Whichever way you look at it, you'll have to agree that on both sides of the fence, a game is played. That game is the dangerous game of 'dare'.
For since Malaysians did the unthinkable of voting in Pakatan Rakyat, the stakes have since gone much higher. Each side make claims against the other, most of the time 'supported' by some kind of accusations on the blogs and on line portals.
If one was to take a good look at these accusations, and think rationally, instead of emotionally, one would be able to make out which has elements of 'special effects' and which has not.
Evidence when introduced are quickly passed of as conspiracies. It would then not be surprising to find that if eventually the Royal Commission of Inquiry that is to be formed to look into the death of Teoh Beng Hock was to find that his death was in fact no fault of the authorities, even then, the results will be scoffed at by Pakatan supporters.
Why? Truth as we use to know it is no more. Yup. Each side has their own truth, and the way this thing is going, Malaysia will have to belt up to find that so much politicking internally will only mean a slow death internationally.
On one hand we have a former Deputy Prime Minister going around telling the world that Malaysia is not what it seems to be. And now, with the latest accusations hitting the cyberworld pointing to two Selangor Exco members as having misused their positions, the MB has now come out to say that 'not all things in blogs are 100% true'. I can't agree anymore! It's true, his statement that is!
So my question is, if not all things are believable, then why do we selectivvely believe certain mind blowing stories and not rear banging ones?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Malaysia loses top creative person
AlFathiha - Yasmin Ahmad succumbed to the stroke she suffered on Thursday at the Damansara specialist centre Saturday.
I met Yasmin briefly at Pete Teo's launch of Malaysian Artists for unity's 'Here in my home' in KL last year. Dave Avran of Spanking the monkey had asked if I could videotape the event. I did and was introduced to Yasmin. We spoke for a while, and I told her that I was a talent on one of her commercials she worked on back in 1991. She struck me as someone who was very humble.
Her gift was one that was very special to Malaysians. Her Petronas series never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I will miss her work.
May allah bless you and may you rest in peace.
Say hello to Capt Ancient Mariner when you see him.
I met Yasmin briefly at Pete Teo's launch of Malaysian Artists for unity's 'Here in my home' in KL last year. Dave Avran of Spanking the monkey had asked if I could videotape the event. I did and was introduced to Yasmin. We spoke for a while, and I told her that I was a talent on one of her commercials she worked on back in 1991. She struck me as someone who was very humble.
Her gift was one that was very special to Malaysians. Her Petronas series never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I will miss her work.
May allah bless you and may you rest in peace.
Say hello to Capt Ancient Mariner when you see him.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
PR Strengtens itself with former BN heavyweights
Former Deputy Prime Minister gets Former Law Minister gets Former Health Minister gets Former Deputy Minister....gets former?
When it was rumoured that Chua was going to leave MCA for Pakatan, my immediate thought was that Dr Chua Soi Lek. In fact round about that same time, Dr Chua Soi Lek and his son Tee Yong had a meeting with Anwar Ibrahim (I stand corrected). So when it was announced last week that it was Chua Jui Meng and not Soi Lek, I told myself that Anwar was probably rallying his old Barisan buddies who are no longer 'in the now' to join him and probably work their magic on their own grassroot level.He had after all convinced Zaid Ibrahim to join PKR.
Yesterday, it was a former Parliamentary Secretary of MITI and former Deputy President of MIC, S.Subramaniam (Dato?). Given my limited knowledge of who is who in the former cabinets, my also very limited internet search + images revealed two S.Subramaniams worth noticing. After comparing it with reports from Bernama, I guess this is the guy.
But hold on. Didn't Anwar use to kick these buggers when he was DPM? Well, seems to me that when Anwar meant that he would get members of Parliament to jump ship, he didn't make it clear enough that it was former MPs that he was going to get.
I always maintained that if Anwar shut his gap and played his patience card, he would eventually take over the reigns of the country, but of course, if he could wait, he wouldn't have fought Tun Mahathir with his ludicrous IMF pill that only enriched his IMF buddies (and only he knows who else) Anwar being Anwar, he couldn't resist taking a dig from the back.....I mean stand at the back of Tun......
