A New Year's Greeting

May you be as handsome as your mother thinks, as rich as your child believes, and may you have as many women as your wife suspects!
Kidding aside, I wish that you may have the courage of David, the meekness of Joseph, the faithfulness of Moses, the obedience of Abraham, the wisdom of Solomon, and the penis of Goliath! A prosperous 2009!!!

MalaysiaKini SMS 30/12/08 (2)

30/12: Israel warned the blitz against Gaza Strip that has killed 360 people could last for weeks, as Hamas fired back with deadly rockets./MKINI

Bernama SMS 30/12/08 (4)

Kl30/12: The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd (NSTP) today announced that its deputy chairman, Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan has resign/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 30/12/08 (3)

Kl30/12: Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Salleh has been appointed as Proton Group chairman effective Jan 1, 2009/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 30/12/08 (2)

Kl30/12: The sole distributor of Subaru in Malaysia, Motor Image Sdn Bhd has reduced the price of Subaru's WRX STi 2.5 by 13 percent/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 30/12/08

Kl30/12: Low-cost carrier, AirAsia expects its world-class integrated call centre to be ready for service by Feb 15/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 30/12/08

30/12: About 500 people protested outside US embassy in KL against the deadly Israeli air strikes on Gaza Strip that have killed 360 people./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 29/12/08

29/12: Tunku Mukhriz was today picked by a four-member council of chiefs as new NS ruler following the death of his uncle, Tuanku Ja'afar./MKINI

Gray

4 more days to New Year.

So how do one wraps up 2008? I don't want to talk about March 8 and the events that followed after its groundbreaking results. Instead I would like to reflect, as a person, on how has 2008 helped shaped me.

Well for one; I'm opening to the idea of a gray world oppose to the acceptable black and white world. As far as I understand the world wasn't born yesterday especially about the topic of ethics. Mankind has struggled about right and wrong since before the biblical ages. And the outcome has always ended up in conflict because both sides had insisted that they were both right. I tried to be understanding towards the opposition when I myself faced with such situations. In the end I find myself being beaten just because I chosen not go for blow for blow ( in this case petty dramatic debates). I just can't see the point to the whole thing.

Anyway.

Recently a friend (former) called on me one day to purchase some dinner tickets for some Christmas dinner event. I obliged and told him that I'd be there. Few days before the event, while he was drunk at another event where my wife was part of the organizing committee. My wife reported to me that this friend (former) was trying to hit on her. Upon hearing this naturally I became upset but instead of coming up to the lowlife and give him a piece of my mind (and fist), I decided to opt out from the Christmas dinner without telling him. He did try to call both my wife and I but we simply didn't answer. So I stood him up that night leaving him to ponder on how to pay for that other half of the table. I guess he is pissed off with me right now because I was told that he didn't know the purpose of my actions. I'm sure he has already forgotten that episode with my wife due to his drunkenness. When the time comes, I will inform him of the reasons of my last minute withdrawal from the Christmas dinner. 

My point in this tale is that mankind is forever struggling in morality. Normally I wouldn't do such a thing to friends but when a so-called friend starts disturbing a family member, I become very defensive. I will have my reasons and he would have his own. So how would we settle this? Usually people with lots of clout and money does stupid things like this. To vermin like these, a meeting won't have any effect. He'd just say that he was drunk and has conveniently forgotten his actions during his drunken stupor.

Anyway, I'm letting this one go. Its not worth my time to brood over this issue. That zygote will meet the consequences of his actions. Let nature run its course.

What have I gained this year? Plenty. But I don't feel like writing about them at the moment.

Only this one... I'm already figuring out about how the world works.

It is going to be an interesting 2009.

MalaysiaKini SMS 27/12/08

27/12: Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, who was the nation's 10th Agong, died at about 11.45am. He was 86./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 26/12/08 (3)

26/12: Sarawak BN state assemblyman Wong Judat from SPDP has wanted to defect to PKR but appeared to change his mind, say sources./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 26/12/08 (2)

26/12: Japanese production in Nov fell at the fastest rate in history as firms closed factories and cut jobs due to slumping global demand./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 26/12/08

26/12: There are fears S'wak may use its immigration powers to deny entry to Peninsula-based politicians, including PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim/MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 24/12/08 (3)

24/12: In an unprecedented move, FT MCA Youth went to PAS HQ in KL to submit a memo to protest the Islamic party's plan to implement hudud./MKINI

Christmas Wisecracks

What's the difference between Snowmen and Snowwomen?

