KL's Persona Non Grata on July 9

Police have named 91 people barred from entering KL city centre on that B-Day on July 9.

Are you among them?

The police have obtained a restriction order preventing the 91 including Bersih organisers, Patriot/Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering the Kuala Lumpur central business district on Saturday.

Of course, Bersih chief S. Ambiga, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali are among them.

Police say that they can be liable and charged under Section 188 of the Penal Code with Disobeying a Lawful Order of the Court which carries a maximum six months imprisonment or a fine or both upon conviction.

1. Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
2. Mohamad Sabu
3. Hishamuddin Md Rais
4. Khairul Anwar Ahmad Zainuddin
5. Maria Chin Abdullah
6. Chua Tian Chang
7. Kamarulzaman Mohamad
8. Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli
9. Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud
10. Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh
11. Teresa Kok Suh Sim
12. Badrul Hisham Shaharin
13. Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin
14. Arutchelvam Subramaniam
15. Wong Chin Huat
16. Ong Boon Keong
17. Enalini Elumalai
18. Haris Fathillah Sathiasingam Mohd Ibrahim
19. Datuk Khalid Yunus
20. Datuk Zulkifli Noordin
21. Dr Zubir Harun*
22. Datuk Seri Mohd Hilmi Ismail
23. Datuk Seri Abd Hadi Awang
24. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
25. Lim Kit Siang
26. Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat
27. Nurul Izzah Anwar
28. Kohila Yanasekaran
29. Zaid Kamaruddin
30. Khoo Teng Swee
31. Fadiah Nadzwa Fikri
32. Yap Swee Seng
33. Salahuddin Ayub
34. Datuk Mahfuz Omar
35. Nasarudin Hassan
36. Mazlan Aliman
37. Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi
38. Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad
39. Dr Mujahid Yusof
40. Khalid Abd Samad
41. Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
42. Azman Shapawi Abd Rani
43. Suhaizan Kaiat
44. Nor Azli Musa
45. Mohd Firdaus Jaafar
46. Loke Siew Fook
47. Lau Wen San
48. Mohd Azmin Ali
49. Mat Shuhaimi Shafie
50. Satipul Bahari Mamat
51. Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli
52. Mohamad Izzuddin Hilmi Mohd Zaini
53. Mohd Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin
54. Muhammad Hilman Idham
55. Mohd Shukri Che Ab Razab
56. Mohd Syukri Kamaruddin
57. Ahmad Syazwan Muhammad Hasan
58. Choo Vhon Kai
59. Sarasvathy Muthu
60. Soh Sook Hwa
61. Nurul Izham Nurul Anuar
62. Abd Rahim Osman
63. Mohd Sibri Ismail
64. Mohd Lukman Muda
65. Datuk Prof Kamaruddin Kachar
66. Datuk Mohd Noor Nordin Abdullah
67. Datuk Ibrahim Ali
68. Datuk Ab Rahman Ab Bakar
69. Syed Hassan Syed Ali\
70. Irwan Fahmi Ideris
71. Roslan Kassim
72. Sharifuddin Abd Hamid
73. Dr Zubir Harun.*
74. Ameir Hassan
75. Datuk Ahmad Saad
76. Ahmad Zaini Ismail
77. Muhammad Zahid Md Arip
78. Abdullah Mansor
79. Zaira Jaafar
80. Norkhaila Jamaludin
81. Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar
82. Datuk Megat Firdouz Megat Junid
83. Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican
84. Megat Zulkarnain Omardin
85. Rizalman Mokhtar
86. Tengku Azman Tengku Zainol Abidin
87. Lokman Noor Adam
88. Datuk Abdul Azeez Rahim
89. Ungku Saleh Ungku Jamal
90. Arman Azha Abu Hanifa
91. Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz

Well. Yippee... my name's not there.....

By the way: Khairy just found out and he tweeted:
"Just landed back in KL after trying to break Israeli blockade of Gaza only to find that I've been blockaded from KL. Excuse me if I say WTF?"

As for Nurul Izzah, here's what she has to say:
"Sorry to break this to u, officer. But I live in KL".

Dead For 8 Years Without Anyone Knowing....

An elderly woman's skeletal remains were found in her home. Police believed she died in 2003. No one, not even her closest neighbour realized that she had died in her upstairs room. Everyone thought she had left, and that the house was abandoned.

Her death and absence went unnoticed. She had no living relative other than a sister-in-law with whom relations were estranged.

Here's the report:

A FAMILY falling out is believed to have led to an elderly woman's body lying undiscovered for eight years at her home in inner Sydney.

Authorities are trying to determine how Natalie Wood died and how her remains lay undisturbed for so long in a busy inner-city suburb.

Officers visited the home after Ms Wood's sister-in-law had not been able to contact her. It is understood she had tried to get in contact to pass on some family news, but failing that, she called police.

It had been eight years since they had spoken, due to a family dispute.

Police found the skeletal remains on the floor in an upstairs bedroom of the Kippax St, Surry Hills home yesterday at noon. The death is not believed to have been suspicious.

Ms Wood would have turned 87 in August.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

Really sad.

@5Xmom: I think all Christians shud march for all the persecution they had done to us and our Lord.

So when do we take tweets seriously? When do we not? How do we know when someone is jesting and when she is not?

Certainly, sometimes people don't think before they tweet happily away in cyberspace.

I don't know 5Xmom (Chan Lilian) but I have come across her comments in some blogs that I follow. I don't follow her on twitter so I don't really know what she's been tweeting about..

Some people who follow me on twitter retweeted her tweet (above).

Some people took exception to her tweet. One of them is Tony Yew. He is not amused. He thinks her tweet is seditious.
So, this afternoon, he lodged a police report against Lilian. HERE

Lilian, according to this blogger is employed by the Penang DAP government.
She is the official video-journalist for Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng. HERE.
The blogger, Apanama, thinks that 5Xmom has crossed the line. Just like Tony, he thinks her tweet is seditious.

As for me, I think she should know that her tweet will elicit all sorts of reaction.

Was it meant in jest?
Because in the first place, she's making a false statement.

That is a lie.
I know one thing, our tweets reflect our thinking. Not everyone realizes this, of course.

And Is Malaysia Airlines Banning Babies In First Class?

When I read this article on news.com.au, I thought Malaysia Airlines is really taking care of its high-end passengers.

It said that the airline has introduced the baby ban after receiving a number of complaints about crying infants from first class passengers.

And I expect some quarters would take exception to the "ruling" because it does smack of "discrimination". Today, babies. Tomorrow?

Anyway, I thought we should not take the Australian Business Traveller's word for it, although it quoted Malaysia Airlines CEO Tengku Azmil as saying that first-class passengers complained about spending a lot of money and not being able to sleep “due to crying infants".

A colleague checked with Malaysia Airlines to confirm it there is such a ban.
A statement was swiftly issued.

MAS denied the story. No such ban.

The thing is bassinet facilities were originally available in the First, Business and Economy class zones of the 747’s.
"In 2003, Malaysia Airlines embarked on a revamp of First and Business class cabin of the B747s. The First class seat configuration was reduced from 18 to 12 for passengers to enjoy increased cabin space and extended legroom."

"Each new seat came with an electrically operated ottoman that doubles as a visitor seat and could convert to a lie-flat bed with the main seat. As a result of this seat revamp and the introduction of the ottoman, there was no facility for positioning bassinets in the First Class of the B747s."

"The business and economy cabins of its 747-400s, like the rest of its current fleet, are equipped with bassinet facilities to cater for infant travel."

