March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up

This week, The Fairly Current Show talks to Kee Thuan Chye, whose new book, March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up is available in all major bookstores nationwide. A compilation of eyewitness accounts, interviews and essays, the book documents the diverse reactions, hopes and expectations that Malaysians had immediately after the historic elections earlier this year. The book features hard-hitting interviews with Lim Guan Eng, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Raja Petra Kamarudin, Husam Musa and Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, amongst others.

Kee Thuan Chye is a journalist, actor and playwright. His plays include 1984 Here and Now, The Big Purge, We Could **** You, Mr. Birch and The Swordfish, then The Concubine.

Mood shot... ha ha!

It was a dull cloudy February day, a bit drizzly. We were on a boat seeing the sights. The photo I took was uninteresting. So five Photoshop-minutes later, this is what I came up with. I'm very pleased with it. I think I'll make it into a postcard and send to my aunt in Melbourne! Ha ha.

Free RPK!

Bebaskan Teresa. Hapuskan ISA!

I love lanterns, don't you?

Candlelit

This little cutie was more interested in candles than lanterns. Taken at the Pesta Tanglung-cum-Fruit Fiesta on 13 Sept organised by the office of Lau Weng San, SA for Kampung Tunku.

What is an N810?

Well, it's a really cool gadget from Nokia and not available in Malaysia. It's basically a nifty mini computer, and Uncle Kit has one! Here he is, using it in Parliament...

A tribute to Toni Kassim

Goodbye Toni

This was a video clip of Eli, Jerry and Toni practising for a song to be performed at an Aliran dinner, if I'm not mistaken, coupla years back.

Toni Kassim passed away early this morning from duodenal cancer. She was a wonderful, wonderful person who fought hard for justice and equality for all.

Some links:
www.malaysiakini.com/news/83904
http://www.wci2.org/index.php/wci-candidate/30-wci-candidate/7-candidate-profile-zaitun-mohamed-kasim-aka-toni-kasim

http://themalaysianinsider.com/mni/respected-social-activist-toni-kassim-dies.html

Help us to help victims of disaster

We collected RM526 on Wednesday night (SS4 and Kg Cempaka pasar malams) and RM5501 on Thursday night at the DAP SS2 Waisikkai branch dinner.

The dinner was held in aid of the victims of the natural disasters in Burma and Sichuan, and attended by Lim Kit Siang (MP for Ipoh Timur), Jeff Ooi (MP for Jelutong), Teo Nie Ching (MP for Serdang), Lim Lip Eng (MP for Segambut), Loh Gwo Burne (PKR MP for Kelana Jaya), Tony Pua (MP for PJU) and Lau Weng San (Adun for Kg Tunku). We also received membership application forms from a supporter, CK Lee, on behalf of 500 others.

We're taking a break tonight but a DAP PJU team will be at SS2 morning market tomorrow morning.

If you wanna donate online, go to:
http://www.dapforpj.com/donate.html

Related posts:
http://pix-pixie.blogspot.com/2008/05/online-donations-for-burma-china.html
http://pix-pixie.blogspot.com/2008/05/collecting-funds-for-burma-and-china.html
http://pix-pixie.blogspot.com/2008/05/sos-burma.html

Singapore takes Batu Puteh/Pedra Branca

The ICJ has just ruled that Pedra Branca belongs to Singapore (12 to 4 voted in favour).

Middle Rocks and South Ledge goes to Malaysia's (15 to 1). [Correction: South Ledge belongs to the state in whose territorial waters it is located... er, don't they know by now whose waters it is in??]

Maybe the judges were REALLY ANNOYED that Malaysia tried to bluff the ICJ with their Photoshopped image of the island!!!!

About bloody time

Finally!!!! The Burmese junta has allowed all international aid into the cyclone-hit area, said UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-Moon.

Online Donations for Burma & China

If you wanna donate to the victims of Cyclone Nargis and the Sichuan earthquake, the DAP PJ website allows online donations via:

http://www.dapforpj.com/donate.html

So far, DAP PJU collected RM4945 on Monday (SS2 pasar malam and Waisikkai) and RM760 (SS3 pasar malam and SS2 Waisikkai). Haven't counted yesterday's takings from SS4 and Kg Cempaka pasar malams.

We're collecting until Saturday, so do give generously (if you haven't already). Thanks for your support.

A Malaysian in Burma

Andrew Khoo from the Bar Council managed to get into Burma recently...

Note: There are some disturbing photos within the article.

http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/news_features/travelling_through_myanmar_hit_by_cyclone_nargis_.html

Fundraising at SS2 Waisikkai

There were 4-5 of us yesterday at the SS2 pasar malam and Waisikkai, collecting funds for Burma and China for about 2.5 hours. The response was really good.

Tonight, we're at the SS3 pasar malam and tomorrow night, it's SS4. See you there!

