The Shadow's

"Man of Mystery"

The Things That Break My Heart...

I have turned myself into Malaysia Censorship Board lately (if you know what I meant when you get to hear 'tuuuut' here and there while watching a Hollywood movie) - news nowadays coming out from Malaysian media - main stream or alternative - are downright craps, utterly propagandist and senselessly sensationalist!

Call me sadistic, I remain humane through reading things that break my heart like these stories: -

"Hungry tiger shot dead by Rela member"

"They paved Paradise to put up a coal plant"

I cried thinking who would stand for their rights to exist in this world and to be treated in such cruelty, when even we, the smartest 'animals' in this world could not be protected from injustice of our own 'tribe', our own laws and lifestyle.

Let me end this post with Michael Jackson's "Earth Song". How sadly timely to listen to this song, which was first released in 1995, 2 days after commemorating first anniversary of MJ's untimely death.

"When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves"~ David Orr

Will You Marry Me?

Will you marry me for a richer, healthier and happier life plus a tax break?

Well, not until you read "The myth of wedded bliss".

"Here's to matrimony, the high sea for which no compass has yet been invented!" ~ Heinrich Heine

Typically, marriages carry sentiments of gravity, happiness, certainty and long-term commitment. A happy one is equivalent to GBP70 Grand annual income and quitting smoking. It offers hopes that we won't grow old and die alone. Not forgetting, we'll have someone to confide intimately.

Still, would these advantages of being wedded promises us a bliss?

I like that a part of this article stresses the idea of looking at marriages not as institutions we want to see ourselves associated with but rather to put a spotlight on the relations we have with the one we exchanged our rings and vows. It's about that person we share our lives with, and their commitments towards that institution. It's about finding a key to unlock the immense opportunities life could offer and to continue building the bridge with that person, day in, day out. Sounds tiring but it's worth trying.

By-products of a meaningful marriage transcend many roads, touch many lives, enlighten many souls, carry different roles, and thus, creating a better world.

It is imperative in today's world for men to be raised more feminist in the sense that they respect women, they understand their weaknesses and strengths, empower them and see them as partners, rather than subservient subjects.

"The Female Factor" exemplifies the idea of men as more effective feminists (which reminds me of my kind of fine gentlemen, Mr. Carlos Ghosn) - those who become role models to women, not on terms of power and superiority but more of them showing good paternal examples.

So, will you marry me? Perhaps, if only it makes us better, stronger and wiser...

“Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved”

p.s. Having read these articles, I know why we are where we are and why there's too few female representation in this country's policy-making despite the fact that ratio of female to male in this country grows larger.

I Could Really Use A Wish Right Now...

Sometimes When We Touch...

And sometimes when we touch
The honesty's too much
And I have to close my eyes and hide
I wanna hold you till I die
Till we both break down and cry
I wanna hold you till the fear in me subsides
~ Dan Hill

Having my Third Angel under the same roof is a bliss for me. Cradling him around the house, getting him to wish Ammuma and Atok "Nite Nite, Sleep Tight" and exchanging goodnight kisses before he tucks in for the day at 8.30 pm, gives me back my sanity, re-energises my soul and re-invigorates my faith that God is Great, Most Merciful and Compassionate.

How a soul in this little body could bring such joy just by looking at him is truly a miracle God has given mankind. That kind of euphoria isn't about me craving for motherhood (now that my biology clock is fast ticking away) - it's about being connected to another living being we sometimes take for granted.

For little words on the goodness of human touch, kindly enjoy reading The Benefits of Human Touch and The Pleasure - and the Power - of Human Touch.

"Be it human or animal, touch is a life-giving thing. Has anyone ever had a stroke or a heart attack while cozied up with a pet? I doubt it"~Robert Brault

This weekend, may we have time to kiss the hands of our parents, to hug our loved ones, to stroke our pets (for me and all animal overs out there, to every animal that allow us to share a little touch), to smell the flowers, to watch the stars up there, and to stop and see those around us in a loving, caring way.

How I Wish...

Firstly, I thank God for His mercy. MP Tian Chua will continue to serve his Batu constituency (I go through his constituency every working day so he is important to me, too ;)).

Secondly, looking at the above photo (courtesy of Mkini), how I wish those SB and Men in Blue (huhuhuhu) could show similar gumption to curb our escalating crime and protect us all common people. I guess we all need to be elected as MP or registered as members to Opposition Parties to receive such 'protection'.

New Parliament Building - My 2-cent (Updated)

I'm hook to BFM 89.9.

This morning, Noelle Lim talked to 2 conservation architects on Gomen's plan to move our Parliament to under-used PICC and RM800 M plan to construct a new Parliament Building. The lady architect laments the idea to simply move our sacred Parliament to PICC, which is constructed for a different purpose, without due consideration. The gentleman architect shares on the uniqueness of our Old Dame (sounds like it is a green building constructed ahead of time back in 1962), what it symbolises (healthy democracy of this young nation back then), the lushful greens surrounding it (the lungs of KL) and 'wonderment' why we need to spend RM150 M to this Old Dame after we had spent a good RM100 M five years ago. Listen to their podcast here (Thanks my dear friend, Joshua for this heads-up).

I lifted this (as I was ignorant enough to read about it before) from the Grand Dame's website. Like the rest of Parliament Buildings in the world, it is not merely a structure but one with great stature and deep-rooted culture.

