Azalina Slams Bloggers

Youth and Sports Minister and Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said said that rumour-mongering bloggers are cowards and a nuisance to Umno.
She said the opposition parties were using the blogs because they know that the Home Affairs Ministry was busy monitoring reports in the mainstream media.
“They think they can get away with it but it is not the case as they too are being monitored,” she said after launching the National Sports Institute satellite centre in Kota Tinggi.
Asked on the personal attacks against her, Azalina said it was part and parcel of politics.
“The most important thing is that the leadership knows your capability and wants to retain you.
“I get more pahala (blessings) everyday with all the lies spread about me, especially by bloggers,” she said.
On talk of infighting in Pengerang Umno especially between her and division chief Datuk Harun Abdullah, Azalina said people could say a lot of things but there was no problem.
“I still see him and I still shake his hand,” she said.
Azalina said she would contest in a seat to be decided by the Barisan Nasional leadership.
“I am a soldier and if the boss asks me to go to war, then I will,” she said.

Well, I agree with her. Especially ANONYMOUS bloggers who spread lies in the internet.
They are cowards.

But, Azalina, why, why tar us all with the same brush?
Don't-lah start demonising B L O G G E R S.

Besides, you must know that those attacking you may not be from the Opposition.

Why....they could be your very own "musuh dalam selimut".
I'm sure some of them are Umno members or supporters of some Umno leaders.

Pas' First Non-Muslim Candidate..

Her name is Kumutha Raman, a 29 year-old law graduate.
(She is seen with Johor Pas commissioner Mahfodz Mohamed.)

This is an unprecedented move in the history of Pas (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) to field a non-Muslim candidate.

Kumutha will be contesting the Tiram state seat under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat symbol. This is made possible under an electoral pact between the two parties.
She is a member of the one-month old Unity Bureau under the Johor non-Muslim Pas Supporters Club.

Pas is contesting 34 state seats and nine parliamentary seats in Johor.

No second-guessing her chances in this Umno stronghold. In the 2004 general election, Umno's Maulizan Bujang defeated Pas' Roslani Sharif in a straight fight, by a margin of 15,595 votes.

No prizes for the right guess -- but the BN will win again.

In fielding Kumutha, Pas has nothing to lose. It will not win, that's for sure, but it hopes to win the Indian votes, which make up 14.39 per cent in the constituency.
But will the Indians trust an Indian who represents an Islamic party?

Tebrau MIC thinks it is political suicide for her.
Division chief M. Soorianarayanan warned that the Indian community is going to hate her for aligning with the opposition.

The People's Declaration

Tomorrow, Saturday Feb 23 at 11am, the launching of the PEOPLE'S DECLARATION or DEKLARASI RAKYAT will be held at Blog House in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

The six political parties that have endorsed the declaration have been invited to attend together with civil society movements, NGOs, and members of the blogging community.

If you're interested in witnessing this event, be at Blog House at 66, Lorong Setiabistari 2.

For more details, click here.

"Hindraf Is Because of Me..." -- Samy Vellu

That's what the MIC president, responding to questions from the media after announcing the list of party election candidates, said.

I have taken out Samy's remarks on Hindraf from the report by The Sun's:

On the effects of the recent Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rallies, the veteran politician said:

“Hindraf is because of me, everything they do is because of me. Only because of me everything has happened in this country. You can write it in your paper ... you write it, people will laugh at you lah. Those fellows are just madly going doing things. We are fighting. They are members of the Opposition. There will be a ‘pooja’ every evening somewhere, DAP will be doing a pooja under the guise ...”

He said they knew how to talk to Indian voters who now realised they had been misled with promises like getting RM1 million.

“Many people thought if they keep supporting them (Hindraf) they might get RM1 million. The RM1 million made a big swing. I also can say if you support me I can give you RM2 million, but that’s not what we want to do. In any case, the BN government has promised many things, it will be done, it is being done.”

Asked how sure he was that the MIC could get Indian votes, he said: “Maybe the Indian voters feel, ‘this fellow is getting lost’, so we must ... I think the Indians may not like me now. That is why I thought if I go maybe they give better support to BN, I take it that way. I know the Indians don’t like me now ... so let us see.”

MIC Goes For New Blood

That's The Sun's headline today.

Well, Uncle Samy, I hope Malaysian Indians are receptive, and convinced by your move to infuse new blood in the party.

Here's The Sun's page 1 report (the web version):

KUALA LUMPUR : The MIC today made sweeping changes to its list of candidates for state assembly seats, replacing 13 of the 19 incumbents.
It also changed two of its incumbent MPs, dropping vice-president and Tan Sri Dr K.S. Nijhar (Subang) and switching another vice-president Datuk S. Veerasingam (Tapah) to the Sungkai state seat in Perak which he previously held.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will spearhead the party into the country’s 12th General Election at a most challenging time, aiming to secure a ninth term in Sungai Siput. He said he was not afraid as he had seen tougher fights in his long political career.
He told a press conference the party was switching its Ijok state seat in Selangor, retained in a by-election last year, with the Bukit Melawati seat held by Umno.
Samy Vellu announced the names of the candidates after holding a one-hour closed door meeting with his party central working committee and the new candidates in the Works Ministry,
Majority of the new faces are lawyers while the others were a doctor, civil servants and businessmen.
Asked why Veerasingam was moved to a state seat, Samy Vellu said it was done so that the party vice-president can take care of Perak, following the departure of its long-serving state chief Datuk G. Rajoo.
On Nijhar being dropped and his reaction, Samy Vellu replied: "I don’t know, I haven’t seen him."
He said Nijhar had served a two-term senatorship before he was brought into the party to serve the people.
Asked if the Indian community would continue to support MIC, he said he was confident they would because they realised that they needed a representation in the government.
“All those who instigated them to ask all sorts of questions are those who cannot represent them in the government. If they feel they don’t want a representation, God also cannot help.”

Thank God For Little Mercies....

I told my blog sister Galadriel "one down, two to go!" when she posted about close one eye Jasin MP Md Said Yusop having been dropped from the list of Malacca election candidates.

Yay!

We'll see if his partners-in-crime - Bung Mukhtar Radin (Kinabatangan) and Badrudin Amiruldin (Jerai) will also be dropped by their state party leaders.

MPs like these are a liability to their party, and of course, a disgrace to the august Dewan Rakyat.

We know what a good debate in Parliament is.
I don't think MPs like these three do.

Read the Star story here.

Bloggers And Government Bashing...

Umno veteran Rais Yatim has a bit of advice for bloggers -- to look into their heart to see if it is clean.

"If it is not, then don't bash others in your blogs," he said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

What an advice!

Now, I don't know how this issue came about. Perhaps a reporter had asked him with leading questions, and he responded that way.
Then again, Rais could have just, at the spur of the moment, felt the need to speak up against those evil Malaysians AKA bloggers.

His remarks were made on the premise that bloggers in general "indulge in an unhealthy culture of bashing others, including government leaders, through their blogsites."
This is, of course, in itself, misleading, unfair and very sweeping.

Bash, criticise, attack, blast. Some gentler than others, some harsher than others. Some, of course, baseless, some with documented evidence.

The truth is that there are bloggers who criticise government leaders who deserved to be criticised.

But, really, is it wrong to criticise government leaders whose job it is to serve the rakyat, especially tax-paying rakyat, if we feel that they have not performed?
Are government leaders beyond reproach?
Are they so arrogant that we cannot point out where they have gone wrong?

We praise them if they have done well, don't we?

I am not disappointed with Rais because I think he speaks his mind and I believe his remarks were made from the heart.
A hint of ignorance and naivete there (on the subject of bloggers), I suspect.
I also believe that he has not read enough blogs to know that there are bloggers who have the interest of the country at heart.

Here's the Bernama story.

KUALA LUMPUR Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Bloggers should evaluate themselves before indulging in an unhealthy culture of bashing others, including government leaders, through their blogsites, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.
He said although government bashing in then again,he blogsites was among the challenges faced by the Barisan Nasional (BN) in facing the general election, it was not the nature of BN leaders to resort to using blogsites to attack others in their campaigns to win the elections.
"They (bloggers) condemn the prime minister, ministers and other members of the administration but not themselves. As the Malay adage goes, it's pointing the forefinger to the front and thumb to your chest.
"I am saying that you should look at your own heart to see if it is clean. If it is not, then don't bash others in your blogs," he said after launching a book and compact disc, "Aku Dia dan Lagu-Lagu Nostalgia", by Yusnor Ef at Aswara (National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy) here today.
"Nowadays, not only the bloggers are having a mental block (disturbed) but the PAS' spiritual leader's mind too is blocked (unstable) when he equated Umno members to orang utan.
"The bloggers are getting bolder, but I see it this way -- the general election is the season for condemning or "killing" others with words but this is not BN culture. I suggest that they attend courses on good manners as good manners is Malaysian culture."
On another matter, Rais said a RM1.5 million scholarship fund would be established soon to assist those interested to seriously pursue music studies. He said the country needed more people to be highly qualified in the field, hence the introduction of the scholarship scheme.
Aswara, Istana Budaya and the Culture, Arts and Heritage Department would draw up the scholarship programme for the public to apply, he said.