Brekkie in the Himalayas

Oct 2006 - The gang (Danny, Meesh, Josh, Erik and I) having breakfast before one of our daily treks from our base, Gurung Cottage, in Ghandruk.

KL from the SkyBar

Collecting funds for Burma and China all this week

A small team of DAP PJU members/volunteers will be at the SS2 pasar malam to collect funds for the victims of the Nargis cyclone in Burma and the Sichuan earthquake in China.

We will also be selling the Rocket newspaper and the Baby Rockets (soft toy).

Tomorrow night, we're planning to be at SS3 pasar malam and Wednesday at SS4.

All the money collected by DAP will be channeled to the respective countries via World Vision Malaysia.

SOS Burma

To donate through Malaysian Buddhist organisations:

1. Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (presently collecting funds only)
Donation may be sent by post to Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia, 123, Jalan Berhala, 50470, Kuala Lumpur. Donors are advised to make all contribution by cheque only made payable to "Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia." Please write "Myanmar" behind the cheque.

2. Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (presently collecting funds only)
All cheques are to be payable to "Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia". Please indicate "Myanmar Relief Fund" at back of the cheques. Donors may bank in the cheques to YBAM Public Bank account: 3063802219 and send the bank in slip for our record at YBAM Secretariat, 9, Jalan SS25/24, Taman Mayang 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

3. Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (collecting funds & material)
Lot PT 12593, Jalan Kewajipan, SS 13, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor D.E.
Please donate dry foodstuff (noodles, biscuits, etc), canned food, mineral water, medicine etc. at SJBA for us to send to Myanmar. Cash donation is also welcome.(Tel: 03-56315299, e-mail: sjba@streamyx.com)

4. Siri Jayanti Association , Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple, (collecting funds & material)
Ven. Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero says that if sufficient amount of items can be collected to fill a container, then it will be personally sent to Myanmar. Otherwise, the collection will be consolidated with items from SJBA to be forwarded to Myanmar.

Meanwhile Tzu Chi Malaysia said that nine of their relief workers are planning to leave for Myanmar this Saturday for ground assessment. If successful, this will be the first batch of Tzu Chi team to make it into Myanmar.

Members of the public who wish to make donations to Tzu Chi are advised to bank in directly into their account:

International Disaster Relief Fund
MBB A/C: 004067500119

To help thru other channels:

http://www.burma-network.org

http://irff.org/area/asia/burma/nargis.html

To help via Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29161426416

For news, go to:

www.mizzima.com

www.irrawaddy.org

Donations for Burma and China

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/05/16/donation-drive-for-china-and-burma-disasters

On Friday morning, DAP National Treasurer Fong Kui Lun (MP for Bukit Bintang), DAP National Organising Secretary Tan Kok Wai (MP for Cheras) and DAP Selangor Chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah (Exco member and SA for Seri Kembangan) presented a cheque for RM20,000 to the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on behalf of DAP MPs and Assembly members, to victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

The DAP is also having a week-long nationwide humanitarian aid collection drive by the State Committees.

Send your donations to DAP MPs, SAs and the respective DAP State Offices. Receipts will be issued upon request.

P/S. For those interested in attending DAP dinners or events, check the website regularly for updates at http://dapmalaysia.org/newenglish/index.htm.

Rave On, Babe

Enough of Elephants...

"Auntie Med, can we go see the crocodiles now?"

A day at the Zoo

My sister Winnie and I took Ryan and Kat out for a day out at Zoo Negara, to get them out of the house and shopping malls -- even though our zoo is a really depressing place. I was last there 11 years ago and nothing's changed. What worse, the KFC which was synonymous with the zoo (as it was the ONLY place to eat) doesn't even operate anymore. I mean, does anyone remember the song...

Let's go to the Zoo

There's lots of things to do

And the food is finger lickin' good

There's elephants, tigers

A big honey bear

Birds and monkeys

Without a care!

Er... I think those were the lyrics!

Back to the zoo -- it is in an incredibly sad state. The zoo is so outdated (it is 45 years old now) and the animals just don't have enough space to roam, especially the big ones. It's time to either scrap it or move it somewhere within a national park AND call in real experts to supervise in the construction of a new park.

And why can't ALL PUBLIC TOILETS in Malaysia be equipped with toilet paper, like in Singapore??? What is so difficult about doing that? That's why Malaysia will never ever be First World.

Drunk people and swimming pools...

... sounds like a recipe for a disaster! Especially if one is wearing high heels...

View from the Sky Bar

Wow. It is worth seeing that view once, from the top of the Traders' Hotel in downtown KL, but I can't say the place appealed much in terms of 'comfort' factor. It's got very little walking space, no dancefloor and on stiflingly hot nights, it's got to be really uncomfortable... at least put in some mist fans!

Scary Headline #7

Is this really necessary?

Ministry Sponsoring Oxford Auditorium

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry is sponsoring almost the whole interior of an auditorium at the Oxford Islamic Study Centre in United Kingdom.

Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said the RM12 million project would start in May next year to show to the world Malaysian woodcraft.

It would involve Malaysian craftsmen and use between 80 and 140 tonnes of merbau wood, he told reporters after being briefed by Chulan Construction Sdn Bhd, the project supervisor, here Thursday.

He said most of the wood would be sourced from Pahang, Terengganu and Perak.

May Day 2008, KL

Come here you... I want another kiss!

I was too slow. I wanted to photograph my nephew-and-godson Ryan giving my niece Katrina a kiss on the cheek but Ryan moved away too quickly. I liked the result though!

A.B.U.

We were waiting for the go-ahead from the cops to march to Confucian High School on May Day. The FRU turned up early and the cops said "no parade". The organisers-cum-negotiators sprung into action. We were allowed to proceed... two by two. This graffiti is on the wall of the building right next to the river, on Lebuh Pasar Besar.

Scary Headline #6

Terengganu wants full control of oil royalty for its own projects

... Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the time had come for the annual 5% oil royalty, which was withdrawn in 1999 when PAS captured the state and restored later as the Federal Government Special Fund, to be fully managed by the state government to carry out more development projects.

... Personally, I have been unhappy with some projects because of their high cost and lack of priority for the people. It is other people, not us, who make the decisions when we are the masters (in the state).

Source: The Star, 21 Nov 2008

Ready to serve SJ folks

(L-R) Nik Nazmi (SA for Seri Setia), Tony Pua (MP for PJU), Hannah Yeoh, Lau Weng San (SA for Kg Tunku), Loh Gwo Burne (MP for Kelana Jaya), Dr Cheah (SA for D'sara Utama), Edward Lee (SA for Bukit Gasing)

State assemblywoman for Subang Jaya, Hannah Yeoh, officially launched her service centre in SS14 on 8 April 2008. Hannah blogs at http://hannahyeoh.blogspot.com. DAP Subang Jaya also has a website, check it out!

Fun for the whole family!

Here's a sign outside a Sydney pub advertising a crab race.

Crab Racing is popular in, not so strangely enough, countries where they have coasts and catch crabs, like Australia, the Pacific islands, the Maldives, Trinidad & Tobago, Florida where they have a National Crab Racing Association... just to name a few. There are different types of crabs used though - from really small hermit crabs (which look more like big beetles!) to the big blue crabs.

If this has inspired you to find out more about crabs, read the wiki entry.

Striking greens

Sizzling show

The flames that shot out of the chimney stacks lining the boardwalk by the river, as mentioned in the previous post, were quite a sight. Apparently when they first started doing that years ago, quite a few birds got barbequed. Now, they (allegedly) give a small spurt of fire just to warn the perching birds before they let loose with the big shooting flames. It gets incredibly hot too on the ground when the flame show starts.

Hmmm... I wonder how enviro-friendly this flame-shooting exercise really is...

CNY at Crown Casino

On the boardwalk outside Crown Casino (casino, dining options, entertainment outlets, high-end accommodation, you name it...) in Melbourne during Chinese New Year, traders ply their wares. It was heaving when we were there, and the smell of yummy-greasy foodstuff permeated the air. The glowing lanterns against the deep blue sky made for very pretty pictures.

"On special occasions, chimney stacks lined along the boardwalk shoot bursts of flames into the air, giving the casino an awesome appearance somewhat like the cityscape featured in the film Bladerunner." - http://www.melbourne.com.au/crown.htm

What do you see?

I snapped this photo of a cloud resembling the United Kingdom (minus Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) in early February outside my aunt's house in Doncaster, Melbourne.

Boycott mainstream media for a week!

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/defend-your-barisan-rakyat-ybs-boycott-the-lying-newspapers/

Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Perak

The opposition parties will form the state government in these states.

Wow. I am still in shock.

8 MARCH 2008

... will be forever etched in my memory.

We showed BN who's the boss.

I am still in shock. We knew the time for change was ripe.

We knew many Malaysians felt it and were ready to make their voices heard.

BUT we did not and could not foresee this 'tsunami' of public opinion.

I personally did not think we would see such profound change in my lifetime.

I'm glad I was proven wrong.

As I write this, tears are welling up in my eyes. I am so so so happy.

PJU gets a new MP... Tony Pua!

Polling and counting agents needed!

URGENT!!!

Please call 016-2208867 or 012-2013209 to enquire.
There are training sessions tonight (Mon) and tomorrow (Tues) at 8.30pm at the DAP Damansara office. See map below:

Inconsistent local councils

This is a picture in The Sun of the 6,000-strong crowd at the Han Chiang Indoor Stadium in Penang at a DAP-PKR ceramah featuring big guns Lim Guan Eng and Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday night.

Apart from Penang, Subang Jaya Council allowed parties to rent community halls and premises for ceramah purposes.

