United against a common enemy

" The real danger to our country is not so much from external factors as from internal degeneration which sapped the confidence of the people in their Government"

One could argue that the words above, spoken so long ago by Tun Musa Hitam has finally become the very reason UMNO will be losing it's grasp on power after more than half a century of rule.

But one should ask, how did Tun M hold on to power for 22 years as Prime Minister, be loved by the Arabs for his anti Western rhetoric, use an iron fist to shut down dissent and recently has become one of the loudest critics of the government of a successor which he hand picked?

Was UMNO stronger then?

No. If anything, Tun Dr. M showed that when he ruled with an iron fist, the iron fist was applicable to all, even the Deputy Prime Minister. Anwar Ibrahim could relate to that much.Was UMNO less racist?

Yes, it was.

The fact was back then there wasn't much mention of racial comparison, or threats to other races at all.

There were no keris waving, or even the mention of when Najib would bathe the kris with blood.

Recently, the detaining of the reporter who heard a politician call the Chinese population a bunch of immigrants was charged under the ISA, because, according to the police, "her life was under threat".

Perhaps the police would like to use the same approach for that family in Shah Alam, who lost their mother after negotiations failed with the Indonesians holding her hostage in a botched robbery sparked by the firing of her maid who threatened revenge.

What is really interesting to note right now is that the call to abolish or merely review the ISA has been supported by both sides of the political divide at a time when PKR people are chasing down the BBC like it's a game of "Where in The World is Carmen Sandiego".

You have Zaid Ibrahim calling for the release of the detainees, to the point of mentioning his willingness to resign if need be.

You have Bernard Dompok mentioning that these actions have put the government in bad light.

You have Fong Chan Onn saying that though the ISA is still a required law, the reasoning given by Syed Hamid Albar for these arrests, plus the fact that he was not involved, was unacceptable.

Sadly other than Zaid Ibrahim, not a single high level UMNO member has spoken on the issue in a positive manner.

As a nation that most recently used the term "Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan" as it's theme for the Merdeka Day celebration, just what exactly was the purpose of the slogan?

If we were taking the slogan to task, then obviously, judging by the most recent activities, the Opposition, being PKR, PAS and DAP, along with the NGOs, the Bar Council, the NUJ, would definitely be successful in their endeavor for a better government, while UMNO's weak and bungling style of governance has finally reached it's end.

Shite has hit the fan...

How can you use the ISA to report something that was said to incite racial hatred?

http://malaysiakini.com/news/89602

Since I don't have a Malaysiakini account (gasp!)

"Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today under the Internal Security Act at 8.30pm at her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang."

This recent heinous act by the Home Ministry lead by the bungling Syed Hamid Albar seems like a new low for the government in their local policies.

Actually, remembering his BBC interview, this is probably just a new middle.

Let's face facts. Tan Hoon Cheng's only crime was being the person who highlighted just how racist and facist some UMNO leaders and members are in a Chinese daily newspaper.

Something that I personally got a clear view of when they broadcasted the UMNO General Assembly a while ago, and even when meeting some of their members.

If honest reporting leads to people being detained in the name of Internal Security, then what exactly are reporters or the press good for?

They can't all print the fluffy stories their owners wish.

The purpose of the media has always been to serve the people by telling them the news.

And while news of UMNO members being racist is not exactly brand new, it should be highlighted when it crosses the line of inciting racial hatred.I just wished we had a Gwo Burne who caught Ahmad Ismail on video.And now, while I'm writing this, an MP I admire has also been arrested.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/12/nation/20080912221723&sec=nation

Teresa Kok, I have the utmost respect for her, has been arrested under the Internal Security Act.There's definitely an operation going down tonight, and I can only pray for those being detained to be released without harm as urgent as possible.

This is clearly an abuse of a law that was made to be used against instigators of violence and harm, and not merely to be practiced against those who are merely voicing the truth and an alternative.

May the freedom of the written word continue to undo the sewing of our mouths.

Lost government to a cooking show..

See what happens when a political person tries to be a chef?

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=358100

Chef Wan should take note.

Malaysia should also adopt this practice of separation of kitchen and state.