Tuesdays With Bapak

Little White Lies -- Tuesday February 19 2008

We've been lying to Bapak about stuff.
We feel really bad for having to do that.
But we reckon that's in his best interest.

Like last Wednesday when we had to rush to Singapore after we were informed that our cousin, Juriah, passed away.
We decided to leave for Singapore in the afternoon. We couldn't leave any earlier. Besides, it would not have made any difference because the funeral and burial would have been over by afternoon anyway. That's Singapore regulations.

Juriah who was my age, died of a heart attack. She had been hospitalised for a bypass, and suffered a stroke after the operation. She was also diabetic.
Juriah was the youngest of Wak Lah's 4 children.
Wak Lah (Kamlah) was Bapak's second eldest sister/sibling.
Wak lah died about 30 years ago. Her husband, Ismail had passed away much earlier.
Juriah's other siblings are Zubaidah (Kak Bedah) , Fatimah (Kak Mama) and Abdul Rahman (Aman).
Kak Bedah was only in her 30s when she died of a heart attack (resulting from a stroke) about 20 years ago.

Aman stayed with us in Petaling Jaya from 1970 to 1973.
Bapak had always been concerned about the academic achievement of his nephews and nieces.
Whenever it was necessary, he would get them to continue their studies in Malaysia.
We have had several cousins staying with us in the 60s and 70s.

Juriah was with us in 1973 when she got a place at ITM (now UiTM) to study Business Studies.
Halfway through, she decided the course was not her cup of tea and returned to Singapore to do something else.

That day when she died. my step-mum, Kak Ton, Nina and I left KL (by car) just after 1.30pm.
We stopped at the Machap rest area (along the highway) for something to eat.
We arrived in Bedok Reservoir (Singapore) via the second link in the evening.
I was driving throughout.
It was either Nina or me. My step-mum and Kak Ton disqualified themselves from being driver for obvious reasons.

I am an okay driver but I am so known for getting sleepy at the wheel when the driving gets too boring or when it is during the afternoon or late at night.

"I'm okay...but I think I'll get sleepy around 3pm and at night, So Nina, you will have to take over," I warned them.

Needless to say, they survived my driving. I never got sleepy and drove all the way to Bedok Reservoir.

We stopped at Cik Ah's house for a little rest. Cik Ah had prepared tea and "makan". After freshening up and Maghrib prayers, we left for Juriah's house in Al-Junid.

After an hour or so meeting Juriah's husband and children, Kak Mama, Aman and our relatives, we left for home.
Nina took over the wheel when we were somewhere near Malacca because I was getting really sleepy.

Earlier, before we left for Singapore, I asked Nina whether Bapak knew about Juriah's passing and that we were going to Singapore.
She said they did not tell Bapak anything, worried that he'd be shocked.

When Kak Eda had a relapse in late 2006 and was hospitalised, she had not been able to visit Bapak. He had asked about her.
We could not tell him that she was terminally ill with cancer. We told him that that she was busy with her kids.
When he wanted to visit her, we told him that she was in Johor visiting Aziz's (her husband) father.
We told Kak Eda that Bapak had been asking about her. So when she was discharged from hospital, she immediately went to see Bapak, before going home.
Later, when she succumbed to cancer and died in March last year, we did not tell Bapak immediately but the day after her death.
We had to find the right time to break the sad news to him and when we did, we had to do so, very very carefully.

When Mak Cik and Nina were ready to leave the house the day Juriah died, they told Bapak that they were "going out".
They had to tell him something.

As far as Bapak was concerned, that day Mak Cik was going to her flower shop and Nina "to the kedai".

Oh, these little white lies.
Won't you forgive us, Bapak....

Ask Yourself...

...what you want from this 12th general election.

PM Still Mum About Khairy's Nomination..

I'm not a gambler. But I have made "playful" bets with my buddies on very harmless things.
We used to take bets on how long someone will last as -- oh you know, such and such, this and that.
Very harmless. Didn't hurt anyone.

Now, this one is a no-brainer. Because if a bet were to be made, everyone wins.

The Prime Minister, according to Bernama is still silent on the proposal by Negeri Sembilan Umno to nominate his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin as a BN candidate.
Khairy is Umno Youth deputy head.

Abdullah, who is also the BN chairman, said the position of all BN candidates would only be decided after a meeting with all the state BN chairmen.
"I have yet to sit down with the state BN chairmen to discuss the list of candidates for the general election," he told reporters after launching the project to upgrade roads under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), here Saturday.
Abdullah said the list of BN candidates would be announced at the appropriate time.
Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan recently said that Khairy was one of the five candidates agreed upon at the recent meeting of the Rembau Umno division to contest in the parliamentary constituency.
Mohamad said the selection of Khairy, who is also the Rembau Umno Youth head and the Prime Minister's son-in-law, was in recognition of his role as the Umno Youth deputy head.-- BERNAMA

Party Or Personality?

A long long time ago, when Malaysia was hunky-dory, it was not too difficult to predict election results.
It was really quite simple to do that although sometimes there were near-misses, full-blown misses, dark horses, and surprises.
Nonetheless, predictable.

For instance, you'd be right to predict that a city constituency with a Chinese majority would go to the opposition, usually the DAP. Or the rural Malays in Umno stronghold areas would vote for BN no matter who the candidate was (Indian or Chinese). And that was the same in an Indian-majority constituency where the BN would win.
Over time, however, it was no longer so simple although voters seemed to still be holding on to the principle of "vote for the party, not the candidate".
In 1999, that seemed to be the case where the opposition, riding on the anti-establishment wave and the Anwar Ibrahim factor, did very well.
Angered by the turn of events resulting from Anwar's sacking, many turned their backs on the BN and voted for the opposition, no matter who the candidates were.
Although the BN maintained its majority in Parliament, it did very badly.
Terengganu was lost to Pas.
In the last general election in 2004, I believe the "vote for party" mentality still figured strong. Buoyed by a renewed sense of hope, people gave their support to the BN which was returned with a thumping victory. And recaptured Terengganu, to boot!

The situation this time maybe different.
This March 8 general election, the country's 12th -- I reckon most people will be making serious consideration about and assessment of the candidates standing in their constituencies.

The "dacing" may no longer be that appealing for the BN diehard. Nor the "rocket' for the DAP faithful.

This time -- voters will not only be looking at the party.
This time, it's the candidate they'll be scrutinising.

Barisan's 13-point Manifesto

BAGAN DATOH, Feb 15 Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional's (BN) general election manifesto which will be announced soon by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, promises continued prosperity for the people.
Deputy Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was based on the recent launching of the multi-billion ringgit regional development corridor projects which would be implemented following BN's victory in the general election this coming March 8.
"It is unlikely if another government comes into power, it will continue with the development projects. So, the people need to translate the government's commitment to continue the projects into votes for BN candidates in the coming elections.
"If the opposition is chosen to lead the nation, it will not support the economic development corridor plans," he said after opening the annual general meeting of the Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Nipah Baruh Parent-Teacher Association here Friday.
He said the 13-point manifesto was not mere promises of the BN but a sign of early preparations of what the BN government would undertake in the interest of the people and nation.
Zahid said the coming general election attracted much attention from foreign investors judging from the sharp rise in Bursa Malaysia's index to 21 points following the dissolution of Parliament on Wednesday.
"The foreign investors are aware of Malaysia's transparent election process, with the Election Commission as well as an independent body monitoring the polls in 222 parliamentary seats throughout the country," he added.
-- BERNAMA

Al-Fatah Television

That's the name of the first Islamic television in the world. And it is Malaysia's.

According to Bernama, the TV station will enhance people's understanding of Islam, especially the Hadhari approach.

