Friday, July 27, 2007

The War on Bloggers: A Comedy of Errors

RPK of Malaysia-Today recounts what transpired during his 8 hour interrogation by the police. It's a damn interesting read. Some excerpts and the link to the article below:

The top bosses were monitoring the whole situation and my interrogation was not a routine one at all. One senior Chinese officer who sat there the entire duration without opening his mouth revealed his true role when the only time he spoke was to utter the statement that I am trying to topple the IGP. That was what the police really wanted. It was payback time for the revelations of the links between the IGP and the Chinese organised crime syndicate.

Umno, however, had other motives. It was not about Malaysia Today insulting the Agong or Islam. They did not even have any evidence of this until that Chinese reporter helped them get onto the internet and access Malaysia Today’s website. What they were perturbed about is my article in my column No Holds Barred on 8 July 2007 about the powers of the Agong.

Abdullah is worried that Malaysia Today might be playing a role of ‘instigating’ the Rulers to sack him. They then sat down and came out with a plan to turn the Rulers against Malaysia Today by accusing Malaysia Today of insulting the Agong and Islam. They hope that by doing this the Rulers would get angry with Malaysia Today and be very grateful to Abdullah for putting Raja Petra in jail and in that same process protect and defend the image and dignity of the Rulers.

In short, Abdullah wants the Rulers to think that Malaysia Today is their enemy while the Prime Minister is their friend. So, no need to sack Abdullah. Instead, put Raja Petra in jail. And with that Abdullah and his family can continue to live happily ever after as the First Family of Malaysia.
The entire article is here: A comedy of errors.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

RPK released. In the meantime, comment in moderation

UPDATED: I've reluctantly taken the step to turn on moderation for this blog. Although most, if not all the comments to this blog have been fairly genuine and balanced and the fact that this blog does not enjoy the viewership of the big boys by far... I'm thinking that the govt will quickly run out of big fish to hunt, and might soon go after the little ones. After that, it will be the floating plankton like me. After all, just like the PWD/JKR - those RM2,750 UMNO cybertroopers that RPK mentioned will need to ensure that their work is never done. That's called job security.

Anyway TheSun's report on RPK's interrogation below. Contrast it to NST's spun report (farther below) which is devoid of any stinging quotes by RPK... except for the one where he's made to sound (to me, at least) like he's admitted guilt but trying to get off on a technicality by purportedly 'insisting' that his website is not subject to Malaysian law because it's based overseas.

TheSun: Raja Petra defiant after eight-hour grilling

KUALA LUMPUR (July 26, 2007): Malaysia-today.net webmaster Raja Petra Kamarudin (pix left), who is being investigated for alleged sedition, emerged defiant as ever yesterday after spending eight hours at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.
He was summoned for questioning following a report lodged by Umno on Monday alleging the blogger had insulted the King and Islam in his website.

The 57-year-old blogger arrived about 11am, accompanied by his wife Marina Abdullah, 50, and friends. He was believed to have given a statement and met district police chief ACP Mohd Zulkarnian Abdul Rahman.

He emerged at 7.15pm to be greeted by about 30 reporters.

Mohd Zulkarnian said earlier that Raja Petra was being investigated under the Sedition Act.

Marina said it was the second time her husband had been called in for questioning over postings in his weblog. Last year, he was questioned over a posting which alleged the sale of state titles in Negri Sembilan. No action was taken against him.

In 2001, Raja Petra was detained under the Internal Security Act.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib lodged a police report against Raja Petra over postings which allegedly condemned the King and Islam. Raja Petra responded via a long posting criticising Muhammad and also made certain allegations against the former Selangor mentri besar.

He told reporters waiting outside the Dang Wangi station: "I came here to defend myself of the allegations and brought my Quran with me and asked them where I went wrong. I demanded they tell me where I had insulted the King and Islam in the website. They made me sign about 30 or 40 papers and I protested when they asked me to reveal the bloggers who posted comments on Malaysia-Today.net.

"How am I to know who? We have 20,000 news items and five million comments from bloggers coming from 146 countries. Although 70% of these are comments from Malaysians, how are we to know who they are. I don't know who they are and neither do I want to know." He alleged that Umno was behind such postings in his website.

"These people are Umno 'cybertroopers', there are about 25 of them paid RM2,750 a month to raid and invade malaysia-today.net. They flood my website with about 500 to 600 unwanted and sensitive comments daily and I lose sleep every night cleaning this mess up by deleting them from my site," he said.

However, he admitted that such comments were open to viewing for hours until they were removed.

Raja Petra said there was an agenda to clamp down on blogs before the coming general election in a move to black out news.

When asked about the allegations made by Muhammad that malaysia-today.net had carried comments which insulted the King, Raja Petra said:

"Where, where is that particular posting he is referring to? If I smoke a cigar with the Sultan of Selangor (Raja Petra's cousin), does that mean I disrespect him? The police asked me about a comment on my website which read 'Why fight, we are Malaysians, let us live peacefully and be happy'. This is a positive comment but I was questioned about what it meant."

He said finally the police asked him what was the purpose of the website and he said he told them "malaysia-today.net was to teach Malaysians to debate in an intelligent and mature manner. Whether it be agreed upon or not, it must be allowed".
Constrast with...
NST: Police quiz Raja Petra for 8 hours

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today website owner Raja Petra Kamaruddin, 57, was questioned for eight hours by the police.

He arrived at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 11am yesterday and left at 7pm.

This followed a report lodged by Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib on Monday at the same station.

The report had alleged that the political website carried write-ups in its July 11 posting which insulted the king and Islam.

Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Mohd Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman confirmed Raja Petra’s statement was recorded.

"This is to facilitate our investigation under the Sedition Act," he said yesterday.

Raja Petra told reporters he gave full co-operation to the police who recorded 30 to 40 pages of his statement which he signed.

He said he was queried on several comments posted by readers on his website.

Raja Petra insisted that his website was not subject to Malaysian law as it was not based in Malaysia.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Samy Vanilli: Blame it on the rain... yeah, yeah

Samy Vanilli says that leaks in the parliament building are due to changes in weather patterns:

Global changes in the weather pattern that resulted in heavier rain is to be blamed for the recent leaks in the Parliament building, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Commenting on yesterday's incident where Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak was greeted with a leak as he stepped out of Dewan Negara, Samy Vellu said it was due to the spell of heavy rain in the last few days.

"Rain is really heavy nowadays, not only here, but throughout the world. Like in England, streets are filled with five feet (deep) of water, in (the United States of) America there's also flood." - TheSun on Samy Vellu
This reminds me of excuses I used to hear when pesticides salespeople were challenged on poor sales performance. When sales of insecticides were low, the weather was too wet ie. low insect pressure. When herbicide and fungicide sales were low, the weather was too dry ie. low foliage and fungus growth.

My question to them was: "If your performance depends entirely on the weather... why the hell do we keep you around for? We can just have automated contracts to ship product to customers, triggered simply rainfall."

So, I'm thinking. Why the hell are we keeping Samy Vanilli around for?

Blaming "excess" rainfall... does he mean to tell us that he's only just recently found out that Malaysia is a tropical country with heavy rainfall? Each year, every year... without fail. What business does he have being Works Minister when buildings are being built in rain-soaked Malaysia (with public money), that cannot work when they get wet?

Now... I don't claim to be an architect or building engineer. But when you make a structure waterproof, doesn't it remain waterproof (not counting floods) regardless of whether it's torrential rain, intermittent rain or someone peeing on the roof?

Meanwhile, in direct contradiction to Samy's claim... UEM's chairman says that the issues with public (and private) buildings are due to political patronage. And he should know:
Political patronage in the awarding of contracts, excessive red tape and poor funding may be behind problems related to the maintenance of some government buildings.

Opus International Group and UEM World Berhad chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Tajuddin Ali said they could also have resulted in the improper design and construction of some public assets.

He said these problems had also affected privatised projects such as ports, airports, bridges and highways.

Ahmad Tajuddin said it was an uphill task managing such assets with large sums required for maintenance. - The NST on Ahmad Tajuddin

Fong's fallacy: Minimum wage will bring deluge of foreigners

According to Fong Chan Onn, a minimum wage will bring a 'deluge' of foreign workers.

Fong: Minimum wage will bring deluge of foreigners

The Government fears a potential huge influx of foreign workers in certain sectors should it adopt the RM900 monthly minimum wage and RM300 cost of living allowance (Cola) advocated by MTUC.

“If the floodgates are opened, foreign workers may come in droves, especially to work in rural sectors. This will displace the locals,” said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn.

He added there was a high possibility of foreign workers, especially those from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, coming here because they knew their minimum monthly income would be guaranteed.

Dr Fong said if the MTUC’s minimum wage formula was adopted, it would have to be extended to all workers, regardless of nationality.
Hmmm, I have 2 questions for the minister.

1. Isn't the number of foreign workers in Malaysia determined by the Immigration dept (which issues work permits), Human Resources ministry (which issues approvals for companies to hire foreign workers) and of course enforcement by our security forces at all entry points into the country?

So, no matter what the minimum wage is, shouldn't the number of foreign workers be exactly what these ministries and govt agencies allow into the country?