Snowballs.

Merry christmas !

MalaysiaKini SMS 24/12/08 (2)

24/12: Lawyer Karpal Singh filed application in High Court to compel prosecution to appeal against analyst Abdul Razak Baginda's acquittal./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 24/12/08

24/12: Ex-Umno PJ Selatan division leader Abu Zahar Hashim, who had alleged discrepancies in the RM1.6 bil Eurocopter deal, joined PAS today/MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 23/12/08 (4)

23/12: Othman Omar named as new GM of Selangor state agency PKNS to replace controversial acting head, Low Siew Moi, a Chinese, starting Feb/MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 23/12/08 (3)

23/12: Selangor exco and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok filed RM30 mil lawsuit against ex-Sgor MB Mohd Khir Toyo and Utusan Msia over the azan issue./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 23/12/08 (2)

23/12: MCA sec-gen Wong Foon Meng warned Chinese community will lose out if they do not help keep Kuala Terengganu seat in BN hands./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 23/12/08

23/12: High Court ordered Umno-owned Utusan M'sia to pay RM120,000 in damages to PAS info chief Mahfuz Omar for a defamatory article in 2001/MKINI

PHILIPPINES: Sixty two families of farmer face threats of losing land

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION   URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-267-2008

 <http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-267-2008>

 2008>

22 December 2008

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

PHILIPPINES: Sixty two families of farmer face threats of losing land

ISSUES: Right to land; right to property; right to housing; right to
food; agriculture

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

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern
over the plight of sixty two farming families who face the threat of
losing their land in the province of Bukidnon after they were
excluded as beneficiaries for land distribution despite the fact that
they have been farming the land for at least 15 years. Their names
were replaced with persons who have never cultivated the land.

CASE DETAILS: (According to information received from the Task Force
Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP-Mindanao))

The Don Carlos Bukidnon United Farmers Association, Incorporated
(DCBUFAI), where the 62 families affected farmers are attached, was
formerly the defunct BFI-Carlos Bukidnon Farmers Association. It was
first registered in 22 April 1997 with 224 members. After changing
their name, they had also obtained a new Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) registration no. H1999-00214.

However, their membership has reduced to 109, including the 62
families mentioned above who now face threats of losing the land they
cultivate and from which they get their means of subsistence.

Even before they became an association, these farmers had already
entered the landholdings of Bukidnon Farmers, Inc. (BFI) on
individual capacity from 1986. It lasted for succeeding years until
the management of the BFI had them recruited into planting corn and
other crops in between the coconut trees the BFI had planted
purposely to maintain its cultivation. But when the BFI close down
after having been sequestered, the farmers have not been given any
compensation.

At present, each of these farmers had been able to cultivate about
one hectare each. The period by which each of them had been
cultivating the land ranging from fifteen to twenty years
respectively which they planted sugarcane, corn and rice.

However, of the 109 members of farmer, it is learned that sixty-two
of them have not been included in the list as beneficiaries for land
distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme
(CARP), a law which provides distribution of land to landless
farmers, which is being implemented by the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR). This is despite them having been included in the list
during a pre-screening in 1996.

They were said to have been excluded from the list for reasons that
they were not in the original list which is not true. The reality
that the farmers have been actually possessing and since cultivating
the land for many years was also ignored. They, however, learned that
the new list of names of the beneficiaries recently issued are persons
who are either not residents of Don Carlos or have never cultivated
the land.

They have also learned that the land these farmers had been
cultivating have in fact already been covered by a Certificate of
Land Ownership Award (CLOA), which means the occupants have already
have the legal right to claim ownership under the CARP. However, they
only came to be aware of this until recently.

To affirm the farmer's claims, on 24 January 2000, the office of the
Barangay Reform Council (BARC) issued a certification which affirms
that the 62 families of farmers are residents of the place and has
since been cultivating the land reform for many yeas.

On 8 October 2008, the farmers filed a petition to have their names
included as beneficiaries with the regional officer of the Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Region X, in Cagayan de Oro City. The
certification that the BARC has issued was also included in the
farmer's petition which the farmers filed.