The executive chairman of World Islamic Network Television Sdn Bhd (WINTV) Datuk Paduka Khairuddin Abu Hassan said the time had come for Malaysia as a model Islamic country to have an Islamic-based television station.
"This station will broadcast Islamic programmes in a moderate way which can be understood by and impress all the races in the country," he said in a statement issued here Friday.
Earlier, Khairuddin had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Missionary Foundation Malaysia (Yadim) at the World Al-Azhar University Alumni Conference 2008 which was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The MoU is for developing a television station between WINTV and Yadim and it would be known as Al-Falah Television.
Khairuddin said Malaysia would be cooperating with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries for the exchange of programmes so as to introduce each other's culture, traditions, way of life, political system and religious practices.
"This will eventually turn Malaysia into a hub for the collection of television programmes from Islamic nations and export centre for quality programmes to Europe, the United States and East Asia."
He said Al-Falah Television would attract viewers from Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Mindanao in the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and southern Thailand.
"As a start, the progammes will be broadcast via Astro's Oasis channel," he added.-BERNAMA

13 year-old Girl Rescued From Vice Ring

Although the Harian Metro story (yesterday) did not specifically say that but I believe (if the story is true) that THAT is what it was.
According to the Malay tabloid, 13 year-old Nurul Syaza Fadzil was nearly sold off (presumably to a vice ring) to be a bar/night club waitress. Or, a bar maid, if you like.

And if the story is true, then we all should expect some solid outcome from police investigation.

Nurul's story is like a movie. One you won't enjoy, though.
She, lives in Kampung Nakhoda, Batu Caves, Gombak, with her family.
She was lured, or rather, threatened by another 13 year-old by the name of Ola to follow her to an apartment unit at the Kenanga Apartments near Pudu Jail. Accompanying them were two older girls.
At the apartment were 10 teenaged boys who forced her to sniff glue and drink alcohol. But whether or not she actually did has not been confirmed.
There she was told that she would be sold off to a nightclub very soon.

To cut the story short, her father, Fadzil Bakar, 53. was tipped-off by a friend of her whereabout.,
He soon launched a rescue --in the nick of tme as she was about to be sold off.

Read the HM story here.
I'll update on the follow-up.

D-DAY! On March 8!

UPDATE : Polling Day is March 8!

Here's the Bernama story.

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Polling for the general election will be held on March 8 and nominations on Feb 24, the Election Commission (EC) announced today.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the election would involve 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats in 12 states except for Sarawak which held its state election in 2006.
He said 10,922,139 were eligible to cast their votes based on the electoral roll gazetted on Feb 5.
Abdul Rashid made the announcement at the EC headquarters here at 11.40am. The announcement was carried live by RTM dan TV3. BERNAMA

My earlier posting:

Yesterday Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the dissolution of Parliament, confirming (and ending) widespread speculations that Parliament would be dissolved YESterday.

Today, he'll be announcing polling day.

Anyway, candidates have been warned not to get down and dirty.
Keep it clean.

Can they?

Another Pervert of a Pilot..

and this time he is with Singapore Airlines.
Convicted by a court -- also in Adelaide as our (now suspended) Malaysia Airlines' pilot last week.
Someone alerted me in on this.

Here's the Reuters story:

SINGAPORE, Feb 13 (Reuters) - A Singapore Airlines pilot was fined A$12,000 ($10,860) for trying to bring child pornography into Australia, court documents showed on Wednesday.
Ng Kok Yauw, 40, captained a Singapore Airlines flight last Saturday from the city-state to Adelaide, Australia, when customs officials searched his laptop and found video clips of child pornography, Adelaide court documents seen by Reuters said.
Ng, who appeared in court on Monday, pleaded guilty to charges of importing banned material and making a false statement to a customs officer.
He could not be reached for comment but Singapore Airlines, the world's second-largest airline by market value, said the airline was conducting its own investigation.
Seven video files were found on Ng's computer, some of which contained footage of rape, sexual violence and children engaged in sexual activity, the documents said.
The maximum sentence in Australia for offences involving child pornography is a fine of A$275,000 and 10 years imprisonment.
While it is not an offence to bring pornographic material into Australia, an Australian customs spokeswoman said it was an crime to bring in "objectionable" or "abhorrent" pornography into the country.
This would include materials that "offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults", the spokeswoman said.
The pilot was one of three men caught last week by Australian custom officials for importing "offensive" pornography.
Local media in Singapore said one of these was a Malaysian Airline pilot.

I am just so appalled! I think the pilots' associations should be very very concerned. Because I know I am (to put it mildly). And I know many of you are as well.

Tuesdays With Bapak

The Hills Are Alive.. -- February 12 2008

Everytime I get exasperated with my two teenaged kids - in particular with my 15 year-old daughter, I am reminded that, Gosh, I have only two children.
How difficult can that get?
My parents had 10 kids. Of course, there are only 8 of us left now. Our eldest, Kak Piah and our fifth sibling, Kak Eda are no longer with us. (Al Fatihah)
Back then we were growing up, we were very active and, er, er....naughty, as kids are wont to be.

I never gave that a thought until I had my own children.

Remembering our childhood, I have absolutely the highest respect for my parents -- for all their patience.
Goodness! We were a real handful. And that's putting it so mildly.

I try not to be too hard on my daughter, Shaira, whenever she's out of line, or displays streaks of stubbornness.
I've been on that teen road so I understand, although sometimes my patience does fail the test.
But, well a mom has to do what she has to do in her child's interest.

When Shaira gets upset, she goes into her room, and sulks. Well, so far so good.

Based on my own childhood experience and my understanding of parenting, I am always reminded not to go overboard in disciplining children.
That's a fair reminder, I think.
I know that the teen years can be the most trying and difficult for some parents and their children.
Some teens have been known to run away from home because of clashes with their parents..

I fear that sometimes.

When I was 15, I probably did more or less the same as Shaira does. But I'd drown myself in (story) books.
So there was more daydreaming than sulking.

When I was younger about 9 or 10 , while we were living in Section 5, I had a place to which I'd retreat after getting a good scolding from Mak.

It wasn't just me. Kak Olin and Kak Eda found much "solace" there too.

Did I say we were a handful?
Oh, can you just imagine. We must have driven Mak up the wall, sometimes.

We lived across Gasing Hill which was, well, a hill. No houses atop.
It was nothing like what it is today.

That was the 60s. Just thinking about those wonderful years sends a shiver down my spine -- a nice shiver.

Until today, Gasing Hill or Bukit Gasing is the major landmark in Section 5. It has the only remaining secondary forest in PJ.
How much longer remaining, remains to be seen.

When you were atop the hill, you'd get a panoramic view of PJ and KL.

We used to check out the little "caves" that dotted the hill. We'd trek into the forest and meet monkeys. I don't think they were the common macaque though I am not quite sure what they were. They were lighter-haired and had longer limbs.

There was a big pond and further up, we chanced upon old gravestones.

Even in those days, the hill was a favourite lovers' haunt.

Kak Olin, Kak Eda and I would usually get a scolding together. So, we were "one for all and all for one".
Can't quite remember why we'd get scolded, really. Messing up the living room, perhaps.

We'd all "merajuk" and head straight for the hill.
Sometimes, we'd go up the hill on our own, alone.
Somehow there was no fear. I suppose kids have very little fear, for anyone (except for their parents, policemen and teachers) or anything (except some hantu2 and only at night).

The hill was like a salve for the soul.
No, our soul was not punished.
Sometimes, we'd go up the hill for no reason at all. Just for fun, perhaps.

When our Singapore cousins visited, we'd take them up for a "tour".

We'd climb the hill from the foot at Jalan Lembah, maybe about 100 metres from our house. We'd pick "buah letup-letup" along the way up.
An we'd always remember to quietly utter "datuk, nenek, cucu tumpang lalu" as we made our way up, or past along a new or unknown spot or route.
If we didn't, we could fall ill, we were told.
.
Oh...don't ask me who told us to say all this. A well-meaning cousin, I think.

When we had completed our ascent (ahem...dreaming of Gunung Kinabalu), we'd just sit or stand on top and let the wind softly blow -- our body and soul.

Dreamy. Glorious.

We were kids.

Today, I'd not let any of my kids go up no hill. No matter how tempting the experience is.

Indeed, the hills around us are just as alive as Gasing Hill was back then.
But....

Well, Shaira sulks in her room.. But she seems to get good therapy by going into her Facebook.

"Shaira is feeling crappy today. Mommy marah....." she writes.

I'm so fine with that.
Better that than any hill....

Is Malaysia a Hub for Child Pornography?

I pray this is not so.
Am I being too presumptuous? Too paranoid?
Ok.. so I am jumping to conclusion after reading Rocky's latest posting on a Malaysian who was arrested at the Adelaide Airport in Australia after he was found to have 3 video files of child pornography in his laptop. He was (ONLY) fined by (AUS)$5,000 by an Australian court and his laptop was confiscated.

His name is Ahmad Said, 25 and a Malaysia Airlines co-pilot.

The pornographic files that he had were titled "Reped (sic) Victim", "10 year-old" and "High School Students".

His lawyer, in defence, said that Ahmad "was simply reckless", mitigating that those files were emailed to him and that he had not shown the files to anyone, nor was he going to disseminate them.

His conviction will ruin his career, his lawyer said.

The judge said a rape scene showed an underaged girl crying as she was forced to have sex with an older man.