Is Dr Fong saying foreigners can come and go as they wish?

And if Dr Fong responds that these foreigners are the illegal ones... wait a minute, why do we have to pay the minimum wage to illegal workers? Theoretically, we shouldn't be paying them anything at all, isn't it? Isn't the minimum wage a moot point here?

2. With a minimum wage where local and foreign workers are both paid equally ie. RM1,200... doesn't this mean that hiring foreign workers will no longer pose a cost saving to employers vs hiring local workers, as is the current situation?

Won't local workers actually be cheaper because employers don't have to pay for visas, health checks, foreign levies, recruitment fees etc, thereby directly improving the cost competitiveness of local workers vs foreigners?

Or does the minister mean to say that employers will still choose to hire foreign workers even though they cost more? Then, isn't the minimum wage, again, a moot point?

Imho, the logic is so sloppy that I can't help but imagine that this is merely a convenient and politically neutral stunt double - for some other more compelling, hot potato of a reason that the govt has, for rejecting the minimum wage proposal.

Petition to Investigate Malaysia-Today Allegations On Muhammad Muhammad Taib

Sign it.

Investigate Malaysia Today Allegations On Muhammad Muhammad Taib

To: BN

We wish to urge the government to investigate allegations on Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib of insulting Almarhum Agong and going against Islam and Malay culture based on these articles.

23/07: See you in hell Muhamad son of Muhamad
http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/holds.php?itemid=6714

24/07: Jumpa di neraka Muhamad anak Muhamad
http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/guests.php?itemid=6723

As Malaysian citizens, it is a cause for concern for all of us for Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who is also the UMNO Information Chief, the largest and most powerful component party of the ruling coalition BN.

A person of such a high position need to have his name cleared of such allegations to ensure the credibility of himself, his police report against Malaysia Today and Barisan Nasional.

Please be transparent with the investigation. We believe Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib knows how serious it is to insult the Agong.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

The War on Bloggers continues: Jeff, Rocky, Nat and now... RPK

The War on Bloggers (styled after Mr Bush's War on Terror) continues.

First, NST filed a defamation suit against Screenshots and Rocky's Bru.

Then, the police picked up Nathaniel Tan and held him for 5 days.

Now, UMNO has lodged a police report against RPK of Malaysia-Today.net.
UMNO alleges that RPK has apparently insulted the King and trampled on the various sensitivities of many sensitive and easily hurt Malaysians.

Malaysiakini reports that RPK finds the police report 'puzzling'. RPK himself however doesn't mince his words:

See you in hell Muhamad son of Muhamad

But I know why you made that police report against Malaysia Today and me, Muhamad the son of Muhamad. You want to make a political comeback. You want to contest a parliament seat in the next general election. And you want to be made a federal minister when you win that parliament seat. You hope that the present Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, will fall and that you can take his job. That is why you made that police report against Malaysia Today and me, Muhamad the son of Muhamad.

Muhamad the son of Muhamad, see you in hell. And if I go there first I will wait at the gates of hell to greet you on your arrival, Muhamad the son of Muhamad. Ini Anak Raja Bugis bercakap yang mati dengan keris di dalam tangan.
So where does this leave the rest of the bloggers?

Exactly where we started, my friends. Against the odds, with our backs to the wall and having nothing more but a prayer on our side. So, hold the line, stay the course and keep on blogging.

KL-SG route: Open skies are open lies

What can we say about open skies between KL and SGP that hasn't already been said?

Malaysia's reluctance is to:

(1) protect the MAS/SIA monopoly of the route. It's a cash cow that MAS relies on heavily to fund its "turnaround."

(2) protect KLIA which would lose international passengers to Changi if there was a cheap connecting flight between the 2 airports (Changi simply has more airlines -> more flights -> more alternatives -> more competition -> cheaper fares).

Any other reason quoted by the Malaysian govt is quite frankly a smokescreen. We don't need Proton, we certainly don't need MAS. National entities should power the economy and uplift the welfare of Malaysians,... not bring them to their knees.

Read also:

"Open Skies" Agreements Can Cause Problems, Says MASEU

How badly is MAS screwing us over KUL-SIN? RM75 MILLION a year!

KL - Singapore route to remain high cost only

Monday, July 23, 2007

Example of a well implemented crutch (NEP)...

This photo should be an inspiration and a lesson to all rent-seekers, advocates and beneficiaries of the NEP.

Two things to note:

ONE: The woman has only one leg. This is one of the rare times when a crutch is indeed fully justified and necessary.

TWO: Right hand's on the crutch, left hand's still pushing the damn bike-cart with all her might.

MCA: I'm not UMNO's bitch... for now...

Hishammuddin 'The Keris' Hussein warns MCA not to talk about Malaysia being a secular state:

"Saya beri amaran kepada pemimpin MCA supaya berhenti membuat kenyataan sedemikian. Ingin saya tegaskan, saya bukan pemimpin naif yang akan membenarkan perkara ini berterusan. Amaran saya ialah berhenti membuat kenyataan." - Berita Harian
MCA Youth Bangsar warns 'The Keris' NOT to warn them:

Surat terbuka kepada Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO

Kami, ahli-ahli muda MCA, menyokong penuh pendirian dan usaha murni MCA menyumbang kepada pembangunan negara dan rakyat Malaysia.

Kami membidas tindakan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO yang memberi “Amaran kepada MCA” melalui akhbar Berita Harian (tajuk utama, Sabtu 21 Julai 2007) yang meneruskan politik polemik mengintepretasikan semula perlembagaan persekutuan Malaysia. Ini berlaku walaupun pada hari Khamis 19 Julai, 2007, Kementerian Dalam Negeri telah mengarahkan media arus perdana supaya jangan menyiarkan sebarang berita mengenai Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara Islam. Perbuatan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO langsung tidak menghormati larangan yang telah dikeluarkan oleh KDN yang mewakili kerajaan negara.

Kenyataan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO terhadap pemimpin MCA yang merupakan rakan kongsi utama BN, tidak membawa manfaat kepada sesiapa kerana ia tidak membawa kebaikan kepada mana-mana pihak.

Kami memberi nasihat ikhlas kepada Ketua Pemuda UMNO supaya mengingati semangat BN yang telah menjadi teras kerjasama dan muafakat selama 49 tahun Malaysia merdeka. Perbuatan mengeluarkan amaran terhadap sesebuah rakankongsi seperjuangan BN juga memperlekehkan semangat toleransi, hormat-menghormati dan bermuafakat.

Kami menyarankan pihak yang berkenaan seupaya melihat Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia secara menyeluruh, bukannya mengambil sesuatu fasal atau fakta secara terasing kerana ini tindakan pihak yang jahil mengenai latar belakang, semangat dan kesefahaman yang telah dipersetujui di antara semua rakyat Malaysia yang menjadi teras membawa kepada pembentukan negara Malaysia yang merdeka.

Leadership Development Bureau
MCA Bangsar/22 July 2007 - source: Rocky's Bru

Personally I would have used slightly stronger phrases instead of the mild "membidas, memberi nasihat ikhlas or manyarankan"... like "what the fuck's wrong with you" instead of "kenyataan [Hishammuddin] tidak membawa manfaat kepada sesiapa"... but hey, that's why I'm no politician.

But they did save a little face by calling Hishammudian "jahil" or ignorant in the last paragraph. When speaking to Malay aristocracy unaccustomed to being talked back to, that tends to be interpreted as "your mama's so dumb, it takes her 2 hours to watch 60 Minutes".

So on the balance of things, way to go, MCA Youth Bangsar. I thought you guys were going to bend over and take one up the ass like usual (ref Chinese Champion or butthole licking UMNO bitch? Your move, MCA. and Chinese-based BN party bitch-slapped yet again!). Read also MCA not anyone's 'slave', says Youth chief on Malaysiakini.

The Bangsar MCA Youth statement is in stark contrast to the much more watered down protest that appeared on MCA Online the day before.
Statement by MCA Youth
21/07/2007

MCA Youth is disturbed with the outburst by UMNO Youth Chief Dato’ Hishammuddin Tun Hussein published in Berita Harian today over the Islamic state and secular state issue. The tone and choice of words said are alarming and does not reflect the spirit of the Barisan Nasional.

We certainly cannot agree that opinions supported by factual events and legal documents, expressed by the leadership of the most senior partner to UMNO in the Barisan Nasional can be treated with such scorn.

Any major disagreement over this nature can be resolved by the top Barisan Nasional leadership without any issuing of warnings or any show of one upmanship. We are indeed disappointed that legitimate differing views are responded with threats. More so in a period where we are all reminded of the sacrifices and gentlemanly conducts of the Tunku, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein. We urge [wtf???] that goodwill and sheer common sense would prevail.

MP for Kota Melaka and MCA Central Committee member, YB Wong Nai Chee reiterated that MCA has made our stand abundantly clear and we have nothing more to add. Wong added that we don’t intend to engage in public outcry. - MCA Online

Universiti Utara M'sia - Smart dressing reflects good character

New dress codes at UUM with the tagline "Smart dressing reflects good character."

Obviously they don't believe in the phrases "wolf in sheep's clothing" or "don't judge a book by its cover" there. Form over function anyone?