So, what about Tengku Azmil's remark?

No comment on that from Malaysia Airlines.

Well...First class passengers don't want babies in their class, so they "pass them" to business and economy classes.

Babies don't fly for free. And when you travel in whatever classes, you share that space with other paying passengers. It is not your private space.
It's "public transport" -- not a hotel, as a close friend remarked.

There are ways to fly on public transport without having babies for company.....

Kids Not Welcomed On Flights?

Do you get irritated by bawling babies or cranky children on board airlines you're in?

I've never had to take my kids travelling on planes when they were babies so I cannot imagine how or what they'd be as passengers.

Just as well...

But I've travelled on flight where children were fellow passengers.

In all honesty, of course, you would be affected by babies or children crying. For me, it's not so much that I get irritated. I feel for the parent trying to soothe the child.

So far, I've never witnessed any passenger complaining about noisy or bawling kids.

Anyway, in a recent suvey, many people have owned up to being annoyed by children on planes.

According to the survey -- airlines are being urged to segregate children or ban them from certain flights altogether to keep business class passengers happy - according to a recent survey.

The articled:

The survey, posted on news.com.au, reported that 75 per cent of business class travellers said they were annoyed by the presence of children on planes, the The Daily Mail reports.

The survey, run in conjunction with the Business Travel and Meetings trade show, urges major airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates, to consider child-free flights.

Of the 1000 participants, three quarters of business class passengers found children on planes "irritating".

Campaigners have also suggested airlines use "flight zones" - where children and adults are segregated.

This idea draws inspiration from the "quiet cabins" which currently operate on railway services throughout the UK.

The Business Travel and Meetings trade show's director David Chapple said those paying more for their flight have a right to complain.

"It's understandably frustrating for business travellers, who have paid a premium in expectation that they can work and sleep in comfort, to have that peace disturbed by children," he told the Daily Mail.

But many people have opposed the campaign, and are worried where the ban might lead.

"It would be a bad decision by an airline to ban children," ex-Virgin Atlantic director, Paul Charles, said.

"Once you did, would you start banning other types of travellers? It would be a mistake," he said

The airlines are yet to respond to to the campaign efforts.

A "Home" That's Not a Home...

When a landslide killed 16 people including orphans of a home in Hulu Langat two weeks ago, the first thing on our minds was the precarious location of the orphanage -- which was at the foot of a slope.
Then of course, we started asking whether the home was registered, who owns and run it...and all the details that we all immediately wanted to know.
Other details emerged in the course of obtaining information, including the fact that there are so many unregistered homes and the long process of getting orphanages, old folks home and so on, registered with the Welfare Department.
Understandable that the department has got to make sure that people are not setting up homes to make money and exploit children and old people.
At the same time, the department does not hastily act against unregistered homes because of the fact that these homes do provide shelter and food for needy kids and the elderly etc...
However, it does not mean that these homes should escape supervision and monitoring.
In an ideal situation, we would like to see orphans, the elderly, the disabled and so on, well taken care of...
There is little sense in us going for all the benefits of a high-income nation when these groups are neglected..

And that is why we must prevent bad and evil people from setting up shelters and homes.
read this. If it's true, then it is a classic case of really bad people exploiting the misfortunes of others....

A WOMAN who was sent to a welfare home by her husband had gone missing when he came by for a visit, Malaysia Nanban reported.

M. Bhaskaran, from Kajang, said he had left his wife and their three children at the home in mid-May.

When he went there to meet her, the home's administrator told him that his wife had been transferred to another branch.

Not satisfied, Bhaskaran investigated and found that the home had sent his wife and two other inmates elsewhere to work as maids.

He lodged three police reports after the home's officials refused to disclose his wife's whereabouts.

It was learnt that two other inmates claimed that they were given stale food and treated harshly by the caretakers.

They also said that single mothers were sent out to work as maids and their salaries were credited into the home's accounts

The rest of the story HERE

Should Kids Under 13 Be on Facebook?.

An article on Time.com presented this question in view of remarks made recently by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg that he'd like younger children to be permitted to patronize his site.

Zuckerberg said this at the NewSchools Venture Fund's Summit in Burlingame, California last week.

First of all, I'm not sure how you can stop kids from signing up on FB. I'm sure we all know that there are so many children already using FB, and are so savvy with it too. Some have uploaded their video performances and all sorts of stuff on FB.

You can't keep FB and social networking from the 21st century generation of kids. I'm not sure if you should.

Is there an issue of misuse?Or security and safety? The need for parental or adult control? I believe these are the over-arching concerns.

Indeed, it all boils down to how involved parents (or guardians) are in the lives of their kids and how best parents et al deal with it.

As always, there is no end to discussions and debate on the impact of social media or social networking on society...

(Also Read - FaceBook Is Not Your Friend)

What's your view?

Obesity In Schools -- It's Not Just About Food!

It's good that the government has drawn up guidelines for school canteens in view of reports that a lot of them are selling food that are not nutritious.
In fact, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Department of Nutrition and Dietetics carried out a study six years ago of 12 schools in the Klang Valley and found that most of the food served in canteens were fried and oily.

Not much has improved since as a recent survey it conducted showed that canteens were still selling snacks or, "junkfood".

Many schools were still selling nuggets, fried sausages and other fried food. But you know, these are what kids love.
And this is not peculiar to Malaysia. In Britain, most schools were found to be serving non-nutritious food to students. But, as with most kids, they love it.

In the 1985 School Canteen guidelines, nuggets, fried sausages, and nasi lemak were considered "appropriate".

The university's nutrition and dietetics department however, believed otherwise.
A revised set of guidelines came in force in 2008.

In August last year, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that most canteens were still selling unhealthy food and snacks that could influence the eating habits of children and contribute to rising childhood obesity in the country.

The NST report HERE.

From then, the issue of bad food in school canteens was linked to rising obesity among children,.
In April this year, the ministry announced proposed guidelines on food sold in school canteens following reports that they sell less than nutritious food.

These were to replace the existing ones. The new guidelines would take into account sugar, salt, fat and oil content.

What were okay in the 2008 guidelines would not be okay in the new list -- for instance, nuggets, burgers and sausages would be banned.
Nasi lemak, fried rice and laksa are okay but can only be served twice a week.
(In school canteens, the portions (of nasi lemak, fried rice etc) are really small. )

This sparked a debate on the food children eat -- is the food they eat in that 20-minute recess at school responsible for their state of health, or the food they eat at home?

School or home? School or parents?

I find all this debate very stimulating and amusing too. All this blame game.

On Monday (April 25), the ministry announced the new guidelines.

Here's the thing -- nobody seems to see the importance of EXERCISE for children.
Let's face it, we used to eat oodles of noodles every day in school, and had those tuck shop snacks, keropok udang, Schweppes, Coke -- God knows what else.
And there was no obesity in school. I can't remember any fat school mate.
You know why? Because physical education and participation in sports were encouraged and played a major role in school.

I'm not encouraging eating unhealthy (overloaded with salt and sugar) snacks and fatty foods. But I'm looking at it from an overall perspective.
Being fit is not just about the food you eat. It is about exercising right.

I believe that we should encourage sports today, especially when the only limbs our kids are exercising are their fingers.

It's no nuclear science to figure out the cause of rising obesity among children.
Have a good look at our school curriculum and attitude of teachers to sports and physical education.

I'm not wrong to say that in many schools today, sports is low priority. Really really low.
It's a vicious cycle. You don't encourage them (to do sports, play games), they don't develop any interest and it becomes unimportant to them.

