Harsh Punishment For "Samseng Jalan"

Mat Rempits are now to be referred to as "samseng jalan".

The term "Mat Rempit' has been found to be somewhat glamourising for the things they've been doing.

It gives them a high and they are encouraged and, of course, emboldened, to continue doing their dangerous antics on our roads.

They are a real menace because they ride their motorcycles in big numbers -- very very fast and threatening to other road users.

Despite some of them having been caught and convicted, the punishment meted out has not been a deterrent.

Currently, the punishment for reckless driving is a jail term of not more than five years or a fine of between RM5,000 and RM10,000, or both.

But Federal traffic police chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Abd Aziz Yusof said that most of them only have to pay a fine when convicted.

He thinks this is too light. I think so too. That is why the police are calling for mandatory jail for these samseng jalan convicted of endangering the public by speeding or riding recklessly.

Abd Aziz said the (proposed) harsher punishment is meant to strike fear into them.

Well, I don't know of anybody who is tolerant, let alone, forgiving of these guys' dangerous antics on the road.

I know personally, of people who were victims of these samseng. A traumatic experience.

I am a frequent user of their favourite stretch in Damansara during times they are active - after midnight.
That is the route I take from my father's house in Section 16, PJ to my house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

I have had close calls with these menacing monkeys.
One time after midnight and on returning from a "tahlil" at my sister's house in Subang Jaya, I was caught at a traffic intersection near Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
I was so incensed by their antics that I wanted to mow them down but, of course, the grace of God stopped me. :-). And the fact that Adel and Shaira were with me.

All this is good, of course. Let's hope that traffic enforcement against them is just as tough, in order to be effective. Not the occasional token operations.

H1N1 Virus -- Here Already......

I'm relieved to know that the woman passenger of flight MH091 who was quarantined at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor Baru Sunday afternoon after she developed a fever was tested negative for H1N1 virus.

It's also good news that the two Malaysians who were confirmed to have the flu after they returned from the US on May 13, are in stable condition.

And the Health Ministry says there are no new confirmed cases.

Here's the NST report today:

Eighty-six people, including 17 foreigners, who could be infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus are still on the "loose" in the country or may have even flown to other countries, despite widespread media coverage for them to report for medical check-ups. It has been six days since these people, who flew in from the United States on a MAS flight (MH091) or boarded an AirAsia flight with two confirmed influenza patients have gone "missing".

The Health Ministry is desperate to contact them to ensure the "imported" disease does not spread in the country.

Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat said identities of the foreigners who could not be traced had been given to the World Health Organisation.

He said should there be no new cases recorded by May 20 (the end of the quarantine period), Malaysia could declare itself free from the threat of the virus, locally.
The flu virus was detected in two Malaysians who returned from the US on Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 on May 13.

The ministry widened the search for potential patients as one of them boarded an AirAsia flight, AK5358, on the same day to Penang where she was later warded.

The woman is reported to be healthy, while the 21-year-old man who has been warded in Sungai Buloh Hospital is still down with fever.

Dr Ramlee urged the passengers on the flights who had yet to come forward to call 03-88810200 / 03-88103000.

On Sunday, health officers screened 6,617 people who came into the country and detected one suspected case at the KLIA, who was sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital but was found to be negative for the virus.

The ministry has to date quarantined 111 people classified as primary cases.

The number does not include their family members and those they had been in contact with.

All of them except for the two confirmed cases tested negative for the virus.

Dr Ramlee said as the WHO had yet to issue any travel advisory, Malaysians including students studying overseas were free to come and go out of the country.

All that said, it is good news... so far.
But we know that there are those other passengers on the two flights who have not reported to the health officers. And multiply that by the number of people they have come into contact with....and so on and so forth. Scary, isn't it?

I'm going to stop talking about it right here because as my buddy, Shamsul, rationalizes -- "there's nothing you can do about it except take the necessary precautions, so stop worrying!".

So stop worrying. What's the point, right?

But...aaah, to think that just two weeks ago, the Swine Flu, -- whoops, Influenza A or the H1N1 virus -- was way yonder in far far Mexico.

Before you could say la Cucaracha, it flu to the US, Canada......and now it's here.

Sometimes we forget that we are in the 21st century. Everything travels very very fast. Everything!

My imagination is so fertile as I am remembering a movie (or two) about the spread of a deadly virus on mother earth....

Life imitating art.....

Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua...

Do you believe that there should only exist in this country singular-language "sekolah kebangsaan" and that vernacular schools should be abolished?

Do you second the call for the government to look into making this a reality?

If you do, do join the Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua campaign and sign the petition.

If having sekolah kebangsaan for all will help fortify national integration and unity, I am all for it.

It is easy to get emotional over this issue, as we have witnessed all this while. Arguments become racial and racist.

Let's not be tempted to fall into the broiling racist stew.

Just ask ourselves if doing away with vernacular schools will help in further forging national unity.

I believe it will. Indeed it will. You need to start somewhere and some time. It will be a long process. But healing.

But I must say here that in tandem with this, the ministry must ensure that national schools are not run like "Malay" or "Islamic" schools.

Because, if we all want national integration and unity, we must eliminate segregation in schools. And segregation cannot be eliminated if our national schools are hotbeds of racial polarisation because the system promotes that. Having very narrow-minded teachers who themselves are poor examples of anak Malaysia does not help.

Indeed, Bahasa Malaysia is our national and official language.
And yes, our schools should have Bahasa Malaysia as its medium of instruction (with the exception of a few subjects). No question about it.

But. let's not force Malay-ness down the throat of our pupils. Because, if you do that, you're not going to get that integration or unity that we so want.

I know of standard one non-Malay kids being humiliated by their teachers for not understanding Malay. I don't know how widespread this is but in 1997, a friend of mine was forced to take her 7 year-old out of school because the child was in fear and trauma from his teacher's unrelenting humiliation and harangement.

The little boy was struggling with a language he was just beginning to learn. His teacher was unforgiving.

But...aah. I am digressing.

In my own secondary school experience, (from 1968 to 1972), I remember classes known as "remove classes".

These classes were of pupils from the Chinese-stream schools. The girls would be placed in these classes to prepare them to be enrolled in regular classes.
Every year, there would be large enrollment of pupils from these schools.

Being proficient in Mandarin, I had many friends among these girls. It was a strange relationship as I'd insist on speaking Mandarin while they insisted on improving their English. (The medium oif instruction then was English.)

Today, more and more Chinese kids are being enrolled in Chinese schools because I believe their parents are either concerned about the prevailing "Malay-ness" and "Islam-ness" of national schools or feel that the standards of these schools have declined, or both.

Meanwhile, we are also seeing more and more Malay children enrolling in in Chinese schools.

My hope is that as we work hard to achieve this objective, we should, at the same time, ensure a high standard of teaching English (in the English language subject) so that our future generation will not lose out in this competitive world.

Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa!
Satu Bahasa, Satu Bangsa, Satu Negara!

New Key Players In Media Prima And NSTP

I'd say they are the new head honchos in the two organizations handling media - TV and newspapers - operations.

I won't say further on the Media Prima appointment.
As for NSTP -- a senior executive will be appointed to take charge of the the overall news/editorial operations.

That's all I can say.

And oh -- it is not true that PM Najib Razak said no to Ahmad A Talib. He never said no.

Just wait for the announcement.

Perak To Have Fresh Elections

That is what Nizar Jamaluddin hopes to work towards.

Nizar who was today declared the rightful Menteri Besar by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur is seeking an audience with the Sultan Of Perak (to seek consent) for the dissolution of the State Assembly, to pave the way for elections to be held.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Barisan Nasional will appeal against the court decision tomorrow.

Nizar Is Perak MB

That's what the High Court ruled today.

The Court has declared Nizar Jamaluddin as the legitimate Menteri Besar of Perak.

Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim said that a mentri besar can only be dismissed by a vote of no confidence, and he upheld the Stephen Kalong Ningkan ruling.

In his landmark ruling, he stated that a new Mentri Besar could not be appointed as the office had not been vacated.

The court said the fatal Barisan Nasional mistake was despite the majority of 31 against 28, the coalition failed to take a no-confidence vote against Nizar in the state assembly.

The Judge said once appointed as chief executive of the state, the Menteri Besar is only answerable to the state assembly.

The judge also said that the job of the Ruler or head of state was only to appoint a Menteri Besar and if he refuses to resign, he cannot be sacked or his position vacated.

Justice Aziz said Nizar had gone to meet the sultan on Feb 4 to seek a dissolution of the house to go back to the people.

Nizar is seeking an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to get the royal consent to dissolve the Perak Assembly and call for fresh state elections.

Before leaving for Ipoh, he is expected to attend a Pas ceramah tonight and explain the court ruling to supporters.