Originally posted on Ipoh forums by kris:

Came across this piece of news from yesterday's Sin Chew Daily. It has not been covered in the English papers.

Students enrolled at the Universiti Utara Malaysia in Sintok (which specialises in mainly business and management courses), Kedah for the new academic year which commenced on 6 July are required to abide by the new dress code for both sexes and is applicable to all races.

Posters like the one show below are posted all over the campus. Compliance is compulsory and there is a fine of RM 200 for each case of non-compliance. Students have also been denied entry into Lecture Halls for failing to comply with the new requirement.

Briefly...

For females: Muslim dressing or western suits with long skirts which cover the knees and shirts to extend to hip level.

For guys: Long pants and long sleeve shirts to be tucked in.

I was wondering if the university authorities have nothing better to do. So much for freedom in the local institution of higher learning. :rolleyes:

Good sons don't become soldiers

Here's what Mr Islamic State, Najib Razak had to say about the low participant rate of Chinese in the country's military:

There are now more Indians than Chinese serving in the armed forces, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. He added that the armed forces had received more applications from the Indians than the Chinese.

Earlier, in the Dewan Negara, Najib said the Chinese community themselves have to change their mindset so that more of them will join the armed forces.

"The Chinese go by the adage that a good son doesn't become a soldier."

The Chinese and the Indian participants could join the technical sector of the armed forces such as the engineering, transport or the medical corps, he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday. - TheStar
Let me give the Army (and Police) recruiters a tip. Apart from the Armed forces being unable to cater for the perpetual Chinese obsession of 'better pay and good promotions', it is my sincere belief that there is one other major obstacle for Chinese youths contemplating careers in the security forces.

EYESIGHT.

If anyone bothered to do a study connecting the incidence of Chinese men who require prescription spectacles and the participation rate of Chinese in army and police recruitment, I'm sure you will find a strong correlation.

I mean, many (if not most) Chinese families have whole generations wearing glasses. During my school days, we had the entire Chinese populations of classrooms (the boffin Science 1 class) wearing them. None of them can ever consider a career in the security forces simply because they will never pass the 9:6 unassisted vision requirement. And yes, Najib, you're right. Technical jobs like engineers and medics would appeal to Chinese youth. But have you seen how many Chinese in these fields are four eyed?

If the army and police ie. govt are truly sincere in recruiting the Chinese, they need to remove or loosen the eyesight requirements so that bespectacled Malaysians are not pre-disqualified before they can even fill up the application form. If not for jobs like pilots or frogmen, at least for the technical and strategic jobs - where there is no reason whatsoever for near perfect uncorrected vision.

Another consideration would be to modify the basic training to reflect the less agressive roles for non-combat positions.

Clean fingers or clean election. Is it a difficult choice?!

This is either a blatant and extreme case of form over function, or someone is trying to render stillborn, the attempt at electoral reform. Either way it casts a rather bad light over all involved.

As many bloggers want to know, just who the hell are these 'religious groups' that have complained to the EC?

The Election Commission’s (EC) plan to use indelible ink in the general election – to safeguard against multiple or phantom voting – has been referred to the National Fatwa Council.

The EC wants the council to advise if the move was within Islamic guidelines, as it could affect the act of wudhu’ (ablution, or cleansing of the body) before a Muslim goes for prayers or carry out other religious rituals.

Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the ink would stay on the thumb for two to three days.

He added that some religious groups had expressed reservations about the proposed change on how votes would be cast. - TheStar
Read also: What's wrong with fingering voters anyway? (with indelible ink lah)

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Police vs Nathaniel Tan. Witness the trampling of our basic rights.

Let me tell you why I didn't jump on the Free Nat bandwagon. While I'm no fan of the OSA (see: The Official Secrets Act (OSA) - THE PERFECT SCAM!), I felt that the police were entitled to act within their powers to arrest someone in connection with the commission of a crime. And unless we, the voters, are willing to exercise our votes to install a govt which is committed to repeal the OSA - I feel that we cannot fault the police for acting on its provisions.

As long as the police acted professionally and Nat got a fair hearing plus his day in court to prove the triviality of the police action, I actually felt that this was a good exercise in law and order.

Therefore, it was not so much that a blogger was arrested, but the fact that the police acted unprofessionally and thoroughly violated his basic rights after his arrest - that infuriated me:

- From the time Nat was detained on Friday 13th July circa 4.30pm at Phileo Damansara to 11pm that night, he was not allowed to inform anyone about his whereabouts (see Nat's blog: Statement on my Detention (Eng & BM)).

Between shit like this, ISA, Kamunting and blowing up Altantuya... I mean what the fuck is up with the PDRM's fetish for "making people disappear"? Is this the Polis DiRaja Malaysia we're talking about, or is it the Kempeitai or Gestapo? Singapore's security forces might have had inspiration from Israel, but ours seems to have gotten theirs from the Bosnians, Serbs and Croats. I wonder if we'll find mass graves in KL? ;p

- Not only was he NOT provided with a govt-appointed legal counsel, he was also denied access to his own legal counsel - before and up to his remand hearing with the magistrate on Saturday. It was only by good fortune and fateful coincidence that a good samaritan (who happened to be present at the courthouse) had informed Nat's lawyer that he would be facing the remand hearing that day. Even then, Nat mentioned that the police did much to inconvenience his consultations with his lawyer.

- He was subjected to various methods of psychological torture (eg. multiple interrogators over long sessions of interrogation, lack of sleep and uncomfortable quarters, constantly repeated lines of questioning - stuff we see in movies designed to 'break' the victims).

And the govt has got some nerve to complain vehemently about Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, when we've got our own hellholes right here in KL. At least the US was torturing hardcore international terrorists. We're torturing skinny neighbourhood bloggers.

- He was interrogated without the presence of legal counsel on multiple occasions, up until his release on Tuesday 17th circa 5pm (see Malaysiakini PKR webmaster released on bail).

The Bar Council (their statement on Nat's arrest here) has produced an excellent piece of literature called the Red Book, which details the rights of those citizens when:

1. Police stop you
2. Police question you when stopped
3. Questioning by police without arrest
4. Police arrest you
5. Your rights after arrest & during detention
6. Remand order by magistrate after arrest
7. Body search without arrest
8. Body search upon arrest
9. Questioning by police after arrest

Download the BAR Council's Red Book here: Know your rights: Read the RED BOOK in pdf format. Everyone (especially high-risk folks like big mouthed bloggers) should keep a copy in their laptop, notebook and smartphone. Better yet, print it on your T-shirts and walk around the streets educating everyone around you.

Below are excerpts from the Red Book about your rights regarding (4) arrest, (5) detention without remand for 24hrs max and (6) remand to extend detention by 14 days.

Know what your rights are so that you're not oblivious when they are trampled upon.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Singapore F1 2008 GP tickets. Priced from S$50 to S$7,000!

Tickets will be on sale from this November onwards. Corporate tickets first, and then sales to the public in mid-December.

Prices will range from a measly S$50 for the "trial races" (I think they mean the practice sessions or support races) - to a testicle-shrinking $7,000 for a paddock pass.

I've heard talk that hotel rates for track-side rooms will top US$1,000 per night. And that doesn't even include a 16 year old hooker to blow you while you watch the cars roar past.

Singapore Grand Prix releases estimated ticket prices for F1
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 July 2007 2121 hrs

SINGAPORE: Formula One fans will be able to get their hands on tickets to Singapore's first-ever Formula One Grand Prix by the end of the year. Corporate ticket sales will begin on 28 November, while public ticket sales will start in mid-December.

Singapore Grand Prix, the organiser of the race, said ticket prices would be kept affordable to ensure that many people would be able to enjoy it. Responding to Channel NewsAsia, Singapore GP, which controls 100 percent of the hospitality rights, said the cheapest ticket is likely to be around S$50 for the trial races.

During the actual race day, tickets will cost around S$100.

And for the exclusive paddock area, tickets will cost a whopping S$6,000 to S$7,000 each.

Singapore GP said it is fine-tuning the details, adding that mid-range packages would be made available.

These packages could include exclusive use of sky lounges for companies. There could even be an outdoor party, similar to a mini Zouk-Out, within the circuit park.

Some 80,000 to 90,000 people are expected to get a taste of the F1 action in Singapore. - CNA

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

HTC Touch - A touch of heaven in 112gms

I am absolutely sold on the HTC Touch. After work today, I put my rush order in with my mobile service provider. I'm getting it at S$448 (RM1,009) by re-contracting my mobile service for another 2 years and cashing in my loyalty voucher.

Not a bad deal since I'm currently paying off-contract, S$29 a month for 80 free minutes of local calls and 100 free local sms (for paying using GIRO). Under the new contract, I'll be accessing promotional rates by paying the same $29 each month, but getting either (A) 160 free minutes or (B) 100 free local minutes + 500 free local SMS. The 100 free local SMS for GIRO payment remains.

The HTC Touch retails at S$798 at Singapore's telcos and electronics chain stores like Harvey Norman, Courts and Challenger. Apparently there's an independent retailer in Funan IT Mall selling it for S$739. So, I'm getting it at a S$350 discount. The Touch retails in Malaysia at RM2099 (S$933).

