Wednesday 30 May 2012

Nizar's little barking at Sultan of Johor

So, the Pakatan's former Perak MB Nizar Jamaluddin said it's ok to tell Sultan of Johor what to do and what not to do with his royal highness' money. He seems to think that the Sultan should not spend the half a million ringgit on a car number plate. He said he will only apologise if the Sultan makes it known that he was offended by what he said.

Well Nizar, first of all, the money belong to the Sultan.  So whatever he do with his money is his own business. The Johor royal family is rich. So if the Sultan want some luxury items using his own money, who are we to say he shouldn't. Since your are not a Johorean, then let me tell you Nizar that the Johor royal family have done good for the people of Johor. They do not live on the stipend paid by the State government. That money actually go to royal foundations and to be benefited by the rakyat.

Secondly, the money paid by the Sultan for the plate number go to the government's coffer. The money is for the government to use for the benefit of the people. So, what's wrong with that? It's not like the Sultan was paying for some foreign stuff causing an outflow of our money.

Nizar, being a former MB should know all these. But why does he deem it necessary to make such noises about the Sultan of Johor? Would he made noise if it was a Chinese tycoon who bought thar WWW1 plate number?

The last time he made his complaints known against the royalty was against his own Sultan of Perak, That I can understand lah, as he was pissed because he lost his MB seat and need to lash out at something. Having seen Nizar in action during one of those Pas' ceramah, I know he is very capable of going rabid at those he doesn't like.


But why does he want to bite the Sultan of Johor this time?

The only answer to that question I can think of was that Nizar was actually unhappy with the Sultan of Johor because of his highness' habit of supporting development projects in Johor being attacked by Pas and its Pakatan allies.

The latest being Petronas'   RAPID petroleum hub project in Pengerang. The Sultan, while launching the project earlier this month delivered a strongly worded speech, admonishing those who were opposing the project, describing them as "anti-development instigators".

It was really a royal slap across the face of Johor Pakatan leaders who were opposing the project and trying to turn it into another Lynas issue for the coming general election. From what I understand, the Sultan had went out of his way to deliver that message across, not because he wanted to dwell in politics but rather he was angry that there are those who are out to deny the benefits of development for the rakyat of Johor.

Well, I don't think the Sultan of Johor will lower himself to demand an apology from some biadap Melayu like Nizar.



 So, Nizar in his infinite stupidity may think he won this one just because the Sultan is not saying anything. But just wait and see how Johoreans will punish Johor Pas in the coming general election because of this. I know, not all Johoreans are pro-royalty, but I am quite certain the overwhelming majority of them are also not pro-kurang ajar outsiders who think they can spit at a Johor institution...the Sultan of Johor, of all institutions at that.

Note: Seditious comments are not allowed here. Thank you,

Monday 28 May 2012

TKC: Erasing History, Traditions and Values


I came across this during my usual prowling of the cyberspace, and boy, was I shocked about Tunku Kurshiah College, or Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, or better known as TKC, being renamed Sekolah Menengah Sains Tunku Kurshiah.


A school with 65 years history of academic excellence and an illustrious alumni, one of the best schools in the country - with excellent academic and co-curricular achievements - if not the best, will be relocated to a new site in Nilai, and in its place will be a Sekolah Menengah Sains.

When we visit the distinctive campus, surrounded  by cemeteries no less, beyond its double layer of fences and up the winding driveway lined with old trees, we will be greeted by the facade of the 60's buildings of the school's four residential Houses, from the outermost red Mahsuri, to the blue Tun Fatimah, followed by the green Selendang Delima and finally the innermost yellow Siti Zawiah, before we reach the Great Hall with the names of former Head Girls listed on its walls, and where practically every activity is held, be it Thursday's solat jemaah, Saturday's matinee, the annual drama and dance competitions, and of course the term-end assemblies where the best students would line the steps to the stage to be acknowledged by their teachers and peers.



Then there is the main school building where the Domestic Science and the Physics labs used to be, at the back of the residential Houses is the Dining Hall with its High table in the middle and the extended wing at the back, then there is the square in front of the Dining Hall where the girls would sit and banter while waiting for the dinner bell to ring or to cheer for their netball teams during competitions - all these will be known as Sekolah Menengah Sains Tunku Kurshiah in the future.


What la ... Is it not enough that you want to relocate the poor schoolgirls to some obscure place somewhere in Nilai, now you want to change its name to Sekolah Menengah Sains Tunku Kurshiah?  At least Sri Puteri gets to become Sri Puteri, Putrajaya - the school at the seat of Federal Government, while TKC gets to be the grand new Estate School of Nilai?

I don't get it - if it is too small, or too old, or too whatever, that they have to relocate the school to some completely indistinct new campus in Nilai, then why create a new school called SMS Tunku Kurshiah in its place?

Why not just have a new school in Nilai named SMS Whatever and upgrade the campus on Bukit Merbah (or wasn't it Jalan Cemetery too?) to accommodate new requirements while maintaining the name, the unique look of the old buildings, the traditions and the values of a great old school, and the all-around excellence the TKCians are renowned for?

Try doing the same thing to MCKK - change its name to Sekolah Menengah Sains Melayu Kuala Kangsar and see what happens.  Shall we try doing that?

Tell you what, let us change the name of Royal Military College to Sekolah Menengah Sains Tentera.  After all they also sit for PMR and SPM too.  Fair kan?

And while we are at it, let us change the name of  Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar in JB to Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Abu Bakar?  That school is still there, despite being right smack in the middle of the town.  Can or cannot?