Somehow, those 'vultures' - elite Malays close to every single PM we have - are very good at eyeing sinful business opportunities (never job-creating opportunities).

One of these vultures goes by the name of NAZA. Since the founder died in May 2008, his sons have bagged a Gomen contract to build an Expo Centre, somewhere near the new palace compound to the tune of RM628 M and FELDA HQ's RM600 M contract.

Thanks to us - making a lot of houuhaaahs about the proposed new Parliament Building - the vulture in the August House (siapa lagi kalau tak Naz(r)i) told the MPs that they may move them all to PICC, instead. You see, with this idea, Gomen gives NAZA another opportunity (most gomen contractors make at least 20 -30% profit upfront) to make sinful money as all gomen expo/convention/conference would be held in their new Expo Centre.

Now that our MPs will debate in their new 'tangkap muat' building, the Grand Dame and the surrounding area (Oh, did you know what happened to Carcosa Seri Negara?) can be considered as another jewel in the crown for the Gomen. Recently, the Gomen has incorporated mega-jumbo-mumbo-in-limbo land development projects under its RMK10. Big money can be pocketed from this deal alone and if not NAZA, another 'vultures' will grab get this contract and unfortunately, we have a long list of those 'vultures'.

Just another melancholic story of Malaysia Inc. Not only that we may lose our Grand Dame, there will be no more green lungs for us in the city centre. Tasik Perdana won't be free to public. Traffic jam would be beyond horrible from Jalan Duta into the City Centre. As the story goes too often nowadays, we common people, who would have to tighten our belt so that this Ibu Pertiwi won't turn bankrupt by 2019, would also lose another heritage building, a little pocket of Mother Nature in the city centre and to top it all, losing our symbol of true democracy. I am not sure whether I should start crying or migrating.

Do we have options? We definitely do.

Though the flip-flopping tok ketua says that GE13 date would be a surprise, surprise for us (duhhhh) i.e. we could stop all these nonsensical ideas at ballot boxes, we can always create awareness for others within our circle to know why we need to stand united behind PR, with or without froggies, with or without Sodomy charges, with or without PERKASA, PEKIDA, GERTAK and Surat Khabar Lama - to remove this Stage 4-cancerous current Gomen.

Though I am not a member of any political parties, I am a firm believer that Politics Matter. Supporting PR agenda isn't about getting even with this current Gomen and isn't definitely about jealousy of the glitters the vultures and their families enjoy. It is all about putting everything in order, working accordingly, to the benefits of many, especially the underpriviligeds.

I feel like being slapped really hard on my face this morning upon reading Uncle Buffet and Uncle Gates' announcement asking the American Billionaires to pledge at least 50% of their wealth during or after their lifetime to charity. Malaysia is not short of Billionaires but I doubt they have done much good compared to friends and supporters of Uncle Buffet and Uncle Gates. So much about ketuanan melayu and islam by UMNO, what good have they make of such ketuanan to many less fortunate Malays all these years? Gomen for all my foot!

On this bittersweet morning (though bittersweet chocolate is good for our health), I miss Abraham Lincoln. May his soul rest in peace.

"A statesman of the school of sound common sense, and a philanthropist of the most practical type, a patriot without a superior - his monument is a country preserved" ~ C.S. Harrington

"If you look at his portraits they always give you an indelible impression of his great height. So does his life. Height of purpose, height of ideal, height of character, height of intelligence" ~ David Lloyd George

My Personal Interest in Sime Darby & FELDA...

That’s it. Appointment of the beleaguered Sime Darby’s Group CEO is the straw that breaks my camel’s back.

Here’s why.

My baby brother is a chemist with ex-Golden Hope’s subsidiary. This establishment produces amongst the best crude palm oil in the world, used in many products meant for export market mainly – thanks to Golden Hope’s meticulous care of its plantation (even my highway client commended how good the soil in their plantation considering the area surrounding is swampy). Golden Hope, in addition, was once considered as amongst the best employers to work with, inculcated a close-knit plantation family culture amongst the staff, providing ample job opportunities to the surrounding community that most staff tend to work till their retirement day with Golden Hope. It was no wonder for them to win the coveted Most Caring Employer for 2006 and 2007 after being named one of the “Best under One Billion” companies in Asia Pacific in October 2005. Came CIMB Investment, Golden Hope was delisted and everything Golden Hope was systematically replaced with Sime Darby – the supposedly pride of this nation. By hook or by crook, most Golden Hope’s senior managements were removed and one best example was termination of Golden Hope’s Finance Director and my brother’s GM, after their refusal to resign, having been blamed for RM120 M losses due to one rogue trader’s jolly forex trading. Both took the case to the court but Sime Darby, in its efforts to close its cans of worms, managed to persuade them to settle out of court handsomely. My brother told me the GM is such a humble, dedicated and well-experienced man – the rumour had it that he was set up by certain parties, to nip the shoot before it grows. With Sime Darby at the wheel, they bring in their not-so-fantastic culture, they spent so much on renovations and changing the management’s cars, they forget to look after their staff’s welfare. I guessed Sime Darby has been cursed too much by its ex-staff, its circa RM1.0 B cost overruns in Bakun Damned is the price it has to pay for such misery caused to its staff and the indigenous people adversely affected by this damning project. That is on top of another B losses Sime Darby incurred from its Qatar project, lest we forget already.