The judge said :These are not victimless crimes. For every video that depicts such a scene, there is a victim."
He said there would be no market for child pornography without people like Ahmad.

That is why IT IS VERY VERY WRONG for anyone to be in possession of such videos/discs.

I really don't care for Ahmad's career. This guy is married and a father of 2. Can you believe that?

He should have not even accepted the e-mail and should have blasted the sender of the e-mail.

I'm bloody (to borrow our PM's expression) curious to know if the videos were Malaysian-made?
In any case, I think Ahmad may be able to help in investigations to child abductions in the country.
Little Sharlinie is still missing. Nurin is dead.

If I were the police, I'd want to talk to him when he returns home. I'd want to know who sent him those files.

No Politics of Revenge if BN wins Kelantan.

Winning Kelantan is high on Umno's agenda.
Party deputy president Najib Abdul Razak has been very upbeat and positive of Umno's chances in Kelantan.
I'd say at this point it is a dream Umno wishes will come true.

Well, I say good luck and all the best!

And should Umno win, Najib wants the state civil servants to know that they will not be punished.

He has reassured them that the BN will not launch "politics of revenge" on civil servants.

Bernama quoted him as saying in Jeli today that it was the Barisan's stand to respect opposition parties and their supporters.

He said they would be accorded the same treatment if the Barisan helmed the east coast state.

Here's the rest of the Bernama report.

Najib said the Barisan was not like PAS which went on a "witch hunt" after capturing Terengganu in the 1999 general election by sacking imams, locking up and cordoning off buildings housing state government offices and stopping vehicles travelled by Barisan government state executive councillors.
"The Barisan will not resort to cruel and inhumane actions like PAS. I assure you such things will not happen if the Barisan rules Kelantan.
"We'll respect them (state civil servants). They can go about working as usual," he told a press conference after launching the Border Regiment in Jeli.

Well, if Umno does win...we'll just have to wait and see if the "balas dendam" doesn't happen, won't we?

Hardworking Prime Minister...

I know. I know what you're thinking.
But I am not saying it.
He said it himself in Penang yesterday.

Here's the Star story:

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he works very hard to carry out his responsibility to all Malaysians.
“Some of you can say that I’m not good, you can say whatever. But don’t say that I don’t work.
“I work very hard. I really mean it and you know it,” he said to applause from those who attended the Chinese Assembly Hall’s Chinese New Year open house yesterday (Friday).
Abdullah said that as a Muslim, he had an obligation to fulfil his responsibility.
“I have a very heavy responsibility and I have to carry it out,” he said.
He also urged Malaysians to make full use of the opportunities available to do well in life and to serve the people.
“It is God’s will that I become the Prime Minister of Malaysia and I am very conscious that I have to serve the people although I personally do not benefit even one bit because of this,” he said.
He said in fulfilling his responsibility, he has to be fair to all Malaysians, irrespective of their ethnic background.
“However, each of us has to strive towards the creation of a Malaysian community that is happy, prosperous, united, harmonious and respected.
“As Malaysians, no matter where we are and even though we are just a minority group, we should feel comfortable and happy when attending a function.
“We should feel at home and that we are in the company of friends and fellow Malaysians,” he said.

Aah....Traffic-free Roads..

Don't you just love major festivities?
You certainly do if you live anywhere in the Klang Valley.
And I know I love it.

It's then that you realise that a large majority of Klang Valley's denizens are from out-of-town.
They all have "balik kampung".
And what do we have when "everyone" balik kampung or go away for the hols?

Clear and traffic-free roads?

Whoopee.....
But only until tomorrow, I reckon.
Meanwhile..... enjoy it while it lasts.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Or as we used to say it -- Kong Hee Fatt Choy!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR, everyone.
May the Year of the Rat bring all that's good and great....

Peace!

Tuesdays With Bapak

Love And Death -- February 5 2008

I was never close to my paternal grandmother. But I loved her just the same. As she did all her grandchildren.

She died when I was about eight or nine.

Her name was Aida Majid and she was a daughter of a Javanese merchant in Singapore.
Don't ask me if she was beautiful because all I remember was that she was very very old.

She was "Jawa tulen" or pure Javanese and was proud of it, we were told.
Purer than Datuk' s lineage. Datuk had Persian blood "tainting" his Javanese ancestry.

In his old age, Bapak now looks very much like Nenek, though I don't remember that he ever did. Perhaps I wasn't that observant or never noticed details such as how his eyes, mouth and shape of face are so similar to his mother's.

Nenek was a matriarch. She was revered by her children and kin as well as the kampung folk.

I was told that when I was born, I looked like her mother. I had "her chin", they told me. My great grandmother's name was Aina. So that's how I was named Nuraina.
Kak Eda - Noraida - was named after Nenek.

Nenek was so protective of Bapak who was her first surviving son.
Bapak's family called him "Chomel" because when he was born, he was so tiny, so "chomel".
But, basically, they wanted him to live and survive any illnesses, so they called him by another name as was the practice of the Malays in those days.
This practice of calling children by names other than those they were born with for survivability, may even still exist today.

Bapak is "Chomel" to this day.

Nenek doted on him, in the way people of olden days did.
It was not the way today's parents "manjakan" their kids. I don't think it was a physical kind of doting.
I don't think her love for her son was displayed so openly or in the physical sense.

I think it was making sure her first surviving son did not hurt himself while playing -- which is pretty impossible. Which means either he was not allowed to play with the village kids or that he was always chaperoned by an adult.

He was overly-protected. He was not allowed to cycle, swim or play the usual rough-and-tumble games.

Nenek was afraid that he'd injure himself or fall ill....and well, die. As his elder brothers did.

I remember her to be gentle but someone whom we would not want to cross. She was petite and soft-spoken. But, she seemed to me -- in all her delicateness and fragility - a firm figure of authority.

Whenever, we went back to Singapore during the school holidays, we were instructed to stop over first at Nenek's house at Jalan Yahya in our Kampung Melayu.
We were not to venture out elsewhere without meeting her first and having a meal or two there.

Although Nenek's house is long gone - demolished in 1981 along with some 1,300 houses to make way for re-development -- I remember it to be big and grand with lots of candies in bottles in the kitchen.

There were "khat" paintings adorning the walls throughout the house. They were, I later found out, my grandfather's art works.

I also remember that it was no fun being at Nenek's. But, I don't remember why.
Perhaps because I was closer -- far far closer -- to my maternal grandfather who lived at Jalan Sudin just a few kilometres away.

Kak Eda and I had more friends at Jalan Sudin. The cousins who were around our age and with whom we were close were on my mother's side. They were all at Ompong's (grandfather in Mendaling).
And that would be where we were throughout our holiday.
Much to Nenek's displeasure.

Kak Olin was close to Kak Ana who is my youngest aunt's (Bapak's sister) daughter.
She'd be at Nenek's. Besides she was Wak Aichon's "daughter".
"Anak Wak Aichon", they called her.
Wak Aichon was Bapak's older sister who took care of Kak Olin while Mak was at work those days when we were growing up in Singapore.

Kak Olin and Kak Ana would always spoil our fun.
They'd often make an appearance in the evening - always at the wrong time when we would be hard at play.
They'd bring with them a message from Nenek.

"Nenek panggil suruh tidur rumah Nenek malam ini", Kak Olin would tell us.

Oh, killjoy!
We would protest. Very meekly, of course.
But, aah.. we knew better than to hurt Nenek's feelings.

Nenek enjoyed having all her grandchildren around her.
She'd be seated on her huge bed in the family room. A television set was in front of the bed.There was also a radio.
And all the grandchildren would be seated on the floor either watching TV with her, or listening to the radio, usually a "cerita seram".
Oh those "cerita seram".
We would all be in suspense listening to every move, every sound. And would all be screaming in unison when the haunting music peaked to a crescendo.
The radio....it had that amazing power to make you imagine things with the sounds emanating from it.

Nenek would smile, and quietly laughed at our antics.
She would be seated on her bed, always in her trademark white or pastel-colored baju kurung top and batik sarong.
I think, despite her authoritative image, she loved the squeals and laughter of her grandchildren.

We might have been told many a time not to tear across the room, causing the wooden floor to shake because it was something girls did not do.
But, we were never told to "hush" or "diam-diam".

The day Nenek died, we rushed to Singapore.

I remember feeling very scared to have been told that Nenek had died. I'm not sure if I was ever sad.

When we arrived at Nenek's house, Bapak was already there. Nenek's body was already prepared and was laid in the living room.

Bapak was seated on the floor, by the side of his mother's body.

I had never seen Bapak so sad.
I had never seen Bapak weep.

"My mother's gone," I heard him say. His head bowing. Helpless. A stifled cry.

