tainted formula...eh?

Old formula no longer works

CERITALAH
By KARIM RASLAN

The by-election in Kuala Terengganu further emphasises that voters don’t want politics-as-usual. They want respect and service.
Hear...hear...

STANDING on the terrace of Pulau Duyung’s gleaming white Marina Exhibition centre, I can see Kuala Terengganu’s main landmarks ranged across the open water: the Sultan Mahmud bridge, the distant Bukit Besar emblazoned with the words “Allah Peliharakan Terengganu”, the police barracks, Chinatown’s shophouses, the centuries-old Masjid Puteh alongside the Istana Maziah, and the Grand Continental Hotel.

I must confess that I’ve never liked this town – give me Kota Baru any day.
Yups...gimme Kota Baru any day too.

Furthermore, I loathe the brand of puritanical politics preached by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and his faction in PAS. For better or worse, this had come to dominate the Terengganu political landscape.
A few would remember those ceramah tapes by the Haji from the eighties. Inspirations to more than a few. But for some of them inspired dudes, when in Australia, do what them Aussies do. Fosters and meat pies. Inspirations down them drains.

Nonetheless, the view before me is panoramic – almost heroic, made all the more so by the hulking presence of the white, sarcophagus-like exhibition centre behind me.

Moreover, at this time of the year the strong South China Sea monsoon winds buffet you aggressively as you walk back to the equally dramatic, if darker-hued, Riy-az Heritage Resort and Spa with its spectacular 10m-high verandah.

The two buildings are silent sentinels at the Terengganu rivermouth. Exquisitely built, but rarely visited and ghost-like, they remind you of the countless bizarre projects across the country – projects that may have seemed like a good idea at the time, only to languish and fade over the years as the initial enthusiasm for their construction and usage dimmed and then, in certain cases, just disappeared.

Someone should someday make a record of all these ill-conceived, under-utilised ventures; and with a recession fast approaching we certainly need to be reminded of all that’s been frittered away over the past decades.
Malaysian Book of Records?

But consider for a moment just how tactlessly placed the two buildings at the heart of the infamous Monsoon Cup truly are for Kuala Terengganu’s residents, reminding the townspeople time and again of the lavishness with which others – principally outsiders – have spent Terengganu’s highly prized Uang Ehsan or oil revenues.

All politics is local and last weekend’s by-election in Kuala Tereng–ganu (or KT as its better known) was principally about KT, its inhabitants and their politics and politicians.

Indeed, it was a very personal contest between two well-known local figures. And in this small, tightly-knit community nothing escapes notice.

The scrutiny was (and is) intense and unforgiving, leaving the Barisan Nasional flag-bearer, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid of Umno, very much the weaker candidate which meant that his defeat was not unexpected.

However, the story does not end there. While the Umno candidate had his problems, the strategy employed to win over KT’s voters was vintage Barisan, and therefore hopelessly flawed and outdated. It was, as always, “money, money, money, veiled threats and more money”.
Me foot is beginning to move to that beat from yesteryear. Money, money, money. Always sunny, in the rich man's world. Aha-ahaaa...

Once again, Barisan has failed to read the mood of the Malaysian people. Its inability to do so is deeply worrying especially given the superior resources at its disposal. You have to ask yourself, how can a bunch of activists, former lecturers and Umno refuseniks out-strategise and out-manoeuvre Malaysia’s grand old party?

Well, I’m not a pollster but it’s clear enough to me that the people of Malaysia want more than contracts and money. In essence they want respect and service. Since March 2008, politics-as-usual is no longer acceptable. The old formula is dead.

The rakyat will no longer stand there patiently, receiving the benefits of development (which as citizens is theirs by right anyway) and trading their meek submissiveness for goodies.

Still, they’re not stupid. Of course, they’ll accept the cash and pocket the rewards, but that doesn’t mean they’ll vote accordingly.

The people want their representatives in Parliament (or any state assembly) to be humble, prompt to act, committed to good governance and straight-dealing.

In short, they are after a total reversal of the traditional Malaysian political equation – and something that Umno reps in Johor, for example, are more than used to doing. They want politicians to be their servants and not their masters. Barisan and Umno have yet to realise this fundamental change.

Added to this is the growing fearlessness among the people of all races – many of whom are confident enough to challenge elected representatives and ministers head on.

Unfortunately, Umno is in a forlorn state. The noble party of Merdeka is full of carpet-baggers and ne’er-do-wells. This is accentuated by the long drawn out party campaign period.