Gig Review: Seksualiti Merdeka

First and foremost, I shall be writing as I feel it my compelled duty to clear up the misconceptions and misdirections and misunderstandings to allay the fear that certain Muslims may find that this event was in itself a defacement of Islam.

It was no such thing.

First and foremost, this event was not organized by Muslims. However, Muslims did participate in voicing their opinions and were free to do so. As were the gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals who were there. It was a medium of dialogue, not so much as to promote acceptance and tolerance, but just to tell their stories.

The first event was a discussion or forum, on The Abuse faced by Transsexuals, and if there was anything to highlight here, it was the fact that it is a rather clear fact that society in majority frown upon them, when in fact we are continually preaching a constant need to support and foster diversity, from the radical Muslims all the way to the most liberals of atheists and freethinkers.

With that in mind, I think the transsexual community is in the huge gray area in between, and thus, require the same amount of support in our community, as well as the same protection under our laws.

Heck, if Iran and Egypt can support transsexualism, who are we to say "no"?

The second event that I'm compelled to mention was the presentation of research and workpapers. These papers were derived from surveys and it showed that firstly, there are Malaysians who view themselves as gay, queer, straight but still enjoying gay sex while being married to a woman...

It's a complicated world.

Another event that took place later was an anonymous storytelling session which had a few people tell the stories of their lives, how they came out to their parents, how they had to deal with criticism from certain individuals, and how some of them had to break the heart of their own parents. It was a revelation of sorts.

The most major event that took place was basically the workshop which gave everyone a profile and had people discuss not just about homosexuality, but it also included issues of underage premarital sex, sex education and how it was not working, how certain parents were taking such education into their own hands, why sex is still taboo even when kids at around 13 years old were having sex in this country, etc.

It was a plethora of tongues being wagged on all issues, with no proper in sight. It was just talking, getting people to talk out in the open about their thoughts, in a safe space where taboo was the only taboo, and by the amount of issues being discussed right there and then in the confines of only two hours, it was very obvious that such safe spaces are much needed, with a larger group of participants.

However, an open mind, and an open heart to accept others without judging them is not exactly a well known quality of the citizens of this country, which is a shame, because I would honestly like to hear the dissenting opinion being voiced out as well, to get a balance in the stories we hear at these events.

A congratulatory note to the organizers, and I hope that next year, we shall see more voices and opinions being aired out for everyone to hear.

It's time for a revival of all blogs!

That's it. Time to get cracking once more.

Time to breathe life into this mundane and un-updated waste of cyberspace.

The Malay Liberal

When a Malay deems himself a liberal, just what exactly is he implying?

Well, personally, it means that people have the right to do what they want. Whatever they want as long as it does not have a detrimental effect on the entire society.

This is perhaps why I don't support most of what is being said about homosexuality. Jerry Fallwell went so far to say that gay people were the reason God let September 11th happen. He goes even further to say that feminists are also a guilty party in that horrible event.

I believe that gay people have the right to self expression.

The same way I believe that all couples, married, engaged, or looking for a one night stand even, should be able to show their affection in public without being dragged to court or having an anal retentive fellow demanding them to show their marriage certificate.

I also believe that people should have the right to express their views without having everyone else threatened with a traffic jam.

The same way I believe that the Muslim conservatives have a right to go about protesting a concert at a football match because they're all anal retentive. They're anal retentive, hypocritical but yes, they still have their freedom of speech.

I believe that the non-Muslims should have a right to walk into a mosque and smash the speakers when any mosque turns up the sound system too loud in the morning for the call to prayer.

I also believe any student in UiTM has the right to tell their mosque about how stupid it is to play a tape of a Quran recital at 10 am when there are non-Muslim students who are sleeping in after 2 days of working, trying to complete an architecture project, and also when there are classes taking place right opposite the road, and the students can't even hear the lecturer.

I believe that Muslims and non-Muslims alike have the say in the consumption of alcohol and non-halal foods, without the government creating laws made to try and "save" the Muslims from Hell.
Really, I think we liberal Malay Muslims know our sins very well. It's probably what led us to drinking in the first place.

I believe that the press should be able to print whatever they wish without having to fear their licenses not being renewed. Same way I believe the anal retentive bunch mentioned above can protest if the media ever steps out of line.

I believe in fair trade, which means that I believe our small time farmers and fishermen are all getting screwed.