But then again, who am I to judge a politician. After all, all of you aho read sopo blogs are much more well acquainted to these people and their games...right?
When it was rumoured that Chua was going to leave MCA for Pakatan, my immediate thought was that Dr Chua Soi Lek. In fact round about that same time, Dr Chua Soi Lek and his son Tee Yong had a meeting with Anwar Ibrahim (I stand corrected). So when it was announced last week that it was Chua Jui Meng and not Soi Lek, I told myself that Anwar was probably rallying his old Barisan buddies who are no longer 'in the now' to join him and probably work their magic on their own grassroot level.He had after all convinced Zaid Ibrahim to join PKR.
Yesterday, it was a former Parliamentary Secretary of MITI and former Deputy President of MIC, S.Subramaniam (Dato?). Given my limited knowledge of who is who in the former cabinets, my also very limited internet search + images revealed two S.Subramaniams worth noticing. After comparing it with reports from Bernama, I guess this is the guy.
But hold on. Didn't Anwar use to kick these buggers when he was DPM? Well, seems to me that when Anwar meant that he would get members of Parliament to jump ship, he didn't make it clear enough that it was former MPs that he was going to get.
I always maintained that if Anwar shut his gap and played his patience card, he would eventually take over the reigns of the country, but of course, if he could wait, he wouldn't have fought Tun Mahathir with his ludicrous IMF pill that only enriched his IMF buddies (and only he knows who else) Anwar being Anwar, he couldn't resist taking a dig from the back.....I mean stand at the back of Tun......
But then again, who am I to judge a politician. After all, all of you aho read sopo blogs are much more well acquainted to these people and their games...right?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
BERNAMA's week in English
Days of the week according to Bernama...
Monday
Tuesday
RABU
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
The story is equally tragic both to the family of the late policeman and Bernama.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Bon Voyage Capt
Capt Yusof a.k.a The Ancient Mariner will be sorely missed, both in the blogosphere as well as MRTs. I enjoyed his company immensely whenever we lunched at Kak Ton's.
We talked about anything and everything. Capt was a well balanced man which is not common given that most people I meet these days have a 'with us or not' attitude.
Sadly, he passed away yesterday.
I received a call from A Voice asking me if I had heard about Capt's passing. I immediately dismissed it as a rumour, knowing that Capt had just laid his mother to rest last week.
The call was urgent and real enough that I detoured from the usual weekend grocery trip with my family in tow to his apartment, where I had picked him a couple of times back when we had activities in Blog House. Arriving there, I asked the guards which confirmed my worst fear.
We have lost another good friend from MRT. Others just stopped going there presumably because of differing opinions. But at MRT it was never that. We all have respect for each other enough to know that difference of opinions do not spell the end of friendship.
From our usual Tuesday chatter, I know about his seafaring days, and his family. He even told me that his daughter had started her own spa, which I didn't get to know where it was.
Last night, while having drinks with some good buddies of mine, I was thinking of the jovial Captain, and how his passing at 64 reminded me of my dad.
Thank you for the good memories, Capt, my friend, Farewell, and Bon Voyage.
Sheesh! If only others value their friendship more than being pro this and that!
We talked about anything and everything. Capt was a well balanced man which is not common given that most people I meet these days have a 'with us or not' attitude.
Sadly, he passed away yesterday.
I received a call from A Voice asking me if I had heard about Capt's passing. I immediately dismissed it as a rumour, knowing that Capt had just laid his mother to rest last week.
The call was urgent and real enough that I detoured from the usual weekend grocery trip with my family in tow to his apartment, where I had picked him a couple of times back when we had activities in Blog House. Arriving there, I asked the guards which confirmed my worst fear.
We have lost another good friend from MRT. Others just stopped going there presumably because of differing opinions. But at MRT it was never that. We all have respect for each other enough to know that difference of opinions do not spell the end of friendship.