And what about the resident ghosts of those buildings such as the Green Lady and the Soldier - are they going to relocate these beings to the new campus in Nilai too, or will they be part of the stories for students of the new SMS Tunku Kurshiah while the TKC girls, or KaTaK as they are called by jealous detractors, will have to contend with new jins and hantus at the new TKC campus in Nilai?

That means even the hantus of the new generation TKCians will be different from those known by the Old Girls.  Pity them, the OGA will have nothing more in common with the new generation TKCians to talk about during their biennial dinners.  Not the buildings, not the traditions, maybe not even the values, certainly not the ghosts.

I guess it is extremely easy to do away with history, traditions and values - what will happen to TKC is precisely that - the extinction of an old school representing how easy it is to do away with history, traditions and values of old, which disconnect the younger generation from the old.

Saturday 26 May 2012

How to kill BIGCAT

Back in JB for a few days. A short break from my moving around. It's hot out there. Just lazing around today. Need to rest. Thought of writing about a ghost busting story at Irda office but I'm still not in the mood to write heavy stuff. Maybe next time.

By the way, received some comments saying that BIGCAT is leaving JB, but I can't release them as it is not fair to the person named. Told you all already - no fishing here. So, please don't waste your time.

Those who don't like this blog, just don't read it, ok? It's as simple as that. No need to accuse other people of these and that. Not nice like that. Afterall, this is just an insignificant anonymous blog. So, no worries, ok? Just don't read all these nonsense of mine if they cause you heart pain. If no one read this blog, it will die a natural death.

Anyway, for the final time, I will be leaving Johor only after the next general election. I hate my job here, but I still need to help Johor BN with what ever little I could offer. So, I'm toughing it out. Hopefully I will manage to save enough money to go to Taiwan by the time I can leave this place.

 Don't really fancy the trip to Singapore on Monday but hopefully I can get things settled there as soon as possible.

Ok, I'm going back to sleep. Need to save some energy. Tonight got a bit of a hot date leh :-)


Thursday 24 May 2012

Looking for a new job

On the road. Still am for the coming next few weeks.

Not much time to fool around with this blog for now.

What to do. Need to earn a living. 

I actually envy all those cybertroopers. Fool around like this also can get paid.

I have to admit, I do enjoy writing this blog more than doing anything else ever since I started it seven months ago.

Maybe I should consider being a cybertrooper and do full time blogging. Not as fun as being an independent blogger but at least can get paid. By the way, my current job is getting more shitty than ever. I may have to quit it soon.

Maybe I can become Guan Eng's 21st special officer specialising on cyberwarfare. Surely he need another Malay in his team.

 I"m not very pretty, so Guan Eng need not worry about flying ashtray....or was it flying file?

So how Guan Eng? Can or not? My asking price cheap only - RM9k per month plus medical coverage. I'm quite good, ok?

Ok, really need to run now. Don't know when I can do my next posting. Till then, take care and all the best.

Monday 21 May 2012

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

Dear little brother,
I'm sorry that I'm not much of a help.
I'm sorry that you have to go through so much sufferings.
I'm sorry that the lawyer was useless.
I'm sorry that the system is so filled with bureaucratic crap.
I'm sorry that I can't get anyone to lessen your sufferings.

I'm exhausted.
All my efforts were no good.
I'm really sorry little brother. Please forgive me.

I will wait till you can smile and laugh again. I will wait till we can go bowling together again like yesterday. I will wait till you are happy again.

I'm putting everything on hold till I know that you are alright again. I'm putting everything on hold in protest of the sufferings that they put you through.

Take care my dear little brother. Be safe. Be safe. Be safe.

May Allah always  protect you...

Saturday 19 May 2012

Nik Aziz is not the father of Guan Eng

Today there was a story about Pas' Nik Aziz planning to sue NST and former IGP Rahim Noor. It's about an NST article last week where Rahim was quoted as describing Nik Aziz as "bapak kafir" (father of infidels). Looks like Pas has learned from DAP's big brother PAP - sue your enemies to bankruptcy if you don't like what they say about you.


The problem here is that Lee Kwan Yew's PAP never called anyone kafir. And even if they did, I very much doubt they will sue the people whom they called kafir if those people returned the favour by calling them kafir too. PAP may be a lot of unpleasant things, but I think they do have some sense of shame. Ok lah, PAP probably would not mind people calling them kafir, but that's beside the point. The point is, you don't cry foul when people called you names which you yourself had used to describe others. It's like a kid who throw a stone at another kid only to run crying to his mommy after the other kid started to throw the same stone at him.The law may allow it, but this shows how low class Pas really are.

Remember Amanat Hadi? Pas actually lumped ALL Umno people as kafir back during that period in the 1980s. It's at the height of Pas' fanaticism. Pas members at that time actually avoid praying with Umno people in a surau or mosque. They even regarded meat of livestock slaughtered by Umno members as not halal because due to the Amanat Hadi, they were regarded as non-muslim.

Well, I don't know what got into Rahim Noor or the NST editor who allowed the story to be published, but personally, I think it was more of a political pun than anything libellous. Come on lah, who would really believe that Nik Aziz is the father of infidels. Everyone know what that Lim Kit Siang is the father of Lim Guan  Eng. Ok, I know Nik Aziz once call Guan Eng Khalifah Umar Abdul AZIZ. But that doesn't mean he is the father of Guan Eng. He may love Guan Eng very much and want to adopt him as a son but that only make him the "bapak angkat kafir". True or not?

Friday 18 May 2012

A towering Malay's fistful of ringgits

I do wonder what went through Guan Eng's mind when he decided to offer Tunku Aziz that RM50k a year job as "compensation" for not extending the latter's senator-ship following the DAP's Bersih row.