Nine days later, October 17, John Maruhom, DAR regional director,
forwarded the farmers' petition to Norberto R. Amora, provincial
agrarian reform officer in South Bukidnon. The endorsement has had a
notation and called for the attention of Adones Obsioma, chairman of
the Task Force BFI, for him to evaluate and take appropriate action.

On 6 November 2008, the farmers once again followed-up their petition
at Obsioma's office. Though his secretary has already confirmed of
having received the DAR communication but she was not aware of what
action he had taken, if there is any. His secretary also could not
tell exactly when Obsioma would return to his office.

On 7 November 2008, they made another follow up again by going to the
office of the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO) but they were
told that Obsioma was on leave.

On 9 December 2008, they wrote a letter to John Maruhom, DAR regional
director, informing him that for several occasions that they made
follow-up with Obsioma's office they have not been able to meet him
and always been told by his secretary he is not around. This prompted
the farmers to proceed to several offices of DAR in Maramag and Don
Carlos municipalities respectively hoping they could meet Obsioma to
do follow-up on their case. However their efforts failed to show
substantial progress.

On 15 December 2008, the farmers were once again told that Obsioma
was in Manila. Thus, at the time this appeal is being written,
Obsioma is yet to take action into concluding the farmer's petition
to have their names included in the list of beneficiaries. Under the
law, only the beneficiaries of the CARP upon DAR's assessment could
have the possibility of owning the land they cultivating under the
land reform.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to concerned authorities, in particular the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), requesting for their immediate
intervention into their farmers' plight. The farmers' petition should
be acted upon without delay and that inquiries into the irregularities
in the exclusion of the farmers are beneficiaries; and the inclusion
of the names of the persons who are not actually farmers.

The AHRC has also written letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on
the right to food and on adequate housing calling for their
intervention.

To support this appeal, please click here:
<http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-267-2008>

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________,

PHILIPPINES: Sixty two families of farmer face threats of losing land

Affected families: Sixty two families of farmers; residents of San
Roque and San Ramon, Don Carlos, Bukidnon; members of Don Carlos
Bukidnon United Farmers Association, Incorporated (DCBUFAI), an
organization of actual tiller farmers

Name of the responsible government agency: Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR), the government agency responsible for implementation of
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme (CARP)

Status of the case: The farmers have already filed a petition with
the DAR to have their names included as the beneficiaries for the
distribution of the land reform. However, the failure of Adones
Obsioma, chairman of the Task Force BFI, to evaluate and take
appropriate action to have the petition resolve promptly aggravated
the farmer's plight of facing the threats of losing the land.

I am writing to express my grave concern about the plight of the
sixty families of farmers mentioned above who faces threats of losing
the land where they have since been cultivating at least for 15 years.

It is extremely disappointing that these farmers, despite them having
actually possessed the land and cultivating them for at least 15
years, their names have not been included in the list of
beneficiaries for land distribution.

Instead, the name of persons who are either not residents of the
place and never actually cultivated the land were included in the
list of beneficiaries which is completely high questionable. I could
not comprehend why the farmers who are supposed to benefit this land
are in fact facing threats of being deprived or lose their land. Not
only did this procedures questionable but also legally incoherent.

The farmer's plight, too, had been aggravated by the government's
failure, in particular chairman of the Task Force BFI, Adones
Obsioma; and the Department of Agrarian Reform's (DAR) office' to
have the farmers' petition to have their names included in the list
of beneficiaries be resolved without delay.

I have learned that since November 6 of this year, the farmers could
either not locate Obsioma at his office for several occasion as they
make follow up for their petition. Also Obsioma also failed to take
immediate action to respond the DAR regional office endorsement in
Cagayan de Oro for him to take action on the petition. It is
disappointing that Obsioma have continuously fails perform duties he
is obliged of doing and is expected from him.

Apart from that, the expansion of a pineapple and banana plantation
in their area has aggravated the scenario that would lose their land
unless the government responsible in dealing with their case takes
prompt action. The lack of concern to have the farmer's plight
resolve promptly as what is being shown by the public officials is
unacceptable.

It is disappointing that these farmers have had to endure threats of
losing the land they cultivated which would eventually have a
tremendous effect in their families as they would lose their means of
subsistence.

I fail to comprehend that although details and the evidences in this
case have provided that these families of farmers should have had
benefited this land under CARP; however, in the implementation of
this programme is otherwise. And even though were DAR itself have
identified these farmers as beneficiaries during their initial
screening it fails to upheld these farmers right by failing to act on
their petition promptly.