I remember that PE (physical education) was a big thing for us in school back then (in the 70s).
From the first week of school, we'd be preparing for our school sports. If you wanted to do long jump, then you'd be preparing for that event. And if you were a sprinter, you'd be preparing for that.
Also, you had to play at least two games. I never quite liked netball, but I played it anyway.
But I loved hockey and softball. There was a stint with soccer (yep, the only girls' football team in Selangor - possibly Malaysia).
And these activities were held on weekends. Attendance was compulsory. But that was irrelevant because games and sports were part of school life.
It was a state of mind.

So, you can cut this and that in the kids' diet but if they don't play games and exercise, they won't grow up healthy.

That is what is lacking in our schools -- priority on fitness.

So, really it's not just about food. You tackle obesity in kids the same way you tackle obesity in adults.
A combination of healthy eating and fitness routine.

Update: First Malaysia-Asean Regional Bloggers Conference (MARBC)

What an eventful and stimulating weekend it was.
I was at the 1st MARBC, organised by Blog House Malaysia, held over the weekend (April 23-24) at The Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur.
Among the participants were some very prominent bloggers from Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines who arrived at KLIA on Friday, April 22.
They were among some 40 bloggers from the region who were at the conference, themed "Blogging Mindfully and Responsibly".

On Saturday, April 23, BHM exco members, led by its president Syed Akbar Ali, and the (guest) Asean bloggers sat together the whole morning at the Sime Darby Convention Centre for the drafting of the 5-point Kuala Lumpur Consensus that was later adopted at the conference.

The (draft) KL Consensus

1. The establishment of an Asean social media and blogging network to promote understanding, good relations, unity and cooperation for regional betterment and progress of the new media practitioners in the spirit of mutual respect;
2. To assist in achieving and promoting the common values and aspirations of goodwill and to promote greater understanding and familiarity of the social media;
3. To promote the freedom of expression, freedom of information and freedom from persecution;
4. To promote ethical practice of the social media; and
5. To meet regularly and promote the growth and progress of social media in Asean.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, attended the opening.
Both Najib and TDM delievered speeches.

Najib, in his speech, gave an assurance that his administration would never censor the Internet.
He said the government does not fear bloggers but wants to be part of them and know their views.
"I have said this before -- that the era of the government knows best and knows everything is over.
"The fact is, the government does not know everything."

He hoped bloggers would offer contsructive criticisms.
“I believe this relationship will be an important relationship based on mutual respect. We may not agree all the time but we cannot be disagreeable.

"But we should draw the line; if we use the cyberspace to tell lies and half truths, that is wrong. "
Najib said if bloggers worked within those parameters, he believed they could indeed play a vital part in shaping a better future for Malaysia and Asean.

Najib said Malaysians are among the most ardent Facebook fans – there are 10.1 million FB users.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that Malaysia has one of the liveliest blogospheres in the world and definitely one of the freest if not the most free.

“Malaysians have to thank Tun Dr Mahathir again for this. When he was prime minister and Malaysia was developing its Multimedia Super Corridor, Tun made the promise to the world that Malaysia would never censor the Internet. My government is fully committed".

Dr Mahathir, speaking to guests and participants earlier said that blogging should be encouraged as it helped the people to become more involved in the running of their own country.

An avid blogger, Dr Mahathir said he turn to blogging as an avenue to air his views after he stepped down as prime minister as he had found that the mainstream media were not publishing his statements.

On blogging, he said bloggers should treat the government and the people fairly though their blogs which should contribute to the betterment of society.

Bloggers should be treated fairly and justly too but if they cross the line, then they should be ready to face the consequences, he said.

Dr Mahathir also remarked that mainstream media in the country should, now and then, allow themselves to be critical of the government.

Dr Mahathir is patron of Blog House Malaysia.

which organised the event, said constructive criticism should be given when it was for the betterment of the country.

He said while bloggers should give fair treatment to the government and the people through their blogsites, they themselves should be treated fairly and justly.

Read Rocky's Bru

OutSyed The Box

Another Brick In The Wall

Barking Magpie

BigDog

Tony Yew

Jebat Must Die

Apanama

Asean Bloggers Conference In KL

The first Malaysian-Asean Regional Bloggers Conference will be held from Friday to Sunday at the Intercontinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

The conference, organised by the recently-registered Blog House Malaysia (BHM), is themed "Blogging Mindfully and Responsibly".

BHM president Syed Akbar Ali said there would be two workshops on Saturday for participants from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm.

The topics to be covered include blogger networks and blogger etiquette.

"We are expecting 16 Asean bloggers at the conference. They will come from Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. On Sunday, our patron, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will deliver the welcoming address. Prime Minster Datuk Seri Najib Razak will then deliver the keynote address at 12.20pm, followed by a 15-minute question and answer session," he said.

For details and registration, visit www.bloghousemalaysia.com. - The New Straits Times

Boot Camp For Boys Who Are Effeminate...

I'll get to the point -- their schools have identified them as boys who are effeminate. I suppose based on the way they behave, talk and walk.

Then these schools sent their names to the state education department which is holding a four-day camp for these kids.

The NST carried a blurb "Boot Camp For Sissies". And got blasted by some people for using the word "sissies" which showed the newspaper to be so bigoted, so prejudiced, so so bad. People were livid.

Of course, the NST, meant no disrespect. "Sissy" by (conventional) definition refers to an effeminate boy or man, but the term now has, apparently, taken on a derogatory meaning.
But it is not NST that is making a judgment of the boys. The newspaper was using this one word to mean "boys who are effeminate" as stated by Terengganu education department director Razali Daud.

Is there another term that is socially and politically acceptable? Still means the same.
Nevertheless, the S word offended people - for that NST apologizes. It was unintentional.

Would another word make a difference to what the state education department is doing? To the obvious prejudices some people have for these kids?
That is the ISSUE.

Ok. Back to the boot camp for "these boys who display effeminate behaviour" -- I gather these kids (66 of them) aged between 13 and 17 have got their parents' permission to attend this remedial camp.

Razali did not offer details on the programme but I'm guessing that it aims at making "men" out of these boys..
And if they're all Muslims, I'm guessing that the programme will have religious input to make them "insaf".

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Sisters In Islam, in strongly-worded statements issued separately yesterday, said the department's action was in violation of laws.

Shahrizat said: "The boot camps must be abolished on the basis that they are harmful and do not serve the best interest of the child, and are therefore in clear violation of the Child Act 2001, which stated that "every child is entitled to protection and assistance in all circumstances without regard to distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, social origin or physical, mental or emotional disabilities or any other status".

SIS said the department's policy to regulate the behaviour of students is against the basic tenants of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which Malaysia ratified in 1995.

"The act of identifying and singling out boys who behave effeminately is highly discriminatory bordering on predatory. Article 2 of the CRC dictates that ALL children should be accorded equal rights and treatment without exception, the Education Department of Besut is clearly in violation of this."

Obviously, to the Terengganu Education Department, these boys are a problem. The "fact" there are many of them makes it a serious problem. So if it takes a "remedial" camp to make these boys "stronger, physically and mentally", then off a-camping they go to make them so.

Simply put, these boys are being rehabilitated. In the eyes of the department, boys must be boys. Boys who don't behave like boys, are flawed in character and this is not natural.
So the department feels that it is their responsibility to right what is wrong.

And so the boot camp is part of the solution.

A New Dawn In Sarawak?

Or business as usual?

How about a bit of both with more weight on the new dawn?