Would he had made the offer if Tunku Aziz was a respected "towering" Chinese or Indian?

Somehow, I suspect that  he would not dare to make that offer if not because Tunku Aziz is a Malay.

Anyway, I think RM50k a year is rather stingy leh. That's just over RM4k a month. What la you Guan Eng, want to bribe, bribe properly la. Tunku Aziz is a towering person, ok?

Maybe to Guan Eng, Tunku Aziz's towering is just of the Melayu variety only...but still la Mr Chief Minister, the guy is still towering, ok? You all DAP people who gave him that label, what. Whatever it is, his honor and dignity should worth more than that, I think

I wonder how much is the price of honor and dignity of these other DAP's towering Malays in this picture here with Guan Eng..


This whole thing actually reminds me of an incident several years ago. A good friend, who works for a rich towkey called me up just a few days before Hari Raya asking for my bank account numbers. He said his towkey wants to give me duit raya. I tried very hard not to get angry as I didn't want to lose a friend just because he went stupid for awhile. I politely told him I can't do such a thing, upon which he immediately said the money was not a bribe. Just duit raya, what, he said. Furthermore, he said his towkey will get angry if he fails to give the money to me. At that point, I lose my patient and quietly told him to bank in the money into his own account. I then hanged up.

A bribe is a bribe, ok? I don't think the towkey would want to simply simply give me duit raya if not because of my professional position. And being offered a bribe while fasting during Ramadhan, was actually quite insulting.

However, I tried to reason with myself that the towkey and my friend (who happened to be an Indian) didn't mean any harm as they may had thought it's normal for Malays to receive such "gifts" due to their duit raya tradition. After all the towkey and my friend are really nice people. They may probably be just mistaken about the Malays' tradition and their sense of values. Maybe, they have come to believe that the Malays had developed a sense of justification for that sorts of things and accorded a certain degree of acceptance to the culture of corruption.

Well, my friends, you all got it wrong, ok? Only corrupted Malays are like that. Not all Malays, ok? 

Anyway, what is this duit raya thing in the first place? Where did the Malays learn to give money to the visiting  children (and later on adults) during Hari Raya? I do believe the Malays, at one point in time adopted this "tradition" from somewhere, probably from the ang pow giving practice during Chinese New Year or giving of gifts during Christmas.

By the way, I never give duit raya during Aidil Fitri celebrations because I don't believe in the practice. I think it teaches kids to be materialistic. That's why I am not a big hit among my nephews and nieces.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

DAP's Malay window dressings

I have always considered myself a leftist during my youthful days.

In college, I read Marx and Engels. Some of my friends even believed that I was a communist. Well, I am not and had never been one. Being a Muslim, I can't accept the atheism of the ideology.

Still, being a youth from a poor working class family, I was at that time attracted to the concept of socialism. At one point, I considered myself a Muslim socialist.


I used to argue something like this (courtesy of Wikipedia) -
Islamic socialism is a term coined by various Muslim leaders to describe a more spiritual form of socialism. Muslim socialists believe that the teachings of the Qur'an and Muhammad are compatible with principles of equality and the redistribution of wealth drawing inspiration from the early madina welfare state established by Muhammad . Muslim Socialists are more conservative than their western contemporaries. Islamic Socialists found their roots in Anti-imperialism. Islamic Socialist leaders believe in Democracy and deriving legitimacy from public mandate as opposed to religious texts or claiming to be successors of the Prophet's companions.

Of course, these sorts of thinking was rather unusual for a Malay youth back then. I am not very sure about now, but at that time, most young Malays were either with Pas or Umno. I don't really like Pas due to its fanatical Islamic views while Umno, to me, was rather feudalistic and ideologically wishy washy. In the end, I became rather disinterested to be on either side and opted not to be involved in anything political. I even refused to be registered as a voter.

It was around this time that I met a close friend, a young Chinese guy, who was my classmate. He was a member of Dapsy and very passionate when it came to politics. He was always going around talking with anyone who care to listen about the virtues of DAP. So passionate he was about the whole thing that most of my friends tried to avoid him whenever he approached them to talk about politics. Too heavy stuff lah, they would complained. After all, we were at that time still at the age of enjoying our young life. What to wear to a party was more important and fun than discussing about the oppression of BN. Anyway, most of my classmates were rich kids whose idea of oppression was when their parents refused to buy them a car or grounded them a week for getting piss drunk during a party.

I always pitied my friend and tried to layan him whenever he went on his political rantings. His biggest hero at that time was Lee Lam Thye (whom he later on denounced as the most corrupted man ever, after Lee left DAP). He was so shocked when I told him that I was not a registered voter. My defense was that this country is a democracy which allows me to choose not to choose.

When I told him of my socialist leanings at that time, he immediately wanted me to join Dapsy. It's socialist what, he said. I must be a good catch, I guess, to bolster the DAP's Malay ranks. Well, that's not how I see the DAP's youth arm. It's just socialist by name. Even back then, I considered DAP as a parti anak beranak and more feudal (the Chinese version) and racially chauvinistic than Umno.

DAP have never been what they claimed themselves to be. Multi-racial? It's a Chinese party with the non-Chinese being mere window dressings. Democratic? I can't even remember when was their last party elections. Tell that to Lee Lam Thye, Wee Choo Keong, S K Song, etc and they would probably have a good laugh. Promoting freedom? Just look at how they banned newspapers in Penang whose editorial policies do not support their cause. A lot of other examples lah.

It's the same as their Pas and PKR partners. Say one thing, but the reality were another. Their hypocricy was what put me off from supporting them.