I therefore urge you to take an effective and adequate action in this
case.

Yours sincerely,

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

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

President

Republic of the Philippines

Malacanang Palace

JP Laurel Street, San Miguel

Manila 1005

PHILIPPINES

Fax: +63 2 736 1010

Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80

E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph corres@op.gov.ph>

2. Ms. Leila De Lima

Commissioner

Commission on Human Rights

SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue

U.P. Complex, Diliman

Quezon City

PHILIPPINES

Fax: +63 2 929 0102

Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188

E-mail: chr.delima@yahoo.com chr.delima@yahoo.com>
 or mtm_rodulfo@yahoo.com mtm_rodulfo@yahoo.com>

3. Datu Nasser C. Pangandaman, Al Hadj

Secretary

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

Eliptical Road, Diliman

Quezon City 1104, Metro Manila

PHILIPPINES

Fax: +63 2 929 3088

Tel: +63 2 929 3460 / 930 0380

Email: busysquare@yahoo.com busysquare@yahoo.com>

4. John M. Maruhom, CESO, IV

Regional Director

Department of Agrarian Reform, Region X

Macaranhan, Carmen

Cagayan de Oro City

PHILIPPINES

Tel: +6388 723727/726 422

Fax: +63 88 858 2674

5. Mr. Norberto R. Amora, MPA

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II

Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office

South Bukidnon

PHILIPPINES

Tel: +63 88 8131 387

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme

Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org ua@ahrchk.org>
)

 2008>

 <http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-267-2008>



-----------------------------
Asian Human Rights Commission
19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building,
998 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hongkong S.A.R.
Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339 Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367

Heroes Season 3 : Villains

Since we had kids, the TV Channels in the house has officially became their territory. So hence the alternative for me to catch up with my favourite series Heroes, I can either wait for the entire Season 3 DVD collection or watch it on YouTube. 

Well I suppose I can do both.

When I first saw the show I thought it was one of best shows about superheroes on TV. These are superheroes minus the dorky and colorful tight-suits-underpants-outside. So in my books they're rather cool. Plus the story-line is excellent and makes me go,"so what's gonna happen next"?

Probably I should also catch up with other shows like The Ghost Whisperer and... hmm... I've forgotten what that other is called! Anyway the show is about a small town with lots of science experiments events and I will look it up once I remember what's show's name.

MalaysiaKini SMS 22/12/08 (2)

22/12: Hindraf, outlawed since Oct, has embarked on a new campaign to seek release of its five leaders under ISA, by petitioning the sultans/MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 22/12/08

22/12: DAP Lim Kit Siang wants PAS VP Husam Musa to clarify his remark the Islamic party will implement hudud as this is not Pakatan policy./MKINI

The Grumbling Chinese? The John Gandhi Ramblings...

I just finished scanning through RPK latest 'No Holds Barred' posting. Recent complaints made by DAP and PKR triggered this post especially about the vernacular schools issue.

My bewilderment over West Malaysian politics will never cease. They spent so much time and energy fighting and complaining against each other over matters that is almost alien here. I believe that Sabahans in general don't take racial issues too seriously. In the end of the day, we tend to value friendship more and to forgive (maybe not forget) without conditions. By nature I think we are egalitarians. However this is rapidly changing.

Anyway, I had a chat with a colleague of mind and I was relating to him about an incident where I lent some money to a friend. Now this friend, I can tell you, is a person that I haven't yet known yet for a long time. But this person needed the cash badly and I haven't any excuses to offer, I finally agreed to help out against my better judgement which is to say "piss off". In fact after I gave the person the money I was already mentally playing out the event that money would have simply vanished along with the person. I had a good reason for being suspicious and skeptical because I was played 2 years earlier by a different, well, player which then resulted me of being poorer. But I always tell myself many times "I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll pay me back because at the end of the day they can't say that I never helped them and besides they might really need the money and I don't want to have sleepless nights over regrets that can be avoided if I had given my help." 

So I lent the money to my friend and the person delivered back the money, in cash, on the day that when the repayment was promised. I was happy not only because I got my money back (no interest charged by the way) but also that it is pleasant to know that there are few people left in this world that are still honest and true. I would never forget that day.

That action alone convinced me that there is still hope for goodness in the human heart.