I was with Mak, Kak Olin, Kak Eda and Azah.
I was staring at Nenek's wrapped frail body. Her eyes closed. She was very very old.
But, I remember she looked peaceful and serene.
I was no longer scared. Fear had escaped me.
Perhaps a little confused.
I was trying to absorb everything around me. But everything was moving about so fast.

I watched Bapak. My hand gripping Mak's arm.

That was the very first funeral I had ever attended. And one, after all these years, I can never forget.

Hope And Prayers....

Twenty-eight days. That's how long Sharlinie Mohd Nashar has been missing.

I hope and I pray that the five year-old will be found. Alive.

Please. Let's not stop looking.

Just don't pull pranks. Don't fool around with her case.

But, if you really thought you saw her somewhere, call the police. Even if you're mistaken, it's ok.
PJ OCPD ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed said the police would act and send their men to any location given by members of the public.

Yesterday, police rushed to the SMART tunnel at Jalan Tun Abdul Razak after receiving a tip-off.

It turned out negative.

The call was not a hoax nor was it by a prankster. The caller was just mistaken.

That's ok. The next call could prove a lifeline for Sharlinie.

Helping the Indian Community

Not true. Not true.
The government has never NOT listen to suggestions by the MIC on improving the lot of the Indians in the country.
Deputy PM Najib Andul Razak said in KL yesterday:

"It is not true. I am refuting the claims that the government pays scant attention to whatever suggestions or views put forward by the MIC," the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after opening the MIC's special assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre.
In fact, he said, the living standard of the Indians had improved due to the MIC's efforts.
"The government always pays attention and strives to solve the socio- economic problems of the Indians in the country.
"We should not allow ourselves to be tricked by the opposition who can say anything. But all this (development programme) is a commitment which the government is able to fulfil," he said.- BERNAMA

HAH! I know what you guys are thinking. And are going to say...

Bersih Is So Rude and Overboard, Says PM

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described as "direspectful" and "overboard" the action by members of the Coalition of Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) in tearing the picture of Election Commision chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.

Here's the rest of the Bernama story:

Bersih members tore up Rashid's picture to vent their protest on the country's election system.
Saying that they had gone overboard in their action, Abdullah said such things never happened before.
"They're rude and disrespectful. There are other ways to air their protest," he told reporters after attending the Universiti Malaya Alumni Day.
The Prime Minister was asked to comment on the action by Bersih members to tear Rashid's picture as published in the New Straits Times today in protest against the election system in the country.
They claimed the EC's move to introduce the indelible ink in this election was merely a cosmetic change.
The Prime Minister said Rashid had discharged his duties well by conducting elections in a fair, clean, transparent and democratic manner.
He said Bersih members should not have resorted to such action as the EC had met the Opposition's demand to introduce the indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes to ensure this election was more open and transparent.
"If all these while, what it has been done is not good and the changes being made now (in this election) are also not good, bring the matter to court," said Abdullah in a stern voice.
The Prime Minister said the EC had constantly taken appropriate action to ensure the electoral roll was verified and updated and given prompt attention to complaints such as mistakes in voter registration.
Asked whether the government would take action against Bersih members for tearing Rashid's picture, Abdullah said: "We should take action if there are laws that provide for punishment for such actions."

Alaah, Pak Lah. Tear picture only.
Ahem. I know others who were really really "disrespectful" and "overboard" in their speech and action.

Dr M Will Not Support the Opposition, Says Mukhriz

Here's the Bernama story yesterday:

Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said his father, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would neither oppose the government nor support the opposition.
"My father will not in any way support the opposition. He has fought the opposition all his life," he said.
Mukhriz, who is also the movement's International Relations and Non-Governmental Organisations Bureau chairman, said this in commenting on newspaper reports today which quoted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying that there had been no "gentlemen's agreement" between him and Dr Mahathir that he would only serve as prime minister for one term.
Yesterday, the newspapers had reported Dr Mahathir saying as such.
He was approached by reporters for his comments on the issue after receiving a RM100,000 donation for Aman Malaysia's Gaza Humanitarian Fund from Cheras Umno and the Cheras Education Foundation, which were represented by Senator Datuk Wira Syed Ali Al-Habshee, here today.
Instead, Mukhriz, who is also Aman Malaysia's coordinator, said the opposition would try to manipulate the issue to its own advantage and attempt to cause confusion among the people so that they would be disunited.
"I think what is said by both of them strengthens Umno," he said.
He also said that remarks by Dr Mahathir that he would only support BN candidates (in the upcoming election) who were capable and deemed clean was in line with the Prime Minister wanting candidates with similar attributes.
"It is the same as what Pak Lah (Abdullah) mentioned (at an Umno briefing), that the factor of the candidate himself was 60 per cent while the party was only 40 per cent (for victory in the polls)," he said.
Mukhriz said what was meant by his father was that the BN would still be the preferred choice of the people if the candidates were able to serve them and their party sincerely and the coalition winning two-thirds majority, as before, would not be much of a problem.
"This is not the time to change direction, what is important is to continue with the leadership," he said.
Mukhriz added that Umno members must strengthen solidarity and not allow any party, especially the opposition, to split them.
Asked if he would be contesting in the election, Muhkriz, who is the Jitra Umno deputy head, said he left it to his division and the party leadership.
"It is not I who decide, but the Prime Minister. We can only voice our intentions. If not chosen, we will continue working for the party," he said.

On Dr Mahathir's remarks about the "gentlemen's agreement". Here's the thing -- I think they were taken out of context. Deliberate or otherwise.
I was at Dr Mahathir's Press conference. He was asked by someone to comment about claims of such an agreement purportedly made five years ago.
Dr Mahathir replied that if there was one, he would not be able to prove it.
He said when he made the decision to hand over power to Pak Lah, it was because he felt that Pak Lah was older than Najib and that after one term as PM, he'd let Najib take over.

It was wrong to report that "Dr Mahathir claimed the agreement was made in 2003 when he handed over the leadership to Abdullah but admitted that he had no way of proving it."

Dr Mahathir was asked to comment about claims that there was such an agreement in which Pak Lah was to hold office for a term before handing the leadership to Najib.

I thought there was a difference between him being asked to comment about such an agreement and him saying that YES, there is such an agreement in which blahblahblah...

Pssst, Did You Know.....

that Tiara Jacquelina is a blogger?

I didn't. I found it quite by accident when I clicked on a visitor Ms Hart of Hart-To-Heart blog, and found TJ's A Day in The Life of Tiara on her blogroll.

She's Tiara of the Puteri Gunung Ledang fame. Naturally. Just in case you don't have an inkling, this is Tiara.

At least I think that it is her blog and she is the one operating it, and not an assistant or some avid or rabid fan masquerading as her and using photographs of her....
It does seem to be operated by a very busy person because it is not updated regularly. So, knowing that Tiara does run a very busy schedule, I can (safely) assume that it is her own blog.

Anyway, if it is really Tiara J, some people would know her as the wife of Senator Effendi Norwawi who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
She started blogging on Sept 29 last year and even ran a poll "what makes you want to go to the theatre".

Let's hope she'll continue to blog actively like film-maker Yasmin Ahmad and actor Afdlin Shauki.

Hope Is All We Have....

I know Sharlinie is still out there. I pray she is still alive. I quiver thinking about her condition now, the state she is in now, if she is still alive.
It's been more than three weeks since she went missing.

I wonder -- Does she still remember her name?
Does she remember anything, anyone anymore?

I read about another child who was almost abducted in Bandar Baru Puchong at 9pm on January 21. I am utterly dismayed.
Read it here.
Two women witnessed the incident in which a 12 year-old was in a "tug-of-war" with a man who was intent on bundling her 5 year-old sister into a waiting black-coloured van.
The older girl was playing with another sibling, 7, along the walkway outside a restaurant where they had earlier been dining with their parents.
Their parents were still inside when all this was happening.
The man appeared and attempted to lure the 5 year-old with a sweet. Her 12 year-old sister saw this and pulled the little girl away.
The two women came to the rescue just as the man was about to push the older girl into the car. They must have given the man a scare because he vamoosed in the getaway van.

The girls only told their parents about their "ordeal" and rescue when they reached home.
They also said they saw a terrified little boy sitting on the floor of the van.

Of course, I have tons of questions like -- why didn't the women restrain the man or scream for help? Or why didn't they take the girls back into the restaurant to their parents? Didn't the entire scenario hit a nerve somewhere? You know -- Nurin, Nini, black van, man attempting to abduct the kids......

A police report has been lodged by the girls' parents. I hope they can locate the two women who can certainly help in investigations.

I do hope the two women were quick enough to have got the van's registration number and other details including the man's appearance.

Lucky girls!

The next child the next time though may not be that lucky...