Its new Group CEO is the chairman of Bank Islam and CEO of FELDA Global. It was mentioned somewhere in pro-Gomen mouthpiece that he is headhunted for turning around sick companies. Some say he’s instrumental with Tabung Haji but it was also during his time Tabung Haji lost RM65 M to high risk investment. Then, he came to turn around FELDA. From having cash reserves of approximately RM4.5 B once upon a time, this cash cow is not that fat any more – the reserves plunged to whopping RM200 M! Thank you Mr. Charles Santiago for highlighting this to us here.

I love my sister in law dearly – maybe because we are true pisces. Hailed from one remote Jengka settlement, she’s the only one of her 11 siblings that graduated from tertiary education system. My brother courted her in the lab, where both of them worked as chemists. Despite her difficult childhood, she is one strong lady. Her financial intelligence surpasses mine and she has the most caring heart when most people who grew up in her environment would grow up self-centred and snobbish. I’m so glad that my Third Angel has her as his beloved mother.

"The miserable have no other medicine but only hope" ~ William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

Last Sunday, we were talking about the quality of water in our residential area. SYABAS, as we all know too well, does a sloppy job in providing us not-so-clear water. She told me she would make a point to lug a few big bottles of drinking water whenever she goes back to her hometown. Apparently, the water is murky and sometimes, they won’t get any water, especially during long festive season. She dares not drinking water from her parent’s tap. My heart sinks – how about her parents living there? How much contaminated water have they been drinking so far? How much suffering they have to endure all this while when Pahang is UMNO stronghold?

In a few occasions, we have visited her parents in Jengka. Developments are primarily concentrated in Pusat Bandar Jengka. Hospital, banks and business areas are miles away and there is no public transport to commute these people to such places of great necessities. I recall seeing The Little Red Dot’s MoH coaster picking up people from housing estates and dropping them after their hospital appointment. With the kind of money FELDA has, why can’t they invest in a modest mini bus to every settlement area? While some lived bigger, better houses, most still live too simple a life. Being around them makes me feel so humble because with little help from kacang-lupakan-kulit FELDA, they are happy people and they achieved a lot with their own sweats, tears and blood. So, reading this piece of lousy cover-up by Ahmad Maslan (Oh, naib ketua pemuda umno.. No wonder stevie wonder), welfare my foot! Imagine if they are given opportunities, I am sure these people would be able to create a self-sufficient community, that grows their own food, that cares for their own people, that enriches everyone’s life. It is too much for FELDA management to decide spending RM600 M to build their own HQ when their people in Jengka and other settlements have to live such a harsh reality.

Please, we had enough of blunders, plunders and dunderheads running and dictating our lives. Before GE13, PR needs to make significant inroads to such settlements. We need to win for these people to live a better life. As simple as that. They don’t need new mosques, new balairaya, new parliament building, new palace or stadium. They need a new team to safeguard their interest in FELDA – their hope.

"Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them" ~ Vincent McNabb

Step Up or Step Down...

"I don't care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don't harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you're never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants"~ Zig Ziglar

I told Uncle Lee I missed Michael Ballack for this WC2010 - age is catching up so his years playing internationally would be numbered. Alas, Germany beat Ozzie 4 - Nil. Impressive but even without Ballack? Ish, ish ish, how could they!?

Angela Merkel's Germany memang Boleh! Read what seriously handsome Joachim Yogi Low (according to my handsomo-meter, one is handsome when one has a serious look - ;P) said about his anak buah lived up to the mark required of them. Unlike here in this Motherland, even Pak Ketua flip-flopping on many important issues. So, what do you expect from his half-past-six, half-baked [kitchen] cabinet?

"In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed - they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? - the cuckoo clock"~ Graham Greene & Orson Wells, The Third Man, movie

Low doesn't miss Ballack

Germany coach Joachim Low says his side are not feeling the absence of injured midfielder Michael Ballack.

Ballack was ruled out of the World Cup shortly before the tournament was due to start and at the time it was seen as a major blow to Germany's chances.

However, Low's men thrashed Australia 4-0 in their opening game and put in a performance that sent out warning signs to their rivals.

Low insists that Ballack is still a quality player, but was delighted with the way his team coped without him.

He said: "With Ballack missing, I had to look for a solution. I was lucky that more and more players stepped up to the mark.

"With Sami Khedira, you can draw a parallel between him and a young Ballack. It seems up to now we have dealt with his absence fairly well.

"Michael Ballack was an important player who has immense experience.

"Space distribution is the key to good football. It's no use if players are clustered together.

"I would like to see offensive football, combination play and a certain culture. Combination play is not something you are born with, it has to be practised on the training pitch."

17-Year Old Arjun Rajyagor - Of Being Entrepreneur & Immigrant

"Junior Apprentice", is a teenage version of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice", presided by Lord Alan Sugar. This reality-series recently crowned Arjun Rajyagor and I am amazed at his business acumen, considering he's only 17!

Read this interview, which makes me wonder are our GLC heads that bad (oh, since Sime Darby just announced appointment of its new CEO - Bank Islam and Felda Holdings' Chairman - sniff sniff I smell something fishy here)?

