Hey There - Wait a Minute, Mr. Postman Raus!

****************************

"Yes Boss - We can Dance..."

PUTRAJAYA, June 26 (Bernama) -- Sultan Azlan Shah was right in not dissolving the Perak State Legislative Assembly in February because it was barely one year old, Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Md Raus Sharif said.

-'Sultan Was Right Not To Dissolve Perak Assembly'

========================================

There have been numerous apologists for the rape of Perak by Mr. 1-Malaysia, in February - from Mr. Shad Saleem Faruqi (who initially claimed that by virtue of the Interpretations Act, the power to "hire" includes the power to "fire"), to the various spin doctors in the MSM and among the intellectually bankrupt BN politicos.
Just when we thought that "spinning" was the forte of propagandists in the media and "legal education" industry, the Judiciary has now stepped in to challenge that monopoly, by "legalizing" a travesty of justice. In effect, they have rendered themselves, nothing more than glorified postmen of the pirates who launched the coup d'etat in Perak.
It appears to me as a layman (where the Law is concerned), that the "judges" seem to be a highly twisted bunch of despatch clerks bent on doing the bidding of their political masters. It almost seems that they have redefined the word "judgement" in legal-speak, to mean " to appease those who wield power".

Pardon my ignorance should there be any in the following, wherein I might have erred - but I intend to attempt to dissect what was given by Bernama, before I read the full text of the 49-page spin doctoring by Rauf (or was it just Bernama shaming him??).

In his 49-page judgement dated June 2 released Friday, Justice Raus said that in order for a dissolution of the assembly to take effect under Article 36(2) of the Perak State Constitution as requested by the then Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, the assembly must be in the conclusion of the five-year term when a general election was contemplated.

It certainly beats me, how Rauf (bending over backwards) had come to this conclusion that "that in order for a dissolution of the assembly to take effect... as requested, the assembly must be in the conclusion of the five-year term", when the very next sentence, in article 36(3), it is "screaming out" that :
"The Legislative Assembly unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting, and shall then stand dissolved."

I wonder if this Rauf knows anything about how a parliament is supposed to work ......
Although the following aren't exactly in the order of the press release, the message within really takes the cake - Rauf has explicitly denied the role of the Legislative Assembly in determining the majority, and unwittingly approved of a coup d'etat!!
What he has effectively said is, that the parliament is irrelevant, and that all that is required to prove the majority is a piece of paper, with signatures - without any consideration for the manner in which these signatures were obtained, and so rendering a vote of confidence unnecessary/insignificant!!!

He also said Article 16(6) did not express mandatory requirement that there must be a motion of no confidence passed by the assembly against a mentri besar before he ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members.
"The circumstances in the present case clearly shows that on Feb 5, Nizar no longer had the confidence of the majority of members of the assembly. There were signed letters from 31 members pledging support to Barisan Nasional which were presented to the Sultan,"
"The fact that a mentri besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the assembly can be established by other means. It cannot solely be confined to the vote taken in the assembly,"

Never mind that it is not mentioned anywhere that the majority may be determined through any other means other than a vote of confidence - what Rauf says here is that, theoretically, anyone with the support of the "security forces" bent on grabbing power, may abduct the members of legislative assembly, get the signatures from them at gunpoint, show it to the head of state - to "clearly show that they have confidence of the majority" and be considered legitimate in a parliamentary democracy!!

Moving on to the issue of the appointment of the Mentri Besar ....
Bernama published the following "judgement" made by Rauf:

"The Sultan of Perak in exercise of his royal prerogative under Article 16(2) of the Perak State Constitution is at liberty to appoint another mentri besar to replace Nizar," he said.
"His refusal to tender his resignation and the resignation of the Executive Council was not merely a breach of convention and undemocratic but more importantly, it contravened the clear mandatory constitutional command under Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution and, therefore, unconstitutional.
Raus also said that the question of Perak having two mentri besar did not arise because Article 16(6) demands that once the mentri besar was made to know that he had lost the confidence of the majority of the members of the assembly, he should take the honourable way out by tendering his resignation.

Article 16(6) states that :
If the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly, then, unless at the request of His Royal Highness dissolves the Legislative Assembly, he shall tender the resignation of the Executive Council.

While it is true that the Sultan may appoint A Mentri Besar, I fail to see where it is mentioned that the sultan may appoint "another Mentri Besar", while the current has not been proven to have lost the confidence of the majority in sitting.

As "unconventional" as it may be for the Mentri Besar to refuse to resign may be, it must be kept in mind that Article 16(7) states that
"Subject to Clause (6) a member of the Executive Council other than the Mentri Besar shall hold office at His Royal Highness' pleasure, but any member of the Council may at any time resign his office.

So, unlike the Executive Councillors, it has to be taken into consideration that the Mentri Besar DOES NOT SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF His Royal Highness
Take Note that there is no "clear mandatory constitutional command under Article 16(6)" as mentioned by Rauf in his attempt to indulge in spinning the Constitution.
(This is probably, as N.H Chan calls it - plain and simple legal "gobbledygook").
Therefore, what Nizar did was perfectly Constitutional and democratic, as it was in accordance to the principle of the holding the Parliament supreme, and the Monarchy subject to Constitution.
As to how Rauf has come to the conclusion that it is "undemocratic" is indeed mind-boggling.