At the same time the impending accession of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as party president has dazzled the members.
But is he for real? Will he be there just as a door stopper?

They feel that he – and he alone – can, and will, rescue the party from its present “funk”. They feel that he has the secret ingredient which will allow them to continue as before – lobbying for contracts and hanging out in hotel lobbies smoking expensive cigars.
Gimme mariwana jawa anytime. It ain't Cuban but hey, I ain't no Guantanamo dude. Jamikan, dude. Jamikan...

Unfortunately, this is no longer true. Firstly, no one man can single-handedly transform a party of over two million members.
But if that two million are just sheepish sheep and stupid cows?

The party president will need a team alongside him to lead, and then bring about root and branch reform; and I’m still waiting to see the emergence of this ground-breaking “team” that will restore the semangat and passion to the political machine.

Umno needs an overhaul, not a cosmetic leadership change.

Secondly, and at the risk of repeating myself, there needs to be a wholesale change in the way politics – and especially the politics of development – is conducted.

These changes will in turn force the carpet-baggers out of the hotel lobbies and ministerial ante-rooms into the kampungs and urban slums to do real community work.
How can those who are born into money, projects and jobs on silver platters, despite being lazy and intellectually challenged change?

Finally, I must conclude by saying Pakatan Rakyat did not win the Kuala Terengganu by-election. It was savvy, but in essence Barisan lost it.
Unfortunately for us, we had to choose from those two idiotic groups. Lesser of two evils?

With the possibility of a by-election in Sabah (Pensiangan) fast approaching and the Sarawak state polls looming, the momentum has switched back to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan despite their many missteps.

Given this fact, it is no longer just a question of asking whether Umno is relevant to modern Malaysia because it so clearly isn’t.

The more crucial issue now is will the party ever regain its relevance?
Reckon some people will never learn. Even if reality gives them a tight backhand. Even if they are on the verge of being doomed forever.

err...eh?

Who is this Garry Cook?

Executive Chairman of what? Manchester City Football Club?

Oh...

Well, what do you expect. They are owned by them Arabs. Them dudes with too much money but not much else.

It was reported that Cook met with Kaka’s father and chief adviser, Bosco Leite on Monday, and presented a vision that City thought would appeal to Kaka’s deeply religious side.

Damn! How religious is £100 million?

The proposal fell through Monday night with Milan and the Brazilian announcing that he was staying in Italy.

“If we don’t get Kaka it is not the end of the world, we got Craig Bellamy,” Cook said.

That goon who collects football jerseys?

Blimey!

nip and tuck...eh?

Next step, BN image change

KUANTAN: Barisan Nasional must change its approach while continuing to serve the people after losing the Kuala Terengganu by-election, deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said yesterday.

He said it was important for BN to improve its image and election machinery as its main task now is to win the next general election.

"This should be a good lesson for us and we must use it to win big in the next general election," he said after visiting the family of Zahari Baharom, who died of a heart attack last October.

Baharom, 34, was the Balok Pine Umno branch chief. He leaves a wife, Normala Fauzi, 27, and daugther, Puteri Izean Qistina, 4.

Khairy said it was wrong to point fingers after BN's defeat as various factors had contributed to this.

"If, as the people claim, the candidate is the main reason, then it will be quite easy to solve the problem.

"But the fact is there are various factors involved and we must shoulder the responsibility together and improve our performance," he said, adding that the lower voter turnout may have also contributed to the defeat.

Khairy said BN must also win the support of the younger generation as the coalition's future depended on it.

At the same time, he said Umno members must continue serving the people, especially the underprivileged.

"Our candidate (Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh) still secured more than 30,000 votes during this trying moment in Malaysian politics.

"It proves that we still have support at the grassroots level."

Khairy gave a cash donation to Normala and her father-in-law to help them start a small business.
_________________________________________________________________________

I dunno. I just couldn't laugh no more. Couldn't cry either.

Some people are blessed with thick skin. And some are blessed with good fortune as well. Whether their fortune are blessed, well your guess is as good as mine.

Will we see some minor nips and tucks or will we get to watch creepy Jackos in the making? Will these moves be of any use? To the ruling front? Or anyone for that matter? Will they be in vain? And another moronic front taking over? Hmmm...

juice...eh?

Jews against Zionism

By BUNN NAGARA

Some religious Jews also reject an immoral, outlaw Israel in the name of their religion.