Arjun Rajyagor wins first 'Junior Apprentice'

Arjun Rajyagor has been named the winner of the first season of Junior Apprentice, winning a £25,000 fund to help him kickstart his career in the future.

Last night, Arjun Rajyagor was paired with Tim Ankers as joint project manager and was asked by Lord Sugar to create a branding and advertising campaign for a bottle of water.

Previously famed for being a "calculator basher", Arjun Rajyagor impressed Karren Brady with his creative skills by taking control of the filming of the advert. Choosing the shots and directing the actors, Arjun unleashed his flair to show that he was more than just a "mathmatics man". During the pitch for the brand "A Bottle of Water", Arjun Rajyagor handled the questions about the simplicity of the brand with confidence.

In the main boardroom, facing Lord Sugar, Arjun Rajyagor detailed his past achievements in various business ventures, from being a head prefect to fixing computers from his house. As the tension mounted, Lord Sugar announced Arjun Rajyagor was the first Junior Apprentice winner, beating runner-up Tim Ankers.

Whether you were a big fan of Junior Apprentice or not, you cannot ignore the talent and skills that the finalists displayed in their pitches. Don't forget they were all under 18 - and still faced (some) hard questions from seasoned adult businesspeople.

Sure, maybe Junior Apprentice wasn't as exciting as the normal format of Apprentice, but you have to hand it to the kids - they've got skills. If these kids represent the future of Britain, we're all in safe hands.


Q&A with Arjun Rajyagor, winner of Junior Apprentice 2010

Age: 17

Education: A levels in physics, maths and systems and control, AS level further maths

Lives: Essex


Real Business (RB): Congratulations on winning Junior Apprentice. What’s it like being the first ever Junior Apprentice winner?

Arjun Rajyagor: The feeling of being the first ever winner is beyond amazing. When I found out, I couldn’t believe it – I was physically taken aback and had to double-check!

Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would win when I first sent off that application form, but now that I have, I couldn’t be more elated. My family and friends have been the greatest support system that anyone could have asked for, and I actually can’t believe that it’s all over.

RB: So what do you plan on using the £25,000 fund for?

Arjun Rajyagor: The fund will be fundamental to starting my own business after university, where I’ll also get the remaining qualifications that I require.

The business will primarily focus on working at the forefront of new and upcoming technologies, and will eventually create viable products that will harness the capability of said technologies.

I aspire to, one day, trade with the likes of NASA and Apple.

RB: Why did you apply for Junior Apprentice to start with?

Arjun Rajyagor: I applied for Junior Apprentice because I thought it’d give me the opportunity to display my raw business talent and demonstrate that academies have m ore to give to the world than just booksmarts.

Also, as it promised to be such a large learning curve, it would allow me to learn so much more about myself and the business world.

RB: How did you find your time on the show?

Arjun Rajyagor: It was the most amazing experience of my life and I didn’t want it to end. I know that I’ll never have the chance to experience something like this again, so I ensured that I’d make the most out of every second.

RB: What do you think of Lord Sugar, Nick and Karren?

Arjun Rajyagor: They were all amazing role models and wonderful people to work around. They gave their criticisms and their praises, but they were always fair. They always ensured that we understood how much of an achievement it was that we’d made it this far. They were always supportive and are still, to this day, people that I aspire to be like.

RB: Who do you think was your strongest competitor?

Arjun Rajyagor: Throughout the entire process, it was Tim. He got off to a shaky start but was always learning and rectifying previous mistakes. He fast became a real contender and was the greatest competition anyone could’ve asked for.

RB: What are you doing now, then? What are your hopes for your future career?

Arjun Rajyagor: At the moment I’m studying for my A-level exams in physics, maths and systems & control, while also undertaking AS further maths in my own time. I’m heading to university in September, hopefully to the University of Oxford to study engineering science.

In the future, after completing my masters in electrical engineering, I aim to start up my own company of electrical and electronic engineers and use my ‘instinct’ to start a ‘revolution’.

RB: What have you learnt about business from your experience on Junior Apprentice?

Arjun Rajyagor: From Junior Apprentice, I’ve learnt that business has a lot more elements to it than I initially believed, and that a business dynamic entirely on the team that is running it and their passion towards the service/object being sold. It’s always important to work with people who share your vision and goal and that way, you can help each other to attain it.

RB: What would you say to any fellow young aspiring business people? Any advice?

Arjun Rajyagor: To all the budding entrepreneurs and young businessmen and women out there, I would like to tell you never to give up on your dreams and if you believe that you can do it, then anything is possible.

Just put your all into everything you do and you’ll be successful in all your endeavours.

Oh, by the way, I love facts and facts showed immigrants' contribution to entrepreneurialism. So, what we have today in Malaysia, let's all thanks our brothers and sisters whose forefamilies sailed through treacherous seas, trekked through dangerous ravines, risking their lives to seek a better life here in this Motherland. May God bless their souls. those souls we called pendatang...

My Boys - The African Teams

Naturally, I don't support any team for World Cup because my Mr. Arsene Wenger doesn't coached for any but he has glowing opinions on the African Teams, thus, I would support Bafana Bafana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria. All the best boys (Go Didier Drogba Go Get 'Em All)!