From our usual Tuesday chatter, I know about his seafaring days, and his family. He even told me that his daughter had started her own spa, which I didn't get to know where it was.
Last night, while having drinks with some good buddies of mine, I was thinking of the jovial Captain, and how his passing at 64 reminded me of my dad.
Thank you for the good memories, Capt, my friend, Farewell, and Bon Voyage.
Sheesh! If only others value their friendship more than being pro this and that!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
PAS wins by 65
As expected, PAS won the seat in Manek Urai albeit onbly by 65 votes. Thats not too many.
Looks like the people of Manek Urai are torn between staying as a rural backwater and that of a developing rural town. Anyways, they have spoken.
OF course, most Pakatan supporters will attribute it to the job well done by those supporting the run up to the elections. I think the syabas that is deserved ought to go out to all those involved whether it is with the opposition or Barisan supporters. The genreally good behaviour of the voters speaks for itself, except for some minor incidents.
But most importantly, those who feel the need to get involved must stop themselves from spreading rumours. Yup.
I think this tantamounts to rumour.
9:56am
" I notice something unusual from other Belections. EC bringing in unusual high number of young voting age workers. Suspect phantoms to be in this form. Covering Chucho Puteri now. Long hilly ride with sore ass and not good for my bad back. WTF"
But thankfully there are no untoward incidents that affected the day.
I think Malaysia will have a brighter future as long as both sides can continue to battle cleanly.
Looks like the people of Manek Urai are torn between staying as a rural backwater and that of a developing rural town. Anyways, they have spoken.
OF course, most Pakatan supporters will attribute it to the job well done by those supporting the run up to the elections. I think the syabas that is deserved ought to go out to all those involved whether it is with the opposition or Barisan supporters. The genreally good behaviour of the voters speaks for itself, except for some minor incidents.
But most importantly, those who feel the need to get involved must stop themselves from spreading rumours. Yup.
I think this tantamounts to rumour.
9:56am
" I notice something unusual from other Belections. EC bringing in unusual high number of young voting age workers. Suspect phantoms to be in this form. Covering Chucho Puteri now. Long hilly ride with sore ass and not good for my bad back. WTF"
But thankfully there are no untoward incidents that affected the day.
I think Malaysia will have a brighter future as long as both sides can continue to battle cleanly.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The lowest of lows
I received an email alert recently, and this was followed up by an email. It basically protested an article which was printed in a local religious magazine, Al-Islam, and it was supposedly done by two reporters that were tipped off on purported conversion of muslim men at a local catholic church in Penang. My reaction was not one that was seethe with anger, more of one that was filled with the awe that such idiotic journalist exist in the realms of seedy reporting.
My next reaction was, will the government actually take action on this paper? Will KDN revoke its license for this provocative action that reeks of insult and disrespect? What KDN and the government does depends largely on which channel we take. We don't take to the streets. That is most important, for doing so will invoke other complications.
Today, I saw widespread reaction to the report, and this one was reported in the nut graph.
A very composed and logical response was solicited from the church via its Bishop, Anthony Selvanayagam. Clearly, though insulted, the church has opted to react in a civil manner, preferring to leave the follow up of such an irresponsible act to the authorities.
Here, the administration is left to its choice of preferred handling of this matter, whether its a NFA or charge is yet to be seen.
Mahaguru 58 did raise the same matter in his blog posting and proceeded further to solicit response from various Muslim ummahs. Dissapointingly, though he feels that the act of intrusion by the two Al Islam journolist, he agrees that the two Malay journalists had done no harm to their 'Aqeedah' in the course of their duty as investigative journalists and had done so as allowed by the principles of our Islamic faith. Perhaps, the issue may have been sidetracked.
Clearly, the act to protect one's religion is hailed by its own. However, by disrespecting another is totally a different one.
I for one, would not llike to see over reaction to this matter. But by allowing a licensed publication a blatant right to disregard another's religion is totally unacceptable. I have many muslim friends, and I respect their religion as well as others. And I ask the same from them.
