Yesterday, I was at the farewell dinner for University Malaya (UM) Associate Professor Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez, who was picked by the Geneva-based United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) to fill the newly-created post of project manager for the research on identity change and social cohesion in multi-ethnic societies.

Around 300-odd audience, comprising of journalist, academics, lawyers and politicians attended the dinner. Speakers of the night, in the proper sequence:-

1) Lim Kit Siang - Opposition Leader
2) Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez
3) Datuk Dr. Toh Kin Woon - Penang State Executive Councillor
4) Dr. Hatta Ramli - PAS Treasurer
5) Steven Gan - Malaysiakini’s Editor-In-Chief
6) Irene Fernandez - Human rights activist
7) Zainur Zakaria - Lawyer
8) Prof. P. Ramasamy - UKM’s Political Science Lecturer
9) Prof. Ibrahim Bajunid - President of Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management (MIHRM)
10) Dr. Tan Seng Giaw - Kepong MP
11) Dr. Bridget Welsh - John Hopkins University
12) Lim Guan Eng - DAP Secretary General

MC for the dinner, Teresa Kok who is also the MP Seputeh, was seen busy promoting the “The Third Vote: Restore Local Government Elections“. So, anyone who believe that there is a need to be part of it by just signing this little postcard to PM, please feel free to drop me an email, I’ve plenty with me.

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Basically, most of them whom I talked to, asked me which press I’m from and I proudly proclaim myself as an Independent Blogger, what a profession! My sifu, Uncle Mack nearly puke to death, I think. Well, I’m not surprised why I was asked so, since I was with my notebook and camera, all the time. Throughout the farewell dinner, I’m really glad that I encouraged people to start blogging. And I really hope that, more and more will start to blog, who knows, one day, we might replace Main-Stream-Media (MSM)?

This morning, I was so excited that I woke up unconsciously at 6am, just because of this.

Who are the VIPs?

1) Bkworm - Imagination to the key of freedom
2) Jayelle - Little girl in a Reverie
3) Yee Pei - YP’s Ratings
4) Alan Wong @ Giant Sotong - BP Bites!
5) Charlyn Tangerine - TANGERiNE FiDELiTY
6) Desmo - Hunting The Snark
7) Mysticangel - Life’s many beautiful things
8) Eyeris - Eye on Everything
9) Wai Seng - Resurrection
10) Fazri - The Silent Room
11) Jeff Ooi - Screenshots
12) Redzuan - dJ Phuturecybersonique: phoreward
13) Dave Yoong - Bring on the good times, whenever you’re feelin’ blue
14) Serge - Broken Mirror
15) Jess - Adventures in Real Life
16) Rajan/Nilesh - Nilesh Babu v1.9 Beta
17) Sashi - sashi-isms
18) Tiger Joe - The Tiger’s Den
19) Aini - Sense of Style
20) Uncle Mack - brandnewmalaysian
21) Suanie - As Suanie Sees It
22) PennyPupZ - -PeNNyPupZ-
23) IreneQ - ireneQ . unravelled
24) Amber - Bracken fernleaf spills her spores …
25) Peter Tan - The Digital Awakening
26) Wuan (Peter’s Sweetheart)

I’m really grateful to know everyone of you guys and thanks for coming into my life.

The all-pervasiveness of blogging world?

Today, The Star reports that a blogger, writing under the name of Sarong Party Girl, posted nude pictures of herself on the internet, which chronicles her life and numerous sexual escapades.

For a blog to go this far, I’m clueless.

NST reported that British’s Cambridge University is considering setting up a branch campus in Malaysia, in what would be a major boost towards its goal of becoming an education hub. A senior official from the Higher Education Ministry said discussions on the matter were under way. Quote:

“There is a possibility that they may set up a branch here, but nothing has been confirmed yet.” […]

If this plan is materialised, applause must be conveyed to the Special Envoy to the Higher Education Ministry Mohd Effendi Norwawi. Only if Malaysia was able to bring in the brand names in education to set up campuses here, the country would be recognised as a centre of excellence for education in the region.

Now, my only question to Shafie Salleh: University UMNO, are you still so sure?

Exactly 2 months ago, I complimented Works Minister S. Samy Vellu for his decision not to build a second Penang Bridge.

Yesterday, he officially announced that the Government agreed to re-route the second phase of the East-Coast Highway, which involve an additional 16-km stretch between Cheneh and Bukit Besi, due to Terengganu Government “request”.

RM160 million question: The decision to re-route the highway would incur the Government additional cost of RM160 million (RM10 million per km).

Hint: There is no way that S. Samy Vellu is wrong, afterall, he is a minister-lah. So, the most logical reason I can think of is that, Jeff failed his math miserably.

Probably, S. Samy Vellu can earn some side income by tutoring Jeff, I know he desperately needs that.

Don’t worry Jeff, this kind of so-called ‘ungrateful bugger‘ won’t spoilt my day, at all.

Peter Tan, a roman Catholic Malaysian Chinese, born and bred in Penang, late-thirties, suffered spinal cord injury at eighteen, paralysed from chest down and afflicted with chronic kidney failure, is in town.

A mini-blogger gathering will be held on June 12 (Sunday), details as below: -

Mid Valley Megamall Bloggers Meet
Venue: Food Junction, Level 3
Date: June 12, 2005
Time: 10.00am

Peter, I’m really grateful that you’re now in KL and looking forward to meet you. I’m sure that, you’re definitely going to enrich my life with your experiences.

To be able to become someone like you and manage to walk the talk, I must learn and move forward, gracefully.

Thanks for coming into my life, more or less, it doesn’t matter.

Related Links:
- Peter Tan | Bloggers Meet in June
- Mack | Blogger in town