Nizar told the NST that once he reaches Ipoh at whatever time, he will hold a Pakatan Rakyat Exco meeting.

Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir said that he will respect the court decision "with an open heart and mind" and will vacate his Menteri Besar office at any time soon. Zambry was not present at the court this afternoon.

The BN Exco members will follow suit to also vacate their respective offices.

Following the High Court ruling, Zambry applied for a stay of execution but it was rejected.

Zambry called on all BN supporters and people in Perak to remain calm.
(source: NST online).

High Court To Rule On Perak's Rightful MB On Monday

BERNAMA
Kuala Lumpur: The question of who is the rightful menteri besar of Perak will be decided Monday.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim today fixed Monday, at 2.30pm, to deliver his decision in the judicial review application filed by ousted menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin who is seeking the court's determination of the dispute.

On Feb 13, Nizar, 52, filed an application to the court for a declaration that he is at all material times the menteri besar of Perak.

Nizar, who was appointed as menteri besar on March 17 last year after the Parti Pakatan Rakyat-led alliance won 31 seats in the 12th general election, also sought a declaration that Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has no right to hold the office of menteri besar.

The High Court, on April 3, granted Nizar leave to initiate the proceeding against Zambry.

Justice Abdul Aziz was the third High Court judge to hear the case, after Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, who had recused himself, and Justice Lau Bee Lan.

The case was referred twice to the Federal Court for its determination on the constitutional issues, but was remitted back to the High Court on last April 28.

CONTINUE READING HERE.

Changes In The NST

I mean, let's face it, folks, it happens all the time.

New regime, new team. Changes are inevitable.
The issue is how drastic they're going to be.

Who will go (maybe no one), who will remain (many, I'm sure).

Changes are unnerving, I'm sure. But nothing that you're not used to.

When Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as PM in 2003, he effected changes in the NST when he appointed Kalimullah Hassan as group-editor-in-chief.

Kalimullah, as well all know, made drastic changes. He turned NST into a tabloid, he brought in Singapore Straits Times correspondent Brenden Pereira as executive editor (later group editor) and he got Ahirudin Attan (Rocky) removed as executive editor of the Malay Mail/Sunday Mail, and went on to literally killed an institution - The Malay Mail - and wiped out the Sunday Mail from the face of the earth.

And so on and so forth..

Of course, the Malay Mail, thanks to Media Prima and Ibrahim Md Nor, was resurrected but it lost so much ground after it's six-month suspension.

At the moment, the appointment of Ahmad Talib, former NST group editor, is waiting to be officially announced.

I was at the NST the other week to hand over something to somebody. Nothing important but needed to be done for someone.

Anyway I was then invited to have teh tarik at the canteen with a close friend and a former colleague.

While having coffee, another former colleague past by, said "hi, Ena" (with a wide smile) and just as he walked behind me, remarked softly but just loud enough : "...and they're all coming back". He sounded like it was the end of the world.

I replied ..."not yet XXXXX, not yet." And laughed.

I turned to my friend and told him that SOME people could get really spooked when they see me or Rocky or any ex-NST editor around NST especially when there's talk of this and that. And that was only my third "visit" to the NST since I left in 2006. The first two was when I needed to renew my car insurance with the NST cooperative.

Anyway, after Ahmad Talib's "unofficial" appointment as NST editorial adviser, the rumour mill has been on overdrive about other ex-NST journalists going back so much so that a certain senior executive at the editorial got so worked up.

I'd say he is real worried about the imminent changes (whatever they will be), judging from his briefing to his staff.

He ranted and raved, it seems, about why people like Ahmad Talib should not dismantle what they all had worked so hard to achieve. Blah blah blah...with some very unkind expletives thrown in.

Ohh...I'm not one to bitch about people, least of all in my blog. But since changes at NST will affect my ex-colleagues, I'd like to tell this ranter and raver to not lose sleep over this.

Take it easy, my friend. Stay cool.

If you're good, you're good.

So, folks...deal with it.

Oh, did I hear you ask me about the Malay Mail.

Rocky got so many calls yesterday after the Malaysian Insider reported that he was going to the Malay Mail as CEO.

Nothing to add to that except that that's probably half the story,

New Speaker Appointed In Perak Assembly

LATEST:
The six-hour sitting, was finally adjourned sine die at 4.10pm.
The NST report.

Original posting:
It's a black day in Perak today when the Perak State Assembly began sitting.
Trouble began as soon as V. Sivakumar, Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, former MB Nizar Jamaluddin and the assemblymen took their seats in the august house.

Sivakumar who was still Speaker, attempted to kick Zambry and six Exco members and three independents out of the Dewan.

Here's the Star "Battleground Ipoh" account.

Pandemonium, chaos, whatever -- microphones switched off, sergeant-at-arms called to remove Zambry but they refused to do so -- and amid all that, four motions passed including one for the Speaker to be replaced and a new one appointed.

So, former Sungkai state assemblyman Datuk R. Ganesan of MIC is the new Speaker, replacing Sivakumar.

Because his microphone was the only one working (as reported in by the Press), he is in control and in charge.

Meanwhile, police nabbed several people including politicians, activitists and a blogger.

The latest on the court case of the crisis HERE.

Pakatan Rakyat wants to defer the sitting of the assembly so that the six-month deadline (from the last sitting in November) will lapse by May 13 (when the sitting adjourns) that will allow the Assembly to automatically be dissolved, paving the way for fresh elections to be called.

As for Barisan, it, of course, wants the sitting to proceed so that it can remain the government in power until the next general election.

Read all the online news for update because it is getting hotter and hotter.

Tuesdays With Bapak

During the time we were already in serious relationships with our boyfriends (read: guys with whom we thought we wanted to spend our lives), Bapak was still in detention.

I'm not sure if we could ever have those customary father-daughter talks if he had been around to witness the goings-on in our lives.

Perhaps, it was meant to be that way. To a large extent, and something which I have acknowledged, absence did make the heart grow fonder and we became much closer to Bapak those years, than we could, perhaps, ever hope to be.

Well...God moves in mysterious ways.

Those growing-up years, unlike today when I am pretty much "involved" in my kids' private lives, though very discreetly, we kept our personal and private lives, very very private. Away from prying parental eyes.

What they didn't know, wouldn't hurt them was our mantra.

The only give-away were those darn stray telephone calls we got after 8pm.

Only when we felt that they were "the one", that we were ready to introduce them to Bapak, and of course, Mak who would, by the time we told Bapak, have known the identity of these suspects.

Of course, Bapak knew our regular guy friends, as opposed to our serious boyfriends. Bapak could tell if these guys were our buddies and I suppose when there's nothing to hide, then there's really nothing to hide.

It was a baptism of fire for our boyfriends-soon-to-be-fiances-then-husbands. We must make sure these were "the" boys-to-be-men. Because meeting Bapak was not to be taken lightly. Our real fear was that they'd flee in fright after the first dose of Bapak.

The reassuring thing, if it was any reassurance at all, was that if they could face Bapak, we were sure, they could face anyone.

Kak Olin got married soon after she returned from England and secured a job with Kompleks Kewangan, while Bapak was in detention .

After Bapak was released, Kak Eda got married.

Bapak got on famously with their husbands.

By then, lucky for us, Bapak was somewhat "mellowed", not the younger, fiercer, more energetic Bapak whose roar was worse than his proverbial bite.

By the time I was into a very serious relationship, Bapak was engageable. But, we never touched on my personal relationship or the guy I was dating.

We talked about other people's relationship, other people's problems and well...life in general.

I was about the oldest child still unmarried, single and swinging when Bapak was released, through his return to the NST.

Bapak - my siblings will attest - never meddled in his children's marriages. If they had any trouble -- and which marriage does not have -- he'd not give unsolicited advice. He'd listen if they wanted to talk to him but he'd not take sides.

He believed couples should sort things out and in time, things would get sorted out.

He told an older relative (who shall remain unnamed) of a certain someone who came to see Bapak following his first marital blow-up, this:

"We as parents cannot interfere. We can only give good advice for we do not know what actually happened in the bedroom. We only hear one side of the story. They both will give their version which is always favourable to them. They will sort it out. We'll come in only when we should, and if things get out of hand".

I remember during our omong-kosong after-dinner ramblings, in reference to someone's marital problems, he said:" You know....you cannot push a man to a corner, or a wall. There is a limit. Dia diam-diam, terdesak, dia akan fight back."

And when a female relative complained that her husband had roughed her up, Bapak told her to take up silat, judo or some form of self-defence art.

Bapak reckoned that a woman is helpless when she is home alone with a violent husband. One solution is to be equipped that way. Not that she should engage in a duel with her hubby, but she could learn to avert the blows. And then, I suppose, flee to safety.

