Archive for October, 2005

Ayoyo Samy … (5)

Saturday, October 22nd, 2005 | 3:15 am @ SK

You see, we all know what Works Minister S Samy Vellu is capable of, but a promise which only lasted for a few hours by a minister is still unprecedented in Malaysia’s history.

During a meeting with the affected residents of the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway, its claimed that Samy Vellu ordered the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to stop construction work, pending investigations by Kumpulan Ikram who are surveying the construction site.

However, in a tragic move, he regretted his earlier decision and informed Seputeh MP Teresa Kok over the about-turn. Quote:

"It seems he has changed his mind merely hours after he made a decision to stop construction work."

Sri Petaling Residents Association vice-president Tai Kai Khong also voiced his disappointment on Samy Vellu. Quote:

"As a minister, whatever he had promised should be fulfilled. Going back against a decision in such a manner should not have happened."

Tai is right to say that this should’t have happened, but unfortunately the rank had been broken by no other than the minister Samy himself.

Cheap, damn real cheap.

Internet freedom

Friday, October 21st, 2005 | 8:34 pm @ SK

Last month, Chinese blogger Frank Dai wrote an article on Global Voices Online (GVO) where he talked about the Government effort on banning the usage of Skype.

Yesterday, he wrote that Wikipedia is now blocked in China for the third time, as ironical as after the Chinese government issued the "White Paper on Democracy in China".

Somehow, I’m feeling grateful that, the country that I’m living in now enables me to communicate through Skype and access the Online Encyclopedia anytime.

Undeniable, we’re better off compared to mainland China, however, I’m wondering, does that mean that we must feel contended?

Condolence

Thursday, October 20th, 2005 | 10:19 am @ SK

Maxis SMS alert at 9:05am.

Datin Seri Paduka Endon Mahmood passed away at 7.55am today at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.

My utmost condolence to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

As a mark of respect on the demise, there won’t be any new blog entries for the rest of the day.

WahFM: On a serious note

Thursday, October 20th, 2005 | 12:42 am @ SK

The recent WahFM’s transmission interruption caused widespread outburst of anger among its loyal listeners and part of the Chinese communities.

As a show of solidarity support, comments were posted on WAONLINE.COM.MY.

However, some commentors went as far as misutilising the freedom of expression by putting up seditious comments which sound racist and contain anti-government message.

(Click on the image for higher resolution)

A little bird dropped me an email with the above screnshots by saying that authority is very concern over this unhealthy development and attaches high attention on the forum.

By the time I blog about this, previously posted messages with seditious contents has been partly filtered.

Remember, you’re what you say. So, in order not to land yourself into unwanted calamity, please make sure thay you’re smart enough to know the do(s) and don’t(s) too.

Take my word seriously, I’m not trying to be a doomsayers at this particular moment.

World Class Parliament is when … (3)

Wednesday, October 19th, 2005 | 4:34 pm @ SK

Via The Star:

"Toilets are like new brides after they are completed. After some time, they get a bit spoiled. Even if you do not use them frequently, you need someone to clean them every 25 minutes."

If The Star considers this a joke, Works Minister S. Samy Vellu must own the most tasteless joke in this world, not mentioning that he is insulting his wife in a way too.

Also, how about Samy’s female counterparts, aren’t they were once a bride too?

And blogger Mack has this to say:

Well … in coffeeshop OK-lah. Not in parliament. There is a time and place for everything.

You’re right, Mack.

However, I guess we Malaysians already accept such a "joke" as part of the cultural.

Small cili blogs too

Wednesday, October 19th, 2005 | 1:39 pm @ SK

After Kit’s, Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan blogs too.

Welcome to the blogosphere!

Cupid Politics Test

Wednesday, October 19th, 2005 | 1:32 am @ SK

Blogger Jeffrey Lim invited me to try the Cupid Politics Test and convinced me that I’d be surprised by the findings.

The Result

You are a

Social Liberal
(68% permissive)

and an…


Economic Liberal
(28% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Democrat

You exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness.

Mack was near right to figure me out as a socialist instead, maybe next time. ;-)

Do university degrees matter?

Tuesday, October 18th, 2005 | 11:48 pm @ SK

Via Malaysiakini:

"Whilst in Britain (and to a large extent, the Western world) a university education is seen as not just specialisation but also a broadening of minds, in Malaysia a university education is merely a stepping stone towards one’s career and making money." […]

"There is also, in Malaysia, a snobbish attitude towards certain degrees. The preferred degrees are medicine, engineering, law and accountancy. Social sciences? They’re for those who aren’t up to studying for the ‘proper’ subjects. When I was filling out my UPU (Unit Pemprosesan Universiti) forms all those years ago, I was tempted to put down anthropology at UIA (Universiti Islam Antarabangsa) as one of my degree choices. I talked it over with a friend of my brother’s who was a UIA student at the time."

"Anthropology? Why would you want to do that? That’s what all the matrics students who can’t get into law do you know." […]

So Farah Fahmy, a consultant working and living in London asks: Do university degrees matter?

What do you think?

World Class Parliament is when … (2)

Tuesday, October 18th, 2005 | 6:31 pm @ SK

… MPs are busy indulging in "toilet talk".

Via Malaysiakini

"Later I can accompany the minister to take a look at the ladies’ toilet. The door cannot be closed and the flush cannot be used." […]

"This is because of poor work…(a standard of) work (that can) only (come) from Barisan Nasional. How can this happen when Parliament only sits for some 70 days in a year?" asked Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan.

Be it Samy or cili padi, it doesn’t taste good at all.

Media ethics

Monday, October 17th, 2005 | 6:20 pm @ SK

[UPDATED VERSION] While former deputy prime minister Tun Ghafar Baba remains at critical but stable condition, a Chinese media shows no sense of media ethics and very low of sensitivity level towards Tun’s family, by talking about the "possible funeral locations".

I find this very serious with total disrespect towards the Tun himself and his family’s feeling, to say the least.

For the time being, it’s for you to find out which media is that, until I publish the digital copy.

(Click on the image for higher resolution)

TRANSLATION of the highlighted red-box, verbatim:

He said, the Melaka state government offered that Ghafar Baba could be laid to rest in the Melaka state mosque for the public to pay their last respects.

He also stated that although PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that as a former leader of the country, Ghafar’s funeral should be held in KL and the final place of burial should be at KL Mosque.

Thanks to blogger xweing for the translation.

It’s now for you to find out which incosiderate media and which irresponsible Datuk is that.

Media ethics? Social responsibility? My arse.