AMONG the many religious Jewish groups that reject today’s Israel and its Zionist basis are Satmar, Dushinski and Neturei Karta (NK, or “Guardians of the City/Faith”).

Present as communities in Israel, the United States and parts of Europe, they hold demonstrations to protest against Israeli atrocities and the creation of today’s Israel, saying that the Torah specifically forbids a Jewish state established by force and before the coming of the Messiah.
Cohen: ‘Any form of unjust violence is terrorism, whether state-sponsored or otherwise, and must be stopped.’

As a result, they are often sidelined by the Western mainstream media or attacked by pro-Zionist mobs, sometimes both at the same time. And yet among senior orthodox rabbis, religious Zionists form only a minority.

The three Talmudic oaths hold that Jews as a group must not forcibly create Israel, that they should not fight the will of the international community, and that the world would not unduly penalise Israel. Anti-Zionist Jewish groups find the very establishment of Israel to be a negation of these oaths.

NK is one of the most outspoken and controversial of these anti-Zionist groups because of its high-profile activism. Mainly resident in Jerusalem, New York, London and elsewhere in Britain, this has also led to misunderstanding from other groups.

In 2004, NK was censured by some Jewish groups when some of its rabbis held a prayer vigil for dying PLO leader Yasser Arafat. But NK said it shared some views with Fatah, such as a secular Palestinian state.

Two years later, some NK rabbis attended an international meeting in Teheran that Zionists labelled a “Holocaust denial” conference. Participants like NK were duly tagged as denying the Holocaust ever happened.

NK leaders replied that they went to affirm that the Holocaust did happen, while insisting that it should not be exploited by Israel today against other people like the Palestinians. They also said they needed to explain the difference between Judaism as religion and Zionism as politics.

One of these NK leaders is British-born Rabbi Ahron Cohen, whose grandparents emigrated to Britain about 100 years ago around the time that today’s Israel was conceived.

A religious family man, Rabbi Cohen is part of the Orthodox Jewish community in which he and his family “endeavour to live their lives entirely in accordance with the Jewish religion”.

He also describes himself as “one of many Orthodox Jews who completely sympathise with the cause of the Palestinians in their struggle against the Zionist state (Israel)”.

Cohen is one of the Jewish leaders I have discussed the Israel-Palestine problem with in recent years.

Here are some of his views expressed to me last week on Israel’s actions in Gaza today:

“The flawed illegitimate concept of the sectarian state of ‘Israel’ is not a ‘Jewish’ religious concept, but a secular nationalistic colonialist concept. It is the underlying cause of the 100-year-old confrontation and strife in Palestine.

“The immediate reason for Israel’s actions is therefore irrelevant. The nations of the world should begin to look at a peaceful dissolution of the Zionist state and concept, to be replaced by a single just regime acceptable to all. Only then can peace reign.”

On Israel snubbing world opinion: “The nature of Zionism is a selfish and forceful nationalism and is not concerned morally with world opinion. I presume that they are banking on the atrocities being forgotten by the world as other atrocities in history have been largely forgotten.”

On the consequences: “The medium consequences are difficult to predict. However, the long-term consequences must lead to an eventual dismantling of the rogue state, Israel.

“We cannot predict the sequence of events which will lead to this, but our prayer is that it should take place peacefully and speedily. The state of ‘Israel’ is a concept completely foreign to authentic Judaism.

“Judaism is a godly, ethical way of life which goes back thousands of years, whereas Zionism is a secular nationalistic amoral concept, barely 100 years old.

“Sadly, this fact is not immediately apparent to the world at large due to the popularity that Zionism has managed to achieve among people who are not prepared to approach the matter with an open mind, honestly and objectively.”

Terrorism: “Any form of unjust violence is terrorism whether state-sponsored or otherwise, and must be stopped. Of course great wisdom, national humility and the discarding of self-interests are required in order to establish what is ‘unjust violence’.”

US support for Israel: “Totally lacking in appreciation of the underlying problem and solution.”

US vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden calling himself a Zionist: “This is yet another example of the amazing but immoral success that Zionist propaganda has had in justifying and impressing its cause.”

President-elect Barack Obama: “Impossible to predict at this stage, but hopefully less bigoted and one-sided in favour of Israel than most of his predecessors.”

Anti-Zionist Jews: “Sadly, they are a minority but a significant one. They are not widely heard of mainly because of the tremendous Zionist or pro-Zionist effect on the media, and social pressures imposed upon anti-Zionists by Zionists or Zionist supporters.”