But why? Why a Windows Mobile 6 (WM6) machine when Microsoft has faithfully ported the dreaded blue screen of death from their desktop OS to pocket PCs (PPC)? Why take a risk on a PPC that is known to (a) hang regularly, (b) comes with a regular stylus because the TouchFLO interface unceremoniously dumps you back into the user-unfriendly WM6 environment each time you go beyond the customised finger-friendly launch-screens and (c) needs to be soft-rebooted to reconnect after momentarily losing the cellular signal? (See PPC-SG forums)

And why when the Touch uses a Texas Instruments OMAP processor which runs at a piddling 200MHz? And to drive a power-hungry OS like WM6?

That's like using a rubbish engine like Proton's CAMPRO to drive a heavy SUV.

Why not the Nokia N95 or Apple iPhone (both of which I have raved about)?

Well... all the N95 reviews I've read since it was launched confirm that the N95's battery will not last a single day even with a full charge and reasonable use. The N95's the perfect all-rounder, but only if you don't happen to use it very much.

And the iPhone's simply not here yet. And it won't be until the middle of next year. Even then, there's a great possibility that it'll be SIM-locked to a service provider, and of course the proprietry iTunes service. And its battery, it self destructs after 300-400 charges (like the iPod's apparently). And you have to ship the whole damn phone back to Apple (with all your pirated programs and dirty pictures of your girlfriend) to get it replaced. Best of all, Apple will charge you US$85 for this privilege. Thanks, but no thanks.

Most importantly, I'm just infatuated by the Touch's primal sexiness. The sheer slimness of the 13.9mm, keypad-less, flush display casing and of course, the pocket-sympathising 112gm kerb weight. It's like it was made to be caressed. When the salesgirl put it in my hand, I knew I had to have her... (the Touch, but the sales chick wasn't bad either).

With that kind of weight, slimness and size... WIFI and full internet browser that is perfectly designed for off-the-cuff impromptu coffee shop surfing (without having to lug heavy laptops all over the place like a goddamn nerd, just in case there's free WIFI somewhere), decent phone, universally acknowledged friggin loud ringtone (excellent when you're always missing calls in noisy public transport and crowded malls) and a myriad of WM6 3rd party applications... it's pretty damn near the holy grail. I just wish it came with a 5 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss lens.

More links:
CoolSmartPhones has a long, comprehensive review with lots of youtubes;
PCPro has a unique long term review about how it is to live with the Touch (weeks 1, 2 and 3);
MSMobiles has scanned the Read-Me-First user manual; and of course
http://www.htctouch.com/

And here's the HTC Touch television ad that got me hooked in the first place. I can't get that damn tune out of my head and it won't let me stop humming, dammit!

Monday, July 16, 2007

The NEP: Morally bankrupt and economically corrupt.

Here's a good one:

Muhyiddin Yassin has chided Barisan Nasional’s non-Malay leaders for failing to explain to their community members the necessity of having and supporting the New Economic Policy. Their fear of losing votes is an unacceptable excuse, he said.

Muhyiddin said non-Malay leaders had the responsibility to make their respective communities understand the policy’s spirit. "It is a collective policy that was agreed upon by the cabinet to address economic disparities within the country’s different communities and its aim is to unify.

"If the non-Malay communities cannot accept it now, then how was it accepted during (second prime minster) Tun Abdul Razak (Hussein’s) time by other non-Malay BN leaders?" Muhyiddin asked.
How was it accepted during Razak's time? May I suggest that it was accepted while standing over hot coals with the business end of a parang (machete) at their backs... ie. with the threat of even more communal violence carried out with the indulgence of the govt security forces (see The Making of May 13 1969)?

The UMNO viewpoint is carried by someone called Rais Saniman who writes to NST attempting to justify how Malaysia has benefited from the NEP. His argument for the NEP has 2 main thrusts.

1. Because the distribution of wealth and poverty in 1960s Malaysia was largely along racial lines, the solution is to re-distribute wealth (and by default poverty) forcibly along racial lines in 2007.
The NEP confronted the problem of extreme ethnic inequality directly after the racial riots of 1969 by the inclusion of the second thrust in order to create, gradually over decades, an ethnically-balanced economy which would erase economic function with race identification. In other words, to create Malaysian national unity in diversity which is the national ideology.
The argument is that Malays were poor, and that having policies to make them rich would turn this situation around. However, the problem with this economic-restructuring aspect of the NEP is that it is much too LOOSELY DEFINED.

If the problem is that Malays were poor, the solution CANNOT be to make a tiny percentage of Malays fabulously rich and a small group of politically-connected, middle-class Malays very wealthy... - so that the Malays (ON AVERAGE) as a group are as wealthy as the Chinese. The solution must go much deeper than that. The NEP as it is, leaves the majority of rural Malays as poor as they were in the 1970s while the Malay royalty, aristocrats and political animals have become rich beyond their filthiest dreams.

In attempting to close the gap between the Malays and Chinese, the NEP opens up a larger one within the Malays themselves (see Beware intra-community income disparity by Khoo Kay Peng in his letter to Malaysiakini). Indeed, it is within the best interests of the Malay elites to keep their poor kampung cousins as impoverished as possible, for as long as possible - so that the NEP can be carried out in their name for perpetuity (see Lesson 101: How to Justify Racial Discrimination.).

And the NEP also widens the income gap within the Chinese and Indians. That's because the middle class and poorer Chinese and Indians typically foot the bill for the NEP, but the rich, politically-connected ones actually benefit from the NEP's AliBaba leakages .


Therefore, if economic inequity or inequality is the problem... then shouldn't the solution be framed in economic terms? Like I said in sean-the-man's NEW NEP! - the fair and indisputable NEP solution should target Malaysians according to their economic status / circumstances and be blind to race. Why is this fair? Because if many Malays, as UMNO keeps saying, are truly impoverished and lagging behind the Chinese - an economic means-tested NEP solution will invariably and naturally focus mainly on helping those poor Malays, and much less so on the Chinese (who are supposed to be comparatively better off on average). The very definition of the solution itself guarantees that the poor Malays (the ones who really need the help) will be helped. Isn't this what needs to be achieved?

And the ideal NEP would stop at the middle class. Once the poor reach the middle class, they will not be helped. That's because as the middle class, they can look after themselves and pursue their dreams on their own steam. A convenient but important by-product of this 'middle class' focus would be to categorically deny any "assistance" (read: plunder and corruption) to the rich (ie. the Tunkus, Tan Sris and Datuks). No more "bumiputra discounts" for multi-million ringgit bungalows purchased by the Malay elite, at the expense of non-bumi terrace house buyers.

In my view, any argument in support of the NEP which does not acknowledge the innate superiority of an economic mean-tested solution, is a worthless argument... without any merit nor moral worth whatsoever. At best those arguments advocate a sub-optimal solution. At worst and in all truthfulness, they are nothing but excuses to perpetuate a race-based, rent-seeking hegemony.

2. Rais Saniman goes further to say:
What were the legal and moral foundations of the second thrust [economic restructuring in favour of the Malays]? This is the well known Social Contract of 1957, where one million citizenships were given at a stroke of the pen in exchange for the non-Malays to help the Malays economically, the Rukun Negara, and Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
I have only one thing to say to that. The social contract that he describes is in fact FALSE and FRAUDULENT. The citizenship of Chinese and Indian migrants were in return for their acceptance of Bahasa Melayu as the official language (see The Real 'Social Contract'), and probably more so, in recognition of the fact that it was impossible for the Malays alone to win independence from the British.

Tun M: Mixed marriages strengthens unity... nope, I don't think so.

Dr M says that mixed marriages can strengthen national unity.

Cross-cultural marriages can strengthen national unity, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said. The former prime minister said different cultural backgrounds should not be a barrier for couples to tie the knot.

"Islam accepts anyone of diverse upbringings and traditions. And, it does not stop Muslims from practising their own cultures so long as it is within the scope of the Islamic teaching."

Dr Mahathir, who is the Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) president, said although majority of the Muslims in Malaysia were Malays, it did not mean that the converts must discard their culture and embrace the Malay ways.

"We also should not assume that converts, who hold on to their culture, have a weak grasp of Islam."
My dear Tun, you have only addressed half the barrier, and it's the much less significant half at that.

The biggest barrier to mixed marriages will always be religion. And it's not about non-Muslims disliking the idea of embracing Islam. It's about non-Muslims being forced to embrace Islam as a pre-condition for embracing their significant others.

It's the fact that NOBODY likes being forced. And it's the fact that the love between 2 people is being used as vile leverage to subjugate the pre-existing religous convictions of the non-Muslim half of the couple.

As long as the current one-sided mandatory conversion rules are in place, mixed marriages will be seen as a tool of religious domination of Muslims over the non-Muslims... strengthening the hand of disunity rather than the opposite.

It's like what Henry Ford supposedly said about the Model T: "You can have it in any colour, as long as it's black." So Tun, let's quit the bullshit about mixed marriages being fair and free, ya.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Muslim women.., wear shorts and jump around NOW!

Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said says that Muslim sportswomen need NOT cover up.