MBPJ has refused to let DAP PJ use of the community halls or padangs for this purpose. However, Chew Mei Fun has been allowed to set up wooden structures everybloodywhere (public spaces including padangs) to check voter status.

Harapan Rakyat

Courtesy of mob1900

DAP: Suara Demokrasi, Hati Nurani Parlimen

YB vs Blogger

Courtesy of Youth For Change (www.y4c.org.my)

Postal vote fiasco

For some strange reason, the Election Commission has always had this strange ruling in the Election Regulations (Electoral Roll) 2002 and Election Regulations (Postal Votes) 2003 - that only these categories of Malaysians qualify to be postal voters:

• military personnel
• students
• staff of embassies and high commissions, and their spouses

In an article in The Star on 17 Feb 2008, EC secretary Kamaruzaman said: “The law does not provide for ordinary citizens living abroad to cast postal votes. Under the Election Regulations (Electoral Roll) 2002 and Election Regulations (Postal Votes) 2003, only three categories of citizens living overseas are allowed to cast postal votes. Individuals who are keen to vote must come back to Malaysia as there is no other alternative for them to exercise their rights." (http://bersih.org/?p=1008)

With this ruling, it looks like Malaysians who work or live abroad don't qualify unless they're students.

Many overseas students have in the last three months or so have tried to enquire at Malaysian high commissions about their right to vote and the possibility of registering as postal voters. However, none of the responses to their queries have been satisfactory:

• Many have been told they can't, even though the Election Act say they can.
• Many have been told only government scholars are allowed to register as postal voters. (Hmm... I wonder why?)
• High commission staff have no idea what the students are talking about.
• High commission staff tell students to register via the MSD of the universities.
• Students have been discouraged from registering, with staff members asking them not to waste their time voting.

Meanwhile, this article in The Star dated 12 Jan 2008 (http://bersih.org/?p=880) clearly states that Malaysians working in China were encouraged to register as postal voters.

So when I saw an article in NST on 26 Feb 2008 titled "One more day to register as postal voters", I immediately posted the article to friends who I knew were studying abroad as well as in my Facebook groups such as:

• Deny Barisan Nasional a 2/3 Majority in the upcoming General Election
• WCI2
• DAP 12th General Election Campaign
• Vote for a change Malaysia
• E-Democratic Action Party
• VotED
• Free and Fair

My friend Tirath who is studying in Melbourne then quickly sprung into action and somehow managed to alert up to 50 other Malaysian students there to turn up at Malaysia Hall yesterday (27 Feb 2008) and register as postal voters.

They were told that their forms were successfully faxed to the High Comm in Canberra, who will in turn fax them to EC in Malaysia. Hard copies will be couriered to Malaysia today (28 Feb 2008).

Malaysia Hall also said that the High Comm is working later than usual yesterday to fax the forms to Malaysia but Tirath could not confirm that as the High Comm doesn't answer the public phone lines after hours. In theory, EC Malaysia should have started to receive faxed copies of the students' Borang A from Melbourne by around 4.30pm.

Tirath called the EC hotline (03-88856600) to let them know they can expect to receive a lot of Borang A from Australia soon - but the guy didn't sound like he understood what Tirath was going on about.

What was interesting was that no one checked the students' ID to verify they were indeed students. As long as they had ICs and their names were on the electoral roll, they were allowed to register.

The EC had better be prepared for the assault that's gonna be levelled at them once GE2008 is over!!!

Links:
http://thesilo.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/malaysian-students-in-australia-you-have-less-than-24-hours/
http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2008/02/27/registered-to-be-a-postal-voter
http://polytikus.com/2008/02/19/malaysian-students-overseas-you-can-vote/

RM10,000 Reward

Image courtesy of mob1900


Let's send the election cheats and fraudsters to jail where they belong!

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/lets-send-the-election-cheats-and-fraudsters-to-jail-where-they-belong

Tony! Tony! Tony!

The DAP PJU ceramah at SS2 near Waisikkai drew close to 800 people (my estimate). We completely drowned out and overshadowed Chew Mei Fun's do less than 100 metres away. An account of the event can be found here.

It's time for change, my fellow Malaysians!

Kawai!!!

Tony carries Totto outside Puay Chai School on Nomination Day.

* Tony Pua is the parliamentary candidate for PJ Utara. Check him out at www.tonypua.com!

The DAP PJ election website is at www.dapforpj.com.

Democracy Back

Justin Timforchange and Mak Bedah sings Democracy Back.

"People is the Boss: Civil Society Groups' Election Agenda"

I'm helping to plug this event...