After all the spinning, he then indulges in "masturbation" to flatter himself and the powers that be, that what he delivered was actually a "judgement"-
"In my judgment, the situation confronting His Royal Highness in the state of Perak was one such situation, and His Royal Highness had, in that critical situation rightly exercised his constitutional powers provided under the State Constitution, which exercise was without any doubt, solely for the best interest of the people of Perak,"

All these, Rauf as a dutiful postman has said in his so-called "judgement", while neglecting to take into consideration Article 18 (1) which states (subject to Clause 2,3 & 4) that:
"In the exercise of his functions under the Constitution of this State or any law or as a member of the Conference of Rulers, His Royal Highness SHALL ACT IN ACCORDANCE with the advice of the executive Council or of a member thereof acting under the general authority of the Council except as otherwise provided by the Federal Constitution or the State Constitution; but shall be entitled at his request, to any information concerning the Government of the State which is available to the Executive Council".
(1A) Where in the exercise of His functions under the Constitutionof this State or any Law or as a member of the the Conference of Rulers, His Highness is to act IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADVICE or on the advice of any person or body of persons, His Royal Highness SHALL ACCEPT AND ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH ADVICE.

Considering the circumstances, one cannot be blamed if he were to suspect that this verdict/ judgement was written by the likes of Shafee Abdullah (who got to sit in the DUN in the May fiasco) or even V.K. Lingam .....

Next in line of Constitutional spinning by these dispatch-boys, would be the legalization of a speaker who was appointed while the Legislative Assembly had yet to commence its sitting. It would be interesting to see how they would spin that story.

The long and short of it, those responsible for this "judgement" have taken liberties, to read the State Constitution literally and piecemeal - simply as sentences which are totally unrelated to the big picture, the message and spirit within.
This is also how the Umno media and politicians (like Mahathir) - in keeping with their culture of deceit - choose to twist and interpret the Federal Constitution, so as to justify their much hyped, non-existent "social contract", religious bigotry, racism, the NEP and corruption - while totally disregarding the long term consequences of doing so. This also means that they do not mind rendering Malaysia a failed state (while publicly deploring it) - so long as they can hold on to power to facilitate their plunder and rape of the resources we have.

What a pity that our Courts of the land no longer serve the the Law, but pervert it for usurping pirates bent on grabbing power, and are reduced to being dispatch-boys delivering letters for their masters in the corridors of power.

Nurturing the "1-Malaysia" Malay Ghetto ....

============================

First we had one Merican shooting doctors for the failure of the preventive measures of the Ministry of Health, in curtailing the Dengue epidemic. Then, we have another Merican, shooting the Chinese media for "straying from the national agenda"!!
[We shall not mention anything about another Merican at the head of a Petroleum conglomerate whose accounts are like - "take what we give - and you better bloddy well, believe it!"!!]

He once opined (NST Online : Perspective: The PhD — is it overrated?) that :
"Suffice it to say that a professor need not necessarily be a scholar and a scholar need not necessarily be an academician and an academician may be far removed from being an intellectual."
Maybe so - but was/is he trying to imply that as a professor, you don't have to be any of the above? Neither scholar, academician nor intellectual? Could it be that he was justifying political appointments to "academic" posts?
With ones like these holding professorship in our universities, is it any wonder why we have such an admirable education system? Little wonder, we had some people started who started the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English - and that is to improve English (and not S&M)mind you - and believe that otherwise, Malaysians will be doomed to be stupid!

Truly amazing, this "professor" fella (picture below)- he is reminding the Chinese dailies to be grateful and advises them "not to stray from the national agenda". (Silly me - and here I was thinking all along, that the agenda was to improve the nation through accountability!)
He then wants the Malay to learn about the Chinese, and the Malay media to publish in Chinese- not because he wants them to truly learn, but because he wants "Malays" to impose their values in the Chinese in order to "determine the direction of Chinese journalism"!!!
In other words, he wants to learn from/ about the Chinese, so as to control them! Is it any wonder why (even MCA/MIC or any other variety) people, racists or not, don't trust these UMNO guys?
This guy definitely has some thinking skills, I'd say ....

Just read what he had to say here:
Akan tetapi, para wartawan dan surat khabar Cina nampaknya terasing daripada aliran perdana negara. Sebagai bekas wartawan dan sekian lama mengkaji kewartawanan dan persuratkhabaran di Malaysia, saya dapati masyarakat kewartawanan Cina wujud dalam dunia mereka tersendiri, seolah-olah enggan berganding sebagai satu fraterniti kewartawanan di Malaysia.....
Ketiga, memandangkan kepada pengaruh kewartawanan Cina kepada masyarakat Cina di negara ini sehinggakan ia menjadi satu arus aliran yang bertentangan dengan saluran maklumat berkepentingan negara, ada baiknya pemilik surat khabar/media Melayu, dan para wartawan dan editor Melayu menerbitkan surat khabar berbahasa Cina.
Tidak kiralah sama ada ini strategi terbuka atau tidak. Apa yang penting, Melayu juga ada hak untuk menentukan arah aliran kewartawanan berbahasa Cina.
-Melayu Mesti Kaji Cina, Malaysian Insider.

Not realizing that the pathetic Malay print media is ignored by the educated Malaysian (and Malays themselves too, mind you), this Merican guy accuses the Chinese media of being in their own world!
He seems to believe in the idea that people aren't entitled to their own opinions - he actually feels that Malays should run Chinese enterprises. Not that there anything wrong with that - but the very fact that he thinks it has to be the way for (Umno)Malays to "control", says much about this politician, masquerading as an "educationist".
There is nothing wrong with a Malay heading the Chinese establishment - but the problem is that he refuses to think of anything else beyond remaining in his comfort zone of "being and thinking Umno-Malay", while firing salvos against those who don't think like him. In other words, he actually wants to force the Chinese (media & people)to think like the Umno-Malay! It doesn't matter to this clown if it loses its Chinese character, or doesn't reflect the thinking of the community it is meant to serve.
What matters to this "professor", is that it caters to the needs/ opinions of the Umno-Malay community, although they don't read it!!!
You never know- Maybe this is the prelude to putting Melayu-Umno guys as Editors in all MSM.
It's anybody's guess if this is in line with the much fabled "1-Malaysia, People First, Performance Now" Policy..... to "regain the trust of Malaysians".