Serious. And it makes perfect sense. If your husband knows you know some silat or judo or aikido, he'd think twice about roughing you up. Not that husbands are generally wife-bashers, but you know, in the heat of the moment, someone can get hurt. We know this happens.

If we had any problems with our signficant other, we'd think twice about going to daddy for comfort.

"Aku tahu anak-anak aku ni...." That meant it takes two to tango.

So it was that I took his advice seriously since. Sometimes, of course I forget.

I'm not sure I can give good solid advice to my own kids.

But...aah. I'll keep it simple. Que Sera Sera.

Pak Lah Is MAS Adviser

From Bernama

Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been appointed as Advisor, Malaysia Airlines effective May 1.

In a statement in Kuala Lumpur today, Malaysia Airlines chairman, Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid said the board welcomed Abdullah with his wide experience and extensive contacts to the non-executive appointment and looked forward to a beneficial association with him.

Let's hope our former PM can help push Malaysia Airlines to be better than it is today.

Everything Will Be OK On May 7

When we were in Ipoh last week for the forum on the Perak crisis (the National Press Club series of national discourse), people could not stop talking about May 7.

What will be happening on May 7 when the Perak State Assembly sits? Will there be trouble given the state's political crisis?

There was concern, hence, speculations. There were also re-assurances that everything will be okay.

Today, Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the safety of all 59 Perak assemblymen attending the State Assembly sitting on that day is assured.

Here's the rest of the Bernama report:

Zambry said the authorities were taking all necessary measures to faclitate the assemblymen's attendance of the sitting and would take action against anyone or group that resort to illegal action like holding unlawful gatherings to prevent it.

He said this after attending a thanksgiving function organised by Pasir Salak Umno in Kampung Gajah here yesterday.

Zambry further urged all quarters to respect the parliamentary democracy practised in the country and the laws of the nation.

Perak plunged into a crisis after the Pakatan coalition of PAS-DAP-PKR lost its majority in the assembly to the Barisan Nasional in early February, hence the need for the reassurance.

Happy May Day!

With the current economic slowdown worldwide, there's very little to be happy about. But, celebrate the day, we must.
Let's commemorate the struggle of the international labour movement that had brought marked improvement in working conditions across the globe.

So, have a good holiday, a good break tomorrow to mark May Day, or The International Workers Day.

To those in key services that require you to work on Labour Day -- hats up and Syabas!

Tuesdays With ...

...... Dalilah Tamrin.

She is blogger Raden Galoh, a cancer survivor.

Last Monday, her book "Kanser Payudara Ku - Perjuangan Dan Kesedaran" was launched at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

In her book, Dalilah talks about her fight to survive through the physical and emotional pain that cancer had inflicted.

Her postings in her blog "One Breast Bouncing" inspired her to write the book. It seemed to be a logical development from blogging to "documenting" her experiences in paperback.

She brings you into her world of uncertainty, of devotion, of patience, of love and of fear. She shares with you her pain, her anguish and her long journey towards recovery.

For a long time since the first time we "met" through our blogs, I had called her Raden. It was a little difficult to begin calling her Dalilah.

We met, for the first time, when I fetched her at the Kelana Jaya LRT station to join the lot of us bloggers (in 2007) for our mee rebus on Tuesday.

When she first appeared in the comment box of my blog in 2007, I was curious to know who Raden Galoh was. I knew she must be a Javanese (Raden is a title for those born of the "kraton" class or royalty in Javanese society). Raden Galoh Chandra Kirana was a Majapahit princess.

When I clicked on her link, I discovered that she was a cancer survivior. Because I had lost two sisters to cancer, I felt an immediate connection, an affinity with her.

We've been close since and she'd keep me and other blogger friends abreast of her condition.

It is not always that Dalilah can attend our mee rebus lunches on Tuesday. In fact, for quite some time late last year through early this year, Dalilah was unable to join us as she had a "relapse" when the cancer had begun to spread again. She was in hospital and was given the strongest of drug which could either "make" or "break" her.

Our prayers were with her.

She survived. She overcame. She is a survivor.

Today she looks so much better . We pray that she will remain well.

Dalilah joined us for our Tuesday mee rebus lunch at Kak Ton's (Maria Samad AKA Tok Mommy) Kelana Jaya home and brought 10 copies of her book.
Ahirudin Attan (Rocky's Bru) bought all 10 (@RM25) and donated one to each of us who were there.

To Dalilah : Thank you for enriching my life!

*Dalilah is wife to Saiful Bahri Abbas and mom to Adam Zachary and Idris Zachary. Selangor-born, she graduated from the International Islamic University in Petaling Jaya and later, obtained her Masters from University of Findlay in the US.
She works in the private sector and is active in cancer awareness activities.
Dalilah now resides in Sepang, Selangor with her family.

*Photo of Dalilah holding a copy of her book taken by me at Kak Ton's at lunch today.

Swine Flu: Don't Panic But Stay Alert

If you had been watching CNN, you'd have caught the news of the Swine Flu outbreak last week.

No, I didn't blog about it because I was pretty busy and was not able to post anything. No excuses.

I did talk about it to someone, though, remarking that the Swine Flu seemed eerily to remind me of our very own Nipah Virus which caused an outbreak in pig farms in this country in 1999, causing deaths.

Last week, the cases of Swine Flu were confined in Mexico. US authorities were then just issuing warnings and precautionary measures.
Now, several cases have been detected in Texas, California, Kansas and Ohio and as far as Canada and Israel.

The Health Ministry has advised Malaysians against travelling to Canada, Mexico and selected US states where there have been reports of swine flu infection.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has urged the public not to panic.

He said the Health Ministry has in place protocol to prevent the disease from spreading to Malaysia.

The protocol include tightening surveillance at all entry points into Malaysia via airports and ports, and also at border crossings.

Click HERE.

So, okay. Let's not panic. I don't know about you, but, I do get worried when there's an outbreak of any kind of DEADLY flu.
These days, outbreaks "travel" fast. There, today, here, tomorrow.

Let's hope the health and medical authorities the world over, including our own, will be able to act fast to prevent further spread.
And we need to play our part too.

Lat : The Early Series

.
"Lat: The Early Series" is the latest compilation of Lat's memorable works published by the New Straits Times.

It was launched today.

The 206-page hardcover brings you back to Lat's early cartoons and reminds you why you fell in love with Mamat (and, of course, Lat) and why you have always remained his fan.

When NST's E Media chief and columnist (former Business Times editor) Zainul Arifin who is responsible for this project, told me about the (then) upcoming collection of Lat's works, I was thrilled.

Lat is a Malaysian icon. Our national treasure. Is there any Malaysian who does not know, or love Lat?
I remember waiting for his "Kampung Boy" series to be out every year. I own all of Lat's calendars.
They're all collectors' items as far as I'm concerned.

Lat's talent was, and still is, recognised and appreciated beyond our shores.
Through his "working" years as a cartoonist, Lat was invited to visit the UK and Europe, Japan and the US.
He will, I believe, continue to receive such invitations.

More than anything, "Lat: The Early Series" pays tribute to Lat's "evolution as an artist and emergence as a social commentator".

*Lat is Mohamad Nor Khalid. At 17, he was already contributing his "Keluarga Si Mamat" to Berita Minggu, the Malay Sunday paper of the NST group.
He was first recruited by the NST as a reporter and started, as most cadets do, in the crime desk. When his bosses discovered his talent as a cartoonist, he was re-designated as, well, a cartoonist.
Lat now resides with his wife and children in Ipoh -- in a house that he built.

Tuesdays With....

...my friend and former colleague -- Aishah Ali or, as friends and family call her, Kudu.

"Tuesdays With Bapak" was slowly weaned off this blog after Bapak passed away last September.

It was difficult to reminisce. Perhaps, the heart and mind just refuse to, or has simply stopped functioning to do that.

I'm not sure if I want to revive it. To resume posting my reflections and reminiscences of my childhood and adulthood when Bapak was (somehow still is) so pivotal in my life, is a bit unsettling for me at the moment, as I am convinced that it will be an emotional journey which I'm not so sure I want to get on.

So, I decided that I'll just post little happenings for Tuesdays.

Like this little birthday gathering we had for Kudu at Treats (a cafe/restaurant) in Taman Tun Dr Ismail last Friday.

Kudu was three years my senior when I enrolled at ITM's School of Mass Communications in 1975.
But we got really close when I joined the NST after graduation in 1978. We have remained so.

I remember her as the tyrannical senior lady who told me off the first day I stepped into the 13th floor of the School Of Mass Comm for not attending the school's induction week.

(Induction week was when first-year students get to know the school and the seniors and this came after the college's orientation week.)