And the best solution for the Israel-Palestine problem? “A single state for all its citizens.”

Melawan secara lebih berkesan

Konflik yang semakin meruncing di Asia Barat mengundang pelbagai reaksi masyarakat dunia yang rata-ratanya mengutuk pencerobohan tentera Israel di Gaza serta tindakan kejam rejim Tel Aviv membunuh penduduk Palestin termasuk wanita dan kanak-kanak.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perkhidmatan Masyarakat Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia (PBSMM), Tunku Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah cukup prihatin dengan konflik yang berlaku dan simpati terhadap nasib rakyat Palestin yang terus menjadi sasaran taktik buli rejim Israel. Dalam pertemuan dengan wartawan Mingguan Malaysia MARHAINI KAMARUDDIN, LUQMAN HAZIQ ABDULLAH dan MAZNAH ARSAD serta jurugambar RAJA JAAFAR ALI di The Zone, Johor Bahru, beliau memberikan pandangannya tentang konflik yang telah menyebabkan rakyat Palestin yang mengalami penderaan psikologi di bawah rejim Zionis. Isteri Tengku Mahkota Johor ini turut menasihati rakyat Malaysia supaya membaca sejarah konflik Israel-Palestin dan memahami bahawa ia bukan peperangan di antara Yahudi dan umat Islam.

Sementara itu Timbalan Pengarah Institusi Antarabangsa Polisi Awam dan Pengurusan Universiti Malaya, Prof Madya Dr Shakila Yacob berkata bakal Presiden AS, Barack Obama sukar untuk melawan arus penyokong Yahudi dalam kabinetnya. Dr. Shakila yang juga pensyarah dalam bidang Sejarah Awal dan Moden AS berpendapat, Obama tidak akan menjadi pemimpin yang pro Palestin seperti sentimen di Eropah ketika ini.

Dalam wawancara dengan wartawan Mingguan Malaysia, RABIATUL ADAWIYAH KOH ABDULLAH, beliau berkata, “Obama sedar beliau memerlukan kerjasama dunia untuk membebaskan ekonomi AS dari belenggu.”

Mingguan: Tunku memberi penekanan yang konflik Israel-Palestin bukan perang antara agama Yahudi dan Islam. Boleh Tunku jelaskan?

RAJA ZARITH: Apabila Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) memutuskan untuk mewujudkan sebuah negara Israel dan memilih menempatkannya di bumi Palestin, dari situlah bermulanya konflik Asia Barat. Saya mahu menjelaskan bahawa konflik Israel-Palestin ialah pertikaian mengenai wilayah, kesan pencerobohan pentadbiran rejim Tel Aviv ke atas wilayah negara lain. Ia bukannya peperangan di antara orang Yahudi dan Islam tetapi pertikaian tentang wilayah antara Israel dengan Palestin.

Penting bagi rakyat Malaysia memahami isu ini dalam konteks yang betul.

Sarankan rakyat Malaysia supaya merujuk kepada pautan web http://www.passia.org/ untuk lebih memahami aspek geopolitik krisis di Asia Barat ini. Mereka perlu merujuk kepada Peta Palestin 1878, sebagai sumber kronologi masalah Palestin sejak dua kurun lalu.

Kenapa Tunku merasakan perlu berhati-hati membicarakan konflik di Gaza terutama kepada golongan muda?

RAJA ZARITH: Ramai yang melihat konflik Israel-Palestin ialah peperangan antara Yahudi dan Islam, seolah-olah penindasan dilakukan oleh tentera Israel hanya ke atas penduduk Islam sedangkan Palestin juga didiami oleh orang Kristian. Jadi nasihat saya kepada orang muda Malaysia, kalau rasa hendak berjuang membantu penduduk Palestin di Gaza, sewajarnya mereka mencari maklumat di Internet terlebih dahulu, buat penyelidikan dan jangan bercakap membabi buta tanpa tahu latar belakang dan kedudukan sebenar konflik yang berlaku.

Konflik Israel-Palestin ini sudah lama berlaku cuma baru sekarang ini, Israel membuat keputusan untuk bertindak lebih ganas. Jadi saya rasa tak sedap hati sebab ramai yang keliru tentang status Gaza sebagai wilayah yang ditakluki Israel, asalnya tempat pelarian Palestin dari Tebing Barat.

Apa yang berlaku, Israel mengikis sedikit demi sedikit wilayah yang diduduki oleh rakyat Palestin sehinggakan ruang penempatan untuk rakyat Palestin di Genting Gaza semakin kecil, menjadikannya tempat paling padat penduduk di dunia.