The "much-hated" Abdul Taib Mahmud won a thumping victory in his Balingian constituency, beating his closest opponent by a 5,302 vote-majority.

Taib was later sworn in as chief minister.

Of course, not quite a new dawn, that his opponents had hoped for.

Amid the vitriol and venom against Taib and his adminsitration, the Barisan Nasional won its two-thirds majority.

The results : BN : 55, DAP: 12, PKR: 3 and independent: 1.

I bet you thought that the DAP was going to make a clean sweep of all 15 seats it contested. Going by their campaigning and confidence, yeah, it looked like they were going to..
And going by the opposition parties' campaign, you'd thought that they'd form the next state government. Yeah...
Still, it was the keenest and fiercest state election. And, yes, it was a good show by the DAP. They know where their support lies and who they can depend on to give them the votes -- the urban Chinese.
Thanks also to their aggressive "Ubah" (change) campaign. That said -- the DAP is what Sarawak needs -- a strong opposition.

PKR contested in 49 seats and won in 3. Better than the 2006 elections where it won 1 seat.

As for Taib Mahmud, his victory in Balingian was thumping. He obtained a 5,302 vote-majority.

At 8.55pm, the BN won a simple majority.
A little later, it was official, that it secured a two-thirds majority, with 48 seats.

Once again, Taib delivered. His party won all the 35 seats it contested, a repeat performance of the 2006 state elections. That's 100 per cent, man. And that's the BN fixed deposit.

SUPP had some heavy casualties, among whom was its president George Chan who lost his Piasau seat to a DAP newbie Ling Sie Kiong.
The 74 year-old seven-term MP lost by a 1,590-vote majority to the 28 year-old.
As predicted, SUPP won only 6 of the 19 seats it contested to DAP (won 12 and one independent).

Shortly after the final results were made official, Taib Mahmud, wasted no time and was sworn in as chief minister -- his seventh consecutive term..

So, Sarawak woke up today to the same CM but who has promised to bring more development to the state through SCORE, and to step down from his post at a date he will disclose in good time. Could be mid-term, could be after the 13th general election...

It is, nevertheless, a new beginning for Sarawak. It has to be. The same dawn, perhaps.
But certainly, a new beginning.
Some things must change in Sarawak - for better or for worse. Even Taib knows that.

*Also read Rocky's Bru "BN Retains Sarawak With Two-Thirds Majority" HERE!
Big Dog's HERE
Op Ed HERE
Marah Ku HERE
Syed Akbar's HERE
Kickdefella HERE
Jebat Must Die HERE

When The School (And Sometimes Society) Gets It All Wrong...

I thought instances of children without birth certificates not allowed enrolment in school are all in the past. Well, I was wrong.

Eight children in Seremban were not allowed into their school because they did not have birth certificates.

Children without birth certificates should be allowed to attend school. What kind of people are we if can't even have that right? All this outdated "irregularities" that existed before should have been fixed.
Come one...Malaysia maju or not?

And if we have kids without birth certs facing problems with school enrolment, then effort must be taken to resolve their predicament, because most times it is due to ignorant/illiterate parents or some extenuating circumstances. Nothing is beyond solution.

Having birth certificates should not be the pre-requisite for school registration and enrolment.

If we are a progressive country that we want to be, then we must accept that education is the right of every child in this country. No regulation should exist to deny a child this right.

As for children without birth certs, surely some kind of documentation can be made for them to be enrolled in school.

So, therefore, hence, ergo.... of course, we can resolve their problem.

The sad thing is that the problem usually surfaces when these kids begin school.

Take the case in Seremban of 8 kids -- siblings L. Nisha, 10, Pavitra, nine, and Teeban, eight, orphaned cousins S. Meganathan, 11, and Mahaletchumy, seven, another orphan C. Jayasutha 12, K. Tamilarasi, nine, and G. Arvind, eight.

Jayasutha will be sitting for her UPSR in 5 months' time.

The kids were barred from attending classes at their school - SJKT Ladang Linsum - in February for not having birth certificates.

Firstly, I am grateful to my former colleague, Sarban Singh of The Star for highlighting the story yesterday .

I think there are many kids like them whose parents are simply unaware, illiterate and so on about the need to have birth certificates.

In some cases, it is simply poverty. Applying for birth certificates just doesn't figure in their lives.

The school had barred these kids because it was told by the state Education Department that headmasters who allowed such pupils in their schools would be fined RM1,000 for each student.

NOW, WHAT IS WRONG IN ALL THIS? I'll tell you in a while.

According to the Star report today:

"After the report was published, Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong and Cabinet Committee on the Indian Community in the Prime Minister's Department consultant N. Siva Subramaniam stepped in to resolve the issue. Dr Wee said the ministry had issued a circular in March 2009 clarifying that as long as one parent was a citizen, children without birth certificates could attend school. Expressing regret over the episode, Siva Subramaniam said he met officials from the school and the state education department yesterday and it was decided that the pupils would be allowed to return to school.

He explained that under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, even if the parents were non-Malaysians, the child should be allowed to attend school after filling up the necessary documents.

He said there were many children without proper documentation in the country but all had the right to be in school."

Did I just ask you what was wrong in all this?

The attitude of the school. And that unacceptable State Education Department ruling.

In fact, going by what Dr Wee said, the headmaster got it wrong.

But, even though there exists such a stupid ruling that schools be made to pay a fine for allowing "such pupils", the school authorities - if they have it in them - should take the initiative to help these kids.

You don't have the heart? Then, at least have the brains to help those kids.

Oh...must we tell them all this?

Isn't there somewhere that tells you that you can't punish the kids because they are orphans or because their circumstances had forced them to be where they are standing right now?

Shouldn't that prompt you to help them instead of closing the door on them?

I hope, it was the headmaster who -- at his wits end -- had reached out to the Star to help him help the kids.

As for such a senseless ruling (if it at all exists) -- what a damn shame! You're not finding solutions...you're perpetuating the problem, and creating new ones! So, shame on the state education department!

I think we all should play our part in ensuring that all children - including those without birth certificates -- are allowed to go to school.

Damn! Isn't it against the law to deny children an education?

That said -- I'm happy that it is a happy ending.

However, I know that there are a lot of kids out there who are in a similar situation.

Luring Malaysians Abroad

Returning Malaysian professionals will be eligible for a flat rate of 15 per cent income tax for five years under its returning Experts Programme (REP), Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

He said this was to encourage more Malaysian working abroad, with their varied experience and expertise, to return and play an active part in Malaysia's economic transformation.

This transitional income tax incentive will be introduced with a host of other incentives such as new residence Passes which will enable highly-skilled foreign workers to stay in Malaysia for 10 years as well as limiting the tax free incentive for 2 cars under the REP to locally assembled vehicles.

Read more HERE.

Well, bully for you returning Malaysian professionals.

We'll just have to see if these are attractive enough for you!

Romancing Sarawak (2)

It's stormy in Sarawak these days. And also getting hotter by the day.

You certainly cannot expect anything less than that when political leaders are fighting hard to woo voters -- some , for their own do or die survival, some to set the tone for "aram perubahan".

The 10th state election in Bumi Kenyalang is so intense, you can feel the heat.
Not since 1987 (the Ming Court Affair) have Sarawakians witnessed fierce fighting.

The playing field is so crowded - a record 213 candidates.

Here's a quick lowdown:

The candidates are from the ruling coalition :Parti Pesaka Bumiputra (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) while the opposition are Damocratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and PAS.