Meanwhile, the Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar has urged Taman Medan residents to alert the police if they know of anyone who suddenly moved out of the area about the time Nini went missing.

Read the rest of the Star Online story here.

Tuesdays With Bapak

Darling Datuk -- January 29 2008

Bapak's youngest grandchild, Sharmaine maybe only 10 months, but she knows her Datuk is one fun guy.
Playtime with her Datuk is usually in his room. You can hear Sharmaine's squeals of laughter whenever she's there.
You'd think that Bapak is tickling her all over, or making funny faces. Well, it's nothing like that.

Just the other day, I couldn't resist peeking into Bapak's room when I heard Sharmaine squealing almost uncontrollably.
I had expected Bapak to be swinging Sharmaine around the bed, or doing a "timang tinggi-tinggi".
It was nothing of the sort. My step-mother was holding Sharmaine up on the bed and Bapak, who was lying down, was just softly calling her name.

"Sharmaine. Sharmaine. Siapa tu? Sharmaine, ya. Cucu Datuk, ya," Bapak was saying, his eyes twinkling and his face grinning.
Sharmaine was thrilled and loving every second of this little "game" with her doting grandpa. She was squealing, her little body jerking with delight.
This little scene, which takes place 3 or 4 times a day is a replay of bygone years everytime there was a new baby in the house.
Only that Bapak today is a less energetic grandpa.

Bapak was a young grandfather when his first granchild, Jasmine, was born.

Jasmine is the eldest of Kak Ton's and Abang Ani's two children. She was born in Sungai Petani Kedah when Abang Ani was a Magistrate there in 1972.

I remember how excited Bapak and Mak were the day Kak Ton and Abang Ani were expected to arrive with their bundle of joy.

During Kak Ton's pregnancy, we were coming up with all sorts of names. And they were all boys' names.

Abang Ani was driving a mini cooper and then an Opel Manta.

So, we'd come out with "Adam Cooper", "Iskandar Cooper" and "Afandi Cooper" just for fun. And then they were "Adam Manta", "Iskandar Manta" and "Afandi Manta".
We never counted on Kak Ton delivering a baby girl.

Oh, I'd be using superlatives just to describe how my parents doted on Jasmine. They simply adored their first grandchild. The way grandparents did their grandchildren.
As for Jasmine's aunts and uncles - they spoilt her rotten.

I was in form five then. Kak Ton did not have a nanny yet by the time she had to resume work after her maternity leave. So she'd leave Jasmine in Mak's care. Somehow I got to babysit Jasmine throughout her stay at our house. I'd bathe her, put her to sleep and play with her until Kak Ton came to fetch her.

I enjoyed taking care of her and would rush to be with her the minute I got home from school. Even after she finally got a maid, Kak Ton would still leave Jasmine at our house. Invariably, it would be Mak who'd be taking care of Jasmine.

It was like that with every grandchild.

When my eldest nephew, Irwan Hakim, was born, we were all ecstatic. Not surprising that he was a little king in section 16. We'd "kidnap" him every chance we could.

In our household, the youngest grandchild gets to enjoy superstar treatment. He or she gets to ruffle or pull Bapak's hair or mess up his work desk. Older ones ONLY get to mess up his bed or bedroom. That had always been the unwritten rule.

Lalin's youngest child, Sonia, is still very attached to Bapak and Mak Cik. She is the second youngest grandchild and still gets the privilege of "monopolising" Bapak's TV remote control. I have caught Bapak many a time watching "Totally Spies". One cartoon programme after another.
Never mind if a special programme on Benazir Bhutto was on BBC.

While Bapak was under ISA detention, only one grandchild was born-- Kak Ton's second and youngest child, Jehan who was born in 1977.
After Kak Ton's "confinement", she took baby Jehan to see Bapak regularly until Jehan was three years old. That was when Kak Ton was transferred to Johor Baru to be Bernama's Johor bureau chief.
By that time, little Jehan had already got to know her Datuk.

In 1980, Kak Olin completed her law studies and returned home. She got married soon after, while Bapak was still in detention.

I was still in Boston then and returned home just a few days after her wedding. I also missed Kak Eda's engagement ceremony which was a day after Kak Olin's wedding reception.

Kak Olin's eldest child -- Khairil Ahmad -- still retains the honour of the grandchild most spoilt by Bapak.
When he was born in 1981, the only other grandchild around was Irwan who was, by that time,
already schoolgoing.
Kak Olin stayed at Bapak's during her "confinement" and when she had to get back to work, she'd leave Khairil with Mak.
As I was still single and was living with my parents, I'd be the one who'd be babysitting him. Khairil grew to be pretty attached to me. I adored him.

Bapak was the quintessential doting grandfather. He broke every rule on parenting. He seemed to hold on to the maxim that grandfathers exist to spoil their grandchildren.

He'd take Khairil to Jaya Supermarket everyday to buy him....a toy. Khairil had He-Man, Transformers, dino-riders, star-com and lego...and all manner of toys. You name it, and Khairil would have it.

Kak Olin would be shaking her head and would be making such a fuss about Bapak's over-indulgence with Khairil.

"Stop spoiling him, Bapak," Kak Olin kept reminding Bapak.

Did Bapak listen? Did he even care?

If Bapak today is as active and energetic as he was in those "Khairil" days, Sharmaine would be one very spoilt little lady.

I do believe I can hear a sigh of relief from Nina...my youngest sister and Sharmaine's mummy.

No Buy! No Lies!

A "Paper Free Tuesday" was launched at Blog House in Bukit Damansara today.

This is part of the "Boycott the Newspapers" initiative undertaken by 8 individuals concerned with the way the "mainstream media" spin news reports which "do not always tally with the facts".

Lawyer and social activist Haris Ibrahim of The People's Parliament blog , who is a committee member writes about it here.

Farewell Felix..

Public Relations practitioner and former journalist Felix Abisheganaden passed away this morning. He was 85.

He was founding partner of Prestige Communications.

Before opting to become a PR practitioner way back in 1976, he was News Editor with the NST --at that time the country's largest national daily. He had held the position for over 25 years.

He joined Hill and Knowlton and became its chief executive in 1985.
At Prestige, he served as counselor for strategic planning and corporate communications.
He had a fortnightly column, "Human Factor", in the NST.

Here's a bit written about him when he was a speaker at an international forum a few years ago:

"Felix Abisheganaden belongs to that singular breed of journalists, ‘local boys’ who made good and helped shape a generation of journalists in the country after independence. He was a news editor, in the then Straits Times in Singapore and the then New Straits Times in Malaysia for 14 years. He believed in on-the-job training having had the credentials of personal experience to show for it.
He chronicled the nation's first two Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tunku Abdul Razak extensively during those heady days of a newly independent nation out to chart its own destiny. During that time, he was also the Malaysian Correspondent for Time Magazine.
As a journalist, he was in the frontline of a series of major events covering the 12-year Communist insurgency, confrontation with Indonesia, the split with Singapore and the 1969 racial clashes in Kuala Lumpur.
After the 1969 racial clashes, Felix was appointed member of the National Goodwill Council, which helped restore order in the country."

My condolences to his family.
May he rest in peace.

Read Bernama's story here.

11 Participants of Protes Rally Freed

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Eleven of the 56 people arrested Saturday for participating in an illegal assembly at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) have been released unconditionally, the police said.
The other 45 were still being investigated for participating in the illegal gathering and for defying court order, said a statement from the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.
"They were also arrested for obstructing public officers from discharging their duties," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the proceedings to obtain remand orders for those who were still under police custody were still progressing at 8pm tonight at a Kuala Lumpur court, with 13 of them had already been issued with the remand order until tomorrow.
Yesterday, police arrested 56 people including several opposition leaders and members of the non-governmental organisations (NGO) for participating in the illegal assembly which they said was to protest against rising cost of living.-- BERNAMA

Let's hope the rest will be released real soon!

Across The Universe - The Movie

Ok, so I'm a bit behind. I didn't know it was the fall (autumn) MOVIE in the US last year, and that people raved about it. Somewhere between last fall and January this year, I got left behind.

But, I did get to watch it.
I'm talking about "Across the Universe" - a movie directed by American Julie Taymor.
I mean, how could anybody pull this one off? You could really go wrong making a musical featuring 33 Beatle's numbers, including a few not-so-known songs.
The songs were re-recorded and sung by the actors.
Taymor more than pulled off this 60s musical fantasia (aptly described by the New York Times).

I therefore watched the movie without prejudice.
Needlessly to say, I fell in love with the movie. More and more, every second I sat there, watching. I laughed, I wept and most of all, I sang along.