I was not at all surprised by what happened to Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, who has now joined a long list of illustrious former DAP leaders. The man joined DAP probably believing that he was doing something good. Now he knows that he was just being silly. Tunku Aziz is a typical smart Malay whose judgement was clouded by his self-righteousness and lack of grassroot knowledge. It's a normal syndrome afflicting a lot of idealistic Malay elites. It's the same "illness" affecting a daughter of a former PM who has now gone totally stupid with her support for those Bersih rioters.

The same, however, cannot be said of some other Malays who joined DAP. They did so purely due to selfish reasons. These are the types who failed to further their political ambitions on the usual Malay political platforms. The most famous at the moment are ex-Umno leaders Aspan Alias and Mohd Ariff Sabri.

I am not familiar with Aspan, but I indeed do know quite a bit about Ariff.

Ariff was the former one-term Umno assemblyman of Pulau Manis (2004-2008), and Pekan Umno division information chief. He was dropped from being an assemblyman due to his poor performance. I remember at that time aides of PM (DPM then) DS Najib Razak used to complain to me how Ariff gave their boss a headache as people of Pulau Manis were so unhappy with his performance as a wakil rakyat back then. On the night before the 2008 polling day, Najib spend the last hours of campaigning in the area in a last ditch attempt to sway voters there back to BN. Fortunately, they did and Najib recorded the highest majority among BN candidates in that general election.

My friends in Pahang told me that Ariff was very bitter about the whole thing and that was why he started to attack the Umno establishment in his blog. One of his main target was Najib himself. It was his final act of betrayal when he joined DAP after achieving so much in his life courtesy of Umno.

I was a bit sympathetic when Tunku Aziz realized what DAP really stands for. Well, everyone has to go through such an education. I went through the same thing when I shed off my socialist idealism. But if people like Ariff and Aspan suddenly declared they found out that DAP is a chauvinistic autocratic party, I would not even spare a spit of words for them.They are just opportunists with not a bone of conscience in their body.

The Malays, especially those in Pas and PKR should know what DAP really is after the Tunku Aziz episode. DAP have not and never will work for the Malays' interests. The Malays should also know by now what kind of people among them who are within that party's ranks.

Monday 14 May 2012

Giving way from Johor Umno

As preparations for the coming general election are now entering the last lap, Johor Umno are in the process of vetting their list of potential candidates.

I was made to understand that a lot of new faces will be introduced based on the need for winnable candidates to represent the party.

The big question now is, who among the current Johor Umno wakil rakyat will make way for the fresh faces.

Who among these wakil rakyat are willing to give way for the sake of Umno and Johor's future?

Who among them will be willing to not only give way but help the new Umno candidate to retain the constituency? Are they willing to let go of their seat without causing problems to the party?

These are questions which need to be considered by Johor Umno chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman before making the necessary recommendations to party president DS Najib Razak.

My personal opinion on who among Johor Umno wakil rakyat who should gracefully give way to new candidates are as follows -

1. Buloh Kasap (Segamat) - Osman Jais. He has been there forever and rakyat in Segamat were said to be getting tired of him.

2. Sekijang (Sekijang) - Baharum Mohamed. Said to be spending more time in public conflict with his division deputy than looking after the interest of his constituents.

3. Bukit Serampang (Pagoh) - Tahir Taat. Should consider making way for a younger, more energetic candidate.

4. Serom (Ledang) - Abdul Ghani Othman. He wants to retire peacefully...but I heard the PM has other plans for him..

5. Bukit Naning (Bakri) - Abdullah Ali. His performance is simply not up to expectation.

6. Sungai Balang (Muar) - Robiah Kosai. Not a winnable candidate. Sure kalah if fielded again.

7. Semerah (Parit Sulong) - Ariss Shamsuddin. Failed to add value to his constituency. I had to google to get his full name.

8. Sri Gading (Sri Gading) - Mohammad Aziz. Errr....how many terms already aaaa? Lost count leh.


9. Senggarang (Batu Pahat) - Jaafar Hashim. Not performing. Promises not delivered.

10. Layang-Layang (Simpang Renggam) - Onn Mohd Yassin. Also failed to add value to his constituency. I don't even know what he looks like.

11. Kukup (Tanjung Piai) - Md Othman Yusof. A good businessman but a poor leader in politics.

12. Bukit Permai (Kulai) - Kamaruzaman Ali. No charisma and not performing as a wakil rakyat. Simply cannot handle the Kulai division warlords.

13. Nusajaya (Gelang Patah) - Aziz Sapian. Not good in handling issues of his constituency. Too confrontational.

14. Kempas (Pulai) - Osman Sapian. He is under too much pressure from within his own Pulai division.

15. Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru) - Shahrir Samad - Like Ghani, he wants to retire peacefully (but I don't think there is anyone to replace him in JB for now).

16. Endau (Mersing) - Zainal Abidin Osman. Has been a wakil rakyat for too long and need to give way to new face.

17. Kota Tinggi (Kota Tinggi) - Syed Hamid Albar. Been around too long. Should play the role of mentor to younger leaders.

18, 19, 20. (Pengerang) - Azalina Othman of Pengerang, Hamimah Mansor of Penawar, and Harun Abdullah of Tanjong Surat. All three should be replaced. They can't seem to work together as a team. For the interest of Johor Umno, Pengerang constituents and divisional unity, a new united team should helm Pengerang.

Saturday 12 May 2012

My story : My mother


Tomorrow is Mothers' Day. I'm writing this in remembrance of my arwah Mak. Just a short summary of her life for this blog's record.

My mom was born in a village in Batu Pahat, Johor in 1933. She was the third sibling of a large Javanese family. Her father was a carpenter while her mother was a housewife.