In conjunction with the 12th General Election, KLSCAH is going to organize a series seminar on the election, named "The People's Forum". With this effort, we hope to create a platform for the civil society groups to get involved in the election and voice out the people's opinions. We cordially invite the public to participate in the first seminar entitled "People is the Boss: Civil Society Groups' Election Agenda". Organizer: The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall - Civil Rights Committee, Social Economic Committee & Cutural and Educational Committee Date: 22nd February 2008 (Friday) Time: 8.00pm Venue: Auditorium of KLSCAH ( No.1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur. Beside the Maharajalela monorail station. ) For map: http://www.scah.org.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=261&forum=16&jump=1 Medium: English and Malay Speakers: 1. Haris Ibrahim (lawyer, initiator of The People's Voice Declaration） 2. Wong Chin Huat (Vice Chairman of Civil Rights Committee of KLSCAH, representative of the Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform) 3. Gayathry Venkiteswaran (Executive Director of Centre for Independent Journalism, representative of press freedom movement) 4. Yuen-Mei Wong (Independent Researcher, representative of Women's Candidacy Initiative 2 - WCI2) 5. Lee Khai Loon (Convener of Youth for Change and the Coordinator of National Youth Consultation Conference (NYCC)) 6. Representative of Johor Voters awareness campaign Moderator: Lee Huat Seng (Member of DEMA) Our speakers from different civil society groups will propose the people's agenda which includes the democratic reformation, media, youth and so on. Any enquiries kindly contact Mr. Chan at 03-22746645.

Are you a classy shopper?

Well then, head for the stunning Queen Victoria Building in Sydney!

I was there in the first week of February for a political course at the University of Sydney.

Longkang MP strikes again

Source: The Star


http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/20/central/20358357&sec=central

This MP has no idea what an MP's job is... just ask her what her track record in Parliament is, if you happen to bump into her as she does her rounds in PJ in the next 2.5 weeks.

Ask her whether putting more cops on the streets and installing more CCTVs is really gonna help if there is no proper and thorough review and restructuring of the police force, as well as the establishment of the IPCMC.

Ask her if she thinks there should be more Chinese and Tamil schools in the country, and ask her why the allocation for vernacular school is so abysmal.

Ask her why she never ever said anything about the body-snatching cases, and what her stand is on the Federal Constitution with regard to freedom of religion.

Ask her why she did not defend women's rights in Parliament when BN MPs disparage and insult women.

Shame on you, CMF.

Don't believe bloggers....

Koh Tsu Koon said "Don't believe bloggers"...

http://www.chanlilian.net/2008/02/19/news-you -may-have-missed-koh-tsu-koon-said-dont-believe-bloggers

Scary Headline #5

"Bashing Govt In Blogs Not Malaysian Culture - Rais"

Oh, but bashing Opposition in the mainstream media is Malaysian culture????

Excerpts:

KUALA LUMPUR Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Bloggers should evaluate themselves before indulging in an unhealthy culture of bashing others, including government leaders, through their blogsites, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.

He said although government bashing in the blogsites was among the challenges faced by the Barisan Nasional (BN) in facing the general election, it was not the nature of BN leaders to resort to using blogsites to attack others in their campaigns to win the elections.

"I am saying that you should look at your own heart to see if it is clean. If it is not, then don't bash others in your blogs," he said after launching a book and compact disc, "Aku Dia dan Lagu-Lagu Nostalgia", by Yusnor Ef at Aswara (National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy) here today.

"The bloggers are getting bolder, but I see it this way -- the general election is the season for condemning or "killing" others with words but this is not BN culture. I suggest that they attend courses on good manners as good manners is Malaysian culture."

24 Feb, 8 March

That's the Nomination and Election Day dates.

Stay tuned for more.

13 days for campaign period. WOO HOO!!!!!

Kit Siang's response to Dissolution of Parliament

This was the immediate Response on Parliament Dissolution by YB Lim Kit Siang, Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader, 13 February 2008, at 12.45pm, DAP Headquarters.

Only 1% said leaders must be proven to be capable

In an article titled "Bread and butter matters" in The Star today (see http: ), the last paragraph really says it all.

Prof Dr Syed Arabi said 2% of respondents expressed concern over internal and external threats and considered the rising number of vehicles as a bane, while only 1% said leaders must be proven to be capable.

Are Malaysians in general that dumb or the question was framed in such a way that it elicited such a response?

Wow.

Scary Headline #4

"States Under BN's Rule Eeconomically Prosperous"

So said DPM Najib on 28 January (Bernama).

He said the people should realise that the opposition parties were incapable of bringing development to the people as they were only hoping for assistance from the Federal government.

Er... BN MPs get an allocation of RM2 million annually to give away to their constituents and and carry out small projects.

Opposition MPs get NOTHING, even though they are democratically elected. It is government policy to discriminate against its own people by penalising those areas that vote Opposition.

See here and here for more information on this disgusting policy.

A Better Malaysia

Yet another new citizen's movement has sprung up.

This one's called Better Malaysia and it seeks to engage concerned Malaysians who want to improve their country.

The group says it wants to facilitate the spread of information to help Malaysians become more aware & proactive.

I don't know who's behind it but Malaysia needs all the help we can get.