"It's never become an issue in Malaysia," she said, declaring that women of all ages should, and do, feel free in this country to "wear shorts and jump around".

"We have Muslim gymnasts wearing tights and it's never crossed anyone's mind about how athletes are dressed. I am quite thankful that the people of Malaysia are still open-minded."
Sure, she's makes a bold statement now. But let's see if she stands her ground if she gets criticised by the clerics. I hope she does, or else our womenfolk could be wearing burkinis (burqas + bikinis) one day.

For a previous blog on dress codes, click on: It's all in the way you dress, baby. (NB. The blogpost link includes several sinful and morally reprehensible pictures. DO NOT view if you are a member of PPIM or are similarly retarded in some manner.)

Thursday, July 12, 2007

M'sian muftis mum on crossdressing cleric. Pakistanis miss the point.

Do you remember the blogpost about a senior Red (Lal) Mosque cleric who cross-dressed as a woman to escape Pakistani govt soldiers? (Ref: Imam of Red Mosque becomes Priscilla, Queen of the Desert)

In that post, I had drawn a parallel between a bald Sharifah Amani (ref: Bald women turn off Little Ayatollahs) and the transvestite cleric. My contention was that since the Muftis of Perak and Selangor spoke so harshly against a woman who's merely shaved her head, they would have no choice but to adopt a similarly severe stance towards the crossdressing cleric (especially since he's a senior ulama and should know better).

Anyway, I haven't heard a peep out of either mufti with regards to the Queen of Lal Mosque (nor any of the more vocal religious activists, for that matter). And to me, their silence simply proves that the muftis either (A) conjured up the sin of female baldness, or are (B) simply picking the easy battles and averting their eyes from the rest.

Perhaps the latter would explain why religious authorities seem to favour vigorous action against defenceless girls like Sharifah Amani, the unnamed face-towel nude girl and nightclub singer Siti Noor Idayu... - instead of pursuing more formidable targets like Happy Balls Zakaria, Mohd 'Close-One-Eye' Said or even just the ubiquitous Mat Rempit.

In any case, the Islamist community in Pakistan did have an adverse reaction to this little episode in transvestism... (even if our muftis didn't). I'm not sure whether it's good news or bad, but apparently they are pissed off that he (the crossdressing cleric) chose to escape, rather than die in combat a martyr. The wardrobe malfunction was merely incidental.

Excerpt from Today newspaper: For the government, this military operation and the events that followed may have a happy tiding, as civil society opinion of radical Islamism seems to be changing rapidly since the Red Mosque imbroglio. The opinion change signals that civil society is becoming inclined towards a less extreme form of Islam — a stance that gels with Gen Musharraf’s “enlightened moderation”.

Without Abdul Aziz’s attempted escape fiasco, the government could have risked a severe backlash from radical Islamist outfits in Pakistan on the grounds that the pro-US Musharraf government was attacking Islam — the very basis for the existence of Pakistan.

But the fact that the Red Mosque leader tried to escape in such a fashion exposed the hollowness of tall claims of martyrdom-over-surrender made by radical groups. Since then, other Islamic groups have had little handle with which to thrash the government.

This military operation is not only likely to strengthen Gen Musharraf’s political future in Pakistan but also the position of the Pakistan army as the sole hope in containing radical Islamic elements.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The one about Tian Chua, cut & paste, UMNO Youth, hurt feelings and the Prophet

This is Tian Chua's infamous badly doctored picture that caused all the ruckus.

While the picture has gotten generally negative reactions from Malaysians, here's a couple of interesting comebacks from UMNO's finest.

From my hero, KJ, whose feelings are apparently deeply hurt:

"We as Umno Youth and citizens of Malaysia are hurt by Chua’s actions.

Even in democracy, there should be a limit and we believe in this case, Tian Chua had gone overboard. He had abused the freedom that has been given on the use of Internet and the freedom of expression.

Investigations against Tian Chua will be a test case to our democracy.

In a country that practise matured democracy, we must play a proactive role by reporting incidents where lies, false information and slander are spread through the Internet. We must show good example to the younger generation that such acts are uncalled for and unaccepted."

Refer to Malaysiakini and Malaysia-Today.
Uhhh... hero, what do you have to say about this equally badly doctored picture that appeared on UMNO Youth's website then?

What kind of "good example" is UMNO Youth showing the younger generation by superimposing the heads of Opposition leaders onto the cover of Chin Peng's book and labelling them Komunis? (That means Communists for those of you who don't read Bahasa Melayu..., errrr Bahasa Malaysia). How does it factor into your 'test case' for our democracy?

Kudos to Malaysian Unplugged for pointing out Khairy's hypocrisy.

But Khairy is merely UMNO Youth's deputy chief. By my reckoning, UMNO Youth is like a giant toilet bowl and its members are the turds. The leaders are akin to the high-fibre floaters, which means that we have to go right to the top for the really good shit. And the biggest turd is (of course) the Youth Chief himself, Hishammuddin 'the Keris' Hussein.
Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that if people are allowed to make fun of Malaysia's leaders they would use the same freedoms to insult the Prophet Muhammad.

Mr Hishammuddin stressed that he was not trying to put Malaysia's leaders on the same level as the Prophet.

Refer to BBC News.
My dear Education Minister... just because you add a disclaimer after you've said something really dumb..., doesn't make what you said any less dumb nor any less said.

Imagine... what if I said... "if men are allowed to pay prostitutes for sex, they might use that same freedom to pay your wife for sex. But I stress that I'm not saying your wife's a whore."

Now... did I just call your wife a cheap whore and get away with it..., OR did I just illustrate how contrived your logic is?

Even the PAS numbnuts agree.
Senior members of the conservative Islamic party, PAS, said that by linking the two, he (Hishammuddin) had in effect done just that.
All Malaysians should be outraged that a senior UMNO leader and govt minister (for Education, no less... determining the direction of what your children learn in school) would try to incite religious and racial animosity, just to gain mileage in what is a purely political issue.

Muslims, in particular, should be outraged by how Hishammuddin debased the Prophet's stature (by equating him with this funny looking fellow on the left). But more so for manipulating the Prophet's name and Islam for his personal political agenda.

I would be terribly, terribly disappointed if Islamic clerics and activists in Malaysia display any less public indignation over Hishammudin's statement than they did over Salman Rushdie's knighthood, Danish cartoons, nightclub singers, bald women and crosses on Paddle Pops.

Much ado over pork

The Sun's Jaqueline Ann Surin writes an insightful, thought provoking piece about how the non-Muslims are expected to bend over backwards when it comes to pork and pigs in general. Here are some excerpts...

It seems that increasingly, non-Muslims in Malaysia are being made to feel they need to refrain from eating pork in the presence of Muslims.

And unfortunately, that proscription has been enlarged to other areas beyond food consumption.

Guardian pharmacy, for example, currently has a Winnie the Pooh gift redemption promotion that has left out the character Piglet from its posters and the range of soft toys being offered as reward.

We shouldn't be at all surprised at this move since there were calls for the animated film Babe, which starred a pig as the lead character, to be banned several years ago, presumably because it was offensive to Malaysian Muslims.

And recently, one columnist wrote that the word "pigmentation" was censored from a documentary he was watching. The most likely explanation: the first syllable was "pig".

We also know that some schools have issued clear instructions to non-Muslim children about what they can pack in their lunch boxes in deference to presumed Muslim sensitivities.

As one other e-group member pointed out: "Normally, we won't refrain from non-vegetarian food when going out with a vegetarian, or stop drinking alcohol when going out with a non-alcohol drinker, so why the big fuss over pork?"
I can offer another examples. Like how one Muslim guest at a Chinese wedding means a pork free menu at a hotel kitchen or caterer (instead of a Chinese restaurant) and 200 hungry, unsatisfied guests. Or business meetings over a nasi kandar or mamak lunche because one participant was Muslim. Although I believe unreservedly in being polite, I also believe that the door of courtesy must swing both ways. I believe that abstinence or religious obligation is a personal journey where the individual's personal effort to abstain or fulfil the obligation is exactly what gives it its value. If everybody around them is forced to make things easy for them, won't the abstinence or obligation be greatly cheapened and degraded?

And I remember in my mum's school back in the 80-90s, where 3/4 of the teachers were Malay ie. Muslim. The Hari Raya staff lunch was catered by a Muslim caterer chosen by the Muslim teachers, who paid for it. I reckon that's fair enough.

However... the Chinese New Year lunch was also catered by a Muslim caterer, chosen by the Muslim teachers. The Chinese teachers had no say over the caterer nor the menu... therefore no control over the cost of the lunch - although they were paying for it. The Boston Tea Party happened for pretty much the same reasons. Taxation without representation.

On a related note, some examples of advertising that won't see the light of day here:
Swatch "Be Lucky" CNY Collection 2007 - Piggy Snout Ads
Bring a PUKI home today

Anyway, Jacqueline's full article below. It's a worthwhile read.

Changing taboos
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=18469

Sometimes, it's hard to immediately recognise when discrimination occurs.

A couple of months ago, an e-mail was sent out to an e-group I belong to. A member of the group was helping her husband find a secretary for his new Kuala Lumpur office.