Her family was extremely poor. There was no other way to describe it. From what she told me, her childhood was purely a tale of day-to-day survival. Food was scarce and clothes were made of whatever cloth her father could find. Her clothes when she was a little girl were made mostly of cloth from flour gunny sack, patched together by her mother. I know it's hard to believe but those were pre-World War II days of Malaya.


The Japanese occupation when she was nine years old made life even harder. Her favorite brother, my Pak Ngah was her hero at that time. He was probably 13 then. The two of them were mostly assigned to chase away the birds at my grandfather's small patch of land planted with padi bukit which was the family's only source of rice during that period..

My Pak Ngah was the one who took her to join him at a Japanese school whenever they were not chasing away the birds which were eating the paddy.. She told me that she had never been happier at that time then when she first sat in the classroom singing those Japanese songs and learning to read, write and count. She taught me some - ichi, ine, san, see, goh, roku...one, two, three, four, five, six...

It was however at the tail end of the war when my mom joined the class. The Japanese soon surrendered and the school was closed. Except for a little Japanese stuff, my mom never get to learn much else. She had to went back to her routine of helping my grandmother with household chores and looking after her younger siblings.

Later on, she found out that a religious school had been opened near the village. It was the Sekolah Agama Johor type. My grandfather was however against the idea of my mom going to the school as she was already 13. He saw no point for her to get an education as she was already at the age of girls being prepared to be married off at that time. It was normal for girls to get married at such a young age those days.

Defying her father, my mom sneaked out to go to the school. When my grandfather found out about it, she got a walloping from him Her teachers at the school however went to meet my grandfather when my mom stopped going to the school. They told him that she was a bright student and he should let her continue attending school. After much persuasion my grandfather relented. My mom told me that being allowed to go back to that school  was the happiest memory of her childhood. However, everything thought at the religious school were in Jawi. She never learns the Roman alphabets.


My mom's schooling days were however cut shot. One day, while she was in school, my grandmother turned up at the school, requesting to bring her home. When she asked my grandmother why, she was told that representatives of a family from Muar had came to their house proposing to see her in person for a marriage plan. She was devastated. It turned out that was her last day in school.

Early married life was very tough on my mom. It was after all an arranged marriage to an equally poor family. She didn't even like my dad at first. He was a very serious person, worked hard and not at home most of the time. My mom had to move in with her in-laws after the wedding and they were not very nice to her. Her routine was to wake up very early to prepare breakfast for everyone, then go rubber tapping, followed by attending other household chores etc. My dad, being a filial son let all his earnings to be managed by his mother who was a very strict person in charge of the household spending.

That arrangement lasted until my elder siblings were at the school-going age. My father, against the wishes of his mother decided that his children must all go to school. His mother insisted otherwise as she was of the opinion that children of a laborer like my dad would only waste their time in school. Furthermore, sending children to school at that time will cost a lot of money which my dad didn't have much. It was pre-NEP days. I had previously posted here My story : In the beginning about my dad's insistence on educating his children. For the first time in his life, my dad defied his mother and took my mom and my elder brothers and sisters to move into the laborers' barrack and take charge of his own earnings so that he could allocate some for his children education. My mom remembered the dilapidated small home as heaven, her first real home which also set her free from her in-laws.

Life was still however hard for my mom as my dad's income was meager even by the standard of those days. But she was happy. Her children were going to school and doing well in their studies. My dad, had even insisted for my elder brothers and sisters to go to English-medium secondary schools despite the higher school fees. He was of the opinion that attending English-medium schools will enable his children to get good jobs later on in life - clerks, teachers, nurses, supervisors etc. As I had mentioned previously, he never thought that his children will go even beyond those professions. As for my mom, she was happy enough to see her children being able to go to proper school, which she herself never had a chance to do.

Despite not being able to read the Roman text, my mom was very good with the Jawi. She could read and write in Jawi beautifully. She was also the designated Quranic teacher of the children at the barrack. Her pupils included me and my siblings. There were ten of us.

By the time I was born, life was a bit better for my mom. My dad managed to improve himself over the years and increased the family's income bit by bit. At one point, my family managed to afford a luxury - my dad subscribed Utusan Melayu (the Jawi version, as my mom could only read Jawi). It was only 30 sen at that time, if I was not mistaken. After a while, my mom told my dad that she wanted to try learning to read the newspaper in the Roman text and asked him to switch the subscription accordingly. After much hard work with the help of my dad and elder siblings, my mom learned to read the newspaper. Haltingly but better than nothing, as she so fondly told me. It was a continuing learning process for her.


My mom was also fond of taking part in community activities such as religious classes for women, wedding kenduri, Quran reading group etc. Most of these activities were organized by the local Umno people. At one point, she was asked to join the party but she declined. She never care much about politics.

Of course, as far as I am concerned, my mom is the best mother in the world. Her whole life was dedicated to us, her children and the family. She was a good person who never harm anyone. She never craved for much in life and was contented with her children having a better life than she ever had. That was for her the greatest satisfaction of her life. Her few years in our final kampung home after my dad's retirement were the best time of her life. She also got to perform the haj with my dad courtesy of the Johor government which rewards its Muslims employees and their spouse with free flight tickets to perform the pilgrimage upon their retirement.

When my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1996. I was at that time in the midst of preparing for my final year law examinations. It was a devastating blow for me and my whole family. We cared for her the best that we could, but it was a losing battle. Her condition deteriorated so fast that within three months after her being diagnosed, she was in the final phase of her illness. Her last words to me was to settle down and be a good Muslim. She got her wish to have all her children being with her when she breath her last. The last to arrive home was my brother who at that time was working in the UK. I was reading the Surah Yassin at her final moment while my siblings guided her with the final Kalimah Syahadah. Her jenazah prayers were performed thrice due to the large number of people who turned up to pay their last respects. Twice at our home and another at the kampung mosque before she was laid to rest at the nearby Muslim burial ground.