BN is contesting all 71 seats - PBB (35), SUPP (19), PRS (9) and SPDP (8) - while DAP (15), PKR (49), SNAP (26) and PAS (5).

For the first time in 24 years, no seats have been won uncontested. In 2006, BN won 2 seats uncontested, 4 in 2001 and 19 in 1996.

In the 2006 state elections, PBB won all the 35 seats it contested, SUPP won 11 out of the 19 it contested, PRS won eight of the nine and SPDP won all eight seats it contested.
DAP won six, PKR, one and Parti Cinta Malaysia, one.

To say that times have changed is an understatement. Interest in Sarawak's state elections had never been so keen either.
We've witnessed the state elections before. But always as spectators. Sarawak was, well, just there.
The results/outcome had been quite predictable. Even when during the 2001 elections, things began shifting, though quite unnoticed, we, in Semenanjung, simply watched, and let it all past. We all, know that Sarawak is BN territory. Let me rephrase that -- BN territory made up of Sarawak-based parties.
There had been attempts by Umno "to go to Sarawak" but after failing miserably even before they actually started, they stopped trying.
The message was clear. Sarawak did not need Umno (read: Semenanjung) , thank you very much.
See, although it is a fact that Sarawak BN representation in parliament had always been sizeable, that fact had been taken so much for granted - until 2008, of course.
BN looks to Sarawak as its "fixed deposit", naturally because Sarawak parties hold 30 of the 140 BN seats in parliament. When the chips were down, BN had counted on Sarawak to give it a boost.

Sarawak is at a crossroads, to put it mildly. After the elections, Sarawak will not quite be the same again.

Campaigning is fierce with, for the first time, religion - Al-Kitab issue - is being played, over and over again.

On one side is the BN led by chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud who is the focus of the opposition campaign. He is the opposition's single target. He is being attacked for his 30-year tenure, alleged crony corruption, nepotism and all the mismanagement and abuse arising from that.
The impounding of 35,000 bibles in Kuching Port sometime last year had dealt the BN a hard stinging blow. The dust has not quite settled yet even after the bibles were ordered released recently (after 18 months impounded) and a 10-point solution was offered.
This issue is being used and abused, even by Christian leaders to paint the BN as anti-Christian. Bungling government officers, yes, I agree. But, surely it is most unfair, and very wrong to accuse the BN of being anti-Christian.

On his "overstaying", Taib has responded by assuring that he would be stepping down after the elections. No date, though has been mentioned.
Taib, on his campaign rounds, has retaliated, questioning as well the leadership of Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim and their dynasties as well as that of Pas' Nik Aziz and Hadi Awang.

"Menumbangkan Taib, Memerdekakan Sarawak" (Topple Taib, Free Sarawak) is among the powerful messages the opposition parties are sending out. Mostly, they're scaring the wits out of the people -- trying to convince them that Sarawak will be doomed if Taib stays.
The attacks are relentless even as he tells the people that Sarawak has seen sustainable development based on a 20-year plan, and in a lot of ways, is a model state.
Its hard core poverty and poverty levels have been drastically reduced, education has been improved and so on.

The opposition parties have even made connections and drawn parallels between him and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak (at first) and Libya's Muamar Gaddafi, goading the people to bring Taib down as the Egyptians and Libyans did with Mubarak and Gaddafi. I don't at all agree.
The premise is thoroughly flawed.

That said, I believe that Taib will make good his promise to step down. The sentiments seem to be too compelling to ignore.

On the other side are the opposition parties, mainly represented by the larger-than-life DAP. But all the same, they're gang-banging Taib and friends.

DAP is the real deal in the elections, in particular in Chinese-dominated seats. The party is no stranger in/to Sarawak, having made its entry in 1978 and capturing Bandar Kuching as its first parliamentary constituency in the state four years later (1982).

Sim Kwang Yang served as Bandar Kuching MP until1995. As it is, the DAP is confident of making a clean sweep of the 15 seats it is contesting although independent sources say 12 are already in their hands.

No surprises if they do well because they have been campaigning unremittingly in the Chinese areas.

PKR, on the other hand, has an uphill battle. Unlike DAP, PKR has always been viewed with suspicion in this land where Dayak and Iban nationalism is strong.

PKR is "parti Melayu Malaya" or "parti Melayu Semananjung" -- and it is contesting in mostly ethnically mixed seats.
PAS is just going for the ride.

Everyone's media tools are working overtime. It's how you're going to perceive the spin and propaganda -- between perception and reality.

But, as I write this, the DAP and friends are hitting the Chinese-dominated urban areas with heavy artillery.

So, on Saturday, Sarawakians will have to decide where they want to take their beloved state. Do they want change or Ubah under the DAP, PKR or/and PAS? Or give their trust in and the mandate to the BN for continued progress . Mansang!

Of course several factors come into play -- the young voters which make up a third of the 979,796 registered voters, with 300,000 of them below 40 years old. The largest concentration is in Kuching (numbering 85,000), followed by Sibu (54,000) and the Dayak votes (how seriously they view land and the Al-Kitab issues, whether Dayakism remain strong in some areas, while loyalty to BN in other areas) .

Whatever it is, Sarawak will never be the same again.

And that should be a good thing...

10-Point Solution To The Bible Issue

Press Statement By Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala

The Government confirmed that it has been in dialogue with the Christian groups to look into their specific requests on the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia Bible and also other religious issues. Taking into account the polarity of views of the different religious groups, including the Muslims, the Government decided on a 10-point solution.

1. Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia.

2.These Bibles can also be printed locally in Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This is a new development which should be welcome by the Christian groups.

3. Bibles in indigenous languages of Sabah and Sarawak such as Iban, Kadazan-Dusun and Lun Bawang can also be printed locally and imported.

4. For Sabah and Sarawak, in recognition of the large Christian community in these states, there are no conditions attached to the importation and local printing of the Bibles in all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia and indigenous languages. There is no requirement for any stamp or serial number.

5. Taking into account the interest of the larger Muslim community, for Peninsula Malaysia, Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, imported or printed, must have the words "Christian Publication" and the cross sign printed on the front covers.

6. In the spirit of 1Malaysia and recognising that many people travel between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsula Malaysia, there should be no prohibitions and restrictions for people who bring along their bibles and Christian materials on such travel.

7. A directive on the Bible has been issued by the Ketua Setiausaha (KSU) of the Home Ministry to ensure proper implementation of this cabinet decision. Failure to comply will subject the officers to disciplinary action under the General Orders. A comprehensive briefing by top officials, including the Attorney General (AG), will be given to all relevant civil servants to ensure good understanding and proper implementation of the directive.

8. For the impounded Bibles in Kuching, Gideon, the importer can collect all the 30,000 Bibles free of charge. We undertake to ensure the parties involved are reimbursed. The same offer remains available for the importer of the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang, which have already been collected by the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) last week.

9. Beyond the Bible issue, the Government wishes to reiterate its commitment to work with the Christian groups and all the different religious groups in order to address inter religious issues and work towards the fulfilment of all religious aspirations in accordance with the constitution, taking into account the other relevant laws of the country. In order to bring urgency to this work, the Prime Minister will meet the representatives of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) soon to discuss the way forward.

10. The Christian Ministers in the cabinet will meet on a regular basis with representatives of the various Christian groups in order to discuss their issues and work with the relevant Ministries and PM in order to resolve them.

Idris said:

"I hope this 10 point solution will be received positively by the Christian groups as being fair and reasonable. We have to look for a solution that deals with the Bible issues and also put a way forward to handle other issues raised by the Christian groups.