Apakah pandangan Tunku terhadap inisiatif rakyat Malaysia melancarkan kempen memboikot produk Israel dan Amerika Syarikat (AS) sebagai menyokong perjuangan rakyat Palestin?

RAJA ZARITH: Itu terpulang atas pilihan masing-masing. Dengan memboikot produk AS, bukan kesemuanya tetapi produk tertentu, apa yang boleh kita capai? Kita hanyalah sebuah negara yang kecil. Katakan kita boikot Coca-Cola, adakah tindakan itu akan menjejaskan syarikat induknya? Ia mempunyai cawangan di India, Eropah dan seluruh dunia, jadi tak ada kesan jika hanya rakyat Malaysia yang memboikot Coca-Cola. Saya rasa jika kita betul-betul hendak menunjukkan simpati dengan rakyat Palestin, adalah lebih baik jika dikumpulkan sumbangan wang dan keperluan termasuk lampin pakai buang.

Bukankah tindakan memboikot itu adalah sebagai bantahan kepada sokongan berterusan AS terhadap kekejaman Israel?

RAJA ZARITH: Syarikat induk di AS tidak terjejas sebaliknya syarikat tempatan dan rakyat tempatan yang akan menerima kesannya. Kalau benar-benar mahu mengambil tindakan boikot, hentikan francais syarikat-syarikat yang mempunyai hubungan langsung dengan Israel dan AS. Tetapi kalau kita tutup francais sekarang, orang tempatan yang bekerja di cawangan McDonalds atau kilang Coca-Cola dalam negara akan kehilangan pekerjaan. Jadi untuk mengambil tindakan sedemikian, kita perlu menyediakan pekerjaan kepada mereka yang akan kehilangan punca pendapatan di seluruh negara. Senang untuk bercakap tentang boikot tetapi kena fikirkan mereka yang akan terjejas akibat tindakan itu. Sebagai negara demokratik, kita boleh mengambil pendirian untuk tidak membeli produk AS tetapi kesannya tidak nampak dan tidak secara langsung kepada ekonomi AS.

Jadi pada pandangan Tunku, gerakan boikot itu perlu dilakukan di peringkat antarabangsa?

RAJA ZARITH: Itu pun ramai orang tempatan di negara lain yang akan terjejas punca pencarian mereka dan kehilangan pekerjaan. Jadi perlu ada penyelesaian alternatif kepada pekerja syarikat atau francais AS. Dalam hal ini, saya masih ambil pendirian tindakan memboikot itu terpulang kepada kehendak masing-masing. Bagaimanapun daripada membuat sesuatu yang sangat minor, lebih elok kita lakukan cara lain.

Maknanya Tunku lebih cenderung menyokong langkah mengumpul dana untuk membantu rakyat Palestin?

RAJA ZARITH: Ya, lakukan secara hands on. Kita buat kutipan melalui kawan-kawan, keluarga dan orang ramai serta salurkan hasil kutipan itu kepada pihak berkaitan Palestin di Kuala Lumpur atau PBSMM yang ada kaitan langsung dengan Persekutuan Palang Merah dan Bulan Sabit Merah Antarabangsa (IFRC). Macam PBSMM kita salurkan kepada Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah Palestin dan Mesir.

PBSMM sendiri menghantar pasukan doktor ke Kaherah, Mesir sebab ada Hospital Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah Palestin di sana. Jika keadaan membahayakan, mereka akan serahkan bantuan perubatan kepada pasukan Bulan Sabit Merah Palestin di sempadan. Yang penting, segala bantuan itu akan sampai kepada penduduk Palestin di Gaza.

Sumbangan kita dari sini sama ada RM10 atau RM100 akan sampai kepada penduduk Gaza. Apa yang kita perlukan sekarang ialah sumbangan daripada rakyat Malaysia.

Adakah demonstrasi di Malaysia dan seluruh dunia memberi kesan kepada penyelesaian konflik Palestin-Israel di Gaza?

RAJA ZARITH: Memang ada kesan. Demonstrasi di seluruh dunia termasuk Eropah, Asia malah Amerika pun. Mungkin ada sedikit tekanan. Tetapi kalau kita lihat apa yang berlaku semasa Amerika hendak menceroboh Iraq, terdapat demonstrasi besar-besaran di London sehingga sejuta orang, lebih 700,000 orang di bandar-bandar besar di Amerika begitu juga Eropah - namun apa yang berlaku? Amerika teruskan juga pencerobohan dan penaklukan ke atas Iraq.