Anyway after telling that tale to my colleague, he said that out of 10 people in the world only 3 people would still be good. I laughed and asked, "Just 3 people? If you asked me it would be at least 5 good people left in the world!"

Coming back to RPK's article about the grumbling Chinese, I just don't understand why people can't just come together and sit down to meet and discuss about issues of the day and to solve things together. The racial polarization over at West Malaysia has widen and it looks like it's here to stay.

Sabah, I believe is already heading towards that same racial (and religious) polarization and the camaraderie that we used to enjoy is now quickly depleting. Sabahans, in general, blame the influence of West Malaysian for causing this changes by the introduction of UMNO to the State roughly 15 years ago.

With all these bullshits happening around I still have faith in God and in the human race that things will work out just fine to those who seek peace and harmony between all races.

Anyway this is just my own opinion. 

Corruption : An Ordinary Joe's Take

It has been a lousy 2 weeks.

This time is different from the rest of the challenges that I have to face. My project is dragging because we were doing it the ‘right way’. We are behind because we don’t play money with a certain government department.

Yes I am talking about corruption in our government system. Government servants won’t move to help unless there’s something in it for them. No matter how disgusting it may be in the end, we all still would have to pay certain ‘consultation’ fees just so that we can keep up with project development.

Coming back to our project; well it seems that we have no choice but to speed things up and that means we have to finally play money. Or else nothing will move.

I was in a moral dilemma over this issue. I didn’t want to get involved with this fucking corrupt practices. I wanted to go about it through merit because my team and I are capable and efficient to get things moving. 

But in Malaysia this will never happen. Government servants are now so entrenched with corrupt practices that corruption has become an institution in our country.

When running a business, a business leader has to consider and manage employees salaries, bank loan installments, office rentals, telephone, electricity and water bills etc, just to ensure that the business survives its daily rigors.

And the bastards from the government departments would also expect their share in forms of money, women and booze.

Even with the MACC and JAC bills passed in parliament, I still doubt that we would observe any real changes yet in the current administration.

So I have decided to play along with the current government practices with minimal involvement at least for a while. Too many commitments and lives are at stake and we have to press forward to complete this project.

Anyway that’s the plan. The rest I will leave for God to decide...

MalaysiaKini SMS 20/12/08

20/12: Deputy Home Minister Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh is BN candidate for Jan 17 Kuala T'ganu by-election, announced DPM Najib Razak./MKINI

Erecterius Trouserius

World's most dangerous snake:
ERECTERIUS TROUSERIUS (Trouser Snake)
Description-Varies from pink to black, fangless with highly venomous spit that can cause prolonged swelling lasting 9 months. Size varies from 3 to 9 inches depending on subspecies. Usually found in bedrooms but is known to appear in unusual places from time to time. Attacks women in the lower frontal abdomenal area but on occasions is known to attack men in the lower posterior area also.

MalaysiaKini SMS 17/12/08 (4)

17/12: Sgor will hold public inquiry to probe contributions of 6 GLCs to defunct charity organisation helmed by the ex-MB's wife./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 17/12/08 (3)

17/12: 21 rights groups urged police not to stop 'Ride for Change' cyclists as they end their 16-day nationwide tour in Parliament tomorrow./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 17/12/08 (2)

17/12: MIC polls: Despite being the underdog, ex-VP M Muthupalaniappan is confident that he can oust S Samy Vellu as party president./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 17/12/08

17/12: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said the JAC Bill 'roars loudly, but crawls slowly' in addressing grievances about the judiciary./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 16/12/08 (3)

16/12: Sgor police chief said Jerit cyclists stopped in Rawang to 'save children from being misused and exploited by irresponsible adults'./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 16/12/08 (2)

16/12: The Witness Protection Bill was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat by Minister in the PM?s Dept Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 16/12/08

16/12: MAS said it has begun talks with Australia's Qantas to form tie-ups including joint ventures as carriers face tough economic times./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 15/12/08 (3)

15/12: Petrol and diesel prices will be reduced by another 10 sen per litre effective tomorrow, announced the government today./MKINI

Bernama SMS 15/12/08 (2)

KL 15/12: The govt cut retail price of petrol and diesel by 10 sen a litre from Dec 16. Petrol Ron97 now RM1.80, Ron92 RM1.70 and disel RM1.70/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 15/12/08 (2)

KL 12/15: EPF filed 157 civil cases and 1,582 criminal cases against employers for defaulting on their employees's EPF contributions in q3/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 15/12/08