=========================

I hope my work will contribute to the study of Malay society, says Ahmad Murad Merican
Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Murad Merican holds a PhD (history and philosophy of science) from the University of Malaya. He has two bachelor’s degrees (journalism and political science). He has immersed himself in the College of Liberal Arts and made the Dean’s List at the University of Minnesota.

PROFESSOR Ahmad Murad Merican
from Universiti Teknologi Petronas' Department of Management and Humanities
was recently appointed as Perdana Leadership Foundation's (PLF) first Resident Fellow
under the foundation's Honorary President Fellowship Award.
As the foundation's first Resident Fellow, Ahmad Murad will receive
a grant of RM100,000 from Yayasan Al-Bukhary to conduct his research on
"Malay Attitudes Towards the West: Engaging Malay Thought on European Civilisation
and Modernity in Constructing Self, Nation and Identity".

-NST
=========================

Maybe this Murad Merican fella should be given another RM100,000 grant to do some research on "Attitudes Towards Malaysia: Primitive Malay Thought on Civilisation and in Constructing Self, Nation and Identity" , instead of the one of the above- which is bound to be toilet paper anyways ...

Lastly, I leave you with a very "interesting" comment from an Umno reader of the article linked above (needless to say, it was "lowly rated"). Even if it was someone pulling your leg, it describes how these guys think quite well (unlike what Jed Yoong might have you believe - that Umno is learning real fast).
So here it goes:-
...
written by Kasim Amat, June 22, 2009

"As a Umno member, it is very firm that we are all united behind the concept of 1 Malaysia. In order to achieve this concept, it is important that the Chinese and Indian acknowledge the dominance position of the Malay and accept the special rights accorded to us. The world has changed and the Malay is now a dominant force in the business and economy of Malaysia. It is important that all other races to realise this change to give up their self-clinging identity if they are to support the 1 Malaysia concept. In order to realise this concept, it is imperative that all Chinese and Indian Independence schools must be closed. All Chinese and Indian Business Chambers, associations, clans and communities should also recruit Malay members so the the concept of 1 Malaysia can be realised."

==================================

Move over, Dengue Epidemic - We Have A "Pandemic" ...

KUALA LUMPUR (June 22, 2009) : A second school was ordered closed for a week yesterday after an 11-year-old pupil was tested positive for influenza A(H1N1, while three other schools were told to stop a class each, rousing fears whether enough was being done to contain the disease.
He (Mr. Liow Tiong Lai) also said individuals placed under home-quarantine need to be responsible. Those found not obeying the home-quarantine order may be fined up to RM10,000, jailed for two years, or both, under the Disease Control Act 1998.

=========================

Aaah .... Now I understand - That must have been the agenda when they sent in a battalion of FRU & disrupted the Father's Day dinner by last minute withdrawal of their permit, after initially approving it.
What concern for national security! What compassion!
That's what I call People First, Performance Now ...... for a 1-Malaysia!

Incidently, this flu "pandemic" that's "threatening to annihilate" the human race has an incubation period of about 4-7 days, wherein the patients could a-ok while they could be walking around sneezing like they have an allergy in the later days.
Maybe the private doctors should be blamed for not refering these sneezers for some canggih investigation like RT-PCR (reverse-trancriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction - yeah .... quite a mouthful!!) at our canggih paperless hospitals.

The media has given plenty of coverage for the "swine flu" influenza A H1N1. Don't worry about the change in the name .... the Pig Pork industry lobby has forced the Govt to be decided politically correct. I wonder why the didn't do anything for those in the Chicken industry during the Avian Influenza ... everyone spoke of "Bird Flu"/ "Selsema Burung" back then. I wonder why the Chicken-Lobby didn't object before the SARS word became the norm.
Other than the economic interests of the pork industry, maybe the word Babi/Swine is so offensive to those who suffer from "kosherophilia" or "haramophobia", that it had to be done. Maybe it was "halal/kosher" animal - so that's fairgame, I suppose.

Anyways, this swine flu thingie is no different from the common flu - as far as I know- and there are more fatalities arising from the inefficiency of the pseudo-intellectual flunkies, who handle prevention of the perpetual dengue epidemic that plagues our country. Meanwhile we hear of "mosquito farms" being permitted to multiply by those who need some hard cash for some expensive "Kopi-O", to overcome the global economic downturn.
But hey - those responsible for prevention are cool! Of course- in keeping with our noble traditions.... in our true to Bolehsian style of looking for "orang minyak"/ bogeyman, the private practitioners have to be whacked to kingdom come, while these flunkies sit pretty.

So, some big shot says you can still party or and move around fearlessly for shopping where there may be travelers .... just don't go to school. Dang - how I wish he was there as a minister when I was in school .....
Just for the sake of general knowledge, you could go to the CDC website for more info ... or if you're just too lazy, and could do with some pointers, read the excerpts below.

P.S.
One funny thing though - back then when there was this SARS, we had some big guns going around on a chicken eating photoshoot. How come we don't have a "Babi eating" campaign photoshoot these days - it's truly a valid case for initiating an Anti-Discrimination Law instead of the suggested "Race Relations Act". The Chickens and Pigs don't "relate", right?
(who cares about homo sapiens are discriminated anyways- as long as those at the top of the Bolehsian food chain "relate" to pendatangs and kafirs lower down, it's cool - the animals' supremacy and the "Ketuanan Binatang" ideology needs to be upheld for national security).