On a sad note, really, my eyes will turn teary watching MAXIS' ads on our great old footballers - I wonder how they feel looking at our soccer team. Where did we go wrong? Someone very much involved in preparation of Malaysian Team to SEA Games that won Gold Medal for the longest time told me that he quit right after that because everyone, including the association members, belittled our boys - their victory was purely luck. Instead of trying to improve infrastructures and trainings, those people have been have 'doctrined' to accept mediocrity as their destiny and any changes proposed are seen as threats to their NEP mentality. Why don't you read this interestingly sad article by Mr. SP Nathan, "Dare We Dream for 2018". It seem like this problem has roots in many areas that concern us as adults for we are the guardians of our children - this Motherland's precious building block.

May this World Cup in South Africa inspires us all, just like the lyrics to its official "Waka Waka" song, sang by Shakira.

Waka Waka (Do It Brilliantly in Swahili)

You’re a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
Get back in the saddle
You’re on the front line
Everyone’s watching
You know it’s serious
We’re getting closer
This isn’t over

The pressure’s on; you feel it
But you got it all; believe it
When you fall get up oh oh
And if you fall get up eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Cause this is Africa
Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Listen to your god; this is our motto
Your time to shine
Don’t wait in line
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Y vamos por todo
People are raising their expectations
Go on and feel it
This is your moment
No hesitation

Today’s your day
I feel it
You paved the way
Believe it
If you get down
Get up oh oh
When you get down
Get up eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa aa
Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Wengernomics - In Support of All Wise Men

“The pleasure we derive from doing favors is partly in the feeling it gives us that we are not altogether worthless. It is a pleasant surprise to ourselves” ~ Eric Hoffer

I've been hit by a train of surprises lately (good ones of course though they are mentally and emotionally tiring). Today, Mr. Wenger paid me a surprise, surprise visit.

Again, a 'blimey' coincidence as I thought about roping him in a great quest on economic enlightenment, which I have mooted to my dear old friend this morning (did we not remember what Neil Armstrong said when he first stepped on the moon, "One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind").

Now he's PENUMPANG - in retaliation to misleading Idris Jala and his PEMANDU. Check out his Wengernomics - reliable and pliable takes on our Gomen mind-boggling economics policies.

Welcome home, Mr. Wenger!

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it"

~Buddha

p.s. I have serious doubts about the quality of graduates Economics Schools all over the world produced because based on my experience and the facts we could clearly see now, engineers make better economists.

Funds for Fun Anyone?

The other day, I was having my cuppa with my dear old friend along the road where Asian Heritage Row is located. Apart from Cochine, I sought his wisdom why on earth we call this row of colonial buildings a Heritage one when it is full with clubs and bars? So, we blamed DBKL - the one giving such licences, thinking anything would be good as long as they could generate some income, even at the expense of such cultural mockery. Shishhh..

p.s. Imagine an old lady trying to act young.. She's definitely a horrible sight!

Oh, if you must know, when I used to commute with KTMB a few years ago, I would cherish my slow walk along that road - imagining its good old days and wishing I was living those moments. Though living in this era, most of the time I feel like I have such an old soul that only takes comfort in those good old days. Cafes and posh places make me feel out of places. I yearn for simplistic beautiful lifestyle that today's life couldn't offer me since most things, places and people are superficial and artificial.

So, when the news of the Gomen thinking of shifting the Parliament to Putra-not-so-jaya, I get infuriated. We could see how humungous the Palace is (such sinful lavishness at the expense of pro-rich subsidies cut), thinking this little nation having a new Parliament building stinks with absurdity!

Somehow, this kind of 'syok sendiri' news comes after the Gomen has expressed its intention to monetise lands in Sg Buloh and Jalan Ampang. I will laugh like a hyena if the Gomen ever said that such developments would create more job opportunities when we know too well, most of the labourers would be from Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, the con-sultants would be foreign companies and the developers would be getting some handsome commissions. What we would be getting is just more socio-economic problems! These developments do not enrich our life - they just make some parties super rich - that's all.

Not enough of creating such artificial developments, the Gomen also thinks it's good for us to take up more borrowings. Read Sir Hawkeye's "Malaysia borrowing for fun..." if you don't think I'm not that smart enough to see this coming.

Do you think we could hire Patty Hewes to bring those corrupted lots to court?

1 Year and 1 Month Ago...

I wrote these emails to J - sharing my doomed feelings on the going-ons during Perak State Assembly meeting on 7 May 2009. It's been a year and a month ago and I think it is timely to put them up here for the purpose of waking some senses up in light of heightened Gaza-Israel conflict.

Here, we have our own conflicts too.

Surat Khabar Lama and his gang denounced Israel's inhumanity treatments - forgetting that they too have been practising the same dogma towards us Malaysians. How hypocritical they could be. That alone may explains why some of us wondered out loud why we made such a fuss on the attack of Mavi Marmara.

Still, an injustice anywehere is a threat to justice everywhere. Thus, for SKL and his gang, I pray to God for guidance. May they be guided to the right path. May we be guided to soldier on to fight against inhumanity, come what may.

This post is in memory of Ms Rachel Corrie (1979 - 2003).

Hi J

Im at the internet cafe near the Grandview Hotel where PR's ADUN stay. Uncle Zorro, Helen Ang and many others (in solidarity) were arrested. All PR's MP who came over (even to their offices) and were in the midst of press conference were arrested by sick police f(a)rce...and i almost get caught twice - first when we first walked from the railway station and second when we were at the prohibited perimeter.

