me in prison and treat me that way … but
it is a good experience. And if people make mistakes and are remorseful, we should give them a chance. I always believe that."

Well...I know what the ani-Anwar guys are saying. But listen...you'll just have wait and see whether he delivers.
Whether (this is such a cliche) he walks the talk....etc etc..

Umno Accepts Ahmad Said's Appointment

The Umno Supreme Council today endorsed the appointment of Ahmad Said as Terengganu Menteri Besar, ending a crisis that was further weakening the leadership of Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The crisis had put the PM in conflict with Terengganu Ruler -- Sultan Mizan who is the Yang di Pertuan Agong.

Ahmad was the choice of the Sultan's while Abdullah had already appointed Idris Jusoh as MB.

After Ahmad accepted the appointment by the Sultan, he was threatened with disciplinary action for disobeying the party leadership.

Today's meeting, which lasted some four-and-a-half hours, was chaired by Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

According to NST Online, the council also decided that party elections be held in December. The proposal to defer party elections to next year was rejected.

More here.

Umno Supreme Council Meeting Today

What will be the outcome of Umno's second supreme council meeting (after the general election) today?

They will be discussing the Terengganu fiasco/crisis/saga/drama including Pak Lah's scheduled meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan who is the Terengganu Sultan, possible action against Ahmad Said for accepting the MB post, the proposal to postpone the party elections (exposing yourselves, your weaknesses and your insecurity) and the call by Umno veteran and Gua Musang division chief Tengku Razaleigh for an EGM.

What a load on the plate for today.

Let's hope the council members will tell it as it is in the meeting. Give their two cents worth.

And if good, sound and constructive views are forthcoming from the "floor", then let's hope the party president will listen, listen and heed.

BY THE WAY --- I was waiting, waiting and waiting for reports about Pak lah's meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. I read a report about it in Star Online and Malaysiakini but there was none on it elsewhere. None also on Pak Lah's meeting with former Terengganu MB and his choice for the MB post Idris Jusoh.
ZILCH. Not even Bernama.

I had used Rocky's Bru posting for an update. It looks as though after all the unfolding drama on the appointment of Terengganu MB including Pak Lah's statement that he would be seeking an audience with the Agong, nothing took place. But we know it did.

Was there a directive to black out the story?
Well, if there wasn't (which is unlikely), I wouldn't put past certain media operators in blacking out the story.

You guys are not helping the old man, let me tell you that!

Dear Noraini...Oh Dear!

Puteri Umno chief Noraini Ahmad seems to believe that young Malaysians are a gullible lot who believe in whatever is written in blogs, hate the Barisan Nasional and therefore voted for the Opposition.

She believes that young Malaysians are too emotional and impulsive. In fact, she pointed out that it is so possible that there were among these young people, those who "cuba-cuba mengundi".

Berita Harian has an article "Puteri Tangkis Serangan Siber" which quoted Noraini admitting that the "cyber attack" by "certain quarters" who backed the Opposition in the general election caused the slide in the number of votes and the people's support for the BN.

Here's the article.

I'd like to tell Noraini to get real and not to be so detached from reality.

She does not seem to understand what happened in the general election and the contributing factors for the Barisan Nasional's poor performance.

This is the kind of attitude that is not going to help the BN in redressing its weaknesses.

Perhaps not surprising from a "leader" who announced her expressed support for the proposal that the Umno elections be postponed because yada yada yada and the very same day retracted that statement.

What gives, ma'am?

Read it here.

And to Puteri Umno....best of luck! I really believe that you need it.

Royal Dressing Down for PM

Rocky's Bru is ahead on this.

In his posting "Pak Lah Concedes Another Defeat", Rocky tells us that during the meeting, the Agong asked the PM to explain how the RM1 billion "wang ehsan" was disbursed by the State Government under former Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh.

The PM was also told to meet with Ahmad Said who was picked by the Agong (who is Terengganu Sultan) as the new Menteri Besar.

It was also reported (Star Online) that the PM was to have met Idris this afternoon.

Read Rocky's Bru here.

Umno Elections Maybe Postponed to Next Year

The party supreme council decides this Thursday whether or not to accept the proposal by the respective Umno liaison committees for the postponement.

Party information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib said the committees, through their respective chairmen, agreed on the postponement during separate meetings with party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since last Friday.

The party elections, initially scheduled for last year was postponed to this year due to the 12th general election on March 8. The last party elections were held in 2004.

The postponement is still within the 18-month duration that is allowed.

Muhammad said the liaison committees feared that there would be havoc and disaster if the elections were to be held this year.

Read the Bernama story here.

Ok...tell me. What havoc? What disaster?

And let's cut the bull. We all know why.

Idris Jusoh Willing To Seek Sultan's Forgiveness

He will do what's best for the rakyat, the former Terengganu Menteri Besar said.

He is prepared to apologise to the Sultan of Terengganu Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin if he "had done anything wrong".

Idris is willing to accept any decision of the Umno leadership deemed best for the people, including forgoing the MB’s post.