=========================

What is novel H1N1 (swine flu)?
Novel H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

How does novel H1N1 flu compare to seasonal flu in terms of its severity and infection rates?
CDC is still learning about the severity of novel H1N1 flu virus. At this time, there is not enough information to predict how severe novel H1N1 flu outbreak will be in terms of illness and death or how it will compare with seasonal influenza.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

Case definitions —

Definitions are changing as we learn more about this virus and the syndromes it causes. Cases in the United States are confirmed by diagnostic testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1,26,46]. (See "Diagnosis" above).

Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as fever (temperature of 100ºF [37.8ºC] or greater) with cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza [46].

The following case definitions have been provided by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [46]:

• A confirmed case of H1N1 influenza A is defined as an individual with an ILI with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 influenza A virus detection by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR or culture.

• A probable case of H1N1 influenza A is defined as an individual with an ILI who is positive for influenza A, but negative for H1 and H3 by RT-PCR

H1N1 influenza A may be suspected in an individual who does not meet the definitions of confirmed or probable H1N1 influenza A, but has an ILI and an epidemiologic link (eg, likely exposure to a confirmed or probable case within the past seven days). Full case definitions can be found at the CDC's website (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/).

Antiviral Drugs

Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) with activity against influenza viruses, including swine influenza viruses.
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection with swine flu viruses. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional.
Influenza antiviral drugs only work against influenza viruses -- they will not help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu.
There are four influenza antiviral drugs approved for use in the United States (oseltamivir, zanamivir, amantadine and rimantadine). The swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses that have been detected in humans in the United States and Mexico are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine so these drugs will not work against these swine influenza viruses.
Laboratory testing on these swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses so far indicate that they are susceptible (sensitive) to oseltamivir and zanamivir.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Stay informed. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you get sick.
• CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

• 
  

Holy Mother of Mongolia!!!

Just check out this poll, guys!!!
Somebody in high office sure is twiddling with his jewels - ermmm ..... come to think of it, maybe his other half is doing the twiddling....
The sad part is there are still guys who go around spinning yarns about the virtues of his 1Mongolia 1Malaysia policy. They have yet to admit that Umno is rotting at its core, and is waiting to fall apart.

Meanwhile, the "prodigal dad" of Umno Baru is just waiting to bail out once again - to start whipping that fat lady with her wimp. It must've been the satay party the fat lady threw for Dirty Harry, which left a bad taste in his mouth ..... which would probably make sure Jibby eats Harry's satay in future.
Mahathir was right about Harry this time - just what the hell did he think he was doing (or what the hell was Jibby thinking, rather) gallivanting the length and breath of Malaysia?
Just take a look at the screen capture of the results as of this morning:-

On another note,
those of you concerned about the bed you sleep in in the afterlife, worry no more - fear not O Ye Men of Little Faith!!
The solution has been provided by our Prophet Muhyiddin. He has just passed on to us a message from the hereafter - through his mouthpiece, Bernama.

The message is this -
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin said today "Muslims who vote for either the Barisan Nasional (BN) or PAS have an equal chance of going to heaven. He said what could prevent them from going to heaven was their sins and not their votes for a political party."

Note that he spoke about Muslims only - and hence I wouldn't wish to comment on that. However, there appears to be a theological spin used for politics here .....
So what I'd like to ask below, is simply a theological question in my attempt to understand my leader's ideas.

Now for those who still believe that
a) "God" is a simpleton in the sky,
b) in "eternal heavenly rewards or possible everlasting damnation in hell",
c) in heavenly brownie points,
d) in sin,
d) and care for their "immortal souls" (whatever that may be)
and would like to think a little more:

The question remains though - isn't it a "sin" to vote for murderers?
..... those who call for their twisted daggers to be bathed in "chinese blood"?
..... those who breed hatred and mutual suspicion?
..... those who work in cahoots with the underworld?
..... those who specialize in C4-ing Mongolians while hiding their involvement?
..... a tainted and shamelessly biased judiciary and security personnel?
and those who suck your life-blood through numerous indirect taxes?

Aiyoyo, Moideen Muhyiddin
- please don't give up your day-job while you moonlight as a prophet, yah?


p.s.
Looks like Malaysia is up for some real "good-times"
- we really have an interesting pair of clowns who "lead" the nation!!

KJ: Politics of Empathy or Whoring?

**********************************

"Do remember that
dishonesty and cowardice always have to be paid for.

Don’t imagine that for years on end
you can make yourself the boot-licking propagandist
of the Soviet regime, or any other regime,
and then suddenly return to mental decency.
Once a whore, always a whore."
-George Orwell

*************************

“I don't want to coast along with the old model because,
clearly, it has been rejected.
That is why I made it a point, when we set up our community complaints bureau,
that some of the first cases we solved would be for non-Malays."
- Mr. Khairy

"The internal split within Umno will weaken the party’s position
and this will pave way for the Chinese Malaysians
to make various demands to benefit their community".
- Mr. Khairy, 18 August, 2006 (quoted in Sin Chew Daily)

"after awhile, you get immune to these things."
-Mr. Hishammuddin

============================

"Some people" believe that because they peddle their "goodies" on the street to desperate people, they deserve respect, and should be regarded as saviours of the world (and some other ignoramuses also believe that, anyways). They don't mind having to do or say stupid and shameless things - as long as they eat better, it's fair game. Surely those professionals on the street, providing sexual favours know a thing or two about this "Politics of Empathy" - so, this "some people" must've surely got some pointers from them ....