I was at the 13th floor lift lobby of ITM's multi-storey building when Kudu appeared and asked me, in a stern headmistress-ish voice : "Freshie, why were you not at the induction?"

Me: "I am not a Freshie" ( because I attended Pre-University at the college, so I was technically not a Freshie).

Kudu: (Looking so not amused) "The School Of Mass Comm has not declared you a junior!"

(I think that translated to -- "waah...kau ingat kau terror, eh?")

Then, miraculously, the lift door opened in front of me and I was saved from further verbal assault.

I decided I did not like this senior lady.

So, I turned to her and uttered, quite softly: "Too bad".

Suddenly it hit me that I was going to be in that place for the next three years.

"Alamak....I hope she did not hear that...", I thought.

But she must have heard.

Bapak who had helped establish the School Of Mass Comm and was lecturing part-time there, was also not amused by my "attitude". as I discovered.

Someone or more, without wasting time, must have happily reported to Bapak about my convenient absence from "induction week" and that brief exchange with Kudu.

You see, Bapak -- if you knew him -- had a way with young people. He was managing editor of NST at that time and he had developed close ties with the school and even better relations with the students who were my seniors.

Word got round, I suspect, that "anak Pak Samad" was enrolled at the school, did not attend induction and, when encountered was "mengada-ngada". Such exaggeration!

The following morning, I was summoned to the office of the head of the School of Mass Comm - Marina Samad (no relations).

There, waiting for me was Bapak, cigarette in hand, smiling. Aaah...that smile was deceptive.

"I hear you've been arrogant to your seniors......", he remarked.

To cut the story short, Bapak was not pleased with the way I conducted myself, insisted I made up for the bad behaviour by treating the seniors I had offended, to lunch. So, he gave me some money. And yes, I did give them a treat, as instructed.

So...a lesson learnt and remembered.

Back to Kudu's birthday tea last Friday.

The little birthday gathering was organised by a few of Kudu's former classmates with whom she is still in touch. It was kind of impromptu.
The only non-classmates there were my own former classmate Hamidah Yusoff and me.

I got her a mixed bouquet, including roses. She got a beautiful piece of fabric from her former classmate, Nik (nicknamed Teo).

The tea was compliments of Datuk Zainul Azman, otherwise known to his former classmates as ZA.

Making a nostalgic evening for Kudu were (also): Baharuddin, Rose, Molina, Dee Basariah, Zohara (Lola), and Datuk Poziah (Jee).

The food was good -- mee siam Singapore, spaghetti (Olio). popiah, karipap, chicken wings (masala) and of course, the sangat sedap birhday cake.

Great company!

Notice I have left out Kudu's age.

Oh....she is still 35 as far as I can tell.

Happy Birthday, Kudu!

Thank you for an enduring friendship these past 30-plus years...

*By the way, Kudu was NST women's editor and The Sunday Mail editor. She left the NST group in 2006. She is now a media consultant (Ali & Ali) and is a free-lance writer. She is married to former NST and BBC journalist Ishak Nengah, mum to Jo Flizow of Too Phat, Ashraf and Iman, and sister to Datuk Zainun, Mustapha, Saleha (former NST features editor and now editor of Prestige magazine), Othman Hisham and Abdul Rahman..

CAPTION: (from left) - Jee, Kudu, Molina, Dee, Hamidah, Nuraina and Lola....

One Brave Lady...

Elizabeth Wong has accepted "with greatest humility" the Selangor Government's offer to remain state exco Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment.

She went on a two-month leave after private pictures of her were posted in the internet.

I know I should have posted this yesterday but I was away -- "somewhere in the mountains" -- doing my own thing. And there was no internet.

Anyway, I cannot say whether or not Elizabeth did the right thing by deciding to stay in office.

I'll say one thing -- she is one brave lady because even as I am writing this Elizabeth who is Bukit Lanjan state assemblywoman, is still receiving threats from "unknown persons".

She said:

"I have been stripped bare publicly, both figuratively and literally, by force and against my will. My personal life has been violated and assaulted by none other than criminals.

On those pictures of her (taken in her home), she said: "this is not a scandal, as some have suggested, but a clear criminal act."

I say she is brave because this episode will not go away and she will have to face it. She knows it.
I agree with Elizabeth that this is not a scandal but there are enough people out there who will make it -- or have already made it -- so.

Anyway, I wish Elizabeth all the best. And oh....be careful who you date....

Read HERE and HERE.

Reviving The Crooked Bridge Project...

The crooked bridge was among the mega projects scrapped during the Abdullah administration.

The decision to do away with the project further strained relations between the (then) PM and his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Abdullah attributed the decision to scrap the project in 2006 to "the people's wishes". Later, some files were declassified to show there were legal implications and ramifications with regards to some historical agreeements with Singapore.

On April 1, in a meeting with editors, (outgoing PM) Abdullah was asked why the project was scrapped.

He explained that it was due to federal budget deficit.

In December last year and early this year, there was talk that the project might be revived.

Today, Bernama quoted Johor Umno Youth who expressed hope that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will review the decision on the project.

Johor Umno Youth information chief Khalid Mohamad said today all the people of Johor, regardless of religious belief and race, wanted the government to review the decision.

"The people of Johor are placing high hopes on the Prime Minister to review the decision to cancel the crooked bridge project across the Johor Straits.

"The effects from the construction of the crooked bridge will be most positive to the Johor economy. We urge the government to reconsider (the cancellation) as soon as possible."

Khalid is also the Johor Baru Umno Youth chief.

Read the full report HERE.

And Trouble In Terengganu.....

Update (NST alert):

*5:32pm: PM orders 10 BN assemblymen to attend state assembly sitting tomorrow and regard "death threat" SMS as invalid.

*5:03pm: Two BN assemblymen who boycotted morning assembly session returned in the afternoon, including ex-MB Idris Jusoh.


******************************

(original posting)

Today is the second day of the Terengganu state assembly sitting.

I received an NST alert that said: "10 out of 24 BN reps did not attend Terengganu state assembly sitting this morning allegedly due to threatening smses".

By about 2.45pm, the NST online carried a report that 11 BN assemblymen were absent in the morning session.

Some people think that it is an attempt "by a group in the BN camp to force Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said to step down".

Read the report HERE

I'm remembering what someone said yonks ago: "Politics is a place of humble hopes and strangely modest requirements, where all are good who are not criminal and all are wise who are not ridiculously otherwise".

Hmmm....no longer holds true, I reckon.

New Year Greetings....

for my Indian brothers and sisters.

Today is an auspicious day for the Indian communities in Malaysia.

For the Tamils and Malayalees, it is their new year. The Sikhs celebrate Vasakhi, which marks the anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa order.

The Tamil new year is Virothi, which marks the beginning of the Chittirai month.

The Malayalees, meanwhile, observe Vishu, the astronomical new year day.

So, have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Let's pray for a blessed and wonderful beginning of the new year.

Thai Crackdown..

I wish I were there in Thailand to see what's really going on.

Then again, I'd have to be careful what I wish for. Not a pretty place to be stuck in right now.

According to latest reports, trouble and violence are escalating in the Thai capital as soldiers began firing volleys of shots in the air to disperse protesters blocking key roads.

With the first show of force by the government since declaring emergency rule, 74 are left wounded.

According to AFP, demonstrators sent hijacked buses and molotov cocktails hurtling towards military lines in a chaotic battle at one intersection, where soldiers fired assault rifles and tear gas shells as they advanced.

Here's the rest of the story.

Got my finger clicking on this blog Mana-Mana. I had a nagging feeling that he'd blog something about Thailand, given his affinity and deep endearment for our neighbour.

Read Aziz Hassan's cry for the Thais. Don't weep too much, brother!

New Cabinet Begins Work Today

It's the first day on the job today for the Prime Minister's Cabinet.

The monitor is ticking and in six months we will see who are performing and who are not.

Do keep your own KPI.
As you know, new broom always sweeps clean. After a while, one may just lose one's stamina.

And if you still have something to say about Najib Abdul Razak's line-up, just drop him a line in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my.

He welcomes it.