It took me quite awhile to recover from her passing. I was missing my classes so much at that time that I never thought I could pass my final examinations. I was just trying my luck when I sat for them. Miraculously, I did rather well.

I always believed that my mom's prayers for me from the other side helped me through things like that. She must still be there looking after and praying for me and her other children from a much better place.

Terima kasih Mak.

Friday 11 May 2012

Zarinah should do a Xenophon

Finally. The much maligned former Securities Commission chairman Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar is getting justice done for herself.


 The foreign-funded pro-Pakatan Malaysiakini, which was probably trying to undermine our country's capital market by attacking Zarinah was made to eat humble pie today . You can read it here in Rocky's Bru Page 2



It was however a poorly constructed apology as Malaysiakini, as pointed out by Rocky., didn't even deem it necessary to spell out Zarinah's full name in the content of it's apology. To me, this signify their lack of sincerity and remorse for committing the "error".

It's very unlike the NST's apology to that Australian MP Nicholas Xenophon which I think was excessive. Well, the Aussie, probably instigated by his Malaysian Pakatan friends, is going to sue NST anyway.

I think Zarinah should do a Xenophon too and proceed to sue Malaysiakini despite their apology. which I think was rather insincere. She may clear her name out in open court in the process. Get it done once and for all. Sue them for a couple of hundreds million ringgit. Whatever she won, she can donate it to charitable causes. Zarinah, now no longer in office, got nothing to lose by doing that.

Errr, dear lady....but please don't sue my bloggers friends. Be magnanimous to them, ok? You would made your point already by just suing the good for nothing Malaysiakini leh..

Oh, by the way. Tan Sri, Happy Mother's Day. Hope you enjoy a good weekend with your children.

Tale of smashing phones

Want to take it easy today. Posting something light. Here goes....

Lost in the world for half a day yesterday. Battery of my phone kong-out as I left my charger in the office. Like most people, I'm a slave of my phone. Without it, I'm lost. All sorts of things could happened - missed appointments, lost clients, angry people who tried to contact me, etc.

Pre-handphone life back then was more simple. And I miss it.

Can't remember exactly the last time, I used a public phone. It was probably in London several years ago when I just want to try using the one in that traditional red box for fun.


My first handphone was a second hand Ericsson. I was the last among my friends who don't have a handphone. Someone actually bought it for me because of Anwar Ibrahim. It was at the height of Reformasi. Exciting time and I needed to be connected. I used to carry a spare battery as I was always on the road and the phone battery didn't last too long. The phone lasted for about two years.


Second handphone was a Nokia. The first model without an antenna. It was the only time I actually bought a phone due to its changgih technology. Top of the line at that time. Can go silent mode, vibrate and change the ring tone some more. My most expensive phone at over RM1k.


Next was a Nokia butterfly. My favorite phone ever. Bought it when it was already outdated. Still, I love it very much for a reason I rather keep to myself...it was a happy time. I use it for a very long time until one fine day I got so angry with the person at the other end of the line that I smashed it to the wall beyond repair.

After that I used a few other cheap insignificant phones which model I can't even remember until the person who caused me to smash my Nokia butterfly bought me quite a nice one, also a Nokia, as a replacement. I used it for several years until one fine April morning I smashed that one to the wall too for the same reason like the last time. Sheeesh....

Now, I'm using a Blackberry. Curve - the cheapest one bought with the data package. It's actually more for show than anything else. The internet connection is very slow, that maybe one day I will lose my patient and smash it to the wall too. Well, everyone else have a smartphone these days, at least I have one too. That's what I thought when I bought it. It's perhaps the phone I bought for the most stupid reason of all.

Eh, it's already azan subuh...I better do the necessary and get ready for the day. Crazy me, writing about handphones pagi pagi buta. Never mind lah...I will put some pictures later to make it nicer to read. This old netbook can't do that.

Ok, have a good Friday :-)

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Malays' arrogance

Smart people tend to get arrogant.

When they get arrogant they tend not to be smart anymore.

It's always like that...especially among Malays. It's my personal observation of my own race.

Malays tend to lose their head once they attain a certain level of success.

Got a bit smart and extra money, want to buy big car. Even more money, want to have a new wife. Always like that one.

Some time, they only think they are smart and already they become so arrogant. Know some Quranic verses, and already want people to call them ustaz. Already want to have a new wife. Give counseling to other people's wife some more. At 3am in a hotel room some more.


Don't know lah why my race like that one. The really good and smart Malays somehow were never really appreciated.

Ok, I know I'm more venting than anything else here, but really la, why do Malays always find it hard to be smart and successful without getting arrogant and stupid in the end?

Other examples that I know -

Malay boy from a poor family. Study hard and become smart. Given scholarship by the Malay-led government mainly because he is a smart Malay. Came back from some US university. Got nice high ranking job in some GLC. Start thinking he was so smart that he was better than those of the Malays running government. Want the Malay-led government to be toppled. Replaced with anything also, he don't mind.

Malay boy from a poor family. Relatively good in his studies. Got into university but basically due to the Malay quota. Got a study loan some more. Later on think so highly of himself. Mahasiswa la katakan. So clever that he think everyone must listen to him including those Malays in the government who made it possible for him to get into university and be financed with a study loan. Go around kicking traffic policeman to show off himself as being smart.