"Some people" believe that the solution to all their ills lie in their ability to be peddlers of popular sentiments - regardless of personal convictions. Their logic is very simple - when you know that your convictions are rejected, simply start whoring for greater appeal among the masses, using the talents at your disposal. And they strive to create these desperate masses who'd succumb to the temptation they present - on their own terms, though.

It doesn't matter one bit if their convictions (in line with that of their mindless herd), are diametrically opposed to that which they empathize with - what matters to these gutter politicians is that they can sell themselves to the people they woo. Hypocrisy is just the name of the game.
They have some fancy names to boggle the "minds" of their mindless minions and simpletons - they call it "Politics of Empathy".

Don't underestimate these guys - they're smart, alright.
Especially since they were bred in systems far superior (International schools and even Oxbridge, I hear) to our pathetic Malaysian education system, which has become the laughing stock among educationists. (Yes - in Malaysia, it can only look like education, and sound like education - but it just isn't education).

The sad part is, they don't learn, know or even understand the meaning of ethics or morality .....

Stupid is, as Stupid Does.

Minister Irked By Doctors Who Failed To Detect Dengue Symptoms Early

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai Thursday expressed regret and anger over failure of doctors to detect or diagnose symptoms of dengue fever, early.
"I am certainly angry with doctors who failed to detect dengue fever early because the tropical disease has been in the country for a long time.
"By right, doctors who are trained here should be able to detect and diagnose the dengue fever symptoms early," he told reporters when referring to a statement yesterday by director general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican stating that the government had lost the fight against dengue.
Dr Ismail had blamed doctors in clinics and private hospitals for failing to detect and report dengue cases to the Health Ministry, early.
- Bernama

The national association for private medical practitioners also informed doctors that even in situations where clinical diagnosis is uncertain, they should send all their patients with fever whom they suspect or are unable to exclude dengue as a possible cause to the nearest government hospital or healthcare facility for further management and tests.
-FPMPAM

========================================

If this isn't a totally Braindead Idea, I really don't know what is .... and I'm certain that Dr. Chow

(President of FPMPAM) was taking a swipe at our beloved DG & Mr. Tiong Lai.

And our Minister of Health has taken over where the earlier idiot - Chua Jui Meng left off - now started giving Doctors lectures in Medicine. Just like Jui Meng who advised Hypersensitivity tests for all Malaria prophylaxis patients (slightly more than a decade ago), and became the butt of jokes among medicos, this knuclehead now knows what can and cannot be done medically!!
While in saying, "This is a disease that can be controlled and prevented. So, there is no reason why it is still posing a serious danger to lives....", he admits that the problem lies in "PREVENTION", he does not seem understand the role of doctors, as opposed to those responsible for the prevention of communicable diseases.

Bloody hell, man - the DG, Ismail Merican (the Govt) might as well make an official statement that all those having fever should go to Govt hospitals only - that private clinics should not handle fever, and have print-out referrals ready for all patients with fever!! Come to think of it, why bother with referrals in the first place - as if our canggih hospitals don't have thermometers ...

True to the Malaysia Boleh spirit, our beloved DG (in his usual dimwit fashion) has taken to playing the blame game - while they breed mosquitoes at most "industrial parks" and construction sites!!! This goes on, while people on the street speak of health enforcement officers who double up as part-time extortionists and "kowtim" buddies.

God help us all - these guys are such cows ..... it's just politics to them.

Romance is in the air .... and Sparks are flying!!

"PAS and Umno are still at the stage where they are assessing each other, just like checks are done before a marriage takes place," said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
-Najib: PAS and Umno assessing each other

=================================================

THE PICTURE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THIS:

[Shaitan Ne Bana Di Jodi , translation: A Match Made By Satan]

^{***************************************}

^{To activate subtitles click on the bottom right up arrow button on the player
********************************************}

A Tale of Two Satays ....

Did the Mahathir's Govt go against the people's wishes?

**************************

"Culture, is the effort to provide a coherent set of answers,
to the existentialist situations that confronts all human beings,
in the passage of their lives."

- Daniel Bell
[Yankelovich, Daniel. 1981 "New Rules in American Life:
Searching for self fulfillment in a world turned Upside Down", Psychology Today 15(4), 36]

* The above slide was "plagiarized" from Daniel Yankelovich's The New Pragmatism: Coping With America's Overwhelming Problems. For more on the "New Pragmatism," see his PowerPoint presentation, view the streaming video of the speech, or read the transcript of the speech, given as the kickoff to the Peter Drucker centennial celebrations Nov. 8, 2008, at the Drucker School of Management at Claremont.

Tidak membenarkan Chin Peng yang lahir di Sitiawan, Perak pulang ke tanah air adalah sama dengan pengkhianatan kerajaan Malaysia terhadap Rundingan Damai Haadyai pada 2 Disember 1989.
-Amin Iskandar

Information Department director-general Datuk Abdullah Morad said the result of a survey carried out on 10,000 respondents of various ethnic groups showed that 80% did not want Chin Peng to be allowed to return or to be granted citizenship.
- Info Dept: People reject Chin Peng’s return, TNG

NewsFocus: Stopping the Red terror
By : FAUZIAH ISMAIL and EVANGELINE MAJAWAT

====================================

Some time back, I had a short "discussion" with a certain blogger (who no longer wanted me as "friend" as a result - boo hoo!) on Facebook - and she claimed that Umno in learning real fast on how to correct their mistakes!! Of course I disgreed.

This issue about Chin Peng returning shows their ancient "modus operandi" - how Umno plays up their "Bogeyman" game, in the context of their "Ketuanan Melayu"/Social contract/ Racist ideology.