Her message included the relevant information about salary, qualifications, and the commencement date. All fairly routine information regarding a job vacancy.

What was disconcerting, however, was the last line in the e-mail. It said: "Only non-Malays (too much trouble otherwise with pork, etc)."

"Only non-Malays" need apply was a message I found rather unsettling. Surely, this was a form of discrimination. After all, why should anyone be disqualified from applying because of one's racial identity?

Imagine if the announcement had said, "Only men" or "Only whites" or "Only pretty women" need apply. Those would have been clearly discriminatory, and even though this particular case was a little more complex, I couldn't help feeling that discrimination was at work, even if it was inadvertent.

I shot off an e-mail to the group, explaining my discomfort. And reminding the e-group that if pork was the issue, then the message should have more accurately stated "Only non-Muslims" need apply. After all, not all Malays are Muslim (neighbouring Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population, is an example) and not all Muslims are Malays, not even in Malaysia.

I also wanted to know how we could reconcile ourselves with such an employment policy if we ourselves felt it was unfair when quotas and privileges were only accorded to fellow citizens of a particular racial grouping because of official policy.

The woman who announced the job vacancy apologised for causing offence but offered this as an explanation: "Well, in this country, Malays are generally Muslims ... The office will be staffed by mostly Americans, who like their ham and cheese sandwiches, bacon, etc ... so it won't be very appropriate to have a Malay secretary."

Two of us suggested that the job announcement should stipulate what the work environment would be like so that Muslims who don't feel comfortable that their non-Muslim colleagues are consuming bacon and ham can refrain from applying. That way, Muslims who may not mind such a work environment because they don't believe it will affect their faith, would not be barred from applying.

I must admit though it can be hard not to emphatise with the woman's logic.

We cannot deny that recent events have reinforced the notion that all Malays must be Muslim in Malaysia, even though historically, the Malays were Buddhists and Hindus first before embracing Islam. And even though, when you think about it, one's faith cannot be contingent on one's ethnic identity.

But aside from that, it's easy to see why the job announcement was written the way it was.

It seems that increasingly, non-Muslims in Malaysia are being made to feel they need to refrain from eating pork in the presence of Muslims.

And unfortunately, that proscription has been enlarged to other areas beyond food consumption.

Guardian pharmacy, for example, currently has a Winnie the Pooh gift redemption promotion that has left out the character Piglet from its posters and the range of soft toys being offered as reward.

The company hasn't offered any explanation for the removal of a cartoon character central to Winnie the Pooh, and the sales assistant I asked couldn't give me one either. One can only imagine that Piglet was left out strategically so as not to offend Muslim shoppers.

We shouldn't be at all surprised at this move since there were calls for the animated film Babe, which starred a pig as the lead character, to be banned several years ago, presumably because it was offensive to Malaysian Muslims.

And recently, one columnist wrote that the word "pigmentation" was censored from a documentary he was watching. The most likely explanation: the first syllable was "pig".

We also know that some schools have issued clear instructions to non-Muslim children about what they can pack in their lunch boxes in deference to presumed Muslim sensitivities.

As one other e-group member pointed out: "Normally, we won't refrain from non-vegetarian food when going out with a vegetarian, or stop drinking alcohol when going out with a non-alcohol drinker, so why the big fuss over pork?"

I won't try and offer an answer to that, but the reality we now face as Malaysians in our daily lives - whether at schools or the cinema or at a pharmacy - is, logically, what has contributed towards a firm in Malaysia stating that "only non-Malays" need apply.

The question we all need to answer is: How did we come to this? And are we at all bothered that it has come to this, 50 years after we secured the right to govern ourselves?

Jacqueline Ann Surin believes that as one of the greatest religions in the world, Islam cannot be threatened by cartoon characters. Nor by non-Muslims eating bacon and ham. She is assistant news editor at theSun.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Hey JAIP, you bastards missed a few.

22 year old nightclub singer Siti Noor Idayu Abd Moin was detained by the Perak Religious Department (JAIP) at a nightclub in Tambun. The department ordered the singer to explain why she had "exposed her body" during a performance and "encouraged immoral activities" by working at a nightclub that serves alcohol.

Refer to Malaysiakini for the story and TheStar for Perak Mufti Harussani's "words of wisdom".

Siti said she wasn't drinking and was in a white sleeveless top and long pants. Apparently JAIP photographed her from "almost every angle" (ref TheSun... you'll want to read their feisty editorial as well). For more voyeuristic exploitation go here:- Religious raid party videos naked girl, and keeps her naked while recording.

And here's Siti. She's rather fetching I admit, but "exposed her body" and "encouraged immoral activities"? Really? How?

And hey JAIP, you fuckers missed a few!

Namely Ning, Anita, Sheila and Tiara. (Photos and concept originally posted by kafir on Ipoh forums). Let's be consistent and raid the performances of these well-connected ladies too.




Thursday, July 05, 2007

Imam of Red Mosque becomes Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

I am tingling with anticipation. I'm positively buzzing inside.

Not even 3 weeks after local muftis - (ref: Bald women turn off Little Ayatollahs) - figuratively screwed Syarifah Amani good and hard for supposedly contravening Islamic covenants by going bald (in apparent imitation of men ie. the opposite sex), the Imam of the renowned Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) himself gets caught cross-dressing (in drag) as a farkin woman!

So, I'm anticipating damning worldwide condemnation of this imam and his travestite antics - by other imams, muftis and Islamic clerics worldwide. If that doesn't happen..., the international elegant silence will prove that the Malaysian muftis who spoke against Sharifah Amani were simply making up their own personal Islamic laws. And that's imitating god, which must surely be the biggest sin in the good book.

ISLAMABAD, July 4 (RIA Novosti) - The Pakistani media reported Wednesday that the Imam of the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) in Islamabad, packed with Islamic radicals, was arrested as he tried to escape disguised as a woman.

Local TV reported, without any official confirmation, that Abdul Aziz was arrested as he tried to sneak past police cordons with a group of female Islamic students wearing burqas.

RM500 million to bail out Proton's parasites

How is "save the distributors and vendors" even remotely associated with the Automotive Development Fund (ADF)'s charter of "modernising the domestic automotive sector"?

Now, didn't I say that govt was going to bail out Proton's parasites? Was I right or what? And how much is this going to cost the Malaysian public? RM500 million!

They should let those bastards die a natural death.

Cash or in kind for Proton assets?
by B Suresh Ram (03-07-2007 The Edge)

Meanwhile, it was revealed in Parliament that the government will utilise allocations from the Automotive Development Fund (ADF) to safeguard Proton's distributors and vendors.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said allocation from the fund would be used to "save the distributors and vendors" business as well as enhance their level of effectiveness.

The government has allocated RM500 million for the ADF to modernise the domestic automotive sector. The fund to be managed by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) under the Ninth Malaysia Plan is for a five year period.

In a written reply to Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai), he said Proton in implementing the Proton Automobile Distributors Merger Programme could also use allocation from the fund to reduce the number of distributors of the national car.

"Distributors who have agreed to close down their business voluntarily will be given compensation to offset their short term financial difficulties," Abdullah who is also Finance Minister said.

CBU Suzuki Swift Sport a steal at RM75,888

>>>>>>>>>>
Update 9 July 2007: No thanks to The Edge's inaccuracy when it comes to the exact names of Suzuki's models... the RM75,888 model is actually the Swift 1.5 AT Premier, not the Swift Sport 1.6 where both the car and its price will only be available in August. Refer to www.suzuki.net.my
>>>>>>>>>>

RM75,888 for a JWRC homologated CBU Suzuki Swift Sport (specs-only review here) sounds like a damn good deal. Considering you're practically confined to the Toyota Vios, Honda City and a motley assortment of Protons, Peroduas, Nazas, Kias and Hyundais at that price range.

God have mercy on those who dived in early and picked up the SS from parallel importers at over RM100,000. And with no warranty as well. Sucks to be you, guys.

Well, well, well... I've figured out what my next car's gonna be.

Suzuki targets to sell 300 Swifts a month
by Surin Murugiah (05-07-2007 The Edge)

DRB-Hicom Bhd's wholly owned subsidiary Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd is targeting to sell 300 units of its locally assembled Suzuki Swift (Swift) model a month, said its chief executive officer Bastamam Hamzah.

The Swift, priced at RM69,888 on-the-road without insurance, is the first model to be produced at Suzuki Malaysia's RM20 million robotic welding line based at the Automotive Manufacturers Sdn Bhd's Malaysia plant in Pekan, Pahang.

Suzuki Malaysia yesterday also officially launched the fully imported Suzuki Swift Sport premier priced at RM75,888 on-the-road without insurance.

"We are the first automotive company in the non-national category for small volume production to adopt this robotic welding technology and we aim to produce an initial monthly production of 300 units," said Bastamam. He said the company had been developing the Swift over the last one and a half years, adding that at RM69,888, it was an attractive proposition for young executives and professional women.

Bastamam said Suzuki Malaysia's decision to locally assemble the Swift reflected its intention to make Suzuki a household brand in the country.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Man to man, deserted alley, foreign country... bring on the amuk .