According to NST Online, he made the declaration at a highly-charged Press conference this afternoon at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Subang.

The rest of the story:

When asked whether his acceptance would include stepping down, Idris responded: “If that is in the rakyat’s interests.”

On whether he would also accept Datuk Ahmad Said, who had been appointed by the Regency Advisory Council, as the new Mentri Besar, Idris repeated: “If that is in the rakyat’s interests.”

Idris, who has the backing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resume as Mentri Besar, is also the key player in the confrontation between the Government and the Terengganu palace. The Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, is against Idris’ resumption of his MB’s post, ignoring the Abdullah’s endorsement and preferring Ahmad instead to take over.
Ahmad, the Kemaman Umno division chief, started official work knowing that he risks expulsion sacking from Umno because his appointment was not endorsed by the party leadership who preferred Idris to resume his post. Nevertheless, a groundswell of public backing has made its presence for Ahmad and he is also reportedly supported by four of the eight Umno divisions in the state.

There are reports that the 22 assemblymen who back Idris for MB are privately backing Ahmad, appointed by the Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who favoured him over Idris, whom the Ruler viewed with disdain. However, Ahmad received orders to start work first even without taking his oath of office before the Sultan.

Ahmad’s presence at Wisma Darul Iman may precipitate a mass resignation of the 22 Umno assemblymen as threatened by state Umno secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid claimed all Terengganu BN assemblymen fully supported Idris and might relinquish their posts if Ahmad was adamant to be MB.

Abdullah had stated earlier today that he wants to meet Tuanku Mizan to thrash out the impasse.

But, it is not a question of "willingness", you know. If you think you have done the Sultan wrong, then you should just go and seek forgiveness. No hesitation. Just do it.

And how did it all get to this?

What a mess!

Pak Lah is only now seeking an audience with the Yang Di Pertuan Agong.

Shouldn't he have been advised to do that earlier?

PM To seek Audience with King....

PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would seek an audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu.

"The matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible," he said in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, it was the first day at work for Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said today. He begins his tenure as Terengganu Menteri Besar.

He was at the MB's office in Wisma Darul Iman in Kuala Terengganu at 8am today.

According to NST online, his supporters had gathered outside and there was a heavy police presence but there were no untoward incidents.

In one of his first statements as MB, he said he intended to continue the good work of his predecessor Idris Jusoh.

Here's the NST online report.

Tuesdays With Bapak

Driving Young -- Tuesday March 25, 2008

I wonder what Bapak and Mak felt back then when their kids turned 18 and were eligible to drive cars.
I think being parents with only their own teen experience to fall back on was beneficial to us all. They did not have the phobia or the paranoia of parents who'd "been through it all". They pretty much trusted us.

So, they dutifully did what they thought was the normal thing to do -- enrol us in driving schools when we turned 18.

Luckily, there had been no bad experiences on the road that would compel Bapak to ban us from driving.

Well....except in 1972 after Kak Olin got her driver's licence.

It was the coolest thing that Kak Olin got her licence. Kak Eda and I were the ones who got excited when Kak Olin got her licence.

Had we got plans for Kak Olin! Yes, yes...we'd get Kak Olin to take us places. So cool!
And, Kak Olin was such a sport!

So, Kak Eda and I excitedly persuaded Kak Olin to take us for a drive around the neighbourhood. You know, today the neighbourhood, tomorrow, who knows -- KL, perhaps?

It was an uneventful drive -- from our house, around Section 16 and back. But just before we reached the corner of the road in front of our house, we cheered Kak Olin on, telling to show us what she was made of, and that was to make a fierce "corner baring" into the road and then into our driveway.

Before we knew it, there was a loud "gedebuk" sound, followed by long scratching ..

And then the car came to an abrupt halt as Kak Olin stepped on the brakes.

Kak Olin was "as pucat as a ghost". Poor Kak Olin.

"Alamak", Kak Eda said.

"Oh-oh," I quipped.

Kak Olin was in shock and then, almost in tears. We were all too scared to check out the damage until Mak came running out of the house towards us.

She went towards the left side of the car, her face in a frown.

The car had hit the left brick structure that lined the side of the driveway outside the gate. This structure, built on both sides of the path, doubled as a low seating block for house owners in those days when people spent evenings outside, talking and gossiping with their neighbours.

I don't see these structure outside people's homes anymore.

The damage to the car -- an Opel Record -- was surprisingly not serious. It was a sturdy and strong car. But, a damage was a damage and Bapak would have to be told.

Kak Olin mumbled about mistakenly stepping on the accelerator instead of the brakes.

It was the longest afternoon. Will Bapak be angry?

Frankly, we had no idea how he would react, save the fact that he would probably really be angry.

Kak Olin felt that she had let Mak down.

When Bapak got home, Mak broke the news to him after dinner.

There was no rage and no anger. Just a stern warning to be careful the next time.

Looking back, perhaps Bapak was relieved the accident was minor and none of us were hurt.

Now, I'm not sure how I'd react if Adel told me that he had smashed my car. Of course, I know that I'd be relieved if he suffered no injury. Still, would I furiously nag him about his lack of care and caution?