When one makes an agreement, it doesn't mean that we get all that we want - there are times when we give a little to gain more. That was what happened in Haadyai - we gave Chin Peng the right to return and take up Malaysian citizenship as long as he fulfilled the conditions of the accord.
It is not that we want him - we can live without him ..... but we cannot live without the honour and integrity that comes with keeping our word of honour.

For the DG therefore, to say that the people do not want Chin Peng to return is besides the point. Moreover, it is a slap in the face for the Mahathir Administration which signed the accord with Chin Peng. As a matter of fact, what he's saying is that the government of the day betrayed the rakyat of Malaysia in 1989!!

=========================================

What did Najib do in 1987? A Government White Paper entitled “Towards Preserving National Security” tabled in Parliament on 23rd March 1988 recorded that in an Umno Youth rally led by Najib on 17th October 1987, banners bearing strong words were displayed, including one which said:
“SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”.
-In response to Najib’s denial in Parliament yesterday
================================

This is precisely the illness that plagues the Malaysian political spectrum - an unblushing pride in their lack of honour and integrity. So much so, it has become the culture to renege on agreements or deal struck - not just in political circles (eg. the Perak coup d'etat), but also in business circles where piracy is the order of the day.

Anything and everything is done to reinforce the culture of ignorance and deceit, to perpetuate the ill-feeling and mutual suspicion in society for political expediency. That society is being polarized beyond redemption through their antics, is the least of their concerns.

That is the UMNO way ... Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya. To hope that they will learn anything about "ethics" is quite a long shot ......

=============================

Deja Vu II ...?

I posted "Deja Vu?" earlier about the events in Kamunting lately (which I heard from a "passerby"), and about the "fishiness" in the silence of the MSM on this matter - in fact, even on the "not-so-MSM" online portals. It appears that I'm not alone here ....

The following was scooped from "The Might of the Pen".

Hope our Hindraf/ politicos/ guys will say some thing - affirmative or otherwise .....

****************************************

KAMUNTING RESIDENTS FACING THREAT OF

RACIAL VIOLENCE FROM THE UNDERWORLD “3 LINE”

AND “MAT REMPIT” GANG

HINDRAF have obtained reliable information from members of the public including sympathisers from the Malay Community that the underworld “3 Line and Mat Rempit ” gang are mobilising a large number of superbikers into Kamunting on Saturday, June 13, 2009 to “teach” the Indians a lesson as a result of the racial clash that sparked on June 8, 2009.

HINDRAF wishes to stress that we do not condone to any form of violence let it be from the Indians, Malays or any race for the matter. The racial attacks in Kamunting on June 8, 2009 and the ongoing unrelated, unprovoked attacks on innocent Malaysian Indians in Kamunting are being perpetrated by outsiders in gangs of superbikes believed to be members of the underworld Malay “3 Line and Mat Rempit” gangs.

Over the last 2 days Indians in groups (in Kamunting) of more than 3 are told to disperse by the police or face arrest but they seem to deliberately ignore the large groups of the underworld superbikers who are patrolling and intimidating the Malaysian Indian folks in Kamunting.
A Hindu Temple namely the Madurai Veeran Temple in Batu 4, Kamunting was also torched by members of these underworld and Police is yet to investigate the report lodged by members of the said Temple .

The impartiality of the Royal Malaysian Police Force is questionable as they are fully aware of these gangs’ activities in arousing racial clashes in Kamunting and it appears that they are colluding with these gangsters in continuing their activities for motives only known to them.
HINDRAF calls upon the IGP to act in accordance to the oath he had taken in providing protection to all citizens of the country and prevent Kamunting from turning into another Kg. Medan massacre that took place from 8/3/2001 to 23/3/2001 (15 days in a row without any interference from the Police Force to restore law and order) where hundreds were seriously injured and 6 lives were lost.

We call upon the IGP to take a pragmatic and realistic approach particularly in mobilizing his men on 13th June 2009 to prevent any untoward incident planned by the underworld gangs which could lead to unnecessary cost to innocent lives.

There has to be more patrols and protection to the people of Kamunting and those culprits who have been attacking innocent people over the last four days must be arrested immediately and charged in Court, failing which the confidence of the people in the Royal Malaysian Police Force would be eroded further.

P. Waytha Moorthy HINDRAF – Chairman

Running with the wind.....

"Scholars, intellectuals, editors, and pundits too must share the blame.
When the nation sorely needs sober analyses and critical evaluations, they grovel themselves to be apologists and spinmeisters for the establishment.
They do not serve the nation with such postures, nor are they being true to themselves or their calling."
-Bakri Musa, Towards A Competitive Malaysia #107

"The inspiration to form a unity government came from Umno and they are obviously happy with what is happening in the party."
- TG Nik Aziz, Nik Aziz accuses ProUnity Govt PAS leaders as "Umno Puppets".

****************************************

.....................................

Firstly, I'd like to apologize to Hakim Joe for not being able to answer him on Malaysia Today. As I logged in today to reply, it just so happens that my "login has been blocked" by the admin.
Probably it's just a "technical error" - I wouldn't know.
Anyway Hakim, I don't know who these guys (Elijah Kok and cllim123) you suggest are- it is possibly you who know who or where they are, or maybe even why they might have "been blocked".
But I don't think I'm interested in being part of the comments section anymore .... getting too boring these days. Just like RPK, I too don't read the comments sections that much these days- too much of "hentam-keromo" comments, with little substance. Maybe I too was occasionally guilty of the same. It's time I "retired" myself from MT comments anyways .....
So, I wouldn't "contact administrator", as the popup suggested I do.

What a coincidence (not clairvoyance, okay)- I was telling a good friend of mine (let's just call that person- "nas") just last night, that there is a chance that I will get blocked by the MalaysiaToday Admin very soon, as I have been quite critical of the "slant" in certain columns of late.
Possibly, what I commented yesterday (given below), touched a raw nerve somewhere ( i.e. beyond the "mamak" word), in highlighting the "spinmeistering" in MalaysiaToday. That means, saying something without actually mentioning it.