Concerned & Proactive Malaysians Boleh!

Scary Headline #3

"Early Elections May Leave 17,000 Unable To Vote"

On 29 January 2008, EC chief Rashid said that the electoral rolls containing the names of these voters, many of them in Kelantan, Kedah and Selangor, might not be ready if the polls are held soon.

Rashid also said the names of 500,000 voters, many of them dead or having lost their voting right for giving up their citizenship, had been removed from the electoral rolls.

Hmm... Rashid removed these voters' names only after intense pressure from the Opposition political parties, NGOs, election watchdogs (eg. Mafrel) and more recently, BERSIH. It is therefore highly likely the identities of these dead voters were used in the last few GEs to boost vote figures for BN.

Well, better late than never eh! C'mon Malaysians, if you care about the state of the country, help us clean up the system and Save Malaysia... BERSIH Boleh!

Ops "Bring Back News To Your Hometown"

Check out Lulu's Blog to support this wonderful initiative.

Help us to raise awareness about the sad state of Malaysia today. Help us to inform and educate Malaysians about the country we love so much.

We CANNOT AFFORD to let Malaysia go down the drain. There is so much potential if only we had the right leaders with vision, clarity, commitment, compassion and most of all, CONSCIENCE.

Scary Headline #2

"Kerajaan Komited Bangunkan Felda Jika Mandat Diberikan"

Source: http://web6.bernama.com/bernama/v3/bm/news.php?id=310031

Jika mandat tidak diberikan, apa akan berlaku? Adakah ini ugutan atau ancaman daripada pihak pemerintah?

You decide.

* This is part of a new series on my blog called the "Scary Headlines Series". Scary Headline #1 is at: http://pix-pixie.blogspot.com/2008/01/scary-thought.html

BN cranks up propaganda machine

Bernama reported yesterday that the Information Ministry has set up an Accurate Information Reference Centre (Sahih) which will begin operations from Feb 1 to tackle the dissemination of false information, particularly in view of the coming general election, said its minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin.

He said the setting up of Sahih could ensure that only accurate and correct information were conveyed to the people using the existing technology.

"The availability of speedy technology has democratised information to the extent that the community or anyone could become a source of information and disseminate them speedily using the internet, special messaging service (SMS) and so on. ... These include false information which are purposely exploited by irresponsible groups for certain objectives."

Now remember people, all information spread by BN leaders is accurate, credible and responsible, while all information spread by the Opposition is untrue and inaccurate. Now repeat after me, Malaysians are stupid, Malaysians are stupid...

Using the hotline, e-mail and SMS DAPAT mechanisms, the public could contact the Sahih Centre via telephone number 03-22843114 (operating during office hours and 24 hours when Parliament is dissolved), facsimile 03-22822979, e-mail using the address sahih@kempen.gov.my and SMS at the address SAHIH_mesej (and send to) DAPAT (32728).

He also denied that the centre was set up purely to face the coming general election. "It is part of the efforts by the Information Ministry to create a community armed with quality information," he said.

What a freakin' joke. What other third-world country does this, I wonder?

Who's lying?

An NST report today says the Divine Life Society (DLS) has actually been forced to throw away the free food it gives out during the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves. branch president Swami Guhabhaktananda said he estimated that there was a 25 per cent drop in the number of people who attended this year’s celebrations.

The Star reported that the Sri Bala Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Port Klang saw the largest-ever crowd in its 160-year history with thousands of people gathering to observe Thaipusam. An estimated 100,000 people converged at the temple over the past two days. ... Devotees who went to Batu Caves yearly said the crowd this year was smaller than in previous years. ... Traders also said there was less business this year.

AND YET... the large number of people at these temples did not cause a fall in the numbers at Batu Caves, according to Samy Vellu.

China Press: It’s our fault, not Chew’s

http://chinhuatw.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/china-press-its-our-fault-not-chews/#more-165

Ho ho ho... running scared, YB?

What BS is this -- China Press covering up for CMF???

Why didn't she go nuts then if she was misquoted? Why didn't she demand an apology when it first came out?

When BN politicians say something offensive or insulting, they are always MISQUOTED.

When Opposition leaders say something to upset someone in the BN, it's DEFAMATION.

Well, looks like it's time to crank up the election machinery and KICK SOME OF THESE POLITICIANS OUT!

Samy says 1 million, foreign press say 30k-50k

Malaysiakini reports that the crowd was markedly less than previous years, people were surprised at the lack of congestion and the stalls complained about not making money.

Samy was reported as saying, "I have come to Thaipusam since I was 11 years old. I know the crowd. It is the same as before. I don't think religious people who went to pray to Lord Murugan will listen to all the naughty fellows," he said of the SMS campaign. "Who can threaten us? Anyone who threatens us, we can find out where he is. It takes only five hours to find out where he is. They can't run away from us."

Bernama says: "Call to boycott Thaipusam in Batu Caves ignored, One Million turn up".