Dengan hanya menyalur sumbangan dana tanpa protes melalui demonstrasi dan boikot, tidakkah dunia akan dilihat seolah-olah bersetuju dengan tindakan Israel dan AS?

RAJA ZARITH: Betul. Maksud saya, kita boleh membuat protes untuk menyuarakan bantahan dan sokongan tetapi kalau sejuta orang di London dan sejuta orang lagi di Amerika, tidak memberi kesan pun kepada kerajaan AS, apa sangatlah dengan bantahan beberapa ribu orang di negara ini. Bagaimanapun kita tidak boleh juga berdiam diri. Tanpa protes daripada seluruh dunia termasuk Malaysia, mungkin PBB tidak merasa tekanan untuk menghentikan konflik yang berlaku. Kalau berdiam diri pun akan memberi bayangan seolah-olah kita tidak kisah dengan apa yang berlaku. Maksud saya kita perlu teruskan protes, tetapi hakikatnya tindakan itu tidak akan mengubah apa-apa.

Apa perlunya protes jika Israel tidak peduli apa pun tindakan dunia terhadapnya?

RAJA ZARITH: Rakyat Israel bukan semua bersetuju dengan tindakan rejim. Kawan saya di England memaklumkan, televisyen Israel melaporkan tentera rejim sendiri enggan masuk ke Gaza kerana tidak bersetuju dengan tindakan Israel.

Jadi saya kurang senang apabila ada pihak menggesa supaya jangan bercampur atau berkawan dengan Yahudi sedangkan bukan semua Yahudi jahat.

Apa komen Tunku apabila IFRC turut menjadi sasaran serangan Israel ?

RAJA ZARITH: IFRC bersikap neutral dan tidak menyebelahi mana-mana pihak. Persatuan Palang Merah atau Bulan Sabit Merah sesebuah negara termasuk PBSMM bukan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO), ia pasukan bantuan tambahan kepada kerajaan. Hanya ada sebuah persatuan Palang Merah atau Bulan Sabit Merah dalam setiap negara. Sukarelawan Palang Merah dan Bulan Sabit Merah bekerja tanpa mengira kaum, bangsa atau agama. Disebabkan itu, IFRC cukup marah apabila dibom oleh Israel sewaktu hendak membawa keluar rakyat Palestin dari Genting Gaza sehingga menyebabkan seorang pemandu ambulans terbunuh.

Jadi apakah pandangan Tunku mengenai desakan dunia termasuk dari Malaysia supaya Israel dan AS diheret ke mahkamah antarabangsa sebagai penjenayah perang?

RAJA ZARITH: Secara jujurnya saya tidak cukup pengalaman dan pengetahuan sama ada mereka ini perlu dibicarakan sebagai penjenayah perang dan sebagainya. Terserah kepada pemimpin negara untuk menggerakkan usaha ini kerana mereka lebih arif tentang undang-undang negara dan antarabangsa. Sungguhpun begitu, kita boleh bersuara sebagai rakyat yang bersimpati dengan penderitaan rakyat Palestin dan mengutuk keganasan Israel yang sudah keterlaluan dan dibiarkan bermaharajalela terlalu lama. Bayangkan berapa lama rakyat Palestin hidup tertekan.

______________________________________________________________

Yups. There are Jews and there are Jews. Good Jews, bad Jews, hardworking Jews, lazy Jews, clever Jews, moronic Jews, kosher Jews and then there are the McJews.

Then again, there are Malays and there are Malays. You know the drill.

gets to your head...eh?

In your head, in your head,
Mawi, Mawi, Mawi.
What's in your head, in your head?
Mawi, Mawi, Mawi.

Hahahaha huhuhuhu hehehehe...

MAWI'S WEDDING: Not the way to display wealth

I HAVE always been disgusted reading about celebrities/politicians/corporate figures spending huge amounts of money to celebrate personal events like marriages, awards, key achievements, etc. Being the role models and public figures that they are, I feel it is not appropriate to demonstrate such blatant extravagance, which I think is really a form of insensitivity to public opinion.
Die-hard fans or followers of celebrities would obviously want to partake in the happy occasions without realising that their participation is just a form of escape from the realities of their own lives.