"I think the Bible issue is very unfortunate, and in the spirit of Lent, it is time for sacrifice, reconciliation and forgiveness.

"In our history as a young nation, we achieved a lot in a short period of time, but we have our shortcomings.

"The Government and our civil servants are not perfect as indeed all human beings are “beautifully imperfect” in the eyes of God.

"And for all our shortcomings in handling the Bible issue, I hope the Christians would find it in their hearts to forgive us.

"In my Church at SIBKL, we have been praying for a Christian revival to take place in our country. For all the hurt that exist as a result of our differences, I believe that we need healing, forgiveness and reconciliation in this country.

"The Bible says in Matthew 18: 21-22 “ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”.

A Fatwa On Poco-Poco?

Why the question mark?
Because there was a report earlier quoting Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria that the Perak Fatwa Committee has ruled that poco-poco, a popular dancercize, especially among ladies (generally 40 and above) is haram because it has Christian elements.

Of course, there was an uproar because many people wondered why and how the fatwa came about.
A fatwa on poco-poco? Oh, please.
Is it harmful to the ummah? What damage has poco-poco inflicted on society?

Christian elements? Adoi.

Anyway, I digress.

Of course, reporters had to get the good mufti to explain, or whatever. But, it seemed, he refused to take any calls.
I was made to understand that he slammed the phone on a reporter.
I was also made to understand that he (according to him) was misquoted and his remarks were taken out of context. Whatever that means.

Today, two people (with authority on Islam) commented on the Perak fatwa.

Former Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri said in his blog that there was no rational reason for the dance to be banned by the Perak Fatwa Committee if it did not involve alcohol or free sex.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Mashitah Ibrahim said poco-poco was just another form of exercise and should not be banned nationwide.

I suppose the less said the better but this is no small matter. This fatwa banning poco-poco makes no sense. With all due respect.

Read my column HERE.

Eskay Met With Bloggers...

..including Syed Azidi, otherwise known as Kickdefella.

As we all know, Eskay is one of the Datuk Trio (Datuk T) -- the guys behind the sex video purportedly of an opposition leader having sex with an unknown prostitute.

The original copy of the video is now with the police as investigations are underway.

Eskay is Shazryl Eskay Abdullah - sports physiotherapist, businessman and friend to many politicians. The other two are former Malacca chief minister and Risda chairman Rahim Thamby Chik and Perkasa treasurer Shuaib Lazim.

DSAI diehards are up in arms against the trio, accusing them of fixing DSAI (who is said to resemble the guy in the video or vice versa). Some have wished them hell, and worse.

According to Syed Azidi, Eskay met with some bloggers two days ago and told them about his relationship with DSAI.

At the end of it, he has 5 questions for the Opposition leader.

Read Kickdelfella Lima Soalan Untuk Anwar

MACC-led High-Powered Task Force Cripples Syndicate..

Kudos to the team!

After a month of surveillance on several companies and individuals suspected of corrupt practices, under-declaring Customs duties, tax evasion, money laundering and illegal remittance of funds overseas, the team carried out raids on private homes and companies coast-to-coast.

(According to the Star "billions of ringgit have been siphoned by way of tax evasion, money laundering and illegal outflow of funds here by a syndicate with tentacles in many organisations.")

Yesterday, the team arrested a senior Customs officer (a datuk) and his wife, who is also a senior Customs officer. They are being remanded for four days.

The couple, in their 50s, will facilitate investigations into their suspected involvement in corruption and money laundering activities.

MACC prosecuting officer Raja Mohd Shasrizam Raja Nik Mahmud said the couple were being investigated under Section 17(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

The prosecution had requested for a seven-day remand order, but the court allowed them only four days.

The operation, jointly conducted by the MACC, Inland Revenue Board, Customs Department and Bank Negara Malaysia, saw raids carried out in four states - Penang, Johor, Selangor and Pahang. They also froze 150 bank accounts to facilitate investigations.

He said they also raided the offices of 84 forwarding agents.

Also read this report HERE.

Oh, That Sex Video.....

Now that we know there's a bad bad video of a man who resembles DSAI having sex with a woman, are we to sweep it under the carpet?

(A police special task force is investigating the case. The video is with them)

It depends on whether you support the man or not. It boils down almost to that.

But here's a perspective by NST columnist Umapagan Ampikaipakan:

"Is it important? Of course, it is. Not just because sex sells newspapers. Not just because sex gets the hits. But because the moral issues of our time have moved from those which were social to those that are very personal. Because we live in a time where public persons are not allowed private lives. Where every aspect of their being is scrutinised. Because rightly or wrongly, we want them to be everything that we are not. We expect them to be better. The argument of being "merely human" no longer applies.

Is it news? Of course, it is. Because "conversation may be compared to a lyre with seven chords -- philosophy, art, poetry, love, scandal, and the weather". Because we live in a time where gossip is often mistaken for gospel, where informed rumours are accepted as fact. And it is the role of the media to tune out all the noise in an attempt to uncover the truth. Because the consequences of these events can make or break a politician. It can forever divert the course of our politics.

Does it matter? Of course, it does. In a democracy, if the majority of the voting public believe that adultery is a crime, shouldn't they be entitled to know whether a potential leader is unfaithful to his wife?"

Read his column HERE.

It's also interesting that the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism wants the government to take “swift and firm action” against the people behind the scandal.

It president Rev Dr Thomas Philips described the episode as “sad, sordid" that had once again brought Malaysia to prominence for the wrong reasons.

The people behind the scandal would be the three trio of datuks - Rahim Thamby Chik, Eskay Abdullah and Shuaib Lazim.

I agree that these tiga sekawan should be dealt with for having in their possession the video and being behind this this ...this thing.

I'm sure we want so many questions answered..about who, what and how. Most importantly, why.

So, shouldn't the government verify whether the video is authentic because if it isn't, then the trio obviously was attempting to portray DSAI as a ...oh, you know.

As expected, the statement yesterday by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz that the Datuk T trio can be protected under the law attracted response.

Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) the trio cannot be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 as they do not meet the requirements in the law.

Today, Nazri said that they cannot be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act but might be under the Witness Protection Act if there was a case to answer,
Read the Bernama report HERE.

Meanwhile, I heard that the Datuk T trio are fearing for their safety. They're all at home and they can see so many people outside.

They are afraid to leave their houses.

Bung Oh Bung...

"Women drivers are slow at the wheel and oblivious on the roads. Some women drivers drive slowly and seem oblivious to traffic.When you honk at them, they get agitated with some even showing hand gestures to other drivers."

Uttered by none other than that "notorious" member of parliament from Sabah (Kinabatangan), Bung Mokhtar Radin.

But, you know what, I wasn't angry at all.

Not outraged.

I should be, I know.

He's made a lot of women very p*ssed!

Hah, padan muka.

But I admit to being a little amused.

It's Bung Mokhtar who said this-lah. Don't take what he says seriously.

I know, I know. He is a member of parliament.

He's a politician-lah.

But I hear he's a really nice guy and very popular with his constituents.

Perhaps, it's just that he may not articulate his points as well as others.

But, hey...you are responsible for what you say!

The Family And Social Networking....

Rather, the destructive effects of social networking....

This seems serious.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is going to carry out an "awareness programme on the negative effects of the social media on family institutions".

Minister Shahrizat Jalil told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
She was replying to Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Pas-Parit Buntar) who wanted to know if there were efforts being carried out to make the public aware of the effects of social networking on families and marriages..