In the first incident, the sicko came with all their machine guns and all and their cars blocking the road. The spokeperson for our entourage was provoked and he was arrested along with another. They were hauled in and the remaining guys around 12 of them (bless their souls) joined the two on the truck. There were uncles and aunties there in black and walking with their canes, weak knees and these idiot sicko kept on shouting to them to turn back. I just stood there - the tears just kept on falling. One lousy lady sicko asked me to leave - dik, minta tolong patah balik? i told her - saya tak nak tolong awak boleh? Stood there alone for a good 10 minutes and hopped on the bus as it stopped at the traffic light. The bus took me to the new state building.

After asking a few locals (shish..some were plain ignorant i felt like giving a good long lecture), one macha gave me the best direction to the SUK building. I felt good - i didnt miss my daily walking session. At one turning to the building along the river, i saw 1 chinese guy - ive seen him before. Yes, we had zigzagging to get ourselves there from the railway station. I walked along one malay lady - Kak Wa - an ipoh housemaker - a devout supporter of PAS. A few guys were there including YB Nizar's PA. He walked mindlessly away from the building. We saw the sicko chased the people gathering at the edge of the perimeter and one good man hushed to us that we will be next. I quickly checked the surrounding, saw one lawyer firm (in a house) with an open. The chief sicko shouted - tangkap - and we dashed to the house, hiding behind the lushful flower of paradise and a scooter. We heard voices and alhamdullilah, they were the owner of the premise - a lawyer wife and a caterer hubby. They let us in the house as the hubby told us that the sicko was looking for 2 ladies in black. Conversation ensued between us. Apparently, the lawyer wifey is a daughter to Adun Bukit Semanggol so we almost got news straight from the assembly hall as her brother, who acts as PA to her father, was there. Kak Wa shared her stories about what happened after the 'haram' MB took over - both YB nizar and YB Sivakumar stayed at the MB's house, guarded by PAS' unit amal. Security was very tight as there had been threats about kidnapping, killings, ammunitions etc. UMNO memang bijak bab2 macam ni...shishhhhh...Many supporters 'berkampung' at the MB house throughout the ordeal till YB Nizar left his official residence...

A few days before the 'hijack', Ustaz Harun Din came over the house and warned YB Nizar that something will happen to Perak State Govt. INdeed, it came true. When the 'perassan' MB lodged a police report that he had bomoh the assembly hall, Ustaz Harun Din had also warned that there are too many 'jampi serapah' in the hall. Again, siapa lagi kalau bukan org melayu yg suka bomoh2 ni kan?

I cried a lot, so whats wrong with that after listening to stories like that. Ok, so i need to read history again as i felt like we are re-living what people back then must have felt. While you can say we cant win this by protest and all but i always believe that will not go down the drain. So, J, that najib thingy is totally failed. It is the culmination of the surat khabar lama and the sleeping booty - go figure how horrible he is....

As said by Robin Sharma, "Great achievement often happens when our backs are up against the wall"...

Take care J...wherever you are...

Hi J

I was back home by 9.30 last night - safe yet broken hearted - and was told by Mr Whisperer that Uncle Zorro and the rest had been released last night. Alhamdullilah...i cant bear the fact that some uncles would have to spend time in the lockup over night, with no medications. I was imagining if they were my father...

Perhaps you just have to read it literally...no explanation required, J.

I had enough of 'the game' people like you play. It doesnt make our country any better or even make KJ a better person. For once, i wish you could understand that the era of persona idolisation is over. I'd be glad if you could just change people and not merely bringing them down. We are not lalang, J...

As for your The Perak Debacle, is there anything else to be said about it? UMNO really opened up its own 'pekung' and its game 'makan tuan'. Yes, the winner is clearly PR.

You know, J, people from all walks of life came over to show their support, even at the expense of kena kejar and kena pulas tangan. Do you think they were suka2?

Even fulltime housemakers took time to go there. If they were UMNO members, i know they came for the money paid. These were just plain Makciks and Pakciks, naik moto kapcai, anak muda kerja sendiri. Whats this crisis meant for them? Kak Wa from Ipoh just sms me saying that the rats sent in 5 trucks barricading a mosque where solat hajat was to be performed. Its crazy, not just hindu and buddhismd, now islam as the official religion of this nation is being threatened...Gosh, J...UMNO is so gone...history....

Almost half of those who gathered were chinese and the rats, mostly malays, felt provoked on racial basis - apasal org cina besar kepala nak tunjuk perasan tak tentu pasal? I chuckled when these chinese people told the rats - encik, kami bayar gaji encik! hehehehhe..those idiots never know where their gaji comes from...

So, can we focus on economy now? We bloody should - with or without the crisis. But the problem is the UMNO goons are blaming this crisis when it is their non-performance in handling our economy. We didnt see anyone from MoF there 'guarding the sanctity of our constitution and monarch - yea right! - to justify the money spent on helis circling the SUK building, thousands of rats stationed around Ipoh (semua tanggung) and many more wastage of public funds. Wow, our sovereign rating must have been negatively impacted in near future...

J, just ignore me ok..i will only make you despised me more...btw, hope DJIA performed as you wish yesterday...