KL 15/12: MAS give four fare options to its economy class domestic travellers. It will be expanded to international travellers in Feb 2009/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 15/12/08

15/12: Anwar backed the proposed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission but at the same time also expressed several reservations./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 13/12/08

13/12: Swak CM Abdul Taib Mahmud said RM3 bil smelter plant in Bintulu to proceed despite major foreign partner Rio Tinto Alcan in deep debt/MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 12/12/08 (2)

12/12: Minister in PM's Dept Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz has launched a verbal tirade against PPP, describing the BN component party as 'beggars'./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 12/12/08

12/12: 'Assassination of YB J': Sgor exco, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok filed RM30 mil suit against Umno-owned Utusan Msia, writer Chamil Wariya./MKINI

Friday Night Laugh

I was reading RPK's latest posting in No Holds Barred over at Malaysia Today. I had a good laugh after I read this excerpt...

Talking about PAS-Semangat 46 and the 1990 election, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen (Ku Din), the current Chairman of the Umno Disciplinary Committee, was the Umno candidate for Kota Bharu in that election. He went around town to hand over RM50 notes to all the voters and they took the money but handed him back RM4.00.

Ku Din was puzzled as to why they took the RM50 but handed him back RM4.00 until one voter said, “Lima puloh tak seh. Amboh nak pat puloh neh.” (I don’t want 50. I want 46.)

MalaysiaKini SMS 11/12/08 (2)

11/12: Ex-PM Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia might not be able to achieve Vision 2020 of becoming a developed nation in 12 years' time./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 11/12/08

11/12: PPP supreme council, which held an emergency meeting this afternoon, unanimously expressed full support for party chief M Kayveas./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 10/12/08 (3)

10/12: Yazid Sufaat, held under ISA in 2001 after being connected with Sept 11 attacks, freed on Nov 24. Govt said he is no longer a threat./MKINI

Bernama SMS 10/12/08

10/12: Biodiesel will become mandatory for transport and industrial sectors by Jan 2010 and petrol stations will only sell biodiesel then/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 10/12/08 (3)

10/12: House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, in a rare move, accepted opposition?s emergency motion to debate Bkt A'bangsa landslide at 4.30pm./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 10/12/08 (2)

10/12: PM tabled the much-awaited Msian Commission on Anti-Corruption (MCAC) and Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) bills in Parliament./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 10/12/08

10/12: Senator Lee Sing Chooi, who was Sgor MCA secretary and central committee member, passed away at 11pm after suffering a heart attack./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 09/12/08 (2)

9/12: Johor and Perak cops arrested 4 activists and detained 6 others in Jerit?s ?Ride for Change? tour, including Sg Siput MP D Jeyakumar./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 09/12/08

9/12: DCM George Chan, who has led Swak United People's Party since 1996, not likely to quit despite his 2006 promise to do so by this year/MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 05/12/08 (4)

5/12: PAS Selangor did not demand the state govt to impose a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol beverages, said party chief Hasan Ali./MKINI

Bernama SMS 05/12/08 (2)

Kl5/12: International Reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia stood at RM336.4 billion (US¿97.7 bil) as at Nov 28, 2008/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 05/12/08 (3)

5/12: Five Pakatan Rakyat-led states have today agreed to work together in the bid to survive the impending global economic crisis./MKINI

Bernama SMS 05/12/08

5/12: Scomi Engineering will soon complete its feasibility study for Bangalore monorail project/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 05/12/08 (2)

5/12: Proton announced it has inked an agreement to develop a new vehicle with its former Japanese partner, Mitsubishi Motors/MKINI

FW: MalaysiaKini SMS 05/12/08

-original message-
Subject: MalaysiaKini SMS 05/12/08
From: jongandhi@gmail.com
Date: 05/12/2008 11:58 AM

5/12: EC: Nomination for Kuala Terengganu by-election will be Jan 6, polling day is on Jan 17. The campaign period will be 11 days./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 04/12/08 (3)

4/12: Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat says investigation report on RM4.6 bil Port Klang Free Zone scandal will be released in three weeks./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 04/12/08 (2)

4/12: Hishammuddin Hussein said Mukhriz Mahathir's statement on integrating vernacular schools with national schools was misinterpreted./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 04/12/08

4/12: Zaid Ibrahim says he has no intentions to join any political party. Wants to concentrate on his foundation to promote race relations./MKINI

Fail! :D 7

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

Fail! :D 6

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

Fail! :D 5

This is so wrong! :p

Fail! :D 4

see more pwn and owned pictures

Fail! :D 3

see more pwn and owned pictures

Fail! :D 2

see more pwn and owned pictures

Fail! :D

I was going through Sabah Forum and I came across some pictures they had taken from FailBlog. 