Shahrizat said the programme -- "Sekata: Keselamatan Keluarga Tanggung Jawab Kita" (Family Safety is Our Responsibility) -- would be implemented at the grassroots level with the cooperation of some 150 non-governmental organisations.

"The government is aware that the extensive use of social websites can be detrimental, especially in the context of family and marriage.

"When family interaction and recreational activities are replaced with cyber activities, sooner or later it will affect the family's function and system," she said.

She pointed out that Malaysia has some 9.5 million people on Facebook, and the majority of the active users were those between 18 and 34 years old.

Shahrizat said the ministry, through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), had taken steps to educate family members and couples on the implications of social network abuse.

This included a family education programme to strengthen moral values, counselling services to individuals and couples with problems arising from Internet abuse, and the e-parenting portal as a medium to guide and channel positive information to families and parents.

So far 4,610 LPPKN programmes have been implemented from 2006 to 2010, which have benefited some 490,000 family members.

Romancing Sarawak (1)

I don't think I've ever posted anything on Sarawak here. Now that the state election is less than 3 weeks away, I thought I'd write something about this really beautiful state.
Sarawakians account for some of my very good longtime friends.
Besides, it's my adopted state.

Let me tell you about my very first encounter with Sarawakians, rather, with Iban.

Before 1973, I had never met anyone from Sarawak. However, looking back, I might have, in standard one. I remember her -- Juana Masang.
Then, I had not thought about how "different" her name was. But very much later during those reflective moments, I figured she could have been from Sarawak. Although until today, I cannot confirm that.
I never asked her where she was from because, when you're 7 years old, that didn't figure. I never thought she was any different from me. As far as my little mind was concerned, she could not have been from anywhere but Petaling Jaya. Just like me.

I was in my first year of pre-university at UiTM (then ITM). If I had continued my sixth form at a regular school, I don't think I'd ever get to meet this colourful bunch of classmates.

I had never, before that, met an Iban or a Bidayuh, or any Sarawak native or pribumi. It just never happened. PJ and Sarawak were worlds apart. Besides, those days, travel to East Malaysia was not affordable. You'd never think of going for a holiday to Sarawak.

Back to Sarawakians, I do remember a painting by (the late) Hussein Anas of a Kelabit woman, I believe.
It was such a beautiful painting that its somewhat ethereal image still remains in my mind and memory.

I never thought these classmates of mine looked any different, although their names did strike me as a little "strange". And they spoke English and Malay in a very thick accent.
When I first heard them talking, I thought they had been in Germany for a long time.

Of course, none of them had ever been to Germany.
To my surprise and, of course, fascination, they were all from Sarawak. Some, from the interior and lived in longhouses.
Interesting, I thought. So curious, I wanted to know more.
And so began my journey to know more about Sarawak and its people.

Over the two years I got to know them, I learnt very quickly that given the opportunity, anyone can shine and achieve success.

When I continued my tertiary education, I befriended more Sarawakians -- Malays Chinese, Iban, Kelabit, Orang Ulu, Bidayuh and Melanau.

In fact, I learnt a few phrases in the different dialects. Especially how to say "I love you".....

The friends I knew have all gone far and achieved success. They were all so bright and have done their home state proud.

Yaah. Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban!

And of course, how can I forget "Ngap Sayot!"

We'll Make Sure It's Not Another Genocide....

...like Bosnia, US president Barack Obama declared on Monday.

He is vigorously defending the US military action against Libya.

"President Barack Obama sought to strike a delicate balance, justifying his decision to use force in Libya while assuring a doubtful nation that the U.S. military actions would be limited and low-risk. Obama built his case for intervention by arguing that swift intervention in Libya was necessary to avert a humanitarian catastrophe on the scale of the 1990s Bosnia genocide. But while Obama repeatedly attacked Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi for creating that impending catastrophe, he insisted that international military action would stop well short of toppling the Libyan dictator, and declared that U.S. allies would soon take over leadership of the operation.

"I said that America's role would be limited; that we would not put ground troops into Libya; that we would focus our unique capabilities on the front end of the operation, and that we would transfer responsibility to our allies and partners. Tonight, we are fulfilling that pledge," Obama said, saying the 28-member NATO alliance would take over command of all military functions in Libya starting on Wednesday.

With Gadhafi's forces closing in on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi ten days ago, "the United States and the world faced a choice," Obama said at the National Defense University. "Gadhafi declared that he would show 'no mercy' to his own people. He compared them to rats, and threatened to go door to door to inflict punishment."" - The Envoy.

Read the rest HERE.

Also read the AP report HERE.

Elizabeth Taylor : 1932 - 2011

I grew up knowing everything about movie star and Hollywood great - the very beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, although I've only watched a handful of the films she starred in.

I do know the number of marriages she had and who her ex-husbands were. Who doesn't?
And all learnt during an era where there were no internet, E-news, twitter and God-knows-what-else.

Just this morning I caught a bit of "True Hollywood Story" about her on Astro (channel 712). She was a true movie star of Hollywood glamour and glitz. And she was probably the last one...

Los Angeles Times hailed her as "the woman who invented celebrity".

"The creature of Hollywood was one of the biggest believers in movie dreams and lived in dramatic fashion to the point where it was hard to know where the movie left off and her life began."

Read it HERE.

Elizabeth Taylor died on Wednesday, at 79, of congestive heart failure.

She was laid to rest Thursday afternoon at Forest Lawn Cemetery, in Los Angeles

RIP

Sex, Video And Datuk T

Datuk T, who's in possession of that scandalous sex video, issued a press statement today in which he is calling for the media fraternity and NGOs to immediately form an independent publlic commission to investigate the authenticity of the tape.

Here's his statement:

"Now that Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lodged a police report denying that he is the man in a sex video screened to media personnel on Monday, I presume that he and his wife are not interested to receive a copy of the recording from me next Monday.
Therefore I am calling on the media fraternity and NGOs to immediately form an independent public commission to investigate the authenticity of the tape.
The commission can engage forensic experts from whichever country to verify the authenticity of the recording.
I will hand over the original recording to the public commission.
I will also hand over the Omega watch that was found in the room where Anwar was caught on video with a foreign prostitute.
The commission can send the watch to forensic experts to find if DNA found on the watch matched Anwar's.
Let the public and the world be the judge.
I am not going to hand over this recording to the police as Dato' Seri Anwar would only divert attention claiming that the police are in cohorts with the government if the outcome of the investigation did not favour him.
Therefore I have decided not to hand over the recording to the authorities.
I will hand it to the proposed public commission comprising the media and NGOs."

So What Now, Datuk T?

We'd all like to know.

By now, everyone knows that Datuk T is the guy who's got the original video showing a man who resembles opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim having sex with a "hooker from China".

Datuk T said he will be handing over a copy of the video a week from yesterday (Monday March 21) to Anwar and wife to ascertain that the man in the video is Anwar. Or not.

If it's true that the man is Anwar, Datuk T wants both husband and wife to quit politics within 7 days OR ELSE! - he plans to hand over the original video to an NGO to initiate investigations into the authenticity of the recording.

Well, a week's not up yet. Yesterday Anwar vehemently denied "this scurrilous attack".

He told a packed press conference that he was at home with PKR staff, his wife, children, grandchildren and tweeting on that day and at that time.

He hasn't seen the video. But what's there to see if you know you're not the one.

So, what now?

The mysterious Datuk T. Refused to disclose his identity, nor his contact number.
Familiar but couldn't quite place him.
Malay. In his late 40s. Maybe older. Dark, medium height and built, moustached and was wearing a cap and tinted glasses. Soft-spoken.