Maybe it was the words - "mamak teh tarik", or the "rat called Hadi" (to mean - just as TGNAziz's "Umno Puppets")- and once again, I wouldn't know. Though I understand the "current necessity of this tilt", I believe that there is no need to resort to "spin" - while thumping your chest about being some sort of psy-war expert for the gullible masses.
However, true to the Malaysian fashion, they'll need "bogeymen" to put the blame on, for all these.

I said what I said in my comment, because I believe, there was a little spinning that needed to be cleared, in the way words are used to get certain subtle messages across. It was pathetic to see people resorting to wordplay, instead of saying it as it is.

Anyway, I guess that is the last of my participation on Malaysia Today. It was good while it lasted. Maybe, it was a mistake for me to participate, and be critical these days- after all, RPK thinks I should "get professional help" for being critical ..... (ha, ha)

Indeed, RPK was right (some boot-polishers might add, "as usual" to these kinda words) - the quality of debates in the comments section has been quite pathetic. Those were the days when the comments were often very vibrant and gave food for thought (despite the occasional profanity, which RPK himself indulged in - without apologies). It was a time when MT provided issues and the time to debate matters, so as to get people thinking.
But not anymore.

Now, I guess that's history...... and it seems like Mahathirists and "unitarians" would be more welcome in the "free forum" presented in MalaysiaToday today. Some may claim that this is part of the "psy-war" on the masses, or maybe simply self-preservation (some call it "sellout").
These days, it has become a "tabloid-like news portal" with umpteen updates per day, and no time for a well thought-out debate/ comments. Too many distraction s with "breaking news" stuff. It is a far cry from what it was before it became a pop phenomenon - but then again, I guess that's how things go ......
Besides the numerous idiotic comments that are there now, maybe we'll soon be getting commenters who start competing to be the first to comment as in CheDet.com of old - that will be the day, I guess ...... haha!
Well ... what can you say, except that self-aggrandizement does take it's toll!

Maybe, in future, MT will end up being just another "tabloid" news portal with a diarrhoea of "hot news" overload, with little of the substance which gave it "character" in the past. Not much "zing" to it these days ....
Aah .... nostalgia does creep in.
But I guess I'll still be visiting for the "hot news" and "spins", just as I browse other MSMs online.....

p.s.
Dear Pete,
Remember your "Otak Udang" days?
Interesting fella, this clown - wasn't he? "HakimJoe" is quite an interesting fella, too .... and so are a few other characters in the comments section. Miss those guys in the pre 2008 days who use to have heated debates, and yet remain civil (with the occasional outbursts, of course). (In fact, I even copied some of the interesting ones onto my hard drive & some onto this blog...)
Quite unlikely, but do you remember the "spat" we had (one among many) when you were writing about the virtues of "Islamic government" and started calling me names? Well, what goes around comes around to haunt you, doesn't it? Strangely, it is the word "mamak" and not "Thamby".
How about writing to a commenter by the name of "creeper" to tell him that you knew that he was "Chinese" from the way he used "513" instead of "May13"? I'm sure he was impressed with your amazing powers of deduction!! Haha!
Don't worry Pete - we know that the agenda is still the "unity government" proposal. Just like TG Nik Aziz, I'd rather call it the "sell-out" (a la post 513) proposal. It does make me wonder why you cannot grasp the philosophical ramifications of such an endeavour (as I might've written in the comments section each time you proposed it).
Nevertheless, good luck & enjoy your "mamak teh-tarik" yah?
Cheers, mate!

************************************************

The following are a few comments (and my last) on MalaysiaToday:-

...
written by cruzeiro, June 10, 2009 19:50:46
And Tok Guru Haji Hadi Awang graciously introduced the new Terengganu state government as the Barisan Alternatif government and not the PAS government.
I thought that this was jolly nice of him.

Yeah ... I'm sure kids thought the same when Jack the Ripper handed them lollipops!!
============================================

I started getting feedback from Terengganu that the civil servants are not happy and that they are thinking of giving the state back to Umno. I triggered the alarm bells but my pompous ******* of a boss pooh-poohed my report.

Excuse me Pete - you lost me here. You mean that Anwar is to blame for that rat called Hadi's incompetence? How is it that the loss of Terengganu becomes your ex-boss's headache when he had only one miserable seat, and it was Hadi's govt that ruled? First you bang Anwar, then you bang Khalid, while your guru Hadi is blameless. Like as if they don't know how Umno has subverted the civil service since Mahathir's time! Duhh!!
What's with this sudden warpath you take Pete? A little too much of "mamak teh tarik" perhaps - it can sometimes fuddle, muddle & eff-up your thinking, y'know.
Oh yes, I forgot - Mahathir said Malaysians will be stupid while hiding the fact that they were forced to be stupid since his time in office .....

...
written by cruzeiro, June 10, 2009 20:17:09

Ok - I just read your reply to Littlebird. So this boss of yours was "Haji", and not DSAI. Could it have been this "Haji Unity Hadi" by any chance?

...
written by Littlebird, June 10, 2009 20:43:52
Well cruzeiro, it certainly looks like him, sounds like him but only Pete knows if its him.

... written by apa jadi, June 10, 2009 21:29:56
Hahaha....Cruz, good thing you brought out how Hadi "lost" Terengganu to BN. It actually slipped my mind. Now, he is talking about UNITY. Hehehe....I see a mole surfacing.

...
written by Hakim Joe, June 11, 2009 00:49:40
Hey cruzeiro, where are your friends Elijah Kok and cllim123?

