Any badminton fans out there?

Tonight, 3 Malaysia men’s doubles pairs reached the semi-finals for the first time in the All-England badminton championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

They are Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui and Gan Teik Chai-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif. National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky was happy with the achievement of the doubles players.

"It is great to see three Malaysian men’s doubles pairs in the All-England quarter-finals for the first time. This should really motivate the others."

The only Malaysia men’s singles player Lee Chong Wei is in the semi-final too, playing against world number one Lin Dan from China.

Remember, it’s LIVE on TV1 at 8:40pm.

Last Wednesday, right after the weekly Cabinet meeting, 9 non-Muslim ministers (Not 10 as reported as Tourism Minister Leo Michael Toyad is away to Philipines) submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, calling for a review of laws affecting the rights of non-Muslims.

Pak Lah said it’s not ordinary. He preferred the issue to be brought up in the Cabinet meeting rather than submitting their views in the form of a memorandum, but still, he is willing to raise this issue in the next meeting.

Let’s take a look at reaction of 9 non-Muslim ministers’ colleagues :

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
[The Star] "improper" and "not nice"

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz
[The Star] "It is a dangerous precedent. In principle, the Cabinet had already discussed and agreed on a review of all laws pertaining to a conversion of a non-Muslim to Islam. Their action seems to suggest a rift between non-Muslim and Muslim ministers."

[NST] "I am angry that the nine ministers did that, because they cannot threaten the PM like that, and I will not stand for it. We are colleagues in the Cabinet. Why the need to send a memo when we have decided to look at all the laws?"

Umno Youth exco member Pirdaus Ismail
[The Star] "They acted as if they were not part of the Cabinet line-up appointed by the Prime Minister."

[NST] "Their actions reflect disregard and disrespect for the PM and their Cabinet colleagues. In so doing, they have tarnished their image as ministers. It is as if they are questioning the sanctity of Islam in the Federal Constitution. We feel their actions have touched on the sensitivity of the Muslims in the country."

International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz
[The Star] "We, the Muslims, are also concerned over the process which determines who is a Muslim and who is not. If a person is a Muslim convert and he is wrongly buried, we are concerned. Similarly, if a Muslim professes to have left the faith (apostate) but is buried as a Muslim, this is also of concern to us."

[Bernama] "I think my colleagues in the Barisan Nasional presented constructive views, which can be a guide to the people who will review the laws. The memorandum is their input on what should be done."

While Ministers are busy "advising" each other, I spend time helping Pak Lah to monitor the Racial Tension Index from the sidelines.

Related Link:
- Screenshots | ‘Ministers are not NGO leaders’

"Are we Malaysians of Chinese origin really so unMalaysian, even after 48 years of hoisting the flag together and sharing durians?", The Star’s Suhaini Aznam asked.

Blogger Suanie has this to say, doesn’t mind listen to her growing up story since the day she was borned

I was born in Malaysia, grew up in Malaysia, attended national schools in Malaysia, mixed with many friends of different races in Malaysia. I eat Malay, Chinese, Indian and fusion food all the time, I penned poems in Malay when I was young, I watch English, Chinese and some Malay movies, I listen to English, Chinese and some Malay songs, I studied some Malay Classics in Form 5 and Form 6, I went out with Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as guys of other races, I can’t write in Chinese save for my Chinese name, I can barely recognise Chinese words or Indian words, I read English material because I am more comfortable reading and using that language, I adore P. Ramlee movies and Sheila Majid’s songs, I bought Siti Nurhaliza’s first album because she is a wonderful singer, and so on and so forth.

Does this make me Malaysian? Good. […]

I am a Malaysian, like it or not and it is an issue that goes beyond durians and pandering to your notions of what makes me Malaysian. It is not me who wish to feel so divided. I have hope but little things like this can sometimes make it so hard for me to believe that I am speaking up for my rights as allowed by my citizenship.

So, don’t lah make things so difficult.

Then again, if one really think that ALL Malaysian’s chinese are angel, read "The Chinese Dilemma" by Ye Lin-Sheng.

"I’d recommend this book to every Malaysian, especially Malaysian Chinese who love to moan and whine about the ’sad’ state of affairs in this country", Suanie said.

As a chinese origin by myself, I will definitely pick up this book, before proceed to "The Malay Dillemma" written by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1970, one of the very old collection by my dad.

Self-reflection, no more than that, if you so wish to think otherwise.

Starting on Monday, the nude ear squat report by the special commission will be sold to the public, at RM50 each.

But before that, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang has this to ask: What is the stand of the cabinet on the report?

Did the Cabinet discuss the delay in implementation of the first Dzaiddin Royal Police Commission Report submitted in May last year, especially as a second royal commission had again proposed in a matter of seven months the banning of police nude earsquats?

Food for thought.

Enough said on automobile AP in Malaysia, full-stop.

However, even before the old AP is eliminated, the new AP is already on its way? Hot discussion is ongoing at the Lowyat.NET Forum.

The message is simple: Screw you, Malaysians!

For more context, read here and here.

Yes, more might go, soon.

MAS HQ building was up for sale since last week, and now, analysts suggest to MAS in considering selling-off its five-star Four Seasons Resort in Langkawi to help meet funding needs. 

The company, which opened the RM362 million Four Seasons last year, said it would take about 15 years to recover the investment. The resort hotel is wholly owned by MAS’ subsidiary, MAS Hotels & Boutiques Sdn Bhd.

The paper says valuers it contacted estimated that the hotel is worth about 20-25 per cent more than the cost of construction. The land was sold to MAS for about RM80 million.

That would mean a RM90 million profit for MAS, and analysts said it would take away its burden of having to provide for future capital expenditure on the hotel.

I can sense echo of "dignity lost" from afar.

Thanks Berita Malaysia’s YW Loke for the alert.

North Korea leader Kim Jong II, with his forever-unique hairstyle, has paid a visit to China, as reported by The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), ending days of speculation.

Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu, no?

Japan’s Nikkei Index has now fallen more than 6% in 2 days time, forcing the stock exchange to close early for the first time in its history on Wednesday, sparked by heavy selling in shares following allegations of fraud at a Japanese internet firm Livedoor, owned by a young entrepreneur Takafumi Horie.

Trading in Livedoor shares were suspended after a report that the Internet company manipulated data to conceal losses and has since been raided for suspecting of violating Japanese securities laws.

The unprecedented turmoil that cut short Wednesday’s trading on the Tokyo stock market is casting a shadow over Japan’s tentative economic recovery. Tsuyoshi Nomaguchi, a strategist at Daiwa Securities was quoted as saying this:

Until the investigation on Livedoor and the fate of the company becomes clear, selling pressure on the overall Tokyo stock market will likely stay.

However, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said that the chaos in Japan’s market would not long last long as the economic is solid.

The lesson is this, if Nikkei is susceptible to sink over an alleged fraud case, who are "we in Malaysia"?

You bet.

How would you feel if "keeping your shirt on while having sex" is made compulsory by the law?

Simply amazed.

Via Bernama:

Enforcement officers of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry in Penang believe they have smashed the largest syndicate responsible for distributing pirated and pornographic DVDs and VCDs in northern Peninsular Malaysia.

A team of officers from the enforcement division conducted a raid Tuesday and seized more than RM1 million worth of DVDs, VCDs, disc copying machines and three vehicles, and detained seven people.

Considering that Latuk Loctor Ho’s business has expanded worldwide, what you think RM1 million means to him?

Don’t worry folks, the mega sales will be back, like what Arnold Schwarzenegger’s frequent movie line says: "I’ll be back!"