AP reports that the figure was between 30,000 and 50,000.

An AFP friend told me that it was in the tens of thousands, and in any case, the 1 million figure that's quoted every year is hyper-inflated anyway... here's the AFP story:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gO0B-iJ6VNbvH6dNJcIhkkS_zWqw

Paradise, Part 2

The mountains are stunning no matter what time of day as they display different characteristics depending on the light conditions. See previous post for reference.

Paradise, Part 1

The majestic peaks of the Himalayas towering over the little dining hut at Little Paradise, Chomrong. The peaks of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Macchupuchhare are even more inspiring from here than from Ghandruk, where we had trekked from three hours away.

Note: This photo was taken in the early morning, sometime in end-2006, hence the blue hue.

Homeless in PJ

If you are in the Paramount Garden area of PJ and see a homeless man outside the clinic right across from the 7-11, that's Uncle Loh. He has been living on the streets of PJ for many years now and is normally parked on the five-foot-way outside the clinic. If you feel inclined, why not stop by, say hello and see if he would like some food or a drink from the 7-11? He loves chatting!

More on Uncle Loh later...

It's official!

Thaipusam is a public holiday for KL. I was alerted at about 5.45pm.

About time too!

Or... is it just a PR exercise to get back some Indian votes?

Read this:
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/1459/46/

Dodgy Deaths, Vicious Vids & Shocking Shootings

Hmmm... is this the season for dodgy deaths involving BN cronies? If so, should they all be very afraid?

This headlines was on Star Online yesterday evening:
"Brother-in-law of Port Klang assemblyman found hanged"

The article reported that the brother-in-law of notorious Port Klang assemblyman Zakaria Md Deros (aka King Zakaria) was found hanged in his home in Kampung Idaman on Wednesday morning. The victim, Fathil Ahmad, 45, was alone at home at the time. His wife, Saodah Md Deros, had gone out to send their three younger children to school. Saodah looked through one of the windows when her husband failed to answer the door.

Scary thought

On Bernama today, this headline made me freak out a little...

"Rela Members Take Over Guarding Of Immigration Depots"

The article said that some 1,840 Rela members will take over guard duties at immigration depots nationwide except in Sabah beginning today. The depots are used to hold illegal immigrants pending repatriation to their home countries.

Yikes... can you imagine being a detainee where no one would find out if he/she were abused and then quickly deported? Sounds like a nightmare to me... but then again, am I being unfair to generalise about all Rela workers being bad apples?

MIC state assemblyman shot dead

The Tenggaroh ADUN S. Krishnasamy was shot dead at the Johor MIC building.
Hmmm. wonder who he offended?

He's not the first. In 2000, then ADUN for Lunas, Dr Joe Fernandez, was shot dead in Bukit Mertajam.

Check out the story on Malaysiakini.

Funny Bones

We stopped by this little roast chicken stall by the roadside near Khao Kor, southern North-east Thailand. This was taken a little over two years ago when Erik and I attended a friend's wedding. I thought it was hysterical... someone certainly has a sense of humour!

Save Taman Melawati Hill

This is the hill Taman Melawati folks are trying to save from being developed by IJM Properties. For more info on this worthwhile cause, check out:
http://www.savetamanmelawatihill.com

Berani kalau Benar, Takut kalau Salah

This post in today's NST caught my eye:
Worried VIPs stock up on anti-spy devices

Excerpts:

Eight days after a minister admitted that a sex DVD featured him, anti-spy electronic devices are being sold like hot cakes, especially to people in power.

It is learnt that several prominent businessmen and politicians who visit China regularly on work or on holiday have been using the device in their bedrooms.

Er... hmmm... should their wives be starting to worry???

One online seller using the pseudonym Eagle833 offered the device for RM120 each with the title, "Spy Camera Detector -- HOT IN TOWN -- GET IT BEFORE (getting) TRAPPED!".

MCA public services and complaints department head Datuk Michael Chong, who bought a similar device on Sunday, said his first attempt to purchase one at a shop in Jalan Pasar failed. The RM50 made-in-China unit that Chong bought can detect hidden CCTV cameras within a 50cm range.

Both Michael Chong and Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad were quoted in the article 'advising' people to go and buy these items cos of the risks of being spied on in toilets or dressing rooms, and so on.

What business do they have ENCOURAGING people to buy these devices??? They are fanning the paranoia, in my opinion. I simply don't think the problem is that serious unless of course you need it cos YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG, just like CSL...

More about Fouad

http://www.alfarhan.org
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17589
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/12/23/saudi-blogger-fouad-al-farhan-arrested-in-jeddah/

Free Fouad!

Amnesty International Malaysia: Urgent Action

7 January 2008

Internet blogger Fouad Ahmad al-Farhan is reportedly being held in incommunicado detention at Dhaban Prison in the capital, Jeddah. He has been held for more than one month and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. He is married with two children and his family have reportedly been told that they will not be able to visit him until 30 days from the date of his detention.