Thus, it was with disappointment and disgust that I read about Mawi’s never-ending wedding activities. On Monday, there was yet another expensive reception, this time at one of the top hotels in the capital. If I am not mistaken, this was the third reception of his wedding and as extravagant as the first two. It doesn’t matter where the money came from — his pocket, his record company, sponsors, etc. This is just not the way to spend money.

It just pains me to imagine how much the money could have meant to thousands of less fortunate children living in shelters, the poor, the terminally ill, the homeless and the displaced.

Mawi’s ostentatious extravagance is all the more to be criticised because it was not so long ago that he was just an unknown person from a Felda settlement. He got his lucky break and, now, in just a few years, he seems to have forgotten his roots.
His fan base, one suspects, would demographically be constituted of those from the lower-income group, so is he now telling all his fans and admirers that one should not be prudent with one’s accumulated wealth?

______________________________________________________________________

You said it mate.

But hey, not everyday a rempit from Felda get to do extravagance mate. And not even princes or princesses get to have their pre-fucking ceremonies televised. Umpteenth times. Hopefully the pussy was worth the effort.

I remember one such weddings. Not that too long ago. Held at the place where them UMNO shitheads do their backstabbing and some. Heard that it cost a cool RM1m. And for what? A year worth of copulation? Fortunately the motorcyclist chick's next one wasn't so ostentatious. Hopefully this one will last a lot longer.

And talking about opulence, why don't we asked him how much he had contributed to them Palestinians? Datuk Siti contributed RM2,000 and got media coverage. Maybe if that ex-rempit guy were to donate RM5,000, reckon there'll be another 2 weeks worth of Mawi TV.

campaign coffee...eh?

Some coffee do leave a bad taste in your mouth. Especially when that cuppa is political. Especially when everybody's airing each others' dirty laundry for all to see. Forgetting that they are the ones who gonna wake up Monday morning in KT and continue breathing. Especially when the opposition won.

Saw Najib on TV last night. Damn! I know he has white hair.


But last night his hair looked all white and some. Maybe he's morphing into this?

God save us.

arable...eh?

Maybe it's the fate of them Arabs. To be a race highly regarded by Allah. To have the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) hailed from amongst them. To kill each other. To be rich beyond their own dreams and flaunt their wealth for the world to see and enrich the enemies of Islam in the process. To make asses of themselves. To be poor and living in dilapidated shacks in their own homeland. To be slaughtered by Jews. Arable land indeed. But are Arabs able? Are they too into their tribal or nationalistic shit not to care? Should we care? Allah will definitely care. But He also mentioned something about not helping a race or a group of people until they start helping themselves. Will our effort sufficient? We really hope so.

So what's this about boycotting American and/or Jewish products? Will it help? Will it make a dent in their profit? A few of them products don't even reach our shores, let alone us purchasing them. So what if this campaign manages to close a few outlets or factories here, reckon who'll be the victims? Those factories will sooner move to Vietnam or further east. Reckon those young Malay kids who man the cash register, take orders and mop the floor at McDonalds or arranging goods at Carrefour be able to get a better job in these trying times with only their SPM to show? Those doing shifts in the Permanis's Coca Cola and Maggi/Nestle factories be able to move to Vietnam or further east?



Is being an Arab a curse? Is being a Muslim a curse? Is being a Malay a curse for that matter? Or are these just tests of faith? Maybe if that stretch of arid godforsaken land is just that, arid and godforsaken, could them Arabs live peacefully among them camels and goats. But they have been cursed with black gold and not being equipped with the faculties to match. Despite all them great Islamic scholars of old came from there. Were they not Arabs? Were they Muslims with Arabic sounding names from faraway lands?



Of course we sympathise with them poor innocent Palestinians. We feel for them. Blown to bits, barricaded and no aid coming their way. But do their Arab brothers even care? The last I heard Dubai is still flaunting like crazy. Saudi Arabia is still counting the money they raked in after the just completed Haj season. Apart from the income generated by that cursed black gold. Are other Muslims making it easier for them Palestinians by their interpretations of Islam? Are the Palestinians making it easier for themselves? That arid and godforsaken stretch of no man's land, with those wretched children and toddlers and widows living in dilapidated shanty towns has two factions. Not counting tribal and other allegiances. In the whole Arab world? In the whole of the Muslim world? OIC? Who's the Secretary General of OIC? Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu? Oh...



Hmm...fortunately there's Ramly burger. Got to check whether they do the Prosperity...

single and not looking...eh?

Single and sure.

A letter written by Bibi Sabariah of Rembau.