In the case of Al Islam, I ask no less than to ban this publication in order for it to know that Malaysia does not condone these kinds of insult to religion. Not just christian, any religion.
My next reaction was, will the government actually take action on this paper? Will KDN revoke its license for this provocative action that reeks of insult and disrespect? What KDN and the government does depends largely on which channel we take. We don't take to the streets. That is most important, for doing so will invoke other complications.
Today, I saw widespread reaction to the report, and this one was reported in the nut graph.
A very composed and logical response was solicited from the church via its Bishop, Anthony Selvanayagam. Clearly, though insulted, the church has opted to react in a civil manner, preferring to leave the follow up of such an irresponsible act to the authorities.
Here, the administration is left to its choice of preferred handling of this matter, whether its a NFA or charge is yet to be seen.
Mahaguru 58 did raise the same matter in his blog posting and proceeded further to solicit response from various Muslim ummahs. Dissapointingly, though he feels that the act of intrusion by the two Al Islam journolist, he agrees that the two Malay journalists had done no harm to their 'Aqeedah' in the course of their duty as investigative journalists and had done so as allowed by the principles of our Islamic faith. Perhaps, the issue may have been sidetracked.
Clearly, the act to protect one's religion is hailed by its own. However, by disrespecting another is totally a different one.
I for one, would not llike to see over reaction to this matter. But by allowing a licensed publication a blatant right to disregard another's religion is totally unacceptable. I have many muslim friends, and I respect their religion as well as others. And I ask the same from them.
In the case of Al Islam, I ask no less than to ban this publication in order for it to know that Malaysia does not condone these kinds of insult to religion. Not just christian, any religion.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Blogs being monitored?
Thats an oxymoron! If I may use that word....Rais Yatim said this in Parliament but I guess it escaped most of us. Why? Because bloggers don't really have the power. According to the story on page 21 of National news in the Star on Wednesday, 8th of July, Rais was quoted to have said 'Bloggers have the power to unite or wreck society'.
I beg to differ. Having an opinion is not equal to having the power to wreck or unite society. The power wrests in lawmakers. It wrests in the Government. Bloggers are no different from anyone else, except that they are more visible through their unending opinions on all matters under the sky. And the internet allows for it because there are people out there spending a few RM in coffeeshops that surf the net and look for subjects to read!
In the past, senior government officials were reported to have said that there already is enough laws in the country to keep bloggers in check. Of course, if you speak to a lawyer, he will tell you that some of the laws are outdated (read sedition act). But if that is the case, why aren't the lawmakers busy with this to change it? And what about criminal defamation? Or the printing and publications act?
It is terribly wrong to use the space that one can get to spread lies. I believe such has been the case whenever people have certain ulterior motives in mind. If that is the case, the government should use the right laws to charge and commit the offender. To restrict people is totally wrong.
I fo one would like to sue a certain party for denying me my rights to publish certain articles of gender discrimination, but fortunately for them, the law has permitted them to shut me up...for now. I wait with baited breath for the verdict to ensue so that rain or shine, I can blog about it.
Most of us bloggers agreed that we will defend each other's right to write about what we want to. Some choose to get personal, some choose to tell half truths, and some no truth at all. Whichever the case, it makes for good reading. The fact is, as long as readers are not able to decide truth from fiction, this problem will always remain. Spreading sms that cause panic is one thing, spreading lies to defame is another. In truth, the objective remains with the publisher and the publisher alone. Not the reader.
For now, being monitored, I guess will be the new way of cyber life?
I beg to differ. Having an opinion is not equal to having the power to wreck or unite society. The power wrests in lawmakers. It wrests in the Government. Bloggers are no different from anyone else, except that they are more visible through their unending opinions on all matters under the sky. And the internet allows for it because there are people out there spending a few RM in coffeeshops that surf the net and look for subjects to read!