Malay boy from a relatively rich family. Not so smart but family rich enough to finance his studies overseas. Came back smart and became part of the Malay liberal elite. Want the Malay-led government replaced. No class la Malay kampung party leading the government. His smartness made him forget that his family became rich and can finance his studies to be smart because of all those government contracts given out to help the Malay companies such as his family.

Malay girl, daughter of a former PM. Silver spoon fed from a baby till an old lady. Became so smart, but now want to become so cool...and end up became so stupid.
Eh, I think you all know the story of this last example of stupidly arrogant Malay lah.

Ok. Cheers everyone...especially you all Malays.

ADDITIONAL

Someone commented here that 10,000 people turned up at a Pakatan demo at Plaza Angsana in JB last  Saturday.
This is the picture of that gathering I took from 
The Unspinners blog. Does it look like 10,000 people?

Sunday 6 May 2012

Will Ismail stay?

It may still be early days to know if there will be a new chief executive at Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda), but talks were already circulating that the current CE Ismail Ibrahim may not have his contract renewed when it expires on Jan 1 next year.


Personally, I hope these talks are not true. Ismail is after all the third CE of Irda in five years when he took over from Harun Johari on Jan 1, 2010. Changing the CE too many times may not be good for Irda and Iskandar Malaysia in the long run.

I know that Ismail's application to renew his contract had been submitted and now at the Johor MB's office. Johor MB and the PM are joint-chairman of Irda. I do wonder when will it go to the PMO for final approval.

With the impending departure of Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman after the next general election, it would be crucial for Ismail to have his contract renewal being confirmed now. A new MB may naturally want his own man to head Irda and steer it according to the soon new ways of things at Kota Iskandar.

To me, Ismail's tenure so far, may not be exceptional but it was not too bad either. But some others think that it has been quite bad and that Irda itself has become irrelevant. And these others are quite powerful people in the State government.

Well, that I think is up for the PM and Johor MB to decide.

Whatever it is, as far as Ismail is concerned, I believe there will always be room for improvements.

For instance, I'm hopeful for Ismail to clean up things which may create doubts about Irda's integrity such as questions on the processes of awarding contracts, which arise from suspicions that there could be some manipulations favouring certain contractors. Let's not wait until an independent audit team need to be sent in to clear up such nonsense.

Really Encik Mail, go and check la on that one and do the right thing. Trust me, you will not regret it.

Another thing which I wish Ismail would do is to trim down the fat at Irda. I am not trying to teach him how to do his job but really la, my personal opinion is that there are too many passengers riding on the Irda gravy train. How many senior vice-presidents in Irda? Some are not even qualified to be there in the first place.  And their big fat salaries were paid using tax payers money. I am writing this with nothing but good  intention. So I rather not elaborate on that. It's up to Ismail to decide. This is just a suggestion to make him look effective as a big boss, ok?

Oh, by the way, please la don't take the easy way out by hiving off those useless free loaders to another outfit and burdening them with crappy officers.  If they are of no use in Irda, how do you expect them to be useful in similar set-ups elsewhere?

And once more, I'm still hoping that Irda would put some effort to be more relevant to the people down here, like being involved with the locals on a more regular basis and engaging the local community leaders so that you people can be clued in to what makes the locals tick.  Have you ever wondered why community leaders simply don't recognise you in a crowd and went looking for the Mayor, YDP, District Officers, even Heads of Government Departments to voice their problems and opinions about the development within Iskandar Malaysia?

Just to remind you that Irda is a regional authority, not a corporate entity.  So Encik Mail, you and your people should make yourselves relevant by emulating the DO and YDP Majlis who can deal with not only government agencies, investors, contractors, and businesses, but also the public.

One last thing, I have been getting some funny emails accusing Irda's management as practicing a "caste system" of some sorts when it comes to treating their employees. I think the word "caste" may be a bit extreme, but it would be good if Ismail can do something to see what's wrong and make the necessary corrections if such accusations were found to be true.

p.s To all commentators, especially Irda staff,  please refrain from making wild personal attacks such as calling your colleagues janda puaka or kungfu panda like last time. Please don't get me in trouble again, ok?

Friday 4 May 2012

The enduring image of Bersih 3.0 as life goes on

After all the commotions over the past week, things do not seems to change much for most people in this country. Life still goes on and it's back to the grind for everyone.

The ordinary folks looked back at what happened wondering whether it was all worth it - the injuries, damage to property, disrupted businesses, tarnished image of the country etc.

The rioters went back to their normal life too albeit a probable sense of pride that they had achieved something -  managed to throw a rock and almost killing a policeman, kicked an injured traffic policeman, shouted obscenities at policemen etc.

The policemen, many of whom were from outside KL had gone back to their routine of patrolling the neighborhood, trying to catch criminals, saving lives (of some who maybe had shouted obscenities at them or had even assaulted them during the riot).

The politicians on their part are counting the scores. Was the whole thing beneficial for their efforts to gain or maintain power? Those were up to each of their own interpretations.

The injured, some still in hospital, will take some time to recuperate from the cuts and bruises as well as the emotional trauma.  

Me, I looked at the violence of the riot with disbelief. Being a veteran of the riots of the Reformasi era in the late 1990s, I found that the carnage this time was unbelievable. It was definitely much worse than those during the height of Reformasi.

The rioters were definitely out for blood this time.

Yes, the police may had rough up a few defiant rioters who broke the barricade at Dataran Merdaka and in the process some, including journalists were caught in the melee. But what beggars belief was the ferocious violence committed by the rioters on the policemen and those who stood in the way of their rampage.