Najib's Line-Up

Here's an update from the Star online :

Prime Minister and Finance Minister 1 - Najib

Deputy PM and Education Minister - Muhyiddin

Finance Minister 2 - Ahmad Husni

Ministers in PM dept - Nazri Aziz, Nor Mohd Yaakob, Koh Tsu Koon and Jamil Khir Baharom

Transport - Ong Tee Keat

Science and Technology - Maximus Ongkili

Maximus Ongkili - Science and Technology

Defence - Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Home - Hishammuddin

Rural Development - Shafie Apdal

Housing and Local Government - Kong Cho Ha

Health - Liow Tiong Lai

Tourism - Ng Yen Yen

Human Resource - S. Subramaniam

Natural Resource and Environment - Douglas Uggah

Women, Family and Community Development -- Shahrizat Jalil

International Trade and Industry - Mustapa Mohamed

Higher Education - Khaled Nordin

Information, Unity, Culture and Arts - Rais Yatim

Agriculture - Noh Omar

Works - Shahziman Mansor

Domestic Trade - Ismail Sabri

Sports - Ahmad Shabery Cheek

Foreign - Anifah Aman

Federal Territories - Raja Nong Chik

Defence - Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Mukhriz Mahathir is Deputy International Trade and Undustry Minister.

No post for Khairy Jamaluddin.

***************************

I do not have the full list.
According to NST alert, the Prime Minister will assess his ministers' performance in the next six months.
The Cabinet is reduced from 32 ministers to 28.

A new ministry is Energy, Green, Technology and Water while a Unity ministry is set up under the PM's Department.

So, stay updated.

Death For Altantuya's Killers

Chief Insp Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were sentenced to death after the Shah Alam High Court found them guilty of murdering Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin said the defence failed to create a reasonable doubt in the prosecution case.

Azilah, 32 and Sirul, 37, were charged with murdering Altantuya at Mukim Bukit Raja between 9.54pm on Oct 18, 2006, and 9.45pm the next day.

Najib's Cabinet...

UPDATE: Najib will announce his Cabinet at 3pm tomorrow.

******************************************

Earlier posting:

We all have our own idea of what Najib Abdul Razak's Cabinet should be.

Malaysia's new Prime Minister is expected to announce his line-up soon.

According to the NST, at least three ministries will be dismantled while Najib is bringing back the posts of parliamentary secretaries.

Six ministries, it seems. will be merged into three.
The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry is expected to be merged with the Tourism Ministry; Higher Education Ministry with the Education Ministry; and, Plantation, Industries and Commodities Ministry with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.

Actually, that does make practical sense.

I thought the Cabinet under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was too big and well, unwieldy.

I remember having difficulty remembering the names of deputy ministers and some of the ministries. We had a "poster" of the Cabinet, featuring the pictures and names of ministers and deputy ministers to help us if we forgot who was where.

I hope to not see tainted individuals in the new Cabinet.

Again...I am sad to see Shahrir Samad's departure.

Anyway, we are all waiting with bated breath, need I say, to know who's going where.

PR Wins 2, BN Wins 1

Oh...you must know the equation already.
Pakatan Rakyat retained the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah in by-elections held simultaneously yesterday.

The Barisan Nasional retained the Batang Ai state seat in Sarawak.

Ousted Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin captured Bukit Gantang, defeating BN candidate Ismail Saffian and independent Kamarul Rami-zu Idris.

Nizar won 21,860 votes against Ismail's 19,071 while Kamarul got only 62 votes, losing his deposit.

PKR's majority increased this time. More people cast their votes too.
Nizar's majority is 2,789-vote over Ismail. The late Roslan Shahrom defeated BN's Azim Zabidi with a 1,566 vote-majority in last year's general election.

The Election Commission said 75.1 per cent or 41,626 of the 55,562 voters cast their ballots.
In last year's election, voter turnout was 72.6 per cent.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat won Bukit Selambau with a slightly increased majority of 2,403 votes. PKR's S. Manikumar polled 12,632 votes against BN's S. Ganesan's 10,229 votes. There were 415 spoilt votes.

All the 13 independent candidates lost their deposits as they failed to poll one-eighth of the ballots cast. Collectively they polled just 1,326 votes.

The Bukit Selambau by-election was called after incumbent and Kedah state executive councillor V. Arumugam resigned over morality issues.

In last year's general election, Arumugam, who contested as an independent, won the seat with a majority of 2,362 votes, against S. Krishnan of the BN.
BN candidate Malcom Mussen Lamoh polled 3,907 votes beating PKR's Jawah Gerang who managed 2,053, delivering the ruling coalition a 1,854-vote majority in Batang Ai.

In the 2006 state elections, the late Datuk Dublin Unting of BN retained the seat with a 806-vote majority.

Polling In Three By-elections Today...

Voting is underway in the three constituencies of Bukit Selambau (Kedah), Bukit Gantang (Perak) and Batang Ai (Sarawak) where by-elections are being held simultaneously.

The candidates in the Bukit Selambau state constituency are BN's Datuk S. Ganesan, PKR's S.Manikuma and 13 independent candidates - former Kedah PPP Wanita Chief L. Sarala, insurance manager T. Chandrarajan, businessman R. Loganathan, Arumugam’s special assistant S. Moganakumar, management consultant A. Jayagopal, businessman Venason Michael, businessman Tan Hock Huat, former army personnel Mohd Fazil Abdul Wahab, former army personnel Major (rtd) Anuar Abdul Hamid, quarry operator Husaini Yaacob, contractor Abdul Rahim Abu, town planner Khamis Awang, and businessman Radzi Md Lazim.

The seat was left vacant following the resignation of elected representative V. Arumugam.

In the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency, it is a 3-cornered fight between BN's Ismail Saffian, ousted Menteri Besar Mohamed Mizar Jamaluddin of Pas and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

The BN and PKR are contesting the Batang Ai state seat.

BN is represented byformer state agriculture department engineer Malcom Mussen Lamoh and PK by Jawah Gerang.

Jawah was the former Lubok Antu BN member of parliament for five terms.

Najib And The ISA

I'm glad our new PM Najib Abdul Razak released 13 people, including Hindraf leaders, detained under the Internal Security Act.

When I got the NST alert last Friday that 13 people will be released, I was so so happy.
And that Najib would have the ISA reviewed...I was happier.

Revoking the ban on Harakah and Suara Keadilan was also good news.

Cynics will dismiss - if they have not already - his action as political, warning Malaysians not to be duped by this man.

Oh... come on. Give me a break for once. Najib has ordered the release of ISA detainees. Let's be glad for that.

I know I was so happy when Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad ordered the release of more than 100 ISA detainees, including my father and his friends and colleagues, immediately after he assumed the premiership.

And if Najib is duping us all with his "soft approach"...well...we'll just have to wait and see.

You can't fool everyone all time. And Malaysians are not idiots. I know I am not.

Najib-haters can go to town with their anti-Najib slogans and all....but I am just so glad for the families of the ISA detainees.

And for Harakah and Suara Keadilan -- because I buy and read these publications and I was so angry that the Government had ordered their ban!!!!!!

As Najib said: “If we don’t release them, they will say the Government is repressive. If we release them, they will say we are populist.”

“The Government has the best interest of the people at heart,” he said.

So....I'm going to see if Najib is as good as his word.

And oh, I'm hoping that he'll pick really good people in his Cabinet. Tough, I know.

(I'm sad, though, that Shahrir Samad is quitting! I'd like him to remain. )

The Storm Is Coming....

Sunday in Sepang at the F1-race.

The race in progress just before the storm..


Celcom CEO Shazalli introducing the Storm


Two of the three teen bloggers Shaira and Sara. The other is Aiman.

**

Celcom held a sneak preview of the new Blackberry Storm at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday.

What a place and occasion to have the event.

Ten bloggers, including three teen bloggers and a blogger-on-wheels, were invited together with representatives of the Press.

Celcom CEO Shazalli Ramli and his team were on hand to welcome everyone who had gathered at KL Hilton for lunch, from where they were taken in a coach to Sepang. Blogger-on-wheels Kerp was in a car, ahead of our bus.

The product presentation -- held in the Silver Suite -- was at 3.30pm, a couple of hours before the start of the F-1 race.

First off -- that was my first F-1 race. Those days at the NST, I turned down every media invite to F-1. I'd give my ticket (every year) to friends and family. The main reason was that it was always a working day for me. For some odd reason, I'd be working on F-1 days.

So, why did I accept the invite? Well....because Celcom invited me as a blogger.
Now...how do you like that? Sneak preview of the Storm and watch the race -- cool.

Secondly, I was curious about the Storm. I mean, it did not have very good reviews in the media but so many people I know overseas seem to have immediately changed from their Bold, Curve, Javelin to the Storm.
I am NO crackberry. I have been resisting buying a Blackberry since the first was introduced. I find Blackberry users terribly anti-social. It's like the Blackberry is their life and soul, it is unbelievable.

And, I'm one of those very weird people who are not into touch-screen.

Close crackberry friends tell me that I'm behind time because the Blackberry is the way to go, it is now, It is a must-have.
I call them crack-pots.

Naah. Not even Shazalli's glowing review of the Storm got me sold. A touch-screen Blackberry...don't think so.