They are so funny! :) I couldn't stop laughing!

Anyway here are 3 of my favourites. You can check them out through the links I've provided above.

Enjoy! :D

MalaysiaKini SMS 04/12/08

4/12: Zaid Ibrahim says he has no intentions to join any political party. Wants to concentrate on his foundation to promote race relations./MKINI

Bernama SMS 04/12/08

4/12 KL: Najib assures that RM5 bln increase in allocation for Valuecap will not be used to bail out politically connected individuals or GLCs/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 03/12/08 (3)

3/12: Anwar Ibrahim said it was up to sacked Umno member Zaid Ibrahim to decide if he wanted to join PKR or any other opposition party./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 03/12/08 (2)

3/12: MCA No 2 Chua Soi Lek was questioned by police for 40 minutes relating to his controversial remarks on 'Ketuanan Melayu'./MKINI

U-Turn

The nation's political intrigue has become increasingly irritating and tiresome. There should be other aspects of life that we should be cherishing instead of just politics. After saying that, I will be looking to change the tone of this blog site. I will still update this site with SMSes from MalaysiaKini and Bernama but I shall also add other topics of which I may find interesting.

I suppose when one grows older, the interests too will change. 

It is nearly Christmas and soon we will be celebrating New Year's Day with family and friends. 

It has been a tough and an eventful year. Everybody deserves a break. Even this blog. 

When I first started this blog, I wanted it to be about "A FEW PIECES ABOUT HERE,THERE AND EVERYWHERE".

However due to the turn of events, like the rest of Malaysia I too got caught up with the political turbulence. Now I feel I want to move on. So what if Pakatan Rakyat finally takes over? Will it change my world?

Anyway, I want to explore other aspects of life like environment awarenesses, business opportunities like tourism industries, the arts etc.

So okay now I shall begin, casually, selecting the topics of which I want to write about.

Bernama SMS 03/12/08 (2)

3/12: EPF's investment income down 60.4% to RM2.06 bln in Q3 compared to Q2 as equity income fell to RM1.26 bln from RM2.54 bln/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 03/12/08

3/12: Petronas has no plan to cut back its exploration activities despite volatile economic environment/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 03/12/08

3/12: Federal Court put off habeas corpus appeal by Hindraf 5 under ISA as their lawyer, Karpal Singh, was suffering from food poisoning./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 02/12/08 (4)

2/12: Mukhriz Mahathir, under fire for proposing closing down of vernacular schools, clarified he only asked for schools to be integrated./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 02/12/08 (3)

2/12: Govt has cut petrol prices by another 10 sen, bringing pump prices down to RM1.90 per litre, with RON95 and diesel at RM1.80./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 02/12/08 (2)

2/12: Govt should not wait until the economy fulfills all the technical requirements of a recession before taking emergency measures: PSM./MKINI

MalaysiaKini SMS 02/12/08

2/12: Lim Kit Siang said Umno Youth chief aspirant Mukhriz Mahathir had committed sedition in calling for closure of Tamil, Chinese schools/MKINI

Bernama SMS 01/12/08 (3)

1/12: National carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd is exploring the possibility of undertaking CKD (completely-knocked down) operations in Egypt/BERNAMA

Bernama SMS 01/12/08 (2)

1/12: EPF members who wish to maintain the employee's monthly contribution rate at 11 pct from Jan 2009 may obtain the forms beginning today/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 01/12/08 (2)

1/12: MCA has backed PPP president M Kayveas who yesterday called on the govt to amend the ISA before the next general election./MKINI

Bernama SMS 01/12/08

1/12: MAS MD Datuk Seri Idris Jala named Orient Aviation Person of the Year 2008 for being the driving force behind MAS's amazing comeback/BERNAMA

MalaysiaKini SMS 01/12/08

1/12: DAP Karpal Singh called on Bar Council leaders to resign for silence on chief justice's alleged corruption and dinner paid by govt./MKINI