I just found renewed motivation to blog, and blog I shall.

I stumbled across a website called www.umno-reform.com which spews some of the most racist anti-Chinese rhetoric and self serving propaganda I've ever come across... driven by a deep sense of rent-seeking entitlement, combined with an imaginary siege mentality that seeks to remove any personal accountability for self improvement.

Below's a sample of the inflammatory drivel carried by the site. A word of advise... read only on an empty stomach. And to the writer of that crap: "man to man, deserted alley, foreign country... bring on the amuk."

http://www.umno-reform.com/URnews/melayutertindas.htm

Subject: [MahligaiKu] Naluri Seorang Melayu kalau rasa kita nie anak melayu bangsa melayu jangan la malu malu nak baca...... bila difikir ader kebenarannya.
(teks ini ditulis semula berdasarkan pengalaman seorang saudara)

Kebelakangan ini kita banyak membaca berita seperti yang tersiar di akhbar mengatakan orang melayu masih mundur dan ketinggalan, itu adalah sama sekali tidak benar. Di sini saya ingin berkongsi pengalaman dengan saudara saudari sekalian pengalaman saya selama bekerja di bahagian industri. Saya berjaya mendapat kerja di kilang mungkin kerana nasib menyebelahi saya. Majoriti ditempat kerja saya adalah bangsa Cina dan rata -rata daripada mereka tidak fasih berbahasa Inggeris dan memiliki Diploma dari kolej yang tidak diiktiraf oleh JPA. Setelah beberapa tahun saya berada di sini, saya telah dinaikkan pangkat yang mana saya adalah satu-satunya orang melayu yang memegang jawatan tertinggi dalam syarikat saya. Sedangkan ramai lagi melayu lain yang berkebolehan dan berpendidikan tinggi yang layak menjaw at jawatan tinggi dalam syarikat ini.

Saya dikelilingi oleh bangsa cina yang tidak tahu bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris dan tak ada qualification (not qualified by JPA) tetapi dinaikkan pangkat sehingga menjadi pengurus dan senior engineer. Sedangkan orang melayu yang mempunyai ijazah, boleh berkomunikasi dalam bahasa Inggeris dengan baik dan mempunyai reputasi kerja yang baik hanya diberi jawatan assistant engineer. Kalau pasal gaji tak payah cakap lah. Graduan lepasan ijazah Melayu diberi gaji RM 1200/- (starting salary ) tetapi graduan ijazah bangsa Cina diberi gaji RM 1800/- .

Bayangkanlah betapa jauhnya berbezaan mereka. Saya pernah didatangi oleh seorang engineer (bangsa cina) dia minta tolong saya memeriksa surat draft untuk membatalkan perkhidmatan insuran bagi credit cardnya. Alangkah terkejutnya saya seorang engineer menulis " I like to cancer my Insurance ...." Dalam hati saya berkata " Awatlah teruk nya cina bukit ni tulis surat ... dia ni tau ke meaning cancer dengan cancelled tu ... " . Sebenarnya rata- rata orang cina boleh berjaya kerana mereka ni diberi peluang oleh majikan mereka saja. Sekiranya orang melayu diberi peluang sepertimana yang diperolehi oleh mereka tu, we can perform much better than them.

Masalahnya nasib orang melayu tidak terbela disebabkan kuota tidak dibuka untuk bahagian staff dan management. Kerajaan kita hanya meletakkan kuota secara umum di setiap sector swasta 30-40% me stilah melayu. Maka 30-40% itu dimasukkan ke dalam bahagian bawahan seperti operator, drebar dan kerani saja. Sebenarnya orang Melayu merempat di negara sendiri. Orang Melayu dianggap 'second class' oleh orang cina di Malaysia. Perkara diskriminasi di sektor swasta terlalu ketara sekali.

Orang-orang melayu kalau adapun hanya dipergunakan oleh majikan mereka. Contohnya diri saya sendiri saya bekerja di bahagian logistics. Saya berhubung rapat dengan jabatan kerajaan mengenai kemasukan dan penghantaran barang. Saya tak rasapun yang saya dihargai di tempat kerja saya kerana saya tak dapat layanan (treatment) yang sepatutnya berbanding dengan bangsa cina yang sejawatan saya. Dari segi gaji, elaun dan bonus. Saya hanya dipergunakan untuk memudah kan urusan mereka saja. Tetapi saya masih bekerja di sini kerana, sekiranya saya lari ke tempat lain keadaannya juga sama atau mungkin lebih teruk lagi. Di sini sekurang2nya saya diperlukan, kalau saya tidak ada siapa nak membela nasib anak buah saya yang kesemuanya Melayu. Saya pernah ditegur oleh MD saya kenapa pilih semua staff melayu. Dengan alasan bila perayaan siapa nak standby? Saya rasa sakit hati teramat sangat dengan persoalan tadi secara terang-terangan dan saya tanya dia balik, kenapa Procument / Purchasing department semua Cina pulak? Macam mana kala u cuti Chinese New Year siapa nak stand by ? Boss saya terus diam dan tak dapat kata apa-apa.

Nampak tak mentaliti mereka? Cukup busuk hati. Dalam hati mereka dah tertanam sikap bencikan melayu dan beranggapan melayu no class. Kalau dikaji mereka tu lagi tak dak class. Kita selalu lihat di luar rumah mereka begitu gah tersergam indah tapi di dalamnya bersepah tak berke mas lansung.

Begitu jugalah diri mereka nampak putih bersih tapi busuk dan tak suci sebabnya tak mandi. Saya sangat berharap agar kita semua dapat lakukan sesuatu untuk membantu nasib graduan melayu yang terpinggir dan juga melayu yang lain agar tidak menjadi kuli batak saja. Anggapan Melayu bodoh dan tak de class patut dihakis sama sekali. Alasan pengangguran siswazah Melayu yang selalu dikeluarkan oleh pemimpin kita adalah kelemahan berbahasa Inggeris dan kekurangan pengetahuan tentang teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi (ICT). Tetapi bagi saya, pemimpin yang berkata begitu adalah pemimpin yang hanya dengar cakap orang dan jarang turun padang. Saya ingin menyatakan pengalaman saya dan rakan-rakan semasa proses pencarian kerja sejurus tamat pengajian didalam dan di luar negara. Saya telah duduk di kalangan bangsa asing sejak berumur 19 tahun. Saya menimba ilmu dengan dikelilingi bangsa lain begitu juga dengan rakan-rakan saya. Jadi bahasa pengantar kami adalah bahasa Inggeris. Jarang saya jumpa pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) terutama sekali yang datang dari bandar-bandar besar lemah berbahasa Inggeris kecuali yang datang dari pedalaman. Kalau nak diikutkan purata pelajar IPT yang betul-betul datang dari pedalaman amat sedikit sekali bilangannya. Di manakah silapnya orang Melayu kita? Hampir setiap hari di dada surat khabar kita dihamburkan dengan kritikan-kritikan yang tidak membina tentang orang Melayu..

Semua yang tak bagus dilemparkan kepada orang Melayu, yang baik-baik kepada bukan Melayu. Bagi saya itu hanyalah alasan pihak tertentu untuk mengaburi mata rakyat.

1) Ketinggalan.

Apa sebenarnya berlaku di Malaysia? Sebenarnya bukan kerana kelemahan bahasa Inggeris ataupun ketinggalan dari segi teknologi, tetapi kita mesti akui bahawa syarikat-syarikat besar di Malaysia kebanyakannya dikuasai oleh kaum bukan Melayu walaupun syarikat itu milik Amerika Syarikat (AS) ataupun Eropah. Mereka telah memegang jawatan penting di syarikat itu dan mempunyai agenda tersendiri.

Mereka menggunakan pelbagai cara supaya orang Melayu dilihat sebagai lemah. Mereka menggunakan alasan bahasa Inggeris sedangkan apabila membuat iklan tercatat di situ Mandarin is an added advantage atau berkemahiran berbahasa Mandarin ataupun Kantonis. Kalau dilihat, syarikat-syarikat tersebut adalah dari AS ataupun Eropah. adakah mereka akan menggunakan bahasa Mandarin untu berkomunikasi? Sudah tentu tidak. Itu hanyalah alasan yang dibuat-buat supaya peluang orang Melayu akan tertutup dengan sendirinya. Kalau tidak percaya, belilah akhbar bahasa Inggeris dan lihat di ruangan jawatan kosong. Untuk pengetahuan pembaca, bukan setakat belajar bersama bangsa asing tetapi saya bekerja pun bersama mereka. Saya adalah satu-satunya pegawai peringkat pertengahan di mana selebihnya adalah bukan Melayu dari peringkat saya sampai ke peringkat atasan. Saya percaya tujuan pengambilan saya adalah untuk mencukupkan syarat supaya apabila ada pegawai-pegawai kerajaan yang hadir, saya ditolak untuk melayan mereka walaupun bidang saya tidak mempunyai kaitan langsung dengan mereka. Saya telah lihat mereka bukanlah seperti yang digembar-gemburkan di dada-dada akhbar malah mereka adalah lebih teruk daripada Melayu bila berbahasa Inggeris.