The songs accompany unfolding scenes, some of which are lightly fictionalised historical events such as the civil rights movement and anti-war protests in the US. And of course, there is a lot of love.
Hey, all we need is love, right? Imagine that.
The characters take on names featured in or are titles of Beatles' songs.
The story revolves around Jude (Jim Sturgess), a Liverpool dockworker who falls in love with Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), a girl for upper-crust east Coast suburbia.

It's very 60s. You get taken on this psychedelic trip with Jude and Lucy. You get to see a Jimi Hendrix and a Janis Joplin lookalike too, though not in those roles.

Sure, there are imperfections, but I can't seem to remember them. After all, if Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harris have found nothing in the movie that they dislike....

Suharto Dies

FORMER Indonesian President Suharto died at the Pertamina Hospital in south Jakarta at 1.10pm local time (2.10pm Malaysian time) after slipping into a coma earlier today. He was 86.
The announcement was made by former Minister of State Secretariat Moerdiono over a local radio station to the nation after a team of doctors treating Suharto since Jan 4 confirmed the death of the former Indonesian strongman.
Suharto helmed Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, for 32 years from 1966 to 1998.
Suharto had been in critical state since admission to the hospital on Jan 4.
Earlier today, the team of specialists attending to Suharto said the former president's condition turned very critical at 1am, with all his vital organs having failed.
Suharto was breathing with the help of a ventilator, they said.
Moerdiono said Suharto's children were at his bedside when he died.-Bernama.

Al- Fatihah!

Read about his legacy here.

Police Vs The People

I don't know how else to put it!

Court order against the 5 Protes representatives preventing them from being at the the KLCC and its vicinity yesterday.

What was the protest about -- anti-price hike, anti-inflation et al.

What is wrong with that?

And then the police rounded up 50 people and arrested them.

Do that more often until election day... do that.

Read it here.

The protesters are not the bad guys.....

Police Warns PROTES 5

There's a court order against the rally planned by NGO Protes to be held in front of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) today.

This is to protest against the rise in prices of goods.

Police have named 5 Protes representatives -- Dr Hatta Ramli, Tian Chua, Arutchelvam Subramaniam, Simon Ooi and Ronnie Liew -- and warned them against taking part in the rally.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman said if they ignored the order, they could be detained immediately.

Police obtained the court order from the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court yesterday.

Here's the rest of the Bernama story:

The (court) order was also relevant for any associate member of Protes and anyone suspected of participating in the rally, he said.
Zulkarnaian said the police would put up copies of the order tonight in the vicinity of the area where the rally was likely to be held.
"The police have designated two restricted zones within a one-kilometre radius of the KLCC building encompassing Jalan Ampang, Jalan Lumba Kuda, Jalan P. Ramlee and the area around the KLCC Assyakirin Mosque.
"If they defy the order, the police will not hesitate to take stern action," he said.- BERNAMA

But, Polytikus is inviting everyone to experience democracy. Click here for more.
And don't miss Rocky's 2-sen here.

Nini, Where Are You?

It's been more than two weeks that 5 year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar has been missing.

Much has been done in efforts to find her. Still, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
But let's not lose hope. I know we're still holding on...

I hope too that the police will not give up.

I'd like to suggest - as is being done under AMBER Alert and the proposed NURIN Alert -- that the police (IGP, OCPD or some high-ranking officer) get some air-time and "engage" Nini's abductors.

Not, ad-hoc responses to the Press. But, arrange for a programme to really "talk" to the abductors, tell them to not harm Nini and to let her go because the whole country is on the look-out for Nini and them.
In other words, issue them a warning.

Put the fear of (not just the police) but the people in them!

This tactic seems to have been effective in the United States when AMBER Alert is activated in the event that a child goes missing.

The community can do its part every effectively by knowing their own neighbourhood and neighbours. In some instances - though this is not the done thing here -- residents help in the search for a missing child by going door-to-door.

Most often, residents willingly open their doors.

This could be unlawful but for the sake of a missing child, most people cooperate with their residents' associations.

I think if every neighbourhood's Rukun Tetangga or residents' association initiate this -- check every house including vacant houses --we'll get somewhere.

If no one is home, leave a note to the absent occupant, or return to that house to make a check.

I'm sure there's a way of going around this.

And this is not a lot to ask from the community, let me assure you.

We have to help find Nini before it is too late!

Condolences

Former Cabinet Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayub passed away after "subuh" today. He was 65.
He had been battling prostrate cancer for some two years.

Megat Junid was the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister between 1997 and 1999 and Deputy Home Affairs Minister for 11 years before that.

He was also Umno information chief.

He was also active in sports associations and headed the Malaysian contingent for the Jakarta South-East Asian Games in 1997.

He leaves behind two wives, Faizah Shuaib and Ziela Jalil, as well as five children -- three sons and two daughters.

My condolences to his family.

Al-Fatihah...

UPDATE

According to Bernama, Arwah was buried at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery after Zuhr prayers.
Here's the Bernama story.

Get Ready!

Never mind when the general election is, just get ready to go out and VOTE.
It is anytime soon and I am all ready.

Are you?

This will be the first general election I am NOT covering as a journalist (with a mainstream media).
The first GE I covered was in 1982 when Dr Mahathir Mohamad had just taken over from Hussein Onn as Prime Minister and Musa Hitam, was his deputy.

Together, Dr M and Musa was dubbed the Two Ms and they traversed and toured the country expounding and exhorting the slogan the BN coined -- "bersih, cekap dan amanah".

That was a household slogan.

When Dr Mahathir announced the date of the GE that year, I was assigned to Alor Star where Dr Mahathir was campaigning.

I was, of course, a little nervous. Kedah was pretty alien to me. Strange it may seem for anyone in this day where a foreign country is just a click away, but Kedah was to me a faraway place where people spoke differently, ate different food and where even the currency was foreign.

I had lived in Petaling Jaya for some 23 years and the only northern state I had been to was Penang (in the north).

Okay, so I had been to the United Kingdom and had studied in the US but I had not been to Kedah.

I went to Penang as a child some time in 1962 or '63 to visit Mak Busu (my mum's youngest sister) and her husband Ayah Chu who was sent to the island to assume a post at the Penang Port Commission.

All I remember was that people there had a strange accent.

Of course, I knew many Kedahans-- at ITM (my room-mate, Naimah, was from Kedah) and at work.

But, I had never been to Kedah.

By the time I got to Alor Star, I was fine. My senior colleague, Zainon Ahmad (Pak Non) was already there, having been assigned the more important task of assessing the situation.
There were also my colleagues Farush Khan (then the state correspondent) and Balan Moses who was the NST journalist in Alor Star.

With me from KL were Kadir Jasin (then associate editor of Business Times) and Nazri Abdullah who was Berita Harian journalist.

So, I was really in good company. Thanks to all of them, my assignment was a lot of learning and very gratifying.
And yes, I learnt to use "kupang".
It was a good experience.

And that seems like just yesterday.

So today, I am just waiting for the announcement on when I can go to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Abdul Samad in Section 11, Petaling Jaya.

There will a booth with a ballot box waiting for me!

THAIPUSAM -- A Celebration of Faith

Today commemorates the day Lord Siva's consort, the powerful goddess Parvathi, gives her son, Murugan, the vel (lance) to vanquish three demons and their large army which were plaguing the world.

Thaipusam falls on a full moon day in the auspicious 10th Tamil month of Thai when the constellation of Pusam, the star of well-being, rises over the eastern horizon.

For me, I often think of the Batu Caves temple near the city where devotees converge for as long as I can remember.

I was there for three consecutive times as a young reporter assigned to cover the festival. At one occasion, I interviewed a priest there who told me why and how he embraced hinduism.

The first time I was there, I almost fainted when I saw - at very close range -- devotees with their bodies pierced as they made their way up to the caves. It was an experience.

The Batu Caves temple began to attract devotees as early as 1892 when two Tamils (among the earlyTamils who migrated to colonial Malaya) trekked up the ancient limestone hill and planted a vel in the cave.

The cave now houses a temple dedicated to Lord Murugan.

The vel, made of metal and shaped like a lance, symbolises Murugan who is also known as Velan.

Today, the tallest statue of Lord Murugan stands at the foot of the hill.

To my friends celebrating Thaipusam and those enjoying the holiday, may I wish everyone a Happy Thaipusam!

Tuesdays With Bapak

Back In '73 -- January 22, 2007

Years ago, I enrolled at Institut Teknologi Mara (now Universiti Teknologi Mara or UiTM) in Shah Alam for pre-University studies.
It was not my plan actually because all I had wanted to do was the the regular thing most kids did after their form five -- do sixth form.

Since Kak Olin wanted to study for her LLB (law) after her HSC and Kak Eda, architecture -- both at ITM -- Bapak thought it best that I applied there as well.

You see, studying at ITM was not in my scheme of things, It was in Bapak's.

I was not interested in doing a professional course. I wanted to continue sixth form, sit for my HSC and do a degree.