In the past, senior government officials were reported to have said that there already is enough laws in the country to keep bloggers in check. Of course, if you speak to a lawyer, he will tell you that some of the laws are outdated (read sedition act). But if that is the case, why aren't the lawmakers busy with this to change it? And what about criminal defamation? Or the printing and publications act?
It is terribly wrong to use the space that one can get to spread lies. I believe such has been the case whenever people have certain ulterior motives in mind. If that is the case, the government should use the right laws to charge and commit the offender. To restrict people is totally wrong.
I fo one would like to sue a certain party for denying me my rights to publish certain articles of gender discrimination, but fortunately for them, the law has permitted them to shut me up...for now. I wait with baited breath for the verdict to ensue so that rain or shine, I can blog about it.
Most of us bloggers agreed that we will defend each other's right to write about what we want to. Some choose to get personal, some choose to tell half truths, and some no truth at all. Whichever the case, it makes for good reading. The fact is, as long as readers are not able to decide truth from fiction, this problem will always remain. Spreading sms that cause panic is one thing, spreading lies to defame is another. In truth, the objective remains with the publisher and the publisher alone. Not the reader.
For now, being monitored, I guess will be the new way of cyber life?
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Match maid across the straits?
In one of my previous postings, you ban I ban, I received a few comments which I could almost say I felt the pain of these people, as far as their experience with their maid was concerned.
The nature of the rat race we are in puts most families in the 2 income category, which generally means that both husband and wife works to basically put enough (and probably more) on the table. With most not having to depend on their parents to care for the young, getting a maid would most probably be the next best solution. In recent months, cases of maid abuse was brought to light and the threat of banning Indonesian maids from coming to Malaysia to work was Indonesia's response.
In my opinion, and a qualified one, seeing that my family and I had experienced two maids (one caring for my terminally ill aunt and my mum, and the other was looking after my household back in 2002, when I could afford it!) conspiring to run away, many more Malaysians have had to endure this kind of setback despite spending thousands on them.
As such, I will be dedicating a blog solely on runaway maids so that you can post a picture of the fugitive as well as provide other information relative to your experience in order for other Malaysians to spot them and probably bring them to the police for being illegals!
I say no more to illegal maids, and lets ban them altogether!
'Towards an Illegal Alien free Malaysia'!!
The nature of the rat race we are in puts most families in the 2 income category, which generally means that both husband and wife works to basically put enough (and probably more) on the table. With most not having to depend on their parents to care for the young, getting a maid would most probably be the next best solution. In recent months, cases of maid abuse was brought to light and the threat of banning Indonesian maids from coming to Malaysia to work was Indonesia's response.
In my opinion, and a qualified one, seeing that my family and I had experienced two maids (one caring for my terminally ill aunt and my mum, and the other was looking after my household back in 2002, when I could afford it!) conspiring to run away, many more Malaysians have had to endure this kind of setback despite spending thousands on them.
As such, I will be dedicating a blog solely on runaway maids so that you can post a picture of the fugitive as well as provide other information relative to your experience in order for other Malaysians to spot them and probably bring them to the police for being illegals!
I say no more to illegal maids, and lets ban them altogether!
'Towards an Illegal Alien free Malaysia'!!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Blog House No More! Thank You for the memories..
Just yesterday, Rocky posted that Blog House is no more. Yup, the place that gave us so much memories and brought some of the bloggers together has been handed over to the landlord.
As one of the pro tem committee members, I had access to blog house and did most of the organising whenever there were events. The Bangsa Malaysia do was one for me to remember, as with the interfaith prayers held by Datuk Marina Mahathir, Saffron Sunday, 8Th March 08, and the 100 days celebration. Alas, all good things will come to an end.
Thank you to all of you who made those memories, well, memorable!
As one of the pro tem committee members, I had access to blog house and did most of the organising whenever there were events. The Bangsa Malaysia do was one for me to remember, as with the interfaith prayers held by Datuk Marina Mahathir, Saffron Sunday, 8Th March 08, and the 100 days celebration. Alas, all good things will come to an end.
Thank you to all of you who made those memories, well, memorable!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)