Latuk VT - The King, The Crook & The Gambler

Latuk VT - this psychedelic psy-chic cannot stomach anything and everything about him.

Now, he said he will donate RM525 million to charity. If I am not selectively amnesiac, he and his friends set up one charity body, which extended invitations to attend their Gala Dinner (featuring ex-USSR country cultural performance) to us a few years ago. I didn't go because it didn't feel right succumbing to the invitation from people like them - "I'm good to you, you better be good to me too [another version of 1lousy peeem]".

At the same time, his friends sat on the board of company, which was granted a contract to print our currency notes during The Sleepy Lah time. Unfortunately, the approval was revoked after our central bank found out about it and some lynchs walking along the corridor of power were asked how on earth they got such contract. Thank God it didn't get off but some parties suffered tens of million being downpayment to a certain printer maker in Swiss Alps. To make the matter worst, some pertinent security documents in favour of the financiers were not executed by the time funds were remitted to the printer maker.

Oh! I've just attended a training on Anti Money Laundering Act a couple of weeks ago. So, i am not sure if you know some people set up charity bodies to camouflage their money laundering activities.

So, go figure!

Oh! By the way, since we don't want those money from Latuk VT, we also don't want to support these establishments controlled by him: -

1. Toto

2. Singer

3. Inter-Pacific Securities, Inter-Pacific Asset Management, Berjaya Sompo Insurance, Prime Credit Leasing

4. Cosway

5. HVN

6. Country Farms

7. Borders (visit Kino, TIMES or MPH instead)

8. Berjaya-Air, Kelab Darul Ehsan, Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort, Bukit Banang Golf & Country Club, Staffield Country Resort, Desa Water Park, Berjaya Langkawi Resort, Berjaya Redang Resort, Berjaya Tioman Resort, Berjaya Penang Hotel, Berjaya Singapore Hotel, Berjaya Hotel Colombo, Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino (Seychelles), Berjaya Praslin Resort (Seychelles), Berjaya Eden Park London Hotel,

9. Berjaya Times Square (bad feng shui - opposite Pudu Jail plus it belongs to bad people. Well, talk about mirror image effect)

10. Colmar Tropicale

11. Prime Gaming (Philippines), Berjaya Lottery Management (Hong Kong)

12. [Kenny Rogers] Roasters

13. Starbucks & Gloria Jean’s(pricey drinks for lousy service)

14. Wendy’s

15. Papa John’s Pizza

16. Krispy Crème

17. Bandartex, Knitex, Soutex, Magni-Tech

18. BerMaz Motors, Dunia Prestasi Auto, Changan Berjaya Auto, Nusa Otomobil, Aston Martin-Lagonda (SEA), Brilliance Auto, KUB-Berjaya Enviro

19. Informatics, Berjaya University College of Hospitality (which extended horrible assistance to the King of Grills - Robert Rainford - during his tour to Malaysia - you gotta check out his comments on his 1Malaysia experience. Shish. No wonder Daniel Boulud tak nak datang sini)

20. The Sun (free dailies? no thanks)

21. Berjaya Land, Greenfields Apartments (Bukit Jalil), Sarawak Turf & Equestrian Club and Taiga Building Products (Canada).

My Psychedelic Weekend

The Zombies presents

"Summertime"

"She's not There"

"Friends of Mine"

"Time of the Season"

"You Make Me Feel Good"

"This Will Be Our Year"

The Terrible Side of Me

June started with a calendar full of meetings, social gatherings and hospital visits - my life currently epitomises this saying, "When it rains, it pours". They are mentally, emotionally and physically demanding (yes, meetings for me are filled with Q&A, think-outside-the box sessions and actions) but I love them all - that's the real me, being selflessly devoted to those matters in hand.

At the same time, such nerve-wrecking, mind-boggling, time-juggling, hand-clapping moments also bring out the terrible side of me. I could immerse myself completely in my 'Alice in Wonderland" world.

"Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things" ~ Lawrence Bell

In the office, I have my side of the window blinds all opened up - I love the brightness of the sunlight and the views I could enjoy every now and then. Perhaps, the sun has moved a significant degrees to the west lately as someone sitting next to me decided to close my blinds - without informing me first. That irks me so much (at least, she should have a courtesy to reason out her action as I see myself as being reasonable). Fine, I would respect her action but I thought she knows me well enough to mutually respect my idea of having the sunlight later in the afternoon. Still, she remains adamant. Last Friday, she announced to the whole world that she's going to nap after her lunch that she deems that give her all the right to switch off the lights. I normally work through lunch and that day, I desperately need to get my reports out to our counterparts in the other side of the world by end of the day - and it's Friday! As she sits next to me, I was struggling looking at the figures. in such dim-lit office .At first, I was rather accommodating but looking at her babbling with some colleagues instead of napping, I told her I need my blinds open to do my work, which she obliged by opening half of them. Since then, we have yet to exchange words. I hope she knows that I don't like that kind of attitude and if she thinks I need her support to be popular amongst colleagues (so I better be good to her), she's darn wrong!

Are right and wrong convertible terms, dependant upon popular opinion? ~William Lloyd Garrison

Why I get so mad with that kind of attitude is not because I am being fussy - too bad i am being principled. Some of us take people, things, responsibilities and rights for granted. As a result, we opine it is alright to cut corners, being self-centred, immature and irresponsible once in a while. Unfortunately, those little things make up for bigger problems we have now in our family and society.