Fouad Ahmad al-Farhan, who owns a small IT company called 'Smart Info', was arrested by security agents at his office on 10 December 2007. He was later taken to his home, which was subsequently searched. The Ministry of Interior acknowledged his detention on 31 December, but the exact reason for his arrest was not specified.

Fouad Ahmad al-Farhan is believed to be held for his peaceful criticism of government policies, including detentions without charge or trial of prisoners of conscience - such as nine men who have been held since 3 February 2007. Amnesty International believes they may be detained solely for their peaceful activities in defence of human rights.

Prior to his arrest Fouad Ahmad al-Farhan was reportedly warned by an official from the Interior Ministry that he was at risk of being interrogated. He believed that this would be in connection with his writings on political prisoners in his web journal.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Saudi Arabian authorities regularly hold detainees incommunicado, when they are frequently tortured and otherwise ill-treated. Critics of the state are routinely detained indefinitely without charge or trial. Defendants are often denied the right to formal representation by a lawyer and in many cases they and their families are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. Due to the high level of secrecy of the Saudi Arabian justice system, trials are invariably held behind closed doors. In the rare instances when individuals are charged and brought to trial, the proceedings invariably fail to meet the most elementary standards of fairness.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please put your name at the end of the letters below & E-mail it back to us (ua@aimalaysia.org) and we will fax it for you. Please forward to appeal to your own mailing list if possible.

------------------------------------------

H.E. Mohammed Reda Hussein Abu Al-Hamayel
Ambassador
Royal Embassy Of The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
4th Floor Wisma Chinese Chamber
No. 258 Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur

7 January 2008

Your Excellency,

Release Mr. Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan immediately

I would like to express my concern about Mr. Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan who is being held incommunicado and believed to be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

I hereby would like to seek the assurance from the authorities that he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment.

I call on the authorities to ensure that Mr. Fouad is given regular access to his family, lawyers of his choice and any medical attention he may require during his detention.

Lastly, I call on the authorities to immediate and unconditional release Mr. Fouad if he is being held solely for the peaceful expression of his conscientiously held beliefs or, otherwise, for the authorities to bring Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan to trial promptly and fairly on a recognisably criminal charge.

Yours sincerely,

Name:
Location:

Jac, Kat, Ryan

This photo was taken by my bro-in-law Jay (Jac's hubby and Ryan's papa). Kat is my youngest sister Winnie's daughter. Aren't they cute?

Flash Mob pix and vids

More coverage of the KLCC flash mob can be found here (in both English and Chinese):
http://kl.metblogs.com/archives/2008/01/flash_mob.phtml
http://fast0811.blogspot.com/2008/01/0103.html
http://danmylive.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post_03.html
http://www.guangming.com.my/node/19486?tid=3
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76562
http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-01-02&sec=malaysia&art=0102mb70.txt
http://blog.twilight-zones.com/?p=292
http://tanteckchin.blogspot.com/2008/01/tomyam.html

Skewed Priorities

In today's NST, there is an article titled "Police looking for rally organisers". It says that the cops are "tracking down those responsible for organising the illegal assembly at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday night".

#1: I wasn't there at the candlelight vigil to show support for those detained under the ISA, but I have been at other vigils. In the past, vigils have been 'tolerated' but always monitored by SB. We must not allow Malaysia to become a police state. You know what to do on Election Day right?

#2: WHY CAN'T THEY BE MORE PROACTIVE AT STOPPING CRIME AND CORRUPTION??? WHY WON'T THEY INVESTIGATE THE THOUSANDS OF POLICE REPORTS ON WRONGDOINGS LODGED BY CIVIL SOCIETY AS WELL AS THE OPPOSITION PARTIES?

'Flash mob' at KLCC 2

'Flash mob' at KLCC 1

OK, it wasn't a flash mob really. Some people had apparently known about it for weeks. Me? I only found out about it about 4 days ago. So anyway, to cut a long story short, the press had gotten wind of it and turned up with their gear and were just waiting waiting waiting for something to happen. A bunch of about 10-15 young Chinese guys mainly also hung around listlessly, armed with newspapers.

At 3:30pm, they rushed over to one rubbish bin, and the press guys scrambled after them. The participants (for lack of a better word) started dumping their papers into this one bin and the photogs started snapping. When the photogs rushed over there, people in the concourse were like, "What what what, what's going on?" and being good Malaysians, ran over to see what was going on. Whoosh! There were suddenly around 80 people swarming around the group.

The bin filled up quite quickly cos it was one of these ones with a really small opening at the top, so people just started piling (stacking) the papers right on top of the bin. Then a puzzled-looking security guard came over and just took the stack away so that people could put rubbish in it. The photogs took some more photos of the young guys and it kinda ended there, I think.

Anyway, here's the first video...