Just yesterday Adel excitedly told me that passed his driving test -- his second attempt.

He had passed the theory but failed the practical in his first attempt last month.

When he told me he failed the practical the first time, I was not disappointed although I pretended to be. In fact, I was so glad he did not make it through.

When he told me that he had passed on his second attempt, I pretended to be thrilled. Pretended? Yes. I was hoping he'd not pass.

Over the years, I have known of young drivers killed in road accidents because of their wrecklessness or inexperience.

I don't know what kind of driver Adel will be. I know that I have given him tips on road safety and advised him to be responsible and careful on the road.

But I remember when I first got my driver's licence. What power I felt when driving on the federal highway!

One day in 1976, I was fetching Abang Med from his office - Pacific Chemicals - in Shah Alam. Abang Med had just got a job after returning from his studies in Australia. He hadn't bought a car yet.

I was driving Mak's Mazda 1000. No, not an Alfa Romeo. Just a Mazda 1000 and I was speeding.

Abang Med, not so impressed by my driving, remarked (a sigh was audible): "You're so young, Ena. So young."

It was not a compliment. And within moments, I slowed down and assumed a moderate speed. I felt a little ashamed.

As for Adel -- he has not insisted on driving to his college in Subang Jaya. But I know he will want to. Maybe by next week.

And why shouldn't he?

I'll continue to remind him to be safe to not speed like he's the king of the road, so that neither of us will be sorry.

And he will never know that I was "young on the road" once.

Palace Should Accept Idris Jusoh..

And withdraw the appointment of Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said, as required by law, said Zaid Ibrahim who is Minister in the PM's Department.

That, he pointed out, was expected by the Constitution.

The palace appointment of Ahmad is not valid in the first place because he is someone without a majority, he said.

Zaid appealed to the palace to accept Idris, dismissing Ahmad's claims of support as hollow.

Barisan Nasional assemblymen have declared their backing for Idris, and BN chairman and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi endorsed Idris.

According to NST online, Zaid, the minister in charge of legal affairs, said the impasse over the appointment of Ahmad against the objections of a majority of the state's assemblymen should not have arisen.

"It's important for everyone, including the monarch, to respect the law, and in this case the law is quite clear," he said.

"The discretion of the monarch in appointing the menteri besar is not an absolute personal discretion.

"It has to be exercised in a way that the constitution expects," he said, which is to appoint the person whose command of a majority in the state assembly was "very clear".

"It is only in cases of a deadlock, where multiple parties are involved, that the ruler has the discretion to appoint the person he thinks has the support of the majority."

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Gani Patail was quoted by NST Online to have said that according to Article 145(2) of the Federal Constitution, he was duty-bound to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on legal matters.

And the 23 assemblyman who are against Ahmad's appointment as MB have threatened to resigned if he is sworn-in.

State Umno liaison secretary Rosol Wahid told a Press conference last night that they all stood solidly behind Idris.

Read Bernama here.

Idris Jusoh Is MB....

Because he commands the majortiy support of the elected assemblyman.

The appointment of the MB is clearly spelt out in the state constitution and is in accordance to the principles of democracy.

This view was held by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Attorney-General Gani Patail.

Abdullah said the appointment by Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said was unconstitutional.

Read the Bernama reports here and here.

And read the views of a consitutional law expert, Shad Faruqi here.

They're right on Perlis but not on Terengganu?

What happens next?

Never seen anything like this before. That's for sure.

And the crisis deepens.

If You Can't Win 'Em....

Then, set up a blog...

That's what the Youth and Sports Ministry will do to be close to young Malaysians.

Its Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob said this was in view of the popularity of blogs among young people as a channel of information.

Well, well, well....what can I say?

Still, it's not too late. And it is a good move. Just make sure you can sustain this blog of yours.

Here's the Bernama story:

BERA, Sun. -- The Youth and Sports Ministry will have its own blogsite soon in an effort to be close to and interact with the nation's youths. Its minister, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob said the move was made in view of the popularity of blogs among youths as a channel of information.

He said the existence of blogs should not be taken lightly as they had been effective in influencing voters to vote for the opposition in the recent general election.

"If we continue to rubbish the blogs, I am worried that it will one day take over the role of the mainstream newspapers," he told reporters after a function to celebrate his appointment as Youth and Sports Minister at the Rakan Muda Complex, near here, last night.

He said the ministry's blogsite, to be created in accordance with the needs of youths, would be light and easy. Ismail Sabri said the ministry would also study the status of youth organisations in the country, many of which were weak and in a state of malaise, after meeting up with the leaders this Tuesday.

"Perhaps these youth organisation have modules which are no longer in tune with current developments and the needs of youths today.

"Possibly this is also why more than 70 percent of the country's youths are not interested in joining youth organisations."

He said the ministry, therefore, needed to find a new approach to bring change so that youths were keen to be members of such organisations.

"We must remember that social ills involving youths are usually attributed to factors outside the home, but today these are also found within the home environment like the misuse of the Internet," he added.