Yesterday, under a shroud of secrecy, he called media representatives for a "sneak preview" of the sex video, at Carcosa Seri Negara (no less, no sh*t) in Kuala Lumpur.

Now, who is Datuk T? Who the **** is Datuk T?
No one seemed to know. No one seemed to recognise him. Nor any of his four friends/colleagues.

Will he now be sending a copy of the video to Anwar and wife?

Wonder how he'll be doing it.

On Anwar's side, he plans to lodge a police report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 10.30am today.

Oh..it's just another sex video. To each, his or her own.

For Pas, the party wants to sever ties with Anwar if the sex video is authentic. That means, if that guy is indeed their friend and ally.

Pas ulama council chief Harun Taib says it is a serious matter.

The DAP's stand is, I believe, that if it is indeed Anwar, then he should do the right thing - step down.

Meanwhile, what's your next move, Datuk T?

Lat Kampung Boy: Sebuah Muzikal...

Catch it at Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur, from March 16 to April 3.

The story of the famous cartoonist, Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid or better known as Lat, is being brought to stage in a musical production titled “Lat Kampung Boy Sebuah Muzikal”. The musical is based on Lat’s best-selling graphic novel The Kampung Boy, which was produced in 1979. The Kampung Boy has been translated into 13 major languages including Arabic, German, Korean and Spanish and is sold in more than 10 countries.

The two-and-a-half hour musical tells the story of Lat’s early years where he grew up in a small village in Kota Baru till the peak of his career as a cartoonist. Actor/singer Awie will be playing the Lat’s role while singer Atilia will be playing Lat’s wife. Others in the production include Omar Abdullah, Sandra Sodhy, Douglas Lim and Jalil Hamid.

The musical is being produced by the Malaysian National Institute of Translation (ITNM) and Tall Order Productions Sdn. Bhd. (TOP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture.

A Doctor In The House

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may revisit "The Malay Dilemma". A "Malay Dilemma 2", perhaps?

"When the Malays were poor, they were in a dilemma. When they are rich, they're in a bigger dilemma", Malaysia's former prime minister said at the launching of his memoir, "A Doctor in the House", at Mid Valley, Mega Mall in Kuala Lumpur thi afternoon. It was held outside the MPH Store.

Dr Mahathir said this when responding to question on whether he'd be writing another book to, perhaps, elaborate on some of the subjects in his book.

He said he didn't think he'd be writing another similar one but did not dismiss the idea of revisiting "The Malay Dilemma", a controversial book he wrote in 1970.

I was told people were waiting in line as early as 8am outside MPH in MidValley, Mega Mall today to buy a copy of Dr Mahathir's book -- hardcover and 809 pages.

The copies, (@RM100) were snapped up so fast.

Really good reading -- all 62 chapters. Just take your pick of the issue of your choice -- "I am A Malay", "In the Political Wilderness", "Ops Lallang" or..."Anwar's Challenge".
And it's very much his style. It's like you can hear him narrating his life and the events to you.

Some people may find remarks by the Tun potentially slanderous. Asked about it, he responded to the effect "so, sue me."

Celebrating Women: 100 years On...

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
The day was commemorated for the first time on 19 March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, following its establishment during the Socialist International meeting the prior year.
More than one million women and men attended rallies on that first commemoration.

Since then, International Women’s Day has been celebrated in many countries around the world.

It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March.

Two years later, in December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women’s full and equal participation.

International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.

The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.

It is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities." -- UN Women

Happy International Women's Day!

Communication Tools: Boon and Bane

Last night I scolded my daughter. There were heated exchanges between us. Thankfully she was not rude. Even if she were, I would not know because I couldn't hear the harshness, if indeed there was.

For how could I get a sense of the tone of those words she used.

We were sms-ing each other. In the car. In case, you're wondering, neither of us was driving.

Now how crazy was that? Not about us not driving, but the sms-ing in the car.

I'm not sure if all this new age mother-daughter communication is a good thing, you know.
I'd like to give her a face-to-face telling-to but, sms-ing seems easier and I can say a lot of things without any interruption and get my message across.

And so can she.

The good thing is that my daughter and I have a good relationship. No, no, I'm not her friend. I'm her mommy.

We do talk to and with each other a lot. But sometimes, I think sms-ing gets the message through, loud and clear without me having to raise my voice.

But then, there was the other day at lunch, when, the moment we took our seats, we took out our BBs, and started checking our tweets, smses, and God-knows-what-else.

And then the text message popped up :"What are you going to order, mommy?"

The 21st century....sigh.

Don't Wait Until The Last Minute, Ok?

It is a Malaysian malaise, for sure. Putting off things, including important ones, until the eleventh hour.

Last weekend when Pos Malaysia counters were opened nationwide for people to pay their fines and so on, not so many turned up. But on Monday, the last day, there was mayhem. Also made worse by a systems breakdown.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced a "reprieve" -- an extension of a week.
Traffic counters nationwide are now open (until March 10) from 8am to 10pm daily.

Let's see how the crowd is on that last day.

So, go now, if you have not settled your fines.

Unrest In Libya Pushes Oil Prices...

...to a two-and-a-half year high.

From the New York Times:

Just when oil markets appeared to be calming, crude oil prices surged again on Tuesday as the potential for more oil shipment disruptions spread across the Middle East and North Africa.

With Libya’s oil exports almost entirely halted for the last several days, renewed unrest in Oman, Iran and Iraq rattled oil traders. An interruption of shipments from any of those countries would further tighten oil supplies, even as Saudi Arabia has rushed to fill the vacuum of Libyan supplies by pumping more oil from its fields.

The worries about the oil supply rippled through other markets, with stock markets turning lower on concerns that the higher cost of energy would slow economic recovery.

The rest of the story HERE

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/profit/libya-unrest-drives-oil-prices-to-2-1-2-year-high-143242?cp

Stay Out and Stay Away -- Gaddafi to US and Nato

"We will not accept an intervention like that of the Italians that lasted decades. We will not accept a similar American intervention. This will lead to a bloody war and thousands of Libyans will die if America and NATO enter Libya." - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

As the embattled Libyan president launches counter-offensives against rebels, revolutionaries and freedom-fighters, the US, Britain and other NATO countries are drawing up contingency plans to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent Gaddafi's air forces from striking these forces.

The US is moving naval and air forces closer to Libyan shores and is calling for Gaddafi to give up power immediately. But any no-fly zone would need a mandate from the U.N. Security Council, where veto-holding Russia opposes the idea.

Okay, so the US is still trying to play sheriff of the world. At this time, it has lost much credibility to denigrate or chastise any foreign country.

And to prepare to attack Libya, a sovereign country, the US must think the world is blind to its own sinister agenda.

Let the people of Libya decide their future and shape their own destiny. The US cannot make an arbitrary decision here.

The US tricked and deceived the world about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, invaded the country and had Saddam Hussein executed, now leaving much of Iraq in disarray and a real mess, except where the oil pipelines are....

Well, it ain't happening again. We can't be tricked.

The US has no right to attack Libya. So what if Gaddafi is delusional? Let his people, the Libyan political process and the UN deal with him. The UN is already tightening the screws on Libya.

But, really...who can stop the US from doing what it wants to do?

Read Dr Mahathir's point of view

Read what the Star's Bunn Nagara has to say

Read the NST's editorial HERE

Read The Guardian's Seumas Milne commentary.