“It is better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for someone you are not”

Yes, this is me - incredulously petty. So, be warned.

p.s. Danny Elfman's "The Little Things" - one of soundtracks from this cool movie "Wanted" with my fave Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy.

p.s. Updated on 7 June 2010, 10.30 am - Yeay! The communication line is back on track. "The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you" ~ Elbert Hubbard, The Notebook, 1927

Israel's Siamese Twin - That's Us

I am still suffering from acute mental diarrhea reading comments in MKini here by educated urban Malaysians on the tragic incident that befallen humanitarians on board the Mothership for Gaza Freedom Flotilla - Mavi Marmara. But what do you expect from most Malaysians? At the rate we are going and the kind of rubbish we utter and think (since most of us are still 'hibernating'), we would be winning this trophy - The Worst Citizens (or some can say "The Worst Humans") in the World.

If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention - Author Unknown

It is sad to realise many of us are so oblivious to what really happens in Gaza - they can't even differentiate between Jewish and Zionist. It is even sad - thanks to our ignorance - we are now turning our Motherland into a state of Zionism.

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I won't go further trying to state my points in this tragic issue, most of us have misplaced our ignorance. Thanks to my dear Antares, he reads my mind when he came up with "You Become What You Hate".

“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them” ~ Isaac Asimov

This weekend, I comfort and re-energise my soul re-reading Dr Ang Swee Chai's "From Beirut to Jerusalem". In case you're thinking fighting over Israel is all about saving our Muslim brothers and sisters, may I suggest you read this book by a Malaysian Chinese lady.

Please, Please, Please, Let Me...

Thanks to BFM 89.9 I enjoy myriads of song I would never get to listen from ordinary radio stations. One of the songs that leaves a great impression on me is this song by a Mancunian rock band by the name of The Smiths.

Thanks to my FB buddy, Joshua, for sharing this song -now I know its singer and title.

I hope you enjoy this meaningful song...

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want

Good times for a change
See, the luck I've had
Can make a good man
Turn bad

So please please please
Let me, let me, let me
Let me get what I want
This time


Haven't had a dream in a long time
See, the life I've had
Can make a good man bad


So for once in my life
Let me get what I want
Lord knows, it would be the first time
Lord knows, it would be the first time

Way To Go Philip Morris!

My Ayah quit smoking when he knew Mak was pregnant with me in the tummy. My first baby brother never smoke – he told his friends Mak forbids him from puffing, which Mak never did tell him so. My second baby brother used to smoke like a chimney – thanks to asthma, he smokes less nowadays and never in any houses, even his. Tok substituted eating with smoking – he sipped his Milo and went smoking straight away after each Buka Puasa. He saw mealtime as social time. Growing up with such colourful characters, I have turned diplomatically indifferent when it comes to people smoking. The only complain I may have towards them would be my clothes smelling like a chimney (I would rather be St Nick, going down the chimney with all the gifts for those kids!).

However, since yesterday morning, after listerning to Richard James of Philip Morris (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd ("PMM") fuming over Health Minister's flip-flop on banning small pack cigarettes on BFM 89.9 (you can listen to the podcast here), suddenly I see a hero was born out of cigarettes.

PMM does not only have butts (cigarette butts of course), it has guts too because this flip-flopping business is a big turn-off to foreign investors (as local investors don't really contribute to the country's GDP as huge amount of their monies exchanged hands along with froggies and serial liars) for it has no business sense.

And if you read this article on TMI, may you'd know why I salute PMM: -

QUOTE

"In the absence of clarity surrounding this decision PMM will have no choice but to evaluate all possible avenues including legal recourse to recover any losses the company may suffer", the statement said.

PMM had earlier released a statement threatening legal action over the government's flip-flopping over the small pack ban. PMM managing director Richard Morgan said that this sudden reversal of a previously-approved Cabinet directive was not only a 'devastating blow' for business but foreign investor confidence as well.

"How can any corporation plan for its future and maintain its viability in an environment of such legal uncertainty where decisions that are supposedly set in concrete can be overturned so rapidly and without any consultation?", he asked.

This precipitous decision coming less than one week before the previously-announced deadline will cause damage to PMM's business and competitive position and it conflicts with the Ministry of Health's stated public health objectives.

Morgan appealed to the prime minister and his Cabinet to reinstate the June 1 deadline for the ban on cigarette packs of less than 20 sticks.

"We believe this is essential to ensure foreign investor confidence that Malaysia is indeed a fair and transparent nation in which to do business ", he said.

UNQUOTE

I suspected that this 4th time flip-flop has got something to do with disposing some 14-stick stocks belonging to some 'warlords'. They are buying time to make more money. Previously, it wasn't easy to trace contrabands and with the banning, it will be easy for law enforcement agencies to seize them - yes, size sometimes does matter in this matter.

Still, is it worth it to quench the thirst of these warlords with more sinful moneys by turning away real investment? Should we allow some people's political and personal agenda to reign above our national economic agenda? Why bother attending Idris Jala's subsidies workshop if we allow such bad business ethics and corruption to flourish?

Way to go Philip Morris, way to go!