Celcom's senior vice-president (marketing) Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin introduced it as the all-in-one multimedia device.

The Storm is designed not just for the enterprise market but also for the mass consumers. (That means, me..)

It is a smartphone that combines the powerful communications features. It has a camera (3.2MP), built-in GPS, media player, video recording, Blackberry Maps, wireles email, organiser, browser, phone, corporate data access, and SMS/MMS.
It is a 3G smartphone with screen interaction capabilities.

It is custom-built with facebook, yahoo messenger, ICQ, windows messenger, AOL instant messenger and Flickr.

The Storm is 4.43 inches in height, 2.45 inches wide with a depth of 0.55 inches and weighs 5.5 ounces.

While many Blackberry users are averse to the touch-screen use, just as many have converted to the Storm because of the touch-screen.

I am one of those who cannot seem to like touch-screen smartphones and all.

I hate to sound conciliatory or conceded, but I must admit that the Storm's touch-screen is something else, It is clickable and respond like a keyboard.

Am I sold yet?

I had a good feel of the Storm for a good 45 minutes.

Well, the Bold couldn't do it. Neither could the Curve, the Pearl, the Javelin......

So....I'll wait until April 28 when the Storm makes its debut in stores.
It is priced at RM2,499 and rebates will be available subject to promotion plans taken by customers.
For more info, please visit www.celcom.com.my/business.

Celcom customers can also call 1-800-111-777 to order their Storm. And to find out more about the product, visit www.blackberry.com/storm.

As for the F-1 race.....the Storm really brought the storm in Sepang. The race, as we all know, had to be stopped because of the heavy downpour.

What a stormy Sunday at the race.
And no....none of us got a free Storm....

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was sworn in as Malaysia's sixth prime minister this morning.

He takes over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who stepped down after leading the country for over five years.

Najib took his oath of office before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abdidin at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Abdullah and his wife, Jean Abdullah received awards which carry the title "Tun" from Tuanku Mizan at Istana Negara.

Abdullah received the nation's highest award, Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN) while, Jean the Seri Setia Mahkota award.

Umno: The Future Is Now

....and incoming Umno president Najib Abdul Razak SURELY cannot walk alone to bring about that urgently-needed change in Umno.

In his winding-up speech and in response to outgoing president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he outlined what needs to be done by Umno to survive, be strong and return to glory in order to serve the people. To be the people's choice once again.

One of the most drastic changes, he forwarded, was to effect an amendment to the party's constitution to make the election of top posts more open , thus more democratic. And to review the quota system for nominations of top party posts.

The time has come for this, Najib said and a special conference will be held to deliberate on this.

At the moment, Najib said the top Umno leadership is determined by 2,600 umno members.
He acknowledged the widespread view that their choice cannot possibly mirror the aspirations and wishes of Umno's morethan 3 million members.

"They feel that this number (of delegates/members) is too small....we know their names by heart, we remember their faces, we remember even their phone numbers.. In our salam, we have salam SK or salam SI..."

Najib said that members must realise that only with a clean image, and through a more open election process can Umno win the confidence of the people.

For as long as the process is smeared, Umno cannot hope to regain that confidence.

He said members MUST WANT TO CHANGE, They must want to have a clean election process.

So, he declared, let the leaders be chosen in the name of the rakyat.

Najib reminded delegates about the BN's defeat in 5 states in the last general election.

"We have regained one of them but that is being disputed", he said in reference to Perak,

Najib said surely Umno members must realise that Umno must be reformed.

He forwarded the need to include the people in the business of government under the long-practiced "party dominating government" concept.

"The party must know the aspiration and feel the pulse of the rakyat in order to translate all that into government policies and action. When a government that is dominated by the party realises the aspirations of the people, then it will be a party that is supremely strong and powerful."

Indeed, it will not be an easy ride for Najib. He has these few years before the next general election to clean up and overhaul the party.

He did say that it is not that the Malays have rejected Umno but that they want Umno to change.

I believe that generally many Malays have rejected Umno and yes, they want Umno to change.

If we were to make an assessment based on the new line-up, then we can conclude that, no...Umno is not quite ready to take that bold step.
(Umno delegates voted some people whose reputation or contribution is rather, er.. questionable.) Read HERE.

Nevertheless, the whole nation is waiting for Umno to surprise us all.

It really depends on how Umno will turn out to be.
Will it be a party that can feel the pulse of the rakyat? Will its leaders be who the rakyat want?

It remains to be seen whether a new, reformed (and dare I say) clean Umno can regain the confidence of the Malays -- young and old. Whether it can appeal to Malaysians, at large.

Can it be a party that is no longer held in contempt and ridicule?

As I have said, Najib and Muhyiddin have a herculean task ahead of reforming and transforming the party.

Hoping For Dr M and Pak Lah To Come Together...

and bury the hatchet.

Umno dputy and incoming president Najib Abdul Razak referred to (former party president) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and president (outgoing) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as "negarawan".

He wants them to come together to discuss the problems and the future of the party.

While I reckon Najib is probably one person who can bring these two together, I think it will not be easy. Man, it's going to be a tough call.

But....I suppose, for the sake of the party....

Dr Mahathir's appearance (and presence) at the (final day) of the Umno general assembly received thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

He and his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali were getting to their seats while newly-elected deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin was at the rostrum, addressing the delegates.

Muhyiddin stopped to acknowledge the couple's presence and hoped that this meant that the former president was considering rejoining the party.

He also said that Dr Mahathir's presence showed that perhaps, he approved of the new party line-up.

Later, Najib and Abdullah (in their speeches) welcomed Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah.

Najib believed that Dr Mahathir's presence showed that Umno remained in his heart and flowed in his blood.

"My hope is that these two negarawan, can together discuss the problems and the future of the party".

He got everyone warmed up, and laughing when he said that he imagined their first meeting would be awkward but with time he was confident that there would be that warmth and affinity between them.

"What is important is not one's personal feelings but the future of Umno and the nation," he said.

"Godwilling, if these two statesmen can come together, everyone else will close ranks."

*It is no secret that the relations between Dr Mahathir and Pak Lah have not been warm in the last few years after the latter aassumed the country's premiership.

Earth Hour Tomorrow Night

Let's take a break from Umno goings-on....

Don't forget Earth Hour tomorrow -- 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR AN HOUR......

Just wondering....

will the lights be out at PWTC if proceedings have not ended?

It's Deputy President Muhyiddin Yassin...

Yes! Umno delegates did the right thing in voting Muhyiddin Yassin for deputy president. He garnered 1,575 votes, defeating Muhammad Muhd Taib who got 916.

The three vice-presidents are Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishammuddin Hussein andi Mohd Shafie Apdal.
(Shafie is the first VP from Sabah.)

Zahid polled 1,592 votes, Hishammuddin (1,515) and Mohd Shafie (1,445).

Supreme Council Members:

MUSTAPA MOHAMED .............................. (2259 votes)
NOH OMAR .................................................. (2084 votes)
MUSA AMAN ............................................... (2084 votes)
AZIAN OSMAN ............................................ (2060 votes)
ZAINAL ABIDIN OSMAN .......................... (2054 votes)
MOHD ZIN MOHAMED ............................. (1854 votes)
ISMAIL SABRI YAAKOB ........................... (1838 votes)
LAJIM UKIN ................................................ (1804 votes)
SHAZIMAN ABU MANSOR ...................... (1705 votes)
MOHD PUAD ZARKASHI .......................... (1700 votes)
TAJUDDIN ABDUL RAHMAN .................. (1685 votes)
IDRIS HJ HARON ....................................... (1658 votes)
DR HAJI ABD LATIFF AHMAD ............... (1624 votes)
JAMALUDIN JARJIS ..................................(1622 votes)
SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH ........................... (1619 votes)
DR NORRAESAH MOHAMAD ................... (1611 votes)
MAHDZIR KHALID..................................... (1584 votes)
AHMAD HUSNI MOHD HANADZLAH . .. (1529 votes)
HAMZAH ZAINUDIN ..................................(1518 votes)
BUNG MOKTAR RADIN ............................ (1517 votes)
DR AWANG ADEK HUSSIN ....................... (1481 votes)
ZULHASNAN RAFIQUE ............................. (1431 votes)
AHMAD SHABERY CHEEK ........................ (1377 votes)
IDRIS JUSOH ............................................... (1275 votes)
ABDUL AZEEZ ABDUL RAHIM ................ (1265 votes)

(Tahniah to the sole woman who made it -- Dr Norraesah!)

Some expected winners, some unexpected casualties.

But I know one person who should not have won a seat! And at the expense of some good candidates too!

Victory For Shahrizat And Khairy...

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is Wanita Umno's new chief! She trounced incumbent Rafidah Aziz by a wide margin. She obtained 507 votes while Rafidah, 280.