(Kak Eda and I had both sat for our MCE the previous year.)

Bapak knew that, of course. But I think he wanted to support ITM, in his own way. Kak Olin had also applied to University of Malaya to do English Literature for which she was offered a place. After some discussion with Bapak, Kak Ton and Abang Ani (Kak Ton's husband), she opted to do an external degree in law at ITM. Kak Eda and I both got a place in a Petaling Jaya school to do sixth form. But Kak Eda opted for ITM.

There is sixth form at ITM?
Bapak knew about ITM's pre-University course that prepared students for HSC and about how good the lecturers were.

He asked me whether I wanted to do my pre-U at ITM. I was at first reluctant because the idea of having to stay in a God forsaken place like Shah Alam was not appealing at all. Eventually I agreed after reading about the course in the ITM prospectus. But mostly, I think Bapak convinced me about the merits of studying there. Also Kak Eda had impressed me on "campus living".

You know, campus vs school.

"You'll learn to be independent...make your own decision. Anyway, Kak Olin and I are there," she said. And did I mention that I had three cousins and a few close friends from Singapore there as well?

The snag was that I had not submitted my application early enough. Kak Olin and Kak Eda had already submitted their application to ITM. I hadn't because studying at ITM did not figure in my (own) academic plan.

I was late in sending my application although I did not miss the deadline. The reply also came late. Actually very late because I missed orientation week.
In fact, I thought my application was rejected. But I was called just at the end of the orientation week for freshies.

In those days, there was orientation which was akin to "ragging" but I think a little milder. At least for the girls. I don't know whether there is still now at UiTM the kind of "orientation" that "siswa-siswi ITM" had in my day.

Kak Olin and Kak Eda came home the weekend after Orientation Week and told me stories about what they had to go through the whole week. Real horror stories although it was easy to see the funny side of things when they were well and over.

Kak Eda seemed to have got more "teasing" than Kak Olin.

During Orientation Week, the "siswa" and "siswi" were made to wear "uniforms". The boys in batik and songkok and the girls, also in batik baju kurung and scarf.

They had to wake up for the "kuliah subuh" and attend talks at the lecture theatres all day long (with solat breaks) during which they would be at the mercy of the "senior ladies and gentlemen". Which means that the hungry seniors would pick you out from the whole mass at random or otherwise, for several reasons -- 1) they liked your face, 2) they didn't like your face 3) you looked like easy game and 4) you were from PJ or KL, an "anak Lord" or royalty.
Or for all of the above.

If you were smart like Kak Olin was, you'd try to be as inconspicuous and invisible as possible. Be a mouse. Be nothing. Be quiet. Boy, if they only knew......

So, Kak Olin got away with the not being "ragged" while Kak Eda got pretty much the routine treatment although the seniors weren't sadistic or mean to her. She was lucky.

One thing that came out of the Orientation Week was that my two older sisers were called Jawa Murtad or JM for short. Kak Olin was JM1 and Kak Eda was JM2.
I think this happened because we had some "saudara-mara" who were already senior students there.
Some of the seniors also called my sisters Jaling (acronym for Jawa and Mendahiling).

Let's just say I was quite prepared for the full monty when I finally went to Shah Alam to begin my pre-University studies. But that never quite happened.

However, before long, the very same seniors who called Kak Olin and Kak Eda Jawa Murtad found out that there was another JM. And that was me. So, I was JM3. But since orientation week was over, I escaped the hard stuff.

But not so at my hostel (hostel 2C) after some seniors saw me arriving by car. Nothing serious, though. One "garang" senior lady named "Sam" who was doing business studies, decided that this new freshie must be easy game and"summoned" for me.

Oh...I played the part of the new kid on the block pretty well. Speak when spoken to. Don't be a smart aleck. Just be sweet. Before long, I was "declared a junior".

At that time (in 1973), Bapak (then managing editor of NST) was one of the "professional lecturers" at the School Of Mass Communication which he had helped set up.
He'd be at the 13th floor (the MassComm floor) of the multi-storey building some week mornings to lecture news reporting and language translation.
I think he was a hit with the students for very known (not unlawful) reasons but which I cannot mention.

Now, how could I have known that some of the MassComm students would actually know the three of us.

In my first month there, a certain guy (son of a then sitting Ruler who shall all remain unnamed) got to know me and we became friends.
According to him, we had actually met in my neighbourhood which apparently also happened to be his neighbourhood. He was not lying because I did remember the incident but not him although by the time he related it to me, it all came back. So, we were actually neighbours.

It was pretty innocent as far as I was concerned. But he must have had casual conversations about me with his classmates who happened to be my hostelmates. I suppose, him being who he was, an exaggerated version spread around like wildfire.
The story was that we were a couple. Which was not true.

Someone or some people in the School of MassComm must have mentioned this to Bapak.

When I was home that weekend, Bapak asked me if I was "going around" with a certain anak Sultan. I told him the truth and said that there was no such thing.

He did not press further. I did ask him who had been telling him this tittle-tattle. He didn't name anyone but told me that I had been seen with this guy in question.

"Just friends. Nothing to it," I said. But, really, what was wrong with being seen with anyone. It was campus. I guess, as far as Bapak was concerned, anyone was not just anyone.

The following week, he sent someone to fetch me home from campus and got Kak Piah to take me shopping for material to make baju kurung.

"Bapak wants you to wear baju kurung in campus. He has given me some money and instructed me to take you shopping to buy materials and then to take you to my tailor to make baju kurung," Kak Piah told me when I reached home.

I was, to say the least, stumped. What was all this about? What was wrong with wearing t-shirts and jeans. This was college, after all. Besides, I had a few sets of baju kurung. In fact, really nice ones.

Kak Piah said I needed some for daily wear not formal silk ones.

"But why.....what have I done?" I asked, so bewildered, so despondent. I felt I was being punished for something I had done but I had no inkling what it was.

And then I asked: "What about Kak Olin and Kak Eda? Aren't you getting for them as well?"

Kak Piah shrugged her shoulders and said she had no idea why Bapak's instruction to her was to make baju kurung for only me. Only moi.
But I knew that she knew why.

I was a little upset. How could Bapak curb my dressing? What was wrong with jeans and t-shirts and skirts?
I was only 17, fresh out of secondary school. It was 1973. It was the era of James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne and ...Led Zeppelin, Crosby Stills Nash and Young (CSNY), Three Dog Night, Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple.....

Baju kurung in campus? What will Bapak make me wear next, I shivered just wondering about it.

Most importantly, I kept wondering "why, why, why...."

When I told Kak Olin and Kak Eda, they tried to console me.

"Maybe just for a while," Kak Eda remarked.

So, the obedient me did as I was told. I had five or six "pasang" of baju kurung made and I wore them over two weeks.

Bapak still had not told me why. I had figured out but I was not entirely sure. Mak, however, confirmed my suspicion. It did not make sense at all to me then. Was I supposed to be making a statement with my dressing?

"You did nothing wrong. He just feels that you need to be less conspicuous," Mak reasoned.

So, I reasoned that everybody else was wearing jeans and t-shirts and very casual clothes.
Mak said that Bapak thought it best that I dressed in a way that would not attract anyone's attention, so that I would not be distracted and I could concentrate on my studies.

"Itu punish-lah," I told Mak. As far as I was concerned I had not caught anyone's attention, I was not distracted by anyone or anything and I was able to concentrate on my studies.
I told Mak that if I wore baju kurung, I would really stand out in a crowd of jeans-and-tshirt students.

"He wants me to dress modestly.....," I thought aloud. Mak smiled.

I was prepared for further instructions to make more baju kurung when at the end of the second week of my "punishment", Bapak took me aside. I was home for the weekend.

He told me that I did not have to continue wearing baju kurung in campus if I did not want to. He said it would be good to wear them occasionally. I nodded. But I needed to make one thing clear to him.

"Ena tak ada boyfriend di campus," I said. He leaned back on the chair, and, well....chortled. It was not a mocking chortle but more like telling me "yeah, yeah....maybe not now.."

Well, I did not have a boyfriend and that was the truth. At least at that point in time.

I had always liked wearing baju kurung. Even then. It was having to be forced to wear it that bugged me. If I were forced to wear t-shirts, I'd just as much protest. Besides, I was aghast that anyone would even think that my dressing was in any way responsible for anyone's reaction to me.

I was all of a youthful 17, remember?

Needless to say, I continued wearing baju kurung. Only on Fridays, though.

I might have not understood Bapak's intention then. I realised that he was a little worried for me although he really did not have to be. I learnt to appreciate his act of being fatherly but never stopped wondering why he handled his "fears" -- whatever they were -- the way he did.

So, one day I asked him whether we were still living in a feudalistic world...