...
written by Littlebird, June 11, 2009 08:34:40
Hi Pete, I wasn't mocking you but said it in a jest when I was replying cruzerio but I am out of line there. Apologies. Tuan Haji is not involved here and nothing you have written implicated him and moreover he was your teacher whom you have a lot of respect. Apologies, once again. Just little bit of lingam effect.

p.s. Why the curiosity of someone's bird?
-Remember "Yes, Minister"?, MalaysiaToday


Related
Dances with Wolves - Pandering to the Devil's Alternative...
The PASsing of Reason
Hang on Guys .... It's Mu-zakar-ah Time!!

Deja Vu?

48 hours later, fear still lurks in Kamunting

Humayun Kabir | Jun 11, 09 6:32pm

While the police chief says the situation has returned to normal after Monday's gang clash, a check by Malaysiakini reveals otherwise
================================

This long has been long delayed. Me heard about it when it occurred, from a "passer by" here in the Klang valley.
It was rather peculiar that this news was pretty much blacked out in the media, and that a "gang clash" would lead to them attacking kids playing games in Cybercafes.

Call me paranoid, cynical or whatever - but it all seems to be very "fishy". Seemed to me more like an attempt at "raising tensions" by "certain quarters" in Perak (after the other failed attempts in other places in the past- as "reported" in certain blogs).

I wouldn't dwell on this though - which is what some people would want.
Thank goodness - nobody retaliated under the impression that it was a race related incident. "It" will happen again ..... until these "certain quarters" get what power they lust after, I suppose.

Lately, there was plenty of pro BN propaganda on TV1 over the apparently "niat jahat" of oppostion members to undermine the institution of the monarchy. Then Sultan Azlan comes out with this statement about "questioning" certain issues. "Certain quarters" are possibly working hard at "raising tensions" when issues have died down.
It appears that a certain community is being pumped with the siege-propaganda, so as to make them "rise in anger" - but I'm sure our Malaysian brothers are smarter than that. It is just these "certain quarters" who are being stupid and insist on living in the past.

Let's just see what the future holds .....

Learning to Fly Without Wings

**********************************************

It is now just about 7 years or so since English was made the medium for Science and Mathematics in schools. That was a well-thought policy by our former Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad. Everything was set in place and was running well. The children were doing well and were coping well. This was definitely a step in the right direction for their further education in the universities whether local or foreign.

Now all of a sudden, some language protagonists for what hidden agenda I have no idea whatsoever, have started making noise both in public and private. This has shaken our government so badly so much so they have been thrown off balance. It is all topsy-turvy as far as our children are concerned. It is one thing today and another tomorrow.

- Dr. Matthew, The Language Issue, Malaysia Today

************************************

The writer I believe, had neglected to take into account important ramifications in the use of language as tool of national cohesion and identity. He brushed aside the concerns of the proponents of teaching Science and Maths in Malay in one broad sweep. He has gone so far as to label those who protested the current system, "Mat Rempits" - and that would include Malay literary laureates like Datuk Dr A. Samad Said.
He also appears to have ignored the fact that the language of science wasn't "English" per se - until of course, it was adopted into the language (a characteristic not to alien from all other languages, including Malay). And even then, the "English" language of science, isn't exactly a language that can be used by any Ali, Ah Kow, or Muthu in his daily conversation. Below is my reply to his letter:

Dear Matthew,
What you say is indeed true - that English is today the Lingua Franca of trade, science and technology. From that perspective, I'm in total agreement.
However, that is just one side of the coin.

On the other side of it, one has to look at the dynamics that rule this nation. One has to ask if it is necessary to relegate BM into the language of only the arts, in order to achieve this excellence in English. Should that be the case, what then is going to preserve the language which is the foundation of our Malaysian culture and interaction? Is it to be doomed just as many other languages of the world which are simply "anthropological studies".

Fistly, remember that the language of Science & Maths isn't really "English" - it is a language that has been adopted and formulated by the relevant people, and adopted into English. Many great men of science and maths don't speak English.

This brings us then to the question of, how then does one learn the language of English? Through Science and Maths, or is it through the increased quality teaching and utilization of it? Expecting students to learn English from Maths & Science is akin to asking them to learn cooking using the keyboard (from the internet) - not impossible, but unlikely to produce chefs worth their salt.
What happens to those who find English as good as Greek or Tamil? Are we to suggest cook the books so that they are given a false sense of security? Or are we to find a new bogeyman - as our "brilliant" politicos like Mahathir would suggest?

Don't get me wrong ..... I'm very much for the teaching of S & M in English - but not at the price of relegating the use and progress of Malay, which is essential for nation building. The neglect of the use of Malay in this arena, would create much resentment among those who believe that it has the potential for development into something to be reckoned with. This faith/confidence may not seem to be too realistic at present. However, who's to say what the future holds, should the Umno/NEP crutch/patronage formula be abolished and freedom is granted once again to the Malay literati?

What's important here is recognizing the value of choice for the students. The students should be given a choice when making decisions on the path they wish to tread in achieving the excellence you speak of. They should have the options open to them, rather than having the curriculum dictated to them.
This way, neither side is neglected, and are in open and fair competition. This competition, will also challenge the students to push the limits of excellence in their own fields of their choice, so as to make themselves a viable option.

This then allows us, brings us to the option of having a dual-streaming system in our mainstream education system, which I feel is the best option, wherein all sides win.

Having said all these, I recollect what Mahathir said - "Malays and Malaysians in the future are going to be stupid".
Well I have some "shocking news" for you, Mahathir Sir - Malaysians have been forced to be progressively stupider, ever since your reign as the Education Minister!!