In her victory and adjournment speech , she thanked her supporters and promised to bring Wanita forward.

Her deputy is Kamilia Ibrahim who won the post uncontested.

Khairy Jamaluddin won the Pemuda chief post in a three-cornered fight. He obtained 304 votes out of the 793 possible votes, defeating Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Mukhriz Mahathir.
As late as 11pm, votes were still being recounted until the final results were out at soon after.

Khairy, in his adjournment speech, said the winner does not take all and the loser does not lose all given this narrow victory which he said was not a majority.
He called on Umno Youth to close ranks and help him to reform the wing and take on the Opposition wherever it maybe..
Razali Ibrahim won the vice chief post.

Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin was elected Puteri Umno chief. The vice-head is Shahanim Mohamad Yusoff.

Najib: Reinforcing Reform And Change

To be honest, the call for Umno to change and reform is not new. Former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been driving home that message in his presidential addresses at the party general assemblies before, though in many different ways.

But never is this message so significant and crucial for Umno now, given such a terrible outcome in the general election last March (2008).

Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak last night made clear what needed to be done (and not done) by the party, by its leaders and members in order to be strong, popular and to overcome the challenges, and to survive as a political party.

He said this in his address at the joint opening of the Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri assemblies at the PWTC in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib called for Umno to reform in order to remain relevant in a country whose political landscape has changed.

Its leaders must be credible and clean.

"I implore you to give me a line of leaders who are strong and able. Present to me a team that has the traits of loyalty, integrity, ability and dedication to duty. "

Najib said Umno must no longer be seen to be elitist and corrupt. It must be in touch with the people and their aspirations.

Indeed, a reverberating message that if Umno does not change, does not reform, it's popularity will continue to wane and it will no longer be in power.

Change or perish!

So....the question is -- Is Umno prepared to make that change?

The writing on the wall was for everyone to see. Umno saw it but refused to acknowledge. Umno was and has been in denial.

So....is it brave enough now?

Click HERE for the full text of Najib's speech.

Hey, Let's Make A Malaysian "Slumdog"..

Oh...I have a dream. Many dreams actually. One of which is to make a movie. I already have the script and my buddy, Fatimah Abu Bakar has promised to look at it. She is waiting for me to give it to her.
We even have the actors/actresses in mind.
Maybe we'll even have cameo roles.

But I am such a perfectionist that I can't seem to stop myself from making changes to the script, here, there and everywhere....

Now my point here is that all you prospective film makers (with production companies) should start forcing that creative adrenalin flow and make a movie.

I mean...get a load of "Slumdog Millionaire"! Not that you should be making a movie of our slums and slumdogs....(though that's an idea but that won't be original) but imagine the possibilities.

Why am I suddenly so interested in getting you interested?

Check out what our SME Bank can do to make it happen:

BANK Perusahaan Kecil & Sederhana Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank), which manages the RM50 million government fund for filmmakers, has disbursed RM35 million to 36 production companies since the fund was launched in 2007.

However, only three companies have successfully had their movies released and begun making repayments to SME Bank, said the bank operations head Abdul Jalal Atan.

The other borrowers of the motion picture financing scheme (SFPC) are facing various problems such as unfinished productions or very low ticket collections, he said.

In a meeting with film producers in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Abdul Jalal said the fund's balance of close to RM15 million is still available and SME Bank acknowledged that many are still not aware of this facility.

People do not know that the bank does not require any collateral for producers to tap into this fund, unlike direct financing through other commercial banks," he said.

Abdul Jalal added that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently hinted that to further develop the local movie industry, there is a possibility that the fund size will be increased.

Earlier, the meeting with SME Bank was organised by the Film Directors Association of Malaysia (FDAM) and sponsored by the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) to explain to FDAM members of the requirements to apply for the financing.

It was also a forum for producers to express their grouses and hardship in getting financing.

Present at the meeting were FDAM president Ahmad Ibrahim who complaint that Finas has somewhat failed to efficiently inform those in the industry of the criteria required by SME Bank to be eligible for the financing.

To apply for financing under the SPFC fund, an approval from Finas has to be obtained first and Ahmad said a lot of people do not know how the "pitching" of Finas' approval works.

Another drawback, he added, was that Finas did not scrutinise the background of the producers carefully as he claimed the committee formed for this purpose lacked of experience in the nitty gritty of the movie-making industry. - NST

So, what are you waiting for..get off your butt and make a movie!

Umno's Burden Of Change And To Change

Today begins the process of change for Umno. Transition, transformation. Clean-up even. Call it what you like.

When leaders and delegates of Umno wings -- Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri -- gather for their joint opening ceremony at the PWTC this evening, they will listen to what Umno deputy president and the country's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has to say in his opening address, because as is customary, his speech will set the tone for their election and (respective) assembly.

They will go home tonight and mull over the future of not just their wings, but the party, and yes...the country.

This year's assembly during which the party's election of all top posts is being held is most defining because it is a test for the party, after the Barisan Nasional's devastating/dismal performance in the March 8 general election last year.

It is a test - for the rest of the country to witness - whether Umno is prepared to change or to make that change. To transform, from whatever "diseased" and rotten state it had shamelessly been in.

(We all know that Umno, being the backbone of the BN government has to take the blame for the poor performance, although overall in the general election, Umno won more seats than its coalition partners.)

We all know why Umno must change -- or be changed as Najib had warned.

There is no luxury or privilege of option here. It's now or never. Do or die.

Umno has been too complacent, in denial and resistant to the urgent need to transform and reform, to be relevant -- for far too long. Umno is what its members want it to be. It's a two-way process. You want a clean party, you elect clean leaders, or those seen to be clean.
Umno must also remember that its leaders are also leaders of the country. You elect corrupt leaders, the country gets corrupt ministers.

I have no say in the choice of Umno leaders. If and when Umno decides that Umno members can (directly) elect the party's top leaders, I'd be the first to sign up as a party member.
(By virtue of the existing practice in the country in which the Umno president is, by convention the Prime Minister and the deputy president is Deputy Prime Minister. Also, Umno vice-presidents and some of its supreme council members are appointed ministers and/or deputy ministers.)

Tomorrow, Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri Umno delegates go to the ballot box to choose their top leaders -- chief, deputy chief and exco members.

For the Wanita top post, the bitter and intense fight is between incumbent Rafidah Aziz and her deputy, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. (There is no contest for the deputy chief post as exco member Kamilia Ibrahim won the post uncontested.)

Both are going for broke.

The contest is three-cornered for the Pemuda chief's post -- exco member Mukhriz Mahathir, Khir Toyo and deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

There are six aspirants for the Puteri Umno chief post. They are deputy chief Rosnah Abdul Rashid, Shahaniza Shamsuddin, Ismalina Ismail, Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid, Saarah Ali Basha and Ida Rahayu Mohd Noor.

Azalina Othman Said, Puteri Umno's pioneer/founder member and erstwhile chief, has been a hard act to follow. Her successor Noraini Ahmad is a disappointment, so pale in comparison. She failed to pick up where Azalina left. Azalina is contesting for one of the 25 elected supreme council seats.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the party's most crucial elections, emerging so badly bruised after the general election.
When delegates choose their *deputy president, **three vice-presidents and 25 supreme council members, they have not only Umno's future in their hands but the nation's.

I fear. I quiver just thinking about this.

Will they break the cycle (of all that's bad in Umno)? Are they capable of doing that? Will they have the nation's interest at heart when they cross the ballot papers because we, the people will have to live with their bad and wrong choices.

Will they do the right thing?

Ultimately, Umno delegates deserve the leaders they choose.

But do we?

*Two contenders for the deputy presidency -- Muhyiddin Yassin and Muhamad Muhd Taib.
** Eight contenders for the 3 VP posts -- Zahid Hamidi, Hishammuddin Hussein, Rais Yatim, Khaled Nordin, Syed Hamid Albar, Shafie Afdal, former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Isa Samad and former Malacca Chief Minister Rahim Thamby Chik.

Tomorrow, Karpal Will Be Charged For Sedition

(Source: NST)

MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh is to be charged for sedition at the Jalan Duta sessions court tomorrow morning at 9am.

Karpal received a notice from the police that he present himself at the the Sessions court.

"The investigating officer for the case, ASP Suhaimi Mohamad, came to my office at about 5pm with the notification. It is not a warrant of arrest," he said.

Karpal said he was to be charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948.
"I believe this is in relation to the fall of the Perak Government and the claims on the royalty," he said.

Karpal had threatened to take legal action to challenge Sultan Azlan Shah's appointment of Datuk Dr Zambry Kadir as the new Perak meneri besar after deposing Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin.