I believe that political parties are not supposed to be sorority houses you join where you can make contacts and hope for favors and IOUs.

So is the Malay liberal a myth?

I honestly don't think so. I'm still around.

RM120,000 enough to live a retired life?!

The average male life span in Malaysia is about 70.3 years.

So if one were to retire at the ripe age of 55 with RM120,000:

1. He'd have to consider spreading RM120,000 over a span of 15.3 years. Basically 184 months. That's roughly RM652.20 per month.

2. Consider his basic living amenities. He still needs to eat, so that's on an average of RM40 a day. And if he's classy, could go up to RM100 a day, but let's go with average.

That's an average of RM1200.So he's already bust his retirement money that month spending on food alone

.....

So how exactly can this bloody article be telling the truth?

As per theStar:

RM120,000 enough for life after retirement

AN average worker will have about RM120,000 in his Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account by the time he retires or reaches the age of 55, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said.

He said this amount would give a person RM500 a month over the next 20 years and enable him to meet his basic expenditure needs after retirement.

However, the person should contribute more than RM120,000 to his EPF account to enjoy a more comfortable retirement life, he told Senator Ikhwan Salim Sujak.

He also said EPF contributors were allowed to withdraw from Account II to buy a house or buy a second house if they had settled the loan on their first home.

To a question, Ahmad Husni said there were no plans to compel contracted or part-time workers to contribute to the EPF.

How did he come up with such a figure?

Does he take into account the inflation on the price of goods?

Perhaps a scenario on the implementation of the GST?

What about the stabilizing in the price of oil?What about retirees with kids still in school?

Let's face facts, the EPF cash is not enough for a retiree to enjoy a life after working his ass off for the past 30 years.

The EPF is merely a basic life support system that will eventually run out and cause retirees to head back to work, thus causing unemployment for the younger, green generation that just got out of colleges.

The best way out of this is to invest. Put your cash aside, cut up your not needed credit cards.

And for the straight ones out there, have kids. Breed, people, breed! Biggest ROI ever!

Yet another case of parental stupidity.

So here goes another story, similar to that of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven".

For those who may not know, Clapton wrote that song after his 4-year-old son plunged to his death from a 53rd floor apartment.

A little piece of trivia for all of you. You're welcome.

And today in Malaysian news, a 4-year-old falls from a 13th floor apartment in Putrajaya.

As per the article:

"He was playing with his elder brother at about 11.30am when the boy climbed onto a grille fencing on top of a balcony near the lifts."

Obviously Malaysians just love to let their kids roam around unattended, or even if they were attended to, think another child is suitable to safeguard a toddler. I think Malaysian parents nowadays rely too much on others to safeguard their own.

Go to any shopping mall and you'll see parents sitting down while their kids, probably on a sugar high from a Baskin Robbins snow cone, runs around wildly. And all the parents do is sit there, reading the papers and watching idly by while total strangers eye the kid for a new liver, or a fresh pair of kidneys.

It is these parents that will suddenly appear distraught on television demanding that their child be found after letting them go walk to a pasar malam on their own, or going to Mid Valley with his brother, or just simply playing at the residential playground accompanied by her sister.All these are mere examples of parental stupidity, which is growing rampant in our society.

Traffic jams proof of Pak Lah's hypocrisy

The Star today published an article showing just how hypocritical our Prime Minister can be, even without all those pictures of him and Michelle Yeoh.

As per the article:

“The police are trying to reduce hindrances and traffic jams (that would be caused if the demonstration go on) too,” he said, adding that businesses and shops expected the police to ensure disturbances do not occur."

So basically, demonstrations which cause traffic jams are bad, but police causing traffic jams are good?


"Abdullah reminded the demonstrators that they could hold their rallies at stadiums where “they can scream at the top of their voice and “not at these places (in the streets) because people have the right to go about their business in peace”."


Pak Lah, you disrupted the people who were going about their business. You closed of the entirety of Kuala Lumpur because a group of schmucks wanted to have a walk to Parliament which I personally do not see as an act of violent civil disorder that required police presence.

You know, I'm starting to see similarities between Pak Lah and George Bush, and that is frightening, especially thinking that we have to cope with him for another two years.