The incident where a police car was pelted with objects and later on the injured policeman beaten by the mob and the car toppled over will forever be the enduring image of the so-called Bersih 3.0 "peaceful demonstration".


Back during the riots of the Reformasi era, it was the FRU chasing down the rioters, but this time, it was the rioters who charged the police line as can be seen at Dataran Merdeka and near the KLCC.

Has the government's softly softly approach to appease these criminals failed? Was it the case of the government being tolerant and ended up emboldening those who were bent to break the laws for their own selfish political agenda?

Maybe not. Maybe all the carnage last week taught us peace-loving Malaysians an important lesson.

Maybe we learned that those who claim to know the laws but went hell bent to break them have no place as opinion leaders for us all.

Maybe we learned that self-proclaimed leaders who were willing to instigate the people to break the laws need to also be rejected as they will bring nothing but destruction upon our beloved Malaysia.   

Romantic post-riot conversation (and a question to journalists)

GF : Why you never called me? Don't you know how worried I was? You ok or not?

BF : Aiya, you haaar...I didn't even go to the demo la. Why you so ganchiong one?

GF : How would I know, I'm just worried, ok? Eh, can you be a bit nicer to me? Never call me for a few days, now still want to be garang with me. Do you know that you are being too much?

BF : I'm nice enough already leh. I'm really busy la over here. I send you flowers that day what? Still not happy?

GF : Ok ok...at least you are safe....your friend never asked you to join him at the demo ka?

BF : Told you already, I'm not the type who waste time like that.

GF : Ya ya ya...
      : Eh, I think the demo thing will backfire on Pakatan because of the rioting.

BF : You sure or not? It could be the other way around, ok? It's all over the internet that Bersih was a success and the riot was started by the police.

GF : Eh, there are videos and pictures of the rioters starting the violence, ok? Even got videos of them beating and kicking policemen.

BF : That's what you say. The Pakatan people are saying something else. They are now saying the police beat not only protesters but also reporters.

GF : Why would the police want to simply simply beat up reporters? They are crazy or what?  What would they gain by doing that? Must be that they mix it up between the reporters and rioters. The reporters wear their accreditation card or not? Do they themselves take part in the demo?

BF : How would I know. You asking me all these for what? Eh, can we talk about something else? I think you spend too much time reading all these political nonsense in the blogs.

GF : Oooo...your Pakatan side lose this one, you don't want to talk la. Very clever. Ok lor, good also.

BF : eh eh eh....I'm neutral, ok? You harr...

*The conversation then went on for another half an hour, mostly discussing how to reduce weight and why Chinese girls love to eat pork knuckles.

** By the way, this guy in this picture is a journalist beaten up by rioters who were part of the Bersih 3.0 crowd on that day.  His name is Mohamad Azri Salleh. He works as a cameraman for TV AlHijrah.


    You all journalists who want to wear black to police Press conferences because you claim the police intentionally beat up you people during the riot, you all don't want to wear black also ka when Ambiga and her Pakatan friends have their Press conferences? Don't you all want to show your solidarity with Mohamad Azri too?

Thursday 3 May 2012

Technical difficulties

UPDATED

Ok, this blog is up and running again.

Several previous postings had however been lost and couldn't be retrieved.

Thank you.


ORIGINAL POSTING

This blog is having some technical difficulties.

Efforts are being made to revive it. Sorry for the inconveniences.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Agent Provocateurs in Maroon

It is the standard operating procedure of Pakatan cybertroopers to divert an issue being discussed if they find themselves unable to win an argument.

If that fails, they would instead try to out-shout you by extolling the evilness of BN or Umno or police or  whatever else under the sun.

In the case of Saturday's riot in KL, they know they can't divert from the issue. People were so upset with the barbaric behaviour of the rioters that no matter how hard they try to divert the issue by telling people how expensive Rosmah's handbags were, the trick simply wouldn't work.

So, the next best thing was to try blaming everything on everyone else on the government's side. In this case, the primary target was the police.

Here is an example of a comment from my posting Punish them at the ballot box (and in court), by this blog's regular troll, a DAP cybertrooper who identify herself as Kluang girl.


Yes Big Cat,
Everyone looking forward to the ballot box!

Police in plainclothes throwing things and shouting Reformasi slogans to provoke the crowd. Also beating up innocent people recording violent police brutality acts with their camera-phones in front of bystanders...

Before you go into racial propaganda again, let's get out all the photos of the instigators out there for thorough investigations to identify all these planted police agent
provocateurs.
..I'm sue you'd love to know the truth too rite.

By the way, did your "man" tell you what happened on the ground?

~ Kluang girl

I highlighted in bold the point she made about the need to identify the police elements within the rioters rank who instigated the violent conduct of the mob.

Ok lah, since she was so insistent about the presence of police agent provocateurs, let's see where they are in this sequence of pictures displaying the Pas' Unit Amal members leading a band of rioters in a rush against a police human chain in front of KLCC.
You see, members of Unit Amal who were supposed to be in charge of security for the "peaceful demonstration" were the ones in maroon t-shirts. They are known to be very disciplined and know each of their members. So, the possibility of them being infiltrated by agent provocateurs should be almost impossible.

Well, see for yourself lah here, who are charging who. 





Funny really, normally in western countries its the protesters forming the human chain and riot police charging at them with batons, shields, etc. but here the "peaceful" protesters are the ones charging at the police, swearing, pushing and kicking.

And here is the video of this incident


As you may observe, the policemen, who were not in riot gear, purposely broke their human chain to avoid an altercation which would have happened if they had stood their ground. You can hear them telling each other, "biarkan, biarkan...."

Photos courtesy of THESTAR by AHMAD IZZRAFIQ ALIS