Karpal's intent drew flak from many groups who claimed that it tantamount to treason and in the process, attracted about 100 police reports.

One Year Suspension For Gobind

(Source:Bernama)

The Dewan Rakyat today passed a motion to suspend Puchong Member of Parliament Gobind Singh Deo for a year effective immediately.

The motion was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz following Gobind's remarks accusing Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of being involved in a murder case and in contempt of a deputy speaker during the committee stage debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill 2009 on Thursday.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia announced the passing of the motion at 1pm after all government backbenchers voted for it.

The opposition representatives had walked out of the Nazri was winding up the debate on the motion.

According to the motion, Gobind will not get all the allowances and benefits as a member of Parliament during the suspension period.

Nazri, when tabling the motion under Standing Order 27(3), said Gobind's accusation was serious and in breach of the rights and privileges of a member of Parliament as well as in contempt of the Dewan Rakyat.

In his winding-up speech, he said what Gobind did was not a crime and therefore there was no need to furnish proof for consideration before he was to be convicted of the offence.

"Therefore, if an action has been committed and clearly the action shows lack of manners against the deputy prime minister, it is sufficient for us to take action against him.

"But if the Puchong member of Parliament admits he is crazy, it would be different. But I believe when he made the remarks, he was not crazy and he knew what he did was wrong," he said.

He also explained that Najib was not in the House today because he did not want to be seen as though influencing the lawmakers regarding the motion.

Earlier, several opposition members raised various provisions of the Standing Orders to object to the speaker's decision in allowing the motion to be tabled.

Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) sought explanations from Pandikar Amin on the public interest which allowed the motion to be tabled without the seven-day notice.

Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) meanwhile wanted the matter to be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee and Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) questioned why Gobind was not given time to defend himself.

Others who also stood up were M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat), Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas), Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) and R. Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).

Pandikar Amin said: "I have read Standing Orders 27(3), 80(1), and 44(8) which allow this motion to be debated in the House.

"It is my interpretation and I would like to remind all that the speaker's decision under Order 43 should be accepted. It has something to do with the behaviour and ramblings by members of the House under the protection of the House and it did not happen outside. Everyone knows these things happen," he said.

He also said that he had read the hansard account of what happened that day and found that Gobind had committed offences under Standing Order 36(6) for imputing improper motives to another member, Order 36(4) for using offensive language, Order 36(9) for mentioning the conduct and character of a member in another capacity, Order 36(2) for mentioning a matter which is sub judice, Order 36(10)(b) and (c) for using seditious words and words likely to promote feelings of ill-will against the government and between different communities.

Earth Hour On March 28

Remember.
Wherever you are, switch off your lights for an hour from 8.30pm next Saturday. Join millions across the globe to vote for EARTH.

It will be dark, I know. But you are not alone.

Love our Earth.

Read THIS

Guan Eng May Bar NST From His Functions

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would consider barring the New Straits Times from covering his press conferences or functions in response to articles in the newspaper which he alleged were slanderous and false.

He said he was willing to accept criticisms but not statements with elements of slander and certain agenda intended to disparage him and the state government.

"In the last election, they also wrote nasty things about us but we took it. With or without NST, we have survived all this time.

"We urge the people of Penang, if they want to read the truth about Penang to boycott the NST," he said after visiting the Relau Community Park here yesterday.

Lim made the remarks when asked to comment on an article in the NST on Saturday entitled "What's your beef, Guan Eng?" which criticised him over his preferential treatment of the media.
The article was a follow-up to another piece a week earlier entitled "Guan Eng trait that's difficult to swallow" on the same issue. -- Bernama

Rafidah Vs Shahrizat On Women's Rights...

When you and I talk about women's rights, we'd do so with easy abandon, with nary a hint of wanting to outdo each.
We'd invoke all that we know about the issue. We'd discuss. Just discuss. Because, we're women. We're women who have no interest in winning a political post, no ambition. We're women.

Now when two contenders (for the Wanita Umno chief post) touch on the subject, it's about who has not been doing more than the other. Who has not been doing anything.

Incumbent Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz and her challenger, (Wanita Umno deputy chief) Shahrizat Abdul Jalil were crossing swords on this issue at a meet-the-delegates gathering in Johor Baru.

I was not there so I'm depending on newspaper reports. Their exchanges could well have been very gracious, civil and polite.

According to the NST, Rafidah asked critics not to accuse the wing of not fighting for women's rights hard enough.

This fighting for women's economic and social issues is really the job of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, she pointed out.

"We (Wanita Umno) are a political party, don't forget that. Our job is to help Umno continue to lead the country in general elections."

"Maybe one of the reasons why we lost our two-thirds majority in Parliament and five states was because some of our women (in Wanita Umno) had lost focus of our political goals.

"Maybe they were concentrating too much on women's rights, whereas it is the ministry which should be doing that."

Wow....we know where that's going to.

Shahrizat, as we all know was the women, family and community development minister until the general election last year.
(She was dropped from the Cabinet after the elections but was immediately made advisor to the ministry).

Shahrizat, who was present at the function responded by saying that the ministry had always strived to further women's issues.

"We have done a lot in respect of laws, policies and rules concerning women. We have been fulfilling our responsibilities."

But, she hastened to add, progress had to begin with Wanita Umno.

If Wanita Umno does not defend women's rights, the country will not move forward.

"Women will not be heard if Wanita Umno does not pick up the voices of our women," Shahrizat said.

So, we generally have an idea of what was going on there --both women trying to shape a perception (among the delegates) on who is more fitting to lead the wing. Who screwed up and who didn't.

The election is just around the corner and it is expected to be very stiff, very keen.

Since Shahrizat made known her intention last year to topple her one-time mentor, Rafidah made no secret of that sense of betrayal. The subterfuge, the duplicity.

But as they say, I suppose we ain't seen nothing yet.

For the NST report, click HERE.

Salam Maulidurrasul!

And We did not send you, Oh Muhammad, except to bring Rahmat (blessings) to all mankind" -- a verse from the Quran.

My friends, have a blessed celebration! Maulidurrasul falls on the 12th day of Rabi'ul Awwal which marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

My Muslim brothers and sisters -- let us join in reciting the selawat and salam for our Nabi!

Celebrating Women....

Today is dedicated to me, and my sisters...

Know it HERE...and HERE

I Am All For The Use Of English For Maths And Science

How can I oppose the use of English in (the teaching) of Maths and Science in our schools?

It doesn't make sense (to oppose). English is the language most used in maths and science so we have to be practical.

It is for our children's future.

I don't think I am trivializing the importance of our national language by promoting the use of English in maths and science.

I cannot go the same road as our sastrawan and Malay literary figures on this. I do not agree with them.
I appeal to them to not be swayed by emotions.

We all benefited from learning English. So many rural Malays benefited from having a good command of English.

Surely, being proficient in English to master maths and science will not threaten the status of Bahasa Malaysia?

We will not lose our national language. I know we won't.

Just read THIS and THIS.

Malays, Melayu....

I was not there at the mosque to listen to what the Sultan of Selangor had to say.

But according to the NST, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today "expressed disappointment over the action of a certain group of Malays who continued to question the positions of Malays and the Malay Rulers when these were enshrined in the constitution".

His highness made his remarks when opening the Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Aziz near Petaling Jaya.

Here's the rest of the NST story.

The sultan described this group of Malays as rude, ill-mannered and unabashed, given that they had been nurtured from the time of their ancestors in the customs and traditions, good behaviour, courteousness, and engaging inconsultation.

"It is on this premise that the Malays are held in high esteem and respected, (but) where are the Malays now?

"The nation has been a sovereign state for just half a century, and the Malays have begun to quarrel, lose their self-esteem and become discourteous due to being overly enthusiastic in grabbing power at the expense of the people and the state,"

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was also present at the ceremony.

Al Fatihah: Zubir Ali

I knew Zubir Ali when I was a student in ITM (now UiTM) in the mid-70s (from 1975 to 1978). He was in charge of our cultural society and I was an active member.

Then, he did not display his talent as a singer or songwriter, although I knew that he had deep interest in music as we had discussions about the arts (including on music).

Over the years, I bumped into him during Hari Raya open houses and arts/cultural performances. Once, at 1-Utama.

How sad to have received this tragic news of his death.

Saudara Zubir died of heart conditions at the Damansara Specialist Hospital today.

Here's the NST report.

Zubir was a founding member of folk outfit, Harmoni that popularised the humanitarian tune, Balada Seorang Kecil penned in the 1990s. The members went separate ways in 1985.

Two years ago, Zubir established Trio Harmoni and continued his vision to preserve the popularity of Malay folk songs.

He was buried in Petaling Jaya, Selangor after Asar prayers.

Al-Fatihah.....