2) Bercakap

Memang mereka yang tidak tahu berbahasa Inggeris mengatakan mereka sudah cukup bagus tapi bagi saya orang Melayu kita lagi bagus. Mereka hanya berani bercakap walaupun tatabahasanya tunggang terbalik. Di sini saya sertakan beberapa ayat yang selalu digunakan oleh mereka " you calling from where? ", you want to talk to who? " yang mana kadang- kadang menyebabkan saya ketawa besar bila mendengarnya. Inikah kaum yang perlu dicontohi oleh orang kita? Mungkin mereka pandai dalam bidang ekonomi tapi sebenarnya mereka bukanlah pandai sangat. Mereka hanya mempunyai persatuan yang kuat di mana mereka bersatu padu dan sanggup bantu membantu. Antara pengalaman yang saya alami sendiri apabila ingin mengambil staf di bahagian saya yang baru. Pengurusbesar awal-awal memberitahu, jawatan ini adalah untuk bukan Melayu. Mereka sudah pendekkan senarai dan suruh saya menemu duga mereka, yang paling mengejutkan bos saya (yang ketika itu berada di sisi) yang selama ini mengutuk orang Melayu keluar tersipu-sipu dari bilik temu duga kerana malu apabila kaumnya sendiri bercakap bahasa Inggeris tunggang terbalik dan mempunyai ijazah dan diploma yang tidak berkualiti dari IPT swasta.

Pengalaman rakan baik saya semasa ditemu duga oleh sebuah kilang milik pelabur AS yang terkemuka di Malaysia amat menyedihkan. Walaupun fasih berbahasa Inggeris tetapi tidak juga berjaya menambat hati kaum pegawai bukan Melayu. Dia lulus ketiga-tiga peringkat yang diperlukan dan akhir sekali penemu duga tidak mempunyai cara lain selain berterus terang. Rakan saya bagaikan tidak percaya, walaupun berada di negara sendiri tetapi diberi layanan seperti rakyat asing. Akhirnya dia berjaya mendapat jawatan di salah sebuah syarikat kerajaan. Tujuan saya menceritakan semua bukanlah untuk mengutuk pemimpin kita, tetapi janganlah lagi menggunakan alasan yang tiada langsung kebenarannya. Buat analisis di kilang-kilang, kenapa banyak orang Melayu hanya bekerja sebagai operator kenapa tidak jawatan yang berpangkat? Di manakah longgokan graduan Melayu? Adakah mereka ini benar-benar tidak berkualiti atau menjadi mangsa keadaan kerana pemimpin yang sengaja menutup sebelah mata?

Nota:

i. Di dalam akhbar menyatakan setatkat hari ini seramai 80,000 graduan menganggur di mana 90% adalah bumiputera. Itu di dalam akhbar, hakikat sebenar mungkin lebih.

ii. Kenapa isu graduan melayu menganggur tak selesai sampai hari ini? Siapa Menteri Sumber Manusia: Fong Chan On. Kenapa ramai anak melayu (baca: kanak2) yang sakit kritikal (e.g: sakit jantung berlubang, hati) tak dapat bantuan. Masalah birokrasi, tiada peruntukan. Dalam media massa/elektronik ramai yang mati sebelum dapat rawatan. Orang Melayu tengok sahaja. Lebih2 pun mengalir hati mata. Besok lupa. Siapa Menteri Kesihatan? Dulu Chua Jui Meng, sekarang Soi Lek. Pernah keluar berita anak cina mati tak dapat rawatan?

Fikir2kan lah.

iii. Satu2nya peluang anak melayu adalah dalam pendidikan. Itupun sedang digugat sekarang. Ada kuota untuk mrsm, matrikulasi dan lain2. kenapa tak mintak kuota untuk pusat serenti? Di bidang pekerjaan, jabatan kerajaan kekosongan jawatan hampir tepu, swasta, mimpilah anak melayu nak masuk kecuali milik melayu.

iv. Betulkah pelajar melayu tidak bersungguh2? Mungkin ada tapi bukan majoriti. Ramai yang berminat belajar tapi tiada panduan. Yelah, waktu sekolah menengah, mrsm, matrikulasi ada orang jaga. Masuk U takde siapa jaga, bebas, kau-kau aku-aku. Di jabatan kerajaan lebih 80% adalah melayu/beragama Islam. Penglibatan semua pihak, makcik cleaner, pekerja am, pensyarah, para pegawai nc, tnc, universiti amat2 diperlukan. Perlu satu anjakan model untuk mengubah segalanya. Kalau pelajar melayu kurang motivasi, kita beri motivasi, yang susah kita bagi bantuan. Majoriti anak melayu datang dari kampong dan keluarga susah, anak yatim. Tiada siapa yang pandang atau membantu. Dari segi psikologi rasa keseorangan. Akan menjadi seorang 'individualism'.

v. Kenapa nak tolong pelajar melayu/islam. Kenapa nak manjakan mereka? Kenapa nak suap? --- Kenapa perkara yang sama orang cina buat kita tak cakap apa --- memang budaya bangsa cina tolong menolong. Kenapa bila nak tolong bangsa sendiri kita cakap nak manjakan, nak suap. Tolonglah ubah pemikiran begini.

vi. Memang penat dan payah nak tolong anak bangsa sendiri. Kadang2 menyirap pun ada bila tiada sambutan yang baik. Tapi kita kena banyak bersabar. Benda baik banyak dugaan dan cabaran. Kalau maksiat tu senang sahaja buat sebab syaitan bagi lorong untuk permudahkan keje. Pelajar melayu akan berubah sedikit demi sedikit sikap mereka bila kita dapat buktikan jika mereka belajar bersungguh2, mereka akan dapat keputusan yang baik. Kira dorongan positif

vii. Orang cina adalah golongan oportunis (berkepentingan). Kalau kita ada kepentingan, mereka akan baik, bodek bagus, muka manis. Cuba kalau kita takde kepentingan, pandang pun taknak. Pengalaman seorang pensyarah senior: waktu belajar, student cina (satu kumpulan) ni cukup baik ngan saya. Boleh kata selalu jumpa kat bilik. Tunjuk minat untuk belajar, muka manis tersenyum 24 jam. Tapi bila dah bergraduate, selisih (face to face) kat shopping complex, sikit pun tak pandang. Pelajar melayu walau pun kurang berjaya, bila ada masa mereka datang melawat. Kalau kereta kita rosak tepi jalan anak2 melayu yang 'bodoh
dan malas' inilah yang akan tolong tolak (berdasarkan pengalaman). Anak2 bangsa yang kita pandang rendah inilah saudara seagama kita.

Pelajar2 melayu walaupun kita bagi 'D' atau 'F' sekalipun, bila berselisih insya-Allah takkan kedekut untuk memberi salam dan sedia membantu bila kita memerlukan.

viii.Orang melayu cuma akan sedar/insaf bila:

a.bila datang dari keluarga susah. Mak ayah penoreh getah, nelayan. Kena berusaha bersungguh2 untuk berjaya dalam hidup.

b. bila masuk dunia pekerjaan (baca: swasta). Walaupun kita sama kelayakan dengan mereka (baca: bangsa cina), mimpilah kita akan dapat jawatan atau layanan yang setaraf dengan mereka.

c. bila kene tipu ngan cina, pernah tak kene tipu ngan cina bila beli barang? ya, banyak kali pulak tu. beli rumah pun kene tipu. hari2 keluar berita. Masalah tak selesai2 pun. Siapa menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan? Ong Ka Ting (cina). Siapa
pemaju perumahan? (Ong Ah Tipu - cina juga) Orang melayu memang dilahirkan untuk ditipu agaknya.

d. Bila diri sendiri atau ahli keluarga dianiayai oleh orang cina. Melayu adalah bangsa individualism. Bila tengok orang lain kene
pukul, biaq pi la. B ukan keluarga aku yang kene. Tapi bila kene kat batang hidung sendiri baru tau nak marah.

ix. Orang MELAYU perlu menjadi BANGSA YANG BERANI. Jangan takut dengan bangsa cina. Mereka berani sebab ramai (samseng).

Cuba kalau sorang2. takkan berani punya. Bangsa yang kurang ajar perlu dilayan dengan kurang ajar juga. Jangan takut. Kalau mereka ada samseng, kita ada askar dan polis. Orang melayu memang senang dipijak, pijak banyak kali pun takpe. Tapi kalau sekali dia bangun, mengamuk semenanjung. (e.g: 13 Mei 1969 & Tragedi Kampung Medan).

x. Ingat tak zaman darurat dulu. Parti Komunis Malaya ditubuhkan untuk apa? Adakah untuk memerdekakan Malaya pada waktu itu? Tidak. Mereka menubuhkan Parti Koumintang untuk menguasai dari Tanah Besar Cina sehingga ke Indonesia. Tapi tak berjaya. Tapi usaha itu masih diteruskan dari sudut politik, ekonomi dan social. "Tanah Rizab Untuk Dipajak, Tanda Melayu Akan Dipijak". Arwah datuk (bekas pegawai tentera) pernah berpesan, kalau Singapura serang Malaysia, cina Malaysia akan membantu cina Singapura. Tak percaya? Kita tunggu...