As a mother of a 29-year-old daughter who is single (and lethal, as she likes to put it), I read That dreaded ‘M’ word (Weekender, Jan 3) with a chuckle.

I think all parents, especially mothers wish the best for their children, particularly their daughters, as they are the ones who get bombarded with the “M word”.

Indeed, while I would like to see my only daughter settle down with her own knight-in-shining-armour (not that she is in need of any rescuing, mind you), I think it’s much more important for her to be content and fulfilled with her own life, albeit being single, in a relationship or married.

I object to the writer’s mother who is “not proud of having an unmarried daughter living with her”, as I feel mothers should support their daughters.

My daughter has actually asked me several times whether I am ashamed or embarrassed that she hasn’t tied the knot yet, especially since her younger brother recently got married. And inevitably, friends, relatives and guests at the wedding kept asking me when her turn was coming.

My reply to my daughter would always be point-blank “Never”, and my response to all the prying minds would be: “When she’s ready.”

I really wonder why people assume the roles of being nosy-parkers and busy-bodies when it comes to other people’s children?

Although I am worried about my daughter living on her own in the city, I trust that she knows what is best for her. I like to believe that I have raised her well and that she’s more than capable of taking care of herself.

As my daughter’s perspective of life is similar to the writer’s friend: “To be single and happy, and not married and miserable” — I wish all mothers understand their daughters’ feelings more. It’s crucial for them to know that we’ll back them no matter what.

____________________________________________________________

It used to be simple when filling in online forms. Married or Single.

Now. Well, what can I say. Married. Married but available. Married and looking. Single. Single but not available. Single but not looking. In a relationship. In a relationship but available. In a relationship but looking. Hmm...

Being a non traditionalist, I have to agree with Ms Sabariah's stand. It's no longer what we as parents want. It's not important what the relatives want. And what society wants is a non-issue. It's always what them daughters want. And being non traditionalists themselves, well, I could almost see what's coming.

This period of them girls being teenagers, easily impressed and experimenting, is the one where we as parents should be playing our parts correctly. As a friend, partner, motivator, counsellor and of course when the need arises, a disciplinarian.

It always troubled me when reading news in them papers about juvenile delinquents and delinquencies. Will them girls sway to the dark side? Will they one day get mixed up with the wrong crowd?

And how on earth did that crowd became bad? And I'm talking about bad and destructive crowd of young adults whom are bordering on the criminal here. Not the post modern, non traditionalist crowds who are having fun and not disturbing anyone. Maybe irritating some of them more conservative and religious section of our society. Total parental neglect? Education? Too much time on their hands? And nothing much to do. Too much or too little money? Class distinction? Social rejection? Them kids and young adults are way forward in their thinking for the majority of our conservative Asian society? Clash of cultures? Foreign influences? But them Americans and British complain about their destructive young too. Are them westerners that bad or are we just pointing fingers? Methinks a large majority of them westerners are way polite and cultured than us supposedly charming Asians. So what is wrong with them youths? What or who is poisoning them minds? Or is it just a phase of life that we should not be too overly concerned? We were young and rebellious once. But the line between what is bad and what is just a phase of life and being rebellious is a tad gray if you asked me.

Parenting is always a gamble. This is no exact science that can be tested in a lab with predictable results. It could to a point but there is too much external factors, too many what ifs, too many unpredictability. And then there is of course for us Muslims, Qada' and Qadar.

Guess I just have to read and reread all them How To Be A Good Parent books, Islamic and conventional and just give them girls unconditional love and support, with lots of Doa in between. And hope to live to see them be their independent selves.

Hopefully no and/or nor buts. Just happily married. Or happily single.

Image nicked from Piraro's

sole to soul...eh?

Regardless of plans, preparations and such, end of December and the beginning of January never fail to amaze me. Eh...never fail to overwhelm me I meant to say. And what with Ma's condition wrecking havoc in me brains and some.

Fortunately the girls had turned out to be cool dudettes. And they took it upon themselves to manage things. Not too bad I would say. And fortunately, unlike them Simply Red geeks, money is not too tight to mention.

Guess some red, gold and green soles will cheer up the mood some. So let see what we got here. Reckon Ms Imelda Marcos would recoil in horror. Hehehe...

A few models by Adidas.








A few more by Nike...




Cool soles by other cool brands...

Maybe a few for the girls. Reckon they'll love them colours too.



Life is too colourful to lay it to waste.
If only I can spare a few souls for them soles...